THE GOOD
This is a homemade video with clips from the movie, 'Moon', which is a British film that apparently was quite the award winner across the pond. It stars Sam Rockwell, a cat who is working on the dark side of the moon mining helium-3 for Lunar Industries and providing much needed energy on Earth.
Not wanting to spoil a very good movie (provided you want to think a little bit and go with the film), one of the things that I took from it was a look at what all this deregulation and changes in corporate law can and inevitably will lead to. I am sure that if there were more checks and balances on Lunar Industries, then they would not have gotten away with what they were doing. It also reminded me of the ignorance that many of the bible-thumping, education defiecient Tea Bag folks will let happen if they get a toe hold in Washington (side note: I don't think that they will be able to hold up in a general election against a credible candidate. The 'new' Sarah Palin, Christine O'Donnell is coming apart at the seams and I don't think that anyone takes Michelle Bachman seriously. It still takes some amount of 'book learnin' to get into office and many of the candidates don't have much of that...) Heck, that is giving them too much credit and besides, we know that the corporations are already getting away with crap. I mean, does anyone really expect BP to completely clean up the gulf? I don't believe that Exxon cleaned up after the Valdez proper and I am CERTAIN that another Eveready/Bhopal is ready to happen at a moments notice in the world.
'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' was a neat little movie that portrayed the rom-com as it really happens in real life, where no one in the triangle gets anything but maybe a fresh chance at their own lives. It never slipped into the trite formula that many of the movies of the same ilk does, and that was a bonus for me. Each time that it veered into the area of 'happily ever after', it came back to what really happens, even if all the preceeding stuff does go according to plan... something always seems to happen and you end up with a mess.
'WALL-E' was really a terrific movie and I just don't see how Pixar seems to have a corner on the cartoon market. Their movies tell such great stories, eternally hopeful, even in the bleakest of times.
The relationship between the hero and EVE, made me think of Nebraska and I... especially when it seems so simple and yet is so complicated. It also calls to mind how the ideal of a woman being ditzy in romance is overplayed and how emotionally attached to a relationship that men can be. Sometimes I wonder if women who cling to Palin's characterization as 'Momma Grizzlies' know how sexist that is and how unflattering a portrayal of women that statement is. Personally, I think of 'Momma Grizzlies' as insecure and actually shallow. The hide from the real world and dealing with life by letting their purpose be 'living for their children'. Yeah, I digress, but anywho...
Neb--, er, EVE would occasionally show WALL-E a small tenderness or acknowledgement... but she was always about her mission. What happened when she accomplished it and returned to report, had me thinking about HAL and what could happen if we let the corporations and all the rich continue to manipulate the culture and thinking... I was not holding out hope for the folks at the end and if you saw the movie, I will gladly debate anyone who saw it as 'happy'.
THE LESS THAN GOOD
Talhotblond was a documentary about an internet relationship that went not awry, but horribly bad. You had destroyed lives all over the freaking place. I thought it was nicely done, but because of how I associated with it, the decision was made to put it here, along with 'Invictus', which could have been so much better.
As I write, I think that '...blond' is a stand alone kind of film. It does have an association with 'the bad', and I will get to it. 'Invictus' was based on the true events of the Sprinkboks, the South African Rugby team, winning the Rugby World Cup in 1995. I thought that they could have spent more time in fleshing the story out instead of making the casual viewer work so much and someone with some knowledge of the sports hierarchy, 'buy in' to the story more.
If anyone has seen the movie, I have to wonder if they understood the importance of rugby and its social significance in South African culture? Or of the countries rank in the game?? Or that the big New Zealand star looked like a semi-major boxer that I used to get paid for sparring and had one of the best fight names, ever???
Anywho, had they went five minutes more with story that said more about the importance of rugby and delved into how much pressure President Mandela was under, I would have enjoyed the movie more. Also, it was difficult to identify with the Springboks as an underdog, because they didn't exactly elicit sympathy for the boys representing a healing country, and because the Springboks in international rugby, is like the baseball St. Louis Cardinals being underdogs to the New Zealand All-Blacks New York Yankees... I mean they were underdogs in my mind, but only kinda. 'The Boys' have fielded some very good sides up to that date, and still are a world power in the sport. Not a dominant one, but a respected team nonetheless. I thought that they could have shot the game scenes a lot better than they did, but hey, I can barely write, so who am I to tell them how to shoot a movie?
There were some good lines in the movie and it made me think of what was needed with Barack Obama as President and did not get. A transformative figure who was going to cinch up to the task. President Mandela hooked himself to the rugby team and never wavered, and that wasn't Hollywood hokum. But it was decent enough, I thought it could have been better and was expecting more, that's all I guess.
THE BAD
Or more precisely, the terrible. While I know there are some fans of the movie 'Cloverfield', I am not among them. I remember MAKING myself watch that movie... and I could not make myself watch the terrible 'Downloading Nancy'. I could tell you what I thought of what I did watch... but since I don't get paid to review movies, I am not going to make myself come up with anything about the movie, other than why it interested me.
The plot, as it were, had a relationship that was internet based at its core and thought that it may be related to an internet based relationship that I know of... but the documentary was better suited for that. What I got out of it that does apply, is that two 'sick puppies' don't need to sleep in the same pen, so to speak. 'Nancy' and her internet lover were both damaged goods, badly damaged at that. That is when I think the internet is dangerous, when two people who are tragedy waiting to happen, meet each other, as they did in that movie.
But it can be worse when there is corrupt people who are playing with the lives and minds of damaged people. That is what the other documentary is about, and I will get to that later, my brother (I thought you would!)
Showing posts with label Movie Night. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Movie Night. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
WILL I EVER GET THE BALANCE RIGHT?
THINKS THE SQUARE ROOT OF FOUR IS RAINBOWS*
Some days are harder for me than others. Wanted to go to the Workforce Connection or Commission place to see about getting some help in finding a job. At first, I figured I would hop on Trixie and scoot over to where I need to go.
The only road I am familiar with other than the one we live on, is Route 1, Richmond Highway. Oh, and lets not forget the lack of sidewalks in the immediate vicinity and that trends into why I didn't make it out today. I am sure that it isn't like that all over town, but I can't be sure because ...
... I don't go out. The gym is prolly a mile away and a straight shot. Feel pretty confident doing that. But going beyond the spot where I go to get a haircut is pretty dicey for me. Each day I try to tell myself to simply get out and get lost somewhere and then find my way back. And each day I find myself saying, 'Who are YOU kidding? For REAL, not for play.
When I think about my new environment, I can't help but think of the feelings I held about the area before I arrived. It isn't 'cute' thinking about being in the Metroplex because along with the ATL, it isn't a place I would have wanted to come back too, if it could be helped.
So, can it be? And if not, then ..?
BLIND AS A BAT
So its time for ME. I know this will piss some people off. But in all the years I gave to my family, I deserve to have some time to myself now. I sacrificed alot. No...no one made me. I gave it willingly and with lots of love, and I gave it everything I had. And I think I did a pretty good job. so now I need to turn some of that attention on myself.
That should have been something engraved in my mind. I got that from another journal, and that is part of what made up what I call 'the other 47%' of what went into my decision to come here.
I talk about my misteps and as Moz would plead, "Don't rake up my mistakes, I know exactly what they are". No, I haven't been anyone's huckleberry and never laid claim to being one. If the results of my choices brought me to this state, then it is what it is. No worries here.
Part of what made me snag that bit is not only did it define for me the mood of her post, but it also captured what I think is part of the essence of what is in my thoughts right now. I have felt like I was living those words at several times over my life and it is something that I have passed on taking definitive action on and it has been to my detriment. "Sick down to my heart, but that's just the way it goes."
BEAR DOWN
Maybe UA will get their chance to play in a Rose Bowl this season. Winning out will be quite a task, playing the Ducks of Oregon, instate rival ASU and USC on the road. It could be done, but the Magic 8 Ball says 'highly unlikely'.
I am telling myself to 'bear down' and keep on moving forward. Yeah, tomorrow I will get out of the house and get to where I am going. Got everything printed out and I know where to stand and all that mess.
Like Beth, some of this isn't going to be popular. And maybe the times I should have sacrificed I didn't and the times that I did, maybe I shouldn't have.
Since those words have acted like acetone in my heart and mind, I think I will be hovering around them for a bit.
Some days are harder for me than others. Wanted to go to the Workforce Connection or Commission place to see about getting some help in finding a job. At first, I figured I would hop on Trixie and scoot over to where I need to go.
The only road I am familiar with other than the one we live on, is Route 1, Richmond Highway. Oh, and lets not forget the lack of sidewalks in the immediate vicinity and that trends into why I didn't make it out today. I am sure that it isn't like that all over town, but I can't be sure because ...
... I don't go out. The gym is prolly a mile away and a straight shot. Feel pretty confident doing that. But going beyond the spot where I go to get a haircut is pretty dicey for me. Each day I try to tell myself to simply get out and get lost somewhere and then find my way back. And each day I find myself saying, 'Who are YOU kidding? For REAL, not for play.
When I think about my new environment, I can't help but think of the feelings I held about the area before I arrived. It isn't 'cute' thinking about being in the Metroplex because along with the ATL, it isn't a place I would have wanted to come back too, if it could be helped.
So, can it be? And if not, then ..?
BLIND AS A BAT
So its time for ME. I know this will piss some people off. But in all the years I gave to my family, I deserve to have some time to myself now. I sacrificed alot. No...no one made me. I gave it willingly and with lots of love, and I gave it everything I had. And I think I did a pretty good job. so now I need to turn some of that attention on myself.
That should have been something engraved in my mind. I got that from another journal, and that is part of what made up what I call 'the other 47%' of what went into my decision to come here.
I talk about my misteps and as Moz would plead, "Don't rake up my mistakes, I know exactly what they are". No, I haven't been anyone's huckleberry and never laid claim to being one. If the results of my choices brought me to this state, then it is what it is. No worries here.
Part of what made me snag that bit is not only did it define for me the mood of her post, but it also captured what I think is part of the essence of what is in my thoughts right now. I have felt like I was living those words at several times over my life and it is something that I have passed on taking definitive action on and it has been to my detriment. "Sick down to my heart, but that's just the way it goes."
BEAR DOWN
Maybe UA will get their chance to play in a Rose Bowl this season. Winning out will be quite a task, playing the Ducks of Oregon, instate rival ASU and USC on the road. It could be done, but the Magic 8 Ball says 'highly unlikely'.
I am telling myself to 'bear down' and keep on moving forward. Yeah, tomorrow I will get out of the house and get to where I am going. Got everything printed out and I know where to stand and all that mess.
Like Beth, some of this isn't going to be popular. And maybe the times I should have sacrificed I didn't and the times that I did, maybe I shouldn't have.
Since those words have acted like acetone in my heart and mind, I think I will be hovering around them for a bit.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Movie Week: What was it to you?
IT'S A LOVE STORY!!
Though I haven't spoken to her in a month of Sunday's, for SD, every movie ever we'd watch together would be boiled down to that. In many ways, she is right about this one... "The Unforgiven." It is a love story. Whatever his late wife saw in him, William Munny let it come out for her. Not to mention for his dear friend Ned.
Whatever she saw in him, it made him drop the life he was leading, to become a farmer, a husband, and a father. But while he may have been good in the latter two roles, the first, a farmer, he wasn't doing to well. And with two young children to bring up, ol' William Munny was having the dickens of a time. One day, a visitor comes calling.
The Schoefield Kid, some young teen who wanted to start off his life of being a gunfighter, remembered his father telling of William Munny, and if he wanted to go off in that direction, that he was the man to go see. That was a lifetime ago, and the William Munny that was here now, was not who 'The Kid' expected. But he knew he needed some help, and he figures he couldn't do any worse.
William wasn't going to ride with out his close friend, Ned. Despite the obvious disapproval of his woman, Ned rides out, and they go after the bounty.
If you have seen this movie, you know it like I do. So lets go to where William and 'The Kid' collect their money for the killing of the cats who were responsible for cutting up their friend.
The girl who paid them, the one that was slashed and who William Munny didn't take an 'advance' out on, let them in on what happened to his friend, Ned. When they went to shoot the slasher, Ned 'froze', Kid nerves were janglin', and it took cool (or should that be 'cold'?) William to get things together. Ned admitted that his nerves were shot, and rode for home. William and The Kid stayed to get their money.
Well, the Jenny had to tell them that the posse caught up to Ned, and that Little Bill (the town sheriff, played by Gene Hackman in a bravura performance) tortured out the info, and that they left Ned's corpse up in front of the saloon, to serve as a warning.
Oh, and that his 'friend', the cat that he and the kid was riding with, was THE William Munny.
REMORSELESS
Earlier in the film, the posse, led again by Little Bill, beat the snot out of William Munny, trying to send and example, as he had did with 'English Bob', an earlier would-be bounty hunter. They treated him with disdain, and didn't even acknowledge that they were quite possibly be dealing with one of the most dangerous men in the plains.
That is how far William Munny had come from is 'early burglary years'. It wasn't until the Jenny recounted the reputation of William Munny, did the Schoefield Kid realize that he prolly didn't know HALF of what the man he was riding with, was capable of. And like the first cold breezes of an oncoming storm front, the mood shifted. And everyone knew that they were as good as standing in the presence of the grim reaper himself.
What did he tell the now frightened Kid, who himself had killed a man, and found himself unable to stomach it? "Ain't gonna do nothing to you Kid, you're the only friend I got."
One thing that I knew, is that for sure, Ned's woman was going to get his share. William Munny told the kid to take his and Ned share to her. While William may have been killed, facing Little Bill and his posse alone, you wouldn't want to take that chance.
That money got there, and to the penny.
"YOU BE WILLIAM MUNNY, THE KILLER WOMEN AND CHILDREN"
Don't know if the score was nominated, but it surely could have been. The music was somber and heavy, without a glimmer of hope when William Munny rode quietly in on the celebration of the posse in the town saloon.
When he rode past the effigy made out his friend, I felt the temperature drop in my room, and as I watched the scene. I remember someone saying that Mike Tyson (at his 'most awesomeness', and anyone who says they don't remember him being considered that, is LYING!) carried with him an 'aura of palpable menace' with him. While I am too stupid to have ever been afraid of Mike Tyson, I think I would have been afraid of William Munny, particularly on that night!!
When he entered the saloon, obvious yet unnoticed, I could feel the dread. He called out the saloon owner, and shot him. His reply to the statement that '...shot an unarmed man', was, '...that he should have armed himself, if he is going to decorate his saloon with my friend!'
He only had a shotgun out, and he had fired one shot. Little Bill gave the order to kill him after he fired his one shot, which to be sure, was going to be aimed at Little Bill. But when it misfired, they had their chance.
For what it was worth.
He reached for his sidearms, and his bullets cut thru the room like a scythe, cutting down anyone who dared raise a weapon at him. After the firefight, he let the cowardly (or intelligent, take your pick!) run out of the back. When Little Bill stirred, trying to shoot him, Munny see him and kicks the gun out of his hand.
"I'll see you in hell", he hissed as William stood over him.
"Yeah." And with that, William Munny dispatched Little Bill to his maker. I loved that he said "Yeah," to that. It is something that I would say to anyone who has the temerity to wish a curse similiar to that upon me.
SOONER OR LATER: The conclusion!
Though I haven't spoken to her in a month of Sunday's, for SD, every movie ever we'd watch together would be boiled down to that. In many ways, she is right about this one... "The Unforgiven." It is a love story. Whatever his late wife saw in him, William Munny let it come out for her. Not to mention for his dear friend Ned.
Whatever she saw in him, it made him drop the life he was leading, to become a farmer, a husband, and a father. But while he may have been good in the latter two roles, the first, a farmer, he wasn't doing to well. And with two young children to bring up, ol' William Munny was having the dickens of a time. One day, a visitor comes calling.
The Schoefield Kid, some young teen who wanted to start off his life of being a gunfighter, remembered his father telling of William Munny, and if he wanted to go off in that direction, that he was the man to go see. That was a lifetime ago, and the William Munny that was here now, was not who 'The Kid' expected. But he knew he needed some help, and he figures he couldn't do any worse.
William wasn't going to ride with out his close friend, Ned. Despite the obvious disapproval of his woman, Ned rides out, and they go after the bounty.
If you have seen this movie, you know it like I do. So lets go to where William and 'The Kid' collect their money for the killing of the cats who were responsible for cutting up their friend.
The girl who paid them, the one that was slashed and who William Munny didn't take an 'advance' out on, let them in on what happened to his friend, Ned. When they went to shoot the slasher, Ned 'froze', Kid nerves were janglin', and it took cool (or should that be 'cold'?) William to get things together. Ned admitted that his nerves were shot, and rode for home. William and The Kid stayed to get their money.
Well, the Jenny had to tell them that the posse caught up to Ned, and that Little Bill (the town sheriff, played by Gene Hackman in a bravura performance) tortured out the info, and that they left Ned's corpse up in front of the saloon, to serve as a warning.
Oh, and that his 'friend', the cat that he and the kid was riding with, was THE William Munny.
REMORSELESS
Earlier in the film, the posse, led again by Little Bill, beat the snot out of William Munny, trying to send and example, as he had did with 'English Bob', an earlier would-be bounty hunter. They treated him with disdain, and didn't even acknowledge that they were quite possibly be dealing with one of the most dangerous men in the plains.
That is how far William Munny had come from is 'early burglary years'. It wasn't until the Jenny recounted the reputation of William Munny, did the Schoefield Kid realize that he prolly didn't know HALF of what the man he was riding with, was capable of. And like the first cold breezes of an oncoming storm front, the mood shifted. And everyone knew that they were as good as standing in the presence of the grim reaper himself.
What did he tell the now frightened Kid, who himself had killed a man, and found himself unable to stomach it? "Ain't gonna do nothing to you Kid, you're the only friend I got."
One thing that I knew, is that for sure, Ned's woman was going to get his share. William Munny told the kid to take his and Ned share to her. While William may have been killed, facing Little Bill and his posse alone, you wouldn't want to take that chance.
That money got there, and to the penny.
"YOU BE WILLIAM MUNNY, THE KILLER WOMEN AND CHILDREN"
Don't know if the score was nominated, but it surely could have been. The music was somber and heavy, without a glimmer of hope when William Munny rode quietly in on the celebration of the posse in the town saloon.
When he rode past the effigy made out his friend, I felt the temperature drop in my room, and as I watched the scene. I remember someone saying that Mike Tyson (at his 'most awesomeness', and anyone who says they don't remember him being considered that, is LYING!) carried with him an 'aura of palpable menace' with him. While I am too stupid to have ever been afraid of Mike Tyson, I think I would have been afraid of William Munny, particularly on that night!!
When he entered the saloon, obvious yet unnoticed, I could feel the dread. He called out the saloon owner, and shot him. His reply to the statement that '...shot an unarmed man', was, '...that he should have armed himself, if he is going to decorate his saloon with my friend!'
He only had a shotgun out, and he had fired one shot. Little Bill gave the order to kill him after he fired his one shot, which to be sure, was going to be aimed at Little Bill. But when it misfired, they had their chance.
For what it was worth.
He reached for his sidearms, and his bullets cut thru the room like a scythe, cutting down anyone who dared raise a weapon at him. After the firefight, he let the cowardly (or intelligent, take your pick!) run out of the back. When Little Bill stirred, trying to shoot him, Munny see him and kicks the gun out of his hand.
"I'll see you in hell", he hissed as William stood over him.
"Yeah." And with that, William Munny dispatched Little Bill to his maker. I loved that he said "Yeah," to that. It is something that I would say to anyone who has the temerity to wish a curse similiar to that upon me.
SOONER OR LATER: The conclusion!
Monday, March 16, 2009
Movie Week
FIRST THOUGH, A WORD ABOUT NAME CALLING
Doesn't matter what you are called. It matters what you answer to.
When someone projects their anguish at me, I usually let them. I feel that they may need to get it off their chest more than my ego needs to be stuck up for. Like the lady said in that song, "call me what you like".
I don't get into verbal spats too often because I have always been a 'sticks and stones' kind of guy. When I was young, and I would tell my Mom what the kids at school would say about her, she'd tell me things like, "Tell them, "Yeah, Mom was turning tricks like the Tigers turn double plays!" They'd lose some heart, since I was taking the fun out of their taunts.
Then, there are the 'the things we know that we don't know.' I know I have made some HUGE mistakes. Some I may have been aware of at the time, the possibility for making an error was huge. But what can you do?
'Man up' was first introduced to me earlier this decade by Judge Mathis, as he was a panelist on Tavis Smiley's 'State of the Black Family' on CNN one February. I thought to myself, "How are you to 'man up', when you don't know what being a man, is?"
I put my stuff out, because it is mine and I own it, I own ALL of it. I don't cry about things (at least too much!) not going my way, because I feel that it would shut off the favor that life has shown me, and INTENDS to show me.
Could try to make a case, but why? I am well aware that I have had things 'better' than many folks, but things have been thisclose at times as well, to being the worst of possible outcomes. That is why I am fond of saying, 'I will take what it is I have got,' and try to work with that.
One of the few things that I do feel confident in using a 'blanket' on, is that if you can say crap things, do crap to people for no other reason than to do crap to them, then you are no better (which means, they are 'less than') than whatever venom you spew out at someone.
Like I said, I am a 'sticks and stones' person. It really matters little what is said to or about me. Life has shown itself to consistently give favor to those who work on their goals tirelessly, and despite what is said or done against them. That isn't something that I made up, it is something that people find solace in, no matter what philosophy or faith they have.
SAVING PRIVATE RYAN
If Tom Hanks isn't my favourite actor, then he is in the top five. 'Ryan' came on the telly this past Sunday, and since State wasn't playing basketball on Sunday, it was easy to decide to watch!
But it wasn't easy watching it. It never is. The battle scene as they land on the beach at Normandy is way, way, intense. Don't know about you, but I have no problem with the moniker Tom Brokaw gave the men and women of that time ... they were indeed 'The Greatest Generation'.
That I was watching it after my Army Sister and I chatted thru an IM, added an extra dimension to my viewing. See, it isn't just that I have family who could be in harms way, or have had family in combat/military service before. It is more that I HAVE service in me, and have done what I had to do that makes it more significant.
Why yes Barbara, even though you won't go to the book store with me, I will still put my life on the line for you. And you won't have to ask twice. You won't have to ask once, to be honest.
Who is going to do it? I am going to do it.
That isn't an opinion or something clever to say, but a matter of fact, that is the way that is, kind of statement. It was something that I thought about when I went into the service myself.
I could remember my Army sister, graduating from High School, testing well enough to go to college, but simply tired of school. She had the grades, and a couple of small scholarship offers from the DAPCEP program here in Detroit. She just was done with school.
So I told her about the service.
Me, I never saw what was wrong with the service, if you could be a crap police officer, or a brave fireman, why not go off and 'defend the country'. I explained that dollar for dollar, you won't get paid the same on the civilian side, but when you start doing a 'total compensation' package, you could get a lot more out of it.
The disclaimer? That you are at the political will of the United States. When Washington wants y'all to go somewhere, that is where you are going to go. It isn't fun or easy. Though you are going to be a REMF, they train you with a rifle for a reason.
After Capt. Miller (Hanks) gets his new orders, he asks for someone who speaks French and German. There is a soldier in the rear who speaks some French and German. He gets told, 'to pick up your weapon and follow me.' That is a line from a cadence that is marched to... for me it went like this
101( repeat 101) ... Combat Soldier (repeat)
Pick up your weapon and follow me (repeat)
Air Mobile Infantry (repeat)
Being in the rear, did not mean you couldn't see combat. It wasn't 'quote, unquote' your 'job' to see it. But there are 'special orders' and saving Private Ryan was an example of this for that admin soldier.
I can say that I would not expect myself to be as cowardly as the cat in the movie ... I know that I wouldn't simply because I KNOW IT.
WHAT IT DID FOR ME
Again, it was a reminder that somewhere in my life and in my soul, is something special. Might not like who does the work to septic system up and functioning, but you are glad that there are folks who can do it, and that they do their job. Like it or no, if you are having some sort of trouble on a block or at a club, you will be glad to see someone like me showing up to 'do my voodoo' for you.
Maybe sometimes I've allowed my character to go weak, but I know beyond all doubt what kind of character is in me. What is surprising to me, is how people can go and live without knowing what is in them, or have the doubts that they aren't who they think THEY ARE.
It was fun chatting my Army Sis. I told her how proud I was for her and her beautiful family. I told her that I understand about what she is dealing with, and she was very appreciative of my support.
And that is more than the bottom line. It is how I roll. Nothing but love, nothing but love for anyone.
ON DECK: THE UNFORGIVEN
Doesn't matter what you are called. It matters what you answer to.
When someone projects their anguish at me, I usually let them. I feel that they may need to get it off their chest more than my ego needs to be stuck up for. Like the lady said in that song, "call me what you like".
I don't get into verbal spats too often because I have always been a 'sticks and stones' kind of guy. When I was young, and I would tell my Mom what the kids at school would say about her, she'd tell me things like, "Tell them, "Yeah, Mom was turning tricks like the Tigers turn double plays!" They'd lose some heart, since I was taking the fun out of their taunts.
Then, there are the 'the things we know that we don't know.' I know I have made some HUGE mistakes. Some I may have been aware of at the time, the possibility for making an error was huge. But what can you do?
'Man up' was first introduced to me earlier this decade by Judge Mathis, as he was a panelist on Tavis Smiley's 'State of the Black Family' on CNN one February. I thought to myself, "How are you to 'man up', when you don't know what being a man, is?"
I put my stuff out, because it is mine and I own it, I own ALL of it. I don't cry about things (at least too much!) not going my way, because I feel that it would shut off the favor that life has shown me, and INTENDS to show me.
Could try to make a case, but why? I am well aware that I have had things 'better' than many folks, but things have been thisclose at times as well, to being the worst of possible outcomes. That is why I am fond of saying, 'I will take what it is I have got,' and try to work with that.
One of the few things that I do feel confident in using a 'blanket' on, is that if you can say crap things, do crap to people for no other reason than to do crap to them, then you are no better (which means, they are 'less than') than whatever venom you spew out at someone.
Like I said, I am a 'sticks and stones' person. It really matters little what is said to or about me. Life has shown itself to consistently give favor to those who work on their goals tirelessly, and despite what is said or done against them. That isn't something that I made up, it is something that people find solace in, no matter what philosophy or faith they have.
SAVING PRIVATE RYAN
If Tom Hanks isn't my favourite actor, then he is in the top five. 'Ryan' came on the telly this past Sunday, and since State wasn't playing basketball on Sunday, it was easy to decide to watch!
But it wasn't easy watching it. It never is. The battle scene as they land on the beach at Normandy is way, way, intense. Don't know about you, but I have no problem with the moniker Tom Brokaw gave the men and women of that time ... they were indeed 'The Greatest Generation'.
That I was watching it after my Army Sister and I chatted thru an IM, added an extra dimension to my viewing. See, it isn't just that I have family who could be in harms way, or have had family in combat/military service before. It is more that I HAVE service in me, and have done what I had to do that makes it more significant.
Why yes Barbara, even though you won't go to the book store with me, I will still put my life on the line for you. And you won't have to ask twice. You won't have to ask once, to be honest.
Who is going to do it? I am going to do it.
That isn't an opinion or something clever to say, but a matter of fact, that is the way that is, kind of statement. It was something that I thought about when I went into the service myself.
I could remember my Army sister, graduating from High School, testing well enough to go to college, but simply tired of school. She had the grades, and a couple of small scholarship offers from the DAPCEP program here in Detroit. She just was done with school.
So I told her about the service.
Me, I never saw what was wrong with the service, if you could be a crap police officer, or a brave fireman, why not go off and 'defend the country'. I explained that dollar for dollar, you won't get paid the same on the civilian side, but when you start doing a 'total compensation' package, you could get a lot more out of it.
The disclaimer? That you are at the political will of the United States. When Washington wants y'all to go somewhere, that is where you are going to go. It isn't fun or easy. Though you are going to be a REMF, they train you with a rifle for a reason.
After Capt. Miller (Hanks) gets his new orders, he asks for someone who speaks French and German. There is a soldier in the rear who speaks some French and German. He gets told, 'to pick up your weapon and follow me.' That is a line from a cadence that is marched to... for me it went like this
101( repeat 101) ... Combat Soldier (repeat)
Pick up your weapon and follow me (repeat)
Air Mobile Infantry (repeat)
Being in the rear, did not mean you couldn't see combat. It wasn't 'quote, unquote' your 'job' to see it. But there are 'special orders' and saving Private Ryan was an example of this for that admin soldier.
I can say that I would not expect myself to be as cowardly as the cat in the movie ... I know that I wouldn't simply because I KNOW IT.
WHAT IT DID FOR ME
Again, it was a reminder that somewhere in my life and in my soul, is something special. Might not like who does the work to septic system up and functioning, but you are glad that there are folks who can do it, and that they do their job. Like it or no, if you are having some sort of trouble on a block or at a club, you will be glad to see someone like me showing up to 'do my voodoo' for you.
Maybe sometimes I've allowed my character to go weak, but I know beyond all doubt what kind of character is in me. What is surprising to me, is how people can go and live without knowing what is in them, or have the doubts that they aren't who they think THEY ARE.
It was fun chatting my Army Sis. I told her how proud I was for her and her beautiful family. I told her that I understand about what she is dealing with, and she was very appreciative of my support.
And that is more than the bottom line. It is how I roll. Nothing but love, nothing but love for anyone.
ON DECK: THE UNFORGIVEN
Friday, February 20, 2009
Popping Out
Sorta worn down tonight ... been a full day.
Saw 'Gran Tourismo' ... very good movie, but as I told Beth over at Nutwood Junction, we have seen this from Clint before. It is that he simply does what he does far better than anyone else does what they do.
Somehow, I want to see 'Frost-Nixon' tomorrow ... and may squeeze in '...Benjamin Button' before the Oscar's. 'Slumdog' should win best picture. I think it was amazing, seeing the raw scenes of Mumbai. There has been some folks in India taking issue with it, because it is so far fetched.
But that is why it works, not just in America but anywhere. I know about the social system over in India (makes the simple prejudice here in the US, pale in com
parison) and that is what makes the film 'impossible' for them. Also the term, 'Slumdog' is the 'N-word' in their ears.
That takes a little of the shine off it for me, but it is still a great film.
EVERYBODY ELSE IS DOING IT ...
... so why shouldn't I? A top ten list, of course. I got the idea from Facebook ... so I wanted to put down some thoughts regarding some albums I like ... I forgot to mention, '2112' by Rush, which I point to as the album that had me drop WJLB and start listening to other radio stations, esp. CKLW at night and Canadian Radio 2. And here goes, a list of ten albums.
1. The B52's/ The B52's - 'Party Mix'
While everybody 'claims' 'Rock Lobster', and it is a great song, 'Planet Claire was the one that took them from novelty to being a real band. I can still remember goofing around with my sibs, singing 'There's A Moon In The Sky'.
'Dance This Mess Around' reminds me of how I would feel at the odd parties I would go to ... I would look at everyone, because 'everybody was there' and they would do the dances, but not me, holding up the wall.
2. The Smiths - 'Hatful of Hollow'
While my fave song from Moz and the boys was 'How Soon Is Now?', the first song from them was the amazing 'This Charming Man'. I remember listening to this cassette tape (that is what we had back when dinosaurs walked the earth) from the mournful, 'Please, Please, Please ...' to the cocky 'Handsome Devil', these songs stay in my mental IPod on regular rotation!
3. Public Enemy - 'It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back'
Proactive and confrontational, this is THE rap album that spoke for the dissatisfaction with the condition of blacks in America. Wasn't meant to be 'liked', it sold a message because Chuck D BELIEVED in his message. PE never wavered from its roots, making society stand up an listen to what black America was saying and feeling.
No, I don't think it is an overstatement to say that they spoke for those who had no way to voice their discomfort or make people notice the issues that were important to them. This, like 'Nevermind', is a all time, all music, top ten album. I don't think I can claim another piece of music that had as much social significance as this.
4. Ministry - 'Psalm 69'
Before this particular release, I was more of a dabbler in the rock music genre. I liked some bands ... 'The Cars', 'ELO' ... and a few louder bands, but nothing in my collection made me feel like 'Psalm 69' did, not if 'Land of Rape and Honey', which a lot of folks feel is at least, if not better than 'Psalm 69'.
Each time I try to choose a particular song from 'N.W.O', 'Just One Fix', and 'Jesus Built My Hot Rod', I get fouled up, because I can't. They all rock super hard to me.
5. Run DMC - RUN DMC
This was the first rap album that was tight from beginning to end. Sure, 'King of Rock' would be the one that launched them into pop consciousness, with the duo rapping over guitar riffs, but they came out doing that on their first album, in the song 'Rock Box'.
I was still trying to be 'hip hop', and it was easy to do with this album. Each song, is a 'lead single' kind of tune. Running to this song for an hour was easy, because you only had to turn it over and keep steppin'.
6. Nirvana - Nevermind
I think I had a cd or tape called 'Bleach' by Nirvana, that I picked up out of a cut out or somewhere for a dollar or two. When I saw 'Nevermind' in the store, I shrugged and picked it up. To say that I listened to this cd once a week, every week, for a year would still prolly be an understatement.
Now, it got to be trendy to rag on 'grunge' music and the movement that Kurt Cobain personalized, but that was just people hating on him. 'Teen Spirit' had captured the zeitgeist of its era. This album I think still holds up to all the other 'best of' albums ... as a 'Top Ten' member.
7. The Clash - London Calling
Like The B52's, I think that as great (hey, they are the only band that matters!) they are, in general they get pigeonholed by wider society as a 'punk' band. They were so much more than that.
Punk, pop, rock, soul, SKA ... they could do it all. 'London Calling', I think carries so much personal weight for me ... makes me think in a heavy way. One of those songs made for looking out over lakes or in blue skies with puffs for clouds, and asking what does anything mean.
8. Devo - Oh No, It's Devo
Trying to avoid redundancy, this album that I had on vinyl got played over and over. The video for 'Time Out For Fun' was one that made my eyes spark. The title song, asked questions of me that apparently are timeless, because I still can play that cd, and go to 'that place'. There was a local DJ on one of the hip hop stations, that would play cuts from this particular album, and I would think that all the cool cats who were into the same ol' r&b (rap and bullspit!!) were being indoctrinated subliminally on some devolution theory!!
9. The Cars - Panorama
I would buy albums for just one song ... and though I liked this one, I only bought it for 'Panorama'. Prolly because the song described how I feel about being with someone. Delta, Fly Skimmie ... NEBRASKA ... all I ever wanted to be was in their 'Panorama'.
The Cars were a very underrated band. Maybe being popular, it took the edge off of their music. Great sound, and a guilty pleasure, I guess.
10. Wu Tang Clan - The 36 Chambers
Man, when this cd dropped, it was like a mega ton bomb!! This was different in style and it really got me hyped ... though it took me a minute to really get 'into' it (when it comes to 'what's hot', it usually takes me some time to 'warm up' to it myself!)!
When I started boxing in Carolina, I would tell people that I used the 'Wu-Tang style' of boxing!! It felt and still feels as aggressive and forward as a good rap album should. And like PE did with '...Nation of Millions ...', it carried the emotion of its time.
Saw 'Gran Tourismo' ... very good movie, but as I told Beth over at Nutwood Junction, we have seen this from Clint before. It is that he simply does what he does far better than anyone else does what they do.
Somehow, I want to see 'Frost-Nixon' tomorrow ... and may squeeze in '...Benjamin Button' before the Oscar's. 'Slumdog' should win best picture. I think it was amazing, seeing the raw scenes of Mumbai. There has been some folks in India taking issue with it, because it is so far fetched.
But that is why it works, not just in America but anywhere. I know about the social system over in India (makes the simple prejudice here in the US, pale in com
parison) and that is what makes the film 'impossible' for them. Also the term, 'Slumdog' is the 'N-word' in their ears.
That takes a little of the shine off it for me, but it is still a great film.
EVERYBODY ELSE IS DOING IT ...
... so why shouldn't I? A top ten list, of course. I got the idea from Facebook ... so I wanted to put down some thoughts regarding some albums I like ... I forgot to mention, '2112' by Rush, which I point to as the album that had me drop WJLB and start listening to other radio stations, esp. CKLW at night and Canadian Radio 2. And here goes, a list of ten albums.
1. The B52's/ The B52's - 'Party Mix'
While everybody 'claims' 'Rock Lobster', and it is a great song, 'Planet Claire was the one that took them from novelty to being a real band. I can still remember goofing around with my sibs, singing 'There's A Moon In The Sky'.
'Dance This Mess Around' reminds me of how I would feel at the odd parties I would go to ... I would look at everyone, because 'everybody was there' and they would do the dances, but not me, holding up the wall.
2. The Smiths - 'Hatful of Hollow'
While my fave song from Moz and the boys was 'How Soon Is Now?', the first song from them was the amazing 'This Charming Man'. I remember listening to this cassette tape (that is what we had back when dinosaurs walked the earth) from the mournful, 'Please, Please, Please ...' to the cocky 'Handsome Devil', these songs stay in my mental IPod on regular rotation!
3. Public Enemy - 'It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back'
Proactive and confrontational, this is THE rap album that spoke for the dissatisfaction with the condition of blacks in America. Wasn't meant to be 'liked', it sold a message because Chuck D BELIEVED in his message. PE never wavered from its roots, making society stand up an listen to what black America was saying and feeling.
No, I don't think it is an overstatement to say that they spoke for those who had no way to voice their discomfort or make people notice the issues that were important to them. This, like 'Nevermind', is a all time, all music, top ten album. I don't think I can claim another piece of music that had as much social significance as this.
4. Ministry - 'Psalm 69'
Before this particular release, I was more of a dabbler in the rock music genre. I liked some bands ... 'The Cars', 'ELO' ... and a few louder bands, but nothing in my collection made me feel like 'Psalm 69' did, not if 'Land of Rape and Honey', which a lot of folks feel is at least, if not better than 'Psalm 69'.
Each time I try to choose a particular song from 'N.W.O', 'Just One Fix', and 'Jesus Built My Hot Rod', I get fouled up, because I can't. They all rock super hard to me.
5. Run DMC - RUN DMC
This was the first rap album that was tight from beginning to end. Sure, 'King of Rock' would be the one that launched them into pop consciousness, with the duo rapping over guitar riffs, but they came out doing that on their first album, in the song 'Rock Box'.
I was still trying to be 'hip hop', and it was easy to do with this album. Each song, is a 'lead single' kind of tune. Running to this song for an hour was easy, because you only had to turn it over and keep steppin'.
6. Nirvana - Nevermind
I think I had a cd or tape called 'Bleach' by Nirvana, that I picked up out of a cut out or somewhere for a dollar or two. When I saw 'Nevermind' in the store, I shrugged and picked it up. To say that I listened to this cd once a week, every week, for a year would still prolly be an understatement.
Now, it got to be trendy to rag on 'grunge' music and the movement that Kurt Cobain personalized, but that was just people hating on him. 'Teen Spirit' had captured the zeitgeist of its era. This album I think still holds up to all the other 'best of' albums ... as a 'Top Ten' member.
7. The Clash - London Calling
Like The B52's, I think that as great (hey, they are the only band that matters!) they are, in general they get pigeonholed by wider society as a 'punk' band. They were so much more than that.
Punk, pop, rock, soul, SKA ... they could do it all. 'London Calling', I think carries so much personal weight for me ... makes me think in a heavy way. One of those songs made for looking out over lakes or in blue skies with puffs for clouds, and asking what does anything mean.
8. Devo - Oh No, It's Devo
Trying to avoid redundancy, this album that I had on vinyl got played over and over. The video for 'Time Out For Fun' was one that made my eyes spark. The title song, asked questions of me that apparently are timeless, because I still can play that cd, and go to 'that place'. There was a local DJ on one of the hip hop stations, that would play cuts from this particular album, and I would think that all the cool cats who were into the same ol' r&b (rap and bullspit!!) were being indoctrinated subliminally on some devolution theory!!
9. The Cars - Panorama
I would buy albums for just one song ... and though I liked this one, I only bought it for 'Panorama'. Prolly because the song described how I feel about being with someone. Delta, Fly Skimmie ... NEBRASKA ... all I ever wanted to be was in their 'Panorama'.
The Cars were a very underrated band. Maybe being popular, it took the edge off of their music. Great sound, and a guilty pleasure, I guess.
10. Wu Tang Clan - The 36 Chambers
Man, when this cd dropped, it was like a mega ton bomb!! This was different in style and it really got me hyped ... though it took me a minute to really get 'into' it (when it comes to 'what's hot', it usually takes me some time to 'warm up' to it myself!)!
When I started boxing in Carolina, I would tell people that I used the 'Wu-Tang style' of boxing!! It felt and still feels as aggressive and forward as a good rap album should. And like PE did with '...Nation of Millions ...', it carried the emotion of its time.
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