Lust, Caution

Absolutely a Great Film - I can't stop thinking about it - so moving, disturbing. (you tube trailer)and site url here. Before the movie began, there was a large woman talking on her cell phone, something about, yeah I decided to see a movie, the ticket agent said this was good....and I thought, lady do you know what you are in for? Almost 3 hrs of a chinese film, in mandarin, cantonese, shanghainese, english and japanese, extreme violence, and S&M sex in extended explicit scenes! Not only did she fall asleep, but she woke up during one of the sex scenes (because of the screaming and grunting) and walked out! Anyway, this is another great Ang Lee film, great acting, what impressed me was the tension throughout the film, you knew the characters were involved in something life threatening, something more than they even knew. This is about the Japanese occupation of China (where they buried people alive) and a group of young, innocent students who want to kill an evil police chief collaborator. Its also a film about the role of women, repressed sexuality, and love. Well, I think its about love in a perverted way. This is a big production movie, lots of locations, involving lots of extras, recreating the streets of Shanghai and Hong Kong of the 1930's. It is extremely violent, and the sex scenes are....well....I guess they are acting, but if they are only acting, then they are really good actors. Long and intense, this is an incredible movie. What impressed me is that the tension extends throughout the film, even the ending leaves you wondering about what will happen next to the main character, Mr. Yee. Here's a longer trailer with music in chinese. I didn't watch to watch at parts, because it was so disturbing - I knew there would be great tragedy in the film. But I couldnt stop watching either. The film is emotionally exhausting.

Suppose you could drill a hole through the Earth and then drop into it. How long would it take you to pop up on the other side of the Earth?

The answer: 42 minutes. The proof of the answer can be found here.

McDonalds Bathroom attendant

These guys went to McDonalds on Times Square and set up a tuxedo'd attendant. They told the manager it was a promotion from Corporate office. Very funny. Lots of pictures here.

"A Vision of Students Today"

Really great video about what students think of today's college educational environment. Its true - class size is too large, books contain more info than they really need to read (I am thinking about ending textbooks - they will be tested on what i cover in class). Media is important - use of media in class is the way to teach. The days of going over reading material in class are gone....

El Espinazo del diablo (The Devil's backbone)

I don't usually like horror movies, or ones with children being mistreated, but this is by the director of Pan's Labyrinth so I decided to see it. Wow! There is so much going on in this film. Its about a ghost of a young boy (really scarey)at an orphange, but also an allegory for the Spanish Civil War. The ghost is a gray, decaying little boy with a bleeding head. There is a rumor about a ghost, but only one boy can see him. When the ghost whispers, "Bring him (Jacinto) to meeeeeeee...." is really chilled me. But its also about the Spanish Civil War, about civilians who were targeted, mass murders, greed, lust, fear. Jacinto is the bad guy, but represents the violence of the war. But what is a ghost? the movie's narrator asks? "What is a ghost? A tragedy condemned to repeat itself time and again? An instant of pain, perhaps. Something dead which still seems to be alive. An emotion suspended in time. Like a blurred photograph. Like an insect trapped in amber." Even Jacinto has a ghost to deal with: his own unhappy childhood. What a movie! What an ending! The audience applauded at the end (all 50 of us).
Here is an excellent analysis, how the film is an allegory about the civil war:

It is unlikely that Mexican-director, Guillermo del Toro, will ever top this film, it is his greatest-achievement. While certainly a horror-film, it so-much-more, an allegory of the betrayals that led-to the rise-of-fascism in Spain. Most small-arms came-from Mexico, and Del Toro has said in-interviews that he lived-in a neighborhood populated by Republicans who had fled after-1939. Some have commented that the film takes-place after the fall of Republican Spain(the 1939 fall of Catalonia), but this is incorrect. The fall hasn't come-yet, and this free-fall state is the universe that the film inhabits. Taking-place in a Republican Orphanage for fallen-anarchists, Leftists, and Republican-politicians, the film is always in a state of anticipation and a kind-of limbo. All the Republican-caretakers can do is wait for the fall, and the repression that was surely-to-follow. Betrayed by the Catholic Church, the Soviet Union under-Stalin, political-infighting, and even the Western Democracies, Franco was given a blank-check to slaughter legitimate, democratic-forces by-1939. 2,000 Americans joined the "Abraham Lincoln Brigade" to fight Franco's forces, and a "United Front" of Leftists and Unionists from throughout-the-world had went to Spain to "fight the good-fight".

Meanwhile, the Roosevelt-administration banned all-sales of war-material (most-particularly, aircraft-engines and ammunition) to Republican-forces. Franco had many-allies, and would remain-in-power until his timely-death in November, 1975...Spain has been-celebrating ever-since. And-so, "The Devil's Backbone" can only be-about the ghosts of this period, particularly those Spaniards who were betrayed by politicians who shared so-much with Franco. The title, incidentally, comes-from a range-of-mountains where Republican-forces were bogged-down, then-defeated; it is referred-to as the Sierra de Alcubierre. Even George Orwell was there, and he wrote a book on his experiences fighting to save Republican Spain.

If "Devil's Backbone" says-anything, it is that "these were times that showed what people then were made-of." Dr. Cásares and Carmen represent the weakened-Republic, with her leg-missing, and he being-impotent. Then, there is Jacinto, once an orphan, now a caretaker of the orphanage--a betrayer, a criminal, and a murderer. Even-worse, though, is that amidst-the-chaos of the Civil War, the orphanage is haunted by the ghost of a former child-resident who may-have been murdered. The orphanage IS Spain, with its' fascist-bomb, unexploded in-the-courtyard, a direct-reference to the bombing of the Spanish-town, Guernica. Guernica was the first-incident of the bombing-of-civilians in modern-history, and was immortalized in a painting by-Pablo Picasso The deformed-fetus in the jar is the Spain-that-never-was, still-born, unnaturally. Dr. Cásares, then, is the legacy of Spanish Republicanism, a good-legacy that literally aids the living in the finale of the film. However, if I tell you anything-else this character, the film will be ruined! You can figure-out the rest, most audiences aren't given enough-credit. Stand-and-be-counted, these are "times that try men's souls". History never ends.

here is link to actual ghost town from Spanish civil war.

My lunch at Holsten's

Noah and I ate at Holsten's, the alleged last supper of Tony Soprano. We had grilled cheese sandwiches and onion rings - I ate them whole like Tony. Only I wasn't shot by one of Phil Leotardo's goons.

"How Long" new release by The Eagles

The new Eagles single is released here on youtube.comsounds better here on cmt.com

Rashomon

Great movie: The story is set in ancient Japan, where three passers-by seek shelter from intense rain in the ruined temple called Roshomon. Two of the witnesses, a dumbfounded woodcutter (Takashi Shimura) and a priest (Minoru Chiaki), are narrating the crime trial to the commoner. More than the crime, they are astonished to witness the testimonies of three people, connected with the crime, which shatters their faith in humanity.

A man (Masayuki Mori) has been murdered, and his wife (Machiko Kyo) was allegedly raped, while they were traveling in the woods. A notorious bandit (Toshiro Mifune) has been arrested, regarding this despicable act. As the trial starts, the fabricated lies resurface over truth. According to the bandit, he and the man waged a war after the rape, resulting in the man's death.

But the woman's version is that she was rejected by her husband, after being raped. So, with uncontrollable grief, she killed him. However, the dead man testifies, through the medium, that the bandit insisted to marry the woman after the rape, but the woman demanded the bandit should kill her husband first. The angry bandit left the place and the guilty-conscious man committed suicide. According to the woodcutter, the woman had manipulated the two men, who were finally pushed to gruesome fight that lead to the man's death.
What is liked especially was the dead husband's testimony from the afterlife: the way he was costumed, his make up, the wind, and his movement's (supposedly he was told to move like a lion, and watched some nature documentaries to learn). The ending was great: after watching how selfish and violent humans are, the film ends with a beautiful act of compassion. Rashomon means "gate" - the story was told at an old gate, abandoned - it looked like some kind of temple, but it was a gate that would ward off evil spirits. The fact that the "gate" was abandoned, run down, that the men telling the story were tearing off wood from the gate to build a fire (it was cold and raining) suggests that there is a lack of protection against evil, that the "gate" that protected the people was ruined, and that evil is abundant in the world. Absolutely brilliant movie.

Reality imitates Fantasy: Donnie Darko strikes again!

This too weird: this is right from the movie Donnie Darko, when the motivational speaker "Jim Cunningham" (Patrick Swayze) turns out to be running a child porn ring.

Motivational speaker sentenced for child porn
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
The Associated Press

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- A motivational speaker who made numerous appearances on national television has been sentenced to 11 years and three months in federal prison for a child pornography conviction, U.S. Attorney Robert Balfe's office announced yesterday.

Michael V. Fortino, 47, of Pittsburgh, pleaded guilty Feb. 26 to a charge of transporting child pornography across state lines, and faced up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and lifetime supervision.

In sentencing Mr. Fortino, U.S. District Judge Jimm Larry Hendren also ordered him to pay a $10,000 fine and to serve 20 years supervised release after he gets out of prison.

Mr. Fortino previously admitted that, while traveling for his work as an author and speaker, he took his laptop computer from Texas to Fayetteville for a speaking engagement Nov. 4, 2005. The computer contained images of child pornography that Mr. Fortino admitted were previously downloaded from the Internet.

Belchite: a town destroyed in the Spanish Civil War

This is a town destroyed by house to house street fighting during the Spanish Civil War. It was never rebuilt. It was featured in the film Pan's Labyrith. A strange desolation. Very similar to the Orodour massacre in France, another town abandoned after a war.

El Laberinto del fauno

A long time ago, in the underground realm, where there are no lies or pain, there lived a Princess who dreamed of the human world. She dreamed of blue skies, soft breeze, and sunshine. One day, eluding her keepers, the Princess escaped. Once outside, the brightness blinded her and erased every trace of the past from her memory. She forgot who she was and where she came from. Her body suffered cold, sickness, and pain. Eventually, she died. However, her father, the King, always knew that the Princess' soul would return, perhaps in another body, in another place, at another time. And he would wait for her, until he drew his last breath, until the world stopped turning...
This movie was incredible. I can't stop thinking about it: absolutely beautiful, sad, but so beautiful. I noticed it showing at Regent Square theater in the burgh last year, but I don't enjoy "fantasy" films. Its on HBO now, I saw the first few minutes, really good. It is set in 1944, Franco's fascist regime in Spain has been victorious, however, in some rural areas the resistance continues. The Spanish civil war was brutal, as is most civil wars. The killing and the revenge was of a great magnitude. Read Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls (a book that is unusual for Hemingway - not at all sentimental, but brutal, full of death, cruelty, futility - like the spanish civil war I guess). In this film a young girl, Ofelia, who is living with her mom and her step father, the evil Capitan Vidal. Ofelia's father was a tailor, he died, and Vidal had his suits made at the shop. Vidal marries Ofelia's mom, mostly because he wants to father a child (he isn't in love with the mom, in fact, is embarassed by her lowly status). Ofelia senses the violence and cruelty of Vidal, and that her mother is in danger. She escapes into a fantasy world to escape her fear. In her fantasy world she is brave, takes risks, and ultimately learns she doesn't have to follow adult rules (which in the civil war were crazy, cruel). The evil and fear that surrounds her is portrayed symbolically in the film, from the huge black cars the fascist soldiers drive, to the uniforms of the soldiers, to the violence of Capitan Vidal (several brutal scenes show him to be a sadistic psychopath in a soldier's uniform). I didn't anticipate the end, which was beautiful, sad, and heartbreaking. She really was a princess from the "other world"...
And it is said that the Princess returned to her father's kingdom. That she reigned there with justice and a kind heart for many centuries. That she was loved by her people. And that she left behind small traces of her time on Earth, visible only to those who know where to look.

Hillary Nutcracker

I've got to buy a bunch of these for presents!

Holsten's - where Tony Soprano got whacked

I visited Noah in New Jersey and he drove me to Holsten's, the ice cream store/diner where supposedly Tony Soprano got killed in the final episode. It looked differently than the movie - the position of movie camera's affect POV. The food was great - I ordered a bowl of onion rings and ate them like Tony, sticking my tongue out and putting one whole on the tongue and eating it like a communion wafer. Really nice place, friendly, relaxed, just a great mood in the place. Teenagers wait tables, the grill cooks laught and joke and the owner visits with a regular customer. Simple menu. They have it perfect. BTW, the mural on the back wall is different than the movie version - there is no "cat" on the back wall, adding to the idea that the "cat" was an omen of impending doom. Oddly enough, we had trouble parallel parking out front, just like Meadow. It was worth the drive - fascinating driving through New Jersey, observing the different cities, boros, how different populations live different areas. Holsten's is in a residential neighborhood that is very stable - looks like it was always middle class residential neighborhood (Bloomsfield). It borders Lodi, an older factory town, where working people lived and worked in the factories - now Lodi's factories are closed (moved to china) and empty, and dominicans (not the religious order) live there, in a stable but struggling community.

The argument for Tony's death: fore shadowing. Bobby talks to Tony on the boat when they were vacationing. What happens to guys like us? They either end up in jail or dead. Bobby asks Tony: will be have any warning before we get whacked? Or does it all just go "black" - which is what happens at the end of the last episode. The cat that the gang adopts - it stares at a picture of christopher - is it christopher's ghost, or adrianna's? Dr. Melfi kicking Tony out of therapy: he is hopeless, pathological. The director of the movie substitutes the mural in Hostens with one that includes a cat! What is he telling us? The guy in the members only jacket - he comes out and shoots Tony just as Tony looks up at Meadow coming in through the door (BTW, there is really no "bell" on the Holsten's door). The assassin has a clear shot because Meadow is not sitting next to Tony - she was delayed because of the parallel parking problem (that is why the parking is included - why else would the director show us Meadow having trouble parking if it doesn't mean something?) The guy probably shoots AJ too. Carmella sits watching her husband and son die from head wounds, Meadow sees her dad and brother killed. Carmella is told by her Jewish psychiatrist and her catholic priest that she should end her marriage, take her kids away from Tony. But she continues because of the money, the spec house, the jewelry Tony gives her - the affluent life style. She has a contract with the devil, with evil, and she pays by losing her husband and her son. Meadow is interning with the local county prosecutor, investigating the HUD scam in Newark, which will eventually lead her to discover what a crook her father was. The movie end tragically - Tony gets whacked at Holsten's - which is in itself ironic, since it is such a sweet, pleasant place, far from the evil of organized crime.

Trabant for sale!

Hard to believe anyone would buy this! The famous east German car. You had to order it years in advance and then wait. This car was as plain and bureaucratic as the east german government. It would also kill you (like the east german government) because the fuel tank was in the front, between the engine and the driver! (Just like the piper cub I used to fly - the fuel tank was between the engine and the pilot).

Tata Car

India is planning to introduce a car for less than $2400 - the Tata. However, costs are rising (rubber) and it may cost more. This happens at a time when even Toyota is trying to figure how to market a new car for less than $3000.

Narcissism and George W. Bush

I have worked with people who have personality disorders, and I diagnose George W. Bush as a narcissistic personality disorder. Here is a recent quote: "I've got God's shoulder to cry on. And I cry a lot. I do a lot of crying in this job. I'll bet I've shed more tears than you can count, as president. I'll shed some tomorrow." He and God are buddies - if so, you'd think God would give him better advice. The thought that he is doing God's will, God's work, that God sympathesizes with him, is absolutely remarkable. If God gives him a shoulder to cry on, you'd think maybe God would speak up a little and give him some advice. I guess people have different ideas of God: there is God the Zeus, who interferes with everyone's lives (God is screwing with me again!); then, there is God-Santa, a god that brings you presents and answers your gift wish list. Then there is God who basically is you - God approves of everything I do, because he guides me in what do do. If God really directs Pres. Bush, then God is a real screw up!

Alpha Romeo

The perfect sports car, 1987 Alpha Romeo Quadrofiglio. Motor Trend mag says this is the best sports car for the money, under $10,000. I drove one once - incredible. This one is a really nice example.

Flight of the Conchords

great series on HBO - a band from New Zealand trying to make it big in NYC, with the help of Murray, a New Zealand consulate official who manages them "part time." They have one "fan" named Mel, and her blog is here.

metal bat ban in NYC

the metal bat ban by the NYC council has been upheld by a NY court. The council passed the ban over Mayor Blumsberg's veto. The reason metal bats are used by non pro teams is because they are lighter and make the ball go farther and faster. There have been serious injuries to pitchers because of this. MLB pitchers know that when pitching to someone with a metal bat the ball comes back much quicker - MLB pitchers think metal bats are dangerous. The judge said although there is a lack of empirical evidence, the will of the council to protect the safety of children cannot be overthrown by a court. There IS empirical evidence - only the bat manufacturers want people to believe that there is not. A lot of money is at stake. Once NYC bans metal bats, other cities and states will. Ari Fleischer (Bush former Press Secretary) is the lobbyist for the metal bat industry - kind of like Nick Nailer is the spokesperson for Big Tobacco in the movie Thank you for smoking

close call

What a movie! About a korean sixteen year old girl who rebels against her mom and her absent dad. She gets caught up in drugs and the whole underworld scene of dealing and addicts. Her dad returns from Korea to rescue her, only to find her mom has told her all sorts of crazy stuff about him. Beautiful Annie Lee stars in the film - what an actor! Amazing performance, very very intense. I enjoyed the ending - for a while thought it would be very tragic. I like films with hopeful endings.

Karl Rove: Dr. Evil

the biography of Karl Rove is truly bizarre. Abandoned by her husband, and Karl's father, his mom remarried and step dad became the real dad. Until he revealed he was gay, when karl was a young man. After his now "step dad" left his mom, he finds out that step dad was not his biological dad. Then his mom kills herself in las vegas. young Karl goes in and out of college, keeping his student deferrment from the draft even though he flunked out dropped out several times. He was finally declared I - A, draftable, but by then Vietnam was over and the draft ended. He ran for President of the College Republicans, campaigning (yes, you campaign for that) for 5 months, living out of his car. the election was a deadlock, delegates were challenged, eventually he appealed to the Republican national Committee and Richard Nixon to decide. He campaigned for Nixon in 1972 - joked about going through garbage cans to get info on opponents. Was questioned by special prosecutor during watergate for dirty tricks. Emerged as campaign director in the 70's - invented push pull surveys during campaign against Ann Richards in Texas - telephone calls surveyed the public, focused on Ann Richards' supporters (filter questions) and asked, "Would you be more supportive or less supportive of Ann Richards if you knew she appointed Lesbians in key positions?" So, if she appoints lesbians, then she must know lesbians, and how would she know them? She is a lesbian herself! Brilliant Karl. In 2000 presidential primary came up with the push pull poll question: "would you be more supportive or less supportive of John McCain if you knew he fathered an illegitimate black child?" Fact: john and cindy mccain adopted an Indian child, who was illegitimate, John is now the father, the child is "black" so I guess you could say (if you were evil) that john maccain is fathering an illegitimate black child. Again, brilliant Karl! he was also behind the swift boating of john kerry, and the outing of Valerie Plame (CIA agent married to Joseph Wilson, the guy who blew the whistle on the phoney radioactive material Saddam was supposedly buying from Africa) and let his buddy scooter libby go to jail for it. He also sued Richard Thornbough after Rove blew the race for Senate in PA to Wofford, and won - he said richard owed him money. Most of his money comes from Bush campaigns - and from working for the tobacco and oil lobbies. He represents the ruthlessness of campaigning - win by smear, win by making phoney issues (god, guns, gays) or win by making the election a moral battle (the elite Kerry against the average texas rancher modest and humble george bush). he is gone from the Bush administration - but not forgotten. he still is involved in politics. At least they didn't give him the going away party they gave Rumsfeld...

You need permission to be reincarnated in Tibet!

In one of history's more absurd acts of totalitarianism, China has banned Buddhist monks in Tibet from reincarnating without government permission. According to a statement issued by the State Administration for Religious Affairs, the law, which goes into effect next month and strictly stipulates the procedures by which one is to reincarnate, is "an important move to institutionalize management of reincarnation." But beyond the irony lies China's true motive: to cut off the influence of the Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual and political leader, and to quell the region's Buddhist religious establishment more than 50 years after China invaded the small Himalayan country. By barring any Buddhist monk living outside China from seeking reincarnation, the law effectively gives Chinese authorities the power to choose the next Dalai Lama, whose soul, by tradition, is reborn as a new human to continue the work of relieving suffering.

Isn't it incredible to be so fearful of one religious man? I am convinced if Dalai Lama was allowed back to Tibet, and could travel freely in China, Buddhism would sweep across China in a religious revival. That is how spritually empty china is - I wonder to what extent Maoism was more anti western ultra nationalism than real communism.

Mon Meilleur ami

Catherine (Julie Gayet) and François (Daniel Auteuil - who also starred in Apres Vous - see blog below) are partners in a Paris antique business. He has just paid so much at auction for a large Greek vase--itself a symbol of a friend's loyalty--that he's put the firm at risk. Catherine, who accuses François of having no friends, makes him accept a bet. Within ten days he must either come up with a "best friend" or forfeit the vase. François's self esteem now being as much at risk as the firm's finances, he bends to the task.

In the course of telling its story this film glances at some searching questions about friendship. What IS a friend? How many TRUE friends does anyone have? But as a comedy—certainly a very dry one—it ends by being neither revelatory nor funny. Sometimes it doesn't even feel like a comedy, and director Patrice Lecante and his writers may not have quite made up their minds what they were doing in the first place.

Certainly the raw material of comedy is here. All François' bustling efforts to dredge up any real chums, let alone a "best friend," are ludicrous failures. He has a daughter, Louise (Julie Durand), and business associates: no friends there. A high school classmate he thinks was a pal despises him. Everyone says he's an odious fellow, a "con"—an asshole. Along the way François meets a companionable and chatty taxi driver named Bruno (Dany Boon) who takes him around, keeps him company, and gives him tips. Bruno comes up with a "three-S" rule for "friend"-making: be Sociable, Smiling and Sincere. The trouble is that for all his chattiness—he's a wannabe quiz show contestant who compulsively feeds factoids to his fares—Bruno is a misfit with no friends himself. His sociability and smile don't mean he knows how to relate to people: the trivia recitations get in the way of that. As for François, he's clearly a person too wrapped up in himself ever to have connected with others. He goes to a lecture by the author of a self-help book on friendship, but the homely myopic man who befriends him afterward, he quickly abandons.

the great thing about this movie was the theater manager who waited at the door as we left and wished us a good night and farewell in french (Bonne nuit and au revoir). Very funny movie even with the subtitles I could get the humor. One line was about Elvis Presley's last words: "I think I will read on the toilet." Bruno is an expert at facts, he knows many things from quiz shows, but he is always throwing out facts that no one wants to know. So he is on this quiz show and panics and asks the host: do you know what Elvis Presley's last words were? Very funny - unexpected.

Big Lebowski Phonetic Alphabet

Here it is - lots of fun.

Video clip library

Some great video clips from movies, including Deerhunter, Do the Right Thing, and Dr. Strangelove, RealPlayer works best. Click to download, then open.

Here is the Dick Cheney Quagmire

Here is Cheney in 1994 explaining why we did not invade Iraq in the first gulf war. What an idiot...How was 2003 different than 1994? JC Watts was on news last night explaining how 911 changed everything, and that 2003 was different than 1994. So....Iraq was involved with 911? Bush has admitted that Iraq did not attack the us on 911 (he said that in the debates) so why keep parading 911 out when anyone questions why we invaded Iraq?

Farfour, the Hamas mickey mouse

Hamas television network in Gaza broadcast what it said was the last episode of a weekly children's show featuring "Farfour," a Mickey Mouse look-alike who had made worldwide headlines for preaching Islamic domination and armed struggle to youngsters.

In the final skit, (and this is the best part) Farfour was beaten to death by an actor posing as an Israeli official trying to buy Farfour's land. At one point, Farfour called the Israeli a "terrorist."

"Farfour was martyred while defending his land," said Sara, the teen presenter. He was killed "by the killers of children," she added.

The weekly show, featuring a giant black-and-white rodent with a high-pitched voice, had attracted worldwide attention because the character urged Palestinian children to fight Israel. It was broadcast on Hamas-affiliated Al-Aksa TV.

There was a recent interview with Sara, the teen presenter, she said she wants to either become a doctor, or a martyr. She says she is prepared to die in order to kill "jewish terrorists."

At the Holocaust museum in DC (some blogs below) part of the exhibition is to expose propaganda, and how Nazi Germany preached hatred to school children. This is no different. I know the people in Gaza are living under brutal conditions, and I know they blame Israel, but teaching children hatred is just not right regardless of the circumstances.

Vikings in Ireland

These guys sailed 1000 mile in an open boat to recreate Vikings invading Ireland.

A reconstructed Viking ship pulled into Dublin on Tuesday nearly 1,000 years after the original sank off Denmark's coast, with its crew retracing the gruelling voyages made by marauding Nordic raiders to Ireland.
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The Sea Stallion's weather-beaten, 65-member team set sail from Roskilde in Denmark on July 1 using oar and sail power, journeying over 1,000 nautical miles and aiming to address unanswered questions about Viking ship-building and travel.

Church bells rang out and a flotilla of sailing boats greeted the ship's entry into Dublin's port on Tuesday.

And the, the Viking seamen leaped on shore, to kill, rapine, and pillage at will....

My obsession with Big Joe and the Phantom 309

Below (two blogs below) are some links to Tom Waits. I was thinking why I am so blown away by his performance on Big Joe and the Phantom 309 - it was an old Red Sovine song, a country western songwriter who specialized in writing "stories" songs. He wrote Teddy Bear, a song about a diabled child's relationship with a trucker over the CB (citizens band radio - you used to need a license to operate one) radio, Little Joe a song about a blind truckdriver and his dog, and If Jesus Came to Your House a song about what you would do if Jesus came to live with you (hide magazines, say grace at every meal...), and the famous Bringing Mary Home So his songs are really hokey, appealing to the classic country western crowd (he even recorded a record of him reciting the Pledge of Allegiance). Anyway, I think its Tom Waits interpretation that makes Big Joe and the Phantom 309 so good - his scratchy voice makes you believe he is down on his luck, hitching a ride home. The song establishes at the beginning that the narrator is down on his luck, trying to make a buck, he failed, and now he is returning home, a failure, hitching rides. But Big Joe doesn't judge the hitch hiker - shakes his hand, throws him a dime for some coffee, "I have to make a turn up ahead..." Big Joe is a decent guy, who would sacrifice his life for you if he had to. No matter how down on your luck you may be, there is always a Big Joe to give you a hand, throw you a dime. And Big Joe isn't rich or famous, he is a truck driver, driving a 10 speed Mack truck (not the cadillac of trucks - the Peterbilts) known for their slow speed (only 10 gears, the Peterbilts and Kenworths have 18 speeds). But I guess its Tom Waits that makes the song come alive.

Just saw La Mome, or La Vie en Rose

Tom Waits performs on Fernwood tonight (and Letterman show)

Here is Tom Waits on Letterman show, great performance. But here is Tom Waits on the classic TV show "Fernwood Tonight." Here are the words to Tom Waits' "Big Joe and the Phantom 309" (which is a Red Sovine song.)

Fernwood Tonight was a TV show in the 70's starring Martin Mull (called Barth Gimble) and Fred Willard - set in Fernwood, Ohio, it was a "cable" show that mocked the tonight show. It was based on Martin Mull's comedy show Martin Mull and his Furniture. Absolutely so funny - great show. They had ridiculous guests, like the guy in the iron lung who could play the piano upside down, Tom Waits (see above). The music was supplied by Happy Kine and his Mirthmakers, complete with accordian and plaid suit. Very funny. More fernwood hereand here and more here and finally here.

Apres Vous revisited

Here is the animated intro to the film Apres Vous Click the homepage and you can see other animated shorts. great site.

Virgin Air comes to america!

Finally, an airline that is customer friendly! Join Virgin America here. Their LA to NYC route is attractive - the only way to fly coast to coast. the other airlines suck.

Here it is: the meaning of life......

Commie disguise kit

I bought two commie disguise kits while in Dallas. I haven't figured out what to do with them yet, but they would be great prizes for some kinda political science dept competition. they will come in handy.

Nagasaki anniversary

Its been 62 years since the bombing of Nagasaki. There are still textbooks written stating that Truman was right to bomb Hiroshima and Nagasaki, that it saved American lives, that it prevented an invasion of Japan. None of that is true. The Japanese were trying to surrender for several months. Their Island nation could not defend itself from B29 bombing raids. In discussing the incendiary raids that killed hundred of thousands of Japanese civilians, General LeMay stated that if the US ever lost the war, he would be tried as a war criminal. The greatest irony of WWII is that once the war ended, we liked the Japanese and Germans more than any of our allies: more than we liked the British, French or Russians. The great Irony is that our war with Japan was characterized by racism ("Japs") while our war with Germany was not - the propaganda against the japanese was fierce - the slant eyed, inscrutable asians, who don't fight fair, and so forth. And once the Japanese surrendered, the propaganda ended and we started a close alliance with Japan against the commies in Korea and China (and USSR). Japan became an important base in the China Sea in our fight against world communist menace.

Nancy Grace and suicide

Here's a story about Nancy Grace grilling someone on her show, and the person then kills herself. Sometimes Nancy Grace is on the TV at the fitness center, and I have to see her image - I turn away, ignore her, but her image is so compelling (like trying not to look at Satan if her appeared in front of you) that I end up feeling suicidal myself. She is a lawyer and former prosecutor (for a short time) who turned to broadcast "journalism" after the murder of her finance (which was tragic but she really distorts the facts surrounding that). She interviews "guests" (victims) in a way never allowed in court - she presumes everyone is guilty until they prove they are innocent to her. Why anyone would appear on her show is beyond me. Here is the story:

Lawyers for CNN and Nancy Grace have asked a judge to dismiss a lawsuit that accuses the TV host of pushing the mother of a missing toddler to suicide through aggressive questioning. CNN and Grace say the wrongful death lawsuit brought by Melinda Duckett's family would "severely chill" journalists' coverage of missing-persons cases, according to federal court documents filed Friday.
"The law does not permit people to recover money from reporters who ask routine questions while covering ongoing stories of national significance to the public," lawyer Judith Mercier wrote. Kara Skorupa, a lawyer for Duckett's estate, said a response would be filed by next week. Duckett, 21, was on Grace's show a year ago after her son Trenton went missing from her apartment. Grace grilled the woman, accusing her of hiding something because Duckett did not take a lie-detector test and answered vaguely regarding her whereabouts. Police later named Duckett the prime suspect in the boy's disappearance. Duckett shot and killed herself the day the taped interview was scheduled to broadcast. The lawsuit blames Grace for severe emotional distress that led to the suicide. Trenton, who would turn 3 on Friday, has not been found.

Venus: the movie

Peter O'Toole is absolutely great in this film. Its about an old actor, Maurice, who falls in love with a unhappy young girl, Jessie, who is convinced she is worthless and unattractive. He sees her beauty, and also understands that she has been wounded by life. She tells him that her mother told her that her birth "ruined her life." Later Maurice tells her the most beautiful thing a man will ever see is a naked woman, and she asks, what is the most beautiful thing a woman sees? He answers, her first born child. She cries. Later Maurice finds out she was pregnant but mommy dearest made her get an abortion. Maurice takes Jessie to a museum, and they see a picture of Venus, nude. He starts calling her Venus. When she tells him of her unhappy childhood, he recites Shakespeare to her: shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Of course the end is near, but Jessie manages to provide Maurice with a happy death. O'Toole is absolutely brilliant: the scene where he is standing on a bucket trying to view Jessie who is posing nude for an art class, and the door opens with him hanging on it, he falls down upturning easels - physical comedy, well done, and at his age of 74! I can't believe he never received an Oscar - some acting polls rank his performance in Lawrence of Arabia as the best film performance ever.

Toilet seat on airplane!

I just got back from flying to Dallas. On the way there I was seated all the way in the back, across from the toilet. I was in the window seat, and a grad student from Pitt was sitting in the aisle seat. She joked about sitting next to the toilet, and I told her about the infamous "Seat 29A" internet letter from a man trapped next to the toilet on an airplane. She laughed, said her friend emailed her the letter, then called her friend and told him she is sitting next to the toilet, and she laughed and laughed. I volunteered to change seats with her, but she said it was ok (short flight to cincinatti). Then in Dallas I watched a woman lose it completely - a baggage handler walked out of a door she had opened for herself, and she started yelling at him, then threw two punches at him knocking off his hat. "I am NOT your DOOR OPENER!" she screamed. She obviously was a very important person who was not going to tolerate a minority race baggage handler to walk through a door she had opened. Good Grief. She probably IS important, some big corporate job, and treats everyone below her like shite.

My newer car

The mitsubishi diamante has been traded in...I now drive a 2003 toyota corolla. I found the car on the internet, in Fairfax VA, sold by an internet dealer Car Spectrum. They don't have a car lot; instead, they operate out of an office, and I had to make an appt to see the car (they drove it from their warehouse to the office space). I also got financing on the internet (they don't deal with banks, rather E- Loan). I combined a business trip to DC with the trade in. I wanted a 5 speed which is hard to find, and the optional power package (includes cruise). I am getting 37 mpg with the 5 speed. I am trying for 40 plus - I think its possible with the correct shifting. Its nice to once again have air conditioning, a working radio, a CD player that ejects without me holding onto the front cover, and no burglar alarm going off in the middle of the night.

"Crucifixion is ttttttoo gggggood for him..."

Great quote from film The Life of Brian. Anyway here is a story about a christian theme park in florida - jesus gets crucified six days a week. Same actor? What a gig. His parents probably sent him to Julliard in NYC, he tried Broadway, waited tables, no big break. Then he gets a phone call from his agent...a gig in florida...steady work...
Jesus Christ is crucified and resurrected here six days a week. Snarling Roman soldiers whip and drag him, and somber audience members watch. Some quietly weep at a pageant bloody and cruel. It is the grand finale at the Holy Land Experience, and not the attraction most tourists envision in an Orlando vacation.It is often referred to as a “Christian theme park,” but the park offers lectures, not rides, making it feel more like a trip to church. Its officers prefer to call it a “living Biblical museum” and until last month, the nonprofit operation was troubled. Management changed hands, its founder left and attendance was flat. But suddenly, a savior appeared. Trinity Broadcasting Network, a California-based Christian empire with 12,500 worldwide TV and cable affiliates, took over Holy Land and its estimated $8 million mortgage. Both are nonprofit organizations, so Trinity describes the deal as a “marriage” rather than a purchase, saying little money changed hands. Already, ticket sales are up 25 percent, owing to mentions on the new parent’s broadcasts, and an expansion is planned. It will include new shows, a general freshening and a new Trinity television studio, where movies and TV shows will be filmed and furnish even more publicity.

US Holocaust Museum

the Holocaust museum is a must see in DC. It explores the reasons for the holocaust (racism, hate propagada), the early pogroms against jews in Germany, and the "final solution." No one can possibly deny the holocaust after visiting the museum. You need a ticket to see the permanent exhibit - that way children do not accidently get admitted. There is a childrens exhibit on the first floor, no ticket is needed. Very moving. I especially was touched by the exhibit of the shtetl of Eisiskes, a jewish village exterminated by the SS. A photo exhibit shows the villages residents, displayed on a three story wall. The village existed for 900 years, then then one afternoon everyone was killed, shot to death. This may have been the inspiration for Jonathon Safron Foer's book, Everything is Illuminated, and the village of Trachimbrod. I kept thinking about the movie while at the museum: everything must be illuminated, for us to understand ourselves. The holocaust must be illuminated, for the survivors and their families, and for all of humanity. It shows us who we are, what we are capable of. There was also a display on the Sudan, a place where human holocaust continues. (Jonathon Safron Foer has a new novel, Extremly Close and Incredibly Loud)

Restaurant: Cuba Libre Cafe, Dallas

Great restaurant - google and get address. the featured drink is the Mojito.A rum drink starting with crushed spearment leaves on bottom of glass, ice, lime, sugar, rum, and a little club soda (the less the better). The food was great too: I finally had a fish taco, made with grilled mahi mahi, and all sorts of great veggies in a soft taco. The black beans and rice also very good.

General David Petraeus

A high ranking source has informed me about a 1 hour and 15 minute presentation by General Petraus to senior officers about Iraq. He said our troops need to be more culturally aware, need more interaction with citizens, and need to be diplomat-leaders. He said the war will be won by sergeants, not officers. He said the worst violence is sectarian not terrorist (the exact opposite of what Pres Bush says). He said Al Quada is small but is the primary focus of the Army (lets review that, sectarian violence is the worst, but the Army is focused on a small terrorist unit). Munitions are coming from Iran. The big Iraqi 5 (the main 5 leaders) are having a summit soon - could be reconciliation. The average Iraqis are tiring of the violence - maybe that will lead to reconciliation? He is big supporter of walls - gated community to stop the sectarian violence, however, Iraqis don't like his idea of walls. Problems he identified: need to secure population, maybe with walls, gated communities; Iraqi security is uneven, infiltrated by militias; surge needs more time; troops need language training, even the least amount of arabic helps; time constraints of the forthcoming 2008 election - Nov 2008 is the absolute end of the war; reconciliation is needed between sunni and shiites; finally, the Army needs to report reality. (Now if we can only get Pres Bush to report reality!)One question he didn't answer was about how the American people are detached from military - he didn't answer, but the question is puzzling - my source explained that many career military officers are concerned that American do not realize we are at war - The career army guys know we are, but American public is detached from the all volunteer army. Its not a question of supporting troops, but being unaware of the war. How does the Iraq war affect most Americans? Some of our students have been killed - one young woman (freshman) had her dad killed in a suicide bombing - she dropped out of college, didn't return (I don't blame her - how can a 18yr old woman come to terms with her father burning to death in war, a suicide attack?!) But go to the mall - you see a war? Go shopping - any evidence of us being at war? One of our ROTC officers on campus said he flew back from Afghanistan to Alabama, and he was home the next day - he said it was strange, coming home, everything normal, no evidence of a country at war. His worst memory was some farmers who were blown up in a mine field - he didn't want to talk about it.

Ward Churchill - fired Colorado Professor

This guy is "so full of shit, he is about to float away." (quote from movie The Deerhunter). First of all, he is the prof who was fired from Univ of Colorado for labeling the 911 victims as "little Eichmans," comparing them to Adolph Eichman, the Lt. Col who was responsible for scheduling the transportation of jews and other victims to concentration camps in the Nazi era. He fled to Argentina, was captured by Mossad (Israeli CIA) taken to Israel, tried and executed. Eichman did not oppose his capture - he was convinced he would be set free, since he didn't actually "kill" anyone. He was oblivious to his part in an insanely evil, but rational, killing machine. He said he was following orders. He invoked some kind of crazy philosophy about the fuhrer being rational authority - I can't remember it, but Hannah Arendt in her book Eichman in Jerusalem goes into detail about his strange logic. Anyway, Hannah Arendt's book was subtitled, "the banality of evil," meaning that this jerk was an ordinary man, kinda accountant (that gives accountants a bad name) and he wasn't EVIL but just evil. Like the guy who drove the truck that had exhaust piped into the back killing jewss...he didnt actually kill them, he didnt design the truck, he didnt put them in the truck, he was ordered to drive the truck, thats all. Anyway, Churchill gives a speech after 911 calling the victims of TWC "little Eichmans" since they are in some way responsible for the world economy that supports sweatshops in Vietnam, oil dictators in the middle east, sex slaves in eastern europe and so forth. His argument is stupid - it has nothing to do with Arendt's concept of guilt of bureaucrats. the victims of 911 were not transporting jews to the gas chambers - stock brokers are not responsible for sweat shops in China. Stupid argument. then churchill was told that restaurant workers were among the victims (the restaurant on "top of the world" in TWC) and he said, oh yeah, they shouldn't be included as Eichmans, only the stock brokers. What a lame ass. Here are the facts: Churchill was speaking at some New york liberal arts college, because he was a "native american" professor from Colorado, and these students should be exposed to native american "scholars." Well, Ward Churchill is NOT native american, but only claims he is (good way of getting a job in academia, lie about being black, disabled, spanish latino, or that you are a woman). He was confronted by this, and truthfully said yes, he is not native american, but is spiritually linked to native americans (get out the hip boots, the bullshit is really getting deep). He also has claimed publications that don't exist, you know, "books" with no ISBN number (the old trick, it's the equivalent of a book, or it was "desktopped" published, which means it's not a book). This guy is full of it - a fraud. He pretends to be a native american, gets a special appointment because of it, then hires himself out as a speaker to politically correct NY liberal arts colleges, and not only gets a salary, but speakers fees! This guy shouldn't be fired, he should be prosecuted for fraud - I mean it - this guy should be prosecuted by the State of colorado. And he is claiming 1st amendment and academic freedom - he should be selling canal front property in new orleans!

Nick Drake

Just bought his album Bryter Layter. Turns out its his most "commericial" album. Supposedly Pink Moon sounds more like him. Here is his grave - ashes buried under an oak tree. His history of mental illness is remarkable - he was much sicker than anyone grasped. Sounded like adolescent schizophrenia - matured into psychosis.

What we all expected...

Why don't we get better candidates? Money. The Clinton's have the money wrapped up. Its all about fundraising. If she gets the nomination, the general election will be a let down. She is not like her husband, doesn't have the personality or insight. The Demo's think they have the 2008 election won, that the primary will decide who is next president. They are wrong - all the Repubs have to do is not lose the states they have won the last two elections. My prediction: Fred Thompson will win in 2008.

My favorite picture of Ann Coulter

This is from some guy's blog who touches up pictures of famous people and makes them look like K-Mart shoppers. This is the Ann Coulter I know..

top ten battles for Iraq

Did you know there were nine other attempts to conquer Iraq? Here is the top ten list.

near death experiences

Here is a link to a Newsweek article on near death experiences. Click the "crossing over gallery" to see pictures drawn by people of their NDE. Really fascinating. One woman recalls when she was an infant that she died in her father's arms, and left her body, looking over her father's shoulder at him grieving - he was so sad, she re entered her infant body. Amazing. So look at the gallery.

Seat 29A - man's complaint letter to Continental Airlines

This is TOO funny!!! This guy is trapped on an airplane in seat 29A, across from the toilet, and he writes this amazingly funny letter, full of anger, outrage, and humor...

Bobby - the movie

"Few will have the greatness to bend history; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events...Each time a man stands up for an ideal...he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance." Robert F. Kennedy

Great movie - its about some of the people present at the RFK assassination. Its not really about RFK, but about American during the summer of 1968.

The really sad part was the end...Bobby's voice, some quotes from his best speeches. A friend from South Africa once told me, after RFK's death, it seems politics went to hell in America. I couldn't agree more. We have NEVER had a political leader like RFK since his death - he was greater than his brother John.

Man smokes outside UPMC

Here is a man smoking prior to back surgery outside UPMC - not only is he in a hospital gown, but he is hooked up to an IV!