Lilith

Starring Warren Beatty

With Peter Fonda, Jean Seberg, and Gene Hackman

1964

This movie is a gem.

Beatty is portrayed as a returning vet, perhaps WW2, who joins the staff of a private East Coast Asylum. Fonda is his rival for the amorous patient Seberg. Hackman is the man who married Beatty's High School Sweetheart while he was at war in a relatively minor, but noteworthy, role.

A running speculation of mine is that Ted Bundy identified with Beatty, the 1974 star of the 'Parralax View'. Although only speculation, this movie does make an interesting addition to that 'profile' - and perhaps a profile of America's sexual politics.

Everyone in the cast nails their part to a 'T'.

I'm a bit behind on my blog thoughts - I've switched my hosting provider in the last month. I attempted to upgrade to the latest version of Movable Type. In hindsight that was a bad idea, the latest version is actually less functional than the current - being more focused on the individual user market. The transition is also not as smooth as it could be, unless has a direct knowledge of the particular XHTML/Style Sheet approach used by MT.

I've been hoping to bring my HTML skills current by diving into the open Movable Type programming approach, but haven't found the time yet. Hosting providers do provide this service, but it isn't one I can afford at this time, so back to basics, eh.

I'm writing this from the beautiful town of Durango Colorado, about as far as you can get from Seattle in the West - Geographically. Politically though it is far closer than either McCain's Arizona or Hatch's Utah. Go Figure!

Weather here is in the upper 70's, in the foothills of the Wenimuch mountains - absolutely perfect. It may well be the perfect medicine for what the doctor ordered - certainly the winter in Tacoma was a dark one for me - whatever all of those reasons might be.

-Doug

In 1988 Dukakis was defeated in his race for the Presidency. Curiously, this also marked the 'bust' of the high tech 'Massachusett's Miracle' in the Computer and Software industries.

More curiously Gore's 2000 defeat was similarly preceded by the 'popping' of the internet bubble.

As such, a prediction.

In 2015 the green energy bubble will bust, and Jeb Bush will be elected president in 2016!

Funny isn't it, about how predictable Democrats are with money!

Jean Enersen and Jeff Renner, on the occassion of the last J.P. Patches show.

(speculation only)

La Femme Nikita

Directed by Luc Besson

Starring Anne Parillaud with Jean Reno

1990

This is the original version, not the competent U.S. remake starring Bridget Fonda or the Candian TV series by the same name. (I've not seen the TV series).

Besson is the maestro of stylish european action films and this movie may well prove to be his biggest masterpiece.

Parillaud plays 'Nikita' a very drugged out survivor of a drug store robbery gone bad shootout where everyone else dies, including the police, one cop by her hand. After conviction she is given the opportunity by the French State to enter a training program for assassins. As one might expect the State does not necessarily have her best interests at heart, viewing her as an expendable 'asset'.

Jean Reno plays the 'cleaner', at the ultimate moment of Nikita's 'sobering' - will she survive this gunfight or not?

Rosewood

Directed by John Singleton

Starring Ving Rhames with Jon Voight and Don Cheadle

1997

Like the John Hopkins vehicle 'Amistad' this movie will make white audiences uncomfortable.

Based on a true story, Rhames plays a drifting decorated WWI vet who arrives in the Florida town of Rosewood just prior to a false rape allegation by a white woman against another black male. This triggers what could basically be characterized as a genocidal raging mob killing many of the black citizens of the small town.

Rhames plays the protector.

This move is very much underrated and underappreciated - a must see.

Recently State Attorney General Rob McKenna announced that the proposed sale of the NW's largest private utility Puget Sound Energy to an Australian led international investment group would be challenged. PSE is the NW's largest privately owned utility - number two, curiously, was the former Enron holding, Portland General.

This AG action has State ramifications relevant to our largest public capital decisions, even the current gubernatorial contest.

Sound Transit makes the environmental claim that their system is environmentally friendly - because it encourages urban living.

But let's not forget that one of the reasons people have left Urban environments is because of the standard practices of urban legal 'control' (I'd use the words 'Urban Harrassment').

As such, a prediction for your consideration-

Urban living could be made more desirable than the benefits of Sound Transit at zero cost by removing Sound Transit legal counsel COMPLETELY from power.

Knute "Skip" Berger, writing for Crosscut recently made the comment that he was a teetotaler in the context of commenting on the State Democratic Convention, I speculate that Mr. Berger has smoked Marijuana in his life, and that his current status as a near teetotaler is not uncommon among the more intelligent of marijuana users.

Mr. Berger is a graduate of the elite Lakeside Highschool, and as such a speculation following the theme of this category:

Skip Berger and Peter Steinbrueck, 'skipping' sophmore algebra!

This is the view of Durango, SW Colorado (4 Corners Region) from Animas Mountain. There are many trails in the immediate area of this town, this is the closest 'real' hike. Climbing to near 8200 feet the trail provides views in all four directions. There are two trailheads for the hike, both starting in residential areas within walking distance of Downtown.

For more details see the Pixler/Peel guidebook - 'Hiking SW Colorado'. That title is a bit of a misnomer, it's actually best as a day hike guidebook for the immediate city area - as far north as Silverton and including the La Platas to the West and the Vallecito/Los Pinos drainage to the East.

There is nothing finer than hot air and cold whitewater, and Durango has that in spades in May and August.

This is a whitewater rodeo paddler at the Animas River Days. The event is sponsored by 4 Corners River Supply, a long time business in this City. The owner, former Wildwater national team member Andy Corra, once lived in Fremont. (Funny thing, I remember being in his house, but I don't think we met!)

I had the opportunity to be a whitewater slalom gate judge. Here's a view from the course just before the start. Note the climbing hammock in the tree to the right. Definitely a great way to spend a few hours.

Nothing like jumping in feet first! Or, as the case may be, the other way around. This is a new setup for a smaller cataraft, as a two person paddle boat - looks like a great idea, but I think the final judgement may yet await.

Capping off this day was a paddlers movie festival hosted by 4 Corners - at the town art house theatre, the Abbey. 'Whitewater Gods' - hosted by the deceased filmakers father, Pete Miller of California (the death was not paddling, rather on motorcycle - however the risks maybe similar, at least when it comes to 'creekers'.) The second film, 'Hotel Charley' was also introduced by the film maker, Jesse Coombs - presumably of the Coombs paddling family.

The theatre serves alcohol, but Coors is not on tap...which doesn't mean I didn't drink a single one while here, Mary Cheney not withstanding.

Rambo

Directed by Ted Kotcheff

Starring Sylvester Stallone

1982

Rambo is not the sort of classic movie I review. However a comment by a Veteran, in Pierce County, seat of my hometown of Tacoma prompted a great deal of speculation. Pierce County, home of the Army base, has a large former army contingent and their presence is not one to ignore - especially in the trades and blue collar fields.

His historical comment was simply this, that 'Rambo' captured the Reagan era angst of Veterans and their treatment upon return from combat in Vietnam - a cohort of people at war with their own country.

This is true, and this movie marks a crucial point in the history of the United States. One caveat though - in the Army it can also be fellow soldiers - outside of your unit - who just might NOT have your back. That's a tougher subject, and a longer discussion....

Supposedly the Durango area ski resort, Purgatory, is the closest Colorado ski area to Texas.

This picture is from Purgatory Flats, a trail accessed immediately across from the ski area. The mountain is 'Engineer', a great late summer high altitude Colorado scramble. Though not Whistler, the ski area has an active summer program, including water slides, etc. A chairlift ride to the top is $3.00. I've no idea if pets or mountain bikes are allowed.

Another Sound Transit 'antithesis', #2b.

The current Sound Transit plan is now being finalized - likely though through the same sorts of irrelevant public process that led to the failure of Prop. 1 earlier this year.

Two elements of this evolved plan merit your consideration.

The first is the environmentalists call for a vote seperate from roads. Though I am a balanced roads/transit guy, I do support this as a fair process. I would of course hope that any environmentalist of political integrity would also support the submital of a roads only package, to be fair.

This is all well and good - until you consider item number two. The current alternatives being seriously discussed are centralized Seattle-centric plans - as opposed to a distributed priortization which serves all sub-areas with 'equity'. As such the 'environmentalists' are apparently forming a coalition with the power, and cash, sucking 'people' of Downtown Seattle.

This is a lose-lose decision. On the one hand this geographic divisiveness may well kill any environmental benefits that the Sound Transit light rail plan might provide.by alienating suburban voters. On the other hand the plan might pass and we would be stuck with an environmental bully as damaging as Gregoire's gender bullys.

Another 'speculation' from Lakeside High:

Bill Gates and Paul Allen, after Gates was rejected by a girl looking curiously like Melinda Gates...

This is one of the few views from the deservedly popular Mountain bike loop including the Dry Fork trail and the penultimate section of the 459 mile Colorado Trail. It's a nine mile loop climbing 1200 feet, almost easily climbed in one direction. This trail is only about that far from town, to the west.

The view is of one of the La Plata's, a smaller 13k range marking the transition from the Rockies to the Utah Canyon Country to the West.

This is Mesa Canyon of the Upper San Juan, below the town of Pagosa Springs. It's not a particularly difficult stretch, but at 2000 CFS it is a great play run, or for me, a whitewater open boater.

Unfortunately I had to skip running the Animas in Durango as it was too high in this great water year. I think the local word is 'carnage', which can also be fun - perhaps this old man is too proud.