Ron

Last night a watched a movie that I bought and began back in 2011 and never finished. But I remedied that and gave Attack the Block a full run through. It begins with a woman by herself walking and talking on her phone at night. What could happen! I'll tell you what, the young local thugs of her council flats surround her in a threatening manner and rob her of her belongings. Oh, my. But that's not all... All out mayhem ensues when an unknown object falls from the sky! The woman, acting smartly, uses the distraction to run away when the bully boys are distracted. They then go to investigate the fallen object. Who is their leader you might ask? Well, it's a young John Boyega of Star Wars fame. I enjoyed this movie more than I thought considering the beginning. I don't like people who prey on other people. As the chimpanzee Cornelius read from the sacred scroll of the apes in The Planet of the Apes: "Man, for he is the Devil's pawn. Alone among God's primates, he kills for sport or lust or greed. Yea, he will murder his brother to possess his brother's land." But I digress. Back to this 1h 28m movie. I watched this digitally on Apple TV+ and at 1080p definition. The picture is solid even in the dark scenes as an 8-million-dollar budgeted movie should be. Most of the actors are unknown, or not well known aside from Boyega. That doesn't mean they do not inhabit their characters fully. It's what makes the movie because the monsters are mostly there to move things along. Small frights and some light comedy. What are you watching?

Last night I watched The War of the Worlds. This was The Criterion Collection 4k restoration of this 1953 movie. The color is excellent, with green looking natural and not overblown and the red was spot on. Included is an uncompressed monoaural soundtrack and a new alternate 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack, which I used when watching the movie. There are a few excellent extras to watch, although once seen you may not feel it necessary to watch them again. The layout of my living room only allows for a center channel speaker along with the left and right front speakers with two thirteen-inch subwoofers providing the foundational bass. Despite the lack of side-surround speakers in my system I often heard sound extending well beyond the sidewall of the front speakers and extending into the room, a testament to the new 5.1 soundtrack. I enjoy watching the movie on repeat now and again. It is a classic after all. In prior versions you could see the strings holding up the Martian spaceships and other noticeable little snafus, but not here. That's not to say the movie is without questionable editing decisions but they do not take away from the enjoyment of watching the movie. What are you watching?

I watched the first few minutes of the film. It looks interesting and I'll need to take a closer watch sometime soon.

I skipped Saturday movie night. I just wasn't feeling the mood. Last night was that old classic movie from 1932 The Mummy, starring Boris Karloff as Ardeth Bey who is Imhotep who becomes the mummy. Confused? Well, it took the other actors in the movie a while to figure it out, too. Despite the lobby card being in color the movie is in black and white, having excellent contrast on my remastered DVD. The movie looked fantastic! Before I began this post I had already watched: Alien (remastered 4k Blu-ray) - once you watch this version on a capable TV you won't watch any other version again; and The Planet of the Apes and Beneath the Planet of the Apes (remastered Blu-ray) - an excellent comment on human nature, but sadly mimicked by the apes. What are you watching?

So, Steve... a ribbon of hot gas? Let it out man, let it out for all the world to see.

Oh, my! Last night was Spirited Away, a sort of spooky animated movie on Blu-ray disc. There was lots of fear and scares for poor Chihiro and that's what matters. That she persevered and freed her piggish parents so they could all escape was a darn miracle. What have you watched?

Tonight I am watching Batman Begins, the first of the 'Batman Trilogy'... Because Bats! This movie is actually - not figuratively - deeply, disturbingly dark! *I watched the 4k Blu-ray of last night. Yes -yes, I am not ashamed. It is a departure from the spooky and scary vibe of the month. But, you know, relationships can be scary!!!!!

October is Halloween month for many, and a reason to celebrate the dark side of things. That means costumes and spooky shenanigans. For me and many others it is also the month for watching "spooky" and or "scary" movies. I enjoy watching in the month of October (there are exceptions), these wonderfully bizarre and delightful movies. Tonight, I am watching an old favorite from 1987, John Carpenter's Prince of Darkness, the Steelbook (1 of 10,000) Blu-ray version (2018). Can you say, Alice Cooper? Ha! What wonderfully scary/spooky movie are you watching?

Love is in the air... da, da, da, da! Meanwhile in Colorado. A free to read article found in The Boston Globe.

I was thinking this very same thing as I was reading the responses. I'm all for a happy conclusion, it's nice when it's called for. And even sad endings can be appropriate to a story. But give me a well thought out finish that leaves me wondering, or lets me imagine what comes next, and that can be a marvelous thing.

No... No... I can't say it!!!

Except in Massachusetts where people slow to a roll and if there is no one coming... hit the gas and plow into the turn. While not legal it's what we do. Pedestrians beware!

St. Vincent was in Boston just the other day and The Boston Globe review was incredibly positive of her performance and musical choices. Sounds like it was very much not a Big Time Nothing ...

Don't forget: "Down the road apiece." Although I grew up in Northern Ohio (which doesn't have an accent) my extended family came from Southern Ohio and Kentucky. I learned all kinds of sayings, and such.

One other thing that was pointed out to me long ago was that you never use the word less when referring to people. You can't have less people, but you can have fewer people.

I've had the pleasure of visiting Muir Woods, but it was so many years ago. But, still, I have an impression in my mind of the wonder of having been there if nothing of the specifics of the visit. That may seem a little sad, but I have a good imagination.

Oh, my original post was more than tongue-in-cheek enough for everyone, considering that the census is attempting to prove conjecture. But we should know more than most of our long history of supporting the arts, be it through audience participation, monetary support, and including our performance. We are multitude!

This is something that a lot of writers do in the beginning before they decide to branch out. Before you know it, you'll be sharing with others, even though that time may seem like a long throw in time from now. I get that the language barrier is exactly that: a barrier. But we live and learn, yes? Of course it helps to have an underlying desire, a personal goal if you like, but with an objective at the end to look toward. As others have said reading is essential but you will find that you have a real friend in English television and movies, too, and don't dismiss the local news broadcast. The point is, I think, to immerse yourself in the language that you want to write in and pay attention to how words are used and why they're used in the manner they are. The gist of a language is easier to understand than the subtleties but oftentimes watching a person speak and paying attention to body language, or facial expressions, will lead to a better understanding of word usage as well. All the trivial things that seem unimportant now will help you improve your understanding of the language and its usage. Good luck.

All the arts venues you mention are far more available and varied in large metropolitan cities (both coastal and more midwestern areas), than they are elsewhere in the hinterlands. The Berkshires are an outlyer for the arts scene in general, I think. I've listened to various interviews with artists that lament the AIDS epidemic not only for the loss of so many lives, many friends, but also because the gay men where a discerning and educated audience when it came to the various arts venues. Those interviewed feel that audiences of today are not as involved or evolved as those gay men were, that today it's more about money and access for the audience than anything else. So, I don't think gay men are heading to metropolitan areas just for the sex and party nightlife, a great many of us has always been attracted to the arts. I mean, what gay man doesn't appreciate a good musical?

Now here's an interesting factoid ... and it turns out it was something we knew all along. Census Backs GLBT Stereotypes a free to read blurb-article in The Boston Globe.

Interesting. The MBTA will replace eighteen miles of track during a shutdown in September here in Massachusetts. Of course, building out eighteen miles of new track would likely take decades to accomplish if at all. There are so many ways to disrupt any forward movement on rail: NIMBYism, the cost to procure land (possibly by eminent domain), and environmental concerns just to name a few.

In the 6th episode (1975) of Space 1999, Professor Victor Bergman (Barry Morse) says at the 32:40 mark 'And heading back into future time. It's an interesting thought.'. Back to the Future was released ten years later. Coincidence? Or was somebody watching space-opera television? Inquiring minds want to know!

Sometime you just need your car radio...

I've finally found the time to begin your book. I'm reading the trade paperback version. What an interesting beginning.

They say crap comes in threes, Steve. So, you should be good for a while.