gsmattingly

Up

2009-11-28T01:25:38Z

We watched Up today on Blu Ray DVD. It was enjoyable. We liked that they had a dog named Dug (slightly different spelling . . .). Good extra features too.

Rumba

2009-11-26T05:59:04Z

Rumba is a rather strange French movie. It could be depressing. I thought it was very funny. Please remember, the French and I like Jerry Lewis movies. Actually there's not much talking at all in this movie.

Check out this review in Variety for more information. It has lots of descriptions of the movie, like "It takes a certain amount of skill, not to mention hubris, to milk laughs out of attempted suicide, severe memory loss, amputated legs and burning homes".

Fantastic Mr Fox and the General

2009-11-24T15:08:55Z

Interesting title? Actually I finished reading Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl. It was enjoyable and quick reading. It has some very nice illustrations by Quentin Blake. The few preview scenes I've seen from the movie definitely seem to go several steps beyond the book.

Last night I also watched the Blu Ray DVD of The General which was directed by Buster Keaton and Clyde Bruckman and starred Buster Keaton. Also very enjoyable. Watched all the extras too. Now I think I'll go start reading The Road.

Sandman Slim

2009-11-22T03:48:53Z

Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey is a very enjoyable book. I finished reading it today. The link above is to Cory Doctorow's review of it. He liked it too.

The Magicians

2009-10-30T05:38:15Z

The Magicians by Lev Grossman was enjoyable. The first half was better, the middle definitely dragged. The last third picked up but still didn't match the first half. Still, I liked it. I finished it today. Now I must figure out what is next. More reviews here.

Viridiana

2009-10-27T05:11:57Z

Viridiana is an interesting and enjoyable film. I like Luis Bunuel films and I still have more to watch and watch again. I need to go back and see if the dvd had the original ending Bunuel had but which was rejected by the Spanish censors. I actually started watching this on the plane when I went to Kansas but decided that possibly it would be better viewed at home. It certainly has its strange points.

Dahlia in the garden - 16 October 2009

2009-10-16T16:50:26Z

Photo from the garden this morning

Tattoos

2009-10-06T04:34:06Z

"de plane, de plane!" Whoops, no, wrong Tattoo. I saw a design that was on an amulet that a character, Thorgil, wore in a book called The Land of the Silver Apples by Nancy Farmer. I liked the symbol. I looked for it on the web and I could not find exactly that symbol but I did find Ægishjálmur (Helm of Awe or Terror) which, I think is basically the same but a little different design. Then I happened upon this web site Runes, Alphabet of Mystery where I also found another symbol, Vegvisir, Runic Compass. I've never had a tattoo. I have thought about it now and then but this is the first time I decided to take action. Some think it quite odd, probably stupid, so be it.

So Friday October 2 in the morning I went to Diving Swallow Custom Tattoo and Rocio did the deed. It didn't really hurt that much. Actually I was more uncomfortable staying in the same position, well several positions, for an extended period of time. Still no problems with the tattoos. I am following their aftercare directions quite rigorously.

Fortunately or unfortunately the next day while looking for a proper pronunciation of Vegvisir I happened upon several sites indicating that Björk had the same tattoo on her left arm. Admittedly hers was done in blue, not red, and I think a little lower on the arm. Well, I like the music by Björk and have quite a few of her CDs. Ah well.

I like them.

The garden - 30 September 2009

2009-10-01T06:11:35Z

A few photos from the garden today.

There are a few more on my flickr page.

Heart of Glass

2009-09-17T06:08:25Z

I watched Heart of Glass by Werner Herzog tonight. Always interesting. Very lovely.

Friedrich's Chin Cactus

2009-09-17T05:39:01Z

Friedrich's Chin Cactus - Gymnocalycium mihanovichii v. Friedrichii - 16 September 2009

Of Mice and Magic

2009-09-17T03:11:39Z

Today I finished Of Mice and Magic, Book One Ravenspell, by David Farland. I enjoyed it. Not a great work of literature but it was quick reading and kept my interest.

Autumn Steam Weekend

2009-09-14T04:14:18Z

P, R, S and I went to the Autumn Steam Weekend in Sunol. It was the Niles Canyon Railway but put on by the Golden Gate Railway Museum.

More photos on flickr.

Strange times?

2009-09-04T16:35:52Z

Are we having some odd times? Fire chief shot by cop in US courtroom, as town's tensions over traffic tickets come to boil sounds moderately odd. This one really doesn't help the health care movement. Part of finger bitten off at Calif. health protest What was this guy thinking? And Garrido is all over the news. Phillip Garrido's LSD Trips and Sexual Fantasies, How did Jaycee Lee Dugard Survive?. I hadn't heard of someone driving around on acid, kidnapping children and women. People are poking holes in my bubble here. Unfortunately I'm certain there are many, many more people like this out there.

Hugo Pepper

2009-09-03T15:30:12Z

I finished Far Flung Adventures Hugo Pepper by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell. It is a very enjoyable book with very nice illustrations. It is a children's or young adult book. Here's the Amazon page.

Taken

2009-08-31T04:48:01Z

The unrated version of Taken is fairly extreme. If you do not like violence you probably should not watch this film. If you like the Bourne movies you might like this although I think it takes it a step further. Personally I enjoyed it. I was going to stop it in the middle and watch Masterpiece Theatre. When it got to that time there was absolutely no way that I was going to stop it in the middle. Probably I should watch the theatrical release version to see how different it was.

Balloon Flower buds and a zinnia

2009-08-31T00:52:48Z

Some balloon flower buds and a zinnia

Movies

2009-08-30T04:22:02Z

I keep meaning to post info on what I've watched on DVD of late and keep forgetting. Okay about two weeks ago I watched Race to Witch Mountain. I enjoyed it although it is not a great film. It was fun, light entertainment. About a week ago I watched Watchmen. I think I liked it less than most people. It was all right but it seemed to fall in between what I like about super hero movies. It wasn't just a fun super hero action movie and it wasn't a dopey super hero farce. Most of the super heroes didn't really have super powers. They had definite problems dealing with life. It was fairly dark. Maybe I should watch it again. I think I have the graphic novel around but haven't read it yet. Maybe I should do that too. Finally, earlier this week I watched Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. I may have enjoyed that the most of the three.

Flower in the front yard

2009-08-29T06:17:55Z

Photo of a flower in a pot in the front.

balloon flower aka Chinese bellflower aka kikyo.
(Platycodon grandiflorus)

The Time Paradox

2009-08-25T06:03:22Z

I just finished The Time Paradox by Eoin Colfer. Very enjoyable. I may have enjoyed it slightly less than The Lost Colony, the book immediately preceding it in the series, it was still very enjoyable. Now, hm, what's next?

Dumdum boys

2009-08-19T06:02:24Z

Wish I knew what the lyrics meant. Another Norwegian group about which I was totally unaware but supposedly "one of the most important Norwegian rock bands of all time." according to Wikipedia. They did a song called "'Bønda i fra Nord' ('Farmers From The North'), the official song for the Norwegian National Soccer Team for the European Championships in 2000."

Window to the garden

2009-08-15T04:02:47Z

Photo of a window to the garden. P suggested it.

14 August 2009

Cato Salsa Experience

2009-08-13T20:45:02Z

Just happened upon this that I had downloaded a while back. Cato Salsa Experience is a band from Norway. I'd never heard of them before but I think they're moderately entertaining. Unfortunately Youtube didn't have Awaiting the Bash which is what I initially heard.

The duck or mallard or whatever that is seems to reappear in other videos.

The House of the Scorpion

2009-08-12T21:44:33Z

I just finished reading The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer. This was yet another very enjoyable book by her. I look forward to more. There's also a Wikipedia entry.

Beach art

2009-08-10T16:26:47Z

P and I went to Lake Del Valle State Recreational Area on Friday with the dogs. They have a dog walking area next to the lake. KD likes to go into the water. Buku does not. I happened upon these interesting objects on a beach while we were there. I didn't have my camera at the time so they are just taken with my cell phone.