The Hall of Fire

Whatever happens, all signs (in Louisiana, at least) are that turnout will be huge. Last Saturday I voted early, taking along my mother. Because of her age and health, an officer present escorted her (and me!) to the front of the line. We were out in about fifteen minutes. Otherwise we would have ha...

Ouch!

Shoot him now. Really, it's the right thing.

Well, if you think I was anybody when I worked in that movie...consider that movie extras make about thirteen cents an hour and are generally regarded as livestock. Newman himself said: If you want to know who the extras are, throw a hand grenade into the room. The ones that don't run are the extras.

Who am I?

I can't say. If you knew...well, you'd be too awestruck to post.

Yes, a whole week of sitting at a bar, sipping lukewarm water from a glass full of rubber ice cubes...ah, show business! The thing is, the barstools had just been painted red, and the paint was still wet...and I was the only one wearing his real pants instead of a costume. At least we got free cigar...

In another scene, he was reciting the books of the Bible and lost track. He said: There's Matthew, Mark and...Cool Hand Luke! That was at the state legislature scene, which was actually filmed in the Louisiana capitol building. After the scene, the legislature presented him with a fancy award of som...

I played a few bit parts in the movie Blaze with Paul Newman. I worked for about two weeks, playing a variety of odd characters, only one of which is visible (briefly) in the final film. Newman plays Louisiana governor Earl K. Long, who is speaking to the Louisiana senate. There's a large media pres...

After reading, you can only think: There are no more great men.

This is somewhat off topic, but it's enlightening as a look at what debates used to be in the pre-mass media age––and sadly, as a look at how communication skills have degenerated over the decades. Some of the views expressed are repugnant, but it is impossible not to admire the oratorical gymnastic...

Hm...how did I confuse "Jim" with "Tom?" Just once, I'd like to see a debate in which the moderator simply says, "You have one hour! Start debating!" and the debaters fight it out as they see fit, with no holds barred and no rules whatever. Yes, the result could be chao...

McCain was perhaps condescending at times, but I thought it rather disrespectful that Obama (who is of course considerably younger than McCain) persisted in calling his adversary "John" while McCain respectfully called Obama "Senator Obama." Once Obama even called him "Jim,&...

I'm sure that portions are relatively all right. But I've seen some photos of sections of Galveston (including a place where an aunt had a fishing camp) that have been completely flattened.

Still hearing hurricane stories. One friend of ours was in her house with her dogs when no less than twelve large trees crashed onto and into her roof. She hid beneath her dining room table and waited there with the dogs, terrified and hysterical, for two days. Finally somebody found her and coaxed ...

Booooooring.

What we need is a good book about the creation of the published Silmarillion.

No, not worth the trouble. This is the biggest, best, and only one worth fooling with.

We'll see what happens when I send the request for review.

Ahhh, this brings back memories! I haven't been censored since the NEA halted publication of a children's book I wrote because it contained "excessive subtlety and sophistication." Several years ago, I came to the conclusion that satire is obsolete and needs to be abandoned. Nothing we im...

Bingo.

I was waiting for a non-Christian to make that observation.

The objection appears to be that the image has compositional problems (just what we need, an asymmetrical cross) and lacks "impact."

It must be fun to be an art expert!

Well, what do you know? The Cross Triumphant has been turned down as having no artistic merit and no likelihood of attracting sales. Meanwhile, images like this are being approved: http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/Whistler55/istockphoto_6702207-close-up-of-san.jpg Ah, the gentle ironies of life!