E. M. Forster

Today is the anniversary of the death in 1970 of author E. M. Forster. I do not think of this author as a contemporary, but he died not long before I started high school and that gives me a definite overlap with him. Best known for A Passage to India, A Room with a View and Howard's End, he also wrote short stories that dealt with science fictional or supernatural themes. Two short story collections are The Celestial Omnibus and Other Stories and The Eternal Moment and Other Stories. I read The Machine Stops from the latter collection and watched the one-hour tv show based on it about a year ago. He did not limit his writing to fiction, and among his other works are three books of travel writings. Some of his works are available online here . There is a short biography here.

Dreaming in Smoke

I read Dreaming in Smoke by Tricia Sullivan because it won the Arthur C. Clarke award in 1999. I was not particularly taken by the book. It was different, but the characters never felt fully fleshed out to me, and I thought too much space was given over to the characters telling each other things I thought the author wanted me to know.

from the back of the book:

Kalypso Deed is a shotgun, riding the interface between the AI Ganesh and human scientists who solve problems through cyberassisted Dreams. But she's young and a little careless; she'd rather mix drinks and play jazz. Azamat Marcsson is a colorless statistician: middle-aged, boring, and obsessed with microorganisms. A first-class nonentity-until one of his Dreams implodes, taking Kalypso with it.

Now Ganesh is crashing, and nothing could be worse. For on the planet T'nane, it is the AI alone that keeps the colonists alive, eking out a grim existence in an environment inimical to human life. To save the colony, Kalypso must persuade Marcsson to finish the Dream that is destroying Ganesh. But Marcsson has gone mad, and T'nane itself has plans for them both that will alter their minds-and their world-forever.

SFSite reviews it here:

The writing is often brilliant. The ideas are often fascinating. But I felt as if I were, so to speak, "reading in smoke". The story was difficult to follow, and the characters difficult to care about. There's much to respect about this novel, but not as much, I thought, to like.

and here:

It's the balance between character and action that makes Dreaming in Smoke a first-rate science fiction novel.

Infinity Plus:

This is overall an excellent book. It is well done in its concept, structure and execution, the last of which Sullivan completes with a style that includes both lyricism and sharp, thoughtful insight. These features combine to completely overshadow any small worldbuilding niggles concerned with the scenario which might otherwise distract you on a first reading.

101 Dalmations

The Husband chose this one for us to watch tonight and seemed to be selecting it with enthusiasm. I kept thinking it hadn't been long since I last saw it, but when I checked it has been about a year. Still. It was good, I guess, to watch the new recently-released DVD I picked up used at Spin Street.

My post from last year links to a clip of the Cruella de Vil song.

Japanese Garden Candlelight Tour

I forgot to take my camera (I took this picture another time), but the Memphis Botanic Garden has a picture of the lights here. It has been 15 or so years since I've attended the candlelight tour, and it's different than I remember it. We enjoyed it then, and we enjoyed it tonight.

From 7:15-7:45 they offered several cultural activities inside, and they offered guided tours through the Japanese garden from 7:45-8:45. I plan to go back -hoping to talk Mother into coming- in July, and The Daughter wants to come with me in August.

Personal Jesus

Johnny Cash's version:


Depeche Mode's original:


Marilyn Manson's cover (live version):

Mel Torme

Today is the anniversary of the death in 1999 of jazz singer and composer Mel Tormé. He was the composer of The Christmas Song and appeared as himself on Night Court and Seinfeld.

Just in Time (1988):

Broken Blossoms

Broken Blossoms is a 1919 D.W. Griffith silent film starring Lillian Gish.

The film is in the public domain and is freely available online:


FilmReference.com has a page on the film, which includes references, links and a review. They say,

Today, the film's critical stock is soaring: Broken Blossoms is widely regarded as Griffith's masterpiece, eclipsing even his better known epics.

Roger Ebert's review says,

What remains today is the artistry of the production, the ethereal quality of Lillian Gish, the broad appeal of the melodrama, and the atmosphere of the elaborate sets (the film's budget was actually larger than that of "Birth of a Nation").

And its social impact. Films like this, naive as they seem today, helped nudge a xenophobic nation toward racial tolerance.

Slant Magazine reviews it as one of their 100 Essential Films.

8/4/2008: GoatDog has a review.

8/30/2008: The Dancing Image has a review.

7/6/2009: Ferdy on Films has a review.

Fair Use Victory for "Expelled"

Yoko Ono has lost her bid to limit fair use of Lennon's song in Expelled:

US District Judge Sidney Stein found in favour of the film-makers based on a "fair use" doctrine.
...
In a statement Ono said: "It is a pity that this decision weakens the rights of all copyright owners."

but it doesn't weaken the rights of copyright holders, it merely upholds the increasingly limited Fair Use doctrine. Copyright law includes provision for "fair use" of copyrighted material. The copyright holder doesn't get to decide if Expelled can make use of the material if it fits under "fair use". That's what the "fair" part is. We have rights, for pity's sake. I'm glad the rights of Ben Stein, et. al. were upheld. This is yet another example of the copyright holder not being the best judge of what constitutes fair use of their material.

More on the Expelled movie here.

Clinton is The Spoilsport

---- update: She's bowing to the inevitable according to DailyKos.

Alternet:

As the polls closed in Montana, Obama announced the support of more than two dozen super delegates -- party leaders -- that pushed him far past the 2,118 delegate threshold needed to become the nominee, according to a tally by the Associated Press. In contrast, Clinton had 1,907 delegates.
...
Clinton left open the possibility that she would contest Obama's delegate totals within the party's governing bodies.

Don't I remember her saying she'd stay in until everybody had had their say, the votes had been counted and one of them had received the necessary delegate count? Well???

New York Times:

Obama Clinches Nomination; First Black Candidate to Lead a Major Party Ticket
...
The attention, however, shifted quickly on Wednesday morning to speculation about Mrs. Clinton’s next move after she delivered a speech on Tuesday evening that was more defiant than conciliatory.

AP via Yahoo headline:

Clinton refuses to bow out of presidential race. NEW YORK - Angling for a vice presidential nod, Hillary Rodham Clinton refused to bow out of the Democratic race Tuesday, hoping to maintain leverage as Barack Obama clinched the delegates needed to secure the party's nomination.

Obama is The Man

according to the reports I'm seeing. BarackObama.com has a tally.

Obama's victory speech:

From RNA to Humans: A Symposium on Evolution

This Symposium at The Rockefeller University is a 2-day event on various aspects of evolution. The lectures are available online as videos. Jerry Coyne's one-hour lecture is called Feeding and Gloating for More: The Challenge of the New Creationism and is aimed at an intelligent lay audience. He defines "scientific theory", for example. His video is well worth watching. He gives some information on the history of the problem and the current situation. He discusses the fossil record and intermediate forms and other hard evidence supporting evolutionary theory. He then considers 2 forms of Intelligent Design and the evidence that has been presented in support of ID and clearly refutes those claims. At the end of the lecture he gives specific suggestions for how to combat creationism/id:

1. Teach the evidence for evolution.
2. Teach the meaning of "theory" in science.
3. Emphasize the difference between natural and supernatural explanations...
4. Recognize that, when it comes to science, we [meaning scientists] are the establishment [and so should not accept creationists as equals for debate purposes].
5. Educate yourself about the controversy.

He recommends the NCSE website.

I would add a #5: Explain why science and religion are not incompatible. I can't say it enough -a person can be a faithful Bible-believing Christian and accept evolutionary theory.

He ends by arguing passionately against religion. He does not accept my #5 at all and does believe religion is in direct opposition to rational science.

There are other videos available, but this is by far the most accessible and the most useful for folks involved in the evolutionary argument against creationism/id.

HT: AIG Busted

25 Top Animated Movies

according to Moviefone, who has an annotated list with pictures here. The ones in bold print are the ones I've seen. I've never heard of #23.

1. Toy Story (1995)
2. The Lion King (1994)
3. Shrek (2001)
4. The Incredibles 2004)
5. Bambi (1942)
6. The Little Mermaid (1989)
7. Cinderella (1950)
8. Spirited Away (2002)
9. Snow White and the Seven Dwarves
10. Fantasia (1941)
11. Finding Nemo (2003)
12. Ratatouille (2007)
13. Beauty and the Beast (1991)
14. The Iron Giant (1999)
15. South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut (1999)
16. Wallace and Gromit: the Curse of the Were Rabbit (1999)
17. Toy Story 2 (1999)
18. Pinocchio (1940)
19. Princess Mononoke (1999)
20. The Jungle Book (1967)
21. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
22. Lady and the Tramp (1955)
23. The Triplets of Belleville (2003)
24 Dumbo (1941)
25. The Simpsons (2007)

I know it's limited to the top 25, but there's much missing from this list. I'd love to see an unranked list of top 50 animated films. That'd have to include Sleeping Beauty and 101 Dalmatians and more Japanese anime.

HT: Cinematical

Death and the Joyful Woman

Death and the Joyful Woman is the third of Ellis Peters' Inspector George Felse mysteries that I've read. They don't come close to being as good as her Cadfaels, but I love the Cadfaels. The Felse mysteries are good books, interesting reads. This one won the Edgar award in 1963.

from the back of the book:

Just sixteen, Dominic Felse begins to feel the painful, exquisite stirrings of first love. He's in heaven when the object of his adoration, heiress Kitty Norris, offers him a lift in her red sports car. Then a few days later his own father, Inspector George Felse of the Comerford Police, charges her with murder. An arrogant millionaire has been killed with a magnum bottle of champagne at a pub once called The Joyful Woman-and the person with motive, means, and opportunity is Kitty. Although she is obviously lying, Inspector Felse listens intently as Dominic insists on her innocence. But he doesn't see his son's desperation to find the real killer-or the dangerous deceptions a tormented heart can weave...

I think she does a particularly good job with characterization and letting us see the characters from the other characters' perspectives.

R.I.P. Bo Diddley

Bo Diddley has died.

More:

Reuters:

MIAMI (Reuters) - Rock 'n' roll pioneer Bo Diddley, who banged out hit songs powered by the relentless "Bo Diddley beat" that influenced rockers from Buddy Holly to U2, died on Monday at the age of 79.

New York Times
NPR:

All Things Considered, June 2, 2008 - One of the fathers of rock 'n' roll died Monday at the age of 79. Bo Diddley was born Ellas Bates in Mississippi and grew up in Chicago, where he played guitar on street corners before being discovered by Chess Records. He leaves behind a sound that helped build a musical movement.

CNN:

Bo Diddley, the musical pioneer whose songs, such as "Who Do You Love?" and "Bo Diddley," melded rhythm and blues and rock 'n' roll through a distinctive thumping beat, has died. He was 79.

Rock 'n' roll pioneer Bo Diddley influenced generations of guitarists.

Diddley died Monday, surrounded by family and loved ones at his home in Archer, Florida, a family spokeswoman said.

The cause was heart failure, his family said.

UPI
Guardian:

Bo Diddley, one of the fathers of rock'n'roll, has died in Florida at the age of 79.

Diddley, whose signature "hambone" beat provided one of the original and most enduring rhythms in rock, built the foundations from which many musicians - including the British invasion bands of the 1960s - have built.

GreenCine

6/3/2008:
Monkeyfister has links to videos.

Albert Lamorisse

Today is the anniversary of the death in 1970 of Albert Lamorisse, whose best-known film is The Red Balloon. To be honest, I liked the film better than the kids did, and it was not one of the VHS tapes we owned that got the most play. It did win the Palme d'Or for best short film in 1956.

Films de France has a review.

The Red Balloon:


6/11/2008:
Criterion Confessions has a review.

If you buy it, it's yours.

What a concept! Today is "First Sale Day" according to BoingBoing, who points out that today is the 100th anniversary of the decision by the U.S. Supremes upholding your right to treat things you own as if, well, as if you own them. As a frequent buyer at my local used book store I applaud the wisdom of the ruling, and I cherish my right to buy and re-sell books, CDs and other items. I hope we can keep this right as it applies to music and movies and not lose it to over-zealous copyright holders, clueless judges and elected officials bought and paid for by corporate interests.

Sunday Psalm

Psalm 46

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.

4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.

8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.

9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.

KJV

Play a Horse Riding Game

Click here to play a horse jumping game. Run fast. Jump high.

The photo is from allspice1's Flickr page.

The Bourne Ultimatum

The Elder Son chose The Bourne Ultimatum, but it's one we've been wanting to see for a while. It's the third film in a trilogy -a beautifully constructed, coherent, balanced trilogy. The Younger Son and I both like this one best of the three. I am an Albert Finney fan, so this film holds a special draw for me because of that.

Reviews:

Variety tips their hat to Albert Finney:

Albert Finney effectively lends his weight, basso tones and a slight Southern drawl to his man-behind-the-curtain character.

The New York Times says,

What’s different about the Bourne movies is the degree to which they have been able to replace the pleasures of cinematic violence with those of movie-made kinetics — action, not just blood.

Rolling Stone:

The movie is thunderously exciting, but what makes it resonate is the wrenching story we read on Damon's face. We've waited all summer for a wild ride to grab us with more than jolts. Now it's here. Hang on.

Roger Ebert says,

I enjoy the movies simply for what they are: skillful exercises in high-tech effects and stunt work, stringing together one preposterous chase after another, in a collection of world cities with Jason apparently piling up frequent-flier miles between them.

"Ultimatum" is a tribute to Bourne's determination, his driving skills, his intelligence in out-thinking his masters and especially his good luck. No real person would be able to survive what happens to him in this movie, for the obvious reason that they would have been killed very early in "The Bourne Identity" (2002) and never have survived to make "The Bourne Supremacy" (2004). That Matt Damon can make this character more convincing than the Road Runner is a tribute to his talent and dedication. It's not often you find a character you care about even if you don't believe he could exist.

trailer:

Joan of Arc

Today is the anniversary of the death in 1431 of Saint Jeanne d'Arc, martyr. There is a short biography at the Catholic Encyclopedia. There are links here to biographies online, texts of the trial documents and more. My post from last year includes several links, including a link to a film on her trial which is available both online and as a Criterion DVD. There is a wikipedia article listing depictions of her in literature, theater, operas, oratorios, vocal works, paintings, sculpture, films, music, television, video games, computer games, comics and animation. Joan of Arc has been a popular figure through the years.

Here's Joan the Woman, a 1917 Cecil B. DeMille silent, in 2 parts:




The picture at the top of the post is Entreé de Jeanne d'Arc à Orléans, painted in 1887 by Jean-Jacques Scherrer.