Happy 83rd Birthday, James Coburn

Happy 83rd Birthday, James Coburn

Happy birthday to rugged actor James Coburn, who turns 83 today. Or would have: he died of a heart attack in 2002.  (I thought he was still with us until I looked it up.)Others who died that same year: baseball great Ted Williams, busybody great Ann Landers, and beloved royal The Queen Mum.

Cowboys & Aliens: What Went Wrong?

Cowboys & Aliens: What Went Wrong?

One terrific trailer, several famous Hollywood geniuses, and $163 million in wasted budget later, one of the most-anticipated movies of summer 2011 is a baffling dud.

Pat Summitt Has Alzheimer’s Disease

Pat Summitt Has Alzheimer’s Disease

“There’s not going to be any pity party, and I’ll make sure of that.”Pat Summitt, the winningest basketball coach in NCAA history, has been diagnosed with early-onset dementia — specifically, Alzheimer’s Disease.

Gaddafi On the Skids

The rebels are in Tripoli, and Libyan state television has gone off the air.  After 42 years of total power, it’s looking bad for Muammar Gaddafi.

Flashback: Yao Ming for Apple

The great and lovable Yao Ming retired from the NBA last month.  He never won a championship, but he did join Verne “Mini-Me” Troyer for this charming Apple Powerbook ad in 2003. Like Yao in the lane, it had a wonderfully soft touch.

Cary Grant Preferred Double Vents, If You Know What We Mean

Cary Grant Preferred Double Vents, If You Know What We Mean

A wonderfully obsessive analysis of Cary Grant’s gray Kilgour suit from North By Northwest:”Ventless is unusual for an expensive single breasted jacket these days, yet have been familiar on double breasted suits since the ‘column’ look of the thirties. Grant apparently preferred double vents as he liked to put his hands in his pockets whilst acting.

‘We Were Not Found Wanting’

‘We Were Not Found Wanting’

President John F. Kennedy and his assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, died at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas within two days of each other in 1963.