Authors! Authors! This month I read a book entitled “The Only Mister Johnson'' by Okey Chigbo. I mention this here (and again in my usual “Read” section), because I worked with Okey for several years at CAmagzine, the national publication of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants. It reminded me of a few other friends who are published authors. My high school girlfriend - Myra Mossman, published a memoir entitled “My Random Death” in 2019. My neighbour and few doors down - Will Toffan, published an account of the first mass murder in modern Canadian history when two teenagers where shot a killed in Windsor in 1966. His 2020 book is titled “Watching the Devil Dance”. Another friend - Patricia Storms is an award winning children's book author and illustrator. I worked with “Storms” during a stint at Dogs in Canada, the magazine of the Canadian Kennel Club. Also on this list is Windsor poet Peter Hrastovec, author, lawyer, educator, actor and civic booster (the great flag project). Facebook went down worldwide on Oct 4 for many hours. We survived! Coincidence? I feel I’m tempting fate by writing this. During the first week of October I had trouble with our granddaughter clock. I’d fixed it before so thought I would give it a go. For three days I took it apart (out of its case) and tinkered with it. Put it back in (the case), took it out, adjusted the pendulum, completely unwound the springs, tried various balance adjustments, but no luck. I guess I would need to take it into the clock shop. I don’t usually take the case in so I was thinking where I had a box for the mechanism. While pondering this I opened the case door and reached in to start the pendulum one last time. While my hand moved to grasp it I had a thought - ok Dad if you are on the other side and want to signal me - fix this clock. I pulled back the pendulum and let go. You guessed it - fixed. I’ve been chosen as the set designer for Windsor Light Music Theatre’s next production - “Kinky Boots” which will run next May. On the 15th I hung 4 pictures a L&Q Hairstyles - the owner (Stephanie) had purchased one the other 3 are for sale, we will split any revenue. The second coming will be the moment the internet develops consciousness. Saturday 16th I was up to the Windsor Airport by 11:00 to enter three planes (for the first time) in the 6th Annual Model Show - there were not as many entries as I expected. It takes place in the restoration hangar - an interesting venue being surrounded by WWll planes in various stages of construction. It was pretty well attended. Entries needed to be in by noon and then as it happened there was a “puzzle exchange” not far away. I knew this and had three puzzles we’d finished, with me. The ladies were there in their minivans with the trunk doors open showing their puzzles. I traded for new ones in quick order. Back at the model show, I didn’t win, place or show, but I know better for next time - build something big in the 1/35 scale (mine were 1/72 and 1/48 the only ones at that size). I met several modellers and had some interesting discussions. My sister Cathy came for a visit on the 23rd, to begin preparations for Dad’s memorial. That day I went up to see a P51 Mustang (WWII fighter - “Cadillac of the Skies”) at the Windsor Heritage Air Museum, but the plane developed engine trouble and did not show - at least that’s what was announced. Most left (including me) but apparently it did finally arrive. Read The Trouble with Billionaires: Why Too Much Money At The Top Is Bad For Everyone Linda McQuaig and Neil Brooks 2011 Yea, you should read this book to learn about the world we live in. It’s controlled by the 1% and all the nonsense you see and hear is just to keep you looking elsewhere. There is only one way this will end well, and that’s having the rich give up their stash. Limits - say 100 million - should be set on wealth. Everything over that needs to be returned to the collective. Goodreads reviews here The Only Mister Johnson Okey Chigbo 2021 A delightful romp as we follow a budding con man as he learns his trade and manages to finagle a visa to Canada. Leaving his home in western Africa (Lygeria) he enrols at the University of Coquitlam in British Columbia where he joins the Lygerian (hardly disguised as Nigerian) diaspora, making new friends and a few enemies. Always on the edge of financial ruin, he leaps from one unfolding disaster to the next. Balancing a number of women and borrowing from Peter to pay Paul, he narrowly escapes jealous husbands and government officials. But sometimes you must be careful what you wish for. Blue Jacket - War Chief of the Shawnees Allan Eckert 1975 A few years ago DNA analysis demonstrated that Blue Jacket was a native American. Thus much of the book is fiction. The first 30 pages are complete fiction - he was not a white teen adopted by the Shawnee. It also does not account for how he would have learned to speak and read English, and thus some of his later encounters with whites could not have happened as played out in the book. He also would not have killed his white brother. Its value is in the description of the Northwest Wars of the 1770s. Goodreads reviews here Viewed Waiting for the Barbarians Prime 2019 The Magistrate (Mark Rylance) manages an outpost on the desert frontiers of an unnamed Empire. His careful management has kept the peace for many years and there are only minor misunderstandings. All that changes with the arrival of Colonel Joll (Johnny Depp), who is acting as part of a mysterious plan set in motion by the centre of the empire. Trailer here Elizabeth is Missing PBS 2021 (FTW) "Returning to television for the first time in nearly three decades, two-time Academy Award winner Glenda Jackson stars as a woman desperately trying to solve two mysteries as she declines ever deeper into dementia, in Elizabeth Is Missing, an adaptation of Emma Healey’s acclaimed novel." I thought it just OK. View trailer here The Good Liar Netflix 2019 Stars Ian McKellen as a career con artist who meets a wealthy widow - Helen Mirren online, and then discovers that his plan to steal her fortune has unexpected roadblocks. Lots of fun, but they didn't have me fooled! View trailer here True Detective - Season 3 Crave 2019 - 8 one hour episodes (FTW) “The narrative alternates between three time periods: 1980, 1990, and 2015. In 1980, Will and Julie Purcell tell their father they are going to a playground to meet a friend, but do not return. Detective Wayne Hays (Mahershala Ali) and his partner Roland West (Stephen Dorff) organize a search. Hays is a black Vietnam veteran who worked as a tracker (dropped alone behind enemy lines and killed at will). The Purcells' parents, Tom (Scoot McNairy) and Lucy, do not have a happy marriage. Hays and West search their house and find Playboy magazines under Will's mattress, and a hole in Will's closet looking into Julie's room. They learn that Lucy's cousin had previously stayed in Will's room while Will slept on the couch. Hays meets Will's English teacher, Amelia Reardon (Carmen Ejogo). Using his tracking skills, he finds Will's body in a cave, with his fingers interlocked as if in prayer.” Mahershala Ali has won a mountain of awards including the Academy Award for best supporting actor in Moonlight and Green Book. It’s a little slow in places but where are we rushing to? View trailer here Green Book Netflix 2018 Set in 1962, the film is inspired by the true story of a tour of the deep South by African American classical and jazz pianist Don Shirley and Italian American bouncer Frank "Tony Lip" Vallelonga, who served as Shirley's driver and bodyguard. It stars Viggo Mortensen who was required to gain 40–50 pounds for the roleand and Mahershala Ali as Don Shirley. You've probably seen this, but if you haven't - it's great! Line of Separation PBS Season 1 2015 6 one hour episodes FTW: “A fictionalized story inspired by a village that was divided by the Iron Curtain along a brook known as the Tannbach. The series explores the traumatic period of German history between the end of World War II and 1952. For the people of the village, the end of the war does not mean the end of hardship, soon the Cold War takes over and the village as well as the people become divided. (subtitled) A German television production. It’s subject is something which has been lost in time. View trailer here American Rust Crave 2021 The series continues on Crave - episodes are released a few at a time. Jeff Daniels is always a treat to watch. It's a murder plot where the good guy is caught in the middle. View trailer here
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Early in the month after returning from the cottage, I contacted Joey at Mackenzie Hall to see where we stood regarding my art show. He suggested we designate each day as an individual event. Long story short, the show will open on Friday September 24th and close on October 10th. It will be closed Mondays and Tuesdays, and a wedding is taking place in the room on October 2nd. I’m fine with that as the art will stay in place - more people will probably see it that day than any other. I contacted Marcy, the girl doing my graphic design work for posters and signage inside the venue, to update the three small flyers. This she did, sent the files and I took them over to Staples and had them printed. I also uploaded them to Facebook, made the official announcement and requested friends to share - to get the word out. On the 10th I got a haircut at LQ (Love and Quarrel). I’d taken a painting in some weeks ago - one of the women I’d called “Stephanie” named after the owner. Steph told me she could not let it go - she would buy it. It will still be in the show. I purchased an mp3 player off FB Marketplace ($10 still in the box) to play music at my art show. Mackenzie Hall does not have a sound system (they should invest in one) that could play music throughout the building. I will play “soundscapes” of my own composition in the main gallery using the mp3 plugged into a Bluetooth device which will send the music to two speakers. Note: mp3 players are old technology in that music has long been stored in smartphones. However even though I don’t have a smartphone, no one would leave their phone for several hours in a room to play music - another option - mp3 player - would be needed. On the 14th I treated myself to a massage (in the morning) and then started driving around and putting up posters. The idea is to place posters in establishments (assuming they allow it) that have high traffic volume of persons who would be interested in going to an art gallery. I stopped in at Artcite and introduced myself to Teajay, who manages the operation and was my recommender for an Ontario Arts Grant. Went down to the University to put up some flyers and noticed their print shop. I had them do the main show poster (42 x 54). Staples would take a week, this was overnight. The next day I went to another print shop to have the intro poster printed (24 x 36). I’m working with a graphic designer and we are doing one piece at a time. There are too many that are similar - I’m trying to keep the confusion to a minimum. I was also notified that proof of vaccination will be required to enter the show. I’m a little nervous because on Tuesday, the move in day weather forecast shows rain. Monday Sept 20 Four car loads of paintings delivered to Mackenzie Hall. I did this as the next two days promised rain, and I did not want to do this in the dampness or pouring rain. Trudeau wins another minority government. Tuesday Sept 21 I hung 15 paintings, completing the main gallery at Mackenzie Hall. I started around 9:30 and finished at 3:30 - no breaks, no food. Friday Sept 24th Opening Night! A bit of a let down, only 12 people. On a bright note, a friend - Cam Falls stopped by and we went out for dinner and got caught up! Thoughts Albert Einstein once wrote: “People like us who believe in physics know that the distinction between past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.” Time, in other words, he said, is an illusion. If we take this one step further adding the philosophies of others, we can say reality is an illusion, including our model of the universe. If the universe is a creation of the group conscious/unconscious mind, would aliens be of our own creation too? If there is another intelligent species, would we be a construct of their group conscious/unconscious? For us to meet another intelligent species would both species have had to somehow match each other's creative impulse? I’m not sure I’m making this clear. Art Show As the show is still running, I will post more about it next month. Son John and his partner Laurel adopted a dog - Mable, a one year old yellow rescue from Egypt. AJ (my x) and son James moved into a new place. Read Enduring Love 1998 Ian McEwan I did not care for it. Too many dead-ends, streets without exits. It felt like a writing exercise. Terribly inconsistent - why spend so much time writing about buying the gun when it’s the actual use of the gun which is pertinent to the story. Cannot recommend. Goodreads people liked it. Goodreads reviews here. Nothing is True and Everything is Possible (2014) Peter Pomerantsey Peter’s parents emigrated to the UK in the 70’s to escape perestroika - the new Russia. He returned in the mid 2010’s as a young man and found work producing television shows. The book documents some of these shows and the life he found in Russia. It’s a sad tale and the future of Russia (IMO) is dark. When Putin dies, if he has not established an iron fisted succession plan, there will be a bloodbath. However, even if he does, it will inevitably, without some kind of democratisation and free and fair elections - be a failed state. Russian wealth is based on oil, and when climate change forces emergency measures worldwide, this will be the final nail in its coffin. Change is coming to Moscow. ⅗ Goodreads reviews here Viewed The Courier (2020 Prime) An historical spy film directed by Dominic Cooke. The film stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Greville Wynne, a British businessman who was recruited by the Secret Intelligence Service to deliver messages to secret agent Oleg Penkovsky (played by Merab Ninidze) in the 1960s in - you guessed it - Russia - must be my theme this month. Rachel Brosnahan, Jessie Buckley, and Angus Wright also star. I found it entertaining, not great but I enjoy historical stuff. View trailer here Back to Life (Crave 2019) After 18 years behind bars, Miri Matteson returns home and stumbles back into adult life in the claustrophobic coastal town she once knew in this half-hour comedy series. Miri attempts to rekindle old relationships, make new ones, look for work and readjust to life outside, while desperately waiting for the world to forget about what happened on that fateful night. View trailer here Tracks (2013 Crave) I must be living under a rock as I had not heard of this. The adventure of Robyn Davidson who as a young woman (27) walked alone from Alice Springs (Australia) west to the ocean (1,700 miles) with 4 camels and a dog in 1977. It was a big story in National Geographic which she then made into the best selling book “Tracks”. The movie version was released in 2013, starring Mia Wasikowaska. Interestingly Robyn lived with Doris Lessing while writing the book and she was also in a relationship with Salman Rushdie for several years. Enjoyed this. View trailer here. Lou Reed: Transformer (Classic Albums) A documentary about the making of Lou Reed's "Transformer," the album (released in 1972) that took him from cult hero of the Velvet Underground to international superstar status as a solo artist. The album was produced by David Bowie and Mick Ronson. My favorite songs from it: Walk on the Wild Side, Perfect Day and Satellite of Love. Lived 1942 - 2013. He had no children and left an estate worth $20 million. (Bowie and Ronson are also dead) View trailer here. Goliath (Season 4 Prime) The best. Can’t say enough about the creativity of this series. Billy Bob Thornton and his regulars are joined by JK Simmons (he is so good as the bad guy) and Bruce Dern! Billy is taking on big pharma and addictive pain medication - talk about on point. And then everyone in the show has either very obvious physical pain or emotional pain - or both. There are dream sequences which might put some people off - but they are not random - they are trying to show how dreams talk to us. There is even a big musical number not seen since Hollywood of the late 40’s. If you’ve not seen the earlier seasons - this still can be watched and enjoyed on it’s own. (8 episodes) View trailer here Avenue 5 (Crave 2020) A science fiction comedy television series that premiered on HBO in the United States on January 19, 2020. It stars Hugh Laurie and Josh Gad in lead roles as captain and owner of a fictional interplanetary cruise ship Avenue 5. Kind of funny, but became a little tedious, Can’t recommend. (8 episodes) Trailer The Mauritanian (Prime) A 2021 legal drama film based on the true story of Mohamedou Ould Slahi, a Mauritanian man who was held for fourteen years (from 2002 to 2016) without charge at Guantanamo Bay. Tahar Rahim, Jodie Foster and Benedict Cumberbatch. Highly recommend it. View trailer here Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (Crave) A 2011 Cold War spy thriller, based on John le Carré's 1974 novel of the same name. The film stars Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, John Hurt, Toby Jones, Mark Strong, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Ciarán Hinds. It is set in London in the early 1970's and follows the hunt for a Soviet double agent at the top of the British secret service. Le Carre served in MI5 and MI6 in the 1950's and early 1960's - the same time when Kim Philby, the high-ranking member of British intelligence was working as a double agent for the Soviet Union. Philby defected in 1963. You need to pay close attention or you can get lost with all the twists and turns. (second viewing). Le Carre has since published a followup book which hopefully will soon make the big screen. Oldman could still do it. View trailer here |
AuthorI believe we are what we think. What we think depends on what we feed our brains. This is a partial record of what my brain has been eating. Archives
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