Short Takes
Here’s a foxnews.com headline that should warm the hearts of Trump supporters: “Politically charged Oscars hit all-time low rating, plummet almost 6 million viewers from 2019.” Is it an indicator of the November election? Adam Sandler, who many believe was snubbed by the Academy despite glowing reviews for his performance in Uncut Gems, lashed out at his contemporaries in a profane rant while accepting an Independent Spirit Award on Saturday night. Shades of Trump.
Those who predicted the election of NYC mayor Red Billy de Blasio would lead to a return to the bad old days seem to have been right on the money. As much as I despise him, I hope it isn’t true. May it be only false alarm.
Fodder for sci-fi writers from a FN headline: “US Army to use gamers’ brain waves to train military robot swarms.”
Notable in their absence from Vince McMahon’s XFL — Colin Kaepernick and Johnny Manziel. A foxnews.com article reports that the former asked for too much money. The latter simply seems to have lost the desire to play.
Last night Movies!, Channel 5–2 on over the air antennas in NYC, ran Cry Terror! (1958). The title was familiar, but I’d never seen it. I don’t think it ran on TV too often, probably because Neville Brand’s character attempts to rape Inger Stevens’ twice, tearing her dress the second time, exposing her undergarments, considerably risque for the late ‘50’s. There are also threats against a child in the scenario. The cast features a host of familiar faces: Rod Steiger, James Mason, Kenneth Tobey, Angie Dickinson, Jack Kruschen. The most amusing billing at IMDb is Jack Klugman as “Vince, a thug.” Andrew L. Stone wrote and directed the flick. Although he had a substantial career, there are no great films in his canon. He helmed 34 movies, a few of them silent shorts, and has 27 credits as a writer, 19 as a producer. He passed away in 1999 at 96. Here are the aforementioned in character:
Headline from FN.com: “Anti-Putin blogger has throat slit in a hotel room…” And another: “Russia jails left-wing activists on ‘terrorism’ charges…” The economy may be better than it was under the reds, but Russia is still a rogue nation governed by a cutthroat.
And because this world is desperate for humor, here’s the most amusing headline of the day, also from FN: “Man believed to be living in Washington grocery store for over a month caught with expensive wheel of cheese.”
The floating book shop continues to encounter frustration. With rain in the forecast there was no choice but to set up at a viaduct. In three sessions at Avenue Y & East 15th during the past two weeks, there have been no sales. My thanks to the woman who donated three of the four entries in Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series. I’m curious to see if it continues to draw interest. I’ve sold about 50 copies of those novels through the years.
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