Friends, some news items transcend party politics, and the death of George Wendt is certainly a case in point. Wendt played Norm Peterson on the hit 80s sitcom Cheers. As an overweight, frequently unemployed drunk, Norm represented the best of American high culture. His trademark wit delighted audiences for years, and he appeared in every single episode of the show from 1982 to 1993. God Bless and Godspeed, Norm/George!!!
Dr. Waddy from Jack: I'll be as snooty as to say I never watched Cheers, not once. Living without electricity during its run made that difficult. I doubt that Cheers ever received a National Endowment for the Arts grant even though it was probably far more popular than the British soap operas which the NEA thinks "proper" fare for tax payer support. Just sayin'.
ReplyDeleteRAY TO DR. WADDY
ReplyDeleteThis is off topic, but with reference to previous comments on Churchill,
I would highly recommend "1945: Year Zerio" by the late John Lukacs, pub. 1978, 300 pages. Lukacs (a professor), was a Hungarian who was involved in World War 2, and migrated to the U.S. after the war. The subtitle is "The Shaping of The Modern Age." He paints very interesting cameo portraits of Hitler, Churchill, Roosevelt, Stalin, and Truman. Clearly out of print, but gettable. I own my own copy, and read it through once a year. Interesting how the shapers of our world today were all men born in the 19th Century.
Ray from Jack: I have heard of Lukacs; what main points does he raise in the book? Right now I'm enmired in about 3+ books but I'm always interested in what historians say about those guys. Great point about them all having been born in the 19th century. What astonishing change they lived through. Imagine being a Civil War vet at the 75th anniversary commemorations of Antietam and Gettysburg and seeing a plane fly over!
ReplyDeleteRay from Jack: Not a fair question on my part above. But what do you think his overall opinion of Churchill is?
ReplyDeleteRAY TO JACK
ReplyDeleteGlad to here from you after my sarcastic remarks about Churchill and so on. Not intention of attacking you personally.
If you can, put aside those 3+ books you are dealing with now, and get "1945: Year Zero" through a inter-library loan if possible, unless the library near you has it.
Also, if you can, get a hold of "Stalin's War" by Sean McMeekin, pub. 2021. I'm in it right now. It's long, but he is excellent writer, and reading goes faster than I expected. Stalin was absolutely horrible, and McMeekin proves it, hands down. I checked it out at my local library here, but am seriously considering buying it.
Thanks for the book recommendations! Understanding these men is vital to comprehending how the world came to be what it is. I'm a big believer in the influence of "great men", who, all too often, are dreadful human beings.
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