The Man from Earth – Film

The Man from Earth is a 2007 American drama science fiction film … starring David Lee Smith as John Oldman, the protagonist. …

John … claims to be a Cro-Magnon (or Magdalenian caveman) who has secretly survived for more than 14,000 years. The entire film is set in and around Oldman’s house during his farewell party and is composed almost entirely of dialogue. …

Almost a home movie, a budget of just US$200k.

The most impressive man John ever met was … the Buddha.

And John was Christ.

Click PLAY or watch the trailer on YouTube.

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

I really liked The Great Alone, Kristin Hannah’s coming-of-age story about a girl, Leni Allbright, who moves with her parents, Ernt and Cora, to a log cabin in the wilds of Alaska.

Her 2021 book — The Four Winds — is good, as well.

Also historical fiction.

Another coming-of-age story. Loreda lives through the Dust Bowl in Texas. The family fleeing to California in the “Okie” migration — to semi-slavery picking cotton.

The Okies had replaced Mexican migrant workers.

Though started 3-years prior to the pandemic, many of the issues are important to Americans today. Trying to reduce the gap between richest and poorest, for example.

I recommend this book.

Texas, 1934.

Millions are out of work and a drought has broken the Great Plains. Farmers are fighting to keep their land and their livelihoods as the crops are failing, the water is drying up, and dust threatens to bury them all. One of the darkest periods of the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl era, has arrived with a vengeance.

In this uncertain and dangerous time, Elsa Martinelli—like so many of her neighbors—must make an agonizing choice: fight for the land she loves or go west, to California, in search of a better life. 

kristinhannah.com

Miley Cyrus – Bikini Kill’s “Rebel Girl”

I’d say Miley Cyrus was musical artist of the year for me in 2020.

Fierce.

She decided on a punk Lesbian anthem for the uber-MACHO Super Bowl crowd, for example. 😀

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Rebel Girl is a song by American punk rock band Bikini Kill released 1993.

… emblematic of the riot grrrl movement of the 1990s. …

Riot grrrl bands often address issues such as rapedomestic abusesexualityracismpatriarchyclassismanarchism and female empowerment

Click PLAY or watch one of the original artists’ versions on YouTube.

I was reminded of the song by Amy Poehler’s ‘Moxie’.

My Year of Living Safely

I’ve been a year (mostly) sheltering in place on Vancouver Island.

Off the island only twice.

Three times if you count my first flight — to Calgary for my 1st jab: Thursday, March 18th.

I did have one helicopter ride last July.

In small town Parksville, most of the year we had zero COVID cases. In fact, right now is worst, so far. I’m double masking.

Highlights have been spending time with my parents. Mom and Dad get their first vaccine dose next week.

15 multi-day cycling trips along with plenty of local hiking. I’ll do more of that in 2021, for sure.

My main new hobby with all that COVID time is video editing.

I’m building up a new hiking YouTube channel. Subscribe.

Waterfront Walkway, Parksville

Amy Poehler’s MOXIE!

MOXIE! is a 2021 American comedy-drama film directed by Amy Poehler.

Very important social commentary.

A teen feminist classic already.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

… Sorry to say, but my favourite character … is a guy.

In fact, pretty much everyone agrees that the star of the film is Nico Hiraga as Seth Acosta.

How Amy Poehler’s ‘Moxie’ Is Bringing Riot Grrrl — and Bikini Kill — to a New Generation

Do I need a drone?

Tried it once. Found it too complicated. LAWS too restrictive.

BUT — what about indoors?

Gymnastics Clubs would allow it. Of course I’d need an expensive one — something like the new  DJI FPV ( $1,299 plus accessories).

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Here’s some indoor footage.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Cross Her Heart by Sarah Pinborough

Sarah Pinborough has published about 20 books, so far, but is most famous for Behind Her Eyes (2017).

It was adapted into a Netflix TV series also called Behind Her Eyes.

Cross Her Heart (2018) is similar. Another psychological thriller.

Female friendships, mothers and daughters, teenage girls. Workplace drama.

It’s good. An interesting plot.

But I liked Behind Her Eyes better.

This one feels too long. Could have used a more severe editor.

Tragically Hip – Ahead By A Century

When people asks me to name THE Canadian band — I always reply The Tragically Hip.

They’re surprised as the Hip are not nearly the most famous act.

In fact, in 2020 three Canadians were listed top 10 downloaded.

But, for me, Tragically Hip was the quintessential Canadian band.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

related – As an immigrant, I wanted to understand Canada’s fascination with the Tragically Hip. This is what I found

How to be an Artist – Jerry Saltz

Jerry Saltz won the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism in 2018.

Since 2006 he’s been senior art critic and columnist for New York magazine.

Astonishingly, he was a long distance truck driver until age-41.

One of the very LAST words I’d use to describe myself is artist. Yet even I found this book useful in my quest to become a more artistic video creator.

Click PLAY or listen to an excerpt on YouTube.

Time Loop movies

I often think of Bill Murray in Groundhog Day. One of his best.

Of course there are many more films where characters have to relive the same day over-and-over.

I did enjoy a teen romance called The Map of Tiny Perfect Things.

Even better was Palm Springs.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.