Sheldon Brown's Journal
January-February 2003
Current
| Books | Films | Music | Plays | Travels |
|---|
January-February 2003
| Books | Films | Music | Plays | Travels |
|---|
New Years Day party at the Plaisteds, fun as usual. Rufus's trademark roast lamb was better than ever, but I was good about avoiding the sweets.Film: (DVD) Star Trek V1 The Undiscovered Country
Not the best of the series.
Digitized my recording of the 1993 Midsummer Revels. I'll be putting MP3s on the site soon.Film: (DVD) Cider House Rules
A fine film based on a John Irving novel, set in a Maine orphanage during WW2.Video: (DVD) Once and Again Season One
I dearly loved this show when it was on the tube, and it's a delight to get to see it once again on DVD. It was so sad when they cancelled it...I wish somebody would write a novel following the characters on past the untimeley end of the series! The acting and writing are SO good! The characters are unforgettable.
Today I had to make a new hole in my belt to keep my pants from falling down. That's 4 belt holes gained (lost) since I started the Atkins Diet 2 1/2 months ago! On top of that, I feel terrific!eBook War of Honor David Weber 2002
The most recent of the Honor Harrington novels finds the beaten People's Republic of Haven transformed into a fragile constitutional democracy, but the new Manticoran regime refuses to make peace for base political reasons. Harrington's party is out of power, and she's shuffled off to a backwater assignment with inadequate resources while the Havenites are rebuilding their naval strength for a counterattack...
239 pounds.
Film: (DVD) The Lady Eve Preston Sturges, 1941
A classic screwball/romantic comedy with Barbara Stanwyck as a crooked gambler who falls for the wealthy son of a beer magnate, played by an impossibly young Henry Fonda. This is a good one!.
Down to 237 pounds!Spent most of the day digitizing some rare old vinyl LPs. I had picked up a rather nice Fisher computerized turntable at a yard sale for $3. Needed a belt, and I replaced the stylus on general principals. I've got this set up upstairs by the computer so I can easily copy records. The new Powerbook has the memory, speed and storage to let me do this in the background while I work on other stuff.
I'm using a very nice, inexpensive software package called Felt Tip Sound Studio, makes it very easy to create excellent digital files.
Concert: Boston Symphony Orchestra Bach and Haydn
Ton Koopman guested for the first time, starting with a sparkling performance of Bach's Orcestral Suite #3. Then came the Cantata #170, with countertenor Andreas Scholl. This was not my cup of tea; for one thing, I'm not a fan of countertenor voices, and Scholl was mostly drowned out by the 16 piece orchestra and portative organ except in his highest register. This piece also has a nasty religious text about how the author wishes to die so he could get away from the evil, sinful world.After the intermission, they did Haydn's 99th symphony (the first to use clarinets!) This was quite satisfying, though the concert was a bit skimpy, ending about 9:36.
Film: (DVD) 10 Things I Hate About You
A superficial take on The Taming of the Shrew, set in a Seattle High school. An entertaining comedy, not great.
An evening with the versatile Will Smith.Film: (DVD) Enemy of The State
This is a paranoid's delight, with our Hero caught between evil rogue N.S.A. operatives and The Mob. Lots of action, lots of older motor vehicles get wrecked.Film: (DVD) Men in Black II
Lacks the surprise element of the original, which seemed to come out of nowhere, but fun nevertheless. Lara Flynn Boyle makes a fine villainess.
Harriet's off to visit her mother in Florida. I drove her to Logan Airport through the new I90 connector tunnel that just opened last weekend. This is a huge improvement! 35 minutes round trip from my driveway, including a hug and kisses at the terminal! Thanks Tip!
Film: (DVD) 84 Charing Cross Road David Hugh Jones 1987
I really loved this film. Anne Bancroft plays an American writer and fan of English literature. Anthony Hopkins works in an antiquarian bookshop in London (the title is the address.) The film is mostly in the form of letters between them over the period from 1949 to the mid 1960s. Very highly recommended!
Film: (DVD) What Planet Are You From
Low comedy, not particularly good.Film: (DVD) Another Man's Poison Irving Rapper 1952
A British murder tale set on the Yorkshire Moors. Bette Davis is very evil. This one wasn't much good either.
Spent most of the day glued to the TV, hungry for news of the spaceship Columbia. What a disaster!I continue to believe that in the Big Picture, the development of space flight is the most important historical development of the millenium. I certainly hope this setback doesn't knock us too far back.
I'm comforted to know that the Chinese and Japanese are also both working on space travel, so even if the U.S. loses its nerve for a while, the race should continue the progress essential for the long-term survival of humanity.
Film: (DVD) The Two Jakes Jack Nicholson 1990
How did I miss ever seeing this before? Chinatown is one of my all-time faves, and this is the sequel, set 10 years later (1948). This time it's oil, not water. Not as good as Chinatown...but how many films are? Recommended, but only if you've already seen Chinatown.
Film: (DVD) Death Becomes Her Robert Zemeckis 1992
Bruce Wills as a nebbish, Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn as zombies, talk about casting against type! This was pretty entertaining, though not a masterpiece.
Film: (DVD) Bandits Barry Levinson 2001
This is a delightful road comedy, with Bruce Willis and Billy Bob Thornton as a couple of bank robbers working their trade at various scenic locations on the Oregon and northern California coast. Kate Blanchet is their hostage/accomplice. Thornton's hypochondria is particularly hilarious, but it's generally an excellent ensemble piece. Highly recommended.
Today was the first Patience rehearsal with full cast and orchestra together. Sounding very good!
Film: (DVD) Shot to Pieces
This was very disappointing. The hype from Netflix made it sound half decent, but it turned out to be aa startlingly amateurish documentary about a many-times-wounde Massachusetts officer in the Slavery War. This was a real clinker. The heroe's wife was depicted with very short hair, such as no 19th century woman would dream of wearing. There was hardly any dialogue, it was mostly silent film with boring narration and portentious background music. The writing was really, really bad. One of the cheesiest films I've seen in a long time. It stank.Bikers' Banquet
Went to the Bikers' Banquet in Waltham, an annual gathering of bike shop folks and reps. A jolly old time was had by all. I won a GT baseball cap, a nice Kryptonite jersey that even fits, and a couple of fancy latex mtb inner tubes in the raffle. Also raffled of my Powerwheel, one less piece of clutter for my house!Film: (DVD) Sharpe's Rifles Tom Clegg 1993
This is the first of a 14 DVD series set in the Napoleonic wars (mainly the Peninsular Campaign.) Our hero, Richard Sharpe is a tough and gritty enlisted man who single-handedly saves Wellington's life when the latter is attacked by 3 French cavalrymen. Wellington promotes him to Lieutenant, and he gradually rises in rank through the series. A major theme of this series is the conflict that Sharpe faces as a lower-class man placed among "officers and gentlemen" most of whom are too snobbish to accept him.I've actually seen all 14 of these, enjoyed them thoroughly.
Film: (DVD) For Love of the Game Sam Raimi 1999
This was a fine example of the classic baseball film genre, quite satisfying.
Today was put-in of the set for Patience, opening night is next Friday!Down to 233 pounds. Had to punch another hole in my belt today, total of 5 belt holes since I started the Atkins diet 3 1/2 months ago!
Video: (DVD) Six Feet Under 2002
This is an excellent HBO series, following the travails of a family-owned funeral home in Los Angeles. A very fine piece of work, highly recommended if black humor appeals to your.
"Monster Sunday" Patience rehearsal, two complete shows, first time on the actual set.
Big snow! Never made it in to the shop, partly because the AirPort has broken down, so the network (and DSL connection) is down.This was the night of the local Shimano XTR seminar, out in Burlington. Although most people were too scared to brave the roads, the show did go on, and I drove to it. I picked a slightly longer route to avoid hills, made it OK. Although the roads were all covered with packed snow, it was perfectly manageable at 35-40 mph. I'm pretty good at getting around in snow, as long as I don't get caught in a traffic jam. Fortunately, the roads were nearly deserted, so I had no problem.
The new XTR stuff is very impressive, the group should be very well received. The new crank set is a really slick design. One thing about it, though--it uses separate bearings for each side, so it will once again be important to pay attention to facing the bottom bracket shell, since this will affect the alignment of each bearing unit. The bearings are actually located out past the ends of the shell. This wider stance, and also the larger inside diameter of these bearings permits a lighter, stiffer axle, and should be quite long-lived.
The new XTR brifters are very nice ergonomically, and I think this is finally going to bring acceptance to the low-normal ("Rapid Rise" rear derailer setup.)
The XTR disc brake is also really slick.
Video: (DVD) Six Feet Under
We've been watching the first season of this HBO production on DVD, and Harriet and I are both very impressed with it. The stories are off-beat and fascinating, as are the characters, mainly a family who own a Los Angeles funeral home. Acting and direction are first rate. Very highly recommended.
Film: (DVD) 8 Femmes (8 Women) François Ozon 2002
This was highly recommended by critics, among them my nephew, but I was rather disappointed in it. Like some other French musicals I've seen the acting was rather over-stylized and generally over the top.
Patience opening night
"Another op'ning, another show..." All is going well, the audience was receptive
Film: (DVD) Paint Your Wagon Joshua Logan 1969
Lee Marvin, Clint Eastwood and Jean Seburg head the all-star cast of this big-budget western musical. The plot is very different from the original Broadway version, but most of the great songs are there, and it was a lot of fun. Marvin gets to pull out his Drunk Cowboy act that he used so effectively in Cat Ballou 4 years earlier, even if he can't sing a lick.
Film: (DVD) Six Feet Under Season 1, Disc 3
Really enjoying this series!
| Books reviewed on this page: | ||
|---|---|---|
| War and Peace | Leo Tolstoy | 5/26/03 |
| Films reviewed on this page: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Another Man's Poison | January 31, 2003 | |
| Bandits | February 8, 2003 | |
| The Cider House Rules | January 11, 2003 | |
| Death Becomes Her | February 6, 2003 | |
| Enemy of the State | January 22, 2003 | |
| 84 Charing Cross Road | January 26, 2003 | |
| For Love of the Game | February 12, 2003 | |
| The Lady Eve | January 14, 2003 | |
| Men in Black II | January 22, 2003 | |
| Once and Again | January 11, 2003 | |
| Sharpe's Rifles | February 11, 2003 | |
| Shot to Pieces | February 11, 2003 | |
| Six Feet Under | February 15, 2003 | |
| Star Trek VI The Undiscovered Country | January 1, 2003 | |
| 10 Things I Hate About You | January 21, 2003 | |
| The Two Jakes | February 2, 2003 | |
| What Planet are You From? | January 31, 2003 | |
Music: Date Performers Works
Feb -March 1, 2003 Gilbert & Sullivan: Patience Sudbury Savoyards
January 18, 2003 B.S.O., Ton Koopman, Andreas Scholl Bach, Haydn
December 7, 2002 B.S.O., Marek Janowski Bartok, Strauss
November 29, 2002 New York Philharmonic, Christoph von Dohnanyi, Pierre Laurent-Aimard Janacek: Cappriccio; R.Strauss: Burleske; Brahms: Sym. #2
November 2, 2002 B.S.O., Marek Janowski Bartok, Strauss
September 22, 2002 Boston Folk Festival Barachois, Bill Staines, Cheryl Wheeler, Richard Thompson
July 21, 2002 London Philharmonic, Rostropovich Shostakovich, Lady MacBeth of Mtsensk
July 3, 2002 Stan Rogers Folk Festival Oysterband, Fairport Convention, others.
May 3, 2002 The Australian Opera Wagner, Die Meistersinger
April 18, 2002 B.S.O., Seiji Ozawa Mahler, Sym. # 9
April 13, 2002 M.I.T.G.a.S.P. Gilbert & Sullivan, The Gondoliers
March 7, 2002 B.S.O., Hans Graf, M. Piccinini, A.Häfliger Colgrass, Schubert
February 21, 2002 B.S.O., James Levine Dvorak, Wuoronen, Mozart, Ligeti,Schumann
January 10, 2002 B.S.O., Bernard Haitink Bruckner: Symphony #7
December 9, 2001 Brandeis University Symphony Orchestra Beethoven: Piano Concerto #3; Dvorak: Symphony #6
December 8, 2001 Brandeis University Early Music Society Various works
November 17, 2001 M.I.T.G.a.S.P. Gilbert & Sullivan, H.M.S. Pinafore
November 3, 2001 B.S.O., Federico Cortese Ives: Ragtime Dances, Mozart Pf Conc #9 k271, Kurtäg: Grabstein für Stephan; Schubert, Sym. #4
Novembr 2, 2001 Blue Man Group, Seiji Ozawa Brahms: Symphony #1
October 6, 2001 B.S.O., Seiji Ozawa Brahms: Symphony #1
May 3-6, 2001 M.I.Tl G & S Players Gilbert & Sullivan: The Grand Duke
April 13, 2001 Harvard-Radcliffe G & S Gilbert & Sullivan: Utopia, Limited
March 4, 2001 Newton North High School Chorus
and Orchestra Haydn: Missa in Tempore Belli; Symphony #49 "La Pasione"
March 3, 2001 B.S.O., David Robertson Janácek Sinfonietta,
February 18, 2001 Theatre de Chatelet (DVD) Janácek, The Cunning Little Vixen
February 4, 2001 M.I.T.G.a.S.P. Rowe
& Sullivan, The Zoo
February 3, 2001 B.S.O., James Levine Mahler Symphony #3
February 3, 2001 George and his band at
Harvey Finstein School of Music
December 27, 2000 The Christmas Revels,
Cambridge Appalchian/African-American Revels
December 23, 2000 San Carlo Opera
(DVD) Wagner, Tannhäuser
November 18,
2000 M.I.T.G.a.S.P. Gilbert & Sullivan, The Sorceror
November 16, 2000 Harvestfest, Newton North High
School
November 2, 2000 B.S.O., Christoph Eschenbach Mozart: Piano
Concerto #23; Mahler Symphony #5
October 24, 2000 Leon
Rosselson Johnny D's
October 7, 2000 The
Savoy-Aires Gilbert & Sullivan: The Mikado
June 18, 2000 George and his band at Harvey Finstein School of Music
May 21, 2000 Small Ensemble
Concert--Newton North
April 29, 2000 Spring Revels
April 22, 2000 B.S.O., André Previn, Pamela
Frank Previn: Diversions; Barber: Violin Concerto; Mozart: Symphony
#39
March 10, 2000 Revels, Inc/Shakespeare & Co. The Mysteries
February 26, 2000 B.S.O.,Seiji Ozawa, Christine Goerke, Ian
Bostridge, Thomas Quasthoff Britten: War Requiem
February 19, 2000 B.S.O., Bernard Haitink Mahler: Symphony
#7
February 12, 2000 George and his band at
Harvey Finstein School of Music
January 29, 2000 B.S.O., Sir Simon Rattle
Peter Donohoe,
PianoDvorák: The Golden Spinning Wheel,
Bartók:
Piano Concerto #1, Brahms: Symphony #2
January 8, 2000 George on
Trombone N.E. Regional Senior District Festival
December 19, 1999 The Christmas Revels,
Cambridge Italian Renaissance Revels
December 12, 1999 Pierre Boulez, Met
Opera (video) Wagner: Siegfried
November 19, 1999 Matapat, Lexington
November 18, 1999 Harvestfest, Newton
North High School St. Sæns Danse Macabre
November 7, 1999 M.I.T.G.a.S.P. Gilbert &
Sullivan, Iolanthe
November 4, 1999 George and his band at
Ryles, Cambridge
October 2, 1999 B.S.O., Seiji Ozawa
Florence Quivar, Mezzo;
Paula Delligatti, Sop.Mahler, Symphony #2
September 29, 1999 B.S.O., Seiji Ozawa,
Hildegarde Behrens,
SopranoWagner: Tannhäuser, Götterdämmerung
excerpts;
Strauss: Electra excerpt.
August 14,
1999 M.I.T.G.a.S.P. Gilbert & Sullivan, Crichton
July 24, 1999 David Mallett
June 19, 1999 The
Publick Theatre Gilbert & Sullivan The Yeomen of the Guard
April 13, 1999 Harvey Finstein School of Music
student groups George and Tova at Watch City
Brewery
March 7, 1999 Newton North High School Chorus
and Orchestra Mozart: Requiem, Symphony #38 ("Prague").
March 5, 1999 Harvey Finstein School of Music student
groups George and Tova in Jazz recital at Newton Congregational Church.
March 4, 1999 Newton North High School various
groups.
February 6, 1999 B.S.O.,Seiji Ozawa,
Jacques Zoon
(flute)Debussy: Pelléas et Mélisande "Symphony"
Mozart: Flute
Concerto #1 in G, K.313
Stravinsky: Le Sacre du Printemps.
January 30, 1999 B.S.O., Robert Spano,
Andreas Haefliger
(piano)Lindberg: Arena
Beethoven: Piano Concerto #2
Sibelius: The Swan of
Tuonela, Symphony #3
January 16, 1999 B.S.O., Sir Simon Rattle,
Dawn Upshaw
(sop.)Knussen Flourish with Fireworks
Weir Natural History
Mahler Symphony
#4
Schumann Piano Concerto
December 23,
1998 The
Christmas Revels, Sanders Theatre, Cambridge
December 12, 1998 Caroling with Nym
Cooke, Hardwick, Mass.
November 28,
1998 B.S.O., Roberto Abbado,
Lief
Ove Andsnes (piano)Mahler Symphony #1
Schumann Piano Concerto
November 8, 1998 M.I.T.G.a.S.P. Gilbert &
Sullivan, The Mikado
Plays:
November 29, 2002 Lorraine Bracco The Graduate
November 23, 2001 Helen Mirren, Ian McKelln The Dance of Death-August Strindberg
September 30, 2000 Tova/Black Box Theatre, Cornell
University The Maids-Jean Genet
May 30,
2000 Kelsey Grammer/Colonial Theatre Macbeth
May 26, 2000 The Huntington Theatre Co. King
Hedley II
September 3, 1999 The Publick
Theatre Nine
August 21, 1999 Orange
Tree Theatre, Ithaca, N.Y. Sonata
August 13,
1999 Firehouse Theatre, Ithaca, N.Y. Sister Mary Ignatius Explains it All For
You
May 22-29 Newton South/North High
Schools Richard III
December 18,
1998 Newton North High School The Bone Violin, May Flies
November 12, 1998 Newton North High School To
Kill a Mockingbird
052999
Travels:
November 27-30, 2002 New York, N.Y.
October 8-13, 2002 Evanston, Illinois
October 4-8, 2002 Las Vegas, Nevada
July 3-9, 2002 Canso, Nova Scotia
May 24-27, 2002 Long Island, New York
November 21-24, 2001 New York City
October 16-19, 2001 Cape Cod, Massachusetts
September 29-October 3, 2001 Las Vegas, Nevada (Interbike Show)
June 16-23, 2001 Nags Head, North Carolina
October 5-14, 2000 Evanston, Illinois
September 30-October 2, 2000 Ithaca, New York
June 22-25, 2000 Urbanna, Virginia
October 7-13, 1999 Chicago/Evanston,
Illinois
August 19-28, 1999 Ithaca, New
York
August 12-13, 1999 Ithaca, New York
July 23-25, 1999 Bridgeton, Maine
November 25-28, 1998 Fort Lauderdale,
Florida
1988-89 France, England
1980 Yucatan, Mexico
1975 England,
Belgium, Yugoslavia, Turkey
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