Friday Lite: Addicted to LOST/Love

Whoa, you like to think that you’re immune to the stuff, oh yeah
It’s closer to the truth to say you can’t get enough
You know you’re gonna have to face it, you’re addicted to LOST

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The title of this post may be a bit misleading if you don’t know where I’m going with it. A big Pop Culture fan, once in a while I post something just for fun. So I wouldn’t be offended if you stop reading because you don’t want to waste your time on something completely frivolous.

Listening to the radio not long ago I heard an old Pop/Rock song from 1986 by Robert Palmer. The song – Addicted To Love. It was a huge hit in America and a big part of it’s popularity was the music video that went with the song.

When I heard it playing on the radio that day as I drove home from work, I cranked up the volume. The song, and the video, are great just as they are. Still, I wasn’t so much thinking about Palmer’s classic video with it’s group of identical female band members. My mind drifted back to one of my all time favorite TV series, the Sci-fi Drama LOST.

The song Addicted to Love was adapted for a Super Bowl commercial in 2005 with just one word changed at the end of the chorus , “you’re gonna have to face it, you’re addicted to LOST.”

That first-rate commercial (if any commercial can be labeled first-rate) was lengthened into a full 3-minute video of the entire song.

I was very much addicted to the series LOST, which was a mixture of Survivor and The X-Files, with bits of classic literature and science thrown in.  It was really my first exposure to the now well known director, J.J. Abrams, who was one of the creators of the series and directed the pilot episode.

Abrams in now best known as the director that was able to pull off the impossible, producing and directing a satisfying Star Wars, Part VII.  Star Wars: The Force Awakens was critically acclaimed and a huge international hit movie.

Pretty much all the LOST characters are terrific, but I’d have to say my favorite is ‘Hurley’ played by Jorge Garcia. He’s such a down to earth character and he added a lot of humor and fun to the series.

The Addicted to LOST video combines some very cool images from the original music video with scenes from the T.V. Series. It’s just pure Pop Culture fun that makes me want to watch the whole series again.

I do happen to own DVD’s of all six seasons. When I have the time (haha, like maybe spread over 8-10 months) I’ll watch them all again.

I’ll end the post with a few favorite Hurley quotes:

Charlie: “Hurley, look, I appreciate the help. You don’t have to. I killed Ethan, I can bury him”.
Hurley: “Yeah, ’til he raises from the dead. Dude, I know how this works. This is going to end with you and me running through the jungle… screaming, crying… he catches me first because I’m heavy and I get cramps.”

Hurley: “So, I had an idea. I’m out here looking for some psycho with Scott and Steve, right. And I’m realizing… who the hell are Scott and Steve?”

Hurley: “So what do you think is the story with that Libby chick? She’s kind of cute, right? You know, in an I’ve-been-terrorized-by-the-Others-for-forty-days kind of way? I think I have a chance with her. I mean, it’s a classic desert island scenario.”

Hurley to Sayid: “Maybe if you ate more comfort food you wouldn’t have to go around shooting people.”

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Every once in a while on Fridays (not every Friday) I thought I’d do a ‘Friday Lite’ post. Just share something that’s inspiring and puts a smile on your face. Hope you enjoy them.

 

Movies and Two Uniquely American Men

“No saint, no pope, no general, no sultan, has ever had the power that a filmmaker has;  the power to talk to hundreds of millions of people for two hours in the dark.”

– Frank Capra

This week there were two birthdays of men connected professionally and philosophically. Both men passed away in the 1990’s, but their impact on me, and many others, continues to linger.

Frank Capra was born in Italy on May 18th, almost 120 years ago, in 1897. His family moved to Los Angeles when he was six years old. He would become one of America’s most talented film directors.

Eleven years (and two days) after Capra, the man who would become one of the most beloved actors of all time, Jimmy Stewart was born on the 20th of May, 1908.

Both of them separately made huge contributions to American cinema. Frank Capra’s biggest accomplish came early when his film It Happened One Night (1934) won 5 Academy Awards. Other classics include Meet John Doe (1941), Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936), and one of my favorite Cary Grant movies, Arsenic and Old Lace (1944).

It was early in his career that Jimmy Stewart won his one Academy Award (of five nominations) for The Philadelphia Story (1940). Among Stewart’s many extraordinary films were four he made with Alfred Hitchcock: Rope (1948), The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956), Vertigo (1958), and my favorite Hitchcock movie Rear Window (1954).

Together Stewart and Capra formed both a close personal and professional relationship. Out of that professional relationship came three inspirational movies. The first in 1938, You Can’t Take It With You, won the Best Picture for that year. In 1939 the two teamed together again to make the classic Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

Lastly there’s one of the most admired films of all time, and my personal all time favorite movie (see my favorite 25 films), It’s A Wonderful Life (1946).

Jimmy Stewart and Frank Capra believed in those “old fashioned” values: love God, love your country, love your neighbor as yourself. It’s the values that celebrate common, ordinary individuals, those who struggle every day simply to do good, to do the right thing, whether or not anyone is watching.

I continue to learn from their work, and their lives.

I’ve often blogged about movies and how much I love storytelling. The inspiration and even insight I find in my favorite characters and films. Jimmy Stewart’s portrayal of George Bailey in It’s A Wonderful Life is a vivid reminder that most of us have no idea of how our lives, however simple, can have a huge impact on the many people in our circle of influence.

It’s been said that Capra’s films were his “love letters to America.”

Jimmy Stewart and Frank Capra loved America and all the freedoms, opportunities and blessings that it has given to so many. Each of them volunteered for service during WWII. Capra had also served during WWI.

I’m thankful for the creative talents of the many people who come together to create the movies. It’s not just wonderful entertainment. Along with the drama that speaks to hopes and dreams, it’s the way characters reflect traits I see in myself, strengths and weaknesses. Especially for many men I think, we aren’t very good at self-evaluation. Often as a film plays out before me, I find myself processing ideas, thinking about something in my life that I’m working through.

Stories in books and films have always been helpful for me to look at myself and reveal an understanding I wasn’t able to put together before.

One thing I take away from some of Capra’s and Stewart’s films is an appreciation of providence. You don’t get to choose where you were born. And a big part of my ongoing development of an ‘Attitude of Gratitude’ is being thankful for the blessings of being born in America.

“Someone should keep reminding Mr. Average Man that he was born free, divine, strong; uncrushable by fate, society, or hell itself; and that he is a child of God, equal heir to all the bounties of God; and that goodness is riches, kindness is power, and freedom is glory. Above all, every man is born with an inner capacity to take him as far as his imagination can dream or envision-providing he is free to dream and envision.”
― Frank Capra, The Name Above The Title

 

Book: Sermon on the [pitcher’s] Mound

“I’ve never been very comfortable looking in the mirror. Life can be so much easier without the messy complication of self-examination.” 

– Michael O’Connor, talking about the marriage relationship in his book Sermon on the Mound.

It seems to me, sadly, that baseball is no longer Americas favorite pastime. Still, it’s my favorite sport – the memories, the long, grand history, and because I was raised and live in the Los Angeles area, there’s Vin Scilly, broadcaster for the dodgers.

But this post isn’t about Vin Scully’s last year as the voice of the Dodgers. That’ll be a topic for a post later in the year.

This post is about how at this time every year, as the season starts, I look to read a book with a baseball theme. Last year it was Calico Joe by John Grisham. In past years some of the choices have been Shoeless Joe by W.P. Kinsella, Men at work by George Will, The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach and I Never Had it Made by Jackie Robinson.

I went back to the book shelf this year and picked out an old favorite written by a friend of mine about 15 years ago. The name of the book is Sermon On The Mound. The author’s name is Michael O’Connor.

He wrote quite a different kind of book on baseball. You see, Michael sees baseball as the perfect game. And I mean, he really believes it’s the perfect game. Even more than that, he believes God invented the sport. That’s a big part of what the book is about.

“If someone besides God created baseball, I have yet to see evidence that would hold up in court. History, depending to which version you subscribe, credits Abner Doubleday or Alexander Cartwright with the game’s invention. But I know better. One of those guys may have applied for the permits and laid the foundation, but God inspired the blueprint.”

Michael is a good guy who has written a really good book. But if pressed I would have to admit he has one major flaw, and he mentions this in the book.

I’m a Los Angeles Dodgers fan. Michael’s defect is that he’s a die-hard San Francisco Giants fan. And it should be noted, as baseball fans are well aware of the last decade, Michael’s book was written several years prior to the San Francisco Giants recent World Series Wins.

The book is without a doubt about baseball. But much more it’s about how the game has entwined Michael’s life in every way. It’s about faith, and incredibly how he “found God” through the failure of the Boston Red Sox to take game 6 of the World Series in 1986.

Michael O’Connor – circa 1960’s

 

The book is out of print but you can find new copies, when I last checked, on Amazon for as little as $2.94. There were even a couple used copies listed for just $0.01.

Most anyone would enjoy the book, but in particular baseball fans will catch Michael’s many references to the sport and those associated with the game over the years. And if you happen to remember or even grew up during the 1960’s you’ll be delighted with his many pop culture references. Throughout the book Michael finds a way to infuse every paragraph, nearly every sentence with his unique sense of humor.

If you make an effort to get a hold of a copy, it would be worth it. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

“I didn’t ask for you to feel the way you do. You’re influenced by an illusion. Writers are magicians. They write down words, and, if they’re good, you believe that what they write is real, just as you believe a good magician has pulled the coins out of your ear, or made his assistant disappear.”
– J.D. Salinger, from the novel, Shoeless Joe, by W. P. Kinsella

St. Patrick – Medieval Super Hero

I wasn’t able to put together a St. Patrick’s Day post that I felt was worthy (flying north for a memorial for my uncle). So here’s my St. Pat’s post from two years ago. – Happy St. Patty’s Day to you and yours!

VocareMentor.com

“Drink is the curse of the land. It makes you fight with your neighbor. It makes you shoot at your landlord and it makes you miss him.”
– Irish Proverb

I’ll return to the series of my “Personal Top 10 All Time Favorite Films” in my next post. But for now, here is a modest departure in tribute to St. Patrick’s Day…

My mom, I’m pretty sure, was a third generation Irish-American-Catholic.
Growing up, every St. Patrick’s Day, our dinner would consist of corned beef, cabbage and boiled potatoes. None of us kids wanted to eat this ghastly, peculiar dinner. But mom said that one day a year she was going to have a traditional Irish meal and we could eat it or go without dinner if we liked.

Nevertheless, I remember eating the potatoes and that was about it. While I’m proud of my Irish heritage, my dislike of…

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My Favorite Angel’s Birthday

Today, the 5th of March, is the birthday of my favorite ‘angel’ Clarance Odbody, George Bailey’s less than grand guardian angel in It’s a Wonderful Life.

The actor who played Cllarence, Henry Travers, was born on March 5th, 1874. – Wow, that’s a long time ago.

Director Frank Capra’s Classic film is of course best known for playing every year at Christmas time. Made in 1946, It’s a Wonderful Life is my number one all time favorite movie. Two other movies that happen to be on my list of top ten (click here) favorites, When Harry Met Sally and The Princess Bride, were both directed by Rob Reiner. And in an AFI special on Turner Classic Movies Reiner mentioned that It’s a Wonderful Life is his favorite film as well. I must say he has good taste.

Not only is Jimmy Stewart an amazing lead in It’s a Wonderful Life, but the film has a terrific group of supporting players, not the least of which is Henry Travers.

Stewart’s George Bailey is the ‘hero’ of the story, but Clarence the angel is a hero of a different type.

George is a self-confident visionary with big dreams, who ends up always making choices based on what’s best for those around him.

Clarence is a simple, innocent, below-the-radar kind of hero. He’s the kind of hero that gets no recognition, his heroism is something we seldom notice. It’s the childlike faith, the anticipation of good, and desire to see others succeed that makes him a hero on a humbler scale.

 

I never get tired of watching the film. Every time, as the movie ends, a smile spreads across my face. It’s always a joy filled, fulfilling and inspiring experience.

One of the best lines in the movie is spoken by Clarence, and it sums up what the film is all about, “Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives, and when he isn’t around, he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?”

Most people may not recognize the name Henry Travers, but they cannot forget Clarence, one of the most delightful characters in the history of the movies.

Happy Birthday Henry. And thank you for giving us Clarance!

The Passing of a Great Man

 

This world lost a great man a week ago, although you wouldn’t have known about him unless you’ve read the couple of posts on this blog where I mentioned him.

His name was Winfred Murphy, or ‘Pinky’ as he’s been known since he was a teen. Uncle Pinky and and his wife of 69 years, my Aunt Peg, are my heroes.

Pinky Murphy was a good man in all the ways one might define a good man. He loved his family, he worked hard, he loved sports – he loved life.

 

Pinky enjoyed several sports and was always very active. He was a championship pitcher for several fast-pitch softball teams while in the Marine Corps. He first started playing golf in high school and loved the game. In the last couple of years he slowed down a bit. Still, up to his 95th birthday last August, he had been playing golf twice a week.

It was while Pinky was serving in the US Marine Corps during WWII that he went to a dance at the Hollywood Palladium where he met Peggy Quigley. She happened to be engaged at the time, but that didn’t stop the two of them from dancing together most of the night. Three months later they were married.

I don’t know what happened to the man Peggy was engaged to before she met Pink, nevertheless it was obvious that these two were made for each other.

Sadly Pinky lost his bride of 69 years. Peggy passed away last May. She was 91. He seemed at first to handle her passing with a strength we all were surprised he had. Their marriage was a living definition of the word ‘couple.’

But giving credit to my Aunt Peg, she was an amazing woman. Maybe the best thing my Uncle Pinky ever did was to realize what an extraordinary woman she was, and snatch her away from her fiance. My blog post from last May about how special Aunt Peg was can be found here.

Now, on the surface, many might say that Pinky Murphy never accomplished anything that could actually be called ‘great.’

What made him different? What made him great?

To put it simply – He went to work every day, raised a family of five kids, and was devoted to one woman all his life. He loved his wife wholly and completely. And she adored him. They truly were a living representation of the scripture about marriage, ‘the two shall become one.’

There aren’t that many of his kind left anymore.

Pinky and Peggy were a rare example of what an ideal marriage could be and I was privileged to observe it all my life. My parents divorced when I was very young and I didn’t see much of my father. My mom, Aunt Peg’s younger sister, died when I was 19. Aunt Peg and Uncle Pinky were like a second set of parents to me.

As I finish this post my eyes are watering. I loved them, and because of their love for me, and their example, I’m a better man.

They were are my heroes.

 

 

 

James, Jason – and Jack’s Birthday

One of the more interesting movies I saw over the last year was the secret agent spoof  Kingsman: The Secret Service.

A favorite part of the movie is where Eggsy (a new recruit) meets with the head of the Kingsman agency and brings along his new dog:

[Eggsy enters the study room with JB to meet with Arthur]

Gary ‘Eggsy’ Unwin: Merlin said you wanted to see me, sir?

Arthur: Sit down.

[Eggsy sits down while Arthur looks at JB]

Arthur: Pretty dog. What’s his name?

Gary ‘Eggsy’ Unwin: JB.

Arthur: As in James Bond?

Gary ‘Eggsy’ Unwin: No.

Arthur: Jason Bourne?

Gary ‘Eggsy’ Unwin: No. Jack Bauer.

Arthur: Oh.

It had never occurred to me that James Bond, Jason Bourne and Jack Bauer had the same initials. How did I miss that?!? Was it intentional on the part of the creators of Jason Bourne and Jack Bauer to come up with names that started with JB after James Bond??

A big fan of action/adventure heroes, both fiction and non-fiction, I realized that today, the 18th of February is Jack Bauer’s 50th birthday! He is of course the hero of the TV series ‘24.’

I found Kingsman: the Secret Service’s violence a little ‘over the top’ for my taste – Jack Bauer and 24 the same. Still, I have an affection for the heroics of Harry and Eggsy in Kingsman, as I do for Jack Bauer.

So, for reaching the milestone of 50 years, Congratulations Jack!

Happy Birthday!