Articles
Laura Bush: First Lady of His Heart
When George W. Bush takes the oath of office as president on January 20, 2001, his wife Laura Welch Bush will be at his side, holding the Bible—probably the same family Bible his father used twelve years earlier. From that moment on, neither of their lives will be the same. Quiet, unassuming Laura will be the focus of intense public scrutiny, starting no doubt with a critique of her Inauguration Day wardrobe. As she and George trip the light fantastic at the Inaugural Ball, all eyes will be on her gown. After all, that isn’t just any dress—it is a part of American history; her wax facsimile will forever wear that ball gown in the First Ladies’ Hall at the Smithsonian! What a transition for someone who, even as First Lady of Texas, was able to shop anonymously at Wal-Mart with her daughters as recently as two years ago.
Continue Reading…
John Lennon: Beautiful Dreamer
“You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope some day you’ll join us
And the world will be as one.”
from “Imagine” by John Lennon
It’s hard to believe that twenty years have passed since the murder of John Lennon outside his Central Park West apartment on December 8, 1980. Lennon was, of course, the founder of the 60s rock group The Beatles, who were catapulted from very ordinary lives to fame and fortune almost overnight. In the U.S., it was called the “British Invasion,” and Lennon was undeniably its general. Probably the most controversial of the Beatles, Lennon once noted that they were more popular than Jesus. For him, it was a curious and amusing matter of fact, a commentary on the values of modern society. But for many of those untrustworthy folks over 30, it was nothing less than blasphemy. Continue Reading…
Gore and Bush: Does It Really Matter?
I think it was Dennis Miller who first joked about Gush and Bore. This clever little play on words mirrors the public’s perception of the two presidential candidates. Gore fought hard and may have finally overcome the popular belief that he is a bore, but it took a passionate kiss in front of millions to do it. Bush is saddled with his ties to the petro-chemical industry, but ironically, he was a failure as an oilman and his one big gusher never really did materialize.
Not only do the candidates have to battle their own public image and each other’s characterizations, they must also fight the increasingly prevailing view that there is very little difference between the two major parties. For many voters, these candidates are interchangeable. What do their horoscopes tell us about their similarities and their differences and how do they relate to each other?
Continue Reading…
Al Gore: The Fortunate Son
Some folks are born made to wave the flag,
ooh, they’re red, white and blue.
And when the band plays “Hail to the Chief”
they point the cannon right at you.
It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I’m no senator’s son.
It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I’m no fortunate one.
Remember the old tune “Fortunate Son” by Creedence Clearwater Revival? It seems to have been written with Vice President Albert Gore, Jr. in mind. The son of Tennessee Senator Albert Gore, Sr., Al Gore has spent his entire life preparing to enter rooms accompanied by the band playing “Hail to the Chief.” And, it’s likely he understands exactly what it means to have the cannon pointed right at him. After all, power at those dizzying heights is a double-edged sword indeed. The nominee of the Democratic Party for president, Al Gore has only one obstacle left in his quest for the presidency—another fortunate son, George W. Bush.
Continue Reading…
Kathie Lee Calls It Quits
On February 29, 2000, Kathie Lee Gifford announced that she was quitting her fourteen-year stint as co-host of the popular morning talk show, Live with Regis and Kathie Lee. The show, which catapulted Kathie Lee to fame and fortune, is the centerpiece of her successful and varied career. Finding a replacement for the vivacious Kathie Lee will be no small task, since she and co-host Regis Philbin seem to be as natural a coupling as peas and carrots.
Continue Reading…
Rubin “Hurricane” Carter: The Power of Love
For those of us of a certain generation, the song “Hurricane” by Bob Dylan served both to immortalize the story of Rubin “Hurricane” Carter and to symbolize the injustice of racism. In 1966, against the backdrop of the civil rights movement, the up-and-coming boxer, Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, was accused and convicted of the murders of three whites in a Paterson, New Jersey bar. The subtitle of Carter’s autobiography, The Sixteenth Round, says it all: “From Number One Contender to Number 45472.”
Continue Reading…
The King of TV- Regis Philbin
Who Wants To Be a Millionaire? the highest rated prime time quiz show ever, made “Is that your final answer?” the most popular catchphrase of 1999 and the show’s host, Regis Philbin, an overnight success at age 66. Regis (or Reeg as he is affectionately known), born on August 25, 1933 (see chart notes about birthdate), is everywhere—talk shows, the news and magazine covers. He’s the current media darling—not bad for a guy from the Bronx who, let’s face it, is more accustomed to collective sneers and jeers than popular acclaim.
Continue Reading…
Seeing Double: Jim Carrey ~ Andy Kaufman
Man on the Moon, the much-anticipated film biography of Andy Kaufman, stars Jim Carrey as the legendary comic. Danny de Vito, one of Kaufman’s Taxi co-stars, also appears in Man on the Moon and says that Carrey’s performance is nothing short of remarkable. It is as if Kaufman were reborn in Carrey.
Is Carrey’s chillingly accurate portrayal of Kaufman a tribute to his phenomenal talent, or might there be more—shall we say, cosmic—reasons for the similarities in the two? Amazingly enough, Kaufman and Carrey share a birthday, January 17. Kaufman, born in 1949, is thirteen years older than Carrey.
Sun in Capricorn: The Quest for Perfection
Both Kaufman and Carrey knew early in life that they wanted to be on stage. At age seven, Kaufman began performing for family and friends, and by age eight he was being hired to entertain at birthday parties. Carrey, the youngest of four, was the family clown and reportedly submitted a resume to the Carol Burnett Show when he was ten. Continue Reading…
