kinuta

One of the greatest American directors, his films will continue to inspire new film makers.

I was having an early night when the latest, and biggest, aftershock woke me from my golden slumbers. Still, it was only a 6 or so in Tokyo, kids stuff !

Count Basie Roulette Studio Disc 7 This has been on my wishlist for some time! What are your thoughts on the sound quality? I would assume the band is killer! I will probably order it with the MJQ to save on shipping. THANKS! Well, I'll answer - the sound quality is very good. All the sessions were recorded in the mid-70's. The music is simply OUTSTANDING! I think this was Toshiko's most creative period. I have heard most of, if not all the band's releases on various labels since the RCA period, but nothing quite matches what's on this set, IMO. And yes, the band is superb. Edited to add: There are two live RCA sessions not on this Mosaic set - a 2 LP set recorded in Japan and 1 LP at Newport '77. I have them both, but I wish we could get them on CD. They are equally as good. Jazz Nut, I'm a huge fan of Toshiko Akiyoshi and of course I agree with John. Don't have the Mosaic but have all the music on other labels. Outstanding. I saw Toshiko and the band on NHK tv a few weeks ago and they were absolutely brilliant.

Really well done. I know what's going to happen, & I'm still captivated. Indeed, outstanding in every department. Almost insulting to relegate it to the tv programme thread, this is a fully developed and skillfully realized film. What a difference a talented director makes.

The Kennedys - Episodes 1 & 2 Tom Wilkinson dominates everything as Joe. Competent cast but awful unimaginative direction with little style and panache. Unoffensive but bland, verging on dull.

Mildred Pierce Episode 3. Excellent.

Many happy returns, Jeff. How was Eric & Ernie ?

Body Of Proof Surprisingly good ! Are we looking at Brenda's successor? Time will tell.

Robbie Robertson - Straight Down The Line

Nigel Kneale Professor Bernard Quatermass Colonel Breen

The Good Wife Good as always, Kalinda in hot water. True Bloods Good but the idea of spending 80% of the time setting up a hopeless no win situation only to have it nattily resolved in the last five minutes or so is nonsense. Chaos New programme which is gonna die a swift death. Awful.

Ivan Novello DW Griffith Alfred Hitchcock

Pinball Wizard Lizard King Chameleon Man

I would have liked to have seen a good production of LeCarre's The Honourable Schoolboy.

June Christy Little Peggy March November Girl

As far as I could see it followed the book very faithfully,scene by scene. The great direction and attention to detail really lifted it to film status. Thinking of it as just a tv film does it an injustice.

Bill Black Al Green Bobby 'Blue' Bland

Sanders Of The River Old Man Of The Mountain Swamp Woman

Mildred Pierce HBO Episodes 1 & 2 Outstanding. I was captivated.

I live on the doorstep of the water treatment plant in Kanamachi Eastern Tokyo. I read Rupert Wingfield -Hayes's dispatch to the BBC (your link above). I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. What possible useful purpose does a report like that serve? To call the water situation 'Japan's ground zero' is completely irresponsible. The fact is that Japan sets limits for radioactive iodine 131 that are 10 times lower than those set by the IAEA: 300Bq/kg in Japan and 3000Bq/Kg for the IAEA. Putting 'no immediate danger to adults' at the end of a report after using emotive language like 'ground zero' is pure bad journalism. This is the same chinless wonder who harped on about the prevalence of face masks in Tokyo. Well that's because it's 'kafunsho' (hayfever) season. Something like 20% of Tokyoites are susceptible to the cedar pollen from that blows into the city at this time of year. This prat is apparently married to a Japanese woman. You'd think he'd dig a little deeper and know a bit about the place before typing out articles so cliche ridden they could have come straight from a Fodors travel guide. I've lived here for 12 years and as worrying as things are I really feel ill-served by what passes for journalism from some elements of the foreign media. As I write water has been declared safe for everyone in the Tokyo area. Net result? Panic buying of water in the city for 2 whole days and yet another media generated diversion from the pressing issue of those thousands left to freeze and starve up in the tsunami area. Seriously, life in Tokyo is Easy Street by comparison. Rant over. Time for a cup of tea... Couldn't agree more. The foreign media reports have really hyped the situation in Tokyo out of all proportion. The water panic buying hasn't abated here in Setagaya Ku, the shops are empty of water, as are all the vending machines. Doesn't bother me as I drink tap water. I really wish this ' kaidame' -panic buying would end, I went out to buy some yogurt the other day and couldn't find any anywhere. What possible reason could explain that? Time to move on and focus on the real problem, the plight of the newly homeless evacuees.

Just as we are starting to feel some semblance of normality again we have been hit with a warning of elevated levels of radioactivity in the Tokyo water supply. They advise not giving water to ' infants' but say there is no immediate health danger to adults. Everythings hangs on ' immediate'. Freaking again. My link

A great episode of Detroit 1 8 7 last night. Really hope the show is renewed.

I'm feeling very heavy stress now. I won't be posting for the time being.

Complete pandemonium here, the roads and streets are jammed with traffic, massive panic buying , there are long lines waiting to get in supermarkets. I can hardly believe the state of almost mass hysteria. PM Kan's little pep talk and axing of large parts of the transportation hub have really freaked people out.

Doesn't alter the fact that we are without power all afternoon, the local station which is on a major commuting line is shut, businesses, mine included, are shut or subject to long power cuts and on and on.