• Children’s book author Betsy Byars has a trick for making herself write when she doesn’t want to write: She thinks of chores that need to be done. For example, she will think to herself, “All right, today you are either going to have to write two pages or you are going to have to defrost the refrigerator.” Sometimes, she will defrost the refrigerator and then think of another chore to do. Eventually, she hits on a chore that makes writing a better option — and then she writes. She also used her young children as critics. They would read what she wrote and if they felt themselves losing interest, they would draw an arrow pointing in the margin of that passage. Sometimes these downwards-pointing arrows appeared in her nightmares. In a way, her husband also served as a critic. Ms. Byars would try to write a murder mystery, but her husband constantly was able to guess the identity of the murderer after reading only two pages of her manuscript.
• When he was a teenager, and before he became a famous author, Walter Dean Myers got into trouble as a member of a gang in Harlem. One way the gang members made money was to hire themselves out as thugs — if someone wanted a certain person beaten up, he could hire members of the gang to do the beating. Once, Mr. Myers went along as another gang member attempted to carry out a beating, but this time the gang member had been set up. The “victim” was a police officer who ran after them. Both of them got away for the time being, but Mr. Myers realized that the police knew the other gang member’s name and that it would be only a matter of time before they learned that he was involved. Therefore, to avoid trouble with the police, he joined the United States Army. It worked. A couple of days after he had left for boot camp, the police arrived at his home to question him.
• Gay author Michael Thomas Ford once ran into problems with a couple of gay-bashing teenage boys who did such things as steal Mr. Ford’s rainbow flag, smash the windows of cars displaying rainbow stickers, and force a lesbian couple to move from the neighborhood. Mr. Ford responded by buying 10 more rainbow flags, which he and his neighbors displayed. The next time Mr. Ford saw the teenage boys, he told them, “See all these flags. This means there are more of us than there are of you. Don’t you ever forget that.” The harassment stopped.
• Jane Austen wrote such novels as Pride and Prejudice at Chawton Cottage, and she tried to keep her writing secret from people other than family and close friends. Leading to the room where she wrote was a door that creaked. The door was never fixed so that it would not creak — Ms. Austen used the creak as a warning that someone was coming, and she hid her writing before her visitor arrived.
• Lesbian author Gail Sausser used to live with several lesbian housemates, all of whom were creative problem-solvers. For example, whenever the house got too dirty, they would decide to throw a party, which motivated everyone to clean to get the house ready for guests.
• Flowers can be expensive, and so living next door to a cemetery has advantages. Jamie Tevis, wife of novelist Walter Tevis (author of The Hustler, The Color of Money, and The Man Who Fell to Earth) used to get flowers to brighten their table from the wreaths in the cemetery.
Located in the middle of the Bering Strait between the Alaska mainland and Siberia, are Little Diomede Island (US), and about 2.33 miles to the west is Russia's Big Diomede Island. What imaginary line runs between the two islands?
This American stand-up comedian, actress, author, musician and artist, was best known for her eccentric stage persona, self-deprecating humor, wild hair and clothes, and an exaggerated, cackling laugh. What is the name of Fang's wife?
Phyllis Ada Diller (née Driver; July 17, 1917 – August 20, 2012) was an American stand-up comedian, actress, author, musician and artist, best known for her eccentric stage persona, self-deprecating humor, wild hair and clothes, and exaggerated, cackling laugh.
Diller was one of the first female comics to become a household name in the U.S., credited as an influence by Joan Rivers, Roseanne Barr, and Ellen DeGeneres, among others. She had a large gay following and is considered a gay icon. She was also one of the first celebrities to openly champion plastic surgery, for which she was recognized by the cosmetic surgery industry.
Diller contributed to more than 40 films, beginning with 1961's Splendor in the Grass. She appeared in many television series, featuring in numerous cameos as well as her own short-lived sitcom and variety show. Some of her credits include Night Gallery, The Muppet Show, The Love Boat, Cybill, and Boston Legal, plus 11 seasons of The Bold and the Beautiful. Her voice-acting roles included the monster's wife in Mad Monster Party, the Queen in A Bug's Life, Granny Neutron in The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, and Thelma Griffin in Family Guy.
With the encouragement of her husband, Diller made her debut as a stand-up comedian at age 37 in the basement of the San Francisco North Beach club, The Purple Onion, on March 7, 1955. Up until then, she had only tried out her jokes for fellow PTA moms at nearby Edison Elementary School. Her first professional show was a success and the two-week booking stretched out to 89 consecutive weeks. Diller had found her calling and eventual financial success while her husband's business career failed. She explained, "I became a stand-up comedienne because I had a sit-down husband."
Source
Randall was first, and correct, with:
Phyllis Diller
Billy in Cypress said:
Phyllis Ada Diller
Mark.
Phyllis Diller.
Alan J answered:
Phyllis Diller.
Kevin K. in Washington DC responded:
Phyllis Diller.
Jim from CA, retired to ID, replied:
Phyllis Diller
mj wrote:
My mom wanted her to be her role model
But mom never had the edginess that came naturally to Phyllis Diller.
Roy, keeping his social distance in Tyler, TX wrote:
Another question keyed to my ancient, pre-internet mind! That's Phyllis Diller, a stand-up comic with an annoying voice and presentation, with a cackling laugh that could shatter glass. She was a very frequent guest on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show, which is where I first saw her.
Leo in Boise answered:
Phyllis Diller
David of Moon Valley responded:
with my eyes closed....
…i can hear her laugh….er, cackle might be a more apt description….the one…the only….Phyllis Diller….
John I from Hawai`i says,
Phyllis Diller
Daniel in The City replied:
Phyllis Diller
Deborah, the Master Gardener wrote:
Phyllis Diller! I loved her — she was a real hoot. I was a kid/young adult when she was most popular. I wish I could enjoy “drinks with broads,” which would include Phillis, Bea Arthur, Jean Stapleton, Dame Helen Mirren, and Jane Fonda. That conversation would be exquisite.
I remember a line from a Frank Zappa song, the name of which I don’t know, that has the line it the chorus: “…raising my lonely dental floss…” Oy, having a mostly-functional memory can be frustrating.
In the gratitude column: My husband was exposed last week on a business trip to LA to someone who has COVID-19. He got tested Sunday afternoon, the results came back yesterday as negative. Whew.
Michelle in AZ said:
Phyllis Diller
Dave in Tucson answered:
Fang's wife was the incomparable Phyllis Diller.
DJ Useo responded:
Phyllis Diller. She was someone in show biz I always looked up to. I'd like to see "her" on "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" show.
Joe ( -- Vote Blue, No Matter Who -- ) replied:
That looks like Phyllis Diller, I never liked Phyllis Diller, but then again I don't like most stand-up comedians. Got my notice from the Social Security Administration today, I only lost 50 cents a month this year. Whoo-Hoo. I don't know why the government doesn't at least increase the benefit to cover the cost of Medicare.
Rosemary in Columbus wrote:
Phyllis Diller
Jon L took the day off.
Mac Mac took the day off.
Cal in Vermont took the day off.
Barbara, of Peppy Tech fame took the day off.
Doug in Albuquerque, New Mexico, took the day off.
-pgw took the day off.
Kenn B took the day off.
Micki took the day off.
Ed K took the day off.
Angelo D took the day off.
Harry M. took the day off.
George M. took the day off.
Gary K took the day off.
Roy the (now retired) hoghead (aka 'hoghed') ( Without music to decorate it, time is just a bunch of boring production deadlines or dates by which bills must be paid. ~Frank Zappa ) took the day off.
Saskplanner took the day off.
Gateway Mike took the day off.
Steve in Wonderful Sacramento, CA, took the day off.
MarilynofTC took the day off.
Paul of Seattle took the day off.
Brian S. took the day off.
Gene took the day off.
Tony K. took the day off.
Noel S. took the day off.
James of Alhambra took the day off.
BttbBob has returned to semi-retired status.
~~~~~
Record Company: Ice Cream Man Power Pop and More Records
Record Company Location: Sweden
Info: This album has 20 tracks by various artists.
“Ice Cream Man Power Pop and More! is a radio show promoting new and established artists in the fields of Power Pop, Mod, Surf, Punk, New Wave, Northern Soul and more.
“Albums featured here are part of an ongoing project to help promote the bands further in Ice Cream Man Presents ….”
In the comments section people have posted more Leslie Jones clips at least two)--LOVE the one where she's watching Katie Porter on Lawrence O'Donnell & proclaims FIRE!
Lots of smoke from the Orange County fires have blown this way.
Tonight, Friday:
CBS begins the night with a FRESH'MacGyver', followed by a FRESH'Magnum PU', then a FRESH'Blue Bloods'.
Scheduled on a FRESHStephen Colbert are Common and Andrea Bocelli.
Scheduled on a FRESHJames Corden, OBE, are Kevin Bacon and Jamie Oliver.
NBC starts the night with a RERUN'The Weakest Link', followed by 'Dateline'.
Scheduled on a FRESHJimmy Fallon are Barack Obama, Sienna Miller, and Liam Gallagher.
On a RERUNSeth Meyers (from 10/22/20) are Michael Keaton, HAIM, and Todd Sucherman.
On a RERUNLilly Singh (from 12/9/19) are Tony Shalhoub and Ne-Yo.
ABC opens the night with a FRESH'Shark Tank', followed by '20/20'.
On a RERUNJimmy Kimmel (from 11/19/20) are Barack Obama and Zac Brown Band.
The CW offers the sorta-FRESH'The Hollywood Christmas Parade Greatest Moments'.
Faux fills the night with FRESH'WWE Friday Night SmackDown'.
MY recycles an old 'L&O: CI', followed by another old 'L&O: CI'.
A&E has 'The First 48', another 'The First 48', followed by a FRESH'Live Rescue'.
AMC offers the movie 'Groundhog Day', followed by the movie 'Scrooged', followed by the movie 'Fred Claus'.
BBC -
[6:00AM] STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE - PAST TENSE
[7:00AM] STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE - PAST TENSE
[8:00AM] STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE - LIFE SUPPORT
[9:00AM] STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE - HEART OF STONE
[10:00AM] STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE -DESTINY
[11:00AM] STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE - PROPHET MOTIVE
[12:00PM] UNDERWORLD
[2:30PM] UNDERWORLD: RISE OF THE LYCANS
[4:30PM] UNDERWORLD: BLOOD WARS
[6:30PM] UNDERWORLD
[9:00PM] UNDERWORLD: EVOLUTION
[11:00PM] THE GRAHAM NORTON SHOW
[12:00AM] UNDERWORLD: BLOOD WARS
[2:00AM] UNDERWORLD: EVOLUTION
[4:00AM] UNDERWORLD: RISE OF THE LYCANS (ALL TIMES ET)
Bravo has the movie 'The Fast & The Furious: Tokyo Drift', followed by the movie 'Fast & Furious', then the movie 'Fast & Furious', again.
Comedy Central has an hour of old 'The Office', followed by 'Jim Gaffigan: Quality Time', then 'Jim Gaffigan: Quality Time', again.
FX has the movie 'Kunt Fu Panda 3', followed by the movie 'Trolls'.
History has 'Ancient Aliens', another 'Ancient Aliens', followed by a FRESH'Ancient Aliens', and another 'Ancient Aliens'.
IFC -
[6:00am] Community
[6:30am] Community
[7:00am] The Mist
[9:50am] The World's End
[12:25pm] Warm Bodies
[2:45pm] Zack And Miri Make A Porno
[5:00pm] This Is 40
[8:00pm] Fool's Gold
[10:30pm] This Is 40
[1:30am] Fool's Gold
[4:00am] Half Baked (ALL TIMES ET)
Sundance -
[2:00am - 5:00am] perry mason
[6:00am - 12:30pm] the andy griffith show
[1:00pm - 1:00am] law & order
[2:00am] columbo
[3:45am] columbo
[5:30am] the andy griffith show (ALL TIMES ET)
SyFy has the movie 'Twilight', followed by the movie 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon'.
Karolyn Grimes, the original Zuzu Bailey and only surviving cast member of It’s A Wonderful Life, will join Ed Asner, Pete Davidson, Ellie Kemper and others in a virtual benefit table reading of the 1946 Christmas classic.
Zuzu, of course, was the six-year-old daughter of Jimmy Stewart’s George Bailey, who delivers one of the film’s most memorable lines: “Look, Daddy. Teacher says every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings.”
Proceeds from the one-night-only Dec. 13 event will benefit The Ed Asner Family Center, dedicated to promoting mental health and enrichment programs to special needs children and their families.
In addition to Grimes, Asner, Davidson and Kemper, the cast will include Mia Farrow, Maude Apatow, Carol Kane, Ed Begley Jr., Diedrich Bader, Bill Pullman, Richard Kind and BD Wong.
Ticket and viewing information is available at the organization’s website. The reading is set for Sunday, December 13 at 5 pm PT, 7 PM CT and 8 PM ET.
Lin-Manuel Miranda and Pearl Jam are joining forces for the Georgia runoff election.
Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Pearl Jam and actor Lin-Manuel Miranda announced Thursday that they will host a one-night only fundraiser to help raise money to engage the Georgia Latinx community in advance of the Senate runoff election on Jan. 5.
During the fundraiser Pearl Jam and Miranda will have a candid conversation in which they will discuss their artistic inspirations and why they use their voices for change.
The event will take place exclusively on virtual venue Looped with Wayne Brady hosting.
The event will take place on Wednesday, December 16, at 8:30pm ET / 5:30pm PT. Tickets are available now for donations starting at $10 here.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Knox County and The Dollywood Foundation announced a free one-night-only live streaming world premiere event for “The Library That Dolly Built.”
The world premiere of the film was originally planned to be a nationwide live event with more than 300 screens in the spring. Due to the pandemic, the premiere was reimagined to be a free live stream screening of the film, exclusively on Facebook.
The premiere will take place at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, December, 9. The screening will be followed by a conversation with, and live acoustic performance by Dolly Parton.
“The Library That Dolly Built,” was directed and produced by University of Tennessee journalism professor and director of Land Grant Films Dr. Nick Geidner, and narrated by Danica McKellar.
The movie goes behind the scenes of Parton’s Imagination Library to show how one of the most famous performers in the world partnered with thousands of local community organizations to develop an efficient and effective program for spreading the love of reading.
Radio Disney and Radio Disney Country will cease operations in the first quarter of 2021 as the company’s top-to-bottom realignment continues.
The move is related to the effort to have Disney Branded Television focus more on upping production of kids’ and family content for Disney+ and Disney Channels.
Radio Disney launched in 1996 as a terrestrial network and had expanded over the years to satellite radio and other platforms. By 2005, it reached 97% of the U.S. and played a key role in putting Disney stars like the Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato and many more on the broader pop-culture map.
The shutdown will directly affect 36 full- and part-time employees, the company said.
Radio Disney in Latin America is a separate operation and is not impacted by the announcement today.
The right-leaning Rupert's Wall Street Journal’s editorial board has warned that the loss of two Republican-held senate seats in Georgia – two races that will determine the power balance in Congress – will cost Donald Trump his legacy, as he continues to mount a specious legal battle to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
“If Republicans lose those seats, President Trump will be the main reason, and the main casualty will be his legacy,” the editorial board wrote on 3 December.
The newspaper’s editorial board criticised the president’s baseless attempts to undermine election results and warned that his attacks on other members of the GOP who have condemned his remarks and spurious lawsuits are “causing a split in the party” benefitting Democrats.
The editorial from the flagship legacy publication from Rupert Murdoch’s NewsCorp follows the president’s public falling out with Fox News, another NewsCorp property, as its pundits signal that the end of the Trump White House is imminent. The president has instead embraced the right-wing cable news networks One American News and Newsmax, as he welcomes their deference and amplifies their false election fraud claims in his final weeks in office.
A prominent law enforcement training group is promoting a lengthy research document riddled with falsehoods and conspiracies that urges local police to treat Black Lives Matter activists as terrorists plotting a violent revolution.
The document distributed by the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association contains misinformation and inflammatory rhetoric that could incite officers against protesters and people of color, critics said. It alleges Black Lives Matter and antifa, an umbrella term for leftist militants, are “revolutionary movements whose aims are to overthrow the U.S. government" and claims they are planning “extreme violence.”
Phillip Atiba Goff, a Yale University professor who is an expert on racial bias in policing, called the document dangerous, noting that the association is an important source of training materials for many small and midsize departments across the country.
“It’s stunning. It’s distressing in many ways. It’s untethered to reality,” said Goff, CEO of the Center for Policing Equity. “I worry that it leads to people dying unnecessarily."
The association in October sent a link to the 176-page paper, “Understanding Antifa and Urban Guerrilla Warfare,” in an email news update to its thousands of members. The document, labeled “restricted to law enforcement only,” is one of the few publicly available materials on its website. The Associated Press learned of the document from one of the policing organization's members.
Before 2020 comes to a close, Jupiter and Saturn will be so close that they will appear to form a "double planet." The great conjunction, as the planetary alignment has come to be known, hasn't occurred in nearly 800 years.
When their orbits align every 20 years, Jupiter and Saturn get extremely close to one another. This occurs because Jupiter orbits the sun every 12 years, while Saturn's orbit takes 30 years — every couple of decades, Saturn is lapped by Jupiter, according to NASA.
However, 2020's conjunction is especially rare — the planets haven't been observed this close together since medieval times, in 1226.
Aligning with the solstice on December 21, 2020, the two planets will be just 0.1 degrees apart — less than the diameter of a full moon, EarthSky says. The word "conjunction" is used by astronomers to describe the meeting of objects in our night sky, and the great conjunction occurs between the two largest planets in our solar system: Jupiter and Saturn.
The planets will be so close, they will appear to overlap completely, creating a rare "double planet" effect.
Just days after a large phallus sculpture mysteriously disappeared from a Bavarian mountainside, a similar wooden carving has appeared in its place, German news agency dpa reported Thursday.
The saga began several years ago, when a 2-meter-tall (almost 7-foot) tall sculpture appeared on the 1,738-meter (5,702-foot) high Gruenten mountain in southern Germany.
It quickly became a selfie magnet for hikers and even featured on Google Maps, where it was described as a “cultural monument.”
The sculpture toppled over several weeks ago, only to be erected again. Last weekend it vanished entirely, with only a pile of sawdust left behind.
Even as local police probe the disappearance, the tale took a further twist Thursday with the discovery that a new, slightly larger carving of male genitalia had appeared at the site, propped up with wooden beams.
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said:
has returned to semi-retired status.
In memory.
