Are You ‘FED’ Up? December 18, 2009
Posted by judylobo in Movie Reviews, Movie Trailer, Politics, Videos.Tags: Ben Bernanke, Federal Reserve, Katherine Lanpher, Movie Review: America: Freedom to Fascism
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Ben Bernanke has been named TIME magazine’s person of the year. Raise your hand if you know what the Federal Reserve actually does and who they are? Katherine Lanpher asks TIME business columnist Justin Fox to explain how the Federal Reserve System manages America’s economy. (Lanpher used to be All Franken’s sidekick on his Air America radio show). Watch here.
In 20o6 a film called America: Freedom to Fascism was released. Here was my review.
Movie Review: America: Freedom to Fascism
Alternate Title: Taxation Without Explanation
Story: Is there anyone who likes to pay taxes? I think not. But most us think we understand why we have to pay them. Or do we? Produce Aaron Russo (The Rose, Trading Places) was dead set upon finding the law that says we have to pay income tax. (Spoiler alert: there is no such law). And so we find this very interesting, filled with facts, film.
The viewpoint is non-partisan (he sort of treats everyone as an equal opportunity sleaze bag in Washington). He methodically exposes the systematic erosion of civil liberties since 1913 when the Federal Reserve system was fraudulently created. My favorite line was ‘ the Federal Reserve Bank is as much a part of the Federal Government as Federal Express.
Did you know the Federal Reserve was a private agency. A quasi-governemtnal entity? I sure didn’t. We learn who these honchos are and what Russo thinks is their ultimate goal (it does not include you or me).
With many talking heads and interviews, including a U.S. Congressmen, a former IRS Commissioner, former IRS and FBI agents, tax attorneys and authors, Russo delivers info on money creation, federal income tax, and the national identity card which becomes law in May 2008.
I wish he had stayed with the money premise but about an hour into the film the laundry list of other Governmental intrusions including voting rights erosion, computerized ballots, micro chip implants, the thuggish tactics of the IRS and the Patriot Act flaws.
This is an important film that should be seen by every tax paying citizen. For more info on the Federal Reserve check this site.
Acting: Not applicable in a documentary.
Predilection: I like documentaries
Opening Titles: The opening titles go on for quite awhile into the film. Some are pretty funny.
Theater Audience: I saw a screening of this film with other reviewers.
Sappy Factor: 0
Quirky Meter: 0
Squirm Scale: I squirmed at how we have all been duped.
Drift Factor: I did not drift but wished the film was a bit tighter.
Oscar Worthy: No
Big Screen or Rental: Oh go for the big screen and rant with other tax paying folk.
Length: Under two hours.
LOBO HOWLS: 6
Movie Review: Invictus December 15, 2009
Posted by judylobo in Jewish Stuff, Movie Reviews, Movie Trailer, Politics.Tags: Clint Eastwood, Joel Stransky, Matt Damon, Nelson Mandela, rugby
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| Movie Review: Invictus
Alternate Title: Against All Odds Story: There is nothing wrong with a feel good film that also has important historical significance and just happens to appeal to the masses. Director Clint Eastwood knows how to make these movies and is counting on his fan base and earned appeal to get people into the theaters for this inspirational, uplifting film. It was written by Anthony Peckham and is based on the book “Playing the Enemy” by John Carlin. It is 1995 and recently elected Nelson Mandela is desperately trying to bring together a troubled nation after the nightmare of Apartheid. The Springboks are a rugby team loved by white South Africans and hated by black South Africans. Along with Mandela’s idea for national reconciliation and forgiveness he decides that uniting the country around this sports team is worth the effort. The film revolves around this Herculean task. The film gets bogged down in a few too many side stories and a bit too many sappy visuals, that at times, seemed cloying, obvious and sanctimonious. That said – I am sure the masses who see this film will fall for its evident appeal and actually tear up. We did not. I know nothing about rugby and after seeing this film only learned that you have to throw the ball backwards or sideways. The film spends the last 20 minutes in the throws of the World Cup final game and I got a bit tired of the grunting, weird pile ups and other sporting stuff. Should you see this film? Why not? Who does not like stories that inspire with heart and who does not like watching Morgan Freeman do his thing. Watch the trailer here:
Acting: Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela hits a home run. He captures his style, grace and spirit perfectly. Matt Damon as team captain François Pienaar is always good – period. Trivia: Joel Stransky kicked the winning goal in the 1995 game. For a profile of him read this article from Jewish Week. The poem, Invictus was written by William Ernest Henley in 1875 and was inspirational to Nelson Mandela while he was in prison. Here is the poem: Out of the night that covers me, Predilection: I have always been fascinated by the politics in South Africa. Critters: Some street dogs. Food: Tea and cookies Sex Spectrum: None Soundtrack: Often soaring by Kyle Eastwood and Michael Stevens; Opening Titles: None Theater Audience: About 20 other people and us. Sappy Factor: 2 Quirky Meter: 0 Squirm Scale: The idea of Apartheid is very squirmy. Drift Factor: I did not drift but it did get a little long and sappy at times. Predictability Level: High Tissue Usage: 0 Oscar Worthy: No – but the award shows just love Clint Eastwood and who doesn’t like Morgan Freeman? Big Screen or Rental: This is one for the big screen. Length: Too long at 2 hours and 15 minutes. LOBO HOWLS: 7.5
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Going, going —FOUND! December 15, 2009
Posted by judylobo in Animal Videos, Photography, Politics, Videos, Zoos, wildlife.Tags: Chimpanzees, chimpnzees, Joe Lieberman, Jonathan Turley, Keith Olberman, Rahm Emanuel
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Going, going —FOUND! 22,000,000 Bush administration e-mails have been found. It is astounding how many laws these thugs broke, bent and spat upon while we sat watching in despair. Listen to Keith Olbermann discuss this with Jonathan Turley on last night’s Countdown. Raise you hand if you think this criminal act will just fade into the night just like all of the others. Aurgh.
- Joe Loserman (oops, I meant Lieberman) has done it again. Is there anyone more irritating than this selfish son of a bitch? And once more, the Dreadfulcrats are appeasing this guy. If you want to get even more nauseous from the health care meltdown read this article entitled The Appeasement of Joe Lieberman
- There is also a breakdown of this surrender of everything we have been yelling about for months in Talking Points Memo. The finger points directly at Rahm Emanuel. The Administration is so desperate to get this vote finished and move on to other items on their agenda (which also will be watered down to an unrecognizable point) they have given away the farm.
- Here is a fine summary and funny photo of the thinking of Joe Lieberman by ‘watertiger‘ of FireDogLake.com.
“Friends, Beltwayans, countrymen: I come to bury health care, not to praise it. The evil that men do lives after them, the good is oft interred with their bones. So let it be with health care. Ambition for reform should have been made of sterner stuff, and liberals have lost their reason. Behold, for I am your new leader!
Oh, and I have a few demands. This list is not inclusive and is subject to additions and amendments, depending on how I feel in that particular moment:
1. You shall hereinafter refer to me as “Josephus Imperator”. Alternatively, if I am in the mood, you may address me in the familiar as “Rex Senatorium”. Only my family and close friends are permitted to call me “Shivmeister”.
2. My birthday, February 24th, shall henceforth be observed as a national holiday. However, I have so decreed that only insurance company and pharmaceutical industry employees shall be allowed to take the day off in celebration of my nativity.
3. Caricaturists depicting me as the cartoon character “Droopy Dawg” or the father in the 1980s television sitcom “ALF” shall be summarily executed.
4. Web revolutionaries Jane Hamsher and Markos Moulitsas are hereby banished from this country to a faraway land where there is no Internet by which to foment rebellion against me or my wife, Hadassah Regina.
5. I will remain at liberty to attend the Senate Democratic Caucus meetings at my pleasure, despite my undocumented registration as a Republican.
6. I reserve the right to remain the key swing vote on every vitally important piece of legislation passing through either House of Congress.
7. I will not only retain my current chairmanship, but am now claiming the gavels for the Judiciary, Appropriations, and Finance committees.
8. We begin bombing Iran in 5 minutes.
***
Wherever you are, Senator Kennedy, I hope you’re not watching this desecration of your life’s work. It is absolutely shameful.
- This is how I sounded this morning while writing this post:
Twist and Shout December 10, 2009
Posted by judylobo in Jewish Stuff, Photography, Politics, Videos, Zoos, wildlife.Tags: Barney Frank, Hanukkah, John Yoo, Jonathan Turley, Obameter, Orrin Hatch, torture
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Remember my obsession with torture, torture memos and John Yoo, the author of of the torture program in the Bush Administration? Guess what? The Obama Administration is defending him in Court. Holy Bad Idea! Jonathan Turley discussed this issue with Keith Olbermann on Countdown last night. You can watch that appearance here. You can read the entire article from Turley’s blog here.
‘The Obama Administration has filed a brief that brushes over the war crimes aspects of Yoo’s work at the Justice Department. Instead, it insists that attorneys must be free to give advice — even if it is to establish a torture program. If successful in this case, the Obama Administration will succeed in returning the world to the rules leading to the war crimes at Nuremberg. Quite a legacy for the world’s newest Nobel Peace Prize winner.’
- Those of you that are getting upset with the Obama Administration (like me) need to check in at the Obameter every now and again. It is in my blogroll or you can check it out here. It is a good way to keep track of campaign promises kept and those not kept.
- Barney Frank of MA took aim at critics of a bill aimed at reforming the nation’s financial regulations. To those complaining about the size of the 1,279-page bill, Frank had this to say: “Now, one of the odd things is…‘The bill’s too big.’ I don’t know whether that means it was too much to read, or too heavy to carry, or some really short ones can’t see over it when they’re sitting down. I don’t know what the problem was. This notion that the value of a piece of legislation is inversely related to its size is rather odd.”
Oh boy. Tomorrow night is the first night of Hanukkah. Seen this? Orin Hatch? Oy Vey
Slam Spam, Thank You Ma’am December 9, 2009
Posted by judylobo in Photography, Politics, Videos, Zoos, wildlife.Tags: Slam Spam, Thank You Ma'am
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So yesterday morning, I was doing my usual pre-dawn e-mailing when suddenly my outgoing mail ceases. A very annoying and persistent drop down dialog box kept telling me I cannot send any mail. I performed the usual tasks of restarting the computer, unplugging all of the connections, loud cursing and then directly on to obsessing.
I used my woefully inadequate judylobo@gmail.com as a back up. It is inadequate because my address book is out of date and I do not like the aesthetics of the program.
Deciding there were more important things to do I went off to a movie. Upon returning late afternoon, my mail program was still not working. I bit the bullet, sat down with a beverage (non-alcoholic) and phoned the Time Warner Road Runner help line.
Did you know that if you cough while speaking to the automated voice they immediately transfer you to a live person? The live person needed to know everything all over again but sadly, the Bangalore office could not help me and he switched me over to another live person – this time out of the Philippines.
After umpteen efforts, this lovely young man tells me I have been flagged as a spammer by the Road Runner security team. Spammer, I yammer? Huh? He says that anyone who sends thousands of e-mails out a day is flagged as a spammer. I laughed and said that all of my e-mails were either personal or a subscription based list that was surely not in the thousands – not even close.
Now what? He has me fill out a security team form which ended up immediately telling me that this ‘issue’ would be resolved within two business days.
The poor young man was more upset than I was when I told him what type of e-mail I send out. It almost seemed as if he wanted to be on one of my lists. He thanked me profusely and wanted to know if there was anything else he could do for me. Oh, where should I begin, I thought.
I shut down, walked the dog and when I came home – guess what? My mail program was functioning just fine. So – is it an NSA, CIA, FBI plot? Or does shit just happen.
Sounds of Silence December 7, 2009
Posted by judylobo in Dogs and cats, Photography, Politics, Videos.Tags: American Indian Museum, Benny the dog, Breast Cancer Awareness, fiscally conservative, Socially liberal, Sounds of Silence
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Most of my friends share my political views (at least they do when chatting with me). A few are socially liberal but fiscally conservative (it makes for fewer arguments with me when you are socially liberal). One long time friend, who lives in New Mexico and refuses to discuss politics at all, came to stay with me last week. At first I was a bit unhinged. What do I wail about? How can a pound the table while perusing the headlines? Who will put out the flames that shoot from my head when the Dreadfulcrats do something else to make me nuts?
Guess what? It turns out we had a blast. I took a political vacation, became a New York City tourist along with my guest and had some fun. We did find that scandal was the common denominator and we had fun watching the Tiger Woods debacle unfold on a daily basis and we also laughed heartily at the adventures of Tareq and Michaele Salahi.
So why am I telling you all about this? Well, my house guest has gone home and I am back. It turns out the flames shooting from my head were only on simmer and have started to flame again.
By the way – my New Mexico friend fell madly in love with my dog Benny and told me that my photos of him do not capture his charm. I loved when she said that.
I took the photo above while downtown, outside of the American Indian Museum. I liked that little green shoot of life growing on the solemn statue.
The employees put together this video to generate breast cancer awareness throughout their hospital system.
Catch a Tiger in a Lie November 30, 2009
Posted by judylobo in Animal Videos, Dogs and cats, Politics, Videos, Zoos, wildlife.Tags: Moxie the lion cub, Tareq and Michaela Salahi, Tiger Woods
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Raise your hand if you think Tiger Woods is a lying’ sack ‘o shit. The stories and rumors that have surfaced since his uber-embarrassing one car in his own driveway accident are hilarious. The latest one I heard this morning was that they think his wife went after him with one of his golf clubs. How karmic is that? Oh boy – Tiger is not out of the Woods just yet, but this story has me chuckling.
- Speaking of liars – what about those Obama State dinner party crashers? Is Barbarians at the Gate a good call? Apparently Obama’s death threats are up 400% over George W. Bush’ (which makes me scratch my head) and yet the Secret Service is not on their toes. Shame on them. I would be most happy if the ‘media’ had a black out over the gate-crashing couple, Tareq and Michaela Salahi. Now THAT would be karmic justice for this celebrity obsessed couple.
- I am also about to have my head explode over tomorrow night’s Afghanistan speech by President Obama. I do not like what he is about to do at all – no I do not.
Speaking of lyin’ – here is a one year old lion, named Moxie. Below the photo montage is the cutest little surprised kitty ever.
Movie Review: Four Seasons Lodge November 24, 2009
Posted by judylobo in Jewish Stuff, Movie Reviews, Movie Trailer, Politics.Tags: Catskills, Holocaust, Movie Review: Four Seasons Lodge, survivors
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 Movie Review: Four Seasons Lodge
Alternate Title: Lust for Life Story: A spirited, upbeat film about Holocaust survivors is not your usual fare. However, director and writer Andrew Jacobs has sensitively delivered us such a film. Ably supported by director of photography Albert Maysles we meet a group of survivors who share a lust for life that is contagious. The survivors are all from Poland, Austria and Hungary. When they somehow found themselves in the United States after WWII, they also somehow slowly found one another. Their common thread was the unspeakable horror they all shared. To enjoy life to the fullest, though dark memories haunt them all, they gather each summer at one of the last bungalow colonies in New York’s Catskill Mountains. They collectively bought shares in the place and in their 26th year (which could be their last) as owners we catch up with them. Well into their late 70’s and 80’s these once hearty people are now the invisible Grandparents we do not notice in the streets. To one another, they are still vibrant and share their joy. They dance, they eat, they laugh, they play cards and they get entertained by some of the last of the Borscht Belt entertainers in the evening. We get to meet only a handful of the survivors and get to hear bits and pieces of their stories. Some refuse to discuss the past. I got hooked by this group of people and left the theater with a little bounce in my step as I tried to emulate their zest for life.
Acting: This is a documentary so this category does not apply. Here are some of the major players in this film and you can read more about some of these happy campers here. Hymie Abramowitz, Tosha Abramowitz, Aron Adelman, Basie Adelman, Olga Bowman, Eugenia Boyman, Tobias Buchman, Carl Potok, Cesia Popk, Lola Wenglin. Trivia: From the film’s web site: Andrew Jacobs has been a staff writer at the New York Times for the past 8 years, where he has covered a wide variety of beats, from the American South and the aftermath of Sept. 11, to New Jersey politics and the New York City Police Department. The idea for “Four Seasons” grew out of a six-part series Jacobs did for the Times about summer life in the Catskills. A graduate of New York University, Mr. Jacobs spent a year teaching and writing in China during the pro-democracy movement. He also owns an old dairy farm in Ulster County, NY, not far from the Four Seasons Lodge. Albert Maysles is a pioneer of Direct Cinema who, along with his brother David, was the first to make nonfiction feature films (Grey Gardens, Salesman, Gimme Shelter) where the drama of life unfolds without scripts, sets, interviews or narration. With his first film, Psychiatry In Russia (1955) he made the transition from psychologist to documentary filmmaker. In 1960 he co-created Primary. His 36 films include What’s Happening: The Beatles in the USA (1964), five films of the projects of Christo and Jeanne-Claude (1972 to 1995), and three documentaries for HBO. He received a Guggenheim Fellowship (1965), a Peabody, an Emmy, five Lifetime Achievement Awards, the award for best cinematography at Sundance (2002) for Lalee’s Kin, which was also nominated in 2001 for an Academy Award and most recently, the Columbia Dupont Award (2004). In 1999 Eastman Kodak saluted him as one of the 100 world’s finest cinematographers. Predilection: I like documentaries and I am drawn to films about Survivors. Critters: A gopher. Food: It is a bungalow Colony filled with Jews? Is there food? Vu den? White fish, lox, onions, bagels, tomatoes, lettuce and on and on. Yummy. Sex Spectrum: Sex is joked about quite a bit. Soundtrack: A delightful mix of ethnic, Broadway and other tunes including ‘I Will Survive.’ Opening Titles: A landscape shot of the changing seasons and the opening of the Colony for the summer months. Visual Art: Albert Maysles is a master photographer and his handiwork is visible throughout the film. I especially liked his subtle passing of the seasons at the opening and closing of the film. Theater Audience: Less than a minyan. Weather: Mostly filmed in the summer but we do catch shots of the symbolic passing seasons. Sappy Factor: 0 Quirky Meter: 0 Squirm Scale: Seeing those horrifying arm tattoos from the concentration camps is very hard to accept. Drift Factor: I thought the beginning was a bit slow. Predictability Level: High Tissue Usage: I welled up a few times. Oscar Worthy: No Big Screen or Rental: If you can find it I always recommend the big screen but rental would be fine too. Length: Under two hours. LOBO HOWLS: 7.5
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Here’s to Your Health! November 22, 2009
Posted by judylobo in Animal Videos, Photography, Politics, Videos, Zoos, wildlife.Tags: Frank Rich, health care, Sarah Palin, Stupak
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I believe all of the Sturm und Drang over this seemingly never ending health care debate has damaged my own health. When the storm first broke about health care reform, I actually understood the breadth of ideas. With the wrangling, horse trading, giving up long held tenets of the Democratic party (see Stupak amendment) to get to this stage of the debate – I not only am sick over the debate – but sick and tired of the politics and utter bullshit.
Between the media insanity over Sarah Palin’s book tour (which is reminiscent of the coverage of Michael Jackson’s death) to the media coverage of health care – I am afraid I have developed a pre-existing condition called chronic nausea. Every opinion column is now devoted to the Palin death march book tour and her importance or lack thereof. Even Frank Rich chimes in today.
It seems to me that Sarah Palin’s motto should be ‘Take the Money and (Not) Run.’ She is enjoying every second of the theater and the money she is raking in. By the way – do her children ever go to school?
The vote to actually debate this morphed health care bill was settled down party lines last night (60-39 with Ohio’s George V. Voinovich (R-Ohio) missing the vote). Can anyone tell me why we are even having a discussion with the Repugnants when it is clear that they are in lock-step as the party of ‘NO’ as an agenda?
Sadly, we have many more weeks of all-Sarah/all-healthcare before we can turn to the most important things for the re-election Democrats in 2010 – the economy and jobs. If the Dems can figure out how to make those employment figures look better, the free-floating rage across the land (or at least the land that the media is covering) will abate. It was true then and it is true now – ‘it’s the economy, stupid’.
One more thing – how about getting out of Afghanistan, Mr. President?
When times get tough – there is nothing like a fun video to ease the pain. My pal, Mary has made a video about an adorable little orangutan.
First – Do No Harm December 17, 2009
Posted by judylobo in Animal Videos, Photography, Politics, Videos, Zoos, wildlife.Tags: Harry Reid, Howard Dean, Jon Walker, Keith Olbermann special commentary, Nancy Pelosi, Nate Silver, obama, Progressives
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‘Progressives’ is the term du jour for ‘Liberals’. Okay – I will not argue over titles. The most frustrating and the best part of being a progressive is that there is dialogue. You could send the entire day reading progressive opinions for and against the health care bill in its present form. Here is a good summary from FireDogLake. com as Jon Walker answers Nate Silver’s 20 questions.
For the policy wonks out there – Nate Silver has responded to Jon Walker’s responses here.
Keith Olbermann gave a Special Commentary on last night’s program on this issue:
Part 1-
Part 2:
After all of these mind exploding issues, who does not need a smile or two?