Monthly Archives: June 2013
Our Nation’s Artists
This morning I needed a light jacket. Normally, this isn’t a big deal except for the fact it’s June 7th. I guess Mother Nature decided to take a refreshing breath mint or two and blow her new-found coolness across the Midwest.
Just a little global cooling to make Al Gore go crazy for a few days.
Inexplicably, this cold front in June sparked random curiosity and wonderment of Americans from yesteryear…like yesteryear.
Having always been fascinated with history, this sudden reflective contemplation to the past patriots who lived in this country one hundred to two hundred and some odd years ago is not too surprising a revelation. Still, it’s noteworthy to think so far back in time without taking part in a tour or sitting in a history class.
Speaking of a historical tour, I have fond memories of visiting Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia, soaking in all the astonishing buildings, artifacts, food, people, gardens, modes of transportation and anything and everything found within its parameters. Uniquely American, it opened my eyes into the improbable inception of the United States of America and the ambiguous journey everyone took part in together in building the foundations of a new nation. An insightful quote by Martin Luther King, Jr. illustrates this courageous endeavor taken by our adventurous ancestors.
“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”
When my family and I visited Colonial Williamsburg, it was summer and it was hot. Not warm with a light cloud of humidity or it might be hot enough to swim, but, “Dog Days of Summer” hot. While partaking in the exercise of sweating and walking, there were countless Revolutionary soldiers and townspeople dressed in traditional late-1770s clothing. The attire was heavy and assuredly sweltering, yet they never showed discomfort. And here I was, in shorts and a t-shirt, feeling hot and uncomfortable. I made damn sure to shape up and wipe my brow when walking by the cannon operators!
Like Washington, D.C., Colonial Williamsburg should be a national requirement for all students to visit. The sights and sounds are spectacular and together creates an unforgettable experience and appreciation for our forefathers and foremothers and everything they endured to build the great nation we live in today. When it was hot, they sat on their porch or ran around outside and enjoyed the company of their family and neighbors. Some maintained their luscious gardens filled with colorful flowers and delicious fruits and vegetables while others socialized in stores around the town they all helped to build and support.
Despite the fact Colonial Williamsburg is not a quick stroll down the road, the Ohio Village is within a short driving distance. This is a place frozen in time dating back to the 19th century. Located in the shadows of Crew Stadium, the Ohio History Center and this thing they call a, “freeway,” the Ohio Village offers its patrons a momentary break from 21st century realities to visit the forever sought after and admired, “much simpler time.”
When it was too hot to stay inside, they went outside. When it was too cold to be outside, they stayed in, bundled up and made a fire. And when it was dark and they needed light, they lit candles. Our American ancestors were resourceful and did what they had to, whatever that meant. What’s more is whether it was during the 18th or 19th centuries, Americans have managed to pull off truly remarkable achievements. They took a blank page on a shaky canvas and, during their time, added their individual paint strokes and color splashes to create the foundation of the masterpiece we all see and enjoy today known as the United States of America.
Pretty cool, right? I get chills just thinking about it.
And come the fourth day in July, I know I’ll get goosebumps in the unrelenting heat while gazing up at fireworks in the same way our nation’s forefathers and foremothers did: celebrating the incomparably brilliant idea that is the American dream.
It’s as Easy as 1-2-3
Today marks my 123rd written post!
It’s strange, but whenever I see numbers align to “123,” I instinctively see it as good luck. I believe it’s a sign from the Universe that something was meant to come together in harmony.
Remarkably, this sequence of numbers has a power over me that can instantaneously influence my day. A routine will be adjusted to accommodate this glowing symbolism of “good fate.” There is a distinct possibility that my thoughts on this are drawn from the seeming rightness it represents. When we are young, 1-2-3 indicates the right order. We all learn to count to ten and to pronounce the alphabet at a young age. Within this mindset, when we counted from 1-10 and said the alphabet, everything made sense. Any anxiety, even the tiniest amounts at this age, was a million miles away. Essentially, it was a psychological safety net.
The rhythm of life was good.
As I’ve grown older, when the grouping of these three numbers is revealed it happens, at times, in a more discreet and fun manner. These fun and random surprises are so often times the best as they serve as a special vindication of a preconceived idea or spontaneous decision. This could be change from a meal, an order number, the channel on the TV for a show one night, etc. Just life at work.
1-2-3 can also be viewed in a traditional sense, such as time, a price or as representing a beginning, a middle and an end. For example, this goes for giving a certain speech, doing the high jump (first seven steps or so, the turn and the jump), playing in a soccer game (first half, halftime, second half) and a meal (appetizer, main course, dessert), plus breakfast, lunch and dinner. These comforting examples are endless, but are there nonetheless.
The movie I have been waiting for ever since its first teaser trailer last summer is, “Man of Steel.” The music for the third trailer is described as, “An Ideal of Hope” as composed by movie score icon Hans Zimmer of Germany. Indeed, the following song is located in this blog’s “Amazing” section. However, please listen to it again here and see if you can distinguish how Zimmer guides us on his musical journey in a quiet to explosive 1-2-3 structure.
Is it a more reassuringly powerful instrumental now…?
Anyways, I better stop writing and get this thing posted. It’s 1:23 p.m. after all.
Plus, it’s my lunch break and there’s this girl I’ve been wanting to start a more fluid conversation with for a long time now. Okay, deep breath. It’s gonna be as easy as 1-2-3.
And Universe, I’ll be looking.
Regardez de plus près …
The French are known for romance, sumptuous foods, wines, relaxed attitudes, cafés, music and the list goes on and on like a peaceful late afternoon stroll through the historic city streets. Paris is beautifully nicknamed, “La Ville de Lumière,” which translates to “The City of Light.” For anyone who has visited the picturesque capital of France, the description is indéniable.
Of course, one of the staples of Paris, and France in general, is the fashion industry. The models wear clothes and attitudes like it’s their, well, job. And one of the avenues used to bring a particular style to the public is creating a storefront window display in a popular cross-section of shoppers and tourists.
There was one storefront display that caught my eye with its acute attention to detail in its mesmerizing recreation of a French footballer.
Vraiment magnifique! Et il semble si réaliste…
Nolan…Christopher Nolan
Each actor who has portrayed the legendarily iconic James Bond (007) has done so with his own degree of vigor and personality that are exclusive to the most powerful, and ironically, most famous secret agent in the world.
2012 marked the 50th Anniversary of the Bond Franchise in movies, starring the character written into the world by Ian Fleming. The 23rd and most recent cinematic adventure was expertly titled, “Skyfall.” It earned more than $1 billion worldwide and was a sensational return to the top of the movie surface from the financial abyss the franchise found itself in a few years ago.
James Bond is back and not just in Hollywood.
The prospect of epic movie director (and Brit) Christopher Nolan directing the next 007 movie, sans any potential scheduling conflicts, has intrigued Bond fans because of his treatment to Bruce Wayne in the Batman trilogy and his producing role in the upcoming, “Man of Steel.” Not to mention his visually stunning and overwhelming mind-bender known as, “Inception.” The door in the theater showing the premiere of the 24th 007 movie is slightly cracked with a sliver of light and noise emanating from it with presumed hints of the most epic adventure in James Bond history.
Fans are already “air-violining” and orchestrating their own Hans Zimmer treatment in their imaginations. James Bond would very likely be thrown onto the biggest stage of his life.
However, reports are swirling that the once not interested “Skyfall” director Sam Mendes is in negotiations to direct two more Bond films. Full disclosure: Mendes did a fantastic job with “Skyfall.” It was a great movie with a great villain! And yet, the prospect of Nolan sitting in the director’s chair for the legendary franchise still intrigues with a feeling that James Bond would be taken to another level…
For one thing, Nolan would have the right 007, “reporting for duty.”
Daniel Craig is the strongest and most emotionally raw and conflicted James Bond the character has ever known. In modern film, our heroes are no longer assumed to be the strongest or to act with near perfection. Audiences want to see and feel strength, heartbreak, love, speed, struggles, intelligence, wit, flirting and, above all, humanizing qualities. For better or worse, this is the reality. Fans want to be shown that the adventures on screen could happen in the chaotic world we populate today by someone who lives in the same world we inhabit. They want to see familiar streets, recognizable landmarks and buildings, crowds of people, cars, markets, etc., all while following one of the most luxurious lifestyles of any spy in history.
We want to believe that 007 could, at some point, dash past us in an Aston Martin or sprint through a crowded sporting event in the street to catch the bad guy. The likelihood needs to exist where he can be broken down at moments, both physically, mentally and emotionally. In some cases, these bruises, in whatever form, carry-over for a period of time and, at some point, have to be confronted and dealt with in some way. Three movies in, Daniel Craig has achieved this rare feat.
With the ingredients of throwing in a flawed hero, destined for greatness, who has had to overcome a lifetime of loneliness, heartbreak and confusion, using the real world as his stage, creating an enemy with a sinister yet mesmerizing intellect, big explosions, luxurious surroundings, beautiful women, conflicting relationships, Michael Cain, and a richly complex and original story, the top-shelf lists of chefs have to include and feature master chef Christopher Nolan.
And, Nolan has stated publicly how he is a big fan of James Bond. The reason for mentioning this is that 007 would not be a résumé builder for him, but instead a passion and honor.
The hypothesizing/wishful thinking of contemplating the story, characters and their developments, casting, settings, soundtrack, enemies, etc. of a Nolan-directed Bond film will come in a future post. The very prospect sure does conjure up an “epic” aura…
For now, we can only dream…and then dream again…
Jimmy's Daily Planet 