Marc Valdez Weblog

Friday, March 29, 2019

Strongest Economy in the United States

California accounted for nearly three out of every four nonfarm jobs created in the U.S. during February, according to data released Friday.

Employers in the state added 14,600 nonfarm payroll jobs last month, the California Employment Development Department reported Friday. Earlier this month, the U.S. government reported nonfarm payrolls in the U.S. rose by just 20,000 jobs in February, or the weakest national showing since September 2017.

"Whatever caused the nation as a whole to have a subpar job gain didn't have as much influence in California in February," said Aubrey Henry, a spokesman for the state's EDD agency.

One of My Nightmares Come to Life

Plunging off a high bridge:

Recovery crews will work to recover a tow truck from the Sacramento River after searching for more than an hour in swift currents to locate the vehicle that plunged off the Pioneer Bridge after a traffic accident Tuesday night.

“Due to dangerous conditions and the speed of the river ... the rescue operation is being called off and we’re going to be transitioning into recovery mode,” Sacramento Fire Department Battalion Chief Rusty Van Vuren said late Tuesday.

Fire officials believe the driver of the tow truck was the only person inside the vehicle when it fell more than three stories into the fast-moving, dark and cold waters just after 8:30 p.m.

Police, fire and CHP officials responded to the Highway 50 crossing as well as the Sacramento Marina to search for the vehicle that fell from westbound lanes. The accident happened near the highest point of the bridge, officials said, which spans Sacramento and West Sacramento.

Deterding Elementary School Talent Show

Held at Crossroads Church in Fair Oaks.

I liked Violet W.'s joke-telling. Standup is always hard, but especially hard when you are about in the second grade.

I liked LucyS.'s dancing, as well as the dancing by Gabrielle and Ashlyn.

Christian Y. is amazing on the piano.

The art-focus school band's rendition of "Itsy Bitsy Spider."

When Life Hands You a Lemon....

May as well cash in:

New York (CNN)El Chapo-branded clothing -- complete with the convicted drug lord's name and signature -- could soon become available in the United States and Mexico.

From his cell in a Manhattan federal prison, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman signed a contract granting the rights to his name and signature to a limited liability company, or LLC, that will be headed up by his wife, Emma Coronel, and attorneys who worked with him behind the scenes during his recent drug conspiracy trial in Brooklyn.

Once the leader of a murderous drug cartel in Mexico, Guzman was convicted last month of running a continuing criminal enterprise and other drug-related charges.

..."I'm very excited to start this project, which was based on ideas and concepts that my husband and I had years ago," Coronel told CNN in a statement. "It is a project dedicated to our daughters."

Coronel, a former beauty queen with an interest in fashion, has twin 7-year-old daughters with Guzman. She was a regular presence at her husband's trial, and was often swarmed by media reporting on her fashion choices in court.

Guzman agreed to give the intellectual property rights of his name and signature to the LLC but will not earn any money from it for himself, said Michael Lambert, another attorney who has worked with Guzman.

"He wanted to be able to set something up -- a legitimate enterprise -- for the benefit of his wife and his two daughters," Lambert said. "He loves his wife and he loves his daughters, and he wants to prepare for the future."

Guzman, who is under court order to communicate only with attorneys and only about matters related to his case, had to receive special permission to be able to sign the civil contract that would give his intellectual property rights to the LLC, according to court filings.

Persecuted (2014)

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Last updated: May 24, 2019

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Action Drama. An evangelist tries to evade capture after being framed for murder. Starring James Remar, Dean Stockwell, Raoul Trujillo, Fred Thompson, Bruce Davison, Brad Stine, Natalie Grant, Jamie Powers, Mark Sivertsen, Cyd Schulte, Gretchen, Carlson,and Debrianna Mansini. Filming locations: Albuquerque, Tijeras.

God, this must be the stupidest movie ever filmed in Albuquerque - a FOX News fantasy (even starring Gretchen Carlson) about non-Christian assassins targeting A Man of God. Recognized a couple of places, like Hotel Blue, which I've stayed at, but I was shocked to also recognize a well-known local actress, Lauren Poole. Used to be very funny. Sad for her fate as a FOX zombie.

Notes on Individual Scenes
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Cathedral of St. John, 4th St. & Silver Ave. SW.

This church was designed by renowned local architect John Gaw Meem.

Cathedral of St. John, as seen from the parking garage across the street.

Cathedral of St. John, 4th St. & Silver Ave. SW.

(Maybe back side of the Sandias???)

Hotel Blue, 717 Central Ave. NW (Season 2, episode 5, 'Rebecca'). Stacey's on vacation with Kaylee. Hotel Blue was also used for: Time lapse - segment 2.

Hotel Blue pool.

Hotel Blue Lobby.

Thursday, March 28, 2019

No Country For Old Men (2007)

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Last updated: March 13, 2020

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http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/n/No-Country-For-Old-Men.php
https://www.grahmsguide.com/no-country-for-old-men-2007

Adventure Drama, based upon the novel by Cormac McCarthy. A hunter stumbles upon a drug deal gone wrong and is pursued by ruthless killers after he takes the cash. Starring Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, James Brolin, Josh Brolin, Beth Grant, Garret Dillahunt, Woody Harrelson, and Stephen Root. Set in New Mexico. Filming locations: Albuquerque, Arroyo Hondo, La Bajada hill area, Las Vegas, Pilar, Santa Fe, Taos (Rio Grande Gorge Bridge).

Notes on Individual Scenes
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Bus Station (now demolished) - 300 2nd St. SW

Tina's Range Gear - 4230 Airport Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico

The colonnade seems to be near Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. and Elm St. NE, in Albuquerque, NM. The former St. Joseph's Hospital (35.085870°, -106.638325°).

Desert Sands Motel, Albuquerque, 5000 Central Avenue SE (now, sadly, gone...).

Desert Sands Motel, Albuquerque, 5000 Central Avenue SE.

Something spooky there.

The motel is now completely gone (February, 2020).

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (2015)

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Last updated: March 17, 2026

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AKA: American Reporter, Fun House, The Taliban Shuffle. Comedy/drama about a female journalist's experiences in wartime Afghanistan. Starring Tina Fey, Margot Robbie, Martin Freeman, Alfred Molina, and Nicholas Braun. Filming locations: Albuquerque, Jemez Pueblo, Laguna Pueblo, and Santa Fe.

Notes on Individual Scenes
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Kabul Party Room

Bombing Scene

News Meeting

Airport

Kabul Airport

Kirtland AFB - Bagram Air Base

Helicopter Flight Near Sandia Mountains.

Forward base is somewhere near (34.954439°, -106.465948°)

Gilman Tunnels (35.733427°, -106.764708°)

Gilman Tunnels

Gilman Tunnels, Jemez Mountains ("Pluribus," Season 1, episode 7, 'The Gap').

First view - (35.735451°, -106.764973°)

Second view - (35.734364°, -106.765050°)

Third view - (35.731900°, -106.764196°)

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Around The Bend (2004)

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Last updated: March 7, 2023

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Family drama involving four generations of men forced to face one another while on a road trip in New Mexico. Starring Michael Caine, Christopher Walken, Glenne Headly, Josh Lucas, and Preston Marsh. Filming locations: Albuquerque, Bernalillo, Bonanza Creek Movie Ranch, Los Lunas, Moriarty, Quarai at Salinas (Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument).

Notes on Individual Scenes
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House

Bar

City Street

KFC #1 - LA

Bar

Park

Mt. Calvary Cemetery? (If so, it appears the surrounding wall has changed, so maybe that's still unclear)

Spacious Lobby with clock

Los Angeles

Joshua Tree National Monument

KFC - 5410 Fourth St. NW - Fourth St. & Sanchez Rd. NW

Barn

Road scene - conical hill - probably Eaves Movie Ranch area, Bonanza Creek Rd.

Grandview Motel, 9700 Central Avenue SW.

Zia Roadside, approximately (35.505764°, -106.815940°)

Significant ruins (Gran Quivira? Pecos? Quarai?)

Church with funeral

Welcome to NM sign

KFC with palms

Hotel

Albuquerque NM Cafe

Single pillar

Camp Fire

Conical hills - Eaves Movie Ranch area

1430 Coal Ave. NE

Train in distance

Longhorn Ranch Motel/ Burned down KFC

Longhorn Motel.

Airport scene (old Sunport?)

San Jose neighborhood - 403 Hazeldine Ave. SE - Mariposa Pl.

Turn onto Mariposa Pl.

7170 Mariposa Pl. (35.076315°, -106.643846°)

Bonanza Creek Rd. near Eaves Movie Ranch

Around the Bend - Unresolved

Zia Roadside again - Grandpa Turner's rock

Blood Father (2014)

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Last updated: May 30, 2019

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Action Thriller. An ex-con calls on old connections to rescue his daughter from a drug cartel. Starring Mel Gibson, William H. Macy, Erin Moriarty, Ryan Dorsey, Elizabeth Rohm, Diego Luna, Raoul Trujillo, Michael Parks. Filming locations: Albuquerque, Belen, Laguna.

Notes on Individual Scenes
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Big Box Store (exterior) - Pima Medical Institute - Albuquerque Campus, 4400 Cutler Ave NE.

Wooded Neighborhood - Unresolved. (Cedar Crest? Edgewood?)

Tattoo Parlor/Mobile Home - General Neighborhood may be the bleak mobile-home area west of Belen.

Phone Booth

Roadside

Desert Sands Motel, Albuquerque, 5000 Central Avenue SE (now, sadly, gone...).

Desert Sands Motel, Albuquerque, 5000 Central Avenue SE.

Something spooky there.

Bar

Compound

Canyon Chase

Phillips 66

Albuquerque Motel

Prison Lot (MDC)

Movie Theater

Reddish Mesa

Hwy 78, milepost 114 - Somewhere off Highway 6, west of Belen, near where it approaches the railroad.

Church

Bordertown (2006)

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Last updated: May 30, 2019

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Crime Drama. A journalist investigates murder along the border. Filmed in Mexico and Albuquerque, with the Barelas Neighborhood and the Railyards standing in for Juarez Mexico. Starring Jennifer Lopez, Antonio Banderas, Sonia Braga, Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez, Martin Sheen, Maya Zapata, Ireneo Alvarez, Rene Rivera.

Notes on Individual Scenes
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Probably White Mesa near San Ysidro, NM, but unclear. Approximate location: (35.531061°, -106.817003°)

Corona Suites, Juarez - Embassy Suites by Hilton Albuquerque Downtown, 1000 Woodward Pl. NE.

El Taco Tote restaurant (not at its current location of 4701 Central Ave. NE)

Railyards.

Fancy House - Unresolved.

Maquiladora - Unresolved.

Four Bar - Probably ABQ Biopark Aquarium.

Newspaper Offices

Border Crossing

(Border detention facility resembles the former Westside City Jail.)

"Us"

Saw Jordan Peele's "Us" last night. Excellent work! Loved it! (Makes me worried about going down to Santa Cruz, though.)

It's also fun to watch the theater audience when his movies are playing - in general, a pretty young audience. I saw both Jordan Peele's horror films in theaters with large, plush, reclining theater seats.

When I saw "Get Out," I noticed how many people in the audience were texting their reactions on their cell phones - a form of live-blogging. Normally, I get incensed when people text during movies - what, with all the cell phone screens alit - but texting seemed an entirely natural thing to do - almost integral to the show. For "Us," I was surprised when a teenage girl joined another teenage girl in the seat next to me. They both curled up together for mutual support against the horror. The theater seats are so large these days, mostly to seat their voluminous elders, that teenagers can comfortably do that.

Interesting article on the costumes.