Gas grills

Yesterday I walked down to Bed, Bath and Beyond to get a grill to use on the fire escape (and some replacement painted martini glasses). I really want to enjoy my apartment more than I was able to last summer. I was thinking of a Hibachi or one of those tin foil-lined, round things. Nothing complicated. But they were all so big at BB&B. Huge gas grills wherein you could cook a sheep or something--how do they move those in Manhattan? Who has room? I finally found something that I think is going to work--a mini George Foreman grill. It's probably better than a Hibachi since it's electrical. The box said not to use it outside but I will too! So there!

If I have more than one guest over for grilling, either we're going to have to supplement with my kitchen equipment or someone can bring their own stuff over.

Looking forward to the SBC Reunion

I had a great conversation with Krista last night. We're trying to firm up arrangements--my college reunion is this weekend and Krista and I are rooming together, and she's going to pick me up at the train station. I can't wait to hang out with all my Sweet Briar peeps. And the campus will be absolutely gorgeous, as usual. I wish I could post some of the pictures I've taken--it's truly one of the most beautiful campuses in the US.

On talkinbroadway.com (Rent movie)

I read this today (although it was posted a couple of days ago):

I interned at a major studio recently and I actually read a script for a film version of RENT. I'm not a huge RENT fan, but even I was offended at this incarnation.

The script began when April was still alive and Mark & Maureen were still together. Roger sang "Rent" with his band at a club and they pulled Mark up on stage, so he was singing, too. None of the songs were written as typical musical songs. Some of the songs were in there, but they were performed differently. "La Vie Boheme" wasn't even sung by the main cast. It was sung by a random band at a bar. And "Light My Candle" was spoken. The lyrics became lines. It was ludicrous.

ANYWAY, after seeing that version I don't think that Chris Columbus can screw it up as much as that version that I read.

Interesting. Chris Columbus? Doesn't seem the type.

Ghosts of Mississippi

They're reopening the investigation of Emmett Till's murder. One quibble with this story--I'm pretty sure it was the boy's great-uncle, not his uncle. I'll check tonight.

This is good. I read on a board that some people are going to have a problem with this--I guess I can understand why people might think it's better not to dig up old bodies, literally, but a grave wrong was done with the trial of the two men that confessed to it after their acquittal. It was an outright travesty--the defense attorney during his closing argument said to the jury "I want every last Anglo-Saxon one of you to do your duty, and find these men innocent." Just appalling. They "deliberated" for an hour, and part of that time was taken up going to the general store getting sodas--they were trying to drag out the time to make it look as though they'd actually discussed the verdict.

Interestingly, Bryant and Milam were shunned in their community afterwards. Kind of a color-reversed OJ Simpson dynamic.

Rest in peace, Emmett Till, murdered at 14 in Money, MS, 1955. I hope it won't be too much longer before we can administer some justice.