Street Candids 6 - Family - And a Halloween Blog Fest

These folks are all part of my family, but the photos are very candid.

Making a wish before flipping a coin into a fountain in Palm Springs. I love the high level of concentration on her face. She is my granddaughter and had no idea I was watching her.

My wife (on the right) and her sister. She looked at me just as I took the photo. Judging by her expression (enlarge please), I can't tell what she was thinking.  My wife on the other hand looks to be very interested in something that she found.

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My friend Budd at Scifi Media is hosting the Scare Me blogfest on Halloween. Please follow the link and check it out and/or participate. Even if you don't participate, check out Scifi Media. Especially if you are into Scifi.

Here is Budd's blurb about it...

This is my first Blogfest and it will be happening on 10/31/12.  The purpose of the Scare Me Blogfest is to write about the scariest book that you have read, Movie you have watched, Ghosts you have encountered, and/or to share your own scary story. Just sign up on the Linky below (on his blog) and post your  entry on Halloween.  A panel that includes me, myself, and I will argue and fight to decide which entry was the best and that entry will get an award.  Who knows, I may make several.  

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Worst Movies EVER

Welcome to another one of Alex Cavanaugh's blog fests.  I don't usually participate in this these, but the ones that Alex hosts, always have an interesting subject and are fun. If you don't follow his blog, you might want to check it out. It's good and he's a good guy. If you want to see the stinkers that others picked, just click on the word Alex.

Here are my top ten WORST movies in no particular order.

Battlefield Earth

Just for the record, I think this is the most stupid movie I've ever seen. There wasn't a single thing good about it. I can't even understand why it was released. It should have gone directly to the DVD bin at Big Lots and the 99 cent store.

Amityville II: The Possession

The first movie in this series was pretty scary and is said to have been groundbreaking.  This stinker, was only groundbreaking in how much it sucked. It's the first movie that I ever walked out on. I gave it a good long chance, when it never got any better, I left.

 Road House

Sorry ladies, there wasn't ANY part of this movie that I liked. If ever there was a person miscast in a role, it was this one. The plot was bad, the acting was bad, and this guy (rip) could NEVER be a bouncer.

Batman & Robin

I can sum this one up in two words "MAJOR LETDOWN!"

Zombies of Mora Tau

I admit to loving Zombie movies and there are a lot of them out there. This one is just plain stupid. Worst "zombie" acting ever.

Plan 9 From Outer Space

Maybe the most idiotic "special effects" ever! Add to that, the fact that is was so darn cheesy and it's on my list.

Mad Max (any of them)

Take it from me. ANYTIME a movie involves jet skis or dirt bikes, don't see it. To me, the only thing this movie (and those like it) does, is to keep stunt men gainfully employed. The fact that a major whack job was the star didn't help.

Water World

Ditto what I said about Mad Max. It's too bad, because I really do like Kevin Costner.

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I have many more that might have made my list, but you probably already stopped reading. It's okay....

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Fun and Games

"The premise of Alex Cavanuagh's latest blog fest is to list your three most favorite games and why. Board games, card games, RPG, video games, physical games - even mind games!

This is a bit of a tough one for me, so I'm going to "break" the rules a bit and try to name 3 of each category.

Video Games:

1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

2. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

3. Golden Eye 007

I liked many more of them, including the early classics like Pacman and others, but these three come to mind. I probably like them the most because they are very involved and take a long time to master.

Card Games:

1. Spades

2. Pinochle

3. Euchre

I know how to play most card games and I'm pretty good at many of them, but these three are my favorites because they involve bidding, trump suits, and take a long time to get really good at.

Board Games:

1. Chess

2. Meh!

3. Meh!

I've never liked board games all that much because I've never been able to stay focused on them for very long.  Chess involves a lot of thinking, but I can't stand it when the other person thinks for very long.  

This blog fest is being hosted by the awesome Alex Cavanaugh. If you wish to participate or just see the favorites of other folks, please hit the link!

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Top Ten Favorite Songs

To see other top 10 picks, go to the great blog of Alex Cavinaugh. 

There is no way I can narrow my list to ten. I'd have trouble cutting it down to 100. I omitted Beatles songs, because they might take up the whole list. Except for the first song,  the rest are not in any kind of order.

Time to Say Goodbye – Andrea Bocelli & Sarah Brightman  Link
This is the most beautiful song I've ever heard. I have NEVER made it through without my eyes welling up with tears.  They both did fantastic solo versions of this song. When they sang it together, it was pure magic. If you've ever seen the video it's pretty clear that when it is his turn to sing, Ms. Brightman stares at him like he's a pork chop.
Stairway to Heaven – Led Zeppelin  Versus Taurus (you be the judge).
If you are a Led Zeppelin fan, you've got to listen to the link. I'll bet you never heard the background story about this song before.  Not onlyis it my favorite rock song, it was also inspired by my favorite group of all time “Spirit.” On one of Led Zep’s first tours they opened for Spirit, who at that time played a song called Taurus. While some folks accused Led Zeppelin of Plagiarism, the author of the song, Randy California, replied that he was honored that Taurus may have inspired Led Zeppelin.
This is the End – The Doors  Link
There had to be at least one song by the Doors on my list. Some say the lyrics are satanic in nature. It sounds like dark dar poetry to me.

Free Bird – Lynard Skynard  Link
Classic southern rock with one of the all-time best guitar solos.

Comfortably Numb – Pink Floyd  Link
Probably the most attractive description of heroin usage ever written. Still an amazing song. If I could pick 100 songs, Pink Floyd would have a few songs on the list I thing.

In My Room – Beach Boys  Link

Hands down, the best harmony ever! Brian Wilson is one of the all-time most creative musicians. EVER...

Layla – Derek and the Dominos  Link

Duane Allman and Eric Clapton.  To me, it’s the best guitar dominated song of all time.

White Room – Cream  Link

Jack Bruce, Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker. I love this song not only because of the music, but because the music was created to encompass a poem by Pete Brown.   Every phrase is four syllables of Pure Genius...

In a white room with black curtains near the station.
Black-roof country, no gold pavements, tired starlings.
Silver horses run down moonbeams in your dark eyes.
Dawn-light smiles on you leaving, my contentment.
I'll wait in this place where the sun never shines;
Wait in this place where the shadows run from themselves.
You said no strings could secure you at the station.
Platform ticket, restless diesels, goodbye windows.
I walked into such a sad time at the station.
As I walked out, felt my own need just beginning.
I'll wait in the queue when the trains come back;
Lie with you where the shadows run from themselves.
At the party she was kindness in the hard crowd.
Consolation for the old wound now forgotten.
Yellow tigers crouched in jungles in her dark eyes.
She's just dressing, goodbye windows, tired starlings.
I'll sleep in this place with the lonely crowd;
Lie in the dark where the shadows run from themselves.

 

Dirty Dozen Blogfest

I’m taking part in the June 21st Blogfest. It is sponsered by Alex J. Cavanaugh. The theme is my favorite dozen movies. It is impossible to pare the list down to a mere 12. In no particular order, here goes…

Godfather Part 2
It’s not very common that the second movie in a series is better than the first. But that is truly the case with this movie. I don’t have to say anything about it, because everybody has seen it.

Godfather
This movie not only made me want to be Italian, it made me want to be a gangster.

Shawshank Redemption
Without Morgan Freeman it only would have been a great movie. With him, it was an incredible movie. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched it.

Pulp Fiction
I pretty much love all Tarantino flicks, this one is no exception. The dialogue is some of the best ever.

The Dark Knight
Heath Ledger as the Joker, was one of the best performances EVER…

Goodfellas
The long unbroken scene when Ray Liotta and Lorraine Bracco walk into the back door of the “Copacabana” restaurant, go through the kitchen and all the way out to the night club in front, went 184 seconds in one continuous shot. IT WAS AMAZING… The coordination of that must have been a nightmare. The actors and roles they played were fantastic. Robert DeNiro was great (for a change).

Silence of the Lambs
Talk about a psychological thriller! An amazing edge of your seat movie.

Apocalypse Now
Realistic? Not at all! But it didn’t matter.

Forrest Gump
Great storyline and incredible job by Tom Hanks. “There’s my boat!”

Full Metal Jacket
The first 35 minutes is the most realistic and hilarious portrayal of Marine Corps Boot Camp ever done. The rest of the movie was average. Most people don’t care that much about it, but it’s my list!

Fargo
The script was amazing and the offbeat actors in the movie made it run like a Swiss watch.

The Big Lebowski
You knew this had to be in here somewhere, right? If you haven’t seen it, you really should.  Know in advance, that when it gets weird, he's not dreaming, he's having acid flashbacks. Okay?

Seriously, I could go on for at least another 75-100 movies. But that is not the task at hand. I don’t apologize for my list. It's maybe not a list of the "best" movies ever made, but this isn't about that, it's about me!