Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Friday, January 27, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
$57.5 Million
That's the average box office take so far of the films nominated for the Oscar for best move.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Friday, January 20, 2012
Empire of the Summer Moon
This biography of Comanche leader Quanah Parker was nominated for a Pulitzer prize, and it certainly deserves it. It's well written, detailed and doesn't sugar coat either the Comanches or their conquerors.
Quanah was half white, the son of "white squaw" Cynthia Ann Parker. The story of Cynthia Ann's capture by Comanches and her uncle's five-year search for her was the basis of John Ford's film "The Searchers."
Contrary to many Westerns, only the Comanche and their allies the Kiowa fought from horseback. Other Plains Indians were what the Europeans called dragoons, horse-mobile infantry who fought on foot. And the Eastern Indians didn't even adopt the horse until they shortly before they were moved to reservations.
Quanah was the last and probably the most successful of Comanche war leaders. But after being forced onto the reservation, he remade himself as a very successful cattle rancher and businessman dealing with and often out dealing whites. He also outmaneuvered several older, more established Comanche leaders to get the federal government to recognize him as the principal spokesman for the tribe. The government later came to regret that since he became an effective, and relatively honest, leader who demanded he live up to their treaty obligations.
Quanah, who hated whites in his youth, later adopted several white orphans, dressed in white clothing and built what was then the largest house in Oklahoma. He owned one of the first automobiles in the state, had gas lighting installed before virtually anyone else in the state and just generally seemed fascinated by new technology. But he refused whites' demands he cut his hair, get rid of his many wives or stop spreading the peyote religion.
He became a national celebrity, even riding with Teddy Roosevelt in his inauguration parade. That was much to the disgust of residents of West Texas, many of whom lived through Quanah's raid where the lucky settlers were killed in battle. Those who survived faced torture and mutilation if they were men and gang rape and mutilation if they were women.
Quanah was half white, the son of "white squaw" Cynthia Ann Parker. The story of Cynthia Ann's capture by Comanches and her uncle's five-year search for her was the basis of John Ford's film "The Searchers."
Contrary to many Westerns, only the Comanche and their allies the Kiowa fought from horseback. Other Plains Indians were what the Europeans called dragoons, horse-mobile infantry who fought on foot. And the Eastern Indians didn't even adopt the horse until they shortly before they were moved to reservations.
Quanah was the last and probably the most successful of Comanche war leaders. But after being forced onto the reservation, he remade himself as a very successful cattle rancher and businessman dealing with and often out dealing whites. He also outmaneuvered several older, more established Comanche leaders to get the federal government to recognize him as the principal spokesman for the tribe. The government later came to regret that since he became an effective, and relatively honest, leader who demanded he live up to their treaty obligations.
Quanah, who hated whites in his youth, later adopted several white orphans, dressed in white clothing and built what was then the largest house in Oklahoma. He owned one of the first automobiles in the state, had gas lighting installed before virtually anyone else in the state and just generally seemed fascinated by new technology. But he refused whites' demands he cut his hair, get rid of his many wives or stop spreading the peyote religion.
He became a national celebrity, even riding with Teddy Roosevelt in his inauguration parade. That was much to the disgust of residents of West Texas, many of whom lived through Quanah's raid where the lucky settlers were killed in battle. Those who survived faced torture and mutilation if they were men and gang rape and mutilation if they were women.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
What Happened to All the Puerto Rican Major Leaguers
The New York Times looks at the decline of baseball on the island.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Flame and Citron
Flame and Citron is a noirish war movie based on the lives of the two most successful members of the Danish resistance in World War II. It's a solid effort, well acted. According to Wikipedia, a couple of the most improbable events really happened and were, in fact, even more like a move writer might dream up than how they are actually depicted in the film.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
The Bane of Civilization
My former grad school professor Don Boudreaux looks at the attacks Mitt Romney's rivals in the GOP presidential race are making on free enterprise.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Conservatives vs. Capitalism
Jay Nordlinger looks at the attacks his opponents are making on Mitt Romney.
Monday, January 9, 2012
And This Still Might Be Sonny Perdue's Biggest Accomplishment
The latest for Dalton's own Wyle Wingfield.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Monday, January 2, 2012
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