how often do people die in movies?

I'm wondering whether this is uncommon or just "newsworthy" because so much attention was given to the film.

Mel hints at another film

Mel Gibson looks set to provoke further antipathy among the Jewish community with plans to make a film about the story behind the festival of Hanukkah.

The Jewish festival of Hanukkah celebrates the Maccabees' victory against Greek king Antiochus IV, 165 years before Jesus was born.

"The Maccabees' family stood up and made war," said Gibson, speaking on a US chat show last week.

"They stuck by their guns and they came out winning. It's like a Western."

Mel making a film about a gang of bloody-minded, intolerant, murdering zealots? Sounds like a match made in heaven.

PRC breaks off human rights discussions. Was it actually engaging in any?

Sadly, no surprise. I guess we should just be glad that the Bush administration is willing to stand up to at least one wrongdoer in one small way.

China says it has suspended all discussions with the United States on human rights' issues. Beijing broke off contacts as the US prepared to condemn its human rights record at a United Nations meeting.

Tell it like it is, Jesse!

Clad in jeans and sneakers and wearing a full beard and a shaggy ring of hair, [Former Minnesota Gov. Jesse] Ventura asked, "How is my marriage under attack if two gays or lesbians down the street want to make a lifelong commitment to themselves?"

Ventura, a one-term governor elected on the Reform Party ticket, added: "Love is bigger than government. Think about that."

from AP by way of salon.com