Passing: Carl Ballantine, Slapstick Magician & Castmember on McHale's Navy (NY Times)

From The New York Times:

By BRUCE WEBER
Published: November 11, 2009

Carl Ballantine, an inveterate quipmeister whose stand-up comedy persona, an incompetent magician known as the Amazing Ballantine or Ballantine the Great, predated and influenced the antic characters of Steve Martin and others, died on Nov. 3 at his home in Hollywood. He was 92.

Over the course of a six-decade career, Mr. Ballantine became familiar to audiences as a comic actor, especially after landing the role of the scheming, profiteering seaman Lester Gruber on the television series “McHale’s Navy” in 1962.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/11/arts/television/11ballantine.html?ref=obituaries

Passing: Al Cervi, Hall of Fame N.B.A. Player-Coach (NY Times)

From The New York Times:

By FRANK LITSKY
Published: November 10, 2009

Al Cervi, a tenacious backcourt player in the early years of professional basketball and later a Hall of Fame coach who led the Syracuse Nationals to the 1955 N.B.A. championship, died Monday (November 9, 2009) in Rochester. He was 92 and lived in Brighton, N.Y.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/11/sports/basketball/11cervi.html?ref=obituaries

Saving New Orleans Culture, One Sandwich at a Time (NY Times)

From The New York Times:

By JOHN T. EDGE
Published: November 10, 2009

Some say the po-boy, the signature sandwich of New Orleans, is imperiled. The New York Times reports about a party New Orleans is staging for the po’ boy, the city’s signature sandwich

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/11/dining/11unit.html?ref=dining

There is an accompanying slide show as well @ http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/11/11/dining/1111-POBOY_index.html?ref=dining

Remember to Remember

Yes, life is hectic - especially these days. But here's hoping you can find the time today to pause to pause and contemplate just what today (Remembrance Day/Veterans Day) is all about. And, if you know a Veteran, perhaps you can make their day - and your's with a word of thanks.

Lou Lamorello Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame (Boston Globe)

From the Boston Globe:

An appreciation by Kevin Paul Dupont.

http://www.boston.com/sports/hockey/articles/2009/11/10/a_special_breed/?page=1

Sesame Street at 40

From PBS:

Clips and more as folks celebrate Sesame Street over the years.

http://video.pbs.org/program/1317708249/

Andy Williams: Hitting the High Notes (CBS)

From CBS Sunday Morning:

The Legendary Songsmith Is Still Entertaining Audiences in His 80s, With No Signs of Slowing Down

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/10/18/sunday/main5394688.shtml?tag=contentMain;contentBody

2010 Olympic torch run ignites the spirit of youth in the North (Vancouver Sun)

From the Vancouver Sun via canada.com:

By Shelley Fralic, Vancouver Sun
November 7, 2009

Just when you think that your country's future is in peril, what with all that global warming and, you know, the Toronto Maple Leafs, there comes a sign that all is not lost.

Community on edge of Arctic Ocean shuts down in anticipation

http://www.canada.com/sports/2010+Olympic+torch+ignites+spirit+youth+North/2193250/story.html

A Historic River Town Where the West Began (NY Times)

From the New York Times:

By ROBERT C. YEAGER
Published: November 6, 2009

As the birthplace of governors, senators and even a vice president, Marietta has had a historic impact on its state and nation that transcends its small size.

With an accompanying slide show

http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/11/06/travel/escapes/06amer.html?ref=travel

20 Picture-Perfect Towns (Forbes via msn.com)

From Forbes via msn.com:

By Rob Baedeker for Forbes

From the natural setting to the architecture,towns finalists in Forbes' civic-beauty pageant.

http://cityguides.msn.com/articles/cityarticle.aspx?cp-documentid=22421086>1=24000

Say It Ain't So - Mickey Mouse To Become Less A Mr. Nice Guy after Makeover ? (NY Times)

From The New York Times:

By BROOKS BARNES
New York Times
Published: November 4, 2009

For decades, the Walt Disney Company has largely kept Mickey Mouse frozen under glass, fearful that even the tiniest tinkering might tarnish the brand and upend his $5 billion or so in annual merchandise sales. One false move and Disney could have New Coke on its hands.

Now, however, concerned that Mickey has become more of a corporate symbol than a beloved character for recent generations of young people, Disney is taking the risky step of re-imagining him for the future.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/business/media/05mickey.html?_r=1&hp

Yanks Win Series for 27th Time

Congratulations to the New York Yankees for winning a World Series title - this one at their new Yankee Stadium. Hideki Matsui was selected Series MVP in their win over the defending baseball champs, the Philadelphia Phillies.

Hats off to all - including the vanquished. It's not easy to get back to the Series after winning it.

New Podcast Posting: A Cultural History of Maurice Richard

As any hockey fan knows, Maurice Richard was the highest-scoring NHL player of his era, the first to achieve the feat of fifty goals in fifty games. In his eighteen years with the Montreal Canadiens, Richard’s determination, intensity, and will to win drew fans and admirers. But Richard was revered as much for what he represented off the ice.

“The Rocket” (before Rod Laver and Roger Clemens) inspired poems, novels. short stories, biographies, songs, movies, plays, kids’ books and comic strips. His face adorned clothing, toys, household goods, hockey equipment, and ads from cars to soups. Streets, parks, and public squares bore his name, and boasted his statute. With an influence that extended beyond his playing years, he became a symbol in Quebec and a hero across Canada (and beyond).

We speak with cultural historian Benoit Melancon whose book, The Rocket: A Cultural History of Maurice Richard (Greystone Books, 2009) exhaustively and uniquely chronicles the Maurice Richard – the man and the myth.

Of the book NPR’s “Only A Game” said, “…“open-minded folks will be intrigued by Malencon’s exploration of the ways in which people attribute all sorts of cultural significance to the accomplishments and personalities of champions like Richard”.

At:http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=279

New Podcast Posting: Journeys into Beer - A Look at Some Oktoberfest Beers

Say Oktoberfest, and you likely think of Munich and beer.

Understandable, but you can also think beer and North America. The explosion in brewing over the past few years mean a number of new quality options for beer lovers.

We spend this month examining some of the quality Oktoberfest beers to be found.

There are conversations on three interesting offerings: Left Hand (Colorado), Summit (Minnesota), and Flying Dog (Maryland).

At: http://conversationsontheroad.com

New Podcast Posting: Lincoln Highway the Way It Was: Tiny stretch of bricks keeps Omaha suburb alive

Folks doing business in historic downtown Elkhorn know that they are in the midst of a much larger city, having been annexed by the City of Omaha a couple years ago. But they still have their brick streets in the mingle of quaint restaurants and shops as well as one of the most pristine remnants of the old Lincoln Highway – in the original brick and narrow lanes. It has sparked a neighborhood revival.

Leona Anderson of Little Scandinavia from Elkhorn joins us to talk about it in this “Journey into Nebraska”.

http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=291

New Podcast Posting: Curt Smith on Ernie Harwell

At World Series time we get to thinking about great teams and World Series games of the past. We also start to think of some of the great Voices of the Game, whether from radio or television.

In this Journey into Baseball, we speak with write, lecturer and historian on the topic of “Voice of the Game”, Curt Smith, about the great Ernie Harwell.

Ernie Harwell was not just the Voice of the Detroit Tigers, but was also a radio fixture on CBS radio (along with Ned Martin) for some playoff classics – the broadcasts as well as the action on the field.

http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=294

Remembering The Great Depression's Sunny Side (NPR)

From NPR News:

by Sam Sanders
October 23, 2009

This year marks the 80th anniversary of "Black Tuesday," Oct. 29, 1929, which is considered the climax of the stock market crash that preceded the Depression, and a day that changed America's economic history.

Here's an NPR rundown of a few of the winners, music and food of the 1930s, evidence that for some, "Life Was Just A Bowl of Cherries" during that economic downturn.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113844245

Passing: Lou Jacobi, Critically Acclaimed Actor of Film and Stage (NY Times)

From The New York Times:

By ANITA GATES
October 25, 2009

Lou Jacobi, the mustachioed, scene-stealing Canadian-born actor and comedian who made a film and stage career playing comic ethnic characters but was lauded for serious dramatic roles as well, died on Friday at his home in Manhattan. He was 95.

To many, myself included, Mr. Jacobi is best remembered and loved for successful comedy recordings with titles like “Al Tijuana and His Jewish Brass” and “The Yiddish Are Coming! The Yiddish Are Coming!”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/25/nyregion/25jacobi.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=lou%20jacobi&st=cse