tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83436082024-03-19T09:03:53.862-05:00Orange Crate Art“You sure we’ve come to the right place?”Michael Leddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05547732736861224886noreply@blogger.comBlogger14393125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343608.post-42315014425992445832024-03-19T09:02:00.002-05:002024-03-19T09:02:56.694-05:00Postal abbreviationsNot new, but new to me: Gary Gulman explains <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLECCmKnrys">how the states got their two-letter abbreviations</a>.<br><br>
Thanks, Lu.<br><br>
[I’ve watched his 2019 and 2023 Max specials. Highly recommended.]<div class="blogger-post-footer"><br/>You’re reading a post from Michael Leddy’s blog <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com">Orange Crate Art</a>. Your reader may not display this post as its writer intended.<br /><br />This work is licensed under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/">Creative Commons 4.0 License</a>.</div>Michael Leddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05547732736861224886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343608.post-80849981220276020392024-03-18T08:31:00.002-05:002024-03-18T09:24:06.962-05:00Review: Carol Beggy, PencilCarol Beggy. <em>Pencil</em>. New York: Bloomsbury, 2024. xiv + 136 pages. $14.95 paper.<br/>
<br/>
This book is a huge disappointment. It’s a volume in the series Object Lessons, short books devoted to the contemplation of everyday things: barcodes, hyphens, rust. Other volumes in this series might be terrific. But <em>Pencil</em> is not.<br/>
<br/>
The first sentence to bring me up short, on page three, was about Henry Petroski’s <em>The Pencil: A History of Design and Circumstance</em>:
<blockquote>He not only details the history of pencil-making but breaks down the process of its manufacture.</blockquote>
I noticed that the word <em>its</em> has no referent. A possible revision:
<blockquote>He not only details the history of pencil-making but breaks down the process of the pencil’s manufacture. </blockquote>
But don’t they amount to the same thing? Better:
<blockquote>He details both the history of pencil-making and the modern manufacturing process.</blockquote>
Am I being picky? Let’s see.<br><br>
On page six:
<blockquote>A pencil used to be the go-to tool for when a cassette tape needed to be rewound.</blockquote>
A possible revision:
<blockquote>The pencil was once the go–to tool for rewinding a cassette tape. </blockquote>
On page nineteen:
<blockquote>The Musgrave Pencil Company is family-owned and operates out of Shelbyville, TN, which was dubbed “Pencil City, USA,” because a half dozen manufacturers once had factories in the Middle Tennessee town.</blockquote>
A possible revision:
<blockquote>The family-owned Musgrave Pencil Company is based in “Pencil City, USA,” the Middle Tennessee town of Shelbyville, once home to a half dozen pencil manufacturers.</blockquote>
Many sentences are, well, unnecessarily cluttered. On page eighty-three:
<blockquote>When writing his book on the pencil, Petroski devotes the opening of his first chapter to Thoreau and how he made lists of everything he used each day, what was in his cabin in the woods, and the animals, trees, and weather he spotted along the way.</blockquote>
A possible revision:
<blockquote>Petroski begins <em>The Pencil</em> with Thoreau and his lists: of the things he used each day, the contents of his cabin, the animals, trees, and weather conditions he observed.</blockquote>
Often the parts of a sentence can be rearranged to the writer’s (and reader’s) advantage. On page eighty-one:
<blockquote>Tucked into a back corner of the historic cemetery are the graves of some of the best-known US writers and thinkers in the mid– to late-nineteenth century along Authors Ridge.</blockquote>
A possible revision, putting all the details of location in one place:
<blockquote>Tucked into a back corner of the historic cemetery is Authors Ridge, which houses the graves of some of the best-known nineteenth-century American writers and thinkers.</blockquote>
And often the writing is marred by plain carelessness. Many sentences lack necessary punctuation. Here’s one, from page fifty-three:
<blockquote>The problem is that when you spot these claims there never appears to be any attribution and thousands of these references show up in searches.</blockquote>
Elsewhere, words are missing. On page fifty-eight:
<blockquote>I learned a lot from the other members then and still [continue to learn?].</blockquote>
On page sixty-seven:
<blockquote>I know that there are some out [there?] confused by the thought that there are members of a pencil collecting group who travel great distances to meet with their fellow collectors.</blockquote>
That sentence could benefit from rewriting to eliminate the repeated “that there are”:
<blockquote>I’m sure some people are amused by the idea of pencil collectors traveling great distances to meet.</blockquote>
And back on page twenty-two, there’s just a mess:
<blockquote>the Blackwing 602, which it’s distinctive, flattened ferrule</blockquote>
I don’t know what accounts for such writing. In an afterword Beggy mentions a missed deadline and “life, health, and the world such as it is in 2023” getting in the way of her finishing the book. What I do know is that Bloomsbury, a reputable publisher, put this book out, as it is, and is charging $14.95 for it. Bloomsbury, that’s unconscionable.<br><br>
I suspect that Mary Norris’s <em>Between You & Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen</em> (2015) strongly influenced <em>Pencil</em>. Like Norris, Beggy has worked as an editor (at <em>The Boston Globe</em> ) and has written a chatty, digressive book. But Norris’s book has a premise — her life as a copyeditor at <em>The New Yorker</em> — that admits of manifold personal asides and digressions. Beggy’s subject is the pencil. Many of the asides and digressions in <em>Pencil</em> have little to do with that subject (or object).<br><br>
My favorite bit in <em>Pencil</em> : Beggy’s explanation of why reporters take three writing instruments with them on assignment: ballpoint pen, felt-tip pen, and pencil. In those paragraphs the pencil and the personal mesh nicely.<br><br>
Related reading<br>All OCA <a href="http://pinboard.in/u:M.Leddy/t:pencils">pencil</a> posts (Pinboard)<br><br>
[An excerpt from a Stephen Sondheim interview that I posted <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2010/05/stephen-sondheim-on-pencils-and-paper.html">in these pages</a> appears in this book, properly credited. But credit should really have gone to <a href="https://achievement.org/achiever/stephen-sondheim/#interview">the site with the interview itself</a>.]<div class="blogger-post-footer"><br/>You’re reading a post from Michael Leddy’s blog <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com">Orange Crate Art</a>. Your reader may not display this post as its writer intended.<br /><br />This work is licensed under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/">Creative Commons 4.0 License</a>.</div>Michael Leddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05547732736861224886noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343608.post-30834427790348692982024-03-18T08:24:00.004-05:002024-03-18T09:27:42.695-05:00Thinking about NovemberFor anyone thinking about voting for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., or Jill Stein, or Cornel West, or not voting at all:<br><br>
Consider <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2020/03/allegory-redux.html">this allegory</a>.<br><br>
Consider <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2010/11/david-foster-wallace-on-voting.html">what David Foster Wallace said about not voting</a>.<br><br>
Consider <a href="https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1769093346557895044.html">these clips from Trump’s Saturday rant in Dayton, Ohio</a>.<br><br>
[Comments off. I’m not interested in arguing.]<div class="blogger-post-footer"><br/>You’re reading a post from Michael Leddy’s blog <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com">Orange Crate Art</a>. Your reader may not display this post as its writer intended.<br /><br />This work is licensed under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/">Creative Commons 4.0 License</a>.</div>Michael Leddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05547732736861224886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343608.post-72473765725537237082024-03-17T08:15:00.001-05:002024-03-17T08:15:56.326-05:00631–639 5th AvenueBetter known as St. Patrick’s Cathedral.<br><br>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCpzoyzYGFpEXFB80VRQ7PVw2nFxO45ZxNIezjyHfeWQkvxqbsw_ihehvPjxDl4eCWkc_MYAChBgpgKE151VUUOOpSjLFYqvEFS3jiYeoPuYL6Ln2SjfYwHSuf-1T4Agg-47XfciMRHNuz0N39WL4zC0b48IWzlp3wKhmO6OFNPz7R876_gl_/s1600/St.-Patricks-Cathedral.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 0em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1744" data-original-width="1161" height="676" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCpzoyzYGFpEXFB80VRQ7PVw2nFxO45ZxNIezjyHfeWQkvxqbsw_ihehvPjxDl4eCWkc_MYAChBgpgKE151VUUOOpSjLFYqvEFS3jiYeoPuYL6Ln2SjfYwHSuf-1T4Agg-47XfciMRHNuz0N39WL4zC0b48IWzlp3wKhmO6OFNPz7R876_gl_/s1600/St.-Patricks-Cathedral.jpg" width="450" /></a>
[St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Manhattan, c. 1939–1941. From the <a href="http://nycma.lunaimaging.com/luna/servlet/">NYC Municipal Archives Collections</a>. Click for a much larger cathedral.]<br><br>
Happy St. Patrick’s Day.<br><br>
Related reading<br />
<a href="https://pinboard.in/u:M.Leddy/t:NYCMunicipalArchives">More photographs from the NYC Municipal Archives</a> (Pinboard)<br><br>
[<i>Leddy</i> is an Irish name.]
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><br/>You’re reading a post from Michael Leddy’s blog <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com">Orange Crate Art</a>. Your reader may not display this post as its writer intended.<br /><br />This work is licensed under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/">Creative Commons 4.0 License</a>.</div>Michael Leddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05547732736861224886noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343608.post-23836518972648119042024-03-16T09:02:00.000-05:002024-03-16T09:02:25.797-05:00Today’s Saturday Stumper<a href="https://www.creators.com/features/newsday-crossword-stan-newman">Today’s <i>Newsday</i>  Saturday Stumper</a> is by “Lester Ruff,” the puzzle’s editor, Stan Newman, and it’s once again supposed to be easier. Les Ruff? O’Reilly? says I. Shaw, Shaw, whatever you say. This puzzle took me thirty-three minutes. Some novelty and lots of misdirection, especially going Across.<br /><br />
Some clue-and-answer pairs of note:<br /><br />
1-A, eight letters, “Athletic field.” And the misdirection begins. My first thought was GRIDIRON.<br /><br />
1-D, six letters, “Low-hanging fruit, for example.” Nice.<br /><br />
2-D, letters, six letters, “Beat with your feet.” A little tricky.<br /><br />
5-D, three letters, “Protective layer.” Did not fool me.<br /><br />
7-D, five letters, “What M and N are called.” A touch of linguistics.<br /><br />
16-A, six letters, “Deck supervisor.” And the misdirection continues.<br /><br />
17-A, eight letters, “Hardly ‘Definitely.’” My first guess was YESANDNO.<br /><br />
35-D, five letters, “Bogart cross-examinee character.” This clue made me start wondering if I’d call this Bogart’s greatest role. Then I thought about<i>High Sierra</i>. Then I thought about <i>In a Lonely Place</i>. Then I thought about <i>Casablanca</i> (obviously). Then I thought about <i>The Treasure of the Sierra Madre</i>. Then I got back to writing this post.<br /><br />
38-A, eight letters, “Clearance sales.” Having once worked in it, I am fond of the language of retail. Where’s my gondola?<br /><br />
40-A, seven letters, “They’re often served in bars.” Funny. And there is a comedy connection.<br /><br />
46-A, six letters, “‘Help wanted’ letters.” Clever.<br /><br />
51-A, four letters, “All of it was in the Louisiana Purchase.” I knew it couldn’t be OKRA.<br /><br />
57-D, four letters, “What P and V are called.” See 7-D.<br /><br />
63-A, eight letters, “They’re often served in bars.” Not quite as funny as 40-A.<br /><br />
67-A, six letters, “Word from the Latin for ‘crush.’” A fun fact.<br /><br />
My favorite in this puzzle: 12-D, eight letters, “Actress name + actress name = airline.”<br /><br />
No spoilers; the answers are in the comments.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><br/>You’re reading a post from Michael Leddy’s blog <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com">Orange Crate Art</a>. Your reader may not display this post as its writer intended.<br /><br />This work is licensed under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/">Creative Commons 4.0 License</a>.</div>Michael Leddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05547732736861224886noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343608.post-469142393013309782024-03-16T09:01:00.003-05:002024-03-16T09:01:30.166-05:00ə<a href="https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/schwa.png" style="display: block; padding: 0em 0;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="301" src="https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/schwa.png"/></a>
[<i>xkcd</i>. <a href="https://xkcd.com/2907/">“Schwa.”</a> March 14, 2024.]<br><br>
A related post<br>
<a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2023/09/my-proof-that-i-never-knew-phonics.html">My proof that I never knew phonics</a>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><br/>You’re reading a post from Michael Leddy’s blog <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com">Orange Crate Art</a>. Your reader may not display this post as its writer intended.<br /><br />This work is licensed under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/">Creative Commons 4.0 License</a>.</div>Michael Leddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05547732736861224886noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343608.post-65020490772892067642024-03-15T10:03:00.002-05:002024-03-15T10:03:34.162-05:00Recently updated<a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2008/12/t-monks-advice-1960.html">T. MONK’S ADVICE (1960)</a> Is it a forgery?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><br/>You’re reading a post from Michael Leddy’s blog <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com">Orange Crate Art</a>. Your reader may not display this post as its writer intended.<br /><br />This work is licensed under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/">Creative Commons 4.0 License</a>.</div>Michael Leddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05547732736861224886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343608.post-74992369409571119892024-03-15T09:26:00.004-05:002024-03-15T10:04:06.653-05:00A Gamewell close-up<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRt47QSQge9SrNhjJkAaEsZGyzQb496ut9oApmp27l7hNus_A79q1OO66RcL49i5tsdQWnyBqe6GDPc6hNQycARyH8WYtSGmrTKAQfiKECQKUPee_P0r4C7xtIH_LEZ-Vi5iVj_UCVEjmbYf9oEyZ2K7c-B6pNNWqMgF1DMhuQTT-u3KXZWyOn/s1600/Gamewell-Shadow-of-a-Doubt.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 0em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="900" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRt47QSQge9SrNhjJkAaEsZGyzQb496ut9oApmp27l7hNus_A79q1OO66RcL49i5tsdQWnyBqe6GDPc6hNQycARyH8WYtSGmrTKAQfiKECQKUPee_P0r4C7xtIH_LEZ-Vi5iVj_UCVEjmbYf9oEyZ2K7c-B6pNNWqMgF1DMhuQTT-u3KXZWyOn/s1600/Gamewell-Shadow-of-a-Doubt.jpg" width="450" /></a>
[From <i>Shadow of a Doubt</i> (dir. Alfred Hitchcock, 1943). Click for a larger view.]<br><br>
Like <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2024/03/a-consequential-chute.html">the mail chute in <i>When Strangers Marry</i></a>, this Gamewell fire alarm, too, was ready for its close-up. A bunch of actors were standing in the way, but they walked off, and for less than a second the alarm had the screen to itself.<br><br>
Perhaps this alarm is still attached to a pole in Santa Rosa. See also <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2014/12/gamewell-fire-alarm.html">this Gamewell alarm</a>, manufactured between 1938 and 1950, removed sometime after October 2018.
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><br/>You’re reading a post from Michael Leddy’s blog <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com">Orange Crate Art</a>. Your reader may not display this post as its writer intended.<br /><br />This work is licensed under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/">Creative Commons 4.0 License</a>.</div>Michael Leddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05547732736861224886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343608.post-26182216058475074572024-03-15T08:58:00.003-05:002024-03-15T08:58:47.347-05:00A consequential chuteWhen I wrote four sentences about <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2024/03/twelve-movies.html#:~:text=When Strangers Marry">When Strangers Marry (dir. William Castle, 1944)</a>, I suggested that the movie has the most consequential mail chute in all film. I wouldn’t mind being proved wrong though.<br><br>
I’m not enlarging the image: that’s the camera closing in on a chute that must have long been ready for its close-up. As the camera closes in, let us pause to ponder a world with five daily mail collections, six days a week. Click any image for a larger view.<br><br>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRW1Ropgto1kwq26fd6n9OopnWD0FdWsHYH8cBXgSakziX-FFG6ahxgf5HArf1gJBtLwhUYBjliNCLkGtnzGrs8anv-sNBYCoqn7KsVt9hSPu8yIjgshbOVKKHu8NJEQCArPzN3COO6KTc8wgiUGanhfBtjK67yKQAMmb5hpcPXWv6_sz07dNd/s1600/When-Strangers-Marry-01.png" style="display: block; padding: 0em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="900" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRW1Ropgto1kwq26fd6n9OopnWD0FdWsHYH8cBXgSakziX-FFG6ahxgf5HArf1gJBtLwhUYBjliNCLkGtnzGrs8anv-sNBYCoqn7KsVt9hSPu8yIjgshbOVKKHu8NJEQCArPzN3COO6KTc8wgiUGanhfBtjK67yKQAMmb5hpcPXWv6_sz07dNd/s1600/When-Strangers-Marry-01.png" width="450" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWL4grFboMau3_P0qsBb8ZHjThA3Gpjl2zqgvSCNjGXDv5_ruFg07AIzZ_pqg6n2VWPST206oJujU_AoqSjoZoVuKkj_oEmqn3G7TZVZjpHHjIqT3vLB1tD-xWE6ZMjhdnvhjpWZpXnZZkvsF2RdXQu0r4NcOQvwky5YI4-NUwZ_OsKo-GX0yn/s1600/When-Strangers-Marry-02.png" style="display: block; padding: 0em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="900" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWL4grFboMau3_P0qsBb8ZHjThA3Gpjl2zqgvSCNjGXDv5_ruFg07AIzZ_pqg6n2VWPST206oJujU_AoqSjoZoVuKkj_oEmqn3G7TZVZjpHHjIqT3vLB1tD-xWE6ZMjhdnvhjpWZpXnZZkvsF2RdXQu0r4NcOQvwky5YI4-NUwZ_OsKo-GX0yn/s1600/When-Strangers-Marry-02.png" width="450" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhue9mrWFQDLxfZDPTDntYlSfUbI0uQtCaqXMaYpPry9iGDFWEp3Q21BhuLUbI1ZtyewJOwm6UDYBR8d9U4ytB5P_0Nh4onm_bwFBQkYFRKgFDNQuwZbUIdmy1NWfAk3bzAY3eQrM9zMjmK_xdW0TY9QHZ2An4pdvlJSksnkNAcXeBnAw-K8-I1/s1600/When-Strangers-Marry-03.png" style="display: block; padding: 0em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="900" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhue9mrWFQDLxfZDPTDntYlSfUbI0uQtCaqXMaYpPry9iGDFWEp3Q21BhuLUbI1ZtyewJOwm6UDYBR8d9U4ytB5P_0Nh4onm_bwFBQkYFRKgFDNQuwZbUIdmy1NWfAk3bzAY3eQrM9zMjmK_xdW0TY9QHZ2An4pdvlJSksnkNAcXeBnAw-K8-I1/s1600/When-Strangers-Marry-03.png" width="450" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRnW2BpSqyVBnLT2QSdVnmIz74qy7oSxVlkR1HAfATKwiQw8_wj2AZOYJNaB6HGp9qcBgLqg1KeYac03R5h-v_X8Zs2k6X6mAiRjouQvqAkkh0yVI9UrSM1_esZJgcQiUJZx3dxVuEPta3orlEHUvlZWamKnTxcsyp-EtidcYYbCJiyD9Gfkfn/s1600/When-Strangers-Marry-04.png" style="display: block; padding: 0em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="900" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRnW2BpSqyVBnLT2QSdVnmIz74qy7oSxVlkR1HAfATKwiQw8_wj2AZOYJNaB6HGp9qcBgLqg1KeYac03R5h-v_X8Zs2k6X6mAiRjouQvqAkkh0yVI9UrSM1_esZJgcQiUJZx3dxVuEPta3orlEHUvlZWamKnTxcsyp-EtidcYYbCJiyD9Gfkfn/s1600/When-Strangers-Marry-04.png" width="450" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2w7Hcrkgl79fiDRQM6vjdRs4LhWEW-vO7btqvO-zJyjgxvyl1qDEJGkihrkeENnovM0LRXcDRU2uhBjI8p27e18GXh1QZkBXY0z54EKjpzO8eBJdr9S2a5uPBuqe18Q6t9A7gVGhxKlDbN4Vu3DTIW6jp2eoaEmNlLOjhXxvjpfrZ-OgSlqzu/s1600/When-Strangers-Marry-05.png" style="display: block; padding: 0em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="900" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2w7Hcrkgl79fiDRQM6vjdRs4LhWEW-vO7btqvO-zJyjgxvyl1qDEJGkihrkeENnovM0LRXcDRU2uhBjI8p27e18GXh1QZkBXY0z54EKjpzO8eBJdr9S2a5uPBuqe18Q6t9A7gVGhxKlDbN4Vu3DTIW6jp2eoaEmNlLOjhXxvjpfrZ-OgSlqzu/s1600/When-Strangers-Marry-05.png" width="450" /></a><br>
And down in the lobby, Lt. Blake (later <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Hamilton_(actor)#Acting_career">the police commissioner</a> in another city), is curious: “Do you have a letter there addressed to Fred Graham, Atlanta, Georgia?”<br><br>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA1jR_bp10wAqa0AMpCChoiXzInCJ8eswwMpPL2q4cA51BEhoY6dAMBrlchSB5an1Ek77kF12YQrCMbiaBpShAtPdURn2_oWHn_ByvnKHGaInFwdkr5ejUNX9_-JPo6q_FEUNrnjV39Y7U4EmFaLfxqTICw_zsUBqtxknDnOVOUTUP_W52RMxL/s1600/When-Strangers-Marry-06.png" style="display: block; padding: 0em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="900" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA1jR_bp10wAqa0AMpCChoiXzInCJ8eswwMpPL2q4cA51BEhoY6dAMBrlchSB5an1Ek77kF12YQrCMbiaBpShAtPdURn2_oWHn_ByvnKHGaInFwdkr5ejUNX9_-JPo6q_FEUNrnjV39Y7U4EmFaLfxqTICw_zsUBqtxknDnOVOUTUP_W52RMxL/s1600/When-Strangers-Marry-06.png" width="450" /></a><br>
Uh, no. That letter is stuck in the chute. An obliging figurant steps in to propel the Graham letter (in fact an envelope stuffed with money) on its way.<br><br>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8sZX4KZrPHKsZjuiloX8AMjZbq6Sgb9aXbTiAbSdO5fXz25d6Q7cOjx5-iUnUs2Hc22fEWinHtxQITrsZnkfA1LrafhYeyHul0yY5csqQNyDC_Pc16qZZChn2Yq9GVeSwjEOI_GjUe5pM2yDKDRFia0yqa75CLsKgQZdINnazYecSpqg95UwE/s1600/When-Strangers-Marry-07.png" style="display: block; padding: 0em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="900" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8sZX4KZrPHKsZjuiloX8AMjZbq6Sgb9aXbTiAbSdO5fXz25d6Q7cOjx5-iUnUs2Hc22fEWinHtxQITrsZnkfA1LrafhYeyHul0yY5csqQNyDC_Pc16qZZChn2Yq9GVeSwjEOI_GjUe5pM2yDKDRFia0yqa75CLsKgQZdINnazYecSpqg95UwE/s1600/When-Strangers-Marry-07.png" width="450" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTMALnvHEM1c7qHw0Pi-CJYX-OEG1uRgfK9UW6M2q3MgSYuhcPo0GCIDvuaoNa4kmROjX9vuRe_ITjrmOFQzgU1evVmTKLKzKTO1Gr0UOwfMOZvo8PGEPCdGSBPhW3-ESkTyvxjttkmvTkwyKyZEMdYFG8M2H-0-_JXjdFSZz4m3LrV5_e5MAL/s1600/When-Strangers-Marry-08.png" style="display: block; padding: 0em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="900" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTMALnvHEM1c7qHw0Pi-CJYX-OEG1uRgfK9UW6M2q3MgSYuhcPo0GCIDvuaoNa4kmROjX9vuRe_ITjrmOFQzgU1evVmTKLKzKTO1Gr0UOwfMOZvo8PGEPCdGSBPhW3-ESkTyvxjttkmvTkwyKyZEMdYFG8M2H-0-_JXjdFSZz4m3LrV5_e5MAL/s1600/When-Strangers-Marry-08.png" width="450" /></a><br>
And whoomp, there it is, its contents spilling all over the collection box.<br><br>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirmh5ysVQSLbjkycfDNuVaqmheb_-JfY1uYFk9Zo10ZULcxVwtkkCMbi3G-p7J5fKzZCoRwC_VmQWawdKeAa1fQHWbPcfQcwnfL3pkaPCUk6lgc-69SIRRh6fECx0NNlMsDYoIrGJFg3wLApZ4MDf2_mxiFMQnFy7wNvfrUXDyKySenMzho1Wn/s1600/When-Strangers-Marry-09.png" style="display: block; padding: 0em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="900" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirmh5ysVQSLbjkycfDNuVaqmheb_-JfY1uYFk9Zo10ZULcxVwtkkCMbi3G-p7J5fKzZCoRwC_VmQWawdKeAa1fQHWbPcfQcwnfL3pkaPCUk6lgc-69SIRRh6fECx0NNlMsDYoIrGJFg3wLApZ4MDf2_mxiFMQnFy7wNvfrUXDyKySenMzho1Wn/s1600/When-Strangers-Marry-09.png" width="450" /></a><br>
This post is for my friend <a href="https://www.slywy.com/?s=mail+chute">Diane</a>, who has great photographs of chutes and collection boxes. I have <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/search?q=mail%20chute">a small number of chutes and boxes</a> in these pages.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><br/>You’re reading a post from Michael Leddy’s blog <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com">Orange Crate Art</a>. Your reader may not display this post as its writer intended.<br /><br />This work is licensed under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/">Creative Commons 4.0 License</a>.</div>Michael Leddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05547732736861224886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343608.post-78128326389251548892024-03-15T08:49:00.002-05:002024-03-15T08:49:18.063-05:00No coincidence“I don’t believe in coincidences”: a substitute MSNBC host, yesterday morning.<br><br>
“I don’t believe in coincidences”: Jessica Fletcher, last night.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><br/>You’re reading a post from Michael Leddy’s blog <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com">Orange Crate Art</a>. Your reader may not display this post as its writer intended.<br /><br />This work is licensed under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/">Creative Commons 4.0 License</a>.</div>Michael Leddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05547732736861224886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343608.post-33236822570417542162024-03-14T14:02:00.005-05:002024-03-14T14:03:26.970-05:00Jacques Pépin’s sardine salad<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlavYhS-314">Like it says</a>.<br><br>
Thanks to <a href="https://harvestink.blogspot.com/2024/03/treated-to-flyover.html">Kevin Hart</a> for the link.<br><br>
Related reading<br>All OCA <a href="http://pinboard.in/u:M.Leddy/t:sardines">sardine</a> posts (Pinboard)<br><br>
[Any thoughts about those enormous sardines?]<div class="blogger-post-footer"><br/>You’re reading a post from Michael Leddy’s blog <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com">Orange Crate Art</a>. Your reader may not display this post as its writer intended.<br /><br />This work is licensed under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/">Creative Commons 4.0 License</a>.</div>Michael Leddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05547732736861224886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343608.post-58720831255279511562024-03-14T09:03:00.001-05:002024-03-14T09:03:10.814-05:00Twelve movies[One to four stars. Four sentences each. No spoilers. Sources: Criterion Channel, DVD, TCM, Vudu, YouTube.]<br/>
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<em>Two Trains Runnin’</em> (dir. Sam Pollard, 2016). This documentary looks back at events in Mississippi in the summer of 1964: the murders of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner, and the efforts of two trios of white blues fanatics to find Son House and Skip James. The two trains, or narrative threads — racist brutality and music — never quite come together, despite a coda about the relationship between music and political change. And the contemporary performances that crop up between interviews and documentary footage ring painfully false: musicians in costume (hats, overalls) offering sad approximations of music they no doubt love (“Freight Train” is the worst). Best moments: Mississippi Fred McDowell at the Newport Folk Festival, playing “Shake ’Em On Down” as dancers move about him; Skip James, also at Newport, unfilmed but caught in photographs, singing “Devil Got My Woman” — a moment of high art that the filmmakers treat with the reverence it merits. ★★★ (YT)<br/>
<br/>
[Gotta point out: Henry Vestine and Alan Wilson, both of whom figure in the story, were founding members of Canned Heat. Why’d they leave that out?]<br/>
<br/>
*<br><br>
From the Criterion Channel’s Gothic Noir feature<br/>
<br/>
<em>When Strangers Marry</em> (dir. William Castle, 1944). Elaine thinks parts must have been left on the cutting-room floor; I think this B-noir is more subtly constructed than we first suspected. It’s the story of an Ohio waitress, Millie (Kim Hunter), who marries a salesman (Dean Jagger) after three dates and follows him to the big city (New York), only to find that he’s not in town and that she doesn’t really know what he’s all about. Robert Mitchum plays another salesman, a former suitor eager to lend Millie a hand. Strong overtones of Hitchcock’s <em>Shadow of a Doubt</em>, and a bonus: what must be the most consequential mail chute in all film. ★★★★
<br/>
<br/>
<em>The Sign of the Ram</em> (dir. John Sturges, 1948). Intense psychodrama in a big old house, and something of a twin to <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2024/01/twelve-movies_24.html#:~:text=Guest in the House"><em>Guest in the House</em></a> (dir. John Brahm, 1944), in which a newcomer to a family undermines relationships. Here it’s a second wife, Leah St. Aubyn (Susan Peters), who does the damage: paralyzed from the waist down after saving two step-children from drowning, she mistrusts her husband (Alexander Knox), fears the imagined wiles of her new secretary (Phyllis Thaxter), undermines her older step-children’s romances with appalling lies (thereby keeping the children from leaving her), and gets a steady narcissistic supply from her youngest step-child, all while writing sentimental verse for newspaper publication. This movie was Susan Peters’s first and last after the hunting accident that left her paralyzed. Her performance here suggests a great loss to film. ★★★★<br/>
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<em>Lightning Strikes Twice</em> (dir. King Vidor, 1951). Actress Shelley Carnes (Ruth Roman) travels to a dude ranch for her health and falls in love with local rancher Richard Trevelyan (Richard Todd), just acquitted of murdering his wife. But if he didn’t do it, who did? Zachary Scott plays Trev’s lecherous friend; Mercedes McCambridge does lots of emoting as the co-owner of the dude ranch. The confusing directions for driving to the ranch suggest to me the problem with the movie: too many odd, puzzling points — why, for instance, does an old ranching couple have an enormous portrait of Trev above their fireplace? ★★★<br/>
<br/>
*<br><br>
<em>The Holdovers</em> (dir. Alexander Payne, 2023). It’s 1970, and Paul Giamatti is Paul Hunham, a teacher of classics at a Massachusetts boarding school, bowtied, lazyeyed, pedantic, pompous, and punished by being assigned to watch over the small band of students stuck at the school over the Christmas and New Year’s break. One of them: Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa), a smart, rebellious student beset by family woes. Also wintering over: Mary Lamb (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), head cook, and the mother of a recent graduate. All I’ll say is that <em>The Hoidovers</em> is the kind of movie that I’m willing to follow wherever it goes — it’s just that good, and I suspect it might be the best new movie I see all year. ★★★★ (DVD)<br/>
<br/>
*<br><br>
<em>Outside the Law</em> (dir. Jack Arnold, 1956). This year I’ve seen movies about Johnnies: <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2024/01/twelve-movies_24.html#:~:text=Johnny">Johny Saxon</a>, <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2024/01/twelve-movies_24.html#:~:text=Johnny">Johnny Eager</a>, and here’s Johnny Salvo (Ray Danton), a paroled con and war hero, up for a pardon if he helps catch a gang of counterfeiters. Nothing much to see here, but son-father conflict (Danton and Judson Pratt) and a love-hate triangle add some interest, and the musical score — from five composers, including Henry Mancini — is consistently interesting. But for a story focused on tracking down the sources for the counterfeiters’ materials, there’s mighty little on the screen about paper. My favorite line: “Come on, Bormann, firms twice your size don’t use half the stationery you do!” ★★ (YT)<br/>
<br/>*<br><br>
<em>Shadow of a Doubt</em> (dir. Alfred Hitchcock, 1943). The story of a serial killer, Charles Oakley (Joseph Cotten), paying a visit to his sister’s family in Santa Rosa, the Newtons: Joe (Henry Travers), Emma (Patricia Collinge), and their three children, most especially, young Charlie (Teresa Wright), the namesake who shares a deep bond with her glamorous uncle. I never tire of this movie. Watching it this time, I paid attention to the ways in which Thornton Wilder’s screenplay keeps the viewer off balance, making it possible to forget now and then that Uncle Charlie is — hey, wait a minute! — a serial killer. My favorite scene, forever: the library at closing time. ★★★★ (CC)<br/>
<br/>*<br><br>
<em>The Steel Trap</em> (dir. Andrew Stone, 1952). Joseph Cotten and Teresa Wright as a married couple, Jim and Laurie Osborne, with the weirdness factor lessened by Wright’s changed appearance (her hair is blonde) and her minimal role. It’s really a one-actor movie, with Cotten as an assistant bank manager whose interior monologue lets us into his plan to make off to Brazil (no extradition) with his wife and a heavy suitcase of cash from the vault. He has one weekend to pull it off before the bank switches to its winter hours: he must develop a persuasive story to tell his wife (a weekend getaway to manage a big bank deal), arrange care for his young daughter (who is supposed to follow), and obtain passports and schedule flights, with contingencies complicating his scheme at every turn. The movie has lots of suspense (certainly at least a four-dollar-rental’s worth) and strongly suggests that anyone is capable of becoming a criminal: “We have only so many days, so many hours, so many minutes to live, and we’re suckers if we don’t cram into them all the happiness we can get away with, regardless of how we do it.” ★★★ (V)<br/>
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[I learned about this movie from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzeeuEvmdHQ">Jerome Wesselberry’s review of <em>Shadow of a Doubt</em></a>. Jerome, whoever she is (the name is an alias), is a very smart watcher of movies. Thanks, Steven, for recommending her channel.]
<br/>
<br/>
*<br><br>
<em>The Bottom of the Bottle</em> (dir. Henry Hathaway, 1956). Joseph Cotten as Pat Martin, “P.M.,” an Arizona attorney and rancher. He’s stuck in a loveless (and likely sexless) marriage to Nora (Ruth Roman), and he’s now confronted with the unexpected arrival of his brother Donald (Van Johnson), a convict and recovering alcoholic who’s escaped from Joliet (which everyone pronounces as Jolly-ette). Too many histrionic moments, but strong performances from Johnson and Roman. Cotten does a good job of suggesting just how much of his family history he’s been trying to forget: “Spend your life building up something worthwhile, and along comes the past.” ★★★ (YT)<br/>
<br>*<br><br>
<em>Come Live with Me</em> (dir. Clarence Brown, 1941). Modern marriage: a publisher and his wife are both having affairs — he with Johnny Jones (Hedy Lamarr), a Viennese emigre about to be deported unless she marries. Enter Bill Smith (Jimmy Stewart), a down-and-out writer willing to marry Johnny in exchange for a chunk of money. But can these two ever really fall in love? Yes, Hedy Lamarr is astonishingly beautiful, as Bill points out, but walking away with the movie is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adeline_De_Walt_Reynolds">Adeline De Walt Reynolds</a> as Bill’s wise old grandmother, who makes everything come out right, and it’s in her pastoral world that Bill recites, sort of, a bit of <a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44675/the-passionate-shepherd-to-his-love">Christopher Marlowe’s poem</a>. ★★★★ (TCM)
<br><br>*<br><br>
<em>Four Daughters</em> (dir. Michael Curtiz, 1938). Sweet nonsense, mostly, with Claude Rains as a music master with four unmarried musical daughters (Lola Lane, Priscilla Lane, Rosemary Lane, and Gale Page). A variety of eligible men are on and off the premises, the most charming of whom is a composer (Jeffrey Lynn), the most interesting of whom is an embittered pianist and orchestrator (John Garfield, in his first film role) who grows fond of the pluckiest sister, Emma (Priscilla Lane). Things get surprisingly dark as the movie nears its end, before everything turns to sweet nonsense once again. A bonus: lots of Gershwinesque music at the piano, the work (I think) of Max Rabinowitz and Heinz Roemheld. ★★★ (TCM)
<br><br>*<br><br>
<em>The Razor’s Edge</em> (dir. Edmund Goulding, 1946). “The road to salvation is difficult to pass through, as difficult as the sharp edge of a razor”: so says an anonymous Indian holy man (Cecil Humphreys), paraphrasing the Upanishads, in this adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham’s novel. There, and here, a traumatized WWI veteran, Larry Darrell (Tyrone Power) sets out in search of the meaning of life, working as a laborer yet hobnobbing with a wealthy set (Anne Baxter, John Payne, Gene Tierney, Clifton Webb, with Herbert Marshall as Maugham, a wise elder passing through now and then). Tragedies befall the set, as Larry keeps his eye on the prize — which is what, exactly? On the one hand this movie feels like sheer malarkey; on the other it’s an assembling of great performances, particularly from Baxter and Tierney. ★★★★ (TCM)<br/>
<br/>
[The movie’s themes were timely: “There was a surge of American GIs joining monasteries after the end of the Second World War, seeking solace and refuge in a violent and increasingly complicated world.” Here’s <a href="https://aeon.co/videos/from-soldiers-to-monks-the-end-of-a-monastery-founded-by-veterans-of-the-second-world-war">a short film</a> about the last days of an American Trappist monastery founded by 1947 as a daughter house of the Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani (where Thomas Merton was a monk).]<br/>
<br/>
Related reading<br />All OCA <a href="http://pinboard.in/u:M.Leddy/t:12movies">“twelve movies”</a> posts (Pinboard)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><br/>You’re reading a post from Michael Leddy’s blog <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com">Orange Crate Art</a>. Your reader may not display this post as its writer intended.<br /><br />This work is licensed under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/">Creative Commons 4.0 License</a>.</div>Michael Leddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05547732736861224886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343608.post-6371212507175999962024-03-14T08:32:00.002-05:002024-03-14T11:29:12.510-05:00So you can always get what you want?Jimmy Cliff’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7dBMYUyRAQ">“You Can Get It If You Really Want”</a> (July 1970) sounds as though it may have been meant — or must have been meant — as a reply to the Stones’ <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ef9QnZVpVd8">“You Can’t Always Get What You Want”</a> (July 1969). And Cliff’s repeated <i>try</i> sounds like a reply to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSSxnv1_J2g">“Satisfaction.”</a><br><br>
Or am I just hearing things?<br><br>
[Why might this song be in a (very) young singer’s repertoire? There’s a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sebastian_from_The_Little_Mermaid"><i>Little Mermaid</i> connection</a>.]<div class="blogger-post-footer"><br/>You’re reading a post from Michael Leddy’s blog <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com">Orange Crate Art</a>. Your reader may not display this post as its writer intended.<br /><br />This work is licensed under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/">Creative Commons 4.0 License</a>.</div>Michael Leddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05547732736861224886noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343608.post-62485791464034954792024-03-13T08:51:00.003-05:002024-03-13T09:08:55.333-05:00A Calvino “over and over”Marcovaldo’s son Michelino has shut down the GNAC of <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2024/03/is-cognac-waning-papa.html">the blinking SPAAK-COGNAC sign</a> with a slinghot full of stones. Another son, Fiordaligi, is pursuing a timid window-to-window flirtation with “a moon-colored girl” in a garret, somewhere beyond the <i>G</i>.<br><br>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4m0zUkxWlzXYlS-3y_Y87dBS2PwSa9uo19-Y4tr_2sPMQQBKPruaNG178IACJkesvvMGa3T3VKd4C-WjclkW3gC2w74e7Fk_41yuKyZ4e7I8UbcRJGwSBlRZULcp_6kLaokUwU3nLl8xVFSGP2_MLkKcoir5yqIpQ7YsYZQzAkmCMdnaoA2V/s1600/Marcovaldo-5.png" style="display: block; padding: 0em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="722" data-original-width="850" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4m0zUkxWlzXYlS-3y_Y87dBS2PwSa9uo19-Y4tr_2sPMQQBKPruaNG178IACJkesvvMGa3T3VKd4C-WjclkW3gC2w74e7Fk_41yuKyZ4e7I8UbcRJGwSBlRZULcp_6kLaokUwU3nLl8xVFSGP2_MLkKcoir5yqIpQ7YsYZQzAkmCMdnaoA2V/s1600/Marcovaldo-5.png" width="425" /></a>
Italo Calvino, “Moon and GNAC.” In <i>Marcovaldo</i>, trans. William Weaver (New York: HarperCollins, 1983).<br><br>
TOMAHAWK COGNAC, TOMAHAWK COGNAC, TOMAHAWK COGNAC: another example of a Zippy <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2023/12/an-over-and-over.html">“over and over.”</a><br><br>
Related reading<br>All OCA <a href="http://pinboard.in/u:M.Leddy/t:ItaloCalvino">Italo Calvino</a> posts (Pinboard)
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><br/>You’re reading a post from Michael Leddy’s blog <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com">Orange Crate Art</a>. Your reader may not display this post as its writer intended.<br /><br />This work is licensed under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/">Creative Commons 4.0 License</a>.</div>Michael Leddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05547732736861224886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343608.post-68506711421521241202024-03-13T08:28:00.003-05:002024-03-13T08:37:49.102-05:00“Is cognac waning, Papà?”Marcovaldo is trying to teach his children some basic astronomy. A flashing neon sign on the roof of the building opposite his makes things difficult: twenty seconds of sign — SPAAK-COGNAC — follow every twenty seconds of night. All Marcovaldo’s family can see of the sign is GNAC.<br><br><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_h8E2OiCBTLTFFDdGw-Hhhg463MKHX44exs6Ej93olPwxWYWD1lN0C8gWhxuvRCdQpvMb55Z8r9HycyeiM9gSspS571MWwGSWlQZsW3wkibMzmijiabBo9R6RjrWtH5dCDFOIUrO_KkzKGAjSrkZ_UVF6qQkOIvW4vAyXwp-iFcXz9k9nKXo/s1600/Marcovaldo-4.png" style="display: block; padding: 0em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1370" data-original-width="850" height="685" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_h8E2OiCBTLTFFDdGw-Hhhg463MKHX44exs6Ej93olPwxWYWD1lN0C8gWhxuvRCdQpvMb55Z8r9HycyeiM9gSspS571MWwGSWlQZsW3wkibMzmijiabBo9R6RjrWtH5dCDFOIUrO_KkzKGAjSrkZ_UVF6qQkOIvW4vAyXwp-iFcXz9k9nKXo/s1600/Marcovaldo-4.png" width="425" /></a>
Italo Calvino, “Moon and GNAC.” In <i>Marcovaldo</i>, trans. William Weaver (New York: HarperCollins, 1983).<br><br>
Related reading<br>All OCA <a href="http://pinboard.in/u:M.Leddy/t:ItaloCalvino">Italo Calvino</a> posts (Pinboard)
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><br/>You’re reading a post from Michael Leddy’s blog <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com">Orange Crate Art</a>. Your reader may not display this post as its writer intended.<br /><br />This work is licensed under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/">Creative Commons 4.0 License</a>.</div>Michael Leddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05547732736861224886noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343608.post-1596677902352360532024-03-12T10:01:00.001-05:002024-03-12T10:01:21.959-05:00Recently updated<a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2024/03/how-to-improve-writing-no-119.html">How to improve writing (no. 119)</a> It’s difficult to improve writing when you’re angry.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><br/>You’re reading a post from Michael Leddy’s blog <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com">Orange Crate Art</a>. Your reader may not display this post as its writer intended.<br /><br />This work is licensed under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/">Creative Commons 4.0 License</a>.</div>Michael Leddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05547732736861224886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343608.post-51660133078301321212024-03-12T08:57:00.003-05:002024-03-12T10:03:49.726-05:00“Philosophic Guide”<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2OR8XZuubnEiUV-ewWZeP7KBusaXrxgcWXT5liz9CbdrRzvsMKOJ773xiy2i5_86fj_6osoO1uY6ZCc_g8BvzEofsovPqsADF1nZbUpclH-MmGWVH4rW_G0MbxbEcj2csS1ZVMcsk04wwT_6m16gVRFzn8rVDIylsjceCTu8q0lEC0Ki4yrv2/s1600/Kiss-Tomorrow-Goodbye-sign.png" style="display: block; padding: 0em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="658" data-original-width="900" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2OR8XZuubnEiUV-ewWZeP7KBusaXrxgcWXT5liz9CbdrRzvsMKOJ773xiy2i5_86fj_6osoO1uY6ZCc_g8BvzEofsovPqsADF1nZbUpclH-MmGWVH4rW_G0MbxbEcj2csS1ZVMcsk04wwT_6m16gVRFzn8rVDIylsjceCTu8q0lEC0Ki4yrv2/s1600/Kiss-Tomorrow-Goodbye-sign.png" width="450" /></a>
[From <i>Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye</i> (dir. Gordon Douglas, 1950). Click for a larger view.]<br><br>
“You sure we’ve come to the right place?”<br><br>
It's one of the stranger moments in <i>Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye</i> : psychopathic gangster Ralph Cotter (James Cagney) and flunkie Joe “Jinx” Raynor (Steve Brodie) come to Dr. Darius Green’s address for helping in finding the right kind of lawyer. But it turns out that Dr. Green has closed up shop as a sketchy man of medicine. He now heals minds, he says, not bodies.<br><br>
This visit is reminiscent of the visit to the Tabernacle of the Sun in Hitchcock’s <i>The Man Who Knew Too Much</i> 1934): there, too, the visitors, Bob Lawrence (Leslie Banks) and his friend (Hugh Wakefield), stand looking at a signboard (a much simpler one) before entering.<br><br>
You can compare the two scenes via YouTube: <a href="https://youtu.be/AYzxfSkPhr4?feature=shared&t=2142">this one</a> and <a href="https://youtu.be/BDggjKMZoxc?feature=shared&t=2041">that one</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><br/>You’re reading a post from Michael Leddy’s blog <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com">Orange Crate Art</a>. Your reader may not display this post as its writer intended.<br /><br />This work is licensed under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/">Creative Commons 4.0 License</a>.</div>Michael Leddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05547732736861224886noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343608.post-10513335531151673472024-03-12T08:48:00.001-05:002024-03-12T08:48:22.533-05:00Connecting dotsArtist unknown: <a href="https://imgflip.com/memetemplate/407374601/Conspiracy-theory-connect-the-dots">Data, information, knowledge, insight, wisdom, conspiracy theory</a>.<br><br>
Via A.Word.A.Day, whose word today is <a href="https://wordsmith.org/words/dot-connect.html"><i>dot-connect</i></a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><br/>You’re reading a post from Michael Leddy’s blog <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com">Orange Crate Art</a>. Your reader may not display this post as its writer intended.<br /><br />This work is licensed under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/">Creative Commons 4.0 License</a>.</div>Michael Leddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05547732736861224886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343608.post-85890490727895829282024-03-11T09:48:00.009-05:002024-03-12T10:00:09.671-05:00How to improve writing (no. 119)From an article in <i>The Washington Post</i> this morning:
<blockquote>Former president Donald Trump mocked President Biden’s stutter at a campaign rally in Rome, Ga., on Saturday, the latest in a series of insults he has hurled at his rival but one that disability advocates regard as a demeaning form of bullying.</blockquote>
Only disability advocates see it that way? Better:
<blockquote>Former president Donald Trump mocked President Biden’s stutter at a campaign rally in Rome, Ga., on Saturday, the latest in a series of insults that decent human beings regard as bullying.</blockquote>
The oddest thing about the original sentence’s effort to be “objective” is that only one of the many people quoted in the article is known as an advocate for people with disabilities.<br><br>
*<br><br>
March 12: Simpler:
<blockquote>Former president Donald Trump mocked President Biden’s stutter at a campaign rally in Rome, Ga., on Saturday, in yet another effort to demean his rival.</blockquote>
Related reading<br>All OCA <a href="http://pinboard.in/u:M.Leddy/t:howtoimprove/t:writing">How to improve writing</a> posts (Pinboard)<br><br>
[This post is no. 119 in a series dedicated to improving stray bits of public prose.]<div class="blogger-post-footer"><br/>You’re reading a post from Michael Leddy’s blog <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com">Orange Crate Art</a>. Your reader may not display this post as its writer intended.<br /><br />This work is licensed under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/">Creative Commons 4.0 License</a>.</div>Michael Leddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05547732736861224886noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343608.post-34129442882457818922024-03-11T08:23:00.002-05:002024-03-11T13:30:24.206-05:00Mystery actor<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKTgEzJdfifbym30PtvhhSHOGWU6PA0l7m4pVJNxH1efm6AKeTrYrOfHA3pnM7li_NkjR3qVm8BEfVPlV5egxkty5FDbUkojconJiPRylOwCYWvSOhRMNOKlL4l_JvWBvVlXQ0kEnvA98nM3Xk9ujRAYcGHGL2bNH0SgYLW-NKJl40QG9HoGb0/s1600/Mystery-actor.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 0em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="900" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKTgEzJdfifbym30PtvhhSHOGWU6PA0l7m4pVJNxH1efm6AKeTrYrOfHA3pnM7li_NkjR3qVm8BEfVPlV5egxkty5FDbUkojconJiPRylOwCYWvSOhRMNOKlL4l_JvWBvVlXQ0kEnvA98nM3Xk9ujRAYcGHGL2bNH0SgYLW-NKJl40QG9HoGb0/s1600/Mystery-actor.jpg" width="450" /></a>
[Click for a much larger view.]<br /><br />
I didn’t know he was in the movie, but I recognized him, even with all the makeup, which makes me think that someone else will recognize him too. Leave your guess(es) in the comments. I’ll drop a hint if one’s needed.<br /><br />
*<br><br>
A hint: He was successful in business, in both a big city and a small town.<br><br>
*<br><br>
Oh well. The answer is now in the comments.<br><br>
More mystery actors (Collect them all)<br />
<a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com/2013/05/route-66-mystery-guest_10.html">?</a> : <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com/2013/05/another-route-66-mystery-guest.html">?</a> : <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com/2013/06/route-66-mystery-guest.html">?</a> : <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-route-66-mystery-guest.html">?</a> : <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com/2014/01/naked-city-mystery-guests.html">?</a> : <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com/2014/02/naked-city-mystery-guest.html">?</a> : <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com/2014/02/naked-city-mystery-guest_25.html">?</a> : <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com/2014/03/naked-city-mystery-guest.html">?</a> : <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com/2014/07/naked-city-mystery-guest.html">?</a> : <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com/2015/06/name-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com/2015/08/name-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com/2015/11/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com/2016/03/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com/2016/04/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com/2016/05/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com/2016/08/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com/2017/01/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com/2017/04/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com/2017/06/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2017/12/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com/2017/12/mystery-actor_5.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2017/12/mystery-actor_18.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2018/01/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2018/03/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com/2018/03/mystery-actor_19.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2018/05/a-mystery-actor-and-telephone-exchange.html">?</a> : <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com/2018/08/mystery-actors.html">?</a> : <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com/2018/09/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2018/10/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2018/10/mystery-actor_11.html">?</a> : <a href="zhttps://mleddy.blogspot.com/2018/11/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2019/02/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2019/07/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2019/08/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2019/10/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2019/10/mystery-actor_29.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2020/01/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2020/04/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2020/06/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2020/08/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2020/09/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2020/11/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2020/11/mystery-actors.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2020/11/mystery-actor_23.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2020/11/mystery-actor_25.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2020/11/mystery-actor_30.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2020/12/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2020/12/mystery-actor_11.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2020/12/mystery-actor_17.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2020/12/mystery-actor_24.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2021/01/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2021/01/mystery-actor_12.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2021/03/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2021/04/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2021/05/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2021/07/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2021/08/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2021/08/mystery-actor_16.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2021/11/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2021/11/mystery-actor_16.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2022/03/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2022/04/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2022/04/mystery-actor_5.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2022/04/mystery-actor_18.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2022/05/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2022/05/mystery-actor_10.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2022/05/mystery-actor_31.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2022/06/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2022/07/mystery-actors.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2022/07/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2022/07/mystery-actor_21.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2022/09/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2022/10/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2022/11/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2023/01/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2023/01/mystery-actor_25.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2023/02/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2023/03/mystery-actors.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2023/03/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2023/04/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2023/04/mystery-actor_21.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2023/05/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2023/05/mystery-actor_24.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2023/08/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2023/10/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2023/10/mystery-actor_24.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2023/12/mystery-actor.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2023/12/mystery-actor_21.html">?</a> : <a href="https://mleddy.blogspot.com/2024/02/mystery-actor.html">?</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><br/>You’re reading a post from Michael Leddy’s blog <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com">Orange Crate Art</a>. Your reader may not display this post as its writer intended.<br /><br />This work is licensed under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/">Creative Commons 4.0 License</a>.</div>Michael Leddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05547732736861224886noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343608.post-65480785704056246712024-03-11T08:22:00.005-05:002024-03-11T15:24:20.528-05:00Domestic comedy[Passing by storefronts.]<br><br>
“Think of all the money we’ve saved on dry cleaning.”<br><br>
Related reading<br>All OCA <a href="http://pinboard.in/u:M.Leddy/t:domesticcomedy">domestic comedy</a> posts (Pinboard)<br><br>
[That is, we’ve almost never needed it.]<div class="blogger-post-footer"><br/>You’re reading a post from Michael Leddy’s blog <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com">Orange Crate Art</a>. Your reader may not display this post as its writer intended.<br /><br />This work is licensed under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/">Creative Commons 4.0 License</a>.</div>Michael Leddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05547732736861224886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343608.post-80904421691366314912024-03-10T09:06:00.001-05:002024-03-10T09:47:24.041-05:00Katie Britt is a dirty no-good rotten liar <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@katzonearth/video/7344090454985624862">Pass it on</a>. <a href="https://wapo.st/4cbzyg4">Pass it on</a> (<i>Washington Post</i> gift link).<div class="blogger-post-footer"><br/>You’re reading a post from Michael Leddy’s blog <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com">Orange Crate Art</a>. Your reader may not display this post as its writer intended.<br /><br />This work is licensed under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/">Creative Commons 4.0 License</a>.</div>Michael Leddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05547732736861224886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343608.post-13298867961632726872024-03-10T08:44:00.000-05:002024-03-10T08:44:54.952-05:00A golden pig<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGkPbPVmBbvJ5BXfCorYiCyOKq1zlxglHNrxy_2wBmvIltBU2IoFOXBOZIRRiUzewI5ZAUtbNc7MtkXRTWLHwidWyYkCVm0n0ysHryQcat-M_fKLPxTzSmEo0MrlPVvx8vOkTRAItCmgejLXxlzN7lvHLkz2SDpKWZXA-yHfF3-3sYxm6QzMX/s1741/231-4th-Avenue.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 0em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1741" data-original-width="1161" height="675" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGkPbPVmBbvJ5BXfCorYiCyOKq1zlxglHNrxy_2wBmvIltBU2IoFOXBOZIRRiUzewI5ZAUtbNc7MtkXRTWLHwidWyYkCVm0n0ysHryQcat-M_fKLPxTzSmEo0MrlPVvx8vOkTRAItCmgejLXxlzN7lvHLkz2SDpKWZXA-yHfF3-3sYxm6QzMX/s1600/231-4th-Avenue.jpg" width="450" /></a>
[231 4th Avenue, Gowanus, Brooklyn, c. 1939–1941. From the <a href="http://nycma.lunaimaging.com/luna/servlet/">NYC Municipal Archives Collections</a>. Click for a much larger view.]<br><br>
I enjoyed an outstanding <a href="https://www.baldarottas.com/sandwichshop">porketta sandwich</a> last week, and it brought to mind somthing I hit upon a few months ago, a tax photograph of a Brooklyn pork store, Suino d’Oro.
A little history:<br><br>
In 1905, an “Italian provision store” that occupied this property had its stores of ham, cheese, and macaroni <a href="https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/555950509/?terms=%22italian%20provision%20store%22&match=1">plundered by burglars</a>. The culprits were later found fighting in a gutter over what had become of their loot: “What did y’ do with that cheese? Where’s all that ham that was left?”<br><br>
In 1959, a newspaper advertisement has <a href="https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/556167324/?terms=%22suino%20d%27oro%22&match=1">three Suino d’Oro addresses</a>, none of them this one.<br><br>
As late as 1980, a pork store with this name was sponsoring <a href="https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/556167324/?terms=%22suino%20d%27oro%22&match=1">a local baseball team</a>. There could be a connection. But some quick searching suggests that <i>suino d’oro</i> is common parlance in the world of pork.<br><br>
Back to that sandwich: why <i>porketta</i>? Wkipedia <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porchetta">explains</a>:
<blockquote>In the Upper Midwest porchetta, more often spelled “porketta,” was also introduced by Italian immigrants to the iron ranges of Minnesota and Michigan. Porketta remains a popular local dish in towns such as Hibbing, Minnesota, with distributors such as Fraboni Sausage.</blockquote>
And whaddaya know? Fraboni’s, a third-generation Italian grocery and deli in Madison, Wisconsin, plays a part in <a href="https://www.baldarottas.com/about">the story of our restaurateurs</a>.<br><br>
Now about that sandwich: it’s Italian pork roast, salsa verde, provolone, spinach, and banana peppers on focaccia.<br><br>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdXmjQo2OzFS_NEfIZX68gc3SdMVYZkdGfeuy1Zz4pHKOH5IbJJ5ZFnGEtVy-TLnnjZsKZEN2s1sOIkKaUfjhcegCae80sB7aXCPVaiJg8ejU_3ZcbHU9HuNeg2lcU8jLjXvU9g2ccp4fE9OL4sxhOpif3kxZqEquUwomt1OifBTiDgrQ4Sdbn/s1600/Suino-d-Oro.png" style="display: block; padding: 0em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="120" data-original-width="800" height="68" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdXmjQo2OzFS_NEfIZX68gc3SdMVYZkdGfeuy1Zz4pHKOH5IbJJ5ZFnGEtVy-TLnnjZsKZEN2s1sOIkKaUfjhcegCae80sB7aXCPVaiJg8ejU_3ZcbHU9HuNeg2lcU8jLjXvU9g2ccp4fE9OL4sxhOpif3kxZqEquUwomt1OifBTiDgrQ4Sdbn/s1600/Suino-d-Oro.png" width="450" /></a>
[Click for a larger view.]<br><br>
Today, no. 231 is an apartment building encased in scaffolding. <a href="https://www.bklynlibrary.org/online-resources/brooklyn-newsstand">Brooklyn Newsstand</a> helped me add some yesterday to this post.<br><br>
Related reading<br />
<a href="https://pinboard.in/u:M.Leddy/t:NYCMunicipalArchives">More photographs from the NYC Municipal Archives</a> (Pinboard)
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><br/>You’re reading a post from Michael Leddy’s blog <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com">Orange Crate Art</a>. Your reader may not display this post as its writer intended.<br /><br />This work is licensed under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/">Creative Commons 4.0 License</a>.</div>Michael Leddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05547732736861224886noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343608.post-35049030222907554002024-03-09T06:48:00.002-06:002024-03-09T19:37:00.431-06:00Today’s Saturday Stumper<a href="https://www.creators.com/features/newsday-crossword-stan-newman">Today’s <i>Newsday</i>  Saturday Stumper</a>, by Matthew Sewell, is one angry puzzle: 4-D, seven letters, “More than sore”; 10-A, three letters, “Expression of hate”; 40-D, seven letters, “More-than-sore manifestation.” Yow. But I didn’t mind. I thought this Sewell puzzle was swell. I did so well. The clue that got things going for me: 6-D, eight letters, “When Troy was founded.”
<br /><br />
Some clue-and-answer pairs of note:<br /><br />
4-D, four letters, “Group advocating for ministries.” Didn’t fool me.<br /><br />
5-D, six letters, “Bluetooth or flash drive.” I had no idea that Bluetooth may be had in this form.<br /><br />
9-D, eight letters, “Fall event promoting mustache-growing.” I had to dig for this one. I’m long done with the growing season.<br /><br />
13-A, five letters, “3-D, e.g.” Delightfully Stumper-y.<br /><br />
16-A, fifteen letters, “Stand in time.” I started thinking about Proust. Not appropriate here. Time is on the move.<br /><br />
17-D, four letters, “WITCH PARKING ONLY, ALL OTHERS WILL BE ______.” A little levity.<br /><br />
20-A, six letters, “Spade accessory.” Didn’t fool me.<br /><br />
23-A, four letters, “‘I love you.’” A bit hilarious.<br /><br />
27-A, six letters, “Timbuktu’s country’s capital.” It pays to listen to a lot of music.<br /><br />
43-A, eight letters, “Bag handler.” Nice defamiliarization.<br /><br />
45-D, six letters, “Ring of Pluto.” This answer made me happy.<br /><br />
54-A, letters, “‘Trust me for now.’” Movie-esque.<br /><br />
My favorite in this puzzle: 35-A, seven letters, “Extra ambition.”<br /><br />
No spoilers; the answers are in the comments.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><br/>You’re reading a post from Michael Leddy’s blog <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com">Orange Crate Art</a>. Your reader may not display this post as its writer intended.<br /><br />This work is licensed under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/">Creative Commons 4.0 License</a>.</div>Michael Leddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05547732736861224886noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343608.post-39944149093118152142024-03-08T08:05:00.003-06:002024-03-08T08:24:03.785-06:00PBS priorities, good griefWhen the <i>PBS NewsHour</i> panel began its analysis of President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address last night, the <i>first question</i> Geoff Bennett put to Lisa Desjardins, reporting from the House chamber was not about what the president said. It was about the interruptions: <blockquote>“Lisa, from your perch there, give us a sense of what you saw, especially some of the outbursts we heard throughout the evening.”</blockquote>
Yes, the outbursts, the interruptions, from Marge Greene, an unidentified member of Congress, and an audience member.<br><br>
And speaking of interruptions, the PBS discussion that followed the Republican response was cut short at 9:59 Central with a promo for yet another pledge-drive spectacular, <i>American Pop Flashback! Great Hits of the ’60s & ’70s</i>, followed by an hour-long show about aging backwards. Priorities, good grief.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><br/>You’re reading a post from Michael Leddy’s blog <a href="http://mleddy.blogspot.com">Orange Crate Art</a>. Your reader may not display this post as its writer intended.<br /><br />This work is licensed under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/">Creative Commons 4.0 License</a>.</div>Michael Leddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05547732736861224886noreply@blogger.com0