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Books and Television..
May. 7th, 2023 08:50 pmHaven't accomplished much this weekend, kind of crashed. Did make it outside twice to get groceries.
Hot flashes and perspiring seem to be linked with blood sugar fluctuations. Which is interesting.
But I have gotten my AIC down to a steady 6.0-6.1, and average glucose level at 117.
Today's was higher - but I also have a new sensor, and it always takes it a couple of days to stabilize. Also, I tend to exercise less and eat more carbs on weekends.
1. The Artist Way and Painting
While I've not necessarily stopped reading the book, I've given up on going to church and participating in their support groups associated with it.
( Read more... )
I told Wales all of this.
Wales: Don't stop painting. I really hope you continue the painting and drawing. Your work reminds me of...I don't know if you are familiar with Benard Goetz? He painted from memory - often using his wife as his inspiration. Also the artists who would do people on subway from a distance, but yours are more intimate. And in motion. I love them, and am enjoying them - please continue. That got you to do that at least.
I told her not to worry - I was enjoying that. It was making me happy. Making me enjoy the subway more, far less irritable and more aware of people. (Although I don't think they appreciate me staring at them, I do, I check them out and try to figure out how to draw them in my head. There was this man the other day who was wearing a leather vest and beads. Another had on a flowery jacket and was hugging his girlfriend.)
Also, lately everyone has been wearing black and dark colors - which is kind of boring to paint.
I've noticed something odd about non-visual artists over the years. Also, a lot of musicians or singers that I've met - can't draw (there are musicians who can - see Joni Mitchell - but for some reason, she mostly just paints and draws herself). ( Read more... )
At any rate - the Artist Way did help me, but it didn't help me connect to people in my church. Oh well. May need to try something else along the way.
Mother told me that my cousin Casey, had stopped writing stories, and given up on becoming a novelist, and was now pursuing stand-up comedy. She'd taken a class in improvisational stand-up comedy - and was doing the comedy club circuit in PA.
More power to her. You couldn't pay me enough to do that. Been there done that with poetry. Also I don't like stand up comedy. I had a friend who tried to get me to do The Moth - and no. Just no. I don't like performing in front of lots of people. Been there done that. Not again.
2. Television.
* Queen Charlotte on Netflix - is amusing. Very witty dialogue.
And it falls more into satire than romance. Shondra Rhimes is poking fun at the British Aristocracy and Historical Romance Novels. Actually most historical romance novels poke fun at the British Aristocracy and history, not that they don't deserve it. Because of course they do.
( pardon me while I poke fun at the British coronation that happened today that I don't care about )
Anyhow, if you like snarky humor and Bridgerton, you'll enjoy Queen Charlotte. If not, skip. Needless to say, it's not historically accurate, but it's not supposed to be. I wouldn't call it a romance, maybe bitter-sweet? So much as a satire.
* Shadow and Bone
This is the tale of two television shows. One is the superior - Six of Crows plot to take down Pekkar, with a group of young anti-heroes. These characters are interesting.
The other is the kind of paint-by-numbers YA fantasy romance - about Saint Alina attempting to destroy the fold. ( vague spoilers )
***
Both are filmed in the dark, so alas, you need a darkened room to watch them. Frigging Netflix. It needs to stop doing that. Not everything should be filmed at night. Broadcast Network television doesn't do this, just streaming.
3. Books
*Killing John Wayne
This is an odd book or well, audiobook. It's telling two stories - one the story of the atomic bomb testing in the Utah desert and how it may have resulted in millions getting cancer, while the government twiddled its thumbs and paid little attention or money to the victims. The other - about the life and death of the movie studio that filmed an epic in that desert, and was kind of killed by it.
In between all of that are the stories of the players involved, the cast and crew of the film, and its director and producers.
Howard Hughes managed to stop that film from being widely released after its initial release. I think Universal managed to pry the rights from RKO, and Hughes. But Hughes had most of the copies. And he also sued Universal with a cease and desist injunction - when they attempted to show it after Wayne died as part of a retrospective in the 70s. Since Hughes death, it may have been shown here and there, but rarely. It's not the most politically correct film in the world - and it is truly awful.
No one knows why Hughes was so adamant about it not being shown. Guilt? Hubris? Hughes was and continues to be an enigma.
They did try to sue the Atomic Energy Commission in the 1980s, didn't get very far. It is the Federal Government - that's hard to sue. The best they were able to do was stop future testing - there were protests in Utah. Also they put in place a financial reimbursement for anyone "residing" in the area between 1951-1959, and 1962-the end of 1962. This left out all the people in the Conqueror - since they did not reside in the state.
However, John Wayne's family set up the John Wayne Foundation for Cancer Research - putting most of his earnings and royalties from his films, and fund-raising towards funding cures for cancer, and research into cancer. At the tail end of his career - Wayne basically became a spokesperson for the American Cancer Society and put his money and efforts towards finding a cure.
Howard Hughes funded a medical research center - into cancer research, along with other ailments, including mental health, and scientific research in medical improvements and enhancements. He'd switched the funding from Aviation to medical health research in the latter years of his life.
I was astonished to hear this - and it reminded me that people are always more than one thing.
George HW Bush is the one who signed the ban on Atomic Testing, and ended the Star Wars Testing and Weapon Development that Regan had pushed forward.
Along with Gorbachev, who approached Regan and the US for detente, and an end to atomic weapons and testing.
Nuclear power was pushed back - after 3 Mile Island. Also Hollywood did film after film condemning the practice. They flipped from pro-Atomic Testing and Power - to banning it.
RKO's film library was preserved under Turner Broadcasting, and whomever bought them out. And seen on TCM Movie classics. Often called Radioactive Film Studio - RKO. And they produced several films during a brief revival.
Also were bought by Dina Merrill - only to have a lawsuit brought against them.
( what happened to RKO )
It's a weird book. But in a way ends on a good note?
Hot flashes and perspiring seem to be linked with blood sugar fluctuations. Which is interesting.
But I have gotten my AIC down to a steady 6.0-6.1, and average glucose level at 117.
Today's was higher - but I also have a new sensor, and it always takes it a couple of days to stabilize. Also, I tend to exercise less and eat more carbs on weekends.
1. The Artist Way and Painting
While I've not necessarily stopped reading the book, I've given up on going to church and participating in their support groups associated with it.
( Read more... )
I told Wales all of this.
Wales: Don't stop painting. I really hope you continue the painting and drawing. Your work reminds me of...I don't know if you are familiar with Benard Goetz? He painted from memory - often using his wife as his inspiration. Also the artists who would do people on subway from a distance, but yours are more intimate. And in motion. I love them, and am enjoying them - please continue. That got you to do that at least.
I told her not to worry - I was enjoying that. It was making me happy. Making me enjoy the subway more, far less irritable and more aware of people. (Although I don't think they appreciate me staring at them, I do, I check them out and try to figure out how to draw them in my head. There was this man the other day who was wearing a leather vest and beads. Another had on a flowery jacket and was hugging his girlfriend.)
Also, lately everyone has been wearing black and dark colors - which is kind of boring to paint.
I've noticed something odd about non-visual artists over the years. Also, a lot of musicians or singers that I've met - can't draw (there are musicians who can - see Joni Mitchell - but for some reason, she mostly just paints and draws herself). ( Read more... )
At any rate - the Artist Way did help me, but it didn't help me connect to people in my church. Oh well. May need to try something else along the way.
Mother told me that my cousin Casey, had stopped writing stories, and given up on becoming a novelist, and was now pursuing stand-up comedy. She'd taken a class in improvisational stand-up comedy - and was doing the comedy club circuit in PA.
More power to her. You couldn't pay me enough to do that. Been there done that with poetry. Also I don't like stand up comedy. I had a friend who tried to get me to do The Moth - and no. Just no. I don't like performing in front of lots of people. Been there done that. Not again.
2. Television.
* Queen Charlotte on Netflix - is amusing. Very witty dialogue.
And it falls more into satire than romance. Shondra Rhimes is poking fun at the British Aristocracy and Historical Romance Novels. Actually most historical romance novels poke fun at the British Aristocracy and history, not that they don't deserve it. Because of course they do.
( pardon me while I poke fun at the British coronation that happened today that I don't care about )
Anyhow, if you like snarky humor and Bridgerton, you'll enjoy Queen Charlotte. If not, skip. Needless to say, it's not historically accurate, but it's not supposed to be. I wouldn't call it a romance, maybe bitter-sweet? So much as a satire.
* Shadow and Bone
This is the tale of two television shows. One is the superior - Six of Crows plot to take down Pekkar, with a group of young anti-heroes. These characters are interesting.
The other is the kind of paint-by-numbers YA fantasy romance - about Saint Alina attempting to destroy the fold. ( vague spoilers )
***
Both are filmed in the dark, so alas, you need a darkened room to watch them. Frigging Netflix. It needs to stop doing that. Not everything should be filmed at night. Broadcast Network television doesn't do this, just streaming.
3. Books
*Killing John Wayne
This is an odd book or well, audiobook. It's telling two stories - one the story of the atomic bomb testing in the Utah desert and how it may have resulted in millions getting cancer, while the government twiddled its thumbs and paid little attention or money to the victims. The other - about the life and death of the movie studio that filmed an epic in that desert, and was kind of killed by it.
In between all of that are the stories of the players involved, the cast and crew of the film, and its director and producers.
Howard Hughes managed to stop that film from being widely released after its initial release. I think Universal managed to pry the rights from RKO, and Hughes. But Hughes had most of the copies. And he also sued Universal with a cease and desist injunction - when they attempted to show it after Wayne died as part of a retrospective in the 70s. Since Hughes death, it may have been shown here and there, but rarely. It's not the most politically correct film in the world - and it is truly awful.
No one knows why Hughes was so adamant about it not being shown. Guilt? Hubris? Hughes was and continues to be an enigma.
They did try to sue the Atomic Energy Commission in the 1980s, didn't get very far. It is the Federal Government - that's hard to sue. The best they were able to do was stop future testing - there were protests in Utah. Also they put in place a financial reimbursement for anyone "residing" in the area between 1951-1959, and 1962-the end of 1962. This left out all the people in the Conqueror - since they did not reside in the state.
However, John Wayne's family set up the John Wayne Foundation for Cancer Research - putting most of his earnings and royalties from his films, and fund-raising towards funding cures for cancer, and research into cancer. At the tail end of his career - Wayne basically became a spokesperson for the American Cancer Society and put his money and efforts towards finding a cure.
Howard Hughes funded a medical research center - into cancer research, along with other ailments, including mental health, and scientific research in medical improvements and enhancements. He'd switched the funding from Aviation to medical health research in the latter years of his life.
I was astonished to hear this - and it reminded me that people are always more than one thing.
George HW Bush is the one who signed the ban on Atomic Testing, and ended the Star Wars Testing and Weapon Development that Regan had pushed forward.
Along with Gorbachev, who approached Regan and the US for detente, and an end to atomic weapons and testing.
Nuclear power was pushed back - after 3 Mile Island. Also Hollywood did film after film condemning the practice. They flipped from pro-Atomic Testing and Power - to banning it.
RKO's film library was preserved under Turner Broadcasting, and whomever bought them out. And seen on TCM Movie classics. Often called Radioactive Film Studio - RKO. And they produced several films during a brief revival.
Also were bought by Dina Merrill - only to have a lawsuit brought against them.
( what happened to RKO )
It's a weird book. But in a way ends on a good note?