Showing posts with label Salt Lake City. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Salt Lake City. Show all posts

Saturday, May 28, 2016

Potluck Quote of the Day: Howard Zinn on Monopoly

Greetings to those of you in Germany, Spain and Australia........as well as to those of you who might just be checking us out on your wi fi from Ozo Coffee Pearl in Boulder, Colo., where perhaps you are reading a print edition of "Boulder Weekly" or from Publik Coffee in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah...........

Tonight, we start a series of quotes from noteworthy people, both alive and dead, who made contributions to society (yes, we will not quote Charles Manson, but Marilyn Manson is a possibility).

And, we start with the late very progressive scholar Howard Zinn (1922-2010). Once you read this quip, you will understand why we went with a Monopoly game board; Scrooge McDuck was out alternative choice.

Here is the quote from Zinn:

"Capitalism has always been a failure for the lower classes. It is now beginning to fail for the middle classes."




 https://www.publikcoffee.com/#/locations

http://www.ozocoffee.com

http://www.boulderweekly.com/

 


Sunday, June 23, 2013

Six Degrees of Separation: The Guys from Freaks and Geeks

It only lasted for 18 episodes as compared to "Beverly Hills 90210," the longest running tv show about high school in broadcasting history which ran from 1990-2000 (?!) and lasted 292 episodes.

But, it seems like "Freaks and Geeks," a dramedy about high school outcasts, has now surpassed the show about popular kids, in terms of pop culture popularity. The show, which came on the air in 1999, is frequently aired on IFC.

Amazingly enough, three of the show's male leads, James Franco (pictured top), Seth Rogen and Jason Segel have become A-list actors. None of them have actually been in a movie with Kevin Bacon that distinction does belong to the show's female star Linda Cardellini  was in the film "Super" (2010), a superhero parody with Bacon.

Franco is two degrees removed from Bacon as he starred in "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" (2011) which also featured Sanjo Bennett who was in the Atom Egoyan-directed film "Where the Truth Lies" (2005) with Bacon.

John Francis Daley, who was played Sam, the youngest main character on the show, was in "View from the Top" (2008) with Mark Ruffalo who was in the steamy film "In the Cut" (2008) where Meg Ryan bared all; that films also featured Bacon.

Joe Flaherty (pictured bottom), who is now surprisingly 72 years old, was a star on the Canadian skit show "SCTV" in the 1980s, played Sam's father on "Freaks and Geeks." He was in Nothing Personal (1980) with Maury Chaykin who was also in "Where the Truth Lies."

Lastly, Rogen was in "You, Me and Dupree" (2006) with Matt Dillon who was in "Loverboy" (2005) with Bacon.


SIDEBAR: We were shocked and saddened to hear that Joe Bankhead (1941-2007), a Salt Lake City, artist, writer and chess enthusiast died only a few months after we met him at the Coffee Garden by the Tower Theater on 9th Street. Tragically, Bankhead died while he was blogging as his trailer , unbeknownst to him, was leaking carbon monoxide. Bankhead was the subject of a blog entry here way back on May 30, 2007.

http://politicscultureandotherwastesoft.blogspot.com/2007/05/salt-lake-city-discoveryjoe-bankhead.html

http://www.ifc.com

http://www.oracleofbacon.org

http://www.bacontoday.com

http://www.ilovebacon.com

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Now Showing: Movies at American Movie Theatres (West Coast Edition)

AAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The first try at posting this entry was accidentally deleted, so those of you in Paris, Istanbul and Dubai should tell all your friends to check out this blog.

Here are a look at movies showing in West Coast cinemas this weekend.

Let's start in St. Louis, even though it's pretty far from the west coast, where one can see the outstanding Ethan Hawke-Julie Delpy film "Before Midnight" at the Tivoli (a Landmark theatre) at noon; 2:30; 4:45; 7:15 and 9:45 p.m.

In the Mile-High City, one can see a documentary called "Evocateur: The Morton Downey Jr. Movie" about the late right-wing tv host (pictured bottom) at the Denver Film Society Colfax at 7:20 and 9:30 p.m.

The Salt Lake Film Society in Salt Lake City, Utah, is screening another documentary "We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks" which profiles the far-left founder of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange (pictured top) at 2:00 and 4:30 p.m.

At Cinema 21 in Portland, Ore., one can see the latest film from director Joss Whedon ("The Cabin in the Woods") called "Much Ado About Nothing," yeah, we're not sure how much it has to do with William Shakespeare either!

In San Francisco, one can see perhaps one of the most unique documentaries playing anywhere as the Roxie Theatre screens "I Am Gay and Muslim" as part of the cinema's gay-lesbian film festival with shows at 7:00 p.m. The Dutch film from director Chris Bellami, which lasts 59 minutes, profiles gay men in Morocco.

Lastly, in L.A., one can see another documentary "20 Feet From Stardom" at the Landmark.

For listings of showings at east coast arthouses (and, this is where we effed up before) go to our sister blog "The Daily Vampire" at http://www.nocturnalguy38.blogspot.com

http://www.denverfilm.org

http://www.saltlakefilmsociety.org

http://www.landmarktheatres.com

http://www.roxie.com

http://www.cinema21.com

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Saturday Morning Tweets_ Not a Good Week for Manners

Before we post a tweet from Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt of Chapel Hill, NC, home of the University of North Carolina, which won a home game in women's volleyball over the University of Maryland last night, we should pause for a words from our sponsors: the Turkish toothpaste Ipana and the Roseanne Barr for President campaign (yes, the comedian/actress is running against Obama and Romney for a fringe third party). Ok, now that we've covered that, let's go to our tweets:

1) @Indyweek (Indy Week is an alt weekly based in Durham, NC: "Voting lessons from #Raleigh resident Pota Vallas, 104, who has been voting since FDR was elected in 1932" (Yes, that is the reason why we have an image of the Franklin D. Roosevelt dime, bottom).

2) @TheFix (The Fix is a daily column from "The Washington Post" political reporter Chris Cillizza): "Manners had the Worst Week in Washington.' Congrats or something." (This is in reference to the recent presidential debate).

3) @TeaPartyCat (Top Conservative Cat, a satirical liberal tweeter): "That awkward moment when a Salt Lake City paper in Mormon country endorses the other guy." (A reference to the Obama endorsement from "The Salt Lake Tribune," published yesterday).

4) @MayorMarkK (Mark Kleinschmidt, pictured top): "Very energizing Orange Co Democratic legislative breakfast."

5) @WAMU885News (WAMU-FM is an NPR station serving Washington, DC): "NFL fines Redskins $20,000 for violating league procedures on reporting injuries. (Hence the reason for the 'Skins helmet, center)

6)@ErinAndrews (Erin Andrews, the sexy female ESPN reporter): "Happy Birthday to my little sister @KendraAndrews1...even thou I wanted to give her back when she was a baby. Love u Ken."

7) @TerpsGymnastics (Brett Nelligan, the coach of the University of Maryland women's gymnastics team): "HOMECOMING is finally here! Can't wait to see everyone." (The Terps' homecoming game against North Carolina State is just underway as of this writing).

8) @LailaLalami (Laila Lalami is a liberal journalist who contributes to "The Nation"): "Oh, God. Rupert Murdoch is looking to buy the L.A. Times."


http://www.chapelhill.org

http://www.washingtonpost.com/fastfix

http://www.indyweek.com

http://www.lailalami.com

http://www.thenation.com

http://www.umterps.com

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Silly Picture to Fill Space- Honduran Blue Frogs




Today, we honoring Leap Day with a photo of the Honduran blue frog, well that is not the species' scientific name but Tilly Gokbudak, the managing of this blog, only made a C in biology at Central High School in Woodstock, Va. (not really where I went to school).

We have also decided to list the sunset times for eight American cities, including Greensboro, NC, and Salt Lake City, Utah, as well as Barrow, Alaska, which, being that it's in northern Alaska, may be one place where there are no Red Box dvd machines.

Here are the sunset times for today (Leap Day); the earliest one is for Nashua, NH, and the latest one is for Hilo, Hawaii (all times are local):

Greensboro, NC 6:13 p.m.

Nashua, NH 5:34 p.m.

Madison, Wisc. 5:46 p.m.

Tulsa, Okla. 6:18 p.m.

Salt Lake City, Utah 5:39 p.m.

Tacoma, Wash. 5:54 p.m.

Barrow, Alaska 6:19 p.m.

Hilo, Hawaii 6:25 p.m.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Happy Valentine's Day from Olive Oyl




Yes, today is Valentine's Day, and we are having lots of fun here at the Salt Lake City Library in Salt Lake City, Utah (not actually where we are at!).

Olive Oyl is of course the sweetheart of Popeye, who always has to fight his rival Bluto to win her heart. In the real world, this would assuredly lead to a court date.

Today, in honor of the occasion the Sundance Channel is airing the quirky Irish film "Happy Ever After" (2009) about two former lovers who somehow end up at the exact same hotel for their respective wedding days. Awkward!

The film airs at 8:00 p.m., New York time.

SIDEBAR: The answer to our last Rabbits Ears Quiz on "Gilligan's Island" is D.

Friday, January 20, 2012

PSA_ No Newts in 2012




It is possible that at this very moment as we are blogging to you live from the Salt Lake City Library on 210 East 400 South Street (not really where we are at, but I hear it is one of the best public libraries in the country), that Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich is stumping at the Golden Corral in Rock Hill, SC, where Fred Thompson stumped four years ago (this part is actually true).

Hopefully, like Thompson, Gingrich will be defeated by a more moderate Republican. Though it seems like current front runner Mitt Romney may be too mainstream for the gunsGodncountry folks in the Palmetto State.

In the Sunday, Jan. 15th edition of the comic strip "Doonesbury," Garry Trudeau cited the following actual quote from Gingrich in reference to the Democratic Party: "As great a threat to America as Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union."

At age 69, Gingrich is the second oldest candidate in the field of what is now four candidates behind Ron Paul, who is 76. Interestingly enough, Gingrich, who became House Speaker in 1994 when he was in the House of Representatives as a Congressman from Georgia, was also a House Minority Whip as was former Vice President Dick Cheney, who is also out of favor with 99.9 percent of us on the center-left.

Today's "Washington Post" reports that in response to a comment from a man who is or was a Marine at a rally in Florence, SC, which said that 'I would like to see someone bloody Obama's nose,' Gingrich had the gumption and indignity to respond something to effect of: 'I don't want to just bloody his nose, I want to knock him out.'

In the current issue of the liberal magazine "The Nation," Ben Adler, who is covering the GOP race for the publication from places like Charleston, SC, on the campaign trial, said that the pit-bull tactics of Gingrich actually seemed to be helping him appeal to arch conservatives who might well want to hit people in my political spectrum over the head with a bowling trophy (my words, not Adler's).

Stephen Colbert, who is originally from Charleston, has even gotten into the Republican race discussion as the late night tv political comic told residents from his native state to vote for Herman Cain to throw a curve-ball into the race.

South Carolina allows Democrats and independents to vote in the Republican primary. Conservative radio show host Rush Limbaugh pulled a similar stunt four years ago when he encouraged right wingers to vote for Hillary Clinton in the Indiana primary to help prevent Barack Obama from winning the nomination; an effort which 'worked' in the short run, but in the end, Obama still won the nomination and if, of course, now president.

The South Carolina Democratic Party has actually told its members not to vote in the Republican primary as by doing so they will get a steady stream of campaign literature and phone calls for Republican candidates.

As for the reason, why we are highly opposed to Gingrich getting the GOP nomination, it is just mere political differences, but the venom and vitriol that he would bring into the Oval Office.

Many people from both parties as well as independents complain that it is agonizing to watch Democrats and Republicans not get anything accomplished on The Hill. Though no one person is to blame entirely, the conquer and divide mentality that Gingrich brought to the forefront of American politics when he became House Speaker in 1994 still remains in effect to this very day.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Know Your Mayors (Entry 17 of 21)- Ralph Becker of SLC, Utah




Today we continue our long-running series on American mayors with a profile of Salt Lake City, Utah's mayor Ralph Becker (b. 1952) who has been mayor of the Utah capital since 2008.

Becker (D) was preceded by outspoken liberal mayor Rocky Anderson, who served from 2000-08. Anderson established SLC's Green Program. He was also surprisingly friends with Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney. The two worked together in bringing the Winter Olympics to SLC.

Becker was a member of the Utah House of Delegates from 1996-2007, and he served as the House Democratic Leader.

Though Utah is among the reddest states in the union, SLC usually votes Democratic.

Becker's career has been mostly in Urban Planning, though he also worked for the National Parks Service in his younger years. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of Utah.

Becker is also an avid skier, which might be a hard thing for Mayor Mufi Hannemann (he is the mayor of Honolulu!). But, I presume that Becker is not much of a surfer either.

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Salt Lake City Discovery...Joe Bankhead

Have you ever noticed that you meet some of the most interesting folks you've ever met while you are on the road? Though I don't travel as much as my mother Lila Sullivan, who is now reportedly in Hannibal, Mo., I do periodically get out of the two states I live between.
My last venture was to Salt Lake City, Ut. One of my favorite movie theatres after the Grandin Theatre in Roanoke, Va., is the Tower Theater in the 9th and 9th section of SLC. And, before going to see a midnight screening of "Swiss Family Robinson" there, I went over to The Coffee Garden.
It was there that I came across Joe Bankhead who travels between Utah, New Mexico and Texas. Bankhead is an artist, philosopher and semi-professional chess player. I once played chess fairly regularly until a 9-year-old girl who proved to be the Virginia state championship in her age group beat me as I was playing chess at a local club in Roanoke. I played a game of chess with Joe as well. It was the same result (I lost), but it was much less humiliating than losing to the girl.
Thanks to the internet, I have actually been able to keep in touch with Joe. I read his semi-monthly newsletter as I was traveling back from Utah. And, now as it turns out, he has his own blog.
So, I am using my blog to promote his blog with the full realization that if he can post youtube videos I may lose one of the two or three people who come to my blog regularly......I am of course one of those people too!
In his blog, Joe describes himself in the following way:
"I have been studying and learning everything I could find about the Total Human Being for many more years than I want to admit........."
For Joe's blog, you can go to:
http://transformationfreedom.blogspot.com/