Who to be Dr. Who?

Now that we know David Tennant will be regenerating into another Doctor at the end of 2009, the big question is who will become the new Dr. Who?

We can be sure of one thing, the actor will be British. So that narrows the field slightly. Going beyond that I feel pretty secure in also stating that the Doctor will be a man – though I’d put the chance of it being a woman at 1%. If such a thing were to happen it would end the series. Not because an actress is not capable, but because of the incredible lore that has been created up to this date.

So the Doctor will be a man, British, not ugly, about 30 – 35. The actor will have to be able to give credibility to being 900 some odd years old, wise, stupendously smart, a loner, and more than likely straight. These are all things we can be sure of as things the Doctor must convey.

Well here are some of the favorites from England via the Telegraph

David Morrissey - not a shot in the world. While the Doctor does not need, and often shouldn’t be famous (internationally at least) he does need a flair about him. I just don’t see the flair here. Plus he looks to effeminate (though initially the same might have been said about Tennant).

Robert Carlyle - a far better choice. I recall him in the movie Formula 51, with Samuel Jackson. Not the best movie but he does have a fun and vibrant style to him. He’s energetic and moderately charismatic. And he displays more than just a bit of darkness in him. A definite bonus in being the Doctor. Definitely in the running, in my opinion.

Patterson Joseph - a bold choice. Nothing says that the Doctor can’t be Black. It would definitely be a first, and ground breaking. Considering it’s the 21st century it’s not a terrible choice. And it opens up a host of new storylines that have yet to be covered. New ground is always interesting. Sadly, I don’t think the BBC is that strong willed though. Odds out, but worth a bet.

Catherine Tate - did I just mention the odds of a woman? Won’t happen. Again, not because of her talent. It just doesn’t fit the lore that has been created. Though it really throws up questions about what a Time Lord is, and about the children of the Doctor. But then again, she is human.

Rhys Ifans - Americans will recognize this guy as the field goal kicker in the movie The Replacements. I put him on the same level as Morrissey. He just doesn’t have the look. Not that there haven’t been lanky Doctors, but this guy just looks like he’d drop the first time a Dalek landed near him.

John Simm - hello! Well the British are known for being quirky, and having an unusual humor. I can’t see this. He was the Master after all. Does that mean that all Time Lords could have (or did) look exactly the same, just rotating through the different bodies at different times? I don’t buy it. Simm is a great choice, and had he not already been a Time Lord I’d think he could pull off the Doctor. But some changes are too bizarre even in the Doctor’s universe.

Though there is the possibility that the Master planned for the escape of the Doctor in Last of the Time Lords and did not die as he appeared to. He might have been the woman/wife that accompanied him (or at least his mind was) and thus escaped death and is now a woman. That might allow the Doctor to take his form – as a tribute to the only other Time Lord to survive the last great Time War. But I admit this is reaching a bit.

But if The Master can be The Doctor, then so can an American. And since this is impossible, I would love to see Robert Downey Jr. be the Doctor. He can be dark, does drama exceptionally well, isn’t bad at comedy, does accents better than average, and has the looks. And he’s done scifi well enough to have a blockbuster international hit. He’s just not British, nor available.

Another impossible choice would be Jamie Foxx. Ok, stop laughing. Yes I know Foxx is best known for more comedic roles. But as the up-coming The Soloist (with Downey) is yet another film in a string of far more dramatic and powerful roles for this talented actor. He has the bonus of being Black and thus the same new storylines as Joseph. So he can hit a balance on several levels. I don’t think he can do accents though. And again he is unavailable.

But for an American choice that is available, though still impossible I call on Terrence Howard. Having just been ejected from the Iron Man 2 movie he has time to fill. He can do a range of roles, though I don’t recall outright comedic ones. He has great looks – women will love him on the television every week. He also can fulfill the Joseph storylines. And he too has done scifi to exuberant levels (also with Downey).

So my 3 American choices won’t happen, without a Paradox Machine if you have one handy, so I have to say that of the above choices it will likely be Robert Carlyle. The BBC is just not bold enough for it to be any other choice, and Carlyle isn’t bad in any consideration anyway.

David Tennant, Who, no more

In over 45 years there has been one thing that is more consistent than Democrats raising taxes, Americans and Brits wondering why the other has such a funny accent, and William Shatner starring in something. The Doctor.

Now I know sci-fi fans (not the channel – ick) are right on point. The mere mention of The Doctor and they are thinking of a TARDIS and Daleks galore. But for those of you unfamiliar with Gallifrey, The Master, and Time Lords I’ll recap a bit.

The Doctor refers to Doctor Who. The show was started back in 1963 on the BBC. It has been on and off television there ever since. The show is now watched by millions across the globe in its current format, on the cable network channel BBC America, and occasionally rerun on the SciFi channel (amazing that they actually show a sci-fi show between the search for ghosts, and wrestling I know).

Doctor Who has a huge lore behind it, like the abovementioned Daleks (alien bad guys in metal shells that kill anything non-Dalek with particular glee/efficiency), The Master (mortal enemy of The Doctor), TARDIS (an acronym but basically the name of an old british phone booth that can travel time, and is enormously larger inside than out). But the show is viewer friendly and has added millions of fans over the years.

So far 10 people have played The Doctor (he has no known first or last name). This is not because it’s like a soap opera and different people just step in and shocking you one day. The Doctor can and does regenerate if he is killed, and thus becomes a new person with new personality and quirks. Thus there have been several beloved Doctors, and 1 or 2 that didn’t last so long. David Tennant has been the Doctor for 3 years and counting now. Sadly that countdown will be ending soon.

It has now been reported that Tennant will be leaving Dr. Who at the end of the 2009 series. This of course means that the Doctor will be regenerating into a new persona, but I must admit that I will miss his characterization. He’s done a great job bringing a wit and devil may care attitude to the Doctor that was firm and refreshing.

I don’t know how they will kill the Doctor this time, but I have to say that the end of the most recent season was a huge close to a story arc that was years, literally, in the making. The implications were devastating and impacting 3 separate television series – each a spinoff of Dr. Who. Plus it gives an insight to the mind and emotions of one of the most persistent scifi characters ever created.

The series won’t ever be the same. But then again, it rarely ever was. And that just one reason we love the Doctor.

(Does anyone think that Obama could be under the influence of The Master? Ok, low blow I know.)

MoveOn.org blames Michael Vass for President McCain win

I heard about this vide that was being sent across the net and I was just waiting to see how long it would be until I received it. I didn’t have to wait long.



Of course this is a video created by and circulated originally by my friends at MoveOn.org. What lovely people they are. But this video was sent to my by a reader I don’t know, Donna (last name withheld).

I’m happy to know that I have made an impact.

In all actuality I am amused that I received this video. But if you look at it closely you see it’s a bit insulting as well.

First off it equates a vote for Senator McCain as a non-vote. That’s a pretty high pedestal to be standing on, but considering that MoveOn has attacked the very military that protects its freedom to say what it does, I’m not surprised.

Be clear, a vote for Senator John McCain is no less a vote than for anyone else. And not voting for Obama does not make you a racist, if it is based on issues and not the fact that he is Black. Even if you are African American it’s ok to disagree with the bigger Government, spend today tax tomorrow, Government knows best policies of Democrats and Senator Obama. This is not akin to a mandate of your Blackness, its not part of the commoditization of Black culture.

But if I were to be the responsible party in a McCain vote, which by my numbers and expectations is a real potential, I would not be upset. I made my opinion clear, and my reasons. And I have yet to hear an argument, or policy, that gives me pause for that choice. (I would also love the attention and income that such responsibility would provide my blogs and company)

I love the way this video equates a loss for Obama as a national outrage. It completely ignores the fact that nearly ½ the nation (according to polls of committed voters, and who knows about the undecided votes) does not agree with Obama’s policies. If this video is conveying the outrage that might occur in San Francisco, Berkley, or Eugene, Oregon then I will sleep well at night.

In fact in looking over this video again I can see why MoveOn made it. It’s an attempt to scare, cajole, and/or shame voters to vote for Obama. It’s like high school cliques in video form. If you don’t do this you won’t be part of the massive crowd of kids that think they stand out and are different – even though they wear, speak and act exactly the same. How dare you have a brain, know the issues, and have an opinion they don’t like.

The fact that it goes so far as to use religion to slam home the thought that even God must like the politics of Obama. Please. It’s a bit hypocritical for an organization that would support the removal of all hint of religion from all aspects of the nation and public life, to use it as a selling point for their political views. God doesn’t care about politics, Moveon, unless every verse I’ve read in all religious tomes are wrong.

Some would say “Mike, this is just funny.”

No, it’s a targeted attempt to use subtlety and humor to force an opinion onto people. To give the impression that voters have an obligation, instead of a choice, on who to choose for President. It’s the classic move of some liberals and Democrats, to support freedom of speech until someone disagrees with your position. They then need to slam them hard and force them to change their mind to their side, or else. Kind of like what the Obama campaign did to Florida reporter Barbara West, among others.

The best part might just be the absurdity of the thought that McCain would bomb some ubiquitous goat herder. Though the counter thought of Obama sitting down with Iran’s President - to ask him to play nice with Israel, stop making nukes to bomb America, cease funding terrorist groups that plan to kill all Americans (including pacificst and Democrats), and if he is still listening maybe raise the cost of oil so Americans can’t afford it and be forced to use less energy until some new discovery makes an alternative to oil possible – that is terrifying and real.

Of Course MoveOn wants to really sell the Republicans are evil thought. And reinforces the thought that a vote for anyone beyond Obama, and democrats, is a non-vote. MoveOn has a personal gripe with President Bush, and so he is one of their biggest scare tactics. But be honest, to have ANY President mention your name in a positive manner while speaking to the nation is an honor. I wish I had that much influence. I may be a megalomaniac but I’m not insane. (Though I hope to get Bill O’Reilly to comment on a post or speak about me one day. It would be fantastic for my business.)

I will say this, if MoveOn.org is for Obama it is yet another reason not to vote for him. They are the most extreme far-left political group short of communists in China. Ok, that was a bit overstated – maybe the North Koreans and Castro. Of the political opinions they hold that I am aware of I know only 1 person out of about 10,000 in my life that agrees with them. Talk about outside the curve.

So the future I fear is an Obama win. His tax plans will hurt my business and the national economy. He will promote a healthcare plan that will make my health about as important, and as high a quality, as regular mail. He will endanger American lives, and lead us into a war within 5 – 7 years because of his weak stance on foreign policy. He intends to give more to those that do less. He is unbending on his views, and uncaring about other political opinions. He is duplicitous in what he will say to the nation to achieve his goals (though not as bad as Hillary Clinton). And all of that, if not quite a bit more, can all be found in following his campaign since his announcement to run for the Presidency – something I have followed virtually everyday.

I respect Senator Obama. My dislike of his policies is not personal. I admire the fact that he is a Black man that has overcome many obstacles to reach this point. I think he is an incredible orator. And I do not question his intelligence. But none of that is enough to cause me to vote for him.

Voting is always important. Choose who you think matches your hopes for the nation. There is no stigma, no social pariahs. You cannot be singled out, and all the bad jokes and peer pressure in the world will not make someone else’s opinion your vote.

A vote for McCain is as American as a vote for Obama. A vote for Republicans is as valid and honest as a vote for Democrats. A vote is your Right, exercise that Right. But don’t let stupid gimmicks disguised as a joke curb your opinion, nor limit your right to vote. Be informed – from both sides – then get out and make your voice heard.

Charles Barkley interviewed by Campbell Brown on CNN

Charles Barkley is a respected athlete that is known across the world. He is outspoken and opinionated, to say the least. He is rich by most any standard. And he is a supporter of Senator Obama.

None of those things are bad. But I say that to introduce an interview that Barkley has with CNN’s Campbell Brown recently. Part of what was said was very interesting. Part of it were things I completely disagree with. And since much of the conversation centered on the up-coming election, which will affect all of us in ways that few could ever imagine a year ago, I wanted to discuss his thoughts.



The big question everyone is wondering about is race. Will there be an effect for or against Senator Obama based on race. Charles Barkley is dead on when he says this is a real factor. If for no other reason than we know that those that have said that race will affect their vote, in polls going back to the Democratic Primaries, account for ~10% of all voters. And that is the people that have willingly said this in the face of ridicule and media denouncement of such thoughts. Imagine how many might hold those same feelings and would not vote for a Black man, or a woman for that matter.

I expect that many pundits, and those that feel racism does not exist, will be surprised when the election is over and they compare the polls and the actual results. Because this is not a Bradley effect. This is racism in action, calling it anything else is just soothing the feelings of those that choose a racist action.

But let me also state clearly, not voting for Obama is not inherently a racist action. The Obama campaign, supporters, and the major media in general make it seem as if that is the case. But there are strong reasons for anyone to not vote for Obama. The fact that will be shocking is not those that are in the margin of those expected to not vote for Obama, it’s the numbers that don’t vote for him and stated they would. IF Obama loses by a margin greater than 5% then I would say that every percentage above 5% was based on race – because polling data currently states that the race should easily be within 5% based on the issues.



I agree that if Obama were to win it would be a huge statement on the state of race relations in America. It would be a testament to how far we have come as a nation from the Jim Crow laws and segregation that existed just a generation ago. It would give hope that one day racism would be so isolated and repugnant an idea that only the most hateful and small minded would still maintain it.

That said, if Obama wins it does not mean that racism no longer exists. Obama being elected does not change the legal system or it’s preference to convict and overly punish African Americans and other minorities. Overnight we would not see police departments changing policies and active actions in regard to minorities. It would not suddenly balance the numbers of CEO’s and executives of color in business, nor in elected office. Inner city schools would not suddenly get new books and materials, neither would teachers suddenly become more proficient or dedicated (at least those that are currently sub-standard).

Obama is just one man, and would be a symbol of opportunity. He means that a door could now be open, but African Americans and others would still need to be able to get to the door and then go through it. Part of that is the responsibility of the Black community – abandoning the disrespect of those with knowledge, the need to and acceptance of commoditizing of Black culture, the glamorization of drug culture and the lifestyle of it as misrepresented by movies and music videos – but part of that also resides as the responsibility of White Americans and the culture of denial that currently exists (just look at all programs on television in any 1 hour on all channels to prove that thought).



Yes many Black people support Obama because he is Black, and because a huge number of Black people vote consistently Democratic. There are more African Americans involved today because of Obama, because he is inspiring. That inspiration has motivated Republicans, Whites, Asians, Hispanic/Latinos, independents, socialists and who knows what ever groups, each for their own reason.

Somehow I don’t think that the even larger number of Whites and other ethnic groups that support Obama are all doing so because of his tan. If that is even marginally true, then to say that those that are Black that support Obama are for just that one reason is just ignorant and a means to discredit both the voters and Obama.

At the same time I do not think the McCain campaign has used race as a issue. Some supporters of McCain have used race, as have untold numbers of Clinton supporters and the Clinton Campaign. But if we do not fault the campaigns for what their supporters do and say (with the exception of key individuals) we cannot fault McCain, lest we also fault Obama for outrages against women (and Gov. Sarah Palin) and various issues against McCain (like Code Pink) that his supporters have done as well.

As for “code words”, sometimes a word or concept is just that. Welfare is not a Black only Government entitlement. As Barkley correctly states there are, and have always been, more Whites on welfare than all other minorities combined. And without regard to who will receive the money that Obama’s tax plan will provide, many feel that providing money to people who have done nothing to earn it is welfare. For decades the welfare system has mandated that those who do little or nothing receive the most, and Obama’s tax plan will give the most to those in similar circumstances – fairly or not. So this is not a code word, but in my opinion accurate.

And to be accurate, Clinton and her campaign focused on Obama’s heritage, his associations, and his religion. It was Clinton campaigners that accused Obama of being a drug dealer, and were spreading emails that stated Obama was a Muslim and terrorist. While some McCain supporters have picked up on that same line, his campaign has not. And to question his association with a self-admitted terrorist is a politically fair question.

Also, if we are to look at the full 8 years of the Bush administration then we must give him credit for his actions in dealing with the internet bubble that the Clinton Administration created and fostered, as well as his initial actions dealing with the 9/11 attack. The repercussions of both have had far-reaching complications on the economy and nature of the nation today. So to say it’s just a Republican thing is unfair and a misstatement that borders on a lie.

And to say that the only way that McCain can win is to obfuscate and ignore fact. Millions disagree with the larger Government that Obama advocates. Millions doubt and debate the effects of an Obama tax and economic plan. Millions feel his views on a nationalized healthcare are less than beneficial. To say that the only way that Obama could lose is because of his race is to call half the nation racists, and that is racist in its implication.



Many people are against abortion, or gay marriage, or other issues. That is not absurd to them, and if they disagree with Charles Barkley they have that right. His statement otherwise is a minimalization of issues some feel strongly about. It is the purpose of an elected official to support and protect the citizens they represent. That is first and foremost. And occasionally it supersedes their own personal opinions.

But I agree that politicians should ensure a proper education for all. That is paramount for the health of the nation. That ensures ultimately that the economy will perform well, and that prosperity will increase. It will reduce crime and improve communities. It is an obligation we all owe to the youth.

I also agree about keeping the nation safe. But obviously there are many different ideas about how that is best done. But I think that empowering our enemies with retreat and conversations that lift their international presence without assurances does not fit that bill.

Similar arguments can be made about healthcare and the economy.

As for Gov. Sarah Palin, is not Charles Barkley doing her a disservice in stating that her being picked as Vice President running mate is only because of Hillary Clinton? Doesn’t the fact that she has served as a Mayor and Governor of a state worthy of recognition. And if that experience, as well as her reforms and work on energy, are not enough to justify her as VP how is Obama justified in running for President when he lacks even that much experience?

Though I have to note this. Gov. Palin has spoken to reporters and news organizations that are not friendly. They have asked her tough questions, and at times she has had bad answers. But at no time did the McCain campaign blacklist an organization or attack those asking her questions. Senator Biden has done so to Barbara West and her news station, because he didn’t like her questions. Senator Obama supporters have attacked the name of Joe the Plumber because they didn’t like the question asked of Obama (when the real issue should be Obama’s answer – which the news media avoids). And there are other organizations that the Obama campaign has rejected as well, and individuals too.



I do wish Barkley the best in his political attempts. But I do not believe that as many people as he thinks will be in favor of his ideals as he would need. Especially when he, like most wealthy Democrats, is in favor of wealth redistribution but have yet to voluntarily donate a single dollar to the Government. Private organizations yes, but not the Government (even under Democratic Presidents and Congress) which I assume is because they feel Government is a bad administrator of such funds.

I have covered a lot of what was said by Charles Barkley in his interview with CNN’s Campbell Brown. It is political, and it is important in that it deals with the Presidential election.

If you agree with Barkley, go vote. If you disagree, go vote. If you are unsure, go vote and make a gut decision. Because the most important thing you can do is vote, and the worst would be not to vote.

If you would like to know more on the election and Senator McCain or Senator Obama I offer my political blog – VASS. If nothing else it’s a place to start from in you decision making process.

From the dark depths to the silver screen - Villains

Ok, let’s be honest. If you had the choice of being Lex Luthor or Superman who would you choose? And when I say be them I mean you don’t get the just the power or just the money. You get the greed, obsession with power, murdering, and the insanity/genius or the must follow the law, universal boy scout, do good by all means life of either man. Think hard.

If you are like me, many will choose Lex Luthor. Or the Joker (not Heath Ledger or the movies but the comic book version), Magneto (ditto comics), the Juggernaught, Green Goblin, Obedia Stane, Darth Vader, Darth Maul, Hannibal Lecter, Dracula, the Kurgan, Stansfeild, John Ryder, Agent Smith, the T-1000, Pinhead, H.A.L., Alex (A Clockwork Orange), the Kingpin, Dr. Doom, Scorpius, the Daleks, Khan Noonien Singh and the list goes on and on. I doubt that anyone from the ages of 11 up to 65 doesn’t remember at least a few of the people on this list. [If you aren’t familiar with all of them just search the web and you’ll find plenty on them all.]

The point is that we all love the real bad guys. The ones with a brain and enough insanity to fill a psych ward. The guys that want power above anything and everything else. Because they all live. They have nothing holding them back, and nothing stands in their way. They are life spinning in chaos on the edge of a blackhole.

Without a real villain, the good guys are just boring losers that you wouldn’t notice if they were you looking in a mirror. (Not that anyone that reads my posts are losers, it’s just a metaphor)

Considering all this, and the fact that movies based on comic books are all the rage right now, how long did you think it would take for a movie to be made based on villains? If you thought 2010 you’d be just about right.

Viper Comics graphic novel Villains has just been picked up by Universal Pictures and will be made into a movie. This is a film from the bad guys point of view. It’s about the life that the good guys never see. The how and why of being evil.

If you read a synopsis of the graphic novel you get a basic story that reads like Apt Pupil.



Unlike Brad Renfro’s accidental discovery and curiosity gone wild, in Villains there is a willful desire to scour the depths of evil and become the object of fear and righteous crusades of superheroes.

This film, if done right will be unlike just about any other film I can name. And it should do well. But the big question is far darker.

If this film does well in movies, if you enjoy it, what does that say about the society and all of us in it? Are we like Renfro, curious and unknowingly opening Pandora’s Box – or are we celebrating a dark core that we desperately try to keep hidden while we routinely follow the monotony of our daily attempts at order and sanity?

If the film touches on that question, then this film will be a must see.

Copies and cop-outs on terlevision

I was speaking with a couple of friends today and I noticed 2 television commercials. The commercials were very different, dealing with separate networks and programs, but they had one thing in common. They both exemplified the fact that Hollywood is completely and utterly devoid of any ideas. It reminds me that the fact that there was a strike by screenwriters was utterly pointless, as they don’t deserve to be paid to rewrite ideas already created by someone else (and done better).

The first commercial is for the show Life on Mars. Now this is a good show. It’s unique and catches your attention. A cop may or may not be transported back to 1973 for a purpose that he is not sure of, but someone or something does. He has to learn the purpose in order to make it back to our time. The catch is the fact that the cop is in a coma in our time. So is it real or not?

Sound interesting? It should be. The show was a hit on the BBC a couple of years ago. If you want to know what will happen in the series just check here. The show is only 2 season long, but since broadcast television is enslaved by reality TV anything that has any intelligence is a welcome change. If you don’t get the BBC, I can tell you that the show is very good.

The American version will likely change the slang, and some of the situations. Expect a different take on racism, sexism, and the drug culture from England. But other than that, much like the Office and Coupling, this will likely be a virtual word for word copy. Invariably the British version is better.

The other commercial is for the new show on the Sci-Fi channel. Actually 2 as I have just seen. Chase and Estate of Panic. Both of these reality network rejects have nothing to do with science, though it’s full of fiction.

Since the Sci-fi channel was bought there has yet to be any original thoughts beyond Eureka! The channel is a waste of brain cells. They remake the oldest and worst science fiction movies and call them original. They thrive on the concept of the giant animal movie, ala 1950’s b-movies. They have covered every angle of nature gone mad films from the 1970’s, twice. It the execs on this channel had any original thoughts they would be dangerous.

Chase is just what it sounds like. A bunch of people run around a set while a bunch of people dress as Agents from the Matrix movies tries to catch them. The last one gets money. Even people who drive only with left turns, and those that watch them, will be bored to tears in the middle of the first episode. I hate to say it but American Idol (also a British transplant) is filled with more entertainment.

Estate of Panic is basically a remake of Fear Factor in a house. You go through rooms with challenges set to freak out the player and those watching. Hidden in the rooms is money. The more you collect the more you keep. If you freak out too much you can get out, but you lose the cash.

Now does any of this sound remotely like science fiction? The channel would be better off showing reruns of the Buster Keaton Flash Gordon series. The only real question I have is when will this channel completely fail so someone else can buy the name and get something even moderately bad, but in the genre, on the air.

And the real joy is that in January there will be 500 channels because of the forced move to HD television. That means even more opportunities to see this swill that is supposed to be entertainment. If these are the best that television can come up with I suggest reading a dictionary.

Go vote, it's your right

Once every 4 years millions gather and let their voices get heard. They celebrate one of the most powerful displays of democracy in action, peacefully electing a new leader of the most powerful nation on the planet. And once every 4 years other citizens of that same nation fail in exercising this same right.

This is not about those that choose to sit at home and either through apathy, ignorance, or willful disregard for the choices available. I am speaking about those that fail to have their vote counted for reasons that they feel are beyond them.

Some cast provisional ballots when they think they are casting early ballots. Provisional ballots are not always counted, and are not the same as a regular or early vote.

Some fail to bring ID with them to prove who they are. This reason seems the most dumb to me. Always carry a government issued ID. It will allow you to vote and may help in other circumstances.

For further clarification carry a piece of mail from a local agency, like the gas and electric company, that further proves your address and identity.

But prior to all this you have to register to vote. Without that the ID and options of early voting or provisional ballots is basically moot.

It costs nothing to register to vote. If you are a citizen, without a felony, it is a right that cannot be denied to you. Exercise that right. Make your voice be heard. Be involved with your Government, because your Government is involved with you.

“People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people.” – from V for Vendetta

Dark times for punk music

If you are under 35 years old you don’t know what punk music is. If you are American and under 40 you probably think Green Day is the biggest punk band ever. And I would bet that if anyone called virtually all of my readers a punk, they would get hit.

But if you are in Florida, punk is an essential part of your aerobics workout. The Ramones are crying.

Seriously, there is an aerobics workout program, called Punk Rock Aerobics that is styled and includes punk music and themes because

“Even punk rockers can get flabby.”

Call me old but as I recall the point of punk was the anti-establishment attitude. The fact that everything that was corporate was wrong. It was so against the mainstream that several original punk bands broke up because they were too popular. (Most of them were British though)

The Clash were never into fiber and keeping their cardio up (without illegal supplements). The Sex Pistols were about as concerned with stretching as being pacifists (even though the move is called Slut Butts), unless that stretching involved members of the opposite sex and circumstances I won’t mention in this blog.

So understanding all that, and the fact that the big claim of this aerobics program is the fact that young adults with piercings and body art (this generations equivalent of smoking) get to workout in shabby clothes and some good music, I can’t call this punk. In fact I’d call it fake.

But this is the generation of ‘revisioned’ ideas. Why stick to ideas of the past when you can remake it to something more modern (ie easier) and personalized (ie mass produced and generic).

Do I like punk music? Definitely. Did I live the lifestyle? Nope, though a good part of my college classmates did fully. And is this idea good? Well if you are into keeping fit and music it could be. And if you are interested in how it looks you can see this video – where the concept started in Massachusetts home of the Pilgrims, the Boston Tea Party, Rob Zombie, New Edition, Godsmack, and the Neats – a mixed bag at best.



I just don't know what else to say.

Skinheads plan to decapitate Senator Obama and 102 school kids

I have spoken about racism a lot over the years. And one of the big comments I receive every time is that I should get over it, because it doesn’t exist anymore. Then there is news like this

“The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms said the plan was to kill the Democratic presidential candidate and shoot or decapitate 102 black people in a Tennessee murder spree.

In court records revealed today, agents said they disrupted plans to rob a gun store and target an unnamed but predominantly African-American high school by two neo-Nazi skinheads.”

So how am I supposed to get over that?

I don’t believe Senator Obama should be elected President. Not because of his race, but because of his economic plans. But I have to wonder what is so wrong in this country that the mere thought that a Black man is running for President could motivate some to plan the decapitation of 102 innocent school kids and the Democratic nominee.

Does this latest assasination plot mean that Obama should be elected? No. Not in my opinion based on his left wing liberal political views. But that does not make him unAmerican, nor does it mean that any Black person desevers to be killed. Aren’t we fighting 2 wars against people that plan these same kinds of events?

America needs to resolve the race issues that continue to plague us. Race is bigger than the economy, wars overseas, and almost anything else. This kind of division will destroy the nation faster than anything else. It is a festering sore that never heals, because some cannot accept the world as it is.

I really am disturbed by this news. Even without the election such a thought is terrifying. That so many still hold views that should have died in the middle ages with the bubonic plague makes me ill at ease. It reminds me that I still can wake up with a cross burning in my yard.

But I will not back down. Racism is still alive in this nation because too many want to hide behind the thought that because lynchings aren’t happening the world is fine. The thought that some believe racisim can’t exist since I and my family can sit anywhere on a bus or resturant keeps them from seeing the racial tones in the media and politics is not something I will abide by.

America, if we cannot be a nation of people instead of a nation of colors we will fall no matter who is at the helm. African Americans, Hispanic/Latinos, Asians, Native Indians and more all serve in our military and have bled to ensure the freedoms we all enjoy today. That does not mean Obama should win because he is Black. But it means even moreso that he should never lose because of it either; not as long as we want to continue to be a great nation.

Mini Cooper - classic and modern in one

Of the classic cars in the world on of the most loved is the Mini. The car is one of the most notable cars of the 1960’s and enjoyed success in England as well as in the U.S. along with the famous Volkswagen Beetle. The original line of the Mini cars was made consistently from 1959 up until 2000. These cars were hearty and capable, especially the Cooper “S” version which won the Monty Carlo Rally.

There is no surprise that these popular, stylish, and distinctive were picked up by BMW and are enjoying a surge in popularity once again. The new Mini is essentially the old models with new insides. They have been featured in several movies, most prominently in the remake The Italian Job.

But this classic car is really moving up to the 21st century in a way that the original makers could never have imagined. The Mini is going electric.



Available soon in America the new Mini E is an electric car. That means that the car runs completely on batteries that can be recharged. It takes only 2 ½ hours to get a full charge and the car can travel 150 miles on that charge. While this is impressive and stand out among the other electric cars planned to be produced for America, there is another bonus.

This car can clear 100 mph, and can clear 62 mph in nine seconds. Which places well into the range of the fastest electric cars.

Now I have to ask you, classic style modern earth-friendly engine, power and exclusivity. Only 500 of the cars will be available in America.

If you can’t have the original classic, this well might be the next choice on your list.

Tiger Woods - Caddy extrodinaire

There are many things that golfers wish for. A longer drive, a better short game, the ability to 2-putt the green, or to simply miss the tree or water hazard on their favorite course. But if you were to ask the average golfer what might be on the top of their wish list you can count on 2 or 3 things.

• To play a round of golf with Tiger Woods
  
• To get advice from Tiger Woods or any of the top golfers in the PGA
  
• To be a caddy or walking the golf course along with any of the world’s best players
  

Of course I think that all the above would be great things to have happen. And all of the above are beyond the ability of the average golfer. Normally.

But thanks to Tee Off With Tiger – a competition sponsored by Buick – one average golfer was able to live out one of these dreams, in a manner. John Abel was the lucky man, and what he got was a round of golf. With Tiger Woods being his caddy.

Can you imagine that?

I seriously can’t imagine how any regular duffer could play with Tiger calling the shots. Abel states that he got a lot of huge advice from Tiger. From shots to putting on greens that Tiger admits are about 3 feet slower than what the pro’s play on. Greens I might add that were indecipherable to us regular folks.



I tell you that this was something I am envious of. If I had the money I would donate $100,000 to charity just to be able to play with Tiger. I can’t imagine what sum of money it might take to get him to caddy for me. I’d donate $10,000 just to carry his clubs and watch as he played a golf course. That alone would be huge in learning to play better, I’m sure of it.

I imagine that there are lots of photos that Abel has with Tiger, and they will never be on eBay. Talk about prized possessions.

But as I end this envy post (yes I envy that opportunity) I want to touch on something else that John Abel mentioned about the time with Tiger. Unlike many celebrities these days that are full of ego and conceit, Tiger it seems is a “fantastic guy”.

It’s often hard to get a feel of the real person separate of the celebrity or athlete. Too often they turn out to be a certain orifice as opposed to anything resembling pleasant. Yet Abel conveys the image that out of competition, among average people like you and me, Tiger Woods is not only human but someone you would want to have a beer with. The more I hear about celebrities and entertainers, their drug problems, divorces, cheating, and violations of law, the more I appreciate just hearing that some are better than that. And yes, the fact that this is an African American man that is not into drugs, misogyny, and all that the “ghettofabulous” lifestyle promotes like crack really makes it all like manna from above.

But like all the duffers I play with, and I imagine across the world, I still have my wish list. Who knows, maybe one day it will come true. It did for John Abel so you never know.

$25,000 for 84 minutes of Lohan

Last year several actresses, among many other entertainers, made a mockery of the legal system. There was Paris Hilton with her whirlwind trips in jail, and Britney Spears who seemed as dangerous to herself as anyone else. And there was the case of Lindsey Lohan.


Lohan was in the middle of her drunken, cocaine addicted, self-destruction phase back in October 2007. It was anything but pretty as the photo above shows.

But she also went to some extremes.

“There is a report out that states Lindsey Lohan has spent at least $7,000,000 solely on drugs, rehab and hotels. Oh, I nearly forgot the lawyers. They got a bit of that roll of bills too.”

One of the more notable events was her arrest after chasing her former assistant in a commandeered car. She was high on cocaine at the time, and plead guilty. Her punishment was an eye-popping 84 minutes in jail. 2 arrests on cocaine possession and she stole a car that had people in it to harasses and endanger 3 other people in another car, and she only spent 84 minutes in jail. Mockery barely touches what this was.

And I addressed that in my other post on this obviously troubled celebrity.

“Isn’t that nice. All the drug charges from 2 arrests within 3 months of each other apparently will not be pursued. They are just going away. I bet you have had that happen to you. I bet you’ve read about similar things happening to your brother/cousin/son/father. I bet the non-famous first-time offending college student with a DUI and a joint let in the car by another student got the same kind of leniency. I’m sure that hundreds of African Americans are treated with the same kid gloves.”

But for all my protest the legal system felt no need to punish the celebrity.

But the 3 men that were in the commandered car, and who were accused by Lohan of possesion of the drugs in Lohan’s pockets, may do more than the legal system has.

The 3 men have filed a lawsuit in excess of $25,000 for the battery, false imprisonment and that the actress was negligent when she allegedly took over the SUV involved in the arrest. This says nothing of her attempts to frame the men on drug charges. I think they asked for too little. And the Lohan camp are facing this lawsuit because for a year they failed to come to a settlement.

If I were on the jury of the civil case I would be pleased to know that this is the chance to hand out a punishment that the law failed to do. I know that juries in the west love to do this. The OJ Simpson case, in L.A. and Vegas, is a prime example of using (civil) law to gain their pound of flesh. And these women, celebrities more for their excesses than any performance they have ever done, need something to cause them to pause.

These men deserve to receive $100,000 each. It’s not like this pop celebrity can’t afford the penalty, or that she hasn’t wasted far more money on extremely more trivial and illegal items.

I hope that this sets a precedence. I hope that assistants assaulted by temperamental supermodel bosses, drunken seemingly brainless socialites scoffing laws, and entertainers that are as addicted and mindless as the zombies found in some of their films all get civil suits for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Because they impact the youth, and there is a respect of law that they should be happy to at least pretend to uphold.

If Lindsey Lohan loses this case it will mean she was penalized $297 for each minute in the jail facility (not even behind bars) that she spent in 2007. Her lawyer likely costs at least that much. But if it prevents even one more celebrity from a drunken, drug fueled spree then it is worth it.

War Machine no more - Terence Howard out, Don Cheadle in

What the hell was Marvel thinking? If you are like me, you are unaware of the news that apparently came out last week in Hollywood. This news deals with the sequel to the hit film Iron Man.

The cast of Iron Man included Robert Downey Jr. and Oscar-nominee Terence Howard. This film has been a massive hit in theaters and the DVD sales have been brisk. Expectations for the obviously hinted sequel have been high. In fact, Iron Man and the Tony Stark character play prominently into the upcoming Avengers and other Marvel comic book film adaptations.

Marvel did a great job of conveying the character flaws from written form to movie. And the acting of Robert Downey Jr. was instrumental. But as important was the acting of Terence Howard as Stark’s best friend Jim Rhodes. It is the Rhodes character that Stark relies upon throughout the comic book, and is the only person he is willing to entrust his upgraded technology to. That new armor suit is called War machine, and it lives up to its name well.

In the movie Howard looks to the new armor and mentions “next time”. But it seems that it will never come as he has now been dropped from the sequel. I find that to be horrendous. Howard is an exceptional actor, and capable of a range of roles as his career shows.

Not only has Howard been replaced, by the equally talented – but far too short – Don Cheadle, Marvel did not have the balls to tell Howard beforehand. According to reports the excuse is a failure to come to terms on pay. But according to Howard

“…And I read something in the trades that implicated it was about money... but apparently the contracts that we write and sign aren't worth the paper that they're printed on sometimes. And promises aren't kept, and good faith negotiations aren't always held up.”

I like Don Cheadle. He is a great actor. But I don’t see him as Rhodes. It just doesn’t work for me. And now the new dynamic of the actors is very different than what was expected or as existed in the first film. There is a chance that Marvel may have shot themselves in the foot as it seemed that the second film was going to focus on War Machine and Rhodes.

It appears that Marvel is going the route of Disney, which is reported to be a tightwad and miserable to work for. The actions of Disney cost it an animation department and hundreds of millions in animated film revenues. Marvel seems ready to follow that same path, which was also the cause of the creation of Imagine Comics, and gave growth to several underground comics that ate away a large portion of their readership in the 1990’s.

Perhaps the next Iron Man movie will be fine. All the actors are phenomenal so you wouldn’t expect different. But I think that the future comic book adaptations may be in danger of failure. And just before Captain America can make it to the silver screen. It would be a shame.

Hollywood has its issues, and they are seeping into Marvel apparently. The loss of Terence Howard is a bad sign, hopefully it just remains that. And I hope that Marvel comes back to Howard with a sweetheart deal to make up for this public and unwarranted slap in the face.

And I really hope this does not cause a fued between Howard and Cheadle. They are too good, and there are too few quality roles for African Americans for that to happen.

Who really belongs on the Top 40 most Influential Men of 2008 list

Everybody loves a list of top anything. You just can’t resist seeing what got rated and how high things were ranked. Everyone has an opinion, this was too high or that was too low. At Askmen.com they have just released their Top 49 Most Influential Men of 2008.

Over 200,000 people voted to establish the men and ranks on this list. That’s pretty impressive. Going through the list I found it interesting not only who and what rank some men were ranked, but also why. This years list includes a bit of a bio and the reasons for the influence of the person. Amazingly, some on the list were ranked for the most inane reasons, in my opinion.

#48 – Lil Wayne. Ranked with an overall score of 73.3 his claim to fame this year was the plethora of songs he has released over his career, and the fact that he was arrested and charged with 4 felonies. Being a rapper there was no surprise in that the charges are related to drugs. So drug addicts (and definitely his drug dealer) are sure to have been impressed that he could get arrested with a massive amount of drugs, remain out of jail, and release an album.

#47 – Criss Angel. Ranked at 73.4. He makes people believe as only Houdinni and David Blaine have. If you don’t see him in Vegas, check out his show on cable television. Amazing.

#46 – Alex Rodriguez. Ranked with a score of 73.9. A real trend setter A-Rod was influential for all the men that want to divorce their wife and hook up with the wife of another guy (who subsequently is also getting a divorce). You might have expected him to have been ranked because of his success as a baseball player, but then again where did the Yankees finish?

#44 – Ryan Seacrest. Ranked in a tie with A-Rod at 73.9, you just have to be impressed that he made the list. The only claim to fame for this guy is American Idol. He must be influential to someone because he is making a career out of the least skill intensive career separate of being a judge on American Idol.

#41 – Lewis Hamilton. Ranked a mere 75.5. The first Black man to break the race barrier in Formula 1 racing, and the best in the world right now (possibly disputable). He has made Formula 1 racing exciting again and is a rage throughout Europe. Considering the reasons some are on this list, how he was not ranked higher escapes me.

#40 – Brett Farve. Ranked 75.9 you just have to love his spirit. He has come back out of retirement and brought life into the Jets game. This has been huge for the fans and changed up all the expectations in the NFL. Perhaps the only people that want this ranked lower are in Green Bay.

#39 – Heath Ledger. Ranked with a solid 77, he’s doing quite well for being dead. His big accomplishments were dying form a drug overdose/mix and his performance as the Joker in the latest Batman movie. Honestly I have never been impressed with his acting, and even less so with his rendition of the Joker. Where was the joke? Maybe that his death catapulted the movie higher than it ever could be if he lived and it was reviewed fairly?

#33 – Brad Pitt. Ranked with a 79.5, and you just have to wonder why. His film Burn After Reading got burned in theaters (he’s done much better). He hasn’t done much else this year except be a dad, which is reason enough to get credit. The big draw for him on the list – his wife Angelina Jolie.

#32 – Harvey Levin. Ranked at 79.5 with Brad Pitt. He is the man responsible for all the news you don’t care to know about Lindsey Lohan and Britney Spears. His gossip website, TMZ.com, is the spot for news that used to only be fit for the Globe. Influencing bathroom reading every day.

#28 – Arnold Schwarzenegger. Ranked 80.8 and the Guvernator. He has made almost as much of an impact on politics as he has in his movies. His influence was felt this year as he endorsed Senator McCain for President over Rudy Giuliani. Up to this point he is the only man on the list that is both well-known and actually influential for something.

#26 – Jimmy Kimmel. Ranked 81.4. Hey you just have to cheer for the success of this guy. And he got ranked above the Guvernator! Good for him.

#25 – David Beckham. Ranked 81.8 and the saviour of the L.A. Galaxy. The man is still a great soccer (futbol in the rest of the world) player and definitely the best playing in the U.S. today. His introduction to U.S. soccer has helped to lift the sport and got the Galaxy to finish above .500 which takes doing. Plus a 70 yard goal is damn hard to do.

#22 – George Clooney. Ranked 83 and far above pal Brad Pitt. Like Pitt I like the acting of Clooney. But he is an outspoken advocate of many causes. He was named a Messenger of Peace by the U.N. this year. His work dealing with Darfur (along with Pitt) is only exceeded by Don Cheadle. Too bad he’s not a Republican.

#21 – Usain Bolt. Ranked 83.2 for his performance at the 2008 Olympics. And it was a performance. Perhaps I was the only one a bit off-put by his showboating especially in the 100 meter race. Yes he’s fast, but if he wants to act he should get a different career.

#19 – Ben Bernanke. Ranked 83.5. Generally everyone on this list was ranked for their positive influence. Bernanke is the only person that I would absolutely say influenced the world with his negative actions. He failed in his monetary policy, his late rate cuts and abysmal attention to the span of the mortgage crisis. Influential and nearly deserving of a jail sentence, he makes Paul Volker look like a smart guy.

#17 – Kanye West. Overranked at 84.2 this performer is only overshadowed by his ego. I mean really, above Bernanke, Beckham, Hamilton, Clooney? Why is he even on the list? What did he influence?

#15 – Jon Stewart. Ranked at 85 he is one of the most important faces of politics today. That is both funny and sad because he is a comedian making fun of what is happening. Considering that he is reported to be watch by more aged 30 and under than regular news for the news it’s little surprise that so many are leaning left in this next election. But he’s just so funny.

#10 – Senator John McCain. Ranked 86.2 you would expect that one of the Presidential candidates would be ranked higher. I’m sure it’s a far-left internet plot (sarcasm if you didn’t guess). Still as one of the men that would run the nation, and with the best outlook for America – in my opinion – and an American hero (indisputable) he should be rated higher.

#9 - Cristiano Ronaldo. Ranked 86.2 he is an international futbol superstar. He had a good year with Manchester United, scoring his first hat trick and won the UEFA Champions League. He had 8 goals for Portugal, including one in the quarterfinals, as Portugal qualifies for the next World Cup.

#7 – Christian Bale. Ranked an astounding 89. Are they serious? I like him as Bruce Wayne, and he was one of the few saving graces in The Dark Knight but let’s be serious. More influence than Senator McCain? Bigger than Jon Stewart? Better than Lewis Hamilton? I think not.

#5 – Stephen Colbert. Can you believe that he is only ranked 89.9? I bet he can’t. And his gut will tell him it was a typo and really is 98.8 only behind Senator McCain. He is the best at parsing politics and being ingenuine in the very ingenuine field of politics. You know he is funny when Republicans watch his fake Republican rants and laugh. (and he is a great Phil Ken Sebin – Harvey Birdman Attorney at Law – Ha!ha)

#4 – Robert Downey Jr. Ranked a cool 90.4 he is the king of the hill right now. Iron Man, the upcoming The Soloist with Jamie Foxx. He is an actor that can make movies like Tropic Thunder look good, and can be huge in anything else. He gives hope that even the worst junkie has a touch of grace, and the ability to overcome any downfall.

#1 – Senator Barack Obama. His rank of 93.1 will likely shock some since it’s not 100%. He is the first African American to have a serious shot at being President. He is intelligent, an orator without current par, young (as politics go) and determined. Even if you don’t like his political positions (and I don’t) you have to respect his rise and ability to bring so many from the apathy most Presidential races fall into. Win or lose the election, he is the face of where politics will be going soon (in 4 years I think he can’t help but win the election).

There are others on the list that some might feel are of note. And some might not agree with the reasons, or lack thereof, for the rankings – or my interpretations. But if I had to list the aforementioned the top 5 would have to be:

• Senator Barack Obama
  
• Senator John McCain
  
• Robert Downey Jr.
  
• Stephen Colbert
  
• Lewis Hamilton
  

And on the list of infamy and negative influence, which should be a separate list:

Ben Bernanke
Harry Paulson
Barney Frank
Chris Dodd
Harry Reid
Nancy Pelosi

Each and every one of them for allowing the mortgage crisis which has created the credit crunch and damaging America.

Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu - don't know the name? Listen to the music

Sometimes you just run across things on the net that you would never expect, and just as often you are enriched by the experience. This kind of unexpected find allows me to present Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu to my readers.

The name may seems strange to anyone not from Australia. Yunupingu is an Aborigine that taught himself how to play guitar, which is quite the accomplishment considering that he is blind, and plays with an upside down guitar. He is an acclaimed singer and counts among his fans Sting, Elton John, and Bjork besides tens of thousands, perhaps millions of fans worldwide. Which is also amazing when you consider that Yunupingu speaks almost no english, and sings in a native Aboriginal dialect.

Listening to him sing is a calming and unique experience. No flash, no forced emotion or tricks of music engineering. It’s just beautiful.

Yunupingu won best independent release at the annual Australian Record Industry Association Awards. Here is a sample of his songs live. Let me know what you think.

M V Consulting donates to Ronald McDonald House Charities on behalf of the Madden Cordero Memorial

Well now that I shared the less than pleasant events that took place for me on Saturday night, let me share with you the great events of the day that preceded the night.

Saturday was the 1st Annual Pig Roast Memorial for Madden Cordero. I had mentioned that I would be attending this charity event previously. And the trip up to Hagaman New York was uneventful unlike the trip back.


Once at Tom’s Tavern I took the chance to look around. Hagaman, New York is a quiet town just outside of Amsterdam. It’s a nice place and filled with interesting people. Tom’s Tavern is a nice local establishment, filled with local humor and more than 20 trophies that the bar’s sponsored APA team has won over the years. In addition there are several Darts trophies as well. The bar is well stocked with a variety of liquor, and there are plenty of seats inside.

One thing that you may not notice upon entering the bar is something pointed out to be that day by Tom the owner. On a top shelf on the right behind the bar are 3 shot classes. Each is filled with a drink. Those 3 shots are for Tom, his dearly loved mother who passed recently at the age of 93, and Madden Cordero whom the event was being held in honor of.

The event had several items donated for it, including use of Tom’s Tavern, much of the food, several bottles of liquor, and other items. One local liquor store, upon hearing what the event was raising money for, chose to forgo giving liquor and drinks. Instead they chose to make a donation directly to the Ronald McDonald House Charities on behalf of Madden Cordero. 100% of the funds raised at the event went to RMHC on behalf of Madden Cordero.

At the event there were several pig that were roasted, hamburgers, Italian sausages, baked ziti, roasted peppers, several types of salad and more. Several kegs of beer were available as well as drinks at the bar.

This was perfect as there were several families there, with children as young as 6 months on up at the event. I arrived early and stayed until about 7pm and counted a couple dozen people at the event, and I am aware of a couple dozen more that were to attend the event later that night. There was no planned end time to the event, and the DJ arrived at 5:30pm with plans to be there a long time.

If I were to say that the event was successful and fun, I would be underestimating and belittling the spirits at the event.

When I had the chance I was able to speak with Gregg Cordero and present him with a check for $200 dollars.



In addition I also gave him a mug, found at my online store, which states that “Character is forever”. And obviously the character of Gregg Cordero shone through the event and the dedication and love he had for his son.



And I also presented Gregg with a mouse pad (which oddly he did not have in his office he confided), also found at the online store, which states “I am the myth”. Again I felt this exemplified Gregg in that he defies the myth of fathers that don’t care (which the major media seems to believe) and lived up to the mythos of what fathers should be.



The event was a great day overall. Hundreds of dollars, if not thousands, were raised at the event and have been directly donated to the Ronald McDonald House Charities on behalf of Madden Cordero. It was refreshing to see all the individuals that contributed and supported the event, as well as multiple companies across New York State, especially in a time of economic instability. It just proves that some things are worthy no matter how much money is in a 401K, or how badly Congress does it’s job.

I am happy to have supported and donated to this worthy cause. I’m looking forward to next years event, and plan on making a substantially greater donation. I encourage all my readers to make a donation as well, and for those concerned that they can only donate $5 or $10 dollars I offer you this idea.

You can donate via the donation widget on the sites of M V Consulting, Inc and I will ensure that at the end of this year all the monies collected will go directly to the Ronald McDonald House Charities. Again I will donate 100% of all monies collected via the donation widget at the sites of M V Consulting, Inc at the end of 2008, so never worry about your donation being too small – even 50 cents helps and adds up with everyone else.

Good people on a bad night

I want to depart a bit from my usual blogging to share a moment of my life with you.

I think everyone has had a weekend where things just don’t go right. This weekend has been mine. It started very well with my trip to Hagaman, New York where I met up with Mr. Gregg Cordero. Readers may be familiar with Gregg from my interview with him on the subject of real estate and the mortgage bailout crisis. You may also be familiar with him because of the reason for my trip, the 1st Annual Madden J. Cordero Memorial. I will be discussing that event in a separate post, but the event went well.

On my trip back home though things went a bit awry.

Halfway back to Binghamton the car died. At my best guess the car threw a rod. This happened at the gleeful location of the sign indicating 87 more miles to Binghamton on I-88 west. If you have driven past this spot it is remarkable only in that it is 38 miles from Oneonta and surrounded by a lot of nothing. The time was 8:30pm, so the sun was down and the temperature was likewise dropping. I believe it was less than 40 degrees at that moment.

I was with a friend, who had forgotten her cell phone at home. My cell phone had died while I was at the event. Traffic was infrequent enough that we had time to push the car to the shoulder of the road. Of the trucks and cars that did pass by at that point, none even slowed down. With the prospect of little traffic, no cops, no phone, and a lack of familiarity with the area, as the temperature continued to drop we decided to walk to the nearest town. The fact that it was severely dark, there are no lights in the area, nor any towns, and that fear of freezing waiting for a cop or the chance of being hit by a wayward driver were moderate all factored into the decision to walk.

I should mention that I was wearing a suit and overcoat. My friend was wearing a dress, thin sweater, and a mid-length leather jacket. Suffice to say we were cold. Oh, I was wearing a pair of 1970 leather half-boots, and she had on moderate heels. So neither of us had footwear appropriate for a long walk.

When I say the walk was long, I mean real long. On the far right shoulder of the road, unable to see more than 5 feet or so in front of us. And at the time we had no idea of how far we had to travel. We started off at about 9:15, and for the next hour and maybe a half some 25 cars and trucks passed us without pause. In the miles we covered we saw no indication of any turnoffs or exits nor that we would come to one at any point in the near-term. There are also no phone or emergency call phones that can be found along the road on some highways. Did I mention that it was cold and dropping temperature?

Finally 2 ladies did stop their car and asked us what we were doing. After learning of our situation, they thankfully decided to give us a ride.

The driver was a woman named Kara, and the passenger was her friend from Washington State Roseanne. We learned that the ladies were just returning home from visiting NYC and the 9/11 site, which Roseanne had never seen before. Both ladies had sons that were in the military and serving in Afghanistan. They were quite proud and also worried for their sons, as the fighting there was intense from what they conveyed to us.

They drove us some 15 minutes or more to Oneonta, and dropped us off at the Neptune Diner. The diner is a 24-hour location and quite nice. I would have taken pictures of the place, except the camera had also died. The ladies were very kind and tried to provide us with cash, which I kindly turned down as I did have money available to me. They had also allowed us the use of their cell phone to contact the daughter of my friend, so she could pick us up. (Thank goodness because I don’t really know many people in Binghamton and the few I do know were phone numbers in my cell that I could not retrieve.)

Once in the diner we were able to get something to eat, and coffee to warm us up. I actually had a Bailey’s and coffee. At this point we asked the staff to help us select a towing company to get the car. The staff not only provided us with a telephone book, but the name of a reliable (and relatively cheap I learned later) tow, the use of the manager’s cellphone (which he volunteered when we asked about a payphone) and a bit of pleasant conversation while we waited for everyone to arrive.

At about 11pm, Marcus Arellius – yes just like the gladiator from the movie of the same name – showed up for the keys to pick up the car. About another half hour later my friends’ daughter showed up. 15 minutes after that Marc was back with the car.

The cost to tow a car from the middle of nowhere on the highway some 38 miles away? $194.

Cost of the meal? $17.50.

Cost of fixing the car? Still don’t know yet as the garage, Susquehanna Auto is closed on Sunday.

Having someone pick you up from the middle of the dark, cold, highway and get you to civilization? Priceless

Having people help you out and get you home? Priceless.

There is no feeling like being 2 Black people on a road and unsure if anyone will come to help you, or if they will pretend to help and endanger you more. There is no feeling like having people who have no need to help you step up and do so.

I thank Kara, Roseanne, the staff of the Neptune Diner, Marcus Areillus, and my friends’ daughter for all their help Saturday night. Had each of them not gone out of their way the hours it would have taken in that cold would have been extreme. There is a large question on how safe we would have been, either from the cold or a driver accidentally hitting us on the highway.

America is often a divided nation, based on racism, economic status, sex and other issues. But every so often, it’s refreshing to see when people that don’t have to help out do so.

And as a moment of caution to my readers I suggest the following:

Always charge your cell phone before a trip of any length.
Always have a couple of phone numbers of friends on a piece of paper in your wallet.
Always carry a spare battery for your electronic devices
Always have warm clothing in your car, and a spare set of sneakers or boots.
Always keep an extra $20 in your pocket or wallet whenever taking a trip.
If possible always have an extra credit card that is only for extreme emergencies.

These things may not sound like a big deal, but as I found out they can make an extreme difference.

And if you laughed at any point of this, it’s ok. No one wound up hurt, and everyone got home safely. The money is not fun to have to spend, but it could have cost more. So a laugh after the fact is not a big deal.

Vino Volo: making airports worth being in

Last week I was on a business trip down to Florida. The flight I was taking included a layover in Philadelphia. I had about 2 hours of free time so I decided to look around and see what was available in the airport.

I ran across an assortment of clothing shops and various goods, all severely overpriced, as you might expect. In general I was a bit disappointed at the selection available to me there, and then I ran across Vino Volo.



What first struck me about the wine bar/restaurant was the clean and smooth look of the place. Then I was caught by the huge wine selection. My interest piqued I decided to walk in and see what it was all about.

In essence Vino Volo is a wine bar. The food, décor, and arrangement was very much like what you might expect in a mid-town Manhattan wine bar, or similar to many upscale bars throughout the nations larger cities. There was no music, nor other distractions. And the artwork on the walls was decidedly modern art, though not glaring or distasteful. And for all the modern styling, there was a very comfortable feel about the place.

I sat at the main bar, though there was plenty of seating inside for groups, and seating outside the bar where you could watch the passing traffic of people going to and from flights with ease.



I looked over the selection of wines. They varied in location, price, and style. There were several categories of the wines, each with 3 types of wine representing the group. The wines located on the left half of the menu are wines that are generally rotated with new selections every 2 - 3 months, those making it due to popularity on the right side of the menu are selections are more standard and only some are rotated off for new selections every 6 months or so.

I learned this about the selection of wines from Brian, the bartender on when I arrived. Brian was knowledgeable about the various wines and helpful in providing me clues about which wine he thought might be a good match for my tastes. He was also pleasant enough to discuss they young company, which started 3 years ago, and informed me that they were in 7 airports around the nation right now, including L.A. and New York.

Another great thing about the wines presented is the fact that you can get a taste of 3 separate wines to get an idea of their different flavors. Also aiding the patron, and providing you with a bit of information to purchase the favored wine for yourself in the future, was the charts provided with each wine. This provided the name of the winery, the grape used to make the wine, the wine and the year it was made. There even is a short description of the flavor of the wine as well.

In all I tried 5 wines, all reds. I prefer reds, so if you like white wine you will have to visit the location to taste them yourself. In order of my preference will list the wines, best at the top of the list

Top 5 red wines of Vino Volo:

• 2006 Mirrabooka Shiraz from Australia – on the 6 month rotation list
  
• 2006 Farnese Montepulciano d’Abruzzo – on the frequent change list
  
• 2005 Rivetto Nemes Piedmont – Tour of Italy - on the frequent change list
  
• 2007 Villa Pozzi Nero d’Avola from Sicily - on the frequent change list
  
• 2006 Castillo de Monseran Grenache from Spain - on the 6 month rotation list
  

I spent roughly $45 for the wine and food, not including tip. Overall I would say that the entire experience was pleasant and comfortable. The wines were of better than average quality and taste. The staff was easily capable of explaining the wines, mentioning their favorites, and in general good conversationalists. The establishment was clean, the presentation both of the food and the furniture crisp.

I recommend that any traveler in an airport that has a Vino Vello in it, and 15 minutes or more of time, go in and enjoy a bit of tranquility in what can easily be described as the suffering of airline travel these days.

Australian movie exec calls Forest Whitaker 'ugly, black, unbankable'

Australia is an interesting nation. The people I have met from that nation have been pleasant and good natured. They have provided America with several excellent entertainers, most notably Mel Gibson (who is American but grew up in Australia).

Yet that nation had, and continues to have many problems. The interaction with the native Aboriginal population is in many ways similar to the slavery issues that were found in America. Even to this day there are extreme racial conflicts between the 2 groups, though the distance to the rest of the world helps to ensure that most of this news is unseen.

It is perhaps because of this racially derisive past and present that an Austrailian film executive felt the need to claim this about Forest Whitaker

“Even if he wins the Oscar he's ugly, he's black and he's unbankable.”

Bollocks! Who the hell is this executive?

I realize that Australia, along with neighbor New Zealand, have gotten quite a bit of attention from Hollywood in recent years. I understand how they might see their importance growing with this greater influence. But that does not justify such comments.

Forest Whitaker is an acclaimed actor, director and producer. His credits include:

• Last King of Scotland – where he received an Oscar, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, and BAFTA Awards
  
• Color of Money
  
• Bird – Cannes Film Festival Award and Golden Globe nomination
  
• Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai - an exceptional film that I recommend people see
  
• The Shield
  
• Fast Times at Ridgemont High
  
• Good Morning Viet Nam
  
• Platoon
  
• The Crying Game
  
• Prêt-à-Porter - National Board of Review Award for Best Acting by an Ensemble
  
• Panic Room
  
• The Great Debaters
  
• A Rage in Harlem
  
• Waiting to Exhale
  

I could go on as his career spans 26 years. In fact he will be working steadily into 2010, where he will be directing and acting in It's A Wonderful World about Louis Armstrong. There aren’t many actors that can be assured of leading roles 2 years in the future, and those that can are the best in the entertainment industry.

Somehow I think the fact that Whitaker is this successful, in all aspects of film, does not only make him bankable – it makes him one of a few actors that are bankable over decades.

To say that Whitaker is ugly is just a base, moronic, and unrealistic comment. It’s similar to the inane argument made by racists that people (usually implying Whites) will not go to see a film starring an actor/actress of a different color. The financial success of films by Will Smith, Denzel Washington, Samuel Jackson, Jamie Foxx, and Forest Whitaker to name but a few prove that to be absurd drivel.

Now the issue at hand was the upcoming movie Winged Creatures, directed by Australian director Rowan Woods. To the credit of Woods he fought to have Whitaker as the lead. He believed that the ability, look, quality, and bankability of Whitaker would be an asset to his film. And he would not budge on his choice of lead.



The Australian entertainment industry responded to this with a racially based slap-in-the-face. The initial budget of the film was $11 million, it was cut to $4.5 million. Who did the racists want? Al Pacino or Michael Douglas. Now I personally don’t think that Al Pacino was ever the most handsome leading man. And Michael Douglas is a good looking guy, but his age shows through these days. So the reality was that they just wanted a White face as lead.

To the credit of the director, Woods, he was able to fill out his cast – on a budget that was a pittance of the initial target – with actors of high quality. I have to believe that each of these actors had no problem with a Black man, and more importantly a quality actor who happens to be Black, as the lead. The other actors are:

Guy Pearce, Kate Beckinsale, Dakota Fanning, Jeanne Tripplehorn and Jennifer Hudson

Racism is a despicable thing in any nation or part of the world. It is usually based in unfounded, illogical, small-minded, envious, mindsets. It is the reason that so many are persecuted by so few. It is the worst image of any group of people.

Again I note that the Australians I have met have been great people. The director of Winged Creatures helps to show that not every Australian is the closed-minded, repugnant, imbecilic racists that seem to populate their entertainment industry (and more than just a few in Hollywood too).

But I think that future directors should think twice before going to Australia for a film. Because if the film has anyone that is Black it seems they will shun the film. And in an industry that is supposed to represent the boundless depth of the human imagination, this repressed limited and potentially psychologically damaged view is a cancer that sours the best of work.

**I want to thank the owner of 1800blogger for bringing this to my attention, and D.C. Moviegirl for speaking on this**

Tina Turner - true talent never ages

When I was writing my preview of the upcoming movie Notorious, I was thinking about how little Christopher Wallace was in the world and music in general. It’s sad to say but the thing that catapulted him to beyond superstar status was his death, kind of like what has since happened to Heath Ledger.


And then I noticed today a review of Tina Turner who performed Monday at Staples Center in Los Angeles. Tina Turner is 69 years old. And the performance was reviewed as a knockout event that most younger entertainers today couldn’t begin to match.

“But it was "Proud Mary," the Creedence song she put her stamp on 37 years ago, that still can't be beat, from slow and swampy nice to explosive and frantic rough…

Turner began the evening telling the mostly middle-aged crowd that she was offering "a show of my past." But she delivered a confirmation that in the present, she's every bit deserving of the marquee celebration at night's end that flashed T-I-N-A, an icon-- no, make that a queen -- of American music.”

That’s talent. Nearly 70 and she can pull an audience after 8 years in retirement. She’s had a career that’s spanned 52 years. She’s earned 8 Grammies, a NAACP Image Award, and is a 2 time member of the Grammy Hall of Fame. And she still reportedly has legs that most women 1/3 her age wish they could have.

Considering her sparse monetary upbringing, the horrendous marriage, and her rise fall and rise in popularity in her music career you would think she might deserve a movie as opposed to a dead crack dealer. Oh wait, she did have a major studio motion picture made about her life in 1993 starring Angela Bassett. Good film too.

Tina Turner just confirms something I have always believed. Talent is rare, and those with it can survive the test of time as well as life. Those without it can be no less successful but have to work harder to gain it. But those that gain success without effort or earning it will always lose it – quickly and usually for dumb reasons.

20 years from now almost every rapper since 1992 will be completely forgotten. Some won’t make it 5 years before you won’t recognize their name. But Tina Turner will still be on the radio. And I’m hopeful that she will still be performing at that time, with legs that will still probably be better than women half her age.

Scam targets grandparents

I wanted to mention a scam that I have just heard about. It’s a scam that targets grandparents. The vultures that do this should be beaten with a stick.

The way the scam goes a grandparent is called with the criminal asking for either grandparent. When they respond who is on the phone the criminal asks them to guess, hoping to get the name of one of the grandchildren. Once a name is offered they assume that as their own.

Then comes the trap. They mention that they are in a location, normally out of the country but not always, and their car has been in an accident. They may or may not be at a police station. But wherever they claim to be, and whatever the reason they ask for a large sum of money, thousands of dollars. They insist that the grandparent not contact the rest of the family – because they are embarrassed about the situation.

The money is to be sent via Western Union or another similar service.

This kind of scam preys on the fact that grandparents love their kids. They rip of the elderly for money that a grandparent might need to live off of but will provide to help a grandchild in need. There is nothing lower than this kind of scum.

For my readers that are older, never volunteer the name of any family member to someone on the phone. Never provide details of your personal information to someone that can’t confirm they are family over the phone, or the internet. Always check with other family members and the police – locally and at the supposed location of the “grandchild”.

These few steps could be the difference between helping a loved one and losing $5,000 or more.

So far this year one grandparent in Missouri was nearly scammed out of $8,000, another grandmother nearly lost $5,000. Luckily they checked with the police, in these cases at Niagra Falls on the Canadian side, and family before sending the money. It’s not known how many grandparents across the nation have received this kind of call and lost money but have yet to report it due to embarrassment.

Please spread the news on this. I don’t know if the major media will cover this, they ignore important news like this regularly. But this is not a made up internet joke. This is real. You can check this news on the Associated Press

Felix Dennis - multimillionaire, poet and killer?

You know what you don’t see very often? Poetry and modern advertising being combined.

Then again I’m in America and the poet that I am thinking of is in Britian. That may be the reason why the combination works. Or it could just be the wine. It’s free did I mention that.

Felix Dennis may not be a household name, and even less so in America, but he is popular in his circle. And with a promotion like Did I Mention the Free Wine? You have to believe that he is looking to expand his horizon far beyond.

Now I imagine you are thinking 2 things. Who is Felix Dennis, and is the wine really free or just a gimmick. Well to answer the second question first, yes the wine is free. So if you can travel back in time and cross the Atlantic you can get you buzz going along with a glass of the house red.

As for whom he is well that is the interesting bit. It is reported that he is a multi-millionaire, thus there is no problem with getting the drinks on him. He is also reported to be a philanthropist (not because of all the free drinks that he purchases at his readings), and a magazine magnate – where did you think the money came from? Poetry?

Yet, like all artists there is a bit of darkness that follows Dennis, maybe. It’s not his poetry tour for his collection Homeless In The Heart, but an admission that he made. Now the claim is that he was pissed at the time, bitter and twisted as it were, but who knows. All that can be said is that in April he stated to a journalist that he killed a man, and later recanted.

This is unusual fare for a poet, but so is being rich. Did he really kill someone? Is it just another publicity gimmick like buying your wine at his tour stops? Only Dennis knows for sure. But I bet you are more interested in his poetry now.

And there is the magazine magnate sticking out.

Pet poisoning leads to $24 million lawsuit

There is nothing like a pet. They are our friends, protectors, and often entertainment as well. They are in essence and fact family. And a year ago hundreds of these beloved members of our family were murdered in our own homes. That murder was via poisons in the food we served to our pets.

The poison was placed, accidentally, in the food we served our pets in China. There were over 200 pet food labels that were involved in the scandal that started in March 2007. And as of today a judge has awarded $24 million to the lawsuit for those that were harmed.

I think it was hardly enough.

There have been 10,000 pet owners that filed for the lawsuit so far. And if you had a pet that was affected you can file up until November 24th. It is expected that for every verified claim there will be an award of $1,500 depending on the number of claims. And if there are funds left over then the proceeds will be given to animal welfare charities.

But the law does not view our pets as family members. It will not allow penalties for the pain and suffering that was inflicted to the families that lost a loved one. That is a failure of the legal system.

The point of such lawsuits is to inflict an equivalent pain to the offender, and to prevent future occurances of the offense. While this is a large amount it is hardly the equivalent, nor does it reach the levels that need to force animal food companies from getting foods from China.

China by the way is unaffected by this lawsuit. That is another shame. While I understand China is so inept that they are equally poisoning their own children, I still see no change in their policies, especially in regard with foreign nations. A huge penalty by law could help to force better standards in that nation.

One thing is sure, our pets deserve better. Hopefully the companies that sold and had the foods made for them will be more critical and proactive in the future. Because there is no reason such wanton murder should ever have happened in the first place.

Kimbo Slice, the UFC, and boxing - where they all meet

Kimbo Slice. That’s the name I hear all the time. It doesn’t matter that he is in the EliteXC, and that the UFC is an entirely different division. Mixed Martial Arts for many means Kimbo as many do not know the difference.

I mention this because I wonder how much of an effect has the recent loss by Kimbo done to the UFC and MMA in general?

Kimbo had perhaps the biggest media behind his success. Much of that press is due to the deal with CBS, and their desperate desire to make their investment profitable. As such, Kimbo had to be like Mike Tyson in his matches, lest the hype would be lost. But in fact it could be said that he was exactly like Tyson, versus Buster Douglas.

But this black eye to CBS and EliteXC seems to have invaded the whole industry. And many long-time boxing fans are even further put off by MMA. Of course there is no loss in enthusiasts of all types, like this woman.



So MMA has decided to mix boxing into the event. Matches between a fighter and boxer are set for January 2009. And the question is will that hype lead up to an interesting event that can draw boxing fans?

I think not. Boxing fans that don’t like MMA won’t be pleased with a loss to a non-boxer. The fact that the disciplines are so different insists that whatever style is favored will lead to a win. Thus in a 3 match event, with it being broken down to 2 of one style and a 3rd of another, the winner is most probably the style with the most matches. Which says nothing of the abilities or worthiness of the opponents.

This is exactly the reason why Roy Jones Jr. won’t fight Anderson Silva. If it’s 2 MMA fights, Jones will be embarrassed in front of his fans. If it’s 2 boxing matches then boxing fans will conclude that the MMA is a waste of time. And if a fighter of either discipline wins at the opposite style, fans of there’s will scream that the match was fixed - just like many of the fights of Kimbo Slice are accused. And then everyone loses.

The UFC needs the big money that boxing holds. They need to get the media attention that Spike Television just can’t provide (though it is considerable exposure). And they must avoid the media-driven black eye that CBS gave the industry with Kimbo Slice. In fact they must surmount the profit motivated exploitation that is the EliteXC on CBS.

But pitting boxers versus MMA fighters is not the way to go. Nor is baseless hype. Perhaps there just needs to be a fighter that is Herculean in style and presentation, again like a Mike Tyson. Someone the general public can cheer to lose as he wins repeatedly with style and speed – against obviously qualified opponents.

Is there another choice? Am I wrong about boxing vs. MMA? You tell me.

Entertainment and politics: do they mix?

So have you seen An American Carol yet? If you have not you are hardly the only one. And the question is why is that.

An American Carol is a parody film by David Zucker of Airplane! and Naked Gun fame. So the question is not if the premise works. Considering his input, the writing is also not that difficult to imagine as being solid. And the acting includes Kelsey Grammer, Bill O’Reilly, Jon Voight, Dennis Hopper, Trace Adkins, Leslie Nielsen, and many other celebrities and entertainers. So it is solid on that footing as well.

So what is the issue?

Well there is the fact that while the film started off in over 1500 theaters across the nation, many people can’t get to it. In Binghamton, a hub city in the Central New York State area, you can’t see the film. Not one theater will carry it. In fact you have to travel to Ithaca to see it – about 2 hours away. And as far as I am aware that is the only place in western New York that is carrying the film.

Would more people see the film if it were available to them? We will never know as Hollywood hates the film and its subject. The film is a satire of far-left political nuts like Michael Moore. It is the only film of its type made with major stars and major money in maybe 2 decades.

Yet in this year alone there have been 4 pro far-left-wing movies (including the abominable W by Oliver Stone and the Kevin Costner flop Swing Vote, oh and the John Cusack flop War, Inc.). Last year there was Redacted, Lions for Lambs, and several other films in far more theaters. And while each of the films has lost money like a spitball trying to avoid a blackhole, there are half a dozen more films planned for next year.

So I have to wonder, the public loves to hear about the lives of celebrities and entertainers. Paris Hilton learns to tie her own shoes and there are videos on the internet showing and discussing every aspect of it. Britney Spears gives up on her career and children and paparazzi follow every moment as the hair hits the floor. But are politics of limits?

It’s a tough question, as all the movies of the far-left and right have failed horribly. Yet films like Apocalypse Now (which I feel is an anti-war movie), Dr. Strangelove (which did not do well in it’s first run but has since done exceptionally well), and M.A.S.H all have made money.

So maybe we just don’t want to see these entertainers play acting at politics. Sean Penn, Angelina Jolie, Chuck Norris, Oprah Winfrey and others are fine in the real world – but slamming the messages down our collective throats is just too much. I agree with that thought. And considering that Hollywood has more than enough of a problem creating new ideas these days I think they can leave their messages on their high horses. No matter the political preference.

I just was thinking about that. Or am I wrong and you love the political advertisements posing as entertainment?

Movie Preview: Body of Lies

The latest film to propose that America is a horrible nation filled with deceit and violence seems to be Body of Lies. This latest film by director Ridley Scott stars Leonardo Di Caprio and Russell Crowe.

Now I tend to like the films of Ridley Scott. He made Alien, Blade Runner, Gladiator, and American Gangster to name a few. He is a good action director. And generally his films are quality. Body of Lies will not be among that list.

I also like Russell Crowe. He is a solid actor, with very good performances in Gladiator and A beautiful Mind. And yes I did like him as Sid 66.7 in Virtuosity. He has a decent style and takes chances in his roles. This role will fail.

The reason why this film will not do well is not the action, or the acting. It won’t be the female fans swooning over DiCaprio or the guys looking for the overkill of explosions and bullets. It’s because like so many films right now, Hollywood is on an agenda – that being telling America we are bad.

Hollywood wants you to believe that the American Government is horrible. It is evil in fact they would say. Of course they never consider that in any other government they probably couldn’t make the diversity of films, nor get paid as much as they do.



That’s the best parts of the film. And in no part does the film directly describe the hate of America that I believe the film is based in. And I come to that conclusion by 1 simple statement

“The actor [Russel Crowe] said as a result of the film's exploration of the American government and foreign policy, "I don't think it will be very popular, but that’s never been part of my project choice process."

Foreign Policy. Yep that means this is another political commercial disguised as a movie. Like the films War, Inc. and Lions for Lambs or Redacted and several others this is just a way for Hollywood to promote Democrats next month. It’s a message with a soundtrack. And it will suck away your money without giving you what you went to see it for, entertainment.

I don’t mind a political message in a film. There are many films of quality with one. Apocalypse Now, Dr. Strangelove, 3 days of the Condor and many others are political and filled with messages. Even Blade Runner did so, but with style and not as the main point of the movie. They were films that entertained first and lectured a far distant second or third.

So you can waste your time seeing this film if you chose. But considering the cost of going to the movies, and the economy being shaky at the least, I prefer to watch the news for my political updates. And I’ll go to the movies to be entertained.

Wait for the DVD if you need a diCapro fix, but if you want to be entertained just avoid this.

The Riches - gone but not forgotten

Sometimes you watch television because you need background noise. In fact I think most of the programs on television these days are design just to provide that, unless you know of a deep social commentary being provided by American Idol or Dancing with the Stars. But occasionally there is the rare standout. A program that entertains and stimulates you mind in some manner.

FX Network has gone a long way to provide some of that standout television fare. They have strived to create original programming that is realistic, and intelligent, and above all else watchable. The Shield is one of their most noteworthy original programs, but they also have Dennis Leary’s Rescue Me and the short run Thief to their claim. And they had The Riches. Notice I said had.

In a move that boggles the mind and seems like a bit of a flim-flam FX has decided to cancel The Riches. And I just don’t get it. The program was unique, well acted, and well written. There are only a handful of television shows across all 500 channels that you can say the same things for. I have to imagine that some of the uber-brilliant minds for the SciFi channel recently jumped ship to FX.

Now FX Network has said the ratings were poor. Which might be true. Except when you think of reality. Back in the 1970’s a hit show like Happy Days or M.A.S.H. easily could gather 20 or 30% or more of the national television viewers. Of course there were only 3 television stations providing shows then (yes in the world before cable there were just 3 national channels). Up until the 1980 when FOX created it’s upstart channel it was a 3 way race.

But once FOX became number 4, and then cable networks decided to grab a slice of the pie, everything changed. A hit program went from dominating the nation, to just being lucky to have double digit viewers. The combination of viewers watching Seinfeld and Friends (on a good night) might just match those that watched the Brady Bunch (on average during it’s original run).

Suffice to say that ratings are not what they used to be. And FX is good, but it’s hardly the only or main go to channel in a sea of channels competing for a sliver of attention. So the fact that The Riches did not hit the bleachers in 2 years means nothing to me. Most programs these days don’t gather a following until year 3 or so. Look at Cheers, or Farscape, or House or anything that has become a hit since 1995.

I think FX has made a horrible mistake. Minnie Driver has been solid and believable in her role as Dahlia, the mother of the show. Eddie Izzard has made a remarkable standout performance. His work in standup, and bit roles in movies like Ocean’s 12 and 13, gave no hint that he was capable of the performance he has made as the father, Wayne. I would put their performances against every other program on television today, and guarantee it will catch eyeballs and isn’t that what the networks really care about?

The Riches did not fail, I think the FX Network executives have. And if FX replaces this program with some sappy sitcom, or ill-conceived remake, or a poorly written lawyer drama I’ll be pissed. If they touch on any kind of ‘reality’ television programming I’ll never watch the station again. FX Network has set the bar high for themselves, and if they can’t match the caliber The Riches, Minnie Driver and Eddie Izzard hit they just shot themselves in the foot. Because bait-and-switch doesn’t work in television programming.

You have to hear it to know it

In Hollywood women that have a lilt to their voices and curves like an hourglass have always been popular. In reality the average guy likes, marries, and has children with a woman that is more realistic and sexy. But there is an aspect of a woman in reality that mirrors those of Hollywood. Their voice.

To actually be more specific, women tend to have a higher pitch to their voice just as they enter and peak with their ovulation. Thus when a woman is most fertile her voice will have its highest pitch. And research seems to indicate that this is also incredibly attractive to men.

Now I realize at this moment that some women, and men, are reading this and saying, I never heard a difference. In fact I’m sure that a few guys will be tested by their better half to see if they really pay attention. But there is a bit of help in this report for them as well. It seems that this is not a constant pitch in a woman’s voice. It’s only in short simple sentences.

“The closer the women get to ovulation, the greater the increase in their pitch," Bryant [psychologist at the University of California involved in the report] said. The recordings revealed that the increase in pitch only occurred when women spoke a meaningful, introductory sentence, such as, "Hi, I'm a student at UCLA", and not when they simply made the sounds of different vowels. According to Bryant, this suggests that the effect may only arise when women were using communicative language.

Two years ago, Haselton published another study into female fertility and the monthly cycle, which suggested that women "dressed to impress" when at their most fertile, favouring skirts over trousers and showing more skin.”

The reason for all this is the same as a woman’s heightened sexuality at this time. It’s an intuitive sign for men to know that she is fertile. Nature is better than makeup, and works better too. The higher pitch is believed to be an effective signal, likely occurring as small talk (and a bit of flirtation) is on-going. So if you are debating which is better, Beethoven or Tchaikovsky, it may not occur.

Still I have to wonder about this. I can think of a few women that hardly have high-pitched voices yet are quite sexy. Marilyn Monroe is one that comes to mind, but she may not be fair as she was Hollywood (back when women were not required to be the equivalent of twigs). But Debra Harry had a sexy voice as well, and she is definitely feminine and sexy. There are others too. Though I’m not sure if they are the exception or not. Then again I’m just thinking of Fran Drescher, can you imagine how high her voice gets?

Oh and here is another clue for the guys out there. It seems that a study in Australia showed that women sway their hips more at this same time too. So if you are in a committed relationship, and a man in the true sense of the word, you now know when to plan for Jr. If you aren't please remember that condoms will not only prevent an unwanted situation, but they prevent HIV and AIDS as well as othe STD's.

British chaplin wants to use tattoos like Nazi stars

I was considering taking a look at some news on tattoos and happened to do a search on what has been happening. There of course was news on Angelina Jolie getting tattoos for her twins, and that was kind of interesting. I considered speaking on that until I saw something that really made me stop.

In a flash I read the title of this article and saw the Nazi’s forcing Jew’s to wear yellow stars and gays to wear pink triangles. I was reminded of the horror of small minds acting in the most horrific manner to eliminate anyone that was not just like them.

The title was

Homosexuals should carry warning tattoos, says chaplain

Upon reading the article I found that Rev Dr Peter Mullen, who is titled as chaplin to the London Stock Exchange (a hobnorary title it seems as the LSE claims), wrote in a blog interview

“Let us make it obligatory for homosexuals to have their backsides tattooed with the slogan SODOMY CAN SERIOUSLY DAMAGE YOUR HEALTH and their chins with FELLATIO KILLS."

The blog was uncreditied and it seems that the entire post was removed. Still that does not change the fact that the comments were made. Rev. Mullen defends himself essentially stating that this was just English humor, and if readers were smart enough they would recognize this and get a chiuckle.

I’m sorry Rev. Mullen, I am familiar with and enjoy English humor. I love the bawdy nature of it, and the often dry delivery. I have lived overseas and had many friends from Britian. I understand British satire well, and those statements are not humorous.

Rev. mullen has also written in that blog post on homosexuals

“clearly unnatural, a perversion and corruption of natural instincts and affections, and because it is a cause of fatal disease.”

So that comment coupled with his wish for branding is supposed to be a joke? I suppose that a KKK member in a white hood burning a cross on my lawn and calling me the N-word in the middle of the night would be a belly-aching raucous laugh riot.

Bollocks!

Tattoos are meant to be an expression of the person with the tattoo. A piece of body art that highlights the essence of the person tattooed. They are NOT a means of branding, discrimination, or persecution.

The outright evil that statement embodies is almost unmentionable. It is difficult to accuately convey in words the anger this evokes in me. And I have to wonder who else is on the list of greatest jokes Rev. Mullen might have. Short people, those of different races, different religions?

Humor is a fine line in many cases. Some jokes don’t translate countries or other demographics. That being a given there is an obvious and dramatic point at which you know you have gone so far as to be just vile. And I often find those who go that far are more expressing their own personal bile and miniscule thoughts than anything else.

In Britian there are calls for the Rev. Mullen to resign or be fired. That is at least what should happen. I would love to see Rev. Mullen explain the humor and “satire” of his comment to Holocaust survivors on British television live.

This is not the light or popular post on tattoos I intended. But I think it is far more, it is vital and potent. Because if this were taken by anyone as a joke, as something of a trifle, then we all start on the road that leads to Auschwitz for any number of people that don’t meet the racist, bigoted, small-minded, irrational, fearful, disgusting standard of some twisted gene pool reject.

Featured Artists’ Coalition means more music for fans

As credit markets tumble, while people and corporations scramble to find solid footing (you can see my interview discussing real estate), artists in the U.K. are taking steps to secure their fortunes as well. And the moves seem to be reasonable if not fair.

The newly formed Featured Artists’ Coalition is a venture of musicians and performers that are looking to keep control of their work. Some might presume that they would already control their music and have the full rights to it, but that has never been true in the U.K. and in America for most artists. Far too often the real controlling power has been the music companies, which doles out a pittance to performers and musicians while reaping hordes.

Unlike other such organizations in the past, this one has a huge and solid support of artists from every genre and time period. Already there have been over 60 artists involved as charter members. Some involved include:

Radiohead
The Verve
Kaiser Chiefs
Kate Nash
David Gilmour
Billy Bragg
Klaxons

This is a venture that is determined to achieve a level of fairness that has not existed in the industry ever before. One of the biggest motivations for artists today is the fact that the internet has changed the industry forever.

MP3 players and the ability to digitally download music on a single or album basis has changed the way the music industry makes music. This is even more expansive and environment changing than music videos and cable proved to be. And many artists have been excluded from the income that has been generated from these new formats.

So Featured Artists’ Coalition has sought changes, and I have no doubt that artists in America are watching closely on the result of these efforts. They want to be fairly compensated whenever the music companies make money off of their efforts, which seems reasonable. They want to keep the rights to their music, not being forced to automatically lose their rights to the music company. Again a fair request.

Perhaps the biggest thing they want is one that makes the most sense to me; they want music companies to either ‘use or lose’ the copyrights they have on an artists work. Effectively this means that all the work of an artist must be made available for purchase to the public in some format or the music company loses the rights to those songs. I for one would love to be able to get some of the less known or hard to find songs of several artists that music companies feel are not cost-effective enough to make available in a mass format.

If this Coalition takes flight and forces change in the U.K. then I expect sweeping reforms across the globe. This of course would be a win for the artists and performers, but they are not the ultimate winners. We the fans would gain the most from these changes. Ultimately it means that artists would have more reasons to perform, and more of their recordings would be available to the public either through the music company or the artist themselves.

So music fans should keep an eye to the U.K. and the music companies there. Change is coming and for the public it will be good.

Do you know the Special Olympics Golf Tournament?

These days you hear so much about entertainers and athletes that do so much for themselves that you hear little else about people doing for good causes. Far too often the major news media, and even sports news, just ignore events because they don’t fulfill the torrid scandal meter that tends to capture national attention. But when I do run across these kinds of events, I like to mention them.

Once such item deserving of such attention is the following item:

Special Olympics Golf National Invitational Tournament - Wright joins more than 200 golfers from 24 U.S. Special Olympics programs who are competing on PGA Golf Club's Ryder and Wanamaker courses, Oct. 4-6.

The Special Olympics is not a new event, I think most of us have seen a commercial on television at the least. In many ways the acheivements of these handicapped individuals confirms the credibility and reality of the term hanicapable. As such it’s a due honor to mention their acheivements just as we would and have those that went to the Bejing Olympics this summer.

But I am not sure how many people, or golfers, are aware of this event. I can honestly say that I was unaware of the event until today. But having learned of it I cannot imagine not saying more about it.

Golf has always been a sport of individual triumphs and challenges. Golfers of every skill go out each season and tackle the only 2 opponents that really matter, the course and themselves. And each golfer has their own moments of success.

Whether it’s a hole-in-one or an eagle, or just making par each is an accomplishment. But sometimes we need to notice the outstanding actions of some. Like the blind golfer I’ve read about, or the one-armed golfer. It just says something about the human spirit that moves me.

In this event, there are several levels of competition. Level II is an alternate shot team play, where a Special Olympics athlete is paired with a non-Special Olympics partner of more advanced skill for a 9-hole competition. I think that deserves attention.

So I present the Level 2 9-hole leaders. I wish them luck in their efforts to win on Monday.

Johnson/Wilbanks, Murphy, Texas -- 49-49 98
Binggeli/Binggeli, Clarkesville, Ind. -- 49-49 98

There are far more competitors and leaders in each of the 5 levels of skill and play in this event. But rather than just tell you about them I invite you to look and find out more yourself.

www.specialolympics.org

Product review: Philips 19" Class LCD HDTV with Digital Tuner

I reviewed a flat screen television not too long ago, the Toshiba Regza 46” HD-ready LCD TV. This was a great purchase but it was not the only flat screen television I ever purchased. In fact I had a prior purchase that I want to discuss now.

The Philips 19" Class LCD HDTV with Digital Tuner, 19PFL3403D/27 is available from Wal-Mart. It is priced at $347, which makes it a very reasonable purchase. It is capable of being used as a screen for the computer, or as a television. It is easy to hookup cable, video games, DVD players or most anything else you would consider.

Resolution can go up to 1440 x 900 pixels, though 720 is recommended. It has two 6-watt speakers. And with the conversion to HDTV (a real waste of money in my opinion, and a great way to pick up television sales) it has the ability to go to the new format immediately without any additions.

But the fact is that I find this LCD television inferior if not problematic. The television works fine, at least in the first year. But after that well there are problems.

Now I should mention that my use of a television is not exactly normal. In fact I exceed what most would call normal. I watch news about 16 hours a day, 6 days a week. That is well outside the norm of anyone. Thus I tend to stick with LCD televisions to help prevent any screen burning. That is important to remember if you consider plasma televisions, long term use – especially if you watch a single channel a lot, or play video games where the screen does not change often.

But the Phillips LCD is fine with those aspects. Honestly it’s reliable in the picture quality. The problem is with the sound, especially when the television is turned on.

After a year of use, which might equate to 2 years of use for most, the sound starts to get wonky. When the television is turned on the sound fails completely. No sound at all.

The way to get around that is to turn the set off, and then back on 2 or 3 times. You have to let the set stay off about 30 seconds each time it’s switched off. If you don’t do this the sound will come back and then cut off in about a minute.

If you do this too many times, or not enough, you will get scratchy sound for about 2 minutes, and they a horrible, loud tonal noise that sounds like a fire alarm just went off. The volume of the alarm will exceed the volume setting of the television.

I should note that the sound settings I prefer to use is about 30, which is just under 1/3 the total volume the television can deliver.

The problem with the sound is irritating at the least. Even when it is done properly the sound starts with huge static that fades over the first 5 – 10 minutes of use. Thus if you want to watch something suddenly, like say a news forecast about a tornado approaching, you are out of luck.

So is this a great television? For the first year the cost is worth the ease of use. But unless you like to replace televisions on an annual or bi-annual basis this is not the product you want.

Music review: Jessica Simpson went country

So speaking of Simpson, I wanted to mention a different one. Jessica Simpson is obviously of no relation to OJ, but she is in the news of late.

The latest album of the questionably talented Simpson sister has been a move to a new musical arena that she never touched before. Country music. So the question is can she pull it off.

Well one would hope that her ability to convey something in this music genre is better than her ability to act (her best performance might best be summed up in the words reality tv ala Nick and Jessica – or the cure for using brain cells).

Here is the video of Come on Over.



Usually the best song of an album is the one selected for release as a video, especially the first. I would have to say that the best parts of the video, including the music, would be the scenes of the bare legs – though I have seen better. So video is decent, especially if you are a pubescent boy from out by say Texas (or Tony Romo). But otherwise there is nothing really exciting or even interesting.

Of course I am hardly the only person to feel that this is a waste of time.

“The album still has the effects of all that is disappointing with pop, which can be heard in the upbeat, catchy single "Come On Over." The song involves telling her romantic interest "I need you now, I need you bad," which could be summed up in two sophomoric words.”

but this is hardly the only song in the album, thankfully.

You’re My Sunday is another try at the country brass ring. And I have no doubt that Tony Romo and Dallas Cowboys (season) fans will love it. But it’s just ok to me. Again it hits no special mark for me. And the song is even far worse when heard live [it can’t be embedded but you can find her doing the song live on youtube].

Overall I have to say that while some fans of the ‘actress’/singer will be satisfied I doubt too many others will. I have to believe that even most fans of country music will feel let down and unimpressed. It’s not that she has a horrible voice, or that they lyrics (few to be sure) are completely trite. It’s just that this feels like it’s missing something.

I don’t see how this album will really gain any ground. This new foray for Jessica Simpson sounds just like Nick & Jessica, a waste of time and ultimately unfulfilling. A worse way of saying it is it feels like the joke about the dumb blonde on stage.

I’m sure she is capable of far more than this, but I will say this album doesn’t reveal it.

OJ Simpson convicted - kangaroo court closed

Prepare for the shock of your life. OJ Simpson has been convicted of 12 counts in the Las Vegas kangaroo court trial on Saturday. I’m sorry, I meant to say the legal farce that was the precondition to the incarceration of now convicted OJ Simpson, on charges that he murdered his White wife. Oh, wait. You thought this was a case about something else?

Lest you think I made this up, that OJ was on trial a second time about his wife’s death, here are some quotes to reflect on.

“I think he did it," juror Sherian Sue Eckart, 55, said in response to a questionnaire item on the murder of Simpson's ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson…

“I don't believe the jury consider(ed) the facts," Ruth Ann Horschmann, 62, wrote of the Los Angeles jury…

I disagree with the verdict. I think the police/prosecution in the case made errors," Sharon Ann Johnston, 36, wrote…

In documents released by the Clark County Court following the verdict, five of the 12 jurors disclosed during the jury-selection process that they disagreed with the 1995 verdict.”

“David Wieberg, a 51-year-old manager, was among the jurors who said he disagreed with the 1995 verdict.

"No, I don't believe the jury consider(ed) the facts," he wrote in his questionnaire.
Mr Wieberg also said he agreed with the outcome of the civil trial that found Simpson liable for the deaths.

"It may have given the victims' families some satisfaction," he wrote.”

“She says jurors instead used video, audio and documented evidence to evaluate whether Simpson was guilty of each of the 12 counts. She was one of seven jurors to speak to reporters.

Jury foreman Paul Connelly says it might have been a waste for prosecutors to give plea deals to several Simpson co-defendants in exchange for their testimony.”

And this was a fair trial? This was about Las Vegas?

This case was never about Las Vegas. If it were the fact that there was considerable evidence supporting the contention that OJ was entrapped into the whole thing would have been relevant. And the testimony of the witnesses, actually a group of men looking to avoid up to 11 years in prison each by turning states evidence, showed many reasons to have doubt.

Now that doesn’t mean a crime wasn’t committed. Nor that OJ shouldn’t be convicted of that crime. But it does mean that 12 crimes and a lifetime in jail is unwarranted. Unless you were one of those rejoicing at this blatant act of revenge. So much for a legal system.

This is so angering. This is all about race. A Black man was accused of a White murder, and because he could afford a legal team that usually only some Whites can and is found innocent he had to be tormented for his life. If OJ was caught on tape J-walking there were cops hoping to arrest him and lock him up. 13 years of news coverage of his every step, and newscasters unconcealed disdain over OJ’s freedom says it all.

There was no question of OJ getting convicted. I have spoken to dozens throughout the nation, not one thought he could win even if God came down and forgave him of his sins on primetime.

So while some are out having a great time, cheering and drinking the conviction here is a sobering thought. Justice in America, no matter how lax or intermittent before, is now dead. It is now legal precident that double jepardy is allowable and enforceable.

No longer will it be enough to win a case, be prepared to win in every concievable aspect and court, many times over. While the average White defendant will likely never have to worry about this, if you are Black you will have to. Because the legal system that previously was biased to significantly convict any Black defendant, and to more hashly sentence that defendant, will now follow you to your grave no matter if you win and everytime you do.

If you are White you likely will never understand why OJ being convicted this time matters. If you are Black you understood it the day he was arrested in Vegas, and all through the week of coverage that followed. And if you weren’t scared, you have to be dead.

Some want to think racial injustice in the law died the day that Senator Obama ran for President, and those same people were likely screaming for OJ’s blood 13 years ago – and rejoicing this weekend. So maybe it’s just that as long as you do what they would like you are treated well, and once you don’t they will have no problem cracking the whip. Just that these days the whip is the legal system.

And if you don’t agree then explain why so many are so damn pleased about this verdict, barely able to contain themselves about the case 13 years ago that had nothing to do with Vegas 1 year ago?

The joy of black felt pool tables in a tournament

So Saturday I was at an American Poolplayers Association tournament. The showdown was for single 8-ball matches, with the winner of each level division going on to the national trials in Las Vegas. Obviously I was looking to win.

The tournament was in a town called Yorkville, in New York. It was held at Hippo’s pool hall. The start time was stated as 9am for registration. 82 players from the central New York area had qualified and 25 of them were in my division, the level 4. (Levels of players go from 2 – 9 with 9 being highest).

That all sounds simple enough, but some 9+ hours after the start I finished my day. That wasn’t because I won, that was just for me to finish my games and lose. Suffice to say it was a long and less than pleasant experience. The worst of which were the tables we had to play on.

My big gripe about the competition, besides the fact that it took me 5 hours before I played my first match, was that several games were to be played on black felt tables. All the tables were even and 3.5’x7’. The pool hall does have 20 tables that are 4.5’x9’, but according to rules, since there were 8 smaller tables all the matches had to be played on them instead.

Now I don’t know if you have ever played on a black felt pool table. They were created, as I am told, back in the 70’s so you could use a blacklight and play in the dark. Which might be great with glow in the dark balls and a few friends over. But in a pool hall, with regular lights and balls, in a competition, it sucks.

Black felt, with black felt on the bumper rails, means that there is no depth in the table. It is almost impossible to get a solid bead on the corners of the pockets. And shooting the 8-ball is pure hell. A black ball on a black table going into a pocket on even the best lit table would be a challenge, and the lighting was just ok.

But I have to ask, is there anyone who actually owns a pool table with black felt? I’ve played on blue and green, even red once. But black was a miserable first. I have to say that combined with the lethargy of sitting around, and practicing on and off, for 5 hours and then having to play on that table really killed my spirits. I’ve never had to play such an awful tournament, and I’ve been playing in pool tournaments for some 20 years now.

I have no doubt that the national tournament in Las Vegas is better. I have no doubt that even on these smaller tables the felts will be green, maybe blue at worst. But would you bother to go through this kind of pain just to get to Vegas? Would you want to play on a black felt table?

If anyone prefers this, without a blacklight, I really would love to hear your thoughts why. But if anyone is waiting to see me play in Vegas, it won’t be in the singles finals this year. But the team competition is still open. We shall see.

Movie Preview: Notorious

Well the trailer is out. I can see movie theaters in Brooklyn selling out in January. Because the film of B.I.G. will be out to start 2009.



I have some bad news though. The movie is probably crap. I’m not saying this because of my personal belief that gangsta rap music is garbage overall. Nor is it because I think any film glorifying a criminal – drug dealing loser – is a bad idea. I think this movie is bad because it’s coming out January 9th. Movie studios reserve that time of year for what they view as the worst films they have. It’s the equivalent of taking out the trash.

I know there will be fans of current rap music that will hate to hear this. I am sure there are fans of this deceased drug dealer that still cherish his memory. I am obviously not one of them.

The fact that an ex-con, that sold death in a crack pipe, was able to become an entertainment star is a credit to the American way of life, and moreso to the ability and determination of music industry executives in promoting base images to the public. This movie, detailing the life of this small time hood, is only being made because of his sudden violent death. A death that occurred because of the most stupid reason I can think of; not over money or women or power, but because one group of drug dealing self-important entertainers thought they were better than another group of drug dealing self-important entertainers. In other words a pissing contest.

Do I think Christopher George Latore Wallace deserves a movie? No. Do I think a life that glorifies the business of killing people with poison for money and a life of degrading African Americans in society is worthy of a movie? No.

I have no doubt that Biggie smalls was loved by those close to him. I have no doubt that his mother cared about him. I have friends, both dead and alive today, that have served time in prison. Several lived lives that were less than stellar in their youth, and most paid the price of death for those lives. But to have a movie made about that, that seemingly highlights those moments of lechery and depraved indifference of life is bewildering to me.

What will this film feature? Christopher Wallace making a choice to sell drugs at 12, dropping out of school at 17 – because he preferred a life of crime, not because he had no other option. It should show him being thrown in jail for his crimes, and several arrests. It will show him performing, and gaining importance in the gangsta rap genre. It might show him attacking autograph seekers in Manhattan, or him beating friends of a concert promoter and robbing them. It will show him getting into a car accident and requiring him to need a cane. And the film will show Wallace being shot to death, and possibly place blame on someone for that shooting.

On balance I expect little to come of this film, except a renewed anger between West Coast and East Coast rappers. There is no beautiful moment to be expressed, no greater statement to be made. Christopher Wallace was not a great man, beyond his size. Biggie smalls did no great deeds. Notorious B.I.G. had no legacy nor made a lasting impact on life on this planet.

The film will make a profit, because this kind of film is cheap to make. How Angela Bassett was attached to this film is beyond me. I suppose she adds credibility to the film, and no doubt was the single greatest cost above or below the line. So it will make a profit, and possible start a trend of films about insignificant popular entertainers with no meaning or benefit other than to reinforce stereotypes and make tons of money for music and Hollywood executives.

It’s guaranteed you’ll hear more about this film soon. And some will try to spin this into a positive like politician’s polispeak about why the bailout will benefit America. But the honest thought is that this film does not deserve an audience, nor to make a profit. If you see it, you deserve to lose the brain cells it will kill and the waste of time it will suck from your life.