I love tormenting (e:jim)
subtitles in movies have this hypnotic effect which just puts him to sleep. At least when I get a Russian film the guttural sounds of that language keep him awake, not conscious but not asleep either. But every once in a while I go through an Ingrmar Bergman kick. God I love that man.
He hasn't really directed a film since 1984 (the year, not the Orwell) and I assumed it was because he was dead. Not so! Just really, really old.
I had been gracefully accepting his mortality and an old age fraught, with complication, with dignity from the beginning. Whether it was the Knight buying a few more minutes from death in the Seventh Seal or the reflections of an old professor in Wild Strawberries. These seemed like the films of a man who has reflected on the long years of his own life. Though he was nearly 40 when he directed these movies in 1956-57.
Even through his later films, like Autumn Sonata, his characters have a depth that one wouldn't expect from a young director. This depth does not seem richer with time, but more explored, each a little more from film to film.
Well, thinking him dead for many years I was surprised and saddened to learn of his death earlier today. I have seen perhaps a dozen of his films and found each of them moving and unique. It is a giant film catalogue and great body of work to go through.
James's Journal
My Podcast Link
07/30/2007 09:39 #40307
Bergman07/26/2007 17:46 #40263
More Scientology FinCategory: religion
Since we have been on a Scientology streak with (e:libertad) [inlink]libertad,40256[/inlink] and (e:paul) [inlink]paul,40252][/inlink] here is a bit of fun
So, there was some mild hubbub about a creative up and coming artist couple; one of whom killed themselves and the other disappeared. I ignored the story because... well... I just don't care. But then, THE LINK!
Here is the juicy quote
"Many were shocked by the turn of events while others noted that the couple had acted strangely in their final months together.
According to several friends and art world peers, the two believed they were being stalked and harassed by Scientologists, an abiding fear that soured old friendships and made some of their respective working relationships difficult."
Stalked and harassed by Scientologists! It is by some grace that the entire staff of Roswell as well as members of the Buddhist center have not plastered their brains to a ceiling.
Did the couple kill themselves to avoid Scientologists? Or was the trigger pulled by the spectral hand of L Ron Hubbard himself? I can't say, but I will caution all to wear aluminum hats when walking past that nefarious building.
Be vigilant, be safe.
So, there was some mild hubbub about a creative up and coming artist couple; one of whom killed themselves and the other disappeared. I ignored the story because... well... I just don't care. But then, THE LINK!
Here is the juicy quote
"Many were shocked by the turn of events while others noted that the couple had acted strangely in their final months together.
According to several friends and art world peers, the two believed they were being stalked and harassed by Scientologists, an abiding fear that soured old friendships and made some of their respective working relationships difficult."
Stalked and harassed by Scientologists! It is by some grace that the entire staff of Roswell as well as members of the Buddhist center have not plastered their brains to a ceiling.
Did the couple kill themselves to avoid Scientologists? Or was the trigger pulled by the spectral hand of L Ron Hubbard himself? I can't say, but I will caution all to wear aluminum hats when walking past that nefarious building.
Be vigilant, be safe.
zobar - 07/26/07 18:54
Roswell and Buddhists nothing ... I work right next door to them, with St Louis next door to us and the Catholic Center right across the street. Buck went over there for a personality test one day because I guess he was bored. He had to leave for a staff meeting, and they followed him back into the office and interrupted the meeting to give him literature.
I was walking down the street, and the chick complimented my three-tone Chucks. I said hey thanks, and we shot the shit about sneakers for a bit. She asked if I wanted a personality test and I said no thanks. She insisted, and I said I was actually on my way to run some errands. Still she persisted, and when I finally declined she just said "WHY." Um, because the bank is closing and I need to deposit my paycheck?
I think I'm going to run an underground database of the home addresses of Scientologists, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Mormons, and when I get enough of each I'm just going to start mixing and matching.
- Z
Roswell and Buddhists nothing ... I work right next door to them, with St Louis next door to us and the Catholic Center right across the street. Buck went over there for a personality test one day because I guess he was bored. He had to leave for a staff meeting, and they followed him back into the office and interrupted the meeting to give him literature.
I was walking down the street, and the chick complimented my three-tone Chucks. I said hey thanks, and we shot the shit about sneakers for a bit. She asked if I wanted a personality test and I said no thanks. She insisted, and I said I was actually on my way to run some errands. Still she persisted, and when I finally declined she just said "WHY." Um, because the bank is closing and I need to deposit my paycheck?
I think I'm going to run an underground database of the home addresses of Scientologists, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Mormons, and when I get enough of each I'm just going to start mixing and matching.
- Z
07/21/2007 23:41 #40199
Harry Potter: A Spoiler Free Post! I have never read a Harry Potter book. I have seen three of the movies. I don't read about them, or care about them I am sure they are fine and lovely books, blah blah blah. But (e:Jim) just finished the last book and I totally called the ending.
You see, Harry and I have an odd relationship. I worked at a book store for three Harry Potter releases. I have had to deal with the most insufferable people. Mothers who don't want their kids reading the devil worshiping wiccan Potter books but love the Christian CS Lewis books (guh, what?). Kids pestering me about were they are in the store... um... do you see the GIANT mother fucking HARRY POTTER POSTER. Ya, the one right next to the big sign denoting the Harry Potter section. Yes, that unwieldy leviathan constitutes a whole damn section, and that was when there were only four books.
So annoyed with people obsessing over these books was I that I refused to call him by name. He was referred to as Henry Porter. After a time this parody ripe name eventually followed the echo back to the greatest parody engine of all time: pornography. Yes, every movie to be released has an adult film to correspond to it.
Henry Porter and the Sorcerer's Cock
Henry Porter and the chamberbed of secrets
Henry Porter and the Prison Gang-bang in Alcaban
Henry Porter and the Goblet of Fredericho
Henry Porter and the Master Pheonix's Orders
Henry Porter and the Horse-Hung Highness
Henry Porter and the Deathly holy shit this is coming to and end bukkaki Hollow
Well, I don't work in books anymore. So I now find these things amusing rather than irksome and no longer need to inject levity into a dry carcass' cavity.
In other super sexy young adult fiction news. Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy is being made into a movie scheduled for release this December. Think Paradise Lost, but anti-deist and with armored bears. It makes me shiver with antici...............pation.
good night.
You see, Harry and I have an odd relationship. I worked at a book store for three Harry Potter releases. I have had to deal with the most insufferable people. Mothers who don't want their kids reading the devil worshiping wiccan Potter books but love the Christian CS Lewis books (guh, what?). Kids pestering me about were they are in the store... um... do you see the GIANT mother fucking HARRY POTTER POSTER. Ya, the one right next to the big sign denoting the Harry Potter section. Yes, that unwieldy leviathan constitutes a whole damn section, and that was when there were only four books.
So annoyed with people obsessing over these books was I that I refused to call him by name. He was referred to as Henry Porter. After a time this parody ripe name eventually followed the echo back to the greatest parody engine of all time: pornography. Yes, every movie to be released has an adult film to correspond to it.
Henry Porter and the Sorcerer's Cock
Henry Porter and the chamberbed of secrets
Henry Porter and the Prison Gang-bang in Alcaban
Henry Porter and the Goblet of Fredericho
Henry Porter and the Master Pheonix's Orders
Henry Porter and the Horse-Hung Highness
Henry Porter and the Deathly holy shit this is coming to and end bukkaki Hollow
Well, I don't work in books anymore. So I now find these things amusing rather than irksome and no longer need to inject levity into a dry carcass' cavity.
In other super sexy young adult fiction news. Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy is being made into a movie scheduled for release this December. Think Paradise Lost, but anti-deist and with armored bears. It makes me shiver with antici...............pation.
good night.
fellyconnelly - 07/23/07 00:10
i first 'heard' of harry potter on a carride from my aunt's house down here in middletown to my grandparents house up by lockport. my aunt read it to me and her three children and two dogs and my uncle the whole way there and the whole way back. i loved it. and i'm not ashamed.
(by the way, that is what we call a redneck audio book)
i first 'heard' of harry potter on a carride from my aunt's house down here in middletown to my grandparents house up by lockport. my aunt read it to me and her three children and two dogs and my uncle the whole way there and the whole way back. i loved it. and i'm not ashamed.
(by the way, that is what we call a redneck audio book)
james - 07/22/07 10:53
I will ask (e:Jim) why it would be, if not next time I am in the Middle East I will pop on over to pick your brain.
It isn't that I don't like reading. My library is ridiculously huge and I am constantly working on some book or another, though more often poetry or non-fiction than the sort of cool kids Harry hangs out with. I got about half way through the first book and it didn't really suck me in. I was reading Frank Herbert at the same time and I found his little Christ fiction to be so much more rich. Though, if I had kids I would totally Potterize them.
I will ask (e:Jim) why it would be, if not next time I am in the Middle East I will pop on over to pick your brain.
It isn't that I don't like reading. My library is ridiculously huge and I am constantly working on some book or another, though more often poetry or non-fiction than the sort of cool kids Harry hangs out with. I got about half way through the first book and it didn't really suck me in. I was reading Frank Herbert at the same time and I found his little Christ fiction to be so much more rich. Though, if I had kids I would totally Potterize them.
ladycroft - 07/22/07 05:45
refuse to call him by name...haha, that's actually kind of funny...if you read the books, which you didn't, which makes it even more funny to me :)
refuse to call him by name...haha, that's actually kind of funny...if you read the books, which you didn't, which makes it even more funny to me :)
07/25/2007 11:11 #40249
James Dobson on Harry PotterBeing a frothy atheist I sometimes feel the need to remind the religious that I have no problem with their personal spirituality. Their institutions sometimes make me vomit a little, but those are exceptions.
With that out of the way, James Dobson is a jack ass.
If you are not familiar with the baboon head of Focus on the Family, let me give you a little taste. If you are familiar, here is another Homer Simpson forehead slap to stamp on his fuselage.
The Beast Speaks! Finally on the scourge that is Harry Potter.
Dobson doesn't like Potter. He corrupts Christian youth turning them towards Wicca and New Age. You can almost hear the word gay in there somewhere. Here are his complaints with my own anotation.
FOTF objects to the presence of magical creatures in the story, such as hipogrifs, goblins, ans such. Because
"given the trend toward witchcraft and New Age ideology in the larger culture, it's difficult to ignore the effects such stories (albeit imaginary) might have on young, impressionable minds."
Incidentaly, I happen to have instructions on how to summon these beasts (occult history is one of my pet academic projects) and the same spells and incantations used in witchcraft and new age stuff today comes to us directly from Christian magicians. Yup, from John Dee in Renaisance England all the way to today with the Golden Dawn people are using Christian spells. Which is to say nothing of the many demons and spirits which inhabit the bible.
ok, another one.
"The world of Harry Potter is still an elite occult world where secret knowledge is the way to power and success, Order of the Phoenix' tries to mitigate that by saying that anyone can become a great wizard, but once again, that involves learning the secret occult knowledge of how to do witchcraft and how to wave a magic wand properly,"
Shall we ignore the hierarchical nature of Christianity? Where heads of organizing bodies form the top tier. Bishops and preachers forming a second. Congregations providing a base of goodly men and then the other: those not in the church, muggles. Personal and divine revelations provide the occult (meaning hidden) knowledge needed to maintain their authority. Or sometimes it is a pointy, gilded witches hat which gives papal authority to properly interpret divine word for the ignorant masses.
Then it is recommended that people not admire Harry Potter, but rather some lunatic in the old testament who let himself be thrown to lions. And recommends CS Lewis and Tolkein instead because they are constructed in a Christian framework.... *cough*
For a religion that demands so much on the imagination of its followers I find it amusing that it also demands fidelity of that imagination. The fantasy worlds of Harry Potter, Lewis, or Tolkein too much mirror each other, not because of divine inspiration but because each come from our simply human psyche. But this all boils down to a fundamental problem with the bible:
You can't frickin read it. Seriously, I have spent a lot of time reading the bible over the years. But reading the book of Daniel just now required me to go over it several times just to get the basic story let alone the supernatural wonderment explained in non-existent footnotes. That is why Daniel is not a hero and Harry Potter is, because we know what the hell is going on.
eat is Dobson.
With that out of the way, James Dobson is a jack ass.
If you are not familiar with the baboon head of Focus on the Family, let me give you a little taste. If you are familiar, here is another Homer Simpson forehead slap to stamp on his fuselage.
The Beast Speaks! Finally on the scourge that is Harry Potter.
Dobson doesn't like Potter. He corrupts Christian youth turning them towards Wicca and New Age. You can almost hear the word gay in there somewhere. Here are his complaints with my own anotation.
FOTF objects to the presence of magical creatures in the story, such as hipogrifs, goblins, ans such. Because
"given the trend toward witchcraft and New Age ideology in the larger culture, it's difficult to ignore the effects such stories (albeit imaginary) might have on young, impressionable minds."
Incidentaly, I happen to have instructions on how to summon these beasts (occult history is one of my pet academic projects) and the same spells and incantations used in witchcraft and new age stuff today comes to us directly from Christian magicians. Yup, from John Dee in Renaisance England all the way to today with the Golden Dawn people are using Christian spells. Which is to say nothing of the many demons and spirits which inhabit the bible.
ok, another one.
"The world of Harry Potter is still an elite occult world where secret knowledge is the way to power and success, Order of the Phoenix' tries to mitigate that by saying that anyone can become a great wizard, but once again, that involves learning the secret occult knowledge of how to do witchcraft and how to wave a magic wand properly,"
Shall we ignore the hierarchical nature of Christianity? Where heads of organizing bodies form the top tier. Bishops and preachers forming a second. Congregations providing a base of goodly men and then the other: those not in the church, muggles. Personal and divine revelations provide the occult (meaning hidden) knowledge needed to maintain their authority. Or sometimes it is a pointy, gilded witches hat which gives papal authority to properly interpret divine word for the ignorant masses.
Then it is recommended that people not admire Harry Potter, but rather some lunatic in the old testament who let himself be thrown to lions. And recommends CS Lewis and Tolkein instead because they are constructed in a Christian framework.... *cough*
For a religion that demands so much on the imagination of its followers I find it amusing that it also demands fidelity of that imagination. The fantasy worlds of Harry Potter, Lewis, or Tolkein too much mirror each other, not because of divine inspiration but because each come from our simply human psyche. But this all boils down to a fundamental problem with the bible:
You can't frickin read it. Seriously, I have spent a lot of time reading the bible over the years. But reading the book of Daniel just now required me to go over it several times just to get the basic story let alone the supernatural wonderment explained in non-existent footnotes. That is why Daniel is not a hero and Harry Potter is, because we know what the hell is going on.
eat is Dobson.
james - 07/26/07 11:08
There are certainly bibles written for contemporary audiences. I have even seen bibles rewriten in modern novel narrative form. I think this is a swell idea. However, I don't care for the official, standard versions. You must read the King James version, all others are silly. I mean, a little license with the translation couldn't possible hurt the meaning any more than writing these things 100 years after they occurred.
Which brings me to this, fiction can be just as instructive as the bible, and the human truths used in Harry Potter are as profound as those found in the bible. Kids are just much more likely to understand the context of Hoggworts than they are the Levenent 2000+ years ago.
And it is important to have teachers, be they stuffy dull academics or hip, estrip-in' pastors with a soft spot for Indian food. The context is bewildering and as alien as mars, and a someone who understands this can be very instructive. My contention with the hierarchy is that Dobson is being contradictory.
There are certainly bibles written for contemporary audiences. I have even seen bibles rewriten in modern novel narrative form. I think this is a swell idea. However, I don't care for the official, standard versions. You must read the King James version, all others are silly. I mean, a little license with the translation couldn't possible hurt the meaning any more than writing these things 100 years after they occurred.
Which brings me to this, fiction can be just as instructive as the bible, and the human truths used in Harry Potter are as profound as those found in the bible. Kids are just much more likely to understand the context of Hoggworts than they are the Levenent 2000+ years ago.
And it is important to have teachers, be they stuffy dull academics or hip, estrip-in' pastors with a soft spot for Indian food. The context is bewildering and as alien as mars, and a someone who understands this can be very instructive. My contention with the hierarchy is that Dobson is being contradictory.
drew - 07/26/07 09:08
Do you msil it?
Seriously, if you get a good translation it can be easy to read. Or you can let a good preacher explain it, but then you are back into the hierarchy again.
Do you msil it?
Seriously, if you get a good translation it can be easy to read. Or you can let a good preacher explain it, but then you are back into the hierarchy again.
james - 07/25/07 15:46
The only thing I donate to Focus on the Family is sperm.... I will let the joke grow on its own from here.
The only thing I donate to Focus on the Family is sperm.... I will let the joke grow on its own from here.
jason - 07/25/07 15:32
I take it you won't be donating to Focus on the Family this year?
I take it you won't be donating to Focus on the Family this year?
jenks - 07/25/07 14:44
kudos. hear hear!!
kudos. hear hear!!
joshua - 07/25/07 13:05
Ha - well, I can see how the two names could be easily confused but your source should know better!
Yeah, for the record I don't like those sorts of Christians either. I can't support people who sanction bigotry hidden behind a religious veneer.
Ha - well, I can see how the two names could be easily confused but your source should know better!
Yeah, for the record I don't like those sorts of Christians either. I can't support people who sanction bigotry hidden behind a religious veneer.
james - 07/25/07 11:55
lol, if you ever want an unpaid job with an ass hole boss as a copy editor you have it. Thank you. I actually looked back at my source and he used Lou Dobbs, so I will have to email him. Thank you
Oh yes, I know he doesn't represent Christians at large, just the sort of Christians I don't like.
And seriously! If it is a good story, go with it! It isn't like some godhead dieing for our sins is unique to Christianity. See Adonis, Attis, Osiris, Odin, Balder, Chuchulain, Lugh, Bran, Apollo, Mythras, Cernunos, the wicker man, the secen year king and so on and so on.
Oh, and next time you see us feel free to honk, holler and yell. Just don't be shocked if we duck for cover. Nam man...
lol, if you ever want an unpaid job with an ass hole boss as a copy editor you have it. Thank you. I actually looked back at my source and he used Lou Dobbs, so I will have to email him. Thank you
Oh yes, I know he doesn't represent Christians at large, just the sort of Christians I don't like.
And seriously! If it is a good story, go with it! It isn't like some godhead dieing for our sins is unique to Christianity. See Adonis, Attis, Osiris, Odin, Balder, Chuchulain, Lugh, Bran, Apollo, Mythras, Cernunos, the wicker man, the secen year king and so on and so on.
Oh, and next time you see us feel free to honk, holler and yell. Just don't be shocked if we duck for cover. Nam man...
joshua - 07/25/07 11:46
Oh, btw - about a week or two ago (e:jason) and I were driving down Chapin after work (about 5:30pm or so) and saw you and (e:jim) walking the dog. I was going to shout out of the window at you two but I figured it would be kind of strange.
Oh, btw - about a week or two ago (e:jason) and I were driving down Chapin after work (about 5:30pm or so) and saw you and (e:jim) walking the dog. I was going to shout out of the window at you two but I figured it would be kind of strange.
joshua - 07/25/07 11:35
I think you may be referring to Dr. James Dobson rather than Lou Dobbs. Lou Dobbs is a fathead, but he's the CNN Moneyline guy.
Guys like this give Christianity a bad name and isn't really representative of the religion, even in the United States. He also happens to be the biggest mouth now that Jerry Falwell has passed. People like this cannot be ignored because they are influential, but personally I don't take him very seriously. These are the people who were offended by Teletubbies.
I thought the Chronicles of Narnia was a good story - to hell (tee hee) with the religious undertones. There are people on this earth who are offended by Superman because of a supposed parallel between him and Jesus Christ - talk about imagination! The bottom line is that I think a segment of our society looks to be actively offended, which is an incredibly shallow and sad state of affairs because it needlessly gets in the way of enjoying a good story.
That Daniel guy was a character too. I find some irony in the fact that Daniel is buried in Iran.
I think you may be referring to Dr. James Dobson rather than Lou Dobbs. Lou Dobbs is a fathead, but he's the CNN Moneyline guy.
Guys like this give Christianity a bad name and isn't really representative of the religion, even in the United States. He also happens to be the biggest mouth now that Jerry Falwell has passed. People like this cannot be ignored because they are influential, but personally I don't take him very seriously. These are the people who were offended by Teletubbies.
I thought the Chronicles of Narnia was a good story - to hell (tee hee) with the religious undertones. There are people on this earth who are offended by Superman because of a supposed parallel between him and Jesus Christ - talk about imagination! The bottom line is that I think a segment of our society looks to be actively offended, which is an incredibly shallow and sad state of affairs because it needlessly gets in the way of enjoying a good story.
That Daniel guy was a character too. I find some irony in the fact that Daniel is buried in Iran.
07/20/2007 10:57 #40172
Pope declairs Satan "a total dick"Category: food
Sorry about the title, I was on such a roll it just came out.
No, I want to talk about more serious matters: lunch.
I am the only employee of my bosses business. I work in her basement, which isn't as weird as it sounds. But lunch is always interesting.
So I got hungry early because I didn't eat breakfast and I go scouring for lunch stuff. In her basement pantry (which is a shelf placed in the doorway of a bathroom that doesn't work) and I find a can of organic salad beans. The smell coming from this moist, broken bathroom is enough to turn anyone off food for the rest of their whithered days, but I am determined!
I open the sucker up, rinse them off, cut up a little red onion and pour some balsamic on it. But I am feeling a little more haute than that. I look in the fridge and, bingo, capers. I love capers. Salty delicious sacks, yum. So I liberally pile them on, mix it up, and go back to my dungeon to work and eat.
Did you know that they sell green peppercorns bottled in vinegar? Did you know that they look just like capers. Did you know that eating enough peppercorns to buy a dozen slaves (in 1600 money) can make your stomach protest?
I feel like a waiter. After depositing your bibb salad I would offer some fresh ground pepper. With a smile and a nod in the affirmative I would bend over and vomit on that salad. Ah! So savory!
that is all.
No, I want to talk about more serious matters: lunch.
I am the only employee of my bosses business. I work in her basement, which isn't as weird as it sounds. But lunch is always interesting.
So I got hungry early because I didn't eat breakfast and I go scouring for lunch stuff. In her basement pantry (which is a shelf placed in the doorway of a bathroom that doesn't work) and I find a can of organic salad beans. The smell coming from this moist, broken bathroom is enough to turn anyone off food for the rest of their whithered days, but I am determined!
I open the sucker up, rinse them off, cut up a little red onion and pour some balsamic on it. But I am feeling a little more haute than that. I look in the fridge and, bingo, capers. I love capers. Salty delicious sacks, yum. So I liberally pile them on, mix it up, and go back to my dungeon to work and eat.
Did you know that they sell green peppercorns bottled in vinegar? Did you know that they look just like capers. Did you know that eating enough peppercorns to buy a dozen slaves (in 1600 money) can make your stomach protest?
I feel like a waiter. After depositing your bibb salad I would offer some fresh ground pepper. With a smile and a nod in the affirmative I would bend over and vomit on that salad. Ah! So savory!
that is all.
james - 07/20/07 14:25
I love apple cider vinegar. I could drink a bottle of it... and then be happily, violently ill.
My apologies for souring your stomach.
@carolinian: I always know what is in my fridge. So I don't read labels once they get to my fridge (I have spent several hours looking for salad dressing that did not contain Canola oil, so I am a notorious label reader). I guess I have grown soft and weak. But next time I raid my bosses fridge I will be very cautious.
I love apple cider vinegar. I could drink a bottle of it... and then be happily, violently ill.
My apologies for souring your stomach.
@carolinian: I always know what is in my fridge. So I don't read labels once they get to my fridge (I have spent several hours looking for salad dressing that did not contain Canola oil, so I am a notorious label reader). I guess I have grown soft and weak. But next time I raid my bosses fridge I will be very cautious.
carolinian - 07/20/07 14:16
Jeez, doesn't anyone read labels anymore? :)
Jeez, doesn't anyone read labels anymore? :)
fellyconnelly - 07/20/07 14:08
oh james... silly silly james.. this reminds me of the bottle of apple cider (vinegar) that was once ingested..
but somehow what is worse than eating vinegar soaked peppercorns is your description of capers as
salty delicious sacks.
i feel not well...
oh james... silly silly james.. this reminds me of the bottle of apple cider (vinegar) that was once ingested..
but somehow what is worse than eating vinegar soaked peppercorns is your description of capers as
salty delicious sacks.
i feel not well...
This is true. He has done some work. But when the man was at his peek he was good for one if not two movies a year. Which dies off in 84. I should have worded it differently.
Actually, he came out with a movie back in 2004(?). It's called Saraband, and it's supposedly had a lot of great reviews.
I think he must have died a happy man - he got to do what he wanted and how he wanted it to be.