There's "Soylent Green" released 1973. Charlton Heston on the stretcher, raising his bloody hand yelling, "Soylent Green is people." This is bad, citizens have little water or clean air, and food is people.
Then there's Woody Allen waking up in "Sleeper" also 1973. He did OK frozen in tin foil for a few hundred years. Between cryogenics and cloning maybe the future will be fine?
A generation of people stop wearing watches because of redundancy. Everyone has a cell phone with a clock. So unless you want to show off a Tag Hauer or Rolex, simply check your phone.
Now I see several companies are working on "Smart Watches." You wear a watch on your wrist that can function as a tablet or phone. Didn't we just get away from wearing wrist things? So, unless you want to show off a Tag Hauer or Rolex, simply check your cell phone.
How long before we can get brain implants? There are a LOT of people that could use some upgrading.
I first saw "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World" the year it came out, 1963. I remember driving to The Cinerama Movie Theater in downtown Detroit. I recently learned although advertised as Cinerama, it truly wasn't. Are you curious about this? No? Skip the next paragraph...go ahead, it's fine.
Cinerama was a three camera filming process. If you ever have a chance to watch the 1962 release of "How the West Was Won" you'll see three distinct screen shots. It was expensive and many Hollywood directors hated it. Distribution was limited and it went out of fashion. Mad Mad World was shot in 70 mm. It was big, but not Cinerama.
Mad Mad World was released fifty years ago. One of the many characters in the film was a gentleman named J.Russel Finch. He was played by Milton Berle. Mr. Finch had a mousy wife (Dorothy Provine) and an absolute shrew of a mother-in-law, Mrs. Marcus, played by Ethel Merman. J. Russel was a nervous sort who was constantly popping Valium, Tums or both. His major problem was his business, The Fresno Edible Seaweed Company. Mrs. Marcus was a heavy investor and things were looking bleak.
Edible Seaweed? No one in their right mind, especially in 1963, was going to eat seaweed. But now? In 2013.
J. Russel Finch, a man years ahead of his time. He was born too soon.
The day after Labor Day Michigan weather changes. There's a crisp feeling in the air. Saturday is college football. The leaves change color and drop off the trees. Fall is nice and winter comes too soon. Winter can be depressing everywhere. Here are some tips for fighting the winter weather blues.
1. Open the windows: Do this for some much needed fresh air and it will improve your day. Unless you have allergies, live in an area that is prone to dust storms, live very high without window screens (the cat or kid), or live on the ground floor in a not so nice neighborhood.
2. Hang your bedding outdoors: It's nice to go to bed with the fragrance of the outdoors in your nose. Unless you have allergies, live in an area with dust storms, near a tomato sauce (onions) or fish packing plant.
3. Take a walk: Get out of the house. You'll get some exercise and a change of scenery. Remember to take your keys, cell phone (with emergency numbers programmed in) water, a snack bar, a whistle and some mace. A walk is always relaxing. Be sure to watch for purse snatchers and wild dogs.
4. Scalp massage: This can be very soothing. If you have a partner ask them to do this to you. Offer them a few dollars, it's worth it. If you are alone use a hairbrush to stimulate your scalp. Have cats? Sprinkle a small amount of catnip on your head and turn them loose. It does feel good. Always clip your cats nails first. Trust me on this, you really don't want little tiny cat claws piercing your scalp.
5. Read: Take time away from all the things you think you have to do and sit down with a good book, or wade through your pile of unread magazines. Don't have time to read all the magazines, look at the pictures. (I did this for many years when I was a teenager). Use a tablet or reader? Don't spend so much time looking for books on Amazon you run out of time to read.
6. Take a hot bath: Hydrotherapy works wonders on those tired old muscles. Use bath oils and bubble bath for that extra special soak. Take a few bath toys with you like (what did you think I was going to write?) rubber ducks or boats. You can become a kid again. Remember, do not pee in the tub.
7. Cook something cheap and tasty: A skillet of cornbread, a pot of black bean chili, a plate of deviled eggs, a batch of oatmeal cookies – all inexpensive and delicious ways to perfume the house and whet appetites. Really? This is advice from the experts? Eat most of this stuff and kick yourself in the ass for the next week. You are on a diet! Perfume the house with deviled eggs? Ya, hard boiled eggs always smell so wonderful. Oh, and the bath thing...if you eat the eggs before the bath....try not to fart in the tub.
8. Tidy up: A cluttered living space can lead to disorganized thinking, depression or maybe even a minor household accident. You don’t have to scrub the floor with a toothbrush, but having a cleaner, well-organized place will lift your spirits. Even better, hire a house cleaner and see number 9.
9. Take a few weeks off and go on a Caribbean Cruise.
If you are tired of winter weather or feeling a little depressed, taking a bath, massaging your scalp or eating oatmeal cookies is not going to do it for you.
I can't see the future. If I could I'd bet on the World Series, Super Bowl and US Open (tennis and golf). It may look like the world of "Soylent Green?" It may look like "Sleeper?" One thing I do know; the future, our future, is going to get here much too fast.
Go on, take that cruise.....go to Florida, or Disneyland, or see old friends. If you have some things you want to do, why wait? Your tomorrow may never be a today.
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