Friday, February 26, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Catcher in the Rye
Excerpt below from "Catcher in the Rye" (1951) by J.D. Salinger:
"Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody's around – nobody big, I mean – except me. And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff – I mean if they're running and they don't look where they're going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That's all I'd do all day. I'd just be the catcher in the rye, and all. I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be. I know it's crazy."
I always liked "Franny and Zooey" (1961) better, for some reason:
"Let's just try to have a marvelous time this weekend. I mean not try to analyze everything to death for once, if possible. Especially me. I love you."
This same week, Howard Zinn, historian/social activist and the author of the "People's History of the United States" (1980) also passed away:
Young and old were taught that anti-Communism was heroic. Three million copies were sold of the book by Mickey Spillane published in 1951, One Lonely Night, in which the hero, Mike Hammer says: "I killed more people tonight than I have fingers on my hands. I shot them in cold blood and enjoyed every minute of it. . . . They were Commies . . . red sons-of-bitches who should have died long ago. . . ." A comic strip hero, Captain America, said: "Beware, commies, spies, traitors, and foreign agents! Captain America, with all loyal, free men behind him, is looking for you. . . ." And in the fifties, schoolchildren all over the country participated in air raid drills in which a Soviet attack on America was signaled by sirens: the children had to crouch under their desks until it was "all clear."
"Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody's around – nobody big, I mean – except me. And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff – I mean if they're running and they don't look where they're going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That's all I'd do all day. I'd just be the catcher in the rye, and all. I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be. I know it's crazy."
I always liked "Franny and Zooey" (1961) better, for some reason:
"Let's just try to have a marvelous time this weekend. I mean not try to analyze everything to death for once, if possible. Especially me. I love you."
This same week, Howard Zinn, historian/social activist and the author of the "People's History of the United States" (1980) also passed away:
Young and old were taught that anti-Communism was heroic. Three million copies were sold of the book by Mickey Spillane published in 1951, One Lonely Night, in which the hero, Mike Hammer says: "I killed more people tonight than I have fingers on my hands. I shot them in cold blood and enjoyed every minute of it. . . . They were Commies . . . red sons-of-bitches who should have died long ago. . . ." A comic strip hero, Captain America, said: "Beware, commies, spies, traitors, and foreign agents! Captain America, with all loyal, free men behind him, is looking for you. . . ." And in the fifties, schoolchildren all over the country participated in air raid drills in which a Soviet attack on America was signaled by sirens: the children had to crouch under their desks until it was "all clear."
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Yay for the Aussies!
An Australian news team managed to broadcast probably one of the very few hopeful moments for survivors and rescue efforts from the earthquake in Haiti.
The Haitian translator for the news team and others dug out a baby they heard crying in the rubble. In true broadcaster fashion, the anchor held her up for the cameras.
The Haitian translator for the news team and others dug out a baby they heard crying in the rubble. In true broadcaster fashion, the anchor held her up for the cameras.
NBC Head Ducks as Conan's Rolls
Jeff Zucker, CEO of NBC-Universal, says NBC is in the process of "releasing" Conan, during an interview with Charlie Rose. That was a doozy of a dice roll that went off of the table, flipping around time slots like that.
According to Zucker, Jimmy Fallon would take O'Brien's place. If, that is, O'Brien doesn't want to roll over and play catch, which the host might demonstrate the suggestion for his audience at some point.
According to Zucker, Jimmy Fallon would take O'Brien's place. If, that is, O'Brien doesn't want to roll over and play catch, which the host might demonstrate the suggestion for his audience at some point.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Biker Chicks are No Match for Multiple Personality Disorder
Why wasn't Katey Sagal nominated for a Golden Globe for her role as Gemma in "Sons of Anarchy"?
Thursday, January 14, 2010
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