WTF?! moment #3

photo (c)2008 Incorrigible Curmudgeon

I found these hanging under the Florida license plates of a car parked on Howard University's campus recently. NPR says now a Florida legislator is trying to have them banned. Sez they're called "Truck Nutz" and they're proliferating like crazy on Florida cars, particularly pick-ups and SUVs. Not sure what to say about them. An interesting cultural phenomenon, sadly not just for the George Bush demographic anymore.

The Last Little Tavern, Laurel, MD

(c)2007 Incorrigible Curmudgeon

This is the last restaurant in the Little Tavern chain left in Metropolitan Washington, DC. This one is on Route 1 Southbound, just south of Main Street in Laurel, MD. It closed shortly after I shot this photo over the Christmas holidays, supposedly to re-open soon. Not sure if it ever did. Downtown Silver Spring used to have two of these, one's now a red-roofed paper company, the other a yellow-roofed Chinese carryout. Another dying piece of Americana.

Silver Spring, MD, Downtown

photos (c)2008 Incorrigible Curmudgeon

I lived in downtown Silver Spring for 10 years in the '90s, back when it was a dump, okay, actually just seedy, tawdry, and run-down.

These days, its been re-invented as a destination, and has become one of my my favorite places to hang-out, with cool places like the AFI Silver theater, the Austin Grill, Borders books, Whole Foods, and free garage parking on evenings and weekends. Also decent Ethiopian food (Lagano) and bland but decent Caribbean food (Negril's) nearby, along with Panera's, Macaroni Grill, Asian Bistro, Starbucks, Great Eggspectations, the Majestic Twenty stadium seating movie theater, and the incomparable Roadhouse Oldies. Supposed to be free wi-fi throughout downtown, but I haven't vetted it yet.

Silver Spring backroad

Batchellor Forest Road, Silver Spring, MD (c) 2007 Incorrigible Curmudgeon

Omegas on the long-walk

Omegas on the long-walk. Howard University

photo (c) 2006 Incorrigible Curmudgeon

Lake Artemesia, College Park, MD

Lake Artemesia is a man-made lake formed from the land excavated to elevate the tracks of the Metro Green line which run parallel to it. The lake is about a half a mile North of the College Park Metro station.

It has become a beautiful wildlife refuge with paved paths around and across it. The only downer is that boating is prohibited. This lake would be perfect for kayaking.

Talk Cinema/"Elsa Y Fred"

"Elsa Y Fred" (Spain/Argentina 2005) is a wonderful gem of a movie, and yet another Talk Cinema reminder of why I love the movies so much.



Ostensibly a love story between a free-spirited 78 year-old widow and a repressed 79 year-old widower she woos, attempting to free him from his practiced torpor.



It is a love story to film (in particular to fellini's "La Dolce Vita" with elements of "Harold and Maude" and "Cinema Paradiso" and even "Harry & Tonto"), a love story to falling in love despite age or infirmity, and a love story to living life free from fear.



It posits that while many elderly sufffer from the fear of dying, far too many suffer from a fear of living. That worse than the inevitability of death is dying having not lived as fully as one could have/should have.

Fred (Alfredo) is played by Spanish actor Manuel Alexandre, Elsa by Uruguyan actor China Zorilla, both somewhat older than the characters they embody so fully and well. I cannot recommend this movie highly enough.

Kathy & Zamaniya

Kathy & Zamaniya at a Bob Evans restaurant in West Vrginia.

Photo (c) 2006 by the Incorrigible Curmudgeon

Chuck Brown at Howard University

Chuck Brown playing for the Howard University Christmas Party for staff and faculty, thrown by President H. Patrick Swygert, Christmas 2006. Photographed with Nikon D200 with 28-200mm lens, using built-in flash.

Photo (c) 2006 by the Incorrigible Curmudgeon

Kay and Morgan

A couple of great faces.

Photo (c) 2008 by the Incorrigible Curmudgeon

This is What 92 Looks Like

This is my cousin Reba, age 92, from Ohio.

We should all look so good.

Still sharp as a tack and still driving.

A wonderful, warm, and witty woman.

Photographed with Nikon D200 with 18-200mm lens.

Photo (c) 2006 by the Incorrigible Curmudgeon

Talk Cinema/"the Life Before Her Eyes"

Talk Cinema hits another homerun with"The Life before Her Eyes," a brilliant, memorable new film that stays on your mind long after the movie has faded from the screen



Essentially a lyrically beautiful meditation on the ways in which a Colombine-type school massacre affects those impacted for generatons to come.



Told in flashback from the POV of two students who confront the gunman, 17 year-old girls from the low rent side of the tracks, who remain best friends despite polar opposite backgrounds, one a risk-taking rebel who's parents are divorced, the other a God-fearing church goer from a large, pious family.



The acting is superb, particularly Evan Rachel Wood as one of the young girls and Uma Thurman as the girl grown up with a daughter of her own.



Film is directed by Ukrainian director Vadim Perelman and this is his second film, after House of Sand and Fog.



Had I heard going in that a movie was dealing with a school massacre, I would never have been inclined to go see it. I am so glad I was able to experience this movie afterall.

I highly recommend this film.

Chicago Urban Landscapes

All photos (c) 2007, Incorrigible Curmudgeon

In March 2007, I made my first visit to Chicago and was captivated by the imagery I encountered (like finding that Lake Michigan was as turquoise as the Caribbean). These are a few of my favorite images.

Rehoboth Beach, DE, October 2007

Rehoboth Beach, DE, October 2007

Photo (c) 2007 by the Incorrigible Curmudgeon