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Sunday Night Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Sun Apr 04, 2010 at 08:42:14 PM EST
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Hopefully, everyone is unwinding from a pleasant holiday weekend. I'm going to watch Pacific, Celebrity Apprentice and Justified, and call it a night.

If you did get an iPad, please give us your updated thoughts, particularly on good Apps, now that you've had a day to try it out. Gizmodo has a round-up here -- and a handy set-up guide -- and a list of what they call the "essential apps."

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

< Obama and the Supreme Court: Will He Play It Safe? | Monday Morning Open Thread >

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    Sunday Night Open Thread | 45 comments (45 topical)

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    US Spec Ops killed Afghan women and covered it up. (5.00 / 1) (#36)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Mon Apr 05, 2010 at 01:05:25 AM EST
    So says the NY Times, 04/04/10, U.S. Admits Role in February Killing of Afghan Women:
    After initially denying involvement or any cover-up in the deaths of three Afghan women during a badly bungled American Special Operations assault in February, the American-led military command in Kabul admitted late on Sunday that its forces had, in fact, killed the women during the nighttime raid.

    The admission immediately raised questions about what really happened during the Feb. 12 operation -- and what falsehoods followed -- including a new report that Special Operations forces dug bullets out of the bodies of the women to hide the true nature of their deaths... Two of the three women were pregnant...

    If the visceral extremity of this story doesn't sway public opinion on Afghanistan, I shudder to think what will.

    Anna Russell recording re Wagner's (none / 0) (#1)
    by oculus on Sun Apr 04, 2010 at 08:51:53 PM EST
    Ring Cycle on KUSC FM opera program tonight at 9 pm PDT.  

    Now Paul Sorvino is opining on (none / 0) (#7)
    by oculus on Sun Apr 04, 2010 at 09:14:31 PM EST
    famous male singers of the past.  Sorvino is apparently a singer and he is demonstrating.

    Parent
    Screamingly funny (none / 0) (#18)
    by gyrfalcon on Sun Apr 04, 2010 at 10:06:06 PM EST
    I saw her once and she had me on the floor laughing, even though I already knew most of the routines.

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    Her schtick on the Ring Cycle is (none / 0) (#30)
    by oculus on Sun Apr 04, 2010 at 11:25:22 PM EST
    the most comprehensible I've heard or read to date.  Remember Albrich?

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    Don't remember anymore (none / 0) (#41)
    by gyrfalcon on Mon Apr 05, 2010 at 08:56:08 AM EST
    what she said about Alberich.  What sticks in my mind was the line about Wotan nagging Brunnhilde into a coma.  Heh.  Last time I saw Walkyre was one of those static "plant your feet and sing" productions, uncut to the very last note, in Hungarian. <eyes rolling>  Long story.  (Love the opera, but it can be excrutiating if it's done badly.)

    Parent
    She also talked about the singing (none / 0) (#43)
    by oculus on Mon Apr 05, 2010 at 10:01:25 AM EST
    contest between in Siegfried.  Anything you can sing I can sing louder.

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    Remember how I wrote (none / 0) (#2)
    by andgarden on Sun Apr 04, 2010 at 09:02:17 PM EST
    that I hand't gone Blu Ray yet? That's been corrected.

    Goldfinger looks amazing; probably better than on any print released to theaters in 1964.

    I remember when DVD was a revelation, but it just looks like 56k Real Video in comparison.

    Stop!!!!!! (5.00 / 2) (#23)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Apr 04, 2010 at 10:15:37 PM EST
    Spousal person comes home, first thing out of his mouth in the sanctity of our bedroom while he is eyeing the DVD player (?) is what a POS it is.  I had to babysit yesterday, Nana duty...so I sent him Easter basket shopping.  He got all that done, did real well, but came home with tales of Blu Ray prices and visions of LED televisions dancing in his head.

    Parent
    Honeymoon officially over. (5.00 / 1) (#31)
    by oculus on Sun Apr 04, 2010 at 11:26:15 PM EST


    Parent
    Not yet (none / 0) (#38)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Apr 05, 2010 at 08:07:13 AM EST
    So this is the perfect time to go electronic shopping from his perspective :)

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    I remember how much you like Goldfinger. (none / 0) (#3)
    by oculus on Sun Apr 04, 2010 at 09:03:42 PM EST
    So the new version must be spectacular.

    Parent
    Connery isn't even my favorite Bond (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by andgarden on Sun Apr 04, 2010 at 09:07:10 PM EST
    But Goldfinger is the most important film in the series IMO.

    And yes, it's spectacular. The folks at Lowry Digital did some amazing work on it a few years ago.

    Parent

    Always thought (none / 0) (#8)
    by brodie on Sun Apr 04, 2010 at 09:23:02 PM EST
    Connery was the Bond, the Bond with the Midas touch.

    A spider's touch.

    Parent

    I liked Timothy Dalton, (none / 0) (#9)
    by observed on Sun Apr 04, 2010 at 09:25:37 PM EST
    plus.. tankers doing wheelies? Wow!

    Parent
    The Living Daylights is one of (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by andgarden on Sun Apr 04, 2010 at 09:30:50 PM EST
    the two best bond films of the last 25 years. Tomorrow Never Dies is the other.

    License (or Licence) to KIll is much beloved by some for its "grit," but I personally think it looks as cheaply made as it was. And the plot is bleh.

    Putting my cards on the table: I always liked Roger Moore, and I have a soft sport for A View to a Kill. But I think my favorite Bond film is probably For Your Eyes Only--depending on which day of the week you ask me.

    Parent

    I'm not a Bond connoisseur. (none / 0) (#11)
    by observed on Sun Apr 04, 2010 at 09:39:06 PM EST
    I do prefer Moore to Connery.
    I don't like Craig at all.
    I find him nasty and brutish, period.

    Parent
    I think he's great (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by andgarden on Sun Apr 04, 2010 at 09:40:44 PM EST
    The problem is the "reboot." They're not making James Bond movies anymore.

    Parent
    Hugh Jackman should be bond. (none / 0) (#14)
    by observed on Sun Apr 04, 2010 at 09:41:29 PM EST


    Parent
    I'm also amused by the (none / 0) (#13)
    by observed on Sun Apr 04, 2010 at 09:40:49 PM EST
    evolution of the "realist" sensibility when it comes to fights.
    Do you really think that actual fights between secret agents go on for minutes, chop chop, kick kick, grapple grapple? Puh-leaze.


    Parent
    You just hit something that I forgot to mention (none / 0) (#16)
    by andgarden on Sun Apr 04, 2010 at 09:45:33 PM EST
    There are lots of "aficionados" who love to praise the series whenever more "realism" is introduced. From Russia With Love is their typical paragon of greatness.

    FRWL is a great movie, but it's proto-Bond in a variety of ways. No, Goldfinger is the model. And Goldfinger is as silly, outrageous, and frankly, camp, as any of the rest. And unlike the "aficionados," I admit that I enjoy the camp and silliness.

    They've stripped most of that out of the Craig Bonds, which just aren't as entertaining.

    Parent

    That's what I'm getting at when I say (none / 0) (#17)
    by observed on Sun Apr 04, 2010 at 09:48:14 PM EST
    I don't like Craig.


    Parent
    How can anyone top the car-crunching scene? (none / 0) (#25)
    by oculus on Sun Apr 04, 2010 at 10:28:48 PM EST


    Parent
    Although the poison knife in the shoe (none / 0) (#27)
    by oculus on Sun Apr 04, 2010 at 10:39:03 PM EST
    was also extremely terrific in FRWL.  Didn't remember Lotte Lenya played that part.  

    Parent
    I saw FRWL at a drive in (none / 0) (#26)
    by BarnBabe on Sun Apr 04, 2010 at 10:32:14 PM EST
    Won't say how old I was, but I was in total awe when I saw this movie. I did not know a thing about JFK's favorite books. I did not know a thing about Bond, James Bond. But it was so cool. Only way to describe it. Like Star Wars. FRWL was a total surprise to me. And I was smitten. It was a double feature and Dr No was also on the menu.And then Goldfinger came along. I could not wait. The local theater in Ft Lauderdale had in their ad. "Special Sneak Peak" at 007 tonight. Yep, saw it a week early. Recognized some 'Kentucky shots' as being in Miami, etc. Didn't matter. Connery was my favorite because he was my first Bond. Some here might have seen Moore first and had the same reaction. But Connery was a new comer and Robert Shaw was an unknown also. So the fact is, when you first see Connery as Bond, he is Bond. No previous expectations. Thus, the other Bonds were other people before they were Bond.  

    Parent
    I enjoy watching almost all bonds, and (none / 0) (#28)
    by andgarden on Sun Apr 04, 2010 at 10:46:40 PM EST
    FRWL and Dr. No are important, enjoyable films. But two that I find least enjoyable also happen to have Connery in them: You Only Live Twice and. . .Thunderball. The latter is just boring to me. But it could be better with some tighter editing (they needed to leave more of the underwater stuff on the cutting room floor).

    Parent
    Never Say Never (none / 0) (#40)
    by BarnBabe on Mon Apr 05, 2010 at 08:13:50 AM EST
    Then they remade Thunderball for Connery's come back as Bond for charity. The first 3 were really great. I think Thunderball was a let down after Goldfinger. And Goldfinger had the gagdets. Always remember, "Do you want me to talk?" "No, Mr. Bond, I want you to die ".  In a sedistic sort of way. Heh.

    Parent
    Just a youngster when (none / 0) (#15)
    by brodie on Sun Apr 04, 2010 at 09:42:21 PM EST
    my older sister would take us to the movies on Sat afternoons.  Some of the earliest ones I recall as Dr No and From Russia With Love, the two earliest Bond flicks.  The action and exotic locales on the big screen more than kept my attention when the dialogue didn't.  

    Then when Goldfinger came along a little later, that's when I think I might have begun noticing the ladies and the other angle to these movies.

    Connery as Bond seemed like an updated classy and charismatic Cary Grant for the swinging 60s.  Roger Moore struck me as another handsome fellow with a Brit accent.  Ditto for Pierce Brosnan.  Though I suspect that after Connery left, much of the magic and freshness of Bond movies left too, so it's kinda harsh of me to come down too hard on his successors.

     

    Parent

    Cary Grant was never (none / 0) (#20)
    by gyrfalcon on Sun Apr 04, 2010 at 10:09:04 PM EST
    dangerous.  I loved the guy, but he was very much domesticated.  Nobody could ever domesticate Connery, or his Bond, IMO.

    Parent
    It wasn't exactly the grit (none / 0) (#24)
    by observed on Sun Apr 04, 2010 at 10:20:31 PM EST
    that I liked about Dalton.
    I thought he played a character who was a believable killer.
    Connery had some of that; Moore, none; Brosnan, none; Craig is a cartoon cut-out of a cold-blooded killer---something like Sean Bean playing a good guy.

    Parent
    I was wondering about Gizmodo (none / 0) (#4)
    by Key on Sun Apr 04, 2010 at 09:05:33 PM EST
    Seems like they've become Apple shills.  I mean, about 95% of their coverage starting Thursday evening was Apple and iPad.

    I use Google's Reader to keep up to date on the various blogs I read daily, and I literally had to remove Gizmodo from it.

    I'm wondering how much Apple stock is owned by the writers of the blog and it's owners (Gawker Media).

    And for the sake of discussion, say they do own Apple stock.  Should they have a duty to disclose this fact?

    Disagree with a post? Question the motives! (none / 0) (#6)
    by andgarden on Sun Apr 04, 2010 at 09:08:46 PM EST
    I love how a post discussing Apple anywhere on the internet brings out ridiculous claims in the comments.

    Parent
    Not ridiculous (none / 0) (#37)
    by Key on Mon Apr 05, 2010 at 02:53:06 AM EST
    My problem's with Gizmodo, not Apple.

    If you go back and look at Gizmodo during this time period, you'll see that what I wrote is right on the money.

    By the way, I'm not anti Apple (yes, I actually own Apple products).  But the iPad is not the end all be all that you might think it was looking at the "ink" Gizmodo has given it.


    Parent

    Yes, they should disclose it (none / 0) (#21)
    by gyrfalcon on Sun Apr 04, 2010 at 10:11:13 PM EST
    but you don't have to own stock in Apple to be gaga over its product roll-outs.  I'm not an Apple user myself, but there's no question that if you love high-tech gadgetry, Apple is where it's at.  What truly exiting and innovative thing has Microsoft or Dell done for anybody lately?

    Parent
    Dell has very innovative customer (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by observed on Sun Apr 04, 2010 at 10:13:29 PM EST
    service scripts.


    Parent
    We went to see Clash of the Titans (none / 0) (#19)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Apr 04, 2010 at 10:09:02 PM EST
    It's okay.  It is an improvement over the last version of course.  And Perseus runs across the metal animated owl from the old version...and they made a funny.

    Donovan McNabb done in Philadelphia (none / 0) (#29)
    by Makarov on Sun Apr 04, 2010 at 11:20:13 PM EST
    The Eagles traded #5 to division rival Washington Redskins for a second round pick in this month's draft (37th overall) and a 3rd/4th round in 2011, depending on McNabb's performance.

    Philadelphia is officially in rebuilding mode. It's possibly we will finish the 2010 season in last place in the NFC East.

    And what's wrong with Tomlinson dissing (none / 0) (#32)
    by oculus on Sun Apr 04, 2010 at 11:28:08 PM EST
    the Chargers, who let him go?

    Parent
    Sounds like (none / 0) (#33)
    by CoralGables on Sun Apr 04, 2010 at 11:56:01 PM EST
    an excellent move to me. Anytime you trade with the Redskins it's likely you made a good move as the Redskins always overpay. Donovan hasn't ranked in the top 10 in QB rankings for the last two years while he was the second highest compensated QB by cap value last year.

    In a league with a hard salary cap, value is important. Donovan's salary was a bad return on investment and now the Redskins rather than the Eagles have to pay him a $6 million roster bonus next month.

    Parent

    Excuse me. Padres opening day (away) (none / 0) (#34)
    by oculus on Mon Apr 05, 2010 at 12:05:02 AM EST
    is tomorrow, 16 hours.  Focus.  

    Parent
    Partly sunny... (5.00 / 1) (#39)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Mon Apr 05, 2010 at 08:07:22 AM EST
    ...and 65 for the 2:10p Rox home opener on Friday.  Got my tickets and the day off--I'm ready to go.  

    Always a big party at Coors Field.

    Parent

    Really jealous! (none / 0) (#44)
    by ruffian on Mon Apr 05, 2010 at 12:54:14 PM EST
    I love Coors Field!

    Parent
    I was lucky... (none / 0) (#45)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Mon Apr 05, 2010 at 01:26:43 PM EST
    ...to get tickets through my season-ticket holding co-worker as a Christmas present.  They're selling out fast--just like the old days.  

    I tried to get tickets for a big group of friends to the Cubs/Rox game the end of July, but they were sold out within a day of going on-sale back in January.  

    Parent

    Marlins (none / 0) (#35)
    by CoralGables on Mon Apr 05, 2010 at 12:28:24 AM EST
    in less than 12. I'm trying to distract myself from baseball so I can sleep after seeing that great Boston comeback tonight in beating the much hated Yankees.

    Parent
    Ughhhh!! (none / 0) (#42)
    by lilburro on Mon Apr 05, 2010 at 09:07:41 AM EST
    All the talk about McNabb not winning a Super Bowl, but I can think of someone else who hasn't led th Eagles to a Super Bowl since he's been in Philly...starts with a R, ends with an "eid"...

    Parent
    Sunday Night Open Thread | 45 comments (45 topical)

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