Death of Jerry Falwell

When I first heard yesterday that Jerry Falwell had finally died after blessing us with his presence for 73 years, I was a bit shocked.

Here was a man who was anti-Semitic and against all non-Christian beings that I was always surprised when past presidents and the current one actually had photos taken with him, praised his messages, his morality and what he has contributed to society. They were buying into it for the votes and support-blecch. Falwell could bring in lots of votes by preaching from his bully-pulpit about one candidate's 'virtues' over another.

As the line goes, "If Jesus came back and saw what was being done in his name, he'd never stop throwing up." He probably has very little enamel left on his teeth these days.

To me, Falwell was a self-righteous, ignorant windbag.

Falwell died from a heart attack-when I heard that I stopped for a moment. How could someone so obviously devoid of heart actually die from a heart attack?

The Last Dance for Most...

I'll be the first to admit it-I hate basketball. Wait, let me clarify that-I hate pro-basketball. I think the NBA is filled with a bunch of spoiled, rich degenerates who get away with everything.

A truly classless bunch no doubt. Unlike what many people think, money and notoriety don't buy class.

However, I do like college basketball, especially during March.

I actually enjoy watching the games. Why? Because these kids have heart and play each game like it could very well be their last college game, and organized basketball game, ever. For many of these kids, these games are their last ones. Most will go onto live non-NBA lives and I've noticed that the NCAA has been airing ads touting that a large percentage of college athletes will go onto careers outside of sports. These ads are very airy-fairy with plenty of dissolves, fades and a soothing voice-over while showing footage of smiling, former college athletes in their new, non-athletic careers. These ads play more like feminine hygiene commercials. (Note to self: buy Midol during the next Target run.)

The NCAA's message just doesn't seem strong enough or even loud enough and it should be stapled to the uniforms of all high school proteges and shouted from gymnasium bleachers in every high school throughout the country. And, most importantly, parents of these proteges should be required to attend meetings explaining the chances of making it to the pros are next to nil and to encourage getting good grades instead. If they don't attend, their kids don't play. Simple as that.

Delusions of grandeur can be dangerous at any age. Sure, it's okay to dream but dreams should be well anchored to the earth. Of course, sportscasters and the media ain't helping the situation. The commentators on CBS have been stroking Joakim Noah so much, you'd think he was already playing in the NBA and could walk on water. He's a good player, but the rate he's going his arrogance level will be tapped out by the time he gets to the pros. Sure, his dad, Yannick Noah, was a sorta tennis phenom in the 70s and 80s, so arrogance is in the blood. I've always thought that Yannick was way too proud of himself for someone who has only won one slam title during his career. One has to wonder if Roger Federer purposely thrives on being humble since huge-ass egos tend to ruin careers quickly.

Arrogance ain't colorful, it's obnoxious and boring when it's constantly talked about by the media. As my parents used to say, don't encourage that kind of obnoxious behavior and it will go away when no one acknowledges it anymore. Or as in our case when we were kids, it disappeared when it got called home for dinner and nighty-night time.

I hope that the Hoyas win it all. They seem scrappy enough to knock Florida off their pedestal. It's always more satisfying when the underdog wins it all.

Right back at you..

Holy piss. My back went out and it hasn't returned. I know, bad joke but my back hurts like hell. The thing that really pisses me off is the fact that I had tons of plans for this week-it being spring break and all. I wanted to clean and relax, instead I've been bedridden, sucking down anti-inflammatories and switching out ice packs. But I did get two stories written as well as some essays for possible internships, so all was not lost.

That's all for now..boring yes, but I'm paining still and my patience is nil.

Peace.

Juvenile "Caged Heat" and other tales of woe

So here's the story.
Jasmine and Jacinta are sisters and one was being stalked-allegedly-by some girl who wanted to fight her, which one I do not know. So, during the film school quality re-enactment, we're shown the fight that landed them in kiddie jail. Two gals got cut including Jasmine and now the sisters are in the Lake County Juvenile Detention Center in Indiana with the possibility of being charged with attempted murder.

We see them going through intake, talking to an upset parent via speakerphone, the lice bath then the hanging out with the other juvie girls. And the bedtime rituals and yes, those big t-shirts they sleep in look mighty comfy to me.
They lament, they cry, they wring their hands and the only reading material they're seen with is the Bible. Under those conditions, it's only a matter of time before a "Caged Heat"-style fight erupts in front of the MTV and closed-captioned cameras.

This Jasmine/Jacinta scenario is just one of many featured in MTV's "Juvies"-- a new reality show on the network that can't quite figure out what it is anymore. I remember the first time MTV went on the air and it was the coolest thing ever. All music all the time, now it's, well, I don't know what it is.

But, I digress...

"Juvies" is one of my new fab fav reality shows. It's up there with "Cheaters," "The Real Housewives of Orange County," and the creme de la creme "To Catch a Predator with Chris Hansen." I haven't watched "Cops" as steadily as I used to. When I lived in LA, my sister Molly and I had a weekly date to watch "Cops" at my apartment in Studio City. Our favorite scenes were the dog stealing neighbor, the drunk who was pulled over and did a Martha Graham-esque fall down the median strip on a Texas (of course) highway. All done in front of the law who couldn't contain their giggles. Finally, the "I'm a renter"-in a thick, Southern accent hampered by lack of teeth. Ahh..those were the days.

Now, the others. "Real Housewives..," well, I'll have to go into that show in another post. There is so much there and it's a pretty new season. Same with "Cheaters."

But, there's "Catch/Predator" and I have just a few questions. Don't any of those doofusses (doofi?) ever watch TV?? Don't they realize that chatting online with pre-moisties is not only really gross but just plain dumb since the baby teeth owner, tasty yum-yum on the other end could be some fat guy named Lou from Perverted Justice? These "men" who get arrested certainly deserve it. I have no pity for them at all, and it makes for great television. But, Chris Hansen-how could he NOT crack up? I wonder if when the cameras and mics are turned off if he just rants about how flippin' stoopid these perps are. One would think that if Hansen was normal, he wouldn't take his job too seriously and would laugh his ass off at his amazing good fortune. He has milked this story to death, pardon the pun.

Rumor has it that he is actually a real journalist.

The Sweat of Colin Firth

I haven't watched "Love Actually" since it was in the theaters but I think it's extremely well made since the original script was about 200 pages-too long for a romantic comedy, or for any type of genre for that matter. Plus, it has Colin Firth and that birdie num-num with the funky name who was in that tsunami film on HBO. Colin..quite the dreamcicle, ain't he? I normally don't go ga-ga over dudes on the big screen, but he's lovely. He's like a Brit version of Dennis Quaid, Ed Harris, Eric Bana, Viggo Mortenson and Barbaro (when he was alive) all rolled into one. I had a friend years ago who worked on "Great Balls of Fire" and told us tales about how people would steal Dennis Quaid's underwear from his trailer. Dennis would attempt to hide his knickers in 'they-wouldn't-look-here' places, but his stuff was always found. Finally, the posted a guard outside his trailer door. I'm sure Mr. Firth's knickers are getting swiped on a regular basis, but not by yours truly.

Also, Keira Knightley is in it and she is desperate need of some food-preferably a cheesecake and/or cheeseburger. She's great but she resembles Skeletor which is quite unsettling. More importantly, Bill Nighy steals the show..as he does in most films he's in.

The Oscars are tomorrow and I don't really know anyone who is nominated. Normally, I know one or two of the editing nominees (both pix and sound), but this year, nada. Also, I don't know of anyone who is going, but my friends who live near the Oscars theater are frustrated by the influx of lookie-loos and press mostly because it's cramming the streets which makes their commutes worse to the local Starbuck's and Hollywood Blvd. Sleaze Fest. At times, I do miss the fun of working on films, but as time passes, I realize I made the right decision to leave..at least that's what I keep telling myself.

Now it's onto human rights and child soldiers. Peace