http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2005-2007 by the authors Fri, 14 Jan 2005 12:37:58 EST http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/ Phillip WinnSunday, August 26, 2007, marks the switch of all Blogcritics.org article feeds from full-content to short-content. This is the result of several converging factors, and is unfortunately a permanent decision (as permanent as any decision can be on the web, that is). We are aware of all of the reasons that this is a Bad Idea, and we are aware that some of you will be quite upset about having to click on something to read the free content, and we're sorry. Unfortunately, despite great effort, full-content feeds are not currently economically viable. Two other factors are involved: full-content feeds have resulted in an unprecedented level of content theft, with BC content appearing on many websites, usually spam sites, without attribution or permission. This duplicate content causes a cascading set of problems, not the least of which is that search engines generally aren't favorable to duplicate content, and don't always guess correctly. Finally, our RSS advertising partner is strongly in favor of short-content feeds. We hope that you'll continue to subscribe to BC via RSS, and when an article grabs your eye, it's only a click away, still free on the BC website. Thank you for your understanding. Administration0@blogcritics.org Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/01/14/123758.php Russell Mann"What came first: the music or the misery? People worry about kids playing with guns and watching violent videos that some sort of cultural violence will take them over. No one worries about kids listening to thousands, literally thousands of songs about heartbreak, pain, rejection, suffering and misery. Did I listen to pop music because I was miserable, or was I miserable because I listened to pop music?"I control my music. When I feel sad, I'll put on sad music. When I feel fast, I'll put on punk rock. When I feel Irish, I'll put on Irish Punk Rock. When I feel troubadorish, I put on Bob Dylan.Rob Gordon in High Fidelity is absolutely correct: making a mix tape is very serious, and there are a lot of rules. I am currently working on several mix tapes; the two I am most excited about are the one for my funeral (God forbid I don't complete it on time!), and the soundtrack to my divorce. I submit my current Ultimate Divorce / Breakup Mix for consideration, criticism, and inquiries to further study. Please contribute if you have any feelings about this at all.Song List, the order is important:1. So Much For the Afterglow - Everclear 2. Positively Fourth Street - Bob Dylan 3. Don't Speak - No Doubt 4. Suitcase - Over the Rhine 5. So Cruel - U2 6. Positively Fourth Street - Violent Femmes (covering Bob Dylan) 7. Bad Diary Days - Pedro the Lion 8. Options - Pedro the Lion 9. Yesterday - The Beatles 10. Eleanor - Low Millions 11. All My Little Words - The Magnetic Fields 12. Now That It's Over - Everclear 13. Meaningless - The Magnetic Fields 14. Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own - U2 15. Wild World - Cat StevensPlease note this list will change and shake up right here. I do not intend to keep around debunked lists, this is striving for perfection in a divorce / breakup mix and we are not served by failing to abort unwanted byproducts.I will, however, keep all explainations around.1. Starting off with a Beach Boys whistle to promote the irony of the situation, and decending into characteristic Everclear alt-rock to express rage. So Much For the Afterglow is a song about Susan, about the way things were, and now that the honeymoon is over, so much for the afterglow.2. The second song on a mix tape should kick it up a notch. Now this notch is the Original Venom Filled Breakup Song by the Original singer/songwriter. Bob Dylan's Positively Fourth Street has always been a good standby for those emotional times when I don't *want* to like that person anymore.3. So as not to go into the stratosphere, a slightly obscure reference is made in Don't Speak, switching genre's again, to a breakup.4. Another genre change reflects a mood-swing in a breakup, to the toned down depressing feeling of "Why? Where are you going?" and so forth. Karen's voice is pregnant with emotion and the slow rocking of a mother is felt in consolation.5. U2 doesn't write many anti-songs, but So Cruel does the trick here, segueing perfectly from Over the Rhine to The Violent Femmes.6. Nobody does angst and rejection like the Violent Femmes. Here they are covering the most venomous song written. I hesitate, and draw outside the lines of mix tape rules to include a second copy of the same song, but I can't justify cutting Robert Zimmerman or Gordon Gano from the list. Help me out with this one folks!7 and 8. Here I break another rule by putting two same artist songs not only on the same mix, but in sequence. The justification for me is the incredible insight Bezan seems to have on my particular and exact situation, with minor variations of substance to form complete honesty. I could quote several lines from these two songs as word for word expressions from the meltdown.9. In order to relax a bit after Pedro took us down-low, the Beatles offer their quintessential ode to the way things were.I will continue the descriptions as time permits, and as I think of them. Bombs away!For some good conversation on mix-tape issues, check out The Art of the Mixtape.You can find the most current version of this mix-tape at Russell Mann's blog on Pop Culture here. Music24235@blogcritics.org Fri, 14 Jan 2005 12:37:58 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/01/02/214623.php Russell MannThis may be more accurately described as a commentary, as seeing the movie first, without being prepared for it, will make this make more sense. This is intended to explore a certain angle on the philosophy of the movie, where there is so much more than simply philosophy to keep this movie going, humor being one of the primaries.The movie begins at the end, and fasts backwards to the beginning of despair of manhood. "Bob had bitch tits." The support group for testicular cancer survivors portends the emasculation our society has embraced, wept over, and become addicted to. The evisceration of strength is completed with symbols of corporate America, cornflower blue ties, style slavery, and plasticism of relationship. This movie, for me, is about manhood, and the struggle to find it. It encompasses an internal struggle, modeled by the Narrator on one side, and Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) on the other. The Narrator (Ed Norton) is the honest self, the one who has been subsumed into the insanity of modern life, the one who men are and yet loathe being; the man who is emerging, becoming Tyler Durden. Durden flashes into the story as a "single serving friend," on a business flight. He is everything the Narrator wants to be, strong, independent, having direction, free from the expectations of society, free to be a man. Helena Bonham Carter, that sweet British film regular, plays the woman who understands the Narrator, and who understands Tyler Durden, as two sides of a coin. Their first conversation reveals a certain soulness that is lost and confusing throughout the movie. Marla Singer, "the tourist," shares in the excitement and adventure. She is able to complete the Narrator's sentence, one of my favorites: "When people think you're dying, they really, really listen to you, instead of just..." "[Marla Singer] ...instead of just waiting for their turn to speak?" Tyler's first few appearances may be missed on your first viewing, as they are single frame cut-ins to the life of the Narrator. He at once insults and endears the Narrator, as the man who is inside of us, when he makes his first appearance, comes as a shadow, a glitch, an abnormality in our normal lives, then when he makes his grand appearance, giving us an impression that sets us at once in love with and disgusted with ourselves. It turns out that the Woman is who we instinctively call first, when this anarchy of the soul initiates its assault. In Fight Club, the Narrator tries to call the woman but takes the all-critical and all-important step of hanging up on her and contacting that barbarous man instead. Marla is just like the Narrator, and therefore she can't be relied upon at this time of change. As he bears his soul with his inner man, he finds that the majority of his life is meaningless. The philosophy of deconstructionism and postmodernism seem very real, genuine, and sexy at a time when the "tools for versatile and modern living" go up in smoke."F*** Martha Stewart," a man doesn't need most of modern life for his survival, but the thing that he really needs for his survival is an adventure. Tyler Durden, whose insomnia is quite like the Narrators, has hobby-jobs that put adventure into modern life, and has a philosophy on life that accepts pain and suffering as more real than comfort at all costs. "That really hurts." Pain is reality, reality is pain. Feeling pain is to feel alive. The overemphasis on creature comforts, like cars, clothes, electricity, running water, heating, windows, locks, and anything else are rejected in Tyler's life. The logical end to which Durden's life and priorities took him was the Fight Club. Men who saw in him a man, the man who reflects in their own soul, whom they are both terrified and enthralled with. Voluntary fighting, for the purpose of experiencing pain, not just for pain itself, but for the realness that comes with pain, realness that we seldom find elsewhere. The theme of fatherlessness is explored in detail. In a moment of soul-sharing, Tyler Durden proclaims the person he'd fight would be his dad, and explains the lack of guidance, time spent, and general fatherhood he missed out on. "We're a generation of men raised by women. I'm wondering if another woman is really the answer we need." How many men can relate to that? As a man struggling to reclaim my manhood from the evisceration I received at the hands of a fatherless upbringing, and a societal curriculum that drugs maleness to make it more feminine, I relate. What I'm talking about is the use of Ritalin - 95% of all prescriptions are for boys, and the rest are probably for adults; I was not on Ritalin, this is simply a symbol for something much broader in Western culture. "A guy came to Fight Club for the first time his ass was a wad of cookie dough. After a few weeks he was carved out of wood." This is a picture of the transition into genuine manhood that we are looking for. "[Looking at an underwear advert] Is that what a man looks like? Self-improvement is masturbation. Now self-destruction..." The primal, animal urges are what man is looking for. The skinny beanpole going up against someone three times his size is not looking for a solution to a problem, not looking to fix anything, but simply having a reason to live, and a reason to be strong. After a couple months, Marla calls him, wanting to get in on his therapy, and ends up moving in with Tyler. This masquerade seems to be the invasion of femininity on the genuine manhood emerging, but actually represents real womanhood; independent and disillusioned with the crap she has been fed, attracted to the strength coming forward in the man, and coming alongside the adventure. The sexual illustration used to portray the man's strength being offered to the woman, saving her from a certain depressing death, might be a little raw for some folks, but the rawness is what makes it real. In my analysis, the abstraction of the illustration is more important than the act itself. The movie starts by alluding to Marla's causality of the situation the Narrator finds himself in. A man really doesn't need to be a man, unless there is ultimately a woman to be a man for. The turning point of the movie is the lye chemical burn. Tyler Durden comes out with a full philosophy of nihilism, forsaking all hope. The Narrator fully succumbs to the inner man. He cares no longer for the consequences of his job, and begins Project Mayhem, his magnum opus. Some crisis situation usually has to invade the life of a man for him to make the important step of abandoning the lost cause that is the shell he invented to protect himself, and invested so much in building up that the loss of which feels like death. At this point the movie just goes insane. Manhood, left guideless, fatherless, god-less, when it rediscovers its strength, may be doomed to travel the path of destruction. Nihilism taken to its end is portrayed as a dead end, which leads us to where I sit. Alone, soon to be divorced, a stranger in my own home, drinking Crème Sherry and watching Fight Club; it's a good way to start a new year, and this is where the commentary departs, because this is where the nihilism goes so far that I can't assimilate. Self-destruction may be taking it too far, but certainly the point comes across that the endless pursuit of "self-improvement" isn't getting us anywhere. Then again, the damage and destruction is what we're all afraid of in the first place right? It's the raw and unedited power of man-ness that we drug. It's the dangerousness and explosiveness that we fear, and thus we mitigate, and medicate, leaving shells of boys in the place where men belong. Strength that is strength, but is not used for harm, is humility. Weakness that shows itself by not doing anything is nothing like humility. If a man has potential for causing destruction, in other words is strong and powerful, but chooses not to use it, his soul is not lost. If a man has no potential in the first place, he has already lost it. What do you think of this movie - it's philosophy, direction, music, human statements, theological statements, and so forth? Whether you like it or not, share your valuable opinion.This review of Fight Club by David Fincher can be found in its original form on Russell Mann's Pop Culture blog. Video23850@blogcritics.org Sun, 2 Jan 2005 21:46:23 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/12/30/132616.php Russell MannStephen Merritt is the creative force behind The Magnetic Fields, which brings you an opus of poetry and phonal emotion to cover the entire range of "Love." That's what pop music is all about right? You could call the first volume "soothing pop synth" bolstered by Merritts unique voice and some decent female vocals.Lyrically, 69 Love Songs takes cliches and turns them on their heads, almost mocking traditional pop music. Irony and satire are among the witty tools Merrit brings to the board. The emotion and intellect conveyed on the theme of Love is worth at least one listen, and I expect most introspective people will find one or two tracks to add to their permanent playlist.I first heard "All My Little Words" sitting in a 10-bucks pondering the disaffection of my wife at the time. It was perfect and timely, and provided solace for the season of love that was coming to an end. 10-bucks didn't have the mix-album available with that song on it so I tracked it down myself and found that other songs such as "I Think I Need A New Heart" became very useful in expressing the reality of human relationship.Some of the excellent songs:All My Little WordsYou are a splendid butterfly It is your wings that make you beautiful And I could make you fly away But I could never make you stay You said you were in love with me Both of us know that that's impossible And I could make you rue the day But I could never make you stayNot for all the tea in China Not if I could sing like a bird Not for all North Carolina Not for all my little words Not if I could write for you The sweetest song you ever heard It doesn't matter what I'll do Not for all my little wordsNow that you've made me want to die You tell me that you're unboyfriendable And I could make you pay and pay But I could never make you stayReno DakotaReno Dakota there's not an iota of kindness in you You know you enthrall me and yet you don't call me It's making me blue Pantone 292 Reno Dakota I'm reaching my quota of tears for the year Alas and alack you just don't call me back You have just disappeared It makes me drink beer I know you're a recluse You know that's no excuse Reno that's just a ruse Do not play fast and loose with my heart Reno Dakota I'm no Nino Rota I don't know the score Have I annoyed you or is there a boy who Well he's just a whore I've had him before It makes me drink moreI Don't Want To Get Over YouI don't want to get over you. I guess I could take a sleeping pill and sleep at will and not have to go through what I go through. I guess I should take Prozac, right, and just smile all night at somebody new, Somebody not too bright but sweet and kind who would try to get you off my mind. I could leave this agony behind which is just what I'd do if I wanted to, but I don't want to get over you cause I don't want to get over love. I could listen to my therapist, pretend you don't exist and not have to dream of what I dream of; I could listen to all my friends and go out again and pretend it's enough, or I could make a career of being blue--I could dress in black and read Camus, smoke clove cigarettes and drink vermouth like I was 17 that would be a scream but I don't want to get over you.I Think I Need A New HeartTime stands still All I can feel is the time standing still as you put down the keys and say don't call me please while the radio plays "I Think I Need a New Heart" ohhh "I Think I Need a New Heart" ohhh You've lied too but it's a sin that I can't tell the truth cause it all comes out wrong unless I put it in a song so the radio plays "I Think I Need a New Heart" just for you "I Think I Need a New Heart" cause I always say I love you when I mean turn out the light and I say let's run away when I just mean stay the night but the words you want to hear you will never hear from me I'll never say "happy anniversary" never stay to say "happy anniversary" so I think I need a new heart ohhh I think I need a new heart ohhh I think I need a new heart ohhh I think I need a new heart ohhh Give me timeThis review of 69 Love Songs by The Magnetic Fields can be found in its original form on Russell Mann's Pop Culture blog. Music23754@blogcritics.org Thu, 30 Dec 2004 13:26:16 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/08/12/130416.php Russell MannMy genres of choice are action and comedy, but the action has to be realistic, and the comedy funny, like What About Bob? When I sat down to watch The House of Sand and Fog, I was leery of this "drama" and expected a sleeper. I was pleasantly surprised by a riveting tale with two protagonists, who are also one in the same as the two antagonists. The difficulty seems to have no clear cut "good guy" and "bad guy" so one continues watching trying to figure out who to root for.Ben Kingsley plays an Iranian General in the Shah's government who is wealthy and honored in his country, and devout to God for all blessings, large and small. When the Ayatollah comes to power he and his family escape with nothing but their lives and a handful of their precious possessions. This hard-working, iron-fisted man's man is reduced from high society of Iran, with multiple residences and honor among men, to slaving away at multiple menial jobs in California, attempting to save enough money to start working toward regaining the lifestyle his family is used to. We see an honorable man reduced to dishonor, and a strong man doing what it takes to regain his honor.Jennifer Connelly plays a woman divorced from a husband we never meet, and estranged from a family we never meet. She is in depression and hasn't done much of anything for months when we meet her. When a knock comes at the door she must clear a pile of unopened, unread mail to answer. It is the police, evicting her from her home, which was given to her by her father, and the loss of which comes as a great surprise.The rest of the movie centers on the conflict between Connelly and Kingsley over the house. It is a symbol of life to both of them, in a relationship in which one must die that the other might live, yet they both hang on for their own lives. One hopes for a sane outcome, then other characters come into play as wildcards bringing the fragile relationships to blows.As a case study in the lengths to which people will go to preserve their own lives, I recommend this book and movie. As a light-hearted "date flick," stay as far away from this as possible. If you're looking for an involving story that will mess with your mind, by all means jump in.This review was written by Russell Mann. You can find more excellent perspective on books, movies, art, and music at his blog. This review of The House of Sand and Fog can be found on his blog as well. Video18576@blogcritics.org Thu, 12 Aug 2004 13:04:16 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/07/30/150435.php Russell MannNew Belgium, the makers of the excellent Fat Tire, and 1554, also put out a Belgian style ale by the name of Abbey Grand Cru. Though not as smooth as other Belgians, such as Chimay Grande Reserve, the Abbey has a decent yeasty flavour to it making it a good "average day" substitute.The colour of this Belgian is beautiful - something like the type of dark woods that should be in the room where a fine gentleman would be drinking this beer.If you're not familiar with the Belgian Ale's you do NOT serve them cold, nor warm, but cool, or slightly chilled. These beers get better with age, and should be stored on their sides so the cork doesn't dry, in a cool beer cellar environment.Do you like Belgians? Doubles? Let me know your thoughts!This review was written by Russell Mann. He doesn't drink cheap beer. This review of Abbey Grand Cru - New Belgium Brewery can be found on his blog as well. Culture18068@blogcritics.org Fri, 30 Jul 2004 15:04:35 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/07/29/022533.php Russell MannTime Troopers by BEqual, "Smart Games For Family Fun," is a DVD based trivia game, along the lines of Trivial Pursuit DVD, but without the pies, and about history, as it is published in cooperation with the History Channel. The classic spoke wheel is replaced by a spiral galaxy-like spinning wheel. John Cleese hosts the show as Agent Wormold of IM6, an obvious play on MI-6, the British Intelligence Agency. The subjects include geography, politics, history, names, places, and people.Bequal is trying to make a product that inspires the whole family to spend time together, and learn together. Let's see if they accomplish their mission.You can play an Individual game, which is competition, or for our politically correct, "no one is a loser" crowd, everyone can be on the same team. Up to 4 players can play in three possible ranks:Cadet: Ages 6-9 Captain: Ages 10-13 Commander: AdultsOptions include:Dynamic Leveler: Increase or decrease level based on player performance. Time limit: 10, 20, 30 minutes, or no time limit. The Tips does a good job of teaching about the specifics of game play.Not all questions are videos, but the videos used are of high quality. Some are reenactments, some are paintings in Ken Burns style, but most are real videos. Sometimes two questions will use the same graphic or video, and you think you're getting a repeat, but it turns out that the game is just taking a different angle on something. This might be that the videos are generic enough to use for multiple questions, possibly a space limitation for the DVD format.The game play varies with different types of questions. Some are word puzzles. Some are open trivia questions, which you answer by saying out loud the answer then telling the game whether you were right or wrong. I guess honesty is important. "Side Scrollers" are multiple choice on a timer. "Wormholes" are binary choices on a timer. You get 3 questions in a row, and you get to move 1 space if you get 2 of 3 correct, 2 spaces if 3 of 3 correct. Double or Nothing allows you to move forward two spaces, with a harder question. You can select whether or not to accept the challenge.Cleese can be funny in a costume from history, delivering silly lines for "Fate Card" interruptions. These seem to come around randomly, and can cause you problems or acceleration on the game board. His accent makes one feel better about getting booted back a space, and being insulted.The varied types of information make this an exciting game. The actual game play is pretty straight forward, so it doesn't add much excitement or competition. The space-trooper theme seems superfluous to the trivia game play. Cleese will occasionally pop up with amusing information with a witty tone. Braxton will pop up to encourage you when you get to milestones, like the 6th space. ½ way. Sometimes the "Fate Card" moves you forward, but the fact that you have no idea when they will show up makes them less a part of game play and more a part of "Why did that happen?" play. Winning is as simple as being the first to get to 12 spaces.Use of the DVD remote to play the trivia game seems to work out just fine. One bugaboo is that during game play setup, you can't change a decision once it has been made, until you get through the setup, which then allows you to go "back" and start the setup all over. If you get a repeat question, you can push the menu button to get a new question. This is a good advance over the Trivial Pursuit DVD.After a good look at this game, I think Bequal did a good job of putting together a product that is both inviting to the whole family, and educational for all. If the most time you spend with your family is in front of the television, why not give Time Troopers a spin and see how it promotes more interaction! For more information. This review was written by Russell Mann. You can find more excellent perspective on books, movies, art, and music at his blog. This review of Time Troopers DVD Game can be found on his blog as well. Gaming18000@blogcritics.org Thu, 29 Jul 2004 02:25:33 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/07/25/012534.php Russell MannCheck out the Bourne Supremacy website.The Bourne SupremacyPlotRobert Ludlum wrote a series of novels in the 1980's about a secret agent named Jason Bourne with amnesia. In 1988 a TV miniseries was made, and in 2002 Hollywood caught up with the story enough to produce The Bourne Identity as a full film, an excellent film in top-notch form. It has been called the thinking man's action movie.Going into the sequel, having never read the books, I was leery of a rehashed plotline and less-than-interesting writing. Turns out I was pleasantly surprised. The characters were authentic from the first one, however they progressed the story well. We are privy to some details of the mystery of Jason Bourne's identity that he is not, which makes following his questions and actions a little confusing. Thankfully, we get to see the world through Jason's eyes most of the time, and this brings excitement to the film.Caution Spoilers AheadThere is a scene with another agent that did seem gratuitous to the plot, as the character is not set up, but is used as a vehicle for spy-on-spy combat, and a big explosion. The cool girlfriend from the first movie is in this one for a little bit, unfortunately not long enough.The plot keeps me waiting for the next movie, but in the mean time, can anyone tell me if the movies follow the book plot lines well?Acting and CastingMatt Damon really is an excellent actor. He shines in the role of Jason Bourne in the Bourne Identity series. I'm impressed with his physical presence and ability to become a character so thoroughly that the fact that he's acting becomes obscured. Sometimes the directing got in the way of his acting, by cutting into disconnected scenes which highlighted the fact that all Matt had to do for that scene is jog or something.Joan Allen plays a CIA chief and she almost single handedly ruined the entire movie. Her acting was very obviously forced, and her rigidity gave an inauthentic feel to her scenes. Did Ludlum write a domineering woman into this role or did Hollywood make changes to suit political correctness?Julia Stiles gave a better than last time performance. Enough said.ActionThe tunnel sequence was top-notch. In the James Bond series Bond's coolness takes first seat to realism. In the Bourne series, Jason gets shot, seriously hurt, and his car chases include numerous bang-ups and slam-downs.The realism doesn't go too far, however, as tires don't pop when they ought to, and glass doesn't hurt like it should. The agent-on-agent fight scenes are edge-of-seat material.DirectingI really enjoyed the directing style of this film. During action sequences it was so jostled one couldn't really tell what was going on. This however, gave a very realistic "in-the-fight" effect, which is often tried, seldom accomplished. Think of how the directing style animated the plot in Traffic, and then apply that to the action genre.There was a lot of footage taken in Moscow, Russia. I wanted to pause the movie for the Moscow skyline panoramas, which looked different that I expected.Many questions are left unansweredDoes Jason Bourne have a choice as to whether he runs or dies? Will the government stop trying to kill him? Were those killed in the 2nd movie the last of his real enemies? Did Jason Bourne have a nefarious business deal with the Russians? Will the 3rd movie be as awesome as the second one?This review was written by Russell Mann. You can find more excellent perspective on books, movies, art, and music at his blog. This review of The Bourne Supremacy can be found on his blog as well. Video17805@blogcritics.org Sun, 25 Jul 2004 01:25:34 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/07/23/171215.php Russell MannAmy Richards had a selective reduction procedure. Apparently this is *not* a hoax, joke, or satire. Here is Amy's Bio. And another bio. Perspective from the other side of the fence. A pro-choice perspective. How have we in America become so confused as to what our relationships mean? The marriage relationship is not about our own happiness as much as we seem to think. Anyone who has stayed married understands that sacrifice is the central defining characteristic of a marriage. Love is a choice, rather than a feeling.The relationship between a parent and child is a one-way sacrifice which is never intended to be paid back. We don't have children for our own benefit, we have children for their benefit. To neglect that responsibility, once we have become parents (conception) is to completely misunderstand that role.Upon learning of her triplets, Amy says:My immediate response was, I cannot have triplets. I was not married; I lived in a five-story walk-up in the East Village; I worked freelance; and I would have to go on bed rest in March. I lecture at colleges, and my biggest months are March and April. I would have to give up my main income for the rest of the year. There was a part of me that was sure I could work around that.If our first thought isn't "Great, more kids!" then we've missed the whole point of parenthood. She admits to knowing that she could sacrifice her lifestyle in order to raise her children, but quickly destroys that option by asking "Is it possible to get rid of one of them? Or two of them?"From this article it sounds like her boyfriend Peter was interested in having all three children, but his parenthood is not recognized by anyone in our society. How strange it is to have a system which does not recognize Peter's right to his children pre-birth, but insists on child support should the mother decide not to kill her babies.I'm not bringing this up to push an agenda, but to bring something into the forefront to spark discussion, ideas, and maybe some hard thinking. America's abortion debate has degenerated into emotion without reason, and I don't want to perpetuate that. I hope this makes you think, maybe reconsider your position, whatever it may be.This opinion piece was written by Russell Mann. You can find more perspective on politics, religion, and entertainment at his blog. This review of The Last Samurai can be found on his blog as well. Politics17767@blogcritics.org Fri, 23 Jul 2004 17:12:15 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/07/23/165623.php Russell MannThe Last Samurai is a Tom Cruise film about a hero of the American west being hired by the Emperor of Japan to train his imperial military for the purpose of suppressing a Samurai rebellion, and bringing Japan into the modern world.Nathan Abred is a drunk who is drowning his memories of American atrocities committed against native people. This is his haunting, which disallows him to get a good nights sleep.There are a lot of parallels drawn between the American Natives and the elite warrior class in Japan created by the first Shogun known as the Samurai. Abred's past gives him great respect for the Native warriors, and consequently for the Samurai warriors.The Japanese political advisor who hired Nathan from America sends the untrained military into battle against the warriors, trusting in their superior firepower to save them. In the battle, the weak-kneed conscripts fire too soon, leaving their muskets empty for the close-range match that ensues. Only Cruise survives, because he fights to the end, earning the respect of the Samurai leader Kasamoto.He is taken prisoner, and experiences a Stockholm Syndrome, becoming one of the Samurai.The story is a timeless one of honor, beauty, and a man finding his strength.Great quote:"I think a man does what he can, until his destiny is revealed."Tom Cruise comes off to me as fake - always has, ever since Top Gun. This performance is no exception, but the story line is excellent enough to compensate for the poor cast selection. The implications for manhood in this movie are provocative: honor, destiny, protection of a woman, beauty of the world, and all that jazz. The military sequences are well done, and seem authentic. Steel vs. Gunpowder is a battle that one never expects to be won by the Steel, and thus we have a tragic story.This review was written by Russell Mann. You can find more excellent perspective on books, movies, art, and music at his blog. This review of The Last Samurai can be found on his blog as well. Video17766@blogcritics.org Fri, 23 Jul 2004 16:56:23 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/07/21/122204.php Russell MannJohn Vanderslice is a wordsmith who deals in half-statements and metaphors intended to illicit a certain emotive response to his tirades. The musical accompaniment is daring, in that instead of pushing "forward" to more digitally precise sounds, he moves "backward" to sloppy production style and inclusion of ambient noises. Fixated on despair, Vanderslice is a fitting tour partner to Pedro the Lion, although it can get annoying pretty quickly unless you're really sick and haven't taken your medication in a few days. When Vanderslice engages in story-telling, he is at his best. When he engages in indulgent strangeness, he loses audience. Some of the more macabre stories make me wonder if John is writing from experience, or from sick fascination with the morbid.Below is a song-by-song rating, out of five possible stars, and miscellaneous thoughts that should give a good feel for the album. You can read his lyrics here.Pale Horse *Dylanesque lyrics, poor recording quality, but maybe that's a style thing - I think they call it sloppy Hi-Fi. Funked out beat change ups. Synthesizers come in like robots.Up Above the Sea ****Future-tech synth. Feels like 1936 Germany zone remixed for 2036. Hitman story, anti-gun propaganda, technical accuracy with a Bushnell scope. In the mind of an insane assassin. Decent piece of art.Wild Strawberries **Piano hunt-and-peck tune. Death of someone important, and suicide. In a cheery way.They Won't Let Me Run ****Perspective of an irresponsible son of a powerful family who wants to run away from the consequences of his actions. Some viola background ads a pretty tone to the sick message.Heater Pool and Bar - 0 stars.Reeks of the asinine political commentary found with such lucid sources as MoveOn.org and Michael Moore. If you're interested in an original thought, don't look to John's political rants. A must hear, if offensive.My Family Tree ***Despair over the loss of family. Quiet and story-telling friendly tune.White Plains ****Decent synthesizer sound and minimalist pop beat. Illustrating the disconnect from the "perfect life" and desire for adventure out west, that ends in the mundane of "pharmaceutical sales." After not being able to make it sane there, the singer goes east, only to find the same fate awaits.Promising Actress *Decent feeling tune, with a catchy beat. Reminds me of the Wallflowers. Another hit-man song.Coming and Going on Easy Terms *Heavy synth. Excellent metaphors. Death of a son, and denial of the father. Did he really experience this or is he just trying to be cool?Lunar Landscapes ***Escaping with a race horse, to the tune of a carnival in muted tones. Clever.When it Hits my Blood *Drugs, sounds like a psychedelic-era Beatles mix, with sloppy recording. The effects of acid on personal relationships. An escape from the difficulty of relationship. Too sloppy.June July *Summer experience, too whiney. It's a relief when he stops singing and just plays the music.This review was written by Russell Mann. You can find more excellent perspective on books, movies, art, and music at his blog. This review of John Vanderslice - The Cellar Door can be found on his blog as well. Music17681@blogcritics.org Wed, 21 Jul 2004 12:22:04 EDT