Obvious facts in teen health study

Do you ever read an article, about some scientific study about this or that, and you just say to yourself – “Scientists are just so stupid. I knew that.”

Of course scientists aren’t stupid. But some of the studies they do have to make you wonder. Like a recent study on 20,000 young kids. The study sought to see how kids feel about surviving. Were they optimistic or not about living to 35, and what choices did they make based on that outlook.

Scientists are shocked that some 15% of those interviewed over 7 years believed they’d never live to 35. I’m shocked they didn’t realize how common a thought that was. I mean I was very sure that I probably wouldn’t make it past 25. And that’s considering I was a far better than average student, not into drugs, ghettofabulous did not exist, I never joined a gang, plus I was working since I was a young teen.

Today I can see even more reasons that a person of color in their late teens might think they won’t make it to 35. Gangs are worse, drugs are rampant across the nation, music videos and rap music directly state they should be violent, addicted, criminals. Fewer kids are getting the educations they deserve, and more sources in society are telling them to give up on higher learning. I mean there is a huge societal influence that says a person of color should only hope to be ghettofabulous. All of that is separate of the fact that if you are a criminal, or just a person of color, there are seriously great odds [comparatively] that a police officer will abuse and/or kill you.

"Nearly 25 percent of youth living in households that receive public assistance and more than 29 percent of American-Indian, 26 percent of African-American, 21 percent of Hispanic, and 15 percent of Asian youth reported believing they would die young—compared to just 10 percent of their Caucasian peers."

Is there any surprise then that this study came out and “revealed” the obvious thought among people of color that they won’t make it to 35. Personally I think the shock is that White kids are also feeling these same thoughts of impending death, most from the same sources as those for the kids of color.

Back when crack hit the streets in the 80’s, I recall the lack of concern by police and elected officials. No one was bothering to do anything about that drug or the addicts initially. Not until White kids started to get addicted and drop dead. A couple of elected officials kids got hooked, and overnight there was news of the epidemic of crack. Just about 5 years after the fact.

In a similar manner this report is the same thing to me. 20+ years ago I understood that the chances of me dying before 25 was 1 in 4. In fact about 25% of my friends from elementary school didn’t make it to 25. At that time 2 decades ago I understood that the chances of me going to jail were also about 1 in 4. Again, at least that many of the kids I grew up with were in or had been in jail. That was the reality in the Bronx, and a decent neighborhood of the Bronx.

Given the failures of elected officials and the campaigns to keep kids off of drugs – Nancy Regan saying no and a guy making breakfast vs. a criminal rapper on MTV surrounded by women, drugs, and money, guess which makes more of an impact to a teen – the growth of negative influences, and the promotion by the major media and entertainment industry of the “Ghettofabulous” and “Thug life”, I’m surprised the numbers are not worse.

If the scientists doing this study want to move things along, for a mere contribution to my site, I will give them my insight.

Change the music videos – no more mostly naked women jiggling, no more drug paraphinallia, no more violence. At least not until say 1 am.

Provide real funding to schools – no more books older than the students and teachers burnt out or incapable of teaching.

Ensure that when entertainers break the law they get convicted – No more multi-year delays, like R Kelly, or slaps on the wrist, like DMX and Snoop Dogg and so forth.

Convict corrupt police officers – Officers that kill innocent citizens need to get big press coverage and massive jailtime. Like ex-officer Johannes Merhserle who killed Oscar Grant – which the media has avoided like the plague.

Allow rap and hip hop to be more than the minstrel show – the genres were more diversified and positive when they started, but now are just cash cows of negative reinforcement

Actually spend money fighting drugs – it took 4 years for a crack house near my family members in the Bronx to be closed. Police rarely sweep known drug hangouts and locations (in my knowledge) daily. Major media rarely focuses on the death and destruction drug dealers are responsible for, instead highlighting the lifestyle and money. IE They talk about how much money and drugs were found, or the superficial material things a drug dealer may own, not that dealer X may have caused XXX people to die from drug overdoses and to live on the streets as prostitutes.

These are just a few ideas. But each is effective in its own way. Far more so than a study of the obvious or elected officials polispeak.

Remembering Michael Jackson

I was speaking with friends yesterday and today about the sudden death of Michael Jackson and we recalled many things. I want to take a moment to share some of those thoughts with you.

I can recall being a very young child and hearing ABC 123 from the Jackson 5. To this day just thinking of the title of that song instantly brings up the memory of that song, hearing MJ’s voice in my mind, and the summer in the 70’s. It’s a good memory.



That’s something that I think most of us can say. Hearing some of our favorite songs by Michael Jackson brings us back to memories of our youth, or even more recent days, that are pleasant and fun. Not every singer can do that, not every song. But he did it many times.

I remember that I bought the Ben album back in the days. It was the second album I ever bought. The first was Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. I recall that album to this day. It was sweet and melodic. It really just touched a cord.

I also recall being pissed at him during the 80’s. I had a girlfriend that was absolutely in love with him. Even more than me at the time. I’m sure other men had a similar competition. One that MJ never knew of, and one that none of us mere men could ever win.



My friends and I noticed something while watching all the news on Michael Jackson’s death. Videos from across his life were being shown split-screen as commentators spoke. And with no delay, with complete agreement, we were able to place every single song the videos were showing. That’s without any sound. No matter how old the video clip or music video.

Imagine the impact he has made that people of multiple generations can sit and see a visual snippet and know the exact song, and generally the year, without ever hearing a word. Something we didn’t even realize we knew until that moment.

Another friend noted that Michael Jackson is the progression of the great singers. There was Elvis, then the Beatles, and now MJ. Looking forward, there is no one yet that comes close to the talent, showmanship, and longevity Jackson had. And I can’t imagine, in a world of throw-away entertainers and American Idol, if anyone like this will come again.



The entire industry of music videos needs to celebrate Michael Jackson. I expect nothing less than a full run of every video and music clip of Jackson singing since his first televised appearance in the Jackson 5 on MTV. They owe him that.

Were it not for the foresight of Jackson, and his commitment to providing fans a complete entertainment experience, music videos of today would not exist. Jackson made mini-movies. He extended the length of time a video could be, he raised the bar on quality, on the production itself. Thriller was not a music video, it was a story. Billie Jean was a story. Remember The Time was a short film.



Before Jackson was making music videos, they were jumbles of catchy imagery that may have had nothing to do with anything. Once he got involved, we got an art form. And MTV was smart enough to break the color barrier they had for every single video he ever did.

Another friend noticed the incredible impact of Michael Jackson. Thinking back through the years of coverage, did you notice that ANYTHING he did was news. If he wore a new piece of clothing it was news. The sparkled socks (which respectfully Donnie Osmond did first – but Jackson did it bigger), the single glove, his hair, the outfits he wore (on stage or off). Hell, MJ just leaving Neverland was good enough to get 30 seconds of news airtime. No one is that big, just him.

When you think of the career of Jackson you have to think big. He started trends in fashion – basically all the clothes of the 80’s. He broke racial barriers world wide – there was no where he could not appear, and people of every description sold-out stadiums to see him. He broke industry standards – almost always having the biggest contracts, Grammy Awards, limits on music video lengths, 750 million records sold, 13 top 100 hits for a single artist, and on and on. He created dance crazes – though he was inspired by James Brown, he had the world trying to imitate his moves and Moonwalk – even to this day.



His music is so ingrained in the world that he is one of the top sampled artists ever. People of all ages have at least one favorite song from throughout his career. Every entertainer since the 80’s has tried to imitate some if not all of his artistry. Every entertainer that is a person of color has dreamed of matching even part of his success, and use his career as a guide path for their own.

All of this came at a high price though. He never grew up, at least not properly. He was reportedly shy. He was reclusive. He was likely a pedophile. He was beyond eccentric (though parts of his tabloid eccentricity may have been his own manipulation to gain greater press coverage). He hated his own face, and possibly race (the multiple cosmetic surgeries and rumored skin bleaching). He was a man with many demons, possibly addictions, and he couldn’t hide for all his trying. I doubt he lived a day without pressure and stress since he was in his teens.



All these things and more are Michael Jackson. He was by definition an icon, a figure too large to be merely like everyone else. He was as gifted as he was troubled. I think he may have been the loneliest person that everyone in the world knew and wanted to be near.

For all his faults and issues, for all the real and imagined deviations and eccentricity, for all the grandeur and splendor he craved and provided to fans, one thing will always be true.

Michael Jackson walked the Earth for 50 years, his footprint has been left on billions of people, and he made the planet overall better in the ways only he could. Such a legacy, such memories, such an inspiration are all things we can be glad of and hope to attain in a small way. I can think of few things better to say of any human being, past or present.

Entertainment Tonight goes too far with Michael Jackson photo

I understand that the death of Michael Jackson is enormous news. There has been nothing else on the cable news networks for the last 2 hours. Every entertainment outlet is searching for a story and angle on this. Including myself to a degree.

But Entertainment Tonight has gone too far. They went to a place that the realm of good taste forbids. Even tabloids tend to not tread this path - at least not hours after the death of a celebrity.

Entertainment Tonight has placed on it's website a photo they claim is the last ever taken of Jackson. Jackson was intibated and on a strecher. Some time shortly after this photo he was dead.

I find photos of dead celebrities to be disgusting. It is an insult and a disrespect. It does not shed new light on the event, it does not inform. And I can imagine the horror it can evoke to the family and friends of the deceased. Especially 2 hours after the news has just broken.

Imagine that if for some reason you were a friend of Jackson and you turn on your TV or computer and that ewas the first thing you saw. Imagine if you are a family member and you get to see that after the wake or funeral. Imagine if you are one of his children some years from now, and you get to see that this was how some exploited your dad after death.

Entertainment Tonight has acted as only scum would in my opinion. I accept that the photo was taken while Jackson was alive, with expectations that he would survive. But ET knew he was dead when they published this photo. So their only decision was to release this photo in an effort to profit off of his death. It's the modern equivalent of grave robbing.

Tabloids and paparazzi act in low manner all the time. They have the least respect, unless a dollar is attached. But this is inexcusable. I mean can't they let the man's memory, family, and friends have even 1 night before they disgustingly hustle for a buck on his grave.

I too am a member of the media. A small part, but still part all the same. And I deplore and am insulted by this desecration of Michael Jackson. The executives that ok'd this decision should get beaten with a stick by the Jackson family.

Maybe I am too sensitive (which may be the first I would be called that) or my morality is too high. But I think the outcry from the public should remind the media that there are limits. That the chase of a buck does not justify everything. That good taste still is more important than a scoop or quickie journalism.

Do you agree?

Michael Jackson death - immediate thoughts

I’m taking a moment to reflect now that I have mentioned that Michael Jackson has died. It is still news that has left me shocked.

Jackson was an icon in every sense. He has affected all of America and the world through the decades, and his loss will be strongly felt. I truly feel bad for his family, friends, and children.

I know that I have been harsh in the past. I have spoken strongly and negatively about Michael Jackson. And I will not apologize for those statements now. But I will make it clear that I have never wished him harm or ill.

Michael Jackson gave the world dozens of songs that we all enjoyed. He helped fuel several industries. He in essence legitimized the music video industry, creating leading edge videos and pushing the artistic limits when no one else was sure it would even take.

He was truly the “King of pop”. No other performer was so scrutinized by the paparazzi, the media, and the public. No other performer could live under such constant pressure, and excel as Jackson did.

He was a man that many loved, and others loved to hate. I don’t think there is a person in the world without some opinion about him. Which is the least statement of how much of an impact he had on all of our lives.

I cannot say more. I cannot fathom this moment clearly, and my writing reflects that I think. I will say more once I gather my thoughts.

Michael Jackson - dead at 50

I am really shocked. This was news that was completely unexpected. Michael Jackson died today at 6:15 EST from a heart attack. He was just 50 years old.

I saw earlier today when news came out that Jackson was being brought to a hospital. Reports at the time said he was not breathing. But I thought this was just a case of exhaustion as he was preparing to launch into 50 concerts later this year. But it seems that the situation was far more severe and dire.

No matter the personal opinions we all may have about the private life of Michael Jackson, there is no question about his abilities as an entertainer. He is among the top of all pop stars, the only male artist to have 13 top 100 hits. His career has spanned 4 decades, and 45 years of his entire life. He brought joy and celebration to tens of millions of fans, across the globe. He was truely a superstar.

I am sad. While I have been a harsh critic of Michael jackson in his life, I too am struck by his passing. I am hoping that his children were not a witness to his heart attack. That they will be well-cared for, and that his will can provide them some level of comfort that the can never replace a father but may ease some difficulties life brings in such a moment.

I give my condolences to all the members of the Jackson family and their friends. The sudden death of a family member is never good news. I hope they can take strength in all the condolences fans will provide at this time.

Transformers 2 - controversy or not?

Transformers 2 is now in theaters, so the question of whether the hype is equal to the film is about to be answered. But setting aside the lack of logic, the overabundance of CGI and explosions, and the failure to have a script worthy of the Saturday morning versions this was created from, there is a big question.

Is having a CGI robot speaking ebonics a take on Black culture and, even in the most innocent of ways, making fun of African Americans?

This is the growing question from the film. Many fans that have seen the movie (which I have not) believe that it does, others do not. But what I have read leads me to believe that this is another instance of Hollywood sticking to what it knows best – stereotypes in bad taste.

“Skids and Mudflap, twin robots disguised as compact Chevys, constantly brawl and bicker in rap-inspired street slang. They're forced to acknowledge that they can't read. One has a gold tooth.”

So the robots are deep into hip hop. Which could mean anyone, since fans of hip hop reach from Beverly Hills to Japan to the Bronx. But how often have you seen a character in a movie that speaks “rap inspired street slang” that isn’t Black? How many movies can you recall ever having a character with a gold tooth (or teeth) that were anything but African American? Add to this the connection the major media makes between rap and violence (which is a natural conclusion), and African Americans (which is not).

So is this a caricature of African Americans? Sounds like it. In fact some are relating these characters to another CGI major movie character that inflamed millions. Jar Jar Binks. They are being called Jar Jar Bots.

How do some defend these characters?

“They don't really have any positive effect on the film," she [Tasha Robinson, associate entertainment editor at The Onion] said. "They only exist to talk in bad ebonics, beat each other up and talk about how stupid each other is.”

Sounds like most rap music videos. And who is the lead minstrels in those music videos?

This disturbs me since any association some might make to African Americans is to 2 cowards, that are illiterate, eternally distracted by the useless, and are worthless. Would you like to be referred to in an association like that? I sure don’t.

“If these characters weren't animated and instead played by real black actors, "then you might have to admit that it's racist," Robinson said. "But stick it into a robot's mouth, and it's just a robot, it's OK."

Perhaps the best way to consider if this is making fun of African Americans in a negative way is if we substitute what the characters are portraying. Let’s say that instead of rap, they went with country music. Instead of street slang they speak with a Southern drawl. And instead of the gold tooth we have a confederate flag.

So in effect we have two illiterate, cowardly (since they avoid all fights), dumb, Southern brawlers. What might be identified as the Southern inbred hillbilly redneck stereotype – like Ricky Bobby. Still sound like a fun character, something that you and your friends can laugh at? Would you laugh if you were in the deep South? Would you still like it if foreigners heard your accent and compared you to these characters?

Yes it’s a movie. And movies often use a stereotype to convey thoughts that are in the societal mindset. But the negative stereotypes really don’t need to be reinforced. Especially on an international level. And saying that it’s just a movie, is akin to saying a Nazi flag is just a decoration.

You may disagree, but for me it is just one more reason not to see this film.

U.S. beats Spain and goes to Confederations Cup finals

Could it be that the U.S. is on the verge of becoming a real world competitor on the pitch of the futbol (soccer) world? Could we be on the edge of gaining respect from the international community?

For more decades than I have been alive the joke has been watching the U.S. qualify for the World Cup, and not getting past the first round. Watching my home nation lose to some of the weakest teams in the world has never been fun for me. It was a serious source of pride, years ago, when the U.S. made it to the second round – and quite lucrative.

But since then and well before there was nothing. Until now.

Yes, now we have beaten Spain. A real team, with a reputation nearly as good as anyone in Europe. And we did it in the high profile, international Confederations Cup. A move that catapulted the team to the finals later this week.

Win or lose, America has upped the game. We have laid down the gauntlet for the rest of the world to pick up. A challenge that will likely be on display at the World Cup.



Spain, the European champion, had set an international record with 15 straight victories and had tied Brazil's record unbeaten streak of 35 games from December 1993 to January 1996. Which makes the win all the more sweet as prior to this we had been 1-7-1 against top international teams, beating Brazil in the 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup and tying Argentina last summer in an exhibition at Giants Stadium. Not that exhibitions really count.

So is this like shooting a piece of tissue paper with a .22 and having the bullet come back at you? An event that is mathematically probable, but realistically impossible?

Maybe. Right this moment though I don’t care. Because America beat Spain, and the World Cup has a new underdog that might just win if all the stars align just right.

Mommy XXX

Well now that Jon & Kate Plus 8 has halted production, hopefully forever, there is a void. Millions have suddenly lost their "reality" television drama fix. They are bereft of their ability to feel better at the expense of a marriage and several small children. This will not do.

It won't have to either. Some television executive was reading the tea leaves and came up with a sure-fire attention grabber. Actually I expect that the exec was doing something far different, but I won't describe it.

Thus we now have Mommy XXX. Yes, the "real" lives of a porn star as she raises 2 teen kids. Kids that are fully aware of what mom does for a living, the people in the industry, and newbies hoping to get into the limelight.

If this doesn't create a controversy, I'm scared where television will go next.

But to be honest, I am in a quandry. On the one hand I hate all "reality" television shows. They are the dregs of television creativity. They provide nothing but an opportunity to vegetate in front of a television and then again at work with colleagues.

On the other hand is the fact that the porn industry is being shown in a light that is for once not negative. Not that the taboo of porn has ever hurt its sales. The industry makes more money every year than all the Hollywood studios put together, combined with the sales of GM. Well maybe not GM, but you get my point.

Still my thought is that porn is not the horror that the main media industry makes it out to be. It has real people, doing their jobs, and raising families with the money like any other industry. So a bit of respect is due.

Yet, I don't like the idea that porn will be promoted to young teens. Because in all reality that is the target group. Young boys and 20-something young men. Watching the show to get a hint of titilation without getting labeled as perverts or "dirty".

Presented on Crackle (some kind of internet television I think - I'm sure my younger readers know what it is) the show features women feeling each others breasts - in an episode about breast implants - as an example. The breasts are mostly covered with hearts and smiley faces, but that is more than enough for a hormonal 15 year old. And the message to young women, I can't even begin to imagine.

Plus I can imagine how internet searches for all the various porn stars (especially lead Demi Delia - who has 3000+ web items in just a quick google) will explode. As likely will porn video sales. Which is good for the economy, and the entertainers, but inevitiably will rub the Bible Belt raw. Especially when in one episode that I saw, an actress is promoting working in the industry. I'm sure NOW will love that.

So is this a bad idea? Has television - "reality" television - gone too far?

Yes and no. I doubt that more women will be racing to the doors of the porn industry than already do. Young men likely know all the actresses already (though their moms will assure you they don't). Porn will not corrupt anyone more than they already are. But for the few that might have been on a fence, this will likely push them over the edge. And it's not exactly family entertainment. Plus it still is as vacuous as any other "reality" program.

Thus I bet this will become the new controversy. It has everything that the tabloids and executives could hope for. Water cooler conversations will never be the same.

And after contemplation, I decided to include the episode I was speaking about above. Thus you can draw your own conclusions based on the show itself. Not everyone will agree with my decision, but so be it.

And as a side note, I agree with the son.

Riddles, hats, and boats - and one man for them all

You just can never tell where Johnny Depp will wind up. Especially if he has director Tim Burton leading him.

There are the rumors that Depp will play the Riddler in the next Batman Dark Knight film. Which would be one of the best choices since they picked Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne. It won't be the over the top performance of Jim Carrey, which is a bonus, but I wonder if it will capture the same manic and enjoyable frenzy that Frank Gorshen gave it?

Still you would wonder if he would have the time. His next film coming out in 2010 is Alice in Wonderland. Tim Burton is at the helm of this film. And almost anything can go in this film.

In a world created by Lewis Carrol while on drugs, massively it would seem, there is no normal. There is no up or down or foothold for the reader beyond Alice. The bizzare is no further than the next sentence, and your imagination just can't run wild enough.

That's the background of the film. Burton has taken that fixture and made it into a javelin, following up with the story years later. Thus almost anything is possible. And into this we will find Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter. Can you envision that?

I imagine a mix of Jack Sparrow on a very bad day, Edward Scissorhands on any day, with ample dashes of Ed Wood and Sweeney Todd. Perhaps even a bit of Sheldon Sands for a dark tone and Willie Wonka for a bit of humor. It's Raoul Duke on steroids (and other items to be sure). That's a character I would love to see.

But if the Mad Hatter is too far to the extreme for your tastes take solace in the fact that Disney is moving forward with Pirates 4. So Captian Jack will be back, likely still looking for the Fountain of Youth in Florida. Likely in as much trouble as he always tends to be, and playing both sides to his advantage.

I really like Johnny Depp. He bucked the Hollywood system, taking a path the may not have been the most lucraticve monetarily but brilliant in the range of characters he has produced over the years. He is perhaps the most truely artistic actor in our generation. Especially when he ventures into the mind of Tim Burton.

Honestly, I can't see a reason not to see any of the 3 films I am sure he will be in. And Will Smith better watch out as Depp may unseat his record of blockbuster films in a row.

Bailout bill HR 3597

After days of searching I finally found it. This was probably the funniest part of the entire Guy's Choice Awards on Sunday. The video clip was very hard to find, which I thought was amazing in itself.

But after having 2 computers blow up (thank you Windows Vista) and spending more time on this than it deserves, I can now present you with the only bailout that the Obama Administration won't publicly support. Though I bet he would enjoy being in charge of that industry.



But lest a political freak out there (like me) starts searching the net for this Bill, missing the joke, let me help out. This is not a real Bill before Congress.

Of course, according to the Obama Administration proposal, The Secertary of Treasury could take over the porn industry under the "significant ecomomic impact" clause. That is real.

And it would be a sad day when Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are in charge of what kind of porn gets made. I shudder to think of it.

Jon & Kate Plus 8 – the show must go on

Actually it shouldn’t. I have been disgusted with the tabloid coverage of this couple. The media frenzy over their marital difficulties was abominable. And it all culminated with the show this evening.

After the endless speculation and paparazzi attempts to confirm the worst of thoughts, Jon and Kate Gosselin have publicly declared they are getting a divorce. And television, especially reality television has found a new low in its search for the common denominator.

With the pressure and unforgiving presence of the media, a family now is broken. And millions got to watch it happen. It is perhaps the largest mass media sadomasochist event so far in the history of the medium. The money generated by this event will never make up for the lives that have been ruined.

The lives I’m speaking about are the 8 children of the Gosselin’s. None are old enough to full understand what has happened. But they are old enough to feel every repercussion of this event. And thanks to television and the media at large, they will be able to relive this all their lives. A fact that television executives I am sure are happy about.

There are so many reasons why this is wrong. The effects of this will last far longer than the “reality” show. In the end, the pain inflicted will likely not be seen until it hits a headline down the road. Yes, all 8 children are now 1000% more likely to become part of a more tragic statistic than growing up with divorced parents. They may become part of the child stars that have lives damaged permanently – like Dana Plato, Todd Bridges, Lindsey Lohan, Tatum O’Neal, Danny Bonaduce, Britney Spears, Brad Renfro, Michael Jackson and so many others.

Just for the momentary amusement of the public. The joy of letting someone feel better about their own lives by watching someone else’s problems. And it only took the infliction of pain on the minds and lives of children that can’t even understand what has happened.

Would this have happened anyway? Maybe. But there is no question that having the parents chased down by the vulture hordes of cameramen looking for any failure in their lives made raising so many children just that much more difficult. There is no question that the pressure of having their lives documented for the watercooler commentary of the masses did not make it easier. Not getting a chance to just be loving parents, or a married couple, just ensured what was announced today.

Yes, over 50% of the people married today get divorced. Yes, society does not view divorce the same as say 30 years ago. In fact, it is now considered as much a part of marriage as anything else. But do we really need to be a part of this happening? Do we really need to know intimately how this happens to a family in weekly episodes?

But millions have gotten their pound of flesh. They are reminded that the Gosselin’s are just like them. Television has found a new low to sink to. The commercial success of this family breakdown guarantees executives duplicating the events for even higher profit.

So when you see the Gosselin kids in the headlines in 10 years, don’t be surprised. When you see the paparazzi chasing them down courthouse steps, or seeing their mugshots, feel as smug as when you watched their parents announce their divorce. Because every viewer, the cable network, television, the tabloids, the major media, all helped it to happen.

What a proud moment for the tabloids. What a grand experience for America. What a heyday for the viewing public, indeed.

Guy's Choice Awards on Spike TV

I was watching the Guy’s Choice Awards on Spike TV on Sunday, when they had a presenter come on the show that just caught me off guard. It wasn’t the ladies, nor Mel Gibson on a horse. It wasn’t even watching Bruno take a vicious verbal jab at Jamie Foxx.

What threw me was the 13 year old boy. He was young to be at such an event. An event where sexual inferences were rampant. Where crude jokes, sometimes horribly in bad taste were in abundance.

Then I listened to the prepared speech he read off. In essence it covered nothing but boobs. Yes, just a conversation about breasts. In a crude and non-boyish manner. It was obvious that grown men thought it would be funny for this young boy to ramble on about the virtues of a woman’s breasts. And for a bonus, sure to drive home the laughs, they had him cursing every 4th word or so.

I for one saw no humor in this. I took no pleasure from the conversation, nor the vulgarity, that this child was spewing. And from the background silence, I believe the audience didn’t appreciate it either. In fact, not once while he was speaking did the camera pan to an audience member so much as chuckling. Likely because the room was aghast.

But I can’t blame Spike TV too much. They paid for this performance. They had a complete program that they knew would often test the boundaries of good taste. There was no question in their mind that they would fail the litmus test of decency at parts. Which this portion did with alarming assurance.

Still I have no belief that a television executive cares or can notice a boundary. Their only concern is drawing viewers, and thus gathering advertisement income. Controversy works just as well as quality programming; and in an industry searching for the lowest common denominator quality costs too much.

But what about the parents of this child (whose name escapes me)? Who in their right mind would allow such a young child to go on national television and parade with such vulgar words, matched only by the curses sprinkled generously around. It was a disgrace to watch.

I wonder who knew that this was going to happen. Considering how renown Gibson is about religion and his kids, I hope he did not. As I mentioned before the audience seemed to have no clue beforehand. So it may be just the writer’s and the executives.

Well I say to both of them, standards may have dropped over the years and the liberal sensibilities may reign in politics but I for one do not abide such an insult. There is no humor in disgracing a child. There is no joy in the display they presented.

And if they do it again, I will never watch their programs again. What about you?

Brad Pitt doubles his donations along with Angelina Jolie

You just have to be impressed with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Pitt especially. The man is like a slot machine. A slot machine that pays out millions, but for causes that benefit thousands or more.

Not a few days ago I was speaking about how Brad Pitt, along with his siblings, just donated $1 million to create the Jane Pitt Pediatric Center to take care of kids with pediatric cancer in Missouri. It was a generous celebrity donation.

And here he goes again, with his wife Jolie. together they just donated $1 million to aid refugees. This was done via the Jolie-Pitt Foundation, and the money went to UN High Commisioner for Refugees. This will help the 2 million people that are trying to escape violence and fighting in Pakistan this year alone.

Jolie has been to Pakistan 3x, and Pitt went with her on one trip as well. Can we say that Jolie has definitely lived up to her position as a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN.

I continue to be surprised by the donations and support some celebrities provide good causes. there aren't many that do this so selflessly. I mean there is the money Madonna donated, but that was more of a bribe to adopt a kid that the local laws said she couldn't adopt. No I like the celebrities that just do it because they believe in what they are doing.

Pitt has helped rebuild homes in New Orleans, Jolie has been active in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, Don Cheadle is constantly active about Darfur, george Clooney has a host of activies in Africa along with Matt Damon. the list goes on.

It just makes you feel good to know that sometimes, all that money being made in Hollywood, goes to a worthwhile place.

Mission Impossible 4 - more explosions, more Tom Cruise close-ups

Well the news is out. Tom Cruise will be doing yet another Mission Impossible movie. But I wonder if we really care.

Given that Tom Cruise makes money every time he shows up on a screen. It’s actually very hard to think of a movie with Cruise, in the past decade or so, that was not a blockbuster. Of course that does not mean they were great films. Just greatly packaged.

But specifically when we think of the Mission Impossible films, we are reminded that this is the revisioned idea of the series that spawned the big screen adaptation. There is almost no connection between the television series and the movies.


Because Cruise knows how to market to the youth, men and women.

The Mission Impossible films are lots of flash, explosions, a couple of cool stunts, and massive amounts of close-ups of Tom Cruise removing a face mask while inevitably running.



Occasionally we get a glimpse of a team, something dropped hard in the early minutes of the first film. Why pay extra money for a cast of celebrities when you can just show Cruise smiling again? I mean it’s not like the youth market expects a “remake” to have anything to do with its original source.

So I expect that the next Mission Impossible film will include generous amounts of the following:

• Big explosions
  
• A chase on a motorcycle, and cars
  
• Tons of shooting with automatic pistols and assault rifles
  
• A bunch of tech gadgets every guy would love to have
  
• At least a dozen nameless bad guys that will be killed off seconds after being seen
  

• Location shooting in at least 3 major cities (probably European)
  
• At least one major stunt involving Cruise doing something that the insurance companies will hate (likely in the first 5 minutes of the film or the last 10)
  

• Oh, at least 2 very slender and somewhat exotic women. Probably 1 of them will be topless or allude to nakedness and/or sex. It is a Summer movie you know.
  

Beyond these essential items, a very loose plot will be formed. It will mandate that Cruise don and remove a mask in a big close-up, invariably running at the time. We will be able to notice that Luther (Ving Rhames) and some actor that no one really knows or cares about (beyond his mom, family, friends and landlord) will be in a few scenes to allude to team actions – all executed primarily by Cruise. And I expect that Cruise’s character (Ethan Hunt) will either be divorced and bitter, or really upset after having a major blowout with his on-screen wife (from the 3rd film) – which is bad news for the first bad guy he finds.

We might get Laurence Fishburne back for a return as the boss. Possible a quick scene or too of comedian Simon Pegg in a return role.

So will I go to see this film? Probably.

I already know that these films are light on anything but action. They are virtually forgettable, but provide a great distraction for a couple of hours. In fact I don’t consider this Mission Impossible, but Mission Explode Lots Of Stuff. Which can work after a long day of work in the real world.

So plan ahead that at least one day in 2011 will be spent at the theater. Just don’t expect it to be memorable.

Do you know Abbott & Costello?

Yesterday, while at an event at the Chameleon Café in Endicott (which I will review later) I was speaking with a group of friends. As the conversation was going along, the subject of comedy came up. Initially we were speaking about Eddie Izzard, who I think is fantastic.



But as we went along the discussion turned to some of the funniest comedy skits ever. Obviously the discussion ran into Monty Python. And thus we talked about the Dead Parrot skit. Which I believe is one of the greatest comedy skits ever.



But not everyone in the group agreed. Why not I don’t know. Probably because this is a very British skit. But I love it.

So as we continued we came on what is the greatest comedy skit ever. I believe there is nothing ever done that beats this. It’s family friendly, before such a term existed. It’s about sports, but done in a way where even non-sports fan can enjoy it. It has a fast pace, yet anyone can follow it. It’s simple in the set-up, and delivers multiple times in the execution.

Abbott & Costello’s Who’s On First.



In over 60 years of comedy and films, no one and nothing tops this. I found it amazing that the younger people in my group had no idea what this skit was. I felt really bad that they did not know the joy of true pure comedy at its best.

Now that I have presented this to you my readers, I’m wondering. Do my younger readers agree? If you don’t can you offer a better skit than this? Of all comedy teams, who is better than what I just presented?

Who will replace Sean Penn as Larry in Three Stooges movie

Well there are a few changes that are coming up in several movies being planned for 2010 or so. Several high profile movie stars have been added or left planned movies. How this might affect these films is anyone’s guess. But at least you are forewarned.

The potentially big news is that Sean Penn has pulled out of the star studded Three Stooges movie, in addition to the film Cartel. The 3 Stooges movie includes Jim Carrey and Benicio Del Toro. So even without Penn this is a huge powerhouse to this film. The real question is who might be the actor to replace Penn as Larry.

So far, some of the rumors – or hopes – I have heard of include the following names: Johnny Depp, Ben Stiller, Jack Nicholson, Chris Tucker, and Ludivine Sagnier. Talk about a huge range of styles and skill. Each changes the dynamics completely.

In my opinion, Ben Stiller would be a horrible choice. I can imagine Stiller turning the film into Starsky & Hutch –esque style of bad acting. While his latest films have been good (Night at the Museum), his history of playing the same character, and badly, in each film would inevitably harm the quality of the film and drive potential viewers away. Plus he is no where near the abilities of Carrey or Del Torro.

Jack Nicholson is a stellar actor. I have no doubt that he could pull off the role. But he is older. Too much so to have a smooth mix with the very energetic Del Toro and Carrey. Plus I just can’t see him getting slapped around. That image just throws me off.

Johnny Depp seems like a great choice. He has the ability, range, and youth. He will drive in fans of all ages and backgrounds. He is a powerhouse on his own. And he has done comedic roles well. The only negative is that he might be too good looking. But makeup can fix that.

Going into the realm of something completely different, Chris Tucker would fit the bill. A Black Larry would really shake up the film. It puts a spin on the movie that I honestly can’t imagine right now. But to say that this would be a good thing is a statement I can’t make for sure. The best role I have seen Tucker in is arguably his support in Fifth Element, or perhaps the first Rush Hour film. Can his eunic like voice and race add to a film with far better actors and intense physical comedy?

Lastly there is Ludivine Sagnier. This choice has to be simply because the actress likes to be topless, and has had most of her film roles done in the nude. That is not to say that a woman could not be Larry. Just that I cannot imagine this woman in that role. Maybe Geena Davis, but not Sagnier.

Actually, now that I think about it more, I don’t see a woman in the role. Being slapped and hit, by men, with the intent of cruelty and punishment – it just doesn’t work with a woman. It crosses a boundary. It can too easily be taken the wrong way.

So of the above choices, minus Sagnier, who would I pick? Depp. He has the ability to match up with Del Toro and Carrey. He is the right age. He can easily capture the tone and essence of the character. And he can deliver.



With Penn gone, Depp is the perfect replacement. In fact, it can be easily argued that Penn should never have been in the film to start with. At least with Del Toro and Carrey in the mix.

But as a wildcard I will throw in one other name. Robert Downey Jr. While he is a bit too world-weary in his looks, there is no question of his ability or range. He might be a bit older, but not too much so. He is a powerhouse actor, and can commit to the film with as much dedication as Depp.

But who do you want as Larry in this Three Stooges remake?

text messaging - the sport ESPN won't cover

It's official now. The world is going to hell in a hand basket.

Why? When there are competitions, equating a form of athleticism to sending a text message well then the future is just all over. Seriously, there was a competition for the fastest, and most accurate, text messager.

Obviously this was a ploy by LG Electronics Inc. to spur the use of text messages and generate income. The winner of the "event" was Kate Moore. At 15 years of age she gained her "skills" by sending 400 or more text messages a day. Which includes in school when she should be learning lessons, and at home when she is supposed to be having dinner.

Now I must add that the young Ms. Moore states that she has good grades. Which I will take at her word. Though I bet that her grades were higher, and could be higher, without the texts. And she is involved with performing in her local school plays. Which leads me to believe she will not become a serial killer as she has real world social skills, to some degree.

But more importantly is the thought that for the predominance of young people, interactions and just life have become more of a secondary action to being tied to a cell phone or similar device. 250,000 people, all at or under the age of 22, showed up for this "competition". And I don't get why.

So she can text well and fast. Why does that deserve a trophy or $50,000 (how much of which I wonder will be spent on her cell phone bills)? How is this useful or even interesting?

Consider any sport. There is a skill and athleticism involved. There are social attributes that are gained. Some degree and form of socially redeeming qualities can be found. But text messages? If this is the best we can expect from the generations to come, plan on moving to an island.

I can see it now. Movie stars that win Oscars for the best emotes in a sentence. New debates about English being the only language vs. the hyper-abbreviated language of texts being spoken. OMG

I honestly am not picking on this young girl. But I am picking on a non-achievement that has been raised to a point that it pretends to be worthy of acclaim. I am picking on the lowering of standards and expectations of the next generations. She won $50,000 big deal. What she and other young people may be losing in the long run is priceless.

Should David Letterman be fired?

When I first wrote about the inexcusable comment that David Letterman made about the daughters of Gov. Sarah Palin, I was firmly entrenched in the thought that it was political. And an insult to all women. It was more than just a “bad joke”.

To say it was merely a bad joke is to say that inferring lewd sexual acts between a young woman and a man 2x her age is occasionally good natured. Which I do not agree with. To also have that joke be ambiguous such that it can be related to a 14 year old minor is even worse.

But that is part of my problem with this whole situation. Letterman continues to insist that the joke is about an 18 year old young woman. As if that excuses the whole thing. As if everyone had understood that he was directing the joke at this young woman, as he now claims, that it would have been ok. No, it does not become ok just because one daughter is of legal age and another is not.

But the people now calling for Letterman to be fired are solely focused on the 14 year old. Because it adds fire to the flame. Inferring that an 18 year old is fair game. Which I beg to differ on.

If the calls for Letterman to be fired were solely based on the repulsive nature of the comment, and the fact that it was driven by Letterman’s barely held back hate of Conservatives and Republicans, then I can see its merit. There is little difference in what Letterman said and Don Imus.

After Don Imus publicly insulted the Rutgers basketball team, I was among those calling for him to be fired. Because he attacked a group of young women, without cause, who were non-public entities. In addition the attack by Imus was the kind of racial commentary that led to lynchings in the (not very distant) past.

A public figure, lashing out at non-public figures in a manner that is solely meant to denigrate the attacked is always wrong. And I support the removal of that public figure for such actions. It doesn’t matter if that person is White, Black, Hispanic, Male, Female, or whatever. The public airwaves are a sacred ground with protections that only mean something if we enforce them.

The Palin daughters are not public figures. The Governor of Alaska is. So just in the same way that attacks against the Obama daughters are insanely wrong, or attacks on college teams, or against your family, to attack the Palin’s is the same thing. Something that I find extreme Liberals like Letterman, and much of the major news media, fail to comprehend.

So that reasoning is worthy of firing Letterman. It is the same reason that Embassy Suites pulled their advertising from his show. Insulting women, because of a political belief of the attacker, just to be cruel and vile is hardly worth defending, or supporting with advertising.

Thus the focus really should shift from the claim that this was about a minor. This was a political attack and an attack that covered ANY young woman in a manner we would like to believe does not exist in the 21st century.

So does Letterman deserve to be fired?

Well this was done on public airwaves. It took a week before enough pressure hit Letterman to force him to make a barely sincere apology. In fact in reading his apology it becomes clear that this is more of a tactic to preserve his job than remorse over what was said, or the motivation for what spurred it.

Given how well this lines up to the reasons that Don Imus was rightly fired, I would have to say yes. David Letterman deserves to be fired. It is a terrible way to end a 30 year career, but Letterman knew what he was doing, and he didn’t care as long as he got to grandstand his hate of Conservatives and Republicans – especially in the case of Gov. Sarah Palin.

Will Letterman be fired? I doubt it. He has a huge following. He is a huge political supporter. He has the general support of Hollywood and the media in this political climate. His contempt of Conservative views is lauded across the internet and major media. He will more than likely weather this storm.

But I say again, David Letterman is the same as Don Imus in this situation. Thus I support the same end result. CBS should fire him now.

Captain America returns!

When I was growing up, there were a few things that you could always count on. Death, taxes, the fact that every President was a descendant of a European, the only time you would hear about Black history was in February – and that was mostly just Dr. Martin Luther King, Superman was the ultimate boy scout and Capitan America loved and defended our nation. But as I have grown some of these things have changed. Some for the better, some worse, and a few we are still wondering about.

Death though never changes, and it even hits fictional characters. First to Superman, and more recently to Captain America. In both cases there was an outrage among comic book fans. In fact some people were upset that had never read a single comic issue of either character.

Superman was of course brought back. The whole death was a big gimmick to stir up cash at DC Comics, and thoroughly confused fans with not one version of the boy scout but a half-dozen or so. This has eventually been straightened out. But it must have inspired someone at Marvel.

In a move that I can only call idiocy, Captain America was killed. Not fighting for America, or defending our nation overseas. But by the cowardly bullet of a hidden lunatic. It was a chilling moment.

The fictional living embodiment of all the virtute and Freedoms that is America was struck down. In a post-9/11 world where sacrifices of Rights and lives are all too common, this one symbol of how the nation endures and overcomes every challenge was gone. It was a bleak message reflecting, as comic books often do, the strife and turmoil within our society. In my view too bleak.



But 2 years after the fact, Marvel Comics has re-thought its actions. Either that, or they are preparing for another movie converting Captain America from ink to flesh and bone. (In fact movies starring and featuring Capitan America are planned in the next 3 years) Thus the word is out that Captain America will be back. Yes, on July 1st of 2009, the living American ideal will enrich the pages of comic books again, and thus the minds and hearts of us all – if just subliminally.

If this turns out to just be a marketing gimmick, Marvel will lose. Just as DC crushed its fanbase and had to resort to revisioning Batman (who is no longer around either) and Superman in film, Marvel will lose its fanbase. In fact I think that the films will not recover some of the older fans, or those they influence.

Because you cannot sell freedom, nor equate the Rights of the American people to dollars and cents. For all the negatives of international thought, and the dislike of capitalism, the differences of religion or the seemingly eternal issues with race relations, America is unified in our belief that we are a great nation. Great because of the ideals we live and, many, die by.

If this whole fiasco has been designed with a thought of evaluating what is America today, of what are the true strengths of the nation, then this was a great plan. If the re-born Capitan America is redoubled in his belief in our nation and what it stands for, and thus imparts that message to our youth, then it was time well spent. If this iconic symbol of America, that men and women of all ages and backgrounds know of, is the rebirth of true heroes and the best of America – Marvel will have earned every dollar that this can bring them.

But if this is just about money, if it lowers the ideals of the nation, if it cheapens what it means to be American, I will be more angry and insulted than when they killed Captain America. Some things are worth more than money. Some things have a far greater impact than just the form and style they are thought to convey. To me, it would be the equivalent of burning the flag in Congress.

If this sounds too harsh, too serious a discussion because it’s just a comic book character remember one thing. His name is Captain America, not joe blow superhero. In ways that affect us like our other national symbols, he is more than just a comic book character. He is grander, like our nation. To sully that is to sully us all.

9 questions with director David Kaplan

I recently had the opportunity to review a DVD of the short films (which includes a young Christina Ricci in a leading role) of independent filmmaker David Kaplan. In addition to that review, Kaplan provided me with a chance to interview him via email. The following are the questions and answers from the director, perhaps best known to the public for his major feature film Year of the Fish.

Upcoming films for Kaplan include a comedy featuring actors from Comedy Central's The Daily Show, and famed Bollywood star Naseeruddin Shah which is in post-production currently. In pre-production (and thus likely for 2010) is the film Play, in which Kaplan directed and co-wrote.

I hope you enjoy the insights and thoughts the interview brings up, as well as taking the time to see the Little Red Riding Hood collection of short films now out on DVD.


Michael Vass: What led you to focus on short films, and then fairy tales for your work?

David Kaplan: There's something wild, unruly and deep about fairy tales. Their imagery seemed perfectly suited for film. Short films are simply more affordable than feature films and therefore easier to make.

Michael Vass: How did you come upon Christina Ricci, and the other actors in the film?

David Kaplan: I had already worked with Christina at the Sundance Institute's directors' workshop. She seemed born to play the part of Little Red. Not only did she have an uncanny resemblance to the famous Gustave Doré illustration of the tale, but she also had a sparkling intelligence in her eyes necessary to embody this clever young girl. The other actors were friends or were found through auditions.

Michael Vass: Why did you choose to have so much of the film shorts devoid of sound?

David Kaplan: They're not devoid of sound. They have music, sound effects, narration.... I chose not to have sync-dialogue in Little Red Riding Hood because it made it more storybook-like, which gives the audience a certain nostalgic comfort at the beginning, a feeling which is gently subverted as the film progresses.

Michael Vass: In each film there is a subtle but definite sexuality. They each border on the taboo, in their own ways. What inspired that direction?

David Kaplan: Fairy tales explore some dark shadows and truths of the human experience. Even though we think of them as innocent children's stories, I always felt they were much more complex than that. As Djuna Barnes notes in Nightwood,

“Children know something they can't tell: they like Red Riding Hood and the wolf in bed!”

Michael Vass: Do you have plans for a full length feature film? If so, will you be expanding on these film shorts or a new idea?

David Kaplan: Yes, I have several feature projects in the works. A couple are fairy tale adaptations. In fact, my first feature film, Year of the Fish is an adaptation of an old Chinese fairy tale. It played in theaters last year and will be released on DVD soon.

Michael Vass: Is the concept of introducing sexuality in a unique and subtle manner something you want to include in all your films, or was it just something that you found compelling for this short material?

David Kaplan: It really depends on the particular film. For example, the last feature film I made is a mainstream comedy about Indian food and cooking (it's in post-production) - not a lot of dark, offbeat sexuality in that one :)

Michael Vass: Since the success of your shorts at multiple independent film festivals have you found mainstream Hollywood more interested, or less?

David Kaplan: The shorts are very useful as an introduction to Hollywood. They got a lot of doors open for me.

Michael Vass: Do you have an ultimate wishlist film that you would like to make? If you could film any style of movie, with any actor/actress, what might you do?

David Kaplan: Yes, there are quite a few wishlist films I'd like to make. But that's a secret unless you're willing to finance them.

Michael Vass: What are some of the films and directors that inspired you?

David Kaplan: Charles Laughton's Night of the Hunter, Wiene's The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, Murnau's Sunrise, Maya Deren's Meshes of the Afternoon, Neil Jordan's Company of Wolves, and of course Cocteau's La Belle et la Bete.

DVD Review: Christina Ricci in Little Red Riding Hood

The title sounds so innoucuous. I’m sure that many are thinking that this has got to be a mistake on my part. That it must be a audio book review. But I’m not mistaken, and you will be surprised. And you will understand why this is a Chicago International Film Festival Silver Hugo Award winner.

Little Red Riding Hood and other stories, is 3 short films each based on a short story from fairy tales. In total the entire collection of films, made by director David Kaplan, are only 30 minutes long. But I bet you just can’t watch them once.

Little Red Riding Hood is the first story on the DVD. Likely this is because it stars Christina Ricci in her teen years. But the story is hardly the thing of childhood memories. It does effectively set the tone for each of the following stories though.

In each of the short films we are introduced to unique takes on old ideas. We have sexuality introduced in a manner that has you questioning if it was the director’s intention, or just your own inner thoughts making a leap. We get a mixture of ballet, Black and White film, acting, silent film, represerntative characters, puppetry, and a touch of nostalgia among the various stories.

The Red Riding Hood is my favorite. It is sweet and tempting while being new and a bit whimsical. It’s visuals are not breath-taking, but simply further engross you to the action around you. Very little detracts from your observation, providing a voyueristic pleasure on top of everything else. Chrisitna Ricci is perfect, with a coyness and yet intensity in her eyes that just hits the mark.

Little Suck-a-thumb is completely in a different direction. From the sweet and even playful temptation we go t o color and an experience that may just strike you hard. In this short film we get to see a bit of a homage to Nosferatu and the old silent horror films. We are presented a tale with strong homo-erotic undertones.

The story takes a major back seat to the acting, as by the time you are getting the opening lines we are thrust calmly into the crux of the story. There is a gentleness and seduction going on that plays well to the sudden and well placed soundtrack of Ave Maria (a favorite song of mine that I never imagined would fit such a film). By the end we are left with a stroy that hits on views of morality, sexual preferences, and orientation without ever being graphic, lewd, insulting, or shocking.

The last story, The Frog King, is my least favorite of the 3. It too is in Black and White. But unlike the initial which had a narration, this is strickly old school silent film. The look is grittier as well. Darker scenes match a tone that seems ready to explode with danger at any moment. And the payoff left me scratching my head.

We travel this journey with a very young actress, into a place that I’m not sure of. Again sexuality comes up, and again it is a take on it that is far from the mainstream. But this story is unsettling. It’s harsher and less defined. It is more open-ended and questionable.

It’s not the acting that will throw you, but the direction and the story itself. I normally don’t listen to the commentaries of most DVD’s but I sought out this one to hopefully gain greater insight into the story. Sadly there was nothing in the commentary that really helped me out. Other than to hear David Kaplan explain that this was his least favorite as well.

Speaking of the extras of the DVD, there really aren’t any. This is a straight forward DVD. You have the 3 short films, the commentary of each film, a commentary on the folklore by scholar Jack Zipes, and it’s over. Considering there is only 30 minutes to it all I can’t say I’m surprised, though I was hoping to see a blooper real or extra scenes that were deleted – especially for Frog King.

All in all, I liked the DVD. The short trip it takes you on is worth the time and money spent. And as I said in the beginning, you will likely watch it over more than once. If that is not a sign of a worthwhile purchase, in a world of highly forgetable and poorly created revisionist and/or sequel laden films, then I don’t know what is.

Brad Pitt donates to pediatric center in Missouri

I love it when a celebrity and/or entertainer uses their fame or money to help the public. This is even better when the action they take benefits children. Such is the case with Brad Pitt and his family.

Brad Pitt and his siblings have joined together and donated $1 million to open a pediatric cancer center at St. John's Hospital in Springfield, Mo. This center will be on of 6 St. Jude's affiliates, and will be the only hospital in the Southwest Missouri that has a child cancer and blood specialist.

The center will be named after the mother of Brad and his siblins. The Jane Pitt Pediatric Cancer Center will open this summer. Obviously Mrs. Jane Pitt instilled a great sense of civic purpose in her children. Which is a great thing.

Brad Pitt has always been a standout among most entertainers. He has helped raise money for those in need in Darfur. He has helped to rebuild homes for families that suffered from Hurricane Katrina in Louisianna. There are multiple donations and organizations that he has given money, time and support to that help children in this nation and across the globe. Even if he was ot a solid actor, I would count him among my favorites just because of what he does.

I wish more celebrities and entertainers could be as thoughtful and generous as Pitt is.

Iron Man 2 - Whiplash

Well the first photo of the new villian in the 2010 sequel to Iron Man has been released. The villian is called Whiplash, and he is played by Mickey Rourke.



Looking at the photo I was instantly drawn to one thought. I hope there will be lots of CGI to fill the space in this photo.

To say that I am unimpressed is to understate my feelings. My expectations were quite high as the first Iron Man was a resounding success. The acting and CGI meshed incredibly well. The writing was actually creative. And it was mostly loyal to its comic book source.

Thus I had expected Rourke to look imposing and powerful. Instead ths photo makes me think of a bad Mad Max refugee. Or a minor background character from Kevin Costner's mega-flop Waterworld.

There has to be more to Whiplash than this. This photo has got to be an unfinished image, meant to generate buzz and fuel comic book fans, as well as those of the first movie, ire to create a stir that only the finished graphics will satisfy.

I expect a lot from Iron Man 2. The success of the first movie necessitiates at least a similar level of quality. But this photo of Whiplash does not seem to convey that thought. Hopefully future photos, and the eventual trailers will do justice to fan expectations.

Lollipipe: Introducing kids to drugs

Of the many products I have seen over the years, I have run into few that are as exploitative and potentially dangerous as the Lollipipe. And when I say dangerous, I mean promoting drug use in minors. When I say exploitative, well just read on.



The Lollipipe is the invention of Kzee Novelty Products LLC. It is marketed as a tobacco pipe, but the shape of the product makes it clear that it is intended for marijuana. Add to that the fact that it is sold exclusively, to my knowledge, in “head shops” – places that sell drug paraphernalia under innocuous names.

The Lollipipe is designed in bright playful colors that will attract the youth. It is also designed with flavors like Watermelon, Green Apple, Grape, Strawberry, Peach, and Blueberry. Again this is a marketing trick that targets the youth. It has a claim that the Lollipipe will not melt from flame being applied to it. It is completely edible.



Thus in effect we have a product that targets young teens or even smaller children. It is designed to make them feel like drug-adled adults and/or cool. It will give them the sugar buzz that all kids love. And while hard to purchase, in some places, it is not illegal. Add to that the ability for the product to be consumed, so as to hide its use from even the most attentive parent.

I am disturbed by this product. I am reminded that the Tobacco companies were sued for tens of billions of dollars to advertising and marketing programs that never dared to go this far. Yet I have not heard one word about this product.

IF colorful packaging is enough to cause the Tobacco companies to lose in courts, this product should be at the top of DEA and consumer boycotts. Yet I doubt most parents even know of its existence. In fact, I bet there are more than a few liberals, and/or those in the hip hop community, that think it’s a great idea.

This must be a huge hit with those that want to legalize drugs. I guarantee that your local drug dealer likely has dozens of these Lollipipes that they are giving out to kids in playgrounds across the country. Yes, even your kids in the suburbs and small towns where you might not think there is a drug problem. Yet. But the Lollipipe is a great introduction into a life of drug addiction.

I can only imagine what will be next from this company. Maybe a Peppermint flavored crack pipe? How about an edible syringe? Heck, why not a kid-sized mini meth lab.

Obviously there is a market for this product. Irresponsible parents and family of infants/children that are given hits of drugs as seen on Youtube and the major media will flock to these products in droves. Word of mouth will likely fill elementary schools. Hey, do you think pedophiles will stock up on this stuff too?

What a way to make a buck.

This is disgusting. It is my fond desire to learn one day that Kzee Novelty Products LLC has failed and become bankrupt. If there is anything I might be able to do to help this company fold, I will surely do it. Because there is nothing that is positive about their existence in my opinion.

By the way, their website is not yet done. They currently have a static image of their product – tastefully packaged to provide as little direct knowledge of the contents as possible. And just to make sure they are capturing as wide an audience as possible, the company promotes the product on their joke of a webpage as “Eco-Friendly”. I am sure that global warming fanatics will be happy to add this company among the roster of those touting change.

I cannot think of a better warning right now than what I have already mentioned. But I would love to hear from anyone that would defend this product. And I will be sending a copy of this post to Kzee. I wonder if they will have the balls to respond?

Will there ever be justice for Oscar Grant?

Oh my god. Could it actually be that Justice will be served in a case where a police officer shot, and killed, and unarmed young Black male?

The end of the preliminary trial for ex-BART officer Johannes Mehserle has ended in Oakland, still without the media coverage that such a case deserves to have. This is especially true given the fact that video evidence exists for this case from multiple sources. Add to that the blatant and extreme nature of a police cover-up. Then finally include an astounding revelation from one of the key officers involved with the murder of Oscar Grant

“I didn't see the hands, so I didn't see a threat," Pirone said. "It didn't pose a threat to me "... or any other officer.” - Officer Anthony Pirone, who was kneeling on the neck of Oscar Grant III as he was shot in the back and killed.

The facts of this case are so blatant that the Judge presiding over the prelim made the following statement after ruling to allow this case to go forward to trial

“There is no doubt in my mind that Mr. Mehserle intended to shoot Oscar Grant with a gun and not a Taser.” Alameda County Superior Court Judge C. Don Clay

Yes, it’s so obvious that a Judge was willing to say that publicly. Of course this will likely cause the trial to be moved. And I’m willing to bet that the new location for the trial will be the equivalent of Simi Valley. And we all know how impartial that kind of jury pool can be.

Since I first learned of this case in January 2009, days after the murder of Grant, I have seen no reason to doubt the guilt of Mehserle. I have followed this case while the major news media has actively ignored it at every turn. I have questioned what has been done to cover-up the situation, and speculate about the cause of news media disintrest.

So far we have learned that ex-officer Mehserle initially excused his murder of Grant with a claim of an unseen, non-existent gun. Later, after time with a new lawyer and the quick cover story speculated by the Oakland Police Chief, the story became the accidental use of deadly force.

We have learned that every officer involved has (in my opinion) perjured themselves with lies of chaos and impending doom. Accusations of angry mobs rushing forward, attacks against officers, and resisting arrest have all been soundly debunked by witnesses and multiple videos of the event.

How this case has not been subject to a quick plea bargain leads me to one thought. Mehserle believes he can get off scot free.

This is even more likely if the venue is moved. It is backed up by precedence of officers across the nation being absolved of the murders of, and/or violence against, unarmed, innocent, young Black males. It is supported by a news media that has tried to actively maintain doubt, in the most of the few times the case has ever been mentioned. It is reinforced with the persistence of criminals covering their crimes with accusation of imaginary Black assailants that are readily accepted as fact by the media and most of the nation (most recently by a Pennsylvanian woman who was in Disney at the time).

That is gut-wrenching sickening. That a defendant can be guilty as sin, with more than ample proof, and the odds of gaining justice or even a semblance of punishment are maybe 60 - 40 against is unacceptable in the least. And I still get people advocating the innocence of Mehserle. I still have people that wonder and debate why African Americans across the nation fear and shun police officers. I still hear people deny the imbalance of the legal system and misrepresentation of Justice in America.

In my opinion, Mehserle is guilty of murder. Yet I still cannot be assured that he will be convicted of this obvious and insanely vicious crime. Because in the end, it was just another young innocent defenseless Black male. And in America that is the same as a deadly weapon in the hands of Osama Bin Laden. Lady Justice is weeping.

Mike Tyson married 2 weeks after daughter's death

I don’t understand Mike Tyson. It’s just that simple.

A mere 2 weeks ago, Mike Tyson and his extended family had to suffer what I can only imagine as one of the worst moments in the life of anyone, especially a parent. His 4 year old died due to an accident in her home. I can think of little worse.

But I am baffled by the latest action of Tyson after such a recent tragedy. He got married. Seriously. He was married this past weekend in Las Vegas.

Now I really don’t care that he was married. I wish him and his new bride (10 years his junior) the very best. And I am not trying to proclaim how anyone should mourn or deal with grief. Everyone is different, and the actions one person may take will seem very odd to another.

But this is really odd to me. Considering this was a small Vegas quickie marriage, there is nothing that says the wedding could not wait. Just because it would feel more respectful – to me at least. I honestly would feel to weird to marry someone after basically just burying one of my children.

Maybe this was just an attempt to feel better. A try at making the world feel just a little bit less sad. In a way I can understand that. Though it does not bode well for the length of the marriage. Still there is the question of why his new wife would do this.

Let me ask the women out there. Would you marry a man, even a famous and/or wealthy man, 2 weeks after the death of his child? What motivation would make you jump the broom like this? What could make you not wish to wait?

DMX should love Arizona

Did You hear about the slap in the face of Justice? I’m not talking about the defense’s claims in the Merserhle case (he killed Oscar Grant on January 1st this year), but DMX in Arizona.

Yes, DMX – otherwise known as Earl Simmons or by his inmate number - has skated away from the repercussions of his actions yet again. The reason he has escapes me completely. I imagine that the Judge and Prosecutor must be enormous fans of his rap music.

To bring you up to speed, DMX (Simmons) had been arrested for drugs, weapon possession, animal cruelty (dog fighting pitbulls of course), evading arrest, theft, and potentially fraud. For the sum of these charges, plus speeding, he served all of 80 days in jail. Again that is eighty days. You would think the Court was his love slave to get off so lightly.

But there’s more. While serving the mockery of time, DMX assaulted an officer. That offense, from an inmate known for repeat violations of the law and in a penal institution, normally would have severe consequences. But this is one of the more popular jesters of the music industry these days. He has even expanded his minstrel act to include farces that some call movies, really bringing in money for the executives that I imagine are bankrolling vacations for the Court in lieu of his sentences.

What might such a lucky and obviously stupid [he keeps committing crimes and getting caught – I call that stupid] criminal entertainer have to say about all this?

“Don't misunderstand me. It's a beautiful state, it's a beautiful city. But the powers that be have it out for me. It kind of taints my view.”

Yes the powers that be are tainting his view of Arizona. It has nothing to do with his multiple violations of laws in that state. It has nothing to do with the Court sticking its figurative head up its own ass to help out Simmons. Blame the system even in the face of the obvious. Brilliant.

Perhaps the view DMX has is tainted because he is spoiled. He is being treated like he has made some act of importance for mankind. That will warp anyone’s viewpoint, especially a mere petty criminal and rapper.

To really help DMX get some perspective, and at the same time providing for the safety of Arizona, I suggest that the next time he gets arrested and convicted of a crime he gets treated like a regular criminal. Not a Black criminal – that would be overly harsh – but like any other joe bloe doing these things. And to make sure that the 3rd strike really sunk in, I’d charge him the cost that the State would normally pay to imprison him. If the time doesn’t make him straighten out his act, the fine might.

Either way there would be some semblance of Justice. And all the kids that follow his career thinking he is someone to emulate; they might just be even a slight bit more civil and law abiding. Which is reason enough for me.

Colbert earns a salute in Iraq

I want to salute Stephen Colbert. I’m sure he expects it, of course, but this time it is deserved. Because of what he has done for our troops in Iraq.

By now everyone has had the chance to see the new Colbert haircut. And how he got it. Under orders by the Commander-and-Chief himself (that would be President Obama). Who also gave a nice bit of self-mockery with his line about not needing spy satellites with his big ears.

I’m more than happy to see the President mocked in good taste. But the fact that Colbert has brought a bit of home to our troops is a far better sight. It reminds me of what Bob Hope used to do. Something that the major news media seemed hell-bent on ignoring these days.

Stephen Colbert (the man and not the character) is a liberal without shame. So it’s no surprise how often, and accurately, he jabs Conservatives and Republicans in his show. But unlike the Sean Penn’s of the world, Colbert has always supported our troops. He has always made the distinction between serving our nation and the policy makers that require the sacrifices the troops make.

Thus in going to Iraq, he has acknowledged what the major news media has denied for years now. That our U.S. military is doing a good job in a bad situation. That our people are dying because of our system of Government and their belief that it is the best in the world. Faults and all.

You don’t have to agree with the war on terror (a term that our President can’t even bring himself to say). You don’t have to like why we got into this mess, or who gave the orders to do it. You don’t even have to agree with the people that think not talking about the situation, or placating governments in the region, will end the problems. But we all should recognize those that are doing the best they can, ultimately so we can all sleep back home without pause.

That deserves attention. It deserves commendation. It makes Stephen Colbert worthy of a salute.

Octomom plus 6

You know, I am really scared by the thought of Nadya Suleman (octomom) being in a television show. It seems to be the very definition of how unlike reality these “reality” programs can get.

Suleman is an attention whore. Which says nothing of the probabale damage she will bring to her children. If no damage has already been done, which is highly unlikely. The woman appears to be incapable of taking care of her children as is – and that’s just thinking of the 6 she already has.

But what is worse is the thought that untold thousands if not millions will be watching this woman self-destruct. Not that any television producer would ever step in for the sake of the kids. They will never get in the way of ratings just because decency obligates them to ensure the kids get the help they need. Jon & Kate Plus 8 has proven that in droves. Which matches the number of sadist people in the nation willing to watch the meltdown from the comfort of their couch.

Now I know I called the recent viewers of Jon & Kate Plus 8 sadists. Some will think this unfair and an overstatement. But it really isn’t. By definition a sadist enjoys inflicting pain on others. And by watching this family being assaulted by the tabloids, as well as having to deal with the stress that a 24/7 television crew looking over their shoulders brings. None of which can be argued as a benefit to the kids.

Thus in watching the show it prolongs the suffering, intensifies the paparazzi feeding frenzy, and justifies the tabloid actions. The Gosselin’s would never be plastered all over the national media were it not for viewers, and media looking to make a cheap buck. So think of how Suleman and her kid’s will be pimped, since they already are tabloid fodder.

I am no fan of “reality” programs. They are the scum at the bottom of the barrel that television creativity comes from. There is no benefit, no content, and nothing worth remembering. If grown adults want to make complete fools of themselves I have no objection. But we are not talking about adults, we are talking about an apparently emotionally impared mother, and 14 children. 8 of which are highly likely to have extreme medical and emotional problems.

Will that be the big ratings drive? Watching a mother who can barely control herself losing her mind on an infant that cannot do anything but be the product of bad medical procedures? Are we so morally corrupt as to think that this could ever be anything more than a depraved abuse of the children?

Personally, I plan on boycotting any advertiser that would ever consider supporting this program. There is no way of justifying this child abuse, least of all because someone hopes to make a buck out of this. Advertisers are as much of a pimp as the producers in this regard, and the prostitutes in this case are babies and children. I bet their mothers will be proud.

Viacom zaps my Youtube channel again.

Well Viacom did it again. They really must not like me. Of course I have no love for the Corporation either. Which includes Sumner Redstone.

In fact I believe it was my huge uproar about BET and it's "programming" that put me on their radar. The fact that I followed all that up with a logical discourse against Jon Stewart, did not help. And now it seems they are upset with my coverage of Deadliest Warrior: Tshaka Zulu vs. William Wallace.

In each case, with greater speed than the last time, Viacom has blasted my Youtube page and forced my videos to be removed. In each case the video clearly noted that this was not my product, and there were several dozen other Youtube channels with the exact same footage. But I am on the hit list it seems.

Now I respect that they have copyrights. And I am acting according to their wishes in removing the material from my Youtube channel. But I just find it odd.

Because I have videos of other programs, and video of commentators like Bill O'Reilly, that never once drew the ire of thier copyrights. I note this because even when I criticize conservatives, or note racial insensitivity with other corporations, they don't flip out. Just Viacom.

Is it because Viacom hates to be shown as the most racially insensitive and demeaning company in the media industry - in my opinion. Is it because my audience acts upon suggestions to boycott BET, Flavor of Love, I Love New York (the woman not the city), and other equally insulting material that Viacom loves to fill the airwaves with? Is it because Sumner Redstone took my comments to heart - which he should have.

Well it could be all of that. Or just that I have a popular blog and they don't like the negative publicity. Still I will work around it where possible.

So if you see some of my videos in various posts, and they are disabled - blame Viacom. They don't want you to see the glaring racial insensitivity that I have found. They don't want criticism or discussion. They just want people to agree with their point of view, and make them money while doing so.

Oh well.

Going to Las Vegas for the APA National 8-ball competition

Written by Black Entertainment USA

So some of my readers may be wondering where I was over the weekend. The source of my silence was linked to my American Poolplayer's Association pool league. As I have mentioned in the past, I play in the Central New York APA. My team in 8-ball and 9-ball represent the Guys & Dolls pool hall in Endicott NY.

Since my team has been formed, we have won the 2007, 2008, and 2009 season playoffs, which gave us the opportunity to play in the regional matches against all the season winners from the leagues in Binghamton, Ithaca, and the other surrounding areas for Central New York. The winner of this Championship Playoff gets a trip to Las Vegas to play in the National APA Pool Tournament. That takes place in August, and has some several hundred teams from across the nation competing for cash and pride.

Sadly, while my teams have always made the regional competition and gone to the final match, we had not won. Which is a tough feeling, as we have become odds on favorites to win every time we arrive. There is nothing like having to battle through multiple teams and hours of matches, to arrive at the key game and then not get to move forward.

That completely changed this year, as the Pandemic team out of Guys & Dolls for 8-ball won the Championship and will be going to Las Vegas this year, along with Dysfunctional Fighters who also qualified. I must admit that there was a good chance for the team to spend 10 days in Las Vegas and play both the 9-ball and 8-ball Nationals. But the week prior we had again played thru the pack right up to the final and missed the critical win.

Still I have no complaints. It was a long weekend, with massive competition. There were several very good teams, each with multiple great players, that we had to defeat. I commend every one of them. This was no cake walk, and any one of the teams could have gone to Vegas and represented our area with pride.

How well did our team do? Well we had one player moved up a rank before the final match. 3 out of 8 of team were at 67% in the competition, with another 3 that went 100%. So that gave the entire team an 83.5% win percentage over the competition.

So for a little heads up to our competition in Las Vegas, I give you the members of my team. [Yes we all look tired, it was a long weekend.]

Team Captian - Gregg Cordero




"Panama" Grabow




Gary Hinkley




Gauge Majka




Zachary Majka




John Miller




Robert Miller




Michael Vass


Oh, I am working on the video as we speak. It’s a lot to edit, and may wind up being several videos. But give me a little time for that.

Again I salute all the other teams we played. They gave it their all and we had a great time playing them all. I am sure that in next year’s competition we will see them all again.