Mon, 08 Oct 2007 17:19:47 GMT

For men may come and men may go

Fans of 19th-century poetry in particular might enjoy my mother’s nature column from October 2004, October’s Bright Blue Weather.

Dad and I shared a love of the outdoors, of poetry, and also of operettas. As a teenager, I would sit up until midnight with him, watching the old Jeanette McDonald and Nelson Eddy movies on television. One of our favorites was Sigmund Romberg's Student Prince. As we drove that October day, I sang Romberg’s “Golden Days” — a song of remembering the “golden days, in the sunshine of our happy youth.” And, indeed, Dad reminisced about other Octobers as he “oohed” and “aahed” over the spectacular color. Now that he is gone, a golden October woods reminds me of that “Golden Days” afternoon with him when the sun backlit a shimmer of golden, scarlet, purple, and orange leaves. And every time I look at our stream, I remember Dad reciting Alfred Lord Tennyson’s “The Brook” whenever he drove up our road. Posted by: Vianegativa      Read more     Source

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 09:41:41 GMT

Fests and events: 10-8

"When Indian director Satyajit Ray died in 1992, Akira Kurosawa praised him as 'the greatest social realist filmmaker who ever lived.' But when Kurosawa saw Abbas Kiarostami's Through the Olive Trees (1994), he said of the Iranian writer-director that 'God has found the right person to take Satyajit Ray's place.'" In the Los Angeles Times, Kevin Thomas previews Life and So Much More: The Films of Abbas Kiarostami, a series running at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art from Friday through October 27.

At Bad Lit, Mike Everleth has the lineup for the Lausanne Underground Film & Music Festival, running Wednesday through Sunday. Posted by: dwhudson      Read more     Source

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 11:39:48 GMT

Beyond the Years

"Im Kwon-taek's 100th film, Beyond the Years, is his first on love and romance," writes Gautaman Bhaskaran in the Hollywood Reporter. "Autobiographical, or so it seems, Beyond the Years tries to make up for this weakness by presenting a canvas of extraordinary visuals, conceived and captured by Jung Il-sung. The Korean landscape appears almost ethereal as it is underscored by 'pansori' or Korean throat-singing. In fact, the film can well pass off for a musical. Ryo Kunihiko's compositions enslave one's heart."

J Robert Parks has his problems with it, but: "Im still has great eye for compositions, so there are pleasures to spare. And the pansori music, taken from famous Korean operas and running throughout the film like a Hollywood musical, is gorgeous." Posted by: dwhudson      Read more     Source

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 03:44:35 GMT

The L.A.M.B. Signature Chateau Wristlet Clutch

It comes with a detachable chain link strap, which is so perfect for a couple of reasons. During the day it can be attached to one of your large totes or handbags for easy access when not wanting to dig through to locate your wallet. Or when night rolls around, simply ditch the big purse and wear it as a wristlet or detach to carry in hand.


Price: $345 Posted by: Jennifer      Read more     Source

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 02:18:54 GMT

Dai Nipponjin

Scott Weinberg at Cinematical on Dai Nipponjin: "I could rattle off the film's catalog of lunacy (and I will) but it still wouldn't adequately explain how outlandishly, amusingly weird the thing is. Definitely one of those 'not far all tastes' imports, but if you're a fan of Japanese action flicks, monster movies and strangely amusing mockumentaries.... then this is one you're going to want to search for."

"An attempt to be a This is Spinal Tap for the kaiju crowd, this mockumentary directed by and starring Hitoshi Matsumoto posits what life might be like for a hapless superhero in a world where giant monsters have lost their appeal," writes Mike White. "The film lags on occasion - feeling like the jokes are too far between - and, sadly, it feels like Matsumoto simply ran out of ideas before the film comes to its bizarre conclusion."

Updated through 9/24. Posted by: dwhudson      Read more     Source

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 12:53:46 GMT

Nigella papillosa 'Midnight'

Botany Photo of the Day will have brief written entries on weekends, holidays and my vacations from April through September. – Daniel

Jacki of Oregon, aka jacki-dee@Flickr, deserves another round of applause for contributing another one of her photographs to BPotD (original | BPotD Flickr Group Pool). Thank you!

The species Nigella papillosa occurs in southern Spain and Portugal (some sites also suggest Sicily). The name Nigella hispanica is sometimes used for this taxon in cultivation, but it is not validly applied (the name belongs to a different species).

Nigella damascena (love-in-a-mist) and Nigella sativa are the two best-known species in the genus. Posted by: Daniel Mosquin      Read more     Source

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 03:27:14 GMT

Shorts, 9-6.

"Petter Naess' comedy Gone With the Woman is Norway's entry in the hunt for a nomination for best foreign film Academy Award," reports Gunnar Rehlin in Variety. Via Peter Martin at Cinematical, where he's got more linkage, but let's add this: Karsten Meinich's got background info on the film and the novel, pix, the works. And it'll be screening in Toronto.

"Gael García Bernal has agreed to star in Swedish director Lukas Moodysson's upcoming drama Mammoth," report Gunnar Rehlin and Ed Meza. Also in Variety, "Ralph Fiennes, Hayley Atwell and Dominic Cooper have joined Keira Knightley in the cast of Saul Dibb's The Duchess, which starts shooting Sept. 23 in London," reports Adam Dawtrey. Knightley will be playing Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire. Posted by: dwhudson      Read more     Source

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 02:27:28 GMT

Viva Italia!

Abarth and Italian pride, reborn.
[Image Source: Jalopnik]

By Gunnar Heinrich

Italian nationalism (not likely celebrated by Italians since Garibaldi) will be on full display at the upcoming Frankfurt motor show when Fiat sets up its display in the bright colors of green, white, and red (the color's of Italy's flag) to showcase its latest and greatest lineup.

Riding high on a tide of consumer hype and media glow, the once beleaguered auto giant is set to show off the successful new 500 (in the saintly white section) and the sports-centric Abarth line that will include the much-discussed Punto Abarth SS (in the devil red section).

And on the (eco.) green side (literally), Fiat will show off the Panda Aria - a hatchback that will produce "unprecedented" low-levels of greenhouse gas emissions - 69g/km of CO2.

For more info, tap the link >>>

[Source: Autocar] Posted by: Gunnar Heinrich      Read more     Source

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 01:34:57 GMT

In the Shadow of the Moon.

"It's fitting that the World Cinema documentary award at the last Sundance film festival went to In the Shadow of the Moon, which reminds us of a seemingly distant time when the United States was not so alienated from the rest of the world," remarks Ed Gonzalez at Slant.

"A stirring account of the Apollo program's mission to the moon, as remembered by some of the few men ever to view the Earth from the other end of a telescope, David Sington's doc recaptures the thrill, the terror, and the heroism of man hurling himself into the void," writes Jim Ridley in the Voice. "Need a pick-me-up after the bitter foreign-policy failures reported in Charles Ferguson's No End in Sight? Here's every nation on earth - even the pouting Soviets - fixed on the comet of can-do US optimism streaking into the stars. Even the French loved us then." Posted by: dwhudson      Read more     Source

September 3, 2007, 12:02 AM CT

Antomical T-shirts

Express your inner self.

with anatomically correct drawings on.

muscle T-shirts, bone T-shirts, heart T-shirts,.

stomach T-shirts or nervous system T's.

These anatomical T-Shirts were drawn by the original artist, Leslie Arwin. These shirts demonstrate amazing talent and attention to detail. Don't settle for less.

A number of celebrities have worn the muscle or skeleton T-shirt. Bill Murray sleeps in one in Tootsie. Also seen in Crocodile Dundie 2, EDtv, Spinal Tap, numerous TV shows, and even worn by a cartoon character in the Simpsons......... Posted by: Edwin      Read more         Source