Bitter Wheat & a Miracle Baby
David Mamet is known for his in your face writing, whether for the stage or screen. I was enthralled by the vulgar, brilliant Glengarry Glen Ross (1992), which skewered the real estate industry, probably unfairly but in riveting fashion. I admire many of his other efforts, but not as much as that one. His latest work, in previews in London, is controversial. The main character of Bitter Wheat is Barney Fein, based on Harvey Weinstein, portrayed by John Malkovich. In an article in the NY Post, Johnny Oleksinski takes it apart, dubbing it tone-deaf and completely lacking in insight, a failure even if intended as black comedy. Here are two lines from the piece, the first of which had me LOL: “I don’t think you understand how much money I’ve given to the Democratic Party.” “Yes, I’ve molested various actresses. As who else has not?!” As the headlines have informed the public, the latter statement describes many execs in various fields.
Vanellope Hope Wilkins was diagnosed with a rare heart defect at just nine weeks’ gestation — a severe malformation that most babies don’t survive -growth of the heart outside the body. After multiple three-hour surgeries, the doctors managed to insert a breathing tube, then re-inserted Vanellope’s heart inside her chest. Doctors covered the heart with a mesh for protection and, finally, skin grafted from her arm. After 14 months of hospital care, she went home in February. Welcome to the great adventure, little one. Live long and prosper.
Here’s a headline from nypost.com: “Russia to create its own Chernobyl series that blames CIA for disaster.” Maybe the mainstream media will pin it on President Trump. Which leads me to a picture I love:
It was a gorgeous day in Brooklyn, the temperature perfect. My thanks to the gentleman who insisted on paying for two novels in Russian despite having donated four; and to the one who purchased James Michener’s 1000+ page epic, Caribbean; and to the couple who bought an instructional on carpentry and a paperback in Russian; and to the guy who took home History Safari, a pictorial for children. He had me laughing as he excoriated, in his thick accent, the lack of reading he believes is attributable to the cell phone and the MF zombies they make of us all. I was reminded of my godfather, may he rest in peace, using CS when drivers cut him off, and me bustin’ a gut trying not to laugh at how funny it sounded through a pronounced Italian accent. There’s always something fascinating to see or hear. That’s basically what I told Anthony, 70, who is alone now that his mom has passed. He sees no reason why he should go on living. Fortunately, he doesn’t seem engulfed in darkness.
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