Carlos Irwin Estevez makes the list - 9.29.2006.1

Well here is a first, or at least a first to my knowledge. Mr. Charlie Sheen [his true name is Carlos Irwin Estevez] is now the highest paid actor on television today. With perhaps the exception of father Mr. Martin Sheen [Ramon Estevez] I believe that his new deal makes him the highest paid Hispanic actor on television ever. It’s quite the sweet deal too, bringing in not only $350,000 an episode but also allowing a percentage of the profit. With the start of the 4 season of Two and a Half Men, he is well on his way to reaching the lofty heights of the 1 million dollars an episode or better attained by Mr. Kelsey Grammer and Mr. Ray Romano.

I’m glad Mr. Sheen is getting some recognition for his abilities. He’s a good actor, as can be seen in his roles in Wall Street and Platoon and comedicly in the Hot Shots! movies among others. For too long there has been too much attention paid to his flaws and difficulties. One thing though that no one has thought about is the fact that no other Latino has made as much on broadcast television.

I’m talking about constant dollars of course. Mr. Desi Arnaz is without doubt the top of the list of Hispanic entertainers on television. Desilu Productions was groundbreaking not only for its owners, but also for the programming; the legacy of which endures in the extended movies and spin-offs of Star Trek. Also in the top, I imagine, would be Mr. Tony Orlando (from the 70’s. He had a variety show – now you youngster know), Mr. Ricardo Montalban (the grandfather in Spy Kids, and Khan in Star Trek: Wrath of Khan). I add Mr. Freddie Prinze to that list, though he was with us only for a short time. I have no doubt he would have challenged Mr. Arnaz give time.

Still Mr. Sheen deserves his recognition. If he is anything like me [when people mention that I look like Mr. Denzel Washington or Mr. Malcolm X] it’s a compliment to be included, or compared, in the company of such great figures.

This is what I think, what do you think?

Repost from www.mvass.com - 9.28.2006.1

While this is not related to entertainment, I do find it important. I will not post the entire article here, but you can go to www.mvass.com to see the entire thought.


“These are our children and we will benefit by or pay for what they become.” - James Baldwin

Have you ever had the situation where you are reading an article and it mentions a source or quote and you wanted to find out more about it? In the cases where you are doing the reading on the internet, you then search out the information only to be lead to even more items that enthrall you? I have and when this chain of events starts to unfold for me I generally wind up with a very long night and little sleep. And waking tired the next day is worth it for the knowledge I have gained. Today is one of those times.

I was originally just looking for interesting news in entertainment that was focused on Black African Americans and/or Hispanics from a source other than Yahoo News [Yahoo tends to have a good base of news on most subjects] or the Fox News cable network [which is biased I realize]. What I found had little entertainment but intriguing facts. The start of this trail began with an unrelated article from blackamericaweb.com. That lead me to usnews.com, followed by dailyprincetonian.com, thecrimson.com, frostillustrated.com, and ultimately The Journal for Blacks in Higher Education.

What I found is this. In 2004, the last full year where data is available, 4.4% of the higher education enrollments were Black African American males. That’s 758,400 in total. The number is pitiful, but it gets worse. The percentage of foreign-born black males that have a four-year degree in the nation is 28%, White American males are in excess of 28% with four-year degrees. Though the number was not presented in any of my readings, considering that as a guesstimate 10% of enrolled students fail to attain a degree I shudder to think of the percentage of Black African American males with a 4-year degree. Now get ready. This is the highest number of enrollments ever.

The outlook may improve somewhat in the near-term. In a manner of speaking. Harvard has started the ball rolling in getting universities to eliminate early admissions. Princeton has followed and many more are expected to do the same. Why this is important is that early admissions, especially for top-rated universities, tend to have higher acceptance rates. Harvard accepts around 50% of its class in early admissions, Princeton around one third. At Johns Hopkins 77% of all black early applicants were accepted, in comparison to the 36% of acceptance of all black applicants. Early admissions make a massive difference. The reason being is that most universities require commitments for the early admission. Lower-income students often cannot know what kind of financial aid they can receive, either from the government or the university and thus can have a serious income gap. This often prevents access to early admission. Personally, back in 1986, I know this was the case for me, thus there was no chance at Harvard or equivalent institutions.

Full post at Education for African Americans

Elton John says too much - 9.27.2006.1

Who the hell does Mr. Elton John think he is? I really would like to know the answer. I realize that many do not share my desire to generally disregard news and commentary that deals with the very private nature of the lives of celebrities and entertainers. It’s a multi-billion dollar industry that includes everything from talk shows, news papers, magazines, blogs and of course Mr. Elton John.

It’s nice that Mr. John is now funding a foundation to fight AIDS. I’m happy for him that he’s stopped the drinking and drugs. I could care less about his sex life. Apparently Mr. John shares my concern about individual sexual preferences. He refuses to speak about the sexuality of Mr. Clay Aiken [as if he would know magically for some reason]. It’s not the publics’ concern, nor does the public deserve to know that much about a celebrity if it’s not publicly disclosed. The same applies to whomever an entertainer dates, marries, whatever.

What I don’t get is that Mr. John felt the need to speak about the separation of Mrs. Whitney Brown [Mrs. Whitney Houston and Mr. Bobby Brown filed a separation as I mentioned in my post It's a separation - Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston 9.14.2006, unless other papers were filed – I really don’t follow this stuff.]. Where does he get off on speaking about how their 14 year marriage was ‘doomed a long time ago’. What gives him the right.

Doesn’t it strike you as more than a bit hypocritical to refuse to speak about one person because it’s “none of my business” and then speak about someone else that is equally not his business. I mean he wasn’t involved with either of them. He wasn’t married to either.

If he felt so strongly about their lives he should have spoken to them directly. There is no need to kick them when they are down. Nor is there any reason to bandy about their names publicly without provocation.

This is what I think, what do you think?

George Clooney for President in 2008? - 9.26.2006.2

Is the nation truly ready for another actor President? For those too young to realize it, President Regan was an actor long before he was Governor of California so the precedent exists. So when talk sparks up for an actor to take on the mantle of leader of the nation, ears perk up. Of course I’m not speaking about Gov. Schwarzenegger, he is forbidden from running for that office. (He’s not a natural citizen, he’s originally from Hungary as I recall)

I’m speaking of the swirl around Mr. George Clooney. It seems that several people have been asking if he’s consider a run in the 2008 election. So far he has declined and put off any thought of running. But I wonder. Mr. Clooney is not the worst choice the Democrats could make (that would be Mrs. Hilary Clinton in my opinion). Though a liberal, and a Democrat, he is a man of strong values and conviction. He has spoken up on what he believes multiple times, on various issues. And I for one have great respect for his positions, whether of not I agree with them.

But is this what would be best? An upcoming movie makes light of a comedian becoming President, the new Mr. Robin Williams film to be exact. Is that how the rest of the world would take a Clooney Presidency? And what secrets might be brought to light when Mr. Clooney would be vetted. Could that influence voters or international leaders?

And some confuse the actor from the man. The public knows little about Mr. Clooney, other than the causes he champions and whom he potentially dates. I don’t doubt he has the mind for the position, but I’m not sure he can handle the pressure and responsibility. That is not an insult, I just don’t know enough about the person and the entertainer is not relevant. Basically there are too many questions. And I don’t share his liberal ideologies.

This is what I think, what do you think?

Kermit, Miss Piggy and Mr. Gonzo Smith - 9.26.2006.1

Well I have to mention I just saw that is great. Virtually everyone has seen The Matrix by now. A great film done in a masterful manner. Like all great films there have been many knock-offs and copycat films. Most tend to be sloppy and poorly written, like the movie Equilibrium. But every so often something pops up from an unexpected place and is really worth while.

Fan sites, and the efforts of fans to re-invent their favorite movies or television shows has grown enormously over the last 10 years. Probably 2 of the best know fan fiction subjects are the Star Wars, X-files, and Farscape. The most widely known are probably Farscape and Star Wars. Fans have created novels, short-stories, music videos, and in some cases feature length digital movies.

In that vein there are now The Muppets. This is no Muppets Take Manhattan, but a digital homage to both Mr. Jim Henson and the Wachowski brothers. It has to be seen to be truly enjoyed, but essentially a capsulated version of the movie (or perhaps a couple of the movie trailers) has been created featuring dozens of muppets as the various figures from the movie. I particularly like Kermit and Gonzo. In addition to visually replacing the human lead characters, the voices are kept the same. So Gonzo becomes a darker visage than I ever remembered and for some reason Mr. Keanu Reeves' voice on Kermit seems perfect.

This is a 3 minute video, and won’t take long to load. It’s worth the diversion, I watched it 2x. You can see it here, The MuppetMatrix works on a lot of levels. Enjoy.

This is what I think, what do you think?

Will Feast be a bounty for Matt Damon and Ben Affleck - 9.25.2006.2

Fans of horror films, Mr. Wes Craven and Project Greenlight rejoice. Yes after 2 years of waiting the movie has finally arrived. I am referring to Feast, the film by first-time director John Gulager, and first-time writers Marcus Dunstan and Patrick Melton. The Bravo network television program Project Greenlight gave these individuals a chance to make a film and filmed the process from start to finish.

Some may recall the show. It was quite interesting to see Mr. Gulager slowly break out of his shell and win over the cast and crew with his unique vision for the script. Rarely do we get to see the intense travails it takes to make a film, especially for those who have never done so before. In the bits and pieces of the film you get to see being made, curiosity and understanding mix to compel a desire to see the finished product. Or at least it has for me. The fact that in watching Greenlight I gained an appreciation for the director makes me want to root for this underdog all the more.

The film was supposed to be released back in 2005, but was delayed. It seems that it needed more work in post-production. That of course costs money, which was beyond what Greenlight could provide (even though Mr. Matt Damon and Mr. Ben Affleck are producers), which is the reality all filmmakers run into from time to time (like Mr. Spike Lee’s Malcolm X). But in this case the Maloof brothers stepped in and provided almost ¾ of a million dollars to finish the film. As I recall the original budget was 2 million, so this infusion was quite significant. The fact that it was made on the basis of a rough cut of the film has to say something to its overall quality.

Sadly the film will have a mere 200 theatre release, but a massive DVD campaign is being launched. This could be better if part of the outtakes include some of the material from the Project Greenlight program, or hopefully new scenes. While the cast may not be household names, Mr. Henry Rollins and Mr. Jason Mewes should sound familiar.

So if you don’t mind watching something you are not expecting, I’d suggest buying the DVD. If you do, let me and the other readers know what you think.

This is what I think, what do you think?

Last King of Scotland - 9.25.2006.1

The buzz on Mr. Forest Whitaker is growing, and it’s about time. I’ve mentioned before that I’ve been looking forward to his latest film The Last King of Scotland for some time (my post Forest Whitaker, Dundee and blue Muppets). It seems that many share my feeling, as there is talk of a potential Oscar nod. I feel that this is probably more than just talk if the portrayal is half of what is being said.

Now I say this because I think Mr. Whitaker is a phenomenal actor who never gets enough credit. The work he did in Ghost Dog: The Way Of The Samurai, is an example to me of the true ability he possesses. If you haven’t seen that film I think you should. His performance is powerful in its simple manner; he just makes the character seem real and full. Even in the smaller roles, such as in The Crying Game, Mr. Whitaker provides a sense of humanity many other actors would miss.

The role on The Shield is another example of the intensity and humanity he provides. You can feel the pain and compulsion of the character. His anger is visceral, and his determination borders on manic. It’s hard to do anything but watch his character weave his web while tripping upon those of Mr. Michael Chiklis’ Vic Mackey. It’s that extra bit that Mr. Whitaker provides that I find compelling.

Given these observations on his abilities I truly wonder how his performance of Idi Amin will be. Critics already are mentioning that this is no mere cardboard copy of a historical figure. Considering the depth of research done for this role I would expect no less.

For those wondering who Idi Amin was, he was a dictator of Uganda in the 1970’s. He was known for his brutality, rumors of cannibalism, and efforts to improve schools and hospitals in that nation. This was not a one-dimensional figure, which is how news and history in the U.S. have painted him.

This is what I think, what do you think?

A poem from the past - 9.22.2006.3

Here is a bit of a blast from the past. I recently found a poem I wrote back in Evander Childs High School. Not quite like the poetry I write now, but a decent poem none the less. Let me know what you think of it.

A Prayer for the Nuclear Age

O, in the wasteland that is tomorrow,
It is there that I see such sorrow…

There our hopes and dreams do wither,
Making all we see mean and bitter…

But the night is not yet through,
The dawn may yet shine bright and new…

And if the new dawn comes as I pray,
Let us hope it lasts for many a day…

And in those days let Peace reign,
Whereas before only war sustained…

O what will happen to the human race?
Let us all pray against the hopeless waste.

Sean Combs, long life, a bed in a car - 9/22/2006.2

Speaking of giving back to the community, in George Lucas, Pictures - t shirts, and talk to me - 9.22.2006.1, I must mention Mr. Sean Combs. In a positive message to kids in school and giving to the Black African American community, Mr. Combs appeared at Benjamin Franklin High School to speak to the kids and to encourage them to stay in school. It’s critical that more entertainers do this, with drop-out rates in the 50% area and arguably up to 70% of children being born into single parent families.

The lead of prominent celebrities and entertainers, notably the rappers who have large influence on black culture today, is essential to turn around what appears to a downward spiral enveloping young African Americans. It’s a pleasant thought to know that Mr. Combs is doing something to improve the youth. I wish that more entertainers, specifically rappers and Black African American performers of all types, would speak more on this or better yet lead by example. That is opposed to the example promoted in concerts, music videos and movies that these entertainers publicly portray. As ‘Puff Daddy’ said, “Take responsibility for your future. No excuses!"

And in a light bit of odd news to start your weekend, be happy you are not a Briton. Well let me clarify that, be happy that the choice between a long life or sex is not available or up to England. Now I have nothing against the British. They are a good people, as far as all the Britons I’ve ever met. But a recent poll showed that 40% of respondents would give up sex to live to be 100. Perhaps remarkably, 48% of the women polled would give up sex as opposed to 31% of men. Somehow I don’t think most Americans would say the same. I doubt those in Amsterdam would either.

I mention Amsterdam because couples there are currently competing for the chance to spend a night, get this, in a car (modified with a bed inside) that is raised on stilts. The winner will be picked by the Italian artist that made this, based on their written proposals on what they plan to do in the car. Already there are enough requests to spend a night in the car to fill it for 6 months. I wonder how many are British? Now that I think about it, maybe it would be fun.

This is what I think, what do you think?

George Lucas, Pictures - t shirts, and talk to me - 9.22.2006.1

There hasn’t been much that I would like to speak about of late, though I will probably mention a bit on Danny Glover and Hugo Chavez on my www.mvass.com site. And if you haven’t noticed yet I am continuing to improve the site. You may notice the logo on the site, M V Consulting, Inc. is my new company. I haven’t sold out, just grown a bit.

Your support is what makes these improvements possible. That support has allowed me to do a photo shoot of some of the t-shirts that are part of my www.cafepress.com/nova68 online store. I think you can see how comfortable and stylish the tshirts are. And I think I look pretty good in the men’s clothing line of t shirts, but I’m sure others may look better. Buy one and see for yourself.





Now with the shameless plugs done (lol) let me continue.

What has caught my attention are a few items that seem to have generally slipped past the major media. Like the fact that Mr. George Lucas, you know from the Star Wars movies, just gave University of Southern California $175 million for a new cinema department and the college in general. Now that is one hell of a gift. It’s nice to see that he is giving back to the institution that started him on the path to American Graffiti and many other movies. For those too young to understand the impact Mr. Lucas has had on motion pictures know this; without his Star Wars movie most of the effects used today would not exist, nor would the sound in the theatre come even close to what it is. And with this endowment Mr. Lucas has made it possible for the next generation or 3 to make our imaginations take form on the silver screen. Always a good thing.

By the way, I'm trying something new. I'll make the posts a bit shorter for a while. Let me know if you prefer this format, or the longer posts. As Always I'm listening to you my readers.

Thanks for your support.

Pete Rose baseball auction - 9.19.2006.1

I’m not a big sports fan. I said it and shocked as you may be it is true. Now I know long time readers may check the July posts and point out that I went crazy about the World Cup. Friends will point out that when possible I’m an avid (if not bad) golfer. And I do love to see the Giants football team win. Given all that, I really don’t follow sports much. When the above isn’t on I don’t miss it. But that doesn’t mean I’m unfamiliar with the greats of athletic history.

The point of what I’m speaking about is that several baseballs signed by Mr. Pete Rose are going on auction. Not a big deal as he sells autographed baseballs on his website for $80+ each. Except in this case these 30 baseballs say, “I’m sorry I bet on baseball.” Well it’s about time we see some remorse. And the whole thing brought back the desire of Mr. Rose to get into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

It’s good that this auction brings back what happened to mind. To many young kids are unaware of the scandal that lasted 15 years. Given enough time it’s possible that young players who are unfamiliar could cave and allow Mr. Rose back into baseball. I feel that would be horrendous. It is my firm belief that Mr. Rose should never be allowed into the Hall of Fame.

Why do I feel like this? It’s not so much because of the gambling. I’m not so blinded to the world to believe that Mr. Rose was the only player to bet on his own sport while being involved in it. He was the one to get caught though. Worse yet, rather than standing tall and admitting his guilt he lied to the public. Not a small lie, not a “how do you define ‘is’” kind of way. No it more like a “there are weapons of mass destruction” kind of way. Looking dead in our faces, seemingly ernest, demanding his innocence.

And for 15 years there were repeated attempts to get the ban removing Mr. Rose from anything to do with baseball lifted. In each attempt Mr. Rose reiterated his position. Then in a book, he cashed in on the truth and told us what we already knew. That is the reason. Because he lied, and tried to be rewarded for his lies. Because he thought that he could avoid punishment for his actions. Because he thought the truth was his personal tool to wield as he chose.

I feel strongly about personal responsibility. I feel doubly so about entertainers and celebrities that act poorly publicly. To me, the actions of Mr. Rose amount to a hustle, with the prize being the Hall of Fame and all it means. Perhaps I’d feel differently if in 1989 or even 1990 he apologized and told the truth. But that was not the case. There is a saying, “don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time” [know the quote? Hint it’s from a 70’s television show].

So when an auction comes up, with items like these available, I’m glad. Because kids get to ask why is it important and why did he write that. I don’t need to be a sports fan to appreciate that.

This is what I think, what do you think?

LL Cool J television series and JRR Tolkien book - 9.18.2006.2

Here is some good news for the future of broadcast television. We may have to wait a while but considering the talent and story line I think it may be worth it. LL Cool J, Mr. James Todd Smith, is going to star in a new television series called The Man. As long time readers know, I respect Mr. Smith on several levels. LL Cool J is one of the few rappers that is not involved in rampant and random violence, his lyrics tend to have some depth and no vulgarity. In addition he actually is a decent actor, having honed his abilities on the In The House sitcom before moving on to various movies (S.W.A.T. and Last Holiday – with Queen Latifah – being the most recent).

The story is interesting as well. It’s focus is on a undercover cop who can provide whatever is needed by the criminals he is surrounded by. While the various stings based on that premise is interesting, there is another facet. Like LL Cool J, the lead character is a family man. In this case the fictional family is comprised of kids who have difficult lives, and he is giving them the helping hand they need.

It’s rare when a television program has a Black African American as a lead in a television program. Even moreso when that lead is in a serious program as opposed to a comedy. I have to say it’s about time that an uplifting positive image gets on the screen. If those were the only factors I’d look forward to the program. But the fact that there is a proven talent and the creator of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation on board is solid validation.

Another item that has me looking forward to next year will be of interest to those that have read J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series. While many may have been introduced to the books because of the superb translation done by Mr. Peter Jackson, I first read the series in eight grade. I’ve read all 5 books of the series (The Hobbit being the first and The Silmarillion being the last) and enjoyed every page of the fantasy adventure. But it seems that this was not the end of the stories involving Middle Earth.

The son of Mr. Tolkien has worked for 30 years on The Children of Hurin. This tale also takes place in the fantasy realm with elves and dwarves aplenty. This is a tale that Mr. Tolkien started in 1918 but never finished. Considering his expansive imagination and descriptive style this tale could well be the equal to his other works.

If you haven’t read the books themselves I suggest you do. Mr. Jackson was quite good at visualizing the world and the characters of Middle Earth. Yet even with the direct quotes of entire passages of the book Mr. Jackson still falls short of the images that the mind makes of the words themselves. At least this has been the experience that I have had. Thus the prospect of this new book has my mind captured.

This is what I think, what do you think?

The new fall television season - 9.18.2006.1

So have you seen the latest odds on the new fall season? If you are unaware, there is a poll made by the public, that rates the chances of the new season of shows. It’s brought to you by Bravo at Brilliantbutcancelled.com. I wish this was available years ago, you might imagine the shows I would have made a bet on seeing go to the wayside. Be that as it may this is a neat little idea.

So here are my picks:

1. Men In trees
2. Knights of Prosperity
3. Ugly Betty
4. Happy Hour
5. The Class

That’s the ones I think will go early, probably in that order. I hope that Heroes is done well and works out. The concept appeals to me, at least so far as the television commercials have gone so far. Studio 60 looks good, and the cast is great.

By the way did anyone notice that Happy Hour seems like a rip-off of the Odd Couple and Cheers. 6 Degrees is an interesting take on the play 6 Degrees of Separation [Mr. Will Smith did the movie adaptation] but somehow I think it will fall short of that level.

This is what I think, what do you think?


On a completely different thought I wanted to mention that those who enjoy my poetry can now buy a small booklet of my work at www.cafepress.com/nova68 in the Misc. section. You can also go to it directly here – Character is Lifelong. While there check out the I am the Myth, Woman with a Mind, Battery died, and other clothing lines.

Tell your friends and Thanks for the support!

Katie Couric - where is news going? - 9.17.2006.1

I know the world has gotten smaller with the advent of the internet. Things happen and are known about in minutes. Whether it’s the tsunami in the far east or court documents being filed signaling trouble in a marriage, the world can know of it in minutes. That is if you know to look for it, and if you happen to be by a computer. While many have computers at home, not everyone is plugged in all the time, all day. Now you may be asking, so why should I care, and what does it have to do with entertainment?

Well just this, Ms. Katie Couric. Whether you like her or not she has made a massive impact in broadcast news. When CBS hired Ms. Couric the other networks went into a frenzy to rearrange their morning programming and news to adjust. Her pay package was huge, and everyone in the industry, in particular the women, is looking at higher numbers in the future. But is all that worth it?

Along with Ms. Couric has come a change in evening news. Hopefully it will not blossom into a trend, but I doubt it. The news of the day which takes the other networks 44 minutes to cover takes Ms. Couric and CBS 19. Instead of what is happening we get to hear opinions and interviews. That’s not news, that’s a Ms. Barbara Walter’s special. Or perhaps 60 Minutes. Whichever you wish to compare it to it’s not news. Discussing what the President of the United States has said to the world is news, the president of Wal-Mart is not.

The excuse is that with 24 hour news channels and 2 other networks covering news in a traditional manner there is no need to speak on these things. I disagree. News is not a different form of entertainment, like a comedy or series. But it is becoming so. In the 70’s and 80’s anchors of the 3 big network news programs were not beautiful people. Mr. Bill Butel comes to mind, as does Mr. Edward R. Morrow (of which the recent film Good Night and Good Luck was about); these men and others were known for their ability as journalists not entertainers. The news is about presenting the things affecting the lives of Americans and the world in a brief but exact manner, hopefully sparking debate and/or further investigation. As with the case of Mr. Morrow sometimes the impact is life-altering for the nation.

Of course few can be fairly compared to Mr. Morrow. Still there is a wide channel between Ms. Couric and traditional news. It feels to me like a furthering of the ‘dumbing down’ of the cable and broadcast television medium. Executives seem to believe that the average American either cannot comprehend the news, or that a brief summary takes too long to keep our attention. Much like the flood of reality programs that filled the networks, the presumption was that real thought was beyond the people. That insulted me, and this new format does the same.

Not that the 24 hour cable networks are much better. They scramble from one story to the next in an attempt to have the latest ‘thing’ covered, even if that means dropping coverage on an on-going story. Even worse is the sensationalism that goes on, do you recall the musical backdrop to scenes in early in the war in Iraq? [If not you may see a copy of it – unaltered – on The Jon Stewart Show] But I digress.

Executives should recall that news is not about hype or ratings. The purpose is the same as what was originally envisioned for television. Informing the masses and hopefully passing on knowledge in the process. That’s why broadcast television is free. While everything else has gone on to the lowest common denominator perhaps this one area we can maintain a slightly higher standard.

This is what I think, what do you think?

London, Pierce Brosnan and Gallatin Tennessee - 9.16.2006.1

It’s nice to see that Mr. Pierce Brosnan continues to be a man of conviction. Mr. Brosnan recently spoke up about a proposed refinery that would be 14 miles from Malibu. This is not the first time Mr. Brosnan has spoken about a cause. Like Mr. Martin Sheen, he has spoken about several issues that are important to him. He has been a vocal supporter of breast cancer awareness and First Star – which works to change the U.S. child welfare system. I always enjoy hearing when entertainers and celebrities speak out about issues they believe in. Mr. Brosnan not only spoke up but also garnered the support of several other entertainers. You have to love the style and conviction he has.

Looking to London it seems that the ban on extremely thin models is gaining ground. It seems that this move to showcase slightly more realistic and healthy models is picking up momentum. I’m looking forward to when it is enforced in the U.S. I find it a shame and questionable that the bans have all started after Fashion week in New York. Considering how small the fashion industry is, I would think that the U.S. show knew that the bans were forthcoming. And the statement being made would have been all the more impacting if they had started a similar ban. Well maybe we can hope that they will enact some action here soon. My original thoughts on the ban can be seen here, Women fight crime, models gain weight and Dennis Leary.

And in an odd bit of news it seems that the latest Thong Girl film got a great bit of scenery from Gallatin Tennessee Mayor’s office. Actually it was the Mayor’s office. Now I’m not sure exactly what kind of film it was, but I have to think that someone should have caught on to what they had agreed to. The title, which wasn’t provided when permission for the shoot was asked for, is a dead give-away. And I’d imagine someone from the Mayor’s office was on the set, but it is funny that they got away with this.

Of course the plot of the story, which may not be important if it’s the style of film I imagine it could be, is not the best in the world. It seems the thong and cape clad super-heroine is trying to thwart a villain that is turning Nashville stars into rappers. Not exactly an evil act, unless you are like the writer and find country music to be superior to rap music. Even for a low-budget film, the implication leaves me unsettled. I can’t say why exactly, I haven’t seen the film or any of its predecessors. Still it just seems a bit rude. But what do you expect from a film like this may be?

This is what I think, what do you think?

Pong returns, crime, and higher pay for drinking - 9.15.2006

Have you seen the new American Express television commercial? I mean the one with some tennis player (a game I really do not understand) named Roddick versus Pong. It is an awesome joke. Especially when some guy tells Roddick that “this guy returns everything.” I doubt anyone under 35 has any idea what Pong is. It is actually the first video game ever.

While kids today would probably laugh at the simplistic graphics and game play, back some 20+ years ago it was the edge of technology. There simply was nothing else like it, nor before it. And to see the games available today, MMO’s (massive multiplayer online games) and real-time strategy games, the journey is incredible. Stunning really when you think about it. But all of it is due to the highly addictive and innovative Pong. I wonder if any readers know what was the next game out? Hint, it was a coin-operated game.

Speaking of video games, why is it that every time some disturbed person does something vicious and they play any video game it’s implied to be a contributing factor. It’s the same argument from the 80’s when a string of teens committed suicide and they listen to the metal rock and roll genre of music. Again in the 90’s rap music was blamed on various crimes and violent actions, it was even used as a defense in a court case as I recall. Complete idiocy I think.

Nothing makes anyone do anything. Well short of direct action by another human being, like having a gun to your head. But to say that music, a video game, television show or book makes people act in any way is ludicrous. It’s no different than the Son of Sam killer saying his dog told him to kill people. The fact is that a person made a decision to harm another, and that’s it. Blaming anything else is just a cop out. Society’s way of ducking the blame, as I see it.

I will say that one of the games he was playing, the one based on the Columbine murders, is rude to say the least. I heard the creator of the game, a 24 year old kid who makes no money off the game, say that he made it as a way to spark conversation over the game. He was speaking on Fox News on September 15, 2006 @ 12:24pm. I wonder what he will do as an encore, maybe a game of the concentration camps or being a hijacker on one of the planes on 9/11.

I’m not being fair of course. I’ve never played the game, nor do I have interest in doing so. I find it distasteful and without merit. I understand it his right to make the game, First Amendment, but yet one would think that decency and compassion would stop him at some point in its development. Of course those factors have not stopped others from playing the game either.

Finally something just in time for the weekend. What is more entertaining than going out to the bar and having a drink with friends, to people watch or to make friends? Well it seems that this tradition is also responsible for higher wages. Yes a new study has found that drinkers make around 10% more than non-drinkers. In addition men that go to a bar take home 7% more in their paycheck. Sorry, but ladies that go to a bar once a month or more make no extra income.

Well I can’t imagine being out without the ladies there but the study says it won’t help the bottom line. Still the single guys need the extra money to buy those single ladies a drink. (some humor there, though it is true). Of course this study found that women drinkers make 14% more than non-drinkers.

So enjoy the weekend, and tip a few back. It could mean a raise. Now isn’t that entertaining?

This is what I think, what do you think?

Don't mind this, just part of my continuing effort to ensure that all my readers can easily access this site and the various posts.

Technorati Profile

Women fight crime, models gain weight and Dennis Leary

Well this is a unique approach. Here is one of the most amazing innovative ways I have ever heard about curtailing violence and drugs. It seems that in Columbia local officials and the wives and girlfriends of gang members have combined efforts to reduce the number of murders there. Now what could they have come up with? Simply put no sex. As long as there is fighting there won’t be any sex for the men.

Now this is unique. Helen of Troy was responsible for a war, these ladies are in essence responsible to stop one. But the fact is it is probably one of the best plans in quite some time. I can hardly think of anything more powerful than this as motivation. Procreation is the driving force of life, second only to self-preservation I think. It will be interesting to see if this will work.

Of course if it does it sets a dangerous precedent. Not in the Lorana Bobbitt sense of things. While if this effort could work on the Al Quaeda members it would be worthwhile, on a lighter sense I can just see painting the White House pink or national shoe sale day in response to a nation-wide ‘lockout’. I’m being light-hearted, but in all seriousness the potential seems huge, if it works.

In other thoughts, news of a ban on the super-thin models in the fashion industry has been reported. It’s about time. I’ve never understood how most of these