Summer Celebration

A friend of mine offered me the opportunity of riding up to Jackson, TN, and participating in the Summer Celebration Lawn and Garden Show. I am so glad I said, "Yes." The schedule is here.  I went to "Plant This, Not That" presented by Troy Marden, "Got Something to Hide?" presented by Carol Reese, "Southern Belles" by Sue Hamilton, "A Melee of Plants and Garden Art" by Felder Rushing, and "Cutting Back" by Amy Fulcher. When we weren't in formal sessions, we wandered around the test gardens, enjoyed the garden art, and ate hamburgers sold by the 4H group. There was a plant sale. I didn't buy anything, but my friend and her husband bought a bald cypress to train in their quest for bonsai perfection.

Felder Rushing had his world famous truck garden on display:

The emphasis, as you might've guessed from the photo at the top of the post, was bottle trees. There were bottles everywhere:

There was a cute display of tiny bottles transformed into fireflies with not much more than yellow antifreeze:

Most of the gardens had art features:

This event was great fun!

Mystery Street

Mystery Street is a 1950 John Sturges film noir starring Ricardo Montalbano (who has a Star Trek connection), Bruce Bennett (who played Tarzan in the 1930s) and Elsa Lanchester. On the TV series Leverage this movie is named as the first mainstream film o show forensic science in a murder investigation. It was nominated for the Oscar for Best Story. The Husband, The Younger Son and I enjoyed this movie. It has held up surprisingly well.

trailer:

Time Out calls it "a neat thriller" with "nice performances". DVD Talk describes it as "an engaging murder investigation story that introduced scientific medical research to film audiences" and says, "The unassuming, entertaining murder tale Mystery Street holds up well". Noir of the Week says, "after WWII, more and more films were shot on location and that Mystery Street might be the earliest example of a film shot entirely in the Boston area." Rotten Tomatoes has only 2 critics reviews, not enough for a score.

Silence (1971)

Silence is a 1971 Japanese film directed by Masahiro Shinoda. Music is by Tōru Takemitsu (who also did Woman in the Dunes, Kwaidan, and Ran). Kazuo Miyagawa (who also did Rashomon, Ugetsu, Sansho the Bailiff, and Yojimbo) is the cinematographer.

It is the story of the Jesuit missionaries who came to Japan in the 1600s. Their religion is outlawed, and they suffer persecution. The main character -the padre- serves as a Christ figure of sorts, as he serves, is tempted, and suffers. It is based on a novel by Shusako Endo, which in turn is loosely based on actual historical figures and events. The ending is a shocker.

Martin Scorsese is re-making it for a 2015 release.

trailer:

DVD Beaver says, "Ponderous at times but for those keen on the subject matter it can be quite impacting and unforgettable. It is a vast and deep dissertation on religion, faith and sacrifice." Slant Magazine says, "Silence's formal monotony dulls."

The Gap into Conflict: The Real Story

The Gap into Conflict: The Real Story is the first book in the Gap Cycle by Stephen R. Donaldson. I bought this paperback when it first came out. I'd been looking forward to it because of how much I loved the Thomas Covenant books, but I hadn't been willing to pay hard cover prices. As the series continued I eventually began buying them when they first came to the bookstore in hard copy. I like this series. This is, however, my first re-read since my original time through them in the '90s.

We get introduced to the three main characters, who are basically a villain, a damsel-in-distress and a rogue/hero. Then we see their roles change. Many books show the good and bad in each of us; this one shows the bad and worse in each of us.

I have a love/hate relationship with Donaldson's work. I loved the first Thomas Covenant trilogy, really loved the series, re-reading them and encouraging others to read them. I hated Reave the Just and Other Tales -truly despised it- reading sections aloud to the kids and explaining in detail how horribly written it was. Like I'm any judge. But still. I also really hated the first book in the third series of Covenant books and refuse to read any more of them. The Gap series is one I love. At this point, I'm willing to re-read any of his books I already like but am unwilling to read anything else by him. Life's too short, and the risk is too great.

from the book:

Angus Thermopyle was an ore pirate and a murderer; even the most disreputable asteroid pilots of Delta Sector stayed out of his way. Those who didn't ended up in the lockup -or dead. But when Thermopyle arrived at Mallorys Bar & Sleep with a gorgeous woman by his side the regulars had to take notice. Her name was Morn Hyland, and she had been a police officer -until she met up with Thermopyle.

But one person in Mallorys Bar wasn't intimidated. Nick Succorso had his own reputation as a bold pirate and he had a sleep frigate fitted for deep space. Everyone knew that Thermopyle and Succorso were on a collision course. What nobody expected was how quickly it would all be over -or how devastating the victory would be. It was a common enough example of rivalry and revenge -or so everyone thought. The real story was something entirely different....

In The Real Story Stephen R. Donaldson takes us to a remarkably detailed world of faster-than-light travel, politics, betrayal, and a shadowy presence just outside our view to tell the fiercest, most profound story he has ever written.

Kirkus Reviews calls it "Repetitious and mediocre but readable".

Vengeance Valley

Vengeance Valley is a 1951 western starring Burt Lancaster -who is not one of my favorites by a long shot. It also stars Robert Walker, John Ireland, Joanne Dru, Sally Forrest, and Ray Collins (best known as Lt. Tragg in Perry Mason). This one's more soap opera in the West than actual western. The plot involves an illegitimate child whose mother won't name the married father. Well, at least it was short.

via youtube:

TCM has an overview. Rotten Tomatoes doesn't have a critics score and the audience score is 21%. I'm surprised it's that high.

I'm not boring, I just stick to what I know

Coffee:

by Josh Woodward.

lyrics excerpt:

My life is grounded in a firm routine of coffee, sleep and work.
I am not boring, I just stick to what I know.

I have some sympathy with this. This may be an example of making a virtue of necessity, or it may be an acknowledgement of a personality tendency. Either way, I think there's something to be said for it.

That said, it does sound just a wee bit boring.

Bleubeard and Elizabeth are celebrating the 1-year anniversary of T(ea) Tuesday. The year has flown by in some ways but dragged in others. Tuesday visits with tea friends are a treat every week, though. Happy Anniversary! Check out the varied links. There's always something new.

My Handy Man

My Handy Man:

sung by Alberta Hunter, Memphis-born musician. She was active in the '40s and '50s before retiring from this career and entering the health care field. She was re-discovered in the 70s and began performing again.

lyrics:

Now whoever said a good man was hard to find,
Positively, absolutely sure was blind;
Coz I just found the best man that ever was,
And here's just a few of the things that he does:

He shakes my ashes, greases my griddle,
Churns my butter, and he strokes my fiddle;
Oh, my man is such a handy man!

Now he threads my needle, and he creams my wheat,
Heats my heater, and he chops my meat; He's a mess!
My man is such a handy man!

Now I don't care if you believe it or not,
He's a mighty nice man to have around;
Coz when my furnace gets too hot,
He's right there to turn my damper down!

For everything that man of mine's got a scheme;
And, honey, it's amazing the way he handles my machine;
My man is such a handy man! Oh, that man is a mess!

He flaps my flapjacks, cleans off the table,
Feeds the horses in my stable;
My man is such a handy man!

And do you know sometimes he's up way before dawn,
Busy cleaning the rough edges off my lawn;
My man is such a handy man!

Now he never has a single word to say,
While he's working hard; poor old soul.
And I'd give anything if you could see the way
He handles my front yard!

Now my ice never gets a chance to melt away,
Coz he sees that I get a nice, fresh piece every day;
My man is such a handy man!

Pirates of Penzance

Pirates of Penzance is a 1983 film adaptation of the Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera. I love this! You can read the text of the original work online.

I remember the first time I heard the song "When Frederic Was a Little Lad":

I thought I would die laughing, and I still have fond memories of that and a soft spot in my heart for this film because of it. Also, the whole thing is just such great fun!

Here's the scene in which Frederic is told that since his birthday is on February 29th he is actually only 5 1/4 years old, and since his indenture runs until his 21st birthday, Frederic won't be free until 1940:

Frederic goes to his love Mabel (played by Linda Ronstadt) and sings to her,

"In 1940 I of age shall be. I'll then return and claim you, I declare it."

She responds, with appropriate drama,

"It seems so long."

But she promises to wait.

Oh, how can you not love this!

The Younger Son and I both generally enjoy Gilbert and Sullivan, and he likes this, too. The Husband and The Daughter had more of a meh attitude towards it. Finding something we all really enjoy is getting harder and harder.

trailer:

DVD Talk gives it high praise, calls it "as enormously charming as the original stage production," and says,

Beyond the timeless, still-dazzling, dizzying music with its ingenious lyrics, patter, and lushly romantic melodies, here sprightly orchestrated with the same energy as Kline's swashbuckling pirate, is the show's perfectly balanced tone. It's not exactly camp - there's too much obvious affection for the material - but rather it acknowledges its Victorian qualities and staginess by committing to it and acknowledging it head-on, especially in the performances.

Time Out calls it "a near unqualified success". Rotten Tomatoes has a critics rating of 80%.

Castle of Cagliostro

Castle of Cagliostro is a 1979 Japanese animated film directed by Hayao Miyazaki. It's based on the manga series Lupin III. I'd seen this a few times before, and it's one of The Younger Son's favorites. The Husband didn't have much response to this one. We watched the English dub. I think this movie is great fun, with action/adventure/romance/comedy. The characters are nicely done, and the plot is well-paced. If you haven't watched any foreign animation this might be a good place to start.

trailer:

Anime News Network offers this in its review: "Great story, great direction, great visuals, great anime!" and has this plot summary:

Tracking the legendary counterfeits known as "Goat Bills," international thief Arsene Lupin III arrives at the Duchy of Cagliostro. Once there, he nearly rescues a damsel in distress from the Regent's guards. Following his failure, Lupin takes it upon himself to save her from captivity.

Anime World calls it "a wonderful, action-packed adventure with enough substance and characterization to appeal to both the young and the young at heart." DVD Talk says, "If you haven't seen The Castle of Cagliostro before, then what are you waiting for? There is no longer any excuse. Unless you don't like having fun, in which case I don't know what to tell you." Rotten Tomatoes gives it a 90% critics rating.

A Married Woman

A Married Woman is a 1964 French film directed by Jean-Luc Godard. In it a married woman is involved in an affair with an actor who wants her to leave her husband and marry him and have a baby with him. It's a fascinating study of character, identity and choice. It's filmed in black and white.

via youtube:

I found this quote stunning, as a friend of her husband is summing up the story of Auschwitz to the politically/historically uninformed title character:

I'll sum up the story for you. It's a conversation between two Jews... I asked a man on the street in Germany : "What if tomorrow we killed all the Jews and all the hairdressers?" And he replied, "Why the hairdressers?"

The title character: "Yeah, why the hairdressers?"

Wow. Just wow.

DVD Talk says it "serves as a solid introduction for the uninitiated" and closes by saying, "Une Femme Mariée deserves more attention, so go out, get it, watch it, and then tell your friends." DVD Beaver calls it "a work of art for the ages". WorldsCinema.org concludes:

Une Femme Mariée is a sophisticated, confessional, dynamic piece of film-making and a pivotal work from the Godard canon. It is highly recommended to both Godard completists and to those interested in the malleability and potential of the cinematic artform; particularly with regards to its ability to convey truth and its relationship to reality.

This is one of the rare films where Rotten Tomatoes has identical critic/audience scores: 85%.

Mind's Eye

Mind's Eye is the 1st of the Van Veeteren mysteries by Hakan Nesser. I've also read the 2nd in the series. I bought them both when I was looking for something different and a new author/series to explore. I won't be reading more. I did like Borkmann's Point well enough and had looked forward to this one, but I find this one disappointing. I'm just not especially interested in the main character. The secondary characters seem an awful lot alike to me, so that I have trouble separating them by name. The plot moved slowly along, but -as with the characters- I didn't find it engaging enough to seek out more. I find the writing style choppy. There could be several explanations for this, including translation artifact, but I didn't care for it. All the reviews I see online love it, so I don't know what my problem is. Tastes differ, I guess.

from the back of the book:

Hakan Nesser is firmly established as one of the world's best crime novelists. And now the novel that introduced Chief Inspector Van Veeteren is available for the first time in English.

The swift conviction left Van Veeteren uneasy: Janek Mitter woke one morning with a brutal hangover and his wife dead in the bathtub. With only the flimsiest defense, he is found guilty and imprisoned in a mental institution. But when Mitter is murdered in his bed, Van Veeteren regrets not following his gut and launches an investigation into the two killings. As the chief inspector delves deeper, the twisted root of these violent murders will shock even him.

Eurocrime gives the series positive attention and says, "THE MIND'S EYE is a quick read, partly because the first section is dialogue followed by the trial transcript which is then followed by the investigation proper, but also because it's fun to read." Kirkus Reviews says, "Amiable Van Veeteren is a sly, cocksure sleuth."

A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die

A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die (Massacre at Fort Holman) is a 1972 Spaghetti Western directed by Tonino Valerii and starring James Coburn, Telly Savalas and Bud Spencer. James Coburn is another of my favorites, and I'd like to eventually see all his films. This one is a Civil War period revenge drama. I enjoyed it; it was a bit different while still being a good standard Western.

from the Imdb:

Branded a coward for surrendering his New Mexico fort to the Confederates without firing a shot, a Union colonel attempts to redeem himself by leading a band of condemned prisoners on a suicide mission to recapture it.

trailer:

This Spaghetti-Western.net reviewer doesn't like it and includes this piece of trivia: "Coburn had a bad relationship with Valerii. Apparently he lost all interest in the production and irritated most other actors with his Yoga routines." A different Spaghetti-Western.net reviewer likes it, saying, "The directing is absolutely great! Valerii puts in all the right ingredients to make a good dish of pasta. Here we have drama, action, tension, emotion, and revenge." A Fistful of Pasta calls it "a mixed bag" but recommends it and says, "it's a bit different than the usual genre plots, Coburn's fantastic as always, and Spencer shows that he knows how to do something other than comedy quite well." DVD Talk says, "A Reason to Live, A Reason to Die represents a near perfect example of the kind of big-budgeted action extravaganzas that flourished during that decade."

Cinnamon Coffee

Years ago someone taught me that you could fancy up that Folgers coffee with some cinnamon. We really like the way it tastes. I add 1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon per coffee measure scattered over the coffee grounds in the drip coffeemaker.

We had a recipe that was just as easy for orange coffee that used dried orange peel from the spice aisle, but we've lost the recipe and haven't been able to reconstruct it. I'd love to be able to have that again. I thought maybe a bit of sugar added to the orange peel would get rid of the bitterness, but that didn't work.

The cup and saucer pattern is Tunisia, and I got it from Pier 1 years ago.

Bleubeard and Elizabeth host a T(ea) party every Tuesday. Join in!

Take Me to the River

Take Me to the River:

by Syl Johnson, who celebrates a birthday tomorrow. The song was co-written by singer Al Green and guitarist Mabon "Teenie" Hodges. Hodges is still being actively mourned right now, as his death on 6/22 at age 68 is recent.

lyrics:

I don't know why I love you like I do
After all these changes that you put me through
You stole my money and my cigarettes
And I haven't seen hide nor hair of you yet

I wanna know
Won't you tell me
Am I in love to stay?

Take me to the river
And wash me down
Won't you cleanse my soul
Put my feet on the ground

I don't know why she treated me so bad
Look at all those things that we could have had
Love is a notion that I can't forget
My sweet sixteen I will never regret

I wanna know
Won't you tell me
Am I in love to stay?

Hold me, love me, please me, tease me
Till I can't, till I can't take no more
Take me to the river

I don't know why I love you like I do
After all the things that you put me through
The sixteen candles burning on my wall
Turning me into the biggest fool of them all

I wanna know
Oh won't you tell me
Am I in love to stay?

I wanna know
Take me to the river
I wanna know
I want you to dip me in the water
I wanna know
Won't you wash me in the water
Wash me in the water
Wash me in the water
Won't you wash me in the water
Feeling good

BB King's Blues Club

The Daughter and I went out to lunch. That's always fun. On this day we went to BB King's downtown on Beale Street. We were seated at a 2-person table right next to the stage where BB King actually still sometimes performs. (The Younger Son heard him there once.)We had their BBQ sandwich and homemade potato chips:

I wish you could taste it! The picture is a bit blurry, but we think this is the best bbq sandwich in town! The waitress was great, very friendly and attentive. My total, including sweet tea, tax and tip, was $17.

Yelp gives it 3 1/2 out of 5 stars. Urban Spoon has a rating of 82%.

I also took a picture of the view from Beale Street Landing:

Another fun day Walking in Memphis "with my feet ten feet off of Beale".

Despicable Me 2

Despicable Me 2 has this in it:

and that ought to be enough. But there's more. This movie is absolutely delightful! I cannot praise it (and the first one, too) enough. Great fun.

trailer:

Moria says,

Despicable Me worked because of the adorability of its central character’s arc – the bad guy slowly being warmed up by the cute kids. The problem that Despicable Me 2 faces is that that particular character arc is resolved and the sequel is left with the essential question of “what happens after happily ever after?”

Rolling Stone gives it 3 out of 4 stars, calls it "a first-class charm assault" and says, "the high spirits of Despicable Me 2 are irresistible fun". Empire Online gives it 3 out of 5 stars and says, "plot is barely the skeleton of this shaggy-dog story, which sags in the middle before racing towards an entertaining conclusion". Slant Magazine gives it a mere 1 1/2 out of 4 stars, calls it "a film that attempts to appeal to every cinematic taste on the spectrum and ultimately offers scant satisfactions in return" and concludes, "At its best, Despicable Me 2 recalls the wild comic bedlam of Looney Tunes or golden-era Nickelodeon programming ..., but the script's jumble of plot asides and family-friendly pandering is enough to make you want to root for a hero." EW gives it a lousy grade of C and christens it "the surprisingly toothless sequel".

RogerEbert.com's reviewer liked the first one better but has positive things to say. Rotten Tomatoes has a critics score of just 74% because apparently some critics are fuddy duddies.

Outpost: Rise of the Spetsnaz

Outpost: Rise of the Spetsnaz is the 3rd in the Outpost series and is a prequel. If you like Nazi zombies -and what's not to like- you will appreciate this one. It's not nearly as good as the 1st one, but I never expect sequels to be as good as the first one. I did get a kick out of the introduction of the "Yankee": "My name is Rogers, but you can call me "Captain"."

trailer:

Fangoria says it's "a fun watch, offering enough for action and horror fans alike. It’s bloody and brutal while sleek and respectful of its place within the franchise, and sure to please fans of the first two films as well as the unfamiliar." Fearnet says, "Rise of the Spetsnaz is little more than action/horror/war movie lunacy that you may come across on cable one night, but if the idea of action, horror, and war movie lunacy sounds like fun to you, I'd say start at Outpost Uno and work your way through." Quiet Earth says, "I doubt that Outpost III: Rise of the Spetsnaz will win many awards (perhaps something for its impressive sound design and editing) but it passes the time in a generally satisfying way".

Swords and Deviltry

Swords and Deviltry is the first book in the Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser series by Fritz Leiber. There were 6 more books to follow, all but the last published in the 1970s with the last one not coming 'til 1988. I've had several of these books for decades but have never gotten around to them. It's time to fish or cut bait, so -before I donate them somewhere- I decided to actually read one of them. One of the tales, "Ill Met in Lankhmar", won the Hugo and the Nebula for best novella. I liked it fine but not enough to send me diving into all the others in the series. I'll keep them, though, and get around to the rest eventually.

description from Wikipedia:

The Fafhrd and Gray Mouser stories follow the lives of two larcenous but likable rogues as they adventure across the fantasy world of Nehwon. The pieces in Swords and Deviltry introduce the duo and their relationship ("Induction"), present incidents from their early lives in which they meet their first lady-loves (Fafhrd in "The Snow Women", the Gray Mouser in "The Unholy Grail"), and relate how afterwards in the city of Lankhmar the two met and allied themselves with each other, and lost their first loves through their defiance of the local Thieves' Guild ("Ill Met in Lankhmar").

favorite quote:

Afterward loses too many battles to Too Late.

SF Site concludes, "If you like sword and sorcery, action-adventure in a pre-medieval world, then Fritz Leiber's Swords and Deviltry is an excellent addition to your collection." Stainless Steel Droppings says, "I am very impressed with Fritz Leiber’s work thus far and understand completely why it is proclaimed that he defined this genre with his work." Little Red Reviewer says,

Swords and Deviltry was deliciously, ridiculously, wonderfully, fun. It’s got all the adventure and banter and narrow escapes and rickety staircases and doomed romances and adventure and drunken banter and everything I love about adventure fantasy. If published today, this would be called dark fantasy.

The photo at the top of the post (which came from Wikipedia) is from the first edition of this book. I used it instead of a photo of my own book because my copy has more than one book included in it and doesn't even have this book's name on the cover.

Captain Apache

Captain Apache (1971) (also called Deathwork and The Guns of April Morning) doesn't even have a Wikipedia entry, which ought to tell you something. (Oh, wait, there's a Norwegian Wikipedia entry!) I'm watching it because it stars Lee Van Cleef, who is one of my favorites. In this one, though, he wears a horrible wig and sings. He sings twice! He also strips down to almost nothing in this movie, which I can't remember seeing him do before. Stuart Whitman is also in it. The movie is styled as a spaghetti western, but is actually a Spanish/British production.

synopsis from the youtube page:

Captain Apache (Lee Van Cleef), a Native American serving in the Union army, is sent to investigate the mysterious murder of an Indian agent. The dead man's dying words are "April morning," but anyone who divulges the secret is quickly shot.

via youtube (edited to bleep out instances of folks saying red "ass" -how petty!):

I'm planning to watch every movie VanCleef was ever in. That's my excuse. What's yours?

Spaghetti-Western.net says,

Captain Apache is a movie with an ultra-bad reputation, but I've always thought it was kind of enjoyable when watched in the right state of mind. The mystery is played out well enough to keep you guessing what the hell is going on and the far-fetched (and fairly ridiculous) solution perfectly fits the slaphappy storytelling.

10K Bullets says, "Lee Van Cleef makes everything he appears in better and in Captain Apache not only do we get to hear him sing the films theme song. We get to see Van Cleef in full Indian dress wearing a hair piece."

Casablanca Cafe

photo from CasablancaMemphis.com

The Daughter and I had noticed the Casablanca Cafe on Poplar several times, and we tried them for lunch one day recently. I wanted to share it with the T(ea) Tuesday party, since the tea was such a unique taste experience for me.

I had the Chicken Schawerma:

You can see The Daughter's Chicken Kabob in the background of the picture. You can see the menu at this link. The food was wonderful! We each had the hot tea, which is described as "the best tea in Memphis" and is a black tea with sage, ginger and honey. They let us try it 2 different ways, with one being appreciably sweeter than the other. You can taste more of the ginger in the less sweet tea. We liked them both. In fact, we liked it so much we bought some of the loose tea (in that jar behind my plate you can see in the photo above).

The service was helpful and friendly, and they made us feel right at home. The price for both of us, including tax and tip, was just over $45, which is steep for us. When I go back, I'll try to order something cheaper from the menu. It is very good food, though, and the restaurant is even more beautiful than these photographs show.

The Urban Spoon gives it a score of 90% with 394 votes. Yelp gives it 4 1/2 out of 5 stars with 119 ratings. Tart and Teal says it's "fantastic".

Nifty

Nifty

by Muck Sticky.

from the lyrics: "The world needs a lot more happy people anyway."

National Treasure

National Treasure is a 2004 adventure film, starring Nicolas Cage, Harvey Keitel, Jon Voight, Diane Kruger, Sean Bean, Justin Bartha and Christopher Plummer. This DVD was a Christmas present to The Husband from The Younger Son, neither of whom had seen it before. I had seen it on tv several years ago, maybe while I was at Mother's, and enjoyed it. It is harmless fun. It has Sean Bean in it, after all.

trailer:

Rolling Stone gives it 1 out of 4 stars and condemns it:

And director Jon Turteltaub (Phenomenom) directs with robotic cheerlessness. For Cage, this is a paycheck movie. For Bartha, it's an attempt to make the public forget he was in Gigli. For Kruger, who played Helen in Troy, it's proof positive she can't act. For the audience, it should be torture.

EW gives it a B- and says, "The movie is about as nourishing as a bowl of trail mix, but it's hard to stop eating." Empire Online gives it 2 out of 5 stars and concludes, "Pulling off the neat trick of being simultaneously moronic and mildly educational, National Treasure is The Da Vinci Code lite -rubbish certainly, but not without a certain charming stupidity." DVD Talk calls it "a fun, light-hearted adventure in the vein of Indiana Jones" and says it's "an entertaining adventure that the whole family can enjoy---and that makes this film something of a rare gem in its own right". Roger Ebert closes with this:

Cage, one of my favorite actors, is ideal for this caper because he has the ability to seem uncontrollably enthusiastic about almost anything. ... "National Treasure" is so silly that the Monty Python version could use the same screenplay, line for line.

Rotten Tomatoes has a critics core of 44%.

42 Way Up High

This 42 is on the south side of Summer Avenue close to Pope. I wonder how the artist got up there.

Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island

Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island is the 3rd of the films in the Samurai trilogy directed by Hiroshi Inagaki. Toshirō Mifune stars as the main character, who in this film has given up his life as a wandering swordsman, declined the patronage of a powerful lord and retreated to a quiet life in a farming village. He does accept a challenge to a duel and fights that duel in this film. The trilogy takes place over the course of 12 years. These movies -especially the 1st and 3rd- are amazing to watch and definitely worth watching again.

I can't find an emmbeddable trailer online, but oddly enough found this:

Duel At Ganryu Island by crazedigitalmovies

Slant Magazine, which has a thorough plot description including screen shots, describes the film as "principally about the intersection of two extraordinary fencers: Musashi and Kojiro Sasaki. Everything in the story builds up to their inevitable duel." DVD Talk says the trilogy is "A colorful historical epic that also can serve as an excellent introduction to the jidai-geki ("period drama") genre and postwar Japanese film generally". Criterion Reflections opens by saying, "As the grand finale of an epic, heroic film trilogy, Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island delivers admirably on the promise put forth by its predecessors".

G.: a novel

G. is a 1972 novel by John Berger. It won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize and the Booker Prize. Here's the description from Wikipedia:

The novel's setting is pre-First World War Europe, and its protagonist, named "G.", is a Don Juan or Casanova-like lover of women who gradually comes to political consciousness after misadventures across the continent.

selected quotes:

What matters is not being dead

In dreams there are new categories of emotion. In all dreams, even bad ones, there is a sense of immanent resolution such as one scarcely ever experiences when awake. By resolution, I mean the answering of all questions.

I'm laughing at us.
At me because I was frightened?
No, at the two of us here whilst he was crossing the Alps [on a first attempt to cross the Alps in a plane].
He may die.
And one day I'll die and you, too, with your beautiful brown eyes and white teeth. There is never any time to lose.
Don't you have any feelings for him at all?
I had no time.
I don't understand what you say.
No chance ever comes twice.

To be born a woman was to be born within an allotted and confined space, into the keeping of man. A woman's presence developed as the precipitate of her ingenuity in living under such tutelage within such a limited cell. She furnished her cell, as it were, with her presence; not primarily in order to make it more agreeable to herself, but in the hope of persuading others to enter it.

The wife so values the time still left her that she is desperate to fill it with new experience.
The widow so despises the time still left her that she is certain that no true experience can enter it.
Both are deceived.

A waltz is a circle in which ribbons of sentiment rise and fall. The music unites the bows and ties them again.

What mattered the first time was what her expression confirmed and what until that moment had been wordless: what mattered then was not being dead. Now, the second time, what mattered was what her expression confirmed and what until now had been wordless: why not be dead?

The stream of involuntary, precise but concatenating memories which filled his mind seemed to elongate his past life. This I have indeed suggested. But it was equally true that, because nothing remembered could be isolated and set independently within its own time, his remembered life also appeared excessively hurried and brief. Memory alternately stretched and compressed his life until, under this form of torture, time became meaningless.

Perhaps death when it arrives is always a mounting surprise which surprises itself to the point at which all reference -and therefore all self-distinction- disappears.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with this book. It was enjoyable enough, and I don't regret reading it. I might use it as an example of books that make a splash when they are published or which win some award or other but which never rise to greatness. How many people, I wonder, would read this book again or who -having read it- would try to get a friend to read it so they they could discuss it together. I bought this book some years ago when I was trying to read all the Booker winners. I'm done trying. The Booker winners are, as often as not, a disappointment these days. I'll check reviews of the winners before I invest time in them from now on.

Time says, "Berger’s acceptance speech just may be more famous than the work itself." The Guardian tells this story:

The Booker, you see, had a dirty little (open) secret. Its sponsors, Booker McGonnall, had garnered much of their wealth, as Berger related in his acceptance speech, from 130 years of trading in the Caribbean. "The modern poverty of the Caribbean is the direct result of this and similar exploitation," he said. He also later told everyone that he was going to give half his prize money to the Black Panthers - who were, as he explained, "the black movement with the socialist and revolutionary perspective that I find myself most in agreement with in this country". Right on!

and in this review says, "you can't enjoy G without taking it as seriously as Berger does, but the sense of a writer giving everything he's got makes that easier than you'd think".

Inspiration and Bocce Ball

There are always so many little day-brighteners to see when The Daughter and I wander downtown. A week or so ago we saw the inspirational sign above, and this Bocce Ball Court:

which is intended to be a pet-friendly green space and community gathering spot. We see something new every time we go down there. We both think it'd be great fun to live downtown. The Husband is not convinced. I'm sure he'd understand our view if he'd spend more time there, but I admit chemotherapy does make long walks on concrete a less attractive past-time than it would otherwise be. Maybe next year, I'll drag him along and force him to my will. [evil laugh] Of course, being able to afford housing downtown is another subject. I like this one. Look at the city view:

One Cup

One Cup is a short documentary film about the effect traditional coffee plantations have on the lives of farmers in East Timor and how Fair Trade coffee can change their lives for the better:

One Cup - Fair Trade Coffee and East Timor from Dominic Allen on Vimeo.

Dominic Allen is the director. This is his first film as director. from the vimeo page:

One Cup is a moving and visually arresting reminder of the ever increasing need for support for the millions of third and developing world farmers across the globe.

Not to dwell on that whole guilt thing, but what we do does make a difference to other people. Where we can make a difference for good, shouldn't we? You can find more information at FairTradeUSA.org. Ugly Mug coffee here in Memphis uses only fair trade certified coffee. Peets offers a Fair Trade blend. These are our favorite coffees right now and taste better than anything else we've tried.

Fair Trade teas are also a "thing".

Please join the T(ea) Tuesday party at Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog.

The Devil is Whipping His Wife

The Devil is Whipping His Wife:

by Yancy & Yancy

lyrics from youtube:

And the devil is whipping his wife,
While the rain pours in
And the sun is shining bright
While he starts to grin
The devil is whipping his wife
and she gives in.

(C) Copyright 2011
Cecil and Linda Yancy
yancyandyancy.com

Mellow Mushroom

We had tried the Mellow Mushroom a few months ago, but my calzone was burned -actually black on the bottom- and I didn't blog the experience. We went back recently to give them a 2nd chance. The menu is online here. They are a regional chain. Before I start, I'll say that the service was good. Our waitress was pleasant, fast, and just attentive enough. No complaints there.

The hostess who seated us dropped 3 of the 4 napkin-wrapped flatware sets on the floor, then picked them up and put them at our places at the table. When I said, "Since they've been on the floor, could you bring us clean ones?" she took 3 at random from the table (the 3 that had hit the floor? Perhaps...) and in just a moment brought back what I guess was fresh flatware. Who knows? Yuck. Maybe we should've left then.

We started with 6 butter and kosher salt pretzels (2 were already on plates by the time I took this shot):

I ordered the house calzone again:

It wasn't burned this time. The crust was tough and chewy, though. I was able to eat about 1/2 of it before my jaw tired out. The Husband ordered a small beef pizza and soft drink, and The Younger Son ordered a medium pepperoni and sausage and water:

They said their crust was tough and chewy like my calzone, and they gave up after finishing half of theirs, too. The Younger Son said the pepperoni was spongy and "funny tasting". He has bragging rights on being experienced with bad frozen pizza pepperoni, but he says this is the worst he's had. He liked the sausage.

It's a shame. I know "them that likes it speaks well of it," but we don't like it. There are much better pizzas and calzones around, and we won't be coming back here.

Our tab, including tax and tip was about $70, which is another good reason to eat elsewhere.

The Memphis Flyer says, "While I wouldn’t recommend choosing Mellow Mushroom if you have a limited amount of time to dine, the friendly, funky atmosphere and delicious pizzas and beer make it a worthwhile trip." Go Memphis has a positive review. Yelp gives it 3 1/2 out of 5 stars with 23 reviews. Urban Spoon has a score of 57%.

The Fountain

I keep seeing this movie on lists of movies to see, and I finally saw it. It was hard for me to watch because it has a focus on life and death and the lengths we sometimes go to to prolong life, but it was worth watching for me just for the insight it provided into my own life and loss. And it is such a beautiful film.  The Fountain is a 2006 Darren Aronofsky science fiction film. from Wikipedia:

At its core, The Fountain is the story of a 21st-century doctor, Tom Creo (Hugh Jackman), losing his wife Izzi (Rachel Weisz) to cancer in 2005. As she is dying, Izzi begs Tom to share what time they have left together, but he is focused on his quest to find a cure for her.

There are 3 separate story lines showing the main characters at different times 500 years apart: the modern-day research doctor Tom and his dying wife Izzy; a Spanish conquistador Tomás on a quest in the Mayan rainforest searching for the biblical Tree of Life for his queen; the future Tommy on the way to the nebula Xibalba with the Tree of Life to that he can restore Izzy's life.

Sometimes you can find this film online, but it is worth having easier access to.

trailer:

The music was written by Clint Mansell and performed by the Kronos Quartet and Mogwai:

Moria says, "There is no story – just a series of fragments of half-told dramas hung together by a series of visual interplays and pretensions to profundity." Slant Magazine gives it 3 out of 4 stars and says, "the audaciousness with which Aronofsky proceeds is invigorating, just as his marriage of aesthetic and thematic concerns is subtly spellbinding." Slate has a negative review.  Empire Online gives it 4 out of 5 stars and concludes, "At heart, this is a simple Zen fable about love and death. In execution, it’s a complex and gorgeous mini-epic with sterling performances from its two stars." Total Film gives it 4 out of 5 stars and ends with this: "Science-fiction meets emotional fact. An intelligent, time-spanning love story that deserves the benefit of any doubt. Watch. And watch again." Spirituality and Practice says, "Izzy is a spiritual teacher who models for him in many ways a finely finished dying. She is at peace with her passing and fearless. This worthwhile message, which is at the heart of all religions, comes across loud and clear in The Fountain". DVD Talk closes by saying,

Darren Aronofsky has written a script that is philosophical, spiritual, and emotional, and he has somehow dressed it up in truly gorgeous clothes without disappearing up his own behind in a fit of pretentiousness. Working with marvelous performances by Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz, the director has made a movie that is both a heady rush and emotionally powerful, giving us a feast for our eyes while also stimulating our brains and our hearts. A very rare treat.

Roger Ebert says, "There will someday be a Director’s Cut of this movie, and that’s the cut I want to see." Rotten Tomatoes has a critics score of 51%, but the viewer rating is much higher.

Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple

Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple is the 2nd film in the Samurai trilogy directed by Hiroshi Inagaki. Toshiro Mifune stars as the titular samurai warrior. The story is loosely based on the historical figure Miyamoto Musashi. I'm enjoying these. They are dramatic, have nice touches of humor, and are action-filled.

trailer:

DVD Talk says,

These three features, directed by Hiroshi Inagaki and starring Toshiro Mifune, were back in the 1980s widely available for rent on VHS from public libraries and even most video rental stores, this at a time when few stores offered more than a tiny handful of foreign language titles. The trilogy was popular on laserdisc and among the most widely available Criterion titles in that format, and it was also one of Criterion's first DVD releases, debuting in July 1998.

Slant Magazine has a lengthy plot description with numerous screen shots and says,

With startling efficiency, and with a commanding and convincing performance by Toshirô Mifune, Inagaki manages to express the very pith and spirit of Musashi's fighting philosophy as well as portray the considerable advancement of his character through his episode with the Yoshioka school.

Weird Wild Realm calls the opening "excellently staged, thrillingly timed & gorgeously photographed" and has a plot description and screen shots, comparing this work with other adaptations of the story. Rotten Tomatoes doesn't have critic reviews, but the audience rating is 86%.

Surface Detail

Surface Detail is a science fiction novel in the Culture series by Iain M. Banks. I'm a huge fan of this series, and I still mourn the recent and untimely death of the author. This book is a great addition to the series, with a view of the Culture's ruthlessness that doesn't show up in all the books.

from the flyleaf:

It begins in the realm of the Real,

where matter still matters.

It begins with a murder.

And it will not end until the Culture has

gone to war with death itself.

Lededje Y'breq is one of the Intagliated, her marked body bearing witness to a family shame, her life belonging to a man whose lust for power is without limit. Prepared to risk everything for her freedom, her release, when it comes, is at a price, and to put things right she will need the help of the Culture.

Benevolent, enlightened and almost infinitely resourceful though it may be, the Culture can only do so much for any individual. With the assistance of one of its most powerful -and arguably deranged- warships, Lededje finds herself heading into a combat zone not even sure which side the Culture is really on. A war -brutal, far-reaching- is already raging within the digital realms that store the souls of the dead, and it's about to erupt into reality.

It started in the realm of the Real and that is where it will end. It will touch countless lives and affect entire civilizations, but at the center of it all is a young woman whose need for revenge masks another motive altogether

Strange Horizons closes with this:

That a Culture novel is flabby, digressive, and mired in surplus bits of SFnal invention and philosophical musings is only to be expected, and sometimes part of the fun. That it does all these things in the service of such a mealy-mouthed message is profoundly disappointing. It's admirable that Banks is trying to find new things to say about the Culture and new ways to expand the series's universe, but judging by Surface Detail, he hasn't yet figured out how to do so successfully.

io9 calls it "some of the best work he's done in his galaxy-spanning Culture universe." The Guardian says, "the novel's real power lies in the absorbing questions it poses about the value of the real, as opposed to the virtual, about who or what is expendable, and whether a society is better held together by threats or by promises." The Independent says, "In spite of the horrors Banks gives us here, the general effect of this book is entertainment" and suggests you can start here in the series but will be better served reading others first. The LA Times says, "Culture fans will enjoy "Surface Detail," but others may wish for fewer layers and a little more depth."

RP Tracks

RP Tracks has opened up a brand-new covered patio, so we picked a pretty day and tried it out for lunch. To be honest, this was a few weeks ago, and I can't remember what The Husband ate or how much anything cost. I had the Spinach, Grilled Portabella & Feta Cheese Quesadilla:

I've had it before and always enjoy it. One of these days, I'll try something else. It's just that I enjoy this so much. You can see the various menus linked from their home page. The patio was very comfortable. We'll go back after they've finished the construction across the street. The old YMCA is being transformed into retail space.

Yelp gives it 4 out of 5 stars. Urban Spoon has a score of 87%. Trip Advisor gives it 3 1/2 out of 5. There seem to be some complaints about the service. We've always had good service there, but it sounds like you can't depend on it.

Lemon Curd

I had heard of lemon curd before but never tasted it, then one day I saw some on the store shelf and decided to try it. This is Dickinson's Lemon Curd and is quite tasty. It doesn't have a strong taste at all, but is just a bit tart. It was perfect on my English muffin. I enjoyed it with Taylors Scottish Breakfast Tea.

We had lots of blackberry bushes out back when I was growing up, and I loved Mother's blackberry jam. The store-bought versions -when you can find it- just can't compete. She also made pear preserves, which was a delight and which also was light years beyond the pitiful store-bought versions. I sadly never learned to make these, so I satisfy myself with trying things that are new to me. This lemon curd is quite a find! It'll join my other favorite (orange marmalade) as a staple in the fridge.

The Younger Son sticks with grape jelly, and The Husband prefers strawberry preserves. I like both of those, but I'd rather branch out into new food territory when I can. That means there are always 5 or 6 open jars of some kind of jellied fruit in the kitchen. It's the little things that make for fun around here.

As I look around online, I see that you can make your own lemon curd. Cupcake Jemma is cute as can be as she shares her grandmother's recipe with us:

There are also lots of ideas online for what to do with lemon curd if you don't want to just slather it on an English muffin. Serious Eats has some ideas, and Yummly has several recipes with photos.

I'm going to go visit the tea party at Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog, where she has a Linky to help us get acquainted.

Will I Ever Make It Home

Will I Ever Make It Home:

by Ingram Hill

lyrics:

Woke up from my sleep to the sound of that voice
From the words that I heard I had no choice
They told me I had to turn around
My assurance slowly faded down
And I wonder

Will I ever make it home
Will i ever leave the ground
Leave this place so far behind

The plans that I had were quickly destroyed
The problem was one I couldn't avoid
They welcomed me to stay overnight
I'm too tired to complain so I just might
And I wonder

Will I ever make it home
To the place I recognise
Far from here and where I've been
And all the things that I've been shown

Will I ever make it home
Can they keep me here for good
Where I hardly know a soul
And my fear keeps going on

Weariness keeps growing inside
My patience is starting to subside
And I hope I'll be there soon
It can't be long or I'll fall through

Woke up from my sleep to the sound of that voice
From the words that I heard I had no choice
They told me I had to turn around
My assurance slowly faded down
And I wonder

Will I ever make it home
Will i ever leave the ground
Leave this place so far behind
'Til there is no turning back

Will I ever make it home
Get to where I want to be
Find the ones who wait for me
To the place where I belong

Samuel Beckett's Film

Samuel Beckett only made one movie, a 1965 short film starring Buster Keaton. The film is named Film. It's an odd project. Imdb has this summary:

A twenty-minute, almost totally silent film (no dialogue or music one 'shhh!') in which Buster Keaton attempts to evade observation by an all-seeing eye. But, as the film is based around Bishop Berkeley's principle 'esse est percipi' (to be is to be perceived), Keaton's very existence conspires against his efforts. -Written by Michael Brooke michael@everyman.demon.co.uk

via vimeo:

Samuel Beckett from Raul Duke on Vimeo.

I found out about this through Open Culture, where you can find information on the making of the movie. The Guardian reports:

Film, because of its brevity and its obtuse subject matter, proved almost impossible to market though, ironically, it did play as part of a Keaton season in the following year's New York Film Festival where it was greeted with what Cronin calls 'a resentful silence' that was broken by the chorus of loud booing that accompanied the credits. It has seldom been shown since and predictably has attained cult status among both Beckett and Keaton aficionados.

There is a documentary called "Not Film" in the works, and you can see the trailer for that via youtube:

10 Thought-Provoking Science Fiction Movies

Pop Matters (via SF Signal) has a list of The Top 10 Thought-Provoking Science Fiction Films:

#1 - 2001: A Space Odyssey
#2 - Solaris
#3 - The Fountain
#4 - Children of Men
#5 - Soylent Green
#6 - Blade Runner
#7 - Primer
#8 - Dark City
#9 - Planet of the Apes
#10 - Metropolis

Pop Matters explains the concept explored in each film that makes it "thought-provoking". I've seen all but The Fountain. I really need to see that one; it shows up on a lot of lists.

The Hidden Fortress

The Hidden Fortress is a 1958 Akira Kurosawa film starring Toshiro Mifune. We have the Criterion edition of this film. It is worth watching and watching again.

trailer:

Here is an interesting side-by-side scene comparison of The Hidden Fortress and Star Wars illustrating the influence:

Senses of Cinema closes by saying, "It is, truly, this director’s lightest work, but on the other hand I don’t think it’s too left-handed a compliment to say that it’s among his “lesser masterpieces,” for that places it on a very high plane indeed." Kurosawa in Review has a plot description with accompanying screen shots. Slant Magazine gives it 4 out of 5 stars and says,

Kurosawa most often did his finest work when combining his idiosyncratic and popular sensibilities into humane, broadly accessible entertainments; it just so happens that The Hidden Fortress remains more unabashedly entertaining than most.

Star Wars was influenced by this film, and there's more interest in that angle now that more Star Wars films are being made. DVD Talk says,

The movie, later the basis for the first Star Wars (1977), to the point where Hidden Fortress star Toshiro Mifune was even considered for the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi, remains as thrillingly entertaining now as it was 55 years ago. An epic period adventure, The Hidden Fortress is escapist gold, full of suspenseful action and broad comedy undated by the passage of time. It is, perhaps, Kurosawa's most accessible film for those normally scared off by foreign movies with English subtitles.

The BBC calls it "A comic epic" and says,

"The Hidden Fortress" effortlessly intertwines action, drama, and comedy in the story of a defeated general, Rokurota (Mifune), who is charged with guarding a princess as she flees to safety during the Japanese clan wars of the 16th century. Faced with having to escort the princess and her stockpile of gold alone, Rokurota enlists the help of two oafish peasants, Tahei (Chiaki) and Matakishi (Fujiwara).

Rotten Tomatoes has a critics score of 100%.