The Big Picture
RIP actor David Warner, 80. Born in Manchester, England, his screen career spanned 1962–2020. There are 228 titles under his name at IMDb. He was at home in serious as well as commercial fare, adept at voice-overs, outstanding on stage or the big or small screen. He was accepted at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and moved on to the Royal Shakespeare Company. He was a master of eccentricity. He won an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Special, Masada (1981), playing a Roman, and was nominated for Holocaust (1978), playing, although he was part Jewish, Nazi monster Reinhard Heydrich. His legacy will be lasting, given his work in the Star Trek and Dr. Who franchises. Here are some of his memorable films: Tom Jones (1963), Morgan! (1965), The Ballad of Cable Hogue (1970), The Omen (1976), Time After Time (1979), Time Bandits (1981), The French Lieutenant’s Woman (1981), Tron (1982), Titanic (1992) and Planet of the Apes (2001). He did guest shots on many popular TV shows on both sides of the Atlantic. He had roles in many filmed productions of the classics. Married twice, he is a father of two. Well done, sir. Photo from Google Images:
It’s such a relief to know that two consecutive quarters of negative economic growth is no longer the definition of a recession, and that raising taxes during a recession is no longer harmful to an economy. Also, does it seem a good idea to allow China to buy American farmland? Cue Will: “O, brave new world…”
This may be today’s top headline: “‘Blue balls’ is a real condition, not a myth made up by desperate men: doctor.” Wait, maybe this one from foxnews.com is: “Mexico City residents angered by influx of Americans speaking English, gentrifying area: report.” Madre de Dios!
Why I still play guitar, even though I suck and seem to be getting worse, summed up in a youtube video title: “How playing an instrument benefits your brain” — Anita Collins.
Irked by the small print of close captioning on my so-called Samsung 24-inch smart TV, chagrined that the function to enlarge is “not available,” yesterday I asked Luis, our stellar super, if any large screen sets about 30 inches had been abandoned by residents of the co-op and were for sale by staff trying to supplement income. A half-hour later he rolled what must be at least a 48-incher into my apartment. We made room, and a few minutes later my over the air antenna stations were programmed into the set. I am pleased channel seven and 7–3 — This-TV — are available, as well as 13 — I missed Antiques Roadshow. Channel 11 is still MIA, and PBS 21–1–21–4 now seem shaky, but the purchase is a big win overall. I gave Lou $50 and hope it is adequate. The close captioning is readable and the wide screen is cool, although the set is probably way too big for a studio. Then again, so what? I live alone One oddity: at certain points pre-recorded shows looked as if they were being broadcast live. Last night I watched Abel Ferrara’s grim Bad Lieutenant (1992), starring Harvey Keitel as a detective in a downward spiral of substance abuse and corruption. My opinion has not changed. I admire the uncompromising bent of the narrative but find the going tough and not very meaningful. Photo from GI:
It was a nice rebound for the floating book shop on this humid day. The best thing was that Quick Piss did not return to try to rob me again. My thanks to the woman who kicked things off by going with classics, Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger and The Happy Prince, a short story collection by Oscar Wilde; and to Lou, who bought City by the Sea (2002) on DVD; and to Arthur, out of the hospital and on his way to the doctor, who purchased The Witching Hour by Anne Rice and A Darkness More Than Night by Michael Connelly; and to the woman who wiped out my Bertrice Small romance section, taking home seven novels.
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