Watched this old Jimmy Stewart western the other day. It appears that after the Hitchcock movie era Stewart went back and played in quite a few Westerns.
In this movie Stewart joined Walter Brennan as two men determined to take a herd of cattle to the town of Dawson in Northern Alaska to take advantages for the inflationary prices for beef.
They run into some bad characters on this trip and Stewart is actually on the run from a trumped up hanging charge.
Not a great movie, barely a good one. But for me Jimmy Stewart makes it worthwhile.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Temple Grandin
This HBO production about a woman named Temple Grandin who while autistic in a time when children who were autistic were often institutionalized is quite a story. The wife picked this one out though I admit I watched it.
Clare Danes starred in the movie and did a great job, making us forget she was Clare Danes. In the role she played an autistic woman who goes to high school, college and eventually is an expert in cows. Her ability to see things differently as she is perceptive to light and noise becomes an asset to her.
There are many interesting things in this movie not all will I give away here. First and sadly in my mind however is the fact that doctors told mothers that autism might be due to a mothers failure to bond with a child at the correct time.
A good movie
Clare Danes starred in the movie and did a great job, making us forget she was Clare Danes. In the role she played an autistic woman who goes to high school, college and eventually is an expert in cows. Her ability to see things differently as she is perceptive to light and noise becomes an asset to her.
There are many interesting things in this movie not all will I give away here. First and sadly in my mind however is the fact that doctors told mothers that autism might be due to a mothers failure to bond with a child at the correct time.
A good movie
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Raging Bull
Watched this movie tonight. I have heard references to it many times and decided that the time had come to watch it.
I liked the movie. It was good. Martin Scorsece is a great director and this movie, shot in black and white, tells the story of Jake Lamotta a middleweight fighter in the 40's and 50's.
Robert Deniro plays Lamotta and Joe Pesci his brother. Lamotta was a great fighter but a seriously flawed person with an, at least from the movie, an almost psychotic paranoia and lack of trust of anybody.
Watching the old classic movies however this movie as good as it was is more realistic perhaps, more language, more blood and guts but to me it becomes apparent that those new tools are crutches. Telling the same story with all character is much harder.
A very good movie. Well worth watching
I liked the movie. It was good. Martin Scorsece is a great director and this movie, shot in black and white, tells the story of Jake Lamotta a middleweight fighter in the 40's and 50's.
Robert Deniro plays Lamotta and Joe Pesci his brother. Lamotta was a great fighter but a seriously flawed person with an, at least from the movie, an almost psychotic paranoia and lack of trust of anybody.
Watching the old classic movies however this movie as good as it was is more realistic perhaps, more language, more blood and guts but to me it becomes apparent that those new tools are crutches. Telling the same story with all character is much harder.
A very good movie. Well worth watching
Guess Whose Coming to Dinner
This classic movie from 1967 seems in many ways dated. However one can appreciate easily how controversial the movie was then. When we think about the conversations that parents have today, perhaps their children are coming out to them, or they are bringing home a partner of a different race.
These questions still bring distress to most parents.
In the movie Sidney Poitier, Spencer Tracy, and Katherine Hepburn star. Tracy and Hepburn as the parents of a young woman who brings home a black gentleman who she is love with and plans to marry.
Her parents are staunch liberals so face a true test of what they have preached in terms of equality.
Of course in this movie Poitier plays a Dr who is a very accomplished individual. This is much different than what many parents might face today. Still the message was delivered and the movie is good.
Perhaps the best parts are the Priest who is a family friend and has a good sense of humor and ethics about the whole thing and Isabel Sanford as the black maid who disagrees with the whole idea of an interracial relationship.
A good movie, perhaps a little dated. Still worth watching and Tracy and Hepburn were wonderful.
These questions still bring distress to most parents.
In the movie Sidney Poitier, Spencer Tracy, and Katherine Hepburn star. Tracy and Hepburn as the parents of a young woman who brings home a black gentleman who she is love with and plans to marry.
Her parents are staunch liberals so face a true test of what they have preached in terms of equality.
Of course in this movie Poitier plays a Dr who is a very accomplished individual. This is much different than what many parents might face today. Still the message was delivered and the movie is good.
Perhaps the best parts are the Priest who is a family friend and has a good sense of humor and ethics about the whole thing and Isabel Sanford as the black maid who disagrees with the whole idea of an interracial relationship.
A good movie, perhaps a little dated. Still worth watching and Tracy and Hepburn were wonderful.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
WWII in HD - The Air War
This two hour addition to the collection released by the History Channel centers on the Air War in Europe and the exploits of the 8th Air Force. Told through the eyes and memories of 4 men, one of whom was a Stars and Stripes reporter at the time named Andy Rooney ( yes that one) this is a wonderful history.
The attrition rate of these men in these battle groups was astronomical. Eventually to make sure that the Luftwaffe was a minimal force and that the Allies controlled the skies by D Day the mission changed. Bombers became bait and the fighters that initially escorted the bombers so that they could deliver their loads and escaped now accepted their primary goal as being to destroy the German fighters. If American bombers went down this was an acceptable loss. Think about being a member of a bomber crew that has to accomplish 25 missions knowing you are not much more than bait.
The courage of these men is a marvel. I read a comment on an earlier program perhaps it was Band of Brothers. How did they do it. They told themselves they were dead the minute they set foot in battle. Their was no expectation of living only of being brave and having what Hemingway would call a spectacular death.
A wonderful show. Something all young people should watch and understand. I, for one, have serious doubts about how this country would react to an external threat in these modern times
The attrition rate of these men in these battle groups was astronomical. Eventually to make sure that the Luftwaffe was a minimal force and that the Allies controlled the skies by D Day the mission changed. Bombers became bait and the fighters that initially escorted the bombers so that they could deliver their loads and escaped now accepted their primary goal as being to destroy the German fighters. If American bombers went down this was an acceptable loss. Think about being a member of a bomber crew that has to accomplish 25 missions knowing you are not much more than bait.
The courage of these men is a marvel. I read a comment on an earlier program perhaps it was Band of Brothers. How did they do it. They told themselves they were dead the minute they set foot in battle. Their was no expectation of living only of being brave and having what Hemingway would call a spectacular death.
A wonderful show. Something all young people should watch and understand. I, for one, have serious doubts about how this country would react to an external threat in these modern times
Bob Dylan in America by Sean Wilentz
I was very interested in this book and my wife picked it up for me as a gift. She is ever so thoughtful like that. It is never hard to buy me a gift, just get me a book. Sean Wilentz is a very good author of historical biography and such and I have enjoyed his work.
With his love of Dylan and his music this should have been a match made in heaven. It was not.
Wilentz did what he advised he would do but in the book he took snapshots of various times in Dylan's career and some sections were frankly just about as interesting as those times in Dylan's career.
A whole chapter about Blind Willie McTell and Delia and the history behind the songs was most likely more than I or about anyone needed.
The book does have value. The tracing of Dylans roots back to Aaron Copland the the folk singers of the 1940's was very good and informative.
Perhaps the best sections were the chapter on the making of Blonde on Blonde as well as the section on the Rolling Thunder Revue period of 1975. There were sections early in the book where I could not put it down.
Maybe Wilentz made the perfect metaphor for Bob. After the first 15 years there is much less to be excited about. It should be noted that those first 15 years however were the greatest period of any songwriter in the rock and roll era.
With his love of Dylan and his music this should have been a match made in heaven. It was not.
Wilentz did what he advised he would do but in the book he took snapshots of various times in Dylan's career and some sections were frankly just about as interesting as those times in Dylan's career.
A whole chapter about Blind Willie McTell and Delia and the history behind the songs was most likely more than I or about anyone needed.
The book does have value. The tracing of Dylans roots back to Aaron Copland the the folk singers of the 1940's was very good and informative.
Perhaps the best sections were the chapter on the making of Blonde on Blonde as well as the section on the Rolling Thunder Revue period of 1975. There were sections early in the book where I could not put it down.
Maybe Wilentz made the perfect metaphor for Bob. After the first 15 years there is much less to be excited about. It should be noted that those first 15 years however were the greatest period of any songwriter in the rock and roll era.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow
This was quite a book. Long and very thick reading. As biographies go it was a difficult one to muddle through. But the reward was there.
Of all the forefathers perhaps only George Washington had more of an impact on his country and many feel for his long standing efforts to establish the United States on solid financial footing Washington may have even stood beneath Hamilton.
Hamilton had flaws, he was impulsive, made mistakes in his marriage, and was defensive in the extreme.
We have all heard the story of the duel that ended his life. Much talk takes place in the book about affairs of honor and the culture which fostered duels. It is interesting and for us at this juncture in our society we do find it easy to understand.
Last year I read a biography of Aaron Burr and it too told a good tale. In both cases the authors are more sympathetic to their subjects than their opponents. This is to be expected. Still I think that Chernow does a good job playing straight with the facts. Nancy Isenburg writing of Burr was a little more one sided. Or of course it could be that I feel this way for having read the Hamilton book most recently.
Perhaps the best historical judgment on Hamilton are his battles with everyone with the exception of Washington. It would seem that he was difficult at best and could alienate people on both sides of the party system. Jefferson, Adams and Madison all considered him a scoundrel and Monroe felt no better.
A rewarding book. Very well done
A fulfilling read.
Of all the forefathers perhaps only George Washington had more of an impact on his country and many feel for his long standing efforts to establish the United States on solid financial footing Washington may have even stood beneath Hamilton.
Hamilton had flaws, he was impulsive, made mistakes in his marriage, and was defensive in the extreme.
We have all heard the story of the duel that ended his life. Much talk takes place in the book about affairs of honor and the culture which fostered duels. It is interesting and for us at this juncture in our society we do find it easy to understand.
Last year I read a biography of Aaron Burr and it too told a good tale. In both cases the authors are more sympathetic to their subjects than their opponents. This is to be expected. Still I think that Chernow does a good job playing straight with the facts. Nancy Isenburg writing of Burr was a little more one sided. Or of course it could be that I feel this way for having read the Hamilton book most recently.
Perhaps the best historical judgment on Hamilton are his battles with everyone with the exception of Washington. It would seem that he was difficult at best and could alienate people on both sides of the party system. Jefferson, Adams and Madison all considered him a scoundrel and Monroe felt no better.
A rewarding book. Very well done
A fulfilling read.
The John Lennon Collection by John Lennon
Yesterday was the 30th anniversary of the death of John Lennon. I guess the correct term is the murder of John Lennon.
I was 15 when he died and has he had been silent in my formative rock and roll years he was at that time the Beatle I knew the least about. That would soon change of course. I remember that I was getting back with a girlfriend that I had been on and off with that winter. Starting Over was our song the second or third time around. Seems kind of silly now.
I remember the Today show that next morning being all about Lennon. I did not know his importance then but soon learned and each year in my life it becomes more and more apparent the legacy he left us.
I have had this collection for quite some time. This year John's solo catalog has been remastered and repackaged and it has added more spotlight to the man and his music.
In this 30th anniversary we see films, we see the Monday night football announcement, we remember and for those of us who barely remember we wish we did.
In the end however it is not about the bed in, the peace marches, bigger than Jesus Christ or anything else.
It is about the music. The wonderful music. The Beatles music transcends time. Young children love it, right away at the age of three or four or five. Teenagers love it. The Beatles sold more records in the first decade of the twentieth century than any other musical act. Think about that.
After the Beatles John made some wonderful music. This album is a collection of some of those. As I write this post I listen to the music. # 9 Dream, Instant Karma, Mind Games, Jealous Guy, Imagine, of course the Double Fantasy tracks and even in this holiday season Happy Xmas.
He was only a person. Only a man. A flawed man surely. As we all are. But if one is judged by the depth of feelings of those who miss him surely John was a person who if not changed the world he changed people. My son is a better person for knowing his music. I believe this.
Can you miss people you never met. I think you can.
We miss John. I miss John.
I tell my wife, my second wife who I met at age 42 that I feel cheated that I did not know her sooner. The music lovers feel the same about John. We feel cheated from what he might have given us had he not died.
Still perhaps it is a little greedy on our part. Could we really ask for anything more than he gave us.
I was 15 when he died and has he had been silent in my formative rock and roll years he was at that time the Beatle I knew the least about. That would soon change of course. I remember that I was getting back with a girlfriend that I had been on and off with that winter. Starting Over was our song the second or third time around. Seems kind of silly now.
I remember the Today show that next morning being all about Lennon. I did not know his importance then but soon learned and each year in my life it becomes more and more apparent the legacy he left us.
I have had this collection for quite some time. This year John's solo catalog has been remastered and repackaged and it has added more spotlight to the man and his music.
In this 30th anniversary we see films, we see the Monday night football announcement, we remember and for those of us who barely remember we wish we did.
In the end however it is not about the bed in, the peace marches, bigger than Jesus Christ or anything else.
It is about the music. The wonderful music. The Beatles music transcends time. Young children love it, right away at the age of three or four or five. Teenagers love it. The Beatles sold more records in the first decade of the twentieth century than any other musical act. Think about that.
After the Beatles John made some wonderful music. This album is a collection of some of those. As I write this post I listen to the music. # 9 Dream, Instant Karma, Mind Games, Jealous Guy, Imagine, of course the Double Fantasy tracks and even in this holiday season Happy Xmas.
He was only a person. Only a man. A flawed man surely. As we all are. But if one is judged by the depth of feelings of those who miss him surely John was a person who if not changed the world he changed people. My son is a better person for knowing his music. I believe this.
Can you miss people you never met. I think you can.
We miss John. I miss John.
I tell my wife, my second wife who I met at age 42 that I feel cheated that I did not know her sooner. The music lovers feel the same about John. We feel cheated from what he might have given us had he not died.
Still perhaps it is a little greedy on our part. Could we really ask for anything more than he gave us.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald
This book is considered one of the greatest works of fiction of the twentieth century. Some lists have it first, virtually all have it in the top ten. My son was recently assigned this book for his class so I chose to read it myself.
I like to consider myself a lover of literature. I believe I am. This book was not a great book by my estimation. While it does perhaps show a picture of society in New York in the nineteen twenties it is a small picture and not a diverse one.
Everyone who has read the book knows about the symbolism of the green light, and we are told that it is a novel that talks about upward mobility and the dreams we aspire to.
I just think the novel is a short story about a group of unlikable characters. A couple lines are clear to remember, for me the greatest is " and we drove on through the night to our deaths"
After reading I did some research about theoretical meanings of the symbolism in the book.
I am sure it is a weakness in me. I am a pretty black and white guy. Hemingway appeals to me in ways Gatsby does not but perhaps i miss the symbolism in Hemingway as well and taking the story at face value is not the best course.
Either way for me this novel did not live up to expectations.
I like to consider myself a lover of literature. I believe I am. This book was not a great book by my estimation. While it does perhaps show a picture of society in New York in the nineteen twenties it is a small picture and not a diverse one.
Everyone who has read the book knows about the symbolism of the green light, and we are told that it is a novel that talks about upward mobility and the dreams we aspire to.
I just think the novel is a short story about a group of unlikable characters. A couple lines are clear to remember, for me the greatest is " and we drove on through the night to our deaths"
After reading I did some research about theoretical meanings of the symbolism in the book.
I am sure it is a weakness in me. I am a pretty black and white guy. Hemingway appeals to me in ways Gatsby does not but perhaps i miss the symbolism in Hemingway as well and taking the story at face value is not the best course.
Either way for me this novel did not live up to expectations.
Billy Elliott
My wife got this movie from Netflix. She said she had seen it long ago and enjoyed it. Certainly on the surface does not appear a movie that would be in my zone as it tells the tale of a boy in a Welsh mining town whose father and brother are on strike from a coal mine, his mother has died and he has a love of ...dance.
As one can imagine any boy loving ballet is a stretch, in a small town certainly.
In the beginning his Dad gives him money for boxing lessons which he ends up spending on ballet lessons. It is easy to imagine his Dads reaction to this when it is discovered by his Dad.
The other story in the movie is the story of the strke and the hatred in the small town between those who stick with the strike and those who do not. Being a union man myself the idea of scabbing is an extreme one.
On a Christmas night after breaking into the the local boxing ring to practice his dance, he had furtively been taking lessons from a teacher who feeling sorry for his situation gave him lessons for free, and is Dad discovers him. Caught he starts dancing and his Dad sees that he does have talent.
How his Dad does find the money to get him to an audition for the Ballet school in London and his audition process make up the rest of the movie.
An unusual subject but a good movie with very good character development
As one can imagine any boy loving ballet is a stretch, in a small town certainly.
In the beginning his Dad gives him money for boxing lessons which he ends up spending on ballet lessons. It is easy to imagine his Dads reaction to this when it is discovered by his Dad.
The other story in the movie is the story of the strke and the hatred in the small town between those who stick with the strike and those who do not. Being a union man myself the idea of scabbing is an extreme one.
On a Christmas night after breaking into the the local boxing ring to practice his dance, he had furtively been taking lessons from a teacher who feeling sorry for his situation gave him lessons for free, and is Dad discovers him. Caught he starts dancing and his Dad sees that he does have talent.
How his Dad does find the money to get him to an audition for the Ballet school in London and his audition process make up the rest of the movie.
An unusual subject but a good movie with very good character development
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Casablanca
On a cold Saturday morning with the kids still sleeping, the dogs quiet and the wife out at craft fairs I took the time to watch this movie that is perpetually rated as one of the best ever.
Humphrey Bogart and Ingemar Bergmann as a couple who meet for a second time in Casablanca.
The story is rather complex but suffice to say wartime intrigue, spies, Nazi, French vichy leaders and non Vichy leaders.
The famous lines from the movie are all there of course but perhaps the most stirring moment for me was when the band at Cafe American is instructed to play the Marseilles in conflict with the German gestapo singing the German anthem.
Visually not as stunning as favorites of mine to come later. But a wonderful movie. Truly as good as expected.
Humphrey Bogart and Ingemar Bergmann as a couple who meet for a second time in Casablanca.
The story is rather complex but suffice to say wartime intrigue, spies, Nazi, French vichy leaders and non Vichy leaders.
The famous lines from the movie are all there of course but perhaps the most stirring moment for me was when the band at Cafe American is instructed to play the Marseilles in conflict with the German gestapo singing the German anthem.
Visually not as stunning as favorites of mine to come later. But a wonderful movie. Truly as good as expected.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Date Night
Another movie of my wife's choice last night from Netflix. We watched a movie on a Thursday night, this be a daring event on a schoolnight after the kids were in bed. Well all the kids save my oldest who continued to blast the television from the living room.
Steve Carell is very funny and Tina Fey has become the sexy librarian it is ok to think is funny and cute. This movie started out funny and certain pieces were funny.
For example the scenes prior to the plot takeoff were cute and identifiable. The scenes when they are dining out and play a couples game of trying to come up with a " story" about the other couples in the restaurant was funny both times.
However the movie, a case of mistaken identity gone crazy becomes implausible in the extreme. I can suspend disbelief in an action movie but do not go to many for that reason, and I can suspend it in a comedy when a putz actor ends up with a supermodel but to suspend belief in an action comedy movie proved a bit much.
The movie was fine but the only part I would remember and talk to my brethren about would be Ray Liotta's scene as a mob boss. Predictable yes, but any nod to Good Fellas is good with me.
Steve Carell is very funny and Tina Fey has become the sexy librarian it is ok to think is funny and cute. This movie started out funny and certain pieces were funny.
For example the scenes prior to the plot takeoff were cute and identifiable. The scenes when they are dining out and play a couples game of trying to come up with a " story" about the other couples in the restaurant was funny both times.
However the movie, a case of mistaken identity gone crazy becomes implausible in the extreme. I can suspend disbelief in an action movie but do not go to many for that reason, and I can suspend it in a comedy when a putz actor ends up with a supermodel but to suspend belief in an action comedy movie proved a bit much.
The movie was fine but the only part I would remember and talk to my brethren about would be Ray Liotta's scene as a mob boss. Predictable yes, but any nod to Good Fellas is good with me.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Tom Petty/ Refugee
Driving somewhere the other day this song came on the Classic Rock radio station i often frequent. The truth become self evident...this is a great song. It was a great song 30 years ago and still is.
Tom Petty who in later years described his song writing approach as " Lets get to the chorus" crafted a song here that has some of the most perfect licks you will ever hear in rock and roll.
Tom Petty with this song took many of fans, one could say, " they were tied up, taken away and held for ransom."
Great song.
Tom Petty who in later years described his song writing approach as " Lets get to the chorus" crafted a song here that has some of the most perfect licks you will ever hear in rock and roll.
Tom Petty with this song took many of fans, one could say, " they were tied up, taken away and held for ransom."
Great song.
The Old Man and the Sea
I watched the movie version of this movie yesterday on Turner Classic Movies yesterday. One of Hemingway's great books the book did not offer much for a movie to be made of on first look.
However it did become a good movie. Spencer Tracy played the old man and the movie is just as the book was. A simple tale of a man, a fisherman in Cuba, who has not been succeeding in the last months who finally on day like all the others hooks a big marlin. The fish pulls him out to sea way out into the current, far away from land. Truthfully too far away from the shore for such a small skiff.
The lure of the big fish is too great. On the third day the fish starts to surface and as the fish loses the capacity to keep below surface he starts to pull it in.
My son asked me if there was a metaphor in the story. There may be several. Of course one can compare the story with Moby Dick and the hunt for the great white whale. One can also remember the story of Icarus and remember the repeated speech of the fisherman " that he just went out too far. Much as Icarus went to close to the sun.
In the end after catching the fish he loses it too the sharks as he brings his catch in. The villagers in measuring the carcass still tell him about what a fish it was and there must be some acknowledgment of his skill.
The man says that are never defeated only destroyed and thus one can infer that as long as he is not destroyed he is not defeated.
One we should all remember in times of trouble.
However it did become a good movie. Spencer Tracy played the old man and the movie is just as the book was. A simple tale of a man, a fisherman in Cuba, who has not been succeeding in the last months who finally on day like all the others hooks a big marlin. The fish pulls him out to sea way out into the current, far away from land. Truthfully too far away from the shore for such a small skiff.
The lure of the big fish is too great. On the third day the fish starts to surface and as the fish loses the capacity to keep below surface he starts to pull it in.
My son asked me if there was a metaphor in the story. There may be several. Of course one can compare the story with Moby Dick and the hunt for the great white whale. One can also remember the story of Icarus and remember the repeated speech of the fisherman " that he just went out too far. Much as Icarus went to close to the sun.
In the end after catching the fish he loses it too the sharks as he brings his catch in. The villagers in measuring the carcass still tell him about what a fish it was and there must be some acknowledgment of his skill.
The man says that are never defeated only destroyed and thus one can infer that as long as he is not destroyed he is not defeated.
One we should all remember in times of trouble.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Due Date
Saturday evening my wife and I planned to go see the movie Love and Other Drugs. This was our first child free weekend in quite some time so I had promised my wife dinner and a movie like a real couple.
So upon looking at the movie listings we had missed the first showing and saw that the second one would not be showing until 10:00.
Ther are limits to our night out however so on a second look found that Due Date was showing at 9:15. So in the end we went to a movie that was more my speed than with all my good intent the other choice.
The movie was funny. It was crude and vulgar in places. A lot of Fbombs, many drug references and some sexual content though perhaps not what one would expect.
But I laughed. Out loud. Zach Galfinakas ( SIC ) is one of those actors such as Will Ferrell that is funny no matter what he is doing and he made this movie much the same.
Robert Downey Jr. who I cannot recall seeing in many movies was quite good playing a Type A person befuddled by Zack.
You will laugh. You will lose brain cells. You will not get smarter. You will however laugh. I did. Out loud
So upon looking at the movie listings we had missed the first showing and saw that the second one would not be showing until 10:00.
Ther are limits to our night out however so on a second look found that Due Date was showing at 9:15. So in the end we went to a movie that was more my speed than with all my good intent the other choice.
The movie was funny. It was crude and vulgar in places. A lot of Fbombs, many drug references and some sexual content though perhaps not what one would expect.
But I laughed. Out loud. Zach Galfinakas ( SIC ) is one of those actors such as Will Ferrell that is funny no matter what he is doing and he made this movie much the same.
Robert Downey Jr. who I cannot recall seeing in many movies was quite good playing a Type A person befuddled by Zack.
You will laugh. You will lose brain cells. You will not get smarter. You will however laugh. I did. Out loud
Glory Daze
This show promoted for weeks during the TBS broadcast of the baseball playoffs began a few weeks ago.
Advertised as telling the story of 4 Indiana teens going to college in 1986 the time capsule element certainly had an attraction for me.
Fraternity life, pot smoking, drinking, dumb professors, pretty girls, all the plotlines we have seen in countless Animal House ripoffs have not changed.
I have laughed at a few moments of this show but there is not one original thing in the first two episodes. Truly I cannot speak to one surprising thing in this show.
Which is not to say I should. Some shows are just clones and are funny based on those merits. This show is funny, to a small point. I am not sure how many episodes I will watch, but at least I will not have to stretch my mind to view one.
Advertised as telling the story of 4 Indiana teens going to college in 1986 the time capsule element certainly had an attraction for me.
Fraternity life, pot smoking, drinking, dumb professors, pretty girls, all the plotlines we have seen in countless Animal House ripoffs have not changed.
I have laughed at a few moments of this show but there is not one original thing in the first two episodes. Truly I cannot speak to one surprising thing in this show.
Which is not to say I should. Some shows are just clones and are funny based on those merits. This show is funny, to a small point. I am not sure how many episodes I will watch, but at least I will not have to stretch my mind to view one.
CBS Sunday Morning
Keeping in line with the previous post this Sunday morning magazine show is the best of its kind as well. Years ago Charles Kuralt was the perfect host but now Charles Osgod with his bow tie has become the one we look to.
The stories are short, sometimes the episodes are themed as in the Pre Thanksgiving food week, but they are always well done. Bill Giest offers a weekly humorous segment. This much like 60 Minutes is a show I check each week.
My children even enjoy some of the stories, my daughter a budding chef and food critic enjoyed the food issue with me.
The stories are short, sometimes the episodes are themed as in the Pre Thanksgiving food week, but they are always well done. Bill Giest offers a weekly humorous segment. This much like 60 Minutes is a show I check each week.
My children even enjoy some of the stories, my daughter a budding chef and food critic enjoyed the food issue with me.
60 Minutes
A certain person watches 60 Minutes. I find that the longer the show is on the more I watch it which I guess makes sense. It's demographic has always skewed older. My friends and I used to always talk about various stories that we saw on Monday morning.
The fact is the interviewers are wonderful. Not every story appeals. Last nights for example only the story about Justice John Paul Stevens interested me greatly. But it was well done. I find that Scott Pelley often is the interviewer whose stories I enjoy most. Now is that the result of the interviewer or that he often gets the subjects I appreciate I do not know.
Morley Safer still interviews. He was reporting from Vietnam in the sixties, what a career he has had. Andy Rooney still has a minute or two to act like the grumpy old man I picture myself being someday.
The show works. I check what the articles are to be each week. How many shows do we check on each week. This is one of them.
The fact is the interviewers are wonderful. Not every story appeals. Last nights for example only the story about Justice John Paul Stevens interested me greatly. But it was well done. I find that Scott Pelley often is the interviewer whose stories I enjoy most. Now is that the result of the interviewer or that he often gets the subjects I appreciate I do not know.
Morley Safer still interviews. He was reporting from Vietnam in the sixties, what a career he has had. Andy Rooney still has a minute or two to act like the grumpy old man I picture myself being someday.
The show works. I check what the articles are to be each week. How many shows do we check on each week. This is one of them.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Governor Reagan by Lou Cannon
As I continue to read biographies of the Presidents I chose Lou Cannon's work on Reagan. This book was quite good. Cannon clearly admires Reagan but is not above acknowledging mistakes and errors when and where he feels they are present.
Learning about Reagan's youth is interesting. As a lifeguard he saved many lives, clearly he was good at it. He had a winning personality even when young but also then a personality which made him seem superficial, never fully exposed and trusting.
As he moved to Hollywood and began his career in acting he had success instantly. His movie contract at one time and one negotiation made him the highest paid contract in the business. Later as his movie career was winding down an as President of the SAG he made some deals on movie rights that seemed to be a bit of a conflict of interest later.
As Governor and later in his campaigns for President in 1976 and 1980 Reagan did a much better job than he is given credit for. However he also was not the raging conservative Republicans love to make him out to be. He might have had those ideas, but he was above all things a pragmatist that was a firm believer in getting some of what you wanted rather than stand on ideals and accomplish nothing.
Interestingly he is described as making good decisions but his decisions could be hampered if the right information for his choices was given to him. That is he did not always seek out more information than what was given. This would lead to an ability to be manipulated by his subordinates which depending on whose stories you believe did happen from time to time.
This is an interesting read and I look forward to the next book in the series.
Learning about Reagan's youth is interesting. As a lifeguard he saved many lives, clearly he was good at it. He had a winning personality even when young but also then a personality which made him seem superficial, never fully exposed and trusting.
As he moved to Hollywood and began his career in acting he had success instantly. His movie contract at one time and one negotiation made him the highest paid contract in the business. Later as his movie career was winding down an as President of the SAG he made some deals on movie rights that seemed to be a bit of a conflict of interest later.
As Governor and later in his campaigns for President in 1976 and 1980 Reagan did a much better job than he is given credit for. However he also was not the raging conservative Republicans love to make him out to be. He might have had those ideas, but he was above all things a pragmatist that was a firm believer in getting some of what you wanted rather than stand on ideals and accomplish nothing.
Interestingly he is described as making good decisions but his decisions could be hampered if the right information for his choices was given to him. That is he did not always seek out more information than what was given. This would lead to an ability to be manipulated by his subordinates which depending on whose stories you believe did happen from time to time.
This is an interesting read and I look forward to the next book in the series.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
What the Gospels Mean by Gary Wills
Gary Wills rights historical books but also writes often on the subject of religion. He is very literate and offers good ideas on the Gospels.
I am a reader, a seeker of knowledge in all things. I believe in God and consider myself saved by Jesus. I pray everyday.
But I do not understand it all and accept that I will not in this lifetime. I read that the Catholic church now accepts the concept of Evolution. Reading Jerry Coyne's " Why Evolution is True" one cannot help to have a thought on the truth of the science timetable of the age of the Earth etc.
Many take the Bible as the written word of God but evidence lies to the followers writing the New Testament. This does not dissipate their truthfulness.
Scientists of many colors believe in God. Their is a balance. I do not pretend to know the balance but I follow that.
I believe in God. I have read books that theorize that a reading of the Hebrew Genesis realizes that the verb forms indicate that we could be in the seventh day currently and this might explain the difference in time between those who state the age of the world as 10000 years approximately and the billions of years Scientists state.
And of course to literal people like me the fact that The Big Bang says all material came my question is who created the material in the Big Bang. In the end something just was. And if something just was you have to have a creator.
So I believe. Gary Wills is an excellent choice for those who seek to know more and learn more about their own beliefs.
In the book we learn about the creation of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John and after reading it one has an understanding of the perception of each and the " specialness" of each story.
I am a reader, a seeker of knowledge in all things. I believe in God and consider myself saved by Jesus. I pray everyday.
But I do not understand it all and accept that I will not in this lifetime. I read that the Catholic church now accepts the concept of Evolution. Reading Jerry Coyne's " Why Evolution is True" one cannot help to have a thought on the truth of the science timetable of the age of the Earth etc.
Many take the Bible as the written word of God but evidence lies to the followers writing the New Testament. This does not dissipate their truthfulness.
Scientists of many colors believe in God. Their is a balance. I do not pretend to know the balance but I follow that.
I believe in God. I have read books that theorize that a reading of the Hebrew Genesis realizes that the verb forms indicate that we could be in the seventh day currently and this might explain the difference in time between those who state the age of the world as 10000 years approximately and the billions of years Scientists state.
And of course to literal people like me the fact that The Big Bang says all material came my question is who created the material in the Big Bang. In the end something just was. And if something just was you have to have a creator.
So I believe. Gary Wills is an excellent choice for those who seek to know more and learn more about their own beliefs.
In the book we learn about the creation of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John and after reading it one has an understanding of the perception of each and the " specialness" of each story.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
The Promise by Bruce Springsteen
I have spent a good portion of this week listening to the new collection of songs from Bruce Springsteen. These songs are among those that were recorded in that period of time between the release of Born to Run and Darkness on the Edge of Town. This along with The River, to me make up the triple play of Springsteen's best work. For the record Nebraska might be his best stand alone album.
Being that this was an incredibly fruitful period of time for him it should be no surprise that there is ample music that can be released from that period of time and make one wonder why it was not released then.
This album includes Breakaway, One Way Street, Spanish Eyes and City of Night but they all are Springsteen songs and Bruce rarely has a clunker.
Most Springsteen fans have The Promise from one bootleg or another but here is an an authorized release of the single as well as Springsteen studio versions of Fire and Because the Night ( songs Springsteen gave to others) which only appeared previously on live collections.
A great set, a very good album
Being that this was an incredibly fruitful period of time for him it should be no surprise that there is ample music that can be released from that period of time and make one wonder why it was not released then.
This album includes Breakaway, One Way Street, Spanish Eyes and City of Night but they all are Springsteen songs and Bruce rarely has a clunker.
Most Springsteen fans have The Promise from one bootleg or another but here is an an authorized release of the single as well as Springsteen studio versions of Fire and Because the Night ( songs Springsteen gave to others) which only appeared previously on live collections.
A great set, a very good album
Thursday, November 18, 2010
A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
I first read this book in the 10th grade. It was assigned reading by our English teacher. It might have been the first classic assigned to me that I actually read cover to cover and had some interest in. Later that year we read To Kill a Mockingbird and The Catcher in the Rye. Miss Kelly was not one to fool around with less than great books.
There are great books written today, every year in fact and I read them. Not many three combined books of any time frame would rival what these three books offer.
As an adult I have fallen in love with Hemingway's work. For Whom the Bell Tolls is a fantastic read and his collection of short stories may be my favorite book of all. This book however, A Farewell to Arms, ages very gracefully and may, perhaps only because I have read it most recently, surpass For Whom the Bell Tolls.
Set in WWI centering on an American Captain Henry who joins the Italian army in the ambulance service. He is wounded, convalesces, and then is involved in the huge Italian retreat. The actions seen and taken in that retreat disillusion him of the glory of war.
He also romances an English nurse Catherine Barkley and the book tells of their romance. This book might have been seen as controversial in the early 1920's but it stands today as a great piece of literature telling of a specific war and action as only Hemingway could.
This book is close to a 10.
There are great books written today, every year in fact and I read them. Not many three combined books of any time frame would rival what these three books offer.
As an adult I have fallen in love with Hemingway's work. For Whom the Bell Tolls is a fantastic read and his collection of short stories may be my favorite book of all. This book however, A Farewell to Arms, ages very gracefully and may, perhaps only because I have read it most recently, surpass For Whom the Bell Tolls.
Set in WWI centering on an American Captain Henry who joins the Italian army in the ambulance service. He is wounded, convalesces, and then is involved in the huge Italian retreat. The actions seen and taken in that retreat disillusion him of the glory of war.
He also romances an English nurse Catherine Barkley and the book tells of their romance. This book might have been seen as controversial in the early 1920's but it stands today as a great piece of literature telling of a specific war and action as only Hemingway could.
This book is close to a 10.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
To Hell and Back
This movie from 1955 tells the story of Audie Murphy, the most decorated soldier in WWII. In the movie Murphy plays himself, a bit of a stretch as he was 28 at the time and portraying himself from the age of 16 to age 19.
Murphy promoted over and over for his acts of valor and destined to perhaps attend West Point with the military's brass good wishes was injured at the end of his service and when discharged had every medal that could be awarded as well as several from France and Belgium.
The movie is standard B movie fare, certainly not a big budget film. Still it is told effectively and a few scenes stand out such as when Murphy stays behind his retreating comrades to call in air hits and also when he climbs aboard a disabled tank and uses the machine gun to take out advancing German troops.
Murphy was a hero. A well told movie for a lazy Sunday afternoon.
Murphy promoted over and over for his acts of valor and destined to perhaps attend West Point with the military's brass good wishes was injured at the end of his service and when discharged had every medal that could be awarded as well as several from France and Belgium.
The movie is standard B movie fare, certainly not a big budget film. Still it is told effectively and a few scenes stand out such as when Murphy stays behind his retreating comrades to call in air hits and also when he climbs aboard a disabled tank and uses the machine gun to take out advancing German troops.
Murphy was a hero. A well told movie for a lazy Sunday afternoon.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Giant
This movie made in 1956 and nominated for 9 Oscars was on Turner Classic Movies a week or so ago. I DVR'd and watched in a couple installments.
The movie holds up well. Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor play the opposites attract couple and James Dean in his last role plays a typical Dean role as a misfit ranch hand.
The movie is long at 3 hours but moves well. Telling the tale of the Benedict family over a 30 year window we see the characters develop and change.
A recurring theme in the movie is the established and accepted prejuidice against Mexicans in that era.
james Dean is wonderful in his role.
The first half of the movie moves at a stately pace, the second half seems at times to jump time frames fairly quickly with less storyline and more just short views of the characters at specific times.
Not really a Western, no great panorama's here but more a big movie with big stars told on the big screen.
A good movie
The movie holds up well. Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor play the opposites attract couple and James Dean in his last role plays a typical Dean role as a misfit ranch hand.
The movie is long at 3 hours but moves well. Telling the tale of the Benedict family over a 30 year window we see the characters develop and change.
A recurring theme in the movie is the established and accepted prejuidice against Mexicans in that era.
james Dean is wonderful in his role.
The first half of the movie moves at a stately pace, the second half seems at times to jump time frames fairly quickly with less storyline and more just short views of the characters at specific times.
Not really a Western, no great panorama's here but more a big movie with big stars told on the big screen.
A good movie
The Very Best of Otis Redding
Otis Redding died at the age of 26. I must confess until a short time ago the only Otis Redding I had in my collection was Sittin on the Dock of the Bay. A great song.
Now that I have listened to more Otis Redding and listened to this collection I realize that as great a song as that is it is not the best in his collection or even very representational of his musical style.
I have a playlist on my IPOD for what I call Motown though I am not sure it is all Motown specifically but it is all that kind of music. Marvin Gaye, Aretha, Jackie Wilson and others lead the way. Otis now joins that list.
The voice was purely perfect. " These Arms of Mine, Try a Little Tenderness, and I've Been Loving You Too Long may be three of the sweetest slow songs to dance to you will ever here.
What a gift to sing like that.
As they say in Animal House " Otis is my man" After listening to this music I can only be sad I took this long to find it and make sure that I pass it on to my music loving oldest son.
Now that I have listened to more Otis Redding and listened to this collection I realize that as great a song as that is it is not the best in his collection or even very representational of his musical style.
I have a playlist on my IPOD for what I call Motown though I am not sure it is all Motown specifically but it is all that kind of music. Marvin Gaye, Aretha, Jackie Wilson and others lead the way. Otis now joins that list.
The voice was purely perfect. " These Arms of Mine, Try a Little Tenderness, and I've Been Loving You Too Long may be three of the sweetest slow songs to dance to you will ever here.
What a gift to sing like that.
As they say in Animal House " Otis is my man" After listening to this music I can only be sad I took this long to find it and make sure that I pass it on to my music loving oldest son.
Anchorman
I laugh at Will Ferrell. I do not always feel intelligent doing so but I often laugh out loud.
Anchorman is a polarizing movie. It is in our house even. My former co-workers and I all having seen it found it to be one of the movies most used for quotes at the proper time.
These would include " Stay Classy", " I Love Lamp", " It's Science", " Loud Noises". and of course " Don't Pretend your not impressed".
By now most anyone who wants to has seen this movie. My wife says that she cannot even sit thru it, it is so dumb.
Dumb it is but with a humor that is just silly. As it was on TBS the other night we stopped and watched it. My boys who probably would do just as well not to hear so many penis jokes liked it.
The scene when Ron gets " excited" when talking to Christina Applegate's Veronica made my youngest son cry.
For me the memories of various times when my friends and I used the quotes were an added bonus.
So what is this movie. Smart? No but it is witty in places. Intelligent? No. Redeeming in anyway? No.
Funny? Yes and in places laugh out loud funny which for me is a true test.
Anchorman is a polarizing movie. It is in our house even. My former co-workers and I all having seen it found it to be one of the movies most used for quotes at the proper time.
These would include " Stay Classy", " I Love Lamp", " It's Science", " Loud Noises". and of course " Don't Pretend your not impressed".
By now most anyone who wants to has seen this movie. My wife says that she cannot even sit thru it, it is so dumb.
Dumb it is but with a humor that is just silly. As it was on TBS the other night we stopped and watched it. My boys who probably would do just as well not to hear so many penis jokes liked it.
The scene when Ron gets " excited" when talking to Christina Applegate's Veronica made my youngest son cry.
For me the memories of various times when my friends and I used the quotes were an added bonus.
So what is this movie. Smart? No but it is witty in places. Intelligent? No. Redeeming in anyway? No.
Funny? Yes and in places laugh out loud funny which for me is a true test.
In the Dark Streets Shineth by David McCullough
This very small gift book which comes with a DVD tells the story of Christmas 1941.
Three small stories set the tone. The story of the Christmas carols " O Little Town of Bethlehem" and " I'll Be Home For Christmas"
When one thinks of the setting of the latter, soldiers away from home, fighting overseas missing their loved ones there may not be another song as moving.
The other story told is that of the visit if Winston Churchill to Washington at Christmas 1941 and the small story of that Christmas Eve ceremony held. The official program for the event does not mention Churchill as his visit was top secret as the head of Great Britian crossing the Atlantic was a significant security risk.
The book is tiny, the stories small but heartfelt, the pictures from the era quite compelling.
$19.95 would be hard to spend, you could read it standing at the bookstore in 5 minutes but from the library surely a worthwhile read for someone interested in what America faced and faced together. That in itself is a telling lesson for us today.
Three small stories set the tone. The story of the Christmas carols " O Little Town of Bethlehem" and " I'll Be Home For Christmas"
When one thinks of the setting of the latter, soldiers away from home, fighting overseas missing their loved ones there may not be another song as moving.
The other story told is that of the visit if Winston Churchill to Washington at Christmas 1941 and the small story of that Christmas Eve ceremony held. The official program for the event does not mention Churchill as his visit was top secret as the head of Great Britian crossing the Atlantic was a significant security risk.
The book is tiny, the stories small but heartfelt, the pictures from the era quite compelling.
$19.95 would be hard to spend, you could read it standing at the bookstore in 5 minutes but from the library surely a worthwhile read for someone interested in what America faced and faced together. That in itself is a telling lesson for us today.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Old Dogs
We watched this movie the other night on Netflix. Funny thing was I watched for 35 minutes and then asked my wife when Tim Allen was in the movie. She said no that is Wild Hogs so I was not thinking the right movie when we ordered this one up.
However the movie was cute in places. There were several spots where I actually laughed out loud which I do not often do at movies.
Robin Williams and his brand of physical comedy can be funny.
The scene where the two are in a resteraunt and Travolta's character starts to hit on the waitress coincides with when the twosome is recognized as members of the grandparents club is quite funny.
In the funniest, yes silliest scene, Williams and Travolta switch medicines leading to Williams character losing his depth perception which leads to the physical humor Williams knows best, and Travolta develops facial paralysis which in the scene is funnier than it sounds.
Williams character reunites with his children in the movie and it is heartfelt. The movie is not great, it is barely good but it was an acceptable family movie in a time where that in itself is hard to find.
However the movie was cute in places. There were several spots where I actually laughed out loud which I do not often do at movies.
Robin Williams and his brand of physical comedy can be funny.
The scene where the two are in a resteraunt and Travolta's character starts to hit on the waitress coincides with when the twosome is recognized as members of the grandparents club is quite funny.
In the funniest, yes silliest scene, Williams and Travolta switch medicines leading to Williams character losing his depth perception which leads to the physical humor Williams knows best, and Travolta develops facial paralysis which in the scene is funnier than it sounds.
Williams character reunites with his children in the movie and it is heartfelt. The movie is not great, it is barely good but it was an acceptable family movie in a time where that in itself is hard to find.
Monday, November 1, 2010
The Stand ( The Miniseries)
Having read this book long ago and actually having watched this miniseries when it was originally on years ago I did notice this being rerun monthly on SyFy Channel I chose to record it to watch the movie with my wife.
It holds up pretty well. Not as well as the book of course but the movie is good. Rob Lowe, Gary Sinise, , Molly Ringwald led a strong cast that includes Stephen King in his bit part is strong.
At eight hours long with commercials the movie takes it time to set up and deliver and it does deliver. The ending, a little supernatural but it had to be is strong.
Jamey Sheridan as Randall Flagg the evil presence in the movie is scary as can be. A great performance by him.
It holds up pretty well. Not as well as the book of course but the movie is good. Rob Lowe, Gary Sinise, , Molly Ringwald led a strong cast that includes Stephen King in his bit part is strong.
At eight hours long with commercials the movie takes it time to set up and deliver and it does deliver. The ending, a little supernatural but it had to be is strong.
Jamey Sheridan as Randall Flagg the evil presence in the movie is scary as can be. A great performance by him.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
The Wonder Years
The Wonder Years was a popular show in the late 80's and early 90's. I enjoyed the show at the time but now have been watching the reruns from the beginning since they debuted on the new Network Hub.
As we watch the show right now we are on the first season, Kevin is 12 in junior high and fighting the junior high battles.
I love this show. I am DVRing it each day and watching them all. I think the show is a great reflection on the 68-74 era. I look forward to watching them all again.
Dan Lauria as the father was great, he was the perfect father that most of us from that era remember.
Great show
As we watch the show right now we are on the first season, Kevin is 12 in junior high and fighting the junior high battles.
I love this show. I am DVRing it each day and watching them all. I think the show is a great reflection on the 68-74 era. I look forward to watching them all again.
Dan Lauria as the father was great, he was the perfect father that most of us from that era remember.
Great show
Monday, October 25, 2010
Invictus
We watched this movie Saturday night. Starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon, directed by Clint Eastwood it was well received last winter.
I thought the movie was good, not great. The movie was a little slow and for those not understanding of the history a little more backstory might have been beneficial. Why he was separated from Winnie etc.
Matt Damon was wonderful in his role, understated as it was, as the Captain of the Spring Bucks. The movie was Freeman's who with his voice, age and dignity can play any role bordering on God and Nelson Mandela was close to be a deity in those early days of black rule in South Africa.
The story centered around Rugby was interesting, the footage well shot and all in all a good movie.
I enjoyed it
I thought the movie was good, not great. The movie was a little slow and for those not understanding of the history a little more backstory might have been beneficial. Why he was separated from Winnie etc.
Matt Damon was wonderful in his role, understated as it was, as the Captain of the Spring Bucks. The movie was Freeman's who with his voice, age and dignity can play any role bordering on God and Nelson Mandela was close to be a deity in those early days of black rule in South Africa.
The story centered around Rugby was interesting, the footage well shot and all in all a good movie.
I enjoyed it
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway
This may be the best book by my favorite author. I am incredibly partial to Hemingway's short stories but this full length novel is amazing.
Robert Jordan an American College teacher is in Spain and has joined the movement against the Fascists. The movement being a communist movement. These are not the big bad communists of the late 40's and 50's, though one wonders how this book would have been received if released ten years later in that time frame, but the idealistic peasantry fighting against the fascism which begat Franco.
Joining a guerilla group behind the Fascist lines, tasked with a mission to blow a bridge we are with the characters for four days.
All the characters are well drawn. Pablo the guerilla band's leader who does not bless the mission as it he feels is too dangerous and will expose them, Maria, a young woman ravaged when her family was killed and still recovering, and Pablo's woman who is really the leader of the group, a big ugly faced Spanish woman who believes in the Republic with all her heart.
My favorite character is surely Anselmo however, an old man who in the Communist way acknowledges that there is no God anymore but wonders repeatedly if after the war when the Republic is in power if there shall not be some kind of public penance so that all the sins of the war can be washed away. He cries when he must kill a sentry though he performs his duty admirably. Like Hemingway's best male characters Anselmo is stout and decided in his actions, despite any internal dialogue he might feel.
Hemingway uses much internal dialogue with the main character Robert Jordan but it is the character of Anselmo who we see very little of his internal dialogue but by what we do see we feel his internal decision making much more vividly because of the simpleness of it. Robert Jordan thinks for pages on end, Anselmo just worries about his soul in short sentences. In the end is not that what we all do.
The ending is one of great dignity and forgive me manliness. A wonderful book.
Robert Jordan an American College teacher is in Spain and has joined the movement against the Fascists. The movement being a communist movement. These are not the big bad communists of the late 40's and 50's, though one wonders how this book would have been received if released ten years later in that time frame, but the idealistic peasantry fighting against the fascism which begat Franco.
Joining a guerilla group behind the Fascist lines, tasked with a mission to blow a bridge we are with the characters for four days.
All the characters are well drawn. Pablo the guerilla band's leader who does not bless the mission as it he feels is too dangerous and will expose them, Maria, a young woman ravaged when her family was killed and still recovering, and Pablo's woman who is really the leader of the group, a big ugly faced Spanish woman who believes in the Republic with all her heart.
My favorite character is surely Anselmo however, an old man who in the Communist way acknowledges that there is no God anymore but wonders repeatedly if after the war when the Republic is in power if there shall not be some kind of public penance so that all the sins of the war can be washed away. He cries when he must kill a sentry though he performs his duty admirably. Like Hemingway's best male characters Anselmo is stout and decided in his actions, despite any internal dialogue he might feel.
Hemingway uses much internal dialogue with the main character Robert Jordan but it is the character of Anselmo who we see very little of his internal dialogue but by what we do see we feel his internal decision making much more vividly because of the simpleness of it. Robert Jordan thinks for pages on end, Anselmo just worries about his soul in short sentences. In the end is not that what we all do.
The ending is one of great dignity and forgive me manliness. A wonderful book.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Evil Urges by My Morning Jacket
This summer we went to see Tom Petty in Mansfield Mass and this band was the opening act. So today Amazon which has a wonderful MP3 program featured the most recent My Morning Jacket album for 2.99.
So I bought this. I enjoyed them live, although I did not know any of the music beforehand. I was aware that they had a devoted fan base and from the crowd that became very evident. But I while liking the melodies, the solos and Jim Jones amazing range on his voice-----I did not know the music.
After today I now do and I am impressed. A couple of the songs are a little out there such as Highly Suspicious but also some of the songs are just intensely wonderful.
Highlights include I'm Amazed, Thank You Too, Smokin from Shootin and Touch Me I'm Going to Scream.
Perhaps an example of how much good music is out there. I have more than I will ever listen to, but it is true. I am glad each day to take joy out of new music. This album fits the bill.
So I bought this. I enjoyed them live, although I did not know any of the music beforehand. I was aware that they had a devoted fan base and from the crowd that became very evident. But I while liking the melodies, the solos and Jim Jones amazing range on his voice-----I did not know the music.
After today I now do and I am impressed. A couple of the songs are a little out there such as Highly Suspicious but also some of the songs are just intensely wonderful.
Highlights include I'm Amazed, Thank You Too, Smokin from Shootin and Touch Me I'm Going to Scream.
Perhaps an example of how much good music is out there. I have more than I will ever listen to, but it is true. I am glad each day to take joy out of new music. This album fits the bill.
Truman
This was an HBO movie about 15 years ago. It was one long before HBO started making the wonderful shows such as John Adams etc but it was still well done.
After having read the book the movie was for me a bit of a letdown as many details had to be left out and of course alot of background was missing.
Gary Sinise was very good in the movie but I found the makeup a little offputting. My understanding of history was that Truman was not as old looking as they made him out to be.
Still it was a good movie. Truman was a great President and left office very unpopular. The issue is that Truman made decisions that were right but not always popular. Presidents today always have their finger in the wind. Truman did not do that.
Truman is still my favorite President.
After having read the book the movie was for me a bit of a letdown as many details had to be left out and of course alot of background was missing.
Gary Sinise was very good in the movie but I found the makeup a little offputting. My understanding of history was that Truman was not as old looking as they made him out to be.
Still it was a good movie. Truman was a great President and left office very unpopular. The issue is that Truman made decisions that were right but not always popular. Presidents today always have their finger in the wind. Truman did not do that.
Truman is still my favorite President.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Step Brothers
Finding myself home alone on a Friday night for a bit I watched this movie last night. I like Will Ferrell, I found his performance in Elf to be perfect and his Anchorman as one of the great quote movies I have seen.
This movie had moments of funny, and I did enjoy it. It was not a classic or anything like it. Most days I would be embarrassed to watch it with anyone I knew. My wife saw the last half hour with me and thought it was stupid. It was.
Crude, indecent with too much groin humor it was not something I would watch again or even something I would watch with my sons when they get older and chuckle over the submersive but talented vulgarity--think of Animal House or even Wedding Crashers. This movie was not that good. It just was not.
I still love Will Ferrell though
This movie had moments of funny, and I did enjoy it. It was not a classic or anything like it. Most days I would be embarrassed to watch it with anyone I knew. My wife saw the last half hour with me and thought it was stupid. It was.
Crude, indecent with too much groin humor it was not something I would watch again or even something I would watch with my sons when they get older and chuckle over the submersive but talented vulgarity--think of Animal House or even Wedding Crashers. This movie was not that good. It just was not.
I still love Will Ferrell though
The Avett Brothers/ Live Volume 3
I had heard references to this band and new it was on the edge of popularity and a band with a huge cult following. It is always enjoyable to find a band not many other people know about. Last weekend on the Paladia Network the DVD of this concert was featured. So I had an opportunity to see them for myself. The concert was nothing short of spectacular.
So this Tuesday when the album of the same DVD was released it was an easy to decision to purchase. So many styles and influences are apparent in this band. I hear Simon and Garfunkel in the harmonies, early Counting Crows in the bounce and energy, and bluegrass and rockabilly influences as well.
Realizing that this band has made numerous albums as they widen their network of followers this live album is only I assume a short portion of the songs their long time fans know but with what I have heard this week they are a treasure.
Full scale commercial appeal is probably not in the cards for this group but that is not sad distinction. Top 40 has always been a wasteland and today it is worse than ever.
A few songs of particular importance are the frenetic Talk on Indolence and I Killed Sally's Lover, two songs which live you get to see a bouncing cello player which tells you all you need to know about the energy.
When I Drink, Shame and Kick Dream Heart are slightly less frenetic but bring different levels of bounce and enjoyment.
Clearly the masterpieces to me on this album are the most popular single song they have had I and You and Me ( a unique take on the I Love You constant in music), Murder in the City and the masterful Ballad of Love and Hate.
There are no bad songs and the concert end with Salvation Song is a sing along.
I went to see Tom Petty this summer and seeing the devotion of the fans of the opening act My Morning Jacket one sees the concert goers at this show as well. There is no one so devoted to a band as one who thinks they have something not many others know about.
With music like this these folks might not have that pleasure too much longer.
So this Tuesday when the album of the same DVD was released it was an easy to decision to purchase. So many styles and influences are apparent in this band. I hear Simon and Garfunkel in the harmonies, early Counting Crows in the bounce and energy, and bluegrass and rockabilly influences as well.
Realizing that this band has made numerous albums as they widen their network of followers this live album is only I assume a short portion of the songs their long time fans know but with what I have heard this week they are a treasure.
Full scale commercial appeal is probably not in the cards for this group but that is not sad distinction. Top 40 has always been a wasteland and today it is worse than ever.
A few songs of particular importance are the frenetic Talk on Indolence and I Killed Sally's Lover, two songs which live you get to see a bouncing cello player which tells you all you need to know about the energy.
When I Drink, Shame and Kick Dream Heart are slightly less frenetic but bring different levels of bounce and enjoyment.
Clearly the masterpieces to me on this album are the most popular single song they have had I and You and Me ( a unique take on the I Love You constant in music), Murder in the City and the masterful Ballad of Love and Hate.
There are no bad songs and the concert end with Salvation Song is a sing along.
I went to see Tom Petty this summer and seeing the devotion of the fans of the opening act My Morning Jacket one sees the concert goers at this show as well. There is no one so devoted to a band as one who thinks they have something not many others know about.
With music like this these folks might not have that pleasure too much longer.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Jaws The Movie
While trying to find something on Netflix that my wife and middle son could watch the other day we came across this movie. It actually has aged quite well. The story of the shark eating people on the beach that stays open as the town fathers need to have the beach open to make money from the tourist season.
Roy Schneider as the police chief is very good, Richard Dreyfuss ( reminding me dramatically of my friend Andy) and best of all the character of Quint played by Robert Shaw bring much to the movie.
The second movie moves from the terrorizing of the beachgoers to the hunting of the shark. The classic line " We are going to need a bigger boat." The shark eventually is hunting the boat. Quint like Ahab wants the shark like Ahab wanted the whale. When the police chief seeks to radio for help he smashes the radio. He does not want help, he wants the shark. In the movie a story from Quint's past will tell us why. Well eventually he gets him or the shark gets him in a scene more grisly than I remember.
And the suspense is great, no great special effects beyond the blowing of shark with a propane tank. The movie proves again that less is more.
This movie holds up well.
Roy Schneider as the police chief is very good, Richard Dreyfuss ( reminding me dramatically of my friend Andy) and best of all the character of Quint played by Robert Shaw bring much to the movie.
The second movie moves from the terrorizing of the beachgoers to the hunting of the shark. The classic line " We are going to need a bigger boat." The shark eventually is hunting the boat. Quint like Ahab wants the shark like Ahab wanted the whale. When the police chief seeks to radio for help he smashes the radio. He does not want help, he wants the shark. In the movie a story from Quint's past will tell us why. Well eventually he gets him or the shark gets him in a scene more grisly than I remember.
And the suspense is great, no great special effects beyond the blowing of shark with a propane tank. The movie proves again that less is more.
This movie holds up well.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Moby Dick by Herman Melville
Using my free kindle PC version I have been endeavoring to read some classics that I had not read before. With the goal of reading a chapter a day and the fact that this summer we traveled quite a bit this took quite sometime to get thru.
This was a hard read. Having read that the book was not considered a classic upon being published and was not really discovered until the late 1800's, early 1900's as a classic.
The book is not an easy read. I wanted to understand the story, we hear many cultural references to chasing the white whale etc..
I started the book out feeling good, after all I had just read Homer this should be a breeze. I have to say though, that for me this was tougher.
Parts were very interesting, of particular interest was the main characters first contacts with Quahog. We learned much about whales and when we learn the intense obsession of Ahab we learn that he will stop at nothing to get the whale.
A good story but the diversion and such around the subject made it a bit confusing. I read it, I am glad to have done so. But it was not a favorite
This was a hard read. Having read that the book was not considered a classic upon being published and was not really discovered until the late 1800's, early 1900's as a classic.
The book is not an easy read. I wanted to understand the story, we hear many cultural references to chasing the white whale etc..
I started the book out feeling good, after all I had just read Homer this should be a breeze. I have to say though, that for me this was tougher.
Parts were very interesting, of particular interest was the main characters first contacts with Quahog. We learned much about whales and when we learn the intense obsession of Ahab we learn that he will stop at nothing to get the whale.
A good story but the diversion and such around the subject made it a bit confusing. I read it, I am glad to have done so. But it was not a favorite
Leap Year
My wife got this movie on Netflix. It was, predictably, my wife's turn to pick the movie. Amy Adams stars as a young woman on the corporate track who has a long term relationship with a surgeon. She expecting a marriage proposal gets a big dinner date...earrings. She is disappointed.
Later when he is in Ireland on a conference, remembering that her grandmother told the story of how she proposed to her grandfather on Leap Day, an allowance to women by tradition on that day she resolves to go to Ireland to do this.
What happens is a series of tragedies of airplanes landing in the wrong towns, getting socked in and then finding a local bar owner to taxi her to Dublin. Trouble ensues and she learns much about herself.
A date night movie for sure but one with Adams who has that uniqueness in that she is cute and attractive but not threatening so everyone enjoys her. My wife enjoyed the movie and after a half hour of keeping track over my book I stopped the pretense and enjoyed it with her.
Later when he is in Ireland on a conference, remembering that her grandmother told the story of how she proposed to her grandfather on Leap Day, an allowance to women by tradition on that day she resolves to go to Ireland to do this.
What happens is a series of tragedies of airplanes landing in the wrong towns, getting socked in and then finding a local bar owner to taxi her to Dublin. Trouble ensues and she learns much about herself.
A date night movie for sure but one with Adams who has that uniqueness in that she is cute and attractive but not threatening so everyone enjoys her. My wife enjoyed the movie and after a half hour of keeping track over my book I stopped the pretense and enjoyed it with her.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Bruce Springsteen/ The River
This Sunday morning I listened to this album. It is a treasure. All Springsteen is good but the for me from Born to Run through Nebraska was the high period. This double album was a number 1 album in 1980.
The River, the title song, is a classic. Hearing the opening chords of the harmonica in concert is a mesmerizing experience.
Point Blank and Drive All Night are two songs by Springsteen that are both haunting but unforgettable.
Hungry Heart, Fade Away, Cadillac Ranch, The Ties that Bind, Independence Day, Sherry Darling all these songs are songs we know and love.
No one is greater than Springsteen. This album is one of the reasons why.
The River, the title song, is a classic. Hearing the opening chords of the harmonica in concert is a mesmerizing experience.
Point Blank and Drive All Night are two songs by Springsteen that are both haunting but unforgettable.
Hungry Heart, Fade Away, Cadillac Ranch, The Ties that Bind, Independence Day, Sherry Darling all these songs are songs we know and love.
No one is greater than Springsteen. This album is one of the reasons why.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Morning Joe
Joe Scarborough was a member of the Gingrich revolution who came to congress in 1994. A couple of years ago he had an afternoon show on CNBC when Don Imus self destructed. Soon he and Mika Brezenski were hosting this morning show that has become the place to be. With Pat Buchanon commenting from the right and Mike Barnacle from the left the two hosts work well together. Scarborough still a Republican but one who would pass no purity tests and Brezinski the daughter of Jimmy Carter's NSC head is clearly still tilting left.
What is best about this show however is that there is no line such as Fox. Joe is contrary to anything you might automatically expect. I am a moderate Democrat and for me someone like Joe is an ideal candidate. Realistic with the budget but realizing you cannot tear everything down. Recently he called Newt Gingrich shameful for his Muslim baiting comments and said it was worse as he should know better.
Interviewing Bill Clinton, and what a shame we cannot have a leader such as he, he commented on how much the country could use a leader such as he.
The show is great.
What is best about this show however is that there is no line such as Fox. Joe is contrary to anything you might automatically expect. I am a moderate Democrat and for me someone like Joe is an ideal candidate. Realistic with the budget but realizing you cannot tear everything down. Recently he called Newt Gingrich shameful for his Muslim baiting comments and said it was worse as he should know better.
Interviewing Bill Clinton, and what a shame we cannot have a leader such as he, he commented on how much the country could use a leader such as he.
The show is great.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
The Event
It was promised as something not to miss. As the NY Post said if Lost and 24 had a baby it would be this. An apt description. All kinds of skipping around in time, flashbacks, some mystery alluded to but not understood.
I do not know if a show can ever live up to expectation as high as they must be after this but this show rocked.
One of the best things I have watched in a long time. I am excited for next Monday
I do not know if a show can ever live up to expectation as high as they must be after this but this show rocked.
One of the best things I have watched in a long time. I am excited for next Monday
Thursday, September 16, 2010
The Deer Hunter
I watched this movie this week. It was a movie that allows you have to have different opinions about it. Robert De Niro was wonderful in it. Christopher Walken was very good, a far cry from some of his less serious roles of late.
A young Meryl Streep is beautiful and subdued in her role. Reading the backstory one cannot help but center on John Cazale. After playing Frodo in the Godfather movies his place in movie lore is assured. In this movie he sealed it by despite having end stage lung cancer which had moved to his bones she chose to take this role. Meryl Streep,his fiance at the time joined him in the movie was the woman caught between Walken and De Niro.
The movie told in 4 scenes goes between Vietnam and Clairton, Pennsylvania. The main characters, all Russian Americans are all affected in some way by the war.
The movie won Best Picture and while I liked the movie that seems extreme. The Vietnam scenes, and extended scenes of forced Russian roulette were extreme then and are extreme now. Walken's character Christoper, after going AWOL gets sucked into the gambling scene in a fallen Saigon and that seems a little off from the rest of the believability of the movie.
For me however the most memorable scene is the last scene. After the funeral for Christopher the characters are having coffee around a table. Cazale, whose scenes were filmed first as he was literally at deaths door, is seated next to Streep while the characters somberly reflect on the loss of their friend. In the movie the characters did not interact much so this seating must be on purpose. As a final gesture to the real life couple who would soon be facing Cazale's death. This and this alone makes this movie memorable.
A young Meryl Streep is beautiful and subdued in her role. Reading the backstory one cannot help but center on John Cazale. After playing Frodo in the Godfather movies his place in movie lore is assured. In this movie he sealed it by despite having end stage lung cancer which had moved to his bones she chose to take this role. Meryl Streep,his fiance at the time joined him in the movie was the woman caught between Walken and De Niro.
The movie told in 4 scenes goes between Vietnam and Clairton, Pennsylvania. The main characters, all Russian Americans are all affected in some way by the war.
The movie won Best Picture and while I liked the movie that seems extreme. The Vietnam scenes, and extended scenes of forced Russian roulette were extreme then and are extreme now. Walken's character Christoper, after going AWOL gets sucked into the gambling scene in a fallen Saigon and that seems a little off from the rest of the believability of the movie.
For me however the most memorable scene is the last scene. After the funeral for Christopher the characters are having coffee around a table. Cazale, whose scenes were filmed first as he was literally at deaths door, is seated next to Streep while the characters somberly reflect on the loss of their friend. In the movie the characters did not interact much so this seating must be on purpose. As a final gesture to the real life couple who would soon be facing Cazale's death. This and this alone makes this movie memorable.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
The Guitar Song by Jamey Johnson
Last year I thought this singer's song " In Color " was one of the best songs I had heard in quite sometime. Hearing alot about this album before its release: it was a double album with one side devoted to dark and one to light, that it was a real country music album, I decided to check it out.
I have listened to much of the album. At 25 songs there are still more to hear. The verdict is clear however. This is truly the best country album you will find this year, next year or perhaps until he releases another. No fluffy pop country here Johnson's voice sounds like he ate sandpaper for breakfast and his lyrics will make you feel just what he feels.
Truly a descendant of Haggard, Jennings and Jones this is a great album.
I have listened to much of the album. At 25 songs there are still more to hear. The verdict is clear however. This is truly the best country album you will find this year, next year or perhaps until he releases another. No fluffy pop country here Johnson's voice sounds like he ate sandpaper for breakfast and his lyrics will make you feel just what he feels.
Truly a descendant of Haggard, Jennings and Jones this is a great album.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
The Pillars of the Earth on Showtime
I was wrong. The first episode was a bit murky, so many different plotlines to introduce. Overall though after watching the full 8 hours I have to give this a strong rating. It was a good story, the characters were well drawn out and this was enjoyable. I think Waleren the priest was played to dastardliness in the extreme. My only question was what happened to Tom' son who was living in the monastary after Tom died.
Monday, August 30, 2010
The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean
This book made my head hurt. The sub title is and other true tales of madness, love, and the history of the world from The Periodic Table of the Elements.
I never took Chemistry that I can remember and so my exposure to the Periodic Table is what my son tells me and hearing Tom Lehrer sing about them years ago on The Dr Demento show. However I am always wanting to learn new things.
This book reminded me of Bill Bryson's book A Short History of Nearly Everything which I have read a couple of times and treat at times like a reference book.
The first 100 pages of this book held me and I learned somethings I did not know about protons, nuetrons and electrons. I think I have a basic understanding of how electrons move from element to element and the sharing and combining of chemicals. I still am lost however. The book written for the uneducated still made my head hurt. I still do not know how they count the atoms in a n element to know how to place it on the chart.
The stories of various scientists were interesting. One of the most interesting quotes was that Hydrogen makes up 90 percent of the universe's matter and helium 10 percent. Everything else including all the metals on earth and presumably the rest of the planets is an rounded off amount of the total 100 percent. That puts us in perspective.
A good book. I enjoyed it. But perhaps the time for learning this stuff is when you don't want to and your brains are better when you are young.
I never took Chemistry that I can remember and so my exposure to the Periodic Table is what my son tells me and hearing Tom Lehrer sing about them years ago on The Dr Demento show. However I am always wanting to learn new things.
This book reminded me of Bill Bryson's book A Short History of Nearly Everything which I have read a couple of times and treat at times like a reference book.
The first 100 pages of this book held me and I learned somethings I did not know about protons, nuetrons and electrons. I think I have a basic understanding of how electrons move from element to element and the sharing and combining of chemicals. I still am lost however. The book written for the uneducated still made my head hurt. I still do not know how they count the atoms in a n element to know how to place it on the chart.
The stories of various scientists were interesting. One of the most interesting quotes was that Hydrogen makes up 90 percent of the universe's matter and helium 10 percent. Everything else including all the metals on earth and presumably the rest of the planets is an rounded off amount of the total 100 percent. That puts us in perspective.
A good book. I enjoyed it. But perhaps the time for learning this stuff is when you don't want to and your brains are better when you are young.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris
The second of the authors three books on Teddy Roosevelt is the tale of his 7 and a half years as President. He was an incredible President. It is ironic that as a Republican he turned into a progressive. Much like Truman he governed doing what he thought was right and with an extreme sense of ethics. Unlike Truman Roosevelt was self centered and thought no one but he should be President feeling it had been his destiny. If it was his destiny the country was rewarded by fulfilling it. Taking on big business and trusts and improving the lives of every American with the FDA, antitrust, an improved ICC , the Panama Canal and many other important ways.
Roosevelt is a President that more than any other we could use today. Today, reading an article in the New Yorker on the Koch brothers and there attempt to manipulate the Tea Party for their own personal gain one sees the parallels to today. Much of the regulation that T R set up has been usurped and changed in the last 20 years of deregulation fever and we are not the better for it. A man if his ethics and power would be a welcome addition to the political scene.
The last book in the series will be out this fall. I look forward to it with great excitement as this is a man one can enjoy learning more about.
Roosevelt is a President that more than any other we could use today. Today, reading an article in the New Yorker on the Koch brothers and there attempt to manipulate the Tea Party for their own personal gain one sees the parallels to today. Much of the regulation that T R set up has been usurped and changed in the last 20 years of deregulation fever and we are not the better for it. A man if his ethics and power would be a welcome addition to the political scene.
The last book in the series will be out this fall. I look forward to it with great excitement as this is a man one can enjoy learning more about.
The Pillars of the Earth on Showtime
I read this book years ago and consider it one of my favorites. Netflix has worked out a deal where they show programs that Showtime has just aired very recently. So I wanted to watch this.
We watched the first episode and it was well done. It is a very large book with many plotlines, it seems that it is a bit confusing to get all of this into the series on Tv.
We will continue to watch it however I am not sure that we will get the series complete before it goes off streaming and we have to order the discs.
We watched the first episode and it was well done. It is a very large book with many plotlines, it seems that it is a bit confusing to get all of this into the series on Tv.
We will continue to watch it however I am not sure that we will get the series complete before it goes off streaming and we have to order the discs.
Sh*t My Dad Says by Mark Halperin
Picked this little book up at the library. A funny little book telling about a man's relationship with his father. The Dad a specialist in nuclear medicine has a way of speaking...brutally honest and a bit vulgar, which make his observations comical and in some cases quite appropriate.
It takes less than an hour to read and there are a few chuckles inside. It is also being made into a sitcom this fall starring William Shatner which promises to be funny.
It takes less than an hour to read and there are a few chuckles inside. It is also being made into a sitcom this fall starring William Shatner which promises to be funny.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Broken Arrow
Watched another Western with one of my favorite actors Jimmy Stewart. In this movie a man helps a young wounded Apache boy back to health and slowly earns the trust of Cochise and his Apaches. He plays peacemaker, falls in love and in the end peace is accomplished.
It is a predictable story and white men playing Indians seems kind of lame. Seeing Will Geer 22 years before the Waltons is kind of funny.
Still anything with Jimmy Stewart is worth watching and this is too.
It is a predictable story and white men playing Indians seems kind of lame. Seeing Will Geer 22 years before the Waltons is kind of funny.
Still anything with Jimmy Stewart is worth watching and this is too.
The Searchers
Watched this John Wayne movie the other day. The story is about a man whose brothers family is massacred by Indians and he and a boy adopted by the family trail the Indians trying to recover a young sister stolen.
Family life in the frontier is portrayed, John Wayne is John Wayne and some comical Swedish immigrants play a part. An interesting aside is a couple of men fight over a girl but show great manners in the process..in a comical way.
In the end the girl is recovered and despite John Wayne's stated intention to kill the girl who has " gone Indian" he does not.
A well filmed well done Western.
Family life in the frontier is portrayed, John Wayne is John Wayne and some comical Swedish immigrants play a part. An interesting aside is a couple of men fight over a girl but show great manners in the process..in a comical way.
In the end the girl is recovered and despite John Wayne's stated intention to kill the girl who has " gone Indian" he does not.
A well filmed well done Western.
Monday, August 23, 2010
The Craig Ferguson Show
After the Tom Petty concert the other night when we got back to the hotel we were winding down and turned this on. I have sen bits and pieces of this show from time to time but never really gave it my full attention.
This man is funny. Witty, intelligent and funny. I need to find time to watch this from time to time.
This man is funny. Witty, intelligent and funny. I need to find time to watch this from time to time.
Tom Petty / Mojo Album and Tour
Earlier this year we purchased tickets to see Tom Petty on tour. With that purchase we received a free download of the Mojo album. This latest effort by Petty was a bit different from other albums. This was an album clearly driven by guitarist Mike Campbell. The reminds me of the Beatles I want you ( she's so heavy) thrum of Good Enough was the first single and correctly so. A couple more tunes grindingly led by Campbell show that on this album it was not typical Petty get me to the chorus rock and foll but a little more blues. And it works. This is a great album.
As the concert date approached we considered trying to sell the tickets. Actually we did try to. I am not very mobile. The walking concerned me. We are kind of tight in the finance perhaps we should save some money. The issue was moot however as we could not sell the tickets.
So we went to the show. I now walking with a cane walked slow and made it in. My Morning Jacket was the opening act and though I did not know any of their songs they were good. There were some younger folks there that were in rapture watching them, my wife told me I needed an imaginary instrument to play to fit in, but it was good seeing them.
Petty is not a great showman and at times one wonders if the still loves doing what he is doing. That said the show was flawless. He sounds like Bob Dylan from Alabama when he talks and his singing is spot on. The new numbers from the new album were well done and playing a range from Listen to Her Heart to Refugee to end with American Girl the show was great.
The only disappointment might have been the length. Being used to Springsteen and no opening act is surprised to see a show over in less than two hours. But that is the norm...
As the concert date approached we considered trying to sell the tickets. Actually we did try to. I am not very mobile. The walking concerned me. We are kind of tight in the finance perhaps we should save some money. The issue was moot however as we could not sell the tickets.
So we went to the show. I now walking with a cane walked slow and made it in. My Morning Jacket was the opening act and though I did not know any of their songs they were good. There were some younger folks there that were in rapture watching them, my wife told me I needed an imaginary instrument to play to fit in, but it was good seeing them.
Petty is not a great showman and at times one wonders if the still loves doing what he is doing. That said the show was flawless. He sounds like Bob Dylan from Alabama when he talks and his singing is spot on. The new numbers from the new album were well done and playing a range from Listen to Her Heart to Refugee to end with American Girl the show was great.
The only disappointment might have been the length. Being used to Springsteen and no opening act is surprised to see a show over in less than two hours. But that is the norm...
Caesar by Adrian Goldsworthy
I love Roman history. I have read much Roman history and loved the Colleen McCullough series starting with the story of Gauis Marius telling the story up thru Sulla and onto Caesar and Augustus.
Those being more fictionalized and inserting dialogue offer more of a story while of course this authors book is non fiction.
It is a good book. You must like the subject to delve however but there is no doubt that Goldsworthy has a clear grasp of the subject.
Roman history continues to be one of my favorite subjects. I look forward to Goldsworthy's next book.
Those being more fictionalized and inserting dialogue offer more of a story while of course this authors book is non fiction.
It is a good book. You must like the subject to delve however but there is no doubt that Goldsworthy has a clear grasp of the subject.
Roman history continues to be one of my favorite subjects. I look forward to Goldsworthy's next book.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
The Passage by Justin Cronin
This very long book is one of the best reviewed of the summer. Described as a combination of Stephen King's The Stand and Cormac McCarthy's The Road it was a book I wanted to try. Like many of the best novels 15 pages in and you were hooked. The story was much like The Stand. End of the world stuff, army manufactures a biological weapon of sorts that goes haywire. The few survivors left have to deal with what is left and in The Passage the virals that are left behind.
A little campy is the assessment that many of the details of Dracula turn out to be true. Frustrating and a good thing as well is the information that this book does not come to an end and that at least two more books in the series will be published. I can see successful movies as well. Mr. Cronin has created something we will be living with for quite sometime.
A good book. A nice diversion. One I would tell a friend to read
A little campy is the assessment that many of the details of Dracula turn out to be true. Frustrating and a good thing as well is the information that this book does not come to an end and that at least two more books in the series will be published. I can see successful movies as well. Mr. Cronin has created something we will be living with for quite sometime.
A good book. A nice diversion. One I would tell a friend to read
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Hot Tub Time Machine
We watched this movie the other night. My wife got a phone call in the middle and told the person calling she appreciated the interlude as she could feel herself getting stupider as she watched it.
She was not wrong. It is a movie that makes us remember the eighties and it is not a great memory. However parts of the movie are cute, others are funny and some are sexy. This movie does not bring back my nostalgia as much as others I have watched. I swear they modeled the stoner on Dazed and Confused after a very good friend of mine but I did enjoy the movie.
This is a movie I would tell a friend to watch.
She was not wrong. It is a movie that makes us remember the eighties and it is not a great memory. However parts of the movie are cute, others are funny and some are sexy. This movie does not bring back my nostalgia as much as others I have watched. I swear they modeled the stoner on Dazed and Confused after a very good friend of mine but I did enjoy the movie.
This is a movie I would tell a friend to watch.
Mad Men New Season
Mad Men is back and unlike last year that seemed like it was on prozac until someone lost an appendage about 5 episodes in this season has started out much stronger. Don is divorced, the whole gang is back and Bets is well Bets.
This season holds great promise. This is a show we will never miss.
This season holds great promise. This is a show we will never miss.
Rubicon on AMC
This show has started out very well. After the two episodes I am perplexed, confused and intrigued. The issue on shows like this is can you stand the fatigue that comes with the twists and turns. Flash Forward lost me about 8 episodes in, 24 after five years, Fringe after 2 episodes.
I have faith in this show. I think it is going to be great. The first two episodes have made me program it into my Tivo.
I have faith in this show. I think it is going to be great. The first two episodes have made me program it into my Tivo.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
NetFlix
My wife signed us up for this recently. It is a wonderful product. I am a person who wants to watch when I want to watch so for me the streaming is the feature I enjoy most. i assume I am not alone in this. I read an article that said that within 4 years Netflix expects to be doing 80 percent of it's business thru streaming. I think that is true, it is a great product and now with their innovative ways to deliver their product such as Wi and XBOX have given parents a way to receive the movies and put it on the big screens their kids were using for the video games.
A great product
A great product
Thursday, July 22, 2010
The Big Country
This western from the late fifties was a very good movie. A young Charlton Heston, Gregory Peck and others. A story of a range war over water rights in the old west. The movie was very good and followed the old concept of not explaining the old rivalry the older men have had years ( before we join the story) and what happens after the conclusion of the movie.
The cinematography is excellent. The actors are first rate. The story holds you. This movie should be watched.
Burl Ives is EXCELLENT in this movie
The cinematography is excellent. The actors are first rate. The story holds you. This movie should be watched.
Burl Ives is EXCELLENT in this movie
Friday, July 16, 2010
Truman by David McCullough
I love Presidents. I love learning about them. Some are very interesting and some are characters that seem black and white and incapable of coloration. A good author can certainly help a subject. David McCullough did a great job with this book of Truman.
I read this book over 10 years ago. I reread this recently as I just wanted to revisit my good friend Harry. My favorite President Harry Truman.
The last President raised on the farm. Did not go to college. He was a man of nineteenth century values in the first half of the twentieth century. He was not elected President but became President in the war and after the death of the greatest President we had ever had. He had to make some of the toughest decision ever made by a President. He held the line in Korea but did not allow the war to get out of hand. The Berlin Airlift is one of the greatest post war achievement and underrated. He made the decision on Macarthur and stood firm in the withering criticism. He knew that history would see him correct in his decision. He married late but was a man of strong virtue. Loyalty to his friends was a curse he wore proudly. Honor meant something to him. He was by everything I have read a man of incredible decency and sincerity. Today in a day of polls deciding what color ties to wear on our leaders he made no decision that was wrong in order to gain votes. In most cases his decisions of note were extremely unpopular at the time.
No President has looked better in the rear view mirror than Harry S Truman and no President makes our current crop of leaders looks smaller in his reflection. This man was a hero. He is my favorite President still and always.
I read this book over 10 years ago. I reread this recently as I just wanted to revisit my good friend Harry. My favorite President Harry Truman.
The last President raised on the farm. Did not go to college. He was a man of nineteenth century values in the first half of the twentieth century. He was not elected President but became President in the war and after the death of the greatest President we had ever had. He had to make some of the toughest decision ever made by a President. He held the line in Korea but did not allow the war to get out of hand. The Berlin Airlift is one of the greatest post war achievement and underrated. He made the decision on Macarthur and stood firm in the withering criticism. He knew that history would see him correct in his decision. He married late but was a man of strong virtue. Loyalty to his friends was a curse he wore proudly. Honor meant something to him. He was by everything I have read a man of incredible decency and sincerity. Today in a day of polls deciding what color ties to wear on our leaders he made no decision that was wrong in order to gain votes. In most cases his decisions of note were extremely unpopular at the time.
No President has looked better in the rear view mirror than Harry S Truman and no President makes our current crop of leaders looks smaller in his reflection. This man was a hero. He is my favorite President still and always.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
The Proposal
We watched this movie on Netflix the other night. It was not a great movie. You were not on the edge of your seat and the plot was pretty transparent. However the surefire likability of Sandra Bullock as an actress makes this movie one that is worth watching. Telling my wife to pick one she wanted and I would just read, I did find myself looking up from my book until eventually joining her in watching it.
Of course Sandra Bullock covering herself with a washcloth will get any man's attention too.
Craig Nelson appears in the movie too. Playing basically the same character he plays in Parenthood he too in my book is becoming one of the people I like to see.
A good movie
Of course Sandra Bullock covering herself with a washcloth will get any man's attention too.
Craig Nelson appears in the movie too. Playing basically the same character he plays in Parenthood he too in my book is becoming one of the people I like to see.
A good movie
Friday, July 9, 2010
Marmaduke
On a very hot lazy afternoon we took our daughter to the cheap seats movie theater to see Marmaduke.
Years ago I enjoyed the cartoons in the paper. The movie itself was pretty normal kid fare. A joke or two about farts.
But the story told of not trying to run with the big dogs if it means hurting smaller people is a good one.
The movie had funny parts and the story was worth hearing.
A kids movie. But it was worth seeing
Years ago I enjoyed the cartoons in the paper. The movie itself was pretty normal kid fare. A joke or two about farts.
But the story told of not trying to run with the big dogs if it means hurting smaller people is a good one.
The movie had funny parts and the story was worth hearing.
A kids movie. But it was worth seeing
Friday, July 2, 2010
The Buddy Holly Story
We watched this movie last night. It was not a great movie. I expected more having heard of Gary Busey's Oscar nominated performance. It was not a bad movie, but there was not alot of detail in the story. Busey did the singing and did well and it did provide a small history lesson for my kids on who Buddy Holly was.
Certainly does not measure up to the recent biopics of Ray Charles and Johnny Cash
Certainly does not measure up to the recent biopics of Ray Charles and Johnny Cash
Greys Anatomy
Having had a very busy spring my wife and I lost track of this show in April. Over the last week we have watched the last 4 episodes of the season. The show has regained some of its zing. The storylines are interesting and you find yourself caring about the characters. The two part finale with the hopsital shooter was some of the most tense viewing I have seen in years. Much more gripping than the constant shoot em up of 24. This was a great season of Grey's
Monday, June 28, 2010
Rescue Me Season One
With a little free time on our hands at the end of the day my wife have decided to watch Rescue Me. This will be a long term project I think as there are six seasons to watch but it gives a little quiet time at the end of the evening. And something that we can share and talk about.
Last night we watched the first episode. It was very well done. I thought the end scene in which Tommy ( played by Denis Leary) is walking and you see two victims of fires he long remembers that he was unable to save as well as four friends who died on 9/11.
I have for various moments especially in season 2 and 3 watched a bit of this show and no it can be good. I am looking forward to beginning to end.
Last night we watched the first episode. It was very well done. I thought the end scene in which Tommy ( played by Denis Leary) is walking and you see two victims of fires he long remembers that he was unable to save as well as four friends who died on 9/11.
I have for various moments especially in season 2 and 3 watched a bit of this show and no it can be good. I am looking forward to beginning to end.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Toy Story Three
We do not go to the movies often. Yesterday, however, faced with a rainy day my wife, daughter and I went to see the newest Toy Story. My daughter is 11 now but was still excited to see the movie.
It was great. Maybe it is just that the characters are like old friends but Tim Allen and Tom Hanks make Buzz and Woody feel more fleshed out than live action characters we have seen.
An added twist in the movie is when Buzz gets put into Spanish mode and needs subtitles, a funny but intelligent nod to the millions of Hispanic children.
The movie delivers one hundred percent. The end of the movie is bittersweet, and can be emotional for some. It was for my daughter. As the lights came up she was sobbing and said she just could not stop. I loved her more than ever seeing her have such a big heart. It was a moment we will never forget. Thanks Pixar
It was great. Maybe it is just that the characters are like old friends but Tim Allen and Tom Hanks make Buzz and Woody feel more fleshed out than live action characters we have seen.
An added twist in the movie is when Buzz gets put into Spanish mode and needs subtitles, a funny but intelligent nod to the millions of Hispanic children.
The movie delivers one hundred percent. The end of the movie is bittersweet, and can be emotional for some. It was for my daughter. As the lights came up she was sobbing and said she just could not stop. I loved her more than ever seeing her have such a big heart. It was a moment we will never forget. Thanks Pixar
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers/ Mojo
We purchased tickets for Tom Petty's upcoming summer tour a couple of months ago. Today I received a link to download this, the bands new album. Modern technology at work.
Much of the presale publicity has been about this album being much blusier than past albums. In fact Petty himself says much of his past music has been about getting to the chorus.
This album is different. Listening to it just once thus far I would pick First Flash of Freedom, Something Good Coming, Don't Pull Me Over and, US 41 as notable. But the truth is Petty's voice is like an old friend. It is always welcome.
I am sure many of these songs will be in my head through the summer, I do hope however that only a few are at the concert. Too many classics I need to hear as well.
Much of the presale publicity has been about this album being much blusier than past albums. In fact Petty himself says much of his past music has been about getting to the chorus.
This album is different. Listening to it just once thus far I would pick First Flash of Freedom, Something Good Coming, Don't Pull Me Over and, US 41 as notable. But the truth is Petty's voice is like an old friend. It is always welcome.
I am sure many of these songs will be in my head through the summer, I do hope however that only a few are at the concert. Too many classics I need to hear as well.
Hoosiers
My son had mentioned to me several times that he had heard much about the movie Hoosiers but had never seen it. So last night we, all of us which is even rarer, sat down and watched Hoosiers.
It is a great sports movie. Gene Hackman is one of the great underrated actors and Dennis Hopper in his memorable Shooter role has us all wanting to run one around the picket fence.
They still won. The interim coach is still very unlikeable and I can still watch the movie with a smile next year again.
It is a great sports movie. Gene Hackman is one of the great underrated actors and Dennis Hopper in his memorable Shooter role has us all wanting to run one around the picket fence.
They still won. The interim coach is still very unlikeable and I can still watch the movie with a smile next year again.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris
In reviewing books to be released this year I noted that the third and final book of Edmund Morris's trio of Roosevelt books is due out in the fall. I decided that the time would be now to get going on reading about the life of this President. This the first in the set is a great book. Taking us from Roosevelt's birth and rise until he hears the news of McKinley's death and his impending taking of the highest office we learn much about Roosevelt.
What stands out is his incredible bravery, ethical behavior and steadfast honor. Roosevelt grew as he got older and was even as a Republican perhaps one of the few who understood that while he disagreed with the populist rage of the times that perhaps the best way to deal with it would be for the Republican party to address the issues being raised. Today's parties could all learn something from him. This increasingly open minded, ethical man has to be considered as the first modern President and one of the greatest this country ever had.
I look forward to Volume !! immensely.
What stands out is his incredible bravery, ethical behavior and steadfast honor. Roosevelt grew as he got older and was even as a Republican perhaps one of the few who understood that while he disagreed with the populist rage of the times that perhaps the best way to deal with it would be for the Republican party to address the issues being raised. Today's parties could all learn something from him. This increasingly open minded, ethical man has to be considered as the first modern President and one of the greatest this country ever had.
I look forward to Volume !! immensely.
Alice in Wonderland
We rented this movie at the Redbox last weekend for my daughter. My wife and I watched it with her. It was odd. I am sure that it was popular and I just might be old fashioned but I had some simplistic complaints. Often the speaking seemed low and unintelligible, it was not 3d at our house thought I could see where the 3d rushes were.
The woman playing Alice did a very good job, some of the visuals were good with her getting bigger and smaller. My daughter enjoyed it, she is a an easy audience. I do not think she loved it.
A little dark for me. I would give this movie a low rating
The woman playing Alice did a very good job, some of the visuals were good with her getting bigger and smaller. My daughter enjoyed it, she is a an easy audience. I do not think she loved it.
A little dark for me. I would give this movie a low rating
Friday, June 4, 2010
Megyn Kelly
Is their a worse news anchor than this person. She is on Fox News during the day in thier " hard news unbiased " segment of their programming. That said she is one of the shrillest, dumbest commentators I have ever seen. At least Hannity and that ilk are not pretending to be unbiased. Her questions usually in the form of an are you kidding me preface are ill thought out and while surely her producers decide the guests this show is the most biased thing on the air. Perhaps it is because she continues Fox's habit of putting attractive women on the air who have no ability beyond their looks but this woman joins the Hall of Shame
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Friday Night Lights
Well we are three episodes into this years installment of Friday Night Lights and still I find it to easily be the best show on television. From it's opening sequence with the pictures of the Texas heat to the well defined and wonderful characters of the Taylor's this is a show too many people are missing.
We are promised one more season after this but this year has much to give us. Coach Taylor now trying to build up the East Dillon team after losing his own team in a coup led by a young quarterback's father. Needless to say father did not like Coach. Perhaps the most interesting character this year is that of Buddy the longtime booster who finds what the boosters did to the coach and are doing to his wife the Principal to be something he cannot stomach. His path to helping Coach Taylor in East Dillon is an interesting one indeed.
In short great show. Thanks to NBC to finding a way to keep it on televison despite it's lack of ratings
We are promised one more season after this but this year has much to give us. Coach Taylor now trying to build up the East Dillon team after losing his own team in a coup led by a young quarterback's father. Needless to say father did not like Coach. Perhaps the most interesting character this year is that of Buddy the longtime booster who finds what the boosters did to the coach and are doing to his wife the Principal to be something he cannot stomach. His path to helping Coach Taylor in East Dillon is an interesting one indeed.
In short great show. Thanks to NBC to finding a way to keep it on televison despite it's lack of ratings
The Great Upheaval by Jay Winik
I tend to read several books at once, this is why I seem to be finishing a few books in rapid succession. This book by Jay Winik is a wonderful book. Telling the tale of Russia under Catherine the Great, America as the Presidency takes hold and the fall of Louis XVI and the coming French Revolution and other events in the window from 1788 to 1800 this book is a wonder.
Weaving biographies of Robiespierre, Danton and LouisXVI in France, to Catherine the Great's rise and rule in Russia and the founding fathers in America this book teaches us much. It was not an easy read. At times it made me reread a page to make sure I grasped the magnitude of what I was reading.
The chapters bringing the monarchy to a close in France ending with the beheading of the King and Queen were moving to the point of leaving me upset and frustrated that they did not escape.
The book was draining. Like all good history it was easy to forget you knew the outcome.
This book would get my highest rating. Wonderful
Weaving biographies of Robiespierre, Danton and LouisXVI in France, to Catherine the Great's rise and rule in Russia and the founding fathers in America this book teaches us much. It was not an easy read. At times it made me reread a page to make sure I grasped the magnitude of what I was reading.
The chapters bringing the monarchy to a close in France ending with the beheading of the King and Queen were moving to the point of leaving me upset and frustrated that they did not escape.
The book was draining. Like all good history it was easy to forget you knew the outcome.
This book would get my highest rating. Wonderful
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Hellhound on His Trail by Hampton Sides
This is a great book. It tells the story of James Earl Ray and the events leading up to and after the killing of Martin Luther King Jr. The story focuses on both individuals and the events leading up to the death. Ray is a compelling figure, compelling in that there was nothing remarkable about him in anyway. He was a petty criminal, a drifter who killed one of the great leaders of the twentieth century.
Sides is a great storyteller. First hearing about this book from Don Imus on his morning radio show Imus raved " that even knowing the truth about how it ends one wondered if Ray was going to get away." He almost did.
Portrayals of figures in the event from Coretta Scott King, Ralph Abernathy, Jesse Jackson( who comes off very badly indeed), J Edgar Hoover, to Ramsey Clark and LBJ add light to the history of this event.
This book enlightens in many ways not the least of which is the maddening thought that one person, one person of no great drive or ambition can change the course of history.
Sides is a great storyteller. First hearing about this book from Don Imus on his morning radio show Imus raved " that even knowing the truth about how it ends one wondered if Ray was going to get away." He almost did.
Portrayals of figures in the event from Coretta Scott King, Ralph Abernathy, Jesse Jackson( who comes off very badly indeed), J Edgar Hoover, to Ramsey Clark and LBJ add light to the history of this event.
This book enlightens in many ways not the least of which is the maddening thought that one person, one person of no great drive or ambition can change the course of history.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
The Collected Poems of Dylan Thomas
I like to think of myself as well educated and open to enjoying of good literature. I have been attempting to read the classics over the last few years and have enjoyed many of them.
Hearing cultural references to Dylan Thomas frequently as a great poet and of course knowing that Bob Dylan himself took his name from Dylan Thomas I decided to educate myself.
I have been reading the collected poems of Dylan Thomas. After reading about half the book I have to call myself.....completely unmoved. Perhaps my brain does not appreciate poetry. Clearly this would appear to be the case. In my later in life readings I have loved Hemingway and marveled at Steinbeck, think Updike's Rabbit series is some of the best writing I have ever seen. But that said I found Cheever to be not that enticing and still have not built up the courage to attack Faulkner.
Dylan Thomas and poetry may well be south of my ability to appreciate it. I regret it. I tried. It may be time to move on to Faulkner and see how I do with that.
Hearing cultural references to Dylan Thomas frequently as a great poet and of course knowing that Bob Dylan himself took his name from Dylan Thomas I decided to educate myself.
I have been reading the collected poems of Dylan Thomas. After reading about half the book I have to call myself.....completely unmoved. Perhaps my brain does not appreciate poetry. Clearly this would appear to be the case. In my later in life readings I have loved Hemingway and marveled at Steinbeck, think Updike's Rabbit series is some of the best writing I have ever seen. But that said I found Cheever to be not that enticing and still have not built up the courage to attack Faulkner.
Dylan Thomas and poetry may well be south of my ability to appreciate it. I regret it. I tried. It may be time to move on to Faulkner and see how I do with that.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
The Lonely Polygamist by Brady Udall
After reading reviews of this in about five different magazines it became clear that this novel was the buzz worthy novel of the moment. Interestingly in many of these reviews the author wanted to stress and have people be sure to know that he had started this book long before the TV series Big Love came to be.
The book was good. It tells the story of a man who finds himself with four wives, 28 children, a business that is failing and in the process of building a brothel and having feelings for another woman. Much of this story is superficial and for me at least was uneven.
Some small parts of the book however were extremely moving. A flashback telling about the death of one of the children a few years earlier, an afflicted child with cerebal palsy that a special relationship with her father Golden Richards who dies in a tragic accident. Another child, the clear misfit in a family of 28 children in a plea for attention has an accident that will have long lasting repurcussions for the family. After reading both of these segments I went and checked on my children in bed and kissed them while they slept.
An interesting backstory is also of the nuclear bomb testing in the Arizona and Nevada desert in the middle of the century and how it had long lasting effects on the lives on the inhabitants.
Fiction is hard for me to be embrace at this point in my life. I am glad I read this but it was only good..it was not the Great American Novel. The character of the patriarch was not one easy to embrace. Were it not for the child of trouble named Rusty and the trials of the 4th wife Trish the book would be devoid of embraceable characters. This is a flaw that is hard to repair in a 500 page book.
The book was good. It tells the story of a man who finds himself with four wives, 28 children, a business that is failing and in the process of building a brothel and having feelings for another woman. Much of this story is superficial and for me at least was uneven.
Some small parts of the book however were extremely moving. A flashback telling about the death of one of the children a few years earlier, an afflicted child with cerebal palsy that a special relationship with her father Golden Richards who dies in a tragic accident. Another child, the clear misfit in a family of 28 children in a plea for attention has an accident that will have long lasting repurcussions for the family. After reading both of these segments I went and checked on my children in bed and kissed them while they slept.
An interesting backstory is also of the nuclear bomb testing in the Arizona and Nevada desert in the middle of the century and how it had long lasting effects on the lives on the inhabitants.
Fiction is hard for me to be embrace at this point in my life. I am glad I read this but it was only good..it was not the Great American Novel. The character of the patriarch was not one easy to embrace. Were it not for the child of trouble named Rusty and the trials of the 4th wife Trish the book would be devoid of embraceable characters. This is a flaw that is hard to repair in a 500 page book.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Bob Dylan
I love Bob Dylan. My oldest son in affirming that as uncool as I am in most things accepts my judgment in music more than any other matter. Recently I have been making playlists for him to listen to on his IPOD. I have added to the most recent ones some Bob Dylan songs he may not have heard as much.
In doing so I am again and again filled with wonder at the art of Dylan.
Visions of Johanna is a masterful song from Blonde on Blonde. Desolation Row is one of Dylans long songs that tells a wonderful story.
Tangled up in Blue from his signature Blood on the Tracks remains one of the best Dylan songs ever wrote.
For me the real happiness has been hearing him playing a couple of more obscure songs that I have sent him. Highlands the 16 minute epic from Time out of Mind has Dylan sing talking a long story with " my hearts in the highlands " as the main theme and at one point proclaiming that he is" talking to myself in a monologue" which he surely is.
Then there is Tight Connection to my Heart a long forgotten song from Empire Burlesque in 1980's which has some great lines that are pure Dylan such as " Someday maybe I'll remember to forget" and " what looks larege from a distance close up ain't never that big.
Bob Dylan .....the love transferred to my son. At least he gets that from me. Thank you Bob
In doing so I am again and again filled with wonder at the art of Dylan.
Visions of Johanna is a masterful song from Blonde on Blonde. Desolation Row is one of Dylans long songs that tells a wonderful story.
Tangled up in Blue from his signature Blood on the Tracks remains one of the best Dylan songs ever wrote.
For me the real happiness has been hearing him playing a couple of more obscure songs that I have sent him. Highlands the 16 minute epic from Time out of Mind has Dylan sing talking a long story with " my hearts in the highlands " as the main theme and at one point proclaiming that he is" talking to myself in a monologue" which he surely is.
Then there is Tight Connection to my Heart a long forgotten song from Empire Burlesque in 1980's which has some great lines that are pure Dylan such as " Someday maybe I'll remember to forget" and " what looks larege from a distance close up ain't never that big.
Bob Dylan .....the love transferred to my son. At least he gets that from me. Thank you Bob
Monday, May 10, 2010
The Letter by The Box Tops
Is there a better song than The Letter. Two minutes approximately of a great song. Alex Chilton had a career in reverse. This was a perfect song.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Free Books on Kindle
My wife bought me a Kindle for Valentine's Day. With my disability I have trouble holding things and certainly a heavy book gets to be a task. However in the interest of financial conservatism we returned it. I am about 10 books behind, I like to get books at the library ( free ) and I " like books" That said I do understand the appeal of having a Kindle.
Currently I am reading three books, The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt, The Great Upheaval, And David McCullough's Truman biography. All will be noted here upon completion. To have all of those on a kindle with my place held digitally would be a wonderful thing.
However recently Amazon has made the Kindle available for Apple users as well as PC users. Once an download the kindle device onto their computers and read books on their computer screens. One can still adjust the font etc. Accompany this with the fact that many classics such as the aforementioned Odyssey and my next selection Moby Dick are available free on Kindle and you have a very happy frugal book reader.
There are enough classic books I have never read that I could keep very busy reading free books on my Apple kindle.
It took me 3 weeks to read The Odyssey. In addition to all my regular reading if I can read 12 to 18 classics this year by spending 15 minutes a day on the Apple kindle that will be time well spent both economically and educationally.
Currently I am reading three books, The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt, The Great Upheaval, And David McCullough's Truman biography. All will be noted here upon completion. To have all of those on a kindle with my place held digitally would be a wonderful thing.
However recently Amazon has made the Kindle available for Apple users as well as PC users. Once an download the kindle device onto their computers and read books on their computer screens. One can still adjust the font etc. Accompany this with the fact that many classics such as the aforementioned Odyssey and my next selection Moby Dick are available free on Kindle and you have a very happy frugal book reader.
There are enough classic books I have never read that I could keep very busy reading free books on my Apple kindle.
It took me 3 weeks to read The Odyssey. In addition to all my regular reading if I can read 12 to 18 classics this year by spending 15 minutes a day on the Apple kindle that will be time well spent both economically and educationally.
The Odyssey by Homer
Somehow I escaped having to read this in high school. Looking at my son's freshman English syllabus I saw that he was not going to be so fortunate. In a spirit of both solidarity and my desire to go back and read all the books I did not read when assigned in school I have today finished this Homer classic.
It was finished just about an hour after the " child of morning rosy fingered dawn" appeared." Anyone who has read The Odyssey will get this reference. I wonder if the several repetitive phrases that appear in The Odyssey such ss this were in the original or are a result of the translation.
The book itself was a good one. As a young boy I read the Tales of Hercules and of many of the mythology that appears in this book. Mortals and Immortals interact with the hero Ulysses.
In short Ulysses goes to war, takes 20 years to return and his wife is holding off suitors intending to marry her now that her husband is dead. He returns. He corrects things.
I really did enjoy the story. I am glad I read it. I will be interested to see how my son does with it.
It was finished just about an hour after the " child of morning rosy fingered dawn" appeared." Anyone who has read The Odyssey will get this reference. I wonder if the several repetitive phrases that appear in The Odyssey such ss this were in the original or are a result of the translation.
The book itself was a good one. As a young boy I read the Tales of Hercules and of many of the mythology that appears in this book. Mortals and Immortals interact with the hero Ulysses.
In short Ulysses goes to war, takes 20 years to return and his wife is holding off suitors intending to marry her now that her husband is dead. He returns. He corrects things.
I really did enjoy the story. I am glad I read it. I will be interested to see how my son does with it.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Shine on you Crazy Diamond
I love Pink Floyd. Animals, The Wall, Dark Side they all make my list of desert island albums. Wish You Were Here was a five song full length album written after the incredible success of Dark Side of the Moon. Beginning and ending the album are the two parts of the song Shine on You Crazy Diamond.
I downloaded it off Amazon the other day. I had heard parts before, the shortened live versions or the greatest hits version. But I wanted to hear the whole thing. The album's most known song, Wish You Were Here served as a ode to Syd Barrett, the founder of the group who had slipped into mental illness and left the band years before. This song in it's epic length also served as a song for Syd.
It is, like much of Pink Floyd, uncompromising in it's vitality and, to many, it's inaccessibility. After all 22 minutes plus just for two different stanza's of actual singing.
What does it mean. It means that Pink Floyd became one of the biggest bands in the world. It means that this happened after their founder slipped away into a mental haze. It means that they never forgot his influence. It means that as soon as they were beyond the record company's instruction and " untouchable" they made sure Syd knew how they felt.
Shine on You Crazy Diamond is a personal message we all get to hear.
I downloaded it off Amazon the other day. I had heard parts before, the shortened live versions or the greatest hits version. But I wanted to hear the whole thing. The album's most known song, Wish You Were Here served as a ode to Syd Barrett, the founder of the group who had slipped into mental illness and left the band years before. This song in it's epic length also served as a song for Syd.
It is, like much of Pink Floyd, uncompromising in it's vitality and, to many, it's inaccessibility. After all 22 minutes plus just for two different stanza's of actual singing.
What does it mean. It means that Pink Floyd became one of the biggest bands in the world. It means that this happened after their founder slipped away into a mental haze. It means that they never forgot his influence. It means that as soon as they were beyond the record company's instruction and " untouchable" they made sure Syd knew how they felt.
Shine on You Crazy Diamond is a personal message we all get to hear.
The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys
This eleven minute song from Traffic is a classic. Not exactly a rocker it is a slow, jazzy number from Traffic when they were at their creative peak. Steve Winwood, probably a little underrated in rock history had a sweet voice. Earlier I have commented on this songs with Blind Faith.
Every week or two I add a playlist to my 14 year old son's IPOD so that he can explore music he has not been exposed too. Remarkably while not all of the music I send his way becomes music he enjoys much if it does. Music appears to be the one thing that he actually thinks I know something about.
In this recent list I gave him this song appears. I have my doubts if he can appreciate it. He loves Bruce, Petty and The Who. Traffic might be a little too artsy for him but we shall see. He did love Dark Side of the Moon
Dear Mr Fantasy, John Barleycorn must die and this song. if you need a Traffic three play those would be what I would suggest. But, you will not exactly tap you foot.
Every week or two I add a playlist to my 14 year old son's IPOD so that he can explore music he has not been exposed too. Remarkably while not all of the music I send his way becomes music he enjoys much if it does. Music appears to be the one thing that he actually thinks I know something about.
In this recent list I gave him this song appears. I have my doubts if he can appreciate it. He loves Bruce, Petty and The Who. Traffic might be a little too artsy for him but we shall see. He did love Dark Side of the Moon
Dear Mr Fantasy, John Barleycorn must die and this song. if you need a Traffic three play those would be what I would suggest. But, you will not exactly tap you foot.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
The Day the Earth Stood Still
Sunday night we were down to just one kid, my 14 year old son. Being that he is 14 he was in a funk of unknown origin and my wife being my wife was about up to her neck in sports television we decided maybe with just the three of us we could find a movie we could agree on. I had Step Brothers on Tivo and while I am sure it is a movie and that my wife and I might enjoy, well at least I will enjoy at the right time we knew two minutes in that it was not a movie my son should be watching. Or as he would say at least not a movie that he would want to watch in our presence. Sometimes embarrassment goes two ways. So we flipped through what HBO had on demand for free and The Day the Earth Stood Still looked harmless enough.
For those of you who saw The Day After Tomorrow and did not think that the environmental message was not heavy handed and preachy enough this movie is the one for you. To further complicate matters the movie itself was as dumb as they come. Keanu Reeves starred as an alien who had come back to Earth to save not us, but the planet from us. Jennifer Connally played a single Mom who as a scientist had to change his mind that we humans did have a capacity for change.
Movies with a message have their place but it is assumed that the message will be told in a coherent manner. There was not a likable character in this movie, the plot was dumb and preachy. I feel like I need to read some Dickens or Twain to get my brain cells back.
I am not a snob. Far from it, see the aforementioned desire for Will Ferrell. This movie was the worst movie I have seen in a long long time. The only redeeming value was when the Big Metal GI Joe creature made all the electric and motor driven items in the world stop. As an amateur historian I love the idea of a time without modernity. Ironic to be blogging that statement I know but there it is. But outside of that glimpse this movie was just ........awful
For those of you who saw The Day After Tomorrow and did not think that the environmental message was not heavy handed and preachy enough this movie is the one for you. To further complicate matters the movie itself was as dumb as they come. Keanu Reeves starred as an alien who had come back to Earth to save not us, but the planet from us. Jennifer Connally played a single Mom who as a scientist had to change his mind that we humans did have a capacity for change.
Movies with a message have their place but it is assumed that the message will be told in a coherent manner. There was not a likable character in this movie, the plot was dumb and preachy. I feel like I need to read some Dickens or Twain to get my brain cells back.
I am not a snob. Far from it, see the aforementioned desire for Will Ferrell. This movie was the worst movie I have seen in a long long time. The only redeeming value was when the Big Metal GI Joe creature made all the electric and motor driven items in the world stop. As an amateur historian I love the idea of a time without modernity. Ironic to be blogging that statement I know but there it is. But outside of that glimpse this movie was just ........awful
Monday, April 5, 2010
Citizens of London by Lynne Olsen
For well over a year England faced down Germany by itself in the European War. France had fallen, the low countries had collapsed and Russia had struck a peace with Germany that allowed Germany to focus on it's battle with England.
The Royal Air Force fighting off the constant barrage from the Luftwaffe and the ability to recover from the nightly assaults of the Germans Air Force was something to behold.
Into this three Americans entered. Averill Harriman the administrator of Lend Lease, John Winant who replaced the hated ( by the British) Joe Kennedy as ambassador to England and Edward R Murrow the correspondent for CBS Radio. These men all did as much as they could to keep Americans involved in what was going on across the ocean. Living in London it became impossible for them to be totally objective, it soon became obvious to them that allowing London to fall would be in political terms a mistake and in human terms an absolute moral disgrace.
President Roosevelt, fearful of the isolationist movement in the United States felt that he could not lead America too far too fast. It is easy to think now that this was cowardly of him but Americans were simply not there, and the Republicans were certainly not in a mood to cooperate.
Churchill was, Churchill, a contrast of personality, bluster and bluff but one who in the end became a spiritual leader of his whole country. There are those that said Churchill saved the country. If he did he had much help.
The stories of Winant and Murrow have special interest and Winant comes out of this a man who should not be forgotten both for his roles described in the book and earlier as a progressive governor. His life is one that once one sees the end can only be viewed as a tragedy. Murrow became the stuff of legend and this book does nothing to reduce his legend.
Harriman, to me, was not a man I could embrace as easily. Certainly he did accomplish many great things and was working with his country's future as his goal. His character does not appear as crystal clear as his counterparts but even so it is information well worth knowing about this man who became a powerful figure in Democratic circles for decades.
Those who lived in London from 1939 to 1945 lived in an exciting, horrific time. As has been said there were no black and whites, all colors were bright and vivid. Life was intense in all ways. Lynne Olsen does a great job letting us know about this time and place
The Royal Air Force fighting off the constant barrage from the Luftwaffe and the ability to recover from the nightly assaults of the Germans Air Force was something to behold.
Into this three Americans entered. Averill Harriman the administrator of Lend Lease, John Winant who replaced the hated ( by the British) Joe Kennedy as ambassador to England and Edward R Murrow the correspondent for CBS Radio. These men all did as much as they could to keep Americans involved in what was going on across the ocean. Living in London it became impossible for them to be totally objective, it soon became obvious to them that allowing London to fall would be in political terms a mistake and in human terms an absolute moral disgrace.
President Roosevelt, fearful of the isolationist movement in the United States felt that he could not lead America too far too fast. It is easy to think now that this was cowardly of him but Americans were simply not there, and the Republicans were certainly not in a mood to cooperate.
Churchill was, Churchill, a contrast of personality, bluster and bluff but one who in the end became a spiritual leader of his whole country. There are those that said Churchill saved the country. If he did he had much help.
The stories of Winant and Murrow have special interest and Winant comes out of this a man who should not be forgotten both for his roles described in the book and earlier as a progressive governor. His life is one that once one sees the end can only be viewed as a tragedy. Murrow became the stuff of legend and this book does nothing to reduce his legend.
Harriman, to me, was not a man I could embrace as easily. Certainly he did accomplish many great things and was working with his country's future as his goal. His character does not appear as crystal clear as his counterparts but even so it is information well worth knowing about this man who became a powerful figure in Democratic circles for decades.
Those who lived in London from 1939 to 1945 lived in an exciting, horrific time. As has been said there were no black and whites, all colors were bright and vivid. Life was intense in all ways. Lynne Olsen does a great job letting us know about this time and place
Daring Young Men by Richard Reeves
This book tells the story of the Berlin Air Lift. I have heard of the Airlift but I did not have as much knowledge about this time as I should. The book tells the story of the Airlift but also the stories of many of the people involved, not just the generals and such, but also the soldiers and those flying the planes.
One of the things that struck me was getting a full picture of the geography of Germany as it relates to Berlin and the Berlin crisis. When at the end of World War II General Eisenhowser let Russia race to the city while America did not he unwittingly set up many of the issues that came about. By having Russian troops meet American troops many miles West of Berlin, Berlin remained comfortably in the Russian zone of control. This did not last, in final negotiations Berlin was divided into four quadrants of control, French, British, American and Russian. To get supplies into the Western areas of control the allies had to truck in supplies on the highway across the Russian controlled zone west of Berlin. For while Berlin was divided, the areas to the West of Berlin that were controlled by Russia remained so leaving the Westerners in Berlin isolated.
The situation was not good and got worse in 1948 when Stalin frustrated by constant refugees from East Germany to the Western sectors placed a blockade. The rail lines and roads leading into Berlin from the West were cut off. The only air travel in from the West to the West Berlin airports had to travel along a very thin corridor. This left the Germans in West Berlin to freeze and the soldiers from France, England and the United States not much better.
President Truman's insistence that America would stay and the subsequent airlift designed to last a week or two that extended to a over a year was truly one of the great logistical feats of modern times. The men and women who made it happen were heroes that most will never know.
Reeves is not an author that I love. The information was good, the presentation could have been much better. It is a book worth watching. Heroes are everywhere today but their are so few real heroes. Many of the men you read about here are real heroes. They deserve for us to know them.
One of the things that struck me was getting a full picture of the geography of Germany as it relates to Berlin and the Berlin crisis. When at the end of World War II General Eisenhowser let Russia race to the city while America did not he unwittingly set up many of the issues that came about. By having Russian troops meet American troops many miles West of Berlin, Berlin remained comfortably in the Russian zone of control. This did not last, in final negotiations Berlin was divided into four quadrants of control, French, British, American and Russian. To get supplies into the Western areas of control the allies had to truck in supplies on the highway across the Russian controlled zone west of Berlin. For while Berlin was divided, the areas to the West of Berlin that were controlled by Russia remained so leaving the Westerners in Berlin isolated.
The situation was not good and got worse in 1948 when Stalin frustrated by constant refugees from East Germany to the Western sectors placed a blockade. The rail lines and roads leading into Berlin from the West were cut off. The only air travel in from the West to the West Berlin airports had to travel along a very thin corridor. This left the Germans in West Berlin to freeze and the soldiers from France, England and the United States not much better.
President Truman's insistence that America would stay and the subsequent airlift designed to last a week or two that extended to a over a year was truly one of the great logistical feats of modern times. The men and women who made it happen were heroes that most will never know.
Reeves is not an author that I love. The information was good, the presentation could have been much better. It is a book worth watching. Heroes are everywhere today but their are so few real heroes. Many of the men you read about here are real heroes. They deserve for us to know them.
Survivor
We still watch this show in our house. The kids like it, it is after all a competition. One of the first reality shows it is a fact that the formula still works. It is hard to explain why it still works and I will admit that my interest drifts in and out depending on the point in the show and the personalities involved but the show does work. A few friends of mine and I have joked that the series would be funny if they held the contest in a cold climate. It would be different, but of course the skimpy clothing is part of the attraction as well.
Currently in an All star format this season has been very interesting. Russell , perhaps the most interesting contestant I can remember is dominating the show and his tribe. Boston Rob who has been on several episodes lost a battle to Russell and was thus taken down at the most recent tribal council.
The show is not groundbreaking, if it ever was. You pretty much know the pattern and what the process will be. Surprise does not mean excellence however and in terms of what it does this series remains at the top.
Currently in an All star format this season has been very interesting. Russell , perhaps the most interesting contestant I can remember is dominating the show and his tribe. Boston Rob who has been on several episodes lost a battle to Russell and was thus taken down at the most recent tribal council.
The show is not groundbreaking, if it ever was. You pretty much know the pattern and what the process will be. Surprise does not mean excellence however and in terms of what it does this series remains at the top.
The Pacific
We have watched the first three episodes of the Pacific. We have the fourth in the TIVO. Thus far the show has been very good, visually very strong. The war in the Pacific is often noted as having been a different war than that in Europe. Talking with my children I have advised them that this war contained elements of racism that were not as evident in the war in Europe. Because of that this war was a precursor to the wars to come in Korea and Vietnam and recently the Persian Gulf War and the later Iraq War. When ones enemies do not look like ourselves it is easier to attach a level of inferiority to them and treat them in some ways as less than human. Certainly the Japanese considered the Americans as inferior in strength and will and treated them as such.
The show itself is what you would expect from Hanks and Spielberg. The only issue I might offer is that though episode three did more to make us " know" the characters the narrative thus far has not been as compelling as it was in Band of Brothers. For much of the first two episodes we were witnesses more than involved in the story.
It is must see television for our family and we will continue to watch it. To see how the storylines affect our two sons who are very different has been eye opening for us as well. The violence is very intense, again more so to me than what we witnessed in Band of Brothers. It is not as I tell my youngest son, a video game. It is a definitive picture of the violence, randomness and most of all confusion of war. It is not pretty
The show itself is what you would expect from Hanks and Spielberg. The only issue I might offer is that though episode three did more to make us " know" the characters the narrative thus far has not been as compelling as it was in Band of Brothers. For much of the first two episodes we were witnesses more than involved in the story.
It is must see television for our family and we will continue to watch it. To see how the storylines affect our two sons who are very different has been eye opening for us as well. The violence is very intense, again more so to me than what we witnessed in Band of Brothers. It is not as I tell my youngest son, a video game. It is a definitive picture of the violence, randomness and most of all confusion of war. It is not pretty
Parenthood
We watched a couple episodes of this new series on NBC last week. Our local cable company on demand has all the episodes available and m wife and I watched a couple last week. I was very impressed. This series best known for being the first new series in the post Jay Leno ten pm time slot is a show that we have to hope catches on. A wonderful cast filled with faces you know and names you might not but for me the highlight is Craig Nelson as the family patriarch. An aging hippy who still expects his grandson to straighten up and fly right but once he is brought into the understanding that the child has a real issue he steps up and does all he can. Perhaps we as men identify as being gruff on the outside and mellow on the inside. We plan to watch the rest of the episodes and I hope we are not disappointed with the longevity of the series.
For me I have made the decision that with all the options we have I no longer will watch shows that do not bring me some kind of value in return. I have no need to see Jack Bauer kill or the narcissistic doctors on Nip Tuck. I sometimes think I am turning into my parents and wish to watch the Waltons or Little House on the Prairie. Those shows are not coming back, and Parenthood certainly would not be that show, my parents would not have approved of the joke of the four grown siblings smoking a joint in the school on a parent night.
The show however is worth watching. We will continue
For me I have made the decision that with all the options we have I no longer will watch shows that do not bring me some kind of value in return. I have no need to see Jack Bauer kill or the narcissistic doctors on Nip Tuck. I sometimes think I am turning into my parents and wish to watch the Waltons or Little House on the Prairie. Those shows are not coming back, and Parenthood certainly would not be that show, my parents would not have approved of the joke of the four grown siblings smoking a joint in the school on a parent night.
The show however is worth watching. We will continue
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Too Much TV Leads to None
We have several shows we like to watch. That said with so much to watch, I watch less and less. Why is this, in the age of TIVO, there is a fine line between getting behind an episode or two of a show and getting so far behind that we do not think we can catch up and thus we stop watching all together. Each time I look in my TIVO menu my hand hovers over the delete button of the last 7 episodes of Nip/Tuck. Not because I do not want to watch it, but because I have no idea when we can. Another complication is that for each show we tape in our house we have a different audience. Some shows are me and my oldest son, others are my wife and I and our middle son. Some shows can be watched with anyone in the room and some are not considered friendly to my youngest daughter.
Currently my wife is two episodes behind on Grey's Anatomy, at least that in Desperate Housewives, my son and wife are behind on 24. And baseball season is about to start.
What does this mean. Not much. It is TV. I try to be disciplined about my reading. I read a good quote awhile ago, it was from a couple of decades ago and is probably a bit obsolete now. The point still holds, it states " there are two kinds of people in the world, those that turn a television on when they enter a room and those that turn one off." I strive to be the latter, if it means I m behind on Jack Bauer or Wisteria Lane that is a small price to pay. Perhaps they need Jack Bauer to come visit Wisteria Lane. That might be an episode worth watching.
Currently my wife is two episodes behind on Grey's Anatomy, at least that in Desperate Housewives, my son and wife are behind on 24. And baseball season is about to start.
What does this mean. Not much. It is TV. I try to be disciplined about my reading. I read a good quote awhile ago, it was from a couple of decades ago and is probably a bit obsolete now. The point still holds, it states " there are two kinds of people in the world, those that turn a television on when they enter a room and those that turn one off." I strive to be the latter, if it means I m behind on Jack Bauer or Wisteria Lane that is a small price to pay. Perhaps they need Jack Bauer to come visit Wisteria Lane. That might be an episode worth watching.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Stoner by John Williams
I came across this book by accident. It should be noted it is not about a " stoner " in the modern sense of the word and the composer John Williams has not part to play.
Recently a Time magazine cover story on Tom Hanks told of the recent submissions by Tom Cruise in the genre of historical movies. As part of the story it asks him what books he has found himself unable to put down. This book, one I had never heard of, was one he mentioned.
I decided to see if my library had the book and was pleased to see that they did. The book published in 1965 tells the story of William Stoner a poor farmer's son sent to study agriculture after the turn of the century at the University of Missouri. The book is hard to describe. It is really just a tale of one man. A man who is born on a farm to poor, uneducated stoic people, who is sent to college and their in a surprising way discovers that a love of literature has been dormant in him. Becoming an English major and eventually a teacher at the same University we follow Stoner through his life and subsequent death.
His life is not exciting, it is not a morality tale; it is , in the end, just a life. He is a man that becomes as he puts in an old curmudgeon but more out of purpose than personality. He marries, has a child, and becomes and unknowing participant in a power struggle at both his home and his college.
In the end this book simply let us see in the mind of one man, how he in his stoic silence deals with life as the first half of the century presents itself to him. I wish I could say more about the book to make a person understand its significance because make no mistake, to me it was significant.
It is spare in the telling and quiet in the emotion but the emotion is their. A man, disappointed in life by the failings of others which he takes as his own failings involves himself deeper and deeper into the stoic life he neither pursued or outwardly wished for but that he lives, and eventually learns to accept as the best part of his life.
Few will read this book, few have, but there is a lesson to be learned here. A book like this could be held up as a literary classic for our children to read in high school and early college. Perhaps because of the difficulty in assigning understanding ot the hold the book can take on you it has not.
Stoner is a book I would recommend to anyone who wants to enjoy a book without the noise that so many books have. It is spare and fulfilling. Not many books can use those two adjectives. This one can.
Recently a Time magazine cover story on Tom Hanks told of the recent submissions by Tom Cruise in the genre of historical movies. As part of the story it asks him what books he has found himself unable to put down. This book, one I had never heard of, was one he mentioned.
I decided to see if my library had the book and was pleased to see that they did. The book published in 1965 tells the story of William Stoner a poor farmer's son sent to study agriculture after the turn of the century at the University of Missouri. The book is hard to describe. It is really just a tale of one man. A man who is born on a farm to poor, uneducated stoic people, who is sent to college and their in a surprising way discovers that a love of literature has been dormant in him. Becoming an English major and eventually a teacher at the same University we follow Stoner through his life and subsequent death.
His life is not exciting, it is not a morality tale; it is , in the end, just a life. He is a man that becomes as he puts in an old curmudgeon but more out of purpose than personality. He marries, has a child, and becomes and unknowing participant in a power struggle at both his home and his college.
In the end this book simply let us see in the mind of one man, how he in his stoic silence deals with life as the first half of the century presents itself to him. I wish I could say more about the book to make a person understand its significance because make no mistake, to me it was significant.
It is spare in the telling and quiet in the emotion but the emotion is their. A man, disappointed in life by the failings of others which he takes as his own failings involves himself deeper and deeper into the stoic life he neither pursued or outwardly wished for but that he lives, and eventually learns to accept as the best part of his life.
Few will read this book, few have, but there is a lesson to be learned here. A book like this could be held up as a literary classic for our children to read in high school and early college. Perhaps because of the difficulty in assigning understanding ot the hold the book can take on you it has not.
Stoner is a book I would recommend to anyone who wants to enjoy a book without the noise that so many books have. It is spare and fulfilling. Not many books can use those two adjectives. This one can.
Alex Chilton Died this week
Most of us do not know the name Alex Chilton. We do know the voice however. Alex Chilton at the age of 16 sang " Gimme a ticket for an aeroplane, ain't got time to take a fast train." The Letter is a song we all know from that era and well beyond. For whatever reason however Chilton even at that age was not happy being a successful, " conventional singer" and so when he formed the bang Big Star he became one of those artists who was more influential than he was successful.
Bands from the Replacements to REM placed Chilton as a huge influence on their careers. Big Star had very modest success but their music was gifted, in fact the first two albums are currently on my to buy VERY SOON list on Amazon.
Alex Chilton lived to be 59 but his decision in his teens to step away from success made him like that eccentric person we all know. One who has more talent that we ever will have but chose to express it in ways that only he was comfortable with. One thing I do know is that he does not have to compromise now. I suspect his voice now sings what he wants when he wants.
Rest in Peace Alex Chilton.
Bands from the Replacements to REM placed Chilton as a huge influence on their careers. Big Star had very modest success but their music was gifted, in fact the first two albums are currently on my to buy VERY SOON list on Amazon.
Alex Chilton lived to be 59 but his decision in his teens to step away from success made him like that eccentric person we all know. One who has more talent that we ever will have but chose to express it in ways that only he was comfortable with. One thing I do know is that he does not have to compromise now. I suspect his voice now sings what he wants when he wants.
Rest in Peace Alex Chilton.
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