From Scratch

One of comedy’s most brilliant voices was silenced this week when George Carlin died. When he appeared on In the Actors’ Studio and host James Lipton asked at the end what he would like to hear G-d say when he got to heaven, Carlin thought for a bit then replied, “Now we’re going to have […]

Two cartoons this week. Often I choose whichever one I’ve seen a few days earlier but still remember, either for the art, the cleverness or simply because it made me laugh. Sometimes I choose one that makes me say, “Ooh, perfect,” in terms of the subject. I had both situations this week, so take your pick […]

NBC News confirms reports that Tim Russert has died. He was 58.
He collapsed and apparently suffered a heart attack at NBC News in Washington, where he was the bureau chief and long-time host of Meet the Press. The network hasn’t made available further details. [Update: NBC now says he collapsed and “was striken.”]
Just today, he spoke […]

Now it’s on to Chicago and let’s win there.
Those were among the last words we heard Bobby Kennedy speak.
Hillary Clinton has apologized for invoking his 1968 assassination yesterday and Robert F Kennedy, Jr., who has endorsed her, issued a statement that said: “It is clear from the context that Hillary was invoking a familiar political […]

William F. Buckley, Jr. has died. He was 82, and while the cause of death is not known yet, his son Christopher (Thank You for Smoking) says Buckley suffered from emphysema and diabetes.
Buckley was an eloquent voice among conservatives, possibly the most eloquent. He never had to be encouraged, as toddlers of soccer moms are, to […]

This one’s personal. Irish music legend Tommy Makem died yesterday of lung cancer here in New Hampshire, his adopted home for decades. He was 74. He, along with the Clancy Brothers, became household names with their Ed Sullivan Show appearances in the early Sixties. He also performed solo, never failing to bring down a house […]

Tom Snyder died of leukemia yesterday. He was 71. He was a radio and television pioneer, legendary enough to have been fondly spoofed on Saturday Night Live. If you’ve forgotten — or if you’ve never known — how good and often-newsworthy a talk show can be in the hands of a master,  please enjoy this tribute […]