ORDA

Watched last night Andrei Proshkin's Orda [The Horde] (2012), a story of the fourteenth-century conflict between the fledgling Christian Muscovites and the Muslim Tartar "horde," when Metropolitan Alexius is requested to come heal the eyesight of the Tartar queen mother. In many ways it feels like a standard "saint" film, a Christian vehicle to explain the reasons for beatification of an important religious figure, a film that likely wouldn't have been made or supported by the Russian state only a few decades ago. And as well a historical/mythmaking of the origins of the state. I don't know how accurate the filmmakers were in recreating the Russian world of this age, but it felt "right." I suspect the portrayal of the "barbarians" and their lifestyle may be biased, but I really don't know much about the time or region. I wasn't overly impressed with the acting or plot, but it was still interesting.

TRENA SHOTS

JROTC

Joey, this morning, in his first JROTC uniform.

BACHNA AE HASEENO

Watched tonight, I guess to celebrate the fast-approaching Diwali, Siddharth Anand's Bachna ae Haseeno (2008), an Indian Bollywood production about a ladies man (played by Ranbir Kapoor) who crushed two women's hearts, only to get crushed in turn himself. The plot was thin, but the music was good, and all three main actresses were very lovely. I liked Bipasha Basu best, but Joey liked Deepika Padukone. I was kind of surprised he watched the whole thing. There wasn't as many big dance numbers as I expected. I could not live on a diet of these movies, but once ina while they are entertaining. The second half of the movie was considerably better than the first part, more humor and better scenes. Overall, I enjoyed it.

GAMECOCKS

Just because we wish it so, means not that it will pass;
this lesson’s one we all must learn in the Gamecock class.
Runs my blood, it’s red and black---garnet the deepest hue,
any orange is anathema, do not this misconstrue.

They always fought with all their heart, especially on game day,
ran out to strains two thousand one, sandstorm on white display,
from first kickoff to last tackle, they’d hit with abandon,
they feared no foe, this fact is true, but seldom champion.

Football saints are lively here, from Rogers to Norwood,
When Lattimore took the field, we always felt they could,
defeat all squads, from Florida to the great North land,
and many others in between, I’m sure you understand.

Jadeveon polished our fame, no one could say “Who dat?,”
he pulverized a Wolverine, and handed Smith his hat.
Sidney Rice and Sterling Sharpe could surely catch that ball,
while Alshon and McKinley too, flew often past them all.

Sheldon Brown and John Abraham were known to give a lick,
while Swearinger and Gilmore too, could make a tackle stick.
Ryan Brewer bowled them over, while Succop split the posts,
Connor Shaw and Phil Petty racked up the winning boasts.

So many more graced our field, their names are not forgot,
Wharton and Boyd, Culliver and Dunta, and even A. Pinnock.
Munnerlyn, DiMarco too, and who could forget Ace Sanders?
Ajiboye and Cunningham, were not gridiron outlanders.

Kalimba, Ko, Dunta and Zola, we’ve surely had strange names,
But on the field they won our hearts, and more than a few games.
Faison to Watson, and all others, who flashed their spurs with pride,
we celebrate each footballer who’s graced the Gamecock side!

COLUMBIA FALL

When chilled Carolina winds blow,
pecans discarded on ground below,
a thousand eyes are peering down,
on every branch a shattered crown.

Pine boughs clash in windy creak,
woodpeckers juicy worms do seek,
red-tails prowl for their errant prey
while lazy cats sleep day away.

Cooling temps and barbeque grills,
Cocky cheering garnet-black thrills,
College kids jam the local joints,
But it’s getting scary in Five Points.

Around Horseshoe some scholars walk,
while others sprint to professor’s talk,
dreams will recall the old brick walls,
and conjure back these special falls.

TALIBANIS

I saw this on Craigslist, and don't know who to credit, but I really loved it and had to post it on my blog, because it summed up my own thoughts about this group, which I have been calling the American Talibanis for quite a while. I think the picture is taken from a television show (obviously I don't watch it), and I am not sure who added the text: