The Black Hole (1979)

Film Appreciation

I was three years old when The Black Hole was released in 1979. The Walt Disney Productions film was directed by Gary Nelson and starred Academy Award winners Maximilian Schell and Ernest Borgnine, Robert Froster, and Anthony Perkins (best known for his role as Norman Bates in Psycho).

I remember watching this on HBO when I was young and being fascinated with the idea of black holes. Perhaps my favorite character in the film was V.I.N.CENT, a hovering utility robot that served the U.S.S. Palomino.



via xussia


Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Black_Hole
http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/V.I.N.CENT
http://www.cinefania.com/movie.php/32917/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjHxWUE3jb0ZWIzpwiCSHYw

Joe Stoneman

Art Appreciation

I came across a painting titled Her Majesty the Queen and Emu 1987 on a art blog I follow, La Conchiglia di Venere. The painting features the Queen of England naked carrying an emu puppet in front of her corgis and the two princes.

The painting is by Joe Stoneman, who is known as a portrait and contemporary artist. You can see more of his artwork HERE.

Her Majesty The Queen and Emu 1987 via conchigliadivenere

Seated Nude VII via conchigliadivenere

Sources:

http://www.joestoneman.co.uk/
http://www.saatchiart.com/joestoneman
http://www.modelmayhem.com/joestoneman
http://artq.net/ArtistWork.asp?artist_id=JLGBU1405636684519243
http://www.artistrising.com/shop/tags/joe-stoneman.htm
https://conchigliadivenere.wordpress.com/2014/08/18/joe-stoneman-english/
http://www.artdevon.co.uk/joe-stoneman-famous-paintings-of-people-2.html

Han Solo, You're the Best

Film Appreciation

My son and I went to watch Star Wars The Force Awakens. Without spoilers, I do have to say I am very happy with the job JJ Abrams added to the Star Wars universe. As in Star Trek, he has added a new taste in the genre and a new perspective that makes me want more.

Ever since I was a little kid, I wanted to be the Han Solo, not Luke Skywalker. So, it was Han Solo I was excited to watch again on the big screen.

While waiting for the movie to begin, Flix Brewhouse showed this snippet from Robot Chicken: Star Wars, which I thought it would be cool to share on my blog. Enjoy.



via Adult Swim UK

Bettina Rheims

Photography Appreciation

Bettina Rheims is a French photographer who is known for taking portraits of famous people such as Madonna, Carole Bouquet, Kylie Minogue, Claudia Schiffer, and French President Jacques Chirac.

A mentor under Helmut Newton and inspired by Diane Arbus, Rheims is also known for her photography of female models.

You can see more of her photography HERE.

French President Jacques Chirac via sfgate

Madonna, New York, 1994 via thevisualculture

26 JUIN I, PARIS, JUIN 1991 (“CHAMBRE CLOSE”) via photowhoa

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bettina_Rheims
http://www.photosapiens.com/Retrospective-Bettina-Rheims-au.html
http://thevisualculture.blogspot.com/2010/09/five-reasons-to-love-bettina-rheims.html
http://blog.photowhoa.com/bettina-rheims-interview-insights-from-a-three-decade-career-shooting-eroticism/#more-2987
http://blog.jedroot.com/jri/2012/01/bettina-rheims-for-candy-magazine.html
http://www.photosapiens.com/Retrospective-Bettina-Rheims-au.html
http://blog.sfgate.com/worldviews/2007/04/12/french-presidential-election-weird-rumblings-on-the-right/
https://seattle98.wordpress.com/2012/01/18/behind-the-facade-of-ordinary-days-by-bettina-rheims/

Cosplay... Is An Art: MCM London Comic Con May 2015 - Cosplay Music

via PK Snapsnap

Lucio Amitrano

Art Appreciation

While browsing one of my favorite art blogs, La Conchiglia di Venere, I came across this painting of a beautiful woman disrobing and exposing her breast. It's a sensual painting by Lucio Amitrano, a well-known contemporary Italian artist. He's known for painting nude women in intimate and sensual settings.

You can check out more of his artwork at one of the blogs listed below.

via conchigliadivenere

Sources:

http://www.tuttartpitturasculturapoesiamusica.com/2014/03/Lucio-Amitrano.html
http://maherartgallery.blogspot.com/2013/12/lucio-amitrano.html
http://www.kaifineart.com/2014/11/lucio-amitrano.html
https://conchigliadivenere.wordpress.com/2013/11/28/lucio-amitrano-1950-italian/
http://catherinelarosepoesiaearte.blogspot.com/2015/03/lucio-amitrano.html
http://fasci-arte.blogspot.com/2014/10/lucio-amitrano.html

UPDATED: George Takei's message to Trump regarding Internment Camps

Acting Appreciation

I rarely do post political entries; however, this does deal with the invitation for Donald Trump to watch the musical production, Allegiance.

Soon after the terrorist attacks in Paris, France and in San Bernandino, California in 2015, presidential candidate Donald Trump made some serious comments regarding Muslims and internment camps.

He stated that the U.S. should ban Muslims from entering the country, "a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on."

This then triggered the national communications director for the Council on American-Islamic, Ibrahim Hooper, to ask "Are we talking internment camps? Are we talking the final solution to the Muslim question?"

During an interview with ABC News George Stephanopoulous, Trump responded: "...what I'm doing is no different than what FDR. FDR's solution for Germans, Italians, Japanese, many years ago... this is a President that was highly respected by all, he did the same thing..." FDR authorized the internment of tens of thousands of Japanese ancestry and resident aliens in Executive Order 9066. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that incarceration without cause was illegal, and the internment camps were closed. Many Japanese Americans lost homes and businesses.

George Takei, best known for his role as Star Trek Captain Hikaru Sulu, posted a video message on his Facebook page inviting him to watch the Broadway musical loosely based on his experience in the internment camps, "If you want to see how tough it was from the comfort of your seat, you can be there with us in the camps and get a glimpse of what it was like for families like mine who were unjustly imprisoned thanks to a politics of fear much like the one you're campaigning on."

Donald Trump recently said he might have supported the internment camps of WWII. I felt I had to respond, and in the best way I could.
Posted by George Takei on Wednesday, December 9, 2015

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