Post-Christmas Message

 It began snowing on Christmas Eve, and continued all throughout Christmas Day.  It was also as cold as January, and still is.  We were promised one cold day, but this is the 3rd in a row.  So we have been even more inside than usual, if that is even possible.  I still make 2 trips outside every day, to feed the birds and squirrels.  We've had cardinals, a flock of goldfinches, nuthatches, sparrows, pigeons, and chickadees, along with every squirrel within ten square miles.  They eat voraciously when there is snow on the ground and it is really cold outside.  So do I.

I talked briefly with my parents on Friday, and Deb talked with Lynne, my brother's wife.  And today I talked at length with Amanda, who is in town to visit her family from Toronto.  As I write this blog entry the newest lockdown restrictions are in effect Ontario-wide, and will remain so until late January.  We'll see if that slows down the disease.  Already the newer strain has arrived here.

In addition to movies, we are watching Season 3 of Upstart Crow on Britbox, as well as watching Black Adder again from the beginning.  And we continue to watch Sir Tony Robinson's Walking Through History on Prime.  It's my turn to choose a threesome for this weekend's end of the month film festival, so stay tuned for that important announcement later in the week.  The show begins tonight at 6:45 pm.

Recently watched Criterion films include my two most recent choices.  The first was part 3 of Fassbinder's fascinating and fun TV series 8 Hours Don't Make A Day.  At 1 hr 45 min each, the five part series requires some serious set-aside time.  But it's worth it, as Fassbinder tackles the work-a-day world of a German industrial city in the 1970s.  Next came a short film from the leaving list, called Our Dancing Daughters.  From 1928, it is a silent film starring Joan Crawford as a carefree flapper, wondering why serious guys don't pick her for keeps.  The soundtrack is quite good, featuring music, sound effects, and even songs appearing over top emotional scenes. The ending is pure Hollywood cliche, but is fun nonetheless.  Bad characters who are really, really drunk should not try to negotiate a really long, high staircase.  Take it from me.

Showing until Dec. 31st on criterion.

The stunning Ms. Crawford in 1928.

The infamous staircase of doom.  

 

Deb chose to see what a city looks like with no clothes on.  From 1948 comes Jules Dassin's stunning crime drama The Naked City.  It was the first big Hollywood film to shoot on location in New York City, and it's fun to watch for several reasons.  The main crime story is quite good, and of course the outdoor and indoor photography is excellent.  One of the short features that accompany the film takes a tour of several locations used in filming.  The picture has a narrator, and he talks viewers through a typical workday in Manhattan, with the camera going into places never before seen, including the actual city morgue, and inside police headquarters, where various departments and labs are shown doing their jobs.  We have seen it before, years ago, but this was, of course, a newly restored print, which makes all the difference.  A solid film, worth catching.

 

Now showing on Criterion, with many extra shorts to support it.

Filmed on location in NYC, this was the first big American film to do so.  

Turning to painting, I chose yet another Arcadia image, this one even richer and more enticing than the last time.  This is a fun painting to gaze at when the snow is blowing and the weather is frightful.  It's even fun to look at when the weather is lovely.  I like these paintings because nothing seems to be going on.  Everyone knows that in the Golden Age no one had to work, or be anywhere at any specific time.  You could just loll around all day and eat grapes.  We could all use a few such days in our busy lives.  Even in a nearly one-year stay-at-home life, I am still far too busy.  This is a large painting, but because of the horizontal path, it is more difficult to enter the picture.  But the calmness and sereneness make up for that; we should not be wandering too far off anyway, as it is too taxing.
 

Landscape Of Ancient Greece, 1786, Pierre Henri de Valenciennes, French 1750-1819.  Oil on canvas, 39.5" x 59.5".  Collection Detroit Institute of Arts.

 

Detail of left side.

 

Detail of right side.

 

Further detail, right side.

 

Your loveliness goes on and on...

See you all next time, after the film festival weekend festivities have ended.

Mapman Mike

 

Trail Walk Completed

A few days ago we were just finishing up the latest mild spell.  It was sunny, 49 F, and I felt like walking.  Though done in three segments, I have completed the newest trail in our county system, from Amherstburg to Essex.  I might move on next to the longer intersecting trail, which Deb has mostly completed when she trained for race walking.  The trail is completely flat, and only has one long curve.  Otherwise it cuts straight across agricultural land from town to town, with the smaller community of McGregor in between.  The longer cross trail goes from Windsor to Leamington, a project for 2021 perhaps.  Here are some scenic highlights from the most recent walk.

I walked the trail from Amherstburg (left, on the west side) to Essex (right, on the east side). My trail intersects with the main trail in McGregor, where Deb's red line from years ago shows up. From Google Earth.

Today's distance was 6.6 km.  The entire trail is around 21 or 22k.

 

Sumac grows in abundance along the trail.

 

The walk begins in open farm land, but soon enters a tree-lined avenue, helpful on windy days, and in the intense heat and humidity of summer. 

 

There was still some snow left behind in a few ditches.

 

Of archaeological interest was this ruin of a dune buggy, which once ran up and down the abandoned railway.

 

Erosion in action.

A different ditch, with different snow. 

 

Deb met me at the far end, and she walked in to meet me. After that we went to The Plant Base, a vegan restaurant in A'burg, and got a takeaway lunch.  It has now been 6.5 months since I began keeping myself in shape by walking, stretching, lifting light weights, and doing bicycle crunches and leg lifts.  This is the longest I have been in shape in my adult life without having a specific goal in mind.  How long will it continue?  My plan is to keep going until I can resume serious hiking once again.  We shall see.

In movie news, Deb continues her selection of early Joan Crawford movies.  The latest one was called Sadie McKee, from 1934.  She runs off with a ne'er do well man at the beginning, and instead of meeting her at the marriage bureau, he stands her up, leaving town with a blonde singer and joining her act.  Sadie ends up amusing a very intoxicated millionaire where she dances, and he falls for her and asks her to marry him.  She does, then realized that her husband is a souse, and is never sober.    I liked it up until she sees her old boyfriend again, and decides that she still loves him.  Oh well, it's Hollywood.  The ending is not what is expected, however, as the boyfriend dies of lung cancer or pneumonia, or both, and she divorces the millionaire.  She ends up a different guy, one she has known since they were children together.

Sadie McKee, starring Joan Crawford.

 

Her 2nd choice, also selected from films departing Criterion on the 31st, was called Nostalgia For The Light, a documentary that uses the telescopes and astronomy programs of the Atacama Desert in Chile to re-explore the 1970s torture and disappearance of so many of Chile's citizens.  The tale gets blacker and blacker as it progresses, but it is a must-view film, and very well put together.  Using archival photos and talking to relatives of victims, some of whom still search today for the bones of missing loved ones, it is a story every bit as horrible and important to tell as what Nazis did to Jews in WW 11.  The role played by Nixon and the US government in this tragedy is never mentioned.  7,000 refugees from Chile were successfully welcomed and accepted into Canada in 1973, another fact that is not mentioned.

 

By the time the movie is over, it has pretty much become a true-to-life horror movie.  From 2010.

 

Mapman Mike

Your Daily Doodle

Well, I don't actually post daily, but there are enough posts on here (hundreds, if you get into the older stuff) that you can always find something to read in between these ongoing important and vital messages.

What happens when a pianist keeps his current pieces going longer than they should be kept?  Do pieces have a "best before" date?  Lots of pianists and other musicians are having this problem these days.  Do pieces get stale?  In my case, what happens is this: I know I've kept a piece too long if the mistakes I keep making are all related to concentration.  If a driver drives the same route day after day, he soon loses the ability to keep track of the entire route.  In other words, he tunes out the scenery and the road after a while.  Same with commuters, who endure the same tube or train ride day after day.  And the same with musicians who over practice their pieces.  Even though I am also working on two large, much newer pieces for my next next concert, I am still keeping the older ones alive, in the hopes of performing them someday at my next concert.  When is someday?  Someday.

Our county is currently deep in the red zone for Corona 19, though Amherstburg isn't bad at all.  But as the cases pile up, and the hospitals remain filled, a lockdown is looming, likely beginning next Monday.  Not unexpected, as people still dash to and fro in a madness that is hard to describe and to understand.  Going to the mall is such an ingrained behaviour, especially in December, that people just cannot stop doing it.  Even in the healthiest of times, I might go to a major mall twice per year, and never in December.  But I admit to being different.

In movie news, Deb has had two picks.  She choose a selection of short films by Native American Sky Hopinka.  His films are experimental, using images and words that remind me of films from the 1960s.  Except his are in colour and usually to do with Native themes.  His 2016 documentary about Standing Rock is probably the most accessible of his films for most folk.  My favourite one is called I'll remember You As You Were, Not As What You Will Become, and is a tribute to a deceased native poetess.  Some of the imagery is the best I've ever seen, as he captures pow wow dancers using a special filter that makes them appear totally ethereal and spiritual.  Showing on Criterion, and also available on disc.  

 Scene of Native dancer from film by Sky Hopinka.  

 

Deb's choice from "leaving December 31st" was Strange Cargo, starring Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, Peter Lorre, and some guy (Ian Hunter) playing Jesus. It's a strange, very religious film, as a mysterious man helps a group of prisoners escape an island prison, though most of them die brutally in the attempt.  It's somewhat successful as a pure adventure film, but that is not its goal.  This is Gable's first release after Gone With The Wind, and his last pairing with Crawford.  She is amazing in her role as a hard-bitten dancer trying to scrounge out a living, but Gable is too heroic and forceful.  He doesn't seem like a prisoner, but rather a man enraged by his five star hotel because his room service champagne isn't cold enough.  Of course the Catholic League Of Decency banned the film, because it showed God in a natural light, without the trappings of church and priest, and they even objected to the bible passages quoted in the film. LOL.

Showing until Dec. 31st on Criterion.  

 

In art news, here is another fantastic DIA image, a print by French artist August Louis Lepere (1849-1918). Whenever I see a death date of 1918 I immediately think of either WW1, or the flu epidemic.  Finding info on him is not easy, so I don't know which, if either.  This image strikes a chord with us this week, as we just finished watching the 1958 six part serial called Quatermass and the Pit.  It's still one of the best SF TV shows ever created, despite being limited as to special effects.  If you've seen the series, then the following image will make more sense.  Even if not, it's a stunning image in itself, a favourite of mine.

 

1890, wood engraving (9" x 8").  Collection DIA. 

 

In music listening news, we heard a wonderful digital concert on-line yesterday sponsored by the DSO.  It was a jazz quartet (double bass, acoustic, drums, sax, and piano.  Cyrus Chestnut is a mountain of a man, and a heck of a jazz pianist.  He and his group performed music from A Charlie Brown Christmas, extending it to longer than 90 minutes with all the wonderful improv that ensued.  Good stuff!  Our home listening program includes continuing on with the complete string quartets of Haydn, Art of the Violin by Locatelli, the complete works of Beethoven, in chronological order, and tonight we start an opera by Handel, Rodelinda.  That doesn't count the stuff we just throw on during the day, such as Orchestra Baobab, Brian Eno, Ancient FM internet radio, or just about anything else.

 

Mogollon, our remaining cat, has now made his permanent home on the living room couch, listening and enjoying music as much as we do.  Because he never got along with Gustav, he used to always be confined to one back room when we weren't around, and he always had to sleep there, too.  Suddenly he finds himself King of the Castle, and is taking full advantage.

 

Mapman Mike 

 

 

 

Ides of October

It's grey, windy, and cool today, and our autumn leaf colour seems to be at or near its peak.  We were out yesterday for our haircuts, a prescription pick-up, a new phone plan for our cell phone, and groceries.  We have left Bell cellular service, and are trying something new.  We have data, texts, and phone for $25 a month right now, and might upgrade in a month or so.  A former student working in the tech department took care of us and steered into a very good deal.  Thanks, Mat!

 

In astronomy news, it's been grimly cloudy this week.  Deb came out with me Tuesday night, and we had some clear skies, but it was mostly a mess.  However, we managed to view Jupiter and its moons, Saturn and its moons, Mars, Neptune and its moon Triton, and Uranus, along with several deep sky objects.  The night wasn't a complete waste, but it had many frustrating moments. 

 

In reading news, I recently finished and reviewed my 500th book related to the Avon/Equinox series!  It happened to be the first book of a trilogy by Jack Williamson and Frederik Pohl, a very dark story but I quite enjoyed it.  Called The Reefs Of Space, it is the first in their Starchild series.  

 

In Meniere's news, things have not improved, and I am still having attacks every few days.  However, things are rolling.  I go back to see my specialist in three weeks, I have an MRI coming up (someday), and my own physician gave me a prescription to help ward off the vertigo.  I had my first chance to use it last night, and it seemed to work pretty well, even better than the Gravol I've been relying on up till now.

 

In movie news, we continue to watch all the films of the Brothers Quay that Criterion is showing.  The Comb seems to be another gem, rising high above many of the other films, though not approaching their two masterpieces (see earlier blog).  In addition to the stunning visuals of their films, the music is always at least as interesting.

 

 Two scenes from The Comb, by the Brothers Quay, now showing on the Criterion Channel. 

 

I have watched Part 13 of Berlin Alexanderplatz, and only have the 90 minute epilogue and about 7 hours of extras left to watch.  Rather a grim story, but it's nearly done.

 

Deb has had two movie picks recently.  The first was Purple Noon, from 1960, a Rene Clement take on the first Ripley novel by Highsmith, where he takes over the identity of an acquaintance and essentially steels his money, life, and girlfriend.  The film is faithful to the book right up until the end, when it substitutes a totally different ending, as movies are wont to do.  Alain Delon is quite good as the heartless and ruthless Ripley, who is out for himself and faces many challenges.  But it all seems just a bit lifeless to me.  There is great location photography, and some exciting sail boat scenes.

 

 Now showing on the Criterion Channel

Next she chose a 1941 George Cukor film starring Joan Crawford called A Woman's Face.  This is a melodrama in disguise, which begins as a crime film but switches halfway through.  Joan is scarred from a fire, and half her face is deformed.  She is currently a blackmailer, and sets out to trap a young wife who has been unfaithful to her doctor husband.  Lucky for Joan that doctor is a great surgeon, and he might be able to save her face.  Afterwards, having come under the evil influence of Conrad Veidt (who else), she is assigned as a governess to a small boy, who is the way of Conrad's inheritance.  All she has to do is kill the boy and they are home free.  Can she go through with it?  Or with her new and beautiful face, has her soul also been cleansed.  Enjoy the tense ride in a cart above a turbulent waterfalls to find out.  Hokey at times, the role is certainly different than any Ms. Crawford ever accepted, and it made her a star, her part having been refused by some big name actresses.

 

Now showing through October on Criterion.

 

I had sent out invitations to my upcoming recitals a while ago, but my Meniere's attacks are becoming so frequent and unpredictable that I have had to postpone them, at least until I see Dr. Ling, my specialist.  I've had no alcohol for weeks now, and have cut back on caffeine.  I had gotten used to the hearing loss, but suddenly this new phase has started up.  With our weather so unsettled lately, and the barometer bouncing up and down like a beachball, I wouldn't be surprised if that doesn't have a lot to do with it.  After all, with the pressure in my right ear totally messed, rapid and deep changes in air pressure could easily be causing my problems lately.  Signing off for now.  I am currently in the process of writing an astronomy article for our club's October newsletter.

 

Mapman Mike