Shiko-me

Shiko-me


Always searching for the cause of my problems -karma and such, cause and effect- both conventional and unconventional. I am open to the seemingly impossible.






The "ugly ones," personifications of the calamities that can affect people, such as accidents, curses, epidemics, illness, misery, misfortune, and poverty. They inhabit the region under the earth called Yomi-T'su-Kuni, the "land of darkness." When they rise up from the underworld to annoy humans they assume the form of demons, usually female.

The Shiko-Me can usually be deflected with an appropriate prayer or an offering to Kamu-Nahobi, the "god-who-puts-things-right."

Cat Dancers by P.T Deuterman

Just finished "Cat Dancers" - Cam Richters series, book 1.
An interesting escapist read - mystery thriller by P.T Deuterman.
The basic story line involves a strict judge (the {cop} main charachter's  ex-wife, and presentlly on again, off again lover.) letting two confessed murderers off on a technicality. TNo one is happy about this. vigilantes take matters into their own hands. The vigiliantes turn out to be a small group, whose initiation into the group involves getting very close a mountain lion armed with nothing but a cheap disposable camera and take a picture of the lion's face. That initiation right, two charachters that are dogs, the use- though not over use- of modern technology, the developed attitude of not carrying about ones own death, the catch 22 aspect of so many jobs - all made this an interesting read, with an unusual end.

Boy in Blue - a photoprojectus

Blue Boy
a photoprojectus
by Paul Grant (follower of Basho)

Jim Webb won't seek reelection

Webb won't seek reelection

Virginia Democratic Senator Jim Webb plans to announce today that he won't seek reelection, the Senator confirmed Wednesday.

Webb appeared likely to face a rematch with former Senator George Allen, whom he beat in a bruising 2006 contest. He had expressed ambivalence about the prospect of another run, and has said he never planned a life in politics.

Keeping Webb -- a Vietnam veteran, former Reagan defense official, and author -- in the Senate had been a top priority for the Democratic leadership, with no Democrat of Webb's prominence, and his centrist politics, openly exploring the race.

My response:

I first learned of Mr. Webb from reading his Vietnam novel “Field's of Fire”.

In that book , he explored how soldiers from different backgrounds -each with their own baggage- faced the unknown, and emerged with new identities. It seems that Mr. Webb's time in Congress was similar (at the least in terms of how he was perceived entering office, and now leaving).

One of his characters, in that book, came to a decision based on his belief - that regardless of circumstances, doing the right thing, even though it may seem to many others to be wrong and even non courageous, was the only way that he could live with himself. This to me,  seems to mirror Mr. Webb's political life in the past few years.

I believe Mr. Webb would have expected sideline quarterbacks to criticize him - they (we) were not in the battles and could not know all of the circumstances. 

By not running for this term, he is not running away. He is standing up, and not selling out his conscience as he would need to to raise money for a campaign battle. I did not always agree with his beliefs, but I respect his integrity, and I thank him for his service.

Smith, Ben; "Webb won't seek reelection" (February 9, 2011) Politico, http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0211/Source_Webb_wont_seek_reelection.html#comments Last retrieved February 9, 2011.

Obama vrs. Pallin

Sarah Palin Blasts Obama's Handling Of Egypt

Commented Feb 8, 2011 at 10:15:20 in Politics

“If Pallin should know that Obama `doesn't knows' who will be Egypt's next leader - because, if all goes to plan the next leader will be chosen in the elections in September. 

Pallin would/coul­d know that HillaryCli­nton has accomplished an agreement that President Mubarak will not run in September.

 She would/could know that Hillary has been working out a way for a transition in which Mubarak will not be embarrassed (easier to get him to agree) - that the plan is Mubarak will leave Egypt ( for health concerns) to visit a special hospital ( probably in Germany) during which time Mubarak will retain his title, but transfer his powers over to the Vice President. 

Palin would/could know that the US is orchestrating this maneuverer because if Mubarak just leaves- the next in the chain of power in Egypt is Fathi Surur (the Speaker of the Parliament­) - who the US doesn't want. If the transfer of power (but not Presidential title) goes to the Vice President Omar Suleiman, ( former intelligence chief) -whom the US feels is more pro US, ( Suleiman in 1995 oversaw `suspected militants' captured by the US and secretly transferred to Egypt for cruel and unusual questionin­g.) 

Pallin would/could also know that the `upset' Egyptians would find both of these solutions bad. Pallin would/coul­d also know that in the US's eyes Mubarak simply hanging in till September.

 Pallin would/coul­d also know, therefore- that no one knows how it will work out in Egypt.

Catherine Hardwicke vrs. Mark Wahlberg

Catherine Harwicke: 'The Fighter' Producers' Sexism Stopped Me From Directing The Film

Commented Feb 8, 2011 at 09:22:12 in Entertainment

“Obviously a publicity stunt by Catherine Hardwicke. This was all about, and all because of Mark Wahlberg. Men's Health did a great (& incredibly inspiring) cover story about the five years he worked to make this movie happen. Originally "he had some big names on board—Brad Pitt was to play Ward's half brother, and Darren Aronofsky was to direct—it hadn't been given the green light." Both had to pull out because of the delays - but Wahlberg kept training for his film- and kept `playing the game' to make his dream come true. Great reference to "Wahlberg and Scorsese didn't get along too well", during the making of the great movie `The Departed'.­. After the movie was over, Wahlber went out of his way to create a better relationsh­ip with Scorsese who eventually became an executive producer and directed the first episode (Scorsese doing television­?) of Wahlbergs second hit television series (first being `Entourage­') `Boardwalk­. Empire'. For Wahlberg's baby -The Fighter- he was only going to choose someone he knew, someone he trusted, someone he had worked with before. Since Hardwicke didn't fulfill any of these job requiremen­ts - her being a woman is a mute (and lame) point. {Ref: http://www­.menshealt­h.com/cele­brity-fitn­ess/mark-w­ahlberg-fi­ghter-work­out.} ( ...but I guess she gets points for getting her name in the news.)”

Love and Other Drugs - Movie review

(No spoiler review)

The movie Love and Other Drugs, got mixed reviews - it also recieved two Golden Globe nominations: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy for Jake Gyllenhaal  & Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy for Anne Hathaway.

This movie could be classified as a quirky comedy, a love story/melodrama, a guy's flick with college fratboy humor, and a corporate commentary. {Note: Part of the movie is based on  the book "Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman" by author Jamie Reidy, himself a former Pfizer sales rep, }This hodgepodge of thematic areas that the film covers does make it a bit uneven, but it is not confusing. The thing that reviewers call the `tone' of the movie shifts quite a bit. And like most `serious films' it tries to be emotionally manipulative. (It's success in that department depends on the viewer). There is plenty of nudity from the leads -(Hathaway's breast and Gyllenhaal's but) and both fit into the catagory John Lennon would call: "beautiful people."

The director Edward Zwick is  better known for his action movies movies that include `The Last Samurai', `Defiance',  `Blood Diamond', `Glory', and  `Legends of the Fall'. From a technical perspective the filming itself is great. The storyline however seems chopped - as though there are obvious missing scenes.

Personally I found the actors playing the secondary characters lacking. Oliver Platt, who plays Jamie's sales manager, for me was too boring. Josh Gad, who plays the Jamie's little brother was just wrong. Here, I mean, that the actor selection was inneffective - and changing those two actors could have greatlly improved the film.

The basic synopsis of the movie is:  a smart guy who is the black sheep of a successfull family becomes a pharmaceutical salesman (Gyllenhaal). His (first) product is the anti-depresent Zolof, and he is trying to break into a market dominated by Prozac. (This is historically accurate. And a certain `deepness' in the film begins - because the second drug in the anti-depresnt game has less side effects. But the first drug has a strong foothold that is held by the practice of `bribing' doctors) . Ussing bribary himslef (Gyllenhaal), has a chance meeting with Maggie (Hathaway).  After events, I won't spoil, they  `hook-up'.

It is at this juncture that a moment (in my opinion) that this great movie dialouge comes:

Maggie Murdock: What's your game? 
Jamie Randall: My game?
Maggie Murdock: Oh I'm sorry. Right. This is the part where we talk about where we come from and what we majored in in college.
Jamie Randall: : You have beautiful eyes. 
Maggie Murdock: That's it? That's the best you got? 
Jamie Randall:  I'm serious. They're beautiful. 
Maggie Murdock: Let's go.
Jamie Randall:  Excuse me? 
Maggie Murdock: You want to close right? You want to get laid?
Jamie Randall:  Now? 
Maggie Murdock:: Oh right, right, right. I'm supposed to act like I don't know if it's right. So then you tell me that there is no right or wrong. It's just the moment. And then I tell you that I can't while actually signalling to you that I can, which you don't need because you're not really listening. Because this isn't about connection for you. This isn't even about sex for you. This is about finding an hour or two of relief from the pain of being you. And that's fine with me, see, because all I want is the exact same thing. 

I admitt that I do not watch many so called comedies, chic flics, or romance films.  I admitt also to finding the line: "This is about finding an hour or two of relief from the pain of being you. " disturbingly right on- and one the reasons I watch films.

If you are prone to contemplating `deeper meanings and connections and ying/yang opposition and interdependence correlaries' this film offers food for those type of thoughts,

In conclusion - perfect or great  this film is not. Watch-able and intellectually `prodding' (as in "isn't it interesting that..") it is.

I admitt that I have never seen Braokback Mountain whith Gyllenhaal and Hathaway. I admitt also that I am biased by the fact that Gyllenhaal's early film `Donny Darko' is a favorite.

In the end I give it thumbs up - 7/10.

All the old posters are gone

responded to a blog:

   

All the old posters are gone,
once tacked to my wall:
Scott Madsen, Marky Mark, et al.
I had to move on.

Now the walls seem plain
without those it-boys of then —
but I'm not without sin:
they're still tacked to my brain.
****

poetical bits        poems and pensées         Philip Thrift

http://poeticalbits.blogspot.com/2011_01_01_archive.html


(lol)I still have the Madden solo Flex poster on my wall- and it is a constant and consistent reminder that I need to do my daily sit-ups. Have been thinking a lot about `Marky' lately (because of the boxing movie & good feature in Mens Health) and his incredible progress through life. Your short poem intrigues me. I have another old picture from a newspaper that I framed that shows a wet & healthy River Phoenix at the beach. I cut the picture out (way back then) and attached it to an actual `typed out' 'I carry your heart with me,' by ee cummings. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't look at the images (of beautiful youth/or any images that I found beautiful in my youth) -or my appreciation of them, in any way sinful. Images, I believe, gain more meaning through time and that appreciation of an image changes and grows(as does actual physical relationships). {{Not being argumentative- appreciate your poem - made me think. :) }}

Weird now this blog has gone public// WTF?

Visit by Fran

Fran - highly intocicated wants me to go out at that exact moment 730pm (temp 10) to shovel out my car which he claims the "blacks" have totally buried. Hard time getting rid of him.

He had called dave and left a message- recorded- something about having to leave the city because of a problem- tells Dave via message that he tried to talk to me but that I am moody.

The whole experience of him makes me angry- ruins my flow.

New song: Numbers in Sequence

Working on new song: Numbers in Sequence- first weeks competition is numbers-

{{FAWM- Febuary album writing month}}

- visit by Fran threw things off-

hook up to piano failed- comp crashed- now doing all archepello-

Good (maybe) Article on removing noise: http://www.deeplysimple.net/2006/10/removing-hiss-with-audacity.html

massive numbers of tracks used in overdubbing- going for a chant feel- added drum- based on one beat that is copied and then manipulated- this is very time consuming and is based on randomness- when after a half hour work on a track fails I just delete it- very time consuming waiting for all effects

burn don to one track - second time- have been using only first vocal - that was interrupted and then restarted with obvious volume change.

song is long - almost six minutes

Major snowstorm

Third largest snowstorm in Chicago history. Here (Joliet) 19 inches.

Shakespeare remembered. “To every thing there is a season.” Similarly, one of Japan’s greatest haiku masters, Matsuo Basho, pined for a proper winter in 1666:

a winter shower
the pine tree is unhappy and
waiting for snow

Is there a more beautiful winter sight than evergreen branches drooping under snow’s white weight? Is anything more out of place than rain in winter? Basho remembered.

The hiaku cut is: "unhappy and".

Egypt erupts

Protest turn violent- reporters (most notably Anderson Cooper) attacked. Thugs on horses and Camelss attacking crowd with whips, Fire bombs thrown into crowd from rooftops. Egypts President is stepping down- seems like September. US afraid that new leadership might be stronglly Muslim and anti-west.

Rumsfeld publishes memior

Quick review, basically he is un-apologetic and claims that no one lied in the administration that they were just wrong. (Referring to going to war against Iraq over WMD).

He attacks- Powell, Rice, Armitage, Hillary Clinton, Bremmer and others.

He blames certain personal problems - his sons problem withh drugs and his wifes appendix operation for some of his faulty thinking.

Nothing noticeably new. Reaction in comments what you would expect.

Social media

Watched movie- not great. A docu drama- based on real events. No wonder the originator of Facebook was negative about it-  the movie is a total character assignation. In fact that is all that the movie is about- what a total pompous jerk Mark Zuckerman was - first to his girl friend , then to his best friend (and possibly only real friend). This portrayal of  `jerkdumb' is actually highly successful because it comes at him from many different angles.

Interestingly it did portray him as not carrying about the money. It was not about money - but rather about doing something spectacular- to set himself apart from the other incredibly brilliant people.

Is there anything to learn from this movie? does this make Facebook more suspect? The concept of `how many friends' one has as a definition of popularity - equaling ones `social value'. For Zuckerman the number he was concerned with was number of members- but still it was a numbers game (money being the next number game.)

Liked the fact that he constantly blogged diary style (though because he did this publicly it would hurt him.)

Interesting that John (from Mia's) asked to friend me - discovered through an email right after watching the movie.