Saturday, May 31, 2008
Last American Standing
The Robby Ginepri Comeback Express keeps moving through Paris, with his straight-set victory over Florent Serra of France 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 on Saturday. With both Williams sisters bounced yesterday, Ginepri -- whose right arm is so heavily bandaged in black and white tape that he looks like he shouldn't even be lifting a fork -- is now the last American in the French Open singles draw. He's also the first man from the United States to reach the round of 16 since Andre Agassi in 2003, which is even more remarkable when you consider that a week ago he owned an 0-5 record at Roland Garros and a 6-24 career mark on clay, and that he was ranked 171st in January after losing in the first round of qualifying at the Australian Open. (Could sharing a coach with Roger Federer -- Jose Higueras -- really be making that much of a differnce?) (NYT)
Friday, May 30, 2008
Wear Your Heart Out
My NewFest schedule arrived in the mail yesterday (how retro!), and I'm excited to see two films I've written about -- "Ciao" and "The Sensei." But after flipping through it I now have a new entry on my must-see list: "Wrangler: Anatomy of an Icon," No. 3 with a bullet ...
SYNOPSIS: Legendary porn superstar Jack Wrangler’s life has taken so many twists and turns, one would swear it was fictional. Jeffrey Schwarz’s expertly constructed documentary explores the life of the most celebrated and successful gay porn star of the 1970s, who carefully cultivated his image, turning himself into a brand name, and influenced a generation of gay men with his masculine and rugged good looks. Remarkably, he went on to successfully crossover and become one of the biggest straight porn stars in the 1980s. But the biggest twist came when he met singer Margaret Whiting, 22 years his senior, and inexplicably fell in love. "Wrangler" is a remarkable film aboutan extraordinary figure.
Watch and see what all the excitement is about ...
SYNOPSIS: Legendary porn superstar Jack Wrangler’s life has taken so many twists and turns, one would swear it was fictional. Jeffrey Schwarz’s expertly constructed documentary explores the life of the most celebrated and successful gay porn star of the 1970s, who carefully cultivated his image, turning himself into a brand name, and influenced a generation of gay men with his masculine and rugged good looks. Remarkably, he went on to successfully crossover and become one of the biggest straight porn stars in the 1980s. But the biggest twist came when he met singer Margaret Whiting, 22 years his senior, and inexplicably fell in love. "Wrangler" is a remarkable film aboutan extraordinary figure.
Watch and see what all the excitement is about ...
Attn: New York Readers
If you live in New York state, the governor is looking for your opinion on his recent directive for the state to recognize all legal same-sex marriages from other states and countries, even though New York does not allow gay marriage.
Please call (518) 474-8390 and say you support the governor's directive on marriage. You'll be asked to give your ZIP code (by an actual person!). It takes four seconds.
Please call (518) 474-8390 and say you support the governor's directive on marriage. You'll be asked to give your ZIP code (by an actual person!). It takes four seconds.
San Francisco Days, San Francisco Nights
Video: Rep. Graves (R-MO) TV Ad Attacks Opponent's San Fran Values
Check out this new "attack" ad from Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), who is facing a tough challenge from former Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes, a Democrat. The ad attaches Barnes to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, zeroing in on her "San Francisco values," all of which I agree with (and I'm not even in San Francisco!).
Friday Photologue
Michael and I went to see the Mets pound the Dodgers last night, at what might be my last visit to Shea Stadium ...
Saw this hunky guy just outside my apartment. Not sure if you can tell, but he's holding a tennis racket (wanna play?) ...
Here's my favorite: This chain called Le Pain Quotidien makes such a big stink about their "communal table" setup ...
Only everybody at the one on 7th Avenue pulls them apart so they can eat in peace! It's so New York, if not all of America ...
Look Who's Winning
Robby Ginepri is into the third round at the French Open, with an upset yesterday of 27th seed Igor Andreev of Russia, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2. Who knew the sexy American could win a match (period, let alone) on the dirt?
Page 1 Consider (05/30)
any woman who become priests. (NYT)
Thanks for the Laughs, Harvey
I just read that Harvey Korman has died at the age of 81. Although my family used to dog him pretty badly for always cracking up during sketches on "The Carol Burnett Show" (I guess we figured we could just as easily laugh hysterically at Carol Burnett and Tim Conway's brilliant comedic gifts, so why not pay us), I still always smile when I think of him. And now after rewatching this classic dentist skit with him and Conway, I'm starting to realize I'm still smiling because he was always cracking up during sketches on "The Carol Burnett Show." A funny man who will not be forgotten. (AP)
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Inbox
Date: Thu, 29 May 2008 16:06:52 -0400
From: "Bill Walsh"
Subject: My whole life has been in preparation for this moment
Just corrected Pop Tart to Pop-Tart.
From: "Bill Walsh"
Subject: My whole life has been in preparation for this moment
Just corrected Pop Tart to Pop-Tart.
Thursday Ad Watch
Speaking of models, Michael and I just saw Casey Skinner of "Make Me a Supermodel" fame over at the Au Bon Pain on Fifth Avenue (the same place where I accosted Debbie Gibson). He got away before I could remember his name let alone ask for a photo, but I did find this video tribute to him for your viewing pleasure.
Towering Infernal
I don't know anything about this group Infernal, but the guy in the video sure is incredibly hot ...
Feel the Spin
I got a lot of flak last year for siding with the "spin-class attacker" who couldn't tolerate a fellow classmate's overzealous "enthusiasm" during a class at Equinox on the Upper East Side. But now that I found out that one of the things the "victim," Stuart Sugarman, was yelling was "You go, girl!!!" I'm beginning to think justifiable homicide wound've been OK, too. I think I've made it abundantly clear how I feel about people who make a nuisance of themselves at the gym, so now that the trial is under way I just wanted to send my best to the real victim here, defendant Christopher Carter. For those who think Carter overreacted I present an interesting bit of exculpatory evidence. It seems that prior to the attack Carter asked the instructor to please ask Sugarman to keep it down (the instructor just shrugged), then he asked Sugarman directly. According to a witness testimony Sugarman's exact response was, "Make me." No further questions, Your Honor.
Page 1 Consider (05/29)
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
BREAKING: N.Y. to Recognize Gay Marriages From Elsewhere
The NYT is reporting that New York Gov. David A. Paterson has directed all state agencies to begin to revise their policies and regulations to recognize same-sex marriages from other jurisdictions, like California and Canada. (NYT)
Blonde on Blondie
In this awkwardly adorable clip (or is it adorably awkward?), Scarlett Johansson reveals her Peter Falk fetish to the timeless Debbie Harry. Watch HERE.
'Paper' Route
From the second I read Ginia Bellafante's review in The Times of "The Paper" last month I had a pit in my stomach. Although I was completely intrigued by the idea of a reality show set in the newsroom of a high school paper (newspapers are embedded in my family's DNA, after all), I was afraid it would stir up too many painful adolescent memories, something I've done my best to convince myself I've gotten past. Still, the lure of the newspaper was overwhelming. As far back as I can remember I've been working for one in some fashion or another. When I was 9 my brothers and I set up shop in the basement of our house in Madison Heights, Mich., and self-published the Hiller News. (We weren't going to let the fact that our crack elementary school didn't even have a newspaper class stop us, and Scrabble tiles made for nifty name plaques anyway.)
(click to enlarge)
The spirit duplicator -- aka "ditto" machine -- was my first introduction to the joy of poppers
While it didn't last long -- Woodward and Bernstein had just brought down a president and Principal Kwapisz wasn't about to let us do the same thing to him after Billy wrote that scathing op-ed blowing the lid off the lunch ladies not doing their job and he shut us down after just a few issues -- the seed had been planted and none of us ever looked back. (But seriously, were the lunch ladies afraid of the students, and was the "snowball area" only created to save the supervisors the extra work needed to keep kids out of other trouble, so they would at least kill each other with snowballs "peacefully"? To this day, no one has ever satisfactorily answered any of these questions.)
The spirit duplicator -- aka "ditto" machine -- was my first introduction to the joy of poppers
While it didn't last long -- Woodward and Bernstein had just brought down a president and Principal Kwapisz wasn't about to let us do the same thing to him after Billy wrote that scathing op-ed blowing the lid off the lunch ladies not doing their job and he shut us down after just a few issues -- the seed had been planted and none of us ever looked back. (But seriously, were the lunch ladies afraid of the students, and was the "snowball area" only created to save the supervisors the extra work needed to keep kids out of other trouble, so they would at least kill each other with snowballs "peacefully"? To this day, no one has ever satisfactorily answered any of these questions.)
I've now seen all eight episodes (I watched the finale last night) and while the series didn't manage to help me refurbish any childhood memories, it did succeed in reminding me why I either participated from a distance or quit every school club, team or organization I ever joined, including my three school newspapers: Kids are cruel. It also succeeded at something far more important. As much as I like to joke that all of life is a form of high school -- the cool people, the smart people, the popular people, and the politics of it all -- the truth of the matter is my entire professional career has been filled with smart, generous and supportive people. Who've thunk it would take a teenybopper show on MTV to make me realize just how fortunate I've been.
UPDATE: FourFour has a brilliant play-by-play analysis of "The Paper" here.
Related: The Making of a Teenage Editorzilla (NYT)
Teenage Newshounds, It’s a Dog-Eat-Dog World (NYT)
Teenage Newshounds, It’s a Dog-Eat-Dog World (NYT)
A Family Affair
My grandfather Mickey Walsh, far left, cranks out his sports column at The Pottsville Republican circa February 1938; I return to the scene of the crime circa May 2005
Naked and Sacred
Music Box: The Motels
In the band's early '80s heyday, I thought the Motels were nothing more than a poor man's Pretenders, and didn't pay them much attention. Years later, I came to realize that Martha Davis was one of the New Wave's most evocative presences, with her smoky vocals, her crazy eyes and her dark and moody lyrics that frequently examined the dark side of Los Angeles. Although the band's MTV hits -- "Only the Lonely," "Suddenly Last Summer" and, especially, "Shame" -- were certainly enjoyable, I think the real turning point came in 1986 when I saw Jonathan Demme's underrated "Something Wild." There's the robbery scene in the grocery with Ray Liotta and Jeff Daniels -- every second more tense than the next -- and the Motels' "Total Control" plays robotically in the background. It's such a brilliant film moment made even more perfect by that song. It was then that I had to race out and get every song they ever recorded and what a joy it was to discover the band's first five studio albums (1979's "Motels," 1980's "Careful," 1982's "All Four One," 1985's "Shock") and Martha's 1987 solo debut, "Policy."
All these years later, Martha Davis and her Motels are still making interesting music. (Check out their latest releases here.) And I'm still discovering some of the old stuff. It seems their most successful album -- 1982's "All Four One" -- was reissued years ago with many of the original takes from when it was first submitted to the label -- and rejected -- in 1981 as "Apocalypso." I only found out about the reissue with these bonus tracks last night and have been searching the Web looking for a copy. (I think I've succeeded!) Now if we could just get Martha to play live in the Big Apple someday soon ...
I would sell my soul ...
"Shame" on every little thing that we do ...
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Sporting Goods: Blaine Wilson
Three-time Olympian Blaine Wilson's comeback ended after two events Thursday when he withdrew from the nationals and announced his retirement. "I got through floor exercise and I said, 'I’m just tired,'" Wilson, 33, said he told coach Miles Avery. (Tired of what -- being so damn hot?) He added, "It's been a good run ... It was a good idea for me to walk away." Between Blaine and Alexei Nemov, there was actually a time when watching the Olympics was fun. I hope his retirement is everything he hopes it will be. Last time he tried things didn't go so well.