Taken while on a bike ride on the Laguna Creek trail. And yes, it was moving - I snapped the pic at exactly the right time.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Train!
Taken while on a bike ride on the Laguna Creek trail. And yes, it was moving - I snapped the pic at exactly the right time.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
R.I.P.
Dennis Hopper and his son Henry Lee, Baby Gap ad, 1991.
(Photo taken from one of my scrapbooks)
Memorial Day II
Beneath this stone
Repose the bones of two thousand one hundred and eleven unknown soldiers
Gathered after the war
From the fields of Bull Run, and the route to the Rappahannock
Their remains could not be identified, but their names and deaths are
Recorded in the archives of their country, and its grateful citizens
Honor them as of their noble army of martyrs may they rest in peace.
September A.D. 1866
Tomb of the Civil War Unknowns, Arlington National Cemetery
(photo taken June 2009)
Friday, May 28, 2010
Strong Words Indeed
From Matt Zoller Seitz' review of "Sex and the City 2":
"Sex and the City 2" is more than harmless escapism. It's an accidental candid snapshot of the sick, dying heart of America, a film so pleased with its vacuous, trashy, art-free extravagance that its poster should be taped to the dingy walls of terrorist sleeper agents worldwide. More depressing and alarming than the movies themselves is the notion that a certain culture, a certain mindset, birthed it, without a pang of remorse or even apparent self-awareness, much less self-criticism. Ladies and gentlemen, this is why they hate us."
Read the whole thing here.
"Sex and the City 2" is more than harmless escapism. It's an accidental candid snapshot of the sick, dying heart of America, a film so pleased with its vacuous, trashy, art-free extravagance that its poster should be taped to the dingy walls of terrorist sleeper agents worldwide. More depressing and alarming than the movies themselves is the notion that a certain culture, a certain mindset, birthed it, without a pang of remorse or even apparent self-awareness, much less self-criticism. Ladies and gentlemen, this is why they hate us."
Read the whole thing here.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
World Cup
Just entered a contest to pick the winner on Facebook. Chose Netherlands, based on nothing. When it comes to soccer, I have no expertise - but I do enjoy watching the games every four years.
But remember - if they do manage to pull the upset, you read it here first. At least I think you did, because I haven't seen anyone else pick them.
But remember - if they do manage to pull the upset, you read it here first. At least I think you did, because I haven't seen anyone else pick them.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Finally...
I haven't written a word about this year's NBA playoffs, mostly because it's been the dullest playoff season in memory.
But now, better late than never, things are getting interesting. Odds are probably still with a Lakers-Celtics final, but it's a lot less certain than it was just a few days ago.
You have to wonder if the long break between the Eastern Conference semis and finals took Orlando out of its game, because the team that beat Boston tonight looked nothing like the team that squandered the home-court advantage in Games 1 and 2. It's going to be wild in the Garden on Friday night, but if Orlando can pull a rabbit out of a hat one more time, I'd make them an odds-on favorite to become the first NBA team in history to come back from a 3-0 deficit.
Out west, you still have to like the Lakers chances, but I'm glad that "Los Suns" have made a series of it. But right now, I just can't see Kobe allowing his team to lose. I don't think this is a great Lakers team by any stretch of the imagination, but it's good enough to make it to the Finals.
And if they do, I'd pick them to beat Boston, but to lose to Orlando.
But now, better late than never, things are getting interesting. Odds are probably still with a Lakers-Celtics final, but it's a lot less certain than it was just a few days ago.
You have to wonder if the long break between the Eastern Conference semis and finals took Orlando out of its game, because the team that beat Boston tonight looked nothing like the team that squandered the home-court advantage in Games 1 and 2. It's going to be wild in the Garden on Friday night, but if Orlando can pull a rabbit out of a hat one more time, I'd make them an odds-on favorite to become the first NBA team in history to come back from a 3-0 deficit.
Out west, you still have to like the Lakers chances, but I'm glad that "Los Suns" have made a series of it. But right now, I just can't see Kobe allowing his team to lose. I don't think this is a great Lakers team by any stretch of the imagination, but it's good enough to make it to the Finals.
And if they do, I'd pick them to beat Boston, but to lose to Orlando.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Quote of the Day
"I never have more than one drink before dinner. But I do like that one to be large and very strong and very cold and very well-made."
- James Bond
- James Bond
Beam Me Up!
I'm home today preparing for a couple of "things you have to do after you turn 50" procedures that are happening tomorrow, and just saw part of an old "Star Trek: TNG" episode from the first season.
Man, it was bad - and not just bad, but so bad that it's kind of amazing that they allowed the show to continue after efforts like this one. It was set on a planet where all the women looked like Bo Derek and all the men looked like a blonde Adonis, and the story had to do with Wesley being sentenced to death for stepping on a flower. Exciting stuff.
The acting was bad (well, Patrick Stewart was OK, but the rest were just plain awful), the writing was bad, the directing was bad, and the costumes were bad.
I'm just guessing that this episode was filmed well before either Ron Moore or Brannon Braga joined the writing staff.
Man, it was bad - and not just bad, but so bad that it's kind of amazing that they allowed the show to continue after efforts like this one. It was set on a planet where all the women looked like Bo Derek and all the men looked like a blonde Adonis, and the story had to do with Wesley being sentenced to death for stepping on a flower. Exciting stuff.
The acting was bad (well, Patrick Stewart was OK, but the rest were just plain awful), the writing was bad, the directing was bad, and the costumes were bad.
I'm just guessing that this episode was filmed well before either Ron Moore or Brannon Braga joined the writing staff.
What's Stuck In My Head
"All My Mistakes," The Avett Brothers. A beautiful song, wonderfully sung. I don't know how they do it, but from seeing them live I know they can - what I'm talking about is "yelling in tune," like Seth does near the end of this song.
Gives me chills.
Monday, May 24, 2010
That's A Wrap
A few weeks ago I called the final season a train wreck. And while it certainly had its share of ridiculous moments, I have to admit that it was somewhat redeemed by the final few episodes, which featured Jack Bauer falling way off of whatever moral compass he had left - killing people in cold blood, torture that went beyond anything he'd done before, and generally wreaking havoc on anyone who dared to cross his path.
Tonight's finale wrapped up things about as neatly as one could imagine. President Taylor finally did the right thing, President Logan finally took the bullet he's so richly deserved for so long (alas, it did not come from Jack's gun), and Jack himself finally remembered that there was more to what he was doing than just revenge for Renee's death. But perhaps most importantly, Chloe got to be the person who saved Jack.
And Jack got to live. No happy ending, but as good as he could hope for. All in all, it was a great ride.
Tonight's finale wrapped up things about as neatly as one could imagine. President Taylor finally did the right thing, President Logan finally took the bullet he's so richly deserved for so long (alas, it did not come from Jack's gun), and Jack himself finally remembered that there was more to what he was doing than just revenge for Renee's death. But perhaps most importantly, Chloe got to be the person who saved Jack.
And Jack got to live. No happy ending, but as good as he could hope for. All in all, it was a great ride.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Saturday, May 22, 2010
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