A Night at the Museum


Stiller and Williams

What a night! Everything comes alive. No secret there. The secret is more related to why, and what's the point? It all comes clear in this family film. If you want a film that 5 to 10 year olds will be wowed by, this is it. Adults will be amused, but not enrapt. It will be the joy in their kids eyes that will bring the greatest pleasure to parents. The movie is itself purely for children, do not go expecting intellectual and adult entertainment.


Wilson and Stiller

Larry, Ben Stiller, is a ne'er-do-well who finally lands a job at the Museum of Natrual History. (The job placement worker is Ben's mother, comedy legend Anne Meara) Retiring night watchmen Dick Vandyke, Mickey Rooney and Bill Cobbs, are eager to train the new guy. On his first night, Larry becomes painfully aware that being a night watchman will entail much more than simply watching. He will have the ride of his life. The night begins foreboding and turns sappy as it dumbs down from fright to light. Let's put it this way, Rex is a sweetheart.


Rex and Stiller

No spoilers here. It was a joy to see the three old timers come to life and do a movie. Mickey Rooney an additional three films in the works. He's 87 and must have come out of retirement. He's way up there now, but showed the same spunk he's brought to the screen through the years. He is forever puck. Dick Vandyke was a pleasure. What a pro.


Rooney, Vandyke and Cobb

If you want to have fun with your kids, go see this.

Ihave the flu. The flu is miserable. The flu has me down. The flu is not helpful. I am feeling the influence of the influenza. My throat is sore, my sinus is throbbing and my chest is hurting. Oh what fun it is to be sick. I think I'll be better soon. I'm at the point of sweating profusely. I am in the middle of the healing process. I want to sleep for a week. I'll drink some Nyquil and zone out. Will update later.

This movie was one of the most enjoyable films I've seen in a very long time. Its just perfect for an English major. The English professor played by Dustin Hoffman was inspired. I reccomend this film to anyone who is literate and interested in paying attention to the plot. There are varying reviews out there, but I agree with the positive ones. I won't tell you what's going on in the scene that the photo is from. I'ts a pun. I'm so lame I didn't get it till some minutes after it was put in front of us. So it goes. When I did get it I laughed heartily.

The end of the book is the key. When it is discussed by Crick and the Prof is is beautifully surreal. It's the kind of conversation that is fun to have now and then. I will certainly obtain this film when the time comes. No, I couldn't watch it again and again and again. I will watch it once more in a year or two. I did like it that well.

Leonard Cohen song. One of Us Cannot Be Wrong.
Click and listen.

I Killed'em Gilbert, I killed'em.
Poor Arnie.

Face I Click on the face for video

Face is a new character that I've developed for Youtube. He's kinda creepy, but not by design. He is just a sketch of a face and has a way with words. I killed the echo after the first video, it was a little hard to understand. The lack of echo makes Face a little less creepy. Still, he is a creepy character. I think I'll make more, its fun to do and I can't imagine what he'll come up with next.

. Face II Click on the face for video.

But time will tell
of stars that fell
a million years ago.

The Shed

A video of a shed with music from the Kronos Quartet. Ewww.
I like it though.

Apartment nearly finished

This is the current status of the apartment we've been working on for nearly a year. It's just about there. The bathroom is near completion and the kitchen is finished!!! Thank goodness. Once the power is on we can fire that thing up and rent it out. At last!


BEFORE AFTER

BEFORE AFTER

AFTER AFTER

The Tragic Prince of 9/11

Something in the clouds is ominous. It is a vision of the Tragic Prince among the destruction of the World Trade Center.

Is this some message as to where this cloud came from?


I dare say we can only wonder at this vision unseen till now.

Illusionist and Hungryman Dinners

Why a TV dinner can be such a nice experience I'm not sure. I went to the movies and saw "The Illusionist". What a nice movie. I suppose it was predictable in its way, but I didn't mind. The ambiance was engaging and I was taken with the whole sepiatoned look of the film. The edges of the screen were fuzzy as if it were an ancient film shown through a projector with edges missing.

TV dinner you ask? After the movie I went to the market and bought two hungryman dinners for Dad and I. He was taping the Amazing Race when I arrived. I thought it was on at 8. It was on at 7 on another channel and he was already taping it. I heated up the meal and stuck it on a tv tray in front of him. He gave a little protest but proceded to eat it all. He even liked the brownie included in the thing. It was very gratifying to present him with dinner and have him not only eat it, but, enjoy it.


The movie? Ed Norton and Paul Giamatti were splendid in this period piece. I was pleasently surprised by the pace of the story, it never lagged. I can't say anything without spoiling it. Its about an illusionist, would it make sense to say much?


Suffice it to say, it was a pleasure, but not nearly as satisfying as knowing Dad ate and was satisfied. Life's pleasures.

The Rhythm of the Heat by Peter Gabriel is a song of intrest. It find it has a deep effect on the listener. The lyrics are his usual psuedo mystical poop, but still inviting to the listener. This is from some anime thing I've never heard of. I like the compilation they made of the images. Nice timing on the edits. I put captions on it just in case.
Click on the picture to see it.

This guy is my hero. I think his old guy is the funniest thing since the last funniest thing that I have since retired in favor of this funniest thing so far. His ramblings about a 32 Chrysler are the stuff of dreams. He could really riff when he got going. I love it when he moans, "Me too." This guy should have won some sort of something during his time entertaining mankind.
KnowhatImean?
Click on the picture to watch this epic.

Soylent Green is?

Here is a short video about Soylent Green. Heard of it? Click on the Picture to see the video.

Sponge Dinosaurs

The vodka swilling man is back with a little information on Sponge Dinosaurs. Pay particular attention to the various types of Dinosaurs you can learn about in this instructional video. Who says that learning can't be fun?
Click on the photo to see the video.

The Wrong Ball Play

This was a funny clip of a very deceptive first play of the football game these two kids were in. Click the picture to see it. Very funny.

House of God

The House of God. $50.00 or more. This is a video from MTV about a hundred years ago. I love it so much. I think it to be very honest. It is constructed around the recording of an evangelist on the radio I believe.
Click on the picture to see the video.

Music video of Memories Gone By

Here is a song by my dear friend Hallie. I put together this video for her song ten years ago on videotape. Now I've digitized it and put it on the vlog here out of nostalgia for past lives and present joys. Hallie can really write a nice tune. The movies were pretty crappy, but it still evokes a nice feeling in the end. Click on the picture to see it.

Thanks Hallie for the song and the happy times we have enjoyed over the years.

Bushmen Boogie

This is a little experiment with the bushmen dancing. Its the mating dance of the Ostritch. Click on the Picture to watch this dance.

The Bill and Coo Show

This video marks my surrender to country music. This couple just plain sparks my spurs. I have never had a hankerin for grits until I heard these two songbirds warble. The saddest part is where Coo remembers the advice of her Daddy. Good advice is hard to come by these days, but her Daddy was as on tartet as a sharpshooter in a sharpshootin gallery with sharp shots.See if you can get through this countrly classic with out choking back the tears. Click on the picture to see this winner.

Towers of Turmoil and Burning Buildings

I just watched the movie of United 93. The special features were grueling. The actors met the actual family members and it was horrific listening to them laud their family members who were on the flight. How "alive" they were. How "vibrant" and "how much they had to offer the world. I wonder about the child blown to smithereens by the Hezbollah and the Israelis that is dead in the rubble. Is their contribution to have been any less? Are they loved any less by thier family? Its all too much I think.

My nephew and I had heard the same thing about the use of cellphones on airplanes at 30,000 feet, simply put, they dont work. So, who made all these desperate calls from the planes? Strange as heck. I haven't heard that anyone made any particular cellphone calls from the two planes that hit the towers.

Who knows? Its sobering. Its ugly. Its our wonderful world.

Dr. Cyclops part 2

Dr. Cyclops is after the YOUTUBERS can they escape? What of the dangers of the jungle? Will Suzie be able to keep pace with the other Tubers?
Click on the picture to find out.
Its your choice.

Dr.Cyclops forces his friend to YOUTUBE

Another Youtube classic. Click on the picture to see.

This one was fun!

Here's a voice and face from the past

This is sound from the ancient recording made in Saratoga thirty years ago. The photo is from Europe in 1983. The whole thing is an artistic effort, no special meaning, just strong iconic symbols and fun with phonics.
Click on the picture to see this gem.

Floor is in!

Here we have the linoleum in the entry way of the Apt. We've been working on this son of a gun for a year. At last we have the flooring in. Now we can rent it!!!

Video Tutorial on Painting Your Shark Bank

This is a little crafting tutorial that might just make you think twice about painting your own Shark Bank from the Dollar Tree store.
Click on the pictures to watch

Dolphin Scare

Sometimes its possible to frighten oneself. Honestly, it can happen in the astral world of double exposure.

Click on pic.

World Trade Center ...er, um, was ok for a recruiting film

In his review of World Trade Center, Michael Kresky states: "The mini-narrative of Dave Karnes (Michael Shannon, in a performance so wooden, ethereal, and divorced from the rest of the film, it’s seems likely to have been shot by a second-unit director), the business-man who immediately quits his day job, goes to church (the cross is seen in gigantic close-up onscreen), shaves his head, and dons full marine regalia before discovering and rescuing John and Will from the rubble, seems designed only to provide Stone with a thoroughly counterintuitive move. “It’s going to take a lot of good men to avenge this,” he says; there’s no hint of irony here, even when at the close of the film a title card announces that this nearly anonymous hero served two tours of duty in Iraq. It’s a conclusion that plays right into the misconceived, if highly successful, ideological connection between 9/11 and the current Iraq debacle. " http://reverseshot.com/article/strong_world_trade_center_strong
I thoroughly agree with this view. The poor slob was so wooden he looked like he belonged in a petrified forest. He spoke like some sort of robot and his scenes were like he was some holy messiah. The movie was definitely Lifetime movie quality to be sure. It was entertaining and pulled at the heart strings, but no matter what it seemed like a recruiting film for "a lot of men needed for revenge." Impressive as most large screen films are these days.

It was fun to go to the movies though. Had a great time with the best of company.

Eating a Burrito in a Chinese Hat

Here is a video about eating a burrito in a Chinese hat. Silly I know. This is what happens when you inject Gila Monster Spit into your belly.
Click on the picture to watch this gem.

The Experiment Begins

I am just starting a course of treatment called Byetta. It is injected morning and night with the aim to bring down blood sugar levels. I am not on insulin, this is drived from Gila Monster spit. Click on the photo at left and you'll be sent to the video.

Yep, that's right. To read more about it go to:http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=47568I will track my progress. I will post the whole shabang on here. I gotta get this weight off or die. UGH.

Progress at last...

Things are progressing rather swimmingly hereabouts. The apartment is in the throws of a wrenching transformation. We are expecting it to be a masterpiece when completed. Our contractor is an artist. Thank goodness its in the final stages of repair at last....

Another Side Effect?

Evidently there is another side effect to Byetta that they failed to inform me of. It seems it can cause your eyebrows to curl upward, leaving a confused expression on one's face. And here it is. I am so confused I wonder which way to the door.

Other than that, the Byetta isn't doing anything for my blood sugar level. I'm still showing a fasting over 250 most mornings and during the day its not coming down. It hasn't been very long, but I'm tired of being sick to my stomach without my blood level dropping. I'm just a lump I guess. The listlessness is pervasive and I wish to sleep more than be awake. Thank God I have my looks.

Pete Gets to the Root of Matters

Pete worked hard yesterday and today. Dad and I were grateful to have him here. I wasn't much help, being in a Byetta state of mind. I was el'puke'o. Not good kids. My guts are all Gila monstered out. Pete was removing the stump of the "little" tree he cut down yesterday. It aint so little a root system. Click on the picture for proof he didn't go up in a tree.

August 9th Atomic Bombs and Me

Aug. 9th is the 61st anniversary of the atomic bomb being dropped on Nagasaki. I turn 49. For me, this date of Aug. 9th has always meant atomic bomb. I have been very aware that it was on this date that the bomb fell on Nagasaki. It was interesting to learn it was not the primary target. I quote from a site that explains:
"In the meantime, since there was still no official reaction from Japan, the Americans felt that there was no alternative but to prepare a second atomic attack. The plutonium bomb "Fat Man" was loaded into a B-29 known as Bockscar (Martin-Omaha built B-29-35-MO serial number 44-27297, the name often misspelled as Bock's Car), named after its commander, Capt. Frederick C. Bock. (picture above) However, on this mission, the aircraft was flown by Major Sweeney, with Capt. Bock flying one of the observation planes. The primary target was to be Kokura Arsenal, with Nagasaki as the alternative."
Click on the pictures to hear the song Enola Gay, by OMD. That's the name of the plane that dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima.

Here are the lyrics for "Enola Gay"

Enola gay, you should have stayed at home yesterday
Aha words cant describe the feeling and the way you lied
These games you play, they’re gonna end it more than tears someday
Aha Enola gay, it shouldn’t ever have to end this way
Its 8:15, and that’s the time that its always been
We got your message on the radio, conditions normal and you’re coming home
Enola gay, is mother proud of little boy today (name of A bomb dropped)
Aha this kiss you give, its never ever gonna fade away
Enola gay, it shouldn’t ever have to end this way
Aha Enola gay, it shouldn’t fade in our dreams away
Its 8:15, and that’s the time that its always been
We got your message on the radio, conditions normal and you’re coming home
Enola gay, is mother proud of little boy today
Aha this kiss you give, its never ever gonna fade away

Faces Sing

Some strange singing going on here. I think its fun. See what you think.
Click on the image to see the faces sing.
I like this photo and I'm not sure why. Must be the trypticness of it all.

Firestarter

This is the first video I had ever edited. Its a repetitive thing. Austin and the Tragic Prince are captured doing the same thing again and again and again....
Click on the picture to see it.

River Guide

This is another epic I made last fall while on a drive in the Feather River Canyon. Its gorgeous up there and I'm sorry but I don't exactly make for a great guide. Hope you enjoy it nonetheless. (Is that one word?) Click on the picture to see this movie....