As a Republican I am ashamed to see my party participating in the witch hunt that is investigating what is ominously called "Big Oil."
A senate committee today announced an investigation into the taxes paid by Exxon Mobil. They have requested IRS records, the first time they have done so since Enron. Led by Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, the committee is making sure Exxon did not take a "...speedpass by the tax man."
In other words, Exxon made a huge profit, gasonline prices are through the roof....hey! "Did we get paid as well? Better find out!"
See, it's not 30 years of failed energy policy, it's not a refusal to drill anywhere in America, it's those evil corporations. It's not because 1/4 of the price that goes into building a refinery is caused by man hours spent filling out EPA and other governmental forms and meeting about regulations. Think about that. 1/4 of the price for building a refinery is spent on filling out paperwork generated by the government. Wonder why none are being built?
Bill Clinton should be made to go to Alaska with a pick and a shovel (nope, no interns) and dig until I stop paying 3.00 a gallon for gas. Dick Durbin should join him. The clown who recently said we need the gas tax to build roads. These liberals would never own up to having enough of our money. I love it. They could never do with a single penny less.
Eliminate the gas tax and we can't build roads and bridges? Pardon me, isn't building infrastructure one of the principal responsibilities of a government Dick? Shouldn't that be the first thing that gets done, along with National Defense and Border Protection (nice job on that, by the way)? Are you really going to imply that without the gas tax the government could not fulfill it's most basic obligation, Dick?
If that's the theory, where is the rest of our tax moeny being squandered? You certainly have not protected our borders, you are against the war, Mr. Durbin, so spending on National Security is out, that leaves infrastructure which, you say, you could not provide without an extra tax. In fact, you're liberal colleagues have voted TWICE in the last decade to raise the federal gas tax. Are we building more roads? Better roads? Roads that float? What?
Does anyone really believe we dedicate that money to infrastructure?
In NY Hillary "Fat Ankles" Clinton is now claiming we're one terrorist act or natural disaster away from seeing 100 dollars a barrel. Considering that her husband weakened the military and emboldened terrorists everywhere (while still managing to call on the military more than any sitting president since WW 2), vetoed drilling in Alaska and allowed EPA regulations to be passed that doubled the cost of building refineries I wonder who she is blaming? Buh of course. Bush did it. And, any more natural disasters or terrorist attacks will be his fault as well.
Please. The finger pointing goes on and on and we continue to pay for it. If you're currently holding an office in Congress you have a very short time to prove you are competent. I do believe people peeople are ready for change, we've had. You could always get a job building roads I guess. I understand that a Government job.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
NYS Gas Tax--Again
The NYS tax on gasoline has now risen to 62.9 cents a gallon.
How can this be? Simple, unlike any other state in the Union NY taxes gas by the DOLLAR and not the gallon. So, as gasoline prices rise, so do the associated taxes.
Congratulations to the retarded electorate that saddled us with Chuck Schummer and Hillary “Fat Ankles” Clinton.
Congratulations also to NYS for continuing to have the most expensive, intrusive, restrictive, overly regulatory and fiscally irresponsible government in the United States.
If you’re a young college student in a SUNY school, NYU, Sienna or anywhere else in NY do yourself a favor: Graduate, pack up everything you own and move. You’ll thank me later.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Gas Prices
Pardon the brief interruption of my usual movie talk and light hearted banter. Today, I am going to be a little more political than usual and I might even rant a bit. The topic: Gas prices and the Government.
Watching the politicians buzzing around Capitol Hill this past week has been alternately funny and disgusting. The finger pointing and lying has reached heights not seen since Bill Clinton was in office. Various Senators, including Kennedy and Frist, are acting as though this whole oil price quagmire is a big mystery—as though it came out of the blue. The disingenuous hand-wringing in Congress has led them to no real solutions but has brought them ever closer to a scapegoat: Big oil, especially Exxon Mobil.
While our representatives in Congress continue to collect heavy taxes on a product--all the while telling us how much they sympathize with the plight of the everyday man trying to buy gas--Exxon Mobil has been absolutely brutalized in the press and on the House floor.
Fact: Exxon Mobil makes 8-11 cents per gallon of gasoline sold.
Fact: The US Government makes in the neighborhood of .40 cents per gallon.
Fact: Add to that State taxes and the total tax is .47-.68 cents per gallon
That’s right, the US Government makes more money on a gallon of gasoline than big oil does. Add to this the additional 12-24 cents that the vampires in State Government are collecting and it boils down to this: Politicians that are persecuting Exxon and Big Oil are actually in your pocket for more money each and every time you gas up. The same bloodsuckers who claim they care deeply about the price you pay at the pump have refused to explore the option of reducing the tax they collect on it. That will be the very last thing option, believe me, reducing taxes is just not something that’s in their blood if they can help it.
What’s worse is that the path we have taken to get to this point is clear and chartable. You can blame militant environmentalists, Congress, Bill Clinton, your state Governor and more. Consider:
And what is the biggest idea, do you suppose, to have come from all this Congressional pseudo-sympathizing? Why, a new tax of course! Leave it to this gang of incompetents to find a way to make some more cash in the midst of this crisis by proposing a new tax that is nothing short of a communist idea. An “Excessive Profit Tax” is their big idea. Force Big Oil to either make less per gallon of gas or pay a huge tax on their profits. Brilliant. How is this going to lower gasoline prices? I suppose the thinking is that Big Oil will take the smaller profit margin just to spite the government and not pay the tax. Some choice given that profit margins on gasoline sales are already among the lowest in any industry.
Don’t listen to the lies Congress spouts about Big Oil, Exxon Mobil is not to blame for this mess. Write your representative and tell them it’s way past time to take the tax off gasoline. Tell them to drill in Alaska, tell them to lighten the absurd environmental restrictions that make it prohibitive to build new refineries. If you live in NY write to Vampire Pataki, the one who just vetoed property tax rebates while boasting about a budget surplus, and tell him to knock it off with the taxes.
Ask them to come up with any other solution to this problem. One that does not involve communist like profit taxes, one that does not penalize a company for simply being successful, one that actually helps.
More than that, ask yourselves what kind of elected official would pretend to sympathize with your plight while refusing to stop levying a tax on the very product you need to live and work. What kind of governor, a la NY, would veto tax rebates and remain mum on the gas problem at the same time? Remember this when Pataki decides to run for President under the guise of being a Republican because that, my friends, is in name only.
It’s way past time that Congress and State Legislatures were told to get their greedy hands out of our wallets. There’s a reason why their arrogance leads people like Joe Bruno to state that he would love to find a way to get some tax revenue on Internet purchases while his constituents are paying 3 bucks or more for a gallon of gas.
It’s our fault, really. We’ve allowed them to grow arrogant and complacent. We’ve done little or nothing to tell them we’ve had about enough. We’ve done nothing to tell them that cutting taxes should not be some last resort “Hope we don’t have to do it” option. We’ve done nothing to tell them that coming up with new and interesting taxes is out of the question.
I live in a State where a “Republican” governor has presided over large increases in nearly every fine or fee associated with Motor Vehicle—even coming up with some new fines. Where property tax and child tax credits are vetoed—all while in the midst of a budget surplus! Fiscal irresponsibility, lying and finger pointing have become the only skills these people have because we’ve let them get away with it.
And finally, try and remember that despite what the liberal media tells us, the news isn’t all bad: One of the causes of this fuel crunch is a humming and steadily improving economy. The solutions to the problem are attainable and plain as day—the only obstacle seems to be the unbridled greed in Washington and the instinctual “Blame someone, anyone” reaction that Congressmen get when faced with a problem. If we can eliminate the knee-jerk reactions (the first being to tax someone, the second to blame someone) we can find an answer here.
Watching the politicians buzzing around Capitol Hill this past week has been alternately funny and disgusting. The finger pointing and lying has reached heights not seen since Bill Clinton was in office. Various Senators, including Kennedy and Frist, are acting as though this whole oil price quagmire is a big mystery—as though it came out of the blue. The disingenuous hand-wringing in Congress has led them to no real solutions but has brought them ever closer to a scapegoat: Big oil, especially Exxon Mobil.
While our representatives in Congress continue to collect heavy taxes on a product--all the while telling us how much they sympathize with the plight of the everyday man trying to buy gas--Exxon Mobil has been absolutely brutalized in the press and on the House floor.
Fact: Exxon Mobil makes 8-11 cents per gallon of gasoline sold.
Fact: The US Government makes in the neighborhood of .40 cents per gallon.
Fact: Add to that State taxes and the total tax is .47-.68 cents per gallon
That’s right, the US Government makes more money on a gallon of gasoline than big oil does. Add to this the additional 12-24 cents that the vampires in State Government are collecting and it boils down to this: Politicians that are persecuting Exxon and Big Oil are actually in your pocket for more money each and every time you gas up. The same bloodsuckers who claim they care deeply about the price you pay at the pump have refused to explore the option of reducing the tax they collect on it. That will be the very last thing option, believe me, reducing taxes is just not something that’s in their blood if they can help it.
What’s worse is that the path we have taken to get to this point is clear and chartable. You can blame militant environmentalists, Congress, Bill Clinton, your state Governor and more. Consider:
- We have not built a refinery in the country in 30 years
- We are not allowed to drill anywhere in the 48 states for this precious resource
- Congress approved drilling in ANWR when Bill Clinton was in office—he vetoed it
- Congress will not approve the same drilling today—the proposed exploration in thisAlaskan Refuge would be done in less than 1/10 of 1% of the reserve
- Environmentalist initiatives to add and subsequently remove all manner of additives to gasoline are directly responsible for the shortage experienced on the East Coast in the last week
- In New York, where we have a Republican Governor that believes himself to be a Democrat, we pay roughly .62 cents per gallon in taxes.
And what is the biggest idea, do you suppose, to have come from all this Congressional pseudo-sympathizing? Why, a new tax of course! Leave it to this gang of incompetents to find a way to make some more cash in the midst of this crisis by proposing a new tax that is nothing short of a communist idea. An “Excessive Profit Tax” is their big idea. Force Big Oil to either make less per gallon of gas or pay a huge tax on their profits. Brilliant. How is this going to lower gasoline prices? I suppose the thinking is that Big Oil will take the smaller profit margin just to spite the government and not pay the tax. Some choice given that profit margins on gasoline sales are already among the lowest in any industry.
Don’t listen to the lies Congress spouts about Big Oil, Exxon Mobil is not to blame for this mess. Write your representative and tell them it’s way past time to take the tax off gasoline. Tell them to drill in Alaska, tell them to lighten the absurd environmental restrictions that make it prohibitive to build new refineries. If you live in NY write to Vampire Pataki, the one who just vetoed property tax rebates while boasting about a budget surplus, and tell him to knock it off with the taxes.
Ask them to come up with any other solution to this problem. One that does not involve communist like profit taxes, one that does not penalize a company for simply being successful, one that actually helps.
More than that, ask yourselves what kind of elected official would pretend to sympathize with your plight while refusing to stop levying a tax on the very product you need to live and work. What kind of governor, a la NY, would veto tax rebates and remain mum on the gas problem at the same time? Remember this when Pataki decides to run for President under the guise of being a Republican because that, my friends, is in name only.
It’s way past time that Congress and State Legislatures were told to get their greedy hands out of our wallets. There’s a reason why their arrogance leads people like Joe Bruno to state that he would love to find a way to get some tax revenue on Internet purchases while his constituents are paying 3 bucks or more for a gallon of gas.
It’s our fault, really. We’ve allowed them to grow arrogant and complacent. We’ve done little or nothing to tell them we’ve had about enough. We’ve done nothing to tell them that cutting taxes should not be some last resort “Hope we don’t have to do it” option. We’ve done nothing to tell them that coming up with new and interesting taxes is out of the question.
I live in a State where a “Republican” governor has presided over large increases in nearly every fine or fee associated with Motor Vehicle—even coming up with some new fines. Where property tax and child tax credits are vetoed—all while in the midst of a budget surplus! Fiscal irresponsibility, lying and finger pointing have become the only skills these people have because we’ve let them get away with it.
And finally, try and remember that despite what the liberal media tells us, the news isn’t all bad: One of the causes of this fuel crunch is a humming and steadily improving economy. The solutions to the problem are attainable and plain as day—the only obstacle seems to be the unbridled greed in Washington and the instinctual “Blame someone, anyone” reaction that Congressmen get when faced with a problem. If we can eliminate the knee-jerk reactions (the first being to tax someone, the second to blame someone) we can find an answer here.
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Lucky Number Sleven
You may figure out the twist, as some critics have pointed out. You might find the dialog a little too zesty. Perhaps you would think the plot a bit too complicated. But you’ll have fun, that I guarantee.
Lucky Number Sleven, directed by Paul McGuigan, is a fun ride, mystery ending or no. The snappy patter is nearly rhythmic in its delivery and smart as a whip; the dialog here is everything it was not in V for Vendetta, crisp, sharp and serving to enhance the characters. Sure, it’s true no one talks like that, though many of wish we did, and it’s also true that people aren’t generally that quick witted, though some people think they are. Still, the characters are so fresh and the acting so good that it’s all made very believable if your just willing to allow yourself to flow with it rather than pick it apart.
The movie opens with a man in a wheelchair, played by Bruce Willis, telling a story in what appears to be a very empty airport lounge. Willis introduces us to the story of a man with a dream, a dream that involved winning a lot of cash on a fixed horse race. Unfortunately for him, the fixed horse doesn’t win and his large wager, placed with some ruthless bookies, now comes due.
This predicament sets up the rest of the story, including Willis’ favorite expression, the Kansas City Shuffle—a rather obscure term describing a sort of slight of hand, but with almost always fatal consequences. From here we meet Ben Kingsley and Morgan Freeman, two gangster so afraid of one another that they remain secluded in ivory tower like penthouses directly across the street from each other. Like two super power nations Kingsley and Freeman threaten family members and acquire body guards at an alarming rate, all on the principal that the mutually assured destruction theory will prevent the other from acting.
McGuigan gives us some nice moments with his direction, a neat shot of a character through a crystal chess piece, Kingsley staring out the window towards Freeman who glares back, though neither man can see the other. McGuigan’s last effort, Wicker Park, was similar, he seemed to enjoy shots that were unique and he liked deserted places that shouldn’t really be deserted, sort of giving the audience a very false sense of piece and safety.
In the middle of this tale of two gangster Josh Hartnett and Lucy Liu play two people that get sucked into the middle of a very complicated rivalry. Meeting seemingly by chance they enjoy an excellent chemistry and they play beautifully off each other. Liu was dazzling in this movie and I have no doubt that her acting ability took a serious turn for the better. Hartnett is cool, funny and convincing as the complex character that sweeps Liu off her feet and tries to stay one step ahead of the gang lords who mistake him for a man owing them a large debt.
Each gangster enlists Hartnett for a favor in exchange for forgiving the debt, and from here the roller coaster plummets down hill and the twists, while often obvious, are thrilling none the less.
The only problem, in retrospect, that I might have with this film is Freeman. Don’t get me wrong, he is a terrific actor and as gifted as they come, but he was miscast here. Kingsley can have an edge about him, he can curl up his lip and be as mean and devious, while still intellectual, as the best of them. He gives us a controlled temper and a plodding personality, but in the end, when the plan is well thought out, we never doubt that he’ll get his man and get him brutally. But Freeman just doesn’t have that in him; he lacks the ability to play a mean, brutal type. I never found myself doubting his intelligence or his ability to survive, but he is not an a brutal gang lord. His grandfatherly appearance and quiet confidence just won’t allow it. He lacks the edge Kingsley has, he lacks the scowl and can’t give this movie the total lack of ethics, conscience and morality that Kingsley can.
If it’s still playing near you, it’s worth the money. Why this film has not been hyped more aggressively is beyond me. Willis, Liu, Hartnett and Kingsley are spectacular and this film should quickly land all of them another deal.
Lucky Number Sleven, directed by Paul McGuigan, is a fun ride, mystery ending or no. The snappy patter is nearly rhythmic in its delivery and smart as a whip; the dialog here is everything it was not in V for Vendetta, crisp, sharp and serving to enhance the characters. Sure, it’s true no one talks like that, though many of wish we did, and it’s also true that people aren’t generally that quick witted, though some people think they are. Still, the characters are so fresh and the acting so good that it’s all made very believable if your just willing to allow yourself to flow with it rather than pick it apart.
The movie opens with a man in a wheelchair, played by Bruce Willis, telling a story in what appears to be a very empty airport lounge. Willis introduces us to the story of a man with a dream, a dream that involved winning a lot of cash on a fixed horse race. Unfortunately for him, the fixed horse doesn’t win and his large wager, placed with some ruthless bookies, now comes due.
This predicament sets up the rest of the story, including Willis’ favorite expression, the Kansas City Shuffle—a rather obscure term describing a sort of slight of hand, but with almost always fatal consequences. From here we meet Ben Kingsley and Morgan Freeman, two gangster so afraid of one another that they remain secluded in ivory tower like penthouses directly across the street from each other. Like two super power nations Kingsley and Freeman threaten family members and acquire body guards at an alarming rate, all on the principal that the mutually assured destruction theory will prevent the other from acting.
McGuigan gives us some nice moments with his direction, a neat shot of a character through a crystal chess piece, Kingsley staring out the window towards Freeman who glares back, though neither man can see the other. McGuigan’s last effort, Wicker Park, was similar, he seemed to enjoy shots that were unique and he liked deserted places that shouldn’t really be deserted, sort of giving the audience a very false sense of piece and safety.
In the middle of this tale of two gangster Josh Hartnett and Lucy Liu play two people that get sucked into the middle of a very complicated rivalry. Meeting seemingly by chance they enjoy an excellent chemistry and they play beautifully off each other. Liu was dazzling in this movie and I have no doubt that her acting ability took a serious turn for the better. Hartnett is cool, funny and convincing as the complex character that sweeps Liu off her feet and tries to stay one step ahead of the gang lords who mistake him for a man owing them a large debt.
Each gangster enlists Hartnett for a favor in exchange for forgiving the debt, and from here the roller coaster plummets down hill and the twists, while often obvious, are thrilling none the less.
The only problem, in retrospect, that I might have with this film is Freeman. Don’t get me wrong, he is a terrific actor and as gifted as they come, but he was miscast here. Kingsley can have an edge about him, he can curl up his lip and be as mean and devious, while still intellectual, as the best of them. He gives us a controlled temper and a plodding personality, but in the end, when the plan is well thought out, we never doubt that he’ll get his man and get him brutally. But Freeman just doesn’t have that in him; he lacks the ability to play a mean, brutal type. I never found myself doubting his intelligence or his ability to survive, but he is not an a brutal gang lord. His grandfatherly appearance and quiet confidence just won’t allow it. He lacks the edge Kingsley has, he lacks the scowl and can’t give this movie the total lack of ethics, conscience and morality that Kingsley can.
If it’s still playing near you, it’s worth the money. Why this film has not been hyped more aggressively is beyond me. Willis, Liu, Hartnett and Kingsley are spectacular and this film should quickly land all of them another deal.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Gym Etiquette
For some inexplicable reason people at the gym, young and old, just can’t seem to figure out common courtesy. Or common sense. It’s astounding how aggravating these transgressions can be; to all you gym goers out there who aren’t behaving, this list is for you. Now knock it off.
- If you weigh in the neighborhood of 300 pounds there’s something you should know: Lifting 10 pounds 3 times and then sitting on the machine as though it were a recliner for 10 minutes isn’t doing you any good. There are people waiting for it, get up. If you’re stuck in there, call for assistance.
- To all of you cantankerous 90 year olds out there, here’s a little tip that might prevent you from inadvertently annoying the Hell out of someone: If there’s a person running on the machine that you signed up for at your specified time, and if there’s 10 other empty machines just like it, kindly refrain from tapping on the front of the machine and pointing your gnarled fingers at the clock. He or she is aware of the tie and likely figured that you would just climb onto the machine next to them. Why in the world would you make someone stop their running, go to the board and sign up for the next machine, and then resume their workout when all you had to do was climb onto the next machine over?
- Speaking of 90 year olds—get dressed. I don’t understand what your obsession is with strolling around the locker room naked but please knock it off. Take your shower, towel off, put some clothes on and then do whatever else it is you need to do. I saw a guy tonight take his shower, come to the locker and clean it out, neatly fold up his gym clothes, pack his gym bag, stroll to the mirror and comb his hair, get on the scale and weigh himself and perform various other tasks, all before putting some pants on. Why? Why? Get dressed! At your age, with the way things are sagging, you’ll have no one to blame but yourself when someone steps on something that should be neatly tucked away.
- Speaking of strolling around naked, could those of you who must pretend this is some sort of convalescent nudist colony kindly refrain from sticking your bare ass in peoples faces? Is that so much to ask? If your waddling around naked for some reason and feel the need to get something from the bottom of your locker, or just bend over for any reason, and there’s a guy sitting on the bench tying his shoes, should you:
A. Move to the aisle and do whatever it is that requires you to bend over?
B. Go to the bathroom stall and do it?
C. Put some freakin pants on and then bend over
D. Just bend right over and stick your naked ass in the guys face?
If you answered D: It’s going to be well worth the price of this Ipod when I finally snap and jam it in the next hole you stick in my face. Cover up. - Some steam room rules for the terminally stupid: If the room is already 1,000 degrees and full of steam, stop dumping cold water on the thermostat, you moron. You’re the reason the thing breaks and we can’t use it for a week and we don’t all need to see some sort of heat induced Indian Vision. At the very least ask if we would all like some more steam. Also, if the room is full and you’re massive, don’t wedge yourself into the doorway like some enormous rubber stopper. Come back later.
- When you see a person lifting on a machine and you would like to use it, go do something else until they’re finished. Is it really necessary to stand there with your arms folded staring at them? Or to pretend to watch the goings-on near them, casting the occasional furtive glance their way? There’s a lot of machines in there, this surely can’t be the only one your going to use, so just find another one. Also, if a person stops for a second to catch a breath please refrain from rushing over and asking “Are you done?” in a sarcastic tone. I’m not done and now I will take my sweet time until you stop pestering me, you impatient ass.
- Take your towel to the shower with you and then, I know this is a tough one, use it. Why in the world would you take you towel into the shower and then just carry it back to the locker area to dry off? You do realize that someone is going to step in that lake that just ran over your belly and onto the floor don’t you? Just because you can’t see your feet doesn’t mean they aren’t there, same goes for the huge puddle you left behind. It’s there, trust me. And some poor shmuck is going to put his socks on in preparation for a run, put his foot on the floor to grab his sneakers, and wind up with a soaking wet pair of socks. All because you didn’t have the common sense to towel off over the FLOOR DRAIN you were just standing on. Again, you might not be able to see the drain, but it is there and it does it’s job.
Monday, April 17, 2006
Denzel Wasington and Football
Anytime I can combine my two favorite things, movies and football, I feel especially lucky. It seems that Denzel Washington's son is vying for a spot on an NFL team. Denzel, star of one of the most overlooked movies of last year, Man on Fire, can cheer for his son to catch on somewhere in the very late rounds of the draft, almost certainly on day two--if at all.
Doesn't it sound like a movie? Son of famous Hollywood actor plays football, spurning the Hollywood scene, earning his own millions and his own fans. The father, angered by his sons career choice in what he considers a barbaric and plebian sport, eventually learns to love the game, respect his son and befriend the kind hearted coach who helped bring them together again. Hmm, maybe it sounds more like a Banderas movie now that I think about it--with the contrived shlock he's been putting out lately.
Anyway, the story:
DENZEL'S SON HOPING TO LAND IN THE NFL
One of the little-known facts regarding this year's crop of draft-eligible players is that the pool includes the offspring of a two-time Oscar winner.
Running back John David Washington, the son of actor Denzel Washington, has been training in Florida for the past several weeks, with an eye toward running again for scouts on April 22. John David Washington attended the UCLA pro day workout without any formal training in running the 40 and generated a number in the high 4.6 range. He has since been working with a trainer, and he expects to post a number in the low 4.5s the next time around.
Washington, a four-year starter at Morehouse, was named in 2005 to the first-team all-SIAC conference squad. As a sophomore in 2003, Washington broke the school's 25-year-old single-game rushing record with 241 yards on 33 carries.
Morehouse is in the same conference as Tuskegee, which has produced several NFL draft picks in recent years. Most notably, cornerback Drayton Florence was selected in the second round by the Chargers in 2003.
Denzel Washington's latest film, Inside Man, was directed by Spike Lee, who also went to Morehouse. In 2000, Washington starred in one of our all-time favorites, Remember the Titans, a football flick that also featured the dude from Scrubs, the hilarious Randy from My Name is Earl, and the guy who looks like Nick Sorensen of the Jaguars.
Doesn't it sound like a movie? Son of famous Hollywood actor plays football, spurning the Hollywood scene, earning his own millions and his own fans. The father, angered by his sons career choice in what he considers a barbaric and plebian sport, eventually learns to love the game, respect his son and befriend the kind hearted coach who helped bring them together again. Hmm, maybe it sounds more like a Banderas movie now that I think about it--with the contrived shlock he's been putting out lately.
Anyway, the story:
DENZEL'S SON HOPING TO LAND IN THE NFL
One of the little-known facts regarding this year's crop of draft-eligible players is that the pool includes the offspring of a two-time Oscar winner.
Running back John David Washington, the son of actor Denzel Washington, has been training in Florida for the past several weeks, with an eye toward running again for scouts on April 22. John David Washington attended the UCLA pro day workout without any formal training in running the 40 and generated a number in the high 4.6 range. He has since been working with a trainer, and he expects to post a number in the low 4.5s the next time around.
Washington, a four-year starter at Morehouse, was named in 2005 to the first-team all-SIAC conference squad. As a sophomore in 2003, Washington broke the school's 25-year-old single-game rushing record with 241 yards on 33 carries.
Morehouse is in the same conference as Tuskegee, which has produced several NFL draft picks in recent years. Most notably, cornerback Drayton Florence was selected in the second round by the Chargers in 2003.
Denzel Washington's latest film, Inside Man, was directed by Spike Lee, who also went to Morehouse. In 2000, Washington starred in one of our all-time favorites, Remember the Titans, a football flick that also featured the dude from Scrubs, the hilarious Randy from My Name is Earl, and the guy who looks like Nick Sorensen of the Jaguars.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Phat Girlz Mystery
Oddly enough the movie Phat Girlz has not caught fire at the box office. Hmmm. I don't understand it. This comedic triumph starring Mo'nique (presumably cousin to Unique), tells the riveting tale of a fat fashion designer struggling to find love. And Omelets with 4 kinds of meat. And some extra cheese. Maybe a side of toast. And a chuck roast.
So, anyone want to spend 10 bucks to see a fat fashion designer? No? 3.1 million dollars in it's opening weekend tells me someone was dumb enough to do it. My guess is that Friday night, when the film opened, there were an awful lot of bored buffet re-stockers and some empty Lane Bryants.
Let's figure out how many viewers that actually was. Let's see, 3.1 million, gotta figure most of them had to buy 2 seats, so that means one viewer for every 2 tickets sold....you get the idea.
So, anyone want to spend 10 bucks to see a fat fashion designer? No? 3.1 million dollars in it's opening weekend tells me someone was dumb enough to do it. My guess is that Friday night, when the film opened, there were an awful lot of bored buffet re-stockers and some empty Lane Bryants.
Let's figure out how many viewers that actually was. Let's see, 3.1 million, gotta figure most of them had to buy 2 seats, so that means one viewer for every 2 tickets sold....you get the idea.
Saturday, April 08, 2006
The List
“So,” he said, swirling the last of the bourbon around in his glass, “You’re going to be there?”
“Yes, goddamn it, how many times must I answer that same question?”
“Until I’m sure you mean it,” he answered without looking up from the bar.
“You know, there’s a lot of beautiful women in here tonight John.”
“Hmm.”
“Why aren’t you ever interested in them?”
He looked up and wrinkled his black, bushy eyebrows and said, “Because there’s no point in it, that’s why.”
Gregory looked at his friend as though for the first time. He knew what line of reasoning was coming but it never failed to shock and sadden him. “Of course there’s a point. I’ve seen lots of girls look your way. There’s one now,” he pointed to the far corner of the bar.
John ran a hand through his dark hair and said, “There’s no point in that, in getting involved, falling in love, whoever she is, she’ll just mourn me when I pass. I can’t do that to someone.”
“John, you’re 28 for God’s sake, you’re not passing.” He signaled the bartender for two more drinks.
“We’re all passing Greg.”
“Not anytime soon I should hope.”
“You can hope all you want, but you never know. That’s why I prepare as I do. You should too. Make a list of your own.”
“People think you’re weird you know, that list of yours makes people uncomfortable.”
“I don’t make the list for their comfort. I make it for mine.”
The bartender, who knew them both from many Friday nights just like this one, put two fresh bourbons in front of them and said, “Still at it are you John? I hope I’m still on the list. Count me in.”
“Don’t encourage him,” Greg said, rolling his eyes.
“I don’t think he needs no encouragin’, do you John?”
“You’re mocking me,” John said without looking up. He carefully folded up his list, placed in the inside pocket of his black suit, and picked up his drink. “You shouldn’t do that. You’ll wish you’d been more prepared when it happens.”
Greg was waving at an attractive brunette at the other end of the bar, encouraging her to come over. “John, don’t you think the woman, whoever she might be, should be allowed to decide if she’d rather have to mourn you when you pass as opposed to never knowing you at all. Don’t you believe in love?”
“Of course I believe in love. Love is precisely the reason I can’t become involved. Love makes it hard to let go of someone when they pass. I can’t be responsible for that.”
The bartender, on hearing this, asked the same questions he always did. Not because he truly was curious anew, but because the answer always fascinated him somehow. “Don’t you think you should be a funeral director instead of a life insurance salesman?”
“No I don’t, and I believe you know that. Life insurance prepares us for passing, prepares our loved ones.”
“You said you don’t want any loved ones, so you won’t need it,” Greg said smiling. The bartender joined him in a chuckle.
“I can’t help who might fall in love with me. Like passing, love is out of my hands. Should some unfortunate fall in love with me, I want them to be taken care of. The funeral needs to be paid for as well, I have plans for it and they aren’t cheap.”
“So,” the bartender continued, “why don’t they call it death insurance?”
John looked up and again wrinkled his eyebrows, looked at the bartender as though he were very dim, and said, “Don’t be ridiculous, that would be depressing.”
“Isn’t planning your funeral at your age depressing?”
“Of course it is. I’m depressed.”
Greg got up, took his drink, and walked, chest out, towards the brunette who had failed to take his hints and had stayed put. John didn’t so much as glance at him as he went.
The bartender, having other customers to attend to, moved to the opposite end of the bar and began mixing margaritas. Being alone again, much to his relief, he pulled the list back out and looked at very closely.
Why couldn’t they understand? Why could the rest of the world never see what he could so clearly see? He looked again at the list and nearly became misty eyed upon seeing the names he had crossed out over the years, the names of people he could no longer count on to attend.
All his life he had known that you don’t make friends, that’s not our purpose here. You go through life and you gather mourners; you meet people and get to know them only well enough to be certain your funeral won’t be empty. Don’t get to know them so well that they’re terribly sad, just enough so that they will want to pay some small tribute and then let it be.
One of the reasons he was unafraid to keep such close company with Greg was that he was sure Greg was cold as ice and would not be devastated at his passing. He could sleep very well at night knowing that Greg would carry on just fine once he was gone. What a relief it had been to find him, someone to talk to and not have to worry about. What a wonderful mourner he was.
Greg returned to his seat, accompanied by two very attractive young women. He always did have a way with the ladies. John crackled his knuckles, took a deep pull from his drink and tried to turn his back to them. Greg had wedged his foot into his stool and John was frightened to find he couldn’t turn away.
Greg shook his head and laughed at his friends feeble attempt to escape. “We’re all going to fall in love with you tonight Johnny.
“Don’t say that, don’t you ever say that,” he hissed.
Unfazed, Greg carried on making introductions.
“What are you writing?” the shorter of the two women asked, leaning in to read it.
“It’s my list,” he said possessively. “I’m sure Greg has told you all about it and you’ve had a very nice laugh at my expense.”
“Why, I’ve done no such thing Johnny,” Greg said. He always called him Johnny when the booze started getting to him. “Now, I’ve brought you a beautiful woman, are you going to put that list away and let us all get to know each other?”
John tilted his head as though he we’re a dog cocking his ear and seemed to be thinking very hard. “Well, alright. But I can’t….”
“Get to know her too well, I know,” Greg said. “Ah, my friend, you’re very depressing sometimes. You have an uncanny ability to take the charm from an evening.”
“I don’t think so,” said the shorter woman, “I think he’s cute.”
“Be careful,” the bartender said as he walked by, “He’ll put you on his list and then you’ll have to go with us.”
“Go with you where?” she asked, looking at Greg.
“Why, to John’s funeral. When he passes.”
Oh!” she gasped. “I’m so sorry, are you dying?”
“We’re all dying,” Johnny said, draining the rest of his drink and glaring at the bartenders back.
“You seem very nice,” Johnny said to her, looking her up and down. “I like you, I think. Can I have your name please?”
“Cheryl,” she replied warily.
“Do you have a black dress Cheryl? Something a little longer than what the dress you’re wearing tonight I should think.”
Greg rolled his eyes and turned his attention to the taller woman, staring into her eyes and trying to draw her a little closer.
“Yes, I believe I do. Why?”
“Because,” Johnny said, looking at her with wrinkled brow, “I think I’ll add you to my list. Would you come? It’s a serious commitment, don’t answer lightly.”
“Oh, she’ll come, she’ll come Johnny,” Greg said, annoyed. “Now please, before you make these lovely women less lovely, can we please get to know them now?”
“All right, I suppose,” he said, scribbling Cheryl’s name onto the list. “As long as she’ll agree to come.”
“Just tell him you’ll go to his damn funeral will you?” Greg snapped.
“Umm, alright. Where is it then?”
“St. John’s cathedral,” the bartender yelled back. “It’ll be a morning service.”
“What day?” Cheryl asked.
“Now you’re being silly,” John said, “How should I know what day?”
“Yes, goddamn it, how many times must I answer that same question?”
“Until I’m sure you mean it,” he answered without looking up from the bar.
“You know, there’s a lot of beautiful women in here tonight John.”
“Hmm.”
“Why aren’t you ever interested in them?”
He looked up and wrinkled his black, bushy eyebrows and said, “Because there’s no point in it, that’s why.”
Gregory looked at his friend as though for the first time. He knew what line of reasoning was coming but it never failed to shock and sadden him. “Of course there’s a point. I’ve seen lots of girls look your way. There’s one now,” he pointed to the far corner of the bar.
John ran a hand through his dark hair and said, “There’s no point in that, in getting involved, falling in love, whoever she is, she’ll just mourn me when I pass. I can’t do that to someone.”
“John, you’re 28 for God’s sake, you’re not passing.” He signaled the bartender for two more drinks.
“We’re all passing Greg.”
“Not anytime soon I should hope.”
“You can hope all you want, but you never know. That’s why I prepare as I do. You should too. Make a list of your own.”
“People think you’re weird you know, that list of yours makes people uncomfortable.”
“I don’t make the list for their comfort. I make it for mine.”
The bartender, who knew them both from many Friday nights just like this one, put two fresh bourbons in front of them and said, “Still at it are you John? I hope I’m still on the list. Count me in.”
“Don’t encourage him,” Greg said, rolling his eyes.
“I don’t think he needs no encouragin’, do you John?”
“You’re mocking me,” John said without looking up. He carefully folded up his list, placed in the inside pocket of his black suit, and picked up his drink. “You shouldn’t do that. You’ll wish you’d been more prepared when it happens.”
Greg was waving at an attractive brunette at the other end of the bar, encouraging her to come over. “John, don’t you think the woman, whoever she might be, should be allowed to decide if she’d rather have to mourn you when you pass as opposed to never knowing you at all. Don’t you believe in love?”
“Of course I believe in love. Love is precisely the reason I can’t become involved. Love makes it hard to let go of someone when they pass. I can’t be responsible for that.”
The bartender, on hearing this, asked the same questions he always did. Not because he truly was curious anew, but because the answer always fascinated him somehow. “Don’t you think you should be a funeral director instead of a life insurance salesman?”
“No I don’t, and I believe you know that. Life insurance prepares us for passing, prepares our loved ones.”
“You said you don’t want any loved ones, so you won’t need it,” Greg said smiling. The bartender joined him in a chuckle.
“I can’t help who might fall in love with me. Like passing, love is out of my hands. Should some unfortunate fall in love with me, I want them to be taken care of. The funeral needs to be paid for as well, I have plans for it and they aren’t cheap.”
“So,” the bartender continued, “why don’t they call it death insurance?”
John looked up and again wrinkled his eyebrows, looked at the bartender as though he were very dim, and said, “Don’t be ridiculous, that would be depressing.”
“Isn’t planning your funeral at your age depressing?”
“Of course it is. I’m depressed.”
Greg got up, took his drink, and walked, chest out, towards the brunette who had failed to take his hints and had stayed put. John didn’t so much as glance at him as he went.
The bartender, having other customers to attend to, moved to the opposite end of the bar and began mixing margaritas. Being alone again, much to his relief, he pulled the list back out and looked at very closely.
Why couldn’t they understand? Why could the rest of the world never see what he could so clearly see? He looked again at the list and nearly became misty eyed upon seeing the names he had crossed out over the years, the names of people he could no longer count on to attend.
All his life he had known that you don’t make friends, that’s not our purpose here. You go through life and you gather mourners; you meet people and get to know them only well enough to be certain your funeral won’t be empty. Don’t get to know them so well that they’re terribly sad, just enough so that they will want to pay some small tribute and then let it be.
One of the reasons he was unafraid to keep such close company with Greg was that he was sure Greg was cold as ice and would not be devastated at his passing. He could sleep very well at night knowing that Greg would carry on just fine once he was gone. What a relief it had been to find him, someone to talk to and not have to worry about. What a wonderful mourner he was.
Greg returned to his seat, accompanied by two very attractive young women. He always did have a way with the ladies. John crackled his knuckles, took a deep pull from his drink and tried to turn his back to them. Greg had wedged his foot into his stool and John was frightened to find he couldn’t turn away.
Greg shook his head and laughed at his friends feeble attempt to escape. “We’re all going to fall in love with you tonight Johnny.
“Don’t say that, don’t you ever say that,” he hissed.
Unfazed, Greg carried on making introductions.
“What are you writing?” the shorter of the two women asked, leaning in to read it.
“It’s my list,” he said possessively. “I’m sure Greg has told you all about it and you’ve had a very nice laugh at my expense.”
“Why, I’ve done no such thing Johnny,” Greg said. He always called him Johnny when the booze started getting to him. “Now, I’ve brought you a beautiful woman, are you going to put that list away and let us all get to know each other?”
John tilted his head as though he we’re a dog cocking his ear and seemed to be thinking very hard. “Well, alright. But I can’t….”
“Get to know her too well, I know,” Greg said. “Ah, my friend, you’re very depressing sometimes. You have an uncanny ability to take the charm from an evening.”
“I don’t think so,” said the shorter woman, “I think he’s cute.”
“Be careful,” the bartender said as he walked by, “He’ll put you on his list and then you’ll have to go with us.”
“Go with you where?” she asked, looking at Greg.
“Why, to John’s funeral. When he passes.”
Oh!” she gasped. “I’m so sorry, are you dying?”
“We’re all dying,” Johnny said, draining the rest of his drink and glaring at the bartenders back.
“You seem very nice,” Johnny said to her, looking her up and down. “I like you, I think. Can I have your name please?”
“Cheryl,” she replied warily.
“Do you have a black dress Cheryl? Something a little longer than what the dress you’re wearing tonight I should think.”
Greg rolled his eyes and turned his attention to the taller woman, staring into her eyes and trying to draw her a little closer.
“Yes, I believe I do. Why?”
“Because,” Johnny said, looking at her with wrinkled brow, “I think I’ll add you to my list. Would you come? It’s a serious commitment, don’t answer lightly.”
“Oh, she’ll come, she’ll come Johnny,” Greg said, annoyed. “Now please, before you make these lovely women less lovely, can we please get to know them now?”
“All right, I suppose,” he said, scribbling Cheryl’s name onto the list. “As long as she’ll agree to come.”
“Just tell him you’ll go to his damn funeral will you?” Greg snapped.
“Umm, alright. Where is it then?”
“St. John’s cathedral,” the bartender yelled back. “It’ll be a morning service.”
“What day?” Cheryl asked.
“Now you’re being silly,” John said, “How should I know what day?”
Cruise, Holmes and the Scientology Nuts
What the heck is going on here? Is there something in the water? Why are so many celebrities crazy and susceptible to cultists?
First I read a report that an interviewer for Parade Magazine was disturbed by Katie Holmes acting vacant, detached and confused during an interview--even smiling broadly while Tom Cruise described the beatings he used to get at the hands of his father--and then there is this bizarre Silent Birth thing. Cruise bought Holmes an adult pacifier to keep her quiet during birth?
Why has Holmes all but vanished? Why does she look vacant and confused during interviews? I'm not a big conspiracy guy, but there's something really wrong with this story. Kelley Preston and John Travolta coming to the defense of Cruise and his Scientologists methods only proves he crazy and associated with other nuts and half-wits. Read the story below and tell me you don't think something ugly is swirling around the toilet bowl that is Scientology:
After the giddy fanfare of their highly public courtship, actress Katie Holmes is expected to give birth to Tom Cruise's baby any day now as quietly as humanly possible.
The "TomKat" baby may be the most hotly anticipated celebrity birth of the season, but it is expected to be delivered in line with the little understood Scientology method of quiet or silent birth.
Cruise, 43, is one of the best known adherents of the Church of Scientology founded by L Ron Hubbard, who believed that the best possible start in life for a new baby is a calm and loving environment free of screaming obscenities, chatty doctors or shouts to "push".
"A woman who wants her child to have the best possible chance will find a doctor who will agree to keep quiet especially during the delivery, and who will insist upon silence being maintained in the hospital delivery room as far as it is humanly possible," Hubbard wrote.
Scientologists have spoken out in support of Cruise and the silent birth principle despite rumours and media criticism.
The Mission Impossible star this week denied one tabloid magazine report that he had bought an adult pacifier to muffle the moans and groans of his 27 year-old fiancee.
According to another report, large posters have been given to the Catholic-raised Holmes reminding her to "Be Silent and make all physical movements slow and understandable."
Scientologists John Travolta and his actress wife Kelly Preston were among those explaining the method. "Screaming is fine....it's the words. If you can avoid saying certain phrases and words...Of course you're going to groan and yell. It hurts. Just keep it to the minimum," said Preston, mother of two.
"As a mom, I am going through a very painful experience and my child is going through a very traumatic and painful experience. So I didn't want to say anything that could affect him later in life," Preston added.
Scientologist believe that all the traumatic experiences and words in life are recorded in the subconscious including a child's memories of his or her own birth.
Michelle Seward, a Los Angeles financial planner and Scientologist who had a silent birth, told Reuters, "We're not trying to achieve absolute silence necessarily. And if the mother has to have an epidural, that's OK."
The baby will be the first for Holmes, best known for the TV show Dawson's Creek, and the first biological child for twice-married Cruise. He adopted two children with actress Nicole Kidman before their marriage ended in divorce in 2001.
Cruise and Holmes have yet to announce a wedding date after a whirlwind romance starting in April last year that was played out on television and paraded before the world media.
The once intensely private Cruise was mocked for a manic couch-hopping appearance on the Oprah Winfrey show in May in which he effusively declared his love for Holmes. A month later he announced their engagement at a news conference in France.
First I read a report that an interviewer for Parade Magazine was disturbed by Katie Holmes acting vacant, detached and confused during an interview--even smiling broadly while Tom Cruise described the beatings he used to get at the hands of his father--and then there is this bizarre Silent Birth thing. Cruise bought Holmes an adult pacifier to keep her quiet during birth?
Why has Holmes all but vanished? Why does she look vacant and confused during interviews? I'm not a big conspiracy guy, but there's something really wrong with this story. Kelley Preston and John Travolta coming to the defense of Cruise and his Scientologists methods only proves he crazy and associated with other nuts and half-wits. Read the story below and tell me you don't think something ugly is swirling around the toilet bowl that is Scientology:
Tom Cruise Brainwashed and Insane
(Headline is mine!)After the giddy fanfare of their highly public courtship, actress Katie Holmes is expected to give birth to Tom Cruise's baby any day now as quietly as humanly possible.
The "TomKat" baby may be the most hotly anticipated celebrity birth of the season, but it is expected to be delivered in line with the little understood Scientology method of quiet or silent birth.
Cruise, 43, is one of the best known adherents of the Church of Scientology founded by L Ron Hubbard, who believed that the best possible start in life for a new baby is a calm and loving environment free of screaming obscenities, chatty doctors or shouts to "push".
"A woman who wants her child to have the best possible chance will find a doctor who will agree to keep quiet especially during the delivery, and who will insist upon silence being maintained in the hospital delivery room as far as it is humanly possible," Hubbard wrote.
Scientologists have spoken out in support of Cruise and the silent birth principle despite rumours and media criticism.
The Mission Impossible star this week denied one tabloid magazine report that he had bought an adult pacifier to muffle the moans and groans of his 27 year-old fiancee.
According to another report, large posters have been given to the Catholic-raised Holmes reminding her to "Be Silent and make all physical movements slow and understandable."
Scientologists John Travolta and his actress wife Kelly Preston were among those explaining the method. "Screaming is fine....it's the words. If you can avoid saying certain phrases and words...Of course you're going to groan and yell. It hurts. Just keep it to the minimum," said Preston, mother of two.
"As a mom, I am going through a very painful experience and my child is going through a very traumatic and painful experience. So I didn't want to say anything that could affect him later in life," Preston added.
Scientologist believe that all the traumatic experiences and words in life are recorded in the subconscious including a child's memories of his or her own birth.
Michelle Seward, a Los Angeles financial planner and Scientologist who had a silent birth, told Reuters, "We're not trying to achieve absolute silence necessarily. And if the mother has to have an epidural, that's OK."
The baby will be the first for Holmes, best known for the TV show Dawson's Creek, and the first biological child for twice-married Cruise. He adopted two children with actress Nicole Kidman before their marriage ended in divorce in 2001.
Cruise and Holmes have yet to announce a wedding date after a whirlwind romance starting in April last year that was played out on television and paraded before the world media.
The once intensely private Cruise was mocked for a manic couch-hopping appearance on the Oprah Winfrey show in May in which he effusively declared his love for Holmes. A month later he announced their engagement at a news conference in France.
Friday, April 07, 2006
Star Trek Drinking Game
OK, here is the funniest damn thing ever. It's a geek drinking game. That's right, even geeks like to get their drink on from time to time. And what, you might ask, would a hard core geek center a drinking game around? Star Trek of course. It's the official Star Trek Drinking Game!
I wonder if they get out of hand, these wild geeks. Perhaps there's a Geeks Gone Wild video out there--a direct result of the Star Trek drinking game?
I would like to have a CSI Miami drinking game. Every time the over-acting of David Carusso caused him to dramatically whip off his sunglasses you drink! Or, conversly, he slowly puts them back on, stares cornily into the distance, and says something deep like, "They were just dying to get into this party weren't they?"
Drink!
I wonder if they get out of hand, these wild geeks. Perhaps there's a Geeks Gone Wild video out there--a direct result of the Star Trek drinking game?
I would like to have a CSI Miami drinking game. Every time the over-acting of David Carusso caused him to dramatically whip off his sunglasses you drink! Or, conversly, he slowly puts them back on, stares cornily into the distance, and says something deep like, "They were just dying to get into this party weren't they?"
Drink!
Terminator 4
According to our friends at Aint It Cool News and
IMDB, Director Jonathan Mostow has signed on to make Terminator 4 (official title pending).
Mosotow's credits include Terminator 3:Rise of the Macines and U-571. T-4 was written by John D. Brancato and Micael Ferris. Brancatos previous credits include T-3 and the abomination that was Cat Woman, although getting Halle Berry to prance around in black leather is something of an achievement. Ferris's writing credits include Catwoman and T-3 along with The Net. So these three should be quite used to eachother by now.
It's unlcear is Arnold will be returning but the location is apparently Australia.
I loved the original Terminator, it's one of the best sci-fi films ever. The second was also a great film, the third was OK. Something was missing from that one and clearly that something is James Cameron. It's dissapointing to see a number 4 announced with Cameron's name not attached to it. At this point in the franchises existence it's obvious that special effects and pure action will not be enough to maintain it--there's a story line that needs to continue evolving and the third one seemed like just a visual treatment of a story we had already heard in previous films. Something different needs to be done.
The last one ended with Armageddon beginning as an attempt to stop Skynet from taking over completely failed. So the danger is that 4 will be turned into nothing more than an effects-driven film that chronicles the war and some machine vs. human battles; that would be unfortunate since there's so much more that could be done. It would be another sort of recap of a story we've been told several times now. The Terminator mythos needs to evolve now, needs to be freshened up. I hope this movie doesn't prove to be the one-too-many that tarnishes the original.
IMDB, Director Jonathan Mostow has signed on to make Terminator 4 (official title pending).
Mosotow's credits include Terminator 3:Rise of the Macines and U-571. T-4 was written by John D. Brancato and Micael Ferris. Brancatos previous credits include T-3 and the abomination that was Cat Woman, although getting Halle Berry to prance around in black leather is something of an achievement. Ferris's writing credits include Catwoman and T-3 along with The Net. So these three should be quite used to eachother by now.
It's unlcear is Arnold will be returning but the location is apparently Australia.
I loved the original Terminator, it's one of the best sci-fi films ever. The second was also a great film, the third was OK. Something was missing from that one and clearly that something is James Cameron. It's dissapointing to see a number 4 announced with Cameron's name not attached to it. At this point in the franchises existence it's obvious that special effects and pure action will not be enough to maintain it--there's a story line that needs to continue evolving and the third one seemed like just a visual treatment of a story we had already heard in previous films. Something different needs to be done.
The last one ended with Armageddon beginning as an attempt to stop Skynet from taking over completely failed. So the danger is that 4 will be turned into nothing more than an effects-driven film that chronicles the war and some machine vs. human battles; that would be unfortunate since there's so much more that could be done. It would be another sort of recap of a story we've been told several times now. The Terminator mythos needs to evolve now, needs to be freshened up. I hope this movie doesn't prove to be the one-too-many that tarnishes the original.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Take the Lead. Then Take a Hot Poker to Your Eyes.
Having seen the trailer for the new Antonio Banderas film, Take the Lead, about a dozen times, I have to wonder why it is being so heavily marketed. This film looks like an absolute bomb and trends back to the eighties when a slew of movies were made featuring “bad” kids that just needed a caring teacher. Or a tough-as-nails principal wielding a bat. There’s no such thing as a bad kid; every student deserves a second chance; the passion of one teacher can change a life, nay, the whole world. Familiar themes and completely done before. I truly wonder if Hollywood is completely out of ideas at this point. Even if this movie is well acted and puts a little twist on this old theme, it’s still tired.
I can remember movies like this, one where a peculiar sort of dancing-fighting technique was taught to rebellious punks who, in the end, turned out to be big-hearted and misunderstood. Yawn. There will also be the one kid that just won’t buy into the program, that insists on causing trouble. He or she will will see their character development culminate in one horrendous act of bad behavior before being caught by someone, being forgiven by the teacher just when he thought everyone had given up on him, and then wallowing in guilt. When this character turns a corner and finds the good natured young man within we’ll know the entire group has been saved and the movie is concluding. Yawn.
The administration and other teachers will resist the notion that these kids can be saved, they’ll tell Banderas to stop wasting his time, they’ll bristle at his unorthodox attempts to keep them engaged, they’ll try to fire him. But he’ll persevere and keep fighting for these kids at great personal risk and ridicule. Yawn.
This does bring to mind an interesting list of movies though. I’d like to see some contribution from others as well. The best “school” movies you can think of. I wonder if that’s done enough to be considered a sort of genre? Anyway, my list of school based movies that I found enjoyable and their stars:
1. The Breakfast Club—Molly Ringwald and host of other has beens
2. The Prinicpal—Jim Belushi
3. Stand And Deliver—Edward James Olmos
4. Teachers—Nick Nolte
5. Back to School—Rodney Dangerfield
6. Animal House—Jim Belushi
7. Hiding Out—John Cryer
Give me some more! I think there was one with Louis Gossett Jr., but I can’t recall the name right now.
I can remember movies like this, one where a peculiar sort of dancing-fighting technique was taught to rebellious punks who, in the end, turned out to be big-hearted and misunderstood. Yawn. There will also be the one kid that just won’t buy into the program, that insists on causing trouble. He or she will will see their character development culminate in one horrendous act of bad behavior before being caught by someone, being forgiven by the teacher just when he thought everyone had given up on him, and then wallowing in guilt. When this character turns a corner and finds the good natured young man within we’ll know the entire group has been saved and the movie is concluding. Yawn.
The administration and other teachers will resist the notion that these kids can be saved, they’ll tell Banderas to stop wasting his time, they’ll bristle at his unorthodox attempts to keep them engaged, they’ll try to fire him. But he’ll persevere and keep fighting for these kids at great personal risk and ridicule. Yawn.
This does bring to mind an interesting list of movies though. I’d like to see some contribution from others as well. The best “school” movies you can think of. I wonder if that’s done enough to be considered a sort of genre? Anyway, my list of school based movies that I found enjoyable and their stars:
1. The Breakfast Club—Molly Ringwald and host of other has beens
2. The Prinicpal—Jim Belushi
3. Stand And Deliver—Edward James Olmos
4. Teachers—Nick Nolte
5. Back to School—Rodney Dangerfield
6. Animal House—Jim Belushi
7. Hiding Out—John Cryer
Give me some more! I think there was one with Louis Gossett Jr., but I can’t recall the name right now.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
V Is For…Propaganda?
V For Vendetta has it all: Clichéd plot line, overly dramatic dictator, enough liberal talking points to make Ted Kennedy seem coherent and a wonderfully predictable finish.
V, ironically, is much like the central character; this movie wears a mask and pretends to be something it is not. The shallow plot and done to death idealism is cloaked behind a loquaciousness that lends itself more to a bad television show than a movie purporting to make a grand statement. It pretends to be intellectual, yet behind the mask it’s just an endless series of quotes from literary works and strung together 10-dollar words.
V tries to put a new spin on the oppressive government angle, it tries to draw direct parallels to George Bush’s America and it desperately seeks to portray muslims of the future as innocent victims of paranoia and profiling. Yet it finds itself bound up in a quagmire of predictable characters and useless pontificating. The film drags on and onand by hour number 2, when the dazzling intellect of V has been established and the murderous dictator introduced, you find yourself wishing for a revolt in Hollywood that would oust those responsible for this drivel.
The pseudo Matrix action and the mystery of the man endlessly babbling behind the mask can’t sustain this film.
As a whole, it defended terrorism, showed us that those responsible for 9/11 might have had the best of intentions, once again touts homosexuals as the most oppressed group in history and makes certain we understand that modern day America is on the path to poverty and civil war.
Where else but in Hollywood could a film get away with having a hero that says, “…blowing up a building can change the world.” And what is the not so subtle point to be made by having the Koran held up as a symbol of “Poetry and peace” while the movies only catholic character is a drooling pedophile? And of course, this ruthless dictator, this oppressor of homosexuals, is a member of the conservative party who’s flag and who’s henchman carry a barely veiled cross-like symbol to mark their terror.
And don’t forget those evil corporate drug companies, they’re complicit in a plot to unleash a deadly virus on school children so they can profit from the cure. And the war in Iraq is the central reason America is begging the world for medical supplies and caught up in civil war.
This is old, old stuff. V is nothing but one more bastardization of a graphic novel that, once injected with the usual leftist talking points, fails to inform and fails to entertain. It’s better living through terrorism, it’s propaganda masquerading as an entity that hates lies and propaganda. It’s silly at times, frustrating at others, poorly paced and unbelievably long winded.
Natalie Portman is a gifted actress and her performance is genuine and, at times, moving. The massive intellect behind the mask features a rich voice and does convey a certain conviction. But these performances, along with some very nice set design, can’t save this movie.
I read another reviewer recently that asked, “Would "V for Vendetta" stand a box office chance today if it were set in America, not England, and the U.S. Capitol were blowing up instead of Parliament?”
Certainly not. Only in the United States of America would filmmakers dare to set a story in another country so they could ridicule and demean this one. Their hatred of family, of Conservatives, of all measures necessary to detect terrorists and, last but not least, their disdain for America is loud and clear here. Fortunately we don’t need to seek out a suave, cultured terrorists to teach us better living through bombs—we can simply find another movie to watch, and that’s exactly what you should do.
Star Trek Gets Bum Wrap
Ok, I grow weary of everyone running the Star Trek franchise into the ground on the bsaeless accusation that it's for geeks. OF course, I can't deny that the series and the movies seem to have drawn an odd number of dorks from the woodwork, but so has the internet and computer programming. It doesn't mean they're bad things; nor does it mean that because geeks like it that it's ONLY for geeks.
The original series was creative, innovative and well thought out. The special effects ground breaking, especially for TV. The actors had an on-screen chemistry that is pretty rare. The characters were well defined, compelling and consistent. The writing always interesting and the occasional social commentary, if you looked for it, was interesting.
The movies were more of the same. Well written and featuring some terrific interaction beween compelling characters.
Someone explain to me how this brilliant franchise came to be represented solely by dorks with Spock ears? Why it's more acceptable to be a fan of the Simpsons than of Star Trek. In a way, it's ironic--the very dorks who loved the show so much esssentially killed and removed it from the mainstream. The concept of the fan convention went from a simple "Meet a Star" kind of thing to a sort of holy commute where nerds across the land followed it one from one state to the next. Even William Shatner made fun of them on Saturday Night Live, and was then promptly roasted by nerd bloggers and commentators.
They only have themselves to blame for the state of affairs they find themselves in. For the first time in 30 years there is no Star Trek of any kind to be found anywhere. No shows, no movies, no nothing.
So desperate are the nerds that they are now filming their own Star Trek movies, with scripts crafted by them, and swapping them online. One such film recently boasted on it's 1 millionth download--proving the power of Star Trek is indeed international.
Since the cancellation of Enterprise, the ill-fated prequel to the original series, rabid Trekkies have found themselves in a blackhole. How long will it last? What will revive this moribound franchise?
Trek is too big a cash cow to lie dormant for too long. Eventually some studio head somewhere, desperate for ideas, will dust it off and try one more time. The problem they will encounter is this: All other movies had a solid cast of pre-established characters with which to work. Clearly the orignial cast is no longer suitable, the Next Generation cast is aging and scattered to the winds and no current show exists. For the first time ever any new film entry must be 100% original, new script, new characters, new plots. When it happens, and it will, it'll be interesting.
How Much Is Too Much?
Below you will find a press release from Lions Gate concerning their plans for Saw 3. Now, I loved saw and I enjoyed Saw 2, but can 3 really be fresh? Doesn't the law of diminishing returns apply sooner or later to these movies that turn into "franchises"?
Sooner or later all sequels get stale. You have to wonder why it that movie producers can seem to figure out where to draw that line, they always seem to go one movie too far. I know, people will watch anything--as evidenced by the Look Who's Talking franchise--but at some point the integrity of the orignal becomes tarnished. Rocky 5 anyone? Scream 3? Terminator 3? Unless your sequeling Indiana Jones or Star Wars, anything past version 2 is pushing it. Great movies can sometimes make it 3, but that's really it.
The release:
LIONSGATE AND TWISTED PICTURES ANNOUNCE
SAW III FOR HALLOWEEN 2006
Original Creative Team Reunited For Next Film In Twisted And Lionsgate’s Saw Franchise; Film to be Dedicated to Late Twisted Pictures Principal And Saw Producer Gregg Hoffman
Saw Franchise Has Grossed Nearly $250 Million In Worldwide Box Office And Sold Nearly 10 Million DVD’s To Date For Lionsgate
SANTA MONICA, CA, and VANCOUVER, BC, March 2, 2006 – Lionsgate (NYSE and TSX: LGF), the leading independent filmed entertainment studio, and Twisted Pictures today announced plans to develop and produce Saw III, the next film in the psychologically intense and disturbing horror franchise, for an October 27, 2006 wide release. The film will be directed by Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II), with story by Leigh Whannell and James Wan (Saw, Saw II) and screenplay by Whannell. The Twisted Pictures team of Mark Burg and Oren Koules will return as producers with Whannell and Wan set to executive produce. The announcement was made by Peter Block, Lionsgate President of Acquisitions and Co-productions, Jason Constantine, Lionsgate Senior VP of Acquisitions, and the Twisted Pictures team of Mark Burg and Oren Koules.
Saw II set a Lionsgate record with a three-day opening weekend of $31.7 million last Halloween, becoming the widest release in Lionsgate history and achieving one of the best opening weekends ever for a horror sequel. With a domestic box office of over $87 million and more than $148 million in worldwide theatrical box office, Saw II easily eclipsed the $55 million domestic box office total of the original Saw. Saw and Saw II have grossed nearly $250 million in combined worldwide box office.
Saw II debuted as the #1 DVD in North America two weeks ago, becoming the fastest-selling theatrical DVD release in Lionsgate history with 3.9 million units sold in its first week alone. The movie was also released on VHS and UMD. The Saw franchise has sold nearly 10 million units to date for Lionsgate.
“Yes, there will be more blood,” said Block and Constantine. “Saw III will involve the same creative forces responsible for the tremendous success of Saw II. The Twisted team of Mark and Oren, along with Darren, James and Leigh, have all agreed to be prominently involved in Saw III. We are proud to be partnered with some of the most disturbing creative talents on the planet, and the Saw franchise will ensure that gore becomes every bit as much a Halloween staple as ghosts, goblins and candy corn.” Block noted that the film will be dedicated to Twisted Pictures principal and Saw producer Gregg Hoffman, who passed away in November 2005.
“We have been discussing story lines that extend the Saw franchise to new limits and beyond with Lionsgate for the past several months,” said Burg and Koules. “The most
important element of any franchise is remaining true to the roots of its success. We believe that we are developing a script that is certain to please the Saw franchise’s core fans while adding fresh, terrifying and unimaginable new twists to the Saw saga. Jigsaw himself would be proud.”
Saw III joins an upcoming Lionsgate slate that includes Trent Cooper’s Larry The Cable Guy: Health Inspector (March 24), the inspirational Akeelah And The Bee, starring Laurence Fishburne, Angela Bassett and Keke Palmer (April 28), the provocative Sundance sensation Hard Candy (April), Lionsgate’s first entry in the Spanish-language feature film marketplace, La Mujer de mi Hermano, starring telenovela sensation Barbara Mori (April) and the horror film See No Evil, starring WWE superstar Kane (May 19).
Lionsgate is the premier independent producer and distributor of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment and video-on-demand content. Its prestigious and prolific library is a valuable source of recurring revenue and a foundation for the growth of the Company’s core businesses. The Lionsgate brand is synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the globe.
Twisted Pictures is helmed by Mark Burg and Oren Koules. Saw, one of the most profitable films of 2004, was their first picture under the new label and was also distributed by Lionsgate. Twisted is currently in postproduction on Catacombs, the first film under the previously-announced nine-picture deal between Twisted and Lionsgate, and is in production on Silence for Universal Pictures.
Sooner or later all sequels get stale. You have to wonder why it that movie producers can seem to figure out where to draw that line, they always seem to go one movie too far. I know, people will watch anything--as evidenced by the Look Who's Talking franchise--but at some point the integrity of the orignal becomes tarnished. Rocky 5 anyone? Scream 3? Terminator 3? Unless your sequeling Indiana Jones or Star Wars, anything past version 2 is pushing it. Great movies can sometimes make it 3, but that's really it.
The release:
LIONSGATE AND TWISTED PICTURES ANNOUNCE
SAW III FOR HALLOWEEN 2006
Original Creative Team Reunited For Next Film In Twisted And Lionsgate’s Saw Franchise; Film to be Dedicated to Late Twisted Pictures Principal And Saw Producer Gregg Hoffman
Saw Franchise Has Grossed Nearly $250 Million In Worldwide Box Office And Sold Nearly 10 Million DVD’s To Date For Lionsgate
SANTA MONICA, CA, and VANCOUVER, BC, March 2, 2006 – Lionsgate (NYSE and TSX: LGF), the leading independent filmed entertainment studio, and Twisted Pictures today announced plans to develop and produce Saw III, the next film in the psychologically intense and disturbing horror franchise, for an October 27, 2006 wide release. The film will be directed by Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II), with story by Leigh Whannell and James Wan (Saw, Saw II) and screenplay by Whannell. The Twisted Pictures team of Mark Burg and Oren Koules will return as producers with Whannell and Wan set to executive produce. The announcement was made by Peter Block, Lionsgate President of Acquisitions and Co-productions, Jason Constantine, Lionsgate Senior VP of Acquisitions, and the Twisted Pictures team of Mark Burg and Oren Koules.
Saw II set a Lionsgate record with a three-day opening weekend of $31.7 million last Halloween, becoming the widest release in Lionsgate history and achieving one of the best opening weekends ever for a horror sequel. With a domestic box office of over $87 million and more than $148 million in worldwide theatrical box office, Saw II easily eclipsed the $55 million domestic box office total of the original Saw. Saw and Saw II have grossed nearly $250 million in combined worldwide box office.
Saw II debuted as the #1 DVD in North America two weeks ago, becoming the fastest-selling theatrical DVD release in Lionsgate history with 3.9 million units sold in its first week alone. The movie was also released on VHS and UMD. The Saw franchise has sold nearly 10 million units to date for Lionsgate.
“Yes, there will be more blood,” said Block and Constantine. “Saw III will involve the same creative forces responsible for the tremendous success of Saw II. The Twisted team of Mark and Oren, along with Darren, James and Leigh, have all agreed to be prominently involved in Saw III. We are proud to be partnered with some of the most disturbing creative talents on the planet, and the Saw franchise will ensure that gore becomes every bit as much a Halloween staple as ghosts, goblins and candy corn.” Block noted that the film will be dedicated to Twisted Pictures principal and Saw producer Gregg Hoffman, who passed away in November 2005.
“We have been discussing story lines that extend the Saw franchise to new limits and beyond with Lionsgate for the past several months,” said Burg and Koules. “The most
important element of any franchise is remaining true to the roots of its success. We believe that we are developing a script that is certain to please the Saw franchise’s core fans while adding fresh, terrifying and unimaginable new twists to the Saw saga. Jigsaw himself would be proud.”
Saw III joins an upcoming Lionsgate slate that includes Trent Cooper’s Larry The Cable Guy: Health Inspector (March 24), the inspirational Akeelah And The Bee, starring Laurence Fishburne, Angela Bassett and Keke Palmer (April 28), the provocative Sundance sensation Hard Candy (April), Lionsgate’s first entry in the Spanish-language feature film marketplace, La Mujer de mi Hermano, starring telenovela sensation Barbara Mori (April) and the horror film See No Evil, starring WWE superstar Kane (May 19).
Lionsgate is the premier independent producer and distributor of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment and video-on-demand content. Its prestigious and prolific library is a valuable source of recurring revenue and a foundation for the growth of the Company’s core businesses. The Lionsgate brand is synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the globe.
Twisted Pictures is helmed by Mark Burg and Oren Koules. Saw, one of the most profitable films of 2004, was their first picture under the new label and was also distributed by Lionsgate. Twisted is currently in postproduction on Catacombs, the first film under the previously-announced nine-picture deal between Twisted and Lionsgate, and is in production on Silence for Universal Pictures.
Monday, April 03, 2006
Susan Sarandon Is Off Her Nut
Actress Susan Sarandon decided that a Brazilian newspaper was the proper venue for bashing her country and it's President this past week--opining in an outragous rant that the United States was like a thirld-world country.
Sarandon claimed that an international entity should be enlisted to oversee the next election cycle because the 2004 elections were fraudlent.
“I believe our next election should be monitored by international entities, just like it happened in Haiti and Iraq,” Sarandon told Brazilian newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo, according to our translator. “The last one was an embarrassment. Everybody knew there was fraud, but nothing was done about it. In some states there were more votes than people able to vote.”
More votes than people able to vote? Do we have any evidence of this? No. Is that an absurd assertion? Yes. Is it possible Sarandon is confusing the 2004 elections with an episode of thhe Simpsons? Entirely.
“I think we’ve never been as close to George Orwell’s ‘1984’ as before,” she said. “We live in a society where individual rights and legality are definitely threatened and that’s scary," Sarandon said.
The terrorists that want to kill us are not scary. Apparently, the terrorists that blow things up do not pose a threat to individual rights.
Again, would Sarandon like to point out one single right that has been repealed under Geroge Bush? What liberties have been removed exactly?
These Hollywood leftists are just completely insane or they are simply pathological liars. One or the other. Nothing else explains the stunning revelation that more people voted than were eligible. It's amazing that since, had this been true, some state would have reported 100% voter turnout.
What's also amazing is that Sarandon would like to see illegal immigrants given the ability to vote so, theoretically, having more people vote than are elligible is her stated goal. Talk about one sandwich short of a picknick.
Sarandon claimed that an international entity should be enlisted to oversee the next election cycle because the 2004 elections were fraudlent.
“I believe our next election should be monitored by international entities, just like it happened in Haiti and Iraq,” Sarandon told Brazilian newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo, according to our translator. “The last one was an embarrassment. Everybody knew there was fraud, but nothing was done about it. In some states there were more votes than people able to vote.”
More votes than people able to vote? Do we have any evidence of this? No. Is that an absurd assertion? Yes. Is it possible Sarandon is confusing the 2004 elections with an episode of thhe Simpsons? Entirely.
“I think we’ve never been as close to George Orwell’s ‘1984’ as before,” she said. “We live in a society where individual rights and legality are definitely threatened and that’s scary," Sarandon said.
The terrorists that want to kill us are not scary. Apparently, the terrorists that blow things up do not pose a threat to individual rights.
Again, would Sarandon like to point out one single right that has been repealed under Geroge Bush? What liberties have been removed exactly?
These Hollywood leftists are just completely insane or they are simply pathological liars. One or the other. Nothing else explains the stunning revelation that more people voted than were eligible. It's amazing that since, had this been true, some state would have reported 100% voter turnout.
What's also amazing is that Sarandon would like to see illegal immigrants given the ability to vote so, theoretically, having more people vote than are elligible is her stated goal. Talk about one sandwich short of a picknick.
Saturday, April 01, 2006
Sharon Stone Totally Delusional
Yet again a Hollywood "starlet" has proven that the average A-list actor is brain dead and completely out of touch.
While being interviewed about her new and roundly panned movie, Basic Instinct 2, the topic of politics cropped up. Surprise.
Stone said Hillary "Fat-Ankles" Clinton was,"..a hot babe." Um. Right. She also said that the country was ready for a woman who still had "sexual power" to be president. Aside from the fact that Mrs. Clinton, who looks as though a loaf of baking bread is popping out of her shoes, has no sexual power over anyone that isn't psychotic, what would that have to do with being a politician?
Well, this doesn't need much discussion. It should be pretty clear that anyone calling Hillary Clinton a hot babe should never be listened to again, for any reason. Further, any woman with no acting skill and a career as dead as a Ted Kennedy date who, in a moment of desperation, decided that flashing her only asset at the camera one more time in a bad movie would bring her more fame should never comment on sexual power holding a person back. Come on folks, this is a woman who made millions of dollars showing the world her hoo-haa despite the fact that she couldn't act a lick. Pun intended.
While being interviewed about her new and roundly panned movie, Basic Instinct 2, the topic of politics cropped up. Surprise.
Stone said Hillary "Fat-Ankles" Clinton was,"..a hot babe." Um. Right. She also said that the country was ready for a woman who still had "sexual power" to be president. Aside from the fact that Mrs. Clinton, who looks as though a loaf of baking bread is popping out of her shoes, has no sexual power over anyone that isn't psychotic, what would that have to do with being a politician?
Well, this doesn't need much discussion. It should be pretty clear that anyone calling Hillary Clinton a hot babe should never be listened to again, for any reason. Further, any woman with no acting skill and a career as dead as a Ted Kennedy date who, in a moment of desperation, decided that flashing her only asset at the camera one more time in a bad movie would bring her more fame should never comment on sexual power holding a person back. Come on folks, this is a woman who made millions of dollars showing the world her hoo-haa despite the fact that she couldn't act a lick. Pun intended.
Has Been Danny Glover Spouts Off Again
Danny Glover, Harry Belafonte and the lawyer for Rep. Cynthia McKinney, flanked by shamelessly exploited school children, decried the treatment of the Rep. McKinney by a Capitol Hill Police officer as racist yesterday afternoon.
Glover, a short lived actor but loud and obnoxious moron, said he and Belafonte had traveled to Washington to support their "sister." McKinney's lawyer, James W. Myart Jr., claimed she was a guilty of "Being in Congress while Black."
Belafonte and Glover claimed there purpose was not to judge the merits of the case, then swiftly denounced the officer, claimed McKinney's innocence and indicted America in general for being a racist country. Their claim of impartiality flew out the window 1.5 seconds after they said it.
That the race card was pulled out here is not surprising, but it's still revolting. That two washed up "entertainers" crawled out from the woodwork to insult, demean and accuse an officer they have never spoken too as being racist is equally disgusting.
It's simply amazing that the Georgia Democrat could have a hissy fit for being delayed, punch on officer of Capitol Hill, and then indict the poor schlock just doing his job on national television.
McKinney showed at at, surprise, surprise, Howard University, flanked by elementary school children holding signs saying "We Love Cynthia." The shameless and gisgusting exploitation of these kids who don't know any better for poltical gain not withstanding, her actions and accusations should result in her immediate arrest or there is simply no justice.
It's an abuse of power and a display of the danger political correctness poses to excuse any behavior, no matter how egregious, because someone is black. Glover, McKinney, Belafonte and her attorney apparently feel that a black woman should be able to anything she wants, behave any way she sees fit, treat people poorly and never be called to carpet because to point out this behavior is racist.
There is little doubt that they believe being black is an excuse for anything you would like excused. Punch an officer? Why, the officer was racist. Threaten charges for punching an officer? Why, the American justice system must be racist. Cynthia McKinney, as a black woman, should be free to wander around punching people all day long.
And what of the poor officer now being slandered and accused of "innapropriate touching?" I don't know what fun house mirror McKinney is looking at, but no one is going out of their way to touch her. At least she has no qualms about putting this poor guy through hell for simply doing his job. Further, she has no problem establishing a set of rules that apply only to black people who want to misbehave.
Black people everywhere should be appaled at the disservice Glover and his band of idiots is doing them. While they should be condemming McKinney's actions, while they should be pointing to black role models that conduct themselves with grace and dignity, they would rather excuse behavior and establish the nisconception that black people can't help but be violent and should be excused when they are. If anyone is guilty of furthering stereotypes here, it is these wackos.
Consider that shortly after claiming they would not judge the case or the officer Belafonte said, ""In America and Washington, D.C., issues of race have always been at play and have often been central to justice miscarried. ... We're here to be sure that this process is handled fairly and it is not rooted in a familiar racist behavior, that the outcome of this is going to be done on a very fair and a very square basis."
Yoou might notice that the outcome should be fair, not the process leading to it. The outcome, of course, is McKinney walks free while the officer is tarred and feathered. Any other outcome will be racist. Familiar racist behavior? Central to justice miscarried? Good thing they aren't passing judgement.
These clowns are an embarrasment to every hard working black person that plays by the rules and understands common civility. To accuse a man who grabbed her by the shouler of eccesive force? Please.
While it's difficult to judge who might be the dumbest person in Hollywood, Glover is clearly leading the pack having pulled up into a neck and neck race with Tom Cruise.
Glover, a short lived actor but loud and obnoxious moron, said he and Belafonte had traveled to Washington to support their "sister." McKinney's lawyer, James W. Myart Jr., claimed she was a guilty of "Being in Congress while Black."
Belafonte and Glover claimed there purpose was not to judge the merits of the case, then swiftly denounced the officer, claimed McKinney's innocence and indicted America in general for being a racist country. Their claim of impartiality flew out the window 1.5 seconds after they said it.
That the race card was pulled out here is not surprising, but it's still revolting. That two washed up "entertainers" crawled out from the woodwork to insult, demean and accuse an officer they have never spoken too as being racist is equally disgusting.
It's simply amazing that the Georgia Democrat could have a hissy fit for being delayed, punch on officer of Capitol Hill, and then indict the poor schlock just doing his job on national television.
McKinney showed at at, surprise, surprise, Howard University, flanked by elementary school children holding signs saying "We Love Cynthia." The shameless and gisgusting exploitation of these kids who don't know any better for poltical gain not withstanding, her actions and accusations should result in her immediate arrest or there is simply no justice.
It's an abuse of power and a display of the danger political correctness poses to excuse any behavior, no matter how egregious, because someone is black. Glover, McKinney, Belafonte and her attorney apparently feel that a black woman should be able to anything she wants, behave any way she sees fit, treat people poorly and never be called to carpet because to point out this behavior is racist.
There is little doubt that they believe being black is an excuse for anything you would like excused. Punch an officer? Why, the officer was racist. Threaten charges for punching an officer? Why, the American justice system must be racist. Cynthia McKinney, as a black woman, should be free to wander around punching people all day long.
And what of the poor officer now being slandered and accused of "innapropriate touching?" I don't know what fun house mirror McKinney is looking at, but no one is going out of their way to touch her. At least she has no qualms about putting this poor guy through hell for simply doing his job. Further, she has no problem establishing a set of rules that apply only to black people who want to misbehave.
Black people everywhere should be appaled at the disservice Glover and his band of idiots is doing them. While they should be condemming McKinney's actions, while they should be pointing to black role models that conduct themselves with grace and dignity, they would rather excuse behavior and establish the nisconception that black people can't help but be violent and should be excused when they are. If anyone is guilty of furthering stereotypes here, it is these wackos.
Consider that shortly after claiming they would not judge the case or the officer Belafonte said, ""In America and Washington, D.C., issues of race have always been at play and have often been central to justice miscarried. ... We're here to be sure that this process is handled fairly and it is not rooted in a familiar racist behavior, that the outcome of this is going to be done on a very fair and a very square basis."
Yoou might notice that the outcome should be fair, not the process leading to it. The outcome, of course, is McKinney walks free while the officer is tarred and feathered. Any other outcome will be racist. Familiar racist behavior? Central to justice miscarried? Good thing they aren't passing judgement.
These clowns are an embarrasment to every hard working black person that plays by the rules and understands common civility. To accuse a man who grabbed her by the shouler of eccesive force? Please.
While it's difficult to judge who might be the dumbest person in Hollywood, Glover is clearly leading the pack having pulled up into a neck and neck race with Tom Cruise.
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