Live Long and Prosper


Australian Actress, Dame Judith Anderson was born on this day in 1897 (died 1992)

“Very stupid to kill the only servant in the house. Now we don’t even know where to find the marmalade.”

Dame Judith Anderson as Emily Brent in And Then There Were None.

I may be the only person I know who geeks out over Dame Judith Anderson being both Big Mama Pollitt (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof) and the Vulcan High Priestess T’Lar (The Search for Spock).

Just for the record, if you’re casting. Big Daddy Pollitt is a bucket list role.

Who would have thought that Lucille Ball’s approval to go ahead with Star Trek would have led to such a lengthy and successful franchise?

I’m probably due to binge my way through all of the series again. But new episodes of Picard and Discovery are coming soon.

I’m mixing cultural references here, but I’m not sure why that should surprise you.

I do find it hard sometimes when I’m writing and think I have a great cultural reference to tie into the subject at hand. But, then I realize that I’d have to explain the obscure reference, and that sort of defeats the

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purpose.

Suppose I gave a brilliant post and nobody came.

See what I mean?

So, it’s a challenge when writing to have something make sense. If a reader gets sidetracked trying to figure out the reference, they may just give up and click on something else.

Which you might do if I don’t wrap this up.

It’s Thursday and the weekend is almost here. Not quite almost enough, but almost.

Tomorrow is short story Friday. I’ve actually got one I’ve not published before. So, that’s progress.

And gentlemen, I’m warning you now. Monday is Valentine’s Day.

Yes, you are being manipulated by the greeting card industry, the florists, and the chocolatiers.

You can’t say I didn’t warn you.


THINGS YOU SHOULD READ

Pro-mask Democrats keep getting caught maskless
FOXNews
Stacey Abrams’ campaign accused critics of exploiting a Black History Month reading. Read more.

Why the Biden Admin Is Handing Out Free Crack Pipes
Newsweek
The Biden administration will provide grant funding to pay for the distribution of safe smoking kits as part of efforts to reduce harm from substance abuse over the next three years. Read More.

Tyrannical Fascist Governor Orders Citizens To Do Whatever They Want
The Babylon Bee
“I think it best that Virginians do whatever they feel like doing,” said the evil fascist pig who loves freedom. “People are capable of accepting personal responsibility for their own actions.” Read More.

ALSO BORN ON THIS DAY

1893 – Jimmy Durante, American actor, singer, and pianist (d. 1980)

1906 – Lon Chaney Jr., American actor (d. 1973)

1927 – Leontyne Price, American operatic soprano

1937 – Roberta Flack, American singer-songwriter and pianist

1964 – Glenn Beck, American journalist, producer, and author

WHAT I’M READING


 

BENEDICTION

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 3:20–21

 

Ronald Wilson Reagan
February 2, 1911 – June 5, 2004

I’d Like to Thank the Academy

On this date in 1964, the Beatles made their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, with a record-setting audience of 73 million viewers across the United States.         Photo: Dan Grossi/AP

I mean, I’d like to thank them. But they’ve never called my name.

The Oscar nominations are out and once again, I’ve been overlooked. And for the record, yes, I did have a supporting role in a film that was released last year.

As is usually the case, out of the ten Best Picture nominees, I’ve seen one this year. There are a couple more that I want to see, but I doubt I’ll get to them before the ceremony. I’m also reminded that I have some other movies to watch.

I won’t be nominated for those either.

True, I’ve spent most of my dramatic career in live theater, both performing and producing.

It is also true that I’ve not received my call from the Tonys.

I guess I’ll just have to wait for the Pulitzer, but there’s a certain truth to the fact that I’m running out of time.

So I’m not waiting by the phone for any awards committee to call.

Then again, with our smart phones, do any of us really wait by the phone anymore?

Or are we always waiting by the phone hoping someone will text or email rather than actually call?

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All I know is that I don’t have to worry, right now anyway, about getting my tux to the cleaners.

That’s if I even have a post-COVID tux that still fits.

Yes, I said post-COVID. Just in time for the mid-term elections.

Wait…what?

Let’s move on.

In years past, I would try to make sure I’d seen all of the Best Picture nominees. That was a lot easier when there were just five of them.

That won’t happen this year. In fact, I can’t even remember the last film I saw in the theater. I’ll get through the ones that I find are streaming.

Maybe.

I may even watch the ceremony. Or not.

I don’t get as excited about awards shows, or big games as I used to.

I think there’s a football game on Sunday night.

Twenty-eight years ago this week I was in Atlanta consulting for Jack Kemp at the 1994 Super Bowl. Jack held a big event every year and being “between jobs” I went to help him out. We had high hopes that Jack would decide to run for President. He didn’t. He did run for Vice President with Bob Dole, but we know how that turned out.

Working for Jack was amazing. I’ve told the story before. We were broke and I considered scalping my ticket. But when was I going to have another chance to go to the Super Bowl and buy ten dollar beers? (which today sound like a bargain).

The next week I started work here in Richmond for the Allen Administration.

We lost Jack in 2009. We lost Senator Dole last year. Washington sure could use them today.

I’m not quite sure how I got from the Oscars to the Super Bowl. I think I might just watch the game. If nothing else, I’ll show up for the snax.

At least the beers will be cheaper.

Carole King, American singer-songwriter and pianist, Carole King, was born on this day in 1942.


 

THINGS YOU SHOULD READ

Time To End the Subminimum Wage for Disabled Virginians
Shaun Kenney at The Republican Standard
Virginia is top ranked as a business-friendly state. How we treat employees with disabilities in the workplace matters. Read More.

Cancel Culture Attacks Are Leftist Attempts To Protect Their Political Religion
The Federalist
For those who fall somewhere on the “digitally or professionally existing near someone I don’t agree with doesn’t give me panic attacks” spectrum, these attempts to silence contrary viewpoints can be rather confusing. Read More.

2022 Oscars Nominees List
The New York Times
The complete list of Academy Award nominees for 2022. Read More.

Steven Spielberg becomes first person nominated for Best Director Oscar in 6 different decades
Entertainment Weekly
The legendary filmmaker earned his eighth category nod Tuesday morning as part of the 2022 Oscar nominations, where his West Side Story musical adaptation also earned notices for Best Picture, Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Best Cinematography, Best Sound, Best Costume Design, and Best Production Design. Read More.

Smash Musical Aiming for a Summer Workshop & Broadway Bow in 2023
Broadway.com
Variety reports that a summer workshop is being planned for the musical adaptation of the fan-favorite NBC show.  Read More.

ALSO BORN ON THIS DAY

1737 – Thomas Paine, English-American philosopher, author, and activist (d. 1809)

1922 – Kathryn Grayson, American actress and soprano (d. 2010)

1928 – Roger Mudd, American journalist (d. 2021)

1944 – Alice Walker, American novelist, short story writer, and poet

1946 – Jim Webb, American captain and politician, 18th United States Secretary of the Navy

1957 – Terry McAuliffe, American businessman and politician, 72nd Governor of Virginia

1963 – Travis Tritt, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actor

WHAT I’M READING


 

BENEDICTION

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 3:20–21

 

Ronald Wilson Reagan
February 2, 1911 – June 5, 2004