A Positive Life-Affirming Story At A Post Office

In a time where I see so many people being selfish and we have candidates feeding ignorance, bias and hate it's so nice to see something truly life-affirming.

Three times this week i've gone by the post office to mail a package and each time there were at least ten people in line. This time I stayed at the post office on Parmer near Lamar.

Others today were also complaining about the line... until a lady got in life who was blind and asking about the line and fretting that the longer the line the more she had to pay taxis. Suddenly seemingly everyone was trying to help and it was such a good thing to see. I was in front of her in line so I'd feed her updates on the line while others helped her hold a package while she called a taxi driver.

A postal worker came by to see if she needed anything and she needed someone to help her write the address on the box so the worker helped her. 

Then when I was debating letting her go in front of me (not sure how the 12(!) in line then behind us would feel about it a worker opened a counter to help her finish up with writing the address and getting things sent.

I know i help those who need assistance and while many tell me how great that work is what's even better is seeing others doing the same thing, which is basically just being good humans helping others.

My Al Gore Encounter

During my approximately 13 years as a newspaper reporter I had many highs and lows. I learned everything from how to manufacture a meth lab - a defendant argued, from the witness stand, that she could not have caused the meth lab fire that claimed the lives of her kids, because she was too skilled at what she did, as she spelled it out step by step - to how to get Civil War reenactors furious at you (I suggested there were similarities between those who join gangs and those who join reenactors, both looking for things not found at home)

I stop and reflect from time to time about some of those experiences.
Sure, there are a few nightmares like covering the trial and sentencing of a serial killer or covering way too many fatal traffic accidents.
 

But today I wanted to stop and answer a question a friend asked me recently. She wanted to know the circumstances of this photo, probably my favorite photo taken of me while in action.


The backstory to the photo: It was about a month or two after the election. We'd heard that his son's lacrosse team was playing a local private school's team. I volunteered for the interview thinking, "How often would I get a chance to meet and interview a president I'd voted for?"


I arrived and had a dilemma. He was sitting by himself in the stands and was clearly enjoying the freedom of being away from everything. And here I was about to burst that bubble and ask, in so many words, how's life after one of the most public and contentious presidential election losses in recent history.

If I walked toward him from in front of him he'd see me, note the reporter's notebook and would have the chance to say, "no comment" and I'd have to return to work, head down, saying I didn't have a story.

In the photo you see a Newsweek in my jacket pocket, proving once again that I take reading material everywhere I go.

I wrote down things Gore said which consisted of brilliant, eloquent comments like "Go!" and "Yeah!"

Finally I decided it was time to make my move. I jumped onto the bleachers behind him, jumped a few steps (i was so afraid I'd fall and be really embarrassed since I am a total klutz.

The good news is my plan worked. As far as he was concerned I appeared out of nowhere, standing next to him, asking him how the game was going, what he thought of our fair county, before moving on to tougher ground like "What's he going to do now?"

I was counting on him being too polite to end the interview amid discussion of his son's lacrosse game.

Amid that interview that photo was shot.
But speaking of shot, I almost was. Shot, that is.

Seems that the photographer said he spotted at least three men,secret service guys - who I'd detected before but ignored - who reached for their guns when I jumped over to the former vice president.
It probably didn't help that I was taking something out of my pocket. That it was a notebook, not a gun, was known to me but not to them.

So I got my interview but also could have been maimed, if not killed.
And THAT - as Paul Harvey would say - is the REST of the story

An Index Of My Interviews With Authors and Book and Movie Reviews

For more than 10 years I've been interviewing a minimum of 20 authors each year.

Some of the highlights have been interviewing Roger Ebert (part two is here)
Robert Parker and most of my favorite crime writers from silly but fun (Lisa Lutz)  to deeper characters (Michael Connelly, James Lee Burke) to heavy thinkers like Sarah Vowell plus memoirists and others.

My interview with author Kate Atkinson was exciting because she included it in the paperback version of the book
An index of music reviews and musician interviews is here 
(last updated in Nov 2017)
---------------------------------------------------------


The three most exciting recent interviews are two amazing mystery writers, James Lee Burke and Ian Rankin. The third is with Austin mother Sarah Barnes, who writes an amazing nonfiction picee about what it's like to raise a daughter (now in high school) with an atypical brain.
When i'm not doing interviews or fighting injustice via writing and activism I work with families like the Barnes though usually with folks with intellectual
disabilities often on the autism spectrum

All interviews are sorted by last name of the author - you can tell which title it is by looking at the name of the link

A few highlight from the last two  years- an interview with Cary Elwes, the lead actor of a great movie (Princess Bride) and the Greg Sestero, lead actor of one of the world's worst movie (The Room), and with the best-selling authors Laura Lippman and one of my current favorites Craig Johnson.

Many of the more recent media interviews have been published at Mystery People, part of Austin's Book People, a great indie bookstore,
 

Lastly if you wonder who I am
I wrote a two part summary of my life here: - part one here and part two here

 Author interviews - Fiction and non-fiction mixed together

Abbott, Jeff -  Interview With Jeff Abbott on Adrenaline, First Order and Last Minute- https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/07/interview-with-jeff-abbott-on.html


Abramowitz, Andy - An Interview With Author Andy Abramowitz About His Debut Novel Thank You, Goodnight - http://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/07/an-interview-with-author-andy.html

Abramson, Peter - The Dog Who Knew Too Much and Robbie Forester and the Outlaws of Sherwood Street - http://blogcritics.org/interview-peter-abrahams-author-of-the/

Alexander, Bryan -My Interview With Bryan Alexander, Author of The New Digital Storytelling: Creating Narratives with New Media
http://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/07/my-interview-with-bryan-alexander.html

Anderson,Patrick- Interview With Patrick Anderson, Author of The Triumph of the Thriller: How Cops, Crooks, and Cannibals Captured Popular Fiction - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/08/interview-with-patrick-anderson-author.html

Armstrong, Lori - http://blogcritics.org/interview-lori-armstrong-author-of-merciless/

Arthur, Charles - http://blogcritics.org/interview-charles-arthur-author-of-digital/

Atkins, Ace - http://blogcritics.org/an-interview-with-ace-atkins-author/ and
http://blogcritics.org/an-interview-with-author-ace-atkins-about-his-two-new-books-the-broken-places-and-wonderland/
for the Ranger: http://blogcritics.org/an-interview-with-ace-atkins-author/

Atkinson, Kate - http://blogcritics.org/an-interview-with-kate-atkinson-author/

Auletta, Ken -  https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/08/my-interview-with-new-yorker-writer-ken.html

Baldacci, David - The Collectors - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/08/interview-with-david-baldacci-author-of.html

Barnes, Sarah - https://bookpeopleblog.wordpress.com/2015/12/09/an-interview-with-sarah-barnes/

Bazell, Josh - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/08/y-interview-with-josh-bazell-author-of.html

Beauchamp - http://blogcritics.org/interview-monte-beauchamp-on-his-collection-masterful-marks-cartoonists-who-changed-the-world/

Belden, Chris - http://blogcritics.org/an-interview-with-chris-belden-author-of-the-new-novel-shriver/

Belsky, R.G. - https://mysterypeople.wordpress.com/2015/10/11/mysterypeople-qa-scott-butki-interviews-r-g-belsky/

Brown, Sandra - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/08/my-interview-with-sandra-brown-about.html

Bryan, Bill -  https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/08/interview-with-bill-bryan-author-of.html

Burke, Alafair and Clark, Marry Higgins - http://blogcritics.org/interview-mary-higgins-clark-and-alafair-burke-about-their-first-novel-in-a-series/

Burke, James Lee - House of The Rising Sun - https://mysterypeople.wordpress.com/2015/12/08/mysterypeople-qa-with-james-lee-burke/
and For Jesus Out to Sea- https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/08/interview-with-mystery-writer-james-lee.html

Burke, Jan - http://blogcritics.org/an-interview-with-author-jan-burke/

Burnett, John -  http://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/08/interview-with-john-burnett-author-of.html

Burns Eric -http://blogcritics.org/an-interview-with-eric-burns-author/
Carr, David - http://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/08/scotts-interview-with-david-carr-author.html

Carey, Mike  https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/08/an-interview-with-mike-carey-author-of.html


Cartooncat - http://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/08/scoop-interviews-cartooncat-about-her.html

Cerasani, Richard - http://blogcritics.org/interview-richard-cerasani-author-of-love-letters-from-mount-rushmore-the-story-of-a-marriage-a-monument-and-a-moment-in-history/

Chrome, Cheetah - http://blogcritics.org/an-interview-with-cheetah-chrome-author/

Clark, Lucy - http://blogcritics.org/an-interview-with-lucy-clarke-author-of-swimming-at-night-2/

Clark, Marry Higgins and Burke, Alafair a - http://blogcritics.org/interview-mary-higgins-clark-and-alafair-burke-about-their-first-novel-in-a-series/

Collins, Max Allan http://blogcritics.org/an-interview-with-max-allan-collins-about-his-two-newest-books/

Crais, Rober - The Promise - https://mysterypeople.wordpress.com/2015/11/10/mysterypeople-qa-scott-butki-interviews-robert-crais/
and The Watchmen - http://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/08/2-12-interviews-with-robert-crais.html
and Taken http://blogcritics.org/an-interview-with-robert-crais-about/
Chasing The Darkness -  http://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/08/2-12-interviews-with-robert-crais.html

Connelly, Michael - Scarecrow  http://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/08/three-interviews-with-michael-connelly.html
and Crime Beat http://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/08/three-interviews-with-michael-connelly.html
and- Overlook - http://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/08/three-interviews-with-michael-connelly.html

Crosley, Sloan - http://blogcritics.org/an-interview-with-sloane-crosley-author/

Crowley, Kieran - http://blogcritics.org/an-interview-with-kieran-crowley-the-author-of-hack-a-shepherd-novel/

Cummings, John Michael - http://sbutki.newsvine.com/_news/2008/09/12/1858335-scotts-interview-with-john-michael-cummings-author-of-the-night-i-freed-john-brown-https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/08/scotts-interview-with-john-michael.html

Dangle, Lloyd - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/08/interview-with-lloyd-dangle-author-of.html

Deaver, Jeffrey  - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/08/four-interviews-with-jeffrey-deaver.html
and- https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/08/four-interviews-with-jeffrey-deaver.html
and Sleeping Doll -https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/08/four-interviews-with-jeffrey-deaver.html
and - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/08/four-interviews-with-jeffrey-deaver.html

Denby, David - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/08/an-interview-with-david-denby-about-his.html

Earles, Andrew - Husker Du: The Story of the Noise-Pop Pioneers Who Launched Modern Rock http://blogcritics.org/an-interview-with-andrew-earles-author/

Ebert, Roger - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/07/interview-with-film-critic-roger-ebert.html
part two is here: https://blogcritics.org/interview-with-film-critic-roger-ebert/

Egan, Jennifer - https://www.seattlepi.com/lifestyle/blogcritics/article/An-Interview-With-Jennifer-Egan-Author-of-A-804478.php

Eisenhower, David -http://blogcritics.org/interview-david-eisenhower-author-of-going/

Eisler, Barry -  https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/08/interview-with-barry-eisler-author-of.html

Elwes, Cary - Princess Bride - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/08/my-interview-with-cary-elwes-author-and.html

Friedman, Kinky -   An Interview With Writer Kinky Friedman, Author of You Can Lead a Politician to Water, But You Can't Make Him Think: Ten Commandments for Texas Politics https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/08/an-interview-with-writer-kinky-friedman.html=


Fusco, John - http://blogcritics.org/interview-john-fusco-author-of-dog-beach/

Fulghum - Robert - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/08/an-interview-with-robert-fulghum-author.html
 Gladd, Todd - http://blogcritics.org/interview-comedian-todd-glass-author-of-the-todd-glass-situation/

Gonick, Larry - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/08/interview-with-larry-gonick.html
 Gordon, Howard -http://blogcritics.org/interview-with-howard-gordon-executive-producer/

Green, Tim http://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/interview-with-tim-green-author-of.html

Hall, Tarquin - http://blogcritics.org/an-interview-with-tarquin-hall-author-of-the-mystery-the-case-of-the-love-commandos/
and http://blogcritics.org/interview-tarquin-hall-author-of-the/

Harding, John Wesley aka Wesley Stace - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/08/an-interview-with-wesley-stace-aka-john.html

Henshaw, Mark - http://blogcritics.org/interview-mark-henshaw-author-of-the-fall-of-moscow-station-red-cell-cold-shot/

Hohn, Donovan -  http://blogcritics.org/interview-donovan-hohn-author-of-moby1/

Horwitz, Tony - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/my-interview-with-tony-horwitz-author.html
Hunter, Stephen - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/a-newsvine-interview-with-stephen.html

Huston, Charlie - Shotgun rule and Sleepless - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/charlie-huston-sleepless-and-shotgun.html

Isaacson, Walter - Einstein - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/interview-with-walter-isaacson-author.html

Jacobs, A. J. - Guinea Pig Diaries - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/3-interviews-with-aj-jacob.html
and The Know-It-All -  https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/3-interviews-with-aj-jacob.html
Year of Living Biblically  -  - http://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/interview-with-aj-jacobs-author-of-year.html
Jance, J.A. - http://blogcritics.org/interview-j-a-jance-on-her-50th-book-moving-target/

Johnson, Craig - http://blogcritics.org/talking-with-author-craig-johnson-about-his-latest-booka-serpents-tooth-and-the-rest-of-the-longmire-series/

Keen, Andrew -  https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/my-rantreview-of-andrew-keens-cult-of.html 
Interview of him is here: https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/nterview-with-andrew-keen-author-of.html

Kurtz, Howard -https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/an-interview-with-howard-kurtz-author.html

Leopold, Jason - News Junkie -https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/interview-with-jason-leopold-author-of.html


Lippman, Laura - http://blogcritics.org/interview-laura-lippman-on-her-new-novel-after-im-gone/
Lippman, Laura -I'd know you anywhere http://blogcritics.org/an-interview-with-laura-lippman-author1/
Lippman, Laura - No Good Deeds - http://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/interview-with-laura-lippman-author-of.html


Lopate, Philip - American Movie Critics - An Anthology From the Silents Until Now - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/interview-with-phillip-lopate-editor-of.html

Lutz, Lisa  https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/08/interview-with-lisa-lutz-author-of.html
Lutz, Lisa - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/interview-with-lisa-lutz.html
Lutz, Lisa  - http://sbutki.newsvine.com/_news/2008/02/21/1316350-my-newsvine-interview-with-lisa-lutz-author-of-curse-of-the-spellmans
Lutz, Lisa - http://sbutki.newsvine.com/_news/2010/04/27/4209317-an-interview-with-lisa-lutz-about-her-new-book-the-spellmans-strike-again-a-novel
http://blogcritics.org/an-interview-with-hilarious-author-lisa-lutz-about-her-latest-book-the-last-word/
Lutz, Lisa and ex-bf David Hayward
http://sbutki.newsvine.com/_news/2011/04/04/6409394-an-interview-with-lisa-lutz-and-david-hayward-authors-of-heads-you-lose


Maraniss, David - Rome 1960 - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/an-interview-with-author-david-maraniss.html

Marks, Stephen - Confessions of a Political Hit man - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/my-interview-with-stephen-marks-author.html



Mnookin, Seth - The Panic Virus: A True Story of Medicine, Science and Fear http://blogcritics.org/an-interview-with-seth-mnookin-author/ -

Morris, Roy - Author of Lighting Out For The Territory: How Samuel Clemens Headed West and Became Mark Twain -https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/an-interview-with-roy-morris-jr-author.html


Paretsky, Sara - Body Work - http://blogcritics.org/an-interview-with-sara-paretsky-author/

Parker, Robert - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/interview-with-mystery-writer-robert.html



 Pelecanos, George - The Night Gardener -https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/two-interviews-with-mystery-writer.html
Pelecanos, George - The Turnaround - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/two-interviews-with-mystery-writer.html

Penzler, Otto - http://sbutki.newsvine.com/_news/2009/11/18/3514307-good-news-theres-a-new-collection-of-pieces-by-my-favorite-mystery-writers-an-interview-with-otto-penzler-editor-of-the-lineup

Perry, Leigh - http://blogcritics.org/interview-leigh-perry-author-of-the-family-skeleton-series/

Phillips, Lisa - Public Radio: Behind the Voices - http://sbutki.newsvine.com/_news/2007/02/28/590345-interview-with-lisa-phillips-author-of-public-radio-behind-the-voices

Plotz, David - The Best of Slate - http://sbutki.newsvine.com/_news/2007/03/07/602759-interview-with-david-plotz-deputy-editor-of-slate-on-the-best-of-slate

Poole, Eric - Wheres My Wand? - http://www.newsvine.com/_m1/edit/- http:/sbutki.newsvine.com/_news/2010/06/12/4498271-an-interview-with-eric-poole-author-of-wheres-my-wand-one-boys-magical-triumph-over-alienation-and-shag-carpeting

Portman, Frank - King Dork and Sequel to King Dork -   https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/08/interview-with-frank-portman-author-of.html


Rankin, Ian (Even Dogs In The Wild) https://mysterypeople.wordpress.com/2016/01/27/mysterypeople-qa-with-ian-rankin/
Rankin, Ian - Bleeding Hearts -  https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/interview-with-mystery-writer-ian.html
Rankin, Ian - Naming of the Dead - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/interview-with-ian-rankin-author-of.html

 Rushkoff, Douglas -Life Inc
https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/an-interview-with-douglas-rushkoff.html
Rushkoff, Douglas  Program or be programmed ten commands for a digital age -  https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/an-interview-with-douglas-rushkoff_21.html

Sanford, John - http://sbutki.newsvine.com/_news/2009/09/29/3330167-newsvine-interview-with-thriller-author-john-sandford-about-his-new-book-rough-country

 Scott-Coe, Jo - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/an-interview-with-jo-scott-coe-author.html
 
Sestero, Greg - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/08/an-interview-with-greg-sestero-author.html

Shrum, Robert -  https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/my-interview-with-political-consultant.html

Simon, Scott of NPR - Baby, We Were Meant For Each Other- http://blogcritics.org/an-interview-with-scott-simon-author/

Slaughter, Karin - http://sbutki.newsvine.com/_news/2010/08/08/4844341-an-interview-with-karin-slaughter-author-of-broken

Soper, Kerry: Garry Trudeau and the Aesthetics of Satirehttps://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/an-interview-with-kerry-soper-about-his.html
About Walt Kelly and Pogo - http://blogcritics.org/an-interview-with-kerry-soper-about3/


Specter, Michael -Denialism: How Irrational Thinking Hinders Scientific Progress, Harms The Planet and Threatens Our Lives https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/an-interview-with-michael-specter-about.html

Spencer, Scott - http://blogcritics.org/an-interview-with-scott-spencer-author/
 

Sullivan, Bob - Gotcha Capitalism - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/an-interview-with-bob-sullivan-msnbc.html

Straw, Tom -  https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/08/an-interview-with-tom-straw-tv-writer.html

Symynkywicz, Jeffrey -https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/interview-with-jeffrey-symynkywicz.html


Thorne David - http://blogcritics.org/interview-with-david-thorne-author-of1/


Tinley, Scott - Things To Be Survived -https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/interview-with-scott-tinley-author-of.html

Vasseghi - http://blogcritics.org/interview-motivational-speaker-sourena-vasseghi-about-his-book-big-dreams-take-small-sacrifices/

Vowell, Sarah - l -https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/my-interview-with-sarah-vowell-over-her.html

Walsh, Jim - The Replacements: An Oral History - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/an-interview-with-jim-walsh-about-his.html

Wambaugh Joseph - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/an-interview-with-joseph-wambaugh-about.html
Wambaugh, Joseph - Hollywood Hills - http://blogcritics.org/an-interview-with-joseph-wambaugh-author/

Westerson, Jeri - http://blogcritics.org/interview-jeri-westerson-author-of-the-silence-of-stones/
http://sbutki.newsvine.com/_news/2012/11/24/15415829-interview-jeri-westerson-author-of-blood-lance-and-the-crispin-guest-book-series
http://blogcritics.org/an-interview-with-jeri-westerson-author/

 Westlake, Donald - What's So Funny -https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/interview-with-donald-westlake-author.htmll

Wilson, Charles - Chew on This -https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/book-review-fast-food-nation.html

Winslow, Don - http://blogcritics.org/interview-don-winslow-author-of-the/

Movie interviews
911 Dust and Deceit - http://911blogger.com/news/2007-03-29/interview-penny-little-director-911-dust-and-deceit-world-trade-center

Along Comes Kinky (Friedman) - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/08/interview-with-david-hartstein-director.html

Happiness Is - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/an-interview-with-andrew-shapter.html
The Horse Boy (movie) - http://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/08/a-conversation-with-director-of.html
Maz Jobrani (comedian) - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/an-interview-with-comedian-maz-jobrani.html






Book Reviews

Radio Silence: A Selected Visual History of American Hardcore Music - http://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/reflecting-on-truth-versus-fiction.html
 Buckley, Christopher - Thank You For Smoking and Boomsday
https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/book-reviews-thank-you-for-smoking-and.html

Colbert, Stephen - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/08/review-stephen-colberts-book-will-help.html


Elleree, Linda - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/book-review-girl-reporter-sinks-school_22.html
Groening, Matt- The Huge Book of - Hell - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/book-review-huge-book-of-hell.html
 Herblock - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/good-news-theres-great-book.htmlhttp://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/an-interview-with-rupert-isaacson.html


Hornby, Nick - A Long Way Down - http://sbutki.newsvine.com/_news/2007/02/14/569070-review-a-long-way-down-is-not-really-a-downer
Isaacson, Rupert - The Horse Boy -http://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/an-interview-with-rupert-isaacson.html

Keen, Andrew -  https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/my-rantreview-of-andrew-keens-cult-of.html 
Interview of him is here: https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/nterview-with-andrew-keen-author-of.html

Martin, Steve - Born Standing Up -
https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/the-curious-case-of-steve-martins.html

Orange is the New Black (review/comparison of tv show and memoir) - http://blogcritics.org/thoughts-on-orange-is-the-new-black-both-the-tv-series-and-the-memoir/

Schlosser, Eric - Fast Food Nation - http://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/book-review-fast-food-nation.html


Stewart, Jon - The Daily Show's Book America: The Teacher's Edition -https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/08/book-review-america-book-teachers.html

Vowell, Sarah - Take the Cannoli -http://blogcritics.org/book-review-take-the-cannoli-stories/ (My interview with Vowell on a later book is here - http://sbutki.newsvine.com/_news/2008/10/14/1997360-my-interview-with-sarah-vowell-over-her-new-book-the-wordy-shipmates
https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/my-interview-with-sarah-vowell-over-her.html
 
Westlake, Donald - Comeback - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/book-review-comeback-by-richard.html (My interview with Westlake is here -https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/interview-with-donald-westlake-author.html

Wolfe, Tom - A Man In Full - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/book-review-man-in-full-by-tom-wolfe.html



Movie and TV Show Reviews

Alice's Restaurant -https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/dvd-review-alices-restaurant_22.html
American Hardcore -http://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/dvd-review-american-hardcore-history-of.html
Bill Hicks  - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/thinking-about-comedian-bill-hicks.html
Bowling For columbine - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/movie-review-bowling-for-columbine.html

Bus 174 - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/documentary-movie-review-bus-174.html
Butch Cassidy - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/thoughts-on-paper-moon-and-butch.html
Control Room -https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/control-room-makes-you-think.html
Devil's Playground - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/dvd-review-devils-playground-about-amish.html
Dixie Chicks - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/movie-review-dixie-chicks-shut-up-sing.html
 
Five things The Last Indiana Jones Movie Did Wrong - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/five-things-indiana-jones-movie-did.html

Jesus Camp - http://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/08/jesus-camp-truly-disturbing-documentary.html
Johnny Cash Live Videos Concerts -https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/dvd-reviews-johnny-cash-concerts.html

Jonestown - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/dvd-review-of-jonestown-life-death-of.html

Lars and The Real Girl - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/dvd-reviews-millions-and-motorcycle.html
Maya Lin - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/10/thinking-about-maya-lin.html
Millions - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/dvd-reviews-millions-and-motorcycle.html
Motorcycle Diaries -https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/dvd-reviews-millions-and-motorcycle.html

Orange is the New Black (review/comparison of tv show and memoir) - http://blogcritics.org/thoughts-on-orange-is-the-new-black-both-the-tv-series-and-the-memoir/
Oswalds Ghost -https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/documentary-movie-review-oswalds-ghost.html
Road To Guantanamo - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/road-to-guantanamo-reviewed-george.html
Sicko -https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/11/michael-and-me-reflecting-on-michael.html
Sunset Boulevard - https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/classic-movie-review-sunset-blvd.html
 Temple Grandin -  https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.blogspot.com/2017/09/my-review-of-hbo-movie-temple-grandin.html
 

A busy weekend

You know it's going to be an unusual weekend when it starts with my 14 year old charge playing truth-n-dare with teens who i don't know (but I know their parents.) Talk about a trust exercise. - hooray for more play with others (we encourage that) and hooray it didnt turn into spin the bottle.
Then going to see a band with the unusual name A Good Rogering at a venue called the Dirty Dog with a friend staying way up too late Friday.
Then Saturday morning canvassing the neighborhood where David Joseph deemphasizing we were with Black Lives Matter but instead giving them info on how if they ever see someone acting weird or erratic instead of just calling the cops you can request the mental health unit to hopefully resolve problems in ways other than fatal shootings.
Saturday afternoon donated blood plasma, Saturday night my usual gig. Watched the funny movie Date Night. And Finished one of two interviews I owe Mystery People.
Up early for something regarding church and then it's time to truly chill and relax for our bimonthly backgammon tournament.