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Thursday, January 28, 2010

Goodbye, Holden...

"I mean if they're running and they don't look where they're going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That's all I do all day."

- J.D. Salinger (1919 - 2010)

CULT TV FLASHBACK #99: The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Meet Dracula

Don your bell-bottoms, cue the stock-footage thunderstorms, and turn up the library archive sound-effects of wolves baying at the full moon. It's time to ride our blogging TV time machine back to that great year 1977. Our destination: The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, a Glen A. Larson production that ran for three years on ABC (1977-1979).

This once-popular detective TV series (styled after the popular, long-lived, mystery books by Edward Stratemeyer) starred teen heartthrob Shaun Cassidy ("Da Doo Ron Ron...") as Joe Hardy and Parker Stevenson (later the husband of Kirstie Alley...) as his cleverer brother, Frank.

On the Nancy Drew side of the equation, lovely Pamela Sue Martin portrayed the dedicated part-time sleuth. At least that was the case for the first two seasons of The Hardy Boy/Nancy Drew Mysteries. Then she permanently exited the series, breaking the hearts of pre-adolescent boys across the nation. Concurrent with her departure, Pamela Sue Martin shed her "good girl" image forever by posing nude in Playboy.

Little known fact: I still own that particular issue...

But for this 99th cult tv flashback, I want to direct your attention to the two-part, second season opener of The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, the charmingly-titled "The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Meet Dracula," which aired on September 11th and September 18th, 1977.

In most of my reviews, I prefer not to use descriptors such as cheesy or camp -- because in time, all programming turns to cheese or camp -- but this series is indeed a very cheesy. It's also rather charming...and innocent. In other words: perfect stuff for kids. Even better: it's perfect stuff for kids with a burgeoning interest in the horror genre.

So, in this particular tale, hapless Hardy Senior -- Fenton Hardy (Ed Gilbert) -- disappears at Count Dracula's castle in Transylvania (on June 4th, 1977...). Weeks later, Joe and Frank go in search of Paris. Then, they run into the lovely Nancy Drew in Munich, and learn more about their father's unusual disappearance. Fenton and Nancy were "comparing notes" on a mystery involving international art thefts. Many of the world's most valuable paintings have disappeared, and Fenton was on the case.

The three amateur detectives concur that all roads lead to Transylvania, where a Dracula Festival is being held at Vlad The Impaler's historic castle. Shooting a rock concert there for ABC is the rock sensation Allison Troy...really the incomparable Paul Williams (who appeared EVERYWHERE in the 1970s, including in Battle for the Planet of the Apes...).

And here (in Part I), Williams performs a great song from one of my favorite movies of all time (and one by Brian De Palma, no less...), 1974's Phantom of the Paradise.

Anyway, the Hardy Boys go undercover as members of a band called "Circus"....which is just a transparent excuse for Shaun Cassidy to sing "That's Rock'N'Roll" ("Come on Everybody, get down, get with it, come on everybody get down, get with it...")

While Joe sings his heart out for costumed revelers, Frank and Nancy Drew separately investigate the creepy caverns underneath the castle; a locale they have been warned about repeatedly. Before long, Frank ends up locked in a dungeon with the apparent victim of a vampire attack.

Soon vampire bats are attacking a night-gowned Nancy Drew in her hotel bedroom (!) and the Transylvania town elders start panicking. Before long, they are on the receiving end of vampire neck bites. Inspector Stavlin, played by Lorne Greene -- a traditional sort-of-guy -- hints that Dracula may be perturbed that his castle is being used for such crass commercialism (meaning Allison Troy's concert, not this two-part Glen Larson episode...).

But deep in the caverns -- behind the ancient Dracula family crest -- a secret chamber awaits. And there, Frank, Joe and Nancy finally learn the truth about vampires, and international art thieves too.

Directed by Joseph Pevney and written by Glen A. Larson and Michael Sloane, "The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Meet Dracula" is a show I vividly remember from my childhood. I guess I was seven years old when I watched it originally, and, well, what can I say? it had a lasting impression on me.

For instance, I've always recalled the Dracula-"stalking" scenes that dominate this two-part episode. We just see Dracula's stylish boots as the count hunts his prey in the dark caverns. Of course, the villain was filmed in this manner so we couldn't discover Dracula's real identity. But there was always something unsettling (to my young mind, anyway....) about the way those shiny boots came out of the darkness and followed everybody through the catacombs.

And, of course, how can you not love Paul Williams? The performer gets to camp it up here as an egotistical rock star. I love that he sings "The Hell of It" in this episode, because it features nihilistic song lyrics that aren't exactly as kid-friendly as the rest of this landmark Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew endeavor. Anyway, I've embedded the Paul Williams Hardy Boys performance below this review, so you too can share in the joy.

All right, so it''s all too easy to make fun of 1970s costumes and lingo, right... turkey? And vampire bats on visible strings? Han Solo hair cuts? Lorne Greene -- Ben Cartwright -- as the Prince of Darkness, Dracula?

But all snark aside, from 1976-1979, I loved this series. I mean, I loved it. I never missed an episode. The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries had fun stories, featured engaging performances and depicted some great tales about The Bermuda Triangle, King Tut, the Phantom of Hollywood and other weird 1970s era obsessions. I often write about TV series as "time capsules" for their era, and -- my god -- what a time capsule this show is. It's just a whole lot of goofy, 1977-style fun.

And now, before I sign off, may I present Paul Williams on The Hardy Boys...?

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

CULT TV FLASHBACK #98: The Incredible Hulk: "Married" (1978)

Even as late as 1978, superhero television was still attempting to escape the gravitational pull of the campy but highly-entertaining 1960s Batman series starring Adam West and Burt Ward. That watershed ABC series -- undeniably a prime example of colorful, counter-culture pop art -- had so shaded the format requirements for superhero and comic book TV initiatives that a new template -- sans "BAM!" "POW!" and "WHAM" -- was required.

Resourceful and literate, writer/producer Kenneth Johnson crafted that new template when adapting Marvel's The Incredible Hulk comic-book for television. Instead of depending on dynamic super criminals, tongue-in-cheek dialogue, and out-of-this-world swashbuckling, Johnson grounded his new hero, David Bruce Banner (Bill Bixby), in a more familiar, less over-the-top world.

As author Gary Gerani observed in TV Episode Guides Volume 2 (1982, page 64), "he [Johnson] turned to a more intelligent and dramatic approach of a man whose life is upset by the fact that he can become this uncontrollable monster."

Series producer Nick Corea was even more specific about the program's approach: "Any writer who comes in with clones or extraterrestrials, we steer in another direction." (John Abbot, SFX #18, November 1996, page 76).

Today, we happily take costumed and colorful heroes at face value, as part and parcel of the superhero genre. We want to see super villains and super feats. So the superhero stigma once associated with the camp 1960s Batman is finally gone. And in something of a turnaround, we actually gaze at TV's drama The Incredible Hulk -- which rigorously followed a format similar to The Fugitive -- as a bit of a relic; as a time capsule of a different era.

Times change. Tastes change.

Yet The Incredible Hulk ran for four successful years on CBS because of Johnson's dedication to the "human factor." A latter day Jekyll-Hyde story, The Incredible Hulk explicitly concerned the divide between human emotions and human rationality.

Think about it this way: we exist day-to-day by controlling our emotions; by keeping them firmly in check. Yet in the person hood of the raging Hulk (Lou Ferrigno), our impulses are free...unfettered. For David Banner -- living in the last days of disco -- the struggle was an internal one; to manage that provoked Id; to restrain the instinct-based beast inside all of us who wants to react to every challenge, fear, and pain with raw emotion and brute force. Hulk smash!

One of the best and most touching episodes of The Incredible Hulk was the second season opener, "Married" (written and directed by Johnson). A two-hour tale, "Married" originally aired on November 22, 1978, and guest-starred Mariette Hartley as Dr. Caroline Fields.

Caroline is a brilliant psychologist facing her own internal struggle: a terminal disease (like Lou Gehrig's Disease) that has reduced her expected life span to just six weeks.

Our protagonist, David Banner, arrives at Caroline's medical practice in Hawaii to seek her assistance in controlling his "monster," unaware of her own debilitating condition. In particular, Caroline is an expert in hypnosis, and David believes that she could hypnotize his conscious mind into trapping the Hulk within. In other words, he hopes to cage the Hulk with his brain.

Over a few weeks, David and Caroline fall in love...and are married. David tries to cure Caroline's disease, and Caroline tries to cure David of his affliction. And impressively, much of the episode's "action" occurs inside the mind-states of these two individuals.

As David is hypnotized, we see him physically encounter the Hulk in a barren, desert landscape. First, David tries to restrain the Hulk in heavy ropes. But the Hulk breaks out.

Then David tries a cage with steel bars. Again, the Hulk breaks free.

Finally, David attempts trapping the Hulk inside the mental construct of an impenetrable vault. But even here, the beast within him cannot be contained.

Meanwhile, Caroline attempts to use the mind-over-matter hypnosis technique to cure her defective "mitochondria" of the invading disease lesions. She envisions her put-upon cells as an Old West wagon train; and the lesions there as invading Indian raiders surrounding it. When David formulates a new drug (taken from the Hulk's skin sample...) Caroline imagines the drug as the cavalry, coming over the hill. This is all weird and wonderful stuff (and fits in perfectly with the 1970s obsession with hypnosis).

The Incredible Hulk always concerned the ways in which our mind responds to external stimuli. We can choose to respond with rage; or we can choose to respond calmly. We can choose to respond with violence; or peaceably. "Married" is very much on target in terms of the series' overriding themes then, since virtually every major scene concerns the way our brain faces conflict and interprets challenges.

Today -- 32 years later -- "Married" has indeed dated somewhat. No doubt there. There are two worrisome scenes during which Bill Bixby and Mariette Hartley speak in atrocious Pidgeon English (talking about Chinese food...) and then perform bad John Wayne imitations. This is what seemed like witty and romantic banter in the 1970s, I guess, but today's it's just sort of cringe-inducing.

And also, "Married" evidences a big flaw common in many Incredible Hulk scenarios That flaw: the Hulk's presence isn't entirely warranted given the less-than-threatening circumstances.

For example, in "Married" two on-the-make "groovy" swingers (wearing polyester pants two-sizes too small...) pick-up a drunk Caroline and take her back to their bachelor pad (along with a floozy...) for a night of casual sex. David arrives to take Caroline home, and then these two swingers suddenly become violent. They push David around. They pop a champagne cork in his face (!). Then -- all kidding aside -- they violently hurl him from their second-story bedroom balcony...into a glass coffee table, below thus precipitating an appearance by the Hulk. The un-jolly green giant then proceeds to tear the bachelor pad to pieces. It's an impressive-enough action scene, but entirely unnecessary. Not to mention unmotivated.

Why would two relatively harmless guys with sex on the brain suddenly turn egregiously violent? (And destroy their own apartment in the process?) This sort of thing happened a lot on the show: people who you wouldn't expect to immediately turn to violence suddenly become a HUGE threat so that the Hulk can appear and save the day.

But leaving aside these dated elements, "Married" remain an outstanding episode of the CBS series. Perhaps because of the two-hour running time, Caroline feels like a "real" person and not just the guest-star/love-interest-of-the-week. And the relationship she shares with David doesn't feel forced or silly. It's clear that Caroline and Bruce are both suffering terribly, and sharing what little time they have left together eases that pain. That's as good a reason for marriage as any, isn't it?

There's also one incredibly dark moment in "Married." With only two weeks to live, Caroline plays frisbee with a little boy (Meeno Peluce of Voyagers!) on the beach. The scene is much longer than it need be; and focuses a great deal on Hartley in close-shot. There's almost no dialogue. The scene is mostly silent. But inscribed on her expression is the agony and regret of the life Caroline will never experience. She will never be a mother; never have children, as she once dreamed of. This is an issue "Married" raised early on, but then returns to with this unexpectedly sad and restrained moment. I can't deny "Married" is a tear-jerker, either, but then that was a perpetual quality of The Incredible Hulk too: it was, overall, a pretty lugubrious, melancholy show.

What I admire most about "Married," however, are those "dream state" sequences occurring in the desert of Banner's mind; as David and The Hulk face each other down. It may not seem like much of a comic-book-style adventure -- there's no Marvel-style mythology or continuity in place -- but the human drama is nonetheless fascinating.

We don't like ourselves when we're angry. We don't like ourselves when we're bad tampered; when we let our "Hulks" out to roam. The Incredible Hulk's impressive "Married" externalizes and literalizes the idea of the emotional battle raging within each of us, the battle for control with our barely concealed monsters.

Monday, January 25, 2010

CULT MOVIE REVIEW: Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992)

To aggressively analyze and interpret a David Lynch film is to invite agitation. On one hand, many critics suggest the artist's movies are dense and impenetrable; that they are weird just for the sake of weirdness. Therefore, no possible interpretation for what occurs on screen exists, and the interpreter is simply partaking in a wild goose chase. Or worse, being self-indulgent.

Reviewing Lynch's Lost Highway (1997), for instance, one of my favorite critics, Roger Ebert, admitted "I've seen it twice, hoping to make sense of it. There is no sense to be made of it. To try is to miss the point. What you see is all you get."

Yet, David Lynch's films are so abundant with symbolic representation; so rife with abstruse dream sequences; so criss-crossed with narrative alleyways, and so thoroughly dominated by opaque characterizations that they virtually cry out for contextualization and analysis.

To leave such treasure troves of figuration uninterpreted or unexamined is to abandon a half-solved puzzle.

Contrarily, to delve into the mysteries of David Lynch's cinema is to grow nearer the mind (and dream state...) of a most singular American film artist. For me, the temptation to dive in is...well...irresistible.

Sometimes, audiences, scholars and critics have also been willing to take that giant leap of faith and gaze -- unblinking and unbowed -- at the secrets and enigmas presented in Lynch's twisting, tricky narratives. Many of Lynch's productions, such as Blue Velvet (1984), are indeed held in high critical esteem. But at the same time, other Lynch films have not met with the same aggressive intellectual curiosity. Exhibit A: Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992) a prequel to the popular TV series; a movie produced a year after the program was canceled.

As you may recall, the movie was booed at the Cannes Film Festival, and New York Times critic Vincent Canby suggested "It's not the worst movie ever made; it just seems to be. Its 134 minutes induce a state of simulated brain death, an effect as easily attained in half the time by staring at the blinking lights on a Christmas tree."

Jay Scott at Toronto's Globe and Mail called Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me "a disgusting, misanthropic movie," and compared a viewing of the film to "cocaine-induced paranoia."

To many critics, the layered, perplexing Fire Walk with Me is but "as blank as a fart," to quote one of the film's quirkier characters.

Yet taken at simple face value, Fire Walk With Me is a disquieting exhumation of the "underneath" in America. In the film, we encounter homecoming queen and Twin Peaks resident Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee). We follow her through her harrowing last week on this mortal coil, and see that this "typical" teenager is anything but.

If the movie feels like a case of cocaine-induced paranoia, that is likely intentional. Because Laura is indeed experiencing a cocaine-induced paranoia throughout much of the movie. She's a junkie (and the film depicts Laura snorting coke on several occasions; as well as participating in a drug deal gone wrong.) Thus the film's lurid, jittery, unpleasant shape perfectly reflects the piece's content. We seem to be viewing the film from inside a drug fever.

Quit Trying to Hold on So Tight...I'm Gone: Laura Palmer as Victim of Incest

David Lynch's films work on different metaphorical layers, and one thematic layer of Fire Walk with Me involves a truly unpleasant topic: incest.

Beautiful Laura Palmer -- the envy of every girl at Twin Peaks high school -- is the victim of incest. She has been the victim of sexual molestation by her father, Leland Palmer (Ray Wise), for several years.

Unable to cope with this monstrous reality, Laura's shattered mind has come to visually re-interpret her father's nocturnal bedroom visits as the home invasions of a swarthy stranger, a monster named "Bob."

Laura informs her psychiatrist, Harold ,that "Bob is real. He's been having me since I was twelve." Furthermore, she notes "he comes through my window at night...he's getting to know me. He wants to be me...or he'll kill me."

And sure enough, one day, Laura arrives home from school early and sees Bob prowling around in her bedroom. As if sniffing her out. It's a terrifying scene: we suddenly register the unexpected intruder in a place of safety and comfort, and almost physically blanch at his presence. Scared, Laura runs out of the house, terrified, only to see not the Evil Bob emerge after her...but rather her beloved father, Leland. He is the Monster of Her Id.

In another disturbing scene, Bob slips inside the Palmer house through Laura's window at night. In electric blue moonlight, he seduces her. In the throes of their mutual passion, Laura suddenly sees that the stranger is actually her father, Leland, and nearly goes mad at the revelation. Again, this is the thing she is trying to bury under mountains of cocaine; in alcohol. The betrayal of a trusted loved one.

How does a the typical victim deal with persistent sexual abuse and incest? According to author Ken Chisholm's article on the subject, "Some of the social maladjustments arising from incest are alcoholism, drug addiction, prostitution and promiscuity." Consider these factors in relationship to Laura Palmer. We already know she is addicted to cocaine. We already know she drinks.

But Laura is also sexually-involved with at least two boyfriends at school: the temperamental Bobby (Dana Ashbrook) and James-Dean-ish James Hurley (James Marshall). She seems to ping-pong back and forth between them. And, as prescribed above, prostitution is part of Laura's life too. We learn in Fire Walk With Me that (as in the series before...), Laura has been selling her body both at One Eyed Jacks and at the film's sleazy Bang Bang Bar.

In other words, a history and pattern of incest leads to self-destructive behavior on the part of the victim. It leads to the destruction of -- and disassociation from -- the healthy ego. This is also evident in Fire Walk with Me. "Your Laura disappeared," Laura informs James blankly, feeling unworthy and undeserved of his authentic, romantic love. "It's just me now," she explains, feeling ashamed and guilty over her behavior.

At one point, late in the film, even Laura's guardian angel seems to abandon her, vanishing from a painting in her bedroom. It's thus clear that Laura blames herself for her father's behavior, and consequently that she views herself as ugly and corrupted. She isn't the golden girl anymore, she's tarnished.

This self-hatred becomes especially plain during the moment when Laura confides in her psychiatrist Harold about "Bob's" visits.

Suddenly, the film cuts to a nightmarish view of Laura as an ivory white crone; one with alabaster skin, yellowed teeth, scarlet gums and blackened lips. She looks like a terrible, corrupted monster: an outward reflection of her low self-esteem. This is how she sees herself.

Later in the film, we see Leland Palmer -- suffering his own personal hell of guilt and shame -- imagining himself in identical terms, right down to the black lips. This is the form of the bad conscience made manifest.

Those who endure incest and sexual abuse also, over time, may experience night terrors, hallucinations or insomnia. Laura is not immune from these symptoms either. She lives through terrifying nightmares, especially ones that involve a creepy painting. On that painting is rendered a half-open door; and in Laura's dream she mindlessly treads though that door into the evil world of the Black Lodge. A place were "garmonbozia" (pain and suffering) is eaten like creamed corn, and her suffering will provide a feast. She is, literally, the Devil's candy. And she knows it.

Laura is aware that she is a moth driven to the flame (a woman consigned to Hell...) and again and again, Fire Walk With Me brings up the idea of fire in connection to Laura. Donna Hayward (Moira Kelly) asks Laura a weird question. "If you fall in outer space, do you think you'd slow down after a while, or go faster and faster?"

Laura's telling answer is that she would go faster and faster...without knowing it, and then spontaneously burn up. No angels could save her...because they're all gone. The world is devoid of angels.

Again, this answer appears to be a metaphor for Laura's increasingly "fast" life (a life made even more jittery and fast by the cocaine): dating two boys; scoring drugs; acting as a prostitute...trying desperately to escape her real life and the sexual abuse.

In the end, however, no matter how fast she goes, Laura will still be consumed by flame; destroyed. The Log Lady (Catherine E. Coulson) tells Laura -- in an important, if brief, scene that "When this kind of fire starts, it is very hard to put out. The tender boughs of innocence burn first, and the wind rises, and then all goodness is in jeopardy."

Once more, you've got to contextualize this remark in terms of the incest: the act which has made the self-loathing Laura change from golden girl to promiscuous drug abuser and prostitute. In the execution of that bad behavior, the first victim is Laura's innocence...her childhood. The second is her goodness (and now she can't even volunteer to feed the hungry in the meals on wheels program...). The third existence itself. Laura understands this. She realizes she is headed ""

Another frequent quality of incest victims is a protective impulse; an overriding need to save or rescue younger siblings from the life-destroying behavior that has ruined them. In Fire Walk with Me, Donna goes to the Bang Bang Bar with Laura. Donna drinks alcohol, takes drugs, and seduces a john. When Laura witnesses Donna's craven behavior -- the tender boughs of innocence about to burn -- she is roused to act. Unable to save herself, Laura does the next best thing: she rescues naive Donna. Afterwards, Laura warns Donna cryptically "don't wear my stuff," an indication that Donna has "tried on" Laura's lifestyle. But it doesn't fit Donna; and Laura doesn't want Donna to be like her.

There's No Tomorrow; It Will Never Get Here: The Spirit World in Fire Walk With Me

A central question regarding Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me involves the rogue's gallery in the Black Lodge. This gallery includes Bob, The (backwards-talking) Man from Another Place (Michael Anderson) and the One-Armed Man. They dwell in that sitting room (the velvet-lined room with zig-zag floor). Are they real? Or imaginary? Are they sentient, or symbolic?

Is Leland an all-too "human" sexual abuser? Or is he an unlucky man possessed by an evil spirit? Who do we blame for the incest: the spirit (Bob) or the body (Leland)?

In a sense, it doesn't matter a whit. It is immaterial. When criminals commit terrible acts, they often claim the "devil made them do it," right? Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me may suggest a universe of Hell (in the form of the Black Lodge) and Heaven too (in the form or Ronette Pulaski's and Laura's individual guardian angels), but it never suggests that Leland is innocent.

There may be a "monster" cowering inside him; but there is a monster cowering inside all abusers, isn't there? If evil dwells in the human psyche, then it dwells in the human psyche...and we must combat it. Leland never does that. He murders Teresa Banks, and eventually he murders his own daughter, Laura, because he is so consumed of "the evil spirit." That's what makes him a villain.

That really was something with the dancing girl, wasn't it? What exactly did all that mean?

Encoded in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me is a self-commentary on David Lynch's approach to symbolic story telling.

Early in the film, FBI agent Sam Stanley (Kiefer Sutherland) and Agent Chester Desmond (Chris Isaak) are tasked by Lynch's deaf FBI chief with the investigation of Teresa's murder. After briefing them in very general terms, Lynch's character then maddeningly introduces the two agents to "Lil" a woman in a red dress wearing a blue rose. He says, in essence, that she represents the case that the men have embarked upon.

Then, in a bewildering moment, the strange Lil dances up to the two agents, grimaces -- revealing a sour face -- and makes a fist.

Then, Lil is never seen or heard from again as a living, breathing, human character. But soon after this scene, Desmond and Stanley interpret her presence. They analyze her facial expressions. They note the color of her dress. They register the presence of the blue rose, and ponder the meaning of her balled fist. On one hand, this is Lynch's oddball humor, acknowledging the Twin Peaks' aficionado's propensity for analyzing every little thing.

But in another sense, Lil -- and Desmond's explanation of Lil -- is the audience's primer to successfully reading or interpreting the figurations of this movie. Following Desmond's example, the viewer is meant to weigh characters and events symbolically. We are supposed to "see" Bob as Laura's "safe" interpretation of her father's criminal, unacceptable behavior. We are supposed to understand the drug use and prostitution as a victim's escape from guilt and shame. Even the passing of Theresa's ring we are to comprehend as a legacy of death, carried from one victim to the next. And the creamed corn? Human pain and suffering as the food of the gods.

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me
is really The Tragedy of Laura Palmer and the Tragedy of Small Town America. The golden girl -- the cheerleader beloved by all -- is actually a secret victim of sexual abuse...and no one sees it. Or no one cares to see it.

This is the roiling "underneath" that Lynch so frequently expose in his films, and it was never more relevant, perhaps, than in the early 1990s when this film was made. These were the early years after the notorious 1989 Glen Ridge rape case (wherein popular football jocks raped a retarded girl with a baseball bat and broom); these were the years of the Spur Posse. Suburbia's shameful secrets were spilling out into the tabloid culture in creamed-corn torrents.

Perhaps an entire American generation of teenagers was actually fire walking with us; possessed by darkest impulses.

What remains profound about Laura Palmer's tragedy today is that, in the end, David Lynch grants the character a small measure of contentment. The guardian angel she believed she lost during her last, brutal hours on Earth, returns anew (in the afterlife) to heal her pain; even as good Dale Cooper lands a comforting, supportive arm on her shoulder. Our last view of the cheerleader is of Laura smiling.

In life, Laura was relentlessly victimized...her goodness burned away by life's ugliness. In death's sitting room, of all places, peace is finally at hand.

Although this may seem decidedly bleak, it is also Lynch's balancing of the spiritual world. It may be a place of garmonbozia -- death and suffering -- but it isn't populated merely by the likes of Bob and the Man From Another Place. The winged celestial being is there too, the seraph, and that means that forgiveness is at hand.

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
isn't misanthropic. In Laura Palmer, there's sympathy for the victim of abuse. Even in Leland Palmer, there's sympathy for the devil. If we do "live in a dream," as one character suggests in the film, then it is also up to us to shape that dream, and always keep Bob at bay.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

The Questor Tapes Re-Activate!

The San Francisco Chronicle and other news outlets have reported this week that Rod Roddenberry and Ron Howard's production company, Imagine, are teaming to produce a new version of the classic 1970s Gene Roddenberry TV pilot, The Questor Tapes:

"The script, about a robot with incomplete memory tapes who is searching for his creator, was originally written by Roddenberry as a 13-episode TV series, but after disagreements with bosses at America's NBC network the sci-fi mogul abandoned the project.

The production eventually aired as a one-off small screen movie in 1974 - and now Roddenberry's son is hoping to bring "The Questor Tapes" back to life to honor his dad's memory.

Rod Roddenberry says, "My father always felt that Questor was the one that got away. He believed that the show had the potential to be bigger than Star Trek."

Personally, I think this is great news: The Questor Tapes never got a fair shake in the 1970s. Network brass wanted it to look more like The Six-Million Dollar Man than an original series and so Roddenberry stuck to his creative guns...scuttling the show. Although I'd rather see Genesis II re-made, I believe Questor would make for a great new series; especially as we continue to lose quality sci-fi program, seemingly by the bushel full.

Here' a snippet of my review of the original TV movie:

The Questor Tapes is an almost perfect representation of the Gene Roddenberry aesthetic. There is (gentle...) criticism of 20th century industrial/technological mankind here, his "squalor...ugliness...greed...struggles."

Yet this damning view is balanced and tempered by an essential optimism about intrinsic human nature. Our "greatest accomplishment," declares Questor is "our ability to love one another."

Questor is a character much like Mr. Spock or Lt. Data -- an outsider who is nonetheless fascinated by mankind. The perspective as "outsider" permits Questor, Data or Spock to be both critical and positive about the human race, without any of it seeming personal, political or petty. Like Spock, Questor is dedicated to logic, and uses that word (logic) frequently. "Logic indicates the simplest plan is often the best," etc. And also like Spock, Questor is peaceful. He is not programmed to kill, yet he can incapacitate enemies with the equivalent of a "nerve pinch."

But if Questor is a child of Spock, he is also the father of Data. There can be little doubt of that. Questor desires to be human, just like Data, and wants to understand humor. "Humor is a quality which seems to elude me," he tells Jerry at one point. Also, like Data, Questor is a sexual being, and this facet of his personality also conforms to an essential quality of all Roddenberry productions: kinkiness.

To get information out of Lady Helena Trimble, Questor -- an android -- makes love to her. Beforehand, he tells her that he"fully functional." Next Generation fans will recognize that particular turn of phrase from Data's seduction of Tasha Yar in the first season episode "The Naked Now."

In another scene from The Questor Tapes, Jerry and Questor visit a European casino and Questor learns that the House is cheating, utilizing fake dice. The android is able to beat the cheaters by adjusting the balance of the dice. In the second season episode of The Next Generation entitled "The Royale," Data does precisely the same thing.

The Questor Tapes has aged poorly in a few, minor ways...all mostly visual. For instance, a close-up glimpse of Questor's high-tech interior reveals a rotary telephone cord...not exactly state of the art. And the very idea that "tapes" would carry an android's programming? Well, that is passe, of course too. Even Vaslovik's Information Center is obviously pre-world-wide-web.

Yet none of that matters in the slightest. What matters here, and what grants The Questor Tapes a real "heart" is the relationship at the forefront of the production: the friendship between a human (Jerry) and a machine (Questor). There's funny banter and quiet affection there, and the relationship will remind you (in a positive, not derivative...) way of the long-lived Kirk/Spock friendship. It's different in that Jerry has no authority over Questor: he's a teacher in the subject of humanity, not a commanding officer. Despite the difference, there's definitely charm here...


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Air France fracas: 15 go on trial over job cuts protest

French PM calls for stiff sentences for ‘rogues’ after airline managers forced to flee mob of workers angry over planned job cuts Fifteen people have gone on trial over rowdy scenes a year ago in which an Air France executive had his shirt ripped as he fled workers who were angry about planned job cuts. Footage of the incident near Paris in October 2015 showed bare-chested human resources chief Xavier Broseta trying to scale a fence after being chased out of a meeting about restructuring proposals at the airline that would lead to the loss of 2,900 jobs.
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Air France managers flee as staff storm meeting on job cuts

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Air France 'shirt-ripping' trial to open

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Fifteen people go on trial Tuesday over rowdy scenes a year ago in which an Air France executive had his shirt shredded as he fled a mob of workers angry over planned job cuts. Images of the incident in France hit screens around the...

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22 fascinating maps that show how Americans speak English differently across the US

Everyone knows Americans don't agree on pronunciations. That's great, because regional accents and dialects are a major part of why American English is so interesting. Josh Katz, a former Ph.D. student of statistics at North Carolina State University, published a group of awesome visualizations of Professor Bert Vaux and Scott Golder's linguistic survey, which looked at differences in American dialects (via detsl on /r/Linguistics).
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These Maps Prove Americans Speak Totally Different Versions Of The English Language

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Soda, Pop, or Coke: Maps of Regional Dialect Variation in the United States

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Hidden Treasures Part One - The Secrets Of Old Books

As the owner of a literary gift company, I have a lot of gorgeous old books. I'm often lucky enough to find hidden treasures, secret snippets of the past, nestled within their pages. Although these small delights usually appear to be of no particular value - a scrapped receipt perhaps or a post-it note with an illegible scribble - they can sometimes hold an incredibly significant sentiment.
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Album review
Ghetto Revolution

Tracking list

  1. Ghetto Revolution
  2. Jah Will Be There
  3. That's Why
  4. The Truth Is Revealing
  5. Don't Say
  6. Just Fine
  7. Don't Waste Time
  8. I Want You
  9. Love The Little Children
  10. Have You
  11. Live It Up
  12. Won't Stop
  13. So Serious
Rating : from 5 (excellent) to 1 (poor)

Vocals : 4/5 Backing : 4/5 Production : 5 Sound quality : 5 Sleeve : 4/5

Miguel Collins aka Sizzla received his fiery appellation from Jamstyle producer Homer Harris who discovered him whilst still at school, and the name is appropriate: Sizzla, his words burning down wickedness wherever it applies. Like many other artists at the forefront of Jamaica's roots movement, including Capleton, Jah Cure and Anthony B., Sizzla's militant rasta stance is expressed through his adherance to Prince Emmanuel's priestly Bobo Shanti order whose affiliates often wear the turban and carry the broom. In 1996 Phillip "Fatis" Burrell issued Sizzla's debut album 'Burning Up' but Sizzla's major breakthrough came with the release in 1997 of the now classic album, 'Black Woman and Child'. Bearing all the hallmarks of Bobby 'Digital' Dixon's dancehall-influenced production, the impact on both the reggae and mainstream markets was phenomenal. Sizzla has since released several albums, including 1998's 'Kalonji' (Jestar), which saw the single "Rain Shower" play listed at Radio One and last year's 'Rastafari Teach I Everything'. He has an ability to fuse passionate lyrical styling with deceptively simple rhythms that take in range of genres from staccato dancehall and gentle roots reggae to surprisingly commercial R&B and soul arrangements.
Sizzla's latest album "Ghetto Revolution" sees the young firebrand develop and mature whilst still drawing on his Bobo Ras beliefs. Continuing to command respect and court controversy, Sizzla offers no apology for his thought provoking lyrics, his disregard of authority and angry attacks on politicians and the system that maintains injustice. He continues to deliver a thought provoking journey and insight into Jamaican culture, ghetto livity and the religious teachings of his Bobo Ras faith. In contrast with his other "Fatis" Burrell produced albums this new CD includes fewer hardcore dancehall tunes and more slow paced, R&B flavored (lovers!) tunes and some straight forward reggae riddims, expertly delivered by Sly and Robbie, Donald Dennis, Dean Fraser and Robert Murphy, to name but a few. The title track is one of his best tracks ever, delivered across a groovy riddim, followed by Jah Will Be There (a version of Dennis Brown's "Here I Come") which happens to be a mellow and jazzy flavored tune. That's Why sees Sizzla inna lovers mood across Dennis Brown's 'Have You Ever' riddim. The next track, the stunning The Truth Is Revealing, is an undisputed highlight of the album. With Don't Say his mood gets furious, but Just Fine is a fine lovers ballad. I Want You sees Sizzla once again proclaiming his love and need for "his lady". Next comes our favorite track of the album, the anti abortion song Love The Little Children. The song Live It Up flows gently across the bass line of Dennis Brown's "Revolution" while dancehall emerges on Won't Stop and So Serious.
Ghetto Revolution captures Sizzla inna mellow mood as the album includes several lovers tunes. The noteworthy production of "Fatis" manages to create a musical variety which will appeal to a lot of his fans. Not a mindblowing album when first heard, but definitely one that grows after several playing sessions. So, check it out!

Teacher & Mr. T.


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Sizzla Kalonji

Emerging during the latter half of the '90s, the enormously prolific Sizzla was one of the leaders of the conscious dancehall movement. Along with Buju Banton and Capleton, he helped lead dancehall back to the musical and spiritual influence of roots reggae, favoring organic productions and heavily Rastafarian subject matter. A member of the militant Bobo Ashanti sect, he sometimes courted controversy with his strict adherence to their views, particularly his aggressive condemnations of homosexuals and white Western oppressors. Yet overall, his music was generally positive, advocating faith and compassion for poor black youth, and respect for women. He remained something of an enigma to the public at large, rarely granting interviews and keeping his concert appearances to a minimum. Nonetheless, he still ranked as arguably the most popular conscious reggae artist of his time, thanks to a normally high standard of quality control -- all the more impressive given the frequency with which he recorded. A versatile singjay-style vocalist with a gruff, gravelly tone, he was capable of both rapid-fire chatting and powerful, melodic singing, and his best backing riddims were among the strongest in contemporary dancehall.

Sizzla was born Miguel Collins on April 17, 1976 and was raised in the August Town area of Kingston of devout Rastafarian parents. After honing his vocal skills, he landed a gig with the Caveman Hi-Fi sound system, where he first made a name for himself as a performer. He cut his first single for the small Zagalou label in 1995, and soon moved on to Bobby "Digital" Dixon's Digital B imprint. However, he didn't manage a break-out success until saxophonist Dean Fraser recommended him to producer Philip "Fatis" Burrell. Sizzla released a series of singles on Burrell's Xterminator label, including "Judgement Morning," "Life's Road," "Blaspheme," "We Uh Fear," "I'm Not Sure," and the Shadowman duet "The Gun." His first LP, Burning Up, appeared on Xterminator later in 1995, and he toured extensively alongside Luciano and Mikey General. Unlike kindred spirits Capleton and Buju Banton, Sizzla's early material was culturally oriented right from the start; he was able to build an audience without any of the lyrical slackness that helped establish the other two.

Creatively speaking, Sizzla really came into his own with the release of his second album, the Burrell-produced Praise Ye Jah in 1997. Widely considered one of the top conscious dancehall albums of its time, Praise Ye Jah was quickly trumped by the release of the Dixon-produced Black Woman & Child that same year. The title track was a smash hit and became something of a cultural reggae anthem. Sizzla scored several more hits during 1997, including "Like Mountain," "Babylon Cowboy," "Kings of the Earth," and the Luciano duet "Build a Better World." This hot streak kicked off an enormously productive recording binge that lasted over the next several years, with much of his output still done for Burrell.

1998's Kalonji was issued in the U.S. under the title Freedom Cry, and featured the successful singles "Love Amongst My Brethren" and "Rain Shower." No less than three albums -- Be I Strong, Good Ways, and Royal Son of Ethiopia -- appeared in 1999, with Be I Strong achieving the highest profile among them. 2000 brought three more albums: the double-CD Liberate Yourself (which featured one disc of Sizzla material and another of his protégés), Words of Truth (which featured a bonus live disc), and Bobo Ashanti, a well-received, highly spiritual set with a stronger hip-hop flavor. Refusing to slow down, Sizzla issued four more albums in 2001 -- Black History, Taking Over, Rastafari Teach I Everything, and Blaze Up the Chalwa -- and often displayed a harder edge and a willingness to embrace digital production. That approach changed in 2002, when he concentrated on softer, mellower, more romantic material, which dominated that year's albums: Ghetto Revolution and Da Real Thing. Two more albums, Light of My World and Rise to the Occasion, appeared in 2003. Soul Deep was released in 2005, with both Ain't Gonna See Us Fall and Waterhouse Redemption landing a year later. By the end of 2006, Sizzla released the high-profile The Overstanding, an album with hip-hop impresario Damon Dash as executive producer. I-Space returned the singer to his Jamaican roots in mid-2007. Welcome to the Good Life followed in 2011. A trip to Africa influenced two of his 2012 albums with The Chant focusing on his visit to Zimbabwe while In Gambia was partially recorded in its namesake country. His 2013 effort The Messiah was recorded with the Bread Back production team and marked his 70th album. The 2014 set Radical rounded up lost tracks recorded for the Xterminator label between 1992 and 2003.~ Steve Huey, Rovi

Display #
Title Created Date Category
Sizzla - Children Of The World (EP 2015) 29 April 2015 Albums
Born a King (2014) 19 May 2014 Albums
Radical (2014) 18 April 2014 Albums
Nuh Worry Unu Self (2014) 18 March 2014 Albums
Sizzla - Think Positive (Banx & Ranx 2015) 17 May 2015 News
Sizzla - "I'm Living" [Official Video 2015] - BRAND NEW! 05 January 2015 News


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The Hive (2015)

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  • Release date of movie : 2015-09-14
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  • Durationof movie : 89 Min
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  • Cast of movie :Kathryn Prescott (Katie), Gabriel Basso (), Jacob Zachar (Clark), Aurelia Scheppers (Megan), Gabrielle Walsh (Jess)

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Stallions > Gone But Not Forgotten

Ellen Parker

It's no secret to those who examine pedigrees that sire lines rise and fall. There are a number of reasons for this from market popularity to the need for an infusion of new blood.  However, when this swing occurs - say to Bold Ruler, then to Northern Dancer, then to Mr. Prospector and so forth - we should not be so enthusiastic in embracing the new line that there is nothing left of the valuable old ones.

Now some folks will tell you that we don't really lose these lines, they are still found in pedigrees, which is true.  Nonetheless, one would like to see some variety in the stallion register and sales catalogues.  It would be refreshing to see more Prince Rose blood, more Tourbillon blood, more Son-In-Law blood and yes, more Hyperion blood.  Because he's one of the last great ones we are about to lose.

Some horses truly become legends in their own time and some are honestly loved and no horse fits this description better than Hyperion.  We re-told a portion of his story in our article on Selene (Pedlines Nov. 1996), so we will not dwell on it, but simply recap.

So tiny as a yearling that it was necessary to built a special feed box for him, Hyperion nearly was gelded because of his size.  But his sire Gainsborough was a Triple Crown winner and the best sire of his time and his dam, Selene, was good enough as a runner that some pundits of the day suggested she could have beaten colts in the Epsom Derby and she would become a legend in the stud giving us *Sickle, *Pharamond II, Hunter's Moon and All Moonshine in addition to Hyperion.

A tremendously lazy workhorse, Hyperion had the mildest of tempers and kept his energy reserved for big races like the Epsom Derby, which he won by four lengths in the then-record time of 2:34 and the St. Leger, which he won by three lengths despite the lack of a prep race.  He was also precocious enough to set a five-furlong record at two in the New Stakes.  If he was somewhat suspect over cup distances with severe weight burdens at four, it was never held against him, perhaps a hint of what was to come in the way of breeders' thinking.

With this record of pedigree and performance, Hyperion retired to the Derby stud and made a remarkable record.  He was leading sire six times - from 1940-42 and again in 1945-46 and 1956.  Overall, he was among the top ten 16 times and was twice leading broodmare sire.

Americans were eager to obtain his blood and this they did in the form of such horses as *Heliopolis, *Khaled and *Alibhai.  Later, his daughter Lady Angela would foal a horse named Nearctic who would, in turn, sire Northern Dancer.
One would think that this remarkable record would mean continued success for all time.  Hyperion's overall record was, in fact, far better than Nearco's own.  Yet in looking at today’s “grey pages” in The Blood Horse stallion directory, one finds not a single line of Hyperion blood.  Of course there may be a handful of such sires in regional markets, but they will not see enough mares to matter anyhow
The story of Hyperion used to be far different in other parts of the world.  In Australia where Star Kingdom reigned, his blood seemed assured of a permanent role.  Yet today, open a sire book from that part of the world and one finds a saturation of Danehill blood and just one Star Kingdom-line sire in the ‘big book’, Toorak Toff.

In Europe, a handful of lines remain via sires like Pastoral Pursuits, Anjaal and Major Cadeaux.  But one wonders how long they will hold on against the Northern Dancer onslaught.

It is likewise in all other parts of the world, even South America where *Forli was born.  Today, South American pedigrees often look more American than some regional lines we come across.  And oddly enough, Good Manners, who was Nashua-line (a line that did not breed on in tail-male in the U. S.) was all the rage not so long ago.

So far as the Hyperion situation in the U. S. is concerned, *Forli simply failed to establish a very strong sire line, though the early death of his wonderfully bred son Intrepid Hero did not help anything.  *Khaled’s best son Swaps was better known as a broodmare sire than as a sire of stallions. *Alibhai never got the big son, though Deputed Testamony won the Preakness and became a useful Maryland sire. *Heliopolis did better through the speedy Olympia, partly because of Fred Hooper’s breeding program.  American Pharoah, who descends from one of those families has the Olympia inbred Zetta Jet as his third dam.

Aside from *Forli (by Aristophanes by Hyperion) and *Vaguely Noble (by Vienna by Aureole by Hyperion), both of which have pretty much died out (the latter most sadly via Exceller), Nodouble was probably the strongest Hyperion-line horse in the U. S. and he, of course, was by Noholme II by Hyperion’s wonderful Star Kingdom.

Nodouble actually headed the U. S. sire list in 1981, but he was moved around during his stud career and no one made a really concerted effort to get him the kinds of mares that make a sire (i.e. mares from important ‘sire source’ families like *Boudoir II and *Rough Shod II).  He also was not an attractive horse like *Forli, and lacked his brilliance, being considered something of a hard knocker (his nickname was “the Arkansas Traveler”).  Oddly enough, the very toughness that made him popular as a racehorse was held against him at stud.

As for us, we always wanted to see a Thatch-line horse or a Sing Sing-line horse tried out in the U. S., but no one ever showed much interest, so that idea died out somewhere between our ears.  There was a lovely Mummy’s Pet horse in California named Mister Wonderful, but he was pretty much ignored.  A brilliant racehorse, and a gorgeous physical specimen, we will always feel he was wasted.

Of course there is normally a reason why a sire line peters out in any part of the world and Hyperion's link is so tenuous that we have to look at his own pedigree.  We see at once that while Hyperion is classified a brilliant/classic Chef by Steven Roman, that he is in all probability mis-classified and should be a pure classic sire.

The major Hyperion-line horses that have stood in the U. S. in recent memory are a mixed lot:  Noholme II was classified brilliant/classsic; *Khaled intermediate; *Heliopolis brilliant.  On the other hand, *Alibhai and *Forli were classified classic and Vaguely Noble was classic/professional.

There are some pedigree authorities that suggest that once a son has diverted from his sire line to either faster or more classic waters then the influence of his sire no longer matters.  We beg to disagree, certainly when that sire is as widely represented in pedigrees as a horse like Hyperion.  Are we to believe that the very fast Tudor Minstrel line can overcome five or six crosses of Hyperion himself?  We don't think so.

So it once more comes down to pedigree composition and Hyperion is in a lot of pedigrees more than once.  Now if that horse happens to have two crosses of *Heliopolis on two crosses of Tudor Minstrel-line Sing Sing, that speed will likely come through.  But if it is a mixed bag, and there are four or more crosses, some via daughters, we must consider that Hyperion's own classic bent will be felt.

For this is a horse whose pedigree is loaded with the blood of Galopin, Sterling and Pocahontas, and who has only two lines of Bend Or.  It is not the pedigree of a sprinter, nor did he run or sire like one.

Consider 1998 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Real Quiet, whose dosage numbers were over the "magic 4.00" dictated by Roman.  In the pedigree of this colt are three very important lines of Hyperion, sex-balanced via Lady Angela to the excellent sires Stardust and *Alibhai.  We feel his female family, Boudoir II, is what won two classics for him, but three sex-balanced lines of Hyperion, two of them contributed by his dam, certainly didn't hurt.

Pedlines has spent a fair share of time discussing the lack of diversity of our sire lines.  We feel that we have gone too far toward what one excellent analyst jokingly calls the "Phalaris Disease".  We've been feeling it in every area of the sport.  It was one thing for Secretariat to retire at three because of the tax pressures associated with Chris Chenery's estate.  It is quite another when the majority of our classic horses never return at four.

Hyperion alone, or *Princequillo or Son-In-Law is not the answer.  But giving the stud book some variety via the best of these lines can only help revitalize a breed that is getting tired and oh-so-fragile.  If variety is the spice of life, then variety is the life of the Thoroughbred.

There have been many great stories told about Hyperion, from Lord Derby drinking the last of his favorite Napoleon brandy upon the horse's death to the old stallion getting so interested in a mare during a walk-on performance at age 29 that it was necessary to dim the lights.  But we'll repeat our favorite for those who have not read it.  The commentary is credited to Tom Forest:

"Hyperion is a horse I only met once, and never saw race.  But that brazen bantam cock told me everything about his whole career, on the track and at stud, in the outrageous swagger with which he stepped out of his box at Stanley House.  Well over 20 years old at that time, sway-backed and swollen-bellied, with tear tracks down from his fading old eyes, he was not a sorry sight at all.  He was the indefatigable trouper, the star, the champ...the greatest.

"He was racing's prince of showmen who claimed his crown in 1933 and flaunted its splendour to every available audience to the day he died.  If there is one horse it would break my heart never to have seen, this is the one."
How can the Thoroughbred world let such a heritage die?  One need only remember Forego or Dahlia or Swaps to know that we should not.  That, indeed, we dare not.

Ellen Parker's Hyperion story originally appeared in Pedlines #40, April 1999,
and has been updated for the website

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Friday, February 11, 2011

Day 2 at RootsTech

The schedule of classes here at RootsTech 2010 is so interesting, but I've yet to have time enough to attend even one! My morning started early today, at a VIP Breakfast put on by the nice folks at I considered turning off my alarm and sleeping in, but decided it would be fun to talk with other folks there, and went. Glad I did - we had assigned seats with name cards, and it was very obvious who didn't come! The idea with the seating chart was for folks to talk with people they probably hadn't met yet. Funny thing was that I was seated next to Laura Prescott, president of the Association of Professional Genealogists. I'd met her last year, but we've gotten to know each other much better at this conference - seems every time I turn around we're bumping into one another! I also got to sit at the next table over from some other dear friends, Lynell and Fred Moss from Plano Texas, and also Gena Philibert Ortega, from GenealogyWise. Anyway, the FamilySearchfolks gave us each a flash drive with lots of good info on it, and a printed program that contained the photo and bios of everyone there. It was very casual, great conversation and a wonderful way to start off the day.

After breakfast, I wandered the exhibit hall just a bit, and talked with Louise St Denis of the National Institute for Genealogical Studies a bit, about the classes that she offers through her certificate program.

I talked with Grant Brunner from, and decided I'd really like to learn more about their website when I get some free time, and I think I convinced him to try out Second Life and maybe come and talk to our genealogy community there about what has to offer. Yeah, thats me, always thinking of SL...

I think I convinced another fellow of the same, but i'll be darned if I can remember his name. He was at the booth with this really cool iphone/ipod ap called Traces Of The Past. He admitted that right now, for $3.99, the functionality is a little bit limited, but, he assured me, that there next software update, which will be included in the current price if you buy now, will be AWESOME! I saw a demo, and, well, gotta agree with him there on the AWESOME part! With this app, from your ipod or iphone, you will be able to search the Historical Records being indexed on the website - and actually bring up the images! You will also be able to access your family files if you have them stored at either, or

And speaking of FamilySearch (again), yesterday a fellow mentioned that they are working on an INDEXING APP for mobile devices! Imagine how cool -- waiting in line, you can index a couple of names and get one step closer to having all those 2.5 million rolls of microfilms indexed and accessible. Sounded like a great idea to me at least...

Anyway, after wandering the exhibit hall just a bit, I headed to the the Blogger's media center, where I ran through my afternoon class's powerpoint one last time and saved it off to my new flash drive. How convenient was that?

At 11:30, I'd been asked to meet with some fine folks from They are sincerely interested in the opinions of users, and I really felt my comments were noted and appreciated. One of these gentlemen, Craig H. Miller, Senior Vice President of Family Search, gave me a little peek at one of the products they are thinking about developing. It would be a search tool, where you enter the name you are searching, then hover your cursor over an area on the map rather than choosing a specific state, or county. Imagine the possibilities this means - rather than having to search specifically through every adjoining county to find where that errant ancestor ran off to get married, this "hover" feature will look for any record that includes your search term name, within a given distance of your cursor, irrespective of county or any other type of boundaries. I thought it was a really cool feature and I certainly hope they pursue it.

Shortly thereafter I was interviewed by blogger, Joan Miller who authors the Luxegen Genealogy Blog ( It was "interview Tami" day, I guess, considering later in the afternoon I was also interviewed by Drew Smith, author of Social Networking for Genealogists, and half of the 'Genealogy Guys' podcast. Drew is also a part of our group of genealogists in Second Life, and I think I've convinced him to speak to our SL chapter APG group in the near future.

My only class today was at 1:45 and I spoke on "Finding Your Family Stories Online", a lecture I love giving, as it I really love putting "flesh on the bones" so to speak, by finding stories about ancestors and the times they lived in, so they aren't just names and dates on a black and white pedigree chart. But oh my gosh! They had me presenting in the same room that Curt Witcher had given the opening talk in this morning - you know, the one with the tiled shower stall backdrop? (still chuckling over that comparison). Its a HUGE room, with a stage, and geez, must be a dozen big screens all over the front of the room. But the really weird part was just the minute before my presentation was to start, what sounded like it could only have been the "voice of God" booming through the room that "the presentation will begin in one minute". At least I didn't trip walking over to the podium!

My presentation was very well received, and among the folks who came up to ask questions afterwards was a small group of women who apologized profusely that they hadn't been able to make my class yesterday on Cool Tools, because (and they seriously sounded annoyed) they'd had to attend a funeral instead. Gosh. I felt honored in a weird sort of way! So I invited them back to one of the unconferencing areas later in the afternoon. RootsTech has set up all these awesome areas for people to get together and share information - like the one we met at, with a few sofas set up together, and a laptop I could pop my flash drive into, projecting my presentation on a large TV screen. I had my interview with Drew Smith coming up, but we raced thru the Powerpoint, covering the highlights. It was really fun. I love the opportunity to share great internet tools and websites with folks any time that it works out to do so!

The HIGHLIGHT of the day, though, was being able to hold our SL chapter APG meeting in the computer lab at the Family History Library. DearMYRTLE was a lifesaver, as she helped with the technical end while I worked at getting the meeting in order. We had a bit of technical difficulties at the start, but with the help of the incredible staff there at the FHL, we were able to project a laptop screen of Second Life to a live audience, and have the sound on speakers. Craig Scott, CG, owner of Heritage Books and military records expert, spoke to our group as his avatar, Krag Marriner, on Civil War research. It was a wonderful presentation, packed with great information. Not only did folks learn about how to find information on their military ancestors, they got to see how we operate in Second Life, that we learn AND have fun too.

I've got a few things up my sleeve for tomorrow, but nothing I have to set my alarm clock for, fortunately. I'm hoping to get to at least one class tomorrow, but if not, I'll get some more vendor information at least - there are some really cool products out there in that vendor hall, that's for sure!

Sharon Brennan said...

I've just purchased Traces of the Past for $4.99 for my iPad here in Australia on your recommendation. I've read so many posts and twitter feeds about the conference today. I wish I was there. It must be so exciting. Perhaps there'll be another one next year. I better start saving.

gtownma said...

Enjoyed reading your blog and seeing what all you did. Blog more as time permits. Enjoyed SL tonite very much.

Valerie said...

Tami I loved your presentation on Cool Tools and wrote about you and your awesome toolbar here:

I'm kicking myself for not being at your second presentation. Thanks for all you do. You are so generous with your knowledge.
Warm regards,

Ginger Smith said...

Hi Tami, I have really enjoyed reading your blog. Thank you for taking the time to post your stories! I have chosen you to receive the "One Lovely Blog" award. You may stop by my blog to see the rules that go along with accepting this award. Ginger


text:
Saturday, August 05, 2006

WOOHOO! I rock!

I’ve never been one for live music. Not recordings of concerts or concerts themselves. And it’s really only for one reason. I like to see musicians having fun, jamming their little hearts out. I do. Really. Well, except for those really endless jams. But what I don’t like about live shows and recordings of live shows is exactly what makes it live. People.

Don’t get me wrong. I like people just fine…OH WHO AM I KIDDING? I hate people. We all know that. And people who insist on singing along when I paid $80 to see Boy George sing Karma Chameleon his own damn self, man they really piss me off. And I don’t like standing behind that really tall guy either. And I absolutely hate that dirty hippie that insists on smoking the world’s biggest joint at every freakin’ show I see. Who the heck needs weed to get in the mood to hear Supertramp…oh. Yeah. Right. But see, I am allergic to that stuff and when you smoke it with me in the same area code and sing along…I CAN’T ENJOY MYSELF. And we all know that if Ren ain’t happy…she goes home quietly and stews about it.

And the recordings of live shows are just like being at a live show without the weed. (And really people, do you need your weed at every damn show? Seriously? Just say no.) Oh it’s toke free but the assholes still sing along. On the two disc cd that I paid thirty dollars for. You know why Elton John sings “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” dude? SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO!

But all that changed today. I finally realized why people love live recordings so much. I was listening to Billy Bragg and Jill Solbule singing “All the Young Dudes” and right in the middle of it she yells…”You in the glasses, I think I love you!” and I thought…wait a minute…I’m wearing glasses! She loves me! And then the crowd went wild and I realized that they were all clapping for me!

I finally know where to get that little ego boost when I need it. All those live recordings that I have been ignoring for years…they have all the applause I could ever want! It’s like having my very own cheering section. And they think I am awesome! They want more!

Dude, I freakin’ rock.

See also: comedy recordings. Man can I make them laugh!

Jodi said...

You do rock!

You should come see Jill with us at Largo sometime. She rocks, there's no pot, and generally people don't sing along...except when she tells us too and then it's more like a sing-along, with everyone involved.

Brenda Griffith said...

Dave is all about live music. If you see the Drive By Truckers Live on dvd, he is there in the front, shirt open, rockin' his little heart out. Me, I was home in the cool (as opposed to hot & sweaty), I had my feet up (as opposed to on my feet all night), and, oh yeah, I was not deafened to the point my ears rang for two days. And no one smashed into me thinking it was cool to bounce around against everyone. What is up with THAT?


text:
Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Wellness Wednesday

Scale 1
With the new year almost here, the resolutions are also just around the corner. The most popular resolution is to lose weight. Health magazine offer some suggestions to avoid mistakes we often make when setting that particular resolution.

When you set goals or make resolutions, they need to be SMART - Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-Bound. Take some time to think through and map out your goals. There are lots of worksheets on the internet that can help you set your goal. Another good tool is a vision board, which is a collage that visually depicts your goals. You can put your vision board on a large posterboard and place it in a prominent place or, if you prefer to make it more private, on a simple manila file folder that you can tuck away with other paperwork and refer to when you need a reminder of your plan.

Monday, December 28, 2015

Monday Morning Amusement

Cute but no, we don't do this. Although early on when we only had a few goats we had collars on them. My favorite and first girl, Esmeralda, had a pink rhinestone collar. She lost it in the bushes and I never found it (nor did I replace it). We've also had bottle-fed babies wear diapers while in the house. But no, no pajamas.

Sunday, December 27, 2015

Quote for the Day

"Every new beginning comes from
some other beginning's end."

Friday, December 25, 2015

Merry Christmas

Raphael's Sistine Madonna
Wishing everyone a very merry and blessed day.

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Wellness Wednesday

Fabs knows how to relax during the holiday season
The Mayo Clinic offers some good tips for coping with holiday stress. My favorite one is to be realistic. Expecting a postcard perfect holiday sets you up for stress and a huge let down.

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Adult Gift Giving

Here's a great article on why gift-giving among adults at Christmas is silly and wasteful. It may be too late for this year, but it's something to think about for future years.

Monday, December 21, 2015

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Quote for the Day

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.

I'll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody'll dare
Say to me,
"Eat in the kitchen,"

They'll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed -

I, too, am America.

~Langston Hughes

Friday, December 18, 2015

Farm Friday

We've had unseasonably warm weather this past week - we've set record highs. Earlier this week I even got outside and washed some of our windows! The forecast is for some below-freezing temperatures but Christmas is supposed to warm - in the 70s. Great for the gardens, not so good for the earth.

Cooking with my favorite cookbook
I've kept busy this week, filling orders and checking things off my to do list. Here's a quick summary of some of the things I've been up to:

  • Cooked several different recipes to use up the extra cauliflower we had (good enough for us but not good enough to sell). My new favorite cookbook (not including my own) is The Easy Vegan Cookbook by Kathy Kester. It has lots of easy and creative ways to cook vegetables and includes many gluten-free, oil-free, and soy-free options.
  • Got our refrigerator repaired. As suspected it was just the fan but it was a little more complicated than a basic fan replacement. Apparently there was a design flaw and the bracket had to be replaced, too.
  • Fixed a bench that has a hinged top. One of the hinges had bent and pulled out two of the screws. It wasn't a difficult fix, just one I had put off for weeks because I have to contort myself a bit to make the repair and it's hard on my back.
  • Made a new salve, one for bumps and bruises. It's made with arnica, St. John's wort, and plantain, among other things.
  • Organized my office so it makes more sense. Moved the printer to it's own table as it was taking up too much space on my desk.
  • Went into the jail to do a Christmas craft with some of the female inmates. My women's group has been going into the jail to do monthly craft projects for the last 10 years. We also do a brief devotional or Bible study with them as well, but the main component is the craft.
  • Returned a couple of items to LL Bean that didn't function properly. I love their very generous return policy. Unlike many companies, they actually stand behind everything they sell.
  • Continued my purging of things that I don't want, need, or use. Starting to feel lighter already.
Have a great week!

Monday, December 14, 2015

Saturday, December 12, 2015

Quote for the Day

"Religion has become a very easy excuse to cover up the true story of a war mentality in agriculture devastating the planet and soils. We really need to start telling history from the point of view of the earth."
~Vandana Shiva

Friday, December 11, 2015

Farm Friday

Last Friday's pizza (roasted red pepper and roasted broccoli)
I'm writing this as I'm baking a batch of granola for an order tomorrow. Seems like if I wait for the "perfect" time to sit down and write a post, it just doesn't get done. So now I'm grabbing a bit of time while I can.

A few highlights from the week:

  • Attended a book discussion yesterday in which Bill's book was the one being reviewed.
  • Thought our refrigerator died and was going to have to buy a new one. I happened to mention it to a friend and he told me the problem might be simple to fix, that if it wasn't the compressor, then it was the fan. I plugged the refrigerator back in, heard the compressor come on but saw that the fan wasn't turning. I called our repairman and he talked me through a temporary fix until he could get the part.
  • Tried a new dish - a spicy Indian one with cauliflower and potatoes.
  • Prepared and delivered orders on Tuesday. We'll be making deliveries tomorrow, too.
  • Getting ready for our annual farm review. Already know we'll be making some changes to the way we do things. Every year we get a little better at this business of farming.
  • Have a handyman scheduled to come do some repairs on our farm house and our house. While we try to do as much of this kind of work ourselves, sometimes we need to hire someone with more skill.
I thought I'd share an interesting perspective on the business of farming by a farm family here in Virginia. We're acquainted with the young family and have admired their drive and focus as they work towards their dreams. While we have some amazing regular customers who help support our farm - we love and appreciate every one of them - it's still a struggle to make farming a viable operation. While it's now popular to say that you support local farms and farmers' markets, it often turns out to be is just lip service. Many of those who say they support the idea don't actually shop at farmers' markets or buy CSA shares. Instead they drive to the nearest large natural food store to buy groceries. I'm sharing this information, not for us, but for young people who want to be farmers and, just as important, earn a living wage. That's the key - living wage. They need to be able to pay a mortgage payment, have vehicles and farm equipment that are reliable, pay for health insurance and medical care, cover the tax burden, etc. You know, the basics in life. As I watch the severe drought in California, I wonder what will happen when that state can no longer provide most of the food for the nation. If small farmers have to retire their tractors because they can't pay the bills, who will provide our food? Local is best and local is what is going to feed us all in the long run.

Have a great week!

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Wellness Wednesday...A Day Late

Farmer's Market 1

The New York Times published a nice list of simple rules for healthy eating. You can find it here. A couple of the rules really caught my attention:

In rule number three, the author points out that "Things like salt and fat aren't the enemy. They're often necessary in the preparation of tasty, satisfying food. The key here is moderation." The introduction of fat-free foods and low-fat diets has not been successful. Why? Because 1) the manufacturers of processed foods simply substituted sugar for the fat and 2) food without fat leaves us hungry for more.

The tip in rule number six on consuming beverages is also great: "Treat all beverages with calories in them as you would alcohol." Liquid calories are much easier to consume as they don't require the time to slow down and chew nor do they have the fiber to make us feel full. When we take our time eating, chewing, and savoring solid food, our body has time to register whether or not it is still hungry for more or already satisfied. Liquids bypass this natural mechanism.

Sunday, December 6, 2015

Quote for the Day

Today's quote is actually quite lengthy since it is an excerpt of a speech given by Robert F. Kennedy in 1967. His words, spoken almost 50 years ago, still hold true today. Politicians and business people might stick their heads in the sand and continue to rally for a "growing" economy, but such growth is like a cancer, eating up all that is healthy on the planet, just so they can point to graphs that show "progress." We need a new way of thinking. Is progress merely turning nature into commodities and communities into services?

Here are Kennedy's words (below is a recording):
Too much and for too long, we seemed to have surrendered personal excellence and community values in the mere accumulation of material things. Our Gross National Product, now, is over $800 billion dollars a year, but that Gross National Product – if we judge the United States of America by that – that Gross National Product counts air pollution and cigarette advertising, and ambulances to clear our highways of carnage. [As of 2013, our GDP was almost $17 trillion dollars a year.]
It counts special locks for our doors and the jails for the people who break them. It counts the destruction of the redwood and the loss of our natural wonder in chaotic sprawl.
It counts napalm and counts nuclear warheads and armored cars for the police to fight the riots in our cities. It counts Whitman’s rifle and Speck’s knife, and the television programs which glorify violence in order to sell toys to our children.
Yet the gross national product does not allow for the health of our children, the quality of their education or the joy of their play. It does not include the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our marriages, the intelligence of our public debate or the integrity of our public officials.
It measures neither our wit nor our courage, neither our wisdom nor our learning, neither our compassion nor our devotion to our country, it measures everything in short, except that which makes life worthwhile.
And it can tell us everything about America except why we are proud that we are Americans. [Source]

Saturday, December 5, 2015

More on Feeding the World

After doing research on food waste and the concept of "feeding the world," I started thinking about something that is big business in our nation, takes up hundreds of thousands of acres, and yet, for the most part, does nothing to fill hungry stomachs. In fact, although it is a food product, most of the harvest goes to...decorating...and then landfill. Have you guessed it? Pumpkins.

Halloween pumpkins#2
According to the USDA website, in 2014 the top 6 pumpkin producing states raised $1.3 billion dollars worth of this specialty crop. In 2012, those pumpkins covered 52,000 acres in the top 6 states. Of these 6 states, it looks like only Illinois raises pumpkins for processing - that is for consumption as food. The rest mainly grow for fresh use which would be for decorating.

Not only do pumpkins have a long growing season (meaning they occupy fields that could be used for growing other crops - food), a large number of chemicals go into their production. Check out this report on the Pesticide Action Network's website to get an idea of the type and quantity of pesticides used.

One shameful thing about this is that pumpkins are actually high in nutritional value, rich in vitamins A, C, and E, fiber, and minerals, such as copper and calcium. Pumpkins have a lot to offer, yet most end up carved up and then sent to landfill to (maybe) rot.

I cannot imagine what this type of food waste looks like to those in countries with high rates of malnutrition.

Friday, December 4, 2015

Farm Friday

In case you haven't noticed, the armchair activist is back! During the growing season I find myself uber multi-tasking, doing housework, homesteading, packing orders for delivery, doing deliveries, running errands, paying bills, updating our farm financial paperwork, etc., that I just don't have it in me to keep up with current events. Nor do I seem to have the brain capacity left to craft a decent post during much of the year. Now with the slower season, I've been able to spend time researching and writing about topics that are near and dear to my heart (although today wasn't one of those days).

Even though things have slowed down some, I had a full week (still a little multi-tasking going on). I did a lot of cooking:
Faux po' boy with sweet potato fries plus a salad made with Tokyo bekana, sprouts, and homemade zucchini dressing

Cauliflower in tomato sauce, braised cauliflower greens, corn on the cob (from the freezer), brown rice, and quick kimchi
Plus got a few other things done:

  • Went for a nice hike at Staunton River State Park on Black Friday. Made a picnic lunch and ate it at a picnic shelter on the Staunton River while watching the squirrels play.
  • Started a short course on Coursera - Introduction to Sustainable Development with Dr. Jeffrey Sachs of Columbia University (hope to finish it this weekend).
  • Made some new recipes: faux po' boy sandwiches (using cauliflower) and crisp baked sweet potato fries
  • Set up at the farmers' market for the Holiday Market
  • Finished some hot/cold therapy bags, bookmarkers, key fobs, and greeting cards to sell at the market
  • Packed orders for delivery tomorrow
  • Bill discovered some oyster mushrooms that we picked this morning (I'm going to try to make the faux po' boy sandwich with them plus freeze some for later)
  • Blanched and froze some broccoli that wasn't quite good enough to sell
  • Had to deal with a dead refrigerator. It's 11 years old so I guess it's time. So sad that appliances don't last like they once did.

Have a great week!

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Grandma Doesn't Need Another Ugly Christmas Sweater

Nor does she need any other article  of clothing. In the global north, we have more clothes than we can possibly wear. And so do most people in the global south since we ship so many of our discards overseas. For Americans, many of the gifted articles of clothing are unwanted. They typically end up languishing the back of closets until the recipient lets go of the guilt and donates them to a charity.
Featured Merchandise
I recently learned that when the earthquake hit Haiti in 2010, the initial reaction by Americans was to ship used clothing overseas. Turns out this was not what they needed. The shipments clogged the ports, sometimes delaying the shipments of things they really needed. In the end, most of the clothes were burned just to get rid of them.

Most people only wear about 20% of the clothes they own, and sometimes items are discarded after one wearing. We pat ourselves on the back for helping the poor, unfortunate people in the world by donating our clothing. But really, do we give them our best or things that are past their prime? I once heard a blogger talking about updating her seasonal wardrobe. She commented that blouses that had tears or stains would just go into the donation box for someone else to wear. Really? It's not good enough for you but it is for the "poor"?

This article gives some ideas on how to opt out of the fashion buying craze. I also blogged about the truth behind the clothing glut and what happens to donations here

For the holiday season, instead of buying clothes (or other consumer goods), consider giving the gift of time, services, or food. Something people really want and something that is better for the earth.

*My use of the photo from this website does not mean I endorse buying an ugly Christmas sweater to "help" those in need. Why not skip buying the sweater and donate the money instead? Or at the very least, if you feel compelled to wear (or gift) one, find one at a thrift store.

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Wellness Wednesday

This is the time of year where I start thinking about goals and improvements. Although New Year's Day is the traditional time to begin, I tend to try to get a jump start on it. Since I'm already thinking about it, I might as well do it. So as of yesterday, I'm on a "30 Days of Me" program where I'm working on detoxing various areas of my life. As healthy as my life is compared to a typical American, I know there's room for improvement.

I found this HIIT program (stands for high-intensity interval training) that is supposed to take only 12 minutes. Plus doing it just 3 times a week is supposed to be sufficient to show results. It has been a while since I belonged to a gym or even did group yoga so I do need to get back to regular physical fitness. During warmer months (when it doesn't get dark until late), I usually walk every evening but now with it being dark by 5:30 or so, I haven't been able to do that lately. I've just started hitting the mat with my old standby - Namaste Yoga - which offers about 12 different yoga practices lasting just over 20 minutes each. I think doing the yoga practice along with the HIIT will be just about right for getting and keeping me in shape over the winter.

Yoga Mats
If you're interested in getting ahead of the game this time around, I welcome you to join me - virtually, of course - in getting fit this month. Also, for other tips for getting and staying in shape, MindBodyGreen also has a list of 7 Lifehacks to Keep You Lean and Toned. Don't wait until 2016 to start adopting healthy habits.


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The official site of the City of Renton

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Renton: The Center of Opportunity

Renton has tremendous development and business opportunities in an ideal central location with a pro-business climate. The City is thriving in the high-tech, Puget Sound region with businesses that are relocating and expanding, major new housing projects, and great established and new neighborhoods that are being revitalized or created.

The City of Renton, a 23.79-square mile urban community located at the south end of Lake Washington, has 95,540 residents and 41,271 jobs.  The fourth largest city in King County, Renton has a strong economic base and a diverse marketplace.  With all of the advantages that Renton has to offer, the City has attracted the attention of nationally recognized companies that are looking to provide employees and their families with an outstanding quality of life.

Renton is a Great Place to do Business

  • Renton is centrally located, accessible by four state highways and Interstate 405, and just minutes away from Seattle, Bellevue, Tacoma, and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
  • Office space and housing in Renton are considerably less expensive than the two closest business centers of Seattle and Bellevue and numerous new developments provide a greater range of choices.
  • Renton draws from an exceptionally talented and well-educated workforce filled with world leaders in the high-tech, manufacturing, medical, biotech, and service industries.
  • With nationally recognized public schools, an excellent technical college, and nearby higher learning institutions, Renton offers a learning environment that benefits employees and their children.
  • The City's parks, theatres, concerts, festivals, and special events provide diverse entertainment opportunities for residents, employees, and visitors with unlimited cultural and recreational opportunities also available in the Greater Puget Sound region.
  • Renton also has streamlined the planning and development process and reduced approval time of permits in order to expedite quality developments.

Come find out what others have experienced in Renton and be a part of our urban community's dynamic future! You will not find another location that has all the recreational and quality of life amenities, healthy business climate, economic diversification, and value anywhere; it's that simple.

Please contact the Department of Community & Economic Development for more information or to discuss opportunities for locating or expanding your business in Renton.

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ReportGen for Novell BorderManager 2.0

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3.65 MB

Publisher Description

ReportGen for Novell BorderManager allows you to search, query and report on a database created from the Proxy log files from Novell BorderManager.

Program Details

Publisher RnR Software
Released Date 2006-02-20
Languages English

Category Network & Internet
Subcategory Network Monitoring

System requirements

Operating systems windows

Download information

File size 3.65 MB
Total downloads 73

License model Free Trial
Price $49.00

Version History

» version 2.0   -   posted on 2006-02-20

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