Paul Newman & James Dean

Below is a screen test for, I think, East of Eden. James Dean won that part. East of Eden was made in 1954 and in theaters in 1955. James Dean died in a car wreck in 1955. Paul Newman would live another 54 years after the below screen test was made. In the screen test both look so young. Probably because they were young. One did not get much older, the other lived to be an old man. I think living to be an old man is preferable to a car wreck.

Bad Taste, Good Taste, No Taste

Some wise guy once said good taste is better than bad taste, but bad taste is better than no taste.

I think it's in bad taste to talk about your own taste level. As in to say something like "I have extremely good taste." What an odd thing to say. That should be for others to judge, not oneself.

I knew this guy years ago, let's call him Bussell Fatz. He was one of the dumber people I've ever known. The dumber a person is the easier it is to be self-deluded, or so it has seemed to me. Bussell Fatz would often comment on other people's level of "class." And on his own high level of "class." He'd also talk about how artistic he was. And what good taste he had.

Bussell's artisticness consisted of making hideous wall hangings out of vinyl and carpet. He had no class, no artistic ability and really bad taste. It was a funny, sad spectacle to witness.

Bussell dated another former acquaintance of mine. They made quite a pair. Both self-proclaimers of extremely good taste. And high class. I remember seeing them together once and they had 5 different versions of plaid going on between the two of them.

That girl friend of Bussell's, in addition to having extremely good taste, was probably the biggest slob I have ever known. Totally slovenly. Living like a pig in a sty. How can one have extremely good taste and live like a pig? It's a perplexing conundrum. I don't think I'll devote much mental energy to this particular conundrum.

I like that word "conundrum."

Tootsie Tonasket To Texas

Tootsie Tonasket called while I was walking at the Village Creek Natural Historical Area to inform me that she is coming to Texas and wants to go to the Texas State Fair. Tootsie asked if she can stay at my place. I didn't know what to say, so I said yeah, I guess so.

Tootsie also informed me that she wants to go to Joe T. Garcia's and have one of their legendary margaritas. I have not gone to Joe T. Garcia's in a long time. Not since they filled in the swimming pool.

Tootsie also informed me she wanted to go see that Lake Grapevine place I've written about before. I told Tootsie I really wouldn't have a lot of time to play tour guide.

Tootsie then informed me she also wanted to see the Fort Worth Stockyards and see the herd of longhorn walk down the street. And have BBQ at that Riscky's place she's seen on my Eyes on Texas website.

And how many days is it that you plan to be here I asked. 5 was the answer.

I guess I can handle 5 days of Tootsie Tonasket. But I hadn't planned on going to the State Fair of Texas this year.

My New Niece Evie

I've got a new niece named Evie.

Have I mentioned before that my little sister and little Kristin are foster parents? The first kids they took care of were named Abby and Emilie. Abby was under one year old. I forget how long they took care of Abby and Emilie, but it was a long time. And then the kids went to live with their grandparents in Colorado, where they continue to do well.

When I was up in Tacoma the Two Mommies got a call asking them if they could take a troubled boy under 10. At the time they had me in the house, my mom and dad and way too much raspberry canning going on. So, taking the boy was not doable. They already had way too much on their hands.

It amazes me that they are taking care of kids. It's a lot of work. And both my sister and Kristin already have stressful jobs.

They also run a very tidy house. And, unlike my other sister, they have no maid helping. Well, they did have me for a month. I did a lot of vaccuuming. And dish washing. To my impeccable standards.

They like a real peaceful, quiet house too, which further impresses me that they take on the responsibilty of taking care of a little kid. They have a tendency to cry and make noises.

My sister told me that Evie has gotten used to them and is happy all the time, like you see in the photo.

I forgot to mention, in addition to Evie, they also have two cute, high maintennance poodles, Blue and Max. The poodles currently have a minor medical issue involving allergies that has Max wearing one of those funny cone things around his neck. Poor Max. He's a funny poodle.

Paul Newman Killed By Lung Cancer at 83

I must be getting old. So many TV and movie stars who in my mind's eye are young, are actually old. Cloris Leachman in her early 80s. That surprised me.

And now to read that Paul Newman has died from lung cancer and that he was 83, well, both those facts surprised me.

Paul Newman was real good in several of my favorite movies. Like Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. He and Elizabeth Taylor were at their peak in that movie. Hud is another Paul Newman movie I've watched more than once.

I liked Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid when I saw it in a theater, long ago, but off the big screen and on to my TV, that movie did not entertain me on second viewing. But Paul Newman was good in it.

When I read it was lung cancer that was the cause of death I wondered if Paul Newman was a smoker. I figured not, due to him being behind all those healthy Newman's Own food products. But the photo would seem to indicate he smoked, maybe only in his younger years. Lung cancer is a nasty way to go.

I've gotta look up how old Elizabeth Taylor is...76. I've not seen her in several years.

First Presidential Debate Down, Two More To Go

I surprised myself last night. Even though I found it pretty much a boring snorefest I made it through last night's debate. The debate had none of those memorable type moments that so many previous Presidential debates have had.

Like Gerald Ford saying Eastern Europe was not under Soviet control. For those of you born post the 1970s, up til the collapse of the communism, Eastern Europe was behind what was called the Iron Curtain. Basically the countries that the Soviet Union occupied after World War II the Soviets turned into communist states. If one of the Soviet's communist "allies" got frisky, like Czechoslavakia did in 1968, the Soviets would invade and squash the rebellion.

This type thing was why it was a laugh producing gaffe when Gerald Ford made his unfortunate assertion. He really never recovered from that one incident.

The first President Bush had a memorable debate moment that hurt him when he looked at his watch, as if he was bored and anxious for the torture to end. But he was on a stage that included Clinton and Ross Perot. I really didn't think it all that odd that he'd check the time. But it bothered others.

Michael Dukakis had a bad debate moment when he coldly and robotically responded to a question regarding the death penalty and what his position on that issue would be if his wife, Kitty, were raped and murdered. That was one odd debate moment.

Al Gore had some bad debate moments when he'd do a heavy sigh in response to something coming out of George W.'s mouth. Now that almost the entire country has done similar sighing it now just seems like Al Gore was ahead of his time.

The first debate between Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan gave most of the country their first good look at Reagan. And he surprised a lot of people. He didn't come across as some sort of hardline right winger. Instead he came across as really likable, funny, and, well, presidential. While Jimmy Carter looked and sounded really weak, at one point Reagan zinging some Carter nonsense with his famous line, "There you go again." At the time it was a great debate moment.

So, last night, to my eyes and ears there were no memorable moments. John McCain seemed toned down. No flashes of crankiness. Barack Obama seemed less long-winded than usual, with fewer moments of speaking haltingly, like he has in previous debates. Obama seemed more forceful than he has before. Very measured.

McCain rarely looked at Obama, instead directing his attention to the moderator, Jim Lehrer. It made it look like McCain was ignoring Obama.

McCain repeated himself a few times. Whether this was due to him thinking he had to hammer in a point, or he forgot he'd already said it, who knows. I'm guessing an early sign of senility. Like twice he said he has not been awarded the Miss Congeniality title while in Washington.

All in all, I guess I'd call the debate a tie.

Tex Appeal at the State Fair of Texas

The State Fair of Texas started today in Dallas at Fair Park.

In my current condition I don't know if I'll be going to the fair this year. Or down to Round Top this weekend.

I'm not in the mood to walk. After years of bragging that I've cured myself from getting back aches, I've got one. I think I either overdid swimming or sitting at the computer. Or both.

I was listening to WBAP radio's news at noon and a fairgoer was going on and on about how delicious the 2008 Big Tex Choice winner was. To me it sounds disgusting. Chicken-fried bacon, using extra thick bacon, double-battered, breaded, then deep-fried. With either ranch or honey-mustard dipping sauce.

At the State Fair of Texas you can not use United States currency to buy things like food directly. You must wait in a line to buy coupons and then pay for your chicken-fried bacon with coupons. I don't know how many coupons the chicken-fried bacon costs. If I remember right last year it seemed like the Big Tex Choice foodstuff was in the 6-8 coupon range. A coupon is worth 50 cents.

If you don't use up all your coupons you can not turn them back into U.S. currency. You can save them for next year and use them at the fair. Unless something scandalous happens, like a few years back someone stole a lot of coupons from wherever the leftover coupons were stored after the end of the fair. So, they voided that year's coupons from being used at future State Fairs of Texas. This did not seem fair to me.

If I do go this year I am going to stay til it gets dark this time so I can watch the fireworks/light show. The first time I went to the fair the fireworks/light show was about the best of that type thing I'd ever seen. A huge globe rose out of the water and somehow images were projected onto the globe. Fireworks and laser beams shot all over the place.

This year the show is called Illumination Sensation. It fires up at 8 PM. In addition to the usual fireworks there is some sort of high-tech 3-D light screen and liquid fire fountains shooting flames skyward with computer generated graphics timed to music.

If I do go to this year's fair it will be on October 17. Jessica Simpson will be singing at the Chevrolet Main Stage. It's free, I think.

Maybe if my back doesn't get better I could do the fair in a wheelchair. That might be fun.

Chesapeake Energy Bulldozes Neighborhood

Important incoming from Don Young. But before I get to that I've got to tell you that a lot of people showed up for yesterday's Moratorium Rally, as in dozens upon dozens showed up before the Fort Worth Ruling Junta's last meeting with the people of Fort Worth in their "Talk Fort Worth" program.

On to the message from Don Young.....

As I type this at 10 am, 9/26/08, Chesapeake Energy crews are bulldozing into one of the last pieces of original Fort Worth Prairie and cutting dozens of giant trees at the east end of Scott Avenue in Fort Worth, Texas.

Scott Avenue is a very narrow and winding street and includes some historic homes, including the oldest occupied house in Fort Worth. The drilling rig that weighs in excess of 120,000 lbs. is expected to be transported down this street, possibly as soon as tomorrow morning.

This controversial gas drilling site is adjacent to Carter Avenue where Jerry Horton and other residents have been protesting a 16" high-pressure, un-odorized gas pipeline that Chesapeake wants to install under their front yards. It is also due west of Tandy Hills Natural Area, one of the most unique ecosystems in the state of Texas, according to biologist, Prof. Bruce Benz, of Texas Wesleyan University. It has been studied and catalogued by botanists all over the state, including Bob O'Kennon with the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT).

Despite all of this, the City of Fort Worth issued a permit to drill the Thomas 1H gas well last Tuesday and allow Chesapeake to access the remote site from Scott Avenue. The company was recently fined for beginning work on the site before receiving a permit.

A neighborhood gathering is scheduled for Saturday morning at 9 am.

Your support is needed to demonstrate to the City and Chesapeake that their actions are unacceptable. Come join us for a cup of coffee.

Map of 2900 Scott Avenue

Exit Beach Street off I-30 and drive north to Scott Ave. East on Scott to the dead-end. Park on Scott Avenue or nearby.

Don Young
FWCanDo
P.O. Box 470041
Fort Worth, TX 76147

"God bless Fort Worth, Texas. Help us save some of it."

Survivor Gabon: Earth's Last Eden

Well, I continue being unable to watch more than an hour of TV. Last night I was sure I'd make it through the 2 hour Survivor premiere. I usually like Survivor. I thought the 2 hours would be some sort of improved intro that made it easier to get hooked.

Instead it turned out to be 2 episodes back to back. I bailed after barely making it through the first episode.

One of the things I like about Survivor is the locations. Exotic locales that I'll never see but would like to. But the Earth's Last Eden didn't thrill me too much.

It's always hard to get hooked on a new Survivor. It's too many people to keep track of and it takes awhile to get to know the quirks of their personalities. Or for there to be any sort of plot-line.

One strange thing, Survivor started out with a walk through the jungle, heading to a beach. The Survivors were dressed like they were going to work in an office. Most of the women in dresses. A couple of the guys in suits with ties. In the jungle.

I'm thinking Survivor is yet one more TV show I'm not going to be watching. What's wrong with me? I used to be so easily entertained.

Tonight's Uncertain Debate

The only convention speech I listened to in its entirety was Sarah Palin's. In all the years that there have been Presidential Debates I have only missed one, that being a debate between Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter. I'd gone picking apples in Eastern Washington with my mom and dad and we didn't make it back to the west side of the mountains in time for the debate.

So, even with my ability to watch much TV in serious decline I'm almost certain I'll muster the energy and focus to watch the debate if it happens tonight.

I'm guessing John McCain will let this play out all day long til it's time for him to hop on a plane bound for Mississippi with him telling reporters that enough progress had been made today that he felt okay about wasting his precious time debating Barack Obama.

Speaking of Barack Obama, why has Rush Limbaugh taken to calling him Barry? I've heard no one else call him Barry.

UPDATE: As usual, my prediction about tonight's debate was wrong. McCain did not wait til the last minute to announce he'd show up. Instead he let it be known this morning that he'd be in Mississippi tonight and head back to Washington immediately after to continue to try and prevent the Financial Pearl Harbor from happening.