Movies Watched -- Bigger Than Life (1956)

Added on by C. Maoxian.

95 minute running time … this is a strange one from Nicholas Ray made during the McCarthy era … Ray is interested in obliquely criticizing American middle class conformity among other things: pharmaceutical drug abuse, white privilege, racism, the nuclear family, domesticity, the medical establishment, the benefits of drinking whole milk, the public education system, homosexuality (Walter Matthau’s incredible physique from smoking two packs a day), class distinctions, all kinds of stuff. What I took away from this is that Barbara Rush had great tits.

I can’t recommend this, but it was sort of interesting and definitely a movie mainstream critics would ever recommend or even mention. It’s probably considered a “cult classic” in some quarters.

“… it's only fair to tell you that if we don't get a whole lot of high-class service, and in a hurry there's likely to be a terribly embarrassing scene in this sanctum.”

Ella Grace -- Live at Parish Hall

Added on by C. Maoxian.

Ella Grace a nice discovery early on in 2023… thanks to the Spotify algo. I like the lead song best.

I took a massive tax loss on my Spotify, sold the “long-term” position in the stock … still like the service though, just paid a bad price for the stock:

I've Only Known Careless Love

Added on by C. Maoxian.

Bob Zimmerman song covered by some Scandinavians, My bubba with You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go. I like it when the girl with crimson hair across her face takes that verse. I dig it:

Movies Watched -- How to Marry a Millionaire (1953)

Added on by C. Maoxian.

95 minute running time the perfect length and it opens with six full minutes of Alfred Newman score with full symphony … Marilyn Monroe an underrated comic actress, Lauren Bacall with her sexy smoker’s voice, and I’m not familiar with Betty Grable but she also had good comic instincts … it’s a cute, feel-good movie (pre-WOKE), well-written, I enjoyed it, but it’s a little too light to recommend…

Not in the market for gas-pump jockeys

Movies Watched -- Angel Face (1952)

Added on by C. Maoxian.

91 minute running time so the perfect length… this movie was GREAT … good story, good writing, good acting (Mitchum and little Jean Simmons, sort of an Audrey Hepburn-ish waif) and an INSANE ending … this was a David Lehman reco and I thank him for it … this is a green-go, highly recommended!

Ten minutes after I left Harry's I was in the sack. I can believe that.

Movies Watched -- The Getaway (1972)

Added on by C. Maoxian.

123 minute running time so at least 20 to 30 minutes too long … absolutely awful early 70s score by Quincy Jones … Ali McGraw is beautiful but can’t act … Steve McQueen has beautiful blue eyes and can act … there are some interesting bits and funny bits (like getting trapped in a garbage truck), but the movie is no good in the end, too much senseless violence, and as Canby said, an “aimless enterprise that runs on and on … The action and the violence of ‘The Getaway’ are supported by no particular themes whatsoever. The movie just unravels.” I think Peckinpah was a creep, he was interested in sex and violence and more specifically violence against women, which makes for uncomfortable viewing … check out busty Sally Struthers stroking the man’s gun:

You don't always have to take your gun out.

Vanguard ETFs 2022 Year-end Total Returns

Added on by C. Maoxian.
  1. VDE Energy ETF 62.89%

  2. VPU Utilities ETF 1.10%

  3. VUSB Ultra-Short Bond ETF -0.39%

  4. VYM High Dividend Yield ETF -0.44%

  5. MGV Mega Cap Value ETF -1.23%

  6. VDC Consumer Staples ETF -1.78%

  7. VTV Value ETF -2.04%

  8. VTIP Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities ETF -2.98%

  9. VGSH Short-Term Treasury ETF -3.84%

  10. VFVA U.S. Value Factor ETF -3.88%

  11. VOOV S&P 500 Value ETF -5.35%

  12. BSV Short-Term Bond ETF -5.49%

  13. VHT Health Care ETF -5.55%

  14. VCSH Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF -5.61%

  15. VFMF U.S. Multifactor ETF-5.70%

  16. VFMV U.S. Minimum Volatility ETF -5.76%

  17. VYMI International High Dividend Yield ETF -6.92%

  18. IVOV S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF -7.14%

  19. VONV Russell 1000 Value ETF -7.65%

  20. VOE Mid-Cap Value ETF -7.90%

  21. VTEB Tax-Exempt Bond ETF -8.03%

  22. VIS Industrials ETF -8.51%

  23. VBR Small-Cap Value ETF -9.32%

  24. VIG Dividend Appreciation ETF -9.79%

  25. VGIT Intermediate-Term Treasury ETF -10.56%

  26. VIOV S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF -11.25%

  27. VAW Materials ETF -11.77%

  28. VMBS Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF -11.89%

  29. VFH Financials ETF -12.25%

  30. BNDX Total International Bond ETF -12.75%

  31. VFMO U.S. Momentum Factor ETF -12.87%

  32. BNDW Total World Bond ETF -12.91%

  33. BND Total Bond Market ETF -13.12%

  34. IVOO S&P Mid-Cap 400 ETF -13.17%

  35. BIV Intermediate-Term Bond ETF -13.21%

  36. VCIT Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF -13.98%

  37. VTWV Russell 2000 Value ETF -14.65%

  38. VCEB ESG U.S. Corporate Bond ETF -15.11%

  39. VPL FTSE Pacific ETF -15.24%

  40. VEA FTSE Developed Markets ETF -15.39%

  41. VEU FTSE All-World ex-US ETF -15.60%

  42. VFQY U.S. Quality Factor ETF -15.67%

  43. VTC Total Corporate Bond ETF -15.72%

  44. VGK FTSE Europe ETF -15.97%

  45. VXUS Total International Stock ETF -16.13%

  46. VIOO S&P Small-Cap 600 ETF -16.23%

  47. VIGI International Dividend Appreciation ETF -16.82%

  48. VWOB Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF -17.36%

  49. VB Small-Cap ETF -17.63%

  50. VT Total World Stock ETF -18.02%

  51. VWO FTSE Emerging Markets ETF -18.04%

  52. VOO S&P 500 ETF -18.15%

  53. VO Mid-Cap ETF -18.69%

  54. VSGX ESG International Stock ETF -18.69%

  55. IVOG S&P Mid-Cap 400 Growth ETF -19.10%

  56. VONE Russell 1000 ETF -19.20%

  57. VTHR Russell 3000 ETF -19.30%

  58. VTI Total Stock Market ETF -19.51%

  59. VV Large-Cap ETF -19.69%

  60. MGC Mega Cap ETF -19.93%

  61. VTWO Russell 2000 ETF -20.44%

  62. VIOG S&P Small-Cap 600 Growth ETF -21.25%

  63. VSS FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF -21.42%

  64. VNQI Global ex-U.S. Real Estate ETF -22.99%

  65. ESGV ESG U.S. Stock ETF -24.05%

  66. VCLT Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF -25.56%

  67. VNQ Real Estate ETF -26.21%

  68. VTWG Russell 2000 Growth ETF -26.38%

  69. VXF Extended Market ETF -26.49%

  70. BLV Long-Term Bond ETF -26.95%

  71. VBK Small-Cap Growth ETF -28.41%

  72. VOT Mid-Cap Growth ETF -28.84%

  73. VONG Russell 1000 Growth ETF -29.16%

  74. VGLT Long-Term Treasury ETF -29.31%

  75. VOOG S&P 500 Growth ETF -29.48%

  76. VGT Information Technology ETF -29.68%

  77. VUG Growth ETF -33.13%

  78. MGK Mega Cap Growth ETF -33.56%

  79. VCR Consumer Discretionary ETF -35.18%

  80. VOX Communication Services ETF -38.79%

  81. EDV Extended Duration Treasury ETF -39.20%

Vanguard Funds 2022 Year-end Total Returns

Added on by C. Maoxian.
  1. VGENX Energy Fund Investor Shares 23.69%

  2. VMNFX Market Neutral Fund Investor Shares 13.48%

  3. VGPMX Global Capital Cycles Fund 7.39%

  4. VASFX Alternative Strategies Fund 2.18%

  5. VMFXX Federal Money Market Fund1.54%

  6. VUSXX Treasury Money Market Fund 1.49%

  7. VMSXX Municipal Money Market Fund1.06%

  8. VYFXX New York Municipal Money Market Fund 1.01%

  9. VCTXX California Municipal Money Market Fund 0.92%

  10. VEIPX Equity Income Fund Investor Shares -0.09%

  11. VUBFX Ultra-Short-Term Bond Fund Investor Shares -0.53%

  12. VWSTX Short-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares -0.82%

  13. VGHCX Health Care Fund Investor Shares -1.05%

  14. VMLTX Limited-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares -2.99%

  15. VWNDX Windsor Fund Investor Shares -3.05%

  16. VMVFX Global Minimum Volatility Fund Investor Shares -4.48%

  17. VFISX Short-Term Treasury Fund Investor Shares -4.72%

  18. VDIGX Dividend Growth Fund -4.88%

  19. VSGBX Short-Term Federal Fund Investor Shares -5.32%

  20. VFSTX Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares -5.85%

  21. VCAIX California Intermediate-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares -6.70%

  22. VWITX Intermediate-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares -6.91%

  23. VGWLX Global Wellington Fund Investor Shares -7.19%

  24. VASVX Selected Value Fund -7.44%

  25. VGWIX Global Wellesley Income Fund Investor Shares -8.14%

  26. VWINX Wellesley Income Fund Investor Shares -9.05%

  27. VWEHX High-Yield Corporate Fund Investor Shares -9.08%

  28. VPGDX Managed Allocation Fund -9.13%

  29. VCITX California Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares -10.08%

  30. VPAIX Pennsylvania Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares -10.21%

  31. VNJTX New Jersey Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares -10.33%

  32. VWLTX Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares -10.44%

  33. VFITX Intermediate-Term Treasury Fund Investor Shares -10.44%

  34. VMATX Massachusetts Tax-Exempt Fund -10.72%

  35. VWICX International Core Stock Fund Investor Shares -10.75%

  36. VFIIX GNMA Fund Investor Shares -10.82%

  37. VEIGX Global ESG Select Stock Fund Investor Shares -10.84%

  38. VNYTX New York Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares -11.01%

  39. VOHIX Ohio Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund -11.02%

  40. VTRIX International Value Fund -11.66%

  41. VWAHX High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares -11.78%

  42. VSEQX Strategic Equity Fund -11.80%

  43. VIPSX Inflation-Protected Securities Fund Investor Shares -12.02%

  44. VPCCX PRIMECAP Core Fund CLOSED -12.37%

  45. VCPIX Core-Plus Bond Fund Investor Shares -12.68%

  46. VTINX Target Retirement Income Fund -12.74%

  47. VSTCX Strategic Small-Cap Equity Fund -12.95%

  48. VEMBX Emerging Markets Bond Fund Investor Shares -13.18%

  49. VWNFX Windsor II Fund Investor Shares -13.22%

  50. VCORX Core Bond Fund Investor Shares -13.26%

  51. VGCIX Global Credit Bond Fund Investor Shares -13.61%

  52. VFICX Intermediate-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares -13.88%

  53. VASIX LifeStrategy Income Fund -13.93%

  54. VEVFX Explorer Value Fund -14.12%

  55. VTWNX Target Retirement 2020 Fund -14.15%

  56. VWELX Wellington Fund Investor Shares -14.32%

  57. VSCGX LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Fund -14.99%

  58. VPMCX PRIMECAP Fund Investor Shares CLOSED -15.15%

  59. VTTVX Target Retirement 2025 Fund -15.55%

  60. VSMGX LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund -16.00%

  61. VTHRX Target Retirement 2030 Fund -16.27%

  62. VTTHX Target Retirement 2035 Fund -16.62%

  63. VFORX Target Retirement 2040 Fund -16.98%

  64. VASGX LifeStrategy Growth Fund -17.09%

  65. VQNPX Growth and Income Fund Investor Shares -17.20%

  66. VTIVX Target Retirement 2045 Fund -17.36%

  67. VLXVX Target Retirement 2065 Fund -17.39%

  68. VTTSX Target Retirement 2060 Fund -17.46%

  69. VFFVX Target Retirement 2055 Fund -17.46%

  70. VFIFX Target Retirement 2050 Fund -17.46%

  71. VHCOX Capital Opportunity Fund Investor Shares CLOSED -17.53%

  72. VGSTX STAR Fund -17.99%

  73. VMMSX Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund -18.15%

  74. VDEQX Diversified Equity Fund -22.47%

  75. VHGEX Global Equity Fund -22.64%

  76. VEXPX Explorer Fund Investor Shares -23.26%

  77. VWESX Long-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares -25.63%

  78. VINEX International Explorer Fund -27.56%

  79. VUSTX Long-Term Treasury Fund Investor Shares -29.58%

  80. VMGRX Mid-Cap Growth Fund -30.12%

  81. VBPIX Baillie Gifford Global Positive Impact Stock Fund Investor Shares -30.25%

  82. VWIGX International Growth Fund Investor Shares -30.85%

  83. VWUSX U.S. Growth Fund Investor Shares -39.64%

Movies Watched -- Désiré (1937)

Added on by C. Maoxian.

In French. 92 minute running time. Another David Lehman reco… late 30s French comedy, servant class and ruling class, you know, upstairs downstairs … all about sex because this is a French movie and the French are sex-obsessed … this was mildly funny but don’t go out of your way to see it.

Do I look like a prostitute?

Movies Watched -- Hopscotch (1980)

Added on by C. Maoxian.

106 minute running time … this was recommended by an old lady named Sunny and I wasn’t thrilled with it, though I do like Walter Matthau and his face … had a 1970s vibe and I was surprised that there were quite a few F-bombs dropped… you can give it a miss.

Antiques in trade