Friday Diversion

A few things to pass the time while nursing a wicked hangover after a night spent drinking Dogfish Head's Palo Santo in Boston. As always, this is some of the best reading I've come across in the past 7 days.



Mr. and Mrs. Right

By Bob Colacello

Who says we don't represent both ends of the political spectrum here at seanmccallum.com? Granted, this is an article I would have never taken the time to read if it hadn't been so highly recommended, but what can I say? I guess I'm a sucker for a good love story. This lengthy piece chronicles the lives of Pat and William F. Buckley, two people you will not find more diametrically opposed to the political and social views I hold. But it's all good. And even if you aren't a fan of the far right, if nothing else, this piece will remind you (with stories of obscene priviledge, garishly extravagant dinner parties, and general condescension for those who do not tread in the same social strata) why you tend to lean to the left.

Thanks to Skeets for the article.



The 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All-Time

The good people at Empire Online are proud to bring you the 100 greatest movie characters of all-time. How both Lloyd Christmas and Harry Dunne were ommitted from the top-10 is beyond me, but hey, it's their list.



The Dystopians
By Ben McGrath

This is only the abstract, but if you are able to log into the New Yorker, check out this piece about doomsday forecasters, and the future they envision.

Spreading the Word
By Judith Thurman

Another abstract piece about the game of Scrabble, and the eccentric people who play it.

49 Songs from North of the 49th Parallel

From January 5th-16th, 2009, CBC Radio 2 invited Canadians to help select the top “49 songs from north of the 49th parallel” that would best define our country to the incoming U.S. President Barack Obama. Nominations were submitted, and the these were the top 49 songs as decided by the good listeners of CBC Radio 2.

Highly recommended selections include One Great City by The Weakerthans ("The Guess Who sucked, the Jets were lousy anyway..."), Brother (Watching) by Shad, and Helpless by Neil Young.

The YouTube clip of the week comes courtesy of TVB. Should I ever achieve the kind of weath and political sway of William F. Buckley, rest assured, installing an exact replica will be my first order of business: