Lost Details

Food, Inc., by filmmaker Robert Kenner

This film focuses on our nation's food industry. I was surprised to find that our nation's food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health. The film discusses the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment.

I was shocked about what is being done so we have bigger-breasted chickens. The scary new strains of E. coli bacteria that causes illness for an estimated 73,000 Americans annually.

I enjoyed the interviews with such experts as Eric Schlosser, Michael Pollan, entrepreneurs like Stonyfield's Gary Hirshberg and Polyface Farms' Joel Salatin.

The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan

Based on Michael Pollan best-selling book, this PBS special takes us on an exploration of the human relationship with the plant world -- seen from the plants' point of view. It shows how four familiar species -- the apple, the tulip, marijuana and the potato -- evolved to satisfy our yearnings for sweetness, beauty, intoxication and control. I really enjoyed his point of view as well as the historical perspective on each of these plants. I never knew that most apples that grow in the wild taste bitter; only a few trees produce a fruit that is sweet. Another interesting fact was the tulipmania that swept Amsterdam between 1634 and 1637, when a single bulb of the most prized tulips fetched a price greater than the grandest canal houses in the city. That our human desire for intoxication may have transformed a pygmy weed like Cannabis into one of the most valuable crops in the world. It was the Irish experience with the potato that has served as the cautionary tale of the perils of growing but a single crop, a practice known as monoculture. I really enjoyed the PBS special based on his book "The Botany of Desire". It is one of my favorite PBS specials that should be shared by all.

Some of Michael's other books are The Omnivore's Dilemma, In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto.

"Trouble the Water"

“Trouble the Water,” which won the grand jury prize for best documentary at the Sundance Film Festival. When the directors, Tia Lessin and Carl Deal, headed to Louisiana in early September 2005, they were planning to document the return of National Guard troops from Iraq and had no intention of filming anyone directly affected by the hurricane. But that changed when Ms. Lessin and Mr. Deal met an African-American couple, Kimberly Roberts and Scott Roberts. Ms. Lessin said she and Mr. Deal, who are white, instinctively recognized that they had found their new subjects in these charismatic former residents of the Ninth Ward.

Ms. Roberts, an aspiring rapper had a secondhand camcorder, was taping and narrating the events as they unfolded. This footage is riveting and speaks volumes about people who had no means to evacuate and assumed they could ride it out. What happen to them after the hurricane and how they were treated is sad and mad me angry that this could happen in this country.

Ms. Roberts is a poet as well as a rapper. In one scene she did a song she wrote that was emotionally touching and profound. Her voice is one we should hear more from and I hope she gets an opportunity to be heard.

Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman

Hosted by Morgan Freeman, Through the Wormhole explores the deepest mysteries of existence — the questions that have puzzled mankind for eternity.

What are we made of? What was there before the beginning? Are we really alone?

This series is really well done. Morgan Freeman is excellent as host of a science series. The scientist on the show are tops in their field. What I enjoy is how they explain very complex theories in easy to understand examples. You also get to hear a variety of opinions on things like a Black Holes Event Horizon, Dark Matter, Inflation Theory, and a Multiverse.

Greek Theatre: Tori Amos

Greek Theatre: Tori Amos
with special guest One Eskimo
Friday, July 17, 2009 at 7:30 PM

She is one of my favorite artists to see live and I understand she loves to play the Greek.This tour was in support of her "Sinful Attraction" album which I love.

 Lotus and I did a Dine and ride plan and had a 3 course meal at the "Vermont". I would do this again because parking at the Greek sucks and the meal at the "Vermont" was great.

Getting tickets through Ticketmasters presale does not give you access to the best seats. I was not happy with our seats and next time would rather pay extra to a ticket broker for a better seat.

If you look below you can see that she sang 22 songs and gave us one hell of a show. Cornflake Girl is always one of my favorites.When it comes to her playing the piano she does it better then anyone else I know. I thought her energy level was infectious and she gave us a show of shows. On this tour she was backed up by her bassist and a drummer which showcased more of Tori's piano playing and voice.

Main Set

    * Give
    * Siren
    * Graveyard
    * Cornflake Girl
    * Icicle
    * Sugar
    * Marys Of The Sea
    * Bells For Her
    * Carbon
    * Liquid Diamonds

Lizard Lounge

    * Mary Jane
    * Jackie’s Strength

(band returns)

    * China
    * Curtain Call
    * Fast Horse
    * Space Dog
    * Mother Revolution
    * Precious Things
    * Strong Black Vine

Encore

    * Police Me
    * Big Wheel
    * Tear In Your Hand

Hollywood Bowl Orchestra: Blame It On Rio with Bebel Gilberto and Seu Jorge

Fireworks Finale with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra: Blame It On Rio
Sunday, September 13, 2009

Featured Artists:

Hollywood Bowl Orchestra with Thomas Wilkins, conductor

Seu Jorge, special guest

Bebel Gilberto, special guest

I came for Bebel Gilberto the Fireworks and not the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra's rendition of Brazilian music. I did enjoy the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra's perfromance of Matthew Naughtin's folkloric "Amazon Journey. The theme from "Somewhere in Time" they performed did not belong on the evening's Rio play list.

I have not hear of Seu Jorge the other guest star before that evening. He is known for the music he did for the movie "City of God". Later in the concert he gave us his interpretations of David Bowie in The Life Aquatic. He has a solo album Cru (Wrasse Records, 2005). Jorge was once a homeless kid in a favela (Brazilian slum) outside of Rio de Janeiro. Jorge landed the part of Knockout Ned in City of God, the film. I have mixed views on his music and would have to give him another listen on his recorded album before finalizing my opinions.

But as I stated earlier I was at the show for Bossa nova songstress Bebel Gilberto. She is the daughter of bossa nova guitar legend João Gilberto and the daughter of singer Miúcha.I have been captivated by her voice every since her brilliant debut album Tanto Tempo. Carlinhos Brown, the dreadlocked Bahian musician-producer did a duet with Bebel on "Aganju".

I have seen fireworks at the bowl before but this show's fireworks was outstanding. I caught myself Oh'ing and Ah'ing like a little kid.

Hollywood Bowl: Grace Jones • of Montreal • Dengue Fever

Grace Jones • of Montreal • Dengue Fever
Sunday, July 26, 2009, 7:00 PM
Grace Jones costume designer Eiko Ishioka

This is one of the best shows I have seen at the Bowl. Grace Jones just rocked the bowl on so many levels. She did 7 costume changes and bantered with the audience while she changed into the next costume.  I saw her during the disco area in NYC at the Saint at the height of her career. At 61-year-old she showed us that she has not lost any of her edginess or performance art approach to her style of performance. During her La Vie En Rose number she was in this stunning red dress. During the song she turned around for us to see that her back was totally bare. When she sang Hurricane and stood into a large fan the back of the dress floated in the air displaying the awesome power of wind like a hurricane my jaws dropped. What a performance artist who can sing and take us on a wild journey like no other performer.

The only disappointment was she ran out of time and did not get to sing my favorite "Slave to the Rhythm".

Below are some of the songs and costumes she wore during her performance.

Grace Jones' Set List with Costume
1. This Is Life

2. Williams Blood

3. My Jamaican Guy

4. La Vie En Rose

5. Love is the Drug

6. Corporate Cannibal

7. Devil in My Life
8. Demolition Man
9. Libertango

10. Hurricane

encore
11. Pull Up to the Bumper

Hollywood Bowl: Sergio Mendes • Eddie Palmieri • Poncho Sanchez

Sergio Mendes • Eddie Palmieri • Poncho Sanchez

Wednesday, July 8, 2009, 8:00 PM
Poncho Sanchez opened the evening and got everyone in the mood for some great Latin jazz. His band was tight and his personality infectious. Poncho Sanchez covered Herbie Hancock, Horace Silver and even Parliament-Funkadelic. Puerto Rican piano titan Eddie Palmieri is the ultimate musician and I enjoyed his set very much. Eddie Palmieri's New York crew offered a ferocious rip through Thelonious Monk's "In Walked Bud."

I was of course really excited to hear Sergio Mendes again because I love Bossa Nova and his Brazil 66 music. About a third of the program was given over to a string of rappers, including Q-Tip. When he added the rap addition to his set as he did last year I was bored and waited for the set to end. He performed Brazil 66 classics like Berimbau, Agua de Beber, and Mas Que Nada. I was excited to see and hear the original Brazil 66 singer Lani Hall take the stage.

NEW STAR TREK MOVIE IS AWESOME

Last night I saw the new Star Trek movie in IMAX.  I consider myself a fan of the Original (TV) and the Next Gen.This movie is not just one of the best of all of the Star Trek movies but one of my top Sci-Fi movies of all times. Great effects, storyline, action packed, great cast and for those of us who are fans of the original a nostalgic connection.

 
The best Original cast movie is "The Wrath of Khan"  which continued a storyline from the original TV series. In the TV show Khan Noonien Singh, the former tyrant of Earth's Eugenic Wars, was exiled to the planet in 2267 by Captain Kirk.

I had a lot of expectations going into this movie and I still was blown away by the experience. The casting was exceptional. The actors manage to capture the essence of the original characters. The storyline was very interesting opening up a whole new franchise. Because this movie is still in theaters I will not reveal any of the movie plots. If you can see it in IMAX it is worth the extra bucks.

The End of ER

I have faithfully watched this show from the very first episode. Over the years several actors have come and gone. The writing and acting has been so good that I adjusted and cared for the new characters.

In the early seasons my favorites were Anthony Edwards / Dr. Mark Greene, Noah Wyle / Dr. John Carter, Laura Innes / Dr. Kerr Weaver. I was not that wrapped up into the George Clooney/Dr. Doug Ross character. I enjoyed the banter of Paul McCrane/ Dr. Robert Romano who was a great egotistical Cheif of Surgery. When he lost his arm in the helicopter accident it was a real shock. When the killed him off with a helicopter falling on top of him as he exist the hospital is classic ER. Alex Kingston/Dr. Elizabeth Corday came on to the show and added an interesting dynamic.The best additions in the later seasons were Parminder Nagra / Dr. Neela Rasgotra and Maura Tierney / Dr. Abby Lockhart. John Stamos character was to much a player for me to care about. Linda Cardellini/ nurse Samantha Taggart had several powerful episodes dealing with her ex husband.Scott Grimes / Dr. Archie Morris took a long time for me to get into his character. I think this season he really hit his stride with losing fellow Dr. Gregory Pratt played by the excellent actor Mekhi Phifer. They had so many great guest stars on this show it is so hard to single them out.

The best hookup were Noah Wyle / Dr. John Carter and Thandie Newton / Makemba 'Kem' Likasu, Alex Kingston/Dr. Elizabeth Corday and Anthony Edwards / Dr. Mark Greene, Goran Visnjic / Dr. Luka Kovac and Maura Tierney / Dr. Abby Lockhart.