These are the brand new entrances they are putting up around our building in Orange County.
Ah, Orange County, always a bastion of understated good taste.
21 March 2008
19 March 2008
Anthony Minghella Dies
Sad news, Anthony Minghella died suddenly at the very young age of 54.
Minghella was one of my favorite directors working today. I have to admit that I hadn't yet seen Breaking and Entering, and wasn't a huge fan of Cold Mountain (I admired it more than I liked it), but it was plain to see he was a clearly masterful director.
By all accounts Minghella was thoughtful, gentle, intelligent, funny, and (perhaps most surprisingly) kind. Even though he worked on large Hollywood movies, he was not given to exercising the kind of dictatorial hubris common to most directors. He worked in opera and theatre (apparently Samuel Beckett was his favorite) and his work as chairman of the British Film Institute will be felt for generations to come. He did not start directing until he was well into his 30s, but he had already built a solid foundation as a writer, musician, and TV director. It was perhaps this maturity that allowed him to have such a fine career right from the start.
I suppose he will always be best known for The English Patient. Unlike other pretenders (and yes, I am talking about you, Atonement), the epic worked on both a majestic, large-scale level, as well as at the intimate, human drama level. This is why his films were always heartfelt and sincere and never felt forced, or pretentious. Apparently the Michael Ondaatje novel was complex and layered that was supposedly unfilmable. Yet, Minghella brought it to vivid, cinematic life that despite the Seinfeld jokes, was an almost rapturous experience at the movie theatre.
I will always be partial to his first film, Truly, Madly, Deeply. On paper it sounds like a bad Hollywood movie (a woman's boyfriend dies suddenly, only to come back as a ghost), but in his hands it became a sweet, good-natured, funny little film that touched you without piling on the treacly sentimentality one would have expected from the usual Hollywood dreck.
The sing-along to The Walker Brothers' "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" remains one of the most uplifting moments I have ever seen on film. This is what movies are all about. For a few, all-too-brief moments you are transported away from your humdrum life and are allowed to completely give in to the raw emotions often kept in check by a mediocre, oppressive society; even though it is this emotionality which makes us distinctly human.
Filmography
The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency [2008]
Breaking and Entering [2006]
Cold Mountain [2003]
The Talented Mr. Ripley [1999]
The English Patient [1996]
Mr. Wonderful [1993] Truly, Madly, Deeply [1990]
LINKS
NYT Obituary
The Guardian Appreciation
Sad news, Anthony Minghella died suddenly at the very young age of 54.
Minghella was one of my favorite directors working today. I have to admit that I hadn't yet seen Breaking and Entering, and wasn't a huge fan of Cold Mountain (I admired it more than I liked it), but it was plain to see he was a clearly masterful director.
By all accounts Minghella was thoughtful, gentle, intelligent, funny, and (perhaps most surprisingly) kind. Even though he worked on large Hollywood movies, he was not given to exercising the kind of dictatorial hubris common to most directors. He worked in opera and theatre (apparently Samuel Beckett was his favorite) and his work as chairman of the British Film Institute will be felt for generations to come. He did not start directing until he was well into his 30s, but he had already built a solid foundation as a writer, musician, and TV director. It was perhaps this maturity that allowed him to have such a fine career right from the start.
I suppose he will always be best known for The English Patient. Unlike other pretenders (and yes, I am talking about you, Atonement), the epic worked on both a majestic, large-scale level, as well as at the intimate, human drama level. This is why his films were always heartfelt and sincere and never felt forced, or pretentious. Apparently the Michael Ondaatje novel was complex and layered that was supposedly unfilmable. Yet, Minghella brought it to vivid, cinematic life that despite the Seinfeld jokes, was an almost rapturous experience at the movie theatre.
I will always be partial to his first film, Truly, Madly, Deeply. On paper it sounds like a bad Hollywood movie (a woman's boyfriend dies suddenly, only to come back as a ghost), but in his hands it became a sweet, good-natured, funny little film that touched you without piling on the treacly sentimentality one would have expected from the usual Hollywood dreck.
The sing-along to The Walker Brothers' "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" remains one of the most uplifting moments I have ever seen on film. This is what movies are all about. For a few, all-too-brief moments you are transported away from your humdrum life and are allowed to completely give in to the raw emotions often kept in check by a mediocre, oppressive society; even though it is this emotionality which makes us distinctly human.
Filmography
The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency [2008]
Breaking and Entering [2006]
Cold Mountain [2003]
The Talented Mr. Ripley [1999]
The English Patient [1996]
Mr. Wonderful [1993] Truly, Madly, Deeply [1990]
LINKS
NYT Obituary
The Guardian Appreciation
Black is the New President...B*tch!
The funniest thing Tracy Morgan has ever done has been...Jay Mohr channeling Tracy Morgan (seriously, if you're ever lucky enough to see Jay Mohr do stand-up, have him tell you the about the time Tracy Morgan got them out of paying for their tab at a comedy club in New York).
That is, until now.
Tina Fey fell even further in my estimation after she started the cavalcade of pro-Hillary Clinton polemics on the hitherto irrelevant Saturday Night Live.
And now, finally, a fitting retort from the last person you'd ever expect to mix politics with his, um, "art."
Tracy Morgan.
Tina Fey made the remark on SNL that "B*tch is the new Black."
And now Tracy has the best come-back, ever: "Black is the new President, B*tch."
Amen!
The funniest thing Tracy Morgan has ever done has been...Jay Mohr channeling Tracy Morgan (seriously, if you're ever lucky enough to see Jay Mohr do stand-up, have him tell you the about the time Tracy Morgan got them out of paying for their tab at a comedy club in New York).
That is, until now.
Tina Fey fell even further in my estimation after she started the cavalcade of pro-Hillary Clinton polemics on the hitherto irrelevant Saturday Night Live.
And now, finally, a fitting retort from the last person you'd ever expect to mix politics with his, um, "art."
Tracy Morgan.
Tina Fey made the remark on SNL that "B*tch is the new Black."
And now Tracy has the best come-back, ever: "Black is the new President, B*tch."
Amen!
Wha?! A New Gnarls Barkley Album!
Dude, Gnarls Barkley released their new album, The Odd Couple...today!
Apparently they moved up the release of their album from 08 April 2008 to...right now! It's already available on iTunes, and the physical CDs will be ready for sale on 25 March.
I've heard a few snippets on iTunes, and I like what I hear. The first two singles are apparently "Who's Gonna Save My Soul" and "Run."
Look, nothing will every be as catchy as "Crazy," but give the new album a fair shot.
Here is the video for "Run," featuring the bordering-on-jumping-the-shark Justin Timberlake:
Dude, Gnarls Barkley released their new album, The Odd Couple...today!
Apparently they moved up the release of their album from 08 April 2008 to...right now! It's already available on iTunes, and the physical CDs will be ready for sale on 25 March.
I've heard a few snippets on iTunes, and I like what I hear. The first two singles are apparently "Who's Gonna Save My Soul" and "Run."
Look, nothing will every be as catchy as "Crazy," but give the new album a fair shot.
Here is the video for "Run," featuring the bordering-on-jumping-the-shark Justin Timberlake:
A More Perfect Union
So, Barack Obama took his political life into his own hands and made his now-famous speech on race: "A More Perfect Union."
This was a risky move and one necessitated by Hillary Clinton's abhorrent tactic of finally casting Obama as the black candidate.
The reactions have been almost all positive, but the final result will manifest itself in the upcoming Pennsylvania primary (where, unfortunately, Clinton has a healthy lead).
It's now become increasingly clear that Barack Obama is the shining light; the antidote to the divisive, rancorous, increasingly awful Hillary Clinton and her dirty tactics.
Of course, this will mean that he has no shot, no shot at all of winning.
But, in spite of my best cynicism, I do have a glimmer of hope that the best candidate will prevail, and that we will finally turn the page on a dark past and look forward to a better tomorrow.
LINKS
NYT Analysis
Speech Transcript
So, Barack Obama took his political life into his own hands and made his now-famous speech on race: "A More Perfect Union."
This was a risky move and one necessitated by Hillary Clinton's abhorrent tactic of finally casting Obama as the black candidate.
The reactions have been almost all positive, but the final result will manifest itself in the upcoming Pennsylvania primary (where, unfortunately, Clinton has a healthy lead).
It's now become increasingly clear that Barack Obama is the shining light; the antidote to the divisive, rancorous, increasingly awful Hillary Clinton and her dirty tactics.
Of course, this will mean that he has no shot, no shot at all of winning.
But, in spite of my best cynicism, I do have a glimmer of hope that the best candidate will prevail, and that we will finally turn the page on a dark past and look forward to a better tomorrow.
LINKS
NYT Analysis
Speech Transcript
Arthur C. Clarke Dies
Arthur C. Clarke passed away in Sri Lanka a couple of days ago.
While this is sad news, he did live a long, eventful life and will be remembered for generations to come.
Clarke, of course, is best known for The Sentinel, the short story that eventually became 2001: A Space Odyssey, the seminal science-fiction film by Stanley Kubrick.
I guess Clarke was known for being the "scientists' science-fiction writer" in that his work was based on a solid foundation of science. Astonishingly, he was (apparently) credited for coming up with the idea for broadcast satellites in geo-synchronous orbit around the Earth.
A tip of the hat to a brilliant writer who touched the lives of millions the world over.
LINKS
NYT Obituary
Wikipedia
Arthur C. Clarke passed away in Sri Lanka a couple of days ago.
While this is sad news, he did live a long, eventful life and will be remembered for generations to come.
Clarke, of course, is best known for The Sentinel, the short story that eventually became 2001: A Space Odyssey, the seminal science-fiction film by Stanley Kubrick.
I guess Clarke was known for being the "scientists' science-fiction writer" in that his work was based on a solid foundation of science. Astonishingly, he was (apparently) credited for coming up with the idea for broadcast satellites in geo-synchronous orbit around the Earth.
A tip of the hat to a brilliant writer who touched the lives of millions the world over.
LINKS
NYT Obituary
Wikipedia
18 March 2008
17 March 2008
12 March 2008
Sampras Still Got It!
Not that the mainstream sports media bothered to take notice (I mean you ESPN...seriously, no mention at all? Not even during PTI...and Michael Wilbon was once a promising tennis player?!), but Roger Federer and Pete Sampras put on quite the show at a sold-out Madison Square Garden Monday night.
In fact, the 36-year-old Sampras (a full 10 years older than Rog) had the World No. 1 on the brink at 2 - 5 in the third and deciding set and it took the Fed-Express deploying all his powers to climb back and finally win it 8-6 in the final tiebreak.
Pretty incredible that Sampras can play at this level (Rosanne and I watched him dismantle Jim Courier at the Home Depot Center a couple of years ago, effortlessly cracking 129 mph serves at will). Dude, forget about Roger Federer, at this point I am not even sure that the ESPN-beloved Tiger Woods (you can't go three minutes without the many sports anchors fawning over him online, on the radio, on television, or in print) is ahead of Pete in terms of historical sports figures (even if Hank Aaron anointed him the greatest sportsman, ever; the PTI boys were more circumspect putting him in the same group as Muhammad Ali and Michael Jordan, with Tony Kornheiser daring to to put Woods ahead of Jordan).
One thing is for certain, just as Pete admitted that he would not have played in exhibitions like these at this point in his own career, I don't think Tiger would go out of his way and hamper his own preparations to become an "ambassador" for his sport the way Roger Federer has been. Roger is so much more accessible, friendlier, charming, willing to talk than Tiger (and English is his fourth language!) that it's not even a question about who the most gracious athlete in the world is.
The Aussies went down, Tom Brady went down, even Roger Federer went down...here's hoping Tiger Woods follows suit at the Masters.
Okay, enough of Tiger, back to the two men here.
Hats off to both Pete and Rog for going around the world and displaying the kind of exemplary athleticism and class that might finally put tennis back on the map here.
LINKS
NYT Column
Not that the mainstream sports media bothered to take notice (I mean you ESPN...seriously, no mention at all? Not even during PTI...and Michael Wilbon was once a promising tennis player?!), but Roger Federer and Pete Sampras put on quite the show at a sold-out Madison Square Garden Monday night.
In fact, the 36-year-old Sampras (a full 10 years older than Rog) had the World No. 1 on the brink at 2 - 5 in the third and deciding set and it took the Fed-Express deploying all his powers to climb back and finally win it 8-6 in the final tiebreak.
Pretty incredible that Sampras can play at this level (Rosanne and I watched him dismantle Jim Courier at the Home Depot Center a couple of years ago, effortlessly cracking 129 mph serves at will). Dude, forget about Roger Federer, at this point I am not even sure that the ESPN-beloved Tiger Woods (you can't go three minutes without the many sports anchors fawning over him online, on the radio, on television, or in print) is ahead of Pete in terms of historical sports figures (even if Hank Aaron anointed him the greatest sportsman, ever; the PTI boys were more circumspect putting him in the same group as Muhammad Ali and Michael Jordan, with Tony Kornheiser daring to to put Woods ahead of Jordan).
One thing is for certain, just as Pete admitted that he would not have played in exhibitions like these at this point in his own career, I don't think Tiger would go out of his way and hamper his own preparations to become an "ambassador" for his sport the way Roger Federer has been. Roger is so much more accessible, friendlier, charming, willing to talk than Tiger (and English is his fourth language!) that it's not even a question about who the most gracious athlete in the world is.
The Aussies went down, Tom Brady went down, even Roger Federer went down...here's hoping Tiger Woods follows suit at the Masters.
Okay, enough of Tiger, back to the two men here.
Hats off to both Pete and Rog for going around the world and displaying the kind of exemplary athleticism and class that might finally put tennis back on the map here.
NYT Column
11 March 2008
Eliot Say It Ain't So!
That's the thing about being my age, eventually all your heroes let you down.
Eliot Spitzer was somebody I had let myself believe in (even if he had endorsed Hillary Clinton), and that right there was the first mistake.
So sad, so very, very sad.
LINKS
NYT Editorial
That's the thing about being my age, eventually all your heroes let you down.
Eliot Spitzer was somebody I had let myself believe in (even if he had endorsed Hillary Clinton), and that right there was the first mistake.
So sad, so very, very sad.
LINKS
NYT Editorial
09 March 2008
Christopher Nolan Profile
There is a great profile on Christopher Nolan on the New York Times's website right now.
Not only is it a must-read for any comic-book geek-boy, but it actually outlines his stubbornly aueteuristic process which is undaunted by the $180 million behemoth he's putting together.
There are also some insights into just how much Heath Ledger gave to his role as the Joker.
Great read!
LINKS
Christopher Nolan NYT Profile
There is a great profile on Christopher Nolan on the New York Times's website right now.
Not only is it a must-read for any comic-book geek-boy, but it actually outlines his stubbornly aueteuristic process which is undaunted by the $180 million behemoth he's putting together.
There are also some insights into just how much Heath Ledger gave to his role as the Joker.
Great read!
Christopher Nolan NYT Profile
05 March 2008
04 March 2008
OH...MY...GOD!
I don't believe it.
I mean you hope, and you pray even, but you never truly believe, truly believe...
India defeated mighty Australia for the second game in a row in the CB Series Finals to win the whole tournament.
This never happens, never!
First of all, Sachin Tendulkar again played a magnificent innings when it counted. Then you had the drama of India faltering (as usual) at the end of their innings (because Australia won the toss, another ominous, um, omen, they put us into bat first) and putting up a score which the Aussies usually overhaul in their sleep.
Then, that's when the amazing happened.
India bowled well, really well, and withstood the patented Aussie fight-back and managed to nip them at the very end. It's usually Australia that does the nipping, but this time it was India!
Sachin has done wonders for his legacy and this may be the one that he's remembered for. On the flip side Rahul Dravid's legacy took a massive hit with his awful captaincy, and Ricky Ponting has gone a long way towards tarnishing not only his, but Australia's legacy in general. And if Andrew Symonds is not careful, his career may be get cut short by his emotional volatility (as evidenced by his attack on a harmless streaker). If it's the one thing the Aussies have come to epitomize, it's staying cool under pressure, yet this lot with their constant chirping (What was that Matthew Hayden, calling Harbhajan Singh a "an annoying little weed" on a radio show? No class, no class at all - Alan Border and Steve Waugh would not have stood for it.) have severely undermined their standing in the Cricket community and are well on their way to becoming as hated in their sport as the New England Patriots are in theirs.
First Roger Federer, then Tom Brady, then Australia...hmmm...could Tiger Woods be the next giant to fall (I hope so man, I really hope so).
In any case, let's focus on India and let them have their brief moment in the sun. I'm not sure if this will translate to an actual World Cup win, but Mahendra Singh Dhoni has done the almost unthinkable with these two victories (the Twenty20 World Cup and the CB Series).
He's given us all a reason to believe.
LINKS
Cricinfo Match Report
Cricinfo Bulletin
Cricinfo Streaker Report
Cricinfo Plays of the Day
Cricinfo Dhoni Reaction
Cricinfo Ponting Reaction
Cricinfo Australia Report
Cricinfo Scorecard
I don't believe it.
I mean you hope, and you pray even, but you never truly believe, truly believe...
India defeated mighty Australia for the second game in a row in the CB Series Finals to win the whole tournament.
This never happens, never!
First of all, Sachin Tendulkar again played a magnificent innings when it counted. Then you had the drama of India faltering (as usual) at the end of their innings (because Australia won the toss, another ominous, um, omen, they put us into bat first) and putting up a score which the Aussies usually overhaul in their sleep.
Then, that's when the amazing happened.
India bowled well, really well, and withstood the patented Aussie fight-back and managed to nip them at the very end. It's usually Australia that does the nipping, but this time it was India!
Sachin has done wonders for his legacy and this may be the one that he's remembered for. On the flip side Rahul Dravid's legacy took a massive hit with his awful captaincy, and Ricky Ponting has gone a long way towards tarnishing not only his, but Australia's legacy in general. And if Andrew Symonds is not careful, his career may be get cut short by his emotional volatility (as evidenced by his attack on a harmless streaker). If it's the one thing the Aussies have come to epitomize, it's staying cool under pressure, yet this lot with their constant chirping (What was that Matthew Hayden, calling Harbhajan Singh a "an annoying little weed" on a radio show? No class, no class at all - Alan Border and Steve Waugh would not have stood for it.) have severely undermined their standing in the Cricket community and are well on their way to becoming as hated in their sport as the New England Patriots are in theirs.
First Roger Federer, then Tom Brady, then Australia...hmmm...could Tiger Woods be the next giant to fall (I hope so man, I really hope so).
In any case, let's focus on India and let them have their brief moment in the sun. I'm not sure if this will translate to an actual World Cup win, but Mahendra Singh Dhoni has done the almost unthinkable with these two victories (the Twenty20 World Cup and the CB Series).
He's given us all a reason to believe.
LINKS
Cricinfo Match Report
Cricinfo Bulletin
Cricinfo Streaker Report
Cricinfo Plays of the Day
Cricinfo Dhoni Reaction
Cricinfo Ponting Reaction
Cricinfo Australia Report
Cricinfo Scorecard
Say It Ain't So Brett!
Brett Favre has retired, let the mourning begin!
The endless clip shows, the excessive fawning by the mostly-white, mostly-male sportswriters, the endless debates about where he ranks among the pantheon of quarterbacks, the teary-eyed reminiscing of his playing days, the many, many times the phrases "gunslinger" and "games played streak" will be used...ah, all of this is not quite enough for the greatest...human...being...the...world...has...ever...known...ever!
LINKS
Wikipedia
Brett Favre has retired, let the mourning begin!
The endless clip shows, the excessive fawning by the mostly-white, mostly-male sportswriters, the endless debates about where he ranks among the pantheon of quarterbacks, the teary-eyed reminiscing of his playing days, the many, many times the phrases "gunslinger" and "games played streak" will be used...ah, all of this is not quite enough for the greatest...human...being...the...world...has...ever...known...ever!
Wikipedia
03 March 2008
02 March 2008
Oliver Deighton Has Too Much Time On His Hands
My friend Oliver Deighton created this while being out on paternity leave.
I am sure his employer cannot be pleased at learning how he really spends his time.
I am sure his wife and brand new child are already gearing up for a lifetime of neglect and are preparing for a long fight for his affections with his beloved Mac!
My friend Oliver Deighton created this while being out on paternity leave.
I am sure his employer cannot be pleased at learning how he really spends his time.
I am sure his wife and brand new child are already gearing up for a lifetime of neglect and are preparing for a long fight for his affections with his beloved Mac!
India! India! India! Oy! Oy! Oy!
That's right, our Boys in Blue beat those ba*tard Aussies in the first game of that Best of 3 CB Series Finals.
And, on top of that, Sachin Tendulkar's century (his first in an ODI in Australia) actually helped us win.
I know, I know, I shouldn't get my hopes up too high, but still, this is a great beginning to the Finals, and once again proves the rapid ascendancy of one Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Keep it up Boys!
LINKS
Cricinfo Match Bulletin
Cricinfo Match Report
Cricinfo Scorecard
That's right, our Boys in Blue beat those ba*tard Aussies in the first game of that Best of 3 CB Series Finals.
And, on top of that, Sachin Tendulkar's century (his first in an ODI in Australia) actually helped us win.
I know, I know, I shouldn't get my hopes up too high, but still, this is a great beginning to the Finals, and once again proves the rapid ascendancy of one Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Keep it up Boys!
LINKS
Cricinfo Match Bulletin
Cricinfo Match Report
Cricinfo Scorecard
01 March 2008
The Daily Monster
Aww...so cute! A new monster every day, and you can see the creation in real-time!
Here is Monster No. 1
LINKS
Stefan G. Bucher's DAILY MONSTER
Aww...so cute! A new monster every day, and you can see the creation in real-time!
Here is Monster No. 1
LINKS
Stefan G. Bucher's DAILY MONSTER
Generous Experiencer
So, I took that PersonalDNA test that all Facebook users take (my wife is now officially a Facebook addict) and I am apparently a...wait for it...
GENEROUS EXPERIENCER.
This means I am...generous...and an experiencer...go figure.
Mouse over any of the colors to see what they represent.
Take the test for yourself and see who you really are!
LINKS
PersonalDNA
So, I took that PersonalDNA test that all Facebook users take (my wife is now officially a Facebook addict) and I am apparently a...wait for it...
GENEROUS EXPERIENCER.
This means I am...generous...and an experiencer...go figure.
Mouse over any of the colors to see what they represent.
Take the test for yourself and see who you really are!
LINKS
PersonalDNA
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)