Well. That was depressing. So let’s look at the other side of life, okay? First (and apropos of what I was just ranting about), there’s new help for self-defense against surveillance. And (via LewRockwell.com), an advanced — if moderately pricey — option for snail-mail privacy. (And a review of the service.) “She Don’t Like Firefly.” LOL. Are Joel and I at risk of blog incest? Dunno. But he does find some damn funny things. Daniel Radcliffe. The more you learn, the more he seems like a cool, bright (check out him singing Tom Lehrer), together, young man — not to…
Category: Books and Movies
The weather changed abruptly this week. Well, it changes abruptly darned near every week. But it went overnight from almost-spring to the most leaden, drizzly, blustery sort of winter. And when the early spring went, so did my energy. With no oomph, but also no impending deadlines, I roused myself for long dog walks, but before and after them I slung myself into a comfy chair with a big blaze going in the pellet stove and read and read and read. I meant to blog, but my brain was empty and the news seemed worse than the weather. I couldn’t…
Good news (thanks to P.T.): the first 11 markets where Atlas Shrugged will be released. And a tiny hint of hopeful news (courtesy of Jim. B). Remember Nathan Fillion’s recent comment about wanting to revive Firefly? Well … The secret of long life isn’t what we’ve been told. But it may — no surprise — involve a depressing amount of exercise (NYTimes free subscription link). Whatever it involves, it doesn’t hinge on any “medical establishment” — as this depressing graph makes clear. For more impressive charts, check out Dave’s Friday blog. Silver. Shazam. The FDA pulls 500 prescription cold and…
… and the VIPs who got invited to a special screening of Atlas Shrugged, Part I in Los Angeles liked what they saw. A lot. One reviewer, Hans Schantz, shared the very same fears — no, the very same certainty — I had as the movie went into production: When I heard my favorite novel was being made into a movie, all the available omens boded ill: a “low-budget” production, with “no-name” stars, made independently – without the adult supervision of a real Hollywood studio, and rushed into production at the last minute to avoid loss of rights. It sounded…
Plague death in Chicago: A scientific detective story. Don’t tell your cat-lady friends, but they’re being manipulated. Oh. I expect they already know that. A happier detective story: Finding the lost library of Thomas Jefferson. (NYTimes free subscription link.) How Obamacare is already damaging the U.S. medical system in ways that will be hard to undo even if the Rs are sincere about repealing or defunding it. How to be the luckiest guy on the planet in four easy steps. By James Altucher. You could nitpick the specifics. (I think his third goal sets him up for a fall, in…
Oh, those teasing folks from the Atlas Shrugged movie team. They’ve just released a 3:40 minute scene from the movie. Fans of the book know this one well. Henry Rearden comes home after the proudest day of his life to be greeted by his family. Not my favorite scene, and played a little flatly perhaps. But great atmosphere and totally true to the book. I like this Hank Rearden (played by New Zealander Grant Bowler). I never pictured Rearden with Bowler’s touch of gentleness and sad humor. But it works. IMHO, it enhances the Rearden that Rand created — a…
It’s going to be on basic cable. No new episodes, unfortunately. Merely the originals plus unspecified “extras.” Still, there’s nothing “mere” about Firefly. And Nathan Fillion — Capt. Mal — bless his heart, says among other things: It was my favorite job ever. What wasn’t great about it? I got to wear a low-slung holster. I got to ride horses. I got to have a spaceship. I got to act mean and curmudgeonly. [Creator Joss Whedon] is really good at kicking characters in the nuts so the other characters would have laughs at my expense and that was great too.…
… the jerking of knees. Friends of mine have two very bright teenagers — the kind of kids every parent would love — honor roll students, top athletes, well-spoken, and pretty straight shooters, as well. Their mom told me this story this morning. One boy, a freshman in high school, mentioned in his English class that he was reading Atlas Shrugged. The teacher promptly flew into a frenzy. The book is trash, she insisted. Boring, poorly writtten, an utter waste of anyone’s time. Now you know that a lot can be said both for and against Atlas Shrugged — sometimes…
The world wants to know. That fantastic trailer’s got people asking. Nobody’s saying. According to the film’s official site the filmmakers are distributing it themselves by agreement with individual theater managers. If you want your local moviehouse to show it, it’s up to you to get the ball rolling. According the the film’s Facebook page theaters in eight cities are lined up. One is in Denver. Nobody’s saying more yet. Got any updates? Post ’em here!
Well, whodathunkit? The Atlas Shrugged trailer is out and despite the movie’s nearly non-existant budget and no-name actors, it looks amazingly good. Opens in theaters on — ta da — April 15. Perhaps not at your local multiplex. Definitely not at my local oneplex. But this might be worth traveling to see. Bonus: Here’s another trailer — made from existing movie clips by a fan who never thought there’d be an Atlas Shrugged movie. It’s pretty darned good, too. Keep in mind that this one has no connection to the actual film that’s coming out: