Website Updates

Just a quick note, asking readers to take a moment and quickly view the new Splash Page online.

This is a stopgap measure, that my designer put up last week while the new site is being built. If you'd be so kind as to drop the webguy an email if you see problems in your browser.

Many thanks.

Lars Fest | Part Dieux

This week is the Lars von Trier Film Festival in the Berlin Richards home. I have now watched Breaking the Waves numerous times. And each time it feels like I'm stepping into a time machine. Back to my religious roots.

In the movie, the religious community is Scottish, all with fantastically thick accents. This particular accent was what the Brethren's most pious preachers spoke. Complete with King Jamesian Thee's and Thou's as they prayed, each delivering full-length 30minute sermons while doing so. We noticed a goof right off the bat. One of the women were wearing ear rings in the congregation. No such adornment would have been tolerated on the (silent) women of our congregation.

But who's nitpicking…

Von Trier Festival

Lars von Trier Giving Assurances

If Blu-Ray discs were like the LP's of my youth Lars von Trier's film "Melancholia" would be a puddle on the floor, completely worn out, scratched beyond all recognition from continually being played.

And all by my teenage son's hand.

It's interesting watching my Man/Child finally "discover" Wagner thru the works of a filmmaker. He has his friends over and promptly sits them down on the couch in his room and plays them his (and my) latest favorite moment in film--entirely built on Tristan--the beginning of von Trier's Melancholia (trailer). More likely than not, he's listening to Tristan and Isolde while gaming online or doing homework. All thanks to Lars.

Day Off

Sniff Sniff …

No one carries MY hanky! I'm calling my agent …

My favorite moment is the jazz hands at the beginning. I have to think of a way to work that into La Battaglia.

Mourning Innocence Lost

I missed [my children’s] growing up in 
horrible chunks of time that left me feeling as if I was being hollowed out.

Frank Schaeffer in Crazy for God

I'm trying to figure out why all of a sudden I'm listening to Christian music from the 70s and 80s. I rarely listen to music, much less go back into my childhood and revisit bands that I haven't thought of in years.

At the same time, my wife went to a recital of some singer friends back home and she gave me an honest appraisal, something one certainly never does in polite company. After a concert, it's always "Oh, how wonderful!" Or … "Wow, you were great."

Singers lie.