Check out my friend and colleague's video application for Charlie Sheen's Tigerblood Internship. Like it if you like it. :)
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Alert! Rare Birds - Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers in NYC!
I first took notice of North Carolina's Steep Canyon Rangers last year when they toured with Steve Martin in support of the famed actor/author/comedian's Grammy Award winning album The Crow
. Now, Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers are back on the road, introducing audiences to the album they collaborated on, Rare Bird Alert.
Recorded last fall, the result is an exciting album that respects traditional bluegrass, features original songs penned by Martin and beautiful harmonization by the Rangers. During last night's show at the Highline Ballroom in NYC, the audience got a live preview of some of the new tracks as well as songs from "The Crow" and from the Rangers' catalogue.
The members of the Steep Canyon Rangers and Steve Martin are all experts at their instruments. One, Nicky Sanders, was a classically trained violinist before he played the fiddle. These influences can be heard when the fiddler riffs during fan favorite and one of the most impressive-sounding numbers "Orange Blossom Special". The show closed with this song which features the fiddle and was written in 1939.
Moving forward in time to the present-day, songs from "Rare Bird Alert", including the title track also generated much applause and were listened to with great enthusiasm. "Go Away, Stop, Turn Around, Come Back" is much more pleasant than the feeling such a love affair garners and the harmonizing of Woody Platt (guitar) and Mike Guggino (mandolin) makes the remembrance of such a lover sweeter.
It serves to note that the Rangers are rounded out by Graham Sharp on the banjo and Charles Humphries III whose unrelenting bass keeps everyone honest and on time. Sharp is the second banjo on this stage because Martin is also playing the instrument and this provides both the opportunity for a richer sound with 2 banjo parts but also a few jokes at Sharp's expense.
Martin doles out the humor throughout the set, finding occasion to make each Ranger a fall guy. Guggino plays the straight man very well with deadpan responses to Martin's jests and Platt just rolls with it. Though Martin's comic timing is the most developed and he is clearly the leader when it comes to banter between songs, when the music starts, it is a collaborative effort and at that point, they are all equals.
The Rare Bird Alert Tour should not be missed. Fans of Bluegrass will appreciate and revel in the homage played to the traditional music and enjoy the classic songs as well and the new works from the album. Fans of Steve Martin will appreciate the humor and no doubt walk away with newfound rhythms in their heads and a hankering to hear the banjo or the fiddle one more time. For them, the suggestion would be to stop at the merch table on the way out.
Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers will be at Joe's Pub on the Lower East Side on Wednesday and Thursday nights (March 15 and 16th) and the Music Hall in Williamsburg on Saturday night (March 19). They are also appearing on the Late Show with David Letterman on Wednesday, The View on Thursday and on The Colbert Report on Monday, March 21). Catch them early and catch them often.
Rare Bird Alert was released today and is available at iTunes, Amazon, and in stores. Besides the incredible addition of the Steep Canyon Rangers and therefore more tracks with vocals, Martin welcomes on this album guests Paul McCartney and the Dixie Chicks.
I'm calling a "rare bird alert" right now and advise that anyone who can make it to see these guys when they come to your town.
Follow them on Twitter: @steepcanyon and @SteveMartinToGo
Follow me: @rabiahc and @piratepods
. Now, Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers are back on the road, introducing audiences to the album they collaborated on, Rare Bird Alert. Recorded last fall, the result is an exciting album that respects traditional bluegrass, features original songs penned by Martin and beautiful harmonization by the Rangers. During last night's show at the Highline Ballroom in NYC, the audience got a live preview of some of the new tracks as well as songs from "The Crow" and from the Rangers' catalogue.The members of the Steep Canyon Rangers and Steve Martin are all experts at their instruments. One, Nicky Sanders, was a classically trained violinist before he played the fiddle. These influences can be heard when the fiddler riffs during fan favorite and one of the most impressive-sounding numbers "Orange Blossom Special". The show closed with this song which features the fiddle and was written in 1939.
Moving forward in time to the present-day, songs from "Rare Bird Alert", including the title track also generated much applause and were listened to with great enthusiasm. "Go Away, Stop, Turn Around, Come Back" is much more pleasant than the feeling such a love affair garners and the harmonizing of Woody Platt (guitar) and Mike Guggino (mandolin) makes the remembrance of such a lover sweeter.
It serves to note that the Rangers are rounded out by Graham Sharp on the banjo and Charles Humphries III whose unrelenting bass keeps everyone honest and on time. Sharp is the second banjo on this stage because Martin is also playing the instrument and this provides both the opportunity for a richer sound with 2 banjo parts but also a few jokes at Sharp's expense.
Martin doles out the humor throughout the set, finding occasion to make each Ranger a fall guy. Guggino plays the straight man very well with deadpan responses to Martin's jests and Platt just rolls with it. Though Martin's comic timing is the most developed and he is clearly the leader when it comes to banter between songs, when the music starts, it is a collaborative effort and at that point, they are all equals.
The Rare Bird Alert Tour should not be missed. Fans of Bluegrass will appreciate and revel in the homage played to the traditional music and enjoy the classic songs as well and the new works from the album. Fans of Steve Martin will appreciate the humor and no doubt walk away with newfound rhythms in their heads and a hankering to hear the banjo or the fiddle one more time. For them, the suggestion would be to stop at the merch table on the way out.
Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers will be at Joe's Pub on the Lower East Side on Wednesday and Thursday nights (March 15 and 16th) and the Music Hall in Williamsburg on Saturday night (March 19). They are also appearing on the Late Show with David Letterman on Wednesday, The View on Thursday and on The Colbert Report on Monday, March 21). Catch them early and catch them often.
Rare Bird Alert was released today and is available at iTunes, Amazon
, and in stores. Besides the incredible addition of the Steep Canyon Rangers and therefore more tracks with vocals, Martin welcomes on this album guests Paul McCartney and the Dixie Chicks.I'm calling a "rare bird alert" right now and advise that anyone who can make it to see these guys when they come to your town.
Follow them on Twitter: @steepcanyon and @SteveMartinToGo
Follow me: @rabiahc and @piratepods
Friday, February 25, 2011
You Have Grit
This was started Christmas Week and I didn't finish until now. I think it is still worthwhile coming up on the OSCARS!
It has been a week since I started my tour of the 2010 holiday cinema but I cannot get over "True Grit" and "The King's Speech" nor can I forget that "Little Fockers" was actually awful and "Tron: Legacy" was a lot of fun. Oh, and when I reminisce about "Black Swan" I close my eyes forgetting that my memory is clearer that way and then open them to escape the girl that haunts me!
The holiday 2010 season has been a great one and disappointing one in film and if you want my two cents, read on! In order of what I saw, not necessarily in order of what I loved, here are a few reviews that might save you $10 or spend your monthly allowance.
Black Swan
has been on the moviegoers map for a while and it might just be the vehicle that carries Natalie Portman to the Oscars' stage this year. Portman was stripped physically and emotionally in this role that unlike any she has played. From the technical abilities she displayed in dancing ballet to the vulnerability of someone who wants more than anything to play the lead role to the psychotic visions she shares with the audience, Portman was convincing and frightening. It is a dark film and not one for the weak of heart but a worthwhile look behind the scenes of the aesthetically beautiful ballet. Mila Kunis also deserves mention as the fellow dancer to brings out the most disturbing thoughts from Portman. Barbara Hershey was the perfect stage mother/former dancer and Vincent Cassel was fantastic as well as the artistic director of the ballet. Wynona Ryder's turn as the former star of the ballet was impacting for the amount of screen time. For those familiar with Darren Aronofsky's previous films, this one lives up to the delightful feeling of discomfort and repulsion that you have experienced before.
The King's Speech is my pick for everything this year and though when I started this entry there were not yet Oscar nominees, the truth is out there now so it should be mentioned. Colin Firth, the lovely and talented actor who in recent years has moved on from pop cinema into roles that have finally been written to his justice, must be crowned "Best Actor". His portrayal of Bertie (later King George VI), a royal with a stammer that prevented him from even flawlessly telling a bedtime story to his daughters (one of which is now the Queen of England) was both heart-breaking and awe-inspiring. As someone who did not know the story of this period of history in the royal family, the film was also a fantastic history lesson as well as a great family drama. Helena Bonham Carter rounded out the love story between Bertie and the now Queen Mother, Elizabeth, a strong and determined wife and partner for the King. Lionel Logue, the Australian speech therapist who gives Bertie the dose of tough love, true friendship and unorthodox treatment that he needs is played by the remarkable Geoffrey Rush who is ever a privilege to watch on screen. Guy Pearce a strong and worthy antagonist to Bertie as Prince/King Edward VIII.
Little Fockers embarrassed me. I was embarrassed seeing a movie that on the whole exhausted the humor of erectile dysfunction. I was embarrassed as I sat next to my parents, to see DeNiro as Jack Burnes asking Greg Focker to help him after he took the perverbial "blue pill" and suffered a 6-hour side effect. And, I was lastly embarrassed that the film was even made. My opinion: skip it. There are better films (The Hangover, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Wedding Crashers) with crass, college humor and better story lines. If you miss Jack Byrnes watch "Meet the Parents". If you love the Fockers, watch "Meet the Fockers". I'm all for fun at the movies and love Robert DeNiro (one of the greatest American actors ever) in a comic role as much as a dramatic role but it just did not make me happy. Consider also "Everybody's Fine" on of my DeNiro favorites as of late.
True Grit is a remake of the 1969 John Wayne film of the same name. It is a very, very good remake and having seen both, I can say that both are worth watching. I think the greatest joy in the 2010 version is the introduction of a the young and ridiculously talented Hailee Steinfeld who plays the role of Mattie Ross. There is little time that Steinfeld is not on screen and she delivers the Coen Brothers' dialogue flawlessly. The dialogue is unique and has a fantastic cadence that is echoed by all of the actors in the film. I am reminded of David Mamet who is a master at creating a rhythm in the way he writes the script. It is truly wonderful. Mattie Ross seeks the hired help of a U.S. Marshal to locate and capture her father's murderer, Tom Cheney, and hires one "with grit". Rooster Cogburn, played by Jeff Bridges does indeed have grit. Bridges transformed into a curmudgeonly, crusty old marshall who ultimately wants to protect Matt Damon was surprising as Texas Ranger LaBoeuf the cocky but eventually redeemed bounty hunter who was commissioned by another to find and kill the same Cheney. The tense trio set off on an adventure to catch the killer and it is a fun ride to be on.
Tron: Legacy
That's a wrap of of the films I saw almost two months ago, finally. It's about time!
It has been a week since I started my tour of the 2010 holiday cinema but I cannot get over "True Grit" and "The King's Speech" nor can I forget that "Little Fockers" was actually awful and "Tron: Legacy" was a lot of fun. Oh, and when I reminisce about "Black Swan" I close my eyes forgetting that my memory is clearer that way and then open them to escape the girl that haunts me!
The holiday 2010 season has been a great one and disappointing one in film and if you want my two cents, read on! In order of what I saw, not necessarily in order of what I loved, here are a few reviews that might save you $10 or spend your monthly allowance.
Black Swan
has been on the moviegoers map for a while and it might just be the vehicle that carries Natalie Portman to the Oscars' stage this year. Portman was stripped physically and emotionally in this role that unlike any she has played. From the technical abilities she displayed in dancing ballet to the vulnerability of someone who wants more than anything to play the lead role to the psychotic visions she shares with the audience, Portman was convincing and frightening. It is a dark film and not one for the weak of heart but a worthwhile look behind the scenes of the aesthetically beautiful ballet. Mila Kunis also deserves mention as the fellow dancer to brings out the most disturbing thoughts from Portman. Barbara Hershey was the perfect stage mother/former dancer and Vincent Cassel was fantastic as well as the artistic director of the ballet. Wynona Ryder's turn as the former star of the ballet was impacting for the amount of screen time. For those familiar with Darren Aronofsky's previous films, this one lives up to the delightful feeling of discomfort and repulsion that you have experienced before.The King's Speech is my pick for everything this year and though when I started this entry there were not yet Oscar nominees, the truth is out there now so it should be mentioned. Colin Firth, the lovely and talented actor who in recent years has moved on from pop cinema into roles that have finally been written to his justice, must be crowned "Best Actor". His portrayal of Bertie (later King George VI), a royal with a stammer that prevented him from even flawlessly telling a bedtime story to his daughters (one of which is now the Queen of England) was both heart-breaking and awe-inspiring. As someone who did not know the story of this period of history in the royal family, the film was also a fantastic history lesson as well as a great family drama. Helena Bonham Carter rounded out the love story between Bertie and the now Queen Mother, Elizabeth, a strong and determined wife and partner for the King. Lionel Logue, the Australian speech therapist who gives Bertie the dose of tough love, true friendship and unorthodox treatment that he needs is played by the remarkable Geoffrey Rush who is ever a privilege to watch on screen. Guy Pearce a strong and worthy antagonist to Bertie as Prince/King Edward VIII.
Little Fockers embarrassed me. I was embarrassed seeing a movie that on the whole exhausted the humor of erectile dysfunction. I was embarrassed as I sat next to my parents, to see DeNiro as Jack Burnes asking Greg Focker to help him after he took the perverbial "blue pill" and suffered a 6-hour side effect. And, I was lastly embarrassed that the film was even made. My opinion: skip it. There are better films (The Hangover, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Wedding Crashers) with crass, college humor and better story lines. If you miss Jack Byrnes watch "Meet the Parents". If you love the Fockers, watch "Meet the Fockers". I'm all for fun at the movies and love Robert DeNiro (one of the greatest American actors ever) in a comic role as much as a dramatic role but it just did not make me happy. Consider also "Everybody's Fine" on of my DeNiro favorites as of late.
True Grit is a remake of the 1969 John Wayne film of the same name. It is a very, very good remake and having seen both, I can say that both are worth watching. I think the greatest joy in the 2010 version is the introduction of a the young and ridiculously talented Hailee Steinfeld who plays the role of Mattie Ross. There is little time that Steinfeld is not on screen and she delivers the Coen Brothers' dialogue flawlessly. The dialogue is unique and has a fantastic cadence that is echoed by all of the actors in the film. I am reminded of David Mamet who is a master at creating a rhythm in the way he writes the script. It is truly wonderful. Mattie Ross seeks the hired help of a U.S. Marshal to locate and capture her father's murderer, Tom Cheney, and hires one "with grit". Rooster Cogburn, played by Jeff Bridges does indeed have grit. Bridges transformed into a curmudgeonly, crusty old marshall who ultimately wants to protect Matt Damon was surprising as Texas Ranger LaBoeuf the cocky but eventually redeemed bounty hunter who was commissioned by another to find and kill the same Cheney. The tense trio set off on an adventure to catch the killer and it is a fun ride to be on.
Tron: Legacy
That's a wrap of of the films I saw almost two months ago, finally. It's about time!
Monday, January 03, 2011
Laura Linney and my 2nd Day in 2011
Laura Linney is one of the best American actresses possibly ever. Is that taking it too far? I do not think so after seeing her in films, on television ("The Big C") and now on Broadway.
I have been a fan for along time though I cannot say exactly when I knew who she was. In the play, "Time Stands Still", Linney takes displays, passion and a caustic sense of humor and timing for a ride as a photographer who is fresh off an assignment at a war zone where she was almost fatally injured. She is in a long-term relationship with a writer who was also covering the fighting and has a close mentor in a photo editor that brings along with him his mid-life crises/baby mama when they meet again once she is back home.
There is great tension between the characters with loose alliances forming and breaking apart at various stages and a clear struggle between happiness and "life" taking place throughout the play.
The performances of the other actors are excellent with Christina Ricci being the other standout. Her optimistically ignorant character brings the youth and normalcy that the other characters do not share. She is somewhat a member of the audience, wondering why the others do not want to be happy and asking point-blank, "how can I make a difference?" She lets the audience off the hook. They don't have to ask after they are accused of just standing by and watching things happen.
it is a difficult play to digest because as funny as some lines are, the irony is that the audience is really laughing at itself and upon reflection, some others than myself may have realized this by now.
But, it is a play that is highly recommended before the run is over. Linney must return to the set of "The Big C" and that will be the end. If you have not subscribed to Showtime, grab the DVD and if you are in NYC this month, go check out the play.
Linney and the rest of the cast are lovely enough to sign autographs and pose for pictures after the show which is a bonus if you want to shake hands with brilliance (ok, maybe now I'm a bit over-excited).
1/2/11 - 2nd play of the year - it is a good year so far.
I have been a fan for along time though I cannot say exactly when I knew who she was. In the play, "Time Stands Still", Linney takes displays, passion and a caustic sense of humor and timing for a ride as a photographer who is fresh off an assignment at a war zone where she was almost fatally injured. She is in a long-term relationship with a writer who was also covering the fighting and has a close mentor in a photo editor that brings along with him his mid-life crises/baby mama when they meet again once she is back home.
There is great tension between the characters with loose alliances forming and breaking apart at various stages and a clear struggle between happiness and "life" taking place throughout the play.
The performances of the other actors are excellent with Christina Ricci being the other standout. Her optimistically ignorant character brings the youth and normalcy that the other characters do not share. She is somewhat a member of the audience, wondering why the others do not want to be happy and asking point-blank, "how can I make a difference?" She lets the audience off the hook. They don't have to ask after they are accused of just standing by and watching things happen.
it is a difficult play to digest because as funny as some lines are, the irony is that the audience is really laughing at itself and upon reflection, some others than myself may have realized this by now.
But, it is a play that is highly recommended before the run is over. Linney must return to the set of "The Big C" and that will be the end. If you have not subscribed to Showtime, grab the DVD and if you are in NYC this month, go check out the play.
Linney and the rest of the cast are lovely enough to sign autographs and pose for pictures after the show which is a bonus if you want to shake hands with brilliance (ok, maybe now I'm a bit over-excited).
1/2/11 - 2nd play of the year - it is a good year so far.
Saturday, January 01, 2011
New Year (Day) - 1/1/11
"The time is now." That statement can apply to many different situations, plans of action, thoughts and decisions. Right at this moment, it applies to my decision to stop everything and write this first blog entry of 2011. This is the first entry in a while and there is much to say, if it is assumed that anything I have to write is worth saying or reading. It may not be but I would implore you to read on anyway.
The plan is to write daily. Or, almost daily. I might even write more than once a day. What about? Oh, it could be anything. I love film and music as you might know and now that I'm living in NYC, I will be seeing my share of plays and musicals as well.
I live in NYC. That is the most unexpected occurrence of the most recent two months. As a kid, I would watch Letterman and Regis and Kathie Lee and long to be in the city. Now, I work for Bloom Avenue, a start-up and have relocated here. I did not dream that at the end of last year I would be in a new job and a new city (on the East Coast) but I am here and I am happy. This unexpected and almost spontaneous change in the holding pattern I was in has given me new life and I need to say again, I am happy.
Having just read Delivering Happiness
by Zappos founder Tony Hsieh, I have a different perspective on happiness than I used to and also have a different perspective on customer service. This is so important and I have already reached back to some of the ideas in the past few days. I am grateful for Tony's book and also for the conversation I was allowed to eavesdrop on that let me find it. I am also grateful that I can feel happiness in such an uncharacteristically uninhibited way that I was able to read about it without rolling my eyes. I can also pass happiness along and fully intend to do so.
I cannot say that life is perfect. I miss my family and don't have much going on socially but I can see past these things and have plenty to do and a mind and heart that are more open to new and unplanned events than they have ever been before. I have met some cool people already; sharing a bottle of wine with a couple on their first date just because we all seemed to enjoy conversing and chatting with a total stranger over coffee because I was able to say hello. These are not unusual events where I am concerned but have been rare of late, until very recently when the weight of dismay with everything was lifted.
Let's talk Broadway. The blizzard of December 2010 caused me to miss a play I REALLY wanted to see but I am making up for it and catching it tomorrow, 1/2/2011. Today, I caught the matinee of Steven Sondheim's "A Little Night Music". I skipped this one last time I was in NYC and would have missed it altogether had it not been for a chance encounter with John Lithgow on the Subway. He recommended it. And, I am delighted that he did! I was scared to say anything when I recognized him but we ended up having a conversation that was lovely and I ended up seeing a great musical today.
Bernadette Peters and Elaine Stritch are closing out the show in just seven days so I was lucky to get the tip to see it when I did. Stritch is a legend and the performance was as described...legendary. Her lines were delivered flawlessly and it was a guaranteed laugh whenever she brought her wisdom and "advice" to the stage.
Peters is an actress that I do not think I've truly appreciated until now. That can be the case when one has only seen selected performances and then encounters an actress in a starring role on Broadway. I think I can only really name one Peters role which was in "The Jerk". I laugh to myself now thinking of that film but also know that there is much more to the actress than a film that was made over 25 years ago.
"Send in the Clowns" made me cry. Literally, I did not expect to cry at all, and I felt tears. There was a vulnerability and truth to her character that came out just then. An earlier speech by Henrik, the son of Peters' former lover referred to the "truth" as something all of the characters lacked. It was at this moment in the play that one truth was exposed.
It is the first day of 2011 and I have accomplished more than I did on most days in 2010 or even 2009.
Please visit often and I will too. Happy New Year. Smile about something today. It is not too late.
The plan is to write daily. Or, almost daily. I might even write more than once a day. What about? Oh, it could be anything. I love film and music as you might know and now that I'm living in NYC, I will be seeing my share of plays and musicals as well.
I live in NYC. That is the most unexpected occurrence of the most recent two months. As a kid, I would watch Letterman and Regis and Kathie Lee and long to be in the city. Now, I work for Bloom Avenue, a start-up and have relocated here. I did not dream that at the end of last year I would be in a new job and a new city (on the East Coast) but I am here and I am happy. This unexpected and almost spontaneous change in the holding pattern I was in has given me new life and I need to say again, I am happy.
Having just read Delivering Happiness
by Zappos founder Tony Hsieh, I have a different perspective on happiness than I used to and also have a different perspective on customer service. This is so important and I have already reached back to some of the ideas in the past few days. I am grateful for Tony's book and also for the conversation I was allowed to eavesdrop on that let me find it. I am also grateful that I can feel happiness in such an uncharacteristically uninhibited way that I was able to read about it without rolling my eyes. I can also pass happiness along and fully intend to do so.I cannot say that life is perfect. I miss my family and don't have much going on socially but I can see past these things and have plenty to do and a mind and heart that are more open to new and unplanned events than they have ever been before. I have met some cool people already; sharing a bottle of wine with a couple on their first date just because we all seemed to enjoy conversing and chatting with a total stranger over coffee because I was able to say hello. These are not unusual events where I am concerned but have been rare of late, until very recently when the weight of dismay with everything was lifted.
Let's talk Broadway. The blizzard of December 2010 caused me to miss a play I REALLY wanted to see but I am making up for it and catching it tomorrow, 1/2/2011. Today, I caught the matinee of Steven Sondheim's "A Little Night Music". I skipped this one last time I was in NYC and would have missed it altogether had it not been for a chance encounter with John Lithgow on the Subway. He recommended it. And, I am delighted that he did! I was scared to say anything when I recognized him but we ended up having a conversation that was lovely and I ended up seeing a great musical today.
Bernadette Peters and Elaine Stritch are closing out the show in just seven days so I was lucky to get the tip to see it when I did. Stritch is a legend and the performance was as described...legendary. Her lines were delivered flawlessly and it was a guaranteed laugh whenever she brought her wisdom and "advice" to the stage.
Peters is an actress that I do not think I've truly appreciated until now. That can be the case when one has only seen selected performances and then encounters an actress in a starring role on Broadway. I think I can only really name one Peters role which was in "The Jerk". I laugh to myself now thinking of that film but also know that there is much more to the actress than a film that was made over 25 years ago.
"Send in the Clowns" made me cry. Literally, I did not expect to cry at all, and I felt tears. There was a vulnerability and truth to her character that came out just then. An earlier speech by Henrik, the son of Peters' former lover referred to the "truth" as something all of the characters lacked. It was at this moment in the play that one truth was exposed.
It is the first day of 2011 and I have accomplished more than I did on most days in 2010 or even 2009.
Please visit often and I will too. Happy New Year. Smile about something today. It is not too late.
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
Elton John - Never To Old (To Hold Somebody) LIVE - The Union Song
Elton John and Leon Russell's new album "The Union" is out later this month. This is a LIVE recording of a song from the album that he played in San Diego in August. I just finally got it uploaded. Very nice lyric.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
MS Challenge Walk! Please Give!
This is an email I sent out to friends and family. I really need to raise money. If you can give, please read below and click on the link at the end. Thank you!
PS - I'll be posting real articles soon. Just busy with work and everyday I'm a little more out of time!
Hello All,
I need your help.
This year, I have again made the decision to walk in the 2010 Challenge Walk MS which will take me 50 miles from Carlsbad to San Diego in three days. I'll start on September 24 and finish on September 26.
This journey is important for me personally because I have MS. Ten years ago I was diagnosed and I know that I am very fortunate to be able to walk today. There are many people with MS who can no longer walk or move. The disease can be disabling and the range of symptoms is diverse. There is no known cause or cure for MS. Medicine has come a long way from the time when doctors said, "there is nothing we can do" but we are still a long way off from a cure.
Research is needed and quality of life programs are key to help those people who live with the disease daily are key to the well-being of those with MS. The Multiple Sclerosis Society's Pacific South Coast Chapter has given me the opportunity to impact the lives of others through speaking engagements as an MS Ambassador, putting a face to MS as a Champion Against MS and the annual Walk MS that my employer, Provide Commerce sponsors.
My Champions story is here if you'd like to read my story: http://www.nationalmssociety.org/chapters/cas/chapter-news/stories/rabiah-coon/index.aspx
This year, my Walk MS team was the number 1 fundraising team in Southern California at $40,000!
Please sponsor me. Any amount will help. My goal (and the minimum I need to raise) is $2500.
If you can help, click here: http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/rabiahc
Thank you for reading and for your support,
Rabiah
PS - I'll be posting real articles soon. Just busy with work and everyday I'm a little more out of time!
Hello All,
I need your help.
This year, I have again made the decision to walk in the 2010 Challenge Walk MS which will take me 50 miles from Carlsbad to San Diego in three days. I'll start on September 24 and finish on September 26.
This journey is important for me personally because I have MS. Ten years ago I was diagnosed and I know that I am very fortunate to be able to walk today. There are many people with MS who can no longer walk or move. The disease can be disabling and the range of symptoms is diverse. There is no known cause or cure for MS. Medicine has come a long way from the time when doctors said, "there is nothing we can do" but we are still a long way off from a cure.
Research is needed and quality of life programs are key to help those people who live with the disease daily are key to the well-being of those with MS. The Multiple Sclerosis Society's Pacific South Coast Chapter has given me the opportunity to impact the lives of others through speaking engagements as an MS Ambassador, putting a face to MS as a Champion Against MS and the annual Walk MS that my employer, Provide Commerce sponsors.
My Champions story is here if you'd like to read my story: http://www.nationalmssociety.org/chapters/cas/chapter-news/stories/rabiah-coon/index.aspx
This year, my Walk MS team was the number 1 fundraising team in Southern California at $40,000!
Please sponsor me. Any amount will help. My goal (and the minimum I need to raise) is $2500.
If you can help, click here: http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/rabiahc
Thank you for reading and for your support,
Rabiah
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
Lydia Live! July 28, 7p - 9p PT
Live show on TODHD, Wednesday!
Click here for details: Lydia Live! July 28, 7p - 9p PT
Friday, July 23, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
For Your Entertainment: It's 3am, Where Are You?
For Your Entertainment: It's 3am, Where Are You?: "I was online last night when I should have been asleep and across the Twitterverse comes a message from John Mayer announcing a Ustream chat..."
Monday, July 12, 2010
I'm Watching Frasier
I read an article today about the fall of television and then, I read another one. Huffington Post will tell us that the big 4 (ABC, NBC, Fox, CBS) aren't pulling their numbers. Courier Press said that the late night talk shows aren't getting viewers. Yeah, really? I mean, in-fighting amongst the hosts isn't cool. Is anyone into Leno after he hurt their precious Coco?
Personally, I feel like watching "Frasier" much of the time. You can watch it anytime at Kelsey Live, Kelsey Grammer's website which is part of this other site, TODHD. It's pretty cool.
He's even starting his own show in the Fall called The TOD'nite Show.
When I miss a show, I usually just catch it online or watch most things on DVR. Anyway, I'm not surprised to hear that less people are watching tv. I'm probably not...
Personally, I feel like watching "Frasier" much of the time. You can watch it anytime at Kelsey Live, Kelsey Grammer's website which is part of this other site, TODHD. It's pretty cool.
He's even starting his own show in the Fall called The TOD'nite Show.
When I miss a show, I usually just catch it online or watch most things on DVR. Anyway, I'm not surprised to hear that less people are watching tv. I'm probably not...
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Gratitude
I have learned a lot about gratitude lately and what it means to be thankful for what I have versus what I wish I had. It isn't the time of year that I'd expect to have these lessons be a part of my life but it is the right time nonetheless. I usually wait until Thanksgiving to say what I'm thankful for but the time is now.
I have a fantastic family. After arguing with my Grandma last week and realizing that it was stupid to do so, I'm grateful to still have her around. She's 85 this year and I vividly remember a horrific day a couple of years ago when I thought she might not be here much longer.
My Sister is a wonderful mother and I have 2 nephews and a niece whom I love, more than any other people in the world. They are the coolest little people and each one has taught me more than the next about love and and what it "unconditional" means.
My Mom is someone that I can't imagine going more than 2-3 days without talking to. She blew me off for the Celebrity Apprentice tonight but I totally understand that. She loves the show. I think that is so cool. There are few shows she truly loves and that is one of them. I don't know why but that entertains me. Also, I watch that show just to make sure we can talk about it.
My Dad is someone that I didn't talk to much over the past 20 years and is my step-dad but in recent years, I have come to love him too. I don't know him well and may never know him well but I've seen in his eyea kindness that though he can't express, I know is there. I think in another time, he would have been the heroic perfect father.
I have excellent friends. I had a party today. It was simple with Kabobs that I skewered with care, Couscous Salad and some fresh veggies with hummus, some yummy (yes, I said "yummy") Tzaziki and Cilantro Yogurt dips. Everything was wonderful. It was a great day. There was no stress and only a little sun, a fun lawn game (kind of like "Toss Across") and Band Hero. Oh...S'mores. Cupcakes. it was all delicious. And the company; we laughed and talked and laughed some more.
I know right now what it means to be grateful. I had a wonderful day.
I miss my brother very deeply today too. I somehow think that he might have been here with me and been a part of it all. I used to think about taking him in and saving him. I didn't. And that, I regret. But, I am grateful for what I have and who I have and tomorrow, I will try to remember that again.
What simple things are you grateful for? Try to remember what those are and try to live with them and celebrate them.
Love.
I have a fantastic family. After arguing with my Grandma last week and realizing that it was stupid to do so, I'm grateful to still have her around. She's 85 this year and I vividly remember a horrific day a couple of years ago when I thought she might not be here much longer.
My Sister is a wonderful mother and I have 2 nephews and a niece whom I love, more than any other people in the world. They are the coolest little people and each one has taught me more than the next about love and and what it "unconditional" means.
My Mom is someone that I can't imagine going more than 2-3 days without talking to. She blew me off for the Celebrity Apprentice tonight but I totally understand that. She loves the show. I think that is so cool. There are few shows she truly loves and that is one of them. I don't know why but that entertains me. Also, I watch that show just to make sure we can talk about it.
My Dad is someone that I didn't talk to much over the past 20 years and is my step-dad but in recent years, I have come to love him too. I don't know him well and may never know him well but I've seen in his eyea kindness that though he can't express, I know is there. I think in another time, he would have been the heroic perfect father.
I have excellent friends. I had a party today. It was simple with Kabobs that I skewered with care, Couscous Salad and some fresh veggies with hummus, some yummy (yes, I said "yummy") Tzaziki and Cilantro Yogurt dips. Everything was wonderful. It was a great day. There was no stress and only a little sun, a fun lawn game (kind of like "Toss Across") and Band Hero. Oh...S'mores. Cupcakes. it was all delicious. And the company; we laughed and talked and laughed some more.
I know right now what it means to be grateful. I had a wonderful day.
I miss my brother very deeply today too. I somehow think that he might have been here with me and been a part of it all. I used to think about taking him in and saving him. I didn't. And that, I regret. But, I am grateful for what I have and who I have and tomorrow, I will try to remember that again.
What simple things are you grateful for? Try to remember what those are and try to live with them and celebrate them.
Love.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Sundance Twenty-Ten, Prequel
It was a total fiasco getting to Park City, UT from San Diego today. After proudly booking a flight yesterday and then switching to get the earlier flight that I wanted, I thought everything was great. I was even on time to pick up my friend Amy.
Well, we got to the airport and checked in and when it was time to board, found out our flight was delayed. Within an hour, the flight was cancelled. In fact, all Southwest flights were cancelled at that moment. Then, an hour later, just as we were ready to fork out some cash to Delta, our flight was going to board.
3 hours and 2 Bloody Mary's in, we were ready to go.
Then upon approaching Las Vegas to connect to SLC, we were told we had to circle Vegas but not land. Round and round we went until we spun off to Reno for a refuel. Recall the statement above about the Delta flight? It was a direct flight but I digress.
Reno added an hour to the trip by the time we got fuel and de-iced. It was a bumpy flight back to Vegas with the highlight being plane-shaped graham crackers that were also known as lunch.
So, that Delta flight...we would have been in Salt Lake City instead of Reno...next time, I think I'll just pay the difference. One of those things we couldn't have known before!
Back in Vegas we got a 5 minute reprieve from the seats that had held us close for
4 hours.
Finally, around 8pm, we were in our hotel in Park City. It took 13 hours from the time we arrived at SAN to the time we arrived at our hotel.
Opening Night Party didn't happen. We had the chance to get tickets but it we also didn't feel to well.
I did meet a film critic for US Weekly in the lobby which was awesome. I would love to write and get paid for it. I would love to be an expert on film and to have a job that required it.
Tomorrow, it's on! Movies, movies, movies. We have tickets and we're ready to go.
The Dance is starting...
Well, we got to the airport and checked in and when it was time to board, found out our flight was delayed. Within an hour, the flight was cancelled. In fact, all Southwest flights were cancelled at that moment. Then, an hour later, just as we were ready to fork out some cash to Delta, our flight was going to board.
3 hours and 2 Bloody Mary's in, we were ready to go.
Then upon approaching Las Vegas to connect to SLC, we were told we had to circle Vegas but not land. Round and round we went until we spun off to Reno for a refuel. Recall the statement above about the Delta flight? It was a direct flight but I digress.
Reno added an hour to the trip by the time we got fuel and de-iced. It was a bumpy flight back to Vegas with the highlight being plane-shaped graham crackers that were also known as lunch.
So, that Delta flight...we would have been in Salt Lake City instead of Reno...next time, I think I'll just pay the difference. One of those things we couldn't have known before!
Back in Vegas we got a 5 minute reprieve from the seats that had held us close for
4 hours.
Finally, around 8pm, we were in our hotel in Park City. It took 13 hours from the time we arrived at SAN to the time we arrived at our hotel.
Opening Night Party didn't happen. We had the chance to get tickets but it we also didn't feel to well.
I did meet a film critic for US Weekly in the lobby which was awesome. I would love to write and get paid for it. I would love to be an expert on film and to have a job that required it.
Tomorrow, it's on! Movies, movies, movies. We have tickets and we're ready to go.
The Dance is starting...
Sundance Twenty-Ten
I am going to the SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL. By the grace of some wonderful people, I am going to a place I have dreamed of and am going to see wonderful films and be a part of one of the greatest film festivals in the world.
I am going with a great friend and ready for adventure!
The feeling I have right now is comparable to some of the greatest moments of my life.
So far today:
Flight delayed
Flight cancelled
Flight taking off in 20 minutes!
I am in great hope that I'll make it to Salt Lake City and then Park City asap.
Join me on twitter "rabiahc" as I tweet and here as I blog about my experience.
My first challenge, once I'm there, is getting into the Opening Night Party. I have one ticket and two in my group. It's going to happen.
Tomorrow, the films begin!
Life is beautiful. This is a reminder.
I am going with a great friend and ready for adventure!
The feeling I have right now is comparable to some of the greatest moments of my life.
So far today:
Flight delayed
Flight cancelled
Flight taking off in 20 minutes!
I am in great hope that I'll make it to Salt Lake City and then Park City asap.
Join me on twitter "rabiahc" as I tweet and here as I blog about my experience.
My first challenge, once I'm there, is getting into the Opening Night Party. I have one ticket and two in my group. It's going to happen.
Tomorrow, the films begin!
Life is beautiful. This is a reminder.
Sunday, January 03, 2010
A Serious(ly) Man
I love the Coen Brothers. Joel and Ethan Coen rank among my Top 10, maybe even Top 3 filmmakers/screenwriters. "A Serious Man" was not my favorite movie. After seeing 5 films in one week, I can honestly put this one at the bottom of the 5. If I go back a few weeks or fast-forward a few weeks, it will most likely not be saved from last place unless I take my nephew to see "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel".
I thought that there were funny parts to this film that looks at the struggle of physics professor Larry Gopnik as his life hits a chaotic wall. His wife is leaving him, his pot-smoking son is becoming a bar mitzvah and his daughter is constantly trying to wash her hair while saving money for a nose job. Richard Kind plays his uncle, who has a cist that he is constantly draining and provides some entertainment. To add to it, a student is trying to extort Gopnik and his neighbors are distracting him.
There were some funny moments and some pretty dramatic moments but in all, I didn't love this film. I wouldn't even recommend it to anyone. It isn't the worst thing I've ever seen but I just didn't get it. I wonder if maybe I don't understand enough about Judaism to really see why it is special or if it just wasn't my cup of tea.
The son and Sy Ableman (the wife's new man) were my favorite characters and did inevitably make me laugh every time they were on screen.
Probably 2/3 into the film, Gopnik seeks the counsel of a few rabbis, one of which was played by Simon Helberg (Walowitz on The Big Bang Theory) and that was a great surprise! I think this happened too late in the film and should have come sooner. He is trying to become a serious man and doesn't think he can do it on his own.
Michael Stuhlbarg did a great job of making Gopnik a character a viewer could only sympathize with and deserves kudos for his acting abilities.
Overall, I give this one a sideways thumb and still can't wait to see what the Coen's have on tap next. If I want to laugh and see a dark comedy, I'll find my Fargo DVD and leave A Serious Man on the shelf.
As I conclude this review, I feel like I really am missing something and am trying to decide if having an awful day before seeing the film led to my lack of patience with it. Maybe you'll really like it. I did laugh and did cringe and that is usually enough but I think I just wanted more. Bummer.
I thought that there were funny parts to this film that looks at the struggle of physics professor Larry Gopnik as his life hits a chaotic wall. His wife is leaving him, his pot-smoking son is becoming a bar mitzvah and his daughter is constantly trying to wash her hair while saving money for a nose job. Richard Kind plays his uncle, who has a cist that he is constantly draining and provides some entertainment. To add to it, a student is trying to extort Gopnik and his neighbors are distracting him.
There were some funny moments and some pretty dramatic moments but in all, I didn't love this film. I wouldn't even recommend it to anyone. It isn't the worst thing I've ever seen but I just didn't get it. I wonder if maybe I don't understand enough about Judaism to really see why it is special or if it just wasn't my cup of tea.
The son and Sy Ableman (the wife's new man) were my favorite characters and did inevitably make me laugh every time they were on screen.
Probably 2/3 into the film, Gopnik seeks the counsel of a few rabbis, one of which was played by Simon Helberg (Walowitz on The Big Bang Theory) and that was a great surprise! I think this happened too late in the film and should have come sooner. He is trying to become a serious man and doesn't think he can do it on his own.
Michael Stuhlbarg did a great job of making Gopnik a character a viewer could only sympathize with and deserves kudos for his acting abilities.
Overall, I give this one a sideways thumb and still can't wait to see what the Coen's have on tap next. If I want to laugh and see a dark comedy, I'll find my Fargo DVD and leave A Serious Man on the shelf.
As I conclude this review, I feel like I really am missing something and am trying to decide if having an awful day before seeing the film led to my lack of patience with it. Maybe you'll really like it. I did laugh and did cringe and that is usually enough but I think I just wanted more. Bummer.
Heavy Films, Heavy Heart
With awards season on the horizon, I have become somewhat obsessed with catching up and keeping up with the films that are available for viewing and in only one case have I been at all disappointed at the theater. I'll review that film later! One night last week, I caught a custom double-feature at the Hillcrest Landmark Theatre and was impressed and crushed twice. "A Single Man" and then "Precious" did me in and I wouldn't change that evening for the world.
"A Single Man" stars a personal favorite, Colin Firth, in a role that displays and challenges his abilities as an actor and he wins. As George Falconer, a homosexual professor who suddenly loses his partner and finds no will to live, Firth portrays sadness beautifully and convincingly. In order to give nothing away, I am being careful here but I held my breath several times and eventually became choked up during the glimpse at one day in the man's life. Julianne Moore's small role was entertaining and impacting and along with some flashback scenes offered a glimpse into Firth's character before the death of his partner. Nicholas Hoult, who you probably remember last from "About a Boy" is grown up and gorgeous as a student who plays a big part in Falconer's last day. The fashion, the actors, the cinematography and the script make A Single Man a unique, quiet and impacting film. The use of color was incredible as well.
"Precious" was difficult because of the subject matter alone. Precious is played by a first-time actress who effectively broke my heart from the start in a painfully authentic and unexaggerated performance as a teenage girl who is pregnant by her father for the 2nd time and still finds the will to try to improve her life. She lives with her terribly abusive mother and is still in Junior High. Things begin to change when she is placed in an alternative school and begins to learn about love. This isn't a typical after-school special or Lifetime-esque movie. This is a gritty and painful story and is very hard to watch but it is worth the time. There is some relief in Precious' daydreams of becoming someone else but otherwise, it is rough. Lee Daniels did an incredible job of telling the story of Precious and made the exact right casting decisions for the title-role. It is said that he initially looked for girls who were just like Precious--living in the projects, uneducated, etc. but then he went with someone who didn't come from that background and that was the best move.
"A Single Man" stars a personal favorite, Colin Firth, in a role that displays and challenges his abilities as an actor and he wins. As George Falconer, a homosexual professor who suddenly loses his partner and finds no will to live, Firth portrays sadness beautifully and convincingly. In order to give nothing away, I am being careful here but I held my breath several times and eventually became choked up during the glimpse at one day in the man's life. Julianne Moore's small role was entertaining and impacting and along with some flashback scenes offered a glimpse into Firth's character before the death of his partner. Nicholas Hoult, who you probably remember last from "About a Boy" is grown up and gorgeous as a student who plays a big part in Falconer's last day. The fashion, the actors, the cinematography and the script make A Single Man a unique, quiet and impacting film. The use of color was incredible as well.
"Precious" was difficult because of the subject matter alone. Precious is played by a first-time actress who effectively broke my heart from the start in a painfully authentic and unexaggerated performance as a teenage girl who is pregnant by her father for the 2nd time and still finds the will to try to improve her life. She lives with her terribly abusive mother and is still in Junior High. Things begin to change when she is placed in an alternative school and begins to learn about love. This isn't a typical after-school special or Lifetime-esque movie. This is a gritty and painful story and is very hard to watch but it is worth the time. There is some relief in Precious' daydreams of becoming someone else but otherwise, it is rough. Lee Daniels did an incredible job of telling the story of Precious and made the exact right casting decisions for the title-role. It is said that he initially looked for girls who were just like Precious--living in the projects, uneducated, etc. but then he went with someone who didn't come from that background and that was the best move.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
It's Complicated (a Review and Adoration)
I was relieved that this holiday weekend afforded me the opportunity to see the most anticipated film of the season for me personally, "It's Complicated". Starring Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin, this newest in Nancy Meyers' catalog of middle-aged rom-com films is possibly her best and most funny story. I loved "Something's Gotta Give" but "It's Complicated" is so much more compelling and dare I say real that it is already one I plan to own and also probably see again in the theater.
The entire crowd was laughing so hard at one point that the 2nd half of a punchline wasn't audible.
In addition to a storyline that was entertaining, relateable (yeah, maybe I'm a little young to really relate but I won't be forever), the cast was perfect from the leads to the more minor characters.
Meryl Streep is like a fine wine...as amazing as she was 30 years ago, she has only gotten more interesting to watch and I can see her only getting better. She was sexy and vulnerable and bold as the woman who begins an affair with her ex-husband ten years after their divorce and even few years since she could say she had really moved on. Moments featured in the trailer that show her with her girlfriends are entertaining and compelling where they could have been otherwise.
Alec Baldwin is like a fine...whiskey. I saw him on Letterman the other night and he talked about having a "butt double" in the film. Despite not really showing his own broadside, he showed many other sides as the 57-year old ex-husband who married a much younger woman only to find himself back in bed with his first. He was pitch-perfect when comic-timing was key and authentic in his portrayal. Given Baldwin's handsomeness and my real-live crush on him, I thought about his on-screen marriage and wondered how true the relationship rang to those that are so prevalent everywhere; the younger woman and older man. It was done so well in this film and I'm sure not everyone who sees it would be laughing!
Steve Martin is rarely 2nd chair when it comes to playing the funny guy but in "It's Complicated", he was more complicated than hilarious and it was refreshing. His ability to do slapstick is as compelling as his ability to conjure the character of a vulnerable divorcee which he does here.
It's Complicated but it's also fun and touching and worth the trip to the theater!
The entire crowd was laughing so hard at one point that the 2nd half of a punchline wasn't audible.
In addition to a storyline that was entertaining, relateable (yeah, maybe I'm a little young to really relate but I won't be forever), the cast was perfect from the leads to the more minor characters.
Meryl Streep is like a fine wine...as amazing as she was 30 years ago, she has only gotten more interesting to watch and I can see her only getting better. She was sexy and vulnerable and bold as the woman who begins an affair with her ex-husband ten years after their divorce and even few years since she could say she had really moved on. Moments featured in the trailer that show her with her girlfriends are entertaining and compelling where they could have been otherwise.
Alec Baldwin is like a fine...whiskey. I saw him on Letterman the other night and he talked about having a "butt double" in the film. Despite not really showing his own broadside, he showed many other sides as the 57-year old ex-husband who married a much younger woman only to find himself back in bed with his first. He was pitch-perfect when comic-timing was key and authentic in his portrayal. Given Baldwin's handsomeness and my real-live crush on him, I thought about his on-screen marriage and wondered how true the relationship rang to those that are so prevalent everywhere; the younger woman and older man. It was done so well in this film and I'm sure not everyone who sees it would be laughing!
Steve Martin is rarely 2nd chair when it comes to playing the funny guy but in "It's Complicated", he was more complicated than hilarious and it was refreshing. His ability to do slapstick is as compelling as his ability to conjure the character of a vulnerable divorcee which he does here.
It's Complicated but it's also fun and touching and worth the trip to the theater!
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