Even thought the new administration has gotten off to a quick start and even though President Obama has traveled to Canada, Europe, Turkey, and Iraq, What has actually changed? Americans are still struggling to stay employed, make their mortgage payments and keep their financial life lines in tact by hustling. Americans are still divided right down the middle. We are still engaged in two wars. Yes, the stock market is rebounding, slightly and there are signs of life in the financial market (Wells Fargo). However, all in all, we are still bound to the legacy of 10 years of Republican House rule and eight years of GOP dogma and indifference toward the middle class struggle. As we watched the Madoff and Stanford debacles we are reminded that we must pick our leaders carefully for their legacy can bring down generations of Americans and cause unbearable suffering and pain for many American citizens both home and abroad. So, what will change look like when it happens? When will we actually feel the difference and see the difference in our daily lives? I for one, am seeing the difference and I believe wholeheartedly that President Obama is changing the dialogue, and making a difference in how we are perceived throughout the world. But, is it enough? Only time will tell. My biggest concern is that the Left Wing GOP (Wingnutz) and their following will never give up and embrace change and therefore stiffel, corrupt and repudiate all the good that is being done for personal reasons. Denial is their only answer. No is their resolve. As selfish as the GOP is, they still believe that there is opportunity for this type of thinking. The Conservative Movement aims to isolate the US and to extend the idiocy of hubris that got us here in the first place by continuing to lie, cheat, steal and exploit the air waves and the political system. I say to you who read this, in all sincerity, it’s up to us to defend, fight and rebuff the arguments of extremists, so called Christians and rise above the fray by speaking up, acting out and never forgetting who got us here in the first place. Sound off! Let me here from you. I am white, I am Left and I am proud to be a member of the global change initiative! How about you?
Archive for the ‘Open ended’ Category
Easter – And What Has Changed?
Saturday, April 11th, 2009Oscar & Why the Music Makes a Movie
Wednesday, February 11th, 2009Could you imagine a movie without sound in the 21st century? Could you sit in a theatre and experience the cinematography alone, without a background of sound, music and edited dialogue and special effects? Chances are you are just thinking that I am full of shit about right now, right? Sorry about the lame question, but… the answer is as obvious as the blog on my face. Last year, the academy impressed me with it’s selection process with it’s choice for Best Musical Composition, “Falling Slowly” from the film, “Once” written and performed by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irgova. There was stiff competition considering that, “Enchanted” composers Alan Menken: Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz had three nominated pieces (these guys are known quantities, “In da biz”) and considering the great cinematic effort to include musicians in a fun and dare I say, animated park scene this was stiff competition. However, the stark simplicity and pureness of “Falling Slowly” was just too much for the big orchestral and bombastic production of the “other” choices. I know, there is a rub that the orchestra was unnecessary, but that still does not take away from the stark simplicity and sparseness of a great performance of a great song, it merely embellished in this bloggers opinion. Again, I believe that we are all getting too jaded and too negative to appreciate how good Oscar was last year. We need to appreciate that for the cost of admission (free on TV) these shows offer great entertainment value and yes, they can always be better, but damn, in my opinion that show went buy in a hurry and I was left wanting more. In anticipation of this years event, I am looking for Slumdog Millionaire to win, “Best Picture”, Mickey Rourke to win best actor for his performance in, “The Wrestler” although Brad Pitt may trump with his stellar performance in. “Benjamin Button”. Meryl Streep should grab top honors for, “Doubt” but it will be a dog fight with the beautiful and talented, Kate Winslett. Actor in a supporting role will go to Heath Ledger posthumously (great sadness) for his amazing performance as “The Joker” in, Dark Night. I am giving the nod to Marisa Tomei in the Wrestler for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, although it will be close with Penelope Cruz and Amy Adams hot on the trail (too close to call). As for this years, “Best Musical Composition” I am pulling for Peter Gabriel in Wall-E, but Danny Elfman may get the nod for “Milk”. None of these are as outright to pick as last years “Falling Slowly” and lord knows I am picking my favorites in anticipation of another great show. So those are my picks. Your thoughts?
The Grammy’s
Tuesday, February 12th, 2008This year the Grammy celebrated 50 years of service to the musical and entertainment community. There was something for everybody, young and old, for all ages, timeless. I watched it and I discussed it, tracked the blogosphere for input and came up with this: It was long, colorful and full of surprises. Such as Amy Winehouse flipping the preverbal bird to the stoggy, aristocracy of big music business, the academy and the establishment in general. So nice that an artist can make people so nervous, Awesome! A defining moment for her and her mum. Speaking of MOM, some folks got a tad carried away, Kanye, which always seems to happen in the Hip Hop category. Those guys take it too seriously sometimes, carrying heat and acting all gangster. I want to give a nod out to Vince Gil whose gracious acceptance quip to, “a beatle” (Ringo Starr) was tasteful and funny. Herby Hancock winning the big award at the end was a nod to respectability. The Gershwin piano duet that he and Lang Lang performed, Rhapsody in Blue, was absolutely stunning. In essence, for a TV show, that is about as good as it is gonna get folks. Crank that shit up! So, in closing there were some great moments surrounded by a few not so good performances like the the opening duet with Alicia, I am over-rated, Keys and the ghost of Frank Sinatra, whom I listen to alot, was not good. Frank is simply too heavy and Alicia is too light, oil and water, it just don’t mix. Aretha Franklin still has the chops, but gospel is boring. The queen herself, Tina Turner, was on fire, scorching Beyonce in her presence, but I was not quite sure about the look, but still very funky. How about the killer, Jerry Lee Lewis on the comeback trail with the innovator, Mr. Tutti Fruiti, Little Richard and you know for the price of admission, how can you find fault in Grammy? We are all so jaded now that we have no time to reflect on how bombastic and expensive/pretentious we have become as a species. Do you ever get the feeling that it can’t last? But then, every year, here comes the Grammy, brining us all together and making us feel good about our musical souls. I dig that. Yeah, and don’t forget it’s just a TV show, o/k? Thank you Grammy for 50 years of great shows!