Journal Entries
Election anxiety
Posted Oct 26, 2004
I'm having it. It's getting worse now that we're down to days in the single digits before Election Day.
I'm terrified that Bush will win again (or again have it declared that he's won, with his friends in Florida, Congress and the Supreme Court standing by to help).
AND I'm nervous about Kerry winning. I'm not sure there's anyone inside that suit, though I AM fond of Teresa.
I thought I had a bad choice in 2000, but that's nothing compared to this.
I think Bush is dangerous, so there's no way I'm voting for him. But I'm not sure Kerry has enough vision, integrity and smarts for the job, either.
Argghh! Why can't the Democrats come up with better choices? The only way I was even able to vote in the primary last winter was by process of elimination.
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Latest reply: Oct 26, 2004
Sure sign of the approaching apocalypse
Posted Sep 14, 2004
The following message is an announcement from the Joe Jackson Web Site.
Joe will be appearing with Ben Folds and William Shatner
on October 21 & 22 at the El Rey Theater in Los Angeles.
Tickets are on sale now at http://www.theelrey.com/
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Latest reply: Sep 14, 2004
Fave films of 2003
Posted Feb 21, 2004
These are the ones I really liked, in the order I saw them:
"About Schmidt": It was so great to see Jack Nicholson being understated, and Kathy Bates is always terrific, as is Hope Davis. Funny and sweet, surprisingly moving.
"The Pianist": Beautifully understated, sad, grim, satisfying ending.
"Lost in Translation": Sofia Coppola does it again. She and estranged husband Spike Jonze are surely two of the most talented young directors around. Bill Murray has made a stunning transition from his witless 1980s comedies with his work here and in Wes Anderson's "Rushmore" (which I also loved, by the way).
"The Secret Lives of Dentists": A tense, real, funny look at a troubled marriage that ultimately makes it through. More excellence from Hope Davis.
"Mystic River": Wow. What power. I appreciated that Clint Eastwood was comfortable with the moral ambiguity and didn't need to tell us how we should feel (a la "Unforgiven"?). Where even to start with the great acting? And the ending was terrific.
"The Station Agent": A sweet, funny perfect little movie that never makes a false step and gave more work to the very talented young Raven Goodwin, last seen (by me, at least) in the also great "Lovely and Amazing."
"The Return of the King": I can't be objective here, because I'm such a Tolkein fan, but this was a terrific capper to the trilogy. I've almost forgiven them now for changing Faramir's character so much, but I still wish Peter Jackson had found room for Faramir and Eowyn's love story. Maybe on the extended DVD? I think Jackson should tackle "The Once and Future King" next, and really do the King Arthur story right for the first time.
I was in the middle on these next two, not quite putting them in my fave category:
"Talk to Her"
"21 Grams": Some great acting but someone the whole didn't add up to the sum of its parts.
Good but not great:
"Antwone Fisher"
"Seabiscuit"
"Dirty Pretty Things": Was it just my imagination, or was Audrey Tatou not very good? Maybe she was uncomfortable acting in English.
"School of Rock": OK, it was cute, but Jack Black really needs to do something else now that's as good as "Hi Fidelity"
"Something's Gotta Give": Had about five places to end before it did. No way I'd give up Keanu Reeves for Jack Nicholson!
"Bend it Like Beckham": Formulaic but fun. My favorite line: "But why did that Englishwoman take Jessmina's shoes?"
"Pirates of the Caribbean": OK, I really saw this one just last month on DVD, but thought I'd throw it in anyway. It was a hoot. Johnny Depp chews the scenery as a swishy pirate. He continues to make interesting choices as a leading man-type who prefers to be a character actor. But someone please give Orlando Bloom a 21st-century role now!
Purely putrid:
"Matrix Reloaded": Biggest disappointment of the year. So bad we didn't bother with "Matrix Revolutions." And this is from someone who had to watch "The Matrix" every few months, and insisted on screening it for anyone who hadn't seen it! The worst part is, the awfulness of the sequels has tainted even the magnificent first one for me.
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Latest reply: Feb 21, 2004
How Santa can delivler all those presents in a single night
Posted Dec 23, 2003
For all you unbelievers out there.
http://www.mae.ncsu.edu/homepages/silverberg/santa/science%20of%20santa%20talk.htm
Discuss this Journal entry [1]
Latest reply: Dec 23, 2003
Meet Mars
Posted Dec 1, 2003
Two weeks ago we got a new Maine Coon kitten, and have named him Mars. He's a red classic tabby in color, with white chest, stomach and feet, and is 3 months old. It would be hard for him to be any cuter.
He's very vocal for a Maine Coon, issuing announcements before he eats or uses the litter box, and if his ball goes under the sofa. He asks very politely for breakfast or dinner, but becomes more insistent if you dawdle.
He's the spitting image of the cat in the left-most photo of the second row from the top in this link (the one that says 'redfern'):
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=red+tabby+Maine+Coon+cat&btnG=Google+Search
He's very affectionate and LOVES sitting in your lap. He'll stay there, purring and/or sleeping, until you put him down. I LOVE this because the cat I've had for 11 years (see below) will sit in my lap for only about 20 seconds at a time and WILL NOT let me pick her up at all.
Mars and Tabitha (age 11, brown classic tabby with white) have achieved detente. She is tolerating him as long as he isn't jumping in her face -- which elicits growling, slapping and hissing -- but has shown no signs of affection for him yet. But give her time.
You can tell I have no children by the way I go on and on about my cats!
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Latest reply: Dec 1, 2003
Big Red
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