“Confluence Park”??!
Why sure … it’s right next to Effluence Creek.
Never let a beaurocrat name anything.
I can assure you that 90% of the people around here call this
Split Rock Park.
There she is … reclining in the meadow.
Evidently it didn’t roll here by itself. But was discarded like a pebble from a passing Glacier.
I’m told that “Split Rock” was once part of Mount Edith Cavell in Jasper National Park. That’s about 210 miles away.
No estimate how long it took to get here – or how huge that Glacier musta’ been.
But I’m sure you could have beat it in a foot race.
You might recall my recent posts on our trip to Jasper National Park where we hiked up to Mount Edith Cavell. I never noticed any rocks missing.
I figure Buffalo used to rub themselves on Split Rock before us White folks showed up.
And shot them.
See? I told ya there was interesting stuff on the prairie.
I noticed it. Not because I’m a Christian. I’m not. But because I studied Sculpture at the Alberta College of Art in Calgary. And this is perhaps the greatest work of sculpture ever done. Michelangelo’s Pieta.
Whether this was done intentionally or not, I cannot say. But there it is.
Narsil chooses Aragon
The shadow does not hold sway yet. Not over you … not over me.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken, A light from the shadow shall spring, Renewed shall be blade that was broken, The crownless again shall be King.”
Rose had spotted some American Avocets in a marsh wetland near by.
We head over to snap some photos.
There’s they are!
Don’t recall ever seeing this bird before.
Beautiful! These birds are called Stilts. (because of their long legs). The black and white one is called a Black Necked Stilt. The other is the American Avocet.
Rose and I have been going out often for exercise and just to get out.
The trick is to find a place that nobody else is going to because a lot of the parks
are packed with people with the same idea.
So Rose heard about this place called Ralph Klein Park – outside of South Calgary.
Off we go.
We saw this facility. I figured it was an office building of some sort. Nope. It’s an “Interpretative Centre” for the wetlands conservation area here. Uh huh.
But everything is shut down. Doesn’t matter. We just came for a walk.
But we do hope to see some birds or wildlife.
Doesn’t look too promising.
But then we spot something unusual across the way … ?
What is that?
Better have a look …
Smokestacks??
Oh … it’s Art ?
I was afraid of that.
(I later learned this cost us 1.57 million dollars) I’m 2 breathes away from performing a rant.
Today I will emerge from the tunnel – my cave – having worked 9 of the last 10 days. Whew!
I have my trials. But I’ll get right back to posting something useful up here!
Periodically this happens to me. I get stuck. I’m always working on Posts and I have several in the offing, Just haven’t been able to get anything on the board. I’ve been sick. I was Depressed for over a week which is very unusual for me. I was really low. Don’t know where it came from, but it affected me greatly. We all have our ups and downs of course, but I usually pop right back up and carry on. I’m the guy who is usually cheering everybody else up. Santa Claus. Not this time. I think I’m OK now. ?? Now I’m also working 9 out of 10 days. Crazy schedule. Then I go on a 10 day Holiday – where we had planned to go to Vancouver Island. Then Covid hit and everybody’s plans flew out the window. All things could change back shortly (who knows?) and I expect we will progressively get back to a more usual routine. It’s an amazing experience though and I think we will appreciate what we have here, but that it all can swept away overnight. Love, and our families, friends, are vastly more important than our material things. Love – that irrational and unprovable thing is what we are all here for and all about. Yet, we do have to survive. I hope that you are making it through OK.
I’ll be up and running shortly – like a flower emerging from the snow. Take care All.
The shards of the past lay broken before us. Shattered.
Yet …
They now become the fibres …
The fabric of our new fortune.
Reforged to greater purpose,
A keener Blade.
Begin! Fit for our moment. Fit for a Hero.
The New Day.
“Very bright was that sword when it was made whole again; the light of the sun shone redly in it, and the light of the moon shone cold, and its edge was hard and keen. And Aragorn gave it a new name … “ —J.R.R. Tolkien
“The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.” ― Joseph Campbell
The Hero Path
We have not even to risk the adventure alone for the heroes of all time have gone before us. The labyrinth is thoroughly known … we have only to follow the thread of the hero path. And where we had thought to find an abomination we shall find a God.
Now I gotta tell ya that Creamed Eggs on Toast don’t look like much.
BUT Boy!!! it is tasty!!
I’ve heard it said that the the English/Brits don’t have ‘Cuisine’?? They might have a point there?? but they sure got some good honest food.
This is one of ’em. Simple as can be.
‘Down home’ as heck.
This guy shows how it’s done.
I like how he tosses the sausage patty into the pan.
That’s optional though – don’t need no sausage.
He also says this is Cowboy Food.
But I can’t imagine Cowboys sitting around the campfire eating Creamed Eggs on Toast.
You can also use more than 2 boiled eggs. I’d use about 4.
NUM NUM Thank You MUM!
Francis the Talking Mule with the great Donald O’Connor
“Singin; in he Rain” Donald O’Connor with Debbie Reynolds and Gene Kelly.
Donald O’Connor: His best-known works came in the film Singin’ in the Rain (1952), for which O’Connor was awarded a Golden Globe.
He also won a Primetime Emmy Award from four nominations and received two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame throughout his career. In other words, he was damn good.
I was inspired by the Pandemic to try to come up with something that would lift people up during these times. The Lord of the Rings seemed to (me) have some inspiring elements that I could try to so something with …
When I start a project/Post an idea first comes to me. An inspiration. It is Art. And like all Art is it alive. It has a Will and Mission of it’s own – that I am just a vehicle/vessel for it’s message. The greater I am at allowing this – the greater the Art. I do not own it and It is not me. Or mine. It has a life of it’s own. I don’t know where it comes from. I do know that if I don’t allow this, mostly what I do is not worth much. Is there a formula for this? If so, I don’t know it. I can’t make it happen, I can only put my pencil to the paper and start – with no idea if will occur or not. Maybe the greatest Artists, Writers, Musicians, etc (for ANYTHING can be an Artform) were the best at this. I don’t know. I do know when it’s happening though. I can feel it. Writers know I mean – when if flows you can’t get the words down fast enough – and the words aren’t yours.
Here are two pages that I’m working on in Corel Draw: I started with simple idea: Reforge the Ring. Then I started working. Then the project expanded – and truly took on a life of it’s own. This is good – though it may mean I won’t be able to Post much right away. I’m not even sure anything useful may happen. Sometimes I’ll work on a project for days – then weeks – even months. And I have several unfinished. Possibly never to be Posted. Hopefully, eventually, something emerges that is worth something. To somebody. ???
Firstly, I strongly believe there are Spiritual elements / purposes behind all things. Knowing this helps me immensely. Even in my darkest times I could see the great hand moulding me to something of greater use. My Destiny / Fate are a reality, but not premade patterns of my unfoldment. My choices are not limited. I am Soul. A perfect atom of God. His child. And the throne will mine. But not to rule over others – but to serve in any way I can. Total Service / Total Love. Unconfined in all aspects I move higher, deeper, farther toward an infinite horizon …
We’ll get through this thing. And we can help each other.
Blessings … and take care.
John Prine died on April 7th. He had been stricken with COVID-19. He was 73. He won two Grammy Awards in his career and was also presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020.
He leaves us with a tremendous legacy of songs.
John and I never saw eye to eye on Spiritual things. But I’m sure there’s lots of fishing in Heaven.
It is not despair, for despair is only for those
who see the end beyond all doubt. We do not.” Gandalf the Grey / Fellowship of the Ring / JR Tolkien
“Home is behind, the world ahead,
And there are many paths to tread
Through shadows to the edge of night,
Until the stars are all alight.
Then world behind and home ahead,
We’ll wander back and home to bed.
Mist and twilight, cloud and shade,
Away shall fade! Away shall fade!” J.R.R. Tolkien / The Fellowship of the Ring
“I had holes in my jeans well before it was fashionable.” – Kenny Rogers
He went from Folk, to Psychedelic, to Rock, to Country… to become the greatest Ballad singer I’ve heard.
Kenny Rogers has passed at age 81. Kenny was one of the Greatest Entertainment Star of our time
with an immensely successful career in Country and Popular music. Legendary Status.
Along the way he also made a 1980 TV Western called The Gambler that was spearheaded by an iconic Hit Song also called The Gambler which all led to a series of 5 TV Westerns with Kenny Starring as Brady Hawkes, a fictional old-west gambler. Most of these Movies were … well not so good. They rode completely on Kenny’s Star Power and his Song.
(Originally sung by Bobby Bare, Johnny Cash, among others) But only Kenny’s version clicked.
Grammy award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance in 1980.
It’s one of those songs that sticks in your head.
A winner.
The TV Movies
Kenny’s first movie,The Gambler (1980) was OK …
Worth a couple of watches – despite Bruce Boxleitner.
“6.4” That’s about right.
It’s popularity led to 4 sequels. Most of ’em pretty bad.
Awards and Honors:
Islands in the Stream with Dolly Parton Written by Maurice Gibb, Robin Gibb, Barry Gibb
2017 Texas Country Music Hall of Fame Inductee 2013 Country Music Association Awards Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award 2013 Country Music Hall of Fame Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame 2010 American Eagle Award American Eagle Award[62] 2009 ACM Honors Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award (w/ Jerry Reed, Randy Travis, Hank Williams Jr.) 2007 ASCAP Golden Note Award ASCAP Golden Note Award 2007 CMT Music Awards Album of the Year—Water & Bridges 2005 CMT Music Awards Favorite All Time Country Duet—”Islands In the Stream” (w/Dolly Parton) 2004 CMT’s 100 Greatest Cheating Songs “Ruby Don’t Take Your Love to Town”—No. 6 2003 International Entertainment Buyers Association Lifetime Achievement Award 2003 CMT’s 100 Greatest Country Songs “The Gambler”—No. 26 2002 CMT’s 40 Greatest Men of Country Music Ranking—No. 19 2000 TNN Music Awards Career Achievement Award 1999 BBC’s Greatest Country Singer Ranking—No. 2 1988 Grammy Awards Best Duo Country Vocal Performance—”Make No Mistake She’s Mine” (w/ Ronnie Milsap) 1986 USA Today Favorite Singer of All Time 1985 American Music Awards Favorite Country Album—Eyes That See in the Dark 1985 American Music Awards Favorite Male Country Artist 1983 Academy of Country Music Awards Single of the Year—”Islands In the Stream” (w/ Dolly Parton) 1983 Academy of Country Music Awards Top Vocal Duet (w/ Dolly Parton) 1983 American Music Awards Favorite Pop/Rock Country Artist 1983 American Music Awards Favorite Country Single—”Love Will Turn You Around” 1983 ASAP Awards Favorite Single—”Islands In the Stream” (w/Dolly Parton) 1982 American Music Awards Favorite Country Album—Greatest Hits 1981 American Music Awards Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist 1981 American Music Awards Favorite Country Album—The Gambler 1981 American Music Awards Favorite Country Single—”Coward of the County” 1980 American Music Awards Favorite Male Country Artist 1980 American Music Awards Favorite Country Album—The Gambler 1980 Music City News Country Single of the Year 1979 American Music Awards Favorite Male Country Artist 1979 American Music Awards Favorite Country Album—10 Years of Gold 1979 Country Music Association Awards Male Vocalist of the Year 1979 Country Music Association Awards Vocal Duo of the Year (w/ Dottie West) 1979 Country Music Association Awards Album of the Year—The Gambler 1979 Music City News Country Male Artist of the Year 1979 Music City News Country Single of the Year—”The Gambler” 1979 Grammy Awards Best Male Country Vocal Performance—”The Gambler” 1978 American Music Awards Favorite Single—”Lucille” 1978 Country Music Association Awards Vocal Duo of the Year (w/Dottie West) 1978 Academy of Country Music Awards Entertainer of the Year 1978 Academy of Country Music Awards Top Male Vocalist 1977 Country Music Association Awards Single of the Year—”Lucille” 1977 Academy of Country Music Awards Top Male Vocalist 1977 Academy of Country Music Awards Single of the Year—”Lucille” 1977 Academy of Country Music Awards Song of the Year—”Lucille” 1977 Grammy Awards Best Male Country Vocal Performance—”Lucille”
Goodbye Kenny Rogers
Charities & foundations supported 7
Kenny Rogers has supported the following charities:
I couldn’t get past the fact that I could see that this wasn’t a real dog. This kinda ruined my enjoyment / immersion. And that they also took liberties with the story – the book. 4 out of 10.
Locations:
Yukon, Canada (Klondike Gold Rush) British Columbia, Canada Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Santa Clarita, California, USA
More Box Office Blunders:
Wikipedia says: “As of March 15, 2020, The Call of the Wild has grossed $62.1 million in the United States and Canada, and $45.2 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $107.3 million. Due to its high production and marketing costs, the film will need to gross $250–275 million in order to break-even; various publications estimate it will lose the studio between $50–100 million.”
MFW: This isn’t the first time that Disney has made this identical marketing blunder. Solo: a Star Wars Movie also took a huge loss of millions of dollars from over marketing. (Ironically, Harrison Ford was the original Han Solo.)
The Call of the Wild – Dog of the Yukon Soundtrack / 1997
“He was mastered by the sheer surging of life, the tidal wave of being, the perfect joy of each separate muscle, joint, and sinew in that it was everything that was not death, that it was aglow and rampant,
expressing itself in movement, flying exultantly under the stars.” ― Jack London, The Call of the Wild
Locations: Quebec (exterior) and Montreal, Quebec.
Reviews: generally favorable.
MFW: For me this film is the best of The Call of the Wild films.
The narration by Richard Dreyfuss makes the difference.
Taken from the book it lets us see and experience the story through Buck’s eyes.
The way it’s supposed to be. Nicely done.
The Call of the Wild (1972) / Soundtrack / Carlo Rustichelli
“There is an ecstasy that marks the summit of life, and beyond which life cannot rise. And such is the paradox of living, this ecstasy comes when one is most alive, and it comes as a complete forgetfulness that one is alive.” ― Jack London, The Call of the Wild
Wikipedia says: “Charlton Heston in his autobiography In the Arena: An Autobiography made it very clear how unhappy he was with this film and asked people to not watch it. Although it was poorly received upon release, and was not released in the United States until 1975, today the film is seen in a better light. Contemporary British and Irish Film Directors: A Wallflower Critical Guide described it as a “swinging back to action-adventure”, starring “Charlton Heston at his best”, another in the “long line of Annakin’s panoramic films featuring a myriad of beautiful locations”.”
“46%” by users. That’s not too good.
Locations: Finland.
Buck is described by London in his book as a powerful mix – the son of Elmo,
a huge St. Bernard, and mom Shep, a Scotch Shepherd.
Most film versions of The Call of the Wild depict Buck as a German Shepard or a Husky.
They came close in the 1935 version though.
Clark Gable and Buck – a Saint Bernard.
Yet, to me, NONE of the film adaptations of The Call of the Wild do the book justice. Which doesn’t mean they’re all bad movies – just that the book is so great. Yet their main failure (IMO) is that none of them see through Buck’s eyes
– which is how the Book is written.
Did they not realize that this perspective was perhaps the main appeal of the Book?
I guess not.And I can understand it would difficult to find the correct breed of dog and train him.
In 1972 it looks like they employed more than one trained Shepherd to portray Buck.
If you look closely these dogs do appear to be different.
???
Can’t say whether I recommend this movie or not? Chuck is good and the movie has its moments – but the production is uneven. Available to watch on YouTube or Netflix should you wish.
Next: The Call of the Wild: Dog of the Yukon / 1997
starring Rutger Hauer and narrated by Richard Dreyfuss
“And when, on the still cold nights, he pointed his nose at a star and howled long and wolflike, it was his ancestors, dead and dust, pointing nose at star and howling down through the centuries and through him. And his cadences were their cadences, the cadences which voiced their woe and what to them was the meaning of the stiffness, and the cold, and dark. “ ― Jack London, The Call of the Wild
The 1935 version starring Clark Gable and Loretta Young
expanded John Thornton’s role and was the first “talkie” to feature the story.
The film is directed by William A. Wellman, and stars Clark Gable, Loretta Young and Jack Oakie.
The screenplay by Gene Fowler and Leonard Praskins omits all but one of the book’s storylines.
Originally released at 95 minutes; later cut to 81 minutes for a re-issue. For many years only the cut re-issue version was available for television showings, and it is also the version released on DVD in 2006 as part of the Clark Gable Collection. The original length version remained unseen until it was released on blu-ray in 2013.
Locations: Washington State; California; Nevada.
“54”!?? It ranks above that on Star Power alone.
Worth a watch.
It gets cold up here…“I’ll just sit under the table … “
“But especially he loved to run in the dim twilight of the summer midnights, listening to the subdued and sleepy murmurs of the forest, reading signs and sounds as a man may read a book, and seeking for the mysterious something that called — called, waking or sleeping, at all times, for him to come.” ― Jack London, The Call of the Wild
There are 5 film adaptations of Jack London’s book.
“The Call of the Wilderness” is a Western starring Sandow the Dog, Lewis Sargent, Edna Marion, Al Smith, Max Asher, Sydney D. Grey and others. A man tries to defend his lucrative piece of land from another claimant.”
Silent Film Video on YouTube – courtesy of Silent Gems Collection / Silent Hall of Fame
I had a very difficult time with this post. Worked on it for nearly 2 weeks. I had too many good photos – nearly 80 – or more. Which ones to pick? Post? I finally selected these. Hope you enjoy them.
La Golondrina / Soundtrack The Wild Bunch / Jerry Fielding
“Hmmmm …”
The big talk in Western Film these days is the News about the ‘Remake of The Wild Bunch’. (I’m a bit slow on the draw so I just herd about this recently)
It’s a shocker to be sure.
Here’s one Newsbit:
‘The Wild Bunch’ Remake Hoping to Recruit Michael Fassbender, Jamie Foxx, Peter Dinklage for Director Mel Gibson
Posted on Monday, May 20th, 2019 by Chris Evangelista
Proving that there are indeed second, third, and even forth acts in Hollywood, Mel Gibson is being given the keys to a major motion picture yet again. The controversial actor and filmmaker is set to helm a remake of The Wild Bunch, and some heavy-hitting talent is already lining-up to work with him. Michael Fassbender, Jamie Foxx, and Peter Dinklage are all in talks to join the Wild Bunchremake cast, indicating that Warner Bros. wants to put together an impressive cast for this contemporary remake of the violent Sam Peckinpah Western.
Mel Gibson can often be an excellent actor and a strong filmmaker. But he’s also a highly controversial figure known for misogynist, racist remarks and actions that many feel should disqualify him from being attached to major projects. Gibson was a bit of a pariah for a short period of time, but it’s clear that time has ended. Warner Bros. has booked him to direct their Wild Bunch remake, which features a script by Gibson and Bryan Bagby.
And now, Deadline says Michael Fassbender, Jamie Foxx, and Peter Dinklage are all in talks to join the cast of the film. Nothing is officially in place yet, but word has it the movie will begin production this fall. This Wild Bunch is a contemporary remake of Sam Peckinpah’s classic 1969 Western, which was set in 1913. Here’s the original synopsis:
In this gritty Western classic, aging outlaw Pike Bishop prepares to retire after one final robbery. Joined by his gang, which includes Dutch Engstrom and brothers Lyle and Tector Gorch, Bishop discovers the heist is a setup orchestrated in part by his old partner, Deke Thornton. As the remaining gang takes refuge in Mexican territory, Thornton trails them, resulting in fierce gunfights with plenty of casualties.
Hollywood has been hoping to mount a Wild Bunch remake for a few years now. Tony Scott was originally set to helm a version, but his 2012 suicide ended up putting the project on hold. Since then, a remake with Will Smith possibly set to produce and star popped up, along with one directed by Hands of Stone filmmaker Jonathan Jakubowicz. Neither incarnation came to pass.
While Gibson, a filmmaker who doesn’t shy away from movie violence, seems like a good fit to remake this violent Western, I can’t help but feel this is a film we really don’t need, no matter who ends up being cast in the project.
Mel sure knows how to kick up some dust. I can’t see this project as a mere Western yarn – and it’s pretty obvious by the casting that this is not going to be a carbon copy of the original.The inclusion of Dinklage and Fox certainly tells us it’s to be pretty different right away – and Gibson has said it will be a different angle from a Social/Political viewpoint. There’s plenty of scepticism, of course, and it does seem like a daunting task. We’ll just have to wait and see.
All the Major players in the original production have passed.
Including Sam himself.
Can’t say whether I recommend this movie or not?
