Bedlam's Sense and Sensibility

Saw the ART's production of Sense and Sensibility this weekend - it was FABULOUS!!

Excellent casting, engaging and immersive staging - what a wonderful evening!

The show was so creative and so much fun! GO already!

Experimenting with motion

Trying to get a sense of the best exposure and settings to capture the reeds swaying in the breeze on Plum Island.  Both photos were taken with ISO set at 100.  

The top photo, was taken with an exposure of 1/40, and an aperture setting of 18. 

The bottom photo was taken with an exposure time of 1/80, and an aperture setting of 11.

Personally, I'm a sucker for the deeper tones, I love contrast and really hate losing my colors to overexposure.  Both photos have something to offer, and capture the movement of the reeds in the wind.  I'm particularly partial to the framing of the lower capture, showing more of the water and a richer landscape in the background.  

My Monkey

My Monkey, originally uploaded by Auntie Lola.

Monkey's face has been completely loved off.

Celebrity cat

Celebrity cat, originally uploaded by Auntie Lola.

Oscar is concerned about my privacy settings.

Where y'all from?

This interesting dialect quiz by Jonathan Katz of UNC is based on multiple data sources - and can get quite specific.  Take the quick 25 question quiz - or the longer 140 question version - and see where you line up.

Mine was pretty on-target - being born in Rhode Island and told on occasion by native Bostonians that I have a Rhode Island accent - my closest city came up as Providence.  I think that's because I pronounce "cot" and "caught" differently. Native Bostonians pronounce them the same.

Here's my results ---

Dialect Results - Auntie Lola

Most Similar Cities
1	Providence RI	55.6
2	Plymouth MA	51.8
3	Worcester MA	49.1
4	Lowell MA	48.9
5	Boston MA	48.5

	Least Similar Cities
1	Pittsburgh PA	22.7
2	Tulsa OK	23.0
3	Oklahoma City OK	23.2
4	Des Moines IA	23.5
5	Norman OK	23.5

1

Providence RI

55.6

2

Plymouth MA

51.8

3

Worcester MA

49.1

4

Lowell MA

48.9

5

Boston MA

48.5

1

Pittsburgh PA

22.7

2

Tulsa OK

23.0

3

Oklahoma City OK

23.2

4

Des Moines IA

23.5

5

Norman OK

23.5

I loved some of the questions - crayfish or crawdads?  Sunshowers or liquid sunshine? Kitty corner or catercorner?  Pee-can or Pi-KAWN?  The words merry - Mary - and merry - are they pronounced the same or differently?  Aunt or Ant?  

There's a visual map for every question to illustrate the regional differences and distribution. 

Nice little write-up on i09 here as well.  

Bryan Cranston channels LBJ

I was lucky enough to get tickets ahead of time to the ART's production of "All The Way" on it's second night in Cambridge.  For a three hour production, I can honestly say I was riveted the entire time.  Cranston is barely recognizable, so effectively does he inhabit LBJ's persona.

LBJ is the first president that I remember growing up, and Cranston performs him admirably, his accent is very good, and his portrayal of LBJ's mannerisms and down-home crudeness is remarkably on-target.

From a historical standpoint, it's fascinating to watch a master of negotiation deal with Congress and other national leaders during his first year in office, focusing on the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Currently the show is sold out, with standing room only tickets available, and there is talk of this show moving on to Broadway.  It's that good.  Fascinating history, remarkable performances.

Boston Globe review here. BostonInno preview here. Boston Inno review here.

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