Upside Down & Inside Out

This working not from home is for the birds.

Actually, I'm liking the job, but it has made it harder lately to craft a daily post. So with that, I am just bringing forth OK Go's new anti-gravity filmed video.

They just out-do themselves..........again.

Not only was it filmed in zero gravity, once again, I believe there are zero edits - like so many of their video clips.  I don't know how they do it.  How does one rehearse a video this to the precision that they get it all so right?

And the song isn't too bad either. It's not going to top any charts, but I find that many OK Go songs are only there for the video and not the other way around - which is not to say I don't like some of their music.

Enjoy.







Song by: OK Go

Dropping Like Flies

As expected, they're dropping like flies.

GOP flies, that is.

I suppose they land and feast on elephant feces until their invitation has been worn out - which for most of them is always after New Hampshire.

Gone are Fiorina and Christie. Of course, Santorum, Huckabee, Pataki, Graham, Jindal and Paul couldn't even get to the border of the Granite State before throwing in the towel.

Pussies.  (see what I did there?)

Oddly (or maybe not), Ben Carson polled lower than Fiorina or Christie, but he's still in the race. Stupid Affirmative Action. And once again, Jim Gilmore got 0.0% of the vote.....so at least he's consistent.

And how is it that Shurb III got 11% of the vote and a 4th place finish?

I mean - he's only putting off the inevitable. Tick tick tick. And he's made no friends, so he shant be getting a VP nod or cabinet post.

Honestly, I don't care a thing about Bush. I just really really really wanted to use the image.



Song by: Sheila E. 

Puss n Boots

I almost don't even know where to go with this.

While searching for an unflattering image (well, a most unflattering image) of Trump and came upon his "book".

Nothing says we are a "great" country than pandering to the lowest common denominator and calling people names.

Of course, Ted Cruz is a pussy, I'm not sure one can dispute that fact - but does it benefit anyone saying that at a rally?

I'm sorry - repeating it at a rally, into a microphone, under the "premise" that you'd never repeat that name-calling nor do you approve of it, only to get hundreds of people laughing and clapping.

Of course it's a calculated move - and for what it was worth (which is not much) was executed flawlessly, just the way the Donald wanted it to come off.

He can "claim" he didn't say it, just repeated it, but c'mon.......

And news outlets were going on about saying something about it being derogatory about a women's vagina, and sure, it is, but that's not what the term was meant as, and they know it. It's Donald being a bully. Plain and simple.

It is scary to think how much his followers love to follow him into the mud.....assuming they weren't living there before.

I would almost - ALMOST - love to see Trump win the nomination and election and have the media follow these stupid-as-fuck-followers for the next four years to see how much they feel like complete assholes with the ensuing results of their blind faith.


Song by: Adam Ant

Site of the Month

I wanted this to be funnier. It should have been funnier. It could have been funnier.

All it needed was 4-5 of my friends sitting around Morty and George's patio table with a few beers. That's it.

We would have, and could have, come up with better selections.

Yes, it is the Palin Baby Names Generator.

Only slightly better than the Trump Insult Generator from a few months ago.

And in what sad sad world does one get to make Palin slightly better than Trump? In a world that is sad sad sad that you see or hear either of them in the same sentence or hemisphere, I suppose.

I was actually waiting for a better SotM to come along, and one might, but it will have to wait. I had nothing for today's post, so this one go moved up.

My loss.  Your loss. Track, Willow and Bristol's loss. Well it is a loss for them - they are losers. Just ask the Trump Insult Generator.

My Music Monday

Songs not of our tongue - 'tis the theme.

This one is on the borderline. They sing in English and their native Celtic. Technically to many in Ireland, they're not singing in any foreign tongue. To us - they can, at times.

I loved to love Clannad, but I can't say I actually "loved" them. I first came upon them when they did a duet with Bono. I was all about U2 back then - never heard of the band, but went out and purchased them so I could have the song "In a Lifetime". So I think I pretended to enjoy Clannad more than I actually did....or do.

The irony?  U2 fell out of favour too.........for the most part.

Yes, they have an Enya quality about the band, but Enya is the sister of band members Máire, Ciarán and Pól Ó Braonáin and was once a member of the band herself. And I'm guessing there are only so many styles to sing in Celtic, hence the similarities.

While I did like some of their songs, I won't deny it became tedious to listen to for any length of time. Some of their English speaking songs were better than Celtic, but the latter had their moments.

My choice is the theme from the never-seen (by me) Harry's Game. Honestly, I don't think the song has a name other than "the Theme from Harry's Game".

Clocking in at only two and one-half minutes, anyone can tolerate almost any song for that length of time.

The video is a bad transfer. Just horrible. And Máire Brennan looks like a bad version of Marcia Clark. Though lord, to have the guy's butt chin at the 0:49 mark.

That alone will probably get you to hit 'play'.

45

Six movies in six weeks.  This is insane.

With all are adult movies - ummm...I mean, mature-themed movies - as of late, for the last few months, almost each and every time we have been, we have seen a preview for 45 Years.

Well, not at Star Wars or Sisters, but.......

45 Years looked "serious" and it was. The preview showed quiet conflict, and there was, but from said preview you (or: I) only thought I knew what it was.

I was wrong.

The movie took forever to come to town. Je was afraid I wouldn't see it before I needed to make my selections for the 5th Annual Academy Award Guessing Game®, as Charlotte Rampling is up for best actress.

The set-up, if you will, is the approaching 45th anniversary of Geoff and Kate, and the party that surrounds it. That and an event from prior to their marriage comes to the surface to cause a wrinkle or three in their relationship.

I assumed, from the preview, that the wrinkle would be a child given up for adoption. It is not.

The news of the finding of his ex-girlfriend's body from a mounting climbing accident 50 years prior, seemingly obsesses Geoff. I say seemingly, as the more you watch, it is Kate who is equally, if not more so, obsessed. The ensuing fissure of their relationship is a metaphor for the one that Geoff's ex fell through five decades prior.

Rampling was great!  (she is also great in the London Spy show I mentioned in the last movie review.) While she is not in exactly every shot (though close), she is in every single scene. Her face says and conveys more than any dialogue she is given. It's quite an art, actually. This is her movie.

Andrew Haigh (who produced all of, and directed some of, Looking) did a nice job. I liked his use of colour and scenery. I like how he used the mundane things of everyday household fixtures to convey stability when it might not actually exist at all.

I dare say the real story of 45 Years probably begins at the end of the film.....but you'll have to see it yourself to decide.



2016 Movie Count / Goal:  06 of 18


Song by: Elvis Costello

Repeat

This might be a first - no new pics of either the dog or cat this week.

Work has been pretty busy, but really it comes down to home time and it's just been trying to nurse Petey back to health.....so no real pictures.

He's better. Not great.

I kid you not - he so hates one of his meds (only another week to go!), that as soon as he smells it, he leaves the room. We don't even have a chance to get it into food. And this Baytril is supposed to be a chewable treat. As if.

And Pete can smell it in chicken or hamburger, so he won't touch that either. We've "tricked" him with certain foods and right now, he's not onto me putting it in scrambled eggs.

Oh yes, I'm scrambling eggs in the morning before I go to work...............for the dog.

I get Cherrios.

Still, there is nothing I wouldn't do for the little man. I get our time is limited. The doc and I had a long discussion on his recurrence of pneumonia so soon after his last two bouts. No doubt his immune system is compromised and probably will never fully recover. We're talking about keeping him on a low-dose antibiotic for long term - to help ward off more infections.

Sure, that raises the risk of drug resistance, but it's impossible to say how long that will take, and he is almost 14. These are just horrible, harsh realities.

So, no new pics, but I thought I'd find older ones, plus one handsome guy (Logan) who inhabits the tea shoppe we go to after yoga.

 Petey - right after we got him, when he still had a lot of brown on him.  

 Hangin' out with his pops (me). 

Soph - atop of me. Smug little kitty. 

...and Logan. Handsome guy with pretty blue eyes.....and just as nice as can be. 

I'll work on new pics of our kids this upcoming week. Hopefully Mr. Pete will be further on the mend.




Song by: David Guetta

Loft Music

It's been a while since there's been a yoga post.

A. None of you really care about my yoga practice.

B. There are only so many times you can discuss going to a studio and doing your poses.

Normally, I try to limit these to the different times - like at the Rock Hall, or Museum of Art or the Gay Games.

At least those are somewhat different.

Last Sunday, David and I trekked to the west side of Cleveland - I know, right? - to practice in a loft space.

It would have made a good one bedroom apartment.

The instructor isn't bad - she's the one who did our yoga on the beach this last summer.

It was nice to go outside of the gym or the normal studio. It was more fun to have hang-time with David, who came over to see the recovering Petey. As I suspected, Petey roused from him convalescence to pay attention to his favourite human - - which it turns out, is not me.

Actually, that's ok. I love watching Petey and David together. He is the dog whisperer.

So for the next few weeks, there is yoga at this place. Donation-based. And then it's tea-time.



Song by: the Weekend

There's the Girl

I've been trying to get to see the Danish Girl for weeks.

It's been tough - as there have been so many good movies out there lately, it's been difficult to find time. And it did not help when it was in limited theaters and at limited times.

As has been the norm the last month or two, we are catching many of these movies on what is most likely their last week of showing in an actual theater.

It also did not help that the Danish Girl was lower on 710's list. And by the time did was on deck, it had moved out of our Drexel-like art house theater to what I would call the ghetto mega-plex. For sure I thought we'd be the only ones in the theater on a Sunday, January later afternoon. But then - there is no football until next week....so what are straight older couples going to do?

Let's start out - well four paragraphs in - that 710 was really happy we ended up seeing the movie. I was too. But to be fair, it was good, not great.

Tom Hooper provided decent direction, it was shot extremely well, excellent locations and finely acted. Eddie Redmayne and Alicia Vikander were strong leads - and dare I say stronger when they are together than when apart.

And if going by the only title reference in the film, it seems that the Danish girl would (or could) be Vikander's character, not Redmayne's.

I found Redmayne much more intriguing as a man at the beginning of the film than as a man posing as a woman during. He was good as both, but had much more nuance at the start. And it was a little unnerving how much "Lili" looked like Molly Ringwald.

Vikander was strong all the way through, though very different than her turn in Ex Machina.

There was a familiarity about Vikander too - and I finally saw she had a Helen Bonham Carter-esque quality that was shown in Hooper's own, the King's Speech.  I'm not saying this was a bad thing, but there seems to be a style in his work.

The film had some predictable plot points, but that didn't make it much less satisfying. Visually, the filmmakers did a really nice job. Actually reading about Lili and Gerda, the story they didn't get to - mostly Gerda's - might have been more interesting than what actually showed up on the screen.

There was also a Jack Russell in the movie which got some nice close-ups. 710 kept jabbing me with appreciation of doggies.

And some guy named Matthias Schoenaerts had a role. Normally, blondes aren't my type, but give a guy a good suit (or tux) and a ton of pomade and I'm on board.

This image doesn't do him justice. Later, 710 was checking his IMDB credits. Apparently they haven't gotten to the entry where he stars in my dreams.

(Actually, looking at his Gooooogle images, he might look great only in this movie.)

And Ben Whishaw, Q, from the newer Bond films, is in it. He's good for his limited role. And he stars in a TV series, London Spy, which so far has been great.

I can see how both leads got their Oscar nominations. I can also see why the movie, even though it's good, didn't get a best picture or best director nod.

I'm glad we saw it on the big screen. Now it's time to go see Chris Pine on the big seas. Well...maybe. Advertised in theaters months ago, it's barely a blip with TV ads and such. I fear being released in January, it's one of those movies that looks good in clips, but in truth is a bomb.


2016 Movie Count / Goal:  05 of 18

Song by: Heart

Dry Cleaner from Des Moines

....and so it begins.....officially, that is.

The 2016 Presidential Erection Election.

Yip-dee-fuckin'-dee.

I've said it before and should this blog be around four years from now, I'll say it again:  who gives a flying fuck about Iowa?

No offense to the Iowans.............kind of.

For either party, this caucus gets the nominee wrong 50% of the time. Not the actual elected candidate - the fucking nominee. So much time and effort wasted here.

BTW.....ditto for New Hampshire. Their selection success rate is almost equal that of Iowa.

I mean, good for Iowa (and New Hampshire). All those booked hotel rooms, food per diems etc from staffers upon staffers who are just there to check a state they've never visited off their list. It's nice their state revenue goes up slightly every four years......but at what cost?

My lord, the human sludge that passes through town after town - each more reprehensible than the last.

Let's take the two GOP front-runners.......shall we?

I mean, it's a lose-lose scenario. You want to see (t)Rump get knocked down a peg.....but because of that human bile has to win.....and yes, I'm referring to Ted Cruz. It takes the phrase "the lesser of two evils" to new heights.

They're both negatives, so who could possibly be "lesser"?

Well - there are lessers....but Huckabee dropped out yesterday. The question is: why hasn't Fiorina or Santorum? Or Carson (who is allegedly running just to sell books and build some kind of fucked up 'brand')?

As I suspected, Kasich's NYT endorsement was of zero help. He got 1.9% of the vote......which is exactly 1.9% more than Jim Gilmore (who?) got.

I did love this Tweet though....

And of course, I could not resist throwing up on FB that Cruz is BFFs with Satan and Pinocchio.

It's a fucking shit-show. The entire thing.

As for the Dems, well, Hillary has to be shitting bricks a bit. A 0.3% win?  I'm sorry - "win"?

I was never one for seeing her as invincible - nor do I think she should be. I'm tired of people playing the "anointed one" game.  I like Bernie. I hope he pushes her to the left a little. I hope people see he's not taking major donors and she is - she's not as revolutionary as people think.

Still - the power people give Iowa just astounds.

And to think - another like 20 weeks of primaries.

Yayyyyy!



Song by: Joni Mitchell

All Over Again

It's Groundhog Day.




Honestly, if Winter remains like the first 43 days of the season, I can deal with 'six more weeks'.

Sunday was 57 degrees, and today is slated to be 52. Yeah - I'm ok.



Song by: Johnny Cash

My Music Monday

The music theme for Erik and myself (selected by myself - though he's agreed to go along with it) is foreign-language music.

Really - not looking at Italian pop artists or anything, but people singing something not in their native tongue.

In theory, it should be simple - no?  I mean, the demographics skew to a lot of songs sung in French, but I'll try to limit that as much as possible.

So let's start with the least likely language deviation: Swahili.

And who are the best representatives of that culture other than the gals from Bananarama.

Actually, "Aie a Mwana" was one of the first songs I ever heard by them - even before they did stuff with Fun Boy Three. The funner Bananarama before Stock Aiken Waterman got their hands on them. It is also a song that had been covered long before this band, and since. Not that I ever know those versions.

It's a fun song - but it's one of those songs you can only kind of pretend to sing phonetically - and one you could never actually interpret. Well at least I couldn't.

Of course, maybe some of you took Swahili 101.


Bananarama "Aie a Mwana"

Blues From an Airplane

Bummer. Another music death.

The death of Paul Kantner, co-founder of both Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship went mostly unnoticed this last week.

While most people would be hard-pressed to know who he even was or what bands he was in, was probably due to being overshadowed by the other two singers in the band - Marty Balin and his never-actual wife, Grace Slick.

Still Kantner was instrumental in founding Airplane in the mid-60s and getting it up and running. He stayed with them for their duration, only to form Jefferson Starship with Grace Slick a few years later - and then Balin came along for the ride.

Kantner had nothing to do with Starship (sans Jefferson) which had two big, albeit questionably talented hits, with "We Built This City", "Sara" and "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now".  Kantner actually had to sue this band to stop using the name "Jefferson Starship".

And one would be hard-pressed to say he was the only driving force behind Airplane. Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Cassady (later forming the band Hot Tuna) were equal in those roles. But it was Slick and Balin who had the hits.

Slick, but mostly Balin had the hits in Jefferson Starship too. Still, Katner was the driving force for that iteration's debut with Dragon Fly.  I even featured his song, "Ride the Tiger" in a My Music Monday slot a few years ago. It was one of the few he took the lead on vocals and writing.

Still Kantner, for me, had a lasting impact. I was way into both Jefferson Starship's music, then the Airplane's songs. Red Octopus was one of my first disks to purchase back in 1975.

But he was a founder of the rock San Francisco psychedelic rock scene of the mid to late 60s - along with Grateful Dead and Quicksilver Messenger Service. They bridged the gap between the folk days and the rock days - touting freedom and love.  .....and drugs.

Kantner and Jefferson Airplane are rightfully ensconced in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. That organization makes some iffy choices, but they certainly got it right with that one.

I'd say that Paul Kantner would be missed, but in ways he has been so overshadowed by his band members, he was never really out there. While, like all of us, are blips in the universe, it would have been nicer if more news outlets reported on his passing.


Song by: Jefferson Airplane

We All Feel Better in the Dark

I wish I could say we "all" feel better.

We don't.

Petey is struggling. After his 'panic attack' we had one decent, but not great day. The following day - yesterday - it went from bad to worse.

He's hanging in there. But it was another trip to the vet. Another vet bill. And another diagnosis of pneumonia.

I've always said how quickly things turn for this poor boy, and this no different. There was nothing wrong with his lungs two days prior, but poof - bad lungs yesterday.

Another day at the vet. More opiates to slow his heart rate from going too too fast - and another two weeks of antibiotics. It sucks to watch him struggle and suffer.

That all said, here are a few pics from the week.

Hangin' at Nana's house after dinner

Hangin' at her house - like she owns it. 

On his between vet days - very interested in the goings on in the kitchen. 

Sophie was very interested in what he was doing. 

Thursday morning - his 'better' day - as I was heading off to work. 

Hopefully we can overcome this. I worry - a lot. I fear there are only so many times we can weather this storm. Usually it's once per year.......and already we're at the third time in three and a half months. 

Here's to a better week. 

Song by: the Pet Shop Boys

Record of the Month

I figured I'd do a monthly 'what I'm listening to' kind of thing. This could be viewed as a lame placeholder kind of post. And probably it is. But it's my blog! So there!

Q:  When is a Record of the Month not a record?

A:  When it's a fucking cassette.


I really like Arcade Fire - and their concert two years ago is still one of the best live shows I've ever seen - but they make it really really hard sometimes to be a "fan".

First you have to fight off the comments of only "hipsters" like the band. I'm as far from being a hipster as you could possibly get. At least, I'd like to believe that.

After their ambitious double disk, Reflektor, and their long tour, they had a limited release documentary film called the Reflektor Tapes. If it ever came to our art-house theater, I missed it.

That is fine. But they released five new songs and one remix from Relektor on the Reflektor Tapes.....and only one fucking cassette.

Seriously.

I'm sorry - but what a complete douche move. They make it hard for people not to believe those 'hipster' comments.

Vinyl might be making a comeback - but cassettes are not. Nor are they ever going to. And who (besides possibly me) still has a cassette deck? Oh yes, I still have it, though it is packed away along with my 5-CD changer......and my CDs.

But honestly, what is the fucking return on investment with this ploy?

You market is extremely limited and the expense of finding some manufacturing facility that actually makes pre-recorded cassettes must have been the proverbial needle in the haystack.

And what exactly is the point of making music that such few people would fucking hear?

Of course, I assumed that the cassette thing was a limited release and then eventually vinyl, cds and downloads would follow.  This is why one never assumes. It is still only available on cassette.

Finding no other way, I might have used the last year to try to find some of those songs via illegal download file sharing programs. Yes, the band gets no money from this - but the way I see it, they were kind of asking for it.  (come get me RIAA - I dare ya!)

Even the file sharing has been a struggle, but you can see why: not only does some poor sap have to actually buy the cassette, but then convert it to an .mp3 format.

Who has the time, energy or inclination?

So a year (plus) later, and I have two of the three songs. THREE. And just like those bears - one is good, one is bad, and one is just about right.

Loving "Crucified Again".  I like "Get Right" - with a more industrial feel. I have a harder time getting into "Aporcrypha".

Maybe the other two songs and one remix would make the album.....or break it. But we'll never know.

So......

Q: when is an album review not an album review?

A: when you don't actually (and can't actually) acquire the album.

Panic

Poor Petey.  Poor 710.  Poor Dog Walkers. Poor Us.

The Petey Cam is a good thing - and a worrisome thing.

710 tuned in yesterday to see Petey circling and circling on the floor and making coughing, shortness of breath noises. He texted me to tell me so, but unfortunately, I was in no position to leave work and go home.

Petey is the huge disadvantage to not working at home. Sophie can pretty much take care of herself. Petey? Not so much. He's a senior.

By the time the dog walker got there, Petey had two accidents in the house. That is SO not him.

710 rearranged his day, left work and got home. He also called the vet. Ruckiry (not Jon's boss), the vet tech who simply loves loves loves Petey answered the phone. While she first gave him an appointment, she changed her tune and told him to bring in Petey right away.

Phew.

That made me feel a little better.

Petey was so short of breath they actually had to give him an opiate to calm him down. It seems counter intuitive but it worked. Of course, he had oxygen, a steroid shot and a pulse oximeter too. 710 had to leave him at the vet for four long hours.

As his lungs and throat were clear, meaning no signs of pneumonia at all (though to me he exhibited all the symptoms - even though he was fine when I left for work) the best the doc could come up with is that Petey had had some kind of panic attack.

Since I had a work dinner last night, I couldn't even come home right from the office. 710 had him all bundled up on the sofa (which is no doubt where I'll be sleeping keeping the dog safe and comfortable).

Though Mr. Pete is on an inhaler once a day for the rest of his life, he is now on a second one - - twice a day.

For a few days, until he rebounds (hopefully), the dog folks will come by twice a day. It's a small price to pay.

Someone once told me that getting old isn't for sissies.....was that you Spo?  This is the same for elder pets.




Song by: the Smiths

Cooking with Blobby

Pasta.

It's what it's all about. Or seems to be about.

Let's face it - making pasta after a long day at work is usually fairly painless. But there are only so many ways to make it - or that I know how to make it. And I want to mix it up.

710 actually saw a similar recipe on-line, but for the life of me when it came time to make it, I didn't know where it might be housed.

Also, after a long, hard day at work, you really should pay attention to the directions, because there is a huge difference between 3T of butter and 3T of ground pepper.

It's amazing what reading part of one line and part of another will do.

Ruckiry (not Jon's boss), I caught the error before actually cooking, but not before actually grinding three tablespoons of pepper.  ....though I have to say, my forearms look great now.

Unsalted butter - 3T
Ground Pepper - 1t (slightly different than 3T!)
Spaghetti (8oz) - though a semi-thin egg noodle might have worked better
Pecorino - 1/3 C finely grated
Parmesan - 3/4 C finely grated

I know the photo shows heavy cream, but I didn't end up using it. I think that was for the better.

Boil pasta, reserve 3/4 C up of the pasta water.

.....in the mean time......

Melt 2 T of the butter. Add the pepper, swirl around. Not twirl around.  

Add 1/2 C of pasta water and bring to a simmer. 

 Add pasta and rest of butter. Use tongs mix together. 

 Add Parmesan. Toss till it melts.  Take pan off the heat. 

 Toss in the Pecorino until it melts.  Serve. 

I topped with some fresh basil.........and a garlic bread stick never hurts. 

The dish had a good flavour - not a great one. The pepper was........well.......peppery. It's a good thing I didn't use 3T of it. Yikes.

Maybe a little cream would have helped.

I'd still try it again, I might just change things up a bit more......though honestly, I don't know how just yet.  And honestly, it took all of 15 minutes to throw together.....including the pepper grinding.

Shoot Off Your Mouth

I am curious.

When is an endorsement more of a liability than it is an asset?

Of course, one immediately goes to Sarah Palin giving the 'youbetcha' to the Donald. ....but more on that in a second.

Yesterday - I think it was just yesterday - two-time loser Rick Perry endorsed Ted Cruz.

Where's the benefit for Teddy boy? Chances are, he's already got his own stupid Lone Star state wrapped up anyways...I mean, assuming he stays in the race long enough to get to the Texas primary.

Where does Perry think his influence reaches outside of that dumb-fuck state?

I suppose that ringing endorsement is about on par with Miss Lindsey Graham stumping for ¡Jeb!.

It just makes the mind boggle - who will George Pataki get behind ????  I suppose Rick Santorum could use that single vote....as I assume that Mrs. Pataki was the only one who would have voted for George.

And I'll be up front - it took a long time for me to even muster up the courage to pseudo-watch Track's - the woman beater - mom give praise to thrice married Donald. And even then I did it via Stephen Colbert - and even he couldn't make it funny. It was painful to watch - the entire thing.

I didn't even read much about what people thought. I know what my peeps thought of it, even though we never discussed it. We didn't have to. But for what little chatter I actually heard, none of it - and i mean NONE of it - was about the fucking face the Donald kept making during her babbling.

....and this was one of his most engaged looks - even if he doesn't seem that thrilled.

Does this look like a man who was happy to be there - or happy to have this nobody there?


...of course, the Palin-tologists must have loved T-rump's comment about being able to shoot someone in the middle of Fifth Avenue and still win.

It's such a dangerous game he's playing. It's just fucked up.

So maybe for Donny, Palin isn't a liability. But it's tough when you're a bigger liability than she.

----------

I have to admit, lately I've been thinking a lot about the movie the Dead Zone....which is a very underrated Stephen King adaptation.

For those who haven't seen (or read) it - and it is about 33 years old - it deals with a man who lives through a tragic accident to awaken being able to see the future when he touches certain people. One of the people he encounters is a deranged Jeb Bartlett presidential candidate...and plots his assassination.

I'm not saying Mr. Trump is said candidate personified. And I'm not advocating that anyone assassinate him. But I'm not not advocating it either.



Song by:  Mick Jagger

My Music Monday

Yes, it's a cover, but it's an old timey cover. And again, while modern day artist, the song is 24 years old. That in itself would qualify it for 'oldie' status, if not old timey.

I'm closing out the month's theme with Annie Lennox and her cover of the "Keep Young and Beautiful", which she used as her closing track on her first solo disk, Diva.

Originally the song was done in the '30s, and performed by a male vocalist (Eddie Cantor - whom I have heard of through my parents) whose version was irony-free.

Lennox covers it spot-on, yet still with a bit of tongue planted firmly in cheek. Cantor's is more of a user-guide on how women should be if they want to have any worth - even though not a note or word is changed.

It's amazing what a different decade or gender can do to a song to change its interpretation.

I know I just did Lennox with the movie themes month, but can you ever use her enough?

the Same Sad Smile

We are kicking it  - movie-wise, that is.

I may have sold us short increasing our cinema going goal by 33.33%. On paper it seems like a huge increase. If our current rate keeps up (and let's not kid ourselves, it won't), we are headed toward the 40 range.

Last evening we went to go see Anomalisa, Charlie Kaufman's new stop-motion / animated movie - which is also nominated for Best Animated Feature.

We had been seeing previews for the last month or two.

I'm not a huge fan of Kaufman or his movies. He tries too too hard to be either cerebral, weird or both. To a degree. Anomalisa isn't any less weird - but really, how can you not go when the local review has this disclaimer???

Let's just say at least two couples missed that in the 'Friday' section of the Plain Dealer. They walked out of the theater during the 'puppet sex'. But to be fair, it was a little weird / uncomfortable. And I'm not sure a live-action movie could get an R rating that includes cunnilingus.

....and trust me, if there were a Goooooogle image of stop-motion scrod-chomping, you'd be seeing it as the title image. Count your lucky stars.

Per usual, I went into the movie knowing next to nothing - about the movie, that is. The previews didn't tell much of anything.

First off, the attention to detail is a-mah-zing. The hotel that "Michael" stays in, and the taxi, in which he gets to said hotel, have every little thing down - from sight and sound. The things that look "odd" are the puppets themselves. It's almost like they have a mask on their face a la Hannibal Lecter.

While only 90 minutes long, the timing is hard to gauge. It is a story basically in 4/4 time. Save one scene - a dream sequence - the pace of the movie remains the same. Until I looked at my phone after it ended, I would have sworn we did not pass the 60 minute mark.

Without too much give away, Michael sees and hears every person as same as the last....or next. So much so that there are only three voices in the movie - the main male and female character (Lisa). The rest are the characters are the voiced by the same person....same tone....same or similar, sad face, whether man or woman.

Only Lisa has a different voice; a different face. There is a reason for this. Things fall into place eventually for the viewer, as there were parts of Michael's past that lead up to her.

That's all I'll give away.

It's an interesting film, though I won't go as far as to say it was ultimately satisfying.



2016 Movie Count / Goal:  04 of 18

Song by: Peter Gabriel