Christmas Movie

I'm not a big fan of movies with subtitles, but "Rare Exports" looks pretty cool.  I saw this on io9.com.  Someone remind me when this is available at home.

The Small Town Secrets Suite

This song from "Behind The Mask" was also on "Pondering The Imponderable" -- one of the two mp3.com CDs I slapped together back when mp3.com was about the bands, man -- but with most of the introductory dialog cut out. That slightly shorter version is the one used here in this almost-video. It's just the lyrics, but it's a way to get it online. Facebook doesn't have the 10 minute restriction that youtube does, which means you have to have a facebook account to see it. But I'm pretty sure I made it so it's visible to "everyone".

This gives away a lot of the bigger plot points from the first 17 episodes of "Twin Peaks". But if you're like me you've seen them all a dozen times, so no biggee.



Part II was subtitled, "Ghostwood". And I never got around to making part III, which would have been Windom Earle related somehow.

Dungeons & Dragons

More nostalgia. Check out this ad I saw on Retrospace:

So I held up my copy of the Monster Manual next to my computer screen. The picture's identical, but it must be a different edition, since the words are in different places. I remember when I bought it (circa 1980), it seemed so expensive. I don't know how the edges of the book got worn and cracked. I haven't kept these things in a sealed vault, but I'm not using them to kill roaches, either. Must be the passage of time.

In addition to fantasy monsters like dragons and orcs and gelatinous cubes, the Monster Manual had more mundane creatures, too, such as this entry for "Owl, Giant":

Giant owls are rarely encountered as they inhabit only very wild areas. They are nocturnal predators and effective hunters. Giant owls speak their own language.

A giant owl strikes with its two sets of sharp talons and its strong beak. Its feathers allow it to fly with nearly absolute silence, thus it surprises on 1-5 (on a 6-sided die).

These creatures are intelligent and will sometimes befriend other creatures. If encountered in their lair there is a 20% chance that there will be 1-3 eggs (25%) or 1-3 hatchling owls, 20% to 70% grown. The parents will always attack any creature threatening the eggs/owlettes. Eggs sell for 1000 gold pieces, young for 2000 on the open market.

Stretch Armstrong

I never had a Stretch Armstrong -- or the many derivative members of the Stretch family. I may have been too old. I knew kids who had them. This guy at Stretch Armstrong World claims there are only about a hundred left in good condition. And that Kenner was the top purchaser of corn syrup in the years they were in production. How about that.

Rock Band Songs

Have I mentioned I like the Rock Band? And now there's a handy online way to browse through or look for songs.  Groovy.

Drinking

Bottoms up!  IO9 made this clip of drinking in sci-fi movies.  How is it that 90% of what's on youtube is other people's copyrighted material (or, "intellectual property"), and yet when my buddy PJ posts one thing with Carly Simon clips in it, he gets a copyright complaint and the video is taken down.

Learning Guitar

I find these short Guitar World videos with Testament's rhythm guitarist, Eric Peterson, interesting.  But calling them "lessons" is a real stretch.  Unless I'm just such a beginning guitarist that it's just way above me.  I do like what he's doing, though. I'd like to just be able to get that tone.  Or even the simplest progression example that he's doing. Or even the basic do-do-do (below) that you hear so often.  I guess that's where having an actual instructor comes in handy.

We're All Salesman

You know how they say the worst thing in an interview is when they ask if you have any questions, and you don't?  It wasn't really an interview, just a face to face meeting with a headhunter, but I didn't.  Actually, this is the first time a headhunter ever wanted to meet in person.  And since he wasn't representing an employer/job, I didn't think it appropriate to go with the standard-questions-to-ask-in-an-interview-even-though-I-really-don't-care-what-the-answers-are.

And speaking of selling yourself, I just started rehearsals for "Death Of A Salesman" at the Bowen Park Theatre Company.  (Opening night is Rocktober 8th.)  Last night I read the play for the first time. You know, at the read-through.  Wow, that's some depressing tale.  And so relate-able.  Probably more so today than 60 years ago when it was first produced.  But I'm sure I don't have to tell you.

(And now those bits on "Seinfeld" when Jerry would refer to George as Biff start to make a little sense.  But, um, don't ask me to explain how.)

Movie Delivery

Every time I read (especially) about a great older movie, I think, this is why I should have netflix. At least to put it in the queue. And, who knows, it might even be downloadable. Not that I need or want another monthly expense.

This 3 minute trailer seems like it has too much in it:
http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi16581401/

About once a week I seem to come across something and this time it's "Hannie Caulder", starring Raquel Welch and, whoa, Robert Culp and Ernest Borgnine. It is available on Amazon on Demand, which I can get -- well, everyone can, but for tv viewing, it's available through TiVo -- as a "buy" option at 6 bucks; no rental option. 6 bucks isn't too bad, but that's like the price of an HD rental through the PS3. Ooh. Is it on the PS3?  Again, only to "buy", for 10 bucks.

Frances Bay

So I'm watching "Twins", and Arnie gets to the orphanage to dig up info on his brother, and the nun helping him seems familiar. Holy cow, I thinks to myself, is that Mrs. Tremond? (No further explanation needed, right?) I had to look it up, but, yes, indeed, that was she! And she's still working today, in her 90s. And her first role wasn't until she was nearly 60. Wow, that's the role model for me! Of course, digging a little deeper, she did study acting and did some stage and radio work 40 years before she appeared as Mrs. Russel in "Foul Play", but still. Close enough. Look out, Hollywood. In a few years, my teeth will be straight and white (just like me!) and I can start appearing in those really small parts in 3 or 4 movies & tv shows a year. For the next 40 years!

The Jobs Halfway House

If you're keeping score at home, I'm technically not unemployed right now. I got hired for a two month contract by my previous employer. So, not exactly employed full-time, but working full-time for two months. Of course, some people do that forever, going from one contract to another. Two things make that untenable for me: being a true contractor (i.e., not the ones employed full-time by a consulting firm) means no benefits -- and I need me some group health insurance (although, technically, I don't know if Papa Obama has changed this dependency for me); and contracting is a life of continuously looking for the next job -- just poke my eyes out!

But having that extra two month financial cushion in my current job search is way better than not having it.

Drunk History

I managed not to be aware of these until now -- it is a big world out there.  Coming to HBO.  There are 5 shorts on FunnyOrDie.com that started two and a half years ago.  They get someone -- presumably someone who knows about history, not some dropout joker off the street -- get them drunk and have them teach us a little about their personal area of historical expertise.  Of the ones on FunnyOrDie, this story of William Henry Harrison literally had me laughing out loud.

Drunk History 4 - Featuring Paul Schneider - watch more funny videos

Twin Peaks Summarized

Summarized in Lego, that is!

MySpace Unsigned Band Competition

No new Ancient Order of the Killer Owl songs yet, but this preliminary mix of "Looks Like" that I mentioned before is now in this year's MySpace competition. Once the entry deadline passes, you should be able to vote for it. Go on. Do it. I think the voting only actually gets one band into the semifinals, the "people's choice". The others (a dozen?) are chosen by the contest runners. But after the semifinalists are announced, I think it's open season on voting.

Today's Economic Outlook

Today's outlook is: not good? I was getting my car washed at the dealership today. It was so quiet. I was the only one in the waiting room, enjoying my complimentary fancy coffee and bagel. Usually at least a couple other people are there. For comparison, back in 2003-2004, it'd be packed on a Saturday morning and you could wait a couple hours.

Out in the showroom it wasn't any more busy. There were a couple people milling about -- all salesmen. Heck, out in the front parking lot, there was a big empty section. I would think you'd arrange the empty spots to be out back somewhere and always keep the front area near the street full of shiny new cars. At least, that's how it usually is. I guess that just means their inventory is low and I'm not sure what that means, economically speaking.

In non-car dealer news, I saw this in a Chicago Tribune story this morning. The numbers make for a staggering comparison. (On the other hand, the world can change a lot in 45 years.)

In 1960, 77 percent of women and 65 percent of men had acquired certain traditional markers of maturity by age 30: leaving home, completing school, full-time employment, marriage and family. In 2005, the figure had plummeted to 27 and 39 percent, respectively, according to the MacArthur Research Network.

And that's today's economic outlook!

"Lost" Fatalities

"Lost" is almost over. Have you noticed a lot of people die on that show?  Or, I should say "die", since who knows how it will turn out with two more shows to go.  Charlie's death still gets me weepy no matter that I've seen the episode multiple times.  Here's a collection, set to that beloved old Jim Carroll chestnut.

A Leading Woman

Did I mention I got cast in another show somehow?  It'll be my 35th.  "A Leading Woman" is being done by Waukegan Community Players and it opens in only two weeks.  It's the world premier of "the happy true story of how a band of struggling actors stood up to the mighty Broadway producers in the summer of 1919."  George Gershwin, George M. Cohan and the founder of Variety are all in the show.  I play Benjamin Brookings, a "young" director excited about the new theater of Chekhov and Ibsen .It's not a musical, but there are a couple songs, including one with a solo for me.

Admission is 12 bucks (sorry, no credit cards).  Shows are at the Dr. Lynn Schornick Theater in the Jack Benny Center in Bowen Park at the north end of Waukegan:  39 Jack Benny Dr., Waukegan, IL.

Shows are May 7, 8, 14, and 15th at 8:00 pm; May 9th at 3:00 pm.

Jobs

Jobs just seem to come and go.  See that!  That's mine, going.  Here's a nice summary. The part about "abandon development of its Symphony blood bank donation management software"?  That's the product I've worked on the last 5 and a half years.  And the facility to be closed in Chicago?  Yeah, that's where I worked on it.  The Chicago office was an independent company until only a couple years ago when Haemonetics bought it.  Easy come, easy go.  It's not personal, Sonny, it's strictly business.

Hansel & Gretel

My next show -- with the Round Lake Area Park District Community Theater -- opens in a week:  The Story of Hansel and Gretel.  That's me in the role of "Father".  Shows are at the Robert Rolek Community Center in Round Lake:

Friday, Apr. 16, 7:30 pm
Saturday, Apr. 17, 2:00 pm
Saturday, Apr. 17, 7:30 pm
Sunday, Apr. 18, 2:00 pm

It was all Mother's fault that the kids got lost in the forest, you know.

New Killer Owl

My Ancient Order of the Killer Owl friends have recorded a new song, "Looks Like", over at AOKO Central. Their last album, The Jack Loser Memorial Lone Pine Lane Trouble Train, came out in 2005.  The (anticipated) 2010 followup has a much more reasonable name, Blackened Blue Roses.

Weird Al bio

This would be awesome. I want to make fake movie trailers.

"Weird: The Al Yankovic Story" from Aaron Paul

Cary Grant Project

 In "Kiss Them For Me", Cary Grant and his buddies have shore leave in San Francisco -- despite his real-life age of 50-something.  What's really amazing:  two of them are Colonel Klink and Mr. Hand!

1. "North By Northwest", 1959, also starring Eva Marie Saint and James Mason
2. "Bringing Up Baby", 1938, also starring Katharine Hepburn
3. "The Awful Truth", 1937, also starring Irene Dunne
4. "Charade", 1963, also starring Audrey Hepburn
5. "The Philadelphia Story", 1940, also starring Katharine Hepburn and James Stewart
6. "Notorious", 1946, also starring Ingrid Bergman and Claude Rains
7. "His Girl Friday", 1940, also starring Rosalind Russell and Ralph Bellamy
8. "People Will Talk", 1951, also starring Hume Cronyn
9. "Houseboat", 1958, also starring Sophia Loren
10. "My Favorite Wife", 1940, also starring Irene Dunne
11. "Father Goose", 1964, also starring Leslie Caron
12. "Indiscreet", 1958, also starring Ingrid Bergman
13. "Suspicion", 1941, also starring Joan Fontaine
14. "The Bachelor And The Bobby-Soxer", 1947, also starring Myrna Loy
15. "An Affair To Remember", 1957, also starring Deborah Kerr
16. "To Catch A Thief", 1955, also starring Grace Kelly
17. "The Talk Of The Town", 1942, also starring Jean Arthur and Ronald Colman
18. "That Touch Of Mink", 1962, also starring Doris Day and Gig Young
19. "Operation Petticoat", 1959, also starring Tony Curtis
20. "Arsenic And Old Lace", 1944, also starring Raymond Massey
21. "The Bishop's Wife", 1947, also starring Loretta Young and David Niven
22. "Monkey Business", 1952, also starring Ginger Rogers
23. "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House", 1948, also starring Myrna Loy and Melvyn Douglas
24. "Walk Don't Run", 1966
25. "Destination Tokyo", 1943, also starring John Garfield
26. "Only Angels Have Wings", 1939, also starring Jean Arthur
27. "I Was A Male War Bride", 1949, also starring Ann Sheridan
28. "Once Upon A Honeymoon", 1942, also starring Ginger Rogers
29. "In Name Only", 1939, also starring Carole Lombard
30. "Topper", 1937, also starring Constance Bennett
31. "Kiss Them For Me", 1957, also starring Jayne Mansfield, Ray Walston, and Werner Klemperer
    
32. "Night And Day", 1946, also starring Alexis Smith
33. "The Howards Of Virginia", 1940, also starring Martha Scott
34. "Sylvia Scarlett", 1935, also starring Katharine Hepburn
35. "Gunga Din", 1939, also starring Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.
36. "None But The Lonely Heart", 1944, also starring Ethel Barrymore
37. "She Done Him Wrong", 1933, also starring Mae West
38. "The Pride And The Passion", 1957, also starring Frank Sinatra and Sophia Loren

Starting Over Again

In June of 2003, I first started "Dan's Place" by editing text html files (dlog).  Then, in October 2005, I started using Greymatter to have more of a real blog look to it, while still keeping everything under my own control: dlog2.  Now in March 2010, I'm trying blogger.com, mostly to make it look even more like a real blog, and to gain things like tags, categories, and gadgets.  And I figure, why do I really need to have all the raw files.  Google's not going away, and if anything's lost, it's lost.  It's not like I'm Edgar Allan Poe. Or John Lennon. Or even Erma Bombeck.  Plus, with comment verification, I don't expect to have any more spam comments to clean up.  And, assuming it's possible and it works, I like the idea of being able to subscribe to a feed instead of having to check every once in a while to see if I made one of my infrequent updates.