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Archive for the ‘Culture’ Category

Comedy Tonight

Posted in Movies, tagged , , , , , , , on 21 May 2015| Leave a Comment »

Well, since my discussion of Churchill’s Black Dog was received with all the enthusiasm of a root canal, let’s turn to a topic that’s less…depressing.

Shakespeare.

Twelfth Night (or What You Will) is without doubt my favorite of Shakespeare’s plays, and I’ve seen many productions of it both live and on screen. Before, I was torn as to which was my favorite but that’s all done with, as the clear winner is the 2012 production mounted by Shakespeare’s Globe, starring an all-male cast including Mark Rylance (as Olivia) and Stephen Fry (as Malvolio). (more…)

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Where R = N

Posted in Culture, tagged , , , , , on 12 May 2015| 4 Comments »

Dragons AheadFair warning: I’m going to use some bad words in this post. Racial epithets, mostly, but I’m going to discuss them as words, not employ them as slurs. Still…you’ve been warned.

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Goodbye to Tipping

Posted in Culture, Food, tagged , , , on 07 May 2015| 4 Comments »

SFC's Little Men by Warren GoodrichI’m a good tipper. As long as the service is good, I generally tip 20% because after a glass or two of wine, the math on 20% is easier than figuring out 15%. (Yes, I can be that lazy.)

I understand the business model for restaurant wait-staff–low wages are compensated for by customer tips–but I’ve never liked it. It’s unreliable and it’s inherently unfair to the back-of-the-house workers. Also, different shifts receive different pay (lunch crowds tip less than evening diners), and different nights can bring vastly different take-home pay for staff who depend on tips. A couple weeks of low patronage can mean a waiter might not earn enough to make the rent.

In short, it’s a centuries-old scheme that depends on the kindness of strangers. It is flawed from the get-go, and I would be pleased as Punch if we tossed it into the rubbish bin of social history.

Here in Seattle, it seems we’re preparing to do exactly that. Or, at least, we’re preparing to give it a serious makeover. (more…)

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Black is the New Noir

Posted in Movies, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on 04 May 2015| 1 Comment »

This weekend, we went to the cinema (which we rarely do), and saw a very fine film, but I’m not going to tell you about it.

Instead, I’m going to tell you about Bernie because, as good as that other movie is, the movie you really need to see is Bernie, starring Jack Black.

Now before you get all wrinkle-nosed about Jack Black, hear me out.

If your only exposure to Jack Black has been via Tenacious D and trailers for Nacho Libre, I can understand if you think he’s just a funny-man with a juvenile sense of humor. His personality is definitely super-sized and, for most of us, that’s all we’ve seen: the over-the-top, crazy-eyed, usually inappropriate bravado that is the Jack Black persona.

There’s more to Jack, though, and as proof I give you Bernie. (more…)

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Recommendations

Posted in Culture, tagged , on 01 May 2015| 1 Comment »

Gossamer WheelTake coffee with cream in a glass mug:
When the dollop of white plunges into the dark liquid depths, I see the beauty of swirling nebulae and brief-candle galaxies, fluid artwork made just for me.

Learn to cook at least one thing really well:
It not only provides my dearest ones with the anticipation and enjoyment of a favorite meal, but it also comes with a big side of love.

Enjoy five-minute vacations:
Be it windswept mountainside, lonely seashore, or busy coffee shop, having a personal oasis where I can relax enough to untie the knots of modern life makes getting through modern life a little bit easier, even if I only have time to imagine myself there for five minutes.

Observe the world’s cycles:
Whether it’s the Apache dance of dandelions across my lawn or the fact that my cat is most finicky during the dark of the moon, an appreciation of the long-phase patterns of life slows down the whizzing whirl of time and gives me time to catch my breath.

k

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Amazon and the Devaluation of Art

Posted in Books, Hi Tech, Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , on 28 Apr 2015| 4 Comments »

Dragons AheadThe 14th century was a seriously bad time marked by The Black Death and The Hundred Years’ War. After the plague, to combat the wage inflation caused by there being 30-50% fewer folks standing around, the nobility said, “Sure, I’ll pay you twice what I used to pay you,” and then they turned around and devalued the coins they used. Thus, even though you were now paid 6 sous each day, with their value cut in half they’d only buy you 3 sous worth of goods. Complain as you might, you were powerless to change it.

Amazon is like that. No, not like the Black Death. Like medieval nobility. (Though you could make an argument for the Black Death, too.)

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The Return of Quality

Posted in Television, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on 23 Apr 2015| Leave a Comment »

Gentlefolk, start your DVRs.

Ripper Street is back with Series 3 (that’s “Season” 3, for us here in the States), airing on BBC America beginning April 29.

BBC canceled the show after its second season, citing low viewership in the UK, but when an online petition garnered over 50,000 signatures, the production company was able to reach a deal with (what is now) Amazon Prime Instant Video to fund a third season.

UK residents have already seen this third season, and reports I’ve read state that it’s the strongest, most viscerally charged season to date. The show’s creator, Richard Warlow, was more cautious about future seasons this time, and gave the end of Season 3 a sense of closure while still leaving sufficient loose threads with which to weave a Season 4, should it get picked up again. Here’s hoping on that score! (more…)

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