Friday, January 16, 2009

Another Fred Kaplan Link

Fred Kaplan draws some interesting parallels between John F. Kennedy and Barack H. Obama. And of course it goes without saying that we all hope the parallels only extend so far.

• Posted at 2:22 PM · LINK

Crane Shot

We ask questions here, we get answers...

Divers are combing the Hudson with sonar today to try and locate the engines and the black box, to determine the precise moment that two birds collided with passenger jet. The extremely cold weather and water currents have limited the divers' search. A giant crane has been brought in to help remove the plane from the water off Battery Park tomorrow morning and to bring it to an undisclosed location.

An undisclosed location? Why are they taking it to Dick Cheney?

The whole article can be read here. Thank you, David M. Lynch. Now, does anyone know about the luggage?

• Posted at 2:17 PM · LINK

Quick Question

This morning, we're all reading about the heroism and skill of the pilot who landed (watered?) that U.S. Airways plane yesterday, and of his crew. And they seem to deserve praise and huzzahs and medals and such, and I don't mean to take away from any of that...but I have one question or maybe it's two. In the articles I've read, I don't see anyone discussing what happens to that airplane that's now at the bottom, I guess, of the Hudson River. I mean, the Hudson is said to be a foul place but I don't think even that water will dissolve an entire Airbus A320...not for at least a few months. Do they haul the thing out in pieces or bring in a big crane or what?

And just out of curiosity, is there any chance of the passengers ever seeing their checked luggage again? I have a suitcase that I suspect could be submerged in water for an extended time without its contents being destroyed, especially if it's in some sort of sealed compartment. Are divers going in to try and get the bags out? Or does this wait 'til they haul the whole plane out of the river or what? Someone reading this will know.

• Posted at 1:34 PM · LINK

Super Exhibition

This should interest any comic fan who's going to be in or around Los Angeles between mid-February and August. The Skirball Cultural Center — a large, beautiful facility located near Westwood — will be playing host to two allied exhibitions. One is called, unfortunately, "ZAP! POW! BAM! The Superhero: The Golden Age of Comic Books, 1938–1950." Details of that one can be found here. The other is called "Lights, Camera, Action: Comic Book Heroes of Film and Television" and you can find out about that one here. Both run from February 19 through August 9 and both feature art and artifacts from superhero glories.

There will be several events in connection with these exhibitions. Not listed yet on the Skirball site is that on the evening of March 5, there'll be a program featuring Jerry Robinson, one of the great comic artists whose work is being exhibited. Mr. Robinson will be interviewed by that guy who hosts all the historical-type panels at the Comic-Con International each year...what's his name? Oh, that's right: Me. Jerry was also a Guest Curator of the exhibition and I hear it's quite wonderful. If you're going to be in L.A. while it's up, you might want to plan for a visit.

• Posted at 12:42 PM · LINK

Technical Error

This just in...

Circuit City Stores Inc., the nation's second-biggest consumer electronics retailer, said Friday it had run out of options and will be forced to liquidate its 567 U.S. stores. The closures could send another 30,000 people into the ranks of the unemployed.

Let's hope someone notes that a pretty high percentage of those 30,000 people were folks who were hired, not because they knew anything about computers or electronics or any of the things Circuit City sells, but because they were willing to work cheaper than the ousted employees who did. This is the same thing that killed or wounded Egghead Software and The Good Guys and CompUSA or any other chain that was selling technology. The main reason people go into a store to get a computer instead of ordering it over the Internet is because they want to talk with someone who knows more about computers than they do.

Every time I ever went into a Circuit City or any of those other places, there was — at best — one person on the premises who did...and he/she was always swamped with questions not only from customers but from other salesfolks. At the one near me, the answer to every query was, "I'll have to ask Steve." Once upon a time, before they slashed salaries, those places had a lot more Steves.

It's kind of like a hospital saying, "Business is down...let's get rid of all those doctors and hire some kids who've watched E.R.!" Until companies learn what they're selling, we're in for a lot more liquidating and downsizing in the retail electronics business.

• Posted at 10:15 AM · LINK

Small in the Saddle

Sorry for giving you short notice (the puns are unavoidable) but Turner Classic Movies is running The Terror of Tiny Town tonight around 11 PM Pacific, 2 in the morning back east. And I know what you're thinking: "Oh, dear God, not another western movie cast entirely with midgets and dwarves!" Yeah, I'm sick of 'em, too...but this is kind of a classic. Made in 1938, it stars Billy Curtis and everyone else then in Hollywood who was shorter than Mickey Rooney. ('38 was a good year in this town for little people. Almost everyone in this movie also got work in The Wizard of Oz.)

It's not a good movie but it's too weird to ignore. Apparently, producer Jed Buell planned for this to be the first of a whole series of features (or maybe short subjects) like this. The next was to be Paul Bunyan, starring all the same actors as normal-sized people...and a normal-sized man as Paul. It was never made, probably because no one went to see this one. You might want to see it...or set your TiVo or VCR and see how long you can last.

And if you like bizarre, TCM is following it with The Unholy Three and Tod Browning's Freaks.

• Posted at 1:08 AM · LINK

Today's Video Link

Let's watch one of my favorite moments from Late Night with David Letterman, back in the days when Dave was on NBC and doing Viewer Mail once a week...

Hey, I liked that so much, I feel like watching the sequel from a few weeks later...

• Posted at 12:40 AM · LINK