The current issue of Washington Monthly is devoted to the topic of Torture and Why We Shouldn't Do That. A vast array of writers, including some Conservatives, argue that it robs us of the moral high ground, lowers our standing in the world and — perhaps worst of all — doesn't work.
Obviously, I agree. But would someone who doesn't like to suggest some counter-argument articles to which I could link? I'm kinda hoping for one that isn't based around some "what if?" that sounds like a rejected 007 plot with an atom bomb set to explode at the Rose Bowl and the only way to stop it is to get a pair of needlenose pliers and yank out the fingernails of some enemy spy we've captured.
I've received a lot of contradictory e-mails from folks discussing the name of the Disney TV series on which the Texas John Slaughter episodes aired. All the folks who told me it was The Wonderful World of Disney or Disney's Wonderful World of Color or any other such permutation were wrong. I was also wrong when I said it was Disneyland, though I have a great excuse: The back of that Texas John Slaughter still I featured in this post said it was from the TV series, Disneyland.
The definitive answer comes from my old chum, Bill Cotter, who authored the (emphasis on "the") book on the subject, The Wonderful World of Disney Television. Bill's book is now out of print but that link will take you to an Amazon page via which you can usually snag a used copy for a reasonable price...and if you're interested in the subject, you should. Bill writes me to say...
10/31/058 was the debut of the show, and it was on Walt Disney Presents. This was the name of the anthology series between the two previously mentioned titles [Disneyland and The Wonderful World of Color], and it was used for three seasons (1958-1959, 1959-1960 and 1960-1961). After that it was on to color, and no more Texas John Slaughters, sad to say. That arc was one of my favorites of the time.
Bill also directs me (and therefore, you) to this page on his website which lists what was on those shows and when. This should settle matters.
I thought I'd linked to this once but I did a search and apparently not. It's another one of those Kellogg's cereal commercials I like so much because of master voiceman Daws Butler. Here, he's Snagglepuss leading us in a merry sing-a-long for the thing everyone loves to sing about...Kellogg's Cocoa Krispies.
You will notice that Daws gets a screen credit on this. If you're curious why, I explained it back in this post.
I was just reading a website with news of Las Vegas and there was an article about events that will be taking place in that town in honor of St. Patrick's Day. For some reason, these made me laugh...
McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant - Happy St. Cabby’s Day. This is the fourth year for this "hail to the hack" celebration at M&S. Cab drivers who stop by between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. will receive a complimentary breakfast of green eggs, ham, and Lucky Charms cereal.
Rio (McFadden's) - The party starts at 7 a.m. with $10 beer, breakfast, and Bloody Marys until 9 a.m. Xtreme radio 107.5 broadcasts live 3 p.m.-7 p.m. Make your own green bikini contest with $500 cash prize. Festivities include leprechauns, bagpipers, stilt walkers, and green beer.
Fitzgeralds - Festivities include a leprechaun lookalike contest and a green Jello eating contest. Triple points all day long.
And the rest are pretty much all special discounts on beer and ale, which is good because otherwise, people might not be inclined to drink on St. Patrick's Day. If I were Irish, I'd rush to be there...because nothing could celebrate my heritage better than green Jello, homemade green bikinis, a leprechaun lookalike contest and a nice bowl of Lucky Charms.
March 10, 2008
