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I note with sadness the passing Lorenzo Odone who died one day before his 30th birthday.He died from aspiration pneumonia brought about from food stuck in his lungs.May he rest in Peace.

Lorenzo was diagnosed with adrenoleukodstrophy (ALD),a big name for a 6 year old. Doctors told the family he would die within two years.His death came Friday,defying  the doctors predicted outcome.The film "Lorenzo's Oil" struck a personal chord with me,even though this child's condition was different from my son's, I felt deep empathy with him and his family.His mother became a role model for me,she followed her heart,fought for her child's life and never discounted the power of love. Bless this family.

I hate these kinds of trailers,but in case you have never seen the film,I included it.

 Just how low will people go? I received this little gem in my e-mail...it never ceases to amaze me low and base humans can be....and no I am not contacting an obvious scam artist.The fact I get to "keep" 40% is what really cracks me up,that and if they knew my financial situation~ well they picked a pre-picked tree! LOL

From: Mrs. Mary Johnson.
17 Copse Hill,
Wimbledon,
SW20 0NE, London,
United Kingdom.


My name is Mrs. Mary Johnson, I am a dying woman who have decided to donate what I have to you church. I am 59 years old and I was diagnosed for cancer for about 2 years ago, immediately after the death of my husband, who has left me everything he worked for. I have been touched by God to donate from what I have inherited from my late husband to you for the good work of God, rather than allow my relatives to use my husband hard earned funds ungodly.Please pray that the good Lord forgive me my sins. I have asked God to forgive me and I believe he has because He is a mercifu l God.
I will be going in for an operation in less than one hour. I decided to WILL/donate the sum of £10 MillionGBP(Ten Million Great Britain Pounds sterling) to you for the good work of the lord, and also to help the motherless and less privilege and also for the assistance of the widows. At the moment I cannot take any telephone calls right now due to the fact that my relatives are around me and my health status. I have adjusted my WILL and my lawyer is aware I have changed my will you and he will arrange the transfer of the funds from my account to you. I wish you all the best and may the good Lord bless you abundantly, and please use the funds well and
always extend the good work to others.

Contact Person:Barr Teddy Willaims
E-mail:removed

and tell him that I have WILLED £10 MillionGBP (Ten Million Great Britain Pounds sterling)  to you and I have also notified him that
i am WILLING that amount to you for a specific and good work. I know I don’t know you but I have been directed to do this. Thanks and God bless.
NB: You will be entitled to 40% while the balance will be use by you to help the work of God and the less privilege’s will appreciate your utmost confidentiality in this matter until the task is accomplished as I don't want anything that will jeopardize my last wish.
And Also I will be contacting with you by email as I don't want my relation or anybody to know because they are always around me.

Yours sincerely,
Mrs. Mary Johnson 

Not much else to say here~ except I am glad I mended my bridges. Glad I knew ya" and see you down the road. Forgot to add~ ~~~~

Semper Fi.

Rated R~ the Preview is disturbing,but not overly graphic.The film received a 98% rating at http://www.rottentomatoes.c...

The mother stood there terrified, trying to hush her baby by nursing it as her children gathered close around her. The bayonet came at her several times, her children screaming, “Do not stab my mommy!” she finally fell dropping the baby, who wailed in frustration. The solider speared the baby through its buttocks and chucked the child into the air, gave a last look at the carnage and moved on. The eldest looked at his mother, bleeding freely now and though she could not speak he knew what she needed of him. .He began to climb among the bodies of the dead and dying following the cries of a baby. He found him crawling aimlessly, his tiny hands and feet sticky and red with blood. He grabbed him up and found his way back to his mother, who held him to her breast, blood mixing with milk as they both slowly died. War is indeed hell.

This is but one of several first hand accounts in the fascinating documentary “Nanking” which chronicles the WW2 era tragedy in which some 200,000 Chinese citizens were, murdered and tens of thousands were raped at the hands of the Japanese. This terrible chapter of history told through archival footage, the survivors on both sides’ personal recollections and through the unique perspective of eight Westerners who had the personal courage and calling, to stay to try to help. Their words are culled from diaries, letters and portrayed by such as Stephen Dorff, Mariel Hemingway, Woody Harrelson, and Jurgen Prochnow (as a Schindler type member of the Nazi party). These Westerners set up a “safety zone” where they attempted to save thousands. They did manage to save many, but felt each loss personally.

This film should be required viewing for all, but the footage is quite graphic and the carnage of war is not spared any viewer. Be forewarned much of this never before seen footage is beyond disturbing. The film does not tell us why society breaks down in these ways, but it does remind us of that even in these moments human beings can stand for good, even with much personal sacrifice.

 I recommend this film, with all my heart, to all adults.

I am going to borrow from another blogger here to recall a glorious time in our nation’s history, a time of my youth that I fear we will never see the likes of again.

These are the stories of the hero’s who went to the moon the story of a time when all Americans indeed the world, were proud to be able to witness such heights. Using archival footage and current day interviews. the beginnings of the Apollo program and the flight that ultimately landed on the moon are explored. It is marvelously edited; using spoken words, images and music take you back to that time. The year 1968 was mostly a terrible one~ the Apollo 11 landing was the one bright spot that not only united us, but the whole world(aside from some grumbling Communists) in the sheer wonder of it all.

Several things struck me, but mostly it was simply the faces of these men. Open, wise and with an indescribable gleam in their eye. They seem to know something only they can know. The first speech in which Kennedy challenged us to go to the moon within the decade is a stirring one indeed. In a second speech he says we must produce “metal alloys not even invented yet”~ an extraordinary statement. In the spirit of full disclosure my ex-father-in -law did develop the alloy that allowed reentry.

As a child, I remember televisions being brought into school rooms for the flights, rushing home to not miss a minute of any of these missions, knowing the awful price they would pay for one misstep. The archival footage is amazing, and interspersed are segments from “I’ve got a Secret” and of course Walter Cronkite.

For those of you old enough to recall these heady days, and those too young to know, I heartily recommend renting this fine documentary.

The Trials of Darryl Hunt~ a documentary

 In 1984, in a gross miscarriage of justice and law enforcement Darryl Hunt was convicted for the kidnapping, robbery, rape and murder of 25-year-old Deborah Skyes, a copy editor at the local paper in Winston Salem, N. Carolina. He served 20 years for a crime he did not commit. After his conviction, the real perpetrator repeated his crime 6 months later. While his victim heroically managed to escape~ naked, throat slashed, raped, beaten severely she never saw justice. The victim was discouraged by both police and prosecutors to seek justice, afraid the case against Mr. Hunt would weaken. In fact, right before one of Mr. Hunts appeals all the evidence in her case was destroyed.

This story, in the words of one participant, would be comical if it did not involve a mans life. “Eye witness” testimony ,jail house informants, law enforcement  negligence, prosecutorial misconduct and down right disregard for the law, K.K.K. witness’s~ this case reads like it was right out of the old south except Mr. Hunt walk a free and vindicated man in 2004.

Underling this sad story is the moral courage of a man, many thought “retarded”, with an 8th grade education. He refused to name an innocent man as the perpetrator, refused $12,000 “reward” to name another, and refused a plea deal for a crime he did not commit. Upon his release, he held no hatred to those involved.

The sub story of a families grief over the horrendous loss of their loved one, their inability to see the facts about the real killer ~who confessed~ is heartbreaking to watch. It is a lesson in forgiveness and the cost of not being able to forgive either the innocent or the guilty.

Around 1989 DNA began to be a useful tool in fighting crime ,there have been some 151 exonerations in death and life sentencing cases, and some 49 convictions based on DNA~ the tip of the iceberg. Consider that some 100,000 arrested have been released by DNA evidence, which excludes them in the crime and that approximately 20% of felony cases, have biological evidence to test. The local trial, which I have written about, would not have as much DNA to test, if the father, after police were “done” with the scene had not found the knife used in the crime. It was in plain sight, that DNA is now being questioned ”, cross contamination, because the police told the father to “bring in the knife”. .

Near the end of the documentary you see the original prosecutor break down into tears over his role in the nightmare, you realize somebody finally listened. That was all Darryl Hunt wanted.

I recommend this film for all to see.

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Really, Really funny on Saturday Night Live~ he has the dead pan down! Also~ dang it (LOL Moto) Like-able . He had two segments,the first showcasing how what we need is a old,no really old,President.The second touched me so...

He wants us to know he supports us. He knows we are all stressed out over who to pick and ,really, how we really do not have to pick a candidate~ even after the Convention! What a guy!

    IF;

You are a fan, or somewhat nutty about, or a Dylanologist

You admire many styles and genre of cinema

You enjoy great acting

You can use your mind to follow a story line

Rent this DVD post haste ~~All others beware.

(Full Disclosure: warts, raspy voice and all I am nutty about Dylan.)

Spoiler alert~ some may want to quit reading here, others who could use a road map please continue.

Shot with various actors capturing the essence of the various incarnations (Madonna who???) of an unquestionably remarkable career. First off is a young actor to watch, Marcus Carl Franklin, embodying the “pre-folk” Dylan. He is the confabulation, which Dylan built up about his past before he hit New York and also a homage to Woody Guthrie. A rousing rendition of “Tombstone Blues” with Ritchie Havens is not to be missed.

Christian Bale as one Jack Rollins captures the folkie Dylan, those days with Joan Baez and his “protest” songs. Here we find the crisis every ant-establishment artist faces when fame comes a calling. Bale reappears later as the “Christian, Pastor John”, representing his religious period.

At this point, we are introduced to the late Heath Ledger as Robbie a film star whose break out role is portraying Jack Rollins. It is this tale that connects us to the others in a human way. We watch as Robbie’s love is crushed under the weight of his lifestyle.

Ben Wishaw plays a Rimbaud type character that is undergoing some sort of “inquisition” for being a poet~ something he denies.

Then in the most “Dylan” of all these Dylan’s is the stunning performance of Cate Blanchette as one Jude Quinn from the electric drug fueled period~ the “Judas“ Dylan of so many folk fans. She steals the show and is nothing short of amazing…

Then we cut to Richard Gere representing Dylan’s fascination with Americana, the John Wesley Harding, Nashville Skyline days. Filled with sly references to Billy the Kid, this is the most surreal part (the directors voice over is well worth listening to just for this section) and the most beautiful.

The whole is choreographed with his tunes, some sung by others and a good smattering of the infamous basement tapes. An excellent special features, with essays, an option to see the lyrics of the songs and an great director’s commentary.

I whole-heartedly recommend this film. A rottentomatoes.com rating of 71% fresh.  

Just some Wednesday morning music....why this man won the first Pulitzer for a rocker.The last verse's say it all,best break up song of all time~~IMHO.

 After watching this relative unknown, at least to us here in America, win the Oscar for best actress, I knew I had to watch this film. Always intrigued by Billy Holiday and other unique voices, one name stands alone for me… Edith Piaf. Even with no understanding of French, some voices cross all language barriers and hers certainly does so.

The director, Olivier Dahan, chose to read all he could find about “the Little Sparrow”, both published and unpublished, and make an impression of her tragic life rather than an actual bio picture. So many great artists are tragically flawed, suffer much and yet overcome all to rise to heights we can only dream of. Such was Edith Piaf. Marion Cotillard, as Piaf, does an amazing job of aging from 15 to 47 and manages to capture the essence of the chanteuse. Abandoned several times by her parents, raised in a brothel, singing on the streets that lead to her big break at a Paris nightclub, losing the love of her life and her subsequent addiction are the tragedies, yet there was always someone there to help her, someone to focus her on her art~ that voice.

The film weaves in and out of the early times, then her later years, leaving you with a melody that lingers in your ears.