It’s a new month, so we through we would turn our edition to you, our humble readers.
Why doesn’t this blog write about issues of the day? I don’t care that you write about everything, but there should be concerns over things as global warming, Obamacare, and how modern technology is taking over the world?
-Ryan, Clayton, MO
First and foremost, although we may look and read as a “blog”, we don’t care to use that term. However, we do know what you are referring to us as.
Now to your question. We understand there are a lot of issues to address, and many of those same issues are rather noteworthy for what they are. However, we can’t necessarily take the time to write about anything and everything! That is why those other ‘blogs” in cyberspace land exist; to cover the events and concerns that we can’t address. Unlike newspapers of not so long ago where each and every edition strive to report about any and every factor that was important, giving more coverage to certain notions than others, we can only write about what is based upon our themes; media, life based on media, trivial episodes from so-called life, as well as the theater and movie reviews. We really don’t cover much on anything else, unless there is a connection to media, etc.
Will you ever post any photos or video links to what (Accessibly Live Off-Line) writes about. It would be nice to see something like a Wikipedia link to what you are taking about, or to have a video from a review of something…?
-T.K.
This is a question that is asked by a lot of our readers, so we will address our stand to adding outside media.
First, when we are quoting an article or some known form of written word essay that we had no part in its creation, we will make an attempt to place a link to the article for those that wish to read up further. We don’t normally reprint something word for word, unless the article in question isn’t made available online.
As to adding video links. We have seen our share of online news services as well as many blogs that post a video (mostly from YouTube) that stresses the point of the writer, or to emphasize the points and themes of what’s being written about. Many Facebook “friends” often share video links to something the friend is passionate about. The same goes for articles and essays that come from other web sites. Many of these video and print sources are often encouraged by the poster to “share” the media in question through the expected social media outlets. As for us, if we feel that it’s worth for those readers to read/view/listen to the topic on hand, we will post a link to the article/video/audio element. However, from what we have seen, much of what’s out there isn’t necessarily worth our time and effort to distract the reader to head over to somewhere else. Most of the time, if one is lured to look or hear some bit posted somewhere, the viewer won’t necessarily return back to us. It’s very much within the same kin as telling somebody if they want something we don’t have to offer, you can go to another point and to not come back! GET THE PICTURE? (Yes, we did write that last line in caps on purpose!!)
How is Tiffi doing nowadays, and when will she make a guest appearance?
-Brad
For those that may be new to this service, “Tiffi” is the name of a fake Facebook person we posted on the social media site a few years ago that was part of an investigative report we conducted on how easy it was to obtain personal information of people on Facebook without prompting anyone for it. We created a number of characters as part of that report. However, “Tiffi” was one of the few folks that we kept track with as the rest were long forgotten about. Each edition of ALOL ends with randomly selected quotes from the 1000+ contacts that make up part of Tiffi’s “friends”. The quotes we reprint were inspired from another article we looked at (where we provided an active link to) that stated that many of the comments posted on Facebook teeters toward things that would be annoying and obnoxious if mentioned in normal conversation. So we try to find the most trivial quotes as posted by these friends in the same way they are written–complete with typos and errors!
As to answer your question. Tiffi’s doing quite well! If you contact us (see the last page of this issue, right after what Tiffi’s friends have to say for the week), we’ll let you know how you can find her and perhaps strike up a virtual friendship!
That’s all for now! Just keep those messages coming to us, and we’ll reprint more of your comments in a future issue!
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NEWS AND REVIEWS
Santa Monica’s Morgan-Wixson Theatre presents THE UNDERPANTS, Steve Martin’s comic adaptation of Carl Sternheim’s classic play about a Frau’s unintentional dropping of her drawers, the Herr concerned over his government position because of the incident, and the men that may have the Herr drop her drawers again on purpose!
Katja Gerz is Louise. She and her spouse Theo (Howard Lockie) live in a modest homestead in the town of Dusseldorf just a few scant years into the 20th century. Theo is a clerk who stamps and files documents for the Deutschland government. Louise is just die Hausfrau. They make a few extra Deutschmarks on the side renting a small yet functional room. The entire episode begins when Louise, attempting to get a better view of the King in a streetside parade, loses her undergarments for a brief second. Although everyone on the parade route was watching the King go by, Louise believes that nobody saw the incident. This is a concern to Theo, deeming that this scandalous occurrence may cost him his job, if not his dignity. Meanwhile, two men are interested in renting their room. The first man Verati (Raymond Donahey) is a unpublished poet. The second, Cohen (David Lendal) is a hypochondriac and attempts to hide the fact that he is of a kosher persuasion. (He insists that his name starts with the letter “K”!) Meanwhile, nosy neighbor Gertrude (Laura Nichole Zimmerman) becomes involved, eventually getting into the affairs of Louise, as well as the two roomers, possible having a bit of a fling. Will Theo keep his job shuffling documents for the government? Will Louise keep her undergarments on? Will there be any ficken between the fraus and the roomers? And is Theo’s thoughts on who are allowed to have affairs correct, or is this just ein Haufen?
This play was first exhibited in 1910 by the German expressionist playwright and short story author Carl Sternheim under the title Die Hose that was presented as a biting satire of the domestic middle class society that existed within the country at the time when the nation was a superpower in Europe, but light years away from a homeland that experience financial collapse only to later change into an evil empire. Those elements are somewhat lost here, now making this play a diverting caricature set within the tradition of a Moliere piece from a few centuries before, and a British comic farce more popular (and commonplace) in the middle-late 20th century. Writer and one time “wild and crazy guy” Steve Martin adds his own twist to this long forgotten work making it just as witty for a post modern audience as Herr Sternheim presented to his public a century before. As to the Morgan-Wixson Theater’s take on this production, Katja Getz as Louise plays her role not so much as the faithful housewife, but as a strong character woman who takes upon what she wants–even for a Hausfrau. Howard Lockie as Theo does wear the pants in this family, even though he know when to take them off and for what reason. Laura Nicole Zimmerman as Gertrude is the neighbor is becomes involved within the going ons a la Ethel Murtz–minus the goofiness! Out of the two roomers depicted, David Lendal as Cohen (Kohen) is perhaps the best of the two, although Raymond Donahey as Verati keeps plenty of merit. Lendal as C(K)ohen sports an amusing persona that creates plenty of comic relief, even though he doesn’t hold all of the witty lines spoken. In fact, most of the humor comes for the characters reacting to each circumstance as well as to each other rather than puling one line gags in a queue! William Wilday’s direction reserves this show running at a brisk pace, with one action scene flowing after another while keeping each stage element in check. (No over frantic running in and out of doorways depicted in this show!) And as one may suspect, there is a lot of titillation noted, but on a playful scale suitable for most audiences! In spite of this fact, leave the kids at home!
In addition to the players appearing, including Donald Heath as Klinglehoof, another man interested in renting a room, there is Paige Bossier’s set design of Louise and Theo’s home made up of doors panels and walls set in an angular fashion, suggesting a surreal set piece found in a expressionist UFA feature film created within the Weimar Republic era.
THE UNDERPANTS is very witty and has a sense of charm and appeal. For those that enjoy a comic satire from a time gone by, this is the theater piece to “drop your drawers” while having a good laugh or two! Ach, du lieber!
THE UNDERPANTS, presented by the Morgan-Wixson Theatre Guild, and performs at the Morgan-Wixson Theatre, 2627 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, until May 25th. Showtimes are Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00 PM, and Sunday afternoons at 2:00 PM. Special audience talk back sessions where the cast and crew discuss their roles to the audience with a Q & A, takes place following the performances of Friday, May 9th, and Sunday, May 18th.
For reservations or for more information, call (310) 828-7519, or online at http://www.Morgan-Wixson.org
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THE AMAZING SPIDER MAN 2 (Sony/Columbia) brings back the title character that can do whatever a spider can, facing let another challenge making his town (New York) defy its safety and peace of mind to those what dwell within.
Andrew Garfield returns as Peter Parker, a mild mannered recent high school grad living with his Aunt May (Sally Field), and whose girl is the Oxford bound Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone). Housed within town is the world headquarters of Oscorp, a big research company that deals in (among other traits), discovering new ways to treat human ailments with adding animal elements and high tech electrodes. As the head and founder of Oscorp dies, the entire company and fortune is left to his young early 20s son Harry (Dane DeHaan) who has plans of his own. Harry and Peter has crossed paths before (Harry as The Green Goblin and Peter as Spidey), but now he’s back-bigger than ever! Adding to this blend is an employee of Oscorp, Max Dillion (Jamie Foxx), who through an accident (a la the way Peter became Spiderman), he emerges to a electric beast called Electro. And winding up the rouges gallery is Russian Gangster Aleksei Sytsvich (Paul Giamatti) who becomes encased in a walking robot-type machine (an Oscorp creation) and is dubbed The Rhino. Spidey has a lot on his plate, but his carefree attitude will have him make an attempt to save the city, and to perhaps win and gain his love for Gwen.
As one can expect, this feature film directed by Marc Webb, has anything and everything one can expect to see within a super hero tent pole picture; Lots of action, thrills, villainous villeins, special effects, and a ending that’s left for yet another episode of the day of the life of a Marvel Comics character. The screenplay by Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci & Jeff Pinkner, with screenstory by Kurtzman, Orci, Pinkner, & James Vanderbilt is strictly comic book. The plotting ranges from thrilling, to boring, to semi-stupid! It even holds a bit of romantic interest as Peter shows his feelings toward Gwen. Interestingly enough, he never even embraces her. (He doesn’t make any attempts to take her to bed, either!) But besides the mush (or lake thereof), it’s very entertaining for what it is! One will get their money’s worth soaking up this film for what it offers, from the for noted EFX, to its IMAX sized 3D! It’s a live action cartoon, and it shows!
Also to point out is the music score composed by Hans Zimmer and The Magnificent Six featuring Pharrell Williams and Johnny Marr that adds the lush scoring along with electronic techno notes. As with any kind of movie, the music–the kind one isn’t support to notice–holds appeal. Then again, this is a super hero flick, not a heavy handed melodrama!
This title is one of the first, if not the first, of feature films that unofficially kick off the Summer ‘14 movie season, and will be one of many super hero/action-adventure/special effects-type flicks that will see the light of day in the next dozen or so weeks. Although these kind of movies might be a bit tedious, one thing for sure; Most of them will make money (the reason why movies are created in the first place), and will entertain its fans–the reason why people pay to see movies, in spite of the fact that films can be viewed anywhere and everywhere, but mostly on the small screen! And this picture will do the same since Sony will bring “Spidey” back in another feature with a similar plot and another number attached to its title!
PS…Although this isn’t a spoiler per se, Stan (The Man) Lee makes yet another oblatory cameo appearance.
TASM2 is rated “PG-13” for comic book style action violence. Now playing in multiplexes nationwide!
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TIFFI’S FRIENDS SAY…
(As posted on her Facebook “wall”)
Lacey Lacey stop teasing and drop that hopefully precious black and white foal with blue eyes :))) you are driving a few ppl nuts waiting to see the foal !!!!
-Brittnee
Sweet!! I’m excited about something, but I’m not going to tell you all just yet.
-Ashley
Diverticulitis is evil.
-Della
Shopping at Grove City outlets with the girls!!
-Janyce
Terri, didn’t I just say why isn’t there a Greek place? I just drove by a new sign on 28 in Dennis: Greek food and more!
-Jen
As of May 5th, Tiffi has 2,009 Facebook “friends” and counting!
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ACCESSIBLY LIVE OFF-LINE
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ACCESSIBLY LIVE OFF-LINE (C) 2014 Linear Cycle Productions.
All rights reserved. The views and opinions are those of the writers, and not necessarily of the staff and management. ‘Nuff said!
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