— Joe Allen, who died the other day at 87, got the Great Man send-off in the paper of record: a long and admiring obituary and a follow-up of testimonials from Broadway stars. If his name is unfamiliar to you — that is, if you didn’t have dinner at one of his restaurants before or after a theater…
An Aussie Film, ‘The Castle.’
Sample line, in Court: "It's the Constitution...no, It's the Vibe.”
— Buy it on Amazon. The lawyers defending Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial are the odd couple. David Schoen is actually accomplished; he successfully represented the Ku Klux Klan when the KKK challenged a law that forbade them from marching while wearing hoods and without paying a fee. Bruce L. Castor Jr., a…
Head Butler Valentine’s Day Suggestions. ‘Love Is in the Air.’
Yes, and so is the virus. These gift choices are reality-based.
— Brian Sicknick, a member of the Capitol Police who died in the January 6th attack on the Capitol, was on display in a triangular container in the Rotunda the other night. One by one, members of Congress and his colleagues filed by to honor him. Without fanfare, President and Dr. Biden came to stand…
The Movie to Stream? ‘Michael Clayton’
It couldn’t be more topical. In a world where money counts and white men in suits have trouble remembering how to spell ethics, it’s about money and ethics. With George Clooney.
It couldn’t be more topical. In a world where money counts and white men in suits have trouble remembering how to spell ethics, it’s about money and ethics. With George Clooney.
She Stood Outside the Prison. Someone Asked: ‘Can You Describe This?’ She Said, ‘I Can.’ Then Something Like a Smile Passed Over What Had Once Been Her Face.
— Buy it on Amazon. “Poetry is respected only in this country,” said Russian poet Osip Mandelstam. “There’s no place where more people are killed for it.” As jokes go, that’s sour. In Russia, it’s also true. And by that standard, Anna Akhmatova — Russia’s most beloved female poet — was lucky. She wasn’t executed.…
A Survival Guide to the Second Wave: We’re Going to Have to Save Our Own Lives
— NEWS: ICU bed capacity plunged to 0% in Southern California last month, as more and more people were admitted to hospital seeking treatment for Covid-19. Now, many medical facilities simply do not have the space to take in patients who do not have a chance of survival, according to the agency. The LA County EMS…
Two Hungry Strangers Come To a Small Town. No One Will Feed Them. They Get a Big Pot. And a Stone…
Stone Soup: Heather Forest (writer) & Susan Gaber (illustrator).
Stone Soup: Heather Forest (writer) & Susan Gaber (illustrator).
Tidings of Comfort and Joy (Because There’s no Better Idea)
— This has been the longest year of any of our lives, and a bit longer for me professionally, because instead of publishing Monday to Thursday, I published for 40 days in a row at the start of the pandemic. This is not a complaint; a butler lives to serve, and it was an honor…
Beethoven Would Be 250 This Week. Many Celebrations Were Planned.
They're not happening. The music still is.
They’re not happening. The music still is.
The Men in This Novel Are Always Smoking Dappled Cigars. Some Wear Both Vests and Hats. They Make Corruption Almost Stylish
— Buy it on Amazon. “The Glass Key,” published in 1930, was Dashiell Hammett’s favorite book — quite a statement when you consider that he also wrote “The Thin Man” and “The Maltese Falcon.” “The clues were nicely placed there,” he explained, “although nobody seemed to see them.” He’s right. “The Glass Key” is a…
The Holiday Gift Guide for Children: Mostly Books, Because Kids Need Books — and Adults Reading To Them — More Than They Know
This is a list of books and a few short movies. Imagination jump-starters for kids. And for you. Read them with a child, and get additional benefits — the more important benefits.
This is a list of books and a few short movies. Imagination jump-starters for kids. And for you. Read them with a child, and get additional benefits — the more important benefits.
After a Dreary ‘Holiday Weekend,’ Consider 3 Minutes With R.L. Burnside
"He's Bad, You Know" R.L. Burnside
“He’s Bad, You Know” R.L. Burnside
Gillian Anderson Is Terrifying as Margaret Thatcher in Season 4 of ‘The Crown,’ but for My Shillings, Her Most Memorable Performance Was in the BBC Production of ‘Bleak House.’
If you want to escape 2020 USA but maintain a modicum of social consciousness, here’s your weekend.
If you want to escape 2020 USA but maintain a modicum of social consciousness, here’s your weekend.
Thanksgiving Edition: Reasons To Be Cheerful
I made a list of short drop-ins you can sample at leisure — videos that are full of energy, life, humor and hope.
I made a list of short drop-ins you can sample at leisure — videos that are full of energy, life, humor and hope.
It’s the Biggest Book of the Year. You Can’t Escape It.
You may not read It. But it would be smart to read this.
You may not read It. But it would be smart to read this.
The Thrilling, Can’t-Put-It-Down Novel That Inspired the Hit Netflix Binge and the Happiest Movie You’ve Never Seen
Local Hero directed by Bill Forsyth.
Local Hero directed by Bill Forsyth.