Digital Ink Los Angeles

Why does Charlie Brown pick the ugliest, scrawniest tree in the lot?

What does he imagine this sad tree will give him?

Well, he’s asking for something simple — the true meaning of Christmas.

According to the original two-buck Chuck, Charles Schultz’s, A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965):

[first lines of story]
Charlie Brown: [Charlie Brown and Linus stop at a wall on their trip to the pond for ice skating] I think there must be something wrong with me, Linus. Christmas is coming, but I’m not happy. I don’t feel the way I’m supposed to feel.
[begins to walk with Linus again]
I just don’t understand Christmas, I guess. I like getting presents and sending Christmas cards and decorating trees and all that, but I’m still not happy. I always end up feeling depressed.

Linus Van Pelt: Charlie Brown, you’re the only person I know who can take a wonderful season like Christmas and turn it into a problem. Maybe Lucy’s right. Of all the Charlie Browns in the world, you’re the Charlie Browniest.

What is the true meaning of Christmas?

Well, Linus defines the literal Christmas with his recounting of the Three Kings and Baby in a Manger story of Jesus Christ’s birth.

But, more to the figurative meaning of Christmas, Linus offers this idea regarding Charlie Brown’s little tree:

Linus Van Pelt: I never thought it was such a bad little tree. It’s not bad at all, really. Maybe it just needs a little love.

Can’t buy that at a Christmas sale.

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Administrator 21st Century Culture, 60s, Social Responsibility, The Good Life Charlie Brown, Christmas, entertainment, friends, GOOD, kindness, love, popular, spirit

The man, the myth, the hero...

The irascible Peter Griffin lives in Quahog, married to saintly Lois, with three kids — Chris, Meg, and Stewie — and a talking dog, Brian.

He eats way too much. He lies, cheats, and steals. He is a pandering retard with a taste for bad beer, worse television, and an eye for self-indulging, quick-fix pleasure in lieu of hard work or commitment. He’s also ignorant, biased, silly, immature, and delusional.

And Peter Griffin has no shame. As the leader and father-figure for “Family Guy,” he leads weekly viewers on the comedic escapades of a family lost in their own American madness.

In different ways than the obvious comedy of the sit-com might, the subtleties of creator Seth McFarlane’s writing provokes and engenders a deeper understanding from a shrewd viewing audience.

Peter Griffin’s character challenges the audience to see their own idiocy. Family values, patriotism, religion, celebrity, politics, gender, sexuality, history, and many more cultural issues are placed in the frame of topical parody. And each is shown for its pathos and rigid cultural hypocrisy.

What makes Peter Griffin a hero? Because he’s able to give voice to concerns in society — global and domestic — that are deemed touchstone for hatred and vitriolic debate. And he calls it like he sees it. Except when he’s lying.

Like any good comedian, the pain and fear are turned inside out. The shame of human foibles is given a chance to shine in all its dysfunctional and embarrassing glory. And the audience eats it up.

Thank you, Peter Griffin, for being an American idiot with so much to say and do. For that, you’re a hero.

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Administrator 21st Century Culture, Heroes, Stylio, The Good Life comedy, entertainment, Family Guy, hero, Quahog, sit-com, society, TV

You ever meet a crazy kid who runs around in Batman pajamas with a Superman cape, a six-shooter belt, cowboy boots, and a cowboy hat? Moms call ‘em wild kids.

The writer of WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, Maurice Sendak, created a kid named Max who seeks the untamed in the world of reality and imagination.

Spike Jonze has crafted films like Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, and Beastie Boys: Video Anthology.

Take a look at the WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE trailer, which shows a slightly different, more involved story than the book — but still the same in spirit and character.

Thank you, Spike Jonze, for leaving some dinner scraps for the kids on a private boat trip.

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Administrator 21st Century Culture, Movies and Cinema, The Good Life entertainment, fantasy, film, GOOD, imagination, kids, movies, Spike Jonze, superGOOD, wild

Back in the day, before Brooklyn became a borough of its own, New Yorkers called anyone from Brooklyn a “trolley dodger,” because of the myriad street cars running through the borough, with kids and adults dodging them to play on the city’s streets.

The team was originally called the “Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers.”

That was soon shortened to Dodgers.

On April 15, 1947, after much trial and tribulation, Branch Rickey’s courageous endeavor came to fruition when Jackie Robinson became the first African American to play for a Major League Baseball team, playing his first game as a member of the Brooklyn team.

The team moved to Los Angeles in 1958, settling into their Chavez Ravine digs at the beginning of 1962. Dodger Stadium became the home of Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, Maury Wills, Steve Garvey, Ron Cey, Rick Monday, and many others. Not to mention, Vin Scully, the voice of Dodgers baseball.

This season’s Dodgers are the National League West Division Champions, with a National League-leading 95-67 record. Players like Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Juan Pierre, Rafael Furcal, Orlando Hudson, and Clayton Kershaw have made the Dodgers pennant contenders.

Check out the 2009 Postseason Schedule here.

THINK BLUE!

Administrator Stylio, The Good Life, baseball athletes, baseball, champions, Dodgers, Los Angeles, postseason, professional, sports

New Orleans is a great city, and they have an up and coming film festival to boot.

One of Digital Ink Los Angeles’s favorite single-screen theaters in the country — The Prytania Theatre — is hosting a few screenings this year. Well worth a visit.

In particular, the Make Out With Violence screening on Monday, Oct 12th, at 9:45PM at the Prytania Theatre should be good.

Make a date with a New Orleans cultural gem, the NOFF, from Thursday, October 8th through Thursday, October 15th.

In the words of Louis Armstrong, “What we play is life.” And films are life. Get out and enjoy.

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Administrator 21st Century Culture, Movies and Cinema, Stylio, The Good Life cinema, culture, entertainment, festival, film, GOOD, movie, New Orleans, screenings, social, style

Afrika Bambaattaa, Soul Sonic Force, Egyptian Lover, Mantronix, Run DMC, LL Cool J, and EPMD are break-beat, hip-hop geniuses from the 70s through the 80s.

Everything hip-hop music has become starts with the sampling, looping, and remixing achievements of these forefathers.

Nary a piece of fresh cardboard has been dropped on pavement without a break, hyphy, or crunk dancer knowing these beats.

Boom, pop, boom, boom, pop. Repeat. Got a rock it, don’t stop it. Got a rock it, don’t stop.

Lesson #1: How a Black Spades gang member from the Bronx figured out a way to escape his tenement nightmare via the electronica of Soul Sonic Force and their search for a Planet Rock.

Rock, rock, to the Planet Rock, don’t stop.

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Administrator 21st Century Culture, 70s, 80s, Aural Pleasure, Stylio, The Good Life bass, beats, entertainment, fun, GOOD, goodness, hear, hip-hop, music, pleasure, rap, social, sonic, sounds

Thanks to and credit to Sport Illustrated’s photographer, Heinz Kluetmeier, for this 1979 photo insert from 30 years ago.

They called him the Tyler Rose. His leg strength — the weight and fury of those tree trunks churning, jersey #20 at Texas and #34 with the Oilers — Earl Campbell was a perfect blend of balance, strength and speed.

His career with the NCAA’s Texas Longhorns and NFL’s Houston Oilers is a thing of legend — a powerful display of leg strength and nimble feet that make Big Earl the most feared Running Back in history.

Earl was born in 1955 in Tyler, Texas, the sixth of eleven children. When Earl was 11 years old, his father died. Some people say this made Big Earl become a man at a young age.

Well, after leading his Tyler High team to a Texas State Championship, Barry Switzer said he should have gone straight to the pros. In his senior season at Texas in 1977, Earl was awarded the Heisman Trophy, having led the nation in rushing with 1,744 yards. Earl’s best NFL season was 1980. In 15 games with the Houston Oilers he had 373 carries for 1,934 yards, at an average of 5.2 yards per carry with 13 touchdowns.

Watch this YouTube video showing the Power and Force of Earl Campbell with a football in his hands.

For this kind of spirit and human strength, a hero, if not superhero, mythic status, must be offered the Tyler Rose. #34 in the program, #1 in our football hearts.

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Administrator 1%, 70s, 80s, Athletes as Artists, Heroes, The Good Life athlete, athletics, feet, football, force, GOOD, hero, Heroes, heroic, legend, Longhorns, NCAA, NFL, Oilers, power, strength, superGOOD, superhero, Texas