Thursday, June 21, 2007
Wild about rare joey
A rare species of tree kangaroo has been bred for the first time in captivity in the Tropical North. The Rainforest Habitat Wildlife Sanctuary is one of two Zoos in the world that houses the Lumholtz's tree kangaroo which is native to the region. The 6-month old joey stuck its head out of its mother's pouch to survey the world. It will stay in its mother's pouch for another four months.
The Rainforest Habitat Curator Terry Carmichael said there had been a breeding colony in Townsville for more than 20 years but this has since been disbanded. "This is the successful culmination of 11-years work, so we are extremely excited and proud about the birth, and the wildlife keepers here at the Habitat have done an exceptional job to successfully breed this rare species," he said.
"One of only two species found in Australia, we hope the interest generated by this unique birth will promote awareness in the community and develop understanding of the plight of the LumHoltz's Tree Kangaroo in the wild." The tree kangaroo joey is yet to be named, and the Rainforest Habitat will be holding a competition some time in the near future.
The Rainforest Habitat Curator Terry Carmichael said there had been a breeding colony in Townsville for more than 20 years but this has since been disbanded. "This is the successful culmination of 11-years work, so we are extremely excited and proud about the birth, and the wildlife keepers here at the Habitat have done an exceptional job to successfully breed this rare species," he said.
"One of only two species found in Australia, we hope the interest generated by this unique birth will promote awareness in the community and develop understanding of the plight of the LumHoltz's Tree Kangaroo in the wild." The tree kangaroo joey is yet to be named, and the Rainforest Habitat will be holding a competition some time in the near future.
Tiger parts? What?
The Siberian tiger might be an endangered species, but it is experiencing a baby boom in China's private zoos.
The successful breeding programme has led to overcrowding in zoos
In the past three months, 84 cubs have been born at the Hengdaohezi nature park near Harbin, in northern China.
The success of the breeding programme there and at the country's largest park, near Guilin in southern China, has left the zoos crowded.
With more than 2,000 animals in the two parks, their owners want to be allowed to resume a trade in tiger parts, traditionally used in Chinese medicine.
The move has been vehemently opposed by conservation groups.
The Worldwide Fund for Nature says the ban is the only way to protect the wild animal from poachers.
It is feared that the numbers in the wild, mainly in India, could now be lower than 3,000. Of these, only about 400 are Siberian tigers.
In the meantime, the parks try to boost visitor numbers by allowing people to feed them live prey, which has led to further criticism.
The successful breeding programme has led to overcrowding in zoos
In the past three months, 84 cubs have been born at the Hengdaohezi nature park near Harbin, in northern China.
The success of the breeding programme there and at the country's largest park, near Guilin in southern China, has left the zoos crowded.
With more than 2,000 animals in the two parks, their owners want to be allowed to resume a trade in tiger parts, traditionally used in Chinese medicine.
The move has been vehemently opposed by conservation groups.
The Worldwide Fund for Nature says the ban is the only way to protect the wild animal from poachers.
It is feared that the numbers in the wild, mainly in India, could now be lower than 3,000. Of these, only about 400 are Siberian tigers.
In the meantime, the parks try to boost visitor numbers by allowing people to feed them live prey, which has led to further criticism.
Siberian tiger cubs born in China zoo (click here)
Posted Mon Jun 18, 2007 10:12am AEST
Eighty-four Siberian tiger cubs have been born in captivity in north-east China since March this year in a boost to the survival chances of the endangered species, state media reports.
All the cubs were doing well, Liu Dan, an official with the Hengdaohezi Feline Breeding Centre in Heilongjiang province, told Xinhua news agency,
Mr Liu said 13 other pregnant Siberian tigers would give birth to between 20 and 30 new cubs before October.
The centre, established in 1986, holds 750 Siberian tigers and plans to release 620 of them into the wild in the future, he says.
The Siberian tiger, also known as Amur, Manchurian or Ussuri tiger, is among the 10 most endangered species in the world.
Only 400 survive in the wild, about 20 in northern China and the rest in the Russian Far East, the report says.
Posted Mon Jun 18, 2007 10:12am AEST
Eighty-four Siberian tiger cubs have been born in captivity in north-east China since March this year in a boost to the survival chances of the endangered species, state media reports.
All the cubs were doing well, Liu Dan, an official with the Hengdaohezi Feline Breeding Centre in Heilongjiang province, told Xinhua news agency,
Mr Liu said 13 other pregnant Siberian tigers would give birth to between 20 and 30 new cubs before October.
The centre, established in 1986, holds 750 Siberian tigers and plans to release 620 of them into the wild in the future, he says.
The Siberian tiger, also known as Amur, Manchurian or Ussuri tiger, is among the 10 most endangered species in the world.
Only 400 survive in the wild, about 20 in northern China and the rest in the Russian Far East, the report says.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Accepting Responsibility - Why is this so difficult? Money? There is no money without life.
The USA has a land mass of 3.5 million square miles
USA Population, estimate July 2007 - 301,139,947 people
Per Capita Income of the USA - $40,100 (2004 est.)
Annual Tropospheric Carbon Load as of 2006 - 5,800,000,000 metric tons
Carbon Load per Capita - 19.260 metric tonsThat Carbon Load per Income Dollar per Capita - $0.0004803
China has a land mass of 3.7 million square miles. For the sake of the purpose of this 'statement of fact' the land mass of the USA and China are virtually the same.
China population, estimate July 2007 - 1,321,851,888 people
Per Capita Income of China - $5600 (2004 estimate)
Annual Tropospheric Carbon Load as of 2006 - 6,230,000,000 metric tons
Carbon Load per Capita - 4.713 metric tons
That Carbon Load per Income Dollar per Capita - $0.0008416
NOW.
While it is important China IS beginning to address it's contribution to the carbon load of Earth, the USA has YET to address it's responsibility. China, this year, has stated it is aware of it's carbon burden to Earth, but, according to George Walker Bush there is no such thing as a Carbon Load that the USA is exclusively responsible for, nor has he addressed the issue in it's entirety.
Human Induced Global Warming has been known to the USA as a potential danger for nearly half a century. The USA was aware of this danger BEFORE Nixon went to China, while George H. W. Bush was Ambassador to China. While Republicans looked the other way to the warnings of USA scientists leading the way on Human Induced Global Warming, when it would have been completely painless for the USA to stop using COAL as an energy source and to warn China of the dangers of using COAL as an energy source.
Per Duke University in the year 2003-4 there is no such thing as Clean Coal Technology because the land mass of Earth is already saturated with carbon dioxide from the overloaded troposphere.
The cost today of the carbon burden to the troposphere of Earth per income dollar is HALF in the USA than in China. Whom do you think is better prepared fiscally to stop this insanity? Do I have to answer that?
This is a graph from the EPA. The USA is the highest contributing country to Human Induced Global Warming
Mr. Bush wants to indict China in it's contributions. Click here for the carbon load for China.
Mr. Bush wants to indict other countries. Even the ones that are members of Kyoto. In this graph alone, it is noted how Russia has not increased it's carbon load but reduced it for many years now. Click here for the carbon load of Eastern Europe which includes the former Soviet states as well as Russia.
Mr. Bush wants to indict all our allies in Europe. Click here for the carbon load of Western Europe.
The ONLY indictable power causing environmental atrocities against the populous of the USA as well as other nations is the USA. George Walker Bush has political cronies that like to blame the sun (Sol) for the warming trend on Earth. These people are directly responsible for weather and climate related deaths. No one else is. Click here for the carbon load of North America.
George Walker Bush and Richard Cheney are directly responsible for the deaths and hardship of millions if not billions of people globally through the ravages of Human Induced Global Warming which includes the carbon emissions of their wars. Add to that the direct deaths caused by their illegal war and there are many reasons to indict these men for the loss of human life since their inaugurations. People in the USA have lost their lives because of the agendas of these men.
Click for 24 hour temperature loop of Antarctica
June 20, 2007
3:00 PM
Antarctica temperature satellite image
The only satellite images missing are 9PM and 12 AM. How about that? This is the most complete temperature satellite image in a while. Very nice.
Yes, indeed. George Bush and Richard 'The Dick' Cheney must have 'balls' the size of a horse in order to pull these atrocities against their own people off.
The warmest place on Antarctica today is:
Palmer Station, Antarctica
Time :: 2 PM CLT
Elevation :: 26 ft / 8 m
Temperatures :: 29 °F / -2 °C
Conditions :: Light Snow
Humidity :: 73%
Dew Point :: 24 °F / -5 °C
Wind :: 20 mph / 32 km/h / from the SE
Wind Gust :: -
Pressure :: 29.05 in / 984 hPa (Falling)
Visibility :: 10.0 miles / 16.0 kilometers
Aviation
Flight Rule:
VFR ()
Wind Speed:
20 mph / 32 km/h /
Wind Dir :: 130° (SE)
Ceiling :: 100000 ft / 100000 m
The coldest place on Antarctica today is:
Vostok, Antarctica
Elevation :: 26 ft / 8 m
Temperatures :: 29 °F / -2 °C
Conditions :: Light Snow
Humidity :: 73%
Dew Point :: 24 °F / -5 °C
Wind :: 20 mph / 32 km/h / from the SE
Wind Gust :: -
Pressure :: 29.05 in / 984 hPa (Falling)
Visibility :: 10.0 miles / 16.0 kilometers
Aviation
Flight Rule:
VFR ()
Wind Speed:
20 mph / 32 km/h /
Wind Dir :: 130° (SE)
Ceiling :: 100000 ft / 100000 m
The coldest place on Antarctica today is:
Vostok, Antarctica
Time :: 12:00 AM VOST
Elevation :: 11220 ft / 3420 m
Temperature :: -76 °F / -60 °C
Humidity :: 54%
Dew Point :: -80 °F / -62 °C
Wind :: 7 mph / 11 km/h / from the SW
Wind Gust :: -
Pressure :: in / hPa (Falling)
Visibility :: 12.0 miles / 20.0 kilometers
Aviation
Flight Rule:
VFR ()
Wind Speed:
7 mph / 11 km/h /
Wind Dir :: 220° (SW)
Ceiling :: 100000 ft / 100000 m
continued...
Click on for surface winds of Antarctica. An interesting event is occurring.
June 20, 2007
3:00 PM
Antarctica Wind Satellite image
Noted in the 'Jet Stream' satellite image below is air mass movement from the top Blue Ice out to the East Wind Drift, which is the ocean circulation immediately surrounding Antarctica. Literally, the air mass at the top of the Blue Ice is the heaviest because this is also the coldest region. Therefore, where there is no heat transfer taking place the coldest air sinks to lower latitudes of Antarctica causing higher surface winds.
The highest winds are over WAIS which is also the location of the heat transfer from the higher altitudes. The arrival of the heat transfer vortex transferred energy to the lower latitudes as it resolves that heat transfer which came all the way from the equator.
June 20, 2007
1800 gmt
Antarctica Jet Stream.
The 'heat intrusion' is noted over WAIS.
June 20, 2007
1323 gmt
Southern Hemisphere
The vortices in this hemisphere seem to be resolving at higher latitudes. There are a couple that have made their way to WAIS.
See, it's not the ice the heat interested in, really. The heat is interested in 'homostatic/biotic' balance. In other words, the heat will resolve to the surrounding temperatures as it moves toward the Antarctic Ice. That can occur at any latitude if the heat is met with significant amount of balance of cold air. As the sun reaches it's highest latitudes in the northern hemisphere the latitudes of the southern hemisphere have the ability to resolve 'heat transfer' from the equator without necessarily impinging on Antarctica.
That is the way it used to be before Human Induced Global Warming reduced Earth's ability to cope with global heating. Now. Today. The heat cannot resolve to a biotic balance without arriving onto the ice continent and ice ocean and degrading the biotic balance there, hence, heating the oceans and putting all life at jeopardy for the sake of Western oil economies.
To me this is simply insane. It was insane five years ago, five decades ago and it still is today. Why would supposedly civilized human beings even 'risk' the very planet balance that insures them life? Why isn't there daily briefings on the 'state of the planet' coming out of the Oval Office. The entire way The West 'handles' it's environmental emergencies is simply insufficient and ludicrous.
Bush, "But, the USA cannot participate in Kyoto, it would destroy our economy."
But, it's okay to play with the science. It's okay to endanger lives with catatrophic storms, wind, floods and now lightning. It's okay to deprive the beauty of Earth to generations of people. It's okay to ask the American people to 'sacrifice' while Bush and Cheney are 'at war.' But, it not okay to make huge leaps forward into alternative energies while stopping the chronic carbon dioxide emissions daily out of the USA. It's not okay to 'sacrifice' for the cause of preserving our planet for the well being of people alive today and those to inherit this mess. It's not okay to stop insane wars that propagate terrorists.
These entire circumstances CIVILIZED people face today is simply insane. There is no other word for the ludicrous nature of the Bush administration and it's faux priorities. Insane. Certifably.
These are the current 'webcam' pictures out of Scott Base. Anyone want to go for a drive? Good headlights are a requirement today.
June 21, 2007
0647 (AM)
Scott Base, Ross Island, Antarctica
June 21, 2007
0643 (That is AM)
Scott Base, Ross Island, Antarctica
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
The weather at Glacial Bay National Park (Crystal Wind Chime) is summertime:
This is the current 'visual' satellite of the vortex bringing heat to the Arctic circle. It is called the "Arctic Oscillation' (click here) which is only one oscillation manifested in tropospheric vortices that provide heat transfer to ice formations of Earth.
This is a 1999 article at the link above:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FROM: Vince Stricherz206-543-2580vinces@u.washington.edu
DATE: Dec. 16, 1999
Evidence mounts for Arctic Oscillation's impact on northern climate
SAN FRANCISCO - A growing body of evidence indicates that a climate phenomenon called the Arctic Oscillation has wide-ranging effects in the Northern Hemisphere and operates differently from other known climate cycles.
The evidence indicates the acceleration of a counterclockwise spinning ring of air around the polar region could be responsible for warmer winters in Scandinavia and Siberia, thinning of the stratospheric ozone layer, and significant changes in surface winds that might have contributed to Arctic ice thinning.
"These changes at high latitudes could be part of human-induced climate change," said John M. Wallace, a University of Washington atmospheric sciences professor.
Wallace, David Thompson, a doctoral student conducting research at the UW-based Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Oceans, and Mark Baldwin, a research scientist with Northwest Research Associates Inc. of Bellevue, Wash., discussed the implications of the Arctic Oscillation during a news conference today at the American Geophysical Union's fall meeting in San Francisco.
The Arctic Oscillation is a seesaw pattern in which atmospheric pressure at polar and middle latitudes fluctuates between positive and negative phases. The negative phase brings higher-than-normal pressure over the polar region and lower-than-normal pressure at about 45 degrees north latitude. The positive phase brings the opposite conditions, steering ocean storms farther north and bringing wetter weather to Alaska, Scotland and Scandinavia and drier conditions to areas such as California, Spain and the Middle East.
Elevation :: 33 ft / 10 m
Temperature :: 63 °F / 17 °C
Conditions :: Clear
Humidity :: 52%
Dew Point ;; 45 °F / 7 °C
Wind :: 4 mph / 6 km/h / 1.5 m/s from the SW
Pressure :: 29.86 in / 1011 hPa (Falling)
Visibility :: 10.0 miles / 16.1 kilometers
UV :: 8 out of 16
Clouds :: Clear
(Above Ground Level)
A Texas flood is not the time for a strong work ethic.
June 18, 2007
Gainesville, Texas
Photographer states :: Tryin' to get to work---gainesville flood
Photos : 5 dead in Texas floods
June 18, 2007
Sherman, Texas
Photographer states :: The flood in Grayson and Cooke Counties has ended but people are still missing...we recieved around 10 inches of rain in about 8 hours, on already saturated soils...these photos were taken NW of Sherman
The last film I viewed was "Zoo"
There were a couple of movie posters that accompanied the release of this film, but, in my opinion this poster reflects an actual reality for animal advocates. There is no doubt there are animal rights involved in the sexual identity of bestiality. The simple idea that 'animal IQ' can be exploited to serve human sexuality is a subject that needs to be explored and should not end with the release of one film.
"Zoo" was very well done, considering the narrators of the film were actually involved with Kenneth Pinyan, the man whom died of internal injuries from engaging in sexual activity with his personally owned Arabian stallion. All those involved with this film need to be commended for it's ability to expose the subject with dignity. Some reviews cited this film as a disappointment in that it did not reveal the actual sexual acts. I found this documentary very interesting without the graphic reality that killed a man.
I found a couple aspects of this reality not only dangerous but curious.
One of the narrators stated about, Jenny Edwards of Hope for Horses whom came to remove the stallion(s) from the property after Mr. Pinyan's death; '...she knew nothing about horses and her husband knew less...'; which reflected a displaced reality for the horse. The men involved in sexual conduct with Arabian horses implied they understood more about these horses than any other human could understand.
These horses did not have a normal reality. They reacted to these men as captives to their whims. The reality of these animals were altered to include sexual conduct with men in this case. This is not a normal reality for these animals and the people involved in this activity are altering the animal's life instincts and processes to accommodate sexual arousal and in this case sexual activity that is virtually untraceable. Mr. Pinyan was a corporate executive with a wife and child. He was estranged from his marriage, while hoping to reconcile that relationship for the benefit of child visitation minimally. As a man engaged in 'fronting' a 'normal life' the Arabian stallion could not go to The National Enquirer and seek financial rewards in telling tales out of school.
Additionally, in the stall where the sexual encounters took place was 'fashioned' a noose to 'work the horse' when 'having at him.' Literally, the man involved with this stallion trained him to provide service in a manner demanded of him. The stallion simply reacted out of limited choices when handled by his owner.
Even the statements by Jenny Edwards were that of someone seeking to understand the fascination with this stallion by a man that obviously was moved to satisfy his sexual activity in a novel way. She stated, '...I am beginning to understand how this could happen...' while imparting her own affection for her horses. I think that is admirable of her in extending the same compassion she has in her rescue mission for horses to men such as Mr. Pinyan, but, at the same time dangerous in justifying such sexual activity by humans. The men are passive in their covert nature surrounding their sexual agenda, but, when openly criticizing others in the handling of Mr. Pinyan's stallion found words of strong distain. That distain is of concern to me.
I resisted to get clinical here, but, there is a far greater danger with this fetish. While this particular man died of injuries sustained in a chosen sexual encounter, there is the opportunity when species exchange body fluids for organisms to cross species lines. There are very profound societal reasons to advocate this as a dangerous act of sexuality; the reason for human and animal welfare as well as a greater society concern for potentially dangerous organisms to manifest due to this sexual fetish. The people involved in this fetish need to address the issue in a productive way that brings them out of seclusion and into a life of enjoyment. The farm near Enumclaw, Washington was a haven for this activity which I am sure did not occur under aseptic conditions. It is a bad idea to have any member of the American society hidden away in any activity rather than being a part of a society which cares about each other and each other's happiness.
I found the reality of the men involved in this fetish unfortunate and deprived of so much of what life's rewards are suppose to be about. The film should receive the acclaim afforded it. It was a brave film and one we needed to see. I thank all those involved with it including the narrators.
In viewing "Spider Lillies" I found concern for the quality of Lesbian film choices
This was an adult film choice? Nope. It was an insult.
It is a foreign film with subtitles and if this is some of the best Lesbian filmmaking has to offer than the USA needs to provide better adult entertainment. This film was more about pedophilia than sexuality (click on).
Evidently being young is being sexy in "Spider Lillies." Not ! I found it disturbing from the point of view of the 'youngness' of the actors. The story line was fine considering this was Japan which is chronically traumatized by earthquakes. The story line, as with many porn flicks, was simple and tragic to win empathy for the characters if not the subject, however, the youthfulness of the actors/actresses was similar to that of Olympic gymnastics. The day is gone when adults actually participate.
The film could not be rated as X either. It has no frank sexual encounters one would expect with erotica. Most of the film contained suggestion of sexual content rather than actual sexual scenes. The reason, at least to me, was obvious; there were undertones of pedophilia. The 'Barbie dolls,' the child living with her grandparent, all the childhood scenes in reflection of the loss of parents; all captured a fascination for young teens rather than sexual encounters with adults. The actual age of the 'most' actors was no doubt 18 years or older, however, all the characters were younger than the age of majority left to find solice in sexual expression or violence as an answer to being parentless. Some of the images of characters were reflected by consenting children in mimicking behaviors of sexual objects, green hair wigs and the like.
I found the choice for the film festival insulting to what I deem responsible filmmaking for adults seriously interested in love, love affairs and erotica. The choice reflected far to young an actor to take the sexuality seriously. The characters were stereotyped with males being violent and females being passive and 'flowery.' I thought the youthfulness of the actors was concerning to the type of film that might be available to the Lesbian community of the USA. In fact, there was audience reaction reflecting arousal by the film content. That didn't make my uncomfortable so much as I found it unsettling to the 'fantasy' associated with such youth and adult reaction.
It seemed all to clear to me the adults of the Lesbian community need filmmakers that care about their sexuality and appropriate expression of real love stories rather than erotica that serves poorly the sexual maturity of the audience which is obviously seeking entertainment in prestigious threater. When adults are told this is a film worth considering as a reflection of their sexual identity, then without a forum to demand differently in a society that is still seeking to oppress marriage among Lesbians, then the oppression of that adult expression will become an aspect of their reality. I was simply outraged at the choice for these women by the film festival. I want adult sexual content for American Lesbians reflective of the depth of their character and desire.
Monday, June 18, 2007
The next morning I viewed an even more important film. "An Arctic Tale" - click here for trailer
This film was made by the same people that brought us "The March of the Penguins"(click here). For all it's 'fun' and 'humor' what is profoundly evident is the damage humans have done to the Arctic Circle/The North Pole (click here). It is not a 'kids only' film.
This film takes it's viewer to all extemes of human emotion, from elation to profound sadness. I won't give away any moment in the film, it needs to be seen in it's entirety to appreciate the depth this film takes.
I came away with a sense of 'damage.' Real damage to species of Arctic creatures forced into, as the film states, refugee status in survival rather than thriving. It is more than correct the Polar Bear is considered threatened. There is every indication it needs to be moved to endangered as the Arctic Ice continues to thin and disappear. What is completely evident to me is the profound sadness of the reality of these animals which exhibit love, loyality and loss as they experience events to their home out of their control not realizing whom to blame.
As citizens of the highest carbon dioxide polluting society on Earth, this film is profoundly important, more to Moms and Dads then to children. The kids in the theater simply loved the movie. The theater was very quiet throughout it's showing and the talking after the showing was non-stop by adults and children alike.
It isn't a film one loves or hates, but, more or less witnesses. Here again the filmmaking is extraordinary and the photography incredible in it's dimensions, from the infant birth of the bear cubs to the expansive views of this ice environment, including underwater photography. It is a must see film for every American.
"An American Crime" was the second film I viewed. I believe it is understated in it's importance
The 'Sundance Festival' review (click here) of this film takes a tangential approach to conceptualizing it in referring to Abu Ghraib. That does both the prison atrocity of Iraq and this film a gross injustice.
This is an extremely important film in that it illustrates the ability of children to fall victim to the adults that supervise their care, including absent parents and paid caretakers. This is an actual crime that took place in 1968. It speaks loudly of the disempowerment of women and children in the USA while placing them in precarious realities of societal survival. It also clearly illustrates the vulnerability of children to their 'instincts' when 'group think' is harnessed as a social discipline. I believe there are many underlying messages in this film too numerous to speak to here.
My inital reaction from the beginning of the film when 'sexual secrets' accompanied relationships was that violence would eventually be realized in some manifestation culminating in death. There was never any doubt to me the teenage girl would end up dead even with the 'escape sequence' whereby the viewer is allowed to believe the worst wasn't going to happen. It was appropriate as a 'dreamscape' just before the reality of her actual death was completely evident in the film.
If this was simply a horror picture captured for some type of 'odd' fascination by the viewership I'd be up in arms at the concept, but, this film was very methodically investigated by it's creator and brilliantly so. I appreciate his devotion to the film and it's final presentation to the public.
Following the film we were treated to a question and answer session where he was very revealing about his interest in the subject and how he managed after many years to finally write the script and film it's presentation. It is a profoundly important film about this tragedy of which should be required viewing to any social advocate for children.
My impression had nothing to do with Abu Ghraib so much as the reality that child protection laws didn't exist and perhaps still don't to the extent they needed to when this crime occurred. My first thought drifted back to a time when the first child abuse case was heard in New York City facilitated by, of all things, 'animal protection laws' governing the use of carriage horses by the ASPCA. The year was 1957 if I recall it correctly. This film takes us back to about 11 years after that first case when children are still victims to false societal standards and women are left to wander through their reality as sexual beings to survive. In many ways it is an 'ugly' film about the realities of American families forced to the periphery of society.
I found the reality of the film extremely important in it's social dynamics and the traces of which can still be found the American society today.
The Ninth Annual Provincetown Film Festival
"Earthrise" as captured on film by the Apollo 8 with its crew of Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and Bill Anders on December 24, 1968. That was approximately seven months before the first steps on the lunar surface by Neil Armstrong followed by Buzz Aldrin. The very first picture was in black and white above. The infamous color print followed (click here).
Provincetown is a 'natural' for this type of event. I thought the 'film venues' need work with better seating, especially the samller venues where reading subtitles can be made difficult. That reality is easily made up by the variety of cuisine along with expert chefs, as well as the varied and vibrant nightlife of the clubs and the salons, spas and plush B&Bs. There was never any 'wanting' so much as satisfaction during any time in Provincetown at the film venues.
But, there was no looking any further than Provincetown for any subject a person was willing to venture into and there were some venues sold out very early. The weather was fabulous with sunshine during the day that warmed the air, after weeks of nothing but rain. In the evening, a light jacket and depending on the person sometimes a more substantial outer covering, cape, 'hoodie' or fashionable scarves proved necessary. The sea breeze was a welcome end to the day, actually.
There was an abundance of art galleries and every where I went there was always a satisfied customer talking about the perfect painting or sculpture or antique just recently purchased. Basically, there was much to find in P'town. A lot of satisfied folks left for home at the end of the festival on Sunday. I did not stay to the end and left Sunday morning missing the patron award for best film. Each film had a ballot at every viewing.
I viewed only five films over the weekend and all were interesting and exceptional, the first was "In the Shadow of the Moon (click here)." and here.
"In the Shadow of the Moon" is an expose of the astronauts that took place in the Apollo Moon Mission program. It was interesting to hear their perspective. They obviously were all touched in a unique way by their experience. I found they all were in reverence to Earth. That was a quality of their experience which meant a great deal to me. Here these men engaged in a 'space race' with Russia were far less interested in 'the political jazz' of the moment, 'the celebrity' if you will and were moved to find Earth the point of focus to their mission. They all spoke of Earth as if unique to their experience. While the Moon was their mission, it was Earth they regarded as delicate and in need of protection by their society.
They impressed me as humble men with a great love of their country in that no act of bravery was too much to ask. They realized the brevity of the dangers they faced and yet were more than willing to participate to the end of the mission, confident everyone involved was completely dedicated to their safe return home.
Of course, there was also a second focus to the film, besides the men, the mission and their experience and that was the blatant bravery of President Kennedy to envision the program in the first place. JFK put complete political clout in the people involved with NASA and the space program without hesitancy.
It was astounding to listen to him make a speech full of uncertainty and speculation now in the year 2007 when so much of the political arena is full of pre-arranged theater for the sake of deceiving the public and creating an image. Little did JFK care about image when he put his full support behind the USA Space Program. It was very refreshing to hear a President speak with such speculation about the future and the confidence he had in the people of our nation to overcome all the obstacles to what would become the moment in time when the entire world stopped to listen to Neil Armstrong's (click here) first words while stepping onto the mooon.
"That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind."
So dedicated to 'that memory' and it's preservation in time, that following his career with NASA, Neil Armstrong retired to his farm and never became a public figure. That fact was noted by his piers in the film. It was interesting to hear them speak of 'the moment' and their regard for Neil as the choice for the first human step onto the moon. They all believed no one else would be able to be so calm as to deliver such a resounding statement.
The 'actual' film took a great leap after the climax of the discussion of Apollo 11. It seemed as though it fast forward the rest of the program to get it all in. At the end of the film, the astronauts speak to the speculation regarding the reality of the program and it's success to reach the moon; stating they were there and making light of any speculation.
It is a film worthy of the time for viewing and certainly a film young people 'should' be interested in to realize the way the American people 'of the sixties' were dedicated to greatness and leadership. I remember the Apollo 11 mission and sitting by the television with my father for the very moment we heard those words. It was a victory for all Americans, a moment of greatness that our astronaut actually achieved 'the moment' in human history when we first stepped onto an alien surface and then returned to Earth safely. Perhaps it was that moment that instilled the reverence in all of us for Earth through their insight, pictures and love for their home even today. It is a great historical film by it's unique ability to capture the astronauts in their reverence for life on Earth and their humble bravery as pioneers.
But, there was no looking any further than Provincetown for any subject a person was willing to venture into and there were some venues sold out very early. The weather was fabulous with sunshine during the day that warmed the air, after weeks of nothing but rain. In the evening, a light jacket and depending on the person sometimes a more substantial outer covering, cape, 'hoodie' or fashionable scarves proved necessary. The sea breeze was a welcome end to the day, actually.
There was an abundance of art galleries and every where I went there was always a satisfied customer talking about the perfect painting or sculpture or antique just recently purchased. Basically, there was much to find in P'town. A lot of satisfied folks left for home at the end of the festival on Sunday. I did not stay to the end and left Sunday morning missing the patron award for best film. Each film had a ballot at every viewing.
I viewed only five films over the weekend and all were interesting and exceptional, the first was "In the Shadow of the Moon (click here)." and here.
"In the Shadow of the Moon" is an expose of the astronauts that took place in the Apollo Moon Mission program. It was interesting to hear their perspective. They obviously were all touched in a unique way by their experience. I found they all were in reverence to Earth. That was a quality of their experience which meant a great deal to me. Here these men engaged in a 'space race' with Russia were far less interested in 'the political jazz' of the moment, 'the celebrity' if you will and were moved to find Earth the point of focus to their mission. They all spoke of Earth as if unique to their experience. While the Moon was their mission, it was Earth they regarded as delicate and in need of protection by their society.
They impressed me as humble men with a great love of their country in that no act of bravery was too much to ask. They realized the brevity of the dangers they faced and yet were more than willing to participate to the end of the mission, confident everyone involved was completely dedicated to their safe return home.
Of course, there was also a second focus to the film, besides the men, the mission and their experience and that was the blatant bravery of President Kennedy to envision the program in the first place. JFK put complete political clout in the people involved with NASA and the space program without hesitancy.
It was astounding to listen to him make a speech full of uncertainty and speculation now in the year 2007 when so much of the political arena is full of pre-arranged theater for the sake of deceiving the public and creating an image. Little did JFK care about image when he put his full support behind the USA Space Program. It was very refreshing to hear a President speak with such speculation about the future and the confidence he had in the people of our nation to overcome all the obstacles to what would become the moment in time when the entire world stopped to listen to Neil Armstrong's (click here) first words while stepping onto the mooon.
"That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind."
So dedicated to 'that memory' and it's preservation in time, that following his career with NASA, Neil Armstrong retired to his farm and never became a public figure. That fact was noted by his piers in the film. It was interesting to hear them speak of 'the moment' and their regard for Neil as the choice for the first human step onto the moon. They all believed no one else would be able to be so calm as to deliver such a resounding statement.
The 'actual' film took a great leap after the climax of the discussion of Apollo 11. It seemed as though it fast forward the rest of the program to get it all in. At the end of the film, the astronauts speak to the speculation regarding the reality of the program and it's success to reach the moon; stating they were there and making light of any speculation.
It is a film worthy of the time for viewing and certainly a film young people 'should' be interested in to realize the way the American people 'of the sixties' were dedicated to greatness and leadership. I remember the Apollo 11 mission and sitting by the television with my father for the very moment we heard those words. It was a victory for all Americans, a moment of greatness that our astronaut actually achieved 'the moment' in human history when we first stepped onto an alien surface and then returned to Earth safely. Perhaps it was that moment that instilled the reverence in all of us for Earth through their insight, pictures and love for their home even today. It is a great historical film by it's unique ability to capture the astronauts in their reverence for life on Earth and their humble bravery as pioneers.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
I usually do a review of the movies I viewed after a film festival...
...and I will again, but, tomorrow along with a look at the Ice Masses of Earth.
Have a Happy Father's Day.
It ain't easy bein' a Dad. Nope. Lot of hard work, but, always rewarding. Pat yourselves on the back. It is all very rewarding and one of the gifts of life that keep on giving. And for those without children, I am sure you are significant to a young person somewhere. Know you have a difference and today is as much your day as anyone's. Be happy.
Have a Happy Father's Day.
It ain't easy bein' a Dad. Nope. Lot of hard work, but, always rewarding. Pat yourselves on the back. It is all very rewarding and one of the gifts of life that keep on giving. And for those without children, I am sure you are significant to a young person somewhere. Know you have a difference and today is as much your day as anyone's. Be happy.
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