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Last week I extolled the pleasures of a new documentary feature focused on a very talented singer, Ms. Linda Ronstadt. And this weekend sees the release of another “entertainment personality” doc. Now, it’s not another singer or musician this time. No, it’s not an actress or actor. And it’s not a painter or a comedian (even her detractors would have to admit that she was very witty). As you’ve no doubt concluded, this film is all about a writer, not of plays or books, rather she toiled away in the “fourth estate”, newspapers. Yes twenty-somethings, just decade or two ago, folks got their news on folded paper, not this monitor screen or on an app. Some of the writers of columns (usually in the editorial section) became stars, with papers fighting over their services (this happened with comic strip creators in their heyday) and promoting them...

I'm writing this on Sunday, August 31. If Molly Ivins were still alive, it would be her 70th birthday. And today is Labor Day, so it seems like a fine time to remember my favorite political columnist through movie and video clips.

Actually, Don writing a Tami Flashback about John Henry Faulk (go read it when you're done here) inspired me. I had first read about Faulk in Ivins' essay in Molly Ivins Can't Say That, Can She? If you watch the Tami video from Faulk's memorial service, right at the end Ivins tells a very funny story from that essay. Here, I'll make it easy on you by embedding the video again. Skip ahead to 1:24:00 for Ivins. (The story might also make you feel nostalgic about Cinema West.)

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John Henry Faulk may not be the most famous of famous Austinites -- but he should be. A revered folklorist, storyteller, writer, actor, teacher and civil rights activist, Faulk's ties to Austin run wide and deep.

Born in 1913 in South Austin (his boyhood home is now the elegant Green Pastures restaurant), he spent most of his life in the River City. As a University of Texas student, he was a protégé of the Holy Trinity of Texas letters -- J. Frank Dobie, Walter Prescott Webb, and Roy Bedichek. He earned a Master's degree in folklore and taught English at the university until the outbreak of World War II, when he joined the Merchant Marines and then came home to serve as an Army medic at Camp Swift in Bastrop.

After the war, Faulk's storytelling talent landed him a career as a popular radio talk show host and entertainer. He hosted...

This holiday season, Nevada Public Radio is extending its seasons greetings across the airwaves with its special Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year's programming on both its News 88.9 Knpr and Classical 89.7 Kcnv stations.

Thanksgiving Day programming includes:

News 88.9 Knpr

- The Splendid Table's Turkey Confidential, Nov. 26 - 8-10 a.m.

Host Lynne Rossetto Kasper, the award-winning host of public radio's national food show the Splendid Table, will be fielding calls to aid listeners in the day's cooking conquests. Cook's IllustraTed Christopher Kimball and road food warriors Jane and Michael Stern as well as wine entrepreneur Joshua Wesson will be joining the program.

- Giving Thanks with John Birge, Nov. 26 - 10-11 a.m. and 8 to 10 p.m.

Host John Birge reflects on the meaning of the holiday, playing music and recounting stories.

Classical 89.7 Kcnv

- Harvest Home: Thanksgiving with the Dale Warland Singers, Nov. 26 - 6 to 7 p.m.

Beautifully arranged favorites,...