As We Enter A New Year

We often greet each other with a “Happy New Year” but there are new years when it’s anything but happy — especially knowing that the coming year isn’t going to get any better. I believe we are in that scenario. I don’t know anyone who is optimistic about the months ahead. Let’s try to remember that even now, there is hope … there is always a silver lining somewhere.

It’s easy to be depressed. The global economy is down. There is inflation. There are wars in Ukraine, Gaza, the Red Sea, and there are threats of war in Asia. New viruses are spreading. Refugees have forced their way into countries by the millions. Crime is up. Drug use is up. There’s a self-focused Karen born every minute. It’s a real nightmare. If you’re a socialist/communist, I’d really want to hear why you think that way.

Did you hear that selfish Mark Zuckerberg and other one percenters are building multi-million dollar underground bunkers and stocking up on food? I don’t get it. Let’s say the rest of the world is wiped out, why would anyone want to live anymore? What exactly will the “last man breathing” win? Who will cheer and hand you your medal, Mark? What do you do for fun when you’re all by yourself? Who are you going to flaunt your wealth to? Your neighbor Bill Gates who lives in the next bunker?

I’m thankful there are people who have such a positive outlook that, come rain or shine, they always find something positive to say.

The Encouraging Captain
I remember a story my grade school classmate shared with me about a captain whose battle weary soldiers were so discouraged because they were low in supplies and had not had a bath in weeks. But, being the encourager that he was, the captain decided to give a little pep talk:

“Don’t be so discouraged men! I bring you GOOD NEWS and BAD NEWS!”

“What’s the good news captain?” they grumbled.

“The good news is: You will ALL have NEW UNDERWEAR!”

“Hurrah!!” They shouted! “Now what’s the bad news?”

“Okay, all of you — exchange underwear!”

In our desperation, even if we don’t exchange our underwear, we can surely laugh about it. TGIF people. I hope the New Year will treat you better than expected.

Raoul.

“But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” — Isaiah 40:31

JOKE OF THE WEEK

Thanks to Martha of Covina, CA

Parting Shots

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre. CA

I found these

The Traveling Boy

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with this.

SUBSCRIBE

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A Bald Move

I finally did it!

My hair is gone. My Favio days are over. No longer will I be able to flick my hair in the wind. The last strands of my salt and pepper locks washed down the sink. When I look in the mirror, there’s a stranger that greets me.

Unfortunately, going bald was a procedure that didn’t go very smoothly. I thought I had a good understanding about what was involved but no. It was a comedy of errors. In case you are thinking about balding your head too, let me share what happened. Learn from my mistakes.

I saw this video commercial of this shaver and this bald guy saying that it was so easy to maintain his baldness with that gadget. So I went online and bought the cheapest rotary electric shaver. I thought this was going to be a piece of cake. I didn’t know you’re only supposed to use that shaver to maintain an existing bald head. So when I tried it on my overgrown buzz cut the shaver got stuck and literally tried to yank the individual follicles. I was thinking of retreating and doing more research but when I saw the unbalanced hairless patch on my front lobe, I knew I had reached the point of no return.

I figured I needed to trim the hair as close to the scalp as possible to avoid the snags. But even that didn’t work. I’m not a shaver. I never had a lot of facial hair so I usually shave with just water. I remember seeing a movie where the barber puts this white foamy stuff before he shaved his customer. Aha! That’s the secret — shaving cream! Somebody had given me a shaving cream for Christmas some 10 years ago. The can was rusty but the content was still good. I was surprised it still worked. I massaged that cream into a lather and put it on my scalp. I waited a few minutes to soften my skin then proceeded to shave with a cheap plastic disposable shaver. It was like raking leaves with a toothbrush. It was a tedious process because I needed to wash down the clumps of hair that got stuck in the shaver. But eventually, I shaved off half of my head — the half that I could see. The hair on my nape and at the back were impossible to reach.

So I asked my daughter for help because she’s had experience cutting her friends’ hair. “You’re doing it all wrong! You’re supposed to use a shearer,” she said. “I thought that was only for sheep,” I laughed. She didn’t think it was funny.

“With a shearer this could be done so easily,” she said with authority.

“But we don’t have a shearer,” I said, “so let’s just do with what we have.”

“Like most projects, you need the right tools. This is so wrong! You can get a shearer at Walmart for $15,” she nagged, “I don’t want to do this. I’m afraid I will cut you. Why don’t you just buy a shearer?”

“Why will I buy a $15 shearer when I will never use it again?”

“You’re so cheap, Papa! If you want, I can borrow my friend’s shearer. I really don’t want to do this,” she repeated.

Nag, nag, nag. I realize I’m arguing with her with my head looking like a messy, sticky white blob-dripping modern mixed-medium sculpture. Her heart wasn’t in it so I told her to stop and washed up. Mission failed. Half of my back was still unshaven. I never felt so ridiculously ugly. As I lay in bed in defeat, I pictured myself in Walmart … people staring, laughing behind my back wondering where this Klingon from Star Trek came from — giving them a Vulcan hand gesture I say “I come in peace! Lead me to your shearers!”

In the middle of my self-pity, my wife comes in the bedroom and laughs at my head. She has never cut anyone’s hair in her life so I didn’t even bother to ask her. But desperate times call for desperate measures — I asked if she could finish the job. Surprisingly, she said she’d do it. My wife! My savior! My friend!

It was back in the sink and back to the lather and disposable shaving blade. It wasn’t even a minute when she realized what she had gotten into. It was nag, nag, nag again!

“Why don’t you just go to the barber tomorrow? Why don’t you get that shearer, etc.” It’s unmistakable that she is my daughter’s mother — a nonstop recording of how this was a bad idea. I decided to shut my mouth and laughed at this silly predicament I got myself into. It didn’t take more than 30 minutes but with the yakking, it seemed like hours. It was done. I was completely bald. Thank you! (So that’s what wives are for.)

WHAT IT”S LIKE BEING BALD

A quick shower and I rubbed my head. What a weird feeling. I thought it was going to be smooth like a baby’s bottom but it actually feels like sandpaper because of the little stubs of hair clinging on for dear life. And there are mounds and craters in my scalp that I never knew existed because they were always covered with hair. And it’s cold when I lay my head on the cold leather sofa. I now understand why baldies wear beanie caps. When I bump my head I feel the full force of the impact. I’m afraid I might crack my skull.

It’s obvious where I cut myself shaving. You can’t call it a bad hair day so what do you call it? The worst part is the pigment areas where I shaved are so much lighter than the rest of my head. I think I should go get a tan somewhere.

I don’t know about you, but getting a haircut is a pampering ritual that never appealed to me. The advantage with this new look, is I will never never never have to go to a barber for the rest of my life. Was it worth it? Oh yeah … I think so.

TGIF people!

Raoul

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Frank of Alhambra, CA

Videos of the Week

Thanks to Garie of the City of Paranaque, Philippines for this thought-provoking essay from Carl Sagan called “The Pale Blue Dot.”

Another one from Garie. This time a funny story about a Polish Man.

Thanks to Wynn of Mandaluyong, Philippines, for this quick quiz. I didn’t know the answer to 3 of them.

Parting Shots

These I found:

The post A Special Pig appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Based on Oscar nominated films, and a few not.

The Power of the Dog

Written & Directed by Jane Campion.

Ranch owner Phil Burbank (Benedict Cumberbatch) defiantly lights an artistically made paper flower by Peter Gordon (Kodi Smit-McPhee) before the young man’s eyes, setting a flame for the unbridled tension that will consume them both.

A presumed act of deep, life-long friendship, where Peter gently places a lit cigarette into the mouth of Phil Burbank, whose hands are occupied by creating a rope. Unknown to Phil, the strips of leather are contaminated with anthrax, which leads to his death, a death orchestrated by Peter.

Peter watching his mother Rose (Kirsten Dunst) and new stepfather George Burbank (Jesse Plemons) from a window upon their happy return from Phil’s funeral, illustrating a new positive chapter in their lives, devoid of Phil Burbank’s tyrannical harassment.

Belfast

Written & Directed by Kenneth Branagh.

Jude Hill’s Buddy playing with other children in his working-class street, using a garbage can lid for a game of pretend. Seconds later, the lid serves as protection from hailing rocks and debris as the street explodes with sectarian violence.

Two Belfast kids trying to determine how you can tell the difference between a Catholic and a Protestant.

The euphoric dance sequence where Pa (Jamie Dornan) and Ma (Caitríona Balfe) have a sublime moment of distraction, temporarily putting Belfast’s TROUBLES on the back burner.

Drive My Car

Co-Written & Directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, based on Haruki Murakami’s short story “Drive My Car.”

A 40-minute prologue appears before the credits open, indicating that we’re on a long journey of thought, fulfillment and artistry.

A rehearsal of ‘Uncle Vanya’ in Hiroshima with a cast of unlikely actors: one hearing impaired, who uses sign language, others who do not speak Japanese, which begins theatre director Yûsuke Kafuku’s (Hidetoshi Nishijima ) quest to a better understanding of his deceased wife and a better understanding of himself as well.

Yûsuke Kafuku’s final realization that his 20-something chauffeur driver Misaki (Tôko Miura) is not an insignificant prop, but a real person like himself.

Parallel Mothers

Written & Directed by Pedro Almodóvar.

Two pregnant women, one early forties named Janis (Penélope Cruz), the other, early twenties Jan, (Milena Smit), casually meet by chance in a Madrid maternity ward, unaware that their future will lead to a life-long bond of parallel mothers.

Arturo (Israel Elejalde), the assumed father of Janis’ infant child, informing her that he is not the father, leading to heart wrenching morale decisions.

Janis’ red sportscar, which reminds us that this primary color is frequently used throughout Pedro Almodóvar’s films.

Licorice Pizza

Written & Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.

Jon Peter’s (Bradley Cooper) mile a minute rant that he and Gary (Cooper Hoffman) both understand the ‘way of the street.’

The exhilarating camera movements which illustrate Gary and Alana’s (Alana Haim) movement of their own lives in the San Fernando Valley of P.T. Anderson’s youth.

A Hero

Written, Produced & Directed by Asghar Farhadi.

Temporarily released from a debtor’s prison, Rahim Soltani’s (Amir Jadidi) discovers that his new-found fame has some very disturbing consequences.

Being the Ricardos

Written and Directed by Aaron Sorkin

Lucile Ball (Nicole Kidman) finally takes a tender moment from her career of stress to address her co-star and former adversary Vivian Vance (Nina Arianda) with the hand of human kindness.

Nightmare Alley

Written, Produced & Directed by Guillermo del Toro.

Stanton Carlisle’s (Bradley Cooper) slick carny conman’s realization that he himself has been conned by the cunning Dr. Lilith Ritter (Cate Blanchett).

The Hand of God

Written & Directed by Paolo Sorrentino.

Fabietto’s  (Filippo Scotti) sense of euphoria, a euphoria not realized earlier, upon learning that the world-famous footballer, Argentine Diego Maradona, will be playing for his hometown team in Naples.

Maradona on TV scoring his controversial ‘Hand of God’ goal to screaming Neapolitan fans in a game-winning match.

The Dig

Directed by Simon Stone; Screenplay by Moira Buffini.

Self-taught excavator, Basil Brown (Ralph Fiennes) brushing off Cambridge archaeologists’ demands for him to resume work at their own museum, preferring to remain in the tenure of kindred spirit Edith Pretty (Carey Mulligan), continuing with their own dig.

The return of the great Ben Chaplin in The Dig.

Don’t Look Up

Written & Directed by Adam McKay.

An almost unrecognizable Cate Blanchett playing a frivolous morning show talk hostess flirting with Leonardo DiCaprio’s Dr. Randall Mindy while live on TV

President Orlean’s (Meryl Streep) chief of staff Jason Orlean (Jonah Hill) lashing out with entitlement when scrubby, low-level astronomers’ Dr. Randall Mindy and Kate Dibiasky (Jennifer Lawrence) arrive in the oval office with the terrifying news that world may be destroyed. As it turns out, Jason Orlean REALLY IS the son of the president.

The Eyes of Tammy Faye

Directed by Michael Showalter.

The undercurrent of sexual tension when Tammy (Jessica Chastain) first sees Jim Bakker (Andrew Garfield) preaching at the pulpit.

Tammy Faye at rock bottom, stripped of all her treasures and influence among a certain ‘Christian’ sect, but not defeated as she reaches out in kindness to gossiping, disparaging neighbors in front of her modest apartment building.

West Side Story

Directed by Steven Spielberg; Screenplay by Tony Kushner, adapted from the 1957 musical.

Despite the powerhouse opening with a well-choregraphed cast, camera cranes moving every which way but loose, and sweeping tracking shots — some as low-angled as an Ozu tatami-style set-up — Steven Spielberg’s big Hollywood money remake of West Side Story could barely dance to the finish line.

The performances of singer/dancers’ Mike Faist as Riff and Ariana DeBose as Maria giving West Side Story some sort of honest context.

CODA

Written & Directed by Sian Heder.

Ruby (Emilia Jones) signs “I really love you” to her CODA (child of deaf adults) family as she, the only family member with hearing, begins her drive to a Boston college.

Ruby’s family (Marlee Matlin, Troy Kotsur, Daniel Durant; all three actors deaf in real life) attends her choir recital, and while they cannot hear her sing, they take pride upon noticing the positive reception from the audience around them.

The Tragedy of Macbeth

Written & Directed by Joel Coen, based on the play by William Shakespear.

Macbeth (Denzel Washington) and Banquo (Bertie Carvel) approached by witches, with one (Kathryn Hunter) displaying an otherworldliness in voice and appearance, setting the tone for the darkness of the film adaptation.

A guilt-ridden and much older version of Lady Macbeth (Francis McDormand) begins sleepwalking, gradually descending into madness in Joel Coens first time out as a solo film director in the well-photographed black & white film.

The Worst Person in the World

(Norwegian: Verdensverstemenneske)

Directed by by Joachim Trieris; Screenplay by Joachim Trier & Eskil Vogt.

The 30-year old Julie (Renate Reinsve) learns that her former boyfriend Aksel (Anders Danielsen Lie) has inoperable pancreatic cancer.

After an encounter with a reindeer on a camping trip, Maria Grazia Di Meo’s Sunniva researches her ancestry, which determines that she is 3% Sámi, leading her to become a climate-change and indigenous peoples’ rights activist.

Aksel, realizing that his life will soon end, takes Julie to the building where he grew up and was inspired to become an artist.

Upon hearing from the hospital that Aksel will probably not make it through the night, Julie walks the streets of Oslo and watches the sunrise the following morning.

Munich – The Edge of War

Directed by Christian Schwochow; screenplay by Ben Power.

British PM, Neville Chamberlin’s (Jeremy Irons) ambiguous expression of enthusiasm upon arriving back to London and cheering fanfare after securing the Munich Agreement; perhaps realizing that it is a very fragile agreement. The scene serves as the only saving grace in this poorly made film of fictional.

TV: Kate McKinnon on SNL

Kate McKinnon’s ‘s masterful impersonations on SNL added much-needed laughter in 2021.

PIG

Written & Directed by Michael Sarnoski.

Rob, a reclusive truffle forager, returning to his forest cabin to play a tape that his deceased wife recorded of herself singing Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m on Fire” for his birthday.

The Lost Daughter

Written & Directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal.

The annoyance felt by the troubled Leda (Olivia Colman) as a large band of rebel-rousing tourists invade her once quiet and spacious piece of beach.

The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun

Written & Directed by Wes Anderson.

Are we finally wise to ‘auteur’ Wes Anderson’s hijacking of sound and images from Jean-Luc Godard, Jerry Lewis and Jacques Tati; is it all mere icing on the cake where he clutters his films with distractions to avoid focusing on the narrative. For Godard, it was only the beginning; for Wes, the end. Despite the artifice, done with a wink of the eye to his base of believers, the film’s only true moment of transcendence is a simple bluescreen shot of Lyna Khoudri’s  Juliette and  Timothée Chalamet’s  Zeffirelli riding together on a scooter into the sunset, a shot perhaps borrowed from Leos Carax.

Plaza Catedral

Written, Produced & Directed by Abner Benaim.

The transition of the guarded, deeply wounded Alicia (Mexican actress, Ilse Salas), finally embracing the Panamanian street kid named Chief, (Fernando Xavier de Casta) who’s been conning her.

The shocking chaos that closes Plaza Catedral, and perhaps Alicia’s life too.

Epilogue: In Remembrance of Fernando Xavier de Casta

Writer/Director Abner Benaim discussing his film Plaza Catedral and the savage death of Fernando Xavier de Casta.

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