Picturing: A Special Television Series on Blu-ray

To me, The Prisoner (1967 - 1968) is quite possibly the greatest hour-long dramatic television series ever made.

I first caught it as a kid: German television network ZDF premiered it in that country in 1969. My Deutsch was limited enough, even though we lived in a German town, that I did not know what was going on plot-wise, but the visual sense, even when displayed in black & white, carried me through the 50 minutes.

The Rovers did spook me a little as they bubbled from the sea to 'consume' whatever renegade needed arresting. When one is watching a program in a foreign language, one is arrested by the visuals. I would have understood snippets of the dialogue, of course.

When I saw The Prisoner again years later — thank you, CITY-TV — I understood what was being said. And what was being said. Last week I splurged on the Blu-ray set after stumbling upon it at Toronto's superb video store, Bay Street Video. (A friend of mine had given me the heads up on this Australian release since he knew I was a big fan.) It wasn't cheap, but given what this special series represents to me, and how those extras will, no doubt, please me, it was money well spent.

The Prisoner is more relevant now than it was when it was produced. "Free For All" is chilling.

Picturing: Construction Room at TTC Spadina Station

After making my way down the pedestrian tunnel at the Toronto Transit Commission's "Spadina" station, I had a choice of going to the left, which would take me to the southbound subway line, or to the right, the northbound line. Since I was acting as a pedestrian this day, I could take either since I was just aiming for the station's north exit.

Exciting stuff, especially the construction, which has made the stairways on both sides extra narrow. It's a good thing I'm skinny!

Yes, my life is that exciting, day to day. Oh, I forgot Boris' treats....

Picturing: A Bay Street Video Store Visit Today

I hadn't been by Bay Street Video in a few months, since the summer, but a visit to Toronto's most superb video store is essential for any movie (and television) lover — me making infrequent trips there is odd given the fact that I live just minutes away.

The selection of titles is something to behold; the store staff is knowledgeable and always helpful. Suspect Video is long gone, making BSV my go-to store of this type. It certainly is when a friend of mine visits from out of town. (Sometimes I think I'm more a bonus feature than the main show.)

In keeping with excellent customer service and support, they will order-in a title if they are out of stock... or wouldn't have it in stock. The pleasant lady who served me today was quick and enthusiastic in fulfilling my request for a certain Blu-ray boxed set.

When in Toronto, make sure to visit Bay Street Video. It's on, no surprise, Bay Street, on the west side, just south of Bloor Street West.

(The TTC subway station "Bay" is just north of Bloor, on the west side of Bay Street.)

Picturing: A Violinist in the Spadina Pedestrian Tunnel

A violinist entertains noon-hour travellers in the "Spadina" TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) station pedestrian tunnel, yesterday (Tuesday, November 26th). My Tim Hortons coffee entertained my left hand allowing my right to fire my trusty Canon.  After I started firing away, the virtuoso became animated, dancing across the path and along the opposite wall.

I think he was playing Vivaldi.

Picturing: Serenading Violist Plays on the TTC

With a Tim Hortons coffee in hand I strutted down the TTC "Spadina" station's pedestrian tunnel at noon yesterday (Tuesday, November 26th). With my other hand I activated my Canon camera to capture a dynamic violinist as he serenaded transit travellers.

Picturing: A Subway Train Arrives at Spadina Station

A TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) subway train pulled into "Spadina" station at noon, yesterday (Tuesday, November 26th), while I carried my Tim Hortons coffee.

Pierre Poilievre Is a Cartoon Character!

"Only one [film] short was made featuring 'PP Poilievre'. He did make a few subsequent guest appearances, usually as a bumbling fool, an object of scorn and ridicule, before Tex Avery quietly dropped the character."

I knew it!

Picturing: Violinist Struts in TTC Pedestrian Tunnel

With coffee in hand I strutted down the TTC "Spadina" station's pedestrian tunnel at noon today. With my other hand I activated my trusty Canon camera to capture a dynamic violinist as he strutted along the tunnel wall.

I think he was playing some Vivaldi.

Athot for the Day: What Tunes?

What the?....

BBC Radio 2 is already playing Christmas songs.

I thought London was just 5 hours ahead of Toronto, not 3 weeks!

Picturing: Taylor Swift Eras Poster on TTC Subway

While travelling on the subway this morning, I took my seat, looked up, and saw a poster for Taylor Swift's Toronto Eras Tour. The scene before me displayed a nice unity.

The poster's emphasis on the colour red goes nicely with the Bombardier subway car seats.

Picturing: TTC Subway Pedestrian Tunnel Sunday A.M.

About an hour ago, as part of my Sunday morning Tim Hortons coffee pickup, I decided to use the pedestrian connecting tunnel at the TTC's "Spadina" station as part of my journey. (The tunnel connects the east-west and north-south subway train platforms, which are about 500 feet apart.)

As for the picture: I don't think I've ever seen this before, a scene of this tunnel sans people. I had to snap a few pics... I actually had a few seconds to do my work.

Postscript: British readers of my post will realize that we North Americans use the term "Subway" to denote what they would refer to as "The Underground". In the UK, a "Subway" refers to a pedestrian walkway.

A Short Journey to Bluesky (Goodbye, Elon Musk)

Yesterday morning I made the trip to Bluesky Social. Lots of Liberals (me: centre-left) have moved to that fast-growing platform due to the rampant right-wing toxicity on Twitter (X). Women, especially, are fed up with being called... well, you can imagine the language.

Also: "Woke woke woke woke woke woke woke woke woke woke woke woke woke woke woke...."

My lordy!

If my father was still with us he'd probably say: "They sound like of bunch of cackling idiots!"

My Bluesky account: @simonstlaurent.bsky.social

My first post:

I just beamed down to this Class M planet....

The skies are blue!

Web Series Teaser: Abnormal Fixation

The ever-industrious John Kenneth Muir, film/television critic and writer extraordinaire, has a new, and soon to come, web series called Abnormal Fixation. The premiere is scheduled for January 2025. By the way, the series has already won several awards.

I will make a point to check it out. Check out the trailer embedded above!

From Mr Muir's "About" description:

Welcome to the comedy-horror web series ABNORMAL FIXATION.

It's low budget AF. But also funny AF.

True believer Elvis Bragg has just one year to prove to his arch-nemesis, Mark Missouri, the existence of the paranormal, and win back his wife, Season. Fortunately, Elvis has an entourage of crazy friends to help him. A documentary film crew, led by Alyssa Jarvis, follows Elvis, and chronicles every triumph and disaster on his quest.

Cast: Alicia Martin (Season) Kathryn Muir (Alyssa), Chris Martin (Mark), John Kenneth Muir (Elvis); Trumbull McCoy (Bleeder), Corey Easterday (The Professor), Leslie Cossor (Dr. Carroll), Kim Breeding-Mercer (Styles), Rachel Griffin (Natalee); Joel Muir (Ridley), Ethan Horton (Dave), Pauline Mae Allera (Chesa).

The Lulu Show LLC (c) (2024). Series created by John Kenneth Muir. Sound Mixed by Tony Mercer.

A Sad Situation on Remembrance Day

Early this evening I took a trip on the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission), the subway portion. I saw just one person wearing a poppy. The good news is there were two of us.

I could easily go into an essay here, long or short, about how the lack of poppy-wearing is an indicator of how seriously people respect the men and women who have fought, and continue to stand, for this great nation called Canada.

Hey! Don't miss that text message! That TicTok video cannot be missed!

Put that goddamn phone down and pay attention.

Remembrance Day 2024: The Poppy's Power

Picturing: Toronto Tree and Leaves Signal Fall (?)

Toronto has been continuing with a degree of mild temperatures, given that we're well into autumn. Apparently, Environment Canada has stated that this great city should get more of a winter this year than what we got last... which was, with the exception of a few dustings of snow and a week of very cold temps, nothing much.

Picturing: TTC Finch West Station Subway Platform

The "Finch West" TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) subway station's southbound platform, late afternoon on Saturday, September 7th.

Kinda quiet for a Saturday... especially on the set of tracks running downtown!

Picturing: Toronto Parkette Sunday Morning

Gwendolyn Macewen Parkette

Though I very much like this big city with its hustle, bustle, and flow, Toronto's beautiful "Annex" neighbourhood is an oasis of livability... which is probably why it's called "Toronto's Most Livable Neighbourhood".

Picturing: The Walmer & Lowther Scenic View Toronto

There's something about walking along Walmer Avenue that makes me activate my camera. It's the scenic view in Toronto's beautiful "Annex" neighbourhood.

Picturing: Saturday Night TTC Home Plate

Good to be home. That was too long a day.

Okay, now I can spend forty-five minutes scrolling through movie titles on Amazon Prime, Kanopy, and Tubi before deciding it's too late to start a movie....