My stepfather; Appaloosa

My stepfather died around three forty-five this morning. My mom had checked him at three thirty but had a feeling she needed to check him sooner than the half hour. She found him dead. She woke my half sister Linda and then called for the ambulance. The funeral is Monday. As I've said he was one of the most honest, decent, compassionate people I've ever known. Quietly humorous and modest to a fault. I'd known him at least ten years before, at my mom's urging, he showed me his WW11 scrapbook. He was a much decorated soldier who'd fought in the South Pacific. He never mentioned it again after that day. Nor was there any evidence of it in their apartment. I will sure miss him.

------------Appaloosa

I mentioned Jeffrey Welles' Hollywood Elsewhere the other day. I find his take on movies and show business sensible and sincere (as opposed to the show off style of too many reviewers) so I take him seriously even when I disagree with him. Bill Crider and I both talked up the trailer for Appaloosa. Very exciting stuff. Here's Welles' opinion. I have no idea if I'll agree with it when I see the movie. This is the only review I've seen.

" Ed Harris's Appaloosa is just okay. No, that sounds dimissive. It's a decent...too negative again. It's a solid piece of work -- how's that? But dammit, the words "not half bad" keep creeping into my head, which sounds, I realize, like damnation with faint praise. I don't mean to put it down; I was never in serious pain. But ten minutes in I knew this was no Open Range, which in my book (and the books of many others) is the finest, best-written and most believably recreated western since Unforgiven.

"I would put Appaloosa on the level of 3:10 to Yuma, more...Read More"

for the rest go here

http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/2008/09/okay_appaloosa.php