We’re popping Champagne tonight !!!
My Oscar arrived today. Special Delivery.
Winner for Visual Effects Imaging/Editing in Film.

Visual Effects Editing is one of the minor Academy Awards
It receives no fanfare.
BUT it’s not ‘minor’ around here!

My nomination was forwarded through The Guild of American Film Arts and Artists – affiliated with the Academy of Screen Writers.
It was judged “for exceptional Artwork and renderings thereof in modern still media for Film”.
This was brought to their attention mainly because of my work in improving old Movie Poster Artwork over the years.

Truthfully, I never really expected to win,
but just to nominated is an Award in itself.

Below is an example that I did recently:

Not my best example, but I think you’ll get the picture.
(no pun intended)
Over the years, I’ve done this to literally hundreds of Posters and Images
that are out there.
Salvaged and saved – and literally nobody knows that I did it.

And I’ve done a lot of other related work as well.
Like this very famous photo of Billy the Kid.

When I put these back out onto the Net
very few people realize it was me who did this.
But I am not an expert. Purely self taught – and there’s much I don’t know.
I just do it for fun.

It’s obvious what I’ve done to these images above.
What isn’t obvious is the many hours that it took. Sometimes days.
Edits to Resolution/Sharpening; Brightness; Gamma; Cropping; Color (balance, Hue, Tone, Selection; Colour Replacement; …) Contrast; Saturation; Tinting; Shadows; Temperature; Alignment;
Straightening; and a dozen other things.

Then I put it back out onto the internet. No fanfare.
I don’t sign it. Maybe I should because at times
some of my work has been claimed by others.
But I don’t really care
The images weren’t mine to begin with.

Here’s an example of ‘poetic license’ with my own photos:

Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia /  2016
Look at all those people!

But later … they just disappeared.

This is why it often takes me so long to make a Post at times. I don’t just throw something up on the board. It has to pass my standards.
Yet you can find mistakes I’ve made on nearly every Post I make.
LoL! I’m no GOD – to be certain.

Yes, at times I’ve taken ‘liberties’ with some images. But this is something I never want to do. I always want to stay true to the original Art and Artist.
My own (many photos) are the exception. I should sign those.

But pretty well EVERYTHING I post has been reworked a bit.
It’s a ‘Labour or Love’ for me. I enjoy it.
I take – nor ask – any money.

So now I await my ship to come in:
$80,000 US. Academy Award money.
BUT if it doesn’t arrive by April 1 …
It probably never really existed?

Stayin’ Alive / The BeeGees / 1977

Got my Covid shot this morning. Hope it makes a difference?
This is my 3rd shot since this whole thing started.
Doubt that’s a World Record.
I should have had another one sooner than this though.
Sooo … went to a Clinic that used to do it exclusively for Covid.
They were gone.
Then went to a Medical Clinic that was close by.
They didn’t do it anymore either! Wow.
Told me I could get it done at most any Drug Store.
Really!?
Went to a Drug Store. (insert panting sound here.)
Insisted on Pfizer Vaccine.
I’ve heard bad things about the other ones.
And I don’t want any unnecessary medical adventures right now.

Then I  went to A&W for breakfast.

So far so good …

I think I figured it out.
It’s still Covid.
I thought I was over it, but it seems to have a lingering effect
where I’m tired much of the time –
though I don’t rest well.
So maybe I still have it to some degree?
Combined with my Diabetes 2 and a couple of my other health issues
I think this has resulted in a kind of lethargy
where I can’t focus on things very well.

Lots of fun.

Tomorrow I will go the Clinic and get another shot.
If that doesn’t make any difference
I’ll try something else.

When it stops being fun, what’s the point?

Sometimes Life seems like a jungle where you have no machete.

And I got ‘Stuck’ on about 5 posts I’ve been working on.
After a while this just ‘Froze’ me.
Some kind of fear. ?
But hey are still there.
Staring at me.
They just got huge and exploded into something beyond
what I had in mind.
Sometimes that’s good.
Other times it’s a problem.
And it becomes a labour.
And stops me from doing anything at all.

But I can’t cheat. I have to do it Right.
I have to fight.
Or feel bad about it all.
I WILL get it done.

Just not quickly.

???

“She’s A Mystery To Me” /  Roy Orbison / 1989

Occasionally something happens on the Blog – or elsewhere –
that completely mystifies me.

Yesterday on my post “Love … all there is” I posted
a song my Elton John called Love Song / Elton John / 1970.
(from Tumbleweed Connection)
Or so I thought.
Turns out it was a completely different song,
but was still entitled Love Song / Elton John.
The thing is, I took the song directly from my own
Song Library – and had posted it here before – a couple
of times. And it was exactly the song by Elton John.

So how did it suddenly become a completely different
song by someone else with the same title?

I have no idea ???

No Sir! I love mules. In fact, I had 2 for breakfast.

Anyway I chucked that other song away
and fixed things.

Now I’m ready for my next mystery … ???

See you there …

Love Song / Elton John / 1970

That’s What Friends are For / Jack Jones / Written by Paul Williams / 1974
Love this song.

Van Gogh Socks … ??

Yup

Portrait of my Love / Matt Monro / 1960

Earlier this year, a traveling exhibit of Michelangelo‘s amazing
artwork on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome
came to town.

This presented the life-size images brought down to earth.
The thing is, that if you go to Rome to see this in person
you can’t really see it very well
up there on the ceiling.

Of course, we still don’t get the experience the
of being in the setting of the Sistine Chapel,
but it’s still worthy idea.

This way to the Exhibition …
… said the hand of Man.

No No  …it’s this WAY …
says the Hand of GOD …

I don’t think so …
… says the hand of Man.

Okay … Okay …
I’ll offer a compromise?
… said God.

You do know this isn’t a democracy right?
… said GOD.

Next: Part 2

Musings on a Showdown …

In most any Action Movie – particularly Westerns – the story concludes  with a Climactic Showdown between the Hero and the Badguy.
Thus does end Quigley Down Under (1990)
(one of My Favorite Westerns)
starring Tom Selleck and Alan Rickman.

In this scene I can certainly see why Steven Spielberg wanted
Selleck for the role of Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark. (1981)
No knock on Harrison Ford, I just think that
would have been pretty good Casting.

IMDB Trivia: says
“Ford had been offered the role of Quigley, but turned it down
because he considered it too visibly similar to Indiana Jones”.
The irony does not escape me.

More IMDB Trivia:
“Both Steve McQueen and Clint Eastwood were considered for the lead role of Matthew Quigley which in the end was cast with Tom Selleck”.
Personally I think Selleck suited the role better.

But Eastwood could have pulled it off.

In the showdown scene we see Alan Rickman (1946 – 2016) at his best.
And I still wonder if some of his dialogue isn’t adlibbed?

Adlibbing dialogue is something Rickman became famous for.
Very few Actors would take – or be permitted – such liberties,
but Rickman was so brilliant at it they usually let it go.

In Robin Hood – Prince of Thieves (1991), we see Rickman
as the Sheriff of Nottingham make these famous quips:

Clint as Will Munny:
“It’s a hell of a thing, killing a man.
Take away all he’s got and all he’s ever gonna have.”
The Schofield Kid:
“Yeah, well, I guess they had it coming.”
Will Munny :
“We all got it coming, kid.”

Hey, That’s No Way to Say Goodbye / Leonard Cohen / 1967

“Unable are the loved to die. For love is immortality.”
― Emily Dickinson

Marilyn of Serendipity blog
gave me a likely heads up on finding my mysterious poem
– that it might be by famed poetess:
Emily Dickenson

It surely sounded like one of her works.
Thought I.
And still does.

Yet an exhaustive search though all her poetry,
did not discover it.

I conclude that it was not one of her poems.

My search continues,
and may have no happy resolution.

I thank those who have tried to help,
but I don’t expect – or ask – anyone to spend
any time or effort to do so.
I just hoped someone might have an insight
would reveal what it was …

Onward.
Say I.

Colour My World / Chicago / 1970

I’m looking for a poem.
I don’t recall the name of the Poem –
or it’s Author.
That’s not going to help.
(It was a long time ago OK?!)
I do recall most of the words …
Though some are surely incorrect.
And a stanza or two could be missing as well?

Here’s what I remember:

When I, with bitter tongue, denounce those crimes
which man commits toward his fellow men,
Cry that is cruel, and greedy, and unwise, 
That he betrays his honour and his friends.
At my own door the accusation lies.

For I am part of the body of Man,  
And in my breast there lodges all I blame,
Diminished merely in it’s scope and span, 
In it’s essential qualities the same.

Between the world’s own faults and mine,
I find the difference of degree, 
Not kind.

That’s it.
Unwhole and incorrect.

If you can assist I would be grateful.
Thank You.

Star Trek: Picard

SkyBird / Neil Diamond

After the sensational disappointment of Star Trek Discovery
we all need one last ride from perhaps the best (?)
Star Trek series of all: Star Trek: The Next Generation.

And what a ride it’s been!!! These many years !!
The new Trailer looks spectacular
Enjoy …
and Remember.

Amen.

Heroes / written by David Bowie / Icehouse Band

I know, I know …

I haven’t posted nothin’ in fortnight (whatever that is?)
But I’m workin’ on stuff. Always working on stuff.
About 5 different stuffs right now actually.
BUT i  get stuck. Things jump up in the middle … that i hadn’t counted on.
Outta nowhere.
‘Spoze, I could ignore them,
but they might be there for some reason?

Hang tuff.

“You always have two choices: your commitment versus your fear.”
– Sammy Davis Jr.

Mr. Bojangles / Sammy Davis Jr. / written by Jerry Jeff Walker / 1972

Nobody does this song better.

I’m sure a few people were surprised to see Sammy Davis Jr. listed as one of the Actors that Sam Peckinpah had considered for the role of Dutch Engstrom in The Wild Bunch, which was eventually
played by Ernest Borgnine.

But I’ll tell you something – I bet Sammy would have done a great job.
Firstly Sammy Davis Jr. was one of the greatest Entertainers who ever lived. He could do anything:
Stage and Screen, Stand up, Impressionist, Dance, Sing, Recording Artist, played several musical instruments … ???
Immensely talented – the consummate performer.
Also like many American kids of his era, it appears that Sammy loved Westerns – that probably dreamed of being Cowboy like many of us did.
I have plenty of evidence to support my claim:

Sammy’s Gunhandling / Twirling talents were legendary in Hollywood
and he showcased them often.

And he had all the best gear.

Sammy … truly ONE of a kind.

Check this out.

Sammy and the King of Westerns.
What more can you say?

Ratpack Cowboys / Sargeants 3 (1962)

The “Rat Pack“??
I used to watch these movies and think:
“That Sammy has more talent in his little finger
than the rest of these guys put together.

The Rifleman: Season 4, Episode 21 
Two Ounces of Tin (19 Feb. 1962)

Yep … Sammy could do it all … 

Adios Sammy.

Watching the River Run / Loggins And Messina / 1973

Beaver Dam or Beaverdam?
*shrug*

Misidentifying birds is a common feat among amateur Bird Watchers.
Like me.

I really wanted to see a Golden Eagle …
But I guess I still haven’t.

You see … Golden Eagles and juvenile Bald Eagles
look almost exactly the same – identical.
And are therefore often Misidentified:

How to Tell a Juvenile Golden Eagle from
a Juvenile Bald Eagle

By Alfredo Begazo / 02/24/2021
https://avianreport.com/how-to-tell-a-juvenile-golden-eagle-from-a-juvenile-bald-eagle/

(Below) Juvenile Golden Eagle

The bright yellow part (cere) on the upper beak
of the Golden Eagle is really about the only
way to tell them apart from a Bald Eagle.

(Below) Juvenile Bald Eagles

You can see how easy it would be to Misidentify
a Juvenile Bald Eagle as Golden Eagle.
And I did.

In my defense however, it’s recently been noted that
Golden Eagles seem to be hanging out now
instead of passing though to Mongolia?
or wherever they go.

Ravens like to antagonize Birds of Prey.

I’ll keep looking.

Migrate? Who? me?

Winterlude / Bob Dylan / from album New Morning / 1970

Rose and I have visited most every Park in the Calgary area
over the last few years.
Some of the parks are large and uncrowded with lots of Wildlife.
Others are pretty crowded.
Carburn Park gets plenty of people.

The pond was active.

How times have changed.
When I was a kid most boys used to lean on a hockey stick
to learn how to skate.

See what I mean?
But while everybody else in North America was being
assaulted by bad Weather we were having a party.

In Calgary we get those warm winds we call Chinooks.
These make a winter palatable.

The Deer have become pretty tame around here.

Even a Beaver showed up.

Rose brought some birdseed with us this time.

It’s good to get out.

Four swans do a ‘fly by’ …

Next:
Golden Eagles at Beaver Dam Flats.

House of the Rising Sun / Waylon Jennings / 1964

Covid / Again

I’ve been sick for nearly 3 weeks.
That must almost be a record for me.
I’ve finally gotten over whatever was lodged in my sinus.
My headache and fever are also gone now too.
My last symptom?: tiredness. I’m tired all the time.
Initially, I thought this thing was Flu.
Now I’m sure it was Covid. Again.
But the Home Test Kit was inconclusive.

I paid the price for not getting another Covid shot.

Sunstroke / Avoid it

How long can you go without sleep?