I took these shots yesterday of the Sandy Hook memorial playground in West Islip, New York, just past the marina and nestled against the Great South Bay. This particular playground is dedicated to a little girl named Madeline Hsu.
It’s one of 26 such spaces in the tri-state area dedicated to the 26 victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
You can read more about the memorial sites here:
Photo credit: “Staglieno 30072015 03 Monteverde Celle” by Vassil – Own work. Licensed under CC0 via Wikimedia Commons.
What can I say about the “Sherlock” Christmas special, “The Abominable Bride?” Extremely little, for fear of spoilers.
I will say that I loved it — I’d rate it a perfect 10, as I would just about any episode of this amazing TV show. Also, as good as the trailer was … I can say that it offers much more in its story than you’d expect.
I’d also say that it strongly, strongly parallels a movie that I happen to love — right down to its surprise plot device, key character interactions, and a symbolic act by the main protagonist in the climactic scene. The similarities are just too much for this to be a coincidence — it’s just got to be a well done (and a damn fun) homage. It’s unexpected, too, as the film I’m thinking off probably appeals to a different fan base. “The Abominable Bride” also cheerfully skewers another excellent recent film and the twist employed there. [My blog posts link automatically to Facebook. If you see this via my page, then PLEASE do not name the movies you think I’m talking about.]
There’s some terrific acting, especially between Sherlock (Benedict Cumberbatch) and our main villain. And the dialogue is as sly and superbly delivered as always. I don’t think I’ve ever watched a new episode of “Sherlock” and not laughed out loud at least once. The stronger, more assertive John Watson (Martin Freeman) that we see is damn terrific. (There’s a compelling and sensible reason why this iteration of Watson seems a little different than our usual mild anti-hero, but I just can’t say why.)
My quibbles were wholly forgivable. I thought that the Victorian versions of Molly Hooper (Louise Brealey) and Mycroft Holmes (Mark Gatiss) were just so cartoonish that they seemed right out of a “Saturday Night Live” sketch. It “took me out of the movie,” and hampered my willing suspension of disbelief. It felt more like farce and silly sight-gags, instead of the dry, dialogue- and character-driven humor that the show is known for.
I also though that the climactic scene occurring among three primary characters, felt a little … off. Was it just not staged right? Was the pacing off? Maybe I got the sense that I was looking at a soundstage? I’m not sure.
Finally, I am an inveterate horror movie fan, and I might have liked to have seen the director and screenwriters play up the horror story elements just a little bit more here. The mystery for this episode was a jewel of an opportunity — a garish, fearsome “ghost bride” that assassinates men. It could have been just a little scarier, given that story. I know that “Sherlock” is not a horror show, but its creators did just fine in making their adaptation of “The Hound of the Baskervilles” both a bit frightening and a proper mystery.
But, again, those are just forgivable quibbles. This show remains the best thing on television!
[Update: there’s a direct reference to “The Five Orange Pips,” but we see little parallel with the story shown.]
This is just a quick word of thanks to the police and military professionals who’ve kept us safe this holiday season. If it’s anything that recent events have shown us, it’s that your bravery and professionalism are needed now more than ever.
Godspeed, and thank you for your service.
Starring ME! MYSELF! AND I! The spirits of my deceased ancestors! The painting behind me! Which I myself would not have selected!! (Sorry, Mom.) Ben! And Jerry!! Or, rather, their eponymous product!! Nirvana, via my playlist!! Whatever godforsaken animal that is at the house across the street that is howling so grotesquely!! (It’s either one of those new “coywolves,” or a depressed Lycan, or a wounded goddam Hound of the Baskervilles; I’m not sure. You kinda don’t expect that in New York.)
My trip home was arranged on the fly; I didn’t contact a single high school friend. This is the fruit of my lack of foresight.
I might just resurrect my childhood imaginary friend Kachoual. He was a Bengal tiger, and goddam huge. I’d be less wigged out about the geographically incongruous hellhound I’m hearing.
Oh, well — four minutes! Happy New Year!!!
Friends near and far, I wish you a Happy New Year! I hope that 2016 brings you peace, safety, love and wonder.
The picture below is “New Year’s Eve Foxfires at the Changing Tree, Oji,” by Utagawa Hiroshige. It’s part of his “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo,” a series of prints completed between 1856 and 1859. I’m unfamiliar with the mythology connected with it, but it depicts foxes breathing fire at Shōzoku Inari Shrine (site of the Changing Tree) in Ōji, Tokyo.
It’s quite beautiful, and tonight it just felt right. This is a contemplative New Year’s Eve for me, as I’ve been haunting my childhood neighborhood after visiting family in New York. And I described for my mother at length how beautiful was the fox I found playing along the stream I so often pass down in Virginia.
This is just a quick word to congratulate 9/11 First Responders on the renewal of the James Zadroga Act, which will now continue affording them access to healthcare for illnesses resulting from their heroic service. The police, firefighters and other emergency personnel lobbied hard for years to have the act extended, so that they could get the lifesaving medical care that they deserved after their incredible commitment to saving and protecting their fellow citizens.
The law was renewed on December 18th, permanently extending healthcare benefits via the World Trade Center Health Program, while extending the September 11th Victims Compensation Fund for another five years.
If you know somebody who is a First Responder, please send along the good news, and thank them again for their bravery on behalf of their family, friends and neighbors.
For more information, please see Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act here:
Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act
For some background about 9/11 First Responders’ need to lobby for this critically needed law, and Jon Stewart’s advocacy on their behalf, there’s an excellent December 23rd article in the Huffington Post here:
“Why Jon Stewart Fought So Hard for 9/11 Responders,” by Michael McAuliff
AMC’s “The Walking Dead” marathon helpfully reminds us tonight that people will be really stupid in a zombie apocalypse.
I have no military experience whatsoever, but I know that an invading force should disperse, seek cover and to try to present an opposing force with moving targets instead of stationary targets.
I also have a pretty good idea that I would not send the entirety of my forces through a single entrance and down a single corridor, and then congregate them in what looks like one enclosed space.
However, I could never make an eye-patch (or batshit crazy, for that matter) look as good as he does.
“Containment” (2015) is the film that sounds cliche but isn’t. It’s a surprisingly fresh take on an old standby — diverse people isolated by an outside threat are forced to cope and survive with each other, along with the threat. In this case, an entire apartment block in Britain is forcibly and mysteriously quarantined overnight; residents awaken to sealed doors and hazardous materials units being deployed along the grounds.
But this is a smartly written independent sci-fi thriller that avoids a lot of common tropes. Then it introduces plot developments that are unexpected, yet make perfect sense. It’s more original than you’d guess at first.
There’s a lot of nice acting, including work by Lee Ross, and by Louise Brealey of “Sherlock” (2010) fame. And all those moody establishing shots of the tomb-quiet building were creepily effective.
My only complaint was a thematically ambiguous ending that seemed lost on me. But I’d still give this an 8 out of 10.
Eric Robert Nolan, Author 