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

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Everybody

I wish you all a safe and joyous Christmas and a New Year filled with prosperity and happiness.
Later,
Paul Parducci

Bruce Haack on Mr. Rogers

Techno Music Pioneer Bruce Haack on Mr. Rogers.


Later,
Paul Parducci

Thanksgiving

Here in a America we will be celebrating our Thanksgiving.

So for my brothers and sisters here in the USA, I wish you all a blessed and happy gathering. And for my brothers and sisters on the rest of our blue-green planet, pull up a chair, there's always room at the table.

For most of us the joy of present loved ones will be mixed with the honey-dipped pain of those absent.

So let's join hands and ask for gratitude for what we have, grace for those we've lost and grit for the road ahead.

Now please pass me a drumstick.

Later,

Paul Parducci

PS: The picture is from the Margaret Fuller House collection.

Don Siegel's "The Shootist"

As far as I'm concerned John Wayne's best movie (which also turned out to be his last.) Directed by American Auteur Don Siegel. With excellent performances by Ron Howard, Richard Boone and Lauren Bacall. This one is a must see. And you can catch it this month on American Movie Classics.
Later,
Paul Parducci

Recession Economics: Keep Your Chin Up.

Like most of us on planet Earth right now I'm feeling the pinch.

Consumer Reports has aggregated a nice batch of info regarding the saving of the green stuff.

I have a bottle cap with a simple message inside: "Keep Your Chin Up." I affixed a magnet to the back and mounted it on my refrigerator door to remind me of all I have to be grateful for and that this too shall pass.

Later,

Paul Parducci

Can Robots Evolve and Become Self aware?

Self Aware Robots

Holy Toledo!

Later,

Paul Parducci

The "Quota Quickie" And The Sound of Hitchcock

In order to resist the growing dominance of American Films, in 1927 Parliament passed the Cinematograph Films Act. The result of which were a large number of films which came to be known as "Quota Quickies."


Nice overview from the Guardian.
Also from Film Reference.

From the Quickie period also emerged the first British Sound motion picture; Alfred Hitchcock's "Blackmail."
Later,
Paul Parducci

Alfred Hitchcock Cameos

Everytime I see Alfred Hitchcock in one of his films I smile.
Later,
Paul Parducci

Psychomanteum

Later,
Paul Parducci