Friday Random 10

Cure - Subway Song
Shoukichi Kina - Eternally Ecstasy
Minutemen - Untitled Song for Latin America
Siouxsie & the Banshees - Suburban Relapse
5.6.7.8's - Three Cool Chicks
Blue Orchids - Hanging Man
Savage Republic - Next to Nothing
Cat Power - New York, New York
Kinks - Did You See His Name?
Mekons - Tina

Bonus:
Wailers - High Wall

What are y'all listening to this morning? Got some classic forgotten postpunk below the fold...
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Wednesday Wildflowerblogging

Mountain Violet (Viola pinetorum) near Fernandez Pass, Yosemite National Park.

Quote of the Day - Too Stupid to Live Edition

Terrorism kills, and Barbara Boxer is worried about the weather.

That's Carly 'Demon Sheep' Fiorina, quoted in a Chron article about all the big coal mine owners¹ who are donating big bucks to her campaign.

Would you be surprised to learn that Carly 'HP FAIL' Fiorina has been endorsed by Sarah Palin?




¹And yes, there are fatal accidents at these mines.

Sunday Sierrablogging

Where I was last weekend: Middle Chain Lake, near the southern end of Yosemite National Park.

Friday Random 10

Buena Vista Social Club - Chan Chan
Raincoats - No One's Little Girl
Beirut - La Llorona
Angelo Badalamenti - Dance of the Dream Man
Wailers - Gunnin' for Peter
Tuxedomoon - Jinx (live)
Wire - I Feel Mysterious
Divinyls - If Love Was a Gun
Gary Numan - The Crazies
Sharon Jones - I Just Dropped In to See What Condition My Condition Was In

After taking one week off for backpacking, and another week before that for forgetfulness, FRT is back. What are y'all listening to this morning?

Wednesday Wildflowerblogging

Pink Stickseed (Hackelia mundula) along Sky Ranch Road near Quartz Mountain trailhead, Madera County.

Monday Movie Reviews: Macho Men in Tough Situations

Property of a Lady is finally back online! I'm going to be doing some shorter reviews of multiple movies to get myself caught up here; it's been a long time.

Breaker Morant (1980) 9/10
Harry "Breaker" Morant and two other Australian officers are court-marshaled in an act of scapegoating during the Boer War.
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This true story of honorable behavior in insane circumstances is told without sentiment; harsh, rough, and compelling. If you know Edward Woodward best as the weaselly cop from The Wicker Man, his dignity and strength here may surprise you.

The Hill (1965) 8/10
During World War II, a military prison is run with the harshest possible discipline and sadistic punishment.

An early Sean Connery attempt to break free of James Bond typecasting, this is a difficult movie to be with. Evil Prison Guard is as macho a story as can be told, so in that way, it's still an expected Connery movie, but his Joe Roberts is no 007. Director Sidney Lumet does a remarkable job of portraying heat, exhaustion, and the physical effects of abuse.

Apache Trail (1942) 6/10
An Arizona outpost throws people together when the Apaches are on the way.

This is the Stagecoach model of Western—a bunch of people, some good, some bad, some destined for romance, are stuck together because of Indian attack. It's Western as Lord of the Flies, with everyone revealing themselves as the plot unfolds, and it's the revelation, not the plot, that's the point.

It's a middling movie but entertaining.


Cross-posted at last!

Wednesday Wildflowerblogging

Spurry Buckwheat (Eriogonum spergolinum) near Bridalveil Creek Campground, Yosemite National Park.

Sunday Sierrablogging

Evening light on Round Top, from my campsite at Woods Lake (near Carson Pass) last weekend.

Wednesday Wildflowerblogging

Western Azalea (Rhododendron occidentale) in Butterfly Valley Botanical Area, Plumas National Forest.

Friday Random 10

Iggy Pop - Funtime
Dick Dale - Hava Nagila
Patti Smith - Dancing Barefoot
Baby Charles - Treading Water
Joy Division - Day of the Lords
Ultravox - Cross Fade
Mekons - Robin Hood
Budos Band - Chicago Falcon
Siouxsie & the Banshees - Happy House
Cracker - Loser

What are y'all listening to this morning?