Eat, drink, and bray like a donkey

This was the floral decoration at the UU church this week. Davidson (a confessed hereric) has delivered a couple of really healing sermons this month on the topic of this holiday season. One was titled "The Real Reason For the Season" which you would expect to be a schmaltzy speech on how we should be helping those less fortunate (well, you should always do that whenever possible). Nope, that's not what it was about. First of all, it covered the history of the holiday back to pre-historic times, including Mithra and Constantine and Sol Invictus, and on through to the very secular or removed-from-religion trimmings that are so much a part of it today. The punch line (as I interpreted it) was that the day which provided the most darkness, in the cold of midwinter, happened to be the time when the wine was fermented and ready, certain cattle were slaughtered to eliminate the need to keep feeding them, and the depression of darkness all added up to it being high time for a party before hunkering down for the rest of the Winter ahead -- hence the title. Read it here, or listen to the audio here (Dec. 9). I also ran across an excellent Commentary in, of all things, the Wall Street Journal, called "A Brief History of Christmas" which also covers a lot of the Pagan stuff, but some of the early Church revelries were pretty interesting. I had never heard of the "Feast of the Ass" !! Read it here, and if the article comes up unavailable, I saved the text, so let me know.

Tags: xmas - christmas - pagan

Movie year 2007

Just covering what we saw in 2007 that was widely-released this year, some on DVD, some in the theatre. I'm no critic, I'm no intellectual or film geek, and I've got no credentials. None at all. So this is just a list of a few of my worthless and shallow opinions. Movie links go to IMDB unless otherwise noted.

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Animated favorites

Ratatouille!!! Cute overload plus a good story. Now I want a pet rat. I don't think Jax would understand.
The Simpsons is a movie length TV episode so if you like the Simpsons, you'll like it. I want more Spider-Pig in the future.
Shrek the Third is... well... Shrek. You know what to expect. It's all good.

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Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Horror

Favorites:
Sweeney Todd. Two Johnny Depp movies in the same year! What's not to love about that? I have to confess that I was completely ignorant about Sweeney Todd except for the most obvious things, like the premise. My ignorance was bliss in that I got to be surprised by the plot twists and the ending. Wonderful. Great cast! Newcomers Jamie Campbell Bower (looks like a new heartbreaker) and Ed Sanders (the kid), what a wonderful voice.
Grindhouse. Link goes to my previous posting about it. I was really disappointed that you can't rent "Grindhouse", it's "Planet Terror" and "Death Proof". Same goes for the soundtracks on CD.
Bridge to Terabithia. I thought this would be something just for kids, but it wasn’t, AND it made me cry, which is hard to do.

Also recommended:
I Am Legend. Will Smith is not funny in it, but he is still good. Yes, the bad guys are pretty CG-looking, but still scary. We rented The Omega Man and watched it later the same night. I was ignorant and didn’t realize that they were both based on the same novel "I Am Legend", so this one is not a remake of The Omega Man (1971). The Omega Man is an absolute HOOT, and has unbelievably cheesy 60s/70s music throughout, plus a gun-totin’ Charlton Heston and plenty of afro hairstyles. Actually, the novel (novelette? short story?), I Am Legend, also inspired The Last Man on Earth from 1964 starring Vincent Price, another one to look for if you enjoy those post-apocalyptic themes, and I do. They remind me of my dreams. I don't always sleep well. Blame it on the cold war.
Children of Men. Let me just say that there's no way I would want to bring a child into that world.

And some sequels, all pretty good:
Spiderman 3. The tarantulas in the lobby of the Alamo Drafthouse were a nice touch.
Harry Potter 5. (seen on IMAX 3-D) (and needed more Tonks)
28 Weeks Later
Pirates of the Caribbean 3

On the disappointing side:
Golden Compass. First, I thought the casting was perfect! I almost never totally approve of casting when a book is turned into a movie. The look of things is great too. I thought it needed to be longer, and to spend more time letting you get familiar with people and things. Also I am not meaning to spoil anything, but I like the book ending better -- much better.
Transformers. Mainly disappointing because the machines were not that convincing as being anything but CG. To be really frightening, they need to look "real". Where it was done better was War of the Worlds with Tom Cruise in 2005. Scary (the movie, not Tom Cruise).
300. Most people seem to love this one, but even though I thought every frame of it was a work of art – just beautiful visually, the characters (even the story) did not move me at all. And this is a fantastic story – one of the best ever. It's not because of the graphic novel aspect. Sin City from a couple of years ago (Frank Miller/Robert Rodriguez) has great, memorable characters which 300 didn't have for me.

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Drama and/or Action, human interest, more or less reality-based

Recommended, listed in order of how much action or violence there is, ascending:

****Little or no violence, not gory****

SiCKO: This one is in a class by itself. Definitely one of the most worthwhile viewings of the year.
Once. Very non-Hollywood movie about a couple of musicians.
Away From Her. Excellent and very moving. Julie Christie plays an Alzheimer’s patient. I just love Julie Christie and always have.
Waitress. Kind of in the light romantic category. Good story, has Nathan Fillion in it, and I was really shocked and saddened afterward to learn about the murder of the director (who also had an acting role). It happened (apparently) right after the movie was wrapped so it’s not fresh news but it was for me.

****Some violence, guns, explosions, etc.****

Breach
Rescue Dawn
Michael Clayton

Wow! These all have really incredible performances in them and great stories. All of them award-worthy.

****Intense violence****

No Country For Old Men
3:10 to Yuma
Eastern Promises

Some of the best movies seen all year. Great acting, great stories. Eastern Promises would win Best Fight Scene (that will have to wait for the MTV Movie Awards). I’ve never seen anything quite like it.

Also recommended:
Bourne Ultimatum

****Just pure action, go for the ride****

Live Free or Die Hard. Bruce Willis and the Mac Guy savin ur ass
Shoot ‘Em Up. Bang Bang Bang

A bit disappointing:
Zodiac.
A Mighty Heart.

These were a couple that I liked less than the critics seemed to. In both cases, not that bad but I would not bestow any awards on either of them. Just my opinion, folks. No poo flinging allowed. Your opinion may differ.

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Comedy

Best:Hot Fuzz. Loved it! Bought it! View teaser on right.

Best Cheesy Horror Comedy:
Black Sheep!!! (link goes to my post) Mutated sheep turn into deadly zombie killers in New Zealand, the absolute WORST place you want the sheep to go bad, since New Zealand has about 10-20 sheep per person or something like that.

All recommended:
Superbad. McLovin. Future cat name.
Blades of Glory. Will Farrell and Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite)
Music and Lyrics. OK, I like some Hugh Grant movies, this one included, even though it falls squarely in my least favorite category of light romantic comedy it gets a thumbs up.
Knocked Up

Scared of Santa Gallery

[LINK to Gallery -- and you can add your own!]
Photo gallery of kids who may as well have sat on the lap of Osama Bin Laden for all the fun they are having. Some of those Santas really are scary though! Look at the one below. The Santa is not as terrifying as the decor. What the hell is that thing about to pounce with talons out? A griffin? OUCH! (nice forked tail too) And that baby doll!!! have a very Chucky Christmas!

Rolling with my own punches

I'm going through a major life transition here, and the holidaze hitting just fogs up my vision, so it's hard to say where it's going. I have jumped off the hamster wheel, and not sure yet how much damage has been done. The day job (which is part-time) has shut down until Jan 3, and I nearly didn't make it through the last day of it today. The top boss had our little group slated to be taken out for lunch, and I find those luncheons to be very uncomfortable. We were supposed to eat at some posh place over at The Domain where the only thing on the menu I can eat is iceberg lettuce while everyone discusses their big holiday plans and I am expected to tell mine. As a strong introvert, this is like a nightmare incarnate for me.  I like some of the people I work with, but really have no chemistry whatsoever with most of them. In the past I have tried to just say No. They don't take No for an answer. Nobody can understand why on earth I would turn down a free lunch at a posh chain. I have tried saying I have other commitments, only to have them reschedule to accommodate me. So this time I said Yes but the dreading of it stressed me out so that I woke up dizzy, hostile and with one of my famous tension headaches. I went in, but after a couple of hours the anxiety started building into near-panic, so I filled out my time sheet, shut down and left in a hurry. Even a nice afternoon on the porch in this beautiful weather has not chilled me out.

Anyway, my freelance biz is going to be a whole lot less busy after today so I am hoping to get my footing for a new rhythm, learn to tread the uncertain waters, and maybe even learn to relax again. It's been so long... I can make this work if I don't crash and burn.

Delete this post

Purrsday Night - Hot enough for ya?

Like a lot of senior citizens, Henry like to stay as warm as possible. This radiator is like a pacifier - he just curls up in the Hot Zone. (I wish I had that radiator in my office) (but Henry is worth it, of course). Even better is a real fire. Love is a hunka hunka burnin' firelog.



Tags and links: Friday Ark - Carnival of the Cats - This week's carnival is at Missy, KC and Bear on Sunday - Cats - Catblogging -

I am NOT grumpy

moar funny pictures

Keef - kicking ass for 64 years

If you've still got Keith Richards in your Dead Pool, you are likely to be a loser again. Today Keith turns 64 years old. Last year, he had a brush with the bad boy when he fell out of a coconut tree, but it was a mild concussion and before we knew it he was back out there on the road. He's been so resilient that almost seems invincible. Here's a pic I took last year when the band came through Austin.
And here's one taken by Ross Hamilton, who was standing next to me at the West Palm Beach Festival 1969. Ain't it a beauty? My first Stones show, and with the Austin one last year, one where I had a front rail.


Here's a pretty cool video where an artist does a sketch of Keith to the tune of "You Got The Silver"

Keith's guitar is still on top, but his talking has gone a bit slurry over the years, to say the least. Here's a hilarious bit from YouTube that you will have to click to view because they won't let it be embedded. Rock on Keith, and hope you've got satisfaction at last.

Keith Richards website
Keith wiki

Tags: Rolling Stones - Keith Richards

Finish The Thought Meme

I've been tagged BACK by kona, and like he did, I'm leaving my matching thoughts in italics.

I Never... let myself get drunk anymore, unlike young drunk women, old drunk women are not tolerated by anyone - intentionally kill anything - show up late for entertainment events, I'd rather not go than be late - go out for New Year's Eve anymore - leave the theater before the credits are finished

I Rarely... trust a weather forecast - trust a TV news report - leave town - go out without MrB - have Republican friends (Libertarian friends, those I have, I just don't agree with them, but that's OK)

I Cry... when a cat dies - during certain films - listening to certain music

I Am Not Always... able to deal with thick crowds that have no central focus, the random milling around makes me feel like I'm in an ant hill - able to put up with other people's channel surfing

I Lose... my nerve when trying to meet new people - sticky notes that I've made to remind me of things - people's phone numbers and snail addys - my due bills

I'm Confused... by people who enjoy killing other creatures - about why we still have the Electoral College - about why we still use Daylight Savings time - by tax forms

I Miss... having few responsibilities - having spare time and wondering how to spend it - having enough money to feel reasonably secure - cats Alex and Duncan - my friend ev (Jeen Lilly) - being able to eat whatever I like - being active in Mensa - my big dreams.

I Need... a steady adequate income, a large lump sum would do - to be trusted - some time off, a vacation or even a sabbatical - a doctor I trust

I Should... become fluent in Spanish - exercise - lose the 15 pounds I gained this last year - pick up a dust rag and mop, and use them - get all this junk (I mean vintage collectibles) on eBay ASAP

I Love... MrB - my cats - this town, Austin - music - watching a band that I know - blogging - pickles - olives - the beach and the waves - sunny dry days with the perfect temperature when you can wear anything you want - simple things that are highly practical and/or functional - going to the movies - feeling that I can speak freely

Tagging: nava, Jazz, enigma

Crazy crap you can buy online

Well, shopping season is here, and I've run across some truly weird items that you can buy online this week. First is a UFO detector, checks for magnetic and electromagnetic disturbances. There's a basic-looking one, but for the same price you can get one with the fancy case and the crop circle on top, an embellishment that's the equivalent of adding Cheez-Whiz. $65, build it yourself, $95 assembled, and there's another version that's elegant and stylish-looking, suitable for festive occasions or doubling as a sculpture for $250. I would hope that it would fit in your purse as well. I should add that although I take a skeptical view of all UFO reports as well as all other things, but I do, in fact, think there's something out there in the way of extra-terrestrial life... and I've had a sighting myself (a close encounter of the first kind). Another post, another day. Maybe.

Next product is a "Ghost Meter" as it says right there on the case. It's an EMF (electromagnetic frequency) detector, apparently essential for ghost detection, and it detects UFOs as well. There are some other products available, such as a little bag of dirt from the Roswell crash site. I have been to Roswell. My mother used to live there and I still have several relatives there. Also, MrB ended up stranded in Roswell for several hours at none other than the old Army/AF base where they supposedly took the alien bodies (there's a story there that's worth dredging up someday). There's nothing in that town that I want a bag of, unless it's chile peppers. However, I am looking for a bumper sticker that says "I crashed in Roswell". They exist!!! I've seen pictures of them. I may have to make my own. I love Cafepress. You can get yourself a UFO detector or a Ghost Meter at this link.

You can buy these little containers of radioactive stuff, in case you want to test your Geiger Counter or whip up a science project. This one, the Uranium Ore, looks like an old fashioned container of cold cream that grandma used to use. She would have rubbed this on her face in a heartbeat. I guarantee it.

Funny thing, all of the above products are available through Amazon.com (who I am still boycotting because they refuse to stop selling cockfighting and dogfighting mags and videos) BUT I simply have to provide a link to the user comments on this product, which are hilarious!!

Lastly, here's a wallet that looks like a gun holster, and there are lots of options for ways to wear it, whether as shoulder holster, on the hip, etc., and they ALL look like a gun. Let me say this, wearing on your person something that looks like a gun, but isn't, is major league stupid. Don't you always want to cry when someone gets shot because someone else thought they had a gun, but they didn't? Picture this: you are pulled over for speeding. The officer asked to see your license. Even if you try and explain 'officer, I'm reaching into my wallet, which looks like a gun, but it isn't, I promise'... you are going to get fucking shot when you reach for it and it will be considered justifiable circumstances by the powers-that-be. Tragic and stupid... BUT, although I think it's stupid to use that wallet, this company has a lot of VERY COOL STUFF that you should check out. I love those cognac glasses.

Tags: shopping - UFO - uranium

A corncob pipe and a bloody nose

It's that time of year... when you are hearing the same songs everywhere you go, on every radio station, in every store of any kind, sometimes piped outdoors... Christmas music.

If you aren't familiar with the term "mondegreen", it means a misheard song lyric. The most famous mondegreen is from the Jimi Hendrix song, Purple Haze, where it sounds like he says "'scuse me while I kiss this guy". That's also the title of a book by Gavin Edwards, who has a few mondegreen books out, including a Christmas version.

The Snopes page on Christmas songs with misheard lyrics has some fun examples and also explains the origin of the term mondegreen -- and intentionally changed lyrics like Jingle Bells, Batman Smells don't count.

Some personal favorites:

Jeff's nuts roasting on an open fire,
Check for snipping at your nose;
You'll tide carols being sung by the fire,
And folks dressed up like Eskimos.

Everybody knows a turkey, handsome Mr. Soul
Help to make the season bright;
[...]

Deck the halls with Buddy Holly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
'Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Don we now our day of peril,
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
Troll the ancient Yule tide carol,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

See the blazing Yulbie Forest,
Fa la la la la la, la la la.
Strike the heart, enjoy the florist,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
[...]

[...]
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Barney's the King of Israel.

[...]
Get dressed ye married gentlemen,

Good King Wences' car backed out
On the feet of heathens
[...]

Hark! the herald angels sing,
Glory to the New York King.
Peace on earth and then he smiles;
Goddamn sinners reckon so.

Joyful oily nations, rise;
Join the triumph of disguise.
With the jelly toast proclaim,
Christ is born in Bethlehem.
[...]

[...]
Bells on Bob's tail ring,
Making spareribs bright;
What fun it is to write and sing
A slaying song to knives.

Joy to the world!
The Lord has gum.
[...]

Olive, the other reindeer
Used to laugh and call him names.

Silent night, holy night;
All is calm, all is bright.
Round John Virgin, margarine child;

We free Kings of Oregon are
[...]

Here's a song for Harry Potter World:

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas,
Just like the wands I used to know.
Where the treetops glisten,
And children listen,
To hear slave elves in the snow.

Purrsday Night - Cute Overlord

No, it's not a typo. Henry has gotten himself crowned King of Cute and the Wizard of Ahhhhhhs.

Tags and links: Friday Ark - Carnival of the Cats - This week's carnival is at Mind of Mog - Cats - Catblogging

Torture is A-OK

Quote: "[...] good men have to know how to do bad things to do good." - Col. David Hunt (Ret).

Col. Hunt affirms that waterboarding IS torture, but that torture is an acceptable method of gathering intelligence. America is not "too good" to do it because the other guys are not. Also, quit taping it so there won't be video records in existence. Fox "News" video of the interview at the link, which starts out with a "merry Christmas" from the Col. and ends with an "always a pleasure to have you here" from the Faux News crew.

Aren't you just swelling with pride to be an American right now?

Tags: torture - Fox News