Sunday, March 30, 2014

Baseball’s Opening Day - New Drug Policy Described As Toughest Ever


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First appeared on Blogcritics.

ball 1Major League Baseball loves to invoke tradition, and for many baseball fans there is nothing quite like Opening Day. There’s the memory of those past ones when your father took you to the park. There’s the bright green of the grass, the hopefully blue sky (I can remember a few with rain and even snow), and the unforgettable aromas of hotdogs and pungent mustard.


I remember those Opening Days past fondly, with my Dad sitting there with a scorecard (to this day I have no idea how to “score” a game as he did). I would get the Cracker Jacks (with the much sought after little plastic prize inside), eventually a hotdog slathered in mustard, and a cup of soda that tasted better than any drink I ever had in my life. The crowd roared, Tom Seaver took the mound, and I was in baseball heaven wearing my Mets cap and thinking we would never lose a game all season.


Alas, being a Mets fan is all about reality and the inevitable losses that come with that. This year is no exception for this fan who bleeds orange and blue, but all over baseball there are fans going to parks for Opening Day, especially kids with the same hopes and dreams I once had. Besides the fact that only a few teams are going to go the distance this year, there is word about the new drug policy that will be the toughest ever. MLB really means it this time. Really!


So you have to wonder about the specter of this hanging over the players, knowing that there are going to be much more stringent penalties and consequences that extend into the postseason. How does that sit with a guy like Ryan Braun, the once golden boy of MLB who faces a season of humiliation and anguish? Not only do we have to wonder how his now juiceless body will perform on the field, but there is the psychology that goes much deeper. He is marked now, perhaps for life, though fans are often forgiving over time (think Pete Rose).

The idea of greater penalties is of course necessary, and longer suspensions are also welcome as the MLB Players Association is now in agreement with MLB about the details, with the official announcement forthcoming. So, as Opening Day comes to America, there is also an awareness by the fans that business is no longer as usual. The blind eye once turned to Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, and Sammy Sosa and their ilk is now wide open and watching closer than Big Brother. There is testing, there are consequences, and the inglorious hall of shame that awaits users.

Kids and their parents want a clean sport. Most players also want one, and the crowd reaction to guys like Braun and Nelson Cruz and other abusers is going to be a clear marker of disapproval. If we can take any comfort on Opening Day 2014, it is that the sport is cleaner and going to get squeaky clean soon enough. If the suspected ramifications are true  (first-time offense-80 game suspension; second offense-162-game suspension; third offense-lifetime suspension) players are going to think twice about rubbing that “crème” on their limbs, taking suspicious cough medicines, or popping pills any stronger than a baby aspirin.

A more efficient carbon isotope testing will be implemented to detect synthetic testosterone. In short, players are going to be monitored more closely and tested frequently, and failure will bring harsh penalties. Players will not only know that they could be jeopardizing a season but maybe a career, and that should get them all thinking and abiding by the rules.

So, go to the ballpark on Opening Day and enjoy the game. Bring the kiddies and bring the wife (as the old Mets song used to tell us), and think that the game is getting back to basics and the way it ought to be played - drug free. This is the best message the MLB can send to the fans, especially the kids who deserve a clean game and players they can look up to and admire again.

Photo credits: AP, USA Today

Saturday, March 22, 2014

The Homework Monster – Scary for You and Bad for Your Kid’s Health Too

First appeared on Blogcritics.

HW 1 When I was a kid, the “homework rule” was fairly straightforward – my parents wanted me to be done before dinner, which gave me some leeway when I came home from school. Usually I had a quick snack or maybe watched a little TV, but then I went to my room and got to work. When I was done I’d bring my books to the kitchen. Mom looked them over briefly and then signed each assignment. This was the beginning and end of her involvement. If I got something wrong or skipped something on my homework pad, she wouldn’t have known the difference, and it was I who would then suffer the consequences when the teacher dealt with me the next day.

Today it is a different world when it comes to homework. What used to be just something we did ourselves as kids has now morphed into a green-eyed monster (apologies to Shakespeare) which doth mock the meat it feeds upon (namely you and your kids). This Homework Monster becomes increasing more fearsome as your kids get older and you become the substitute teacher on the spot. When the subject is either unfamiliar or difficult for you, it is hard to tell your child that you don’t understand it either and a very stressful situation can result for all.

In the past homework always “counted” in some vague way, but even the teacher might have not been able to tell us how. She or he would put a check on top of the paper and that was about it. To this day I am not sure how checks added up toward my grade, but if I was missing homework I knew it had to be made up in order to get that check or else. I never discovered the “or else” part because I always did it.

These days homework has become such an integral part of the equation, with teachers explaining percentages toward a final grade. Students bring home either a number grade on homework or letter grades, and this adds particular weight to these assignments. Having children in middle school and Kindergarten, I am amazed as to how much homework both have. Perhaps I should qualify that – truthfully, I am not shocked by the quantity but more by how long it takes for them to complete the work each night.

In Kindergarten there is no choice but for the parent to sit down and do the work with the child. This is a given; however, in the seven years since my daughter was in Kindergarten, the playing field has changed considerably. Now there are book reports in Kindergarten and more academic homework that challenges the child (and thus the parent). If you get home late from work and are just sitting down to do the homework near bedtime, the issue becomes exacerbated by the normal sleepiness of a five-year-old at that time.

As for my middle school kid, there are literally hours of homework. She is very independent, but sometimes hits a road bump or two. There is no question that there seems to be a heavy volume of work that needs to be done; however, when kids are in middle school they are also involved in extracurricular activities as is mine. Dance classes, piano lessons, swimming, soccer, Girl Scouts, and gymnastics all need to be fit into the schedule, and after an hour or two of one of these activities, sitting down to homework is not the easiest thing to accomplish.

In “Is Homework Making Your Child Sick?” CNN contributor Amanda Enayati takes a sensible look at the too much homework complaint of many parents. She examines the one side, where a parent complains about feeling like “a drill sergeant,” and the other one where some parents felt there was not enough homework. 

Enayati reveals some startling truths regarding children’s health and homework overload. She cites the work of Denise Pope, co-author of a study in The Journal of Experimental Education, that examined a sample of 4,317 students in high performing schools who averaged 3 hours of homework per night. While these students did well academically, it came at a price - “academic stress, physical health problems, and a lack of balance in their lives.” 56% of the students in the survey said that they felt homework negatively impacted their lives and their health.

It seems incongruous that some parents, even when their children have sufficient homework, demand more work from teachers and also go out and buy additional workbooks and materials to push their children even more. As an educator I have seen this happen often enough, particularly in the lower grades where smaller amounts of homework are usually given. I have even overheard parents saying something like, “If you don’t get an “A” on this test, I’m sending you to Kumon.” Now, I have nothing against after school study programs such as this because they may help some struggling children, but using that as “incentive” seems more like a threat that can cause children great stress.

Every school and district has its own guidelines for homework, but in my experience usually you start with ten or fifteen minutes of homework in Kindergarten and then have that go up incrementally through the grades. By the time a student reaches 8th grade it is not unusual for that student to have about 90 minutes of homework per night, but that should also include reading and studying. If students need three hours or more to complete the written portion of their homework, we can rightfully question how they are expected then to study for tests and read content or even do some reading for pleasure.
  HW 3Of course, I have heard some parents say that my child doesn’t have to participate in all the extracurricular activities. This year we have actually cut back on some things because my daughter needs more time for her schoolwork, but I can see how it can become emotionally and physically draining. I worry all the time about her getting enough sleep, but sometimes the pressure of a test the next day makes that impossible. There are times when I am tempted to say, “If you get a B it’s almost as good as an A” but I know that in the real academic world that is far from true; however, if her health is at stake that is another matter entirely.

We as parents should aim for some sort of middle ground. Of course, we understand that homework is an essential component as reinforcement to the day’s teaching, but I cannot tell you how many times as a school principal that I heard the same complaint from parents: “My child says that the homework was not even taught in class yet.” You know how they say where there is smoke there is fire, so when I heard this enough times I knew there was something going on and had to get involved.

My own children are under a little bit of pressure knowing that I am an educator. There is also pressure that I put on myself for I want them to succeed and feel tempted to intervene, but it is sort of a Spider Man dilemma to be sure (with great power comes great responsibility). So while I really would like to “edit” my daughter’s essays when I see glaring mistakes, I stop myself from doing so. Instead, I may say something like, “Are you sure your punctuation is correct?” or “Have you checked the spelling carefully?” This sends up a red flag that I hope will help her find the errors on her own.

  HW 4Still, there is another philosophy - allowing our kids to sink or swim on their own just as most of us did years ago. We parents have to forget about facing off against the Homework Monster and let our children do their homework (and the emphasis is on “do”) themselves. This “sink or swim” philosophy can work if we are brave enough, but we are reticent to let this happen because we love our kids and want them to succeed. We are also reliving our own childhoods (and sometimes negative academic experiences) as we see them struggling or bringing home a bad grade. We want to keep them from the pain we may have had, but maybe a poor grade here and there is the inspiration necessary to get them to work harder on their own.

While I do support the concept of homework and believe it is important, I would think that parents, students, teachers, and administrators should all want homework to be meaningful in context of what is being taught. If it is out of line with what is being taught – a sort of read the chapter yourself and answer the questions kind of thing as I have sometimes heard – then something is wrong with that picture. Some teachers have even admitted to me (off the record, of course) that parents complained so much about wanting more homework that they just threw all this extra work at the kids. That practice can never be acceptable to anyone no matter what the motivation.

Most parents and teachers want the best for their kids, and the best is an appropriate amount of homework that is reinforcement and not overkill. There also needs to be realization that children have other lives outside of school and need time for sports, the arts, and good old relaxation. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a kid coming home and having a snack after school and maybe even watching a little TV before starting his or her homework. I did that every day after school, and it all turned out okay in the end. Most of all we adults need to be sure that our children do well in school, but never at the expense of their emotional or physical health. Teachers and administrators should work with parents and never be openly opposed to each other in any school related matters, for the children are always aware of these kinds of things and it is detrimental to their overall progress.

  HW 2Homework is nothing to get crazy over; it is just a small part of a bigger academic picture, and a well-rounded person is what we want each child to become, not someone overcome by despair by the thought of getting homework done for the next day. If kids are getting literally sick from the Homework Monster, then we have to seriously consider ways to stop it in its tracks before it does irreparable damage.

Most of all we have to allow children time to be kids, for enjoying other activities and creative playtime while they are young enough to engage in it. We all want our kids to do well in school, but success is only something to celebrate if it comes the right way. Kids need to be healthy enough to appreciate these most wonderful years of their lives, and we parents along with our schools have an obligation to make sure that this is a reality for all students.


  Photo credits: isertope.com; wikipedia; dorkdiaries.com; sausd.com

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Missing Flight MH370 - Why Airline Security Should Never Be the Same

First appeared on Blogcritics.

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As we continue to get additional and more confounding news regarding missing Malaysian Airline Flight 370, there has to be an understanding that something definitely went wrong in the air. More importantly, before the plane even took off, something definitely went wrong on the ground.


At this point anyone who travels by air either frequently or even once and a while should be thinking that what we are doing in the name of airline security has to change. Even if you have stood in line longer than you may have wanted to, been annoyed by the intrusion into your carry-on, or been annoyed about taking off your shoes, something like this missing plane only magnifies the importance of what is being done. Of course, even more can and should be done in light of MH370.

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Right now land, air, and sea searches have come up with nothing as to the location of the plane. It has taken days and days for  Najib Razak, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, to announce that the actions to divert the plane were “deliberate.” Most everyone else knew this almost from the start, but does the reluctance to acknowledge this fact have to do with incompetence or something more nefarious? Have Malaysian officials purposely obfuscated the information we have received because they know more than they are telling the world?

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We have heard reports that law enforcement in that country only had gone to the home of the pilot Zaharie Ahmad Shah (53) to search it and confiscate any pertinent information such as files or computers after Razak’s announcement. Why wasn’t this the first step considering the expertise of the pilots may have been necessary in an elaborate plot to throw suspicion to possible hijackers, who it would seem have little chance of knowing how to fly a complicated piece of machinery like a 777. As of this writing, co-pilot Fariq Ab Hamid’s home has not been searched. Again, we must wonder why not?


air 4Intense scrutiny has to turn to the crew and every passenger aboard that flight. Every one of them has a story, and while we want to believe that they are all innocent victims, it is obvious that someone on board has acted to change the course of the airliner, turn off the tracking devices, and take over the plane with intent to either purposely crash it or divert it to a remote location. If the latter is the case, one must assume the rest of those passengers are now hostages and the plane itself may be used in some other plan similar to 9-11.


While not absolving the pilots, there also has been discussion of a “struggle” for control of the plane, noting that the variations in height of the plane (going up to 45,000 feet and then dropping precipitously to 23,000 feet) may have indicated an altercation, as well as the ensuing zigzagging of the plane. It has also been suggested that perhaps this was an inexperienced pilot’s attempt to gain control of the plane or possibly a plot of confuse radar tracking.


All of this provides no answers as the investigation continues, but the reality is that airline security and travel should never be the same after MH370. All that waiting in line, the intrusion into baggage, and the removal of shoes is just the tip of the iceberg. There has to be an elevation of scrutiny of every passenger and crew member of every flight. I know this sounds overwhelming, but no one should be able to step onto a plane unless he or she has been thoroughly investigated as to purpose of flight, occupation, and whereabouts while in the country of origin. In short, massive amounts of information need to be compiled through background checks and any other means to determine true identities and connections to dubious enterprises.

I know this sounds rather Orwellian, but perhaps that is what is necessary in 2014 to prevent a disaster from happening. As of now MH370’s fate is unknown, but it may yet be involved in an attack or some other plan that could become a disaster. With the security measures in place after 9-11, it was once said that terrorists were baffled as to how to get planes to use as weapons again. Now, it seems, they may have found a way to do that.

It is necessary and compelling for aviation and security agencies to begin sharing data, to work with national and international organizations to cross check passengers and to feed pertinent and up to date information to agents at airports who can stop potentially dangerous passengers at check-in. Ideally, a manifest for every flight should be scrutinized well before the plane ever pulls up to the boarding gate, but the reality of plane travel is that sometimes people do buy tickets at the last minute or switch to alternate flights because of delays in travel plans. This means that vigilance has to be heightened and incessant until the second that plane door is closed for takeoff.

Obviously, there is a need for some kind of travel document beyond a passport that includes biological coding, facial recognition, or some kind of microchip to verify identity. As we know, two Iranian passengers on Flight MH370 boarded with stolen passports. That may indicate the inadequacy of security in Kuala Lumpur, but it also calls into question the antiquated nature of current passports and the need for much more reliable and high-tech documentation for all passengers.

This kind of thing does irk some frequent fliers who rationalize that they should not be subject to this kind of scrutiny, but I bet that every one of the innocent passengers on Flight MH370 now wishes that more intense measures were in place before takeoff. There will also be those voices of indignation about violations of personal freedom, but none of us should object to the most stringent measures possible being in place, especially as we board planes and are completely at the mercy of the airline and security at the airport where we embark.

This situation should make us so uncomfortable and nervous that we push for changes in airline security that are assiduous and immediate. Having recently seen Non-Stop with Liam Neeson, I realize the wisdom of having air marshals or other security personnel aboard every aircraft. When something like this occurs in the air, nothing anyone has done on the ground will stop a takeover of a plane, but a trained person on board can make a difference.

air 3I do hope that this situation can be resolved and that all the passengers are safe somewhere. Their families in Beijing and elsewhere are praying and hoping for a miracle. While a hijacking of a plane may not usually be seen as miraculous, it is infinitely more hopeful than believing the plane is at the bottom of the ocean somewhere.


As I was watching the TV coverage last evening, I was reminded of the Lost TV series and how that the MH370 passengers are similarly “lost” as of now. As in that show, each person has someone who loves him or her and wants a safe return. Not knowing is definitely much more difficult, and we have to wonder how long this will go on. Of course, terrorists have no regard for people who are hurting and grieving because that is part of their game plan.

New Yorkers used to say “Never again” after 9-11, but this has an eerie feel to it that should make us all extremely nervous and worried. If nothing else, MH370 should cause a resurgence of “Never again” in reference to a plane being hijacked or crashed. We need to express outrage and press our elected officials to push for greater security immediately, so that “never again” will be realized as nevermore.

Photo credits: european pressphotoagency; getty images; ap; office of pm Malaysia; national geographic

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Movie Review: ‘Non-Stop’ - Can’t Escape Thoughts of Flight MH370

First appeared on Blogcritics.

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Even if the mysterious disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 had not occurred, Liam Neeson’s new thriller Non-Stop would have been an unsettling film going experience. In a post 9-11 world, the thought of hijackers taking over airliners is upsetting and all too reminiscent of that day; however, in light of the missing plane that left Kuala Lumpur and never made it to Beijing, the film is difficult to view without connecting it to this yet unresolved story.


Neeson seems to be the reigning action king in recent years with his Taken films and the unforgettable The Grey. In this one he plays world weary alcoholic Bill Marks, formerly of the NYPD who is now an air marshal who is obviously facing some personal demons. He finds himself on a flight from New York to London with an unseen hijacker on board who keeps texting him. The hijacker warns that a passenger will die every twenty minutes unless $150 million is deposited into a Swiss bank account.


Of course, this becomes an increasingly difficult situation for Mills as people start dying and the passengers and crew turn to him for answers. Since I’ve explained the basic premise, I must say that revealing too much more of the plot even early in the film would involve spoilers, so I am not going to divulge much more. The cast is solid with Julianne Moore as a passenger who won’t give up until she gets a window seat. Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave) and Michelle Dockery (Downtown Abbey) are two flight attendants who help Mills in his efforts, and Anson Mount (Hell on Wheels) plays a fellow air marshal who may or may not be there to help Mills out.


non stop 1Director Jaume Collet-Serra (Unknown; Orphan) handles the action in the claustrophobic airliner effectively, and builds credible tension as time increasingly becomes a factor, not only for the passengers dying one-by-one, but also for the fate of the plane itself. When Neeson and another passenger battle in one of the plane’s bathrooms, we get what is probably the best close quarters fight scene since James Bond (Sean Connery) fought villain Grant (Robert Shaw) in the train compartment in From Russia With Love.


Neeson puts in a strong turn as Marks, whose demons are not only explained as the film unfolds but seem to work to his advantage as he is pitted against the enemy on board. Unfortunately, what is happening on MH370 is a real life thriller, and it seems that whatever happened on board that plane we can assume that things took a decidedly bad turn - one that may not be resolved as deftly as cinematic conventions allow.


Non-Stop fulfills the usual action film expectations, and Neeson is always a pleasure to watch. I think the average movie-goer will enjoy the experience; however, I don’t think anyone can see this film and not have flight MH370 in mind as it unfolds. Small details will become magnified for the viewer and, with each new plot twist, you can’t help but thinking, “Maybe that’s what happened up there.”

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Honestly, all the while I was watching the film I kept thinking of the real world Malaysian plane. The hijacking set-up in the film seems now even more compellingly possible since MH370 went off the grid, and I came to understand that with determined people in place we cannot be sure what can happen up there on any plane at any given time. As you leave the theater after seeing this film, perhaps that will be the scariest thing you will take away with you.



Photo credits: imdb, national post, thestar.com

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Crimea a River - The West’s Reaction to Russia is Wrong

First appeared on Blogcritics.

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Crimea's proximity to Russia and 58% of its people being
Russian make it an obvious and valid concern for Mr. Putin.
 I don ’t know if President Barack Obama is wagging the dog or just walking it in the wrong direction, but either way that dog is barking up the wrong tree in regards to Crimea. Russian President Vladimir Putin is absolutely correct that the West likes to have its cake and eat it too, and this is especially true in its focus on Ukraine and the larger picture for Eastern Europe.


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 President Obama is moving in
the wrong direction on Crimea
Let’s imagine a different scenario. Let’s say that there was a crisis in Panama, a country with old ties to the Unites States just as Crimea and Ukraine have a connection with Russia. Perhaps there was a coup, threatening American citizens living there and insinuating the closure of the Panama Canal.


How would the United States react? Would it not react in a similar fashion as to how Russia is acting in Crimea? Wouldn’t President Obama move quickly to save American citizens and to secure the Canal Zone? I believe that America would act swiftly and decisively should that ever happen, and imagine the reaction of Obama and the West if Russia sent warships to the Caribbean and hinted at sanctions for America. I can tell you what would happen. Obama would see himself as Kennedy and Putin as Nikita Khrushchev pounding a shoe on a podium. Obama would tell the world about his need to intervene in Panama and occupy that country for the good of American citizens, Panamanians, and the whole world to insure that the canal remain open for traffic.


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At this time Mr. Putin is right in an
attempt to protect Russians in Crimea.
 
Congress would no doubt invoke the antiquated Monroe Doctrine and note that Panama is in our hemisphere and not of Russia’s concern in any way. What could happen next then would be something similar to the missile crisis in Cuba, but Putin is no Khrushchev and Obama is not Kennedy. The result? A disaster in the making.


But what is the Ukraine and Crimea but a disaster ready to happen now? The United States should not be involved in Crimea, and the West’s concern is disingenuous to say the least. Yes, there is talk about the EU and about the majority of Ukraine’s people wanting to identify with the West, but the salient issue here is that the majority of people in Crimea wish for closer ties to Russia.




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Russian forces outside a Crimean military base
Right now Russia is increasing its military presence as the U.S. sends a warship through the Bosporus into the Black Sea. One glance at the map indicates that Russia is an extremely close neighbor; the United States is such a great distance away both logistically and ideologically. If anything, the U.S. should be promoting the choice of the Crimean people to determine the course of their country’s direction. If a majority of Crimeans want to identify with or even join Russia, then why should anyone in the West reject that?


Crimea is known as an "Autonomous Republic," which should mean it has a right to self determination. The population is 58% Russian, 24% Ukrainian, and 12% Crimean Tatars (who are Muslim). There is some concern over the abuse of the Tatar population which suffered in the past during the former regime under the Soviet Union, and Mr. Putin and Russian leaders in Crimea must make a concerted effort to protect this segment of the population (in the past Stalin shipped the entire Tatar population to Siberia). The world is watching and this can never be allowed to happen again.


The interesting thing is now with technology to send a picture around the world in a few seconds, the Russians are under enormous pressure to get this right. Putin has basically rejected the West and has even said that sanctions will “boomerang” back to hurt everyone else but Russia, but it is obvious Putin knows that sanctions will hurt him too.


The thing is that Crimea is in Mr. Putin’s backyard, and he is sensitive to the Russians who live there and their desires. Some have argued, including Hillary Clinton, that Putin is acting something like Adolf Hitler once did in saying he had to protect ethnic Germans in Czechoslovakia, Poland, and other places. At this point this comparison is not valid, but Putin must know he is under intense and incessant scrutiny that will only to continue. He should expect that to be business as usual for the rest of the time he builds up forces in the region and well beyond. On the other hand, there are concerns about the bigger picture in the rest of Ukraine.


As for now the Russians are not threatening the larger part of that country, but it is interesting that the West has tried to invoke a sort of exclusivity agreement with Ukraine. The Ukrainians ostensibly have been told that they must break ties with Russia and align completely with the EU and the West. Again, Putin cries foul and asks why Ukraine, being a borderland to be sure between East and West, cannot have ties to both? I wonder why as well. Wouldn’t it be in the best interests of the region, Europe, and the entire world for there to be more communication and economic flexibility to enhance what one would hope to be a more open, new world order where former ties mean less than prosperity and advancement for all?


At this time there seems to be one logical and necessary action for the United States to take in the region, and that is to take a step back and do nothing. There should be no intervention from the West because this is a matter that is not in their sphere of influence. This is Russia and Ukraine’s issue at this time, and we should allow these events to take place and for these countries to deal peacefully to resolve the matter.


Now, if Russia decides Crimea is just a first step and then starts moving against the greater Ukraine, then we have a different issue entirely. Then this situation will look more like Hitler’s taking over the Sudetenland, a move that precipitated his larger moves of conquest. Then Putin’s cries about regional matters and saving ethnic Russians will fall on deaf ears, with swift action by the West then inevitable.


Right now there is time for this not to get out of hand. We have to hope all involved will want peace and choose communication over military action. If there is a confrontation that escalates there is going to be a threat of not just war in the region but perhaps even more widespread, and that is something Russians, Ukrainians, and Americans must avoid at all costs because no one can even try to imagine that a World War III scenario is either desirable or survivable, for they will be catastrophically wrong and annihilation of the planet as we know it will be a grim but distinct reality.


 Photo credits: getty images, wikipedia, kids.Britannica.com

Monday, March 3, 2014

Academy Awards 2014 - Few Surprises But Some Delights

First appeared on Blogcritics.

Academy Awards 3I always say I am not going to watch the entire Academy Awards broadcast because there is just too much wasted airtime; however, the best intentions seem to never be realized as I get sucked into viewing and not wanting to miss the possible “big” moment. Even with the awards being up against a new episode of The Walking Dead (which I opted to record), I got hooked on host Ellen DeGeneres’s monologue and then, despite an extremely and unnecessarily bloated telecast, I fought off sleepiness and stayed awake until the last award was announced.


Let’s get this out of the way - there were few surprises. One made me very happy when Lupita Nyong’o won for her role as Patsey in Twelve Years a Slave. Her performance in that incredible film (which in another of my three surprises won Best Picture) is indelible, creating such heft in her sorrow and power in her anger and yet remains in utter hopelessness. It is a beautiful and memorable role the likes of which you cannot forget. She deserved a "golden statue" more than anyone in that room last night.

Most of the rest of the proceedings was rather status quo. All the usual suspects were in the front rows, and the ones you expected to win otherwise did win, except for Alfonso Cuarón’s most deserved Oscar for direction of the extraordinary Gravity, which must have been the most difficult picture to direct this year (besides the unappreciated All Is Lost starring a basically mute Robert Redford). Jared Leto won Best Supporting Actor for an almost impossible role of a dying transgender AIDS patient opposite Matthew McConaughey’s (Best Actor) powerhouse role as a tough cowboy fighting AIDS in Dallas Buyers Club. The Best Actress award went to Cate Blanchett for her incredible role in Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine (despite all the recent negativity of the renewed look into Mr. Allen’s child abuse allegations by ex-partner Mia Farrow).

So in my mind there could have been something to shake up the proceedings. What could have happened to make things not so business as usual? Well, for starters, why were Jared Leto, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Matthew McConaughey able to have their mothers sitting up front and center, while 12 Years a Slave director Steve McQueen’s mother had to shout out from literally the back row? Me thinks I smell something rotten in that seating arrangement.

Other shake-ups I would have liked to have seen - Bruce Dern winning Best Actor for Nebraska, Judi Dench getting Best Actress for Philomena, Barkhad Abdi Best Supporting Actor for Captain Phillips, and June Squibb as Best Supporting Actress for Nebraska. Not only are all those mentioned extremely deserving of the respective awards, but it would have shown that the academy members were thinking out of the box for once. Unfortunately, almost every year there is salient proof that they stick with mostly the safest choices, and that’s why we are subjected (as it seems almost every year) to seeing Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Daniel Day Lewis, and other way too familiar faces in or near the front row.

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I think film is one of the great American contributions to the world, for as Orson Welles once said, it’s a “ribbon of dreams.” As Lupita Nyong’o noted in her lovely acceptance speech, she hoped that her winning “this golden statue” would remind “every little child that no matter where you’re from, your dreams are valid.” Film has that amazing quality to inspire, to delight, and to move people to try things, take risks, and shoot for the stars until sometimes (incredulously) they become one. That is what makes me still believe in film, even when the academy tends to disappoint each year with the usual suspects getting recognition (I mean, seriously, does Jennifer Lawrence need a nomination every year?).


As for the rest of the night, here are some of my most memorable moments:


Academy Awards 5Biggest Flub: John Travolta introducing the truly talented Idina Menzel as “Adela Dazeem.” Whether the teleprompter quit on him or he was thinking of some Scientology visitor from outer space, Travolta blew it. Needless to say, Menzel knocked the ball out of the park singing “Let It Go” (Oscar winning song) from Disney’s Frozen (Best Animated Feature Film).


Smokey the Bear Sighting: Pharrell Williams continues to delight as he sings, this time performing the song “Happy” from Despicable Me 2. He also insists on wearing his trademark big hat also worn by that bear who fights forest fires. Well, where there’s Smokey there’s fire, and that was obvious during Williams’ crowd pleasing number. Pharrell even danced with Lupita Nyong’o, Amy Adams, and Meryl Streep as well. Way to go, Pharrell!

Academy Awards 4

There’s No Place Like Home: Ellen appearing on stage as Glinda the Good Witch from The Wizard of Oz. Ellen had several costume changes, but this came right after the sequence that honored the 75th anniversary of the film and made a funny and memorable visual.


Academy Awards 2




Let’s Order a Pizza: One thing the Golden Globes has that the Oscars lack is food. Obviously hungry stars were more than willing to pull money from their tuxedo pockets (Harrison Ford and Martin Scorcese seemed ravenous) and drop it in Pharrell’s overturned Smokey hat that Ellen held out to them. If she ever wants a second career, DeGeneres would do well as a church usher and no doubt would be more successful than those old men shoving wicker baskets into pews.


Darlene Love Forever: When the legendary singer took the stage for the winning 20 Feet from Stardom documentary, she wooed the crowd with an impromptu a capella version of “His Eye is on the Sparrow.” Man, we need more Darlene Love, like every year. Oscar, are you listening?


In Memoriam: Why have Bette Midler sing the wonderfully apropos “The Wind Beneath My Wings” after the memorial pictures had already been shown? Clearly, she should have taken the stage and sung as the faces flashed on a screen behind her. When a montage came of all those who died at the end of the song, it was too little too late. And why did they leave Corey Monteith of Glee fame off the list? There seems to be a glaring omission every year. This is an emotional moment that the academy needs to get right.

Bill Murray Moment: Bill looked a bit worse for wear as a presenter, completely (and necessarily) deferring to his co-presenter Amy Adams. However, he did manage to sneak in a tribute to recently deceased old pal Harold Ramis. Nice, classy job, Bill!

Funniest Presenter: Hands down this goes to Jim Carrey, who when talking about special effects referred to the magic as coming from the use of LSD (to tremendous laughter). He was quite funny in his brief time on stage, and like Darlene Love, we need more Jim, Oscar. Please, lots more of Jim (who‘d be a blast as host), who seemed to be channeling the late Bob Hope in noting his lack of a golden statue.


Overall, the 86th Academy Awards felt like it usually does, dragged on way too long, and provided a few moments that were memorable. Unfortunately, I do not like watching these things the next day online; therefore, I guess I am doomed to keep repeating my annual sentence of watching a bloated, mostly boring Oscar telecast. Until next year then, good luck, Adela Dazeem, wherever you are!


Photo credits: abc.com

Saturday, March 1, 2014

Movie Review: Son of God - Do We Need Another Jesus Movie?

First appeared on Blogcritics.

son 1As the new film Son of God debuts in movie theaters, it is just in time for Christians who are entering the season known as Lent. Lent is the time from Ash Wednesday through Easter Sunday when Christians are supposed to fast, repent, reflect, pray, and help those less fortunate. More importantly, the idea is to get closer to living like Jesus, who spent forty days in the desert to fast and pray. Needless to say, many Christians regard Lent in different ways, and some do not adhere to any marking of the time at all. One could say then that Son of God comes at an ideal time for discourse to continue about not only the season but the viability of another film about Jesus.


son 2In terms of pure cinematic appreciation, Son of God probably falls somewhere in between the King of Kings (1961) directed by Nicholas Ray and starring Jeffrey Hunter as Christ and The Passion of the Christ (2004) Mel Gibson’s violent interpretation of the story starring Jim Caviezel as the bloody and battered Jesus. One could say it is a kinder, more gentle version of the story, but that would obfuscate the fact that the main character still dies on the cross in a very brutal way. Still, the story is slower (dare I say somewhat slogging) and many will find it less compelling than its predecessors.


Diogo Morgodo is the Portuguese actor who plays the title role, and it is directed by Christopher Spencer, who is known for his work on TV movies, mini-series, and documentaries, including The Bible mini-series upon which this film draws much of its material. Producer Mark Burnett and executive producer Roma Downey (hiw wife who also stars as Mary, mother of Jesus) have taken great pains at presenting a beautiful production, but sometimes a film of great beauty can lack substance and be weighed down too heavily, sinking under the heft of its florid cinematography.


There are those fervent believers who will absorb every second of this film and be moved through spirituality found in the story, and there will even be those Christians and non-Christians who enjoy it purely for its stunning visuals, but the story has been told in better ways before and, while the main actor provides a very handsome Jesus who is less Nordic in appearance than those who have come before (yet an obviously "European" person is playing the part), he still seems way too athletic and well groomed for a Jesus who lived off the land, fasted, and had little chance of access to a gym or shower stall.


son 4As of now you may have heard of packed movie theaters filled with people who are giving enthusiastic thumbs ups to the film. Of course, as in all things, people are entitled to their opinions. Christians are no doubt very excited about this release, and Burnett and Downey have made the rounds on TV shows to promote the “good news” of the film and it seems to be working. How big will the box office be? That will be the thing that people (especially those Hollywood honchos) will be wanting to find out on Monday morning.


There are other films with a “religious” theme upcoming: Noah starring Russell Crowe and Exodus with Christian Bale stepping into Charlton Heston’s sandals as Moses. With the acting weight of those two highly regarded actors, perhaps those films will be critical successes, but as Mel Gibson proved with Passion, a film with a religious theme can enjoy a healthy box office without we film critics liking it.


son 3As it stands Son of God looks and feels like the thing that spawned it - a TV series. It is, however, very beautiful to watch, as is Morgodo in the title role. There does seem to be something missing (and I’m not talking about the noted absence of the Satan character that critics have said looks uncomfortably like President Barack Obama), and that has to do with Spencer’s talents more tailored for television and the way the story unfolds. The film is reverent to the Jesus known to Christians through the Gospels, and there is nothing here that will insult those believers who want another Jesus story, but there is not enough to satisfy the regular movie-goer who wants to see a really fine film. 


Personally, I am still a fan of Franco Zefferelli’s TV mini-series Jesus of Nazareth (1978), which can be easily found online. If you want to see absolutely the best version of the Jesus story (with actor Robert Powell making the role his own), you have no need to look elsewhere.


As to the question at hand - do we need another Jesus story - I guess that can best be answered by asking if we needed a new Robo Cop or another Batman or Super Man film? As long as the popcorn munching public fills the seats, the answer is a less than enthusiastic but resounding “Yes.”


 Photo credits: Hearts Productions; collider.com ;hd wallpaperimages; examiner.com