Keep Your Head Down Hillary

"Keep your head down" is a line that Bill has used before.

Here is the full text from the email ad I received today, link at the end is live.

Standin' in the line of fire...
"I remember landing under sniper fire. There was supposed to be some kind of a greeting ceremony at the airport, but instead we just ran with our heads down to get into the vehicles to get to our base." -- Hillary Clinton, 17 March, 2008
After Clinton's speech on her heroic entrance into Bosnia in 1996, news footage surfaced showing that it was, in fact, a very peaceful visit, with not a sniper in sight. Clinton's daughter, Chelsea, accompanied her on the trip, and footage shows Clinton hugging children and participating in a concert with Sheryl Crow.
Hillary's response to being caught in such a bold-faced lie? "You know, I think that, a minor blip, you know, if I said something that, you know, I say a lot of things--millions of words a day--so if I misspoke, that was just a misstatement."
To honor the would-be President Clinton's "minor blip," The Patriot Shop now offers a tribute to Hillary's "Sniper Fire Tour." Our exclusive T-shirt is made of 100% combed jersey cotton and features a 4" x 4" Sniper Fire Tour crest on the front left of
the shirt, and a large graphic (10" x 12") on the back.
Get yours today!

I think I could wear this one.

I Have A Package

From: mcdonald258@luckymail.com
To: undisclosed-recipients
Subject: You Have A package: Contact FedEx Via email
Date: Friday, March 28, 2008 4:49:33

Greetings! I am Mr Mac Donald, I have been waiting for you ever since to contact me for your Confirmable Bank Draft of $1,200,000.00 United States Dollars, but I haven't heard from you since that time. So I went and deposited the Draft with FEDEX COURIER SERVICE, West Africa. Meanwhile, I've travelled out of the country for a 3 Months Course and will not be back till the end of May.
What I would advise you to do now is contact the FEDEX COURIER SERVICE as soon as possible to know when they would commence the delivery of your package to you because of the expiry date. For your information, I have paid for the delivery charges, Insurance premium and Clearance Certificate fee of the draft showing that it is neither connected to Drug Money nor meant to sponsor any terrorist attack in your country. The only money you will send to the FEDEX COURIER SERVICE to deliver your Draft direct to your postal Address in your country is ($195) US Dollars only being Security Keeping Fee of the Courier Company so far. Again, don't be deceived by anybody to pay any money more than $195. US Dollars for the Security Keeping Fee of the Courier Company.
I would have paid that but I was denied of it as they argued that they don't know when you will contact them in the case of any demurrage. You have to contact the FEDEX COURIER SERVICE now for the delivery of your Draft with this information below;

Contact Person: Mr. James M. Smith

Email Address: fedexcouriercompany82@yahoo.fr

Telephone: +(229) 93-863-747

Finally, make sure that you reconfirm your Postal address and Direct telephone number to them again to avoid any mistake on the delivery and ask them to inform you of when your package would get to your address once it is on transit. Let me repeat again, try to contact them as soon as you receive this mail to avoid further delay and remember to pay them their Security Keeping fee of $195. US Dollars for their immediate action.
You should also let me know through email as soon as you receive your Draft.

Yours Faithfully,

Mr Mac Donald

For only $195 dollars I can claim what is already mine. Why the broadcast email? If it is so important, why didn't they call me on the phone?

I can take care of my own package, thank you.

You should respond to this schmuck just take up his time.

Briefcase Full Of Blues

Moving forward with my music digitization project. Pulled out said album performed by a makeshift band called the Blues Brothers. Led by Dan Ackroyd and the John Belushi as an extension of skits performed on Saturday Night Live, this album was released well before the movie titles "Blues Brothers".

A real band was assembled from qualified musicians, some of which went on to personal fame, other that had already achieved that as blues musicians.

• Paul "The Shiv" Schaffer on keyboards and backup vocals. Paul was already in the SNL band and went on to become David Letterman's orchestra leader.
• Steve "The Colonel" Cropper on guitar, a noted session musician.
• Matt "Guitar" Murphy, on guitar, alter in the movie Murphy played Aretha Franklin's husband.
• Donald "Duck" Dunn, on bass guitar, bearded pipe smoking played in the movie as well.
• Steve "Getdwa" Jordan on drums.
• Lou "Blue Lou" Marini on tenor sax.
• Alan "Mr. Fabulous" Rubin on the trumpet.
• Tom "Triple Scale" Scott also played the tenor saxophone.
• Tom "Bones" Malone, played tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, trombone and trumpet.

The songs played were all covers of blues music that the comedic partnership was clearly focused on at the time. The movie Incorporated more music and appearances by Cab Callaway and Aretha Franklin and my favorite John Lee Hooker.

The songs are..

• Hey Bartender, written by Floyd Dickson. In 1984 Dickson was commissioned and wrote the "Olympic Blues" for the Olympic Organizing Committee.
• Messin' With The Kid, written by Mel London, first performed by Junior Wells.
• Almost, written by Don Walsh
• Rubber Biscuit, written by C. Johnson
• Shot Gun Blues, , written by Don Walsh
• Groove Me, written by King Floyd who was a sometimes creative partner with Dr. John.
• I Don't Know, written by Willie Mabon
• Soul Man, written by Dave Porter and Isaac Hayes, best performed by Sam and Dave.
• "B" Movie Box Car Blues, written by Delbert McClinton, not a bad song for a white boy. No McClinton did not teach John Lennon to play the harmonica.
• Flip, Flop & Fly, Charles Calhoun and Lou Willie Turner.

The opening which blends into song number one is "I Can't Turn You Loose" which was and Otis Redding song, this same song serves to fade out at the end of the album

A thoroughly entertaining set of covers. The movie included a broader some of artists. The energy in the Belushi Ackroyd partnership in in full force.

The album was a cut out but the condition is pretty good.

Fritz the Cat

Whatever in the world possessed me to put two animated movies on my Netflix queue is unknown. Fritz the Cat is movie created by Ralph Bakshi for MGM, released in 1972 it was the first x-rated cartoon.

Fritz the Cat was a character created by the underground cartoonist R. Crumb. In early still comics Crumb portrayed Fritz as a Bond-like character with a strong sexual drive. This persona envelopes everything that Crumb is not, confident, outgoing and over confident.

The story starts with Fritz putting the make on a group of four women. Then Fritz goes uptown to Harlem where he meets up with with some black urban "crows" plays some pool, smokes dope, starts a riot and gets hooked up with a big local moma. Then Fritz escapes the law, heading west with a New York jewess, dumping her for a group of militants and another big moma. The miltants blow up a factory and Fritz ends up in a hospital, low an behold he ends up nailing three of his visitors.

I score at 14 out of 50, a new low.

• Character Development 3 out of 10. This is a story about the perverted development of a post hippie generational seeking experience and wisdom. Instead he starts a riot and gets laid.
• Acting 1 out of 10. Mostly characatures of racial sterotypes, jews, blacks and police.
• Photography, cinematography 7 of 10. Used the unique style of Robert Crumb, a fixation on breasts, moreso nipples and big women.
• Writing , script 1 out of 10. Writing by peple must have been doing drugs.
• Concept 2 out of 10. A sexual journey of a foolish young man, or cat as it were.

If you like the work of Robert Crumb, rent it.

Keep on Truckin'

Wizards

A fantasy animated movie released in 1977 by 20 Century Fox. Animator Ralph Bakshi blends swords, Kung Fu and the threat of nuclear catastrophe. The plot runs parallel to the Biblical story of Cain and Abel. Millions of years after a nuclear war on earth, mankind has devolved into a nearly non-existent race, the world is dominated by magical beings. The queen of the fairies has two sons, Avatar is an amusing well intentioned wizard, his brother Black Wolf is evil lives in the land of Scortch and has formed and army of mutants. There are many similarities to the Tolkien trilogy, and epic battle between the dark and the light. Armies of mutants that have found abandoned equipment from human wars past, they set about using this equipment for an attack on the forces of good. Images from World War II are present in the animation in the form of swastikas and weapons and scenery. As an animated movie, Bakshi used is personal form, a blend of simplistic characters of bright colors such as you would see on Saturday morning, blended with darker animation such as was the Frazzetta style found in Heavy Metal magazine and brought together with live action style of film called rotoscoping. In the end Avatar saves the world from a second Holocaust.

This is a movie I must have seen a dozen times at various "Midnight Movies" around Atlanta in the late seventies. Perhaps the beer intake prior had something to do with my enjoyment. Today I score at 19 out of 50, a poor choice.

• Character Development 3 out of 10. It's animation for Christ's sake.
• Acting 3 out of 10. In terms of the voice overs, the characters voices are well fitting.
• Photography, cinematography 7 of 10. A unique style that doesn't carry well today, but never the less artistic.
• Writing , script 3 out of 10. The Cain and Able thing carries though well enough but many of the scenes are more like the sketches from and Austin Powers movie.
• Concept 3 out of 10. It made sense to me 30 years ago, not so much anymore.

If you are a fan of animation films or any of the currently popular anime, give it a whirl. Otherwise, save your money.

Jug Ears

This is the work of Gary Brookins of the Richmond Times-Dispatch (RTD). He is also the artist responsible for comic strip named "Shoe".

For the most part I enjoy Brookin's artwork, but in this case if drawn to proportion, Obama's ears would be sticking out of the bag too.

While visiting the newspaper's home page I read a story related to the cartoon. RTD columnist, Michael Paul Williams, has offered the column titled "Remarks of ex-pastor ring true". This is mainly a article which gives perspective to the remarks of Pastor Wright from the perspective of a black American.

His remark about the government inventing HIV as a means of genocide against people of color screams for proof. But such statements resonate in a community hard-hit by AIDS and mindful of a Tuskegee Experiment that left black men with syphilis untreated.

A tempered statement and by no means polarizing. Williams hits upon a tone that is surely present but misguidedly entrenched in a period that has past and whose behaviour is repudiated by all mainstream citizens. The fact that past misdeeds occurred is regrettable but buys no entitlement to or from future generations. Some black theologians provide disservice to their followers be perpetuating the myth that white Americans are their enemy. I understand that a great deal of this resentment grows from poverty, but poverty is overcome every day by those who pull themselves into the mainstream.

Dancing With The Stars Signs Eliot Spitzer

The ABC hit show, Dancing With The Stars, has signed former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer to participate in next season's dance competition. Season seven, is planned for its normal fall kickoff.
Eliot Spitzer, recently resigned his governorship after being exposed as habitual pervert that employs hookers, is seen by ABC as fitting their pattern of the cast including at least one character with exemplary sleaze appeal. Producers have managed to include at least one sleaze ball contestant in each of the previous seasons.

• Adam Corolla, season 6, comedian and actor, famous for his work on "The Man Show" and "Crank Yankers". Adam will soon be sent home.
• Mark Cuban, season 5, billionaire owner of the Dallas Mavericks, an arrogant dork.
• Heather Mills, season 4, former pornography model and current gold digger. Heather tried to play the sympathy card, having one leg and all, but that backfired when her unattached leg was found in the dressing room of co-contestant Billy Ray Cyrus.
• Shanna Moakler, season 3, former Miss USA and Playboy model. Shanna was the first contestant to be blown out of the box. Moakler is said to be angling for a role in the upcoming series "Baywatch, The Two Piece Edition".
• Tatum O'Neal, season 2, winner of an Academy Award as an adolescent who matured as the battling ex-wife of John McEnroe. A poster child for "anger management".
• Evander Holyfield, season 1, retired boxed and father of about 50 illegitimate chilren, yes chilren.

DWTS producers feel that Eliot Spitzer embodies all the qualities, arrogance, ugliness, and perversion, that this slot requires.

Local reporters have been performing some research and found that Spitzer is already working out for the role. Patrons at Brooklyn's Gold Club, a men's dance review establishment, were interviewed. Rocco Galiano, Gold Club priority member, said...

Yo, every time that jug eared Jew gets some drinks in him, he starts dancing with the strippers, he thinks he's at his got-damned bar mitzva or sumptin.

On air judges for DWTS had these comments....

"I expect that Spitzer will lead like a heel."

Len Goodman

"I like his energy, it should translate well to dance. And those ears, I could hold them just like this."

Carrie Ann Inaba

"He will be a terrificisimo dance contestant. We hear he really likes women in skimpy dresses."

Bruno Tonioli

My feet are already tapping.

Dog Collar

This poor dog has been struggling on and off since November with skin irritations. The last vet visit produced this stylish look. Since we got him, John Henry has always been the eager type racing in front and slipping between, running everywhere. This collar has removed his ability to 'slip' anywhere, the poor thing keeps running into door jambs and getting caught trying to run up steps. The device is working though, the rashes are already healing. Next thing will be to see if they return then try to identify the cause.

Hillary's Day at the Fortune Teller

After Bill had spent several days campaigning for her and lost his temper many times costing her votes and finally escaping from her overly controlling campaign manager for the evening, Hillary sneaked off to visit a fortune teller of some local repute.

In a dark and hazy room, peering into a crystal ball, the mystic delivered grave news.

'There's no easy way to say this, so I'll just be blunt: Prepare yourself to be a widow. Your husband will die a violent and horrible death this year just after you lose the election.' Then the soothsayer looked up and locked eyes with Hillary, who was visibly shaken at this news.

Hillary stared back at the woman's lined face, then at the single flickering candle, then down at her shaking hands.
She took a few deep breaths to compose herself.

She simply had to know.

She looked back, deep into the fortune tellers gaze, steadied her voice, and asked her the big question:

(see comments)

Ran Out of Apostrophes

Hillary continues to keep quiet about Obama's spiritual leader....

Windstorm

High winds, possibly a tornado hit Atlanta last night after midnight. Because the CNN Center was hit, this has become national news. A turn from the standard, because usually in the south the press runs straight to the toothless 40 year old grandmother wandering around the remains of a battered trailer home. It was fun to watch the male CNN co-anchor, obviously from New York, probably gay, holding up a piece of sheet rock the fell inside the studio. This boy had never seen anything like this back home, his own personal Hurricane Katrina.

The bride and were interested in what landmarks were damaged and on what streets. The damage was south of the Georgia Tech campus by a mile or two. What was striking was that we did not recognize any of the street names. The damned city government has been methodically changing the names to honor civil rights activists. The first to go were the ones named for Confederate generals, an understandable action given their foundation. Unfortunately the city has run out of bona-fide activists and now they are naming roads for folks that we've never heard of.

Not to worry, 50 years from now, the names will have special meaning to the Hispanic citizens. All roads lead will lead to some crappy restaurant named Mexico Lindo.

Hostage

Never should have opened the envelope. This movie, a 2005 release directed by Florent Emilio Siri is characterized loosely as a crime thriller. The story is about an LA negotiator policeman that has lost a family to a nut. The cop moves to the country to get away from crime and is working on a local force. Naturally a hostage situation develops, but with special twists, the victim is a mob accountant and the mob want is money so it kidnaps the cops wife and daughter to increase the pressure. Of course it all goes to shit, the mob guys get killed, local hoods get killed and the incredibly lucky Jeff Talley gets his family back. There are only a couple of innocent bystanders killed, all in all a crappy yet tidy story.

• Bruce Willis plays the lead as Jeff Talley a middle aged burned out Los Angeles hostage negotiator, who has moved to a small town and its police station.
• Kevin Pollak plays home owner Walter Smith, an accountant whose crooked clients complicate the situation. Pollak's best work came in the 1995 hit The Usual Suspects.
• Michelle Horn play Jennifer Smith, daughter of the homeowner. In the last twelve years Michelle has been very busy in television, mostly as guests on serial cop shows.
• Ben Foster plays Mars Krupcheck the quiet abductor with an evil side that comes to bare. Foster was excellent in 3:10 to Yuma.

IMDb rating on this movies was 6.7 out of 10, this must be based solely on the opinions of Bruce Willis fans because I don't see it. You should not see a movie this I score so low at 11 of 50, a real piece of crap.

• Character Development 3 out of 10. There are many places where depth should have been depth added and was not.
• Acting 3 out of 10. Lackluster, Bruce Willis mailed it in.
• Photography, cinematography 2 of 10. The fire scene at the big finish was nearly as silly as the end of Firestarter.
• Writing , script 2 out of 10. Unintelligible.
• Concept 1 out of 10. Why, why, why.

New York Governor = Cheating Bastard

Isn’t being a politician the same thing as being a cheat.
To the press, the perp’s affiliation is pertinent only if he is a Republican.

In lead stories Monday night about New York Governor Eliot Spitzer being linked to a prostitution ring, neither ABC's World News nor the NBC Nightly News verbally identified Spitzer's political party. Must mean he's a liberal Democrat -- and he is. CBS anchor Katie Couric, however, managed to squeeze in a mention of his party. On ABC, the only hints as to Spitzer's party were a few seconds of video of Spitzer beside Hillary Clinton as they walked down some steps and a (D) on screen by Spitzer's name over part of one soundbite. NBC didn't even do that. While ABC and NBC failed to cite Spitzer's political affiliation in the four minutes or so each network dedicated to the revelations, both managed to find time to applaud his reputation and effectiveness as the Empire State's Attorney General before becoming Governor.

Brent Baker of the Media Research Institute

I am ashamed that I am not familiar enough with New York politics to know Spitzer was a Democrat. My impression of the man was that he was a younger version of Rudy Giuliani. During the news last night I found myself listening for the party identification and hearing none. The bias complaints do sound like shrill whining, but they are not unfounded. As to the behavior, if he can't keep his dick in his pants, let the hypocrite suffer for a while before he has to abdicate.

Steveland Hardaway Judkins

Born nearly fifty -eight years ago, May 13, 1950, in Saginaw, Michigan. A premature birth which followed by incubation that caused cataracts and permanent blindness.

His family moved to Detroit, Michigan when the boy was just 4 years old. The youngster began singing and playing instruments in church, receiving training on the piano, congas, and harmonica. Formally educated at the Michigan School for the , this is where he was trained in classical piano.
At the age of twelve, this young man was introduced to Ronnie White of the The Miracles. White brought Steveland and his mother to Motown Records. Impressed by the young musician, Berry Gordy signed Steveland to Motown's Tamla label.

Just a year Judkins had his first major single, "Fingertips (Pt. 2)", playing vocals, bongos, and harmonica, and interesting enough Marvin Gaye on drums.

It was Berry Gordy that gave Steveland his known name, Little Stevie Wonder. Judkins later removed the diminutive adjective.

This is a list of Stevie Wonder's top ten singles....

• 1963: "Fingertips - Part 2" (U.S. #1)
• 1965: "Uptight (Everything's Alright)" (U.S. #3)
• 1966: "Blowin' in the Wind" (U.S. #9)
• 1966: "A Place in the Sun" (U.S. #9)
• 1967: "I Was Made to Love Her"(U.S. #2, UK #5)
• 1968: "For Once in My Life" (U.S. #2, UK #3)
• 1968: "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day" (U.S. #9)
• 1969: "My Cherie Amour" (U.S. #4, UK #4)
• 1969: "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday" (U.S. #7, UK #2)
• 1970: "Never Had A Dream Come True" (UK #6)
• 1970: "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" (U.S. #3)
• 1970: "Heaven Help Us All" (U.S. #9)
• 1971: "If You Really Love Me" (U.S. #8)
• 1972: "Superstition" (U.S. #1)
• 1973: "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" (U.S. #1, UK #7)
• 1973: "Higher Ground" (U.S. #4)
• 1973: "Living for the City" (U.S. #8)
• 1974: "He's Misstra Know It All" (UK #10)
• 1974: "You Haven't Done Nothin'" (with The Jackson 5) (U.S. #1)
• 1974: "Boogie On Reggae Woman" (U.S. #3)
• 1977: "I Wish" (U.S. #1, UK #5)
• 1977: "Sir Duke" (U.S. #1, UK #2)
• 1979: "Send One Your Love" (U.S. #4)
• 1980: "Master Blaster (Jammin)" (U.S. #5, UK #2)
• 1980: "I Ain't Gonna Stand For It" (UK #10)
• 1981: "Lately" (UK #3)
• 1981: "Happy Birthday" (UK #2)
• 1982: "That Girl" (U.S. #4)
• 1982: "Do I Do" (UK #10)
• 1982: "Ebony and Ivory" (with Paul McCartney) (U.S. #1, UK #1)
• 1982: "Ribbon in the Sky" (U.S. #54 pop, #10 R&B)
• 1984: "I Just Called to Say I Love You" (U.S. #1, UK #1)
• 1985: "Part-Time Lover" (U.S. #1, UK #3)
• 1985: "That's What Friends Are For" (with Dionne Warwick, Elton John and Gladys Knight (U.S. #1)
• 1985: "Go Home" (U.S. #10)

Steveland has bee awarded 25 Grammy Awards:

• 1974 Best Rhythm & Blues Song "Superstition"
• 1974 Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male "Superstition"
• 1974 Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male "You are the Sunshine of My Life"
• 1974 Album of the Year Innervisions
• 1975 Best Rhythm & Blues Song "Living for the City"
• 1975 Best Male R&B Vocal Performance "Boogie On Reggae Woman"
• 1975 Best Male Pop Vocal Performance Fulfillingness' First Finale
• 1975 Album of the Year Fulfillingness' First Finale
• 1977 Best Male R&B Vocal Performance "I Wish"
• 1977 Best Male Pop Vocal Performance Songs in the Key of Life
• 1977 Best Producer of the Year
• 1977 Album of the Year Songs in the Key of Life
• 1986 Best Male R&B Vocal Performance In Square Circle
• 1987 Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal (awarded to Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Gladys Knight, and Wonder) "That's What Friends Are For"
• 1996 Best Rhythm & Blues Song "For Your Love"
• 1996 Best Male R&B Vocal Performance "For Your Love"
• 1999 Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s)(awarded to Herbie Hancock, Robert Sadin, and Wonder) "St. Louis Blues"
• 1999 Best Male R&B Vocal Performance "St. Louis Blues"
• 2003 Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals(awarded to Wonder and Take 6) "Love's in Need of Love Today"
• 2006 Best Male Pop Vocal Performance "From the Bottom of My Heart"
• 2006 Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals(awarded to Beyoncé and Wonder) "So Amazing"
• 2007 Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals (awarded to Tony Bennett and Wonder) "For Once In My Life"

Stevie Wonder has seven children. His mother, object of his love expressed in song passed in 2006 at the age of 76.

Don't you worry bout a thing.

for one more day

Stole this book from the bride during a weekend trip to Myrtle Beach. It was short, only 197 pages, and the only thing at hand. Written by Mitch Albom, sportswriter, ESPN analyst and author of Tuesdays with Morrie. Published in 2006, this is Albom's second work of fiction. In 2007 this book was used to create a movie of the same title, starring Ellen Burstyn, Jeff Daniels and Michael Imperioli.
This is a story about middle aged man, isolated by the choices made in his life and shame over the results of those choices. Charles Benetto, "Chick" for short, is an ex-major league baseball player, an unfulfilled career has pulled his family about the country and more significantly away from his mother's birthday party, the day before she dies. Guilt from this choice drives Chick into an 8 year alcoholic tailspin, losing his marriage and contact with his daughter. The final straw comes when learning that his daughter has gotten married without inviting her father. This drives Benetto into suicidal desperation, he drives drunkenly to his hometown, and gets into a near fatal car accident. Due to injuries from the accident he has lifelike visions of his dead mother. In their talks and travels about town, Chick learns that his mother withstood major hardships from her then husband, explaining many behaviours that as a boy he did not understand. The mother makes clear that her love is everlasting and omni-present. Charles is then rescued by paramedics, and his experience gives him the energy to rededicate his life to children and his estranged daughter.
On a scale of 1-10, "for one more day" gets a 7. The story is very well written and believable, I actually found myself looking for player statics of Benetto on Google. For a short weekend traipse of sentimentality, give it a try.

The Prestige

A movie about dueling magicians, not being a fan of magic tricks, I should have known this would not be my cup of tea. In London of the late 1800's, before our age of electronic entertainment, live magic shows were rivals in popularity to stage musicals and vaudeville. This is a 130 minute long movie released in 2006, is classified as a dramatic thriller and is rated PG-13 for violence and disturbing images.

The plot.....
Partners that are also magicians apprentices are beginning their careers, planning for their own acts. Robert Angier's wife Julia is the pretty girl in the act, the partners randomly selected plants from the audience. Alfred ties Julia's wrists for a trick that involves a water tank. The knot sticks and Julia dies in the tank of drowning. When Alfred cannot remember what knot he used, this drives Robert to the first act of his an Alfred's feud. Robert fouls Alfred's bullet catching trick causing him to lose tw fingers. This carries through many iterations of cruel one-upsmanship. Alfred eventually created a wonderful trick that Robert is obsessed stealing. This leads Robert to contact the famous electrial engineer Nikola Tesla. Tesla, played by David Bowie and pictured above creates an electrial device that clones objects. Robert uses this device to best Alfred special transported trick. As it turns out by cloning a new person is created at every instance, the Robert who died at the beginning of the movie was a clone and the situation staged to implicate Alfred. The ploy worked, Alfred ended up convicted of murder and was hanged. Before the execution Alfred discovers the body doubles and confides this to his assistant. After the execution the assistant kills Robert, the twist being the the assistant is Alfred's identical twin, who has been disguised from the start and was unknown as the twin, this had been the secret of Alfred trick.

The actors....

• Christian Bale as Alfred Bordent, the gifted apprentice with an excellent gift for catching the method. This is the same actor who I enjoyed so much in 3:10 to Yuma, an uninspiring effort in this movie.
• Hugh Jackman as the handsome stage polished magician who dies at the start of the movie, setting in place the movie's plot of a reflective story. I am pretty convinced that Jackman while an accomplished Broadway actor is pretty much a B movie guy. Time to head back to the X-Men movies, go Wolverine.
• Scarlett Johansson as Olivia Wenscombe, the new magician's apprentice. What a waste in this movie.
• Piper Perabo as Julia McCullough Angier Robert's wife and magician's assistant. This is the girl from Coyote Ugly, she dies early, drowning during a trick.
• Michael Caine as Cutter the magicians mentor. I wonder if the really killed the birds early in the movie.

This movie was nominated for 2 Oscars, Best Achievement in Art Direction, and Best Achievement in Cinematography. Guess that I have no taste because I did not like it, scored at 23 of 50.

• Character Development 6 out of 10. There is certainly an evolution of the characters, from friends, then seperated by tragedy, anger escalating into cruel rivalry.
• Acting 5 out of 10. Mr. Caine who is in so many movies gave a character rendition similar to Cider House Rules, he is at the head of the class. The rest of the acting seems to overwhelmed by the scenery.
• Photography, cinematography 7 of 10. Dark and sparse, at least they stayed away from making it look like Phantom. The nominations were earned.
• Writing , script 2 out of 10. Dull, magic is for nerds.
• Concept 3 out of 10. Shifty but predictable.

Black History Month Is Over

Even with the extra day this year, measured interest in Black History Month has declined. For this reason the official powers have decided the event will be celebrated on a semi-annual basis.
Suggestions for the restart of Black History Month will introduce interesting events to punch up the excitement.

• By negotiations between the New York's Board of Corrections and The Nation of Islam, Louis Farrakhan will spend February of every other year in prison for orchestrating the execution of Malcolm X.
• Recreations of the legendary southern marches, complete with floats and bus rides.
• Moving the currently celebrated Presidents Day to January, this will remove the the mid February distraction.
• The government plans to introduce tax incentives for retailers to offering historic month long holiday sales.
• In the month of February the NBA will trading players with the NHL as a vehicle for promoting both sports to new audiences.
• Sony Pictures and cooperative Hollywood concerns have committed to release only projects written and produced by black artists. Projects for the upcoming 2010 Black History Month will focus on remakes of early Cosby movies, Uptown Saturday Night and Let's Do It Again. Options for Leonard Part 6 are being considered.

President-Elect Obama has expressed high hopes for the improvised plan.

Bill Cosby has refused comment.