Mindless Prattlings of a Semi-Dangerous Mind
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Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in the "Kat" journal:[<< Previous 20 entries]
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06:59 pm
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Mamma Mia, the film; a review
Okay, let me preface this by saying that I saw "Mamma Mia" at the Royal Alex in Toronto back in early 2002. I thought I'd posted about it at the time, but couldn't find a post for it. So, basically, I absolutely loved the musical, and if the tour comes through town some day when I have disposible cash, I'll be there. After seeing the play, I'd gotten the soundtrack on CD, though it was with the Original West End Cast, not with the Toronto cast. I prefer the cast I'd seen in Toronto, but that's just a minor quibble, really.
So, when I found out this spring that there was going to be a film verision coming this summer, I knew I'd be seeing it. I was skeptical about the casting of Meryl Streep as Donna simply because I didn't know what sort of musical background she had. They nailed my mental image of Tanya by casting Christine Baranski in the role, however. What really worried me was the casting of the male leads. While I could see Pierce Brosnan as having the right air and bearing for Sam, I'd never heard him sing. I was even more skeptical of Colin Firth as Harry.
First, let me start with the story. They'd changed a few things for the film version, but nothing significant. I think that the major changes were the Aphrodite's Fountain legend and the fact that Harry, who had a partner in the stage version, only stated that he had a pair of dogs in the film and was paired up with some random guy from the isle at the end, sort of as an afterthought. Once again, the changes weren't major and nothing that I'd really pick at or say ruined the film.
No, if anything ruined the film, it was the casting of the primary leads. Meryl is merely a servicable singer; certainly not what you want from your star in a musical. And her male counterpart, Mr. Brosnan, could not carry a tune in the least. His singing was cringe-inducing; once again, not a good thing for a musical. Colin Firth was actually a pleasant surprise; a nice even tenor voice that fit the role well. Stellan Skarsgard also held up admirably as Bill. And while Baranski and Walters were well cast in their roles, as were Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper as Sophie and Sky, the top two roles would have been better off if the roles had singers rather than actors brought in to provide "star power" to the cast. Even worse was the fact that the "original song" that was inserted into the play for Oscar consideration was sung by Brosnan, rather than one of the more capable members of the company.
Some may complain about "over-acting" or "over-emoting", but that wasn't off-putting to me. It was done in more of a Broadway style than other film adaptations, notably "Chicago". This can probably be attributed to the fact that the director and producer were the same women who filled those roles for the stage versions. And, honestly, I'm fine with that, given my stage background. It certainly could seem a little cheesy at times, a bit like a badly-produced commercial, but certainly wasn't enough to put me off the film. After all, we're talking about a film where people will spontaneously break into song as they go about their daily lives. If you can suspend your disbelief for that, you can deal with the stage-style emoting.
All this said, I plan to buy the DVD when it comes out. I'm that much of a geek where this musical is concerned. And it was entertaining. And I was lip-synching with all of the songs (because I have the sense to know when my voice isn't up the role!). I'd probably not recommend the movie to someone who isn't familiar with the musical, and would recommend it to fans with the warning that the singing leaves a fair bit to be desired at the top of the bill. I'd have prefered lesser-known actors who are more capable singers in the roles. All in all, it was slightly above average. I'd give it a 7.2 out of 10.
Current Mood:  cheerful
Tags: film, mamma mia, musical, review
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06:30 pm
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Despite not being a Yankees fan...
I'm not a fan of the Yankees (as the icon demonstrates), but I grew up in Connecticut in the late 70s, and my older brother is a die-hard fan of the Pinstripers. So I could not let the passing of Bobby Murcer go by without notice. My earliest memories of Murcer were actually of him with the Cubs, being too young to remember his first stint with the Yankees, or his being traded to the Giants for Bobby Bonds immediately after the '74 season. But I remember when the Cubbies sent him back to the Yanks in mid-'79, and how excited my brother was with the trade. He was the player my brother felt would ensure that the Yanks would hold off the Sox and the Orioles and win the AL East once again that year. This was about five weeks before Munson's plane crash, which seemed to be the final nail in the Yankees' pennant hopes that year. They continued a spirited run with the Sox and O's, with the O's winning the division, then the AL pennant before choking a 3-1 series lead to the Pirates (for the Bucs' last series win). After retiring in the mid-80s, Murcer became a broadcaster for the team, and is remembered by a younger generation of fans as one of the enduring voices in the team's broadcast booth (much as Rizzuto and Bill White were in my youth, and for older generations it was Mel Allen and Red Barber). Despite the 4+ seasons in the NL, Murcer was a Yankee through-and-through, and one of their legends less well-known outside of the Tri-State. He will be missed by many baseball fans.
Rest in Peace, Bobby. And raise a few up there with Thurm, Howser and the Mick.
Current Mood:  sad
Tags: baseball, in memorium
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09:08 pm
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Big picture people...big picture...
I'm getting livid with the fucking spoiled-brat sore-loserism of some people. Seriously, when we're looking a probably 2, maybe more, associate justice positions opening on the Supreme Court, and differing opinions on issues like Iraq, Iran and getting ourselves off of the oil-teet, why are people so fucking stupid and willing to cut off their noses to spite their faces? To wit, for the Wall Street Journal:
"Meanwhile, an analysis of campaign-finance records conducted for The Wall Street Journal by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics shows that in May, when Sen. Obama was widely believed to have clinched the Democratic nomination, only one Hillraiser had switched allegiance to the Obama campaign. And while 115 individuals who had donated at least $1,000 to Sen. Clinton made their first donations to Sen. Obama, another 115 former Clinton backers made their first big donations to Sen. McCain."
And:
"One new Web site challenging Sen. Obama, Together4us.com, declares on its home page: 'We are being asked to embrace Party Unity without the fair representation of Hillary Clinton' and the roughly 18 million people who voted for her during the primaries."
Yes, because once again, there are bigger issues here than whether or not your favored candidate got the nomination. Do you see the Religious Right stomping their feet and talking about taking their balls and going home because McCain got the nod over Huckabee? Hell no! Dr. Dobson's out there taking a piece out of Obama because he knows that if Obama wins it will be much worse for his agenda than it would be if McCain won. Don't you fucking get the picture? If McCain wins this thing, and he replaces Stevens and Ginsburg on the Court, the government is going to so far up woman's business you may as we get "government mandated baby factory" tattooed on your uterus! This is not a fucking joke. This isn't a time to take a stand on principle. The balance has become too precarious, and it is in danger of being dumped in an irrevocable way. These are desparate times, and we must rally around the "lesser evil" so that things don't devolve into Dickensian England or something straight out of "A Handmaid's Tale".
Get a fucking clue. Get behind Obama, get him in the White House. Then spend the next four years holding his feet to the fire, making him be the president you want him to be, or spend it bitterly whining about how Hillary got screwed by the media (or, and the weeks on end of Jeremiah Wright were the media treating Obama with kid gloves?). But first, get rid of those that want to tell you:
- who you can or cannot marry
- when you can or cannot have a baby
- who can or cannot adopt
First, we need to secure our freedoms. Then, only then, when we have secured our liberty, will we be free to fuss over trifles.
Current Mood:  angry
Tags: 08 presidential race, politics, whiners
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08:41 pm
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Free Agency opens...
The Jackets opened the day by trading the maligned Gilbert "Creme" Brule to Edmonton for Raffi Torres, who seems to have peaked about 4 seasons ago.
After losing out on Campbell (to Chicago) and apparently not in the running for Redden, the Jackets signed Mike Commodore from Ottawa for 5 years and $18.75 million. Yep, really broke the bank on the blueliners! With $12 million to $15 million per year that they supposedly can still hand out, they really need to go after someone strong at the front, since the defensive stars are off the market now (Redden ended up with the Rangers -- should they even be signing people if the league is about to take the franchise from Cablevision/MSG?). Vrbata is already gone, to Tampa at 3 years, $9 million. Not much left on that wing.
The grass is growing under Howson's feet. If Commodore is going to be this season's big signing, I'll be sorely disappointed.
Current Mood: disappointed
Tags: blue jackets, free agency, hockey
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01:41 pm
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Blue Jackets break
The Dispatch has a good free agency guide today, with the signing period opening on Tuesday.
The Jackets are looking to go after Redden and/or Campbell on the blueline, with Liles, Orpik and Commodore also high on that list. They seem to be looking at Brendan Morrison at centre, with resigning Peca as the fall-back position. Wing interest seems to lie with Vrbata on the right, and on the left with Ryan Malone or Kristian Huselius. With the goalkeeping depth that the team has (a legitimate future number-one keeper in Steve Mason who is currently third or fourth on the depth chart going into camp), they are obviously not going in that direction.
It seems that Howson is being given about $12 million to $15 million to dole out to free agents, meaning that the team may be a player in this year's market, unlike last year.
Current Mood: excited
Current Music: You Can't Get What You Want - Joe Jackson
Tags: blue jackets, free agency, hockey
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08:42 pm
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Interesting meme
You are in your twenties | You can still hear reasonably well and you can play this without my old fart colleagues hearing it which makes you feel kinda good. The highest pitched ultrasonic mosquito ringtone that I can hear is 15.8kHz | | Find out which ultrasonic ringtones you can hear! |
Not bad, I expected it to be much worse with my hearing loss.
Current Mood:  contemplative
Tags: meme
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08:47 pm
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Really now, Grover? Really???
"Barack Obama is John Kerry with a tan."
- Grover Norquist, anti-tax nutjob
Yeah, but Obama's the one playing the race card. And without cause.
Really?
Current Mood: annoyed
Tags: 08 presidential race, morons, politics, racism
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02:50 am
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Weather...
Nearly constant storms since 11:45. In those three hours we've gotten a radar-estimated total of 3-4 inches of rain.
Just think if that were snow!
[EDIT - 3:37 am] - As of bedtime the storm estimate is now between 4 and 5 inches, with some nearby areas at the 5 to 6 inch range. Still a storm or two to come through, but mostly done for the night now.
Current Location: heart of the storm
Current Mood:  awake
Tags: weather
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09:21 pm
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Milestone...
I just made my first contribution to something other than a local campaign or a union PAC.
I'll leave it to the reader to guess what the lucky campaign is.
Current Mood:  accomplished
Tags: 08 presidential race, elections, milestone, politics
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10:01 pm
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Hey all.
Just got home about an hour ago from visiting the folks for Father's Day weekend.
Shot a 77 for 9 holes today. OUCH. It was a new course. A country club, on a hillside, where even when you hit it in the fairway you're playing from a sidehill lie. I had played fairly well on the first four holes despite this (even better if the greens weren't so fast). However, the heat started to get to me as we got to the fifth, and I started to lose my concentration and couldn't get it back. I am getting a better sense for what I do wrong in my swing now, though. But when you drive the ball down the left side of the fairway, it shouldn't come to rest on the right side against the first cut of rough. Not unless you're getting paid to play. That's just wrong.
I'm a bit exhausted, and I was about two days behind on the f-list before leaving, so I'm going to be skimming most entries at this point so that I can get caught up. Hope all of the dads out there had a good Father's Day.
Current Mood:  exhausted
Tags: golf, update
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09:59 pm
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Having been tagged...
The Rules:
1. Each player starts with 8 random facts/habits about themselves.
2. People who are tagged write a blog post about their own 8 random things, and
post these rules.
3. At the end of your post you need to tag 8 people.
( 8 random items here )
Current Mood: content
Tags: meme
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11:20 pm
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A break from tonight's politics to say...
I think that El Tri are sick of losing to the Stars and Stripes (well, losing anywhere not named Estadio Azteca, anyhow). They've hired Sven Boring Eriksson for the next two years. Again, the failure of the USSF to hire Klinsi because he was "too expensive" simply rankles me. This is why we'll forever be a second-tier nation in soccer/football.
Current Location: Not Azteca
Current Mood: annoyed
Tags: association football, us national team
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11:38 pm
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I wonder about fandom sometimes...
So, over the last couple of weeks I've been catching the episodes of Doctor Who that have been playing on BBC America and on SciFi. My impressions of the newer series are fairly positive. The only Doctor I'm really familiar with, from the older series, is the Fourth Doctor, as I'd seen a few episodes from his time when I was growing up.
Of the Ninth and Tenth Doctors, I think that I like the Tenth better, but each has his merits. Eccleston is just such a departure from the nerdier Fourth and Tenth Doctors. A bit of a "post-punk" sort of Doctor. He has his charms, and I like him in the role. But definitely a break from the usual. But there's a wide-eyed wonder and a distinctive nerdiness about the Tenth Doctor that I just love.
And this brings me around to companions. The episodes I've seen have mainly been Martha or Rose episodes. One has had Donna in it as well, but she hasn't made much of an impression on me yet. With what I have seen, there's a pretty even split between Rose episodes and Martha episodes. And while I like Rose, I don't see why there had been so much upset about Rose's departure, and so much devotion to her, within the fandom. I think that I like Martha better, in fact. Rose always seems a bit of a damsel-in-distress, and not always the sharpest. Martha is assertive, intelligent, and much more of an equal to the Doctor. Rose gets jealous the instant the Doctor's eyes fall upon another woman with any sort of favor. Martha, while she may feel a little disappointed by the Doctor, isn't prone to the fits of jealousy that Rose is. To me, Martha seems to be the better companion of the two.
So why does Rose get so much love from the fandom, while Martha seems to get so little? There's only two reasons I can come up with, and neither speak well of the fandom. First is race; Rose is white, Martha is black. The other is sexism; Rose is the submissive, helpless damsel-in-distress who gets jealous if the Doctor's attentions stray, while Martha is more independent, more of an intellectual equal of the Doctor's, and actually broke away from him because she didn't want to wait for Doctor to be as devoted to her as she wanted to be to him.
I used to think that the Doctor Who fandom tended to be a bit more progressive, a bit more liberal. But I'm finding that like many other fandoms inhabited by geeks and nerds, it really has a tendency to be sexist (if not outright misogynist) and racist, which saddens me. But that's okay, because I still like the show, and will still watch it with my own opinions. And I'll just stay from the uglier parts of the fandom.
Current Mood: cynical
Tags: doctor who, fandom, racism, sexism
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11:11 pm
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Haven't done one of these in forever...
Tags: meme
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05:40 pm
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Finally the GOP can focus on something useful
Ohio AG Marc Dann has resigned in the wake of admitting to having an affair. There were getting to be some things turned up related to his being connected to "skill game" vendors and favoring their interests, so that was probably going to get him in the end. But now the Ohio GOP can focus on the paid sick-day bill, or anything other things that may actually help the citizens of the state, rather than who the AG was dipping his willy into.
Current Mood: sick
Tags: ohio, politics, republicans
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02:39 am
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Quick post
Off for the weekend. Visiting the parents for Mother's Day and Mom's birthday.
Can I just say that we now have a Survivor version of Marcellus giving the veto to Amy in "Big Brother 3"? Wow...just dumb.
Current Mood: sleepy
Tags: parents, survivor
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11:27 pm
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Wha-what?
The Crew won tonight to go to 4-0-1 (using traditional soccer record listing of wins-draws-losses). That's 12 points from five games. Best start in team history (13 years). And manager Sigi Schmid gets his 100th victory in MLS.
Successful football in Columbus that doesn't involve the Buckeyes?! What's up with that?
(BTW, the Buckeyes were in the championship game for both codes of football that the NCAA sponsors; American and Association -- and lost both. They lost the soccer championship to Wake Forest.)
Tags: association football, crew
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11:34 pm
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In light of last night in Pennsylvania...
Some interesting blog posts from the intarwebz:
It seems that one of Hollywood's biggest Hillary fans is going off the reservation.
And if you think that Hillary is the biggest supporter of the LGBT community, then why are we her campaign's love that dare not speak its name. At least not when she's addressing a gay crowd. But among the general public, we're her "dirty little secret", while Sen. Obama mentioned our rights and our community yet again in his nationally televised remarks.
Current Mood: annoyed
Tags: 08 presidential race
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10:48 pm
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The really important questions...
Thank goodness for George Stephanopoulos. He really knew how to get down the important issues last night in the Pennsylvania debate.
What did he get to the bottom of, you may ask? Why Senator Obama doesn't wear a flag pin on his lapel! You know, because the rules for proper display of the flag state that it should not be worn and an adornment on one's clothing (with an exception for military and similar uniforms). But everyone needs to know why Barack doesn't disrespect the flag by wearing it in all the cloissonee glory of a lapel pin. And does that mean he hates America if he doesn't wear it.
Do we get questions about oil hitting $115/barrel? Do we get questions about the pound being at 2-to-1 against the dollar, or the Euro hitting such a high against the dollar that the PM of Luxembourg is expressing concern that the Euro is getting too strong? Do we get questions about how the recent job reports are not only showing a contraction of the job market, but much worse than analysts have predicted before their release? Do we get questions about home foreclosure rates, the evaporation of the manufacturing sector in the US, or even how people are going to put their kids through school?
No! We need to know about lapel pins and the minister of the candidate, and whether or not people are "bitter". Well, you know what makes me bitter? When the media distract themselves and the public they're allegedly serving by focusing on insignificant bullshit.
Like lapel pins.
Current Location: far from lapel pins
Tags: 08 presidential race, elections, media
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12:10 am
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Car issues...managed
Those of you who have met me, and who have seen my trusty Cavalier, she is no more. Well, she's mine no more, and it's probably a matter of time before she's dismantled for the few parts that can be salvaged.
I now own a new 2008 Cobalt. Dark blue, with a beige interior. Payments are going to hurt for the short term, but I'll manage. It's going to help me with getting my credit together again. And the payments for the first year will total about what I was going to have to throw into keeping the Cav running.
The sweet thing; XM radio. The first three months are free, but I already know that I'll be subscribing. I listened to the Habs/Sens game on the drive home, and I'll be listening to Opening Day, live from Japan, as I drive in to work in the morning. Yes, I'm officially sad, given that I'm that easy to hook on XM. But then again, I've been considering getting XM for about a year or two now.
Current Mood: exhausted
Tags: new car
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