Calvin's Canadian Cave of Coolness: January 2015

Saturday, January 31, 2015

I Believe In You, Jesus Cat

And I accept your blessings.

I Still Got A Thing For That Fan Bing Bing - The Empress Of China

When I see these images of Empress Wu, I'm reminded of Queen Elizabeth I of England and Catherine The Great of Russia. In Chinese history books, Empress Wu was always portrayed with a negative image. But nowadays, with women rising in many fields including politics, business, science, and more, I have often wondered if ancient historians deliberately exaggerated the negative aspects of her rule. She was, after all, an educated woman who had smarts and guts, and who emerged as a leader in a traditionally male-dominated society. In other words, she couldn't help but rise up because she was smarter than the men around her. After she died, she was entombed with her husband, Emperor Gaozong, and her tombstone was deliberately left blank. Never would there be another female emperor in China again. And never would Chinese women enjoy the same level of rights, education, and influence, until modern China was established in the early 20th century.

Because FIRST We Take Manhattan...

They sentenced me to twenty years of boredom
For trying to change the system from within
I'm coming now, I'm coming to reward them
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin

I'm guided by a signal in the heavens
I'm guided by this birthmark on my skin
I'm guided by the beauty of our weapons
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin

I'd really like to live beside you, baby
I love your body and your spirit and your clothes
But you see that line there moving through the station?
I told you, I told you, told you I was one of those

Ah, you loved me as a loser
But now you're worried that I just might win
You know the way to stop me, but you don't have the discipline
How many nights I prayed for this, to let my work begin
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin

I don't like your fashion business, mister
And I don't like these drugs that keep you thin
I don't like what happened to my sister
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin

I'd really like to live beside you, baby
I love your body and your spirit and your clothes
But you see that line there movin' through the station?
I told you, I told you, told you I was one of those

And I thank you for those items that you sent me
The monkey and the plywood violin
I practiced every night, now I'm ready
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin

I am guided

Ah, remember me, I used to live for music
Remember me, I brought your groceries in
Well, it's Father's Day and everybody's wounded
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin

Songwriters
COHEN, LEONARD

Fortitude (2015)

Perched on the edge of the Artic Circle, Fortitude is one of the safest towns on earth. There has never been a violent crime here. Until now.

I can tell you one thing I learned for SURE from watching movies. If you are living in a far Northern European climate and you find a thawed mammoth carcass, DON'T TOUCH IT LEST YEE DIE!!

This all happened in the first 13 minutes of Fortitude, the new mini series from Sky TV in Britain. I love the idea of the polar location and especially the possibility of a killer virus and murder mystery all mixed into one spicy frozen goulash.

But seriously people. Stop touching the dead mammals who unthaw during a time of global warming. They ALWAYS contain some kind of virus or pathogen that is ready to make you bleed from your ear and bum hole. Sadly though, I will have to go to HELIX for my killer virus fix. This looks like a run of the mill mystery over money with plenty of red herrings to go around.

What the hell is with the kid and the frostbitten feet. It just doesn't make any sense. And if that little fact is bothering me that does not bode well for me lasting the entire season.

The scenery is indeed magnificent. Reminds me of the arctic adventures of my youth when you could die from travelling between buildings without your jacket or proper footwear. I found myself a bit confused coming out of the first episode but with another 11 to go in the first season, I am interested enough to see where this goes. Stanley Tucci is always a good actor to bet on. He rarely takes uninteresting projects.