Morality is simply the attitude we adopt towards people we personally dislike. | |
― Oscar Wilde | |
[All good humor has an element of Truth as its basis. — kmab] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2018 | From My Soapbox |
2017 | The Single Most Effective Thing For Health |
2016 | A Trumpet Solo |
2015 | Potential Is A Heavy Burden |
2014 | Fear Not, Weep Not |
2013 | Half Way There |
2012 | Sacrificed Any Lately? |
2011 | The Value Of One’s Character |
2010 | Intervals |
On Being Human | |
Non-predictive Emergence | |
Events | |
Bodily Functions | |
Standing Thoughts | |
Sent Home Is Better Than Fixed | |
Archive for June, 2019
Ebb And Flow
Posted in Faith, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Faith, Freedom, Gift From The Sea, Love, Philosophy, Quotes on June 29, 2019| Leave a Comment »
When you love someone you do not love them all the time, in exactly the same way, from moment to moment. It is an impossibility. It is even a lie to pretend to. And yet this is exactly what most of us demand. We have so little faith in the ebb and flow of life, of love, of relationships. We leap at the flow of the tide and resist in terror its ebb. We are afraid it will never return. We insist on permanency, on duration, on continuity, when the only continuity possible, in life as in love, is in growth, in fluidity — in freedom. | |
— Anne Morrow Lindbergh | |
From her book: “Gift From The Sea“ | |
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On This Day In: | |
2018 | America: Paging #45 |
2017 | Near By |
2016 | Maybe Someday |
2015 | How’s The Cow? |
2014 | Mind Made Up |
2013 | On Purpose |
2012 | The Dream |
2011 | What Could Be More Comfortable? |
Close, Sustained, Careful, Daily
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Lauren Groff, Love, Philosophy, Quotes on June 28, 2019| Leave a Comment »
Because I am a novelist, one thing I know very well is that close, sustained, careful, daily attention is a profound form of love. | |
— Lauren Groff | |
From her opinion / editorial: “Prairie Escape“ | |
Appearing in: Time Magazine; dtd: 6 August / 13 August 2018 | |
[It sounds like being a good parent or a good friend to me. — kmab] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2018 | One Brick At A Time |
2017 | Order The Rope, #DumbDonald |
2016 | Chains Of Habit |
2015 | That You Shall Remain |
Did You See That? | |
2014 | True, Vibrant And Open |
2013 | Remembering, Yet Again |
2012 | Something Of Value |
2011 | Sleep All Day |
Forgiving The Chasm
Posted in Family and Friends, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Family, Forgiveness, Memories, Memories From the South: Fried Chicken on Race Day, Philosophy, Quotes, Race Day, Stephanie Powell Watts, Time Magazine on June 27, 2019| 14 Comments »
I am no longer young. But the memory of all that lingers. In every life you leave your loved ones behind, through death, by omission and sometimes because the chasm between them and you is too great. You leave your town by choice or by the inevitable unspooling of life. But at some point you realize that you loved some parts of it. Even when it is flawed. You can even love a failing chicken restaurant and a speedway you never went to. You were young. When those days come to mind, you will want to call your people, even the ones who are no longer there or anywhere. You will want to declare: I have loved you through time and space. It is hard to be us. It is hard to be anyone. You will want to tell them, I forgive, I forgive you everything. | |
— Stephanie Powell Watts | |
From her article: “Race Day“ | |
Appearing in: Time Magazine; dtd: 6 August / 13 August 2018 | |
Online, the article is titled: “Memories From the South: Fried Chicken on Race Day“ | |
And is at: https://time.com/5349504/stephanie-powell-watts-race-day/ | |
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On This Day In: | |
2018 | A Sure Sign Of Age |
Before The Fall – Cheat | |
2017 | Distant Goal |
2016 | More Lives |
2015 | Go Shopping More |
2014 | Say What? |
2013 | Accepting Beauty |
2012 | Transitional Choice To Ride The Wave |
2011 | Freedom Isn’t Always Perfect |
Just That Simple | |
Propaganda vs. Art
Posted in Other Blogs, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Art, http://allisonmarieconway.com, Iris Murdoch, Other Blogs, Philosophy, Propaganda, Quotes, Society, Truth on June 26, 2019| Leave a Comment »
Any society contains propaganda, but it is important to distinguish this from art and to preserve the purity and independence of the practice of art. A good society contains many different artists doing many different things. A bad society coerces artists because it knows that they can reveal all kinds of truths. | |
— Iris Murdoch | |
[Found at one of the blogs I follow: http://allisonmarieconway.com/ | |
The specific link to the post this was from is: http://allisonmarieconway.com/2018/08/13/on-art-democracy-dangerous-play/ | |
Please visit the blog if you have a free moment. — kmab] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2018 | What Did You Bring Up? |
2017 | Waiting For My First Strike |
2016 | Mostly Just Masticating |
2015 | Don’t Mess With Mosa |
How Long Is This Run? | |
2014 | The Importance Of Being Forgetful |
2013 | Anyway |
2012 | Habit Forming |
2011 | And In The Other Hand(ful) |
In Love With Words | |
Boundless Naïveté | |
Who Did You Say Signed Off On This Treason, Pat? | |
With Proper Guidance
Posted in Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged AI, Artificial Intelligence, Computing, Fei-Fei Li, Jessi Hempel, Quotes, Science, The Human In The Machine, Wired Magazine on June 25, 2019| 4 Comments »
On the phone, I ask Li if she imagines there could have been a way to develop AI differently, without, perhaps, the problems we’ve seen so far. “I think it’s hard to imagine,” she says. “Scientific advances and innovation come really through generations of tedious work, trial and error. It took a while for us to recognize such bias. I only woke up six years ago and realized ‘Oh my God, we’re entering a crisis.’ ” | |
On Capitol Hill, Li said, “As a scientist, I’m humbled by how nascent the science of AI is. It is the science of only 60 years. Compared to classic sciences that are making human life better every day — physics, chemistry, biology — there’s a long, long way to go for AI to realize its potential to help people.” She added, “With proper guidance AI will make life better. But without it, the technology stands to widen the wealth divide even further, make tech even more exclusive, and reinforce biases we’ve spent generations trying to overcome.” This is the time, Li would have us believe, between an invention and its impact. | |
— Fei-Fei Li (being quoted) | |
Quoted by: Jessi Hempel | |
From her article: “The Human In The Machine“ | |
Appearing in: Wired Magazine, December 2018 | |
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On This Day In: | |
2018 | MAGA? |
2017 | Neutral |
Family Over Ego | |
2016 | Hard Learners |
2015 | Goals |
2014 | Switch To Dogs… |
2013 | Times Change |
2012 | Ashes Not Dust |
2011 | A Handful From Saudi |
None Of This Happened | |
Take Responsibility | |
Austen Stalking
Posted in Movie Review, Movies, Reviews, tagged Alex Kingston, Alien, Amanda Price, Austenland -- movie review, Bret McKenzie, Charles Dance, Downton Abbey, Elizabeth "Lizzy" Bennet, Elliot Cowan, Gemma Arterton, Georgia King, GOT, Henry Nobley, Hugh Bonneville, ITV, J.J. Feild, Jack Huston, Jane Austen, Jane Bennet, Jane Seymour, Jaws, Jemima Rooper, Jennifer Coolidge, Keri Russell, Lady Amelia Heartwright, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Lena Headey, Lily James, Lost in Austen -- movie review, Matt Smith, Michelle Pfeiffer, Miss Elizabeth Charming, Moderate Movie Recommendation, Moderate To Strong Movie Recommendation, Morven Christie, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Bingly, Mr. Collins, Mr. Darcy, Mr. Wickham, Mrs Wattlesbrook, Mrs. Bennet, P&P, Predator, Pride & Prejudice, Pride & Prejudice & Zombies -- movie review, Psycho, Sam Riley, Strong Movie Recommendation, The Birds, The Immitation Game, Tom Hiddleston, Tom Mison, Wolfman on June 24, 2019| Leave a Comment »
Continuing in my pursuit of viewing all things “Pride & Prejudice“, I offer two more tangential movie reviews: “Pride & Prejudice & Zombies” and “Austenland” and a third made for TV series: “Lost in Austen“. The reviews are in the order I watched them, not in preference or year of release. Because this post covers three “films”, it will be considerably longer than normal. Feel free to skip it and come back another time if you’re not “into” P&P. | |
“Lost in Austen” (2008) – TV Series 4 part on YouTube | |
This is a four part TV mini-series for a privately owned (not-BBC) channel in England called ITV. The movie is a rom-com adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Pride & Prejudice” book, but is really kind of a “Back to the Future” (back to reality?) feel. Basically, the lead (Amanda Price, played by Jemima Rooper) is so in love with the book, she stumbles into it through a portal in her bathroom. She retains all of her knowledge of the book and Elizabeth Bennet (played by Gemma Arterton) “replaces” her in our time. Basically, what happens in a romance story if you know all the story but as soon as you join the story, the story is irrevocably altered. Mostly, comedy (and romance) ensues. | |
The rest of the main characters are: Elliot Cowan as Fitzwilliam Darcy, Tom Mison as Mr Bingley, Morven Christie as Jane Bennet, Tom Riley as George Wickham, Hugh Bonneville as Mr. Claude Bennet, and Alex Kingston as Mrs. Bennet. | |
Once you know the premise, the TV-series is 70-80% predictable. Given that, I still enjoyed it. Rooper is not brilliant, but she carries the load and does it more than adequately. Cowan is not “my” idea of Mr. Darcy, but he’s not bad. Strike that. He is better than most. He is stern and formal without being Hollywood handsome. And then he comes out of the pond… LoL! Adequate is true with the rest of the cast with the exception of Bonneville. For whatever reason (mostly “Downton Abbey“, I think), I really like him as an actor and I thought he is very good as Mr. Bennet adding depth which is not always in some of the other portrayals in other versions of P&P. | |
The series uses the characters from P&P and kind-of follows the novel’s plot, but has (and ends with) significant variance. Final recommendation: strong. If you are a “P&P” fan, I think you’ll enjoy this series as an addition / alternate universe to Austen’s P&P. If not, it is at least tolerable as rom-coms go. I found it better than “tolerable”, but that may just be my taste. If you are not a “P&P” or rom-com fan, why are you even bothering to read this review? (Just kidding…) | |
I watched this on YouTube for free and I would definitely consider buying it if it ever came out in my price range ($5). Each episode is about 40-45 minutes, so you are looking at almost three hours of viewing commitment. | |
“Pride & Prejudice & Zombies” (2016) | |
I know that “everything” goes better with Zombies these days, but I really didn’t know what to expect before viewing this version of P&P. I need to preface this review with a comment: I am not a horror or slasher film watcher. Mostly, I find them repetitive, boring, or offensive. I stopped watching them about 1977 or so. I very occasionally will touch base with one if it becomes a “societal” touchstone, but even then, it’s rare. I have never seen a Jason, 13th, Halloween, Hellraiser, Saw or any of those series. I have seen and do like some of the classics: “Wolfman“, “Psycho“, “Jaws“, etc and I also enjoy “monster / SciFi” films: “Predator“, “Alien“, “The Birds“. I’m not sure why I like some and not others. I guess it’s just me. | |
Anyway, this is actually a rom-slash / martial arts / action film. It is a “take-off” on P&P, so I thought I’d give it a chance. | |
Lily James plays Elizabeth Bennet, Sam Riley plays Mr. Darcy, Lena Headey plays Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Matt Smith plays Mr. Collins, Jack Huston plays Mr. Wickham and Charles Dance plays Mr. Bennet. I like Lily James and love Lena Heady. James makes a surprisingly good martial artist actor. I don’t know how much is actually James doing the fighting, but “her” portions looked great. Headey plays her typically serious role, even when it’s in a ridiculous role, like this one. (I love the eye-patch.) Dr. Who, I mean Matt Smith is outstanding as the incompetent and obsequious Collins. Riley is handsome and gallant enough as Darcy, but seems (to me) a bit too young (and movie handsome, not really ruggedly handsome). He looks like he should be in a boy band instead of on a parapet killing zombies. And, finally, I liked Dance as Mr. Bennet. I haven’t cared for him as much in other roles (GOT and “The Imitation Game“), but I thought he fit in this role. | |
Between the two threads, P&P and the zombies, this movie is 90% predictable. The 10% which was unpredictable was whether James, Headly and the other ladies could pull off the martial arts scenes. They do and quite well, too! | |
As a P&P fan, my final recommendation is: moderate to strong. I liked the sets, the costumes and the martial art set pieces. I enjoyed this movie as a different “parody / take” on P&P even though I didn’t care for any of the zombie portions of the film. They were merely action figures inserted to give the main characters moving targets to slice and dice. I watched this on my “On Demand” TV service. I’m not sure if I enjoyed it enough to actually buy a copy if ever comes in to my price point (yeah, still $5). Despite James and Headey, I’m not sure I’d pay for this P&P theme movie. And the movie ends as a setup to a sequel (which I will probably miss). | |
Austenland (2013) | |
This movie is supposed to be a “rom-com” about a late-20’s young lady who visits a theme park dedicated to re-enacting Jane Austen period life, social settings and romance. The problem is while there is romance, there is almost no comedy. | |
So, who’s in this movie? It stars Keri Russell as Jane Hayes (the Austen fanatic), J.J. Feild as Henry Nobley (kind of a Mr. Darcy who looks vaguely like Tom Hiddleston), Bret McKenzie as Martin (the love interest for Russell’s character in the park), Jennifer Coolidge as Miss Elizabeth Charming (I thinks she was meant to be the comedic character, but she is an offensive “rich, unread, ugly American” instead – but with a kind heart), Georgia King as Lady Amelia Heartwright (another offensive rich guest – also American), and Jane Seymour as Mrs. Wattlesbrook (the proprietor of the resort). There are also a number of other characters who aren’t really worth bothering to mention. | |
Russell is a “girl-next-door” version of Michelle Pfeiffer. To be honest, I thought Russell might be Pfeiffer’s daughter or much younger sister. She is the second best thing in this movie. Feild is the first. He makes both an interesting Nobly (Mr. Darcy) and a likeable history teacher. The only other “interesting” actor was Seymour playing a manipulative park director. The camera (or director or makeup crew) was not kind to her in this film. She looks old in her closeups – much more than the early 60’s she would have been when this was filmed / released. And not, evil / craggy / old – just old. Like I said, “interesting”. | |
Final recommendation: moderate (at best). I did like Russell and Feild and thought there was pretty good chemistry between them. So, “rom” is the limit of this rom-com. As a P&P fan, at least I can say I gave it a shot and watched it. | |
Thanks to any of you who made it all the way through this post / these reviews… | |
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On This Day In: | |
2018 | Dead Red |
You Ain’t Done Yet | |
2017 | Just Because |
2016 | As Close As They Can Get |
2015 | And So I Blog |
2014 | Take Flight |
2013 | Contributing Joy |
2012 | More Than A Race |
2011 | Institutionalized Leadership |
And / Or A Great Soulmate
Posted in Family and Friends, Philosophy, Quotes, Reading, tagged Great Books, Philosophy, Quotes, Reading, William Styron on June 24, 2019| Leave a Comment »
A great book should leave you with many experiences, and slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading. | |
–– William Styron | |
[In life, a great partner / soulmate / spouse should share their life and deepen yours. — kmab] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2018 | Dead Red |
You Ain’t Done Yet | |
2017 | Just Because |
2016 | As Close As They Can Get |
2015 | And So I Blog |
2014 | Take Flight |
2013 | Contributing Joy |
2012 | More Than A Race |
2011 | Institutionalized Leadership |
And The Same For Blogs And Posts
Posted in Quotes, tagged Books, Quotes, Salman Rushdie on June 23, 2019| Leave a Comment »
A book is a version of the world. If you do not like it, ignore it or offer your own version in return. | |
–– Salman Rushdie | |
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On This Day In: | |
2018 | The End Of Asgard (For Now) |
I Learn The Hard Way Every Time | |
2017 | For Some |
2016 | Fragile And Explosive, Provocation And Privacy |
2015 | Bound Up |
2014 | Economic Engines |
2013 | Weren’t You Supposed To Be Reading? |
Absent Friends | |
Where I Stand | |
2012 | Hangin’ With His P’s |
Help Save | |
2011 | Six Facets Of Good Leadership |
And Miles To Go Before She Sleeps
Posted in Faith Family and Friends, Family and Friends, Family History, Pictures, tagged 2019 Trip To Liverpool, Family, Liverpool, Manchester UK, Nana, Papa, Picture of Hil, Pictures of Hil, Pictures of Nana and Papa, San Francisco International Airport, SFO on June 22, 2019| 1 Comment »
Today I drove my wife to San Francisco International (SFO) Airport to catch a flight to Manchester so she can be with her family (in Liverpool). Hil flew back earlier in the year to spend time with her mum before her passing. Her mum’s health has been poorly for some time and has recently taken a turn for the worse. She has just been released from hospital to hospice care. It is a time of mixed emotion for us as while we will miss her mum, she will be joining her husband (George) who has been waiting on her some 20 years now. I guess “Papa’s” calling her home is finally getting too much for “Nana” to ignore. | |
Here is a photo of Hil’s mum and dad (“Nana & Papa” to our kids) in happier times: | |
And here is a post of mine from back in 2011: Things I’ve Learned From Life – Nana Carter | |
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On This Day In: | |
2018 | What I Tell You Three Times Is True |
2017 | And So On |
2016 | Kept |
2015 | Envy * 2 |
2014 | Destiny For The Talented |
2013 | I Do Not Fear It |
2012 | Until Found |
2011 | Reducing Goods To Data |
The Fog Of Civilization Building | |
Possibilities And Challenges
Posted in Faith, Other Blogs, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Challenges, Courage, Faith, Hope, http://meditationsinmotion.wordpress.com, Other Blogs, Philosophy, Possibilities, Quotes, Thomas Merton on June 22, 2019| 4 Comments »
You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith, and hope. | |
— Thomas Merton | |
[This quote is from one of the blogs I follow: | |
The blog is: http://meditationsinmotion.wordpress.com/ | |
The specific post can be found at: http://meditationsinmotion.wordpress.com/2019/04/14/fixing-the-fixer/ | |
Please give the site a visit if you have a free moment. — KMAB ] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2018 | What I Tell You Three Times Is True |
2017 | And So On |
2016 | Kept |
2015 | Envy * 2 |
2014 | Destiny For The Talented |
2013 | I Do Not Fear It |
2012 | Until Found |
2011 | Reducing Goods To Data |
The Fog Of Civilization Building | |
Silent Purpose
Posted in Quotes, tagged Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, Life, Philosophy, Purpose, Quotes, Silence on June 20, 2019| Leave a Comment »
Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself and know that everything in this life has a purpose. | |
— Elisabeth Kubler-Ross | |
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On This Day In: | |
2018 | Just Bake The Cake, Man |
2017 | Visible Proof |
2016 | Poor Enough Means |
2015 | Still Standing |
Follow Your Heart | |
2014 | Just Reminded |
2013 | A Fine Balance |
2012 | One Measure |
2011 | Seeking The Common Ground |
In Brightest Day… | |
Less Miserable Now
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Abraham Lincoln, Attitude, Philosophy, Quotes, Sadness on June 19, 2019| Leave a Comment »
In this sad world of ours, sorrow comes to all, and it often comes with bitter agony. Perfect relief is not possible, except with time. You cannot now believe that you will ever feel better. But this is not true. You are sure to be happy again. Knowing this, truly believing it, will make you less miserable now. I have had enough experience to make this statement. | |
— Abraham Lincoln | |
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On This Day In: | |
2018 | I Doubt #45 Is Listening? |
2017 | Life’s Oddity |
2016 | Just Asking… |
2015 | Two Thoughts On Thinking |
2014 | From The Top, Please… |
2013 | You Are The Stars |
2012 | Just One?? |
2011 | Anything But |
So Near And Yet So Far
Posted in Family and Friends, General Comments, tagged Birthday Presents, Family, General Comments, Keddie Wye Meet, Missing Pieces, OCD, Puzzles, Trains, www.sunsout.com on June 19, 2019| 2 Comments »
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