Monthly Archives: May 2014

Gratuitous Swoopy-Doopiness Du Jour

Posted on May 12, 2014 by Paleo Retiree

Paleo Retiree writes: Back here, Blowhard Esq. took note of a particularly absurd new piece of blobitecture. The fad for wibbly-wobbly, objets d’art-style design seems to be spreading; ridgey, “organic” pieces of this-‘n’-that are cropping up all over the place. I present to … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture | Tagged architecture | 11 Comments

Architecture Du Jour

Posted on May 11, 2014 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia, Bulgaria. Click on the image to enlarge.

Posted in Architecture | Tagged Alexander Nevsky, basilica, Bulgaria, Neo-Byzantine, Sofia, traditionalism | 2 Comments

Notes on “Red Dawn”

Posted on May 11, 2014 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: Though ostensibly a combat film, “Red Dawn,” it seems to me, is built on a foundation of tropes related to ’50s sci-fi and exploitation. In some ways it’s as much a tribute to small-town monster movies as Joe Dante’s “Gremlins,” … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Politics and Economics | Tagged Film, John Milius, movies, Red Dawn | 16 Comments

Movie Still Du Jour

Posted on May 11, 2014 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: Carl Dreyer’s DAY OF WRATH (1943). The Criterion version is currently streaming on Hulu+. Click on the image to enlarge.

Posted in Movies | Tagged Carl Dreyer | 2 Comments

Movie Poster Du Jour: “…And God Created Woman”

Posted on May 11, 2014 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: Taking the Bardot-as-sex-goddess idea rather literally. From Sweden. Related I posted a bunch of Bardot posters back here.

Posted in Commercial art, Movies, Sex | Tagged And God Created Woman, Brigitte Bardot, Movie Posters, Roger Vadim, Sweden | 2 Comments

Sunday Jazz Selection

Posted on May 11, 2014 by Fenster

Fenster writes: Tony Bennett and Bill Evans, Waltz for Debby

Posted in Music | Tagged Bill Evans, Tony Bennett, Waltz for Debby | Leave a comment

Linkage

Posted on May 10, 2014 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: An appreciation of P.G. Wodehouse’s Leave it to Psmith. What happened to the Harlequin romance? Some early James Bond director commentaries, suppressed by producer Albert Broccoli, can now be downloaded as MP3s. Your Lunchtime Reading: How El Chapo, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Linkathons | Tagged El Chapo, Emily Ratajkowski, Harlequin romances, James Bond, Kate Upton, New York Public Library, P.G. Wodehouse | Leave a comment

Architecture Du Jour

Posted on May 10, 2014 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: Garni Temple, Armenia. Click on the image to enlarge.

Posted in Architecture, History | Tagged ancient Greece, ancient Greek art, Armenia | Leave a comment

Blues Guys I Like More than Robert Johnson

Posted on May 10, 2014 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: Lonnie Johnson T-Bone Walker Blind Willie McTell Son House I could name others. Don’t get me wrong — Johnson is great. Still, I think music writers have gone a little overboard in praising him. Many seem … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Performers | Tagged Blind Willie McTell, blues, Lonnie Johnson, Robert Johnson, Son House, T-Bone Walker | 2 Comments

Idioms I Don’t Understand

Posted on May 10, 2014 by Eddie Pensier

Eddie Pensier writes: My usage of the cliché “paying through the nose” in my previous Linkage led me to ponder the origins of some idioms, similes and metaphors whose meanings are more obscure than perhaps they ought to be. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Language | 8 Comments