I’m also going to try to see The Artist while I have some time this week. But I’m not sure I’ll get that one in.

One final note, the great thing about blogging is that you can be surprised who comes across your work. I was fortunate to have English writer Anil Balan come across my blog post about re-reading books. He has a couple of interesting books out and I encourage you to read them. I went on to Amazon to buy them. I’m also going to put a link to his site on my side panel permanently so you can find him whenever you are in the mood for a frightening Oxford ghost tale.  With a theatrical release of The Woman in Black coming up in February, there will probably be some mainstream interest in English ghost tales again in this country. And that is welcome over vampires, zombies, hillbillies and whatever else Hollywood is putting out.

The story is about a former British spy who is coaxed out of retirement to find a double agent near the top of MI6′s administration. Instead of banging on heads and blowing up half the planet, George Smiley (played by Gary Oldham) goes through files and interviews to discover the mole’s identity and springs a clever trap to capture him. And the movie portrays the spies as unspectacular people who blend into every day society, which is probably what is needed to be an effective spy.

And yes, there were a few things different from the novel. One is the Peter Guillam (Benedict Cumberbatch)  character is gay in the film and he had a female lover in the book. To me that was no big deal because it gave Guillam even more to lose in the film.

There was also a cutback because Smiley interviews a former MI6 employee at the a supper club. During the drinks, the employee makes, and forces Smiley to join him, hand gestures making a crude depiction of Native American head dress. Smiley, though embarrassed, reluctantly joined him. This wasn’t shown in the movie but I must admit I was looking forward to it.

But in all a fabulous movie, including the soundtrack. It end with this performance by Julio Iglesias.

If you are going to see one movie this holiday season, I suggest Tinker Tailor.

If Illinois has as much money as it seems to indicate, they really don’t spend it wisely. There are some great coaches out there. But Illinois figures it should be near the basement.

It caught my eye because I had just reread John le Carre‘s classic spy novel “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,” – one of my favorite novels. I wanted to reread it because a movie version, which I intend to see,  is opening on Friday. It is a terrific novel – one of my favorites – and I’m interested to see how it is portrayed on the screen.

The essay itself deals with writers, critics and others who often reread their favorite books for one reason or another. I thought it was an interesting take.

Especially because I reread Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” just before the holiday. I started it again on Sunday.

Because for Illinois football, things seem to be going from bad to worse.  After a dismal .500 season with victories over powerhouses such as Arkansas State and either North or South Dakota State (I don’t remember which one any more), coach Ron Zook was fired Sunday.  After seven years of mostly downers, with a few positives sprinkled in, the administration decided it was time for a new direction.

Normally I would be on board. However, after looking at the list of potential candidates that is being floated, I can see the old Screw of I is content to remain  a second-tier program in the Big Ten. For the uninitiated that is worse than it sounds because the conference has more than the 10 teams in its title. The Illini are really a cut above Indiana and on a par with Minnesota and Northwestern.

No where on this or any other list is the name of Auburn’s Gus Malzahn listed. I’m not even saying Illinois should hire him.  The wizard playcaller who helped the Tigers to the national championship last year  as well as prepared Cam Newton for NFL success. They should at least TALK to him.  That’s the type of hire that creates EXCITEMENT. That is the type of hire that sells tickets.

Maybe he isn’t interested in Illinois, but the university should at least find out. The guys they are considering will be there when they come calling.

Also, the athletic administration ought to think creatively instead of looking at head coaches at the usual suspects. The search committee should channel its inner-Kenny Williams and think creatively (What MBAs call thinking outside the box)?. What about Rob Chudzinski (the Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator) or Jeff Fisher (the longtime Tennessee Titans head coach)? I realize that Fisher would be a long shot but why not ask? Kirk Ferentz was in the NFL as long time before he took the Iowa head job about 12 years ago.

And Mike Leach‘s name seems to be a longshot and Paul Chryst from Wisconsin (whose offense has scored plenty these past few seasons) also seems to be off the radar. I believe those guys would bring excitement too though Leach has some baggage.

Instead, Illinois seems to fear football success. Not surprising. When Ron Zook was hired, USC (the real one not South Carolina) was in the midst of its offensive explosion with guys like Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush and Lendale White. A guy named Norm Chow called their plays. Chow had also coached quarterbacks like Steve Young and Phillip Rivers during his career.  But Illinois wouldn’t talk to Chow either. Instead that settled for a guy who was run out of Florida and Urban Meyer took Zook’s recruits to a title two years later.

Instead Illinois is looking at Rutgers’ coach (who has done reasonably well but everyone seems to believe the Big East Conference stinks and shouldn’t have an automatic BCS berth),  Michigan State’s defensive coordinator (there is something to get excited about) or a guy from Toledo. Jeez, for that kind of crowd Illinois would have been better off keeping Zook around.

I jest with that last suggestion of course. But I do not with the lack of excitement caused by the potential candidates Illinois is considering.

Here’s hoping basketball gets back on track.

I have also updated the link to Michele Mitchell’s Film@11 group out of New York. Michele, Ed Head and the rest of the gang have an interesting spin on things. The link is also on the left.

I am off to see Adam Aijala and Ben Kauffmann of the Yonder Mountain String Band Saturday. I will post something next week on the show. We might go up the road and see The Infamous Stringdusters at Martyr’s later in the evening.

Miller was a clever songwriter and performer, best known for writing “King of the Road.” A bit of trivia about that popular song -Miller saw a billboard in Chicago that said “Trailers for sale or rent,” which inspired him to write that infamous line of what is probably his most well-known tune.

I started thinking about him because I was watching the PBS television show “Legends and Lyrics” and Kris Kristofferson was performing “Best of All Possible Worlds” and as the song ended he paid tribute to Miller.

Miller was known as the king of the novelty song, making hits out of such songs as “Do-Wacka-Do” “You Can’t Roller Skate in a Buffalo Herd” and “Chug-a-Lug.” They were quick, catchy upbeat and fun songs. Roger Miller had a good time entertaining people and it showed. Here is a demonstration of his quick wit on “The Johnny Cash Show.”

Miller won 11 Grammy awards, mostly in the 1960s. According to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, the people who hand out the Grammy changed the rules so no one would dominate the Grammy like he did in a single year.

Showing he had more talent than just writing a few catchy novelty songs, Miller also came back in the 1980s and wrote the music for the Broadway Musical “The Big River,” winning a Tony for best score. The show won seven awards. You can view a quick clip of one of the songs here.  I believe he is playing a Martin guitar in this clip, but I’m not certain.

This is another one of my favorite performances by Miller, though ironically he didn’t write the song. A great, high energy tune.

Roger Miller knew how to touch people and make them happy. He was a great performer and songwriter. He left his mark.

I for one am glad he did. And I’m glad Kris Kristofferson reminded me and everyone else who saw the program about his cleverness.

Miller’s brilliance and showmanship are truly missed