Joe was born on January 5, 1889, in Easton, Pennsylvania, the eldest of four children of Irish immigrants. Educated at Lafayette College and Columbia University, Joe met Stella, who was married, but they fell in love and with his legal education, he helped her get a divorce, after which they wed. Joe began his legal … Continue reading August 6, 1930
Podcasts
Wanging On with Graham and Maria
In addition to his television chat show, Graham Norton used to have a radio program; he’d interview guests, and he and his friend Maria McErlane would dish and answer listeners’ questions about nearly anything under the sun, even though they admitted they were not qualified to do so. Highlights from those shows were repackaged as … Continue reading Wanging On with Graham and Maria
Catching Up
Quote of the day: The short memories of the American voters is what keeps our politicians in office.—Will Rogers I was tentatively planning to write a post about the first three of these, but I have so many irons in the fire, so many posts in the queue, that I decided to throw these all … Continue reading Catching Up
“Life is a loveless tale”
Quote of the day: A rich man is one who isn't afraid to ask the salesperson to show him something cheaper.—Jack Benny It was 1942 and Richard Rodgers wanted get to work on Green Grow the Lilacs, a play that had failed on Broadway a decade earlier but in which he saw possibilities for a … Continue reading “Life is a loveless tale”
Moderation Is No Virtue
Quote of the day: Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to reform (or pause and reflect).—Mark Twain I consider myself pretty far left politically. In fact I sometimes jokingly tell folks that I’m somewhat to the left of Noam Chomsky. And yet when I take one of those … Continue reading Moderation Is No Virtue
The Lees of Old Virginia
Quote of the day: I learned ... that one can never go back, that one should not ever try to go back—that the essence of life is going forward. Life is really a one way street, isn't it?—Agatha Christie I’ve been saving this one up, but the forthcoming documentary by Ken Burns on The American … Continue reading The Lees of Old Virginia
People Don’t Click on Links
Quote of the day: There's an old saying, “Life begins at forty.” That's silly. Life begins every morning you wake up.—George Burns I learned a long time ago that people generally don’t click on links. Years ago I was trying to promote one of my videos, so I asked someone who had tens of thousands … Continue reading People Don’t Click on Links
Dr. Kenneth Miller
Quote of the day: It's astonishing in this world how things don't turn out at all the way you expect them to.—Agatha Christie Dr. Kenneth Miller is that rarity, a scientist who is also a devout Catholic. I actually started to write “practicing Catholic” but I think he’s past the practice stage. Anyway, I … Continue reading Dr. Kenneth Miller
The Birth of the Blue
Quote of the day: I will unite with anyone to do good, but with no one to do harm.—Frederick Douglass In some ways it feels like I’ve always known George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, but as best as I can recall, I first heard it when I got the Leonard Bernstein recording with the New … Continue reading The Birth of the Blue
April Ajoy
Quote of the day: Outside of a dog, a book is a man’s best friend. Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read. —Groucho Marx April Ajoy is a woman who gives Christians a good name. Seriously. I mean, if all Christians were like April Ajoy, I wouldn’t be railing against the Christian religion … Continue reading April Ajoy