love for the printed book

oh! i will have to get this one for my little library...



Bound to Last: 30 Writers On Their Most Cherished Book
by (Editor) Sean Manning; (Foreword) Ray Bradbury
PUBLISHER
Da Capo Press
©2010
ISBN-10 030681921x
ISBN-13 9780306819216
FORMAT Paperback
From Strand Bookstore

An array of writers come to the passionate defense of the printed book with spirited, never-before-published essays celebrating the hardcover or paperback that matters most to them - not necessarily because of its content, but because of the significance it holds for them as a one-of-a-kind, irreplaceable object. Includes original essays by, among others: Ray Bradbury, Francine Prose, David Hajdu, Wells Tower, Julia Glass. 288p.
Editor Sean Manning appears @STRAND BOOKSTORE >>November 3>>7pm - 8pm.

politics

i always disliked politics

but as i grow older

i understand the responsibilities of a good citizen

and i appreciate the freedom to vote

so i went out and voted

as i've done for a long time now

as i write this Jerry Brown is being

declared as the new Democratic Governor

of California, i celebrate 'cause he was my choice

let's see how this goes for California

oh poor beautiful state!

while waiting for elections results

i had to distract myself with something

Herr Gato and his politic views helped!

and Herr Gato is much better looking than Jerry too!

little Halloween

this year i had a very little Halloween

just a couple of quick placed lights

and only 1 group of trick or treaters...

but it was a good day

hope you had a spooky one too!

getting ready to watch the new Sherlock

as i type...

la pantera rosa

the pink panther doesn't have voices in English

but in Spanish, they talked the signs in English

translated in Spanish, this the Pink Panther

i grew up watching...

sunny again

after many cloudy & rainy days, it's sunny San Diego again... posting from my $5 old mobile

the new Sherlock

i haven't been so excited about a TV show
i think since i was a teenager
and since i was teenager too
i've been enamored & have been a big fan
of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's creation
Sherlock Holmes

really, i remember being 10 or 11 years old
and having to stay home sick with a cold
feverish and head-achy, but happy 'cause i would have
the chance to read Las Aventuras de Sherlock Holmes
[i read it in Spanish] instead of going to school

he's always been at the top of the all the mysteries
books i've read, he's always been my inspiration
for science and deduction
in a way, he has spoiled every man for me
'cause i've never found somebody as intelligent
nor dark but still righteous as he is

since long, i've been in love with Sherlock Holmes

and that's why these new series, of Sherlock
re-incarnated for the 21st century, had me a little nervous
sure! i was excited to see him again, on a new actor
but also i was afraid

through the years, i've suffered disappointments
regarding the actors playing Sherlock
probably the saddest, but expected horror
was the last Hollywood version of Sherlock with
Robert Downey Jr. as Sherlock, i like Robert
but i HATED the movie, so far from what Sherlock really is

one of my most admired impersonations of Sherlock
has been by Jeremy Brett, he was brilliant as the
'old' Sherlock


Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes

an even older, but great too, was Basil Rathbone
a classy old image of Sherlock


Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes

but on the 'new 21st century' Sherlock
mister Benedict Cumberbatch is definitively
a joy to watch, he distills intelligence, logic,
freakishness, and a great deal of fun,
he's even funny!
the chemistry between him and Martin Freeman
as Dr. John Watson is something spectacular too
also i loved how the really important character
of Dr. Watson recovers his place on these series
in so many he has been overshadowed by Sherlock...

the adaptation of the plots to our times
is rather intelligent too, Sherlock, so fond
of telegrams on his days, now sends text messages on the phone
the carriages have been replaced by cabs
and instead of Sherlock deducing Watson's life
by watching his pocket watch, this time he analyzes
his cellphone

i truly enjoyed the show last night
it is fast paced, clever, super-clever i must say
the acting and settings are superb &...
it was a lot of fun!
like TV is supposed to be!


Benedict Cumberbatch & Martin Freeman play Holmes & Watson

can't wait to see again
mister Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes
and Martin Freeman asDr. John Watson
if i were to meet them in person
i'd shake their hands and say thank you!

for more reviews and information visit these sites

http://www.kpbs.org/news/2010/oct/21/masterpiece-mystery-sherlock-study-pink/

http://www.ology.com/screen/sherlock-review

http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/2010/10/25/sherlock-a-review-of-a-study-in-pink-pbs-masterpiece-mystery/

[update]
on this link, you can find ALL the actors
who have played Sherlock Holmes
http://thenostalgialeague.yuku.com/topic/2392
Benedict Cumberbatch needs to be added to the list

the hawk is back & the sun smells too loud

the hawk who visits my alley is back



is planning to eat some of these little guys



reminds me of Mogwai's album The Hawk is Howling
and from it, this little lovely track the sun smells too loud



the weekend is here
i hope you enjoy it, and so your life

i despise

drivers who:

1. do NOT use their turn signals (blinkers, directional lights, whatever you want to call them but PLEASE use them before you change lanes or are about to turn left or right)

2. talk on their stupid cellphone while driving, or even worse, those who text!

3. do NOT give preference to pedestrians, c'mon! you are driving a metal beast, a person walking has all the disadvantages, at least let them go first!

4. desperate, impatience drivers, i used to be a super-fast driver, i still drive fast, but i hate those drivers that are rushing by all the time, even if you are great driver, speed makes everything worse, i've learned by experience

i despise many drivers, but somehow these are the ones i despise the most
and yes! at number 1 are the turn signals denial ones, strangely these are the ones i despise the most!

the darn blinkers are there, the controller so close to your steering wheel!
it takes about 2 seconds to turn your signal, and it's such a courtesy to other drivers
do indicate if you are going right of left, don't be lazy and an idiot!

as you can read, i have a strong opinion about it...

El Secreto de sus ojos

I've heard about this film a lot
good opinions, and great recommendations,
won the Oscar to best foreign film
and I knew Argentinian films are great,
this one is excellent!

El Secreto de sus Ojos

Mesmerizing, really
you get into the, as i read somewhere,
byzantine plot that interlaces
an unresolved crime with a love story
mixing past time & present
sometimes complex and always elegant script
the photography, the acting
the witty, poetic, and at times,
very funny dialogs, make of it
a complete film, i'd say a masterpiece

it's very well-done in every aspect
without expensive effects, but very classy resources

i'd love to watch more films by this director

i have the lovely advantage
of being a native Spanish speaker
so the fast spoken Argentinian accent
and the 'boludo' slang
weren't a problem but rather a delight

The secret in their eyes



i recommend you that if you need subtitles
do keep the sound in Spanish, there's a lot
to the acting that makes this film

i read a bit of the English subtitles when I was done
i was curious!, and even if they are not literal
[they said: "damn you!"
when is Spanish were saying: "que me cago en ti, boludo."
that is more like, i shit on you, asshole...
which is a common, even if very rude, thing to say in Argentina
in Mexico we have other insults]
this film is worth watching even in its native language

so, highly recommendable!
one of the best murder thrillers I've seen in a while
and a soulful love story

la fotografía y el internet

my very first love with the internet
was photography, yeah! digital, scanned
film, whatever, but images capturing still
a moving life
my most frequented site was 23hq.com
and somehow has been left behind
the silly Facebook, the blog, those more
instantly rewarding sites have kept me away
from doing more photography
also 'cause i have more limited time
and i have already too many times
photographed my front yard and my chubby cats
i feel i've become repetitive on themes
'cause i don't have much time left on the day
to go out and chase photographs

but anyway, it was refreshing to post
a couple of photos, all 35mm film
taken with my old Nikkormat camera
most taken with black & white film
an iso 100 film Kodak T-Max TMX

i really hope i get myself to photograph more
(i do photograph plenty but i don't post)
but also to do from more interesting themes
that my doorstep, my poor cats, who probably
think i am a Cat-paparazzi, and all the food i eat...

OK less blah and here are the images