The Lance Saga: A Little Perspective

Just to give a little context to the furore surrounding the latest installment in the Armstrong chronicles: yes it appears that there is now little doubt that Lance Armstrong engaged in blood doping. But, even if he did dope, he still managed to win the Tour de France seven times against a load of other guys who also doped (see the infographic above for details). Which is still an impressive feat.

(El T is no Lance fanboy, by the way. Just for the record).

The infographic above is a little out of date; Contador was of course subsequently stripped of his 2010 T de F title, and Frank Schleck has been caught with a banned diuretic in his blood just weeks ago.

Tony Scott 1944 - 2012

Sorrows come not in single spies, but in battalions...

El Tarangu was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Tony Scott. We've always had a soft-spot for his unashamedly populist, slickly-produced films.

Movies.com have this nice little tribute, featuring the first short film Scott ever directed, a more recent short film (Clive Owen playing opposite James Brown - how odd), and an interview with the man himself.

We would be remiss in not mentioning Tony Scott's most famous work. Top Gun, a film that caused a generation of self-assured, red-blooded men to rethink some basic principles with this scene:

You can be my wing-man any time, Tony.

Photo from People.com

Movies.com link via @scottEweinberg 

New Tom Waits Video: Hell Broke Luce

After receiving a number of cryptic, Tom Waits-related emails last week, El T was hoping that there was a tour announcement in the offing.

Sadly, it wasn't to be - although we were treated to a nice new video.

Go on tour, Tom, and come to Belgium.

Old Jews Telling Jokes

Exactly what it says on the tin.

Gore Vidal 1925 - 2012

By their witticisms shall ye know them:

In 1971, in the green room before The Dick Cavett Show, Mailer butted Gore Vidal in the face, having taken exception to the novelist's review of one of his books. Seven years later, at a party, he threw a glass at him and, by some accounts, including Vidal's ("I saw this tiny fist coming at me"), punched him. Still on the floor, Vidal announced: "Words fail Norman Mailer. Yet again."

El Tarangu very much enjoyed Julian, Vidal's historical novel on the Roman Emperor who attempted to reintroduce the worship of the Roman gods to the empire. For anyone who has yet to read any Gore, his selected essays are the perfect starting point (El T was introduced to the joys of Montaigne through this collection).

A huge talent, who will be sorely missed.

Quote via The Atlantic.