The ‘Star Wars’ Audition Tapes
Blast from the distant past: Kurt Russell tries out for the part of Han Solo in Star Wars…
Biographies
Not-So-Nice Inspiration for Dylan Song Dies
William Zantzinger, the villain in Bob Dylan’s 1964 song “The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll,” has died at age 69.
A Salute to the American Presidency Project
While researching our new profile of CIA nominee Leon Panetta, we came across this great resource from UC Santa Barbara: The American Presidency ProjectIt’s a monster collection of public papers of the presidents, plus assorted proclamations, remarks, press briefings, election notes, audio and video. (Want to hear Herbert Hoover address the Puerto Rican legislature?
You May Now Retire, Jimmy Page
You’re 65 today.
Diane Keaton Collects Creepy Clown Paintings
Strange, but true.
Bushisms
“Will the highways on the Internet become more few?””It would be a mistake for the United States Senate to allow any kind of human cloning to come out of that chamber.””They misunderestimated me.”The BBC lines ’em up.
Hentoff’s Last Riff
“I used to say, ‘I’ve been at the Voice since the Civil War.’ But now I’m off to other combats.”Nat Hentoff, expert columnist on law, politics and jazz, moves on after 50 years at The Village Voice.
Obama’s New Limo is an Armored “Cocoon”
Made by Cadillac.”One news agency, noting its 8-inch-thick doors, says the limo can withstand a ‘direct hit from an asteroid.’ But GM spokeswoman Joanne K. Krell laughed off the comments. ‘And it will fix you a latte if you ask,’ she jokes.”A $25 billion latte, if you include the cost of the GM buyout.
A Brief Explanation of Why A California Actress Would Want To Name One Twin Daughter After A Country Singer from Locust Ridge, Tennessee
We read often yesterday that Rebecca Romijn had named a daughter for country singer Dolly Parton… but no mention of why she would want to name a daughter after Dolly Parton.(Just to recap: Romijn had twin daughters: Dolly Rebecca Rose and Charlie Tamara Tulip. Fraternal twins, not identical, says People.)
Nicolas Cage is Only 45 Years Old Today
Doesn’t he seem older?Born in 1964. His first big role was in Valley Girl in 1983. (A year earlier he played “Brad’s Bud” in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.)That’s 26 years on the big screen. Others born the same year as Cage: Sarah Palin, Keanu Reeves, and Willy Wonka.