In rolling realms across the screen

There were four internationally mailed packages in my mailbox when I left the house this afternoon, all from handful_ofdust. With a positive media library inside. I sat on derspatchel's couch and pulled out Thor (2011) and The Avengers (2012) and Skyfall (2012) and Gangs of New York (2002) and Horror of Dracula (1958) and Ashes of Time (1994) and . . .

We shall not be hurting for things to watch tonight.

(People are awesome. On Wednesday, when Rob and I were on Georges Island, B. called from Turkey to put his cat on the phone so she could purr at me and make me feel better. I have never before been called by a cat in a different time zone. It worked, too.)

I am very pleased that Criterion has gotten around to releasing the original 1942 To Be or Not to Be, especially if I get to see a short silent film starring Ernest Lubitsch himself, but that cover design is like two hundred percent more metal than I ever associated with the Lubitsch touch.

Rob has just read me that Michael Ansara has died.

The true secrets, the important things. Fourteen words to make someone fall in love with you forever. Seven words to make them go without pain. How to say good-bye to a friend who is dying. How to be poor. How to be rich. How to rediscover dreams when the world has stolen them.