The best special and visual effects!!

I know, it's been a while. It's not like I'm not blogging, for I am.

I'm just not blogging, well, here.

I got a gig, folks. It's a free gig, but it gets me into the writing game's door, a preverbial foot, as it were. I've been awarded with some interviews, some people think I might know something, and my opinion actually carries some weight. And? I even get free tickets on occasion.

If you'd like to see where I've been writing?  Take a bop over to orlandofunandfood.com.. Good group of people there. They gave me a chance when several other websites won't. I say "won't" considering I've written for several other websites, for free, and they ignored me and asked me to pay for their events when they happened at my Disney Parks. So?

We moved on.

However, I've been thinking about writing lately and it was time to revisit here. One of my movie critic friends, someone I trust and, apparently, really likes it when I do my movie lists, asked me to make another listing. So? That's what's going on here.

Not necessarily about theme parks, so this seems like the perfect spot to drop a few lines.

Today's topic? The best special and visual effects!!

See, I know a guy. He's an animator. Good one, too, won an Oscar and everything and, well, he and I were having a terrific conversation about the need for special effects. There was a time, way back when, in the times of King Kong, the original, when people bought a ticket to see the wonders of the movie. To be, truly, dazzled by the flickers of light on the screen. That, in and of itself, was worthy of a ticket.  Who cares that the movie might have been limp or pathetic, you came to be wow'd.  In the fifites, things changed around a bit more. All common sense was thrown aside, including the ability to suspend disbelief, to just be purely entertained by the drive in movies that Hollywood was cranking out.

Then came Jaws and Star Wars. Suddenly, with these pictures, the special/visual effeects came along side the tale you were watching and enhanced it. Usually, the story was so good, you didn't come to be wow'd by the special effects-instead, the movie came alive because of it. The experience was fuller by the presense of image, not the mere suggestion of it. We came to see Jaws to see a movie about a shark, not a facsimile of fish; we went to Star Wars to join on the heroes journey through outer space-and that couldn't happen without special effects and visual effects.

Now, I'm using two terms here, interchangably.

Special effects are usually seen by the actors. The best example I can think of is Jurassic Park. Those dinos in the kitchen? Those were costumes and puppets tormenting the actors.   The actors had something to interact with.

That shark in Jaws?  Special effects.

Visual effects are slightly different. These aren't usually seen by the actors and are added post photography.  The actors in the Millenium Falcon did not see the star field at all as they hit lightspeed.

Combine these two? And you have the fundamental difference between stage and screen.  The screen can give a more otherworldly experience slighly better than boards. However, the stage gives you a human element that cannot be replicated on a movie screen.

Keep this all in mind when I take you on a brief trip down the special and visual effects that have truly made me go WOW....

5.  TRON (1982)

Here, for the first time for little movie-watcher-me, did the effects upstage the story. A wholly realized world that didn't exist in any reality we had ever experienced. Yes. As a geek, I did actually see this one for the visuals. It was like watching a huge video game. But the wow factor was there, bright and vivid.

But it also showed that the story really, really needed to be built up. YOu don't just make a story around the visuals. You should have a good story, first.

4.  Who Framed Roger Rabbit?  1988

Bob Zemekis is a god. No, really. Like Hitchcock before him, he has this amazing ability to combine an incredible story with special effects so unique, you realize that they just blend, seamlessly. Here's where I first noticed him (however, Romancing the Stone is a wonderful movie too). He takes a crapload of animated, violent tropes and then hurls them at the screen, repeately. At the same time, he takes a 1940s film noir detective/crime tale and shows it at the same time.  And it works to the point where you start to wonder where the animation ends (a sexy Jessica Rabbit is really just a Lauren Becall mole that we expect in these movies) and the live action begins. It's a deft piece of work that hugely entertaining. Disney tried to market it to the kiddies, but it becomes evident to the adults in the audience this is, in the end, a crime movie with a really stupid ending.

Still WOW!

3.  Avatar

I hate James Cameron, technically.  I find his movies are overbearing and poorly written. Haven't we seen this before? And when he breaks new ground, he tends to wave his hands around alot to get everyone's attention. LOOK! I CREATED SOMETHING.

But I cannot deny what he did here, at all.

Many have been complaining about the fact that Disney is building a theme park experience around these movies. Rides at the theme parks let you feel like you are part of the story, a virtual experience. When I saw Avatar in 3D and in IMAX, the flimsy story was right there-but I didn't mind, because, when parts of the movie are flying out at me, I felt like, I, too, was somehow transported to Pandora as well.

So I get why they want to make a ride out of this stuff. Oh, and it made a crapload of money by upcharging for the IMAX and 3D glasses and stuff.

But the film is huge testament to motion capture. Unlike animation, there's a human undercurrent here and it shines through to the audience, making it easier to connect and dismiss the fact that the story is "meh."  Watch the sides of the screen when Jake walks around the tree tops, as slight whisps alight on him and you in the audience. Watch how rockets are launched AT YOU when the bad guys attack. You feel like you're underfire and suddenly become very empathic to the cause of the protagonists.

No matter what the crappy story is.

I hate the term, but I can't think of a better one at the moment, but I like to think of it as "live-action" animation.

2.  Forrest Gump  1994

WHen digital photography was in its infancy, this movie came out. And I realized, slowly, that we cannot trust the uncompromising actuality of photography any more. Before this movie, there was a concept of "photojournalism." It meant that National Geographic or Time could send a learned photographer out into the world and they would just take pictures and tell the tale of the world.

That ended with that movie. Sure! They're still out there, capturing images like we've never believed.

But we might have doubts.

Because of this movie. This movie, also from Zemekis (he won an Oscar for his efforts) seemlessly blends the realities we have all grown up with and adds the protagonist in there. Kennedy met him.  His grandfather appears in Birth of a Nation.

The digital photo revolution has begun.

Now? We can do this all on a laptop. But then? This was new and I learned in that darkened theater that I may never trust an image again.  Ever.

And it's a good movie, to boot. Slowly, we're shocked by the images, impressed at their special effects abilities. But then? Puft. We get absorbed and accept this new timeline of history. With Mr. Gump being activtly involved.

1.  Lord of the Rings trilogy

I will admit, these are not my favorite movies. I find, like James Cameron, that the ego of the director sometimes got the better of him. Luckily, he was graced with incredible actors who based the story in their very human emotions, pulling the audience closer to their hearts.

While the world they inhabit is completely, and utterly fictional. This is a world that can only exist in dreams and in fiction. Very similar to Avatar-it's actually closer to Forrest Gump.  Human like experience within the fantastic. Where this is superior? It's not all digital. Frequently, shots had to be overtly planned, I had learned and just mere camera trickery was utitlized to save money and to allow performers to be in the same room-continuing the very human presence.  Gandalf towers over the hobbits in their homes. But he's just merely standing closer to the camera, using smaller plates and tea cups.

A final battle surges with animals that we have never seen, a cast of millions populating our field of vision. We fly over the battlefields, pull in close and then see touching, independent moments. As an audience member, we're introduced to the scope, as well as, able to connect to the humanity beneath the tale.

Good stuff!

Now? Go get some popcorn! And tell me what movies you think have the best special effects!!

Look, I don’t have a true issue with English being the official language of America, I don’t, really.  It makes sense. Most countries have an official language and it’s more for business purposes. You work here, you need to have a common language. It doesn’t really matter that English is considered the only class five language in the world, but, hey, difficulty with learning (I’ve been teaching it for years) it, shouldn’t be the concern.

What is the concern? Implementation. Look. I LOVE English. Easiest the best and most worthwhile subject in the world, in my book. I loved the classes. And it’s surely taken a hit over the years. Standardized testing, no matter what the BigWigs want us to believe, does NOT measure English AT ALL.   English has too many choices, like I said, it’s a class five here folks. So? We can’t really use it to measure anything. I’ve met some of the most intelligent people on the planet, who cannot write in English. So it would be a poor measure to use towards intelligence. But with that, I see making it an official language like using it as a weapon. Now? Idiots standing at the border screaming, “go home!” can now say, “Learn English!”   

Great. That’d be motivating. Sure..create hatred in a group of people who are down on their luck. We insist they love the sword-the sword we’re going to use to cut their throats.  Could we make a system where, upon understanding English in a remedial assessment, they’re granted full citizenship? And let’s use a test that actually tests English, not one of these government tests they use at the schools to see how they can close districts…you know, one written by people who know English?

Wait. No one actually knows English. Those who seem to have a beef about learning English tend to be the ones who suffered under it so much. They tend to be the ones who scream and yell about it not being used enough, anywhere.  Yet they can’t seem to even type.

Is there research to support my observations? No, I’m sure there’s not. But what I have seen is that English is more of a concept than really insisting on…”you need to learn English.” The concept is, “we have another reason to kick you out!” 

What can we do? I say this, continue English in the schools. We have to. And get the kids to assimilate the language.

Offer free classes whenever possible, taught by people who can help with cultural differences. If they’re Russians, have a Russian teach it. Stuff like that. 

Make it a requirement and part of the immigration process. Ten classes or something.

And, on a side note, there’s a perfectly legitmate way to becoming an American citizen. If people are avoiding that manner, the reason needs to be examined.  If we’re having an immigration issue, that would be the cue. Of course, from my understanding, there isn’t the issue that so many other countries are having. In fact, our system is so rigourous, many other countries adopt our systems—but, is it cash? Is it too expensive? Is it the fact that they don’t have a job yet?

Humorously, I love the fact that they can’t be taking a job that an American can fill. How many Americans want to be a maid for a living? None of you. Don’t say you do. Just sayin’….

I guess I saw what so many of ancestors had to go through to get here. I can see where they are going with the yelling and the screaming. But that doesn’t fix a problem. That just makes people shut down and be mean. The dialogue, in English or otherwise, needs to change in format.

And stop using my beloved English as a weapon. It’s a tool, alright, but there are better ways of helping people learn than by threatening them.  

Peace,

Roo

Two Summers of Shared Crappiness

I’ve noticed something since that stupid verdict on Citizens United, frankly. While I don’t agree with the ruling, I understand it. Money donations, free speech, yeah, sure, whatever, I get it, that’s not my concern. But it also brought to light something people have been complaining about for eons.

Corporations suck moosepenis. They do. They really do.

And it surged into public consciousness, as well as my own, with the ruling. 

I mean, look at me- I worship at their altar. I go to Disney, like, hourly. I am writing this in a Starbuck’s. And Target just filed an amicus brief in favor of same sex marriage. And on the opposite end of the spectrum?  WalMart keeps people in poverty so government cash is being used and refuses to buy American products. Their choices, not mine. I’m cool with both sides of this. It’s hard to live here in the states without interacting with corporations.  

And that’s not my beef, either.

What is my beef? As a Buddhist, we’re supposed to see things as things. Stuff we can’t take with us into the afterlife. We’re supposed to live out in the open with as little as possible and let life be. I’m cool with that too. It’s hard to do, but it can be done, even outside of a monastery.

But corporations and businesses have a singular goal that goes against all religions.  It’s reason for existing is to make money. Now that money is not for itself, outside of costs that are used to sustain it’s existence. But someone is earning cash here. The middle men? Sure. Some. But the owners.

Again, I’m cool with that too, believe it or not.

And what the fuck does this have to do with Hollywood?

I’m getting there.

I’m even going to settle into a one-percenter crap either.

They have the right and reason to make money. Go ahead, that’s why they got into the racket. All four of them. Not their kids. Just the person who started whatever business in 1945 or whatevers.

My point is-Hollywood is a corporation.

And, like any corporation, they need to make money. It takes cash to make a movie. A ton of cash. Those leads need limos and their third houses are on the line. So? What do they do?

They make utter crap. This summer did not even break even on most movies, if you’ve notice. Each title pretty much died at the box office. And I’m glad. I have to say, all I saw were remakes and sequels. There’s even talk about a Ghostbusters 3. How’s about a new movie about ghosts that has nothing to do with a franchise? That would take untried mechanics and writers and such and Hollywood refuses the risk.  And, as I’ve said, they have a reason for doing it and it’s not actually a bad thing. But it makes me avoid movies.

In fact, the best movies, I noticed, were from outside the US. Snowpiercer and Lucy were unique affairs that I found were terrifically allegorical but still believed in its audience enough to come in from a different angle. I’ve pointed out, a long time ago in these columns, that Hitchcock really only made one movie, again and again. But a level of creativity and ingenuity made each picture a wonder to behold with scenes and sequences that were wholly original upon themselves. Psycho is about identity (his favorite theme) but a horrific shower scene that stopped up; Topaz was also about identity, but had a horrific homicide, done in silence, in a kitchen with a gas oven.

Even Godzilla, this time back to overseas creators, this summer was original in that it approached the storied monsters from a totally different angle, literally, from the ground up, not even showing the towering beast until the finale. How to Train Your Dragon 2 was also different in that it refused to play by the formula of a sequel (rehash the old! Save on money!), but adding non stereotypical plot elements. For example, two characters, married before one thought the other long perished. They become reunited and do they argue in comedic fashion? Nope. They weep at the lasting of their love over time.

In a kid’s movie.

Even X-Men: Days of Futures Past has fun with popping characters, ala Forrest Gump, into history and it reads, yes, like a comic book.  Wholly original.  A sequel-prequel. 

But the rest of 2014’s lineup is dismal and has been. 300…a prequel?  Expendables 3 with even more hasbeens.  Dawn of the Apes…with a trailer that tells you the movie. Transformers? I mean, really, Hollywood? 

That's two summers now I've noticed I've been disappointed. 

I’m never going to stop seeing movies, I know that. And they have a reason to make money. But people keep teasing me about being so critical when, well, it seems to me that that the studios aren’t really trying to hard. If we like a movie, they’ll just push it back out again in some similar form, dialing it in from a cell phone. I’m thankful I have an art house here in Orlando-I can go see original content every once and a while.

Waiting to see the next big budget actioner until after my friends let me know it’s decent enough for the 20 dollars a ticket.

Peace,

Roo

Living The Writer's Life

As I have been writing a bit more and more these days, I can’t help thinking that, in terms of this blog, I should be addressing some things that haven’t been looked at. No, trust me, there’s no reason to panic. I don’t think it’s about coming out with any new and shocking news. In fact, I’m going to be quite sure, that the experiences I’ve had recently are totally just reinforcing items that can be better found elsewhere and with much better research to support it.

I’m shooting from the hip, as it were. 

Since moving to Florida, I’ve participated in National Novel Writing Month at least, what, twice. That’s a 50% accuracy rate, which, when considering everything, is quite good. Novels are long ass fuckers that, like a mosquito drawing blood, pull energy from every facet of your creativity and give the concept of “free time” a run for it’s money.  There’s a podcast out there, “I Should Be Writing” that is quite excellent for the aspiring author. However, the title is all I need to place here.

At every moment, you’ll hear a voice in the back of your head—“YOU SHOULD BE WRITING.”

In fact, I like to think one of the myriad of reasons I left Colorado was to escape a horrible loop of non-writing. My friends and my family, avid supporters, supposedly, of my writing, would sing my praises, but, when I would sit down to author for a moment, I became a geek, a killjoy, or an idiot. In fact, some of my friends would avidly tease me with, “oh, come on, really?” 

Writing takes place in the cracks of our lives. Between professional obligations, familial pursuits, and collegiate obligations.  When the air settles around those moments, you find a dark corner, poke what lives there, and slam fingers to a keyboard. This means killing off that date night or shortening that dog walking. And it’s not fun.

Moving to Florida from Colorado quelled it and really helped. Sadly, and I am loathe to admit the sad truth-but the depth of my friendships here are still in development. I’m still working on connecting with individuals. And, as such, I’m finding the time to write much more palatable. No one is making fun of me, and those who are? I can just hang up that phone. 

I’ve heard of so many important authors who have stopped here to author and it is inspiring.  In Colorado? I can only think of Hunter S. Thompson. And even he wrote several pieces here in Florida. But Twain, Hemingway, Haissen, and Hurston all had time here. The irony, too, is not lost.  Florida is filled with idiots, idiocy, and wackos. 

A perfect place to grow imagination in any form.

This book I just finished.  I find that the depth that comes from theme is none existent, but, strangely, I’m okay with this. I noticed the tale is almost all plot-the bare bones, if you will. I have the story. Now? Time to flesh out the images and characters within the narrative. 

And, hopefully, I won’t have to leave to get to work. Discipline is difficult enough. It’s even moreso without the support system. 

Thank goodness for husOtters Who Paint. They get it.

What’s the point of all of this? Leave. Just leave. Physically? Sure. Go. Get away and write some place. Coffee house. The lawn.  The dining room table. Your office (but close the damn door).  Metaphorically?  Headphones. Invest in a pair.  Before the day starts.  But, get away and write something. Anything. It’s vital. Or, if you’d prefer, get away and CREATE.  I know so many who don’t have that particular feather in their cap. Cooking is an art.  Conversation is an art. Find your art.

And get away and do it.

Peace,

Roo

Cthulhu!

Due to a book I just wrote...

OMG! Hilarious!

Peace,
Bardy

The Perils of Being a Buddhist

To connect to the story, click this!

If you have been following, my one devout friend hsa been mentioning that, as a Christian, he feels he's persecuted for his faith. I find this mention growing, but, then again, on my FB page, I noticed, I know seven different ministers of different faiths.

None of them are Buddhists. None of them are Taoists.

Nor am I.

Neither am I.

There's something grammatically wrong there, but whatever.

But I try. I do believe in buddhism. I don't seem them blowing up stuff in Gaza, looking for wards to discriminate against their fellows, or using planes to kill people to show how peaceful they are.  Followers tend to be a peaceful lot and I like that. It's helped me more, it seems like, when Christianity left me because of my oreitnation and no one in the church would stop, other than to tell me I was wrong, going to burn in hell and to encourage me to kill myself.

Yes.

You know, that "Thou Shalt Not Kill" thing, apparently means alot in the faith.

I live in the Bible Belt as well and this kinda thing that is mentioned in the article is everyday. I tell people I'm a "Zennist," a form of buddhist philosophy, and I get laughed out and then sought out when they put up a Christmas tree-to make sure I see it. As if the presence of a pagan token will some how make me like God more. It's painful-but here ya go. Another child...A CHILD was put down for his beliefs.

Yes, I am a Christian too, but I had the benefit of being raised by a father who was not the same faith. I think it went a long way in understanding that we can, all, coexist.

But there's something else here too, and I think it infuriates me more. This was a teacher, a supposedly educated professional. I think to my own personal example. One of my conservative friends detests the Muslim faith. She goes about actively talking about it at our workplace. However, we have a huge Muslim population at several of our workspaces.

I watched her work with a young lady in a beautiful chador/burka without incident. And she said, "the child isn't the problem. It's the faith that is."

Misguided, yes, but I think she is half-way there.

So, yes, I'm a Taoist. And a Zennist.

And a Christian.

But, moreso, I'm everything, because, in the end, I can't take words with me. I can only take my history and actions. So I know better than to put down a kid who doesn't agree with one of my views.

Peace,
Roo

Because Roger Ebert is awesome...

All my life, I wanted a writer's life, a life where the page is the thing. Roger Ebert was that man. He had the life. And you want to see why? Check out the following article. Read a few of his sentences and you'll know why:

13 Funniest Lines from Roger Ebert's Pans....

Peace,
Roo

Happy Fourth of July, Folks!

Hey Dear Readers,

Enjoy this three day weekend and a celebration of our independence.   We've come a long way--but it's been all worth it.

Peace!
Roo

To Write or Not to Write about this....

I hate coming here.

No, not this blog. This is something I’ve been meaning to do for quite some time right now. I need to blog more. The fact is, life has sorta gotten away from me and it has become, finally, Summer Break. What can I do?  I gotta write. I want to work on my novel. Really, it’s the priority.  And that’s why I’ve not been here, blogging. But today? Today’s special. The Penelope monster is at the PetSmart, having her day at the spa, getting all pretty-like with the wonderful Miss Chelsea.

And the only coffeehouse is his shittyass Joe Mugg’s. I mean, really. Old candy at the counter. Bad coffee.

And no fucking free wifi.

So I can’t even post this shit up until I get home. If I remember. Half the reason I go to coffeehouses and the like is because it gets me away from the distractions that having a life tend to offer, like laundry, letting the dog out, and making lesson plans. I go out? I can actually just sit and focus on what’s important. The writing. And, with my headphones on, I’m pretty much in my own little world. But this place?

What a crock.

Joe Muggs is located with a Books-A-Million. The only bookstore in the north part of this very Southern County. You know the stereotype. That Southerners don’t read at all. Here’s your evidence.

Not a single fucking bookstore for miles. There’s one Barnes and Nobles in the Villiages. Another hour from here. Which means that the corgilou would be stuck at Miss Chelsea’s, whining that no one loves her just a bit longer than most times.

But this Books-A-Million is one of those dank, dark discount bookstores that sells crap moreso than books. Thank Fate for my Nook (which also doesn’t connect to the wifi) and the online world.   So I am worried about working on my book a bit, since I tend to save it on the cloud. But the wifi here? Pay for use. Seriously. Disney World? American Libraries?

FUCKING McDONALD’S….all of them free.

I guess I should run over there, come to think of it. There’s one nearby.

Thanks folks. I’m an idiot.
But there was a point I had whilst I was here.

I’ve been contemplating a lot about some things about Gay Rights and I’ve had a change of some feelings.

I’m discovering that that I’m more moderate than I realized.

1. Check out his display ten yards from my crusty cabaret table.  It’s Dang Duck Dynasty. I posted it about it on facebook.com. It upset me greatly. How many people supported them and their “Freedom of Speech.”  Even my own brother. Yes, a glorious middle finger at his younger brother; a prime example of why I left Colorado many moons ago. Now when Paula Deen make such comments about race? She was vilified and hung out to dry. Freedom of Speech? Nada. But put down the gays? You get a display case in the middle of the store.   Yes, I find it offensive. But that’s my personal issue. You don’t have to take it down. But it will limit what I buy here.

2. Here’s the tic. I posted a reminder on Facebook, that, ahem, I’m a flaming flamer. Gay as tiara on a Tuesday.  Everyone either forgets or doesn’t want to acknowledge this vital part of my existence. Instead, family and friends ran to support those individuals on that “reality” program, regardless of the fact that those individuals put me down and reminded my family and friends that I would rot.  More “Freedom of Speech.”  I learned who my family and friends truly were.

3. Now there’s those laws in Arizona, so that groups can put down the gays and not be followed upon or sued. Interesting. It doesn’t seem to matter that there’s already, written into the constitution about Freedom of Religion. You can fire a hot blonde dude for being gay at your work. He has no rights or recourse. Try firing them because they go to church. You can’t. Not at all. (This was written before the Hobby Lobby quaqmire)

Yet they feel the need to make another law. It stems from the fact some people have refused to serve a gay person’s wedding and they were sued.  In other words, they feel threatened.

How? Has there never been a Christian president? Has there been a huge sweeping of Christian bashing?   Does my mere existence threaten them? No more than any other sinner, I like to think.

TOP DOWN and BOTTOMS UP..

Okay, so let me ponder this puppy a bit more. I guess, the title for this section is meant to be dirty. I means, it is not okay for those above us to discriminate, but we, the peons, should have choices.

Where does that leave those in the middle? I’m not too sure.

I refuse to go to ChicFilA, no matter how much my coworkers love to go there and remind me of my place in the world. So, I elect to discriminate, I guess, on the basis of shitty chicken. And they have the right to do so as well.  But the top means the government. I am to move freely within the confines of the government. And that means the government needs to see me as a person. They should give money to organizations that put me down, no?

Well, they shouldn’t give money at all, frankly, but that’s me.

So? The top, downwards, shouldn’t discriminate.

Those of us on the bottom? We should be able to choose on where we do business.

Isn’t that already happening, however?

I am really at a loss here. I sound so much like a hypocrite and it bothers me to no end. I choose not to buy books here or chicken over there. But they can’t have the same kinds of choices as well? Or should they?
Personally? No. I don’t think they get a choice. But shouldn’t they have one? Again…where the heck are my lawyer buddies. I’d ask my friends, but they’re all on party lines and like to yell and hurt each other feelings, making sure neither will side with the other.

Look at these photos, from right here….I thought I’d take a walk, since my conservative friends and allies do tell me they feel just has persecuted as I do.  That they have no rights to anything. So,when I saw this Duck Dynasty, I figured I’d walk over and take a look around.   How discriminated are they?  Having been discriminated against both with having Jewish parents and being gay, I'm a bit sensitive. I even work with minority students. I see their pain.  I understand it.

I found Bibles. Okay, a popular book. Unrestricted purchasing power to get them. Christian Living. Inspirational Christian books in fiction. In fact, I found four aisles of books.

   

So? I elected to look at the magazines. 28 different Christian magazines.

Impressive.

I went to look a gay and lesbian magazines.

Two. A whopping two.

Now, this isn’t scientific, Dear Readers, I know that. But I think that if a group is going to claim being oppressed, their evidence is lacking.  Media? Sure. Gays are making strides and are on the news nightly. But established institutions, race, religion, gender, are as well, but not in the numbers we would see in, say, like the sixties. And, in that, I’m beginning to wonder, if the “feeling” of oppression is probably more due to mass consumption than realities. My straight friends, I’ve noticed, never get mocked or stared at Disney World and have never been thrown out of some place.

But, I could be missing something. Maybe they were…but was it for wearing a cross?

I guess I did write something. I’m just trying to understand. Like I said, I’m beginning to feel like a hypocrite. I choose not to watch Fox. But does that mean certain companies have the right to not serve me? Like this place does, er, doesn’t?

Just something I’m pondering. I’m far from right on the subject.

Peace,
Roo

Hollywood's Favorites....

Take a look at this list. Know that, too, I've seen every movie on it.

Now, are there any real surprises? Other than the fact that they are all originals-nothing here is a rehash. And there's not many sequels that I see. So? Hollywood is lost in finding new material and the box office drives production.

Assholes. The whole lot of them.

Peace.

Religious Survey....

Heh, Who Knew?

I had to laugh, because the experience typfied my experiences in the South. The set up sounds like a bad joke: A Baptist, a Catholic and a Queer were having lunch...

....but, seriously, the amount they didn't know about religions only equalled the amount of hate they had for Islam. Now, I understand where that was born from, and, well, let's face it, religion runs on making sure you find something to hate and then creating the "cure," but in this case, they had no reason to hate other religions at all.

But, dang, as soon as they put up a Christmas tree, they thought, "You hate that don't you?"

"Not at all, I have two Christmaskkah trees in my house. WHY WOULD YOU EVEN THINK THAT?"

And, for atheists, they're always going to have to argue their point (but most people in the US don't even go to church), so that makes sense they understand all the misinformed out here.

I am not atheist, by the way. Not in any way. But it makes sense. Same with the Jews.

PRAYER MUST BE IN SCHOOLS!

If you're Jewish, there's a reason to be nervous by that sentence.

Just, interesting. Nothing wrong with it. Something to ponder. Given my multifaith background, I had to grow up knowing things from religions I had no intention of going near. But I still would visit various temples to get the good snacks, trust me!  Oh...and faith too. God is too big for one religion and one path.

That I do believe.

Peace!

Stumbled across this on Reddit. It looks sad and depressing-but it isn't. It's joyous. I thought about putting it on my Facebook page but I think the immaturity of some might not be handle it. There's something wonderful here. "Ghetto" is a negative term here, but not there, it just means from a certain lifestyle in Uganda, where this video is from.

Hard to believe this fabulousness is a country that executes gays.

Jimmy Somerville re-records Bronski Beat’s ‘Smalltown Boy’ for 30th anniversary

Ah, the beauty that is music...

A recap of a thirty year old song...and song with a profound impact...

Go ahead, and listen. I'll try to include just the video below, just in case. It's hard to believe this song is thirty years old. I would have been fourteen. Yes. I knew then. I knew. I knew that my feelings didn't match the world around me; everyone kept telling me I was to date girls and make families, but, when I slept, I dreamed of doing the same thing with men. I knew. Even at fourteen, when the hormones swooned and pounded on my temples.

Times, they were different in the 80s. I would have to go to the public library and hide in the stacks to find those books that helped me understand.  And entertainment was abject hell. Every word was negative; and the gay characters usually ended up dead.

We had MTV back then, a time when it still played music. And, since, even then, sleep was a fleeting concept, I would sit up and watch videos. I discovered, interestingly, that Britain actually had a separate "Top 10," and Wham!UK had a cool song on it, called "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go!"

I was mesmerized. I had to see more.

And I would have to learn how to find it.

I was hooked on the British New Wave, a kinda of synthpop that sounded like rock but had electronic backgrounds that gave it a pop-ish hold.

It was only a matter of time before I saw this song. Once. Just once one of those late night television viewings, while my parents were asleep in their room.

I was hooked a song about a man like myself. Falling for another dude and suffering the angst that comes with it. Of being utterly alone. But it also worked on another level. That wonderful falsetto was singing TO ME. He was Out and Proud.

I wasn't alone.

No. There were others.

And now, he obviously, must, understand the importance to that song to the Generation X crowd who are now making waves with marriage equality and equal employment.

We're still not alone. I'm at as much as I can be-so others never feel that unending dread that, one day, they'll be a victim. No. No more. You'll be just as annoying and satisified as the rest of the world. It does, in the end, get better.

Enjoy...here's his newer rendition.

Good music is good music.

And? Here's when he found a busker doing it on the streets and sang along...good going Jimmy!

Peace all, I'll try to write more.