A couple of weeks ago I had some fun with poetic voices of the past, and in the comments section “Beverly” alerted me to the fact that a recording exists of Alfred Lord Tennyson reading his poem “Charge of the … Continue reading →
I watched “Jeopardy” last night to see what all the fuss was about Watson, the computer who’s been coolly cleaning the clocks of previous mega-winners Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter. I don’t like Watson. Seems to me that, although his … Continue reading →
Did you watch the Grammys last night? I did. I happened to tune in after this old guy’s performance was over, but it apparently brought down the house: Mick Jagger is 67 years old. I would have pegged him for … Continue reading →
…except for the fact that Joel isn’t there. So say goodbye: [NOTE: I became a huge fan of “Northern Exposure,” although I was a bit late since I’d missed it the first time around. I watched all the episodes in … Continue reading →
I recently read Savage Beauty, a biography of American poet Edna St. Vincent Millay. There are several passages in the book that describe the power of Millay’s voice and its remarkable ability to transfix and even seduce (in Millay’s case, … Continue reading →
Remember that bipartisan “date night” seating for the SOTU address? I hear it cut down on the applause, although that surely wasn’t the intent. It seems that some people became confused as to what were the applause lines. Being in … Continue reading →
If you’re ever seen “West Side Story,” this might hit the spot:
Continue reading →The news that Vladimir Nabokov, illustrious author and respected lepidopterist, came up with a theory of butterfly evolution that was poo-pooed in his time but which has now been vindicated by DNA research has made me unaccountably happy. Nabokov speculated … Continue reading →
Perhaps you’ve heard of Edna St. Vincent Millay. She was a lyric poet of great renown during the 1920s and until her death in 1950, known mostly for her sonnets. Her fame as a poet was of a magnitude difficult … Continue reading →
…literal video. The best ones seem to take off from originals made in the 80s, the Golden Age of ridiculous rock videos:
Continue reading →Here’s the proof (as if we needed any) that death comes to all: Jack Lalanne, pioneering fitness guru, has died at 96 of pneumonia. Jack in his youth, at the age of 94: “The good old days are this second.”
Continue reading →Yes, Olbermann’s leaving MSNBC, and the announcement was precipitous. And no, I’ve never watched his show, except for a couple of YouTube excerpts. I have written very few posts that even mention his name. So in honor of his going … Continue reading →