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About this blog

Reviews of books I am reading. TV shows and movies I have seen

Entries in this blog

PIX ART

I started "Up" and must say that watched a Pixar is so much fun. They are clear and crisp.

Chris Grieb

Chris Grieb

A Serious Man

This is another Oscar nominee which I found boring. I has a good supporting cast. The "hero" is trying to get tenure but doesn't take the Huntsville option.

Chris Grieb

Chris Grieb

Senator Bunning

He's leaving the Senate this year but some cheers for him. His holding up the unemployment compensation extension was a great step. Some have told me he is a loose cannon. One wishes he had more support from his other GOPers.

Chris Grieb

Chris Grieb

District Nine

This is a very good alien invasion movie that breaks new ground. Is has a South African cast so I know no one in it. The great difference is aliens just come to stay. They don't want to take over or make our lives better.

Chris Grieb

Chris Grieb

Patrick Kennedy's retirement

When the next Congress convenes there will be no member of the Kennedy family holding office since 1947. I can remember that early in John Kennedy's term there were predictions that a Kennedy would be President for the next twenty-four years. Like other dynasties the Kennedy's have not had staying power.

Chris Grieb

Chris Grieb

The Hurt Locker

I am watching some of the Oscar nominees that are avaiable on Pay For View. The Hurt Locker is about a bomb disposal unit in Iraq. It is a grim but very well done movie. The actor who plays the lead is very good.

Chris Grieb

Chris Grieb

Katherine Grayson

Katherine Grayson was one of the brighter stars in the American movie musicials of the 40ths and 50ths. Her recent death is another loss but give thanks we have her in film and TCM.

Chris Grieb

Chris Grieb

Dexter's is over for this season

This was a very harrowing season and next year does not look like it will be any fun. John Lithgow was a great villain probably the best one the show has had. The other continuing character had complications this season that will make the wait for the next season bad. Michael C Hall is getting chemo which may mean there will not be a next season.

Chris Grieb

Chris Grieb

Julia and Julia

This is very fun movie about Julia Child before she became famous with her French cooking. She was an American diplomat's wife. The diplomat was assigned to Paris. Julia began taking cooking classes. She eventually became a very good cook and decided to show American women who did have servants how to do French cooking. The other Julia is a young women who decided to go through Julia Child's cook book doing every recipe in one year. The parts about Julia Child are interesting and since Jul

Chris Grieb

Chris Grieb

Robert Bork

In 1987 there was a big fight over the confirmation of Robert Bork. At the time I was for Bork's confirmation. Now I would say I am not so sure. My main reason has been some of the Judge's statements. I think Senator Kennedy statement "Robert Bork's America" was wrong but he may have produced the right result.

Chris Grieb

Chris Grieb

Another Look at Teddy Kennedy

I am reading "The Last Lion" which is a new biography written by writers from the Boston Globe. One of the items that is talked about is Ted having to be surrogate father to his nieces and nephews. One however is reminded that he was not successful at this task. Two have died at fairly young ages. Many have had problems with alcohol and drugs. Only one is currently in public office two others had to drop out because of problems involving teen age girls who were baby-sitters.

Chris Grieb

Chris Grieb

Josh Charles

There are some actors who do good performances but can never become a star. Josh Charles is one of them. He first appeared in Dead Poets Society. He was one of the co-stars of a fine show called Sports Night. He has appeared in other TV shows and movies. He can't seem to get the part that makes him a household name. He has a big supporting role on the new show The Good Wife. I hope this is his breakthrough.

Chris Grieb

Chris Grieb

George Hogg

George Hogg went to China during the early part of war between that country and Japan. He witnessed the rape of Na-king. Later he became involved with an orphanage. He helped make orphanage a growing concern. The war forced and evacuation. The boys had to taken by foot over dangerous mountains during winter a distance more than 500 miles. The orphanage was then located in the Gobi Desert safe from the war. Shortly after Hogg died of tetanus from an infected foot. Like some Westerners in

Chris Grieb

Chris Grieb

Dexter is back

This series returns on the 16th. I am watching the first season currently. Michael C. Hall is great as Dexter. The rest of the cast is very good. Not as good as "The Wire" but still well done.

Chris Grieb

Chris Grieb

Edward M. Kennedy

I reminded of what Nataniel Branden said in the Basic Principles of Objectivism course given at NBI. This is a para phase but the replacement for bad leaders is good leaders with good ideas. Ted Kennedy had a lot of bad ideas but the people of Massachusetts were not offered good leaders with good ideas and Ted kept getting re-elected.

Chris Grieb

Chris Grieb

Listening to Free Minds 09

I have been listening to Free Minds 09, the conference that was held in Las Vegas. I have Ed Hudgin's two lectures. The material is really good. I wish the questioners had been asked to identify themselves.

Chris Grieb

Chris Grieb

Trading Places

I saw this movie again a few days ago. It is really well done. It stars Dan Acyroyd and Eddie Murphy. It has also Don Acheme and Ralph Bellamy in strong supporting roles as the Duke brothers. Jamie Leigh Curtis play Ophelia a hooker with a heart of gold and makes it believable. It is a twist on Prince & the Pauper with Murphy and Ackroyd changing places. Murphy and Ackroyd turn the tables on the Duke brothers. I must mention that it has a small role for Alfred Drake. Alfred Drake w

Chris Grieb

Chris Grieb

What makes a Star

Why does a person get us to go to the movies or change our television set or look at National Inquirer to see what they have done. I think the most important quality is to age well. Bette Davis went from the early 30ths till shortly before in the 90ths by aging well. She took roles that acknowledged her age and played them well. Many actors can do one great film when they are young and never repeat and end up doing supporting roles. An example is George Segal who seems to now to be reduced

Chris Grieb

Chris Grieb

Bette Davis on TCM

Today August 8th TCM is doing a lot of Bette Davis's movies. I think her best one was Dark Victory in which she play a spoiled rich girl who has a brain tumor which she dies of at the end of the movie. The Essential will "The Man Who Came to Dinner" which has her in more of supporting role. The "Man" was Monty Woolly channeling Alexander Wolcott. It's a fun movie and worth seeing. '

Chris Grieb

Chris Grieb

Free Minds 09

It ended today and was very good. I will have more to report. Will be at Freedom Fest. Sixteen hundred people at Freedom Fest. It's the only convention in Las Vegas that has more people than last year.

Chris Grieb

Chris Grieb

Father's Day

I want to think those fathers doing their unappreciated tasks. I hope we all remember those fathers who are no longer with us. I have mentioned The Wire. Look at it and think about the young who no active father in their lives. Remember the welfare that broke up families and made millions of youth parent less. Remember this when you hear complaints about the size of our prison population.

Chris Grieb

Chris Grieb