12 mini-reviews for the short attention span, taken from dark corners of stevenl's video vault:

"The Man With the Twisted Lip" (The Return of Sherlock Holmes) / directed by Patrick Lau (1986, VHS off-air). Jeremy Brett, Edward Hardwicke, Eleanor David, Clive Francis, Denis Lill, Albert Moses. Holmes investigates the apparent murder of a society gentleman, and his path takes him through the seediest parts of London. Interesting portrayal of opium dens and the society of beggars. Apparently open use of opium had yet to be illegal in the early 1890s, Strong themes of double lives, double lies, compulsion and addiction. Brett is in great form, enjoying his dramatic hamminess as much as we do. Very atmospheric and well directed.

The Adventures of Bob & Doug McKenzie: Strange Brew / directed by Rick Moranis, Dave Thomas (1983, VHS). Rick Moranis, Dave Thomas, Max von Sydow, Paul Dooley, Lynne Griffin, Angus MacInnes, Buddy the Dog, Mel Blanc (voice). Take off, eh? Filmed in Hoserama, the McKenzie Brothers of SCTV stretch a late night cult joke into a feature length movie back when rampant alcoholism was still funny. It takes Canadians to play with Canadian stereotypes, and as I saw this in a theater a quarter century ago when it was first released I have to admit I laughed pretty hard. I'm older and wiser now. Loosely based on Hamlet (set in a brewery, it produces Elsinore Beer), you can have fun finding all the little connections with Shakespeare's greatest work. The Ghost of the Father was handled in a clever way. He communicates through electronics. The Brothers seldom let you forget you are watching a movie, as they turn the medium back on itself by discussing cinematic conventions such as being able to drive without ever having to look at the road. Although the film isn't exactly stellar, Moranis and Thomas do have a great comedic chemstry. But their humor seems better suited to the original short SCTV spots.

What exactly are the rules for live music in Olympia? Within the city limits do you have to get a permit to hold a concert in your yard?

The Sitting Duck via Olympia Bulletin:

Two journalists are suing Lewis County and a security company it hired to do crowd control at the 2007 Southwest Washington Fair in Chehalis.

According to lawsuit documents filed in Thurston County Superior Court, Publisher Terrence Knight and Managing Editor Jennifer Dillon of The Sitting Duck, an alternative bimonthly publication in Olympia, were covering a Johnny Rivers rock concert at the fair until the night went awry.

With press credentials, Knight asked if he could go backstage to interview Rivers, the famed writer of such hits as “Secret Agent Man” and “Baby I Need Your Lovin’.”

According to documents, Melody White, the fair’s assistant entertainment coordinator, told Knight he could not interview Rivers. After heated words were exchanged between Knight and White, security guards employed by the Starplex Corporation began escorting Knight toward his car.

When Knight attempted to take a photo of Duwayne Judd-Thomas, the security guard leading him away from the fairgrounds, his camera was taken from his neck, the documents state. Authorities from the Chehalis Police Department and the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office showed up on the scene and they also said Knight could not take photographs.

“This was a brazen attack on the press,” said the 62-year-old Knight, adding that he believes White mistook him for someone else who, based on her comments, had insulted her mother. “Officials and employees attacked someone on a case of mistaken identity.”

Hola All,

Any interest in playing my "home-brew" Dungeons & Dragons (d20/ AD&D) game at Gabi's ? No "hardcore" rules knowledge required~

Okay. Submit your "caption" by comment and then I'll have a poll to see who won. This could be fun...

The Freeschool Community of Olympia is happy to announce that our last event, in our old freeschool space will also be our moving-out Celebration:

 The 2008 A World Beyond Capitalism Conference: 4 Years Strong, 3 Documentaries Recorded, 2 Ways To Join us, 1 Mission: Networking and Working Together to Create A World of Peace, A World of Equality: A World That is Beyond Capitalism! - http://www.aworldbeyondcapitalism.org

Come join the Freeschool during this event and moveing-out celebration at our last event....as we will begin classes in our new space  in November 2008!