Monthly Archives: September 2014

Linkage

Posted on September 10, 2014 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: Blood Boil Du Jour: since 9/11, police have seized billions from motorists without a single warrant, indictment, or trial. Nanny State Update. Key quote: <<Some say it is all but impossible to make compliant raw-milk cheese consistently, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Linkathons | 9 Comments

Movie Still Du Jour

Posted on September 10, 2014 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: Marina Vlady and Anny Duperey in Godard’s 2 OR 3 THINGS I KNOW ABOUT HER. Just two naked French prostitutes mock fighting while wearing travel bags over their heads, nbd. Click on the image to enlarge.

Posted in Movies, Performers | Tagged Anny Duperey, consumerism, French movies, Jean-Luc Godard, Marina Vlady | 4 Comments

Architecture Du Jour: The Yemen Tower House

Posted on September 9, 2014 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: Tower houses are a form of building unique to southern Arabia. They originated in pre-Islamic times in the south of Yemen, where tribal strife was the motivation for developing an effective way of building defensive towers out of … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture | Tagged Arabia, tower house, traditionalism, vernacular architecture, Yemen | 6 Comments

Belcampo Meat Co. at Grand Central Market

Posted on September 8, 2014 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: L.A.’s Grand Central Market has been undergoing a renaissance over the past few years. When a friend and I were there three years ago, the food offerings ranged from mediocre to lousy. While the middling places we ate … Continue reading →

Posted in Food and health, The Good Life, Travel | Tagged butcher, Grand Central Market, Los Angeles, meat | 13 Comments

“The Unknown Known”

Posted on September 7, 2014 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: Have any UR readers watched “The Unknown Known,” Errol Morris’ documentary on Donald Rumsfeld? It’s on Netflix Instant. I caught up with it last week and found myself fascinated by its lameness. For 100 minutes Morris … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Politics and Economics | Tagged documentaries, Donald Rumsfeld, Errol Morris, Film, George W. Bush, movies, The Unknown Known, War on Terror | 14 Comments

Architecture Du Jour: The English Cob House

Posted on September 7, 2014 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: Cob is an earth-base building material comprising subsoil, clay, sand, and gravel, which is mixed with straw and water to a stiff but malleable mass and used to build the walls of a house and numerous items within … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture | Tagged cob house, Devon, England, traditionalism, vernacular architecture | 8 Comments

Movie Poster Du Jour: “All That Heaven Allows”

Posted on September 7, 2014 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: The stone lithography process by which this poster was printed makes looking at it a rather sumptuous experience. Gotta love the delicate lighting effect on the faces and the array of blues and greens. With art … Continue reading →

Posted in Commercial art, Movies | Tagged All That Heaven Allows, Douglas Sirk, Film, France, Jane Wyman, Movie Posters, movies, Rock Hudson | 2 Comments

Showtune Saturday: “A Little Priest”

Posted on September 6, 2014 by Eddie Pensier

Eddie Pensier writes: 25 years after they created the roles of Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett, Len Cariou and Angela Lansbury reunite for a Sondheim tribute concert at the Hollywood Bowl. It goes without saying that they are of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Performers | Tagged angela lansbury, demon barber of fleet street, len cariou, showtune saturday, stephen sondheim, sweeney todd | 2 Comments

“A Damsel In Distress” (1937)

Posted on September 5, 2014 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: A musical comedy co-written by P.G. Wodehouse, with music and lyrics by the Gershwins, and starring Fred Astaire is pretty much essential viewing for me. Although the film is usually regarded as one of Astaire’s post-Rogers flubs, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Performers | Tagged Fred Astaire, George Burns, George Gershwin, George Stevens, Gracie Allen, Ira Gershwin, Joan Fontaine, Musicals, P.G. Wodehouse, Romantic Comedy | 5 Comments

Steven Pinker on What Ails Higher Education–or at least Harvard

Posted on September 5, 2014 by Fenster

Fenster writes: When Steven Pinker writes Fenster listens. Well, not literally. He reads. But language is all a kind of metaphor, right? From The Language Instinct on I have been amazed by this guy’s reach, educated through his insights and entertained … Continue reading →