Haines His Way
Archives => Archive 2 => Topic started by: bk on August 30, 2004, 12:01:48 AM
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Well, you've read the notes, the notes were moldy but soon won't be, the notes had no hot water but soon will, and now it is time to post until the moldy cows come home. :o
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..I seem to be the only one here...which is unusual for this time of night. Perhaps the Mold People got everyone. I'd better run outside and tell the world... "They're here already! You're next! You're next!..." (http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung0304/aktion/action-smiley-043.gif)
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Least favourite Spielberg: Empire Of the Sun
Favourites: Close Encounters, The Indiana Jones films and Schindler's List.
"AI" has much that I like. I need to watch it again.
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Good Morning!
Sorry to have been errant and truant yesterday, but I ended up having quite a culture-packed yesterday. More or less.
DR Jay and I went to see the "new" Jet Li movie, "Hero". The art direction and cinematography are very good. There are some truly breathtaking images throughout the film. Needless to say, the martial arts fight sequences are very well done - and very well filmed. As for the story, it's actually quite simple, but I found myself getting a little lost here and there due to the device of having the story be told in multiple flashbacks. Multiple and varying flashbacks of the same events, sort of. -It's hard to explain without giving away the plot - even though most of the reviews have given it away already. In any case, I liked it, and the fight sequence around, on top of and over - but never in - the water is worth the price of admission, imho. -I'm just wondering now if the film can be nominated for any awards this year since it was originally released in 2002 in China, and was submitted - and nominated - for a Best Foreign Language Film Oscar that year. *And just in case - the film is in Mandarin, so be prepared for some reading while you watch the movie. -Unless, of course, you understand Mandarin. ;)
Then we headed over to Santa Monica to catch a vocal recital. Interesting selection of repertoire - everything from Brahms to Neapolitan songs to Broadway to traditional Filipino and pop songs. And there was even a "surprise guest". Interesting.
Then it was off to dinner with a nice view of the beach in our sites. Unfortunately, our waiter just didn't really seem to want to be there. Interesting.
Then, on my suggestion, we headed over to the Wyndham Bel Age hotel to hear Phil Crosby since he has called me up and invited me to come hear him. Well, we ended up not only hearing him sing, but also three other friends of him - well, at least of his bass player. Interesting.
*However, Phil's mother, Peggy Crosby was there, as was Mr. Jack Klugman, and they both shared some very nice comments about What If? with me. :)
And that was my day "off".
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And now to catch up yesterday's posts...
RE: Walking distance, Public Transportation in L.A. - I'm one who can walk and walk and not really tire from it. At least in the moment. Sometimes the physical exertion and exercise does catch up with me at the end of the day, but, all in all, I like walking, so I walk. -Even when I'm in NYC, if I'm not in a rush to get anywhere, the walk from the Village up to Times Square is a normal thing for me to do - it's the best way to learn what's in the neighborhood(s).
As for getting around L.A. the past couple of weeks, I really haven't found myself that inconvenienced. Yes, at times, it may take me a bit longer than I'd like to get from one place to another. I do have to plan some of routes and departure times accordingly. However, there has been more than one occasion where I've been riding the Gold Line train while watching the highway traffic outside crawl and creep along at it's own volume and/or accident induced pace. *And I've had similar experiences in D.C. And I've also had situations where I was meeting some friends someplace, and I ended up getting "there" early or on-time, but they ended up getting stuck in traffic and/or driving around looking for a parking space.
There's still a bit of this city I've yet to explore, and the Metro and bus system has gotten me to where I've wanted to go. So far, at least. Even now, whenever I get off at the Hollywood and Vine or the Hollywood and Highland stop I usually vary my walking route to the theatre. Sometimes I walk on this side of the street, sometimes that one. Sometimes, I make a slight detour up to another block. And, sometimes I do end up taking the Metro Rapid bus up to Santa Monica Blvd. It's all a matter of time and mood.
On my walks, I make note of stores and restaurants I want to check out later - or not. And once I find myself in the neighborhood again, then I start to check the various places off my list.
Distance really isn't a factor for me when walking. Time is. I consider a "reasonable" walk to be anything under 30 minutes - if I have the time to do so. Depending upon my personal pacing on a given day, I can walk a mile in usually 15-20 minutes. And on days where I do have the luxury to take some leisurely exploring time, I can walk and walk for two to three hours.
*I've also gotten in the habit - to the surprise of a few people - of walking back to the Hollywood and Vine stop after the show. I feel safe along that stretch of Santa Monica Blvd. and then Vine - there's just too many people out on the streets at the time. I also use that walk - and time - to "warm down" from the show. And it's a great way to stretch my legs after sitting down for nearly two hours straight.
The waits for the busses can vary, but most of the bus stops have a general timetable posted on them. And the wait for a Metro train may seem like at an eternity, but, in general, they run every 12-20 minutes depending upon the time of day. -And I've had longer waits on subway platforms in NYC and DC. *And the waits in DC can seem especially long since they installed the messages boards indicating how long it will be before the next train arrives. A watched pot...
*And, coincidentally, the NY Times had an article about L.A. Metro system in yesterday's edition.
**Don't get me wrong, I do like driving. In fact, there are times when I love driving. But, for now, I'm in L.A. without a car and getting by pretty well if I may say so myself. And I just did.
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DR JRand54 - I usually do have my camera with me at all times. So, if I find myself in the neighborhood, I'll try my best to snap a pic of Ms. Hayes former digs.
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As for Spielberg films: "Schindler's List", "Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark", "Close Encounters", "Catch Me If You Can", ... and a few others I know I'm forgetting at this time of night/morning.
John Williams' scores - Just copy and paste the previous films I mentioned here. ;)
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Well, since I have to meet Bruce and Tammy 10 hours from now... Which means I will need to leave here in about 8 hours from now... Which means I will need to be up 6 (possibly 7) hours from now... ;)
Goodnight.
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Favorite Spielberg Movie:
It has to be the first Indiana Jones movie. I did not see it when it first came out, because I am not an adventure movie type of person. I've never really been a fan of those old movie serials which I believe Indiana Jones was honoring/imitating. I saw it a few years later on video, because I wondered what the whole hoopla was about. Well...surprise, surprise....I loved it! I saw it that first time with my parents and they both loved it also. And they both like adventure movies even less than I do!
The sequels are fine, but the "surprise enjoyment" of the first makes that one stand out to me.
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I haven't seen every Spielberg movies (notably, I've missed The Color Purple and Amistad). But if I had to pick three favorites, they would be Schindler's List; Jaws; and E.T. (Catch Me If You Can would be right up there, too.)
John Williams? Schindler's List; Catch Me If You Can; Harry Potter and the Philsopher's Stone ...
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The actor Peter Woodthorpe died on April 13. His obituary appears in today's NY Times. I found the British obituary more informative.
http://news.independent.co.uk/people/obituaries/story.jsp?story=554511
I recognized his name from Darling of the Day. (He played Oxford, the gallery owner who sings "He's a Genius" and "Panache.")
Peter Woodthorpe played Estragon in the first British production of Waiting for Godot, starred alongside the Lunts in the Broadway production of The Visit, and gave an award-winning performance in The Caretaker.
(As an aside, the British obituary includes the name of the theatre beside the name of the play. The NY Times must have misread this. Darling of the Day played at the George Abbott Theatre, but the Times refers to the show as a George Abbott production.)
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Coming 10/12 (finally) on DVD - DAMN YANKEES! What a day for DVDs since that is also the release date for the THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT Box Set and the Deluxe 7 BRIDES.
Re Spielberg: Am I the only one who thinks ET is the most over-rated film in history? I enjoyed it, but never could figure out why this cute little film became so popular (Oh - a WICKED reference) and why people saw it again and again. It was cute, but hardly the kind of film I would have ever expected to be such a major hit.
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We visited some neighbors this weekend. I mentioned that I had just reconnected with my cousin, who's a rabbi in Oregon. I also referred to my cousin's family.
"Really?" said one of the neighbor's other guests, a woman who seemed educated and worldly. "I didn't realize that rabbis could have children."
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I just want to mention that I am in a foul mood, it seems.....
This past weekend was my last before the semester began, and I went and got sick Saturday night. That sort of late summer cold/flu type thing that is just so annoying. The kind of sick that kept me in bed all day yesterday (during which I missed a beautiful, long thunderstorm -- I being one of those who really loves a good thunderstorm). If it weren't for the students returning today, and my needing to be here to open the BO and train new work-study employees, I would still be in bed.
Fave Spielberg: COLOR PURPLE, SCHINDLER'S LIST
Fave Williams: Not being a movie person, I don't really recall what composers scored which movies....but the man who came up with those basses going "da-dum da-dum da-dum" in JAWS has to be almost as brilliant as the man who came up with the shrieking violins in PSYCHO.
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Reading about Jose's walks has energized me. So I'm going on my own walk right now. Laters (a Jose reference!).
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I checked out the the list of Speilberg movies on the IMDB...and I hadn't realized how many of the man's films I have not seen. But my two favorites are DUEL and STAR WARS.
As for John Williams I was always fond of the music from STAR WARS and unbeknownst to me he did the theme for the TV series LAND OF THE GIANTS which I love.
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DR MBarnum, Stephen Spielberg did not have anything to do with STAR WARS to my knowledge.
My favorite is SCHINDLER'S LIST followed closely by RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. Funny, but I find myself re-watching INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE more often than RAIDERS.
Least favorite would have to be HOOK but I didn't care for EMPIRE OF THE SUN either. ALWAYS is spotty as well, but it's better than HOOK or EMPIRE for me.
Love all of John Williams' scores, but I guess RAIDERS would be my favorite just because it's so much fun.
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I haven't seen THE TERMINAL, and I probably won't until it premieres on In-Demand or comes out on DVD.
And I've repeated here my story of CLOSE ENCOUNTERS costing me a movie reviewing job, so I won't go through it again.
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Another of Spielberg's films I've never warmed to at all is '1941.' Several friends think it's hilarious, and when I first got that elaborate laserdisc box for practically nothing when stores were almost giving away laserdiscs in the late 1990s, some friends came over on several occasions to see the film and the extras. I suffered through all those showings as the film seemed to me even less funny than when I first saw it at the theater. They continued to find it very funny.
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DR MBarnum, Stephen Spielberg did not have anything to do with STAR WARS to my knowledge.
OH, well, I guess that is one less on my list of two! LOL! I guess he is just not a favorite film maker for me! Well, I am more of a Roger Corman man anyhow.
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Coming 10/12 (finally) on DVD - DAMN YANKEES! What a day for DVDs since that is also the release date for the THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT Box Set and the Deluxe 7 BRIDES.
Re Spielberg: Am I the only one who thinks ET is the most over-rated film in history? I enjoyed it, but never could figure out why this cute little film became so popular (Oh - a WICKED reference) and why people saw it again and again. It was cute, but hardly the kind of film I would have ever expected to be such a major hit.
I imagine that will always be true.
I've always thought it magical and enthralling. It touches chords deep within me.
I've always felt sorry for people who can't feel it the way I do.
I've also been very grateful for the way it touches me each time I see it.
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The little 1941 cult eludes me. It was horrible then, it's horrible now, but Williams' score to it is very good. Yes, Star Wars has nothing to do with Spielberg - it is, of course, George Lucas' film.
Now, might I ask where in tarnation IS everyone? Mondays lately have seemed more like an extension of lazy Sundays rather than the beginning of a new week.
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Oh, and if I recall correctly, our very own dear reader Pogue has been quite vocal in his dislike for ET. For me, it works perfectly. I saw it opening night, the premiere, at the Dome, pre any of the insane hype.
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DR MBarnum, Stephen Spielberg did not have anything to do with STAR WARS to my knowledge.
There is a very important "Star Wars" association that Spielberg has -- he suggested, and introduced, John Williams to George Lucas for the scoring assignment.
And Spielberg got a "piece" of the gross...apparently for services rendered in some capacity.
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For some reason I have always confused George Lucas and Spielberg. But then a lot of that 1970s and 80s stuff is a blurr to me as I have never watched that many films from those two decades.
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I just want to mention that I am in a foul mood, it seems.....
This past weekend was my last before the semester began, and I went and got sick Saturday night. That sort of late summer cold/flu type thing that is just so annoying. The kind of sick that kept me in bed all day yesterday (during which I missed a beautiful, long thunderstorm -- I being one of those who really loves a good thunderstorm). If it weren't for the students returning today, and my needing to be here to open the BO and train new work-study employees, I would still be in bed.
Fave Spielberg: COLOR PURPLE, SCHINDLER'S LIST
Fave Williams: Not being a movie person, I don't really recall what composers scored which movies....but the man who came up with those basses going "da-dum da-dum da-dum" in JAWS has to be almost as brilliant as the man who came up with the shrieking violins in PSYCHO.
John Williams wrote "Jaws" (and "Star Wars" and all its sequels, and "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and all its sequels, and "Superman" and "E.T." and "Schindler's List" and "Empire of the Sun" and "Always" and "A.I." and "Witches of Eastwick" and "The Accidental Tourist" and "Seven Years in Tibet" and on and on and on...)
Bernard Herrmann is the genius who wrote "Psycho" and many other brilliant, one-of-a-kind film scores.
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We visited some neighbors this weekend. I mentioned that I had just reconnected with my cousin, who's a rabbi in Oregon. I also referred to my cousin's family.
"Really?" said one of the neighbor's other guests, a woman who seemed educated and worldly. "I didn't realize that rabbis could have children."
For anyone who has seen M. Night Shyamalan's "Signs", I have a question that might make me as clueless as the woman Dan has mentioned.
In "Signs", Mel Gibson plays a man who has given up his profession as a "priest." He wore the clerical collar, and in one scene, a former parishioner tries to do confession with him. My question: I know priests of the Catholic church are supposed to be celibate and not marry, but in this film Gibson has a family. What other faith has priests who hear confessions?
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As Dear Reader Jose has already reported, he and I shared a very full and culturally varied day yesterday.
Hero is an interesting motion picture. Until yesterday, I had never seen a martial arts film (artistic or otherwise.) Somehow, I missed Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon when it was in theatres and I have not yet rented it for home viewing.
Although I drifted during several of Hero's rather static and talky scenes, the action/fight scenes were completely engaging. The cinematography of these scenes is beautfully composed and the only word I can use to describe the actors' movement in these scenes is balletic.
After the movie, we went to hear a friend of mine, an aspiring tenor, do a recital he called "Around the World in 80 Minutes." My friend has a beautiful voice, has been doing well in the vocal competition circuit and has received encouragement from knowledgeable people (Marilyn Horne is one of them) to continue pursuing his goal of a career in opera.
Unfortunately, yesterday's concert was disappointing. There was only one operatic piece on the program, and that was there to showcase the talents of a guest soprano. The first half of the program was bits and pieces, to use DR Jose's term, and a bit disjointed. The second half included an underrehearsed Cole Porter medley, for which my friend was joined by another singer (with an untrained voice.)
Dinner with a view of the ocean was nice, but our waiter clearly had recently arrived from some other planet and had not yet acclimated himself to Earthling interaction.
From there it was to a cabaret-ish show by an acquaintance of DR Jose at a hotel lounge in West Hollywood. I shall remain mum on the vocal talent of said friend of DR Jose, but will say that the instrumental trio he had behind him was terrif!
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From there it was to a cabaret-ish show by an acquaintance of DR Jose at a hotel lounge in West Hollywood. I shall remain mum on the vocal talent of said friend of DR Jose, but will say that the instrumental trio he had behind him was terrif!
May I ask for a clarification?
Did this acquaintance take place at a hotel lounge in West Hollywood, or was that where the cabaret-ish show was presented?
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May I ask for a clarification?
Did this acquaintance take place at a hotel lounge in West Hollywood, or was that where the cabaret-ish show was presented?
Jose knows dis guy, OK? Dis guy has himself a cabaret act. All fancy. He sings. Yeah, he sings, wid dis great trio playin' for him. Are youze following me? Last night dey wuz playin' at dis lounge. De lounge is in dis hotel in West Hollywood.
Is dat clear enuf for you?
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Maybe CLOSE ENCOUNTERS is my favorite Speilberg. But I always have problems with favorite anything. It varies - and I don't really think in those terms for the most part.
I also am a sucker for ET. I still remember the first time I saw it. The ex-husband and I (perhaps we weren't even married then, just living in sin)... anyway, we'd been on a short vacation by a lake and had just driven back to Toronto -- looking beach grungy. Instead of going home , we got in a long line at the theater that was showing ET and, much to our surpise, got in. It was such an overwhelming experience for me. I love films through a child's POV - and this one had so much in it that just connected with me on so many levels. Plus, I was totally in the right frame of mind -- not quite back in the real world yet from the days by the lake.
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DR George, re: The Olympic closing ceremonies.
Too bad you didn't know CBC shows everything live. Or you could have taped it in the afternoon when it was on (2pm ET).
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Favorite Spielbergs: Close Encounters, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Jaws
I'm also pretty fond of The Color Purple. And while I absolutely hated 1941 when I first saw it, I have to admit that it's grown on me.
Least Favorite: Hook, The Temple of Doom and Always
I saw ET together shortly after it opened, which happened to be about a week or so after my dad had died. Of course, I was weeping and sobbing at the end when Elliot said goodbye to ET. But as the years have gone by, the film has lost its effect on me and I don't generally get as drawn into it as other people do.
I tend to think of John Williams' work in terms of themes than actual scores. Favorites include Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back, Superman, Jaws, Raiders, the 1941 March and Empire of the Sun.
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Did no one else go the movies or a concert or see a play or show over the weekend? Reviews, Dear Readers, we need reviews!
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Did no one else go the movies or a concert or see a play or show over the weekend? Reviews, Dear Readers, we need reviews!
While channel surfing I caught Spike Lee's "25th Hour" - and turned it off well before the first.
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I hope you are feeling better, Dear Reader Dear Brother Stuart.
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Did no one else go the movies or a concert or see a play or show over the weekend? Reviews, Dear Readers, we need reviews!
Sorry, no.
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I hope you are feeling better, Dear Reader Dear Brother Stuart.
Mercy buckets.
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Grrrrrrrrrr comcast.........grrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
But I do ALMOST have my lines learned. Working this afternoon on the last of them.....
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Stuart,
If I bring some chicken soup down to the docks and convince a passenger on "The Breeze" to take it aboard, could somebody meet the ferry when it reaches Rochester?
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Coincidence?
Last week the mould (Canadian spelling, and I think it's more fitting) people were in my apartment. You wouldn't want to know what they found growing behind the vent.
Mould/mold can cause breathing difficulties and should be investigated and taken seriously.
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Mr Steven Spielberg.....well, I will say JAWS and SCHINDLER'S LIST.
I must say that I was disappointed in both ET and CLOSE ENCOUNTERS. And I will say why...it was NOT the craftsmanship....NO....it was an expectation that I had.... The teaser poster for CE was terrific....it described the encounters.....1st Kind: Sighting - 2nd Kind: Landing - 3rd Kind: contact....or something like that.
In JAWS one man's quest to destroy a great white shark was fully realized. And I expected CE3K to be the same....one man who finally discovers an alien and his reaction to it, the changes it makes in his life, and what it meant to him/us. Instead...the WHOLE WORLD got involved and the story was lost in the meantime. Same thing with ET...suddenly it was the ENTIRE government of the US against these little kids....not the kind of intense personal story I wanted it to be....so there. That is why those films are disappointments to me. And of course anyone and everyone can disagree with me....but I thought they were different movies than I wanted them to be. So FOR ME....nope...sorry...no sale.
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John Williams - hmmmmmmmmmmm.....SUPERMAN and STAR WARS of course. CATCH ME IF YOU CAN had a great Mancini feel to it that really set the movie in its period....loved it.
JAWS, his work on VALLEY OF THE DOLLS, and on tv LOST IN SPACE and THE TIME TUNNEL.
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;D
(http://www.johnwilliams.org/images/catchmeifyoucan_cd_sm.jpg)
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DR George, re: The Olympic closing ceremonies.
Too bad you didn't know CBC shows everything live. Or you could have taped it in the afternoon when it was on (2pm ET).
I was flipping channels when I got back from the work picnic but didn't think about taping it in the evening. I (now) remember that CBC had a better broadcast of the opening ceremonies but forgot about that and didn't think about them having better coverage of the closing ceremonies. Maybe next time!
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Stuart,
If I bring some chicken soup down to the docks and convince a passenger on "The Breeze" to take it aboard, could somebody meet the ferry when it reaches Rochester?
Awfully sweet of you to offer.....and if this feeling continues, I may take you up on it!
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The Mold People are here and things are not as dire as we'd thought.
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We visited some neighbors this weekend. I mentioned that I had just reconnected with my cousin, who's a rabbi in Oregon. I also referred to my cousin's family.
"Really?" said one of the neighbor's other guests, a woman who seemed educated and worldly. "I didn't realize that rabbis could have children."
ROTFLOL ;D ;D
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Hehehehe.....
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It's always good when the bad news is not as bad as we thought it was going to be. It's still not good news, but then again.........
Thanks DRJOSE.....if you happen to walk in that direction....
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Interesting piece of trivia learned while channel flipping yesterday:
Canada is the only country to have hosted the Olympic Games twice (Montreal '76 and Calgary '88) in which its athletes did not win a single gold medal.
Supposedly Jacques Rogge, President of the IOC, is going to hold a meeting with the PM to work out a way that this won't happen in Vancouver 2010.
My solution? Olympic Beaver Tail Eating. Of course that Japanese hot dog eater might best us in that too... hmmm....
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SWW I thought Bonnie and Buster slept with you, the others with DerBrucer. I’m waiting for the continuing saga of Fletcher.
The fried tomatoes sound good and I bet they go great with tofu.
Bruce I don’t envy you having your house ripped apart. We may be doing some of that soon. On the upside think how much better your allergies will be once the mold is gone.
I hope the new song with Tammy is a bit hit. :)
Dan-in-Toronto mould can also cause depression. I found that out the hard way.
For today’s question, I love most of the work of these two people and have many close seconds, however my answer is easy.
STAR WARS
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK
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More than anyone ever wanted to know about mould:
http://www.healthy-house.co.uk/mouldallergies.htm
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Did no one else go the movies or a concert or see a play or show over the weekend? Reviews, Dear Readers, we need reviews!
Keith told me I'm not allowed to tell anyone what movie we saw yesteday-he is too embarrassed. :-[ ;D
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Jane, did you finally give in to Keith's incessant begging and pleading and take him to the Princess Diaries: 2?
:D
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;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Emily I'm still laughing!
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I offered to go to the snake movie but he didn't want to give me nightmares.
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Emily I sure had a good number of those symptoms when we had a mold problem in Pennsylvania. I took the kids to LA for a couple of weeks and it was amazing how quickly I felt better.
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I'll be on my way to the theater shortly to rehears with the Tamster.
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And one for Mahler.
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How was the Princess Diaries 2? I actually loved #1 and cannot wait to see #2 (although probably only on DVD).
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I did not even know that you could spell mold with a "u". Mould does not look right!
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Jennifer you might want to save your money and wait for the DVD. It was kind of cute and romantic.
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Actually Dame Julie Andrews is the only person who should be embarrassed.
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Interesting piece of trivia learned while channel flipping yesterday:
Canada is the only country to have hosted the Olympic Games twice (Montreal '76 and Calgary '88) in which its athletes did not win a single gold medal.
Supposedly Jacques Rogge, President of the IOC, is going to hold a meeting with the PM to work out a way that this won't happen in Vancouver 2010.
My solution? Olympic Beaver Tail Eating. Of course that Japanese hot dog eater might best us in that too... hmmm....
OK, Montreal I can understand. Canada has never been that much of a powerhouse during the summer games. But Calgary?? I am shocked that they didn't win a gold in something there....anyone for curling?
I doubt that they will have that problem in Vancouver, as well.
(I take that back....weren't the Montreal Games boycotted? That should have left room for some other countries to pick up some "bling" as they say now....)
Now, I was watching diving Saturday night, but then lost track of it and, believe it or not, could not find the results in yesterday's Democrat & Chronicle. (We call it the "D-n-C" for short, but I didn't want to offend some of you ladies of a certain age out there in the dark. [Oooh! A SUNSET BOULEVARD reference.])
Should I assume that the very talented, very cute (and apparently very well endowed) Alex Despaties (sp?) did NOT win??
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I watched the movie of NOISES OFF this afternoon on HBO-HD. It definitely works brilliantly as a clever, intricate stage piece when the director keeps things tight. On film, the laughter is much, much less because we know they did many, many takes to get things right. Just makes it less funny somehow.
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Haven't decided which DVD I'll be watching tonight, but it more than likely will not be a long film. That still gives me plenty to choose from in the to-watch stacks.
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I have email from elmore to post but the doorbell just rang. I shall return later with a nice message from him. :)
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Interesting piece of trivia learned while channel flipping yesterday:
Canada is the only country to have hosted the Olympic Games twice (Montreal '76 and Calgary '88) in which its athletes did not win a single gold medal.
But did you catch skater Elizabeth Manley's flawless first-place-winning long program (to "Irma La Douce")? It gave her the silver - and, IMHO, was one of the greatest Olympic performances ever.
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Should I assume that the very talented, very cute (and apparently very well endowed) Alex Despaties (sp?) did NOT win??
So, Stuart...you noticed that too?? ;) ;) ;) Sadly, he didn't do well on his last few dives and ended up fourth in the platform dives.
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As for the Topic of the Day:
Favorite Steven Spielberg movies: Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Star Wars (a.k.a. Part 4: A New Hope)
Honorable mentions: Jaws, The Color Purple, Minority Report
Favorite John Williams scores: Close Encounters, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Star Wars (a.k.a. Part 4: A New Hope)
Honorable mention: Superman
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"Mould" in Australia too!
Have still never seen "E.T.".. Hyped out of ever wanting to I guess!
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Keith told me I'm not allowed to tell anyone what movie we saw yesteday-he is too embarrassed. :-[ ;D
Awww, c'mon Dear Reader Jane. Spill yer guts.
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I heard from TCB this morning. He is very busy with his 10 Little Tiny Tims.
Larry is also out there - under a pile of books in his kitchen at last report!
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Ambiguity - Larry is not out in Washington under a pile of books in TCB's kitchen!
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OK, Montreal I can understand. Canada has never been that much of a powerhouse during the summer games. But Calgary?? I am shocked that they didn't win a gold in something there....anyone for curling?
I doubt that they will have that problem in Vancouver, as well.
(I take that back....weren't the Montreal Games boycotted? That should have left room for some other countries to pick up some "bling" as they say now....)
The Montreal games were not boycotted by the Soviets or the Americans... that came later in '80 and '84. Instead, according to the IOC website: "The 1976 Montreal Games were marred by an African boycott to protest the fact that the national rugby team of New Zealand had toured South Africa and New Zealand was scheduled to compete in the Olympics". But then, I don't think Canada had much of a chance of winning the marathon away from the Kenyans regardless...
Now, I was watching diving Saturday night, but then lost track of it and, believe it or not, could not find the results in yesterday's Democrat & Chronicle. (We call it the "D-n-C" for short, but I didn't want to offend some of you ladies of a certain age out there in the dark. [Oooh! A SUNSET BOULEVARD reference.])
Should I assume that the very talented, very cute (and apparently very well endowed) Alex Despaties (sp?) did NOT win??
sigh sigh sigh
Another fourth place showing.
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Jose knows dis guy, OK? Dis guy has himself a cabaret act. All fancy. He sings. Yeah, he sings, wid dis great trio playin' for him. Are youze following me? Last night dey wuz playin' at dis lounge. De lounge is in dis hotel in West Hollywood.
Is dat clear enuf for you?
Got it!
And you don't know exactly where this acquaintance was struck, then???
:D
(I probably don't want to know).
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DR Jane, I am glad that you heard from Elmore. I have left him a couple of phone messages in the last two weeks but have heard nary a peep out of him!
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Interesting piece of trivia learned while channel flipping yesterday:
Canada is the only country to have hosted the Olympic Games twice (Montreal '76 and Calgary '88) in which its athletes did not win a single gold medal.
Supposedly Jacques Rogge, President of the IOC, is going to hold a meeting with the PM to work out a way that this won't happen in Vancouver 2010.
My solution? Olympic Beaver Tail Eating. Of course that Japanese hot dog eater might best us in that too... hmmm....
A good old pemmican chew-off should clench a Canuck gold!
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RLP - I think it was Phil Crosby Jr who met Jose at WHAT IF? on opening night.....just going by Jose's post.
But I could be wrong-o.
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But did you catch skater Elizabeth Manley's flawless first-place-winning long program (to "Irma La Douce")? It gave her the silver - and, IMHO, was one of the greatest Olympic performances ever.
I'm sure I caught it, but I was WAY TOO BUMMED OUT over Debi Thomas' lackluster lucky-to-place-third performance to "Carmen." Katarina Witt should NEVER have won that competition.
Man! I'm still BUMMED OUT about that!
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RLP - I think it was Phil Crosby Jr who met Jose at WHAT IF? on opening night.....just going by Jose's post.
But I could be wrong-o.
Aw shucks...I was hoping for something a bit more tawdry.
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LOL....
Off to rehearsal.
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Awww, c'mon Dear Reader Jane. Spill yer guts.
Emily spilled them for me. :)
JRand-lol. I read Julie Andrews enjoyed wearing the pretty clothes in the movie. :-\
Jennifer, it isn’t as good as the first one but suited my mood nicely. Keith entertained himself by making jokes throughout the movie (no one was sitting near us). ;D
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MBarnum, Larry mentioned he owes you a phone call and you were so sweet to call and tell him you miss him.
He says, “Please tell the folk at HHW I send my regards! I miss posting and checking the entries every day. Please give them all my regards.”
[move=left,scroll,6,transparent,100%]
CONTINUED GOOD HEALTH VIBES TO ELMORE![/move]
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But I could be wrong-o.
Or not-o.
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DR Stuart, I'm sure the diving results must be online. But as others have said, the Canadian diver finished 4th. Very upsetting.
The Chinese diver won (not the better, champion one).
That one finished 3rd.
The last diver did an amazing last dive, and ended up in 2nd place (he got 10s and 9.5s).
And YES I remember Elizabeth Manley. That was an amazing Canadian Olympic moment.
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Here it is, men's platform diving final results:
http://www.abc.net.au/olympics/2004/results/dv/600/00002/2104/default.htm
1 China, Jia Hu
2 Australia, Mathew Helm
3 China, Liang Tian
4 Canada, Alexandre Despatie
5 Great Britain, Peter Waterfie
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And YES I remember Elizabeth Manley. That was an amazing Canadian Olympic moment.
Yes it was. :)
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Check this good news out.
Chocolate, blueberries, booze can save your life
http://www.nbr.co.nz/home/column_article.asp?id=10025&cid=17&cname=Executive%20Health
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Evening all.
Nice to see a message from DR Elmore. I do hope he is doing very well and wish him continued good vibes.
Of course I love all of the Indy movies. I’ve only just seen A.I. and that was on broadcast television so I have no idea as to how much was cut/edited for t.v.. I will say that it kinda surprised me and at one point I honestly thought the movie was over. I need to see it again on DVD to be able to give a better opinion of it. I did feel sorry for the teddy. He was the one that was left alone in the end.
E.T. as a good film but I don’t quite get the hype around it either. That’s the me now talking. The me of the day when it first came out was so angry that it didn’t win the Best Picture Award that I sent Steven Spielberg a little statue of a horses butt with a pair of lips glue to them. I wanted him to present it to the Academy as the world’s first K.M.A. award. What can I say? I was young(er) and more vocal than I am now. ::) ;D
I liked the Princess Diarys but will wait for #2 to come to T.V. or a DVD near me. I picked up The Scorpion King DVD this weekend.
Jane tell Keith to not be embarrassed. I think he’s wonderful for going with you. That’s a real nice guy you got there. :)
I have to say how much I am enjoying reading the FLETCHER saga. Is Fletcher already trained to American Sign Language and you both just need to learn it to talk with him?
I feel the same way about my Brandi being a lost cause. She was very badly abused as a puppy/young dog (she was about a year old when we got her). She also has a medical problem. I forget the term at this very moment but she can’t digest her food correctly. The example I’ll give is that I can eat one Big Mac and not only be full but gain weight from it. Brandi might have to five or six to get the same result.
She doesn’t want anyone to touch her. I leave her alone and let her do her own thing for the most part and that is why you will see me tell more about Bear than her. I am allowed to pet her on occasion but if you try to cut her nails or brush her, she screams like your killing her. I don’t know what the sick people who had her as baby did to her (and I’m not sure I want to know) but I do know what I would like to do to them. >:(
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I am drinking a Cherry Coke with a crazy straw. I got the Cherry Coke for 49 cents and smuggled it onto the bus in a plastic bottle.
Today is my dad's birthday. I made a cake, and as soon as it is cool enough to frost, we will partay.
The only John Williams movie I've seen is Harry Potter. I know I've seen E.T., but I don't remember it so much.
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Sandra I’m amazed, and not that you smuggled cherry coke with a crazy straw onto the bus. ;D
Have a nice party. What kind of cake did you bake?
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Rehearsal was fine - blocked the new song, and Tammy seems to be getting into her head pretty well. We'll rehearse again on Wednesday and Thursday and then see what we've got Thursday night.
The Mold People have left. It was heartening to hear the problem wasn't as severe as I'd thought, but that story changed from the time I left to the time I got back. Now, they have to rip up some of the shower (basically the floor) and the cabinets and part of the tiles around the two sinks have to go. Plus, the garage mold, which they basically finished - they still have to go through a dry wall which leads into a closet in the second bedroom. The only problem is that that is where I keep my CDs and I now have to box up close to a thousand CDs so that they can unbolt the CD shelving unit from the wall.
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I made a chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting.
Our idea of a party consists of sitting around in front of the TV, eating cake and not talking to each other. So it's just a normal day, but with cake.
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Sandra can't recall having chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting-sounds yummy.
Bruce-sorry. What a pain!
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I find that most movies done by Steven spielberg are like cotten candy. They are good in the moment and then they are gone. I have gotten the Indiana Jones series, Jaws, ET, Close Encounters...I find it difficult to watch them. They are not as wonderful or exciting as they once were for me. I still however think that the special effects in CE3K still hold up very well. Most of his techno movies do zilch for me.
I was partially to Always mainly for Audrey Hepburn. She could do not wrong. I also like Empire of the Sun, but have seen many similar themed movies before and after it so it will never be a classic in my opinion. As wonderful as Schindler's List was it was a film that I could never watch a second time because of the subject. There is however one sequence that irks me and is really a director technique than a story telling one.
I also saw his other tv movie Something Evil played without commercial interuptions. It was quite good. Building tension, but the ending falls flat and makes the whole viewing experience disappointing.
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I understand a hurricane is headed my way. What to do what to do. I just might have to get a last minute airline ticket to LA and see What If?
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;D You had better hurry before the planes are grounded. With luck you won't have an earthquake or fires to deal with in L.A.
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;D You had better hurry before the planes are grounded. With luck you won't have an earthquake or fires to deal with in L.A.
Drought and smog, however, are reliable standbys.
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DR Michael Shayne, did you get my e-mail regarding the Yvonne DeCarlo CD????
I am now watching IT HAPPENED IN ATHENS. I don't understand all the bad I have heard about this film, I am actually enjoying quite a bit! Jayne Mansfield is a beautiful as ever and I rather like the role she is playing. Granted some of the acting (well, all of the acting) of Mr. Trax Colton could use a little fine tuning, but he sure is nice to look at! And with Bob Mathias and Nico Minardo...well ;D
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Least fave Spielberg film: The Lost World: Jurasic Park II.
I can remember seeing the trailer for this film in the theater, and not being able to respond fast enough, because it would have brought down the house if I'd started singing (a la the Sherman brothers):
It's a Lost World, after all!
It's a Lost World, after all!...
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I'm back after being E&T for much of the day. I was busy and not near the internet. but now here I am. I also got a message from DR Elmore. Here's part of it:
Well, I'm not ready to come back to HHW yet; this week's bookcase collapse and all the chaos in my apartment, mirroring the chaos in my body, have me totally preoccupied. Let them all know I'm hanging in there and thinking of them."
I don't know anything about the "bookcase collapse" but it sounds horrible.
At any rate, IMHO, time for collective
HEALING VIBES, TO DR ELMORE!
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Another quiet day.
My paying hobby of making CD compilations is getting to me! I now have the job of recording Hank Williams and Red Sovine song. Such is life "Teddy Bear".
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I'm back after being E&T for much of the day.
So you were extra terrestial today. Did you phone home?
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For some reason I have always confused George Lucas and Spielberg. But then a lot of that 1970s and 80s stuff is a blurr to me as I have never watched that many films from those two decades.
India didn't have a film industry back then?
::)
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So BK if I make a last minute trip to LA this weekend, will I still be able to get a ticket for the show?
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I liked THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK II fine until the dino got to the mainland. (San Diego?) Then, I thought the movie went right into the toilet.
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The Fletcher Chronicles:
Today, we took Fletcher with us as we went ladsitting. Most of the day was spent keeping watch on William, the four-year-old. It took him a while, but he (William) finally got along real well with him (Fletcher).
At three, the school bus dropped off Alex, aged seven. Alex is a GameBoy addict, and was very unsociable for a time after getting home, as his addiction needed feeding more than anything else. But after a while, he joined the rest of us on the deck, and made friends with Fletcher. I'm hoping der Brucer will be able to post a pic or two sometime soon.
If there is a problem with Fletcher, it is in his...well, in his farts. He has really stinky ones, and is not concerned about how unsociable they may appear (or smell).
The only other problem is that it is taking the other dogs a while to adjust to having Fletcher around. Taking him with us today for the ladsitting, which DID last all day, hasn't helped matters. Fletcher is just a naturally playful puppy...who weighs seventy-five pounds or thereabouts. The other dogs simply don't understand that about him...yet.
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I watched a movie tonight I had never seen: HERE COMES THE GROOM with Bing Crosby and Jane Wyman. It was a Frank Capra semi-take on THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (except it's set in Boston) and most enjoyable. I was surprised that at least two numbers were all or partially sung live by Bing and/or Jane giving the movie a really human touch.
Biggest surprise for me was the jam session on the airplane coming over to America where who steps out of the plane's interior but Louis Armstrong, Cass Daley, Dorothy Lamour, and Phil Harris, all such delightful surprises and in grand voice.
Except for one shot where the frame was so grainy I thought I was losing my eyesight, the transfer is sharp as can be. (I wondered if that frame had been cropped for some reason and then blown up to fit the 1.37:1 frame because the lack of focus and heavy grain is VERY noticeable.) Still, Bing is as breezy as ever, and the film also features Alexis Smith who goes from glum to glam in the blink of an eye. And there is a flitty wedding planner (maybe a cousin to Franklin Pangborn) who steals the wedding rehearsal scene with every wave of his wrists.
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Some guy from another Australian State just emailed me.! He claims to know td. Weird world.
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Forgot about John Williams scores
Superman (the only epic score I really like)
Images (The Robert Altman film)
Jane Eyre (TV version with George C Scott)
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I liked THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK II fine until the dino got to the mainland. (San Diego?) Then, I thought the movie went right into the toilet.
The isn't really just a version of King Kong with a dinosaur instead of a a large ape?
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That paramount DVD was a double feature that also contained another Crosby/Wyman film - JUST FOR YOU. I had seen it several times, the latest just a month or so ago on one of my cable channels, so I probably won't watch it again right now. I'll look for something else for tomorrow.
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Does anyone know if the current tour of OKLAHOMA! is the non-equity version of the recent Broadway/London revival?
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Shayne: At this point in time you'll be able to get a ticket for any of this weekend's performances. We usually have the rush starting on Wednesday. But, Thursdays, while full, don't really sell completely out - last Fri and Sat were total sellouts, but if you book prior to those days you'll be fine and dandy.
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Ahh....DRMATTH, I enjoy both of those Crosby/Wyman films....GROOM might have the edge for some of the reasons you mentioned. I think they made a fine team and it's always fun to see Bing and Jane sing together.
Fair rehearsal tonight...but if you know your lines and some other people don't, and you keep going back and they keep making new mistakes, well eventually you don't know your lines either....whew! But I knew most of them!
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Bed time for Bonzo.....
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Least fave Spielberg film: The Lost World: Jurasic Park II.
I can remember seeing the trailer for this film in the theater, and not being able to respond fast enough, because it would have brought down the house if I'd started singing (a la the Sherman brothers):
It's a Lost World, after all!
It's a Lost World, after all!...
It's not very well known, but Sondheim tried his hand at a Jurasic Park musical. Here is a snippit:
Don't wanna be in
Jur-ass-ic Park!
Raptors run free in
Jur-ass-ic Park!
Guess who gets eaten?
Both Jet and Shark!
By a T-Rex in
Jur-ass-ic Park!
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India didn't have a film industry back then?
::)
LOL! Well, believe it or not I have not been able to stomach Bollywood movies from the late 70s and 1980s any better then I can their American counterparts! LOL!
Although there is a Bollywood movie from that era called DISCO DANCER that I have considered picking up simply because I LOVE the soundtrack!
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So you were extra terrestial today. Did you phone home?
Not just today, DR MS. I'm ALWAYS an extraterrestrial
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Good Evening!
I'm back from yet another day of walking, bussing and Metro-ing around L.A. Oh, and there was some rehearsing today too which went very well!
*I have yet to read today's posts, but just wanted to check in and say that I'll be back later. I got another "care package" in the mail today of my mail. And Steve even packed some birthday surprises in it for me! :) -Oh, and I need to finish sorting out the bills and the various credit card and health insurance offers - I think I've hit 12 already!! Guess what I'll be mailing off tomorrow morning!?!?!?
AND...
I called some people back home in Richmond this afternoon. Apparently, Richmond is more or less flooded at this point. The rain they received today has supposedly caused more water and flood damage than Hurricane Isabel caused last year in some areas. -Of course, most of of Isabel's damage was wind-induced, but still...
My friend, Mark, who has finally recovered after weeks of battling walking pneumonia, came home from work this afternoon to find four inches of water in his basement apartment. Thankfully, he sounded in good spirits, and his upstairs neighbor was loaning him some dry clothes and a couch for the evening. And my friend, Bob, was stranded at a gas station since on either side of him the roads were flooded out. Hopefully, he was able to get back on the road by now. I'm just hoping that my apartment is all right - at least the roof got fixed a few weeks ago, and I'm in a "higher" neighborhood in regards to the river and normal flood levels. So...
And, of course, there are at least three more possible storm systems due in by the end of the week, so... *I'm guessing DR MattH may be dealing with some wet weather right now too.
Good Dry Vibes for my friends in Richmond, if you please. Thanks.
Laters...
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From Today's VARIETY. No comment necessary (from me, anyway). I can hardly wait for yours!
TBS reality show a real drag
Cabler, Evolution drags out skein
By DENISE MARTIN
TBS and Evolution Film & TapeEvolution Film & Tape have a lady's eye for the straight guy.
CablerCabler and Evolution have teamed for the original reality series "He's a Lady," in which macho men go cross-dressing for a cash prize.
TBS greenlit production on the project earlier this year but kept the show's conceit under wraps .
In the series, 11 men are fooled into thinking they are about to compete in physical challenges on a show called "All American Man." The twist: To get at the $250,000 prize, the guys will have to undergo makeovers and live like ladies, fooling the outside world.
Contestants will live together while training in how to be a supermodel and wedding planning; they will later serve as bridesmaids. They will also have to complete a challenge back in their hometowns, all the while remaining in character in front of family and friends.
Show will culminate in a beauty pageant where they will be asked "What, as a lady, have you learned about being a man?"
Celeb judges include Morgan Fairchild ("The Seduction"), John Salley ("The Best Damn Sports Show Period") and Debbie Matenopoulos ("Good Day Live").
"He's a Lady" premieres Oct. 12.
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Jose - I'm curious -- have you found a use yet for your birthday lizards?
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Best of dry vibes to those in need on the East Coast.
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Some guy from another Australian State just emailed me.! He claims to know td. Weird world.
It's my world, not a lost one, and welcome to it!
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A world where:
"newspaper taxis appear on the shore
Waiting to take me away".
(best I could do td.)
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I'm actually too tired for a frenzy. So would someone please take over frenzy duty for tonight?
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I wonder if our ship went to Austria and not Australia DR Panni. I've had mail go there before - it takes an age for the ship to find a port.
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ship and port -
Almost a "Ship in A bottle" Amanda McBroom reference.
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I go and leave for a few minutes and come back to my own post! I shall have to frenz.
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Two weeks today before we leave for France and my holiday from HHW. Will life be the same? I could phone "home" but the USA has a different cell phone system. I can of course phone OZ from the other side of the world. I hope I can contact someone so that they can "report in". I don't envisage looking for internet cafes in the little villages of rural France.
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Has anyone established how many posts are needed for a frenzy. I can't even remember how many rods make a perch. I knew that when Iwas 10 years old.
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My dictionary is suggesting that rods and perches are the same thing. Imperial measurements of so many yards or whatever.
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I've just checked with the local parrot population. They are quite happy to perch on a rod but do not like to rod on a perch. There is a difference.
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Any more of the dialogue and I will have written tomorrow's notes for BK.
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And I still don't know how many posts make a frenzy!
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I do remember that there are 100 links in a chain.
But how long is a piece of string?
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I think you may now relax DR Panni. My job is done.
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Tomovoz, I think that that officially counts as a "frenzy." You have done HHW proud. :D
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Thank you DR George! And it was all so meaningful.
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DR Tomovoz - What a frenzy! You've done yourself proud (an expression I've never really understood).
I don't understand why the package hasn't arrived! Skammen.
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I haz finished tomorrow's notes and they shall be up at midnight, hence I shall be up at midnight. I feel like we need a midnight posting frenzy or a midnight at the oasis or a midnight in moscow.
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Welcome six GUESTS. We're talkin' about mold.
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Good Evening! (again)
Not really that much to add since my last post... but...
Spielberg films: How could I have forgotten "The Color Purple"?!?!? That's one of those movies where if I'm flipping channels and I come across it, I stop.. I watch... and I bawl like a baby during the final scenes.
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GOOD VIBES(!!) TO DR ELMORE!!!