The Cheese Stands Alone

Su 5/31/20 Up 620 am: Sunny and temps to mid 70's. Watched Netflix disc, '21 BRIDGES'. Two bad guys rob a stash of thirty kilos of cocaine in a restaurant, but are shocked to find a hundred kilos. The cops are in on the drug operation so the authorities close down the twenty-one bridges to Manhattan to keep their secret. Fairly standard presentation yet worth a look; with Chadwick Boseman, Sienna Miller, and J.K. Simmons. Then watched, 'GIRL MOST LIKELY' (Amazon Prime). A ridiculous sit-com about a young woman who is forced to leave NYC and return to her dysfunctional home in Ocean City, New Jersey; with Kristen Wiig, Annette Bening, Matt Dillon, Darren Criss, Natasha Lytonne, and Bob Balaban. 2 pm: PC is 'Off' and will read/ nap for a while and continue with the mulching and walk later. I did the weekly cleaning before I left.  435 pm: On the walk. Up to Parkview, Oakmont, Country Club, to Laurel/Chatham. South on Chatham to Wabash PO. Back to west at Schuc...

Sa 5/30/20 Up 635 am: Bright, breezy, and sunny with temps to low 70's. Watched Netflix disc, 'THE FAMILY STONE'. A tale of a dysfunctional family over Christmas with a star-studded cast. No new ground broken, but not without a certain degree of charm; with Claire Danes, Diane Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Dermot Mulroney, Luke Wilson, Craig T. Nelson, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Luke Wilson. Then I watched an hour documentary on Betty Davis. She was married to Miles Davis for a couple of years in the late 60's and was a big influence on his 'Funk 'N Soul' period. However, the premise of the film was that 'she disappeared', and at the end, you still don't know what happened to her.  And finally a couple of half hour segments of a historical series on THE BLACK DEATH: 14th Century (Amazon Prime).   245 pm: Working with mulch and losing interest fast. Ripped out some of the weeds and added a bag of red mulch that just added a, more or less, hint of color. ...

Fr 5/29/2020 Up 725 am: Sunny with temps to mid 70's. Watched, 'THE VANISHING OF SIDNEY HALL' (Kanopy). A high school student evolves into 'A Great Writer' and after a time on top, loses it all. He disappears for years until another 'Great Writer' locates him and almost saves the day; with Logan Lerman, Elle Fanning, Kyle Chandler, and Michelle Monaghan. My post at Kanopy: "The film is mainly romantic nonsense and not in the least believable. The script suffocates under the most ridiculous cliches about 'Great' writers and the silliest notions of 'True Love'. The only redeeming quality were songs by Dylan, The Pixies, Philip Glass, and I learned that Blake Jenner is NOT related to Caitlyn Jenner. It's not all bad, but close." Then watched, 'THE RAIN COLLECTOR' (Amazon Prime). A twelve minute short film set in England, 1863 about a woman who measures rainfall when a visitor comes calling. And, when I was in the stores yes...

Th 5/28/20 Up 715 am: Overcast and rain to begin early this afternoon- 70's. No rain until late in the afternoon. ***Took four pot candies. In about an hour I was coming on like gangbusters. Lasted three full hours and more. The walk really spaced me out....great!  Began, 'WACO' (Hoopla). I watched 45" and then decided to get the walk in and hit Menard's later.   1015 am: Out On The Streets. Had to take a leak, headed back to 940, and only was out for a half hour; up Westview and south on Lynnhaven. Around on Oakmont, Parkview, and down to 940: Listened to DELANEY & BONNIE. Back out again and down Westview to Chatham and up to Wash. Pk. On the south side of the park and south on Wiggins to Leland. Across MacArthur to South Grand to Walnut. A little west to Henrietta. West on Edwards, across and west on Lawrence. Chatham to Parkview, Kenyon, and down to 940: Just About AN HOUR AND FIFTY MINUTES and listened to DELANEY & BONNIE, YO LA TENGO, and VAN MORRISON....

We 5/27/2020 Up 640 am: Muggy with chance of showers beginning around 10 am and continuing for most of the afternoon- low 70's. ***A new Blogger will become effective at the end of June. Just enough change to make it difficult, yet no real difference from the old system. Why??? Got to Hoopla before they maxed out and I got 'CUTTER AND BONE' as an E-book and I got the South African film, 'FOREVER', that I attempted to take yesterday. 'FOREVER' (Hoopla). My first film in Afrikaans. A fairly standard romantic drama with comedic overtones. Nina is stood-up at the wedding altar and decides to take the paid honeymoon with her old boyfriend, Hugo, who just happens to come back to down on the day of her wedding. And, in the end, true love triumphs. About the only reason to watch the film is that it is shot on the island of Mauritius (Ma-ree-shis). Then watched, 'MR. DEEDS' (IMDB-TV). A complete waste of time and talent. A dolt inherits $40 billion from his u...

Tu 5/26/2020 Up 615 am: Muggy with a chance of rain this afternoon with temps to mid 80's. Added LIVE DELANEY & BONNIE and ON THE CORNER to the mp3 player. ***Ran the F-SECURE ONLINE SCANNER. It works flawlessly and I hope it is effective if and when I really need it. Watched, 'NOISE' (Kanopy). Set in suburban Melbourne, Australia a young woman boards a rapid transit train and realizes that she's the only woman alive on the car. And, a young policeman is demoted to manning a police sub-station trailer because of his tinnitus condition. Who did it and why is unclear, yet the film does have a queasy and off-kilter vibe. My post at Kanopy: "The premise of the story-line was engrossing, yet the execution was lacking.  The opening scenes as the woman on the train becomes aware of the carnage surrounding her was unforgettable, however everything that follows does not measure up. Also, unless you are familiar with Australian accents, I would recommend that...

Mo 5/25/2020- Memorial Day Up 610 am: Overcast, humid, and a chance of rain later this afternoon- temps to mid 80's. ***Tried to reinstall Malewarebytes, but slowed down computer with the program running in the background. Watched, 'UNCUT GEMS' (Netflix). Adam Sandler stars as a New York City jeweler who is swamped in debt, alienated from his family, and threatened by violent loan sharks, but pins his hope to an Ethiopian rock nugget encrusted with gems. A queasy, yet thrilling profile of an out-of-control, inveterate gambler. Wrote 'The Wrap' and sent it off. ***Added 'F-SecureOnlineScanner to the PC. I'll leave this in 'Downloads' on both PC's and use when I need them, and this will prevent programs running in the background and hogging the system. Watched, 'HISTORY 101- FAST FOOD' (Netflix). Not that informative and more or less a 'puff piece' for the industry. 1230 pm: PC is 'Off' and will get an early st...

Su 5/24/2020 Up 650 am: Partly sunny with temps to mid 80's and fairly humid. Watched the last part of Chapter One of 'The DOOMSDAY BOOK' trilogy (Amazon Prime) and Chapter Two was directed by Bong Joon Ho, 'PARASITE'. 1) Zombie virus spread 'from the bite of an apple'; see Genesis. 2) Robot achieves Nirvana and the monks want to keep it. 3) Girl orders an eight ball from an alien website and causes a 'ten kilometre eight ball' to crash into the Earth. Then I finished the last forty minutes of 'DAYS OF RAGE: THE ROLLING STONE'S ROAD TO ALTAMONT' (Amazon Prime). I couldn't believe that after the race track venue was selected the promoters had less than a day to setup. Also, had the San Francisco chapter of the Hells Angles been on the front of the stage instead of the Oakland Chapter, things might have been much more peaceful. And, the film fails to mention that the Hells Angels who killed the man actually were acquitted. The ...

Sa 5/23/2020 Up 7 am: Partly sunny with a slight chance of rain early this afternoon with temps to about 80. Watched, 'ANA' (Hoopla). A man loses his used car business due to gambling debts and helps a neighbor girl who is left alone when her mother is sent to jail. They travel across Puerto Rico to find her long lost father and make some money to reclaim his car dealership. They meet up with a  corrupt lady preacher who has ties to a sleazy local politician. Not as bad as it sounds, but close; with Andy Garcia, Dafne Keen, and Jeanne Tripplehorn. Shot on location in Puerto Rico. Then watched, 'THE COMEDY' (Kanopy); with Tim Heidecker and his birthday is Feb 3, 1976. My post at Kanopy: "The film offers a vaguely sympathetic profile of a self-centered and overly entitled slacker and his aimless buddies. There really are people like this, but the best I could do is shed a few heartfelt crocodile tears for the One Percent." 115 pm: PC is 'Off' a...

Fr 5/22/2020- County Market Up 6 am: Cloudy with temps to lower 70's. Left for County Market about 630 am. Dropped the disc in the box on the Fairhills lot. $95 for groceries and then I bought $12 worth of flowers for the front planters. Watched Netflix disc, 'PARASITE'. A very clever satire about a South Korean family of grifters who insinuate themselves into a upper-middle class household. The theme seems to be that the poor can do nothing but leach off of the upper classes, yet the rich cannot exist without the labor of the poor.  So both are 'parasites'. This film became the first foreign language film to win Best Picture and it also won the Cannes Film Festival's Palme d'Or unanimously. Watched the Bonus Features- Questions to the director, and then a YouTube video where the director and one of the actors explain the opening scene. 2 pm: Read/Napped, 'THE POET', and listened to JUDAH AND THE LION and MUMFORD AND SONS out the door and on ...

Th 5/21/2020 Up 720 am: Partly cloudy and temps to upper 60's. Watched, 'DRIVEWAYS' (Hoopla). A very sweet film about an Asian American mother and her eight year old son who travel to upstate New York to ready a house for sale. The mother's older sister has died and the house is chock full of junk and the old man next door becomes their friend; one of Brian Dennehy's final performances. Then watched, 'BODIED' (Kanopy). A made for YouTube Film produced by Eminem. My post at Kanopy: "The film was immensely entertaining and mixes great word-play with penetrating social satire, but to what point? It left me feeling that there is no way across the cultural and social barriers that divide people. Although the Rap Genre is given the artistic legitimacy it deserves, the film seems to promote the false idea that positive change can be achieved by yelling caustic and vile put downs at each other." ***Checked my Ameriprise account and happy to lea...

We 5/20/2020 Up 645 am: Overcast with temps to low 60's. Watched, 'SLOW WEST' (Hoopla). A rich and vibrant cinematic meditation on the violence of The Old American West. A young Scottish man travels to America in search of his lover and an outlaw aids him in the quest; with Kodi Smit-McPhee, Michael Fassbender, and Ben Mendelsohn. ...From Screen Daily-..."lean and lyrical coming of age story set in 19th century Colorado and filmed in New Zealand. Almost everyone is a killer, or becomes one." Then watched the final episode of, 'WACO' (Netflix). On the last day of the siege the FBI pumped tear gas into the buildings and then an out of control fire engulfed the compound. The FBI knew that many times when tear gas was employed fires resulted, yet authorities claimed that the Branch Davidians set the fires as part of a mass suicide. Surviving members claimed that suicide was never a part of their plan. Then watched the last half of an 'UGLY DELICIOU...

Tu 5/19/2020 ***Carpet is now just damp. Vac not needed, but still in the room since storms are expected. Plugged in the dehumidifier. Up 815 am: Overcast and showers expected later this afternoon: To low 60's. Watched, 'SEBERG' (Amazon Prime). In the late 1960's American actress Jean Seberg becomes a star of the French New Wave, but when she publicly supports the American Black Panther Party the FBI initiates a smear campaign to 'neutralize' her. Kristen Stewart is brilliant as Jean Seberg; with Vince Vaughn, Colm Meaney, Jack O'Connell, and Yvan Attal. Then watched, 'GIRL ASLEEP' (Amazon Prime). A dream-like and surreal 'Coming of Age Tale' of a fifteen year old Australian girl. The best part of the film is the hysterical disco dancing sequence at Greta's birthday party. A well-done Independent Film. Then another episode of, 'WACO' (Netflix). 230 pm: PC is 'Off' and getting ready for the walk. 3 pm: On the ...

Mo 5/18/2020- Overindulged last night! Slept until almost 10 am because I was up until 3 am sippin' suds. Cloudy, cooler, with a slight chance of rain later this afternoon- high 50's. Ran the shop vac and the 'Stones Corner' is still very wet, also behind the PC, and along the sump trench near the door. It's still too wet to use the fans- maybe later this afternoon. Wrote up, 'THE HOT KID'- Elmore Leonard for the blog. Watched, 'HEADSHOT' (Kanopy). A cop is blackmailed by a powerful Thai politician and is subsequently approached to become an agent for an organization that executes those who act as if they are above the law. After being shot in the head his vision is turned upside-down, and finally he becomes a monk. The film's tone is dreamy and intentionally disjointed. My post at Kanopy: "Deliberate and slow paced, yet an effective way to tell this story." Downstairs for another pass with the shop vac. No more water standin...

Su 5/17/2020- WATER DOWNSTAIRS! Up at 5 am due to the heavy storms. Checked downstairs, but no water. Awoke at 810 am and leaking in all the usual areas. The pump has done nothing! Sucked up about a half a barrel and more to come. Heavy rain predicted all day today- high 60's. Watched, 'THE NICE GUYS' (Xfinity). Two PI's search for 'Amelia' and a missing film in 1977 Los Angeles. The film is an homage to the 'Cop/Detective Buddy Film Genre', and it's not bad, yet forgettable; with Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling. Watched the last hour and ten minutes of,'JOKER'. The film offers the back story for arguably the most infamous cinematic and comic book villain of all time. A neurological disorder coupled with bipolar and schizophrenia make for a very unhappy and dangerous man. As transgressive and dark as the film gets, the Joker is still a somewhat sympathetic character; with Joaquin Phoenix. ***Used the shop vac downstairs for the second ...

Sa 5/16/2020 Up 645 am: Sunny with temps to upper 70's and more rain moving in this evening. Watched Netflix disc, 'PAIN AND GLORY'. Pedro Almodovar's reflection on a film director's personal history. This man is not in the best of health and 'chasing the dragon' eases his pain, and sparks some of his most poignant memories; with Antonio Banderas and Penelope Cruz. Then, 'ABDUCTED' (Xfinity-Showtime). A man's daughter is abducted and he takes the law into his own hands to get her back. CURIOUS INCLUSIONS...A gay couple, a deaf black man, female lead detective; Bruce Willis and Charles Bronson have done dozens just like this...only better. 115 pm: PC is off and getting ready for the walk to beat the rain later. Rinsed the bong at the faucet outside. Works 100% better. 135 pm: Down Westview and east on Lawrence and north on Edwards. Downtown to the PO box on Monroe then 6th south to where I used to park when I was an operator. West and ac...

Fr 5/15/2020 Up 715 am: Overcast, but it looks like we dodged the fierce storms. No water downstairs. Temps to mid 70's. Watched Netflix disc, 'A SOMEWHAT GENTLE MAN'. A very dry and droll film about a Norwegian man just released from prison. His gang leader gets him a job as a mechanic and the sex has never been easier; with Stellan Skarsgard. ***Paid the cards. The watched, 'THE FIRST PURGE' (Xfinity). I had seen this before, but 'kind of worth' a second viewing. THE NEW FOUNDING FATHERS OF AMERICA is the dominant new American political party and selects Staten Island as the place to implement a massive social experiment. To dissipate anger and rage, the citizens of Staten Island are free to act on their violent impulses for a night without legal consequences, but the people are unaware that the government has brought in private militia groups to commit genocide on minorities. Watched a 'JOE ROGAN EXPERIENCE' where he interviews a black m...

Th 5/14/20 Up 645 am: Much warmer, overcast and a chance for rain most of the day: to mid 70's. Wrote up 'PROOF POSITIVE'- Phillip Margolin for the blog. Watched, 'BURNING' (Hoopla). A young Korean man meets a girl from his childhood and they begin a relationship. When she travels to Africa and returns with a wealthy stranger, and later she disappears, it seems that the stranger is her killer and the young man takes his revenge. Slow paced, yet gripping. Part of a quote from The Hollywood Reporter..."one rife with subtle perceptions about class privilege, reverberating family legacies, creative confidence, self-invention, sexual jealousy, justice and revenge." ***1045 am: A semi with eight cars on the trailer pulled up in front of the house. The driver was met by a woman and he unloaded a gray muscle-type car; Dodge or Ford? A car delivery to Boozer's old house? ***1145 am: Restarted computer for Patch Tuesday Updates. Then watched two epis...

We 5/13/2020 Up 630 am: Cloudy with temps to high 50's. ***Charged the new wireless mouse. Still not sure that it will work. Watched, 'HEARTS IN ATLANTIS' (Xfinity). A young boy and his mother live alone until a stranger rents the upper floor of their house. The man is on the run from authorities because he has psychic abilities, but it's really the boy's coming of age tale. Bitter sweet; with Anthony Hopkins, Hope Davis, and Anton Yelchin. Filmed near Virginia Beach, VA. Then, 'WORLD WAR Z' (Xfinity). Stopped at 1'30" into the film to go on the walk before rain hits late this afternoon. 110 pm: On the walk. Up Westview, over to Oakmont, and east Pebble Beach to Laurel. 'Asphalt Outer Park' to Sylvan, Wiggins north. North and across MacArthur near the old Esquire theater. By 1315 Walnut and up South Grand and over on Walnut. Through the park and up Parkview, down Greenview, and up to 940; TWO HOURS AND TEN MINUTES: Mp3- THE STROKES...

Tu 5/12/2020 Up 630 am: Partly cloudy with temps to about 60. Watched 'BAYOU CAVIAR' (Xfinity). Cuba Gooding Jr. directs and stars; with Richard Dreyfuss looking very old. It seems that most of his lines were overdubbed. The only positive thing about the movie is the title. 'Bayou caviar' refers to the practice of cutting up human bodies and feeding them to the local crocodiles and alligators. Then watched episode 2 of season 1, 'THE SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN TEENAGER' (Freeform). That will probably do it for this series. I couldn't believe that there are 23 episodes per season at 45" a show. Then the next episode of 'WACO' (Netflix). And finally, two episodes of 'CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM' (HBO). 2 pm: Going to walk early and then pick up the pills and stuff at Walmart. 220 pm: On the street and up Westview and down Parkview to Wash Pk on the southside and over to Vine. East on Vine to Henrietta. North to Williams St. and acr...

Mo 5/11/2020 Up 7 am: Partly sunny with temps to mid 50's. Removed the Mp3 albums from the living room PC and shifted to Toshiba hard drive and added more albums to Mp3. Watched, 'MOJAVE' (Kanopy). Yesterday's film, 'ROVER' was somewhat similar, but vastly superior. My post on Kanopy: "A dissolute celebrity and a pretentious drifter meet in the desert. Mayhem ensues. Not as bad as it sounds, but close." Watched the last hour of 'THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON' (Netflix). I liked the film, but didn't love it...It was sweet, sad, but probably forgettable. I wrote 'The Wrap' and sent it off and turned off the computer at 115 pm. Will read more Margolin and walk later (with a bunch of new stuff on the Mp3). Read/ Napped and on the walk at 335 pm. I wanted to go down Westview, but I went up to Kenyon then down Fairway to Chatham. Lawrence east to Edwards, then east to Pasfield and south to Vine. Vine west through the...

Su 5/10/2020 Up 620 am: Cloudy, breezy, much cooler. Temps to lower 50's. Watched, 'THE ROVER' (Kanopy). Ten years after an unspecified world wide political and economic collapse, a man's car is hijacked and he goes on a quest across Australia's stark outback to get back his vehicle. In the last scene we learn that he only wanted to bury his dead wife who was in the trunk of his car. My post on Kanopy: "The film takes a minimalist approach with a taunt screenplay and enough random violence to hold your interest." Then watch a YouTube movie, 'ALL ABOUT THE MONEY'. Silly, pointless and I napped through most of it. Three knuckleheads travel to Columbia ('The African country of Columbia'?) to capture a wanted drug lord and claim the multi million dollar reward; with Eddie Griffin, Blake Freeman, Casper Van Dien, and Danny Trejo. Then watched slightly over an hour of JOE ROGAN EXPERIENCE- JOSH HOMME (Kyruss, Queens Of The Stone Age)....

Sa 5/9/2020- Marijuana 1030-11 am. Up 720 am: Sunny and calm with temps to low 60's. Watched Netflix disc, 'THE ASSISTANT'. The disc only played in French, so I watched the rest of 'WILD BILL' that I had started last night. Another star-studded cast in a film that just didn't make it. The tone was off and none of the characters seemed real and the focus seemed to be strictly for entertainment. Not bad, but any episode of HBO'S 'DEADWOOD' was infinitely better; with Jeff Bridges, Ellen Barkin, John Hurt, Diane Lane, Keith Carradine, David Arquette, Christina Applegate, and Bruce Dern- Walter Hill (dir). Began, 'PRISM: THE DARK SIDE OF LOVE' (Amazon Prime). A collection of stories about Love. ***Turned off the PC and leaving for the Pot Shop at 1015 am. To alert Netflix that the disc is in French only. 1-800-585-8018 872-339  SERVICE CODE ***1025 am: In line at the dispensary...Two bums asleep on the sidewalk in front of the car...

Fr 5/8/2020- County Market Groceries Up 645 am: Cloudy drizzle when I awoke, but bright and sunny by late morning- 50's and breezy. 715 am- 745 am: At County Market/ Fairhills: $109.00 Home to watch Netflix disc, 'INSIDIOUS: THE LAST KEY'. A parapsychologist and her two researchers ("She's psychic and we're sidekicks") visit her childhood home in New Mexico to investigate a possible visitation. "That's not a ghost, it's a woman chained up in the basement". Slightly better than pure corn; with Lin Shaye and Bruce Davison. Then I watched the first two episodes of, 'WACO' (Netflix). ***Between episodes I ordered two eight ounces of "White Widow Shake | Ascend Wellness". Supposedly this is a perennial favorite at the Pot Shops in Holland. Can't wait. I had to contact the dispensary because when I placed the order none of the time slots were available for Saturday. They emailed that I should check 'Day',...

Th 5/7/2020 Up 7 am: Partly sunny with temps to upper 60's and rain tonight. Wrote up 'TRUE EVIL'- Greg Iles for the blog. Added 'SURFER ROSA/ COME ON PILGRIM' to Mp3 and Google Play. Watched, 'ROAD TO PERDITION' (Netflix). Set in 1931 the film is about a mob enforcer's son who accidentally witnesses one of the hits and they are forced to take to the road. It's not even close to any of 'The Godfather' films and comes off as a bit aloof and soulless, and although it's certainly bursting with acting talent, it somehow fails to connect; with Tom Hanks, Paul Newman, Daniel Craig, Ciaran Hinds, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Tyler Hoechlin (as the son). Watched the next two episodes of 'OZARK' Season 3. Only one more left. Send a Happy Birthday email to Janny including a link to 'It's Your Birthday' by the Beatles. ***2 pm: I checked the marijuana site and saw that I could get a quarter of flower for $70...Don't ...

We 5/6/2020 Up 645 am: Partly sunny, breezy with temps to 60. ***Ordered a jar of Equate Laxative 25 mg and a Rechargeable Wireless Mouse from Amazon: $30 for both. Watched, 'SPRING BREAKERS'(Kanopy). I had seen this one before, but well worth a second viewing; with Harmony Korine (writer director), James Franco, Selena Gomez. My post on Kanopy: "The film is a glaring, lurid, and fluorescent examination of ugliness. Character development and plot are are sidelined and the bacchanal setting is accentuated and energized. It's all about the twisted, dark side of pleasure and amusement." Then watched, 'THE KILL TEAM' (Amazon Prime). Gung-ho staff sergeant in Afghanistan kills civilians to further the American war effort and a young inductee has second thoughts. In the end, he gets three years and the staff sargent gets life. Ho hum...; with Alexander Skarsgard. 145 pm: Drove to the credit union to deposit the check from the Worden estate. Will wa...

Tu 5/5/2020 Up 715 am: Cooler with temps only in the 50's with a chance of rain most of the day. ***Added MISTY IN ROOTS- 'Roots Controller' to Mp3 Watched, 'BURN YOUR MAPS' (Hoopla). A nine year old American boy believes that he is actually Mongolian. An implausible premise, but a fairly decent 'feel good' movie; with Vera Farmiga (I'd watch her in anything!) and Jacob Tremblay. He is a child actor who was in 'ROOM' which was a much superior film about a woman and her young son who are held captive in an underground room for seven years. Then watch an hour documentary called, 'NO DINOSAURS IN HEAVEN' (Kanopy). A raft trip through The Grand Canyon provides an opportunity to examine Evolution vs. Creationism. My post on Kanopy: "I think what is even more disturbing is that the school curriculum is largely determined by local school boards. If people elected to these school boards choose to deny the facts, then religious or...

Mo 5/4/2020 Up 645 am: Partly cloudy with showers later this afternoon- low 60's. ***Added LITTLE FEAT, HOLE, and BILLY COBHAM to the mp3 player. ***New battery in mouse and had a bit of trouble getting it to connect. Future problems? Watched, 'ALL DAY AND A NIGHT' (Netflix). A young man in the ghetto of Oakland, CA realizes that he wasn't sentenced to prison for his crime, he was born in prison. His father tried to make life 'different' and it did absolutely no good, and now he sees that his son is 'sentenced' to the same life. The film misses the mark, but the theme is very ambitious. Watched, 'SEE YOU NEXT TUESDAY' (Kanopy). A young woman is nine months pregnant, loses her job, her apartment, and has nowhere to turn. I liked it, but less quirky and more mentally deranged. My post on Kanopy: "Before you decide on this selection you might want to refresh your memory about the definition of 'black humor'. According to T...

Su 5/3/2020 Up 630 am: Partly cloudy with temps to about 70. Checked on the albums that I downloaded to the Mp3 player yesterday, and it looks like it's all there. I forgot that some of the albums are just single files of forty-five minutes. Watched, 'NORTH FACE' (Hoopla). Edge of your seat excitement, but a strange story-line. Both of the climbers die during the unsuccessful ascent and gives new meaning to the phrase, "hang in there". Maybe the best movie about 'Failure' that I've ever seen. Then watched, 'FUNNY HA HA' (Amazon Prime). A film profile of a young girl a couple of years out of college with her awkward romantic involvements and less than suitable temp jobs. 'Mumblecore' was not mentioned, but this is the essence of that genre. ***Gave the Illinois Unclaimed Property another shot and they are to send me an email within two days. I seem to have lost the 'lost dividend' from AG Edwards, but I still have one w...

Sa 5/2/2020 Up 630 am: Bright and sunny and temps to low 80's. Watched Netflix disc, 'RAGE'..."A romantic thriller about a construction worker in hiding for killing his foreman who hides in the mansion where his girlfriend works as a maid..." A bit hard to believe that a man could hide upstairs in a house while the family lives there, but I suppose it could happen. I'll bet that this has been remade for American audiences. Filmed in Spain and the main characters are foreigners from Columbia; with Martina Garcia, Gustavo Sanchez Parra. ***Shoveled more music on to the Mp3 player direct from the Toshiba portable hard drive. Watched, 'ZZ TOP: THAT LITTLE OL' BAND FROM TEXAS' (Netflix). The longest running rock'n'roll band (with the original members) in the business. 50 years and still going strong. I was surprised how intelligent they all seemed, especially Billy Gibbons. The dove into the very beginning of music videos because they we...

Fr 5/1/2020 Up 635 am: Sunny with temps to low 70's. ***Downstairs is almost dry. Later in the morning I got things back to normal, but left the dehumidifier running. Back in business for tonight! Watched Netflix disc, 'AMERICAN WOMAN'. One of my favorite movies of all time. The fact that her daughter has gone missing might be the central focus of her life, but life does go on and the film provides a heartrendingly candid look at her emotional struggle; with Sienna Miller (a phenomenal performance!), Christina Hendricks, Will Sasso, and Amy Madigan. Watched the last third of 'DJANGO UNCHAINED' (Netflix). Quentin Tarantino's fantastic Spaghetti Western. Then watched about an hour (a third of the movie) of, 'NO DIRECTION HOME: BOB DYLAN' (Netflix). Deleted a few photos from Dropbox. They sure don't make it easy. Since the weather is nice I decided to take the bike downtown to drop the disc at the Monroe PO and then go on to 19th St. and d...