Mary Tyler Moore Quotes

I like these quotes.  She could be very funny.

Mary Tyler Moore Quotes

Remembering Tammy Grimes - RT 66

Come Home Greta Inger Gruenschaffen.

I remember Tammy from many films and television parts over the years.  He had a distinctive voice and manner.  I watched the episode of RT 66 where she played Greta.  It was a fun episode.

Thanks Tammy, we miss you.

Wiki

Tomb of Jesus Dates to Roman Times

Age of Tomb

It is an interesting when science in some ways agrees with timelines found in the bible and in history.

Lois Nettleton in Route 66, Twilight Zone

I've seen her many times in film and TV.  Tonight I found her in a an episode of Route 66 titled "Suppose I said I was the Queen of Spain."

She was born on August 18, 1927.  She passed away almost ten years ago at the age of 80 on January 18, 2008.

Tonight in this episode she played a mysterious lady in Los Angeles who seemingly set up and stalked Todd Stiles, (Martin Milner).  She might have played him for a fool since his credit card disappeared and the person who took it ran up over 9k in charges.

Did he get taken.  It appears so.  He walks the streets looking at the drunks and bums as a reminder of how they can often get there.  By chance he finds her at a mission.  The story goes around where the cops can't prove the fraud and he finds her in a religious mission house taking care of wayward men.

She undoes the charges later and the story ends where Todd has his heart broken after believing he found love.  He believes she scammed him and then later thinks she is just acting out a part in a rather strange act of deception to find herself.  At the end he finds himself sad knowing that she is living in multiple personalities possibly crossing over enough to connect with him in different characters and later acting as if she doesn't know him.  Then again she must as she explains how he should act in facing her last act.  But she knows it's him so her behavior can only be explained as unbound and unable to hold onto anything or anyone for more than a few days at a time.  While he moves from town to town in essentially the same role at least his connections to others are real where hers are a fabrication.

Also in this memorable episode or Route 66:

In this episode we also find Robert Duvall in an early role and you can see his character is already formed.  He just has to hit the right roles.

Harvey Korman, later to be a regular on the Carol Burnett Show, is a representative for the credit card company.  He was even a bit funny in this role.  Harvey passed away May 29, 2008.

He was born on February 15, 1927 only six months before Lois was born and died.

Here they passed each other in a show born only months apart and died only months apart.  It's a startling reminder that getting to age 80 is still an accomplishment.

Update 1/10/18

I just watched the Twilight Zone Episode The Midnight Sun.  I've probably seen it half a dozen times and every time I have to watch it all the way through.  Lois plays a great part in a story about a planet about to fry after it changed axis and moved closer to the sun.  Something about Lois, she fits each part in every film she's in.  After it's all over with her facing this grilling sun it turns out to be nothing but a fever and a nightmare.    What a talent.

Self Publish Your Own Book

Good Article on the subject by Tom Woods

Free Caregiver Book Promotion

I have taken to writing books and here is a free copy if you want one and pick it up from Amazon during the Free Book Promotion


Free Kindle Book - Caregiver

From Nov. 4-7th, 2017

I just published this book and did it to share the trials and struggles of caregiving and maybe help someone get through the task with less difficulty.

Ned Kelly Movie with Mick Jagger, and True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey

I watched this 1970 movie last night after finding it at the library. I only knew about Ned Kelly because I took an International Literature class and read the Peter Carey book "True History of the Kelly Gang." I loved the book and this movie had a young Mick Jagger in it so I thought it was worth a look. It rates less than 5.0 out of 10 which is about what I thought. I just learned they did another in 2003 with Heath Ledger that rates higher.


Ned Kelly 1970 Movie - Mick Jagger

Ned Kelly 2003 Movie - Heath Ledger

E Reader Book Declining Sales

E reader books declining

I notice that I don't read them as much as I did, but still like the idea that I can have a hundred classics available in one small book sized device.

Paper books still rule.  Some of us have a really bad habit and keep adding more to our huge paper book collections as well, so maybe the day of paper books is lone from gone.  It's a reminder that often the old ways are long lasting for a reason.

Stick with your paper books when you can get them at the library or simply want to have it always available.

Review: The Whole Town's Talking

By Fannie Flagg

Playaway Audio Book  - 12 Hours

I probably wouldn't  have read this book had it not been an audio-book.  It just didn't seem like my kind of story.  Thankfully, there were limited choices that day so I picked this one up along with another since I was planning a long driving trip.   This turned out to be a wonderful and entertaining story with a great concept behind it, life after death plus talking.  It is a story about a small town and the people that lived and died there.  It is superbly written and the choice of a narrator is ideal.

After finishing this book on my long drive from the Carolina Coast and then into West Virginia I found myself enthralled by day to day goings on in the town of Elmwood Springs in Missouri and the cemetery known as Still Meadows.

I am now a Fanny Flagg Fan for life.

Narrated by Kimberly Farr - great voice

Five Stars
*****

Review: Walking the Himilayas

Playaway Audio book

By Levison Wood

This is a compelling travel story that is well written.  The writer is an adventurer who cannot stay away from the challenge of a new travel challenge.  Since most of us will never make these treks it is the next best thing to read about it.  This is especially true of an Audiobook.

9 Hours of Playing Time

In Memoriam: Barbara Hale Passes Away at 94 - a Class Act

http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/barbara-hale-dead-perry-mason-secretary-della-street-1201971817/

Some things in this world matter to each of us.  Over the past few years I began to watch Perry Mason reruns and remember why I appreciated Barbara Hale as a smart, competent, sometimes daring,  and always beautiful legal secretary.  Paul Drake would back me up on that.   I checked online back then to see if Barbara was still alive and yes, she was and somehow that provided some continuity to a time when life in the USA as observably kinder, friendlier, and more civilized despite the weekly murders that appeared on the Perry Mason Show.

I found a youtube video of her at a celebrity signing show and she was still happy and and still held a twinkle in her eyes.

So, I've been waiting for the sad news that I knew must come and it did and sadly I never met her but can still see Della Street five days a week in reruns on METV.    She was a class act.


  

Review: Zen in the Art of Archery by Eugen Herrigel

This is a classic for those who study Zen and also want to understand the connection between Archery or any other discipline as it related to enlightenment.  It's a short read but pleasant, concise, and tremendously informative.



zen in the art of archery

Choose Your Words Carefully: Guerrilla got a man fired

ESPN tennis commentator fired for incorrect word usage.

The benefit of writing rather than speaking is that you can hit delete before you print.  It also lets you spell the word, and especially if the word sounds very similar to another one that is deemed offensive depending on the context of use.  That may not have mattered in this instance since it seems to be possible to read the mind of speaker.

  As the world changes and things we never considered are now enough to get you fired, well consider them or pay the price.  This is a simple reality that continues to hurt those that step out of the box.  As a teacher consider this or you may find yourself explaining your words and actions.  As a writer there is simply no taking it back since you are supposed to have the foresight to know what is in the mind of the reader.

Update - He's suing.

Review: Grit by Angela Duckworth

I found this book on a Playaway digital device at the library. 9 Hours of Audio

The title is quite accurate though I had visions of John Wayne riding across the fields guns blazing when I thought of grit.  Instead, the author gives a superb account of how this particular trait is common among successful people.  The important thing is that it is a learnable trait and can be increased with effort that over time reinforces itself once victories are scored.

If you want a book on success and how to achieve it this would be a great start.  I recognize immediately the common methods that all masters of their specific skill use to become masters.  This conforms to some extent to the ten thousand hour rule of mastery but adds the need for thoughtful training, something that is hard and requires discipline.

This is an excellent self-help book and offers great insight on perseverance and passion.  Her research in to the effect of these two common traits to success is what makes this book special.  Another thing is that the author narrated it herself.  If you can find the playaway version it's a nice audio book to have while traveling.  If not, here is print version below.

It is long and requires some focus to stay with it and this of course is another sign of grit on your part in that you want to achieve the gains that this book can give you toward your life goals.

***** 5 Stars -  Excellent

In Memoriam: Barbara Hale dies at 94

She was beautiful

I just heard about Barbara Hale passing away. I watch her every week night on Perry Mason reruns. I always thought she was beautiful even when seeing her on TV as a kid. She always was nice on TV and in interviews.

Condolences to her family.  We'll miss you Barbara.

Thankfully she lives on in regular reruns.  I watched a youtube video of her at a convention in her later years and she was still very friendly and happy.  It was nice to see her still that way.

Review: The Gone Fishin' Portfolio

Review: The Gone Fishin' Portfolio By Alexander Green


This book boils down to two or three simple pages.  These list the portfolios you would use to safely diversify your investments while limiting the effort involved.

Simplicity and Brevity best describe the concept.  I have seen similar recommendations before but not in such a precise and complete discussion with a logical reasoning for this to work.

If you want to just set money aside and let it work then this approach makes sense.

The author also wisely suggests that only you care about your money like you do.  It is true.  Brokers and investment advisors are there to serve their interests and not yours no matter how much they profess otherwise.

Having read so many other investment books in the past I feel jaded on the subject of personal finance. I still found many of his points refreshing and honest as if from a man with no need to worry about what stating such things might cost him in the industry.  He has all he needs according to him so this may explain it.

Regardless, I like the choices involved such as the Vanguard group index funds which have always been my favorites.  His reasoning makes perfect sense based on reducing fees and expenses which over time become a major part of your return.

4.5  Stars **** 1/2   Strongly Recommend

Review: The Survivor by Gregg Hurwitz

Book on CD 11 discs

I didn't know for sure how the story would end but I had an idea.  The hero was a sad character who in the midst of a suicide saves the day in a bank robbery.  From there he and his family become the target of Ukrainian mobsters.  It is a detailed story though sometimes not plausible still holds your interest when you suspend disbelief and just enjoy the storytelling.  I found myself addicted enough to the  story to binge on it by spending a whole day popping in another CD until it was finished.  It became as stressful as watching a season of 24 and to me that is a great compliment to the level of anticipation and suspense throughout.  I am actually getting a little stressed thinking about the story again.  It had every level of emotion you could find in a story making it well worth the read or listen.

Nice Job Mr. Hurwitz

***** 5 stars

Review: Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King

I have listened to this book twice on CD about a year apart.  It was good enough to do this.  King really makes the story work with perfected suspense and fear you feel for his characters.  At the same time you can't help but loathe the villain.  He takes extra care in cultivating the disgust you have for the villain named Brady.  You'll know what I'm talking about if you read the book or listen to it.

I have read, listened, or watched every book and story King has written and published as best as I can tell.  I always look for him in the library.  He is unique in many ways but his most important skill is that he tells stories really well.