Ten Things that Have Made Me Smile This Week.

Like all weeks in amerikkka as democracy freezes into its dying rictus and work, often thankless no matter how well-paid, clatters around us, I look for smiles wherever I can find them. 

A notepad from a long-gone New York radio host with the adage, "A mind is a terrible thing to have," helps. The seven-year-olds hustling to the all-girls' school down the block from my apartment (the school my daughters attended) stopping to pet Sparkle, my pup. A farewell bit of truth from Colbert, forced off the air by radical right anti-democracy autocrats. And these nine things below:

1.
I noticed this sign watching a clip from "The Public Enemy." Probably the first gangster movie I ever watched. (Around 1967, my father filched a film-projector from his agency. Willoughby-Peerless, across the street from his office, rented 16mm movies in those days, and I got a film education as a pre-teen while friends were stuck watching the Partridge Family.)

The Public Enemy, 1931, Cagney's fourth motion picture and his big break.

Advice for living. 
Never forget the Jamestown flood.

2.
I'm reading a very-readable book by Mike Wallace (not TV's Mike Wallace) called "Gotham at War: A History of New York City from 1933 to 1945." It's nearly 1,000 pages but, still, a page turner. I recommend it without reservations.

3.
This headline from Tuesday's Times gives me pause (and my dog, paws.) A cautionary tale. And tail.

4.
I ran across a mention of a book called "How to Be Topp." The cover art is by Ronald Searle. Searle is national treasure, no matter what nation you're from. 

Of course, for all Searle's "Belles of St. Trinian's" fame, it's his POW work (and the stories behind it) that are seared in what's left of my dessicating grey matter.

Searle survived a Japanese POW camp and also helped build the bridge over the River Kwai. A Japanese captain, Captain Takahashi, a seemingly kindred spirit, allowed him to draw some of his experiences. You can read a Times' book review of Searle's "Kwai" book (above) here.

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5.
Cab Calloway's Hepster's Dictionary, is also referenced in Wallace's "Gotham." You can find the entire thing online if you look for a moment. Here's an ample and amiable head-start.

6.
Pursuant to number 5, anything by Babs Gonzales, which is essentially Mr. Calloway's Hep Talk in motion. (You Tube won't let me download, so these self-shot videos will have to do.)

BTW, here's a snippet from Babs' wikipedia page. It might give you a hint as to why I love him.

7.

Next to next to last, or penultimately penultimate, accent on the diphthonic, the song they'll play at my funeral. Watch the wisdom of Count Basie's hands at :18 and :38--they know when not to speak. And the pain of 200,000 years of human existence is contained in Joe Williams' ululations.

8.

Now, the greatest line in movie history. Especially for those of us oft-visited by Dame Insomnia.

and a bonus from Stan and Ollie.

9.

I've written this entire post without AI. Without gushing about AI. Without mentioning the trillions of dollars AI algorinaires are ginning up or the hundreds of thousands of people they are firing. Also nothing about fake awards, fake agencies, or photos of people smiling. Back to basics make me happy.

10. 
Finally Sparkle, my two-years and eight-month-old golden retriever. Unlike humans who are too stupid, when Sparks is tired and the sun is shining, she lays down and just is. That's called pure joy. And I wish I could. I wish we all could.