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Friday 29 July 2016

5 things I liked about "Mr Robot" Season 2, Episode 4.


  • "The Careful Massacre of the Bourgeois" low budget slasher flick.
  • The masterful use of Gustav Holst's "The Planets" in the opening scenes.
  • Whiterose's elegant boudoir (shades of the French Provincial bedroom in the closing scene of "2001: A Space Odyssey"). For other Asian transvestite hackers, see Cinemax's patchy, but good fun, "Banshee".
  • Elliot's fairy tale dream - street dinner party.
  • The symmetrical composition of shots in the Court Square subway station and the park during the chess showdown.

Saturday 23 July 2016

70's - 80's film references in Netflix's "Stranger Things" Season 1


  • Stephen King's "Stand By Me" (train track scenes, being hassled by older bullies)
  • Stephen King's "Firestarter" has a girl with telekinetic powers, likewise King's 1976's adaptation "Carrie".
  • Opening titles are a homage to 80's graphics accompanied by John Carpenter-esque electronic music ("Hallowe'en", "Escape from New York")
  • The monster is a cross between "Alien" (tube down Will's esophagus) and  John Carpenter's "The Thing". 
  • Teenage romance and misfits - John Hughes comedies, take your pick. The Duffer Brothers chose great English alternative music, too. But this is another matter.
  • "E.T." - BMX bikes, El(even) is hidden in a bedroom closet, a garden shed, shown Star Wars models by her new friend, a mysterious government agency is pursuing her. She even points (E.T.like) in on scene.
  • Film posters on kids' bedroom wall: "'The Evil Dead"
  • The monster's shape making a wall elastic-like ("A Nightmare on Elm Street")
  • Dustin refers to El as the "weirdo on Maple Street". Am I drawing a long bow with the last one?

Friday 22 July 2016

My past is now my present - being a carer


1965
2016

Fifty-one years later, I am back living in the family home. My 92 year old dad is living here. He has mobility and incontinence problems so I have taken on the role of carer. When he stays (for respite care, 4 weeks a year) at an aged care facility, he comes home worse than when he was admitted. 
I arrive at his place around 6:30 a.m. and leave before 5 p.m. This means I don't miss "wine o'clock" with my wife. A valuable unwind session.
I have routines in place to ensure he has an easy night - automatic lighting, light dinner set out on his tray before I leave, personal alarm pendant, commode in his bedroom, nighttime Lipitor on bedside table, heater to switch on/off.
If he has a bad day, I'll stay over. Sleeping in the bedroom I slept in 51 years ago. 
I cycle to my father's place. Travelling along the same streets I walked to primary school and high school on. 
I don't know how long this arrangement will last, but at the moment it's working.


Tape on carpet shows way to the bedroom
Things that make my life easier at the moment:
1. Split system heating/cooling with auto on/off timer.
2. My dad's electric tilt/lift chair
3. A Carpet Shampooer
4. "Piss mats" in front of toilet and commode (for bad aims). I cut up old Manchester that has been in the linen press since the 60's and 70's. Disposable. Saves on washing.
5. Netflix - finding TV shows that my dad enjoys - "Fawlty Towers", the  British "House of Cards" Trilogy, "Father Ted", "Doc Martin".

5 things I liked about "Mr Robot" Season 2, Episode 3


  • Jerome's Coney Island back story
  • Eclectic music choice - Dusty Springfield, Willie Nelson
  • Phillip Price's occasional channelling of Christopher Walken
  • Elliot's rant on religion
  • Ganja gran

Tuesday 19 July 2016

5 things I liked about "Ray Donovan" Season 4, Episode 4

This show has gone from strength to strength due to the screenwriters and ensemble cast. Season 4 could be its best. It's certainly the funniest, thanks to Micky (Jon Voight).


  • Dabney Coleman (last seen in "Boardwalk Empire"?) as the movie legend with a secret.
  • The motel owner (Diane Ladd) seducing the hapless Micky in the aging Cadillac.
  • Ray singing Bob Seger - karaoke. Who knew Liev Schreiber could hold a tune?
  • Abby's therapeutic bar session with Deb's "friend".
  • Hank Azaria (Ed Cochran) returns!





Sunday 17 July 2016

Remember when....?


  • When a skyscraper was under construction, the workers would mount a cut tree on its highest point. I'm remembering this as an Australian kid in the early 60's. I'm assuming it was a European tradition as many workers were European in the 50's and 60's.
  • Front doors with central knobs were cool in the 60's. Now dumped in solid rubbish collections.

Friday 15 July 2016

5 things I liked about "Mr Robot" Season 2, Episode 2


  • Ray's basketball court philosophizing. What does this dude want?
  • Danish actor Stephanie Corneliussen (Joanna-Lady Macbeth-Wellick) reminds me of a young Liv Tyler. Interesting that Martin Wallstrom (the lovable Tyrell) is also Scandinavian.
  • The beautifully directed $5.9 m bonfire scene.
  • The lawyer's bar joke with Angela. Angela is a force to be reckoned with in this season. Those motivation tapes are a worry.
  • Channel surfing with Joanna's new S&M buddy (Nancy Grace to "Vanderpumps Rules").

Tuesday 12 July 2016

5 things I liked about "Mr Robot" Season 2, Episode 1


  • The cleverly edited Obama TV speech.
  • Elliot's Seinfeld-spouting buddy, Leon (Joey Bada$$ - great name for a rapper)
  • The elegant framing in many shots
  • Amazing musical score
  • When was the last time you saw "Intermission" in a TV show?