I am not Danny Glover

Because of the similarity of our names, I have periodically had people refer to me by name as “Danny Glover.”  For a time it was more common at work because of a historical artifact regarding my work email address.  One person in particular seemed to take particular pleasure in this.

In fact, it has sometimes been hard to prove to people that I am not Danny Glover.  Perhaps they believe I bear a striking physical resemblance.  If only, I thought, I could be in the same place at the same time as him, I would have definitive evidence.  Now, it happens that around thirty years ago he stood not ten feet from me, when I saw him perform Blood Knot in New York City, but at the time he was not famous and it did not occur to me to document the event.

Fortunately, fate provided me a new opportunity tonight.  I was out to dinner at Nishino and my dinner companion observed that Danny Glover or someone strongly resembling him had entered the restaurant.  We later confirmed via observing some fawning encounters that it was in fact the Danny Glover.  While I did not disrupt his privacy by asking him to pose for a photo with me, I do at least have a witness who can confirm the event.

Lassparri’s Revenge

This week marked the passing of Kitty Carlisle Hart who was known, among other things, for the role of Rosa Castaldi in one of the greatest movies of all time, A Night at the Opera.  With this, one of the last living contemporary links to the Marx Brothers is gone.

There are many things to say on the subject, but Lawrence Downes put it best in today’s New York Times: Ciao, Rosa Castaldi.

Mariska Hargitay should adopt Dannielynn Hope Marshall Stern

Think about it.

Hey Henry! Hey Iain!

It’s not often that people I know personally get mentioned in the New York Times.

Will Someone Please Need and Feed Sir Paul?

The articles are starting to trickle in about Paul McCartney‘s 64th birthday being this Sunday, June 18th.  So far Mark Caro’s is the most worthy.  We should expect it to be all over the popular press by Friday.

 

There’s the obvious irony of his recent separation from wife #2, though technically he’s still the only Beatle who has never been divorced.   I suppose an appropriately snarky comment is in order, but it sounds like the British tabloid press — who make Ann Coulter look like Mother Teresa — are taking care of this.

“It’s funny how one insect can damage so much grain.”

It’s hard to believe it has been 25 years since John Lennon was killed.

 

It’s hard to believe I can still remember that day so clearly.

 

It’s hard to believe that I’m older now than he was then.

 

Hey, hey, Johnny.

On With Their Hair or Off With Their Heads!

OK fellas, listen up:  The fully shaved head look is over.*  Over! 

I cannot tell you how tired I am of my work meetings looking like a Moby impersonators’ convention.

This is not just my opinion, by the way.  I’ve confirmed it with my official style arbiter, Rodger of 7.

Please do something else with the top of your head.  Anything else, in fact, except a mullet or a comb-over.

 

* – Five extra demerits for pairing it with a goatee.

The Ultimate Reality Show

Here’s the premise:  Take a moderately bright, moderately geeky, entrepreneurial type and give him a billion dollars.  That’s right, a billion dollars.  To do whatever he wants with it.

Here’s the result.

Not always right, but rarely dull.

 

California Dreaming

Whenever I hear people complain about winter weather and pine for southern California, I’m reminded of this famous Neil Simon quote:

"When it’s 32 degrees in New York, it’s 78 in Los Angeles. When it’s 102 degrees in New York, it’s 78 in Los Angeles. There are about two million interesting people in New York — and 78 in Los Angeles."

Insecurity Trumps Achievement

I was reading a New York Times Magazine this past weekend and I came across this letter:

Published: November 28, 2004, Sunday

Your questions for Richard Branson failed to mention any of his numerous failures, including cola, cellphones and soon, I predict, his excursion into the world of railroads (Deborah Solomon, Nov. 7). After years of trying, he couldn’t even circle the globe in his wonderful balloon. Also, I find it hard to believe that anybody in the airline business is, in fact, a billionaire.

Since your feature appeared, Richard Branson’s reality show, ”Rebel Billionaire,” has opened to minuscule ratings, even lower than Mark Cuban’s failed attempt at knocking off me and my show. In the meantime, ”The Apprentice” continues to bring in top ratings, and I am having fun on all fronts, especially beating my copycat rivals.

Donald J. Trump
New York

You would think that an emininently successful businessman would have little time or need to retort a few minor digs from a competitor.  Or perhaps his success is a glorious facade and he must shield his fragile ego at every turn.  You be the judge.