Christiern

I recently realized that I do not ned to have TV in every room, so I returned 3 cable boxes. I may turn the last one in, too, because TV the few shows that I find worthwhile are available online. I listen more to radio now (on and off my Mac), especially the BBC. Of course, that also goes for Y&R, which I can—without blushing—admit to being addicted to for over twenty years. About 15 years ago, I went cold turkey on The Bold and the Beautiful, but I can't shake this Y&R thing. Victor Newman lives!

I asked Ben if he remembers you. He says that he thinks so, at One Fifth Ave. Is that where it was? BTW, he got eh YouTube link from Mike Longo.

I did not do well, to say the least: 2 correct.

Rodney Jones used to live in my building, that's how I met Ben, years ago—we were all Mac fanatics (along with JJ Johnson, Jimmy Heath, Akira Tana, and Mike Longo). Yes, Ben and Cranshaw sub for each other in the pit bands. I sent your photo to Ben, he thanks you. I'll send the photo of Diz, too. I think Ben's good sense of humor made him send me the video link.

Interesting. Thanks for the link, Jim.

Ben spent a lot of time w. Lena Horne and Gregory Hines, and has been with the Sesame Street band for a few years. Like many jazz player who wish or ned to stay near home (NYC) he frequently plays in Broadway pit bands, but most of his time these days is taken up by attending to his wife (they met in Dizzy's band, she was the vocalist), who is confined to a wheel chair. They are a great couple and rank very high among my friends. I'll pass your picture on to Ben, he will appreciate it. I gather that you haven't seen Ben in a while, so here's a very recent photo of him—we switched cameras and snapped each other:

But you overcame your fear to check it out. Disappointed?

A bassist friend (Ben Brown) sent me Don't quite know what to make of it—Jim? But wait!.......

And had he been stoned? The mind boggles.

Will we see jittery people in need of a crucifix?

Maybe Popie would prefer a white frog?

I could perhaps understand a protest from the FFFF (Flemish Fraternity of Frog Fanciers). Since when has the Pope's organization had a monopoly on crosses? Religious fanatics (regardless of sect) are ridiculous.

Yes -- they played twins in the movie.

Read about it here.

More to come on this sad news.

Are you aMoosing us with a half-told tale? What, exactly, did happen on Sunday, August 2, 1936? I mean, other than the Olympics opening ceremony in Berlin, the Elkhart Lake fireman's picnic, and the dramatic execution of Zhao Yiman.

I forgot to mention a wonderful film, "Stop!", made in 1970 by the late Bill Gunn. It was a frustrating experience for hims (as were other films). Filmed in Puerto Rico, it focuses on two couples and takes place over a weekend. It's a pretty heavy emotional trip in black and white, except for the last scene, where—on the morning after a emotionally drenching night, the characters are having breakfast. The camera, which has been prying all weekend, moves around the table until one of the characters puts out her hand and says "stop!" In the middle of the table, there is a single rose in a vase—it is red and the represents the film's only color. Very effective. BTW, one of the two women is black (as was Bill) but there is nothing in the script about that—she is, simply, black. I recall Bill's frustration when, after seeing the rushes, the white Warner Bros guys in Hollywood asked/told Bill to have her bare her breasts. He was furious and, I'm happy to say, refused the request. This did not sit well with the Warner Bros execs, who refused to release the picture. I don't think it was ever released. Anyone here ever hear of it? Ever hear of Bill (among other accomplishments, he wrote "The Landlord," "The Angel Levine," and wrote/directed "Ganja and Hess.") His experiences with that last one is were horrendous. Bill started as an actor—he was in "Sound and Fury" w. Ethel Waters—his parents toured w. Bessie Smith. We collaborated on a mini-series based on Alberta Hunter's life. I sorely miss him. But now I'm getting carried away—sorry.

I have already expressed my sadness and thoughts regarding Alexander's news. Imagine my surprise when I went to get my mail today and found a bunch of free magazines in the mailroom. That is not uncommon (we get a right-wing rag called The Sun every day), but I didn't know that there is a publication devoted to divorce!

I'd sue more than his ass—big though it may be.

I agree with Bertrand. I got about a third way through it, skimmed through the rest, and gave it to a friend with a warning. He never got through it, either, but decided to spare anyone else the pain.

There were no children involved in my divorce, which actually turned out to be more successful than our marriage. As for the child's perspective, I was a child for two of my mother's 3 divorces and the first one (my father) was no problem (I was too young), the second one was tough (I was 10), but I was more upset with my mother than I was with her husband (we kept in touch). The third divorce was actually applauded by me (I was a teenager). I get the impression that you and your wife are handling this in a very mature, sensible manner. That should make it a lot easier on your daughter and I think it is extremely important that you all maintain a bond. Eventually, it will be easier when new people enter the situation. Just my 2¢, this sort of thing is always unpleasant, but an attitude of reason can make it less so.

Great! What more can one ask for? As far as career goes, this says it all.

Amazing deduction, Jim.

No pasties, Allen, but a nice pair of legs. She was probably between 50 and 60 years of age. Besides, pasties would not have been required at my grandparents' home. Although we were not a religious family, a common request was, "If you see something god did not create, holler." All one could hear was the ticking of the old clock in the corner. The little lady of the sea is a bit on the masculine side in the 1849 illustration Vilhelm Petersen made for the original book edition.

My grandparents knew well the lady who posed for this statue. As a kid, I recall her coming over for dinner, and I noted that she had legs. Today the much maligned mermaid looks splendid at 95. HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE MERMAID! TIL LYKKE MED FØDSELSDAGEN, LILLE HAVFRUE!