Wildlife: FIVE Rooster Pheasants were chowing down in our front yard yesterday!
Charity Alert: The Rain Forest Site -- One click helps preserve the lungs of the world.
Weather: The snow melted under a Chinook wind on Saturday, then the clouds blew away, and it got pretty damn COLD -- not an Arctic blast by any means, but wintery for sure.
Media Watch: NFL Football -- Frank from Mad TV is funnier than Jimmy Kimmel, Jillian Barbarie hasn't been as outrageous as she could be lately. The Philadelphia Eagles had a very hard time with the lowly Washington Redskins. However, the stats say Washington has the not-so-lowly #2 Defense in the NFL, and Pittsburgh had the #1 Defense -- hmmm -- Philly looks vulnerable to a strong, physical defensive team.
Buster Keaton's The General was on TCM last night -- now THERE is a great silent film!
Keaton's talkie What -- No Beer? was terrible -- Jimmy Durante's actually billed as co-star, and the mismatch between his style and Buster's is unbearable, not to mention the ravages of alcoholism on Keaton.
I notice that the late Howard Hughes is all over the entertainment spectrum -- we watched The Carpetbaggers, even though it was LOUSY and mean-spirited. The Howard Hughes story, as I saw on the History Channel, is a clear and present warning that money itself doesn't buy happiness -- it can invite several incurable mental illnesses via social isolation. (Michael Jackson is only one contemporary example.)
I've met Melvin Dumars of Melvin and Howard fame, through my friend Trent Harris, the filmmaker. I actually believe the gist of his tale about meeting Mr. Hughes, although the "Mormon Will" was an obvious forgery. It's really too bad that such a gifted man could also be such a pathetic crank.
Monday, December 13, 2004
Friday, December 10, 2004
Charity Alert: Encourage reading! The Literacy Site
Weather: It's TIME for soft snowfalls, and we're getting them.
Wildlife: That California Blue Jay is still mooching around our bird feeder -- the guidebooks say he doesn't live here.
In the Community: College Xmas party tonight -- talent show and all. I'm supposed to videotape it -- can you spell B-L-A-C-K-M-A-I-L?
Media Watch: We enjoyed watching Charlotte Greenwood in Buster Keaton's rather drab Parlor, Bedroom, and Bath. The much-maligned Passionate Plumber is better than we thought too, even though Jimmy Durante is really mis-matched with Keaton as a partner.
Next is What, No Beer? in which Keaton looks like he is bottoming-out from the preview. It WAS his last feature film for many years.
Speak Easily was also a pretty grim effort, despite Durante and the doomed actress Thelma Todd, I hope it isn't worse than that.
Weather: It's TIME for soft snowfalls, and we're getting them.
Wildlife: That California Blue Jay is still mooching around our bird feeder -- the guidebooks say he doesn't live here.
In the Community: College Xmas party tonight -- talent show and all. I'm supposed to videotape it -- can you spell B-L-A-C-K-M-A-I-L?
Media Watch: We enjoyed watching Charlotte Greenwood in Buster Keaton's rather drab Parlor, Bedroom, and Bath. The much-maligned Passionate Plumber is better than we thought too, even though Jimmy Durante is really mis-matched with Keaton as a partner.
Next is What, No Beer? in which Keaton looks like he is bottoming-out from the preview. It WAS his last feature film for many years.
Speak Easily was also a pretty grim effort, despite Durante and the doomed actress Thelma Todd, I hope it isn't worse than that.
Thursday, December 09, 2004
Wildlife: Eagles are haunting and hunting around Middle Foy's Lake. The aereator is keeping a central pond area ice-free again, and all the birds love it.
Weather: Ice and snow -- starting to look like winter, even though most of the action has been south of Montana -- in Utah and Colorado.
Charity Alert: Animal Rescue Site -- Click once, help a lot!
In the Community: Sick as HELL during the Art Walk -- missed it this year.
Media Watch: While I was waking up from the fog of a fever, I saw some closely-fought battles on NFL Football Sunday and Monday nights. I also dozed in and out of a nice interview with Tom Wolfe on CSPAN.
TCM showed most of the movies Buster Keaton made at MGM. Not only was he sinking into alcoholism in the early sound era, but his failing marriage and an ill-advised contract with control-obsessed MGM also helped grease the skids for him.
The Cameraman was an alright film, although it may have been a touch too long, but Spite Marriage (silent) and Bedroom, Parlor, & Bath (sound) both look pretty misguided so far, except that the latter co-stars the wonderful Charlotte Greenwood. I gave up on Free and Easy (sound) -- it was TOO pathetic, and Keaton's Mr. Butz character was too much of a loser to be really funny, except in very short bursts.
Time eventually vindicated Buster Keaton the artist, and that's all that matters now.
Just for showing these films warts-and-all, and the none-too-flattering documentary Buster Keaton; So Funny It Hurts: Turner Classic Movies
Here's a Web Site with many Buster Keaton links: Juha's Buster Keaton Site
Oh yeah, while I was recovering, I was able to read a book about the city of Athens through the ages -- from village, to ruinous empire, to Roman "college town," to medieval backwater, to emotional capitol of post-Ottoman Greece -- amazing story -- amazing place.
Weather: Ice and snow -- starting to look like winter, even though most of the action has been south of Montana -- in Utah and Colorado.
Charity Alert: Animal Rescue Site -- Click once, help a lot!
In the Community: Sick as HELL during the Art Walk -- missed it this year.
Media Watch: While I was waking up from the fog of a fever, I saw some closely-fought battles on NFL Football Sunday and Monday nights. I also dozed in and out of a nice interview with Tom Wolfe on CSPAN.
TCM showed most of the movies Buster Keaton made at MGM. Not only was he sinking into alcoholism in the early sound era, but his failing marriage and an ill-advised contract with control-obsessed MGM also helped grease the skids for him.
The Cameraman was an alright film, although it may have been a touch too long, but Spite Marriage (silent) and Bedroom, Parlor, & Bath (sound) both look pretty misguided so far, except that the latter co-stars the wonderful Charlotte Greenwood. I gave up on Free and Easy (sound) -- it was TOO pathetic, and Keaton's Mr. Butz character was too much of a loser to be really funny, except in very short bursts.
Time eventually vindicated Buster Keaton the artist, and that's all that matters now.
Just for showing these films warts-and-all, and the none-too-flattering documentary Buster Keaton; So Funny It Hurts: Turner Classic Movies
Here's a Web Site with many Buster Keaton links: Juha's Buster Keaton Site
Oh yeah, while I was recovering, I was able to read a book about the city of Athens through the ages -- from village, to ruinous empire, to Roman "college town," to medieval backwater, to emotional capitol of post-Ottoman Greece -- amazing story -- amazing place.
Thursday, December 02, 2004
Charity Alert: Click every day -- costs nothing but a few seconds of your time! The Hunger Site
Weather: If we are stuck with cold gray days, let's see some real snow, not this heavenly dandruff.
Wildlife: We saw "Buck," the mature male deer crossing the road in front of us last night as we were entering our neighborhood. Soon those antlers will fall right off.
In The Community: Kalispell's Annual Art Walk is tomorrow! I've made some posters for my ol' pal Joann at the Kalipell Grand, and this page on the Hockaday Museum of Art's site: Art Walk Preview
Media Watch: TV has sucked pretty badly since Halloween. The horror show of November 3rd hasn't helped either. I happened to see Ken Jennings' 75th appearence on Jeopardy, where he lost his championship, and was watching the next day when new champ Nancy Zerg lost her second game.
That means I've been reading -- not a lot of profundity on my list, just plowing through some things I got at the library sale. The best of that lot was J.G. Ballard's Drowned World from the early 60's.
I'm taking 'em ALL back for the library to sell again.
A.L. Rowse's translations of The Iliad and The Odyssey accompanied me through high school, but his out-of-focus book on the Tower of London goes onto the donation pile.
Anna Quindlen wrote Fictional London a pretty good book about the environs of London in literature, as seen through her eyes on her first visits to the place after 1995. I'd never buy it, but thanks to the library, I can enjoy it anyway.
Weather: If we are stuck with cold gray days, let's see some real snow, not this heavenly dandruff.
Wildlife: We saw "Buck," the mature male deer crossing the road in front of us last night as we were entering our neighborhood. Soon those antlers will fall right off.
In The Community: Kalispell's Annual Art Walk is tomorrow! I've made some posters for my ol' pal Joann at the Kalipell Grand, and this page on the Hockaday Museum of Art's site: Art Walk Preview
Media Watch: TV has sucked pretty badly since Halloween. The horror show of November 3rd hasn't helped either. I happened to see Ken Jennings' 75th appearence on Jeopardy, where he lost his championship, and was watching the next day when new champ Nancy Zerg lost her second game.
That means I've been reading -- not a lot of profundity on my list, just plowing through some things I got at the library sale. The best of that lot was J.G. Ballard's Drowned World from the early 60's.
I'm taking 'em ALL back for the library to sell again.
A.L. Rowse's translations of The Iliad and The Odyssey accompanied me through high school, but his out-of-focus book on the Tower of London goes onto the donation pile.
Anna Quindlen wrote Fictional London a pretty good book about the environs of London in literature, as seen through her eyes on her first visits to the place after 1995. I'd never buy it, but thanks to the library, I can enjoy it anyway.
Wednesday, November 17, 2004
Charity Alert: A new project, very worthy -- The Literacy Site -- Books given away!
Weather: The inversion broke yesterday about noon. Fresh air is so fine! The roof is 99 percent complete too.
Wildlife: I have to put deer fencing up -- part of my Aspen tree was stripped by marauding deer.
Media Watch: Monday Night Football -- Philadelphia's a good team -- they'll be ready for Pittsburgh if and when they meet them again.
The "Desperate Housewives" opening at the start was in bad taste, though. It could have been funny, but it wasn't written well enough -- deadpan delivery might have worked too, but it wasn't quite deadpan enough. Actress Nicolette Sheridan is a nice-looking woman, however! Yahoo Slideshow -- American Music Awards
Destiny's Child was featured in a video-intro to the second half (also half-baked and tentative). Their song was definitely influenced by "Bollywood" music -- similar to Britney's Toxic earlier this year.
Weather: The inversion broke yesterday about noon. Fresh air is so fine! The roof is 99 percent complete too.
Wildlife: I have to put deer fencing up -- part of my Aspen tree was stripped by marauding deer.
Media Watch: Monday Night Football -- Philadelphia's a good team -- they'll be ready for Pittsburgh if and when they meet them again.
The "Desperate Housewives" opening at the start was in bad taste, though. It could have been funny, but it wasn't written well enough -- deadpan delivery might have worked too, but it wasn't quite deadpan enough. Actress Nicolette Sheridan is a nice-looking woman, however! Yahoo Slideshow -- American Music Awards
Destiny's Child was featured in a video-intro to the second half (also half-baked and tentative). Their song was definitely influenced by "Bollywood" music -- similar to Britney's Toxic earlier this year.
Monday, November 15, 2004
Wildlife: California Blue Jays haunting the bird feeder -- looking for peanuts. The Stellar's Jays and Magpies enjoy the feast too. We are attracting Flickers and other woodpeckers with our suet cage hanging in the chokecherry tree.
Charity Alert: The Rain Forest Site
Weather: This low gray cold mist has darkened our skies all week! The new roof is finally going on alright, but this all-day lightlessness is depressing.
Media Watch: I've had VH1 Classic for awhile, but haven't noticed. I checked out the Rolling Stones' It's Only Rock and Roll video -- quite a lovely mess with that out-of-control foam near the end. VH1's final Surreal Life for this autumn was worth a look while washing dishes during halftime -- Brigitte Nielson's exhibitionist antics definitely dominated THAT series. (Charo, from her stage show in San Diego: "I hate her -- she has bigger tits than me!") VH1's Surreal Life Page
NFL football was fun -- two well-fought games in the afternoon, and a clinic by New England Sunday night (see VH1 above).
I read two C. J. Cherryh novels from the Fading Sun series back to back -- drawn-out and slogging, with unfortunate debts to Herbert's interminable Dune saga. I'm glad to say she's done better work than this. C. J. Cherryh's Official Pages
Charity Alert: The Rain Forest Site
Weather: This low gray cold mist has darkened our skies all week! The new roof is finally going on alright, but this all-day lightlessness is depressing.
Media Watch: I've had VH1 Classic for awhile, but haven't noticed. I checked out the Rolling Stones' It's Only Rock and Roll video -- quite a lovely mess with that out-of-control foam near the end. VH1's final Surreal Life for this autumn was worth a look while washing dishes during halftime -- Brigitte Nielson's exhibitionist antics definitely dominated THAT series. (Charo, from her stage show in San Diego: "I hate her -- she has bigger tits than me!") VH1's Surreal Life Page
NFL football was fun -- two well-fought games in the afternoon, and a clinic by New England Sunday night (see VH1 above).
I read two C. J. Cherryh novels from the Fading Sun series back to back -- drawn-out and slogging, with unfortunate debts to Herbert's interminable Dune saga. I'm glad to say she's done better work than this. C. J. Cherryh's Official Pages
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