Shortness

[rejectomorph]

Painstakingly, the world is drenched, drop by slow drop. Hours have passed without a single downpour, but only this constant, dispirited drizzle. It is unworthy of the name Storm. Still, though everything is well soaked now, I'd like to see at least a brief deluge before the poor thing gives up and blows away.

The original 1956 version of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" was on television last night. Creepy. I never get tired of that movie. Also, after I saw it the first time, I was never again able to go to Sierra Madre without feeling a little frisson of unease when I arrived at the intersection of Baldwin Avenue and Sierra Madre Boulevard, the location of that small, triangular plaza where one of the creepiest scenes in the movie was filmed. The 1950's linger there still.

The wordy little icon I'm using with this entry is called a minifesto, available here, courtesy of xach. Fill the box with your own text, submit, and download. It's only available in green, and the letters are pretty small, but it's still neat. I chose to use a short poem by Octavio Paz, called "Epitaph for no Stone." Now it's an epitaph on an LJ icon. Paz is probably turning over in his grave.

I do believe today is the Winter Solstice. Happy Winter Solstice.

Comments

[king-duncan.livejournal.com]

You don't know me, but thanks for that link!

[rejectomorph]

Hey, he's added a choice of colors! That was fast!

I got the link from lj_nifty. They post lots of interesting stuff there.

[annina-writes.livejournal.com]

I wonder how long it has taken from the time the original manifesto maker was posted until everyone on LJ and presumably the rest of the net started posting links? I'm guessing 10 hours. ;-)

[hennepin.livejournal.com]

I went to a screening of Invasion... at NY's Museum of Modern Art several years ago; Kevin McCarthy was the guest speaker; he looked like he had seen better days... and part of me wondered if he was the real McCarthy or merely the result of a pod attack.

I thought the remake was terrible, even with McCarthy's little guest appearance. There's something about the remote setting of the original that adds to the "creep" factor. Little Town, America... where everyone knows you and knows your routine... Terrifying!

[rejectomorph]

Well, he was born in 1914, so he was already over 40 when he did the movie. Most people in their 80's look as though they'd seen better days. I'm surprised to find that he's still working, in his 90s!

[hennepin.livejournal.com]

Wow, I had no idea he was that old... or that busy; he certainly didn't seem like your typical octogenarian... though he did appear to have something of "dirty old man syndrome...." Most of what he said revolved around the beauty of his costar and how the highlight of the experience was being nestled against her when they were in hiding. He was entertaining though (and far more colorful than Peter Bogdanovich, who hosted the event!)

[thirdhand.livejournal.com]

minifesto is going to be used to create dozens of "The Matrix" parodies.

Loved that movie...

[annina-writes.livejournal.com]

Chris and I are huge fans of Invasion. We have a dear friend who totally freaks anytime anyone does that point and makes that sound. She is a source of neverending hilarity.

When I went to the manifesto site I noticed that you could alter the colors by using Color Codes. You can find them here: http://webmonkey.wired.com/webmonkey/reference/color_codes/

I suppose snow would be preferable to drizzle anytime on the Ridge. Happy first day of Winter, and a Merry Christmas and awesome 2006.

[going back to singing along with Eartha Kitt]