To be clear, my dad gets some amazing care at the VA clinic in Austin (I go with him to every one of his appointments as he is experiencing memory issues and doesn't remember everything that is said, what treatment plans he's on, or what questions he needs to/should be asking) and since he is pretty congenial the nurses at the hospital in Temple warm up to him pretty quick. But they also have to deal with a bunch of goose-stepping, reich wing rednecks. I've observed it personally. I can understand their initial dour approach.

I love his primary care physician, for example. She's not brusque but she tells you the unvarnished truth. A couple months back, she looked at both my dad and myself and said "Mr. Senior Burrito, I would strongly advise you to get a will in place, a medical power of attorney completed with your son as your agent of record as he knows everything about your healthcare as far as I can tell, and that you begin to accept your mortality. I will setup a consultation with our outreach program downstairs that will help you accomplish all of those things at no cost. To be frank with both you and your son, you're at the end of life stage." She has done her best for years to keep my dad upright. There's just nothing left to do for him. But she has always been exceptionally kind and compassionate.

Beamer wrote on Sep 14, 2024, 22:16:

Prez wrote on Sep 14, 2024, 22:13:
The staff at the VA shocked me with how friendly and compassionate they were. They must have made a ton of improvements after the notoriously bad reputation they had received in years prior.

The one in Orange, or thereabouts?
My dad has been saying good things about them. I'm actually taking him there this week.

Yes my sister said the one in East Orange. I only interacted with the ER staff but one nurse even hugged me and told me that it would be okay. My own family doesn't do that! (except for my sister Patti of course)

Prez wrote on Sep 14, 2024, 22:13:
The staff at the VA shocked me with how friendly and compassionate they were. They must have made a ton of improvements after the notoriously bad reputation they had received in years prior.

The one in Orange, or thereabouts?
My dad has been saying good things about them. I'm actually taking him there this week.

The staff at the VA in East Orange shocked me with how friendly and compassionate they were. They must have made a ton of improvements after the notoriously bad reputation they had received in years prior.

This comment was edited on Sep 14, 2024, 22:23.

I had not heard. I am sorry that you ended up in the ER. That is awesome that you got compliments, though! I bet those nurses rarely get a chance to be happy to see someone's feet. I know the VA hospital up in Temple has some pretty dour nurses due to the attitudes of the patients.

Well I know for a fact that I was right about "West Side Story", as the remake was not that good, but I honestly don't even remember that there was a Ben Hur remake.

Prez wrote on Sep 14, 2024, 19:07:
Personally I can't see a Lawrence of Arabia remake being superior to the original in any way that matters. I could be wrong, but I usually am not.

I could say the same about Ben-Hur and West Side Story -- didn't stop them from doing it though...

Burrito of Peace wrote on Sep 14, 2024, 21:01:
Prez, I told my mom this evening of the cute, fuzzy, pink, bunny slippers saga and showed her the picture of you wearing them. She thought they were delightful and that you were wonderful for accepting them and wearing them. I was told to tell you that she thanks you for making me feel happy as it is, truly, a rare occurrence these days.

If I made Mama Burrito happy then I consider myself a winner. My favorite thing in the world is making people happy. I don't know if you read it but I had an episode last week, and I ended up in the VA ER in East Orange wearing my bunny slippers. It wasn't until I had been administered some Adavan (I think that is right) that I realized it. I received more than one compliment, and a few nurses thought it was cute.

Prez, I told my mom this evening of the cute, fuzzy, pink, bunny slippers saga and showed her the picture of you wearing them. She thought they were delightful and that you were wonderful for accepting them and wearing them. I was told to tell you that she thanks you for making me feel happy as it is, truly, a rare occurrence these days.

I’m not so married to the original that the concept of a remake bugs me. It’s not my money after all. And, sometimes bad bad movies are still really entertaining.

I saw the 70mm remaster of Lawrence of Arabia in a theater. It was glorious.

We got our modern LoA remake recently.

Here's the trailer.

Personally I can't see a Lawrence of Arabia remake being superior to the original in any way that matters. I could be wrong, but I usually am not.

Some fake CGI bullshit is never going to touch the original, which was fully authentic in the way and the places as it was filmed.

If someone wants to piss away 100+M on something like that, that's their business. That would most likely end up as the biggest turd ever in the movie business. LoA is my second favorite film of all time, and my first for cinematography. The only other film that even comes close for that sort of cinematography is John Houston's The Searchers.

And I watched the Night Flier on YT last night - that was the best quality I could find. I miss Miguel Ferrer, he was perfect in those sorts of roles. He was so good in Deep Star Six and Traffic.

El Pit wrote on Sep 14, 2024, 14:18:
Still waiting for a remake of The Maltese Falcon, directed by Uwe Boll and starring Adam Sandler as Sam Spade. But Emmerich doing LoA is also a very, well, interesting choice.

Starring Chris Hemsworth as Sir Lawrence.

It would be funny if it were a Morane-Saulnier N instead of a Camel.

Still waiting for a remake of The Maltese Falcon, directed by Uwe Boll and starring Adam Sandler as Sam Spade. But Emmerich doing LoA is also a very, well, interesting choice.

Snoopy already did that in a Sopwith Camel.