Seeing too many movies seems to have stripped my creativity. I feel exhausted at the prospect of trying to compose something original and creative. So, no fiction tonight.
Two nights ago we watched Zombieland (2nd time for me, first for Todd. The first time I saw it with Dwaine, who coincidentally visited last night). The second movie we watched was Taxi Driver, one of those movies one ought to see, and it is a movie referenced in so much of pop culture. The fascination with the loner male-- this movie is a key notch on the continuum from some John Wayne movie which I've never seen (I know this because Roger Ebert says so) to The Master, and Joaquim Pheonix's awkward anti-hero.
Are there movies about women that explore this inability to connect? Or is this a primarily male thing? Surely there are women who experience post-traumatic stress, who are unable to develop meaningful relationships. Also surely, it rarely plays out in gunplay.
I'm sure there are movie examples of this, just none I can think of at the moment, except maybe Whatever Happened to Baby Jane. Modern examples? Anyone?
Today we saw Skyfall and again I am struck by how powerful Judi Dench's take on M is. As women's roles go, this is platinum. She is not a woman playing a man in a man's world. She never lets one forget she is a woman. A powerful, remorseless, driven woman, with a great deal of responsibility and not necessarily with clean hands.
I have opinions on things and I like to talk about them.
3.11.12
Hold onto your poppies.
The new premier of Quebec has been taken to task for pinning her poppy (a flower found in France) on with another French flower symbol: a fleur de lis. THE HORROR!
Trying to keep the flimsy mass-produced politically-necessary accessory from flying off one's clothing is a national past-time in early November.
Is it really so contentious to suggest that it is time the way we acknowledge our remembrance of veterans got a refresher? There are two French women to thank for our lapel poppy traditions, according to the Legion site. An American teacher, Moina Michaels, working overseas was inspired, in 1918, by John MacCrae's poem, to make a personal pledge to always wear a poppy for remembrance. Madame Guerin, visiting from France two years later, learned of the custom, and decided to use handmade Poppies to raise money for the destitute children in war-torn areas of the country.
The Veterans' association adopted the idea in 1921.
So the lapel poppy serves two purposes. One, it is a quick visual reminder of the powerful poem and of all the sacrifices and work offered by those who've served. Even my die-hard peacenik friends honor and respect the poppy and our veterans.
But let's not forget -- this is also a fundraiser. And here is my fundamental problem with the program. Until 1996, the poppies were made in workshops by vets. It was an income generator. However, now the production is outsourced.
The environmentalist in me is annually appalled by the flimsy plastic materials, that seem to cling to a design tradition that ENSURES they will fly off easily, and the most dedicated wearer will eventually be badgered into ponying up donations for 3 or 4 a year, assuming they only wear them November 1 to November 11.
A few years ago, there was an investment into revamping Remembrance Day. The 2 Minutes' Silence program was initiated, and at that time, you could buy a proper lapel pin poppy. I think it ran about 7,8 dollars, a bargain regardless since it would likely last at minimum a full season. That died quickly. The distribution and production system of the Legion does not support a proper retail approach.
So, while for endless months we are bathed in a wash of pink as the breast cancer marketing machine plows through our retail environment like a rosy steamroller, our veterans are relegated to little plastic containers, begging for donations in exchange for this plastic planned-obsolence poppy, rendered almost meaningless apparently by something as small as choosing to attach it with another pin.
Don't our veterans deserve better than this? Surely we can at least explore a way to incorporate the official poppy into some other collateral, bring them a better rate of return, and NOT seed municipal cenotaphs across the country with discarded plastic flower-representatives that will join the cigarette butts and tim's cups in decorating the countryside our hard-won freedom has given us?
My dad was a vet, and in his honour, I say, they DO deserve better.
Trying to keep the flimsy mass-produced politically-necessary accessory from flying off one's clothing is a national past-time in early November.
Is it really so contentious to suggest that it is time the way we acknowledge our remembrance of veterans got a refresher? There are two French women to thank for our lapel poppy traditions, according to the Legion site. An American teacher, Moina Michaels, working overseas was inspired, in 1918, by John MacCrae's poem, to make a personal pledge to always wear a poppy for remembrance. Madame Guerin, visiting from France two years later, learned of the custom, and decided to use handmade Poppies to raise money for the destitute children in war-torn areas of the country.
The Veterans' association adopted the idea in 1921.
So the lapel poppy serves two purposes. One, it is a quick visual reminder of the powerful poem and of all the sacrifices and work offered by those who've served. Even my die-hard peacenik friends honor and respect the poppy and our veterans.
But let's not forget -- this is also a fundraiser. And here is my fundamental problem with the program. Until 1996, the poppies were made in workshops by vets. It was an income generator. However, now the production is outsourced.
The environmentalist in me is annually appalled by the flimsy plastic materials, that seem to cling to a design tradition that ENSURES they will fly off easily, and the most dedicated wearer will eventually be badgered into ponying up donations for 3 or 4 a year, assuming they only wear them November 1 to November 11.
A few years ago, there was an investment into revamping Remembrance Day. The 2 Minutes' Silence program was initiated, and at that time, you could buy a proper lapel pin poppy. I think it ran about 7,8 dollars, a bargain regardless since it would likely last at minimum a full season. That died quickly. The distribution and production system of the Legion does not support a proper retail approach.
So, while for endless months we are bathed in a wash of pink as the breast cancer marketing machine plows through our retail environment like a rosy steamroller, our veterans are relegated to little plastic containers, begging for donations in exchange for this plastic planned-obsolence poppy, rendered almost meaningless apparently by something as small as choosing to attach it with another pin.
Don't our veterans deserve better than this? Surely we can at least explore a way to incorporate the official poppy into some other collateral, bring them a better rate of return, and NOT seed municipal cenotaphs across the country with discarded plastic flower-representatives that will join the cigarette butts and tim's cups in decorating the countryside our hard-won freedom has given us?
My dad was a vet, and in his honour, I say, they DO deserve better.
1.6.12
Someone shook the snow globe
Life trucks along as normal, usual busyness, ups and downs and then, blam.
Body parts sent through mail, shootings in the streets, crazy shit going down all over the place.
Looks like awesome relationship must end soon because of fundamental problems: He wants kids and I'm done. I want stable, long term commitment and he is too young.
At work, re-org is announced, introducing more stress and anxiety there.
So then. There's life, all upside-downsy, everything all at once, and I don't even know which direction to turn in for relief.
At least I still have my health although the state my stomach is in, I question even that.
Body parts sent through mail, shootings in the streets, crazy shit going down all over the place.
Looks like awesome relationship must end soon because of fundamental problems: He wants kids and I'm done. I want stable, long term commitment and he is too young.
At work, re-org is announced, introducing more stress and anxiety there.
So then. There's life, all upside-downsy, everything all at once, and I don't even know which direction to turn in for relief.
At least I still have my health although the state my stomach is in, I question even that.
30.5.12
Not just for sore muscles anymore
THIS JUST IN: Health Canada does NOT recommend people use this new drug called bath salts.
ORLY?
Also: water, now determined to be 'wet'. Film at 11.
If you would decriminalize the harmless drugs like marijuana (well, no more harmful than alcohol), perhaps we would have some respite from people experimenting with concocting their own poisons from 'harmless household ingredients.' Just a thought.
ORLY?
Also: water, now determined to be 'wet'. Film at 11.
If you would decriminalize the harmless drugs like marijuana (well, no more harmful than alcohol), perhaps we would have some respite from people experimenting with concocting their own poisons from 'harmless household ingredients.' Just a thought.
7.1.12
A Shot In the Dark
(note on last post -- forgot to mention James Garner was in The Children's Hour)
Starting this Blake Edwards flick. I think I've seen it... but I don't remember (SURPRISE)... Elke Summers and Peter Sellers. May not see the whole thing.
Starting this Blake Edwards flick. I think I've seen it... but I don't remember (SURPRISE)... Elke Summers and Peter Sellers. May not see the whole thing.
MI: Ghost Protocol and a 1961 Lesbian Morality Play
Last night Todd & I went to see the new Mission Impossible movie, Ghost Protocol. It's unbelievable that a series I started watching with Julian is still going. Tom Cruise was good, much as it pains me to say so. The movie was what you expect from a MI movie... adrenaline cut with laughs. Simon Pegg is adorable. I learned from this movie that I never, in my life, want to ever be in the world's tallest building. Ever. EVER.
Tonight, Todd is on Boy Time, so I flipped through Netflix and found The Children's Hour, an ironic choice, considering my lamentation this evening over lack of close female friends.It's the story of two friends (Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine) who run a girl's boarding school. Their lives are ruined when a student accuses them of being ... LESBIANS. It's from 1961, and might as well be from the moon since the context is so wholly incomprehensible in some ways.
SPOILER ALERT
The ending reveals it is indeed a morality play. Bad girls get punished.
Wondering whether to follow up with the Last Picture Show, but that might be a bit much for tonight.
NYE Todd and I watched the extended Blu Ray of The Two Towers. Great movie. Helm's Deep, the introduction of Faromir and Eowyn and the King of Rohan, as well as the emergence of Gandalf the White. Smeagol / Gollum still schitzy. Noted because I always forget how much happens in this movie.
Tonight, Todd is on Boy Time, so I flipped through Netflix and found The Children's Hour, an ironic choice, considering my lamentation this evening over lack of close female friends.It's the story of two friends (Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine) who run a girl's boarding school. Their lives are ruined when a student accuses them of being ... LESBIANS. It's from 1961, and might as well be from the moon since the context is so wholly incomprehensible in some ways.
SPOILER ALERT
The ending reveals it is indeed a morality play. Bad girls get punished.
Wondering whether to follow up with the Last Picture Show, but that might be a bit much for tonight.
NYE Todd and I watched the extended Blu Ray of The Two Towers. Great movie. Helm's Deep, the introduction of Faromir and Eowyn and the King of Rohan, as well as the emergence of Gandalf the White. Smeagol / Gollum still schitzy. Noted because I always forget how much happens in this movie.
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