Welcome to Monday’s News on the March – The week that was in my digital world.
There are three principal performances that I’ll outline below by Ricky Gervais that raised my appreciation of him, but first – off I want to allude to his courage by just telling the truth in the face of the ‘virtue signaling and moral exhibitionist’ movement so pervasive in modern culture. Now onto his performances:
- The original The Office series (British version!). This video will give you a good idea about it if you haven’t already seen it. The Gervias character leads into this wanting to play a practical joke on his receptionist to impress his new employee..After that, the discussion of small people… ‘So, what’s an elf‘?
- The Golden Globes Speeches. Of course, these are now considered legendary, but let’s take a look back for ol’ time sake of just some of the highlights. Each Golden Globes performance by him is worth viewing in their entirety.
- Gervais on Larry David’s Curb Your Enthusiasm‘s episode called The Hero in Season 8. The irony is Gervais plays a pretentious pr%ck but he is loved by all and sundry except Larry. Here is when Ricky met Larry in the show. ‘Three and a half hours‘ Haha.
Quentin Tarantino. How to get Pitt and DiCaprio to be friends? (Documentary Volume 3)
Any love for Quentin Tarantino’s latest film ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood‘? Well if so, then this is the place to be. This documentary hooked me after about 10 minutes and I found myself absorbed throughout. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is not nearly one of my favourite films by him, but I enjoyed watching the connections of Quentin’s ensemble and events and performances in movie history.
Theodora Goss (born September 30, 1968) is a Hungarian-American fiction writer and poet. Her writing has been nominated for major awards, including the Nebula, Locus, Mythopoeic, World Fantasy, and Seiun Awards. I don’t know what most of that means, but my blogger friend Sharon and I sure indeed love reading her poetry! Her short fiction and poetry have appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies, including Year’s Best volumes.
Old Hungarian Women
by Theodora Goss
I see them sometimes, walking
along the street, pulling
wheeled shopping baskets behind them,
or standing in the doorways
of apartment houses, talking
to one another. They wear scarves
on their heads, or hats they have knitted
themselves. They wear sensible shoes.
I see them, the old women,
and I am convinced
that they are witches, every one of them.
That they know (maybe they are
the only ones who know)
what’s going on — with the weather,
the war, the political situation.
They don’t interfere — they just watch,
knowing, having seen it all before,
having lived through a war already,
through assorted revolutions,
through socialism, capitalism, all the other
isms you can think of. They have striped cats
that lie blinking on their windowsills
behind lace curtains, and flower boxes
filled with red geraniums. They make jam
from plums and syrup from elderberries.
They have magic in the tips of their fingers,
which they embroider into pillows,
doilies. They make strudel
with dough folded out of thin, flaky air,
bread rolls like clouds, paprikás
for which angels sin and fall from heaven.
They can turn into crows, gray and black,
parading around the city parks,
holding conventions.
I myself am a little scared
of the old women. I am convinced
they can see into my soul. I am not at all
sure that I have been good or clever
or polite enough to avoid their curses —
or disapproving glances, which,
to be honest, might be even worse.
Maybe someday they will let me
join them — but I would have to become
a great deal wiser, practice
how to make jam, transform myself
into a crow, the magical art
of endurance.
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
Thank you Matt for linking to my blog on the Old Hungarian Women poem, that’s very good of you and much appreciated. Matt a couple of your links ‘Best of Meetings/The Office and your Video link are not available here in the UK. I tried them a few times. Have a great afternoon.
You’re welcome Sharon.
Sometimes they have regional copyright restrictions on the video links. I imagine if you just searched Best of Meetings | The Office Gervias you could find it. You too have a good one.
I hope you like…https://youtu.be/J9LgHNf2Qy0
Very nice. Never heard of them before. I like that they are playing real instruments. Great vocal good video! Please do forward anymore you think I might like!
‘The War on Drugs’ are my favourite Americana band of the last decade. I’m glad you liked it. You too post me anything when you like. Here is another from them which hits all the right buttons, for me at least;-P I posted on this recently:
Lost in the Dream
I like this Matt! The War on Drugs, they remind me of the sort of music you would hear in the 70s! A very nice vibe. I can hear Bob Dylan in those vocals. Thanks Matt!
I hope this message finds you well Sharon…Apart from the rest of ‘Lost in the Dream’ the atmospheric guitar sound which opens the song really does it for me. I’m glad you like it as well. I see the Dylan comparison who they have named as an inspiration along with Springsteen. There is a fabulous song they did called ‘I Don’t Live Here Anymore’ where Dylan is mentioned in his lyrics.
‘Like when we went to see Bob Dylan
We danced to “Desolation Row“
They are a well-oiled band who know their instruments and treat them with so much finesse.
Morning Matt, yeah this is so interesting. Whilst listening to The War on Drugs I wrote down two names, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen! And now you have told me they were influenced by them I don’t feel so foolish after all!! Ha! Ha! I’m loving the sound, the maturity of the band and the real musicianship! They know what they’re doing. I’m enjoying the concert as I’m writing this note to you. Nice. I’m OK, really hope you are too. Enjoy your day.
Good morning Sharon. That’s the word I was looking for ‘musicianship’! Great word! When I was watching their ‘Pain’ video I couldn’t help but think these guys are kind-of taking the reins from where Springsteen left off, especially Springsteen 70’s middle / working class America. As you expressed, I think that video in the ‘tiny desk home concert’ demonstrates their ‘musicianship’. The last song on it ‘ Change’ from 17:00 minutes captivates me as well. There’s another stellar song they did called ‘Eyes to the Wind’ which evokes atmospheric Americana images of breezy air, terrain, culture and music history – all intertwined. It’s masterful. Also, it probably sounds more Dylan than any other one of theirs I have heard. Have a lovely day and thanks for listening to the music.
I agree with everything you have said! They have a distinct 70’s middle/working class feel to their music. There’s a nice maturity to their sound. Love it! I wonder how big they are? S
They are big at least how critics and aficionados view them lol Watch their video ‘Red Eyes’. I think you’d like that music and the video is funny.
Check this out Matt! Not sure if you have heard of the band ‘America’! Well, this is my favourite song by them. (1974)! Right up my street! You may like it, have a listen!
That’s right, they performed that song ‘The Horse With No Name’ – cool sound!
Thanks for sending me the ‘America’ song Sharon. It was playful and lucid.