this is in fact my new format for the book, a book, in progress, once more. Times passes, the new year begun, the new decade, just amazing to be here, alive, in 2010.
I get those family letters from some people each year around Christmas and each time they read like self parodies. One in particular tells me how this couple went all over Maine, by foot, bike, even swam across the state for thousands of miles, returning home exhilarated. They tell me how their daughter is still working on her PHd and probably making the rounds of boys from one end to the other, a marathon also of sorts. Do I need to know all this? oh and yes, at the end of the letter I am informed that the author will attend a workshop on family intervention. Now is that a clue that this family needs an intervention. That is to walk inside, rather, than outside, and see what is going on, really going on with everyone, from the inside out? Or perhaps it does not matter? can one live forever and never know what is inside. Isn't true that a life unexamined is not worth living?
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Sunday, November 15, 2009
the end lane....going fast
My brother's wife fell on her head and when the ambulance came took both my brother and her to the hospital...there after a blood transfusion, she died a week later. My brother is now living in a long term facility and I think glad about it. he lived alone for about 1 year and half with not much help. he will need the help he needs now...I will go see him thanksgiving week, which is in about a week from now.
Mostly, it is a shock to me, and the reality of mortal life, that it is just a question of time when we all have to go into the void.
Even giants like John Updike had to die, when he still had so much more to do.
I have a lot to do. I try to do this...right now making another film to make sense of the war years. I know it can't be done, but asking questions does not hurt.
I will go back to my film to make a shorter version, cut out long scenes that are meaningless to most, and add more comments.
I applied for a grant to get a real good camera and I will go back and do more filming, carefully this time around. I like what I did before. But I want to do better, wait for better light, go slow with some takes, use a tripod, a good mike etc...and mainly a good camera.
Mostly, it is a shock to me, and the reality of mortal life, that it is just a question of time when we all have to go into the void.
Even giants like John Updike had to die, when he still had so much more to do.
I have a lot to do. I try to do this...right now making another film to make sense of the war years. I know it can't be done, but asking questions does not hurt.
I will go back to my film to make a shorter version, cut out long scenes that are meaningless to most, and add more comments.
I applied for a grant to get a real good camera and I will go back and do more filming, carefully this time around. I like what I did before. But I want to do better, wait for better light, go slow with some takes, use a tripod, a good mike etc...and mainly a good camera.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
now it is Atwood
reading Atwood's new book, The Last Flood...really has an effect on me. Even though the book is futuristic and apocalyptic, it feels very current, as if she was describing the world as it is today. will keep you posted on this..
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Jacoby's new book
Susan jacoby's book the Age of American Unreason is a must read...dense but replete with tons of information...You can become an overnight intellectual reading this book. she hits issues head on, such as the dumbing down of America by fundamentalists who would rather see no education that did not use the bible for as a main source, as well as for all the laws...on and on...great read.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
julia and me
just saw this marvelous film Julie and Julia, mesmerizing to watch, life of Julia Child and her ascent to publishing her classic book...totally totally mesmerizing and Merryl Streep is fantastic...
apparently book was created on a blog, this one, blogspot...not sure how true this is, need to find out...
apparently book was created on a blog, this one, blogspot...not sure how true this is, need to find out...
Monday, August 3, 2009
shopping
so I go back to Wal-Mart with Cath and got her to buy the same printer...but they had a canon with all the stuff, 2 cartridges, total for $30, I got that one, a black model...and gave my printer to Cath for $30, WITH the wires and extra cartridge...and now she finally broke down and has a printer she likes, small and simple.
Is that weird or what? the Canon had all the wires and cartridges for $30...
now I am thinking of getting a better camera...sick and tired of those small ones, where you can't see what you are doing and I want manual focus control...and I think even the Nikon D40 has it.
I think it is available for $449...so I got to Target and they priced at, get this, $695!! so I tell the guy that is a mistake for sure...and he checks on the computer and he says, No, that is the price...fucked up.
Best Buy wants $495....
so it goes...
I want a normal camera with a viewfinder, manual focus etc...and big enough so I can see the controls, not the small ones that are designed for Mickey Mouse with tiny paws...
The Samsung I have is nice, a jewel actually, but a jewel is something you wear no take pictures with...the results are great, but it is touch and go, literally.
I mean I used to do photos professionally and used Nikons all over the place, still have them, loaded with film.
Of course Nikon has gone psychotic with models up to $8000. Only guys working for the New York Times can afford to get one, it is free from the company to use. And to say nothing about lenses, which cost a mint as well.
charles
----- Original Message -----
From: Adam Rotmil
To: charles rotmil
Sent: Monday, August 03, 2009 12:12 AM
Subject: Re: pirnter
Cheaper on ink but you won't get as good a print. You should look into ripping the guts out and making your own Piezzo printer for photographs. Plenty of info online.
On Aug 1, 2009, at 9:06 PM, "charles rotmil" wrote:
hi adam
irony of shopping
I ran out of ink for my epson printer...7 cartdriges!!!!
so what do I do go to Staples...$78 for the color ones and $27 for black....shit!!!!more than I paid for the damn thing $75....
so I went to Walmart and bought a HP printer, a small one with two cartridges for $32!!!!
is this something or what?
I gave the printer to the cleaning guy in the building, he was thrilled.
dad
_____
and now as soon as I wrote this Nikon comes out with the D3000 for lest than $700 at some stores...what to do? it does not have video...so what? but no live screen....
Is that weird or what? the Canon had all the wires and cartridges for $30...
now I am thinking of getting a better camera...sick and tired of those small ones, where you can't see what you are doing and I want manual focus control...and I think even the Nikon D40 has it.
I think it is available for $449...so I got to Target and they priced at, get this, $695!! so I tell the guy that is a mistake for sure...and he checks on the computer and he says, No, that is the price...fucked up.
Best Buy wants $495....
so it goes...
I want a normal camera with a viewfinder, manual focus etc...and big enough so I can see the controls, not the small ones that are designed for Mickey Mouse with tiny paws...
The Samsung I have is nice, a jewel actually, but a jewel is something you wear no take pictures with...the results are great, but it is touch and go, literally.
I mean I used to do photos professionally and used Nikons all over the place, still have them, loaded with film.
Of course Nikon has gone psychotic with models up to $8000. Only guys working for the New York Times can afford to get one, it is free from the company to use. And to say nothing about lenses, which cost a mint as well.
charles
----- Original Message -----
From: Adam Rotmil
To: charles rotmil
Sent: Monday, August 03, 2009 12:12 AM
Subject: Re: pirnter
Cheaper on ink but you won't get as good a print. You should look into ripping the guts out and making your own Piezzo printer for photographs. Plenty of info online.
On Aug 1, 2009, at 9:06 PM, "charles rotmil"
hi adam
irony of shopping
I ran out of ink for my epson printer...7 cartdriges!!!!
so what do I do go to Staples...$78 for the color ones and $27 for black....shit!!!!more than I paid for the damn thing $75....
so I went to Walmart and bought a HP printer, a small one with two cartridges for $32!!!!
is this something or what?
I gave the printer to the cleaning guy in the building, he was thrilled.
dad
_____
and now as soon as I wrote this Nikon comes out with the D3000 for lest than $700 at some stores...what to do? it does not have video...so what? but no live screen....
complaints
for me to look up at the firmament at night in a dark place, like an airport landing (I did this on Islesboro)..is enough for me...to see all those small dots there, suns all of them, and it is just our galaxy and the milky is just dust of stars...is enough for me...to look close at Mars means nothing to me...nothing. it is a bare planet with no life that I can see...I can hardly see life on this planet of apes.
someone once said "I am not sure if we evolved from monkeys but I am sure that we are going back to that stage."
I made a film using a small $600 camera (now worth shit) a full documentary...I know the pros use $50,000 cameras...but do they know how to shoot a good film? same with still cameras..I have taken great shots with simple cameras...because in the end it is the eye that counts.
so, mon ami, my could be drinking companion, be well and enjoy the hot summer coming up. You asked for it, you got it.
From: Jack Hayes
Sent: Monday, August 03, 2009 10:40 AM
They say that once you retire your brain turns to mush. That may account for that squishy sound I keep hearing between my ears.
To those of you who have already panicked and flung your family members and pets from the rooftops rather than have them fall into the clutches of the invading Martians, WHOOOPS !
Despite all the screeching and preaching that we should always try to check these things out on SNOPES, I got so excited about the chance to see Mars up close that I did NOT check until a friend told me I was just a little behind the times. The Mars information WAS correct .... back in 2003 ! Sorry, We don't get any celestial instant replays !
On the other hand, if you ran out and bought expensive research quality telescopes with the huge economic stimulus checks, GOOD ! That will boost the economy. Enjoy looking at the sky or spying on your neighbors
Now that I have totally ruined your sky-viewing plans for the rest of the summer, are any of you interested in knowing my WEATHER predictions ???
By the way .... anyone wanna buy a brand new expensive research quality telescope that's still in the box (probably just about getting ready for shipment)? Only $27,966.82 or best offer.
I can hardly wait to get all of the constructive comments for not checking the dates on the Mars encounter. NOW you understand why I wasn't accepted into the Astronaut program.
~Jack
someone once said "I am not sure if we evolved from monkeys but I am sure that we are going back to that stage."
I made a film using a small $600 camera (now worth shit) a full documentary...I know the pros use $50,000 cameras...but do they know how to shoot a good film? same with still cameras..I have taken great shots with simple cameras...because in the end it is the eye that counts.
so, mon ami, my could be drinking companion, be well and enjoy the hot summer coming up. You asked for it, you got it.
From: Jack Hayes
Sent: Monday, August 03, 2009 10:40 AM
They say that once you retire your brain turns to mush. That may account for that squishy sound I keep hearing between my ears.
To those of you who have already panicked and flung your family members and pets from the rooftops rather than have them fall into the clutches of the invading Martians, WHOOOPS !
Despite all the screeching and preaching that we should always try to check these things out on SNOPES, I got so excited about the chance to see Mars up close that I did NOT check until a friend told me I was just a little behind the times. The Mars information WAS correct .... back in 2003 ! Sorry, We don't get any celestial instant replays !
On the other hand, if you ran out and bought expensive research quality telescopes with the huge economic stimulus checks, GOOD ! That will boost the economy. Enjoy looking at the sky or spying on your neighbors
Now that I have totally ruined your sky-viewing plans for the rest of the summer, are any of you interested in knowing my WEATHER predictions ???
By the way .... anyone wanna buy a brand new expensive research quality telescope that's still in the box (probably just about getting ready for shipment)? Only $27,966.82 or best offer.
I can hardly wait to get all of the constructive comments for not checking the dates on the Mars encounter. NOW you understand why I wasn't accepted into the Astronaut program.
~Jack
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