Vatican Lokey

Does anyone out there know the names of either of the two gentlemen who played "The Special Man" in the Frankie & Johnnie's Furniture Store commercials, which appeared on New Orleans television from the late 1970's until the late 1990's?

Thank you for your time.

This is similar to a question posted earlier and then removed from circulation. Still, it struck me as being a very good question to be asked.

If you are Christian, and money is printed without the motto "In God We Trust" but with some other phrase (for example "Pro Bono Publico" which means "For the public good"), will you use that money? The arguement has been made to remove the reference to God as a government endorsement of one religious belief, a violation of the separation of church and state. Conversely, many Christian groups have also said that they will actively boycott any monetary denomination that does not bear the legend now in use.

I am anxious to hear from both sides of the Christian arguement (those who will and those who won't) as well as both sides of the non-Christian arguement (those who will and those who won't or don't care.)

Your thoughts?

Everyone has something about which they obsess, from fitness to drugs to food to hangnails. Some obsess over rock bands, others over their lawns; some people shop, other people solve word problems.

The question du jour is: what is YOUR current obsession?

Share with us. Confession is good for the soul, so they say.

I'm not talking about the other gospels and their take on the whole thing, I mean where in the Bible is Jesus Christ quoted condemning all gays. I've read through time and time again, and I have yet to find a single word attributed to Jesus about gays at all. Matthew & Mark both quote him repeatedly espousing love for all, revealing all secrets to the required understanding of all mankind, even openly declaring do not condemn others or it will all come back against you (another conveniently forgotten Bible verse, apparently.)

I have no interest in specious interpretations or correlations to other gospels, I am only interested in a direct quote from Jesus saying that all gays are evil and hellbound. After all, Jesus Christ was the head guy, right? It is called "Christianity", correct? Show me where Bossman says all gays should be sent to hell, please. For the sakes of those who need desperately to criminalize the gays, give them one single Jesus quote on this! Otherwise...?

The Bible in all of its incarnations and forms has always been altered to fit the politics of the times in which it was being compiled or revised. With today's emphasis on the question of gay marriage, it occurs to me that when you remove the political aspects of everything, what you are left with is the assertion by all versions of the Bible that sex outside of wedlock is wrong (and no, not ALL versions of the Bible condemn gays, especially when you realize that the word 'homosexual' did not exist until the 18th century!)

The question is; with this one unifying theme concurrent through all versions of the Bible and most other holy scriptures, why then are gays not allowed to marry. Would it not be in the best interest of the church, the state, and society for gays to adhere to the same tenets as heterosexuals?

Rabid proponents from either side of this arguement need not answer this question.

I am dong some very important research for some friends, and I need to know if anyone has any paths or URS's for any sites that specialize in 18th-century French laws; specifically those laws which deal with extradition to the 'New World', or any laws which deal with John Law and his promotion of New Orleans.

Your help will be greatly appreicated, and possibly cited in an upcoming book!

Thanks in advance,

Vatican Lokey

I am a displaced New Orleanian now living in Central Florida. On the surface, my life here would seem to be better than my life in New Orleans: better job, better pay, better apartment, etc. Yet, there is not a single day that passes that I do not wish I was home, problems and all. At the risk of sounding cliche, I now know what it means to miss New Orleans, and it causes me real physical pain the longer I am separated from her. Every hour I work, every moment I spend in earning money is dedicated to going home.

So, I want to know, what about my fellow Gulf Coast residents? Are you better of than you were before Katrina, or are you just biding your time until you can go back home? Do you, like me, miss home and cannot wait to return & rebuild, or have you had enough & will not go back?

I ask that only Gulf Coast residents respond to this posting. In all honesty, I have no interest in the opinions or comments of those who have never lived there. You cannot understand our woe.

Do you believe that beer is just good whiskey run through a horse?

Does "mixed drink" to you mean scotch AND ice?

Did you give up martinis because all that stupid vermouth kept messing up the gin?

Do you think of vodka as a breakfast drink?

Do you consider bourbon a food group?

Tequila: to kill ya or to cure ya?

Then belly up to the bar, folks. I want to know what's yer poison?

I'm a bourbon man myself, got a fondness for Jim Beam. I take it in double shot-fulls, thank you, with no need for ice. Why mess with perfection? Used to know a gal who liked Everclear and matches. She'd take a shot, light it up and swill it down flaming. She'd do 8 or 9 a night, said she liked the citrusy-charcoal flavour going down. We called her Asbestos Annie.

What about you? And none of those namby-pamby beer guzzling, wine-swilling, mixed-drink-froufrou-umbrella & fruit-drinkers, either. If its sweet, frothy, foamy, creamy, winey, or cute, keep it to yourself!

For those of you who enjoy the Dionysian pleasures, I ask you to name your favourite winery of the moment. Which vintner pleases your senses, best compliments your meals, provides the perfect endnote? What types of wines do you prefer?

I am fond of Pontchartrain Vineyards in Louisiana, which produces an exceptionally light and airy red which is a real revelation; and the 2003 iced wine from Three Rivers Winery in Washington is really wonderful. I am also fond of another Washington winery called Red Diamond-exceptionally good pinot noir!

And you...?

I am interested in learning about which styles of cooking the general public prefers. Italian pastas or Greek ourzi? Do you prefer Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, or is it a Thai? Does your palate crave Hungarian goulash or Ethiopian rice? Do you know the difference between Creole and Cajun?

I personally prefer the cuisine of my hometown, New Orleans. I love Creole food and will go out of my way to get the right ingredients to make it. Give me spice and the Holy Creole Trinity: green peppers, onions, and celery! I can make a roux, I can eat hot sauce and garlic on ice cream if I have to, and I cannot live without Creole tomatoes and red beans.

What about you?

Once again musical theatre fans, enquiring minds want to know the answer to this question: what is your favorite musical theatre power song? The ballad that bursts in your breast, the patter song that primps your soul, the character number that charms to the nails!

Note that the category is musical theatre--not necessarily Broadway or West End--give it some thought. It can also be a lovely song from a local production.

Like "Take A Trip" from "Treehouse Players' RAPUNZEL"

or "Pity The Child" from "Chess"

or "Love Can't Happen" from "Grand Hotel: The Musical"

or "And Eve Was Weak" from "Carrie"

or the opening sequence from "Goodtime Charley"

or "The Mirror Song" from the Palmisano-O'Brien "Beauty & The Beast"

or "Sweet Thing" from "Grind!"

or The Soliloquy from "Carousel"

The choices are endless! Make your stand now for the power songs that fill your heart and mind!

Calling all you musical theatre fans!

From "Show Boat", the genesis of the American musical, to "Wicked" today, everyone has their own idea of what is the quintessential American musical.

(and despite "Contact", a musical is any show in which the score of the show is used to advance or illuminate the plot.)

For me, it is a toss-up between "Guys & Dolls" and "Gypsy."

So...the question is thus:

From Kern who invented it

To Rodgers & Hammerstein who perfected it

From Cole Porter who gave wit to it

To Moose Charlap, who got lit to it.

From Bernstein who contributed his sense of mod urbanity

To Sondheim's minor thirds which make you question your humanity.

From dear Jerry Herman whose works glorify it,

To mensch Sheldon Harnick whose shows "oy-ify" it!

From Lerner, to Loesser, to Schwartz, and to Strouse

What American musical's tops in your house?

Nonie Darnell was the buxom blonde assistant to a magician whose name I can never remember. The two were part of a syndicated cartoon & live action series sponsored by Kellog's that broadcast around the country in the early to mid-60's.

Does anybody else remember Nonie Darnell?

All right...here's a poser.

It used to be that Broadway musicals were made into feature films. Nowadays, the opposite is true; for example, the currently running filmusical "The Wedding Singer" and others like "The Graduate" and "The Witches of Eastwick."

It used to be that Broadway set the tone for popular music. But today popular music sets the score for such shows as "Good Rockin' Tonight", "Jersey Boys" and "Altar Boyz."

It used to be that Broadway plays would get mentioned on TV shows. Now, those same shows are being turned into musicals as well, like "The Brady Bunch Musical" and "Gilligan's Island: The Musical."

So, here's your chance. Which book would make a wonderful play? What favorite movie needs to be a musical spectacular? Which of your favorite TV shows would make a great evening of live theatre? Do you play "Tomb Raider" and think to yourself "this needs to be seen onstage"?

Personally, I want to do a musical version of The Poseidon Adventure...with puppets.

Those of us who love the animals in our lives will always have at least one special animal that stands out among the pack. These are the animals which grow so close to us, become so much a part of our lives and our hearts that they have reached the pinnacle from which all other pets will be judged.

For me, it was my marvelous old dog Rex. He appeared one Carnivaltime around my workplace (henceforth the name) and it took me a whole fortnight of putting out food for him to get him to trust me. By then, I was hooked-he had to come home...to a house full of cats. For 10 lucky, beautiful years he was my best friend, my protector, and the star of our neighborhood. Only dog in Mid-City that didn't need a leash and knew everybody and their pets for a 3-block radius. Kept our house from being broken into on three separate occasions. Put up with the cats like a Boy Scout at a retirement home. He died two years ago and I miss him every single day.

Tell me about your best friends...

I am interested in finding out what artists have made an impact on society in the last hundred years. What touches you more, the paintings of Georgia O'Keefe or Andrew Wyeth? When you see a mobile by Caulder, do you see a new world?

Picasso? Ida Kohlmeyer? Lladro? Magritte? Howard Cruse? Clementine Hunter? George Rodrigue? Christo? Edward R. Cox? James Thurber?

Who creates the art that makes your soul sing, your heart ache, and your mind spellbound?

(theatre geeks, take note: asking this question in mixed theatrical company may result in fistfights, hair-pulling, and thrown drinks.)

Calling all you theatre fans out there in 360Land! The question of the moment is...

Who is your favorite musical theatre composer?

Is Cole Porter the Top? Are you a girl who can't say no to Oscar Hammerstein II? Do you get giddy siezures for William Finn?

Who's your favorite Stephen? Flaherty, Sondheim, or Schwartz???

Would you take a chandelier on the noggin for Andrew Lloyd Webber? Ride the omnibus with Leonard Bernstein?

Which was greater, Lerner or Loesser?

Please be specific if you will; what shows or scores support your beliefs, what songs you prefer, et cetera.

There are few axioms as true as this:

"Those who do not learn their history are doomed to repeat it."

With apologies to Gertrude Stein (who may well turn up in the answers to this question), the query today begs the answer of your most beloved historical figure. Whose life, example, circumstances, or simple panache has made them your idol? Fond of FDR? Gaga for Gauguin? Do you refer to William the Conqueror as 'good old Billy?' Do you know Lucretia Borgia's recipe for soup? Do you know why ELSE Catherine was great??? Tell us!

For me, I have always found the strength and resolve of Harriet Tubman to be inspirational. I find guidance in the examples of Irving Berlin, John Churchill Chase, Mary Martin, and Moss Hart.

Simple enough, I should think...

Who gives you the chills every time she opens her mouth? Which leading musical men melt your butter quicker than a Bunsen burner?

For me, Elaine Paige and Alison Fraser can do no wrong-quintessentailly brilliant both. As for the men, I keep to a more classical bent there. John Raitt and the unerringly accurate Brent Barrett.

Strange question I know, but I ask it for a reason...

Success breeds contempt, and in musical theatre we feed off that fact. Over the years there have been a lot of shows which achieved great acclaim on Broadway that have earned backlash for being so popular--the current trend in jukebox musicals is a good example of this.

Personally, although it was the biggest of all musicals, I loathed and despised "Cats." Dreadful musical, set plots back 20 years (and please don't respond to this just to defend "Cats". I am aware I am in the minority on this opinion.)

However, "Cats" ran for 17 years on Broadway, broke all manner of records around the world, and is now an icon of American musical theatre.

So, the question begs: which massive musical rubs you the wrong way? Which must-have best-show fills you with inertia?? Which "Les Mis" is your personal Kryptonite? Does "Wicked" leave you wasted? Which Tony-winning show left you asking "what the %u@% was that all about?!?"