“Various and Sundry, 9-24-10”
Today, I am introducing what I hope will become a regular feature at this site, “Various and Sundry.” It will feature links to pieces that portray some overlooked but influential and interesting quotations in news, sports, and popular culture. The title derives from a favorite expression of my dad, who in addition to his many other wonderful attributes, is very clever with words.
* The redecorated Oval Office includes a carpet surrounded by five of President Obama’s favorite quotations from American history. “The Arc of the Moral Universe is Long, But it Bends Towards Justice” – Martin Luther King Jr, “The Only Thing We Have to Fear is Fear Itself” – Franklin D. Roosevelt, “Government of the People, By the People, For the People” – Abraham Lincoln, “No Problem of Human Destiny is Beyond Human Beings” – John F. Kennedy, and “The Welfare of Each of Us is Dependent Fundamentally Upon the Welfare of All of Us” – Theodore Roosevelt.
* Rest in peace, Ida Blankenship, who brought to this season’s “Mad Men” some of its very best lines. View Miss Blankenship before her in-office demise and hear her speak in actress Randee Heller’s impeccable New York accent. See if you can keep from laughing at the final clip, when Don responds to Peggy’s scolding of him for listening to Roger’s autobiography transcript by saying, “Come on! Ida was a hellcat?…Cooper lost his balls?…Roger’s writing a book?!”
In this Los Angeles Times interview, Heller shares her favorite quote from the character, which is mine as well; “Did you want me to buy him or her a gift?”
* Inspired by the seemingly not-so-highly-anticipated but nevertheless unrelentlingly-advertised sequel to “Wall Street” premiering today, Time lists the 80 Greatest Quotes About Money From 80s Movies. Included in the list is the iconic line from Gordon Gecko, “Greed is good… Greed works.” The other 79 reflect some impressive research, as well as two quotes from my top 80s movie, “Risky Business.” There should have been three; somehow the author of the piece failed to include this one.
