Jack Burns Lives!

I recently returned from my first trip to New Mexico, where I did a little “Abbey touring.” Like Ed, I was impressed by the landscape and horrified by everything else. Swarms of humans, dependent on government teat and the weapons industry. And the Albuquerque Chamber of Horrors is doing everything it can to recruit [...]

Finally got around to scanning and loading those documents from the Showman’s Manual I posted about in July.
It’s really an interesting look into how film producers marketed their products in the ’60’s, and it’s also full of some interesting tidbits about the film. Some well known. Others perhaps not so well known.
There are interviews, biographical [...]

Edward Abbey – A Voice in the Wilderness
Well, since I’m on the YouTube train tonight, might as well post another one.
This short clip shows Ed at his former station in Arches, a place I visited in September ‘06.
I was shocked at the numbers of people, but shouldn’t have been. Ed warned us the [...]

Lonely Are The Brave-An Interview with Kirk Douglas Pt1
Here’s an interview with Kirk Douglas about his role in Lonely Are The Brave.
It’s sad how the stroke has affected him, but I’m deeply grateful for this interview.
Boy what I’d give for a chance to examine the script he shows during the interview!

Nice to see the old buzzard gettin’ some attention again, this time for The Brave Cowboy in Ben Gore’s review “Fiction: The Lone Ranger and Don Quixote Joust,” appearing in The Brooklyn Rail. Interesting and happy to see this after just doing a podcast on the subject.
There are a few inaccuracies. Ed didn’t have a [...]

Okay, so I’m going to violate my own recent edict and stray from topic. I’m going to post about something other than Abbey. Which is fine. I’ll post about the critters in my yard.
We’ve had a significant number of hummingbirds in the garden for the past two weeks. They’re getting fat in preparation for [...]

Today’s podcast topic is Edward Abbey’s 1956 work, The Brave Cowboy.

After my last rant I guess it’s clear that I need a change in direction. Less involvement in controversial and troublesome subjects, even though I was the one calling for more people to stand up and be heard. Oh, well. Abbey was full of contradictions. Why can’t I be?
I have an idea, though. A [...]

I’ve grown weary of debate, and I’m ready for a little peace and quiet.
I’m tired of the fighting, finger pointing, gnashing of teeth, name calling and the general ugliness in political, environmental and social justice circles. I’ve grown weary of infighting in the environmental community, especially people that point their judgmental fingers at others while [...]