A brave man, dead at 75 after a long, fruitful, and eventful life that had many twistings and turnings, Havel went from prison as a dissident to a long tenure as president during a time of transition from the Communism … Continue reading →
The fact that Christopher Hitchens’ death has long been expected doesn’t make it any easier to see it announced. I disagreed with him nearly as often as I agreed with him. But he was a writer of inimitable style and … Continue reading →
I’ve never thought of Sarkozy and Obama as being similar. But an article about the former in the December 12 New Yorker contained a paragraph that, although about Sarkozy, could just as easily apply to the present attitude of a … Continue reading →
Bernie and Ruth Madoff, who no longer speak to each other (at her request) since their son’s suicide, have nevertheless got dueling TV interviews going. Hers will be seen on this Sunday’s “60 Minutes,” while his with Barbara Walters is … Continue reading →
I’ve been amazed at the scope and depth of the reaction to the death of Apple’s Steve Jobs. It goes beyond the fact that he was relatively young and very prominent and influential. We’re seeing what looks like deep grief … Continue reading →
Che, you ask? Jane Fonda and Che? Well, sort of. According to a new biography of Fonda being published in early October, some time in the early 70s she “supposedly confided during a feminist consciousness-raising session, ”˜My biggest regret is … Continue reading →
Yesterday I commented on a letter that president Obama wrote back in his days as Harvard Law Review president at Harvard. My post was mostly about Obama’s grammar, but the subject matter of his letter was affirmative action. Here’s what … Continue reading →
Who is this woman? She caught my eye at The Sartorialist, so elegant and beautiful, and yet seemingly accepting of the changes that come with age (I see none of the telltale cosmetic surgery signs): I was quite surprised to … Continue reading →
Despite my interest in politics (or perhaps because of it?), there haven’t been many presidential candidates over the years who’ve roused much enthusiasm in me. In fact, the single exception might have been Paul Tsongas, who ran for (and lost) … Continue reading →
On the Fourth of July, I posted a short clip from the Steve McQueen movie, “The Great Escape.” It got me thinking about the actor, one of the huge crushes of my youth (and not really limited to my youth, … Continue reading →
Former First Lady Betty Ford has died at the age of 93. She was catapulted to fame through an unlikely and unique set of circumstances, her husband appointed VP by Nixon after the disgraced Agnew was forced to leave, and … Continue reading →
They’re both musical; Patinkin is a singer and Broadway actor and Zukerman a famous classical violinist. They’re both Jewish, although Patinkin was born in this country and Zukerman is the Israeli son of Holocaust survivors. But their marital history diverges, … Continue reading →