Canadian Parliment I want in

HEY,

This sounds like crazy thing I was watching on C-SPAN. I am so facinated in Canadian Parliment procedure. It is so cool. These two parties are yelling at one another trying to get there point across. Its more uncivilized then our own congress. I know I sound like a great member of debate. I am thinking I should work in parliment once I move back to Ottawa. I was so addicted to Canadian procedure once I was in Ottawa.

Well, things are pretty good at home I am still sore and I am very tired. I am a bit bored but I am trying to find something to do. I took a walk to the store and I felt drained. It was extremely hot and it wasn't a good idea. Well the weather, is making me stay at home. I woke up at 12 and now I feel like I over slept.

Well last night was great night. I invited Amy to come over and we had fun watching tv, the only crappy part was that Maxine was too hyper. Everytime I wanted to do something Maxine was barking. I was wondering what the hell is wrong with her. She usually calmed down after a few minutes. Some days I am wondering, if she is doing this on purpose.

I am thinking I am going to stay in and relax today. I just feel so drained. My day has been boring. I will

OK today its Monday afternoon,
I thought I write. Today is the start of my newest venture, for the company Wonderious Inc. It will be a combination web publishing and computer repair. Wonderious is a terrific name cause it shows orignality. What I am planing on doing is talk or research for companies or people who are interested in joining this venture. Its a free service which I hope to one day get paid for the time and recognition. I'm thinking its a great idea that I'll start by having my pictures online and my business around. The whole idea, of wonderious inc is a business I created and don't have to ha ve a full payroll. I know maybe I am becoming a little dellusional with creating this company but It will keep me busy while I am living at home. I figured every great company needs to start someone maybe Wonderious will be successful. I will discuss it with mom and dad see what they think. I mean I already know I can work hard and spend an hour or two each day writing and find publishers.
I love the idea of creating companies that can be successful, I guess if I begin my venture capitalist in me. I can one day get paid for doing all the work for it. Right now though I have one company holder who would be interested and I can find many clients by doing just that. It can be digital photography and computer design, two things I love the most. I hope that publishing will be the mark of an upstart. Digital Photography/Publishing, It will be a halarious idea,if and when it can make money. I can work on this every day just few hours a day. Its just a venture to keep me busy.
Shan loves the idea so if my parents agree then I am set. I like that it will keep me busy and its something that I love so much. I know this is just cloud talk but I can see myself in the future making lot of money and have myself as a publishing giant. I am not saying I am going to be the next William Randolph Hearst or anything like that but a person who is interested in finding ways to get published.
Well today, I woke up a little late around 8:30 becauseof Maxine and I couldn't go back to sleep when she started hitting her paws on the kennel. Well I started my shift of writing at 10:00am and will stop at noon for lunch. I am going to work hard in trying to get things written. Well I am going to work on this project.
I'll write more when it comes. Right now, watching while writing Unsolved Mysteries.
OK I just ate lunch, Popeyes. Boy was I hungry, I think I at least 5 pieces and some rice. Anyway, I talked it over with my family about my business idea and they haven't agreed to it. So I guess I'll start it off on my own. What is a good way to make money? I mean I am tired of asking for money that belongs to me. So if I make some money my way I don't have to be asked how I spent 80 bucks in less than a week. I have to figure it out later. I think I'll ask for money on Tuesday when mom is at work. Maybe he can be understanding,*crossing my fingers* Well, I am also thinking with all that fried chicken and rice i ate that i really need to lose some weight. I feel though I am tall, I am gaining weight out of the ying yang. So starting early in the mornings I will walk with the dog and run. Today wasn't really a good day cause it was really hot and my muscles were aching so badly. Most likely I'll do this every day starting tommorow. I will lose at least 5 lbs. I will eat less sweets cut on the amount of soda. I know it sounds like a terrible thing to start losing weight tbut I am going to start as much as i can by excersise. Don't overly excerice but take time to breathe and relax. Feel fitness without feeling fat. I am going to relax and feel better with myself if losing my weight. I want to be thin or at least muscular cause I hate being tall and flabby.

ok an idea!

A few of my friends and even Gene Shalet, reviewer for the Today Show, thought that the remake of The Longest Yard was terrible. While I haven't seen it, it

is one of the films I do want to see. I loved the original, and well I am not a big Burt Reynolds fan but the first one was great and funny. Eddie Albert who played the warden, (who just passed away a few days ago) was kind of cool playing a bad guy. Well, the film according it looks funny, even though I am not a big fan of Chris Rock. So before I panned the movie, I am thinking of watching it with Michael and give my own review.

Well, I am still sleepy but I am also hot. The two aren't fun. Ah I am ready to start my day.

Well, I remember my senior year for a project we had to do for Religion come and think of a comenment speach as if you were the one giving it. Well I don't remember what mine was but i thought I would write a new one.

As soon as I figure out what to write, I'll post it.

Independent Film Review

Last week, the world’s most successful independent filmmaker opened his latest movie in 3661 theaters; it grossed a record-setting $158.5 million in its first four days of domestic release. Next week, one of America’s most respected independent filmmakers will open his new film at the Brattle Theatre. There are five prints in release.
You might say there’s a big gap between George Lucas and Hal Hartley, but there are some similarities as well. Both filmmakers have total control over the production and distribution of their product. Both have inspired imitation. And both Star Wars and Hartley’s new The Girl from Monday are science-fiction epics that reflect both the world outside and the world of the filmmaking process.
Lucas, of course, has had the greater impact. The success of the original Star Wars in 1977 made the blockbuster the model for the film industry. Whether he meant to or not, he all but eliminated the individual creator from the film-production process. High concept, special effects, corporate marketing, and merchandising replaced inspiration, originality, and artistry. Corporate profiteering, like the Evil Empire, threatened to wipe out the force of individual creativity.
As in his film, though, pockets of resistance remained. Independents staged a comeback in the late ’80s. Films like Steven Soderbergh’s sex, lies, and videotape and independent studios like Miramax led the charge. In 1996, all five Oscar Best Picture nominations were more or less independent productions.
Now, a decade later, the direction of independent filmmaking has gone at best Sideways. Most of the indie studios have folded or been sucked up by the majors, who have learned that if you can’t beat them, then let them join you. Miramax’s troubled marriage with Disney has ended in a messy divorce, and the newly single studio’s future, to judge from its upcoming release schedule, is uncertain.
Still, there’s hope in the resurgence of independent filmmakers at Cannes this year. Jim Jarmusch’s Broken Flowers, starring indie favorite Bill Murray, won the festival’s second-highest honor, the Grand Prix. Gus Van Sant’s Last Days earned critical acclaim. Whether American audiences will get to see these films is another matter. Anne Thompson in the Hollywood Reporter reported that the studios showed little enthusiasm. "They’re challenging," says Mark Urman of ThinkFilm, one of the few remaining independent distributors. "And people don’t want to be challenged to the degree they used to be."
Hal Hartley, for one, seems undaunted by opening in the wake of the latest Lucas juggernaut, even though his film’s $300,000 budget is probably less than that of a single Star Wars Burger King ad. Neither does he expect to recoup even that amount very soon. "Maybe I should have Girl from Monday action figures," he quips.
Nonetheless, he has his audience, which has responded to his deadpan irony and his knack for recording the surreal absurdity of the everyday in such films as Amateur (1994) and Henry Fool (1997). With his most recent effort, No Such Thing (2001), he might have overreached. An ambitious "horror" film set in Iceland it, it did not meet the expectations of the distributor, MGM/UA. Hartley found himself afterward with diminished commercial credibility and fewer financial resources.
But he had an idea. He had long been annoyed by ads using classic rock-and-roll songs to sell SUVs and the like. "I heard the Beatles’ ‘Revolution’ playing over a Nike commercial," he recalls. "There seemed something wrong about that. Overhearing people’s casual conversations with each other, I notice how everyone’s saying the same things. People give the impression that they’re expressing themselves individually, but they’re all talking like some character on a popular sit-com. We feel like we’re being flattered all the time for being original, but in fact we’re all just buying into the same things."
He started writing a story about a not-so-future dystopia where a "revolution" has imposed a "dictatorship of the consumer" overseen by MMM, an all-powerful corporation. It’s Lucas’s Evil Empire, except this time the enemy is much like the system that Lucas represents. A small band of "terrorists" resist, abetted by visitors from another galaxy, such as the girl of the title.
To make this film fast and cheap and to achieve its hyper-real style, Hartley used digital technology. Making the film available to viewers proved more difficult. "It’s much less expensive these days to make movies, but distribution is much more conservative, so it’s harder to get films out there. It feels a lot like it did in ’84, when I first came to New York. By ’88, things had totally changed, but I when I first got here, everyone was talking about how movies are not very interesting because you have to pack them with big stars in order to get a film even financed. Well, you hear that same kind of talk now."
This old situation called for new tactics. Hartley decided to do something he had never done before — distribute his new movie himself. "When we finished the film, we realized we had something that was considerably outside the mainstream, and somewhere along the line, the boundary between producing a movie and distributing it dissolved. We’re not making a ton of money. I’m happy we just finished the New York run and the theater made money. We’ll have to sell something like 300,000 to make our money back. I don’t think that’s very likely."
In the meantime, Hartley has left the United States, taking root in Berlin, where he’s preparing for his next film, Fay Grim, a sequel (his first) to Henry Fool. Is Berlin an escape from the dictatorship of the consumer he lampoons in The Girl from Monday?
"I do feel more comfortable in Berlin. They’re more welcoming to the arts, I find. It’s easier to work in Berlin than in the US. But the same sort of consumerist mentality is everywhere. I think there’s an escape in finding smaller communities and having to forgo your participation in popular culture."
Back in Boston, another independent filmmaker also finds support in a smaller community and trying to distribute his films on his own. Andrew Bujalski won critical praise for his first film, Funny Ha Ha (2002), the deceptively simple story of a twentysomething woman who doesn’t know what to do with her life. As it turns out, no distributor has yet figured out what to do with the movie.
"We finished the film way back in 2002," he recalls. "The first public screening we ever did was at the Coolidge Corner in 2002, and from there it traveled around to a bunch of festivals, and I kept thinking that the thing was going to die out. But something would always come along and there’d be some spurt of energy for it. Finally we just decided to jump in whole hog and back this little private self-distribution for the film."
Whole hog, at this point, means two prints. Meanwhile, Bujalski has completed a second film, Mutual Appreciation, which also has been applauded at various festivals (last month it screened at the Independent Film Festival of Boston) but as yet has mustered no interest from distributors. Lawrence, a young musician in New York seeks success with a little help from his friends. They fantasize about forming a "cool and inclusive club" of like-minded creative types to support one another and fulfill their dreams.

Does this club reflect Bujalski’s own ambitions? "There’s very little autobiography in either film. But one thing that is an accurate reflection of me is that, much like Lawrence, I tend to be skeptical of clubs for clubs’ sake. Although, that said, at least half of the cast Mutual Appreciation is filmmakers whom I have met along the way. A lot of things do come out of those situations and . . . networking is such an ugly word."
So is solipsism. One of the critiques of Bujalski’s films, and independent movies in general, is that they ignore the world outside. Bujalski’s films lack any overt reference to politics. September 11 took place while he was editing Funny Ha Ha, but though he recalls a sense of futility in making a film in such circumstances, there’s no hint of the terrible events in the finished product. "The kind of films I’m doing, everyone ends up being a type for myself. That said, I think that one of the things about Funny Ha Ha is that it’s a film in which almost no one talks about art or practices art. I think I did that on purpose. I kept that stuff out of the film because I wanted to avoid that certain glib self-reflexivity."
Some independent filmmakers avoid that self-reflexivity by making documentaries. Nina Davenport has been applauded for Hello Photo (1994) and Always a Bridesmaid (2000). On September 11, she was working for hire on a set in San Diego. Her apartment in Manhattan was in view of the Twin Towers. Stunned, she decided to make the cross-country trip home by car, interviewing ordinary people she met along the way. The result, Parallel Lines, was completed in 2003. It received a rare theatrical screening at this year’s Independent Film Festival of Boston. I found it the best documentary yet about September 11, and one of the best films ever about life in America. Why has it been seen by so few Americans?
"I really have no idea!" she says. "When I compare the film-festival route now with Hello Photo, it’s gotten so much more competitive and so much less professional, and jurors who don’t know about filmmaking . . . I don’t know this for a fact, but it certainly seems like it. So it’s harder to stand out than it was before. And I guess there must have been some sort of resistance to it, because of September 11 and people wanting to move on."
Davenport herself has moved on, but she hasn’t turned away. Her new project, funded by non-American sources, looks at the Iraq War. "It’s a long crazy story of an Iraqi filmmaker, this guy called Muthana Mudher, who was on the MTV show Real Life that a friend of mine produced, where he described how his school was bombed by the Americans. Liev Schreiber happened to see the show and got MTV to invite Muthana to work on his next movie, which was Everything Is Illuminated, based on the Jonathan Safran Foer novel. It’s basically a metaphor for American-Iraqi relations, because it was a very rocky road between Muthana and Liev and also with me because everything was sort of a power struggle. It’s going to be a great film. I’m really excited about it."
Perhaps this new film will benefit from the recent popularity of hot-button documentaries like Fahrenheit 9/11 and Super Size Me. But Davenport has mixed feelings about the new vogue. "It’s always great when any documentary does well. But I think that it means that this kind of reality-TV culture is seeping in, corrupting and co-opting the medium. Maybe in the long run, it would have been better if it had remained marginalized."
Elliot Greenebaum is an ambitious young filmmaker who shares Davenport’s concerns about independent filmmaking and the future of reality in movies. How does one reconcile the narrative nature of movies with its power to reflect real life? These two aspects of the medium come together in his debut feature, Assisted Living.
He got the idea in film school — by defying his teachers. "I had written a movie about a woman who gives her son an airplane and then years later she gets a call from him. He’s an astronaut lost in outer space, and she’s in a nursing home, and she sees a plane fly over and apologizes to the janitor for giving him an airplane. NYU, where I was attending school, thought that was a bad movie. I disagreed. They said they wanted three acts. And I said that that was crappy. They said you have to learn how to do crappy stuff before you can do good stuff. I said I’ll make a 15-minute film this summer . . . and follow their formula very briskly so they couldn’t say, ‘You don’t have mastery over conventional narrative.’ But I decided to drop out of school instead and make a totally weird movie that’s experimenting with the boundaries between documentary and fiction. That short film, which I filmed in a real nursing home with real residents, evolved into this weird film, which is Assisted Living."
You can’t blame the profs at NYU for steering their students away from anything this unusual. They couldn’t have foreseen that a film about a slacker finding solidarity with an Alzheimer’s patient, shot with a non-professional, mostly post-septuagenarian cast, would become the indie equivalent of a hit. Maybe if they’d seen the 1971 cult classic Harold and Maude, but that was so long ago . . .
For Greenebaum, the story was secondary to the tension between the real and the made-up. "In fiction films, everything is more controlled, and in documentary, the idea is you’re not exerting artistic control over the material, and in this environment, the fiction scenes have this eerie, uncontrolled quality to them. You can’t direct elderly people in the way that you can direct actors, so I got interested in making a movie that was in the gray scale between fiction and documentary. It’s sort of documentary, but there’s fictional characters, and the result was that I came up with a lot of interesting material but sort of a story that wasn’t big enough to support it."
There was enough story to get the support of independent distributor Cowboy Pictures. So does Greenebaum see himself as a role model for independent film directors? "What does ‘independent’ mean?" he asks. "It can be used to market a film pretty well, it means less money usually and less genre. I don’t know what it means. Whatever it means definitely applies in my case if your readership wants to see a genuinely independent film where no one knew it was being made, no relevant companies had any idea who I was. This just was a film done in Louisville, Kentucky, by a young filmmaker."
Greenebaum’s probe of the frontier between reality and fiction in cinema has been an issue with filmmakers at least since the documentaries of Robert Flaherty. What did he see as the outcome of these cinematic explorations and the future of movies?
"Video games," he says, ruefully. "And reality TV." And, of course, blockbusters like Star Wars

A Morning An Afternoon And An Evening.

Well, I am watching Law&Order SVU,marathon on USA. I really like the show, and well I have had a great day. I slept for at least 12 hours. I also took a nap. Tonight, I am planning on staying home and watch some more t.v. Well, today, I was so sleepy, I felt like I was going to pass out. Last night was a great I had a friend come over and we watched TV and drank. I am istill,bored,but I am keeping myself from falling asleep. I am kind of trying to figure out to do. I may stay home.

The weather is miserable, it was hot and sticky now its raining. I am wondering if I am wasting my time. I am kind of tired,my muscles are aching and I didn't think I was going to do anything. The day has been boring, I watched some of the Indy 500 and then I took a nap. Well, I am tired of being so sore and I took a shower but I am still feel dirty.

Hmm, I wonder what I am going to do tommorow. I may write for a few hours. Take a nap then write some more. I think I am going to walk around and maybe that ease the joints.

I had a wonderful slow day. I am glad that nothing exciting happend. Infact I am glad that I didn't do anything. Nothing new has happend today, so this will be a short entry.

a rant about the war

Well, what a long day. I am having. I thought today would be a restful day but infact it has become somewhat boring and near to death experiences. I have a few things I can do today without feeling sick. The weather outside is pretty warm and well I am stuck again inside. Well, today I watched mostly crap on T.V. and nothing really is on. So anyway, tommorow is the Indianapolis 500. Well I don't really care who wins really but its pretty exciting to watch, well at times it is.

I haven't had a real thing to worry about , tonight I am planning on going to Helios for work. I am not really thrilled into going but hey I just want to get out of the house. A few things are going well for me, I have Jillian to keep me company. As things are getting begin today, I am reminded why I am a Democrat. I have possibly said this before but being a Democrat is what makes me who I am today. I don't like George but I will listen to others praise him. Its not that I have a choice in who my president is. I did vote for Kerry, and living in Texas it was like a wasted ballot. Houston remarkably is a Democrat city, we elected Bill White as our Mayor, rather than Orlando Sanchez.

We haven't really got a chance to be rejoiced of the wonders of a great Democrat as President since Bill left office. While a large majority of people did vote for Gore in 2000, he was cheated out of the election. The problem I have with Republicans are they are so against ideas that I strongly care about. Hmm, some things I begin to wonder why on earth didn't a Democrat do it that way, or why is a Republican doing so half-assed like.

Bush, in my opinion, has done more to screw up the country and got us into the war in Iraq. A war that we shouldn't of been involved in the first place. He told us, we had weapons of mass destruction and well, after searching everywhere in the country, we found out,oops there not here. Sure, we had to protect the rights of the Iraqi people but damn it, we removed Saddam and we are still fighting. This war, I think is becoming more of a pain in the ass. I am not saying we should pull out like Vietnam,but we should try to help rebuild our messes. We are still sending troops back home in body bags and we are still getting many wounded. Not fun I say. Hmm, if we send more troops does that mean we will soon leave. I doubt it. The attack on Afghanstan, well we are still fighting over there,but the Media seemed to ignore that we are there. All our focus is in Iraq. I feel like I should alert the media and tell them, hey we have troops in Afghanstan, lets see what they are fighting against rather than just lay the spotlight on Iraq.

Well, do you think, we'll catch Ossama Bin Ladin, wishful thinking that we will but I doubt it. Sure he is a bad guy and we should get him but everyone is looking for him but he seems to be popping up more often like a groundhog sees his shadow then goes back to thinking whats the next best way to destroy America. I mean he is an evil guy, but he is also the same guy who helped us when fighting against the Russians in the early 80s. See, we chose our enemies based on what we see first. I doubt that people remember ,that some people were good for us at a time while others were just plain assholes. We depended on the help of Saddam, and now he is an evil man. What is it, with our change of hearts. I am not saying we should all be friends, but I am saying we should look at alternative enemies.

Alright, well I hate to argue about this but I am just sa ying we should change settings and scenary.

--------------------------BUSH Military Madness




Here is an article I wrote about Bush's Military Maddness, while I know many of you would hate it I thought it was worth writing.

Of all the inexplicable ways in which George Bush has somehow managed to project an image in direct contradiction to his true persona, none is more harmful nor more baffling than that of an effective and capable commander-in-chief. He is in fact overseeing a downturn in the public fortunes of the American Armed Forces that is beginning to rival the days immediately following the war in Vietnam.
To the American officer corps it must seem like a lifetime ago since the heady days of triumph against the Taliban, quickly followed by the demise of Saddam Hussein's regime. Now the news is a morale-sapping grind of gloom and doom, much of it self-inflicted from a political leadership that is in completely over their heads.
Of course the worst of the news continues to pour out of Iraq. Not only has there been a marked increase in Iraqi casualties, both military and civilian, but the death toll among the American forces refuses to diminish. In the first 4 months of the current War in Iraq the United States suffered 216 deaths; in the first 4 months of 2004 the United States suffered 254 deaths; in the first four months of 2005 the United States suffered 252 deaths (http://www.icasualties.org/oif/). All it takes is a glance at today's headlines to see that there is scarce reason indeed to believe these numbers will be very different in the first four months of 2006.
The killing will go on in Iraq for two very basic reasons: those who vehemently oppose the US presence in Iraq will continue to do so as long as we remain, just as the armed forces of the United States have every intention to continue to occupy their country. Anyone who still believes that the American involvement in Iraq is short-term most likely also believes that presidents don't lie.
Speaking of lies, as one bloody day after another goes by the underlying purpose given by the Bush administration for the invasion of Iraq is exposed for what is was - a spurious and shameless shell game. Bush's minions and mouthpieces skillfully and relentlessly kept the pea moving from cup to cup as they bantered, badgered and blathered about a myriad of dangers that would only escalate by our inaction.
That they succeeded in convincing enough people of the merits of their arguments is more an indictment of the American electorate than it is a reaffirmation of the validity of their position. The fact is that they succeeded by harnessing the enormous persuasive influence of their high office to the hardwired reflexive action of a people motivated by fear and uncertainty. The result has been they we are now committed to a path that upon reflection would never have been chosen - a path that will not lead America to a safer and more secure future, but rather threatens to wear down the best-equipped and best-trained Army in world to a degree of markedly-diminished capabilities.
Outside of Iraq the news, while not lethal, is nonetheless far from positive. The recent announcement of base closings triggered the fully-expected posturing and positioning from affected politicians from sea to shining sea. While each is hellbent to protect the jobs of their constituency – or at least to appear that way in public – none seem to be able to fully grasp the idea that the vast majority of these bases can easily be consolidated within the remaining domestic military infrastructure with little or no degradation of military readiness. But even if their wails of protest go unheeded and all the proposed closings go through, how does this effect the pocketbook of Joan and Joe Taxpayer?
Obviously the $48 billion the Defense Department is claiming will be saved by these closings is a tremendous amount of money. However when one looks at it both from the context of time, and relative to military expenditures as a whole, its stature shrinks considerably. This money is projected to be saved over the course of twenty years. In that time – based on current levels of expenditure with a little inflationary effect thrown in for good measure – the US defense megalith will devour approximately 10 trillion dollars. Meaning this 48 billion dollars will amount to a savings of less than one half of one percent: .048 percent to be exact.
Meanwhile, the powers that be have every intention of making sure that the United States has a firm grasp on the ultimate high ground of the battlefields of tomorrow – they plan to introduce space-based weapons that will increase even further the already-enormous amounts of money devoted to the armed forces. And this will be financed with money we don't have, of course.
Come to think of it, it is probably a good idea that the wave of the future is in robotic weaponry because the Army is having an increasingly hard time getting real live people to join its ranks. According to public records, the Army has missed its enlistment goals every month this year since January. The pressure on the men and women charged with finding the soldiers of tomorrow has risen to such a level that a number of them have been cutting more than a few corners - so much so that the DoD recently ordered an unprecedented one day stand-down which was used to re-indoctrinate its recruiters in the dos and don'ts of filling the ranks.
It is eminently understandable why so many young people are having second thoughts about signing on the dotted line. Can you blame them? Not only are the dangers real and ever-present, but the payoff just doesn't quite seem as worthwhile as it was just a few short years ago. In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, the same kind of young men and women who have always had the courage, fortitude and strength of their convictions to fight the wars of America were more than willing to put their lives on the line in defense of our homes and way of life. Now the clarion call to battle doesn't ring anywhere near as true.
It is not the wave of damning revelations against the "bad apples" of Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, Afghanistan, et al, that has in and of itself soured them on the military; it is more so that it is always the little guy who gets the blame and punishment. That Mr. Bush has never held either himself or any high level commander responsible for any mistake regardless of how widespread or egregious is not lost on the 18-year-olds watching the evening news.
On top of it all, the story of a real American hero, Pat Tillman, a guy who willingly walked away from a life of pampered privilege to accept the thankless job of a combat infantryman, a man who had come to symbolize what's right with the young people of the United States, has now been turned on its head. The coverup surrounding the circumstances of his death has come to represent how these young men and women are not getting the leadership they so richly deserve.
The Army and the Bush administration was so desperate to put a positive spin on Pat Tillman's death that they not only lied about the circumstances surrounding it but they lied about the fact that they lied, and would have continued to do so if members of the much-maligned free press hadn't finally blown the whistle.
Pat Tillman went to his grave, just like almost two thousand of his comrades have, doing their duty to the best of their ability in the face of incalculable sacrifice and hardship. The men who have ordered them into harm's way will eventually go to theirs without a scratch on them.

ok its that time of the week. Come up with the caption.

a day off after a week of work.

Thank goodness today is Friday. I have been working on my novel for about 5 days now and I am almost done revising it and editing it. I have started a month ago but I have been working at least 4 hours a day every day just to get it done. Well I told myself my deadline would be June 20th but I think I will be done by June 6th or so. Last night I went out,looking for an apartment and an address that didn't exist. It really sucked cause I waited and looked for the address for at least 2 hours, then I got tired and took the bus back home.

Today is a really a day off. I am planning on just taking it easy and wait to do something productive. I called to see if Bjorn wanted to do anything but he is swamped with his own plans and it made me wonder, why couldn't I be that busy like him. Instead I am here bored to tears, with nothing really planned for the weekend. Today I woke up with a terrible tummy ache :-( I started watching the Today Show, since I heard it would have Def Lepard and Brian Adams. Well I saw the concert and wasn't really excited but it was ok. So I started writing about 8 this morning and I haven't really done much in the sense of productivity. I am not tired, I am bored. I think I am just going to stay in tonight and watch some tv or go out tonight. I don't know yet. Well, my muscles aren't hurting as much but I still can't move my right leg real well. Plus if I go out tonight, I would have to see people I don't really care to see. Man I wish I knew what to do.

Ahh! I am having a great day of basically doing nothing but keeping myself busy so I don't freak out or becomebored. I think if I write I will be unbored. I thought of something, I should get a drink tonight, but I also realized its a little cheaper to do it from home. Plus I don't have to get a PI (PUBLIC INTOXICATION) if i do it at home.

Well aside from doing that, I may just enjoy a nice restful day and work again tommorow. I finished my article that I am planning on sending to Omar at Freepress and I have done a lot of my photographs.

Speaking of photographs, thanks for the two captions for the crazy caption contest of this past week. I am sending you what was supposed to be Thursday's photo today cause I didn't really have the time to do it on Thursday.

Well if you saw American Idol on Wednesday you know that the hot chick, Carrie Underwood, won. For me I didn't care who won,but I kind of was pulling for the kickboxing black girl, Vonzelle. Well for a reality tv whore, I thought it was funny to watch Bo lose. The guy looked as if he was a member of a cult or he was trying to mimic Jesus. Well, I know Bo will more than likely be like Clay Aiken, he was second place but is more famous than the winner Ruben Studdard. Unfortanatly for the first season, Kelly Clarkson, is more famous than that Afrowearing guy Justin. So I can't say that just second place get more fame then the first.

It made me think of this seasons batch of Reality crap. I want to be a Hilton, hosted by Kathy Hilton, Paris's mom so you kind of wonder what the hell is next. I also heard about the Martha Stewart reality show, now that is something worth seeing. Not really! I am possibly going to dedicate this summer into reading and revising up books. Hmm, what book should I read next. I think the next book would be a modern book. My fingers are hurting and I am still waiting for dad to pay me. I am going to stretch for a while and then see if I can walk.

Working on this blog, has been a great expeirence and I enjoy writing about my days and what I plan on doing next. I think I may go to the Aerodrome, if I can get a lift. The weather outside is hot and it will rain later today. I kind of like the rain but I don't like the mixture of heat and wetness. Its just so unbelievably sticky when that happens. Well for now I am doing ok without being in the sun.

Its been a long early morning and I am about to begin to think I should stay in. Hmm! Well I am going to e-mail, Silvia, tonight to tell her news. I will post a few pics on here when I am done.

So I will write more later tonight.

In Memoriam: The Television News Media (1950-2005)

I thought this was a great rant. My friend Nancy wrote it on her webzine and I thought it was apporperate. So Thanks again Nancy for the rant. I am glad to see we aren't the only ones.


After a lengthy illness, the Television News Media (TNM) finally succumbed to a combination of lapses in professionalism and ethics, complicated by an obvious loss of the will to live.
Born in the early Fifties, the TNM grew from its infancy and developed as a strong, easily accessible news source for a constantly growing number of viewers, supported by the talents of informed investigative journalists.
During its frequently-troubled adolescent years, TNM found its voice and was often outspoken on the issues of the day, both domestic and international. Not afraid to criticize the government and its policies, TNM regularly investigated its own stories, and often took the initiative to look behind White House press releases and other suspect sources.
The TNM ventured, unafraid and uncensored, into coverage of events like Watergate, and was widely credited with turning the tide of public opinion against American involvement in Viet Nam by bringing the true horrors of war, as well as the lies being told about it, to the American public.
Upon hearing of TNM's untimely passing, childhood friends reminisced about their departed friend, who had earned the nickname "VP" (Vigilant Press) back in the halcyon days of early broadcasting.
"We started noticing the symptoms on Inauguration Day, January 2001," explained a long-time friend. "There were thousands of protesters lining the streets along Bush's route, but TNM was adamant in its refusal to show them. We should have realized then that something was terribly wrong. It seemed so out of keeping with the TNM we'd grown up with."
In the lead-up to the war in Iraq, it was obvious that TNM was in failing health. Stories generated by the White House about WMD, a connection to 9/11 and Al Qaeda affiliations aired without any questions being asked.
"Back in the day," observed a long-time TNM colleague, "a story as bogus as that would never have gotten past the cue-card writers – it was that full of holes."
By the time the 2004 presidential campaign was in full swing, TNM was out of control. Rumours about wild Swift Boat parties began circulating, and viewers were left to their own ingenuity to try to ferret out any real information.
"It seemed unable to focus," commented one angry viewer. "The whole time questions were being asked about Bush's military record, TNM was arguing about the legitimacy of everyone's sources. Fair enough. But it got so caught up in the minutia of who was saying what, the real story about Bush's whereabouts during his so-called military service was completely lost."
In the aftermath of the election, TNM began showing signs of forgetfulness. Although two months of investigation into vote fraud, in Ohio and elsewhere, were ongoing, TNM failed to even mention it.
"There was a time when a story like that would have been all over the airwaves," said a disgruntled former colleague. "But all TNM seemed to be interested in was Scott Peterson, and Brad and Jen breakin' up – whoever they are."
"I think TNM kind of rallied when the Valerie Plame and Abu Ghraib scandals surfaced," commented a more compassionate viewer. "You know, all that talk about getting to the bottom of things, and demanding answers – it was great while it lasted. For a minute there, it was almost like the old days. But there was never any follow-through, and – well, you know the rest."
By the spring of 2005, TNM had deteriorated to the point where it had to be hooked up to a TelePrompTer, apparently fed directly by the Administration, the right-wing, and corporate interests. Polls showed that a vast majority of viewers favoured pulling the plug.
Dementia had set in, and TNM started babbling incoherently about runaway brides and other nonsense, obviously unable to speak rationally about the economy, job outsourcing, soaring gas prices and the disastrous situation in Iraq.
"I think it was failure to cover the Downing Street Memo story that did it in," said a (former) devoted viewer. "It was like ol' TNM just didn’t have any fight left in him. That’s when we knew it was over," he added, too overcome by emotion to continue.
The White House has yet to issue any formal statement on TNM's passing, but spokesperson Scotty McClelland called the idea of the death of ethical journalism "absurd."
"You just have to look at the up-and-comers like Jeff Gannon to realize that honesty and integrity are flourishing in today's creative news-gathering environment."
While official autopsy findings have not been disclosed, it is widely acknowledged that TNM's illness was contagious, having already spread to the radio and print news media.
The deceased is survived by websites and blogs, who reluctantly took control of the family business when TNM proved too weak-minded to carry out its duties responsibly.
Memorial services will not be held, due to what is obviously a total lack of interest on anyone's part.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to appropriate websites.

ok its been a while since my last post.

Well I arrived back from Mobile on Sunday and well I have forgot to write about the wedding. The trip was a fun but it also very long. I was happy to see my friends but I am kind of glad that I don't have to see them all the time.

It was a pretty wedding and the reception was alright.I didn't meet many new people and well I dressed like a writer. Speaking of writer's I saw Tom Wolfe on TV. He is a great writer and they were talking about The Right Stuff. Which I think is a great book about NASA the history of the early space program. That made me think I still want to go up in space. The weather is great,unfortnatly its still to Hot to go outside. I like that I have a great day ahead of me. I spend most of my day either writing or feeling bored. My muscles are killing me and though I have to take my meds and shower. Well, I have recently finished reading Fever Pitch, it was a good book and the story was well through out. Nick Hornsby is a great writer. I don't know why but I do like his books. My favorite is High Fidelity and About A Boy.
High Fidelity was a great book, Its also a real funny book if you like music and neurotic people and relationships.

Well, I am a bit tired but I am not sleepy. I have a terrible stomach ache. I wonder what to do. The dog is on the couch.
I think I'll write more later but for now I am taking a shower.

Going to review a few things and then head out.

Well about my trip to Mobile, the trip as I said before was long trip but it was fun. While on the road we drove through Mississippi and stopped at St.Pauls. Boy the place sure as heck changed since I graduated. The main school building and the whole campus looked like a Botanical garden. The weather was nice, and we took a trip around campus and visited Covington, where we ate at Cafe Etoile. I liked the place when I was a student, and I thought I would run into David. David,Ms Amanda's exboyfriend. I thought he would be happy to see me and plus I wanted to just say hi. The waitress didn't remember me,but I could of sworn it was Kristin Dugger. Craig's fiancee or wife. Anyway, driving through Covington, it lost some of its appeal of small town America by turning it into one of those crappy suburbia type cities. It was a great town and the downtown still cute but once you get of Highway 180 it looks like a big version of Sugarland. Targets and Wallmart. It was terrible.

I wanted to live back in Covington but it would be most likely me living on Janckee or Boston Avenue. Anyway, Covington sure as hell changed a lot in 6 years.
But aside from Covington,we drove through Mississippi or as I call it, The Billboard State. The whole state was covered with buildboards advertising acts who are performing at the casinos. I mean it looked like has beens who couldn't be on the Hollywood Squares. I did do something subconciously while driving, I went to the bathroom and everytime. I guess its my way of "shitting "on Trent Lott's state. The state is a lovely state but too many billboards. I like the state but I hate Trent Lott. Pasacugla is a small town, but its close to Alabama, I began to think it was part of the state.

Alabama is a nice state, but when we got to Mobile, we went to the hotel, the hotel was nice but i felt like staying in bed for a while my muscles were aching. I never had a terrible cramps in my legs, I had a swelling the calf. After, our first night, we left for the wedding. Spring Hill is a lovely campus, infact Rice and Spring Hill are the best two campuses I've been to. I mean I wouldn't want to live there for 4 years but the chapel was amazing. So I thought Spring Hill was a great campus to just walk around, too bad it was to damn hot.

I figured the campus has the University of Toronto feel to it,but with the heat of the South.

After the wedding, we came back to the hotel and ate dinner at this barbeque place that Robb Walsh was saying was one of the best barbeque in the South and dad heard from one of his co-workers it was good. but in my own opinion, the barbeque was kind of dry and it wasn't all that great. I liked the potato salad, but the food was alright, they had a thing called the Beef plate, which I was disappointed thinking it was going to have just beef stuff but instead it was just brisket. Saucy's is alright and the only problem is that the waitstaff can't count. I mean the food tasted alright, but I wouldn't brag saying its the best. I have had barbeque from Memphis and I have had Texas barbeque and I still think Memphis is the best. My next trip for good barbeque is going to be Kansas City. I have had "southern" which is different then Texas barbeque. Memphis barbeque, slow cooks the ribs and add flavouring in the sauce. Southern barbeque the sauce is added last minute and its home-made, Texas doesn't put barbeque sauce on there dinner. Its all in the rub.

I do like barbeque and I do like different types but I have to go with my traditional traditions of having it. First, if your in the south like Alabama, you drink Ice Tea,sweetened. If your in Memphis you drink unflavored Ice Tea but in Texas it has to be with beer, a good Texas beer like Shiner or Lone Star.

So its all a variety of ways, in Kansas City, I'll find what is the proper drink with there barbeque.

Well,I guess to be honest, the review of Saucy is food was alright and the service was well an experience. But if you are in Mobile, its a good place to listen to old blues classics and have the southern experience. The potato salad was good, the rib I had was fair and the price were great.
So i will say its a **** out of *****.

Here is a link for Saucy Q Barbeque in Mobile and read about it. If your interested in going.

http://www.saucyqbarbque.com/index.htm

I will hopefully soon have pictures of the wedding posted. I didn't bring my camera but I did bring my laptop so I could write. Which I did most of the time. Well anyway, I will have a few pictures I am going to scan as soon as I am done.

Googly Gaga Goo

I had a great dream, last night. I spent the night dreaming I was working with Atticus Finch. The hero and lawyer of To Kill A Mockingbird. I loved the film and thought it was possibly one of my great films. Atticus is so cool. A nerdy but gentleman of the south trying to protect Tom Robinson a black man accused of Rape. I loved the characters, and Boo Radley when I was younger, kind of scared me. I thought he was a great weirdo,but I think out of all my literary characters my favorite is Dill, I mean he is so funny and yet so off beat with his comments. I mean Harper Lee said that she modeled Dill after Truman Copote. I myself am a big fan of Truman Copote. He was an excellent writer in his own world. I kind of mimic him in some of his stories. In Cold Blood is a classic, and I think that helped me write my book. I am a romantic I also loved Breakfast at Tiffany's .

I found that Truman Copote is one of the few writers,that was wierd but was also passionate about writing. I tend to believe that he was well describe his characters and sometimes they just were awesome. I think of mode American authors he is one of my favorites.

Well I have packed up my clothes and ready to go for my trip to Alabama. I can't wait. I haven't been to Alabama in ages. Plus I can't wait to see my friends, I finally have the confidence to tell them I am a writer. I also am working on several articles. I have packed and did some walking around the house and my legs feel good.

I can't really wait to sit in the car for 8hrs. It is going to be a long trip but its going to be fun. I am planning on writing and reading. The weather outside is supposed to be a hot and I am glad I'll be in the nice airconditioning car.

I have a music selected for this trip. I am going to leave as soon as she is ready. I am pretty happy today I took my medicine and I am relaxed. I guess it was the dream.

Right now I am watching Ellen,the show sucks but its better than nothing at all. I am also going to try to pack my computer. I have a long day ahead of me and I am ready to start it. I enjoy roadtrips sometimes they help inspire me on writing.

I have been writing and research for my book.

Can you come up with the funniest caption for this picture?
Contest Picture Number 2.

A Lagnappe of stuff,

Hey,
Well what a long boring morning this has been. Last night was pretty fun I watched Smallville and had friends come over. I feel really wired. I took a shower and shaved and now I look nice. I was supposed to go to the galleria, but of course I am staying in today again. I hate that I am stuck inside the house again but at least I have my health and my body doesn't feel as achy as before. I had a good breakfast of strawberries and waffles. It was delicious. I also slept till 10 today and that felt awesome too.

I have actually lost weight, yay me! That is what I feel, that I am not as fat as before and I can finally fit in a pair of pants without holding it in. I also have stretched a little and been going to bed at an early time. I haven't really had a midnight snack to eat, but I did eat a little late last night, cause I wasn't really hungry till I went to bed. Today I cleaned my room and put clothes in the hamper in the bathroom and well I took time time to reclean it. I can't wait to start my day today, I have been feeling really good today like I am more aware. I am also finishing up a new book about Pierre Eliott Trudeau,former Prime Minister of Canada, its a great biography and I am also doing research about the election that is coming up. I am pretty happy that I have become more aware with the Canadian Politics, it makes aware, and since I am always facinated in any form of politics I figured I should be interested in the politics of my other citizenship.

Last night , I saw this PBS documentary on Piano Blues. It was terrific program and they showed Dr.John, one of my favorite living blues man. Well I love the Blues and I love the sound of the piano when its played. My friend from high school Nick was a great pianist. and he spend hours just playing old school blues like Ray Charles classic, Mess Around or Lightin Hopkins. It was pretty cool seeing him jam on the piano when we were at school.

---- -----------------a music review of sort.
Well last night, and this is a review of some sort, I listened to the new Bruce Springsteen album Devils and Dust. I myself loved the album, it was so warming and so melodic, some of the songs were even better than his earlier work. In a way he brought back the spirit of classic Bob Dylan, in the song Devils and Dust. I will be the first to admit I wasn't a big Springsteen fan when I was younger but I did like listening to some of the songs and some where even pulling the heart strings. Several songs, in this album were great folkish type song. But others where typical Bruce styles.

The messages in each of song is great. I tend to listen for the messages and the lyrics and some of shows an attack on the war in Iraq and Bush that to me was why I liked it.


So I would concider this album as a must have.

**** out of ****

The weather outside is beautiful, and not many clouds but i am still stuck in the house. I am happy that things are going well and since I am going to be leaving for the weekend for the wedding I am submitting my newest photo for caption contest. I will hopefully have plenty of photos of the wedding when we get back. I can't wait to finally be out of the house. I hate being stuck inside. Also I am not planning on going to Valhalla even though its tempting. I don't want to tempt faith. Also tonight hopefully we will have a new Aprentice. No update on that subject. See last week's blog for my input.

Plus I need to pack my suitcase for the Wedding. I have a pretty busy day today, I have to call Meyerland Animal Clinic to place Miss Maxine in the kennel and I have to write a few hours for now. A lot of thoughts are going through my mind and I am having a lot of things I need to do before we leave.
So incase I don't write on Friday I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. I have an idea, for my caption contest, I will post one on Sunday and one Thursday. Well anyway I want to thank those who submitted there captions for the first pic and hopefully we will have more for the next one.

A second blog in the same day

Well I ranted in the last post about media coverage and the scene in Houston. I am here wondering, what a beautiful day I am spending indoors. Yea its sucks that I am stuck in here because if I go outside my organs will be hurt and I will become delusional. So I figured I will stay at home tonight and watch Smallville and Law&Order. My feet are still swollen and my back is a bit achy but other than that I am fine.

Nothing exciting happend today, I updated my website and fixed several pages and rewrite some of the stuff I put there. It was a long time since I last posted something but, it needed to be done. I also wrote for a few hours so that kept me busy. I am taking a break from all the writing and I have done some research for the book. I have done my article for this week and hopefully it will be done. You know the last minute effort of doing something that is due the next day, well thats what I did. I sent the thing out and I have finally done a paper a day before deadline.

I saw a really stupid show today,I was wondering why was I watching but have no fear, I changed it before watching the whole thing. I think I am going to invite the chica to watch tv with me. I am watching these people skipping work waiting in line for the Star Wars. I know I may of said this before, but I won't be camping out inline for theaters for the premire of the new film. Infact I kind of feel that its creepy that these people are so obsessed with the film. Well I am not, and I really don't care for Star Wars. I just think its a good film but not obssessed with each of the stories infact I haven't seen Episode 2.

I think before I watch episode 3 I need to watch the first 5 again. I may even watch it on DVD before seeing it theatres. Well I think I will do that one day this summer.

Well I am going to relax nothing good is on tv so I may take a nap or try to walk without being sick.

Before I go, I thought this was funny even though I am a male.

20 Things you'll NEVER hear men say:

I think Barry Manilow is one cool mother fucker.

No, I don't want another beer, I have to work tomorrow.

Her tits are just too big.

Sometimes I just want to be held.

That chick on "Murder, She Wrote" gives me a woody.

Sure, I'd love to wear a condom.

We haven't been to the mall for ages. Let's go shopping and I can hold your purse.

Fuck Monday Night Football, let's watch Ally.

It's late. Put your clothes back on and I'll take you home.

Honey, I'm going to the store, do you need more tampons?

I know you just blew me, but I need a kiss
.
I'm sick of beer . . . give me a fruit juice with a lemon twist.

Great, your mother's coming to stay with us again.

I wonder if my gorgeous neighbor knows that her drapes are open when she's getting ready for bed? Maybe I should tell her to close them.

No way, you weeded the garden last week. It's my turn.

Better get rid of these old Penthouse magazines. I don't look at them anymore.

I understand.

This movie has too much nudity
.
Damn, we're late for church.

Put some panties on for Christ's sake.

I thought that was funny, even though I know a lot of men may hate this.

Its News To Me Its News To You A Rant on Houston's Local News

Don't Get Me Started.

---------- I tend to complain alot and well thats true, but I am getting more and more upset with the news. No I am not saying that the news is all bad, but local news here in Houston has really become a joke. Top Local Network News is going to be attacked.
They start airing fluff stories that really aren't journalistic material. A few weeks ago, I was watching channel 2, the NBC affilated station, and they were reporting on a doggy diet for there channel's mascot Radar. My question what the hell is so newsworthy about a small dog's diet. Sure we should be concerned that our pets don't get over weight but damn it its not a major news story. I am sorry but some of these things just get frustrating.

Also in the same network, there investgating team are really reaching to make people afraid to go out. Here is the story, Steven Dean, wanted to warn parents about online predetors and posed as a 15 yr old girl online and lured men to come visit her. Once they came to the house, they were in for a "surprise" instead of a 15 yr old girl, you had a fat middle age man with a camera. Well sure we should be afraid of who our child chats with online but having a repeative news story over and over about online preditors and chasing them down. Its kind of creepy. This channel wants you to be afraid of everything, and I am not joking pretty much anything that people do, they'll find some way to say it will kill you. If it doesn't kill you its not news to them.

Well Channel 13 also has there fair share of sensational news stories but they also have there share of local media legends working for there news casts, they have the Marvin Zindler.This guy tops the list of outrageous reporters working for a local station. He worked on exposing the imfamous Chicken Ranch, and his reporting and his tatics were parodied in the musical, The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas. His reporting and his stories are really just bunk. Also the same station has Jeff Ealing,this is a reporter who makes anything depressing to watch. I mean he find's these stories and make them so sad, not for the people involved but the way he reports them. A crisis in a small town,he makes it seem like a Shakespearan tragedy. It kind of makes me sick to watch the news hearing how life is listening to him.

Channel 26, the Fox Affilated station doesn't report the news, it just seems like it cut and pastes news stories from other networks and claim them as there own. No major sensationalism, but they will find a story that will really try to boost there ratings.

Channel 39, the WB affliate, although new to the news scene they try to show viewers they mean business. My only problem is that its one of those news shows that seems that everyone is watching but really its on a network that no body really cares. I remember when Channel 39 when they aired crappy syndicated sitcoms that networks couldn't shelves. Then they revamped the network first as an all black station which was replaced by the UPN, but has now become an all Teenybopper drama network. Sure I like some of the shows,on the WB but most of them just don't appeal to me, mainly because I am the wrong gender and too old to watch these shows.


Well last network which I find to have a normal news with a few stories that are with a very few sensationalistic stories. Is Channel 11 CBS, the local news, has a lot of great stories but most of them are involving disasters involving the Light Rail. Some of these stories are just benign that I can't figure out whats the point of these stories, some people view it as pretty boy news.

These networks,are pulling every stop to be the best but even I don't and I possibly will never figure out which network has the best newscast. So when we chose to watch the news, chose what suits you best, whether you like extreme like Channel 2 or the more calmer approach to the same news, Channel 11.

my pic 

A Rant of American Film Industry.

ok I was reading someone's blog a few weeks ago and they were complaining about Hollywood remaking classic films and you know let me say I agree with the person who wrote the blog. I mean Hollywood hasn't come up with an original idea in ages its all the same crap over and over again. Some films granted are great when they are remade, some just plain suck. But to the Hollywood industry here is a simple note quit making remakes of good films. I mean whats next Casablanca or Gone With The Wind hell Citizen Kane remakes. They would all suck. but I am a classic film and literature buff and I am also a critical of books that are turned into movies so I have to wait and see whether its artistic licenced or if they have merit of the booyk. Classic example, Gone With The Wind, the book by Margret Mitchell was a good and the movie was a classic. MASH the book, was a terrible book but the movie was good, Altman changed it from a Korean plot line to a Vietnamiesq. made sense, and the TV show was excellent. But a great book turned to an excellent interptation to film was Dave Barry's Book Big Trouble. Sure the movie may of been panned by audience& critics but its pretty much word for word the book. You feel as if you are one of the lowlifes in the characters, Another great book turned movie was Mario Puzo's The Godfather but it was more of The Godfather II then the first one.

Speaking of Francis Ford Coppola, he said his inspiration of Apocylpse Now was based on the gruesome book by Joseph Conrad Heart of Darkness,Well that was pretty much the best interpretation of a book without really being the book. However Hollywood also fails in doing details of great books to make good movies, some just suck when they are on screen. An excellent example, is Thomas Harris Red Dragon, that is a double threat in my book, first the book was great the first version of the film ,Manhunter with William Pederson was good but the remake Red Dragon with Ed Norton was just awful.

Well I am sorry but when your job is basically reading and reviewing music and movies you tend to watch for detail if they are anything like the book or if there are flaws. I mean at the end of Jurassic Park, I was like hey that was nothing like the book but I liked the film. I liked its sequel too The Lost World but I didn't like the book. Sometimes movies are better than the book. Rarely but its true.

Well here is another rant about the Hollywood film industry besides coming up with remakes and books turned to film that either are great or blah. Its Hollywood ruining great and not so great foreign films and Americanizing them for American Audiences.

OK, I know that a lot of people hate foreign films, and I know a few who hate reading the subtitles or have no clue what the point are of these foreign films. Some figure that foreign mean cheesey Godzilla or worse half ass Bosinia films that are narrated by a goat. Well here is my take on them, enjoy them, they do have some artisitic merit.

OK example one of good foreign film turned bad Americanization. The japanese classic Shall We Dansu? or Shall We Dance? I mean both had similar plot lines overworked schmoe finds that ballroom dancing is missing in his life so he secretly does it. Well my problem, with the American version is it wasn't believable. I mean Richard Gere didn't really look like he was worn out or that he even needed to be trained to dance he looked like he was natural while in the Japanese version, Kôji Yakusho looked believable as a workaholic accountant.

Plus in the American version you had to have big names to play the key roles like Jennifer Lopez, my question is why? I know she is an ok actress,singer,dancer but why her movies are somewhat miserible.

Well Americans have taken some terrific films from the Japanese and played them as there own originals, A great example is Akira Kurosawa Seven Samurais, well the film is a great story, town is being attack by bandits and the town needs heros so they inlist 7 samurais nijas to protect them. The story sounds familiar well Hollywood did a film similar to it, called the Magnificent Seven, directed by John Stergis,with Steve McQueen and Yul Brenner. Well both films are well played but the original is overlooked because well its foreign and not many believe thats the original. Also a recent film Ringu has been remade and has sold more than the original, but its still scarier than the first one. The Ring, (American version) with Naomi Watts is great is scary and even the unrated version is scarier but try watch the Japanese version that will get your blood curling.

The United States doesn't only take films from the Japanese they also take it from the French. Yea I know so what, Americans don't like the french but we have taken a lot of there films too. Well a funny french film Les Visteurs was well played out and was funny when it was first done. Christian Clavier is a gem as the dimwitted servant and Jean Reno was funny as the prince. Well,Americans decided it would be a great idea if they brought the film to an American Audience and to much to the dismay the film bombed in the box office. Here is the kicker,it was the same exact plot as the first one in French but made into English with the same actors playing the same type of roles they played. I mean, the original was funny the remake american film was terrible.

Another great french film and this was a terrible American film from the get go, starting with the cast, was Taxi. I mean I felt as if Gerard Peres was an excellent director of the french film and the film was well played out, and even had some action.
But the American film was just awful, first Queen Latifah and Jimmy Fallon I mean the question was like what the hell was this another Black and White cop flick. I mean being chased by supermodel bankrobbers,"give me a break",

I mean in the original, the taxi driver is a smart ass & inept cop who doesn't how to drive and he but its still has the combo of both action and comedy in the film film.

I mean,there were somethings that were so stupid in the American film that I even just wondered what the hell was the director thinking of. First, in the original, the robbers were German and tough as hell but in this version to make it upbeat and to appeal to the men, they were Brazillian and they were hot. So what! I just thought the original was more realistic and visual while the American looked like a comedic version of a bad episode of Knight Rider.

Well I can't wait to see what's the next foreign film Americans are going to butcher next. Here is a few suggestions that they can do, trust me I may review them and be glad to give my opinions whether there version can match the foreign or is better.



La Vita E Bella (directed by Roberto Benigni) a great Italian story about the Nazis Death Camps and the love of a boy and his father.

Le Ballon Rouge (directed by Albert Lamorisse) a story about a boy and the journey of a red balloon.

or a classic Jackie Chan film My Lucky Stars. yes another cop film but this one is pretty good though, he teams up with Sammy Hung and the two are pretty cool.



Well those are just a few foreign films I would and maybe see as an American interpretation.

I have ranted about the American film industry and I think I should say like every director and say thats a wrap. I'll write more tommorow. For now my muscles are getting weaker.

The Front Page a review

First a little info on the play.

Hildy Johnson, newspaper reporter, is engaged to Peggy Grant and planning to move to New York for a higher paying advertising job. The court press room is full of lame reporters who invent stories as much as write them. All are waiting to cover the hanging of Earl Williams. When Williams escapes from the inept Sheriff, Hildy seizes the opportunity by using his $260 honeymoon money to payoff an insider and get the scoop on the escape. However, Walter Burns, the Post's editor, is slow to repay Hildy back, hoping that he will stay on the story. Getting a major scoop looks possible when Hildy stumbles onto the bewildered escapee and hides him in a roll-top desk in the press room. Burns shows up to help. Can they keep Williams' whereabouts secret long enough to get the scoop, especially with the Sheriff and other reporters hovering around

Well the play was written by Ben Hecht and Charles Mac Arthur. I love the play and the movies are halarious.

The characters are so well played. The Sheriff, Pete Hartman is so dumb and wants to win the election so badly that he will do anything in his way to get reelected also his lines are classic and Earl Williams is so nerdy that I would love to play his role. Walter Burns plays the type of Boss that reminds me of my dad that he wants to push you extra hard to get the facts in the story first rather than adding detail. Hildy, is like me, a go getter from the start but wants to quit his job as a reporter and want to branch out in the world and get married to his new sweetheart Peggy, but his true love is journalism. Like my true love is writing,and I couldn't escape writing if it killed me. There is pretensious and anal Roy V Bennsinger who is so anal about everything that his character is such a tight wide he would be great to play also. There is Earl Williams love intrest or someone who was the only one who believed him, Molly Malloy,a call girl.

Well those are just a few a characters. But I recommend for all of you to watch any of the following the classic films of Alfred Manjou and Pat O'Brien or the Walter Matthau or Jack Lemmon film or the recent adaptation of the film Switching Channels with Kathleen Turner and Burt Reynolds.

These films are all very good and I am possibly since my father raised me to write a story with information then detail. I am a writer and that is why I also love the Front Page and that is why I am possibly am addicted to the movies.


Well thats a review of The Front Page.

Other than that my muscles are killing me and I have a massive headache and can't move my arms really well. My legs are feeling like slush right now. I am about to take a shower and write the next story in about 30 minutes. I have been working on this entry for working and hopefully Spin takes the credit for it. Tonight, I may stay home and watch t.v. or relax my muscles and apply a mask. I have to do a beauty mask for an article I am doing. Kind of fun Sarah gave me an article for me to write about Beauty tips for Men. I am trying it out and I will let you know how it goes. I will write a sample article here before I send it out to the publisher.

I think I am going to ask dad to buy some pickles, I am craving them,but I know he doesn't like them. Plus I need some cucumbers for Meg and I. Maxine is sitting next to me and looks like she is depressed,but she is tired she woke up at 8 with me. I made a pot of coffee and I have to reheat the cup I made.
This day has been pretty good so far, I have been sore but I am not debilatating, and I am sore and hopefully I can move around today. I will attempt to walk around someplace. Hopefully I won't be stung by the sun.

Well I am waiting on dad to wake up. Well, I am pretty good spirits today and hope to work on my new diet program and trying to keep my face healthy for the wedding this Saturday. I still can't believe Chip is getting married. I am happy for him. Him and Kerry make a cute couple and well I am happy for them. So just a heads up readers, I won't be online for the next few days starting Friday. Unless I can bring my laptop with me. I will post the latest contest photo on Thursday.

Alright I am going to finish for now I'll write my next blog about politics in 3 hours. or so.

Contest I am proposing

This is a Genius of an Idea!Each week I will find funniest and somewhat dimwitted pictures I find online and post them and each week I will post them like I did with the reporter and ask people to place there comments and ask people to submit there funniest comments on each of the pictures I have displayed. For each comment that I deem funny I will give a shout out to on the following week's blog. I will find and please feel free to submit your own copy of wacky pictures to me as well. I will be gladly mock them.It will be a contest, a wacky photo plug contest. Who ever comes up with the best plug wins

An Early Start

I started my day at an early today. I woke up at 8 am and started doing my laundry at 8:30 and I am drying my clothes right now. So far thats pretty much has been my day. I have been working hard in keeping my clothes clean and keeping my room clean too. I also removed the excess from the closet which I mentioned yesterday. Earlier today I watched CBS Sunday Morning, I rarely watch the show but today I made the occasion to watch because they were showing the Good Life. Well they showed Lifestyle of the Rich & Famous celebrity sponge Robin Leach. I mean thats what he is a sponge, he absorbs everything about the wealthy and sucks it up and then takes it puts in the platter of the less fortunate. How funny a guy named Leach is really a leach.
I am also planning on doing my closet later on afterwards. I am watching Meet The Press. I did do somethings besides my laundry,I took my medicine, emailed Silvia, and made coffee. I am pretty sure that my day will be boring as hell but I have done enough today that would pretty much last me a whole day if I wasn't bored today. I know what's dad's plans he is going to a party and I am stuck inside cooped up because I can't go outside because of the sun. I am going to take a shower after I finish my blog. I will put the chair in the garage. Things couldn't be any more boring today I have done everything that I need to do.

The weather is hot and humid that really sucks because I can't go anywhere I hate being stuck or cooped up inside the house. Its just feels as if I am underhouse arrest. Oh well. I can't complain,well ya I can,but I have done that all the time.

Well I am going to figure out what to wear in a few minutes. I am watching celebrity children and see how well they are pampered and saw how they are got there money from there mom's and dad. I mean I make 40 a week and if I save my money I can make a lot of money. Well I am working on this blog looking at other blogs to submit some of my articles and rants, I have nothing really to rant about, well maybe Tom "Dumbass"DeLay. Which is pretty cool with my Democratic point of view and that is hard to control especially here in a Red state and especially in his district of Houston. I am lucky, I am in "shudder" Culbertson or Mothra aka Martha Wong. But I am very political and tend to do it and when i am passionate about it I keep at it. I will write about my political point of views in later blogs. Or maybe later today.

Well I am going to shower and hopefully I won't feel as sticky as before. I'll write some more later but for now the shower time and hang my clothes. I have to shower and shave and hopefully wake dad up.

What a long and productive day.

I have an absolutely no life today.
You know when the days are getting to the point when you start organize things in your room that really don't need to do. Well I first Organized my wallet, I placed my important phone numbers and health insurance cards.
I also reorganized my closet and rearrange my hats. I mean I never felt as if I were so anal about doing something but I needed to get it done. I re arranged the hats based on whether I wear them,sun hats beach hats and goofy hats and college hats. With my closet I cleaned and made room for stuff I didn't have room for before, I put my bags on the side and and I am able to open and close it. I think I can put my chair in the garage. That way I can have more room in the closet. I am aiming at removing most of my stuff in my room and having as little as possible.

Tommorow I will aim at cleaning up the rest of the closet but tonight I am going to rest and relax. My muscles are back to aching me. My tummy is hurting me and I feel that I should take the diet pill before going to bed and hopeful I'll go to bed around 10:30pm. I am going to drink something that will help ease my stomach.

I think tommorow, I am going to the dollar store I will ask dad if he can buy me some paper and something to help make my room smell nicely cause it feels as it stinks. I have put my dirty clothes in the hamper in the bathroom but it still has a terrible smell. I think an Air Refreshener. And that could possibly help ease the smell and I am pretty sure that the odor will go away.

OK Well I am going to go and relax

Hehe Crazy Not Even GrapeFruits

Well I went to the airport this morning, Mom is official off for her trip to France. I hope she has a wonderful time though its going to be mostly business but she is going with Grandmaman. My muscles feel kind of ok today. I feel like some days I feel as if I have Lou Gerihgs Disease's or ALS. I mean I have the twitching and the pains in the legs and muscles but thats mostly from the Lupus. I know its not ALS,thank goodness.

Well, I am woke up at 5:30 this morning and went and I am not really tired just sore. I went to bed again and woke up an hour later so I feel fine. Dad is sleeping on the couch. I finally found out the name of the damn scary puppet that gave me nightmares when I was a child. There was a this puppet and this guy with a southern accent who was the straight man and the puppet was the comedian and she was british and she told these really terrible jokes and she just scared the hell out of me. I remember Family Guy doing a parody of it, Peter Griffin and Madam but I didn't remember who was the straight man or the puppet. I just remember the scary puppet. It was Madam and Wayland Flowers.

I don't know why, that big drunken nose and her bobbly head I guess. But I guess when you get older you can laugh at stuff you were afraid of before. But I am still afraid of somethings,but I guess I shouldn't be afraid of Madam again. I am afraid of falling and some heights. I can be on top of high rise and look down but i can't look down twice without having vertigo. I am also afraid of violence or really loud noise.

Well I was watching The Rolling Stones on the Today Show and my god they are so cool but they are freaky looking. Keith Richards reminds me of what I am going to loo like when I am 60 if I did heroin. Hell Keith Richards is still the coolest guy in the world and Mick Jagger is the guy I would love to rock with. I mean I wish I was skinny as them,but Charlie Watt reminds me of one of those Edvard Munch paintings you know "The Scream" still a great musician but so pale. I would love and I know tickets are possibly sold out but I would sell a whole lot my stuff just to get tickets to the see the Stones, but I don't know who I would go with, who actually likes the Stones. I know, it with my luck it would be a day Dad had to work, so I couldn't ask him. Bjorn maybe ,but he isn't a fan. Michael he saw them before but isn't a big fan. Hmm! I can ask Melissa or call a friend.

Well I feel like I am feeling as if I am crying and its weird my arms feel numb and I am tired. I just took my meds and I feel really peppy but at the same time I feel drained. Like I just cried or something. I am trying to figure out what to do today. I have written how I feel and maybe I will write a few e-mails. Maybe, I should do what I did yesterday and not eat till late at night and purge. I know thats not a good idea but I have lost some more of my weight. I figured I have lost some of my weight which is healthy but I got to find a way to be healthy and concern but I have to figure a way to lose the gut and I am trying a way to do it without killing myself and hurting myself by doing excerise. I can't walk because of the Sun, I want to try some excerise a way that won't kill me. I could stretch or at least do sit ups.

The Aprentice Update for This Week.

Well In a Final note for this morning, no Aprentice was Hired or Fired yesterday which really sucked but the projects that they worked on were pretty cool. I mean the Book Smarts had a really cool project hosting the World Video Game Championships and set up a boxing theme and they operated it smoothly eventhough they did have a few minor flaws having the dorky guy with glasses,Danny, who last time he did something with as project manager or anything with the team he made a total fiasco out of the whole ordeal. He tries to play the cool nerdy guy but infact he doesn't have a clue about being cool and yet he is smart, but the team did a good job with there project. Kendra really led the team and got the project to work smoothly.


However, the Street Smarts Team, it looked like a disaster from the get go. It looked like the team wouldn't cooperate with Tana, they were trying to fight each other and were upset that things weren't going well and people were running on there schedual on what they saw fit. They were doing a mini Olympics for a set up for the idea of the 2012 Olympics in New York. Tana had a the Governor of New York wait a while for a program and then the program had some faults and was poorly edited, even I would find that bad. Though it was Kristen's responsiblity to do to make correct the proofs and run them right, the leadership does fell behind. Also,when this is just a little Nit picking, but when they had the flags of nations they didn't have the American flag, which well if the United States isn't mentioned and well Donald Trump and the Governor are big Americans, they kind of see that as a big boo-boo. But I wouldn't count that against her. I just saw that the Street Smarts team didn't care when they left, they seemed like her Leadership was weaker and they didn't fall through.

At the boardroom, though the two were defending why they should get the job. Tana explained though she had many faults in her team, she struggled and they did work and accomplished to get the job done right. Which she did. Also she explained that she is willing to fight and push harder to work and is a predetor and that she will do anything she needs to do to be the next aprentice. She explained the sacrfice she had to do,to work and raise a family, rather than finishing school.

Kendra. Well she said the same thing but she was saying that her education was essential for her to get the job. She also explained that her team worked together real well, even though she had a little trouble at first with Danny, but afterwards it ran smoothly. She appricated the service of the team work. She also explained why she should be an Apprentice.

So when I said yesterday I was pulling for both teams Donald Trump had a tough situation to deal with, one with a leader who had a team fall short of expectations and the other who worked hard on there goal and but at the end they both produced there goals really well. I liked each tasked and I knew I couldn't do it on my own as a Project manager or a helpful task. I would volunteer to help. I mean it looked tough for Tana to win if her team didn't like working for her and her crazy ideas and plans, but she did handle the boardroom calmly and she took guts when she was questioned about her faults.

Kendra, was emotional, but in a good way when she was describing how happy her team worked together and that they were better working together rather than competing against one another. She was tough on questions,that were posed on her when asked about leadership, even though she had more wins than Tana.

So I wouldn't be surprise if she became the winner.
But I am not going to say she is the clear Winner. Because here is the funny thing at the end of the show last night they called in the exs back in and next Thursday we will hear what they say and that will determine who will be the next Apprentice.


I did like seeing that Erin was back on TV even though we saw her for a few seconds. In the episode what I thought was halarious was Donald Trump playing Video Games. I mean I wonder if he plays them at Trump Towers with George. He seemed like he was too focused on the game. I doubt it but it was funny seeing him play I just imagine him with one of those Big Gulps and plays Video Games. HAHA.

I am stretch a little and hopefully I can feel my muscles and then write my e-mails. Well I have a bit of a back pain but I will move on. Hopefully I can go out tonight. Which I have been stuck inside all week and I want to go out. Hopefully my muscles will let me go. Alright, I am going to write some more later on tonight.

A Thought Before The Aprentice Finale

Like most of you, I watch the mindless void of television hit the NBC hit The Aprentice. Sure I don't really like Donald Trump but I do like the show and its pretty cool watching it and I like this season's premise College graduates versus High School graduates, its the battle of Street Street Smart vrs Book Smarts. Well, in the end its a battle between the two teams Kendra and Tana.
Kendra from the Book Smarts and Tana from Street Smarts. The two are really tough competors and I don't really know who I should pull for.
Kendra is an actractive woman from the Book Smart's Team who could win because she is smart and has pulled a few wins as project manager and and she is a college graduate and she knows how to operate a successful business.

Tana is a from the Street Smart Team who could win could win cause she won a task or two as project manager as a project manager but she isn't a college graduate but she doesn't measure up to tasks like Kendra. Infact in one task that Kendra was Project manager when she was in the same team with her she and Craig another person on the show they fell asleep while Kendra worked on the project by herself and they won the task.
But in my opinion, I had a few people I who I thought who were good looking on the show were

Erin, a was from the Book Smarts Team, Audrey a Hottie from the Street Smarts.

Well in a few hours we will find out in a few hours who will be the next Aprentice.