makingSENSE

Reflections: My First Year As A Journalist

2012-05-24T19:23:00.000-07:00

By Bryan Cain-Jackson

Bryan Cain-Jackson

My first article:

All I could remember was – What the hell am I going to write? I had no leads, it’s not my blog – I’ll be contributing to a major news entity, I can’t just eff around.

So, I was sitting on the couch with my laptop and a glass of wine – I watched President Obama make a historic announcement – we had finally gotten Osama Bin Laden.

It was the craze!!! All over social media, that’s all we talked about for days.

It was a no brainer, this was going to be my first story that I would write for Technorati.

I wrote that the article “Bin Laden is Dead; US Rejoices” on the night of May 1, 2011 – it was published on May 2, 2011. I was truly sailing into the unknown. I had only written theater, short stories and had a less than nominally successful blog. I had no idea what I was doing – so I just went whatever way felt natural to me at the time.

It was weird; every day was like opening night. How many people were going to read it? Was I going to pop up on the news for shooting off at the mouth the way I’m so infamously known for? Everyone has an opinion – what was going to be their opinion of me? Would they even care?

All these questions run through your mind, you hope that something that you’re doing is relevant to someone other than just you – this is how I felt. Because of that feeling, I put enormous pressure on myself to achieve success. I worked hard. I worked as though I were getting paid serious money.

The more and more I started writing in the world of journalism, the more I developed a style; a creative voice so-to-speak. I was ready to start making taller requests for stories.

In my second month, the news was heavily covering the auction of Michael Jackson’s Thriller jacket. Everyone who knows me knows that I am a huge Michael Jackson fan. Naturally, I was encouraged by many of my friends and loved ones to write about it. I was really hesitant and didn’t see much more to write about that I hadn’t already seen anywhere else. I really didn’t want to go into another “stop making money off of this dead guy” routine – I seen too much of it, felt that way, read it, been there, done that and wanted desperately to move on.

One of my good friends said to me, “Why don’t you find out who the jacket’s beneficiaries are and interview them?”

That was something I hadn’t seen. So, I went with it.

I set about an extensive search that I had planned to spend the day working on…

15 minutes later – after having a nice but brief chat with Darren Julien of Julien’s Auctions, I had the names of all of the benefactors of the jacket. Two of them were close friends of Michael’s and were not granting interviews at the time, the others were his kids which was going to be an automatic no for me since my name isn't Oprah, and the last was Tippi Hedren – the famous actress who starred in Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds. She runs a wildlife refuge called the Shambala Preserve. When Michael left Neverland, he asked that his two prized Bengal Tigers named Thriller and Sabu be left in the best care in the world – Tippi’s preserve was just the place.

So, the next step was to call the Shambala Preserve and ask to speak with their publicist to get a couple of comments. The office manager at the preserve was very helpful – she put me on a hold that seemed like it was lasting forever… Finally she came back on the line and told me, “Mrs. Hedren will speak to you this afternoon, when is a good time for you?”

My jaw dropped – I had to make sure I was hearing this right. “Mrs. Hedren? Tippi? Tippi Hedren?”

“Yes!” She laughed.

So, needless to say, my knees were knocking and I was breathing very heavily when it came time to pick up the phone and dial the number to talk a film legend.

She was incredibly nice, gracious and passionate about her cause. Tippi had given me so much material in the span of 35 minutes on the phone with her that once I got off – I realized I was writing not just one article about Michael’s jacket, I was writing another about Tippi Hedren and her wildlife preserve. What I thought was going to be a few days of rigorous tasks ended up being unbelievably easy. I spoke to Tippi in the early afternoon and by 9 I had both articles written and ready to be published the next morning.

After the feeling that I had from talking to Tippi Hedren and writing that story, it was just an unbelievable high; it was an achievement and only at the beginning of my second month in journalism. One thing was for certain – I wanted to keep feeling that high. So, it was time to kick things into second gear and raise the bar.

The bar had been raised – I did everything from hard-hitting op-ed piece that would occasionally piss people off, to interviews with experts in their fields and of course – more stars. There was and is no topic that I wasn’t afraid to attempt to focus on at least once.

Of course, since I write for Technorati – there is the obligatory typecasting by association, I do quite a bit (sometimes more than I’d like) of social media, tech, mobile apps and all sorts of other wicked cool brainchildren of truly brilliant people. So, yeah – it’s not a bad thing at all to do those types of pieces, each and every interview I have been fortunate to do has been beneficial in a unique way, no two alike.

My efforts as a writer are not just to encourage more reading, that’s every writer’s goal – I hope. My goals are to inform, educate and entertain at the same time I am being informed, educated and entertained. Whether it’s a person, place or thing that everyone knows, or if it’s a person, place or thing that I firmly believe that everyone should know – I want my readers to get something out of it.

July of 2011 was a truly exciting month – being asked to drive and write about a brand new Audi A7, having deep conversations and writing great stories about the actors Alice Krige and Rene Auberjonois were just three more highs.

I have made some amazing friends and acquaintances.

Bryan Cain-Jackson with Peter Yarrow
of Peter, Paul and Mary

Nana Visitor, Grace Lee Whitney, Rosie O’Donnell, Peter Yarrow, Demian Bechir, Ameer Vincent, Adrien Odate, Don Trip, Marlena Shaw, Avery Brooks, Ken Goldstein, Danny Pudi, Reverend Eugene Callendar, Reverend Linda DeCoff, Shani Saxon-Parrish at BET Digital and so many more with so many more to come.

So, here’s to my first year at Technorati, all my friends on the editorial team – all my readers and all my supporters…

Many thanks…

But, we’ve only just begun.

An ALTERnative Experience In Theatricality

2012-05-18T14:35:00.003-07:00

By Bryan Cain-Jackson

Never before has theater been a more moving, emotional and intimate experience than it is in the AlterTheater Ensemble’s production of References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot – an Obie Award winning production written by Oscar nominee Jose Rivera.

The ensemble cast consists of a charismatic and sexy group of actors – a cast that is so enticing in performances and overall presence – it makes watching the story of an offbeat set of characters battling through conflict appear more alluring and attractive.

The AlterTheater Ensemble offers the audience a chance to connect with the cast in a way that traditional theater does not.

The ensemble inhabits vacant storefronts, furniture stores, and various other different spaces outside of the traditional theater setting to perform their shows.

These spaces tend to make the audience feel part of the conflict in the story – we watch in hopes for a resolution to these characters that we become deeply and emotionally invested in.

This type of theater is often called Guerilla Theater – a frankly more inventive and “out-of-the-box” method of delivering performances to audiences.

The show is in its last weekend and will close on May, 20^th. See it in San Rafael, CA. For more information on AlterTheater – visit their website AlterTheater Ensemble.

Jim Morrison: The Lizard King

2011-07-25T04:45:00.000-07:00

By Bryan Cain-Jackson

Jim Morrison, lead singer of The Doors

They both thought of themselves as purist of the art form rather than those who wanted to achieve celebrity status.

The recent loss of 27-year old Amy Winehouse brought me back to an artist that shared many similarities to her.

Jim Morrison, artist, lead singer of The Doors, passed away July 3, 1971. He was also age 27. In the world of above average music artists, death seems to have affinity for those at the age of 27. Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Kurt Cobain all died at age 27.

Morrison and Winehouse share more than a few passing similarities.

Morrison wrote poetry and was an above intellectual (I.Q. of 149); he was often misunderstood because of it. While attending UCLA, he became fast friends with a fellow student by the name of Ray Manzarek, they became the first two members of The Doors which was formed the summer that they met in 1965. Manzarek recognized the genius of Morisson’s poetry and felt that his words could be put to the tune of Rock n’ Roll.

Morrison believed that he could get a deeper, spiritual and poetic word across to a generation of anti-establishment people, something that Morrison himself embodied. So he agreed that he would go along with the forming of a music group though it was with understandable reluctance.

Once The Doors hit the scene, Morrison himself stood out and instantly became a sensation with the young girls of that era. He was different, he was bad and he seemed not to care what anyone thought about him or really about anything. Thus the image portrayed was no doubt a part of what was expected, those who knew Morrison speak of his softer side.

In his ever growing rise to fame, Morrison grew increasingly uneasy as things did not go the way he originally envisioned. He was a sex icon and that is what he desired.

Morrison already had what many would describe as self destructive habits, thus any he already had would increase. He binged on heroine and often drank heavy liquor like it was water. His rebellion of fame had begun and was very public in a time of stricter censorship.

The Doors had landed the biggest act in town; The Ed Sullivan Show. They were asked to perform their hit song Light My Fire. Unfortunately, the word “higher” which were in the lyrics of the song was forbidden on national television at the time. In true Morrison fashion, he said it anyway and right in the face of the camera lens which caused a pandemonium on live television. The Doors were banned from ever performing on Ed Sullivan again.

Morrison began showing up to performances late or intoxicated. He was rumored to have exposed himself at one venue, although it is not known for sure it caused The Doors to be banned from yet another venue.

By 1969, the once slim and slender Morrison had become a heavy boozer with a pot belly and a very thick beard. He often recorded the remaining albums under the influence of hours of heavy boozing.

Morrison had finally found his way out through his unending fascination with death; it was achieved by total abuse for his body, the vanishing of the looks that his female fans longed for. He wanted to only have his music appreciated, not so much he himself; even though he was rumored to be quite the ladies man.

Jim Morrison has a voice that will echo on for generations to come.

"This Is The Zodiac Speaking..."

2011-07-18T00:10:00.000-07:00

By Bryan Cain-Jackson

SFPD's sketch artist renderings of Zodiac

In the late 1960’s, in the outskirts of the big city of San Francisco was a quiet place to live with minimal crime and almost no homicides; it was truly life in the suburbs.

On the night of December 20, 1968 it was about 45 degrees; a fine example of a winter in Northern California. The residents of Benicia and the neighboring city of Vallejo knew not of the tragedy that would befall them on that night.

David Farraday and Betty Lou Jensen

17 year-old David Farraday and 16 year-old Betty Lou Jensen were going steady. On the aforementioned night, Betty Lou was being allowed to go out on her first date that night. The Jensens were a strict Christian family and reluctantly agreed to allow their daughter to attend a local high school dance with the young Farraday boy whom they had heard nothing but great things about.

After the dance, Betty Lou and David drove to a quiet spot in Benicia just outside of the city of Vallejo which is where they lived and went to school. Lake Herman Road had a couple of small gravel parking lots that were widely used as lover’s lanes for the youth of both cities. They found an unoccupied spot to sit, talk, and hold hands.

It is unknown what had occurred, but the grisly result has become part of true crime history. David Farraday was shot and killed at point blank range. Betty Lou was shot in the back multiple times as she tried to flee the scene. Lake Herman is pitch dark at night, where was she trying to run? No one knows for sure.

With not much previous experience in homicide, the Solano County Sheriff’s department was overwhelmed. After a long period of time and no leads the case eventually goes cold.

Darlene Ferrin and Michael Mageau

Vallejo celebrates with fireworks on the unusually hot night of July 4, 1969. Michael Mageau and Darlene Ferrin are good friends and they have driven to the park at the then isolated area of Blue Rock Springs park. At this time, it was a rural area and not the widely developed community park that it is today. They are approached by a car that pulls to the right rear of their car. The car parks and sits there for about two minutes before speeding off, only moments later to come back. This time the car pulled directly behind them, a man stepped outside of the car holding a bright flashlight and shaking it around while walking up to the passenger side window shining the lights in the faces of Michael and Darlene before opening fire on them. The shooter fired multiple shots at both of them; Michael survived, Darlene did not.

Within the hour, the Vallejo Police Department received an interesting phone call from the shooter in question. The man on the line spoke in a chillingly calm and controlled voice and enunciates his words clearly. He sounded as though he were reading something. This was their conversation.

“I would like to report a double-murder.”

“Who’s calling please?”

“If you go one mile east on Columbus Parkway, you’ll find two kids parked in a brown car. They were shot with a 9 mm Luger.”

“Who is calling please?”

“I’m the one who did it.”

A chilling moment of silent ensues.

“I also killed those kids last year.”

His voice changes tone from calm and controlled to taunting and childish.

“Gooood-byeeeeee..”

On July 31, 1969 three letters arrive to three different newspapers in Northern California. One each was sent to the Vallejo Times-Herald, San Francisco Examiner and the San Francisco Chronicle. The letters contained exhaustive details of both the December and 4^th of July shootings. With the letters there was a cryptogram and in the letter there was a threat that more lives would be taken if the letter and the puzzles were not solved and placed on the front page of each newspaper. It was signed with a mysterious symbol. In August another letter followed with more details about the Lake Herman murders. This time the killer gave himself a name… Zodiac.

Zodiac's signature symbol

The next crimes escalated in terms of their risk, Zodiac needed a greater challenge to get him his desired level of potency.

Bryan Hartnell and Cecelia Shepard

During broad day light at Lake Berryessa on the evening of September 29, 1969, Bryan Hartnell and Cecelia Shepard were bound and stabbed by a man wearing a strange executioner’s style hood and bearing the symbol that would later be known as the Zodiac killer’s logo. The man claimed that he only wanted money and their car keys, he took neither. Bryan was stabbed 7 times; Cecelia was stabbed more than 18 times and died a day and a half later. Bryan survived. A telephone call to the Napa County Sheriff’s was made in the same sense as the call to the Vallejo PD. No letter followed. Instead, Zodiac leaves his trademark symbol on the door of his victims’ car along with the dates of his last murders and the current date along with the time being at 6:30.

Zodiac leaves his calling card on his victims' car door

Rendering of Zodiac at Lake Berryessa

The greater Northern California area would be placed on a curfew as a result of these Zodiac attacks and other sightings.

The final and last confirmed victim of Zodiac was a cab driver who picked him up in Downtown San Francisco.

Paul Stine

29 year-old Paul Stine was shot at point blank range to the back of the head inside his cab after he parked it on the corner of Washington and Cherry in a very posh neighborhood near Presidio Heights. Zodiac was seen getting into the front scene of the cab by two children. They believed him to be drunk and wrestling with the driver so they called the police as it was happening. They described Zodiac walking away from the crime scene.

Within minutes, a cop was on the scene and questioned the children. He had heard over the radio that they were looking for a “Negro male.” Upon re-interviewing the children, he found that they were indeed looking for a white male. The officer ran back to the car to radio everyone of the correction to the error that the dispatcher had made.

Another cop was approaching the scene coming down an opposite street. When they saw a white male walking away from the crime scene on the sidewalk, they did not question him for whatever reason. The cops discovered the victim’s shirt had been cut, his wallet, glasses and car keys were missing.

Thus Zodiac was not caught.

A letter followed days later, this contained a blood stained piece of the shirt that the victim wore that night he was shot. This letter contained a quote that would get Zodiac nationwide attention in 1969.

“I think I shall blow out the tires of a school bus one morning and just pick off the kiddies as they come bouncing out.”

School buses all over the Bay Area were escorted by helicopters, motorcades, and motorcycle police who were heavily armed in the event that such an attack would be attempted.

Northern California residents were paranoid. It was never known where he would pop up next and every time a new letter was published in the newspaper that contained a threat, he always would claim another victim. The paranoia increased when he hit the city.

The letters would continue for 5 years. The facts became myth and now unfortunately to legend; adding to that great desire for fame that he possessed. Zodiac made good on his promises to vanish… Never to be caught.

The mystery has made Zodiac one of the world’s most elusive serial killers, has spawned a major motion picture and has a website of amateur sleuths dedicated to solving the mystery with millions who visit it every day.

Although San Francisco has officially closed their investigation, Solano County Sheriffs, Napa County Sheriffs, and Vallejo PD all still have open cases. Due to a tip on a possible new suspect, the FBI has also begun an in-depth investigation.

For more information on Zodiac, visit Zodiackiller.com

Tippi Hedren Loves More Than Just The Birds

2011-07-13T23:04:00.000-07:00

Article first published as Tippi Hedren Loves More Than Just The Birds on Technorati.

By Bryan Cain-Jackson

Legendary film actress, Tippi Hedren, has been in show business for more than 60 years. Starting at the ripe age of 20, her first film where she was not even credited for her role as an ice box petty girl to her breakout success in the role of Melanie Daniels, the cool blonde in the Alfred Hitchcock classic “The Birds.” From working with Ed Wood Jr. to working with the Master of Suspense, Tippi has certainly been there for the best era in film.

We know her mainly as the beautiful blonde that stood defenselessly in the phone booth amidst chaos caused by a flock of menacing ravens trying to get to her. That scene was one of the most memorable in history.

The Tippi Hedren we should all know better is the woman who is just as beautiful on the inside and she is on the outside. Tippi Hedren, mother of actress Melanie Griffith, grandmother, and animal rights activist. Tippi has been caring for wildlife animals for nearly 40 years, to put it charitably, it is her passion.

In 1983, Tippi started the Roar Foundation. This foundation’s sole responsibility is to support the abandoned exotic felines at the Shambala Preserve.

Tippi talked about the challenges, costs, and excitement of formation and maintaining of the Roar Foundation and the Shambala Preserve and Animal Sanctuary in Acton, California 45 minutes northeast of Los Angeles.

“It was huge, absolutely huge.” Hedrin recalled. “We were making a film about the animals at the time, the funds from the film lasted a few years it was gone. So I formed the organization to accept donations, as well as to educate.” She said. “I have to raise $75,000 a month. It is a very expensive feat.”

Tippi is extremely disappointed with the continued treatment of animals; she is very sharp and forthright with her continued battle against the inequities of mankind against nature.

“We rescue these animals. They are all born in the United States to be sold as pets, and of course they are not pets.” Hedren spoke sternly. “They are bred and born here to be (household) pets or for financial gain,” she said, “It’s a huge business, according to U.S. Fish and Wildlife, it’s on par with the sale of illegal drugs.”

Not only is this illegal, it is extremely dangerous. The lack of knowledge in this area is very alarming, and quite sad.

“It is sad, and it’s sad for two reasons,” Hedren said, “One is that these animals should not be born into captivity, and it’s extremely dangerous for humans.”
These are all things that are clearly violations of an animal’s rights. Tippi has become actively involved in the increasing of those rights on a political level.

“I co-authored a bill in 2003 to stop the interstate traffic of these animals to be sold as pets,” she said, “I testified for the bill and it is titled the Captive Wildlife Safety Act, which prevents the animals from being sold by the breeder out of their state. It was a baby step and it took 2 years for it be enforced. The bill was signed December 19, 2003.” Hedren said proudly.

Tippi does acknowledge that there is still more work to be done, and she is working on another bill that will further act in the best wishes of animals out there. In the meantime, she enjoys the visits from people who love animals the way she does.

The Shambala Preserve is also the home to Michael Jackson’s two Bengal Tigers named Thriller and Sabu. The preserve will be benefit greatly from the auction of the Michael Jackson Thriller Jacket as it is the main consigner. “We are very excited,” Hedren said, “Thriller and Sabu are living wonderful life here.”

Tippi Hedren does have one belief that she tries to instill in every one.

“There is nothing that we can give an animal that they need, nothing at all. They just need to be free, and we do our best to let them do what they need to do.”

For more from Tippi on Thriller and Sabu, please see my Technorati article “Thriller Jacket: Where The Money’s Going.”

Happy Father's Day

2011-06-19T22:55:00.000-07:00

By Bryan Cain-Jackson

Everything from how to teach your son how to shave, play baseball and the art of chivalry, being a father has many definitions.

Teaching your daughter the art of saying no and ensuring her prom date that you carry a licensed firearm add to a long list of responsibilities that can cause white hair or for it to fall out completely. There are so many important aspects to a father.

I had and still have a father. My grandpa is my dad.

My father was a sperm donor.

My grandfather taught me the art of chivalry, how to treat a woman with respect and be a gentleman at all times. When I take my lady for a walk, she has to always walk on the inside of the sidewalk and never on the out. She is never allowed to open her own door in my car or anywhere else for that matter. I bring her flowers not just when I’ve been an ass, but also just because. Although there are many women who do not appreciate that chivalry, I pride myself in this attribute. My grandfather/father has taught me well. From watching Superman with me, to hiding my Thriller video, and playing baseball with me, he was the essence of fatherhood and set forth many examples for me to follow that I will carry with me for the rest of my life and instill in my own children when I blessed to have them.

To all the fathers that step up to the plate and hit it out of the park everyday and not just when it’s convenient or required of them: HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!

Keep it up, your children will appreciate the fact that you were there from day #1.

Power To The People!!!

2011-06-06T14:58:00.000-07:00

By Bryan Cain-Jackson

Four of the biggest figures in our history were assassinated all within 5 years. These men were not afraid to bring change to the masses. They wanted a better quality of living for everyone regardless of their color, creed, and religion or class system.

President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963. Were it not for President Kennedy, we might have waited for many years for the Civil Right Act to be enacted. JFK was the beginning of the modern thinking. Away with the old and in with the new was the direction. We were to become a country that took accountability for its mistakes and kept no secrets from its citizens. The establishment protected its own best interests; thus was the beginning of a future of hope being snatched out from underneath an entire generation.

Malcolm X, a prolific Civil Rights activist, was assassinated in Manhattan on February 21, 1965. He gave us the wisdom of “The Hate that Hate Produced.” He was often targeted with hate for being an African-American man trying to rise to the occasion in a society that did not want that. X made many controversial statements in the eyes of the press; he was not someone who did and said what was expected of him. X pushed the envelope and brought the darkness to the light with his powerful and impactful words of wisdom. He was not pro-establishment; therefore he could not be allowed his rise to power. The establishment took Malcolm X from a generation that would have surely followed in his footsteps. So continues the hopes and dreams, snatched from us.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Civil Rights leader, was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee on April 4, 1968. MLK was also a leader in the development of a new way of thinking like his respective counterparts, he believed in liberalism. MLK brought fourth many powerful and historical speeches, his most famous being “I have a dream.” Through words and through action, MLK repeatedly made a call for unity. He wrote his “Letters from Alabama” while being jailed for marching against hate and displaying his hopes with words and with actions. MLK’s protests were seen as disruptive and illegal. His call for unity continued despite those who did whatever to quite him. Although the establishment stepped forward to silence him, even in death his voice echoes on for generations to come.

Robert F. Kennedy, former U.S. District Attorney, New York Senator, and Presidential candidate, was assassinated June 5, 1968 at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California. He has just won the most important state in the Democratic Primaries, California. Bobby was the last best hope for a new liberal generation that wanted to end the war and break the color barriers that existed in our great nation. The nation was dividing, only his leadership could have brought forth a sense of paradise that this country would never have thought imaginable. The establishment must do what it feels is necessary to protect its interests. A generation’s last hope is snatched away by “the man.” Riots and hate ensue, Nixon becomes President and the senseless war in Vietnam rages on with a daily growing body count.

I raise the question that if one of these men had survived, what would our nation be like today? Each of these four men laid their lives on the line for the ideals of modern liberalism to take its rightful foothold on this country. Why? So that each man and woman could be free and independent without prejudice just as the constitution dictates under a guise.

These four giants in our history died in their attempts to bring power to the people.

Charlie's Angels Are Back To Watch Over Us - And Hotter Than Ever!!!

2011-05-17T18:42:00.000-07:00

By Bryan Cain-Jackson

For the first time in years there will be an exciting show on the Fall TV schedule to look forward to. ABC is sure to strike pay dirt with its “Charlie’s Angels” reboot set to air Thursday nights with an all new sexy cast that’s sure to set the early morning radars of men everywhere pulsating.

How will this show be delicious?

It’s easy.

Just add Miles Millar and Alfred Gough (Smallville), Leonard Goldberg (Original Charlie’s Angels), and Drew Barrymore as the show’s principal production team along with a young, and sizzling hot cast of beautiful ladies and you have the perfect ingredients that are sure to leave your lips tingling.

The “Angels” rundown is as follows; Eve (Minka Kelly) who is a queen on the racing scene, Abby (Rachel Taylor) a Park Avenue socialite who is also a the best of the best in thievery, and Kate (Annie Iloonzeh) who’s just lost her career and her fiancée so she has nothing to lose. Bosley 2.0 (Ramon Rodriguez) is their technical expert, and the enigmatic Charlie is voiced by acting veteran Robert Wagner. The cast has the looks and the experience; this show will be on fire.

Millar and Gough have the ability to turn every television and film property that they touch into gold. They are aware of what’s in and what’s hot while not bleeding the material of any substance. With Smallville’s former creative team, you can bet that the “Angels” reboot will not be two-dimensional in its characterization.

This will definitely not be another brainless reimagining of a classic, this has the sex appeal, and all the action to make it a sure fire hit with TV goers. It’ll definitely be nice to have these Angels watching over us.

al-Qaeda Threat: Vigilance or Prejudice

2011-05-11T06:30:00.000-07:00

By Bryan Cain-Jackson

Article first published as al-Qaeda Threat: Vigilance Or Prejudice on Technorati.

One week has passed since finding out the news of Osama Bin Laden’s death. The country celebrated and rejoiced over the fact that he was dead. The rejoicing should always be about the justice that has been done and never about the fact that person has died.

Conspiracy theories fly rampant in the beliefs that Bin Laden was already killed or that he hasn’t been killed at all. In either scenario, once he was killed there was certainly a cause for concern.

Due to security concerns, there have been at least two passenger planes that have emergency landed. In one of the flights, a man tried to reach for the door while the plane was in the air. The plane landed and the man was interviewed by the federal authorities. The other plane was landed as a result of a suspicious note found by a flight attendant.

An incident aboard a plane to North Carolina is under investigation. Due to the discomfort of passengers aboard, two imams in traditional Muslim dress were removed from the plane prior to take off. Masudar Rahman and Mohamed Zaghloul are both of very high importance in the Muslim religious community. They were on their way to a conference for prejudice against Muslims and Islamaphobia. Rahman is a professor at the University of Memphis.

There are definitely reasons to feel threatened after the US killed Osama Bin Laden; he was the leader of the al-Qaeda. Furthermore, the documented evidence proving the Pakistani intelligence team that led the US to Bin Laden as being linked to al-Qaeda terrorists. Why would they lead us to Osama Bin Laden if they had another agenda? How far along in execution are the al-Qaeda plans for the new act of terrorism against the US? There are so many questions and even few answers if any will ever provide a universal sense of satisfaction amongst US citizens. Everyone is being extremely alert and that is to be expected. However, are we being vigilant or outright prejudice?

That need for vigilance can also be a safe assumption as to why our troops will not be sent home yet. I truly fear the feeling of paranoia is rampant in our country; the need to point fingers and label those who are innocent as potential perpetrators is growing out of hand. We are in a climate that is plagued with uncertainty, not knowing what to expect from one day to the next can have this affect on people.

We should take great care and pride in not allowing the image of one’s customs and attire influence our portrait of what a monster is. Osama Bin Laden was a monster, but we should not label those with a similar name, attire, looks or any other aspect of superficiality to drain our perception of color and clarity. It’s important that the fine line between vigilance and prejudice be identified to avoid making an already critical situation worst.

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-08T13:45:00.000-07:00

By Bryan Cain-Jackson

Today is a day to rejoice in the appreciation of all of our Mothers. To all the beautiful women that we look up to and call Mom, we owe you our lives.

Those of us who aren’t parents really forget the challenge that being a Mom represents. Especially if you are a single Mom then even greater challenges are faced every day. I know a great deal of women that do a phenomenal job of being both mom and dad to their children. I bow to your greatness. I am not a father yet, but when I do become one I know that it will still not be as challenging as being a mother is.

I was blessed with two Moms in my life, my mother and my grandmother. I love you both very much. I appreciate the challenges that you have put in front of me, were it not for those challenges I would not be the man that I am today always being respectful and appreciative of the woman in my life.

To mothers everywhere, know you are more than appreciated!

Happy Mother’s Day to All!!!

Jackie Cooper Passes at 88

2011-05-07T05:17:00.000-07:00

By Bryan Cain-Jackson

Article first published as Jackie Cooper Passes at 88 on Technorati

Another of Hollywood’s golden age has departed from us. Character actor, Jackie Cooper passed away on May 3rd at the age of 88. He is best known for his latter role in the Superman films portraying Daily Planet editor Perry White.

Starting out as a child in show business, Cooper became a hit in the “Our Gang” short films of the 1920’s and 30’s. In every decade he has provided quality entertainment as an actor, producer, and director. Cooper was one of precious few to graduate from the child star syndrome as some refer to it.

Cooper served with distinction in the military in World War II. He was married four times. The fourth time was a charm for Cooper when he met his beloved Barbara. They were married for 54 years until her passing in 2009.

Cooper retired in 1990 and very much enjoyed his life with his family post life of show business. He avoided industry retrospective and enjoyed his simple life.

Romance is Dead; It's All About Friends with Benefits

2011-05-06T15:33:00.000-07:00

By Bryan Cain-Jackson

From deviantart.com

Just a thought that I wanted to share and everyone to consider… Does it seem that romance has died?

Young men just don’t seem as chivalrous as they once were or as much as they should be. I hear this from lady friends all the time. Even in movies they tend to lack in romance these days.

This in a way kind of goes back to an earlier post that I wrote entitled “That Irritating Thing That Men and Women Do.”

When a young woman comes across a man that opens her doors and brings a rose for her on a date, it seems like the trip out alarm goes off. Women may still want romance but are so used to not getting it, that when they do they have no idea how to react to it.

The same goes for affection, women are so not used to receiving it from a man that when they get it the suspicion alert goes off.

Romance is meant to be that pleasurable and exciting feeling that is associated with courtship. Are men still courting women? Are they just dating with no future possibility of going any further?

The answer is simple…

“Friends with benefits” are supposed to be the most uncomplicated relationship out there, yet it tends to complicate. This is because there are supposed to be no strings attached to sex, yet it is human nature or it should be to feel an emotional connection with the person one allows to invade their body. Most of the time in these types of relationships one person will get attached, the other will get upset, and an opportunity for a quality friendship or relationship is truly lost.

I personally feel that romance is important for foreplay, foreplay is important for sex, and intimacy is best left with a connection rather than without. I am a very romantic man, and I am chivalrous with my woman.

A benefits based relationship is not best for everyone. Some of you should evaluate yourselves emotionally before entering one.

Romance and an emotional connection are phenomenal feelings when people allow themselves to feel it. Intimacy should not just fulfill a physical need if someone is drowning in emotional uncertainty. It should be that feeling like you are on cloud nine and nothing but good will come from it. If people started treating each other’s bodies more like a temple rather than the Easy 8 motel, there wouldn’t be so many scorned women and STD’s. That makes sense, right?

Bin Laden Death Rules Social Media

2011-05-05T10:00:00.000-07:00

By Bryan Cain-Jackson

Article first published as Bin Laden Death Rules Social Media on Technorati.

When something is the buzz, you’d better believe that you’ll find it on a social media network within seconds. It can even be said that this is how many people in the younger generation get their news.

The current buzz is of a very different nature. It’s normally about what happened on “American Idol” last night, or who got fired on “Celebrity Apprentice,” and a host of other mind numbing television programs that lure interest. Fortunately, this time we get treated to a different fare; the death of Osama Bin Laden has ruled the web ever since the news was announced shortly after 10:15 Eastern-Standard time May 1st. In particular it has ruled the social media sites. The increase in conversation over Bin Laden’s fate has increased over 75,000 percent since the first announcement. It’s no doubt a combination of celebratory spewing, mad ravings, negative remarks about the Obama administration, and the trademark conspiracy theorists. Perhaps, Donald Trump will lead the conspiracy theorists into persuading the President to produce an original death certificate for Bin Laden.

The death of Bin Laden represents something different to many walks of life. For some it’s retribution, for others it’s an eye for an eye, and lastly there is always going to be a universal sense of justice.

I have read clever Facebook postings, and some not so clever or even politically correct. Among the most memorable I have read is: “It took Obama to get Osama.” It was quite a thrill to see everyone speaking up on more intelligent fare versus the normal dribble.

This not only demonstrates that much needed sense of unity and of patriotism; it clearly demonstrates the awesome power of the social media world. The news is at our fingertips. We no longer have to wait until we get home to get in front of our TVs, or even listen to the radio. I need not mention that newspapers are on the brink of total extinction. This can all be credited to the advent of the social media world. It’s a place where everyone has a voice.

It’s changed the way we communicate. If you call or text someone on your cell phone, you might not get an answer. If you really want to talk to them at that moment, you might have to “Facebook” or “FB” them. If you want to know what one of your friends is doing then just check Twitter. They might have “tweeted” that they are taking a shower. Scary thought though; updating a Twitter status while taking a shower? I have a friend who does this.

Social media is a world that I truly believe in. It’s been used for intelligent discussions and an exchange of information. Many non-profits even use it as a way to get petitions signed and getting various causes supported. Businesses use it to advertise and connect with their clients. Major corporations use it to introduce their new products for the first time. It’s not something that will be going away anytime soon. It will grow and continue to advance as time passes.

The biggest craze started with Myspace, the social media powerhouse of yesterday. Now, we are in a worldwide love affair with Facebook. However, it will not end there. There will be different variations of it, but social media itself will not be going anywhere for a while.

A Great Film Called "Psycho"

2011-05-04T21:28:00.000-07:00

By Bryan Cain-Jackson

Of all the classic films made at the beginning of the end of Hollywood’s most glamorous period in films, none proved more shocking than Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho."

This was clearly a film that had no interest in blending in with typical films of the era; for starters it was in black and white and had a budget under $1 million. Films presented in color were already a commonplace, and Hitchcock rarely made a film for under a million dollars at that time.

Rather than the usual glamorous setting with rich and well to do people, “Psycho” was cheap and sleazy looking. The characters were struggling and all had conflicts that crept deep beneath their surfaces. It was made in a time where people wanted to appear normal and without problems, these characters were no exception to that.

Janet Leigh portrayed Marion Crane. Her characters lives in Phoenix, Arizona and works as a secretary to a real estate agent. Marion is a fascinatingly eclectic portrait in the sense that she too wants to hide the problems that she is having, while at the same time publicly airing them out by committing a heinously sloppy crime. She is desperate to marry her boyfriend Sam Loomis, portrayed by John Gavin. Sam is a hard luck case. He owns a hardware shop in a small town in Central California. Sam is in debt up to his teeth; he is paying his wife’s alimony while she is living it up on the other side of the world, and paying what is remaining of his dead father’s old debts.

Marion is hopelessly in love with him and will lower herself to even the level of meeting him in secret at cheap and sleazy hotels during her lunch hour. Sam enjoys their relationship as it is; he drives to see her from California so that they can have their time. Since the kind of affair they were having was considered disrespectful at the time, they are not actually far from what would be considered today as a friend with benefits. The difference between Sam and Marion is very simple. She is an idealist, and he is a realist. There is no way that he can afford to support her, nor can she support him since this was a time where the man worked and was the breadwinner. The wife would stay home and tend to house and the children if any.

Then the day comes… Emotion takes over completely. In a fit of blind desperation, Marion steals $40,000 from her employer with the intent of taking it to Sam in California, but she never makes it.

The Bates Motel is along her route to Sam. She stops and meets one of the creepiest and most mentally disturbed characters in movie history, Norman Bates, portrayed by Anthony Perkins.

During the conversation between Marion and Norman, there is evidently a sexual tension and a curiosity that is never acted upon. The reason being is that Norman is the one who is feeling it; Marion is merely unsettled by how much of a hermit he is.

Norman has a mother that doesn’t like the fact that he has warmed up to this woman, so the only way to end it is for her to kill Marion. The famed and historic shower scene takes place in which Marion is stabbed a dozen and a half times by Mother Bates aka Norman Bates.

That’s right! If you’ve seen this, you already know that Norman is his own mother. Is this guy a psycho or what???

Delving deeper into the themes of “Psycho,” one can clearly see that the director Alfred Hitchcock has his own obsessions.

Here is a short list:

1. Blondes
2. Murder
3. Sex
4. Food

The way that all these tie together is they all are forced to become an integral part of the story. Blondes are supposed to have more fun which would explain why everyone wants Marion. Murder is the theme behind the jealousy embedded in the schizophrenia that Norman has. Sex is one of the driving emotions why everyone is so reactive in the film. Norman’s Mother personality kills Marion because he lusted after her and wanted her badly. Sam drives all the way to Arizona often to have their relationship which is nothing more than sexual on his part.

I can go on and on about any Hitchcock film, I love them! They are excellent examples of what Hollywood used to put out. The stuff now just doesn’t make sense.

The Obama Conspiracy

2011-04-28T19:28:00.000-07:00

By Bryan Cain-Jackson

We truly live in a world that possesses closed minded individuals who in some way, shape, or form lack diversity and are self-indulged in their own prejudice. It doesn’t necessarily have to be in terms of race. I believe it to be a built-in mechanism that to some degree exists and functions within all of us. That mechanism preys on our fear of change.

In 2008 when Senator Barack Obama ran for President of the United States of America is when it truly began. That mechanism kicked in. Why did it kick in? Well, folks… Each of you will decide on your own reasons, together we can only speculate. I cannot nor will I attempt to drill an opinion in to your heads. You are all free willed and have the ability to exercise independent thought. This mechanism that I speak of; what exactly has it done? It has tapped that nerve ending in all of us that has put us in fear mode. That fear of change. That which is the crippling fear that only serves to prevent growth in maturity for those who lack it the most. It is the one and the same that would either have us be closed minded to having a President of a different ethnicity than all those we have had prior. Another thought is that the fear could’ve crippled some at the very sight of his name; Barack Hussein Obama.

The instant that name hit the press, this pumped premium gas into the vehicle that we know to be the conspiracy theory. Conspiracy theorists all over the country were sure that was an attempt to plant a Middle Eastern spy at the heart of the United States and worsen an already catastrophic economic situation. As to whether or not this lunacy has been laid to rest is questionable. I must say that I haven’t heard about it much after President Obama was sworn into office.

That is not all though, the vehicle that drives conspiracy theories never parks… I now bring you to the present day which we need no introduction to.

The question of Obama’s birth certificate brought to you by Donald Trump himself. I thought Trump had better things to do than this. Like firing people, claiming bankruptcy every other day or whatever he does to manipulate his personal and business finances.

It seems not. Trump has announced interest in his candidacy for President of the United States of America. Does that mean that we would become the United States of Trump? Erie thought, right? What a way to begin his tirade period by beginning a smear campaign against his would be chief opponent.

For weeks now, I have watched the endless idiocy of those who believe that President Obama was not a citizen of the United States.

I have to give a special mention to Anderson Cooper and his team of investigators of 360 on CNN for giving credible evidence to the public. The situation was getting out of control. Despite Cooper’s attempts to offer validity to the live birth document given by the State of Hawaii in lieu of a copy of the original birth certificate, the nay-sayers continued their pointless crusade.

Trump endlessly pointed out money that he claims was spent to cover up a document that was finally released yesterday. Trump gave no credence to Cooper’s investigation which made his own arguments about the issue lose serious credibility. I must say that Cooper gives credibility to the word term that many of us thought dead, journalism.

This is what I mean by the growing idiocy of those Americans out there who have disguise themselves as conservatives who wish our country well. Rather than further the intellect of Americans, they’ve succeeded in making themselves look like old, fat and inflexible morons. I do mean the same kind of moron that would closely identify with Archie Bunker.

To Donald Trump: It was Plato who said, “Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something.”

I’m afraid saying you appear as the latter makes perfect sense.

The Criminal Acts of the Police

2011-04-26T10:30:00.000-07:00

By Bryan Cain-Jackson

The speed limit is 65 mph, but you are going 69. Are you worried? Probably not, I mean, who’s going to be affected by you going 4 mph over the speed limit? You might not even notice that you’re going over the speed limit. You got your speakers on blast, you’re trying to leave that 9 to 5 up on the shelf and just enjoy yourself.

That all might change and you might not feel so relaxed when you see flashing red and blue lights in your rear view mirror. Are you worried about getting a ticket? Yes, and should you be worried about it being something more serious? It seems that is also the case in a world where the men in blue bring great uncertainty with each encounter they have with a given citizen.

To protect and to serve is the creed that is sworn by every man and woman that chooses to join the force. These days that doesn’t seem to coincide with what’s happening to people at the hands of many police officers out there. Don’t get me wrong, there are a great many officers some of whom I know personally that are a credit to their badge, and to their uniforms. However, there are those police officers that are making the headlines; the proverbial rotten eggs that make the whole dozen look bad.

It seems like just recently, we read about Rodney King in the headlines and we saw that vicious video. The video doesn’t depict LA’s finest. It depicts a group of juveniles that are playing out a schoolyard fantasy that they had no power to fulfill when they were younger. The power was afforded to them later; under the guise of being those who enforce the law. Rather than enforce it, they simply broke it. Why did they break it? Was it because they felt they were above the law? Or was it simply because they were given the power to do what it is they were doing?

Each reader of the blog post and every observer of the media will judge for themselves what they portray this grotesque negligence and horrible misuse of power to be. Could police officers despite all their training be just as vulnerable to power in excess as the rest of us could be? Here are some fictional accounts that are quite accurate in their depiction of what excess can do to a person.

Remember Michael Corleone of “The Godfather” trilogy? This was a man of immense power who allowed nothing to stand in the way of achieving exactly what he wanted. He craved people’s fear of him, and he craved more power. Corleone, much like the men in blue, use fear to prey upon the fearful. This is not to say that Oscar Grant got shot because he feared Johannes Mehserle. Often times if rebellious behavior is shown to a person on a power trip then that is taken as a challenge. This could mean that it would be worst for the person posing the challenge to a less than upstanding police officer.

Another example is Tony Montana from “Scarface.” This is someone who was afraid of no one but never had the opportunity or the power to do and take what he wanted as he pleased. Once he gained power, he had so much of it that he eventually spun completely out of control. The excess in power and the rush that it could give someone who has never had it can be an overwhelming experience mentally.

Folks, this might just seem like a ruthless badgering of police officers. Especially when it comes to comparing them to the likes of fictitious criminals, but there is truth to these comparisons.

The long and the short of it is that those who are and who pose as police officers are supposed to enforce the law. We are supposed to rely on them to protect and to serve, not terrorize and kill the innocent. If this is allowed to continue then why have that right granted to us by the law? That right that says every man and woman is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Are they ignoring this right granted to us and assigning guilt as they see fit? Whether that is a yes or a no, it is not their place to do so.

The sad truth about many of those we rely on to enforce the law is that they are as unstable as the criminals they are bringing in. This is a fact that needs no more proof than what is shown to millions in this country on the news and YouTube, what’s heard on the radio, and read in newspapers.

It seems that the less than upstanding police officers use their clubs to make innocent citizens “an offer they can’t refuse.” This makes no sense; however, it is sadly very true.

Hollywood has Died of Creative Failure

2011-04-25T14:10:00.000-07:00

By Bryan Cain-Jackson

Though it is uncertain at which time the illness grew, but it's true. Hollywood has died at the age of 105. Hollywood, formerly Hollywoodland, had grew to unspeakable heights leaving behind a great legacy of many great films in its younger days. It grew powerful, and when power is gained in excess, things tend to spin out of control. It is now, only a shell of its former self.

Just kidding. Or am I?

In the summer and fall of 1998 we saw remakes of two of the best films ever made in history. Both of the original films were directed by the master of suspense himself, Alfred Hitchcock. The original films are “Dial M for Murder” and “Psycho.” The remake for the first was “A Perfect Murder,” and the latter bearing the same title.

“A Perfect Murder” worked out well, but was nothing to write home about. The remake to “Psycho” was then and is still today considered to be one of the worst remakes ever made in the history of film.

When I say it started in 1998, what I am referring to is the repetition that we are seeing in the mainstream television and film industries. If it’s not a remake that’s being shown to us, it’s just the same tired and repetitive formulas.

Endless romantic comedies, overly raunchy comedies, mean-spirited comedies, 80’s monster movie rejects, endless horror movie sequels, it just goes on and on. When the hell is Michael Myers going to retire? The alien that was chasing after Sigourney Weaver through dark corridors across rickety steal platforms finally gave up because she kept winning. Why don’t Michael and his writers get the same clue? At the alien gave up and started going after the predator.

Although I’m a Star Trek fan, the same could be said for the crew of the Starship Enterprise. I don’t think there is any place left for them to boldly go that we haven’t already boldly seen and gone to.

How about these ongoing Big Mama movies? Are these just an attempt to try and be creative? No. It is more of an attempt to appeal to a more juvenile audience and get cheap laughs and thrills, shocking moments of disgust, and bad acting. Martin, you can do much better than this. In fact, you have before.

The television industry has done nothing but flood the airwaves with viewing that has no intellectual aspects to it whatsoever. None of it requires any thought; it consists of “chick fights,” bad singing, and a whole hell of a lot of people who are just getting on television just to be able to say they were on it. Contrary to what people may think, these shows are not spontaneous by any right. Every TV network has to have control over its programming, so if these things were spontaneous then they would not know what to expect from one episode to the next.

Chuck Barris was known as the innovator of schlock television back in the late 60’s and all the way through the 70’s decades. His brainchildren were “The Newlywed Game,” “The Dating Game,” and “The Gong Show” to name a few. Those were here among his most popular. He was cited as the reason for “degradation of mid-western civilization.” The stuff he did pales in comparison to what’s on the air now.

We cannot expect our IQs to be high or our children to be literate when we are not even interested in watching better quality programming. Let’s not grow even lazier minded than we already have. If we stop watching it, they will have to stop airing it right? I think that makes sense.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr: A Call For Unity

2011-04-24T17:00:00.000-07:00

By Bryan Cain-Jackson

Jailed in Alabama, the Reverend wrote his clergy, "A Call for Unity."

For those of you who know me, you are probably asking: How can he remember the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.? He hadn’t even been born yet.

You’re right, I was born 14 and a half years after he was assassinated. So, all I have to go from is the teachings and readings that reflect how history remembers a great man who was a hero to many. He is also a hero to me.

There are days where I wish that as a young black man I could walk up to him, shake his hand, and tell him that “I understand.” There are two sharp edges to this sword. The first is that I would have lived through one of the worst periods of the oppression of my people. The second is that I would have lived the painful day where we lost one of our greatest voices. Therefore, I go back and forth on this. However, I feel I shouldn’t because if I did live that painful day, then I will have survived. I would have overcome. That too would have passed.

This month marks 43 years since the great Reverend was taken from us. Though quite a significant amount of time has passed, his words and his voice send ripples through to today. He carries a message that still applies to us all. Although we may have an African-American in office, we still have a ways to go before we can carry out his dreams.

Every day members of all races work and live together in perfect harmony in most places. However, there are still those areas of the country where racism is very much alive and rampant.

This month also marks the 48th anniversary to that great call for unity that the Reverend wrote from his Alabama jail cell. He was arrested for participating in the march against segregation.

In his memory, all of us and not just African-American people should carry along the message and the belief of the dream that he had for us. Remember, that it was a call for unity which means that we should all live together for God as brothers and sisters with no racial barriers.

Would Reverend King be proud today? Have we achieved his dream even a little bit?

Yes, but he would still say that we have a long way to go. That is because we do. Nothing will ever be perfect and I believe the Reverend recognized that. We as a race of beings, the human race, are on a struggle to better ourselves. It is that which defines our mortality. We will never be perfect, but it is that that eternal struggle that adds meaning to our lives. Never get comfortable, only be content, there is always more to achieve. Live to better ourselves and each other through love and through respect. No matter what color we may be, we still bleed red, we still love, and we still believe that there is good in the hearts of us all. I believe optimism makes sense to many, unfortunately, not to us all.

We honor your memory

Happy Easter Everyone!

2011-04-24T13:33:00.000-07:00

By Bryan Cain-Jackson

A beautiful image from http://www.turnbacktogod.com/

For those of us who celebrate Easter, it is a joyous day. One filled with the gleeful laughter of children as they hunt for Easter eggs and have their pictures taken with the Easter bunny. Some children are being baptized as their respective religion may require of them, others might even be having their first communion. Easter Sunday Church service is a staple for many of us every year.

So many great things are supposed to be happening right now. By the end of the day, families will have gathered around the day multiple times for good food, wine, the sharing of memories, the laughter and the celebrating of a holiday that is important in the hearts of people all over.

This is not just the day of spending money to get together for what some may call a grueling gathering of family, neighbors, and etc. It is just a day to rejoice in the togetherness that is family and friendship. Kids should be growing up and remembering Easter Sunday every year not just for the candy, but as it being one of those days every year where family celebrated the day and each other. However, let us not forget that this is the celebration of Jesus Christ.

Grudges should be let go of, anger should be subsided, and bonds should be mended. If the love is truly there then nothing should stand in the way of that.

Each day is not promised to us. Therefore, we should show that love for our family and friends not just today or on holidays, but each and every day because we may never get another chance. Think about it, folks… This makes sense, doesn’t it?

Happy Easter to All!!!

Remembering Sidney Lumet

2011-04-24T09:00:00.000-07:00

By Bryan Cain-Jackson

A master hard at work

We all know who Al Pacino is. He is one of the greatest actors of our time. It has been said that an actor can only be as great as the script that has been written or the director that directs. Of course this is only an opinion and not a firm standard, although there is evidence to support the theory. Two of Pacino’s finest films were in the first decade of his career on the screen. The first was immediately following the success of “The Godfather,” it was the film of a true story called “Serpico.” The next was later in the same decade and amongst the best films ever made, “Dog Day Afternoon.”

What do these two films share in common besides the fact they display Pacino at his finest?

They were directed by one of the greatest filmmakers to every grace the medium.

That man was Sidney Lumet who left us this month at the age of 86. When I say that this man was one of the greatest that ever graced the medium, I truly mean that he was amongst the greatest. “Dog Day Afternoon” was the first film from Lumet that I had ever seen. It left from the indelible impression on me. From that point on, I wanted to make films. I wanted to work with the master, and I had to watch everything he ever made.

Al Pacino in a memorable scene in "Dog Day Afternoon"

Most directors are but mere directors. There are few particularly in this modern era of films that are more than directors, there are few that have achieved the label as a true filmmakers. To add to that, most pictures that are made these days are not even made with enough quality to me considered a film, they are merely movies.

Sydney Lumet was a filmmaker in every sense of the word. The quality that was on the screen, the performances that he was able to get from his actors, and the finest casts that he worked with in all of his films.

Having worked with some of the finest actors in Hollywood, Lumet turned most of these performances that would have been otherwise run of the mill performances. It took the Lumet style to make these the “one of a kind” performances that would be remembered for generations.

Lumet’s most recent film was the crime thriller “When the Devil Knows you’re Dead.” The cast was led by Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, and Marissa Tomei. With the exception of Hoffman, no one else in the cast is typically as masterful but under the direction of Lumet’s rigorous rehearsals everyone’s performance was ingenious.

Precious few filmmakers have more than one masterpiece to their credit; Lumet was one of them. His first film back in 1957 was “12 Angry Men.” This focused on what happens when there are 12 jurors held up in the grand jury room because of the one person that decides that he wants to disagree and take the moral high ground rather than make a decision just to hurry up and get to a baseball game.

Another phenomenal film that Lumet brought to the screen was in 1976. It spawned that famous saying: “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore!”

That film was “Network” and it focused on the television industry bastardization of the news industry. No longer was it to be about truth, it was only to be a profit center. Lumet directed a performance so masterfully delivered by actor Peter Finch, that he became the first man to win an Oscar for Best Actor posthumously. The cast consisted of fine performances from William Holden, Robert Duvall, Faye Dunaway, and Ned Beatty.

Peter Finch in the legendary "mad as hell" scene

Lumet didn’t make films to make money, he made them to entertain and enlighten audiences. Every single one of his film had the highest in entertainment values and at the same time challenged the thoughts of anyone who watched. The films of Lumet possessed performances that hit emotional heights that other some other could only dream of doing. When Sidney Lumet died, a part of film died with him. To know and believe that there will be a legion of imitators without a doubt makes sense.

Protecting your child's innocence

2011-04-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Bryan Cain-Jackson

Times have changed a lot since I was a kid. The sad part is that since I’m not that old being a kid wasn’t that long ago. It sure feels like it sometimes though. There are times when I miss being a kid.

Ah, to be a kid. When our only worries were getting up and going to school, getting the grades, eating foods we didn’t always like, getting the homework done, and playing outside until the street light came on. Are you with me? Those were the days.

What were some of the things that we watched on TV? I won’t even begin to speculate because I’m hoping that there are a wide variety of age groups reading this blog.

One of the best things that we see in children is their sense of innocence. Whether they are ours or someone else’s to see that innocence is precious, and that is what makes them at times more fun to be around then other adults. I have a little sister who is 9, and she means the world to me. I wouldn’t trade her for anything or anyone in the world. She is just so pure and so innocent. When you see that innocence in a child it makes you want to do everything that you can to protect it from some of the horrors that this world has in it.

As parents one of the many ways that you can do that is by monitoring what they watch on TV.

The things that a child is subjected to can strip away from that innocence factor. Many children mimic the things that they see on TV. However, not every child is always this impressionable.

As a child, I was afraid to try and re-enact violence. The only thing I tried to do at the age of 5 or 6 was the lean forward from Michael Jackson’s Smooth Criminal. Of course, I learned not to do the things I saw on TV when I fell flat on my face and busted my lip.

We live in a time where sex and violence sells. Unfortunately, most of the things that are on TV have some form of suggestive innuendo that is not child appropriate. However, those same programs are highly marketed towards children.

Today the cases of shootings are no longer just taking place on college and high school campuses, now they are taking place in elementary schools as well. Kids are no longer waiting until they are teenagers to engage in sexual situations, they are starting as early as 7 years of age as documented in recent news reports.

The reason I am doing this blog is not because I am a concerned parent since I have no kids. I am doing this because two very good friends of mine responded to my post entitled “Lessons from TV’s Past” on Facebook. It was about the fact that TV shows used to have a point, and now they don’t so much anymore. The shows mentioned in that post also had valuable messages that can be instilled in anyone at any age who watched them. These two ladies who happen to be great moms responded to how concerned they are with the viewing choices for their kids.

It seems that most of the shows out there that are deemed suitable for children aren’t so child friendly as they may appear. I have talked to a few parents concerning what their children watch and hear on the radio.

It was a split decision. 50% of the parents say that they monitored what their children watched and listened to. The other 50% of the parents chose the “keeping it real” mentality with their children. This means they will not shield their children from the “rougher” aspects of life, TV, and music.

So, for the parents that monitored their children’s access t TV and music… What were the majority choices?

1. Sesame Street – A timeless classic that will always provide a fantastic balance between education and fun.

2. Dora the Explorer – My sister loved Dora in her younger years. Dora also speaks fluent Spanish.

3. Discovery Channel, nature, education, and health shows – I was quite surprised to find out that parents were open to letting their children watch elements of nature which can feature violence. The health surgeries that take place are extremely graphic. When asked to address this topic, the parents say it is better for the child to be exposed to the reality of what’s happening in the world.

Is this a modern way of thinking? No, it’s simply the parent’s prerogative.

I am a firm believer that a child’s sense of innocence should be preserved at all costs. A loss of that innocence can mean they are growing up far too early. A child should still be allowed to be a child. Is it okay to base the TV viewing off of how the child acts? Or is the TV viewing the basis for how the child acts?

Which makes sense to you?

Share your thoughts, parents.

Time to check your money!

2011-04-20T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Bryan Cain-Jackson

I can’t even remember what it’s like to just pull out a $20 bill to pay for something. Every time you pay for something its swipe, swipe, swipe, and then swipe some more. Before you know it, the weekend is over and you realize on Monday morning that you've been too generous at the lounge with your friends.

At that point, you say to yourself: “Darn, if only I hadn't bought that last round of drinks for all of my buds!!!”

We've all been there. For some people, they can afford it, for most of us… Let’s face it; we have to make the rent.

What if every time you swiped that card you were costing your bartender money? What if every time you swiped that card you were earning that bank you may hate to bank with hundreds of thousands of dollars every year?

Well, folks… It’s not a “what if,” it’s a reality. Every time you use your debit card and select credit instead of debit, you are costing that business a minimum of 1% of your total purchases where ever you go. This either causes the businesses you like to shop at to drive up their prices or go out of business. That 1% percent goes to the bank you have your debit card with.

In case you have not been watching or reading the news on this subject, I feel inclined to let you know that this may all change soon.

The Feds are trying to stop the greed in the big banking business. Instead of being able to charge 1% per transaction to businesses every time you use your debit card, that may change to 12 cents per transaction. That is a huge difference for the big banks. This means that it will actually cost banks more to issue you debit cards than the amount of money they earn from your using it. Now you know why banks always pressure you to have a debit card whether you want one or not. Many large banks will even give you incentive to use it!

Times are changing, and this means that the way you bank will change as well. Some banks are going to continue to offer you incentive to use the debit card while others will discontinue their debit cards rewards programs.

There is an enormous expense in issuing and maintaining customer debit cards. If the new law goes into effect, banks will lose money on their debit cards which means you will lose the convenience factor. There are banks that are even considering limiting debit card purchases to $100 per day, others are considering charging you to use them. If this happens, then you will only have the following choices:

1. Go to the ATM and keep cash in your wallet which will be dangerous. Unlike debit cards, cash cannot be reported stolen.

2. Write checks. Go ahead… be that person in the front of the grocery line that everyone hates. In addition to that, if your checks are stolen or duplicated then you are at serious risk of being a victim of identity theft.

3. Use your credit card. This can actually benefit the banks and hurt you. If you max out your credit cards, the banks earn interest unless you pay off your balance in full every month. (Less than 1/3 of credit card borrowers pay off their balances in full at the end of the month.) Adding further harm will be the fact that maxing out your credit cards will have a negative impact on your credit scores.

Well, folks… After reading this it seems like you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t, right? Well here are a few pointers that I will share with you to cheat the system and not lose your convenience factor or harm your credit scores.

1. Carrying cash in a bad economy is not a good thing. These days you seriously run the risk of being pick pocketed or mugged.

2. Don’t write checks. You don’t want to be that person that holds up the line in a store. I really hate that. Not to mention since the checks have your bank account, name and address on them this means there is more information on there for a person looking to take your identity.

3. You can use your credit card. However, do not use the credit card for more than the amount that you have in cash or in your bank account. This means that you can make payments on it continuously so that you’re not letting the balance get out of control. Remember, you should never have a balance on your credit card for more than 1/3 of the total credit limit on there to maintain a good credit score.

Example: Credit card limit is $300; your balance should never be more than $100 from one month to the next. This way, it doesn’t look bad on your credit report. Someone who is maxing out their credit cards every month looks risky because it looks like they’re living off of their credit cards. Banks and lenders do not like the looks of this. I know you all want to buy a house and some nice cars in your lifetime, so take this advice seriously as it does affect you and your families.

4. The last option (my least favorite) is that you have is to go out and find a prepaid debit card. It is expected that as banks become stricter and less convenient that many people will choose this option. Just be sure to shop very carefully for a prepaid debit card. Many prepaid debit card companies charge for everything such as checking your balance, reloading, making purchases, calling customer service, and many other things that you should not be paying for. Do not allow yourself to be taken advantage of. Make sure you are getting a prepaid debit card that has minimal charges. If you get direct deposit from your job, there should be no reason why you are paying a monthly fee. You don’t have to take that non-sense.

Again folks, times are changing in an ever stressed economy. Become financially aware, and again do not allow yourself to be taken advantage of. Many of us live for today when we need to think about tomorrow in every way, especially financially speaking because it makes sense.

Lessons from TV's Past

2011-04-19T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Bryan Cain-Jackson

Do you remember the time when TV and the shows that were on it had a point? No? It seems as though it has been so long ago that it’s hard to even imagine that TV had a point at one time. Well yes indeed it did.

We are in a time where we are so desensitized to what is on TV that if it doesn’t show a lot that it seems dull, bland, and uninteresting. That is not always true. Sure, it might be something that is cheaply made which is why it cannot be more extravagant. Then there is that old fashioned mentality that existed once called “less is better.” Whatever happened to that?

I had to pick and choose very carefully as to what I would use to illustrate my point that TV had a point once. I wanted to pick two shows that are memorable and that everyone would be familiar with, you don’t have to have watched these to know what they are.

The first show that I have chosen was a hit show with kids and adults alike. It is still a hit in reruns; it will continue to be for generations to come. As times continue to change, it will serve as a window to a time long since passed.

“Bewitched,” starring Elizabeth Montgomery was a show about a marriage between a witch and a human being. Montgomery played Samantha Stephens, a witch who was all powerful with parents that were as theatrical as Shakespeare in the park. Samantha, being an all powerful woman in a time where women were subservient to their husbands was not a married woman nor was she seeking that. She met and fell in love with a young, hot shot advertising executive named Darrin Stephens (played by Dick York in seasons 1-5, and Dick Sargent in seasons 6-8.) They fell head over heels in love and got married.

Darrin was constantly the subject of ridicule from Samantha’s parents, he was turned into a werewolf, a guppy, his ears were enlarged, he was given a high pitch voice, shrunk to the size of an ant, threatened to be turned into a 170 lb artichoke, and many other things over the course of the show’s run.

Many people, especially those of us today chop this off as silly, cheesy, and pointless writing. This was not truly the case for “Bewitched.” When at its creative peak in the first three seasons of the show, it was meant to be a metaphor for mixed marriage.

Remember, “Bewitched” was not made at a time when the mixing of the races and any other racial references could be made on TV. Therefore, instead of doing a show about a white man marrying black woman they made the different races be a mortal and a witch. Samantha’s family and friends were made of witches and warlocks (males and female witches) that always expressed a sincere regret and dismay with Samantha’s decision to engage in what they referred to as a “mixed marriage.”

So, the next time you watch “Bewitched” you will see that it is actually about a lot more than you ever gave it credit for. That is of course unless you already knew that.

The second show that I chose is a worldwide phenomenon that has spawned half a dozen TV series’ and nearly a dozen movies and is a cult hit.

“Star Trek” was unique in the fact that it was the first to achieve many things. It was the first multi-racial cast on television, and it was the first show on television to feature an interracial kiss. To many, this is just a “boring” science fiction show about spaceships and aliens. This could not be further from the truth. When at its creative peak, this show talked about things going on in our everyday life that were not allowed to be discussed on TV at the time.

Science Fiction often used fantasy to mask out the reality in the topics that it focused on. The reason it had to be masked is because strict censorship of TV at the time did not allow various social and political taboos to be discussed or depicted on TV at the time.

“Star Trek” focused on race, war, poverty, religion, and civil rights during a time where all of these topics were in the news of our country every day. It was discovered by many at the time that Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. found this to be an exciting program that he showed his children every week. He wanted them to see that in the future his dreams would come true, that there would have been answer to his call for unity.

We have lost site of the importance of what TV can do to stimulate the intellect of its viewers. Also, it can be said that TV’s viewers have gotten lazy minded and no longer want to think. They would rather be entertained at the site of someone’s humiliation on “Jerry Springer.” Or they can always turn on “American Idol” to tune into someone with little to no talent at all humiliate themselves on national TV just to say they were on it.

Reality TV is the thorn in my side and consists of 99% total smut. It is like the dirt underneath one’s fingernails and we just tune into it. It is nothing but mind numbing, puerile entertainment with no intellectual value whatsoever. In fact, I think it dumbs us down each time we tune into it.

I think if TV were to revisit its roots with a few modern updates, it could be something once again makes sense.

Share your thoughts.

Is Religion Allowed to be Mocked?

2011-04-18T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Bryan Cain-Jackson

Does it not always seem like we the “almighty” U.S. of A are fighting someone? There are all kinds of theories on why we’re doing it too. This could get into a debate as to why we are truly in other countries either fighting wars, providing air, or even both. I do not need to mention that we cannot even arrange for ourselves let alone other countries.

It was once said in a more patriotic day, that we the United States of America is the moral center of the world. Really? Seriously? I beg to differ. I think we might have self-labeled ourselves incorrectly. However, I will say that we do have the greatest potential to better ourselves. It should be noted that we still have a long way to go.

The self-labeling of being the moral center is a valid explanation why we don’t let anyone else in the world fight their own fights. Then again, as I have said before, this could be one of many possibilities. I’m not even sure the people who make these decisions always know why.

I do believe that many of these wars are fought to help promote freedom to countries that do not have it the way we do here in the U.S. There are broad social, cultural, and religious differences between our country and that of others; Religion being the most radical of those differences

Here in the U.S. it almost seems like we let our own primary religions to be mocked and disrespected. Many times we are the main contributors to that disrespect through parody or disbelief. This is proof that we are a free country in many respects. The insolence of religious beliefs is a sin punishable by death in some parts of the world. In this country it just gets shrugged off.

If someone were to burn the Holy Bible in this country, nothing would happen. Our own government would not consider this offensive. It definitely would not call for the military to become involved. However, we will get involved if the burning of divine scripture takes place in another land outside of our own. Why do we protect other religions apart from our own? Are our beliefs not sacred to those who practice what they preach? I’m not saying that we should go to war every time Seth McFarlane writes a Jesus, Mormon, or Jehovah’s Witness joke on Family Guy. I just think that we should treat our own beliefs as respectfully as we treat those of others.

I am respectful of all religions and the various cultures that practice them. It is not our fight nor is it our faith with which to concern ourselves. We should first define ourselves as a religious people before fighting for religions in other countries.

How can we observe something that we do not even think should be observed in schools, national anthems, or even in retail celebrated holidays? This is truly backwards.

It is my opinion that much of the battle that we tend to concern ourselves with stems from the fact that other countries are not living the way that we live here. Our government categorizes it as not right. The religious freedoms, freedom of speech, and the choice of mates are all things that we have here. We take these freedoms for granted.

There are many politicians in our country that believe that we are fighting to give these freedoms to those who do not live in what are classified as a free country. I firmly believe that it is not our job to fight a war that is not our own.

This can be something to be considered when we have done the following:

1. Stabilized our economy

2. Restored the confidence of its citizens in our government

3. Restored any grandeur to the sense of patriotism that this country might have once had

Perhaps at this point, it will make better sense.

Share your thoughts.

Obama: Hope or Hype?

2011-04-05T07:30:00.000-07:00

By Bryan Cain-Jackson

In January 1968, Senator and Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy spoke in his belief that our country would evolve to elect its first black President in 40 years.

Kennedy was not too far off in his estimation of time. For at the end of 2008, Barack Obama was elected the new leader of the free world.

All the time leading up to this event saw people in excitement. Obama said it was time for a change. Not only would there be a change in our leader, but a difference in the way leadership at the top was exercising thought. Obama and his administration were bent upon thinking outside the box, something this country has been in dire need of for quite some time.

We were promised many changes. The greatest promise was to finally see an end come to the United States presence in the Middle East. This of course has yet to happen since we seem to see that presence increase in some ways.

Was it really these promises that had America so hyped about our new leader? Did we get so caught up in the novelty of finally having diversity in The White House that we forgot to examine the intellectual prowess of the man in question?

I believe it is a yes answer to both of these questions, however, we lucked out. Not only did we get an intelligent President, he can use big words and speaks clearly and concisely.

President Obama has established his strength in addressing the nation. He has spoken too bluntly for some and not bluntly enough for others. Has he made blunders and broken promises? Of course, what President hasn’t? We need only look back at the last decade where we witnessed one man’s endless pursuit of oil. How about the President Nixon scandal at Watergate? Looking back a little further sees President John F. Kennedy and his infamous decisions that led to the Bay of Pigs. The point to be taken here is that no administration is free of its blunders. Why? Need we remind ourselves that no one is perfect?

The current administration has delivered on its promises for changes. Think about it. We’ve seen more thinking outside the box in the last three years than we have in the last four presidential administrations. Of course there is not so much flexibility in all thoughts presented to the House of Representatives. This is where some of those promises for change may never meet the light of day.

The reasons I believe many of these ideas have failed is because of the criticism from the opposing parties. If the public is showered with negative thoughts on an idea for a potential change it will obviously create a media upheaval. The media will be all over the thoughts and opinions of the Republicans, The GOP, and now the Tea Party. These opinions create a stir amongst “Joe and Joanne Voter.” People become frightened into seeing only the negative in the situation and not the positive.

We must all learn to think and speak with our own voices. Stop being followers. Who gives a damn about the Democrats, the Republicans, the GOP, and the Tea Party. Partisan politics are only working to further divide this country, it should be about independence. We vote to have a voice, but we don’t use it because we are too busy listening to everyone else’s. Since we’re doing that, why not listen to me? *Laughs* Just kidding!

Seriously, my friends, I firmly believe we should be looking at the glass half full rather than half empty. We have a leader that is not afraid to get his hands dirty in the mess that he has inherited in the form of our nation’s economy. That mess is due to ever growing greed and overspending on conflicts in other countries that prove almost as senseless as the Vietnam War.

We like our leaders, are a nation that is still learning from its mistakes. President Barack Obama represents equally both the hype and the hope. We are given to the hype courtesy of the media, and his thinking gives us some hope that maybe this is indeed the beginning of change. To embrace our President for the intentions of his efforts rather than to criticize him for undesired results will always make sense.

What do you think? Let’s see you post your thoughts.

I would like to acknowledge E. Dubb for his special contributions to makingSENSE. You’re the man!