Morty the Dog

Monday, April 30, 2012

Burns and Schreiber on the Corruption of Power

"If power corrupts and if absolute power corrupts absolutely, then where does that leave God?"--1976

I was pleased to see Jack Burns and I share a birthday. Two funny guys worth rediscovering.

My little Darwinian experiment, much to the consternation of the neighborhood. In this concentrated area I have a cherry tree, an apple tree, holly, hawthorne, juniper, and some kind of miniature evergreen. At least one ceramic elf is trapped under all of this, as well as something that crawled into this jungle and died in the winter, judging by the smell. I have seen rabbits, raccoons, possums, and a porcupine trudge through here, so who knows what is in that tangle?

Favorite Movie Quotes: North by Northwest

"You listen to me, I'm an advertising man, not a red herring. I've got a job, a secretary, a mother, two ex-wives, and several bartenders depended on me. And I don't intend to disappoint them all by getting myself slightly killed."

[Reviewed in Cheaper by the Dozen 43]

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Spaetzle

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Favorite Movie Quotes: Nixon

Nixon talks to a portrait of JFK: "When they look at you, they see what they want to be. When they look at me, they see what they are."

[Reviewed in Cheaper by the Dozen 41]

And yes, I actually do have an autographed copy of Six Crises signed by Tricky Dick when he was running for Governor of California in 1962. He was apparently up here for the Seattle World's Fair (Century 21 Exposition) around that time so maybe that's how a copy came to be found in a local used book store in the 1970s.

Much to my horror as an old 1972 McGovern volunteer, I discovered some years ago Nixon and I are probably distant cousins connected through the Trimmer family of New Jersey and then Ohio.

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Favorite Movie Quotes: Night of the Ghouls

"Barnum sure was right!"

[Reviewed in Cheaper by the Dozen 38]

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Near White Star

Favorite Movie Quotes: Night Monster

"How is it dames always know what's on a guy's mind before he knows himself?"

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Near White Star

Favorite Movie Quotes: Ghostbusters II

"Not so fast, Vigo. Hey, Vigo, yeah, you, the bimbo with the baby. Didn't anybody tell you the big shoulder look is out? You know, I have met some dumb blondes in my life, but you take the taco, pal! Only a Carpathian would come back to life now and choose New York! Tasty pick, bonehead! If you had brain one in that huge melon on top of your neck, you would be living the sweet life out in Southern California's beautiful San Fernando Valley!"

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Favorite Movie Quotes: Niagara

"Why should the Falls drag me down here at 5 o'clock in the morning? To show me how big they are and how small I am? To remind me they can get along without any help? All right, so they've proved it. But why not? They've had ten thousand years to get independent. What's so wonderful about that? I suppose I could too, only it might take a little more time."

[Reviewed in Cheaper by the Dozen 32]

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Alice May

Wife of

George Tricklo

Born

Feb. 9, 1863;

Died

Feb. 29, 1888

Bush/Union/Pioneer Calvary Cemetery

Tumwater, Washington

Favorite Movie Quotes: Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure

"No, I'm fine. No damage. I've got all the usual number of arms and legs."

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In memory of

Sarah C. Denton

Wife of

Edward Lange

Born

In Brooklyn, N.Y.

June 29, 1851

Died

Sept. 12, 1897

Bush/Union/Pioneer Calvary Cemetery, Tumwater, Washington

Edward Lange, who died in 1912, was an artist known for creating very detailed "bird's-eye view" drawings of urban areas, including Olympia.

Favorite Movie Quotes: Born Yesterday

[A toast]: "To all the dumb chumps and all the crazy broads-- past, present, and future-- who thirst for knowledge and search for truth, who fight for justice and civilize each other, and make it so tough for crooks like you... and me."

Saturday, April 28, 2012

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Grave of George Washington Bush, African-American pioneer of Tumwater, Washington, and his wife, Isabella. Both died in the 1860s.

In the background are WalMart and Costco outlets.

Bush/Union/Pioneer Calvary Cemetery, Tumwater, Washington

Favorite Movie Quotes: Naked Gun 33 1/3 : The Final Insult

"'You Might End Up Dead' is my middle name."

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Grays Harbor County Rain

On a clear day I can see the foothills of the Olympics from my front yard. But we don't get a lot a clear days here in Grays Harbor County, Washington. Mostly we get rain. A lot. And this is why we are called "The Evergreen State." At least on the western side. Today my front yard visibility is about 4 blocks.

I am guessing this constant rain, which keeps many of us inside most of the year, is a major contributing factor to why so many cartoonists come from the Pacific Northwest.

The best description of our climate I have ever read came from Ken Kesey in Sometimes a Great Notion. I note that recent immigrants to our corner of the world don't mind the rain so much as the constant overcast and lack of sunlight.

But this is Washington, my home, wherever I may roam. This is my land, my native land, Washington, my home. I was born in Spokane, but raised on the wet side, so I consider myself a true trans-Cascade Washingtonian, loving both sides of this great state.

McCleary Mini-Comics Day! May 26!

This event is now less than a month away, so I guess I better start getting serious about organizing this thing.

If you are coming from the Roman Road we call I-5, take the exit at Oly to Aberdeen/Ocean Beaches and you'll find yourself on US 101 heading west. After crossing Mud Bay you'll be given a choice of continuing on 101 to Shelton, or staying on the main road, which magically turns into SR 8 heading for the Coast. Stay the course and head for the Coast on SR 8. You'll find 9 out of 10 vehicles turn off to continue on 101. Only the few, the proud, keep climbing the mountains on to SR 8. You will now be entering a world outside of the Seattle media. You will be visiting the old, original Washington. And romantic as it may sound, it isn't always pretty or politically correct. But it is harshly real.

From the start of SR 8 it takes about 20 minutes to climb to McCleary, the highest point on the road between Oly and the Coast. After you take the McC exit, turn right, left, descend down the hill into the town at exactly 25 m.p.h., and at our stop sign with the flashing red light on top turn left. Now you are on Simpson Ave. heading west, otherwise known as the old Highway 410. Go about 8 blocks and on your right you'll see the McCleary Community Center, happily located next to the town cemetery.

As you fall into McCleary you'll see as you come down the hill the McCleary Methodist Church on your right. This building was designed by Joseph Wohleb, an architect responsible for many buildings in Oly, including the Capitol campus.

After you turn on to Simpson, you'll see diesel pumps at a gas station on your left. When I was a kid there was a big house there. I believe that is where McCleary's only movie actor, Major Mite, lived.

This ground-down corner of the state can use some good, positive creative energy. I hope you crazy cartoonists out there are willing to make the trek up here to the woods and produce some comix. We are going to have fun and celebrate the comic art form!

Favorite Movie Quotes: Naked Gun 2 1/2 : The Smell of Fear

"Oh, it's all right. I'm sure that we can handle this situation maturely, just like the responsible adults that we are. Isn't that right, Mr. Poopy Pants?"

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On display next to one of Olympia's largest Protestant evangelical compounds.

Favorite Movie Quotes: Naked Gun : From the Files of Police Squad!

"Protecting the safety of the Queen is a task that is gladly accepted by Police Squad. For no matter how silly the idea of having a queen might be to us, as Americans we must be gracious and considerate hosts."

[Reviewed in Cheaper by the Dozen 34]

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