Endings

I rented an indie called "Player 5150" a tale about he perils of gambling. The film starts off rocky, low production value and lots of cliches about how loan sharks behave. Why do movie mobsters always have to be so cool and clever? Maybe I've just seen too many movies, but I would rather go subtle then over the top. Most criminals are blunt not witty.

As the story progressed I became interested and started rooting for the main character played by Ethan Embry. His performance took what could have been a flat and uninteresting film and really pumped it up a few notches. Kudos to Mr. Embry on what might one day be defined as his break out performance.

The movie kept building and raising the stakes, it had a great false "Rocky" moment where it looked like he was going to gamble his way out of the debt. At times I had to look away because I have has similar experiences on a much smaller scale. I've never gambled away my life saving, but I have walked into a casino with 200 dollars saying "I'm only going to play with 100" and driving away 4 hours later pissed.

My biggest complaint is in regards to the ending. This movie really has two endings. The real one that communicates the moral evils of gambling and the feel good nonsense that follows. The lives of compulsive gamblers end poorly, its pretty much a fact.

Still this film is certainly worth watching. B-

What is going on with NY?

I was talking to another colleague in the media about this year and how news heavy it has been. In 2008 the following things have happened:

- A giant crane Collapsed
- Our Governor gettingg caught with a prostitute, one of may we're told
- We got the first blind and the first black governor of New York.
- The Pope came.
- Our junior senator came pretty close to becoming president.
- Bear Sterns melted down.
- Some one tried to curse the Yankees
- The Sean Bell trial.
- A second crane collapsed.

This is pretty impressive, but it's astonishing when you consider that that the year isn't even half over yet! Interesting times indeed.

Typey Type Type

Now for something completely different. I'm actually going to talk about writing. My foolish belief that writing something and casting it off into the world would be all I needed to succeed is slowly dying.

Now all I want is for someone to call me up and say they read it. In fact if someone came to my house knocked on my door, told me they hated my screenplay, and kicked me in the pills I would prefer that over to silence of nothing. That's where I am right now.

I've decided to push on and write something else for people put onto a big pile and ignore. As writing for me goes, this one is flying by and I can honestly say its the best thing I have ever written.

Oh well, back to writing.

God Speed Mr. Russert

Tim Russert was a true giant in this industry. The sheer joy that he experienced in the covering of politics was obvious to anyone who watched. In a time when political coverage has become tainted with hate and bias, Mr. Russert was a bastion of authenticity and fairness.

I never met the man, but one of my fondest memories of him as a viewer came on the morning after "Super Tuesday". I was having my breakfast and turned on MSNBC(Morning Joe) to hear the results. Tim came on to discuss the results and I noticed that he hadn't shaved and his hair was messy. It was then revealed that Tim never went to bed that night, he had been up all night reviewing the numbers. That's how much he loved that job, it wasn't work to him it was something he really cared about and enjoyed.

My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

You got to keep the devil,way down in a hole.

I recently just finished season five of "The Wire" and all I can say is believe the hype. For years I have heard people go on and on about how amazing that show is so about a month a go I threw season one onto the ol netflix.

I couldn't get enough of this show. As soon as the disc came in I would bang it out. In some case it wasn't that hard considering that their was only two episodes on some discs. I understand the psychological value of selling a five disc set for eighty bucks, that people would feel ripped off if the only got three disc. Here's an idea, put three discs in a big box.

This series offers so much, interesting stories, dynamic characters that change and grow right before your eyes, constant action( not three episode of dream sequences like some other HBO programs).

The best thing I can say about "The Wire" is that it sparks conversation. The true measure for a show or film for me is its ability to generate debate and discussion amongst myself and my friends. This show has that in spades.

Rent it, you won't be disappointed.

100,000 miles!

My Jeepster crossed the 100k mark recently, and it did it with out a single mechanical problem. I have a running bet with my friend Joe that my Cherokee won't make it to 150,000. We shall see.

Explain this to me please.

I was listening to BBC on the radio yesterday and the topic of discussion was the conclusion of the democratic primary. They reviewed the entire ordeal from the beginning to Hilary's final concession. Strategies were analyzed, the mistakes, the strengths. All in all the coverage was pretty impressive.

Until the end when the announcer concluded that America has shown that it isn't ready for a female president. Is that it? America is just to sexist for Hilary Clinton? Is that the problem, bigotry?

How about this? Maybe, just maybe Hilary Clinton lost because of Hilary Clinton? Perhaps her husbands baggage was too much, or that many voters thought she was insincere, or that she pushed for socialized medicine and then pulled a 180 when the insurance companies threw enough money at her.

Was their some sexism, sure some men probably didn't vote for her because she was a woman. Of course that number would be nothing compared to millions of older women who voted for based primarily on gender. I love double standards.

I'm not an expert on the political sciences, but I honestly think that Hilary's loss can be attributed in large part to the content of her character. That and when most people look at her they see an asshole boss from a job that quit years ago, but still recall with intense hatred.

I didn't vote for Hilary, independent voters aren't allowed to vote in NY primaries. I guess I'll vote for Obama in November, I wouldn't want the world to think I was too racist for an African American president.

Suck My White Ass Big Oil!

The point has finally been reached where it is financially detrimental for me to drive to work. My commute cost has literally tripled in the last 5 years. Tolls on the George Washington Bridge have spiked to 8 dollars, up from 6. The Tri-Borough has jumped a buck as well( I have to pay this toll twice a day.) And the biggest burden of all, gas has gone from 1.60- 3.85(Jersey gas is super cheap compared to the national average).

The time has come to take the train. Well, not just a train. A train, then a Jersey Train, and then a bus. Still even with all the switches and scheduling headaches I still end up cutting my traveling cost by more then half (and adding 45 minutes onto my commute time in some cases).

I had been shopping for a hybrid or a Mini, but the cost saving in the MPG difference is not enough to keep me in a vehicle. The only feasible solution would be an electric car that I charge with solar power from my home.

Perhaps in five years when I have a home I will save up the money to put solar panels on it and use them to charge my Tesla Roadster(bad ass). For now I will be rocking my portable DVD player, or reading, or staring out the window of a LIRR train as I try to figure out what to do with all the money that the Oil criminals and the toll trolls will no longer be getting from me.