Tracy Flick

Over at NYCO’s Blog she compares Upstaters to the Cossacks in the 1962 film version of Gogol’s Taras Bulba. It made me wonder if NYCO was saying that Upstaters are a gang that believes "Put your faith in your sword, and your sword in a Pole" or Tracy Flick rides as badly as Tony Curtis.  

In 1962 or so, our entire extended family went to the big City – we ate at Furr’s Cafeteria which was followed by a trip to the Sunshine Theater.  I still remember being shissed and bopped on the head by my aunt after laughing out loud during Taras Bulba.  In those days – making any noise during the movie was strictly verboten.  I laughed because my grandfather turned and whispered to me that the flaco (the skinny guy)  “Rides like a Texan.”  You can see from the start of this sequence how tortured Curtis looks on a horse.  In every sequence he looks oh so uncomfortable -- as his arms and feet go flying every which way.  You always think he’ll crash and burn or yell stunt man.  BTW, my grandpa’s comment was one of the gravest insults you could heap on anyone who rode in our neck of the woods.  Here is a contrast between Curtis on a horse and Antonio Aguilar.  After all you'll never see a Texan ride as beautifully as this -- Hijole los Anglo-Texans are horrible riders. 

IMHO Gillibrand is like Curtis – she’s a lousy rider – meanwhile Brynner aka Schumer rides like a real pro.  I just don’t think Gillibrand aka Tracy Flick  can pull it off.

NYCO also was wondering about the Latin phrase for “Where’s my cut?” Actually the Romans, like los Americanos of yore, did their very best to keep up an honest veneer.  They of course were horrible cutthroats and liars.  Nonetheless, her question reminded me of what the FBI has discovered to be Albany’s unofficial motto: Non omne quod licet honestum est (Not everything allowed is honest).