A/C

OK, it's official: the Hot season has arrived in Los Angeles. I just turned on the air conditioner for the first time in at least six months. We only have three seasons in Southern California: Warm, Hot, and Too Hot. As of today, the Hot season is in full swing.

God help us.

Ace In The Hole

If you ever get a chance to see this movie, don't miss it! Kirk Douglas plays an out-of-work newspaper reporter from New York who takes a job with a small-town paper in New Mexico in hopes of rebuilding his career. Life is pretty slow in the West and Douglas becomes increasingly frustrated until a mine cave-in traps a local man under tons of rock. Instead of quickly rescuing the victim, Douglas persuades local authorities to delay their efforts until Douglas' news stories make headlines in the big city markets. The media circus quickly ensues and thousands of people take up residency around the disaster zone hoping to have some brush with history.

The story, based on a true story and co-written and directed by the great Billy Wilder, seems eerily prescient in its expose of modern media manipulations and hidden agendas in favor of corporate and individual greed. The satire is absolutely scathing, at once hilarious and brutal. There are no sympathetic characters in the drama, but the performances by Douglas as the cynical reporter and Jan Sterling as the victim's uncaring wife are outstanding. Ironically, Miss Sterling passed away on the very day I saw this film at a special screening in Hollywood.

Ace In The Hole has never been released on video or DVD and it very rarely shows on television. Hopefully this error will be quickly corrected. This is an excellent film that needs to be seen by everyone, now more than ever.

"Dust Bunnies"

My apartment is knee deep in cat hair. OK, that's an extreme exaggeration, but it does tend to accumulate quickly. It's amazing to me that I can vacuum and within a couple of days there are clumps of hair floating around various corners and pieces of furniture in my room. Some people call these "dust bunnies." It's an appropriate metaphor since they reproduce like mad!

Jupiter

I saw Jupiter the other night through my little telescope that Randy and Heather gave me. It was a lovely, warm evening and I decided to drag out the 'scope to the sidewalk directly in front of my apartment. I did that several times last fall when Mars was big and close and it was a lot of fun. Surprising how much I could see despite the city lights all around.

I got the 'scope lined up with my 25mm eyepiece and I could easily see the bright blob of Jupiter and its four Galilean moons. When I switched eyepieces for the 9mm, I was stunned to see Jupiter much larger and clearer -- I could even see the bands or "stripes" across the planet's surface. It was so exciting! It made me wish I had a larger telescope. The one I have is fine, but it's tiny: only about a three-inch lense.

I just read on space.com that this month will see all five of the naked eye planets visible at the same time. They said the results will be spectacular even with small telescopes or binoculars, which I also have. That's good news. Now hopefully the weather will cooperate. It's getting warmer here in Los Angeles which means the evenings tend to be a little foggy.

In the words of the immortal Jack Horkheimer, "Keep looking up!"

Spalding Gray

Spalding Gray was found dead this week in the East River, an apparent suicide. Sadly, Gray had suffered from depression and mental illness throughout his life, most severely in recent years due to a terrible car accident which seriously injured him.

I saw Spalding Gray in Providence, Rhode Island (his home state) during the Superstar tour. I remember seeing his name on a theater marquee, though I can't remember exactly if it was the same theater we played at or if it was a different theater nearby. It was a cold, slightly snowy Sunday and I was out for some dinner between shows. I found a quiet Italian restaurant with red checkerboard tablecloths and went inside to eat. Mr. Gray was seated at a table behind mine with a few other people, possibly friends or family. As I sat down, our eyes met briefly and I nodded to him in recognition, but I didn't say anything to him as he was deep in conversation with his companions and I didn't want to draw any attention to him. I was wearing my Superstar tour jacket which had my name "Spalding" stitched in gold thread over the left breast. I think he noticed that since he smiled vaguely at me before continuing his conversation.

I'm sorry I missed his show.

Back to Blogging

Haven't blogged in a while. Been meaning to but very busy these days. Full schedule at UCLA plus I'm trying to sub on Englishtown as much as possible to make money. I've got some big debts coming due very soon, including a whopping tax bill. Icky.

So, what's new? Going back a couple weeks, the memorial for Carl Anderson was just lovely. Very emotional experience. I cried the whole time but there were plenty of laughs and happy thoughts as well. He really was an extraordinary human being. I can't quite believe he's gone. He was so ALIVE. I just expect him to turn up at any moment with his huge charm and energy. Ah well, we'll all be together soon enough.

I'm looking forward to the next Bowie show in April. Randy got tickets for us to see DB at the Greek Theater. It'll be fun to see DB again and especially at the Greek. Plus I hope Randy will be feeling better enough to enjoy the show. Last time he wasn't able to make it. Bowie's been in Australia and New Zealand and now in Japan. I hope he's not too tired and burnt out by the time the tour returns to America. Oh well, a guy's gotta make a living!

Speaking of which, I need to make more money! Wah!!! :-(