John Beck

Bon vivant par excellence
Organizer of good things. Skeptical romantic. Needs pasta.

Lost Blog

by

I haven’t been updated my blog here too much. I’ve been on the PlayStation 3 a whole lot. Love that thing so much! If you’re on the PS3 my PSN is ‘beckinabox’. Add me as your friend, let me know who you are, I don’t accept strangers.

Instead of updating my blog here I’ve been on Twitter a whole lot. I find micro-blogging on Twitter a lot easier sometimes. I’m also on FourSquare. So you can see what I’m up to on Twitter and where I’ve been on FourSquare.

Twitter: beckinabox
FourSquare link

Next week I hope to start painting again. Looking forward to it. I haven’t painted in years. I’m also going to start using Rosetta Stone again. Started learning Italian last summer and never followed through with it. Also planning on going to Baltimore with Steffers. Tonight we’re going to see Jønsi, although I think I’d rather stay home and watch 24.

Ryan Newman wins at Phoenix

by

Ryan Newman won last night’s NASCAR race at Phoenix International Raceway. I don’t post on Newman that much because, well, he hasn’t won a race since the Daytona 500 back in 2008. When he took the lead on that last restart with 2 laps to go I knew he wasn’t going to give it up easily. Great job Ryan!

Ryan Newman wins Phoenix

For the rest of the story click HERE.

TCM Akira Kurosawa day, part 4!

by

Tonight is the last night of Akira Kurosawa day on TCM! Part 4 of the 100th anniversary of his birth. 3 great Kurosawa films TONIGHT:

8:00 PM Dersu Uzala (1975)
A Russian explorer brings the Asiatic hunter who saved his life back to civilization.
Cast: Maksim Munzuk, Yuriy Solomin, M Bichkov, V Khrulev Dir: Akira Kurosawa C-141 mins, TV-PG

10:30 PM Kagemusha (1980)
Japanese clansmen force a poor thief to impersonate their dead warlord.
Cast: Tatsuya Nakadai, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Kenichi Hagiwara, Kota Yui Dir: Akira Kurosawa C-181 mins, TV-PG

1:45 AM Ran (1985)
An aging lord’s decision to retire brings out the worst in his sons.
Cast: Tatsuya Nakadai, Akira Terao, Jinpachi Nezu, Daisuke Ryu Dir: Akira Kurosawa C-163 mins

Favorite TV shows of the week: March 21st to March 27th

by

1) 24 – “Day 8: 4:00 AM to 5:00 AM” No Change
2) Parenthood – “Wassup” No Change
3) South Park – “The Tale of Scrotie McBoogerballs” +4
4) Modern Family – “Starry Night” Not Aired
5) Lost – “Ab Aeterno” +8
6) The Cleveland Show – “Once Upon A Tyne In New York” Not Aired
7) Breaking Bad – “No Mas” New
8) Family Guy – “Peter-assment” +2
9) 30 Rock – “Floyd” -2
10) The Office – “Happy Hour” -4
11) Community – “The Science of Illusion” -2
12) Parks and Recreation – “Summer Catalog” -4
13) Chuck – “Chuck Versus the Final Exam” -6
14) Caprica – “End of Line” -5
15) The Life and Times of Tim – “The Salty Jazz/Jews Love To Laugh” -1
16) Sons of Tucson – “The Break In” No Change
17) The Simpsons – “Stealing First Base” No Change

TCM Akira Kurosawa day, part 3!

by

Today is Akira Kurosawa day on TCM! Part 3 of the 100th anniversary of his birth. Kurosawa films all day and night; TONIGHT:

8:00 PM Rashomon (1950)
In medieval Japan, four people offer conflicting accounts of a rape and murder. Cast: Toshiro Mifune, Machiko Kyo, Masayuki Mori. Dir: Akira Kurosawa. BW-88 mins, TV-PG

9:30 PM Seven Samurai (1954)
Japanese villagers hire a team of traveling samurai to defend them against a bandit attack. Cast: Toshiro Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Kuninori Kodo. Dir: Akira Kurosawa. BW-207 mins, TV-14

1:00 AM Yojimbo (1961)
A samurai-for-hire sets the warring factions of a Japanese town against each other. Cast: Toshiro Mifune, Eijiro Tono, Seizaburo Kawazu. Dir: Akira Kurosawa. BW-111 mins, TV-14, Letterbox Format

3:00 AM Sanjuro (1962)
 A wandering samurai recruits younger fighters to help him battle corruption. Cast: Toshiro Mifune, Tatsuya Hakadai, Yuzo Kayama. Dir: Akira Kurosawa. BW-96 mins, TV-14, Letterbox Format