Yearly Archives: 2011

Jerry Van Dyke Arkansas resident (Part 3)

June 18, 2011 – 1:20 am

Stacie Petry Episode 16 part 1 of 3 (Dick & Jerry Van Dyke)

Dick van Dyke’s brother, Jerry, plays a bumbling sibling in one of my favorite episode of the Dick Van Dyke show. Jerry’s character is one of my favorite TV characters of all time … his sense of humor and comedic timing is perfect!! Enjoy!

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I went to see Jerry Van Dyke and Tommy Smoothers in the play “The Sunshine Boys” in Hot Springs back on June 1, 2011 with my son Wilson and it was great. Here is an article on Van Dyke:

BIOGRAPHY:

He has that same genuine likability factor, owns that same trademark lantern jaw and is just as appealing and gifted as his brother Dick Van Dyke, but for decades Jerry Van Dyke had to bear the brunt of his brother’s overwhelming shadow. The comic actor was born six years younger than Dick on July 27, 1931, in Danville, Illinois. Raised there, the crew cut blond showed an aptitude for clowning in high school. His stand-up comedy venues first took the form of dives and strip clubs throughout the Deep South in which his banjo-playing became an intricate part of the routine. At one point, Jerry was a regular on the Playboy club circuit. He then set his sights on the top showrooms in Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe and Atlantic City and became a dependable opening act.

Jerry’s early career should have been rightfully interrupted when he joined the Air Force in 1952. He instead kept the troops laughing by performing in Special Services shows. Winning a military talent contest actually earned him a couple of appearances on “The Ed Sullivan Show” and resulting TV exposure. Following his tour of duty, he nabbed variety appearances and a regular comic relief role on “The Judy Garland Show” (1963). He found comic acting parts as well on TV. Like brother Dick, who was a huge TV star by this time, Jerry also did a stint emceeing a game show. In Jerry’s case, it was “Picture This” (1963).

Ever the hapless klutz and happy-go-lucky stammerer, Jerry built up his TV reputation in the early 60s. He turned down the title role in “Gilligan’s Island” (1964), which he rightfully deemed inane, but instead chose the equally silly “My Mother the Car” (1965). It proved to be a detrimental career move. While “Gilligan” became a surprise hit that still runs in syndication four decades later, Jerry had to live down starring in one of the most lambasted sitcoms of all time. Truthfully, the two shows were on an equal (sub)par with each other. It was just a cruel luck of the draw that Jerry ended up biting the bullet while Gilligan’s Bob Denver found cult celebrity. Jerry’s subsequent two series were also one seasoners with “Accidental Family” (1967), a sitcom in which he more or less played himself (a nightclub comedian), and “The Headmaster” (1970), a drama starring Andy Griffith (I) in which he played a physical education coach. Neither did much for his career. A promising co-star role with Griffith in the film Angel in My Pocket (1969) also went nowhere. Over the years, Jerry has appeared as a guest star on a number of brother Dick’s shows, including the classic “The Dick Van Dyke Show” (1961) in which he played, of course, Dick’s brother.

The genially dim character George Utley on Bob Newhart’s 1980s series was originally created for Jerry but Tom Poston assumed the part. Good fortune finally smiled on Jerry when he won the hapless role of Luther Van Dam, a role that capped his long career, on “Coach” (1989). He earned four consecutive Emmy nominations and a steady paycheck for eight seasons. His seesaw struggle and survival after nearly five decades truly paid off this time, and only proves his love for the business.

In his 70s now, Jerry Van Dyke spends much of his time at a ranch in Arkansas where he lives with his second wife, the former Shirley Jones (not the singer/actress), and raises cattle. Tragedy struck in 1991 when one of his three children, Kelly, a substance abuser, took her own life. On the sly, one can also find Jerry at the poker table as part of ESPN tournaments

TRIVIA:

  • Turned down the role of Gilligan in _”Gilligan’s Island” (1964)_ (qv) because he thought it was “the worst thing” he’d ever read. Instead, he chose to do _”My Mother the Car” (1965)_ (qv). Admitted to having regrets about turning down the offer to star in _”Gilligan’s Island” (1964)_ (qv).
  • Was one of the first people to tour with the Air Force Tops in Blue. Appeared on the Ed Sullivan show with the group.
  • The part of George Utley on _”Newhart” (1982)_ (qv) was originally created for him.
  • Brother of actor ‘Dick Van Dyke’ (qv).
  • Father of actress ‘Nancee Kelly’ (qv).
  • Started his television career at WTHI-TV in Terre Haute in the 1950s. He and his brother both applied for a job there but Dick did not get hired.
  • Daughter, Jerri, runs Jerry Van Dyke’s Soda Shoppe in Benton, Arkansas.
  • Uncle of actor ‘Barry Van Dyke’ (qv), ‘Carrie Beth van Dyke’ (qv), ‘Christian Van Dyke’ (qv) and ‘Stacy Van Dyke’ (qv).

Stacie Petry Episode 16 part 2 of 3 (Dick & Jerry Van Dyke)

Stacie Petry Episode 16 part 3 of 3 (Dick & Jerry Van Dyke)

By Everette Hatcher III | Posted in Current Events | Comments (0)

Jerry Van Dyke Arkansas resident (Part 2)

June 18, 2011 – 12:01 am

I went to see Jerry Van Dyke and Tommy Smoothers in the play “The Sunshine Boys” in Hot Springs back on June 1, 2011 with my son Wilson and it was great. Here is an article on Van Dyke:

October 5, 2007

Jerry Van Dyke keeps fans entertained

BY MARY WICOFF The Commercial-News Fri Oct 05, 2007, 11:19 PM CDT

DANVILLE — Jackie Collins was walking past Temple Plaza when she stopped in her tracks and pointed.

“The ‘Coach’ guy,” she exclaimed, smiling at Jerry Van Dyke. “I’m old enough to remember that.”

Van Dyke, who kept on signing autographs for a handful of people, is used to being recognized as Luther Van Dam on the sitcom “Coach.”

“You’re always alive in reruns,” he said with a smile.

The actor/comedian is in his hometown to attend this weekend’s reunion of the Danville High School Class of 1949. He also will be the honored guest at the Danville Tennis Club’s open house Sunday.

As he and his wife, Shirley, make their way around town, people politely ask for his autograph or shake his hand.

Van Dyke said a lot of people recognize him, thanks to constant reruns of “Coach,” which aired from 1989-94.

Although the 76-year-old has appeared on many shows, either as the star or in a supporting role, he doesn’t mind that he’s best known as a befuddled assistant coach.

“Before that, I was (only known as) Dick Van Dyke’s brother,” he joked.

Van Dyke, an avid tennis player, made sure he hit the courts every day.

Friday morning, Van Dyke paired off with tennis pro Scott Simpson to challenge his wife and Scott’s wife, Cathy, director of the Danville Tennis Club.

The men beat the women, but Van Dyke noted he had taught his wife how to play.

“Everybody hit the ball well,” onlooker Elzer Marx said.

“Almost everybody,” a winded Van Dyke shot back.

Van Dyke, who arrived in Danville on Wednesday, said he tries to get back to Danville almost every year. He usually slips into town quietly, he said.

“I love to come back to Danville and see my friends,” he said.

He and his wife of 30 years left Los Angeles in 1994, when an earthquake destroyed their home. They divide their time between an 850-acre ranch in Arkansas — where Shirley was raised — and a home south of Cancun, Mexico.

Van Dyke likes Arkansas because it’s similar to Illinois, but without the severe winters, Shirley said. He’s a warm-climate person who has to move on when the temperatures dip below 80 degrees.

Enjoying the warm sun in Temple Plaza, Van Dyke chitchatted with a couple of employees from the East Central Illinois Community Action Agency. When they pointed to their workplace — the building at the corner of Vermilion and North — he remarked it used to be Walgreens drugstore.

“On my first date, I walked to Walgreens with my dog,” he said. After a pause, he quipped, “I think the girl was pretty much a dog, too.”

Van Dyke noted a lot of things haven’t changed in Danville, including his childhood home at Grant and Townsend. The house, the oak tree and the cobblestone street still look the same, he said, as well as the pavilion and trees at nearby Lincoln Park.

“That’s a great thing about a town like this,” he said.

He’s disappointed the Fischer Theatre is sitting unused, saying he’s done everything he could do. Van Dyke said he was behind a fundraiser for the theater a few years ago.

While Danville has its problems, Van Dyke said it’s still a great place to live.

“I have such fond memories of growing up here,” he said. “The older you get, the more you think about growing up. I had the best growing-up ever.”

Except for World War II, the 1940s and ‘50s were the best decades, he said. He used to leave the house and not come home until dinner — and no one worried about him.

When someone mentioned there are a lot of stories going around about Van Dyke’s youthful adventures, he acknowledged he was behind those pranks. His brother, Dick, was the quiet one who didn’t do anything wrong, he said.

Van Dyke, who was the class clown, said it took him five years to get through high school, adding that he probably had Attention Deficit Disorder.

Today, young people are treated for the disorder, but, he said, “Back then, you were just stupid.”

When someone asked to take his photo, Van Dyke politely agreed.

“I take my own photos and send them in (to the media),” he said. Joking that there wasn’t any paparazzi following him, he wondered, “What’s Lindsay Lohan got that I don’t got?”

Van Dyke has done shows in Las Vegas recently — one called “Last Comics Barely Standing.” The shows, featuring other comedians from the past, have sold out, he said.

Van Dyke also clearly remembers reviews about his performances, including one when he was 16 and appeared in Red Mask Players’ “The Man Who Came to Dinner.” Commercial-News editor Bob Wright wrote: “Probably the find of the evening was Jerry Van Dyke.”

Later, he appeared as a regular on the Judy Garland Show in 1963, and a New York columnist called him “a big-footed oaf.”

Nodding at his wife, he joked, “She’s called me that ever since.”

RECEPTION

Jerry Van Dyke will be present during an open house from 1-2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Danville Tennis Club in Lincoln Park. The open house is a dual celebration to welcome Van Dyke, a longtime supporter of the club, and to mark the club’s 60th anniversary.

Van Dyke is in town for Danville High School’s Class of 1949 reunion. A dinner will be at 6 tonight and a brunch will be at 10 a.m. Sunday, both at the Boat Club.

By Everette Hatcher III | Posted in Current Events | Comments (0)

Bryan Fisher of American Family Radio critical of Southern Baptist leaders

June 17, 2011 – 4:07 pm

I grew up at Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis and Adrian Rogers was my pastor. Therefore, I took notice of this news story below. 

On the whole, this was not a great week for the Southern Baptist Convention, as one of its leaders appeared to pander to the homosexual lobby and the convention itself pandered to lawbreakers, all in the space of two dizzying days.

Rev. Al Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY, urged attendees at the SBC’s annual convention to “repent” of what he called “a form of homophobia,” without saying exactly what kind of homophobia he was talking about.

Evidently, according to Rev. Mohler, if you don’t believe gays are born that way, you’re either a homophobe or right next to it. He told the delegates at the SBC that homosexuality is “more than a choice,” and that it apparently borders on something sinful to believe otherwise.

He did not elaborate on exactly what he meant by “more than a choice,” but what else could it mean but that he’s urging SBC’ers to accept the bogus claim that homosexuality is innate and that people can be homosexual from birth. Perhaps that’s not what he meant to say; if it wasn’t, then it’s important for him to clarify exactly what he did mean.

Paul uses choice words over and over again in Romans 1:26-27 to emphasize that the problem with homosexuality is behavior, and that such behavior represents a choice. Note the choice words there: “…their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature, and the men likewisegave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men…”

Rev. Mohler’s motives for this unfortunate choice in wording are unclear,  but If it was an effort to get gays to like him, or to like the SBC, good luck with that. They will accept nothing less than total abject, surrender, and Rev. Mohler didn’t offer them that. He still calls homosexuality a “sin,” and that will make his position completely unacceptable to the folks he was trying to appease.

Rev. Mohler is on the board of Focus on the Family, which is also sending confusing signals regarding the homosexual agenda, as its president, Jim Daly, now supports placing foster children in gay households and supports civil unions legislation as long as it, in his judgment, is properly written.

The good news is that the president of the SBC, Rev. Frank Wright, met with homosexual activists this week and did not budge an inch in the face of their demand for an apology for teaching the sinfulness of homosexual behavior. He told these activists what Rev. Mohler could have said, that, “Obviously, we don’t feel that there can be an apology for teaching sexual purity.” 

Then the entire SBC convention adopted a resolution to reward people who break the law, hardly something a clear-thinking, Bible-centered organization should do. The good folk at the SBC want a “path to legal status” guaranteed to people who do not even have the legal, moral or biblical right to be in this country to begin with. They lamely added language to claim that this is not “amnesty,” but they’re not fooling anybody with that.

In fact, the SBC accused those who reject amnesty of “bigotry.” The bottom line is that, whether they realize it or not, the Southern Baptists have thus adopted, as an official position of the denomination, that anyone who supports the rule of law is a bigot.

The time-honored standard of ancient Israel was quite clear: there was to be “one statute for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you” (Numbers 15:16), not two different sets of statutes in which illegals get rewarded for breaking the law and the native-born get punished. 

This pandering to the illegal alien lobby was done, according to proponents, to promote “evangelism” among Hispanics. Okay, exactly what kind of faith are these Hispanics going to be saved to? A faith that teaches its followers to deliberately break the law and expect to be rewarded as a result? So much for the “wages of sin is death.” It will, of course, be much easier to believe the new SBC gospel, “the wages of sin are citizenship, food stamps, welfare and subsidized housing” but then what kind of disciples will such converts make?

To the SBC’s credit, it did adopt a resolution opposing the sale of the new, gender-neutral NIV translation in SBC bookstores. For this, the SBC should be applauded. By changing the very words of Scripture to make them politically correct, the NIV has essentially told God that he’s sexist, out of date and out of touch and needs to get his mind right on the whole gender thing.

Here’s hoping that Rev. Mohler will reconsider his position on homosexuality and choice, and that the SBC will reconsider its position on illegal aliens. And I’m guessing there are a lot of faithful Southern Baptist churchgoers who are hoping the same thing.

(Unless otherwise noted, the opinions expressed are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the views of the American Family Association or American Family Radio.)

Here are some other posts with Adrian Rogers:

Is the Bible historically accurate? (Part 13)

Many Kings and important people in the Bible are also verified by secular documents. From time to time you will read articles in the Arkansas press by  such writers as  John Brummett, Max Brantley and Gene Lyons that poke fun at those that actually believe the Bible is historically accurate when in fact the Bible […]

Candidate #3:Donald Trump Republican Presidential Hopefuls(Part 1)(Charlie Rich, Famous Arkansan)

Donald Trump at CPAC Conference 2011 David Gibson in his article “Donald Trump, Family Values Conservative–Believe it or not,” PoliticsDaily.com, wrote about a month ago: Donald Trump stole the show on the first day of the Conservative Political Action Conference — stealing the spotlight is his specialty, after all — and he did it by […]

Ronald Wilson Reagan Part 8 (Edwin Meese on Reagan)

President Reagan and Vice President Bush pose in the Oval Office with the administration’s Cabinet in February 1981. Pictured from left, front row: Alexander Haig, Reagan, Bush, Caspar Weinberger. Back row, from left: Raymond Donovan, Donald Regan, Terrel Bell, David Stockman, Andrew Lewis, Samuel Pierce Jr., William French Smith, James Watt, Jeane Kirkpatrick, counselor Edwin […]

Is God responsible for evil, many Arkansas Times bloggers say yes!!(Part 3)

Below is a post from the Arkansas Times Blog that I am responding to: Who is a better person? The one who helps their fellow man and does what is right because they it’s the right thing to do, or one who treats people well only because they are threatened with an eternal punishment? Posted […]

Avril Lavigne commits “the fool’s sin” in front of family crowd in Tampa (Avril and the Book of Ecclesiastes Part 1)

Tampa Bay Rays apologize for Avril Lavigne TMZ reported: According to local reports, Avril’s mic didn’t work at the start of her show … and she responded to the cavalcade of boos by yelling obscenities at crowd. Rays rep Rick Vaughn tells TMZ, “The Rays demand profanity-free performances from all of our concert performers and […]

Is the Bible historically accurate? (part 22)

 The Authenticity of the Bible – The New Evidence That Demands A Verdict – Josh McDowell Part 4 In the next few days I will be sharing portions of the article “Archaeology and the new Atheism:The Plausibility of the Biblical Record,” Apologetic Press. Dewayne Bryant is the author and in the first portion he notes: […]

Kate Middleton and Prince William: Marriage made in Heaven? (Part 30)

    Prince William and Kate moved in together about a year ago. In this clip above the commentator suggested that maybe Prince Charles and Princess Diana would not have divorced if they had lived together before marriage. Actually Diana was a virgin, and it was Charles’ uncle (Louis Mountbatten) that gave him the advice that […]

Atheists confronted: How I confronted Carl Sagan the year before he died

In today’s news you will read about Kirk Cameron taking on the atheist Stephen Hawking over some recent assertions he made concerning the existence of heaven. Back in December of 1995 I had the opportunity to correspond with Carl Sagan about a year before his untimely death. Sarah Anne Hughes in her article,”Kirk Cameron criticizes […]

Is the Bible historically accurate? (Part 21)

The Authenticity of the Bible – The New Evidence That Demands A Verdict – Josh McDowell Part 3 From time to time you will read articles in the Arkansas press by  such writers as  John Brummett, Max Brantley and Gene Lyons that poke fun at those that actually believe the Bible is historically accurate when […]

Is the Bible historically accurate? (Part 20)

The Authenticity of the Bible – The New Evidence That Demands A Verdict – Josh McDowell Part 1 From time to time you will read articles in the Arkansas press by  such writers as  John Brummett, Max Brantley and Gene Lyons that poke fun at those that actually believe the Bible is historically accurate when […]

 

By Everette Hatcher III | Posted in Adrian Rogers | Comments (0)

Romney have a chance with evangelicals?

June 17, 2011 – 8:46 am

Dr. Richard Land on Mitt Romney

Does Mitt Romney Have a Prayer with Evangelicals?

By Friday, June 3, 2011
When Mitt Romney makes his appearance at Ralph Reed’s Faith & Freedom Conference Friday evening in Washington, he won’t exactly be headed into the lion’s den—but it might seem that way to him. A Pew Research study released on Thursday showed that Romney has the most potential appeal of any candidate in the GOP field for 2012. But the key word there is “potential.” Twenty-five percent of all voters say they would be less likely to support a candidate who is Mormon, like Romney. And a full third of white evangelicals express an aversion to Mormon candidates.

Those numbers are essentially unchanged from four years ago, when Romney first ran for the GOP nomination. That’s bad news for the former Massachusetts governor, whose supporters have often argued that suspicion about the Mormon faith would fade as voters became familiar with a Mormon candidate. White evangelicals don’t have vague anti-Mormon prejudices—they have very specific theological disputes that can’t be overcome by personality or even shared positions on social issues. Many believe, and are told in their churches, that Mormons are cult members and not Christians.

Romney does not have the luxury of ignoring white evangelicals, although he has indicated that he may not contest the Iowa caucuses, which are dominated by social conservatives, as seriously as he did in 2008. White evangelicals have steadily become the largest single bloc that selects the Republican presidential nominee—in 2008, they made up 44% of all GOP primary voters. (Would Newt Gingrich be better off running as a gay man?)

The Romney campaign did its best to head off that anti-Mormon bias in 2008 by gathering endorsements from evangelical leaders like Chuck Colson and working with evangelical PR professional Mark DeMoss to communicate with the community. Romney even gave a speech in December 2007 in which he promised that he would not take orders from church leadership in Salt Lake if elected president. It was essentially an updated version of the same promise JFK felt obligated to make to Baptist leaders in 1960, distancing himself from Catholic leadership in Rome.

At the same time, however, Romney had to deal with vicious whispering campaigns and outright attacks on his faith. In South Carolina, many Republicans received bogus Christmas cards, purporting to be from the Romney family, that cited controversial passages from the Book of Mormon. Others received an eight-page anonymous document that described Mormonism as a religion built on hoaxes and compared founder Joseph Smith to the Prophet Mohammed. An e-mail circulated among Republicans, urging them to “trust your instincts” about Mormonism: “Those dark suspicions you hide deep inside yourself about Mormonism are trying to tell you something.” (PHOTOS: Romney on the presidential campaign trail)

Perhaps the most damaging attacks were not anonymous, but from religious leaders who simply told their flocks that Romney was not a Christian and that they could not vote for a Mormon. The pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas declared in a sermon that “Even though [Romney] talks about Jesus as his Lord and savior, he is not a Christian. Mormonism is not Christianity. Mormonism is a cult.” Florida evangelist Bill Keller wrote a widely-circulated commentary titled “A Vote for Romney is a Vote for Satan.”

The attacks worked, and Romney’s past qualified position on abortion as governor of Massachusetts only deepened the distrust. By the time he dropped out of the race in early February 2008, Romney had gathered just over 20% of the white evangelical vote. (Romney makes it official: “Barack Obama has failed America”)

But now he’s back, fully aware of the attacks he’ll face, particularly if he appears to be the frontrunner going into next year’s primary season. ConservativeHQ.com, the site run by conservative godfather Richard Viguerie, has already claimed that a majority of Tea Partiers would vote for a third-party candidate in 2012 if Romney is the GOP nominee. Looking to wound Romney’s candidacy before he can take command of the field, evangelical Christian author Warren Smith released an essay last week calling Mormonism a “false and dangerous religion” and arguing that a Mormon president would threaten Christianity.

And then there’s popular culture, which just can’t seem to give Romney a break. The HBO series “Big Love” about polygamous Mormons passing as a regular suburban family premiered right around the same time Romney launched his first presidential bid. The Broadway smash hit of this spring is “The Book of Mormon,” a religious satire by the creators of “South Park” that does not exactly depict Mormonism as part of mainstream America. (See Romney’s top 10 gaffes of 2008.)

The best thing Romney has going for him is that evangelical voters may have no other options. No candidate currently in the race has the appeal of Mike Huckabee, the Baptist minister who inspired enthusiasm among evangelical voters in the 2008 primaries. And most of Romney’s declared and presumed opponents leave voters either yawning or slightly queasy. (One prospective rival, Jon Huntsman, is also a Mormon.) The same Pew poll found that nearly 40% of GOP voters said there was “no chance” they would ever vote for Newt Gingrich or Sarah Palin. By comparison, only 18% of Republicans said they would never consider backing Romney. Some of those voters who don’t want to support a Mormon realize that they may have to.

Updated at 3:39 p.m.

Other posts on Romney:

Candidate #9 Mitt Romney, Republican Presidential Hopefuls (Part Four, 7 Questions Christians Must Ask Before Voting For A Mormon Part C)

Romney’s Faith & Politics Speech (Part 3) This is part 3 of 3 of Governor Mitt Romney’s speech on his Mormon Faith and Politics at the George HW Bush Presidential Library in Texas. __________________________________________________________ The following is written by Rev Sherwood Haisty Jr. of Santa Monica, California. Sherwood has pastored churches in Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee […]

Candidate #9 Mitt Romney, Republican Presidential Hopefuls (Part three, 7 Questions Christians Must Ask Before Voting For A Mormon Part B)

Huckabee Apologizes To Mitt Romney For Mormon Question At Des Moines University, 12/12/2007 __________________________________________ The following is written by Rev Sherwood Haisty Jr. of Santa Monica, California. Sherwood has pastored churches in Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee and California and currently he is the process of finishing up his Masters degree at the Masters Seminary.  I personally […]

Candidate #9 Mitt Romney, Republican Presidential Hopefuls (Part two, 7 Questions Christians Must Ask Before Voting For A Mormon Part A))

Richard Land on Mitt Romney and Mormonism Hannity & Colmes. _____________________________ Deseret News reported yesterday Mitt Romney To Officially Announce Presidential : Mitt Romney will officially launch his presidential candidacy next week in New Hampshire. The Washington Post says: “Romney, who is regarded as the race’s (Republican) frontrunner, will formally announce his presidential campaign next Thursday, June 2 in […]

Candidate #9 Mitt Romney, Republican Presidential Hopefuls (Part 1)

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney Possible 2012 presidential hopeful, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks to a group of small business owners on the economy during a visit to Meetze plumbing in Irmo, S.C. Saturday May, 21, 2011 Jim Davenport wrote for the Associated Press on May 21: COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina wasn’t kind to […]

By Everette Hatcher III | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (2)

Book of Mormon is not historically accurate, but Bible is (Part 29)

June 17, 2011 – 5:01 am

The Book of Mormon vs The Bible, Part 3 of an indepth study of Latter Day Saints Archeology

The Book of Mormon verses The Bible, Part 1 of an indepth study

With the great vast amounts of evidence we find in the Bible through archeology, why is there no evidence for anything writte in the Book of Mormon?

Tags: church false mormon christian bible book of mormon joseph smith cult LDS latter day saints archeology.
___________________________________________

From time to time you will read articles in the Arkansas press by  such writers as  John Brummett, Max Brantley and Gene Lyons that poke fun at those that actually believe the Bible is historically accurate when in fact the Bible is backed up by many archaeological facts. The Book of Mormon is blindly accepted even though archaeology has disproven many of the facts that are claimed by it. For instance, wheels and chariots did not exist in North America when they said they did.

Rick Deem wrote the article, “Archaeology/Anthropolocical Problems in the Book of Mormon,” and in it he asserted:

The Book of Mormon claims to be a record of the inhabitants of the Americas during the period from 2000 B.C. to 400 A.D. It makes many claims about the history and anthropology of pre-Columbian American cultures. Unfortunately, the author of the book, Joseph Smith, had little or no knowledge of pre-Columbian American civilizations. Borrowing and adapting many stories from the Old and New Testaments, Joseph Smith was unaware that the earlier Native American peoples were part of stone-age civilizations that were significantly less advanced than Hebrew and other Middle Eastern cultures of biblical times.

The Book of Mormon claims that the Native American populations are descended from the Lamanites, who originated from ancient Israel 2,600 years ago. This concept is stated several times throughout the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants (both of which are part of the “standard works”).23 Modern molecular genetics have proven that Native Americans are descended from Siberian and Asian ancestors. No evidence of Hebrew ancestry has been found in living Native Americans or in the remains of ancient Native Americans.24 However, other claims of Hebrew ancestry have been verified genetically in the African Lemba tribe, who left the Middle east during the same time frame found in the Book of Mormon account. In addition, no evidence for the “white, and exceedingly fair and delightsome” Nephites has ever been found in ancient American artwork.

The Old and New Testaments present a rich description of biblical peoples, places and cultures. Archeology of the Middle East has revealed the cities, weapons, crops, animals, coins, writings, and references to biblical characters found in the Bible. However, none of the cities mentioned in the Book of Mormon have ever been identified by qualified archeologists. In addition, many Book of Mormon references to metals, weapons, crops, animals, articles of clothing are known to have not been present in the Americas during the time period claimed in the Book of Mormon.

Archaeological Evidence verifying biblical cities

by Matt Slick

There is very little doubt in anyone’s mind about the reality of so many of the Old and New Testament cities mentioned in the Bible. Therefore, it is hardly necessary to document their existence. Nevertheless, following is a partial list of some of the cities mentioned in the Bible that have been found and excavated by archaeologists. This is simply more evidence that the Bible describes actual locations that can be verified. This means that at the very least, the Bible accurately reflects the locations and cities of ancient times.

Remember, this is only a partial list. There are hundreds of biblical cities that have been verified in archaeological digs.

  1. Joppa
    1. Acts 9:38,”And since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, entreating him, “Do not delay to come to us.”
      1. “During excavations of the site of ancient Joppa a thirteenth-century b.c. citadel gate was uncovered….”17
  2. Nineveh
    1. 2 Kings 19:36, “So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and returned home, and lived at Nineveh.”
    2. Jonah 1:1-2, “The word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city, and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me.”
      1. Excavated in from 1845 to 1857 by Austen H. Layard.18
  3. Shechem
    1. Gen. 12:6, “And Abram passed through the land as far as the site of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. Now the Canaanite was then in the land.”
    2. Gen. 33:18, “Now Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Paddan-aram, and camped before the city.”
      1. “Excavations were carried out at Shechem, first by Austrian-German expeditions in 1913 and 1914, and again from 1926 to 1934, under several directors, and then by an American expedition from 1956 to 1972….Excavation of the sacred area revealed a courtyard sanctuary and a later fortress temple dedicated to El-berith “the god of the covenant.” This temple, which was destroyed by Abimelech, the son of the judge Gideon (Judges 9) has provided us with a date of the judges period.”19
      2. Most recently a structure identified as an Israelite altar has been excavated on the northeastern slope of Mt. Ebal. Dating to the 13th to 12th centuries B.C., considered to be the time of Joshua, the altar suggest the possibility that it may be the altar built by Joshua and described in Deuteronomy 27, 28.”20
  4. Susa
    1. Neh. 1:1, “The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in Susa the capitol,
    2. Esther 1:1-2, “Now it took place in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces, 2 in those days as King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne which was in Susa the capital,
      1. Escavations were conducted by Marcel Dieulafoy from 1884 to 1886.21

There is very little doubt in anyone’s mind about the reality of so many of the Old and New Testament cities mentioned in the Bible. Therefore it is hardly necessary to document their existence. Nevertheless, following is a partial list of some of the cities mentioned in the Bible that have been found and excavated by archaeologists. This is simply more evidence that the Bible describes actual locations that can be verified. This means that at the very least, the Bible accurately reflects the locations and cities of ancient times.

By Everette Hatcher III | Posted in Biblical Archaeology | Comments (0)

Transcript and video of Republican Debate June 13, 2011 New Hampshire (Part 6)

June 17, 2011 – 3:37 am

Republican Presidential Debate In New Hampshire pt.6

From left, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and businessman Herman Cain stand on stage before first New Hampshire Republican presidential debate at St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H., Monday, June 13, 2011. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

KING: Let’s spend a little time talking. Let’s spend a little bit of time talking about it.

Senator, let’s start with you. Just what role does faith play in your political life? Are there decisions, certain issues where some might you just, let’s meet with my advisers, what does my gut say, and others where you might retreat and have a moment of private prayer?

SANTORUM: I’m some who believes that you approach issues using faith and reason. And if your faith is pure and your reason is right, they’ll end up in the same place.

I think the key to the success of this country, how we all live together, because we are a very diverse country — Madison called it the perfect remedy — which was to allow everybody, people of faith and no faith, to come in and make their claims in the public square, to be heard, have those arguments, and not to say because you’re not a person of faith, you need to stay out, because you have strong faith convictions, your opinion is invalid. Just the opposite — we get along because we know that we — all of our ideas are allowed in and tolerated. That’s what makes America work.

KING: Congressman Paul, does faith have a role in these public issues, the public square, or is it a personal issue at your home and in your church?

PAUL: I think faith has something to do with the character of the people that represent us, and law should have a moral fiber to it and our leaders should. We shouldn’t expect us to try to change morality. You can’t teach people how to be moral.

But the Constitution addresses this by saying — literally, it says no theocracy. But it doesn’t talk about church and state. The most important thing is the First Amendment. Congress shall write no laws — which means Congress should never prohibit the expression of your Christian faith in a public place.

KING: OK. Great. Let’s go down to Josh McElveen, and let’s continue the conversation.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

MCELVEEN: Thank you.

While we’re on the topic of faith and religion, the next question goes to Mr. Cain. You recently said you would not appoint a Muslim to your cabinet and you kind of back off that a little bit and said you would first want to know if they’re committed to the Constitution. You expressed concern that, quote, “a lot of Muslims are not totally dedicated to this country.”

Are American-Muslims as a group less committed to the Constitution than, say, Christian or Jews?

CAIN: First, the statement was would I be comfortable with a Muslim in my administration, not that I wouldn’t appoint one. That’s the exact transcript.

And I would not be comfortable because you have peaceful Muslims and then you have militant Muslims, those that are trying to kill us.

And so, when I said I wouldn’t be comfortable, I was thinking about the ones that are trying to kill us, number one.

Secondly, yes, I do not believe in Sharia law in American courts. I believe in American laws in American courts, period. There have been instances –

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

CAIN: There have been instances in New Jersey — there was an instance in Oklahoma where Muslims did try to influence court decisions with Sharia law. I was simply saying very emphatically, American laws in American courts.

KING: So, on that point, Governor Romney let me come to you on this.

What Mr. Cain is saying that he would have — my term, not his — a purity test or a loyalty test. He would want to ask a Muslim a few question or a few questions before he hired them, but he wouldn’t ask those questions of a Christian or Jew.

CAIN: Sorry. No, you are restating something I did not say, OK? If I may, OK?

KING: Please let’s make it clear.

CAIN: When you interview a person for a job, you look at their — you look at their work record, you look at their resume, and then you have a one-on-one personal interview. During that personal interview, like in the business world and anywhere else, you are able to get a feeling for how committed that person is to the Constitution, how committed they are to the mission of the organization —

KING: When I asked — I asked this question the other night, though, you said you want to ask a Muslim those questions but you didn’t you have to ask them to a Christian or a Jew? CAIN: I would ask certain questions, John. And it’s not a litmus test. It is simply trying to make sure that we have people committed to the Constitution first in order for them to work effectively in the administration.

KING: Should one segment, Governor — I mean, one segment of Americans, in this case, religion, but in any case, should one segment be singled out and treated differently?

ROMNEY: Well, first of all, of course, we’re not going to have Sharia law applied in U.S. courts. That’s never going to happen. We have a Constitution and we follow the law.

No, I think we recognize that the people of all faiths are welcome in this country. Our nation was founded on a principal of religious tolerance. That’s in fact why some of the early patriots came to this country and we treat people with respect regardless of their religious persuasion.

Obviously, anybody who would come into my administration would be someone who I knew, who I was comfortable with, and who I believed would honor as their highest oath — their oath to defend and protect the Constitution of the United States.

KING: Mr. Speaker, go ahead.

GINGRICH: I just want to comment for a second. The Pakistani who emigrated to the U.S. became a citizen, built a car bomb which luckily failed to go off in Times Square was asked by the federal judge, how could he have done that when he signed — when he swore an oath to the United States. And he looked at the judge and said, “You’re my enemy. I lied.”

Now, I just want to go out on a limb here. I’m in favor of saying to people, if you’re not prepared to be loyal to the United States, you will not serve in my administration, period.

(APPLAUSE)

GINGRICH: We did this — we did this in dealing with the Nazis and we did this in dealing with the communists. And it was controversial both times, and both times we discovered after a while, you know, there are some genuinely bad people who would like to infiltrate our country. And we have got to have the guts to stand up and say no.

KING: We’re going to work in another break.

Still a lot more ground to cover with our seven Republican candidates for president tonight. Voters here in New Hampshire are asking the questions. You can help us at home on Facebook and on Twitter. Please send in your suggestions.

In and out of every break, we’re asking a candidate a personal question, this or that, to make a choice.

Mr. Cain, deep dish or thin crust?

(LAUGHTER)

CAIN: Deep dish.

KING: Deep dish, it is. Our seven candidates for the Republican presidential nomination will be right back.

By Everette Hatcher III | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

Kate Middleton and Prince William: Marriage made in Heaven? (Part 54)

June 17, 2011 – 3:18 am
The Royal Wedding in Photos
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge leave Clarence House for Buckingham Palace on April 29, 2011 in London, England. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
Leave it to Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden to spice things up a bit in a fitted, coral dress.

The Royal Wedding Ceremony of William and Kate Live part 2/4
I really do wish Kate and William success in their marriage. I hope they truly are committed to each other, and if they are then the result will be a marriage that lasts their whole lifetime. Nevertheless, I do not think it is best to live together before marriage like they did, and I writing this series to help couples see how best to prepare for marriage. 

Here is an article by John MacArthur that I found helpful.

What can my spouse and I do to build a strong marriage?

You should both recognize that your marriage is first of all a commitment to Jesus Christ and then to each other. Your best defense against forces that will erode your marriage is for you both to maintain a deep, profound, and shared relationship with Jesus Christ and a commitment to obey God’s Word. Your faithful, obedient walk with the Lord will keep you from stumbling.

Here are a few practical principles to follow:

  • Concentrate on your heart, not your appearance.Your inner life is more important than your outer appearance. The writer of Proverbssaid as much when he remarked, “Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised” (Proverbs 31:30).Peter gave this principle to wives in 1 Peter 3:3-4, but it applies to husbands as well: “Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.”If you focus on developing your love for Christ, your inner qualities of godliness will mature, develop, and strengthen your marriage.
  • Concentrate on who your spouse really is, not on an ideal partner.Many marriages falter simply because the partners never have taken the time to get to know each other. Your spouse, as wonderful as he or she seemed at the altar, is not perfect. If you cling to an ideal of what you want your spouse or marriage to be like, you’ll hurt your marriage. Abandon the idea of a perfect mate and marriage and begin learning to understand and love the spouse you have—as he or she is today. That is what Peter meant when he told husbands to live with their wives “with understanding” (1 Peter 3:7).
  • Concentrate on loving your spouse, not on your compatibility.No matter who your spouse is, you can learn to love each other. In contrast to the prevailing idea that love is something that just happens, Paul commanded husbands to love their wives (Ephesians 5:25) and wives to love their husbands (Titus 2:4). Scripture doesn’t even recognize the possibility of incompatibility between two marriage partners—God simply commands both the husband and the wife to love each other.

  • Tim Hawkins – The Dog’s on Fire

    Weekend to Remember Story – Dennis Rainey

  •  
    • Glad Friday is here!!!
By Everette Hatcher III | Posted in Current Events | Comments (0)

Senator Pryor asks for Spending Cut Suggestions! Here are a few!(Part 64)

June 17, 2011 – 12:01 am

Senator Mark Pryor wants our ideas on how to cut federal spending. Take a look at this video clip below:

Senator Pryor has asked us to send our ideas to him at cutspending@pryor.senate.gov and I have done so in the past and will continue to do so in the future.

On May 11, 2011,  I emailed to this above address and I got this email back from Senator Pryor’s office:

Please note, this is not a monitored email account. Due to the sheer volume of correspondence I receive, I ask that constituents please contact me via my website with any responses or additional concerns. If you would like a specific reply to your message, please visit http://pryor.senate.gov/contact. This system ensures that I will continue to keep Arkansas First by allowing me to better organize the thousands of emails I get from Arkansans each week and ensuring that I have all the information I need to respond to your particular communication in timely manner.  I appreciate you writing. I always welcome your input and suggestions. Please do not hesitate to contact me on any issue of concern to you in the future.

Therefore, I went to the website and sent this email below:

Here are a few more I just emailed to him myself.

Senator Rand Paul on Feb 7, 2011 wrote the article “A Modest $500 Billion Proposal: My spending cuts would keep 85% of government funding and not touch Social Security,” Wall Street Journal and he observed:

Here are some of his specific suggestions:

Reduce Federal Vehicle Budget: Saves $600 million
The federal government owns approximately 652,000 cars and trucks in their fleet of vehicles. General maintenance
on these vehicles is an annual expense of $4 billion. Since 2006, the amount of vehicles owned by the government
has increased by 20,000 and operating costs have increased by 5.4 percent.
It is not unreasonable to ask all agencies to slow down acquiring new vehicles and decrease the number of miles
driven to help drive reduce cost of general maintenance.

By Everette Hatcher III | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

Duggar’s first grandson born

June 16, 2011 – 12:59 pm
Another Duggar Baby! Josh & Anna Duggar Welcome Baby Boy TLC stars Josh and Anna Duggar with their newborn son — TLC
I was walking at the

Another Duggar Baby! Josh & Anna Duggar Welcome Baby Boy

Yahoo News reported:

The Duggar family continues to grow!

Josh Duggar, 23, – the eldest son of Jim Bob and Michelle – and wife Anna, 22, welcomed their second child on Wednesday, a source told People.

PLAY IT NOW: How Do The Duggars Make Their Huge Family Work?

The couple is not releasing the name of their little one just yet, but are said to be sticking with their “M” theme.

The couple’s new son weighed 8 lbs., 5 oz., and arrived at 5:55 PM in Tontitown, Ark., where big sister MacKynzie, 20 months, was born.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Hollywood’s Biggest Broods

The newest Duggar is very close in age to his Aunt Josie (Jim Bob and Michelle’s youngest child, who was born premature, but is now healthy), who is only 17 months old.

“I think of Josie being born at only 25 weeks,” Josh told the mag prior to the birth of his son, “and it makes us think about how precious life is and what a blessing each child is.”

The Duggars are back on TLC this Sunday in “19 Kids: First Grandson” at 8 PM.

_____________________

I went on the 2011 March for Life in Little Rock in January with some of my children and with my grandson. I looked around and noticed that I was actually surrounded by Duggars!!!

March for Life Little Rock, AR January 23, 2011, Duggar Family singing

March for Life Little Rock, AR January 23, 2011

By Everette Hatcher III | Posted in Current Events, Prolife | Comments (0)

The Characters referenced in Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris” (Part 6 Gertrude Stein)

June 16, 2011 – 11:01 am

Why Don’t You Go See the Stein Exhibit at the SF MOMA?

By aaufashion

 

If you are in San Francisco for the summer and are looking for something to do, then perhaps you should go to the SF MOMA and check out the exhibit, The Steins Collect.

Through September 6, you can browse the art collection of the Steins which include lauded writer Gertrude and brothers Leo and Michael, and Michael’s wife, Sarah. They were Bay Area natives that uprooted and spent time in Paris when it was a bohemian epicenter in the early 20th century (which is cleverly showcased in the movie Midnight in Paris).

The Steins were one of the first people to recognize the avant-garde talent of famous artists like Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso. By befriending and supporting artists like them as well as Paul Cézanne, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, and others, they were early adopters of an artistic revolution.

In addition to the exhibition, the SF MOMA will be featuring insightful curator talks, films and other events through its September run.

Midnight In Paris – SPOILER Discussion by What The Flick?!

Associated Press

Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas in 1934

This video clip below discusses Gertrude Stein’s friendship with Pablo Picasso:

I love the movie “Midnight in Paris” by Woody Allen and I am going through the whole list of famous writers and artists that he included in the movie. Today is Gertrude Stein.  By the way, I know that some of you are wondering how many posts I will have before I am finished. Right now I have plans to look at Gauguin, Lautrec, Geores Brague, Dali, Rodin,Coco Chanel, Modigliani, Matisse, Luis Bunuel, Josephine Baker, Van Gogh, Picasso, Man Ray, T.S. Elliot and several more.

Gertrude Stein
Gertrude Stein pic
She Wanted to Write the Way Cubists Painted
How had he been in business in Baltimore?
He had been in business before in Baltimore,
he had not been in business before he was in business in Baltimore.
Business in Baltimore is business in Baltimore
and business in Baltimore is this business in Baltimore.
How many more are there in business in Baltimore than there were before?
–from “Business in Baltimore”

Gertrude Stein came to Baltimore because she wanted to be or not to be a doctor. She wasn’t a stranger to the city; she had various relatives here. But she moved to Baltimore to Baltimore she moved to Baltimore to attend Johns Hopkins Medical School with plans to become a doctor.

Stein was born in Allegany, Pennsylvania, in 1874, and later moved with her family to Oakland, California. When her parents died (she was 18 at the time), she and her brother Leo came to Baltimore to live with their Aunt Fanny Bachrach and near their extended family.

Even while attending Radcliffe College, she returned frequently to visit that family. After graduating in 1897, she returned to Baltimore once again, this time to attend Johns Hopkins Medical School. She never graduated; having made it to her final year, she found her studies no longer enticing. She also experienced heartbreak in the romance department—which may have cooled her enthusiasm for school.

She moved to Europe with Leo, spending most of the rest of her life in Paris. But her influence in Baltimore continues. During medical school, she had become friends with medical researcher Claribel Cone, who became a well-known specialist in tuberculosis. Stein’s friendship with Claribel and her sister Etta would provide great happiness for the Cone sisters and later for the city of Baltimore. Stein taught the Cones to appreciate the works of the French Impressionist painters and introduced them to Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, and others. She convinced them to buy Impressionist paintings when everyone else was still buying traditional portraits and landscapes. The Cone sisters amassed and later left to the Baltimore Museum of Art a magnificent collection, including works by Picasso, Matisse, Degas, Monet, and Cassatt.

Many Baltimoreans are probably more familiar with Stein through her association with the Cone sisters-or for the museum’s restaurant that bears her name-than through her experimental writing. Among her most widely read works is Three Lives (1909), fictional portraits of three women, including Melanctha, a liberated and intelligent black woman living in Baltimore. This was a rare case, at the time, of a white writer creating a sympathetic portrait of a black woman. What Stein knew of the black community, she may have learned as a medical student in clinical practice, according to a least one source (Cohen, 1984).

Stein remains a controversial figure in literature—possibly because of her openly gay relationship with her secretary, Alice B. Toklas, and her often inaccessible writing style. She once said that she attempted in her writing to parallel the theories of Cubism, emphasizing the present moment and using slightly varied repetitions. She influenced the American and European literary and art scenes in the United States, befriending many emerging writers and artists, including Katherine Anne Porter and Ernest Hemingway (who said that he and Stein were “just like brothers”).

Gertrude Stein died in 1946 at age 72 from stomach cancer.

John Bumby Hemingway and Gertrude Stein in Paris

Gertrude Stein with John "Bumby" Hemingway in a park in Paris, 1924

Christy Lemire (AP critic and host of Ebert Presents at the Movies, check your local PBS listings) and Alonso Duralde (Movieline) have a spoiler-filled talk aboutt he Woody Allen film Midnight in Paris.

Owen Wilson as Gil and Rachel McAdams as Inez in "Midnight in Paris." 2011 Roger Arpajou / Sony Pictures Classics

Owen Wilson as Gil and Rachel McAdams as Inez in “Midnight in Paris.”

Director: Woody Allen
Writer: Woody Allen
Stars: Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Michael Shannon, Kathy Bates
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics

Owen Wilson’s dudeness and a daring plot twist serve Woody Allen well.

Late-era Woody has been an interesting phenomenon to watch, as his occasional hits (Vicky Cristina Barcelona) and stupefying misses (Scoop) come hard on each other’s heels. This year’s offering in his recent “Cities I Have Loved” series is set in Paris, and of course, given the setting and the auteur, is a heady love story. But more importantly, Midnight in Paris is also an exploration of nostalgia, the artistic impulse, and even happiness itself. It’s an entertaining and sometimes hilarious film that belongs squarely in Allen’s “hit” column.

It’s also a very difficult film to write about, as there’s a major plot twist not far into the movie, a plot twist that the filmmakers have taken great pains to conceal from the public. Until recently, the Midnight in Paris IMDB page lacked names for many of the characters, and the twist isn’t explained or even alluded to in the film’s trailer. In the spirit of respecting their judgment of how one can best appreciate the movie, perhaps it’s best not to specifically reveal it here. Suffice to say that in the hands of a lesser director (or even in those of Allen himself, at his weaker moments), the twist would be cloying and cringe-inducing, but Allen makes it work well.

The cast is, for the most part, exquisitely chosen. Rachel McAdams’ natural (and considerable) charm and charisma are a perfect counterpoint to her character, who in her unlikeability actually recalls Billy Zane’s ridiculous cad in Titanic. The part as written needs some balance, but in McAdams, Allen got all the likeability he needed simply from his casting choice. Michael Sheen is a different kind of cad—the pedantic know-it-all that is so fun to hate that it’d be a shame to give him any redeeming qualities. Other standout performances, ones I can’t reveal too much about, are turned in by Marion Cotillard, Kathy Bates, and Corey Stoll in a pitch-perfect career turn.

And against all odds, Owen Wilson turns out to be an excellent choice for the Allen-esque protagonist (Woody, of course, seldom writes any other type). Wilson seems to project a goofy thoughtfulness naturally, and it softens the edges of Allen’s neurotic writing and draws the viewer in. Unlike many of Allen’s protagonists, we’re really rooting for Gil. Combine that with a daring concept, a charming supporting cast, and some classic Allen zingers, and you’ve got an ideal summer confection for the film buff set.

Other posts with Woody Allen:

The Characters referenced in Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris” (Part 10 Salvador Dali)

Artists and bohemians inspired Woody Allen for ‘Midnight in Paris I love the movie “Midnight in Paris” by Woody Allen and I am going through the whole list of famous writers and artists that he included in the movie. Today we will look at Salvador Dali. In this clip below you will see when Picasso […]

The Characters referenced in Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris” (Part 9, Georges Braque)

2011 Roger Arpajou / Sony Pictures Classics Lea Seydoux as Gabrielle in “Midnight in Paris.” Adriana and Gil are seen above walking together in the movie “Midnight in Paris.” Adriana was a fictional character who was Picasso’s mistress in the film. Earlier she had been Georges Braque’s mistress before moving on to Picasso according to […]

The Characters referenced in Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris” (Part 8, Henri Toulouse Lautrec)

How Should We Then Live 7#3 2011 Roger Arpajou / Sony Pictures Classics Owen Wilson as Gil in “Midnight in Paris.” Paul Gauguin and Henri Toulouse Lautrec were the greatest painters of the post-impressionists. They are pictured together in 1890 in Paris in Woody Allen’s new movie “Midnight in Paris.” My favorite philosopher Francis Schaeffer […]

The Characters referenced in Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris” (Part 7 Paul Gauguin)

How Should We Then Live 7#1 Dr. Francis Schaeffer examines the Age of Non-Reason and he mentions the work of Paul Gauguin. 2011 Roger Arpajou / Sony Pictures Classics Kurt Fuller as John and Mimi Kennedy as Helen in “Midnight in Paris.” I love the movie “Midnight in Paris” by Woody Allen and I am […]

The Characters referenced in Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris” (Part 6 Gertrude Stein)

Midnight In Paris – SPOILER Discussion by What The Flick?! Associated Press Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas in 1934 This video clip below discusses Gertrude Stein’s friendship with Pablo Picasso: I love the movie “Midnight in Paris” by Woody Allen and I am going through the whole list of famous writers and artists that […]

The Characters referenced in Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris” (Part 5 Juan Belmonte)

2011 Roger Arpajou / Sony Pictures Classics Gad Elmaleh as Detective Tisserant in “Midnight in Paris.” I love the movie “Midnight in Paris” by Woody Allen and I am going through the whole list of famous writers and artists that he included in the movie. Juan Belmonte was the most famous bullfighter of the time […]

The Characters referenced in Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris” (Part 4 Ernest Heminingway)

  Woody Allen explores fantasy world with “Midnight in Paris” 2011 Roger Arpajou / Sony Pictures Classics Corey Stoll as Ernest Hemingway in “Midnight in Paris.” The New York Times Ernest Hemingway, around 1937 I love the movie “Midnight in Paris” by Woody Allen and I am going through the whole list of famous writers […]

The Characters referenced in Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris” (Part 3 Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald)

What The Flick?!: Midnight In Paris – Review by What The Flick?! 2011 Roger Arpajou / Sony Pictures Classics Alison Pill as Zelda Fitzgerald and Tom Hiddleston as F. Scott Fitzgerald in “Midnight in Paris.” 2011 Roger Arpajou / Sony Pictures Classics Owen Wilson as Gil in “Midnight in Paris.” 2011 Roger Arpajou / Sony […]

The Characters referenced in Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris” (Part 2 Cole Porter)

The song used in “Midnight in Paris” I am going through the famous characters that Woody Allen presents in his excellent movie “Midnight in Paris.” This series may be a long one since there are so many great characters. De-Lovely – Movie Trailer De-Lovely – So in Love – Kevin Kline, Ashley Judd & Others […]

The Characters referenced in Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris” (Part 1 William Faulkner)

Photo by Phill Mullen The only known photograph of William Faulkner (right) with his eldest brother, John, was taken in 1949. Like his brother, John Faulkner was also a writer, though their writing styles differed considerably. My grandfather, John Murphey, (born 1910) grew up in Oxford, Mississippi and knew both Johncy and “Bill” Faulkner. He […]

I love Woody Allen’s latest movie “Midnight in Paris”

I love the movie “Midnight in Paris” was so good that I will be doing a series on it. My favorite Woody Allen movie is Crimes and Misdemeanors and I will provide links to my earlier posts on that great movie. Movie Guide the Christian website had the following review: MIDNIGHT IN PARIS is the […]

  The Associated Press reported today:   The signature under the typewritten words on yellowing sheets of nearly century-old paper is unmistakable: Adolf Hitler, with the last few scribbled letters drooping downward. The date is 1919 and, decades before the Holocaust, the 30-year-old German soldier — born in Austria — penned what are believed to be […]

Solomon, Woody Allen, Coldplay and Kansas (Coldplay’s spiritual search Part 6)

Here is an article I wrote a couple of years ago: Solomon, Woody Allen, Coldplay and Kansas What does King Solomon, the movie director Woody Allen and the modern rock bands Coldplay and Kansas have in common? All four took on the issues surrounding death, the meaning of life and a possible afterlife, although they all came up with their own conclusions on […]

Insight into what Coldplay meant by “St. Peter won’t call my name” (Series on Coldplay’s spiritual search, Part 3)

Coldplay seeks to corner the market on earnest and expressive rock music that currently appeals to wide audiences Here is an article I wrote a couple of years ago about Chris Martin’s view of hell. He says he does not believe in it but for some reason he writes a song that teaches that it […]

By Everette Hatcher III | Posted in Current Events | Comments (0)