tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69713982024-03-07T01:56:49.086-05:00His NibsOne who acts in a self-important manner - used mockingly as a jocose term, as if a title of honor, but not usually in the presence of the person to whom referred.Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025004413149425371noreply@blogger.comBlogger1254125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971398.post-84042678213552078002019-02-07T16:27:00.001-05:002019-02-07T16:27:54.479-05:00Quicken contesthttps://www.quikly.com/quicken-loans/s/ZwdWZODq?utm_content=bloggerNormanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025004413149425371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971398.post-33802230381484492602017-06-07T22:30:00.001-04:002017-06-07T22:30:16.184-04:00Bob Dylan 2016 Nobel Lecture in Literature<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6TlcPRlau2Q" width="480"></iframe>Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025004413149425371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971398.post-45730319725088987572017-04-28T19:40:00.001-04:002017-04-28T19:40:19.692-04:00Dylan -- Blink Willie McTell in honor of Martin ScorseseOne of the great Dylan songs that he didn't think was good enough to put on an album! <br />
<br />
<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/98693484" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<p><a href="https://vimeo.com/98693484">Bob+Dylan+-+Blind+Willie+McTell-SD</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user2878157">Frank Justesen</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025004413149425371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971398.post-90855734608471253522016-10-14T19:32:00.000-04:002016-10-14T19:32:08.010-04:00Bob Dylan wins Nobel Prize for Literature<iframe title="New York Times Video - Embed Player" width="480" height="321" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="true" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" id="nyt_video_player" src="https://static01.nyt.com/video/players/offsite/index.html?videoId=100000004707425"></iframe>Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025004413149425371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971398.post-74464987700355304852016-09-18T20:50:00.001-04:002016-09-18T20:52:09.082-04:00Getting my Buzz on!<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3yAB9ExgxpA" width="480"></iframe><br />
<br />
This was actually a 15 minute video, as that's about the amount of time that Buzz spoke once he got into the club. This is a short clip where I hijacked him and received a 'Hi' and a quick handshake (he probably hasn't washed his hand yet :-) ). I tried to get his attention again as he walked away to give him the Monteverde multi-function pen I'd brought with me as a gift (to commemorate his use of a pen to blast off from the Moon), but no luck. There really wasn't an opportunity for anyone to speak with him, so after a 2-hour drive to get there, I'm glad that I made myself obnoxious enough to get that 'Hi' and handshake. Besides thanking everyone for the honors given him during the day, he spent the majority of his short speech talking about his plans to get us to Mars.Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025004413149425371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971398.post-15556175773365114642015-12-14T04:51:00.000-05:002015-12-14T04:51:59.995-05:00Orangutan magic<iframe src="https://embed.theguardian.com/embed/video/world/video/2015/dec/09/orangutan-magic-trick-funny-video" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025004413149425371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971398.post-9486420400949509152015-09-29T23:19:00.000-04:002015-09-29T23:19:06.476-04:00Adult coloring books making a splash<object id="flashObj" width="480" height="270" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="videoId=4460939264001&linkBaseURL=https%3A%2F%2Fau.news.yahoo.com%2Fvideo%2Fwatch%2F29427854%2Fhow-adults-are-revisiting-their-childhood-to-beat-stress%2F&playerID=3680665367001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAACKW9LH8k~,A7HfECo5t7CatyA-8fEJ4LzBn7uU7ewe&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoId=4460939264001&linkBaseURL=https%3A%2F%2Fau.news.yahoo.com%2Fvideo%2Fwatch%2F29427854%2Fhow-adults-are-revisiting-their-childhood-to-beat-stress%2F&playerID=3680665367001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAACKW9LH8k~,A7HfECo5t7CatyA-8fEJ4LzBn7uU7ewe&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="480" height="270" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" swLiveConnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object>Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025004413149425371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971398.post-12984706093516287462015-04-12T00:30:00.002-04:002015-04-12T00:30:27.349-04:00Writing in cursive<script height="433px" width="770px" src="http://player.ooyala.com/iframe.js#pbid=3ce6404476914e86994d87aac3e4391b&ec=ZxYjRodDqNF8yr7F7vNZRhJb3ZDsRQMR"></script>Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025004413149425371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971398.post-82240418006248757902015-04-10T04:41:00.001-04:002015-04-10T04:41:50.189-04:00My cousin Justin does cold-brewed coffeeFood Network <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/videos/foodie-call-coffee-0234577.html">video</a>Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025004413149425371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971398.post-87519941369422710312015-03-29T17:42:00.003-04:002015-03-29T17:45:12.712-04:00Everything you want is on the other side of fear<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJZCfpVEZori6koxaHbvvoPBk-SU2bwnfrTylIxjdFogVS-k8iE7j9FsBu7KBi3hwIT1c7pE6qTVf0TRJ4TBlgCeMb0gYq-CMEbKo4hAtsYhvkD0YqHyixNk82cMmuKOQd89fBw/s1600/19308_863273940384846_8128097870450062009_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJZCfpVEZori6koxaHbvvoPBk-SU2bwnfrTylIxjdFogVS-k8iE7j9FsBu7KBi3hwIT1c7pE6qTVf0TRJ4TBlgCeMb0gYq-CMEbKo4hAtsYhvkD0YqHyixNk82cMmuKOQd89fBw/s400/19308_863273940384846_8128097870450062009_n.jpg" /></a>Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025004413149425371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971398.post-87049299947274984732015-03-18T23:48:00.001-04:002015-03-18T23:48:50.384-04:001960s Interviews With Buckminster Fuller About His Life, AnimatedStill one of my fondest memories was spending a weekend at a Harvard Science Center symposium with Bucky, in my early twenties.<br />
<br />
<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/122335390" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe>Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025004413149425371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971398.post-34070975695381535362015-01-05T04:43:00.002-05:002015-01-05T04:43:55.430-05:00Bottlenose Dolphin RescueAfter the countless times that dolphins have saved humans in the open ocean, it's nice to see the favor being returned!<br />
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/2gvgkHSyKFE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025004413149425371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971398.post-68357225156680498362014-12-14T00:46:00.000-05:002014-12-14T00:46:44.374-05:00Bob Dylan Plays Concert for One Insanely Lucky Superfan<iframe src="http://www.tv4play.se/iframe/video/3028918?starttime=0" width="320" height="180" scrolling="no" frameborder="no"></iframe>Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025004413149425371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971398.post-88918673247613572392014-11-22T00:59:00.000-05:002014-11-22T00:59:26.967-05:00William Shatner's 'Catch Me Up' Kickstarter project<iframe width="640" height="480" src="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mattandrews1/catch-me-up-by-william-shatner-1/widget/video.html" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"> </iframe>Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025004413149425371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971398.post-52319745256139380952014-10-26T00:16:00.001-04:002014-10-26T00:16:07.465-04:00Chimpanzee Cognition: Beats humans at memory task <iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/VPKmcT4lZDk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025004413149425371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971398.post-87994154662723116302014-10-20T20:03:00.002-04:002014-10-20T20:03:40.192-04:00Dolphin plays catch with youngster<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/5pcNerbml5E" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025004413149425371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971398.post-2027801692020763742014-10-19T21:49:00.002-04:002014-10-19T21:50:48.993-04:00Zombie-proof you shedI realize that we still have more than a week to go before the arrival of Halloween, but you'll need time to Zombie-proof your shed. Instructions below.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn.makeuseof.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/How-to-Zombie-Proof-your-Shed1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.makeuseof.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/How-to-Zombie-Proof-your-Shed1.jpg" /></a></div>Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025004413149425371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971398.post-10212341436477738862014-10-17T02:58:00.000-04:002014-10-17T02:58:59.669-04:00Chimp vs human! - Working Memory test<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/zsXP8qeFF6A" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
"Ayumu the chimpanzee has made headlines around the world for his ability to beat humans on memory tests, in both speed and accuracy. Does Ayumu's ability force us to reconsider our assumptions about human superiority to other primates?"<br />
<br />
I've seen these experiments before. There are even apps where you can attempt to beat the scores and times of Chimpanzees (such as 'Ape Test'). Their cognitive abilities, i.e. 'intelligence', are clearly superior to homo sapiens in this particular area. But why? How does this ability benefit them in their natural habitat? I've yet to read of a convincing answer. As our favorite Vulcan would say, "Fascinating".Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025004413149425371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971398.post-27365892939569164662014-10-17T02:44:00.000-04:002014-10-17T02:44:08.313-04:00SPERM WHALES ADOPT DEFORMED DOLPHIN<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/7iFzIMZRsoI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
"This video depicts a very rare interaction between sperm whales and an adult bottlenose dolphin with a spinal malformation (i.e. scoliosis). This represents the first time this type of non-agonistic (friendly) interaction has been recorded for sperm whales. We published a description of these interactions in the scientific journal "Aquatic Mammals"."Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025004413149425371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971398.post-21785453568932138002014-10-17T02:40:00.002-04:002014-10-17T02:40:36.552-04:00Sperm Whales Sleeping - Discovery Ch. Magic of the Blue<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/HengPojNgbM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025004413149425371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971398.post-84982525153147554112014-10-12T04:10:00.000-04:002014-10-12T04:17:14.069-04:00A Handwritten Thank You Note to Eleanor Roosevelt -- or the Girl With a Hundred CurlsA week or so ago there was a discussion on <a href="http://www.members2.boardhost.com/pentrace/msg/1412042814.html">Pentrace</a> started by Len Provisor, entitled "What significant person deserves honor on a Limited Edition pen?"<br />
<br />
Two of the many suggestions were the crew of Apollo 11 (or just Neil Armstrong alone), as well as Eleanor Roosevelt. <br />
<br />
Clearly, that honor should be bestowed upon Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin (and let's not forget Michael Collins -- for a time the most isolated and lonely human in history). I wrote something of a <a href="http://hisnibs.blogspot.com/2004/07/heroes-still.html">paean</a> to the Apollo 11 crew on this blog about a decade ago, which you're welcome to read if you'd care to. <br />
<br />
However, I have a familial tie to wanting to celebrate Eleanor Roosevelt. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://0.tqn.com/d/womenshistory/1/0/w/I/eleanor_roosevelt2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://0.tqn.com/d/womenshistory/1/0/w/I/eleanor_roosevelt2.jpg" /></a></div><center><i>First Lady <a href="http://www.gwu.edu/~erpapers/abouteleanor/">Eleanor Roosevelt</a>, circa 1935</i></center><br />
My mother was something of a childhood star on radio. She was dubbed the 'Girl With a Hundred Curls', and at age twelve or thirteen she had her own show in Washington, D.C., geared to young people. <br />
<br />
You can read the full story <a href="http://phiggy.blogspot.com/2006/08/dignity-magazine-article.html">here</a> if interested, but to quickly summarize, my mother invited Mrs. Roosevelt to appear on the program with her, and the First Lady accepted. <br />
<br />
That appearance was later cancelled (there's some intrigue there), but subsequently Mrs. Roosevelt invited my mother and grandmother to the White House for tea. More than anything, my mother recalled my grandmother only allowing her to take one biscuit -- and most off all -- the strapping Roosevelt boys! <a href="http://www.hisnibs.com/smile.gif" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://www.hisnibs.com/smile.gif" /></a><br />
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Hearing the story throughout my life, what stuck with me more than anything else was the coda to the story. About six years later after the White House visit my mother -- who was now a young woman of about 18 -- got on an elevator also occupied by Mrs. Roosevelt -- and Mrs. Roosevelt recognized *her*! Can you image? Having met a young girl years prior -- and with thousands of other people she met as First Lady in the interim -- she recognized a transformed young woman that she'd spent a few minutes with years before. I always found that absolutely amazing. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v167/hisnibs/Phiggy/Mom1-adjusted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v167/hisnibs/Phiggy/Mom1-adjusted.jpg" /></a></div><center><i>Phyllis Warner Haase</i> </center><br />
My mother started to become quite ill in 2008 (she passed away in 2009) and I really wanted to find some way to bring this great family story back to her in a special way. I'd questioned her over the years as to whether she had an actual invitation from the White House, or some other physical memorabilia of the event beyond her memory of it and that of my grandmother. She didn't recall there ever being anything like that. <br />
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So, I started to do some research to see if there was any 'official' record that I could find for her. Among the sources I tried were the Eleanore Roosevelt Society (if *my* memory serves), the 'First Ladies' Museum in Ohio and several others. I finally struck gold with the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library. <br />
<br />
They reported "We have found an index card in the Records of the Office of the Chief <br />
of Social Entertainment which indicates that Miss Phyllis Warner and <br />
Mrs. Charles Warner attended a tea at the White House on June 10, 1937." (That letter exchange can be read <a href="http://phiggy.blogspot.com/2008/11/some-documents-from-tea.html">here</a>). <br />
<br />
But what really made the pursuit worth it, was they also found a handwritten thank you note to Mrs. Roosevelt from my mother:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZrt-vK3ZvsDFiFwkgoI-QbAWXf1yAIJdaiK_GpVgnw5-cjecki74dN46EHz1ITMpp7Tw0pQAmEw1Au6QpyY-X8Y8ZmJlkUjKEFVjv7JzD58gU6uAsxA3URUxawEDZqCMMG1ppTg/s400/Thank+you+to+ER.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZrt-vK3ZvsDFiFwkgoI-QbAWXf1yAIJdaiK_GpVgnw5-cjecki74dN46EHz1ITMpp7Tw0pQAmEw1Au6QpyY-X8Y8ZmJlkUjKEFVjv7JzD58gU6uAsxA3URUxawEDZqCMMG1ppTg/s320/Thank+you+to+ER.JPG" /></a></div><center><i>click on the photo to enlarge</i></center><br />
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along with a poem she had included:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmXoHXoJeRZqe0hGJF1ZCGMeL_D0gcbD0ci8DJqU3Ulqp1Hsx_sO_DmTlMssqM4NMihMz5kFZ_oo3SAKswr7rCPFhNMXKtoN1YqwdLjPRIDVm7c70gPxF1cn6xHolngcggPWiLA/s400/Poem+to+ER.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmXoHXoJeRZqe0hGJF1ZCGMeL_D0gcbD0ci8DJqU3Ulqp1Hsx_sO_DmTlMssqM4NMihMz5kFZ_oo3SAKswr7rCPFhNMXKtoN1YqwdLjPRIDVm7c70gPxF1cn6xHolngcggPWiLA/s320/Poem+to+ER.JPG" /></a></div><br />
and a thank you note in return:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh67bj7a4HoMIS08KDOay7ieBC2_Zg4HbkkxJ6okRAcTH7VaTpQlAr1BkP9vjkHzXDGI4xZJ1lVfep3N8ok-Vg4jow2f8vbbXJGss8V-gVJSNMglYn0Ma-gL7lx7kpXsQRJUlwsVA/s400/Thank+you+from+ER.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh67bj7a4HoMIS08KDOay7ieBC2_Zg4HbkkxJ6okRAcTH7VaTpQlAr1BkP9vjkHzXDGI4xZJ1lVfep3N8ok-Vg4jow2f8vbbXJGss8V-gVJSNMglYn0Ma-gL7lx7kpXsQRJUlwsVA/s320/Thank+you+from+ER.JPG" /></a></div><br />
I was able to present these to my mother before her 85th birthday, while in the hospital, and a few months before her passing. <br />
<br />
If you'd care to, you can see the handwritten note and poem on this <a href="http://phiggy.blogspot.com/2008/11/some-documents-from-tea.html">page</a> of the memorial website I put up for the Girl With a Hundred Curls. <br />
<br />
Norman Haase<br />
Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025004413149425371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971398.post-2220466996165456422014-10-06T00:26:00.000-04:002014-10-06T00:26:11.288-04:00The History of English in 10 minutes<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/H3r9bOkYW9s" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025004413149425371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971398.post-74872328436917847212014-09-30T06:56:00.001-04:002014-09-30T06:59:08.780-04:00I am Spartacus!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media4.picsearch.com/is?oVsaynMfAGMCUpuea5TyKbl0-E3lt12IuyZlsAFt2Dk&height=341" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media4.picsearch.com/is?oVsaynMfAGMCUpuea5TyKbl0-E3lt12IuyZlsAFt2Dk&height=341" /></a></div><br />
If you're anywhere near my age, the 1960 film 'Spartacus', starring Kirk Douglas, made a big impression on you. It was my Baby Boomer generation's 'Gladiator'. Besides Mr. Douglas (who produced it through his film company 'Bryna' -- his mother's name), it starred Jean Simmons, Laurence Olivier, Charles Laughton, Tony Curtis, Woody Strode and Peter Ustinov (who won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his performance), as well as many other Hollywood 'names' too numerous to mention. You can see more details about the film <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054331/">here</a>. It was directed by Stanley Kubrick, of '2001: A Space Odyssey' and 'The Shining' fame (two among many of his great films).<br />
<br />
So, it was with great interest that I came across the Kirk Douglas book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Am-Spartacus-Making-Breaking-Blacklist-ebook/dp/B0083JBWTI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412068779&sr=8-1&keywords=i+am+spartacus">'I Am Spartacus: Making a Film, Breaking the Blacklist'</a> [link to Amazon] -- published in 2012 when he was still only 95 (he turns 98 in December and is still writing terrific books)!!! Although the book does focus on the making of the film itself (Mr. Douglas hadn't seen it since 1960, but started to research the project to commemorate it's 50th anniversary), the second part of the subtitle is just as important to him. He gives a history of the Hollywood 'Blacklist', inexorably tied up with Senator Joe McCarthy's Communist witchhunts of the late 1940's and the 1950's. Here's a <a href="http://www.ehow.com/facts_5174296_hollywood-blacklist_.html?ref=Track2&utm_source=ask">quick overview</a>. <br />
<br />
The upshot of this in Hollywood was that a number of prominent screenwriters were unable to continue to earn their livings, at least under there own names, because of either being tainted as having Communist leanings, or of protecting those who did. Among those screenwriters was the masterful Dalton Trumbull. Quite courageously, as the boss, Kirk Douglas not only hired Trumbull to write the screenplay for Spartacus, taken from Howard Fast's novel, but insisted that he be given the writing credit for the film under his real name. This caused quite an uproar at the time, but Douglas stuck to his guns (or gladius and shield in this case).<br />
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The book is beautifully written and satisfies not only in its telling of the Blacklist and its effects, but also has some never-before-revealed juicy behind-the-scenes stories about the actors involved in the film. Laurence Olivier was going through a separation/divorce from Vivien Leigh at the time and Vivien's outburst at a party that Kirk attended was quite sad. Charles Laughton quit at least once, Tony Curtis took advantage of his past friendship with Douglas to get a part in the film, and Peter Ustinov continuously wheedled and charmed his way into enlarging <i>his</i> role -- to great effect! I won't detail these stories, as you'll want to read them yourself (or listen to the audio version, narrated by a certain Michael Douglas).<br />
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My favorite anecdote though refers to the main title of the book itself. Kirk came up with the idea of this pivotal scene towards the end of the film, and suggested it to Kubrick (you can see a short clip of this <a href="http://www.kirkdouglas.com/">here</a>, as it opens the portal to the Kirk Douglas website -- and you'll want to watch the great highlight reel there as well). Apparently, Kubrick lacked a certain openness to any ideas that weren't his and not only failed to reply to 'the boss' (remember, this was Douglas's production) but subsequently refused to even film it as a test! He tells it much better than I do here, but it ends with Douglas astride his great stallion slowly forcing Kubrick to walk backwards until his back is literally against the wall. Douglas tells him in no uncertain terms that the scene <i>will</i> be filmed, and cut if it doesn't work. Kirk mentions in the book at this point that he can't believe some of the things he did in his youth! It became one of the best-remembered and most-loved scenes in the film.<br />
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I was very moved by reading the book, as it brought back so many memories of the movies that my father and I would go to see together when I was a boy (not a few of them starring Kirk Douglas), as well as by how well-written and insightful it was. I was also moved by the sheer will and intelligence that still motivates this man, having suffered a massive stroke so many years ago and continuing to embody the title of another of his great films, 'Lust for Life' about the artist Vincent Van Gogh.<br />
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Not one to write many fan letters in my life, I thought 'what could I share or give to this person that might give him a small bit of the joy and inspiration that he's given me?' What could be more appropriate in celebration of this wonderful book than a Stipula <i><b>Gladiator</b></i> pen? It was unknown to me if Mr. Douglas was still able to actually write with a pen, due to the effects of his stroke, but that wouldn't really matter in the end.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://hisnibs.com/StipulaGladiatorRedCapBarrel_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://hisnibs.com/StipulaGladiatorRedCapBarrel_small.jpg" /></a></div>(You can see more photos of the pen <a href="http://hisnibs.com/gladiator.htm">here</a>)<br />
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To make a long story somewhat shorter, I purchased a contact list for Hollywood stars, and was able to send the pen, ink and a personal note c/o one of his agents. It eventually reached Mr. Douglas and I received this note a couple of weeks ago from his assistant, Grace Eboigbe (whom I subsequently spoke with, to confirm that Mr. Douglas had actually seen my little 'thank you' video, which can be seen <a href="http://youtu.be/MrGkNO1yN7E">here</a>). <br />
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Would I have liked a note penned in Mr. Douglas's own hand? Of course. But I understand his current limitations. As he says in the acknowledgments in his book: “I want to thank my assistant, Grace Eboigbe, the only person capable of transmitting my spoken or written words”.<br />
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So, other then selling a broccoli & cheese croissant to Meryl Streep (that's another long story), this will probably be my only brush with the Hollywood elite and my chance to be just a fan. Happy 98th Birthday to you on December 9th Kirk Douglas! I wish you many, many more. <br />
Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025004413149425371noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971398.post-9749774608204401372014-09-27T06:09:00.000-04:002014-09-27T06:12:16.154-04:00A Walk Among the TombstonesA Walk Among the Tombstones<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://hisnibs.com/AgathaChristiePenCapped2_small2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://hisnibs.com/AgathaChristiePenCapped2_small2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
As Lawrence Block's film 'A Walk Among the Tombstones' was released on September 19th (starring Liam Neeson), I thought it appropriate to show the beautiful, mint Montblanc Agatha Christie fountain pen that passed through my hands last year when Larry asked me to find an appreciative home for it. This was one of the originals and presented to him as a gift by Montblanc. You can read more of the story (and see more photographs) <a href="http://hisnibs.com/agatha_christie.htm">here</a>, and see a clip of the man himself on the Craig Ferguson show this past week <a href="http://youtu.be/Cjvi-lVky5M">here</a>. Watch the official trailer <a href="http://youtu.be/aTKBowDjMQg">here</a> rated R).<br />
Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025004413149425371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971398.post-10438634521547123582014-09-15T01:21:00.000-04:002014-09-15T01:23:05.988-04:00Tony's LA: Meet the King of Fountain Pens<script type='text/javascript' src='http://KTTV.images.worldnow.com/interface/js/WNVideo.js?rnd=878732;hostDomain=www.myfoxla.com;playerWidth=630;playerHeight=355;isShowIcon=true;clipId=8872890;flvUri=;partnerclipid=;adTag=News;advertisingZone=;enableAds=true;landingPage=;islandingPageoverride=false;playerType=STANDARD_EMBEDDEDscript;controlsType=overlay'></script><a href="http://www.myfoxla.com" title="Los Angeles News | FOX 11 LA KTTV">Los Angeles News | FOX 11 LA KTTV</a><br />
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A nice video about Fred Krinke and the Fountain Pen Shop in Monrovia, CA.Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025004413149425371noreply@blogger.com0