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