Become a fan of PCMag. Posted on Apr 30, Be the first to answer. Not sure but Dell printers are usually rebranded Lexmark printers if that helps. Answered on Oct 06, We clocked the A in default mode by dpi at a quick 5. Don't have an account? If you experience other problems, refer to your Owner's Manual.
Dell photo pw all-in-one printer user's guide pages. David Stone The Best Printers of Answer questions, earn points and help others Answer questions. In addition to this technician assisted technical support, online technical support is available at Dell Support. Watch this video and fix paper jam issues in your dell printer: That can cause errors as there will be no connection to the printer.
When you want to: Click Select area to be scanned, and then select a size from the drop-down menu. Having trouble installing a piece of hardware? Display Check the status of the All-In-One. Turn jn Auto Detect and specify the printdr of the original.
Photo is on for copying, any object found on the scanner glass will be prinyer at the top left corner of the page. In order for the FAX button to function properly: I knew that I still had Black Ink, and that is what I just needed for the moment, so I removed the color Ink cartridge and it started working.
One thing you should know about the Dell and the Lexmark units is that the ink cartridges for each are keyed to the particular brand. Dell Computer Corporation disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other printee its own.
Hence you're locked into buying Dell ink cartridges for the A Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Computer Corporation is.
If you don't need full-time faxing, however, you won't miss the feature. This book contains many real life examples derived from the author's experience as a Linux system and network administrator, trainer and consultant. Dell printer not working.
For information about the Dell warranty for your printer, refer to your Owner's Manual. Answered on Aug 31, BB code is On.
Find Prinher Posts by dstrbd1. Readme files may be included on your CD to provide last-minute updates about technical changes to your printer or advanced technical reference material for experienced users or technicians. For best service, have your Dell printer Service Tag available.
Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names of their products. Unfortunately, the cartridges are available only from Dell directly; The Dell Ink-Monitoring System warns you of low ink, though, so you will not run out unexpectedly.
All times are GMT Software setup is much easier, involving little more than inserting the disc into dsll CD drive and following the on-screen prompts. Click Here to receive this Complete Guide absolutely free.


Summarize authentic spoken discourse produced by French speakers of diverse origins.
Produce French comprehensible to native speakers using complex grammatical structures to communicate analytical and interpretive information in both impromptu and prepared speech.
Interpret cultural practices and products of the French-speaking world drawing on authentic materials including literature and the visual arts.
3 years high school French, FREN 2311, or approval by instructor.


text:
Laughing around the Christmas tree: Ken Smith on this year's literary festive funnies
By Ken Smith Diary Editor
Are you having a laugh? That question always has a sinister tone if directed at you in a Glasgow pub.
But it is a reasonable enquiry if you unwrap a book described as "humorous" as part of your neat pile of Christmas presents. Have some sympathy for the purchaser of said book. He or she knows you like to read. Books, with their colourful covers and fresh virgin pages, are still an attractive gift to receive, but what should they buy you?
Even if they know you are a John Grisham or Jane Austen aficionado how do they know which of their tomes you have read? Much safer perhaps to go for a book which claims on the dust jacket to be the funniest thing you will ever read.
But beware. Some so-called funny books are simply jaded material cobbled together and sold under the name of someone famous off the telly. There's a lot of silted rubbish out there to sift through before you find a nugget or two.
Achieving bookshop prominence just now is Billy Connolly with his collection of monologues, Tall Tales and Wee Stories (Two Roads). Some of the stories you will remember, such as his description of appreciating Marie's Wedding at a school music lesson. There is Billy's take on the Crucifixion, which led to his shows back in the day being picketed by a bitter and fulminating Pastor Jack Glass, although in today's more secular times it has little shock value left. And there is a problem. Bill Connolly's routines have to be heard in his joyful soaring tones rather than simply read in the black and white of print. For the full glory of Billy you would be better to dig out his old albums, Cop Yer Whack for This or Solo Concert, open a can of Tartan Special and remember sitting on your pal's sofa at one in the morning hooting with laughter. Billy on stage would go off on unique irrelevancies which magically added to the occasion, but in print, the stories are more ordered, more, well, ordinary. The book, though, should not be damned with faint praise. It's a bit like opening a dusty photo album and turning to pictures of a party in your youth. Yes, the party itself was far more fun than looking at a picture, but nevertheless you smile, remember the old days, and feel good inside. Billy's book still manages to do that.
Also catching the eye on bookshop shelves just now is the colourful cartoon cover of Funny Ha Ha, a sizeable collection of funny stories put together, it says, by Have I got News for You panellist Paul Merton (Head of Zeus). Mr Merton's main contribution you suspect is merely to momentarily seize your attention, as after a rudimentary six-page introduction by him you are then led into a mainly historic assembly of tales by the likes of Oscar Wilde, PG Wodehouse and Dorothy Parker. As it is in alphabetical order by author, Peer Cook and Dudley Moore's musings on sex are sandwiched between GK Chesterton and Noel Coward. So it may sound a bit of a literary potage, hurriedly thrown together, but hold that thought. There are three stories by Hector Hugh Munro – who wrote under the pen-name Saki – and his mischievous tales pricking the pomposity of the upper classes are such gems that they are well worth another outing, including that of the talking cat Tobermory who knew too many secrets. Scotland's own Muriel Spark is there with her short story The Executor, a well executed tale, although calling it "one of the funniest stories ever written" which is Funny Ha Ha's raison d'être, is a very lengthy stretch.
But there is also Tony Hancock, so the book does indeed have its charms, although if you are seeking accuracy I would give it the alternative title Sometimes Amusing. Buy it, but only if you can find it with a sizeable discount on its hefty cover price.
Another TV comedian vying for your bookshop attention is David Mitchell of panel show Would I Lie to You? and Peep Show fame, who at least wrote his book Dishonesty Is the Second-Best Policy (Faber & Faber) albeit culled from his dyspeptic columns in the Observer. Such newspaper columns though can be a tad ephemeral. I am slightly taken aback when he refers to "Home Secretary Amber Rudd". The spinning doors of political office whizz so fast these days that it is hard to remember when Ms Rudd held such high office.
He is not a fan of Boris Johnson, and argues that Johnson only wrote a biography of Winston Churchill so that if you Google Churchill, Boris Johnson's name appears high up the list. Writes Mitchell about our present Prime Minister: "His whole shtick increasingly seems fake and disingenuous: the crazy hair, the crumpled clothes, the photo on the zip wire, the hesitant, twinkly, donnish speech pattern. There's something undoubtedly likeable about his demeanour, but what passed for refreshing a few years ago now comes across as a manipulative performance." So maybe not all of the columns are out of date.
If you like your humour more visual, then there is Cold War Steve Presents: A Prat's Progress (Thames & Hudson) and Led By Donkeys (Atlantic Books £10), which the aforesaid Boris Johnson will not be looking for in his Christmas stocking. Twitter followers may know Cold War Steve, aka Christopher Spencer, who creates haunting images of a bleak post-Brexit Britain populated by absurd images of Brexiteers such as Theresa May, Nigel Farage and Wetherspoons' owner Tim Martin. They are striking works of art, but after flicking through the book for five minutes you would simply put it aside. Definitely a Christmas panic buy. Led by Donkeys tells the tale of four friends who created anti-Brexit posters out of the historic Twitter statements of pro-Brixiteers contradicting their current views such as Jacob Rees-Mogg once arguing that it might make sense to have a second referendum once negotiations are completed. It's funny, but again too repetitive to hold your attention for long.
Trying too hard is Stuart Heritage's Bedtime Stories for Worried Liberals (Profile Books £9.99), which squeezes political tales into old nursery stories – Boris Johnson eating your porridge, that sort of thing, and you can easily assume who Trumplestiltskin is. Save yourself a tenner. The laughs are thinner than the strands of hair on Trump's head.
Actually – and here is the inevitable plug – you can spend that £9.99 you saved on this year's Herald Diary compilation, A Quacking Good Read (Black and White), which though edited by my good self, was at least written by hundreds of Herald readers. It includes the tale of the Glasgow woman on a Ryanair flight to Spain who was sitting next to a member of a boisterous stag-do crew who cheekily asked her: "Do Ryanair charge you extra to sit beside a handsome young man?" "Yes," she replied. "But I wasn't willing to pay it."
So, hopefully you will be having a laugh at Christmas.
The Herald Diary 2019: A Quacking Good Read! is out now on Black and White, priced £9.99
Edinburgh Summer Sessions to feature Lionel Ritchie, Tom Jones and The 1975
Theatre: God of Carnage, Theatre Royal, Glasgow, Four stars
Ivor Cutler: The king of fantasy island
Theatre: The Comedy of Errors, Royal Conservatoire, Glasgow, Four stars
Theatre: Pride and Prejudice* (*Sort of), Lyceum, Edinburgh, Five stars
Lewis Capaldi says he was mistaken for a seat-filler at Grammys
Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti 'honoured' to win Grammy
Billie Eilish takes a clean sweep of the Big Four at the Grammys
Music review: The stars come out for Bruce Springsteen

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: How to redirect onto other page with a passing function call along with it? //here after session created i must redirect to 'home.php' along with a function call on the page 'home.php'
<?php
if($postname == $storedUsername && $postPassword == $storedPassword)
                {
                    $_SESSION['authentication'] = 1;
                    header('location:home.php');

?>

A: There are a few different ways to do this.
Method 1
The simplest way would be using a GET parameter:
<?php
if($postname == $storedUsername && $postPassword == $storedPassword)
                {
                    $_SESSION['authentication'] = 1;
                    header('Location: home.php?loadfunc=true');
                    die();
                 }

?>

Note: You did not close the brace above in your original code...not sure if this was intentional. You also did not invoke a die or exit function after your header redirection. This is dangerous to do as people will still be able to access the rest of your code if you do not want them to.
Then in the home.php page do the following:
if (!empty($_GET['loadfunc'])){
    //call function here
}

Note: Anyone can type a GET parameter into the address bar and anyone can read the address using a packet sniffer. If you do not want people to be able to do this, do not use this method.
Method 2
A better way to do it might be to just check the SESSION variable on the home.php page:
session_start();
....
if (!empty($_SESSION['authentication']) && $_SESSION['authentication'] == 1){
     //call function here
}

I recommend this last method if it works for your code.
I

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


When it comes to website content, search engine optimization (SEO) often leads the discussion. What keywords to use, how often to use them, and on and on. Less discussed is the importance of creating unique, quality content that both Google and readers approve of.
Google uses "spiders" to crawl websites across the entire Internet. They are automated computer programs that determine how websites should be ranked in the search engine. In the past, these spiders were easy to manipulate. Over the years, though, they've become much more sophisticated.
It used to be easy to dupe search engines into granting high rankings. You could stuff dozens of the same keyword into a generic article. You could develop a massive website by publishing hundreds of blog posts that contain very little content. You could even copy and paste content from someone else's website onto yours. At the time, these were effective strategies to improve a website's search visibility.
Identify how many words are on a page. If a website has hundreds of pages that contain only 100 words on each page, that website is likely to rank poorly.
Audit for duplicate content. Google can scan the Internet to determine whether someone is stealing content from other websites.
Analyze keywords on a page. Google can identify keywords that have been arbitrarily stuffed into a page. Such keyword abuse could even prompt a site-wide penalty.
Analyze user engagement. By looking at a website's analytics, Google can determine how many pages a user visits, how long they spend on each page, and other engagement metrics. This helps Google determine the quality of content, as users will be quick to click the back button when stumbling across poorly-written content.
It's pretty simple. If Google doesn't approve of your content, you're not going to fare well in search results. In fact, consistently poor content could attract a penalty that tanks your rankings altogether.
Google approves. Search engines are in the business of satisfying users every time a search is performed. To maintain loyal users, they want to provide the best results possible. Otherwise, web users might turn to a different search engine.
You provide value to prospective patients who are looking for information on chiropractic care. This is a way to establish yourself as an authority, while encouraging website visitors to learn more about your practice.
If you want your chiropractic website to rank well, you must first get Google's "approval." But that's only the first step. In order to get new patients online, you'll have to convert visitors once they land on your site.
By educating prospective patients on their health and wellness, you provide value. By outlining your services, you illustrate exactly what you do. By telling the story behind your practice, you establish trust. Doing so in an enlightening manner will encourage visitors to stay on your website – and, ultimately, set up an appointment.
Developing top-notch content takes creativity and time. If you're looking to publish content that is Google-friendly, download our free "Blogging for Beginners" eBook. You'll learn what to write about, when to post new content, and how blogging helps your search engine rankings.


text:
ANA's new business class lounge at Tokyo's Narita Airport
Get a Qantas first class seat for the price of business class
By Chris Chamberlin, August 13 2015
Fancy getting a first class seat for the price of a business class ticket – and not just any first class seat, but one aboard that 'Queen of the Skies', the majestic Qantas Boeing 747?
Of course you do! So here's the skinny on a favourite little 'travel hack' of savvy travellers and Platinum-grade frequent flyers.
First up: not all of Qantas' Boeing 747 jets still have a first class cabin. Most have been upgraded to feature the latest Skybed II business class seats, even in the nose of the jumbo where first class used to be.
But two of its older Boeing 747s continue to fly with their original first class seats, and they're a blast from the past.
The photos in this article were snapped on one of those 'classic' jumbos, which Qantas first flew in 1998 – so what you're seeing is the way first class used to be almost 20 years ago.
Compare that to the first class suites of the Qantas Airbus A380, which arrived barely ten years later:
You'll most often find the Boeing 747s with first class seats flying from Sydney to Tokyo and Johannesburg, but from time to time they pop up en route to Santiago, Hong Kong and even Los Angeles.
However, Qantas doesn't sell first class tickets on these aircraft – only on its flagship Airbus A380s – so the jumbos' first class seats are assigned to business class passengers.
You'll still get the same meals, wine and service as everyone in business class, so why the fuss about being in 'first class'?
1. These old first class seats convert into fully-flat beds, while the first generation of business class Skybeds you'll find on the same aircraft are angled flat beds or 'sloping sleepers' – so you'll get a much better night's sleep being at the pointy end of the plane
2. And you're quite literally at that pointy end: notice how the cabin tapers in at the front, capped by a coat closet? That's the very front the jumbo jet, and you have to admit that's pretty cool!
So how do you go about snaring one of these seats?
This is one of those times it really pays off to select your seat well ahead of your flight.
If you're jetting off in business class on a Qantas Boeing 747, load up your reservation through the 'manage my booking' area of the Qantas website, and proceed to select your seats.
Pay particular attention to row 1 – if the only seats shown in that first row are 1A and 1K, then you're flying on one of the older Boeing 747s sporting these prized perches.
(If the first row shows paired seats side-by-side, such as 1A next to 1B and 1J next to 1K, you're booked on one of the reconfigured jumbos.)
Selecting your first class seat
There are 14 first class seats up front, divided into four rows.
The first three rows tend to be held for top-tier Qantas Frequent Flyers – Platinum, Platinum One and Chairman's Lounge members – until close to departure time, while the four seats in row 4 are open to any business class passenger.
We tend to prefer 1A and 1K for privacy on those overnight flights where sleep is the priority…
… and 4A and 4K when planning to work.
That's because both 4A and 4K have a large console between the seat and the window, providing a great place to plonk your laptop or tablet during meal times, or a satchel or books and paperwork to keep everything at hand.
The reason for such indulgence in inflight real estate? Pop the hatch on the side table and you'll find a large, long bassinet!
(Some passengers even stow small iPad sized-bags in this space for take-off and landing.)
So if you're planning a business class flight to on routes flown by Qantas' Boeing 747s, make a point of checking your seating options online: two minutes spent here could make the difference between a sloping Skybed business class seat and a fully flat 'first class suite' for 13 hours in the air!
Additional material by David Flynn
qantas business class first class
I love that shot of the 747 at the top of the artcile. Queen of the skies!
Thursday, 13 Aug 2015, 09:04:08 am
QFF
Yep, A380 just big aluminum tube comparing to 747!
Friday, 14 Aug 2015, 04:00:08 pm
qfflyer
Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think these seats were introduced 20 years ago... Back then the old recliners would have been in First... Would that be right?
nmalon
These seats are actually very comfortable and a huge step up from Skybed MK1. Totally agree with Chris here. A flat bed is a hell of a lot better than a sloping one!
Which 747-400's still have this configuration? are they put on specific routes?
Routes are mentioned in the article
Thursday, 13 Aug 2015, 01:02:08 pm
drpurpleturtle
VH-OEB & OJM are the regos. Unfortunately both of these airframes are due to be retired by the middle of next year!
AgentGerko
Still flying in Jan 2017. Just booked on SYD-TYO.
Friday, 16 Dec 2016, 11:10:12 am
jubbing
American Airlines - AAdvantage
My Friend flew the older F seats to Dubai a few years ago - he says while they were comfortable he wasn't really impressed with the cabin as a whole - which is fair since you could consider them as really good Business class seats rather than First class.
Though I'm glad Qantas still fly the 747 - such nostalgia! Still one of the most gorgeous planes in my humble opinion, even if they aren't as advanced as the newer planes.
QF 747 at DXB? Photo or it didn't happen!
Friday, 14 Aug 2015, 08:30:08 am
elchriss0
well they're 742s used to transit in SIN and DXB to LHR due to range not being enough, hence why the 744 was extremely popular with many airlines
dingogav
Chris – we are flying Tokyo/Sydney next March and at present we have seats allocated on the upper deck. I have revisited the Qantas website and can now see that we are due to fly on one of the 747s with a first class cabin (as you have described). Would the seats upstairs still have been updated to the latest Skybed II business class seats or are we better to now choose 4EF (as we would like to be side-by-side)?
they're skybed 1 as mentioned in the article so go downstairs and score the first class seats
ck_firefly
This is really cool info, Chris! :)
Warmest from Bangkok
husky_ky
Wow - this is very similar to the experience I had earlier this year with China Airlines, who flies 747s on the TPE-BNE-TPE route during peak travel times. The front first class seats were in the same configuration as this article, which was also sold as Business class but high ranked FF get first dibs. The CI seats though weren't comfortable lying flat, I'd hope the QF version are better!
Monday, 17 Aug 2015, 12:51:08 pm
Wouldn't recommend row 4 as mentioned in the article as its plonked out halfway across the aisle and the crew/pax keeps knocking it as they walk past. But these seats are great for tall people as the beds are longer than Business on the same aircraft.
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on Get a Qantas first class seat for the price of business class


It's almost that time of year…..
October is just around the corner and the teams in SEMA's Battle Of The Builders® are working faster than ever to complete their vehicles. The competition held at SEMA in Las Vegas, showcases the unique craftsmanship of the top builders within the industry.
Check out the view below of Canadian based Jordan Henke and the team at JH Restorations giving a sneak peek of their 65′ Oldsmobile 442 that will be in the competition and showcased in the ARMO booth.
Stay tuned for more behind the scenes.


text:
Q: What to use for C# SlimDX Game UI I am currently developing a 3d game using C#/SlimDX (The target is Direct3D 9). I've been looking for a suitable Game UI toolkit for a while, but I was unable to make up my mind.
The Game UI will be for a roleplaying game, so it'll be fairly complex and will involve quite a few controls (text boxes, inventory grids, list boxes, select boxes, scrollable areas, etc.).
I previously (When i was still using C++/OpenGL) looked at GameSWF and very much liked the idea, but for my current game it's out of the question.
Does anyone know a good GUI toolkit for use with SlimDX?
I would be especially interested in using WPF/Silverlight for this, since there are good IDEs available for both. But a quick google search didn't reveal any information on embedding these.

A: You can use WPF (but not Silverlight) for this.
The way to go about this is to use SlimDX in conjunction with D3DImage.  You then let WPF handle all of your final composition, including overlaying the WPF UI over the top of your SlimDX scene.
SlimDX basically just renders to a brush in this situation, which can be used on any WPF element.  (This doesn't work for Silverlight, as Sliverlight doesn't support D3DImage.)


It was in the month of July 2018 that I came to know about this organization MylocalDost. I had heard a lot about them through my colleagues and I was curious to explore the offbeat experience that these guys offer. I spoke to Andrew, Founder of MylocalDost, and asked if I could experience something unconventional that they offer and also reminded that I will be travelling solo (victim of typical spoiler group). Coincidentally, Andrew informed that he and his team will be out on scouting a place called Raithal in Uttrakhand that they believe has the potential to host offbeat travel seekers. Honestly, it was the first time I had heard of this place. I had traveled before to Dehradun, Mussourie and Nainital, with my friends, and that were the only tourist places I knew in Uttarakhand. It really made me curious when Andrew shared about Raithal and trusting the reputation that MylocalDost carries, I just went for it without the second thought. I knew I was in for a new experience altogether from the moment we started our journey to Raithal in the car.
Throughout the road trip, we slowly observed the scenery and landscape changing, the mountains getting greener, the temperature dropping and watched the city slowly fade away from our sight. For me, it was an unexplainable twelve-hour drive on a perfect road and greenery all the way, something I had never experienced before and ofcourse a happening team to be with. I could not believe that Uttarakhand could be so green; courtesy to the monsoons. Also, it broke my myth of avoiding hills during the monsoons; if you haven't tried going to the hills during the rains, you have certainly missed something in your life.
By-passing Mussoorie, crossing the famous town of Uttarkashi, we took an elevated road from Bhatwari to Raithal. Oh My God! The stretch from Bhatwari to Raithal – the last miles – were THE BEST part of the road trip. Lush green mountains with blooming white flowers, welcomed us and made us believe what a Fairyland could be. Words can't express the sight it was.
Finally, we reached Raithal and few showers welcomed us – icing on the cake. I just spread my arms as wide as I could to just feel the fresh air that we long for in our polluted cities. I do not know when was the last time I did something like this. After reaching Raithal, the first person to welcome us was Kaalu (Pahadi Dog) and it just made my day. Kaalu literally guided us to the farmstay (where we were supposed to stay), which was one km trek from the main road of the Raithal village. I was informed by the team that dogs are the best trekking companions and Kaalu was literally proving it. I had never seen such a gesture before by a dog which actually greeted and guided us. I was in love with him.
On our trek, we could see the plastic cans and packets dumped along the way, as it was also the trail to the Dayara Bugyal trek (famous amongst hikers). The MylocalDost team, after such a long journey and then a steep trek, was quick to attend to the plastic garbage that was hindering the beauty of the place and came trekking to the farmstay with a bag full of plastic.
Finally, Kaalu took us to the farmstay, we met the local dost, Priyanka Rana, who was managing the farmstay on her own and thus, waving the women empowerment flag high. Apparently she is the princess of the Raithal village but to earn a living for herself she works at the homestay as the manager. She was supported by a local chef who was there at her disposal. They welcomed us to their dining areas, which was a thatched roof and the very first thing that came to my mind that it looked like a Goan shack. A warm tea and cookies welcomed us and we were shown our cottages where the team would be staying.
The view from the cottage was very serene, with white flowers in full bloom over the green meadow.And, the best part was the view of the Shrikhand Mahadev and Bandarpunch snow-clad peaks. These names, again I was hearing for the first time, but the moments were so beautifully captured in my brain, that now I remember all the names of peaks, villages, food, etc. J The room was made of wood which displayed the local architecture with large windows giving us spectacular views of the beauty around. A lil' balcony to sit out and sip hot tea/coffee and cherish the sounds of numerous birds and see the clouds passing by. Just loved it!
Such an offbeat location, mesmerizing views, so close to nature, authentic hospitality by the local dost (as MylocalDost says), and so non-touristy place/thing.
So far, so Good, and so MylocalDost-kind-of-place. I asked for Gold and these guys gave me a Solitaire. And, my decision to come with them added more fun to the trip as I could see how MylocalDost works behind the curtains. And, they were the most interesting and funny people to be with, I was glad that my group ditched me and I could get a chance to be with these guys.
Soon, a bell rang similar to what we have heard/seen in the schools of villages. I was expecting some children running out of some shed nearby but to my surprise, it was the call by the chef from the kitchen area for the lunch. That was really nostalgic and cool. We all gathered at the dining area quickly for the one and only food as throughout our travelling, we skipped proper meals and enjoyed fruits and juices.
Priyanka served us with Rajma, Chapati, Rice and a vegetable dish. It looked pretty usual meal but tasted really different. It wasn't the same Rajma-Chawal that I have at home. And, curiously I asked Priyanka that what Rice or Chapati or Rajma was it. She explained that all of those were locally sourced and were known as Himalayan Rice and Harshil Rajma.
I had heard a lot about local food through Andrew (who's quite foody and is a non-veg lover) but was skeptical as to how would it taste whether my taste buds would be up for it or not.
MylocalDost strongly promotes and includes local meals in the itinerary so that travellers get to taste the real flavor of the place and enjoy fresh-farm picked vegetables, which is next to impossible in cities. During the lunch, Priyanka asked us to drop our plan to go trekking to Dayara Bugyal the next day, as she was quite sure that the weather was not favorable. Instead she offered us to come and visit her 500-year old ancient home, which was also the home of the king of the village. Excited we were for the alternative.
After the heavy lunch, we explored the entire farmstay on foot. We met this particular person named Riptesh who was living in the same farmstay, in a dormitory though, who was almost 50 and has left his high-paying job and now works as a volunteer for promoting education and modern methods of farming among the local people. That sounded really crazy to me. But, when he shared his reason of choosing farming, to a great extent I agreed that humans have been going away from the Mother Earth, which has embraced us. We evolved humans, have no idea where our food is coming from, and our miles away from farming as we believe it's a farmer's job. And, now when we know how our farmers are treated in our country, we are very sure that farming is not what we are supposed to do. However, the reality is if you know how to produce your food, you would know why one should protect the Mother Earth. The interaction with that person was quite an eye-opener for youngsters like us who have no idea where our ground is.
I went for a quick nap and meanwhile the MylocalDost team was at work. Soon, it started raining and became heavier but we enjoyed it while sipping tea in our balcony. It rained till late evening and our umbrellas were out and we kept strolling around to nearby homes and sheds. We went to one of the homes where an aunt offered us some light snacks and tea. We interacted with her and the team was taking inputs from her about the highs and lows of living here. She was a very kind lady and even asked for having the chullah dinner at her place. For a second, I wanted to say yes seeing her warmth nature and the chullah setup. But our dinner was already prepared by our chef and we disappointed her by saying so. Anyways, we promised her for next day morning tea and gupshup.
Soon, we went for our dinner and surprisingly it was a chicken dish. I looked at Andrew and he gave a wicked smile. We wished for the bonfire but the rain never stopped and nor did our discussions. Finally went for a dead sleep after a very busy day.
The next day, we woke up early to witness the sunrise, performed some yoga and the team was busy shooting the time-lapse video of the clouds over the Bugyal. The weather was still cloudy but was clear enough to go for exploring the Raithal village and especially Priyanka's ancient home – the Panchpura.
We took to the streets of Raithal with our umbrellas on. Priyanka and Kaalu once again guided us to Panchpura. The walk through the village unravels women husking rice and making pickles and giving us a beautiful smile, children running through the narrow lanes, traditional architecture of the homes with beautiful wall paintings. The walk was simple but quite intriguing for me. It just made me realize that the locals (including Priyanka and team) here look so satisfied with whatever they have and are doing. They are so passionate about their village, people, landscape and most importantly their culture. Everybody in the village knows each other and come together for festivals, celebrations or any despair. This is completely missing in our cities, there's so much to learn from the rural folks.
We finally reached the Panchpura – a very old wooden structure which looked like a three-storeyd building but actually had 5 storeys, hence Panch-pura. Priyanka is the descendant of the king who lived in this house. We could not figure out the entrance to this house as the doors were too small. Curiously we asked if her ancestors were shorter in size. To which Priyanka laughingly replied that the entrance is strategically designed and kept intentionally small so that when an enemy tried to enter the house, he had to bend down to enter and it gave the residents enough opportunity to smash his head. Wooooo…that was something! Also to our surprise, the house is completely earthquake resistant, no wonder it is still standing tall. What Genius our ancestors were!
We also went around the village interacting with the locals about their lives, their aspirations, something which was a very humbling experience for me. The weather too was playing hide and seek with the rain and the sun, while the females of the village continued working in the fields at their own pace. We then visited a beautiful local temple and the assembly area where locals celebrate each and every festival and Priyanka told us that almost every month they have a local festival and people from neighboring villages too come and participate.
We then took a drive to Gangnani which is a natural source of hot Sulphur spring and one can take a dip and rejuvenate in the Rishikund. It was such a relieving experience especially after so much of walking and trekking. It was worth it as after the bath my skin started glowing. And, yes, there are separate kunds for ladies and gents. We met few Kawarias on our way back who were heading barefoot towards Gangotri (one of the char dhams) to take the holy water. We drove back to Raithal and it was dark by then. We were so tired that Priyanka recharged us with strong hot tea and our conversations continued.
It was the last day at Raithal and we already started missing this place. We also had to sleep early as we had to leave early the next day.


text:
Top 5 movie-going moments of 2018
I didn't go to the movies as much this year; partly because I had spent more time doing other things, with new people, and partly because the theaters are going away, little by little. Still, there were some highlights.
Posted by Rich at 12:00 PM 6 comments:
Labels: favorite theaters, friends, games
Good Witch: Rediscovering Margaret Hamilton
The What a Character Blogathon is an event devoted to the great character actors of classic Hollywood and the often memorable supporting roles they played throughout film history, hosted by Once Upon a Screen, Outspoken & Freckled, & Paula's Cinema Club. For a complete list of participating bloggers, visit the links at any of the host sites.
She didn't scare me the most. The flying monkeys did; their faces were creepy as hell. Remember when they tore the Scarecrow apart while kidnapping Dorothy? And of course, the Great and Powerful Oz himself was total nightmare fuel. That scene where they're walking down that long hall and into his chamber still gives me a little chill. But I don't recall being that scared of her. Maybe she wasn't bizarre looking enough?
We'll come back to that role, and that movie, later.
Posted by Rich at 3:53 PM 6 comments:
Labels: advertisements, blog-a-thons, classic cinema, live theater, movie stars, television
seen @ Cinemart Fiveplex, Forest Hills, Queens, NY
Recently I had experimented with seeing certain new movies without knowing anything about them, but since the last movie I did that with was Mother!, I've put that experiment on the shelf for awhile. Sometimes a little knowledge is a good thing.
Earlier this week I noticed Cinemart was showing the new Alfonso Cuarón film Roma, of which I knew nothing. I knew Cuarón, of course: I liked Gravity and loved Children of Men, so I figured this would be good, too — but this time I read up on it first.
Movie fans know this is the time of year when most of the quality films come out, which I hate because it's like a logjam, and you never know for certain how long these movies will last during their theatrical run. Roma is different, though: it's a Netflix movie getting a wide-ish theatrical release.
Labels: drama, favorite theaters, foreign cinema, home video, movie makers, technology
What a year this has been for Michael B. Jordan: appearing in two of the biggest, most high-profile films in two physically demanding, yet very different roles.
In the first, he portrays one of the best cinematic villains in recent history, one which will make him a shoo-in for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination — and I'll go out on a limb right now and predict it's his name which Allison Janney will read off next February.
In the second, he's a hero, a champion, playing an original character in a series not only inspired by one of the great movie franchises of the last fifty years, but is a continuation of that same franchise in a different direction.
The common denominator in both is Ryan Coogler: director/co-writer of Black Panther and executive producer of Creed II.
Posted by Rich at 7:30 AM No comments:
Labels: audiences, health, movie industry, movie makers, movie stars, sports drama
Supercalifragi-links
So I spent my Thanksgiving morning freezing my ass off as I ran through Flushing Meadow Park.
Why? I dunno, it seemed like a good idea at the time.
For the past month, I had trained for running in a 5k race. I had mentioned to Virginia recently how it was a long-time fantasy of mine to run in a marathon. Failing that, though, I would settle for something simpler, like a 5k. I was just talking idly; not being serious.
So she found online a month-long training program specifically designed to prepare one for a 5k and sent it to me. I looked it over and figured what the hell. If nothing else, I would do it for her.
Race conditions are very different from training by oneself. I didn't hear the starting signal on account of the host's microphone not working well.
When everyone took off, I was conscious of this being A Race for the first time. My head was in the wrong place and I ran like I was competing, which was all wrong for me. Plus, the course began with a steep-ish hill. It took me awhile to focus and settle into a pace.
I tried keeping up with these two women with whom I played leapfrog: I passed them, then they passed me, and so on. Near the end, they passed me and stayed ahead. I wanted to catch them one last time, but I came up short. That's okay, though. I still beat my previous time by a minute!
I spent the evening with Virginia and friends in Manhattan — a "Friendsgiving," I guess. It was one hell of a day overall.
Once again, look for my piece on Anthony Mann & John Alton in the next issue of the film noir newsletter The Dark Pages, due out December 20.
Writing the article was a real education. I learned more about noir in general than I knew before, particularly by watching the movies. I plan to write about some of the ones I watched here, so look for that.
Real life has delayed Anna's guest post. It's been pushed back to this month.
More after the jump.
Posted by Rich at 7:30 AM 6 comments:
Labels: animation, classic cinema, health, LOL, visual art, world events, writing
Meet the Feebles
YouTube viewing
How about that Peter Jackson, huh? I think it's fair to say he was nobody (in America, anyway) until Lord of the Rings made him a superstar, but of course, he had been making films in his native New Zealand for years.
I remember watching his American breakthrough, The Frighteners, on video during my video store years. I liked it, but it didn't do well commercially. It came as a surprise to me that he was chosen to take on Rings, especially as a trilogy.
To anyone who knew his pre-Hollywood work, it must have been a bigger surprise. His NZ films were a lot weirder and gorier. For someone born on Halloween, perhaps that's appropriate.
Even a dramatic film like Heavenly Creatures — the film that made many of us aware of a young, curvaceous beauty named Kate Winslet for the first time — had its bizarro moments. I've written about Dead Alive, a film I still think is the ultimate zombie movie, going places of which George Romero never dreamed.
None of that, however, prepared me for Meet the Feebles.
Imagine The Muppet Show directed by John Waters and that'll give you some idea of what it's like. It's puppetry, small, large and in-between, and it's adult. Profanity, violence, satire, it's all there, and you better believe there's puppet nudity and sex too.
In the film, Meet the Feebles is the name of a Muppet Show type TV variety show. We get a look backstage at the illicit affairs, scandals and depravity that goes on when the cameras stop rolling. It's an ensemble, but much of the action centers around Heidi, a Miss Piggy type diva in the form of a life-sized hippo.
The puppetry is impressive, and it looks like it cost a pretty penny to create. The variety of the characters range from a smallish fly tabloid reporter to a humongous spider who appears late in the film in an elaborate outdoor sequence. Some of them are cute, like the romantic leads, a porcupine and a poodle, while others, like the show's sleazy producer and his henchmen, are anything but.
Jackson co-wrote Feebles with his long-time collaborator and future wife, Fran Walsh, along with Stephen Sinclair and Danny Mulheron, who operated the Heidi puppet.
The humor is pitch black, of course, but the ending is tragic, so Jackson manages to make you sympathetic to Heidi's fate. Mostly, though, Feebles is one WTF moment after another.
Adult puppet films turn up every so often here in America. The recent Melissa McCarthy film The Happyland Murders sank like a stone this past summer; Trey Parker & Matt Stone's Team America fared a little better, made at the height of their South Park fame.
Puppetry, though, like animation, is mostly regarded in America as kiddie fare. I don't see that changing anytime soon, if at all, but give Jackson props for daring to make something as over-the-top and insane as Feebles. It's not for everyone, but Jackson fans should check it out for sure.
Labels: comedy, foreign cinema, movie makers, puppetry
seen @ UA Kaufman Astoria 14, Astoria, Queens NY
I guess it was only a matter of time before I got sucked into the world of Harry Potter.
I never got into the series of books, or their film adaptations, for reasons I went into here — and yet, I can tell you the basic, most rudimentary things about the character without having read a single page or watched a single frame. I guess that's how you know an IP has blown up.
From studying novel writing, I've learned a bit about J. K. Rowling. I know she created Potter at a time in her life when she was down and out, for instance.
Credit where credit's due: she tapped into something in the zeitgeist that touched adults as well as young adults, something that comes along once a generation; I still remember seeing folks — ordinary-looking people, not stereotypical fans — read those colorful hardcover bricks on the subway and wondering what the deal was.
This was when my definition of "young adult," in terms of the book industry, was rigid. I understand now that just because they're written for kids and teens doesn't necessarily mean they're written down for them. Maybe that's partly why adaptations of The Hunger Games and their ilk have become so popular in Hollywood.
The point is, I didn't give a fiddler's fart about Potter when it first took off. So why have I gotten involved with him now?
Like many great stories, it began with a girl.
Labels: action-adventure, books, fantasy, friends, movie makers, writing
The Greatest Film I've Never Seen Blogathon is exactly what it says on the tin, hosted by Moon in Gemini. For a complete list of participating bloggers visit the link at the host site.
Okay, first, I don't really believe Topper is the greatest film I've never seen before. I decided at the last minute to take part in this blogathon and I needed a film I could get my hands on quick, so to speak, so I chose this.
Here's a short list of "great" films I have yet to see: The Sound of Music, Alphaville, Throne of Blood, La Strada, The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, Seven Beauties, Wild at Heart, The Age of Innocence, Empire of the Sun and A Beautiful Mind.
Some I never saw because they didn't appeal to me, some because I never got around to it, and some I think are overrated. Perhaps I'll watch a few of them one day. Don't know.
Labels: big ideas, blog-a-thons, classic cinema, comedy, fantasy
His name was always at the top of every Marvel comic book when I grew up. The first page would have a small box that briefly described the character, in a sentence or two, and then the words: "Stan Lee Presents."
I knew who he was because he was on TV, sort of. He would do voice-over introductions to The Incredible Hulk and Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends on Saturday mornings.
It was comforting, in its way. To my mind, it was like he was the caretaker of the Marvel Universe, a constant, active presence who acted in its best interests, though I couldn't have phrased it that way back then.
I met him at a convention once. He autographed for me some comics he had written, including a special issue of my favorite comic, Fantastic Four.
Marvel Comics used to have a newsletter-type page in every comic. Sometimes he would say a few words in it, usually reporting from Hollywood about the in-roads Marvel was making: a new TV show here, a new video game there, that sort of thing. It was exciting.
Those in-roads laid the foundation for the Marvel kingdom of today: a subsidiary of the mightier Disney empire, true, but his creations — in collaboration with Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, John Romita, and all the rest — have never been more popular. (Whether or not this has translated into higher sales of the comics themselves is another story.)
Recent years have not been kind to him: embroiled in one lawsuit after another, not to mention a contentious relationship with his daughter. I can only hope he made peace with her before he went to that great bullpen in the sky.
Today is a sad day for Fandom Assembled, but we will never forget him and his great gift to American popular culture. I have distanced myself from the comics; they no longer mean to me what they once did. Still, if it weren't for them, my life — the friends I've made over the years, the passion I have for visual art in general — would be quite different.
Face front, true believers.
Labels: books, pop culture, RIP, visual art, writing
seen @ Kew Gardens Cinemas, Kew Gardens, Queens, NY
So far, my favorite Melissa McCarthy movie is this. It's a short from 1998, long before she hit the big time. She's everything you would want a genuine movie star to be: funny, engaging, a embodiment of her character that allows the real her to show through, and beautiful.
So now that she is a movie star, she takes an almost perverse glee in de-glamming herself in her roles. I get it, it's what made her popular, but it holds no appeal to me, especially when she plays mostly slobs!
Then came Can You Ever Forgive Me? Once again, she plays a slob, but it's a real-life one, in a dramatic role no less, which as we all know, is a surefire way for comedic actors to gain credibility with the Academy come Oscar time. The first time I saw the trailer, I didn't recognize her at all!
Lee Israel is a struggling biographer. She struggles because she doesn't play well with others, but she don't give a damn about her bad reputation until money troubles force her to rethink her career options. She stumbles into a scheme to make money by forging letters from famous authors. She's pretty good at it, but how long can she keep it up?
I have no doubt McCarthy will get her second Oscar nod for this one. It's a dream role for any actress: a hard-drinking, unapologetically surly woman who wants to live her life her way for as long as possible.
Richard E. Grant was good in this too.
It was nice to see him again.
McCarthy brings enough humanity to the role that she's not totally repulsive. I would compare this to her big comedic roles, except I've never seen them. When I was in the hospital two years ago, I watched part of the cop movie she did with Sandra Bullock, but I didn't finish.
How long can McCarthy keep on playing slobs? I would've thought she'd have veered away from them by now, but maybe she really likes these kinds of roles. I can't see her sticking to them when she's in her sixties, but these days, who knows?
Posted by Rich at 11:00 AM 2 comments:
Labels: drama, movie stars
This just in from the WSW newsroom...
In this month's link post I mentioned my friend Anna Crawford, who wrote a Halloween-themed piece. Well, she's agreed to make an appearance here, too, so look for her later this month. She and I were in the same writing group for a little over a year before she moved out of New York. I think she's a good writer, and hopefully, so will you.
Labels: WSW
I don't have any special memories associated with the music of Queen. They were part of my rock education, listening to classic rock radio in high school, and I dug them. I'm glad there's a movie about them in general and lead singer Freddie Mercury in particular, but that's about it. I didn't lose my virginity to a Queen song or anything like that.
As far as musical biopics go, Bohemian Rhapsody was pretty conventional: typical "rise and fall and rise again" story, with all the hit songs you know and love, all the conflict you expect, even a bit of romance.
The music was what kept me interested, that and the sensational portrayal of Mercury by Rami Malek — but it felt by-the-numbers. I'm not sure what Bryan Singer could have done to make this different, but I was aware, as I watched it, of its conventionality, and that kinda dimmed my appreciation.
There will be more rock biopics on the horizon: next year will bring the Elton John movie, and you can bet your bottom dollar someone, somewhere, will make a Bowie movie (I nominate Michel Gondry), and probably a Prince movie too.
Will any of it make rock relevant again?
Rhapsody ends with Queen at Live Aid, a benefit concert — the benefit concert — made when rock still seemed capable of changing the world. I can't recall the last time rock mattered to such a degree. Of course, if the "Rock and Roll" Hall of Fame is any indication, the very name has been diluted to include singers and groups as far removed from rock as you can get, but that's another issue.
I suspect the answer is no: Freddy Mercury the cultural icon will always be in, but the music he made with Queen will get a little juice while Rhapsody plays in theaters and then return to the classic rock radio ghetto for the old fogies like me, to be trotted out once in awhile for car commercials and the occasional American Idol contestant.
Labels: music, musical
Bohemian links
Big news! Some of you are familiar with The Dark Pages, the newsletter (as in actual paper, not an e-newsletter) of the film noir website All That Noir. The December issue is a year-end, oversized special, and guess who got an invitation to contribute a guest article?
The theme for this special issue is "great couples of noir," and after watching so many of his noir films back in 2015, I decided to take on director Anthony Mann, along with his DP, John Alton. The issue will come out December 20. It's sure to make a nice last-minute Christmas gift for the noir fan on your list.
My thanks to Kristina from Speakeasy and TDP editor Karen Burroughs Hannsberry for the opportunity.
By the time you read this, the Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody should be playing in theaters everywhere. If you like Queen and the movie, I'd like to give a plug here for a graphic novel by my friend Mike Dawson called Freddie and Me.
It's a memoir about when Mike grew up a Queen fan, in England and America. He's a very good artist, and he infuses this story with a lot of love for Freddie Mercury and 80s pop music in general. Check it out; you won't regret it.
The novel rewrite is close to done, and once it is, I'll have to edit it, which means checking for grammar and spelling, not to mention any other minute changes I may want to make (and I will want). In the new year I'll go shopping for an agent and we'll see what happens.
I've decided not to self-publish after all. After giving it some thought, I don't think I have the resources or wherewithal to commit to that route at this time. Maybe I'd do it in the future.
With all due respect to people like Jacqueline, from what I can tell, it's not like self-publishing comics, where it really is as easy as folding and stapling some Xeroxed photocopies and selling them at your local con, or better yet, scanning those pages and posting them online. It costs more, for one thing. And the truth is, I really do wanna see my book in a bookstore. Queens has seen the birth of two new independent bookstores within the past year. (Yes, it's possible to get your self-published book in a bookstore, but my understanding is it's rare.)
I have a couple of ideas for what to write next; it's just a matter of deciding on them.
Links after the jump.
Labels: animation, bloggers and critics, books, filmmaking techniques, horror, movie industry, movie stars, pop culture, television, weird stuff, writing
The Abominable Dr. Phibes is a film I had wanted to see for awhile. I went into it knowing nothing about it, expecting Vincent Price in a campy mad scientist flick, one with which I could laugh along. What I got was something more.
It's a simple revenge story: Price, the titular doctor, blames Joseph Cotten (!) for failing to save his wife on the operating table (though he did the best he could), so now Price has launched an elaborate scheme to kill Cotten and everyone involved in the failed operation, and boy, is it elaborate.
It's a vendetta worthy of a Bond villain, with a symbolic theme, perfectly timed death traps that would've taken months to plan individually, a henchman — or should I say henchwoman, a secret lair Dr. Evil would find excessive, and a shtick of his own: a fondness for the organ with a wardrobe Elton John would be embarrassed to wear.
It all sounds derivative, but the way it was done was something else. The first ten minutes are silent; Price doesn't speak for the first half hour. The score is minimal and non-intrusive. The editing is crisp and serves the story well. The set design and costumes are eye-catching. The acting is not tongue-in-cheek; everyone plays it straight.
And then there's Price. He has a thingamajig that makes him speak without moving his lips, though you see his jaw and Adam's apple move. His performance is mostly in his eyes and face and body. At times, he's disturbing to watch.
Director Robert Fuest keeps him from going too far overboard by focusing on atmosphere. He frames the shots well. The tension they generate is almost — dare I say it — Kubrickian.
Phibes isn't original by any means, but it's entirely watchable due to the magnetic cinematography, the bizarre visuals, and Price's performance. I have no doubt horror fans consider this an all-timer.
UPDATE 11.6.18: I didn't watch the sequel, Dr. Phibes Rises Again, until after writing about the original, because I didn't want to be disappointed by it, but it turns out it's almost as good. Fuest directs again, and co-writes. This time, Phibes travels to Egypt, pursuing an ancient legend that would revive his wife, but he's got competition from another dude who's pursuing the same legend. More scary, torturous deaths, more organ playing, even some legitimate humor. Both movies are good!
Labels: horror, movie stars
seen @ Cinemart Fiveplex, Forest Hills, Queens NY
The moon was half full the day I saw First Man. I noticed it on my way home, the sky darkening early in the fall sky. Sometimes when I look at it, I wonder what our primitive ancestors made of it — an image in the sky that changes shape consistently. I'll bet they made up some pretty good stories about what it was and what it was for.
We can only guess whether they thought it was a place to which humans could visit.
Next year will mark the fiftieth anniversary of the moon landing, when Neil Armstrong made his "giant leap for mankind," with Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins. First Man makes us appreciate, with nail-biting, white-knuckle clarity, how utterly dangerous this venture was. No lie, some of those scenes in space were difficult to watch because the camera kept spinning and spinning.
This movie has been used as a piñata by the right and the left for reasons too stupid to get into (seriously, I'm not even gonna justify them with links). I didn't read about any of it until after I saw the movie. I think they're both full of shit, as they usually are. And that's all I have to say about that.
Some very rich people are investing in space travel these days so some other rich people can pay for the privilege. The rest of us will have to wait our turn, and by then, who knows, we could all be dead. It seems to me space travel would be a good idea so we can think about living in places other than Earth — but what do I know? I'm not Elon Musk.
So how about that Damien Chazelle, huh? In a short time, he's established himself as a filmmaker to watch: one who takes on a variety of subjects with a vision for carrying them out. He gets some intense performances out of his actors, his cinematographers are distinctive, his Oscar-winning composer, Justin Hurwitz, is superb (I liked his work on First Man), and he's only 33. Dude's going places.
Labels: drama, movie makers, technology, travel, world events
Blondie on a Budget
The 100 Years of Rita Hayworth Blogathon is an event celebrating the centennial of the actress's birth, hosted by Love Letters to Old Hollywood. For a complete listing of participating blogs visit the host site.
Of course I read Blondie, along with all the other comic strips in the newspapers, growing up. I doubt I ever thought it was particularly hilarious; I just read it because it was there. As I got older, I appreciated its art more — creator Chic Young had a very elegant line that his successors duplicated almost as well — but I could never say I loved reading it.
If it had been removed from the daily lineup of strips, I wouldn't have missed it, though there are those who will always declare a jihad on their local paper should they dare to remove these grandfather strips, still taking up space which would be better served by newer, more diverse strips, but that's another issue.
I do respect Blondie's longevity, though, not only as a strip but as a multimedia franchise. Ivan recently did a piece on Blondie in other media. She and Dagwood were the stars of a sitcom long before the word existed, appearing in a mind-boggling 28 films in only twelve years, all with the same two stars, Penny Singleton & Arthur Lake.
Jeanine Basinger explained the appeal of Blondie in her book on marriage in the movies, I Do and I Don't:
... Blondie and Dagwood relieved marital pressure for the audience by reconstituting their ordinary problems into easily resolvable comedy. There's a comforting quality to them: they never change, they never fail. In what Preston Sturges called "this cockeyed caravan of life," they could be counted on.
I chose the film Blondie on a Budget to watch because of the presence of Rita Hayworth, the reason for this post. She made this film the year after Only Angels Have Wings, and she was a legitimate star at this point. The first of her four Life covers was in 1940. Budget was one of five films she made that year. The next year, she would team up with Fred Astaire for the first time, in You'll Never Get Rich. Did you know she was WB's first choice for Casablanca before Ingrid Bergman?
In Budget, Rita plays an old lover of Dagwood's who pops up for business reasons and just wants to hang out with him for awhile, though Blondie gets jealous anyway. Misunderstandings ensue, mostly money related, hence the title.
I laughed once, maybe twice, throughout the whole movie, and I use the word "laughed" very loosely. Watching this was painful. Dagwood is way more of a schlemiel than I remember from the strip, one completely lacking a spine. I didn't believe for a minute that Rita was ever attracted to him.
Blondie was more assertive than I remember her, but in the end, her story arc revolves around nothing more than a mink jacket she's just GOTTA HAVE. The best thing about this movie was the bratty kids!
Dagwood didn't eat one of his epic sandwiches, nor did he sleep on the couch or get his ass kicked by his boss, but at least he knocked down the mailman while running out the door. Singleton & Lake's hairdos made them look the part, and as far as I could tell, they were true to the characters, but man, am I glad domestic comedy has evolved beyond this.
As for Rita, she doesn't sing or dance, not that I really expected her to, but her character is pretty bland. Don't look for any hint of future Gilda here. The movie was a big disappointment overall.
A Rita Hayworth primer
Labels: blog-a-thons, books, cartoons, classic cinema, movie stars
The Neil Simon Blogathon begins here!
Today I take your links.
Tomorrow Paddy takes them.
Let's see what you got.
Post your links in the comments or tweet them to me @ratzo318.
Thanks for joining us in saluting this great writer.
My post is on Brighton Beach Memoirs.
Simon on The Phil Silvers Show
Poppity Talks Classic Film
Seems Like Old Times
The Prisoner of Second Avenue
Labels: blog-a-thons, WSW
Brighton Beach Memoirs
The Neil Simon Blogathon is an event celebrating the life and career of the great American playwright, who left this world for a better one less than two months ago. Paddy and I thank you for joining us. Be sure to check out the rest of the entries this weekend!
The Alvin Theatre, on West 52nd Street in the heart of midtown Manhattan, was renamed for Neil Simon in 1983, so he was a big deal for a long time before the 80s, but growing up, I used to think he was around for less time than that. I vaguely recall seeing ads on TV for his plays, but I had no sense of his history.
I only know his plays from their film adaptations, but I have yet to find one I dislike. I discovered Simon during my video store years in the 90s. It took me awhile to tie the name to the stories, but once I did, I began to notice some commonalities.
Labels: blog-a-thons, comedy, live theater, movie makers, movie stars, writing
Heaven Can Wait (1978)
The James Mason Blogathon is an event celebrating the life and career of the actor, hosted by Maddy Loves Her Classic Films. For a complete list of participating blogs, visit the link at the host site.
Warren Beatty's Heaven Can Wait has nothing to do with the Don Ameche film of the same name; rather, it's a remake of the Robert Montgomery film Here Comes Mr. Jordan, which must have been a little confusing when it came out in 1978, but whatever. (In 2001, Chris Rock starred in a third version, Down to Earth.)
I wasn't fond of Jordan, not necessarily because of its premise — afterlife bureaucracy condemns a man to death before his time — but because of its poor plotting. Heaven attempts to improve on the original, and in a number of ways, it does, but I was still uncomfortable with the whole theme of fate, and things being "written," not to mention the lack of accountability for the mistakes made by the afterlife bureaucracy.
That said, Heaven was entertaining, in a 70s kind of way. Beatty not only starred and co-directed, he co-wrote the screenplay, with Elaine May.
Beatty was a "New Hollywood" icon. After the tremendous success of Bonnie and Clyde, he positioned himself as a multitasker, writing, producing and directing the films he wanted to make at a time when young filmmakers had an unprecedented level of power in Hollywood.
In the Peter Biskind book Easy Riders, Raging Bulls, the pages on Heaven depict Beatty as a "finicky, obsessive" nitpicker. He butted heads with Warner Brothers management over the film's budget before taking it to Paramount, where he fussed over the potential female leads for not being his ex-flame Julie Christie. In the end, he talked Christie herself into the film.
Beatty's perfectionism paid off: Heaven was nominated for nine Oscars, including Picture, Director, Actor and Screenplay.
I didn't think it was nine Oscars worth of great, but I liked the humor, and the way the editing accentuated the pacing, making you really aware of the funny lines when they land. Dyan Cannon was great; she got a Supporting Actress nod — and so was Jack Warden, playing the same character as James Gleason in the original, and like him, getting a Supporting Actor nod.
We, however, are here today to talk about James Mason, taking over for Claude Rains in the role of Mr. Jordan and not doing much other than being stately and dignified.
Mason had a very long career, working steadily from the 30s to the 80s, mostly in high profile films on the big and small screens, including North by Northwest, A Star is Born, Lolita, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and many more.
His story was not unusual for Golden Age actors: started in British theater, then transitioned to the big screen during World War 2; came over to America and found greater fame. With his first wife, he co-wrote a book about cats, and illustrated it, too. Here's The Paris Review on his book, including some of his pen and ink drawings. They're pretty good.
Other films with James Mason:
Forever Darling
Posted by Rich at 1:07 PM 12 comments:
Labels: blog-a-thons, books, comedy, games, movie makers, movie stars, visual art
New release roundup for September '18
I saw both these films with Virginia and we liked them both. Why didn't I write full posts about them? Because I didn't.
-BlacKkKlansman. Spike Lee has been kinda so-so lately, so it's nice to see such a stylish and entertaining film from him again. John David Washington is the son of Denzel Washington; he had a small role in Malcolm X years ago, according to IMDB. He sounds a lot like his dad, too. The most memorable moment for me was when the "white power" rhetoric of the Klansmen was juxtaposed against the "black power" dogma of the black activists. Unexpected and unsettling — that's Spike at his best. Virginia was particularly interested in the true story angle.
- Juliet, Naked. The latest adaptation of a Nick Hornby novel got mediocre reviews, but I liked it — and not just because I'm a fan. The changes from the book didn't bother me much. As I told Virginia afterwards, Ethan Hawke's interpretation of his character's songs, good as they sounded, can never match the ones I imagined when I read the book. So while obviously we needed to hear his character's songs for the movie, a part of me almost wishes we didn't, if you know what I mean. A nice companion piece to High Fidelity.
Labels: comedy, drama, romance
A star is linked
Not a whole lot to talk about this month. Cynthia Nixon was robbed, the novel rewrite is going great, and things between me and Virginia are swell. The Neil Simon Blogathon is in a couple of weeks; there's still time to join Paddy and myself for the occasion, if you want in.
Let's jump straight to the links for once!
Raquel answers questions from her readers.
Ivan discusses the century-old comic strip Gasoline Alley and the two films inspired by it.
Jacqueline ponders whether this Depression-era film endorsed socialism.
Jennifer talks contemporary high school movies and compares them with her own experience.
Le writes about a very early Ernst Lubitsch silent film which challenges gender roles.
Variety's coverage of Cynthia Nixon's loss in the New York primaries.
What are Feedspot's choices for the Top 30 Classic Film Blogs?
The Wizard of Oz ruby slippers, after having gone missing for 13 years, have been found!
Gauging the truthiness of films "based on a true story."
Bullwinkle and political satire.
Is it possible liking trash cinema makes you smarter?
Claudette Colbert liked cooking desserts.
Armie Hammer hearts scooters.
Finally, best wishes to Crystal of In the Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood, who's recovering from surgery.
Labels: animation, big ideas, bloggers and critics, childhood, classic cinema, fashion, food, gender, sociology and politics, travel, visual art, world events
Twelfth Night (1969)
The Gender Bending the Rules Blogathon is an event which looks at roles where men play women and women play men (and other variations) hosted by The Midnite Drive-in and Angelman's Place. For a list of participating bloggers visit the links at the host sites.
I've written about William Shakespeare here before, but only in a limited sense. This seems like a good spot to go in more detail.
In college, I took an acting class and I performed a scene from Hamlet. I thought I had a grasp of the meaning behind the lyricism of the words and the outdated language, but only after I read and re-read the scene a bunch of times. I think you have to see Shakespeare performed by professionals to get a real sense of what's going on and what his characters are meant to be like.
It's a stereotype that the British do him better than anyone else, but he's part of their national heritage. It kinda makes sense! His words just sound better when they come out of the mouths of Patrick Stewart or Judi Dench or Kenneth Branagh — though we Americans are no slouches when it comes to the Bard. I once saw Richard III with Denzel Washington at Shakespeare in the Park, for example, and he was riveting.
Still, when it comes to the Bard, none of these people can compare to that great, great Polish actor, Josef Tura. You've probably heard of him.
Labels: acting, blog-a-thons, comedy, gender, live theater, television, writing
Remembering a legend with the Neil Simon Blogathon
I never had the pleasure to see a Neil Simon play live, but it wasn't until the news of his death last month that I looked over the stories he wrote, for the stage and screen, and realized how many of them I've enjoyed. He may not have been flashy, but he wrote delightful, funny and poignant stories about ordinary people like you and me — and I realized a simple eulogy wasn't enough.
Normally I only do one blogathon a year, but I'm breaking that habit in order to give all of us a chance to celebrate the life and career of an American original with this blogathon. And there's no one I'd rather do this one in particular with than my pal Paddy.
So you know the deal: in the comments here or at Paddy's, let us know what you wanna write about: one of Neil Simon's plays, or film adaptations, or original screenplays, or his life in general. It's up to you. We'll collect them all on the weekend of October 13-14. Duplicates are okay.
I'll write about Brighton Beach Memoirs. Paddy's gonna write about some Simon-written episodes of The Phil Silvers Show.
The banner at the top is the only one for now. (Many thanks to Ruth for a last-minute save!)
Amy's Rib: A Life of Film, Murder by Death
The Stop Button, The Cheap Detective
In the Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood, Barefoot in the Park
Once Upon a Screen, Chapter Two
Poppity Talks Classic Film, Seems Like Old Times
Critica Retro, The Odd Couple
Maddy Loves Her Classic Films, California Suite
Slightly Scarlet, The Last of the Red Hot Lovers
Moon in Gemini, The Heartbreak Kid (1962)
Realweegiemidget Reviews, The Goodbye Girl
MovieRob, The Heartbreak Kid/Only When I Laugh
Labels: blog-a-thons, live theater, movie makers, RIP
The Joseph Cotten Blogathon is an event celebrating the life and career of the actor, hosted by In the Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood and Maddy Loves Her Classic Films. For a complete list of participating bloggers, visit the links at the host sites.
Sometimes the timing of when one watches a movie can make a difference in one's perception of that movie. I chose The Farmer's Daughter for this blogathon knowing nothing of its plot. (You're just gonna have to take my word on that.)
I watched it last week: it's the story of a woman, an outsider, drawn into the world of politics, who ends up opposing a career insider with money and connections, despite her lack of experience in the field. Sound familiar?
Labels: blog-a-thons, classic cinema, drama, movie stars, sociology and politics, world events
The New York State primary election is this month, and on paper, Cynthia Nixon's chances for becoming governor don't look good. Despite the groundswell of online support for her, rooted largely in her constant and justifiable criticism of incumbent Andrew Cuomo, she remains way behind in the polls.
There's still plenty of skepticism over whether Nixon, Hollywood actress and double-Emmy winner, has what it takes to run a state, but if nothing else, she's helped raise the consciousness of many people, both here in New York State and beyond, about some important issues — education, housing, marijuana legalization, and yes, the dreaded NYC subway — and she's proven that being a celebrity is not automatically an impediment when it comes to running for office, despite the presence of the one in the White House now.
For what it's worth, I intend to vote for her (in the primary, at least). She's earned my respect.
Last month, I learned how to sing in a chorus. There's a choral singing workshop Virginia attends every year in Massachusetts. She heard me sing months ago, as part of a group, and invited me to attend the workshop with her.
Now, I admit, I can carry a tune, but my sister is the singer in the family, not me. I've taken part in talent contests back when I was younger and contemplated a career as a musician — I have a keyboard and have taken lessons on the organ — but that doesn't make me Billy Joel by any stretch. Still, I was curious, and it provided an opportunity to travel with Virginia for the first time (we also visited friends of hers in Vermont).
The first day was the worst. Singing in Latin? Reading sheet music on sight? Focusing on my part while everyone around me sung different parts? I was angry, confused and lost and felt like I was letting Virginia down, since she was paying my way. She kept encouraging me, though, and against my instincts, I persisted.
Thanks to a terrific teacher, I got over my fear. He took my shaky bass voice and made it presentable through humor, patience and mostly by example. In addition, I found a song I genuinely liked, and wanted to sing. By the time my small ensemble performed for the other teachers, I was ready — and I even got some compliments! Virginia was impressed too, which meant more to me than anything.
Don't know for sure if I wanna keep up with this, but at least I can say I did it.
The original film version
of The Band's Visit
Virginia and I also went to see the Broadway musical The Band's Visit, based on the Israeli film from 2007. I never saw the movie; don't even remember it, but it got a 98 on Rotten Tomatoes. As a Broadway show it has enjoyed even more success, winning the Tony for Best Musical, and after seeing it, I can see why.
The premise is simple: a small Egyptian orchestra, invited to perform at a show in Israel, arrive in the wrong town. They spend a night with the locals and change a few lives in the process. It should have been Israel's entry in the Best Foreign Film Oscar race, but it was disqualified on account of having too much English.
In December 2016, the musical adaptation debuted off-Broadway and moved to the Ethel Barrymore Theater almost a year later. The version we saw last month had original production stars Katrina Lenk and Ari'el Stachel, who won Tonys, as well as Sasson Gabay, star of the original film.
We both loved the show. It was an exquisite, character-driven production with Arabic and Israeli flavored music; the whole thing felt different from what one normally thinks of as a Broadway musical. I still would like to see fewer film adaptations and more original material, but for what this was, it's the real thing.
Labels: alternate venues, documentary, friends, home video, live theater, movie stars, music, Oscars, silent films, world events
Too Many Husbands
The Fred MacMurray Blogathon is an event in tribute to the life and career of the actor, hosted by Phyllis Loves Classic Movies. For a complete list of participating blogs, visit the host site at the link.
Fred MacMurray is best remembered as a comedic actor and a good guy, but I tend to think of him, in cinematic terms, as a bad guy. It's all Billy Wilder's fault, for casting him in two dramatic films, Double Indemnity and The Apartment, where he plays scumbags.
The latter film in particular is a good example. He takes advantage of both Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine, less as a sneering villain and more with a deceptive charm. He uses them to serve his own ends and he comes across so reasonably in the process; his perpetual nice-guy image is turned inside out. Double may be his most popular film role, but I think The Apartment is his best.
And then there's My Three Sons. The early TV sitcom gave MacMurray's career a second wind, lasting twelve seasons. There's little more than snippets of the show on YouTube, but I watched them for this blogathon. The impression I get is Sons was warm and gentle. The kids seemed unrealistically well-behaved, but gosh, maybe MacMurray's character was just that good a father. A single one, no less.
Perhaps you know MacMurray played the saxophone. He played in a few bands while attending college in Wisconsin. He also sang a little. Here he is in 1930, singing with Gus Arnheim and the Coconut Grove Orchestra.
And I would be remiss if I forgot the comics connection. Remember Captain Marvel? Little kid says "Shazam," turns into an adult superhero? (Perhaps this trailer for the forthcoming Shazam film will jog your memory.) Co-creator CC Beck modeled CM on MacMurray. Once you see it, you can't un-see it.
Today's subject, Too Many Husbands, is an early MacMurray comedy that's more of a vehicle for the delightful Jean Arthur. Drowned at sea and believed dead, MacMurray survives and returns home a year later only to find Arthur, his wife, moved on without him and married his best friend, Melvyn Douglas.
Tom Hanks and Helen Hunt needed less than ten minutes to settle this problem in Cast Away. Arthur and company take an entire movie, though in fairness, the whole thing is as fluffy as a pillow.
It's watchable, thanks to Arthur; MacMurray and Douglas just bicker and make goo-goo eyes at her. Would you believe Irene Dunne and Cary Grant made essentially the same movie, My Favorite Wife, in the same year, 1940?
Other Fred MacMurray movies:
Remember the Night
Labels: blog-a-thons, classic cinema, comedy, movie stars, pop culture, television
Remembering a legend with the Neil Simon Blogathon...


Estou de férias! Bem, mais ou menos. Vou tirar umas férias do blog e volto semana que vem com mais novidades. Já que não vou estar aqui essa semana, aqui vai a palavra da semana: Frutos.
I'm on vacation! Well, kind of. I'm gonna take a break from the blog and I'll be back next week with more news. Because I won't be here this week, here's the word of the week: Fruit.
Good health – researchers have told us that even a small weight loss can help with high blood pressure, diabetes, you name it. I had lots of headaches and fatigue which went away in a few weeks after I started my weight management program.
High self-esteem – something happens to your eyes when you start taking care of your health. You see yourself differently, it's amazing how your self esteem increases when you exercise and eat well.
Clothes – I stand in a total different place than I did a year ago. I was miserable trying to fit in my clothes. Today my clothes fit better, I'm not smashed in my jeans (I had to stop wearing them last year) or in anything else I have.
Jewelry – believe it or not, my husband had to cut a ring out of my finger. I got too big and grease and soap would not do it. Today my wedding ring is getting looser and looser.
Another fruit I harvested is the willingness to dress up more often. I was so down I didn't feel like dressing up unless it was a Sunday. You see, there's much more fruit than weight loss alone.
One of the many things I learned from Joyce Meyer is that fruit is DEVELOPED. Look at a fruit tree and see that it takes seasons for an orange to come up and ready to become juice. It takes time to harvest fruit when it comes to weight management but if you keep working on it with patience you shall reap a harvest of blessings.


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text:
(Xinhua/Li Gang)
OPINION-Chinese Nationalism and Hong Kong's Curriculum Reform
Judging from the recent content of curriculum reform in Hong Kong's secondary schools, the enhancement of Chinese nationalism, national identity and national security have become the foci in the education reform of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).
In mid-April, the Education Department of the HKSAR government published a detailed lesson plan on how to enhance the ingredient of national security education in eleven subjects in secondary schools.
On May 26, the Education Department publicized further how the rest of the four subjects – Chinese history, history, life and society subject, and economics – can consolidate the content of Chinese nationalism, national identity and national security.
First and foremost, in the subject of Chinese history, curriculum reform in accordance with the national security education is introduced at two levels: junior high and senior high levels. At the junior high level, the reformed pedagogy has to achieve two objectives: (1) let students "comprehensively understand the main events and personalities" in different historical periods, including the need to "understand the importance of political and cultural security and to elevate students' national identity, mission and responsibility;" and (2) allow students to "clearly understand how the nation overcame difficulties amid foreign invasion, including the British occupation of Hong Kong and China's diligent process of recovering its sovereignty," so that students' sense of national identity, mission and responsibility can be enhanced.
At the senior high level, the Chinese history subject needs to "build up the experiences of national independence and autonomy and to help students construct a full and comprehensive sense of the nation" though compulsory topics like foreign invasion, the anti-Japanese war, the open-door policy and foreign relations. Moreover, students need to "appreciate the value of traditional culture, comprehend the evolution of different systems, tolerate different religions" so that "the important foundation of maintaining national stability and development and the solidarity of ethnic minorities can be laid down."
These two levels of Chinese history subject will, according to the curriculum reform plan, be accompanied by students' activities, such as the appreciation of Chinese culture through an understanding of the life of Tang dynasty's women, the Tang clothing, and the dressing style of people in the Tang dynasty. Other study activities embrace an appreciation of the anti-Japanese war songs, interviews with the old members of the Dongjiang guerillas in South China, oral history interviews with old guerillas, inspections of the anti-Japanese war sites in Hong Kong, and visits to Nanking and the historical sites related to the Opium War and the Treaty of Nanking.
Second, the history subject at the junior high level will have to strengthen students' sense of national consciousness and identity by not only emphasizing the historical fact that "Hong Kong from the ancient time has been a part of Chinese territory, but also covering how the Chinese nation recovered its sovereignty over Hong Kong after foreign invasion and the British occupation of the territory." At the senior high level, the history subject needs to let students understand that the Chinese nation in the process of modernization attaches great importance to political, cultural and national security. Students will have to be "responsible citizens" and "Chinese citizens who possess global vision."
Third, the subject of life and society at the junior high level will need to cover the Chinese nation's current development and directions, its constitution, and the constitutional foundation between the Hong Kong Basic Law and the Chinese constitution. In this way, students will be expected to understand the content of national, political, economic, resource and military security and the security of the overseas interest of China.
Fourth, the subject of economics at the senior high level will cover the topics of money, banks, international trade and finance and students will be expected to understand the importance of economic security and the people's livelihood. Students will also be expected to comprehend that Hong Kong coexists with the Chinese nation and that Hong Kong has its duty to maintain China's economic security, while the nation contributing to the maintenance of Hong Kong's prosperity and stability.
Obviously, the curriculum reform of the four subjects aims at enhancing the Hong Kong students' sense of national identity, their nationalistic sentiment, and their understanding of the historical linkages between Hong Kong and the Chinese nation.
A history teacher of the Pui Kiu Secondary School, Muk Ka-chuen, responded to the Education Department's efforts at strengthening national security education in the subjects of Chinese history and history in the following way: "China's modern history is like a history of humiliation, and it has a warning function by understanding China's past history of encountering foreign aggression and the foreign scramble for concessions (Wen Wei Po, May 27, 2021, p. A6)." He added that, by infiltrating the element of national security education into various subjects, students' national identity and national recognition can be enhanced.
Curriculum reform also necessitates the teachers of various subjects to select officially recommended textbooks and references and the local textbook writers to enhance the content that can contribute to stronger Chinese nationalism, national identity and national security.
Most interestingly, more pro-Beijing organizations have held activities to strengthen the national identity and consciousness of the Hong Kong people. For instance, Dot News organized a forum on May 26 during which a Hong Kong member of the National People's Congress, Chan Yong, advocated that the Hong Kong government should resume and repair all the historical sites in Hong Kong during the Second World War, including the sites in Sai Kung where renovation and rebuilding work should be conducted. Moreover, these sites can be turned into local museums with the use of 5G technology to enhance the experiences of visitors. A district council member in the Northern district, Wan Wo-tat, suggested that the government should rebuild the traffic facilities of linking urban areas with a statue commemorating the local heroes who fought against the Japanese army in Sha Tau Kok. During the 2019 anti-extradition movement, the statue in Sha Tau Kok was damaged and defaced, but the repair work was done by social groups. As such, the vice-chairman of the Sai Kung Area Committee, Lee Ka-leung, criticized the Hong Kong government for shirking its responsibility of attaching importance to history and repairing historical site (Ta Kung Pao, May 27, 2021, p. A6).
Apart from curriculum reform and organizational activities of lobbying the government to repair and renovate local historical sites, the Education Department is reconsidering the guidelines for teachers to strengthen their professional ethics and conduct. On May 26, Kevin Yeung, the Secretary for Education of the Hong Kong government, responded to the remarks from a fewLegislative Council members, who said the 1990 Guideline of the Hong Kong Education Profession is outdated, and he revealed that his department is reconsidering the possibility of revising the existing guidelines (Wen Wei Po, May 27, 2021, p. A12). Liberal Party member and legislator, Tommy Cheung, requested that the government should review the guideline by adding a new stipulation that teachers should be barred from participating in illegal activities, instigating and organizing students to join such illegal activities, publicizing their political views to students, and showing "radical" views through the Internet. Another legislator, Ronick Chan, suggested that the government should issue an official guideline to combine it with the 1990 Guideline of the Hong Kong Education Profession so that schools and teachers will follow the stipulations more easily.
Yeung also unveiled that, up to April 2021, the Education Department received 269 cases of complaints about teachers' professional and ethical conduct. Three of the teachers had their teaching licenses revoked, while 151 others were scolded, formally warned, advised or verbally persuaded. Obviously, amid the process of conducting curriculum reform, the professional conduct of teachers has been under much closer scrutiny than ever before.
In conclusion, Hong Kong has envisaged a three-pronged strategy in response to the national security education as required by the national security law. The first strategy is to undertake curriculum reform of various subjects at the secondary schools, including Chinese history and history subjects. The historical development of the anti-Japanese invasion in the Second World War is stressed. These reforms have been accompanied by new study activities, such as visits to historical sites and the mobilization of students to taste the Tang dynasty's lifestyle, for the sake of enhancing the Chinese nationalism, national security consciousness and national identity of Hong Kong students. The second strategy is characterized by the activities of pro-Beijing organizations and politicians advocating the repair, renovation, recovery and rejuvenation of local historical sites. The third strategy is adopted by local legislators who lobby the government to revise existing guidelines or introduce official guidelines for teachers so that national security education will be entrenched.
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