...i haven't posted anything in a few days out of protest and disgust with this blog...
...the other day, i was writing a spirited review of the movie "I'm Not There"...i was really layin' it down solid...for at least an hour or more...and then i accidentally cut & pasted overtop the first 1/3 of what i wrote, essentially deleting it...and before i could "undo" it, blogspot auto-saved it and it became lost forever...
...at first - i wasn't gonna post for a while...out of sheer spite for this stupid blog...
...i even thought of creating another blog that explained how much i hated this blog for it's auto-saving catastrophe...figuring it would make it jealous and green with envy...
...but then i realized that this blog was obviously a cruel, heartless bastard, unaffected by such a spiteful display...devoid of the basic human feelings to even comprehend it's intention...
...plus, it's just a blog...
...in closing, i'd like to just say - "SCREW YOU BLOG!...you won't keep this guy down for long!...i'll be back!"...
...this would've never happened with paper and pen...
Friday, March 28, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
life is one big fat contradiction
everyone has their own philosophies
opinions and what not
everybody has their own
way of life
be content doing what you like
how you like
but soon you’ll discover
that everybody is wrong
and at the same time
they’re right
too
each lie has a hint
of truth
and every angel
is a little bit
sinister
this
is what life is about
and it’s hard trying to
figure out
right and wrong
truth or deceit
and occasionally,
you’ll even be at odds
with yourself
contradiction weighing heavy
on your mind
don’t worry –
the world is made up
of hypocrites
they come a dime
a dozen
so keep a cool
head, your eyes open
and come in when
it rains
opinions and what not
everybody has their own
way of life
be content doing what you like
how you like
but soon you’ll discover
that everybody is wrong
and at the same time
they’re right
too
each lie has a hint
of truth
and every angel
is a little bit
sinister
this
is what life is about
and it’s hard trying to
figure out
right and wrong
truth or deceit
and occasionally,
you’ll even be at odds
with yourself
contradiction weighing heavy
on your mind
don’t worry –
the world is made up
of hypocrites
they come a dime
a dozen
so keep a cool
head, your eyes open
and come in when
it rains
Friday, March 21, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
intentional writers block
this is my medicine
my paper and pen
the keyboard and
screen
i sit here banging away
for a minute or
an hour
shuffling through songs
and buzzing along
with my coffee and
tea
most times
the words sporadically
flow and ebb
as my mind finds
the right groove
that taps into
it all
but sometimes
the page remains
blank
my head hung
heavy in my hands
my eyes are closed
i breathe deep
and sigh gently in
relief
as the music plays
on
i think
i like writing
those poems
the best
my paper and pen
the keyboard and
screen
i sit here banging away
for a minute or
an hour
shuffling through songs
and buzzing along
with my coffee and
tea
most times
the words sporadically
flow and ebb
as my mind finds
the right groove
that taps into
it all
but sometimes
the page remains
blank
my head hung
heavy in my hands
my eyes are closed
i breathe deep
and sigh gently in
relief
as the music plays
on
i think
i like writing
those poems
the best
be it
don't let the beauty
you surround yourself with
soaring choruses
and city lights
pave the way for the
slow death of
the beauty
that's inside
you
we are all
distracted from
our greatness
in this life
destined to
make-do
as we torture ourselves
with endless
silent
what ifs
and
how comes
take off your mask
for a moment
let down your hair
strip down to
your skin
and step inside what
you see in
the mirror
reacquaint yourself
with the
truth
leave the fear behind
and love what
you see
and then be
it
you surround yourself with
soaring choruses
and city lights
pave the way for the
slow death of
the beauty
that's inside
you
we are all
distracted from
our greatness
in this life
destined to
make-do
as we torture ourselves
with endless
silent
what ifs
and
how comes
take off your mask
for a moment
let down your hair
strip down to
your skin
and step inside what
you see in
the mirror
reacquaint yourself
with the
truth
leave the fear behind
and love what
you see
and then be
it
...a mid-afternoon revolution of the poetic soul...
...saw a documentary on the Beats today - "The Source"...brought forth an entire flood of feelings and thoughts i haven't given the time of day to in a long time...i felt tapped-into a part of my being that was deeper than everyday living...dug up a few Kerouac discs to listen to and found myself closing my eyes and taking in his cadence and voice like i would a miles davis album...hearing it with older ears...an older mind...feeling a certain fire rekindled, if only for the day...we'll see...
...the impact Beat literature and living had on me is immeasurable, as is it's impact on American society and culture...i'm sad at how easily it got lost in the roaring maelstrom of life as i've gotten older...and yet, how fresh it still feels to me today, communing with the muse after letting ignorance glaze my mind over for years...creatively meditating while the scenery passes me by...
...and maybe that's it...after submersing myself in all things Beat during my impressionable and infamous collegiate years, i think i broke free for fear that i would wind up becoming some piss-poor mimic of the past without allowing the development of my own true voice...but it's been almost 10 years or more...and it seems as if i've strayed too far from my roots...
...looking back, i still hold the Allen Ginsberg poetry reading at CMU (4/8/94) as one of the highest moments of my life...and to meet him after the reading was as if i had died and was conversing with an angel on earth...holy hyperbole perhaps but here it is 14 years later - damn! - and it still rings as true in my mind as it did then...
...and it's bigger than just the Beats...goes well beyond Jack and Allen...it weaves in Bukowski...and Thompson...Hesse and Robbins and Wolfe...Fante and Camus...so many others that sit dusty on my shelves...writers, dreamers and celebrants of their own true voice...each one, living life with as much artistry as they displayed in their written craft...
...i'm gonna throw a few logs on the fire and see how long this burns...
...the impact Beat literature and living had on me is immeasurable, as is it's impact on American society and culture...i'm sad at how easily it got lost in the roaring maelstrom of life as i've gotten older...and yet, how fresh it still feels to me today, communing with the muse after letting ignorance glaze my mind over for years...creatively meditating while the scenery passes me by...
...and maybe that's it...after submersing myself in all things Beat during my impressionable and infamous collegiate years, i think i broke free for fear that i would wind up becoming some piss-poor mimic of the past without allowing the development of my own true voice...but it's been almost 10 years or more...and it seems as if i've strayed too far from my roots...
...looking back, i still hold the Allen Ginsberg poetry reading at CMU (4/8/94) as one of the highest moments of my life...and to meet him after the reading was as if i had died and was conversing with an angel on earth...holy hyperbole perhaps but here it is 14 years later - damn! - and it still rings as true in my mind as it did then...
...and it's bigger than just the Beats...goes well beyond Jack and Allen...it weaves in Bukowski...and Thompson...Hesse and Robbins and Wolfe...Fante and Camus...so many others that sit dusty on my shelves...writers, dreamers and celebrants of their own true voice...each one, living life with as much artistry as they displayed in their written craft...
...i'm gonna throw a few logs on the fire and see how long this burns...
Jean-Louis Lebris de Kerouac 3/12/22 - 10/21/69
“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!”
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
"Steeler Nation" on NFL Network
I saw this great mini-documentary on NFL network today on the history and true meaning of Steeler Nation - the large group of rabid Pittsburgh Steeler fans like myself that have Pittsburgh and their beloved Steelers deep in their hearts regardless of where we might live, be it S'Liberty, Long Island or South America.
The typical gridiron lineage was drawn from the Rooney family history, the Steel Curtain heyday of the '70s and of course, Myron's Terrible Towel which is often featured in most Steeler related features. What separated this effort from all the others was the sociological angle it took regarding the economical and industrial impact the people of Pittsburgh have endured over time as it relates to widespread geographical fandom. It takes the usual steel town blurbs of smoke-filled skies and blue-collar dreams and prosperity and digs further to uncover the sudden industrial decline of the '80s that sent many folks packing to other cities, with the glory filled memories of Bradshaw, Swan and Noll long behind them. As the team began it's initial resurgence in the '90s with the introduction of new head coach Bill Cowher, a new hope was reborn, awakening deep feelings in the hearts and souls of those displaced Pittsburgh refugees. There were moments when destiny appeared to be in place, making the "One for the Thumb" almost certain reality, only to fall short in the end. Undaunted, the fan base kept growing and growing, blazing through the United States like brush fire through fields of brown grass as the team persevered and continued it's quest for glory. Fans from all over the country were showcased, many pictured in front of their town's own Steeler bar, crowded en masse, clad head to foot in black and gold. The true culmination of both Steeler team greatness and true fandom finally came during that memorable Super Bowl XL in Detroit as the stadium was unbelievably packed by the Steeler Nation faithful.
...between the great Steeler footage shown, the dynamic link made between the great city of Pittsburgh and its undeniable impact it has on the people that live there, be it briefly or all their life...and seeing that trophy being hoisted by Coach Cowher one more time as the yellow towels twirled in the background...i gotta' say, it brought a little tear to my eye. Look for it if you have NFL Network or find a friend that has it and check it out...
The typical gridiron lineage was drawn from the Rooney family history, the Steel Curtain heyday of the '70s and of course, Myron's Terrible Towel which is often featured in most Steeler related features. What separated this effort from all the others was the sociological angle it took regarding the economical and industrial impact the people of Pittsburgh have endured over time as it relates to widespread geographical fandom. It takes the usual steel town blurbs of smoke-filled skies and blue-collar dreams and prosperity and digs further to uncover the sudden industrial decline of the '80s that sent many folks packing to other cities, with the glory filled memories of Bradshaw, Swan and Noll long behind them. As the team began it's initial resurgence in the '90s with the introduction of new head coach Bill Cowher, a new hope was reborn, awakening deep feelings in the hearts and souls of those displaced Pittsburgh refugees. There were moments when destiny appeared to be in place, making the "One for the Thumb" almost certain reality, only to fall short in the end. Undaunted, the fan base kept growing and growing, blazing through the United States like brush fire through fields of brown grass as the team persevered and continued it's quest for glory. Fans from all over the country were showcased, many pictured in front of their town's own Steeler bar, crowded en masse, clad head to foot in black and gold. The true culmination of both Steeler team greatness and true fandom finally came during that memorable Super Bowl XL in Detroit as the stadium was unbelievably packed by the Steeler Nation faithful.
...between the great Steeler footage shown, the dynamic link made between the great city of Pittsburgh and its undeniable impact it has on the people that live there, be it briefly or all their life...and seeing that trophy being hoisted by Coach Cowher one more time as the yellow towels twirled in the background...i gotta' say, it brought a little tear to my eye. Look for it if you have NFL Network or find a friend that has it and check it out...
"No Country For Old Men" aka No Sleep For Scared Mike
So, i watched "No Country For Old Men" today...amazing...simply amazing. It's a deep, cerebral film that is probably still too fresh in my mind to review it with any decent perspective. I was eager to finally see it being a big Coen Brothers fan and given all the awards and accolades bestowed upon it. Simply put - "No Country For Old Men" makes "Fargo" look like "The Big Lebowski".
I can't get into the plot and storyline but i will say it has every classic, essential aspect of what makes a great action, drama, and thriller movie, all wrapped up into one crazy film. The acting performances clocked in by the three male leads - Brolin, Jones & Bardem, are nothing short of brilliant. After seeing his first scene, you quickly forget Brolin was the older brother from "The Goonies", as he brings amazing clarity and realism to his role as Llewelyn Moss - Vietnam vet, victim of circumstance and all-around bad-ass. Tommy Lee Jones brings the sense of authenticity and grit you'd expect him to, playing a small-town Texas sheriff like he'd been wearing the badge all his life. There is something about that stoic, leathery face of his...it reads like a road map, giving him a certain unmistakable character as he continues to be one of Hollywood's most reliable actors of our time.
...and lastly...and not that i could forget him if i tried - Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh...perhaps one of the most low-down, heartlessly ruthless and all-out full-blown creepy psychotic badmen in all of cinematic history. There is no doubt his acting performance is worthy of his Oscar...but make no mistake...they gave it to him out of fear. This character will haunt my dreams for the next few weeks...i'm sure of it...prompting me to plug in a nightlight for the first time in over 25 years. It is with total honesty that i admit - if i were to encounter him walking towards me down the middle of the busiest street at Disneyland loaded with plenty of witnesses on the sunniest day of the year and at the same time, i happen to be walking past a police officer, Chuck Norris and '70s era Jack Lambert - i'd still shit myself.
...see this movie.
I can't get into the plot and storyline but i will say it has every classic, essential aspect of what makes a great action, drama, and thriller movie, all wrapped up into one crazy film. The acting performances clocked in by the three male leads - Brolin, Jones & Bardem, are nothing short of brilliant. After seeing his first scene, you quickly forget Brolin was the older brother from "The Goonies", as he brings amazing clarity and realism to his role as Llewelyn Moss - Vietnam vet, victim of circumstance and all-around bad-ass. Tommy Lee Jones brings the sense of authenticity and grit you'd expect him to, playing a small-town Texas sheriff like he'd been wearing the badge all his life. There is something about that stoic, leathery face of his...it reads like a road map, giving him a certain unmistakable character as he continues to be one of Hollywood's most reliable actors of our time.
...and lastly...and not that i could forget him if i tried - Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh...perhaps one of the most low-down, heartlessly ruthless and all-out full-blown creepy psychotic badmen in all of cinematic history. There is no doubt his acting performance is worthy of his Oscar...but make no mistake...they gave it to him out of fear. This character will haunt my dreams for the next few weeks...i'm sure of it...prompting me to plug in a nightlight for the first time in over 25 years. It is with total honesty that i admit - if i were to encounter him walking towards me down the middle of the busiest street at Disneyland loaded with plenty of witnesses on the sunniest day of the year and at the same time, i happen to be walking past a police officer, Chuck Norris and '70s era Jack Lambert - i'd still shit myself.
...see this movie.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
...a few notable movies of late have passed through my DVD player recently...mostly all good stuff...
"Across the Universe" - this movie creatively weaves the lyrics of classic Beatles songs and an assortment of major and minor characters based on Beatles songs thrown into a mixture of plot lines and themes based on the current events that took place in the late '60's, creating a rich tapestry that is visually stunning and fun to sing along to at times...but as much of a Beatles fan as i am and was raised to be, i found myself wanting to like this flick far more than i wound up truly liking it... for the most part, many of the scenes come off like bad theater, as classic Beatles tunes are overshadowed by hackneyed dance routines and forced plot lines...the only redeeming aspect of the film came about half-way when a very Kesey-like character was introduced into the mix, leading his merry group of "pranksters" across the land in a colorfully painted old school bus, determined to seek out the other visionary lysergic seer from the east coast (Leary)...however, despite the fantastic audio and visual onslaught the film's director conjures up for this overtly trippy portion of the movie, it's practically lost behind a cloud of shit created by the hack job of acting showcased by global savior and angel Bono of U2 fame...what a douche...
"Michael Clayton" - solid movie all around...i found it a little tough to get into at first but once i was into it, the 2 hours passed like minutes as i watched it...if a movie stars George Clooney, i generally make a point to avoid it - the Cohen's "Oh Brother.." being the lone exception...but i must admit, he puts in a commendable performance certainly worthy of his Oscar nomination...fantastic ending too...kept me engaged till the final frame...
"King of Kong: A Fistfull of Quarters" - i can't say enough about how excellent a documentary this was. On the surface, it's a story about a long-standing Donkey Kong high-score from '82 held by super-geek Billy Mitchell and how one man's determination (Steve Wiebe) to match and exceed the score 20 years later somewhat shadows the struggle of the anyman when he's up against any unfair and insurmountable odds. If i go into too much detail, i'll spoil it for those that have yet to see it...but by the end of the film, i found myself flowing with feelings and thoughts about what i just witnessed, stronger than i would have ever guessed...which is one of the best methods to gage the effectiveness of any documentary or film. Most films these days are as forgettable on the drive home from the movie theater as they are two weeks later. Whereas a really good film will stick with you for a long time, and in some rare cases - forever...be it a certain scene, a particular passage of dialogue or an authentic raw emotion conjured by a series of moving images, an honest approach to a hard-hitting subject matter, a transcendent acting performance or any combination thereof...i'm not saying this documentary will have the same effect on everybody, but i do urge you to give it a shot. If for no other reason, you'll definitely find yr'self laughing at how serious this group of grown men take their video game playing. reminding us all what can happen when we take ourselves too seriously on this earth and lose perspective on whats really important. Incidentally - it must be noted that Billy Mitchell is a huge douche too...not as big as Bono...but close...
"Into the Wild" - an excellent movie and one of those rare instances in which a movie adaptation holds up exceptionally well against it's initial literary format, faithfully representing the story in a visually captivating way. Emile Hirsch puts in a command performance as the main character, Christopher McCandless - an idealistic, independent and intelligent young man in his early twenties with a mission to live off-the-grid as it were, looking to survive in the Alaskan wilderness free and far from the everyday compromises man puts upon his soul in order to survive...and just as free and far from help and assistance, a stubborn ideal that becomes his own demise. Additionally, the actors and actresses that play the random, colorful personalities to pop in and out of his life as he takes his journey are equally compelling and are as essential to the movie as Emile's portrayal of McCandless is. Specifically, the roles of the grain farmer (Vince Vaughn), the female rubbertramp (Catherine Keener) and the elderly widower (Hal Holbrook) were acted out with such grace and craft, they leave a lasting impression on you even though their screen time is minimal. Yr' left to wonder about their continued existences as much as yr' left to ponder where McCandless' quest went wrong.
"The Darjeeling Limited" - another quirky offering from Wes Anderson starring at least one Wilson brother and Jason Schwartzman. This wasn't my favorite effort from Wes but even when the storyline is weak, as this one is, his unique sense of cinematic visual style is so powerful, it almost becomes its own character. Between his vibrant use of vivid colors, dialogue full of wit and realism and a sort of hipster kitchiness for materialistic props and possessions, Anderson continues to blaze a cinematic trail of excellence with every movie he makes. He has proven himself to be one of the finest filmmakers of this generation and certainly has the potential to be considered as one of the greats in the future.
"Across the Universe" - this movie creatively weaves the lyrics of classic Beatles songs and an assortment of major and minor characters based on Beatles songs thrown into a mixture of plot lines and themes based on the current events that took place in the late '60's, creating a rich tapestry that is visually stunning and fun to sing along to at times...but as much of a Beatles fan as i am and was raised to be, i found myself wanting to like this flick far more than i wound up truly liking it... for the most part, many of the scenes come off like bad theater, as classic Beatles tunes are overshadowed by hackneyed dance routines and forced plot lines...the only redeeming aspect of the film came about half-way when a very Kesey-like character was introduced into the mix, leading his merry group of "pranksters" across the land in a colorfully painted old school bus, determined to seek out the other visionary lysergic seer from the east coast (Leary)...however, despite the fantastic audio and visual onslaught the film's director conjures up for this overtly trippy portion of the movie, it's practically lost behind a cloud of shit created by the hack job of acting showcased by global savior and angel Bono of U2 fame...what a douche...
"Michael Clayton" - solid movie all around...i found it a little tough to get into at first but once i was into it, the 2 hours passed like minutes as i watched it...if a movie stars George Clooney, i generally make a point to avoid it - the Cohen's "Oh Brother.." being the lone exception...but i must admit, he puts in a commendable performance certainly worthy of his Oscar nomination...fantastic ending too...kept me engaged till the final frame...
"King of Kong: A Fistfull of Quarters" - i can't say enough about how excellent a documentary this was. On the surface, it's a story about a long-standing Donkey Kong high-score from '82 held by super-geek Billy Mitchell and how one man's determination (Steve Wiebe) to match and exceed the score 20 years later somewhat shadows the struggle of the anyman when he's up against any unfair and insurmountable odds. If i go into too much detail, i'll spoil it for those that have yet to see it...but by the end of the film, i found myself flowing with feelings and thoughts about what i just witnessed, stronger than i would have ever guessed...which is one of the best methods to gage the effectiveness of any documentary or film. Most films these days are as forgettable on the drive home from the movie theater as they are two weeks later. Whereas a really good film will stick with you for a long time, and in some rare cases - forever...be it a certain scene, a particular passage of dialogue or an authentic raw emotion conjured by a series of moving images, an honest approach to a hard-hitting subject matter, a transcendent acting performance or any combination thereof...i'm not saying this documentary will have the same effect on everybody, but i do urge you to give it a shot. If for no other reason, you'll definitely find yr'self laughing at how serious this group of grown men take their video game playing. reminding us all what can happen when we take ourselves too seriously on this earth and lose perspective on whats really important. Incidentally - it must be noted that Billy Mitchell is a huge douche too...not as big as Bono...but close...
"Into the Wild" - an excellent movie and one of those rare instances in which a movie adaptation holds up exceptionally well against it's initial literary format, faithfully representing the story in a visually captivating way. Emile Hirsch puts in a command performance as the main character, Christopher McCandless - an idealistic, independent and intelligent young man in his early twenties with a mission to live off-the-grid as it were, looking to survive in the Alaskan wilderness free and far from the everyday compromises man puts upon his soul in order to survive...and just as free and far from help and assistance, a stubborn ideal that becomes his own demise. Additionally, the actors and actresses that play the random, colorful personalities to pop in and out of his life as he takes his journey are equally compelling and are as essential to the movie as Emile's portrayal of McCandless is. Specifically, the roles of the grain farmer (Vince Vaughn), the female rubbertramp (Catherine Keener) and the elderly widower (Hal Holbrook) were acted out with such grace and craft, they leave a lasting impression on you even though their screen time is minimal. Yr' left to wonder about their continued existences as much as yr' left to ponder where McCandless' quest went wrong.
"The Darjeeling Limited" - another quirky offering from Wes Anderson starring at least one Wilson brother and Jason Schwartzman. This wasn't my favorite effort from Wes but even when the storyline is weak, as this one is, his unique sense of cinematic visual style is so powerful, it almost becomes its own character. Between his vibrant use of vivid colors, dialogue full of wit and realism and a sort of hipster kitchiness for materialistic props and possessions, Anderson continues to blaze a cinematic trail of excellence with every movie he makes. He has proven himself to be one of the finest filmmakers of this generation and certainly has the potential to be considered as one of the greats in the future.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Sunday - March 2, 2008
...caught last night's SNL...i was hoping for the best since Ellen Page was hosting but it fell flat and i second guessed if the writers strike was really over...without a doubt, the only saving grace was Wilco's musical contributions as guests...they performed two songs from the new CD "Sky Blue Sky" - Hate It Here & Walken...both songs aided by a three-piece horn section and the latter featuring Jeff Tweedy sporting a vintage Nudie suit...classic...
...the only other item of note about the episode was when the news segment was drawing to a close and professed Pittsburgh Steeler fan Seth Myers pulled a Terrible Towel out from his pocket and waved it around in honor of Myron...class act...
...happy birthday to 3/2/69 - easily one of my top 10 GD shows of all-time, top 5 '69 shows and my favorite of the fabled Fillmore East 2/27 -3/2 run of the same year...
...the only other item of note about the episode was when the news segment was drawing to a close and professed Pittsburgh Steeler fan Seth Myers pulled a Terrible Towel out from his pocket and waved it around in honor of Myron...class act...
...happy birthday to 3/2/69 - easily one of my top 10 GD shows of all-time, top 5 '69 shows and my favorite of the fabled Fillmore East 2/27 -3/2 run of the same year...
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