Last night was the Academy Award show. I didn't watch. I have not been to a movie in years. In part, and you can call me cheap, I don't go because I refuse to pay a minimum of $10 to go. Sorry, that is outrageous and I am not paying that to sit in a noisy theater.
Especially when there is not a movie out there I want to see. I look at ads and reviews, and, nothing. The comedies look inane. The action movies are so centered around explosions and shootings and special effects that there seems to be no story. If I want to watch violence, I can watch the news.
Science fiction has given way to a plethora of comic book superheroes and/or movies that seem to be deep metaphysical tales of past and future contacts with our ancient alien creators. Sorry, but I don't believe that ET started the human race.
Adventure movies were always my favorites and, they are no longer made. Call me an relic but I loved movies like Sparticus, Treasure Island, Lawrence of Arabia, Papillion. movies that transported you to exotic lands and times and gave you real human characters being tested to their limits.
So, I am afraid that I have no comments on the recent awards. I simply don't care.
Monday, February 27, 2017
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Baseball
Spring Training is about to begin and the baseball season will soon start. I have not watched a lot of baseball in recent years, but this year, I might.
I grew up as an enormous fan and that continued well into my adult life. In recent years, I grew indifferent to the game, put off by spoiled, over paid athletes and incompetent players. The high salaries and diva like players I have grown to tolerate, but since I remember how the game can and should be played, I am insulted at the poor performances I witnessed.
Last year, though, I watched a few games and was delithfull surprised to see throws going to the right bases, pitchers backing up plays, and outfielders who understood the concept of cut off men,
The game is fascinating when played correctly, full of strategy and there is little in sports as exciting as the 9th inning in a close game.
So, come April, I am looking forward to hearing an Umpire call, "Play Ball.:
I grew up as an enormous fan and that continued well into my adult life. In recent years, I grew indifferent to the game, put off by spoiled, over paid athletes and incompetent players. The high salaries and diva like players I have grown to tolerate, but since I remember how the game can and should be played, I am insulted at the poor performances I witnessed.
Last year, though, I watched a few games and was delithfull surprised to see throws going to the right bases, pitchers backing up plays, and outfielders who understood the concept of cut off men,
The game is fascinating when played correctly, full of strategy and there is little in sports as exciting as the 9th inning in a close game.
So, come April, I am looking forward to hearing an Umpire call, "Play Ball.:
Monday, February 20, 2017
Bleeding Edge
I recently re-read Thomas Pynchon's novel, Bleeding Edge. I am not a huge fan of Pynchon's His early books are fairly incoherent and his middle books are far too long and rambling. I did find Inherent Vice amusing, but not very substantial, sort of literary fast food.
Bleeding Edge has many flaws. The humor is sophomoric and the Heroine is fairly unpleasant. The plot is convoluted and only barely coherent, although, by the end it comes together, sort of. The novel is somewhat political and Pynchon's politics are sort of a blend of old hippy and old Democrat.
However, it does have a redeeming value. Pynchon takes on our obsession with the internet and the damage it has done and likely will continue to do. The creation of a virtual world is like building a house of cards and trying to live in it. What do we do when, as is inevitable, the house comes crashing down. How can we build our futures around something as ephemeral as electronic runs of 1's and 0's.
I am not a luddite. I love technology and I find the internet useful, if occasionally frustrating. However, looking at our evolutionary tree, we should note that species who become overspecialized, too dependent on one tactic, do not last too long.
He also skates around the issue of what this does to the soul, a fascinating question that, to be fair to Pynchon, can only be skated around. What does attaching a great deal of your consciousness do to the soul? Can you lose yourself in a virtual world? Upon your death, can you hide yourself, at least for a while in virtual space? I have no answers to those questions, but they are worth contemplating.
Most important, what do we do when the system fails. All systems fail and the internet is extremely vulnerable. The Earth will be hit by Solar flares and, sometime, one will be crippling. Or, in our current age of terrorism, what happens when some radical group gets its hands on an electric pulse weapon. Such things exist and anything that exists will be used.
Bleeding Edge has many flaws. The humor is sophomoric and the Heroine is fairly unpleasant. The plot is convoluted and only barely coherent, although, by the end it comes together, sort of. The novel is somewhat political and Pynchon's politics are sort of a blend of old hippy and old Democrat.
However, it does have a redeeming value. Pynchon takes on our obsession with the internet and the damage it has done and likely will continue to do. The creation of a virtual world is like building a house of cards and trying to live in it. What do we do when, as is inevitable, the house comes crashing down. How can we build our futures around something as ephemeral as electronic runs of 1's and 0's.
I am not a luddite. I love technology and I find the internet useful, if occasionally frustrating. However, looking at our evolutionary tree, we should note that species who become overspecialized, too dependent on one tactic, do not last too long.
He also skates around the issue of what this does to the soul, a fascinating question that, to be fair to Pynchon, can only be skated around. What does attaching a great deal of your consciousness do to the soul? Can you lose yourself in a virtual world? Upon your death, can you hide yourself, at least for a while in virtual space? I have no answers to those questions, but they are worth contemplating.
Most important, what do we do when the system fails. All systems fail and the internet is extremely vulnerable. The Earth will be hit by Solar flares and, sometime, one will be crippling. Or, in our current age of terrorism, what happens when some radical group gets its hands on an electric pulse weapon. Such things exist and anything that exists will be used.
Thursday, February 16, 2017
The Future of Entertainment
I don't watch a lot of the spectacular events on TV and I don't go to big, splashy shows. But, I do see bits and pieces on TV news shows and on line and I am wondering, what's left?
David Copperfield's magic routine, the one where he makes planes and large building disappear, is no longer a surprise. I guess he can move onto entire cities, maybe the whole planet, but even that would grow tiresome to today's jaded audiences.
Super Bowl half time shows have evolved from marching bands to mini-rock concerts. Music award shows now have to include elaborate performances. Not long ago, Pink Floyd's elaborate shows were state of the art spectaculars. Now,any band playing in any small club, best have lasers and fireworks.
In many cases the shows seem to have morphed from performances into rituals, occult symbols all over and dances that would be fitting in the ancient Mystery Schools. And, guess what? All of this will become tiresome and audiences will demand more and more outrageous behavior. Can live sex acts at the Grammy Awards be next? The only thing past that would be sacrificial rites, live on stage.
Where will it stop? If you believe that human behavior cannot become so depraved that blood rites are don publicly, you should read a little history.
The Spectacular has replaced the Artistic and, in our current strange environment, nothing would surprise me. Well, one thing would. I would admit surprise if folks would make it clear that they want the Artistic to again take the forefront.
David Copperfield's magic routine, the one where he makes planes and large building disappear, is no longer a surprise. I guess he can move onto entire cities, maybe the whole planet, but even that would grow tiresome to today's jaded audiences.
Super Bowl half time shows have evolved from marching bands to mini-rock concerts. Music award shows now have to include elaborate performances. Not long ago, Pink Floyd's elaborate shows were state of the art spectaculars. Now,any band playing in any small club, best have lasers and fireworks.
In many cases the shows seem to have morphed from performances into rituals, occult symbols all over and dances that would be fitting in the ancient Mystery Schools. And, guess what? All of this will become tiresome and audiences will demand more and more outrageous behavior. Can live sex acts at the Grammy Awards be next? The only thing past that would be sacrificial rites, live on stage.
Where will it stop? If you believe that human behavior cannot become so depraved that blood rites are don publicly, you should read a little history.
The Spectacular has replaced the Artistic and, in our current strange environment, nothing would surprise me. Well, one thing would. I would admit surprise if folks would make it clear that they want the Artistic to again take the forefront.
Monday, February 13, 2017
Tiger Woods
I write occasionally about golf and I would like to say a few words about Tiger Woods and his latest travails.
Tiger was, for about ten years, the best golfer in history. That really cannot be argued. The great Jack Nicklaus, was as dominant. I was always most amazed by Tiger's incredible concentration. Yes, he had amazing skills, but it was that concentration, that ability to completely focus, that set him apart.
However, Nicklaus lasted longer. He did wind up with back and knee problems but not until late in his career. Woods began suffering injures in his mid-thirties and has not been the same since. Now, 4 knee surgeries and 3 back surgeries later, he continues to attempt comebacks and it is sad.
As someone who has suffered greatly with back troubles let me say that you are never the same again. Even when you are not in pain, a part of you remembers the hurt and will restrain your motion. Same goes for knee problems, which I have also suffered.
Woods has one option. He could change his swing to put less strain on his back. With his knowledge of the game, he could likely do that and still be competitive, However, he would lose power and length. It seems that his pride and his desire to compete on even terms with long hitters like Dustin Johnson and Jason Day prevents him from considering this option.
It would be great for golf to see him make a big comeback. He won't. Right now, he is in danger of becoming an all too familiar figure, the athlete who stays in the game too long. Those close to him should urge him to retire. It is better to be remembered for the greatness of your youth than the pitiful performances of your middle age.
Tiger was, for about ten years, the best golfer in history. That really cannot be argued. The great Jack Nicklaus, was as dominant. I was always most amazed by Tiger's incredible concentration. Yes, he had amazing skills, but it was that concentration, that ability to completely focus, that set him apart.
However, Nicklaus lasted longer. He did wind up with back and knee problems but not until late in his career. Woods began suffering injures in his mid-thirties and has not been the same since. Now, 4 knee surgeries and 3 back surgeries later, he continues to attempt comebacks and it is sad.
As someone who has suffered greatly with back troubles let me say that you are never the same again. Even when you are not in pain, a part of you remembers the hurt and will restrain your motion. Same goes for knee problems, which I have also suffered.
Woods has one option. He could change his swing to put less strain on his back. With his knowledge of the game, he could likely do that and still be competitive, However, he would lose power and length. It seems that his pride and his desire to compete on even terms with long hitters like Dustin Johnson and Jason Day prevents him from considering this option.
It would be great for golf to see him make a big comeback. He won't. Right now, he is in danger of becoming an all too familiar figure, the athlete who stays in the game too long. Those close to him should urge him to retire. It is better to be remembered for the greatness of your youth than the pitiful performances of your middle age.
Thursday, February 9, 2017
Expand Your Musical World
We all have our favorite musical genre. That's fine, but if you just give a listen to some other styles, you may be surprised at how much you like some different things.
When I grew up, rock and r&b were the big things. Okay, that was fine, but I knew some unusual folks and, through them, I was exposed to traditional folk and blues and jazz and my world expanded. As I grew older. When I went away to college, I became exposed to classical music and the world opened more. When I went back to South Florida, the demographics had changed and I started hearing Latin music and that was a further expansion.
From there, I grew even more exploratory, listening to music from India, the Mid East, Indonesia, China and Japan. I sought out folk music from places as diverse as Ireland, Norway and Nigeria. I became an almost obsessive fan of Brazilian music.
All of this expands your mind, something we all can use.
Of course you will still have your favorites (in my case, jazz) and least favor (I loathe hip hop and most heavy metal), but, by hearing the music of other cultures, I am more able to understand the people, and we all need to understand each other better.
When I grew up, rock and r&b were the big things. Okay, that was fine, but I knew some unusual folks and, through them, I was exposed to traditional folk and blues and jazz and my world expanded. As I grew older. When I went away to college, I became exposed to classical music and the world opened more. When I went back to South Florida, the demographics had changed and I started hearing Latin music and that was a further expansion.
From there, I grew even more exploratory, listening to music from India, the Mid East, Indonesia, China and Japan. I sought out folk music from places as diverse as Ireland, Norway and Nigeria. I became an almost obsessive fan of Brazilian music.
All of this expands your mind, something we all can use.
Of course you will still have your favorites (in my case, jazz) and least favor (I loathe hip hop and most heavy metal), but, by hearing the music of other cultures, I am more able to understand the people, and we all need to understand each other better.
Tuesday, February 7, 2017
Listen to Your World
I love music. To me, it is the highest art form. In books, the artist works with words. Painters and sculptures work with solid materials. The musician works with the vibrations of air. Just think, they work with a totally intangible medium and produce works of great beauty.
Nature is musical. Next time you have time to spare, listen to your surroundings. Indoors, you might hear the hum of various appliances the rustling of papers, the mixing of foods and drinks, snatches of music and TV, the sounds of family and pets, maybe even sounds seeping in from outside.
All of that is wonderful, but nothing compared to what is outside your door. It is like the difference between good pop music and grand symphony. Outdoors, you hear birds and trees and insects, each doing their thing and creating wonderful sounds. On some days, they are joined by wind and rain and, on exceptional days, the booming of thunder, in many permutations, joins in. Blended in, if you live in towns and cities, you have the rumble of traffic, punctuated by horn honks and tire squeals. Toss in the sounds of, calling greetings, shouting questions and answers, sometimes yelling ad cursing in anger. often topped off with the great sounds of the machinery of human industry.
Looked at one way, all of that is just random noise, an almost overwhelming cacophony. But, if you relax and let it come to you, you will begin to notice rhythms and harmonies constantly changing and always surprising. A beauty is seen, albeit a strange beauty, but beauty none the less.
Nature is musical. Next time you have time to spare, listen to your surroundings. Indoors, you might hear the hum of various appliances the rustling of papers, the mixing of foods and drinks, snatches of music and TV, the sounds of family and pets, maybe even sounds seeping in from outside.
All of that is wonderful, but nothing compared to what is outside your door. It is like the difference between good pop music and grand symphony. Outdoors, you hear birds and trees and insects, each doing their thing and creating wonderful sounds. On some days, they are joined by wind and rain and, on exceptional days, the booming of thunder, in many permutations, joins in. Blended in, if you live in towns and cities, you have the rumble of traffic, punctuated by horn honks and tire squeals. Toss in the sounds of, calling greetings, shouting questions and answers, sometimes yelling ad cursing in anger. often topped off with the great sounds of the machinery of human industry.
Looked at one way, all of that is just random noise, an almost overwhelming cacophony. But, if you relax and let it come to you, you will begin to notice rhythms and harmonies constantly changing and always surprising. A beauty is seen, albeit a strange beauty, but beauty none the less.
Friday, February 3, 2017
Football
The Super Bowl is here again and, call me un-American but, I do not care. Why? Because I hate football. It is a silly, boring and overly violent event. I do not call it a game or sport. That is what it used to be. Now, it's just an event.
I used to love football. The game changed. Once upon a time, it was dominated by running. Great quarterbacks like Bart Starr and Johnny Unitas seldom threw more than 20 times a game and often mush less. They passed a lot only when a) the running game didn't work, b) as a surprise move, or c) if it was late in the game and they were losing. The League decided that passing was more exciting and tweaked the rules. This did 2 things.
First, it slowed thins down. A lot. Every time a pass goes incomplete, the clock stops. Every time a receiver steps out of bounds, the clock stops. With running plays, the clock runs, unless the runner steps out of bounds, and in the old days, a lot of the ground game was up the middle. The time to play a game has become absurd. The game has a 1 hour time frame. In the past, a game took 2 to 2 1/4 hours, 2 1/2 tops. Now, the norm is about 3 1/2 hours, so, obviously, there is a lot of time with no action.
Second, all of that passing results in the horrific damage we see done to current players. When a QB drops back to pass, he is exposed to enormous beings trying to slam him to the ground. Heads bounce, necks get twisted, and severe concussions happen. Receivers, at the moment they catch the ball are sitting ducks and defenders tend to smash them. As a result, we now see many ex-players who have suffered severe brain damage. In days past, sure, players got beat up, but the injuries were more nagging bruises and sprains and such. These caused many players to wind up with near crippling arthritis, but that beats dementia. Football is now just short of boxing in terms of brutality.
The game, the sport, of football has become the spectacle of football, and when they take the field in the Super Bowl, it is no different than the gladiators entering the arena in Rome.
I used to love football. The game changed. Once upon a time, it was dominated by running. Great quarterbacks like Bart Starr and Johnny Unitas seldom threw more than 20 times a game and often mush less. They passed a lot only when a) the running game didn't work, b) as a surprise move, or c) if it was late in the game and they were losing. The League decided that passing was more exciting and tweaked the rules. This did 2 things.
First, it slowed thins down. A lot. Every time a pass goes incomplete, the clock stops. Every time a receiver steps out of bounds, the clock stops. With running plays, the clock runs, unless the runner steps out of bounds, and in the old days, a lot of the ground game was up the middle. The time to play a game has become absurd. The game has a 1 hour time frame. In the past, a game took 2 to 2 1/4 hours, 2 1/2 tops. Now, the norm is about 3 1/2 hours, so, obviously, there is a lot of time with no action.
Second, all of that passing results in the horrific damage we see done to current players. When a QB drops back to pass, he is exposed to enormous beings trying to slam him to the ground. Heads bounce, necks get twisted, and severe concussions happen. Receivers, at the moment they catch the ball are sitting ducks and defenders tend to smash them. As a result, we now see many ex-players who have suffered severe brain damage. In days past, sure, players got beat up, but the injuries were more nagging bruises and sprains and such. These caused many players to wind up with near crippling arthritis, but that beats dementia. Football is now just short of boxing in terms of brutality.
The game, the sport, of football has become the spectacle of football, and when they take the field in the Super Bowl, it is no different than the gladiators entering the arena in Rome.
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