Jan 30, 2005

Netflix - Week 4



Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - I liked this film, but I thought it would be funnier than it turned out to be. Maybe it was because they showed funny scenes in the trailer and maybe it was because it starred Jim Carrey and his most memorable work is broad comedy. The film reminded me of Being John Malkovich because the characters were desperate and dissatisfied and the story involved a surreal premise. The plot centers on a doctor who is able to erase unwanted memories from people who feel the memories are too painful to keep. The movie is a little confusing because the story is not told in a linear fashion and jumping from past to present to future (not necessarily in that order) can make it difficult to understand what is happening.

Ma Vie En Rose - In this French film a seven year old boy feels he should be a girl. The young actor is a gorgeous kid, and he does a really good job in a difficult role. There are a lot of fantasy scenes and the film looks like the sets were designed by the French painter/photographer duo Pierre et Gilles, but in spite of the look of the movie, it deals with a serious subject. I admit it, I got teary in a few places in the film, but overall, it was really enjoyable.

Stiff Upper Lips - This is a parody of the Merchant Ivory variety films is intelligent and funny. If you liked Black Adder or the The Last Remake of Beau Geste, this film will appeal to you. Fun is poked at the class system and racial inequities in Victorian England. It was only released in the Europe, probably because they felt that there wasn't a market for this type of fare in America. I think that the wider distribution of Merchant and Ivory films through PBS's Masterpiece Theater, the A & E network and BBC America should make the subject matter of this film more familiar to American audiences. Marilyn and I laughed throughout Stiff Upper Lips and found it to be much more clever than other spoofs, like Scary Movie or Police Academy.

Jan 28, 2005

Palm Problem


Palm m515 Posted by Hello

BIG tech problems!!!!! My Palm started acting up a couple of weeks ago and I am going nuts trying to figure out how to fix it. Somehow it changed the owner name to my sister's name (we share the PC and the Palm Desktop, but have separate palms), and it will not allow me to change it back to mine. Because it is not under my name, it will not back up my address book or my calandar. SCREAM!!!!! I will keep working on it, I but had to vent.

02/04/05 - Follow Up

EUREKA! I fixed it! I am a whole person again - my addresses, lists, and calandar are mine again- whoohoo!

David's Phonograph Adventure


Panasonic SG-D15 Posted by Hello
Con's 14 y.o. tutor, David, asked for a demonstration of "how vinyl records work." Several weeks ago, Mom gave Marilyn and I her record collection. I started feeling nostalgic for my 80's music(on vinyl), so I talked to Matt (a tech God, and also David's father) about wanting to transfer the albums to CD's. I knew from the comments that David made during this conversation, he truly did not get the concept of vinyl. He asked things like, "They play on both sides? How do you make it play on the other side? They should make CD's that play on both sides. A CD has tracks, what does an album have?" It seems strangely inside out when a technological relic is found to be intriguing. I never thought about how it would feel to introduce a young person to the technology of my youth, and I have to say it is odd.

The stereo in question is a somewhat crappy Panasonic SG-D15, which probably retailed for about $100.00 in 1985. It consists of:

*AM/FM Tuner,

*Automatic Turntable - hard plastic,

*Stereo Control Amplifier,

*Stereo Double Cassette Player/Recorder,

*Two speakers,

This system is a standard dorm room sized "stack" stereo system. I don't even think the term "stack" is used anymore, but back then, your system was either stack or component. As we near the stereo, David says, "Is that it? I have been wanting to try this for a long time." I laugh and think to myself, "You're 14 y.o. and the stereo is 20 y.o. - I'm not sure if you really know what a long time is, yet." He is grinning with a look of awe on his face as he eyes the stereo, like his name is "Indiana" and the relic of a stereo is the Arc of the Covenant. He started firing off questions, "How do you pick up the albums? Can you touch them with your fingers" I show him the "flat palm on the edges" method of handling an album. He asked questions about how to put the album on the turntable, how to place it back in the album cover, and how to store them. One of my favorite questions was, "Do you have the 7-inch albums?" This question threw me, because I knew what he was talking about, but for a minute I could not remember what we used to call the 7-inch albums. I had a memory flash and told him, "They're called 45's." Then he asked, "There's more than one speed?" So, I tell him the three speeds are 33, 45, and 78. I left out that the speed measures rpm, and that "rpm" is revolutions per minute, but he seemed to understand in spite of my omission. He asked, " Do you have any 78's?" So, I tried to explain 78's, "Well, they are thicker than 33's and they are more brittle...have you seen Ghost World? Steve Buschemi collects and sells 78's in that movie...they're really old, so I've never had any."

For the demo I used an English Beat album. I pushed the ON button, and as I started to move the needle, David hovered over the turntable to get a closer look at what I was doing, then he said, "How does it work? How do you make it turn? Does the needle go on the inside or on the outside of the album?" At that question, I started laughing again, causing him to apologize, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you feel bad (i.e. old)." This comment makes me laugh even more, and I assured him that I am not feeling bad, but it's just too weird explaining how to use household objects that have been around for your whole lifetime. Sensing that I really didn't view his questions as cruel, he continued, "Which side plays when you put it on the turntable, the top or the bottom? That really is a needle!" We went over the finer points of blowing dust off the album and the needle, but I did not get into all of the products that you could buy to get rid of the static electricity and dust on albums - it seemed like overkill. He asked if he could put on a Doors album and I told him, "Of course." David grinned and looked like he just won a prize at the carnival and the questions began anew. "How do you get the needle to the right place on the album? How do you get it to change from one song to another song, like if you want to play song number four and it's on song number one? Do you have to guess where to put it?" These may sound like silly questions to someone born before 1980, but this kid lived in a vinyl free world for 14 years, so it is entirely conceivable that he is not just having some fun at the expense of my record player.

We finished up the demo with a tour of the other parts of the Panasonic SG-D15. He fiddled with the equalizer, then asked, "Can you hear the radio on this, too?" I pushed the radio button and magically, a broadcast came out of the speakers. He quickly says, "Change it back to the record player, this isn't as interesting." I point out that the dual cassette player, not only plays, but it also records. A light bulb appears over his head (it’s true, I saw it) and he says, "It can record albums on tape? That's what they mean when they say they are going to tape an album!" He goes on to explain that he always thought that they put a tape recorder with a microphone next to the speaker while an album is playing. This leads me to ask, "I suppose you've never heard of reel to reel?" He responded that he had not, so I told him about reel-to-reel and then about hand-cranked gramophones. He asked, "Do you have to crank it the whole time it plays?" So, David got a mini-history of recording technology lesson and I got a laugh and a reality check.

Jan 26, 2005

Phillip Johnson


Phillip Johnson Posted by Hello
Phillip Johnson died. I guess I should have expected this, since he was 98. He had a long life, with great success and prosperity, and he is well respected in his field of architecture. I became aware of Phillip Johnson when I was in college and his name came up in Art classes, and I recognized some of the buildings he had done in Houston. I think most Houstonian's would recognize his buildings, but his work is so varied, that I don't think most people would realize that he is responsible for so much well-known architecture in Houston. After college I saw a documentary about him on PBS, and I have seen him on the Charlie Rose Show. Because he was already in his 90's when I saw him for the first time on T.V., I was a little surprised by his sharp wit and by the fact that he was gay. He spoke about his sexuality and how he hid it for many years, and there was a tour of his home, an amazing house of glass. It struck me at the time that he spent much of his life in the public eye because of his success, but hiding part of himself; and he will end his years living in a house that while enclosed, is open to the world. There was poetry to this man, and there is poetry to his architectural designs.

Growing up in Houston, I have been in and around many buildings he designed, so I offer my small homage to Phillip Glass through these links to buildings he designed (or helped to design) in Houston, Texas:

Transco Tower (now the Williams Tower) - One of the most popular landmarks in Houston, in part because of the great fountain, but also because of the Art Deco style. It looks like the past and the future meet in this building.

Nations Bank (now Bank of America) - I used to work in this building ca. 1986. I love the pink granite and the gables; and I especially like the cathedral-like lobby at Christmas time. It is really festive during the holidays.

Pennzoil Place - (still Pennzoil Place) - Mom worked in this building when we first moved to Houston in 1978. It is a really odd piece of architecture, it looks like two different buildings from some angles and the black glass makes this building unique. I think this was Phillip Johnson's first sky scraper in Houston.

Chapel of St. Basil - Built in 1997, as far as I can tell this is the most recent of his additions to Houston.

University of Houston School of Architecture - I am an alumnus of U of H, so I enjoyed this building while I was on campus and it is one of the few buildings you can make out from the freeway (I-45) near the campus. You can't miss the ode to the Parthenon on top - ostentatious, and yet classic(al).

The Menil House - This home to John and Dominique de Menil's was built in 1950 and today serves as a gallery for the art they collected over the years. This was his first design in Houston and it introduced him to the city, which allowed him to change the downtown skyline forever.

I heard a quote of his on NPR in which he discussed how he wanted the opportunity to design an airport, but people who are in their 90's are not given those kinds of opportunities, because the projects are expected to take 10-12 years. "It's not fair to nonagenarians." I think it’s not really fair to us that he won’t be here to continue making his rich contributions to American architecture.

Jan 23, 2005

Happy Lucky Sister #3


Ipod Shuffle Posted by Hello
My sister is one lucky girl. She turns a whopping 35 years old tomorrow. Old, you say? Perhaps, but it beats the alternative ; ) We celebrated her birthday with Mom and Dad today. We all went to dinner at Outback and she got some pretty cool gifts: an Ipod Shuffle, a gift certificate for music downloads, and the Garden State soundtrack. The Garden State soundtrack has songs by The Shinns, Cold Play, Colin Hay and Simon and Garfunkel. There are also songs by several musicians and bands I never heard of like Nick Drake, Iron and Wine, Frou Frou and Thievery Corporation. We listened to it in the car on the way to and from Mom and Dad's and it's great. I already had Marilyn burn it for me, too. The music is mellow and soothing and should make a good soundtrack for my stressful days at the office.

Jan 20, 2005

Murder, Transvestites, and Vengeful Spirits

The most recent three Netflix were Dial 'M' for Murder, Eddie Izzard's 1994 stand up comedy film, Unrepeatable, and Ju-on (The Grudge).
Dial 'M' for Murder
Dial 'M' for Murder is an Alfred Hitchcock film from 1954 starring Grace Kelley, Robert Cummings and Ray Milland. While the film is beautifully filmed in that 1950's style and color and the cast is classic Hitchcock with a leading blonde, and debonair leading men, it seems stilted. In spite of her beauty, I hate to say it, Grace Kelly isn't a very good actress. It's a good thing the prince snatched her up when he did, or other people might have noticed it, too.
Eddie Izzard
Eddie Izzard is one of my favorite comedians from the U.K.. The first time I saw his stand-up was on his HBO special in 1999. I've since seen it several more times and it still makes me guffaw. He retold the history of the world from his perspective and gave a French lesson, that has stuck with me till today. The movie we got was one of his earlier shows and for me it didn't measure up. He spends way too much time talking about his laundry - which may have been funny in 1994, but after his amazing history of the world, it can't really compare. Sadly, I just didn't laugh very much during Unrepeatable.
Ju-on
Ju-on is a Japanese horror film about vengeful spirits killing people who enter a house. It was remaid last year with an American cast starring Sarah Michelle Gellar. While it is full of creepy imagery, it is tedious. Maybe I just didn't get it, but it seemed to me that it is just a never ending viral infection of haunting. No real ending.

Death at the Priory


Death at the Priory Posted by Hello

I just finished Death at the Priory: Sex, Love, and Murder in Victorian England by James Ruddick. I liked this book more than Fasting Girl. Same time period, but different subject matter and the mystery is solved in the end - sort of. Ruddick starts by telling the story of the murder by poisoning of Charles Bravo. The story has a little bit of everything, a torrid pre-marriage affair between Florence Campbell and Dr. Gulley (a man old enough to be her father), not one - but two abusive husbands, servants who are not what they appear. The author uses the last half of the book to summarize how he did his research and his conclusions on who the murderer was. While his theory is sound enough, it is the delivery of his conclusions that bothers me. He makes his statements in absolutes, as though there are no other explanations that fit the circumstances of the crime. I found myself thinking, "but what about..." . It really seems to me that there are several possible solutions to this mystery, and after reading the book, I don't feel that Ruddick got any closer to the truth than previous investigators. It was an enjoyable read though.

Jan 18, 2005

A Curse Upon Your House and Your Hootie Hoo...

I just read a blog with the funniest/best curse I have ever seen. It had to come out of some fantastic amount of pain. I feel for the guy, but I have to repost his post. Check this out:

January 14, 2004

Life through my lens

G Scores!! Yes!!

Just a note to you G..

You Rock!! I am SO happy for you!!!

Today's victory is tomorrow's triumph, trust me...

Enjoy today Hon! Smile, laugh, giggle....

You've earned it!

May the lice, fleas, and ticks of a thousand dead hogs infest his "special place".. May he contract a scortching case of crotch rot that would melt the paint off of a Battleship! May he be as a dog chasing it's tail until the end of time, and a monkey that is tied to the organ grinder, to be made to dance like a clown forever...

May he choke on his malice and venom, vomiting up his own soul in attempt to save himself. But above all, let him see the most precious gift he tossed away, and lament his folly until the dark, cold, day of his death....

( tips hat, and raises his glass )

"Anything for You"

Jan 17, 2005

State Employee Holidays

Robert E. Lee**Martin Luther King, Jr.**Jefferson Davis


Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, so I am off work and glad for it. Because I work for the State of Texas, I will be off work on Wednesday, too. Wednesday is Confederate Heroes Day. I have worked for the state for more than 10 years now (off and on) and remember thinking the first year I encountered Confederate Heroes Day that it was odd Texas had a "skeleton day" (partially staffed holiday) celebrating Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee . Don't get me wrong, I am a Southerner, but It's been over a hundred years since the South lost the war; so it seems weird that we are still "celebrating" when there is no one alive that lived during the war, and moreover when we all know what the Confederates were trying to preserve by starting the Civil War. The fact that Confederate Heroes Day comes within days of MLK Day, commemorating the leader of the civil rights movement, is bizarre. It also speaks to one of the paradoxes of American life, that what we say and what we do are sometimes entirely different things. Like when we say that the U.S. stands for freedom, but we pass something as vile as the Patriot Act.

The sense of irony I feel each year when this holiday comes around can only be surpassed by my sense of relief at not having to go to work. I have discussed this holiday anomaly over the years with co-workers (black, white and "other"- as the state says), and all agree that they don't usually celebrate anything or anyone during these days off; they usually just relax with their family. Feeling like most Americans that they are overworked and underpaid, they (like me) are grateful to have any excuse for a day off with pay. I think that the sense of outrage that this holiday should incite (we all know lawsuits have been started over much less in this country), is undercut by our exhaustion. We are too tired from our jobs and our daily life to make a fuss, so we do the best we can with it. I can only assume that the same is true for the general lack of reaction from the American public to the Patriot Act.

I'm Not Scared


I'm Not Scared Posted by Hello

Io non ho Paura is our latest Netflix viewing, an Italian film from 2003 that tells the story of one boy, Michelle, who finds another boy, Phillipo, chained up in a hole in the ground. The title in English is, I'm Not Scared, which references the way Michelle poetically talks himself through his fears when he visits the boy and when he dares to defy the adults in this film. The children who act in the film are all very good and quite natural, and the Lord of the Flies-like ringleader chillingly portrays a prepubescent sociopath. The imagry of Io non ho Paura is both beautiful and disturbing. This film is a suspensful look at desperation, fantasy, and denial in the worlds of both children and adults.

Jan 15, 2005

The Adventures of Buckaroo Bonzai Across the 8th Dimension


Buckaroo Bonzai and the Hong Kong Cavaliers Posted by Hello

Saturday night we had movie night at Caryn and Matt's. The film of the evening was one of my favorite 80's cult movies, The Adventures of Buckaroo Bonzai Across the 8th Dimension, starring Peter Weller in the title role. An ensemble cast of men make up Buckaroo Bonzai and the Hong Kong Cavaliers, with one exception, Buckaroo's love interest, Penny Priddy (Ellen Barkin). This movie is great, if you have never seen it, you definitely should.

Buckaroo is born to an American mother and a Japanese father and he grows up to become a neurosurgeon, a particle physicist and a rock star - in other words the coolest guy on the planet. The Hong Kong Cavaliers are comprised of, Reno Nevada (Pepe Serna), Raw Hide (Clancy Brown), Perfect Tommy (Lewis Smith), Pinky Carruthers (Billy Vera), Dr. Hikita (Robert Ito) and New Jersey (Jeff Goldblum). In addition to being musicians in Buckaroo's band, they are also scientists and act Buckaroo's bodyguards. The aliens (some good, some bad) are John Wohrfin/Dr. Emilio Lizzardo (John Lithgow), John Bigboote (Christopher Lloyd), John O'Connor (Vincent Schiavelli), John Emdall (Rosalind Cash), John Parker (Carl Lumbly), and John Gomez (Dan Hedaya). The alien names are one of many running jokes throughout the film. The good aliens are all Rastafarians (black lectroids) and the bad aliens are called "red lectroids." Buckaroo Bonzai even has Yakov Smirnoff as a national security advisor, which makes sense given the cold war theme throughout the film. The dialogue is funny because it is intentionally ridiculous, and the more you see Buckaroo Bonzai, the more you see in it.

Although it bombed when it was released in 1984, Buckaroo Bonzai's cult status is evident by the number of Buckaroo Bonzai
fan sites on the net, and the almost Trekkie-like devotion to the smallest details of the film. IMDB has some cool trivia on the film, and the DVD has some deleted scenes in which Jamie Lee Curtis plays Buckaroo's mother in the prologue. Looking at this film through eyes that are 20 years older than the when I originally saw it, I have to say that the special effects still hold up pretty well. Matt commented that because the alien technology is "low-tech," it helps the film to stand the test of time. The only thing dated about Buckaroo Bonzai are the hair cuts and the clothes (remember DJ's Fashions for Men at the mall?), but those will be back in soon, so maybe they will remaster it for a theater re-release...probably not.


Jan 13, 2005

Nice Guys Sleep Alone


Nice Guys Sleep Alone Posted by Hello

Tonight's Netflix film was Nice Guys Sleep Alone. It is a light, romantic comedy about a guy who decides that being nice is not helping him to build a relationship. He starts making some changes in his dating approach and the comedy ensues. We liked Nice Guys Sleep Alone, and the Kentucky countryside is where it was filmed, is gorgeous. It is a quiet, thoughtful kind of comedy, although there is one scene that involves copulating horses that I would use different adjectives for...

Jan 12, 2005

The Fasting Girl


The Fasting Girl Posted by Hello

The Fasting Girl: A True Victorian Medical Mystery, written by Michelle Stacey, is a very interesting book, but it is also a bit of a slow read. The book begins with the story of Mollie Fancher, The Brooklyn Enigma, who lived for 12 years "on a few teaspoons of milk and a small banana." She had numerous symptoms that varied throughout her life, including trances, paralysis, "second sight," blindness and once the illness began, she spent the rest of her life confined to her bed. Her story ran in newspapers around the world, and the American public became obsessed with her other young women who, like her, appeared to live on next to nothing. Her case was argued in the press through letters from "experts" in medicine and religion. Michelle Stacey makes the point that during the Victorian Era; Darwin's Theory of Evolution was introduced, pitting science against religion in a way that changed history. Scientists and doctors battled over the Fancher case in the press, and their profession did not necessarily dictate which side of the issue they supported.


After fleshing out Mollie Fancher’s story and chronicles the lives of the people arguing for and against her claims in the press, Ms. Stacey parallels Fancher's symptoms and the symptoms of modern day anorexics. Medical and religious history, philosophy and psychology are all explored in the context of hysteria, anorexia and even chronic fatigue syndrome. The author makes a lot of interesting points about this complex phenomenon, but in the end there is no definitive answer to the question of how Mollie Fancher achieved fame by “surviving on air.”

Jan 11, 2005

Q: What do Michael Moore, stoners, and horny teenagers have in common?


A: Netflix will send them to your house.

I don't know if I mentioned it before, but Netflix is FANTASTIC! The last three films we got were Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, Farenheit 9/11, and Y Tu Mama Tambien .

I saw Farenheit 9/11 in the theater and thought it was great. I mainly listened while Marilyn watched the DVD we got from Netflix . I already believe Bush is the most evil president to ever occupy the position, so seeing his smirking face throughout the movie is not just unpleasant for me, it is visceral.

Y Tu Mama Tambien is surprising and interesting. It's a little melancholy, but I really enjoyed. It is a drama that is part coming of age film and part buddy flick. The locations were beautiful and the story is smart.

Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle is a smart stoner flick, if that is possible. The story is the same, stoners get high, get the munchies and go in search of food and more weed. The details are different, for starters the two leads are intelligent stoners (rare, I know). The actors who play Harold and Kumar are perfect and the scene with Fred Willard interviewing Kumar for medical school is hilarious. Not high brow humor (ETP), but I do enjoy a good stoner movie from time to time. Maybe it was growing up in the era of Cheech and Chong. Final word for all of the kiddies who read my blog: stoner movies are funny, real life stoners are just sad.

Jan 9, 2005

La-hoo-sers!

Napoleon Dynamite Dodge Ball

Mike came over last night for Movie night and we watched Napoleon Dynamite and Dodge Ball. Both of these movies are about lovable losers who overcome their disadvantages to succeed. While they are both comedies, Napoleon Dynamite is the quirkier of the two, with characters who come across as depressed and somewhat retarded. The funniest part of Napoleon Dynamite to me was the amazing resemblance between the character of Uncle Rico and my brother, David. Weird character, weird brother. Dodge Ball is a bit more mainstream and formulaic. I recommend both of them if you are in the mood for some light comedy in a "revenge of the nerds" type film.

Jan 8, 2005

Beyond Microwave


Beyond Microwave Posted by Hello

Our microwave died an unexplained, and unbelievably smelly death last Thursday. So smelly, in fact, that we it had to be removed from our residence immediately, because the noxious fumes were making us sick. Realization that we had become overly dependent on our microwave hit quick, because we continued to plan microwavable meals, when there was nothing but a gaping hole in the hutch where our microwave used to be. Today I bought a new microwave - you might even say an uber microwave. We are the proud owners of the Westinghouse Beyond Microwave. Not only does it microwave meals as well as any other microwave, it has a SCANNING WAND! You can scan the bar code of your microwavable meal and it will automatically program the microwave to cook your meal according to the directions on the box. While we may not need a microwave that scans, it was a techy gadget that was too cool to pass up. So far we have cooked two microwave dinners and two bags of popcorn for movie night and it works great! I am giving it my geek seal of approval.

Jan 5, 2005

P.T. Barnum was Absolutely Right!

In my job, I have the opportunity help people with disabilities obtain vocational training, so that they can gain marketable skills and become employed. I am seeing a trend lately that I find disturbing and sad. Several of the consumers I (and my coworkers) work with are requesting training in various medical pseudosciences, including: Iridology, Colonic Irrigation, and Aromatherapy.


Iris and Iridology ChartPosted by Hello

Iridology is the belief that every part of the body has a corresponding "mirror" in a specific part of the eye. People who subscribe to this pseudoscience believe any illness can be diagnosed by looking at the iris of a person's eye.

Colonic irrigation involves infusing up to 20 gallons of water into the colon through the rectum a few pints at a time. This is done to remove all of the contents of the colon to "detoxify" the body. The practicianers of colonic irrigation use a variety of liquids in the cleansing process including herbal mixtures, wheatgrass and coffee. The procedure can lead to death from loss of electrolytes, bacterial contamination, and perforation of the colon (leading to septicemia). The effects of a colonic can be achieved naturally (and much more safely) through increased ingestion of roughage.

Reflexology Chart Posted by Hello

Reflexology is akin to Iridology, substituting feet for eyes. Each part of the foot is supposed to be connected by nerves to a corresponding part of the body. Instead of supplying a diagnosis (as is the case with iridology), reflexology is used to cure a variety of ailments. By massaging (stimulating) different parts of the foot, healing energy can be released, restoring "balance" to the patient's health. While foot massages do not pose a health risk, using a foot massage instead of medical treatment to cure disease can lead to death.

Aromatherapy is also a seemingly harmless treatment for what ails us, but again, there is no scientific proof that it can be substituted for actual medical treatment with any success. Proponents of aromatherapy believe that the essential oils of plants have therapeutic value and if they are used by inhalation or applied to the skin, they can cure one of what ails them. I will be the first to admit that I like and use many products classified as aromatherapeutic, but I chose them because they smell good to me, not because I think they can make me healthier.

It seems to me that my clients (and so many others) are looking for hope, but instead being duped.

Jan 4, 2005

Tadpole


Tadpole Posted by Hello

We watched Tadpole tonight. This film is an indie featuring Sigourney Weaver, John Ritter and Bebe Newirth. The young stars of the film are Peter Appel and Robert Iler. Appel's performance as Tadpole, really made the movie. Appel plays an intelligent, passionate, intense, poetic, French speaking fifteen-year-old who falls in love with his stepmother. The plot is character driven and the dialogue is witty, so the film is really not as depraved as it sounds. I'd recommend Tadpole for a night when you want the opposite of a summer blockbuster buddy flick, with loud explosions, car chases, and a lot of sex and cursing.

Jan 1, 2005

Resolution Revolution


Moon and Clouds Posted by Hello

I have been thinking about resolutions and I keep coming back to how good it has been to just relax during the holidays. My resolution this year is to go minimalist. I want to simplify and scale back. I want to clean house and declutter wherever I can. The world is so chaotic and stressful right now; I just want some peace of mind. I figure, I can't control the deficit, the war, or the intelligence of our president (or my boss for that matter), but I can get rid of stuff (lots of stuff). I can just try to be happier and more connected. Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, ya'll!