tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174037582024-03-10T17:44:51.477-04:00PJMixerI've been writing this blog since 2005. I have had a number of content specific blogs in the past, but decided in 2013 to consolidate them all back into PJMixer. You'll find photo projects, movie reviews, new music and general thoughts about my life. [My photographs on this web site are protected by Creative Common licensing and cannot be used for commercial purposes without permission].PJMixerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865118784520211295noreply@blogger.comBlogger1875125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17403758.post-38178839435538799502024-03-10T17:44:00.000-04:002024-03-10T17:44:18.506-04:00Just in time - my movie reviews on the day of the Oscars<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I've really enjoyed the diversity of this year's Oscar best picture nominees. I've been lucky to have seen all of the 10 films, including 4 in the last week. I rated most of these films highly because of the depth of character complexity - sometimes relating to real people, other times - beautiful creations that are three dimensional. Most are wonderful cinematic productions and a feast for the eyes that create a rich visual background for super storytelling. But, I'm sorry, Oppenheimer should not win. No one would be unhappy if The Holdovers won and some may dare to say Poor Things is worthy of the top prize.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Best to worst:</span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(16, 16, 16); color: #101010;"><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="caret-color: rgb(16, 16, 16); color: #101010;">Poor Things</span></li><li><span style="caret-color: rgb(16, 16, 16); color: #101010;">The Holdovers</span></li><li><span style="caret-color: rgb(16, 16, 16); color: #101010; font-family: verdana;">Anatomy of a Fall</span></li><li><span style="caret-color: rgb(16, 16, 16); color: #101010;">Kill</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(16, 16, 16); color: #101010;">ers of the Flower Moon</span></li><li><span style="caret-color: rgb(16, 16, 16); color: #101010;">Past Lives</span></li><li><span style="caret-color: rgb(16, 16, 16); color: #101010;">Maestro</span></li><li><span style="caret-color: rgb(16, 16, 16); color: #101010;">American Fiction</span></li><li><span style="caret-color: rgb(16, 16, 16); color: #101010;">Oppenheimer</span></li><li><span style="caret-color: rgb(16, 16, 16); color: #101010;">Barbie</span></li><li><span style="caret-color: rgb(16, 16, 16); color: #101010; font-family: verdana;">The Zone of Interest</span></li></ol></div></span></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(16, 16, 16); color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(16, 16, 16); color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Poor Things</b></span></span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14230458/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="273" data-original-width="184" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZF5STnW2dU0TEl7hV5_V_DqNVkfrlj9mw1gpqMj41ctRNQFZhI3W_kSHsLqPgXTDHaSWPqrEyTRCgDp3op0DVjk_lndFYH7Q4Uj-wbUog6lo58hfHKy46Q0HHIMCjMT2E2PmGVgE4c3g1eiL76jCgBWM4njbU0nOAa4B49RPlwYM98X1b2N0/w135-h200/pt.jpeg" width="135" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Loved it. Like what - the chaos of Moulin Rouge + the artistry of Wes Anderson + the poetry of a Woody Allen character? Stunning visuals. Superb performances - Emma Stone is my pick for Oscar’s best actress. Loved the dance scene, and the scene on deck of the ship, and Paris, and the end. Beautiful adaptation of the book that I assume was a master class in imagination - my pick for Oscar's adapted screenplay. As it says “a fantastical tale” but one with lots of lessons for humans wandering this crazy blue orb. Mark Ruffalo is my pick for Oscar’s best supporting actor. 9/10. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(16, 16, 16); color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Holdovers</span></span></h3><div><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14849194/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="273" data-original-width="184" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqEzm7g_wQ7y5oOJfc1ChSH3TQKup7iTeRX2R3jLJasZQfDyLrM4ouMWnAbEjfLmYcbs3YEvHn3cn9qil2Yb_GwVVAPSs6HCV5359v1qEhbsXlbvMTvrD7hiPS9D7f7apGwbROVGwszYzNHb3nFegQwL64Kw8mPKzt1LATkZkUfdg8VHr-4II/w135-h200/th.jpeg" width="135" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Wonderful in every way. Superb acting for multi-dimensional complex characters. Lessons and love. Characters and comedy. Da’vine Joy Randolph is my pick for Oscar’s best supporting actress. The only big movie of the year I watched twice. 9/10 </span></div><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Anatomy of a Fall</span></h3><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjah4KI4b7JztrW_BdPZHLiMJIEyObua052e2FS8mpysCJdsFjrl5GcDVNQpgKvbrooW8NOZlQjrT9ioEVwBEeyHj9Oev4Nr6ECQ_YazMrBL876FmbOimi_OyIRLXLXEyvd1jhyWPvxccBy45R-quQS-CSxNf76wRtOc2ZYt5dEkSZILS3GCHe6/s272/aoaf.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="272" data-original-width="185" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjah4KI4b7JztrW_BdPZHLiMJIEyObua052e2FS8mpysCJdsFjrl5GcDVNQpgKvbrooW8NOZlQjrT9ioEVwBEeyHj9Oev4Nr6ECQ_YazMrBL876FmbOimi_OyIRLXLXEyvd1jhyWPvxccBy45R-quQS-CSxNf76wRtOc2ZYt5dEkSZILS3GCHe6/w136-h200/aoaf.jpeg" width="136" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was glued from the opening scene with the <a href="https://www.thewildest.com/dog-lifestyle/messi-trainer-award-season#:~:text=Messi%2C%20a%20seven%2Dyear%2D,dog%2C%20Snoop%20(Messi)." target="_blank">beautiful border collie played by Messi</a>. A terrific story and my pick for Oscar's best original screenplay (just pipping The Holdovers). Perfect pacing throughout and felt the language switching added to the tension. Magnificent performance by </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sandra Hüller and 15 year-old Milo Machado-Graner. Stunning location shots and </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">cinematography. So many elements contributed to a highly-entertaining movie. 8/10</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><h3><span style="font-family: verdana;">Killers of the Flower Moon</span></h3><h3><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5537002/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="183" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVX0x6T_FMggV5b064YVjQ_epJsSnNk0KLbc7FE1w3Jh_9q6O4zi_WoIO0nKqIolAxYjUF20HI3MPeUstYTkHwNRa0J4AHZTZx_mCnuJT6xCfNGV0IDU2RYC2FQgZqMUV3xW47cPad9rGflhwgSXetKXhFd_OBaTLOznjNdVBkip-Z2AWBQCwb/w133-h200/kotfm.jpeg" width="133" /></a></div><br style="font-family: -webkit-standard; font-weight: normal;" /><p style="font-family: -webkit-standard; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;">Superb movie making, cinematography, sound, costume, soundtrack and directing. Martin Scorsese is my pick for Oscar’s best director. A very powerful story. I loved DeNiro’s jail cell words about people will forget. It was long but massive actors can keep your attention. DiCaprio was superb - completely convincing portrayal of a tragic? slow-minded fool. I sadly didn’t know it was based on a true story. Superb cast with a few interesting cast members from the music world that I missed: Jason Isbell as Bill Smith, Peter Yorn as Acie Kirby and Jack White. 8/10</span></p><p style="font-family: -webkit-standard; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></p></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Past Lives</span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13238346/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="273" data-original-width="184" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBbV1rY5Yfv4IlIo9VUpjAYelROFdehcvarMn2l3aqOUCKyLv_h5qQg6MdR5iwjQrPKmLISSKkerQvazpfVJW-zor2v-7xhiheW5lQbjrjAncJAB8vtIqcbhS4YWnJ2QtlXHKAk7na3yuWfxVsn7mFdmVwkiGs3XtC4U_Ihe_EtAPSoveHAsBU/w135-h200/pl.jpeg" width="135" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Cinematic visions galore. Loved the tone and mood. A simple, familiar story made more acute by the cultural (and language) differences. Carefully acted on a delicate edge of sensitivity. More artistic than I expected - in a wonderful welcome way. 8/10</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Maestro</span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5535276/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="273" data-original-width="184" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIHZRGJZ0TzE6Tt95s4thJeIsXUQlfZn2_c-2phiZMmADJJz3mClzYglK8_lYKPky55HJfwpoP7JgzHrB88S0q23jyiH_nUVzRO_15kZ4xBuIpROmAbmT6GwjBpXcJ5Vza6a94lDlGDHkEBQxdwQ6HkVgjeA93rsQgb4j5OT-dIRin4ersTQpg/w135-h200/MP.jpeg" width="135" /></a></div><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The scene in the cathedral was one of my favourites of the year - breathtaking. Cooper completely transformed for this role and gave us a beautiful memory of a music lover - Bradley Cooper is my pick for Oscar’s best actor. Mulligan’s performance was also superb - perhaps creating the best duo performance of the Oscar year. The revelation of complex characters always creates a great movie for me. 7/10</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">American Fiction</span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23561236/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="273" data-original-width="184" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbg42B4KaM1IBOpxbJK74TuFiOKb_14Rd7tGAOlUlLUqP1fNFHNwo43s491n-xlgQwozxlfVrmJv9_s_8GCbksIsS-7eOXvZZLr7nkOw0HEx97E8v_y3Ul8q1AFHc1Fw-TPoT5lTGiEUNbCbZq_imP6LJhzhEcQ-xUOez9lPcEAOX3rwcl2Ggv/w135-h200/af.jpeg" width="135" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I came out thinking it was a decent movie but not Oscar worthy. Then my wife explained what the movie was really about. It was meta. Then it became brilliant. But I missed it. I was the internal audience. 7/10</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Oppenheimer</span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15398776/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="273" data-original-width="184" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3HfDxmdR0U3eG5GvGGcf5zqkRPGIdMFaZPElwB6QtjH6mWO566jiX_nmuKmv0hyv-6IT-6jqh5pc7T5P0Zad9K1phhFesyFVa678Vy3uM7OE-5NPWAJgpIQW05KBWewOBOkKKSTgY1r5mTJ73nje9OUlXyJIGfmGSzSUYv3P_I4qqR7tmHCDC/w135-h200/op.jpeg" width="135" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Torn on this one. Acting was superb - Downey Jr. was dazzling. Cinematography was great. But it was massively complex with so many characters. Important from a historical point of view. 7/10 </span></p></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Barbie</span></h3><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1517268/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="273" data-original-width="184" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjLzFQNzSXuDUe75QmiJpTJ5Sis9kiLHPUyHsk1ib-JbgAUGxvYHv27GNqv4CCWxBO2TYBDAPuhyM-8rMDxikUnAXoy_pDT6LgI8V1QxG88khVGqOC9nY0z-SkypKf-qQKIsIPYXH-LVI3lf1W5rpgNkg6JAF4AzpvnnF7Siqc73Sgk0putt-/w135-h200/bp.jpeg" width="135" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fun, but way too silly to have any chance of making a serious point. Musical bits were cringe worthy. I’m man enough to admit I had to look up the meaning of patriarchy. Loved McKinnon’s whackiness. BUT, it's my pick for Oscar's best song. 6/10. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Zone of Interest</span></h3><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7160372/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="183" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8pYhFUCmpmQTRC6OmMpIRHDYIHebMRFrNC4GcJUnXwCfIXH-p6_CLN4uIjcH8KHKHTli5Ww89FUbipuL_bczyqBoQsQef77Ev404nl07Va38wMmhNGLI20R_FA2wgMepenJjsyR5QPXqaj1-uBFViim1atG-qU4FETFyDM_vCrZizxmner7D7/w133-h200/zoi.jpeg" width="133" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A strange film and hard-going - I don’t really understand why it’s nominated. I did appreciate the cinematography, its premise and some shocking scenes. Just hours before watching it, I'd seen Sandra Hüller in Anatomy of a Fall - I didn't know she was also in this film -I recognized her quite quickly. The cut to a scene from today was perhaps its most concrete element and made the point. 5/10</span></p></div>PJMixerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865118784520211295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17403758.post-27101240209481688962023-01-29T09:10:00.001-05:002023-01-29T09:12:03.499-05:00I’m way behind in posting movie reviews, but here are a few that have been nominated for awards in 2023<p> <span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-size: small;">In order of my favourites…</span></p><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><p style="color: black; font-size: 28px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 3px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6710474" target="_blank">Everything Everywhere All at Once</a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrvPRyLhl1Jwkmt3erLJoxd1iC0S7Og3PplKRx7w_Wbo7196miwjQitjFDPEqtgOf4NSsCKoIdzyXQ9HdDESFkr66lkOlsgIpOsSj72JJcSftxeaNsJe2tj52sBc1Es-YE8yK0aF_telcaxvtNx-w96wiXiOSl2ERCuwOYaxti2p61jgtOWw/s1448/MV5BYTdiOTIyZTQtNmQ1OS00NjZlLWIyMTgtYzk5Y2M3ZDVmMDk1XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTAzMDg4NzU0._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1448" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrvPRyLhl1Jwkmt3erLJoxd1iC0S7Og3PplKRx7w_Wbo7196miwjQitjFDPEqtgOf4NSsCKoIdzyXQ9HdDESFkr66lkOlsgIpOsSj72JJcSftxeaNsJe2tj52sBc1Es-YE8yK0aF_telcaxvtNx-w96wiXiOSl2ERCuwOYaxti2p61jgtOWw/s320/MV5BYTdiOTIyZTQtNmQ1OS00NjZlLWIyMTgtYzk5Y2M3ZDVmMDk1XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTAzMDg4NzU0._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg" width="221" /></a></div><br /><div><span style="color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Incredible filmmaking. </span> <span style="color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">A true hero’s journey.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span> <span style="color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Very bizarre at times.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span> <span style="color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Crazy crazy scenes.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span> <span style="color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">SFX and fight scenes WOW.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span> <span style="color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">So much to absorb, ingest and enjoy.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span> <span style="color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">You could consider it massively complex but the messages it delivers is simply spot on.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span> <span style="color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">A multi-course journey for your eyes and ears.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span> <span style="color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I get quantum and multiverse theory, but I didn’t buy into the rocks. I’m buzzing.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span> <span style="color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Perhaps Tarantino-like but with magnificent Asian taste.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span> <span style="color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Bonkers.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span> <span style="color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Every feeling all at once.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span> <span style="color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Nothing matters and everything matters.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span> <span style="color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Life paradox.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span> <span style="color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">9/10.</span></div><div><span style="color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></div><div><p style="color: black; font-size: 28px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 3px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3704428" target="_blank">Elvis</a></span></p></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6yPpF8GGSFhu7DCPa2FYl_9LvawM5JqK_h9xAsHaV9fkqX8_aV_pzgED767Di1PH3lhstoIgZVhQTG6m3mj56WqY2eEaZFufGaIa2jBqsoxbfJwT_RSaG_NlXTeh19wECsBBljDHMdhDUxapIKyRYxacJsxatKBKah0AWScRtqXIdWFQng/s4096/MV5BYzMzNTJjYmMtZTkxNS00MjI4LWI3YmQtOTQ4MDZjZDJlZjQyXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjc0NzQzNTM@._V1_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4096" data-original-width="2764" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6yPpF8GGSFhu7DCPa2FYl_9LvawM5JqK_h9xAsHaV9fkqX8_aV_pzgED767Di1PH3lhstoIgZVhQTG6m3mj56WqY2eEaZFufGaIa2jBqsoxbfJwT_RSaG_NlXTeh19wECsBBljDHMdhDUxapIKyRYxacJsxatKBKah0AWScRtqXIdWFQng/s320/MV5BYzMzNTJjYmMtZTkxNS00MjI4LWI3YmQtOTQ4MDZjZDJlZjQyXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjc0NzQzNTM@._V1_.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><div><br /></div></div><div><p style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Really, really well done. Modernized, fast paced version of the King’s rise to fame under the guided hand of a snowman. It definitely reminded me of the style of Moulin Rouge and only now found it out it was the same director Baz Luhrmann. 8/10</span></p><p style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span></p><p style="color: black; font-size: 28px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 3px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1745960" target="_blank">Top Gun: Maverick</a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJZsQxH_iKpJDqPYyQLm6OSuGIq3bu9C7CMRs7gkYU2kdKuZgOueje6gxXUboqB_zn47gM1pxQ5zbxjZGZ44qrFgvr_rPMGhR3Z71FPc6Iad2Un1af7Cu_47A3Wd0JSLCvHiK_6OpeFJGsObXZz_uTXBvCFznwW5fUQmGpvz8Kg_9w5YlUNQ/s3750/MV5BZWYzOGEwNTgtNWU3NS00ZTQ0LWJkODUtMmVhMjIwMjA1ZmQwXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjkwOTAyMDU@._V1_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3750" data-original-width="2531" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJZsQxH_iKpJDqPYyQLm6OSuGIq3bu9C7CMRs7gkYU2kdKuZgOueje6gxXUboqB_zn47gM1pxQ5zbxjZGZ44qrFgvr_rPMGhR3Z71FPc6Iad2Un1af7Cu_47A3Wd0JSLCvHiK_6OpeFJGsObXZz_uTXBvCFznwW5fUQmGpvz8Kg_9w5YlUNQ/s320/MV5BZWYzOGEwNTgtNWU3NS00ZTQ0LWJkODUtMmVhMjIwMjA1ZmQwXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjkwOTAyMDU@._V1_.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><div><br /></div><p style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Even on a small Air Canada screen, the action was still magnificent. Except for the expected melodrama and close to “jump the shark” story manoeuvres, the rest was perfect. I’m man enough to say I bought in and my emotions were along for the warp speed ride. I had heard about the accuracy (or lack of) the flight sequences so I’ll have to now do a little more research (lots of real pilot comments that suggest a lot of it was possible, if not realistic). Regardless, very impressive production, great cast, cool music and all around great fun. 8/10</span></p><p style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span></p><p style="color: black; font-size: 28px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 3px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14208870" target="_blank">The Fabelmans</a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJdKBHGTJ8mdyWgD9GyMlbK7OVoa-32HwLhXngdEZML2w81ly0PqYpqCmOh9YNVnoHduPnDTpMOl7b0r0jLT73IhS07JZQ-bFAj4xpxkgjJ6dMfJtdL_oWX-Ox0ORCNnR8KITGz_Yb-OIUYN8b7KLRvE3jFmJ2w2bGo32sS0CH_8t84MkfA/s1582/MV5BZGM1MzczNmQtMjBmYS00NTRhLWI0MzctNTFkZDc4OGUyODdjXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjMxOTE0ODA@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1582" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJdKBHGTJ8mdyWgD9GyMlbK7OVoa-32HwLhXngdEZML2w81ly0PqYpqCmOh9YNVnoHduPnDTpMOl7b0r0jLT73IhS07JZQ-bFAj4xpxkgjJ6dMfJtdL_oWX-Ox0ORCNnR8KITGz_Yb-OIUYN8b7KLRvE3jFmJ2w2bGo32sS0CH_8t84MkfA/s320/MV5BZGM1MzczNmQtMjBmYS00NTRhLWI0MzctNTFkZDc4OGUyODdjXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjMxOTE0ODA@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg" width="202" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><p style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I loved the story and Michelle Williams’ portrayal was mesmerizing. But it was the filmmaking of the filmmaking that I really enjoyed. Capturing the joy of film within a film. Solid old-time movie with strong modern, complex themes of family and a personal journey. 7/10</span></p><p style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Original notes that are a little cryptic now:</span></p><p style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">New release</span></p><p style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Storytelling within moviemaking</span></p><p style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Moviemaking = storytelling</span></p><p style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Colour, framing, moments, editing</span></p><p style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Very meta</span></p><p style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: black; font-size: 28px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 3px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11813216/" target="_blank">Banshees of Inisherin</a></span></p></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9kMRo4ocPeA-S2JdjKBIhMYadM0FUeiTnWtrWM7gf_PD5OOx6TLl3eKa9Wq5xskhB1t5g7ppyVIwrXyEKXcc613jycfcIOzrgf1mRnaIF8Et0eYTQDiAi6sUtSiKuvMLYWf9GlG2k_gYw2GfRG2Rt-8MuS_Gw6BgeaSQw_1tIrR13uJj-mQ/s1200/The_Banshees_of_Inisherin-847183557-large.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9kMRo4ocPeA-S2JdjKBIhMYadM0FUeiTnWtrWM7gf_PD5OOx6TLl3eKa9Wq5xskhB1t5g7ppyVIwrXyEKXcc613jycfcIOzrgf1mRnaIF8Et0eYTQDiAi6sUtSiKuvMLYWf9GlG2k_gYw2GfRG2Rt-8MuS_Gw6BgeaSQw_1tIrR13uJj-mQ/s320/The_Banshees_of_Inisherin-847183557-large.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span style="color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I liked it but for the wrong reasons. </span> <span style="color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Superb acting, magnificent cinematography.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span> <span style="color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Humour was a cruel joke.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span> <span style="color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I thought it may have been making sense but quickly turned horribly tragic.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span> <span style="color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The complete opposite of Everything Everywhere All at Once but Jenny the donkey was an adorable touch. 7/10</span></div><div><p style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span></p><p style="color: black; font-size: 28px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 3px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8097030/" target="_blank">Turning Red</a> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-kIw-sRm3dqHxHhHq-ohbQJmkmG4aFeWJpLIn6rZDRIRGShNVHRNaTXnm3k2j0KGEcViqUEZ_8Pm2vfJEj7Vs0O1aWAox5kE23uc1DLqbe7Cg0l1Mk5uekyVMWBeIsO1NdbOBnh03kAt8ZqrGIV3ewI8BLMDXKK-2loZZEyqiqPzZdXsutQ/s3375/p_turningred_22797_1_c17f32af.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3375" data-original-width="2251" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-kIw-sRm3dqHxHhHq-ohbQJmkmG4aFeWJpLIn6rZDRIRGShNVHRNaTXnm3k2j0KGEcViqUEZ_8Pm2vfJEj7Vs0O1aWAox5kE23uc1DLqbe7Cg0l1Mk5uekyVMWBeIsO1NdbOBnh03kAt8ZqrGIV3ewI8BLMDXKK-2loZZEyqiqPzZdXsutQ/s320/p_turningred_22797_1_c17f32af.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div><div><br /></div><p style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Loved the Toronto connection and found the Chinese heritage interesting. Fun, cute and superb rich animation. Very cool to find out a friend taught the director Domee Shi at Sheridan College. 7/10</span></p><p style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span></p><p style="color: black; font-size: 28px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 3px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11564570/" target="_blank">Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery</a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_Jd8-zv9nDyYH4dwC28SHfHSsik4u4KTp3CALHzEU2_7qADFpqvQzOF8yhFquf3Is54kxQ8_0cZi-oqfso2wp8uzHRbaeoo2PcXVDjkTdYDzPU2VRHNvwphUtF_fvE5qUK8zYzQbFVu7IXqFt2S4zP26Rp2YvBwmH5jerxYE9zsrfanLAA/s1499/MV5BYmZlZDZkZjYtNzE5Mi00ODFhLTk2OTgtZWVmODBiZTI4NGFiXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTE5MTg5NDIw._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1499" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_Jd8-zv9nDyYH4dwC28SHfHSsik4u4KTp3CALHzEU2_7qADFpqvQzOF8yhFquf3Is54kxQ8_0cZi-oqfso2wp8uzHRbaeoo2PcXVDjkTdYDzPU2VRHNvwphUtF_fvE5qUK8zYzQbFVu7IXqFt2S4zP26Rp2YvBwmH5jerxYE9zsrfanLAA/s320/MV5BYmZlZDZkZjYtNzE5Mi00ODFhLTk2OTgtZWVmODBiZTI4NGFiXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTE5MTg5NDIw._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div><span style="color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Superb cast, production design and sets. Craig was incredible again, Norton was a superb baddy addition, and Monae was delightful. Lots of fun all around and a satisfying mystery. 7/10</span></div><p style="color: black; font-size: 28px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 3px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: black; font-size: 28px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 3px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1877830" target="_blank">The Batman</a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixo8NMuxojm0em-vJOSqbqkqHVu5f_5KZtKr_0MWc4hm_fOmeVFhJEukAsrGWYFgoguaKo-UsBh5IeWzTesxau-PhSTmkrFkEJwCmzWO1KCJVSnnPFfaXX9cBsQahuGi0WSkYJf9ubgsBI4NOQBMttoiwi5IcAa-B3UgCUAkPBRvSGNyqQMw/s2048/MV5BMDdmMTBiNTYtMDIzNi00NGVlLWIzMDYtZTk3MTQ3NGQxZGEwXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMzMwOTU5MDk@._V1_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1382" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixo8NMuxojm0em-vJOSqbqkqHVu5f_5KZtKr_0MWc4hm_fOmeVFhJEukAsrGWYFgoguaKo-UsBh5IeWzTesxau-PhSTmkrFkEJwCmzWO1KCJVSnnPFfaXX9cBsQahuGi0WSkYJf9ubgsBI4NOQBMttoiwi5IcAa-B3UgCUAkPBRvSGNyqQMw/s320/MV5BMDdmMTBiNTYtMDIzNi00NGVlLWIzMDYtZTk3MTQ3NGQxZGEwXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMzMwOTU5MDk@._V1_.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><div><br /></div><p style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span></p><p style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Very long very slow.</span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span> <span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Cool style was just enough for 6/10. </span></p><p style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p></div></div></div>PJMixerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865118784520211295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17403758.post-81531176058293013882023-01-21T11:43:00.006-05:002023-01-21T11:45:18.769-05:002022, Best of... (Music)<p>20 tracks that caught my attention and were in regular rotation in 2022.</p><p>Saw two of them live in 2022 and another three I've seen live in the past.</p><p>15 with male singers and 8 with female singers.</p><p>10 British acts, 6 American acts, and 4 Canadian acts.</p><p>Mostly beats and pop with a little alternative, hip hop and one country track.</p><p>Note that there are a few cheats (released earlier, but found in 2022) and alternate video versions to my official list on Apple Music.</p><p>On YouTube - <a href="https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLr6cXkv59iLKpaYJFpliys7YzEWi2VqFx">https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLr6cXkv59iLKpaYJFpliys7YzEWi2VqFx</a></p><p>On Apple Music - <a href="https://music.apple.com/ca/playlist/2022-best-of/pl.u-V9Dgkbkf7WLRZ">https://music.apple.com/ca/playlist/2022-best-of/pl.u-V9Dgkbkf7WLRZ</a></p>PJMixerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865118784520211295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17403758.post-79527029222652818922022-12-22T14:28:00.006-05:002022-12-22T14:28:55.196-05:00OpenAI<p>First test of chat.openai.com. </p><p>PS: Explain why soccer is better than American football</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">There are many reasons why some people might prefer soccer to American football, and these reasons are largely a matter of personal preference. Here are a few potential arguments for why soccer might be considered "better" than American football:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Continuous play: One of the main differences between soccer and American football is that soccer is played continuously, with only a few breaks for substitutions and injuries. This can make the game feel more fast-paced and exciting to some people.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fewer stoppages: Because there are fewer breaks in the action, soccer games tend to be shorter than American football games. This can make it easier for fans to follow the game, as they don't have to wait as long for the action to resume.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Simplicity: Some people might prefer soccer because it is a relatively simple game, with only a few basic rules to understand. American football, on the other hand, can be more complex and difficult to follow for those who are not familiar with the sport.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Worldwide popularity: Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, with a global following that dwarfs that of American football. This means that there are more opportunities to watch and play the sport, and that the best players in the world are typically more well-known and celebrated than their American football counterparts.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Again, these are just a few potential reasons why someone might prefer soccer to American football, and there are many other factors that could sway someone's opinion in either direction. Ultimately, the choice between these two sports is a matter of personal preference.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>SUPERB.</p>PJMixerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865118784520211295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17403758.post-21082347764269036162022-10-26T20:03:00.004-04:002022-10-26T20:03:48.680-04:00The English patient without the plums <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYSKlUxwRwyMlUE3_5r6CFI2oWYEyP0rTiJf3sf0dFZ8wd1LxkHU2HDcM13waa4QFxWsgrXGdJMP53twPdUGH29ycvXdOhuc5nxcxceGc7EiZ80TO5WbxtihJffDnpKac_qfZ3vSo7oxlf9p0mHH67qBYluFWeL2oibrHPftN3QN3dkCOXA/s3780/IMG_7567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3780" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYSKlUxwRwyMlUE3_5r6CFI2oWYEyP0rTiJf3sf0dFZ8wd1LxkHU2HDcM13waa4QFxWsgrXGdJMP53twPdUGH29ycvXdOhuc5nxcxceGc7EiZ80TO5WbxtihJffDnpKac_qfZ3vSo7oxlf9p0mHH67qBYluFWeL2oibrHPftN3QN3dkCOXA/w320-h400/IMG_7567.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fall colours are trying hard to say things are fine</span></p><p style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">But my poor toes remain a pain of mine</span></p><p style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Herding cats and Tetris priorities at work</span></p><p style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Air Canada lounge access doesn’t feel much of a perk</span></p><p style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Unfinished thoughts and loose ends plague my sleep</span></p><p style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Overthinking everything, can’t stop going deep</span></p><p style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Canine concerns stress us more than him</span></p><p style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It doesn’t help when the mornings are so dim</span></p><p style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Gaps feel longer between highlights</span></p><p style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">But less arguments and fights</span></p><p style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Too much of many media joys</span></p><p style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Equals no good reason for new toys</span></p><p style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Getting words out on the page</span></p><p style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Triggered by turning a new age</span></p>PJMixerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865118784520211295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17403758.post-68966739716255142872022-10-25T17:28:00.001-04:002022-10-26T20:00:23.108-04:00A quicker way to post<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZBc_YrUiy0h5Xc4kl8JL9CpntwxEZ4XosIhX7-XOp1ltfKtVRKwNUD0ctBGLVhcYT-ApZMemxmwXsk3bXW0sme5Uf99P0sumQeE9a3d-CkDp5jXpT2keqrlwzE4RsMKanfPdnm9zimPa9ykPORPnPWZ_wDvtEqwAUPgS3NSX9YImDQcAlpw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7158565006886707218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZBc_YrUiy0h5Xc4kl8JL9CpntwxEZ4XosIhX7-XOp1ltfKtVRKwNUD0ctBGLVhcYT-ApZMemxmwXsk3bXW0sme5Uf99P0sumQeE9a3d-CkDp5jXpT2keqrlwzE4RsMKanfPdnm9zimPa9ykPORPnPWZ_wDvtEqwAUPgS3NSX9YImDQcAlpw=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></div><p class="mobile-photo"></p>I've got quite quite a backlog of movie reviews and other random ramblings I want to get onto this blog, but I find the <a href="http://blogger.com">blogger.com</a> interface slows down my workflow. So lookie here - this post was created by simply sending an email to a special blogger account. It says I can add images easily too - how's this quickie?PJMixerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865118784520211295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17403758.post-24830007955416364892022-09-19T17:57:00.002-04:002022-09-19T17:57:54.633-04:00The Queen and The Monarchy<p><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7cZaOHBc2kUtvCj2QHeeCapF1WFKRzROJ-eJ_QF6mwb7MXYCog7Joca1UE0CEoKyW8WkiL-4owzAIJeLXZneiRkN1fu2zo3wB9iRGvC8FMp-4tGzGJO-O9aGDBFHlW5VOAcRe4KKXCltGuUHjAOeUbq3M7zyouh8Uh_qifMIAQGBtCgv3g/s3988/DSCF1910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2659" data-original-width="3988" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7cZaOHBc2kUtvCj2QHeeCapF1WFKRzROJ-eJ_QF6mwb7MXYCog7Joca1UE0CEoKyW8WkiL-4owzAIJeLXZneiRkN1fu2zo3wB9iRGvC8FMp-4tGzGJO-O9aGDBFHlW5VOAcRe4KKXCltGuUHjAOeUbq3M7zyouh8Uh_qifMIAQGBtCgv3g/w400-h266/DSCF1910.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />First, I was greatly saddened eleven days ago when I heard her majesty Queen Elizabeth II had died.<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;">I had a fondness for her and saw her as a symbol of my great homeland. </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"> </span><p></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I saw her in person just once when I was a boy in England. I recall the public event at Coventry’s railway station but don’t remember what she looked like on that day. My mother recalls she wore a green outfit and her complexion and smile were beautiful.</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Clearly, Britain has an ancient history filled with horrid times - but it is also my home and I am proud to call myself an Englishman. A lot of that history was tied to past kings and queens, but I believe our Queen was different, modern and kind. I truly believe that she embraced her role and did serve our nation with exceptional fortitude. I thank her for all she has done for Britain in her 70 years reign as Queen. </p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">There is no doubt that the pomp and ceremony is rare in today’s common world. But I like it. It connects me to history. </p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And for now, as it has been for my entire life, I am a royalist. I respect the monarchy, King Charles III and will gladly sing God Save the King when the England football take the field in Qatar and when other less important national moments occur. I have been impressed by what I’ve heard from the King in recent days - a stately grace with which he immediately steps into his new role, but with a modern, perhaps more relaxed nature - I guess he’s had a lot of time to prepare himself for this time. I feel he’ll be a good King and appears that he is already being warmly accepted, and maybe over time, even loved by Britons and the royalist public of the Commonwealth.</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Only one of my work colleagues initially mentioned the Queen’s death and offered his condolences. He admits he wasn’t certain of my standing, but he took a chance and I thanked him for his words and recognizing the magnitude of the Queen’s death. For similar reasons I have not brought up the Queen’s death in my work meetings. I did not want to hear any negative comments or possibly, cruel jokes at this sad time. A few days after her death a second colleague offered his kind condolences and another person in the meeting with a little less ceremony suggested that her long life should be celebrated - I have to agree.</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Although I have very faint memories of my grandmother, the feeling I have for the late Queen is almost like losing a dear grandmother. Her monarchy could be seen as the imagined matriarchy of our family. England represents family to me and I will miss The Queen. </p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Today, on the day of her funeral, I signed the book of condolence at Toronto’s City Hall. I wrote - You will be missed dearly by the people of Britain, Canada and The Commonwealth. On behalf of my English family, thank you, you are what makes England beautiful. </p>PJMixerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865118784520211295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17403758.post-88942435924319507572022-03-10T22:00:00.004-05:002022-03-10T22:00:00.228-05:00I'm a wide angle kind of guy<p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span>I gravitate to taking photos with a f</span><span style="font-size: small;">ocal length (cropped sensor)</span><span> from super wide (10mm) to 18mm. I know because I checked (in Lightroom) and I wanted it to be wide. </span><span> </span></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">The world is a big place and I like to take it all in (portraits of people and isolated action may be an exception). </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">The new lens I have me eye on is the latest Fujinon 18mm f1.4. The focal range should optically reduce the shallow depth of field effects of such a wide aperture and closing down a few stops to its ideal sweet spot may strike a magical balance of speed (light) and a pleasing depth of field. What does it say about my view of the world where I’m drawn to a wide field of view but also have a feeling that a more focused subject may be valuable?</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I often feel I’m somewhat of a <a href="https://pjmixer.blogspot.com/2017/11/the-problem-with-being-polymath.html" target="_blank">polymath</a> and feel torn trying to decide my favourite style of photography or even giving preference to a specific domain where I feel I contribute the most. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I wrote these words:</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Drawn to the world that is wide</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Less corner places to hide</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">more to see in the city frame</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Even glimpses of an old flame</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">big-time performance stages</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">tempting blank white pages</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">All that it could contain</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Way beyond memory lane</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">A soft focal point of thought</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Specialization of some sort</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Something new emerges over there</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Even more tempting things to share</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Pivot to the next wide urban shot</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Seems this story repeats quite a lot</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Landscapes require more depth of field</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Fuzzy Patterns becoming less congealed </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">To form a representation of life</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">A Polymath understanding its strife</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">And then put them in a <a href="https://youtu.be/c2ThubJ-d2c" target="_blank">video</a>:</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/c2ThubJ-d2c" width="320" youtube-src-id="c2ThubJ-d2c"></iframe></div><br /><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>PJMixerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865118784520211295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17403758.post-58621699727537174752022-03-09T22:27:00.001-05:002022-03-09T22:27:54.518-05:00Photographer’s frivolous fillings<p>My new camera bag is arriving tomorrow. I’m excited. I like organizing stuff and I have a lot of camera gear. I’m constantly having to move bits and pieces from one bag to another and often discover I’ve forgotten something when I’m “on location”. On the weekend trip shoot at the Beaches I forgot my audio adaptor for my action camera. I once had everything organized, ready to go for a week away and I forgot my entire camera bag - well that’s another problem.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWA_Rq6f3D2Nb_BGwtngR6Jp3yDRNzJPBimymIR1J1pOUP-CnI2dgcncti_fVMxDktad8uujRc7ZQzi9O8GXdPJ80_IanjxZPSvUeNki7Sjm2XHeN4jlUj8fRPhbasxMK8thvsRDSAg0LUb2vW4NcXOkI1S5mL3l9R4MbgPqyhyAMwlN4j8g=s3871" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2903" data-original-width="3871" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWA_Rq6f3D2Nb_BGwtngR6Jp3yDRNzJPBimymIR1J1pOUP-CnI2dgcncti_fVMxDktad8uujRc7ZQzi9O8GXdPJ80_IanjxZPSvUeNki7Sjm2XHeN4jlUj8fRPhbasxMK8thvsRDSAg0LUb2vW4NcXOkI1S5mL3l9R4MbgPqyhyAMwlN4j8g=w320-h240" width="320" /></a></p><p>I like to research purchases and I spent way too much time shopping for a new camera bag. I won’t list all the options here and I’m not going to talk about the bag I’ve decided on just yet. But I thought I should organize my thoughts first it terms of what will go in the bag. Yes, it should be quite a bit bigger than my current bag, but I’m pretty sure I won’t be able to fit everything in it. And if I did, it would be very heavy and impractical for my local photo excursions.</p><p>First and the simplest decision - the camera(s) - the Fuji XT-4 and the DJI Osmo Action</p><p>Lenses - how many? The 50-150mm is the best lens I have and the biggest, it belongs in the bag, but it may be removed if I’m really aiming to travel light and/or when I know exactly what I’m going to be shooting. The 18-55mm kit lens and the 10-20mm super wide are my urban and landscape go-to lenses. The 35mm is superb and compact, but it’s usually on my older XT-1 for walking around the neighbourhood. A maybe. The 56mm is great but I don’t use it that often. I purchased it more for portraits, but it would be interesting to see how I’d use it in the field. A maybe. The fisheye lens? It’s a Nikon mount and I have the Nikon-Fuji adapter on it, so it’s not that small. But it’s fun and would definitely be a nice option to have more readily available. I’ll give it a spot in the new bag.</p><p>Accessories: I have three filters, two variable neutral density (ND) for video work (another thing I forgot on the weekend) and a soft glow that I keep forgetting about. I have two Smallrig cages and a Smallrig grip that I’m not certain about. The one cage for the XT-4 is quite large and specific for video work. It’s maybe and it would be a good test of the size of the bag as it’s a weird shape. The Smallrig grip is usually on the XT-4 so that stays and the other cage is for the action camera for vlogging which I hope to do more of - so, yes. There is the 2x Fuji lens adapter - small but not a biggy to leave behind. There’s also the close-up tubes - mostly for home project - so I can leave them out. The Rode microphone - yes, but the lavalier mic and extra long audio cable maybe not. The DJI iPhone gimbal - hmm, I havent’ used it in a while, so probably not, especially since I added the DJI action camera to the kit. Cleaners and the puffer go in. Extra SD cards go in. Let’s not forget the Peak Design camera strap (I often do). The flash and and LED light panel I’ll leave out unless a portrait session is planned - which may be the case this weekend when I visit my parents to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary. </p><p>I’ll probably have the small gorilla pod strapped to the side and find room for the folding selfie stick for the action camera in side somewhere. There are a also few action camera mounts and one for iPhone that always come in handy.</p><p>Now there are other important accessories in a smaller Peak Design gadget bag, so the question is - do I move the important bits (e.g. extra batteries) into the new bag and do I put the whole gadget bag in the newer bag. We’ll see.</p><p>Don’t worry, I don’t think I want to do a What’s in my bag Vlog, but this kind of gave me a game plan for tomorrow. Happy shooting folks.</p><p><br /></p>PJMixerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865118784520211295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17403758.post-22842825292871470692022-02-13T17:48:00.005-05:002022-02-13T19:08:04.004-05:00Burnt Time<p><span style="font-size: 13px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; text-align: center;"><a href="https://flic.kr/p/2n3tEcK" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="4019" data-original-width="5024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPvZ1nK1CDwbw__IWxjtxwBQFxvyAGtgWlkSTSwHGldFY-4NFE0KbPTLiptdIU4IDPYJeo4Q_pBpKLzwQyUGzbRN7La660-f8az0cc90pg0CrqphNQQuT9ol_mhJHrDJDmmdWlnfekNeLQP_0llw1WQd0xS6nGPF6l1c5eXY83LxH9xXz0Fg=w400-h320" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">First, I have to thank Alex Kilbee for some “timely” advice about finding photographic inspiration from everyday things around the house.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">A part of his recent video (</span><a href="https://youtu.be/UTeeptpaRNc" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #dca10d;">https://youtu.be/UTeeptpaRNc</span></a><span style="font-size: 13px;">) talks about combining two subjects for even greater affect.</span><span style="font-size: 13px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">We had guests for dinner last night and I was asked if I could make a fire.</span><span style="font-size: 13px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">This morning, there are a few logs remaining in the fireplace that didn’t completely burn.</span><span style="font-size: 13px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">The idea to contrast the logs with a very different object came to mind and a few neurons fired in the right order and I grabbed my stainless steel ESQ Movado timepiece from my bedroom.</span><span style="font-size: 13px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">I thought the colour tones would be similar but the hard, glossy, man-made textures would provide a strong contrast to the organic burnt bark and ash.</span></span><p></p>
<p style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have photographed some of my favourite things in the past. The idea is for photographic appreciation of some of the wonderful things I own in a way that may help suppress the desire to always wish for more.</span></p>
<p style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I bought this watch from a local jewelry store for my 50th birthday. The design of the watch is a little unusual as it only has the numbers 1 thru 6 on its face. So the way I see it and explain that detail to those interested, is that I no longer count the years after 50! </span></p>
<p style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So, what about the title? One of my common sayings is <i>Today is a New Day </i>(<a href="https://youtu.be/S0Quv_jVkY0"><span style="color: #dca10d;">https://youtu.be/S0Quv_jVkY0</span></a>) - we can’t change the past, so there’s little value in worrying about it. Sure, we can learn from the past, but I like to approach each day afresh. So, in one way, we can consider the past burnt out. That being said, I put a lot of effort into recording events with photography and film and really enjoy remembering past experiences. </span></p>
<p style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And lastly, today marks 10 years at work selling Voltage Data Privacy & Protection solutions. The company has gone through 3 different acquisitions and mergers, but I’m happy to be part of the Voltage family and contributing to its global success.</span></p>
<p style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The photo wasn’t difficult to capture, although I did change lenses three times before settling on my 18-55mm f2.8-4 with my Fuji XT-4. I didn’t go to the trouble of adding any artificial light, but I wanted a sharp image without high ISO, so I used my tripod and shot it with a delayed shutter. I did take another shot with a little wider aperture to have a fast shutter speed and freeze the small second had a little better, but it left parts of the face out of focus. so this final shot is f7.1 with a shutter speed of 1.3sec. It didn’t require a lot of editing and I kept with the Fuji Pro Neg Std film simulation of the jpeg rather than working with the raw version. </span></p>
<p style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I considered a tighter, portrait orientation, but I prefer this version with the separation of the other log in the background. I think there’s a sense of time being on the edge, a few millimeters away from being lost to the past.</span></p><div><br /></div>PJMixerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865118784520211295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17403758.post-76094692736751515972022-01-16T07:16:00.005-05:002022-01-16T07:27:05.731-05:00Early morning coincidence - archival<p>I’m up very early on a Sunday morning. I had some things bumbling to the surface of my sleep and decided to get up. I’m on my iPad and reviewing some notes on my video [project] workflow. Any part of any good workflow (or in my professional world - <i><a href="https://community.microfocus.com/cyberres/b/sws-22/posts/what-does-corporate-data-discovery-have-to-do-with-the-photos-on-your-smartphone" target="_blank">data management lifecycle</a></i>) is archival. When we are finished with something, we should archive it, not just get rid of it or “bin it” as the say in England, but remove it from your main workspace, declutter it, saving something valuable in a safe place.</p><p>We started watching a movie last night and I wanted to check out some details on IMDB so I opened the app and the splash page / open banner on IMDB is a trailer for a new Netflix movie called <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13365348/" target="_blank">Archive 81</a>. I watched the trailer - looks good and scary.</p><p>Good morning. Now back to what I was working on.</p><p>(Quick follow on. Like many coincidences, the rabbit hole can keep going. I noticed an actor in the IMDB listing for The Greatest Showman (the movie we were watching last night) and he looked like an actor I saw in the trailer for Archive 81. But I was wrong, the supporting actor in the the trailer was Martin Donavan. And he also was in Tenet. And guess what, as we were browsing some TV last night, we watched a small scene from Tenet and talked a little about it. A little six degrees of Kevin Bacon this morning, bacon…)</p>PJMixerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865118784520211295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17403758.post-53768401590234780732021-01-31T12:08:00.003-05:002021-01-31T12:11:56.404-05:00Movie Reviews January 2021<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GFJuSEO7yx8" width="320" youtube-src-id="GFJuSEO7yx8"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13567480" target="_blank">Death to 2020</a></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Very well done with a superb cast balancing a satirical look at the year while not making light of the seriousness of racial injustice, a corrupt president and a deadly global pandemic. Some classic bits, personalities and blunt WTF. 7/10</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Office Party<br /></b><br />Really really crazy comedy mashup that has a faint whiff of Christmas. Great cast in top form and some new quirks to keep an eye on (Uber driver). Crossed many lines of family fun, dealt out a surprising stab of violence, made it all awkwardly funny and kept going. 7/10<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Midnight sky<br /></b><br /></span></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Good tech and good acting talent but very slow and very disappointing. Decent action scenes but very thin and flawed plot. Hopeless in giving us any real hope. Very sad and not very good at all. 5/10 <br /></span><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9484998" target="_blank">Palm Springs<br /></a></b><br />Loved it. And loved watching it with the love of my life. So much fun but but with threads of valuable reminders and lessons. Pretty raw dark comedy at times that may not sit well with some viewers but it was a great cocktail for me. 7/10</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><b>Tenet</b><br /><br />As expected... <br />My head hurts. <br /><br />Yes, very complex plot that I lost on a few occasions, but managed to enjoy the ride without full comprehension. Can’t imagine how some of the scenes were filmed even with fx. Thinking backwards, what feeling do you want when you exit the cinema? Then build a plot to fulfil that feeling. It had a lot for a four course meal of so many proven film components but constructed in a unique way. I’m not certain how many viewings it would take to piece every scene together - the editors must still be having flashbacks. To be completed. Or started later. Branagh was terrifying. Didn’t connect other actors to their other major roles. Superb cast. I did watch key scenes the second night after watching quite a few explanatory YouTube videos and it helped with some of the plot elements. Some people have perhaps questioned my comments and a rating of 8 - how good can it be if I don’t understand it. Well, I think I understand enough to enjoy the ride. The fx were mind boggling, acting was strong, locations exotic and the action top drawer. So there’s a lot to like. And I always enjoy the experience of leaving the cinema and having lots to talk about. 8/10</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>First Man</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">A little different to my expectations - quite slow at times with a good deal of somber reflection, tense interactions and tough emotion from a man that didn’t appear to say a lot. Interesting to learn more about the legendary man. Flight sequences were incredibly intense. I think it was my brother who perhaps commented that it did a great job of showing what space flight was perhaps like and the dangers at every turn of a dial. Well done and a dramatic ride. 7/10</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><b>Soul</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">The Pixar animation was superb, and the jazz, and the humour - lots to enjoy. The stuff about souls, I’m not so sure - see <a href="https://pjmixer.blogspot.com/2021/01/soul-and-why.html" target="_blank">post about Soul and the WHY</a>. 6/10</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><b>The Children Act</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">The look was perfect. The drama on a knife edge. The acting superb. The story was important at times but it seemed to get lost in stupid stuff. What happened? The last third was horrible. Where did it all go wrong? So, so disappointed. 6/10</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3661210" target="_blank">The Dig</a></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">There was a beautiful feeling throughout this lovely film. There was drama and tension, but it was smoothed out by heartfelt characters and super acting. There was a coincidental cross-over I enjoyed with a <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3333783" target="_blank">Bill Bryson book</a> I’ve been reading with chapters explaining the challenges of the archeology of the human race. It’s too easy to picture the fiction of TombRaider and Indiana Jones and miss how special and important it is to find and connect with our past. A simple main plot set in unique times that had layers of rich sub plots. 7/10</span></div></div><div><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div></div>PJMixerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865118784520211295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17403758.post-80803154373526948652021-01-31T11:48:00.002-05:002021-01-31T11:48:47.498-05:00Soul and the WHY<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Deep thoughts after watching a <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2948372" target="_blank">new Pixar movie called Soul</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I don’t think there is such a thing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But if we’re looking for something more than the physical, maybe that’s what it could represent.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I often talk about my professional world as WHY, WHAT and HOW.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">WHAT is happening? WHAT is it? That’s quite clear to see, most of the time. There’s a lot, but you can observe WHAT.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">HOW it is? HOW things work? That may take more education, research and understanding, but you can figure out HOW.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But WHY - that is the question. The WHATs and HOWs are objective, but the WHY is subjective. Now we’re getting into meaning and questions of existentialism. Who has the creds to answer that question? Perhaps a priest, a yogi, a philosopher or someone that just saw a thought-provoking movie.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I think it’s yours to make it yours. You get to choose the WHY. No one is going to say you’re wrong. It can be for good or could contain very little and it can come in many shapes and sizes. I hope we all can construct, visualize, believe or simply feel comfort in knowing the WHY in their life. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Oh, and the Pixar animation was superb, and the jazz, and the humour - lots to enjoy. The stuff about souls, I’m not so sure, but that’s just my view of this crazy thing we call life. </span></p>PJMixerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865118784520211295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17403758.post-19590717805977196212021-01-10T14:53:00.002-05:002021-01-10T16:19:25.615-05:002020, Best of... (Photos)<p><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In previous years, by best photographs of the year have centred on the quality of the image and in some cases the moments they captured. This year, I've created 20 categories for the collection for 20 photographs taken in 2020. Most of the categories represent common types of photography, but I've added a few to the mix that allow for some tailoring to my joys of photography, people and places.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There's a hint at an order of the photos, but the first one is the the photo I submitted to Flickr as my best of 2020. The full resolution images are published on <a href="https://flic.kr/s/aHsmTmY4c4" target="_blank">Flickr</a>. <i>My photographs on this web site are protected by Creative Common licensing and cannot be used for commercial purposes without permission.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#1 Cityscape.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Layers of sunset and light as the city moves on”. Hard to not include the CN tower in our local cityscape but this one shows the evolved TO skyline. Taken from Riverdale East it includes the traffic on Bayview Ave - surprisingly quite heavy in these pandemic times. Dusk creates the purple and orange hues which contrasts with the darker foreground. It’s almost like two worlds - the distant promise of a beautiful future and the dark messiness of today. Secondary category is sunset.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://flic.kr/p/2k9p17v" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1153" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP86cd1b5e4SAjM6vTrowxfNLx8SI2n81ccBxqPui2XgoRsHabpZgTzPQvVdfZ_In9dqzhLoaORLGgexaQR2l51dA3NkJjHuq4oRhsASaARVZ8p2a7KqLuE9OhDmxmywYJIsOu/w400-h225/DSCF2982.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#2 Landscape</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Waimea Canyon State Park. So many tempting views along the long drive up and along the canyon rim. The parking lot had a little line up, but we got a spot and took in the stunning canyon views from the small lookout area. Along with deep valleys, strata of rock formations, streams and lush forest, there was a magical waterfall in the distance.”</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Unspoiled, magical. You can’t imagine a place like this - with a friggin’ waterfall. This was our first to the Hawaiian Islands - we were so lucky to get this trip in before the pandemic truly hit North America. There is just so much variety in Hawaii and we loved exploring the islands and appreciating the natural unspoiled landscapes. Secondary category is place.</div></span><p></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://flic.kr/p/2iHsrUo" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1155" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1QyWZTmmJvUWqvU-h-GT92W7J1nlQIAXrotMcr-NPi-b4PWIjItJUiD3ekF_gioRtyqnpz4MH-z9QoI1TWV8Y8Go0w2S3QPfMPPzvkN0j99QVIqO20wAgkM1d4GMToPJmZ9me/w400-h225/DSCF1228.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#3 iPhone</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Hockley Valley morning serenity”. This proves the best camera is the one that you have with you. Beautiful golf course and a magnificent morning with my son - just take a look around. Secondary categories are reflection, landscape, place and sunrise.</span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://flic.kr/p/2k9oXk3" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxF-LSX_IVzBx-yKfjKclCxte028oGfKuamHgJNnpNaKdfo2U_bCL68xshDm-6_iMVb70IDiymzGc7nSnWrqyvGv1FMt4O5TsG_9C8ooRhTlGhC6xXyfZHVo3vtQso9PTP7f9p/w400-h266/IMG_4514.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#4 Artistic</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Come this way Elora...”. This was on my detour home from dropping my daughter off in Waterloo and is an early shot with my new camera. This shot was with a super wide angle and I like the composition and the blend of natural and manufactured landscapes. I wouldn’t include this as a true landscape because of the unnatural stairs and railing features.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://flic.kr/p/2jLNgaP" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjB-MlUabNNVzclF0Pyc6NZVex6U4OL-P1LXUAfVCZU0Y7yPmEA6S-LJuwYJS7fTwFwg-ih7fZjlAWTKHAybM7fIBOytzr3rDzwSSP8eXb0lNNZxERRhu6NXBOfiTypeXRjIvI/w266-h400/DSCF0244.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#5 Sunset / Sunrise</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Wailua sunrise. We were up early to catch the sunrise from the hotel beach. Although there was quite a lot of cloud cover, the sunrise was dramatic with the rocky and treed shore.” Always worth getting up in the dark to witness a sunrise, and if you’re in one of the most beautiful places in the world, there’s no excuse - and the two people framed by the tree I’m sure would agree. Secondary category is landscape.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://flic.kr/p/2iHsrwE" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1155" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTfCf5c_04VXTP6haXeP9lcNr9fVRDZNJz6_mgvLbMY6S65HCcYORAtuuShkkCj9m2TgdrwZunwAmKnssqv5uEkOEs19NrLchWbmlgAkLiE8K_3Cj9lun82cFDa8at7OhhVKyw/w400-h225/DSCF1144.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#6 Event / Story</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Happiest of memories”. This is a special story about my wife’s solo trip to the 2010 Olympic Games and her return for the 10th anniversary - this time with me. Although our visit was planned for the exact anniversary date, we weren’t certain they’d relight the cauldron on that particular day. We struck gold and it was so special to see her pure joy reliving a very special place and time. </span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://flic.kr/p/2iNX8fS" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqhVUxcnBqUOuD1DcRP9004w-RCalCq-pSk6OppFs16oc-QRyzEodmC-tfQV7of3MosGy-reyWcF3ZJIDKFA1Gdp7_G2-rLpy4wwGE0g8Grk3F0Ir3a4lL9JVzqAdk1DiXhMwz/w320-h400/DSCF0363.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#7 Pandemic</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Dreams in pandemic times”. This shot taken early in April as the reality of <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/pjmixer/CMws2T" target="_blank">the pandemic</a> was sinking in and wearing a mask still seemed quite an extreme health measure. I had a few extra N95 masks in the basement from past handyman projects and ventured out into the new world. The original published description is “<span style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">Waking up from dreams where I was chatting with old friends and ultimate players - unsettling to think my dreams are more normal than my waking hours #pandemic #lockdown </span>#art #history”. And the hat! I can’t remember why I thought the Banksy flower thrower hat was appropriate at the time (6 weeks before the mass protests from George Floyd’s death) - in retrospect, it was perhaps foreshadowing of the stressful year and my chill. <span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">Secondary categories are story, humour and </span>selfie<span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">.</span></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://flic.kr/p/2j7f4JP" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO77haqfzq2uIKmbl-QRrCqM92l8Y3I9Om55UUjaMhKMwxmuHyE3Dix3d1LNasVuF6_96lciiewogO1g6_x95nXv3xZLBCQBK2eJsxjO1920T12Q8nBdZzXJR1-MGHAc3G-r1l/w320-h400/IMG_3741.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#8 Family</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We had quite a few social distancing visits with my sister-in-law and family this pandemic year. This shot was also an early test with my new flash and I’m very pleased with the wide coverage and red eye reduction setting. Earlier in the day while walking my dog I spotted a B&W </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">concert </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">photo and immediately thought of my brother-in-law's appreciation of classic rock - when I got it home and flipped it over it was a numbered print from a Led Zeppelin concert in the early 70's. I knew he'd love it. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Secondary categories are pandemic and story.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://flic.kr/p/2kmwUo4" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBDH0Sdm1jWLxGXM-rZaBg38FIWJKB9bmjw9fmrGpqjslGsy6aa9jIBBGVLI_nA7jwD8oiNBWoAeqBi8S3SVEJlmROXTDN8VN_h_WIaFgGxqDYyjMd1wR7I-4mp3lk5A5cwibC/w400-h225/DSCF3542.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#9 Humour</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Cozy heated front porch”. These are two of my oldest friends from university years and they have always been fun to be around, very witty and punny. They jumped on the front porch heater thing and invited us for a socially distancing visit - they live just 3 blocks away. I can’t remember her punch line but the photo captures the joy of her delivery. Secondary categories are pandemic and friends.</span></p></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://flic.kr/p/2jPm3rX" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5F3hRVOQJ5N62lEvz_SczV-IjOXcB1ZupHcWIg6khubYmnNDxfWsf9_e0MjoWCOHS3gDuBEE2S0nov1BGl-rc-rjZHXt_qi4YcInSOtPGCEWyq1iEjVjjrvV_b2hEA3fFTxof/w400-h266/DSCF0202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#10 Friends</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This was the only time I saw these two dear friends in 2020. We met up in Waterloo and took casual walk around their local park. I had some new camera gear with me and I snapped a few shots along the way. I’ve known them many years and there’s just a level of familiarity and comfort some of us are lucky to have around old friends. And I think you can see in their eyes the reciprocal feelings. Secondary categories are pandemic and portrait.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://flic.kr/p/2kne52W" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrOMcOEXTqHGm3uRqnD0Q-ruCUPlndVj4D8hDNafG3DHXtUhL4SSOJ25lzETdapdGA_EJzgpGTSNEb-YeJMlbDeDXXR0kRylL87B5HEBYOt56Mh2bwOhnSjDFyZ7cM1rhvghmx/w400-h400/DSCF0224.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#11 Portrait</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">"My eldest". Seeing new things in my son’s mature eyes. I took this shot from my front porch as we were of course distancing for this and most of our visits this year. At first pass, the shot didn’t immediately stand out, but once I cropped in by about 200% and saw his eyes and the neutral and relaxed closed mouth (vs the typical big smile) I was transfixed. It’s one of those moments when you’ve known someone their whole life and then you see something new with so much complexity - beauty of the human expression. Although it wasn’t set up from a true portrait shot, I’ve chosen this as my best portrait photo within by best of 2020.</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://flic.kr/p/2j7dCeb" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1509" data-original-width="1509" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI7bSmd1kf0b4pz-RfmpL9ITez4fSjCeGnsCmuKXFce419-AAEqXHKplGX5qTLNaF7tsUrR2MNsUNIMwxjwrP2Ks_RRiOZ6lzv9ZNQC1Qx5VWXomxic456yFXurEakea0IQ_Vi/w400-h400/DSCF1888.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#12 Reflection</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“The dangerous frozen fingers photo on the chairlift shot. Approx. -17c with windchill.” Extremely cold and rather risky but worth the shot in my mind. I like the symmetry of the trees lining the chair lift path up the hill. The reflective convex googles work well and hep capture enough width to include me, ours skis and the surroundings. My wife’s eye’s help bring a human element into focus. The glimpse of the snowflakes and frost on the balaclava complete the winter sports scene. I photograph a lot of reflections.</span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://flic.kr/p/2ihjk77" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSJsu8p0XJIqLmpN6LxwU-2N5bnSAIueHEYesWe9jz0eKM0b546oVqPHpBEBYdI7fg9xq5lpsJbJpdAdqT-VL58_Oz1JT72oe90_0jgMdyt4Xy0PF_S1nOQRVizNjFevw9C5c/w400-h225/IMG_3039.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#13 Night</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes we're still enjoying the cabana - blankets for a beautiful peaceful night”. We got a lot of use from our back yard cabana for 3 seasons this year. In a year of limited travel it became our urban oasis. It was the scene of many celebrations, video creations and our place to enjoy the nature of the city, I even liked the <a href="https://youtu.be/VChvWJaGz7o" target="_blank">Cabana prep morning routine</a>. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">This was the only photo of in this collection where I used a tripod. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">The exposure is 20s and helped create the creamy sky.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></div><p></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://flic.kr/p/2jZzXgX" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSI8Ofnuhh26moAd_6XM7ZQMa-dG6LaCVvZEsSL-qXbTABW-pcMg7VgReJ57VmZz7LNYJFm8IaN5GvHwMftik78BrrRLi9EgPbvsAXOgUhdywUJ_NutA0zPhmGHfxV1hRl0QDF/w400-h266/DSCF0118.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#14 Animal</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Feathered friend company very early on a Sunday morning”. I enjoyed the peacefulness of early mornings on my front porch this summer. On this morning it was just me and this beautiful bird perched on the power line crossing the street - it was clearly looking for its breakfast. I managed to take a few other shots but missed him in flight - I’ve seen him or a few others like him in the neighbourhood this past year - quite the site seeing their wingspan as he flies down the centre of the street. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://flic.kr/p/2k9jFUx" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtOPRW4dpJLqv1pUp-0eLfIpm8K56cihDRm5BHX_ZNRcnw-6AtZLKfhMxDf8cPgUIn9i8QmjogAKWdrbYebBkTnhZfTsGjcexpMx_JiH_2uudczswzypJj9ydVBBYvaxZQdHGt/w266-h400/DSC_9682.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#15 Stranger</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I spotted a tent in the park and wondered who was camped out. I noticed Gordon relaxing in his chair with binoculars at his face. Gordon is homeless but not any trouble to the park staff so he's happy to enjoy his place in the city. He was keeping an eye on another homeless person who was a perhaps a little less resourceful than Gordon - a caring man but very independent and worldly. Then he told me about the UFO he'd spotted the night before and then the other UFO sightings he'd experienced, including his first sighting in the Himalayas. He was quite knowledgeable and can easily differentiate between potential space stations (from the previous night) to shape shifters. I shared my UFO story from a drunken post-pub night in the English countryside. Gordon will be moving to a shelter when the weather gets cold. Be safe mate." Although I completed my <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/pjmixer/aULcPm" target="_blank">100 Stranger project</a> a long time ago and continue to enjoy the challenge and the photographic results.</span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://flic.kr/p/2jyqXzF" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoK1kw61lodAjW-P_NArMvmHjUOCwnP4Vm0tPLaB5_BEzm6_OG5Xh98BYEbS4Ns4GPMM-2X3CHMGKFwdOaqEzDVvD6JYi8tRTgCuPGu0VIXoxJabx2V3LcpkI8hfeCBNZ6yggP/w400-h266/DSCF2520.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#16 Photojournalism</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Mask off for a message.” Not the biggest news story of the year, but Shelters YES Criminals NO was <a href="https://flic.kr/s/aHsmQ37PUk" target="_blank">local news worth photographing</a>. I have to admit I did not interview this woman but I’m including it because I like how I’ve captured her raw emotion - right or wrong.</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://flic.kr/p/2jwyZHr" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj83uKG8Fw2rnYLSYfBSJ4yX7M4lk2JIz5cxapRR13N819u5WOvCYXhiNvzpUPnczCEw7InfgBIZ74K8Fi9J3SEDakrDoAzL-fT-tsGbBhvkXQZNNrOLwZQ9W1a4MYJ4Kx8WJMw/w266-h400/DSC_9565.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#17 Street</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Waikiki sunset and surfer pose”. Among the hundreds of tourists crowding Waikiki beach for the sunset there were a lot of surfers (I’m assuming many of which were locals) that were making sure they got every minute of their surf time and some began to come ashore as the sun set. It was hard to miss this young lady coming out of the waves with her massive white surf board. I’m actually borrowed her pose from her friend that was taking her photo at the same time - but to me it feels like a local enjoying her beautiful world. Clearly not on the street, but a candid snap worth sharing. Secondary category is sunset.</span></p></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://flic.kr/p/2iHqahG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1639" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix1gyh-0KMWxk7ZLeIEwlkk5ppwqk_JizTMF8h8DidICkSN0xAP3V52-vqMJ5sf8nOJANeH0f2efe24k7dW9ugyl1duoKSEPVCBfDLjf3Cm68MroRR24EkTdsTAAxiwejA8_gh/w400-h320/DSCF0700.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#18 Selfie</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“A simple delivery puts in wide angle smile on my face. My K&F Nikon (lens) to Fuji X (body) adapter arrived this morning. Pleased with a quick test of my Bower 8mm fisheye with my XT-1 (all manual baby).” Along with the wonders of camera and lens technology that this photo focuses on, it also includes the sub-plot of 2020 clearly being the year of home delivery. Let’s hope we can once again enjoy some shopping in-person in 2021. Secondary categories and technology and photojournalism.</span></p></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://flic.kr/p/2jyqXx1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1155" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgq7gi6Zzzno_M40Dxn-nY5Vx5GyswopAQr_pA1kmoPxoLuDLhG7jNH80BHWsuCDkQcKAizVzxn0WHNNLg2obyFml_J3ywrJPfeYCzzpEvZUc769r0fF943VzVeCyTm5iSZir3/w400-h225/DSCF2371.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#19 Place</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Hanalei Bay pier, waterfalls, mountains, surf and surfer thoughts”. </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">O<span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">ne of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen; those magical and can’t</span>-<span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">quite</span>-<span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">get</span>-<span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">there distant waterfalls; </span>and the people on the beach are just at ease in this paradise. Secondary category is landscape.</span></p></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://flic.kr/p/2iHpHy7" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1155" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1-nGvIwMTs3NR7H1HIs2HcPZT-igvjDWHtvXfSg4HXERznwY__2uuaAwEfsHHet7YihCll2_AUS87rlSNnwCOjPa5XRfXlF-YZInXKdjE-2Y1vPwFbYhU2jYeXmmwJycSTVA/w400-h225/DSCF1572.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;">#20 Decisive Moment</div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Lie back and enjoy a moment in the late afternoon”. This was taken with a new fast telephoto lens and helped me capture this moment from afar as the lady enjoys a cigarette and awaits the sunset. I feel this fits this classic category due to its dreamlike possibilities. The narrow f2.8 depth-of-field works wonders with foreground and background layers of grass and leaves the subject and her bike nice and sharp. Secondary category is street.</span></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://flic.kr/p/2k9jHtQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1161" data-original-width="2710" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QBIFvGRjfblHiWbswtZwNJClux_jTzhQ4BzLuw-Zl3p6RqRggMDYUVEQxYJ6D4lXRsDPW637mPdceB_nGXPrCUYeCCzLzm0UFgn5xK9ibbDNNGpP7HawVc74bc0GGtcHQBww/w400-h171/DSCF2919.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Looking at the collection now, there are many overlaps subject in style, categories and even places: </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><ul><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">6 photos included friends and family</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">3 included me</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">5 included strangers and candids</span></li></ul><div><ul><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">4 were taken in the Hawaiian Islands <i>(we were so lucky to take this magical trip just a few weeks before the pandemic lockdowns happened)</i></span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">4 were taken from my front porch</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">8 were taken in the neighbourhood</span></li></ul><div><ul><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">5 included visual clues of the pandemic</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">9 could be considered landscapes</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">14 included people</span></li></ul><div><ul><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">They all tell a story</span></li></ul></div></div><div><br /></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />PJMixerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865118784520211295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17403758.post-22798931808890261302020-12-30T12:51:00.002-05:002020-12-30T12:52:38.106-05:002020, Best of... (Music)<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;">An annual tradition, shared various ways, not all were released in 2020, but its stuff I discovered in the past year that kept rattling around my ears and playlists. The YouTube playlist has some great finds of the video versions, including some live ones as a preference over the official or missing ones. There's a pretty broad variety in this year's list again - I hope there’s something for everyone. Enjoy. For those of you on Apple Music, the playlist is there too.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The order goes like this - starts with some straight-up Canadian rock and transitions with the biggest Canadian music headliner followed by the kid down the street to bring in some electronic sounds, with dashes into pop, hooks, riffs, melodies, stand-up-and-listen voices and closing out musical commentary on the big stories of of the year: BLM, the environment, the US presidency and the pandemic.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><ol><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Years in the making - Arkells - great distanced vid and solid catch hooks</span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Get Precious - Yukon Blonde - hooks with blues and funk feel</span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I like the Way You Talk About the Future - Sam Roberts Band - beats and Montrealer mood</span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Blinding Lights - The Weeknd - you may be sick of it, but solid 80’s redux was fun for me</span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I’ll Come Back to You - Powfu, Sarcastic Sounds & Rxseboy - neighbourhood beat producer meets the big time </span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Time (You and I) - Khruangbin - I listened to their Thai Funk groove a lot this year</span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Got to Keep On - The Chemical Brothers - Soul train vid turns weird but beats keep going</span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Don’t Call Me Up - Mabel - first track that dropped onto the radar in 2020 triggered by a “what’s this?” performance on a 2019 award show</span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A Love Like That - Katie Melua - new soothing sounds from an old favourite</span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Little Something - Melody Gardot & Sting - exotic duet from two of my favourite voices</span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">On Sunset - Paul Weller - a very late entry but immediate big smash in my books</span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Caution - The Killers - pop/rock at its finest with Flowers’ fantastic delivery</span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I Do - John Legend - got to get movin’ and swoon to these silky R&B lines</span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The 1 - Taylor Swift - her many, many beautiful melodies took up a lot of this year’s playlist rotation </span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">July - Noah Cyrus and Leon Bridges - sweet, sweet sounds with cross-over potential</span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I Can’t Breathe - H.E.R - powerful stuff from a magical musician</span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Oh, What a World 2.0 (Earth Day Edition) - Kacey Musgraves - remix from the voice of an angel</span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Living In a Ghost Town - The Rolling Stones - guitar licks and tight message, give me more lads</span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lookin’ for a Leader - 2020 - Neil Young - politics too - singing what many were thinking</span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">(E) Zen - X Ambassadors, K. Flay & Grandson - Big expletives sum up a downer of a year</span></li></ol></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><a href="https://music.apple.com/ca/playlist/2020-best-of/pl.u-mJy3GZRCgARbJ" target="_blank">Apple Music: PJMixer 2020, Best of...</a></span><br /><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLr6cXkv59iLJF9YaFZ1ib5f6P6msJ782h" target="_blank">YouTube Playlist: 2020, Best of...</a></span><br /></div>PJMixerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865118784520211295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17403758.post-87781177485454057382020-12-10T14:41:00.005-05:002021-02-24T19:49:24.416-05:00Movie Reviews - December 2020<p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px;"><b>Da 5 Bloods</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Bloody...</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Quite a ride of emotion and action. I enjoyed this new Spike Lee movie and it didn’t disappoint with its expected social, racial and political statements. It had the creative mix of past/present, violence, drama and touches of comedy. The MAGA hat threw me but I suspect irony. Rich locations, strong acting and a well paced plot, but there was still something a little off. Maybe the switches created some inconsistency and I was a little uncertain with the writing at times. It almost felt I was missing some clever subtext. Now I’ve written my thoughts I’ll take a look at the reviews and see what I may have missed. 7/10. </p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><b>The Gentlemen</b><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">That’s entertainment. Last song. Fitting. </span>Dialogue was tops. Job for the precinct like. Top drawer acting - biting language - unusually gentle touch with menacing violence. Lots of horrible people to like. Even the costume design was glorious. Story moves were orchestrated beautifully but who cares - pure Brit gangster stylin’ hits all the buttons. A little too loose with the plot doesn’t put it on the top shelf but a highly entertaining 7/10. </p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><b>Ocean’s 8</b></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">I was not paying full attention as I chose it as a fun kitchen backgrounder. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>So I may need to fill in the gaps with a repeat viewing, but I liked it. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Great cast, Oceans intrigue, provocative plot, sexy situations and all around innocent naughty fun. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>7/10. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><b>Greyhound</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">A simple (“inspired by actual events”) WWII naval battle superbly led by Hanks and a great sense of pace, war history and personal drama. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>A high degree of realism brought to life by some fabulous CGI and real warships. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Hanks’ screenplay didn’t shy away from keeping the dialog accurate (as far as I could tell) and kept it to the hard driving sea battle. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>No fuss, some mess and an important retelling of wartime sacrifice, allied cooperation and high stakes military operations. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>8/10</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><b>Becoming</b></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Actually a little lost for words. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It was what you would expect and very well done. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I liked seeing behind the scenes of her life as First Lady and she truly does seem very down to earth and approachable. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Barack made a few appearances, but took a back seat to her show. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>You can’t help wonder what the movie of the Trumps will be like in 5 years. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>7/10</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><b>The Ritual</b></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">A friend recommended it and I thought it sounded familiar. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Watched the trailer. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Yep, seen it. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I can’t find a review but giving it a 6/10 seems right.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><b>Darkest Hour</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">I’m not blind to the dark past of the British Empire and I’m very well aware that Churchill was far from a perfect man. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>But I felt very proud to be a fellow Englishman and witness an incredibly important part of our history. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Of course there were liberties taken in the screenplay but it just made for a little more colourful storytelling (especially that wonderful scene on the underground). <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I did miss a few lines his the characterization of Churchill’s mumbles but thought Oldman was superb (Gary - you come a long way from Sid and Nancy). <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Well done indeed chaps. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I could not help but think of a certain US president while watching Churchill’s portrayal. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>A tag line of the film perhaps sums up a potential comparison - It takes the power of leadership to unite a nation. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’d add that a united nation is critical in dark times facing a common threat. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>In today’s world - are we clearly agreed on the real threats to our country, to our city, to our world? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And Lily James was adorable as usual. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> 8/10</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><b>Uncorked</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">We used the wine theme to enjoy a few glasses of wine while watching the movie, maybe a few too many glasses. </span>I liked the first half of the movie and thought the sommelier bits were accurate to what I’d before in the documentary Somm. But I think it lost momentum and I lost the plot a little with the middle and the ending was disappointing. 6/10</p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Crazy Rich Asians</b></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Loved it. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Lots of great movie elements that come together beautifully - stunning scenery, cityscapes, interiors, costume design, even the music was fabulous. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>A lot of character complexity enriched a unsurprising plot line. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Lots of humour, romance and fun with serious international societal commentary. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>7/10</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><b>Color Out of Space</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Wow, quite the ride. Combination of </span>The Thing, Poltergeist and The Shining.</p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><br /><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Didn’t know what cosmic horror was before. </span>Fantastic fright. Perfect crazy creepy cocktail. And believe it or not, some humour. Really well done, sure a few odd plot bits, but I haven’t enjoyed a scare like that since cabin in the woods. Cage was perfectly cast, horrific scenes created by top notch fx- beauty cosmic goodies at times, perfect setting and sets. 8/10</p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>The Truth</b></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">I liked it - in a French kind of way. Not easy to understand - like my wife. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Complex characters wrapped around a multi-layered family dynamic. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Splashes of tension throughout had a bit of a chilling effect and took away from the warmth of the setting. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Enjoyable, but it wasn’t truly satisfying. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>6/10</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><b>Hampstead</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Far from perfect, but highly watchable. 6/10</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><b>The Old Guard</b> (spoiler)</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Really really top drawer stuff. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Superb action as you’d expect but a simple story with massive dose of oh shit, that’s really bad. </span>Spoiler: Fab ending. 8/10. </p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Their Finest</b></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">A little unbalanced and tried to be too clever at times, but I warmed up to it and the colourful characters. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Off tilt humour at times, nostalgic score and songs, superb set and costume design and hearty script made for an entertaining time. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>7/10. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><b>The Social Dilemma </b></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">A little meta...Netflix movie </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">How to have a conversation without one of the big platforms?</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Delete news apps - really?</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Who to trust?</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Sharing something personal - yes.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Sharing something 2nd hand - no = Instagram?</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">YouTube victim</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Is a valid defense a strong offense? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Create and share more of you own content. 7/10</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><b>Enola Holmes</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Very entertaining made so by the marvellous Billy Bobby Brown. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>A few very violent fights scenes and more than enough horrible English people. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>But Brown made the magic happen, especially with her asides. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Funny and fun. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>8/10. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><b>The Trial of the Chicago 7</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">So many interesting and important parts to this well-made historical drama. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>What would we do without movies like this? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Do we expect everyone to read their history books - are stories like this taught in regular US history courses. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And what if you happened to be a descendant of judge Hoffman? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Superb cast, troubling dangers, but the value of a democracy remains intact. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>For now and hopefully for a long future for the free world. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Frightening demonstration of political power, a warning around the perils of true justice and the power to make things right. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>8/10</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><b>The Big Lebowski</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Believe it or not but it’s taken me this long to it. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I had started it a couple of times over the years but it never gripped me. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I caught a scene from later in the move earlier this week and liked the quirk and the dude. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>So I hit record and watched it from the start, but weirdly still took two nights. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Anyhoo, I can now see why so many like it and more than anything the motto The Stranger leaves us with at the end. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Many solid performances and a fun ride of a plot that the Coen brothers are famous for. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I think it will be one of the movies that when you’re channel surfing and you come across it again, you can’t help but pause and chill out for a while. 7/10</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><b>On the Rocks</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">There was lots to like, enough to rewatch bits with my wife the next night - the Monet, </span>Manzanillo, the music of Phoenix and a quintessential extravagant Murray performance. Reminded me to watch A Very Murray Christmas. 7/10</p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>The Outpost</b></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Head spinning chaos of battle in hellish conditions in a war of confusion. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Through the realism of the fire fights and the commitment to duty the sense of comradarie rose to the top<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>via gritty and action soaked dramatic acting. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Hard to imagine it’s reality as the settings and circumstances are chasms beyond my world. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>7/10. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><b>Hope Springs</b></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Star cast got things going but it meandered without any real substance. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Some humour and heartfelt marital challenges, but there could have been a lot more. 6/10.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1"></span></p>PJMixerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865118784520211295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17403758.post-32524864946883783902020-11-17T18:25:00.002-05:002020-11-17T21:52:47.581-05:00Why Do We Take Pictures<p>That sounds quite presumptuous, rather grandiose and perhaps provocative. Well, that 's intentional. </p><p>I’d like to try and explain (or begin to explain) an idea my wife and I have been talking about for quite some time now. Yes, I could have called this post <i>Why do <b>I</b> take pictures</i> - but I do feel that there’s some commonality between many of us, if not all of us.</p><p>It is a grand topic and idea that I will not be able to complete here this morning, but a start it is. </p><div>In addition to the main question, I might as well add - <i>why do I have to share this very idea ?</i> Am trying to provoke an argument, well not really, do I really know why you take a picture, maybe not, is this just click bait, maybe.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>As many of you know I take a lot of pictures and more recently, shoot a lot of video. I love learning technology, researching new equipment, watching videos on the finer details of photo editing and sharing the finished product with friends, family and everyone. I enjoy looking at my photos quite often and that may be enough of a reason to take pictures, but choosing what to share with others, how frequently and how much and how it’s communicated are questions that occupy my thoughts on a regular basis. </div><div><br /></div><div>But I’ve got a little ahead of the idea. Or is it a catch 22.</div><div><br /></div><div>Never in the history of the world, have so many pictures been taken by so many people.</div><div><br /></div><div>That’s a fact.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>A massive number of people hold a smartphone today this is is capable of taking good photographs, high quality video and a lot of it. It’s rather naughty that Apple makes <a href="https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207310" target="_blank">Live Photos</a> and <a href="https://support.apple.com/en-ca/guide/ipad/ipadb9253d98/ipados" target="_blank">HDR</a> default settings and it doesn’t take much to accidentally take a burst of 10 shots. That is a big part of the problem I’m beginning to address in a roundabout way. I don’t think the title of this post would make sense to someone 50 years ago, taking photographs with an old-fashioned film camera was done by regular people as a way to document their lives, showing a child growing up, commemorating important landmarks or recording a beautiful vacation experience. Yes, professional photographers have always taken pictures for editorial reasons, art and advertising. Some keen hobbyists and what are today called “<a href="https://www.quora.com/What-is-a-photography-enthusiast" target="_blank">enthusiasts</a>” take pictures in hopes of creating art, or being an informal news source or making a few dollars on the side with product photography. But what about the vast majority of empowered people snapping 100 photos a week. </div><div><br /></div><div>I’m talking about the 10 photos of your pet, another 6 of the sunset, 4 close-ups of your tastiest meal and 20 test selfie shots after your new haircut (or for that matter with your big bushy beard). And that’s just one day! The photos of our gatherings with family and friends have sadly declined drastically in these pandemic times and I hope that it won’t be very long until we enjoy those days again - and that will indeed be a great reason to take lots of pictures! But today, even while we’re stuck at home and within a 5 mile radius of our homes, we’re still taking huge amounts of pictures that take time to organize and require huge amounts of computer storage to keep. All of your friends and most of your family probably don’t want to see all those 100 photos and I’m sure you get a little tired continuously scrolling through them all to find that special shot. I actually feel the problem may have gotten so bad that some people just don’t take any pictures at all. I’d go as far as saying some people take less digital pictures today than they did when they had to take a roll into the drug store for processing.</div><div><br /></div><div>We take pictures to make a memory of something. We also take pictures for the very purpose of sharing that memory with someone else, someone that isn’t with us.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the old days you may recall a few occasions where you sent a printed photograph to your best friend or you received a few photos in the mail from a distant relative or penpal. But for the most part, photographs were shared in the home - pictures of loved ones still hang on many living room walls and I’m sure many people have at least one photo album or a shoebox of old photographs that they get out when a friend visits. That’s very different to today’s world, where you can easily share 20 photos of a walk in a park on Facebook. I do feel some of the social media sites are getting a little better at managing the flow of photo content with features like “<a href="https://buffer.com/library/instagram-stories/" target="_blank">stories</a>”. However many (older) people don’t know how to use these new features and don’t get me started about people that email a dozen jpeg files to 10 people.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>In my work life, one thing I help customers with is the challenge of managing massive amounts of data and part of my messaging is you can’t manage data and reap its rewards without first understanding it. I think I can use this in relation to the topic of managing personal photos. To better manage the huge amount of photos we take, we need to understand what value they have for ourselves and for others. </div><div><br /></div><div>What if we thought of this in reverse? In order to understand why we take pictures, think of the end result - what will you do with the picture. Will the picture be valuable to tell a short timely story or be part of your life story, does it show the world in a unique way, does it capture something important for your family or is it a way to convey love or tell someone you’re <a href="https://pjmixer.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-toy-project.html" target="_blank">thinking of them</a>. Even it’s just for you, that’s perfectly fine, take the picture, keep it and enjoy looking at it. But if you feel it’s worth sharing, maybe explain its meaning more clearly and attach a story to a singular photo of the event. I’ve begun to understand that a picture doesn’t have to be perfect to capture a memory, <a href="https://flic.kr/p/2k7GprP" target="_blank">like this one I took I Sunday</a>. But if we clutter our social feeds and our disk drives with hundreds and thousands of pictures that are so similar that the story or beauty is lost, that’s a shame.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>I’d like to share this picture.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://flic.kr/p/2k7H4Wk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh09T_jAtBLv44LbwQRU6tBEg8WyPBkoxnQ7AipaVnA2R_5xsqfToatJ7sE1UTUN7GSYPt6VwYHxWeYYApm9Ds3JD4sRJyg7OCn_E1Zneb_atWm3hK4fEJiAgtptOhSMP6rgogy/w400-h266/DSCF3000.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Technically, it’s quite good, correctly exposed, nice contrast and the primary subject (my happy wife) is in perfect focus and the background has some nice bokeh. It includes a reflection that I always like to incorporate in complex compositions and it captures what I like to do - take pictures and take pictures of my wife. There are some more subtle parts of the picture that speak more to my personality like I’m wearing a new Adidas top I really like and I’m shooting with my new camera and a brand-new lens. My wife is wearing her Bose noise cancelling headphones that she loves and wears much more often than she thought she would. She’s smiling and happy because she’s on an online session with a friend or learning something that she’s passionate about. She’s in our study - a part of our old house that she’s getting more use out of and enjoying standing at her Varidesk. There’s a lot I see when I look at this picture and it tells a number of stories and it’s why I take pictures and why I’m sharing it with you.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>PJMixerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865118784520211295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17403758.post-28845866191096010582020-10-29T11:30:00.000-04:002020-10-29T11:30:30.336-04:00Sharing explanations of the US electoral college voting system<p>Although I’m a Canadian, I have a strong interest in the presidential race happening south of the border. I suspect many other Canadians or other people around the world share this interest. It seems for me that every 2 years (votes for congress) and every four years I have decode the basics of the US government structure and it’s voting and electoral systems.</p><p>I started with Wednesday’s episode of the New York Times Daily podcast - <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/27/podcasts/the-daily/george-bush-al-gore-2000-election.html" target="_blank">The Shadow of the 2000 Election</a>. This episode explains the issues in Florida in 2000 with iffy voting systems, legal battles and the media’s impact and why GW Bush became president. I’m afraid it paints a pretty dark picture of what could very likely happen next week.</p><p>I then listened to another Daily podcast from last week - <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/22/podcasts/the-daily/electoral-college-trump-clinton-gore-bush.html" target="_blank">A Peculiar Way to Pick a President</a>. This one explains the origins of the electoral college system and potential ways to make the US presidential election more fair with the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Popular_Vote_Interstate_Compact" target="_blank">National Popular Vote Compact (NPVC)</a>.</p><p>And finally, I got most of my questions answers by a well-written and illustrated article in the Guardian - <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2020/oct/28/electoral-college-explained-how-biden-faces-an-uphill-battle-in-the-us-election" target="_blank">Electoral college explained: how Biden faces an uphill battle in the US election</a>.</p>PJMixerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865118784520211295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17403758.post-34586704912274247632020-10-26T14:47:00.002-04:002020-10-26T16:58:39.916-04:00Memories of the Queen Mother Cafe<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv89jKZWilsi0ZlV_-edUYnVnzixygN1QGr3DpUea7rli-zFngJVXqlYQvRN30sCwPsZGxtHfWVh1BpB0-1e_d2Skb0s2RFCMsTf2YuT0Ymg7iLciLk1KhTi_uoLoyJ8aexLk2/s2048/DSC_0680.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1639" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv89jKZWilsi0ZlV_-edUYnVnzixygN1QGr3DpUea7rli-zFngJVXqlYQvRN30sCwPsZGxtHfWVh1BpB0-1e_d2Skb0s2RFCMsTf2YuT0Ymg7iLciLk1KhTi_uoLoyJ8aexLk2/w400-h320/DSC_0680.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I don’t recall the first time I ever walked through the doors of this unique Queen Street West Cafe and I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve returned, but the <a href="https://www.queenmothercafe.ca" target="_blank">Queen Mother Cafe</a> (208 Queen Street West) is one of my favourite local Toronto landmarks. So many memories of enjoying a cozy lunch, raving about their Pad Thai, asking if they had that special pie, rendezvousing with friends and remarking on the interesting selection of wall art. It’s the kind of place where we Torontonians like to talk about how great our city is. It’s often times a stop when shopping on Queen Street and it used to be a regular lunch spot for my wife and I when I was working downtown. <p></p><p>My wife just read a <a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2020/10/26/queen-mother-cafe-turns-42-amid-the-covid-19-pandemic-the-iconic-queen-west-restaurant-keeps-dishing-out-laotian-fare.html" target="_blank">great article in the Toronto Star</a> about their history and surviving through this year’s pandemic times. A wonderful coincidence we found out through the article is that the restaurant opened 42 years ago today, which was the day after I arrived in Canada from England. </p><p>I’ve always loved the way the cafe is situated on the street with the large welcoming windows. I actually used it as my cover photo for my photography book <a href="https://www.blurb.ca/b/5898296-urban-colour-and-contrast-toronto" target="_blank">Urban Colour and Contrast: Toronto</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://flic.kr/p/dkDVdK" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ-MzON7p3sqRmFiTjgUpzKyjiHYiWbclJAUwVML1zAtkuog0L_rC4RwZFfgAULQl9QXQh_vBqcDVsUVN-l9LZtKIA0segoA8NV33y9A2xVT0B4G9KAJpYtXyhblxju-LMt3LZ/s320/DSC_0677.jpg" /></a></div><p>The last time I was there was with my Australian cousin and her husband on a bitterly cold January lunchtime in 2019. I think I’ve taken a few visitors and family members there over the years and as it turned out, my cousin said I’d taken her there during one of her previous visits years before. No worries, we all enjoyed our lunch - again.</p><p>I recall that the cafe was always busy and we often worried we wouldn’t find a table. I’m not certain of the magic, but we always did get a table and was always served by its friendly staff.</p><p>Hoping to visit again when we get past these <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/pjmixer/0m2a80" target="_blank">pandemic times</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>PJMixerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865118784520211295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17403758.post-22608973719792364382020-10-12T17:02:00.000-04:002020-10-12T17:02:29.507-04:00What’s the Point?<p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.94px;">Why am I writing these blogs, </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.940000534057617px;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/pjmixer" target="_blank">making these videos</a> </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.94px;">and <a href="http://www.twitter.com/pjmixer" target="_blank">tweeting these tweets</a>?</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.9px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.94px;">Because I think somewhere there’s someone who needs a new idea, appreciates the beauty of the everyday or learn how to tell their own story.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.9px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21.4px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.94px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.9px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.94px;">This is my story. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’m choosing to tell it through photography and video and mixing the old tunes with the new for the soundtrack. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.9px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21.4px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.94px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17.9px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 17.94px;"><a href="https://youtu.be/qrTUjX15ToQ" target="_blank">My last vlog</a> was a simple three mins of me talking about the beauty of one of the city’s urban ravines. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>As I said in the video, I wasn’t pretending to deliver anything grand or philosophical, I was just happy, exploring the city, capturing that beauty with some wonderful cool technology and being honest, being myself. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>There’s a hint in the video that I’d like to talk more about what I’m learning about videography, of which, there’s already a modest tech starter project in the works. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Although how-to is a massive market and I’m an avid follower of some real creators, I’d like to produce something more natural, more personal. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This is a record of my life and perhaps it can put a smile on someone’s face (MB’s comment) or inspire others to make something creative and share it as well - and then we can talk about, over a beer one day (reminder to talk to JWH).</span></p>PJMixerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865118784520211295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17403758.post-72411729720945405252020-09-28T21:43:00.002-04:002020-09-28T21:43:52.070-04:00Back-to-back visits to Elora<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">On the way back to Toronto after dropping my daughter off in Waterloo, I decided to take a detour to visit Elora Gorge and take some photos and video with my new camera. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoz1nAbnycbCERozU4PyRU0Sk1-32McCOT5a_yD3Z8N_noJXPO0tVLCylIu71zo6L8ki_WL6fm03ZGcKY2U-IAs0UVKrFR3q3ptwrpPhy_OSORNaSdW7JtzhkeCxFbtPbjl6jL/s1802/BC886084-96F6-4535-80E8-95E1B6D77219.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1352" data-original-width="1802" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoz1nAbnycbCERozU4PyRU0Sk1-32McCOT5a_yD3Z8N_noJXPO0tVLCylIu71zo6L8ki_WL6fm03ZGcKY2U-IAs0UVKrFR3q3ptwrpPhy_OSORNaSdW7JtzhkeCxFbtPbjl6jL/w400-h300/BC886084-96F6-4535-80E8-95E1B6D77219.jpeg" width="400" /> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLuUocBBSuj8ZdurhE3T6NKDBYtVCga6O2NZG5xI50xL0PsMDViPyRGiTm_Bd_tC9Os1Ploz9BUwq1z_nZ2yUMi35j3E_z1vkO5Uho2BhNZCRflcQY_4E9tcoW4w6EXNFBf7oc/s1479/7777F74B-DC53-4AEA-BC48-D4BBAA163FDF.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1019" data-original-width="1479" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLuUocBBSuj8ZdurhE3T6NKDBYtVCga6O2NZG5xI50xL0PsMDViPyRGiTm_Bd_tC9Os1Ploz9BUwq1z_nZ2yUMi35j3E_z1vkO5Uho2BhNZCRflcQY_4E9tcoW4w6EXNFBf7oc/w400-h275/7777F74B-DC53-4AEA-BC48-D4BBAA163FDF.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">From by university years at UW, I recall a visit to a swimming spot where we could jump from the cliffs - it turns out my memory was of the quarry not the gorge. But I still really enjoyed the short hike along the Grand River in the Elora Gorge Conservation Area and a quick visit of the lovely nearby small town.</span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SqS0V_-BzaA" width="320" youtube-src-id="SqS0V_-BzaA"></iframe></div><p>I liked it so much, I saved the climb down to Irvine Creek for a return visit with my wife. So just a week later, I returned to Elora with my wife for a casual and very tasty lunch at The Evelyn. We then had a stroll around the small town and we did some shopping in a very quaint one-of-kind shop. We then had a look at the dam and climbed down the stairs and rocks to Irvine Creek. Before we headed home, we stopped to see <a href="https://thefieldstonebarn.com/" target="_blank">the sunflower field at The Fieldstone Barn</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mByZij32zi8" width="320" youtube-src-id="mByZij32zi8"></iframe></div><p>I thoroughly enjoyed my short visits to this beautiful and interesting little Ontario town. </p><p>Links to videos in case you’re reading this on the mobile Blogger version:</p><p><a href="https://youtu.be/SqS0V_-BzaA" target="_blank">Take a Detour Home (Elora Part I)</a></p><p><a href="https://youtu.be/mByZij32zi8" target="_blank">Lunch, Sunflowers & a Gorge (Elora Part II)</a></p><p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/pjmixer/Z4gNWx" target="_blank">Full photo album on Flickr</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>PJMixerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865118784520211295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17403758.post-68091160791466418812020-09-08T22:04:00.008-04:002020-09-08T22:08:28.531-04:00Rio de Janeiro, 1995 Storytime<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXxvmLDeBYzGhMUs4VAGKzqWvDMDktV3SXJ7-vupVbgcGBfBL943zQ9gLaeQaJ3oBKB26CUxRiAL7ZaS-sU0-EW9LhjPPVIIDiU4p-HbNLArvk53jz2uvuhoAWyWfDuR0Ay6nG/s1616/img-RiodJ014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="909" data-original-width="1616" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXxvmLDeBYzGhMUs4VAGKzqWvDMDktV3SXJ7-vupVbgcGBfBL943zQ9gLaeQaJ3oBKB26CUxRiAL7ZaS-sU0-EW9LhjPPVIIDiU4p-HbNLArvk53jz2uvuhoAWyWfDuR0Ay6nG/w500-h281/img-RiodJ014.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">The most significant memory of my business trip to Rio in 1995 was the people. I recall sitting in a restaurant with a view of Iponema beach with my work colleague Peter. It was a very relaxed evening and we were enjoying a few Brahmas and there was a little girl trying to sell some street jewelry. The autumn evening was winding down and I remember watching a young man and lady chatting to one another on the beach. They may have just finished playing beach volleyball, but it was now just the two of them. The light was fading but they were in no rush to leave the beach. There was no party going on, they weren’t drinking, nor trying to impress each other. They were simply enjoying each other’s company and having a conversation. Even if there were distractions, I don’t think it would have changed the in-the-moment simplicity of human connection. This beautiful human moment was one of the reasons I named my son Rio. It was something I saw a few times in Rio, a natural, relaxed way of life, little interest in glitz or glamour. Many of the locals didn’t have a lot, but they enjoyed what they did have, friends, food and drink and a beautiful place in the world. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeuyx4F1Xbbqn0Zssj4WRgyqOnzDuO_782RrY12FP2tTxSus3cLUb_SAPqbBx2RXpKGYjjJpDkaTfcWrdtrxkLtncCuGFuhYDawsPBu9KaNCu5Cdt_cmks1GPLg0dXL5YtKlOF/s1720/img-RiodJ016.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1229" data-original-width="1720" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeuyx4F1Xbbqn0Zssj4WRgyqOnzDuO_782RrY12FP2tTxSus3cLUb_SAPqbBx2RXpKGYjjJpDkaTfcWrdtrxkLtncCuGFuhYDawsPBu9KaNCu5Cdt_cmks1GPLg0dXL5YtKlOF/w400-h286/img-RiodJ016.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">The second memory of Rio that stays with me is the language. I stayed at a superb hotel right on Copacabana Beach. It had the old world tradition of holding your room key for you when you left the hotel - perhaps for safety reasons as Rio is quite a dangerous place (I remember being driven to my hotel after working at the office - after dark my host doesn't stop at red lights). So every time I returned to the hotel after a day at the host’s office or siteseeing, I would have to ask for my room key. My room number was 2906 and I took pleasure in trying to pronounce it properly in Portuguese - Vinte e nove zero seis. But my language skills failed me when I was trying to buy a dress for my wife at a shopping mall closer to the city centre. To get there I had to walk through a long tunnel from Copacabana. I had left my watch and passport in my hotel room and was on high alert for the dangerous walk. It was perhaps a little foolish, but I lived to tell this story. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGtlcl4mfELevBgAqZMz0BR45Td9OIsBkpfRP52pxdQx-JfadSK3pKJRgwm66pm7ZsuZHnF08krK53tc8NMtzhLRgqGgHLdjSA5-npGh1AgYomHTOf9eT0shgVrSFcKZv96wO/s2048/img-RiodJ010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGtlcl4mfELevBgAqZMz0BR45Td9OIsBkpfRP52pxdQx-JfadSK3pKJRgwm66pm7ZsuZHnF08krK53tc8NMtzhLRgqGgHLdjSA5-npGh1AgYomHTOf9eT0shgVrSFcKZv96wO/s320/img-RiodJ010.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpw55oSSix4nRLMfHpCOjrVtpIZQeMAxDiLBGYK6OCpYQVkpoRRcybc7hlhMDJkX_dhADnP-FHkRMH0OTCZGPzIGAt3ltrzQmCLfDfvTBgONLEQ7YgwPL7pZVroHAQ8ZY8WF5/s1903/img-RiodJ019.jpg" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1269" data-original-width="1903" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpw55oSSix4nRLMfHpCOjrVtpIZQeMAxDiLBGYK6OCpYQVkpoRRcybc7hlhMDJkX_dhADnP-FHkRMH0OTCZGPzIGAt3ltrzQmCLfDfvTBgONLEQ7YgwPL7pZVroHAQ8ZY8WF5/w256-h170/img-RiodJ019.jpg" width="256" /></a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">One of the other memorable parts of my time in Rio was enjoying the fantastic skewed meat at a Brazilian BBQ (churrascaria) restaurant. Like many of these restaurants now found around the world, the food is usually all-you-can-eat and I made a valent attempt at getting my money’s worth over the few hours - on TWO occasions during the week. I recall walking into the restaurant and noticing a large man heartedly enjoying his meal, when we left he was still there and hadn’t appeared to have slowed down one bit!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Jk4p2TbuXw8" width="320" youtube-src-id="Jk4p2TbuXw8"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://flic.kr/s/aHsmQuqtsc" target="_blank">Photos on Flickr</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://pjmixer.blogspot.com/2020/09/rio-de-janeiro-1995-storytime.html" target="_blank">Video on YouTube</a></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"></span></div>PJMixerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865118784520211295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17403758.post-51426847004544771092020-08-18T21:27:00.001-04:002020-08-18T21:28:34.688-04:00What is Toronto to Me<p>I am a Torontonian.</p><p>I just picked up the September issue of Toronto Life (thx SRS) and flipped through the first few pages - does this mag and this city fit for me?</p><p>I am older now, but I’ve enjoyed a lot of what the city has offered up over the years from days clubbing at Nuts & Bolts and the after hours at the Big Slice, wakin’ up after noon and being a regular at The East Side Cafe, meeting life-long wait staff at the original Amsterdams on John Street, taking over Silver Crown from the pizza lovin’ business folk, watching many obscure foreign movies at the Carlton cinemas, embracing the roar of <a href="https://flickr.com/photos/20697717@N06/sets/72157624362353889" target="_blank">IndyCar</a>, fighter jets over the CNE and staying up for the wee hours of <a href="https://flickr.com/photos/20697717@N06/sets/72157627684168623" target="_blank">Nuit Blanche</a>. And yes I call it the SkyDome and I was there opening season for the Raptors. I was one of 450,000 people rocking it for the massive SARSfest concert and went WTF when Noel Gallagher got tackled on the V festival stage. </p><p>When did the <a href="https://flic.kr/p/9Hp4Pf" target="_blank">High Park cherry blossoms</a> become a thing? Did the Distillery and Liberty Village become destinations the same year? When did Sam’s close and the sign get taken down (it’s up again right)? When did Sherbourne get bike lanes and is that King Street thing still a thing?</p><p>And my neighbourhoods, those corners and intersections I called home for a few years - downtown when the high rise condos stood out, the Beach when the track was kind of still there, Bloor West but in between the dodgy part and the good part, midtown when restaurants changed every few months and the parking problems around Casa Loma.</p><p>Intermission: my wife and I got busy raising a little boy and girl as young Torontonians. </p><p>And social circles expanded when we found out about a new sport called ultimate. We were members of TUC when it was 24 teams and played at the same 3 fields all the time - now it has games 5 nights a week (in non-pandemic times) with a healthy membership of 3,500 players.</p><p>But in recent years I’ve been south of Bloor far less often. I’m lucky to live uptown and my view of Toronto today is quite different. I love walking my dog in our beautiful treed neighbourhood and window shopping on Yonge Street. It’s a comfort to know a good pub and a great restaurant are a short walk away and when we’re closer to normal, I’ll be back on the subway to head to a concert on The Danforth, reminisce at an old favourite restaurant or explore new flavours in the urban landscape. </p><p>Have Torontonians changed or have we just got older? There’s no doubt the diversity has increased - I don’t ever recall hearing Spanish on the streets in the 80’s. I love it, this town, this <a href="https://flickr.com/photos/20697717@N06/sets/72157620119800033" target="_blank">big smoke, hogtown, TO</a>. I’m not ready to unsubscribe to Toronto Life just yet.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCK0LI09au_AfBYsq4jciXJuFgKrUKDudOJz4WQHVjlJ80Toz-V95HnUGHxPF3aMlZYZFGkdPfynpRoEB_QcoVk9oy7Eq3ScwUB6EdTVZGtshy2_nOuNpMKTLqiQnHjYJIwrz/s2048/BE3838DB-262A-4D5E-A1AF-70A080DA788A.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCK0LI09au_AfBYsq4jciXJuFgKrUKDudOJz4WQHVjlJ80Toz-V95HnUGHxPF3aMlZYZFGkdPfynpRoEB_QcoVk9oy7Eq3ScwUB6EdTVZGtshy2_nOuNpMKTLqiQnHjYJIwrz/s640/BE3838DB-262A-4D5E-A1AF-70A080DA788A.jpeg" /></a></div>PJMixerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865118784520211295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17403758.post-34741268275202540492020-08-05T08:01:00.001-04:002020-08-05T08:01:10.571-04:00Know your audience<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSjt41uoOXlfflXpmueT10f__yV_367NHl1ae1f-XIi9ZrjaswFstU50rmWixSh8wgUKzP6RcLhPowT7Me3hiywHdoWlfiOOtxxjYatI6xGkzeXZt_OMTLhNVUCn2sPHhnHvV9/s1107/E1ED4143-77B8-4FDD-A3D2-1C489E9F46E3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1107" data-original-width="930" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSjt41uoOXlfflXpmueT10f__yV_367NHl1ae1f-XIi9ZrjaswFstU50rmWixSh8wgUKzP6RcLhPowT7Me3hiywHdoWlfiOOtxxjYatI6xGkzeXZt_OMTLhNVUCn2sPHhnHvV9/s640/E1ED4143-77B8-4FDD-A3D2-1C489E9F46E3.jpeg" /></a></div><div><font face="verdana">I recorded a vlog on Monday called <a href="https://youtu.be/f6ZYnxoFGhQ" target="_blank">He’s Rambling and Not Even Dressed for It</a>. I finished editing and uploaded the vlog last night. I’m up early now on Wednesday thinking about new vlog ideas and one of them is about my audience.</font></div><div><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div><font face="verdana">One of the most memorable complements I ever received was a good friend saying she thought I was a Renaissance Man. I’m not certain if I’d heard the term before, but I think it may have gone to my head a little - I wrote a <a href="https://pjmixer.blogspot.com/2017/11/the-problem-with-being-polymath.html" target="_blank">blog about it and the related term polymath</a>. Anyway I’m rambling again. The point is I have lots of different things that interest me, quite a few things that I know something about and there’s a small list of specific things I know a lot about. You can also see this from the newer format of this blog where I’ve tried to compartmentalize topics into <a href="https://pjmixer.blogspot.com/p/introduction.html" target="_blank">chapters</a>.</font></div><div><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div><font face="verdana"><div>Back to the vlog and this morning’s thoughts. I was going to share my vlog, but I wasn’t certain which channels to use. It’s certainly not related to business, so I can scratch Linkedin off the list. Twitter was the obvious channel as it is public and has the chance of finding a new audience as well as popping up in friends’ feeds. The most active channel for friends and some family is Facebook but I’m a little conflicted with the platform recently and feel my frequent sharing of photos and travel videos is perhaps “too much” <i>(need a better word here)</i> for some friends. </div><div><br /></div><div>I perhaps watch more YouTube vlog content that read blogs today and I have noticed that a few of my favourites like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/PeterMcKinnon" target="_blank">Peter McKinnon</a> are able to handle multiple audiences. For example, he’ll specifically say in the first part of the vlog that it will be more for photographers using Lightroom than for a audience looking to improve their Instagram channel. So, I need to keep my audience in mind - a good lesson indeed for many situations, work, family or social.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, I’m still a little uncertain of the audience for yesterday’s vlog. So here’s the trick - I’ll use this blog post as a Trojan horse - for those that prefer to read the ramblings of amateur polymath, here you are. And for Instagram, I like to use a collage to spike a little interest and I’m going to also use the trick where people embed a link into their profile as a path to a different channel. How’s that? Enjoy hump day Wednesday everyone.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/f6ZYnxoFGhQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="f6ZYnxoFGhQ"></iframe></div><div><br /></div></font></div><div><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>PJMixerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865118784520211295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17403758.post-5035422829870757922020-07-25T15:08:00.003-04:002020-07-25T15:08:53.538-04:00Pandemic Times<div><font face="verdana">I don’t think 2020 will be forgotten for a very long time by anyone who’s old enough to remember the global COVID-19 pandemic.</font></div><div><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div><font face="verdana">It’s the first truly global event in our lifetime that is impacting the entire planet. <i>(For the record, I wouldn’t call global warming “an event” - yes, it has global affects, but it’s also not as immediately impactful as COVID-19)</i>. For the most part, it has made us feel a little closer as global citizens and as close we’re ever going to be (hopefully) in defending the planet from a alien invasion.</font></div><div><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div><font face="verdana">But it does affect people in different ways. I consider myself very lucky: I have a job that I can continue to do effectively while working from my home office; I’m happily married to my best friend and enjoy our home life; we have a nice home that has a deck, a porch, and a backyard with a cabana so we can get out of the house. I’m also free to walk my dog around our beautiful urban neighbourhood which also gives me a chance for frequent front yard visits with my oldest university friends. My parents are well and I’m in touch with them on a regular basis and my children are healthy and managing to work and study and enrich their lives. I feel connected to my entire family and friends via the myriad of electronic channels and we have the convenience of grocery pickups, well organized restaurant takeout and delivery options for almost everything we need. I’m healthy and not overly stressed out and I have a lot of hobbies to keep me engaged when I’m not working. I’m a lucky man.</font></div><div><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div><font face="verdana">But there are many people truly suffering in these pandemic times, those that have lost their jobs, or are being financially impacted by lost business, those feeling very alone from not being in psychical contact with their friends and of course, those that have have fallen ill or lost loved ones to COVID-19. I also feel it’s very important to keep thinking of the front line workers and anyone that is helping us get through these hard times. As I said in a personal video thank you I put together early on in the pandemic, thank you to so many that are going beyond the call of duty and in many cases, putting their own health in danger to keep the rest of use healthy.</font></div><div><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div><font face="verdana">What I’ve been struggling with is understanding the psychological impact of these massive global, as well as local, changes - how the isolation, travel and visiting restrictions and health concerns are affecting me.</font></div><div><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div><font face="verdana">Like many people, I miss going to a restaurant or having a pint at the pub, I’m missing having friends over for dinner parties or planning a weekend getaway or the next vacation with my wife. I miss playing ultimate frisbee - for the exercise as well as for its social aspects. I miss visiting my mom and dad and even miss my business trips south of the border. </font></div><div><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div><font face="verdana">And some of these things intersect with my hobbies and in some degree reduces the material for my hobbies and creates more introspection rather than relying on external factors. Let me explain - If I’m not traveling, then I’m not seeing so many new places and therefore the amount of travel photography and videos I'm making is cut down. This also makes it hard to justify that next camera upgrade :). Likewise, if I’m not going to any live sporting events, concerts or documenting family visits, I’m experiencing far less moments that need remembering. If I’m not traveling for business, I’m far less concerned about my wardrobe and hardly have any reason to shop for clothes. While at my desk the other day I absentmindedly kicked my suitcase (tucked away under the desk) - I actually contemplated buying new luggage just 6 months ago - ha. This week on a group work call, I was informed about the stringent approval requirements for business travel. Does anyone at my company actually believe business travel is going to happen any time soon? My colleagues on the call felt similarly and the consensus appears to be that no one will be visiting customers until at the earliest 2021.</font></div><div><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div><font face="verdana">When every week day and weekend is the same, I find I’m struggling for inspiration for my photography, filmmaking and writing. I’m having to think more carefully about my choices and a different way to value my time. Pre-pandemic times, so much of my life was driven by external factors and by other people and daily activities were much more reactive and unpredictable. For saying there are so many restrictions of what I can do when I step on the sidewalk, my agenda is more in my control at the moment. As restrictions ease a little and we get more comfortable wearing a mask and getting closer to other people, opportunities are starting to open up for little gems of adventure. This past week we sent to see the Van Gogh Immersive Exhibition. It was wonderful creative art and I welcomed the old feeling of awe and inspiration.</font></div><div><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div><font face="verdana">At many times over these last 6 months, I’ve recognized that I’ve enjoyed this change forced upon me. It’s given me the time to enjoy more moments, pay closer attention to my art, more carefully choose what TV and films to watch. I’ve had time to read more (<i>although I still find it tiring and I have little patience for a slow plot)</i>. My house is a little cleaner, some (small) home projects are getting done a little quicker. And luckily I’m not completely bored of our home meal menus.</font></div><div><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div><font face="verdana">Enjoying this? Really? Do I prefer this than life before the pandemic - no, I definitely cannot say that. But I’ve tried to make the most of a bad situation and I think I’m learning something about myself and about what’s makes me happy. It’s given me a little breathing space and much needed time for contemplation and study. </font></div><div><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div><font face="verdana">But maybe it’s taken this long for the new reality to settle in - I do miss being in a space with other humans - whether it’s a simple pub lunch with my wife or an excuse for an after-party with a old friends at a new found hot spot. Or a stroll around the Art Gallery of Ontario <i>(without a mask and seeing the deep thought on people’s faces)</i>, rubbing shoulders with food shoppers at the St. Lawrence Market, or soaking up nouveau European trends at Eataly. What about sharing a groove with an intimate concert crowd or singing out loud your favourite rock anthems with thousands of fans. I’m beginning to miss that more often now. </font></div><div><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div><font face="verdana">So I balance a little sadness of missing old times with new-found introspection and a more gentle pace of life. Or maybe I’m just showing my age.</font></div><div><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div><font face="verdana">The younger man in me just found this track that collects a lot of what many people are perhaps thinking about these days. For the record, “</font><span style="font-family: verdana;">new-found introspection and a more gentle pace of life” sounds pretty Zen to me. Apologies and warning about the expletive in the chorus.</span></div><div><font face="verdana"><br /></font><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rZgeF5SrCAg" width="320" youtube-src-id="rZgeF5SrCAg"></iframe></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div><br /></div><div><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div>PJMixerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865118784520211295noreply@blogger.com0