Melanie's Lay Down

Melanie and The Edwin Hawkins Singers perform "Lay Down" in Holland, 1970

This is a great video of a very young Melanie. She does a little chair dancing. The Edwin Hawkins singers rock out with their bad soul/gospel singing selves. And the shots of the Dutch audience are priceless. Such restrained emotion.

I loved this song when it came out in 1969. I was very young, but loved the passion in Melanie's voice. I had no idea the song was an anti-war song. I will paste the lyrics below.

Another year has passed and we still have a war in Iraq, famine in Africa, a civil war in Colombia, Gaza under attack, various wars being fought around the world, disease and pestilence.

I hope this new year brings peace in these regions, food on the table, and a general love between all humankind. Quixotic? Maybe. Hopeful? Definitely. But you gotta have hope. Happy New Year!

One last thing, lets hope our new president really does make a difference. Can you believe Obama will be our new president? So exciting.

Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)
Melanie

Lay down lay down lay it all down
Let your white birds smile
At the ones who stand and frown
Lay down lay down lay it all down
Let your white birds smile
At the ones who stand and frown

We were so close there was no room
We bled inside each other's wounds
We all had caught the same disease
And we all sang the songs of peace

Lay down lay down lay it all down
Let your white birds smile
At the ones who stand and frown
Lay down lay down lay it all down
Let your white birds smile
At the ones who stand and frown

So raise candles high 'cause if you don't
We could stay black against the night
Oh raise them higher again
And if you do we could stay dry against the rain


Lay down lay down lay it all down
Let your white birds smile
At the ones who stand and frown
Lay down lay down lay it all down
Let your white birds smile
At the ones who stand and frown

We were so close there was no room
We bled inside each other's wounds
We all had caught the same disease
And we all sang the songs of peace

Some came to sing, some came to pray
Some came to keep the dark away
So raise candles high 'cause if you don't
We could stay black against the sky
Oh oh raise them higher again
And if you do we could stay dry against the rain

Lay down lay down lay it all down
Let your white birds smile
At the ones who stand and frown
Lay down lay down lay it all down
Let your white birds smile
At the ones who stand and frown

Lay down lay down lay it all down
Let your white birds smile
At the ones who stand and frown
Lay down lay down lay it all down
Let your white birds smile
At the ones who stand and frown.....

Gaza Attacked by IDF, No Journalists Allowed

A video from Gaza. It tells the truth through images.

I find it difficult to believe that the Israeli government is not allowing journalists in to the Gaza Strip. What??? Is this Burma? North Korea? Are they afraid the world will look down on these brutal massacres and possibly demand a stop to the indiscriminate killings?

Afraid we might see the killing fields of Gaza at the bloody hands of the IDF and speak out condemning them? Only this time when we condemn the attacks we won't be labeled anti-Semites, merely citizens of the world who see injustice and unfair treatment of the Palestinians. Maybe viewed as human rights activists, which I am, rather than an anti-Semite, which I am not.

I am saddened by the reports of the massacres. It is my understanding the bombing has killed students sitting for midterm exams at school. Students possibly nervous about failing their exams, but never in their wildest dreams did they think bombs would be dropped on their heads.

It is my understanding the Israeli government is reporting that they are bombing the tunnels Hamas has made claiming these tunnels are how Hamas is bringing in weapons.

NPR reported yesterday that the tunnels are also used to bring in refrigerators and much needed supplies into Gaza since the border crossings are closed most of the time by the Israelis. Thank you NPR.

And again, I encourage all of you to see the new anti-war film by Israeli filmmaker, Ari Folman, Waltz With Bashir. It is animated, but does include real footage from the massacres in the Sabra And Shatila camps where 700-3500 Palestinians were killed. See my review of the film (Dec. 27th, 2008) if interested.
Here is a video which tells a story of a forgotten people.

Movie Review: The Reader

Photo of poster uploaded on Flickr by Clemato

Kate Winslet's performance as Hanna makes this film a memorable experience. Her vacant stares are anything but vacant and will haunt you long after you have left the theater. The subject matter is much more than just an affair with an older woman, albeit this love affair impacts the young man throughout his life. It is more a morality play and a philosophical question of German guilt.
Hanna and Michael (David Kross), photo posted by Clemato on Flickr

Bruno Ganz, who plays the professor, actually includes Karl Jaspers' The Question of German Guilt as required reading for his young law students, including Michael Berg, Hanna's lover. The professor also requires his young law students to attend a trial for low level guards from the concentration camps.

While watching the trial scenes, I tried to make a decision as to what I would have done if I were in Berg's position. It is not an easy question. I guarantee you will be torn apart by this film.

Kate Winslet as Hanna, photo posted by Clemato on Flickr


The young Michael Berg, David Kross, gives a stunning performance. And Ralph Fiennes, as usual, gives the performance he should, reserved, yet multi-layered if you look deep into the philosophical questions this film poses.

It is based on a book by Bernhard Schlick, adapted for the screen by David Hare, and directed by Stephen Daltry. I highly recommend this film.

One last thing, on a personal note, I fell in love with Bruno Ganz in the Wim Wenders film Wings of Desire and I am still in love with that man. So sexy.
Bruno Ganz, photo posted by blue elephant on Flickr

Movie Review: Waltz With Bashir

Poster posted on Flickr by marzipanrat

Israeli filmmaker,Ari Folman, takes a trip down repressed memory lane with his animated film about the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982 and his unit's role in the massacres at the Sabra and Shatila camps outside Beirut.

In short, nine days before President-elect, Bashir Gemayel was to take office, he was assassinated. In retaliation, the Christian Phalangists (with no objections from the Israeli Defense Forces) entered the Sabra and Shatila camps. Ari Folman's unit fired flares into the night skies to help the Phalagists see their way into the camps. In this attack, the IDF killed 700 to 3,500 Palestinians, many were women and children.

Ari Folman at the New York Film Festival,photo posted by Brooklyn dude on Flickr

This is an excellent film and worthy of seeing on the big screen. Folman shows how the war has impacted his life. Nightmares that haunt him are animated perfectly. I heard Folman interviewed on NPR yesterday. He said the only way to make this film was through animation since it goes back in forth in time and dream sequences. Moreover, he wanted to attract a young as well as older audience. Here is a what he said on NPR:

"For me, it was very essential to bring young audiences to the theaters to watch the film because I thought that if this film could influence even one teenager making the decision not to go the war, it doesn't matter where I did my job, I earned it," Folman says. "All wars are useless … and sometimes in films we tend to glorify them by making all of those great characters and they show you it's all about bravery and brotherhood of man. And I don't believe in that."

Israeli soldiers, posted by Pegg on Flickr

And I do hope that high school kids thinking about joining our military see this film. War is not glorious. Ask anyone who has been in one.

Folman mentions in the interview that his father did not want him to make the film out of fear Israel would never forgive him and he would be ostracized. Surprisingly, Folman said the exact opposite has happened. The politicians and government have welcomed him with open arms.

An animated Ari Folman, posted on Flickr by Pegg



After viewing the film, I thought for sure it must have been met with opposition by the Israeli government. It surely does not paint the Israeli Defense Forces in a sympathetic light. Anyway, go check out this film. And if you want more information on the invasion of Lebanon or assassination of Gemayel, check out Wikipedia. It is a fascinating read. Furthermore, it helps explain what is happening now in the region.
Waltz With Bashir Poster posted by dosXuno on Flickr

Eartha Kitt Dies at 81

Eartha Kitt, photo posted by anovelista on Flickr

We lost the legendary Eartha Kitt on Christmas Day to colon cancer. Such a great voice and inspiration. She had many wealthy suitors throughout her life. The founder of Revlon, Charles Revson for one. Yet she chose to maintain her independence to the end. Here is what the AP Wires put out right after the news broke:

Once dubbed the "most exciting woman in the world" by Orson Welles, she spent much of her life single, though brief romances with the rich and famous peppered her younger years.

Anti-War Comments

Kitt was plainspoken about causes she believed in. Her anti-war comments at the White House came as she attended a White House luncheon hosted by Lady Bird Johnson.

"You send the best of this country off to be shot and maimed," she told the group of about 50 women. "They rebel in the street. They don't want to go to school because they're going to be snatched off from their mothers to be shot in Vietnam."

For four years afterward, Kitt performed almost exclusively overseas. She was investigated by the FBI and CIA, which allegedly found her to be foul-mouthed and promiscuous.

"The thing that hurts, that became anger, was when I realized that if you tell the truth — in a country that says you're entitled to tell the truth — you get your face slapped and you get put out of work," Kitt told Essence magazine two decades later.

May she rest in peace.

Movie Review: Mrs. Palfry at the Claremont

Rupert Friend and Keira Knighley, photo posted by becksi88 on Flickr

I rented a film on DVD called Mrs. Palfry at the Claremont. Dan Ireland directs, Ruth Sacks adapted it for the screen from a novel by Elizabeth Taylor (the novelist, not the actress). Dame Joan Plowright and Rupert Friend play the two main characters. Both deliver stunning performances.

Mrs. Palfry (Joan Plowright) moves into a hotel that doubles as a retirement home and is essentially abandoned by her family. To save face she tells the other lonely residents that she has a grandson who will be visiting her soon.

Joan Plowright in Enchanted April photo posted on Flickr

Anyway, one day while Mrs. Palfry is out she trips and falls. The very handsome Ludovic Meyer (Rupert Friend) helps her up. He takes her back to his place and nurses her wound. Ludo is a struggling writer. When Ludo walks her back to the hotel, Mrs. Palfry invites him to dinner as a way to thank him. Inadvertently at dinner, the other residents mistake Ludo as the long lost grandson who had yet to make an appearance. A mistake Mrs. Palfry does not correct.

Rupert Friend and Kiera Knightley, photo posted by missjessdoll on Flickr

Ludo and Mrs. Palfry become fast friends filling the void of lonliness they felt in London. Here is one of many of my favorite scenes to the best of my recollection:


Mrs. Palfry: Why isn't a young person like yourself out on a Saturday night with your friends?

Ludo Meyer: It takes money to have friends. I can't afford to go to dinners or out for drinks. So friends have quit calling.
Maciera Restaurant, photo posted by tapas talk on Flickr

Man that line just killed me. Because when I was working on the doc film, I had to down size in many ways while struggling to find financing. My recreation money was non-existent. So I had to turn down dinner invites and drinks with friends. Eventually friends quit calling me as well.

Rupert Friend and Kiera Knightley, photo posted on Flickr

Anyway, I highly recommend this film, and not just because I am completely in love with Rupert Friend. This is a great little story about getting old and being abandoned. By the way, while digging up photos of this film to no avail, I discovered that Rupert Friend is the boyfriend of Kiera Knightley. Looks like they have been together for some time. They look great together. And if he is anywhere near as nice as his character Ludo, Kiera is one lucky girl.

Old People and Fourth Graders

Old Man on Glascow Train, photo posted on Flickr

I read a post by Steve (a.k.a. Waiter) on his Waiter Rant blog. It was about old people who frequent a deli near his home. It made me think of my local Trader Joe's and fourth graders.

The Trader Joe's on Pacific Coast Highway in my town is close to a retirement center. The old folks come in alone or with their "new" friend from the center. The aisles in this particular TJ's are quite narrow. I do not mind waiting for these folks to slowly meander their way through the crowded aisles. However, I have a friend who hates it and constantly complains. She has gone as far as to suggest that TJ's should designate a "senior's day" and ban them from the store on other days. Wow.

Now the old folks in TJ's are different than the old folks Steve described. These old folks are usually smiling and happy at how cheap everything is at TJ's.




Photo posted by isco72 on Flickr





So last week, I had a fourth grade class from hell. Let me preface this story with the fact that these kids are nine. It was at a small school close to my home. I know most of the 400 students at this school and am mobbed by hugs when I walk onto the campus. However, I didn't know many of the kids in this class.

A week or so before I took this week long assignment, I was teaching next door to this 4th grade class. There was a substitute in the class and she sent a couple of the unruly kids into my class.

By morning recess the class had become out of control. They were choking each other, throwing things, and told the sub to shut up. The principal was called in and had to take over the class. I saw this sub and she looked like a sweet old retired teacher just trying to supplement her retirement. I felt so bad for her.

Classroom, photo posted by Charlyn W on Flickr

So when I stepped in for this fourth grade teacher, who went to Hawaii a week early for her holiday (don't blame her), I already had an idea of what I was walking into. I saw a note from a sub she had on Friday. In short, this sub wrote that she had a rough day. Later, I heard from the school secretary that this particular sub left crying. Wow.

Never in my life have I experienced such bad behavior. Such disrespect from these students. It took all my energy to make it through the week. There were about 5-8 kids who were good. But it is usually the other way around. Usually you have maybe 5 who are not listening.

I shared my hellish week with a friend at a happy hour.

After two margaritas, I said, "what scares me the most about the experience is that these kids were so disrespectful that I fear for the future."

Our waitress stopped by and we ordered another round. I continued my rant when she left.

"In this future I see me at the TJ's on PCH, when I am old, possibly living in the retirement center, trying to maneuver my way through the aisles, and these kids, now grown, knocking me over, causing my hip to break, landing me in the hospital, where I eventually die of pneumonia."

My friend laughed and said, "you can always see humor in the worst experience."
1st grade 1963, photo posted by Jim in Times Square on Flickr

I feel so old because I did keep telling this class things like, "when I was your age, we never disrespected our teachers because we feared the wrath of our parents."

What is sad is that they responded with things like this, "my dad's in prison" and, "my mom doesn't care and she is never home."

In the words of Bob Dylan, "The times they are a changing."

One last thing, if you have never checked out the Waiter rant blog, I highly recommend it. It is in my blog roll. Steve has written a book from the blog, was on Oprah, and has a second book deal from it all. His blog wins awards.

Dan Rather Lawsuit

Dan Rather photo posted by itsathird on Flickr


Dan Rather is bravely putting CBS on the hot seat with this lawsuit. I hope he wins. I firmly believe Rather was ousted through the pressure of the right wing. And from what I hear the story which resulted in Rather's departure from CBS turns out to be true. Of course it was. I hear Rather has obtained and read memos and emails from senior executives at CBS. Don't know whether we will ever hear about them during the trial, but certainly hope Rather tells us about them later.

I read a comment on the Huffington Post where the commentator brings up how CBS ousted The Smother Brothers Show after they denounced Lyndon Johnson and the Vietnam War one too many times. The show was still high in the ratings. Shame on CBS for caving in to the Republicans. What happened to freedom of the press?

I am pasting an email I sent out to friends shortly after Mr. Rather left CBS. He was scheduled to be on Larry King Live that evening. The email was written straight from my heart. I have the utmost respect for Dan Rather and his journalistic integrity. Remember Abu Ghraib? Guess who broke that story? Dan the man. That's who.

July 12, 2006

About ten years ago, I read in the L.A. Times that Mr. Rather spoke at a national journalists convention in Texas and said something along these lines: "If the American public keeps wanting us to lead with Michael Jackson stories, then that is what the networks will do. It is the American people who must demand the hard hitting stories so advertisers will continue to buy time on our networks."

And that my friends is the sad state of affairs for journalism. Michael Jackson sells the SUV, the fast food, or cosmetic surgery...then again he might be the poster boy against cosmetic surgery.

The advertisers are paying millions to have their ads air in the hopes the folks who will buy their products are stupid enough to think Jackson and little boys should be lead stories. Entertainment Tonight should be covering that nonsense.

Let me tell you something kids, I just worked a commercial shoot where the budget was anywhere from 2.5 million to 3.5 million. If you think the advertisers are paying that much to make a commercial and another million to have it air on the networks are not hoping that their ads will make you run out and buy their products, I really beg to differ.

The power of advertising is prevalent in our capitalist society. Literally has a strangle hold on it. Why isn't anyone discussing all the fast food commercials that stream on our television incessantly through the night as a culprit in the obesity crisis we suffer from in America? Scared?

Yes I know that we are a society in a rush now days, but come on. I consider myself immune from the advertisers, and yet I find myself running for my kitchen on occasion looking for a snack because of those ads. Anyway, didn't mean to go on and on.

Back on topic, Dan Rather was the only network journalist who traveled to Colombia when I was there teaching in 1998-2000. The only one. And what was happening in Colombia should have been lead stories, not Micheal Jackson and his little boys.

I heard on NPR that Dan Rather has seen the Clooney film, Good Night and Good Luck five times. Three times he said he went by himself. I am sure he can relate to Ed Murrow who was also kicked out for being a hard hitting journalist simply trying to get the truth out to the American public.

The truth is out there and I want Dan Rather back giving it to me.
Mary

Milk, The Movie and Prop 8

The Castro Theater with a poster for the film Milk, photo posted on Flickr by magerleagues

I wish this movie was released in October, before our elections. Maybe, just maybe, it would have impacted the outcome of Prop 8. Harvey Milk fought against a similar proposition. It wasn't about marriage, but a prop to keep homosexuals from teaching.

Sean Penn as Harvey Milk

Anyway, Sean Penn delivers one of the best lines of the film when arguing against keeping homosexuals from teaching. He says, "I went to school for 12 years and was taught by heterosexuals. It didn't make me a heterosexual." Touche.

Sean Penn and James Franco are great in their roles as lovers. Just perfect. I think Penn deserves an award for his performance. Emile Hirsh and Diego Luna are fantastic. Luna's vulnerability and fragility shine through in his role. Wow. And Josh Brolin proves once again his range and ability to become the person he is portraying.

Milk (Sean Penn) with his lover Scott Smith (James Franco), photo posted by Derek Bai Xiang Chen on Flickr

Gus Van Sant is the director. A great job he did with this subject matter. San Francisco's Castro Street really looked like that in the late 70s. Good set design.

I remember when all this happened. I was convinced that Dan White was homophobic and this is why he went after the mayor and Milk, who had recently been elected city supervisor. However, the film tells a different story. I did not know Dan White was disgruntled. Now I am convinced it had nothing to do with Milk being gay.


Harvey Milk, photo posted by bobster1985 on Flickr

The "twinkie" defense is when I began to believe all lawyers to be liars. The "twinkie" defense? Are you serious? I would have bought temporary insanity. In case you weren't born or don't remember, White's attorney argued that White was eating too many twinkies and the sugar made him crazy.

Remember the gay basher, Anita Bryant? Remember her orange juice ads? I think we all boycotted orange juice in support of the gay community. She's in the film. Silly woman.

I do not know why people fear homosexuality. Why do they care? I only know that I have worked with gay teens. They are at the highest risk among teenagers to commit suicide.

My first year teaching I had a student from Micronesia (The Marshall Islands). He was androgynous looking with long flowing hair.

When I first met him, he was not sure about his sexuality. However, through the course of the year he came out to me. I saw this boy tormented by other students to the point he did not want to leave my classroom to go to lunch.

So he started hanging out in my classroom at lunch with a few other students who were misfits. We'd listen to music and shoot the breeze.

I brought in some old David Bowie music. He loved David Bowie. I told the kid that Bowie was bold for his time. We both loved the song, Rebel, Rebel and put it on repeat mode. You know... the song with the line, "you're not sure if you're a boy or a girl."
This crowd scene from Milk could be from our recent protests after Prop 8 was passed banning gay marriage

This student eventually dropped out of school. He could not take the ridicule. The film Boys Don't Cry comes to mind. Except he was a boy who wanted to be a girl.

I have kept in touch with this boy and his father. He is a she now and changed her name to Lelani. She lives and works in another state. No one knows she was a he. She had a boob job and is on hormones. Lelani looks just like Cindy Crawford.

I think Keith Olbermann from MSNBC said it best when he made a commentary on Prop 8. I agree with everything he says. If interested, I am posting it below.

Slumdog Millionaire Voted Best Film

Photo posted on Flickr by beast and bean


If you are a fan of Danny Boyle's directing in Trainspotting, you will love his new film, Slumdog Millionaire. This film takes you through the mean streets of Mumbai. The fast editing and handheld camera action is similar to what the filmmakers did with City of God, the film about the slums of Rio de Janeiro. I swear it is like you are walking right along side the main character as he experiences horrific conditions and loss while a young boy living in the slums of Mumbai.


Photo posted by beast and bean on Flickr


His undying love for the girl will entice the hopeful romantic in all of us. I never watched the show about being a millionaire and definitely did not know that India had their own version. But let me tell you this, the host of the show really summed it up when he said something like this to the main character, "your whole life can be changed in a matter of seconds if you answer the question correctly." No shit.



Photo posted by beast and bean on Flickr


Anyway, I read in the Los Angeles Times that Kenneth Turan has voted this the best movie of 2008. It is a good film. Don't wait for this one to come out on DVD. It is a must see on the big screen.

One last thing, I've been reading Turan's reviews for years, but never wrote to him. Anyway, I loved his review of Australia and I absolutely loved that film (see my review, posted on Nov 30th, 2008).

So I decided to email Mr. Turan. I raved about his review in one short paragraph. He wrote me back and said, "Thank you for your kind words. They go a long way."

As much as we think journalists are bombarded with reader emails, they are not and love to hear from us. Cool.

Ingrid Betancourt and Alan Johnston Swap Chilling Kidnapping Stories on BBC

Alan Johnston, Photo posted on Flickr by Robin Hamman, Creative Commons license

I heard Alan Johnston interview Ingrid Betancourt on PRI's, The World today. It was such a fascinating interview I stayed in my car until it was over, even though I had arrived at my destination.

Alan Johnston is the BBC journalist who was kidnapped in Gaza in March of 2007. He was released four months later on July 4th. Johnston had reported from Gaza for some 2-3 years before he was kidnapped. Ms. Betancourt was held captive for seven years in the jungles of Colombia. She was running for president when she was captured.

I could hear their compassion for each other over the airwaves in my car. I thought Johnston was going to break down at one point. Also Ingrid had to take some time answering questions to get her composure. I am posting the link to the BBC interview below. And below that I am pasting a post I made right after Ms. Betancourt's release.

I spend a lot of time complaining about my country, but at least we do not have to worry about being kidnapped. Not yet anyway.

If you are really interested in all of this, please comment and I will explain the complex situation that led to both their kidnappings. I am more familiar with Ms. Betancourt's kidnapping as I spent 5 years researching the history of Colombia for my doc film.

I did study ME history my one semester at UC Berkeley and on my own most my adult life, particularly the Palestinian/Israeli conflict. I have been curious about Palestine since the age of 13 when the Palestinians kidnapped the Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympics in Munich. That event caught the world's attention and mine as well.

There is a great documentary about the Munich Olympics; One Day in September, narrated by Michael Douglas. Toward the end of this doc, there is a shot of one of the surviving Palestinians at the trial. He looks directly at the camera and says to the best of my recollection:

Before this, no one knew anything about Palestine. Now they do.

Chilling, absolutely chilling.

Put that doc in your on line rental queue. It is fascinating.

The interview is about 23 minutes.

http://www.theworld.org/mp3/extras/alan_betancourt.mp3

Poster on building in Paris, Photo by Francois Lafite (Flickr)

I watched Ingrid Betancourt interviewed on Larry King Live from her hotel in Paris. She was held captive by the FARC for nearly 7 years in the jungles of Colombia. The interview was heartbreaking.

Larry King was actually very respectful to her. He did ask the question I am sure some producer forced him to about whether she was sexually abused, but I could tell he did not want to ask it. Of course she would not answer that question and said, "some things that happened in the jungle will stay in the jungle." Larry quickly said, "yes of course" and moved on. I think he was ashamed for asking it. And it goes without asking that she was of course abused.

Anyway, the vacant stare on her face I saw in so many parents of my students and friends when they talked about such horrors. It was chilling then, and it was chilling to see it again in the face of Ingrid Betancourt.

My point in bringing this up is that she said in her interview that one thing that was so unbelievable to her was how human beings could be so cruel to other human beings. The look on her face when she said this spoke volumes about the human condition.

She has plans to help the others still held in captivity (700 or so) obtain their freedom. And my point here is that she endured countless humiliations, a loss of her dignity, her freedom of movement, and on and on. Yet she plans to do something positive from her experience.

I do believe she is suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome and is depressed. You could see it in her face...and I heard some French rags are saying that she has admitted to this. It will be a long road to recovery for her... yet she is already making moves to make a difference in this world.

So our little problems and worries mean fuck all in comparison. So when stuck in traffic, worried about the bills and your 401k, think about Ingrid and how fragile life is and how everything can change in a second. Guess I am saying we should all be thankful for what we've got.
Peace on Earth
Mary

Hookers

Photo posted on Flickr

Save the Iraqi Shoe Thrower

A Farewell for Bush in Iraq, photo posted by gravitywave on Flickr, Creative Commons


I just heard that the judge had to go to al-Zaidi's cell rather than have him appear in court. This is a strong indication the man has been beaten. Wow. How is that different than the Hussein regime? Please read below and sign the petition that United for Peace and Justice sent me this morning. And if you want to take a step further, contact Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. I sent them both an email this morning asking that they get involved in this case.

I heard yesterday that he may get up to 8 years. What? This is outrageous. Maybe he can be charged with attempted assault. Lets get this guy out of the Iraq prison. I hear he has a facebook page. Lets join his facebook page. Please click on the link below to sign the petition. Here is a passage from the email sent by UPJ:

What has not been so widely reported are the words Muntadar al-Zaidi, a correspondent for Cairo-based al-Baghdadiya TV, shouted out. As the first shoe was thrown at Bush, he said:

"This is a goodbye kiss from the Iraqi people, you dog." And with his second shoe, which the president also dodged, al-Zaidi said: "This is for the widows and orphans and all those killed in Iraq."

This bold statement also has to be understood in its cultural context. Showing the soles of your shoes to someone, let alone tossing your shoes at them, is a sign of contempt in Arab culture.

After throwing his shoes, al-Zaidi was wrestled to the ground by security personnel and hauled away. According to Democracy Now! this morning, "Muntadar al-Zaidi has been held without charge for over twenty-four hours and has been reportedly beaten in jail. His brother said al-Zaidi has suffered a broken hand, broken ribs and internal bleeding, as well as an eye injury. Earlier today, al-Zaidi was handed over to the Iraqi military command in Baghdad."

Link to sign petition for his release:
IraqsNuclearMirage.com/articles/Zaydi.html

If that doesn't work here is the URL:
http://www.iraqsnuclearmirage.com/articles/Zaydi.html

Movie Review: Frost/Nixon

Frost/Nixon Poster posted by paris66 on Flickr

Ron Howard shows us again that he is a master at his craft. No wonder the film has been nominated for five Golden Globe Awards. This movie brings you right back to the 70s and the shameful Watergate incident. The downfall of a president is drama in itself, but Howard shows us Nixon, the man, without being sentimental. Albeit, I was crying on the last day of the Frost/Nixon interview taping scenes. Weeping like a baby.

Frost and Nixon posted by ajsundby on Flickr



Frank Langella as Nixon and Michael Sheen as David Frost were these two characters, heart and soul. The close up on Langella near the end of these interviews said it all for me. Nixon knew Frost had him.

Also, the scene that killed me was when Pat Nixon went out to the car to say good bye to her husband on the first day of taping. The look on Nixon's face said it all.

Richard Nixon and Pat, posted by beast and bean on Flickr




Without giving it away, the scene where I was weeping was only made worse by the interchange Nixon had with Brennen (Kevin Bacon). Wow.

On a personal note, this was a sad time in our history. I was in high school at the time and remember seeing Nixon tell the nation he was resigning and also saw when he got on the helicopter leaving the White House.

I hate to admit this, but when Nixon became gravely ill right after he resigned, I sent a get well card. Yes he was involved in some horrible events in our history. Not just Watergate, but the bombing of Cambodia for one. But my 15-16 year heart felt sorry for this man. He left in disgrace.

The journalists in this film were great. The whole film was perfect. I hope Langella wins awards for his performance. Lastly, I saw the real David Frost on The Daily Show. The real interviews our available on DVD. I will add it to my on line rental queue for sure.
Richard Nixon leaving the White House, posted by tonyetone on Flickr

The New Huffington Post Book on Blogging

Ariana Huffington and Bob Edwards, courtesy of The Bob Edwards Show (Flickr)


I bought the new complete book on blogging put out by the folks at The Huffington Post yesterday. I highly recommend this book. It has a wealth of information on how to be a successful blogger.

One chapter tells you how to get more traffic and visitors to your blog besides your mom. One of my fears of starting a blog was that no one would read it except family and friends. I see I am not alone.

It is written in a funny blog-like style. I am new to the blogosphere and having a blast. I took a couple of journalism classes at UCLA and dreamed of being a foreign correspondent reporting from war-torn regions like Joanna Cassidy and Nick Nolte in the most excellent film Underfire. I am pretending with my blog that I have my own little newspaper where I can write about whatever I feel like writing about.

As recommended by the new Huffington Post book, I posted a link of my movie review on Australia on reddit.com and had loads of hits within seconds to my blog. Very cool. The review is not a professional review. Just my thoughts on this most excellent film. Screen perfection in my humble opinion. But I digress.

I saw Ariana Huffington interviewed on The Daily Show. Her advice was to write what you feel passionate about and find your voice.

Also, the book encourages uploading images to your posts. Might I recommend Flickr to everyone. They have photos of everything you can imagine under the sun. Make sure that the rights are "common creative." If all rights are reserved, be careful about uploading the image...or at least give credit. By the way, I used tons of photos for my review of the film Australia. Think this might be another reason I had so many hits.

The book is called, The Huffington Post Complete Guide to Blogging.

I bought it at Border's for 15 bucks, but here is a link to Amazon for those too lazy to go to the bookstore.:)
http://www.amazon.com/Huffington-Post-Complete-Guide-Blogging/dp/1439105006

One last thing, the guy in the photo above that I found on Flickr is Bob Edwards. Remember him from Morning Edition on NPR? Man do I miss that bedroom voice of his and his great reporting. I see he has a show since the photo is courtesy of his show. But where does he have this show? Anyone know? Radio? TV?

O. J. Gets 9 Years, Finally

O.J. reacts to verdict
Finally. I am one of those who believes O.J. got away with murder 14 years ago. I felt that trial made a mockery of our justice system.

O.J. Simpson and Nicole Brown Simpson, posted by Access Winnipeg, Flickr



When O.J. murdered his wife and Ron Goldman, I had just finished working as a volunteer in a domestic violence shelter. I knew from the first reports this man was guilty. It was a classic case. I know, I know, innocent until proven guilty. But, the proof was in the pudding. Too bad O.J.'s lawyers had a penchant for pudding and licked that bowl clean with the leather gloves causing shrinkage. Wiped out the proof.
O.J. wearing leather gloves, posted by noteboom, Flickr

Here is a link to the BBC coverage of Judge Glass reading the sentence. The shots of the Goldman family say it all. Finally, although a different case, I hope they feel a sense of justice for the murder of their son and Nicole Brown Simpson.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QC

One last thing, I was working at a high school in Bisbee, Arizona, population about 8000 when the verdict came down. It was a cool little artist community and old copper mining town. Houses built into the hillside. Anyway, one of my high school students was a football player. He asked what I thought of the verdict. I told him the truth. That the man got away with murder and just made a mockery of our justice system. He said, "But he is a football hero. He is my hero." Never forgot that.

Shame on O.J. for killing people and making kids with dreams of playing football question his integrity.
O.J. Simpson with young fan circa 1970s, posted by AnthonythePrivileged, Flickr

Slapstick

Photo of Green Dumpster posted by Cobalt123 (Flicker)

When I returned from living in Korea, I was forced to move nine blocks from the ocean in an area I describe as the ghetto. Rents had sky-rocketed while I was gone due to gentrification. Plus, the L.A. folks discovered our cheap real estate with ocean views causing droves of them to head south to my city.

I had never lived more than three blocks from the ocean in my twenty years in this town. I mean really. What's the point of living in the greater L.A. area if you don't have an ocean view or at least can smell it from an open window?

I found a one bedroom in a beautiful chateau. The Chateau Le Grande was a registered historic landmark in Long Beach built in 1928. It looked like a tiny French castle. I loved my jungle-like courtyard and my apartment's hardwood floors and built-ins.

Even though the gentrification culprits were calling it the "arty" East Village in effort to up the property value, my hood was ghetto and that was all there was to it.

I had a back door with steps that I sat on from time to time while I drank my morning coffee. I liked the light from there, but it was a ghetto alley.

There was a green dumpster against the wall of the apartment building across from me. The tenants from this building seem to do a lot of midnight running-the-hell out of there from evictions. Leaving furniture next to the dumpster was nothing new. Once there was big T.V. and a very nice dresser.

Of course there were homeless people who passed by all the time. Sometimes they stopped to dumpster dive. There was an old Mexican woman who came by everyday. She was always smiling, had two long gray braids, and wore a dress that showed her slip. A different slip each day. One day it was bright pink.

I am not quite sure if she was homeless or just trying to supplement the family income with the bottles and cans she collected. Her shopping cart was always very organized. She carried a big bucket she turned over and stood on to reach into the dumpster. She was very short.



Photo of Old Mexican Woman taken by Miss Monson (Flicker)




This woman always talked to me in Spanish. Small talk. I usually just listened. She was from Zacatecas. If I had to guess, I would guess she was in her 70s. You could tell she was beautiful when she was young. Still was. Blue eyes that must have drove the boys crazy. Now her blue eyes had a thin wax paper-like film over them. Cataracts.

The Mexicans are big on extended families. So is Kurt Vonnegut. He has an MA in Anthropology from the University of Chicago. Anyway, I bring up Mr. Vonnegut because I always wondered where this old woman's family could be. She made me think of the Kurt Vonnegut book Slapstick.

In short, Slapstick takes place in an apocalyptic New York. One of the main characters, Wilbur, decides to run for president. His slogan on campaign buttons says, "Lonesome No More." Wilbur promises, if elected, that everyone will have huge extended families thus eliminating loneliness and homelessness for good.

Wilbur says that everyone will get new middle names with a number after it. It could be a flower, stone, or element. In other words, if your new middle name is Daffodil-11, then everyone with a middle name of Daffodil-11 will be your relative. It would mean you could have tens of thousands of relatives. Cousins, brothers, sisters, aunts, and uncles.

On the campaign trail, someone in the audience asked, "but what if you don't like one of your new relatives?" To which Wilbur replies, "that's the beauty of it all. Since you have tens of thousands of relatives to rely on in times of need, you can say to this new relative, 'Why don't you take a flying f**k at a rolling doughnut. Why don't you take a flying f**k at the moooon.'"
Photo taken by Ben (Flickr)

Imagine if Wilbur was president. That old Mexican woman would not be dumpster diving. Though far from her home in Zacatecas, she could open up any phone book and look for other Daffodil-11s who might be able to open their homes.

I no longer live in the Chateau Le Grande. Luckily, rents finally went down a little. I am three blocks from the ocean in a pink Spanish-style hacienda built in 1923. And yes, I can smell the ocean from my open windows. The courtyard is beautiful with a pond and waterfall. Sometimes in the afternoon, I sit out on the veranda, have a beer and read. It is very peaceful.

In this area of Long Beach, I never see homeless people, but I know they are out there. I had to turn my heater on tonight for the first time this year. Lucky me. I have a roof over my head and heat. I thought about the old Mexican woman tonight. I really want to believe that she was just collecting bottles and cans to supplement her family's income.

Australia Takes You on a Journey

Lady Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman) and Nullah (Brandon Walters)posted by John85 (Flickr)

I saw Australia the other day and absolutely love this film. It is epic filmmaking at its best. Kenneth Turan of the L.A. Times compared it to Giant, Gone With the Wind, and Lawrence of Arabia. All classics and Australia will be one as well.

The cinematography is pure perfection like what we saw in Sydney Pollack's film, Out of Africa. I was wondering if this film could top Out of Africa, one of my favorite love stories. They are tied, but in different ways. Australia is not just a love story, but encompasses racial prejudice, evil deeds, and the war.


Sarah Ashley ( Nicole Kidman) posted by beast and bean (Flickr)




Mandy Walker, the cinematographer, deserves the Academy Award. Wait until you see the scene when the cattle are on the run near a canyon. I was on the edge of my seat and do not know how she got those shots. Baz Luhrmann directed this film, but did he ever make the right choice in hiring Ms. Walker to shoot his vision.

Sarah and the Drover posted by beast and bean (Flickr). Not the first kiss, still a great shot.


Ms. Walker got the perfect angle and lighting on the first time the Drover (Hugh Jackman) kisses Lady Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman) on the cattle drive. I think that is the best I have seen Kidman look ever. You will see what I mean. Of course I am in love with Hugh Jackman now and am looking for my own Drover.
Photo of Nullah (Brandon Walters) posted by Asso Pixiel (Flickr)

The little boy in the film, Nullah, reminded me so much of the student I met my first year teaching who was from Micronesia. I was completely relating to Sarah Ashley in her scenes with Nullah.

Lady Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman) and Nullah (Brandon Walters) posted by Asso Pixiel (Flickr)

Nullah is played by Brandon Walters and I will say he nearly steals the show. I hope he wins all the awards. The film touches on the Stolen Generation, a bit of history I am sure the Australians are ashamed of, and rightfully so.

I do not know if any of you have seen Peter Noyce's film, Rabbit Proof Fence, but it is about the Stolen Generation and shows how mixed race Aboriginal children were removed from their homes and raised in mission schools. Can you imagine? This went on until the 70s when it was finally outlawed.
A young David Gulpilil in Roeg's film, Walkabout posted by Positively Puzzled (Flickr)

Nullah's grandfather, King George, is played by David Gulpilil, the same man who was the star in Nicolas Roeg's film, Walkabout. I think Walkabout was made in the early 70s. Anyone see that film? Highly recommend you put it in your on line rental queue. It is about two white kids who end up on a "walkabout" with a young Aboriginal man.

I was lucky enough to see that film shortly after it was released at my school. I went to a middle school in Northern California, near the radical bay area in the early 70s. At the time, I had no idea my teachers were such radicals. One of them had the foresight to show us the film, Walkabout. This film changed me forever.

Walkabout photo posted by Positively Puzzled (Flickr)

I hope Baz Luhrmann paid David Gulpilil a lot of money, but I am guessing money means nothing to this man. I am so glad Luhrmann found him to play the part. Gulpilil was just so perfect. You will see what I mean.

Walters, Gulpilil, Kidman, Jackman and all supporting roles give award-winning performances. The director, cinematographer, art director, and sound man better get awards as well. The film is 2:45 minutes, but the time just flies. I cried at about four or five different points, but laughed as well. At one point in the film, King George tells Sarah, "You have been on a journey." This film takes you on a journey you will not soon forget.

The Drover (Hugh Jackman) posted on Flickr by Asso Pixiel

I heard that Luhrmann changed the ending several times because of audience screening reactions. Audiences thought the ending too sad. However, I heard the man himself interviewed and Luhrmann said films go through many script changes and his ending had nothing to do with private audience screenings. I thought the ending was perfect.

Lady Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman) posted on Flickr by Asso Pixiel

Lastly, I saw this film with a friend before we went over to Gil and Shelly's fabulous Thanksgiving dinner. Gil is a cinematographer and there are some film people who come to these dinners.

The Drover (Jackman) posted by beast and bean (Flickr)

Anyway, at this 40 foot long table, I happened to sit across from a camera man who has worked with Mandy Walker. I told him that I had just seen screen perfection. I asked what Ms. Walker was like. Before he answered, I said, "I bet she is a complete perfectionist." He said, "You're right, but she is great to work with on set. A true professional." I hope we will be seeing her name in the credits of films a lot now.