Images For Girls

 

 

I like the movie "Brave" because it presents a heroine who isn't traditional -- a girl who values herself, seeks to be strong, and doesn't want to devote her whole life to being a princess.  She (Merida) is a rare and healthy alternative to most entertainment for girls.

Disney, a company I'm always leery of, just decided to "re-fashion" Merida.  They made her thinner, sexier and more conventional in appearance.  In the process, they strip Merida of the qualities that made her special and healthy.  (Of course Disney isn't re-doing the movie but, as with all Disney characters, they continually use Merida in numerous spin-off creations.)

Both the film's creator and child-development experts say this change is bad for girls.  (See here and here.)  I know nothing about raising kids but I agree that giving girls only one acceptable image (thin, "sexy", traditional) is not good for them.  What do you think?

The Great Gatsby

 

I'm a big fan of Baz Luhrmann's work.  The Australian filmmaker performed magic by making Shakespeare exciting ("Romeo + Juliet", starring Leonardo DiCaprio) and he entertained us with the bombastic "Moulin Rouge!"

So, even though I never read "The Great Gatsby" and didn't know its plot, I went to see it simply because of Baz.  And I'm glad I did.  It's a terrific film.

Looking around the theater before the movie started, I was surprised to see 80% of the audience was female.  During the movie, I realized why.  The story is a romantic drama with natural appeal to women.  The characters, costumes and sets are interesting.  The story is compelling and lucidly told.  Of course, the movie has Baz's characteristic visual energy and excitement.  That spectacle serves the plot and entertains at the same time.

While I'm not a DiCaprio fan, I love Carey Mulligan since being introduced to her in the fabulous "An Education."  And Tobey Maguire is always good.

Not all movies are worth $12.50 (in 2D; 3D costs even more) but this one is.  Go!

Back In The Saddle

After an exceptionally demanding week at work, I needed to relax.  So I turned to my favorite activity -- building an outfit.  I spent leisurely hours today doing this.

The outfit, oddly, starts with a belt.  I saw this cute silver belt while thrifting two weeks ago and snapped it up for $1.99.  What a bargain!

To highlight the belt, my dress needs to be plain.  No design except shape.  Single color.  Shopping at Fox's (discount store), I found a perfect one.  Yellow (seasonal) with light embossed pattern in the cloth.  Plus, it fits me like a glove due to its elasticity.

Completing the look, I realized I don't own any lipstick this color so I stopped at a drugstore on the way home and got some.  I like the shade I picked. 

What do you think?  Any different choices you might have made?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Court

Last week, I conducted a large commercial trial before a jury.  That's not unusual for me, but what was noteworthy was where I did it.  The trial was in a courthouse you've all seen many times in movies and on television.  The Supreme Court building at 60 Centre Street in Manhattan.

This building looks like a courthouse.  Classic features, including large columns, numerous outdoor steps and judicial ornaments.  It is for that reason that many films and TV shows use exterior shots of the Court.  For example, every episode of "Law and Order" shows scenes of the characters chatting while walking up or down those steps.  That's actually inaccurate because this Court only hears civil cases -- not criminal ones -- and L&O episodes deal with criminal prosecutions.  Criminal cases in NYC are handled in a plain building elsewhere so the producers fudge a bit to give viewers a better impression than exists in reality.

The courthouse was designed in the 1920's by famous architect Guy Lowell and hasn't changed since.  I first remember going there as a new lawyer 30 years ago and being awed by its majesty.  Inside, the courthouse has a large, open rotunda decorated with paintings on the ceiling.  It is designed like a wheel, circular with spokes going out in every direction, at the end of which are courtrooms.

The building is magnificent.  I wish, however, they'd spruce up the interior a little which, by now, is not only aged but poorly maintained.  Water fountains don't work; there's no accommodation for computers or electronic devices.  Newer courthouses are built for contemporary use and most are set up for modern technology.  Then again, those buildings lack the character of 60 Centre Street.

Missoni (1921-2013)

At the end of 2011, I asked readers to nominate bloggers for best Post Of The Year (POTY).  Many names were submitted.  It was a fun competition.

The POTY award went to Ashley for a hilarious story on her search for new Missoni fashion during the day the clothes were released.  The post is fabulously entertaining and, if you haven't read it yet, you should go there now.

I mention this old post because Ottavio Missoni just died.  He was 92.  Missoni's designs are instantly recognizable and always popular.

Ottavio Missoni was born almost a century ago (1921) in Croatia.  In his youth, he was athletic, tall and handsome.  In 1948, he ran track in the Olympics -- and also designed his team's uniform.  During World War II, Missoni fought for the Italian Army, was captured, and spent four years in a prison camp.  After the War, he returned to Italy and started a clothing company.

Missoni's company was a success.  He explained, "I think our greatest asset is our simplicity of line.  We make it possible for women to be dressed in fashion and still dress very simply."

I find people's lives to be fascinating.  Don't you?

Whoa, That Was Close

This is true.  I swear it.

Kelly Nash is a sports-reporter from Tampa Bay.  She was covering her team in Boston last week.  Before the game, she decided to take a picture of herself in Fenway Park.  The game hadn't started yet but the players were doing batting-practice.

Check out Kelly's photo -- it shows a ball travelling right at her head.  This isn't a staged or photoshopped picture -- the ball was actually that close to hitting her.  Fortunately, it missed her by an inch.  She could have been seriously hurt.

Have you ever been to a baseball game?

Pioneers

There's a lot of discussion now about Jason Collins being the first openly gay player in a major sport.  Actually, he is not the first.

Back in the Seventies, Glenn Burke played baseball for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Oakland Athletics.  Burke was very open about his homosexuality, but the sports media was way too uncomfortable to write anything about him.  Later, Burke wrote an autobiography ("Out at Home") which told his tale.

Burke's is a sad story -- homophobia cut short his career and later his life.

As a wise man once said, you can look it up.   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Burke