Weather: It's trying to snow! We haven't seen the sun for a couple of days either.
Wildlife: Partridges running with me when I left the driveway this morning. I have to reload the suet feeders this evening too.
Charity Alert: The Hunger Site : Give Food for Free to Hungry People in the World
Media Watch: Bill Cosby on CNN two nights ago -- He was talking about diet mostly, but Larry King mentioned his son's death and Cosby told how a certain response from the public was the LAST thing he ever wanted to see; "... these people saw me in their car and their faces turned sad and pitiful. I was used to the opposite -- faces lighting up, and people telling me how much I made them laugh!"
I'm almost finished with Richard Elliott Friedman's Who Wrote The Bible? It makes you wish, for a brief moment, that you could read Hebrew well enough to join the game. The plausibility of his scenario makes for a challenging read -- Let's see, E is from Assyrian-conquered Israel, J is from Judah, P is from the Aaronic priests, D is from Jeremiah or his circle, before and after the fall of the first temple, and R the redactor, or editor might be just be Ezra, agent of the Persian king, with the Torah of Moses in his posession.
There was a TV show on the History Channel recently with that same title -- it included the writing/gathering of the Greek and Latin bibles, plus some New Testament history.
At the College: A lot of people catching the flu -- the slackers are loving it for the excuses they get to use!
Friday, December 12, 2003
Thursday, December 11, 2003
Weather: Still and cold -- cloudy, but the roads are dry.
Wildlife: Squirrels on campus -- bold as brass!
Charity Alert: The Animal Rescue Site : Feed an Animal in Need
Media Watch: 2001: A Space Odyssey on TCM, letterboxed and complete. It's kinda four movies in one--
1) Primitive humans -- pretty cool, with Desmond Morris as consultant. This idea was improved ten years later in Quest for Fire.
2) A near-future world -- I'm not sure if this is part is satire or not. Everything is trival, including regular travel to the moon, and everybody's lying about something. The set design is striking -- quite a bit like Clockwork Orange two years later.
3) HAL 9000 -- I guess there had to be some derring-do and conflict somewhere. Almost nothing happens, and very little reason is even implied for the sketchy situation that ensues. Something resonated in the mid-sixties public about an all-powerful computer turning against humans, though. Arthur C. Clark implied in his novel 2010 that HAL's fatal malfunction was caused by being programmed to decieve. I doubt that anyone's afraid of their PDA/GPS Picture phone today. (Maybe they should be.)
4) Planet Jupiter and the Monolith -- Pure cinematic beauty, and hints of a deeper vision. Whatever gossamer thread story there is be damned, I think this sequence redeems the whole movie!
An Essay:
Baseball Fever and the U.S. Elections
By Michael Evans (Yeah, that's me!)
Democrats:
Well, there's nine of them, so that must make a team -- correct? Here's a scouting report:
Carol Moseley-Braun -- Pitches softballs good-naturedly. Defensive to a personal degree, but unable to cover home, or aid the infield.
John Kerry -- War hero and senator, made it to first base in a hurry, and just stayed there, at the position with the least movement. He is known to have known Bill Buckner.
John Edwards -- Another John from the Senate. At second base, he plays the center of the field, but favors the right.
Wesley Clark -- Late replacement at shortstop for Bob Graham. Is very surprised to find himself playing on the left side of the field with Dean and Kucinich, and sometimes forgets which uniform he's supposed to wear.
Howard Dean -- Known as "Doctor D," he roams the whole left side of the diamond from third base, and bats both right and left. He's currently the clean-up hitter, but has been known to foul-out in critical situations.
Dennis Kucinich -- Is ethically unable to play anything but far-left field.
Richard Gephardt -- Along with the Johns from the Senate, there's this Dick from the House of Representatives. He dominates center field, guards his territory jealously, and sometimes makes his team mates wonder if he's playing the same game they are playing.
Joe Lieberman -- He OWNS right field, and plays it in a way that makes him look like he's coached by the other team, but denies it. (Don't tell 'Loserman' jokes in earshot.)
Al Sharpton -- "Catching flak and throwing it back!" This free agent, or free radical, doesn't work cheap, but if federal campaign funds are good enough for Carol, John, Wesley, Dennis, Dick, and Joe, then they're good enough for Al.
Republicans:
Unlimited money allows this organization to field the Texas Rangers, named after MLB's second-division tax write-off team. Owned by Clear Channel Communications, Halliburton, Rupert Murdoch, and Bin Laden Construction Company of Saudi Arabia, it is co-managed by Karl Rove, James Baker, and player/manager/CEO Dick Cheney. The Rangers field nationally-known pitchman George W. Bush, plus Colin Powell as Jackie Robinson, Michael Powell as Al Capone, ex-senator 'John' Ashcroft as J. Edgar Hoover, Don Rumsfeld, and his bench, consisting of Paul Wolfowitz, Richard Perle, and others from the New American Century syndicate. An international coup features Tony Blair, Prime Minister of England, bringing a cricket bat to the plate for Texas.
The Republican team won their last game on a disputed call from the umpires. For the next time, their strategy will be the purchase, or confiscation, of all equipment, seats, and venues related to the contest. Diebold, a manufacturer of electronic scoreboards, has promised to "deliver" on the Rangers' behalf.
The Democratic team may not even show up. There are several players whose power seems to flow from threats to hand a forfeit to the Republicans ala' Ralph Nader. If they play by current rules, there's even odds they can win, but the rules will certainly change if they cave-in before the fight begins.
Wildlife: Squirrels on campus -- bold as brass!
Charity Alert: The Animal Rescue Site : Feed an Animal in Need
Media Watch: 2001: A Space Odyssey on TCM, letterboxed and complete. It's kinda four movies in one--
1) Primitive humans -- pretty cool, with Desmond Morris as consultant. This idea was improved ten years later in Quest for Fire.
2) A near-future world -- I'm not sure if this is part is satire or not. Everything is trival, including regular travel to the moon, and everybody's lying about something. The set design is striking -- quite a bit like Clockwork Orange two years later.
3) HAL 9000 -- I guess there had to be some derring-do and conflict somewhere. Almost nothing happens, and very little reason is even implied for the sketchy situation that ensues. Something resonated in the mid-sixties public about an all-powerful computer turning against humans, though. Arthur C. Clark implied in his novel 2010 that HAL's fatal malfunction was caused by being programmed to decieve. I doubt that anyone's afraid of their PDA/GPS Picture phone today. (Maybe they should be.)
4) Planet Jupiter and the Monolith -- Pure cinematic beauty, and hints of a deeper vision. Whatever gossamer thread story there is be damned, I think this sequence redeems the whole movie!
An Essay:
Baseball Fever and the U.S. Elections
By Michael Evans (Yeah, that's me!)
Democrats:
Well, there's nine of them, so that must make a team -- correct? Here's a scouting report:
Carol Moseley-Braun -- Pitches softballs good-naturedly. Defensive to a personal degree, but unable to cover home, or aid the infield.
John Kerry -- War hero and senator, made it to first base in a hurry, and just stayed there, at the position with the least movement. He is known to have known Bill Buckner.
John Edwards -- Another John from the Senate. At second base, he plays the center of the field, but favors the right.
Wesley Clark -- Late replacement at shortstop for Bob Graham. Is very surprised to find himself playing on the left side of the field with Dean and Kucinich, and sometimes forgets which uniform he's supposed to wear.
Howard Dean -- Known as "Doctor D," he roams the whole left side of the diamond from third base, and bats both right and left. He's currently the clean-up hitter, but has been known to foul-out in critical situations.
Dennis Kucinich -- Is ethically unable to play anything but far-left field.
Richard Gephardt -- Along with the Johns from the Senate, there's this Dick from the House of Representatives. He dominates center field, guards his territory jealously, and sometimes makes his team mates wonder if he's playing the same game they are playing.
Joe Lieberman -- He OWNS right field, and plays it in a way that makes him look like he's coached by the other team, but denies it. (Don't tell 'Loserman' jokes in earshot.)
Al Sharpton -- "Catching flak and throwing it back!" This free agent, or free radical, doesn't work cheap, but if federal campaign funds are good enough for Carol, John, Wesley, Dennis, Dick, and Joe, then they're good enough for Al.
Republicans:
Unlimited money allows this organization to field the Texas Rangers, named after MLB's second-division tax write-off team. Owned by Clear Channel Communications, Halliburton, Rupert Murdoch, and Bin Laden Construction Company of Saudi Arabia, it is co-managed by Karl Rove, James Baker, and player/manager/CEO Dick Cheney. The Rangers field nationally-known pitchman George W. Bush, plus Colin Powell as Jackie Robinson, Michael Powell as Al Capone, ex-senator 'John' Ashcroft as J. Edgar Hoover, Don Rumsfeld, and his bench, consisting of Paul Wolfowitz, Richard Perle, and others from the New American Century syndicate. An international coup features Tony Blair, Prime Minister of England, bringing a cricket bat to the plate for Texas.
The Republican team won their last game on a disputed call from the umpires. For the next time, their strategy will be the purchase, or confiscation, of all equipment, seats, and venues related to the contest. Diebold, a manufacturer of electronic scoreboards, has promised to "deliver" on the Rangers' behalf.
The Democratic team may not even show up. There are several players whose power seems to flow from threats to hand a forfeit to the Republicans ala' Ralph Nader. If they play by current rules, there's even odds they can win, but the rules will certainly change if they cave-in before the fight begins.
Tuesday, December 09, 2003
Weather: I have to get some studded snow tires this year. The roads are unusually icy.
Wildlife: The Redtailed Hawk is still scouring our neighborhood for mice and small birds.
Charity Alert: The Rainforest Site: Help Save Our Rainforests!
Media Watch: Monday Night Football was a one-sided blowout . I've almost finished a history of mass media in England -- TV, radio, movies, and the newspapers -- It's titled "Get Me A Murder A Day." I'm almost through the 'Thatcher Era,' and I'm curious to see if the author mentions the multi-media frenzy about Princess Diana before the end.
At the College: A student art show yesterday, with some excellent ceramics and jewelry for sale.
I helped faculty member Jim Soular with the cover of his book about his experiences in Viet Nam The Thousand Yard Stare, soon to be republished.
Wildlife: The Redtailed Hawk is still scouring our neighborhood for mice and small birds.
Charity Alert: The Rainforest Site: Help Save Our Rainforests!
Media Watch: Monday Night Football was a one-sided blowout . I've almost finished a history of mass media in England -- TV, radio, movies, and the newspapers -- It's titled "Get Me A Murder A Day." I'm almost through the 'Thatcher Era,' and I'm curious to see if the author mentions the multi-media frenzy about Princess Diana before the end.
At the College: A student art show yesterday, with some excellent ceramics and jewelry for sale.
I helped faculty member Jim Soular with the cover of his book about his experiences in Viet Nam The Thousand Yard Stare, soon to be republished.
Monday, December 08, 2003
Weather: After a couple of rain/freeze/dry/freeze days we are getting a light snow -- that's what the forecast says, and it's true!
Wildlife: Two small fawns lingered around the house yesterday morning -- I spilled some extra sunflower seeds for a goose who's hanging around, but the honker doesn't leave the reeds at the side of Middle Foy's Lake, except to walk or fly out to the "pond." A bald eagle is perching in a dead tree between Foy's Lake and Middle Foy's.
Charity Alert: The Child Health Site : Help a Child in Need Lead a Healthy, Active Life
Media Watch: Football -- I saw one game where the home team was starting to come back strong in the last few minutes & seconds, but then they fumbled the ball -- arghhh! Pregame Silliness -- MadTV did a hilarious parody of Dr. Phil, supposedly ragging on the coaches of Tampa Bay and Oakland. Jillian looked fine in her skirt & blouse costume. Now that I'm aware of the foreshortening effect of the camera, I can tune in to her comedy better. She was outclassed by MadTV and Howie Long, the former linebacker, though. Long did an outrageous take-off on Terry Bradshaw that made everyone crack up -- including Bradshaw.
46664 Concert -- Did anyone see 46664 yet? I saw a few live clips last week on CNNfm. Since Monday, there's been a 90 minute edited thang bouncing around cable TV. Beyonce Knowles was onstage in South Africa, but she was too diffident for my taste. Anne Lennox has been funky sometimes, but she was overly-serious in her performance with Dave Stewart. U2 is something of a self-parody, despite all their sincerity and quality.
Queen's surviving trio were wonderfully bombastic -- they've always done dymamics well, but I kinda wish they would have let 85 year-old Nelson Mandela leave the stage before Brian May's first power chord sounded.
You'd hope that something funky might happen in Africa, but I didn't see it. The African choir was good. Baba Maal and Youssou N'Dour did their thangs respectibly. (Mr. N'Dour gave Annie an onstage cuddle that should have loosened her up a touch -- she's much better when she's sensual and funny.)
Joseph Shambalala started to make a little noise with that lovely lead-singing Corrs sister, alongside his own group.
A pretty dark lady with the stupid name of Ms. Dynamite did an unusual acapella, but I can't remember seeing anybody but white folks in the audience. (Apartheid is a socio-economic condition, as well as a discredited political policy.)
I was impressed with the finale -- a young, blond European singer named 'Anastasia' came out and just took over the whole show -- good manners and sad faces be damned! She was long, lean, sexy, moved well, and had a distinctive, occasionally grating (Hey, nobody's perfect) voice which rose above everyone else's timid, shoe-gazing musical efforts. I was reminded of Patti Labelle taking over Live Aid in Philadelphia almost 20 years ago.
FUNK SIGHTING! Jan from Columbus, Ohio told me that Gary (Mudbone) Cooper of Bootsy's Rubber Band and Parliament/Funkadelic was in the finale! He's worked with Dave Stewart before, so I'm confident there was some funky music that didn't make the edited version of the concert.
Wildlife: Two small fawns lingered around the house yesterday morning -- I spilled some extra sunflower seeds for a goose who's hanging around, but the honker doesn't leave the reeds at the side of Middle Foy's Lake, except to walk or fly out to the "pond." A bald eagle is perching in a dead tree between Foy's Lake and Middle Foy's.
Charity Alert: The Child Health Site : Help a Child in Need Lead a Healthy, Active Life
Media Watch: Football -- I saw one game where the home team was starting to come back strong in the last few minutes & seconds, but then they fumbled the ball -- arghhh! Pregame Silliness -- MadTV did a hilarious parody of Dr. Phil, supposedly ragging on the coaches of Tampa Bay and Oakland. Jillian looked fine in her skirt & blouse costume. Now that I'm aware of the foreshortening effect of the camera, I can tune in to her comedy better. She was outclassed by MadTV and Howie Long, the former linebacker, though. Long did an outrageous take-off on Terry Bradshaw that made everyone crack up -- including Bradshaw.
46664 Concert -- Did anyone see 46664 yet? I saw a few live clips last week on CNNfm. Since Monday, there's been a 90 minute edited thang bouncing around cable TV. Beyonce Knowles was onstage in South Africa, but she was too diffident for my taste. Anne Lennox has been funky sometimes, but she was overly-serious in her performance with Dave Stewart. U2 is something of a self-parody, despite all their sincerity and quality.
Queen's surviving trio were wonderfully bombastic -- they've always done dymamics well, but I kinda wish they would have let 85 year-old Nelson Mandela leave the stage before Brian May's first power chord sounded.
You'd hope that something funky might happen in Africa, but I didn't see it. The African choir was good. Baba Maal and Youssou N'Dour did their thangs respectibly. (Mr. N'Dour gave Annie an onstage cuddle that should have loosened her up a touch -- she's much better when she's sensual and funny.)
Joseph Shambalala started to make a little noise with that lovely lead-singing Corrs sister, alongside his own group.
A pretty dark lady with the stupid name of Ms. Dynamite did an unusual acapella, but I can't remember seeing anybody but white folks in the audience. (Apartheid is a socio-economic condition, as well as a discredited political policy.)
I was impressed with the finale -- a young, blond European singer named 'Anastasia' came out and just took over the whole show -- good manners and sad faces be damned! She was long, lean, sexy, moved well, and had a distinctive, occasionally grating (Hey, nobody's perfect) voice which rose above everyone else's timid, shoe-gazing musical efforts. I was reminded of Patti Labelle taking over Live Aid in Philadelphia almost 20 years ago.
FUNK SIGHTING! Jan from Columbus, Ohio told me that Gary (Mudbone) Cooper of Bootsy's Rubber Band and Parliament/Funkadelic was in the finale! He's worked with Dave Stewart before, so I'm confident there was some funky music that didn't make the edited version of the concert.
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