Finally saw "Wicked"

I finally saw the film Wicked. Mixed feelings. It was too long (and this is Part 1), the CGI is distracting, the songs are meh except for “Defying Gravity,” and the school scenes are a Harry Potter/Wednesday ripoff. But the lead actor (Cynthia Erivo) made it worthwhile, and disguised politics make the movie feel relevant!

How ADVENTITIOUS is your life?

ADVENTITIOUS (adjective) = happening or carried on according to chance rather than by design

The word originates from the Latin adventicius, meaning "coming from outside" or "foreign."

"During the annual town pie-eating contest, Gerald's victory was entirely adventitious—he hadn't intended to compete at all. In fact, he had only wandered into the event looking for directions to the library. But after being mistaken for a contestant and handed a bib, he figured, "Why not?" Five blueberry pies later, Gerald was hoisted onto the crowd's shoulders, still chewing and utterly bewildered by his newfound, accidental fame." --Chat GPT

Eat your spinach: Popeye is now public domain

Properties entering the public domain in 2025 include: 

1. Popeye (Character)
2. Tintin (Character)
3. The Cocoanuts (Film)
4. The Broadway Melody (Film)
5. Blackmail (Film)
6. The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner (Book)
7. A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway (Book)
8. The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett (Book)
9. Cup of Gold by John Steinbeck (Book)
10. “Singin’ in the Rain” by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown (Musical Composition)

Quote of the Day: We're all Texans now

 "We all live in Texas now."
—Rachel Monroe, in the current issue of The New Yorker.

Next door Christmas

This is a photo of my brother’s neighbor’s yard in Buffalo, NY. Enthusiasm for Christmas I can understand, but not to this degree. People often expect more decor, more presents, and more parties to bring more holiday spirit — setting themselves up for a letdown. Just breathe and be grateful.

 

Have you joined the "Skeleton Crew"?

 Crew view

I’ve been watching the new Star Wars series, Skeleton Crew, with my son. Pretty enjoyable for a “kids” show. (“Andor” remains the best of these, in my opinion.) 

“Crew” is yet another iteration on the “Lost in Space” theme: kids and a robot (droid) with an adult troublemaker. Fun.

Do you know a CAUDILLO?

CAUDILLO = a Spanish or Latin American dictator

A caudillo is a type of personalist leader wielding military and political power. There is no precise English translation for the term, though it is often used interchangeably with "military dictator," "warlord" and "strongman". --Wikipedia

"During the turbulent years following the nation's independence, the region fell under the control of a powerful caudillo who consolidated authority through military force and charismatic leadership. While his supporters praised him as a defender of the people and a unifying figure, critics argued that his authoritarian rule stifled democratic progress and concentrated power in the hands of a single individual. The legacy of his reign left a deep imprint on the country’s political culture, shaping its struggles with centralized authority for decades to come." --Chat GPT 

Borrowed from Spanish, "leader, chief" (medieval Spanish cabdiello), going back to Vulgar Latin *capitellus "leader." 

Coffee Shop Thoughts

What’s up? I’m in a coffee shop, alone, drinking coffee, eating a blueberry muffin, and listening to jazz. (No, I’m not a character in a Murakami novel.) I’m in a “be here now” frame of mind. Live in the moment. Maybe that’s how we’ll get through the next few years. Be here now.

#randomthoughts

The Red Sea?

Just wrote a book review of Bleeding Sea, an excellent eco-thriller about an invasive species of algae that turns the ocean red and kills fish and humans alike. 

Catastrophe porn appeals to me right now.

Welcome to the KAKISTOCRACY!

KAKISTOCRACY = government by the least suitable or competent citizens of a state

 "Living in a kakistocracy is like being on a plane where the pilot insists that 'wings are overrated' and the co-pilot is busy googling 'how to fly.' Every decision feels like it was made by a committee of raccoons who stumbled upon the control room and thought, 'Let's press ALL the buttons!' It’s a special kind of government where competence is a liability, and the only job requirement is that you have no idea what you’re doing—but you’re incredibly confident about it." --Chat GPT

Feeling a bit UNKED, are you?

UNKED (adj) =  strange, weird, or uncanny

British English, pronounced: un-ked. 

"As the sun set behind the hills, the small cottage at the edge of the forest took on an unked appearance, its windows dark and uninviting. The wind whispered through the trees, creating an eerie symphony that added to the sense of unease. Alone in the gathering twilight, Sarah felt a chill run down her spine, the unked atmosphere making her quicken her pace towards home."
--Chat GPT

Would YOU want a lazaretto-themed man cave?

 LAZARETTO (n) = an institution (such as a hospital) for those with contagious diseases

"After a week of binge-watching old pirate movies, Tim's imagination sailed away with the idea of converting his basement into a lazaretto-themed man cave. Complete with fake portholes, rum barrels, and a "Quarantine Zone" sign, his friends joked that anyone entering would need more than just a shot of grog to survive the evening unscathed." --Chat GPT