Posted by Nolan Dalla on Oct 13, 2026 in Blog |
MY SHORT TV REVIEWS (FALL 2026-UPDATED)
I watched several shows over the last month. Most of these are available on Netflix or Prime. Here’s my updated “reviews” on a few programs and current series you may have also seen, or you might have missed:
THE GENTLEMEN (Season 2) — Was thrilled to see a Season 2 released all at once in September, but after viewing the first four episodes, I stopped watching. I even wrote a scathing (incomplete) review about my disappointment with the Guy Ritchie series and figured it was a great first season that couldn’t sustain the witty, dark, comedic British gangster formula he’s perfected to an art form. Then, I was persuaded to continue, thanks Fruchter, and watched the final four episodes (8 in all). Wow — glad I did. Marvelous turnaround and brilliantly crafted. Episode 6, which is the wedding in Italy is near Godfather-esque. Then, the second season wraps up with enough momentum to leave us gasping, and laughing, and shocked all at the same time in the show’s final scene. Slow start on Episodes 1-4, but riveting in the remaining Episodes 5-8. Grade: A-
SLOW HORSES (Season 6) — Similar reaction to the unconventional British spymaster series…..loved the first few seasons, then it became shark jumping. Almost gave up. Then, Season 6 debuted last month (4 episodes have been released, to date) and my enthusiasm was rekindled. To be clear–this series has multiple annoyances, and I could list several things I dislike about it. However, Gary Oldman as the lead along with Kristen Scott Thomas are enough to keep me glued. Very unusual series of anti-heroes, and difficult to recommend to others, unless you really like offbeat stories and quirky characters. Most of the humor is very subtle, which perhaps is its appeal. Can be frustrating, but when all the parts hit, the dark humor nails it. Grade: B
EAST OF EDEN (Series) — I made it through half of the first episode. Seven parts, Steinbeck’s famous novel, original movie was James Dean’s debut. Wonderfully crafted, masterfully done remake — I just didn’t like the subject matter and lost interest. I never liked the original movie either, but it’s been at the top of the Netflix rankings for awhile. Grade: C-
WHAT’S EATING DAN — Netflix series of rapid-fire shorts on all kinds of foodie subjects — how to shuck oysters, the best way to cook corn on the cob, how to tell if a pepper is too hot, etc. I love this show. Packs a powerful punch, and if you don’t like one episode, it’s only 10-15 minutes long, and you can FF on to the next one. I found all off them entertaining (and often very funny). Great host. Grade: A
THE CHARLES MANSON TAPES — Late one night, bored, I had to watch. Sick, I know. I mean, don’t we know enough about the Manson murders, already? Well, apparently not. I ended up feasting on the entire thing like a smut addict. It was worse than a half gallon of cheap on-sale ice cream–you just devour the whole thing. When’s the next Mason documentary? “Manson! Manson! Manson! We want our Charlie fix!” Movies, books, multiple TV series–this guy is more popular than the Beatles. Grade: B
BIG CHICKEN: A FAST FOOD CONSPIRACY — Here’s another scare bomb warning us about the food we eat, and how we basically torture hundreds of millions of animals for the tasty bucket of KFC. It’s all factual, of course. Trouble is, these docs have become somewhat repetitive. Perhaps that’s the point. Everything is an assembly line of exploitation and cruelty, delivering cheap hamburgers and designer delicacies. I can’t knock the noble intent of the filmmakers nor deny this is important. Perhaps I’m just burned out on being told everything is bad for me. And if Chicken is bad for me, then full confession–I’m much more bad for the chicken. Grade: B-
STOLEN: HEIST OF THE CENTURY — Pretty good documentary about an actual diamond-stealing caper in Europe. Well done, if you enjoy true crime. As with many organized heists, the fun part of the show is finding out which *small detail* the perpetrators forget about, leading to the crime being solved. Grade: B+
THE IDAHO MURDERS — This is the short series about the sicko psycho who senselessly drove across the country for no apparent reasons and killed five students in Idaho. The mystery here is — WHY??? For this reason, the series (3 parts, I think) holds our attention. Message to the Idaho killer: You’re no Charlie Manson (need about a dozen more docs to catch up). Grade: B
EAGLES (HISTORY OF THE) in two parts — Watched this a few nights ago. Wow, I didn’t realize how LITTLE I knew about the Eagles—the music group (not the bird, that’s another series). Extremely well done, with full cooperation from the band, including all members deceased and living. Don’t gloss over the scandals and divisions, shows warts and all, which makes it much better than most rock exposes. This was a more intriguing music doc than I was expecting. There’s also a Part 2, which is about the reunion, also good, but not up to the story of Part 1. Grade: A
TIRES (series) — Received rave reviews as an offbeat comedy (“The Office,” but in an auto shop). I just couldn’t get into it and gave up after a couple of tries. I could be wrong, as I noted before other shows when I stopped watching ended up actually being quite good. Grade: D
THE LINCOLN LAWYER — Finished Season 4 over the summer, but I forgot to write about it, until now. I don’t think this season was as nearly good as the others, but still enough twists and turns and a charismatic cast that has real chemistry to maintain my enthusiasm. Solid formula of connected episodes which usually builds to a thrilling season conclusion (and often a surprise ending). Well crafted, this will keep me interested as long as it continues. Grade: A-
DEPT. Q — Done by “The Queen’s Gambit” writer and director, this is a very dark but intense crime series, which ended Season 1 (Season 2 should be coming soon). I believe it’s 6-7 episodes and starts with a disappearance and the season consists of investigators trying to solve the crime and rescue the victim, assuming they’re alive. I won’t give anything away, but several of the scenes stuck with me, haunting at times. Great villains. Powerful stuff, though dark and somewhat troubling–as in nightmare possibilities. Grade: A-
MAYDAY –– Lengthy series (20 seasons, lots of shows!) about plane crashes. Documents the anatomy of all the famous air disasters in history, plus quite a few we’ve never heard of, or we have forgotten. Extremely well done, in a detective sense (why did that plane crash, then the NTSB decipher the clues of each crash). Only scary thing is….knowing there were enough plane crashes TO FILL 20 SEASONS OF A TV SERIES! Wife got hooked on this, then said, “I never want to fly again.” Makes you fear a tiny $3 bolt falling off the cargo door could bring down a packed jumbo 747 into the Atlantic. Gee–who knew hydraulic fluid was so important? That sort of bad-luck mystery and apparent randomness of life is the hook of the show, and disturbing but also mesmerizing. Think CSI for air crash fetishists. Grade: A
I’ll do more of these *short* reviews is people are interested. Feel free to share your own, including best and worst. Maybe I should do my own “awards” at the end of each year.
Read More
Posted by Nolan Dalla on Oct 12, 2026 in Blog |
FUCK YOU, MUSK
So, the “Trillionaire Turd” is all pissed off.
Oh, my!
Data centers in Russia get blown up by Ukrainian drones, and the MAGA MUSKRAT objects.
Meanwhile…..
…..three-plus years of Russia/Putin invading a sovereign country
……countless deliberate brutal attacks on civilian apartment buildings that murdered tens of thousands
….an environmental catastrophe and nearly a nuclear meltdown
…..the orchestrated reductions of hospitals and schools to rubble
…..the deliberate kidnapping off infants and children and shipping them off to Russia
…..and being *personally* responsible for more than a million deaths on both sides of an insane war….
—— and the vile dysfunctional madman NEVER says a word, nor raises a single word of protest, nor EVER posted any objections. Not once.
Murder hundreds of thousands — STONE COLD SILENCE. Versus: The guy who is under attack strikes back at data centers and computer banks — WOAH! YOU’VE GONE TOO FAR!
This is the same piece of South Afrikkkan shit who has already given REPUBLICANS and MAGA trash lapdogs a whopping $275+ million in financial support in THIS 2026 election alone…..and he now claims Ukraine/Zelensky “went too far.”
Suck a megabytle, your miserable fuck.
What likely pisses him off most is how this hurts his own DISINFORMATION WAR all the many bombardments of 24/7 bots, memes, troll garbage, and social media pro-Trump propaganda and sludge that often ORIGINATES in these poisonous data centers IN RUSSIA polluting the American political system. They are spread all over MAGA sites, shared my low information idiots and dirt dumb Trumpers.
THAT’S why he’s upset. He got outplayed. And he sure doesn’t give a shit about lives or people or suffering or death. He’s a psychopath.
Fuck him.
Read More
Posted by Nolan Dalla on Oct 12, 2026 in Blog |
GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER:
MY DREAM INVITE LIST (Part 3)
Thanks for joining me once again and reading my new writing series, which continues today.
“Name ten people you would invite to a lavish dinner for a night of great conversation.”
Time for Part 3, and my third pick for the greatest dinner and conversation of all time:
BILLY CRYSTAL
Explanation: Billy Crystal is far from my favorite comedian, actor, or entertainment personality. But take the sum of all his parts, and he’s dynamite. Few performers have played so many different roles in stand-up, movies (comedy and drama), television, on Broadway, hosting the Academy Awards, and delivers such authenticity in every appearance. As a dinner guest, one can only imagine the stories and the people he’s encountered over the decades since his first professional gig 56 years ago. To me, he’s the perfect dinner guest.
Some facts I learned, and you may not know about — BILLY CRYSTAL:
– age 78
– born in New York City
– father was a jazz producer and promoter who owned Commodore Music Store and Commodore Records
– regularly welcomed Billie Holiday and other jazz greats inside the family home
– father lost everything with decline of jazz’s popularity and new music stores opened up in the 1960s
– attended Marshall University (in West Virginia) on a baseball scholarship
– transferred to New York University where he met his wife (graduated in 1970)
– one of his Fine Arts Department instructors at NYU was Martin Scorsese, and was in the same classes alongside Oliver Stone and Christopher Guest
– started out as an improv comedian, then started doing impressions. He perfected the famous Muhammed Ali-Howard Cosell routine, which got him invited to his first “Tonight Show” in 1976, then later most of the “Dean Martin Roasts”
– guested on numerous television shows in the 70s — “All in the Family,” “The Love Boat,” and others. Was casted full time on a controversial show titled “Soap”….his role was one of the first openly gay characters on television
– appeared on popular afternoon TV game show “The $10,000 Pyramid” and still holds the record to this day as the fastest contestant partner to reach the top cash prize — six clues and right answers in just 26 seconds!
– came up with lounge lizard’s schmaltzy catch-phrase line “You look….maaahhvelous!” on the spot in a SNL skit
– first movie role was playing a pregnant man in Joan Rivers’ film “Rabbit Test”
– hosted the annual Academy Awards ceremony nine times. He’s often regarded as one of the best hosts in history, praised for his impeccable timing and good judgement. Many of his best ad lib lines became classics
– memorable films roles in “The Princess Bride,” “When Harry Met Sally,” “City Slickers,” “Analyze This,” and more
– appeared in both Jay Leno’s very first show, and very last show
– Directed “61,” a film documentary about Roger Maris breaking Babe Ruth’s home run record.
– produced two best-selling jazz compilations of old recordings made by his family of Billie Holiday and others.
– said the hardest thing he ever did onstage was paying tribute to close friend and fellow comedy legend Robin Williams in a live telecast. “I was really worried I wasn’t going to get through it,” he later said.
– co-founder and huge supporter of “Comic Relief,” a charity that provides assistance to many comedians going through tough times and for homeless people
– numerous honors and awards, including one of the Kennedy Center honorees in 2023
– huge baseball fan and lifelong New York Yankees fan. Was signed to a one-day contract by the Yankees on his 60th birthday and even made a plate appearance in a spring training game against the Pirates (he struck out)
– met Mickey Mantle as a kid, who was his childhood hero and they later became good friends–Crystal delivered the eulogy at his funeral
– author of five books
– married in 1970, still married after 56 years, two daughters
– their home was totally destroyed in the terrible Pacific Palisades Fire (2025)
– has endorsed candidates and appeared in many political commercials, almost entirely Democrats
Crystal is always a great interview subject. But his best talent might be his spontaneity, rooted in his sketch comedy days and improv style act. In this interview CLICK HERE, he tells the famous story of hosting the Oscars live in front of millions of people, and disaster strikes. Great story. Classic Crystal.
Finally, there’s always something a little deeper about Crystal when he’s really “on.” Maybe it’s between the lines. A delayed reaction. It’s like we get the inside joke, and we’re privileged to be a part of it. I also really admire his ability to be funny, but never vulgar. A throwback to the classic comedians, he rarely uses profanity in his act or in any roles.
I’m really liking my guest list, so far. I’ve now got three of my ten seats filled:
1. ALICE COOPER
2. NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON
3. BILLY CRYSTAL
More coming soon.
Read More
Posted by Nolan Dalla on Oct 10, 2026 in Blog |
WEEK 5 NFL ANALYSIS AND PICKS
PHILADELPHIA vs. JACKSONVILLE (in London)
Line: Jaguars -7.5
O/U: 41.5
Philadelphia is decimated by injuries coming into Week 5, which is why this line is so lopsided. This is in contrast to Jacksonville, which is healthy and is now starting to get the respect they deserve from both oddsmakers and the betting public. The Jaguars might be the AFC’s best and most balanced team.
The hook on 7 is the obvious problem on this spread. We all know the danger of hooks. Just ask the fish. However, I’m not going to let that annoyance dissuade me (besides, that’s why it’s there, begging us to take PHI plus the points).
The Eagles’ offensive line problems create a terrible situation for an offense that’s been struggling anyways. Three of the five spots on the OL are out (one retired in midseason just this past week), which leaves a patchwork unit of untested backups. Then, two skill position game-breakers — Barkley and Smith — are likely to sit this one out. Last week, the birds were an astoundingly awful 0 for 13 on third-down conversations. The week before, Philadelphia was blown out by 20 points to Chicago starting a 38-year-old backup QB. That’s why they are 0-4 ATS, so far. Their two wins were ugly, non-covers.
The contrast couldn’t be more striking. Incredibly, JAX has covered in 11 of its last 12 games going back to last year’s mid-season. Eight of those wins were by 10+ points. I read a stat that in their last dozen games, JAX has outscored opponents by an average of 31-14 (by 17 points), and that includes losses. So, when they win, JAX also tends to cover.
I’m not sure how much of an intangible the London scene will be, but let’s also remember JAX has become the NFL’s leading UK-visitor, and the team has even embraced that role. This will be their 15th game in London, and they will stay in the UK and play against Houston there next week, as well. We can likely count on the Jags to be well-adjusted and enthusiastic about this NFL scheduling oddity. Most NFL teams don’t like the long travel or these international games, but JAX is the exception. This should also be another factor in their favor.
We have a proven team, versus an injured struggling opponent, in a friendly atmosphere and will probably resemble a home game for Jacksonville. I’m convinced the Jags are a solid play up to -8 and a possible wager all the way up to -9.5.
Wager:
Full-Game Side – JAX -7.5 (-105) v. PHI
Note: I have 15 bets (public picks) in the NFL this week. Many of the games are covered in this link. Click to read the full report, which is weekly and always free to access:
CLICK HERE
https://www.betcoin.ag/page/nolan-2026-week5/
THIS WEEK’S 15 PICKS:
Full-Game Side – JAX -7.5 (-105) v. PHI
Full-Game Side – PIT -2.5 (-115) v. IND
Player Prop – MIN RB A. Jones OVER 18 rush attempts (-110)
Player Prop – MIN RB A. Jones OVER 71.5 rush yards (-115)
Player Prop – NYJ WR G. Wilson OVER 69.5 receiving yards (-115)
Full-Game Side – NYG +4 (-115) v. WAS
Full-Game Team Total – NYG OVER 18 points (-125)
Full-Game Side – CHI -1.5 (-115) v. GBP
Player Prop – CHI RB D. Swift OVER 20 receiving yards (-115)
Full-Game Side – MIA +7.5 (-110) v. CIN
Full-Game Side – LAC +3.5 (-110) v. DEN
Full-Game Team Total – LAC OVER 19.5 points (-105)
Full-Game Side – DET -5.5 (-110) v. ARZ
Player Prop – ARZ QB J. Brissett OVER 37.5 pass attempts (-115)
Full-Game Side – ATL -3.5 (-110) v. BAL
Read More
Posted by Nolan Dalla on Oct 10, 2026 in Blog |
“Trump blames Ukraine’s Zelensky for High Diesel Prices”
No, you rambling rot of dead brain matter.
YOU fucked up. YOU launched *another* stupid ass stalemate of a loser Middle East War, a gauntlet of monstrous stupidity which has shackled the world’s oil supply, which is now dragging on for 8 months——and counting. Lying idiot. It’s on YOU.
And YOU spewed ridiculous nonsense and false promises for months if not years about how you were going to lower gas and diesel prices. YOU.
Not the President of Ukraine….YOU.
As for Russia and Ukraine, we all know you’re a pathetically compromised pervert, pedophile, and likely a traitor. You’re certainly a grifter unmatched for crass criminality. But your worst crimes are not just stealing, it’s what you have STOLEN from America and the world. You have repeatedly praised the despicable war criminal who started this deadly war (your close buddy Putin) while you continue to insult our allies and destroy decades of trust between our closest friends.
YOU are the fuck up. Every issue. At the micro level and the macro level. On the world stage. And even among your corrupt sycophantic cronies. The only question now is, how many more MAGA rats will continue kissing your lard ass while we all struggle and the American ship is sinking?
YOU are a lying creep. This is YOUR mess.
Background: The scumbag this morning went on the attack against V. Zelensky, who he accused of being responsible for high diesel prices (in the USA!) and called for a new Ukrainian president. Astounding attack on an ally, but nothing but praise for Putin, who started this terrible war and continues murdering civilians as targets. Despicable rot of stupidity.
One More Data Point: Oil companies reported $92 BILLION in profits in just the last quarter (not year, the last QUARTER), which is the highest profit margin in history.
Read More
Posted by Nolan Dalla on Oct 8, 2026 in Blog |
GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER:
MY DREAM INVITE LIST (Part 2)
Yesterday, I introduced a new writing series.
“Name ten people you would invite to a lavish dinner for a night of great conversation.”
Yeah, this is all imaginary, of course, and just for fun.
My first invited guest surprised many readers: ALICE COOPER
Now, this is Part 2. It’s time send out my second invitation and fill the next seat at the grandest dinner of all time.
Pondering my next invited guest, a full confession: I’m intrigued by people who have seen the world from a very different perspective. Only a handful of people in all of human history have taken such great risks to travel such an extraordinary distance into the heavens to look back upon earth from afar. Of the 12 men who have walked on the moon, only four are still alive.
Picking any of those dozen brave men (assuming we could invite the deceased) is justified. I’d certainly gain something significant from the conversation, or just by listening. However, I don’t know enough about the space program or those astronauts to make any final determination about which one of them is the best to invite. Buzz Aldrin? Neil Armstrong? I don’t know. But were it possible I’d chose some amalgamation of those who risked their lives, were way ahead of their time, and saw us in a way that no one else can compare. I also suspect they returned as changed men and were altered forever after that amazing experience, and some in the space program even had difficulty adjusting — and being husbands and fathers and neighbors and just doing regular things — back on planet earth. I mean, how do you top *walking on the moon*?
So….given that I can’t pick just one astronaut, instead I’ll invite someone who is best suited to put all of this (and more) into perspective:
NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON
Some facts I learned, and you may not know about — NDT:
– age 68
– born in New York City
– father was sociologist who worked for NYC Mayor John Lindsay, and was the first director of Harlem Youth Opportunities
– mother was a federal employee who worked as a gerontologist for the U.S. Dept. of Health, Education and Welfare
– at 14, he received a coveted scholarship from the Explorers Club of New York to view the 1973 total solar eclipse aboard a ship, which included speakers Neil Armstrong and Isaac Asimov
– at 17, he was invited by famous astrophysicist Carl Sagan to Cornell: “I already knew I wanted to become a scientist. But that afternoon, I learned from Carl the kind of person I wanted to become,” he later said.
– education:
Harvard (BA)
University of Texas (MA)
Columbia University (PhD)
– has held numerous positions in academia, research, and space technology–far too many to list.
– author (or co-author) of 17 books
– hosted several popular television series, including a NOVA documentary series called “Origins” and an update of the classic PBS series “Cosmos.”
– former director of the Hayden Planetarium
– host of “Star Talk,” a podcast which became a popular weekly TV show
– on spirituality. “I would say if I find a word that came closest, it would be ‘agnostic…I remain unconvinced by any claims anyone has ever made about the existence or the power of a divine force operating in the universe.”
– on the lack of women (and minorities) in science, “…before we start talking about genetic differences, you gotta come up with a system where there’s equal opportunity. Then we can start having that conversation.”
– positively advocated for the freedoms of homosexual and transgender citizens (and has debated the topic versus many right-wing and religious rivals in various media)
– appears regularly on news shows, late night talk shows, comedy central, and a vast array of mainstream programs
– has appeared as a guest on The Big Bang Theory, Gravity Falls, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Zoolander 2, Ice Age: Collision Course, Family Guy, BoJack Horseman, The Simpsons, Salvation, and Scooby-Doo, and Guess Who?
– met his wife when they were both students at the University of Texas, married nearly 30 years, 2 children
– numerous awards and honors
I left out NDT’s best quality — and that’s his gift at taking complex subjects and explaining them to those of us who lack that level of knowledge. He makes learning fun. He’s also demonstrated a wonderful wittiness over many years, which isn’t exactly the first character trait we think of in an astrophysicist. I’ve also witnessed NDT talk about numerous topics in speeches and interviews — from space, to UFOs, to world history, to AI, to molecular biology, to just about anything you can think of — and speak with a rare combination of authority and unorthodoxy.
Finally, there’s his wonderful sense of humor. Rarely have we seen anyone explain things while often laughing and enjoying the teaching experience. Tyson has a rare ability of being humorous, while insightful–and even deep. A terrific example is his short explanation of “what aliens might look like.” Trust me, this is well worth 3 minutes of your time.
CLICK TO WATCH HERE
This invite is a slam dunk, for me. I’ve now got two of my ten seats filled:
1. ALICE COOPER
2. NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON
More coming soon.
Read More
Posted by Nolan Dalla on Oct 7, 2026 in Blog |
GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER:
MY DREAM INVITE LIST (Part 1)
Today, I’m starting a totally new writing series. This should be fun!
Read further and join this imaginary experience. Ride along. Better yet, ponder this question and then create your own list. Make your posts here on Facebook, and do your own series: Name the ten people you would invite to a lavish dinner for a night of great conversation. Just as important if not more so, explain *why* they made your list.
I’ll begin with my first invited guest at my grand once-in-a-lifetime dinner:
ALICE COOPER
Most rock musicians, especially the icons, are actually dull conversationalists. They’re horrible in interviews. Boring. Repetitive. One-dimensional. Self-absorbed. This opinion might sound ridiculous, but it’s true. Take almost any classic rocker (and most musicians) and they’re magical performers onstage and while playing music. But, most of the greats are not good storytellers, nor particularly insightful in a conversation.
Alice Cooper might be the very best *exception* to what I just wrote. He is exceptional, in every way,
Strangely, I’m not a huge Alice Cooper fan. I respect his music and remember his hits during the 1970s. I even saw his performance (on video) at last weekend’s NFL Las Vegas Raiders home game. He did the halftime show — at age 78.
No, what sets Vincent Damon Furnier (a.k.a. Alice Cooper) apart isn’t so much being the universally-acclaimed godfather of “shock rock.” It’s his ability to communicate. It’s his sincerity. It’s his being real. It’s being humble. It’s being self-aware. It’s his undeniable oddity and appeal, and making those around him feel welcome and connected. And then of course, the thing that truly makes a great dinner guest…. the unexpected.
Let me put it another way: If this guy was longtime best pals with Groucho Marx, that says it all. If he’s good enough to drink beer every night with Groucho, he must be a helluva’ presence.
Some facts I learned, and you may not know about — Alice Cooper:
– born in Detroit
– raised in Arizona
– his grandfather was an evangelist protestant missionary
– his father was also a pastor
– both his grandfather and father ministered to Native American Indians on local reservations
– grew up in a loving household, his parents even encouraged his musical career and played rock music inside their home (unusual for the 1960s)
– dated the sexiest woman alive back then, Raquel Welch
– after a wild bachelorhood, then married to the same woman for 50 years–and counting (married in 1976)
– father of three children
– never uses the name “Alice” with family and friends (“it’s a persona”)….those closest call him Vinnie
– was part of the famed rock rat pack of the 1970s in Los Angeles, made up of John Lennon, Harry Nilsson, Mickey Dolenz (Monkees) who did the club scene every night
– known for heavy metal and glam rock, but his origins as a stage performer were rooted in an early love of Vaudeville and over-the-top theatrics
– signed to his first record deal by Frank Zappa
– met Elvis in 1971 and was invited to his Las Vegas Hilton (International, back then) suite, where “the King” produced a snub-nosed revolver (great story)
– 30 albums, to date and 50 million records sold.
– plans to continue performing and touring, into his 80s
– opts to be non-political though he’s made many controversial statements, both supportive of left and right causes
– plays full round of golf 4 to 5 times a week (and is very good at it)
– his daily longtime golfing partner was the late country legend and stellar session guitar player and later TV star Glen Campbell (they were neighbors)
– was also neighbors with comedy legend Groucho Marx in an unlikeliest friendship. They often drank beer together at night and watched ballgames in his living room
– huge fan of Detroit sports teams, and Arizona Diamondbacks (baseball)- owns the first “O” on the famous Hollywood sign (he was the first to buy a letter, then got other celebrities to each buy one to preserve the iconic sign)
– did voice overs for lots of cartoons and video games (some you probably didn’t know it was Alice Cooper)
– Regularly had old Hollywood icons at his shows on the front row and backstage, including Marx, Bette Davis (who inspired his stage makeup)
– wrote the theme for the James Bond movie, “The Man with the Golden Gun” but it was decided he was too controversial so the song was scrapped at the last minute
– plays a mean ass harmonica and most of his shows have at least a few songs where he blows the roof off. See a link HERE as just one of hundreds of performances.
When I think of great interviews, conversationalists, and dinner guests it all starts with stories. And Alice Cooper delivers, while being humble and totally himself.
He’s an easy choice as one of my (imaginary) ten invited dinner guests.
More coming tomorrow.
(In the meantime, watch this short interview with Alice Cooper by Dan Rather — CLICK HERE — to get a feel of why he made my list)
Read More
Posted by Nolan Dalla on Oct 6, 2026 in Blog |
How many times have you been frustrated with trying to cancel a subscription, and ended up at a dead end?
Most of us have been there. Many times. You want to cancel something, An online protection plan. A gym membership. A news feed source. A streaming subscription. There are so many SUBSCRIPTION-BASED SERVICES online. They lock you in. But later, when you try to CANCEL, you can’t find the right button to click, which is often buried or hidden away, or isn’t even there. Then, you have to email customer support, and wait. Or, you phone into a call center, if you can get through and it’s between business hours. Even then, they may intimidate you and bait you with additional pressure.
Easy to get in. Far more difficult to get out. Like mice and cheese and mousetraps.
Corporations do this *intentionally.* It’s called the RETENTION MAZE. It’s part of their business model. And, it’s deceptive as hell and unfair to customers.
CANCELING is difficult, by design. So, many people just give up. Just as many people forget they have a monthly or quarterly subscription, at all. This manipulation is how they screw people. Yes, we’re getting screwed and it costs Americans billions of dollars every year.
Not anymore. At least, not in New York City.
Companies can’t force their customers onto the phone, hang up on you, bury the instructions, or scare you about what happens if you leave. Price, renewal date and how to cancel must be spelled out before they ever touch your credit card. And if you can CLICK to subscribe, then it must be just as easy to CLICK to cancel.
This is what happens when BOLD PROGRESSIVE GOVERNMENT AND LEADERSHIP steps in, steps up, and works for consumers. They counterweigh the power and wealth and crushing control of companies who exploit millions. Of course, corporations and banks LOATHE any regulations whatsoever. This is because they make a shitload of profit off of their confused customers.
Earlier this year, NYC Mayor Mamdani pushed for and was successful in passing the very first CONSUMER PROTECTIONS in the country to force companies with businesses to BAN subscription traps and junk fees on their customers in New York. This bold new law went into action Oct. 1st.
“In our city, we’re drawing a clear line: if you can sign up with a click, you must be able to cancel with one,” Mayor Mamdani said.
Of course, corporations are livid. Online retailers tremble that these laws will spread to other regions, or go nationwide. They sued New York City (so far, unsuccessfully). Meanwhile, corporatist Trump flunkies at the FTC, which is in charge of consumer laws and online commerce, opposes Mamdani’s law. Violations in NYC are punishable by a $525 fine (higher for repeated offenses), and anyone who resides in New York can file a complaint now online against a company which breaks the law.
This is GOOD GOVERNMENT. This is GOVERNMENT WORKING FOR THE PEOPLE.
Of course, conservatives and corporations and capitalists hate it. Trump’s henchmen have defanged and destroyed federal agencies which protect consumers. The companies make out like bandits. Deregulation — what a giant screw job. They make a lots of money fooling people. This certainly goes for SUBSCRIPTIONS, and banking fees, and hidden charges, and all kinds of deceptive shenanigans.
Bravo to progressives in NYC and Mayor Mamdani for standing up for regular people and protecting consumers. They can call him names and mislabel his intentions, but he’s just done something really good for the people of his city.
Read More
Posted by Nolan Dalla on Oct 5, 2026 in Blog |
WHAT ‘DIGGER” MEANS….
[A few Monday morning musings….]
This isn’t so much about Digger, the new bomb of a movie starring Tom Cruise. I haven’t seen it, yet. Rather, here’s my initial thoughts and questions about just how *bad* this flop is likely to be for creative minds and risk-taking in Hollywood (and elsewhere).
For those unaware, Digger cost a whopping $160 million to make (I have no clue why it cost that much, but that’s the debt load and make-up number). Well, the first opening weekend, which is typically the biggest box office draw period, brought in just $8 million, which is barely 5 percent of the budget — and that doesn’t cover theaters and advertising costs. Now, they’re saying Digger may become the most expensive flop in movie history.
The movie has divided critics. Some hate it. A few love it and think it’s a masterpiece. Not that reviews and quality necessarily matters whether a movie is profitable, or not. Many of the greatest movies ever made were failures when released, and MOST of the hugely successful movies that made hundreds of millions are either barely watchable, or downright awful. Don’t get me started.
Director Alejandro G. Inarritu cast Tom Cruise in his most unlikely movie role, ever. This rich old oilman part certainly plays against “typecasting.” Cruise is 64, but still plays Mission Impossible superheroes. In this film, he looks every wrinkle of his real life six-dacades-plus years….and then some. I do think most of us recognize Cruise as a vastly under-appreciated and under-utilized talent. He was outstanding in Born on the Fourth of July (his only Oscar nomination) and even better in Magnolia. I can see why Cruise would jump at the chance to play a real movie part with chops, instead of jumping out of another helicopter tied to a bungee chord, though his action movies are almost guaranteed to mint money.
None of us will lose any sleep over Cruise’s box office bomb or an entertainment conglomerate losing $100 million. Who cares. The trouble is — when the next risky script and outlier film concept comes up in the Paramount boardroom, that script will hit the garbage can. Who would make another film like this, and take that financial risk, when another remake of a Marvel cartoon character is a lock to pad the vault with profits?
Can “Mission Impossible 13” be too far away? “Spiderman 6?” “Ironman Returns (Again for the 8th Time)” Yawn.
Creativity in movies just fell another wrung on the ladder. Forget taking any real risks — it’s all too much “Risky Business.”
A few years ago, famed director Francis Ford Coppola lost most of his life’s earnings (including his immensely profitable wine vineyards) when he plunged all of his net worth into a colossal movie flop titled “Megalopolis.” Just imagine — FFC in his 80s with five Oscars being broke. After all he’s done. I thought THAT might be the fitting final nail of warning in Hollywood’s coffin. Now, Digger comes along and the hole just got deeper.
Most of us don’t go out to the movie theaters, anymore. The ritual of cinema has changed in ways that I never imagined. Now, most of us sit in front of 80-inch TV screens and pay a monthly Netflix subscription.
I doubt many more mistakes like this will happen. No one can afford to make such errors in judgment, and those who do will pay the price. Sure, there will be box office bombs in the future. Plenty of them. And the film industry is about to enter an expansive new universe, with *AI*-generated everything. Even actors will be digital fabrications — and they’ll never complain or go on strike or get involved in a scandal.
Digger may be remembered much more for its far more foretelling title on what to expect than than anything else.
Comments welcome. Join the discussion HERE on Facebook:
Read More
Posted by Nolan Dalla on Oct 5, 2026 in Blog |
This Facebook trash was posted by some attention whore calling themselves, “Real True Crime.” There is nothing real or true about it.
— See Post Below —
The “real crime” here is your lying fucking ass. Clickbait.
Read More
