Boo! To The Guardian

The provincial newspaper, The Guardian, had a Sally Cole penned write-up on the theatrical year in review.  Not one word was given to The Guild, which had a pretty busy year, theatrically speaking.
We all know that any article that even mentions theatre is a rarity for The Guardian (especially since Laurie Murphy has moved away), so perhaps I shouldn't complain. ( I can only assume that the fax that had some bantam-A Souris hockey scores didn't get received, so they had some extra room).  But to have an article allege itself to be a year-end wrap-up of the theatrical year, and then to not even mention the Guild, well, that's pretty shoddy.

Either that, or the piece was only supposed to honour those who advertise more in The Guardian than those who do not.  Honestly, I don't know if Anne & Gilbert or Victoria Playhouse did much Guardian advertising, or even if the Guild did, so that may be a totally unjustified assertion on my part.

Anyway, for next summer's Sketch22 show, I'm going to write a sketch that contains a hockey game, played on stage.  Maybe that way, the Guardian will pay attention to the fact that actual theatre actually happens at the Guild.

And Jack McAndrew, don't even think about stealing this little blog piece and passing it off as your own.

Boo! To The Guardian

The provincial newspaper, The Guardian, had a Sally Cole penned write-up on the theatrical year in review.  Not one word was given to The Guild, which had a pretty busy year, theatrically speaking.
We all know that any article that even mentions theatre is a rarity for The Guardian (especially since Laurie Murphy has moved away), so perhaps I shouldn't complain. ( I can only assume that the fax that had some bantam-A Souris hockey scores didn't get received, so they had some extra room).  But to have an article allege itself to be a year-end wrap-up of the theatrical year, and then to not even mention the Guild, well, that's pretty shoddy.

Either that, or the piece was only supposed to honour those who advertise more in The Guardian than those who do not.  Honestly, I don't know if Anne & Gilbert or Victoria Playhouse did much Guardian advertising, or even if the Guild did, so that may be a totally unjustified assertion on my part.

Anyway, for next summer's Sketch22 show, I'm going to write a sketch that contains a hockey game, played on stage.  Maybe that way, the Guardian will pay attention to the fact that actual theatre actually happens at the Guild.

And Jack McAndrew, don't even think about stealing this little blog piece and passing it off as your own.

Rob's Golden Globe Picks

Best Motion Picture – Drama

Babel, Bobby, The Departed, Little Children, The Queen

I've seen 3 of 5 of these movies.  I didn't see Bobby or Little Children, so can't comment on them, other than through other people's buzz.  I really enjoyed The Queen
as a biopic and as an insight to that bizarre world, but not so much as
a movie.  Any awards it wins should only be actor awards.  Both The Departed and Babel were excellent movies, I thought, both deserving.  I'd give my Golden Globe award to Babel,
however, simply because of its international flavour.  I think GG
members will follow my lead, although I won't be surprised or
disappointed if The Departed wins.

Best Actress, Motion Picture – Drama

Penelpe Cruz-Volver, Judi Dench-Notes on a Scandal, Maggie Gyllenhaal-Sherrybaby, Helen Mirren-The Queen, Kate Winslet-Little Children

Of these movies, I've only seen The Queen. 
I hear great things about Maggie Gyllenhaal, but I think Mirren will
win.  Since I haven't seen the other performances, I can't really say
she deserves it.  But for her performance alone, she deserves it.

Best Actor, Motion Picture – Drama

Leonardo DiCaprio-Blood Diamond, Leonardo DiCaprio-The Departed, Peter O’Toole-Venus, Will Smith-The Pursuit of Happyness, Forest Whitaker-The Last King of Scotland

I've only seen The Departed.  Hear great things the performances in Blood Diamond and Last King. 
I hope Will Smith doesn't win, based solely on the trailer for the
film.  I wonder if DiCaprio will split his own votes?  I thought he was
great in The Departed and would be glad to see him win for it.

Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical

Borat: CLoAfmBGNoK, The Devil Wears Prada, Dreamgirls, Little Miss Sunshine, Thank You For Smoking

Sadly, I haven't yet seen any of these movies.  I suspect Borat will win, based on the overwhelming gushing everyone heaps on it.  Little Miss Sunshine may
be the one to take it away from Borat though.  Heard good things about
Prada, too  And about Smoking as well, but I didn't realise it was a
comedy (or musical).  Favourite to win has to be Borat.

Best Actress, Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical

Annette Bening-Running With Scissors, Toni Collette-Little Miss Sunshine, Beyonce Knowles-Dreamgirls, Meryl Streep-The Devil Wears Prada, Renee Zellweger-Miss Potter

Guess I need to go see more movies.  Haven't seen any of these, but
based solely on what I hear, Bening will win.  I suspect it's a race
between her and Streep.

Best Actor, Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical

Sacha Baron Cohen-Borat: CLoAfmBGNoK, Johnny Depp-Pirates of the Caribbean:Dead Man’s Chest, Aaron Eckhart-Thank You For Smoking, Chiwetel Ejiofor-Kinky Boots, Will Ferrell-Stranger Than Fiction

Not having seen the movie, I hope Sacha Baron Cohen doesn't win. Haven't even heard of Kinky Boots.  My money is on Johnny Depp.

Best Animated Feature Film

Cars, Happy Feet, Monster House

It won't be Happy Feet (which means it WILL be Happy Feet).  Between the other two, Cars seems to have the popular vote and Monster House the critical vote.  I may be totally wrong on that.  I'll go with Monster House.  Haven't seen any of them.

Best Foreign Language Film

Apocalypto, Letters From Iwo Jima, The Lives of Others, Pan’s Labyrinth, Volver

Apocalypto
is getting good reviews, but it depends, I guess, on how many Jews are
voting in this category.  I'll say Gibson gets redeemed and wins.

Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture

Adrana Barraza-Babel, Cate Blanchett-Notes on a Scandal, Emily Blunt-The Devil Wears Prada, Jennifer Hudson-Dreamgirls, Rinko Kikuchi-Babel

I will say Rinko Kikuchi will win.  She was great.  She'll win.

Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture

Ben Affleck-Hollywoodland, Eddie Murphy-Dreamgirls, Jack Nicholson-The Departed, Brad Pitt-Babel, Mark Wahlberg-The Departed

Tough
category.  One of the monthly magazines is talking up Eddie Murphy's
performance for Oscar buzz.  Brad Pitt was very good, but really, other
than a couple of quiet-emoting scenes, his role wasn't that demanding. 
Both Wahlberg and Nicholson were very good.  Nicholson will win unless
too many people thought his performance was a bit too "Nicholson
hammy".  Personally, I thought it was wonderful.

Best Director – Motion Picture

Clint Eastwood-Flags of our Fathers, Clint Eastwood-Letters from Iwo Jima, Stephen Frears-The Queen, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu-Babel, Martin Scorsese-The Departed

I'm surprised with the two Eastwood noms, and suspect they'll cancel each other out.  Frears doesn't deserve it for The Queen.  Other than the acting, it was a pretty pedestrian film.  It's down to Babel and The Departed.  Again, either one wins and I'm happy.  I'll say Babel wins because it's just a more subtle film.

Best Screenplay – Motion Picture

Guillermo Arriaga-Babel, Todd Field & Tom Perrotta-Little Children, Patrick Marber-Notes on a Scandal, William Monahan-The Departed, Peter Morgan-The Queen

Seems like I got a boner for Babel.  I suspect it'll win this award.

Best Original Score – Motion Picture

Alexandre Desplat-The Painted Veil, Clint Mansell-The Fountain, Gustavo Santaolalla-Babel, Carlo Siliotto-Nomad, Hans Zimmer-The DaVinci Code

Babel.  Oh, why not?

Best Original Song – Motion Picture 

“A Father’s Way”- The Pursuit of Happyness (Seal), “Listen”-Dreamgirls (Beyonce), “Never Gonna Break My Faith”-Bobby (Bryan Adams), “The Song of the Heart”-Happy Feet (Prince Rogers Nelson), “Try Not To Remember”-Home of the Brave (Sheryl Crow)

I don't know and, really, don't care about this category.  I'll say Seal beats Crow.

Best Television Series – Drama

24, Big Love, Grey’s Anatomy, Heroes, Lost

Based on last year's hype, I'll say Lost wins this one.

Best Actress, Television Series – Drama

Patricia Arquette-Medium, Edie Falco-The Sopranos, Evangeline Lilly-Lost, Ellen Pompeo-Grey’s Anatomy, Kyra Sedgwich-The Closer

Based on that hospital bedside monologue, I give it to Edie Falco.

Best Actor, Television Series – Drama

Patrick Dempsey- Grey’s Anatomy, Michael C. Hall- Dexter, Hugh Laurie- House, Bill Paxton- Big Love, Kiefer Sutherland- 24

As much as I'd like to see Michael C. Hall win, he won't.  Hugh Laurie will win.  But never discount the love for Kiefer.

Best Television Series – Comedy or Musical

Desperate Housewives, Entourage, The Office, Ugly Betty, Weeds

Hands down.  The Office.

Best Actress, Television Series – Comedy or Musical

Marcia Cross- Desperate Housewives, America Ferrera- Ugly Betty, Felicity Huffman- Desperate Housewives, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss- The New Adventures of Old Christine, Mary-Louise Parker- Weeds

You know what I'm really sick of?  The Sex in the City girls getting multi-nominated in catetgories like this.  Now that they no longer exist, I hate the Desperate Housewives multi-noms.  I'll go with Julia, even though I've not seen the show.

Best Actor, Television Series – Comedy or Musical

Alec Baldwin- 30 Rock, Zach Braff- Scrubs, Steve Carrell- The Office, Jason Lee- My Name is Earl, Tony Shalhoub- Monk

Baldwin is good, but too "supporting
character" for this award.  Still, they might give it to him.  Braff is
too "3 years ago".  Steve Carrell is the winner right now.  Jason Lee
is too "2 years ago", and Shalhoub is too, what, "10 years ago"?  How
long has that show been on?  Never saw a minute of it.

Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Bleak House, Broken Trail, Elizabeth I, Mrs. Harris, Prime Suspect: The Final Act

Never saw any of them, except Mrs. Harris.  I'll say it wins.

Best Actress in Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Gillian Anderson- Bleak House, Annette Bening- Mrs. Harris, Helen Mirren- Elizabeth I, Helen Mirren- Prime Suspect: The Final Act, Sophe Okonedo- Tsunami, The Aftermath

That Helen Mirren, she sure can act, wha? 
She splits her own vote.  Annette Bening will have already been awarded
for her Motion Picture award.  This one goes to Gillian Anderson.  No, I don't believe that either.  Helen Mirren wins for, hmm, eenie meenie... Elizabeth I.

Best Actor in Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Andre Braugher- Thief, Robert Duvall- Broken Trail, Michael Ealy- Sleeper Cell: American Terror, Chiwetel Ejiofor- Tsunami, The Aftermath, Ben Kingsley- Mrs.Harris, Bill Nighy- Gideon’s Daughter, Matthew Perry- The Ron Clark Story

Seven nominations in this category? 
Really, this one is a total guess.  Unlike all the other total guesses
I've made.  I'll say Andre Braugher wins.  And I don't like Andre
Braugher.  He's too serious an actor.

Best Supporting Actress in TV Series, Mini-series or Motion Picture

Emily Blunt- Gideon’s Daughter, Toni Collette- Tsunami the Aftermath, Katherine Heigl- Grey’s Anatomy, Sarah Paulson- Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Elizabeth Perkins- Weeds

Sarah Paulson won't win.  Emily Blunt will.



Best Supporting Actor in TV Series, Mini-series or Motion Picture

Thomas Haden Church- Broken Trail, Jeremy Irons- Elizabeth I, Justin Kirk- Weeds, Masi Oka- Heroes, Jeremy Piven- Entourage

It'll be either Jeremy Irons or Jeremy Piven.  I'll go with Irons.

Technorati Tags: Golden Globes

Rob's Golden Globe Picks

Best Motion Picture – Drama

Babel, Bobby, The Departed, Little Children, The Queen

I've seen 3 of 5 of these movies.  I didn't see Bobby or Little Children, so can't comment on them, other than through other people's buzz.  I really enjoyed The Queen
as a biopic and as an insight to that bizarre world, but not so much as
a movie.  Any awards it wins should only be actor awards.  Both The Departed and Babel were excellent movies, I thought, both deserving.  I'd give my Golden Globe award to Babel,
however, simply because of its international flavour.  I think GG
members will follow my lead, although I won't be surprised or
disappointed if The Departed wins.

Best Actress, Motion Picture – Drama

Penelpe Cruz-Volver, Judi Dench-Notes on a Scandal, Maggie Gyllenhaal-Sherrybaby, Helen Mirren-The Queen, Kate Winslet-Little Children

Of these movies, I've only seen The Queen. 
I hear great things about Maggie Gyllenhaal, but I think Mirren will
win.  Since I haven't seen the other performances, I can't really say
she deserves it.  But for her performance alone, she deserves it.

Best Actor, Motion Picture – Drama

Leonardo DiCaprio-Blood Diamond, Leonardo DiCaprio-The Departed, Peter O’Toole-Venus, Will Smith-The Pursuit of Happyness, Forest Whitaker-The Last King of Scotland

I've only seen The Departed.  Hear great things the performances in Blood Diamond and Last King. 
I hope Will Smith doesn't win, based solely on the trailer for the
film.  I wonder if DiCaprio will split his own votes?  I thought he was
great in The Departed and would be glad to see him win for it.

Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical

Borat: CLoAfmBGNoK, The Devil Wears Prada, Dreamgirls, Little Miss Sunshine, Thank You For Smoking

Sadly, I haven't yet seen any of these movies.  I suspect Borat will win, based on the overwhelming gushing everyone heaps on it.  Little Miss Sunshine may
be the one to take it away from Borat though.  Heard good things about
Prada, too  And about Smoking as well, but I didn't realise it was a
comedy (or musical).  Favourite to win has to be Borat.

Best Actress, Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical

Annette Bening-Running With Scissors, Toni Collette-Little Miss Sunshine, Beyonce Knowles-Dreamgirls, Meryl Streep-The Devil Wears Prada, Renee Zellweger-Miss Potter

Guess I need to go see more movies.  Haven't seen any of these, but
based solely on what I hear, Bening will win.  I suspect it's a race
between her and Streep.

Best Actor, Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical

Sacha Baron Cohen-Borat: CLoAfmBGNoK, Johnny Depp-Pirates of the Caribbean:Dead Man’s Chest, Aaron Eckhart-Thank You For Smoking, Chiwetel Ejiofor-Kinky Boots, Will Ferrell-Stranger Than Fiction

Not having seen the movie, I hope Sacha Baron Cohen doesn't win. Haven't even heard of Kinky Boots.  My money is on Johnny Depp.

Best Animated Feature Film

Cars, Happy Feet, Monster House

It won't be Happy Feet (which means it WILL be Happy Feet).  Between the other two, Cars seems to have the popular vote and Monster House the critical vote.  I may be totally wrong on that.  I'll go with Monster House.  Haven't seen any of them.

Best Foreign Language Film

Apocalypto, Letters From Iwo Jima, The Lives of Others, Pan’s Labyrinth, Volver

Apocalypto
is getting good reviews, but it depends, I guess, on how many Jews are
voting in this category.  I'll say Gibson gets redeemed and wins.

Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture

Adrana Barraza-Babel, Cate Blanchett-Notes on a Scandal, Emily Blunt-The Devil Wears Prada, Jennifer Hudson-Dreamgirls, Rinko Kikuchi-Babel

I will say Rinko Kikuchi will win.  She was great.  She'll win.

Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture

Ben Affleck-Hollywoodland, Eddie Murphy-Dreamgirls, Jack Nicholson-The Departed, Brad Pitt-Babel, Mark Wahlberg-The Departed

Tough
category.  One of the monthly magazines is talking up Eddie Murphy's
performance for Oscar buzz.  Brad Pitt was very good, but really, other
than a couple of quiet-emoting scenes, his role wasn't that demanding. 
Both Wahlberg and Nicholson were very good.  Nicholson will win unless
too many people thought his performance was a bit too "Nicholson
hammy".  Personally, I thought it was wonderful.

Best Director – Motion Picture

Clint Eastwood-Flags of our Fathers, Clint Eastwood-Letters from Iwo Jima, Stephen Frears-The Queen, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu-Babel, Martin Scorsese-The Departed

I'm surprised with the two Eastwood noms, and suspect they'll cancel each other out.  Frears doesn't deserve it for The Queen.  Other than the acting, it was a pretty pedestrian film.  It's down to Babel and The Departed.  Again, either one wins and I'm happy.  I'll say Babel wins because it's just a more subtle film.

Best Screenplay – Motion Picture

Guillermo Arriaga-Babel, Todd Field & Tom Perrotta-Little Children, Patrick Marber-Notes on a Scandal, William Monahan-The Departed, Peter Morgan-The Queen

Seems like I got a boner for Babel.  I suspect it'll win this award.

Best Original Score – Motion Picture

Alexandre Desplat-The Painted Veil, Clint Mansell-The Fountain, Gustavo Santaolalla-Babel, Carlo Siliotto-Nomad, Hans Zimmer-The DaVinci Code

Babel.  Oh, why not?

Best Original Song – Motion Picture 

“A Father’s Way”- The Pursuit of Happyness (Seal), “Listen”-Dreamgirls (Beyonce), “Never Gonna Break My Faith”-Bobby (Bryan Adams), “The Song of the Heart”-Happy Feet (Prince Rogers Nelson), “Try Not To Remember”-Home of the Brave (Sheryl Crow)

I don't know and, really, don't care about this category.  I'll say Seal beats Crow.

Best Television Series – Drama

24, Big Love, Grey’s Anatomy, Heroes, Lost

Based on last year's hype, I'll say Lost wins this one.

Best Actress, Television Series – Drama

Patricia Arquette-Medium, Edie Falco-The Sopranos, Evangeline Lilly-Lost, Ellen Pompeo-Grey’s Anatomy, Kyra Sedgwich-The Closer

Based on that hospital bedside monologue, I give it to Edie Falco.

Best Actor, Television Series – Drama

Patrick Dempsey- Grey’s Anatomy, Michael C. Hall- Dexter, Hugh Laurie- House, Bill Paxton- Big Love, Kiefer Sutherland- 24

As much as I'd like to see Michael C. Hall win, he won't.  Hugh Laurie will win.  But never discount the love for Kiefer.

Best Television Series – Comedy or Musical

Desperate Housewives, Entourage, The Office, Ugly Betty, Weeds

Hands down.  The Office.

Best Actress, Television Series – Comedy or Musical

Marcia Cross- Desperate Housewives, America Ferrera- Ugly Betty, Felicity Huffman- Desperate Housewives, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss- The New Adventures of Old Christine, Mary-Louise Parker- Weeds

You know what I'm really sick of?  The Sex in the City girls getting multi-nominated in catetgories like this.  Now that they no longer exist, I hate the Desperate Housewives multi-noms.  I'll go with Julia, even though I've not seen the show.

Best Actor, Television Series – Comedy or Musical

Alec Baldwin- 30 Rock, Zach Braff- Scrubs, Steve Carrell- The Office, Jason Lee- My Name is Earl, Tony Shalhoub- Monk

Baldwin is good, but too "supporting
character" for this award.  Still, they might give it to him.  Braff is
too "3 years ago".  Steve Carrell is the winner right now.  Jason Lee
is too "2 years ago", and Shalhoub is too, what, "10 years ago"?  How
long has that show been on?  Never saw a minute of it.

Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Bleak House, Broken Trail, Elizabeth I, Mrs. Harris, Prime Suspect: The Final Act

Never saw any of them, except Mrs. Harris.  I'll say it wins.

Best Actress in Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Gillian Anderson- Bleak House, Annette Bening- Mrs. Harris, Helen Mirren- Elizabeth I, Helen Mirren- Prime Suspect: The Final Act, Sophe Okonedo- Tsunami, The Aftermath

That Helen Mirren, she sure can act, wha? 
She splits her own vote.  Annette Bening will have already been awarded
for her Motion Picture award.  This one goes to Gillian Anderson.  No, I don't believe that either.  Helen Mirren wins for, hmm, eenie meenie... Elizabeth I.

Best Actor in Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Andre Braugher- Thief, Robert Duvall- Broken Trail, Michael Ealy- Sleeper Cell: American Terror, Chiwetel Ejiofor- Tsunami, The Aftermath, Ben Kingsley- Mrs.Harris, Bill Nighy- Gideon’s Daughter, Matthew Perry- The Ron Clark Story

Seven nominations in this category? 
Really, this one is a total guess.  Unlike all the other total guesses
I've made.  I'll say Andre Braugher wins.  And I don't like Andre
Braugher.  He's too serious an actor.

Best Supporting Actress in TV Series, Mini-series or Motion Picture

Emily Blunt- Gideon’s Daughter, Toni Collette- Tsunami the Aftermath, Katherine Heigl- Grey’s Anatomy, Sarah Paulson- Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Elizabeth Perkins- Weeds

Sarah Paulson won't win.  Emily Blunt will.



Best Supporting Actor in TV Series, Mini-series or Motion Picture

Thomas Haden Church- Broken Trail, Jeremy Irons- Elizabeth I, Justin Kirk- Weeds, Masi Oka- Heroes, Jeremy Piven- Entourage

It'll be either Jeremy Irons or Jeremy Piven.  I'll go with Irons.

Technorati Tags: Golden Globes

PUUTTTINNN' AHNA RIIIIITTTZZZ!!

Peter Boyle died this week.  While he'll likely be remembered by a lot of people as Raymond's surly father in Everybody Loves Raymond, to me and many more, his comedic pinnacle came in the film Young Frankenstein, in the scene where he duets Putting On The Ritz with Gene Wilder onstage before the soon-to-be angry mob.  Every time I see that scene in particular, it guarantees a laugh out of me.

Thanks for that, Peter.

PUUTTTINNN' AHNA RIIIIITTTZZZ!!

Peter Boyle died this week.  While he'll likely be remembered by a lot of people as Raymond's surly father in Everybody Loves Raymond, to me and many more, his comedic pinnacle came in the film Young Frankenstein, in the scene where he duets Putting On The Ritz with Gene Wilder onstage before the soon-to-be angry mob.  Every time I see that scene in particular, it guarantees a laugh out of me.

Thanks for that, Peter.

The Long Awful Bus Ride Home

For some reason, the Charlottetown Transit system is using a smaller bus (less seats) for its busiest run, Confederation Centre to Charlottetown Mall.  i don't know why they made the move, but I don't really like the newer (older?) smaller bus.
Anyway, last night, I got on the bus and immediately knew it was going to be unpleasant.  A child wailing, in a stroller.  I sit at the back of the bus and for the whole of the duration of the trip out to the mall, the child did not stop wailing.
Now, I am a person who can tolerate all kinds of children's crying if it seems to have a valid reason and purpose.  Like if the child was obviously in some physical discomfort, I wouldn't begrudge the shrieking.  This kid, though, seemed to be doing it to spite its mother.  I say "its" because I honestly don't know if it was a boy or a girl.  At first, the quality of the tortured screaming seemed to indicate to me that the child was, in fact, in pain.  Soon, though, it became clear that the kid was in no pain and was only testing the mother.  Upon this realization, my hate for the kid was totally on.
For a while, I sympathized for the mother.  Poor, tortured mother unable to handle the emotional blackmail of the child.  Soon, though, that sympathy turned to anger.  Shame on you for not being able to handle the emotional blackmail of the child.  Then I started wondering about the kid.  It looked to be rather too big to be in a stroller.  Also the kid didn't actually wail any discernible words.  Just grunts and shrieks.  That made me think maybe the kid was disabled in some way.  I began to feel bad for the kid if this was the case.  Soon, though, it became clear that the kid was not affected by any disability.  Just a selfish, shrieking kid.  With an ineffectual, infuriating mother.
The whole experience made me want to get home and hug my son, because I cannot recall him ever acting out in such a way in public.  When I got home, I didn't hug him, though, since I pretty much put the whole ugly experience out of my head as soon as I got off the bus.

The Long Awful Bus Ride Home

For some reason, the Charlottetown Transit system is using a smaller bus (less seats) for its busiest run, Confederation Centre to Charlottetown Mall.  i don't know why they made the move, but I don't really like the newer (older?) smaller bus.
Anyway, last night, I got on the bus and immediately knew it was going to be unpleasant.  A child wailing, in a stroller.  I sit at the back of the bus and for the whole of the duration of the trip out to the mall, the child did not stop wailing.
Now, I am a person who can tolerate all kinds of children's crying if it seems to have a valid reason and purpose.  Like if the child was obviously in some physical discomfort, I wouldn't begrudge the shrieking.  This kid, though, seemed to be doing it to spite its mother.  I say "its" because I honestly don't know if it was a boy or a girl.  At first, the quality of the tortured screaming seemed to indicate to me that the child was, in fact, in pain.  Soon, though, it became clear that the kid was in no pain and was only testing the mother.  Upon this realization, my hate for the kid was totally on.
For a while, I sympathized for the mother.  Poor, tortured mother unable to handle the emotional blackmail of the child.  Soon, though, that sympathy turned to anger.  Shame on you for not being able to handle the emotional blackmail of the child.  Then I started wondering about the kid.  It looked to be rather too big to be in a stroller.  Also the kid didn't actually wail any discernible words.  Just grunts and shrieks.  That made me think maybe the kid was disabled in some way.  I began to feel bad for the kid if this was the case.  Soon, though, it became clear that the kid was not affected by any disability.  Just a selfish, shrieking kid.  With an ineffectual, infuriating mother.
The whole experience made me want to get home and hug my son, because I cannot recall him ever acting out in such a way in public.  When I got home, I didn't hug him, though, since I pretty much put the whole ugly experience out of my head as soon as I got off the bus.

Pauley Shore Gets Punched In The Desperate

So, there's a video out there showing Pauley Shore doing his routine in some deep south place.  A guy in a cowboy hat comes up on stage and punches him.  There are reports that the thing was staged.  After looking at the video, which I'm not linking to, I would agree that it was staged.
If it was staged, well, how sad and desperate.  If it wasn't staged, how sad and desperate that Pauley Shore is still doing standup.

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Pauley Shore Gets Punched In The Desperate

So, there's a video out there showing Pauley Shore doing his routine in some deep south place.  A guy in a cowboy hat comes up on stage and punches him.  There are reports that the thing was staged.  After looking at the video, which I'm not linking to, I would agree that it was staged.
If it was staged, well, how sad and desperate.  If it wasn't staged, how sad and desperate that Pauley Shore is still doing standup.

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PDJ's M-F, U-E Holiday Midterm

Another one of those movie exam things that show up every so often on Sergio Leone and the Infield Fly Rule.

1. What was the last movie you saw, either in a theater or on DVD, and why?
   The last movie I saw was Marebito,a Japanese quasi-horror flick that I didn’t really enjoy. But I saw that on The Movie Network, which is neither a theatre or DVD. So, to answer the question, the last movie I saw, either in a theatre or on DVD, was in a theatre. It was Casino Royale. The why of it is pretty simple: New Bond movie, and new Bond Bond. Itdoesn’t ask if I enjoyed it, but I did, for the most part. Daniel Craigis a very good Bond.
   

2) Name the cinematographer whose work you most look forward to seeing, and an example of one of his/her finest achievements.
I am assuming this means a current cinematographer whose (new) work I
most look forward to seeing. I’m not really too much into anticipating
the latest from cinematographers, as they pretty much go by
unrecognized by me (but not unappreciated, as I enjoy
interesting/pretty cinematography in movies). However, that last
cinematographer that I remember taking note of was Conrad L. Hall for Road To Perdition.
I thought that was a beautifully shot film. Sadly, he died shortly
after finishing it, so I can’t look forward to new work from him.

    3) Joe Don Baker or Bo Svenson?
Joe Don Baker.

    4) Name a moment from a movie that made you gasp (in horror, surprise, revelation…)
The first one that always comes to mind is the grave scene from Carrie.

5) Your favorite movie about the movies.
Robert Altman’s The Player, I guess.

6) Your Favorite Fritz Lang movie.
I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a Fritz Lang movie. And if I did, it didn’t register as a Fritz Lang movie.

    7) Describe the first time you ever recognized yourself in a movie.
I cannot recall.Or, I have not yet been adequately represented in a movie.  In all honesty, I see a lot of me in Dexter, the character in the Showtime TVseries Dexter.

8) Carole Bouquet or Angela Molina?
Even after a trip to IMDB, both actresses remain mysteries to me.  I'll have to go with Carole Bouquet, though, simply because I see where she was in For Your Eyes Only.

9) Name a movie that redeems the notion of nostalgia as something more than a bankable commodity.
Wow, that's one ofthose questions where you have to read it, like, a bunch of times even to begin to figure out what it means.  Does this mean name a movie that conjures up nostalgic thoughts in you, but doesn't seem to be selling you the nostalgia?  Name a movie which honestly evokes nostalgia, is that what it means?
Hmm?  Does it have to be nostalgia for a period in my past, or can it be nostalgia for a period I didn't experience?  I'll say Hope and Glory.

    10) Favorite appearance by an athlete in an acting role.
Does Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator 2 count?  If so, I'll go with that.  If not, I'm drawing a blank.  I will not say OJ Simpson.
   
    11) Favorite Hal Ashby movie.
Harold and Maude

    12) Name the first double feature you’d program for opening night of your own revival theater.
The first feature would be Bonnie & Clyde, followed by Polyester.

    13) What’s the name of your revival theater?
The Popcorn Box  (even as I was typing it, I started to hate it.  Then I began to really likeit. Now, I'm of mixed emotions about it)

    14) Humphrey Bogart or Elliot Gould?
Elliot Gould

    15) Favorite Robert Stevenson movie.
The Love Bug

    16) Describe your favorite moment in a movie that is memorable because of its use of sound.
The animal sounds in Raging Bull when Jake LaMotta is boxing.

    17) Pink Flamingoes-- yes or no?
Yes

    18) Your favorite movie soundtrack score.
It's cliche, I suppose, but The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

    19) Fay Wray or Naomi Watts?
Fay Wray, all the way.

    20) Is there a movie that would make you question the judgment and/or taste of a film critic, blogger or friend if you found out they were an advocate of it?
Of course.  Lots of movies.  Too many to mention here.  Anything starring Pauly Shore, for one.

    21) Pick a new category for the Oscars and its first deserving winner.
Best ComicPerformance.  Does it have to be from the last year?  If so, hmm, not alot of comedies jumping out at me.  Okay, so I can't think of anydeserving winners from this year, yet (although I'm sure there havebeen good comedic performances), but I do think it deserves to be acategory.  Comedic acting needs to be given its props.

    22) Favorite Paul Verhoeven movie.
In the same way that I suppose I could be forced to pick a favourite bout of diarrhea, I'd have to pick Showgirls.
   
    23) What is it that you think movies do better than any other art form? Distort the realities of history.

    24) Peter Ustinov or Albert Finney?
Albert Finney

    25) Favorite movie studio logo, as it appears before a theatrical feature.
I do like the kid fishing off the D in Dreamworks

    26) Name the single most important book about the movies for you personally.
Not much into books about the movies.

    27) Name the movie that features the best twist ending. (Please note the use of any “spoilers” in your answer.)
Psycho.  Only because the twist ending comes so early in the movie.

    28) Favorite Francois Truffaut movie.
Am I bad for not knowing if I've ever seen a Truffaut movie?

    29) Olivia Hussey or Claire Danes?
Olivia Hussey, please.  By default.

    30) Your most memorable celebrity encounter.
I have not had a memorable celebrity encounter.

    31) When did you first realize that films were directed?
Probably Jaws, when I realized that somebody was responsible for causing me to be so on edge.

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PDJ's M-F, U-E Holiday Midterm

Another one of those movie exam things that show up every so often on Sergio Leone and the Infield Fly Rule.

1. What was the last movie you saw, either in a theater or on DVD, and why?
   The last movie I saw was Marebito,a Japanese quasi-horror flick that I didn’t really enjoy. But I saw that on The Movie Network, which is neither a theatre or DVD. So, to answer the question, the last movie I saw, either in a theatre or on DVD, was in a theatre. It was Casino Royale. The why of it is pretty simple: New Bond movie, and new Bond Bond. Itdoesn’t ask if I enjoyed it, but I did, for the most part. Daniel Craigis a very good Bond.
   

2) Name the cinematographer whose work you most look forward to seeing, and an example of one of his/her finest achievements.
I am assuming this means a current cinematographer whose (new) work I
most look forward to seeing. I’m not really too much into anticipating
the latest from cinematographers, as they pretty much go by
unrecognized by me (but not unappreciated, as I enjoy
interesting/pretty cinematography in movies). However, that last
cinematographer that I remember taking note of was Conrad L. Hall for Road To Perdition.
I thought that was a beautifully shot film. Sadly, he died shortly
after finishing it, so I can’t look forward to new work from him.

    3) Joe Don Baker or Bo Svenson?
Joe Don Baker.

    4) Name a moment from a movie that made you gasp (in horror, surprise, revelation…)
The first one that always comes to mind is the grave scene from Carrie.

5) Your favorite movie about the movies.
Robert Altman’s The Player, I guess.

6) Your Favorite Fritz Lang movie.
I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a Fritz Lang movie. And if I did, it didn’t register as a Fritz Lang movie.

    7) Describe the first time you ever recognized yourself in a movie.
I cannot recall.Or, I have not yet been adequately represented in a movie.  In all honesty, I see a lot of me in Dexter, the character in the Showtime TVseries Dexter.

8) Carole Bouquet or Angela Molina?
Even after a trip to IMDB, both actresses remain mysteries to me.  I'll have to go with Carole Bouquet, though, simply because I see where she was in For Your Eyes Only.

9) Name a movie that redeems the notion of nostalgia as something more than a bankable commodity.
Wow, that's one ofthose questions where you have to read it, like, a bunch of times even to begin to figure out what it means.  Does this mean name a movie that conjures up nostalgic thoughts in you, but doesn't seem to be selling you the nostalgia?  Name a movie which honestly evokes nostalgia, is that what it means?
Hmm?  Does it have to be nostalgia for a period in my past, or can it be nostalgia for a period I didn't experience?  I'll say Hope and Glory.

    10) Favorite appearance by an athlete in an acting role.
Does Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator 2 count?  If so, I'll go with that.  If not, I'm drawing a blank.  I will not say OJ Simpson.
   
    11) Favorite Hal Ashby movie.
Harold and Maude

    12) Name the first double feature you’d program for opening night of your own revival theater.
The first feature would be Bonnie & Clyde, followed by Polyester.

    13) What’s the name of your revival theater?
The Popcorn Box  (even as I was typing it, I started to hate it.  Then I began to really likeit. Now, I'm of mixed emotions about it)

    14) Humphrey Bogart or Elliot Gould?
Elliot Gould

    15) Favorite Robert Stevenson movie.
The Love Bug

    16) Describe your favorite moment in a movie that is memorable because of its use of sound.
The animal sounds in Raging Bull when Jake LaMotta is boxing.

    17) Pink Flamingoes-- yes or no?
Yes

    18) Your favorite movie soundtrack score.
It's cliche, I suppose, but The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

    19) Fay Wray or Naomi Watts?
Fay Wray, all the way.

    20) Is there a movie that would make you question the judgment and/or taste of a film critic, blogger or friend if you found out they were an advocate of it?
Of course.  Lots of movies.  Too many to mention here.  Anything starring Pauly Shore, for one.

    21) Pick a new category for the Oscars and its first deserving winner.
Best ComicPerformance.  Does it have to be from the last year?  If so, hmm, not alot of comedies jumping out at me.  Okay, so I can't think of anydeserving winners from this year, yet (although I'm sure there havebeen good comedic performances), but I do think it deserves to be acategory.  Comedic acting needs to be given its props.

    22) Favorite Paul Verhoeven movie.
In the same way that I suppose I could be forced to pick a favourite bout of diarrhea, I'd have to pick Showgirls.
   
    23) What is it that you think movies do better than any other art form? Distort the realities of history.

    24) Peter Ustinov or Albert Finney?
Albert Finney

    25) Favorite movie studio logo, as it appears before a theatrical feature.
I do like the kid fishing off the D in Dreamworks

    26) Name the single most important book about the movies for you personally.
Not much into books about the movies.

    27) Name the movie that features the best twist ending. (Please note the use of any “spoilers” in your answer.)
Psycho.  Only because the twist ending comes so early in the movie.

    28) Favorite Francois Truffaut movie.
Am I bad for not knowing if I've ever seen a Truffaut movie?

    29) Olivia Hussey or Claire Danes?
Olivia Hussey, please.  By default.

    30) Your most memorable celebrity encounter.
I have not had a memorable celebrity encounter.

    31) When did you first realize that films were directed?
Probably Jaws, when I realized that somebody was responsible for causing me to be so on edge.

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The Weekly NFL Picks Update

Well, the NFL season is firmly into its "if Team A wins three of their last four while Team B gets arrested in Mexico for indecent exposure, and as long Team C doesn't cannibalize itself in a plane crash in the Andes, Team D has a slight chance of securing a Wild Card Spot" period, and it's time to check in with my little NFL Picks contest.
Never before have I sucked more in making my picks each week.  I am an abysmal 85-107, which is 44.3%.  I could, theoretically, do better by flipping a coin.

Here are the current standings, with 4 regular season and all the playoff weeks/games still to come:

Graham the Conqueror is on top with the only 50%+ score:  99-93 (51.6%)
Next is the always near the top reverseflash with 92-100 (47.9%)
spragger2002 & Jim Simmonds are tied for third with 90-102 (46.9%)
RFTT1985 started out strong this season, but fell down the standings to 89-103 (46.3%)
Yours Truly, annekenstein, is at the bottom of the barrel, with a paltry 85-107 (44.3%)

And it's not just a couple of bad weeks which have done me in.  Every week, I've sucked in my picks.  Except, I think, two weeks ago when I got something like 9-6.

My Dolphins have had a remarkably frustrating season, too, by the way.  A 1-6 start to the season doomed them to any realistic chance of making the playoffs.  They're currently 5-7 and can only hope to play spoiler for others from here on out (even though they are not yet mathematically eliminated from playoff contention).

The Weekly NFL Picks Update

Well, the NFL season is firmly into its "if Team A wins three of their last four while Team B gets arrested in Mexico for indecent exposure, and as long Team C doesn't cannibalize itself in a plane crash in the Andes, Team D has a slight chance of securing a Wild Card Spot" period, and it's time to check in with my little NFL Picks contest.
Never before have I sucked more in making my picks each week.  I am an abysmal 85-107, which is 44.3%.  I could, theoretically, do better by flipping a coin.

Here are the current standings, with 4 regular season and all the playoff weeks/games still to come:

Graham the Conqueror is on top with the only 50%+ score:  99-93 (51.6%)
Next is the always near the top reverseflash with 92-100 (47.9%)
spragger2002 & Jim Simmonds are tied for third with 90-102 (46.9%)
RFTT1985 started out strong this season, but fell down the standings to 89-103 (46.3%)
Yours Truly, annekenstein, is at the bottom of the barrel, with a paltry 85-107 (44.3%)

And it's not just a couple of bad weeks which have done me in.  Every week, I've sucked in my picks.  Except, I think, two weeks ago when I got something like 9-6.

My Dolphins have had a remarkably frustrating season, too, by the way.  A 1-6 start to the season doomed them to any realistic chance of making the playoffs.  They're currently 5-7 and can only hope to play spoiler for others from here on out (even though they are not yet mathematically eliminated from playoff contention).

Santa Made Me Shit Bricks!!

Here is a great gallery of some pics of kids with Santa.  Some of those Santa's would make me cry too.

Santa Made Me Shit Bricks!!

Here is a great gallery of some pics of kids with Santa.  Some of those Santa's would make me cry too.

Soundtrack To My Life's Movie

From DaveS comes this meme.  Sorry for using the word "meme".  But it's a good meme, I think.
 

"If Your Life Was a Movie What Would the Soundtrack Be"

The rules:
1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc.).
2. Put it on shuffle.
3. Press play.
4. For every question, type the song that's playing.
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button.

6. Don't lie and try to pretend you're cool.

Opening Credits:
A Day In The Life - The Beatles

Waking Up:
What My Woman Can't Do (Can't Be Done) - George Jones

First Day at School:
Squeeze Box - The Who

Falling In Love:
Annabelle - Gillian Welch

Fight Song:
Green Onions - Booker T. and the MG's

Breaking Up:
Dancing Queen - Abba

Prom:
She's Electric - Oasis

Life:
Snowin' On Raton - Townes Van Zandt

Mental Breakdown:
I'm Looking Through You - The Wallflowers (cover of The Beatles)

Driving:
Beat Surrender - The Jam

Flashback:
Boarded Up - XTC

Getting Back Together:
My Heart Cries For You - Ray Charles

Wedding:
Sex Drugs and Rock & Roll - Ian Dury and the Blockheads

Birth of Child:
Pink Cashmere - Prince

Final Battle:
It's Gonna Take An Airplane - The Destroyer

Death Scene:
Rise Above - Black Flag

Funeral Song:
Dark Side of the World - Marvin Gaye

Closing Credits:
Everything In Its Right Place - Radiohead

For the record, I skipped ahead once.  Once, instead of a song, I got a podcast, so I didn't allow that to count.
Otherwise, a pretty cool soundtrack, if you ask me.  All over the place.  I am particularly happy with the Opening and Closing Credits choices.  Also happy to have Black Flag playing for my death scene.  Wonder where that'll be, and what the circumstances will be?

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Soundtrack To My Life's Movie

From DaveS comes this meme.  Sorry for using the word "meme".  But it's a good meme, I think.
 

"If Your Life Was a Movie What Would the Soundtrack Be"

The rules:
1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc.).
2. Put it on shuffle.
3. Press play.
4. For every question, type the song that's playing.
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button.

6. Don't lie and try to pretend you're cool.

Opening Credits:
A Day In The Life - The Beatles

Waking Up:
What My Woman Can't Do (Can't Be Done) - George Jones

First Day at School:
Squeeze Box - The Who

Falling In Love:
Annabelle - Gillian Welch

Fight Song:
Green Onions - Booker T. and the MG's

Breaking Up:
Dancing Queen - Abba

Prom:
She's Electric - Oasis

Life:
Snowin' On Raton - Townes Van Zandt

Mental Breakdown:
I'm Looking Through You - The Wallflowers (cover of The Beatles)

Driving:
Beat Surrender - The Jam

Flashback:
Boarded Up - XTC

Getting Back Together:
My Heart Cries For You - Ray Charles

Wedding:
Sex Drugs and Rock & Roll - Ian Dury and the Blockheads

Birth of Child:
Pink Cashmere - Prince

Final Battle:
It's Gonna Take An Airplane - The Destroyer

Death Scene:
Rise Above - Black Flag

Funeral Song:
Dark Side of the World - Marvin Gaye

Closing Credits:
Everything In Its Right Place - Radiohead

For the record, I skipped ahead once.  Once, instead of a song, I got a podcast, so I didn't allow that to count.
Otherwise, a pretty cool soundtrack, if you ask me.  All over the place.  I am particularly happy with the Opening and Closing Credits choices.  Also happy to have Black Flag playing for my death scene.  Wonder where that'll be, and what the circumstances will be?

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Stall Guilt

The men's bathroom on the 3rd floor has got to be one of the busiest bathrooms in Charlottetown.  There is practically a constant rotation of bowel and bladder bothered men in there.  Often it's a no-vacancy situation that forces me to go down one floor to the men's bathroom that doesn't seem to see half the action of the 3rd floor's.

There are two stalls and one urinal.  One of the stalls is extra-wide for the wheelchair-enabled.  By choice, I don't use that stall.  Even though I think I have as much right to use that stall as a handicapped person, I don't. 
But today, I needed to pee, and while the second stall was free (urinal was in use), I decided on a whim to enjoy my piss in the vast openness of that extra-wide stall.  No sooner did I unzip my pants when I hear a click-click-click in the room.  I instinctively knew it was someone with a disability.  As I hadn't yet started to vacate my bladder, I decided I'd vacate the stall and give it to the handicapped person.  Zip up and exit the stall, and I see the guy has already taken up residence at the urinal.  It's a blind guy, and his white cane provided the click-click.
Since he's already relieving himself at the urinal, I decide to go back to the extra-wide stall and relieve myself.  Decision made, and I do my business.
Even though I, like I said, feel I have as much right to use that stall as handicapped people, I obviously feel guilty for doing so. So, yeah, it's odd, I think, to feel like I'm cheating by using it.  I felt a bit of guilt for almost being caught for using it.
I'm glad it didn't turn into something with this guy, too.  Not that he would've turned it into anything, but I've had one other embarrassing (for me) experience with him.  We were both in the elevator, making our way to the third floor.  We had one of those inconsequential elevator conversations, and as the door opened, and we exited, I said to him, as a way to end the conversation "See you later".  To a blind guy.  I'm sure he gets it all the time, but it caught me off guard, enough for me to try and stop myself in mid-sentence.  That made it worse.  Sort of like "See you... Later".  Don't think it phased him in the least, but I felt stupid for saying it.

Stall Guilt

The men's bathroom on the 3rd floor has got to be one of the busiest bathrooms in Charlottetown.  There is practically a constant rotation of bowel and bladder bothered men in there.  Often it's a no-vacancy situation that forces me to go down one floor to the men's bathroom that doesn't seem to see half the action of the 3rd floor's.

There are two stalls and one urinal.  One of the stalls is extra-wide for the wheelchair-enabled.  By choice, I don't use that stall.  Even though I think I have as much right to use that stall as a handicapped person, I don't. 
But today, I needed to pee, and while the second stall was free (urinal was in use), I decided on a whim to enjoy my piss in the vast openness of that extra-wide stall.  No sooner did I unzip my pants when I hear a click-click-click in the room.  I instinctively knew it was someone with a disability.  As I hadn't yet started to vacate my bladder, I decided I'd vacate the stall and give it to the handicapped person.  Zip up and exit the stall, and I see the guy has already taken up residence at the urinal.  It's a blind guy, and his white cane provided the click-click.
Since he's already relieving himself at the urinal, I decide to go back to the extra-wide stall and relieve myself.  Decision made, and I do my business.
Even though I, like I said, feel I have as much right to use that stall as handicapped people, I obviously feel guilty for doing so. So, yeah, it's odd, I think, to feel like I'm cheating by using it.  I felt a bit of guilt for almost being caught for using it.
I'm glad it didn't turn into something with this guy, too.  Not that he would've turned it into anything, but I've had one other embarrassing (for me) experience with him.  We were both in the elevator, making our way to the third floor.  We had one of those inconsequential elevator conversations, and as the door opened, and we exited, I said to him, as a way to end the conversation "See you later".  To a blind guy.  I'm sure he gets it all the time, but it caught me off guard, enough for me to try and stop myself in mid-sentence.  That made it worse.  Sort of like "See you... Later".  Don't think it phased him in the least, but I felt stupid for saying it.

The Good Wife's Guide

This, from Good Housekeeping, 1955.  Here's hoping my wife reads this.

• Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready, on time for his return.  This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs.  Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal (especially his favourite dish) is part of the warm welcome needed.
• Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you'll be refreshed when he arrives.  Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking.  He has just been with a lot of work-weary people.
• Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him.  His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.
• Clear away the clutter.  Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives.
• Gather up schoolbooks, toys, paper etc and then run a dustcloth over hte tables.
• Over the cooler months of the year you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by.  Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too.  After all, catering for his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.
• Prepare the children.  Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces (if they are small), comb their hair and, if necessary, change their clothes.  They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part.  Minimise all noise.  At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer or vacuum.  Try to encourage the children to be quiet.
• Be happy with him.
• Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.
• Listen to him.  You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time.  Let him talk first - remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.
• Make the evening his.  Never complain if he comes home late or goes out to dinner, or other places of entertainment without you.  Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure and his very real need to be at home and relax.
• Your goal: Try to make sure your home is a place of peace, order and tranquility where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.
• Don't greet him with complaints and problems.
• Don't complain if he's late home for dinner or even if he stays out all night. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through that day.
• Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or have him lie down in the bedroom.  Have a coll or warm drink ready for him.
• Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes.  Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.
• Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity. Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness.  You have no right to question him
• A good wife always knows her place.

You know, if women would just abide by these simple rules, the world would be such a better place.

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The Good Wife's Guide

This, from Good Housekeeping, 1955.  Here's hoping my wife reads this.

• Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready, on time for his return.  This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs.  Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal (especially his favourite dish) is part of the warm welcome needed.
• Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you'll be refreshed when he arrives.  Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking.  He has just been with a lot of work-weary people.
• Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him.  His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.
• Clear away the clutter.  Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives.
• Gather up schoolbooks, toys, paper etc and then run a dustcloth over hte tables.
• Over the cooler months of the year you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by.  Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too.  After all, catering for his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.
• Prepare the children.  Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces (if they are small), comb their hair and, if necessary, change their clothes.  They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part.  Minimise all noise.  At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer or vacuum.  Try to encourage the children to be quiet.
• Be happy with him.
• Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.
• Listen to him.  You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time.  Let him talk first - remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.
• Make the evening his.  Never complain if he comes home late or goes out to dinner, or other places of entertainment without you.  Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure and his very real need to be at home and relax.
• Your goal: Try to make sure your home is a place of peace, order and tranquility where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.
• Don't greet him with complaints and problems.
• Don't complain if he's late home for dinner or even if he stays out all night. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through that day.
• Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or have him lie down in the bedroom.  Have a coll or warm drink ready for him.
• Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes.  Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.
• Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity. Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness.  You have no right to question him
• A good wife always knows her place.

You know, if women would just abide by these simple rules, the world would be such a better place.

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Donald RumsFelled

Or... Donald Rumsfallen and he can't get up.

Donald RumsFelled

Or... Donald Rumsfallen and he can't get up.

Saddam Hussein Sentenced To Be Dead

I didn't even know he was sentenced to be sick.

Saddam Hussein Sentenced To Be Dead

I didn't even know he was sentenced to be sick.

He Said My Name Is Harvey

I forget how it came around to this, but today at lunch I was telling DaveS about one of my favourite scenes from the movie Harvey. While Harvey is not one of my favourite movies (I find it a bit slow moving in parts, it does contain a few fantastic scenes, mostly from Jimmy Stewart.. He had commented that the scene I was telling him about would maybe make a good monologue to have at the ready, say, for an audition. That was a thought I had when I recently watched the movie again, after not seeing it for a long time.
Well, through the wonder of YouTube, I was able to find a re-enactment of that very scene. And while this clip doesn't do the actual film scene any justice (Jimmy Stewart was a hundred-fold better than the actor in this clip), it does show the scene in its entirety. The re-enactment is performed by a YouTube regular, Brandon Hardesty, who has, among other videos, almost 20 re-enactments of movies, in which he plays all the roles. You should check some of them out.
Anyway, in this scene, Elwood P. Dowd (who is something of a town-drinker, and who claims to be friends with a pooka, named Harvey, who takes the form of an invisible 6 foot tall rabbit) is in an alley behind a bar, talking to a psychologist who is trying to figure out just how crazy Dowd is, to see if he should be institutionalized. The doctor asks Elwood how he came to know Harvey, and the scene is Elwood answering him. Again, while the re-enactment is somewhat entertaining in its own right, it nowhere does justice to Jimmy Stewart's performance on screen. Some night when you're in the mood for a good old comedy, and you've seen all the "great ones", this is one definitely worth checking out.

He Said My Name Is Harvey

I forget how it came around to this, but today at lunch I was telling DaveS about one of my favourite scenes from the movie Harvey. While Harvey is not one of my favourite movies (I find it a bit slow moving in parts, it does contain a few fantastic scenes, mostly from Jimmy Stewart.. He had commented that the scene I was telling him about would maybe make a good monologue to have at the ready, say, for an audition. That was a thought I had when I recently watched the movie again, after not seeing it for a long time.
Well, through the wonder of YouTube, I was able to find a re-enactment of that very scene. And while this clip doesn't do the actual film scene any justice (Jimmy Stewart was a hundred-fold better than the actor in this clip), it does show the scene in its entirety. The re-enactment is performed by a YouTube regular, Brandon Hardesty, who has, among other videos, almost 20 re-enactments of movies, in which he plays all the roles. You should check some of them out.
Anyway, in this scene, Elwood P. Dowd (who is something of a town-drinker, and who claims to be friends with a pooka, named Harvey, who takes the form of an invisible 6 foot tall rabbit) is in an alley behind a bar, talking to a psychologist who is trying to figure out just how crazy Dowd is, to see if he should be institutionalized. The doctor asks Elwood how he came to know Harvey, and the scene is Elwood answering him. Again, while the re-enactment is somewhat entertaining in its own right, it nowhere does justice to Jimmy Stewart's performance on screen. Some night when you're in the mood for a good old comedy, and you've seen all the "great ones", this is one definitely worth checking out.

Guess The Song In My Ears

From now until forever, if you ever see me with my headphones on, if you want,  you can try to guess the song and/or artist to which I'm listening.  If you guess the band correctly, I'll give you five dollars.  If you guess the actual song I'm listening to, I'll give you fifty dollars.  One guess per meeting.
Or, you can just not bother.

Guess The Song In My Ears

From now until forever, if you ever see me with my headphones on, if you want,  you can try to guess the song and/or artist to which I'm listening.  If you guess the band correctly, I'll give you five dollars.  If you guess the actual song I'm listening to, I'll give you fifty dollars.  One guess per meeting.
Or, you can just not bother.

Saxondale

I've been a fan of Steve Coogan, ever since I first saw took notice of him in 24 Hour Party People, and most recently in the odd (in a good way) Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story. I absolutely loved his segment with Alfred Molina in Jim Jarmusch's Coffee and Cigarettes.  (had enough with the links?)  He is universally heralded for his performance of the title character on "I'm Alan Partridge", a TV show I've never seen, yet since it gets such glowing reviews, one I should probably search out.  I like his easy, natural acting style, and, although he's primarily a comedic actor, looks like he'd be able to handle dramatic stuff without problem.
Anyway, this weekend, I read a brief review in Salon (I won't link to it), about a new-ish series of his that's airing (or has aired) on BBC-America.  The show is called Saxondale.  Me, being a child of the internet age, promptly downloaded the whole 7 episodes of Series One of the show (I don't know if there'll be a Series Two).
After watching the first three episodes, in a row, I can say that this show is definitely worth the effort to find it and watch it.  It is quite wonderful, in all kinds of subtle ways.  Coogan plays the title character (he also is co-writer on all the episodes), Tommy Saxondale, who is a somewhat burnt-out former-roadie for all the big bands in the 70's and 80's.  Now that he's middle-aged, he makes a living as an independently subcontracted pest control guy.  He's married to a rather BBW woman who makes her living creating and selling t-shirts (the "creativity" primarily consisting of putting pictures of famous uptight people on t-shirts, superimposing them with a joint in their mouth/hand whatever).  So, basically, he's a middle-aged guy who has hundreds of stories of his wild youth, who is now a rather comfortable middle-aged man with anger-managment issues.
While the plots are sometimes thin, that's not really an issue.  Because Coogan so totally inhabits this character (who is reminiscent of an older, British version of Dude Lebowski), that it's simply a joy to watch him act.  He enjoys spouting his opinions everywhere/anywhere, and often finds himself going too far in his opinions, as he gets himself worked up into an angry froth.  While this may sound rather boring and too one-noted, it's really not.

Check it out, and then agree with me.  If you're looking for something to replace the weekly fix of downloading and watching Extras, now that Series Two of that is ended, take a look for Saxondale.  I think you'll like it.

Technorati Tags: Saxondale, Steve Coogan

Saxondale

I've been a fan of Steve Coogan, ever since I first saw took notice of him in 24 Hour Party People, and most recently in the odd (in a good way) Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story. I absolutely loved his segment with Alfred Molina in Jim Jarmusch's Coffee and Cigarettes.  (had enough with the links?)  He is universally heralded for his performance of the title character on "I'm Alan Partridge", a TV show I've never seen, yet since it gets such glowing reviews, one I should probably search out.  I like his easy, natural acting style, and, although he's primarily a comedic actor, looks like he'd be able to handle dramatic stuff without problem.
Anyway, this weekend, I read a brief review in Salon (I won't link to it), about a new-ish series of his that's airing (or has aired) on BBC-America.  The show is called Saxondale.  Me, being a child of the internet age, promptly downloaded the whole 7 episodes of Series One of the show (I don't know if there'll be a Series Two).
After watching the first three episodes, in a row, I can say that this show is definitely worth the effort to find it and watch it.  It is quite wonderful, in all kinds of subtle ways.  Coogan plays the title character (he also is co-writer on all the episodes), Tommy Saxondale, who is a somewhat burnt-out former-roadie for all the big bands in the 70's and 80's.  Now that he's middle-aged, he makes a living as an independently subcontracted pest control guy.  He's married to a rather BBW woman who makes her living creating and selling t-shirts (the "creativity" primarily consisting of putting pictures of famous uptight people on t-shirts, superimposing them with a joint in their mouth/hand whatever).  So, basically, he's a middle-aged guy who has hundreds of stories of his wild youth, who is now a rather comfortable middle-aged man with anger-managment issues.
While the plots are sometimes thin, that's not really an issue.  Because Coogan so totally inhabits this character (who is reminiscent of an older, British version of Dude Lebowski), that it's simply a joy to watch him act.  He enjoys spouting his opinions everywhere/anywhere, and often finds himself going too far in his opinions, as he gets himself worked up into an angry froth.  While this may sound rather boring and too one-noted, it's really not.

Check it out, and then agree with me.  If you're looking for something to replace the weekly fix of downloading and watching Extras, now that Series Two of that is ended, take a look for Saxondale.  I think you'll like it.

Technorati Tags: Saxondale, Steve Coogan

A Luted Sting

Now, if I hadn't watched it, and if somebody told me that Sting was on this week's Studio 60, and that he was playing a lute, I'd probably scoff and imagine the ArrogantAndPompous version of Sting coyly smugging himself into the show.

But I did see it (twice, actually), and I'm very surprised at how wonderful it was. I've been, at times, a pretty big fan of Sting's music. Not so much lately, but I think he's immensely talented. It's just his personality sometimes gets in the way. Anyway, I didn't recognise the first song he did, but enjoyed it quite a bit. However, the lute version of Fields of Gold he performed at the end of the show was, well, wonderful.

Still, though, the show continues to bug me. The characters are far too-often too involved and engaged in the conversations they have, and are never at a loss for words. Unless it's written that they're supposed to be at a loss. For a comedy show, nobody seems to be having much fun. Not that that's a prerequisite for being involved in a comedy show, but they're just so serious about everything. And are any of them someone you'd want to spend any time with?

At least this week's shown comedy segments were supposed to be on the verge of being funny. Because that's exactly what they were. On the verge of being funny.

I'm still hanging in there, with the show, but I'm not in any way gaga over it. I'll watch next week.

Technorati Tags: Sting, lute, Studio 60

A Luted Sting

Now, if I hadn't watched it, and if somebody told me that Sting was on this week's Studio 60, and that he was playing a lute, I'd probably scoff and imagine the ArrogantAndPompous version of Sting coyly smugging himself into the show.

But I did see it (twice, actually), and I'm very surprised at how wonderful it was. I've been, at times, a pretty big fan of Sting's music. Not so much lately, but I think he's immensely talented. It's just his personality sometimes gets in the way. Anyway, I didn't recognise the first song he did, but enjoyed it quite a bit. However, the lute version of Fields of Gold he performed at the end of the show was, well, wonderful.

Still, though, the show continues to bug me. The characters are far too-often too involved and engaged in the conversations they have, and are never at a loss for words. Unless it's written that they're supposed to be at a loss. For a comedy show, nobody seems to be having much fun. Not that that's a prerequisite for being involved in a comedy show, but they're just so serious about everything. And are any of them someone you'd want to spend any time with?

At least this week's shown comedy segments were supposed to be on the verge of being funny. Because that's exactly what they were. On the verge of being funny.

I'm still hanging in there, with the show, but I'm not in any way gaga over it. I'll watch next week.

Technorati Tags: Sting, lute, Studio 60

The Miami Dolphinished

Regular readers here may know that I'm a big Miami Dolphins fan, they of the NFL.

This is the second season of their new coach, the much-lauded and uber-successful college football coach Nick Saban. Last season, the Dolphins ended strong, and all indications pointed to the belief that Miami's players had bought into Coach Saban's coaching philosophy. That, coupled with the common belief that a coach only starts "owning" his team in his second year onward, and with a few good moves in the offseason, the Dolphins should be able to make the playoffs this year. That was the belief.

One of those good moves seemed to be the acquisition of a new (to them) quarterback, in the name of Duante Culpepper. Two years ago, he was a star qb, a hang-your-franchise-on-my-shoulders kind of guy. Last year, his performance fell off a bit, then he got a very significant knee injury and missed the final half the season. He recouped his knee remarkably well in the off-season, enough so that Miami decided to trade for him. I was happy about this trade, because the Dolphins, for about half a decade at least, were in desperate need of a star quarterback. I (as did many others) expected Duante to return to some semblance of his star form after being fully recuperated. Hopefully, he'd return a month or so into this season, and play wonderfully. Joey Harrington, an underachieving but potentially quality qb who last played in hapless Detroit was also acquired. The question about Joey is this: are his poor statistics more a reflection on his abilities, or on the woeful team he played for? I always thought he was better than he was allowed to be, and when "we" got him, I was happy thinking he'd most likely competently start this season, until Duante was ready. That was the belief.

Then, over the early summer, Duante's injury progress had improved to the point where he was now expected to start the season. A very fast knee recuperation. All was well with Miami. Preseason has the team not playing so well, but Duante is playing well enough. Yeah, he's still rusty, but that'll rub off quickly. Harrington, too, was playing pretty well.

All was so well with Miami that at least two prominent sports magazines declared the Dolphins to be SuperBowl favoured team from the AFC. While I never bought into that hype, I was quietly expecting the Dolphins to make it into the playoffs, and depending on how things stood then, who knows how far they'd go.

Well, six games into the 16 game season and Miami are a pathetic 1-5. They are a terrible team of underachieving, poorly coached, poorly motivated sports individuals. While the defense has shown itself capable, the offense stinks. Turns out Culpepper wasn't ready to come back this soon, and needs to get more rehab. He proved to be slow, indecisive and rather immobile. After four awful games (even the one game they won was not a good win), in which he got sacked far too often, he got benched so, says coach, he can rehab himself back to the point where he has his spark back.

Enter Harrington for the past two games, and while the offense does look crisper, there are still far too many things going wrong in this offense for it to win anything.

The reality of the situation is that the Dolphins really suck this year, and I'm glad now that I didn't splurge on NFL Sunday Ticket this season. It is highly improbable, bordering on impossible, that they'll make the playoffs now. Honestly, I'm hoping they're able to turn it around enough so they win half their remaining games. That would leave them at 7-9. A small smidgen of my brain still holds out hope that they magically turn on the "team" switch, and enough things will change that they turn it around and become a force to be reckoned with. But that ain't gonna happen.

Anyway, it's not fun being a Dolphins fan so far this year.

Technorati Tags: Miami Dolphins, NFL, sports, Duante Culpepper, Joey Harrington, Nick Saban