The cold snap in CA just won't quit. Last night nearly 75% of the citrus crop was damaged in a deep freeze. I even kept my jacket on while at the movies yesterday, watching Pan's Labyrinth. The reviews on Metacritic do not lie. This film is amazing. It was one of the most compelling, fascinating, challenging and remarkable films I have seen in a long time. Brilliantly subtle and powerful symbolism, shocking images, powerfully realized characters, lush cinematography and a plot that you simply do not see in mainstream American films. Guillermo del Toro is not afraid to punch you right in the eye to achieve his goals. There were some brutal scenes that had everyone in the theater fidgeting and reacting, but the blood and violence served important roles in defining characters and creating the visceral emotions he aimed for. The violence was graphic, but not gratuitous, and that is a fine line to tread. If you enjoy movies that make you think while you squirm, go check it out!

On a lighter note here is a time-lapse of Picasso painting. It is amazing to watch the way he creates, reworks and transforms the painting as he goes. I especially liked the way he takes the portions that are very realistic and then reinvents them in his trademark Cubist style.

Last offerings are pure piracy, via my brother Mike. All the TV shows you could want here. And streaming movies, here. I'm still waiting to see how the TV/film worlds deal with things like BitTorrent, YouTube and all the other video sites out there. It's clear that something has to change, but the final outcome is anyone's guess. It is quite obvious, though, that by and large the music industry has failed to adapt to the changing digital landscape. I'm not optimistic that the producers of moving images will do much better. If anyone has a good answer, please let me know!