Thursday, March 16, 2006

Site News

I've removed a section of this website...the one called Mark's Las Vegas Guide. I decided that since I haven't been to that town for a few years, its advice and reviews were way too far outta-date. I'll bring it back someday if I ever feel it's properly updated.

• Posted at 11:14 PM · LINK

Today's Video Link

This is from last December. Nathan Lane appeared on Late Show With David Letterman and performed scenes from a forthcoming musical based on Brokeback Mountain. If Richard Rodgers hadn't died in 1979, this would have killed him...

• Posted at 5:24 PM · LINK

Recommended Viewing

Last week, the C-Span show Q & A had an hour-long interview with Keith Olbermann. I found it quite interesting. Whatever you think of Olbermann (and obviously, I like him a lot), he's been a pretty persistent and outspoken competitor in the businesses of sports and news broadcasting. I can't link directly to the video — and wouldn't, since it's an hour long — but if you want to watch it, it's viewable on this page. There's also a transcript there if you don't want to go the video route.

• Posted at 5:18 PM · LINK

Today's Political Rant

I think George W. Bush has been a disaster as a president but I also don't think much of moves to impeach or even censure him. Why? Well, censure seems like an excuse for not doing one's duty. If you think the guy really broke the law, you impeach. If he didn't break the law, you don't. Make up your mind, people. Which is it? If I'm accused of robbing a bank, I either go to prison or I don't. The judge is not going to split the difference and censure me.

But impeachment isn't much of an option, either...and it's interesting that most of the online articles that advocate this do not mention one unavoidable fact. It's that this guy Cheney is next in line. No one who wants to impeach Bush thinks Cheney would be an improvement so they just sidestep that little problem with their dream.

The problem the Democrats have, as I keep saying here, is that you can't beat something with nothing. Bush is at somewhere between 33% and 41% approval. I bet that number would drop at least ten points if his current supporters could see a viable alternative on the horizon. The trouble is that even most folks who think Bush is a terrible Chief Exec have trouble completing the sentence, "I would feel so much more confident with ______ in the White House" with a proper name. "Anyone else" is not a proper name. And even if we had a likely candidate, we have to wait until January of 2009 to inaugurate anyone who isn't currently in the presidential line of succession.

Face facts: We're stuck with Bush. Democrats should be running on the platform of "You need an opposition Congress to stop this guy." And they shouldn't be pretending that censure resolutions and talk of impeachments that aren't going to happen are the kind of opposition they're ready to supply.

• Posted at 12:55 PM · LINK

Last Warning

Today is the last day to sign up for the TiVo lifetime subscription on any machine you own.

• Posted at 10:47 AM · LINK

Happy Jerry Lewis Day!

Eighty years ago today, Joseph Levitch was born in Newark, New Jersey. He grew up — to the extent he grew up at all — to become one of the world's most beloved comedians, Jerry Lewis.

But he's a controversial beloved comedian. I know people who love him, people who hate him and people who feel some of both at the same time. It's not just the wide range of quality to his films or the way in one interview, he can ping-pong back and forth between humility and arrogance. There's just something electric about the man...something that makes him fascinating to watch.

In 1995, Jerry made his Broadway debut playing the devil in a revival production of Damn Yankees. My friend Paul Dini and I snagged tickets for his opening night and it was well worth the time 'n' trouble. The audience, packed with Lewis fans, gave him a huge ovation when he made his first appearance, popping up on an elevator from a hole in the stage. They gave him an even bigger ovation at the end when he took his bow, which he followed with a lovely, modest curtain speech. In between, they cheered and laughed at everything, but especially when he did something that just screamed, "JERRY LEWIS!!!" — a move, a reaction, even one "Hey, laydeeee" that somehow made its way into the dialogue. The star power was incandescent and I doubt anyone who was there will ever forget that evening.

As mentioned here, I saw Mr. Lewis speak recently. He looked in remarkably good shape, not only for a man his age but for one who's been through a chilling array of medical problems. To add to the list of things that make him special, you have the way he's defied all odds and the calendar. Throughout his life and career, he always told people he was six years old and it seems to be working.

By the way: Every history of Mr. Lewis, including those he authored, gives his birth name as Joseph. A few years ago, a devout Lewis fan checked the 1930 census data and found that it listed the son of Daniel and Rachael Levitch as Jerome. Could have been a mistake or it could have been his real moniker...who knows? I just think he's always been Jerry Lewis and always will be. It's nice to have one around.

• Posted at 12:32 AM · LINK

March 17, 2006 • Current • March 15, 2006