Hello 2010!

Don't know what's ahead but I wish us all the best!
Later,
Paul Parducci

Lightning Bolt and Harvey Benshotter

My son who knows all things cool turned me on to this amazing B&W video. Just in time for the Holiday Season!

Later,
Paul Parducci

Happy Thanksgiving and Don't Forget...

to take some risks with your left-over sandwiches. Half the country uses the cranberry sauce already- let's really push the envelope this year.
God Bless,
Paul Parducci

Rest in Peace. I Will Remember.

Lt. Col. Juanita L. Warman, 55, of Havre De Grace, Md.

Maj. Libardo Caraveo, 52, of Woodbridge, Va.

Capt. John P. Gaffaney, 54, of San Diego, Calif.

Capt. Russell Seager, 51, of Racine, Wis.

Staff Sgt. Justin Decrow, 32, of Plymouth, Ind.

Sgt. Amy Krueger, 29, of Kiel, Wis.

Spc. Jason Hunt, 22, of Tillman, Okla.

Spc. Frederick Greene, 29, of Mountain City, Tenn.

Pfc. Aaron Nemelka, 19, of West Jordan, Utah.

Pfc. Michael Pearson, 22, of Bolinbrook, Ill.

Spc. Kham Xiong, 23, of St. Paul, Minn.

Pvt. Francheska Velez, 21, of Chicago, Ill.

Chief Warrant Officer retired Michael Cahill of Cameron, Texas.

Autodidacts Rejoice!

I think it is self-evident that learning is best looked at as a life-long endeavor. I for one find myself constantly stumbling along to keep up with what is for me a flood of information. When I'm not doing my best to remember (re-learn?) vast portions of material I'm supposed to already know from College and Grad School I am playing hide and seek with concepts that seem about as clear to me as granite.
Luckily the web (which itself can be an ocean of confusion) is now offering up a growing community of outlets that offer structured, professionally curated knowledge acquisition.
Here is a great resource from Lifehacker.
Later,
Paul Parducci

A Real Hero Passes: Marek Edelman

Marek Edelman, the last surviving member of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising has left this world.
Here is his Obituary from the Los Angeles Times.
Later,
Paul Parducci
PS: The photo is from Eilat Gordin Levitan's excellent site.

Robert Frost's "Nothing Gold Can Stay"

Nature's first green is gold

Her hardest hue to hold

Her early leaf's a flower;

But only so an hour.

Then leaf subsides to leaf.

So Eden sank to grief,

So dawn goes down to day.

Nothing gold can stay.

Here is a Yale lecture on America's own flinty isolator Robert Lee Frost.
Later,
Paul Parducci

Louis Prima and Keely Smith

This incomparable duo redifined Vegas entertainment in the 1950's.
Here they are with "Hey Boy Hey Girl."

This weekend I saw the truly terrific show "Louis &Keely Live at the Sahara." at the Geffen Playhouse. It's also directed by one of my personal favorites; Taylor Hackford.
If you get the chance see it.
Later,
Paul Parducci

I Remember.

Happy Labor Day!

This year I am going to maintain constant vigilance! I vow no burned burgers! I pledge not a single curled and immolated hot dog!
God Bless and be safe-
Later,
Paul Parducci

If You are In Los Angeles this Weekend: Check Out My Buddy's First Reading

Congrats my friend!
Later,
Paul Parducci
PS: E is a fantastic writer and a great human being.

Sunn Classic's Beyond and Back

Remember Sunn Classics?
Here is their famous foray into the question of Life after death.
Enjoy!
Later,
Paul Parducci

Robot Attack!

I am not a Tech Alarmist but is this the first ripple in a Man versus Machine showdown?
Man Attacked by Robot
Later,
Paul Parducci

You Must Fight to Live on The Planet of The Apes!

Later,
Paul Parducci

My Favorite Song: Martin Denny's "Quiet Village"

Martin Denny was a giant in the world of Exotica.
Here is most famous piece on the original 45 Record!



Later,
Paul Parducci

Happy 4th!

Be Safe and Thank a Vet.
Later,
Paul Parducci

Ancient Egyptian Electric Light Bulbs?

More fun with Speculation!

Here is a good intro (From an Ancient Astronauts Doc) that includes a demonstration of the Baghdad battery.

And here is a demonstration of how it could have worked.

Later,
Paul Parducci

Pulled Commercial

Starring the great Frank Vincent and Mike Starr:

Later,
Paul Parducci

Murnau's "The Last Laugh"

As far as I'm concerned this is the most perfectly executed silent film ever made.
It contains exactly one Title card.
Later,
Paul Parducci

Currently Working on Some Great Projects

Stay tuned...
Later,
Paul Parducci

JJ Abrams' Star Trek

I was among the throng that went to see this much anticipated re-start of this Sci-Fi behemoth.

After purchasing tickets early in the day I had the privilege of standing in line with my family. I say privilege because the waiting was all part of the fun. In the great hall of my local multi-plex, a party atmosphere was in full effect. (Our line backed into another line waiting for another show.) Kids connected with each other while families goofed and smiled as they balanced vats of popcorn. (My family did the same.)
After twenty minutes the line moved and we took our seats. My wife and I frequently joke that the coming attractions always seem better than the movie we are about to see. There was none of this feeling last night. The trailers were fine but not a single frame held the promise of besting what was to come.
We watched the movie.
Star Trek was always a family thing for me, I absorbed the original series with my father and brothers countless times-its episodes are as much a part of my childhood as Hawaiian Punch and GI Joe. And gratefully it is from the original series that Abrams uses as the bedrock for this fantastic piece of Cinema.
It is heroic without devolving into Character jingoism and action-filled without being exhausting.
The Script, Direction, Acting, Production and Sound design, Special Effects and Music are all prime examples of what this town does best.
Go ahead now to that thing with your fingers.
Live Long and... wait maybe I'll just say "Good Luck." (You'll know why after you see the movie.)
Later,
Paul Parducci

Mother Teresa: There Are No Great Things

This is my favorite Mother Teresa quote:

"There are no great things, only small things with great love. Happy are those."
Mother Teresa
Later,
Paul Parducci

My New Favorite Hollywood Biz Site: "The Wrap"

Smart and non-scummy:
THE WRAP
Later,
Paul Parducci

Tim Carey's "The World's Greatest Sinner

To my absolute awestruck delight this played on TCM Underground last night.
It is in my humble opinion a work of sheer unadulterated brilliance.
Hopefully soon to DVD-

Tim Carey

Later,
Paul Parducci

Here is Sam McAbee's excellent piece on Mr. Carey.

Another Life After Death Post: Howard Storm's Near Death Experience

Howard Strom was an Athiest and an Art History Professor when he maintains he had a genuine near death experience.
What do you think?
Here is a short film on what he says happened.

Ray Kurzweil

This is an excellent introduction to the Futurist Ray Kurzweil.
Later,
Paul Parducci

Time Travel and Special Relativity

Most of us have had the experience of the passage of time as being something less than fixed. But can we move through it?

First off, here is an excellent Lecture from Leonard Susskind on Relativity:



Next go here for Rick Groleau's fast and entertaining Click and move.
Later,
Paul Parducci

Creepy Safety Film

This is a very effective PSA from the UK.
Later,
Paul Parducci

Harry Thomason's "Encounter With the Unknown" Beware The Heptagon!

From 1973, narrated by Rod Serling and a fascinating Genre time capsule. What makes this film interesting is Thomason's efforts at exploring the humanity of his characters.
Later,
Paul Parducci

"The ABC's of Diet" a Poem

My brother inspired me to write this poem so please forward any psychic blame for damages to the world of Poetry to him.

A white
bread loaf
can
dead you.
Eating
fat
guts make.
Have
instead
just
Kibble,
Like
many
names do take.
Or
perhaps for
quite a
reasoned
snack
that
unloads
very
well, an
x-tra special
Zwieback Toast for you to gum in hell.

Later,
Paul Parducci

Put On The Mask! Julian Roffman's "The Mask" in 3D

The first Canadian Horror Film to find wide release in the United States.
It features an amazing early electronic music score by Louis Applebaum

As far as I know its not yet available on DVD.
But as soon as it is...
Later,
Paul Parducci

Jim Dine At The Getty Villa

My son started telling me about Jim Dine several months ago. So I was flabbergasted when I saw that the Getty Villa was hosting an exhibition of his right in my hometown.

We finally got over there today and had a great time.

If you're in town try and see it you will not be disappointed.

Jim Dine: Poet Singing ( The Flowering Sheets) is a kind of Neo-Dada Muse gang in a charcoal memory box that you won't soon forget.

Later,

Paul Parducci

Busy New Year

Hello All!
As usual I have several irons in the fire including work on a new project.

But I will do my best to post throughout.

Later,

Paul Parducci

PS: This is a photo of Gene Slaymaker's Typewriter from the Indiana Museum

2009! And My Favorite Gift!

I hope Everybody had a great Holiday season. I know I did.

Now I'm going to tell you about my favorite gift. But first I have to say, I am not being paid for this endorsement in anyway- really.

THE MAGIC BULLET!

I drink a lot of protein shakes and this little easy-to-use blender makes the process a breeze. (As in simple to operate and a snap to clean.) I haven't used it to blend anything else but iced lemonade yet but I think an omlette is in the future.
OK, now let's all have a fantastic year!

Later,

Paul Parducci