AN EXPERIMENTAL LIFE
Went to Anne of Green Gables today at Poteet Theatre in Oklahoma City. A local Protestant church houses this theatre, which puts on numerous productions each season and teaches acting classes. We're definitely going to Guys and Dolls in November. I hadn't read the book (my wife had) or seen the play. It was quite good. The wife prefers musicals, but I like it all. The actors were, … [Read more...]
While I prefer more hard-hitting film (and less pretty than Food Inc), I did especially like the segment that touched (far too briefly) on WTO, World Bank, and IMF involvement in keeping the impoverished people of the world working at just above starvation for the comfort of the West. Perhaps films like this are the Stony Brooks Farms of documentaries - they'll go places that work by PETA won't. … [Read more...]
We took in a matinee of the production of Jekyll and Hyde (the musical) by the Regional Actors Community Theatre at the Wilkins Theater of Northern Oklahoma College [details]. A great way to spend an afternoon. The play was good - I liked the running theme, not just of the "essential twoness" (to use WEB Dubois' term) of man's character, but of the social elements of hypocrisy and "the … [Read more...]
Last night I pretty much duplicated Pei Wei's lo mein, but I made it with rice noodles (a vegan alternative). Stir fry fresh broccoli, carrots, sweet peas, and firm homemade tofu in sesame and canola oils. Finish with soy sauce in the pan. Simmer dried shitakes and bean sprouts in a broth of garlic, celery, and pepper. Cook and add the noodles, top with red pepper flakes. It was … [Read more...]
I've become very happy about the reformation of box wines. Not Franzia or Rossi (ack!), but good wine. Three Thieves Bandit, Bota, and Yellow & Blue are making some apparently stellar boxes for great prices. Of those three, only the Bota is bag in a box, though, for ultimate long-lasting freshness. But there are plenty of others. Hardy is popular, and some 1.5L cubes. At about $16 and … [Read more...]
There are some nice things there. The town being ringed by mountains is wonderful - to be able to look up and see mountains all the time. The weather is pleasant. Image via Wikipedia But I was expecting something that wasn't there. The walkable downtown area is not a livable, urban downtown area. It's mainly a district for tourists or locals to go spend some money on a fancy dinner. But … [Read more...]
Dirt! The Movie is fantastic. It's about soil, yes, but really it's about biology, anthropology, and culture. Highly recommended. Widely available. … [Read more...]
Image via Wikipedia "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness." -- Mark Twain Speaking of which, the wife is going to Las Vegas for a convention. I'm jazzed about that - it's a great opportunity for her. I detest Vegas - I've been enough. I'm looking at Portland for my next flight. But also planning another trip to Korea. … [Read more...]
The trailers and excerpts don't do it justice. This, to me, is the most powerful film about animals ever. I can't recommend enough that you skip the excerpts and go all the way through the film. Widely available. … [Read more...]
This is a great little college lecture on how the 5th Amendment to the US Constitution applies to interactions with law enforcement. Whether you're involved in a simple march for Earth Day, a rally outside the WTO, or just got pulled over in your car, this is a helpful lecture. … [Read more...]
Hachiko is a great little film. It's not epic. But it's incredibly revealing and goes quite well with Clever Monkeys, if you've seen it. When I listen to people who have never read anything about the psychology of dogs, who claim they don't really think, have an emotional life, or communicate, and are focused solely on gratification, it's helpful to have ways of dispelling the ignorance. I don't … [Read more...]
A lot of the early parts of the film are old hat for some of us, but the later stuff is enraging and, in my mind, makes the documentary. Highly recommended. Full documentary is here: … [Read more...]
This documentary is about the international pedophile ring run by Larry King in the US and involving key US political figures. Scheduled for the Discovery Channel in 1994 (according to TV Guide), but pushed to cancellation by powerful members of US Congress, and all copies officially destroyed, you're unlikely to find this documentary in your local video store. Discovery Channel & Yorkshire … [Read more...]
![New York City (taken by Daniel] from the Hudson 022](http://digriz.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/New-York-City-taken-by-Daniel-from-the-Hudson-022-100x100.gif "New York City (taken by Daniel] from the Hudson 022")
Went all over NYC again - well, lower Manhattan - everything below Central Park. This time went to Queens (Astoria), too, and made another visit to Jersey City. Wish I'd had time to visit Flushing, but just to see it. If I lived in Queens, it'd be Astoria most likely. Still, like Manhattan far better. What I saw of Brooklyn on the way to the airport last time didn't impress me. This time, we … [Read more...]
Fifth or Sixth time here, at least. Hotel Burnham. Wow! What a great hotel, and right in the loop. Explored the North side. Liked most of the areas off the red line. Andersonville was great, if kind of awkward, but Edgewater sucked, other than Francesca's where I had dinner - that was good. The area off the Fullerton exit by DePaul, I liked a lot. In fact, stumbled past the Apollo Theater and … [Read more...]
Excellent piece of skeptical analysis of 9/11 events. At its core, a refutation of the ad hominem claim that only kooks and crackpots are skeptical of the official and popular version of events. … [Read more...]
How many wonderful things can I say about Vancouver. It's a bit like Seattle, but I like it a lot better. Why? The trains. They just built a new line, so unmanned subway trains are in lots of great places. The West End was my favorite. I got myself out of the tourist district by the water. That was awful. Lots of overpriced ... tourist stuff. But the West End was superb - Korean and Japanese … [Read more...]
Of course, I've been to Dallas many, many times. This time I took my brother-in-law for his last trip while visiting the US. Had desert, went to Book Depository (he wanted to see it), and spent the rest of the time in Koreatown. Hyatt Regency Dallas. … [Read more...]
Lizards! I love the lizards. Went snorkeling again - liked that. Out by the wrecks, though, the waves were particularly choppy. Takes an athelete to fight them. The reefs were better. Dessert at Hyatt Regency Aruba was The Mediterranean. It was fantastic. Before you rush off to your Hyatt and get one, make sure they're using pistachios, and that they're using cardamom, and the olive oil cake, and … [Read more...]
Stayed three nights in the Hyatt Regency Jersey City, and two in the Grand Hyatt New York. Loved the ferry across the Hudson River. Better than the tour boats. Coffee, smoothie, and roasted nuts outside in Financial District (Wall Streeet area) was fantastic. Ukrainian food. Italian food. Chinatown. Hated Times Square. Didn't like the tourist zones - Wall Street itself for instance. Walked … [Read more...]
Went to the Plaza. Saw the dragonboats waiting for the festival on the river. Introduced my brother to barbecue and to creme brulet. Hyatt Regency Crown Center. He thought KC was quite impressive compared to Oklahoma City. True, but he hadn't seen New York City yet. … [Read more...]
Been here more than once. Driving through to Kansas City for cheap flights. Went to Old Town, though - a trolley ride from the Hyatt Regency Wichita. That was good. Took my brother to an old-fashioned stage show, mostly to get him a photo with the actors. :) Introduced him to hummus. … [Read more...]
This is the fourth or fifth visit. Found the North Side! Ate at Pick Me Up Cafe on 3400 N. Clark. Belmont exit off the red line has coffee shops, book stores, vegetarian food. Spent a day there. Don't like corporate food, but liked Potbelly. Not Giordanos. The red line is great, but someone I know calls it the NARL. Nasty Ass Red Line. Still, I like it. Chicago Hyatt Regency. … [Read more...]
I just recovered three Korean pop songs I used to like about 10 years ago when I lived there. Not a big fan of pop, but you adapt to what's available. :) 돌아와-클론 (Clon, "Come Back"): I like the energy when the woman in this one starts to sing, and the underlying spirit of it, the warm communal singing, is very Korean. The video is bizarre, but not silly. This one is my favorite of the … [Read more...]
Waikiki. I'm not a big fan of the tourist zone - there was a Denny's! Snorkeling was great. First attempt at surfing - I made it to my knees. :) I love the ocean, but salt water pickles me raw. Liked the Korean restaurant. Hyatt Regency Waikiki - the hospitality was unparalleled. … [Read more...]