-
Well, you've read the notes, the notes were operatic, and now it is time for you to post until the operatic cows come home.
-
And the word of the day is: TRADUCE!
-
BK, glad you liked the experience of the opera (if not the opera itself). I went to see Carmen a few years ago in Seattle and felt the same way...I'm listening to the sound of the actual voices coming from the actual singers and there was nothing electronic getting in the way. It was wonderful.
-
Good morning and good night.
-
Good morning and good night. ditto.
-
Good morning and good night. ditto.
Ditto, ditto. :)
-
I've been to a hundred ballet performances. Enjoyed every single one. It amazes me that you can train the body to do exactly what it's expected to do.
The most memorable will always be, Joffrey Ballet doing an entire evening of Prince (Purple Rain, etc.). It was the first ballet I took my daughter to. She was maybe 5 or 6, when the orchestra started playing she got out of her chair, sat on her dad's lap, leaned forward, and never took her eyes off the stage. It made both of us cry.
It was better than Disneyland.
And I'm a big fan of Prince.
-
Loved the Sparta kitty video.
-
Hi George.
-
Just watched another one of my favorite feel better moves. Choose Me.
-
Maybe today I'll watch, To Live and Die in LA, if this heat does not stop soon, I'm going to (as written in a book I have somewhere) vomit on the ground.
-
Night. ;)
-
Hi, Sam. Good night, Sam.
-
I'm not tired.
It's dark and quiet and I'm wide awake.
-
TOD:
One of my favorite ballet scores is Stravinsky's, for Les Noces (The Wedding).
-
~~~VENDY VIBES~~~
for DR JoseSPiano!!!!!!
-
Good Morning!!!
I'm up, I'm up... I got my Big Gay Ice Tream Truck t-shirt and I'm all set for The Vendys!!!!
-Thank You, DR DAW!
And...
Laters...
*twitter.com/josespiano twitter.com/biggayicecream
-
Today is Vendy day! Have fun DR JOSE....photos please.
-
Hmmmmmmmmmmm......I haven't seen too many LIVE ballets, and try to avoid local companies because of some pretty horrible evenings.
I once saw a touring company from Texas do SWAN LAKE which was good.....except when Odile fell down....
On video I like to watch the excerpts from various variety shows of Fonteyn and Nureyev. I like the ballet sequences in THE RED SHOES and TALES OF HOFFMAN.
I shall be interested to read the other choices of the DRs from HHW.
-
Working AGAIN today. Oh well.
-
First show of the season canceled - others may follow.
http://tv.yahoo.com/blog/the-beautiful-life-falls-first-canceled-show--626
-
TOD
Nutscracker
Sleeping Beauty
Swan Lake
and
Tommy based on The Who's Score
It was my favorite as a child. Must have seen it ten times. It was Les Grande Ballet Canadienne most popular ballets and I saw the final performance before they retired it.
-
Oh...
twitter.com/vendyawards
-
First show of the season canceled - others may follow.
http://tv.yahoo.com/blog/the-beautiful-life-falls-first-canceled-show--626
I knew I should have watched it! It still might be broadcasting if I did!!!
-
DR MICHAEL S - you would have made the viewer number 1,000,001.
-
Off to work.
-
Oh well! :)
-
Good morning!
Glorious coolness! Our temps today aren't getting out of the 60s, and if you could see the big ol' grin on my face, you'd know how happy I am about it. It's not going to last; by Monday we're back into the 80s during the afternoon, but the mornings all promise to stay very, very cool, and that will make walking a pleasure.
-
Again, no work projects today, so I'll be watching a good bit on TV and I hope to get to the Warners Archive IDIOTS DELIGHT this evening. Haven't seen it in years and looking forward to revisiting it.
-
I'll be getting the new box set of MEDIUM probably on Monday (was put in the mail yesterday), so that means I may do MONSOON WEDDING tomorrow just to get it out of the way. Next week may be heavy with TV box sets on regular DVD and Blu-ray (if the person who gets first crack at HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER and THE UNIT turns either or both down.)
I should be getting SNOW WHITE next week and maybe THE PROPOSAL, too.
-
I like movie ballets more than seeing them in the theater live where I tend to tire of them before they're over. I have seen SWAN LAKE, SLEEPING BEAUTY, and, of course, THE NUTCRACKER.
But I like "The Red Shoes," "An American in Paris," the dancing in THE TURNING POINT because none of these ballets wear out their welcomes with me.
-
Page Two Dance!!!
-
Saturday morning greetings! It's cool and foggy here in SW Ohio - again - today. Sometime this morning Rob and Mary Linda's friend Allison (she introduced them) to arrive to pick up the stuff she stores at our house when she goes away from UC for her co-op terms. Hope she doesn't get lost in all the construction on the highways around here!
-
Thanks to DR Jose for the comments about the neighborhood and hotel last night. I made email inquiries into 4 properties listed on vrbo.com and am awaiting replies.
Is there something special going on the weekend of Oct. 24-25 that has the hotels all booked up?
-
I guess I'll head down now and watch a Brett/Holmes program before I start thinking about what's for lunch.
WBBL.
-
TOD - My favorite performance of a full-length ballet was the spring 2008 production of Swan Lake at the University of Cincinnati, in which Mary Linda performed several roles. I had to keep reminding myself that these were college students and we'd only paid $10 each for our tickets.
For one of our first dates, Richard (then a well-loved 5th grade teacher) took me to a ballet (Joffrey 2, maybe) at our local campus. At intermission, I left him in the lobby and went to the ladies' room. When I rejoined him, he was surrounded by adoring pre-teen girls gazing up at him. They were very suspicious of the new woman at his side.
-
An amusing and surprisingly touching read:
(http://www.annemini.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/swish-cover.jpg)
-
Good Morning!
TOD later-- too many things to do now around here, and the weather (so far) is decent.
-
And the word of the day is: TRADUCE!
Wasn't Irma in that?
-
HELP DEAR READERS!!!!!!
Does anyone have a VHS or DVD copy of the movie, "How To Be Very, Very Popular" (Sheree North, Betty Grable, Charles Coburn, Bob Cummings) that you would let me borrow? I will behappy to provide references and my credentials. I cannot find it through the usual places.
-
Topic of Discussion response: I don't think I've watched any ballet, but I remember and love Karen Ziemba dancing to "Anitra's Dance" in "Contact."
Petit Le Mans is coming in the next hour - please give the people of Atlanta good flood-recovery vibes while I'm praying for awesome racing vibes for Corvette Racing and Risi Competizione.
-
~~~EXTRA-STRENGTH FLOOD RECOVERY VIBES~~~
FOR THE GOOD PEOPLE OF ATLANTA!!!!!!
-
Sorry, DR Kerry. I'm sure you have impeccable credentials, but I've never even heard of that movie!! :P
-
I sure hope that DR ArnoldMBrockman and his lovely wife are having an excellent trip!
-
Silly me - and here I thought that because there's a realtor open house tomorrow that the oafs couldn't possibly be back, and yet, there they are talking outside my bedroom window at seven-thirty. Unbelievable.
-
bk, have you considered purchasing one of those air horns that comes attached to a can of pressurized air? I'll bet that blasting that out your window for 10 seconds or so would send those oafs a message! The rest of the neighborhood, too!
-
I have only seen THE NUTCRACKER and SWAN LAKE. Loved the NUTCRACKER. Have loved the music from SWAN LAKE since I was a child, but the actual ballet was way too long.
-
DR MBarnum....
I'll bet you wouldn't find this version too long!!!!
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41JQd9rN-AL._SS500_.jpg)
-
I received the nicest email today from WARNER BAXTER informing me he had redesigned my website. I think it's faboo that he was able to find work, and high tech work at that, in the great beyond.
-
Operas? Ballets? Simply drop by my domicile and I can show you piles of Blu-ray's. In fact I'm just finishing up a rather nice Royal Opera House production of Sleeping Beauty, whose review I must get up this weekend. I wll say Naxos really has released some swell things over the past couple of months (this month in particular), and I highly recommend two of their upcoming releases: Twin Spirits, in which Sting, Trudie Styler and a host of fantastic musicians (including Simon Keenlyside) reenact the lives and love of Robert and Clara Schumann, in their own words and music; and an interesting, mostly successful mounting of Stravinsky's The Rake's Progress, reset to a sort of melange of wild west and early 50's America (strange, yes, but it somehow works).
-
TOD: Another favorite perennial ballet score: Copland's Appalachian Spring.
-
DR MBarnum....
I'll bet you wouldn't find this version too long!!!!
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41JQd9rN-AL._SS500_.jpg)
...featuring Blue Man Group?
-
...featuring Blue Man Group?
No. Just lots of barely clothed male ballet hunks and plenty of homoerotic undertones.
-
I shall now go jog.
-
...featuring Blue Man Group?
No. Just lots of barely clothed male ballet hunks and plenty of homoerotic undertones.
Somehow I had guessed. ;D
-
Good morn ing, all! I slept way too long this morning, and I am very glad I did.
BK, I see that the LA Opera is doing THE BARBER OF SEVILLE this season with a really good set of leads. Ask your friend to get you into the production: Juan Diego Florez, Joyce Didonato, and Nathan Gunn. You will know the big aria for Figaro, "Largo al factotum," because it's been parodied from THE LITTLE RASCALS to Warner Brothers cartoons, and it's a very funny comedy.
Today I've been tossing out a lot of CDs from my colection for space. I have a huge number of classical, popular, and jazz going to Miami University Library. The cleanout will probably continue for most of the week. A lot of them I am downloading into iTunes before tossing, so it's taking me some time.
I will shortly run down to Toyland for some work there.
TOD: I like ballet, and I'm very partial to Tchaikovsy's big 3: SWAN LAKE< SLEEPING BEAUTY, and NUTCRACKER, which is the most dependent on the whims of its choreographers who often destroy the intentions behind Tchaikovsky's score because the original libretto is not very sound dramatically. My two favorite versions are Balanchine's for NY City Ballet, which made the ballet a popular one for every ballet company in the USA and inspired a book, NUTCRACKER NATION, and Peter Wright's first version for the Royal Ballet, which he choreographed in collaboration with Roland Wiley, author of the major book on Tchaikovsky's ballet scores; Mr Wright has done several rethinkings of the ballet which get further away from the original ballet.
I'm also very fond of Delibes' two ballets for Paris of the 1870's, COPPELIA - a comedy about a young man enamoured of a doll he thinks is real sitting on Dr Coppelius' balcony, to the dismay of his fiancee - and SYLVIA, a bit of pseudo-Greek mythology. I was lucky to see the Joffrey Ballet in the 1970s perform a duplication of Stravinsky's wonderful PETRUCHKA, and I find it sad that there is no performance of PETRUCHKA in its original desings and choreography on video.
My favortie contemporary ballet is 30 years old, Jerome Robbin's fantastic DANCES AT A GATHERING, one of the most glorious theatrical pieces I have ever seen.
-
...featuring Blue Man Group?
No. Just lots of barely clothed male ballet hunks and plenty of homoerotic undertones.
Undertones, hell! It's the gayest ballet. EVER! It was also one of the most moving dance pieces I've ever seen.
-
I sure hope that DR ArnoldMBrockman and his lovely wife are having an excellent trip!
I'm sure they are, just in case VIBES THEY ARE!
-
I've seen the Nutcracker, Coppelia, Firebird, and the Gay Swan Lake.
-
During the mid-Sixties, the Robert Joffrey Ballet used Tacoma as their summer home. It was an all-too brief love affair between a city and a corp de ballet. I was lucky enough to see some incredible ballets perfromed by the Joffrey Comapny. My two favorites were THE GREEN TABLE, an anti-war piece (this was duirng Viet Nam) and one called, I believe, OLYMPICS. The second one included some incredible scantily-clothed male dancers that were pretty mind-blowing for a 17 year boy.
-
I've not seen any live ballet performances (none that were intentional, that is).
But I love movie ballets. Aside from "The Red Shoes" and "An American in Paris" ballets that DR MattH mentioned, I love "Slaughter on 10th Avenue" (from "Words and Music") and "The Girl Hunt Ballet" (from "The Band Wagon").
And there's "The Nutcracker"...which delights me no matter when I see "parts" of it (have never seen it start to finish...possibly because they don't televise the entire ballet much).
-
Happy Saturday to all here and to the hoi-polloi wherever they are!
-
Page 3!
Yay!
I'd do a little dance except I won't dance....don't ask me.
-
I've not seen any live ballet performances (none that were intentional, that is).
I would love to know about some of the unintentional ballets you've seen! :)
-
And there's "The Nutcracker"...which delights me no matter when I see "parts" of it (have never seen it start to finish...possibly because they don't televise the entire ballet much).
George Balanchine's wonderful version for City Ballet, with its glorios recreation of wealthy 1830s Nuremburg bourgeoisie costumes by the great Karinska is on DVD. The Waltz of the Flowers costumes with their layers of various shades of rose are spectacular.
-
Our vet is wonderful. I called several vets in the area who are open today & asked to drop off a stool sample, none would run a test without seeing Sherlock. I called our vet on her cell phone and she said to put Sherlock on a bland diet and we can wait until Monday to see her, if he isn't better.
-
I hope Sherlock will be ok!
-
Ah....stool samples in the morning.
Now for a bit of breakfast.
-
And there's "The Nutcracker"...which delights me no matter when I see "parts" of it (have never seen it start to finish...possibly because they don't televise the entire ballet much).
George Balanchine's wonderful version for City Ballet, with its glorios recreation of wealthy 1830s Nuremburg bourgeoisie costumes by the great Karinska is on DVD. The Waltz of the Flowers costumes with their layers of various shades of rose are spectacular.
Thank you for the recommendation.
-
~~~HEALTHY VIBES~~~
FOR DD SHERLOCK!!!!!!
-
Thank you DRS Laura & DAW.
DR Ron-lol.
-
Feel better vibes for Sherlock!
-
Thanks DR Ginny. I hope you find a nice place to stay in NY, for a reasonable price.
-
I hope Sherlock will feel better soon. Was Aunt Penny too much for the boy?
-
LOL and thanks. I think it has to do with the poor quality, & low water level, of the creak on our daily hike. Yesterday I took him elsewhere & kept him on a leash. I should have begun doing that sooner since I can't keep him from drinking the creak water.
-
VIBES for DD Sherlock~~~~~~
-
DC Callie went to the vet this morning. She hasn't been eating and has been hiding out. She does this every time we go through one of these episodes. I had given her most of the rest of the prednisolone and it worked for her but the vet had only given me 5 pills, so I was about to run out.
He didn't really want to give it to me, but heck, it's worked every time we've gone through this for the past 5 years, and she's getting better with it, so he agreed. He wants me to start with 1/2 pill every other day and see if that's enough.
She really is better today. I hate to act like I know more than the vet, but after 5 years of this. I do know what works and what doesn't.
-
VIBES FOR DD SHERLOCK
-
~~~HEALTHY VIBES~~~
FOR DC CALLIE!!!!!!!!
-
Vibes to DC Callie!
-
Thank you DRs Cilla & td.
Cilla VIBES FOR DC CALLIE!! At least your vet followed your wishes. We left previous vet as she held out on a crucial medication for Bogie.
-
Speaking of cats, how are the kittens today DR Laura.
SUPER STRONG VIBES FOR THEM!
-
Back from breakfast and finishing up my notes, which I now will start typing, much as I'd rather not. But, the good news is I got a really smart Apple guy - he called me, as promised, and we discussed the problems and the weird error message - he said it absolutely wasn't the computer, since it happened on both iMac and laptop - he suspected it was the cord - since I had another cord in a drawer I swapped it out and voila - we plugged it into the iMac and it worked and opened iTunes. He'd already had me go into the iTunes preferences and select the option for the phone not to sync automatically. Then he had me go into info on the phone menu and select manually sync contacts, which I did. We got that same window pop-up that said syncing will change 5% of your contacts, only this time it said "add" instead of "remove" - we clicked sync and a moment later my address book on the computer was back to normal. So, that's all good now.
About the occasional phone freeze, he had a suggestion for the next time it happens, which is to go into the phone settings, choose general, then reset, and then to click only reset the network settings, which is very quick and which, he suspects, will solve that particular problem. He also admitted freely that this last update has some bugs that are being worked on. I also purchased Apple Care for the phone, which I apparently hadn't when I bought it, so I'm good for another year.
-
Glad your problem has been solved so easily.
-
Feel better vibes for Callie, too!
-
Thanks DR Ginny. I hope you find a nice place to stay in NY, for a reasonable price.
Thanks, DR Jane. I'm working on several apartment possibilities.
-
After a 30-minute wait for a train, which could have been longer for others, with no announcement that a broken train ewas clogging the system, I finally got on one that stopped at 79th Street and got to Toyland. All is quiet here, which is nice, and I've accomplished a few things. I still expect this job to fold at any moment.
-
Thanks DR Ginny. I hope you find a nice place to stay in NY, for a reasonable price.
Thanks, DR Jane. I'm working on several apartment possibilities.
Oh! You are moving to New York. Elmore has a fire esape he will rent you.
-
CONTINUED JOB VIBES DR ELMORE!!!
-
One more.
-
PAGE FOUR!
-
Thanks DR Ginny. I hope you find a nice place to stay in NY, for a reasonable price.
Thanks, DR Jane. I'm working on several apartment possibilities.
Oh! You are moving to New York.
Oh, I wish, DR TCB!
Elmore has a fire esape he will rent you.
We may have to rent it from him next month!
-
Sorry, DR Kerry. I'm sure you have impeccable credentials, but I've never even heard of that movie!! :P
Way before your time, whippersnapper!
-
DR Ginny, my brother & niece are very happy and so must you be...GO BLUE! I expect DS Craig is also happy. DS Bryan has absolutely no interest in sports. He almost had his car towed one game day because he didn't realize it was game day. When he heard the band start up he ran to his car, getting there just in time.
-
~~~HEALTHY VIBES~~~
FOR DC CALLIE!!!!!!!!
Thanks DAW, I only took her to the vet to get the prescription and to validate what I knew - that she was "passed" her other problem ;) She and Boo are basking in the sun in the open windows
-
...featuring Blue Man Group?
No. Just lots of barely clothed male ballet hunks and plenty of homoerotic undertones.
And there's something wrong with that?!?!?!?! :/
-
"Bleeding in the Fileroom"---- the title of my next book. Or perhaps Fred could set it to "Crying in the Chapel"!!!!
-
Thanks to everyone else for the vibes for Callie, too! I should read on before I post, lol
DR Jane. I am considering changing vets. This one is very far away and was very reluctant to prescribe what I knew would work. He did all that invasive work and gave her nothing for pain. I had to go out the next day and insist on it.
The day I took her in after hours, I went to the vet covering for my vet. He's young - recently out of vet school - and knew exactly what was going on with Callie and what needed to be done. He was very gentle with her and I was impressed. I could tell he really knows cats, so I may just switch.
-
Last night I went to the 10th Anniversary of Mundo Latino, the Spanish language newspaper in this area. It was interesting. All the speakers did both English and Spanish so the program got pretty long. Ballet Folklorica from Mexico City was there and performed. They were fun to watch. there was also a mariachi band and a girl who sang a song in Japanese.
-
Yes, DR Jane, I'm very happy about the way the Michigan/Indiana game turned out. I like those close games, especially when my team wins!
-
Sioux City Symphony has it's opening night tonight. Sarah Chang is the guest artist. Here's the program:
September 26, 2009
Opening Night
Sarah Chang, violin
Beethoven Consecration of the House, Oveture, Op. 124
Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in e minor, Op. 64
Brahms Hungarian Dances
R. Strauss Dance of the Seven Veils from Salome, Op. 54
J. Strauss, Jr. Emperor Waltzes, Op. 437
I'm looking forward to it
-
DR Jane, I had not heard about the BEAUTIFUL LIFE being cancelled when i read your post (although right after i saw it on yahoo). Thanks for letting me know.
I am a bit surprised. I didn't think the CW cancelled their shows so quickly (since they get much lower numbers than the other major networks). Although that said i was so surprised that episode 2 got less than a million viewers. That is shocking. So that considered i guess it's not surprising.
I actually liked the first 2 episodes. I wonder if the A network (in canada) that shows it will be allowed to show the unaired episodes (if they even wanted to).
-
Vibes for Callie and Sherlock. ~~~~~~~~~~~
-
I really want to watch last night's GHOST WHISPERER and MEDIUM. But i've been out all day and have to go out again now.
Maybe tonight!
-
I've not seen any live ballet performances (none that were intentional, that is).
I would love to know about some of the unintentional ballets you've seen! :)
Oh no, you don't!! :D
-
Balletwise, I like "La Fille Mal Gardée" and "La Sylphide", singular, not "les Sylphides" ...
Classical ballet is the most inhuman and physically excrutiating art form: one has to be "nuts" to put one's body through such tortures!
-
Had a fine afternoon of entertainment. I began with the Brett/Holmes program THE ILLUSTRIOUS CLIENT. Somehow I have never seen any of these later Holmes mysteries. No one hugely famous in this, but a good episode. Not much mystery about it; it was more a crime drama with the villain daring Holmes to bring him down.
-
While I ate lunch, I watched Friday night's LAW & ORDER. Interesting but frustrating case in which the government was going to be taken to trial. Naturally a mountain of legal motions thwarts those plans. Still, an OK season premiere for the show.
-
DR jose should enjoy reading this.
I've found this article (In French) in this week's edition of Le Courrier International with a picture of Julie Child -- actually Meryl Streep as ... -- on the cover!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
August 31, 2009
Op-Ed Columnist
Advantage France
By ROGER COHEN
CHERENCE, FRANCE — Arrival is usually defined as reaching a destination, but of course it’s more than that, it’s the moment when you have shed enough of where you came from to be present at the place you’ve reached. This offloading of layers takes time, like peeling an onion.
My French arrival this year was time-consuming. Iran, which is another story, had me. But the moment came, and when it came, it was not the dawn swooping of starlings, the softness of the dusk light through the sycamores, or the chiming of a village bell that delivered me to “la douce France,” but the sight of glistening guts.
The guts in question were being coaxed by a hand — ungloved — from the belly of a four-pound sea bass — unfarmed — at the market in the Norman town of Vernon, which has one stand devoted solely to watercress. The fish, iridescent, its gills bright scarlet, was fresh from the waters off Dieppe.
My friend Marcel Bossy, who had made the pre-dawn drive from the coast with his glossy load, had his hand deep in the fish. He was laughing about something as the guts slithered onto a scale-coated chopping board.
My 11-year-old daughter, Adele, covered her eyes, but I was riveted. Marcel’s wife, Sandrine, also laughing — something ribald between them — was gutting firm mackerel with swift incisions and finger movements, when one dropped to the ground. She scooped the fish up and resumed work on it, putting me in mind of Julia Child’s famous statement about a miss-flipped potato pancake: “You can always pick it up.”
Since Child, in “Mastering the Art of French Cooking,” and in her groundbreaking 1960’s television show “The French Chef,” brought Gallic secrets to riveted Americans, the shameless gutting and picking-up of real food in ungloved hands has given way to the hurried-hermetic-hygienic U.S. fever of plastic gloves, processed foods and precooked meals.
Those fish guts delivered me to France because, although this country has its share of fast-food outlets, it has preserved a relationship to food distinguished from the American in three essential respects: fear, time and “terroir.”
If Americans want their fish pre-filleted, their chicken breasts excised from surrounding bone and conveniently packed, their offal kept from view and the table, and any hand that touches a slice of ham or lox sealed inside a glove, it is because fear of the innards that will not speak their name, the guts that reek of life, and the germs we all carry has become rampant.
By contrast, the French don’t believe what they’re eating is genuine unless they’ve seen gritty proof of provenance. They like the alchemy of the peasant hand that does the pâté grip.
American anxiety is related to the American perception of time, which is always short in a land that prizes efficiency above all. Precooked meals — food divorced from its origins, food without guts — is faster to prepare and therefore attractive.
I bought a couple of the female ducklings the French call “canettes” the other day. It took 15 minutes for the cutting-off of head, feet and wing-tips; for the innards to be removed; for the placing in the cleansed insides of the liver, kidneys and neck; for singeing over a gas burner; and for discussion as to whether I wanted the plump ducks trussed for rotisserie cooking (I did not).
Most stores in New York don’t bother selling ducklings — they’re inefficient birds in that the meat-to-size ratio is low — and if they did such protracted preparation would be unthinkable. Time bows at the altar of gastronomy in France. In the United States time is the altar.
The third fundamental difference relates to “terroir,” the untranslatable combination of soil, hearth and tradition that links most French people to a particular place. France sees American mobility with a sacred immobility; attachments trump restlessness.
These are attachments of the gut, which brings us back to why the French take such pleasure in those hands at work cleansing a sea bass or a duckling, and why a stand selling watercress (with the unique taste of a particular patch of soil) is viable.
The French Paradox, so-called, is really the French self-evidence. Change your relationship to fear, time and place, and you change your metabolism. This has less to do with the specific foods eaten, or the specific wine drunk (although of course they count) than it has to do with how food is approached.
According to the 2009 C.I.A. World Factbook, the estimated average life expectancy in France is 80.98 (84.33 for women and 77.79 for men), against 78.11 for the United States (80.69 for women and 75.65 for men.) France ranks 9th in the world; America ranks 50th. There’s something to be said for ungloved hands picking mackerel from the ground.
The American healthcare debate is skewed. It should be devoting more time to changing U.S. culinary and eating habits in ways that cut the need for expensive care by reducing rampant obesity, to which anxiety, haste and disconnectedness contribute. France has much to teach, guts and all.
Home
World U.S. N.Y. / Region Business Technology Science Health Sports Opinion Arts Style Travel Jobs Real Estate Automobiles Back to Top
Copyright 2009
Privacy Policy Terms of Service Search Corrections RSS First Look Help Contact Us Work for Us Site Map
-
Next I watched last night's PSYCH. SOme good choral singing and some fun adventures though the mystery was rather average. Corbin Bernsen got off a funny line in the segment of the show set in 1989 about home computers being just a fad like Madonna, rap music, and L.A. LAW. Got a big kick out of that.
-
Flipping around the cable box channels, I stumbled on that fantastic gay-themed episode of THE CLOSER from last season and rewatched that. Very fine acting in that episode.
-
~~~Vibes for DC Callie!!~~~
~~~Vibes for DD Sherlock!!~~~
-
I then went to HD On Demand to see what was there, and in the CBS section, they had this week's season premiere of OLD CHRISTINE. I hadn't watched the show in a year, so I put it on. A funny season premiere with everyone having some fallout from last season's season finale featuring all of the romantic breakups among the main characters.
-
I really want to watch last night's GHOST WHISPERER and MEDIUM. But i've been out all day and have to go out again now.
Maybe tonight!
I was expecting to watch one of these (or Psych) tonight, after I got home from work, and before I went to the 10:00 showing of Lord Franzannian's Royal Olympian Spectacular Vaudeville Show (http://www.buyolympia.com/events/?details=437), but my friend Margo called and asked if I wanted to see "Julie and Julia" at 6:30 (or so). Since the movie gets out long before I have to be a the theater to see Lord Franzannian's Royal Olympian Spectacular Vaudeville Show (http://www.buyolympia.com/events/?details=437), I said yes. I have a totally free day tomorrow, so that's when I'll do my TV watching and catching up.
-
Just looked at the overnight ratings for last night.
Highest rated Friday night show: MEDIUM!!!! It actually had higher ratings than GHOST WHISPERER which was a HUGE surprise for me.
Color me GREATLY RELIEVED. CBS' faith in MEDIUM has been justified (thus far).
-
Just looked at the overnight ratings for last night.
Highest rated Friday night show: MEDIUM!!!! It actually had higher ratings than GHOST WHISPERER which was a HUGE surprise for me.
Color me GREATLY RELIEVED. CBS' faith in MEDIUM has been justified (thus far).
Great news!!
-
latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-france-fete6-2009sep06,0,159992.story
latimes.com
French village fete a precious remnant
In southwest France, a reporter veers off the beaten path to visit a village fiercely proud of the cassoulet at the center of its revelry and savoring its effort to adhere to an older way of life.
By Devorah Lauter
September 6, 2009
Reporting from Luquet, France
After several salt baths, the snails still were not dead. Plump and apparently unfazed, some had even made a break for it, latching on in crevices between the kitchen cabinets, along the sides of the bucket that held them and on the floor.
Dinner might have to be late.
Eric Causse was preparing a meal of fresh escargot for the village women. It was the third day of the annual fete locale, or traditional village fair, for this medieval hamlet in southwestern France, and the women deserved a treat.
Dealing with the escargots may have been labor-intensive, but it was nothing compared with the women's efforts: They were busy preparing a sit-down cassoulet feast for 400 people.
The women -- and perhaps even a few men -- were sorting through hundreds of bags of white beans, setting aside any with blemishes, and cutting up a mountain of vegetables. In a few days, they'd throw it all, along with lashings of meat, into huge pots over an open flame on the hillside overlooking the valley, and the village cassoulet would be born.
Almost all the villages in the area make a cassoulet meal for their own summertime fete, and each is fiercely proud of its version. Residents fete-hop, tasting, and critically comparing the tenderness of the large, white beans and the meaty flavor of the cassoulet broth, until many acknowledge that they're ready for a change of menu.
I stumbled upon Luquet's fete last month after spotting a sign propped on the side of the road that announced the coming event in scrawled, fluorescent green on a sheet of black plastic.
Luquet is so small that I accidentally drove through it on the first go. I hadn't noticed the cluster of houses to my left, up a short road. On turning back, I found an open space that I realized was the main square, cupped by houses built of stone with pocket vegetable gardens.
A bar hut, plastic tables and a string of colored lights were set up for the occasion. A disco stage was in the making, and teams of petanque players concentrated on a heated, hours-long competition. (It would be an understatement to call this bowling game popular in southwestern France.)
After staking out a plastic chair and table, I was offered grilled Toulouse sausage with spicy mustard and beer.
The villagers and their mayor took up chairs beside me, pipes and cigarettes were lighted, more beers were poured, and I was immediately welcomed with stories about this place, and the day's festivities.
Tourists aren't exactly common in this village, rimmed by the jagged outline of the Pyrenees on the horizon, its ripples of steep hills spotted with top-heavy sunflowers and large bundles of rolled hay.
Here my Michelin map of France was all but obsolete. It made no mention of Luquet, a place where traditions like the fete are taken seriously, or of the roads leading to it.
The three-to-four-day event in Luquet (if one includes the goings-on in the larger nearby village of Saint Christaud, the festivities end up lasting more than a week) have been celebrated since "forever," I'm told, though slightly differing in form over time, and such celebrations are the main activity for reveling villagers throughout the summer and September.
A good fete, which is an adaptation of the medieval village patron saint holiday, involves a lengthy petanque competition; dancing and music till dawn; boozing for the same period of time; grilled Toulouse sausage and the cassoulet-centered meal itself, which starts off with cantaloupe halves filled with red wine; gossip about which village had the best cassoulet; talks on cassoulet cooking techniques; over-the-shoulder glances to check which village mayors showed up and which chose to snub the affair. Flirting with the boys and girls from the village across the river is a must. And if all goes well, the night will end in a fistfight.
But perhaps most important, the fete is a precious remnant of an older way of life.
The goal of the local fete has much to do with "re-creating that old social fabric, and coming together, something that doesn't exist in places like Toulouse or Paris," said Pierre Ferrage, Saint Christaud's recently elected mayor.
The soft-spoken 59-year-old talked as he drank the only beer he allowed himself on the first day of the fete. He came from a family of farmers; his mother and grandmother "were born here," he said, pointing to the farmhouse across the road. But now he tills his small ancestral plot only out of nostalgia.
"We need to do this [the fair], because our world, my world as I knew it, has completely changed," he said.
When he was young, patois, a local dialect that has a Spanish-sounding twang to it, was still spoken at the breakfast table. Every family grew and harvested or killed its food, raised on modest patches of farmland. Livestock roamed the streets, and villagers depended on one another, rather than on machines, to harvest and work the fields.
Farmers shared large meals with neighbors and friends to thank them after they had helped with a day of picking or tilling the soil.
These customs, born out of economic necessity, created deep social bonds. Though classic rivalries were also a part of daily life (one man spoke to his neighbor only over the steel barrel of his shotgun), villagers were accustomed to a sense of togetherness and belonging.
About 30 years ago, those older bonds had begun to fade in Luquet and Saint Christaud, Ferrage said.
Industrialized farming eventually made the small vegetable and grain farms no longer viable, just as in much of rural France. Young people left for the cities; houses were abandoned, and certain traditions along with them.
"We're losing more and more of our old values," Ferrage said. "So the meaning of the village fair has changed."
Today the fair meets the needs of France's modern villager, who often has only a rough knowledge of farming and typically commutes to the nearest town for work.
"The fair is the mark of something that's missing in the big cities, where people don't know each other. They don't have anything like it there," said Claudie Villerous, a Saint Christaud resident and writer.
"Here they like the idea that you can talk to people you don't know, who are sitting next to you," she said.
That was clearly the mood at Saint Christaud's feast, where one could find young teens dressed in black, their hair dyed red and their ears generously pierced, sitting with their families next to older farmers and elderly couples, filling one another's wine glasses and chatting.
Men shouted to each other across white-draped picnic tables.
"Don't I know you from somewhere?" one bulky rugby player asked a girl sitting at another table. She didn't think so, she said, with a smile.
Around a nearby open fire, heavy-shouldered men laid out endless strings of sausage on a massive grill. They tasted the raw, spicy meat, and insisted I do the same.
As the meal was served, a traditional band struck up a tune. A white-bearded horn player strolled through the crowd while couples danced.
After eating their first helping of cassoulet, many stood on their picnic benches and danced and sang, swaying their arms high. People kept on swaying while seated, and during an ice cream dessert.
A few days earlier, Causse had explained the pull of Luquet, where he has lived since 2001. "This place becomes part of you."
The sturdy, middle-aged former lead singer for a punk rock band is a self-described "neo-ruralman," one of the city dwellers and townsfolk who began moving into abandoned and empty homes 10 to 15 years ago in the southwestern region, and throughout rural France, partly because of family and childhood roots there.
Causse, who produces and sells honey and does a little music management on the side, is devoted to his new home.
"I have 40 friends on the Internet. But who gives a damn? The day of my burial, you think they'll be there? Are they here eating sausages with us now?" he said, waving his arms as he spoke. "We're trying to maintain our way of life here."
As he prepared the pot of herbs for the soon-to-be-boiled escargots, he called his mother in Tarn, the neighboring region to the east, for help with the recipe.
That's when I noticed that a large part of that night's dinner had escaped. The lid on the bucket hadn't been closed all the way.
We pulled the snails out of their hiding places, with a soft, sucking sound, and they curled up in protest.
They too had quickly settled into the place.
Lauter is a special correspondent.
Copyright © 2009, The Los Angeles Times
-
Last night I went to the 10th Anniversary of Mundo Latino, the Spanish language newspaper in this area. It was interesting. All the speakers did both English and Spanish so the program got pretty long. Ballet Folklorica from Mexico City was there and performed. They were fun to watch. there was also a mariachi band and a girl who sang a song in Japanese.
I love mariachi music! Full of life and fire!
-
I have a few things to fiuddle with on the computer and then I'll head down for an evening of filmed entertainment.
WBBL.
-
Having recently finished bk's latest novel, the DH was surveying the contents of the refrigerator, and announced, "You should not buy any more yellow cheddar cheese. Ariana wouldn't like it."
-
PAGE FIVE STILL-AT-WORK DANCE!!
:P
-
;)
-
Speaking of a book, has no one else bothered to read it???
-
I've just spent two and a half hours typing up notes - I'm on page 32. My notes will be longer than the script.
-
Has anyone else OZ-ified themselves? Netflix is allowing people to star opposite Judy Garland in a short WIZARD OF OZ clip.
I did mine and find it strangely fascinating. . .
http://tinyurl.com/ydw8l6f (http://tinyurl.com/ydw8l6f)
-
Has anyone else OZ-ified themselves? Netflix is allowing people to star opposite Judy Garland in a short WIZARD OF OZ clip.
I did mine and find it strangely fascinating. . .
http://tinyurl.com/ydw8l6f (http://tinyurl.com/ydw8l6f)
Never heard about this...but you can click HERE (http://www.netflix.com/wizardofoz/ozyourself?mId=31599452.3&doorId=497&clientId=211) to see a freaky version of me singing to Judy!
-
Thanks, td!
-
Has anyone else OZ-ified themselves? Netflix is allowing people to star opposite Judy Garland in a short WIZARD OF OZ clip.
I did mine and find it strangely fascinating. . .
http://tinyurl.com/ydw8l6f (http://tinyurl.com/ydw8l6f)
We will play around with it this evening and see how it looks. You look good TD!
-
Has anyone else OZ-ified themselves? Netflix is allowing people to star opposite Judy Garland in a short WIZARD OF OZ clip.
I did mine and find it strangely fascinating. . .
http://tinyurl.com/ydw8l6f (http://tinyurl.com/ydw8l6f)
That is hysterical.
http://www.netflix.com/wizardofoz/ozyourself?mId=31599622.3&doorId=497&clientId=211 (http://www.netflix.com/wizardofoz/ozyourself?mId=31599622.3&doorId=497&clientId=211)
-
Thanks, td!
You're welcome. I find it strangely fascinating.
-
We will play around with it this evening and see how it looks. You look good TD!
Awww, shucks. . .
-
Speaking of a book, has no one else bothered to read it???
I'll order it when I can afford it.
-
Speaking of a book, has no one else bothered to read it???
I'm expecting to start it sometime tomorrow, along with my ketchuping with my TV watching. :)
-
I'm starting to think the Petit Le Mans is not resuming until Barbra Streisand finishes her show in the Vanguard. Nah...
-
I started read BK's new book today
-
My eyesight is affected by too many tax returns. I read "thanks, td!" as "thanks, tdf"
-
It's almost time for me to leave work. Soon, I'll (finally!) see "Julie and Julia"! Then after that will be the vaudeville!
Have a good rest of the day, all!
-
Does BK have a book out?
-
Having recently finished bk's latest novel, the DH was surveying the contents of the refrigerator, and announced, "You should not buy any more yellow cheddar cheese. Ariana wouldn't like it."
;D
-
Speaking of a book, has no one else bothered to read it???
All done and enjoyed it :) I finished it this morning.
-
The race is called - it's over, all over.
-
Thanks DR Jennifer & George.
-
Is anyone going to the Village Vanguard tonight? ;)
-
The race is called - it's over, all over.
Are you happy with the results?
-
Is anyone going to the Village Vanguard tonight?
And I read, "Is anyone else going to the Village Vanguard tonight?" and got real excited there, for a second. :)
-
DR Jane. I am considering changing vets. This one is very far away and was very reluctant to prescribe what I knew would work. He did all that invasive work and gave her nothing for pain. I had to go out the next day and insist on it.
The day I took her in after hours, I went to the vet covering for my vet. He's young - recently out of vet school - and knew exactly what was going on with Callie and what needed to be done. He was very gentle with her and I was impressed. I could tell he really knows cats, so I may just switch.
Keith & I would switch. How far from your house is the young vet?
-
Are you happy with the results?
I don't mind Risi Competizione getting first (hell yes!) but I really want to see more of a Corvette Racing/Risi rivalry. But then if I one of the lucky folks listening to Barbra right now, I'd be relieved knowing the race ended.
Audi losing to Peugeot is the Le Mans Prototypes equivalent of Yankees losing to the Red Sox. This time, I saw it twice this year - Audi's businessy types should step up.
-
Well that is kind of sobering.
I just googled my name, and my Twitter account is the first link that comes up. With all my attendant tweets. The last time I tried it, several years ago, I don't think any of the links related to me until well into the second page of search results.
Kind of makes you wonder if a prospective employer might not have the same thought. I mean, I don't tweet anything too incriminating, but still... :-\
-
Has anyone else OZ-ified themselves? Netflix is allowing people to star opposite Judy Garland in a short WIZARD OF OZ clip.
I did mine and find it strangely fascinating. . .
http://tinyurl.com/ydw8l6f (http://tinyurl.com/ydw8l6f)
You mean "strangely FACE-inating"!! ;)
-
The kittens are feeding well -- no longer sick with the URI. Two have vision, the other two might have some. We'll have to wait and see. Today is their birthday; they are four weeks old.
-
Always tweet as though a private investigator is reading it.
-
Speaking of a book, has no one else bothered to read it???
I'm expecting to start it sometime tomorrow, along with my ketchuping with my TV watching. :)
Well, don't spill ketchup on it, please!! ;)
-
It's almost time for me to leave work. Soon, I'll (finally!) see "Julie and Julia"! Then after that will be the vaudeville!
Have a good rest of the day, all!
Hope you don't get bored!!
Miss Amy Adams is so "appetizing" anyway!
-
Well that is kind of sobering.
I just googled my name, and my Twitter account is the first link that comes up. With all my attendant tweets. The last time I tried it, several years ago, I don't think any of the links related to me until well into the second page of search results.
Kind of makes you wonder if a prospective employer might not have the same thought. I mean, I don't tweet anything too incriminating, but still... :-\
DAW, I think you ought to do the Wizard of Oz thing. I would love to see that.
-
Does BK have a book out?
Hardly!!
-
Are you happy with the results?
I don't mind Risi Competizione getting first (hell yes!) but I really want to see more of a Corvette Racing/Risi rivalry. But then if I one of the lucky folks listening to Barbra right now, I'd be relieved knowing the race ended.
Audi losing to Peugeot is the Le Mans Prototypes equivalent of Yankees losing to the Red Sox. This time, I saw it twice this year - Audi's businessy types should step up.
We lived outside Boston for awhile giving me a particular fondness for the Red Sox ;)
I have only watched racing on tv once. A friend's husband worked for GM at the time and was with at a race with one of the cars they sponsored. My friend couldn't get the race at her house and came over to watch it with us. After giving us loads of detail on the car & personal info on the driver, we watched the driver crash. We then watched him loaded into an ambulance, alive at least. The injuries only kept him out a few months. None of us have watched racing since then ;D
-
DAW, I think you ought to do the Wizard of Oz thing. I would love to see that.
Do you think that will get me a job?
-
The kittens are feeding well -- no longer sick with the URI. Two have vision, the other two might have some. We'll have to wait and see. Today is their birthday; they are four weeks old.
Prayers for the health and vision of all four kittens.
-
DAW, I think you ought to do the Wizard of Oz thing. I would love to see that.
Do you think that will get me a job?
Well, it couldn't hurt!
-
DAW, I think you ought to do the Wizard of Oz thing. I would love to see that.
Do you think that will get me a job?
No one will hire someone who does not have a brain! :)
-
Prayers for the health and vision of all four kittens.
DOUBLE DITTO!!!!!!
-
No one will hire someone who does not have a brain!
;D
-
Is anyone going to the Village Vanguard tonight?
And I read, "Is anyone else going to the Village Vanguard tonight?" and got real excited there, for a second. :)
Well, I am listening to the new album's second disc right now. . . .
-
The kittens are feeding well -- no longer sick with the URI. Two have vision, the other two might have some. We'll have to wait and see. Today is their birthday; they are four weeks old.
Prayers for the health and vision of all four kittens.
Three Blind Mice!
-
DR TCB - I tried, but I do not have any photos of myself where my mouth is closed. :P
-
Well, don't spill ketchup on it, please!! ;)
You can't put ketchup on the moon. . .
-
DAW, I think you ought to do the Wizard of Oz thing. I would love to see that.
Do you think that will get me a job?
Sorry, DAW, I was just trying to take your mind off of the employment situation.
-
Tomorrow:
BK goes to Oprah! :D
-
Always tweet as though a private investigator is reading it.
Or potential employer.
DR DAW what wise tweets will you now make to impress potential employers ;)
-
DR td never met a pre-release he didn't like!!
-
Well, don't spill ketchup on it, please!! ;)
You can't put ketchup on the moon. . .
I'll trust you; I've never tried!
-
DR td never met a pre-release he didn't like!!
Sure! He's so .... easy, I've heard!! :o ;)
-
I confess...I don't think I've ever seen a ballet live on stage. On TV; maybe some dance recitals in college. I love the music of Katchaturian's ballet (one of my faovurites), but I've never seen the ballet itself.
-
DR DAW what wise tweets will you now make to impress potential employers ;)
Somehow, in general, the kind of tweets that would impress a potential employer are probably mutually exclusive from the tweets that would attract numerous followers. :)
-
Is anyone going to the Village Vanguard tonight?
And I read, "Is anyone else going to the Village Vanguard tonight?" and got real excited there, for a second. :)
Well, I am listening to the new album's second disc right now. . . .
And ... ?
-
DR TCB - when is your bon voyage??
-
Always tweet as though a private investigator is reading it.
Or if you work for the State of Washington - the Attorney General.
-
Is anyone going to the Village Vanguard tonight?
And I read, "Is anyone else going to the Village Vanguard tonight?" and got real excited there, for a second. :)
Well, I am listening to the new album's second disc right now. . . .
And ... ?
It's stunning.
-
Or if you live in Maricopa County, the sheriff.
-
DR td never met a pre-release he didn't like!!
You've got mail.
-
DR TCB - when is your bon voyage??
I leave for Rome on November 12, and I board the ship on the 15 (which makes the 15th the actual Bon Voyage)
-
YES, YES, to both of Francois's post.
-
Dear DAW, love Copland and Stravinsky, and any ballet set to their music.
-
Hope everyone is having a good day. Hope everyone has a good evening.
-
I slept till noon, then ran errands in our 100+ degree heat, and they watched Apocalypto with the volume really loud. Good day so far.
I guess I better wash dishes and then watch To Live and Die in LA.
-
Hope everyone is having a good day. Hope everyone has a good evening.
Enjoy your weekend, Sam!
-
Dear TCB, have a wonderful trip.
-
Dear TCB, have a wonderful trip.
Thanks, Sam, I am counting the days.
-
No more scarecrows? Are George, td, and I the only brave ones? Mikey get busy.
-
Almost went to Italy, but I was pick pocketed on the metro in Paris. I could not go anywhere without identification. At that time I was still a German citizen, but the German embassy would not help me as I did not live there or speak German. Luckily I was with an American boyfriend, and he convinced the American embassy to help me with my green card identification to finish the trip and go back to the US. It took a week to do that, so Italy was out, the rest of the trip was already planned for a week in London.
Did not know to leave all necessary ID in the safe at the hotel. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
-
Interview with the most popular doctor in the world, Dr. So Fun Yu
Q: Doctor, I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?
A: Heart only good for so many beats, and that it... Don't waste on exercise. Everything wear out eventually. Speed up heart not make live longer; that like say you can extend life of car by driving faster. Want live longer? Take nap.
Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does cow eat? Hay and corn. What are these? Vegetables. So, steak nothing more than efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef also good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And pork chop can give 100% recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.
Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: No, not at all. Wine made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine. That means they take water out of fruity bit; get even more of goodness that way. Beer also made out of grain. Bottoms up!
Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: If you have body and you have fat, ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, ratio is two to one, etc.
Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Cannot think of single one, sorry. My philosophy: No Pain...Good!
Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU NOT LISTENING!!! .... Foods fried in vegetable oil. How getting more vegetables be bad for you?
Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise muscle, it get bigger. You should only do sit-ups if want bigger stomach.
Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: You crazy? HELLO .... Cocoa beans! Vegetable!!! Cocoa beans best feel-good food around!
Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming good for figure, explain whales to me.
Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! 'Round' is shape!
Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.
AND.....
For those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word on nutrition and health. It's a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies:
1. The Japanese eat very little fat
And suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat
And suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
3. The Chinese drink very little red wine
And suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
4 The Italians drink a lot of red wine
And suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages and fats
And suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
CONCLUSION.....
Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is apparently what kills you
-
DR Laura, some vision is better than none. Continued vibes they slowly improve and most their vision returns.
-
Live longer, take nap.
-
Almost went to Italy, but I was pick pocketed on the metro in Paris. I could not go anywhere without identification. At that time I was still a German citizen, but the German embassy would not help me as I did not live there or speak German. Luckily I was with an American boyfriend, and he convinced the American embassy to help me with my green card identification to finish the trip and go back to the US. It took a week to do that, so Italy was out, the rest of the trip was already planned for a week in London.
Did not know to leave all necessary ID in the safe at the hotel. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
What a shame. We also carry copies of our passport & keep them in separate places from the real thing. Leaving copies with a friend also helps.
-
YES, YES, to MBarnum's post.
-
We saw the tour of Legally Blonde today.
-
Better get moving and get some things done. Like washing dishes.
-
My neighbor said bk's friend Alet Taylor will be in Guys and Dolls. I forgot to ask if it's in LA.
-
Dear Laura, the movie was really cute.
-
Later :)
-
I am a happy camper. I was at a bookstore today right near where i live. And there was a flyer announcing that one of my favorite authors (kelley armstrong) will be doing a book signing/reading there in 2 weeks.
Unfortunately she will only be signing that book (which i'll have to wait to take out from the library). But I think it will be very cool.
-
Better get moving and get some things done. Like washing dishes.
I gotta do the same thing. The big pot Sherlock's chicken was boiled in is still sitting in the sink, along with the dinner dishes.
-
I am a happy camper. I was at a bookstore today right near where i live. And there was a flyer announcing that one of my favorite authors (kelley armstrong) will be doing a book signing/reading there in 2 weeks.
Unfortunately she will only be signing that book (which i'll have to wait to take out from the library). But I think it will be very cool.
Since she is your favorite author why not splurge & buy the book for her to sign?
-
I am a happy camper. I was at a bookstore today right near where i live. And there was a flyer announcing that one of my favorite authors (kelley armstrong) will be doing a book signing/reading there in 2 weeks.
Unfortunately she will only be signing that book (which i'll have to wait to take out from the library). But I think it will be very cool.
Since she is your favorite author why not splurge & buy the book for her to sign?
Great idea!
-
I had an evening of revisiting old favorites tonight. The evening got interrupted by a lengthy phone call, so I didn't have time to get to IDIOT'S DELIGHT tonight. I guess it will have to wait for another free day, and I don't know when that will be.
-
I began with HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE on Blu-ray. Picture is mostly quite sharp and detailed (except in places like the Black Lake or the maze where the softness seemed deliberate since it was so filled with CGI; that's not the fault of the transfer. The sound was mostly superb, but I was a bit disappointed in the underwater sequence which I thought should have been a lot for active in the surrounds. The maze sequence had some terrific directional effects.
-
G'night!
-
Since I only had about an hour to fill before I wanted to come upstairs, I put in COLOR ME BARBRA. I had forgotten how much of this special she actually sang "live" in. For some reason, I remembered a lot of lip-synching, but that wasn't so. Really loved the song choices in this (well, I'm not so partial to "C'est Si Bon.")
-
I guess I will go ahead tomorrow and do MONSOON WEDDING as a work project. I'm weeks ahead of release date, but I'm going to be expecting a bunch of TV boxed sets plus big releases like SNOW WHITE filled with bonus material, so I might as well get this one out of the way now.
-
We finally got that rain tonight they've been predicting all week. Yesterday, they predicted a 60% chance of rain, and we didn't get a drop (at least not at my house). But we had a very nice rain storm tonight.
-
My neighbor said bk's friend Alet Taylor will be in Guys and Dolls. I forgot to ask if it's in LA.
What will she play?
Guys or Dolls?? ;D
-
New page! Let's splash our dressing! ;)
-
YES, YES, to MBarnum's post.
Yes, Yes, Barnum!
Is that a new musical? :)
-
We saw the tour of Legally Blonde today.
Was it a tour de force?!
-
'night
-
I am a happy camper. I was at a bookstore today right near where i live. And there was a flyer announcing that one of my favorite authors (kelley armstrong) will be doing a book signing/reading there in 2 weeks.
Unfortunately she will only be signing that book (which i'll have to wait to take out from the library). But I think it will be very cool.
How do you want your favourite writer to make a living if you don't buy her book?!
You might became her favourite reader that way! ;)
-
YES, YES, to both of Francois's post.
"Yes, Yes, François" might be the French adaptation of the American new musical "Yes, Yes, Barnum"! ;)
-
'night
Bonne nuit!
-
Ev'rybody Ought To Have A Brain!
A Brain! A Brain! A Brain!
Send In The Brains!
-
Brain Barrett sings songs of Christmas!
-
Why a Brain?
C'Oz!
-
Singin' In The Brain.
-
How pleasant, bobbing along
Bobbing along on the bottom of the beautiful brainy sea ...
-
Heading down now to go to bed.
Good night!
-
Keep those eye vibes coming, folks. It is my opinion that little Wally reached out and patted the feather wand when I wiggled it in front of him. It's hard to tell, because they are still quite uncoordinated.
-
Sep 8, 2009 - Jessica Bernard, Jeff Griggs, Barry Pearl, Alet Taylor to Star in Cabrillo's Guys and Dolls.
-
Jessica Bernard, Jeff Griggs, Barry Pearl, and Alet Taylor will star as Sarah Brown, Sky Masterson, Nathan Detroit, and Miss Adelaide, respectively, in Cabrillo Music Theatre's production of Guys and Dolls, to run October 16-25. Nick DeGruccio will direct, with choreography by Roger Castellano and musical direction by Darryl Archibald.
Damon Runyon's colorful characters come to life in this classic tuner, featuring music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, and a book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows.
For more information, visit www.cabrillomusictheatre.com.
-
TheaterMania.com -- for everything theater
http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm?int_news_id=21286&city_dir=los-angeles
Reviews
Matthew Modine Saves the Alpacas
Reviewed By: Terri Roberts · Sep 17, 2009 · Los Angeles
Life used to be good for Matthew Modine. Big name directors wanted him, high-profile press courted him, and the limelight shone brightly upon him. But then his skyrocketing career crashed back down to the dirty mucky earth, especially after he traded the glittery fame of celebrity-stocked movies for the gritty moralism of independent films and "significant" theater. Or so goes the premise of Blair Singer's hilarious and zinger-laden satire of Hollywood celebrity, Matthew Modine Saves the Alpacas, which is receiving its world premiere at the Geffen Playhouse in a production directed with over-the-top glee by Tony Award winner John Rando.
As Singer tells it, Modine (played by the real Matthew Modine) needs a "Cause" -- something important and unrepresented -- to demonstrate his compassion for the downtrodden while shining a spotlight on them and, more importantly, himself. So with the help of high-powered publicist Whimberly North (Peri Gilpin) and her swishy, savvy assistant, Jeffrey (French Stewart), he sets out to save the endangered Chimborazzi Alpacas that live high in the mountains of Ecuador. Naturally, when Modine brings the trappings of modern Western civilization to the village of an indigenous culture that has existed for 284 generations, ridiculous and unforeseen complications ensue, and life will never be the same for any of them.
It's hard to tell who -- or what -- steals the show more. Singer's script is rife with insider industry jokes, and Rando clearly delights in exploiting every sarcastic, spoofy word of it. As for the cast, Stewart is completely in his comic element as he flips between the dual roles of Whimberly's "on it!" assistant and clumsy United Nations Ambassador Pierre du Pierre Jouet. For Gilpin, the role of the sexy, wisecracking, youth-obsessed publicist with the short temper and spicy mouth is not far removed from her famous Frasier character Roz Doyle, but it's a type she wears extremely well (much like that black leather skirt costume designer Robert Blackman uses to so perfectly introduce her).
Modine has "good sport" written all over him for playing such a broad strokes version of himself with such aplomb and generous humor. A particularly funny sequence has him literally fighting his own conscience, with Mark Fite offering a remarkably good Modine double. The busy Fite also deftly portrays radio talk show host Charlie Rose, a Chimborazzi shaman, and, along with Kevin Noonchester and Lauren Lovett, gets down and dirty as an alpaca puppeteer.
Speaking of those alpacas, special mention must be made of Chris and Daisy. Their limp libidos are why this rare breed of alpaca is dying out and the Chimborazzi tribe -- led by brothers Abraham (Edward Padilla) and Santos (Mark Damon Espinoza), with entertaining assistance from Angel (Reggie De Leon) -- is in trouble as well. The amorously-challenged alpacas claim several spotlight moments in scenic designer Beowulf Boritt's whimsical vision of the Chimborazzi's mountaintop village, colorfully lit by Jeff Croiter. And Modine's efforts to, er, stimulate their senses brings comically disastrous results.
So, does Matthew Modine really save the alpacas? It really gives nothing away to say that there is, of course, a Hollywood ending to this Hollywood story. But there is also an enormous amount of fun to be had along the way.
-
Reviews
South Pacific
Reviewed By: Meredith Lee · Sep 24, 2009 · Touring Productions
Lincoln Center Theater's revival of South Pacific, now launching its national tour at San Francisco's Golden Gate Theatre, is nothing short of magical. Director Bartlett Sher brings Rodgers and Hammerstein's beloved 1949 musical to life with such beauty, energy, and emotion that you're likely to forget every South Pacific you've seen previously by the time the Seabees burst onto the stage with their first rousing ensemble number.
Based on James A. Michener's series of stories, the musical is often considered ahead of its time because of its candid discussion of racial prejudice: Young American nurse Nellie Forbush (Carmen Cusack) falls for the older French planter Emile De Becque (Rod Gilfry), but must confront her own prejudice when she finds out that he fathered two interracial children, while the Princeton-educated Lt. Joseph Cable (Anderson Davis) likewise is enchanted by Liat (Sumie Maeda), a Tonkinese girl, but knows his ingrained prejudice will prevent him from marrying her. Wisely, Sher has restored additional text about race that had been cut from the original production, which gives more context to Nellie and Cable's struggles.
Sher's success with this production goes beyond script additions. Under his direction, we see the motivations, doubts, and changes that occur for every character. When Nellie sings "A Wonderful Guy," the song isn't just a celebration of her love for de Becque; one sees that Nellie is almost unable to believe it herself. In this way, Sher takes moments that might have seemed silly or outdated for a modern audience and makes them fully relatable. In addition, Christopher Gattelli provides smart musical staging that flows with the rest of the production.
The show's romantic leads each leave a little something to be desired. Gilfry's commanding and melodious voice impresses, but he is occasionally overzealous when delivering lines. Cusack is technically perfect in her role -- she sings beautifully and nails both the character's comedy and naivete -- but lacks a certain warmth needed to fully draw audiences to Nellie. As Cable, Davis comes across as too green for the role, but his earnestness suits the young character.
Meanwhile, Keala Settle is both funny and devastating as Bloody Mary, the islander making her fortune by selling grass skirts and other goods to the stationed Americans. Bloody Mary is also the mother of Liat, and she's just as scrupulous in her efforts to win Cable for her daughter as she is in her merchandise sales. Matthew Saldivar creates a memorable Luther Billis, the comical sailor with a soft spot for Nellie. The show's ensemble is flawless, abounding with energy in each of their musical numbers.
Michael Yeargan's set evokes the vastness of the world around the island; Donald Holder's lighting compliments the mood and setting of each scene; and Catherine Zuber's costumes range from Navy uniforms to swimsuits to evening wear to native dress, all of which help to set the time period and give identity to the characters -- one more way this incredibly vibrant production manages to be truthful and relevant.
-
Theater News
Melissa Peterman, Charmian Carr Set for Sing-A-Long Sound of Music at Hollywood Bowl
By: Tristan Fuge · Sep 10, 2009 · Los Angeles
Melissa Peterman is set to host Sing-A-Long Sound of Music, at the Hollywood Bowl, on Saturday, September 26. The evening will feature a special appearance by Charmian Carr, who played Liesl Von Trapp in the film.
The "Sing-A-Long" version of the classic film -- which starred Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer -- will feature a screening of the film, complete with subtitles so the whole audience can sing along. Peterman will host the event's signature costume parade at 6pm, coach the audience on use of their complimentary interactive props, and conducts a vocal warm-up with assistance from Hollywood Bowl organist Mitch Hanlon.
For more information, visit www.hollywoodbowl.com.
-
Theater News
Julie Andrews to Discuss Television Career at NYC's Paley Center
By: Andy Propst · Sep 9, 2009 · New York
Broadway star and Oscar winner Julie Andrews will participate in a conversation about her television career at The Paley Center for Media in New York City on Monday, October 5.
Andrews will be discussing her work on Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein's Cinderella which was broadcast in 1957. She will also cover her variety specials with Carol Burnett and her own Emmy Award-winning variety series The Julie Andrews Hour, and her dramatic roles in Our Sons and On Golden Pond.
In addition to the conversation, which will include a question and answer session, signed copies of Andrews' newest children's book, Julie Andrews' Collection of Poems, Songs, and Lullabies, will be available in advance of its official release.
For further information, visit www.paleycenter.org.
-
Thank you, Francois.
re: Guys and Dolls
-
House cleaning chores are done. Listened to Cops and Robbers, and Bank Shot.
-
Good Evening!
Whew!!!!!!!!!!!!
-
It was a long day. It was a good day. It was a fun day.
Alas, The Big Gay Ice Cream Truck did not win a Vendy Award today, but we had quite the crowd, well, line throughout the afternoon. -At one point it was about 100 people deep with at least a 45-minute wait for some people. And wait they did. And happily so. :)
Pics were taken. Some were Tweeted, some were Facebook'd, and many more will be posted tomorrow - hopefully.
-
Good Evening!
Whew!!!!!!!!!!!!
Your point of Whew, I guess!
-
I am going to attempt to catch up on today's posts now, but... Well... Again it was a long day. ;)
-
Wonderful DR JOSE.....and the weather was good. Today was Pagan Pride day and my sister and brother in law were at Broad Ripple Park while my nephew and I were at the store. We had to stay open an extra 30 minutes to handle the crowd.
-
DR VIXMOM....thanks BBB is all I need! Anything free and the theatre that can be carried out will be welcome.
-
DR CILLA LIZ D.V.M. - yes I would think by now you DO know what works with Callie.
-
I can't star with Judy, it keeps saying my picture is too small....and if I enlarge one, it's too fuzzy....but I enjoyed seeing DR td DR GEORGE and DR TCB as the scarecrow much more than ever enjoyed seeing Ray Bolger do it.
-
BEN HUR is ending on TCM....it is raining....and now I shall watch some more Stephen Boyd....I think GHENGIS KHAN with Omar Shariff is next.
-
pic's tomorrow, from Jose.
-
Page 9 GENGHIS KAHN dance
(http://www.britposters.com/images/genghis%20kahn%20320x240.jpg)
-
DR KERRY - I have seen that movie, but I do not have a copy of it. Sorry.
-
Speaking of a book, has no one else bothered to read it???
All done and enjoyed it :) I finished it this morning.
I not only read and enjoyed it but already posted a review on Amaon
-
I just bought cutting boards for the kitchen made from bamboo, (trying to switch to renewable sources instead of everything always being plastic) anyway, do all bamboo products smell like a Bahama clothing store at the Grove or is it the chemicals they use to glue the bamboo together ? I'm not sure I like it.
-
DR Jane. I am considering changing vets. This one is very far away and was very reluctant to prescribe what I knew would work. He did all that invasive work and gave her nothing for pain. I had to go out the next day and insist on it.
The day I took her in after hours, I went to the vet covering for my vet. He's young - recently out of vet school - and knew exactly what was going on with Callie and what needed to be done. He was very gentle with her and I was impressed. I could tell he really knows cats, so I may just switch.
Keith & I would switch. How far from your house is the young vet?
Probably 10-15 minutes away. Not too far. I'm hearing mostly good things about him
-
The kittens are feeding well -- no longer sick with the URI. Two have vision, the other two might have some. We'll have to wait and see. Today is their birthday; they are four weeks old.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KITTIES!!!!!!!!
-
Movie time.
Absolutely the best vibes for a pleasant Sunday.
-
VISION VIBES FOR THE KITTIES~~~~~~~~~~~~
-
LOVED Sarah Chang with the Sioux City Symphony.
-
Well... Let's see what I remember...
-
bk - Yep, a bad cord can cause a multitude of problems. Glad you got a hold of an Apple Care Genius who was able to take care of things.
-
DR Cillaliz - I like Sarah Chang too. -Glad you had an enjoyable evening at the symphony.
-
RE: Barbara Streisand - Two friends were at The Vanguard earlier tonight. They were one of the winners of one of the contests that were giving away tickets.
-
~~~~~CONTINUED HEALTHY KITTEN VIBES~~~~~
-
DR François - Thanks for posting those articles. -And why not just post the original article en Français à la prochaine fois? ;)
-
As for the Topic of the Day...
Copland's "Billy The Kid", "Rodeo" and "Appalachian Spring"
Poulenc's "Les Biches"
Stravinsky's "Petrouchka"
DR DAW mentioned Stravinsky's "Les Noces" - That's one ballet - Stravinsky labeled it a "dance cantata" - that works better for me as a "ballet" - music and dance - rather than just a "piece of music". The rustic and barbaric elements just get repetive to me without the visual elements. However, the "black and white" instrumentation - four(!) pianos and percussion - truly intrigues me.
-
And...
I need sleep. Lots and lots of sleep.
*I shall catch up more in the morning. Well, afternoon. ;)
Goodnight.
-
DR JRand, I have always said 'You can never see too much of Stephen Boyd!"
-
I watched a 1939 Bollywood movie tonight. AADMI starring Shahu Modak and Shanta Hublikar. It was about a naive police officer who falls in love and tries to reform a good hearted prostitute. It was a beautiful film.
Shahu Modak had one scene in which he just got out of the bath. Who knew that Bollywood actors in the 1930s worked out so much! 8)
-
Hmm...my posts seem to have a one track mind tonight.
-
Well, since it turns out that I never bothered to purchase the DVD of FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE SPACE MONSTER I won't be able to watch it after all, so I shall go and search for somthing equally cheezy to watch.
-
DR François - Thanks for posting those articles. -And why not just post the original article en Français à la prochaine fois? ;)
Wow! That would give some DReaders here more reasons to "hate" me even more!! :D
In fact, the articles en Français are available on the Courrier International site but only to subscribers, something I am not! :-\
-
The kittens are feeding well -- no longer sick with the URI. Two have vision, the other two might have some. We'll have to wait and see. Today is their birthday; they are four weeks old.
Happy Birthday!
-
We saw the tour of Legally Blonde today.
And??? How was it?
-
DR KERRY - I have seen that movie, but I do not have a copy of it. Sorry.
Thanks--it never hurts to ask though!
-
Speaking of LEGALLY BLONDE, I'm retooling "So Much Butter" (the parody of "So Much Better") to deal with the Paula Deen-Barbara Walters fracas.
Here's the Barbara Walters-related rewrite version of the parody lyric:
[imagines Paula about to go on The View knowing Barbara Walters is a little health-oriented, and Paula thinking she's ready to deal with that]
She's on a healthy kick
But it makes me sick -
Barbara Walters’ cuisine
No, there’s not an extra pat
Of congealing fat
In Miss Walters’ cuisine
Babes on The View like burning excess pounds while they’re earning lots of dough
But Paula’s churning out a brand new way to go
Whoa! (acting like she's addressing Barbara Walters)
Viewers don’t mind a fatter hide
Take ‘em for a triglycer-ride
‘Cause Babs, when I cook
I don’t care how I look
And my ratings just grow
Fellas don’t mind much more to hold
I’ll use my trademark made of gold:
I’ll use so much butter
On your show
Barbara you'd been obsessed
You’d been watercressed
And I find it all bland
Now folks see a pound or two
Plus a poofy do
Can come off kinda grand
Babs, remember when you baked a cake and you made me take a bite
I spat up ‘cause you used only Fleischman’s Light
Get this right
Gotta use butter by the stick
No phony fat for this here chick
Be real to be hot
So ready or not
Time to grow with the flow
So I’ll bring butter by the tub
These days people love a funny zhlub
And now there is so much butter
Your heart will flutter
It’s OH-OH-OH-OH-OH-Oh-brudder!
I’ll use so much butter on your show!
(She’ll use so much butter on the show!
She’ll use so much butter on the show!)
Blue cheese salad, hold the greens
I’ll show you what eatin’ means
Please don’t hold the mayo, hon
And no, not the low-fat one
Burger on a donut’s great
All the fixin’s, s’il vous plate
Diet always starts with die
So I’ll go on lovin’ my
Butter by the stick
That is my cool iconic shtick
Come on, top that chard
With a helping of lard
Heap it on like a pro
Oh-oh
And when my book’s a big fat hit
Miss Barbara Wah-wah you will spit
I use so much butter -
No skimming the top off chicken stock
Put lots of Crisco in my wok
No E.V.O.O.
Though my tushie will grow
Crisco gives me a glow
Go! Go!
I’ll slather cream on black and whites
I’ll look cherubic in my tights
And yes, I’ll use so much butter
Your valves will shutter
Miss Walters, you're gonna spit and sputter
I’ll use so much butter
I’ll use so much butter
I’ll use so much butter
On your show!
-
No DRs hate you, DR François... In fact, quite the opposite!! :)
-
Back from Andrea Marcovicci's Johnny Mercer show - more about that in the notes. I ate too much. I am only on page seventy-one of the script in terms of typing up my notes - that's exactly halfway. So, I've got another three hours of typing to do after we address packages tomorrow. I need a little break at some point this week.
-
Well, no one can say we didn't get to page ten.