John Wall
@johnwall57.bsky.social
Author: Streamliner (Raymond Loewy bio), retired journalist/higher ed flack (Penn State, Juniata College). Former film critic for Thomson News Service, arts writer. USAF veteran and current VA hospital volunteer
RIP Diane Crump, the first female jockey to ride in the Kentucky Derby, on a horse called Fathom
January 16, 2026 at 11:28 PM
RIP Diane Crump, the first female jockey to ride in the Kentucky Derby, on a horse called Fathom
MSNOW reporter Alex Tabet shows a new journalism skill— walking backwards on icy Minnesota roads while talking into a moving camera.
January 10, 2026 at 11:27 PM
MSNOW reporter Alex Tabet shows a new journalism skill— walking backwards on icy Minnesota roads while talking into a moving camera.
RIP TK Carter, a character actor best known for The Thing and Southern Comfort. He later went on to a long career in television. He was always surprising in every role.
January 10, 2026 at 10:46 PM
RIP TK Carter, a character actor best known for The Thing and Southern Comfort. He later went on to a long career in television. He was always surprising in every role.
Netflix movie review: we watched Kate Winslet’s directorial debut Goodbye June. It’s a warm and sometimes thorny movie about Helen Mirren dying. Despite that description, it’s funny and pointed in its lessons about tolerating family.
January 5, 2026 at 10:33 PM
Netflix movie review: we watched Kate Winslet’s directorial debut Goodbye June. It’s a warm and sometimes thorny movie about Helen Mirren dying. Despite that description, it’s funny and pointed in its lessons about tolerating family.
RIP Isiah Whitlock, the actor who played the cheerfully corrupt politician Clay Davis on the Wire and also cheerfully sent up his own Wire role in the movie Cedar Rapids.
December 30, 2025 at 11:11 PM
RIP Isiah Whitlock, the actor who played the cheerfully corrupt politician Clay Davis on the Wire and also cheerfully sent up his own Wire role in the movie Cedar Rapids.
RIP James Moylan, an interior designer for Ford, who invented the graphic symbol that tells car owners which side of the car has the gas fill opening. Perfect for renters or car fleet drivers to know how to pull in at the gas station.
December 29, 2025 at 3:24 PM
RIP James Moylan, an interior designer for Ford, who invented the graphic symbol that tells car owners which side of the car has the gas fill opening. Perfect for renters or car fleet drivers to know how to pull in at the gas station.
RIP Jerry Kasenetz, the Phil Spector of bubblegum music, who created studio hits like Yummy, Yummy, Yummy, 123 Redlight, Simon Says and Chewy Chewy--He also had a hit late in the 70s with Ram Jam's Black Betty.
December 22, 2025 at 11:34 PM
RIP Jerry Kasenetz, the Phil Spector of bubblegum music, who created studio hits like Yummy, Yummy, Yummy, 123 Redlight, Simon Says and Chewy Chewy--He also had a hit late in the 70s with Ram Jam's Black Betty.
Some Journalism RIPs for Peter Arnett, a groundbreaking war reporter for the Associated Press who covered the Vietnam War. Later he covered Iraq wars for CNN. Also SF Chronicle sportswriter Glenn Dickey, who wrote hilarious stuff and cogent analyses of SF sports teams.
December 18, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Some Journalism RIPs for Peter Arnett, a groundbreaking war reporter for the Associated Press who covered the Vietnam War. Later he covered Iraq wars for CNN. Also SF Chronicle sportswriter Glenn Dickey, who wrote hilarious stuff and cogent analyses of SF sports teams.
RIP Steve Cropper, the minimalist guitarist who was a mainstay of Booker T and the MGs and a major session musician for Stax and Atlantic records. A fitting epitaph: “Play it, Steve!”
December 3, 2025 at 10:27 PM
RIP Steve Cropper, the minimalist guitarist who was a mainstay of Booker T and the MGs and a major session musician for Stax and Atlantic records. A fitting epitaph: “Play it, Steve!”
RIP Lem Barney, probably the first modern “shutdown cornerback” for the Detroit Lions. A great punt returner as well. For music fans, he also sang backup ( with Lion RB Mel Farr) on Marvin Gaye ‘s What’s Going On.
November 30, 2025 at 12:07 AM
RIP Lem Barney, probably the first modern “shutdown cornerback” for the Detroit Lions. A great punt returner as well. For music fans, he also sang backup ( with Lion RB Mel Farr) on Marvin Gaye ‘s What’s Going On.
RIP Robert Propst, an inventor and furniture designer who created the Action Office for Herman Miller Furniture. The Action office later became known as "The Cubicle."
November 21, 2025 at 10:00 PM
RIP Robert Propst, an inventor and furniture designer who created the Action Office for Herman Miller Furniture. The Action office later became known as "The Cubicle."
The new mail order ads for the Slackboard balance product should be a bonanza for personal injury lawyers
October 30, 2025 at 8:41 PM
The new mail order ads for the Slackboard balance product should be a bonanza for personal injury lawyers
RIP Jack Dejohnette, premier jazz drummer of his generation. He could play any genre, any style. He might have been one of the first fusion jazz pioneers, playing with Miles and others. His band Special Edition was a groundbreaking avant-garde group.
October 27, 2025 at 5:47 PM
RIP Jack Dejohnette, premier jazz drummer of his generation. He could play any genre, any style. He might have been one of the first fusion jazz pioneers, playing with Miles and others. His band Special Edition was a groundbreaking avant-garde group.
RIP Oakland Raider safety George Atkinson. My brother Joe and I saw him return a punt for a touchdown vs. the Buffalo Bills in 1968 at Oakland Colosseum. He was the last living member of the Soul Patrol Raider defensive backfield of the 60s and 70s
October 27, 2025 at 5:40 PM
RIP Oakland Raider safety George Atkinson. My brother Joe and I saw him return a punt for a touchdown vs. the Buffalo Bills in 1968 at Oakland Colosseum. He was the last living member of the Soul Patrol Raider defensive backfield of the 60s and 70s
Movie Viewing: A House of Dynamite. Director K Bigelow finds poetry in the chaos of an impending nuclear attack--told from three perspectives. Standouts Rebecca Ferguson and Idris Elba make you wonder what would happen when the White House is populated by less than stellar intellects.
October 26, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Movie Viewing: A House of Dynamite. Director K Bigelow finds poetry in the chaos of an impending nuclear attack--told from three perspectives. Standouts Rebecca Ferguson and Idris Elba make you wonder what would happen when the White House is populated by less than stellar intellects.
Recent TV viewing:
Black Rabbit: Not as great as I thought it would be, but Jude Law delivers Emmy worthy desperation and Jason Bateman has a blast playing, well, sort of a Charlie Sheen-Corey Feldman screwup.
Black Rabbit: Not as great as I thought it would be, but Jude Law delivers Emmy worthy desperation and Jason Bateman has a blast playing, well, sort of a Charlie Sheen-Corey Feldman screwup.
October 22, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Recent TV viewing:
Black Rabbit: Not as great as I thought it would be, but Jude Law delivers Emmy worthy desperation and Jason Bateman has a blast playing, well, sort of a Charlie Sheen-Corey Feldman screwup.
Black Rabbit: Not as great as I thought it would be, but Jude Law delivers Emmy worthy desperation and Jason Bateman has a blast playing, well, sort of a Charlie Sheen-Corey Feldman screwup.
Recent TV viewing: Task. M Ruffalo & T Pelphrey center what is essentially a rather stupid drug-deal-gone-wrong plot into a story of forgiveness and regret (criminal & otherwise). "The accents are so accurate!" thing is overblown (if you want a Delco accent hire Kevin Bacon, not a bunch of Brits)
October 22, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Recent TV viewing: Task. M Ruffalo & T Pelphrey center what is essentially a rather stupid drug-deal-gone-wrong plot into a story of forgiveness and regret (criminal & otherwise). "The accents are so accurate!" thing is overblown (if you want a Delco accent hire Kevin Bacon, not a bunch of Brits)
RIP Samantha Eggar, a British actress who blazed early in The Collector and The Molly McGuires, and faded into TV roles to raise a family--that included daughter Jenna Stern, who played memorable Law and Order roles early in her career
October 17, 2025 at 10:25 PM
RIP Samantha Eggar, a British actress who blazed early in The Collector and The Molly McGuires, and faded into TV roles to raise a family--that included daughter Jenna Stern, who played memorable Law and Order roles early in her career
Before everyone goes crazy about Qatar training at Mountain Home AFB, there is historical precedent. In the 70s the Iranian Air Force trained at Lackland AFB in Texas. Their barracks were right next to where I trained as a security policeman.
October 11, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Before everyone goes crazy about Qatar training at Mountain Home AFB, there is historical precedent. In the 70s the Iranian Air Force trained at Lackland AFB in Texas. Their barracks were right next to where I trained as a security policeman.
RIP Diane Keaton, Oscar winning actress, style setter, and expert (for the most part) script picker. Her defining roles, Annie Hall, Shoot the Moon, Looking for Mr Goodbar, Little Drummer Girl and too many comedies to list.
October 11, 2025 at 7:55 PM
RIP Diane Keaton, Oscar winning actress, style setter, and expert (for the most part) script picker. Her defining roles, Annie Hall, Shoot the Moon, Looking for Mr Goodbar, Little Drummer Girl and too many comedies to list.
The advantages of living in a smaller city: a crown on my back tooth came off last night at 11. Called the dentist’s office at 8:20 this morning. Fixed by 9:30.
October 7, 2025 at 2:56 PM
The advantages of living in a smaller city: a crown on my back tooth came off last night at 11. Called the dentist’s office at 8:20 this morning. Fixed by 9:30.
RIP Robert Redford, whose life’s work is too great to list here. He became a star as Sundance Kid and a great actor with AllTPMen. As a director he focused on the difficulties faced by American families with Ordinary People, Quiz Show and ARiver Runs Through it. A Giant.
September 16, 2025 at 1:37 PM
RIP Robert Redford, whose life’s work is too great to list here. He became a star as Sundance Kid and a great actor with AllTPMen. As a director he focused on the difficulties faced by American families with Ordinary People, Quiz Show and ARiver Runs Through it. A Giant.
RIP Ed Giacomin, one of the last NHL goalies to play without a mask.
Also RIP Bobby Hart, one of the two writers behind most of the Monkees hits, including Last Train to Clarksville.
Also RIP Bobby Hart, one of the two writers behind most of the Monkees hits, including Last Train to Clarksville.
September 15, 2025 at 9:10 PM
RIP Ed Giacomin, one of the last NHL goalies to play without a mask.
Also RIP Bobby Hart, one of the two writers behind most of the Monkees hits, including Last Train to Clarksville.
Also RIP Bobby Hart, one of the two writers behind most of the Monkees hits, including Last Train to Clarksville.
A friend of mine at Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota had this model car (not the SJ version shown here though). The Grand Prix models from 1968 through 1980, were consistently stylish--better, I believe, than the Firebirds. Vinyl roof, however--ugh.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIvT...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIvT...
Driving a "Unicorn": 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix SJ 4-Speed | Jay Leno's Garage
YouTube video by Jay Leno's Garage
www.youtube.com
September 8, 2025 at 9:23 PM
A friend of mine at Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota had this model car (not the SJ version shown here though). The Grand Prix models from 1968 through 1980, were consistently stylish--better, I believe, than the Firebirds. Vinyl roof, however--ugh.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIvT...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIvT...
NYT has a story on some guy who recounts his travails and adventures from looking like Bob Dylan . The accompanying photo makes him look more like Ian Hunter—
September 4, 2025 at 7:33 PM
NYT has a story on some guy who recounts his travails and adventures from looking like Bob Dylan . The accompanying photo makes him look more like Ian Hunter—