Month: November 2010

Categories
Arts

“Psych,” “Top Chef: All Stars,” “VH1 Divas Salute the Troops”







“Psych”

Wednesday 10pm, USA

“Psych” is an amiable little procedural that has found its spot on the basic-cable line-up. This week’s episode will flirt with edginess as it pays homage to one of the most disturbing shows in TV history, David Lynch’s groundbreaking “Twin Peaks.” In addition to being adorable and charming, “Psych” star James Roday is a huge “TP” fan, and he wrote this episode, in which Shawn and Gus travel to Dual Spires, a weird little town thrown into chaos after the murder of a high school girl. Look for cameos by “Peaks” stars Sherilyn Fenn (Audrey), Sheryl Lee (Laura Palmer), Dana Ashbrook (Bobby), and even the Log Lady.

 

“Top Chef: All Stars”

Wednesday 10pm, Bravo

So last season ended with a whimper, and “Just Desserts” was a gigantic, crazy mess. But I am still excited for this all-star season of the venerable cooking competition. Eighteen contestants from the previous seven seasons are back for another shot at the win, including major contenders like Tiffani (Season 1), Richard (S4), Jen C (a.k.a. “Bitchface Jen,” S6), Angelo (S7) and Tre (S3), plus fan favorites like Carla (S5), Fabio (S5) and Tiffany (S7). Requisite douchebags like Marcel (S2), Stephen (S1) and Spike (S4) are also around for drama. But with no chaff for these guys to hide in, I can’t see any of them except for Marcel hanging around too long. The judging panel remains the same, with the substitution of Anthony Bourdain in the Eric Ripert part-time slot.

 

“VH1 Divas Salute the Troops”

Sunday 9pm, VH1

Back in 1998 VH1 launched its “Divas” series of concert specials, which over the years featured big-deal divas like Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Cher, Tina Turner, Diana Ross, Faith Hill and the diva to end all divas, Aretha Franklin. By 2004 the star wattage had dimmed considerably, with the likes of Ashanti, Joss Stone and—yikes—Jessica Simpson sharing the stage. Last year the project came back with a host of teen-skewing pop acts, and now VH1 is adding a nationalistic slant for a show that will raise funds for the USO’s Operation Enduring Care. Performers this year include the ubiquitous Katy Perry, who basically is a modern USO girl; country duo Sugarland; girl-fronted emo popsters Paramore; and Nicki Minaj, a singer/rapper who I might respect more if she could either sing or rap.

Department of Environmental Quality agrees to facilitate water plan debate

It took a September meeting of four boards—comprising representatives from the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors, Charlottesville City Council, Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority and Albemarle County Service Authority—to formalize the myriad questions about the community water supply plan. According to a new letter from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), it may take another, larger meeting to resolve them.

While the DEQ is not a plumbing operation per se, Director David Paylor informed each of the four boards that department representatives are willing to help unclog the debate surrounding the community water supply plan—a city-county discussion likened by Mayor Dave Norris to "two squabbling children." Charlottesville Tomorrow has the story and a PDF copy of the letter from Paylor to board representatives (available here).

To organize the meeting, Paylor writes that each board should confirm desire for such a powwow and acknowledge that DEQ’s role "would be to (1) provide technical background information, and (2) facilitate and encourage constructive dialogue among community stakeholders." Additional components for the meeting, according to Paylor, should include presentations by board representatives and discussion of environmental issues and water demand projections. The latter comes with a parenthetical caveat: "Probably by individuals known to have expertise on the issues."  Paylor requests that board representatives respond by December 14.

Last week, a member of an independent technical review team told the RWSA Board of Directors and member of the public that cost estimates proposed by Black & Veatch engineers for a dam built upon the existing Lower Ragged Mountain Dam structure could exceed initial estimates.

Categories
Arts

127 Hours; R, 93 minutes; Opening Friday







In 2003, Aron Ralston got so far away from it all that he almost didn’t get back. Stuck under an immovable boulder for five lonely days without nearly enough food or water or protective clothing or anesthesia, the 27-year-old mountaineer was forced to cut off his own arm with a dull pocketknife. Later he wrote a book called Between a Rock and a Hard Place, which director Danny Boyle and co-writer Simon Beaufoy have adapted into 127 Hours. Now he is played by James Franco. 



James Franco delivers a standout performance in Danny Boyle’s latest, 127 Hours, the true story of Aron Ralston, who you may know as the the hiker who was forced to sever his arm after it was trapped beneath a boulder.

Lately we’ve had a lot of angles on Franco: as performance-artist soap star, as collector of higher degrees from good universities, as short-form fictioneer, as Allen Ginsberg. It’s easy to see the rightness of his Ralston in 127 Hours when he’s first pinned down by that rock—grunting, heaving, muttering, “This is insane!” Later, when graced with a fleeting shaft of sunlight, he reaches for it with everything he’s got. If any question remains about Franco’s gifts, maybe it’s the question of how many future biographers will want that image for the covers of their books. 

But before getting to that, there must be the introductory ministrations—the speedy twitch of Boyle’s belabored style. It was silly to hope for an ascetic presentation from the director of Slumdog Millionaire and Trainspotting. That’d be like getting trapped under a boulder in Utah’s Bluejohn Canyon and expecting prompt rescue from a passerby. But maybe some bustle up front is appropriate. This is, after all, a film about an imperiously hyper young man who came to stillness very suddenly and very much against his will. A young man whose narration of his own adventure, as told to his trusty video camera, goes from, “Just me, music and the night—love it!” to, “This rock has been waiting for me my entire life.” 

During that progress, such as it is, Franco’s Ralston mockingly interrogates himself. He thinks back on a quick, flirtatious frolic with a pair of female hikers (Amber Tamblyn and Kate Mara) whose path he recently crossed, and on the family and friends who’ve meant the most to him—including a girlfriend (Clémence Poésy) he regrets giving up. Thankfully, Boyle does figure out that his movie’s best dynamics are in Franco’s face: the mischief in his eyes getting clobbered into forlornness, then swimming in delirium, then setting into resolve.

As for the pivotal scene, suffice to say Boyle has not skimped on the messy details. For instance, before cutting the arm off, Ralston had to break both of its bones. One at a time. The sound alone made somebody in my audience gag. And that’s saying nothing of the visuals. Saying nothing of the visuals seems like a good idea, so I’ll only add a caution to choose your 127 Hours concessions carefully; Twizzlers are not advised.

Investigation continues in child’s hunting-related death in Nelson County

The death of a 7-year-old Nelson County child during a hunting expedition with his father and 10-year-old brother remains under investigation by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF), according to published reports. An e-mail to a spokesperson for DGIF was not immediately returned.

According to the 2010-2011 Hunting and Trapping in Virginia (available for download here), hunter education courses are required for ages 12 and older. Those under the age of 12 are exempt, but may not hunt without direct adult supervision. (A report from the Nelson County Times says the father, whose name has not been released, was near.)

While no stats were immediately available on the number of hunting accidents in Virginia this year, there were a few hunting-related accidents and incidents reported in 2009. And here, current as of August 2009, is a list of minimum hunting ages for each state.

Charlottesville Dialogue on Race action team to discuss achievement gap

Tomorrow, one of Charlottesville’s Dialogue on Race action teams will tackle the achievement gap in a community forum.

Last year, City Council tasked Acting City Manager Maurice Jones with developing a strategy to address racial tensions and promote diversity in the city. More than 700 people began the dialogue in January and participated in study groups.

From the January discussions, work groups were formed to address issues and inconsistencies in education, goverment, economics and the social realm. The work groups created action teams to research single issues. The Achievement Gap team, under the Education Work Group, is facilitated by Colette Blount, a member of the city school board.

On Tuesday night, community members will share experiences, and panelists—including Ann Dublirer, city schools’ Preschool Coordinator; Laurie McCullough, city schools’ Supervisor of Assessment; and Rydell Payne, director of Abundant Life Ministries—will answer questions from the public.

The forum will begin at 6pm in City Council Chambers and is free and open to the public.
 

Hoos Beat #13 Golden Gophers 87-79 in ACC/Big 10 Challenge

Virginia did their part for the ACC in the 2010 ACC/Big 10 Challenge Monday evening in Minneapolis beating the Golden Gophers 87-79. Joe Harris led Virginia with 24 points, and Mustapha Farrakhan pitched in 23 for the Hoos who improve to 5-3 on the young season.

Mike Scott (12 rebounds) played well on both ends of the court as he scored 17. Assane Sene was a force inside disrupting shots, and running the floor quite well. Sene chipped in 7 for the Hoos all at the free throw line.

Minnesota was 27-0 under Tubby Smith in non-conference games at home, and I’m certain this loss was a brutal one for Smith especially since the Golden Gophers were up 10 at the break. Before Tony Bennett was hired, Virginia’s athletic department expressed interest in Smith moving to Charlottesville to run the Wahoo program.

This was the first loss of the season for Minnesota.

The Hoos were awesome at the line tonight finishing 25-30 for an excellent 83%. Virginia was also hot shooting the three-ball going 10-14.
 

Feedback Session: Pantherburn

If you’re looking for a musician as prolific as he is well-dressed, look no further than Pantherburn frontman Phillip St. Ours. After releasing a solo effort, The Bear, with a killer show in June, St. Ours helms a second full length in 2010 alone with Pantherburn’s debut disc, Dark and Troubled, scheduled for release in December. And what’s more, with producer Rob Evans the band formed a record label—County Wide Records—to release it. All this St. Ours & co. presumably did while looking like they just got off a losing day on Wall Street. (Also spinning in the rumor mill: the band might use the County Wide label to release music from other local acts.) 

Check out a single from the new record, "American Werewolves on the Moon," posted to the group’s Bandcamp website. To hear more off the new record, head to the Southern on Friday, December 3, to see the ‘Burn perform with Flanna Sheridan, all the way from Prague, and openers Mister Baby and Marionette.

Or stay ahead of the game by simply checking out the Feedback Session below, courtesy of Gary Canino. 

Who else should we check in with?

Virginia and VT Noon Saturday in Blacksburg

Virginia (4-7) travels to Blacksburg Saturday for the last game of a very disappointing 2010 season. The Hokies (9-2) have two more games, the ACC Championship next weekend, and then what certainly will be a better bowl game than Virginia has ever been to a few weeks later in January.

The Hokies have run the table since uncharacteristically losing the first two games of the year. Tech has a stable of offensive weapons that are certain to give Virginia’s coaching staff gastrointestinal distress. Tyrod Taylor, Jarrett Boykin, Darren Evans, Ryan Williams, David Wilson, it could get ugly early down in Appalachia for the undermanned Wahoos.

Virginia is 8-12 with Marc Verica as the starter. The Hoos have not won in Blacksburg since an improbable win in 1998, and they have lost 10 out of the past 11 in the bitter rivalry.

I’ve heard rumors around town that offensive coordinator Bill Lazor will be leaving Virginia after the season to return to the NFL.

Can Virginia win? Anything is possible, but I think the Hoos get embarrassed Saturday 48-13. Tech is playing as well as anyone on the East Coast, and their specialty is kicking Virginia’s ass all around the gridiron. Yuck. I can only imagine all those lovely Hokie fans shaking their keys on a key play, all dressed in that lovely orange and maroon… 

Virginia Hammered by Hokies in Blacksburg 37-7

Virginia received their annual Thanksgiving weekend beat-down from Virginia Tech Saturday afternoon at Lane Stadium. The Hokies kicked the snot out of the nose of Virginia for what seemed like the 33rd straight time. Unless you live in the New River Valley, it was hard to find anyone that gave much thought to this game. Maybe we could move this game to April so it doesn’t ruin my damn Thanksgiving every damn year…

Senior Tyrod Taylor (Yes, Virginia will never see him again) torched the Hoos defense for 177 yards on 14/24 passing and 1 TD. He also ran for 24 yards on 7 carries, and could have had many more as he was the best player on the field.

Virginia offense was terrible, totally outmatched by Bud Foster’s defense. Torrey Mack led Virginia in rushing with only 30 yards. I attempted to pick an outstanding player for Mike London’s Hoos on the afternoon, but I’m not sure I can find anyone that played all that well.

The Hoos finish just one game better than they did last season: 4-8. Rebuilding takes time. Patience Wahoo fans…
 

Fundraising, construction of new library in Crozet remains uncertain

In December of last year, Albemarle County Supervisors voted to postpone the construction of an expanded Crozet library.

“I am not willing to grant this anything more than a temporary setback at this point, because the library on schedule by 2012 would have been a tremendous boost to the resurgence of downtown Crozet and we were all counting on that,” said Board Chair Ann Mallek at the time. Mallek represents the White Hall District, which includes Crozet.

Now, according to the Daily Progress, officials hope the library can be finished with grants and donations. Although a fundraising committee has already raised a small amount of the proposed a goal of $1.6 million, members are asking for completion of the library’s design and engineering prior to renewed efforts in finding donors.

As approved earlier, the design for the new library calls for 18,000 square feet of space with an additional shelf space of around 5,000 square feet, a much larger facility compared to the less-than 2,000-square-foot existing facility.
 

An early library design.