Quote of the Day/Week- Amy Winehouse

We continue quoting famous people who died in 2011 with a quip from English soul/pop diva Amy Winehouse (1983-2007) who died at age 27; her last public concert performance was in Belgrade, Serbia, on June 18. She passed away on July 23.

Winehouse was known for her signature song "Rehab," which was a huge hit in 2007 as well "You Know I'm No Good" and "Stranger Than Me." Since much of her singing was encouraged by pop music of the '60s, Scottish singer Adele has said that Winehouse was a major influence for her.

Here is the quote from Winehouse:

"Girls talk to each other like men talk to each other. But girls have an eye for detail."

Quote of the Day/Week- Elizabeth Taylor

This month we are quoting famous people who died in 2011, and we may very well continue that into next month. In February, we are also hoping to quote Oscar winners. Dame Elizabeth Taylor who died on March 23, 2011, at age 79, was a two-time Oscar winner. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress first for "BUtterfield 8" (1960) and then for "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" (1966).

In 1960, she beat out Shirley Maclaine who starred in Billy Wilder's Oscar-winning film "The Apartment." But, Maclaine would win her own Best Actress Oscar for "Terms of Endearment" (1983). In 1966, Taylor won over sisters Vannesa Redgrave ("Morgan!") and Lynn Redgrave, who died in 2010, ("Georgy Girl").

Taylor's fans may want to set their tivos as her film "Father's Little Dividend," a sequel to the original "Father of the Bride" airs on TCM at 2:30 a.m. on January 15th.

Here is her quote:

"You find out who your friends are when you're involved in a scandal."

SIDEBAR: The answer to our last Bonus Road Trip question was C....it was a deliberate joke on my part as the answers for the last three entries in that series were all C.

Quote of the Week- Daniel Day-Lewis

Today, we continue our quotes from past Oscar winners with a quip from 1989 Best Actor Oscar-winner Daniel Day-Lewis, who later won a second Oscar for his lead role as the horrifying Daniel Plainview in "There Will Be Blood" (2007).

But, the Irish actor born in 1957 first won an Oscar in his mid-thirties for "My Left Foot" in 1989, a film which I still haven't seen after all these years.

Here is the quote from Day-Lewis whose next role is going to be as Abraham Lincoln:

"Making a film, setting it up and getting it cast and getting it together, is not an easy thing."

Oscar Quote of the Week- Dustin Hoffman

Since we are against capital punishment, this quote is quite poignant. Dustin Hoffman, who is now obviously a much older man (I think he is around 70) finally won a Best Actor Oscar for his performance (many people think he should have won earlier for "Midnight Cowboy" or "The Graduate) in the 1979 divorce drama "Kramer vs. Kramer."

Here is the quip:

"A good review from the critics is just another stay of execution."

Quote of the Day- Aretha Franklin (for MLK Jr. Day)

Today, we are taking a one-day break from quipping famous composers to focus on African-American musical artists who came of age, both socially and artistically, during the Civil Rights period in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

We thought since she is battling pancreatic cancer that we'd start with Aretha Franklin, 67, who has been called the greatest pop singer of all time by "Rolling Stone."

With this quote, Franklin illustrates that all of us to a varying degree have coping problems with life's various challenges:

"Trying to grow up is hurting, you know you make mistakes. you try to learn from them, and when you don't, it hurts even more."

Yeah, I certainly know what she means by that.

Quote of the Week- Bill Clinton

Since November is the month of elections, we are posting quips from American presidents of the 20th century. Today, we include the pride of Hope, Ark., former president Bill Clinton.

On Thursday, The Bill Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, will be offering free admission in honor of Veteran's Day. There will also be free admission on Saturday as the library celebrates its sixth anniversary.

Currently, the library is hosting a special exhibit called "Headed to the White House," which continues until Nov. 21.

I highly recommend the book "The Pact" which details how surprisingly close Clinton was to arch conservative Republican Newt Gingrich, who was house speaker from 1994 until 1999. The political fallout from scandal ultimately tore their secret professional union apart.

Here is the quote from the first president from Arkansas:

"Big things are expected of us, and nothing big ever came of being small."

Quote of the Week- Warren Beatty

According to a new biography by Peter Biskind, Warren Beatty was the real-life Hot Stuff (see last entry) and we'll leave it at that. Since we were quoting famous movie directors in October, we thought we'd conclude with Beatty.

Though better known for his acting skills and his Pepe LePew characteristics, Beatty has also directed four films, including "Reds" which garnered him an Oscar for Best Director (though nominated many times, he never won an Oscar for acting). Beatty also directed the screen version of "Dick Tracy" and "Bulworth," in which he plays a politician.

Beatty has been the one Hollywood icon that many people thought would actually run for president. Ironically, even though he is liberal, Beatty was friends with both Charlton Heston and Ronald Reagan. The later of which leads us to this Quote of the Week, which I would imagine is quite true (and, I'm not one to agree with 'The Gipper' often!):

"I was friends with Ronald Reagan and he once said to me, 'I don't know how anybody can serve in public office without being an actor."

Quote of the Week- Spike Lee

Our Quote of the Week, which are publishing early this week, comes from movie director/political activist Spike Lee who I saw in person at Virginia Tech several years ago:

"Don't think that because you haven't heard from me for a while that I went to sleep. I am still here, like a spirit roaming the night. Thirsty, hungry. Seldom stopping to rest."

Qoute of the Week- Woody Allen

We are far behind in our blogging, which means other aspects of lives are perhaps stronger now. But, we thought we'd post yet another great quote from Woody Allen (who is second to fellow filmamaker Jean-Luc Godard_who we have on occasion mistakenly called Jean Luc-Godard*___ in terms of being quoted on our two blogs).

I sense this quip was made a few decades ago, but like all quotes from the director of "Annie Hall" and "Manhattan," this one holds up quite well:

"How can I believe in God when just last week I got my tongue caught in the roller of an electric typewriter."

*- What a difference a hyphen makes! Of course, Jean-Luc Godard is correct!

Quote of the Week- Billy Joel

We are doing our quote of the week today instead of Monday because I am (yikes!) having gall bladder surgery then. I want to thank all my friends who've sent their best wishes. Needless to say, this blog will probably not be active until late next week.

Today, we go with quotes from singers Billy Joel and the late Jerry Garcia, who was the lead singer of the Grateful Dead (that quote will be on our sister blog "Politics, Culture and Other Wastes of Time.").

The reason for this quips has to do with celebrity chef and author Anthony Bourdain who expressed his disdain for both Joel and the Greatful Dead on the NPR music show "Sound Opinions" which airs here in NC on WUNC-FM (91.5/Chapel Hill). In fact, it is airing right now! (I should be listening, but I'm in a public library). Amazingly enough, Bourdain had dinner with Joel even though he is candid about not being hip to "Uptown Girl."

Here is the quote from the man who brought us "Just the Way You Are," "Piano Man" and "We Didn't Start the Fire:"

"There is nothing better than good sex. But, bad sex? A peanut butter and jelly sandwich is better than bad sex."

Quote of the Week- Henry Winkler

Since I recently posted an entry about my "Happy Days" experiences as a child when my late Turkish father forbid me to watch the sitcom because it featured kids talking back to their parents, I thought I would post two quips from the series' two respective stars. Here is the first:

"You see I don't know how to ride a motorcycle," Henry Winkler

Quote of the Week- Bill Cosby

"In order to succeed you, your desire for success should be greater than the fear of your failure," Bill Cosby.

Quote of the Week- Rodney Dangerfield

I am hoping to throw a house party that will include a triple-header of Rodney Dangerfield films this weekend..........if everything goes according to plan!

In honor of the occasion, we are quoting the late comic who apparently failed to get respect here with this quip:

"I have good-looking kids. Thank goodness my wife cheated on me."

http://www.rodney.com

Quote of the Week- Sean Penn

This week, we focus on two screen performers who are nominated for Oscars.

On our sister blog "Politics, Culture and Other Wastes of Time," we have a quote from Meryl Streep.

Here we have a quote from Sean Penn, arguably the Academy's front runner for his performance as gay rights activist Harvey Milk in the film "Milk:"

"I love acting, truly my favorite people are actors."

Quote of the Week-Mick Jagger

"Anarchy is the only Slight glimmer of hope."


Check out a quote from this "Dancing in the Streets" co-star David Bowie on our sister blog "Politics, Culture and Other Wastes of Time."