01.19.02

A brief update by offering you this word of warning:

Never, ever ... I repeat ... never, ever rub your eyes after applying Vicks VapoRub Ointment.

And now ... *sniffle* ... I return you to your regularly scheduled programming.

«« Aortal Pick of the Week: Dan Heller, Photographer »»

Many photographers develop (no pun intended) a certain look and feel to their photography (it is their "style") and most of their work all begins to look the same to eventually elicit the same emotional response to their art. However, Heller (perhaps by the sheer scope and mass of his images?) somehow offers a fresh perspective in "through the lens" viewing.

01.04.02

Well darn it!

A couple of months ago, I wrote about the diagnosis of a torn rotator cuff (my shoulder injury).

I have been receiving steroid injections but alas, they have not worked to quell the inflammation.

Inflammation from the tear. Inflammation = mucho, mucho pain.

Today, Dr. Van told me that corrective surgery is the only option.

Um, no.

We discussed. We negotiated. (I begged).

I was granted a temporary stay of surgery.

He wants my left shoulder to move ONLY whilst in standard clinical physical therapy. He also wants me to try "alternative" treatments of myotherapy.

Imagine that: an allopathic physician suggesting (and believing in) alternative medicine!

Okey dokey.

So why am I boring you with this?

Posts to my journal will be sparse for the next 30 days as I make a sincere and dedicated attempt at a non-surgical recovery.

And so, in temporary parting ... I offer you this:

"The moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now."
                                                                      - Goethe -

01.02.02

In my closing post of 2001, I wrote about my tendency to observe the use of language, in both the spoken and written word.

As I had written, I notice errors in spelling, pronunciation, grammar, and so on.

Yes, it can be a distraction (I sometimes feel like Raymond in "Rainman" counting dropped toothpicks).

Anyhow, my odd fascination with rightness has always carried over into "the movies".

I can go into a theater to watch a movie, or settle in at home comfortably with a rented movie, and inevitably I find myself picking up errors in the movie.

Errors in continuity. Errors in filming.

Errors that, to me, seem so blatant that they scream out at me.

This can be so distracting. I find myself wondering why the persons in charge of continuity and editing did not catch, change or fix the error in the final cut of the film.

I am sure you have seen these types of errors too.

Movie scenes depicting 17th century Europe with jet trails coursing the sky. Or phone wires strung in the background.

Scenes in which an actor or actress is wearing a shirt unbuttoned. The camera angle switches and the shirt is buttoned. The camera angle switches back to the first angle, and the shirt is unbuttoned again.

Arrrrgh.

It appears that I am not the only one out here in viewer land who notices these errors.

In fact, an entire website is dedicated to these "movie mistakes".

Two notes of caution however:

(1) If you have not seen the currently popular "Lord of the Rings" or "Harry Potter" movies, I suggest that you do not read about the errors found in these films. You may find yourself watching for the errors and becoming distracted from enjoying the movies for their simple pleasure of entertainment.

(2) I have no idea if the movie-mistakes.com website contains poorly written .php code, if they are located on a busy server, or what ... but be advised that with my speedy cable connection, this site loaded agonizingly slow.

Almost to a distraction.