Big Love

I followed this HBO show from its inception to its recent conclusion and it once again proved that when you’re looking for high quality TV programming, you don’t have to look any farther than on HBO.

Big Love followed the everyday life of a polygamist family trying to balance the necessity to keep a low profile (since polygamy is illegal) and the desire to feel and be treated like any ordinary American citizen out there.

The show’s last season followed the family’s outing from the season 4 finale, which capped what is universally considered to be the show’s weakest and most bizarre one.

Fortunately, season 5 was well developed, with good story lines and plausible occurrences.  The most important plot lines were effectively brought to conclusion and the show ended on a positive, albeit sad note.

Overall, a highly recommended show that for a while shined a spotlight on a controversial marital practice that although illegal in the US is still practiced in a few states.

Season 5 - Grade: 8

Show’s Overall Grade: 8

Musica Alma Sexo

I got tickets to see Ricky Martin live for Ray’s birthday, since he really likes him, and we both enjoyed the show very much.

Neither of us had every seen him perform live, but Ray has all his records and Ricky’s music brings back countless memories from the time when we first met and started living together in Turin, Italy, 15 years ago.

The concert was good, with lots of rhythm, lights, and images.  A real feast for the eyes, besides the ears.  I especially enjoyed the video projected halfway through the show on a huge cloth encompassing the entire stage!!

Knowing his audience, Ricky showed plenty of skin as well, which is always a plus when such a handsome guy is involved.

The part of the concert I loved the most was when he paused halfway through a ballad to soak in the waves of love his fans were sending his way.  The touching, heartfelt expressions on his face spoke volumes of the appreciation he had for all that love, as well as the promise to give it all back.

I was also very pleased to see that he has a really nice and powerful voice as well as countless good dance moves, and his closing number, the beautiful The Best Thing About Me Is You, was great!!

Speechless

Lady Gaga’s new album, Born This Way, is only a few days away from being released, so what better time to post one of my favorite songs of hers from her previous effort?

Watch the Gaga perform Speechless with only a piano to accompany her voice:

This video blows all the criticisms about Lady Gaga being all about image out of the water.

Clearly, she can sing.  Clearly, she can play.  Clearly, she’s a legitimate artist.

Go Gaga!!

Born This Way

I love the song but the video is just ok.

I actually never thought of this song as a rip-off of Madonna’s Express Yourself (as many critics have been endlessly harping about...), although I do see a lot more “borrowing” from Madonna’s oeuvre in the video than in the song itself.

The way I see it, there are a lot of songs out there that would sound alike when one starts manipulating tempos and removing embellishments.

Born This Way is a beautiful song, and its message is undeniably important.

Judas

While at first I wasn’t crazy about this song, I’m starting to like Judas, especially after watching this beautifully shot video:

As Lady Gaga herself said, it looks like a fresco painting coming alive.

The Monster Ball

I didn’t have a chance to get tickets to Lady Gaga’s undoubtedly spectacular live tour The Monster Ball, so I wasn’t going to miss this HBO special, recorded on her last Madison Square Garden’s performance.

As expected, the show was fun to watch and a treat for both eyes and ears.  Amazingly, she never even took a break, singing song after song for almost 2 hours!!

Everything, from costumes to accessories, from lighting to props, was perfectly tailored to Gaga’s extravaganza style and larger-than-life persona.

Her many interactions with her fans, whom she lovingly refers to as her Little Monsters, were precious insights into this basically simple girl out to ensure they had a great time and got what they paid for.

Lady Gaga is really a spectacular talent.  Her voice and musical prowess are truly godly gifts.

Here’s her rendition of Born This Way, sung a cappella, which closed the special:

The dreadful wait

This picture perfectly describes what was arguably the most worrisome hour of the Obama administration’s first term: watching live, in the White House’s Situation Room, while the strike that successfully takes out Osama bin Laden unfolds in Abbottabad, Pakistan:

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, along with members of the national security team, receive an update on the mission against Osama bin Laden in the Situation Room of the White House, May 1, 2011. Seated, from left, are: Brigadier General Marshall B. “Brad” Webb, Assistant Commanding General, Joint Special Operations Command; Deputy National Security Advisor Denis McDonough; Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton; and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. Standing, from left, are: Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; National Security Advisor Tom Donilon; Chief of Staff Bill Daley; Tony Binken, National Security Advisor to the Vice President; Audrey Tomason Director for Counterterrorism; John Brennan, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism; and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper.

Jack Vidgen

UPDATED (at bottom)

A name to remember, since I’m sure that in just a few years this Australian kid will be a super star:

I watched this video over and over, getting goose bumps and teary eyed, listening to such a powerful and beautiful voice.

Jack also made me long for the good old days when Whitney Houston’s voice graced our eardrums with wonderful musical creations, unparalleled and awe-inspiring.

Dogs are the cutest things!!

This video is adorable:

Scary encounter

I’ve never seen a jellyfish, of any size, but I know that they can be quite dangerous.  Now, imagine stumbling upon one the size of a small house:

At first I actually failed to notice the man on the left side, mesmerized by the beauty of the animal.  Then I saw it and my jaw dropped!!

Here’s the caption:

The Lions Mane Jellyfish is the largest jellyfish in the world. They have been swimming in arctic waters since before the dinosaurs (over 650 million years ago) and are among some of the oldest surviving species in the world.

The largest can come in at about 6 meters and has tentacles over 50 meters long. Pretty amazing when you think these things have been swimming around for so long.

They have hundreds of poisonous tentacles that it used to catch passing by fish. it then slowly drags in it’s prey and eats it.

This species is older than the dinosaurs and it’s still around!!  Makes me wonder what else could be lurking around, still undiscovered...