The NY Times:”Mr. Hillerman’s evocative novels, which describe people struggling to maintain ancient traditions in the modern world, touched millions of readers, who made them best sellers. But although the themes of his books were not overtly political, he wrote with a purpose, he often said, and that purpose was to instill in his readers a respect for Indian culture…”
Here’s a swell new Onion interview with writer John Hodgman.He’s the dowdy “PC” on Apple TV ads, and a regular on Jon Stewart’s show. He’s also the author of the fake-trivia books The Areas of My Expertise and More Information Than You Require.
A reader writes:George Burns: did he make it to 100? I can’t believe his name is not listed. Thanks.Too true: Surprising that we don’t have Burns and Gracie Allen both. We’ve added them to our to-do list for the coming year.Yes, George Burns was exactly 100 when he died in 1996. He just barely made it: He was born on January 20th of 1896, and died on March 9th in 1996. So he got there with 49 days to spare. (1996 was a leap year.)
Unexpected photos from The Honolulu Advertiser.Barack Obama, in jeans and flip-flops, takes a brief stroll through the alleys of his old neighborhood. He looks, for a brief moment, like an unknown local. (Notes the story, “Obama appeared solemn when he spotted his traveling press running toward him.”)
Editor Paul Hehn, at the Modern Poetry desk, has posted a new profile of tricorn hat-wearing poet Marianne Moore.
The newest gapper for our files: Harper Lee, author of the classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Editor Paul Hehn, at the Southern Literature desk, has written a fine new profile. (And dang it, Truman Capote did NOT write her book.)
…because she died five years ago, along with Warren Zevon and Keiko the whale.Ederle was a lot more famous than either of them in her day. She was the first woman to swim the 35 miles across the English Channel. She pulled herself across in 14 hours and 39 minutes on a summer’s day in 1926. (Top that, Keiko!)
Just caught up with this obituary from Sunday’s NY Times: Lefty Rosenthal, the gambler who inspired Robert De Niro’s character in Casino. As The Times notes, Rosenthal was never quite the same after surviving a car bomb outside a Tony Roma’s in Las Vegas in 1982.
The LA Times recaps the college years of Sarah Palin.The full sequence, beginning in the fall of 1982, is: University of Hawaii at Hilo (arrived but never enrolled), Hawaii Pacific University, North Idaho College, University of Idaho, Matanuska-Susitna College (Alaska, one term), then University of Idaho again (graduating in 1987).
Director J.J. Abrams grapples with Capt. Kirk over the upcoming Star Trek movie.