Quote of the Week- Elia Kazan

We continue quoting Americans this month since the Fourth of July occurs .....well in July. Today, on our two blogs, we look at film directors who immigrated to the United States. Here, we will quote Elia Kazan (1909-2003) who was an Anatolian Greek (Turkish citizens of Greek heritage. There are still many living in Istanbul). On our other blog, we quip Billy Wilder who was a German emigre.


Kazan was a controversial figure off-screen though some of his films like "A Streetcar Named Desire" (1951) were quite provocative for their time. The main reason for this was that the stage and screen director was among the first to cooperate with zealous Congressmen who were out to find communists in Hollywood.

Other memorable Kazan films include "Panic in the Streets" (1950), "On the Waterfront" (1954), "Baby Doll" (1956)* and "Splendor in the Grass" (1961). He frequently directed films with Marlon Brando.

Here is the quote from Kazan which seems quite ironic:

"Anybody who informs on other people is doing something disturbing and even disgusting."

*-My favorite Kazan film

Viva Espana!

Since virtually all the public libraries in my part of North Carolina were closed yesterday (as was everything except emergency services and the local Mexican restaurant) since it was Sunday, I didn't get to post this entry sooner.

But, even though I was rooting for The Netherlands/Holland, I wanted to congratulate Spain on winning the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Andres Iniesta kicked the game-winner in the 116th minute of play. His teammate Xica was named MVP of the World Cup and Germany's Thomas Muller won the Golden Boot.

Paul the Octopus had predicted that Spain would win on Sunday, and he had picked eight consecutive game winners throughout the World Cup. According to sports handicappers in England, anyone who listened to Paul and bet accordingly would have made themselves $4,500! Paul was given a replica World Cup for his accomplishment.

Tanja Munzig, a spokesperson at Paul's aquarium in Germany, said the octopus would be staying put in his tank despite all the media hoopla:

"We've had lots of offers, but he will definitely be staying and returning to his old job---making children smile."

Spain's World Cup victory was mared by terrorist bombings in Uganda which killed 74 people (at last report).

Nate Henn, 25, was the only American killed by the blasts which occured in the Ugandan capital of Kampala. Internet columnist Michelle Ruiz said Henn was living his dream by being a relief worker in Uganda.

Vicky Collins of "The Hufington Post" said she ate the Ethiopian Village restaurant which was the site of one of the blasts back in June. Collins said she was sickened by the attacks.

Xenophobic Criminals in Greensboro?!

According to the police blotter in the Greensboro newspaper "Yes Weekly!," Greensboro police responded to an emergency call at 10:40 p.m. on June 29 from the Tienda Mexicana store on West Market Street which turned out to be an armed robbery.

Store employee Maria Ruiz and her 9-year-old sister were in the store when two black men in their late teens or early twenties came in and one of them pointed a gun at Ruiz's face. The second suspect jumped over the counter and demanded cash.

The two then sped off in a black four-door vehicle. Anyone who may have info is asked to call CrimeStoppers at (336.373.1000).

SIDEBAR ONE: We expect Glenn Beck's head will explode over this one (and, we would love to see that happen actually!) as the Mexican beer Tecate aired several ads en espanyol on ESPN-2 last night during Friday Night Fights.

SIDEBAR TWO: A Mexican waiter at a local Mexican restaurant, a Greek co-worker of mine and a Turkish friend of mine in Greensboro all think Spain will beat Holland- the team I am both picking and rooting for in the World Cup final tomorrow. We'll see what happens tomorrow at 1:30 p.m.

TEASER: Next Saturday, we will be debuting a new series called "The Weekly Top Ten List." We will either go with our top ten favorite people to follow on Twitter or the my top ten favorite cities in North Carolina. Among the candidates for the top slot on my Top Ten Favorite people to follow on Twitter list are "Yes Weekly!" reporter Jordan Green, conservative activist Nathan Tabor of Winston-Salem (who I rarely agree with, but it's fun to see what's on his mind), comic strip character Zippy the Pinhead who we presume to really be his creator Bill Griffith or the acidic-tongued stand-up comedian Sarah Silverman.

Friday GeoQuiz- How Large is Utrecht, Holland?

Wes


Since Holland is playing Spain for the World Cup title on Sunday, we thought we'd focus our dual GeoQuiz entries (the other one is on my other blog "Politics, Culture and Other Wastes of Times) on the two countries involved.

For this entry, we focus on The Netherlands and the Dutch city of Utrecht. It is the fourth largest city in Holland, and the home to footballer Wesley Sneijder who has been a star player for the Dutch team. Sneijder also hails from Utrecht, which is also home to the Dom Tower (pictured above).

Utrecht is also the main rail hub of The Netherlands as well as one of Holland's leading cultural cities which like Amsterdam boasts lots of impressive canals. We presume there is good beer and cheese in Utrecht as well.

The city is also Sister Cities with the likes of Leon, Nicaragua, and Brno, Czech Rep.

One of our local bands (well, they are just down the road) The Carolina Chocolate Drops from Durham, NC, will be performing in Utrecht at The Rosa on Nov. 10. Closer to home, the band performs at Duke University in their hometown on Sept. 25. I saw them at a bluegrass fest in the rural hamlet of Eden, NC, two years and they were quite impressive!

Here is our question about Utrecht which we dedicate to ninth graders at Ragsdale High School in Jamestown, NC (near Greensboro) where a family friend is a member of the school's wrestling team:

How large is Holland's fourth largest city?

A) 275,000
B) 300,000
C) 350,000
D) 425,000

If you know the answer, I will send you a copy of "The Oak Ridge Boys' Greatest Hits" on eight-track!

SIDEBAR: We are always looking to see where people are visiting us from here on this blog. Today, we are wondering if anyone from Metz, France, or Paris, Texas, happens to stumble upon this entry. If you are from one of these towns or Utrecht, Holland, feel free to email us at tango74@aol.com

PS- The answer to last week's quiz was Slovenia.

At Cat's Cradle- John Hiatt and The Combo (July 22)

For those who live in Raleigh or Greensboro and are avid John Hiatt fans, the country/rock hipster will be performing at The Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, NC (Chapel Hill), on Thursday, July 22. His act is actually called John Hiatt and The Combo. Tickets are $35 and the show starts at 8 p.m.

Hiatt is known for his hit songs like "Have a Little Faith in Me," "Thing Called Love" and "Slow Turning."

His latest album is "The Open Road."

Hiatt is performing in Winnipeg, Canada, tonight, and he also give concerts at The Ark in Ann Arbor, Mich., on July 18 and WolfTrap in Vienna, Va. (outside DC) on July 21.

PSA- Be Nice to Mormons

I must profess that we came with the idea because I heard that either a Mormon or Jehovah's Witness protylitizer was murdered after knocking on the proverbial wrong door in Newport News, Va. But, I couldn't find any info about the strangest of homicides.

Sure, it's annoying to have anyone protylitize to you, but there are creative ways to get rid of them. You can tell me you recently converted to Zen Buddhism and see the look on their face as you tell them they are interupting your meditation time.

I also found out while researching this piece that last year feds arrested Benjamin Speakman in South Jordan, Utah, for allegedly plotting to mass-shoot his Mormon congregation at the Jordan River Temple.

And, we also discovered that our favorite Mormon Donny Osmond (he edges out Mitt Romney who we love to make fun of!) was critical of Lady Gaga for her explicit video for her song "Telephone." Osmond, who won the coveted "Dancing with the Stars" championship, said he was all for free speech but as a parent he was concerned that the Gen Z Madonna had a gone a bit too far.

Perhaps, this means there will be no Donny Osmond* and Lady Gaga duets. That would be interesting, wouldn't it?!

*- I forgot if he spells his name with a 'y' or 'ie'!

Quote of the Day- Albert Camus

Since it will be Bastille Day in France next week (July 14th is the French day of independence), which is coincidentally a day of jubilation in Azerbaijan as well---though we aren't quite sure exactly why, we thought we'd post some quotes from famous French people. In fact, we are doing this all this month on Wednesdays as we are also quoting famous Americans on Mondays. I suppose those who were ex-pats, like the late poet James Baldwin, could qualify for both slots!

Today, we are quoting two French legends who were actually born in Algeria on our two blogs. On "Politics, Culture and Other Wastes of Time" (yeah, I know this isn't the best name for a blog), we quip the recently-deceased fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent (1936-2008).

But, here we quote Albert Camus (1913-1960), who wrote "The Stranger." The great writer was also known for speaking out against capital punishment, colonialism and human rights abuses. We take it Dick Cheney probably hasn't checked any of his books out of the Casper, Wyo., library.

Here is the quote from Camus who alas died a few years short of his 50th birthday:

"All great deeds and all great thoughts have a ridicilous beginning. Great works are often born on a street corner or in a restaurant's revolving door."