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Showing posts from February, 2007

Ramblings: Monkey Business...Perhaps?

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"Another bucket of sand Another wave at the pier I miss the way that I used To call the shots around here " Brian Wilson When reading a short blurb recently about the discovery of chimpanzees making their own weapons for the purpose of hunting…I was sure I’d be hearing much more about this. But it almost appears to have been swept under the rug. Only humans have been known to make weapons for hunting. And I'm not talking about a chimp picking up a rock and throwing it. Or picking up a piece of tree limb and using it as a club. This is taking "one object" and working it over to make it useful for another purpose. This is an awesome progression! And now, after all this time, another mammal has stepped across the invisible line of invention...with specific intentions. This is chilling. The ramifications are worthy of late night convo with others who allow for the "what-if" explorations. Conversations that spin deliciously into th

DVD PICK: --> Orgy Of The Dead (1965)

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"The sun is burning it never changes. The people look up with nothing in their eyeballs. They stare at billboards as if for guidance." Graham Parker NO SPOILERS: Well gang, I’ve finally done it. Wherever I travel and whoever I may encounter, I will know with confidence that I have done it. I have finally seen the worst movie ever made. Being a lover of cult movies, I have seen many and have read about most of the must see misfires of the cinema legends. And I am quite aware of director Ed Wood’s " Plan 9 From Outer Space "(1956) holding the title as the best of the worst. However, I’ve seen it and as bad as it is, I found it quite entertaining. At least I was able to see the effort, if not the money put into it. But the movie that I declare as the worst ever made is the 90 minute dreg called, " Orgy of the Dead ." Released in 1965, "Orgy of the Dead" had its work cut out for it from the start as once again our l

Lost Book Gem:--> "The Magus" by John Fowles...and Dr. Hook

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"This is the last morning’ that I drink my coffee standin’ up." ~ Dr. Hook ~ NO SPOILERS: This novel is often found on many readers top ten “desert island” books and after reading this 700 page classic, it is easy to see what attractions this epic bares. The Magus is one terrific “fuster-cluck” of a story. Easy to get into and leaves the reader a ton of delicious thought-provoking questions to discuss with mates late into the evening over your favorite beverages. This story, written in 1965 by John Fowles , revolves around a young bored teacher, Nicholas, who answers an ad to teach on a remote Greek Island. He begins exploring the island, comes across a private piece of land owned by a wealthy, eccentric fellow… “The Magus” and begins a friendship. The young teacher is soon asked to participate in an experimental “game” he is conducting with the other guests on the island. What ensues is a bevy of fabricated moral tests put to the young man, where c

Lost Album Gem:--> "Phenomenon" - UFO (1974)

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"Oh my, how the times are changed" ~ UFO ~ Whenever the discussion about unjustly forgotten rock albums from the '70s comes up...one would have to mention this offering by UFO ..." Phenomenon"  (1974).   From beginning to end, this 10 track guitar-laden album, filled with memorable solos and melodic melodies does not fail to disappoint. Not a second of filler is added on this must-own CD. This album was first purchased by my dad when it was newly released based simply on the "coolness" of the cover. (The band...unknown). My folks' generation apparently took more financial chances on new albums back then.   And from the eclectic collection of music in my Dad's library..."sometimes you struck gold...sometimes you struck mud!" "It's only just a moment / She's turning paranoid / That's not a situation for a nervous boy." ( Doctor Doctor ) is on every "best of" collection and rightly so.

Ramblings: The Rainmaker

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" You were standin' and I was thinkin' Of all the time that I spend hangin' around " Paul Stanley We went off the books for the second night, on this, my 4th week of play practice. It felt good and I’m starting to feel the excitement buzzing around all the other actors hitting their marks. “ The Rainmaker ” is the name of the play we are performing this spring. Written in 1954 by N. Richard Nash, it is about a father and his two sons…ranch hands…who have been worrying about their plain sister and if she’ll ever find a husband. They have also been worrying about the farm as it has been weeks since the last good rain. Hence…the Rainmaker. The play stars 6 males and 1 female and is a moral comedy. Rainmaker is being directed by one of the states best, Misty Maynard, who owns and has been running her own shows at the Kechi Playhouse in Kechi, Kansas for nearly 25 years. I have a juicy part playing one of the brothers. A lo

Lost Stream Gem:--> "Shadow Of A Doubt" (1943)

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"Evil's with me in the morning. Evil's with me and I can't get away". ~ Steve Miller ~ NO SPOILERS: Directed By Alfred Hitchcock , this delicious mystery revolves around Uncle Charlie ( Joseph Cotton ) who we learn very early on is being chased. The question is…is he a good guy being chased by bad guys or a bad guy being chased by good guys? Either way, Uncle Charlie returns to a small town where his sister lives with her family in hopes of hiding out for a spell. Trouble is…Uncle Charlie has a way too nosy niece. In an entertaining subplot, actors Henry Travers  ...(who played Angel 2nd Class Clarence in...“ It’s A Wonderful Life ”) and a very young Hume Cronyn  ...(who was one of the invigorated old guys from “ Cocoon ”) have a strange running conversation throughout the film about how to commit the perfect murder. It is funny and macabre at the same time. This 1943 thriller is filled with Alfred’s trademark twists of the camer

Classic Pick: - Belle & Sebastian - Dear Catastophe Waitress (2003)

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" I said goodbye to someone that I love. It’s not just me, I tell you it’s the both of us ." Belle & Sebastian With their quirky, often melancholic, angst driven songs, Belle & Sebastian have gained quite an enthusiastic following from a college crowd who like having their music served via the college and internet radio waves, rather than eating the repetitive drivel offered by our local radio puppets. The smartly subtle lyrics, gently delivered over sad acoustic melodies, was what endeared them to their fans.(Just check out their previous CD recordings, “ Tigermilk ” and “ If Your Feeling Sinister ” for a Belle and Sebastian 101). But with the 2003 release of “ Dear Catastrophe Waitress “, B & S do a jaw-dropping 180° turn and create some of the catchiest and down-right cheery, if not eccentric, pop songs ever. And they make this wonderful music without sacrificing one iota of the peculiar song writing that has become their trademark. It truly works! Tak

Book Rock: " Lisey's Story" by Stephen King

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" Glad and sorry Happy or sad When all is done and spoken You’re up or I’m down ." ~ Faces ~ NO SPOILERS . When Stephen King is good…he’s very, very, good; And when he’s bad…he’s still pretty darn good.  So saying “ Lisey’s Story ” (pronounced lee-see) was a waste of time would be a little harsh. There are great sentences through out and many delicious SK observations...but I just didn't have any care-bear blankets I wanted to wrap around any of his characters. Good ones or bad ones, it didn't matter.  I was reading the story. And enjoying it, surprisingly enough.  But I just couldn't give much of a damn. ‘Lisey’s Story”  felt more like a John Irving novel mixed with a touch of the macabre. (And that ain't a bad thing in and of itself).   But I was needing my SK fix and the maestro wasn't delivering. But hey...what ever King  wants to churn, I will gladly throw down my green paper, take it home and read it.  Like I said…even his

Ramblings: WWF Stars Dropping Like Flies

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“ There's no way out of here, when you come in...you're in for good .” David Gilmour When I heard that another of the old World Wrestling Federation (WWF) wrestlers had died, it was one of those…“if ya sneezed, ya missed it” moments. Just a minuscule blurb on the radio recently that Bam Bam Bigelow was found dead in his home of unknown causes and then back to some music. The news was relegated to merely a 20 second sound bite. But for a youngster growing up in the late 80‘s, Bam Bam was just one of several wrestlers that fed our imaginations with wonder. We watched these giants faithfully every week and never missed a pay-per-view. We would follow the story lines and the growing rivalries between wrestlers, however hokey they might have been and cheer when our guys won and groan when they lost. Growing up with these wrestling legends was just part of being a boy. So it was with genuine sadness and surprise when I discovered, along w

Classic Pick: - John Prine - Fair & Square (2005)

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" I felt about as welcome as a Wal-Mart Superstore." ~ John Prine ~ While I was rifling through some CDs at my friendly neighborhood "spin & grin"...I came across an old friend. There was John Prine walking down a long stretch of road, guitar in hand, on the cover of his latest offering, “ Fair & Square . ”  (2005) Although Prine has a strong cult following, and is acclaimed by critics, songwriters and fans alike, you would not know it by relying on your local radio stations in Wichita. That's unfortunate because Prine is one of those rare magical artists who can tap into all of our everyday emotions without making us feel guilty of our shortcomings. With 14 tracks, “ Fair & Square ” is loaded with wonderful Prine observations.  “ Old Faithful’s just a fountain compared to the glory of true love ” ...Prine reminds us on the outstanding opening track “Glory of True Love,”  ...and he slyly laments... “ I’d like to drive a Cadillac t