* For all the well-chronicled missteps–i.e., inaccuracies of all stripe–of daily newspapers these days, it was ironic to see the technical detail in the obit for Josephine Marchese Trafficante. She was referenced as the widow of “reputed” Tampa mob boss Santo Trafficante Jr. After all these years, still “reputed.”
* Can you imagine the range of reactions–and customized cutlines–resulting from that wire photo of Pope Francis meeting with Raul Castro? One had to be: “Raul Castro in the ultimate pander to Catholic Charities to help prop up the dysfunctional Cuban economy.”
* Couldn’t resist. A recent piece from the Sacramento Bee–on the cheesy, macabre Hollywood staple called “Dearly Departed: The Tragical History Tour”–has been picked up nationally. Best headstone epitaphs: < “There goes the neighborhood.”–Rodney Dangerfield. < “I will not be back right after this message.”–Merv Griffin. < “I’m a writer, but then, nobody’s perfect.”–Billy Wilder.