Lightning feast in Chicago

I forgot how much I miss real weather.



Lightning strikes three of the tallest buildings in Chicago at the same time! from Craig Shimala on Vimeo.









Video of the three tallest buildings in Chicago get struck by lightning at the same time. Willis Tower (Tallest), Trump International Hotel and Tower (2nd Tallest) and the John Hancock Building(4th tallest).

Girls Suck At Video Games

Actually, I'm not sure I'd mind at all if my children were to play this particular "video game" while growing up.
It's funny, but also carries a fairly important moral for girls, I think.


Watch:



Girls suck at video games / Les filles sont nulles aux jeux vidéo from Stéphanie Mercier on Vimeo.

Take THAT Beverly Sills!

-- Finally!


An operatic moment I can relate to.

Kitten freaks itself out

Thoughts on film "Exit Through The Gift Shop"

Just saw "Exit Through The Gift Shop" last night and can't stop thinking about it.

Fascinating film.  For so many reasons. First of all, it's so rare and unusual there was actually any filmed documentation of the street art movement to begin with.  A total fluke.  And then, not to be a spoiler here, but then, there's an interesting twist to the film regarding the true narrative of the film. Don't want to give too much away, but when you do see it - listen closely to the narrator for clues to the film's ultimate vision.  (I wished they'd found a less dopey voice for this role, unless it's supposed to sound that pretentious and dopey so that we never really do trust it.)

Alfred Hitchock and the first filmed "That's what she said" moment.

According to Buzzfeed, this is the first "That's what she said," joke, courtesy of Alfred Hitchcock.

Working on some summer reading...(Eric Schaeffer?)

This summer's attempt at making it all the way through Eric Schaeffer's "I Can't Believe I'm Still Single."

Film gem "Local Hero" & the BP Oil Spill

I've been strangely haunted, lately, by the 1983 film, "Local Hero."


Opening scenes from Local Hero.





Like so many things these days, I can't put my finger on just why it's been on my mind so much lately, but feeling the need to revisit Local Hero's been in the back of my mind for weeks now.


Perhaps it's my way of connecting the dots within the context of the ongoing nightmare of the British Petroleum accident in the gulf.


Maybe it's because deep down I relate so very closely with the main character of the film.


Or, maybe it's because this film, which is actually 25 years old this year, was one of the first to say with love and humor, "Greed is evil.  Oil is bad.  Love this beautiful old world."


Maybe it's just the writing, the characters, the wonderful soundtrack and scenery...I don't know, but, if you've never seen this small, charming film, you might want to.

WAITING FOR SUPERMAN: New film by director of An Inconvenient Truth

Sometimes a film hasn't even opened yet, and you just know it's going to be great:

Such is the case regarding the new documentary "Waiting For Superman," made by director of An Inconvenient Truth.  

This film examines how our education system is failing our kids.

Notable quote:


"When you see a great teacher, you are seeing a work of art."



"Coming Soon
For a nation that proudly declared it would leave no child behind, America continues to do so at alarming rates. Despite increased spending and politicians promises, our buckling publiceducation system, once the best in the world, routinely forsakes the education of millions of children. Oscar®—winning filmmaker Davis Guggenheim (AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH) reminds us that education statistics have names: Anthony, Francisco, Bianca, Daisy, and Emily, whose stories make up the engrossing foundation of WAITING FOR SUPERMAN. As he follows a handful of promising kids through a system that inhibits, rather than encourages, academic growth, Guggenheim undertakes an exhaustive review of public education, surveying drop—out factories and academic sinkholes, methodically dissecting the system and its seemingly intractable problems. However, embracing the belief that good teachers make good schools, Guggenheim offers hope by exploring innovative approaches taken by education reformers and charter schools that have—in reshaping the culture—refused to leave their students behind."

Wow.

This looks VERY good.

Can't wait.

The "ICE CREAM TRUCK DANCE"

- Okay, this is 100% "feel good."

Shiny happy Orange County, CA.

ORANGE COUNTY really is the happiest place on earth!

Leave it to France to make a McDonald's commercial both romantic and hip.

Big, huge thumbs up to the advertising dept. in gay Paris who approved this ad!

I LOVE that it's not only extremely tasteful,  because it's really just about longing, and good old fashioned romance, but also more evidence that no matter how many hamburgers you ingest,

...Love = Love = Love.

No mystery.  No drama.  Love is love.

Vive la France!