Stone House Civil War Encampment

stone house
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

Saturday, April 30, hosts a civil war encampment at the Stone House on Rt. 8 and Rt. 173, just outside Slippery Rock. This is a great place, especially during the Christmas craft show. Halloween is also fun, with haunted house tales and story telling. I just hope the weather cooperates.

The Weeping Camel

The Weeping Camel
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

This is a great story about tradition and spiritual beliefs and the desire to embrace modern life also. The family featured in the film is absolutely adorable. Filmed in Mongolia, in the Gobi desert, the movie transports you to another time and place. Fascinating to watch the scenery, and the story line is enjoyable too. The movie has a great web site.

Dalai Lama

Dalai Lama
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

i just attended a music and dance presentation by the monks of Gaden Shartse. They are Tibetan Buddhists, followers of the 14th Dalai Lama. Their monastery is in India, and they live in exile. There is an incredible video about Tibet, called Cry of the Snow Leopard, and it shows the destruction carried out by the Chinese (but let's not get carried away by human rights violations - it might endanger WTO and favored trade status for China - think of the money our corporations would lose if we imposed sanctions on China?). The program was great - the monks obviously enjoyed themselves. They talked about non violence, peace, negative feelings and behavior, impermanence of all living things - beautiful message. The monk who did most of the talking said we Americans spend about 10 years in our cars, maybe a couple years looking in a mirror at our appearance etc., so how much time do we spend in our lives paying attention to spiritual matters? Wow! Good point, especially for the culture of "Whoever dies with the most stuff wins."
On the other hand, Tibet was almost medieval in its organization prior to the Chinese invasion - the monastic system had a negative effect on the expansion of the economy - the country was very isolated - but despite this, I think the chinese invasion has been a disaster for Tibet, for its culture, for its people. Estimates are that 2 million Tibetans have died as a result of the occupation. If only Tibet had oil......then we would be demanding freedom and democracy.

Citizen Kane II

I am trying to get more info on a Saturday Night Live sketch on Citizen Kane. I FOUND THE TRANSCIPT ON INTERNET! Buck Henry was in it (I think he was host for that night) and the ending of Citizen Kane is different. Kane doesn't say "Rosebud," but "Roast Beef." He was trying to order a sandwich! They search back through Kane's life and discover that Kane once ordered a roast beef sandwich while working at the Chronicle - he and Mr. Leland were working and ordered out for lunch. I can't remember the whole sketch (I think Garrett Morris was the delivery "boy"). It was very creative, very funny - they nailed the acting and characters. I have purchased episodes of SNL for my classes: there is a video on the Clinton Impeachment - my favorite sketch is the Ladies Man re-enactment of the Starr Report (when Monica meets the Pres. and shows him his thong) - really funny. Then there is the take-off on "Cops" where the video tape records a police call on a domestic violence report at the Governor's mansion in Little Rock Arkansas - Bill is in the kitchen, with a black eye, and hillary is hiding in the pantry smoking a cigarette. "Some day she's gonna kill you - you that don't you Governor?" the cop asks. "Yeah, but I love her," replies. Very funny.

Big Pussy , handcuffs, bondage

Big Pussy
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

Vincent Pastore, who plays Big Pussy on the Sopranos, was arrested for roughing up his girlfriend. I assume the Big Pussy was handcuffed and locked up until he could post bail. Oh the humanity....

hitler youth

hitler youth
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

"Every Girl is Ours," meaning all girls and boys belonged to Nazi Germany. Starting in 1926, Hitler Youth was a evening program for young people 10-18. In 1941 membership was required by law. There were athletic requirements (running, sit-ups, swimming, diving off a board for courage), songs, lots of Sieg Heil's. Some teachers complained that students were sleepy during the day because of evening Hilter Youth meetings. Our new Pope Joseph Ratzinger was a member of Hitler Youth. He also served in the army, manning an anti-aircraft site near a factory. Also manning the site were slaves from a nearby concentration camp. He is the best Cardinal for Pope? They didn't have anyone else? I read that he thinks only Roman Catholic Christians go to heaven - and that Jews can only be saved through Christ (I guess by converting to Roman Catholicism). The modern Catholic church dates from the 13th century when Thomas Aquinas applied Aristotlian philosophy to the church's doctrines. I think the church is trapped in the 13th century (come on, Nuns? How medieval can you get?)

tai long wan

tai long wan
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

This is a peninsula near Hong Kong, a remote place that attracts lots of hikers. I have never heard of it before but it is like a paradise! Here is a photo album.
And here is a blog that describes a hiking visit.

Touch - dance club in Pittsburgh

touch_frontpage_photo
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

I am in Pittsburgh, after a movie, I'm alone, so I want to have one drink, a martini, in what Hemingway calls "a clean well lighted place." I decide to drive to the strip district and have a drink at Lydia's, an italian restaurant with a bar that is not smokey. As I near the place, I notice a club with a zebra awning, with a bouncer outside, pulsating music. I look in: there are women (girls) in bikinis dancing on the bars, with fairy wings on like Tinkerbell (what a fantasy!) I overhear the bouncer say $6 cover. I figure why not? I go in and the place is amazing, so loud, lights flashing. I climb the balcony to get a better view (of the girls dancing) and decide not to get a drink - I didn't want to have to yell at the bartender, it was that loud. I am a great people observer - I like to people watch. So I am taking this in, and all of a sudden I hear, "Dr. Daniels what are you doing here?!" Yes, students from SRU. We won't divulge names. I came up with a quick reply: "My girlfriend dances here." They thought that was a riot. I left just after that. But what a place! the Ultimate dance club - with a fireplace in the balcony - Safari theme. And I was there early, about 10:00 - the clubs dont start grooving until midnight.

blue parrot

blue parrot
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

Here is Sidney Greenstreet, Signor Ferrari, as he appeared in Casablanca. Click back link for a really good tribute page, complete with Casablanca download game. I enjoyed his role - I like the scene where Rick sells him Rick's Cafe Americain and he is expressionless: Rick leaves and Ferrari calmly picks up a fly swatter and kills a fly. Great scene. OK trivia: What was Rick's bar in Paris called? da da da da...da da da...Le Belle Aurore.

bridgesandscott

bridgesandscott
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

Jeff Bridges has finally shown up at a Lebowskifest! He sang "The Man in Me" and hung out with some other Lebowski actors. Check out the Lebowskifest site - new t-shirts, new bumber stickers - "the dude abides, man."

blade runner

blade runner
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

I just saw the Director's Cut of Blade Runner. Harrison Ford tracks down 4 replicants - clones who are better than human, but are programmed to die in 4 years. The programmers give them a memory of youth, complete with pictures, to lead them to believe they are human, and have had a childhood. If this sounds cruel, devious, just wait for the ending. A very sad story. I thought too much action, fighting etc. I wanted more emotion - about what it must feel like to be invented, controlled by others, with no hope for escape. I also thought the audience should have felt more for the replicants - they are the victims - but they were presented as violent villians (all except one, that is!) Ok, great flick, I won't argue.

Pres. James Buchanan's japanese vase

japanese vase
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

One of the things Pres. Buchanan accomplished in his presidency was receiving the Japanese Ambassador and establishing diplomatic relations with Japan. The Ambassador gave him this vase, which is now on display in the carriage house of the Buchanan estate. The History channel has been showing a review of Presidents all day today, and they were of course critical of Buchanan. There have been several history books on Buchanan, one recent book has been very balanced. I think he has been stereotyped as the gay bachelor President who was too compromising with his southern friends, which is true. But Pennsylvania has always been until then a compromising state, along with New York, that held the Andy Jackson Democratic party coalition together. And his southern friends in the Cabinet were in reality "friends" and that got in the way of his decision making (he should have fired his cabinet sooner). For many reasons I won't go into here, he was at the wrong place at the wrong time and was clueless about it. The issue of homesteading, free territories and abolition had been brewing for some time (ever since the No Nothings ran Millard Fillmore in 1852) and by 1856 with the emergence of the Republicans the democrats were doomed. I once looked at the electoral vote in 1860, combining the popular vote of the opponents of Lincoln, and even if you combine the popular votes of his opponents Lincoln still wins the election handily in the electoral college. Demographics also played a part in the 1860 election - rise of population in northern cities, population of Oregon an California too. I have other Buchanan pictures on my university web page.

outdoor rick the cat

outdoor rick the cat
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

Rick the Cat finally can enjoy the sunshine, after spending the winter in the garage in his hut with a heating pad. He likes to sleep outside in the bushes. He often waits in the bushes for me to come home, because he doesn't like using the cat door, and prefers to walk quickly inside when the garage door opens (he does that quick, funny cat walk). So far, only one rabbit kill this year for Rick. Soon I will shut off the cat door and let him inside at night only after I make sure he doesn't have anything dead in his mouth (gruesome!).

Governor Rendell

Governor Rendell
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

Governor Rendell visited Slippery Rock University's campus last fall for the Presidential race. College Democrats did a great job organizing the visit- our campus is predominantly democrat, but not necessarily liberal. Liberal in Pennsylvania means you still hunt deer, own a high powered rifle, and are opposed to Roe v Wade and think states should regulate abortion. But pro-union, definitely. Rendell is interesting guy: pro business, but socially liberal. Pro choice, jewish liberal, but conservative in some regards (who does that remind you of? Sen. Arlen Specter!) Ed Rendell is an amazing campaigner - very charismatic - even though he is a big, large bald headed guy. He delivered the state for Gore in 2000 with the Philly vote, and delivered again in 2004 for Kerry. Tom Ridge was Gov in 2000, and the Bushites were mad that he didn't bring PA in for Bush - Ridge was beat by Rendell's maching in Philly. Rendell will be around for a long while - definitely re-electable. Vice President Rendell? President Rendell? Rendell would be a better candidate than Kerry, or Hillary. I like being from a state with an intelligent governor - it gives me confidence. Now if we could only get rid of Sen. Santorum....

Web news site

Web news site
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

As an alternative to Fox News, check out Aljazeera english version. There is definitely a spin that is different from MSNBC (or Fox) but it seems just as accurate (if you can use the word accurate to describe reporting). There is also an animated cartoon daily, only sometimes I don't get it - you have to live in the middle east I guess. The cartoons are usually about Iraq, or Israel and the Palestinians. I don't think we (Americans) really understand the middle east because we don't understand the anger of Arabs over how Palestinian arabs are treated by Israel - we just don't get it.

Finally, a zesty tasting veggie meal

I have been making taco's with Morning Star Farm's crumbled veggie burger mix, and I stir in a packet of taco seasoning mix (from the mexican food aisle). Lightly toast the taco, spoon in the cooked veggie burger/taco mixture,cover with some graded monterey jack cheese, shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, and then salsa sauce. It really tastes good as opposed to the cardboard vegetarian meals I have been eating. Also veggie burger has put out some new products, one of them is veggie meat loaf patty with sauce - very good.

Tom DeLay on the way out

It's all about re-election. Politics, that is. Rick Santorum (Repub from PA) is a conservative, perhaps too conservative for PA. He is being challenged by Bob Casey, son of Governor Casey, the conservative Roman Catholic Democrat who supported regulation of abortion (24 hr waiting period, parental notification)- perhaps you heard of Planned Parenthood v Casey? Anyway, Santorum is afraid of Casey. Meanwhile, in Texas, Delay didnt get re-elected by a wide margin in the last election, despite his war chest of slimey money, despite his being House Maj Leader. Demo's have targeted DeLay in 2006, and Santorum too. So Rick Santorum has called on DeLay to come clean on campaign financing and, simply put, his bribes. Santorum wants to appear clean, above reproach, to distance himself from someone who is crashing. Santorum runs for re-election, lets PA voters know his committment to ethics, how he got rid of a dishonest Republican like DeLay. Meanwhile, Rep. Shay, Repub from Connecticut, calls for DeLay to resign. It makes sense, get a moderate New England Repub to call on DeLay to resign. Obviously, the Repub would like DeLay gone: they could keep his House seat, and his scandals wouldn't hurt the re-election chances of endangered Repub's lilke Santorum. DeLay supports involuntary servitude in Saipan; he corruption goes beyond the usual corruption of Congress, and that is saying something! How do the Repub's get away with having someone like DeLay as Maj leader??? What will DeLay do when he resigns? Open a pest removal company (his former career)? Of course not - he will be employed by some lobbyist firm or company that could use his influence (how do you spell Halliburton?). What does Jim Hightower say about DeLay? One million sperm and his was the fastest??!!

Rick the Serial Killer

Rick the Cat
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

Here is a picture of Rick the Cat (that's his official name). I met Rick in a parking lot in Memphis, Tennessee. He was eating mice, snakes and birds. He looked like a large rat. I have tried to tame him but it is impossible. I somehow caught him before I moved to Slippery Rock, took him to the vet, and the vet said he was healthy. So I had him neutered, got some knock out pills, and brought him to Slippery Rock. He lives in the garage, and has a cat door so he can come and go as he pleases. He is a climber, and used to climb the trees in the back yard and sit on the roof of the house (the trees were cut down, so he stays on the ground now). I could tell it's spring: he just killed his first rabbit. He drags the body into the garage and dismembers it. Blood and gore in the garage. Its like living with Hannibal Lector. He also like to sleep on my Miata's convertible top, and I have to cover the car in blanket to prevent him from scratching it. Anyone like to adopt an outdoor/garage cat? Good hunter?

Peter Lorre

Peter Lorre might be best remembered for his roles in Casablanca and the Maltese Falcon, but his best role was as a child murderer in Fritz Lang's "M." Here is his filmography link. Some dialogue from Casablanca:

Ugarte: Heh, you know, watching you just now with the Deutsche Bank, one would think you've been doing this all your life.
Rick: Oh, what makes you think I haven't?
Ugarte: Oh, n-n-n-nothing, but when you first came to Casablanca, I thought...
Rick: You thought what?
Ugarte: Hm, what right do I have to think, huh?
Ugarte: You know, Rick, I have many a friend in Casablanca, but somehow, just because you despise me, you are the only one I trust.

And from the Maltese Falcon

Joel Cairo: You... you bungled it. You and your stupid attempt to buy it. Kemedov found out how valuable it was, no wonder we had such an easy time stealing it. You... you imbecile. You stupid fat-head you.
[cries]

He also appeared as the mysterious Mr. Kentaro Moto in the Mr. Moto series!

russell yates ready to remarry?!

Remember this guy? His wife drowned her five children. Meanwhile, this guy is at his job at NASA - NASA! She is on medication, hearing voices - that is a symptom of psychosis - and he wants her to have more children. Can you imagine a psychotic mother with five young children? What was the house like? Laundry? Food preparation? How could he leave the house in the morning for his job as a rocket scientist when his wife is in la-la land, the house looks like a minor explosion has gone off, and his five young children can rely only upon their crazy (sorry) mother who is hearing voices? This guy was never charged in connection with the murders! He was complicit - his negligence led to their deaths. Was there only male prosecutors involved in this case: can you imagine a female, feminist prosecutor not doing something to this guy? And now he is dating (watch out ladies, this guy is looking for a baby factory) and thinking about having more children! How do you spell vasectomy? Why would a woman go out with this guy?