Harvey

My daughter, Brynne, wanted to watch a movie last night, and I suggested an old classic: Harvey (1950), a favorite of mine.

The movie is based on the Pulitzer-winning play by Mary Chase.

James Stewart portrayed mild-mannered Elwood P. Dowd, who enjoys whisky and martinis and  has an invisible friend; a pooka (from Celtic mythology: a benign, but mischievous creature), who resembles a six-foot, three and a half-inch rabbit.

James Stewart was nominated for an Oscar for his performance, and Josephine Hull won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her portrayal of  Elwood’s Aunt, Veta Louise Simmons.

There is a wonderful message running through the movie, and my favorite line comes from Elwood P. Dowd:

“Years ago my mother used to say to me, she’d say, ‘In this world, Elwood, you must be’ – she always called me Elwood – ‘In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant.’ Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me.”

I highly recommend this charming, lighthearted movie.

P.S.: Brynne loved it.

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Radioactive Orchestra

I found the YouTube video below (recently demonstrated at TEDxGöteborg) and thought it was interesting enough to share.

Swedish scientists have created a musical instrument that uses a photon detector as a pulse generator (high energy particles yield a high note; low energy particles yield a low note). Some interesting science and theory is explained at the beginning (not too technical, easy for non-scientists to follow), but if you just want to hear the sound/music that is produced, fast forward to about the eleven minute mark of the video. Enjoy…

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The Rolling Stones; 50 years and counting

The Rolling Stones — the band’s name was inspired by a Muddy Waters’ song, Rollin’ Stone — consider July 12, 1962 as their first performance, which took place on the stage of the Marquee Club in London. At the time, the group was; Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Ian Stewart, Dick Taylor, and Tony Chapman.

It was their music of the late 60s and early 70s that has a special place in my heart and memory; and, in particular, the three albums they created back-to-back-to-back that I think was the pinnacle of their artistic output: Beggars Banquet (1968), Let it Bleed (1969), and Sticky Fingers (1971). Their best music was wonderfully multilayered, unlike most rock.

I searched high and low for my absolute favourite Stone’s album, Let it Bleed, but could only find Sticky Fingers, an excellent album, but darker in tone, with songs like Sister Morphine and Dead Flowers.

The music of the Rolling Stones, along with rock bands such as Pink Floyd, Steely Dan, Led Zeppelin, and Little Feat, are inextricably tied to my past.

While my wife and I drove to Cosco and back for groceries, we listened to Sticky Fingers, reminiscing and reveling in the deep cuts that we haven’t heard in years. I had bittersweet flash-memories of High School and College, of some friends that didn’t make it, and others that took different paths. I sent silent prayers to all of them.

It’s odd to see clips of the Stones performing as old men; I’ll always see them in my mind’s eye as the young, revolutionary, bad-boys of rock.

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A Saturday Night Live Skit?

clip from YouTube