1866 - Wassily Kandinsky
This Russian artist is credited with painting some of the first modern abstract painting. He was also an instructor at the Bauhaus school of art in Germany. Several of his "Compositions" pieces were destroyed by Nazis after they raided the Bauhaus and collected the "degenerate art".




The Blue Rider


Composition VII




1949 - Jeff Bridges (The Dude)
Bridges in an American actor who has been in so many great movies that it isn't even funny. I think that "Starman" was the first movie I ever saw him in and I've been a fan ever sense. He stared in "Tron" and was of course "The Dude" in "The Big Lebowski". He is just a versatile, rock-solid actor.

Dude Abides

Tags: abstract, actor, bauhaus, composition vii, jeff bridges, painter, starman, the big lebowski, the blue rider, the dude, tron, wassily kandinsky
Current Mood: pensive

1840 - Claude Monet
Probably the most famous French impressionist painter. He is my favorite... it was incredible seeing one of his series from "Water Lilies" at MOMA in New York.










1900 - Aaron Copland
This is "America's Composer". Most people in the states think of beef when they hear his music... his music was used by the American Beef Association for their commercials.

"Quiet City" - this one doesn't make me think of steak



1947 - P J O'Rourke
Political satirist and journalist who I associate with Rolling Stone magazine. He is very insightful about the American Politics.

Tags: aaron copland, clasical music, claude monet, composer, impressionist, painter, pj o'rourke, quiet city
Current Music: Radio Paradise - DJ-mixed modern & classic rock, world, electronica & more - inf

1929 - Fred Phelps
Here is someone I would like to die (and there are less than 5 people I can say that about). "Pastor" of the Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas. He rose to infamy following the death of Matthew Shepard when he and the members of his church staged an anti-gay demonstration at Shepard's funeral. He is a vile hate-mongerer of the worst degree!




1949 - Whoopi Goldberg
Actress, comedienne, and television host. She was incredible in "The Color Purple", but in recent years she hasn't chosen such great roles.




1953 - Frances Conroy
Conroy is known for her role as Ruth Fisher on "Six Feet Under"... one of my favorite shows to ever be on TV. Wow, she was incredible!

The Fishers - Dinner



1968 - Steve Zahn
This pocket-size comedic actor always plays the sidekick... which he does well. He was in "Happy Texas", which is a great movie.




1969 - Gerard Butler
Don't recognize his name? I bet you would recognize his abs... this is King Leonidas from "300". Butler is just infinitely studly... especially with his Scottish brogue. WOOF!!!!

Interview for "One Two"

Tags: 300, actor, actress, anti-gay, frances conroy, fred phelps, gerard butler, happy texas, hate, matthew shepard, one two, six feet under, steve zahn, whoopi goldberg
Current Music: Radio Paradise - DJ-mixed modern & classic rock, world, electronica & more - inf

1840 - Auguste Rodin
The most famous sculptor of modern history. The way he was able to make his work so expressive is amazing to me.


Rodin was HAWT!







1929 - Grace Kelly
Kelly was an Academy Award-winng actress who later married the Prince of Monaco. She was a fantastic actress and real class act.

"Rear Window"



1945 - Neil Young
There is no middle ground with Neil Young, you either love or hate this Canadian singer-songwriter/rocker. I've been a huge fan since high school. I remember one of my classmates sang "Sugar Mountain" at our Talent Show. After the show I asked him if he had written the song, he said "No, Neil Young wrote that song." He let me borrow his copy of "Decade" and I was blown away. I have a ton of respect for Neil, he experiments with the music he likes not what will necessarily sell.

"See The Sky About To Rain"



1965 - Vic Chesnutt
This is a singer-songwriter that not many people know of outside of the south. He lives in Athens, Georgia. Bands such as R.E.M., Garbage, The Smashing Pumpkins and Madonna have all recorded covers of his songs.

"My Name is Judas Iscariot"



1980 - Ryan Gosling
If you looked up the definition of the word "yummy" Ryan's picture would be shown. This Canadian actor is a part of the "New Young Guns" of Hollywood. This Mickey Mouse Club alum got his breakout role in "The Notebook" co-staring with Rachel McAdams. He received an Academy Award nomination for his role in "Half Nelson", in which he plays an inner-city High School teacher addicted to crack.

Why didn't you write me? - from "The Notebook"

Tags: academy award, actor, actressm rear window, alfred hitchcock, alt-country, athens, auguste rodin, canadian, daddy, grace kelly, half nelson, my name is judas iscariot, neil young, rock, ryan gosling, sculptor, see the sky about to rain, singer-songwriter, sugar mountain, the notebook, the thinker, vic chesnutt, yummy

1913 - Albert Camus
This French author and philosopher wrote the existentialist masterpiece "The Stranger" which was the inspiration for The Cure's "Staring at the sea".

Interesting video with his quotes:



1943 - Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell's voice is one of a kind, and instantly recognizable. She is also an incredible songwriter and penned "Both Sides Now", "Woodstock", "Big Yellow Taxi" and so many more songs. Her album "Blue" is so amazing. Later in her career she moved more towards Jazz. I'm not as crazy about that work but I admire her willingness to move into a new direction.

"California"



1956 - Judy Tenuta
"The Love Goddess" - she was the MC at the first IML I ever went to, it was hilarious.

Women of the Night



1970 - Morgan Spurlock
This filmmaker came onto the scene with his documentary "Super Size Me". He currently has a show titled "30 Days" in which people with opposing views agree to spend 30 days living in the other's world. I really like his style, and his mustache :)

ER bills

Tags: 30 days, alber camus, author, california, canadian, existentialist, iml, joni mitchell, judy tenuta, morgan spurlock, philosopher, singer-songwriter, super size me, the cure, the love goddess, the stranger, women of the night

Based on the evidence that The Church of Latter-day Saints used their organization to raise more than 14 million dollars for Prop 8, it seems that they are in violation of the tax code governing their tax-exempt status:

"In general, no organization, including a church, may qualify for IRC section 501(c)(3) status if a substantial part of its activities is attempting to influence legislation (commonly known as lobbying)."

A movement is underway to ask the IRS to review the LDS church's involvement and decide if they are in violation of the tax code. You can add your signature to the petition at:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/review-the-501c3-status-of-the-church-of-latter-day-saints-the-mormons

1941 - Guy Clark
I've been a big fan of this country-songwriter since High School. My favorite song is titled "Hands":

A hand is just another kind of hammer made of steel
Beating blindly on the anvil a hammer cannot feel
But a hand is for reaching out and touching all you can
Holding on and hoping that you'll come to understand

So always try to keep you heart connected to your wrist
Cause everybody knows that you can't shake hands with a fist

A fist is just another kind of tower made of stone
Without a window anywhere you know a tower stands alone
But a hand can open windows that have never seen the light
Lead you through the darkness and guide you through the night

Heartworn Highways - Christmas Eve 1975



1946 - Sally Field
I like her, I really, really like her! She is one of the most beloved actresses in America. She began her career as "The Flying Nun", man was that a classic sitcom.





1949 - Brad Davis
I realized I liked "pocket size" guys after seeing Davis in "Midnight Express", which was solidified when I saw "Querelle"!




1949 - Arturo Sandoval
Sandoval is a very incredible jazz trumpeter from Cuba.

Arturo Sandoval and Dizzy Gillespie

Tags: actor, arturo sandoval, brad davis, country music, guy clark, hands, heartworn highways, jazz, midnight express, querelle, sally field, the flying nun, trupeter

1920 - Helmut Newton
This German-Austrailian photographer is most known for his work in fashion. Into the 1960's his work took on a erotic, fetishistic element. This is the work that people immediately identify as "Helmut Newton". His pictures of Madonna made him super famous.








1936 - Michael Landon
Landon managed to be a TV star through 3 decades. He was Little Joe Cartwright in "Bonanza" from 1959-1973, then Charles Ingalls in "Little House on the Prairie" from 1974-1983, and then Johnathan Smith in "Highway to Heaven" from 1984-1989. Quite amazing!

Bonanza


1950 - John Candy
Canadian comedian and actor, he was a very funny man who died too soon.

"Planes, Trains & Automobiles"



1959 - Neal Stephenson
Stephenson is an American author. He is most famous for his science fiction novel "Snow Crash".. a must read for any cybergeek. The book is all about "metaverse" - virtual worlds, and people making a living from online writing. It came out in 1992.

I don't know what his orientation is, but he sure has a "bearish" look to him.

"Anathem" Novel Themes

Tags: author, bonanza, charles ingalls, commedian, erotic, fetish, helmut newton, highway to heaven john candy, joe cartwright, johnathan smith, litle house on the prairie, madonna, michael landon, neal stephenson, photographer, science fiction, snow crash

1946 - Peter Green
The founder of Fleetwood Mac, he left the band in 1970 -long before the band reformed with the additions of Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham and found pop stardom. When Green was with the band they were a part of the British Blues Revival of the 60's. Fleetwood Mac actually did the first version of "Black Magic Woman, which eventuall became a huge hit for Santana. Green was an incredible guitar player I recommend checking out the album "Bare Trees", it is great.

Fleetwood Mac "Like it This Way"



1947 - Richard Dreyfuss
Dreyfuss is an Academy Award winning actor. I love his voice and have always thought he was handsome. Looking at some pictures I just realized that joebehrsandiego looks a lot like Richard Dreyfuss

Richard Dreyfuss on being an American



1957 - Dan Castellaneta
This is the voice of Homer Simpson and Krusty the Clown!

Homer on the Actors Studio

Tags: academy award, actor, actors studio, blues rock, dan castellaneta, fleetwood mac, homer simpson, krusty the clown, like it this way, peter green, richard dreyfuss
Current Music: Radio Paradise - DJ-mixed modern & classic rock, world, electronica & more - inf

1933 - Charlie Daniels
Daniels is a Country and Southern Rock musician. Most people know him for his hit "The Devil Went Down to Georgia". I've always considered his song "Long Haired Country Boy" to be my personal anthem... and I've been known to sings it at Karaoke if I've had enough to drink!

"Long Haired Country Boy"



1949 - Bruce Jenner
One of the more famous American Olympic athletes, he won the decathlon in the 1976 Summer Olympics. Who could forget him in "Can't Stop the Music"?

"Tropicana Ad"



1952 - Annie Potts
I've been a fan of Annie since I first saw her in "Ghostbusters", she was also great in the sitcom "Designing Women".

Only beautiful people have rights!



1955 - Bill Gates
Um in case you've been living in the Amazon rain-forest for the last 40 years, Bill Gates is the founder of Microsoft and currently the world's 3rd richest person. He has now turned his attentions towards being a philanthropist. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation donates large amounts of money to charitable organizations and scientific research programs.

Praising Apple Computers

Tags: annie potts, apple, bill gates, bruce jenner, can't stop the music, cdb, charlie daniels, country music, decathlon, designing women, ghostbusters, long haired country boy, microsoft, olymic champion, personal computer, philanthropist, rich, singer, southern rock music, the village people, tropicana
Current Music: Radio Paradise - DJ-mixed modern & classic rock, world, electronica & more - info: radioparadise.com