Jonathan on Mad Men

Here is Jonathan's appearance on the set of Mad Men. He's walking by on the left. Too bad we can't see his face. Oh well. When he was out in LA, he was on a lot of television shows. It's always difficult to find the exact show and moment. 

I've never seen Mad Men yet, but everyone says I'd like it. Perhaps this is my incentive to watch the show. I do wonder who those two hot woman are... Main characters?

Marriage is Between One Man & One Woman, Unless She Has Alzheimer's

Pat Robertson is such a gargantuan ass! If you haven't seen this clip already, check out Robertson's advice to a caller who asks about  the behavior of a friend whose wife has Alzheimer's disease. Pat, what about the sanctity of marriage? Right wingers are worried about a couple of lesbians tying the knot? I think people like Pat Robertson shouldn't be able to get married!

Cat Woman- Meow

Eartha Kitt 1968

Here is a review of Catwoman throughout T.V. and film history. My only complaint is: why was there such a long lull between Eartha Kitt and Michelle Pfeiffer? 

In my humble Baron opinion, the world could have seen more of catwoman, not less..... 

In the 1990's I had the comic book collection of "Catwoman" when they issued it. I had the first edition too. 

That's one possession I regret getting rid of......

Julie Newmar 1966

Lee Meriweather 1966

Michelle Pfeiffer 1992

Halle Berry 2004

Anne Hathaway 2012

T.V. Guide March 1967

For some reason I have a T.V. guide from March 18-24 1967 that belonged to my Uncle Dave. I leafed through it and found some fun advertisements and scheduled television shows, including a LIVE and IN COLOR fight between Cassius Clay and Zora Folley. I wonder who won? I'd guess Ali, since I've never heard of the other guy, but I'm sure my friend Jonathan can shed some light on that......

Wait no more! Here it is!

The Best of Ghost Hunters?

I admit that I watch the series "Ghost Hunters," and "Ghost Hunters International," and I love these shows.

The lure of the paranormal sucks me in every time.

Though I do watch the shows because of my love of history and historical sites, I also watch it because of course I'm hoping that I'll see something very convincing and believable.

For the most part the shows disappoint and fall short repeatedly. There's lots of flying orbs, indistinct voices, and blurry images. However, I keep coming back because on both shows there have been some very eerie and convincing footage at times.

1. This EVP, as they call it, kind of freaked me out. The following are two clips of the same event, at a prison in Poland from Season One, episode 23. The two ghost hunters hear a fairly clear and loud female voice, speaking in what sounds like Russian or Polish. There's also emotion in her voice. It's either outright trickery, or can't be explained by me.
Go to 3:59 on tape....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJagUmTwRWc&feature=related
Go to beginning of tape.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yxRFJo82Yk

2. The following clip is from a hotel in Brazil, from Season 1, Episode 16. When I watched it again, I was not as impressed as the first time. I don't know why it made such an impression on me. Here you can see a figure walking through the kitchen hallway. Go to 4:13 on the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-6GB2hWu_4&feature=related

3. Lastly, here is a long and very audible EVP from "Ghost Hunters," Season 4 , Episode 7 Interestingly, it was captured at the Mt. Washington Resort in NH. Watch the beginning of the clip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCF1yv_59vs&feature=related

Where Were You?

YouTube is pretty amazing. I was home sick today and found myself thinking about the Challenger disaster of 1986. Within minutes I was re-watching the footage of that day. I remember I was with my grandmother that cold, gray January day. We were both napping, then woke up to find out what had happened on the news. I remember feeling the complete disbelief many felt, when I saw what was obviously a fatal explosion of the craft. I couldn't conceive that Christa McAuliffe could be dead. I thought: "N.A.S.A. would never put an ordinary citizen in such danger." Wrong.

There's nothing like live footage, which you find yourself watching over and over again. It's almost as if you're looking for the exact moment when something else could have happened to avert disaster. But then the disaster keeps happening over and over again. It's an odd feeling.

I do not remember watching the Reagan assassination attempt live, but later. This footage really captures the confusion and mayhem of the moment. The police and secret service officers can't even get the patrol car door open to arrest the suspect! There's a lot of swearing and yelling. I always felt awful for what happened to James Brady that day, though I applaud his later efforts to work towards gun control. Brady even got Reagan to endorse the Brady Bill! Until I read up on the incident, I had forgotten that Reagan had actually been hit. The bullet punctured his lung, and if it had traveled another inch to his heart Reagan likely would have died. March 30, 1981--- I would have been in high school that day.

When Columbine happened, I was in Amsterdam. I did not find out until later in that evening, after a day touring tulip gardens, when my friend and I watched the news. It was very odd to experience an American tragedy from a European perspective. We felt like we weren't getting all the information, and that there was a lot more coverage in the U.S. that we were missing. We felt understandably a little homesick.


Of course the ultimate disaster coverage caught live on tape is 9/11/2001. I remember it was a fairly sunny Tuesday morning, and I was at work. When I first heard about the planes, I thought it was the World Trade Center in Boston. I worried about my aunt, who at the time worked for the government at the Kennedy Building in Government Center. Despite the idea that Boston could be under terrorist attack, I calmed myself and thought: "Okay. I'll deal with what's coming." Since I worked in a public school with 350 children, I did not see the footage as it was unfolding. The principal decided watching television live would be too upsetting to the kids. The first time I saw anything that had happened was that afternoon when I got home. My mouth dropped open when I first saw the image of the planes flying into the World Trade Center. It was just too horrible and shocking to believe.

Thank Goddess For PBS!

Recently I ditched my cable T.V. service. Since, I've been entertaining myself with a combination of DVDs from Netflix, and online television programs. I've seen some fantastic PBS programs online lately, and had forgotten how wonderful PBS is. To think I was watching endless episodes of 'Ghost Hunters' (not that there's anything wrong with that), while missing Nova and Masterpiece Theater! If you are bored and holed in for the winter, I recommend these!

1. American Experience: The Assassination of President Lincoln

2. Masterpiece Contemporary: Collision Pt. 1 &2.

3. Secrets of the Dead: The Airmen and the Headhunters
4. Secrets of the Dead: The Hunt for Nazi Scientists

5. Nova: Alien From Earth
http://video.pbs.org/
I suppose you can see that I have some special interests?

Ella Es el Matador

--------Mari Paz Vega
The other night I happened to catch a P.O.V. documentary on PBS, call "Ella Es el Matador." It was about female bullfighters, which I didn't even know existed! Apparently there's a long and spotty history of women and bullfighting. Going back to the 1930's and on there were female bullfighters, and some of them were well known.

It's surprising to me that such masochistic cultures as Latin America, Mexico, and Spain would ever allow women to fight, but a small number of women have fought consistently throughout the decades. In Spain, during Franco's reign, women were banned. Even today Spain is more sexist towards women. Some of the women in the documentary have to pursue their careers in Latin America, though Spain is perceived as the ultimate place to fight and become famous.

The documentary follows several women during the pursuit of their careers. All of the women must work extra hard and be extra lucky to become 'el matador,' compared to males. There is a long process of being an apprentice matador before graduating to the title of el matador. The film points out that there is no true title for a female matador, which should be 'la matadora.' Even though females can fight, there is an invisible wall of sexism and prejudice that prevents most women from ever becoming established bullfighters. Only one woman in the film, Mari Paz Vega, 'makes' it.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Eva Florencia
The film acknowledges cruelty to animals, but does not make the issue a focus. Bullfighting exists, and is a sport Spaniards love which is difficult for many others to understand. I cannot explain her love, but there is no doubt the film captures one women Eva Florencia's ardent passion for bullfighting and the bull. She paints pictures of bulls, and sees the bull as a deeply symbolic figure. It's also clear in the film that there are deep religious overtones to bullfighting, and there are numerous ritualistic habits associated with the fight.

In my opinion Spaniards love bullfighting because 'el matador' is a Christ-like figure facing death over and over. Watching this film does make me want to read Hemingway's "Death in the Afternoon."


Conchita Cintron (1922-2009)

Patricia McCormick (one of the few American
female bullfighters)

The Gay Storm

Apparently there's a hilarious ad out about same-sex marriage, created by N.O.M. (The National Organization for Marriage (Heterosexual, that is). I don't think N.O.M. intended for their ad to be so hilarious, but many a parody has 'come out' in reaction to the ad. Below is the N.O.M. ad, and Stephen Colbert's commentary and parody ad on 'The Colbert Report".....

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
The Colbert Coalition's Anti-Gay Marriage Ad
colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Gay Marriage Commercial

Feast!

I must admit I love the Snickers "Feast" series commercials. The premise is absurd--- a bunch of historical figures--- a Viking, Greek philosopher, Pilgrim, Roman soldier, etc...--- riding around in an old Chevy looking for Snickers bars. Naturally, I like the Viking best of all. He speaks like a mythological god, yet has his last meal (Snickers, of course) still stuck to his gnarly beard. No doubt if GPS systems existed in the year 1000 AD, the Vikings, navigational wizards that they were, would have figured out how to use modern technology to plan their pillages and bloody ransacks with more precision. Onward Thor!

The Wire

Currently I'm watching the 4th season of HBO's "The Wire," and loving it. Once again, HBO scores with a superb television series with fine acting, gritty reality, and a multi-layered story line. Here's my favorite character -- Omar Little---played admirably by Michael Kenneth Williams.
A gay cowboy gangster, Omar's got a moral code, and plenty of philosophical lines. Omar steals only from the 'bad guys,' fellow drug dealers, & won't hurt a 'citizen', or someone 'not in the game'. In this clip, Omar's back in Baltimore after a hiatus, with his new, hot boyfriend Reynaldo. (somehow all his other boyfriends got killed) Omar's got a thing for Honeynut Cheerios, so, without his gun, he risks going to the corner store in the early morning to get some cereal & Newports. All the neighborhood kids spot him, warning, "Omar coming!" On the way back to his house, someone drops Omar a stash for free, but Omar wants the real deal from the big boys.....

(By the way, every Sunday Omar takes his grandma to church....)

Female American Gladiators

Wow-wee! I've never seen this show, and have no interest in watching it really. But this introduction I came across is kind of titillating! I especially like Helga the Nordic Goddess!

The L Word

It's hard to imagine the rest of the world slugging along living out its mundane existence....... unawares that the L Word premiered tonight. I went to watch the first episode at a fundraiser in Boston. My hard earned ten bucks went to the HRC, & I got to snuggle with hundreds of other gals (& a few gents) and watch the first episode of the L Word, season 5! After a couple of annoying ads & some pitching for the cause, all the L.A. gals were back in action. I found myself laughing a lot, at the so-called dramatic scenes and the humor. Of course everyone was deadly silent during the sex scenes.

Throughout the show there was some hooting, clapping, & perhaps crying, I'm not sure. At the end they gave out goodies, but I scooted home (quite literally). I had dreams all the way home on my motorbike that I won the raffle, & that my friends would claim the prize for me. The Grand Prize.... a poster signed by all the L Word stars! In L.A., tonight! Shipped to me tomorrow!
Alas, no one has called yet.
All in all, it was a great night. Saw lots of friends, & got to ride the wild scoot.
I was like a bear (well, maybe a cub) coming out of hibernation!

It's a Wedgie

These two adorable twins absolutely know what's important in life--- a wedgie free existence. Apparently it's a boy thing, because I don't remember ever suffering a wedgie. But necessity is the mother of invention. These boys invented wedgie-proof underwear. With wars, murder, disease, and other horrors going on in the world, it's comforting and amusing to listen to the logic of these two boys.

Dog Gone South

Do you remember the Colonel on the Bugs Bunny cartoons? The old Southern gent, all dressed up in a white suit, with a white handlebar mustache? He would proudly saunter out onto the large porch of his plantation, & bellow out: "Oh, Belvedere, come HEEEEEREEE boy!"

From some distant point on the plantation, along would come bolting his enthusiastic pup-- Belvedere. Every time, the dog would knock the old man over, licking his face violently. It was very cute. Click on the mp3 link......
http://www.nonstick.com/sounds/Colonel_and_Belvedere/ltco_003.wav

I'm a LumberJack & I'm OKAY....

Here's another Monty Python skit. This is the all around best, & truly hilarious. If you're a manly lumberjack, could you possibly be a gay or tranny boy? Let's see.....

The Funniest Joke In the World

This is one my favorite Monty Python skits---- the funniest joke in the world. It's so funny-- you die laughing. Not a bad way to go.... It's kind of long, but fun to watch.

No More Paris?

Here's the clip of MNSBC's Mika Brzezinski tearing up and shredding the 'lead' Paris Hilton story. What's most striking is how her two male cohorts are so uncomfortable & sarcastic about Mika's obvious anger and feistiness.
I have to admit I have mixed feelings. I totally agree with Mika, about how silly it is that Paris Hilton's jail sentence should be the top story.
At the same time, I don't mind looking at Paris, just maybe in a more appropriate venue than leading news....

The Not So Simple Life

It's a sad day when we see our starlet (Paris Hilton) in jail. 45 days! It will be a trial for her. Here's what Paris can expect in the slammer.
--no cell phone
--1 hour recreation per day
--bland foods
--no make-up
--no manicures
--no sex with men
--no pedicures
--no sunbathing
--no blackberry
--5 minute cold showers
--isolation
--no access to Bentley
--no hairdresser
--no designer clothes
Despite her wrongdoings, I still felt sympathy for Paris when I first heard the news. ((I think a lot of people feel they've got license to treat her very rudely.)) I still do feel a bit sorry for her (I'm such a softie), but then I realized Paris' life in jail (with a few exceptions) resembles my regular existence.

Oh well...
Still, I hope Paris the best. I hope she'll at leAST HAVE a spiritual awakening in jail, or find a nice girl.....

He Man Meets Queenie Boy

I was immensely saddened to hear about Steve Irwin's (a.k.a. the Crocodile Hunter) death. I didn't really watch his shows per se, but did know enough of him. The man was full of life, & in his prime! Also, despite the occasional sensational antics, the man truly loved animals.

Here's a very funny clip from Jay Leno's Tonight Show of Steve interacting with a creature of the wild that (at first) he has no idea how to handle....
Watch Steve Irwin and the Queenie Gay Boy (a.k.a. Ross the intern ) frolic in the jungle!!
Can you say "Pineapple?"