Mel's Apology, a Woman of Substance, and Tom Hanks

I must confess that I was so distraught at what happened to Mel Gibson, a Hollywood actor who enlivened so many of the late-night soirées (in the European sense, save that our musical tastes ran to alternative music and our conversation was not exactly the stuff of which Austen novels are made of) that my buddies and I held at the moderately filthy, yet generously warm-hearted little commune that our neighbors derisively called (after reality-tv pioneer Mark Burnett's Survivor series), the San Antonio Outback, that I just had to find something positive to post.

Let's start with what less charitable souls have termed "Mel's 2nd take on an apology, action!" I suppose I'm just naturally optimistic, but I do believe that he was sincere when he made this apology. While I would not go so far as calling him "Braveheart" for doing so, if Mel were a Care Bear he would certainly a fringe character named "Have-a-Heart". At any rate, his apology seems to be a step in the right direction. Here's Mel's apology.


Recently, I read a lovely piece on Voltaire's mistress by the good people at The Economist for the third week of May 2006. It seems that Voltaire, one of the preeminent figures of the Enlightenment, despite being acknowledged as a "Freethinker, dramatist, poet, scientist, economist, spy, politician" of the first order, was outdone in all these activities by his mistress, Emilie du Châtelet. In fact, according to the article, "...you can make a good case that she was a more rigorous thinker, a better writer, a more systematic scientist, a formidable mathematician, a wizard gambler, a more faithful lover and a much kinder and deeper person." Unfortunately, I could not access the premium services available online at The Economist. However, I can steer you to the blog of Edward Lucas to get you started. Gracias, Edward!


Also, The New York Times online edition recently did a fascinating study on Tom Hanks' astounding success as a producer. More remarkable than Hanks' enviable track record as a producer (having produced such hits as My Big Fat Greek Wedding and current box-office draw The Ant Bully) is what Hollywood insiders swear is the defining characteristic of Hanks and his business partners: their niceness. Unfortunately, The New York Times Online requires readers to log-in. It doesn't cost a thing to do so, but some might find that delay irritating. Here's a tidy link that rewards the impatient.
Click here if you want to read about Hanks' almost unbearable niceness of being.