Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all, and I hope that we will all have a Happy New Year.

New Lava "fall" Big Island

New photo of the Lava flow on the Big Island.

What a view!

Mao's Last Dancer a movie by Bruce Beresford

Mao's Last Dancer

A Film by Bruce Beresford, based on the true story of Li Cunxin.

We recently watched this movie, if you love ballet, this movie will really be a joy to watch. Even if you don't love ballet, this movie will be wonderful to watch.

This is the last scene in the film, when Li Cunxin and his partner return to his native village in China.

As a child Li is chosen to try out for ballet school, and taken from his family, as one of the few chosen Li is brought up by the state ballet school, not to see his family again for many years.

At first Li is clumsy and not liked by at least one of his teachers, however, the "master" of ballet sees in Li something really rare - however, major changes are coming to the school due to the power of Mao's wife, she wants Chinese ballet to show China's strength, not beauty. Eventually the "master" is taken away by the powers that be, and the school's new "leaders" change the way dance is viewed and taught. Li works with a force that brings him to the fore front of the school and the ballet world in general. The Houston Ballet Company wants Li to perform with them, he is allowed to come to the USA for 3 months, however, during those 3 months he comes to enjoy the freedoms associated with living in the USA, he wants to stay. An international incident occured due to what the consulate in Texas did with not only Li Cunxin, but members of the Houston Ballet company.

This is the cover of the autobiography by Li Cunxin.

I have not read the book yet, however, I plan to.

According to the end credits of the film, Li and his family now live in Australia.

Hope you will consider one or the other.

I don't know if this is actually Li Cunxin in this photo, however, whoever did the ballet in this film was really incredible.

Quote of the day Goodreads Richard Llewellyn

Quote of the Day Goodreads

Richard Llewellyn born 12-8-1906

"O, there is lovely to feel a book, a good book, firm in the hand, for its fatness holds rich promise, and you are hot inside to think of the good hours to come."

Oh, I love this quote!

Read a GOOD book soon. Forget e-books, kindles and such, hold a REAL book in your hand and your heart!

Happy Thanksgiving 2011

Hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving. Gobble, gobble!

I will be off the air until Dec 5th.

Don't eat too much turkey, and don't get blown away!

Quote of the Day Goodreads

Quote of the Day Goodreads

Women and dogs will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.

Robert Heinlein

Thank you, Robert, I have always thought that!

Quote of the Day from Goodreads

Quote of the Day from Goodreads.com

"A university is just a group of buildings gathered around a library."

Shelby Foote, historian, author born 11-17-16

Need I say more?

"The Commitments" a movie by Alan Parker

Alan Parker directed Roddy Doyle's screen version of Roddy's book by the same name.


The Commitments is a musical "comedy" set in Dublin. Warning up front, due to the locale and the folks involved the "F word" is in constant use, we finally were able to get around that......


This film was suggested to my husband by his business partner. Little did we know that about 4 hours later we would finally be finished with the movie (twice) and all the special features. Rarely do we watch all the special features, however, this one was worth every minute. One of the more unusual features was that the director's commentary is spoken over the entire film, Alan describes every little detail about the making of the movie, it was an extraordinary look at the film through his eyes, we appreciated things even more...... So, if you watch it make sure you go back and watch the director's comment.........




Set in Dublin's "gritty North Side" a group of musicians is brought together to become "the working man's soul band".
The music in this film is some of the best ever Take Me To The River, In the Midnight Hour, Mustang Sally, Too Many Fish in the Sea, Try a Little Tenderness, are the standouts.

Of the 12 in the film, only 2 are actors. The REAL stand-out in this film - besides the "F" word - is Andrew Strong. When Alan was casting for musicians, Robert Strong brought his son, Andrew (at the time Andrew was only 16), and when Alan heard him, well the rest is history!!!!!!!!!

He is a musician, however, he acts the part of the young man who has put the group together and then the manager. He "gives interviews" and they are in unusal places.

He got his part when he stuck a microphone in his mouth and started belting out a song, Alan was impressed.

Fellow on right, holding the trumpet, is not a real musician, however he is a talented actor, and has some incredible lines.

Plays a "wicked piano and organ". Two of the best scenes, are when he is playing the organ in his Catholic Church, and when he goes to confession!!!!!!!

This Is Andrew Strong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When Andrew started singing the first song, I nearly fell on the floor, it was hard to believe he was only 16 when they made this film. He was perfect. I kept recalling Joe Cocker in Woodstock, when Andrew was singing. Except Andrew sings clearly - it was his facial and body motion.

On left side, she is an actor, not a musician, but she gave a really good performance, as did the other two, who are singers!!!!!!!!!!






I hope my husband can find this somewhere, as I would really like it as a Christmas stocking stuffer.



Hope you will give it a shot. By the way, it was filmed in 1991! Still stands the test of time.

Penn State University

Do you still feel the same about the school as you did a few days ago?



I guess that is whether or not you believe that a higher education campus is above moral laws.


The reaction of some of the students last night is unacceptable - all it would seem they care about is "men of clay feet", not the victims of the crimes. And JoPa had a moral obligation to report the incident to the police - wonder how he will answer to his Maker when he meets Him.

Just can't imagine how they face themselves in the mirror every morning! According to the timeline shown on CBS last night, the very first case was reported in 1998, and nothing was done about the complaint made by a MOTHER!!!!!!!!!

Shame on them all.

"Liberal Education" Thomas Huxley

Back when I was in high school, my junior year English teacher required that all students memorize and recite before their classmates 3 "short" pieces "The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales" (in the Old English), one of Shakespeare's sonnets, and the first paragraph of Thomas Huxley's "Liberal Education".

I wonder how many of today's students could memorize just one of these.

Not from memory, but worth repeating.

"That man, I think, has had a liberal education who has been so trained in youth that his body is the ready servant of his will, and does with ease and pleasure all the work that, as a mechanism, it is capable of; whose intellect is a clear, cold, logic machine, with all its parts of equal strength, and in smooth working order; ready, like a steam engine, to be turned to any kind of work, and spin the gossamers as well as forge the anchors of the mind; whose mind is stored with a knowledge of the great and fundamental truths of Nature and the laws of her operations; one who, no stunted ascetic, is full of life and fire, but whose passions are trained to come to heel by a vigorous will, the servant of a tender conscience; who has learned to love all beauty , whether of Nature or of art, to hate all vileness, and to respect others as himself."

I think of my teacher, Mr Humphries, frequently, and offer a silent prayer of thanks to this great teacher, for all that he taught his students, and that he required that we work hard to become better folks. Mr. Humphries, Thank You.

Hope you have a good day!

Quote of the day

Goodreads.com has been having some fabulous quotes lately, and I just want to share them with you.

Walter Cronkite was born 11-4-16.

"Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation."

Well said, of course, I am going to agree with this one, anything to do with libraries always interests me.

Pick up a good book - in whatever form you want - but READ READ READ!

Quote of the day Goodreads.com

Quote of the day

"Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind."

Henry James

That having been quoted, this one left me scratching my head. Late last year, I had read two books that might otherwise indicate that Henry wasn't a very kind person at times.

I refer to two of my previous postings, December 2010 - "The Open Door" a novel by Elizabeth Maguire and "The Master" by Colm Toibin.

Still, the thought is a nice one.

Goodreads quote of the day

No one quite like Winston Churchill, what a shame we don't have more statesmen like him these days.........

"Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened."

Where are all the good men these days to lead us well?

"Get Low, A True Tall Tale", movie

"Get Low, A True Tall Tale" a movie.

Starring

Robert Duvall, Lucas Black

Bill Murray

Sissy Spacek

Bill Cobbs







This movie kept coming across the circ desk at the library. I had never heard of it, seen any advertisements in print or on the airwaves, however it had MANY holds on it. The cast intrigued me greatly - I mean Robert Duvall, Bill Murray and Sissy Spacek together????? - so naturally, I placed a hold on it, waited about 4 months for it.

Felix Bush (Robert Duval) has lived as a hermit for 40 years, after a terrible incident. Felix is either hated or feared by those that live in the town nearby. As he approaches the end of his life, he decides to have a "pre-funeral" if only someone will come forward with a story about him. To add to the mystery, Felix suggests to the local undertaker to hold a lottery, the winner will get all of his property. Felix is disappointed when there are no takers with any stories, but the money just keeps rolling in for the lottery.

This story was told so well, the photography was stunning, and believe it or not, Bill Murray and Robert Duvall played well off of each other.

Towards the end of the movie, Felix used a phrase that James (due to his southern background) uses frequently - usually when James says it folks look at him and ask him what it means - "get shed of ", it can also be spelled "get shet of", which is how it sounds. Meaning is to be rid of something or someone.

We thoroughly enjoyed this film, so give it a try.

Quote of the Day from Goodreads.com

Do you recognize this sharp witted "lady"?

Quote of the Day from Goodreads. com

The first thing I do in the morning is brush my teeth and sharpen my tongue.

Dorothy Parker

The Fall and Rise Of Reginald Perrin, BBC comedy

The following(black type) is how the BBC described the comedy program

"The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin"

Recently, James and I re-watched this great program.....

I have seen that in its "wisdom" the BBC has decided to do a re-make of it, my thought "Why fix something if it ain't broke?" I really don't think the actor who will portry Reggie will be able to fit in the late Leonard's shoes! Reggie will always be Leonard Rossiter or maybe Leonard was really Reggie to begin with. If you are able to view the original series, make sure you watch the very last segment with several actors paying tribute to Leonard.

It opened each week with a naked Reggie walking out into the sea to end it all before rapidly rethinking the whole idea, and told the story of a man desperate to escape his loving but dull marriage, disappointing offspring and the daily grind of his job.
The first series - while hilariously funny - was incredibly dark, focusing on a man in nervous breakdown.
Each week Reggie's behaviour becomes more erratic, his excuses to his secretary for lateness weirder and weirder ("22 minutes late, Joan: a badger ate a junction box at New Malden") and his fantasies of seducing her more vivid.
The mere mention of his mother-in-law is enough to send an image of a hippo lumbering through his head and each episode ends with Reggie screaming in frustration.
Ultimately he fakes his own death but is reunited with wife Elizabeth when he attends his funeral in disguise and can't resist wooing her all over again.
Reggie returned a year later bent on setting up a new business, "Grot", selling useless goods. It was, of course, a massive success, leaving Reggie trapped back in the rat race.
For the third, less successful series, he abandoned wage-slavery again, this time setting up a commune for his former co-workers.
A brilliant satire, the programme will also be remembered for its catchphrases including Reggie’s boss CJ's "I didn't get where I am today by..." and Reggie's brother-in-law Jimmy constantly cadging food on the basis of "a bit of a cock-up on the catering front".
Above all there was Leonard Rossiter's brilliant performance as Reginald Iolanthe Perrin. RIP to both.
Cast
Leonard Rossiter
Reginald Perrin/Martin Wellbourne
Pauline Yates /
Elizabeth Perrin
John Barron/
C J
Sue Nicholls/
Joan Greengross/Webster
John Horsley /
'Doc' Morrisey
Trevor Adams/
Tony Webster
Bruce Bould/
David Harris-Jones
Theresa Watson /
Prue Harris-Jones
Geoffrey Palmer /
Jimmy Anderson
Tim Preece/
Tom Patterson
Leslie Schofield/

Tom Patterson
Sally-Jane Spencer
Linda Patterson
David Warwick
Mark Perrin
Glynn Edwards
Mr Pelham
Joan Blackham
Miss Erith
Derry Power
Seamus Finnegan
Joseph Brad
McBlane
Crew
David Nobbs
writer
Gareth Gwenlan
producer
John Howard Davies
producer
Robin Nash
producer

Hope you will give this one a try........
Have fun

Thought for the day

Saw this one this morning, it just wouldn't leave my mind.

"Seek not the favor of the multitude; it is seldom got by honest and lawful means. But seek the testimony of the few; and number not voices, but weigh them."

Immanuel Kant, German philosopher (1724-1804)

Sure seems that so many folks today can only stand up if they follow the crowd.

Quote of the Day Goodreads.com

Quote of the day from Goodreads.com

"If you don't know history, then you don't know anything. You are a leaf that doesn't know it is part of a tree."

Michael Crichton born 10-23-42

Boy, did he hit this one "right one". So often, I hear students complaining about having to study things that happened in the past, I just want to shake them by the shoulders, and say " you need to know this, so you understand why you happened to be born at this particular moment in time." They just don't get it.

Quote of the Day from Goodreads.com

Quote comes from Isaac Asimov.

"The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom."

I often consider how fast everything has to be these days, that folks are not happy if they have to wait in line for something, that they need to be connected 24/7/365.

What society needs to gather more of is also "understanding", which so many don't want to consider either.

Viva Algeria, a film

Viva Algeria, a film. English title

This is one of the films that James purchased when the local Hollywood Video store went out of business.

As we had just finished watching "The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin" starring the late Leonard Rossiter, we were in need of something that we hadn't viewed before.

This is a fairly recent film, set in Algers. Three women connected by their place of residency - a mother, daughter and a prostitute - live very desperate lives.

Just a warning, there is a very explicit sex scene at the beginning of the movie, after that just one somewhat steamy scene, and implied gay sex scene. Being Gay in Algeria is a crime.

The local scenery in the film is quite interesting, I did not realize that Algers had such a hilly landscape, and so much greenery. The music was really enjoyable.

I needed to wash the dishes, I kept asking Jim what time it was, and yet I could not tear myself away from this film. This film is not for everyone, however, if you enjoy foreign flicks you might want to give it a shot! Just remember I warned you about the sex scene.

Libya is "free"

While, I would have liked for the rebels to have captured Gadhafi alive, so that he would have been required to stand trial at the International Court in The Hague, Netherlands, I feel hopeful that the people are much better off now that he is truly out of the picture. May God be with them.

Quote of the day

Quote of the day

Bertrand Russell

Of all forms of caution, caution in love is perhaps the most fatal to true happiness.......

Go for it!

"Confessions of a Bigamist" a novel

"Confessions of a Bigamist" by Kate Lehrer

Usually, I only post positive comments about books I have read or movies I have seen, however, this posting is about as negative as I will ever get.

SPOILER ALERT, I will tell how it ends, as it is one reason I didn't like the book.

On the Diane Rehm show one morning, Jim Lehrer and his wife Kate were on Diane's show. She discussed, briefly, her book, so I thought it might be a good read. Placed a hold on it, then checked it out at the library. Glad I didn't pay for it.

While it started out rather well, writing was good, story was different, yet interesting. However, there came a time when I started thinking "why am I still reading this?" Answer, I just wanted to see if she was going to "Pay" for her amoral decision.

Basic outline of story Michelle is married to a "high-powered" internationally known lawyer, she owns a fairly well known company (get rid of clutter type of company) and is known as Daisy when she goes on speaking tours. They have no children, lead somewhat separate lives with all the traveling they both do, own a very sterile apartment in NYC. Husband is sent to Japan for 6 weeks, she travels to Texas for one of her seminars, where she meets a good-looking environmentalist who finds her attractive - he pursues her, since lawyer husband is in Japan, she thinks "what the heck", so starts an affair - I could have accepted it to that point - environmentalist decides to call her Mickey. Hence, we now have Daisy, Michelle, Mickey characters who have to play certain roles at certain places and times. Environmentalist is losing patience with her always going back to NYC, wants to go with her, she refuses, he offers her either calling it off or getting married - are you still with me here? - it is at this point that I am starting to get a little weary of her. They fly to Las Vegas and get married, are you still there?

Daisy/Michelle/Mickey are now starting to have qualms and fears of losing both husbands and both living styles...... and I am getting more tired of her ....... Consequently, Daisy, at a seminar in Philadelphia, seems to be having a nervous breakdown and basically implodes during the seminar....... Oh, I forgot the problems she has with her sister - that also involves a niece who seems to have an eating disorder........ She arrives at her sister's house quite ill - possibly pneumonia but never really stated - she decides that she is going to confess to lawyer husband next time they are together, or maybe she will divorce environmentalist husband. Are you ready for this?????????? She decides to stay married to each of them...... no consequences for being a liar, a fraud and a bigamist... Bad ending, sorry, Kate.

I would NOT recommend this book to anyone!

Close up of an active pahoehoe flow Big Island, Hawaii

Recent close up shot of the active pahoehoe flow from the volcano on the Big Island.

Don't touch!

"Kinky Boots" a movie

Several weeks ago, I had checked this film (DVD) out from the library, however, we never got around to watching it.

On the advice of a friend, we watched this last night, a welcome relief from the BBC series "Desperate Romantics" that we had been watching, don't get me started on that one!

According to the credits, this is supposed to have been inspired by a true story.

Set in Northhampton, Prices' Shoe company has just lost its leader, his son, Charlie, inherits, however, Charlie is not much of a business person. On a evening out, he encounters a group of men accosting a "woman", Charlie is knocked out, when he comes to, he is in a room surrounded by "red" items, and Lola who is getting ready for "her" nightclub act. Lola is a drag queen, with one major problem, shoes that don't support "her". Charlie designs a hideous pair of boots for Lola, which are in incredibly poor taste! However, Lola wows Charlie with spectacular designs, and so a working friendship begins. The last major scene in this film is SPECTACULAR, at shoe fashion week in Milan, Italy, Charlie attempts to walk the "runway" only to fall on his bum - when Lola and her girls come to save the day with a great song and "dance" performance.


Really glad that we did watch this fun film. Music was great. There were some heart wrenching moments in the film, when some of the workers treat Lola badly, however, as they say "it all comes out in the wash", everyone learns the importance of respect for those we don't always understand or like.

Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

Let us read, and let us dance; these two amusements will never do any harm to the world.

Voltaire

"The Help" a movie based on the novel by the same title

If you haven't seen the movie "The Help", well what are you waiting for???????

This is one "helluva" of movie, the last movie that made me feel quite this way was "Fried Green Tomatoes" .

The only fault I could find with the movie, was the Coca Cola bottles that were used - they seemed to have something written on them under the lip of the bottle. Having grown up in the South in the 60's, I don't recall ever seeing anything on the Coke bottles in that position.

The cast was outstanding, Hollywood should give an ensemble Oscar just for acting - each one of these ladies deserves an Oscar, yet we know they can't all get one.

These two ladies were so believeable.

It was refreshing that there were no phony Southern accents. The houses were beautiful, and the cars, they were just fantastic.

So, once again, if you haven't seen, what are you waiting for?

Pu'u 'O'o Cone Kilauea Volcano

This photo was taken at 9:23 am Hawaiian time.




At the summit of Pu'o 'O'o cone, Kilauea volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Is this incredible or what?


I check out the website daily to see what's going on on the Big Island.

If you are interested in viewing how the volcano is changing the face of the Big Island, you can go to http://volcanoes.usgs.gov you can watch the flows and see maps of the flows.

Have Fun.

Quote of the Day from Goodreads.com

Once you learn to read, you will be free forever.
Frederick Douglass


Well, what else would a "librarian" push besides books and reading?


If you can read this thank a teacher.

Quote for the day

This quote from Goodreads spoke volumes to me


"All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle"
St. Francis of Assisi



So let your light shine for all the world to see.........


Have a safe and happy holiday weekend

East Beach at Wheelus AFB, Tripoli, Libya 1959

As I have mentioned previously, I lived in Tripoli, Libya as a child (1959-62) at Wheelus AFB. This is a photo, that I came across on Google, of the beach that I used to swim at. Also, I would "run" along the cliffs. What a wonderful photo to come across, especially with all that is going on in Tripoli currently.

Ah, the memories!