Contours

Those of us who believe Cuomo is as bad a governor as there has ever been in the USA are enjoying his travails. The audio tape of him singing Do You Love Me? over the phone is priceless, although, of course, just about everyone who has ever been born has been a fool at one time or another when it comes to the mating game. Ladies and Gentlemen — The Contours:

On my morning walk I got to thinking how at least 90% of one’s negative experiences become meaningless through time — except for one factor. Many still nag, more so because one realizes it’s ridiculous to let them.

This nypost.com headline brought a smile to my face: “Missouri governor pardons couple who aimed guns at BLM protesters.”

Yesterday I lampooned Obama for his privilege. Today, caving to pressure, he acted. Headline from newsmax.com: “Obama Cancels Birthday Bash After Mounting Covid Criticism.” It’s reminiscent of the miscreants who apologize after being exposed. The party is now down to family and friends. Still, I want a head and carbon-emitting craft count.

How about this newsmax.com headline: “Scientific Paper Suggests Criticizing Fauci Be Deemed a ‘Federal Hate Crime.’” Nothing government may do surprises anymore.

Last night Movies!, channel 5–2 on ota in NYC, ran Manhattan Melodrama (1934), starring William Powell and Clark Gable as childhood friends, orphans, who as adults are on opposite sides of the law. Myrna Loy plays the love interest. It’s a solid story that features interesting moral dilemmas. I’ll focus on the film’s henchman, Nat Pendelton, who made a career out of playing the big lug. Born in Iowa in 1895, a direct descendant of Revolutionary War hero General Nathanael Greene, his family eventually settled in NYC. He attended Poly Prep in Brooklyn, where he was an outstanding wrestler. He graduated from Columbia University, where he was undefeated in his collegiate career, winning two national titles. He won a silver medal in the 1920 Olympic Games. He wrestled professionally for a while, then followed an uncle into acting. His career spanned 1924-’56. There are 114 titles under his name at IMDb, only the last a TV credit, Schlitz Playhouse. He was a foil for both the Marx Brothers in Horse Feathers (1932) and Abbott and Costello in Buck Privates (1942) and Buck Privates Come Home (1947), his last film. He passed away at 72 in 1967. Boomers will recognize him:

It didn’t rain and the floating book shop did well. My thanks to the kind folks who donated and bought books. Here’s what sold: two titles in Russian, The Client by John Grisham; Intimate Nights: The Golden Age of New York Cabaret by James Gavin; volumes one and two of Touched by a Story: Inspiring Stories Retold by a Master Teacher by Yechiel Spero; three kids books; All In: The Education of General David Petraeus by Paula Broadwell and Vernon Loeb; and this:

Very few Russian hardcover editions have a jacket. Instead, the art is emblazoned on the cover. I wish American companies would do that, although I suppose it would put people out of work. Here are the covers of two translations whose images should be familiar:

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