Sláinte

On the day everyone is Irish --

Hoist a few for the Old Sod.

Sláinte chuig na fir agus go maire na mná go deo!

Health to the men and may the women live forever!

All Hail the 300

Leonidas at Thermopylae

Definitely a boy pix.

On the other hand, there are more six packs here than at a tailgate party during the Homecoming Game, so it's not like the ladies won't have something to watch.

My Grandfather was named for the Spartan hero whose sacrifice at the Hot Gates saved Greece from the Persians and hence all of Western Civilization, so I was very interested in this movie.

This graphic novel/animation/film technique created the sense we were watching a watercolor painting come to life. It was more beautiful than the average war movie.

But war movie it was, and after the first hour of multiple impalings, decapitations, and artistic blood spray, we saw the same thing over again. I mean, really, if you've seen one decapitation, you've pretty much seen decapitation.

Yes, fans, even though I liked this movie, I was getting twitchy toward the end. And the sub-plot about the Queen putting out to get the politicians back home to send reinforcements pissed me off.

In my little town, every showing from Friday to Sunday afternoon was sold out, so the target audience is turning out in droves -- which I think should cause us to consider what Hollywood is telling them this time.

Either by timing or intent, 300 is war propaganda. Bigger, louder, with better actors and more beautiful cinematography, but no different from when John Wayne killed all those nasty Japs in the 40s.

Perhaps I had this reaction because I grew up in the 60s and well remember the last time America mired itself in battle, at the sacrifice of our young.

As King Leonidas strutted the battlements shouting out epithets that could easily be turned into war bond posters, I wanted to shout back. Don't listen to him, boys.

There is no glory in war or honor in death. Only waste.

T G I F

Multiples of Five

Name one thing you do everyday.

Breathe.

Name two things you wish you could learn.

How to paint a watercolor picture that doesn't look like it should be hanging on the refrigerator.

How to make a million dollars without really trying.

Name three things that remind you of your childhood.

Mom. Dad. Sister.

Name four things you love to eat but rarely do.

Pate. Chocolate milk shakes. Pumpkin seeds. Lobster.

Name five things that make you feel good.

My home. My spouse and kid. My dogs. That's five and I didn't even get to my career.

Five on Friday

What do you like on a hot dog?

Mustard, cheese, relish and onions, but alas, I've had to give up onions.

What do you like on a hamburger?

Cheese*, ketchup, lettuce and onion (alas.)

What do you like on a baked potato?

Butter.

What do you like on a slice of toast?

Strawberry jelly.

What do you like in a cup of coffee or tea?

Nothing.

Friday 5

What is your favorite movie line?

Then one day, the cat got her.

Who is your favorite movie protagonist of all time?

Spidey. Josey Wales. Rooster Cogburn. Hmm. 'nother trend.

Who is your favorite movie antagonist of all time?

Riddick.*2

What is your favorite movie montage?

Be serious.

What is your favorite movie title?

It's late, I'll have to ponder that one a while.

Manonica


*Detecting a trend?
*2 Yum.

Zodiac

Okay. Not a picture from the movie, but still . . .

I did reach the point during Zodiac, at almost three hours long, when I wondered if this movie would e v e r end. And I wondered how the police ever catch anyone. AND, there was 20 minutes of "entertainment" programming before they turned down the lights and 15 minutes of trailers after. Felt like I was homesteading the place.

But it was a more interesting exploration of obsession than Number 23.

Monday Meme

Happily lifted from Monday's A Bitch

Last time you ate Kraft Dinner?

Never. Seriously, I make a lovely homemade mac and cheese and ham. And I use real cheese not a cheese-flavored petroleum product.

Last thing you bought yourself for no practical purpose whatsoever?

Probably, the 987th pencil in a row.

Last time you left the country?

Went to Canada years ago.

Last time you did a crossword puzzle?

Last week. My EMT text uses crosswords to facilitate learning of the really big words.

Last photograph you took?

Friday, close-ups of some blooming tulips.

And this one from Manic Monday

What do you feel is the biggest waste of time?

As previously reported, used-to-be audiences enjoyed a cartoon before the movie. Now, there are commercials, trailers, then the movie.* By the time I sit through the Coke commercial and the manly fragance commercial and the put your commercial in this space commercial and three trailers, my popcorn is either cold or gone and I have to go to the bathroom.

Hello, if I wanted to watch TV commercials, I would stay home.

If I knew then what I know now, I ....

would have started sooner.

How do you feel your life has changed over the past year?

Time has sped up. I must be living close to a gravity well.



*Alas, no cartoon.