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Sighted on Clark Street in Chicago Saturday August 4th. 

While street people and shopping carts are synonymous, this is the first I have ever seen decorated and actually kind of cheerful.

Sleeping bag, blankets tucked neatly below, worldly possessions protected in the basket.

Reminds me of a song by Wide Spread Panic "This Part of Town"

So I started thinkin' 'bout, this world we live in,
And about how far I've got my hand in.
Sometimes it seems that all we have, we have taken,
But maybe next time, won't be the forsaken.

Bourne Again

Movie remakes and mimics most often fall to a similar fate. They are a commercial flop or, at the very least leave you wanting without knowing why.

Some examples from this year.  John Carter at a cost of $200 million followed Avatar's special FX formula but forgot to include a plot. Death did not come soon enough for this film.

Battleship at $220 million was tossed out of its theater run in about a week; possibly a world's record for failure.

Tom Cruise should have focused on his pending divorce instead of throwing Rock of Ages at us. 

The Dark Knight Rises should have been buried after Heath Ledgers wonderfully dark performance. And few films
can honestly say they had be rescued from the critics by having Rotten Tomatoes shut down the comments before its release only to reappear with a much better spelled (altered) rating.

There have been exceptions this year. The Amazing Spider-man 2012 gave us Andrew Garfield who absolutely beats Toby McGuire hands down as the real Peter Parker.  I am actually looking forward to the new series even at $15 for IMAX. Well with popcorn and a drink, make that USD $30.

The Avengers brought all the super heroes together without them tripping over each other so, it can be done.

And there is the matter of Jeremy Renner who hit the radar for me in The Hurt Locker and now the carrier of the torch for The Bourne Legacy in more than one sense.

Did I sound hopeful here?  Did Hollywood somehow get it right some of the time?  Well I do already have my tickets for the new Bourne Saturday night and strangely enough there is no I MAX or 3D option.

Gee you think Hollywood is relying on the quality of the story line and the acting to carry the film?
For once, I hope so. 

But that's just me.

With Apologies To The French

L' Homme du Train (The Man on the Train) (2002)

"I wish I had sailed from one unknown woman to another.

Different continents to explore.  Never dropping the anchor, new islands..."  

No matter what adventures or comforts we may have experienced there is always a moment when we look back and only find regret.

What I liked

Man on the Train offers and opportunity to explore that moment of regret we all have, but allows you your own conclusion.

The movie sets individual scenes as still frame photos a technique I rarely find in films and one I find very appealing.  No wipes, special effects, fades to black, just a perfectly set portrait that comes to life.  Each scene is flawless beginning like chapters in a book.

And to the French, well normally I would be squirming as the movie plodded along deep in a cement like script.  This movie made me want to watch it. and of course to forgive those other films from Paris that sent me to my computer to tinker while it played out.

Channeling Marylin

To share what I see, I use my camera.  To express what I feel, I use quotes, as my own words always fail me.
This may still come back to bite me in the ass as even quotations can still be misunderstood.

This time I was thinking about how people change as we travel whatever path we choose for ourselves.

Looking around for the right quote I found myself reading a series of observations from Marilyn Monroe.

About friends

"I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so you can learn to let go"

About ourselves

"I'm selfish, impatient, and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control, and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best."

 And how to decide who to keep

“The truth is, everyone is going to hurt you. You just got to find the ones worth suffering for.”
Bob Marley

Maybe I am channeling a dead movie star, I was blond too at one time. Of course you can't decide anything without a little reggae philosophy.

In Real Movies, Everybody Dies

If you favor the darker side of things you are in the right place, at least when it comes to movies.

Theatrical Release Poster

Averaging at least 3 movies a week, I have all but abandoned Hollywood in favor of foreign films primarily those from Asia.

First, most Asian films do not include some impossible happy ending.  Most often, everybody dies!  It may not be the happily ever after side, but at least it is real.
Even then there is dark humor and laughs to be had. However, you may not want to advertise that to friends or collegues unless they share in your understanding.

Another flaw, if it is one, I don't actually review films, I tell you if I like it, tell you why and let you decide if it is worth your time.  

I will not compare directors, film styles or burden you with any technical jargon.  I can't remember reading a film review and have it relate to why I wanted to see any movie.

In 2012 I will admit  posting what I am watching has not been a priority.  So let's start with on of the best to date.

The HouseMaid 2010

Korean films have become my favorite source of dark humor and bleak outcomes.  The HouseMaid hits the mark for me as I see a statement being made about the very rich
using the working class as disposables, kind of like a lightbulb; if you break one you just get another.  

There are rich people manipulating everyone around them, and at least one member of the downtrodden working class who for awhile learns how to turn the screws to maximize the monetary benefit. 

No, not everybody dies, but you won't see the ending to this film in anything that Hollywood churns out.  Yeah, if you find yourself snickering a couple of times during the movie, no worries, you just found your dark side.

And then after Hollywood got involved
with the U.S. release.

Saying GoodBye One Day

Can you fall in love with a face? 

If it is the face of Miho Nakayama the answer is simply; hell yes!

Sayonara Itsuka is filled with storybook like scenery that for me was almost as perfect as the film.

It also creates a tragically perfect love that you will find yourself cheering for.

And as in real life, we know how that works.

 Yeah, I would like to add this to my book of dreams: in 2013 I will be going Thai.

Face Story

Running on a rain soaked combination of crushed rock and dirt, even from a distance I am impressed by the determination on her face.

This is life beyond the village of Sapa as we travel north toward the Chinese border.   No running water, in-door plumbing and for the most part, no electricity.

The distance between these pics is less than 20 miles, the story in their faces places them worlds apart.

The Other Mile High Club

Having sex in a cramped and unsanitary bathroom on a crowded commercial airline, is to some, a right of passage.  Calling it the mile high club may be overselling what it really is.

What if I said the real club is to jump into a plastic airplane with no engine and be dragged to that mile high destination by a crop duster.   Does that sound more enticing?  No, I do not have a death wish.

We hit 6000 feet indicated, 780 foot sea level minus 6000 feet you get the mile.  I pull the little yellow rubber nob, the plane breaks left we break right and the fun begins. We circle, climb in absolute silence. There is no turbulence, no bumps, nothing just flight in it's purest form.  A red tail hawk finds a cloud and circles above us.

I try my hand at piloting and after about 10 minutes I am happy to leave the work to the pilot as I gawk at the clouds and the ground below.

At 49 minutes a thump indicates the flight is over with a perfect landing.

The other mile high may not earn you a trip to the doctors for whatever itches later and no frequent flyer miles will follow.  But you won't really care, it's that good.

In the Year 2012

Third trip to Vietnam takes me Saigon to Hanoi then on to the village of Sapa about 6o miles from the Chinese border. Despite what they tell you in the brochures the only sleeping cars on the train from Hanoi belong to the Victoria hotel.  If you are not staying at the Victoria in Sapa, bring beer and something to make you sleep.  Despite paying for the top of the line "sleeping car" it is not at all the comfortable and the air conditioning is dodgy at best.  It is 12 hours roughly on the train and sleep is a good thing.  Sapa turns out to the perfect adventure for me.  A 100cc scooter for $6 USD, with gas, bed and breakfast at $16 USD  and most everyone is either friendly or at least willing to help you for a little cash.  Okay, I can live with that.

The previous listing of the F800 brings me to a confession.  I really wanted the R1200R Classic.   That said I threw some money in the right direction and have one of the sweetest bikes I could possible lust for.

Women.  Well I am totally fucked here.  With most of the my lady friends run off and married with kids and all that I have been given the boot.  I have been told the women I prefer only want me for money.

 Uh, I am not that well off that I can support any gold diggers.  But, one in particular lady did have me on the run for while.  That said, she has been told the party is over.    Not proud of that as she really needs the help. The family is into her for everything from vocational school for her brother, doctors bills for all of them, and the consistent need for new phones.  IPhone 4S is running 1600 USD in Saigon, believe me, I know.  Samsung Galaxy S III not much less at $1200.  The S III a bargain if you think in terms of Apple.

Knowing the down side of Saigon, I still love VN and like many who go there, I see it as the wild west.  No McDonalds, Burger King etc.  Outside of Saigon, the "Mall" disappears completely.  There might not be a safer place to have a great vacation adventure.  And yes, the women are attractive, available and looking for someone to marry them, or at least support them and their families ad hoc.  Just remember they are completely honest about that so don't get pissy over a few grand here and there.

For now, I think Thailand and Cambodia are on the books for 2013.  This year, Soaring "Glider Planes" and hot air balloons along with generous doses of the new motorcycle will help keep me busy.

Ladies, chase me!

With a little luck, more soon including some good pics from Sapa.

Peace everyone.