Don't Laugh or Else

While driving yesterday I had this memory:

My friend J.T. Holleman sits beside me in a desk during Mr. Settle's 5th grade science class. He sneezes and spit from the outburst lands right on the back of Sandy's shirt, on the back of her balck shirt. It lies there with pride, grinning right back at J.T. and me.

Something from inside me grows, it scares me, I can't stop it, it is coming. Quickly, I retreat to the surface of my desk and hide my face under my folded arms. The skin on my face is getting hot, I am biting down on my lip as hard as I can possibly stand it. If I let up on the pressure for one second there is no doubt that I will erupt in laughter that will not only cause all my classmates to look, but even worse, a non-laughing matter, Mr. Settle will make me set outside in the hallway.

As the feeling starts to subside I decide to peek out from under the refuge of my desk. J.T. directly beside me has his head buried in his arms and his entire body is convulsing and jolting. He laughs silently occasionally snorting and throwing Mr. Settle by immediately coughing....the breaking point.

Now, as I sit out in the hallway I feel it is important that no one underestimate the power of a 5th grader's laugh.

Top 5 For Alison

Top 5 Movies Starring Canines

Yes our furry, four-legged friends. The dog does not necessarily have to be the "star," just needs ot play an important role, as an example please see my number 5 pick.

5)The Sandlot
4)Babe
3)Turner and Hooch
2)Old Yeller
1)Lassie Come Home

Ansel Adams Inspired Top 5

Ansel Adams was born on this day in 1902. In honor of Adams' love for the landscape of the American West we shall contemplate The Top 5 Films Depicting the American West
Please keep in consideration the photography and the depiction of the landscape in the films you pick, let's keep this in the loving memory of Ansel. For example Tombstone is a great Western, but its images are not outstanding. At least that is my opinion.

Also remember that it does not necessarily mean the Old West.


5) Brokeback Mountain
4) High Noon
3) Dead Man
2) Badlands
1) The Searchers



Honorable Mention: Legends of the Fall (don't giggle)& Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Oscar Snub

Prairie Home Companion premiered at the Berlin Film Festival, which is expanding to the point of being compared to Cannes, but the film, afterwards, only received mediocre press from American journalist. Although I have not seen any figures I am willing to say that the many people did not see it, despite relatively wide spread distribution and a very recognizable cast.

The first reason I consider it an Oscar snub is the most superficial and insignificant reason so I mention it first. If a Robert Altman film won best picture, or if he won best director it would be some Grade A television. Altman died this year and there is nothing that wins you fan-fare like kicking the bucket. So, I could foresee quite a moving TV moment when Altman is named best director and the auditorium goes black, the presenters leave the stage, the spotlight falls on an empty podium, a moment of silence, then a standing ovation for the departed (no pun intended).

But, forget the quality of the broadcast. This film was Altman's farewell note. It may sound cliche, but this film really reflected the professional life that Altman led, and it did so in a well-crafted allegoric way, much like Ingmar Bergman's Wild Strawberries He was notoriously controlling and aloof, but was absorbed in his work.

Prairie Home Companion is about the last show, the last story, the last song, the last embrace of an author and his audience. Altman was known to be terribly hard to work with, terribly controlling, but no one can argue that he was terribly brilliant when he was on. He made some very forgettable movies and some that were unforgettable because they were so bad, but he was so prolific we should allow a few duds in between masterpieces. (McCabe and Mrs. Miller, Mash, The Player, Nashville, Gosford Park, and now Prairie)

The film is wildly entertaining, hilarious, and touching. Even if you are not a fan of the corn ball radio show the film will win you over.

I write this post with the utmost respect for the passing of a true auteur.

Related article

His Dark Materials

As some of you might know I have been thoroughly disappointed with the recent trend in children's movies becoming so popular amongst adults.Young adults, and even old adults, will claim that Shrek is their favorite movie. "Finding Nemo is mine!!!" "No no no no I looovvvee The Incredibles." "Harry Potter for meee!!!!!"

It's not that I don't appreciate the craft put of he creators of these movies, I am not attempting to prove their inadequacy. It's just the trend itself that baffles me; why is this happening? At one point in the history of American college kids and hip, progressive types people went to art house theaters and watched movies that frightened, shocked, broke the rules, broke the man, broke your sensibilities. Yes, I know some critics out there say that movies like Shrek are hip and progressive. They provide alternative readings to several recurring, historical narratives. No, they are mere safety valves that allow an audience afraid of drastic disruption of the status quo to safely feel like they are watching something different and sophisticated.

BUT I have digressed. I am about the become the lousiest, sorriest, low-downdest, sack of no good piece of pig vomit that the human race can possibly bring forth----I am about to become a flip flopper.

shriek gasp faint

Not completely, but sort of. I am about to recommend that everyone go out
and buy the Phillip Pullman Trilogy His Dark Materials and, furthermore, watch the movie that is coming out Winter 2007.

The work is directed towards children but has been becoming even more popular with adults because of its subtextual complexity. It has caused quite a stir for its apparently anti-Christian sentiments and has been described as a rebuttal to C.S.
Lewis' work. In my mind it is more anti-organized religion than anti-Christian, but you can be your own judge. Even if you are not so amicable with its symbolic leanings it is wildly entertaining, a fantasy much like Harry Potter (but better of course).

The movie I have heard is supposed to come out either this summer of this winter. And I have read that it will be called either The Golden Compass or His Dark Materials: Northern Lights. The movie will star Nicole Kidman, Sam Elliot, Daniel Craig.

Top 5 Movies Dealing with Race (In honor of Black History Month)

5)Malcolm X
4)In the Heat of the Night
3)Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
2)Glory
1)To Kill a Mockingbird

Roots is a mini-series don't suggest it. But, please give me your suggestions.

Honorable Mentions: The Tuskeegee Airmen and Hoop Dreams

My Ear is Not Ringing Anymore, but My Hammer Is

The H K on J demonstration that I blogged about a few days ago was
yesterday (didn't see any of you, my 3 readers, there by the way). To
be quite honest, I had low expectations. Two years ago I went to
Moratorium Day in Raleigh (that is Moratorium on the Death Penalty) and
there were maybe 40 people there.

But, fortunately, my cynicism was bull-dozed by the magnitude of the event upon which I stumbled.

There were indeed thousands as the flyer had called for. I parked at the general assembly, which was almost a mile from the auditorium where everyone was gathering to start the march. So, I set out up Fayetville St expecting to see a group huddled together in the cold.

On the way there I walked with a man who was wearing an X hat, I asked him, "Are you hear for H K on J." He said, "Yes sir, all the way fromAsheville, NC." At this point I started to appreciate how widely word was spread for this event.

As I neared the auditorium, before even seeing, the massive stone building I started hearing a melody, "Walk with me, Lord. Walk with me." Around the corner, and there it was, three enormous loud speakers playing the music that was going on inside the auditorium, people boiling out of the front doors. This was going to be much more than a huddled mass of people out in the cold. Cops on horses surrounded the building, while shouts of protest echoed from the loud speakers.

I walked in got my ticket and found a seat. The auditorium was packed, people were clapping, and dancing, and shouting,and testifying, it was like being in a backwoods,Pentecostal church. Only, this congregation cared not if you were Muslim, Jew, Hindu, or Atheist. All they cared about was that you were going to shout and
fight for a change.

There were many speakers and many singers, they spoke for nearly four hours before the march to the General Assembly started. But, nothing could beat the President of the North Carolina NAACP,Reverend Dr. William J. Barber.

Rev. Barber is a huge man, he walked with a cane and he commanded the attention of the entire crowd the minute he came on stage. People assisted him up to the podium. He took a moment to gather himself, and he started off very quiet and composed, and then after a few minutes he noticeably became consumed with anger and dissatisfaction, it looked as though he might crush the podium with his grip. His composure escalated to a steady roar until finally he was screaming to the top of his lungs, that "We must believe" we can make a difference.

Sorry for the long post, for me this was just an amazing experience.
Thousands of people, literally thousands of people filled the streets of downtown Raleigh. It was invigorating and inspiring, and to see a fighting spirit in so many taught me so much.

John Edwards and Going Deaf

My pick (so far) for the Democratic Presidential nominee is going to have to go to John Edwards. He sounded good yesterday on NPR. LISTEN He is right, by the way, about the first person to lay out a comprehensive and detailed plan for universal healthcare.

ALSO

My right ear has been ringing since 3:00 PM yesterday. I don't want to go deaf.

Movie for the day: Charlie Chaplin - Modern Times

On this day in 1914 Charlie Chaplin first revealed his character "The Tramp." The character would go on to become perhaps the most recognizable figure around the world.

He wore an odd mixing of oversized clothes, and wore shoes that were far too big, this is why the Tramp shuffled about everywhere he went, it was actually how Chaplin had to walk to keep from walking right out of his shoes.

To celebrate Chaplin's creation watch the best Tramp movie (The Great Dictator is the best Chaplin movie, but alas, no tramp) Modern Times.

Chaplin was a fierce competitor for human rights, especially the rights of the labor class. This is one of the first films ever made to be primarily a political statement.

But, dont worry, there is quite a love story as well.

Scene to watch: The most famous scene in this film is when Chaplin gets caught in the gears of the conveyor belt. Both physical comedy and commentary by way of metaphor. But, the scene to watch is the final sequence. Everyone has seen Chaplins nack for physical comedy, but he also had an evident sense of drama, this is the final sequence.

Nevermind the Commercial--It's the Damn Jingle

So, the commerical is not important for my purposes. It is the background whistling jingle. Does anyone know when the whistling started, I remember, once upon a time, the whistling made me want to tear my eyes from my head.

But, now it seems that the jingle has infiltrated my subconscious. As soon as I hear the whistle I immediately need a spicy chicken sandwich injected into my blood stream.

I feel like Pavlov's fat-so.

Super Bowl Ad

When pharmaceutical companies are public enemy number one it takes quite a bit of gall to air a high production value, high budget commercial in
one of the most high priced spots of the year.

I am not an economics major, so please tell me if this is wrong, but could the money for that commercial not have been redistributed into production
and perhaps bring down the cost to the consumer? Maybe I am wrong, but if there is this much money for advertising it is hard to make an argument for astronomical medicine prices.

Eventually,
no one is going to see these commercials anyway, everyone will be on
the road, going to Canada where they can get affordable drugs.

H K on J

H K on J (Historic Thousands on Jones St.)

Location: Memorial Auditorium, Jones Street in Downtown Raleigh

Saturday, February 10 at 11:00 AM

The North Carolina NAACP is sponsoring an event that hopes to bring progressive thinkers in North Carolina to demonstrate on behalf of a 14-point agenda. Three points, for example, being a moratorium on the death penalty, universal health care in North Carolina, and new environmental standards.

I will be there with camera in tow as well as a fighting desire for change. It should prove to be an exciting event for anyone who revels in the freedoms of a democratic system. Come one and come all, if not to demonstrate, then to point and gasp at the antics of thousands of demented liberals, and maybe even voice your own differing opinions.

In the modern age of media where we can tune in to any partisan news programming that suits us or shamelessly pontificate our own political views form the solitude of a lap-top (blush) this should be a breath of fresh air. An ode to days gone by, when people had to actually yell to be heard.