Sunday, May 27, 2007

movie minute

Away She Goes: In actress Sarah Polley's (The Sweet Hereafter, My Life Without Me) new movie, Away From Her, actress becomes director to two of cinemas great actresses. She directs not one but two Academy Award winners and does so with ease and great skill. She out directs and out writes many of Hollywood's more well known directors; especially those who focus mainly on popcorn movies.

The film stars the incomparable Julie Christie as Fiona Anderson, a woman who is facing the debilitating Alzheimer's disease. As Fiona, Christie very cognizant and serene about what she faces but behind that serene facade lies hurt, pain and sadness. Gordon Pinsent stars as Grant, the steadfast and suffering husband. He realizes what must be done when he can no longer care for Fiona. Fiona too realizes that she is beyond her husband's care and they both agree that she be admitted to Meadowlake a nursing home for patients with Alzheimer's.

The film takes a turn when Fiona befriends a wheelchair bound patient played by character actor Michael Murphy. Murphy plays Aubrey, a man who becomes very close to Fiona; so close in fact that Grant becomes all but jealous of his wife's affections to Aubrey. The fact that Grant can only look on helplessly at who is wife is becoming (more and more unlike the woman he married) becomes all the more poignant and sad.

Olympia Dukakis plays Marian, Aubrey's wife, whom Grant seeks out once Aubrey leaves the home. After Aubrey leaves, a disturbing thing happens to Fiona and Grant is desperate to help her even if it means hurting himself. Christie gives such a moving and layered performance that we can never tell if her memory loss is intentional or a product of the disease. Even Grant remarks at one point, "what if she is punishing me."

Polley, who also wrote the script, delivers a quietly powerful film about love, loss, transformation, lonliness and despair. It's a film with hope and a film with wonderful character development. It's crisply edited and Christie still has it. She delivers a radiant master class in acting and must be recognized come Academy Awards time.

Away From Her is by far the best film of the year so far. Polley could quit acting tomorrow and be off to a great start as a career director.

Bags of popcorn (out of 5): 5

peace,

paul

weekly post from May 26, 2007

Hello friends & loved ones,

Happy Memorial Day! I pray that each of you is able to enjoy the weather, family, friends and good times this weekend.

Recently Jim and I were thinking of a friend that Jim had known for a while. I was able to meet him once, shortly after Jim and I met. I don't know what made me think of this guy but I started wondering whatever happened to him. The guy, Kirk, lived in NYC and during the time that Jim knew him, Kirk would kind of disappear. Before he left after visiting us, he said, "Don't be surprised if I disappear." This was back in 2000. We did some research and tried to pin down some contact information and came across a page that listed some people who had committed suicide. Kirk's name was on that list. His last name isn't very common and, yes, it could have been a different Kirk but the age, location and description matches the guy I met back in 2000.

It's very disturbing. I've had suicidal thoughts in my past and many people have them and some even go the next step, however, life is just too precious. There are so many beautiful things and people in the world that I cannot imagine not wanting to experience those things. It brings me to another point: Holding on to those friends and loved ones in our lives. I've been guilty of losing touch with people when life gets busy and things are happening but that's no excuse. It's something I'm currently working on to become better at. One never knows when that friend, loved one, or family member will no longer be with us.

So this weekend reconnect with just one person that's been in your life; maybe someone you haven't talked to in a while. It could be the impetus for a whole new direction in your life.


peace,

paul

weekly post from May 20, 2007

Hello friends & loved ones,

It's still quite chilly up here in Western, NY. Hard to believe it's the middle of May and we still sleep with the comforter on the bed. The last few nights have been so chilly that I've been very tempted to put the electric blanket back on.

Jim was out of town for a couple of days this past week. He traveled to D.C. to do a workshop on spirituality. It's weird having Jim away and I now somewhat understand what a person means when they say (on the death of a loved one), "I feel as if a part of me has died." When Jim is away and I stay home, I feel as if a part of me is missing. Most couples, if not all, may feel that way and it's really a visceral feeling. It's real and it's odd at the same time.

Jim made it back safely and "all" of me is once again intact. I pray that each of you find someone with whom you can experience that feeling. That's a deep love and connection. It's good!


peace,

paul

Saturday, May 26, 2007

movie minute

This Bug's Strife: William Friedkin, director of movies like Cruising, The French Connection, and The Exorcist is back with another dark, psychological thriller. First of all, if one goes into this movie thinking it's another of the many flicks where characters die one by one (there's been more than a few lately) they are in for a surprise. Bug tells the story of a lonely (depressed?) woman named Agnes White (played by the ever surprising Ashley Judd). White lives at the Rustic Motel somewhere in Oklahoma and when she's not roaming around the place feeling sorry for herself and wondering if she should answer the phone (which is constantly ringing), she's earning money at a local watering hole.

When Agnes meets Peter Evans (played by Michael Shannon), thanks to her lesbian friend RC (played by Lynn Collins), Agnes has some much needed company and adventure; she doesn't know the half of it. I won't give too much more away but I will say that Agnes's life drastically changes with the arrival of Peter. Even Agnes's ex-husband Jerry Goss (well played by a creepy, oily Harry Connick Jr) becomes concerned.

The fact that Bug feels like a stage play is no accident; it was originally done Off-Broadway and the screenplay was written by the playwright Tracy Letts. The claustrophobia and fear of everyday life is well defined in the movie and Friedkin uses some of the devices he has employed in previous movies; one example is when Peter goes into a delirious state and begins bouncing around on the bed (take that Linda Blair).

Judd is great in the role and gives it her all. The problem with her character is she was flawed and I didn't believe the choices she made. Shannon, who actually played the role of Peter in the Off-Broadway production, is well cast and takes creepy to a whole new level. The first 45 minutes of the movie literally plods along and it feels like the characters are just waiting for the inevitable conclusion; the only conclusion that can be arrived at. One that I figured out too early. This movie is not for the faint of heart and it's not particularly scary either. If you like the psychological brouhaha and conspiracy theories of the world then this movie is for you.

Bags of popcorn (out of 5): 1/2 bag

paul

Friday, May 25, 2007

a good argument for birth control

Here's a link to my all time favorite commercial. I could watch it over and over and over again and laugh each time. Check out the faces of the other shoppers.

Enjoy,

paul

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynhn8pa2YGY

rant of the week

Well, here I am ranting again over something else. Wait, did I ever stop ranting? I don't think so because I'm still ranting about the fact that Melinda "mon cheri" Doolittle was prematurely voted off American Idol and didn't take the crown. Jordin Schmordin, I couldn't care less about her.

Well I'm ranting about something else too. This past week two things happened to spur this vitriol. I don't care to go into the details of the events but instead of shooting a cannonball through certain people, I'm instead spewing my venom toward the safety of the computer screen.

I've heard a lot of gossip in my short time on earth and, honestly, 98% of it has been false and hurtful as well. People gossip because they are too lazy to go to the source to find out the truth; most of the times it's not even close to as juicy as the fabricated story. I'm sick of gossip and if I sound sanctimonious and holier than thou well I am. I shut gossip down faster than a chemical plant with a leak shuts down. It makes my blood boil especially when it's close to home. It's so sad that people who should be out enjoying their own life have to make up things about other people. And it's sad that people listen and not even have the decency to check with the source.

Ok, I'm done. Enjoy the weekend.

peace,

paul

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

This is a funny clip. I'm gay and I don't find it offensive or homophobic; I do find it funny. Enjoy.

paul

http://www.brightcove.com/title.jsp?title=823359685

Bedazzler indeed!

Saturday, May 19, 2007

links #2

There's no sound to this first clip but make sure you watch the whole thing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5obsPFTaRU

link #1

A link from youtube. This dancer in NYC kicked a toddler who obviously wandered away from her mother. The dancer had no idea the toddler was "infringing" on his space. There are already mock clips of this. One clip shows a score for each time the toddler is kicked, ala a pinball game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgLYZHN78Kk

Friday, May 18, 2007

enjoy

Ann Coulter, vitriolic, loud-mouthed, incensing. Yes, she makes many people's blood boil, including mine. I've read her books so I know what she's about but she is soooooooooooo wrong. Here's a clip that proves that. It's from October of last year during her appearance on the Fox show Hannity & Colmes. Enjoy a laugh at her expense.

paul
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMp8GsW_dlo&mode=related&search=


Here's a pic of the pretty indigo bunting (on the wooden feeder).

Another pic of the indigo bunting. He's the blue one on the wooden feeder.


Our church recently had a karaoke night which was a lot of fun. My spouse even got up for one number, "I've Got You Babe" by Sonny & Cher. I closed out the night with "You Drive Me Crazy" by Britney Spears. That was when her music was still semi-decent. Enjoy the pics.

paul


on the radio

Who says there's nothing good on the radio? Here's a few songs I'm enjoying on the dial.

The latest single from Diddy's album press play is called "Last Night." It's a thumping good time song about tortured love.

Maroon 5's first single from their new album, It Won't Be Soon Before Long, is called "Makes Me Wonder." It's a harsh song about a man who wonders if the love he shared with his other was even worth the trouble. It's got a fun beat though and the studio version is much better than the live performance that was recently seen on American Idol.

Another first single, Linkin Park's "What I've Done" from their Minutes To Midnight cd, is about repentance and starting over. It's a bit different from their previous stuff but still stirring.

This next song is from the early 1990's but I recently heard it on satellite radio and had to rush and order the cd. It's a song from Aoife Clancy, a female Irish folk singer. The song is called "Go Lassie Go" and I know there are other versions of the song but I've only heard this one and I like it; a lot.

On the other side of the dial are two songs I'm really sick of. The first one is called "Smile" by Lily Allen. I kind of liked this song when I heard it the first few times but I've just heard one time too many. If I never hear it again that will be fine.

The other one is Avril Lavigne's new one called "Girlfriend." I have liked some of Lavigne's stuff in the past but this one is annoying, irritating, and migraine causing. Shut up already!

peace,

paul

movie minute

Fraction Of A Movie: In the movie Fracture, Anthony Hopkins plays an aeronautical engineer; at least that's what I think he is, the movie is never really clear on exactly what he does. He's a brainiac at any rate and clever and sly. What he's not is fun which is what we think he might be in the opening scene as he handily slaps down an x-ray and zooms fast, fast away in his sports car. No, this Anthony Hopkins is not fun at all; in fact, he's downright depressing. Hopkins plays Ted Crawford, as I said before a sly brainiac who kills his wife after finding out she's cheating on him. But is he sly enough to get away with it?

The other main actor in this movie is Academy Award nominee Ryan Gosling, he plays Willy Beachum, a criminal prosecutor who almost never loses. When he takes on the case of Crawford, he's in trouble of losing big time. Beachum has just been offered a cushy job as a corporate lawyer and he's got his head in the clouds. Crawford likes Beachum and baits him to take the case and keep it till the end.

Tv and movie director Gregory Hoblit (Hart's War, Frequency, Primal Fear) goes part Hitchcock and part Silence Of The Lambs. Hopkins is quite obviously doing a variation on his Hannibal Lecter role. The crackle and sizzle that we should hear when Gosling and Hopkins are on the screen together comes out as more of a sputter. The movie tries to be suspensful and exciting but in almost every scene it's as if the life is being slowly sucked out; much like a small hole in a tire. I won't tell you how it ends but I will say the the ending is convoluted and thin and the two great actors (usually) don't build on their reputation in this film.

Bags of popcorn (out of 5): 2

peace,

paul

Thursday, May 17, 2007

idiots of the week

This past week's results show of American Idol offered a major shocker. Although, apparently, the oddsmakers had the result already predicted. Melinda Doolittle, the 29-year-old backup singer, was ousted and therefore finished third in the competition for the next great singer. Melinda consistently, week after week, mopped the floor with the other contestants. She did have a few missteps but nothing earth shattering; one can't be totally perfect all the time. People say she'll do fine; I don't doubt that. But she should have been the winner. I blame myself for not voting for her and I'm theorizing that many people (like myself) thought she'd just breeze through to the final two and didn't vote. I blame those people (myself included) and I blame the people who instead voted for Blake or Jordin. Melinda is in a class by herself. Many American Idols who DIDN'T win have gone on to big things. Jennifer Hudson is one and one other one is Chris Daughtry. Daughtry finished fourth last season and has outsold and outpopularized last year's winner Taylor, um, Taylor, oh, yeah, Taylor Hicks. Daughtry's album isn't bad at all and while Melinda will almost certainly have a big career ahead of her, I do have an anticlimactic feeling for next week's finale. My spouse and I have already vowed to vote for Blake over and over and over and over again. Not because we really like him or really hate Jordin but because Jordin will almost certainly get Melinda's votes and Blake has been more creative and better than Jordin. Anyone who can make a remake of "You Give Love A Bad Name" almost as good as the original has my vote for the finale. Whatever happens with Melinda, I'll buy any album she makes in a heartbeat. Melinda, you went too soon (I'm sorry for not trying) but you'll always be loved.

peace,

paul

Saturday, May 12, 2007

humor

A new priest at his first mass was so nervous he could hardly speak. After mass he asked the monsignor how he had done. The monsignor replied, "When I am worried about getting nervous on the pulpit, I put a glass of vodka next to the water glass. If I start to get nervous, I take a sip." So next Sunday he took the monsignor's advice. At the beginning of the sermon, he got nervous and took a drink. He proceeded to talk up a storm. Upon his return to his office after the mass, he found the following note on the door:
1) Sip the vodka, don't gulp.
2) There are 10 commandments, not 12.
3) There are 12 disciples, not 10.
4) Jesus was consecrated, not constipated.
5) Jacob wagered his donkey, he did not bet his ass.
6) We do not refer to Jesus Christ as the late J.C.
7) The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are not referred to as Daddy, Junior and the spook.
8) David slew Goliath; he did not kick the feces out of him.
9) When David was hit by a rock and was knocked off his donkey, don't say he was stoned off his ass.
10)We do not refer to the cross as the "Big T."
11)When Jesus broke the bread at the last supper he said, "Take this and eat it for it is my body." He did not say "Eat me".
12)The Virgin Mary is not called "Mary with the Cherry".
13)The recommended grace before a meal is not: Rub-A-Dub-Dub thanks for the grub, Yeah God.
14)Next Sunday there will be a taffy pulling contest at St. Peter's not a peter pulling contest at St. Taffy's.

paul

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Idiot of the week #2

A dry cleaning business lost a pair of pants owned by Roy Pearson. Due to being able to wear his favorite suit on his first day of work, he suffered "mental suffering, inconvenience, and discomfort." The owners, Korean immigrants, of the DC area dry cleaning business have a sign that says Satisfaction Guaranteed. Yada, yada, yada. Nothing is ever guaranteed; mistakes happen and there are consumer laws in place to protect the truly injured and wronged parties. In 2002, Pearson dropped off a pair of pants and the pants were lost so he received a check for $150 for a new pair. That's a fair price. Three years later, in 2005, it happened again; this time it was a pair of gray trousers (his fav pair) that he meant to wear on his first day of work. So he sued them for $1,150 for a whole new suit. First of all, they only lost the pants, not the whole suit and second of all, I think that was a bit greedy. The owners of the store offered Pearson $3,000 but he balked at that. They upped it to $4,600 and he still stood his ground. Then they offered him $12,000. $12,000 FRIGGIN' DOLLARS!!!!!!!!!! FOR A NEW SUIT!!!!!!!!!! What did Pearson say to that....NO! Now he's suing them for $67 million dollars; a figure he came up with by figuring $1,500 dollars for each violation each day (more than 1,200) and then dividing the figure by 3 (the two owners and their son...he's suing each of them). This guy needs help. I personally hope he gets NOTHING!!!!! ZERO DOLLARS! He could have had $12,000 way more than what the pants were originally worth. And who has mental suffering for a lost pair of pants, anyway? Ridiculous.

peace,

paul

Idiot of the week #1

Paris Hilton was recently arrested for violating terms of her probation. She received probation for driving reckless while under the influence of alcohol. One term is that she is not allowed to drive with a suspended license....DUH! Apparently her publicist didn't know the rules and said she could so she did. Now she has to spend 45 days in jail unless she can get a pardon from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. There's even an online petition to free Paris Hilton. Give me a break, it's 45 friggin' days and chances are it will be a very minimum security jail. According to the petition people want Hilton pardoned because, (she provides) "beauty and excitement to (most of) our otherwise mundane lives." Ugh! First of all, she's not pretty; second of all she's not exciting. Hilton went so far as to say, "I feel I was treated unfairly....(the sentence) is both cruel and unwarranted." She should be thankful she wasn't sentenced by Alabama judge Kenneth Robertson Jr. He recently made two shoplifters wear 'I am a thief' signs outside of the Wal-Mart they stole from. Now that's the kind of sentence I'm talking about. Go! Go! Go!

paul

Sunday, May 06, 2007



Hopefully you can make these out. The two blackbirds on the ground are red-winged blackbirds. They look really cool when they are flying in the air.
We have a whole flock of gold finches that come by daily. Here are only a few getting their fill at our feeders.


This cat, whom we've named DaisyMae, came from some house up the road. We've no idea which one or whose she is. She has hung around though and we feed her daily. She's quite tempermental and actually drools when petted.

A pic of our very very bratty cat Casper taking time out from his terrorizing for a drink of water. He's really a pretty cat when he's being lovable but he does know how to wreak havoc.


Here is a pic of our fat cat Perry and our golden retriever Brewster. Perry has recently started laying on Brewster's bed. Sometimes he takes up most of the room. Brewster doesn't seem to mind as long as he has SOME space.


Here are a couple of pics from when my spouse and I traveled to Albany for a marriage equality rally and to speak with some politicians about it. Here I am in front of a sculpture. No, my pants aren't really up that high; it's the fact that my hoodie is tied around my waist. I do still look like I'm impersonating Steve "did I do that?" Urkel.

Here is a pic of politician Daniel O'Donnell, Rosie's gay brother. He is a good speaker and it was neat to see him. Unfortunately he doesn't know why Rosie is leaving the view as one of my fellow parishioners asked him when she was introduced to him.

Saturday, May 05, 2007

weekly post from May 5, 2007

Dear friends & loved ones,

Aaaaaah, alliteration abounds all around. Another week has passed and the weather here in Western, NY is simply gorgeous. High 60's and breezy and the sun shining strongly.

I had one of those "Oh My Gosh" moments this past week. Jim and I traveled with 20 other members from the church (on a bus) to Albany for a marriage equality rally. It was quite an experience; overall disappointing for me. I would do it again as it is a good cause. On the way back home I noticed that most everyone (probably everyone) was sitting in the same seat as they were on the way up to Albany. I wondered, "Why?" Why, if there aren't assigned seats, would people sit in the same seat? Have you ever noticed how territorial we as humans are? Whenever there is a workshop, classroom, conference, or something else in which people can sit wherever they want, people usually sit in the exact same spot. Likewise in our lives we probably do the same things over and over and over again day after day. Why? Why should we get ourselves stuck in a rut? We live our own life so why don't we really LIVE it? Why are we as humans "conditioned" to sit in the same seat? It's not like we're in elementary school and have a seat designated for us. It's something that really blew my mind. Pay attention next time you are somewhere in a group. See if people don't sit in the same seat. Let's be different. Let's sit in a different seat. Let's live our lives in a different way. It's fun, it's exciting and it's energizing. Which seat will you sit in this weekend?

Until next week....stay safe, stay healthy, and stay happy.

love,

paul