Wednesday, February 28, 2007
special Way Back Wednesday , Happy 115th Birthday to..
Biological great-grandmother
Florence Victoria Wyrwas
born today
Febuary 28, 1892, Springfield, Massachusetts

(with husband Alessandro Ginosa and children, my grandmother is to her left)

(with my grandmother Filomena (left) on her 86th birthday 1978 )
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I never knew Florence, as I did not locate my biological parents until I was 20 and by that time she had been gone nealy 15 years. I was able to develop a great relationship with her youngest daughter, my grandmother Filomena (the reason I have all of these wonderful photographs), who was a very kind and loving woman, opening her arms and heart to me from the moment we met. She even insisted I call her "Grandma". She had been through much tragedy in her life, and was very much what you might call eccentric, yet above all she made me feel the most welcome and accepted. She lived long enough to see my own two sons, passing in November of 2000. This is one of my favorite photos of her with them:
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been a while since I did one of these genealogy-based WBW things ...
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in honor of my great-grandmother (and her era) let's spend a few moments in the days of her youth. This clip is from 1901, and it takes my breath away. Wow.. (ok I am a geek, but still..)I mean look at those vintage outifts ... you are looking into another era long since passed and unfortunately so has (nearly) anyone who could have been old enough then to remember it now.
(I mean I was just an infant at the time hehe....)
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S9 154
Written at 6:21 AM by The Persian.
3 comments
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Gael García Bernal
watched The King last night. Definitely one of the most disturbing films I have seen in a very long time. My friend and I looked at each other when it was over and were in shock.
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you might remember Gael from Babel as the kid driving the old Mexican Woman south (along with Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchet's blonde kids), and who later abandoned them in the desert.
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You might also remember him as Che Guevara in The Motorcycle Diaries.
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stills from The King...



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It was a nerve wracking experience to watch this. It.really.was
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hehe ... I've discovered the amazingness that is Red Box ....

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$1 a day .. $1 charged every day afterward if not returned.
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I am addicted (rented 3 yesterday and 4 today)
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plus it helps to fill my sad & lonely evenings
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I am sooo over chat rooms and dating, it's been months
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I feel the the onset of hermitdom coming on...
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hell I don't even go on Aim or Yahoo anymore
(well for more than a few minutes here and there)
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and ya wonder why this place has become such a dullish read of late? Probably because my life has indeed been a dullish existence recently (apart from the weekends).
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but it's a good dullish if that makes any sense. I needed this break from partying and social obligations to get my shite together once and for all.
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S8 156
Written at 3:28 PM by The Persian.
12 comments
Monday, February 26, 2007
was a laid back Sunday...
(yikes)
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we didn't do much, rented a few movies:

Babel

Hollywoodland

The Dark Room

The Devil Wears Prada

Saw III

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All I can say about the 5 above is that I loved Babel. Somehow I was able to get my younger son to watch most of it with me. This would usually be quite the undertaking, but given that his brother was playing History Channel: Civil War and naturally using the TV in their room for that purpose and also he (my younger son) is not allowed on any PC (he's grounded) naturally the living room (where I was watching Babel) would be a place to relax and chill with dad. I think he enjoyed most of it, although there were a few parts that bored him (being 12 and all).
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In any case I was quite impressed, and it certainly kept my attention. There were so many performances worthy of note (Brad Pitt the maligned certainly gave one of them). Do see this somehow, you will not regret it.
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Saw III was horrible (even though I did not watch so much of it, having hated the first two, senseless gore-fests)
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Hollywoodland was bearable, and even tho I love Adrien Brody and consider him one of the greatest actors in Hollywood, I just didn't care for this film. It was flat and boring from my perspective. Essentially it was the true-ish story of the untimely death of original Superman (of early TV fame) George Reeves (played by Ben Affleck) and the investigation which followed. Quite the scandal back in 1959 from what I am led to believe.
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The Dark Room was a B-Movie, and while it certainly wasn't the worst I've seen (great twist at the end), it was still a badly (naturally) made B-Movie. nuff.said
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The Devil wears Prada -- I really had no idea what this film was about when I rented it apart from that many people (including critics) were raving about it. Yea ok Meryl Streep (as you would suspect) is a phenomenal actress, and her performance was true to form, but still. I didn'tenjoy it so much, not being so much into fashion or that industry. If you are tho, by all means check it out, you might possibly enjoy it. I.didn't
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anyway...
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Monday yet again, sheesh. Seems time does fly quickly.
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Today marks 1 whole week sans hooch.
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I feel the momentum beginning ...
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ya know yesterday I posted about being sort of upset about the MCR show Saturday night, and I did receive an anonymous comment (most likely from the ex-wife) pointing out that the most important thing to consider is that my son enjoyed the show and I should celebrate the fact that her bf was kind enough to buy those pitt tickets for him. I will say this, he/she/it has a point. The most important thing is that he had an amazing time. Hell I did too. So who cares then right? After all they were fracking incredible tickets, I.must.say
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subject.closed
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Hope everyone has a decent Monday, no worries it will be over in an instant!
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S7 154
Written at 6:31 AM by The Persian.
10 comments
Sunday, February 25, 2007
so last night was the My Chemical Romance show

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they were amazing as anticipated...
(excuse my crappy cell-phone pics)
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lead singer Gerard Way was rolled out on a hospital bed in the beginning
(reminiscent of the Welcome to the black parade video)
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We were very very close (maybe 10 people from the stage) .. the pitt at this venue is smallish. There wasn't an empty seat in the place either, completely packed right back to the nose bleed seats. As I said, these guys were amazing and played for like and hour and a half. Huge balls of fire rose from the set, the heat from which felt like a bonfire to those of us up close.
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The opener, Rise Against was fracking incredible. We arrived on the floor just about 10 minutes before they started, which was excellent because the pit was only about half full at that point (smallish venue etc). I guess I will forgive them for not playing my favorite (But tonight we dance -- click to listen or download, the mp3 pauses about 5 seconds before playing) song. In any case they set the place on fire, I would so see them again.
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There was one thing that served to lessen the experience. When the presale for this show was announced 3 months ago I jumped on it, took 100$ I didn't have to spare, waited anxiously for the 10:AM start time and scored pretty decent seats. I told my son back around Christmas about it and he was very exited. Two weeks ago his mother's bf went on ebay and spent like $30 on Pitt tickets. They weren't evidently for him to use as he is a Country Western guy (yikes), but ya know what? Last night was his night (the bf) and not mine. It was obvious to say the least. I sure hope he enjoyed it, but no wait... he wasn't even there. I guess I wanted last night to be our night, watching 2 bands we love together. The tickets I bought at the presale sat in my pocket, for some reason I just couldn't bring myself to list and sell them last week.
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Good thing the next two shows (Taking Back Sunday & Plus 44) are both pitt tickets or else I might expect the same to happen. Yea ok rant.over.
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let's change the subject and think of something a lot more pleasant...
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like the grey little monster sitting next to me right now...
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S6 157
Written at 9:47 AM by The Persian.
9 comments
Friday, February 23, 2007
Funny Friday ...
I saw this over on Teddy's blog (one of my oldest blogger buddies) and I hope he doesn't mind if I start doing this as well. He posted this hysterical old school SNL video of the Sweeny Sisters today. Hysterical.stuff. I was reminded of one of my favorite SNL skits, it came out when I was practically an infant but the repeats have been played enough for me to have laughed my butt off the first time I saw it. It starred the late Gilda Radner and was called something like "Land Shark".
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I couldn't find it on YouTube or GoogleVideo, but here is a guy who has a whole page dedicated to it with video. Chevy Chase plays the shark. Seriously I still lost it seeing it after all these years...
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here it is
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so I had to make a second choice. This is a deleted scene (for what reason I am clueless) so no worries about it ruining the film if you haven't seen it.
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anyway....
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My back feels great, I have rested a lot the last few days and it seriously helped. I feel great.
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I finished Cell last night (see yesterday's post) and while the ending was sort of disappointing all in all it will go down as one of my all time favorite King novels. I couldn't put that shite down, and that is always a great sign.
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ur-spo asked yesterday which Stephen King novel he should start with and while that is a loaded question, I will say that my first two (which were both later made into films) were Thinner and Dolores Claiborne.
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Bag of Bones was also pretty incredible.
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Like I said a loaded question...
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Yikes, it's 7:30 already. I have 30 minutes to get to work. I slept really well last night and perhaps a tad too late...
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Have a great Friday everyone :)
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S4 156
Written at 7:32 AM by The Persian.
9 comments
Thursday, February 22, 2007
grrrr....
this back thing seems better .. until I move the wrong way. I am a very active guy, who hates to sit for too long. But hey, I realize I should take it easy for a few days so I am back to reading my latest Stephen King (started it a couple months ago and things got hectic so I had put it to the side).
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I read 150 pages last night and maybe 100 the night before. As usual I am hooked. It is his latest, and the 2nd of two he released last year...
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riveting to say the least. Imagine answering your cell phone and having your evolutionary civility removed. This is even better than Lisey's Story.
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oh and since I am completely out of the loop I was pleasantly surprised to hear a couple days ago that Tori Amos will be releasing a new album entitled American Doll Posse on May 1st.


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She will soon after (May 28th) begin touring in Europe. Her latest officially released tour date is July 5th, Manchester, UK. No word on the US dates yet, but I am surely going to catch at least a couple shows.
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There was a time when I would have known all about this months ago ... eh I guess I overdosed on her a bit too much back in like 1996-2005. I tend to do that with Artists I love.
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anyway .. moving right along
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They are fracking cracking down on Internet usage heaps at work. I used to save the down times to read and comment on all my blogger buddies but now ... if I even check my email I feel like every eye is upon me. This is frustrating to say the least. With three in the department now our down time is quite substantial (I hear layoffs.....).
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maybe a layoff would get my ass in gear and find something that not only pays a bit better, but might make me a little less frustrated each morning contemplating the long boring day ahead..
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this made me laugh too hard...

This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race
(Misheard Lyrics)
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shite I'm late and need a shave really bad. Damn you middle eastern ancestors for making my facial hair start popping out moments after I shave it off!!!!
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S3 155
Written at 7:30 AM by The Persian.
8 comments
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
yesterday ....
I went into the warehouse to fetch a few boxes of copy paper. I must have lifted one the wrong way because within minutes I felt this dullish pain in my back. It got worse as the day progressed. (Naturally) This morning (because I didn't sleep so well) I am not only tired & groggy, but can't sit down for very long.
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sucks to get old ... even though my bosses nephew (who is 19) did the same exact thing this past summer fetching the same boxes. I'm telling you loading 4 cases of copy paper onto a wobbly handtruck and then balancing it as you wheel that heavy shite 1/4 mile, while opening doors and avoiding people walking down the hall is quite a challenge.
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I told my boss what happened immediately, and he kind of snickered (he is like 56 and in the past , before his recent illness, would bring in the paper daily so I guess he is to a degree entitled, having 20 years on me). He said that since he has always been in a band he has become accustomed to carrying large heavy objects in a safe manner he has never had an issyue. Ugh .. I mean I did somehow get out of that Ergonomics class everyone was supposed to attend. Maybe I would have been more careful or something.
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In any case kids, once you pass 30 look out, ya just can't do the same things as quickly and with the same carefree "heave-ho" you didn't have to think about as a teenager.
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anyway ... I took my younger son to his 2nd Guitar lesson last night. It went ok, he is insisting I sit in on each lesson (which is very cool with me) but I don't think the instructor was very pleased as he commented twice that my son had probably spent more time "jamming" than following his homework assignments. Still at 12 years old the kid has great talent, and the instructor mentions it often. He brother wants to start Piano lessons soon, which since he is also quite talented musically (from which side of the family I have no clue neither his mother nor I can even read sheet music) I think it's wonderful.
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did I mention he is in a musical at school? Beauty & The Beast even. He's been at practice daily after school learning to sing and dance the part of one of the townspeople (for those of you who are familiar) I remember when he was very little I used to play the Disney animated video all the time for him and he would bop around and try to sing along. It was one of our favorite movies. I was always the one who sat down and watched these films with my kids (often repeatedly), with almost an identical fascination.
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ok well I don't think I can sit here for a minute longer, my back is fracking killing me.
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things better improve by Saturday ...
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S2 154

Written at 7:16 AM by The Persian.
12 comments
Monday, February 19, 2007
I hate Mondays...
beginning of the work week ugh...
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at least it's over now
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something weird happened today I am not so sure what to make of..
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you probably don't remember that back in January I posted that I was going to snag a couple presale tickets for My Chemical Romance. I scored some pretty decent seats. It's a smallish venue so really any seat (apart from the very very worst) would be incredible.
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The show is Saturday, I have been really exited about it. I fracking LOVE this band heaps.
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my younger son called me today. He told me (in a very exited tone) that his mother's boyfriend scored PIT tickets today. Let me tell you again how smallish this venue is. The pit is at the most big enough for 200 people, and maybe that is a stretch.
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I mean I bought my tickets January 6th. I told my son about them (he is a big fan as well) three days later... he was naturally beyond exited.
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Yea sure I am even more exited now to have pit tickets and not have to fork out $200 on Ebay.
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but still... It's bittersweet
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What is this guy (the ex-wife's bf) doing????
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He isn't going to the show, he bought them for my son and I (yea sketchy I know)
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Is it that he's trying to make amends for the bad blood between us? (and hells yea there has been plenty, though I am completely over that drama) He appears to be a decent guy and I no longer have issues with him, but still....
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or is it something even more sinister...
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Honestly I just don't know what to make of it...
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anyway.. I am going to trust that this is genuinely his way of reaching out and saying .. let bygones be bygones .
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I hope so
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:)
Written at 6:48 PM by The Persian.
9 comments
Sunday, February 18, 2007
k so....
I have received a few emails that people get some sort of "error 54" when trying to view my blog. This began the day I switched over (forcibly) to the new blogger. I decided to ditch my home-made template and go for one that I don't really care for but after looking at like 30 I found one I can live with for now...
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If anyone is getting that "error 54" message could you email me at persiaguy@gmail.com and let me know?
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Thanks heaps...
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so anyway (today) the kids and I saw Ghost Rider
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It was ok... Nicholas Cage's days as a leading man are limited
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Amazing Actor ... but he's not looking so well these days.
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come to think of it ....
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neither was Wes Bentley

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but woah... Raquel Alessi
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I swear I am turning straight these days.. first scarlett johansson and now Raquel
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I am still trying to reconcile how Scarlett could have been born in 1984.
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I.feel.ancient
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Justin you lucky bastard.
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:)
Written at 7:30 PM by The Persian.
10 comments
Thursday, February 15, 2007
yikes....
I think I said I was going to blog the next day last time?
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Things just keep popping up one after the other...
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anyway... enough of my excuses
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I am really doing pretty well (if you were wondering)
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Work has returned to normal, my life has leveled out in the stress department.
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so catching up...
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I had today off, it was partially a "mental health" day and partially a "I really need to get some daytime shite done" day...
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I watched a promo copy of The Departed this morning like at 7AM (having to wait until the business world opened it's doors a while and I couldn't sleep) Woah .. It is every bit as amazing as everyone has been telling me. I won't say it surpassed Crash in intensity, but pretty close.
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pretty fracking violent but still..... one.incredible.flic
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Is it me or is this place turning into Siskel & Ebert?
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I mean how could you go wrong with Jack Nicholson, Alec Baldwin, Mark Wahlberg, Leonardo di Caprio and Matt Damon? Each one gave an incredible performance. And what a twist ending!!!
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ok I am beating a dead horse with this movie thing.... but last night I watched (for like the 20th time) Bent starring Clive Owen (of Closer fame). Many people haven't seen it, because it had an NC-17 rating (for those scenes which could possibly upset mainstream America, namely that it contains rather illicit scenes of a homosexual nature .. go figure right?)
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Synopsis: (From MSN Movies)
Max is a playboy in the decadent nightclub scene of Berlin during the early years of Hitler's Germany. While his lover and roommate, Rudy, performs at the local club owned by the androgynous Greta, Max partakes in sexual encounters with the club's clientele. One encounter with a soldier in an SA unit during the Night of the Long Knives exposes Max, Rudy, and Greta to the Gestapo. While Greta destroys evidence of his other life, Max and Rudy flee. With Rudy at work in a road gang, Max finds his uncle Freddie, who has connections to assist him in his flight from Germany, but is only able to acquire papers for Max. Max and Rudy plan their own escape from Germany but are discovered and put on a train to Dachau. While on the train, Max witnesses the brutality of Nazi domination, particularly in the form of one SS officer who eventually tortures and kills Rudy. Eventually, Max finds love, companionship, and dignity in the person of Horst, who supports him during their stay in Dachau.
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yeap That is Sir Ian Mckellan
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check it out if you haven't ..
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anyway...
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I snagged tickets to Cobra Starship & +44 today....
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yea ok they it's a Fall Out Boy show (everyone should know who they are by now)
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but still ... I will not be there to hear Fall Out Boy...
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All I can say is Presale and PIT Tickets...
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so I have stuff to do...
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have a great weekend everyone
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Rise Against -- But tonight we dance
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my current addiction .. it pauses for about 10 secs before playing
Written at 6:28 PM by The Persian.
5 comments
Sunday, February 11, 2007
woah....


best.one.yet
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From what I have come to understand the critics are being very unkind to Hannibal Rising. I am baffled should this be the case. It is by far the best of the "series" to date. A completely riveting 2 hours for both my kids and I. Gaspard Ulliel (the youthful Hannibal) was just amazing, his performance was every bit as convincing and captivating as would be expected of Anthony Hopkins himself (if not better). Let's not even touch upon the breathtaking scenery and near perfect cinematography. I am a huge fan of both Silence of the lambs and Hannibal, and can still proclaim without hesitation they both pale in comparison. GO.SEE.THIS

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I will, needless to say, be purchasing the DVD upon release.
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so anyway ... I had anticipated today would be my older son and I given that his younger brother was staying over a friend's house and that his friend's father was taking them somewhere. Well my son opted out of that and instead decided to spend the day with his dad. He gave me this line about how he wasn't having a good time but I know it was something else (that he didn't want to miss out on something his brother and I might do). I was happy to see him run out of the house this morning when I went to pick up (what I thought) was his brother only. I would still like to spend some one on one time with my older son, I feel like we need to talk about lots of things going through his mind, but I guess it will have to wait for another opportunity. We (my older son and I) talked a bit this weekend and the poor kid needs to vent about some of the things going through his head. God he is so much like me, almost every issue he is having I once had when I was his age.
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Speaking of my older son...
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Yesterday we bought a movie we have wanted to see for a while...
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It is called Match Point
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I didn't get to view the whole film with him as there was not enough time, but he asked to take it home and I agreed (with the proviso that he return it Saturday so I can watch the rest) The initial draw for us was that the box resembled that of a film we both (he introduced me) love titled Closer. If you haven't seen this film, by all means make a point of it.
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anyway back to Match Point
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This is the scenario (which ironically contains similarities to both Alfie & Closer, both staring Jude Law) you have two couples, both of which are at the very least a tad bit dysfunctional. One partner in each couple is attracted to the other of the opposite sex. Naturally (for dramatic purposes) there are heaps at stake ($$$$ to start) should these two (each the financially vulnerable parties in their perspective relationships) act on their desires.
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I can't decide on who is more beautiful...

Scarlett Johannson

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or
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Jonathan Rhys Meyers

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In any case the above two beautiful people are the leads in Match Point
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like I said, I haven't seen the end, but thus far I am hooked.
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I hope my son doesn't forget Saturday to bring it back....
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I guess that's it. I am waiting for my friend Karen to get here and well, she is MEGA late
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Have a great week everyone!
Written at 7:10 PM by The Persian.
9 comments
my first post on the new blogger...
They forced me to switch over a couple days ago. I fought hard not too, but I guess they gave me no choice, which I assume is the case with everyone.
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things seem to be basically the same
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anyway, had the kids yesterday. We didn't do much apart from running to D'Angelo's for lunch and then picked up a couple DVD's. We hadn't seen Snakes on a Plane and it was really entertaining (would you expect anything less of a film starring Samuel L. Jackson?) Cheesy name, Cheesy Idea, but ya know what? They pulled it off pretty well.
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Today my younger son is going somewhere with his friend and his dad, so I don't have him
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I am looking forward to some one on one time with my older son, who often gets sort of lost in the dust because of his younger brother's dominant personality.
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My older son had a near perfect report card, despite the fact that all of his classes are advanced. Brilliant kid, I am so very proud of him.
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Now his brother, well he didn't do so well, actually he had one of the worst report cards to date. My ex-wife and I can't understand it, because it isn't that he can't handle the assignments, but that he refuses to pass in his homework, which is done with the assistance of his mother each evening. Does that make any sense? It isn't the testing, but rather that the homework portion of his grade is near ZERO because he refuses to hand in his work each day. Work that is complete! Baffling. In any case we're working on this, and the pressure is on him like never before.
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we're going to see Hannibal Rising today. It looks amazing. Friday a friend and I saw The Messengers , which didn't impress me so much. In fact I had anticipated that it was going to be pretty bad, the ratings across the board were quite negative. It was like Sixth Sense, Stir of Echoes and Amityville Horror all rolled in to one, and with a twist. There were like 20 people in the theatre on a friday night 7:00 show. That speaks heaps.
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a disturbing thing happened on my way out of the theatre while I was waiting for my friend outside the bathroom
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Two very young girls, perhaps 11 or 12, at the MOST 13 were walking down the isle with a very tall Black man who appeared to be in his mid-20's. The girls were gabbing away and what I caught really upset me. This is roughly how it went....

Girl #1: I told you he was going to show up.
Girl #2: I know, but I didn't think he was going to drive all the way here from Pennsylvania.
Man: Chill girl, I told you I was gonna be here no lie.
Girl#1: Yea and I told you I look ugly, my myspace picture makes me look better. Look at how ugly I am!!!
Man: Chill girl, you gotta stop dogging yourself, you look good. You look better than your picture.
Girl #1 & Girl #2 : high pitched giggles
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I stood there with my mouth open, I didn't know what to do. The guy was looking all around while walking with these girls, at least once telling them to "shhh". There was no room for misinterpretation, I knew what was going on and had not a clue what to do about it. It bothered me then and it still does. I mean they were going into a theatre, it wasn't like he was taking them somewhere out of the public eye, but still. Their parents had probably dropped them off together, having no idea.
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I know I should have reportedhim to the theatre office, but I didn't. I am a father, I owed it to their parents to help them and I failed miserably. At least there is hope that it was only the movie they would share and then the parents would arrive to take them home unharmed. At least that scenario let's me sleep at night...
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Hope everyone has a great Sunday :)

Written at 8:27 AM by The Persian.
7 comments
Thursday, February 08, 2007
This is for my son....
(an October 1840 Daguerreotype of Motzart's widow Constanze, far left)
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moving right along...
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I have been mega absent of late... (well at least here)
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I miss blogging, I miss all of you guys...
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but there were obstacles which have kept me away
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1) Work has been insane (I've said this before, but seriously you have NO idea)
2) I have some familiar readers now, and what I mean by familiar is that people I know (my children to be more specific and yet only to name two of several)
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Work being hectic will pass, the latter mentioned above will not
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It is difficult to blog with the same passion given this fact, I mean self inflicted censorship is indeed a very discouraging and frustrating obstacle in the bloggersphere...
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There are just certain things we tend to (and as parents must) keep from our children, especially in their early and pre-teen years.
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I am not saying anything I have posted in the past has effected a negative reaction from my children (well apart from early 2006 when my elder son, thanks to his mother, discovered his father had a blog). But still, it is my kids who come first to mind first come to mind when beginning a post.
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Anyway, I am working through all of this, I do not want to abandon this place and all of my amazing blogger friends, but have been trying to figure a way to continue given the circumstances.
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I will not be going the dramatic route and leaving completely, deleting the blog etc. I'm still here.
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This is where it becomes an interesting challenge..
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I am up for it
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Let's see what happens....
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More tomorrow.... (and yea I mean tomorrow, not three weeks from tomorrow)
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:)
Written at 11:29 PM by The Persian.
11 comments