A short list of Oscar related films in recent years to refer back to later.  I'm going to attempt to put a bigger dent in them this year

     2016

The Big Short

Bridge of Spies

Brooklyn

Mad Max: Fury Road

The Martian

The Revenant

Room

Spotlight

Trumbo

Steve Jobs

The Danish Girl

Carol

Joy

Creed

The Hateful Eight

Anomalisa

Inside Out

Sicario

Amy

Cartel Land

The Look of Silence

Winter on Fire

Ex Machina

Straight Outta Compton

Movies Missed From Previous Years 

CitizenFour

Inherent Vice

Selma

Wild

A Most Violent Year

Birdman

The Theory of Everything

Foxcatcher

Gone Girl

St. Vincent

Her

American Hustle

Dallas Buyers Club

Gravity

Up in the Air

Lincoln

Argo

Zero Dark Thirty

No Country for Old Men

The Reader

Frost/Nixon

Revolutionary Road

Slumdog Millionaire

Milk

Blood Diamond

Match Point

Away We Go

Coraline

Inception

The Tillman Story

Life of Pi

The Impossible

The Fighter

True Grit

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

12 Years a Slave

Whiplash
Silver Linings Playbook
Wolf of Wall Street

Other Documentaries

The Invisible War

Undefeated

The Act of Killing

Into the Abyss

Exit Through the Gift Shop

The Imposter

Man on Wire

Virunga

Recently Watched

Boyhood

American Sniper

The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game

Too Big To Fail

 Figure most people aren't stumbling across this film for a Saturday night date movie, and that most people know what they're getting here. So, I made it a point to watch this within a couple weeks of seeing Margin Call, and thought Too Big To Fail was much better in comparison for a number of reasons.
      The acting here is top notch. A paid cable movie that was able to snag a feature film cast. Specifically, Paul Giamatti and William Hurt are worth watching in and of themselves. Any actor who can make you feel bad for Hank Paulson for even five minutes deserves a golf clap in your living room.  
      I also appreciate the depth in this movie. A lot of that credit likely goes to the author whose book it was based on. Please don't misunderstand my praise for the movie. I certainly have complaints with certain portrayals, but there are plenty of documentaries on the topic, so if you're going to bang on the film for the reality it creates, I think you misunderstand the general concept of film. With that caveat, this movie is far more detailed and complete in its depiction than Margin Call, for example.
      It reminds me, not surprisingly, quite a bit of Recount in its storytelling structure. It's a delicate challenge to dramatize a non fiction work with material this dense. There aren't exactly a lot of guns and explosions, and extra weight falls on the actors, editing, production and so forth. Merely holding your interest with a movie like this is a challenge and they pull it off rather effortlessly.
      Finally, this movie makes the prudent decision to play the characters fairly straight in my mind. This telling of the story rings more true because the filmmakers largely eschew transparent attempts to force empathy for the protagonists. It doesn't matter if you like these people because you're fascinated by them and their moment in history. Not a perfect movie, but it's a quality addition to an important conversation.
     The biggest complaint I've heard about both films is the notion that the criminals, swindlers, and greedy bastards who populate them are far too often protrayed sympathetically or even heroically. In theory, I don't even disagree. The problem is you are far less likely to watch a film about folks you have a burning hatred for. This wasn't filmed by a documentary crew, but it is a movie with a message. In the end, it's a not a question of whether this film storms the right castle with enough pitchforks. It's way more simple than that. All that matters in this context is whether it tells a good story, and I think it absolutely does.

  4/5

  Watch or Skip

  P.S. These reviews are a snapshot of how I feel about a movie immediately after watching it. I have a feeling that had I seen this one first, I would have downgraded Margin Call a little more. I'd still give it a mild "Watch", but if you've only got time for one, go with Too Big To Fail, hands down.

Beginners

Expected to like this much more than I did, and in large part maybe that's why it gets two stars instead of three: expectations.
      I'll also take a large chunk of the blame for going in with misconceptions about how the film was structured. I'm aware that he won for SUPPORTING actor, but I still wanted more Christopher Plummer. To me, that was basically the redeemable part of the film. I had little to no interest in the cliched indie movie romance between the son and girlfriend, which was essentially depicted in a series of movie shorts that result in no personal growth, numerous sad faces, and occasional bright moments brought to you by the scene stealing dog. Just for fun, toss in a dying father as the undercurrent for the whole movie. I was ready for that part, but it turned out the movie wasn't good enough for me to want to deal with the general black cloud that comes with it.
      It's a unique film, and I'm more than happy it got the recognition it did. No complaints about the Plummer Oscar. Again, maybe it's on me that I expected a different film, and it's possible that someone who knows exactly what they are getting can appreciate it more as a simple autobiographical adaptation. In the end, I just found the experiences of a newly out old man far more interesting than the generic angst of his kid, and sadly the balance of those two storylines was entirely backwards.

2/5

Watch or Skip

Margin Call

Being honest with myself, I think I like this movie better in theory than in practice. Along those same lines, I also like it more in the context of a social commentary, than as a stand alone film in a vaccumn.
        It's well acted and any dialouge junkie will find numerous poignant speeches and quips that cut to the heart of the matter and nudge it off the fence into quite watchable territory. That said, there's a nagging feeling of empty calories here, which is odd given the weighty subject matter. It sometimes feels like the indie equivalent of great novel rushed into blockbuster production to capitalize on a hot topic. It also will be mildly distracting/problematic for some that essentially the whole movie takes place at the office. Of course, that's no biggie, since action verbs don't really exist in this film. It's like Phone Booth, only with numbers and fancy suits.
        Perhaps, this works better as a companion piece with Too Big to Fail than either movie does on it's own. That's on my list as well, and I'll try to watch it soon to have some comparison. Maybe, I'm just pissed that the bankers come across as a little too sympathetic. It was a little too convienent for me, that nearly EVERY character  shifts seamlessly from blissfully selfish to profoundly conflicted on a dime.
      In the end, this review is a bit of a contradiction. It's largely negative in it's detail, but in totality, I think it's worth a watch. The issue is too important to ignore, and there are several moments of five star dialouge. It's just that this particular telling of the story is a bit disappointing and most of the best stuff would have worked equally well as an audiobook.

3/5 stars

Watch or Skip

The American

I actually considered giving this movie a third star, but I realized that was just the power of Clooney. I found this film visually striking but otherwise lacking. It makes for a wonderful Italian postcard.
          Mildly shameful admission: I fast fowarded through many of the silent portions, making the movie far more watchable. I would have been much more bored and downgraded it further as a more static theater experience.
           That says it all I think. Clooney is never bad, and I actually enjoyed him in a more understated performance. The problem was the whole movie was just a notch TOO mellow given the subject matter. Kudos for not going with a more traditional shoot 'em up script. The problem is the decision to couple that with such an old fashioned and predictable character arc and ending. This combination lends an overall flatness to the whole thing. Absolutely pleasant, but utterly forgettable.
2/5 stars

Watch or Skip

Everything Must Go

Mildly surprised by how much I liked this movie. It's a perfect venue for serious Will Ferrell and the whole supporting cast is pitch perfect. An understated performance like this one means I should probably watch Stranger than Fiction to see what I've been missing.
     There are a couple of elements in particular that make this film particularly worthwhile for me. It's quirkiness remains firmly grounded in reality, and moments of apparent mundanity are suffused with subtle depth. I greatly appreciate the ambiguous ending. A neat bow on this movie would have ruined the whole damn thing. By the same token, I like the fact that the main character doesn't just make a drive thru visit to rock bottom. Instead, he chills out there for quite some time in his recliner. The dude doesn't have a Tony Robbins epiphany. There is no ride off into the sunset. Instead, there's just a confused guy trying to make better decisions. I love the guts that takes from everyone involved with the project.
    My only minor annoyance with the film was the fact that two of the characters (more actually) have drinking problems. More specifically, the convienent character connections made with it in the context of the movie was the only time I was taken out of the viewing experience. Very specific and very small complaint, but because it's such a central part of the plot it bugged me enough to be worth a mention. Don't misunderstand, I don't mind it as a character flaw, but I thought it was a bit of a crutch for plot and character development. After saying all that, this movie is based on a short story, so that may all come from the source material.
     In the end, this movie pulls back the curtain to remind us that we're all screwed up. It's just that some people are better at faking it than others.

4/5 stars: Watch or Skip

The Lincoln Lawyer

A good movie that could have been great. Let's not pretend that McConaughey is a great actor...ever. Having said that, defense attorney is oddly in his uber narrow wheelhouse. Marisa Tomei has gone from overrated to underrated in recent years, and I would watch William H. Macy cross the street. So, the cast gets a check mark from me.
    However, the plot only gets half credit. It works well as a fun crime thriller with a twist that isn't a tired cliche, which is hard to find these days. The major flaw in this film stems from character development, a writing issue more than acting. On occasion, bad things happen in this movie, and characters are in danger. The problem is that you don't REALLY care what happens to them.
      A good cast and cool premise are more than enough to hold your interest, and it's definitley worth a watch. It's just that the characters are undercooked and one dimensional, only scratching the surface of what could have been some complex and intriguing relationships that would have added an extra level of enjoyment to the viewing experience.

3/5 stars Watch or Skip

*Editors Note*
I have a vast number of random movies on my DVR from various free weekends. I have no intention of this being a movie review blog long term. That said, I never write any more and I think some mini reviews could be a good way to force myself to start using these muscles again. Round about thanks to Jeff and Lauren's dormant movie blog for planting the seed that got me to shake off the cobwebs.

Olympia Snowe Job

A brief but necessary blurb on Olympia Snowe too long for quippy status updates.

  Olympia Snowe (and Susan Collins) are thoughtful moderates by media narrative only. It's an assumption and political necessity baked into the cake of any remaining Northeastern Republican.  It's a shame that reality hasn't actually existed for years. I don't exactly shed a tear at her resignation. It does not break my heart that her seat may be filled by someone who might toe the party line 94% of the time instead of 89% (I believe that's the actual number, by the way.)
 It's not all their fault. Some of it is just unfortunate political timing. The current equivalent of a moderate Republican is embodied in folks like Bloomberg, Crist, Eliot Cutler, hell even Joe Lieberman. Of course, none of them are allowed to be called Republicans anymore.
  I know I'm in the minority, but I take no pride  in claiming either Senator for two major reasons. First, I find them to be largely political pawns with very little real backbone. I resent them trafficking off this moderate myth while marching in lockstep with the party on almost every important issue. I don't exactly find it groundbreaking every time I see them filibustering on cable news. How rebellious is that? They seem utterly and completely calculated to me, good enough politicians to sprinkle in a few "bipartisan" votes to churn out a few campaign ads. They almost always vote together like some sort of double headed lab experiment, while Scott Brown or now even Lisa Murkowski are far more likely to walk out on any important limb alone. They are, at best, the cream of an incredibly weak crop. Any pedastal you place them on is largely built on the incredible flaws of their brethren and a widely accepted public image where perception is not always reality.
  My second complaint is with Mainers themselves. Part of the reason I always voted against them was out of frustrated impotent protest. I knew my vote was wasted anyway, so why not vote against the incumbent perched upon their their throne of complacency. In my formative years, the Maine Senate seats have produced some of the most depressingly stagnant campaigns you'll find anywhere in the country. Part of it I think goes back to the media narrative. People here are intrinsicly proud that Maine is relevant on a national level every time there's a hot button press conference. I blame the Democrats for horrible candidates and the avearge voter for apathy, but a little fresh blood can be a good thing, especially when the person vacating that seat has basically been a mythical slight of hand trick or a mirage for quite some time. Of course, if she gets replaced by a gentleman in a tri-corner hat waving a "Don't Tread on Me" flag, I take it all back

Mission Objective (tivity)?: Colbert

No worries, this blog has not been foreclosed. It's just the current situation doesn't lend itself to a ton of material. If I was a stand up comedian (or insert sexual innuendo here) I'd be getting the hook after about two minutes. I'm still happy I started this though, because I like knowing it's here waiting if the mood strikes me, like any number of various cozy beverages.
    I've returned tonight, like Andy Dick to celebrity rehab, to vent quickly and pledge my support for Stephen Colbert as President of the United States of South Carolina. More specifically, I'd like to scream at the mainstream media for not being able to keep up. Over the past couple of days, I've heard several reporters weigh in on themselves essentially. NBC's Chuck Todd & others have recently begun to chastize their collegues for their handling of the story. The argument that Todd and others make is that some media members are making a mockery of the system by not pinning Colbert down on his intentions. I've even heard him compared to Donald Trump. In short, the argument is that the journalists should either treat him as a legitimate candidate or not invite him on serious news programs because they risk becoming water carriers for him, and feeding it rather than reporting on it.
  The saddest part is, these folks are so atrophied in their way of thinking they actually think they're taking the journalistic high road. In truth, they are just so completely enveloped in the cement of the system, they are no longer agile enough to deviate from the expected narrative to discover the real story.
    Of course, Colbert is not a truly serious candidate, but that doesn't make you a "respected" journalist for ignoring his all too serious mesage. Calling it a publicity stunt or joke is far too dismissive. It's a poltical experiment. It's a public service. He's pulling the curtain back and revealing the rot and corruption that already exists. Truth is always stranger than fiction. How about if the system is SO fucking (profanity used for affect) broken thanks to Citizens United & candidates only running to sell books and TV shows (you know like Palin, Huckabee, and Cain...you totally thought I was gonna say Colbert there) you report on that. The dude didn't invent his poll numbers or Super Pac from thin air. Why was he able to fill the vaccumn so quickly and easily? There are layers upon layers to be reported on here if you'll just peel away from the corporate picnic for a moment.  Instead of sandwiching the Colbert story in before keyboard cat, scratch a mere inch beneath the surface and discover the crucial issues so vast and obvious that a funny theater kid built a whole damn career from it.
 Keeping it short.   No  random junk tonight. I'm about to turn back into a pumpkin, and keeping a few bullets in the chamber might get me to visit more often anyway. That's what she said.
  

  
  

Blaspha-Me

     I'm writing this so that if I disappear without a trace at some point in the near future, you'll have some idea where to begin the search. It appears I am being heavily recruited by Jehovah's Witnesses lately. The problem is, I fear they have discovered that I am largely a captive audience. I was out walking about a month ago when a car pulled over as if to ask for directions. Instead, a tiny older gentleman in a suit hopped out, scurried across the road, shook my hand, introduced himself, and handed me some literature, which I then carried for three miles being environmentally concious. No harm, I've got a whole draw of New Testaments I picked up strolling the UMaine campus back in the day. The beginning of this week there was a knock on the door as I was coming out of the shower. I assumed it was the UPS guy or some reasonable fascimile, expect the guy was still knocking when I made it to the door a couple of minutes later. Seemed rather persistent for an Amazon order. Turns out it was my old friend from the side of the road, and he even remembered my name. He came bearing gifts of a bible study guide and inquired if he might return in a couple of weeks to "sit down with me." I was rather taken aback at this point, and stammered out an "ummmm....we'll see" or something equally non confrontational. Here's the thing, I'm afraid they might have zeroed in on me as the perfect mark. The Witnesses around here are normally quite passive, so I'm a bit concerned that they stayed at the door until I answered, and then dude even tried to set up a book club meeting. That's never happened before. It makes me think I've been scouted. I think they know I'm home most of the time, and that I don't run very fast. Couple all that with my aversion to confrontation and urge to avoid uncomfortable situations, and I'm already sweating about when these guys are going to show up again. Here's hoping I don't end up with a shaved head and purple sneakers.
   Spotify.com. Check it out, and thank me later. It's Euro napster, except free and legal, and not run by Justin Timberlake. Do it now. It's like Google+, only useful...Torchwood: Miracle Day....great stuff. American Ninja Warrior starting Sunday night....yes please.
     What is the point of a body double anyway? It just rewards hot ladies for not taking their clothes off...just sayin. Honestly though, they serve no purpose anymore. I feel like there are two different scenarios here, neither of which make much sense:
     1. If it's just gratutitous and unecessary, take it out. Everybody edits their flip cam footage these days. Nobody's fooled anymore, in which case there's no point in marketing A-list skin. It's like pumping up a broadway show for opening night, and then going with the understudy. Just don't bother, and let the film stand on its own merits.
     2. If it's a top notch film, where it's integral to the plot or character, suck it up ladies. It's sort of on the Mount Rushmore of Oscar cliches now: period piece, special needs, ugly it up.....and superstar sexy time. There are occasions where it's part of the craft, in which case those willing to take that script just might win statues of various shapes and sizes. Basically, if you demand a double in this situation, you're probably a bad actress with an inflated opinion of yourself, and also kind of a bitch.
  Won't you all please join me in putting an end to stunt butts??

In Defense of Defense

I just flashed back to my 7th grade English class. We watched the OJ verdict on television (which kinda seems like a poor syllabus at this point.) As I recall, my old friend Thom McHugh and I made a tidy sum of extra lunch money standing all by our lonesome on one side of the verdict straw poll (One guess, which side) while our 30 or so classmates clustered confidently and sanctimoniously on the other side. Turns out I was either very mature back then, or just stubborn in my convictions..
  Such a sense of deja vu comes not from the result itself, but from the reaction to it, and my apparent triumphant return to the wild outback fringes of public opinion. It distresses me to no end that people have such such little understanding of the justice system that they instead experience it as  reality television. They rage with self righteous entitled indignation whenever a high profile "not guilty" verdict comes in as if Sopranos just cut to black or some douchebag is talking about the Bachelorette behind her back. People want their money back guarantee and the extended warranty on the media circus they've been consuming like rubberneckers at a car wreck. At the beginning of every megatrial there is a tacit agreement between the media and the public that everyone is on board for some Jack Bauer justice. The truth is that real life is more like an independent film festival: filled with flawed complex characters and conflicting or ambiguous endings.
   Reasonable Doubt is not Dre's latest protege, it's the absolute cornerstone of our justice system. Just ask Amanda Knox, Middle Eastern women, or gays in Africa what happens if the system operated under the premise that if the police put you in handcuffs you must have done something wrong, and it's up to you to prove otherwise. Guilty until proven innocent is a dangerous road that we've been hurtling down for quite some time thanks to cable news hyberole and network tv crime procedurals that are equal parts Encyclopedia Brown and Jetsons. If Nancy Grace was the Grand Inquistor, we'd all be in jail. Seriously, every single one of us, no exaggeration.
  That's sort of the problem though. I think most people have lost the capacity to comprehend the magnitude of such situations. I don't speak of empathy for the accused necessarily, but the ability to imagine oneself in a similar situation where your literal life hangs in the balance. The best you can hope for is that the basic tenents of the system, right to a fair and speedy trial, has not been corrupted by overzealous talking heads and societal group think.
  I'll admit I did not pay the closest attention to the Anthony case, in particular. I'm aware your aunt and best friend handed down a conviction three years ago. However, it does seem clear to me that case was built ENTIRELY on circumstantial evidence, another aspect of the legal system apparently too complex for some folks to grasp. Even a mountain of such evidence is still circumstantial, which by the way, isn't useless. However, it does mean that an incompetent and preening prosecuter who assumes a slam dunk and is worried about where his book deal might come from, coupled with an active defense attorney can punch plenty reasonable sized doubt holes in such a case. Sometimes I think even the state forgets it holds the burden of proof.
   Sometimes I'm awed into silence at the tightrope of civilization we walk with Lord of the Flies anarchy staring at us from the abyss on the either side. One fucking word was the space between freedom and death. Regardless of your opinion on the death penalty or the verdict, just close your eyes for a moment and let the gravity of the responsibility of such a decision. Those 12 jurors perform the modern equivalent of thumbs up or down in the gladitorial arena. Pause for a moment of introspection before you take the the torches and pitchforks out to put them on trial too.
     The logical divide that people can't or won't bridge is the concept that it is entirely possible (in fact it SHOULD be far more common than it is) to believe it more likely than not a crime was committed and still render an accquital. (Wave to our old pal reasonable doubt.) Every system is flawed and every society has an essential decision to make about which inevitability is easier to live with and which should be weighted against: Guilty people occasionally going free or innocent people occasionally going to prison. As it turns out, I made my choice way back when, even if I wasn't fully aware of it at the time. It's an often unpopular choice. It's sometimes a difficult and painful choice, but I truly believe it to be the correct one. Civilization does not crumble and burn with a single injustice, but rather with a broken, unjust and corrupt system. Sometimes the right decision isn't the easy one folks, and sometimes  the greater good doesn't make you feel good at all.
        
 

Why Do I Dislike Oprah So Much?

I've been pondering this age old question, especially in recent weeks, now that the Color Pious is no longer sending forth decrees from on high every weekday at 4 in that place of honor between Let's Make a Deal and Inside Edition.
  I don't blame you, Oprah (at least not entirely.) I realized my issue is not so much with Oprah, but with her insanely inflated place in society. Oprah shouldn't make you cry. She doesn't belong on the five dollar bill. I don't care who she thinks should be president. That book she just told you to read? It won the Pulitzer Prize 50 years ago. All those life changing epiphanies she's sharing with you either come directly from freshmen English or the keychain you uses to open house number 27. Beef was bad for you a decade before Oprah was a woman on a mission with a persecution complex.
   See, I think what bothers me is not that there's anything wrong with Oprah, it's that there's nothing special about her either. Yet so many otherwise smart, self aware people are ready to sprinkle holy water and canonize her at a moment's notice. Oprah's not your friend. She's your used car salesman. She's the traveling preacher "healing" the guy in the wheelchair and passing the plate. She gained a national platform because she had a good television show not because she was full of wisdom. She started her own television network so she could buy her dog a third Mercedes, not so the two of you could go on a journey together to find the true you.
     Kudos on the charitable work, of course that's wonderful. Just one quick thing: Most people who  give money to good causes don't usually also spring for the camera crew and Tom Hanks narration.
      You watch Oprah. I watch pro wrestling. You watch Oprah. I watch the Amazing Race and Survivor. You watch Oprah. I watch Lost and 24. It's all part of the same soup. By all means, enjoy her to the nth degree. Just please acknowledge that she does not exist on some higher plane and you'll make me feel SO much better. Oprah is not Ghandi. She's Sally Jesse Rapheal. Oprah is not Martin Luther King. She's Maury Povich. Do me one favor and next time she's imploring you to release your energy out into the universe, picture the love child of Phil Donahue and Ricki Lake with better ratings. That's all I ask.

Intellectual Vegetarian

"Intellectual Vegetarian" is a phrase I used on social media the other day in an attempt to try and describe my current state of mind on the matter. (By the way, I've also decided that Facebook and Twitter are largely responsible for my blogging hiatus.) Learning to share my mind soup with others in such efficient snippets has sapped the need and motivation to flesh things out further. We'll see if I can change that. End of meta tangent.
   The phrase "intellectual vegetarian" is rather self explanatory I suppose, though I'm proud of myself for coining it, at least in my own head. It really just means that it rationally is making more and more sense to me, but at the same time, I don't actually envision myself making the lifestyle switch.
     I realize that people have very personal reasons for making such a decision, and there are any number of such reasons. I could be wrong, but I always thought the core of vegetarianism was the idea that as self aware members of the food chain, once we figure out that we don't need meat to survive, should probably not eat it, ethically speaking. In other words, of course it's nothing wrong with it, naturally speaking, and we have the teeth to prove it. Yet, some would argue that "we should know better," that once it becomes a concious choice, the empathetic decision is to avoid eating animals since we don't actually have to. There's always been one logical hurdle (or rationalization) for me on this front. All the animals I eat are already dead. I've never liked hunting because it seems unfair and unecessary to me. (Give the deer a gun too and see what happens, though my hunting friends always eat what they kill.) I figure if I stop eating delicious hamburgers, it's not as if the burger gets to go free in the countryside. So, while I largely find the effort to be futile, I find the intention more and more noble, having never actually met a vegetarian until grad school and having several years to mull it over.
   Personally, there's another reason why my mind keeps coming back to the subject. Despite how good it tastes, I'm increasingly disconcerted with what is in my food. Everything is so processed and artificial that we no longer have the slightest clue what we are putting in our bodies. I gave up milk after one too many docmentaries, though it's more a symbolic decision than anything else. In a perfect world, I'd just eat less meat, and eat organically, but it's expensive. Plus, organic food is actually becoming easier to find, but mostly because corporations have realized how chic it is, and have co-opted it, campaigning to the FDA to get the guidelines for what is considered organic loosened and lowered. Point being, I don't have the energy to figure these things out,so vegetarian might be the path of least resistance.
    I'd be shocked if I ever actually did it. There are probably plenty of less radical ways to eat healthier and more naturally. I just find it interesting that my head has been inching in that direction over a long period of time, while my taste buds have no idea. Maybe I should try being a pescatarian. Wait a minute...damn mercury poisoning

...and away we go

Stephen King says that it always bothers him when people wander up to him and say, "I've always wanted to be a writer." He says those people miss the point. You either write or you don't. It's not a goal to be reached. It's a process to be experienced. So here I am. I haven't had enough "experiences" lately, and this is one I have complete control over.
   I have no clue where this little experiment is headed. This could be the first and last entry or I might find my own little corner of the internet quite cozy and decide to stay for while. Hell, I know this is supposed to be blogging for dummies, but right now the comestics of this bastard are enough of a hassle. I feel like the first half dozen entries are likely to be the equivalent of a late night TV test pattern, but if a tree falls in the virtual forest and nobody's there to read it....right?
  If this incarnation of my incoherent ramblings does stick around for a while it would, out of necessity, be an eclectic mix of irrelevant ramblings. The occasional movie review worthy of the middle aged late local news lady. Some small part of my brain thinks it might be useful to climb onto the couch and examine my daily angst. Of course the rest of that brain would only allow this until somebody else actually started reading it. Random thoughts more likely. Maybe at some point I'll break out a fancy picture camera, thought finding worthy subjects around here is a bit of a stretch.
   I'm not going to overstay my welcome tonight. Nothing of substance here, more of an interwebs icebreaker.