All Posts – Prattling before the Pratfall

The Wonder Years — Not

Do we really need yet another British murder mystery? Yes, if it’s Adolescence.

The Netflix mini-series is both compelling and confounding. Is Adolescence a police procedural? A serious sociological and psychological study? A reality show? A soap opera? Yes to all.

Something quite remarkable is that each of the four episodes was recorded in one continuous take. If there are any cuts at all, they were very deftly hidden.

This isn’t a gimmick. Once you start watching, the seamless flow of motion makes the verisimilitude^* all the more effective, and the acting all the more impressive.

The logistical planning, coordination and practice must have been daunting. The second episode is a tour de force of what I suppose can be called “synchronized cinematography.”

https://www.netflix.com/tudum/videos/adolescence-inside-episode-2

^* Sorry about that. It won’t happen again, and I promise to never use any form of “juxtapose.” 😉

Cancer Check-up #2

All clear six months after completing chemo/radiation treatments.

The Big Chili

If this isn’t the best chili I’ve ever had, it’s certainly the best I’ve ever made.

It’s also the first chili I’ve ever made.

Art is Where You Find It

I call this one “Dead Floor Lamp With Table and Chair Legs.”

Feeling Toasty

My buddy Bismo was Elwood in his Blue Brothers tribute act, B-Movie Blues.

https://rovingrecordings.tumblr.com/post/130662342953/b-movie-blues-black-hats-bluesmobiles

Elwood’s favorite dining delicacy was dry white toast.

I became a fan of dry white toast while undergoing cancer treatments last summer, when this Pratt was put on a BRAT diet of bananas, rice, applesauce and toast. Since then I have been buying these $1.99 loaves of white bread that toast up perfectly.

From Slipping to Skiing

As explained a while ago, one of the roller mechanisms on my Nordic Track machine — the original model, that mimics cross-country skiing — was slipping.

I’d found ~~an explanation of how~~ a simple trick — it’s genius! — to fix the problem, by cleaning out the roller with penetrating oil. It was quite easy to do, and it worked.