Saturday, August 19, 2006

Mick Dillon, R.I.P.

Mick Dillon, who had the great honor of stunt-doubling stars the likes of Buster Keaton and Ringo Starr, is dead at age 80. He doubled for Ringo in the movie Help! and for Buster in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. This obit says that he was the only man who ever stood in for Keaton but that's not true. In the movie College, Buster was unable to do a scene that called for him to pole vault into an upper window so an actual track star was brought in to perform the feat. There are also reports that on Keaton's MGM talkies, the studio wouldn't permit him to tackle some of the more dangerous feats so doubles were quietly used.

In any case, Mr. Dillon had plenty to proud of in the stuntman's profession...and an array of injuries that he somehow managed to survive. (He fractured his skull for a scene in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. You can read about it and others in the obit.)

• Posted at 11:39 PM · LINK

Sanderson Does San Diego

Another chapter of Peter Sanderson's report on this year's Comic-Con International.

• Posted at 10:13 PM · LINK

This is a Test...

...but a semi-important one. Yesterday, I went and bought myself a new PDA. That was the package Costco somehow managed to get to me about eleven minutes after I ordered it. The PDA is equipped with a wireless Internet capability.

So now the question before us is: Can I wirelessly post to this here weblog from the thing? Can I, if you'll pardon the techie jargon, configure the frammistat to interface with the doo-hickey?

If you're reading this, I can.

• Posted at 12:58 PM · LINK

Poor Mel Gibson

Three years of probation...loses his license for ninety days...

But the real punishment has got to be the $1200 fine. Six minutes' income shot to hell.

Oh, well. He's probably lucky that he didn't kill someone while driving drunk. The judge might have given him a stern scolding.

• Posted at 9:51 AM · LINK

Today's Video Link

Back in this message, we linked to the rousing opening of the Linus the Lionhearted cartoon show. Today's link takes us to the end credits, which may be the saddest, most funereal moment ever seen in an animated series. Have a hanky ready before you click.

By the way: This is our last post relating to Post Crispy Critters cereal. I don't know why there have been so many because, like I said, I never liked the stuff.

• Posted at 12:18 AM · LINK

Worth a Peek

A newspaper article about the current state of Mad Magazine.

• Posted at 12:12 AM · LINK

August 20, 2006 • Current • August 18, 2006