1) Val Kilmer, dead at 65. Seems rather young, but knowing Kilmer’s health battles over the past decade, I guess it’s not totally unexpected. Still hits hard, as I liked him as an actor and he’s in one of my top 5 favorite movies (TOMBSTONE), and gives probably my favorite dramatic performance as Doc Holliday.
His performance in that movie, that should have won Kilmer an Oscar (my opinion), is so good, not only because he dominates every scene he’s in, but after reading 3 biographies of the real Doc Holliday, I can tell you that Kilmer’s portrayal was dead-on. He nailed it.
Many folks writing about Kilmer and listing that film, along with HEAT (great movie), TOP GUN (Kilmer’s hardly in it, but he steals the few scenes he’s in), THE DOORS (not a good film, but a good performance by him), and KISS KISS BANG BANG (great performance by Kilmer, and great chemistry between him and Robert Downey, Jr.).
One film I’m not seeing listed is THE SALTON SEA.
It’s an overlooked gem, I think. Kilmer plays a drug addict, turned police confidential informant, who has an agenda of his own. The plot is very twisty, and not everything is as it seems in the beginning of the film. And, if you think you’ve seen Vincent D’Onofrio (another favorite of mine) chew scenery before, he’s fantastic as Pooh Bear, a noseless, psychotic drug dealer.
Yes, I said “noseless.”
Kilmer is great in this movie and it deserves more recognition.
2) White Trash Margaritas:
Here’s a recipe for a drink you might enjoy. If you enjoy margaritas, that is.
A former coworker gave this to me many years ago. I’ve served it at a few parties, and it’s always a hit. It’s also easy to make and not that expensive.
Well…
It’s not that expensive at the moment. But who knows what the price of tequila will be once the tariffs go into full effect?
Anyway:
1 can of diet lemon-lime soda
1 can or bottle (12 oz) of light beer
1 can of limeade
After you empty the limeade into a pitcher, fill the limeade can (yes, the whole can) with tequila and add it to the pitcher.
Mix well and serve over a lot of ice. Why? Because it’s way too strong to drink it straight. Trust me on this.
Tips:
There’s no rule that says it has to be diet soda or light beer. But that’s what I use because I like to keep the calories down. I’ve tried both and there’s no difference in taste, so… Keep the calories down.
Also, don’t overthink it by using “name” brands. Buy supermarket brand soda and limeade, and buy cheap tequila. Seriously. You’re wasting money if you buy high-end tequila or name brand anything.
Strange, but true: It actually seems to taste better the cheaper the ingredients.
The only exception I make is the beer: I like Corona Light. It seems to go well with the mixture. But I’ve used other light beers, too, and nobody complained.
3) Do people know what they’re angry about anymore?
I mean, I get the anger over politics. But what about all the other anger that seems to pop up inexplicably online?
I read an article from a travel writer who said she’s visited over 50 different countries, and explained that if she decided to move out of the U.S., here are 4 places she’d move to and why. Nothing negative about the U.S., and nothing saying she was definitely moving. Just a piece about which countries she found the most inviting and attractive to relocate.
Comments were mixed, but there were quite a few saying,
“Good! Go ahead and move! We don’t need you!” And so on.
Again, she never said she was dissatisfied with living in the U.S. or was looking to move. So why the anger about it?
Or, how about this:
Go on YouTube and pull up a clip from a comedy show. SEINFELD or SNL, for example. Check the comments. Guaranteed you’ll see:
“This show was never funny.” Or, “SNL hasn’t been funny in years.” Or something similar.
So why is the person watching a clip from a show they never found funny, or haven’t found funny in years, just to comment that?
How about those special people who suddenly realize the thing they liked (band, TV show, movie, etc.) carried a message they don’t agree with:
“Springsteen sold out, man! He used to be patriotic.”
Springsteen always sang songs that were slightly critical of America and the so-called American Dream. His song “Born in the U.S.A.” isn’t a patriotic anthem. It’s an anti-war song.
“I wish Rage Against the Machine would stop with all the political talk.”
They were always political. What do you think they’re raging against? It’s in the band’s name!
“THE BOYS was a great show the first two seasons, but now it’s all woke garbage!”
THE BOYS always had a message to it. You just didn’t look deep enough.
And Homelander? He was always, always, always (can’t stress it enough) the villain of the show. I can’t believe some people thought he was the hero. Did they pay attention? He flat out murders people, including a kid, in the first episode!
By the way…
Those comments above were real ones I’ve come across during those unfortunate times I forgot to shield my eyes from the comment sections of whatever I’m reading or watching online. I’m sure you can find many other similar ones. But spare yourself the slap to the forehead you’ll want to give yourself.
4) What I’m watching:
Season 2 finale of SEVERANCE.
Did they answer any questions? Eh, not really. Maybe one or two.
Was it good television? Oh, yes. Loved it.
Did they leave off on a cliffhanger like season 1? Yeah, pretty much.
The show reminds me a bit of that old show THE PRISONER. I wouldn’t be surprised if, when the show ends (probably season 4 or 5), Mark becomes the head of the mysterious Lumon corporation.
Maybe we’ll also find out why it’s always wintertime there, too.
5) What I’m reading:
Still making my way through ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK. Only about 35% mark. It’s not a hard read, but it’s so long, I tend to need breaks from it. So, I switch over to other books.
Lately, I’ve been downloading samples on my Kindle, but not finding them compelling enough to want to keep reading. This past week, I downloaded, read, then deleted the samples for THE BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY AND SUSPENSE 2024, edited by S.A. Cosby; COOLEST AMERICAN STORIES 2025, edited by Mark Wish and Elizabeth Coffey; and The 4-HOUR WORKWEEK by Timothy Ferris.
For the first one, I’m a fan of S.A. Cosby. Or, at least, I really enjoyed his books BLACKTOP WASTELAND and RAZORBLADE TEARS. I haven’t sampled any of his other books yet, but I’m sure that’s only a matter of time. For this collection, I thought his introduction was okay, although didn’t offer much in the way of making me want to buy the collection. But I kept reading through the sample. I made it through the first story, an interesting one by Megan Abbott, although it seemed more of a horror story than a suspense…but whatever. Why nitpick? Then I started the second story and my sample reached the end. Was the second story compelling enough to make me want to purchase the book?
Meh. Not really. I passed.
The next one, COOLEST AMERICAN STORIES 2025, came up as a rec based on my search history. This is the third or fourth installment in this series, and to be honest, is the first I’ve heard about it. I mean, what constitutes a “cool” story, anyway?
The sample gave me an introduction that was somewhat fun to read, as the editor is not afraid to talk about the trials and tribulations of dealing with writers, although he disappointingly stops short from naming names. Oh, well.
The sample I downloaded ended before I reached the end of the first story. As of this moment, I’m scratching my head about why it’s considered a “cool” story, as it didn’t seem to go anywhere. But maybe there’s a twist at the end I didn’t see coming?
I don’t know. I’m on the fence about whether I want to purchase the book and see where the story goes. And how “cool” the other twelve collected stories are.
Hmm… Maybe. I’m thinking about it.
Lastly, I read Ferris’s THE 4-HOUR BODY years ago, which had some interesting tidbits on diet and exercise for those who don’t want to spend their lives in the gym and measuring out their meal portions. I’ve been meaning to get around to THE 4-HOUR WORKWEEK to see what (if anything) I’ve been missing.
The sample I downloaded was interesting reading, but truthfully, I don’t feel the need to read the rest of the book. I think the sample conveys all I need to know about what Ferris’s philosophy is on the American workforce. Essentially…his stance is that working nonstop for 30-40 years, saving as much as possible for retirement, and then hoping you can enjoy the last decade or two of your life is not a viable option.
So, what does Ferris propose? Here’s the gist:
A) Material possessions are a trap (very Buddhist thinking). You shouldn’t work so you can buy stuff. You should work so you can afford to take time off to travel and do fun activities. Don’t live for retirement. Live for now.
B) It’s better to work for less money if it gives you more free time. $50K a year with free time to yourself is better than $100K a year and no free time.
C) Learn to live on less.
D) Delegate work to others so you can take time for yourself. If you can pay someone to do some (or all) of your job duties for less money than what you’re making, it’s worth it.
E) If you’re one of those people who is stressed about your job and think you need to work 12-hour days, 6 to 7 days a week, to get everything done, or you’re afraid they’ll replace you if you don’t…
Imagine the job went away tomorrow. Boss calls and says the company is closing up. No more job. What would you do?
The truth is, you wouldn’t immediately be out on the street. You’d find something else. Perhaps something for less money, but also less stress. Right?
F) In a typical 8-hour work day, Ferris concludes that only 1 to 2 hours are truly productive. So, work that 1-2 hours and get everything done, then spend the rest of the time doing something you love. Or something relaxing. Or fun. Or something that will better your life. For instance:
G) Start online businesses that will generate income even when you’re sitting on a beach somewhere.
That’s the CliffsNotes version of what I got from the free sample. I figure the rest of the book will be more of that. I don’t need to read it, and you probably don’t anymore, as well.
That’s your Dispatch for the week.
Slade Grayson is a writer who relies on the kindness of strangers. And readers. And sometimes strange readers. You can buy his books here, or buy him a coffee here.