I was never the fan of The Planet of the Apes that all my friends were . . . sci fi et al. But I think there is enough in Heston’s back catalogue to keep one busy: Macbeth, A Man for All Seasons, Julius Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra, Mister Roberts, The Greatest Show on Earth, Ben-Hur, and Soylent Green.
We have been talking to Beetle about Easter. We explained that Jesus died on Good Friday and rose on Easter. She asked how he died. “Mean people,” Gert explained. “Oh, no!” was my daughter’s response. “That is not good.”
But whenever we speak about Easter, she raises her hands above her head and exclaims, “He’s alive!”
It reminds me of the commercial years ago for the movie of the same name. Ominous music played as a voiceover explained:
Some people are just a little bit frightened when they have their first baby. The Davis’s are terrified. You see there’s only one thing wrong with the Davis baby. It’s Alive!
All the while a baby carriage spun around. At the end of the commercial, someone came on with a high-pitched voice to announce the rating of PG. I used to chuckle aloud whenever it came on the television.
Ever since I received the iPod, I have been listening to far more podcasts. I had listened to some of the Cache-A-Maniacs podcasts previously, but I am not comfortable listening to them on the laptop. Nevertheless, the last month or so my iPod has been filled.
Today while I was out and about it dawned on me I should answer the questions that DarrylW4 and Firefly03 ask their guests each week. Hey, why not?
How long ago did you start geocaching and how did you find out about it? Webfoot is responsible!
Rapid Response Questions Micro or ammo can?
Ammo can
Traditional or unknown?
Normally traditional, but there are unknowns that top my favorites list (which doesn’t really exist)
Virtual or Earthcache?
Having never completed an Earthcache that has particularly interested me, I guess virtuals. Frankly, virtuals pale compared to shutterspots.
Placing or finding?
I find more than I place, so finding, I suppose. But when I am in placing mode, I will eschew finding as I am so focused on the hide. So really, whatever it is I am doing is what I prefer. Otherwise, I would be doing the other.
Urban or woods?
Woods, without hesitation.
Number runs or challenging caches?
Errrr . . . challenging caches. I was surprised that this week’s guest actually answered number runs.
Geocoins ot Travel Bugs?
Neither.
Paper or paperless?
Paperless
Favorite GPSr?
Well, I use a Magellan Meridian Gold. It is my favorite as that is the only one I use. Until recently, I had been contemplating updating to a Garmin 60CSx. I am now holding off on that. The new Colorado intrigues me. Yet, it seems riddled with issues right now from the geocaching POV, so presently, I am not looking to purchase anything unless I can find an inexpensive PPC with a GPS.
Caching alone or part of a group?
Almost all of my caching is completed solo. My son or daughter occasionally join me. I explore with others and sometimes divert the exploration to include a nearby cache.
Any signature items or trademarks?
Not yet. I figure there’s no hurry. For years I have pondered this to no avail. I was this || close before the geocoin craze hit to minting a coin. I decided not to and have been very happy that I did not. I have sought a unique item that isn’t going to break the bank. I recently came up with such a thing and will begin working on the prototype here within the next month or two.
Any learning experiences that you would like to share with others?
I do not know how to answer this concisely. Um . . . read this blog.
Anything you would like to see improved in geocaching?
Wow! An opportunity to do it my way. The only thing I can think of is to remove find counts. This one thing appears to be the root of most angst that occurs.
Of the many slogans and taglines for geocaching, what is your favorite?
I used to use hiking with a purpose. I always liked that. Recently, I have heard of G.U.I.L.T (grown up idiots looking for Tupperware). That’s cute. I describe it as hide-and-seek for adults to my students. That conveys the activity somewhat.
How do you classify geocaching: sport, hobby, or game?
I don’t. Well, I refer to it as a game, but when inspected, game doesn’t really hold up to scrutiny. I do not like sport. I do not think it holds up in today’s environment of park-and-grabs. Hobby makes me think of models, baseball cards, etc. While there are similarities I have noted, I do not think it really fits well there either. Maybe it’s a recreation.
What other hobbies besides geocaching do you do?
Keep reading this site.
Do you have a favorite movie, television show, or musical group you would like to share?
I have been claiming my favorite movie is The Deer Hunter for decades now. But there are others I like too. Other than a couple reality shows I watch with Gert, I do not watch much television other than the news and sports (primarily baseball). Older shows I like(d) are All In The Family, Seinfeld, and early Law & Order. Musically, I like what is called classic rock, with an emphasis on Grateful Dead, Neil Young, Derek Trucks, and Roger Waters.
I distinctly recall Sister Alice telling our freshman class not to go see The Life of Brian. Hey, I was the one reading Catcher in the Rye in the lunch room at Catholic school. I love this movie.
Today was a rough day. I needed a pick me up. Enjoy Eric Idle et al. singing my happy song.
Wow! Just wow! I am a long-time fan of the Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Whenever I watch a movie I look it up at IMDb and see who stars in it, awards it won, etc. I think it is kind of neat. Sometimes I am turned onto formerly unknown actors.
That happened to me today. As I sit here doing my morning reading, I have 1970’s Airport on. What a great cast! Lancaster, Martin, Jacqueline Bisset, George Kennedy, Helen Hayes, Maureen Stapleton, Barbara Hale, Gary Collins, Elliott Gould, and Marion Ross. And of course, there was Joe Gray in an uncredited role.
Who? Joe Gray?
I had never heard of Joe Gray before this morning. But look at some of the movies he was in during a long career in acting.
A Star Is Born
Beau Geste
Yankee Doodle Dandy
Body and Soul
It Had to Be You
Champion
The Jackie Robinson Story
Sunset Blvd.
Iron Man
The War of the Worlds
Guys and Dolls
Rio Bravo
Some Like It Hot
Ocean’s Eleven
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
The Manchurian Candidate
Bye Bye Birdie
Murderers’ Row
Airport
Escape from the Planet of the Apes
Those are only the big movies. His entire resume is much longer.
You’ll note Mr. Gray was seldom credited for his role. He was often a man in the background, an extra here, a boxer over there. He seemed to be in a lot of Dean Martin movies.
Here is a man who worked in many Oscar-winning flicks. He worked with Ginger Rogers, Kirk Douglas, Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, Loretta Young, Richard Widmark, James Cagney, Broderick Crawford, Anthony Quinn, Elia Kazan, Barbara Stanwyck, William Holden, Gary Cooper, Ray Milland, Jerry Lewis, Mickey Rooney, Betty Grable, Frank Capra, BillyWilder, Bing Crosby, Jackie Robinson, Cesar Romero, Gloria Swanson, Buster Keaton, Charlton Heston, Rock Hudson, Tony Curtis, Louis Armstrong, Carmen Miranda, Donna Reed, Joan Fontaine, Lon Chaney Jr., Raymond Burr, Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, Frank Sinatra, Rod Steiger, Elvis Presley, Montgomery Clift, Yul Brynner, Shirley MacLaine, John Wayne, Walter Brennan, Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon, Janet Leigh, James Whitmore, Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop, Audrey Hepburn, Lee Marvin, Peter Lawford, Charles Bronson, Lana Turner, Walter Matthau, Dick Van Dyke, Ann-Margret, Paul Newman, Robert Mitchum, Gene Kelly, Peter Falk, Kim Novak, Red Buttons, James Coburn, Karl Malden, Sonny & Cher, George Peppard, Eli Wallach, James Stewart, Raquel Welch, Roddy McDowall, Ernest Borgnine, Sharon Tate, Omar Sharif, Jack Palance, among many many others.
What a career! While his mantle was not filled with gold, Mr. Gray’s career is one to marvel at.
We do not all stand out to a large audience. Most of us are heroes only to our children. Yet, to discount one’s work because he lacks the hardware is to dismiss his accomplishments. I would have enjoyed sharing a beer with Mr. Gray.
For years I have pondered this to no avail.