a friend of mine suggested that I compile and analyze train movies in a similar manner in which I attempt to analyze train songs. The problem is, for whatever reason, my knowledge of train movies is extremely lacking. I am familiar with 4, count 'em 4, movies in which the Chicago 'L' is featured prominently: While You Were Sleeping, the Fugitive, High Fidelity, and of course the classic On the Line featuring N'Sync's Joey Fattone and Lance Bass.
But my train movie knowledge is lacking. I've seen Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train, but remember not liking it too much. The incomparable North by Northwest includes trains but the story really doesn't revolve around them.
My friend recommends Sullivan's Travels (1941) and Closely Watched Trains (1966 from Czechoslovakia). I haven't seen either but I think I know what I'm doing over the next couple of weeks.
There's always Trainspotting (which I also haven't seen) and the classic celebration of multi-modal transportation: Trains, Planes and Automobiles.
Wait, I just thought of a classic train movie - Howlett favorite Dr. Zhivago. What a great movie! It includes everything you would want in a film: unrequited love, trains, Communism, the stunning Julie Christie, Russia, and Obi Wan Kenobi!!
What do you think? Any train movie suggestions?
Showing posts with label Russia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Russia. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Sunday, April 29, 2007
news rodeo - April 29, 2007
We here at PHG have been busy as of late (or at least busy procrastinating from getting any 'real' work done). So to catch you all (all two of you!) up on what's been going on here is the first ever PHG news rodeo!
story: Ad on Bus Mocks Bus. In Grand Rapids, Michigan there will be an ad on the back of buses that openly mocks the transit system in Grand Rapids. According the news article: "The political ad shows a Rapid transit bus that has morphed into a pig. It's eating money and spewing pollution." The ad proclaims This Pig Stinks! in bold letters. A group paid $290 to place the ad for a month, and it is in opposition to an increase in revenue to expand service in Grand Rapids.
PHG take: This is exactly the opposite approach that CBS took when MoveOn.org and PETA tried to pay for advertisements during the Super Bowl two years ago. Even though these groups were willing to pay $2 million for a thirty second ad, CBS denied their ads stating that they refuse to air political ads. Grand Rapids certainly didn't have to accept this ad, but should be given some credit for accepting this controversial ad. I think the real story is: $290 for a 21 inch by 72 inch ad! PHG should scrape together some money, perhaps by selling Rice Krispy treats, to take our message of hope, transit, soccer, and transportation planning songs to Grand Rapids.
story: 'Gated Communities for the War-Ravaged." The Washington Post ran a story earlier this week with this precise headline! The article reports: "The U.S. military is walling off at least 10 of Baghdad's most violent neighborhoods and using biometric technology to track some of their residents, creating what officers call 'gated communities' in an attempt to carve out oases of safety in this war-ravaged city."
PHG take: The war must finally be taking a turn for the better if Iraqis are getting their own gated communities! The picture that the Washington Post ran of Iraqi children playing soccer in their new 'gated community' does in many ways resemble Belmont Country Club in Loudoun County, Virginia.
story: Russia Plans World's Longest Tunnel, Link to Alaska. I found this story on the Transportationist blog. The 64 mile tunnel connecting Siberia to Alaska would be primarily used to transport oil, natural gas, and electricity but would also contain a highway and a high speed railway.
PHG take: Finally, the land bridge across the Bering Strait returns! This world is getting increasingly smaller by the day. If this thing is built, you could technically drive from New York to London by car. This is a different route than suggested by Google Maps, which encourages people traveling from New York to London to "swim across the Atlantic Ocean."
story: Other new from Russia - Boris Yeltsin dies.
PHG take: Yelstin was the first ever popularly elected president of Russia, and a leader during the very critical time of transition out of Cold War politics. I don't know if the Washington Post has anything against Yeltsin, but this was the photograph they were running on the front page of their website after his death.
story: Ad on Bus Mocks Bus. In Grand Rapids, Michigan there will be an ad on the back of buses that openly mocks the transit system in Grand Rapids. According the news article: "The political ad shows a Rapid transit bus that has morphed into a pig. It's eating money and spewing pollution." The ad proclaims This Pig Stinks! in bold letters. A group paid $290 to place the ad for a month, and it is in opposition to an increase in revenue to expand service in Grand Rapids.
PHG take: This is exactly the opposite approach that CBS took when MoveOn.org and PETA tried to pay for advertisements during the Super Bowl two years ago. Even though these groups were willing to pay $2 million for a thirty second ad, CBS denied their ads stating that they refuse to air political ads. Grand Rapids certainly didn't have to accept this ad, but should be given some credit for accepting this controversial ad. I think the real story is: $290 for a 21 inch by 72 inch ad! PHG should scrape together some money, perhaps by selling Rice Krispy treats, to take our message of hope, transit, soccer, and transportation planning songs to Grand Rapids.
story: 'Gated Communities for the War-Ravaged." The Washington Post ran a story earlier this week with this precise headline! The article reports: "The U.S. military is walling off at least 10 of Baghdad's most violent neighborhoods and using biometric technology to track some of their residents, creating what officers call 'gated communities' in an attempt to carve out oases of safety in this war-ravaged city."
PHG take: The war must finally be taking a turn for the better if Iraqis are getting their own gated communities! The picture that the Washington Post ran of Iraqi children playing soccer in their new 'gated community' does in many ways resemble Belmont Country Club in Loudoun County, Virginia.
story: Russia Plans World's Longest Tunnel, Link to Alaska. I found this story on the Transportationist blog. The 64 mile tunnel connecting Siberia to Alaska would be primarily used to transport oil, natural gas, and electricity but would also contain a highway and a high speed railway.
PHG take: Finally, the land bridge across the Bering Strait returns! This world is getting increasingly smaller by the day. If this thing is built, you could technically drive from New York to London by car. This is a different route than suggested by Google Maps, which encourages people traveling from New York to London to "swim across the Atlantic Ocean."
story: Other new from Russia - Boris Yeltsin dies.
PHG take: Yelstin was the first ever popularly elected president of Russia, and a leader during the very critical time of transition out of Cold War politics. I don't know if the Washington Post has anything against Yeltsin, but this was the photograph they were running on the front page of their website after his death.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
reimagining the urban apartment block
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Javier guided me in the direction of Ramenskoye in Russia. Ramenskoye is located 46 km (28.5 miles) southeast of Moscow. I don't know much about this initiative, but this website has many pictures of this very colorful place.
What to make of Ramenskoye? I am not sure. It would be very interesting to see what the residents of the area think. I imagine that the paintings would be a source of pride and a colorful counterpoint to the grey and snow that tend to dominate the Russian landscape.
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