David Cranmer's Blog, page 15
September 20, 2017
Do You Want To Know A Secret?
Welcome to the “Brooke Russell Astor Reading Room for Rare Books and Manuscripts." I might like having this guy's job.
September 19, 2017
Light In Darkness
A daily pitstop for me is Pat's Blog that is dedicated to all things mathematics. Today, he posted a Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky quote that in a current reality many have felt has gone mad is optimistic:
Mankind will not remain on the earth forever, but, in search of light and space, will at first timidly penetrate beyond the limits of the atmosphere and then finally conquer the spaces of the solar system.Not a fan of math? Maybe my Movies + Math article can help make a minor dent in your life-long cynicism. Deal?
John le Carré Interview
Just got around to watching the 60 Minutes interview with John le Carré. I've read his books since the 1980's when I first saw Alec Guinness play George Smiley in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Smiley's People. Steve Kroft does a fine job of getting the famed author to reveal a little bit more about his past than I've seen in other such presentations. Worth your time if you appreciate his work or a writers creative process. Also, if you are a bit more intrigued with George Smiley, I've done a recap of his career at Macmillan's Criminal Element blog.
September 18, 2017
Rest In Peace, Stanislav Petrov
The man who stopped nuclear catastrophe in 1983 has passed away. If you are not aware of his history, I recommend clicking over to learn more about Mr. Petrov who deserves a monument in both Russia and the United States.
Concealed Carry, Alt-Right, And Hive Mind
Merriam Webster has expanded their essential dictionary with 250 new words. Here's the link to immerse yourself with the likes of froyo, Saigon Cinnamon, and my favorite... schneid. Oh, and I guess I was being a bit mischievous with the header to this post knowing it would bring in some traffic—but those have also been added. You don't feel cheated, right? Talking words is so much more enlightening.
Happy Birthday, Lexicographer
"Dull: Not exhilaterating (sic); not delightful; as, to make dictionaries is dull work." And Samuel Johnson would know. Happy 308th, sir.
September 17, 2017
Frank Bullitt Is The Name
This: ‘Bullitt’: A Suspense-Packed Thriller that Introduced a New Kind of Action Films. And hat tip to Andrew Nette for bringing this percipient article to my attention. Thought I knew most everything about this movie and realize I hardly had a clue.
Lonely As Hell
In a Lonely Place (1950) features one of the finest Humphrey Bogart performances equaled by the lovely Gloria Grahame as his doomed lover. And a very astute line, my favorite, comes when Bogart as a cynical Hollywood screenwriter named Dixon Steele says, "It was his story against mine, but of course, I told my story better." And another more tragic gem, "I was born when she kissed me. I died when she left me. I lived a few weeks while she loved me." How great is that, right?Such poignant, flawless writing was adapted from the Dorothy B. Hughes novel of the same name. Considered by some to be the greatest noir, I disagree there, but it would easily be in the top five, with numero uno being Out of the Past. I watched Lonely Place earlier today and am thinking it needs to be part of my yearly rotation. A film of such immense, staggering depth is bound to elicit more treasures on repeated dives.
