Paper THE
Mighty Penn
Kyle Harmon
NORTH BAY BOH E MI A N | AUGUST 24-3 0, 20 1 1 | BO H E M I AN.COM
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On Tuesday, Aug. 23, Sean Penn —the surly, hypertalented and unabashedly political actor— joined progressive congressional candidate Norman Solomon at Petaluma’s Mystic Theater, officially endorsing Solomon’s candidacy for a decidedly populist $10 admission fee. (Those with a bit more petty cash could purchase tickets to a $250 private campaign fundraiser and dinner at an undisclosed location in Corte Madera.) Penn and Solomon first worked together in December 2002, when they traveled together to Baghdad before the U.S. invasion of Iraq to “encourage alternatives to war.” Penn has also been active in humanitarian aid work in Haiti after last year’s earthquake. “We share basic humanitarian values,” Solomon was quoted as saying in regards to his partnership with the former Marin resident and Hollywood star.
Ahoy Atheist! FULL CIRCLE? Sad Burners who didn’t jump the gun on tickets will have to either fork out big money or stay home.
Scumbag Scalpers Burning Man tickets going for $1,000 in first sell-out year BY NICOLAS GRIZZLE
J
oy Bennison went to Burning Man for the first time last year. It was, as it is for many, a life-changing experience. She vowed to return the following year. But the 41-year-old waited
too long to get tickets, and the event sold out for the first time in its 25-year history. “We had planned it all year,” she says. “I had never heard that they sold out before.” Barring a burning miracle, she’ll be spending the first
week of September at home. Tickets, of course, are still available, but scalpers are asking over $1,000 each for tickets with a $200 face value. This has angered many festival veterans, referred to as Burners, as being against the “spirit of the festival.” As Penngrove resident Peter
Penn Jillette is one of those B-list celebrity types who’s simultaneously abrasive and thoughtprovoking. His Showtime show Bullshit! (co-hosted with kooky silent partner Teller) debunked “faux miracle workers, yogis, televangelists, zealots and cult leaders” with a vicious schoolyard relish. Unafraid to bear hug controversy, the magician-turnedsocial critic appears at Book Passage this week to read from his new book, God, No! Signs You May Already Be an Atheist and Other Magical Tales, which he frames as the “Atheist’s 10 Commandments.” Listen as Penn Jillette gives the finger to organized religion on Thursday, Aug. 25, at Book Passage. 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera. 7pm. Free. 415.927.0960.—Leilani Clark
The Bohemian started as The Paper in 1978.