From: les@jmdl.com (JMDL Digest) To: joni-digest@smoe.org Subject: JMDL Digest V2005 #210 Reply-To: joni@smoe.org Sender: les@jmdl.com Errors-To: les@jmdl.com Precedence: bulk Unsubscribe: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe Archives: http://www.smoe.org/lists/joni Websites: http://www.jmdl.com http://www.jonimitchell.com JMDL Digest Sunday, May 22 2005 Volume 2005 : Number 210 ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- Re: least profound Joni verse ["ron" ] Renee and Joni ["Gerald A. Notaro" ] RE: Star Wars, was "The Life Aquatic" NJC, short [Bob Muller ] Re: Star Wars, was "The Life Aquatic" NJC, short [Bob Muller ] buddhism NJC [Smurf ] Re: Lady Mondegreen and llamas [Bill Dollinger ] Re: Renee and Joni [Joseph Palis ] Re: least profound Joni verse [djp ] Re: Star Wars, was "The Life Aquatic" NJC, short [vince ] Re: least profound Joni verse [jrmco1@aol.com] least profound Joni verse ["David Henderson" ] Re: buddhism NJC [Randy Remote ] njc The trigger is pulled -- we have 72 hours to save our courts. [Randy ] Re: Julio Medem NJC ["mike pritchard" ] Re: Crash - the Movie ["Lama, Jim L'Hommedieu" ] Re: Star Wars, was "The Life Aquatic" NJC, short ["Lama, Jim L'Hommedieu"] Re: least profound Joni verse, njc [LCStanley7@aol.com] Re: Crash - the Movie njc [Joseph Palis ] Re: Photo of Joni with the New York Metro interview ["Sherelle Smith" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 22 May 2005 10:27:18 +0200 From: "ron" Subject: Re: least profound Joni verse hi the cadillac/just ice/justice line just makes me cringe............ ron ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 May 2005 08:01:00 -0400 (EDT) From: "Gerald A. Notaro" Subject: Renee and Joni May 21, 2005 Rolling Her Classical Voice Around Pop Songs By STEPHEN HOLDEN When Renie Fleming met her idol Joni Mitchell for the first time not long ago, she was faced with two choices. "I could fall at her feet and grovel, sobbing hysterically, or I could say, 'How nice to meet you,' " she recalled from the stage of Joe's Pub on Thursday evening. She ended up making the demure choice. But to hear her plunge fearlessly into the turbulent rapids of Ms. Mitchell's song "River" at the first of two shows on Thursday evening was the concert equivalent of observing a great classical singer worship abjectly at the feet of a pop composer. Refusing to put a safe distance between herself and the song (from Ms. Mitchell's album "Blue"), she held nothing back; her operatic intensity was matched by an emotional immodesty that was the furthest thing from demure. As she sobbed, "I made my baby cry," Ms. Fleming and the song became one. "River" is one of several remarkable cuts on Ms. Fleming's recently released album, "Haunted Heart" (Decca), in which she sings a mostly pop program, accompanied by Fred Hersch on piano and Bill Frisell on guitar. At Joe's Pub, at the Public Theater, where she performed as a benefit for the club, she was joined only by Mr. Hersch, a jazz piano master who shares both her classical roots and her passion for serious songs that might be called high pop. Together Ms. Fleming and Mr. Hersch made a persuasive case that the best popular songs, whether by Cole Porter or Ms. Mitchell, can be negotiated by a classically trained singer with the right adjustment of technique and point of view. The first rule must be to avoid any suggestion of condescension; hauteur is out. There is plenty of latitude. Dawn Upshaw succeeds with a light approach, Ms. Fleming with a heavy one. A provocative illustration of the proximity of genres was the segueing of an instrumental excerpt from Berg's opera "Wozzeck," played by Mr. Hersch, into the song "Midnight Sun." As one slid into the other, Ms. Fleming rolled her voice around Johnny Mercer's lyrics with an intoxicated delight that recalled Sarah Vaughan's voluptuous romp through the same words (minus Vaughan's inner swing). Best of all were the Dietz-Schwartz ballad "Haunted Heart," which Mr. Hersch's lingering arrangement and Ms. Fleming's anguished vocal took to a very dark place, and "You've Changed" (lyrics by Bill Carey and music by Carl Fischer), another torch song, which the singer cited as her personal favorite. But the chemistry between Ms. Fleming and her material was far from infallible. "My Cherie Amour," performed without a studio arrangement and without the vocal lilt of the young Stevie Wonder to lift it, came across as fluff. At the opposite pole, the Beatles' "In My Life," attenuated into a lugubrious illustration of "an 11 o'clock number," as Ms. Fleming called it, sank under the weight. Like so many pop songs, "In My Life" must be allowed to catch you off guard, its sadness permitted to sneak through a veneer of charm. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 May 2005 05:28:23 -0700 (PDT) From: Bob Muller Subject: RE: Star Wars, was "The Life Aquatic" NJC, short Or even quicker...the lounge character that Murray played on SNL sang the Star Wars theme, with these words: "Star Wars, Those near and far wars Aliens in bar wars Take me away" Or something sorta like it. Bob NP: Guster, "Come downstairs and say hello" - --------------------------------- Discover Yahoo! Stay in touch with email, IM, photo sharing & more. Check it out! ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 May 2005 09:05:58 EDT From: LCStanley7@aol.com Subject: Re: least profound Joni verse Julius wrote: Then there's the anti-profundity of these two words of verse, repeated ad infinitum: "dancin' clown...dancin' clown...he's a....dancin'...dancin' clown..." Just shoot me. So much for eliminating the negative and accentuating the positive, eh? I'd better make it up to you. :-) Hi Julius! I see "least profound" as having a place and not necessarily negative to accentuate or discuss. I don't think everything must be deep to be positive. Joni uses the superficial and the deep like a tapestry or an orchestra. I like the song Dancing Clown. And I agree, it isn't a profound phrase. As for shooting... the repetition in the song is like verbal shooting to wake people up to the way they are dancing clowns sometimes. If it was profound, it wouldn't be so effective as a confrontation. Love, Laura ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 May 2005 09:09:31 EDT From: FMYFL@aol.com Subject: Re: Star Wars, was "The Life Aquatic" NJC, short In a message dated 5/22/2005 8:36:42 AM Eastern Standard Time, scjoniguy@yahoo.com writes: > "Star Wars, > Those near and far wars > Aliens in bar wars > Take me away" > Oh Bob, that was a scream when Murray did his "Nick Winters" show! "Ah.. Star Wars! If they should bar wars.. please let these Star Wars stay-ay! " Jimmy "Back off Blanche! Not everyone is classified by the Navy as a friendly port!" -Dorothy Zbornak ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 May 2005 15:35:15 +0200 From: "mike pritchard" Subject: buddhism NJC Apropos of nothing in particular, anyone out there recommend an interesting, informative introduction to Buddhist thought? mike - npimh smiths, how long is now. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 May 2005 06:38:58 -0700 (PDT) From: Bob Muller Subject: Re: Star Wars, was "The Life Aquatic" NJC, short And thanks to the wonderful Dogpile audio search, here are the words AND the performance: http://mahawa.jw-music.net/mp3/mp3_murray.htm (Click on the phrase): Bill Murray sings "Star Wars" (Saturday Night Live, 1977) Bob NP: Nick Winters, "Star Wars" FMYFL@aol.com wrote: In a message dated 5/22/2005 8:36:42 AM Eastern Standard Time, scjoniguy@yahoo.com writes: > "Star Wars, > Those near and far wars > Aliens in bar wars > Take me away" > Oh Bob, that was a scream when Murray did his "Nick Winters" show! "Ah.. Star Wars! If they should bar wars.. please let these Star Wars stay-ay! " Jimmy "Back off Blanche! Not everyone is classified by the Navy as a friendly port!" -Dorothy Zbornak Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 May 2005 15:38:35 +0200 From: "mike pritchard" Subject: Julio Medem NJC Apropos of nothing in particular, anyone out (except Emiliano and Gill) there seen any films by Julio Medem, the Basque writer/director? Very interesting but I'm not sure if his stuff makes it stateside, or anywhere else out of Spain/Europe. Comments? Joseph? mike in bcn - np Sheila Chandra: my lagan love ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 May 2005 06:54:12 -0700 (PDT) From: Smurf Subject: buddhism NJC - --- mike asks: > Apropos of nothing in particular, anyone out there > recommend an interesting, > informative introduction to Buddhist thought? Here it is, Mike: __________________________________ Yahoo! Mail Mobile Take Yahoo! Mail with you! Check email on your mobile phone. http://mobile.yahoo.com/learn/mail ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 May 2005 09:47:47 -0400 From: Bill Dollinger Subject: Re: Lady Mondegreen and llamas from Carey: Mantel of the moon. Bill On May 21, 2005, at 9:18 PM, jrmco1@aol.com wrote: > What's yours? I used to sing "there'll be puka shells to bring to > school tomorrow" instead of "crocuses." Oh, but I was so much older > then, I'm younger than that now... > > -Julius > > The Last Word on Song Lyrics > http://www.bangkokpost.com/en/Outlook/22May2005_out62.php > > It's not very often that Crutch receives a "special request" but there > have been a number concerning the topic of aural malapropism, which > initially appeared in PostScript seven years ago. This is not some > weird medical condition, but the art of getting the lyrics of a song > wrong, otherwise known as a "mondegreen'". For those who are > unfamiliar how the term "mondegreen'' surfaced, a brief explanation is > required. > > The word was originally coined by a lady who was fond of an old > Scottish ballad The Bonnie Earl of Murray. To her ears, one verse went > like this: > > "Ye highlands and ye lowlands, > Oh where have you been, > Thou have slain the Earl of Murray, > And Lady Mondegreen." > > > It was only after years of feeling deep sorrow about the fate of Lady > Mondegreen that she discovered the last line was actually "and laid > him on the green.'' > > It's probably true to say most of us can't remember more than a few > lines of a song and even then we get the words wrong. As a kid for > years I wondered why Dusty Springfield sang "You don't have to say you > love me, just because I'm mad.'" It didn't seem very romantic at all. > It was only a few years later that the puzzle was answered when I came > across the lyrics which read "just be close at hand". > > For years a friend thought a Billy Joel number went: "you made the > rice, I made the gravy'" which is perhaps more entertaining than the > original "you may be right, I may be crazy''. Another thought the Pink > Floyd lyrics for The Wall went: "the dogs suck acid in the > classroom,'" which admittedly sounds a bit Pink Floyd-ish. Alas the > lyrics were actually: "No dark sarcasm in the classroom.'" > > Some mondegreens have already become kind of folk law. Many thought > the Jimi Hendrix song Purple Haze featured the line: "`Scuze me while > I kiss this guy'" when Hendrix was actually kissing "the sky". It's > even the title of a book. Apparently it all began with the refrain of > Bob Dylan's Blowin' in the Wind which we all know goes: "The ants are > my friend ...'' > > Sweet lettuce and peanuts > > When this column first discussed mondegreens in 1998, readers came up > with a fine assortment of their own aural malapropisms. It seemed > nearly everyone had their own special cocked-up version of popular > song lyrics. > > One reader, who must be nearly as old as Crutch, recalled he thought > the lyrics to the Kinks classic You Really Got Me went `"You got me so > I can't see Batman,'" rather than "can't sleep at night''. A Beatles > fan said for years she thought that in Hey Jude, Paul McCartney was > singing "remember sweet lettuce under your skin,'" rather than > "remember to let her under your skin'". Another thought a line in the > Four Seasons song Hang On went: "Got a lot of lovely peanuts,'' as > opposed to the original "got a lot of love between us'". > > Former colleague Denis Segaller tells me his Thai wife, who loves the > song Your Cheatin' Heart insists on singing "you walk the fool'" > instead of "walk the floor'". > > Elton John songs seemed to have caused considerable confusion over the > years. Someone thought that in Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Elton was > singing: "You can't help meeting your pen pal,'' rather than "you > can't plant me in your penthouse'', while another reader had Elton > singing: "Rocket man, burning all the trees off every lawn,'' when in > fact the rocket man was "burning up his face up here alone''. > > And someone who definitely needed her ears examined was the lady who > thought Joni Mitchell's classic Big Yellow Taxi features: "a gay pair > of guys put up a parking lot,'" and not the original "they paved > paradise and put up a parking lot." > > Cheese and bagels > > Some mondegreens which readers sent in were a considerable improvement > on the original lyrics. I bet the Eurythmics wished they had written > "Sweet dreams are made of cheese,'" rather than "this'', while > Madonna's La Isla Bonita would have sounded better with "Last night I > dreamed of some bagels,'' which is a bit more creative than "San > Pedro''. > > David Bowie would probably be interested to learn that some fans > thought the lyrics to Space Oddity went: "Clown control to Mao > Tse-tung,'' rather than "Ground control to Major Tom,'' while someone > thought in Beast of Burden the Rolling Stones sang: "I'll never be > your pizza burger.'' > > Top marks, however, went to the reader who thought the Deep Purple > classic: "Smoke on the water, fire in the sky,'' was actually "Slow > walking Walter, the fire engine guy.'' But perhaps the most inspired > rogue lyrics received was prompted by the Police song with the > thought-provoking title, De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da. The original lyrics > are typical Sting: "When their eloquence escapes me, their logic ties > me up and rapes me.'' That of course doesn't make any sense at all. No > wonder one listener came up with a far more sensible version: "When my > elephant escapes me, a llama ties me up and rapes me.'' Try it next > time you hear the song. > > There are millions more, of course. If nothing else, this might have > got you humming a few songs over breakfast, or God forbid, even a few > dodgy lyrics. Maybe some readers have got their own personal > offerings? ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 May 2005 16:15:26 +0200 (CEST) From: Joseph Palis Subject: Re: Renee and Joni Great review. Nice to hear that an operatic diva long accustomed to have shouts of bravissimo and long standing ovations in concert halls entertained thoughts of grovelling and sobbing hysterically in front of Joni. Joni seems to bring that out in people. I wonder what I'll do if we are in the same hall, room or sharing the same elevator -- joy! I read somewhere a few years ago that one of Renee Fleming's desert island CDs is "Hejira" while Dawn Upshaw admitted she liked "Court and Spark". And maybe there are other sopranos and mezzos and altos out there whose velvety voices will someday sing the Joni Mitchell-iana songbook. I wonder when Anne Sofie von Otter or Denyce Graves will record a Joni song. Joseph in Chapel Hill np: Nancy Marano - "A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing" from If You Could See Us Now "Gerald A. Notaro" a icrit : May 21, 2005 Rolling Her Classical Voice Around Pop Songs By STEPHEN HOLDEN When Renie Fleming met her idol Joni Mitchell for the first time not long ago, she was faced with two choices. "I could fall at her feet and grovel, sobbing hysterically, or I could say, 'How nice to meet you,' " she recalled from the stage of Joe's Pub on Thursday evening. She ended up making the demure choice. But to hear her plunge fearlessly into the turbulent rapids of Ms. Mitchell's song "River" at the first of two shows on Thursday evening was the concert equivalent of observing a great classical singer worship abjectly at the feet of a pop composer. Refusing to put a safe distance between herself and the song (from Ms. Mitchell's album "Blue"), she held nothing back; her operatic intensity was matched by an emotional immodesty that was the furthest thing from demure. As she sobbed, "I made my baby cry," Ms. Fleming and the song became one. "River" is one of several remarkable cuts on Ms. Fleming's recently released album, "Haunted Heart" (Decca), in which she sings a mostly pop program, accompanied by Fred Hersch on piano and Bill Frisell on guitar. At Joe's Pub, at the Public Theater, where she performed as a benefit for the club, she was joined only by Mr. Hersch, a jazz piano master who shares both her classical roots and her passion for serious songs that might be called high pop. Together Ms. Fleming and Mr. Hersch made a persuasive case that the best popular songs, whether by Cole Porter or Ms. Mitchell, can be negotiated by a classically trained singer with the right adjustment of technique and point of view. The first rule must be to avoid any suggestion of condescension; hauteur is out. There is plenty of latitude. Dawn Upshaw succeeds with a light approach, Ms. Fleming with a heavy one. A provocative illustration of the proximity of genres was the segueing of an instrumental excerpt from Berg's opera "Wozzeck," played by Mr. Hersch, into the song "Midnight Sun." As one slid into the other, Ms. Fleming rolled her voice around Johnny Mercer's lyrics with an intoxicated delight that recalled Sarah Vaughan's voluptuous romp through the same words (minus Vaughan's inner swing). Best of all were the Dietz-Schwartz ballad "Haunted Heart," which Mr. Hersch's lingering arrangement and Ms. Fleming's anguished vocal took to a very dark place, and "You've Changed" (lyrics by Bill Carey and music by Carl Fischer), another torch song, which the singer cited as her personal favorite. But the chemistry between Ms. Fleming and her material was far from infallible. "My Cherie Amour," performed without a studio arrangement and without the vocal lilt of the young Stevie Wonder to lift it, came across as fluff. At the opposite pole, the Beatles' "In My Life," attenuated into a lugubrious illustration of "an 11 o'clock number," as Ms. Fleming called it, sank under the weight. Like so many pop songs, "In My Life" must be allowed to catch you off guard, its sadness permitted to sneak through a veneer of charm. - --------------------------------- Dicouvrez le nouveau Yahoo! Mail : 1 Go d'espace de stockage pour vos mails, photos et vidios ! Criez votre Yahoo! Mail ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 May 2005 09:15:39 -0500 From: djp Subject: Re: least profound Joni verse "He said 'You think you're a lady, but i know you're a woman, and we are as young as the night'" djp ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 May 2005 10:26:23 -0400 From: vince Subject: Re: Star Wars, was "The Life Aquatic" NJC, short Thank you for that link. I've been singing that since Murry first did it. Vince Bob Muller wrote: >And thanks to the wonderful Dogpile audio search, here are the words AND the performance: > >http://mahawa.jw-music.net/mp3/mp3_murray.htm > >(Click on the phrase): > >Bill Murray sings "Star Wars" >(Saturday Night Live, 1977) > >Bob > >NP: Nick Winters, "Star Wars" > >FMYFL@aol.com wrote: >In a message dated 5/22/2005 8:36:42 AM Eastern Standard Time, >scjoniguy@yahoo.com writes: > > > >>"Star Wars, >>Those near and far wars >>Aliens in bar wars >>Take me away" >> >> >> > >Oh Bob, that was a scream when Murray did his "Nick Winters" show! > >"Ah.. Star Wars! If they should bar wars.. please let these Star Wars >stay-ay! " > >Jimmy > >"Back off Blanche! Not everyone is classified by the Navy as a friendly >port!" -Dorothy Zbornak >Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around >http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 May 2005 16:41:41 +0200 (CEST) From: Joseph Palis Subject: Re: Julio Medem NJC Hi Mike, I watched three of Julio Medem's films when I was still in Manila. I have not seen any of his recent films shown in the Triangle, or at least since I came to North Carolina in the fall of 2003. Sometimes I think that I had more access to world cinema when I was in the Philippines than when I am came to study cinema here -- ha! But then I wouldn't know if I would have watched films like "Noi Albinoi" or Godard's "Notre Musique" or Ousmane Sembene's "Moolaade" in Manila in the big screens. Having said that I find Medem's films intriguingly transgressive. "The Red Squirrel" for one does not seem to adhere to a conventional narrative and genre format. It seems to follow its own course and rules. It shifted genre midway through the film, and like Rebecca Miller's recent "The Ballad of Jack and Rose", it chooses to tell moments of people's lives rather than advancing the narrative and chooses only what it wants to focus. "Sex and Lucia" explores sexuality in a different light -- or at least in the light I have not seen before. It does not balk at the explicitness of the sexual act but when I expected to be aroused by the images, it will go into abstract iconographies that are either Basque-specific or private jokes that I didn't catch or they were just explorations to nothingness the way a Wim Wenders film can sometimes bring us. But I love love love "Lovers of the Arctic Circle" -- it has got to be one the greatest love stories ever. Maybe because I was trained in geography in school but I found the latitudinal changes as correlative to people's attitude in that part of the world fascinating -- I don't mean to exoticize the place but I was just mesmerized. Why it had to end the way it ended and at the very very last minute at that just when people are starting to relax is something that only a skilled filmmaker can conceptualize (which others would call eccentric). I love this actress who played the lead (she was in "Abre Los Ojos" too and from what I was told by my Basque friends here in Chapel Hill, is also a singer) and Fele Martinez (who is always good and was in Almodovar's recent "Bad Education"). I love Spanish cinema a lot and hope to see more from Bigas Luna. One last question: Is it true that Almodovar is not as popular in Spain as he is internationally? Thought maybe that when "Mondays of the Sun" became Spain's entry to the Academy rather than Almodovar's "Talk To Her" it was an indication. Or is this just urban legend? Cinemaphiles worldwide want to know. Joseph in Chapel Hill (who recommends Agnes Jaoui's "Talk To Me" as a good film alternative to "Revenge of the Sith") mike pritchard a icrit : Apropos of nothing in particular, anyone out (except Emiliano and Gill) there seen any films by Julio Medem, the Basque writer/director? Very interesting but I'm not sure if his stuff makes it stateside, or anywhere else out of Spain/Europe. Comments? Joseph? mike in bcn - np Sheila Chandra: my lagan love - --------------------------------- Dicouvrez le nouveau Yahoo! Mail : 1 Go d'espace de stockage pour vos mails, photos et vidios ! Criez votre Yahoo! Mail ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 May 2005 11:59:51 -0400 From: jrmco1@aol.com Subject: Re: least profound Joni verse Hi there, Laura, Your point is well taken. I got a little too cute with the text of my reply below. I was sorta paraphrasing the lyrics (non-profound ones, at that) to a show tune from, like, "Annie," I think. An unresponsive and unfunny antic on my part. I'm sorry. Now, as to "least profound" having a place. Well, of course it does. So does bat guano. But hopefully that place is on the floor of some remote cave, or on some farmer's failing crops. Not in my ears. I do not like "Dancing Clown." The repetition, to me, is the lyrical equivalent of the infamous Chinese water torture. The "music" sucks, too. If there are people out there who are really such vapid "dancing clowns," I want them to go ahead and sleep through it! Do it for the sake of all the rest of us, who are merely white-faced and standing still. With love to Laura, Julius - -----Original Message----- From: LCStanley7@aol.com To: joni@smoe.org Cc: JRMCo1@aol.com Sent: Sun, 22 May 2005 09:05:58 EDT Subject: Re: least profound Joni verse Hi Julius! I see "least profound" as having a place and not necessarily negative to accentuate or discuss. I don't think everything must be deep to be positive. Joni uses the superficial and the deep like a tapestry or an orchestra. I like the song Dancing Clown. And I agree, it isn't a profound phrase. As for shooting... the repetition in the song is like verbal shooting to wake people up to the way they are dancing clowns sometimes. If it was profound, it wouldn't be so effective as a confrontation. Love, Laura Julius wrote: Then there's the anti-profundity of these two words of verse, repeated ad infinitum: "dancin' clown...dancin' clown...he's a....dancin'...dancin' clown..." Just shoot me. So much for eliminating the negative and accentuating the positive, eh? I'd better make it up to you. :-) ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 May 2005 11:52:15 -0400 From: "David Henderson" Subject: least profound Joni verse LES SAID: > Anybody else have a least profound > Joni verse that comes to mind? >Since I lost you >I can't get through the day >Without at least one big boo-hoo >Yuck. My submission is not a verse but a whole song, Electricity - a verse to recall: The masking tape tangles It's sticky and black And the copper Proud headed Queen Lizzie Conducts little charges That don't get charged back Well the technical manual's busy She's not going to fix it up too easy CRINGE . . . it's creative writing for seventh graders . . . 'class, write a poem and humanize an electrical outlet (or a cup holder or a Veg-O-Matic, or write a song and pretend you're a marble or a wedding ring). I took a creative writing class in the 10th grade, and we had a similar assignment. I wrote something about how my feeling blue over a break-up was something like being a loaf of bread ready to be baked - in a broken oven. (Jeez, at 44, I wonder what I was thinking subconsciously at 15!) I don't really remember it, but I do remember thinking I was very clever in using the word crusty to mean cranky or gruff. I think this was about the same time in my life when my favorite TV show was a Gunsmoke spin-off called Dirty Sally about a crusty old woman in the old west. She made her mule wear a straw hat with flowers, and she named him Worthless. I thought that was the funniest thing in the whole world. Ah, youth. David NP Kaiser Chiefs (!!!) ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 May 2005 10:22:17 -0700 From: Randy Remote Subject: Re: buddhism NJC These relate to zen buddhism- Zen Flesh, Zen Bones (compilation) excellent any Zen books by Alan Watts also the small novel Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse mike pritchard wrote: > Apropos of nothing in particular, anyone out there recommend an interesting, > informative introduction to Buddhist thought? > mike - npimh smiths, how long is now. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 May 2005 10:28:57 -0700 From: Randy Remote Subject: njc The trigger is pulled -- we have 72 hours to save our courts. I wouldn't post something like this if it wasn't of such importance- the Republican right is about to stage a power grab in the Senate that will have ominous implications. [note that the term "nuclear option" has nothing to do with nuclear power or weapons] "Ben Brandzel, MoveOn PAC" wrote: [TABLE NOT SHOWN] Dear MoveOn member, This is it — they've pulled the trigger. On Tuesday May 24th, the Senate will vote on a motion to end debate on judicial nominations, and when that motion fails Senator Bill Frist will launch the "nuclear option" — an unprecedented parliamentary maneuver to break the rules of the Senate and seize absolute control over lifetime appointments to the highest courts in the land. The vote is going to be incredibly close, and there are as many as 6 votes still up in the air — more than enough to win. We must act now. We've launched an emergency petition and, starting Monday, we'll deliver your signatures and comments to the Senate floor every three hours until the vote is complete. As the debate rages on, Senators fighting to preserve our independent courts will read your statements from the floor of congress. And every senator, every 3 hours, will receive thousands of pages from their constituents demanding that they stand up and do the right thing. We have less than 72 hours to win this vote and save our courts. Please sign today. http://www.moveonpac.org/nuclear?id=5554-2900826-k527axaeb2__lNH3V2E4WA&t=3 If you care about the minimum wage — and you don't want judges ruling it unconstitutional — now's the time to act. If you care about environmental laws — and you don't want judges striking them down — now's the time to act. If you care about your right to privacy — and you don't want the government telling your family how to live, worship, or even how to die — now's the time to act. As the fight escalates in Congress, thousands of MoveOn members will gather outside of Senate offices and courthouses in every state in the country, staging round the clock "Citizens' Filibusters to Stop the Right Wing Power Grab." We'll also deliver your comments to all the gatherings in your state, so your words will combine with thousands of others to show the public, the media, and our representatives in Washington that we will not give up the fight for our democracy. It's a rare moment when a vote of such importance is actually too close to call with only hours left and a real chance to win - please sign the petition and add your voice right now: http://www.moveonpac.org/nuclear?id=5554-2900826-k527axaeb2__lNH3V2E4WA&t=4 Here's a brief summary of what's at stake. Bill Frist, George Bush and the far wing of the Republican party are desperate to seize absolute control over all three branches of our government. For 200 years, the rules of the Senate have blocked one party from taking complete control, because the minority has always had the right to filibuster — to extend debate and delay a vote — when their basic rights were in danger. For centuries this has kept the courts fair by ensuring that judges receive at least some support from both sides of the aisle before they are confirmed for life. Now Senator Frist wants to break the rules of the Senate and eliminate the filibuster, ending the requirement for broad support and handing absolute control over the courts to one party for the first time in our nation's history. To begin, he'll force a handful of extremists onto the powerful U.S. Courts of Appeals. But the real targets are the up to four nominations to the Supreme Court likely to come up during Bush's second term — enough seats to permanently shift the majority and strike down decades of progress on labor rights, environmental protection, privacy rights, and civil rights. When Frist first announced his plan, it seemed like it was only a matter of time. After all, the Republicans have 55 votes in the Senate, and Frist only needs 50. But today, with 72 hours left, the vote is still too close to call. Thanks to the amazing work of MoveOn members, our partner groups, the Democratic leadership, and basic common sense three Republicans have publicly denounced Frist's plan — Sens. John McCain (AZ), Olympia Snowe (ME), and Lincoln Chafee (RO). We need just three more to win and as many as six are still on the fence, including Sens. Arlen Specter (PA), Chuck Hagel (NE), John Warner (VA), and Susan Collins (ME). We have one last chance to raise our voice, to help our allies stand strong and convince reasonable Republicans to step back from the brink. The courts we have for decades — and the rights they protect or the rights they strike down — may well be determined by what we do now. Please sign today. http://www.moveonpac.org/nuclear?id=5554-2900826-k527axaeb2__lNH3V2E4WA&t=5 Thank you for all that you do, –Ben, Marika, Matt, Justin and the MoveOn PAC Team Sunday, May 22nd, 2005 PAID FOR BY MOVEON PAC Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. -------------------------------------------------------------------- [demime 0.97c-p1 removed an attachment of type image/gif which had a NAME of C:WINDOWSTEMPnsmailVU.gif] [demime 0.97c-p1 removed an attachment of type image/gif which had a NAME of C:WINDOWSTEMPnsmailDB.gif] ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 May 2005 20:09:23 +0200 From: "mike pritchard" Subject: Re: Julio Medem NJC >>I watched three of Julio Medem's films when I was still in Manila. I have not seen any of his recent films shown in the Triangle, or at least since I came to North Carolina in the fall of 2003.<< Hi Joseph, Does this mean that you haven't seen 'Tierra', Vacas' and 'La Pelota Vasca'? I guess these are called 'Land', 'Cows' and 'The Basque Ball' respectively but I'll check out the IMDB first? ('Land' and 'Cows' are literal translations but the last one is called 'The Basque Ball: Skin Against Stone' (USA)). I think you will enjoy them too. I haven't seen all of 'La pelota Vasca' (there are at least 2 versions, one of which is 8 hours of interviews with prominent figures in the Basque 'troubles'; the reference to the six counties is intentional), but I'd like to see it in full. Carmelo Gomez was in both the 'movies' (LPV is a documentary really) and maybe you've seen him in other Spanish films. I recommend the two narrative films without reservation. 'Vacas', especially, but Tierra too, is about place, a very important element in the Basque psyche. Go see them. >>I love this actress (Najwa Nimri) who played the lead [in Lovers of the North Pole] (she was in "Abre Los Ojos" too and from what I was told by my Basque friends here in Chapel Hill, is also a singer) and Fele Martinez (who is always good and was in Almodovar's recent "Bad Education"). << Najwa is indeed a singer and was, as I'm sure you know, Elena in 'Lucia y el Sexo', as well as playing Nzria in 'Abre Los Ojos' (Open your Eyes). Another excellent actress who often plays in Medem's films is Emma Suarez, frequently with Carmelo Gomez. >> I love Spanish cinema a lot and hope to see more from Bigas Luna.<< I think you will be disappointed with Bigas Luna (Why, because I was?) because he is not in the same league as Almenabar and Medem, and others. One trick pony, IMHO. >>Is it true that Almodovar is not as popular in Spain as he is internationally? Thought maybe that when "Mondays in the Sun" became Spain's entry to the Academy rather than Almodovar's "Talk To Her" it was an indication. Or is this just urban legend?<< I think that the Spanish public (and academy) are tired of Almodovar and his fetishes, although some of things are interesting, of course. The public reacts with a shrug and a remark like, "well, it's Almodovar talking about homosexuality and rape again, so what's new?" Almenabar is immensely talented and in a few years people will have forgotten about Almodovar completely; this guy can do it all, and if given a fair crack he will be one of the great, if not the greatest writer/directors in the history of Spanish (and world?) cinema. Fernando Lesn de Aranoa is a young, talented director, as he showed in 'Lunes al Sol' and I think that the Spanish Academy's decision to support 'Lunes al Sol' was fair and not vindictive, although there is a backdrop of boredom with Almodovar's homoerotic fantasies. I think the decisions to support 'Lunes al Sol' and 'Mar Adentro' (both starring Javier Bardem, of course) were objectively the correct decisions. Bardem is, in the favourite expressions of the Spanish press, either 'immense' or 'colossal', and we've not heard the last of him either. I don't know if you want to take this offlist Joe, maybe this is too esoteric for jonilistas. I know Vince likes some Spanish-language films, but I don't know if there is enough interest on the list in general. Emiliano, Gill, ?que pensais? mike in bcn - who watched 'Sex and Lucia' yesterday... NP Somali - Pentangle ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 May 2005 14:16:55 -0400 From: "Lama, Jim L'Hommedieu" Subject: Re: Crash - the Movie I'm ready to discuss this worthy topic. I think the scene where the "traumatized woman" meets her "abuser" again (in different circumstance) was flat-out brilliant. (Catherine, I didn't give anything away that time!) Every actor was required to be very naturalistic because each character was chocked full of paradox. (I hope that doesn't give away too much.) Bring it on. Jim ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 May 2005 14:36:57 -0400 From: "Lama, Jim L'Hommedieu" Subject: Re: Star Wars, was "The Life Aquatic" NJC, short That's the answer I was looking for. I don't have it on tape but I remember (wrongly?) "Star Wars, Nothing but Star Wars. " Funny. Jim Bob Muller wrote: > Or even quicker...the lounge character that Murray played on SNL sang > the Star > Wars theme, with these words: > > "Star Wars, > Those near and far wars > Aliens in bar wars > Take me away" ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 May 2005 14:42:36 EDT From: LCStanley7@aol.com Subject: Re: least profound Joni verse, njc Julius wrote: Now, as to "least profound" having a place. Well, of course it does. So does bat guano. But hopefully that place is on the floor of some remote cave, or on some farmer's failing crops. Not in my ears. Hi Julius, I was listening to Johnny Cash's album Unchained, and there is very little if anything profound on that album, but it is fantastic! "I've been everywhere man..." Love it! Same thing for The Monkeys which I find to be a lot of fun. Fun or funny, not heavy... least profound. That was what I was looking for not quano. Want to try again? Love, Laura ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 May 2005 21:17:07 +0200 (CEST) From: Joseph Palis Subject: Re: Crash - the Movie njc I don't know if 'like' is the proper word to describe how I experienced Paul Haggis' "Crash". I don't dislike it, for sure, but like most films that want to tackle big themes like the politics of identity and race, "Crash" delivered most of the questions it asked in the beginning but some of the 'answers' were too easily resolved. Surely for a film that shows great promise in the start and middle, I hoped for a more nuanced ending although what it attempted is not impossible either. The last third of the movie somehow floundered in my estimation but my friend thought that it tied things nicely and neatly. I don't really like nice and neat for my film endings especially when you know that the filmmakers wanted to make a Big Statement. But okay, no spoilers here too. I do like the way filmscenes in "Crash" showed non-pc aspects of the everyday that show what may be more realistic in the real streets of Los Angeles rather than what we thought the streets of Los Angeles are like. But then I can't really speak about a universal LA because even our Joni friends who lived most of their lives in Los Angeles may claim that every subjectivity brings a different experience and therefore one can't have a homogenized view of one place. But that opening scene where Jennifer Esposito's character was half-mocking an Asian woman of her difficulty to speak English well is balanced by that Asian woman'ssweeping statements of Latinos. The inherent biases are made to come out when people start to get in touch with their selves that are not polite or sensitive. "Crash" is a really like a series of events from a disparate group of people with personal issues and how these issues clouded their views of other people's ethnicities and identities. The one scene that tugged my heart and easily my idea of a most effective one, was also that same scene Jim described. Thandie Newton's character managed to show the very particular shade of distrust, mounting anger, double humiliation, and grudging trust to someone she had strong feelings about (so hard to talk about something without giving away what that scene meant). So I'll discuss the cinematography instead. There seems to be a particular type of lensing some scenes when portraying certain characters the same way Soderbergh bathe the Michael Douglas-Catherine Zeta JOnes's scenes in blue in "Traffic" and making a Dogme style in Benicio Del Toro's scenes. In "Crash", there is a subdued color that is almost an equivalent for resignation. I don't know if it is beacuse I watched it when I was a bit tired but that's what's striking for me. Performances-wise, there were notables, especially Thandie Newton's character who I found unlikeable but . . . and then there's Don Cheadle whose voice-over is like a weary Big Brother commenting on the urban hazards of LA. Sandra Bullock was also good --maybe if she is given more roles like the one she plays here, she can truly fulfill the promise she showed once a long time ago. Then there is this Mexican mechanic/construction guy and the father-daughter relationship of someone from Central Asia -- very well etched. But the film's resolution is way too pat for me even if the very last scene suggested that it is not going to be that. I do like it when the promise of the beginning is ably ended even if it will not make a decision whether to end bad or good. But the one that is nice to ponder is that with films like "Crash" it seems to usher a different kind of genre in American films -- i.e. "Monster's Ball," "21 Grams," "Monster," "House of Sand and Fog," "In the Bedroom", etc. Joseph in Chapel Hill np: Tom Petty - Money Becomes King - Heartbreakers The Last DJ "Lama, Jim L'Hommedieu" a icrit : I'm ready to discuss this worthy topic. I think the scene where the "traumatized woman" meets her "abuser" again (in different circumstance) was flat-out brilliant. (Catherine, I didn't give anything away that time!) Every actor was required to be very naturalistic because each character was chocked full of paradox. (I hope that doesn't give away too much.) Bring it on. Jim - --------------------------------- Dicouvrez le nouveau Yahoo! Mail : 1 Go d'espace de stockage pour vos mails, photos et vidios ! Criez votre Yahoo! Mail ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 May 2005 19:34:55 +0000 From: "Sherelle Smith" Subject: Re: Photo of Joni with the New York Metro interview Hi Julius!!! Thank you so much for including William Claxton's website! All of his pictures are fantastic and it makes me feel so good to see such a beautiful picture of "Lady J" there too! I also love the pictures of Sarah Vaughn an Dinah Washington!!!! Love, Sherelle Julius wrote: Yes, it's a beauty. William Claxton is the greatest jazz photographer ever to look through a lens, if you ask me. Check out his stunning portfolio: http://www.williamclaxton.com/movie.html - - -Julius ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 May 2005 15:40:32 -0400 From: jrmco1@aol.com Subject: Re: least profound Joni verse, njc I just listened to some snippets of that album, Laura. Now, that there's American roots music! Soul music. There *is* profundity all up in that. Even if it is manifest in a more visceral, and less cerebral, way. I'm all for discussing that musicology everyday, and twice today, since it's Sunday. Fact is, I'm not glad to discuss this, or any issue, with you, Laura, and this list, obviously. And listen, do you want to know a secret? Do you promise not to tell? Let me whisper in your ear... "I love me some Monkees, sometimes!!!" Dig it: I thought love was only true in fairy tales Meant for someone else but not for me. Love was out to get me Thatbs the way it seemed. Disappointment haunted all my dreams. Then I saw her face, now Ibm a believer Not a trace of doubt in my mind. Ibm in love, Ibm a believer! I couldnbt leave her if I tried. I thought love was more or less a given thing, Seems the more I gave the less I got. Whatbs the use in tryinb? All you get is pain. When I needed sunshine I got rain. Then I saw her face, now Ibm a believer Not a trace of doubt in my mind. Ibm in love, Ibm a believer! I couldnbt leave her if I tried. - -Song ends- Now here's a surprise: Neil Diamond wrote that song! I like it very much! So, I guess I'm actually agreeing with you. I think what we need here are some operational definitions. I tend to want to define "profound," in our context, as "characterized by intensity of feeling or quality." To me, the absence of such attributes in a song renders its lyrics less gratifying to discuss, relative to other lyrics, by the same artist, which exemplify that particular dynamic in undisputed abundance. Now, what I just wrote is awkward, but it may well be "profound." Because "profound" also means "difficult to fathom or understand." Not necessarily a good thing, don't we agree, again? :-) - -Julius NPIMH: "One thing the blues ain't, is funny." -Stephen Stills - -----Original Message----- From: LCStanley7 To: JRMCo1 Cc: joni@smoe.org Sent: Sun, 22 May 2005 2:42:36 PM Eastern Daylight Time Subject: Re: least profound Joni verse, njc Hi Julius, B B B B B I was listening to Johnny Cash's albumB Unchained, and there is very little if anything profound on that album, but it is fantastic!B "I've been everywhere man..."B Love it!B B Same thing for The Monkeys which I find to be a lot of fun.B Fun or funny, not heavy... least profound.B That was what I was looking for not quano.B Want to try again? B Love, Laura Julius wrote: B Now, as to "least profound" having a place.B Well, of course it does.B So does bat guano.B But hopefully that place is on the floor of some remote cave, or on some farmer's failing crops.B Not in my ears. B B ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 May 2005 21:48:41 +0200 (CEST) From: Joseph Palis Subject: Re: Julio Medem NJC Hola Mike, I havent seen any of those films you mentioned although I am excited about the series of films made about/for/relating to France "Paris je t'aime" that will feature Medem and Agnes Jaoui among others. Based on your recommendations, I am interested in "Tierra" more than "Vacas" but both will be in my watch list in netflix. Julio Medem seems to follow his own Muse and just creates something that is both familiar and surreal -- like seeing a splash of Dali in a Jim Jarmusch film. I have only seen Bigas Luna's "Tit and the Moon" and "Jamon jamon" and I am intrigued to discover more of his films and decide for myself if he is just a misunderstood genius or like you said, a one-trick pony. And there are a lot of initially-exciting filmmakers who never really lived up to their promise, reputation, or who created a film that will approximate the potent mix of originality and transgression they showed inearlier ones . I find it interesting to discover filmmakers and their national reputations as against those internationally. Even Indian director Satyajit Ray was said to not been respected in his lifetime despite "the Apu trilogy" which are now hallmarks of world cinema. World cinema is an exciting category in itself because it manages to recognize undervalued filmmakers yet in the same breath erases various others who may speak of other truths, other realities. But I wholeheartedly agree with you on Alejandro Amenabar as a director worthy of close attention. Even his foray to Hollywood via "The Others" never really compromised his auterial sensibility (I am not big on auteur theory myself but didn't Barthes and Derrida both launched the "death of the author" thinking in the same decade the young Turks of Hollywood came out in the early 70s?). I watched all of Amenabar's films and must say that "The Sea Inside" avoids the melodrama that such a film/topic/theme may invite in less-skilled directors. And who is Belen Rueda? She knocked me silly with her beauty, talent and ability to move). I have to say that when I watched that film with a friend, the theatre was awash with tears in the film's denouement. I used to be suspicious of films when people come out of the theater all in tears but like Walter Salles' "Central Station", "The Sea Inside" provided the needed catharsis that audiences have with them while watching these films. I thought my own tears were not wasted on exploitative films like . . . nah, I won't go there. Mike, Thanks for the inside info on Amenabar's national reputation -- I do like his films a lot because of its daring and that rare ability to end a story credibly -- at least for me. But have you seen Agnes Jaoui's "Talk To Me" or Todd Solondz's "Palindromes" yet? I am eager to hear your and others' take on these films. Joseph in Chapel Hill np: Emma Shapplin - "Un sospir'di voi" -- Etterna mike pritchard a icrit : >>I watched three of Julio Medem's films when I was still in Manila. I have not seen any of his recent films shown in the Triangle, or at least since I came to North Carolina in the fall of 2003.<< Hi Joseph, Does this mean that you haven't seen 'Tierra', Vacas' and 'La Pelota Vasca'? I guess these are called 'Land', 'Cows' and 'The Basque Ball' respectively but I'll check out the IMDB first? ('Land' and 'Cows' are literal translations but the last one is called 'The Basque Ball: Skin Against Stone' (USA)). I think you will enjoy them too. I haven't seen all of 'La pelota Vasca' (there are at least 2 versions, one of which is 8 hours of interviews with prominent figures in the Basque 'troubles'; the reference to the six counties is intentional), but I'd like to see it in full. Carmelo Gomez was in both the 'movies' (LPV is a documentary really) and maybe you've seen him in other Spanish films. I recommend the two narrative films without reservation. 'Vacas', especially, but Tierra too, is about place, a very important element in the Basque psyche. Go see them. >>I love this actress (Najwa Nimri) who played the lead [in Lovers of the North Pole] (she was in "Abre Los Ojos" too and from what I was told by my Basque friends here in Chapel Hill, is also a singer) and Fele Martinez (who is always good and was in Almodovar's recent "Bad Education"). << Najwa is indeed a singer and was, as I'm sure you know, Elena in 'Lucia y el Sexo', as well as playing Nzria in 'Abre Los Ojos' (Open your Eyes). Another excellent actress who often plays in Medem's films is Emma Suarez, frequently with Carmelo Gomez. >> I love Spanish cinema a lot and hope to see more from Bigas Luna.<< I think you will be disappointed with Bigas Luna (Why, because I was?) because he is not in the same league as Almenabar and Medem, and others. One trick pony, IMHO. >>Is it true that Almodovar is not as popular in Spain as he is internationally? Thought maybe that when "Mondays in the Sun" became Spain's entry to the Academy rather than Almodovar's "Talk To Her" it was an indication. Or is this just urban legend?<< I think that the Spanish public (and academy) are tired of Almodovar and his fetishes, although some of things are interesting, of course. The public reacts with a shrug and a remark like, "well, it's Almodovar talking about homosexuality and rape again, so what's new?" Almenabar is immensely talented and in a few years people will have forgotten about Almodovar completely; this guy can do it all, and if given a fair crack he will be one of the great, if not the greatest writer/directors in the history of Spanish (and world?) cinema. Fernando Lesn de Aranoa is a young, talented director, as he showed in 'Lunes al Sol' and I think that the Spanish Academy's decision to support 'Lunes al Sol' was fair and not vindictive, although there is a backdrop of boredom with Almodovar's homoerotic fantasies. I think the decisions to support 'Lunes al Sol' and 'Mar Adentro' (both starring Javier Bardem, of course) were objectively the correct decisions. Bardem is, in the favourite expressions of the Spanish press, either 'immense' or 'colossal', and we've not heard the last of him either. I don't know if you want to take this offlist Joe, maybe this is too esoteric for jonilistas. I know Vince likes some Spanish-language films, but I don't know if there is enough interest on the list in general. Emiliano, Gill, ?que pensais? mike in bcn #8211; who watched 'Sex and Lucia' yesterday#8230; NP Somali - Pentangle - --------------------------------- Dicouvrez le nouveau Yahoo! Mail : 1 Go d'espace de stockage pour vos mails, photos et vidios ! Criez votre Yahoo! Mail ------------------------------ End of JMDL Digest V2005 #210 ***************************** ------- Post messages to the list by clicking here: mailto:joni@smoe.org Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe ------- Siquomb, isn't she? (http://www.siquomb.com/siquomb.cfm)