Thursday, January 31, 2008
Happy Birthday, Sunil!
A big birthday hug to my friend Sunil ! We are almost birthday twins, as he was born one day later (OK, one day and 16 years later). Sunil is unusually nice, a welcome dose of sunshine in an icy winter.
Below is my photo birthday salute to Sunil, but first we'll celebrate Sunil's Hindu roots with some classic 1960s Bollywood surf music (courtesy of the 2001 indie film 'Ghost World')
Here's Sunil....
Here's Sunil in 2006 at my Halloween Party, dressed as 1/6 of the Village People. : - ) In the northwest corner that's the mouth and nose tip of Sunil's boyfriend Fernando...
And here are Sunil and Fernando later that year, spending a winter holiday night in warm, sunny Buenos Aires...
Here's Sunil in December 2006 at Ed's Xmas Party uptown....
Paul Lynde Snappy Answer of the Day:
Q: Who are more likely to be romantically responsive. Women under thirty or women over thirty?
Lynde: I don't have a third choice?
Cartoon du Jour:
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Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Happy Birthday To Me!
We'll celebrate with an Aaron-o-Rama of pictures, but first a two-minute treat, the first video by my beloved Vampire Weekend, four Columbia grads who fuse collegiate wit with African musical styles in a catchy and endearing way, much like Paul Simon did in Graceland.. Their album finally came out yesterday to rave reviews!
My favorite lyric: 'The Argentines collapse in defeat / the admiralty surveys the remnants of the fleet...'
Here's Mansard Roof:
Aaron-o-Rama... Then....
Let them eat cake...
the boy with the conical hat...
finger in the cookie jar, again? (that's my Mom on the wall, btw)
so seductive, even at age 6....
Aaron-o-Rama... Now...
at work...
at play.. I ain't over no hill....
in Arizona...
speaking at a Mexico conference..
Paul Lynde Snappy Answer of the Day:
Q: In The Wizard of Oz, the Lion wanted courage and the Tin Man wanted a heart. What did the Scarecrow want??
Lynde: He wanted the Tin Man to notice him.
Cartoon du Jour:
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Tuesday, January 29, 2008
In the next seven days: we review '3:10 to Yuma,' photo-blog a musical night in funky Williamsburg, continue our food journey, and appreciate rarely seen art... birthdays are celebrated - be there or be square!Our campy Paul-Lynde-athon of witty comebacks also continues...
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How Swede It Is
Today's Song/Video of the Week is "I Wouldn't Know What To Do" by Sweden's Honeydrips, and hasn't even been released in the US, though I suspect this will happen soon.Honeydrips is actually a one-person group, populated by singer/songwriter Mikael Carlsson from Goteborg.
But the thing is, the music sounds like the work of a group, a wondergroup with influences as diverse as the Beatles, Morrissey, and Joy Division.
Two things won me over immediately: 1) several songs, including 'I Wouldn't Know,' have that mid-to-late 1960s sound I can never resist; and
2) one song uses a hilarious sample from Woody Allen's 'Annie Hall' about a neurotic 8-year old and his exasperated mother... (the hilarious 45 second Allen clip is presented below)
At left, the groovy album cover of "Here Comes The Future"
and, without further ado, the music itself:
Our lovely song of the week, 'I Wouldn't Know What To Do'
Their other, funkier, uptempo single, '(Lack Of) Love Will Tear Us Apart,' sounds like a space-age but classicist white girl group - he's clearly using girl singers, I think. His presence is limited to a short mid-song monologue. The title of course references Joy Division's woeful 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' though the music is certainly more hopeful. It's a more kinetic video as well.
From Woody Allen's "Annie Hall" - "The Universe Is Expanding":
Paul Lynde Snappy Answer of the Day:
Q: Which is better looking, a pixie or a fairy?
Lynde: I'll go for the fairy.
Q: Which is better looking, a pixie or a fairy?
Lynde: I'll go for the fairy.
Cartoons du Jour:
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Monday, January 28, 2008
The Food Journey: Rocking Horse Returns
A week ago, on Martin Luther King Day, I treated myself to a sumptuous delivery from Chelsea's favorite gourmet, nouvelle cuisine, vaguely-Mexican-inspired restaurant.
We started with a special, White Bean Soup w Scallions - simmered in lightly spiced tomato salsa base, for a tangy taste
Our Main Dish: Chiltepe Chile Crusted Tuna with chorizo-poblano studded wild rice and sweet corn emulsion. The tuna tender but dusted with chile joy, while the chorizo-wild rice-corn emulsion serves as a loving, complementary warm flavor bath.
For dessert: Valrhona Chocolate Tortita. This extremely rich ring of chocolate with spice is offset by cinnamon ice cream. A feast for the senses.
And here's a panorama of my place setting. I dined alone that night.
Paul Lynde Snappy Answer of the Day:
Q: In Alice in Wonderland, who kept crying, "I'm late, I'm late"?
Lynde: Alice. And her mother is sick about it.
Cartoons du Jour:
Q: In Alice in Wonderland, who kept crying, "I'm late, I'm late"?
Lynde: Alice. And her mother is sick about it.
Cartoons du Jour:
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Sunday, January 27, 2008
I'll Have You Know
I'm headed for Boston this morning, lunch with my cousin, birthday dinner with Erik, five presentations Monday, and home...
Mexico City airport was empty by the time our plane finally left...
I'm your businessman, that's what I am...
Life through a taxi windshield, Mexico City...
Paul Lynde Snappy Answer of the Day:
Q: When you pat a dog on its head he will usually wag his tail. What will a goose do?
Lynde: Make him bark.
Cartoons du Jour:
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Saturday, January 26, 2008
One Man's Nectar
About 10 days back I had dinner with Jon at Mexicana Mama Centro on W 12th St, and, finally well enough to drink alcohol, probably overdid it with two hibiscus margaritas. That, combined with four-alarm guacamole and this exquisite smooth-texture fish served over equally spicy sauce, was sufficient to cause a 1910 Revolution in my poor stomach at 4 in the morning : - (I finally took a great picture of Jon!
My tea bag disintegrated...
Paul Lynde Snappy Answer of the Day:
Q: Who stays pregnant for a longer period of time, your wife or your elephant?
Lynde: Who told you about my elephant?
Cartoons du Jour:
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Friday, January 25, 2008
"Sweeney Todd" reviewed below, but first - a salute to Erik! I arrived home late last night after a long, grueling trip... But I slept in...
Erik has been my friend for nearly 25 years! Now that's staying power. This great picture is my iPhone photo of Erik.
Here's Erik in the Rockies, 2005. Sunshine on his shoulders makes him happy...
just the two of us..
Erik taking in the eerie travertine limestone terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone.
I saw the Sweeney Todd film Saturday with Steve, and it did not disappoint. Like the play, whose revival I saw two years back with Christi, it's fairly dark, cynical, and goulish for a musical comedy... but, it manages to be humorous, fun, and romantic even with cannibalism and throat-slashing. Stephen Sondheim does have a genius for sharp lyrics.
And here's the movie trailer...
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Happy Birthday, Erik!
Erik has been my friend for nearly 25 years! Now that's staying power. This great picture is my iPhone photo of Erik.
Here's Erik in the Rockies, 2005. Sunshine on his shoulders makes him happy...
just the two of us..
Erik taking in the eerie travertine limestone terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone.
Beware of Meat Pies
I saw the Sweeney Todd film Saturday with Steve, and it did not disappoint. Like the play, whose revival I saw two years back with Christi, it's fairly dark, cynical, and goulish for a musical comedy... but, it manages to be humorous, fun, and romantic even with cannibalism and throat-slashing. Stephen Sondheim does have a genius for sharp lyrics.Without further ado, the 5 Parameters.
1. Four Words That Encapsule: "Bloody, Edible, Lucrative Revenge..."
2. Haiku (5/7/5): "London was a sewer; Rich fiends preyed on the helpless; Victim gets revenge."
4. Insight: Hats off to the director, cast, and crew for making you feel arch laughter, slight horror, a dollop of romanticism - they really pulled it off. And Bravo to the further consolidation of the Broadway musical in modern American cinema. Welcome back, we missed you! : - )
5. Link: Metacritic Summary Reviews. It was very well-reviewed. Will its strengths lead to Oscar nominations, leaping over the extra hurdle of being a musical? Actually, by the time this is posted, we'll already know that - I'll update it before then. Happy Friday!
And here's the movie trailer...
Paul Lynde Snappy Answer of the Day:
Q: A cub scout holds up two fingers. A boy scout holds up three fingers. What does a girl scout hold up?
Lynde: Well, that just depends on how many cookies you buy.
Cartoons du Jour:
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Thursday, January 24, 2008
Chilquiles con Arrachera - tortilla squares friend and bathed in spicy sauce, topped by thin strips of flank steak. Washed down with three tall glasses of carrot juice. Ah, breakfast in Monterrey, Mexico.
But likely our only full meal today, since we leave at noon, thru Dallas, arriving LGA 10pm.
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I´m flying home tonight. This Mexico insta-trip was produtive but grueling. Last night we sat in 2 hours of traffic en route to the airport - only to face a 3 hour delay. Didn´t get to bed until 2am. Nobody said glamour would be easy. :-)
Q: True or false? Your teeth are about the same size and shape as a pig's.
Lynde: Look who's talking, Beaverface.
Cartoons du Jour:
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No, I Regret Nothing
That's a rough translation of Edith Piaf's signature song - or one of them. Her other emblem is 'La Vie En Rose,' or, 'Life Through Rose Colored Glasses,' which is the title of a better-than-average French biopic of the singer. This film is good, but watching it elevated to specialness by the mesmerizing performance of Marion Cotillard as Piaf.
Parameters!
1. Four Words That Encapsule: "Candle In Le Vent"
2. Haiku (5/7/5):
"From brothel to grave,
Street waif sang her joys and pains;
French candle burned out."
3. Oblique Comment(s): Cotillard literally becomes Piaf, from a tough, coarse young street singer through a meteoric career that left her a drug-addled wreck. It's a tour-de-force for Cotillard, first of all because she's 5'7" and Piaf was 4'11," and second because she's convicing as both young Piaf and old Piaf, each with its distinct voice, posture, facial expressions, and body language. She seems to sing the songs, though they're lip-synced to the unforgettable originals. Highly, highly recommended.
4. Insight: The film wisely darts back and forth in time, revealing pieces of the puzzle that was Piaf's life. It's a real eye-opener for those unfamiliar with her raw, pained, passionate personality of her life story, whose background, exploits, fast friends, uneasy lovers are compelling and paint quite a tableau of her life and times.
5. Link: Metacritic reviews summary. Average of 66, like a B or B-; I'd give it at least B+, 75-80. I really liked this film. My hairstylist, Sasha, said it inspired her to resume studying French!
And here's a two-minute clip of the real Edith Piaf singing 'Je Ne Regrette Rien" for you with subtitles so you can savor the richness of the lyrics:
The trailer for 'La Vie En Rose':
Paul Lynde Snappy Answer of the Day:
Q: True or false? Your teeth are about the same size and shape as a pig's.
Lynde: Look who's talking, Beaverface.
Cartoons du Jour:
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Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Good Neighbors To The South
I'll be in Mexico when you read this, on a whiz-bang two day trip to interview eight companies in Mexico City and Monterrey, returning Thursday night. It's my 27th trip to Mexico! ...and my 111th foreign trip overall...
It's good to travel. It's also good to come home...
Below, for your entertainment, photos from a late 2006 Mexico business trip in which I visited a juice factory. This was confidential at the time, but now it's 'de-classified' since the deal never happened...
Mexican juice factory workers punching the clock at shift-change..
There are many workers, but a computer system monitors the juice-bottling process....
Where juice is bottled, look for a mountain of sugar bags somewhere..
These wooden thingies are called 'pallets,' and are placed on a wheeled-gizmo to move heavy boxes around the plant...
Paul Lynde Snappy Answer of the Day:
Q: It is considered in bad taste to discuss two subjects at nudist camps. One is politics. What is the other?
Lynde: Tape measures.
Cartoons du Jour:
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Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Thomas is gone, but he posted some great pictures of me & others on his blog today. I am off to Mexico on business tonight, back Thursday night, gone again Sunday morning to Boston, and home Monday night, to stay for a while, I hope! Check here to see how I'm doing...
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A Lot On Her Mind
Today's Song/Video of the Week, "Paper Planes," is by M.I.A., shorthand for Sri Lankan-British musical genius Ms. Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam.She's a vocalist, songwriter, record producer and visual artist who blends many genres, including dancehall, hip-hop, ragga, electro, and South Asian music.
Her most impressive feat: combining fun, unpredictable party music and political themes without weighing down the fun or dumbing down the politics.
Her father is a Tamil militant/guerrilla fighter, so she spent her formative years moving around in exile, landing in London to study fine art, film, and video.
Here's her bio on Wikipedia.
Below, please enjoy, for your pleasure, "Paper Planes":
The funky cover of her well-reviewed latest album, "Arular":
Paul Lynde Snappy Answer of the Day:
Q: What is the most abused and neglected part of the body?
Lynde: Well, mine may be abused but it certainly isn't neglected.
Q: What is the most abused and neglected part of the body?
Lynde: Well, mine may be abused but it certainly isn't neglected.
Cartoons du Jour:
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Monday, January 21, 2008
Brian saw Woody Allen's latest, "Cassandra's Dream," over the weekend, which I plan to do some point next week. Here's Brian's quick take..."Very unremarkable; often feels forced. Had its moments. Liked the scenes involving the murder attempts; they were suspenseful. Script had some major flaws; wasn't believeable. B-/C+ " - Brian A. Hall
At left, the Woodster today.
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Road Runner's "Ten Commandments"
I'm not refering to Time Warner here. : - )
You will recall that Coyote "comes up with increasingly elaborate and seemingly foolproof schemes to snag Road Runner who, oblivious to the danger, always eludes the pathetic coyote's painstaking plans."
It's a formula so robust that Chuck Jones, the cartoon's creator, made his staff adhere to ten simple but strict rules, set out on Warner Brothers' Looney Tunes site, which I shall reproduce below, but not before treating you to a few Road Runner classics .....
Here's a really short one, "Coyote Gets Stuck":
Watch some of this one, too, as Road Runner is used to teach grammar:
Rule 1: Road Runner cannot harm the Coyote except by going "Beep! Beep!"
Rule 2: No outside force can harm the Coyote -- only his own ineptitude or the failure of Acme products. Wile E.'s ineptitude, possibly a by-product of his distracted obsession with catching Road Runner, is compounded only by the Acme company's products - which may work for other customers, but seem never to work for Wile E., who repeatedly risks life and limb counting on their effectiveness.
Rule 3: The Coyote could stop anytime -- IF he was not a fanatic. (Repeat: "A fanatic is one who redoubles his effort when he has forgotten his aim." - George Santayana) Of course he can't quit; he's certain that the next attempt is sure to succeed. He's the personality type that twelve-step programs are made for.
Rule 4: No dialogue ever, except "Beep! Beep!" Oh, and the occasional dialog sign that comes in handy just as Wile E. realizes that his efforts are going to bring him nothing but big pain.
Rule 5: Road Runner must stay on the road - for no other reason than that he's a roadrunner.
Rule 6: All action must be confined to the natural environment of the two characters -- the southwest American desert. That's because there's everything you need for a funny cartoon in one place: winding roads, peaks, canyons, cacti, and boulders, all of which defy conventional physics.
Rule 7: All tools, weapons, or mechanical conveniences must be obtained from the Acme Corporation. Talk about the first real example of "branding" in American commerce!
Rule 8: Whenever possible, make gravity the Coyote's greatest enemy.
Rule 9: The Coyote is always more humiliated than harmed by his failures.
Rule 10: The audience's sympathy must remain with the Coyote.
And, for good measure, a REAL road runner, a large, long-legged bird, native to the southwestern US and northern Mexico, belonging to the cuckoo family:
Paul Lynde Snappy Answer of the Day:
Q: You're the world's most popular fruit. What are you?
Lynde: Humble.
Cartoons du Jour:
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Sunday, January 20, 2008
Festa do Interior
More pictures from last night's Brazilian-themed party to welcome Thomas. Those caipirinhas sure pack a wallop!
Thomas takes a break from bar-tending with Emilie:
"Gay men don't eat dinner?" - not when there's a 6pm cocktail party. Hence, pears for the nutrition-conscious. There now appears to be a Doritos flavor for every single chili pepper in existence. These here were plenty spicy....
Behind Miraj you can spot, peaking out, Thomas working his photographic magic...
Here's a particularly goofy shot of Thomas. At right, the turquoise folding chair my poor sister had to lug across Europe in 2003 when I broke my leg...
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Hello Thomas
It's always great to have Thomas in town. We had a Brazil-themed welcome party for him last night from 6-9pm.Thomas served up Brazil's national cocktail, the caipirinha (kahy-pee-REE-nya), made from cachaça rum, fresh lime juice, and lots of sugar. Caipirinha actually means 'little hillbilly.'
There was much merriment and good conversation, fueled by the effects of cachaça on stomach that had no dinner. More pictures later this week... on to our next topic...
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Unusual Bathrooms - Part 1
A Tale of Six Toilets - Did you know that there's an award for America's Best Rest Room? They even have a Restroom Hall of Fame website. From their annals, we present a gaggle of unusual bathrooms, a backward countdown commencing today and concluding next Sunday... This material first appeared on AOL's Money and Finance two months ago....
1. Charmin Temporary Toilets, Times Square, N.Y.
The doors to the new temporary public restrooms sponsored by Charmin were opened to view in Times Square Nov. 20, 2006 in New York City. The installation includes 20 deluxe restrooms staffed by full time attendants. At the restroom site baby changing stations, stroller parking, tourist information and sitting areas are also available. I've never seen these... have I walked right by it without noticing?
2. Louis Armstrong's House, Queens, N.Y.
The Louis Armstrong House, at 34-56 107th St. in the Corona, Queens section of New York is completely covered in mirrors and with gold-plated fixtures. The house, the long-time home of acclaimed jazz musician Armstrong and his wife and a National Historic Landmark, has undergone extensive renovations and is now open to the public for tours. I'll have to visit this place sometime and provide you with a live report.
3. Cherry Nightclub, Las Vegas
The men's bathrooms at Rande Gerber's Cherry Nightclub inside the Red Rock Casino are graced with custom cherry-red lip-shaped urinals from designer Meile van Schijndel of Bathroom Mania in the Netherlands. There are also two-way mirrors over the sinks in the adjoining men's and women's restrooms.
4. CBGB, New York City (now closed)
This notoriously dirty, grafitti-style bathroom is seen inside the legendary music venue CBGB in New York City, Oct. 14, 2006. CBGB closed on Oct. 15 after 33 years of allowing customers to write on its bathroom walls. I never made it to this legendary venue, which launched Blondie, Talking Heads, and so many other punk/new wave legends. CBGB stood for its original purpose, Country, BlueGrass, and Blues
5. Cafe do Gol, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Cafe do Gol is a soccer-themed restaurant-bar-discotheque complex currently under construction and owned by Brazilian soccer star Romario in Rio de Janeiro. Painted on the doors are caricatures of former Brazilian soccer national selection coach Mario Zagallo and his assistant Zico. Hope this is finished by my next Brazil trip so I can check it out...
6. 3D-GOLD Jewelry Store, Hong Kong
In 2001, the 3D-GOLD earned two places in the Guinness World Records by constructing the world's "most expensive bathroom," and "most expensive toilet," made almost exclusively out of gold. The shop owner says he was inspired by the writings of the Russian communist Vladimir I. Lenin, who wanted to build public toilets of gold after the triumph of socialism.
Paul Lynde Snappy Answer of the Day:
Q: True or false: Women are sexier after having a baby.
Lynde: Right after?
Cartoon du Jour:
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Saturday, January 19, 2008
The Food Journey: Bonefish Grill
I have such a headache, the arctic New York air seeping into my room. Thomas is visiting, we dined at Cola's on 8th Ave & W 17th, where I had pasta for the first time in ages. Where have all the carbos gone, long time passing.... Below, after the pictures: a Saturday Morning Cartoon - today's is only a minute and a half, but it is awesome!
Capping a rather short five-day holiday break with my family, the 'farewell dinner' was at upscale, well-decorated gourmet Bonefish Grill. Here's their emblem. You can see my reflection in the window.
My brother-in-law went for the spicy Diablo Shrimp Fettucine.
My nephew Dan, now as tall as me, chose this lobster-and-steak Surf N Turf.
I had swordfish steak in creamy scallop sauce, juicy squash-like strings of jicama, and steamed vegetables.
More art-deco bonefish adorned the walls...
Saturday Morning Cartoon!
Coyote FINALLY catches Road Runner...
Paul Lynde Snappy Answer of the Day:
Q: What made the monkey cry?
Lynde: Learning that Tarzan swings both ways.
Cartoons du Jour:
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Friday, January 18, 2008
Happy Blog-aversary to Me!
It's four years today that I launched this blog. Glance at my earliest posts, and you'll see how it's evolved as I grew toward better format and hit my stride...
Paul Lynde Snappy Answer of the Day:
Q: What would the Lone Ranger always leave behind with the damsel in distress he'd saved? Lynde: A masked baby!
Much More Compelling Than It Sounds
Everything But Blood. I’m puzzled as to why Paul Thomas Anderson chose “There Will Be Blood” for acclaimed new film’s title. Blood is pretty scarce in this film, which instead sheds a character study of a uniquely American personage, a study that aims for – and nearly reaches – the heights of ‘Citizen Kane’ and ‘The Godfather.’ I don’t mean to oversell, just to play down the blood. There’s a vein of dark humor here below the surface – it’s no laugh-fest, but many scenes are arch and wry.The 5 Parameters of Criticism:
1. Four Words That Encapsule: ‘What’s Oil, Without Love?’
2. Haiku (5/7/5):
‘What makes this man tick ?
Wealth or just empowerment?
Strife, pursuit: a mask?’
3. Oblique Comment(s): I’m impressed with Anderson’s accomplishment here. I consider his first two films, the self-written ‘Boogie Nights’ and ‘Magnolia,’ to be timeless masterpieces of a unique new voice in American cinema. But in ‘Blood’ Anderson successfully tackles new territory. It’s first visually spectacular epic (the oil fields of the West circa 1900 come to life ), his first film centered on a character, not an ensemble, and his first film party adapted from another source, Upton Sinclair’s consciousness-raising novel ‘Oil!’ I say party adapted, as he took the first 100 pages and thoroughly reworked the story and added numerous personal elements. While ‘Blood’s’ tone is markedly different from ‘Boogie Nights’ and ‘Magnolia,’ their common thread is failed parent-child relationships and the baggage we carry. Very much a straightforward epic, only in ‘Blood’s’ final ten minutes does it detour into over-the-top Magnolia-land, which I liked.4. Insight: The brilliant Daniel Day-Lewis is mesmerizing here with his precision work as a cynical, taciturn oil entrepreneur doggedly pursuing success over the years. We glimpse his depths through three prisms: his pursuit of wealth, his muted love for his young motherless son, and his antagonism toward a young fire-and-brimstone preacher whose family he has swindled. The preacher boy and his twin brother are played masterfully by Paul Dano (the teenager from ‘Little Miss Sunshine).
5. Link: Metacritic reviews summary. Score 92 from 35 reviewers means universal critical acclaim. I’m in complete agreement. It’ll be an Oscar Best Picture nominee and will probably come in second to ‘No Country For Old Men.’
And here’s a film clip/trailer:
Cartoons du Jour:
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Thursday, January 17, 2008
Tainted Borscht
“Eastern Promises,” an award-candidate film already out on DVD, is a superb, concise, suspenseful, interesting film, but it’s not for the squeamish due to a few scenes of gruesome murder and violence. See “Insight” below for four reasons why ‘Eastern Promises’ is a very, very interesting to watch. The 5 Parameters of Criticism
1. Four Words That Encapsule: ‘Suspenseful Russian Mob Encounter’
2. Haiku (5/7/5):
‘Tattoos, vodka, blood
Russian crime on London time;
Baby born of fear
3. Oblique Comment(s): a) Viggo Mortensen is naked in a public baths scene, but it’s scary rather than erotic due to a brutal fight to the death with two knife-wielding murderous Chechen’s in which much flesh is cut or pierced. b) I like two previous Cronenberg films, ‘A History of Violence’ and ‘Existenz’ – I must investigate his unique, imaginative and sometimes morbid oeuvre4. Insight: This film has many things going for it: a) Viggo Mortenson’s intense, reserved soldier of the Russian mafia who alternately shows decent impulses, brutality, and cynicism, but never lets his guard down. Likely Best Actor nominee; b) Director David Cronenberg’s breathless pacing and storytelling twists; c) a glimpse into the fascinating subculture of London’s emigreé Russian mafia community, with families, traditions, brutality and intrigue worthy of ‘The Godfather’ or ‘The Sopranos.’ When characters speak in Russian with subtitles, it’s bitingly authentic, and, I can tell you as a student of Russian, pitch-perfect; finally d) Naomi Watts as the London nurse who gets mixed up with this world while trying to find the relatives of a baby whose mother, apparently a Russian slave-prostitute, died in childbirth. Watts’ character is half-Russian by blood but totally assimilated, so as she investigates she’s also confronting her own dark roots, as are we, as we hear snippets of the dead woman’s diary.
5. Link: Metacritic reviews summary. Average of 82 from 35 major reviewers - this is critical love. I'd give it 85-90. Highly recommended for the non-squeamish
And here’s a film clip/trailer:
Cartoons du Jour:
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Wednesday, January 16, 2008
My Swishy Icon
Comedian Paul Lynde (1926-1982) was certainly the first flamboyantly, obviously queeny figure I was exposed to. It's a retro, pre-liberation gay stereotype persona, but it was the only gay anything around in the 1960s - though I didn't get then that it had to do with sex.Lynde's guest appearances on sitcoms, notably Uncle Arthur on 'Bewitched,' served up campy humor but with no mention or hint of his sexuality.
Another sitcom stared him as a husband and father and fell absolutely flat - it just didn't ring true.
Lynde's long-running 'Hollywood Squares' gig, where he was the 'Center Square' from 1968-1981, gave him more latitude for double entendre, wink wink nod nod. When I was 12, I went through a phase of imitating Paul Lynde's voice and mannerisms - this did not go over well at junior high school.
With this bio, we begin a festival of Lynde's infamous Hollywood Squares answers, some of them hilarious despite their stereotypicality....
We'll start with these two gems:
Q: Why do the Hell's Angels wear leather?
Lynde: Because chiffon wrinkles so easily.
Q: Why was Nathan Hale hung?
Lynde: Heredity.
This is 30 years, ago, mind you...
On Sunday I got together with Christi, who looks positively luminous with her new hairstyle. We ate healthy food while not watching a movie. : - )
We hadn't met up since December, so I got my Christmas present, one of my favorite audiobooks, 'The Time Traveler's Wife,' soon to be a major motion picture. : -)
Cartoons du Jour:
Turn Some Lights On
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Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Melody Day
I never could resist a slice of mid-60s prettiness. I just go hippy dippy crazy.Today's Song/Video of the week is the über-pretty 'Melody Day,' by Caribou, the latest pseudonym of Canadian dream pop singer/songwriter Daniel Snaith. It's from his equally lovely 'Andorra' album.
Sample lyric: 'Melody day what have I done / Now our hearts are locked up tight again.'
Snaith chose the name 'Caribou' while high in the woods. He previously went by 'Manitoba' until threatened with a US lawsuit by Richard 'Handsome Dick' Manitoba of the 70s punk band Dictators.
The video is most imaginative and interesting to watch, which doesn't surprise me at all:
Cartoons du Jour:
Logic of this cartoon? Reminds me of the sniglet 'Checkuary,' refering to the period of January in which you're still writing the previous year on your checks...
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Last night dined with Bart, always a pleasue, at the charming, intimate 'French Roast' on 6th Ave & W 11th St. I had some sinful Steak Au Poivre with Brandy Cream Sauce, with some very very French Fried potatoes, again with lots of sauce.
I even had half a glass of wine, my first sip of vino since Thanksgiving...
I continue to get nice Xmas presents, this time a David Sedaris audiobook and a Henry James short story compilation...
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Monday, January 14, 2008
Happy Birthday, Joost!
I can't believe I've known my friend Joost and his boyfriend Ronald for nearly 15 years. They live in Amsterdam, but Joost is from Utrecht. Joost, like me, loves to study languages, and has dabbled in Hebrew and Turkish, though now he's focusing on Spanish. Here's Joost on a recent vacation in Galicia, where he no doubt found opportunities to practice...
... and here he is in 1993, when I met him in Amsterdam.
Cartoons du Jour:
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Sunday, January 13, 2008
From The Taco Trunk
Genuine Mexico tacos and tortas are sold off a truck parked at W 14th St, off of 8th Ave, but only at night, from 9pm to 5am. They were quite delicious, very close to what I've eaten in Mexico City. On the left, a sausage taco, on the right, a taco with chopped pig ear...
Cartoons du Jour:
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Saturday, January 12, 2008
Thomas on the campaign trail...
Properly Pampered
Having a day off and 99.99% of my health back, I decided that some primping and pampering were in order.So I treated myself to a Swedish massage and a complete facial at Chelsea's palace of mail grooming, Nickel Spa for Men (pictured left in tiny photo - it was once a bank). One hour of massage, one hour facial, each in a dim room of blue light, covered by a towel, and for the massage, by nothing else... I brought my iPod and thoroughly zoned out, listening to some good new albums as the experts renewed my flesh and cleansed my pores.
Nickel was born in Paris in 1996,
as France's very first spa for men only. Nickel has a complete line of cosmetic products designed for male skin and male needs. I'm all over this!
I first learned about Nickel eight years ago on Fire Island when I saw a skin cream named very cleverly in both English (Morning After Rescue Gel) and French (Lendemain de Fete - 'day after the party' -' guaranteed to 'efface les exces de la nuit' - 'erase the excesses of the night. My nights don't have much in the way of excesses, but my face liked the product. Nickel also has a wonderful Eye Contour Lift called 'Attention Les Yeux,' which means either 'watch your eyes' or 'attention to/for the eyes,' great play on words...
Here's the blue room, the masseur at work, and the product showroom:
Cartoons du Jour:
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Friday, January 11, 2008
I'm just about fully recovered! I've come a long way, baby...
Last night I feasted on swordfish and capers with Fernando at Cola's, a charming Chelsea Italian eatery with great ambiance - candlelight goes a long way to helping one forget couples at adjacent tables.
It was a nice moment, as we're both having a crazy busy January at work.
Stay Tuned Here: We have two weeks of double cartoon days ahead, all of them very funny.
Q: What Becomes A Literary Classic Most?
A: Immediacy and Passion....
Last week my mother and I saw 'Atonement,' the superb adaptation of Ian McEwan's unforgettable novel.
You need not fear 'Masterpiece Theater' syndrome - this film is certainly as lovingly composed, but searing, passionate performances and unusual psychological territory make 'Atonement' compelling, not soporific...
1. Four Words That Encapsule: ‘Can Cruelty Be Absolved?’
2. Haiku (5/7/5):
‘In moment of hurt,
young girl’s deed will ruin lives;
dark shadows endure’
3. Oblique Comment(s): a) James MacAvoy is my new heart-throb, and he makes the most of his first real ‘lead’ role, in a riveting, versatile performance; I thought he was under-appreciated last year as the naif of ‘Last King of Scotland.’ Keira Knightly is by turns delicate, wiry, resolute, and game. Briony, the doer of the bad deed, is adeptly played by three different actresses as a misguided tweenager, a repentent young war-time nurse, and a dying veteran novelist; b) It’s a rare pleasure for me to read a novel and then see its film adaptation. My pleasure reading time is limited, and mostly involves audiobooks in foreign languages. I ‘read’ McEwan’s masterwork in its German unabridged audio version, and I understood about 95% of it. c) Notice the classic 'star-crossed lovers' poster of the two leads gazing in opposite directions - this was used in both Titanic and Brokeback Mountain...
4. Insight: Joe Wright triumphs by succeeding in the difficult task of filming a psychological novel. He compliments his impressive settings and set pieces with perfect casting, taut acting and pacing. The result is more kinetic than, say, ‘English Patient,’ and ‘Atonement’ makes love, sex, jealousy, lies, betrayal, and remorse far more universal. It does have plot twists as remarkable as those of ‘Patient.’ And the set pieces! A lavish country house simmering with passion on the year’s hottest day, the sad massive 1940 British retreat through Belgium and evacuation at Dunkirk, the grim, gory reality of a wartime army hospital, all brought astonishingly to life.
5. Link: Metacritic reviews summary. 85 average by 36 reviewers - this is between 'B+' and 'A-,' I'd give it a 90.
And here’s a film clip/trailer:
Cartoon du Jour:
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Thursday, January 10, 2008
(Covert) War Is Hell (-arious)
Last week I saw 'Charlie Wilson's War' in Arizona, with my entire family, and we all greatly enjoyed the film. This true story is the concise, witty tale of how a partyboy congressman and some unlikely allies worked behind the scenes to fund the Afghan resistance that eventually defeated the Soviets and helped precipitate the USSR's collapse.Behold, the 5 Parameters of Criticism:
1. Four Words That Encapsule: Libertine Organizes Soviet Debacle
2. Haiku (5/7/5):
Drunk, randy Texan
fights good fight behind the scenes;
Lenin’s heirs humbled.
3. Oblique Comment(s): Tom Hanks shines playing a ‘decent guy gone to seed,’ echoing the mischief and charm of his earliest work, ‘Bachelor Party’ and especially ‘Volunteers.’ Since most of the public knows Hanks only in hero persona, this will feel like ‘casting against type.’ Julia Roberts is satirically wicked as a Christian crusader whose fervor to save Afghanistan from Godless Communists is only matched by her quick wit and libido. At left, the real-life protagonists and their actor counterparts...4. Insight: In ‘Charlie Wilson,’ veteran director Mike Nichols serves that most elusive of soufflés: an irreverant comedy about a dead-serious topic that is both mirthful and thought-provoking. How does Nichols pull this off in 87 minutes? First, the characters take things seriously, but their behavior, heterodox style, and reactions to each other are very amusing. Second, much humor – and sadness – comes from our hindsight. We now know that Afghan freedom fighters we trained and funded morphed into Taliban and Al Qaeda operators, partly due to our lack of follow-up and vision. (My own 14-year old nephew was heretofore unaware that the US once funded both Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein – I wonder what percentage of our population is aware of this) We meet a ‘friend’, the Pakistani dictator who overthrew and hung Benazir Bhutto’s father. We also grin when Wilson finds out he’s being investigated by some obscure New York prosecutor nobody’s heard of – Rudy Giuliani.
5. Link: Metacritic review compendium. It only got a 69 average of 39 major critics - that's the equivalent of a 'B' or 'B-'.... Of course, that's an average - the NYT praised it with a 90, while the LA Times panned it with a 40. I'd rate it about 75...
And here’s a film clip/trailer:
Cartoon du Jour:
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Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Projector Glitch
Last night at the movies, while we watched 'There Will Be Blood,' at a crucial moment the screen went blank, the lights went on, and confusion reigned.Minutes later, the movie resumed and the lights dimmed.
After the show, we realized why the lobby was thickly crowded - management was handing out free movie ticket vouchers to apologize for the glitch.
Over The Desert and Through The Sand..
... to grandmother's house we go...
My Mom lives in Arizona, in a section of Gilbert called 'Val Vista Lakes.' Here's a satellite map of the area...
Here's a road map of the Phoenix area, the 'Valley of the Sun' - it shows my Mom's place in Val Vista Lakes and my sister lives in Eastern Mesa, about a mile north of Gilbert.
My Mom's street
It's a semi-gated community...
... with a combination lock....
My Mom in her den/library/office...
Cartoon du Jour:
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Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Later this week, Eye on Oscar... Reviews of 'Atonement' and 'Charlie Wilson's War'..
This Is Amy Winehouse
In case you were wondering what the fuss is about, I'll lay it down for you."They say I've gotta to to Rehab, and I say, no, no, no' " - the opening line of her single crystallizes Amy Winehouse - she's written a new song about her own substance abuse problems in the style and shape of a mid-60s Motown classic.
I'm always happy when something quirky and high-quality gets noticed, so I was when Amy got 6 Grammy Nominations, including for Best Song, Best Album, and Best New Artist. Amy's a household word now in her native UK, but she's gotten very little radio play in the US. But word has gotten around, and the Grammy nominations should be a substantial boost. Her talent outshines all the bad press from her personal and drug problems. I hope she'll get it together.
Her album, 'Back to Black' is a remarkably solid collection of r&b gems with jazz and blues inflections..
Below is a sampling, Amy Winehouse 101.
Our Song of the Week, 'Love Is A Losing Game'
Her signature song, the Motown-esque 'Rehab'...
But it's 'You Know I'm No Good' that's gotten light US airplay...
Cartoon du Jour:
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Monday, January 07, 2008
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Family and Food
Can't have one without the other... Headed home today after a brief family break in Arizona...
My nephew Dan, now 14, is getting taller and thinner by the week..
A 'log cabin' of honey & sesame spare ribs at PF Chang's... Most Arizona restaurants are national chain, and are located in malls. PF Chang is a very good one.
My sister Deena on Thursday, when I took her out for a sushi lunch.
A plethora of desert-cup options at PF Chang's..
My Mom, outside her house late at night after a long family dinner...
Eel plate. You can never have too much eel....
Cartoon du Jour:
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Saturday, January 05, 2008
Pungent
Am I the Anti-Sontag? Susan Sontag thought it wrong to 'steal' people's images without their consent. I have mixed feelings. Life's a banquet, and the following dish, a passenger dozing on an airport floor, was just too exquisite not to share:
When I arrived at Phoenix airport, and got on line for food, this horrible smell invaded my nostrils, noxious, disturbing... I wondered which person on line hadn't bathed or used deodorant. To my horror, I later realized the source of that odor was my very own suitcase. I had brought bagels and lox, fresh from NY, for my family, and my sister prefers 'everything bagels,' which contain near-toxic levels of onion and garlic. Gasp. I personally prefer Sesame (below) or Cinnamon Raisin bagels... I eschew cream cheese (or any cheese).
The lox. 'Lochs' just means 'salmon' in German (and Yiddish I guess). My bagel and lox purveyor of choice is NY's Murray's Bagels on 8th Avenue between 22nd and 23rd.
Cartoon du Jour:
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Friday, January 04, 2008
You Know
Happy Friday from the Grand Canyon State. I'm in here in Arizona with my family for a 'better late than never' holiday visit. I arrived just in time - New York is having a bout of icy weather that would not speed my recovery.Last week, still very ill, I crossed the street to see 'Juno,' an unusually witty and sensitive tale of a pregnant high school girl who decides to give up her baby for adoption to a married couple she meets through a classified ad. Sharp dialogue and unforgettable characters make this film very compelling.
Behold, the 5 Parameters of Criticism
1. Four Words That Encapsule: 'Grown-up Adolescents, Adolescent Grown-Ups'
2. Haiku (5/7/5):
"Pregnant. Oops. Must find
good adoptive parents; then
know them, learn, grow, change.'
3. Oblique Comments: It's a great ensemble cast bu the stand-out is heretofore unknown Ellen Page (pictured above) in the starring role, showing varying combinations of wit, vulnerability, uncertainty, and resolution. There are several TV actors giving indie-film quality performances. Jason Bateman shows depth playing, against type, a complex, darker role. Allison Janney and JK Simmons are interesting as the pregnant girl's diffident father and step-mother. Playing the baby's natural father is Michael Cera (pictured above), who was memorable on 'Arrested Development' for his pitch-perfect comic turn as a sweet, befuddled teen with a crush on his cousin; Cera continues to stretch his range with depth and nuance.
4. Insight: The film wisely chooses to be a character study with a delicious scripts; it sidesteps any moral or political issues and dispenses and is remarkably devoid of clichés. The best stories are personal and unique.
5. Link: Metacritic review summary. Average of 81, i.e., great reviews. I concur. Expect Oscar nominations for screenplay, Ellen Page as Best Actress, and possibly Best Picture and Best Director.
and here's the trailer:
Cartoon du Jour:
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Thursday, January 03, 2008
Cartoons for Grown-Ups From Iran
Last Sunday I met David at Lincoln Plaza to see 'Persepolis,' an animated film based on a graphic novel about a young woman's experiences in 70s and 80s Iran and abroad. It was an excellent experience. It's an autobiographical work by novelist Marjane Satrapi, who works and writes in Paris but was raised in Iran, first under the Shah and then under the ayatollahs.
The film, in French with subtitles, shows usthis experience from the standpoint of a young girl, later a woman, from a middle-class family in Teheran.
Behold, the 5 Parameters of Criticism
1. Four Words That Encapsule: "Bright Individual, Dark Regime.'
2. Haiku (5/7/5):
'People sent to jail
Shh, lower the vail and hide
unique, ebullient you'
3. Oblique Comment: One great thing about animation is that its abbreviated strokes minimize the physical differences between races. It makes the people more universal. I've always noticed this with Japanese animation. By calling a novel 'graphic' we mean that it is in the form of a very long, continuing comic strip - I hope the genre doesn't suffer negative associations from the use of 'graphic' to describe heavy sexual and/or violent content.4. Insight: Here we see what Iranians lost, in terms of both civil rights and culturally. With all the Shah's defects, his Iran was pluralistic, tolerant, and modernizing. I am told Iranians are very lively and love to sing, dance, celebrate, entertain. Fundamentalism was quite a wet blanket. We see snow in Teheran, reminding us that not all the Middle East is a scorching desert (it can also snow in northern Israel, and parts of Lebanon, Syra, Turkey, and Afghanistan... Morocco's mountains are snow-capped).
5. Link. Metacritic review. Its average 89 rating signifies universal critical acclaim - it is among the 2007's five best-reviewed films.
Here's the film's US trailer:
Here's the novel's drawing style, the script's not easy to read...
Cartoon du Jour:
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Wednesday, January 02, 2008
How I love the silliness and satire of cartoons, especially 'Rocky & Bullwinkle.' When they refer to a nearby village, you just know there's going to be a sign that says 'Nearby Village.' Just like in the 60s Batman TV series... 'Meanwhile, in an abandoned warehouse..' and then you'd see a sign 'Abandoned Warehouse: Keep Out! This Means You!'
And Then He Turned..
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And Then He Turned..
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Tuesday, January 01, 2008
By the time I got to Phoenix... I just arrived here today, for five days with my family, hoping the good company, pristine sunlight, and relaxation prove restorative... I'm back in NY Sunday January 6th and will continue to post from here..this entry's permalink
Words of Wisdom For The New Year
Wear sunscreen!And best wishes for the New Year. Hello, 2008. Welcome, make yourself comfortable.
As I stare at NY's mild, azure sky (back on Xmas Day), I recall a particularly incisive and sharp graduation address by columnist Mary Schmich and performed and recorded with background music by Baz Luhrmann.
Its wisdom still resonates. Enjoy.
Love, Aaron
Ladies and gentlemen of the class of '97: Wear sunscreen.
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience.
I will dispense this advice now.
Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.
Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday. Do one thing every day that scares you. Sing.Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours. Floss. Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself. Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements. Stretch. Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't. Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when they're gone.
Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's.
Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own. Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room. Read the directions, even if you don't follow them. Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.
Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future. Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good. Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.
Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders. Respect your elders. Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth. But trust me on the sunscreen.
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