Retro movie review: Alive

So, thanks to my steroids, I sometimes wake up in the middle of the night, anywhere from 3:00 to 6:00 in the morning. As much as I love my wife and kids, it is good to have this alone time where I can watch stuff that I want to watch.

One morning, it was the movie "Alive," which is about the crash of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 570, which was carrying a rugby team over the Andes Mountains.

First of all, this was probably the most realistic depiction of a plane crash I have ever seen. Also, the movie does a very good job of showing how people act when they are in shock.

This movie only received 3 out of 5 stars on Netflix. Probably because all of the survivors ate human flesh in order to live. The three people who made it to civilization after walking for several days had backpacks full of human flesh. However, they made it, and although 29 people died, 16 survived.

Members of the team went to see a Catholic priest after the ordeal. The priest told them that, in this case, cannibalism was okay because it was a lesser sin than suicide, which is the worst sin you can possibly commit as a Catholic.

Overall, I think this was a very well-directed and acted film.

My only criticism is that they "whitewashed" some of the Latino characters, using actors like Ethan Hawke and other Caucasians.

Do you like good music?

Those of you who know me well know I am not much of a water bug (unless the water is the temperature of bath water). What really centers me and focuses me is good music. Here are the artists and types of music that I really like to listen to. Also, take a look at the blog entry on The Awesome Music Project to see some more.

Michael Jackson: Most people have the Beatles' "Abbey Road" or "The White Album" as their desert island album, but I would have "Thriller" as mine. These songs, thanks in part to great production by Quincy Jones, go beyond genre from the funky opening track "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" to the driving rock of "Beat It." "Billie Jean" and "Thriller" also advanced what the music video should be with great production values, and boy, did he ever know how to DANCE!
Best song to listen to: Beat It, Thriller

The Beatles: It's hard not to put them on the list, considering the albums I mentioned above. Many critics say the later albums are overrated, favoring early stuff like "Meet the Beatles." I say horse manure.
Best song to listen to: I've Got A Feeling, Let It Be

Disco: As far as I am concerned, Disco does NOT suck. Many of the songs by Donna Summer, KC and the Sunshine Band and other artists are catchy and make good use of horns. Be careful, though. There are a few duds like "Disco Duck" and "A Fifth of Beethoven."
Best song to listen to: "That's the Way (I Like It)," KC and the Sunshine Band

Billy Joel: Many critics beat up on my man Billy, but the truth is he sings good catchy songs that are easy to sing along to, almost like you around a campfire.
Best song to listen to: This was a tough one. I will go with the Hard Driving "You May Be Right" off "Glass Houses."

Soul Music: This is a wide range of music from the Four Tops to Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles, who have the two best voices in the industry. Listen to "I Never Loved A Man the Way I Loved You" and "What'd I Say" If you don't believe me. And make sure you check out the story on how "What'd I Say" was written if you don't already know it.
Best song to listen to: "Don't Play That Song (You Lied)," Aretha Franklin

Elton John: Another unbelievably talented piano player. When he plays "Bennie and The Jets," He bangs the keys like a drum! Also, as a proud Pennsylvanian, I would be remiss if i didn't mention "Philadelphia Freedom."
Best song to listen to: "Bennie and the Jets," "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"

Chicago: I am talking about REAL Chicago before they were neutered in the 1980s.
Best song to listen to: Considering all the choices, this was a tough one. I am going with "25 or 6 to 4," a hard-driving rock number from Chicago off their second album. RIP lead guitarist Terry Kath, who accidentally killed himself while playing Russian Roulette while under the influence of several illegal substances.

Hard rock: The late '70s and early '80s also ushered in great groups like Van Halen, with outrageous antics by lead singer David Lee Roth, and guitar solos that could move mountains. I even have some respect for Van Hagar. "Right Now" is a great song! Then came Guns N' Roses, who had me hooked at the first song on their first album, "Paradise City" with Axl Rose's screaming vocals and a crazy guitar solo by Slash. Don't forget some great inside tracks like "Mr. Brownstone." Also, Def Leppard, a British group that sounds very American, put out some great hits like "Photograph."
Best song to listen to: "Photograph:" Def Leppard, Pyromania

Queen: The rest of the group is good, but I am going to single out the 4-octave vocal range and unabashed sexuality of Freddie Mercury. Hearing him sing pretty much anything relaxes me and gives me energy at the same time.
Best song to listen to: "Another One Bites the Dust," "The Game"

U2: I will give this one to my wife. I do think they are overrated, and The Edge is a rhythm guitarist and not a soloist, but Bono's passion when he sings, and their refusal to use the 4-chord progression like every pop group today impress me. The 2002 Super Bowl halftime show, which had me in tears, nailed it for me.
Best song to listen to: "Pride (In the Name of Love)", "Pride (In the Name of Love)."

Barry Manilow: Not my cup of tea, but he is very good at what he does. Listening to "I Can't Smile Without You," I counted FIVE key changes. Also, it's hard not to laugh at the lyrics to "Copacabana."
Best song to listen to: Copacabana (At the Copa), "I Can't Smile Without You"

Frank Sinatra: Every man wanted to be him, every woman wanted to... uh... be with him. He was pretty much an above-average crooner during his early career, then, with albums like "Songs for Swingin' Lovers," There were some deceptively difficult Nelson Riddle arrangements like "I've Got You Under My Skin," and "Luck Be a Lady," which were great. The Chairman of the Board also spawned some imitators ranging from the immensely gifted pianist Harry Connick Jr. to untalented Canadian douche Michael Buble.
Best song to listen to: "I've Got You Under My Skin," "Songs for Swingin' Lovers"

Jazz: People need to keep this alive by listening to great old stuff like Kenton and Buddy Rich. Newer acts, like the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and the Youngblood Brass Band incorporate hip-hop and jazz into their music, which will help keep the genre alive. On the subject of movies, if you haven't watched either of director Damien Chazelle's movies, "Whiplash" and "La La Land," I suggest you do so. Also when I say Jazz, I don't mean soft jazz like Kenny G.
Best song to listen to: Buddy Rich, "Beulah Witch." "Mercy, Mercy."

Prince: Unbelievably talented writer and guitarist. He and Michael Jackson led the way in getting black musicians on MTV, and also recruited and promoted quality talent like Sheila E and Morris Day. RIP.
Best song to listen to: "Let's Go Crazy," "Purple Rain."

RUN-DMC: Broke into the mainstream by blending hip hop with metal. Made history by pairing up with Aerosmith to record "Walk This Way," which even put Aerosmith back on the map.
Best song to listen to: "Walk This Way," "Raising Hell."

No Doubt: Brought ska-punk to the mainstream. Several years before "Tragic Kingdom," they rocked the house with horn and bass-driven albums like "No Doubt" and "The Beacon Street Collection." give these two a listen. They also paved the way for other good ska bands like Reel Big Fish
Best song to listen to: "Don't Speak," "Tragic Kingdom."

Hall and Oates: Their music has kind of an '80s sound to it, but that doesn't keep Daryl Hall from having a great voice. Also, these guys are from the Philly area, and John Oates is from my high school alma mater, North Penn.
Best song to listen to: "Private Eyes," "Private Eyes."

Steve Winwood: Unbelievably talented keyboardist and musician. No one can play the vintage Hammond B-3 like he can. He also plays mandolin, guitar and even drums.
Best Song to listen to: "Higher Love," "Back in the High Life."

Stevie Wonder: Another child prodigy and unbelievable talent. Although some of his songs are cheesy, almost all of them are great.
Best Song to listen to: "Superstition," "Talking Book."

INXS: This Australian group puts out a perfect blend of new wave punk and funk rock, and lead singer Michael Hutchence could belt it out like just about no one else. His untimely suicide was truly a tragedy.
Best Song to listen to: "Never Tear Us Apart," "Kick."

Huey Lewis and the News: This band has its share of critics, but when you hear them play, you can tell they have been together for a while and have a real tight sound. They can also sing a capella really well.
Best Song to listen to: "The Power of Love," "Back to the Future Soundtrack." Lewis jokingly commented that they would have not recorded that song if they knew they would have to play it every f---ing night.

Wham!/George Michael: From the catchy "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" to his later solo efforts, he was a great performer and writer. His untimely death last year was a tragedy and a shock.
Best song to listen to: "Faith," "Faith."

Motown: This label was responsible for so many great artists like The Temptations, Edwin Starr, Martha and the Vandellas, The Four Tops, The Supremes, and I can go on and on. What really brings these acts over the top is Motown's house band, The Funk Brothers. If you haven't watched the documentary "Standing in the Shadows of Motown," see it now.
Best song to listen to: So hard because there are so many good songs... I will go with the Temptations' "Ball of Confusion" since the song's message especially rings true in 2017.

So what don't I like? There really isn't that much but let me see...

Angry teenager music like Korn, Limp Bizkit, and Linkin Park, although my sympathy is with the band after the lead singer Chester Bennington's suicide.

Boy Bands: NKOTB, BSB, and stay out of it, Nick Lachey! However, Justin Timberlake has done some good solo stuff.

Hardcore hip hop stuff: I feel horrible for the people who died at the Ariana Grande concert. However, some of their music is terrible. I think Selena Gomez actually sampled the bass line from the Talking Heads' "Psycho Killer" and sang her own song to it.

Country: I don't despise Country as much as people think. I can't deny the talents of one Dolly Parton, and some of the more mainstream acts like Garth Brooks and Blake Shelton are not bad. Keith Urban is palatable for me because he can shred on guitar. The rest can just go away as far as I am concerned. Rascal Flatts sounds overproduced, Jason Aldean has a weak voice, and T-Swizzle is a pop princess who sings about ex-boyfriends.

Maroon 5: Sorry, Jaci. These guys used to have a funky, unique sound on albums like "Songs About Jane" and "It Won't Be Soon Before Long." Their music then morphed into yawn-worthy mainstream pop and hip-hop. Adam still seems like a nice guy on "The Voice," though.

Foreigner: When I am listening to classic rock radio, nothing wants to make we want to change the channel quicker than these overrated hacks.

The Eagles: Although there is some genuine talent in this band, they still seem like an overrated baby boomer act.

Mumford & Sons: Two albums, and all their songs sound the same. Enough said. They released a third album without the banjo and it sucked.

Euro-Trash Dance Music: Anyone remember "Barbie Girl?" "Blue (Da-Ba-Dee)?" "What Does the Fox Say?" "Am I Wrong?" "Macarena?" or "Gangnam Style?" If the answer is yes, we remember them all sucking horribly.

Train: Untalented hacks. They write most of their own music, but it doesn't matter if it all sucks. If you listen to their latest single, "Play That Song," they can't even come up with their own melodies.

Great news from Duke!

Sorry about the delay. It is a bit tricky to get on to Blogger these days.

We had a great visit to Duke! We took the kids and our friend Sara (one of our greatest helpers) was able to drive us.

First of all, whatever I am doing with the tumor is working. First of all, it was fascinating to see images of my brain. Secondly, the tumor has shrunk significantly, to the point where the midline of my brain is no longer distorted. They were hesitant to put me on any clinical trials because they simply ran out of slots for one of them. Dr. Patel, my radiation oncologist at State College, will be helping me implement the Optune device, which is basically an electronic beanie that goes on your head. Since I have a wife that's anal, and a great hairstylist (Tara Clark Waltz, another helper), I should be in good shape and will do my best to suck it up. Jaci also messaged Duke My Chart, which messages my doctors and caregivers, to other treatments that are being offered in New York, Cleveland and London. Kudos again to Dr. Julian for performing a surgery that truly saved my life. Frankly, despite some occasional lapses of judgement, I am walking and talking. It is a privilege to wake up every morning, and I plan to live a long life. It's amazing what the power of faith and a sense of humor can do for you.

Also, we brought the kids along to see a child education specialist. They blew bubbles into water with dish detergent. They simulated surgery by scooping out the bubbles. They simulated chemo by popping the bubbles. They then zapped the bubbles like an Optune device would. They also looked at some MRI images and some models of a CT scan machine and an MRI. They really seemed to understand what my cancer is, and what we are doing to stop it.

We return in September, and we plan to live it up a little bit more since it is our anniversary. Hopefully, we will keep with our tradition and have dinner at the Melting Pot Restaurant.

Toyota Sienna minivan: Review from the passenger seat!

Our friend Sara was kind enough to drive us to Duke and back. Here are my impressions from sitting in the second-row seat.

Power: The brisk 3.5 liter V6 hustles the van along nicely. Fuel mileage was about 23-24 mpg, which is adequate for the size of the vehicle.

Comfort: Not bad. A little tight from where I was sitting, but we were all able to fit comfortably.  Leather seats would have been nice. The second row of seats collpased forward, so it was easy for the kids to climb into the third row.

Safety: It doesn't say on Toyota's website, but I assume there is a full complement of airbags, and I am not sure if there are active safety features like active braking.

User interface: The GPS worked well, but that didn't stop us from making a few wrong turns.

Room: Plenty of room in the trunk.

Overall: Adequate for our purposes.

Spider-Man: Homecoming: Movie Review

Huge thanks to my cousin Terry for taking me to a rare movie at the theater that isn't animated or rated G or PG. Apparently, the third time is the charm because they finally got the casting right with 19-year-old Tom Holland as the web slinger. He is paired up with Tony Stark, whose flaws and world weariness are an effective contrast to Spidey's naivete. Michael Keaton, who, for my money, is still the best Batman by far, was a great villain, and had a working class everyman sort of appeal to him. Also, there were some impressive set pieces at the Washington Monument and the Staten Island Ferry. Peter even takes the moral high ground at the end of the movie, setting the stage for sequels. Also, watch for a big surprise towards the end of the movie, So, was it a good movie? Yes. was it great? Not quite. First of all, there were too many scenes of him sitting there contemplating his life. Secondly, the special effects weren't up to par. They actually looked like special effects. That's probably because they used more than a dozen effects houses. Usually, a major superhero flick like this can cost $150 to $250 million, and this didn't look like it. Also, we are planning future movie get-togethers for Thor: Ragnarok in November, Black Panther early next year, and some little movie called Star Wars: The Last Jedi in December. The film is full of easter eggs, introducing Betty Brant and even Mary Jane Watson. Finally, there is Captain America, who took over the school's physical education program, detention program and even the post-credits scene, in which he says "Sorry you had to wait so long for something so... disappointing." Also, I am told that the incomprable J.K. Simmons was ready and willing to reprise his role as J, Jonah Jameson, but was unavailable because he is portraying Commisioner Gordon in the DcEU. Traitor!

The 'Works!

Once again, The Glunt Family have been true friends and got us to the VIP package at Penn State's 4th Fest. Armed with noise cancelling headphones and earplugs, I was able to enjoy the entire show.   As we waited for dusk at 9:15, we unexpectedly got some shuteye as we waited for the show to start. The entire show was a blast from beginning to end, but the many highlights were a colorful jazz-themed show, a Beach Boys medley, and a Trolls-themed show, not to mention the grand finale. Thankfully, they did not use the "1812 Overture" during any of the displays, because many people don't realize the bombastic finale is only a small portion of an incredible 12-minute piece of music. However, snippets of a few other classical pieces like "Chester" were used, as well as some opera for the grand finale. There was a little too much country for my tastes, but it was still an incredible experience. Wow! Finally, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pm-tf6oeF8s is a great version of Copland's "Rodeo" by Bela Fleck and the Flecktones that would work really well with some patriotically themed fireworks. Also, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RG48STSjYSg&list=PLrqPLC1kCVgyvYKEzizyuYxUB_ZWHG_nC&index=9 is an amped-up version of "Sing, Sing, Sing" that would work well with some colorful fireworks.

10 greatest moviegoing experiences

Hello all! Since I am starting to get into more or less of a routine, I am going to write about my best experiences at the movie theater. As T-Swizzle says, I don't want to stir up any bad blood, so I will use discretion where needed.

Star Trek VI: Seen at Frank (formerly Eric) Theaters 7. This was in a very large auditorium full of Trekkers. Everyone applauded loudly when the "For Gene Roddenberry" dedication appeared on the screen. People were jumping up and down and high-fiving when the Klingon ship was destroyed. As corny as it was, All of us were giving a standing ovation during the autographs that kicked off the end credits.

From the Files of Police Squad: The Naked Gun: Seen at AMC 309 Cinema, Montgomeryville,PA: Mike Morawski and I saw this when we were in junior high school, and we could not stop laughing the entire movie. We especially enjoyed the press conference "pee" scene, and the scene with the statues. Jaci would call this "boy humor."

A Few Good Men: Seen at AMC Riverwalk theatre, San Antonio: I watched this alone during my brother's jazz band trip. I was reamed out by my mother, but it was worth it. The entire movie was a slow buildup as Tom Cruise's character had a long psychological battle with Jack Nicholson's character.

The Lego Batman Movie: seen at UEC Theaters 12. Saw this with our good friends, the Glunt Family. Despite our political differences, they are loyal friends and true helpers. This was a truly entertaining movie for all ages. Sadly, the directors were sacked in favor of Ron "Opie" Howard, so they wouldn't deviate too much from the core story.

Scream: Seen at AMC 309 Cinema, Montgomeryville. This is a unique theater to see a movie because of the fact that it sits at the mouth of the 309 expressway, which is basically a direct conduit to some of Philly's finest neighborhoods. This was fun because at least one person screamed whenever the killer showed up. Either way, late horror master Wes Craven deserves a ton of credit for restarting the slasher genre.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail: Seen at Strand Theatre, Kutztown. Lots of friends drove a distance to see this with me. Like any time we watch this film, all we did was laugh. Some people just don't "get" this movie, but we all did.

South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut: Seen at Regal Oaks theater. Despite the R rating, some idiot decided to bring a child because "it's a cartoon." After Chef made a joke about "finding the clitoris," She asked Jeff McCoach and I if we wanted to explain it to the child, and we said "Hell, no!"

The Perfect Storm: Seen at Regal Oaks theater: This became a "private screening" with just McCoach and I in the smallish auditorium: We were overwhelmed by the special effects, and may or may not have smoked a cigarette.

Back to The Future: Seen at Plymouth Meeting Mall Twin Cinema: I saw this with my mother and brother back in 1985.  BTTF may very well be the perfect screenplay because I was able to perfectly understand and thoroughly enjoy a potentially complicated story about time travel as well as cause and effect.

Aladdin: Seen at Regal Oaks 24: This impressive animated flick was paced like an Indiana Jones film and seamlessly combined 2-D and 3-D animation. The magic carpet was astounding, and the Cave of Wonders sequence was unforgettable. We also can't talk about this movie without the hilarity of the late, great Robin Williams.

Toy Story: Seen at Ardmore Theater. Saw this with my old college pal and true helper Dominic. This was the first Pixar movie and the first fully CGI 3-D movie. I thought the novelty would wear off after a few minutes (like "Who Framed Roger Rabbit."), but we had no idea how much attention to detail there was, and how well-written and voice acted the story was. Although Disney Animation Studios is now a legitimate threat to Pixar (Cars 3 looks like a shitshow), there is a reason that Pixar execs are in charge of the Mouse's entire animation machine.

Inside Out: Seen at UEC Theaters 9, State College: Saw this with my family. Pixar had been churning out some mediocrity (Cars 2, Ratatouille), but "Inside Out" was a true return to form for the studio. All of us loved it and had a great time.

A Day in the Life

This post is based on my favorite Beatles song. You can find the post on Vulture.com. The post is very biased against "Abbey Road" and "Let It Be" with the writer assuming that the band was not able to produce decent music given the strain on the band., preferring earlier songs like "I Wanna Hold Your Hand," and "She Loves You." We agreed on the No. 1 song, the epic tune "A Day in the Life." With my life developing into a routine of sorts, here is a day in my life:

6:30 pm: Picked up boys from day care. Offered to take them to IHOP.

7:15 pm: Decent meal. Jaci and the kids seemed to like it, but service and cost were poor. Blood sugar was 214.

8:15 pm: Back home. Kids continue to be noisy. Beginning to focus on family visit tomorrow. Few problems from "People of Walmart."

9:00 pm: Kids went to bed and stayed in bed. I am continuing to drink water. Jaci suggests calling Makayla tomorrow because her bakery fundraiser raised $180 for me. Trump continues to be an idiot.

10:00 pm: Interesting finds from magazines throughout the day. Car and Driver likes the 7-passenger VW Atlas, and loves the Ford GT. Time wrote about the "swamp" at the Trump International Hotel (formerly the Old Post Office Building). This is an instance where he is technically both landlord and tenant of his own building.

11:15 pm: Unfortunately, the night ends with a spat. I was going to call Makayla and give her the "real" reason I wouldn't be at her party. Jaci said she would calll herself and "soft pedal" the message.

5:30 am: OK sleep, more indigestion. The cycle starts over.

Where to shop and save money

with two kids and no active job to speak of, It's not cheap to raise kids. Aside from depending on the faith of others because I am a proud person, it does cost money to raise kids. Here are some of the places we shop at to save money:

Dollar Tree: Simply put, everything is a buck. Of course, we're not talking about quality products here. We've found Bang spray cleaner, and crappy stationery products, but they are a great place to buy gift cards and bags, which can run for more than $5 at the Hallmark store.

Dollar General: Despite the name, not everything is a dollar. Still, you can get some good bargains here. We have found vegetable juice, craft items, "clean" food, medical supplies, laundry detergent, and more.

Ollie's: As Forrest Gump says, You never know what you're going to get. That's Ollie's. There are incredible clearance prices on items like being books, food, and even tools. Sign up for Ollie's Army and save even more. All while looking at the bad puns on the walls. My personal favorite is the "Complaint Dept." over the exit door.

Wally World: Despite the people of Walmart, this is the only store as far as Pappy is concerned. Cheap prices for basic needs like food, salad, produce and rotisserie chicken. Just watch out for rude people cutting you off and getting in your way.

Target: Obviously not as cheap as Walmart, but you pay for quality. Lots of good, clean food, some deals on clothing items and housewares, and their kids' clothes, branded "Cat & Jack" are well-made and guaranteed for life.

Wegmans: Great products, quality and prices. Ready-made food, including sushi is expensive, but worth it. What isn't worth it are snotty, self-entitled shoppers who won't hesitate to cut you off or walk in front of you without a word. Coming here on the weekend is like going to war.

Trader Joe's: A godsend, and not a poor person's Whole Foods. Every product with the Trader Joe's name on it is "clean" food. Their vegetable juice and refrigerated and frozen foods are among the highlights. Don't forget to go for the samples and help your kids find "Leo."

If You Have Time to Lean, You Have Time to Clean

I was encouraged to see "The Founder" by my cousin and fellow Michael Keaton fan, Terry. By the way, Keaton is still the best Batman for my money and an exceptional actor overall. In this movie, he plays entrepreneur Ray Kroc, who happens upon a McDonald's, and is shocked by the fact that he is served his food 30 seconds after ordering. He meets with the McDonald brothers, who describe their business model to Kroc. The most fascinating part was the description of a basketball court with a chalk drawing of a kitchen as the brothers coached the workers. He eventually is able to convince the brothers to franchise, making the franchise the worldwide juggernaut it is today. I also think McDonald's redefined the concept of working in a food line. Two of my former coworkers, who were supposedly disciplinary nightmares in high school, have become trainers and line captains at Panera, and are able to at least make a living wage.

I still think McFood is still unfit for human consumption, although their fries are hard to resist. Their new line of burgers with guacamole, etc. look good, but aren't. Just watch "Super Size Me," but after you see "The Founder."