Sudoku Sunday

Complete the grid so that each row, column, and 3-by-3 framed block contains the letters P A R K B E N C H (only once) RATED HARD

Important Message for Those Entering the Benchley Writing Competition

The deadline for entering the 2011 Robert Benchley Society Annual Humor Writing Award Competition is Sunday, May 1st. Entries have been coming in and I have been acknowledging them as they arrive. Over the weekend of April 30th and May 1st, I shall have long stretches of time when I am not at my computer to acknowledge receipt of entries, and, if this year is similar to prior years, many entries will be submitted in the final 48 hours, so that when I do have an opportunity to process them, there may be a "backlog" causing further delays. If you submit and do not get prompt acknowledgement, DO NOT WORRY. Your PayPal receipt and your e-mail with the submission attached will be proof of timely submittal.

I regret if not hearing from me immediately creates any anxiety. Goodness knows there's enough to be anxious about in this world already. Speaking for myself, I nearly had to be hospitalized fretting over the President's place of birth, whether Kate Middleton's dress might disappoint with tragic consequences for the fashion world, and what would happen if the local liquor store ran out of Bourbon for Kentucky Derby Day juleps next Saturday.

Nothing to Do with Baseball: On Writing

Sports writer Steven Goldman asks the question, "Is it possible to love your hero even more on the basis of reading an old letter?" in this posting on his blog Pinstripe Bible, read it at http://www.pinstripedbible.com/2011/04/29/nothing-to-do-with-baseball-on-writing/. By the way, I didn't have an illustration of base ball, which explains why this story is accompanied by an illustration of basket ball. And I believe I speak for all of us when I say we are pulling for the American League to win the Super Bowl this fall.

RBS Second-Hand Smoke Policy

In response to ongoing current concerns about second-hand tobacco smoke at public events, the Robert Benchley Society has adopted the following SECOND-HAND SMOKE POLICY to be observed at all meetings of the RBS:

"The Robert Benchley Society does not tolerate second-hand smoke at Society events. If you want to inhale tobacco smoke, bring your own smokes and enjoy Lady Nicotine first-hand. If you really want to get on our good side, bring a few extra to share."

We trust this POLICY will alleviate any concerns about SECOND-HAND SMOKE at RBS events.

One of these days I have got to go and see a doctor about my cigarette smoking. I am slowly but surely losing the knack. --Robert Benchley, from "Experience Meeting" (My Ten Years in a Quandary and How They Grew, 1936)

Don't Miss May 1st Deadline for Entries: Mark Russell Could be Reading YOU!

The Robert Benchley Society is proud to welcome national humorist and entertainer MARK RUSSELL, who has agreed to serve as finalist judge for our 2011 Robert Benchley Society Award For Humor Writing competition.

Mark Russell's topical and political humor and music parodies have pleased us all for more than three decades in personal performances, television shows, and radio broadcasts.

The deadline to enter the 2011 Robert Benchley Society Annual Award for Humor Writing Competition is May 1, 2011. For more details visit our website http://www.robertbenchley.org/2011_competition/announcement.htm.

Benchley "Around the World Backwords, Sideways," Fast-forward, and on Pause

This inquiry came in this morning:

My uncle was a Scot who went to America in the 1920s and became Dean of the Chapel at Duke. He regularly sent my parents [American books] and I grew up in the '50s with Chips off the Old Benchley. Since then I've added to my Benchley collection but am most frustrated that the DVDs of his shorts are only available in Region 1 format whereas Europe uses 2. I actually have the book The "Reel" Benchley but wondered if you wondered if you or any of your members knew if the DVD was otherwise available or indeed if pace its format it can play here (as some 1s can). If you could answer this I'd be most grateful. Many thanks, [Name withheld]

Thanks to Gordon Ernst, Eileen Forster Keck, and Eileen Mitchell, who all responded remarkably quickly (and clearly have too much time on their hands), we have the answer.

Thirty Benchley short subjects are available on DVDs that work in all regions at Amazon at this link http://www.amazon.com/Robert-Benchley-Shorts-30-1935/dp/B003552QWW/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1303914266&sr=1-1. Also, his film "I Married A Witch" is available for Region 2.

Robert Benchley "My Favorite New Yorker" Says Style Guy Glenn O'Brien

GQ writer Glenn O'Brien in a recent interview cited "Robert Benchley, the great Algonquin Round Table figure and New Yorker humorist who went on to write in Hollywood and have an acting career as a curmudgeon" as his favorite New Yorker, and aded "I love his resigned but noble sense of humor in the face of mass societal stupidity." Read the interview in New York magazine at http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2011/04/glenn_obrien_thinks_donald_tru.html