tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post111268786450869417..comments2024-03-24T13:26:57.317-07:00Comments on Sergio Leone and the Infield Fly Rule: GARDENING AT NIGHTDennis Cozzaliohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01954848938471883431noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-1113787025576940542005-04-17T18:17:00.000-07:002005-04-17T18:17:00.000-07:00Damn you, Dennis, for stealing a quote I was plann...Damn you, Dennis, for stealing a quote I was planning to use on MY forthcoming blog, you thieving bastard! (And I mean that with the love of Jesus, really I do...)<BR/><BR/>Ah, well. You're in better position than I at the moment, and I count on the short-term memory failure of those our (gasp) advanced age to work in my favor. In fact, I may lift whole passages from your scribblings, so there!<BR/><BR/>As to those "false friends," just keep this in mind: If you're pissing someone off, you're surely doing something right. Lord forfend an apathetic reader; give us a passionate reaction, pro or con, and we know our toil is righteous!<BR/><BR/>xoxo<BR/>JenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-1112768431464234162005-04-05T23:20:00.000-07:002005-04-05T23:20:00.000-07:00So, I finally trot out an Emerson quote, to make m...So, I finally trot out an Emerson quote, to make myself look familiar with all that book-learnin' and stuff, and it turns out, according to the reliable sources on the very Emerson site I linked y'all to, to be widely assumed by scholars not to be attributable to Emerson at all, but instead to some woman who was published on the oposite page of a journal in which one of Emerson's writings appeared. The full story is here: http://www.transcendentalists.com/success.htm<BR/>Fortunately, for me, the importance of the quote doesn't depend on it being from Ralph Waldo Emerson any more than it would if I'd been under the impression it had been written by Keith Emerson and his pals, Greg Lake and Carl Palmer (the heavily layered synths definitely would've given THAT particular game away fairly early on, I would hope!). It's what the quote conveys that's of value to me, and that remains no matter who the author might be. Thanks to everyone above who checked in with such kind words. No matter what it may look like to the casual observer, this post was never intended to be a cheap grab for applause. It just kind of spilled out of me last night unexpectedly-- I was going to write about something else entirely, a keen short film by Claude Lelouch that a friend of mine turned me on to, and I still will do so later this week (if I can ever get out of the office). I guess I've been getting busy enough with life and its various interests, responsibilities and enterprises that I needed to sort some things out and line them up so even I could understand them, and this is how it happened. I appreciate everyone's patience with my indulgence. And now, if you've gotten this far, here's the only other joke I know:<BR/><BR/>What's green and stays out all night?<BR/><BR/>[ With Heavy Irish Accent ]<BR/>Patty O'Furniture!<BR/><BR/>[ Sound Of A Multitude Of Computers<BR/>All Switching Off At Once ]<BR/><BR/>Oh, and, of course [ Crickets Chirping ]Dennis Cozzaliohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01954848938471883431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-1112766894066493712005-04-05T22:54:00.000-07:002005-04-05T22:54:00.000-07:00It almost comes as a bit of a surprise--well, it w...It almost comes as a bit of a surprise--well, it would be a surprise if I didn't know what a modest guy you are--to hear that you have any doubts about your approach to daily life and relationships. Since you haven't imploded after all these years of being so good to people (like me) who often don't deserve such steadfast friendship and high regard, I can only conclude that it must be good for you as well as for those who are lucky enough to be your friends and loved ones. I guess we have in common, among other things, that we can't remember a joke to save our lives (though this one ain't bad: short, simple and funny). You may well remember my tired bagel joke from college, literally the ONLY joke I could retell for many years. Now I know one about Michael Jackson, but someone gave me a dirty look for telling it last week, so I'll have to find a new one to take me into the next decade. <BR/><BR/>I especially liked, in this very cheering essay, the part about how much more enriching it is to write about a movie you love. I remember reading something about Stanislavski saying he was impressed by the high quality of writing by theater critics in (I think) Germany; he quizzed them about why, and they said that part of their education involved an exercise in which they had to write only positive things about a play they'd seen, and so they learned to look for the things that worked, rather than snidely carping about the failings of the production. I always think of that when I read a dispiriting, snotty piece of criticism. (Oh, and by the way, all those German critics are now reviewing movies for TV stations and cheapo internet sites...haha, just kidding).<BR/><BR/>Keep up the good work, writing and otherwise.<BR/><BR/>BruceAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-1112740030075155862005-04-05T15:27:00.000-07:002005-04-05T15:27:00.000-07:00That really is funny... Replace the duck with a fr...That really <I>is</I> funny... Replace the duck with a frog and the bartender with a doctor and you have MY favorite joke. I kid you not!<BR/><BR/>I hope I am an honest critic, Dennis, but at least I can confirm in all honesty that you have, indeed, succeeded already in earning my appreciation. Mind you: I urge you to <I>continue</I> succeeding... as it will leave the world a bit better if you do.<BR/><BR/>And I hope we'll be working together again real soon.<BR/><BR/>Respect!<BR/>Peter GelderblomAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com