Monday, November 23, 2015

It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's American Values from the 1950s


I Really Liked Spotlight

Rachel McAdams, Michael Keaton and Mark Ruffalo

I am generally not a big fan of Michael Keaton, still haven't quite gotten over the bad aftertaste of Batman. (Oddly enough, one of the reasons I still DO like Val Kilmer - he was a great Batman).
.
AND, I get the heebee jeebees about movies about child molestation (that and violence against women - I walk out of those).
.
So you might imagine my trepidation towards seeing "Spotlight" - a movie about the Boston Globe's work on the Catholic Church coverup of the the child molestation issue, starring Michael Keaton.  However, I loved it.  It was a great movie (and about the investigation, not about the abuse per say).
.
It was really good, Michael Keaton was good and Mark Ruffalo was amazing.  Very non-Mark Ruffalo-ish.  He was great.  Go see it, it was really good.

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Yikes!

This is quite the place.  link to article.  Others are the overview and a view pics.  It is like top, over-the-top, Zaza Gabor-over-the-top, this place!  And we all know I love over the top!
.
Nice Bar!

Dining Alcove turned into a bedroom / sleep area.

My Review of Promising is Up (not upbeat, but Up)

(link)

New post on What's On Off Broadway

PROMISING: The Candidate Stumbles

by scott9m@gmail.com
The new play, Promising, at the Beckett Theatre at Theatre Row has a lot going for it. The audience is greeting by the raw concrete and glass of a stunning condo, high above the city. This set, with scenic design by James. J. Fenton, creates apartment envy before the show even starts. The high power trio that enters is familiar to most New Yorkers, power-broker male trailing a press manager and a hard working staffer. Promising starts off at a running pace.
Promising10
Jolie Curtsinger, Jake Robards, Kim Wong and Zachary Clark in Promising
The trio are the up and coming New York City Councilman David (Jake Robards), his staffer / speechwriter / friend Shed (Zachary Clark) and campaign manager Verity (Jolie Curtsinger). They enter the stunning, but empty apartment in full crisis response mode. Two weeks before an election, where David is on track for an easy win, he has just been accused of sexual assault. Shed is busy trying to craft a statement for David, which has to be supportive of women’s rights, but still dismissive of the accusations. Verity is working the phones to keep a positive piece on the Councilman alive and not pulled. David, meanwhile, needs to get ready to meet the press, hovering outside the building entrances waiting for a statement. They are besieged by a hungry press in a glass tower, undersupplied. David sleeps and dresses here, but doesn’t really seem to have stocked the apartment for actual habitation.

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Dr. Ben Fails Geography

He's busy!  Saving conjoined twins, stabbing people in the belt buckle, he can't be reviewing everything that goes out in his name.
.
Like getting a map of the US correct.  New Hampshire does have the first primary in the country, but he never looked at it on a MAP!  Busy, busy man, our Dr. Ben.
.

Republicans in Congress Have Called An Emergency Vote on Stopping All Syrian Refugees

Congress wants to vote to stop vetting Syrian Refugees in America.  Because, you know, politics.
.
The candidates stand (link).
,

I Don't Get It.  Really.


Tuesday, November 17, 2015

This is Both His "I'm Quitting" and His "No Syrians in Louisiana" Wave

Bobby Jindal, who famously ignored his won 2012 advice to Republicans (it was "Quit being stupid.") has left the building.
.
.
Son of immigrants who started as a Hindu and ended as a Immigrant Hating, Evil Spewing Governor loathed by more Louisiana folk than President Obama has quit the 2016 Presidential Race after 4 months and zero support.

Random Buildings of New York: Today 141 Fifth Avenue


This Condo retrofit has been covered by scaffolding or tarps, off and on for years.  It is finally completed, free of covers totally and beautiful.  It was hard to find details on the history of this building.  This is basically all I could find.
In contrast to the sleek modernist towers rising throughout the city, the building, on Fifth Avenue between 20th and 21st streets, features a domed roof and elaborate terracotta decoration. Built in 1896 by Robert Maynicke as the Merchant Bank of New York building, its white brick, banded columns and distinctive domed roof cupola are representative of the beaux-arts architecture popular in New York City around the turn of the last century.
However, I did find that after it was converted in 2010 to Condos, the outside was updated later.  Then, when the leases on the ground floor expired, the owners had to redo the lower 2 floors.  It is all competed now and look at the detail and the overall.  Great.
I love the different columns and windows!

These are the types of details and decorations that we no longer use, even though we appreciate them.


A Simple Tool Millions of People Use: What Possible Side Effects

So, I have a bronchial infection and I got a "Z Pack" for it from a doctor.
.
What could go wrong?
.
I could have uncontrollable sweating, dizziness that seems getting worse not better, sitting up all night depressed trying to decide which side of the building to jump off of (South Side gives a better change of not hitting anyone or disrupting traffic - but then Ed would see it all the time and that would piss him off.  West mean I might finally be able to get them to clear the crappy little hotel if I hit right, but might destroy the only good Mexican food in town if I miss).  I don't cry too much because the diarrhea and sweats have left be bereft of water - so I just sit and shake from 12:30 AM to 1 AM missing the fact I can't drive to the fucking Pacific because this shit show of a city is full of people that are assholes that don't appreciate an ocean.  And there is no desert to go sit at and I hate this city more than I hate myself - but what ever.  Useless, I couldn't even jump of the fucking building.
.
Maybe some side effects for Scooter

Monday, November 16, 2015

Wait.. What About Your Guns?

Texas, Alabama and Michigan Governors were quick to say they are REFUSING any Syrian refugees because of the Paris attacks.  Note, there was 1 refugee in the group that attacked (and that still isn't verified) out of 2 Million that are in Europe, so great job with the whole "charity to others" bullshit you pretend to follow.
.

And yet, they also said the Paris attacks couldn't happen here because we have guns.
.
So, which is it exactly?  Could it not happen here because of your inane gun laws  - then why freak?  What's the point of bringing your gun to dinner if you can't have yourself a rootin' tootin' shoot out?
.

Houston: We Have A Problem

Even if you don't watch SNL - this was HIGHlarious.

.

Simple Headlines Here are Wrong - This isn't about "Gay Rights" at all

The Mormon Church is suffering a massive backlash inside the church this week.  And I use the words carefully here.  Suffering, because Mormons are choosing to leave the Church due to a change in church doctrine. (link to story in Washington Post).
.
The change in doctrine (which the Church is trying to say is a clarification) is that the children of a same sex couple (legally married or not) cannot be baptized.  That is a big ass deal for Mormons.
.

The church has been steadily more accommodating with gays - as much as they can while still holding to the doctrine it is a sin.  So, here they might not have fully thought it through.
.
Let's take an example and see why people are freaked.
.

  • Grandmother Mormon had three kids, one is gay.  No problem, all are baptized.  
  • All get married - say to Mormons - even the gay one.  No problem, all are baptized.  
  • The three kids each have three kids.  Six of Grandmother Mormon's grand babies are baptized and saved.  
  • Three other of her grand babies, through no fault of their own, aren't going to be saved with the family.

.
Now you may ask, wouldn't the gay married Mormons be considered apostates too - and not be abel to spend the afterlife with their families?  Not necessarily, that decision is up to local priests.  But now their children cannot be part of the church.
.
So thousands of Mormons are quitting.  And you say, so what?
.
Well, it is a big deal to Mormons. They are just "not going to church" or "not tithing".  That isn't quitting.  They are officially going to the closest Mormon Temple and removing their names from the roles of the faithful.  Quitting the Mormons isn't quite as touch as quitting the Scientologists, but close.  You need a lawyer and a notary and witnesses.
.
The Church's desire to tell people that gay marriage is bad (despite the fact that people are how God made them) is condemning children to a life without God - and the heavenly joys if they are killed accidentally before 18.  Even after 18, they can only join the church if they disavow their parents forever and choose the church as parents instead.
.
Perhaps a "clarification" the church didn't need to make right this minute.

Sunday, November 15, 2015

The Attack on Paris

The attack on Paris sucks.  And it sucks more for a couple of reasons than generally.
.
1. The people of Paris are warm-hearted (albeit it with a attitude towards non-French speakers :-), and to strike them on a Friday night was tough.  To strike families, couples, loved ones was terrible.
.
2. One of the attackers (i have read) had a Syria refugee ID from Greece.  This is exactly what the "no - immigrants" people have been warning would happen.  So far it is 1 out of 4 million refugees, but it will changed the discussion (at least with our system of politics as theater).
.
3.  My heart goes out here.  It isn't like Nepal or even Syrian where donations can help with a disaster, man made or natural.  Parisians don't need money or anything physical.  So I give them my thoughts and this picture below.
.
It is a picture of the Museum of Man, you can sit on the terrace (between the two towers) and look back at the fountains or past them to the Eiffel Tower.  But these French have been trying to understand what it means to be a human, both morally and philosophically for hundreds and hundreds of years.  Being human isn't just about killing innocent people, it is about building a world and a life.
.

Saturday, November 14, 2015

So we saw Bridge of Spies and Oddly Enough 1) I liked it and 2) It stared June Allyson

So Bridge of Spies was pretty good (too long, but you know - Oscar-bait).  Steven Spielberg didn't schmaltz it up too much.  I think it helped that the Coen Brothers wrote it.
.
However one thing REALLY stood out.  The wife, here played by Amy Ryan was the exact picture of June Allyson from Executive Suite.  And, while I couldn't get the clip from Executive Suite - I think she says the almost the exact same line, "Tell me it will be okay.  Even if it's a lie."
.
Evidence presented below.
.

Any Ryan standing by her man.

June Allyson standing by her man.
Clips
First June...
.
Then Amy
.

Friday, November 13, 2015

And This is for those of you that think the Cat Christmas Video Makes Me Look Too Good

This is decidedly uncool and too sappy but half. I kind of loved it....

A Moderate Platform (I think) - i.e. What a Liberal Might Support

So, The Week, this issue, repeats the statement from New York Magazine that 95% of the population has made up it's mind already for the election.  I think that is a horrible idea.
.
But I was more interested in their why:
But, since 2004, polarization on immigration, climate change, abortion, religion and social issues has become so acute that every Presidential election seems to represent a major turning point...
And the follow on to that assumption is that the President will be facing 45% of a country that doesn't like him or her from the get go.
.
So, is there a way to get a moderate (i.e. consensus) solution to this issues.  I think so, this would be my proposal.
.
Immigration - I believe I have laid this out repeatedly, but I will say it once again.  Throw everyone in jail who hires, pays or manages an illegal worker after 1 warning; this includes the CEO and Head of HR for each umbrella organization all the way up the ladder.  Period.  Illegal immigration depends on easy jobs in the US, nothing else.  Unless they were using eVerify and there was a problem that wasn't their fault.  This happens.
.
Climate Change - Let's look at this rationally.  We are going to burn more fossil fuels no matter what.  We cannot destroy the path to prosperity and health for 3/4s of the world simply to stop carbon emissions.  I know this.  So, let's reward cleaner burning facilities.  I am fine with the Keystone (on a number of reasons), but let's also invest in colleges and universities to find better ways to burn coal, tar sands, etc.  Also, we need to provide tax breaks for renewables.  Sure, there is the occasional Solendra, but China is already doing this and their Solar Energy industry is employing thousands and reducing the cost of energy.  It is a valid investment - and if you find fraud, put the CEO and all C-suites (CFO, COO, Head of HR) in jail.  Not fine them, put them in Jail even if only for a month.
.
Taxes - I will support all tax reductions provided this one caveat, you show what you will cut AT THE SAME TIME to offset the lose in income.  So, you want to cut taxes by $50 Billion this year - and you think it will generate $70 Billion over 10 years, great.  But Congress has to cut that $50 Billion at the same time you cut taxes anyway.  If it raises money in the future, you can add it back.  But any Tax cut has to be offset by a spending cut that same year.  Then let the people know and Congress vote.  I am fine with that.  More than fine - I think that is a great idea.
.
Abortion - Here is my thought, no one wants an abortion as their first choice.  It is the worst possible method of birth control and is only used in desperation when a couple (or woman) really wants a child.  Therefore, let's make this sensible.  I would be okay with outlawing abortion after 20 weeks IF, at the same time, we made birth control affordable and available AND we taught sex education in school that includes information on Birth Control.  You might think this happens already (then why oppose it?), but it does not.  Many school have "abstinence only" education - and they have (ding ding ding) higher rates of out of wedlock births and unplanned pregnancies.
.
Religion - If someone wants to opt out of doing anything for a gay marriage I am okay with that provided 2 things.  1) Someone else can do the job (i.e. someone else in Kim Davies' office WILL provide marriage licenses).  2) You advertise with a little "No Gays" sign if you are providing a private service.  Like a Baker of Wedding Cakes or Wedding Photographer.  Of course, the clergy would still have the same safeguards they have now and do not have to marry anyone they don't want to.
.
There see.  That wasn't so hard.  And who can't agree to that.  Really, who?

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Trump (and Bush) Think Workers already Make Too Much Money

So, one of the first questions at the Republican debate was if the Candidates supporting increasing the minimum wage.  Some states (NY), cities (Seattle) and companies have set $15 as the minimum.
.
In a total non-surprise, no one argued for raising the minimum wage to $15.  John Kasich (who I love and is doing this years John Huntsman run) supported an increased minimum wage, albeit not to $15.  This has happened in Ohio, and employment went up.
.
Mr. Trump thinks our wage earners make too much already which is why we can't compete with China.  So $15,080 a year - full time at minimum wage - is too much!  Okay...
.
Dr. Carson, showing the same vast intelligence in this as everything else said,
“As far as the minimum wage is concerned, people need to be educated on the minimum wage,” Carson began in his opening salvo. “Every time we raise the minimum wage, the number of jobless people increases. This is particularly a problem in the black community. Only 19.8 percent of black teenagers have a job, or are looking for one. And that’s because of those high wages. If you lower those wages, that comes down.”  
This is incorrect.  Everytime we raise the minimum wage the number of jobless do NOT increase.  It is a great talking point, but a lie.  And, since he can't open his mouth without lying, the 80.2% unemployment figure for Blacks is a lie as well.
.
Jeb! thinks people need to work more hours.  Jeb! is an idiot, so the less said, the better.
.
However, in looking for an image for this I found the one below.  Here is the problem with this image and infographic.  Saying that people deserve a better minimum wage in no way diminishes what the military does.  The military needs to make more as well. We have military families on Food Stamps (SNAP) for goodness sake.
.
The graphic simply sets people against each other for scraps, but doesn't address either problem.  The Americans need to work together for a better life, not fight each other for the right to live.
.

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Veteran's Day Thanks to Nick

It's Veteran's Day today.  And I know of may veterans that are doing great things (Team Rubicon comes to mind).  But I wanted to be a little more specific today.
.
My Mom's husband Nick is a vet from Vietnam.  It was an ugly war, with ugly scars and it taught Americans how not to treat Veterans by the shitty way we treated them.
.
So I say Thank You to Nick.  He stood up and served when many did not.  And he has always honored that service by taking that ethic into all phases of his life.  Let's face it, living with  my Mom can't be easy (I kid, I kid because I love...).
.
Actually, he has been fantastic to my Mom - she hasn't been happier.  And he is great with Ed and I.  He loves dogs.  He build the house pictured below.  And he is just a great guy to hang with.  So Thank You for a lot of things.  Happy Veterans Day.
.
Nick, the dog and Eddie.  From our trip to Montana in July.  Nick built this house (with a little help from my mom and an electrician).

Kiss of Death (part 27)


Jeb Bush, already under attack for being the establishment candidate, was endorsed by Bob Dole.
.
Bob Dole, for those of you under 100 years old, was Gerald Ford's running mate in 1976 (when Nelson Rockefeller was dumped from the ticket).
.
He also ran against Bill Clinton in 1996.
.
Which is the year he left politics.

These Two Headlines (from the Same Website) Show The Problem

The Daily Beast had two headlines about the debate.  And they strike to the heart of this year's issue.  The first is that the debate last night was untethered to reality.  The "answers" were recycled stump speeches.  And when the lies were tossed out, the moderators never queried further.
.
This was partially in response after the CNBC debate, where the candidates felt attacked (and like a cage match) because the questions were sometimes stupid and lies were challenged.
.
My question here is, supposing I am a Republican supporter, will these debates help at all?  By letting lies go at this point, when the winner gets to the actual Presidential debates against Hillary (or Bernie) will they be shocked when their lies are challenged.  Does making the candidates feel good right now prepare them for the actual race?
.
Anyway, the two headlines..
link
.
link


The Debate Last Night

So the debate last night was a bit more substantive that previously.  Just as much a bunch of lies, but lies about substance.
.
You can't tell the players without a program.  So... here it is, Scott Walker and Rick Perry quit the race. George Pataki and Lyndsey Graham were kicked out of the debates for not polling enough.  Bobby Jindal and Rick Santorum are still in the kiddie debates.  Chris Christy and Mike Huckabee (missing form above) were kicked down to the kiddy table debates.  Carly Fiorina was pulled up to the main stage after the 1st debate.  Ted Cruz (missing from above) is at the big kid's table.
Kasich (and Bush) tore into Trump about the impossibility of deporting 11 million people in a year, and tearing apart families.  Trump actually fought back fairly well without being a dick.  Ted Cruz (who is super creepy) supported him.
.
Rand Paul questioned Marc Rubio's attempt to describe himself as "conservative" when he was going to cut taxes, but massively increase military spending - thereby blowing up the national debt.
.
Ben Carson was a bit of a lump as the discussion revolved around policies and he doesn't really have any.  He was asked about the taxes as tithing - and again said if God only wanted 10%, then the government shouldn't want more than 15%.
.
Carly Fiorina and Marc Rubio can vomit up their campaign speeches no matter how little it has to do with the question asked.  In fact when the moderators asked Ms. Fiorina AGAIN to answer the question, she simply rehashed her same non-answer.
.
The audience booed the moderators whenever they asked a question that put the Democrats in a good light, even though it was framed as "This is the reality, how would you address it?"
.
I came out of it liking Kasich, but since I am a realist and a Democrat that is probably the death knell for him.  Other opinions for me were unchanged.

  • Bush can't campaign effectively.  He is not a good politician.
  • Ben Carson has no real ideas and is simply here to sell books.
  • Trump is entertaining, but his schtick is getting old.
  • Ted Cruz is like the creepy uncle you are sure is on some sexual offenders registry.
  • Rand Paul suggested we get the hell out of the middle east (yay!), and so he is toast for not being American enough.
  • Carly Fiorina is an excellent liar.  Excellent!
  • Marc Rubio sticks to his talking points in the face of anything.  He is a good politician, but not a bright guy.  I think if he got a Dick Cheney as VP, he would pretty much abdicate responsibility as Bush the Younger did.  So he scares me because you don't know what he thinks at all.

Also, I LOVE how Ted Cruz says, "My parents came here legally!" all the time.  Ted Cruz' dad is from Cuba.  Anyone who made it here from Cuba was legal because of the cold war.  It's not like they waited in line or anything.

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Made Me Fell Better - and did something good.

So, the other day I got my World Wildlife Fund gift catalogue.  Now, I donate to WWF, but I don't give gifts from there, because nothing says bad Uncle like a note to a kid that "I adopted a Gnu in your name."
.
But they have gotten smart now.  Now if you adopt from the catalogue (at the $55 level) you get an adoption PLUS a stuffed animal of the type you adopted (catalogue).  So I went to Eddie and said I wanted a Blue Footed Boobie for Christmas.  I love the Boobie.
.
.
Eddie said okay and that was that.
.
But then this Monday, I got very sick.  I mean, FLU type sick and felt a bit like death warmed over.  And that same day my Blue Footed Boobie came.  It made me feel loved.
.
So the Boobie hasn't left my side since.  And I feel a little better today.
.
Bob.
.
Bob the Blue Footed Boobie - I knew you would want to know.

Monday, November 09, 2015

Walking Around NYC This Week-End

You never know what you are going to see when walking around NYC.  We stumbled on these this Saturday.
.
Just a normal photo shoot in Meatpacking

ABC Newsman Gio Benitez taking pictures of his fiancé around our house for his (Tommy DiDario's) Website.

A neighborhood hang for Trump.

Unbreakable? See, I would like a TINY bit of realism here...

LINK to article
I get it, Hillary is running for President.  But I don't really like giving the carte blanche to Israel in general (and Bebe Netanyahu in particular).  I think there ARE things that would break the bonds - and if we can't think of any case where that would happen, then we are choosing to be stupid.
.
Bebe's rejection of a 2 state system, ever.  Might be one reason.  He did that during the last election.
.
Bebe's endorsement of a specific Candidate in our National Elections, that might be one.
.
The wholesale repudiation of the Peace Process I think should at least OFFER THE OPPORTUNITY for the United States to PRETEND to raise some questions.  The fact that NOTHING will make her question our relationship augers poorly for the country, since the other candidates are even more knee-jerk supportive of every Israeli action.
.
I don't understand why, after the last 4 years, we are now raising the military support from $3 Billion to between $4 - $5 Billion.  There is no sense in that.  They have a massive nuclear arsenal, the best weapons in the region, and are killing scores of Palestinians for each Israeli attacked.  That is totally their right, but it is also my right to object to it.
.
It appears that we can make "our relationship" right by: a) giving Bebe a public blow job, b) letting them slaughter whoever they want as long as they are Palestinians (or think they are - link) or c) giving the $50 Billion over a decade.  I know we are doing b & c.  My guess is that Bebe will bitch unless a happens as well.
.
There are no options to say, "maybe it's time to rethink this relationships" except crazy anti-Jewish zealots that I reject out of hand.

Friday, November 06, 2015

The Difference Between Running For President and Just Selling Books

Pity to Dr. Carson.  He has spent the last few years of his life embellishing his Rags to Jesus to Riches story.  And, while on the friendly confines of Fox News, this worked great.
.
.
But now he has to be on non-Fox News and more "newsy" outlets ask follow up questions and investigate what he said.  He does not like this.
.
He (today) had to admit to lying about getting a full scholarship to West Point, because - you know - they have records and he didn't apply.
.
But the full force of his anger is related to the story of how he found God which he has repeated in most of his books (albeit in various forms) and in the TV movie of his life.
.
His come-to-Jesus story is that  in school (or after school depending on which of his autobiographies you read) a friend changed the radio station and in pure anger he stabbed him with a "camping knife" he kept in his pocket (or a kitchen knife - again, it depends on which of his books you are reading).  The belt buckle of his friend (sometimes an ROTC belt Buckle of a 14 year old friend, other times a regular belt buckle) sopped the knife and Ben Carson decided at that moment to give his life to Jesus.
.
He is furious that CNN is following up on this story.  Turns out, they can't find anyone to corroborate it, and his friends from school don't remember anything like that.
.
He has now changed this from a school friend to a relative who he "just talked to" and Carson doesn't want to share the relative's name.  He accuses CNN of a witch hunt - although doing background about a Presidential candidate isn't that at all. 
.
He also says they never ask Hillary stuff like that, which I guess means he slept through the Clinton administration where we learned of Hillary's smoking habits, grades, friendship and stock deals.  However, since he looks like he is sleeping half the time anyway, that shouldn't be a big shock.

Thursday, November 05, 2015

This Isn't Such Big News

So Ben Carson's pronouncements on the origin of the Pyramids is big news today.  I don't know why. I mean, compared to a bunch of his positions, this one isn't so out there.
.
He's a doctor that doesn't believe in evolution, thinks health care for the working class is worse than slavery and thinks if Jews only had guns there would have been no holocaust.  He thinks we should rush gunman, even though he helpfully told the gunman to aim at the counter workers with the cash.
.
So this "little crazy" isn't a big deal.  And it won't cost him votes.  No voter who believes what Mr. Ca has said to date is going to go, "Oh no!  He believes the Pryamids aren't monuments."
.
In this, I feel he is on less shaky ground that anything else.  After all, the Pyramids are subject to all kinds of crazy conjecture since they don't really make sense.
.
Some people think they are giant batteries, some people think they were made by aliens - in this context granaries from the Bible is silly (since they aren't hollow), but not as far fetched as other things.
.
And, from his supporters standpoint, non-Carson supporters believe that man-made Global Warming is real and Affordable Health Care is a public good - they think we are crazy.
.
No, this isn't a big deal.

My Review of Cuckooed at 59E 59

Cuckooed; One Part Humor, One Part Outrage, Jigger of Pathos – Shake and Serve

It takes a while to understand what Cuckooed, now on at 59E59, is about - exactly.   Not that the show isn’t entertaining; Mark Thomas’ performance is wildly imaginative and energetic, and the show has surprising depth.  It is just that it revels itself slowly and carefully.
Written and performed by Mark Thomas, Cuckooed takes the audience through a period in his life where he was protesting against the arms trade.  He uses a series of funny anecdotes very deftly to pull the audience into his world.  He expands the stage by the inclusion of other voices he worked with, introducing videos and interacting with them expertly.  Slowly, however, Cuckooed morphs into something more than a string of stories and jokes.
Mr. Thomas traffics in a fierce honesty, but he doesn’t require the audience to get worked up over the arms trade.  Instead, Mr. Thomas has a more universal message within Cuckooed.  While discussing his time with Campaign Against Arms Trade, he introduces the idea of corporate spying by British firms.  In particular, one great friend of his  was accused of spying for BAE, a large British Arms producer.  It is the loss of that friendship that strikes at Mr. Thomas' heart.  To be betrayed by a friend is more than he can believe and, in fact, he spends a bit of time not believing it.
Cuckooed7Cuckooed ends up being touching, not because of the horrible acts of corporate interests, but because of the singular act of betraying a trust.  In his reaction to this very personal tragedy, Mark Thomas’ show expands to embrace human frailty and the little deceits we all have to contend with.
Cuckooed is well directed by Emma Callander, expanding a single person’s story into a more universal tale.  Mr. Thomas’ accent was hard for some people to understand, particular when he grows more manic, but the effort is well worth it.
Cuckooed | Playwright: Mark Thomas | Director: Emma Callander | Cast: Mark Thomas | website
November 5, 2015 at 4:00 am | Tags: 59E59, Cuckooed, Emma Callander, Mark Thomas, Review | Categories: Reviews | URL: http://wp.me/p5OIHb-7Z
Comment    See all comments

Wednesday, November 04, 2015

I Saw A View From a Bridge last night... nice...

So I saw the Old Vic production transferred to Broadway of A View To a Bridge, with Mark Strong and Russell Tovey.
.
Amazing.
Russell Tovey and Mark Strong kicking ass at the Lyceum

I can't remember where I saw Mark Strong before, but I know I have and he was impressive before.  He is one of those actors that command the stage.
.
Russell Tovey, Eddie and I saw in  The History Boys when we first moved here.  Young Mr. Tovey is now kind of the gay "it" guy - as he starred in "HBO's Looking" (and didn't grown an asinine beard) and he has an Instagram account where his partner shows up occasionally and his dog shows up constantly.  And he is way cute.  The blond is for the show.
.
It was great to see his acting stood up to the hype.
Russel and the Frenchie

Old Tatic, Same Result - We All Need To Learn

So, in Houston the ordinance overturning equal treatment for homosexuals in housing and employment was overturned.  People are shocked.  Me, not so much.
.
Now in general I would chalk this up to Southerns hating homos, but not in this case.  You see the anti-equality group used a tried and true tactic.  The scare tactic that if this passed men would use the women's bathroom.  That is how the ran the anti-argument.
.
Even the Campaign Signs say No Men in Women's Bathrooms
I suppose that many people in Houston thought most people would see through this.  They don't.  And, it isn't exclusively anti-gay.  This exact same line is what doomed the Equal Rights Amendment (for women) in the 1970s.  We should have learned since then.
.
If you want to pass a law for equality and are hit with this, the right answer is NOT to ignore this tactic.  It is a proven winner.  It is a simple, strong message for people that resonates with voters who not engaged before the vote or know what a proposition concerns.  And unfortunately that is most voters.  Most voters don't have time to understand the nuances of arguments, they are too busy trying to make a living.  And the idea of Men in the Women's room just seems scary and wrong.
.
Fear is going to motivate more people to vote than an abstract idea of "equality".
.
Don't get made, get smarter.

Tuesday, November 03, 2015

Spencer Day: Enjoy The Silence - Depeche Mode cover

I had to put this up for my Eddie.  He loves this song, and we saw Spencer Day live.  He was great.  Kind of a fun mash up.
.

Al Horno?

.
Okay, I have to laugh at the drunk-ass college kid that still lives somewhere inside me. 
.
I was walking and I saw this newish restaurant.  And I thought, when I first saw the sign, it was "El  Horno" - like, to use in a sentence:  "OMG I was at Merix last night and I was, like,  so El Horno I would have tossed one to Marc Rubio."
.
In looking at the sign again, it is "Al Horno" which means baked.  And in the "healthy eating way" not int he drunk-ass college kid way.

Monday, November 02, 2015

Mascot of November: The Wachowskis

Andy Wachowski, Lana Wachowski and Tom Tykwer (co-Director Cloud Atlas)
Andy and Lana Wachowski have the kind of imagination that one dreams of.  One dreams of having it, and also dreams in it.
.
Want to see their wonderment?  Maybe you won't like Cloud Atlas, but this trailer will make you want to.

.
They are the mascots this month.  I kind of am in awe of them, even though others really aren't any more.
.
Sense 8 - Cute Chicago Cop and Cut Icelandic Girl DJ
There current project is Sense 8 on Netflix.  I devoured the first season, and can't wait for more.  It blew me away.
Two more of Sense 8's leads.  The diversity isn 't force, just natural for them.
The blew everyone away the first time with The Matrix.  The introduced so many ideas that are now staples of the movies and also introduced super slow mo bullet time.  I mean, it is everywhere now.
Bullet Time
.
If you were blown away the first time Neo stopped bullets, then you can't be blown away.
Their first movie was Bound, and if you didn't see that, then you have no lesbian friends.  I was taken to this by Lauren.  It is Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly being hyper-erotic.  I mean, wowza.
These two burn up the screen.  Watch it!

My favorite movie of their was Cloud Atlas.  They were able to pull that giant sprawling (I thought horrible) book and make magic.  Even with Ton Hanks hamming it up, I loved it.
My Favorite Story

.
Of course, they have their misses too.  I heard Speed Racer was a bit of a nightmare.
No More Caffine

.
And most people hated Jupiter Ascending, but I dug it.
.
Jupiter Ascending is an acquired tase
So, for hard work, and imagination that blows me away, and the worse dreads in the business, here's to The Wachowskis.