Peppermint Trolley Company

Wow! Talk about sugar sweet pop music! Yikes, my teeth hurt already.

According to Wikipedia, Peppermint Trolley Company made a handful of TV appearances. In this little gem they appear in an episode of The Beverly Hillbillies and are really into Robin Hood (deep lyrics that). Now that's how you further your career. I hope they fired their manager after this. I dig the cat dressed as Old Abe!



 

2012 Wrap Up

Some really terrible things happened in 2012.

Sigmund passed away in June. I really thought I'd have him for a long time. 

Some good things happened.

I got a new job. 

I joined ToastMasters. 

I discovered Zumba. 

I got a new MacBook (finally). 

My favorite movies for 2012 (they're not movies that came out in 2012). In no particular order, as I like them each equally. The one thing they all have in common: They are all quite innovative in story and camera work. 

Rare Exports

Submarine

Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life

Madonna's Pig

Tokyo!

The Rest of the Movies I've Seen in 2012

Tokyo! will no doubt end up on my best films watched in 2012 list. Three short films directed by three different directors - Michel Gondry, Leos Carax and Joon Ho Bong. Each film is very cleverly written and directed. The character Merde, who appears in Leos Carax's mini film of the same name, is resurrected in Holy Motors. 

 My hats off to Mel Gibson for Apocalypto! Believable story line, great characters! Wait until you see a use for those really steep temple steps.

A Woman, a Gun, and a Noodle Shop was a visual fest, but I got  pretty bored by the end. I gotta give props to a Blood Simple homage.

I actually got out to the theater and watched the new Bond flick. Boring!!!! Everyone just tried too hard. I like over the top, but this one just took itself a little too serious. I did of course like Ben Whishaw as Q. The gadget guy would be young. 
 

The Rolling Stones 1963 - 1969 Music in Review was a documentary with "experts" explaining why some of the early songs worked. Meh! Some of these experts weren't even born until well after Brian Jones had died. I wanted more technical background than some guy giving his learn-to-play-this-song explanation. NPR did a good job back in November to honor the Stones's 50th Anniversary by having  each member talk about a favorite song. With Keith's pick "Street Fighting Man", he shares the technical insight of using the cassette machine and an acoustic guitar.  In the interview for Mick's pick, "Gimme Shelter"  he shares his tidbit about Merry Clayton singing the ....rape...murder.....chorus in pink curlers. Now that's interesting!

I watched Sherlock Homes: A Game of Shadows while my mom stayed @ my house after her kidney stone removal. The on screen chemistry between Downey, Jr and Mr. Law is the magic part Guy Ritchie's Sherlock flicks. I would never have thought of putting the two of them together. A steam punk visual feast!

Another flick we watched while my mom was here was Best in Show. I love this film! I think I've only seen it about 4 times. I still squeal out loud during some scenes. 

Moves I've seen but neglected to document

I saw Island of Lost Souls back in September @ one of Gary's Saturday night Movie nights.  Apparently Devo were quite the fans. The other movie that night: Curse of the Demon.

I saw Queen Live in Budapest @ Landmark Cinema. The film was made in 1986 and follows Queen after a triumphant Live Aid performance. That musical period of Queen was just not my cup of tea. The movie repeated some of the songs 4 times throughout the movie. Yuck! 

This is how I like my Freddie Mercury - rings, black nail polish and eyeliner (I'll even forgive you for the fur gladrag, darling). I still remember the first time I heard Killer Queen. I was delivering papers after school and heard it on a car radio. It was unbelievable. I'd never heard anything like that before. What the hell was that guitar doing? What a name for a band!  I have Sheer Heart Attack on my iPhone.

Chun King

I don't know if it gets anymore  politically incorrect than these two time capsule masterpieces. The Dan Drapers of Madison Avenue probably had drinks after brainstorming these two gems.

Thank the Godz!

 

Bob Ross' Birthday and Sandy Comes to Town

Thanks for the morning chuckle, Google.

 And now for something not so funny....