Author: Tom Faranda

Our great friend Laurie, and her Dad Chuck stayed with us Saturday night. They had to go into Manhattan to visit a relation and make a pick-up. A great deal for Farandaville: we got a bottle of Vermont Vodka (didn’t know there was such a thing) made from milk! a Vermont maple liqueur, and a…

If you've ever seen the movie Gladiator starring Russell Crowe and directed by Ridley Scott  (five Academy Awards, including Best Picture), you know what a great, and mystical ending it has, as Maximus "goes home". Below is the music from the end, sung by Lisa Gerrard , in Idioglossia , her own private language … so the lyrics cannot be…

Ugh, terrible. At least the ump apologized. And the pitcher was gracious.   Here’s the video and the ump’s interview.  the blown call I think the Baseball Commissioner should make an unprecedented move, and step in to revise the result and give the guy the perfect game. On Baseball – One Out From Perfect Game,…

Great! Another wedding! Our great friends Pete and Chris Ferrara have four daughters, and Kate is daughter #2. Sunday she married Harper. I’ve known Peter since Fairfield, where we played rugby together. “Super Petey” was our best attacking back – a powerful runner with some moves. Mostly played outside center. Peter is also my dentist,…

I can remember as a kid watching him – his interviews with children were pretty funny. "He is the only person to have five network television shows running in prime time simultaneously" (Wikipedia). 97 years old. He led a fascinating and at times tragic life. I thought he'd died years ago. 'People Are Funny' Host Art…

Actually it turned up in my basement a few days ago. My friend Damian, who had a big birthday yesterday, gave me this talking doll thing of Ronald Reagan several years ago. I never opened it, and now, as Hope and Change becomes Hype and Who Knows, people are pining for the good ol’ days.…

On my theory you always subtract seven years; 53 again. Here he is, summer of 2007, having returned from his sugar plantation in Barbados.   Summerfest, 2008   Giving tips to the local weightlifter Easter, 2009, at an undisclosed location. Same Easter, with the main squeeze, quieting the natives   Easter 2010, as always HAM…

Bizarre. For a man who embraces non-violence? He's currently giving lectures at Radio City Music Hall in NYC. 'I'm a Marxist' says Dalai Lama, but agrees capitalism has helped China "(Marxism has) moral ethics, whereas capitalism is only how to make profits," the Dalai Lama, 74, said. However, he credited China's embrace of market economics…

Matt Riner, my college roommate’s son, marries Kristen George, who also happens to be a Fairfield grad. Here are two shots – more to follow after I finish putting up a larger posting of the Novotny wedding from five plus weeks ago. Mike and Karen with Matt, and his sister Lauren The bride and groom, plus…

Of course this is no surprise. Cellphones Now Used More for Data Than for Calls Instead of talking on their cellphones, people are making use of all the extras that iPhones, BlackBerrys and other smartphones were also designed to do — browse the Web, listen to music, watch television, play games and send e-mail and…