Even though Katie hasn’t officially moved out, it has now been pretty close to two weeks since she has really stayed here, and Sara officially moved into her new apartment last Saturday, so for all intents and purposes, I guess that Jim and I are now officially empty nesters! How very weird this is. We knew that this would end up happening sooner than later, especially as Katie turns twenty in less than three months, and Sara less than four. Our babies were growing up, and itching to spread their wings.

Obviously, there are a whole range of emotions that I am currently experiencing. Most are good. I am sad that my girls are really and truly adults now, ready to begin lives of their own, but this is very much tempered with the fact that I also know that they are indeed, well and truly ready to begin this part of their own life’s journey. Both girls are exceptionally mature and responsible, with solid heads resting on their strong shoulders. I’ve got to trust that we’ve managed to equip themselves with the tools that the shall need to lead happy and productive lives. Mixed with this sadness and melancholy is a huge boatload of motherly love and pride and confidence!

Yes, our home has felt somewhat empty – not to mention extremely quiet – since their departure, but there is also a feeling of anticipation and excitement for what this chapter of Jim’s and my life will bring to us. Kind of liberating for the first time in almost twenty one years! Obviously, all of these positive feelings couldn’t be possible had we parted any other way but the way that we did. Their decisions to move out on their own came from a place of strength, and no other place. We parted in the absolute best way that one could imagine – no angry words or fights or any sort of bitterness imaginable.

It is due to this that I can look to the future with great optimism and hope. I know so many children that leave home for the wrong reasons, and I consider us extremely lucky and fortunate that this was something that I knew was unlikely to occur in our home. I love both girls so very much, and no matter what the outcome, they know that they can sleep securely each night knowing that the welcome mat will always be there should they decide to return home, no matter what their reasons.

Getting everybody organized has been the main reason keeping me away from my computer this past month and a half, plus dealing with the preliminary trial of our attackers. This, unfortunately, has not gone near as smoothly as the other, and in fact, the prelim trial has yet to conclude, and has now been held over until the last week of January, next year. Much more on this matter very soon.

Just wanted to stop by quickly to let anyone who still actually bothers following me to know that I am still healthy and happy and right on course with my recovery, and then some…

peace, love and happiness…

(Ce s-a petrecut înainte de asta)

În vis, căderea în gol accelerează pulsul și produce în corpul celui care visează o încordare teribilă. Toate tendoanele se cabrează, nervii devin alerți, plămânii se simt depășiți, sistemele intră în degringoladă. Traian căzu preț de câteva secunde care în vis durară secole.

Se izbi de un corp mare, moale și pufos care atenuă șocul impactului. Căzuse pe un balon zburător. Fâșiile multicolore din care era alcătuită perna rotundă se rotiră ca un caleidoscop.

- Ce se-ntâmplă, frate?! Căzu o piatră din cer? strigă Huck, scoțându-și pentru o clipă trabucul din gură.

- Îmi căzu mie netul, aia se-ntâmplă… îi răspunse un domnișor cam palid ce nu părea să vadă soarele prea des, parcă întremat de aerul rece al înălțimilor cutreierate. Stai să restartez… adăugă el, meșterind ceva pe laptopul Assus EeePC 1101HA SeaShell, pe care-l ținea în brațe.

- Și, așa zdroncăne când îți cade? Mai bine-ți luai un Toshiba de la magazinul ăsta online … Cu 1000 de roni, te făceai om. Așa, umbli cu droanga aia după tine. Îmi mai faci și emoții… Să-mi strici gustul la Havanna asta.  Ai mai dat și o căruță de bani pe el, cred!

- N-am dat niciun ban! L-am câștigat la Concursul Superblog! Niște bani am primit, vrei să spui. Ca preț al moralității mele… Și nu mă mai freca la icre că, uite, nu mai merge nici wirelless-ul!

- Dacă-ți luai Toshiba de la ….

- Da’ lasă-mă naibii în pace! Tu nu vezi că sunt nervos?

- Și tu ești nervos, tinere? rosti o voce răgușită, de sub o prelată ce acoperea o moviliță de cartofi.  Da eu ce să mai zic?

- Da tu cine dracu ești? Cartofi vorbitori, auzi! Doamne apără și păzește!  Dacă stau atâta conectat! … Am început să halucinez! Și acuma mai trebuie s-o consolez și pe Angela… Să vorbesc cu Fawrr, am văzut că se pricepe la din astea… ”Eu ce să-i fac?… Să-i dau niște bani se meargă la mall să facă shopingg. Eu cu blogging-ul, ea cu shopingg-ul”, zâmbi tânărul unui gând numai de el știut.

- Nu e niciun cartof vorbitor, dragă. E un șoarece. A aterizat în balonul nostru, clarifică lucrurile Tom, cu aerul lui atoateștiutor, specific expaților.

- Zis și eu la domnu’ tinar!… Dottore! Uită la mine! Vede?!… Ce face?… Cum prefăcut în el la șoarece? Cine făcut așa civa? FeSeBe făcut? Groaznică estem! se impacientă și Jim, mai mult arab decât negru. Eu plecat ca un domn este, la aieroport și dottore face șoarice… Uecs! Scârbos este! Aduc sărăcie însemnat! Aruncat peste bord! Ajutaaaam la noi! Allaaah, ajută la mine scapat de șoarice! imploră Jim, aruncându-se pe podeaua nacelei.

- Ce-ai bre, că nu-i decât un prăpădit de șoricel!? Ce te-nspămânți așa? E un balaur? Uite, eu îl iau de coadă, mie nu mi-e frică de el, se arătă viteaz Tom Sawyer.

- Nu pune mâna pe maus! Îmi strici setările! Abia am reușit să restabilesc conexiunea! urlă tânărul năvălind peste Tom și dezechilibrând nacela.

Balonul începu să coboare cu o viteză amețitoare. Protagoniști scenei, pironiți, fără să înțeleagă ce se întâmplă, schimbau priviri înfricoșate.

- Trebuie să te repezi tu ca disperatul! își pierdu sărita Tom cel imperturbabil și se răsti la tinerelul care-și pierduse ochelarii din cauza hâțânării vehicolului zburător. Jim, aruncă dracului cartofii ăia! Să  oprim prăbușirea!

- Eu, Jim sub acoperit, zâmbi colegul lor de aventură. Este Yassim acoperit și este Hayssam, cum eu suntem. Astă poate antentat cum făcut. Dottore spețial venit să facut atentat la mine! Urăște la mine deconspirat dottore. Eu zis omorât la el, dar ele … Eu nu arunce cartofii, nu este ce să mâncat. Ajunge ca Cell, la Rusia cazut, ce manânci? Murit de foame, bătut militari ruși, murit??? Conexiune nexam este, nimic colega, zice că nu cunoaște la mine, eu Hayssam. Arunci laptop, nu merge conexiune, doi kilogram face! se repezi Jim la tânărul care apucase strâns de laptop și se așezase deja cu sternul pe el, apărându-l.

- Te-aruncăm pe tine că și-așa ești cel mai gras dintre noi! răcni și Huck și se repezi să-l placheze ca la rugby, la glezne, și să-l aburce peste marginea nacelei.

În timp ce învălmășeala generală de deasupra laptopului prețios punea în pericol real stabilitatea balonului ce cobora vertiginos spre pământ, un fluture uriaș, cu aripi străvezii de un verde strident și cu trup solzos de caiman, prinse între labele-i ca niște rădăcini de arbori, otgoanele de care era legată nacela.

- Șefu!… Trăiți! Am auzit că aveți probleme! Am venit! Am zburat! Am zburat într-o clipită! Vă salvez acușica! Îi salvez și pe ăștia? Șefu! Ordonați, vă rog! rosti fluturele cel grăsun și păros, fluturându-și antenele clăpăuge.

- Salvează-te pe tine, sacadă șoricelul, lingându-și lăbuțele. Auzi, nu știi pe cineva care poate face o vrajă, să mă preschimbe înapoi în Traian? Că m-am săturat de aventură!… rosti acesta, mai mult în scârbă.

- Ba da! Șefu! Să trăiți! Este o șămăniță! Acum a plecat în sud-est, se bâlbâi Fluturele, uitându-se pe navigatorul GPS pe care-l avea prins la încheietura labei stângi din față.

- Atunci, hai să mergem la ea! se însufleți plin de speranță, eliberând aerul din piept, șoricelul cel șpanchiu.

- Și cu ăștia ce facem șefu? Ce dispuneți? Să trăiți!

- Îi luăm și pe ei. Dacă nu cădeam de la nemțălăul ăla din cutie pe balonul lu’ fraierii ăștia, aș fi murit!

- Cum să muriți?! Șefu! Dumneavoastră sunteți nemuritor!!… Trăiți! ripostă, scurgându-se prin aer de umilință, Fluturele, plecându-și capul și fluturând din aripile cleioase ca mătreața-broaștei de pe iaz. Uitați! Am ajuns! strigă el fericit și lăsând nacela ușor, într-un ogor plin de mazăre.

- Și noi ce facem aici? întrebă tânărul blogger, ce-și recuperase ochelarii și și-i potrivea pe nas uitându-se la ciudatele animale și insecte vorbitoare.

- Cum ce facem? Mergem la Expoziție! Uite și afișul! remarcă șoricelul, uitându-se în zare la un panou uriaș cât cele puse de ministressa preferată, cele  cu Land of Choice.

Şi, după ce v-aţi înseninat sufletul, intraţi puţin aici să vedeţi cât e de “groasă”. Vă ziceam mâine, dar m-a luat cu leşin de la stomac…

Zombie Prom Nite...

ya kalau anda mengharapkan tontonan berkualitas layaknya film film ridley scott atau sineas lain, ya sebaiknya jangan dulu menonton ini, tapi kalo anda butuh hiburan yang bisa membuat tersenyum dikit atau bahkan ketawa ngakak ya tonton saja ini. layaknya film indie, memakai aktor aktor muda yang jujur saja menurut saya kualitas akting mereka tuh bisa dibilang jauh dari aktor aktor muda indonesia, entah mengapa bukan saya tidak percaya pada kemampuan sineas atau aktor indonesia, hanya saja susah diungkapkan melihat akting mereka, tapi bukan berarti semuanya loh, saya tidak mengeneralisir ya, ada beberapa lah.

tapi kembali ke topik utama, dance of the dead, bercerita tentang sebuah kota kecil yang diinvasi oleh para zombie, dan hari penginvasian itu terjadi ketika malam prom nite di SMA sekolah itu, banyak karakter konyol dan lucu, tapi cerita utama tetap dipegang oleh 2 karakter utama yaitu jim dan linsdey, yeah dan mereka pun berjuang bersama teman temannya untuk membunuh semua zombie yang ada di pesta prom mereka.

untuk spesial effect sudah terbilang lumayan kalau kelasnya adalah film indie loh, bahkan lebih baik dari film film sinetron tidak jelas di beberapa channel TV swasta kita, yah soal teknologi kita memang terlambat, tapi bisa kan dipercepat perkembangannya? overall, film ini lumayan menghibur saya di hari yang penat karena skripsi, hehehe, enjoy!

Every so often I’ve updated the list of films that I have already seen with brief reviews.  Call it the complete-ist in me, but when I’m done with reviewing each of the films in the book, I’d like to have reviewed every single film in the book.

Anyhow, here’s another batch for you to read.

Enjoy!

Shichinin No Samurai AKA Seven Samurai (1954)

The Seven Samurai is the first movie that I had the pleasure of seeing from the master director Akira Kurosawa, and it is also one of his most praised works. Without a wasted frame, the story takes place over the course of almost 3 hours. Kurosawa, as he does in each of his movies, explores more than just the action and injustice featured in the plot. He is a humanist first and foremost, training his lens on the interpersonal relationships of the characters, tracking growth across this epic. As good as this film is, I would have to say that Kurosawa has numerous films that are even better, check out Stray Dog, Rashomon, Yojimbo, Sanjuro, and my personal favorite High and Low.

The Ladykillers (1955)

Existing as a special combination of dark humor, and slapstick farce, The Ladykillers is exceptionally funny and unsettling. Alec Guinness stars as the leader of a group of criminals staying at the home of a hardy, vivacious older lady under the guise of being musicians. The plan is simple, rob a bank, and utilizing the trusting nature of the kindly old lady, and the remoteness of her home to their advantage, get away with it. Easily my favorite of Alec Guinness’ films (thanks in part to the Star Wars prequels that is), The Ladykillers features a solid cast of great actors, including a very young Peter Sellers.

Bob Le Flambeur AKA Bob the Gambler (1955)

My introduction to the fantastic Jean-Pierre Melville, I was captivated immediately by the cool as ice gangster come gambler Bob. This film is filled with signature Melville-isms. Glorious post war street scenes in Paris. Trench-coats. Honor among thieves. And who could forget the caper. To talk too much about this film is to give too much away, and to do that is to ruin it for those who haven’t seen it. Other classics by Melville: Le Cercle Rouge, Le Samourai, and the recently released in the U.S. Army of Shadows. All are fantastic, and deserve to be in this book! Incidentally, Bob le Flambeur was recently re-made into The Good Thief starring Nick Nolte and directed by Neil Jordan, and while I’m not generally a fan of re-makes, I really, really liked this film. Not quite as good as the original, but it was one of my favorite films of 2002.

Kiss Me Deadly (1955)

The ultimate in hardboiled private eye crime stories, Kiss Me Deadly is a full on assault on decency. Kiss Me Deadly proudly presents itself as a grimy PI story, littered with bodies and intrigue. If you even have a passing interest in film noir, this should be your first stop. Violent, misogynist, brutish, and glorious, Kiss Me Deadly begs to be watched and dares you to look away. I myself, loved it!

The Ten Commandments (1956)

Apparently based on a book, The Ten Commandments is an epic in every sense of the word. Colored in bright explosive candy hues, and featuring huge sets, as well as a cast that number in the thousands, The Ten Commandments is more spectacle than great movie. Certainly not a waste of time, but not my first choice when choosing something light to throw in.

Det Sjunde Inseglet AKA The Seventh Seal (1957)

A classic, and well-loved film by Swedish auteur Ingmar Bergman, The Seventh Seal stars an extremely young Max von Sydow as a knight who faces Death at a game of chess to decide his fate. This film is filled with themes that find their way into each of Bergman’s works, ranging from courage in the face of death, religion, and humanity. The Seventh Seal still holds up to this day, with luminous black and white photography that, thanks to Criterion’s Blu-ray edition, has never looked better.

Note: Don’t be fooled by the similarly themed, but much worse, “Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey”

Kumonosu Jo AKA Throne of Blood (1957)

Kurosawa’s retelling of Macbeth set in feudal Japan. Shakespeare has never looked better as it does in the stark black and white, twisting shadows and swirling mists as seen through Kurosawa’s camera. Toshiro Mifune doesn’t disappoint in the lead role, but the real stand out is Isuzu Yamada in the as Mifune’s opportunistic, poisonous wife. The plotting and scheming starts right from the get go, all the way up till the frenzied end of the film.

Touch of Evil (1958)

One of the many trouble spots on Orson Welles’ resume due to studio interference, and financing issues, still Touch of Evil remains as possibly the best B-Movie ever made. Iconic (and sometimes hilarious) performances by Janet Leigh, Charlton Heston (as a Mexican) and Welles himself as the crooked cop willing to do almost anything to ensure justice prevails (just so long as it’s his justice). The movie is almost as famous for its long tracking shot opening as it is for any of the performances, featuring a nearly 4 minute shot done in one take which travels around cars, actors, and buildings. The film The Player, payed homage to it by mentioning it a few times during a similarly complex shot in that film.

Vertigo (1958)

Flopping on its initial release, Vertigo didn’t gain the acclaim it deserved until much later after it was released on video. Vertigo visits themes present in each of Hitchcock’s other works, including the obsession with blondes, innocence tainted with corruption, and the schlub who get in over his head. Jimmy Stewart plays the schlub, Kim Novak plays the blonde, and gloriously technicolored San Francisco plays the innocence and the corruption. Vertigo has a twisty convoluted story with elements of surrealism, an interesting watch.

Mon Oncle AKA My Uncle (1958)

My favorite of Jacques Tati’s Monsieur Hulot films, Mon Oncle was also the first of them that I had seen. Tati, playing Hulot, is a master of visual comedy, and not in the same way as the Three Stooges, or even Buster Keaton. Tati is an artist whose work is appreciated the longer you watch. The plot of the movie is not so much important to the film as it is simply a guide to get our characters into interesting situations so we can watch them get out. If you liked this film, check out other films featuring the bumbling Mr. Hulot, including Trafic, Playtime, and Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot.

Les Quatre Cents Coups AKA The 400 Blows (1959)

My personal favorite of the French new wave movement was this small-scale film, personal piece from Francois Truffaut. Featuring the director’s alter ego, Antoine Doinel, The 400 Blows is the first in a series of movies, each about a different stage of life and the challenges that go along with them. The period from childhood to young adult is covered heart-breakingly here, following Antoine through the rough waters of his home life and his interaction with the outside world. Later chapters deal with finding love, getting married, having children, and growing old, but Les Quatres Cent Coups remains the directors most personal and his best.

North by Northwest (1959)

One of Hitchcock’s best, North by Northwest features Cary Grant, suave as ever, being mistaken for a government agent by a group of foreign spies. Just like in Hitchcock’s most famous works (of which this is one), the witty one-liners, suspense, and drama are heaped on generously. I can’t help but feel sad that a similarly themed, but better film featuring Cary Grant was left off this 1001 list. Charade, also featuring Audrey Hepburn, James Coburn, and Walter Matthau, is one of my favorite movies ever! Check out both Charade AND North by Northwest as a double feature! You won’t be sorry.

Some Like it Hot (1959)

Now this is an example of a classic, well-loved film, with actors that I really love (Jack Lemmon I’m looking at you), a premise that is more than suitable, yet the finished product never really caught me. It’s sort of like Hitchcock’s To Catch a Thief. I never really saw what all the hype was about. That being said, I didn’t hate it either. It never made fun of me when I had braces, or turned me down for a date, my affections and this film have just always been mutually exclusive. Perhaps it deserves another watch…then again maybe I should just watch The Last Boyscout again.

A Bout De Souffle AKA Breathless (1959)

Jean-Luc Godard is nothing if not a sacred cow of French cinema, and while I have loved some of his other films (Le Mepris, Bande A Part, and Masculin Femenine), Breathless or A Bout De Souffle never really did it for me. I can still rationalize why it was so revolutionary (use of jump cuts, editing, non-actors, and subscription to the aesthetic of the French new wave style), and see it’s importance, but I prefer other examples of New Wave cinema. If you are interested in seeing a Godard film, try Masculin Feminine, it is just as revolutionary and a bit more accessible.

Psycho (1960)

A prime example of Hitchcock in his prime. Psycho was so good, and so affecting that some of its actors were type cast just on the strength of this one film (Anthony Perkins, and Janet Leigh), so much so that without a little research it’s hard to think of what other films either of them has been in. Psycho may not be as visually shocking and gory as horror films of today, but it still manages to hold up over time and be just as unsettling as it was back in its day. Hitchcock has always excelled at making the comfortable un-comfortable (motels, birds, tea, dreams, the list goes on…), and the subtle touches in this film work perfectly. Consider for a moment that Perkin’s Bates is an amateur taxidermist of birds, and then that Janet Leigh’s name is Marion Crane a type of bird, or the fact before the crime Marion is wearing a white bra and a white purse, while after it she is wearing a black bra and purse. His attention to detail, and knack for foreshadowing is demonstrated in full force in Psycho and remains one of his best films. Despite all the uproar over the Gus Van Sant remake, I thought it actually did some justice to the original film and if nothing else brought it a little more deserved attention.

Note: This film also has the distinction of being the first American film to ever show a toilet flushing on-screen.

Peeping Tom (1960)

Released the same year as Psycho, and dealing with similar subject matter, Peeping Tom wasn’t received with the same acclaim and attention that the former was. On the contrary, Peeping Tom was seen as subversive, perverted, and generally too shocking. The story revolves more around the killer than the victim in this one, whereas Psycho is presented more from the victim’s point of view. Either way, Peeping Tom is a fine film, one worth watching, however it is so similar to Psycho that I’m not sure it needs to be on the list of 1001 films.

The Apartment (1960)

As far as light-hearted, touching movies about someone recovering from a bout of depression, this one is my favorite. Billy Wilder directs Shirley MacLaine and Jack Lemmon in a sweet touching comedy without losing any of his trademark cynicism or the pointedness of his dialogue. The Apartment is another chance for me to champion the somewhat maligned talents of Mr. Fred MacMurray as Lemmon’s boss. MacMurray plays a fantastic creep who really defines the term “heel”.

Spartacus (1960)

Containing almost none of the trademark elements that make up a Stanley Kubrick movie as we know it (Kubrick apparently dis-owned the film before it’s release), Spartacus remains an interesting movie that isn’t great. It is, however, another example of a film that enabled an up and coming filmmaker to gain his voice, and define himself later on in his career. If only for that reason, Spartacus is a great film, but luckily for the studio, it has some other things going for it. Kirk Douglas plays the title role of Spartacus, and despite all the lavish set production, and concentration on spectacle, brings some heart to the slave who defied Rome.

Jules Et Jim AKA Jules and Jim (1962)

One of director, Francois Truffaut’s most well thought of films, Jules and Jim may be the Lost In Translation, or Juno of its time. Viewed from a certain angle, the plot is a completely moving and emotional story that you believe, so much so, that you can see yourself and those around you in the roles that these characters embody. Viewed from another perspective, it can seem a little precious or purposefully manipulative. Depending on what is happening in your life (I’m mostly thinking about whether or not you are in a relationship, and if you are happy), this movie can preach the glory of love and the pain of rejection. On the flipside, if you have shaken free the angsty, teenager-esque feelings everyone has had in their youth, you may feel like you’re being talked down to.

Cleo De 5 A 7 AKA Cleo from 5 to 7

Taking place, as the title suggests, from 5 to 7, we get a slice of the life of Cleo played out before us. Sometimes we, along with Cleo herself, are a voyeurs into the lives of people around her, and other times we are focused on her as she roams around Paris. By and large Cleo lives a carefree, spoiled life, yet we still sympathize with her when times are hard, and cheer for her when they are good. This is a small film in a lot of ways, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t impacting and beautiful.

Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

I have to admit.  I didn’t like Lawrence of Arabia that much.  Perhaps I was too young to appreciate the aesthetic beauty of Lean’s desert panorama camerawork, or just maybe it was the epic length that decided it for me.  One way or another, I didn’t appreciate it as much as everyone else seems to think I should. 

The Manchurian Candidate (1962)

Overly reliant on gimmicks and quick editing techniques, The Manchurian Candidate doesn’t flesh out the story nearly…wait, no that was the terrible re-make that came out in 2004.  The original 1962 version, is just as taught, and well executed today as it was at its release.  While the story between the two versions remained virtually the same, the consistent building of tension and anxiety, combined with the pitch perfect acting of Lawrence Harvey, Frank Sinatra (yes…Frank Sinatra), and the devilish turn of Angela Lansbury as the Queen of Hearts, makes for a fantastic film.

Lolita (1962)

It took me forever to finally see Lolita.  I have known the basic story (older man, younger girl) but had just never gotten around to seeing it.  And while I’ve been told that the book is much better, I thought the film was pretty good.  Not great, mind you, but definitely solid.  The shocking and controversial nature of the relationship was toned down a bit for the screen, and maybe as a result doesn’t seem all that shocking in today’s day and age.  Memorable turns by Peter Sellers, and Shelley Winters, not to mention it’s an early film of Stanley Kubrick.

The Birds (1963)

Despite being one of Hitchcock’s most popular, I actually think that The Birds is one of his most over-rated.  I think I owe it to myself to give this one another look someday, but right now I feel that it was too heavily based on the gimmick that had to rely on special effects.  Though it is not necessarily the fault of the movie, but the special effects seemed particularly dated and old fashioned.  Worth a watch, but not my favorite by a long shot.

8 1/2 (1963)

Federico Fellini is, by most accounts, a master of cinema.  One, that I have always had a little trouble getting fired up over.  It’s not that I don’t like his films once I’ve seen them, the problem comes in when it comes to motivating myself to see them.  I couldn’t tell you why, but his films consistently get pushed off when they come up on my Netflix Queue or when I see the one or two I have on my shelf.  I shouldn’t feel this way, considering I really loved the moving poetry, and soul baring passion in 8 1/2, yet it still happens.  One very definite reason to watch this film is the man-crushable Marcello Mastroianni, swaggering through as the alter-ego of Fellini himself.  Dealing with all the reservations with women, making movies, childhood, and the future that the director very famously dealt with himself, Mastroianni embodies a certain cool, yet believable character that begs to be watched.  Combined with imagery that leaves the audience wanting more, 8 1/2 is a fantastic film.

Well, that’s it for this time.  Thanks for reading!

Awesomeness

Kings Arsenal crushed league leaders Cheung Ki Koks Warriors 6-2 on Sunday night.

The Kings put in a classic counter attacking display and showcased some trademark flowing football on the break.

Cheung Ki Koks Warriors started strongly, but for all their possession rarely threatened Fabricio’s goal and Kings Arsenal, wearing blue bibs, were soon ahead from the penalty spot.

Luke was set to spin away from the last defender only for a hand to shoot out and knock the ball out of his path.

With the penalty awarded Mark stepped forward and calmly knocked it into the bottom corner.

From then on it was all Kings Arsenal as Cheung Ki Koks Warriors just couldn’t get passed an imperious James Britton in defence.

By now Kings Arsenal were raining chances down on the opposition goal and were constantly denied by the post or some lacklustre finishing.

The Warriors simply could not handle Luke’s movement and unpredictability and he almost scored a sensational goal only for the cross bar to stop him celebrating after chipping a defender and the goalkeeper.

Gloucestershire duo James Payne and PJ were combining to devastating effect and the latter finally made it 2-0 from close range.

Kings Arsenal started to stretch away in the second half and James Britton fired in a powerful shot that went straight through the netting.

Luke got a deserved goal when he smashed home a Mark cross from a corner first time on the run and PJ scored his second with a classic shot across the keeper.

A second penalty, this time for a foul in the box, allowed Mark to double his tally for the evening, although this time he put the ball in the other corner.

Fabricio showed some Brazilian flair by tricking his way past some Warriors and almost picked up a goal with a long range strike.

However, once against James Payne failed to hit the back of the net and Phil was a last minute withdrawal because his car wouldn’t start.

Kings Arsenal could have even walked away with a clean sheet only for some typical defensive howlers to gift Cheung Ki Koks Warriors two goals.

The result sees Kings Arsenal climb to third place, level on points with Team Choc Ice and Cheung Ki Koks Warriors, three points back from early leaders, the still unbeaten, Rosie FC.

This weekend we face second place Team Choc Ice in a 5.40pm kick-off.

We crushed them 11-4 when we last met, in one of Kings Arsenal’s greatest ever showings.

Founding members PJ and James Payne have already declared themselves unavailable.

Something New From Jim Jones Featuring Maino ‘Tryna Win’

Listen Inside

Jim Jones Feat. Maino- Tryna Win …::LISTEN::…

Last weekend the Pusan West FF occured at Chapman University in Orange, CA. I’ll be brief… it was awesome.

Some pictures I took

Best,

Reviews:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/iwnow/archives/pusan_west_to_launch_at_cas_chapman_university/
http://www.sparkoc.com/event/detail/440505071
http://www.ask.com/web?q=Pusan%20West%20Reviews&o=101483&l=dis

Nike put together a few of these commercials during March Madness last year, but this one was my favorite, for obvious reasons.  Hamilton, HAMILTON!

Verse Simmonds Buy You A Round Remix Feat. Jim Jones Jermaine Dupri OJ Da Juiceman Juvenile The Game Listen After The Jump….

Verse Simmonds-Buy You A Round Remix …::LISTEN::…

1994
239 Greene Street
New York, NY 10003

Sunlight pierced through three white wood-framed arched windows that reached the ceiling of Dr. Nadler’s office at New York University’s Department of Teaching and Learning. Books and papers were everywhere, the carpet was old, as was the desk and chair, but it was peaceful. Students bustled on the streets below. And I was in another world.

With the door closed during my lunch hour, I was emailing Jim from Pikeville, Co. Kentucky. I met him on alt.personals. It was so daring, so shocking for a liberal Jewish girl from the Upper East Side of Manhattan to be talking to someone like that.

We talked about the Essenes, a story about his uncle chasing a pig that made him laugh, his childhood of poverty in the mountains, being called bastard because his father never married, his mother’s drug addiction, and how he loved the sound of mountain hyms. He had overcome unbelievable odds to rise from poverty, and I found him as a highly paid computer executive for Tibco, working as a consultant for Mobil Oil in Virginia.

We were both in unhappy marriages.

My mother had died on Valentine’s Day. My husband made me abort our baby before we were married, and someone inside me could never forgive him. Jim’s wife Lois put him in boxes, and he never learned how to feed his soul.

Wearing a short cream dress, matching bowed fabric shoes, and a blue linen jacket, I walked off the Amtrak train in Washington, DC. Without speaking a word, I kissed a large, enveloping bearded man I had grown to love through email. He loved me, too, but understood my innocence and did not allow his darkness to ruin my life with broken promises.

And so began my journey into the online world.

Ants Eat Well, Thanks to Bacteria — Torrice 2009 1119: 2 — ScienceNOW.\

Posted by Jim:  Here’s another insect nitrogen story – leafcutter ants solve their low-N leaf problem by having N-fixing microbes in their gardens.  This reminds me of discussions I had with the late Professor Abe (Kyoto University) in 1997. Abe discovered that termites solve their N problem by harboring N-fixing bacteria in their guts.  I congratulated him on his terrific work and then asked him: ” So how do the termites get their phosphorus?”  Since his work was entirely focused on N, he didn’t really know.

Anyway, I think that in such cases the answer is usually “very slowly”.

I’d ask the same question of Torrice et al.: ‘Where do the leafcutters get their P?”  The answer is likely the same.  Rebecca Clark here at ASU is doing her PhD on the ES of leafcutter ants.  I hope she’ll have the answer!

It’s Sunday.   Post Secret updates on Sundays.  I want to go over there and read it, but I won’t.  And you know why?  Because Jim and I both like to read it, and we usually read it together.  But he’s still sleeping.  And so I wait.

I must really like this man.

(Cue whipping sounds.  Go ahead.  It’s true.)

I know, anyone who follows me on this vast creation we call the internet is probably looking at their screen thinking ‘ANOTHER BLOG JIM?’

Trust me, I think the same thing all the time. Those of you who know me well know that I’m very passionate about a few things in life: writing, music, hockey, baseball, family – not in that order.

Like many people, I am participating in what is called NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). The goal is write 50,000 words in a month. Pretty neat, huh? It is neat – but it’s also challenging and forces you as a writer to step up.

One night, not too long ago, I thought to myself, ‘why not write some new music?’ See, I wrote two albums so far this year, one has been posted, the other not. I promise I will start posting some of those songs elsewhere, but the other album which I recorded over the summer titled THE WORDS is available to listen to for free at THE WORDS by Jim Wisneski.

The new music idea suddenly became a new album which then suddenly became this personal challenge to write a new album in a month. I like challenging myself and I like priding myself off my God given abilities and LOVE sharing them with the world. But I wanted to take this a step further. First and foremost, I just bought some new instruments to have fun with. Being sent as I write this is a keyboard, a mandolin, and a ukulele. So, for the lineup of instruments for this album, I have will my trusted 6-string guitar, my 12-string guitar, my harmonicas (key of C and G), my keyboard, my mandolin, and my ukulele. For recording, I have a four track recorder with two built-in mics, an actual mic, and some editing and mixing software.

What more can I ask for? I want to see what I can come up with with basic equipment.

But I’m taking it further than just that. I want YOU to be involved. I want YOU to help me write lyrics, help my design a cover, and help me title this thing! I want YOU to blog it, tweet it, re-tweet it, and let’s show this negative world that art is alive! You don’t know how many times I look for articles to post on my writing blog (Writers n’ Writers) and find article after article about how publishing is bad and all these put downs. . . am I denying what’s happening in our world? NO. I know it’s rough out there and so do you, but dammit let’s stand up and have FUN! Let’s celebrate being alive, let’s celebrate writing, let’s celebrate the freedom to write, sing, play, record, and SHARE IT ALL!

Also, as I finish songs, I will post them right here for the world to hear. And once it’s done, I’m going to have the album posted for free and would like to work something out that if people want the album, I will send it FOR FREE! I want to share my words and music with the world.

Anyways, I’m done rambling here. I’ve got a BIG PLAN to work out but I need YOU – ALL OF YOU! So take a second and introduce yourself. Tell me what you do and link up your site so I can see new stuff! And like I said I want your help – have a story that you think is too good to be true and think it can be a song? TELL ME. Have a lyric or two that thought of? TELL ME. Have a poem that you think would be good with some music behind it? TELL ME.

SO. . . LET’S HAVE SOME FUN!

Later gators,

Jim

Yeah, I don’t know who they are. But everything with Andrew Bird is fine to me So this is straight copied from pitchfork.

The Preservation Hall is a 48-year-old French Quarter mainstay known for its deep New Orleans jazz legacy. In honor of the venue and its music outreach program, an impressive group of artists recorded tracks with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band for a benefit album called Preservation (what an original title!), due February 16 via RED.

Performers on the record include Tom Waits (who does a version of the Mardi Gras song “Tootie Ma Is a Big Fine Thing”), Andrew Bird, Jim James of My Morning Jacket, Pete Seeger, Dr. John, Steve Earle, Blind Boys of Alabama, Merle Haggard, Richie Havens, Jason Isbell, and more.

Here are some things you may not know about what I consider “major” life events. It’s neat to look back on these every once in a while and to see how God’s hand has moved my life to be what it is and how it is has made me the person I am today.

• Becoming a Christian: My parent had me in church for my whole life. I can remember my first grade Sunday School teachers and remembering that they helped fill me with a lot of the knowledge I have about the Bible (as much as a first grader can understand). I was the first one in my class to be able to say all of the books of the Bible in order and I got a Bible because of it. In 4th grade is when I understood that it wasn’t just about knowing and doing all of the right things but about being saved by Jesus Christ and having a relationship with Him. Although I still struggle today with “working” for His love, I am continually renewing my mind and working out my salvation to this very day.
• My parents’ divorce: Although I wouldn’t understand at the time what impact this would have on me, today, I have a better grasp on it. Being the oldest I was forced to grow up just a little bit quicker. I learned “basic” child care skills and learned to be self-disciplined. Now that I’m married, I’ve realized all the valuable lessons I learned on how to be a wife (and someday a mother).
• Marrying Jim Johnson: It’s a big “duh” that this would be on here, but hear me (er, see my typed words) out. Jim is my best friend and I love him with everything. Just under 2 years ago I entered into a covenant with him that gives me security second only to my relationship with the Lord. He makes me laugh, let’s me be myself, speaks truth into my life, and encourages me in what I do. He is a great helper, an excellent gardener, and awesome cook!
• Midwestern State University: I did NOT want to go to MSU. As soon as I graduated from high school, I wanted to attend Dallas Baptist University. I got accepted and went down and made my schedule and all I needed was some extra help in the financial department. My parents and the school did everything they could. I even took more SAT’s and ACT’s to try and qualify for more money. Two weeks before classes were to start, after having a roommate and everything, I had to withdraw. It was so disappointing, but obviously what God wanted.
• Tearing my ACL: I believe that this was God’s way of showing me that there were other things in my life that were where he was supposed to be. I spent almost every waking hour outside of school playing soccer and it was the most important thing to me. While I don’t think God always does something this drastic to let you know that you aren’t on the right path, I believe he had to physically break me for me to finally realize it just how much of an idol it was in my life.

Jim Jones-Hit Em Up
Juelz Santana(Feat. Chris Brown)-Back To The Crib
Listen Inside

Jim Jones-Hit Em Up …::LISTEN::…
Juelz Santana(Feat. Chris Brown)-Back To The Crib …::LISTEN::…