we watched a new documentary the other day. Young at heart. Geriatric rock band. It was really good, the only downside was that attrition rate of chorus members. I guess you have to expect that when most of them are over 80 years old, but you just get to like them and they're gone. If nothing else there are some interesting takes on some songs you may have heard before.
Check out this video while its available. Its the Coldplay song "Fix you"....sung a little lower.... I like that at the first you can hear Fred's oxygen machine puffing rhythmically.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZ4SIe5rVUM
If you can't here it through this link, try to find it somewhere else...just like Johnny Cash singing "Hurt", this song is more poignant coming from this old man, what you learn in the movie is that his friend that was going to sing this song with him died shortly before this.
And here is the trailer. See what you think.
And I should probably address posts directly to Ryan H. Not sure if anyone else will check this blog anymore. In fact, first to comment wins a prize again!!!!
Now if I'm not a great influence..... Here is a picture of my little sweet girl...holding something that says genocide on it. Well....She is a tyrant after all.
This poor child, I've been thinking about it, and from my influence alone by the time she is 5 years old she my be the only kid in kindergarten that knows about all concentration camps. And world war two. And how referees are striped incarnations of the anti-christ, based solely on the Jordan push-off of Russell "no-call" in the 1998 NBA Finals.
We are going to bore her mother to death with Mets baseball this summer.
Poor child...her father is a huge nerd...and an oppressive one at that.
She's going to be just like me.........
Hahahahahahahahahaha (to be read in a sinister tone).
And in passing... Joe, what is your number? I've been trying to get a hold of you for ages.
And we must revisit this picture, because it seems so very appropriate in light of my new job in the summer. Perhaps I should just leave that to your imagination. Unfortunately, I am familiar with some of my friends' imaginations, so I will tell you that I will be working on a research project studying premature lambs on respirators.... Maybe I should have left it to your imagination...
Ok, so I need some input. The other day we were driving to the Sandy library down 13th East and Meredith asks me an innocent, yet inflammatory question. "What is it with Star Wars?" I responded with the obvious incredulous look that any boy born between 1965 and the present would give, one that said, "Are you going to ask me why I love my grandmother next?" Honestly....what a ridiculous question. Only I couldn't answer her convincingly. So I come to you for help.
I thought of the obvious themes:
The black and white nature of good and evil (or is it?) The combination of space, cowboys, pirates, robots, weird creatures, and explosions (perhaps some skeletons would have enhanced the film?) The time period the movie came out, after the Vietnam War, and all those disaster films (Towering Inferno and the like) The groundbreaking sound and visual effects. The timeless story of the ordinary boy who finds out he is extraordinary? The dialogue (hahahaha)
So what is it that makes Star Wars a given for every boy age 2 to 42? I'm looking to my nerdy friends especially on this one, you know who you are!
Tell me why it is an unquestioned part of our lives. Not that I really care to question, but when someone wants you to explain something so essential and basic to your existence, you need some ammo. So let me know what it is!!!
I would also be intrigued to hear of any dissenting opinions on the universality of the Star Wars male instinct.
There are so many wonderfully ridiculous signs around SLC. My favorites are along State Street. Case in point below:
My question is...who's kitchen is it? We have three ethnicities fighting for one restaurant. Gino? David? Won't someone claim this place once and for all?
Another I have to get a picture of says simply "WIZARDS/DREAMS"
What a wonderful place that must be.
Here's a picture of my kid taking after her dad....what a sweet sweet hairdo. She's giving the camera the evil eye in the first one.
I supposedly have an early case of walking pneumonia....sounds like a bad B-movie horror film title... I'm a bit skeptical of this diagnosis, but I'll take my z-pak like a good boy.
Oh, I thought of some more great signs on State street. As you drive by there are multiple seedy motels advertising the fleeting chance of not only a room, but "Color TV, and a Phone". Will the luxury never end?
I saw one of the most wondrous scenes I have ever witnessed the other day and I had to share it with you. This display was in a dinosaur museum down here in Utah. Actually it was a "museum of ancient life". If you drive past the point of the mountain you will see what I'm talking about. Well I thought it was just dinosaurs going in, but to my very very pleasant surprise, this sight greeted me as I turned one of the last corners in the museum.
There may not be anything as amusing to me as animated skeletons. I know some of you will be with me on this one. At least any of you who have any taste for the ridiculous. And just to preempt any "chicken or the egg" type theories that may develop about my fascination of skeletons and matriculation at medical school, the following will set straight the true chronology of events.
I will now attempt to defend my love of skeletons. If you find yourself in disagreement with me, please peruse the following. If you agree with me already (Joe, Mark, Cruz, etc.) just enjoy. Long ago, in a land far away (Disneyland in California) I witnessed, at the age of 5, my first animated skeleton. I'm not sure of this skeleton's name, only that his attempts at drinking from a bottle of rum were obviously quite futile.
At nearly the same time (shortly thereafter) I saw the 1929 Disney classic Silly Symphony - Dance of the Skeletons. Mr. Walt Disney began my addiction to skeletons. Every time I see a skeleton I now have the nearly irresistible urge to play its ribs like a xylophone. Highly inappropriate in many settings I find myself in currently. Numerous succeeding Halloweens could only serve to reinforce skeletons as hilarious.
And who could leave out the creations of Ray Harryhausen. See exhibit B and C below from Jason and the Argonauts and Sinbad, respectively. An honorable mention goes here to Clash of the Titans, because while lacking in skeletons, it abounds with other stop motion creatures from Mister Harryhausen (who, for the longest time, I thought was Harry Hausen, not Ray).
Of course in this same tradition, or rather a tribute to it, is Sam Raimi's "Army of Darkness", chock full of animated skeleton goodness. The culmination of my love for skeletons came circa 2002, when Joe and I purchased a five foot tall cast skeleton. Yes Joe, you still get credit for that particular Ebay purchase despite a lack of ultimate financial backing.
"Duncan Xavier, the Duke of WellingBONE". (draw out the bone..."Booooooooowwwwennnnaaa"
I sold him to someone in Michigan for a handsome profit some months later, but not before plenty of entertainment was had by all.
Whether it be the imagined chattering mandibles or the free movement of joints unhindered by muscles and tendons, skeletons are truly natures physical comedians. The pure illogical nature of moving bones without the aid of musculature is worth diamonds in my book. So enjoy skeletons where ever you may see them. Let me know about your favorite skeleton cameos. And until we meet again I'll secretly chuckle at every x-ray I observe.
