Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Of Stages and Screens

Yesterday we saw Dreamgirls. This is a not very good movie filled with remarkable performances.

I could tell the audience loved it, and yet, I wonder if they knew what they were missing. Dreamgirls (click that link for the Broadway show info) was originally a stage musical and much is lost in "opening it up" and transferring it to the screen.

Lost, you say? But audiences were applauding during the movie? And the critical acclaim is off the charts. What could they have possibly have lost?

Well, for one thing, the movie entirely misses the pauses, the extended silences, the full stops. This particular movie roars right along, never pausing, never hesitating for a moment. And in those moments you'll find everything. In the silence we see the tension, the anger, the fear, much more than in shouting, even more than the anguished solos. It's in that moment when it all stops that we really see the characters.

There are some remarkable performances. Eddy Murphy is amazing. And Jennifer Hudson was perfect. Beyoncé Knowles has really long arms. But performances, great costumes, even terrific music don't make a movie. Translating a musical to a movie is so difficult I can only think of a few that work, and most of them are simply filmed stage presentations. Yes, Fred Astaire could do it, but Fred Astaire could do many things that mere mortals can't.

So, yes, they were fated to fall short, but the direction and editing of this movie don't help. Jamie Fox looks like he can't really decide if he's really in a musical or not. And some of the transitions from dialog to singing are jarring. This late bunch of movie musicals seem to be directed by people that really don't get American musical theater. And don't get me started on "Moulin Rouge!" There was a detestable, ugly movie directed by someone that literally hates musicals.

I suppose there's simply that part of live performance that film can never do, and I say this as a great lover of movies. There is a thrill of witnessing a live performance. I don't know if you've ever seen a real, honest-to-god Broadway musical. Take, for example, the showstopper in Dreamgirls, "And I Am Telling You I Am Not Going." In the movie, Hudson nails it, but at its end she is nearly run over by the next scene. There's not time for a deep breath. On stage, well, they don't call it a showstopper for nothing. If you put Hudson on stage for that scene and song there'd be a moment where the hair on your arms would stand up, where you'd not only feel the deep anguish of the character, but you'd be aware that you were seeing something, really participating in it. And in that moment you'd realize just how good the performer is, better than you'd thought anyone could be. Then that would pass away as she brought the song to an end and the audience would be on its feet. The show would literally stop.

You can't do that in a movie, you tell me. Well, you'd be wrong about that. It could have been done, could have been better, but, then again, it would have been artificial.

I've done many plays and musicals (been a while, though). But I've never had a shot at a showstopper. My dream role: Nicely Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls. That roll gets to do all the fun songs, then, if done right, bring down the house with "Sit down you're rock'n the boat." Let me know if you're staging a version and I'll be there, checkered vest and all.

Thursday, December 21, 2006

Address Book Of The Dead

Today, for an unexpected reason, I started to edit out my address book - it had swollen to nearly 2000 contacts, many of which were far out of date and no longer in my industry (OK, I'm the one that switched industries).

But in quickly going thru them, I found 3 friends and acquaintances who had passed away. It was a shock to see their names, as if I could still pick up the phone and call them. And it was difficult to delete their records. It seemed another death, and this time, at my hand.

And then I came across the name James Kim. He was likely a brief contact at a tradeshow, or someone I met when in his office when I was on a press tour. You might remember his name recently from all the press. He's the one that died after he and his family got lost in the Oregon wilderness.

Hence, today is mortality recognition day. Here's to us, the living. And for those who have passed, there are we remember you.

Rodney O. Lain
Kelly Mayhew
Sing-Si Schwartz
James Kim

Friday, December 08, 2006

Two Snaps Up!

OK, using this as a test bed and playground again. Today's example: Snap.

But please, before clicking on the link (D'oh! Too late?), just "hover" over it.

Anything happen?

OK, nothing more to see here. Move along.

Monday, November 27, 2006

Randy. Captain Randy

. . . and that's when it started getting weird.

Hmmm? What? Oh, there you are!

Sorry. Got distracted for a moment. Or a couple of months. Insert appropriately chagrined smiley face here.


First, thanks to Hedwig for prodding me back. No promises that I'll keep it up.

Next, I'll catch you all up on the gap at a later time. Perhaps.

Oh, and before I go, I'll pass on that the new James Bond movie, Casino Royale is terrific.

It's refreshing. It is a reboot, but a solid one. The villain is appropriately evil, but over a matter of a 110 million dollars, not world domination. Bond is amazingly tough, but not indestructible. And there are few gadgets and none of them difficult to say, "sure, he could have one of those."

I liked it a lot.

My favorites of the series are, in ranked order:

Goldfinger
Casino Royale (the new one, not the Woody Allen mess)
Dr. No
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
Live and Let Die

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Oh, I suppose I should provide a link, this being the internets, and all.

http://www.writely.com/

Monday, August 21, 2006

Writely, Writterly, Writtenly

Well, now. Here we are using an online word processor. How 1985.

But, then again, we're using a browser, so this must be Web 2.0.

So far, so good.

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Andy's My Hero

Macworld: Opinion: Leopard's top-secret secrets: "And besides, it's a testament to Apple that they routinely produce products that are worth speculating about. When I get a new Microsoft product in the mail it's often like that moment when you've got both feet on the brakes but you know that the car can't possibly stop in time. You don't know what's going to happen. You just hope it won't hurt too much."

And I like his speculation. I 'spect that Apple has some interesting things up it's corporate sleeves that we'll learn about late this fall, in time for the Xmas buying season, and even more in January at the Macworld Expo.

Oh, and this is worth a chuckle, too:

"I mean, Microsoft is so desperate to distract attention from their inability to ship that they’re sending Bill Gates out to end hunger and disease as a diversionary tactic. That’s desperate."

Thursday, August 03, 2006

I really liked my Moleskine before

But now I think I love it. Any notebook that can save your life is worth carrying

Manhattinhand: Holeskine

Monday, July 31, 2006

Very nice, but where's my Slow Glass?

Yes, this is interesting stuff: Electrochromatic Glass: Instant Darkening - Gizmodo

But for real imagination, try and find a copy of "Light of Other Days"
by Bob Shaw, a short story published in the 1960's. It's haunting - and has stayed with me in the many hears since I read it.

And apparently, it may be possible.

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Saturday, July 29, 2006

Yes, we are up to something

And a few germs aren't going to make our giant tripod war machines break down, neither.

Friday, July 21, 2006

Almost Too Fair

And now, for this word on net neutrality, from The Daily Show.

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

It's hot outside - let's stay in and watch movies

If i only could. Today would be a perfect day for big glasses of rum and lime over ice and the Marx Brothers.

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Stack o books for the beech

On Friday we head off for our yearly vacation on Cape Hatteras and I have my stack of books ready to go. This year's includes:
  • Straight Man by Richard Russo
  • Rainbow's End by Vernor Vinge
  • Queen of the South by Arturo Perez-Reverte
  • The Gilded Age by Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner

Unfortunately, I will not be able to include my yearly James Lee Burke fix. For the first time in years, he's late (although only by a week). Ah, well. We'll have to catch Pegasus Descending the following week or so.

Sunday, July 02, 2006

Avast there, Matey!

Sitting here in my home office, if I turn to my left I see a shelf full of books on this list. When did I become a fan of sea books?

Well, O'Brian cinched it, but I've always been nuts over a great tale - and the ones on this list certainly are crackerjack ones!

Bookmarks Magazine: 101 Crackerjack Sea Books

Friday, June 30, 2006

Sea-low-can-th

And they're mighty tasty, too!

OK, I haven't actually eaten coelacanth and have no intention to, but I can bet that may people looking at this video are thinking, "I wonder what it tastes like?"

For the record

Might I say, for the record, that I prefer not to hear or read any more about Star Jones, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie (or their kids), Brittney Spears, Madonna (going on 25 years of hearing too much about her), global warming nay-sayers, defense of marriage-gay basing-bigots, anti-flag burning jingoists, Lindsey Lohan, Paris Hilton, what movie star is dating what other movie star, the latest powder keg in the middle east, but-but-but Clinton! Republican apologists, stay-the-course-damn-the-torpedoes-full-speed-ahead-things-are-much-better-than-the-liberal-media-is-telling-you-in-Iraq-head-in-the-sand-my-country-right-or-wrong red staters.

I prefer to have a pleasant, uninterrupted by the national tragedy of the moment, summer vacation. I'm assembling my stack of books and will soon head for sun and sand and cold Coronas.

Try not and blow up the planet while I'm gone.

Thursday, June 29, 2006

Captain Randy Falls In Love With YouTube

Let it never be said that Al Gore doesn't know funny.

Captain Randy Discovers Wufoo

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

A moment of joy, shared.

Here's something that I found a breath of fresh air. A joyful, awe inspiring 3 minutes, 42 seconds. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Apparently no good Samaritans on Everest

This is utterly depressing:Hillary Blasts Climbers Who Left Dying Man
"Mount Everest pioneer Sir Edmund Hillary said Wednesday he was shocked that dozens of climbers left a British mountaineer to die during their own attempts on the world's tallest peak.

David Sharp, 34, died apparently of oxygen deficiency while descending from the summit during a solo climb last week.

More than 40 climbers are thought to have seen him as he lay dying, and almost all continued to the summit without offering assistance."


The book "Into Thin Air" put me into a full out funk for days. And now this. How many people passed him going up to the summit and then again on the way back down?

Some days I think we're all evil idiots.

This Month's Help for the Clueless: Dell

Isn't it surprising and interesting that when apparently successful companies run off the end of the cliff they start grasping at straws?

Take a look at this: Mac News: Apple News : Dell Eyes Retail Again, With Apple Stores as Model: "Struggling to maintain its lead as the top personal PC maker, Dell plans to once again enter in the retail business when it launches two stores at shopping centers later this year. In contradistinction to Apple, which stocks products on-hand for customers to carry out after purchase, Dell will maintain its direct model by having shoppers place orders online for later pick-up at the store."

So, Dell sees Apple becoming wildly successful at their retail strategy. They failed at their own approach - mall kiosks where you could see a couple of computers, but had to order and wait for the computer to be delivered. So, if that didn't work, what should they do? Scale up, of course!

No, that's not right. Apple is succeeding because they have a very specific vision. First, they carefully scout locations and pick and pay for prime retail spots. Next, they went to retail experts from places like the Gap. Next, they designed stores that are clean, elegant, and uncluttered. The computers are all up front, all available and fully functional. And if you like what you see, you can take it with you. Oh, and Apple isn't targeting computer shoppers. They're targeting shoppers. A much bigger group. The local Apple store is always busy, always crowded.

I've said for some time, Dell does one thing very well: they have manufacturing a commodity PC down. They don't engineer anything, don't innovate beyond the manufacturing/inventory/production cycle.

So, Dell, if you want a chance at succeeding, don't just copy the surface of the Apple Store, copy the whole thing.

Monday, May 22, 2006

And the movie opens with this scene

KILLER BUG AIR SCARE
"A WOMAN who arrived in London on a flight from Africa yesterday is reported to have died from the deadly and contagious ebola virus."

And it ends with just a small band of plucky survivors. Time to head for the hills?

Actually, I'm told that Ebola isn't really that contagious. And no, thank you, I don't shake hands any more.

Friday, May 19, 2006

It's better to laugh

If only to keep from wearing a tinfoil beanie.

Dear NSA
"Q: Where did I leave my keys?
A: Inside pocket of your gray jacket (it's hanging in the front closet)."

Where exactly does one get tinfoil?

Thursday, May 11, 2006

Also works for drunk typing



Just what I needed - a good laugh. Frankly, never even read the page and it probably is important for some people, but I was laughing too hard to continue.

PawSense helps you catproof your computer.

Monday, May 08, 2006

When it hits 25% we invade Iran

USATODAY.com - Bush approval rating hits new low

You think I'm kidding? The way I see it, the Bush administration pretty much has to create some sort of military, "line up behind the flag" moment sometime far enough ahead of the November mid-term elections to maintain any semblance of power.

July sounds about right.

Thursday, April 27, 2006

Random Beach Bum


Random Beach Bum
Originally uploaded by cinemamurray.

It's rare that I like photos of me, but this one, I like.

Maybe it's because I look at this picture and see myself relaxed and happy in my Tilley Hat.

It is a damn comfortable hat.

Film at 11 (what time is it now?)

OK, experimenting with something - let's see if this FilmLoop thingie works.

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Well, I'm back

Cinnamon Bay
Cinnamon Bay ,
originally uploaded by cinemamurray.
But it would have been so nice to stay.

I was simply amazed at how beautiful the Virgin Islands are, and specifically, St. John. And so easy to travel to from the Eastern Time Zone.

Terrific, relaxing vacation.

On a side note: there are so many more super rich Americans than I'd ever really thought about. In my daily life I'm sure I see them, but there, in the islands, it's completely clear who has not just money, but extreme amounts of it. Frankly, I'm not envious, just astounded. Who has the millions and the time to sail about the Caribbean in the spring for weeks at a time on multimillion dollar yachts? Apparently far more people than I ever imagined.

Well, good for them. Glad to see someone doing so well. As for me, I'll dream of going back sometime in coming years.

Thursday, March 30, 2006

And I use to call a green pepper a mango.



Your Linguistic Profile:



70% General American English

15% Upper Midwestern

10% Yankee

5% Dixie

0% Midwestern


Friday, March 24, 2006

Another Reason Not to Live in Jurassic park

I like Florida well enough to visit, but I don't think I could live anywhere that dinosaurs crawl up into your back yard to eat your pets and bugs the size of your hand might land on your face in the middle of the night.

Alligator Knocks on Fla. Woman's Door: "So now the alligators are going door to door. When Lori Pachelli heard someone knocking at the door of her home in a gated community in this southwest Florida community earlier this week, she looked out to see an unwelcome visitor on her front stoop: an 8-foot alligator."

Another point in favor of nice, quiet Ohio. Nothing bad could happen here. No siree, Bob.

That is not an invitation for you to send me a list of all the bad things that could or have already happened here. Screwed up presidential elections do not compare to a freak'n eight foot lizard knocking on your door. Yeah, "Land shark". Not so funny now, is it?

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Not jumping on the bandwagon, but running along side

I really hope they are fully committing to the complete cheesiness.

Film Article | Reuters.com: "As film back-stories go, this one is fairly serpentine. The Samuel L. Jackson thriller 'Snakes on a Plane,' which wrapped last September in Vancouver, went back before the cameras this month for five days of additional shooting in Los Angeles."

What they don't point out is that "Snakes On A Plane" is a long standing Hollywood in-joke/complaint. It represents the worse possible "high concept" idea and is a phrase equivalent to "what'cha gonna do?"

That someone really made it as a movie is both scary and funny. Scary if they were serious about it. Funny if they embrace the absurdity.

What is brilliant is that the studio understands the groundswell of internet attention and have gone back to shape the movie to more appeal to this audience.

I smell a hit!

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Thursday, March 23, 2006

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Special Relativity Of Framing

When I saw the link to this article I though, "hmm, sounds link an interesting physics article." Sorry, no. It's a badly framed article about cosmic rays and their aging-like effects.

Was Einstein Wrong about Space Travel? | Science Blog: "Consider a pair of brothers, identical twins. One gets a job as an astronaut and rockets into deep space. The other stays on Earth. When the traveling twin returns home, he discovers he's younger than his brother.

This is Einstein's Twin Paradox, and although it sounds strange, it is absolutely true. The theory of relativity tells us that the faster you travel through space, the slower you travel through time. Rocketing to Alpha Centauri -- warp 9, please -- is a good way to stay young.

Or is it?"

OK, please, if you're going to do popular science writing, get it right. Einstein wasn't wrong. You, article writer person, are. Einstein is talking about the effects of speed. You're talking about the effects of cosmic rays. So, putting on my scifi hat, I simply raise shields, no more cosmic rays, but still special relativity effects when traveling at sub-light, but very fast speeds.

Now, if I'm traveling faster than light (see the article below), then we can also forget about relativity.

These 2 things have nothing to do with one another. The writer thought that they were being clever, but frankly, they're just confusing people that might not understand.

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Monday, March 20, 2006

Just Bury Me In A Captain Kirk Coffin

CNN.com - Scenes from Homer found in Cyprus 'warrior tomb' - Mar 20, 2006 "In one large painting, Ulysses and his comrades escape from the blind Cyclops Polyphemos' cave, hidden under a flock of sheep. Another depicts a battle between Greeks and Trojans from the Iliad."

This is an astounding find, but reading about a warrior being buried in a coffin decorated with scenes from the Odyssey made me smile. Essentially, he was buried in a pop culture themed grave. It's like having a NASCAR funeral, or being buried in a box decorated with scenes of the Death Star and Ice Planet Hoth.

Don't get me wrong. I believe the Odyssey is one of our greatest stories - a remarkable piece of literature. But I also don't forget that it was popular entertainment for people 2,500 years ago.

OK, so I want to be cremated, after anything useful is removed. But before you light the fire, dress me in my Star Fleet best.

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Friday, March 17, 2006

Faster than light travel possible after all?

After reading this article, I'm left with the question: Is faster than light possible? Evidence for Universe Expansion Found: "Physicists announced Thursday that they now have the smoking gun that shows the universe went through extremely rapid expansion in the moments after the big bang, growing from the size of a marble to a volume larger than all of observable space in less than a trillion-trillionth of a second."

If the universe expanded that quickly, did it physically move through space over that trillion-trillonth of a second? Or did it move from marble sized to universal sized in the same period without traveling through the intervening space?

The term "inflation" brings to my mind the expansion through space. Perhaps I'm getting it wrong, but if this is so, there's got to be some big implications.

Should we start construction on our starship fleet now?

,

Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Pope Randy the First Blogs Again

The Hierophant Card
You are the the Hierophant card. The Hierophant, called The Pope in some decks, is the preserver of cultural traditions. After entering The Emperor's society, The Hierophant teaches us its wisdom. The Hierophant learns and teaches our cultural traditions. The discoveries our ancestors have made influence the present. Without forces such as The Hierophant who are able to interpret and communicate traditional lore, each generation would have to begin to learn anew. As a force that is concentrated on our past and our culture, The Hierophant can sometimes be stubborn and set in his ways. This is a negative trait he shares with his zodiac sign, Taurus. But like Taurus he is productive. His traditional lore can provide a source of inspiration for the creatively inclined, and his knowledge provides an excellent foundation for those who come into their own in the business world.

Image from: Morgan E. Cauthers-Knox.



Which Tarot Card Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Friday, February 24, 2006

That's always bugged me, too



Dividing by zero is verboten. It's "undefined".

So, why doesn't someone get around to defining it?

All of which goes to show why I never got beyond my college intro Calculus course.

And also brings to mind another concept that was hard to get my mind around. What lies at the end of the universe? A friend in high school, forever immortalized in his theory, stated, "it's a wall of dirt clods." Hence the "Keith Carol Dirt Clod Theory."

The above picture brought to you by the Dynamic Einstein picture generator.

Posting from the Dashboard

In my never ending quest to find the easiset way to post, I'm trying the new "Widget" for Mac OS X "Tiger".  

Not bad - I press F12, type a few lines, and there you go.  

Of course, no easy links, no pictures, only BOLD and itallic.


Easy, yes.  Helpful?  We'll see.



Monday, February 20, 2006

And so it begins again . . .

10,000 years ago humanity one it's first and perhaps greatest battle by destroying the vicious and highly intelligent evil, furry elephants. And now, the cycle begins again.

Study: Elephants Might Seek Revenge

What? You thought we were the only evil, intelligent race on this planet?

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Save this for the "Famous Quotes from Evil Idiots" File

Latest Business News and Financial Information | Reuters.com: "'Americans depend upon imports to fill the gap,' McGill said. 'No combination of conservation measures, alternative energy sources and technological advances could realistically and economically provide a way to completely replace those imports in the short or medium term.'"

I believe he was twirling the ends of his long mustache and laughing maniacal while saying this.

Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Friday, January 27, 2006

Another strong argument for the Long Tail

This excellent article, recommended by BoingBoing is a strong argument for the Long Tail, even though it doesn't specifically mention it. Making Light: The life expectancies of books

Think of all those books, in print for the blink of an eye, unavailable, lost, buried. Why? Greed and stupidity. The concept of the Long Tail tells us that every book ever written would be read by someone, if they easily available and inexpensive.

But publishers are greedy and they want things to never expire from copyright. They might be able to squeeze another nickel out of it. And here comes the stupidity part: if copyright periods were reasonable, they could make untold billions. That's right, billions.

Imagine a system where you could go to a site, say Amazon, and order any book, not just those currently in print. For a small fee, say $.99, just like buying a song from iTunes, you could download ANY book ever printed.

How many books have been printed in human history? Now, multiply that times $.99. Over what period? Probably everything ever printed would be purchased every year. I'm betting the turns would be more often than that. Billions and billions.

What's fair for copyright? As an author, I would be happy for my lifetime plus 25 years. That means I would profit from anything I created, and my heirs would too, and the world would profit forever after.

What about corporations? Here's my radical statement for the day: corporations are not people. They are legal shelters and agreements. Fuck 'em.

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Tuesday, January 03, 2006

Just a little problem with my secret lair

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Nasa team sees explosion on Moon

Nope, just a little problem with security on my secret lair.

Damn you, Mr. Bond!