(1) Shirley Jones was named after Shirley Temple. (2) Gordon McCrae took over the role of barker Billy Bigelow from Frank Sinatra in the movie version of “Carousel” . (3) Meredith Willson, who wrote “The Music Man,” was a graduate … Continue reading →
Time treats people (even rock stars) differentially. Some look great: Billy Idol, Bret Michaels (who’s a mere 48, though, so it’s not a good test), and Bruce Springsteen. Pat Benatar looks better than in her youth, and David Bowie looks … Continue reading →
The state of Maine has raised its top speed limit to 75, but the new figure only applies to a 110-mile stretch of highway way up north (or downeast, whichever you prefer). That means it will probably affect about three … Continue reading →
One of the things that most fascinates me here (aside from the obvious virtuosity of Horowitz’s flying fingers) is the remote quality of his face. It’s as though he is observing his fingers from a greater distance than usually separates … Continue reading →
The storm hasn’t really been all it was cracked up to be here. But tis enough, twill serve—in other words, there’s a power outage where I live. I’m sitting in a coffee shop right now, plugged into one of the … Continue reading →
NY Times columnist and Obama admirer (“Obama is smart, decent and tough, with exactly the right instincts about where the country needs to go”) Thomas Friedman no doubt means well towards Obama. But this analogy is quite unfortunate: But lately … Continue reading →
This piece by Seumas Milne in the Guardian is typical of the way the left looks at the riots and their causes: …[W]here exactly did the rioters get the idea that there is no higher value than acquiring individual wealth, … Continue reading →
I believe we all could use a musical interlude right about now. A happy one might be nice. But I’ve been thinking for quite some time of putting something up that features Nina Simone, a singer/pianist whose music I’ve loved … Continue reading →
A mountain lion traveled from South Dakota to New Haven, a distance of 2000 miles: Biologists estimate the size of the mountain lion population at about 100,000 in North America, mostly living in western regions and seldom traveling more than … Continue reading →
Who? Erma Franklin, that’s who. Aretha’s older sister, she was nominated for a Grammy for the original 1967 R&B version of “Piece Of My Heart,” a song later made far more famous by Janis Joplin. I’d never heard Erma’s rendition … Continue reading →
I can’t say I knew much about Amy Winehouse until her death, although I’d vaguely heard of her. But from what I’ve read since, it appears she exemplified a type of addict who is extraordinarily difficult to help—defiant and resistant … Continue reading →
The Wall Street Journal explains Mitch McConnell’s strategy in saying Republicans should let Obama raise the debt limit himself: Mr. McConnell would then let the President propose three debt-limit increases adding up to $2.5 trillion over the coming months. Senate … Continue reading →