FILM REVIEW: "Waiting for Hockney"

Pappas' story reminded me a little of the movie "Rudy" - only Billy seems to be more of a defeatist (i.e., puts all his eggs in one basket, betting his life on a single project and then when that doesn't thrill his so-called "idol" who couldn't be more unlike Billy, he resumes his life as a bartender and just gives up).

On the other hand, having had firsthand experience with the snobbish art world of today, I thought it was AWFUL the way Hockney's assistant spoke of Billy and his wonderful family (his parents, especially his mother, truly love him and were so supportive throughout). Hockney's people talked about Pappas, after their meeting, like he was a joke - a permanent outsider with no chance of ever breaking through to their big shot world. Why would Hockney grant him an audience, have him for lunch, spend 5 hours with him? So he could have a laugh at Pappas' expense? I would encourage Billy to work at his art, if that's what he wants to do with his life. But I don't think he's got what it takes to be a professional artist; he's too child-like, naïve and doesn't have the staying power. But it sure didn't help matters to have his "idol" turn his back on him. [artnet article] Waiting for Hockney Web

Does Anyone Watch Network TV Anymore?

Remember the days when TV meant ABC, CBS, NBC and PBS? I remember living in the Chicago area as a child and we had a nice TV set, but not much of a selection. The major channels (we didn't have a remote) were 2, 5, 7, 9 and 11 on VHF and Channel 32 and a couple others on UHF. "The Munsters" on Channel 32 was a real treat! And we'd stay up late at night to watch "Creature Feature" (Bela Lugosi and the like). We'd be dozing off as "The Star Spangled Banner" came on and the networks went off the air.

Oftentimes households used rabbit ears antennas on their TV sets with pieces of aluminum foil on each end to help reception. I'm not sure if that ever actually worked! And in order to stop interference, the most effective way to "fix" your TV was to bang on it! We were one of the first families, thanks to my Dad, to get cable, which required a strange box with a lever that flipped through the few channels that were available... I only remember having HBO.

Earlier this year analog TV sets became, for the most part, obsolete with the conversion to digital TV. Since I'd always had cable all my life, I couldn't believe anyone would actually be affected by the conversion. Those who wanted to continue using their old outdated sets were forced to buy a converter box and, at long last, subscribe to cable TV.

Since CNN went on the air, most everyone I know has been getting their news from cable news networks... though I still see Chuck & Sue in NYC are still going strong!

Eight decades after pioneering the concept of broadcasting, NBC is on the verge of a startling move that illustrates broadcast television's decline. Cable TV operator Comcast Corp. is expected to buy a controlling stake in NBC Universal, perhaps as early as this week, bringing the network of Johnny Carson, Jerry Seinfeld, Bob Hope, Milton Berle and Tom Brokaw under the corporate control of the company that owns the Golf Channel and E! Entertainment Television. Read More: Broadcast pioneer NBC prepares for cable takeover

John Lennon Remembered

John Lennon would have been 69 today... Happy Birthday, John! I wonder what he'd say about Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize on his birthday... maybe, "Give Peace a Chance?"

Here's a birthday art exhibition.

Remembering John Lennon.

Brilliant songbird - perhaps the greatest inspiration to me musically. I loved his and Yoko's idea of bagism and write about it in my own book, The Mystic Artist.

You'll truly enjoy One Day at a Time, a book which captures the mood and brilliance of John Lennon in the seventies.

· Plastic Ono Band
· Imagine
· Walls & Bridges
· Double Fantasy
· Shaved Fish
· The Beatles

Go HERE to see Sandy's portrait of John Lennon's Ghost.

Lady Gaga Has Talent

The music world has been devoid of imagination and colour for many years now... that's my opinion. But Lady Gaga has burst on the scene with a fresh new talent that isn't just sparkles, makeup, bangles and a great figure... she's got soul and character.

Saturday night she performed her hit, "Paparazzi," on SNL - and more... she wowed us on her piano interlude; she radiated talent in her singing and performance art. She reminds me of Hazel O'Connor and Kate Bush with her fresh, colorful videos.

Peter, Paul, Missing Mary

I was a very small child when I first heard Peter, Paul & Mary... but their songs were always a big part of the soundtrack of my life. How could they not be? With the passing of Mary Travers today, I had to stop and remember how much I loved their songs... and remember the beauty of her voice, her gorgeous long blonde hair, those perfect harmonies... "Lemon Tree," "If I Had a Hammer," "Puff the Magic Dragon," "Blowin' in the Wind"... and such a wonderful lifetime of songs. RIP, Mary!

Patrick Lives

I didn't know Patrick Swayze, but he seemed to be a rare bird in the Hollywood scene - a sweet man whose ego didn't get the best of him (he was supposedly quoted as saying, "Good-looking people turn me off. Myself included") who fought to the end with the desire to stay focused on his craft, even refusing pain killing drugs. His smiling eyes always reflected something indescribable and I believe he chose to LIVE to the end rather than to spend his last days dying. And, amazingly, he was married to the same woman since 1975!

He's quoted as saying, "I have a great deal of faith in faith; if you believe something strongly enough, it becomes true for you. I would like to believe that my father is right here with me in this room and that he's my guardian angel, that there's life after death - because if there isn't, why are we here?"

We all loved 'Dirty Dancing,' but his most memorable role was arguably the character he played in 'Ghost,' - Sam Wheat - a man probably not unlike himself - a good man who found true love in life and after death. In the words of Sam to Molly: 'It's amazing, Molly. The love inside, you take it with you.' He gave us a reason to believe in life after death. We love you, Patrick and you will be missed on earth!

"Ditto!"

More Great Foreign Films...

Jacques Tati films:

Les vacances de Monsieur Hulot (1953)

Mon oncle (1958)

The Spanish Apartment - L'auberge espagnole (2002)
The Russian Dolls - Les poupées russes (2005)

A Very Long Engagement - Un long dimanche de fiançailles (2004)

Poison Friends - Les amitiés maléfiques (2006)

I Served the King of England - Obsluhoval jsem anglického krále (2008)

Kidnap (2008)

My original blog on foreign films

I Was a Guinea Pig for Technology

I just had to post this link so I wouldn't forget it. So much of our culture's technology is being outmoded. I've had this discussion with my mother many times recently because she still relies on cassette tapes for her business. The other day we went to Radio Shack to buy some tapes for her and they told her they were discontinuing them.

My demographic has been used as guinea pigs for all the technology and formats that have come and gone over the past 30 years... and I kind of resent it. I had a PC (remember THAT term) in the '80s when you could first buy one for home use and have made a living on my computer ever since. But switching from records to cassettes to CDs (I traded hundreds of my cassettes for just a handful of DVDs to Mr. Cheapo years ago) and DVDs and now this Blue-Ray format... Not to mention all the computers, various types of discs (remember "floppy"?), weird programs that drove us insane, DOS and all those keywords... It's a wonder I haven't been committed to a technology insane asylum!

Don't get me wrong... I'm grateful for technology. But it's been quite a rollercoaster ride, not to mention all the money that we spent. I still have my first digital camera and it looks like something out of a sci-fi movie. And just for the record... I REFUSE TO SWITCH TO BLUE-RAY!!! I'm keeping my DVDs! But we do have HD TVs now... and I never go anywhere without my digital camera. But I really do hate cell phones. If I didn't HAVE to have one, I'd toss it off a cliff!

ADDENDUM: Well, here it is only Oct. 5, 2009 and already technology has proven my point... the link at the top is already expired!

Pat Benatar in Westbury, NY

Pat Benatar and her husband and lead guitarist, Neil Giraldo, played the Capital One Theatre in Westbury, NY tonight to an enthusiastic, adoring crowd and standing ovations. Still in top form on their 30th wedding anniversary, Pat and Neil rocked the house with great old favourites such as "Hit Me With Your Best Shot," "Hell is For Children," and an encore of the timeless "Promises in the Dark." Her voice gorgeous as ever, looking simply adorable all dressed in black with leggings and high boots... she appeared to have discovered the fountain of youth; and "Spyder" Neil with his muscle shirt, tattoos and endless array of guitars... tossing guitar picks at the crowd were refreshing to hear after all these years. No pretentions... Pat still looking longingly at her husband as he wailed on his 13 guitars - some of the greatest rock and roll guitar riffs of all time... "We Live for Love," a highlight of the evening - illustrating one of the most successful rock and roll couples of all time.

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