John Masters, Author at Deep Something

An Italian Market and a Little Verdi-Doesn't Get Much Better

July 1, 2010 B. John 411 Views 0 Comments La Traviata, Brindisi, Italian Market, Philadelphia Opera

Visitors to the Reading Terminal Market Italian Festival got an authentic Italian treat back in April. Over 30 members of the cast of the Philadelphia Opera’s production of La Traviata slipped into the market in street clothes. They swung into action when the music for the famous “Brindisi” started playing through the markets public address system. Hundreds of shoppers got a wonderful surprise performance of one of the rousing pieces from Verdi to along with their Italian Market shopping.

Environment Gulf Oil Spill Humor Media Faux News Politics Religion Science Society Right Wingnuts Entertainment

BP Off the Hook for Oil Spill-WorldNet Daily Says it was God

June 27, 2010September 29, 2018 B. John 897 Views 2 Comments God, David Vitter, Obama, Israel, Tea Bagger Party, Diapers

Yes, that’s right folks. I knew it would be just a matter of time, but the tea bagger crazies are now claiming the oil spill in the Gulf was caused by God. So why would you say God would blow up an oil drilling platform off the Louisiana coast? Well, Katrina was because of those devil worshiping, gays down in New Orleans, so you might think this was because the people down there keep electing prostitution supporter, diaper wearing David Vitter, but you would be wrong. Turns out, it’s all Obama’s fault.

Music Society Gay Issues Culture

What Do You Think I Fought For at Omaha Beach?

June 2, 2010August 10, 2015 B. John 1355 Views 1 Comment Maine, Iowa All State Orchestra and Chorus, marriage equality, Phillip Spooner, Melissa Dunphy

This entry is in the series Gay Marriage

Last Fall, during the unfortunately successful campaign to repeal Marriage Equality in Maine, 86 year old WWII Veteran Phillip Spooner stood before a packed hall and delivered a stirring call for equality to a Senate Committee. When asked by a woman at his polling place if he supported equal rights for gay and lesbian people. He tells how surprised he was to even be asked, and said his response was, “What do you think I fought for at Omaha Beach?” His statement was subsequently set to music by Melissa Dunphy, and was selected as the winning work for the 2010 Simon Carrington Chamber Singers Composition Competition.

Culture Entertainment Fun Stuff Politics

Don't Drunk Dial Freedom Works

May 19, 2010September 29, 2018 B. John 520 Views 1 Comment FreedomWorks, Freedom Works, D. C. Douglas, Geico, Teabaggers, Tea Party, Dick Army, Koch

D. C. Douglas lost his gig as the voice-over announcer for Geico commercials after leaving a rather nasty message on the voice mail for the Teabagger group known as FreedomWorks. This is a hilarious satirical video about their reaction to his message, and calls out the Teabagger for what it actually is…an astro-turf, Koch Industry’s funded front group which has managed to get people to vote against their own best interests in support of big corporations.

Culture Movies Featured

Robin Hood – A Movie Review

May 17, 2010 B. John 533 Views 0 Comments Russell Crowe, William Hurt, William Marshall, Mark Strong, Mark Addy, Oscar Isaac, Danny Huston, Action, Eileen Atkins, Adventure, Kevin Durand, Cate Blanchett, Max von Sydow, Ridley Scott

“Robin Hood” chronicles the life of an expert archer, previously interested only in self-preservation, from his service in King Richard’s army against the French. Upon Richard’s death, Robin travels to Nottingham, a town suffering from the corruption of a despotic sheriff and crippling taxation, where he falls for the spirited widow Lady Marion, a woman skeptical of the identity and motivations of this crusader from the forest. Robin Hood delivers what it promises. Solid action, good narrative, and the inclusion of a bit of history with action between England and France gives the movie an added meat and almost realistic feel to it. The dialog is a bit ropey at times, and Robin’s “merry men” could have had a bit more screen time, but otherwise i see no major fault with this movie.

Culture Movies Music

Pirate Radio – A Movie Review

May 16, 2010 B. John 462 Views 0 Comments Richard Curtis, Rhys Ifans, Nick Frost, Kenneth Branagh, Comedy, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Music, Rock and Roll, Bill Nighy

n the 1960s a group of 8 rogue DJs on a boat in the middle of the Northern Atlantic, played rock records and broke the law all for the love of music. The songs they played united and defined an entire generation and drove the British government crazy. By playing rock ‘n roll they were standing up against the British government who did everything in their power to shut them down.

General

Octopus Steals Camera

April 22, 2010 B. John 344 Views 0 Comments Octopus, camera, underwater photography

An underwater photographer was peacefully cruising along a reef when this speedy octopus snaked out an arm and grabbed his Lumix away. The cephalopod then proceeded to jet away at top speed, while filming the whole thing — unfortunately, with more than a couple of its thumbs covering the lens.

Society Gay Issues Culture

The Gay Agenda-Finally Revealed

April 13, 2010 B. John 356 Views 0 Comments Conservapedia, Gay Agenda, Betty Bowers, Wikipedia

I’ve been trying to get a copy for some years now. Sean Chapin has finally put it in a video, and now the secret is out. While Betty Bowers disclosed a version of the Gay Agenda a while back, I think this video version is a more accurate portrayal of what those nasty boys are up to.

Fun Stuff

One of the Oldest Tricks in The Book

March 24, 2010August 10, 2015 B. John 427 Views 0 Comments BMW, S 100 RR Superbike

So pulling the table cloth off and not moving the dishes has been done forever, and is still a pretty cool trick if you can pull it off (pun intended). But in this video, some guys take it to a whole new level. They use a BMW S 1000 RR Superbike to pull off a tablecloth with 24 complete place settings with all the trimmings on a giant rectangular table. This is pretty cool.

Fun Stuff

Men in Coats (2)

March 23, 2010August 10, 2015 B. John 489 Views 0 Comments

We posted one video of this group a few days ago. This is similar, but does add a few additional bits to the routine. All pretty funny stuff. Worth the five minutes to watch.

Culture Movies

Green Zone – A Movie Review

March 22, 2010 B. John 551 Views 0 Comments Antoni Corone, Nicoye Banks, Adaptaion, Thriller, War, Matt Damon, Greg Kinnear, Paul Greengrass, Amy Ryan

Rocketing from one bobby-trapped and treacherous site to the next, the men search for deadly chemical agents but stumble instead upon an elaborate cover-up that inverts the purpose of their mission. Spun by operatives with intersection agendas, Miller must hunt through covert and faulty intelligence hidden on foreign soil for answers that will either clear a rogue regime or escalate a war in an unstable region. All-in-all, a pretty good movie with an authentic feel.