kipper
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Posts posted by kipper
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under the pillow at the...
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1 minute ago, redrum said:
Good stuff. My Mother was born in Appalachia, Virginia (Max Meadows). Don't know if she ever did that or not.
My grandfather was born in Wheeling West Virginia. Worked in a steel mill starting at age 12 making barrel hoops and fence wire until he moved to the midwest to buy a farm when he was in his 20s. He could dance like that old Hillbilly in Deliverance. Best people on Earth.
Who's says white folks can't dance?
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On 9/16/2020 at 5:05 AM, Stryder1978 said:
Got my Led Zeppelin Covid masks from RedBubble yesterday. Maybe not the highest quality, but they are double layered and the softest cloth of any masks I currently have. And at 10 bucks a pop, definitely worth it. Can't wait till the ladies in the office see my "Soul of a Woman was Created Below" mask!
Cool!
I ordered some of these on Amazon. Thought I'd try wearing one to the store to see have I can trigger someone to go ape shit and end up as a Youtube star.
Sign says "must wear a mask".... it's a mask. 😝
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to where you left your...
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On 9/15/2020 at 12:15 AM, redrum said:
One of my faves by Elvis.
Cool retro dance steps! See lots of "shuffle dancing" in there reminiscent of M.C. Hammer and the '80s. Shuffle dancing reminds me a lot of Appalachian "flatfooting" ...... footwork way more apt to my people..... well, that or marching LOL.
This gal actually from England---not bad for across the pond.
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28 minutes ago, redrum said:
I remember the day very well. I had to go down to the bay to mourn. I saw him 5 times in SF.
Member of The 27 club
Jimi Hendrix
Robert Johnson
Janis Joplin
Jim Morrison
Kurt Cobain
Alan "Blind Owl' Wilson (Canned Heat)
Brian Jones
Amy Winehouse
Pete Ham (Badfinger)
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you're broke and haven't got..
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To hell with global warming, these machines were COOL!!!!
Check this out. You can't just fire these awesome machines up by turning a key and putting them into gear. It takes HOURS to fire a steam locomotive and get it ready to roll out. This video is just an edited down taste of the process.
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never trust a Greek bearing...
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3 hours ago, redrum said:
Lucky Steve to act with those 2 foxes.
I had to rewind part of this to see Ford Rainey bop the Chinese guy in the head with the ax. 😄
Rainey played in so many TV shows and movies and lived almost to 100.
The Springfield rifle used in the movie. It was replaced by the Garand in WW2, but many snipers kept the Springfield for it's accuracy.
My father said the M1903 Springfield rifle was still being used in the Navy into the '50s for drilling (during basic training) and then also onboard ship as one of several weapons stowed for possible security needs. While on watch in port (Europe) they carried the M1911 (.45ACP) "condition 4" (magazine not loaded, empty chamber). If something came up and they needed to secure the ship, he was issued the Springfield rifle. My assumption is that being the Navy, they didn't feel your average sailor was trained to be a rifleman the way Army infantry or Marines were, so a .30-06 bolt action would be sufficient for that purpose.
Pop said they also had the BARs just like as seen in Sandpebbles. The ship already had a few M2 Brownings (.50cal 'Ma Duece) but those were only to support beach landings or anti aircraft. The BAR was still the best choice on board ship to repel boarders up close or dissuade smaller boats coming too close---especially in a port. Can't be wringing out a .50 cal with other ships moored nearby. But none of that ever happened anyway. In Italy sometimes some women (prostitutes) would want to try to sneak on board (with some help) and service the sailors for a few packs of smokes, but I think even that was just some legend stuff.
So at sea they would get to practice with the BARs, .50s, and if he was lucky one of the 20 or 40mm guns too.
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3 hours ago, Strider said:
Eric "The Kid" Stoner...because he got to hang out with Tuesday Weld and Ann-Margret.
Really, it's hard to choose. I happen to like Frank Bullitt…he got to bang Jacqueline Bisset. "Bullitt" definitely does not have a happy ending. You're also forgetting Captain Hilts from "The Great Escape"...better pay-grade than Petty Officer Jack Holman. Henri Charriere from "Papillon" is another memorable McQueen film. And how about Thomas Crown from "The Thomas Crown Affair"? Then, there are all the great westerns Steve did, starting with "The Magnificent Seven" and his character Vin Tanner.
Steve McQueen had so many great roles and great movies, it is impossible for me to choose just one to represent him at his best.
Imagine getting to choose between Tuesday Weld, a brown eyed blonde, or Ann Margret, a green eyed brunet? That's like having to choose between Betty or Veronica, or Ginger or Maryann. You know you want both for different reasons. Both are like a Christmas gift under the tree, but Weld is wrapped and you have to "unwrap" to see what your are getting. While Marget you know what the gift is, it doesn't need to be unwrapped.
I always looked at Tuesday Weld like a cross between Grace Kelly and Sandra Dee. I really dug her.
So if I were McQueen and they offered me the choice of Sandpebbles or Bullitt--- and I could only choose one---I think most actors would pick Sandpebbles. There were already lots of crime drama action films in Hollywood starring many great actors of McQueen's stature. But Sandpebbles stands out as film that digs down into themes like racism, blind patriotism, nationalism, religious idealism, colonialism vs independence and revolution... and of course man's in humanity to man. All with Jake Holeman at the center, just a guy who wants to run a steam engine to the best of his ability without being drawn into the madness around him--- but has no chance of that, and never did. A Huckleberry Finn style of anti-hero going down a river and headed to point of certain reckoning, one way or another.
The Great Escape and The Magnificent 7 both great films, but ensemble casts where McQueen shared the stage, so I don't think of those as McQueen movies the way I do Sandpebbles or Cincinnati Kid. I suppose we could mention The Getaway too, but I though that film was better role for MacGraw, McQueens part could have been equally satisfied with Bronson, Eastwood, or Newman. But I don't think any other actor in Hollywood at the time could have brought to the Jake Holeman character what McQueen brought other than maybe a much younger Henry Fonda. Something about the eyes makes a difference there. Maybe Newman, but his shining star was Cool Hand Luke. DAMN I wish Hollywood made films like those again!
Speaking of gambling genre films. Which of these do you think were better?
Cincinnati Kid or The Hustler?
I would pick Cincinnati Kid for the reason of Edward G. Robinson. Gleason was "the great one" but that was more of his comedy genius too me. In the '60s if you are Bronson, Eastwood, McQueen, Heston, Hoffman, or Newman, and you get a role starring opposite of Edward G. Robinson, Humphrey Bogart, Alan Ladd, Henry Fonda, Jimmy Stewart, or the great James Cagney..... WOW! That had to be something special. Given that all of those were still living at the time to have been in the film.
Heston got to star in Edward G. Robinson's last film "Soylent Green". I loved the Heston sci-fi films, but Soylent Green stands worlds apart from the rest and it is all about Edward G. Robinson's role bringing a touch of humanity to it my opinion. Insert any other older actor there in that role and I would be hard pressed to find one equally as heavy unless it could have been Spencer Tracy maybe. That would have been great too.
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3 hours ago, Mr.Bones said:
People who decide to live in such areas (I live in forestry as well, not in Cali though) need to understand the potential dangers and accept those dangers. Same as people living in trailer parks along tornado alley, living close to major fault lines, volcanos, and hurricane zones.
IMO, if a wildfire burned down my home you sure would not see me on the news crying and wailing about how tragic this is (it is but that is not the point). I would be saying that I chose to live here, knew the risks and oh well, time to move on. Then again where I live the forestry is managed very well and major firebreaks are required.
I agree. And the scary thing about these fires as seen in the current dry conditions in the west, when combined with months of drought, long periods of low humidity, days of record heat, and then if strong winds are added to the mix and there is an ignition..... it isn't just the areas surrounded by trees or in mountains that will go up in huge flames.
I remember the fire up near Santa Rosa in California (wine country). While not too far from hills and grasslands, many areas that burned were in the town where homes and buildings were considerable distances from any wild land fuel sources. When the winds get to 70mph the burning embers can travel long distances and then embed themselves in showers of sparks into wood siding on homes. It is like holding a torch to your eves and siding, and with the heat it all goes up.
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12 hours ago, reids said:
Way too many passing this year.
Here’s a recap of those who’ve passed in the past month.
R😎🙏
That is a lot, and still only 3/4ths through the year.
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13 hours ago, Strider said:
Garbage. Another nutter. The Kennedys did it.
I know, I know. But I watched the author when he was on the Joe Rogan podcast and I got hooked in. Rogan is sort of like an Alex Jones type, of sorts, and sort of sold me on the book with his enthusiasm.
I read Helter Skelter when it came out, and Bugliosi's tale of the events and the official story in pretty believable. But later on in life I started listening to Vincent Bugliosi and he just go more and more weird, angry, egotistical, and all of that. Now I think Bugliosi could have layered on some extra shit to the story too. Huge ego that man had, I wouldn't put it past him.
I bought the book because there is something there to the whole CIA LSD thing. The CIA tried to destroy all traces of their program, they lied to us, and if not by chance that program was uncovered by a congressional investigation. What remains is if there was any connection to the CIA and free clinic where we now know the CIA was giving LSD to hippies in SF during the time Manson and the girls were living there.
The whole Manson event is so fucked up. These young girls turned into ruthless nazi like killers. But LSD was a big thing with the Manson family, but Manson himself rarely used it. Did he learn how to mind fuck people and control them the same way the CIA was experimenting on soldiers and such with? That is what bothers me.
I haven't started reading it yet. Still re reading Helter Skelter first as a baseline. I'll post my take on this book after I read it. I do not easily buy conspiracy stuff. I believe Lee Harvey Oswald could have made that shot, and I don't believe in UFOs.
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Not sure if anyone mentioned the passing of Trini Lopez last month. Apparently he died of complications from covid-19 at age 83.
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On 8/30/2020 at 5:37 PM, reids said:
R.I.P. Leslie Hamilton Freas (twin sister of Actress, Linda Hamilton (Terminator).
R😎
OMG! She was hotter than her sister.
RIP
Wish I had had the chance to know you,
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10 hours ago, Strider said:
Great article! It describes the quagmire this state is in over fire suppression and forest management. Not trying to get into politics, but right now two sides are just talking at each other. The administration saying it is all about forest management and not climate, and then the state government saying it is about climate, and management is a Federal issue. And on the sidelines are fire fighter unions and others including power companies and liability lawyers all sticking their dicks into the pot too.
Key things to clean from the article is that during pre historic times, long before California was settled by any number of people. Wild fires burned each season and scotched many more millions of acres than now.... with nobody starting them, and long before industrial emissions could affect climate.
So what do we do? Prescribed burns? Or just let stuff burn when it does start only attempting to save lives ---and any fools who build homes in indefensible zones too bad. Problem is politicians, lawyers, unions--- try doing any of that. So nothing changes. And how do you tell thousands of communities that allowed development in wildfire zones, too bad, we are redlining your home, won't try to save it.
What may change the thing with that are insurance companies. Right now many insurance companies WILL NOT write policies in some areas that they used to write. No fire insurance and no bank will write a mortgage. Then any sale must be cash buyers only.
There are too many people in California, and at some point lawmakers need to STOP permitting more development in wild land areas. But undoing that is difficult, too much money in housing development.
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21 hours ago, redrum said:
Watched this again with commentary by the director Robert Wise (Sound Of Music), Candice Bergen, Mako and Richard Crenna. Too bad McQueen couldn't have lived to also talk about what I think is his best film.
Shit! I need to buy the DVD on ebay with the commentary. Haven't heard that one yet!
Strider won't like this, but now I buy most of my DVDs and CD on ebay (buy it now). Get good used stuff for a steal. Many sellers will do buy 2 get and 3rd free. Only had one bad DVD from ebay--- Notified ebay and they credited me instantly.
McQueen's best film.... hmmm. Many would say Bullet, but that isn't going deep enough. Great action film, but not better than other McQueen roles in my view. If I had to choose right now I would say "The Sand Pebbles" because it is such multi faceted and compelling story with such a tragic ending. Tragic endings are the better stories.... poetry actually. Happy endings are for kids.
But on another day I would say "The Cincinnati Kid" Love that film. Edward G. Robinson, Karl Malden, Ann Margret, the BEAUTIFUL Tuesday Weld, Cab Calloway, Joan Blondale, Rip fucking Torn!!!! Yeah, a toss up between the two.
What do you think Strider, Jake Holeman or "the Kid"? Which character was the better role for McQueen?
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4 hours ago, Strider said:
If you love "The Sand Pebbles" this website is essential.
Thank you thank you thank you!!
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On 9/15/2020 at 1:33 AM, redrum said:
That's great stuff. I always loved the old steam engines at the fair. I could watch them for hours.
A triple-expansion engine is a compound engine that expands the steam in three stages—i.e. an engine with three cylinders at three different pressures. A quadruple-expansion engine expands the steam in four stages, and so on.
The USS PAMPANITO sub in SF interior.
I love steam engines and all kinds of gear head stuff like that. Been to several railroad museums and taken steam train rides. Most run on fuel oil now (old crank case oil), I'd love to see one that runs on coal, but I'm sure Al Gore would have a cow LOL.
When my father was in the Navy his first job was down in the engine room (destroyer escort with two boilers fired by bunker C, two GE steam turbine engines, and turbo electric transmission). He HATED it down there. HOT as hell he said. When he got the chance to get a job topside as part of the crew of the Mark 12 5"/38 gun as a fuze setter he took it. Said he would rather die or be injured topside than below deck anyway if things got bad.
Speaking of steam engines. One day I was in Burbank Ca when I look up hearing some "clatter" and there coming down the blvd is Jay Leno with his big giant head driving some steam powered jalopy. So I yell over at him, "Hey Leno, where's your helmet?" (This was shortly after the incident where he was the passenger in a 2500 horse power Plymouth "Cuda" that rolled during a taping of his garage show). Jay smiled with that big jawed grin and then yelled out at me, "this thing has a top speed of about eleven, I think I'm safe!" Funny guy that Jay.
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On 9/14/2020 at 9:52 PM, Strider said:
As with most rotten things in the world, blame the Nazis.
However, first let me state for the record that of course I preferred the British "A Night to Remember" to the American "Titanic" (both 1953 and 1997 versions). "A Night to Remember" had better cinematography, better music, better characters (they had the unsinkable Margaret "Molly" Brown while 1953's "Titanic" stupidly did not), better ship models, better history.
A stickler for historical accuracy might quibble with the fact that the movie shows the ship sinking intact instead of splitting in two. But, in fairness, when Walter Lord wrote the book "A Night to Remember" and the film was made, there was still some doubt over whether the Titanic split in half or not.
I love Barbara Stanwyck but she, and many others, were wasted on the silly soap opera antics of the American "Titanic".
Which brings me to the Nazis.
The history of Titanic movies is long, and that's not counting the numerous television movies and episodes about the Titanic...including a Twilight Zone episode.
The RMS Titanic sank in April 14, 1912. A month later, a film written by and starring Titanic survivor Dorothy Gibson premiered. It was called "Saved from the Titanic" and is a lost silent film, no prints surviving a studio fire.
Two other short silent films were made in 1912 about the Titanic. France made "La hantise" directed by Louis Feuillade. Germany made "In Nacht und Eis" directed by Mime Misu.
These were short films and mainly focused on the sinking of the Titanic using eyewitness testimony and official records. "Atlantic" followed In 1929 In four different versions: English, French, German, and silent.
In 1943, Joseph Goebbels commissioned a movie on the Titanic to illustrate the superiority of Nazi filmmaking and to lay the blame of the Titanic disaster on British and American capitalism. The film invented a fictional German officer on board the Titanic who alone saw the danger and was selfless and heroic.
In this sense, kipper, Goebbels' "Titanic" is the father of the modern Titanic movie we love to hate. The Nazi "Titanic" was the first movie to use the simple title "Titanic" and it was the first movie to create fictional characters and subplots and mix them with the historical events, thereby creating the template used by most filmmakers since.
The original director Herbert Selpin was arrested during filming for anti-Nazi statements. His replacement was never credited. Selpin was later found hung in his jail cell and his murder was framed by the Gestapo as a suicide.
After the movie was finished it gets weirder still. Goebbels decided that the movie would actually weaken German morale instead of boosting it, and therefore banned it from playing inside Germany. But it was shown outside Germany in German-occupied countries in Europe for a brief run in November 1943. Until Goebbels banned the film entirely and all prints pulled. It still ranks as one of the most costly failures in German history...and at a time when money was scarce and could have been put to more productive use.
After WWII various censored prints popped up in the Soviet Union and Europe. It wasn't until 2005 that Kino released a restored uncensored print on home video. A blu-ray followed in 2017 but here's the catch...you can only get the uncensored film on dvd in North America.failures
FYI: "A Night to Remember" used a couple of shots of the engine room flooding from the 1943 "Titanic".
Very interesting Stider, thanks for posting this.
I'll have to look for the Nazi version of Titanic.
I never saw the '50s Hollywood version until a few years ago. As a kid and then for years later the only version mainly shown on TV was 'A Night to Remember'.
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and taste the sweet of...
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