Judy Holliday

I went to the library last night and brought a stack of things home, including:
* Candlewick's The Wand in the Word Candlewick's book of interviews with fantasy writers, (I've already read it, it would make a good gift for a young person who likes fantasy and is interested in becoming a writer)
* a cupcake cookbook (did you know they now have individual silicon muffin cups to use in place of paper?)
* another book by William Boyd
* a thick s/f tome (not saying which one until I know whether or not I can stomach it. I like the premise, but the sheer size of these books is discouraging. So much of s/f is based around world-building, the idea that the reader just wants to hang out in the imaginary world regardless of what's going on there, is one of the things I dislike about the genre. I like these details tucked into a streamlined plot or character study. There are exceptions of course, but I'm always the person in the room who complains about the endless poetry and speechifying in LoTR and the impossible to pronounce names.)
* one of those teen poem-novels (not sold on this format, but continue reading them anyway,)
* Pete Hautman's latest Rash. (He suddenly has a lot of books out, probably due to the success of Godless about a boy who starts a religion worshipping the towns water tower and what happens as a result. Some of you would really like Godless, some of you would be really disturbed by it. I'll leave it to you to sort it out.)

I also got two movies, including Born Yesterday with Judy Holliday. Judy Holliday is probaby best remembered as the dumb blond defended by Katherine Hepburn in Adam's Rib. Dumb blond was sort of her schtick, but not in the same sex-pot way as Monroe or Mansfield. She's more of a tough broad who's only dumb because she's not interested in anything outside of what will get her what she wants.

The movie wasn't wonderful, but it made me cry. The basic premise is that this kingpin junk dealer hires a jounalist to give his moll finishing lessons to help him make Washington connections. She starts out totally uninterested in being educated, but goes along with the act becase she thinks the journalist is cute. (William Holden doing a Gregory Peck thing, complete with high ideals and thick glasses, but his performance predates Roman Holiday or To Kill a Mockingbird.) In the process she runs smack up against the humanist philosophy of the founding fathers and realizes she isn't being treated well by her kingpin boyfriend.

( Slight spoliers, and some thoughts on the portrayal of domestic vioence and humanism on film. )

Gay Evangelical

Since Ted Haggard is a Colorado evangelical, his outting by a Denver male escort, is all over the news. The escort says he was prompted to out Haggard because of Haggard's political backing of several anti-gay marriage amendments up for vote in CO this political season.

Hilariously, my first thought is, "Prostitutes these days! You can't trust their discretion!"

But there is a strong (& ancient) tradition of illicit relationships ruining political careers. The whistle-blower also puts his/her own reputation/identity at risk by outting another, but also stands to gain.

This thought was followed by, "Isn't it amazing that the debate is now about not letting same-sex partners marry? In the not too distant past a person could be arrested for same-sex activities."

Ebert interviews Apted

Ebert interviews Apted.

I also have a great deal of affection for the Up series, which I am new to over the past year. I still haven't seen 49-Up because it doesn't appear to be playing in my state. Aaagh!