I can't believe I missed this!

November 28th was the birthday of one of my favorite actresses, Gloria Grahame. Though I did watch her in the noir film A Woman's Secret. It was on the set of that movie where she met her future husband, Director Nicholas Ray.

And while this particular film is pretty fluffy, Gloria is wonderful.

Start playing Xmas music.......now

There are no famous songs on June Christy's "This Time Of Year". The only song that gets ANY play is "The Merriest". And that is the reason I love this album. They are all original songs composed by Arnold Miller and Connie Pearce, and arranged by the great Pete Rugolo. No "Jingle Bells, no "White Christmas", and NO "Twelve Days of Christmas".

New Thanksgiving Day Football Tradition

Does the NFL think that we are all sadists? Do they think we love watching the sorry, toothless Lions get tamed year after year?

So far the only competitive football game this weekend was in the Lingerie Football League, as the Los Angeles Temptation beat the Seattle Mist, 26 to 20. Maybe the NFL should give turkey day a rest and move over for the LFL.

Glitter & Doom

Hurrah! Tom Waits "Glitter & Doom" is available today! Turn it up! Pound the Walls!

Struggle & Mind

This is not a review of the Peque Gallaga's film Agaton & Mindy, rather it is my interpretation (or misinterpretation) of the title and its relationship to the film.

When I first saw the title of this film the name "Agaton" reminded me of the Greek word "Agon", which means contest or struggle. Agon is also the title of a ballet written by Stravinsky and choreographed by Balachine. It just so happens that the story for this film involves the relationship between two young dancers. Coincidence? Read the book.

As far as "Mindy" goes, a simple dropping of the Y gives us "Mind". I never claimed to be an intellectual.

Both of these characters seem to be struggling with their thoughts. Mindy suffers from depression and creates a rather tragic fantasy life. And whenever reality breaks through to she becomes almost suicidal.

Agaton is consumed with thoughts of his abandonment. And is obsessed with finding his parents, which leads to a confrontation with his birth mother in which she denies him. While such reality would crush Mindy it seems to strengthen Agaton.

In the end, with his struggle mostly behind him, he attempts to reach Mindy's mind.

This is a very basic interpretation and there is a lot more going on in this film than I can grasp at the moment. Still I have to say that I enjoyed it. In fact, I prefer Peque Gallaga's films that concern relationships. Films like Oro, Plata, Mata, Scorpio Nights, and Diliryo are all built around young lovers. None of those relationships ended well, but Agaton & Mindy's fate is left open. Maybe Peque is getting sentimental in his old age.

I feel bad for the NY Majesty

A little over mid way through the telecast of the NY vs Miami LFL game (Final: Miami 49, NY 7) they showed footage of the NY coach berating his players in the halftime locker room. Basically he was telling them that they weren't playing with any passion.

Look, I don't want to point fingers, but I feel that passion isn't the problem with the Majesty. Just by comparing them to their opponent you could see the problem. Miami acted like a professional, well organized, well practiced team, NY looked like a sandlot team, making up plays as the game went along.

It's not that NY lacks talent. QB Krystal Gray is a passionate, if a bit undisciplined, player. And Nicole Stanley is a fantastic all around athlete. But they need a coach that will teach them to focus, to bring professionalism to the team. They don't need an out of control maniac. Teach, don't preach.

Guilty pleasure #22

Jollibee's Regular Tocino Breakfast.

The Indescribable Wow

Let's face facts. I love pop music. As a child I was a fan of the bubblegum pop from the Archies and the Jackson Five. Catchy tunes sung with high energy.

As an adult I still love catchy tunes, but I need clever lyrics to go with them.

This weeks vinyl rediscovery is Sam Phillip's 1989 LP "The Indescribable Wow".

As far as I can tell, TIW was the only vinyl release of Sam Phillips, though she did release four LPs during her christian pop career as Leslie Phillips.

It is a wonderful collection of 60's influenced pop that holds up pretty well twenty years later.

http://samphillips.com/

Johnny Delgado films available on DVD (with English subtitles)

If you get a chance, check out these DVDs that feature the great Johnny Delgado. Not all of them are great films, but Johnny is always wonderful to watch.

Johnny Delgado succumbs to cancer

This is really sad news. Johnny Delgado was a great actor.

http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/breakingnews/breakingnews/view/20091119-237196/Actor-Johnny-Delgado-succumbs-to-cancer

Sanglaan wins 2 awards in Lyon Film Fest

http://goodnewspilipinas.com/?p=9190

A new poem (influenced by Hogarth and others)

The comfort room is within reach

Our founding father's pride

And fill the everlasting swirl

With cunning beast-like eyes

A journey past the paper door

A walking figure's cane

A punishment discreetly changed

A purpose. Hidden pain

An arm held tight against its host

Warmed by blood and anger

Tricked by words and gentle hands

And kisses that will linger

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

Terry Gilliam's last few movies have made me a little leary about seeing this film. But I just discovered that Tom Waits will be appearing in this film as a character called "Mr. Nick". Basically, he is playing the Devil (Ol' Nick). Now you have my attention.

Lookee what I won on ebay philippines

When I first started to listen to OPM back in the late 80's this was one of my favorite cassettes. Eventually I purchased it in on CD. And now I have won the LP on ebay Philippines, along with two other LPs which I will list later. Coritha was innovative in her use of native Filipino instruments in her folk music and was part of a socially conscious, nationalistic movement in music during the late 70's and early 80's, along with Asin and Freddie Aguilar.

Coritha is still politically active and you can find new music on her website http://www.coritha.com/ .

Guilty pleasure #9 (in no particular order)

Lingerie Football League.

Krystal Gray is a very passionate player on a bad team, the New York Majesty. I saw her play in the game against Philly and even though NY was beaten 40 to 6, Ms Gray showed just how competitive she is. I consider her to be the Tim Tebow of the LFL. Now she has been suspended for one game. Too bad.

http://lflus.com/blog/?p=757

Where do we go from here?

This week's vinyl spinning on my turntable is The Band's "Cahoots". This LP includes some of my favorite songs and some of my least favorites. When I visited my local independent record shop (yes, they still exist) I wanted to pick up "Stage Fright", but "Cahoots" seemed to calling my name. So "SF" will have to wait for another time.

"Cahoots" seems to have aged pretty well, with themes that could fit into this modern world.

My favorite lyrics include:

"We're all in the same boat ready to float off

the edge of the world.

The flat old World." - Life is a Carnival

"Sailin' round the world in a dirty gondola.

Oh to be back in the land of Coca Cola." - When I Paint My Masterpiece

"Where do we go from here? I ask my woman.

Where do we go from here? Oh woman my woman.

...she said 'nowhere'." - Where Do We Go from Here?

"I was thinkin' out loud.

Talking to myself.

I was up on a cloud.

There was nobody else." - Thinkin' Out Loud

I think the mixture of cynicism and fear of the future is why I'm drawn to this particular LP. My life lately has been such a mix, but I am ever the optimist. The final answer is in "Where Do We Go from Here?":

"Where do we go from here? I hear from no one.

"Where do we go from here? Could you tell me someone?

...I'd go anywhere."

This weeks must read

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=23679

I'm pulling for the "Visitors"

Okay, I haven't made up my mind if I will watch the 2nd episode of "V" tonight, but if I do I will be pulling for the Visitors. The humans in this show are pretty unpleasant. They are either whiners, sad sacks, or opportunists. Not a good showing humans.

Plus, I have a real problem with a show that embraces the conspiracy theories of David Icke, many of which border on racism.

New poem

Closure
Shatter Sharpened
Cracked reflection reversed
Fist to flame
Battled hard, bartered home
Origin

Lori Earley

I love these types of portraits. Please check out her website.

http://www.loriearley.com/home/

Travel Advisory

I picked up this CD a few weeks ago. I must admit that I was attracted to the cover art, but the music is pretty good too. I have to give it a few more listens before I make any definitive judgement. Check out this article on the group:

http://myxph.com/tabid/333/a/1195/Archipelago-s-Travel-Advisory-.aspx

More vinyl reissues

Capital has reissued many of Frank Sinatra's 50's recordings on LP. Here is my favorite, "In the Wee Small Hours".

Broken Bicycles: Adventures in vinyl

I consider "One from the Heart" to be a coda for Tom Waits 70's output. It really is a lovely soundtrack and should have won the Oscar that year.

One flaw is the use of Crystal Gayle. It's not that she can't sing, she has a very sweet voice, but she doesn't have that loved-and-lost edge that this music requires.

The soundtrack has just been reissued on vinyl, which I believe adds to the warmth of these songs.

Following the previous post

I forgot to leave a comment about the photo attached with my last post. It is a picture of the wonderful, young filipina actress Mercedes Cabral. She has appeared in a couple of Filipino indie films, Kinatay and Serbis. She also has a part in the Korean vampire film Thirst, which will be released on November 17th. Check it out.

http://www.amazon.com/Thirst-Park-hwan/dp/B002P7UCJK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1257520001&sr=1-1

Egads! I write poetry

This poem was influenced by Edgar Allen Poe's "The Conqueror Worm". I've loved Poe's work ever since junior high.

Heaped upon the ice flow proper

A less than stellar bulb

And windowless within its nest

The satin island bilge

Alas! Alas! Catastrophe!

Collecting copper coins

Conducting with a wooden spoon

My symphony of toys

You may wonder, on one hand

Poking at the coals

Fearing less the lamang-lupa

Mining more the nose

Ulorin Vex

This topic is a bit of an anomaly for me. Ulorin Vex is a model, though her name, and appearance, remind me more of a visitor from another solar system. And since I will probably never meet her and interview her I will stick by that assumption.

Her photos should be viewed while listening to Emelie Autumn and Zolar X.