Monthly Archives: February 2011

Dad, History

The Archives: Edition Four

These pictures are from backup/Old My Pictures/Backgrounds

My best guess about these pictures is that they were once used as backgrounds 3 or 4 computers ago. Probably my 2nd computer. Nothing remains of my first computer. Embarrassingly, it was an Apple.


IMAGE LOST
I briefly flirted with photographing fruit. Not sure why in retrospect.

IMAGE LSOT
Between Upper Cullen Lake and Middle Cullen Lake in Minnesota.

IMAGE LOST
Used to be the only kind of flower I could grow, besides marigolds.

IMAGE LOST
Dragon’s Breath in Haiti, if I remember correctly.

IMAGE LOST
The King* and Elvis in Las Vegas.

IMAGE LOST
Sadly, my Photoshop skills haven’t improved much.

IMAGE LOST
I’ve recently returned to experimenting with double exposures.

IMAGE LOST
Have no recollection of taking this picture, but I must have liked it, I scanned it.


This one of my Dad’s pictures.

IMAGE LOST
Mayan ruins in Tulum.

IMAGE LOST
Thomas the Tank.

Next week’s look at the archives will be: backup/Old My Pictures/Beaver Massacre

I guess that gives me 7 days for coming up with an excuse for why those pictures exist.

*Technically I am a Popcorn Emperor, not a lowly king.

Julie, Night, Self-Portrait, Vest, WPC - Submissions

RWPE Y2 #6 – Go!

I’m guessing that the holiday weekend might have curtailed the normal amount of submissions. Here are the submissions for GO!:


IMAGE LOST
Julie Johnson

WEEK 6 - GO - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest

WEEK 6 - GO - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

I went down and visited the Random Theme Generator and it quietly spit out the theme for this week:

SILENCE

Here is a look back at last year’s submissions:

SILENCE

Good luck with this week’s theme.

Black & White, Candid Portrait, Cousin Amy, Personal Photo Project, Sara

Personal Photo Project of the Week #54

2 Comments


9 Emotions Project - Cousin Amy
Amy – 9 Emotions

Of all the people I have ever met in my life, perhaps only Marla Gorshe hates having her picture taken more than Cousin Amy. So I was very pleased when Sara was able to talk her into posing for this latest Personal Photo Project. The fact that she was the very first person to pose for the picture showed an amount of bravery that I respect.

The 9 emotions are from left to right – top to bottom are:

1. Joy
2. Sadness
3. Anger
4. Amusement
5. Fear
6. Jealousy
7. Surprise
8. Sympathy
9. Boredom

This is the project that will in the end replace the Friend Wall. I was originally going to photograph 9 people since I had 9 emotions, but now I think that I might expand this photo project to include more than 9 people because I have been very pleased with the results of the 4.5 people that have posed for it thus far.

A closer look at the 9 emotions:


Cousin Amy - Joy
Joy

Cousin Amy - Sadness
Sadness

Cousin Amy - Anger
Anger

Cousin Amy - Amusement
Amusement

Cousin Amy - Fear
Fear

Cousin Amy - Jealousy
Jealousy

Cousin Amy - Surprise
Surprise

Cousin Amy - Sympathy
Sympathy

Cousin Amy - Boredom
Boredom

It has been said that the best artists are the artists that best hide their inspirations, but I’ll just tell you flat out that this idea is being lifted from a page in the new Jon Stewart book.

Something you may be wondering is if I have the courage to have the camera turned on me and to pose for the 9 emotions picture myself. I do have the courage and I will do this after the 9th person has posed. However, I have my doubts that my 9 emotions picture will be that interesting. The only real emotion I emote is badass.

Next week’s Personal Photo Project of the Week will be Valentine’s Day related.

Alexis, Jason, Jill, Johnathan, Mom, Movies, Nader

Movie Reviews: Exit Through the Gift Shop and Restrepo

3 Comments

Movie – Exit Through the Gift Shop

Director: Banksy

Starring: Banksy, Shepard Fairey, Thierry Guetta, Space Invader and Rhys Ifans

Theater – Bennett’s Union Street Theater – Boone, Iowa

Companion – Flying Solo

Food – I had dinner with Nader at Mongolian Buffet.

Intellectual Honesty & Baggage

Sometimes I feel that I’m the only person I know that LOVES documentaries. One of my all-time favorite movies is Born into Brothels and I can barely get anybody else to touch the DVD case, let alone actually watch it. Usually when I try to suggest watching a documentary to somebody else, they act like I asked them to sit through 90 minutes of riding the lightning.

For the most part I’ve given up on trying to get anybody else to watch a documentary with me. I say “for the most part” because I’m not a quitter. I just don’t get why most people hate documentaries. The world is just an extremely fascinating place, I don’t know why people don’t want to learn more about it.

I know most documentaries tend to make people angry or sad, (besides the sickest bastards in the world, who wants to watch the Japanese chop up a bunch of dolphins) but they are also so enlightening. If they are done properly.

True the most famous documentaries are usually thinly veiled propaganda, but even the works of Michael Moore are educational if you are intelligent enough to be able to sift the gold from the muck.

Synopsis from IMDB

The story of how an eccentric French shop keeper and amateur film maker attempted to locate and befriend Banksy, only to have the artist turn the camera back on its owner. The film contains footage of Banksy, Shepard Fairey, Invader and many of the world’s most infamous graffiti artists at work.

Review

I admittedly live in very small town Iowa. My exposure to street art is very limited, but even I am familiar with and appreciate the work of Banksy. I am familiar with Shepard Fairey because he created the single most iconic image of the last at least 20 years: The Obama Hope Poster. But I knew nothing of any of the other street artists in the movie.

However, the movie does a very good job of introducing the viewer to the world of street art, before it really starts to focus on its subject Thierry Guetta.

Guetta follows around many of the most preeminent street artists in the world filming them under the pretense that he is making a documentary, but it seems that he doesn’t really have any intention of making a movie. He just films everything that he does.

Eventually he ends up in Banksy’s fold. Eventually Banksy pushes him to make his movie, but when Banksy see the finished project he realizes it is a complete disaster. He sends Guetta home to work on his art and remakes the movie himself.

What Guetta does when he gets home is a little mindblowing, but not in a good way.

I’ll give you this much of a clue. A long time ago Jill loaned me the movie Factory Girl. Factory Girl follows the story of Edie Segwick, a socialite that falls into Andy Warhol’s flock. Edie’s father is a complete piece of garbage that sexually molested Edie when she was young and dumped her into a mental institution when she walked in on him having an affair with their neighbor.

However, during one scene in the movie he is having dinner with Edie and Warhol and says the most spot on thing to Warhol:

“You’re really more of a print-maker than an artist, aren’t you?”

That is what I would say to Guetta if I ever met him.

This is a very well crafted movie and follows some very fascinating people. The end of the movie is actually a brilliant statement on our culture’s ability to buy into hype over talent. Although I’m sure there are some that would call me an elitist for thinking that way.

If I could get somebody else to watch a documentary out there, I would highly recommend this flick. It is on Netflix and is available on DVD.

Rating
4.0/5.0 Caramels

Buy on DVD
Probably not. I have it on Netflix, so I can watch it any time I want.

2010 Ranking
Number 10. It knocks True Grit out of the Top Ten.

Bonus Information
Since both Ames and Des Moines have decided to not bring any new movies worth seeing to their collective theaters, I just had dinner with Nader on Tuesday night and went home and decided to start getting caught up on my Oscar nominated Documentaries.

Movie – Restrepo

Directors: Tim Hetherington & Sebastian Junger

Theater – Bennett’s Union Street Theater – Boone, Iowa

Companion – Flying Solo

Food – I had supper at my Mom’s with Alexis, Johnathan and Jason before I watched this movie. She made Salisbury Steak and mashed potatoes and gravy. It was awesome!

Intellectual Honesty
I am a fan of Sebastian Junger’s writings. I was very legitimately excited about seeing this movie as soon as I heard about it.

Baggage
I’m not a big military guy. I understand the reason for the military’s existence, but I don’t get all excited when talking about the military like many of the men I know do.

Synopsis from IMDB
Sebastian Junger and Tim Hetherington’s year dug in with the Second Platoon in one of Afghanistan’s most strategically crucial valleys reveals extraordinary insight into the surreal combination of back breaking labor, deadly firefights, and camaraderie as the soldiers painfully push back the Taliban.

Review
One of the reasons I was excited to see this movie is that it is supposed to be a very neutral portrayal of the war in Afghanistan. I had read an interview by the filmmakers about how both sides of the political spectrum had attacked this movie for being too pro-war or too anti-war.

If both sides were attacking the movie, I figured it must be fair and balanced. I mean legitimately fair and balanced, not like how FoxNews is fair and balanced, using the words like some kind of extremely ironic tagline that they themselves are privately surprised that they have the balls to use in public.

I come from more of the war is “old-men-talking-and-young-men-dying” frame of mind rather than the “war!-what-is-it-good-for?-absolutely-nothing-except-ending-slavery-and-stopping-Hitler” frame of mind.

Because of that, when I watched this movie, I saw more of the anti-war side of the story. Even though, this isn’t what the movie is trying to do. It just covers one platoon for one year and shows the facts. But in my mind, it is rather clear that the facts are that war sucks!

When I turned the movie off, I could only feel bad for these young men that they had to be put through this because of our glaring foreign relation mistakes since… probably since the end of WWII.

It is an interesting movie and it is graphic in its depiction of war, so there are definitely scenes that aren’t for the faint of heart. But I would highly recommend it because it is a view of the war you won’t see on any news network.

It doesn’t preach one side or the other. Which is very refreshing.

I would probably rate it higher, but there are moments where the movie drags on a little bit.

Rating
3.5/5.0 Caramels

Buy on DVD
No need, I can watch it on Netflix anytime I want. Although I might buy the corresponding book.

2010 Ranking
I would put it just outside of my Top Ten.

Bonus Information
Looks like Ames is bringing in only a steaming pile of poo for movies again this week: Just Go With It, Just Beiber: Never Say Never and Gnomeo and Juliet, I would have to be paid and paid well to endure any of those movies. Looks like I’ll be watching more documentaries next Tuesday as well.

Anders, Animals, Bill, Faust, History, Jay, Jesse, Movies, Steph

The Archives: Edition Three

These pictures are from: backup/Old My Pictures/ Animals

In retrospect, I don’t know why I named this folder Animals. There aren’t that many animal pictures in it. I guess I must have considered it witty at the time.


IMAGE LOST
Kalona

For my 30th Birthday Party, I talked Andy and Jesse into dressing up like Sandmen from Logan’s Run and posing for pictures all over the awe-inspiring beauty of the Iowa State University campus. Jay was the photographer. I really need to watch Logan’s Run again sometime.


IMAGE LOST
The notorious Black Angel in Iowa City.

IMAGE LOST
Bill took this picture of Faust at our wedding.

IMAGE LOST
Tulum

IMAGE LOST
Tulum

IMAGE LOST
Tulum

IMAGE LOST
Kalona, in front of the now defunct Kalona Cupboard.

IMAGE LOST
The poster for Steph’s Senior Recital.

IMAGE LOST
Brandon as Henrik Ibsen.

IMAGE LOST
Lost Lake.

Next week’s look at the archives will be: backup/Old My Pictures/Backgrounds

Still another week before I have to come up with a good excuse for the Beaver Machete Massacre Project.

Carla, Dawn, Evie, Julie, Vest, WPC - Submissions

RWPE Y2 #5: Macro

3 Comments

Here are this week’s submissions for MACRO:


IMAGE LOST
Julie Johnson

IMAGE LOST
Dawn Krause

IMAGE LOST
Carla Stensland A

IMAGE LOST
Carla Stensland B

WEEK 5 - MACRO - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 5 - MACRO - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest

I’ve been down to visit the Random Theme Generator. Without much hesitation, it spit out this week’s theme:

GO!

This is a new theme for this year. It was suggested by Julie. As always, I look forward to the submissions.

Derrick, Jen, Jill, Movies, Nader, Willy

Movie Review: 127 Hours

2 Comments


Movie – 127 Hours

Director: Danny Boyle (Slum Dog Millionaire, Trainspotting, 28 Days Later…)

Writer: Danny Boyle and Simon Beaufoy (The Full Monty, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, Slumdog Millionaire)

Starring: James Franco (Spider-Man, Milk, Howl), Kate Mara (Shooter, Iron Man 2, We Are Marshall), and Amber Tamblyn (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, The Ring, Beyond a Reasonable Doubt)

Theater – Cinemark Movies 12 – Ames, Iowa

Companion – Nader

Food – King Buffet

Intellectual Honesty

I am a big fan of Danny Boyle. I think he is one of the most innovative filmmakers currently working and his movies are always interesting. 28 Days Later… is about the only straight zombie movie I can stomach. Slumdog Millionaire is one of the best and most inspiring movies of the last 10 years. The scene in Trainspotting with the baby (if you’ve seen Trainspotting you know what I’m talking about) haunts me to this day.

I’m not overly familiar with Simon Beaufoy, but after seeing his credits, I’m going to have to keep an eye on him.

I like James Franco, but he never seems to get a big enough role in his movies.

I’ve been a big fan of Amber Tamblyn ever since Joan of Arcadia. That is one of my all-time favorite shows that nobody else has ever seen, from when I used to watch television. Although bringing her up in the context of this movie is fairly pointless. Nobody but Franco is in this movie for more than a couple minutes.

Baggage

I think the only negative I brought into this movie was that I knew how it ended already. Thanks Willy! Thanks for nothing that is…

I guess considering there was a blizzard going on outside, I had some worries that I would make it out of the parking lot after the movie. If I was able to get out of the parking lot, would I be able to get home. If I was able to get home, would I be able to get home in time for my scheduled phone conversation with Jill.

Synopsis from IMDB

127 Hours is the true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston’s remarkable adventure to save himself after a fallen boulder crashes on his arm and traps him in an isolated canyon in Utah. Over the next five days Ralston examines his life and survives the elements to finally discover he has the courage and the wherewithal to extricate himself by any means necessary, scale a 65 foot wall and hike over eight miles before he is finally rescued. Throughout his journey, Ralston recalls friends, lovers, family, and the two hikers he met before his accident. Will they be the last two people he ever had the chance to meet?

Review

Two things.

Number one, this is a really, really good movie.

Number two, I’m not sure if I could ever watch it again.

Although I was impressed with Colin Firth’s portrayal of an inbred loser with a stammering problem in The King’s Speech and I’m pretty sure he will win the Oscar, I will now be rooting for Franco and his portrayal of a rock climber/adventurer (Aron Ralston) who gets trapped when a boulder falls on his arm and traps him in an isolated canyon in Utah.

Franco essentially is this movie. After he parts company with two other hikers (Mara and Tamblyn) the rest of the movie is essentially him. For most of the movie he is essentially trapped by a rock and can’t even move. Despite this fact, the movie is never remotely boring. The movie bounces between Ralston’s attempts to free himself from the rock and his thoughts about his life and the mistakes he made that led him to this position and fantasies about partying with the two hikers that were the last people to see him, possibly alive.

Ralston carries a video camera with him and some of the best scenes in the film are when he is filming his goodbye to his parents and his sisters.

Although I’m sure most people know how this movie ends, I don’t want to give it away to the few people that don’t know. The reason why I’m not sure I could ever watch this movie again is because of the brutality in the scene where he does get himself free.

I don’t consider myself to be a squeamish person, but I could barely force myself to watch the movie screen during this scene.

On a less grotesque point of the movie, the canyons of Utah are filmed absolutely beautifully. It is an absolutely beautiful movie to look at.

It is a great movie with a great performance, so my only real complaint would be that sometimes the style of the movie overwhelms the story and I fear that at some point in the future will make this film feel dated.

Rating
4.0/5.0 Caramels

Buy on DVD
Honestly, I don’t know. I write now that I don’t know if I could ever watch this film again, but when this movie comes out on DVD, I’ll probably be buying it in the 2-Disc Special Edition, if there is a 2-Disc Special Edition.

2010 Ranking
I rank it as #3.

Here is my current Top Ten of 2010 (Subject to change on a whim)

1. The Social Network
2. Inception
3. 127 Hours
4. The Fighter
5. Hereafter
6. How to Train Your Dragon
7. Black Swan
8. Winter’s Bone
9. The King’s Speech
10. True Grit


Bonus Information

When we ate at King Buffet, we were the only people in the restaurant. The theater was mostly empty. If you eliminated the Oklahoma State Woman’s Basketball Team, the theater was practically vacant.

After get outside into the weather, I decided it was prudent to just stay in Ames, so I crashed at Jen and Derrick’s. Thanks to them for having an extremely comfortable guest bed!

I saw the trailer to Cedar Rapids. It looks pretty funny.

Up Next
Looks like Ames in only bringing in garbage next week, so a trip down to Jordan Creek to see Biutiful might be in order.