Weekend Cat Blogging #260

                                                             ©Bill Watterson, Universal Press Syndicate

Vincent is this week's entry for Weekend Cat Blogging hosted by Nikita Cat.

Feel Good Friday

Film Review: Sex and the City 2

An open letter to Andrew O'Hehir at Salon.com:

I don't care!

I am one of those women who remained "breathtakingly loyal" to SATC, from first episode to last movie, and I don't care if the movie was predictable, politically incorrect, or boring. I wanted to see my old 'friends' again. I wanted to eavesdrop on those brunch conversations and fantasize about the city, men, and fashion. I wanted to live vicariously through those four women again.

If I had written SATC2, I would have included more Stanford, Anthony, Harry, and Steve; New York City; conversation; and, fashion! I wouldn't have written Samantha as a caricature of her younger self. I would have cut out about 30 minutes of the Abu Dhabi trip, but then I didn't care too much for Mexico or Los Angeles in SATC1. Why leave out the fifth friend - NYC? 

I would have been happy if Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha had sat in the coffee shop and reminisced the entire movie. I am a total film snob, but I wasn't there for enlightenment. I was there for the fantasy.

SATC's target audience member,
Judi

Summary: Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha discover that even when one gets what they've always wanted it isn't always what they thought it would be. A business trip takes Samantha to United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi) and she takes her friends along. Fun and trouble ensue.

3 out of 5 stars for the actual film and the missed opportunities
5 out of 5 stars because it is SATC

SATC2 Opens Tomorrow

Need I say more? I am the core audience, if only in my mind, and I will be there tomorrow night. With all the less than desirable things going on in our real world, I am ready to lose myself in the fantasy world of Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, Samantha, friendship, fashion, fun, men, and cocktails.

The Help: The Movie

Fans of Kathryn Stockett's book, The Help, will be happy to know that filming of the movie will start this summer in Mississippi. Summer in Mississippi? That should be fun for the crew.

The site will be Greenwood, although the majority of the book takes place in Jackson in the 1960's. Greenwood is in the Delta region of Mississippi and is best known for its blues clubs and Mississippi's only five-star hotel. Some scenes will be shot in and around Jackson and in north Mississippi.

The producer, Brunson Green, and screenwriter, Tate Taylor, are originally from Mississippi. Casting includes Emma Stone and Viola Davis.

Jonathan Adler Favorites and Matte Stephens

A few of my followers may remember how I had my eye on Jonathan Adler's penguin salt and pepper shakers. Moose generously made sure I had these to adorn my table on my last birthday. Aren't they great?

There are new ones available at Jonathan Adler Designs:

 Bananas                   Elephants                 Shoes                     Poodles

So cute! As I was shopping the site, I ran across a painting, the style that seemed very familiar to me.I knew I had seen it. The artist, now part of Jonathan Adler Designs: Matte Stephens.  Matte Stephens? Matte Stephens? The bio claimed he lived in Portland. Matte Stephens? Matte Stephens? Oh, right! He used to live in Birmingham! He showed at Magic City Arts Connection and Naked Art Gallery (I think). I always checked out his paintings when I could. I never bought anything, but I always found them fun and interesting - sorry, Matte!

Check these and other designs at Jonathan Adler Designs, one of my favorite eye candy shopping website.

More Billboard Propaganda

The Constitution Say's (sic) billboard has now replaced the George W. Bush "Miss Me Yet?" billboard on Lurleen B. Wallace Boulevard. I think I'll send this to Real Time with Bill Maher.  Utah and Alabama are competing for the stupidest state title next week and, apparently, Alabamians want this title!

Weekend Cat Blogging #259

Vincent, daydreaming about catching mice and drowning them in the giant water bowl across the street.

Vincent, seen here spying on the apartment swimming pool, is this week's entry for Weekend Cat Blogging hosted by Pam at Sidewalkshoes.

Maxine on Saturday

John Wagner / © Hallmark, Inc.

Maxine on Saturday is hosted by Mary at Work of the Poet. Visit her blog to see other Maxine cartoons and/or to join the weekend fun.

Feel Good Friday

Film Review: The Private Lives of Pippa Lee

I was drawn to this film by the cast and its writer/director Rebecca Miller. It certainly didn't hurt that Pippa was the daughter of a pastor father and a bipolar mother.

Summary (from Wikipedia):  As a teenager nearly driven mad by her complacent pastor father Des and bipolar mother Suky, whose neurotic behavior is precipitated by an addiction to amphetamines, Pippa Sarkissian runs away from her rural home and seeks refuge with her father's sister Trish in New York City. She is startled to discover her aunt is a lesbian and living with Kat, a dominatrix who specializes in photographing sadomasochistic scenes. Falling under Kat's influence, Pippa rapidly descends into an underworld of illegal drugs and promiscuous sex. She is rescued from her decadent lifestyle by Herb Lee, a charismatic publisher 30 years her senior. They wed, have two children, and live a very comfortable life until Herb's multiple heart attacks force them to sell their Manhattan apartment and settle in a retirement community in suburban Connecticut, where Pippa develops a sleep disorder. By far the youngest of all the residents, she finds herself becoming bored and restless and beginning to unravel until she meets her neighbor's emotionally damaged son Chris, who becomes an unlikely confidante and unexpected lover. Pippa's unswerving devotion to her husband is tested when she discovers he is having a fling of his own with Sandra Dulles, an attractive woman — even younger than his trophy wife — who has a long list of neuroses of her own.

As Pippa stared into her creme brulee, she began reliving a story that, at the time, I wasn't sure was real or fantasy. The film bounces back and forth between her youth and domestic middle-age.  There were times when it felt a little weighted down, but I never tired of Robin Wright Penn. All the characters were interesting and I wanted to know about them yet it was, after all, Pippa's life.

3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars.

Oil Suspected In Loop Current

AP photo as seen on The Huffington Post

If you've ever had the privilege of visiting the Florida Keys then you know how beautiful, yet fragile it is. I've been SCUBA diving in those emerald waters: flat seas, excellent visibility, and delicate reefs so shallow that you run out of energy before your tank runs out of air.

We may not think of them as such, but reefs are living creatures. Researchers say computer models show oil has entered the loop current that could carry this toxic BP oil spill toward the world's third longest barrier reef.

The White House issued a warning that it expected the oil giant to pay for the damages caused by this disaster, up to $75 million liability cap.  It was also reported that President Obama is gathering a team of scientists to work on this problem, as executives and the lawyers who love them do not appear to capable of preventing or managing this catastrophe. It would be beneficial for President Obama's team to bring in young minds with fresh ideas as well.

According to the AP:

The oil is now over the western edge of a roughly 61-mile expanse of 300-to-500-foot-deep reef south of Louisiana known as the Pinnacles, about 25 miles north of where the Deepwater Horizon exploded April 20, killing 11 people and starting the spill that grows by the hour.

The Pinnacles is one of nine coral banks and hard-bottom areas stretching from Texas to Florida that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration tried in 2008 to get designated a marine sanctuary called Islands in the Stream.

This sanctuary would have restricted fishing and oil drilling around the identified reef "islands." But the plan was put on hold after vehement objections from Republican lawmakers, fishermen and the oil industry.

Keep an eye on the loopholes and the ones who work to provide them or the taxpayers will be paying for this, too.  Listen: more silence on the right.

Bill Maher on Alabama Campaign Ads and Solution for America

Friday night, Bill Maher took on Alabama campaign ads on Real Time with Bill Maher. The State of Alabama has historically been wrong about so many decisions and, thus, remains at the bottom of so many lists. Unfortunately, many Alabamians continue to be proud of being so backwards and out of touch.

I love many things about Alabama. The acceptance of Alabama's continual reliance on protecting classism by fueling superstitions, falsehoods, and hatred is not one of them.



Note: If you made it until the end of this video, you'll either be real angry or laughing real hard. Everyone knows I love my football team. One of the reasons there is so much pride in this team is because Alabama has very few other accomplishments to cheer.

I don't agree with everything that comes out of Maher's mouth - yes, I'm able to disagree and still enjoy the routine - but here are a few quotes and comments in which I do agree:

Responding to Teabaggers (giggle): "I don't want my country back. I want my country FORWARD!"

"We're stuck on a wheel, having the same arguments about getting off oil that we had in the 1970s; the same arguments about our ballooning debt that we had in the 1980s; the same arguments about global warming that we had in the 1990s; and, we never do anything."
 
Maher: (paraphrasing) We can't even reform the way we make pennies and nickles. Last week, we learned that making a penny costs two cents and making a nickle costs nine cents, which makes no sense.  The administration suggested we should make our money out of something cheaper, a suggestion first made by President Nixon. But, because this is America where no one ever gives an inch on anything, the coin-operated laundry association does not want to upgrade their machines. So, once again, we are made a little worse.
 
Which is why America needs to focus on getting JOBS - STEVE JOBS. Apple would have come up with a better idea for stopping the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico than the executives at BP.
In 2001, Apple reinvented the record player.
In 2007, Apple reinvented the phone.
In 2010, Apple reinvented the computer.
In 2011, let's let them take a crack at America - our infrastructure, our business model, our institutions - get rid of the things that aren't working and replace them with something that does. 
Goodbye, US Senate - Hello, Genius Bar.
 
Me: What does the latter have to do with the beginning? We will never move forward, if we won't let go of the past. And, with that, we're made a little worse. We shake our heads and wonder why we are having collapsing bridges and faulty levees and multiple mining disasters and oil spills and potholes and power outages and un- and under-educated children and a health care crisis and the impending sense of doom that other countries are breathing down our necks.

Weekend Cat Blogging #258

Strike a pose - Jules sees something that apparently only cats can see.

All you need is your own imagination
So use it that's what it's for (that's what it's for)
Go inside, for your finest inspiration
Your dreams will open the door (open up the door)
~~~~~~~
Ladies with an attitude
Fellows that were in the mood
Don't just stand there, let's get to it
Strike a pose, there's nothing to it
Vogue ~ Madonna

This week's Weekend Cat Blogging is hosted by Breadchick and LB at The Sour Dough.

Maxine on Saturday

© John Wagner

Maxine on Saturday is hosted by Mary at Work of the Poet. Visit her blog to see other Maxine cartoons and/or to join the weekend fun.

Feel Good Friday

Sex and the City and the Shoes

Remember when we'd ask, "which Sex and the City woman are you"?  The answer was ultimately Carrie, as she seemed to encompass all the characteristics of her female friends. Plus, those clothes! those men! and that city!

With the release of Sex and the City 2 on May 27th, we have a new question: which SATC shoe are you?

Are you Carrie?

Are you Charlotte?

Are you Miranda?

Are you Samantha?

It's true. SATC foldable "After Party" flats are for sale for $64.99 at HBO online.  They are certainly cheaper than Manolos and certainly more comfortable!  Other available shoes include:

SATC Black Corsage

SATC Pink Gems

While I might pass on the shoes, I'm certainly not going to pass on seeing Sex and the City 2. No matter how cheesy it might be, I love those women and their New York.

Film Review: Crazy Heart

If you don't like country music (I don't) then maybe this film's setting might not appeal to you; however, if you've ever frequented a bar or a small music venue or even watched an E! True Hollywood Story then you might enjoy it more than you think. It is not a country music story nor is it a new story. But, life stories are rarely new....except when we find ourselves settling at the bottom of our own particular history.

Summary: Country music singer Bad Blake (Jeff Bridges) finds himself falling into the abyss of too many hours on the road, too many bottles of booze, too many women, and a younger musician (Colin Farrell) making money off his music. The burden of his personal failings are also heavy on his shoulders. It isn't until he meets a news reporter (Maggie Gyllenhaal) and her son, Buddy (Jack Nation ) that he starts to feel alive again. But, as with any alcoholic, there is the moment of poor judgment that leads one, hopefully, to a moment of reckoning and ultimately redemption. Appearing also in the film are Robert Duvall, who sings, and Beth Grant.

As I watched this, I thought of Kris Kristofferson. I saw him perform in a bar in Columbus, Mississippi not long after he had stopped drinking. A better performer appeared before us - better in performance and in appearance than I had last remembered him. While their stories may not be exactly the same, Bad Blake reminded me of Kristofferson.

As with many films, casting can make a huge difference in what might turn out to be an otherwise mediocre story. I think that is the case here. Bridges certainly seemed to inhabit Blake's body and character. Farrell was remarkable as Tommy Sweet, country music's latest music maker. Duvall, Gyllenhaal, and Grant - how could it get any better.

Four of five stars
Now available on OnDemand and Blu-Ray.

Book Giveaway: The Pocket Therapist

Gwendolyn at A Sea of Books is giving away three copies of The Pocket Therapist by Therese J. Borchard (Hatchett Book Group).

If the author's name sounds familiar, you may have read her daily blog, Beyond Blue, at Beliefnet.com or at The Huffington Post.

For details on how to enter and to read more about this book and other book giveaways, go to A Sea of Books. Deadline for entry is May 30th.

Weekend Cat Blogging #257 Round-up

Update: Nikita Cat reports that Samantha, Clementine and Maverick are doing a good deed this evening. They are filling in as host of Carnival of the Cats since Nikita Cat has his paws full keeping his Daddy in bed, and in the house. We hope 'Daddy' continues to improve under Nikita Cat's care.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this week's WCB.  Welcome new friends and long-time blogging buddies!

By associating with the cat, one only risks becoming richer. - Colette

Can you say fun hangover? The Meezers and Billy had a great time at their daddy's place. The rest of the gang also chose comfortable places to crash for an hour or two or three.

Nikita Cat at Meowsings of an Opinionated Pussycat is pulling triple duties this weekend: hosting Carnival of the Cats; protecting the new camera; and, taking care of his dad, who had a health scare. We hope 'Dad' feels better soon!

Samantha

Clementine

Texas furfriends, Sammie and Clemmie, are relaxing and having some fun this weekend at Life From a Cat's Perspective.

The gossip columns were right on when they hinted that Hollywood playa and catchelor, Cokie the Cat, was officially engaged to Jazzydacat. Check out the details and the great music playlist at ....Cokie the Cat....Hollywood Insider. What about that ring?!

Yoko is being pampered all weekend on her 17th Gotcha Day. The details are chronicled with this lovely post and photos at Cats of Wildcat Woods.

Magellan and Penelope still found a way to share and snuggle during this afternoon nap. What a sweet surprise for their mom at Chocolate and Croissants.

Work it, Smudge! Move over, Tyra, Smudge is working those modeling angles and the camera is loving it at Sidewalk Shoes.

Speaking of angles, Luna is playing in tri-angles over at Catsynth. This certainly captures Luna as the work of art that she is.

Daphne and Chloe at Purrchance To Dream have been celebrating Gotcha Day with lots of 'nip and Temptations. Could you get more mellow than these two?

Note: There is a wonderful tribute to Little Stevie Katz at CatLadyDiary, who was helped to the Rainbow Bridge last night. Our thoughts are with you.

Little Stevie

Fridolin at Rosa's Yummy Yums is as handsome and healthy as ever, thanks to lots of love and a little help from some natural medicine remedies.

Next week's WCB host: Breadchick and LB at The Sour Dough

Jules and Vincent

Happy Mother's Day

Health Care Reform passed and I got more than just this pretty cool T-shirt. While we didn't get everything we (I) wanted, we hope it is a start for better health care coverage for all, particularly women.

We now have a President who is friendly to women:
1) Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
2) First White House Council on Women and Girls
3) Let's Move! Initiative and the President's Task Force on Childhood Obesity
4) Health Care Reform

The upcoming week is National Women's Health Week designed to promote steps women and girls can take to lead longer, healthier and happier lives.

Mother's Day is about showing our gratitude for the mothers and mother figures who have influenced our lives. The President and I would like to extend our warmest Mother's Day wishes to all of the mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters and friends who have inspired a child. ~ First Lady Michelle Obama

Maxine on Saturday

Remember your mom this Mother's Day... she can make the rest of your life an endless festival of guilt if you don't. ~ Maxine

c John Wagner / Hallmark

Maxine on Saturday is hosted by Mary at Work of the Poet. Visit her blog to see other Maxine cartoons and/or to join the weekend fun.

Blue Angels in Tuscaloosa

The Blue Angels roared into Tuscaloosa County and landed at The Tuscaloosa Regional Airport in Northport. They will perform tomorrow and a huge crowd is once again expected. (photo)

Apparently, the fear of the loud engines and the desire to hide under the bed is soooo last year. I'm not sure Vincent even blinked while they were arriving today. I think this may be a semi-coma!