by Anura Guruge
on January 20, 2024
Definitely enjoyed it. Was amusing from the get go. Definite TWO THUMBS up.
Amazing that it is based on a true story — but I can see how it came to be.
No reservations recommending this. You are NOT going to blame me. You will THANK me. Give it a spin. Let it wash over you.
Bravo for all those involved.
by Anura Guruge
on October 16, 2023
They had me FOOLED!
No indication that it was TOTAL FICTION. Very cleverly done.
Yes, I was PUZZLED, but intrigued. I was going to look into it. So, there is at least that …. I was going to look into it. I did.
That these ‘kids’ making this ‘documentary‘ had incredible access to AUTHORITIES and witnesses did have me skeptical. It was like … ‘give me a break‘. Well, now I know why. It wasn’t real. WOW.
Interesting concept.
Sure was entertaining. So no complaints. I enjoyed watching it.
Well done!
by Anura Guruge
on August 22, 2023
I thought he, i.e., ‘Clint Eastwood‘ (THE STAR of the show), was in his late 80s. I was wrong. He was born in 1930. So, he was 90 (at least) when he made this ‘OK’ (but far from great) movie. The problem is that it SHOWS! It is painful at times to WATCH. Don’t get me wrong. I applaud him. Amazing achievement. I am in awe. I am in awe of everybody — & anybody — older than I, since I know what it is like to be as old as I.
I am happy for him.
It is just that it gets kind of embarrassing to watch him.
He looks like ‘Joe Biden‘ — & that is one heck of an indictment on our aging President in that Clint is 10-years older.
I watched both ‘Gran Torino‘ (2008) & ‘The Mule‘ (2018) — starring him (again) — & enjoyed them. In the latter he was three-years younger & that shows.
I feel bad saying anything bad about this movie, BUT I honestly did find it PAINFUL to watch him.
But, HEY …
He can call his own shots.
by Anura Guruge
on December 20, 2022
Sunrise & Sunset Times for Concord, New Hampshire around the
the December 2022 Solstice (On the 21st).
(From Time-and-Date).
Welcome YULE!
My favorite day of the year, hands down.
As of the Winter Solstice days start getting longer!
The Winter Solstice, the SHORTEST DAY of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
Welcome YULE!
Shout it out loud. Welcome YULE.
Evenings have already started getting longer — as I pointed out in this post. Funnily enough (if it can be construed as funny) mornings DO NOT START getting earlier until 2023! Then, we really getting into the stride of things. Within a month of the solstice we would have gained in excess of 30 minutes!
As I do most years I give YOU, in peace,
‘Dona Nobis Pacem‘ (Grant us peace)
for the Winter Solstice.
by Anura Guruge
on July 5, 2022
Click images to ENLARGE.
The ‘Wolfeboro‘ 4th of July 2022 fireworks were good. As ever it was a grander display than that at ‘Alton’ the night before — more, slightly fancier fireworks fired with more rapidity though, alas, still manually rather than via a programmed, computer firing system. But, it was good.
Last year’s 4th of July show at Wolfeboro, with COVID still very much in the news, was memorable. The fireworks were fired from a barge moored on the Bay — rather than from the ‘bottom’ playing field at Brewster. See below. Having the fireworks go off over water, as in Alton, made a difference.
But this year we were back to Brewster. I don’t know why.
As with Alton the night before the crowds were light THOUGH the boat traffic looked about par — maybe even a tad above par. I got to Wolfeboro at 9:10. The area around ‘Huggins’ was EMPTY — both of people & cars. Nobody walking towards Brewster! I genuinely thought I had mixed up the dates & as such missed the fireworks. So, I drove on further. Saw a FEW stragglers. NO POLICE. No blue lights. I pulled into ‘Anderson Hall‘ parking. There was plenty of empty spots, so I parked there. By then I could see more people. Strange. I would say we were at 1/2 normal capacity. It was more akin to what I expect at the New Year’s Eve fireworks than those for the 4th.
The show started, promptly at 9:30 & finished a few seconds ahead of 10pm. So, a 30-minute show. Longer than that at Alton.
There was police presence when we were trying to get out. Not as numerous or active as usual. Traffic getting out wasn’t bad. I can’t stress how atypically uncrowded it was. But, it was good. I enjoyed it. Thank you Wolfeboro.
by Anura Guruge
on July 4, 2022
Click images to ENLARGE.
It was GOOD to have the fireworks back in Alton Bay on July 3. A definite sign that normalcy is coming back — or in the case of Alton, already well & truly back. I like fireworks — both setting them off myself & shows. I try not to miss any local firework shows. As far as I am concerned you need to see as MANY firework displays as you can during your life.
And given my fondness for fireworks, I stoutly maintain that there is NO such thing as a bad fireworks display. As far as I am concerned they are all ‘good’ per my definition.
Alton Bay, last night, was NOT as crowded as I had expected. To be honest it was only at about 1/2 capacity compared to past years when there had been much more folks, traffic & boats. But, there was a fair crowd & they were happy & content. It is possible that people did NOT realize that the fireworks were on last night. I, as you know, did my little bit to get the message out — though I probably should have done it earlier. Many people still not appreciate that Alton does their 4th fireworks on the 3rd. Alton lets (famous) Wolfeboro have the honors on the 4th (& YES, I plan to be there. (SMILE)).
Given that it wasn’t that crowded parking, at my usual spot, was a breeze. Hardly anybody else parked! As such I was 20 minutes early.
The show started at 9:20 (as stated) & finished around 9:40. Par for the course. Folks were happy.
It was back to normal. That meant that it was also your typical, Alton July 3rd firework show. Nothing too spectacular, just an average, ‘low budget’ production. But, we in Alton are used to it — & to be fair, Alton’s MAIN firework display is reserved for August for ‘Old Home Day’.
It was the accustomed staccato, boom … pause … bang … pause … boom … pause, display culminating in short, climatic finale. We all love that. Most of us wait for it. We know it is coming. Well it came & as ever it was decent. Worth waiting for. I enjoyed it.
Thank YOU Alton (though, as a tax payer, I did my bit to pay for it).
by Anura Guruge
on July 3, 2022
Last year, i.e., 2021, due to COVID etc., there was NO public fireworks in ‘Alton’ during the entire month of July.
NOT SO IN 2022.
There will be fireworks, at ‘Alton Bay’, on Sunday, July 3rd starting at 9:20pm.
July 3rd is the traditional day for Alton’s ‘4th of July’ firework display (‘over the Bay‘) so that they don’t have to compete with the show put on by neighboring Wolfeboro on the 4th.
So, the July 3rd fireworks are BACK in Alton.
Got that?
There will be fireworks, over the Bay, tonight.
by Anura Guruge
on February 8, 2022
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The Netflix trailer (above) was compelling enough, on the spot, for I to add it to my Watchlist. I watched it a few days later.
It sure did NOT disappoint. It was sumptuously & meticulously produced & the story was indeed gripping. It was good. Very good. Yes, definitely a psychological drama. Asks questions of you. Yes, there was a strong undercurrent of homosexual connotation — which I assume was intentional. But, it left you hanging. Nothing conclusive.
What struck me straight off the bat that it was, despite its setting, NOT an American made movie. It was a New Zealand production. They did a very good job. Just confusing why a New Zealand outfit would make a movie set in Montana. But, I am glad that did.
I knew that it had had rave reviews. But, 12 Oscar nominations — including Best Picture & Best Actor. This is my take.
What do YOU think? I am curious.
by Anura Guruge
on January 17, 2022
Yes, I was, of course, aware that I had made two long trips; one, 2,700-miles, to Iowa to pickup ‘Rowen‘ our Newfie pup & the other, in September (as is my wont) to Shenandoah (for the second year running). Then there was my usual trips to Maine & in 2021 all the numerous trips to Boston to do with my cataract surgeries (& follow ups). But, until I got Google’s annual summary of my timeline I had no idea that I been by 85 cities. I sure know I didn’t visit that many. But, if Google says so, I guess I must have been through them. Neat.
What is pretty amazing is that I assiduously adhered to all the prevailing COVID protocols! So, during the January Iowa trip, we did not stay overnight in NY or PA so as to honor their COVID requirements.
By the time of the other trips, I had been vaccinated — as of March 6, 2021. So, that helped.
Wonder how 2022 will pan out. Haven’t travelled any, even to Boston, this Yikes.
by Anura Guruge
on January , 2022
Always a nice touch from the VERY CLASSY folks at ‘Revels’ (Cambridge, MA) — the Revel’s Mother Ship (so to speak). I always liked it AFTER I had been to the show. Alas, there was no show last year, & this year, the show that I had a ticket for was cancelled. But, getting this uplifting video is a consolation (though to be fair, I was also sent a link to a recorded version of the whole show that I have yet to sit down and watch).
Well, enjoy.
Having them perform through masks is not optimum. A shame. A crying shame.
I hope that we can get back to ‘normal’ (i.e., the likes of 2019) in 2022.
Happy New Year.
Thank YOU, Revels (Cambridge, MA).