Moving Like A Tremendous Machine

Fifty years ago (9 June 1973) today, I watched in real time on TV – what to me – remains the single greatest athletic achievement of my lifetime (68yrs and counting).  I was not physically present, so I can’t say I saw it “live / in-person”;  but I did see it as it was happening…  Secretariat won the third leg of the thorough-bred horse-racing “Triple-Crown” by winning the Belmont Stakes by 31 lengths.  “Technically” this (a “length”) is a variable distance of between 8 and 9 feet, as a “length” is measured by the distance between nose and tail of the winner of the race.
If you’ve never seen THIS race before, I encourage you to watch this video…
At that time, Secretariat was the first Triple-Crown winner in 25 years and holds the stakes record time for each of the three races (the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness are the other two).  Secretariat’s time of 2:24 for 1+1⁄2 miles in the 1973 Belmont Stakes also set a world record that still stands.
Thanks to YouTube and the Internet, I’ve been able to enjoy this race many times in the last five years(+).  LoL!!  Viewing it still gives me chills!
As for human athletic achievement, I would rank Bob Beamon’s long jump at the 1968 Mexico Olympics as #1.  As with Secretariat’s run, I did not see Beamon’s effort “live / in-person”, but unlike Secretariat, I also did not see it in “real-time” (as it happened).  Back then (1968), the Olympics were not shown on TV in real-time (most of it anyway).  It was mostly tape-delayed and broadcast in the evenings / “prime-time”.  So, I saw it “on-the-same-day”, but not as it was happening.  (…And, no, it did not happen on 9 June.  This is just a trip down memory lane…)
To put Bob Beamon’s achievement in some perspective:  in a sport where world records are normally increased by 2 to 3 inches (and up until this jump the largest increase in the record was 6 inches), Beamon’s jump broke the world record by 21-3/4 inches (55cm)!!  At a time when the world hoped to see a 28 foot long jump before the end of the century, Bob Beamon jumped OVER 29 feet!  29ft-2+1/4in!!  It took over a decade (12 years) before another human being was able to jump 28 feet, let alone 29 feet.  Beamon’s world record stood for 23 years until it was finally broken in 1991.  It remains the Olympic long jump record.
Imagine being the first person in human history to jump past 28 feet (other than Beamon) and everyone says:  “Nice jump!  Another foot and you’ll be close to the record…”
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On This Day In:
2022	Let Me Tell You An Amusing Story…
2021	Together Forever
	Think It Over
	Small But Fun
2020	Still Learning
2019	Almost Hallmark
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2018	Daydreams And Wanna-Be’s
	Or Work For #45
2017	Summer Pale
2016	Ain’t It Funny
2015	At Both Ends
2014	Whiner(s)
2013	Just Passing Through
2012	Dog-gone Heaven
2011	Occasional, Sad Results

Don’t Forget Politicians Without Gravity, Ethics Or Courage

We have artists with no scientific knowledge and scientists with no artistic knowledge and both with no spiritual sense of gravity at all, and the result is not just bad, it is ghastly.
—     Robert M. Pirsig
From his novel:  “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values“
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On This Day In:
2022	Let Me Tell You An Amusing Story…
2021	Together Forever
	Think It Over
	Small But Fun
2020	Still Learning
2019	Almost Hallmark
	Beyond All Reason
2018	Daydreams And Wanna-Be’s
	Or Work For #45
2017	Summer Pale
2016	Ain’t It Funny
2015	At Both Ends
2014	Whiner(s)
2013	Just Passing Through
2012	Dog-gone Heaven
2011	Occasional, Sad Results

Have We Reached A Verdict?

We always condemn most in others, he thought, that which we most fear in ourselves.
—     Robert M. Pirsig
From his book:  “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values“
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On This Day In:
2022	Just Chill Dude…
2021	Don’t Let The Violent Take It From Us
	Scratch Me
2020	Or Frightens Us
2019	The Best Gifts
2018	Sweep!!!
	We Must Be Living In TRULY Historic Times
2017	The Best?
2016	Timely Opinions On “The Donald”
	Even Allowing For Coincidence
2015	First Things First
2014	Without The Other
2013	Earn This
	Seeking A View
2012	Stumblin’ Along My Way
	We’re Proud Of You, Jr!
	Union Card
	Two Philosophies
2011	Simply Unpredictable

And Still More Pride (1980)

Pride And Prejudice    —     BBC TV series review (1980)
Starring David Rintoul as Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Garvie as Elizabeth “Lizzy” Bennet, this is the five episode (4-1/2 hour) BBC version which can be purchased on DVD.  Because I enjoyed my recent viewing of the 1940 version, I went looking for this version to add it to my watchlist for viewing and / or potential purchase.  Lo and behold, this version is currently (as of June 2023) available as a playlist on YouTube for free.  Although the YouTube playlist version is patchy – 60-plus mostly 3-to-5 minute videos – the transitions between episodes are fairly smooth.  Most only re-show the final few second or two of the previous video before continuing afresh.  While “smooth”, I was left with the feeling I’d not seen the entire series because, in a number of the videos, there was a near simultaneous change in scene.  My reaction was: “I think they’ve edited something out or put the episodes in the playlist in the wrong order.”  (So much for my comments of the playlist editing.)
The story is essentially:  small village with landowner family of five female daughters is thrown in a tizzy over the arrival of a very “suitable” bachelor.  Even better, the bachelor comes with a friend, who is also a very suitable bachelor (Darcy).  Lizzy takes an immediate dislike to Mr. Darcy while the oldest sister (Jane) falls madly in love with the first bachelor (Mr. Bingly).  Blah, blah, blah, happy ending.  The book – and its movie adaptations – is supposed to be a romantic-comedy / drama.  Like the book, this adaptation is more romantic than comedic.  There are no “ha-ha” laugh scenes, at all.  It’s mostly sarcasm in the dialogue which is, to me, amusing, but not “funny”.  Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed this version of P&P in terms of casting and adherence to the original book.  I am a big fan of this book (subject material) and, because I’m so familiar with the story, I’m always looking forward to my favorite parts being portrayed in / with varying interpretations.  As mentioned in my 1940 version review from earlier this week (ok, it was yesterday), I read the original novel (and reviewed it) by Jane Austen back in 2018.
Both Garvie and Rintoul are very good in their lead roles individually, and, to me, demonstrated just enough chemistry to make the story believable, while not trying to bring our current societal standards to the 19th century (the book was published in 1813 AD) where they would have been inappropriate.  Rintoul’s portrayal differs from Olivier’s by playing the role of an English landed-lord with a graceful gentlemanliness, which came across (to me) as effeminate by when done by Olivier.  This portrayal is much closer to the “no grace at all, stiff but manly-man” portrayal of Matthew Macfadyen in the 2005 movie which introduced me to P&P.  A third main point and definite positive for me was the return to character (vis-à-vis the 1940 version) of Darcy’s aunt who refuses to accept the marriage of Darcy to Lizzy for reasons of societal class difference and because the aunt believes Darcy to be “given / promised” to her own daughter since childhood.  The aunt appears as the haughty unredeemable character, which I believe she was meant to be in the original book.
Final recommendation:  Strong to very strong.  This is a very arguably the best interpretation of the book I’ve seen to date.  Rintoul is more manly than Olivier yet still more proud / refined than Macfadyen.  Garvie is not as photogenic as Keira Knightley (2005), but far more so than Greer (1940) or Jennifer Ehle (1995).  Two more thoughts which are probably only of significance to me:  the costumes (women’ dresses) are far better (more appropriate) than the 1940’s verson.  They don’t appear “US civil war era” Southern Bell, like the 1940 movie, but nor do they appear as simple / sturdy as the 2005 movie.  The 1940’s version runs 112 minutes (1 hr 52 min), this 1990 version runs at 265 minutes (4-1/2 hrs), the 1995 runs at 506 minutes (8hrs 26 min) and the 2005 version runs at 129 minutes (2hrs 9min).  Should the run length / duration matter?  I would hope the quality of each version would make them comparable, but, on reflection, it’s probably not so and I am actually comparing apples to oranges.  And, finally, I still think I need to sit down and binge these and some of the other versions (“Bride” and “Zombies”), not to do more head-to-head comparison reviews, just to enjoy them again.  I will almost certainly purchase this version if it ever comes close to my price point and if it is available in a standard US viewing format.
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On This Day In:
2022	Taking The Chance To Improvise
2021	A Bit Like Politics
	How About Tonight?
2020	Independent Isolation
2019	This Pilgrim Has Had A (Mostly) Happy Road
2018	And Men, Too
2017	Damned If You Do
2016	A Storm Over The Horizon
2015	What About Today?
2014	Idiot, n.
2013	Temporary Reality
2012	The Great Objective
2011	Read A Book

15 Speeds With Big Knobby Tires

Life is like riding a bicycle.  To keep your balance you must keep moving.
—    Albert Einstein
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On This Day In:
2022	Taking The Chance To Improvise
2021	A Bit Like Politics
	How About Tonight?
2020	Independent Isolation
2019	This Pilgrim Has Had A (Mostly) Happy Road
2018	And Men, Too
2017	Damned If You Do
2016	A Storm Over The Horizon
2015	What About Today?
2014	Idiot, n.
2013	Temporary Reality
2012	The Great Objective
2011	Read A Book

More Pride (1940)

Pride And Prejudice  (1940) —  movie review  (update of 2017 review)
Starring Laurence Olivier as Mr. Darcy and Greer Garson as Elizabeth “Lizzy” Bennet, this is the black and white version which appears on cable channels periodically – which is where I first viewed it one afternoon while casually channel surfing.  Because I enjoyed my previous viewing and the cost of a streamed copy has recently fallen, I picked up a copy to re-watch.  The story is essentially:  small village with landowner family of five female daughters is thrown in a tizzy over the arrival of a very “suitable” bachelor.  Even better, the bachelor comes with a friend, who is also a very suitable bachelor (Darcy).  Lizzy takes an immediate dislike to Mr. Darcy while the oldest sister (Jane) falls madly in love with the first bachelor (Mr. Bingly).  Blah, blah, blah, happy ending.
In this version, I was left with a “satisfied” grin.  It was enjoyable to watch, and, because I’m so familiar with the story, I’m always looking forward to my favorite parts.  I read the original novel (and reviewed it) back in 2018.  Unfortunately, while Olivier and Garson “seemed” good in their roles individually, to me, they lacked the chemistry to make the story believable.  Also, while I realize Olivier is playing the role of an English landed-lord from a prior century, this is the only Darcy portrayal I’ve seen where he (Darcy) comes across as effeminate rather gentlemanly.  I imagine this is Olivier’s attempt to be theatrical rather than masculine “method” acting.  There are also a couple of changes in the film which I found curious.  For one, the costumes seemed more modern and more American than British.  This impression may be just in comparison to the 1995 version.  Another difference was that Darcy’s aunt refuses the marriage to Lizzy as a test of her love, whereas in the other versions, the aunt is doing it for reasons of societal class difference and because the aunt believes Darcy to be “given / promised” to her own daughter since childhood.  Basically, it makes the aunt a redeemable character, which I don’t believe she was meant to be.  (Having read the original book (annotated version), neither it nor any of the other film versions portray the aunt as redeemable.)
LoL!  At some point, I will have to sit down and binge watch through as many versions as I can manage.  I still have to purchase the “Bride and Prejudice” and the “Zombies” versions.  I have never seen the 1980 BBC version and, at the moment, it is both priced beyond my price point and I believe it’s still only in UK / European format, so even if I could find the DVDs, they won’t play on this side of the pond.  There is also another “Utah” version set in the modern day, but I don’t know how much interest I really have in that one.  I guess it’ll come down to “one in, all in”.
Final recommendation:  moderate to strong (upgrade).  It’s an okay version – better received on this second viewing.  I guess anything with Olivier is considered a “classic”.  I say this version has historical interest, particularly if you are a fan of the production period (1940), the lead actors, or a big P&P fan (like me).  Just a final note:  As mentioned above, I’m a P&P fan, and I wanted to “own” a copy of this for future / repeated viewing.  I’ve priced it online and over various streaming services since my initial viewing (2017) and it always ran about $15US.  I was not going to pay that amount for movie approaching 80 years old, particularly since it’s NOT my favorite version.  Anyway, the price has fallen to $5US, on my preferred streaming service, so I bought this copy.  The movie has not been enhanced.  So it is still presented in “SD”  (4:3 TV quality) format.  Which seems to me to be a shame.
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On This Day In:
2022	My Conservative View
2021	Are We Getting Close To Uncertainty?
	How It Could Be
2020	Two Loves
	A Short Count
2019	Don’t Forget: Fire Burns
2018	Especially In The Middle East
2017	A Good Local
2016	Life Unlimited
2015	Still Trying
2014	Destiny, n.
2013	No Apologies
2012	Utterly Convinced
2011	A Key To Effectiveness

Blogging To Find Shape

I think one of the noblest projects for anyone in age is to find a shape in his life.  It was a drama in how many acts.  How can he make the last act worthy of the earlier ones?  He is the author, the protagonist, the audience and the critic.  He has to work under handicaps while the stage hands fidget and the audience is eager to go home.  But perhaps he can succeed in acting out “I was” or even “I was this.”
—    Malcolm Cowley
Letter to Thomas Ferril, 30th Aug 1978
From:  “The Long Voyage“
[Found at one of the blogs I follow:  https://news.lettersofnote.com/
The specific post is:  https://news.lettersofnote.com/p/i-think-one-of-the-noblest-projects
Please visit the original site and support it if you are able.     —     kmab]
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On This Day In:
2022	My Conservative View
2021	Are We Getting Close To Uncertainty?
	How It Could Be
2020	Two Loves
	A Short Count
2019	Don’t Forget: Fire Burns
2018	Especially In The Middle East
2017	A Good Local
2016	Life Unlimited
2015	Still Trying
2014	Destiny, n.
2013	No Apologies
2012	Utterly Convinced
2011	A Key To Effectiveness

A Journey And A Story

To err is to wander, and wandering is the way we discover the world;  and, lost in thought, it is also the way we discover ourselves.  Being right might be gratifying, but in the end it is static, a mere statement.  Being wrong is hard and humbling, and sometimes even dangerous, but in the end it is a journey, and a story.
—    Kathryn Schulz
[This quote was found at one of the blogs I follow:  https://aponderingmind.org/
The specific post was located at:  https://aponderingmind.org/2023/05/18/todays-quote-8/
Please check out the original site if you have a few spare minutes…    —    kmab]
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On This Day In:
2022	I Want His Job
2021	I Better
	The Way I Will
2020	Necessary Events
2019	I May Have Started Too Soon
2018	But Me
2017	A Little More, Please
2016	In Full Vigor
2015	A Good Lad
2014	Who Dare Not Speak
2013	I Love Beer
2012	Trial By Jury
2011	First Class
	Got Knowledge?

A Clear Prescription

We live in a society absolutely dependent on science and technology and yet have cleverly arranged things so that almost no one understands science and technology.  That’s a clear prescription for disaster.
—    Carl Sagan
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On This Day In:
2022	Appearances Can Be Deceiving…
2021	Here’s To…
	Tweet, Tweet
2020	Why My Dentist Loves Me
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	The Lesson Of Trump’s Life
2019	You Really Don’t
	No One Can Imagine
2018	Until Integrity, Decency, Wisdom, And Humility Return
	Just Tell (And Re-tell) The Big Lie Often Enough On Fox News
2017	To Laws, Not Office Or Individuals
	Beast / General / Civil
2016	Patronage
2015	For Blogs, Too!
2014	Righteous Anger
2013	An Irish Blessing
2012	But Is It Worth It?
2011	Let Us Start

I Can’t Recall Either

In science it often happens that scientists say, “You know that’s a really good argument; my position is mistaken,” and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again.  They really do it.  It doesn’t happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful.  But it happens every day.  I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion.
—    Carl Sagan
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On This Day In:
2022	Just Smart Enough
2021	For Some Of Us Anyway
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2020	Role Reversal
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	Time To Defend The Constitution (Part II)
2019	Right Or Wrong
2018	Open Doors
2017	When It Deserves It
2016	Expiation For Rest
2015	You’ll Get Through It
2014	A Special Kind Of Fall
2013	Very Rewarding
2012	MIB3 – The Team Is Closer Than Ever
	Yet
2011	Little By Little

Laughing At #45:DonTheClown

I have been in those rooms with [Trump] when he met with those [world] leaders, I believe they think he’s a laughing fool.
—    John Bolton
Former National Security Advisor to President Trump
But the fact that some geniuses were laughed at does not imply that all who are laughed at are geniuses.  They laughed at Columbus, they laughed at Fulton, they laughed at the Wright Brothers.  But they also laughed at Bozo the Clown.
—    Carl Sagan
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2018	Bourne Wicked Blonde
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2017	This Explains A Lot
2016	Me Too
2015	A Proper Price
2014	Well Hard
2013	Because I Can
	Eloquence, n.
2012	Why Bother?
2011	Peculiar Notions

I (Too) Hope My Curiosity Endures

Personally, I would be delighted if there were a life after death, especially if it permitted me to continue to learn about this world and others, if it gave me a chance to discover how history turns out.
—    Carl Sagan
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On This Day In:
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2021	Maybe “Creation” Wasn’t That Difficult After All
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2020	#45: Time Is Ticking Away
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2019	Belief Buffet
2018	Change Is Law
2017	A Dog Day Of Summer
2016	Chances Are
2015	Truer Spoken
2014	Not Quite There Yet (Either)
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2013	Distance, n.
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2012	Rise Up!
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2011	Artful Courage
2010	A Handful of Lessons…

Two Brown Miracles

Believe in miracles but don’t depend on them.
—    H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
Never give up on anybody.  Miracles happen everyday.
—    H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
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2020	At Least A Lot More Gray
2019	Walking The Lonely Path
2018	The Ultimate Trial
2017	Vain Expectations
2016	Or Of One Thought
2015	What’s In Your Future?
2014	Light In Darkness
2013	How ‘Bout Just Obeying The Law?
2012	Or Maybe Not
2011	My Interval Is Too Short!

Or You Practice Guitar (It Works For Me)

You use a glass mirror to see your face;  you use works of art to see your soul.
―     George Bernard Shaw
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2020	I’d Include Health Care
2019	Accustomed To It
2018	Booking My Trip Into The Expanding Universe
2017	Fear Instead Of Convictions
2016	Memorial Day – 2016
2015	A Handful Of Reviews
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2014	Get Wisdom
2013	Enjoying The View?
2012	Adam’s Rib
2011	I’m Sure I Remember That…
	Memorial Day, 2011

Still Trying To Learn The Syntax

Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.
—    Victor Hugo
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On This Day In:
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2021	A Chance Meeting Finds A Way
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2020	The Magnitude Of The Challenge
2019	Still Tearing, Still Being Rewarded
2018	Nothing More, Nothing Less
2017	Memorial Day – 2017
	No Wonder I’m Smiling
2016	Thinking Science Fictional
2015	Dawn Is Coming
2014	Back When I Was A Firebrand
2013	Pen In Hand
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2012	Disturbing
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2011	Unreliable And Selective
2010	Adult-Onset Athlete