Distant Relatives

Like a lot of writers I subscribe to a Google Alert for news about myself, because I wouldn't have gotten into writing unless I found myself incredibly fascinating. Since "Yglesias" is a rare name, whenever you see it, it's almost always my dad or one of my grandparets and since I'm interested in all those people I just leave the alert set for "Yglesias" rather than for "Matthew Yglesias" or some such. Sometimes that brings news of myself, or sometimes things like this Hollywood Reporter story about dad that popped up this morning. Sometimes, though, I learn about further-flung relatives:

After a November preliminary hearing, Madera County Judge Jennifer Detjen ordered Duran held for trial in the Dec. 20, 2005, death of Michelle Ann Yglesias. The 30-year-old Yglesias was Duran's cellmate in Valley State Prison for Women.

Hott.

Comments

Condolences, if such are appropriate. I hope she was there for reasons other than leaving a tied basketball with 25 seconds to go. Did they get her on drugs? Or was she already on drugs?

Posted by LowLife | January 4, 2007 10:09 AM

hott?

Posted by miguel | January 4, 2007 10:13 AM

Not sure what to make of "hott" . . .

Posted by Brklynlibrul | January 4, 2007 10:35 AM

Seems to me quite an inappropriate reaction.

Posted by Al | January 4, 2007 10:37 AM

Apparently not quite as "hott" as she used to be. But, whatever, Matt . . .

Posted by SqueakyRat | January 4, 2007 10:49 AM

um - this post may have crossed the line into TMI. Particularly the "hot".

Posted by MDtoMN | January 4, 2007 10:51 AM

Having encountered a fair number of women defendants and inmates during a prior job in the criminal courts system, I would say it's a reasonable assumption that the late Ms. Yglesias was most definitely not hott.

Posted by Peter | January 4, 2007 11:26 AM

Unlike "Yglesias," the name "Roberto Rivera" is very common, although non-Hispanics can't seem to understand this. Thus, I have had my drivers license suspended, been summoned by the Loudon county police and had a lien attached to my home (by my own bank!) because people assumed that there can't be more than one "Roberto Rivera" in the United States.

Posted by Roberto Rivera | January 4, 2007 11:30 AM

While Matthew's comment was, indeed, mildly creepy, I do have to admit being grateful for it. Because this reaction by Al: "Seems to me quite an inappropriate reaction," was somehow very funny to me. You can just see him feverishly scribbling his denunciations of our decadent world with his long plume pen and with snuff on his lips.

Good ol' Al.

Posted by alex | January 4, 2007 11:45 AM

Wow, Matt. I read your blog on a regular basis, but have never commented here before. I guess it never really dawned on me who your dad was, so I looked at his IMDB link. And what do you know, he was the screenwriter for a film I was in. I played the Redheaded Gendarme in Les Miserables. Tip of the hat to your dad for calling specifically for a redhead.

And also, hott?

Posted by Shannon McCormick | January 4, 2007 11:45 AM

I had no idea your dad co-wrote the screenplay for "From Hell". That must have been incredibly hard. The book is like 600 pages long and very dense. How cool!

Posted by DJ Ninja | January 4, 2007 1:15 PM

Matt has many admirable relatives. I think he and hilzoy are an argument for a Jeffersonian "Natural Aristocracy" Sometimes it works.

Posted by bob mcmanus | January 4, 2007 1:43 PM

Wow, and that reminds me. Since Spitzer made big news yesterday, is it too personal to ask if the better-looking brother is still connected to one of the most exciting politicians in America?

Posted by bob mcmanus | January 4, 2007 1:49 PM

Is Yglesias an up-market version of Iglesias (like Smythe of Smith) or have I get that the wrong way round?

When I Googled Michelle Ann Yglesias, there were numerous appearances by Michelle Malkin and Ann Coulter. What a terrible thought! Uuuugh!

Posted by blowback | January 4, 2007 1:49 PM

I've known who Matt's dad is for some time. Since we're on the subject I have to say that I really loved Dark Water.

Posted by Jeremiah J. | January 4, 2007 11:13 PM

By telling us about your father and and the illustrious grandparents, you have made your achievments less impressive. Of course you were born for the promising career that you have. No big deal.

Posted by gregor | January 5, 2007 3:23 AM

"Of course you were born for the promising career that you have. No big deal."

Someone needs to read Yglesias on meritocracy. Check the archives.

I can admire MY for what he is, without admiring him for why he is what he is, which I credited more to an environment of achievement, ambition, and ethic of service than genetics. I do not need to admire MY, with his advantages, less than say Ezra Klein, with relatively less advantages.

The idea that the 3+ generational successful transmission of admirable values is irrelevant to MY's achievement has some fairly extreme implications, especially for those who come from less favourable environments.

Posted by bob mcmanus | January 5, 2007 12:06 PM

What's really depressing is that I just clicked on the link and found out that your dad is YOUNGER than me, but you're like totally an adult and not a little kid, so I'm old as hell. Happy new year. Sheesh.

Posted by Adam | January 6, 2007 12:18 PM