Actor Harry Morgan Dies
Actor Harry Morgan, who played Colonel Sherman Potter on the TV series M*A*S*H, has died after a bout with pneumonia. He was 96.
The Who2 Blog
The World’s Longest-Reigning Monarch
Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej turned 84 years old yesterday. He’s been the king since 1946 — that’s more than 65 years on the throne. Who’s the second longest-reigning monarch?
Who Designed the Oreo?
491 billion sold, and they still don’t know who designed the iconic Oreo cookie.
What If I Just Don’t Want to See ‘The Descendants’?
Alexander Payne and George Clooney have terrific track records. The reviews are spectacular. But I just don’t want to see this movie. Does that make me a bad person?
Yes, Herman Cain *Did* Quote the Pokemon Movie As He Ended His Campaign
“You won’t have Pikachu to kick around any more, gentlemen.”
Sorry We Missed Your Birthday, Dude
Oscar winner Jeff Bridges turned 62, yesterday. And we missed it. So happy belated birthday, with a few photos.
This Week in Biography: From Mozart to Mitty
From the death of the Salzburg Stallion to the birth of America’s greatest Secretary of Transportation, it all happened on this week in history.
Pappy Boyington Was Born 99 Years Ago
If he’d waited a few days he could have been born on December 7th, Pearl Harbor Day. Which would have been fitting.
Cain Train: Pain Reigns
Presidential candidate Herman Cain says he will “suspend” his campaign. He says all the rumors about adultery cause too much pain for his wife and family, and he also says a bunch of other stuff.
Here Is the Very Strangest White House Photo of 2011
With four weeks left in 2011, we can declare a winner in the competition for strangest official White House photo of the year.
Stalin’s Daughter’s Wild Ride
Joseph Stalin’s daughter, Svetlana Alliluyeva — also known as Lana Peters — died last week in Wisconsin at the age of 85. Hers was quite a story.
Let’s Wallow in Hollywood Glamour for A Moment
The Beverly Hills Hotel is so Old Hollywood that Liz Taylor honeymooned there. Six different times.
Billy Graham and Presidents: Can He Crack the 30% Mark?
The 93-year-old evangelist has pneumonia. But we hereby wager that he’ll be around to greet president #13 in 2013 or 2017.
40 Years of Football Tears
On a night just like this in 1971, a legend was born. The legend that the movie Brian’s Song is the only movie that will make a grown man cry. I weep that there are men who can cry so easily.
Puzzles and Ping Pong
Will Shortz edits the New York Times crossword puzzle, sells millions of books (millions!)… and is a ping pong mogul?
Does All Modern Music *Really* Come From the Blues?
Where do Keith Richards, Ayn Rand, and the blues come together? In exasperation, that’s where.
Does the World Really *Need* a Photoshop Detector?
Scientists at Dartmouth have developed a top-secret tool that can show how much celebrity photos have been digitally altered. The question is, how much do you want to know?
A Portrait of Billy Strayhorn
Jazz composer Billy Strayhorn wrote “Lush Life,” “Take the ‘A’ Train” and “Satin Doll” — all while looking like a big kid.
Many Are Called, But Few Are Conan
Why is a really great new Sherlock Holmes novel still so elusive? And why do so many authors keep trying to write it?
The Handsome Man-Purse of Sir Ben Kingsley
I would just like to say that Sir Ben Kingsley’s leather satchel (or “man purse,” if you must) is pretty cool. That is all.