“...and ne'er the Twain shall meet.”

This is the 186th anniversary of the birth of Mark Twain. That headline alone ought stop any train. Mr. Keillor has an excellent brief bio about Mr. Clemens that provide a few particulars of which you might not be as aware are you should be.

It is also the birthday of David Mamet. And...

According to the New Yorker, Mel Brooks is writing his memoir, to be titled “All About Me.” Kidding aside, it's an apt title for one of the funniest men we've had on the planet for 95 years (except, maybe, for your uncle Arty.) Brooks epitomized American Jewish humor in the twentieth century, much of which rested on the idea that it’s funny when a kvetchy Jewish guy shows up where he doesn’t belong.