Big Blue Huddle

Quote from: jimv on February 14, 2021, 12:21:50 AM
The Godfather.

Speaking of "The Godfather," here's another quote:

"What's this with men and the 'Godfather?'"

Good one--

You've Got Mail

Quote from: Shoelessjoe on February 13, 2021, 10:05:22 PM
This past week my wife and I each got a set of hearing aids.  The place where my wife retired from has a good insurance policy that covers hearing aids up to $4,000 for each of us so we agreed that we take advantage of it while it was available to us.  We went to get tested and finally got fitted this past thursday.  I can now hear things that I never heard before.  Like a light switch making a strange sound. The other day when we were checking out of a grocery store I mumbled something with my back turned away from her and she heard everything that I said. I don't know if this is a good thing.

The pieces that fit in the back of the ear have blue tooth so we are able to connect my cell phone to the devices and listen to music, podcast or whatever.  We got the one that recharge so we don't have to change the batteries.

Now all we need is for this state to get some vaccines so that we can protected.  We are on several wait list but we have been checking with the state, the local hospital, and pharmacies and nothing is available.

Frank

Welcome to 'old age'.

My hearing was bad. My wife, being a retired UFT (Teachers Union) had a great also for hearing aids. But, I heard the VA was better, so about 3 years ago, I went and got tested and approved for hearing aids for both ears. Yes, they are a boon to all who cannot hear well. I truly never believed I needed them. My biggest problem was hearing people in a crowd, or at dinner with several couples. I just could NOT hear a darn thing anyone said and would nod or laugh as my wife did. With the hearing aids, I cannot say I hear every word. as I find certain voice distinctions still give me trouble, be they are high pitch, or very bass. I watch TV with the captions on because I still miss a word here or there and it could ruin the plot or joke or whatever I am watching. With that said, they have been a boon to me in my everyday life. I no longer have to blast the radio in the car, put the TV volume up into the 50's level. I did have a problem a while back as my granddaughter snuck up behind me and screamed in my right ear. Really, since then the hearing level in that ear is lower than my other ear. I had it checked and they found no problem, but it is harder to hear out of that ear even with the hearing aid.
We also had the choice of the rechargeable or batteries, and I opted for the battery model, as I know I will forget to charge them some night (like falling asleep with them in, or whatever). I do not have to pay for batteries thru the VA, so, again, I felt that is the way for us to go. Mine also has that blu-tooth compatibility, but since I rarely use my phone for anything other than calling someone, I haven't taken advantage of that feature.

OK if you're throwing out softballs, here's another


"Great men are not born great, they grow great."

Quote from: jimv on February 12, 2021, 10:06:45 PM
A real softball:

"Here's lookin' at you kid."

Now you are scraping the bottom of the barrel. If anyone doesn't know this one, then never look at this thread again. 

Agree about Chris Rock, only he was 'on paper' a bad guy, but he really wasn't a 'real' bad guy in the sense we know them.


Also, I was so enthused when I saw Timothy  Olyphant's name in the credits and I was pretty disappointed in his role here, especially his end.

Have you ever watched Justified? Just a terrific series with him as the star. I think it ran for 4-5 years. Also just loved him in Deadwood. A show that never should have been canceled.

 Recoving from the covid vaccine, but I wanted to put up a few pix, as I try and do every week.

So, today, let's try a few 'artsy' shots, whatever that means

Walking in the woods, we saw this amazing tree with roots all over the place




I've done a few of these already. Here are a couple of different pix, looking thru a covered bridge, out towards a colorful landscape








Another sunset pix, but looking thru one of the ships cutouts





Another jigsaw puzzle





Riding thru Virginia, we came to this route sign right in front of a huge cornfield. I thought it different anyway

Quote from: LennG on February 07, 2021, 01:09:20 PM

The night is darkest just before the dawn. And I promise you, the dawn is coming.

Good try Jim but it's from The Dark Knight, and is uttered by Commissioner Gordon

Quote from: Bob In PA on February 12, 2021, 02:32:45 PM
I'm not going to read the whole thread to determine if this has ever been mentioned or not, but in any event.......

Regardless whether you know/like chess, if you subscribe to Netflix don't miss the mini-series "The Queen's Gambit."

It is outstanding, and the performances are great.  A Golden Globe favorite, too (not that such things ever mattered to me).

I happen to know a little bit about the "chess world" and the presentation is spot-on.  Acting, lighting, music, direction, set-design, cinematography....  the works.  All are top-notch stuff. 

It's about nine hours long including a feature-ette "the making of Queen's Gambit" which to my knowledge can only be accessed by first watching the whole show (it comes on automatically during/after the end credits).

Bob

PS. If anyone knows/finds a way to access the "making of" feature separately please let me know. That, in itself, is worth re-watching just for the background info (and you get to see what the star really looks like).

Yes Bob, this has been discussed, specifically by myself, maybe 2 pages back.

I also offered a fantastic review of the show. Every part of it, from script, to acting, to even the cinemaphotography was absolutely great. A DEFINATE watch for everyone.

Quote from: T200 on February 11, 2021, 07:00:11 PM
We all were, Len. Including Uncle Ben's, now known as Ben's Original. https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ny-bens-original-rice-20200923-dvnszvau4bcl7nm64dsr3a7yty-story.html

I don't want to stray too far from your original post and thought. But just discussing this reminds me of the power (good and bad) of imagery in all its forms. I'll leave it at that.

Did they update the image on 'Ben's Original?'

Quote from: T200 on February 11, 2021, 10:15:45 AM
Len,

The name and the image are forever linked. The name wasn't/isn't derogatory but many feel the image harkens back to a time when Blacks were slaves and weren't compensated or given credit for their work. Slavery was bad enough but now their likeness is being used to profit without a cent going to whomever was the inspiration for Aunt Jemima.

Change the image to whatever but as soon as someone says "Aunt Jemima" we know what the image in their mind would be.

I understand Tim, and I can make no argument with what you say. As I said, I was brought up on this and if I were to mention Aunt Jemina, no matter who was on the box, I probably would think of that lady who first represented the product.

Maybe it's the new name, which doesn't conjure up an image of anything that really bothers me.

I guess we can say the same thing for another of my favorite products, Uncle Ben's rice. Is that gone also?

Quote from: ozzie on February 11, 2021, 01:29:04 PM
HAHA, As soon as I read the title of this thread the first song I thought of was "Captain Spaulding"! But that's just the way my mind works I guess.
So many songs from so many movies, its a fun subject, and like the rest of you, there are plenty more I could add.
I agree with Lenn in that I think Disney movies alone could fill up a list of great songs.
Almost anything Fred Astaire danced to would make my list.
And I don't know if you would count them as "Movie songs", but the Beatles were in a couple of flix that used their own music as the soundtrack!
Keep your favorites coming, its fun seeing what everyone else likes.

Every Disney movie (animated) had to have a big-time song to go along with it. Just so many great ones, but one of my favorites was Colors of the Wind from Pocahontas.

Yes, of course, the Beatles movies, so many great songs.

Some more of my favorites

Sounds of Silence--The Graduate
Born To Be Wild--Easy Rider
This Land Is Your Land--Bound For Glory
Old Time Rock and Roll--Risky Business
Pretty Woman--Movie of the same
Gonna Fly Now--Rocky
Can't Help Falling In Love--Blue Hawaii

One of my all time favorite movie scores is the theme from the Exorcist by Krzysztof Penderecki.

Quote from: Bob In PA on February 10, 2021, 12:10:21 PM
Lenn: Nice choices.  I'll bet only a few here know what "Captain Spaulding" is, and I'm not going to tell them LOL.  Since there are so many types of movies and movie music I'm going to "parallel" your picks.

Your first pick is a "go rogue" selection....  mine, in this category, is the Munchkin sequence from Wizard of OZ (which, technically, may not be a single song, but it's a single sequence which will never be paralleled IMO).

I will also stick with the same "genre" as your second selection..... my choice is "Sit Down You're Rockin' The Boat" sung by Stubby Kay in "Guys and Dolls."

Bob



PS. "Luck Be A Lady" is also from Guys and Dolls (I get the two shows confused also).  Or were you thinking of "The Lady Is A Tramp" (also a Sinatra song and it IS from Pal Joey?).

My bad on the Pal Joey reference, and YES, Lady is a Tramp is another great addition.

You want me to go rogue, how about 'The Time Warp' from Rocky Horror Picture Show
Love Me Tender from movie of the same name
Give My Regards To Broadway--Yankee Doodle Dandy
Mamma Mia from Movie of same name (lots of good ones here)
Staying Alive-- Saturday Night Fever
And the list could go on

The so-called,  100 best list, IMVHO is also flawed, in that the MASH song, Suicide is Painless, most people just know as the theme from MASH and most don't even know the name
Others on the list are very questionable when there are so many better ones out there but it is all a matter of opinion and preference.
Like #85--Come What May from Moulin Rouge. I hated the movie and don't even know the song
And there are a few others, but again it's all how one sees it

Quote from: GordonGekko80 on February 10, 2021, 12:05:30 PM
When you say movie songs Lenny, does that also include classical scores?

I didn't make the list, just posted it. If there are songs or scores you like, let's hear them.

I think the topic at hand was more songs than just movie scores, as that would need another top 100 list.

I understand your point and I did know the story behind the image you put up.

I might be embarrassed if I had to go into Home Depot and ask for a Jew Nail, but overall, I wouldn't mind if it were used in general conversation. It wasn't meant in a derogatory way and I might use it myself if that were the prevailing name for it. We are creatures of habit.

Growing up, as I said, we used Aunt Jemina products all the time. I still have an image of what Aunt Jemina looked like but I also remember thinking that that is what an Aunt might make for us, if she were preparing pancakes or whatever. Yes, the pix was very stereotyped of the old Black image, but I was referring to the name itself, Aunt Jemina. To me it just brought back memories of a good breakfast and not a sort of 'Mammy' figure. Again, I certainly understand the stereotype and you are probably right. But, again,  as I said, it is just another part of early memories that have been taken away.  Not an image of a old Black woman, but a wonderful breakfast.
I hope I am making myself clear here, the mention of Aunt Jemina, to me, brought up visions of good food made by someone who cared. The new image, while politically correct, conjures up an image or corporate money and nothing to do with good food.

So the times are changing, and probably for the better.