Tuesday, February 27, 2024

MIXTAPE and Memories at Flat Rock Playhouse.

MIXTAPE is a cover band that was the featured act at Flat Rock Playhouse this weekend. My BFF Cindyrella joked how it felt to be around humanity again, out of my self-imposed shell. LOL! Well, I must admit I was feeling awkward around strangers again. Yet it was nostalgic even before the show commenced. I look around me and everybody’s damn old! Am I that old, really?!? Weird thing was, the only people that I saw that seemed younger were the band! Ha!



       Flat Rock Playhouse is a professional, non-profit theater located in the village of Flat Rock in North Carolina, known for quality productions of popular musicals, comedies, and dramas. 

       In 1937, under the direction of Robroy Farquhar, a group of actors organized themselves as the Vagabond Players. Around 1940, the Vagabond players settled in the Blue Ridge region of Western North Carolina. In 1952, the group purchased an 8-acre area of land in the Village of Flat Rock, where the theater is currently located. In 1961, the theaer was named the State Theatre of North Carolina by the North Carolina General Assembly.

       It was only my second time at Flat Rock Playhouse. The first was many years ago, a play. I forgot the title though, sorry. 




“Mixtape,” the rock tribute concert, isn’t easy to forget though. The music was my era: The best of the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s. The show’s come-on says, “Come shake off the winter blues with this red-hot rockin' playlist.” featuring top hits by Toto, Bob Seger, Guns N' Roses, Led Zeppelin, Beatles, America, Guns N’ Roses, Allman Brothers Band, Jefferson Starship, Heart etcetera. I could sing-along with all the songs because I know them by heart: Africa, Sweet Child O’ Mine, Barracuda, It’s Alright, Stairway to Heaven, Sister Golden Hair, Pretty Woman, Shower the People. 

       Feels good to know I am this old and enjoying it. And yup I won’t trade my mixtapes with your millennial and Gen Z downloads and spotifys, LOL! ๐ŸŽธ๐ŸŽผ๐ŸŽธ


Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Famous Photography and Stuff.

Previously posted on my Facebook Page. 


The Beatles crossing Abbey Road. Apple Records creative director John Kosh designed the album cover. Taken on 8 August 1969 outside EMI Studios on Abbey Road. At 11:35 that morning, photographer Iain Macmillan was given only ten minutes to take the photo while he stood on a step-ladder and a policeman held up traffic behind the camera. It is the only original UK Beatles album sleeve to show neither the artist name nor the album title on its front cover. ๐Ÿšถ๐ŸŽผ๐Ÿšถ‍♂️




People Power Revolution. A series of popular demonstrations in the Philippines, mostly in Manila, from February 22 to 25, 1986. A sustained campaign of civil resistance against regime violence and electoral fraud. The essentially nonviolent revolution led to the departure of Ferdinand Marcos, the end of his 20-year dictatorship. Weeks prior, we journalists somehow knew what’d go down. Still, it was a “peaceful” mass uprising. (Photo credit: NationStates.) ☮️๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ญ☮️




First Man on the Moon. Apollo 11 (July 16–24, 1969). Commander Neil Armstrong and lunar module pilot Buzz Aldrin landed the Apollo Lunar Module Eagle on July 20, 1969, at 20:17 UTC, and Mr Armstrong became the first person to step onto the Moon's surface six hours and 39 minutes later, on July 21 at 02:56 UTC. Photo: Neil Armstrong  working at the Apollo 11 lunar module "Eagle." Mr Aldrin was tasked with taking a series of panoramic photos, including this. ๐Ÿ“ท๐Ÿ“ธ๐Ÿ“ธ




Six United States Marines raising the U.S. flag atop Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima (Japan) in the final stages of the Pacific War. The photograph was taken by Joe Rosenthal of the Associated Press on February 23, 1945. The photograph has come to be regarded as one of the most recognizable images of World War II. The flag raising occurred in the early afternoon, after the mountaintop was captured and a smaller flag was raised on top that morning. 

       Three of the six Marines in the photograph—Sergeant Michael Strank, Corporal Harlon Block, and Private First Class Franklin Sousley—would be killed in action during the battle; Block was identified as Sergeant Hank Hansen until January 1947 and Sousley was identified as PhM2c. John Bradley, USN, until June 2016. The other three Marines in the photograph were Corporals (then Privates First Class) Ira Hayes, Harold Schultz, and Harold Keller; Schultz was identified as Sousley until June 2016 and Keller was identified as Rene Gagnon until October 2019. All of the men served in the 5th Marine Division on Iwo Jima. ๐Ÿ“ท๐Ÿ“ธ๐Ÿ“ธ




Loch Ness. In the 65 years since the birth of the modern legend, many have come forward with photographs of the monster. All frauds. But the photo, published in the London Daily Mail, and taken in 1934 by physician R. Kenneth Wilson stood out. Mr Wilson said he had taken the picture when he noticed a commotion in the water as he was driving up from London to Inverness. Sixty years later in 1994, several reports claimed the “surgeon’s photo” was a fake. ๐Ÿ“ท๐Ÿ“ธ๐Ÿ“ธ

Thursday, January 25, 2024

Slavoj ลฝiลพek and Stuff.

Ramble on: Just talking about stuff. Response friends’ post on Facebook, slightly edited. 


From a Facebook friend's page: “Experts are by definition the servants of those in power. They don't really THINK. They just apply their knowledge to problems defined by the powerful.” ― Slavoj ลฝiลพek.


SLAVOJ ZIZEK is a Slovenian philosopher, cultural theorist and public intellectual. ลฝiลพek and his thoughts have been described by many commentators as "Hegelo-Lacanian.” In his early career, ลฝiลพek claimed "a theoretical space molded by three centers of gravity: Hegelian dialectics, Lacanian psychoanalytic theory, and contemporary criticism of ideology, designating the theory of Jacques Lacan" as the fundamental element.



In 2010, ลฝiลพek instead claimed that for him Hegel is more fundamental than Lacan—"Even Lacan is just a tool for me to read Hegel. For me, always it is Hegel, Hegel, Hegel.”—while in 2019, he claimed that "For me, in some sense, all of philosophy happened in [the] fifty years" between Immanuel Kant's “Critique of Pure Reason” (1781) and the death of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1831). Alongside his academic, theoretical works, ลฝiลพek is a prolific commentator on current affairs and contemporary political debates.


ZIZEK's thoughts pose many contradictions but it requires more readings to get to know WTH he's rambling about. But I ride with some of his observations. Example, that communism died in 1990. Which is after the Tiananmen revolt (1989) which eventually cut down the Gang of Four and before 1991, disintegration of the USSR, but not necessarily the end of Cold War, judging by the current geopolitics. Yet as 21st century marched in, Beijing economically flourished and its (global) trade expansionism (based on Deng Xiaoping's blueprint in early 1970s) is effectively pursued sans military invasion. 

       But I definitely disagree with Zizek's assertion that China is a "ruthless capitalism" yet I'd rather call it modified communism or communism/capitalism interface. I usually try to avoid tossing a harsh criticism or confectionery superlative when "describing" a superpower nation. "Ruthless" may apply to Russia but Russia is a popular target of hate trajectory as many refuse to shake the fog of biased self-righteousness (sic) in their description of the West's traditional rival/s. 

       Anyhow, after 1991, Moscow or Kremlin calmed its hardline apparatchik girth to diversify its economic persona as anchored on its massive oil/natural gas (Russia entered WTO in 2012, 11 years after China). And so with its energy exports, Russia conquered Europe sans armed hostility. Middle East powers also effectively interfaced with capitalism but the rest is per individual political/ideological and cultural dogma. Saudi Arabia is a vivid example of a favorite dartboard target. (Anyone jealous of the economic success of non-Western power call them "ruthless," sure.) 

       I concur with Zizek's description of him as a conservative communist. I feel that way as well but this needs to be elaborated. Zizek is a brilliant dude but also a candidate to end in a mental asylum for the gifted, LOL! ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜’๐Ÿคจ


Photo: JSTOR Daily.


Monday, January 22, 2024

Getting Old. Sports. And Stuff.

Ramble on: Just talking about stuff. Response friends’ post on Facebook, slightly edited.


GETTING old. Failure and success, especially while on (self-imposed) retirement or relative inactivity due to "natural reasons," are seen as Life-done Status, per se. Me, I try not to feel that I failed or I succeeded. Too much thinking. I'd rather ponder the next episode of the TV series that I am hooked with or today's NBA games. I had a life and my 5 grownup children who live a fine life with their respective families/relationships. That's it. ๐Ÿ—ฝ๐Ÿƒ‍♀️๐Ÿƒ




       SPORTS. Although I have a few favorite players, I don't have a favorite team or club. I simply enjoy a game as entertainment, hoping there'll be less politics and drama, off the court (that today's media love to stir). ๐Ÿฆฟ๐Ÿค–๐Ÿฆพ

 

       AMERICAN CIVIL WAR. Studying, working, living in the US (with Americans) as a relative foreigner, I don't really feel so much about the past other than poring over history to understand the present and probably formulate a vague concept of the future. All for discussions sake or per whatever I am currently writing. I am emotionally detached from the past tenses of life. 

       Yet based on research, studies etc I believe the Civil War was also ushered by other pertinent reasons beyond slavery. And so on and so forth. ๐Ÿ›๐Ÿ—ฝ๐Ÿ›


       NIKKI HALEY and slavery. I didn't watch the videos, not interested. Yet I ponder as me coming from a country that was invaded and colonized by Spain for 300+ years and the US for 50+ years, did "slavery" happen in the islands in those many years? Of course. It'd be sheer stupidity to believe otherwise. Plus massacres/genocide etc. Worse situations and for centuries. 

       Yet am I moved by the past? No. People use the subject to heighten their political hate or societal prejudices. Not into it. I am concerned with Now. How to deal with current realities and how to help people live a better life (in case I am a politician). 

       But if ever I want to talk about slaves or those who still suffer because their ancestors were once slaves? I focus on Africa. The poorest region on earth and yet most ignored. 

       The present. More than half of the world, not necessarily blacks, were subjugated and slaved by Western powers for several lifetimes yet they are still treated badly these days by superpowers. I’d rather talk about that. Present tense. ☮️๐Ÿ—ฝ☮️

Wednesday, January 10, 2024

Golden Globes and the Emergence of Jo Koy.

Slightly edited/updated form from previous Facebook response/s. 


I HAVE already lost interest in these awards bugaboo, anyhow. After watching ALL awards shows each year since I was a little boy, I stopped almost 20 years ago. Golden Globes et al template: Diversify it. Non-whites, non-Americans ,and non-heterosexuals got to win. So the deserving winner loses the kick, somehow. Pump up the diversity. Spread out the wins. "Correct" it. 



       I mean, for example, Ali Wong (“Beef”) over Juno Temple (“Fargo 5”). Come on... Jennifer Jason Leigh and Sam Spruell weren’t even nominated. Too many whites anymore? My best series of the year, “All the Light We Cannot See,” though nominated, didn’t win it. 

       “The Bear” is a cool, enjoyable series. But what is so big a deal with Ayo Edebiri’s “acting,” tell me. Jamie Lee Curtis had fewer scenes but she should have been nominated, at least. And yet last year, Ms Curtis’ nonsensical spot in the topsy-turvy nonsense “Everything Everywhere All at Once” won her the Academy’s best supporting actress plum. And that movie won the Best Picture! Why? Because it is Asian? Well, I am Asian yet I feel insulted by both the movie and the awards. 

       Remember those years when “correctness” wasn’t a word and yet Chris Sarandon’s gay Leon, though a single scene, got a well-deserved supporting actor nod for 1975’s “Dog Day Afternoon.” Cambodian Haing S. Ngor took home the Best Supporting Actor award for 1985’s “The Killing Fields” and no one moped. Other than I thought it should be Best Actor due to the significance and scope of his role as real-life refugee Dith Pran. ๐ŸŽญ๐Ÿฅ๐Ÿ“บ


I WAS baffled that Filipino-American comedian Jo Koy was hosting the show after several choices said nope. Because he is half Asian? He could be funny in an open mic in Long Beach or Sta Monica Blvd but at Golden Globes?!? Who wrote his wordage and fails? A.I.? Was the pay so good that he didn't suspect that after the show, he'd crash his career? If Travis Kelce emerged from nowhere to bitchslap him right there, then he could have been saved from total shame. LOL! 



       Seriously though, snides, adlibs and jokes said by a non-white/non-black takes a different trajectory compared to the shaming tone when Chris Rock or Ricky Gervais said them. Such is the contradiction of this correctness idiocy.

Yet a day after the sequined thingy and social media brouhaha, news says 9.4 million viewers sat through the show, the most that the Golden Globe had in years. The end justified the means, I guess? Yup, I am endlessly mystified how network wizards influence the clicks (laptops, cellphones or TV). 

       Okay, enough. Y’all wait for Jo Koy at “Saturday Night Live.” ๐ŸŽญ๐Ÿฅ๐Ÿ“บ


Friday, January 5, 2024

Again: America. China. And other Facebook stuff.

Ramble on: Just talking about stuff. Response friends’ post on Facebook, slightly edited. 


AMERICA needs Chinese raw materials (think API for drugs and those minerals for computer gadgets) and China loves American consumerism. That is why a US/China trade pact was signed in 2000. Yet while giant US corporations gained a lot of profit by moving factories to and subcontracting manufacturing in China, the Chinese didn't buy US stuff as expected. Hence the trade deficit. And so as China goes on with its trade expansionism sans military heft, we get annoyed. Jealous. Kickass academics dilute an objective discussion of the US/China thingy with their high- falutin' intellectualism. 




THE Chinese (like the Arabs) learned Western styled capitalism with a few effective modifications. More so, these: 1. China has ample raw materials or pertinent minerals that our "toys" need. Drugs, cars, e-gadgets. 2. China's "communism" is still there albeit "modified" to fit the globalized trade grid. Take note that that political system is powered by a huge population that is generally Han Buddhist. Religious. 3. China's major industries (including the world-leading 5 banks are state-owned; except big tech but these titans give a lot of money to CCP essentially for BRI expansionism). 

       Of course, American corporations are privately owned while the fantastic military budget is taxpayer people funded. The Arabs are pretty much like the Chinese. Now knowledgeable of Western capitalism. Industries are Sovereign Fund owned and its people united via Islam (the then warring Sunnis and Shias start to shake hands as Saudi Arabia, de facto leader of the Arab League, shook hands with Shia Iran. The Gaza war could unite the Arabs, especially that Syria has been taken back by the League. But that'd be discussing stuff further.) I digress… ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ☮️๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ


Sunday, December 24, 2023

Ramble on: Just talking about stuff.

Response to friends’ post on Facebook, slightly edited. 


FLOOD of commercial advertisements on Facebook? I guess, that's bound to happen. Pragmatically speaking. I still read old magazines, including glossy magazines with about 80 percent ads. I get lucky when I get 2 or 3 interesting articles. That's the way it is. But I read old-school as a habit. I read only 4 or 5 media outlets in the internet though. Other news sources come with annoying ads or links between paragraphs so no more of that for me. 



       On FB, I am fine with 5 or 7 friends on my Homepage. Ads or reels versus posts that only irritate me? It's no brainer. Besides, I enjoy these cat/dog videos, feeds about basketball, memory of old movies, cooking tips, and silliness from my nephews. The internet per se is a giant mall so let it be. Hence, after I am done (or in between) my structured posts, I then deal with my 16 TV series (that I follow at a time), LOL! With my dog and 2 cats beside me. Life is good regardless. ๐Ÿ’ป⌨️๐Ÿ’ป




ALTHOUGH I don't work (job) anymore as I did, this internet/social media thing can really hold us captive. So I try my best to post/write as I did before we were brought online. I draft 95 percent of my posts and follow a strict time allotment/regimen. So I can't afford to get ruffled or distracted by silly arguments. Too much mental energy lost and time wasted. I was then. I mean, 20+ minutes on a singular argument about a subject that will never be resolved, esp. with someone that we haven't even met in person. Although I have blocked a few longtime friends who act like 7 year olds here. More annoying than 15 ads in one slide of my thumb, LOL! ๐Ÿ’ป⌨️๐Ÿ’ป