More Hammett and flurries

The snow is trying. It's coming down but it's not doing anything. So much for the big winter whallop they promised us.

If you can withstand sitting through their ads, Salon.com has a fascinating article on Dashiell Hammett's "Red Harvest" and its continued influence on film and tv, even though it's the only one of his books never to be truly adapted. The connections stretch from Kurosawa's "Yojimbo" to HBO's "Deadwood".

I did my usual "popcorn night" in front of the television for Oscars, mostly commented on the gowns. Judging from the pre-show stuff, I disagreed with most of the fashionistas. The really dark eye makeup was hideous on most people. One of the "guest commentators" on Style hated Cate Blanchett's dress and said she looked like a canary. I thought she looked lovely, so there.

Hechts/Macys

First it was Garfinckels. Then we said goodbye to Woodward & Lothrop.

Now Hechts has been bought out by Federated Department Stores that owns Macys & Bloomingdales. A bunch of stores will affected. The local news pointed out as an example that if the merger goes through, Federated with have three anchor stores at Tysons I - Hechts, Lord & Taylor and Bloomingdales. That's not even counting the Macys across the street at Tysons II. So the landscape of our local shopping is changing.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58277-2005Feb27.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A59497-2005Feb28.html