Star Trek 11 - the end of the line?

Speaking of films that are mixing old ideas in a new ‘revisioned’ theme, I saw something today about the next Star Trek movie. This adds to my growing unease about this film. I am becoming more and more filled with dread about how this film will ultimately turn out.

It seems that there is already a plan to make a sequel. Yes, already the storyline for the next film is being hashed out. Without the movie having hit theaters yet. I presume the interest and debate over the movie trailers is propelling the rush to production.



This bodes poorly for the new generation seeking to fill the uniforms of the original cast. Without a single review or public viewing, they are already working the Hollywood system to create the next films in the “rebirth” of the franchise.

“They're hoping to have a draft in by Christmastime in order to get the cameras (and CGI) rolling in time for a summer 2011 release.”

Rushing a film, and a plot, to cash-in on a hoped for success virtually always ends up with a horrible film that bombs in the box office. Especially when the film in question is taking old favorites and turning them on their heads.

I can only recall a couple of films that were so bold as to plan and announce their efforts to create sequels at the same time, or before, the movie in question hit theaters. That would include Superman 3, and the James Bond films. You could also argue that Iron Man and the Incredible Hulk (with Ed Norton in a far superior film to the Ang Lee fiasco) did the same.

The Hulk series has been officially dumped by Marvel (though Norton did a fantastic job of resurrecting the series). Superman made it to one more movie (which bombed horribly) before the series was cancelled and laid dormant for nearly 2 decades. James Bond has survived due to changes in the lead, mostly due to Pierce Brosnan resurging interest after the near demise made by the Welsh-American Bond (Timothy Dalton). And Iron Man hinted at other movies, without guaranteeing their creation.

So in looking at what happens when Hollywood assumes a success, and moves forward with engines at flank, is that the film and/or series usually dies. Not a great sign at all for this ‘rebirth’ of Star Trek. Then again, neither was this



But with the film coming out soon, we the public will decide it all soon enough.

Looking for a plot

Last night, while at my Monday 8-ball pool tournament, a discussion came up about movies. The differences between old classics and great films and modern films. This focused mostly on sci-fi films.

It all started with the horribly wrong movie Dragon Wars (please don’t see this, not on DVD or cable, its pitiful). It was part of a line up of ridiculous terrible sci-fi films from none other than the SyFy Channel on Sunday. Not that much more should be expected from that cable network.

But from there we discussed how movies these days, especially those in sci-fi, now rely on special effects as opposed to plot. This is most evident in the worst of sci-fi movies. Like the extremely low budget Raptor Island (starring Lorenzo Lamas – your first clue of how bad it was). It was a CGI rip off of Jurassic Park, with about 1/5th the budget and 1/10th the plot. Virtually every scene in the movie conflicted with some other part of the film. But there was plenty of bad CGI to try to keep you occupied.

Which is why it cannot compare to other films. In fact, those of us a bit older on the team, were recalling the first movies we ever saw. I had the original King Kong (1930’s), another teammate had Frankenstein, another was Nosferatu. Overall we could name several films from our formative years that we had seen and still remember. This was compared to our youngest teammate, who couldn’t recall any film older than Bladerunner, which he saw on television.

Because without a real plot, what is there to remember? Honestly, there is nothing to pay attention to. Movies these days are so dependant on CGI and explosions (which can be great things) that the concept of a plot goes out the window. Thus the increasing number of movies ripping off or revisioning older plot-driven movies. And each has almost completely been a failure.

Hell, even the remakes of slasher horror films have been complete let-downs. The budgets for films like Friday the 13th were exponentially larger than the original film, and the result was deplorable. Because acting, and plots, are substantially reduced in the new versions as opposed to the old – even in movies where little plot was involved.

Or the trend to have movies steal multiple ideas from successful movies, cobbled together in the hopes of making a passable movie. Like the latest John Cena movie, 12 Rounds. The pitch had to be something like ‘Take Cena, who is popular in wrestling, put him in a Die Hard situation with a bit of Speed and Terminator thrown in, and we have a great movie.’ Except movie-goers had the option of DVD’s and Tivo, both of which are superior to such efforts.

Why are there so few films that are compelling these days? Ultimately that was the question being asked last night. Simply because there is no plot in films anymore. And without that you have nothing more than a string of explosions and CGI graphics strung together in a hodge-podge that even a cartoon can do better.

[Oh, for those wondering. My 8-ball and 9-ball teams are leading our league, likely to win both with room to spare. My match last night took 15 minutes total; 4 games with each game taking one turn of me and my opponent. Essentially I ran to one ball or the 8 and then he ran the table and it was time to rack in each game. Talk about 2 players being on fire.]

Video introduction of M V Consulting, Inc. models

Here is the promised video introducing the models and photographer of the latest designer clothing photo shoot. Plus a bit of humor too.

Michael Vass comments on the Obama budget

As found on Youtube, M V Consuting, Inc. President Michael Vass takes a moment to break down some of the key points of the Obama Administrations budget in terms any citizen can understand.

Model photo shoot - March 28th

I just wanted to take a moment to thank the models and photographer that came to the March 28th photo shoot on location at Guys and Dolls Pool Hall in Endicott NY.

The shoot was great. We got a lot of photos, in virtually all of the 19 different clothing lines found at World of Vass (the online store). The models looked great, and we had fun. Which is always the best of both worlds.

The models include:

• Christine Blank
  
• Juliana Coates
  
• Shawn Kennedy
  
• Dylan Miller
  
• Robert Miller
  
• Tiffany Murphy
  
• Dorian Whitehead
  

and photographer Todd Messinger of Talent House Advertising

The youtube video introducing some of the models will be out shortly.

We took a huge number of photos, which I am going through right now. I will be redesigning the catalogue page, and creating a page dedicated to the models that have worked for M V Consulting, Inc. So fans and those interesting in our models and photographers will have a way to check them out.

I am already planning my next photo shoot. I have several choices of models in mind already, but as always I love to hear back from my readers. I am also always interested to hear from models that would like to become part of our photo shoots.

And for those wondering who designed the graphic arts for the t-shirts and other designer clothes and goods, they are - Mark Lewkowicz in Florida and Heidi Baker in Pennsylvania.

Give me about a week, and I expect to have all the photos and designs up.

Drugs and punishment

It's just truly amazing how much sympathy and adoration is felt in the nation for drug dealers and addicts. I'm being serious.

We have Secretary of State Clinton rushing out to foreign nations, declaring that their problems are caused by our actions. While this is in part true for the nations that supply the vast drug culture of the United States, it is not the only reason many of those nations are impoverished. The degree of culpability of the U.S. aside, the fact that Secretary Clinton is airing our national dirty laundry to the world is a bit stinging. Especially as the Government fails to act.

That of course says nothing of the way Secretary Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton, rode on the humor and prestige of his declared failure to inhale. Sort of a just say no after you've already done it campaign. Very effective in getting the youth of America to stop taking drugs.

Add to this the prestige given to ex-convicts, most for drug-related crimes, as they perform their minstrel acts. America buy tens of millions of dollars worth of adulation on rappers and hip hop - as they directly promote various aspects of getting high. Just watch most rapper music videos, and absolutely any movie that has a rapper in it.

Suffice to say the Government likes drugs, legal or not. Both by its actions and inaction.

But the actions get to be even bigger in some states. The NAACP recently sent out an email, requesting support in getting NY Gov. Patterson to change the Rockerfeller drug laws. Because they are not nice, in essence.

Now I agree that an addict on the corner does not need to be locked up for life. There is a better way to deter new drug users than locking up a kid instead of focusing on the dealer and the supplier. But in America, the end-user has been the focus of attention. Except if you lived in an inner city during the 1980's crack epidemic. That was basically left alone to run amuck.

So yes I think the Rockerfeller laws can be changed for the better. But not in the way Gov. Patterson or the NAACP believe. No, I think there is a lesson that we can learn form a nation trying to school America on math right now. China.

Not very long ago, China has a debilitating problem with opium. Addiction and dealers were rampant in the nation. Something had to be done. Something dramatic.

They took addicts , and drug dealers, put them in a square on live television on every channel and shot them dead. It was a very clear message. They did this for a few years. Rounding up a few hundred addicts and dealers, and then publicly executing them. In less than a decade or so, and with the majority of dealers and addicts still alive, they curbed the problem. Not that it does not exist today, but it is negligible.

Personally, I like this plan for drug dealers. They are effectively mass murderers. They are the ones that kill innocents in their turf wars. They are the ones who seek out children for new clientelle. They offer our communities poison for nothing more than monetary profit. I consider them scum.

And for those that are the most visible, the most visible punishment makes sense. A rapper in a movie or music video extolling the fun and/or wealth generated by drugs - and is a known drug offender, possibly even still being arrested for drug related offenses - deserves to have all their wealth removed and donated to recovery programs. They deserve to be put in a box on Hollywood Blvd, and left alone. Because how many millions of kids will eventually see that movie, and the music videos, and the MTV programs, and the various Award shows, and equate the grandeur of that entertainer with drug use? Especially when that entertainer glorifies their past actions in the drug trade at every opportunity (ie. 50 cent or Snoop Dogg).

Now I know that the NAACP thinks that the effect of laws in the nation like the Rockerfeller law is biased against African Americans, Hispanics, and the poor. Which is true. But that does not divert from the fact that inner cities are focal points of drug activity. Given that there are far more Whites that go unpunished in any manner; the real point of attack is the dealer and supplier. And the punishment to both should be extreme.

Just saying no is not effective. Just attacking the addicts is not effective. Logically we need to move up the chain. And we need to act in a manner that actively causes every criminal involved to question the worth of pursuing such a lifestyle.

It's really just that easy. When I was growing up in the Bronx I could have shown the police half a dozen crack houses. Not that they needed to be shown, they knew of them. But instead they focused on the addicts, effectively just opening a new spot for the next addict to take.

Yet when I had to actively threaten to murder a crack house near where my family lived, because one of the addicts pulled a gun on me and thus proved a threat to my entire family, I got results. Where the police ignored the situation for almost 5 years, I had results in 5 minutes. Because the absolute guarantee of death cuts into profits and risk/reward evaluations for everyone.

If America, New York State, or anywhere wants to be effective in ending the drug problem, we need action. Take a drug dealer, which are easy to find in any city or town, and publicly flog them to within an inch of their life. I guarantee they will give up the suppliers. Get the suppliers and publicly hang them. After a few dozen are killed, I guarantee that there will be fewer drugs, and thus fewer addicts.

But this has to be done across the board. It doesn't matter if the dealer is White, Black, Hispanic, male or female, owns a big company or whatever. Delorean, back in the day, was caught with kilos of cocaine and got treated with kid gloves. What do you think that said to the next CEO that wanted a quick cash infusion to their company? Don't get caught.

Yet if Delorean was placed on national television, and shot in a firing squad, I guarantee cocaine sales would have dropped. And today there would be far fewer celebrities touting their involvement in drugs (like Amy Winehouse).

This is an epidemic problem. It requires an even-handed iron fist resolution. Anything less, in my opinion, is just wasting time and money.

Italian pizza made fresh - sort of

So I just found something that is, well very different. Out in Italy a new idea has come about that most would have expected to pop up from California. It is a mix of favorite food, the need for speed, and convenience. And if that doesn’t sound American I can’t imagine what does.

Yes it’s a vending machine. A pizza vending machine.



It seems like a neat idea. I can see it doing very well in most college dorms. But I just wonder.

Will it have the ability to mix toppings that Americans love to have, like sausage, pepperoni, bacon and ham? Will it have exotics combinations like eggs, or prosciutto, or soy (only in California I imagine)? Can it make a deep dish version?

Even more important is do you really want a pizza that is made in a grown-up version of a ready bake machine? I mean infra-red cooking is not on my top list of cooking ideas. The thought of irradiating my food leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Still in a land of microwave everything, the idea probably sounds completely normal to some. I bet colleges across the nation are salivating over this. And this could be a great business idea for an entrepreneur that has access to local little league baseball teams, conference halls, major and minor corporate offices, and video game parlors. It seems almost recession proof. If it tastes good.

I’d try it at least once. After a few beers. Hey there is an idea. A pizza vending machine in bars. Now that will work, no matter how it tastes.

Well no matter the where, it’s sure to hit this nation soon. If any of my Italian readers have tried this pizza, I’d love to know how it compares to a nice Bronx pizza (with shredded sausage like at the pizza place just off the 5 train at Gun Hill Rd. – best in NYC I think).

The 3 Stooges live again

Are you a fan of the 3 Stooges? One of the most well-remembered comedic teams in history, they are still seen in film and shorts in over 30 nations across the world. And if the Farrelly brothers have their way they will be on the big screen once again.

Originally the 3 Stooges started off as a 4 man vaudeville act. That was back in 1923. And even in that early stage they were about slapstick. But it wasn’t until 1934 that the name Three Stooges came into existence, and was the start of 283 short films over 23 years.

One thing that many may not realize about the 3 Stooges (2 Howard brothers and friend Larry Fine through the various incarnations of the group) is the fact that they produced the first anti-Nazi, Hitler parody in 1940. This predated the famous Charlie Chaplin film The Great Dictator by 9 months. It also reportedly led to their being put on a death list by the Nazi’s.

As another bit of trivia, the only film to have all 3 Howard brothers (Moe, Shemp, and Curly) and Larry is Hold That Lion!

In all, the 3 Stooges had a career that lasted through 49 years, and several “third stooges”. They captured the short film, feature film, television and live act markets. And they inspired comedians for decades after they stopped working.

So in a feature film, with such a rich history behind them, who in these modern days has the ability to play the 3 Stooges? Who could make a homage film without destroying the admiration fans of all ages have?



Well of course Jim Carrey. It seems fitting that he play Curly. And I truly can’t imagine anyone else in the role. But that leaves us with 2 other critical roles. You won’t believe who is expected to fill them.

Benicio Del Toro is expected to play Moe. I can see this a bit. He has just about the right look. Plus he has dark hair, and a bit of humor and slapstick in virtually every role he has been in. Just watch Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and you can see how he can fit the role of Moe (though without the near psychotic nature).

But I can’t see Larry. Not as super liberal and ultra-serious Sean Penn. Perhaps he can do comedy, I can’t recall him doing so in the past (after Fast Times at Ridgemont High). Maybe he can match the look. But it’s his demeanor, and dare I say it his public persona that just keeps me from thinking of him as funny in a comedic manner (though some of his political philosophies really do make me laugh out loud).

So there you have it. The history and the future. In 2010 they are expected to collide. I don’t envy these actors. Every aspect of their portrayals will be scrutinized and compared to the originals. They will be critiqued in the most harsh of manners. As will the Farrelly brothers.

Can the people responsible for the films Dumb and Dumber, Kingpin, Osmosis Jones and Fever Pitch get the Stooges right? Can a modern day version of their classic slapstick be written and performed with respect and justice to the memories we all have?

I’m not sure. This isn’t quite a remake of their old material. It’s not quite a revisioning. Nor is it pure homage. But whatever it turns out to be, it will grab the attention and raise debate.

Models, actresses, and Valerie Bertinelli on People magazine

So here is a question. What is fat? Because the answer is very different for men and women. And that answer is the motivation of tens of millions of dollars in weight loss programs, ads, diet fads, magazines and so on.

I was wondering this recently as I was looking for models for my upcoming model photo shoot for my designer clothing lines. I decided to write on it after seen the cover of People magazine with Valerie Bertinelli.



Now there is no question that Ms. Bertinelli looks good. Considering her age and being a mom, very good indeed. But it was not like she was a slobbering mass of fat previously. In fact, if you look across the nation, at 172 pounds and 5’2” just 2 years ago she was about the norm.

But such a shape won’t get you on the cover of a magazine, or in many a movie role. For a woman. Yet I have to wonder why?

I recall how the nation was ogling the shape of Jennifer Lopez. Because she was considered by Hollywood standards to be voluptuous and extremely curvy. But in fact she was just the normal size of just about any Hispanic/Latino woman of her age in New York City. Hell, in the Bronx you can walk down the street and see a dozen women with better figures every day of the summer.

I recall how I had a conversation with a friend, who informed me that Beyonce is a plus-sized woman. I still reel with amazement at that. Most Black women I know have her shape and weight – again if not better.

So why is it that women must strive to look like Gabrielle Anwar from Burn Notice. Who I equate with anorexia and would never want to touch for fear of breaking her.

This is especially true when you consider men are not held to the same standard. Jack Nicholson, which Hollywood still considers sexy, is hardly fit or trim. And there are a host of men, Will Pertersen, Sean Connery, Laurence Fishburn, ect. that have varying degrees of extra weight and yet are still considered good looking and ready to work.

Now there is nothing wrong with anyone who wants to lose weight. Or anyone losing an extra person in fat off of them. It’s great that looking and being healthy is acknowledged. But I don’t get the drama associated with it.

I have been told that some models and actresses are just too big. That they are not thin enough by industry standards. Yet I know that most men find the more realistic female models and actresses to be very attractive. In fact every model I have used or will be using in my next photo shoot is an attractive successful real woman. As opposed to the look of starvation found in say America’s Top Model.

So, I want to ask the women out there. Does it matter to you. Beyond any one woman losing weight, does it matter when you see an actress in a movie how much she weighs? Will a woman buy clothing modeled by a woman that looks anything but anorexic?

And to the guys, virtually all of whom date and marry a woman that is anything but a size 0, do you really want a woman with the shape of one of the Olsen twins – or Beyonce?

I really want to know, because I think all my models are beautiful and real examples of women. And I will not go with an anorexic looking model for my clothing lines. So I want to know if that’s shooting myself in the foot or not. I won’t change, but I want to know the battle I am facing.

Michael Vass on AIG and the budget

For those wondering about my thoughts on the AIG bonus, President Obama's budget, the deficit, and the polispeak being batted about by politicians right now - please read my post Polispeak in political math and jobs made simple at Worth Blog.

I will be using that blog for some of my more political posts until the redesign of VASS is done.

Thank you for your understanding.

Sincerely,
Michael Vass
President - M V Consulting, Inc.
info@vassconsult.com

The next photo shoot of M V Consulting, Inc.

Well it’s almost time for my biggest move for my online store yet. On Saturday M V Consulting, Inc. will be having the first multiple model shoot ever. There will be over 5 models on location, in almost every line of clothing that we have to date. I’m very excited.

For those that have looked over the store or the catalogue (soon to be redesigned) you have seen several of the different slogans and images that are the 19 designer clothing lines that we offer. But to see the image, or just the clothing, is just not compelling enough. I have realized that.

So seeing the various designer t-shirts and sweatshirts on the models will bring a new dimension of appeal. Especially since this shoot will feature men and women of various ages, sizes, and races. Because the clothing lines of M V Consulting are for everyone.

And yes, there may even be a few shoots of myself in a couple of the photos. Hey, I’m representing the older men out there. And I think the clothes look good on everyone, not just young people.

But to give everyone a preview of some of the outfits that will be included in the shoot, I have the following:

The Dream

The Battery Died

Besides these new clothing lines there are the older desiner clothes as well.

Cowboy

Wanna Ride

Do It Kinky

Ex’s Are Forever

Fluffy

Stop The Game

Never Again

Kinky

And more, like the I AM The Myth, I'm Done, Mystery Man and Woman. Check out the selection at www.cafepress.com/nova68.

Oh, and for those wondering, I will be creating a page dedicated to the models that have appeared in the clothing of M V Consulting shortly as well.

By the way, I need a new name for the clothing store, any suggestions?

Movies to see before you die

There is nothing quite like a list of something to get the blood boiling. When that list happens to be of movies, and is called the 100 movies to see before you die, well you can imagine I was like a moth to a flame.

This Yahoo list is pretty good though. In fact I have seen 74 out of the full 100. When it comes to lists of great movies, I normally have far more issue with some of the choices. But this list is very much on the mark.

But they did get a few wrong.

Like Princess Monoke. A very good anime film. But not something you must see before death. I'd substitute that with Akira or Ghost in the Shell. Both are dazzling in the story and art. Far more compelling anime.

They touched on martial arts films, including Bruce Lee's Enter The Dragon. A true classic. But not the only style of martial arts film worthy of viewing. For a story that is completely different yet deep in thought and martial arts try Circle of Iron as an addition to your top 100 list.

I have to be excited about this list as they included one of my favorite films, and one that most people never heard of. M. That is a classic and groundbreaking. It may be old and sub-titled, but it is powerful cinema and that's what matters.

The list leaves out The Princess Bride, which I think is great on a comedic and swashbuckling level. And they did not include a universal classic The Adventures of Robin Hood. How can they not have Errol Flynn's most renown role.

Still the list does have Blazing Saddles and Do The Right Thing. Something I'm glad to see as films starring Black actors or directors normally seem to not exist in these kinds of lists.

Though they ignored Malcolm X, by Spike Lee. There is a reason why this was Denzel Washington's first Oscar nominated role (which he was robbed of), and why the movie itself was robbed of an Oscar Award. Once you see it I think you will agree.

I like that the list includes: the original 12 Angry Men, Alien, Apocalypes Now, Blade Runner, Bridge on the River Kwai, Die Hard, Dr. Strangelove, The Matrix, The Lord of the Rings, the original King Kong (one of the first films I ever saw and remember to this day), Groundhog Day, It's a Wonderful Life, Lawrence of Arabia, M.A.S.H. (yes it was a movie long before it was a television show), Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Animal House, Nosferatu (second film I recall ever seeing), Schindler's List, Seven Samurai, Some Like It Hot, Star Wars (the first of the series in 1977), To Kill A Mockingbird, and Usual Suspects. I find them all to be essential films that everyone should see at least once.

Also included in that list of core movies (besides the others I mentioned above) that everyone should see is Being There. A Peter Sellers film unlike anything he did before it. This is comedy of a cerebral nature yet enjoyable just to watch and eat popcorn with.

Overall this list is very good. One of the better lists to come out of Yahoo. But it isn't perfect. At least to me. And I think if you take the time to compare the movies I would add to the list, you'll see how much better it becomes in total.

A bit of silliness in video form

Sometimes I should think about the things I do before I do them. Then again sometimes it's just fun to be silly and dumb. I haven't done many videos in a bit due to time constraints, but last night I made a quick little video.

Now it was late, I had just returned from my 8-ball pool league, and I was hungry. And yes I did have a beer earlier. So I was just in a silly mood. Plus, as any of my friends can describe, I don't like vegetables.

The result turned out to be the following video.



I hope it gave you a laugh.

AIG bonuses, and the change in the American Way

**This is a post that normally would appear at VASS, my political blog. At this moment VASS is undergoing site renovation and technical issues, so it appears here. This change is temporary.**

Executive pay and bonuses. Everyone is screaming about the $165 million in bonuses that AIG executives were paid. Congress went so far as to break the law to take back the bonuses paid. All of this to avoid noting that about $20 billion dollars of the over $100 billion given to AIG so far, went to overseas banks and companies.

Polispeak is one thing, but this should be an outrage.

Senator Chris Dodd knew that AIG was going to pay bonuses. He in fact made a provision just so they could do so. Treasury Secretary Geithner knew of this, in fact he knew back when he was still working in the Fed. So all the surprise they are feigning is obviously for a different reason.

The public is being distracted from the real problems. That our money went to foreign countries as opposed to helping our own. And it is advancing the ability of the Liberal Democrats to control exactly how much an American citizen makes.

$165 million in bonuses sounds like a lot. And to the average person it is. But then again this was a contractual agreement made by AIG long before the bailouts. Basically, as long as the company has money it must pay the bonus. Every member of Congress and the Obama Administration knew that. President Obama as a former lawyer had to know it as well (they do teach contract law in law school).

So the outrage is misplaced. Especially when key Democrats were involved in ensuring that the contracts were lived up to. So why all the hype?

Because $20 billion dollars is really a big number and an enormous waste. That’s money that could have saved tens of thousands of U.S. jobs (literally), gone from the nation. That is factually the retirements and college tuition of millions of Americans wiped away for years, maybe decades, to come. All because the Democrats were in a rush to pass legislation without the public, or most of Congress, seeing what the legislation entailed. [You do recall the promise of President Obama to have full transparency and allow the public to review legislation 2 days before it is passed into law – which he has violated several times now]

Because in feigning outrage at actions done willfully, they look like they are concerned. Because it looks like someone is trying to do their job. Because the legal battle that will ensue will have more public passion behind it rather than what it really means.

The fact that Congress has passed a tax on the AIG bonuses now means that ANY company and ANY employee or owner can be taxed if the Government decides they want their money. Besides being a retro-active act, which is expressly forbidden (that’s why there are grand-father laws), it is a means in which we move from a capitalist society to a socialist one.

Win a lottery, and the Democrat-led Congress will pass a law saying that you must be taxed even more than you already would be, because the Government can use the money better than you. Build a business, and the Government will put a new tax out so that you can’t gain the reward of your hard work and risk. Because the Government wants to pay for spending on special interest initiatives. Work for a company in a good job, and have a tax to take away the money you worked hard for all year, just because they can.

Yes it sounds wonderful that people will get things from the Government. That is what they want you to have, not necessarily what you need and definitely not what you want. Because the Liberal Democrats know what is fair - for you.

This is a horrendous step by the Government. Yes the idea of paying AIG executives for failure is distasteful. But not so distasteful as removing the ability of contracts to exist. Not when compared to the end of American life as we know it and have enjoyed it.

These kinds of acts are things that socialist nations like Venezuela, China, and the C.I.S. (former Soviet Union) take. People have fled those nations to come to America because we don’t treat people in such a manner. Or we didn’t until now.

People have complained to me about how they thought President Bush destroyed the law of the land. Yet there is not one thing that has been proven to have affected the American people. Lots of allegations, but not a single fact. And the average person lived as free as a decade ago.

Now we have a Democrat-led Government that is actively breaking the laws that built this nation. We are watching as the structure of the nation is being manipulated. And I hear no outcry about this.

Dark days are ahead of us, if this is the path we are being led down. Do we need to shout? Oh, yes. But it’s not the AIG contracts that upset me. It’s Congress and the Obama Administration.

Battlestar Galactica has ended

Well at least the Sci-Fi Channel (or now more accurately SyFy) revisioned version has ended. And I can’t say that I’m not happy about that.

Honestly I did not like the series. It’s not Battlestar Galactica. Some of the core elements were there, like the look of the ship and the names of some of the characters, but the heart of it was some other sci-fi show. Had they completely changed the name I might have even liked it. Though I doubt it.

Yes, I’m one of those guys that couldn’t get over the fact that the show wrecked the characters. From taking leading characters and changing their race to changing their sex, the show was about putting a new idea in an old shell. Which I dislike.

But on occasion, when I was really bored I watched an episode or 2. Mostly I watched to see one thing. The relationship between Baltar and Six. That’s it. To me they were the most interesting characters in the whole show. Everyone else was just mostly a waste of time.

So in seeing that Baltar was a messed up kid that resented his father and his past, and yet came full circle to become exactly that was interesting. To see that Six and Baltar ultimately were to be together, because they deeply love each other was a welcome end to their story arcs.

I do have to say I find it interesting that most of the surviving people were all in Africa, yet not one of them are Black. Funny how that works out.

And Kara Thrace is a ghost, or angel, or some other wacky unexplained thing. I can enjoy that since I couldn’t buy her character as Starbuck or anything else and she is gone.

It’s funny to see the series end in the way it did. I mean the very last scenes. Where the internal head Six and Baltar, rip-offs of Harvey (as in Farscape), turn out to be weak versions of The Architect and Oracle (Matrix). With a bit of quasi-religious meaning thrown in. I found it especially humorous that the Six was taking the Oracle route in proclaiming that it won’t be an endless cycle, that it will change and essentially,

“Everything that has a beginning has an end.”

Preachy and a rip-off. But that is the nature of the show. Maybe if I could have been sucked into the show I would think otherwise, but I wasn’t. I’m sure fans will have lots to say about all the characters and meanings of it all. I’m just stuck with the plot-holes and copying of other, far better, sci-fi work.

Of course it all won’t end here. This is the SyFy Channel after all. There are going to be spin-offs and other takes on the story forever. Kind of like the way that Stargate will never end. Talk about repeating forever.

Maybe the Caprica series will be good. I doubt it from what I have heard. But at least that will be a fresh start. It may be a spin-off but at least it’s not a revisioning.

At least Eureka still looks to be going forward. So far.

Michelle Curtain: An APA member taken from us too soon

Long time readers of my blogs will recall that I am a member of the American Poolplayers Association (APA). In the Binghamton/Endicott area there are several hundred players in the APA, and between the 8-ball and 9-ball leagues we all pretty much get to know one another. In a way we are a bit of an extended family. So when a tragedy strikes one of us, we all feel it.

On Friday late afternoon I learned of a catastrophic event affecting our extended family. The day before Michelle Curtain and her mother were involved in a 5 car accident. The accident resulted in both of their deaths.



Michelle was only 32. She was a friendly woman, always with a smile at each match in 8-ball and 9-ball. She was a fierce competitor. She had been in the league for 3 years and played with her father, Dave, in the 9-ball league.

My 9-ball team played Michelle and Dave's team on Wednesday. It was a good match, with several close games. Michelle, a level 3 player lost her match but was very close to winning. Her ability was one of the reasons why she was at the top of the MVP competition and one of the top ranked at her skill level.

Michelle was on the Board of Governors and a former Division Representative. She was a 2008 National Singles Regional Runner-Up. She was a dear friend to many and well liked throughout the league. Which says nothing of the many many people that she was friends with and touched in her work and life.

The entire APA in Endicott and the area feel for the loss that Dave Curtain has. There are few words that I can say to express my shock and remorse about this sudden tragic loss.

Perhaps the only thing I can say is what I feel about such a situation. I believe that our loved ones go on from this world, to never have pain or suffering. They are at peace and are released from the burdens that we face day to day. They no longer have pain, they are whole and complete and surrounded by the loved ones of all time that have gone before us. They look down upon us with compassion and love, knowing that this is part of a plan far greater than any we can imagine; and that one day, when it is our time, we will join them in an eternal bliss.

I truly believe that. I believe that is the case for my father and grandmother, my uncles and many friends over the years that all passed far too soon. I believe this for Michelle and Dave's wife.

I hope that these words can help to give some solace. I pray that Dave can have the strength to overcome his grief. I wish that all in our APA family are drawn together more strongly, with love and hope. Our family has been reduced by 1, and it is the strength of us all combined that will allow us all to move forward each in our own time, not forgetting but coming to terms with this shock.

For those that would like to contribute something to help Dave Curtain in this time of grief and need - I will be posting a comment to this post once something is created. For those in the local area, the VFW Post 1449 in Endicott [103 Nanticoke Ave Endicott NY 13760] is taking donations to help Dave in this time of need.

Stephen Colbert's Michael Steele remix

I just don’t know who I am more upset with, Michael Steele or Stephen Colbert. It’s just so hard to say at this point.

The problem starts with the idiotic statements of Michael Steele purporting that hip hop needs to be the means of gaining more Black and Hispanic/Latinos into the Republican Party. Which is just dumb. A bad gimmick and a waste of time.

In fact it’s more than a bit insulting. Just because we are Black or Latino does not obviate us to being hip hop fans. Nor does it mean that we all support the lifestyle choices that are the definition of modern commercialized ghettofabulous hip hop. It in fact flies in the face of the reality that most of the ideals of many of the Black Civil Rights leaders were more in line with current Republican views than those of President Obama and Democrats. And Michael Steele knows this as well as most anyone.

So I don’t blame Stephen Colbert for jumping on that bandwagon. It was just obvious and easy. Not like he is going to take on President Obama for lying to the public about promises he has made. Like pork-barrel spending by the Government, creating a plan to deal with the economic crisis, getting all troops out of Iraq, or giving full transparency to the public on each bill before he signs them into law – to name just a few. Colbert, like Jon Stewart, is far too in love with President Obama to dare touch on those facts.

But as I was saying, Colbert took Steele on in this hip hop is the answer (lack of) mentality. Thus came a challenge to Steele to perform a rap battle. Steele of course fell into the trap, by agreeing to this and then not following thru to do it. You know that Colbert would never let that slide.

Thus we get the following.



Yes it’s funny. Yes the massive man-power and resources of Comedy Central came up with an inventive remix of the many things Steele has said, to achieve a highly biased view of all Republicans. But it irks me.

Not because it’s against Republicans. That’s what Jon Stewart and Colbert do. And they do it well most of the time. It’s just that they are degrading African Americans. All of us.

If you don’t see that, just think of this. If Fox News, or Saturday Night Live (which will never happen) – or Jon Stewart if hell froze over - created a remix of the speeches of President Obama highlighting all the lies and broken promises he has done so far what would be the result? Massive outrage. From Democrats and the media in general as every liberal in the nation would freak-out over the portrayal that the remix implies about African Americans. Yet, it’s the same joke.

Even if you change the person to say Dr. Martin Luther King, or Malcolm X – and highlighted how their political views are actually more in line with Republican values than Democrats today – the outrage would still happen. Perhaps even more.

Thus it makes me ill at ease. Because if you can’t flip the scenario, then something is wrong in the message. Laugh it up, enjoy the humor at Michael Steele’s expense all you want. Colbert makes it work, I admit. But there is more to it. The subliminal message is not positive.

Am I over the top on this? Maybe. Then again, just because someone says it’s only a joke does not make it funny, less cruel or less offensive. Even if they bring it on to themselves.

Black Entertainment USA presents a first look at the next Dennis Dortch presentation

Here it is. A sneak peek at part of the next thing to come from Sundance Film Festival recognized writer/director Dennis Dortch. This is an exclusive that even the hollywood gossip sites do not have yet. You my readers get it first.

As I mentioned earlier, Dennis has been working on a couple of projects since the acclaimed A Good Day To Be Black & Sexy. Already the film has been released on video, and now the next step in the Her Man storyline can be revealed. But this is only part of the things that you can expect.

While I cannot say more, I will note that Dennis Dortch has been very busy. I believe that in the near-term we will be hearing a good deal more about the various projects that are on the horizon.

For those not familiar with the original film, Black & Sexy is several stories, each dealing with different aspects of Black sensuality and sexuality. Many are based on real-life expereinces. Others are moment in the day reflections of the lives some of us have lead.

One of the stories is Her Man - starring Marcus Harris and Chonte Harris from the original film. This is a follow-up, or more accurately the what-happened-next. It picks up where the movie leaves us and gives a bt more incite to the characters and their motivations. (You just knew he would be back around her again, didn't you?)

Suffice to say that if this is the style and direction we can expect from Dennis Dortch, he should have a very successful and long career. To see more of what is going on you can check-out the BSides and look for an offical launch soon.

Blame It - Jamie Foxx's new music video

No matter what you may think of the skills of Jamie Foxx as a singer, you have to give him credit. The man is big enough from his acting career that he is able to pull out the stops. His latest album features the song Blame It - the video of which puts many entertainers to shame.

The music video is a collection of some of the top entertainers of the past several decades. Ron Howard, Morris Chestnut, Jake Gyllenhaal, Samuel Jackson, Quincy Jones, Forest Whitaker, among several other stars all appear prominently in the video. Oh, there is also T-Pain, who sings on the track. There are enough stars in this one music video to start an awards show.

But having the power to attract big names for a music video does not mean that the song itself is good. Luckily Foxx can sing. Which elevates the song. It has a message which unlike contemporary songs is not overly graphic or over the top with sexual lyrics (though it's not a choir boy song either). That is up until T-Pain starts his part. Then it gets far more graphically explicit.

The title gives you a pretty good idea where the song is going anyway so there are no real surprises. Still the video avoids the mostly naked, butt gyrating theme most videos of this lyrical nature would inspire. A bit of class never hurts, and can be among the reasons so many stars agreed to be available.

The beat is smooth and reminiscent of older R&B, nothing hits you to glaringly - except for the dramatic shift during T-Pain's section. Then again, that's what T-Pain is on the song for. While this may not be the top selling song of the year, I can see how this can do well in a club on Saturday night. I have no doubt it will get people on the dance floor, and massive airtime on the radio. There is just one riff - the stuttering of the word alcohol - that just irks me. But that is a personal irritation, which many may not even notice.

The 2 things that I left the video with are: Who is the Panda? Yes there is a person with a panda head dancing in the video - how often do you get to see that? And if I read it right, the little sister of Jamie Foxx was just introduced to the world in this video as one of the featured dancers of the video. Which I though was a sweet thing to do.

Angelina Jolie banned in England - sort of

In news that is not so sad, there is the announcement from Britain that Angelina Jolie has been banned. Well not her directly (only British-friendly entertainers like Snoop Dogg get that treatment) but rather the ads for the film WANTED.

The situation goes like this. Gun violence is bad. Movies with gun violence are even worse as they make it sexy and glorified. So the ads that show Jolie blasting baddies with shotguns, and pistols, and so on is on the top of the hit list. Which I would respect except for one thing.

The movie came to Britain some time ago and the DVD has been actively on sale for about 6 months.

So this is a waste of time and mere polispeak for some politician or political group that wants to look good to constituents. It's hypocritical and there are few things that are worse. It makes me bitter and twisted.

I understand that England looks at guns very differently than America. We are the land of cowboys and action movies of course. So I can see how this might upset some of the English sensibilities. But to bellyache after the fact is just stupid and insulting.

If this ad is so bad, so instrumental in magnifying gun violence in England, why the hell did they let the movie and DVD get released? Which says nothing of the fact that all of 59 murders were committed in all of 2007 in England. What gun violence do they have? Binghamton NY has probably half that number in 2007, and there are only 150,000 people here.

Look, the second multi-stage bullets are recovered from a crime scene I'll understand the hysteria. But until then I think the British government needs to get a grip. Besides, I would think the impression that Amy Winehouse is giving the young women of Britain is far more detrimental and immediately more urgent than Angelina Jolie in an action movie.

Natasha Richardson dead at 45

It's always sad to hear of anyone dying. That becomes even worse when the person in question is young and/or from an accident. Such is what has happened to Natasha Richardson.

Sometimes even the most innocent of accidents turn out to be devastating. Richardson was learning to ski, and was on a beginner slope. Hardly the place one might have imagined her to have such a fatal outcome. I can only imagine the shock that has struck Liam Neeson and their entire family.

For the rest of us, we can remember the things that Richardson brought to us. Her dedication to fighting AIDS via Bailey House, God's Love We Deliver, Mothers' Voices, AIDS Crisis Trust and National AIDS Trust, the Tony Award she won, the fact she was a mother. Like any entertainer there was much more to Richardson, of which we only glimpsed.

My condolences to the Redgrave and Neeson families, as well as all the friends of Natasha Richardson.

Death Penalty: Is it worth having?

**Since I am redesigning VASS due to technical difficulties, I have not been able to present recent thoughts that would appear on that blog. I hope you will bear with me as I present posts that belong on that blog on this one. This is a temporary situation.**

I received an interesting notice from the NAACP today in reference to Gov. Bill Richardson and New Mexico. I had not heard about this before, but it seems that tonight Gov. Richardson will either repeal or allow the death penalty for his State. The NAACP is against the death penalty.

This is an interesting question. Is the death penalty worth having?

Well the first question for me is one that the NAACP emphasizes in its hope to repeal the law. It is disproportionately used against African Americans and Hispanics across the nation. Some 43% of those sentenced to the death penalty are people of color. That is virtually double the percentage of people of color in America.

When you consider, as I discussed in the post and comments of The most Dangerous people in America, that the single largest group of violent criminals in America are White males 18 – 25 years of age, you would expect the death penalty percentages to be different. But the fact that, as I recall, a jury is some 6x more likely to convict a person of color in a death penalty case (and higher when the victim of the crime is White) shines through and explains it all.

Even if you chose to ignore that, there is no question that people of color – especially African Americans – are more likely to be tried and convicted of any crime and sentenced more harshly. The Department of Justice figured that out. Not that any African American didn’t know it already.

So I understand the NAACP’s position. Since the legal system is skewed against people of color, and we are more likely to be victims of incarceration and death – even if innocent – it should not be allowed. And I can’t argue that feeling. It’s perfectly reasonable logic.

But I still believe in the death penalty.

Given the fact that people of color are most likely to be given this punishment. Given that the legal system is broken. Given even the thought that some have moral or religious convictions that are antithetical to this action.

But here is my problem. I do not believe that men like Jeffrey Dahmer (given a life sentence – killed in prison), Timothy McVeigh (executed in 2001), Johannes Mehserle (finally awaiting trial) should live out their lives on my dime. This is also true of crack, heroin, and meth dealers, repeat child molesters, and/or gang bangers that kill innocents in the spreading of their warped views.

Were it up to me, they all would be stuck in rooms half their size when they weren’t busy breaking boulders into tiny pebbles. Were it up to me they would be lucky to hear a radio, never mind a television.

But I am a harsh individual when it comes to those that prey upon society. Many would find my forms of punishment far too brutal, perhaps even torturous. Thus my option is to have them killed. DNA and other absolute proof provided beforehand as a requirement, never on the sole evidence of an eyewitness. But then once there is no longer reasonable doubt, death.

Given the choice of spending $30,000 a year (more than the average American makes in a year) to imprison one of these men for life or killing them I choose the death penalty. If it takes 10 years for all doubt to be removed it cost $300,000 plus another $300 or so in electricity cost (less if you use a firing squad – which can be automated). If you take the average serial killer, a White male about 30 – 40 years old, a life sentence equates to some $900,000 before they die. Possibly more.

So the cost is cheaper to kill them.

Morally is a tougher thought. Though I find it reprehensible that a repeat child molester or a crack dealer, as examples, who can cause irreparable harm to (and possibly lead to the death of) tens if not hundreds of people should come to the end of their lives relatively peacefully in prison – while watching a rerun of Seinfeld. That’s atrocious to me.

So yes the problem is the manner in which the death penalty is applied, and moreso the need to fix the biased and unjust legal system. But those are problems separate of the people that mandated the existence of the death penalty in the first place.

I would not spare the life of a mass murderer because some are squeamish. I would not spare a crack dealer that actively poisoned hundreds just to get a ghettofabulous set of clothes because some are uncomfortable. Think of how uncomfortable the victims of these types of criminals must feel. Think of how squeamish the families felt at seeing loved ones dead body.

Is the death penalty a perfect punishment? No. But there is neither perfect justice nor legal system. Yet when applied properly it is an eye for an eye, and that is the basis of all laws and justice when you think about it.

The argument I think the NAACP and others against the death penalty should be making is one where the ultimate punishment is applied appropriately. Evenhanded in the manner and type of people that receive it. If there is to be a change in the death penalty in New Mexico, or anywhere in the U.S., that is the direction that energy and time should be dedicated to.

But that is my opinion. Let me know what you think. And if you wish, pass this on to Gov. Richardson. I would love to know his position to my thoughts.

Movie Preview: Pandorum

Well at least Hollywood is consistent. That’s the first impression I get from the movie trailer for Pandorum.



Instantly you get the feeling that the movie is a mix of sci-fi horror movies – specifically Alien – and the recent rash of video games. The fact that the producers of the movie are also the ones responsible for the Resident Evil movies just adds to the sense of a video game conversion.

The movie trailer is supposed to give you the feeling of impending doom, yet I just get the memory of the movie Doom. It’s filmed in dark shadows to emphasize the danger. I just think it’s harder to see what’s happening. The big question in the film is whether or not the main characters are really living through this horror or are they just imagining it all. The trailer doesn’t really make me care.

Obviously the film will be doing a series of flashbacks, to show how the crew all met their demise. Likely there will be some video record to show how they inevitably went to some planet, and picked up something. That something became the object of suspicion as crew members died. If this sounds familiar, it should be. Countless numbers of video games and movies has used the same plotline, from Alien, as their theme.

Now I could be completely wrong. And the movie could be quite good. But appearances don’t seem to support those possibilities. More likely this film is perfect for those that want to sit in a theater and have a couple of gotcha moments for an hour and a half. It will be like playing an ok video game without any of the effort. Something you can forget completely once you get up from your seat. Which is not always a bad thing.

Suffice to say I am not impressed yet. I am surprised that Dennis Quaid is in the film. Normally he is pretty good a picking his films. Which means that either the trailer was put together badly, and the film has far more potential than what is presented, or they paid a lot of money to have a name attached to the film and Quaid will barely be in the movie.

There is still time for more trailers to come out. More of the storyline will be seen and either I am right in my gut instinct that this is a good $5 DVD bin movie, or it will be a decent horror sci-fi film. At this moment, I have to go with my gut, and recommend seeing the DVD of Dead Space until this hits the DVD in 6 months or so.

Movie Preview: 12 Rounds

The question some may be asking is if a pro-wrestler has the ability to become a movie star. That is definitely the question that the WWE are betting on. 12 Rounds will likely put that question to rest.

Now I must start off with the revelation that I don’t watch wrestling. I don’t get the obsession. While I don’t doubt the wrestlers are all in good shape (many helped in that regard by steroids) I don’t find them to be athletes, just pumped up entertainers. Yet their acting in the ring is not what I would call acting in the traditional sense. Which is a problem when making movies around these celebrities.

Given that 12 Rounds is not classic theater, and the John Cena would never perform for the Bard, can it provide the spark that makes a good action film?

I’ll start with Cena. He is a WWE star. I believe his character is a popular good guy wrestler. He is the first of the WWE wrestlers to be branched out into movies (I believe. Again I don’t watch wrestling so I’m not sure on this). And his first film was a flop.

Now matter how low the budget was for The Marine, for all the hype surrounding Cena a gross of $18 million over 3 months is pitiful. While it has done better in DVD, it still is a bad film. That’s just what the numbers say.

So I take this film as the trend starter or breaker. Either action films will be filled with WWE and other wrestlers for the next decade, most of the same quality and style of rappers in movies, or there won’t be more than 1 or 2 more tries. Which is a lot of pressure for Cena and the WWE.

This film decided to take the safest root possible for a new action star. It copies every successful action film before it. With huge helpings of Speed and Die Hard, the film hopes to draw an audience with a character that is popular (to fans of wrestling), in a situation that has already proven to be well-received. Of course there are your problems.

John Cena is very popular I’m sure, in the world of wrestling. To everyone else (and there are a lot more of us than not) he is just a big guy. So that does not help boost his appeal. But it doesn’t hurt him either. It does mean that he either needs to act well, or like most Schwarzenegger films he needs to say as little as possible.

Still the fact that we have seen all of this before does bode badly. In the trailer you will see the fire engine racing down the street, so much like the bus in Speed. And the elevator scene is such a reminder of Die Hard. Plus how many films have copied the format of both those films by now? In essence we have seen this before, so the thrill just doesn’t come thru in the trailers.

Maybe Cena will pull this off. But the film is so predictable that at the bottom of the post I will tell you what I think the ending is. Anyone who sees the film can tell me if I got it right. I won’t see this film till it hits cable (so that means by the end of the year) thus I will rely on Cena fans to explain how wrong I am about his acting, and right about the film I expect.



***SPOILER ALERT ***

I expect that after running around a city causing havoc and being framed as the cause of it all, towards the middle of the film it will be found that he is a ploy of the bad guy. Eventually he will come to the last problem, and somehow end up on a helicopter with the bad guy and his wife. Once there, as it flies off, he will beat the pulp out of the bad guy – who will then activate (if not before) a bomb to kill the wife and himself since he misses his dead girlfriend. Cena will grab his wife and jump into a hotel roof top pool (lucky to just be hovering over that) just before the bomb goes off and the bad guy dies.

NBC tries a touch of honesty with SyFy Channel

Somewhere around 16 years ago there was a buzz on the internet. People were excited about a new cable network. Finally there would be some respect and attention paid to the tens of millions of fans (in just the U.S.) of science fiction. It was called the Sci-Fi channel.

That anticipation quickly became boredom and apathy as the line up of the channel was far from what most expected. Much of the original line-up of shows were unintelligent, unimaginative and low-budget at best. Still an early hit for the channel was the Lexx series. So they held on.

The channel went on to create another growing success called The Invisible Man, with a new and unique take on the original movie concept. Still a low-budget enterprise, it too had a following, until they dropped it suddenly. First Wave also had a following. In fact I think at the time First Wave was the biggest hit the Channel had. The addition of Traci Lords didn’t hurt ratings either.

Through this entire time the management of Sci-Fi was in a battle. They knew they needed something to generate some buzz. They needed something new and fresh. They needed to make an impact with the fanbase responsible to comic book, Star Wars, and other conventions. The fans of science fiction were diverse, intelligent, and remarkably more inclined to spend money in the genre than just about any other. Yet they had no idea what sci-fi was, let alone good science fiction. But they did get lucky.

Thus came Farscape. A series that literally put Sci-Fi on the map. They grew their viewers and raised money for advertising. They were able to cross-promote other programs on the network that before never had notice. In fact the channel gained so much attention that they were bought by NBC.

Which brought the company solidly back into the realm of brain-dead, poll oriented, lowest common denominator programming. And one of the first blows in getting to a level where fans of watching grass grow could be on par with people that prefer the X-men, Terminator, Star Trek, and the X-files was the removal of Farscape. Because the management didn’t get it, and thought they were smarter than the core audience.

Thus began the now endless rotation of retreads, rip-offs, and anything but science fiction at the Sci-Fi channel.

Since that time the channel has brought on the over extended Stargate SG-1 series. A show that previously failed at 2 other networks. But it was the best and only sci-fi show they had – that they could wrap their small brains around. And that show created a spin off that no one I know has seen. And that will spin-off yet another show. Essentially the same show, just different locations and actors. How innovative.

But to fill the rest of the time slots, the NBC executives that were at their best with comedy shows based on nothing (Seinfeld) or delusions (Friends), decided to go with shows based on interpreting dreams, a scam artist that speaks with dead people, guys that moonlight as ghost hunters in rigged scenarios, a bad rip-off of Candid Camera, a reality contest based on video games, wrestling, and an unlimited supply of made-for-tv movies that are blatant copies of good/bad theatrical movies [ie. Alien Apocalypse was the horrendous copy of the new Planet of the Apes and Independance Day - a mix that did not work yet Sci-Fi called it their highest rated movie ever]. The alternative to a poorly scripted copy of a movie is the giant animal film (usually snakes, sometimes spiders) or nature-gone-wild films (a trip to the 1970’s, just done worse).

Suffice to say they accomplished one thing. They abandoned the core science fiction audience, with the exception of Eureka (which is original and decent) and Battlestar Galactica (an abysmal rendering of someone’s Cliff Notes version of the original popular series).

The final nail in the coffin is the news that Sci-Fi Channel will now be changing their name. It’s about time. They long ago stopped giving a crap about the purpose of the channel in favor of just another broadcast television channel on cable. They have some of the least intelligent, worst acted, rushed productions on television today. There is no cohesive theme to the channel. But they damn well reached the bottom of the barrel in terms of lowest common denominator.

So I’m happy to say that the channel will get a new name. Sadly it sounds the same as the old name, just spelled different. SyFy. I’m not sure who this is supposed to fool, or what they hope to inspire. But I’m not in the lowest denominator category so I’m sure it’s not meant to get my attention.

If I were them I’d call the channel – BDOA (Brain-dead On Arrival), or CPH (Couch Potatoe Heaven). Maybe the last one could have the slogan – “no need to think or act”.

So now the search will go on. One day there may be a channel among the over 500 that actually gets sci-fi fans. Maybe it will respect the intelligence of the fans. Maybe it will reward their support by keeping its word and programming that actually has something to do with its theme. We’ve gotten a glimpse of what that channel could be, so maybe one day.

At least NBC has stopped lying to the public and themselves and changed the name. Now if they could just go away altogether I’d be happy.

Lindsey Lohan beats jail again

Sometimes it must be good to be a young, drugged out, alcoholic. At least that seems to be the message that both Lindesy Lohan and the criminal justice system in L.A. seem to be sending the public.

It was announced that Lohan had an arrest warrant issued in relation to violating terms of her sentencing. Which sentencing is the question one should ask, as she has been arrested several times. It seems that the case in question was the May 2007 DUI and car crash (which she tried to flee from). The one where she seems to have taken a car that was not her’s, chased a former assistant, allegedly injured the passengers, and was in possession of cocaine that mysteriously was not included in the arrest charges though it was in her blood.

That incident was the 4th car incident she has had. Overall she has been arrested twice that I can recall. She has been drunk and driving as well as found in possession of cocaine at least 3x. For all of this, she has received the extremely harsh penalty of 84 minutes in jail. Oh, she also has been in and out of drug rehab 3x. I know we all can feel her pain.

After the May conviction, she was given 3 years probation and required to finish an alcohol abuse program. Which she reportedly did do. But it seems someone screwed up the paperwork. Thus the judge thought she had violated her release and was about to send her back to jail. But Lohan’s lawyer cleared up the misunderstanding.

Still I am waiting to see how many times it takes this celebrity to appear in front of a judge before she gets the treatment that normal people get. Hell, I’d love to see her get the punishment a White girl would normally get, because I can tell you one thing with absolute assurance – if she was Black, her name was Shaniqua, and this happened in the Bronx, she’d still be in jail for the 3 year sentence she would have gotten.

I honestly hoped that Lohan was going to go to jail. And I don’t me the revolving door stay that she, Daniel Baldwin, Snoop Dogg, Michelle Rodriguez, and Paris Hilton (initially) received. I mean the kind of prison time that real people get. Because as a celebrity she should be held to a higher standard, not a lower one.

I believe that people in the eye of the public like this should get the harshest treatment. Every time they don’t the message being sent out is that a person with money, and or celebrity, can do anything. That there is a visibly separate line of justice. And that line often sees color very clearly. [Yes there are times when entertainers of color are treated with the same hands off kid gloves, but there are more times where they are not. Wesley Snipes and OJ Simpson come to mind.]

Well Lohan should thank her lawyers, and make sure his retainer is paid to date. She should also send a Easter card to the judge, the prosecutors, and the police department. They all seem to be fans. At least until their daughters decide to follow in the footsteps of their television idol. Then I wonder how much sympathy they will have for Lohan.

Ron Silver has passed at 62

Sad news today. I was shocked to hear that actor Ron Silver died this weekend of cancer. He was only 62.

Silver was probably best known to the public for his work in Ali, Silkwood, Timecop, The Arrival and on television in Law & Order. I personally found his work on the West Wing to be a standout among his television and movie performances.

Of course Silver was a true activist. He was a passionate supporter of America and our ability to choose. He co-created the non-partisan Creation Coalition – an advocacy group for entertainers. And he famously stunned Hollywood with his visible and vocal support of conservative values and President Bush after 9/11.

It was that change of political affiliation that virtually left him an outcast in Hollywood. In the industry that preaches democracy, activism, and freedom he spoke to the wrong goals in their eyes, and that meant he was persona non grata. I never ceased to be amazed how liberals, especially those in Hollywood, believe in free speech – as long as it agrees with their views, and seek to squash such speech when it does not.

“Often when I walked onto the set of 'The West Wing' some of my colleagues would greet me with a chanting of 'Ron, Ron, the neo-con.' It was all done in fun but it had an edge," Silver wrote in a Nov. 15, 2007, entry of his blog on the Pajamas Media Web site.”

But no matter how much Hollywood turned their backs on Silver, audiences did not. He is well-remembered and respected.

I believe that it is not the political affiliation that describes a true intent to see the best for America, rather it is the heart-felts commitment that is made to that goal. In that Ron Silver succeeded where so many activists for a day entertainers fall severely short. And it was that same kind of passion that made him such a wonderful actor.

My condolences to the Silver family.

CloFu - the new craze for crazy PETA

You know nothing says nutjob quite the way that PETA tends to. They go to extremes it seems to ensure that the average person looks at them like they have lost their minds. Take the most recent stunt/idea they had.

Everyone loves George Clooney right? PETA thinks so. And everyone should like tofu - a soybean product best described as nature's plastic. Well at least vegetarians like it. Thus PETA came up with the brilliant (said like in the Guiness commercials) idea of combining the 2.

Yes, thanks to a sweaty gym towel PETA somehow got possesion of they plan to infuse tofu with the flavor of Clooney himself. If they can convince him to agree. So far the likelyhood of this is low.

"As a mammal, I'm offended," says Clooney in response."

Now I ponder on this. Does PETA do things like this dumb idea because they want the publicity, or because they really think people will actually change their lives over such a stupid idea? Or any of the many other dumb stunts they have pulled in the past, like the near pornograghic Super Bowl commercial that was banned.

Publicity may be great, but I doubt they are helping themselves gain any converts when they are associating themselves with what might best be described as looney-tune antics.

Though I really would like to know if any George Clooney fan would actually eat CloFu (the proposed name of the bizarre flavored tofu)?

Jon Stewart vs. Jim Cramer: really missing the point

So Jon Stewart took on Jim Cramer tonight. It was a beat down. It was vicious. It was obvious that Stewart had an ax to grind. And it was wrong on many points, yet true to the feelings of many.

As a former stockbroker I have had many discussions with people about the markets. I’ve written many things about the economy. And from time to time I have noted points in agreement and disagreement with Jim Cramer. But to attack him, and/or CNBC, as if they were the cause of the current economic crisis is both a fallacy and an attempt to find a scapegoat.

To be fair CNBC and Cramer failed in their mission to inform the public. Then again, neither ever truly were supposed to do that. Anyone thinking that either was more than an educated high-brow entertainment probably was sniffing glue (or some other like substance) and likely thought they would be made a millionaire by buying internet stocks they never heard of, or knew what they did, during the late 1990’s.

Is the market a fixed game? No. Is there an unfair advantage for large corporations and wealthy individuals? Absolutely. And are the major brokerage firms the biggest crooks in the industry? I’ve always believed so. Yet not one part of this, or what Stewart was railing about, is any different than it was 50 years ago for the most part.

What has changed is the greed and work done by small investors. If there is anyone to be upset with, it has to be that.

Jon Stewart will without doubt gain huge ratings. Jim Cramer may be looked at with harsh eyes in the near future. And CNBC will get the branding of slipshod reporting that they deserve. But it really doesn’t matter.

I don’t care how many regulations are created to prevent another Bernie Maddoff, or Enron, or Tyco, or AIG, and on an on. Given time there will be another scandal. And another ridiculous bubble in some sector of investing, with a crash that has to happen as well. Because the greed of everyone, at each level of the game, necessitates it.

I listened tonight as Stewart and Cramer went back and forth saying ‘You seemed to know’, ‘Did you know’, ‘Why weren’t we told’, ‘I was lied to’, and so on. Its wonderful posturing, but you don’t need to be an economist to have seen what was happening. Without following more than the politics of the day, occasional glances at the Dow Jones Index, and reading bits of news over the internet I foresaw the problems of the mortgage crisis. It was blatant, and there was plenty of time to act before the hammers started falling. And while I’m smart, I’m not so smart as to have been the only one to recognize what was going to happen.

Don’t believe me? Check out what I wrote back in October 2006

“The economy is better, things have improved. Barring events like 9/11, or Enron, the markets will continue to grow. But hype will never help mom & pop investors. It does help some institutions though, like LEH which was 15.68 around Feb 14, 2000 and continued HIGHER to 78.70 on Oct 16, 2006.

Just keep this stuff in mind as you watch the talking heads spout how great things are in the market. Or you see that ad saying that you should invest on your own.”

or on December 2007

“The fact that the mortgage crisis is far closer to its beginning than end. I expect that there are far more homes in danger than has been seen to date. Even with the highly selective mortgage bailout stated by President Bush, many are going to be at risk. Credit card debt can only float for so long. With the added pressure of oil at or above $100 per barrel, which I expect mid-January as I stated above, more will fail even if rates are lowered (less than 2 points).”

or even January 2008

“Those that are in trouble, or will be, with their mortgages will not be helped by lower rates as that will not cap increased heating and gasoline prices. Small businesses are not going to be able to get new loans as easily even with lower rates as financials scramble to find cash to absorb the losses they are experiencing. Effectively some degree of pain must happen and is not preventable.

I say all this for one reason. So that you my readers can be prepared. If I am correct even in part, then this nation will encounter times we have not seen for quite a while. I doubt that we will see the inflation and unemployment that existed in the 1970’s (when I was a child) but I am sure that we will see levels that those under 30 have never experienced.”

My point is that the current crisis was very visible, if anyone was not bothering to be distracted by hype from the likes of Representative Barney Frank and other Government “watchdogs”, or being entertained by CNBC. All you had to do was read and do the math. Investments are no different than your home, if you don’t keep up with it then don’t be surprised if it falls apart one day.

But there has to be a bad guy. In America we are conditioned to look out for someone in a black hat if something goes wrong. And today that guy gets to be Jim Cramer with Jon Stewart as our hero. Bull.

The bad guy is in equal parts the Government, for creating an environment over a decade ago that was little better than a Ponzi scheme. Then there are the corporations, that jumped in on the game looking to ride the wave for as much short-term profit as possible. Add to this mix speculators who looked for ever faster gains with commensurate risk. Throw in cable networks whose goal is ratings above reporting, and then put in a public that didn’t care as long as the paper investments looked better than the Jones’ 15 minutes ago.

And this complete recipe is virtually exactly what happened with the internet bubble, except this one was bigger and not quite as exhuberant. No one learned then, because no one cared. All that mattered was the immediate gratification being reported on our instantaneous communication devices. But the risk of instant gain is the environment we find ourselves in today.

It will happen again. No matter the regulations – because most of the factors that caused this meltdown were all legal if not bad business decisions which can’t be regulated. No matter the protests of Government – because their lack of understanding (or overall disdain) feeds these kinds of bubbles and crashes. Without regard to who reports what facts in whatever manner – because most don’t care or bother to pay attention to the details anyway. No matter the pain for the public – because everyone wants to be a millionaire tomorrow without doing the work required, and many believe they deserve such rewards just because they breathe air in America.

So the indignation of Jon Stewart amuses me. Yes, Cramer and CNBC could have done a better job of reporting. Yes, Congress could have done a far better job of enacting realistic regulations and understanding how those regulations are affecting the market. And a big YES, the public could have paid attention to the facts at hand and did some math. But none of them did these things. Nor do I believe they ever will, to any large or useful degree.

So I won’t score the big points with the blogosphere with this post. My past comments about the economy and markets went without much fanfare as well. Such is the fate of being right consistently. But let me ask you this…

Do you really want to feel smug and righteous because some comedian beat up on a quasi-entertainer/commentator, while politicians throw your future earnings down a drain and your retirement funds evaporate?

Do you know what the Government is doing with trillions of dollars, and how that will affect investments today and in 5 years – with even a slight bit of educated estimates?

Do you get to save your house, or retire, or pay for whatever any easier because a liberal leaning comdey show host got serious for a minute while you still don’t know how to read a corporate 10Q, understand why a second stimulus plan is already being worked out and how badly that will affect your savings and jobs, and re-elect Congressional leaders that can’t figure out their responsibilities even after 20+ years on the job?

I’m sure that many of my long-time readers do get all these things. Perhaps even more than a few of my first-time readers will. But for those that don’t, ignore the hype this one program will raise and start paying attention. Your money will depend on it.

I will now go back to the entertainment news Black Entertainment USA is normally dedicated to.

Pick one: Tiger Woods or the State of Mississippi

Let’s say that you have the chance to play a round of golf with Tiger Woods. Jubilation is the foremost thing that one might expect you to feel. I can think of few who would turn down such an offer. But what if there was a conflict in your schedule?

What in the world might cause you to cancel a round of golf with the arguably greatest golfer ever? Well if you were Peyton Manning, and the scheduling conflict was with the State of Mississippi honoring your entire family with an official Manning Day, you can imagine the problem. Which would you choose?

I have to say that Manning took the option that I would have. He went to play with Tiger Woods, Mississippi be damned.

Yep. While his brother Eli Manning of the New York Giants and dad, former New Orleans Saint, Archie Manning were signing autographs for the entire Mississippi State Legislature Peyton was busy watching birdies.

“I got a text message this morning that said, ‘(Woods) just birdied the first hole,"' [Archie] Manning told senators. "About 15 minutes later I got another one that said, ‘He just birdied the second hole.' I texted back that he was just lucky.”

Now to give Peyton his due, it is reported that he is no slouch when it comes to golf. With a handicap of just over 3, he is more than capable of beating the average duffer any day. I’m sure that on most any course he can hold a respectable score against many of the professional golfers in the world. But he was playing Woods.

There is no official news of what the score ended up being out in Florida where Manning and Woods were playing. Then again, considering the text messages, does anyone doubt that it was a crushing defeat for Manning?

Still I have to wonder how the rest of Mississippi took the news. Brushing off a huge honor from an entire State had to have lost him a fan or two. Even considering that playing Woods is an honor of its own, at least for golfers.

Of course there were no reports on where Cooper Manning was at the time either. Maybe he was caddy for his little brother?

Midnight Oil: the concert and the controversy

Does anyone recall a rock band from Australia called Midnight Oil? It was a good band back in the day. They had a few hits in America, fueled by MTV (back when they played music videos) and the fact that the lead singer of the band reminded many of the guy from The Hills Have Eyes (the original film).

Well I was brought back to those days on seeing the news that Midnight Oil will be doing a concert to help raise funds for victims of the recent horrendous fires that claimed 210 lives and thousands of homes in Australia. The odd thing about this charity concert is the fact that lead singer Peter Garrett is now environment minister in the government. Talk about a switch of careers.

The reason this is getting international attention is really sad though. Rather than talking up the benefit, the AP piece [Australian minister rejoins Midnight Oil rock band] discusses how some are finding it difficult to reconcile the songs of Midnight Oil and Garrett’s current political position. It seems fans believe that the songs picked for the concert are less anti-government than the band is known for. And those in the government are upset that the controversial themes of the band’s music may affect the government.

To give you an idea of what they are talking about, check out the video of one of their American hits



The theme is Aboriginal rights. In fact this song directly states that Australia should be returned to the Aboriginal natives. That would be like a band here stating that Manhattan should be returned to the Native Indians. And the lead singer was the Secretary of the Interior.

Of course the fact is that Peter Garrett stopped playing with Midnight Oil back in 2002. Plus, when he was picked for his current position (in a Government that is far less liberal in its views) his past was a well known fact. Taking these facts into account, with the thought that he is not trying to make a political point but help some of the people of Australia, I think he needs to be given some slack.

Personally I have met Garrett. It was back in 1998 as I recall, on 43rd and Lexington in New York City. I was a stockbroker at the time, out for lunch, and saw him crossing the street. My best friend and I waited for him to cross and said hello. He was polite enough to stop and speak with us for a couple of minutes. He is really tall, the video does not make it clear how tall. And I’m 5’ 10”.

Suffice to say that I enjoy his music. I am impressed with the band’s stance on Aboriginal rights. I respect the intention of helping Australians with a charitable concert.

Politics and music may often clash, but when compared to the suffering that music can help relieve it is unimportant. I hope that Midnight Oil plays their most controversial songs, with Garrett up front and in the crosshairs of television cameras worldwide – if it helps to raise more money. Because that’s really the only important thing about the concert.

Who Are You Betting for in the World Cup

From its inauguration in 1930 the World Cup has grown to become the biggest football (soccer) competitiion in the world. The chance to call your country the world champions attracts a huge audience round the globe and is one of the most watched events on the planet. Yet the World Cup itself grew from more modest beginnings. The driving force behind the competition was FIFA president Jules Rimet and the trophy awarded to the winners was named after Rimet. The first competition saw Uruguay crowned the first world champions. They beat Argentina 4-2 in the final in Montivideo, however even back then the crowd for the match was 93,000, which probably even then gave some indication of how much the futbol (soccer) supporters of the world wanted this kind of competition.

The next competition in 1934 and also in 1938 contained very few South American teams due to the difficulties and long journeys required in that era. The Second World War meant that competitive soccer was temporarily suspended, and the 1942 and 1946 competitions did not take place.

In 1950 the competition returned and was won for the second time by Uruguay. The Competition comprised sixteen teams. Not until 1982 did the competition expand to 24 teams and was then expanded again in 1998 to 32 teams. This allowed more teams from Africa, Asia and North America to take part. The 2010 tournament will see a massive 204 countries trying to qualify, up from the previous record of 198 in 2006.

Brazil holds the record of the most tournament wins, wining the Cup five times. After the third win, Brazil was allowed to keep the Jules Rimet trophy and a new trophy was introduced. Brazil; is also the only country to have appeared at all of the World Cup final competitions. The 2014 competition will be held in Brazil

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Brazil have already been installed as the favourites for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. They are followed by Argentina, Spain - the European champions - and Italy, the current champions who have won the competition four times. England have been named fourth favourites following their recent run of form under Fabio Capello. Germany, Holland, France, Portugal, and Russia make up the remaining places in the top ten favourites for the World Cup.

Brazil are currently being quoted at 9-2 and Argentina at 5-1. European champions Spain will also expect to do well riding on the back of a wave of confidence following their Euro win. They are quoted at 15-2. Surprisingly England have been made fourth favourites at 8-1 above Italy and Germany who both hold the most winners titles after Brazil. England`s regular failure to progress much past the quarter final stage may well make them a difficult option, but their fans will be hoping that the success of British clubs in Europe can be reflected at the biggest competition in world futbol. To keep up with the best betting information, go to Free Bet Offers