W. B. Mook’s Neighborhood

• 00:30 Celeb sighting: Was hanging at 21 Nickels with some friends tonight and local girl Eliza Dushku came in. Prettier in person than on TV #

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it was like the 7th time I looked at the DVD cover that I *got* the "bigger, longer and uncut" part. [hangs head in shame].  considering the battles M. Parker and Stone had with the MPAA, it's surprising they allowed that bit to stay.

musical numbers, animation, war, satire, 'social issues', death, the afterlife all tied up in a ribbon = SP: B, L, U

excessive profanity?   yes, please

trailer

"Uncle Fucker" from Asses on Fire

the school is concerned

South Park- Cartman, Kyle, Stan and Kenny at Mr. Mackie's office

who to blame, who to blame... 
of course!

South Park Songs - Blame Canada

(is not like it's a real country anyways)

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...I would invite every one of my handsome, adorable, clever neighbors to my apartment for Thanksgiving dinner.

If I could, I would expand my list of invitees, like a sparkling balloon, to include parents, children and all manner of pets.  How I would love to be introduced to them all.

If I could, I would alter the design of my dinner table into something Dr. Seuss or Lewis Carroll might design - curving into space, higher and higher - until it had lengthened sufficiently so that every one of you could find a place.

If I could, I would alter the space continuum so that my kitchen would be BIG ENOUGH to accommodate the positively epic, Edwardian dinner I would plan for you.

If I could, I would alter the time continuum so that my far-flung precious ones would be able to find their way to the Aubrey domicile with ease and economy.  And yet still be able to travel first-class.

If I could, I would place a glass of flower-like, art nouveau proportions at each place setting.  It would be full of champagne, and glittering at the bottom would be either a diamond bracelet, or a brace of diamond cufflinks.  They are for you.

If I could, I would arrange the champagne toasts thusly:  they would not be to your hostess, to your family, or to your loved ones.  You would not toast this innocent North American holiday.  You would, instead, toast yourselves.

Because words fail me.

Happy Thanksgiving, all.

The Outlook Is Always Good at Aubrey's

Here's some Arizona Turkey action for everyone, created especially for you by the Arizona Game & Fish Department. 

I'll be baking pies in the morning and then it's off to the Annual Geographical Orphan Thanksgiving Celebration & Drunkfest.

Love and hugs to you all!

remember:  if you is not overeating, you iz doing it rong.

we'll be heading out to the hinterlands ( hinterlands = dial-up connection) here in a bit, so see ya when we get back to the land of plenty and DSL.

this is what I'm hoping for:

I'm hoping it for y'all too.

Once were warriors is a New Zealand movie, notable among other things for the number of Maori people involved in its production - the director, Lee Tamahori, the entire cast.  the movie was very successful in New Zealand and got recognition around the world.
based on the 1980 novel of the same name, Once... narrates the struggles of a family living in Auckland. not quite living  in poverty but getting there, the father, Jake Haka, has lost his job and spends most days and nights drinking at the pub. his wife, Beth, is the usual victim of Jake's rages.  each of the children is getting lost in their own way.  it takes a series of incidents, up to a tragic one, for Beth to finally decide to leave Jake and take the children back with her to the Maori village she's from.
the movie is remarkable for its representation of the violence in the Haka household, the alienation of the Maori from the majority white society, the efforts of some to use traditional Maori history and customs to instill pride and responsibility on the young men.

trailer

Jake, Jake the Muss

the soundtrack uses traditional Maori songs alongside modern Maori sounds.  an example of the later is What's the time Mr. Wolf?

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One hundred years ago today the fastest pacing race horse of the day, DAN PATCH, ran his last race.  Dan was fleet footed and quick as hell.  You can watch his story -  The Great Dan Patch at the Internet Archive.

Learn more about Dan at the Dan Patch Historical Society.

Dan Patch: Photo property of deckernet.com

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Harper Simon - Berkeley Girl Harper Simon Tour Dates 12/06/09 Disney Hall Los Angeles, CA 12/07/09 Casbah San Diego, CA 12/08/09 Detroit Bar Costa Mesa, CA 12/09/09 Cafe Du Nord SF, CA 12/10/09 Humboldt Brews Arcata, CA 12/11/09 Mississippi Std Portland, OR 12/12/09 Media Club Vancouver, BC 12/13/09 Wild Buffalo  Bellingham, WA 12/14/09 Chop Suey Seattle, WA 12/16/09 Brookdale Lodge, CA 12/17/09 Cellar Door Visalia, CA 12/18/09 Bootleg Theater LA, CA Read More Paul Simon http://weheartmus... This song was a huge hit for the Cyrkle in the 60s. It's a very pop song/jangly song, and I love...

It seems to me that Harper Simon tries his best to not be associated with his father, going so far as saying that he didn't learn how to play music from his dad. Even the way he dresses, the type of music he's making (note: not acoustic harmonizing folk, but more like alt-country). It's a shame really, Simon sings just like his dad on the acoustic songs, and I wish he would sing more folk. I suppose he's got to find his own calling, right?

Harper Simon singing "A Message to You, Rudy"

Most of the set for Simon was pretty mellow. The most rockiest song was a song I wasn't familiar with. I thought I heard that the song was written by "Tom Berlin Verlaine" (edit: see updated message below), but I could be wrong. Shortly after "Berkeley Girl", the guitar tuner guy came on stage to switch electric with an acoustic guitar.

Songs range from borderline country music to Dylan-type folk. The later is especially true when one of the band member breaks out the harmonica.

They ended their set with "Wishes and Stars", my favorite song from Harper that I've heard. Instead of doing that fake-leaving-the-stage, they just stayed on stage and played some encores. The last song is a cover of "A Message to You, Rudy", who you & I probably know as a ska song by the Specials (but it's originally by Dandy Livingstone).

So this was the last night of their national tour. It sounds like they've been very tired, some even looked relieved, but they were certainly very happy to be playing in front of an audience. The band admitted that this was one of the better crowds, considering that they've played a few shows to "five people".

Trivia: Touring drummer Russell Simins, best known for being in Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, is from Minnesota.

UPDATED 11/26/2009 19:42:54:

ArtsOrbit wrote: Nov 24, 2009 9:59 PM

@weheartmusic H. Simon's reference was to Tom Verlaine: the song was Television's "See No Evil." Agreed that H.S. is best with folk music!

 11/25/2009 01:12:04 ♥ vu () ♥ myspace.com/harpersimon 

Olympia is Leni Reifenstahl documentary of the 1936 Berlin Olympics.  it was released in two parts: Olympia Fest der Volker (Olympia Part One Festival of Nations) and Olympia Fest der Schonheist (Olympia Part Two Festival of Beauty)

Olympia was controversial from its release - and with reason.  funded by the Nazi party Propaganda arm, and even with no overt Nazi content per se, the images of greater-than-life godlike athletes have been interpreted as supporting the 'superior race'.  Frau Reifenstahl herself always denied any overt or covert Nazi alliances. 

a very good documentary on Frau Reifenstahl's life and work is The wonderful horrible life of Leni Riefenstahl; in addition to exploring the Nazi question,  The wonderful... also delves on the reasons why Riefenstahl is one of the great directors of the 20th century and the innovations she brought to film:  the sudden cut, extreme close-ups, cameras on rails to pan over distances, an editing craftwomanship never seen before and rarely after her time.

clippens

the prologue to part one of Olympia, which takes place in Greece.  the music is by Vangelis and added later

again from part one, the running of the Olympic torch to the stadium

btw:  while the lighting of the Olympic flame at the stadium began for the modern games at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics, the whole shebang of lighting the torch in Greece and running it to the stadium through different countries and all that was invented for the 1936 Berlin Olympics.  this one.  ....the more you know

towards the end of part two.  the fantastic diving sequence.  breathtaking

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