Once Upon a Time in ... Hollywood

If you want to see an excellent film and have any knowledge of or experience with the 1960s, Once Upon a Time in … Hollywood is the film you have been waiting to see. Quentin Tarantino is not one of my favorite directors because the language and the action of his movies are off-putting to me; however, OUTH is his best film to date.  The story is of a washed-up movie star (Leonardo di Caprio) and his stunt double (Brad Pitt) during the 1960s when some really bad movies were made. The acting back then was … stilted… predictable … mediocre, and Di Caprio and Pitt perfectly capture that aspect of the film-making business. When an actor is on the downhill swing, life loses a lot of its luster, which sometimes makes actors take roles they otherwise would refuse, including starring in a series of what were called "spaghetti westerns" back in the day. Di Caprio's acting perfectly captures the desperation of the actor trying to stay afloat in an industry that is all he has ever known, and Pitt has the role of second banana down pat, hitching his future to DiCaprio's success, which leads to his career taking a dive along with DiCaprio's character's career.

Tarantino is the master of detail, and this movie is densely detailed in the sets, in the set dressings, in the costumes, in the dialog, in the automobiles, in the status symbols of the time, and in the feeling of a decade in transition. The 1960s are known for the hippies and the VietNam War and the free love and the cigarette smoking and the see and be seen attitude about life. Tarantino captures all of it in the main story, which is total Hollywood, but he adds a twist that makes the movie totally engaging and captivating.  It's a challenge to reveal just about enough of the plot twist to get a patron to see the movie without giving it away, but suffice it to say that the character of Sharon Tate plays a huge part in the storyline. She is the quintessential 60s woman, with her go-go boots and her really short short skirts, her flowing blonde hair, and her almost naïve approach to life.

Don't back away from this film because it's a Tarantino, nor because it's about the 1960s. It's a story about life and love and longing and the challenge of growing old in a society that prefers youth. I seldom hand out As as I believe that excellence is unusual, rather than common, but I whole-heartedly give Once Upon a Time in … Hollywood an A+.

Educated, a memoir by Tara Westover

I have just finished reading a tremendous novel, Educated, A Memoir, written by Tara Westover. It is her story of her life as a child in Idaho raised in a Mormon family that was what we would call old-fashioned: living off the land, using healers rather than doctors, home-schooling, and honoring thy father and thy mother. Tara separates herself from her family through her thirst for knowledge, something else to fill her mind with thoughts and ideals and needs for something more than what her family of origin could provide. It isn't easy reading as far as the content is concerned, but it's easy to become involved in Westover's story as she tells it.

There is a sentence that jumped off the page for me and is now part of me: "We are all of us more complicated than the roles we are assigned in the stories other people tell." Westover is basically self-taught, learning through interactions with other people and her vast experience with reading, and she rose above the stories other people told about her to become the vibrant, self-confident professional woman that she is today. "Dysfunctional" is too easy a word to describe her life, and heroic is not a strong enough word to describe her victory over her past.

One snapshot from the text captures her struggle for self-identity: "But if Dad was trying to keep his children from being overly interested in school and books--from being seduced by the Illuminati, like Tyler had been--he would have done better to turn his attention to Richard (a brother). … When Dad saw me with one of those books, he'd try to get me away from them. … Perhaps he thought if he could just distract me for a few years, the danger would pass."

If I were still teaching, this is a book I would recommend for students to read so they have an idea about how precious education is for each individual. We all don't need the same education, but we all need to be educated in some form or another. I would target as my reading audience tenth or eleventh grade females who are whirling through the uncertainties of life and trying to grasp onto something meaningful and important. We all struggle in our own ways, but sometimes learning of another person's struggle can help us cope with our own.

I posted this entry on my Facebook page, but thought I'd add it to my blog as someone who needs to read this book may stumble across it surfing the 'net.

Five Brain Killers

According to Dr. Sam Walters, who specializes in the brain and aging and the effects of aging, there are five brain killers that, if we remove them from our consumption, can make a difference in such brain issues as dementia and Alzheimers.

• The first is MSG, commonly found as a seasoning in lots and lots of food products.
• Next is aspartame, which is what Equal is and other artificial sweeteners. 
• Third is Sucralose, which is what Splenda is. 
• Fourth is diacetyl, the buttery flavor in microwave and movie theatre popcorn. 
• Finally, fifth is aluminum, a natural toxin found in many food and cosmetic products.  

All five of these brain killers should be removed from our human consumption, but especially if you are an older person who is already suffering from brain deterioration or simply wanting to avoid it. In my opinion, we should remove these products from all of our diets regardless of age or physical condition.

Youthful Brain

I've spent a bit of time surfing the internet looking for articles about dementia and cognition. Pretty much they all have the same info, but I was attracted to one site that focused on "Youthful Brain," a supplement that, according to the doctor's information at the site, will help with cognition.  Of course, that supplement has to be augmented with brain training and diet as nothing by itself will make any difference in the course of the dementia.

I read all the literature that came with the site and which included an article about nutritional changes that can be made to improve the brain as an organ of the body. The article talked about super foods for the brain that can enhance the brain's function, including those things that should be avoided, which includes popcorn at the movies. I took it all in and decided to send for the supplement, Youthful Brain, under the brand name Vitality Now.  I got what's called the "Clear Mind Formula," which is supposed to work to clear out the fog associated with dementia.

The fog is what made me realize that something was wrong when I first started having brain issues. I couldn't remember the simplest of things, like my phone number or address, just absolutely blanking when asked to provide either one while doing business transactions. It was frustrating and irritating, to say the least, not to be able to recall simple, basic life information. That's when I decided it was time to see my doctor and ask him whatever could be causing my symptoms. When he ran a few cognition tests, it became clear that I was started down a path no one wants to walk.

I have been using the Clear Mind Formula, Youthful Brain, for about a month now and I can feel a difference. That fog effect seems to have lifted somewhat and I feel more clear-headed.  Now, that can be a by-product of wanting the formula to work, so it does, but if that's what it takes, so be it. I have even recalled some information appropos nothing in particular, which has been somewhat startling. Today, on the other hand, the clerk at the drugstore asked me for my phone number and I totally blanked, but after thinking about it for a minute or so, I was able to retrieve it.  In the past, what I could not recall was simply gone.

Yes, I am also taking a prescription medication, Aricept, which has shown significant results in slowing the progress of the dementia in patients who use it.  I had taken it for about a month before I added the Youthful Brain formula. Before adding the YB, I still had fog; since adding the YB, I don't have the fog.  I think the two work together well, but perhaps have different foci for their targets. I return to my doctor the end of the month and will bring him up to date on what I decided to do by adding the Youth Brain formula to my treatment plan.  I'm going to stop taking it after I've used up the product I purchased and see if there is any difference not using it versus using it. Then, based on my own empirical evidence, I will decide whether to purchase more of the Youthful Brain product.

Updating:  Just received my newsletter from AARP and found an article about brain supplements. Basically, it says there is absolutely no evidence that any of the ones they tested work, and that it's a big scam. Did reflect that they are expensive and lining someone's pockets with profit. Also, said that it could be harmful. Well, when I use up my last bottle of the supplements (at $50/bottle), I won't get any more.

Rockin' and Rollin'

This morning, the couch began to move and it took a moment before I realized we were having an earthquake.  It was fairly gentle, but persistent.  As it died down, I told the dogs that it was no big deal and then it began again, stronger and a bit longer in duration.  As it dragged on, I wondered if it was going to build in intensity but no, it stayed about the same as the first half of the shaker.

Of course, the TV commentators were on the air in lightning speed, telling us that there were two separate quakes on the same fault, up by Ridgecrest, which is about 200 miles from where I am in the SoCal desert. Both of the quakes were 6.4, which can do damage, but far enough away that all they did here was rock 'n roll.

I understand from the news that there is considerable damage in the Ridgecrest area, including (perhaps) to a hospital. I'll have to watch the evening news for details as the quake coverage was over and life had moved on.

Updating:  two days later, at about the same time, we had another quake, this one a 7.1. It felt stronger, but was the same rolling shake that we had on July 3. Lots more damage in areas that felt the quake, mostly in stores with stocked shelves that ended up in the aisle. There was damage to roads and homes with this second quake, and some fires that came from ruptured gas lines.  This second quake was felt all the way to LA, with lots of people reporting the water from their swimming pools sloshed and overflowed.

The prognosticators are saying that it's not unlikely that there will be a third quake, but I hope the statistics favor the won't happen side of the prophecy.

The Facebook Experience

Several months ago, I decided to use FB on a daily basis to help with my cognition issues.  I get to read posts, respond to those that seem to want a response, and feel connected with other people outside of my four walls.  At first, it was kinda fun, especially when I recognized names from my teaching days. I made it my mission to write positive responses where warranted, like other posts, and ignore some of the more gross posts.

Why, I wondered, do people use such foul language and write such nasty things on a public forum? The cusswords abound even where they aren't necessary. People write about intimate things that I would keep private. They throw verbal stones at anyone who doesn't agree with them, and disparage people who write honest posts about their lives and the challenges they are having just getting through the days.

I was naïve when I made the decision to participate in FB.  I actually thought it would be a positive experience, and, in many instances, it has been.  I've enjoyed hearing from former students and learning about their now lives.  I have been able to see what my family members are doing in their lives without having to write long letters back and forth. I've enjoyed seeing photos of the comings and goings of people I know, but am not friends with present day. But I've been completely turned off by the grossness of perhaps as much as one-third of the content.

Today, I'm thinking about whether I want to continue to visit Facebook or let it go.  Part of me wants to stay connected with former students and family members, but the other part of me wants to let go of the offensive nature of the Facebook experience. I'm taking today off as a think-about day and then will make my decision whether to continue to visit the site or let it go.