Cuparia

Once again I have missed Burns Night (25th of January), but I’m not too late to wish my accidental readers a Happy St. Brigid’s Day/Imbolc (1st of February). Today in northwest Ohio the temperature was unseasonably warm (at least 57 degrees Fahrenheit), although the trees were still leafless and the grass was still a lifeless brown, the sight of which reminds us why we miss winter snow. We’d like to see a little more of it, although perhaps not as many inches of it as last year.

The Academy Awards mean nothing to me. My own choices for Best Motion Picture are Hugo and Win Win (and possibly The Artist, which I intend to see this week). Speaking of The Artist, I think it’s wonderful that a silent movie — a silent movie! — can gain widespread publicity and appreciation in the year 2011. Lillian Gish would undoubtedly be pleased. And speaking of silent movies, I am keenly interested in the release of the newly restored Le voyage dans la lune (A Trip to the Moon), that 1902 masterpiece of filmmaking by the great Georges Méliès. Over the last few years, it has been shown only in black & white, but the original film was actually in full color, each frame of which had been painted by hand. Sometime in the 1990s, a color print was discovered and subsequently restored, and it was finally shown to audiences at the Cannes Film Festival this year complete with a score composed and performed by Air (whose CD of the soundtrack will be released on 7 February along with a special edition that I believe includes a DVD of the restored film itself). This is not to be missed.

Music for January and February: Gerry Mulligan, Bill Evans, the Bothy Band, Highland pipes & drums, Edith Piaf.

This time, in order to give everyone a chance to learn and memorize them, I am posting the annual link to the words to “Auld Lang Syne” on Boxing Day (a holiday the United States sadly does not celebrate). Since the year of the Cuparium’s creation in 1999, I have endeavored to teach the world those immortal lyrics penned by Robert Burns, the Scottish Bard. The success of my efforts (or lack thereof) cannot be measured (thankfully), but I try every year nonetheless.

(Another task I would like to undertake is to teach my fellow Americans how to give a proper toast.)

So, learn “Auld Lang Syne,” sing it with feeling, and have a joyous, prosperous, healthful, peaceful New Year!

Welcome to my annual ritual of self-congratulation for my cessation of cigarette-smoking. Nine years ago last October, I gave up cigarettes and haven’t smoked one since (except in the rare dream). It has also been 38 months since I last smoked a cigar, although I haven’t officially quit cigars. I smoked a pipe a few times this year, probably less than 12 (and none in the last four months). So, congratulations, Cuparius!

There are many charities worthy of support, but I would like you to consider adding one more. The Howard Crick Cancer Fund helps a good man. I met Howard only once, but I was immediately impressed by the quality of the man. He is a man of compassion who is deserving of some compassion. Please help if you can. Thank you.

Like a tokusatsu hero exclaiming a henshin transformation slogan, I am once again declaring, “Comments off!” I had over 100 spam comments yesterday, and almost 700 over the course of two weeks before that. I am taking a break again, so for a while at least, comments will be closed for articles over ten days old. Thank you, my three or four readers, for your understanding.