I’m struggling to imagine what spineless Republicans are going to say after all this is over. After Trump is in the dustbin, and History is having its say. In their memoirs, in their campaign speeches: how are they going to justify actively voting for, or sitting back and allowing, the breaking of norms, the breaking… Continue reading The Spineless, Spinning Tales
A Supposedly Brilliant Book I Will Never Read Again
David Foster Wallace is a great writer. If you’re not familiar with him, he’s written extensively about tennis, and many brilliant essays on various topics for major magazines. An English professor at several colleges, he’s also written several novels, including Infinite Jest, which is the subject of this cranky post. Brilliant but troubled, David Foster Wallace… Continue reading A Supposedly Brilliant Book I Will Never Read Again
The Tangerine Twit, TV Star
I’m so tired of this guy. Every day I get on my proverbial knees and implore the gods: may he lose in November and then just vanish, poof, gone, a single tangelo hair swirling in the tailwind. I won’t even mention his name here. He was the subject of an excellent article in Sunday’s (9/15)… Continue reading The Tangerine Twit, TV Star
He Threw Rocks at a Toddler
...and more highlights of the low life, business dealings and policies of Donald Trump At several of his rallies, Donald Trump walks to the side of the stage and, smiling smiling smiling, enfolds the American flag in his arms. Question: Is he embracing the flag in patriotic fervor, or is he humping it in a… Continue reading He Threw Rocks at a Toddler
Music’s Exquisite Triggers
Why Do I Like the Music I Like? I asked myself that question recently. My answer was like yours probably: “Duh, who cares, what’s the problem?” I was sampling cuts on a new album from Lucinda Williams, liking some songs, not others, and wondered: what am I responding to? Are there hidden triggers? Certain families… Continue reading Music’s Exquisite Triggers
A Quantum of Kushner
The Hollywood Pitch Meeting for Jared: The Motion Picture Palms sweating. Heart pounding. Throat dry. It was my first story meeting and it was huge. I was in the room with the big guys: Jack Gnash, the head of production, plus two studio production VPs and two other writers. Plus-plus, the attached movie star and… Continue reading A Quantum of Kushner
The Lighter Side of Screaming
If you enjoy action and sci-fi movies, you’ve heard it. That high-pitched scream when some poor sap falls, is shot, impaled, bitten. Know what I’m talking about yet? Yes, you do. Steven Spielberg and George Lucas use it all the time. It has a name. It’s the Wilhelm Scream. You can hear it here. The… Continue reading The Lighter Side of Screaming
Grump of Thrones
I enjoy Game of Thrones, otherwise I wouldn’t bother with this modest little post. As a lifelong fan of fantasy, I admire its adult approach to the genre. I’m not a fanatic, just a fan. I don’t get my knickers in a twist if they kill a cherished character, though the Red Wedding did put… Continue reading Grump of Thrones
Books: How Do You Prefer Your Jesus Story: Despairing or Dingbatty?
I recently read two novels, back to back, that deal with the story of Jesus. They were so wildly different in tone and style that I got a bit of New Testament whiplash. Lamb is narrated by Biff, Jesus’ best friend. Biff has the hots for Jesus’ mother, Mary, who’s considered crazy by many others… Continue reading Books: How Do You Prefer Your Jesus Story: Despairing or Dingbatty?
Viva La Paloma! My Taste Sensations of 2014
While I’m squeezing grapefruits to make our Palomas, let me tell you about the three great flavor discoveries I had in 2014: a whisky, a Tequila and an IPA, all very pricey and hard to find. Mostly, it is a tale of theft, forgiveness and shameless freeloading. My older boy, who lives in Los Angeles,… Continue reading Viva La Paloma! My Taste Sensations of 2014
Nuance Cubed 