ShowMeBlog

The Last Hurrah

  When I was in high school I had to read “The Last Hurrah.”  I did not read it of course.  I was not a good student in high school.  I went to summer school all four years.
  Brother Peter called on me in calls to ask what the last words of Frank Skeffington were and I did not know because I did not read the book.

  The book came out in 1956.  I would have known if I had watched the 1958 movie.  My last year of high school was 1959.

  I just watched the movie again.  I have seen it a number of times.  It is a great little movie.  Young people now days do not like to watch black and white movies and they also do not like old movies.  Well at least that is the way it is with three of my four kids.

 
 

“…With Democracy (1880), All the King's Men (1946), and Advise and Consent (1959), The Last Hurrah is among the more successful novels about American politics.^[5] Along with The Late George Apley (1937), it is also one of two successful works of fiction about Boston. ^[9]

Perhaps most notably, the phrase '"The Last Hurrah" has since become a common phrase in the English lexicon^[10] to mean a swan song or, in politics, the last campaign of a politician.^[11]

Interestingly, the success of the novel and subsequent film adaptations have greatly improved the public image of James Michael Curley, on whose story the novel is thought to be based. Skeffington is depicted as rambunctious yet heroic, whereas Curley had been largely forgotten. Now the late mayor and governor is looked upon with nostalgia.^[11]

[edit]Film, TV or theatrical adaptations

 

U.S. poster of the 1958 film The Last Hurrah

See also: The Last Hurrah (1958 film)

John Ford, himself an Irish-American, directed this very notable book-to-movie adaptation. Much of its success was due to the very reputable and well-performing cast, which includes Spencer Tracy, Pat O'Brien,Jimmy Gleason, Frank McHugh, Wallace Ford and Willis Bouchey. Columbia Pictures bought the rights to make this movie from O'Connor for $150,000.^[4]…”

Friendly Persuasion

  This Wednesday a great movie is going to be on Turner Classic Movies.  The movie is "Friendly Persuasion" and I love the movie.  The movie will be on at 10 AM on the east coast and it will be at 9 AM for me here in Texas. 
   Now if you watch "Friendly Persuasion" make sure you watch the 1956 one with Gary Cooper.  I will set my alarm and be watching the movie.  I think it is one of the all time great movies.

  This is the first time I have been to TCM (Turner Classic Movies) web site.  It is a great web site.  Since I get TCM movies with my cable TV service (Charter) I am going to start checking out the TCM web site.
  I see at 0230 hours (EST) and I guess that would be then on the September 15th they are going to have on one of the worst movies of all time and that is "The Hoodlum Priest" which was made in 1961.   

  The truth is that I do not remember much of the movie. So it might not be a bad movie.  My problem is that movie is a "true" story about a real Catholic Jesuit priest.  The movie is about Father Charles Dismas Clark.  
  My high school De La Salle (1955-1959) had him come and preach and talk to us for a retreat.  I went to Confession to him.   

   

"Brief Synopsis

Father Charles Dismas Clark, a Jesuit priest in St. Louis, dedicates his life to the rehabilitation of delinquents and ex-convicts. By meeting them on their own terms and talking their language, he wins their confidence and their trust. He is primarily concerned with a young thief, Billy Lee Jackson, recently released from the Missouri State Penitentiary. Father Clark helps clear the boy of some trumped-up charges and then gets him an honest job with a produce market. Billy's rehabilitation is further encouraged by Ellen Henley, a young socialite with whom he falls in love. Meanwhile, aided by Louis Rosen, a successful criminal lawyer, Father Clark raises enough funds to open Halfway House, a shelter for ex-convicts readjusting to civilian life. All goes well until Billy's employer fires him for a theft he did not commit. Embittered, he and a friend, Pio, attempt to rob the produce market. They are caught by one of the owners, and he attacks Billy with a crowbar. The panic-stricken boy grabs a gun and kills him. The police chase Billy to an abandoned house, and he hides there until Father Clark persuades him to surrender. Tried and convicted of murder, he is sentenced to death. Before Billy dies in the gas chamber, Father Clark reassures him by telling him of Dismas, the thief who died on the cross, and of how Christ promised him eternal life. After the execution, Father Clark returns to Halfway House and finds his first client, Pio, drunk and repentant." TCM

 

  I am not sure what year he was at DLS.  I think it was 1955.  But I was just a young dumb high school kid and as I watched and listened to him talk and mostly cry I was saying to myself this guy is crazy!  I was wondering why the brothers would allow a crazy guy to get up in front of us and carry on like that.  
   My problem with him was his emotional crying and holding up photos.  
   I am sure the problem was in me.  I try and control my emotions. I always want to be in control of them and see a guy crying and carrying on like that was a big turn off for me.
 

The History Boys

 

  I just watched a good movie on the Sundance channel.  It was “The History Boys.”  See IMDB. 

  I like movies about schools and teachers.  I hated school myself so I am not sure why I like those sort of movies.
  I also like sports movies.
“The History Boys is a play by British playwright Alan Bennett. The play premiered at the Lyttelton Theatre in London on 18 May 2004. Its Broadway debut was on 23 April 2006 at the Broadhurst Theatre where there were 185 performances staged before it closed on 1 October 2006”

Who U going to believe?

  I blogged about “Palin’s movie opens to empty theater.”  I have not seen the movie and I have no desire to see the movie and come on be honest who wants to go and see a movie about her that is an hour and a half PR video on her?

  But the right wing (hate) blog www.redstate.com has the following:

  

“In fact, the Palin film is dazzling people by just how well a film of its type is doing with no traditional promotion. Even movies like The Passion of the Christ, which largely relied on alternative publicity mechanisms, still had a great deal of traditional promotion, studio support, and media buzz.

“The Undefeated” is different. In addition to being a political documentary, it is not backed by a studio, does not have major media buzz, and continues to sell out in showings around the country.

More impressive, there are continued reports of people who didn’t care for Palin or had no opinion of her (the few that remain) who came out impressed with her in the movie.

The movie is going to be expanding its presence around the country. It’ll be interesting to see just how much of a demand it can keep.”

 

  I check out right wing blogs and sites from time to time.  I need to keep an eye on the evil empire.  I listened to Radio Moscow in the 50s and 60s to see what the USSR was saying. 
  It seems to me that the RedState site has the very same problems as Radio Moscow.  They use hate terms for people, organizations and positions.  They will lie about something that they do not need to even lie about so that when they do say something that might be true you tend to not believe it.
 
  If any of you right wing supporters know of any right wing sites that tell your position but try and be truthful I would like to hear what site it is.  showmeblog@gmail.com
 
  My guess is that the Palin film will be seen by a lot of people but not in movie theaters.  Fans will buy a copy and take it to church events and places like that and screen it.  Then if she should decide to run, which I do not think she will do, they will pass it out as advertising for her.

  “The Undefeated” is getting 1.5 starts out of 10 on The Internet Movie Database site. 

   Here are 16 movie reviews of The Undefeated.  Of course fans of her are going to say that that movie critics are left wing Communist but for what it is worth you can read some movie reviews about her film.

1. Village Voice [Ann Merlan]
2. Orlando Sentinel [Roger Moore]
3. The Daily Caller [Matt Lewis]
4. Hot Air [Ed Morrissey]
5. National Journal [Kathy Kiely]
6. The Hill [Jordan Fabian]
7. The Independent Critic [Richard Propes]
8. Bloomberg.com [Julie Hirschfeld Davis]
9. CBSNews.com [Jan Crawford]
10. The Hollywood Reporter [Todd McCarthy]
11. indieWIRE [Eric Kohn]
12. National Review Online [Jim Geraghty]
13. New York Post [Kyle Smith]
14. Roll Call [Christina Bellantoni]
15. Slate [David Weigel]
16. Variety [Joe Leydon]

Fried Green Tomatoes

  I hate to admit it but I loved the movie “Fried Green Tomatoes.”  The reason I hate to admit it is that I think it is a “chick” movie.  Real men do not like movies like that we love movies like “Road House.”  I, of course, not only loved the movie road house I used his line “My way or the highway.”  I was working hospital security at a small hospital next to 71 highway and a guy was at the admitting desk being a prick.  So I went over and ended up telling him “My way or the highway.” 

  Back to “Fried Green Tomatoes” movie.  I been wonder what in the hell fried green tomatoes taste like and are they any good.
 
 

  Yesterday I ate at Captain D’s (see photo on left) and they offered fried green tomatoes.  I got three and I think it was 99 cents for them.  I am glad I did not order the 7 of them.
  Now I am not sure if their fried green tomatoes are a true sample of them or not.  I was not impressed and I did not even eat two of them.
  Now I know what fried green tomatoes taste like after all of these years.

 

  I was the “mayor” at Caption D’s but the other day someone beat me out.  This visit did not get me back as mayor yet.  The mayor thing is a Foursquare thing. 

My 15 Minutes of Fame

  They say everyone gets 15 minutes of fame.  I had a few seconds of fame in the “BBS: The Documentary.”  I was in the movie and Jason Scott (the director) said that my line got the biggest laugh in the movie.
  But I do not think that counts as my 15 minutes of fame.  So I must still have something more right?

  I think I am in a book!  Jerome S. Berg wrote “Listening on the short waves, 1945 to today.” 

  He did an interview with me and I think he wrote about me.  I have no idea if it is good or bad or if I made it into his book.  I have not got a copy of the book yet.  I got it on my Amazon WishList and I use that list as a place to put things that I want and when I have a few extra bucks I go  and order something.  You know me… I always order computer hardware or radio hardware first.  So I have not ordered the book yet.  But I will one of these days and then we will find out if I was a good guy or a bad guy back in the late 50s and early 60s.  I put out a shortwave club publication for a time.  I did a “DX program” over WRUL radio for a year until they kicked me off the air.  I pushed for the formation of a organization of shortwave clubs (and it was created) and I held the first convention of the ANARC in Kanas City (MO) so I think I might get a mention in the book.
  So how many minutes of fame does that count as? 

   Shortwave listening was such a fun hobby and I made so many friends.  There were a  few meetings but most of your time was spent in your room in front of a shortwave radio late at night.  I often think that all those years were wasted.  I should have been out meeting people and doing things.  On the other hand it was exciting and all sorts of things took place.  Listening to see what happened when the United States set off a nuclear bomb in space.  I was a teenager that had to go to summer school every year but I headed up a research group for MIT!  (Office for Satellite Scatter – Research Group C).  So I do not know if that was wasted time or if I was getting a hell of an education sitting in my bedroom listening to my shortwave radios.
   When I get my hands on the book I will let you know if that completes my 15 minutes of fame or if there is still someone ahead for me.

   Do mentions in a newspaper count as 15 minutes of fame?  I was mentioned in a story in the Kansas City Star one time.  It had to do with a meeting of the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners.  I stood up and make a hell of a speech.  Of course the newspaper did not report it that way.  The story did not make me look good.
  I also was mentioned and given credit for a story on the front page of a weekly national Catholic newspaper.  On my shortwave radio I picked up a report from Radio Havana about the arrest of a Catholic Bishop.  I reported it to the newspaper and even played it for the over the telephone and they put it on the front page of the newspaper.
  Maybe I have had my 15 minutes of fame.  I am 70 years old. 

My Wouxum is in Fort Worth

  Tracking says that my new radio is in Fort Worth.  I am in Fort Worth.  So I hope to see it today.  I will be had to have a ham radio again.  If I get it today I will make a video and post on YouTube and post the video here.

  The news and stories coming out of Joplin are so sad.  A tornado is so powerful that it is just hard to believe.  Like I said before I never had any fear of them… But I was not brave I was stupid.
  The other day the tornado siren went off here.  I only heard it because I was making a video and I opened up the patio door to made the video.  It was hard to hear then.  So I need to get one of those weather warning radios.  They do not cost very much.  I think they cost about $40.00 for a pretty decent radio.

I do not agree with the extension of the Patriot Act.  I have to agree with Sen. Rand Paul on this issue.  One way you know it is a bad idea is by the name.  Anytime you see something with a name like that (“Patriot”) you know it is a bad idea.
  We might need part of the law but we need a full investigation and hearings.

  I did not hear the screams that I expected over the Loughner ruling.  I guess everyone pretty much knew he had to be as crazy as a bed bug.

  Remember I was a John Edwards supporter.  I came to support Obama at the last.  So I watch with interest what is going on with John Edwards.  I do not feel sorry for him at all.  I feel sorry for his family.
  I do not want anything to do with him.  Sure he should make the best deal he can get for himself but he needs to take his punishment.  If I were him I would make sure that my punishment was such that even people that did not like me would say .. wow.. He got hit hard. 
  It is like Martha Stewart…I was never a Martha Stewart fan.  But after she went to jail and served her time I became a fan.  I did not think she should have even gone to jail but the way she took it make me respect her. 

  I am tired of hearing about Oprah.  I never been a fan of Oprah (I do have a penis you know).  I do not hate her.  A lot of Republicans hate her.  I see her just as a very successful show person.  I think she has done some good over the years but I think all of it was done to promote her and as PR.  She is not a saint.

  Want to read a great story?  It will put a smile on your face and make you feel good for the day.  See “The Throwback: ‘Wonka’ star talks 40th anniversary.”

Chariots of Fire

  I signed up AGAIN for Netflix.  I just watched again online “Chariots of Fire.”  It is, of course, a great movie.

  My grandson today was made a full time employee.  He works for a large department store.  I am glad to know that a few people can still end up being full time employees.  I fear we are becoming a nation of part time workers or contract workers or agency workers.

  I never had a time in my life that I did not have a job.  It is different now… I do not know what to tell young people.  I guess get as much education as you can get and learn all the skills you can learn.  I would say also save money.  I would say save 10% of everything you make from day one. 
  It is hard on people now days and is getting harder and harder each day.

The Last Airbender

  I watched “The Last Airbender” at the Charter Communications site.  If you are a Charter customers you can watch all the Epix movies for free.  Pretty neat deal.

 
 

“The Last Airbender is a 2010 adventure fantasy film released on July 1, 2010.^[5] The movie combines live action and computer animation to create this film adaptation based on the first season of the animated television series Avatar: The Last Airbender.

The film stars Noah Ringer as Aang, and also stars Nicola Peltz, Jackson Rathbone, and Dev Patel.

The Last Airbender was produced by Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies.^[6] Development for a film began in 2007; it was adapted into a film by M. Night Shyamalan, who also directed and produced. Other producers include Frank Marshall, Kathleen Kennedy, Sam Mercer and Scott Aversano. The series from which it was adapted was influenced by Asian art, mythology and various martial arts^[7] fighting styles and was created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. Filming began in mid-March 2009, with locations in Greenland and Pennsylvania.

The Last Airbender was made for $150 million and marketed with a budget of $130 million, making total costs at least $280 million.^[2] Premiering in New York City on June 30, 2010, it opened in the United States the following day, grossing an estimated $16 million.^[8][9] The Last Airbender opened in second place at the box office behind The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, and eventually grossed $131 million domestically and $319 million worldwide.^[3][4]

Though successful at the box office, The Last Airbender met with negative reception by critics and fans alike.^{[citation needed]} The film won five Golden Raspberry Awards including Worst Picture in 2011.^[10]….”     Wikipedia

 

  I did not think the movie was that bad.  I am a fan of M. Night Shyamalan by the way.  I think the fighting was done very well in it. 
  I think boys of a certain age would love it.  I am not sure about girls.
  I watched it all.  It is not a movie I would ever want to watch a second time but it was OK for one time.

The Kings Speech

  I watched The Kings Speech at Amazon.  You can watch it on line and it is there for 24 hours.  I ended up watching it two times.  Great movie.

  We have had rain here all night and day.  It is wet and cold.  One lone little bird found my new bird feeder.  My guess is that other birds will notice that he has found food at some point and start to come to the feeder.

  I will not be getting any money from Google AdSense this month.  You have to earn $100.00 before they pay out and I make less than $25.00 a month.  Last month I was sure at last I would reach the $100.00 mark.  But it came out $99.55 is the commission I have earned.  The last time I got money from Google AdSense was January 25th of this year.
  Keep in mind that I am also a YouTube partner and the commission includes what I make from YouTube.
  So if any of you think … If only you were a YouTube partner that you would make a lot of money… You had better think again.

  I went to taking one Benazepril HCL 20 mg a day instead of two a day.  I take it at noon each day now.  I do not think I am as dizzy now.  I am not sure but I think it is working better.  I just took my BP (2 hours after taking my morning medications) and my BP is 140/69.  Last night my BP was 134/70. 
  Now do not do what I am doing.  Take your Benazepril and other blood pressure medications as directed by your doctor.  Benazepril is one that they warn you to take as directed and do not stop taking it or else.

  Not a nice day here today.  It is 50 F (10 C) degrees and we have rain. 
Texas needs the rain.