Mahershala Ali

I didn't get to see the Oscars (no tv) but kept up on what was happening via Google news. A bit of a mix-up over Best Picture ...



I haven't yet seen Moonlight ...

a 2016 American drama film directed by Barry Jenkins and written by Jenkins and Tarell Alvin McCraney, based on the previously unpublished play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue by McCraney. It stars Trevante Rhodes, André Holland, Janelle Monáe, Ashton Sanders, Naomie Harris and Mahershala Ali ... he film tells the story of a black man by following him through three episodes: as a young boy, as a teenager, and as an adult.

But I do know of the actor in the film who won the award for Best Supporting Actor: Mahershala Ali ... he was one of my favorite actors in the tv series The 4400. Here's his acceptance speech for Moonlight ...

RIP: Bill Paxton

I was sorry to read today that actor Bill Paxton has died ... RIP Bill Paxton: A Man of Many Faces Who Brought Humanity to All He Touched

He has always been a favorite actor of mine from the time he appeared in a bit part in the first Terminator movie. He was more known for films like Apollo 13 and Twister , but I appreciated some of his lesser known films, like Frailty .... Roger Ebert gave it four stars in his review.

And then there was his tv work ... I had to laugh last season when he turned up as a HYDRA mole in Marvel's Agents of Shield, introduced with the song, (Don't Fear) The Reaper ...



But it will probably come as no surprise that his role that I liked the most was in one of my favorite movies of all, Aliens, in which he played a Colonial Marine, Private Hudson ... he won a Saturan award for best supporting actor. Here he is, very confident, as the drop ship carries the marines and civilian consultant Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) down to the planet that's been taken over by alien monsters ...



But thing don't go as planned, and when their extraction ship crashes, he's somewhat despondent ;) ...



And perhaps I need not tell you that he later dies heroically, swarmed by the creepy aliens ...



Here's an interview with him about his role in Aliens ...



He will be missed.

Out in the yard

Walking around the yard with the cats ...

Here's Lucy standing on a bunch of flower petals blown off the plum trees by the recent storms ...



Here's some of the wet cardboard I use to staunch the leaks from the roof of the garage when it rains - hanging it out to dry ...



Some periwinkles ...



Gretel keeping me company ...



The orange tree still has a few oranges ...

Snowden

This week's movie rental was Snowden ...

a 2016 American biographical political thriller film directed by Oliver Stone and written by Stone and Kieran Fitzgerald, based on the books The Snowden Files by Luke Harding and Time of the Octopus by Anatoly Kucherena. The cast includes Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the title character, Edward Snowden, with Shailene Woodley, Melissa Leo, Zachary Quinto, Tom Wilkinson, Scott Eastwood, Logan Marshall-Green, Timothy Olyphant, Ben Schnetzer, LaKeith Lee Stanfield, Rhys Ifans and Nicolas Cage also starring.

The film tells the story that we all mostly know by now, but in fascinating detail. It was chilling to see what the various intelligent agencies have been doing in their massive surveillance of, well, us. Interesting to see journalist Glenn Greenwald's part in what happened. And it's all depressing and scary, yes, but the good news is that the truth came out. Snowden has said that he's not a hero, but I think he is indeed a brave and idealistic hero.

Here's an article about the film: 'Snowden' movie presents another side to whistleblower

Here's a trailer ....

Old photos

From History In Pictures ....

Howard Carter Looking through the Open Doors of Tutankhamun's Second Shrine, 1924. By Harry Burton pic.twitter.com/ymXtwcLtq5

— History In Pictures (@HistoryInPix) February 19, 2017

So how cool was Michael Caine in the 50's? pic.twitter.com/NPiEUI11hF

— History In Pictures (@HistoryInPix) February 15, 2017

20 year old Bernie Sanders leading student sit-in against segregation.1962. pic.twitter.com/Tf3H4Ajqj5

— History In Pictures (@HistoryInPix) February 10, 2017

Harrison Ford, Dave Prowse, Peter Mayhew, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill & Kenny Baker, 1979 pic.twitter.com/LIEoAWLNiZ

— History In Pictures (@HistoryInPix) February 3, 2017

Rogue One: the book

My latest book checked out from the public library is Rogue One: A Star Wars Story by Alexander Freed. It's a novelization of the movie, which I haven't seen yet, a New York Times bestseller, and so far it's fairly interesting. I am looking forward to the film, if only to see one of my sister's favorite actors, Mads Mikkelsen.

Here's the blurb for the book ...

As the shadows of the Empire loom ever larger across the galaxy, so do deeply troubling rumors. The Rebellion has learned of a sinister Imperial plot to bring entire worlds to their knees. Deep in Empire-dominated space, a machine of unimaginable destructive power is nearing completion. A weapon too terrifying to contemplate . . . and a threat that may be too great to overcome.

If the worlds at the Empire’s mercy stand any chance, it lies with an unlikely band of allies: Jyn Erso, a resourceful young woman seeking vengeance; Cassian Andor, a war-weary rebel commander; Bodhi Rook, a defector from the Empire’s military; Chirrut Îmwe, a blind holy man and his crack-shot companion, Baze Malbus; and K-2SO, a deadly Imperial droid turned against its former masters. In their hands rests the new hope that could turn the tide toward a crucial Rebellion victory—if only they can capture the plans to the Empire’s new weapon.

But even as they race toward their dangerous goal, the specter of their ultimate enemy—a monstrous world unto itself—darkens the skies. Waiting to herald the Empire’s brutal reign with a burst of annihilation worthy of its dreaded name: Death Star.

And here's a trailer for the film on which the book is based ...

Happy Valentine's Day

From Luke Skywalker and Grumpy Cat :) ...

Hoping you can share your #ValentinesDay with someone you truly love (or at least some decent chocolate) #BetterThanGroundhogsDay #LoLove pic.twitter.com/DAbiW2KFmR

— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) February 14, 2017

Be mine. NOT!
Unless of course you’re @Friskies Tender & Crunchy https://t.co/3wYQdSeRkU #loveatfirstbite #partner pic.twitter.com/IAy0EpClnc

— Grumpy Cat (@RealGrumpyCat) February 14, 2017

Looking forward to The Mummy :)

When I was a kid I loved watching old monster movies on tv. They all seems silly now but back then I was terrified by them. Some that I especially remember are Attack of the Crab Monsters, Forbidden Planet, The Monster That Challenged the World, Attack of the Mushroom People, and Night of the Demon (which I posted about here). Strangely, I don't remember any old mummy movies from back then, but this one with Tom Cruise looks like it will be good ...

I have something special for my fans today - an exclusive behind-the-scenes peek at my new movie, #TheMummy. pic.twitter.com/cKn9flF3c5

— Tom Cruise (@TomCruise) December 5, 2016

Sex abuse by Catholic priests in Australia

In the news today (but except for Crux, the Catholic press is ignoring this) : Australia's Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, established in 2013, today released some info on the scale of the sex abuse of children by Catholic priests/brothers in Australia ...

- 7% of Catholic Priests in Australia Accused of Sexually Abusing Children ...

Seven percent of priests in Australia's Catholic Church were accused of sexually abusing children over the past several decades, a lawyer said Monday as officials investigating institutional abuse across Australia revealed for the first time the extent of the crisis.

The statistics were released during the opening address of a hearing of Australia's Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. The royal commission — which is Australia's highest form of inquiry — has been investigating since 2013 how the Catholic Church and other institutions responded to the sexual abuse of children over decades ...

- 4,444 victims: extent of abuse in Catholic church in Australia revealed ...

- 37% of all private sessions royal commission held with survivors related to the Catholic church
- The average age of alleged victims was 10.5 for girls and just over 11.5 for boys
- In one order 40% of religious brothers are believed to have abused children

I've been reading about this for years, about Cardinal Pell, who reigned in Australia until Pope Francis whisked him away to Rome to be one of his top guys. Pell was supposed to give testimony at the commission, but he refused to leave Rome (you know, extradition-proof digs). For those who are interested in the history of Pell and the sex abuse crisis in Australia, here are some of my earlier posts ...

- Editorial on Cardinal Pell, March 07, 2016

- 60 Minutes: Cardinal Pell and sex abuse, May 31, 2015

- The continuing badness of Cardinal Pell, May 21, 2015

- Eureka Street and David Marr on George Pell, April 03, 2014

- Pell, sex abuse, church money, March 26, 2014

- Cardinal Pell and the Ellis sex abuse case, March 18, 2014

- Cardinal Pell, February 26, 2014

- Patrick Parkinson and Geoffrey Robinson, October 07, 2013

The Pope should fire Cardinal Pell and send him back to Australia to face the music. And the Pope should do something that will actually make a difference to the sex abuse crisis, like ending mandatory celibacy. But I predict Pope Francis will do nothing at all and will ignore the news and hope no one brings it up.

You're A Better Man Than I

When I was a kid I loved these guys, especially the vocalist, Keith Relf :) Here's one of their songs from the dim past that's still relevant today ...



Can you judge a man
By the way he wears his hair?
Can you read his mind
By the clothes that he wears?
Can you see a bad man
By the pattern on his tie?
Then Misty you're a better man than I
Yeah Misty You're a better man than I
Oh Misty You're a better man than I
Yeah Misty You're a better man than I

Could you tell a wise man
By the way he speaks or spells?
Is this more important
Than the stories that he tells?
And call a man a fool
If for wealth he doesn't strive
Then Misty you're a better man than I
Yeah Misty You're a better man than I
Oh Misty You're a better man than I
Yeah Misty You're a better man than I

Could you condemn a man
If your faith he doesn't hold?
Say the color of his skin
Is the color of his soul?
Or could you say if men
For king and country all must die?
Then Misty you're a better man than I
Yeah You're a better man than I
Oh Misty You're a better man than I
Yeah Misty You're a better man than I