It's around 3am...just got home a half hour ago from a few days with family - and I have to head out in 2 hours to a friend's wedding in Cape Cod...so rather than sleep I've been frantically trying to get everything in order for the second trip. I've settled down now...but on the trip home I had some time to sit and muse - and I share with you some new york city haiku's:
city never sleeps
nights kept busy in odd ways
want to go to bed
===============================
why be so crazy
don't flip out on that cabbie
he is off duty
nyc really is quite ridiculous at 2 in the morning, then again - so am I :)
- Chris
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Movie Review - The Man From Earth
"Piety is not what the lessons bring to the people, it's the mistake people bring to the lessons."
On a whim, I recently watched The Man From Earth (2007) on Netflix Streaming. (Speaking of which - for ~$10 a month this is such a phenominal deal - and the primary reason I don't have to spend ~$100 a month on cable)
While I'm not one to write a review of every movie I watch - this one is certainly an exception. Written by sci-fi legend Jerome Bixby, The Man From Earth is a story about an impromptu good-bye party at the almost-empty house of Professor John Oldman; which quickly turns into an interrogation about the reasons he's leaving. After plenty of goading John reveals that he is in fact a cro-magnon human who is about 14,000 years old, and never ages. Understandably, his colleagues label it as a prank; but of course an anthropologist, biologist, historian, psycologist, and the other academics couldn't let such an idea pass.
The film goes into an astounding amount of discussion involving the physical possibilities of John's condition, and probing of John's memories of his many many years and life experiences. At every question, John provides lucid and entertaining responses - constantly putting his colleagues (and the viewer) into a state where they have to seriously consider that he's in fact completely serious. I knew it was a movie, yet I found myself wanting it all to be true, because the plotline of this 14,000 year old life was so compelling.
I've often fantasized about the possibility of living in a different era - what life would be like in many different types of societies and cultures...and the film goes into quite a few of John past "lives" with a breadth and depth that is incredibly entertaining. The back-and-forth among the other characters in response to John's revelation continuously discuss and reinforces the notion that it is possible (nay, important for a truly curious mind) to investigate phenomenoa without having to believe in it first. (And this is a point that is not stressed enough in education these days!)
The film gets very emotional and touchy in the latter half, when the discussions about faith, religion and philosophy are strongest - but the film does so in such a fantastic way. By far, this was my favorite parts of the film. Ellen Crawford does a pretty decent job at portraying Edith, a christian fundamentalist who gets extremely uncomfortable and withdrawn as some incredible secrets about christinaity are revealed by John. She walks the finely woven line John unravels just enough to have her firm resolve and rejection of the idea into an almost incredulous belief that it may actually be the truth.
The film is a bit reminiscent of 12 Angry Men, given it is shot entirely in John's cabin, and the movie is focused solely on the characters and John's story. The film brilliantly uses the house as a way to break up the pace of the film, to allow for some decompression and setup of changing angles of inquiry. It also provides opportunities to focus on the characters grappling with the issue of whether to believe John or just hear him out while he's outside.
The acting in general is pretty good, David Lee Smith plays a very convincing John Oldman - and his speech is fluid, clear, and spoken with incredible sincerity and pace. If was a pleasure hearing him speak through pages and pages of script as if he truly was the person who experienced it all.
All this being said, the film has some weak points. Harry's jokes a bit dorky and lame, but actor John Billingsley does a pretty good job of saving those moments being sincere and affable while saying the lines. William Katt needs some acting lessons after witnessing his role as Art, and the ending...the ending was fan-tas-tic, but it was a bit quick and brief. It was such a fun, brilliantly written way to end the film, but the director kind of screwed the pooch in the execution. Not that is was bad...you just know if could have been a lot better.
I give this movie a 9.5/10, losing a half a point for the 2 points mentioned above, and reccomend that you SEE THIS MOVIE!
- Chris
On a whim, I recently watched The Man From Earth (2007) on Netflix Streaming. (Speaking of which - for ~$10 a month this is such a phenominal deal - and the primary reason I don't have to spend ~$100 a month on cable)
While I'm not one to write a review of every movie I watch - this one is certainly an exception. Written by sci-fi legend Jerome Bixby, The Man From Earth is a story about an impromptu good-bye party at the almost-empty house of Professor John Oldman; which quickly turns into an interrogation about the reasons he's leaving. After plenty of goading John reveals that he is in fact a cro-magnon human who is about 14,000 years old, and never ages. Understandably, his colleagues label it as a prank; but of course an anthropologist, biologist, historian, psycologist, and the other academics couldn't let such an idea pass.
The film goes into an astounding amount of discussion involving the physical possibilities of John's condition, and probing of John's memories of his many many years and life experiences. At every question, John provides lucid and entertaining responses - constantly putting his colleagues (and the viewer) into a state where they have to seriously consider that he's in fact completely serious. I knew it was a movie, yet I found myself wanting it all to be true, because the plotline of this 14,000 year old life was so compelling.
I've often fantasized about the possibility of living in a different era - what life would be like in many different types of societies and cultures...and the film goes into quite a few of John past "lives" with a breadth and depth that is incredibly entertaining. The back-and-forth among the other characters in response to John's revelation continuously discuss and reinforces the notion that it is possible (nay, important for a truly curious mind) to investigate phenomenoa without having to believe in it first. (And this is a point that is not stressed enough in education these days!)
The film gets very emotional and touchy in the latter half, when the discussions about faith, religion and philosophy are strongest - but the film does so in such a fantastic way. By far, this was my favorite parts of the film. Ellen Crawford does a pretty decent job at portraying Edith, a christian fundamentalist who gets extremely uncomfortable and withdrawn as some incredible secrets about christinaity are revealed by John. She walks the finely woven line John unravels just enough to have her firm resolve and rejection of the idea into an almost incredulous belief that it may actually be the truth.
The film is a bit reminiscent of 12 Angry Men, given it is shot entirely in John's cabin, and the movie is focused solely on the characters and John's story. The film brilliantly uses the house as a way to break up the pace of the film, to allow for some decompression and setup of changing angles of inquiry. It also provides opportunities to focus on the characters grappling with the issue of whether to believe John or just hear him out while he's outside.
The acting in general is pretty good, David Lee Smith plays a very convincing John Oldman - and his speech is fluid, clear, and spoken with incredible sincerity and pace. If was a pleasure hearing him speak through pages and pages of script as if he truly was the person who experienced it all.
All this being said, the film has some weak points. Harry's jokes a bit dorky and lame, but actor John Billingsley does a pretty good job of saving those moments being sincere and affable while saying the lines. William Katt needs some acting lessons after witnessing his role as Art, and the ending...the ending was fan-tas-tic, but it was a bit quick and brief. It was such a fun, brilliantly written way to end the film, but the director kind of screwed the pooch in the execution. Not that is was bad...you just know if could have been a lot better.
I give this movie a 9.5/10, losing a half a point for the 2 points mentioned above, and reccomend that you SEE THIS MOVIE!
- Chris
Friday, November 19, 2010
Book Review: Walden
"Will you be a reader, a student merely, or a seer? Read your fate, see what is before you, and walk on into futurity." - Pg. 119
Yet again, I have my friend Eli to thank for introducing me to such a fantastic book. Considered Henry David Thoreau's masterpiece, Walden is a weighty book which chronicles his thoughts and experiences over the course of a couple of years on the banks of Walden Pond during the years 1845-1847. Walden is rife with transcendentalist philosophy, in many ways a response to a world that was growing increasingly hectic and smaller. While written in the mid 19th century, many of the discussions and philosophy is just as relevant to today's world (if not MORE so) than it was in his world - and that's probably one of the biggest reasons the book is considered such a literary classic.
"We are the subjects of an experiment which is not a little interesting to me. Can we not do without the society of our gossips a little while under these circumstances - have our own thoughts to cheer us? Confucius says truly, 'Virtue does not remain as an abandoned orphan; it must of necessity have neighbors.'" - Pg. 144
I'll admit that the book is bogged down by a lot of long descriptions of the natural world Thoreau explored. While interesting, and all eloquently written, it took me quite a bit of time to get through this book. It's the type of book that takes me a long time to read, little bits at a time. (Sorry I've had your book for over a month Eli :-/) While the language is certainly a bit too flowery and poetic for my taste, when he gets to the meaty philosophical parts he presents his arguments with a level of clarity that really made me think about things. The book certainly resonates with my feelings about the world I'm living in.
"We should be as good as the worthies of antiquity, but party by first knowing how good they were. We are a race of tit-men, and soar but little higher in our intellectual flights than the columns of the daily paper." - Pg. 116
It's really hard to classify Walden - in parts its a practical description of living a life in the woods on one's own terms, in others he takes a critical look at society and economy, and in portions his investigation takes a scientific tack that while odd; helped me to appreciate the man behind the book. Thoreau is certainly a man of many facets and talents, and quite resourceful to boot. He is a man who is comfortable with who he is, and wise enough to realize the true battle of mankind is the battle within.
"A single gentle rain makes the grass many shades greener. So our prospects brighten on the influx of better thoughts. We should be blessed if we lived in the present always, and took advantage of every accident that befell us, like the grass which confesses the influence of the slightest dew that falls on it; and did not spend our time in atoning for the neglect of past opportunities, which we call doing our duty." -Pg. 330
While Thoreau openly discusses his experiences with eastern philosophy, many of his discussions echo Buddhist, Taoist and Hindu philosophies - consciously or without knowledge. He does so in a way that is shockingly lucid, considering the limited exposure such philosophies had in the west in his time. It's in these passages where Thoreau's brilliance really shines brightest (for me, at least).
"I think that we may safely trust a good deal more than we do. We may waive just so much care of ourselves as we honestly bestow elsewhere. Nature is as well adapted to our weakness as to o strength. The incessant anxiety and strain of some is a well-nigh incurable form of disease. We are made to exaggerate the importance of the work we do; and yet how much is not done by us! or, what if we had been taken sick? How vigilant we are! determined not to live by faith if we can avoid it; all day long on the alert, at night we unwillingly say our prayers and commit ourselves to uncertainties. So thoroughly and sincerely are we compelled to live, reverencing our life, and denying the possibility of change. This is the only way, we say; but there are as many ways as there can be drawn radii from one centre. All change is a miracle to contemplate; but it is a miracle which is taking place every instant." - Pgs. 15-16
Thoreau was certainly a naturalist at heart. The breadth and depth of his knowledge and experience in such matters becomes clearly obvious while reading Walden. The detail he provides is more than enough to close one's eyes and be able to pretend you're sitting on the stoop of his cabin enjoying a perfect day at Walden Pond. Thoreau also showcases his concern for the decaying relationships between man and nature - how out of touch society was becoming with its powerful benefits. I think if Thoreau were to live in today's world, he'd probably have quite a fit fits over how much worse things got after the Industrial Revolution and two World Wars really gummed things up a whole lot worse...
"But since I left those shores the wood choppers have still further laid them waste, and now for many a year there will be no more rambling through the aisles of the wood, with occasional vistas through which you see the water. My muse may be excused if she is silent henceforth. How can you expect the birds to sing when their groves are cut down?" - Pg. 205
Walden was by no means an easy read, but the challenge was well worth it.
- Chris
Yet again, I have my friend Eli to thank for introducing me to such a fantastic book. Considered Henry David Thoreau's masterpiece, Walden is a weighty book which chronicles his thoughts and experiences over the course of a couple of years on the banks of Walden Pond during the years 1845-1847. Walden is rife with transcendentalist philosophy, in many ways a response to a world that was growing increasingly hectic and smaller. While written in the mid 19th century, many of the discussions and philosophy is just as relevant to today's world (if not MORE so) than it was in his world - and that's probably one of the biggest reasons the book is considered such a literary classic.
"We are the subjects of an experiment which is not a little interesting to me. Can we not do without the society of our gossips a little while under these circumstances - have our own thoughts to cheer us? Confucius says truly, 'Virtue does not remain as an abandoned orphan; it must of necessity have neighbors.'" - Pg. 144
I'll admit that the book is bogged down by a lot of long descriptions of the natural world Thoreau explored. While interesting, and all eloquently written, it took me quite a bit of time to get through this book. It's the type of book that takes me a long time to read, little bits at a time. (Sorry I've had your book for over a month Eli :-/) While the language is certainly a bit too flowery and poetic for my taste, when he gets to the meaty philosophical parts he presents his arguments with a level of clarity that really made me think about things. The book certainly resonates with my feelings about the world I'm living in.
"We should be as good as the worthies of antiquity, but party by first knowing how good they were. We are a race of tit-men, and soar but little higher in our intellectual flights than the columns of the daily paper." - Pg. 116
It's really hard to classify Walden - in parts its a practical description of living a life in the woods on one's own terms, in others he takes a critical look at society and economy, and in portions his investigation takes a scientific tack that while odd; helped me to appreciate the man behind the book. Thoreau is certainly a man of many facets and talents, and quite resourceful to boot. He is a man who is comfortable with who he is, and wise enough to realize the true battle of mankind is the battle within.
"A single gentle rain makes the grass many shades greener. So our prospects brighten on the influx of better thoughts. We should be blessed if we lived in the present always, and took advantage of every accident that befell us, like the grass which confesses the influence of the slightest dew that falls on it; and did not spend our time in atoning for the neglect of past opportunities, which we call doing our duty." -Pg. 330
While Thoreau openly discusses his experiences with eastern philosophy, many of his discussions echo Buddhist, Taoist and Hindu philosophies - consciously or without knowledge. He does so in a way that is shockingly lucid, considering the limited exposure such philosophies had in the west in his time. It's in these passages where Thoreau's brilliance really shines brightest (for me, at least).
"I think that we may safely trust a good deal more than we do. We may waive just so much care of ourselves as we honestly bestow elsewhere. Nature is as well adapted to our weakness as to o strength. The incessant anxiety and strain of some is a well-nigh incurable form of disease. We are made to exaggerate the importance of the work we do; and yet how much is not done by us! or, what if we had been taken sick? How vigilant we are! determined not to live by faith if we can avoid it; all day long on the alert, at night we unwillingly say our prayers and commit ourselves to uncertainties. So thoroughly and sincerely are we compelled to live, reverencing our life, and denying the possibility of change. This is the only way, we say; but there are as many ways as there can be drawn radii from one centre. All change is a miracle to contemplate; but it is a miracle which is taking place every instant." - Pgs. 15-16
Thoreau was certainly a naturalist at heart. The breadth and depth of his knowledge and experience in such matters becomes clearly obvious while reading Walden. The detail he provides is more than enough to close one's eyes and be able to pretend you're sitting on the stoop of his cabin enjoying a perfect day at Walden Pond. Thoreau also showcases his concern for the decaying relationships between man and nature - how out of touch society was becoming with its powerful benefits. I think if Thoreau were to live in today's world, he'd probably have quite a fit fits over how much worse things got after the Industrial Revolution and two World Wars really gummed things up a whole lot worse...
"But since I left those shores the wood choppers have still further laid them waste, and now for many a year there will be no more rambling through the aisles of the wood, with occasional vistas through which you see the water. My muse may be excused if she is silent henceforth. How can you expect the birds to sing when their groves are cut down?" - Pg. 205
Walden was by no means an easy read, but the challenge was well worth it.
- Chris
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
MapCrunch
I found out about this gem of a website today: MapCrunch.
It distills the entire google maps photo database and transports you to a random place in the world (and you can set some of the parameters if you've got a specific place in mind). I't s a great reference tool to get a landscape to practice drawing...but it's also nice to be inspired. For instance, I want to go climb the rock in the picture above and play with those penguins. Which means I'll have to go to Antarctica!
- Chris
Sunday, November 7, 2010
"It's a long way to the top / If you want to rock & roll"
This is merely one viewpoint of an awesome weekend trip. For the other view, check out Mike's blog posts here: HERE and HERE.
Partially inspired by my recent trip to Mt. Washington, Mike tossed around the idea of doing a weekend hiking trip. Having no plans other than hosting a halloween party friday and antsy to leave the city for a while - I signed on to the plan pretty quickly. After debating the logistics of a trip to the Catskills or the Adirondacks further upstate, we chose the former. It meant only staying over one night, no time off work, and a quick 90 mile drive to and from the Catskills.
I picked the rental car up around 10am Saturday, drove up to Fort Washington to pick up Mike - and we headed north on I-87. Shortly after crossing the Tappan Zee Bridge we detoured to the Eastern Mountain Sports in Nanuet. I needed a new pair of hiking shoes to replace the ones I destroyed on Mt. Washington two weeks ago. We continued up I-87 to the exit for Rt. 28, which would lead us directly into the Catskills.
While it was past peak-leaf season, there was still plenty of color left on the hills and mountains. The last remanants of orange and red were intersperced with patches of evergreen, bright yellows and bare branches. Not quite as stellar as New Hampshire two weeks prior, but a heckuva lot better than the forest of concrete I call home. We were both getting hungry - so we decided to find a local place to grab some lunch. We first stopped at this odd Caviar store, whose promises of "gourmet food" left much to be desired. The store did feature some pretty large, impressive wooden dioramas of caviar harvesting. According to the owner, they help to sell the caviar.
A bit further down the street we stopped at Bistro-To-Go, a good bet because there were a bunch of cars parked around it. Inside was a hip little bistro with a friendly staff filled with some good smelling food, which turned out to be just as tasty as it smelled! We continued on the road another couple of miles until we got to Boiceville. Here, our attention was peeled from the open road by an alien space shuttle, and tons of spacecraft off the side of the road. We agreed we had to stop and check this out, so I turned the car around and we walked around in awe of the sculptures of artist Steve Heller. He makes his sculptures out of scrap metal, old car parts, and plenty of woodwork. He even created a replica Stargate out of car parts!
We realized that since it was still pretty early, and it was such a nice day - we should do a quick little day hike to explore the area. We found the Fox Hollow Trailhead, and explored along a fun little steam, full of boulders and fallen trees.
A little ways up Route 28 we came to the small town of Pine Hill, NY. A very small "town", there was nothing of interest until we came to our resting place: The Colonial. Words can't truly capture how...strange the place was. Thankfully Mike takes a ton of pictures:
Mike's Colonial Inn Photo Gallery
The place had a feel like a packrat's heaven - tons of mismatched furniture, hunting paraphernalia on the walls, hunting targets on top of firewood, jukebox on the front porch, and even a random stuffed Mickey chilling out at the bar:
While the locals were certainly interesting, we were welcomed and made to feel as comfortable as you could feel with all the animal heads mounted on the wall. We partook of the "grand buffet", which was actually much better than we thought it would be. That's a good thing considering we almost lost our appetite looking at our waitresses teeth. Her mouth looked like black bean soup...but I bet the nearest dentist is a long drive away and she probably doesn't get dental when they're charging only $14 for an all you can eat buffet.
We spent the rest of the night going on a drive for provisions for the hike, packing our bags and hitting the hay. We got up around 4am, and made the short drive to our trailhead. We set off about a quarter after 5am - ready to reach the top of the first peak, Wittenberg Mtn.
For the sake of brevity I've decided I will leave out the details about the hike itself - Mike's already done it really, really well anyway. So, I've decided to take a different tack...
I find myself in a much more awake and vibrant state when I'm in the nature. Perhaps its just so noticeable because I live in an enormous city, so when I go on a hike or climb it tends to be feel a lot like jumping into a pool of ice water. With every step, there a much greater sense of immediacy and interconnectedness. Throughout a hike the woods reveal themselves, and therefore do their part to reveal "me" to myself. My mind doesn't wander so much and a very true sense of peace settles over me.
View from the top of Wittenberg Mountain, 8am
There was definitely a sense of accomplishment in reaching the top of any mountain, or in finishing a particularly difficult hike (15 miles in 10 hours). But what really matters is the journey you take to get there - and I feel very lucky that I'm able to enjoy those journeys so much more now. When I sit on top of a mountain making peanut butter and honeycrisp apple sandwiches, I am completely comfortable with myself and my surroundings - I realize it's all a singular experience and it makes me a very happy man indeed.
Since pictures are worth thousands of words: Mike's Complete Hike Gallery
- Chris
Partially inspired by my recent trip to Mt. Washington, Mike tossed around the idea of doing a weekend hiking trip. Having no plans other than hosting a halloween party friday and antsy to leave the city for a while - I signed on to the plan pretty quickly. After debating the logistics of a trip to the Catskills or the Adirondacks further upstate, we chose the former. It meant only staying over one night, no time off work, and a quick 90 mile drive to and from the Catskills.
I picked the rental car up around 10am Saturday, drove up to Fort Washington to pick up Mike - and we headed north on I-87. Shortly after crossing the Tappan Zee Bridge we detoured to the Eastern Mountain Sports in Nanuet. I needed a new pair of hiking shoes to replace the ones I destroyed on Mt. Washington two weeks ago. We continued up I-87 to the exit for Rt. 28, which would lead us directly into the Catskills.
While it was past peak-leaf season, there was still plenty of color left on the hills and mountains. The last remanants of orange and red were intersperced with patches of evergreen, bright yellows and bare branches. Not quite as stellar as New Hampshire two weeks prior, but a heckuva lot better than the forest of concrete I call home. We were both getting hungry - so we decided to find a local place to grab some lunch. We first stopped at this odd Caviar store, whose promises of "gourmet food" left much to be desired. The store did feature some pretty large, impressive wooden dioramas of caviar harvesting. According to the owner, they help to sell the caviar.
A bit further down the street we stopped at Bistro-To-Go, a good bet because there were a bunch of cars parked around it. Inside was a hip little bistro with a friendly staff filled with some good smelling food, which turned out to be just as tasty as it smelled! We continued on the road another couple of miles until we got to Boiceville. Here, our attention was peeled from the open road by an alien space shuttle, and tons of spacecraft off the side of the road. We agreed we had to stop and check this out, so I turned the car around and we walked around in awe of the sculptures of artist Steve Heller. He makes his sculptures out of scrap metal, old car parts, and plenty of woodwork. He even created a replica Stargate out of car parts!
We realized that since it was still pretty early, and it was such a nice day - we should do a quick little day hike to explore the area. We found the Fox Hollow Trailhead, and explored along a fun little steam, full of boulders and fallen trees.
A little ways up Route 28 we came to the small town of Pine Hill, NY. A very small "town", there was nothing of interest until we came to our resting place: The Colonial. Words can't truly capture how...strange the place was. Thankfully Mike takes a ton of pictures:
Mike's Colonial Inn Photo Gallery
The place had a feel like a packrat's heaven - tons of mismatched furniture, hunting paraphernalia on the walls, hunting targets on top of firewood, jukebox on the front porch, and even a random stuffed Mickey chilling out at the bar:
While the locals were certainly interesting, we were welcomed and made to feel as comfortable as you could feel with all the animal heads mounted on the wall. We partook of the "grand buffet", which was actually much better than we thought it would be. That's a good thing considering we almost lost our appetite looking at our waitresses teeth. Her mouth looked like black bean soup...but I bet the nearest dentist is a long drive away and she probably doesn't get dental when they're charging only $14 for an all you can eat buffet.
We spent the rest of the night going on a drive for provisions for the hike, packing our bags and hitting the hay. We got up around 4am, and made the short drive to our trailhead. We set off about a quarter after 5am - ready to reach the top of the first peak, Wittenberg Mtn.
For the sake of brevity I've decided I will leave out the details about the hike itself - Mike's already done it really, really well anyway. So, I've decided to take a different tack...
I find myself in a much more awake and vibrant state when I'm in the nature. Perhaps its just so noticeable because I live in an enormous city, so when I go on a hike or climb it tends to be feel a lot like jumping into a pool of ice water. With every step, there a much greater sense of immediacy and interconnectedness. Throughout a hike the woods reveal themselves, and therefore do their part to reveal "me" to myself. My mind doesn't wander so much and a very true sense of peace settles over me.
There was definitely a sense of accomplishment in reaching the top of any mountain, or in finishing a particularly difficult hike (15 miles in 10 hours). But what really matters is the journey you take to get there - and I feel very lucky that I'm able to enjoy those journeys so much more now. When I sit on top of a mountain making peanut butter and honeycrisp apple sandwiches, I am completely comfortable with myself and my surroundings - I realize it's all a singular experience and it makes me a very happy man indeed.
Since pictures are worth thousands of words: Mike's Complete Hike Gallery
- Chris
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