Welcome to “Geocities”! I lost my
cable modem connection to the internet and had to
find someone to host my website. Geocities fit the
bill perfectly.
I also have my own domain now:
Review: [[Beauty and the Beast]]
Review: “Beauty and the Beast (Stage)”
Review: [[Mulan]]
Review: [[The X Files]]
Disney’s near perfect adaptation of the classic fairy tale
I remember when I first saw this movie. I came out of the theatre thinking
to myself “That was pretty good, but I think I liked Little Mermaid
better.” Then I saw the movie again, and it grew on me. And then I saw it
again and it grew some more (if you haven’t figured it out yet, I have 2
daughters that just have to watch that movie over and over again :-).
##So what’s in there for adults anyway?
The more I saw this movie, the more I was amazed at how much the folks at
Disney paid attention to incredibly minute details.
Let’s start at the beginning. In the opening musical number where Belle
goes to the bookshop to get her favorite book, sits down and explains to a
sheep why it’s her favorite, she describes the story and the fact that the
girl meets prince charming in chapter 1, but doesn’t know it’s him until
chapter 3. This is in fact a description of the story that we’re about to
see unfold on the screen. Chapter 1 is the opening act, and chapter 3 the
closing act where the true nature of the beast is revealed. Also, pay close
attention to the melody line Belle sings at this point, because its the
same melody (with different lyrics) she sings later in the movie when she
starts to fall in love with the Beast.
There’s also the little subtleties that the animators put into the
characters to bring them to life without you even noticing. For instance,
how many times does Belle brush the hair out of her eyes? This little
gesture makes her more real (we all have little quirks in our behaviour).
Disney’s version of an ancient Chinese legend. Easily the best thing they’ve done since [[Beauty and the Beast]]
I really enjoy animated movies that are done well (which is why I didn’t
enjoy *Pocahontas*). The problem is that there are so few.
Mulder and Sculley head all over the world to try and break a global conspiracy.
##The Truth Is… Somewhere
I’ve been a fan of The X Files almost since the beginning. I love
the way the show is written to keep you on the edge of your seat while
never quite answering anything. How many times are Fox and Dana going to
touch the truth but not quite grasp the whole truth before they give up on
the whole thing?
##The Story So Far
The X Files television show ended last season by shutting down
Mulder’s and Sculley’s investigations into the unknown.
The movie opens up with Mulder and Sculley reassigned to an antiterrorism
unit that’s investigating a bomb threat in Texas.
##Enter: The Paranoid OBGYN
Sometimes friendship is hard
Recently I had to do something unconscienable: I had to shit
on a friend.
Let’s back up a bit and fill in the story. About a year and a half ago I
relocate my family across the country to somewhere in New England (I just
feel weird giving out more info than that). We really liked it here and
decided to stay. A couple of months after we came here I met someone who
would later become my best friend. Now, hold onto your hats. This person
is a *she”! I’m a ”he*. How could we possibly be friends and not
be having an affair?
Well the answer is short and sweet: grow up!
##The Chicken and the Egg
I’ve never been one to make **good** friends easily. Maybe it’s a
shield I have put up around myself to help me deal with a deep seeded
sense of inferiority (which I do have, but we won’t get into that now). I
have to know someone very well before I’ll open up to them, and it’s hard
to get to know someone well if you don’t open up. So this all adds up to
the fact that I haven’t had many close friends in my life. Since my late
teens (now I’m in my 30’s), there’s only been 5 (including my wife).
Now here’s the shocker: 4 of those 5 have been women and only one involved
sex (that would be my wife ;-). I can’t explain why, but for some reason I
identify more with and find it easier to open up to women. Don’t get me
wrong with that statement. I’m neither gay, nor do I dislike going to grab
a beer with some guys from work and watch hockey players tear each other
apart. I like *guy* things, but I also like art and Shakespeare and
poetry. I like high fives, but I also like long involved heartfelt
conversations. I like martial arts but I also like a good “Firing Line”
debate. For some reason, I’ve found it easier to connect with women on
more of these things than with men (i.e. women seem to be able to cross
that stupid gender line easier. Probably because they’re smarter and they
know it 🙂
After that last paragraph, I realize I need to include a note for the more
PC people who might be reading this article: lighten up!!!
##Back to our story
So, in any case, over the course if a year and a half or so, I became close
friends with this woman. Our families did things together. I got along
with and liked her husband and their kids. Our kids got along well (they
have a daughter that’s 9 years old and I have two daughters at 6 and 4).
In short, everthing was in the open because I didn’t want anyone feeling
uncomfortable with us being friends (and neither did she).
But my wife was uncomfortable.
I won’t go into details here, but something ugly happened (keep your mind
out of the gutter, it was nothing sexual!!!), and the unfortunate victim
was my friendship.
Review: [[The Truman Show]]
“Carney’s Corner” will be offline for a while.
I’m looking for a new service provider in New England.
Anyone got any bright ideas?
Can Truman find happiness now that he’s figured out that his life is a fantasy?
##Not that far fetched
How much TV do you really watch. I know that I watch much more than I
should (why don’t I read more?). Do you ever watch the “reality” TV shows
like Rescue 911 or Cops? Well, that’s what The Truman
Show is, but on steroids.
Truman is the adopted son of a corporation (yes, you heard correctly). He’s
been raised in total isolation from the rest of the world in a town
created entirely for a TV audience. His parents, friends, lovers, etc. are
all actors hired by the corporation to stand in for real people. There are
over 5000 cameras in his little community watching his every move and
broadcasting it around the world 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The only problem is that the world created for Truman is just a little too
perfect, and starts to suspect something is amiss.
##Jim Carrey reigned in
The problem I have with most Jim
Carrey movies is that they are simply way to far over the top. Now,
don’t get me wrong, I like over the top. The problem is when you get
there, and there’s a bottomless pit of mediocrity looming before you.
Here, however, we get the priviledge of watching a virtuoso performance of
a funny man with a gifted ability to tap into his innermost emotions and
deliver them up to us. Remember Jerry Lewis in the original “The Nutty
Professor”? I saw an interview with some of the people that worked on that
film. They said it was downright frightening watching Jerry transform into
the evil professor. I can only imagine the astonishment of the people on
the set when the clown that is Jim Carrey was able to make them cry.
##Peter Weir is simply fantastic
I’ve seen most of Peter Weir’s films, and every one of them is
wonderful. As far back as “Gallipoli” which stars a young Mel Gibson, he
established himself as a director with a vision. The thing is, we don’t
get to see his vision nearly often enough! Since “Gallipoli” in 1981, he’s
only directed 7 other films. It must be some sort of curse. All the
directors that I really enjoy watching (Robert Altman, Terry Gilliam) are
all extremely careful about which projects they sign up for, and therefore
don’t do too many. Peter, are you listening, please do more!!!
So, what would politics be like if the pols just told the truth. Quite a bit better according to Bulworth.
The story revolves around Senator Bulworth from Southern
California. At the beginning of the movie he’s at the end of his rope.
He’s broke, depressed, synical, and disillusioned.
##The Truth
The truth about this movie is that it is great. It achieves
this greatness on many levels.
Not many people in Hollywood would risk the alienation of just about every
minority and political group for the sake of a movie. Most of the time,
movies that involve politics (“Primary Colors”, [[JFK]], etc.) choose one
particular battle to fight. This one is different. It takes on everything
that’s wrong with everything in America and makes us think about ourselves
in a new light.
##The Whole Truth
The whole truth is that this movie speaks the truth about so
many hot political issues that one wonders if Washington is paying
attention.
##And nuthin’ but da Truth
Thank you Warren Beatty for making such an enjoyable, thought
provoking film. I can’t remember when that last time was that I watched
scenes from a movie and reacted by laughing, and saying to myself, “I can’t
believe he just said that” and at the same time, “Ain’t that the truth.”
From the [[Modem Driver]]:
[Why not shrink Internet down to neighborhood? (5/22/1998)](http://www.mercurycenter.com/columnists/plotnikoff/docs/028432.htm)
MacKiDo has an (http://www.MacKiDo.com/DarkSide/Coates.html)
to those of you who think that the PC has finally caught
the Mac in ease of use and understanding.
This is for all of you that thought that Macs are more expensive that PC compatibles.
It turns out that not only are they cheaper now looking at price/performance,
but
[Companies say Macs cost less to maintain](http://www.maccentral.com/news/9805/27.tco.shtml)
as well.
There’s more talk of the USGA
[modifying equipment rules](http://www.golfweb.com/library/sirak/equipment980526.html)
to limit the distance and/or accuracy of balls and clubs.
I think it’s about time something was done.
David Duval has been the hottest player on the tour for the last year.
Ron Sirak talks about
[why](http://www.golfweb.com/library/sirak/ontheduval980526.html.)
Musings on Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a holiday in the United States when we remember soldiers
that were lost in the various wars our country has been involved in. It’s
also a day for reflection and remembering important things in your own
life. So, Here’s a few things that I remembered on this Memorial Day in no
particular order:
* I married my wife on Memorial Day in 1990. Happy Anniversary honey!
* My father was a hero to me (see [[Do I dare to eat a peach?]])
* I have two wonderful children that I would do anything for
* True love is indescribable
* Life is always interesting (if it’s not, you’re not paying close enough
attention to it)
* The Miracle on Ice in 1980
* Home is where your heart is. A house is just where you keep your stuff
* I miss you mom!
* Miles Davis and Charlie Parker
* Frank Sinatra (see “Lyrics: I’ve Got You Under My Skin”)
CarneyWeb 