I can't know if it is cultural blindness or not but I think our founding documents,  the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, are some of the greatest pieces of inspirational writing in history.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

I'll be the first to admit that America hasn't always lived up to it's amazing credo, but that credo is one that I believe in - with all my heart - for all peoples.  There are people in Zimbabwe, right now, who are being denied these very simple freedoms; denied the right to make their own choices.

But we are freer than we know.

When it comes down to it, we all have the ability to make choices about how we want to live our lives, about what kind of people we want to be.

If you live in a dictator-run, poverty stricken, third-world country, you may think you don't have any freedom or choice.  But you do.  The choice is yours to succumb to mob mentality, with a machine gun in your hands.  The choice is yours to terrorize your fellow citizens.  The choice is yours to financially scalp your neighbors.

When you could die at any moment for making the 'right' choice, making the right choice becomes the most incredible, beautiful act of bravery.  It's easy to live in a place like America and the 'do the right thing'.  But when someone does the right thing, knowing they could be shot down in the street?

My god, that's heroic.

To everyone, in America and the world, remember; we are not finished.  The Declaration of Independence was not the end-product of humanity's search for freedom and self-determination.  It is merely a guide for anyone searching to free themselves.

Step away from the machine of how it has always been done.  Don't let your fears get in the way of the person you were meant to be.  Don't fear death;, fear that you did not live your last breath authentically.  Our work is not over, my friends.  Not here or abroad.  Cherish whatever choices you do have the freedom to make and make them with gusto.

Not one can control you unless you let them.

I wish you all independence.

]]> http://electjeff.wordpress.com/?p=217 Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:27:21 +0000 Jeff Lloyd http://electjeff.wordpress.com/?p=217

Despite all the redneck, "Amurrica" non-sense, I just want to wish everyone a happy Independence Day. So welcome to earf, enjoy a BBQ and sing Charlie's America Song.

Não, eu não estou ficando louco (rs). Vocês nem deixaram eu molhar o bico. Hoje é o Independence Day. Ou seja, o dia em que o Estados Unidos comemora o dia da sua independência. Agora, vocês devem estar se perguntando: "E o que que nós temos a ver com isso?". E eu concordo com vocês até certo ponto. Por quê "(...) até certo ponto."? Porque hoje é o dia em que, todos os povos, deveriam comemorar a independência da humanidade. Como assim? Irei a usar as palavras do próprio Cris Dias (um dos maiores blogueiros brasileiros) para explicar isso:

Feliz 4 de julho, quando comemoramos o fato de que alienígenas invasores não usam antivirus.

Continuam não entendendo nada? Porra, vocês viveram numa bolha por quanto tempo? As palavras do Cris Dias (e as minhas) fazem referência ao filme Independence Day, ou, simplesmente, ID4. Segue o trailer do filme:

"Hoje nós (o mundo inteiro) celebramos o dia da nossa independência!". É nesta hora que todos os soldados (que darão sua vida em prol da humanidade) gritam eufóricos e correm para os seus caças. Fala sério, né? Uma coisa que ninguém pode negar é que, os americanos, realmente, sabem vender a sua imagem. Basta saber se vocês são idiotas o suficiente para comprá-la (rs).

O filme inteiro é recheado de americanismos. Mas ele consegue completar seu objetivo: entreter. Não posso, e nem quero, dizer que é um excelente filme. Porém, tenho que admitir que ele tem seus méritos. Além do mais: "Como um filme, que quebrou recordes de bilheteria, pode ser tão ruim assim?".

Se existem mais filmes que falam (ou mencionam) o Independence Day? Bom, vamos a lista:

• Duro de Matar 4.0
• Nascido em 4 de Julho
• Patriota, O

Observação: Infelizmente, só consegui lembrar destes três filmes.

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หมดไป $44.94 จนเรยย

________

Despite being panned by critics, audiences flocked to see Roland Emmerich's newest opus, 10,000 BC, and I think I know why.

In 1996, Emmerich directed one of the finest action movies of all-time, Independence Day. More than just a movie, this film was a prognosticator of the future.

If only we had been listening.

Three different, very clear messages were placed in this movie. The first, seen here, is taken from the moment when Jeff Goldblum's character explains to the President the idea of "line-of-sight" and how satellites work.

Notice the drawing that Goldblum does, look familiar? Maybe that's because it looks awfully congruent to THIS!

Eerily similar no?
Now a random image in a movie is one thing, merely coincidence, but only moments later, after convincing the President that the time to leave is now, Goldblum and Pullman exit with others onboard Marine One. As they take off, Goldblum pulls out his handy mid-90's Mac Powerbook and looks at the countdown timer...

Now its starting to get a little bit more real, you're starting to feel that tingle up your spine...

Let's not forget what these "aliens" do in this movie. With a carefully orchestrated attack, the aliens destroy the Capitol Records building, the Empire State Building and the White House instantly and simultaneously.

It is only when all of the world joins together, putting aside its squabbles, putting aside religious and cultural differences to fight a common enemy that there is success. Goldblum and Will Smith ride deep into space and into the alien mothership armed with a nuclear bomb. They set it off and it causes the protective shields to come down off the ships floating around Earth. Earth responds with attacks, Randy Quaid saves the day, flies his F-15 into the most vulnerable part of the alien ship and destroys it almost instantly. But it doesn't just blow up, Roland Emmerich, that mad German throws one last message out there for those who know how to hear (see) it.

Who saves the world from aliens?

Of course! How could America (and the rest of the dirty world) defeat aliens? Because of Jesus (or Burning Man...)! It only makes sense, just ask the Mormons.

So what conclusions can we take from these messages?

1. The Masons are involved in nefarious things, don't believe me? Look here and here.
2. Roland Emmerich was able to predict exactly the date that a building would be destroyed by people alien to America.
3. If the President had listened in time, disaster could have been, if not completely avoided at least mitigated.
4. Jeff Goldblum always knows the right answers.
5. America can only be saved from aliens by Jesus
6. The answer to the immigration issue is Jesus

So, these images, none of which have been doctored or photoshopped in any manner prove conclusively that Independence Day warned us, in advance that the Masons were going to be involved in something that would destroy a building. Not only that, but the movie tells us the exact date. The movie showed us the dangers in having a president not listen to those who know. But did President Bush listen? When Jeff Goldblum arrives out of nowhere to warn his President, that president listens, and many--well...some--lives are saved. Ultimately though, the whole world is saved, because one man was able to convince the most powerful, and because the powerful were willing to listen. We didn't understand the message that Emmerich was presenting us in 1996. But it is not too late now!

The Day After Tomorrow showed us the effects that global warming will have upon us, and particularly New York City, are we heeding the message?

Independence Day warns us about the Masons, warns us about 9/11 and warns us continually about the dangers of aliens to America. These aliens expose their plan to Bill Pullman who realizes that "they're like locusts. They travel from planet to planet, their whole civilization. After they've consumed every natural resource they move on. And we're next." Sounds awfully familiar to the refrains of alien workers draining resources from the government and stealing those awesome avocado picking jobs that everyone wants so badly.

In this election season there is no doubt that not only should you see 10,000 BC, but if you care about America and the world, that you need to see this film. Take your kids, your friends, your parents, anyone whom you want to live.

This might be the most important film in the history of the world.

You've heard of Cinéma Verité...If only our leaders will listen to the modern day Nostradamus, Roland Emmerich.

   First, “iiiiiiiiiiiitttt’ss true!” SKUNK BOY returns!  The best host of E!’s “Talk Soup” EVER (take that Kinnear, Sparks, and other sad replacements) , John Henson, (no not the dead one) has taken time off from his stint on the TV Guide channel to cohost ABC’s Wipeout which is a rip off of Spike’s MXC import of a Japanese game show.  Do you need a subtle insult so dryly delivered it may as well be a British martini?  John’s your man.  His co-host’s name is also John and that can only be so that he can act as a mirror for our dear Mr. Henson.  Some people may have a hard time remembering the name John and so it’s better to drive it home with two of them.

   Next up is a summer movie summary.  Is anyone else creeped out about going to see The Dark Knight?  Something about a dead actor playing a psychopath… shiver.  Hulk was watchable, and better than the Ang Lee take… Iron Man flat out rocked.  One of the things I’ve noticed though is that I wish they would just make superhero movie sequels.  You have to spend so much time establishing the characters in the first one that the action suffers.  For this reason I’m really looking forward to Hellboy II.  We already know their origins, now let’s get out there and kick some freaky looking monsters tentacle.  Wall-E gets my “Best movie ever” claim for the season.  I’ve not seen it yet but I’m sure I’m right.

  Also on the movie front Brendan Frasier, who had thankfully dropped off the planet, has dropped back into the Center of it (hah!) with two movies.  Journey to the Center of the Earth (in 3-D no less and you know how successful those movies are) and a sequel to the Mummy so good they aren’t even showing commercials for it.  It’s kind of indie that way… you don’t want too many people to enjoy it otherwise that would mean you couldn’t laud your coolness over them.  Wait, I think I channeled Sundance there, sorry.

  Oh and speaking of bad I predict Hancock will fail.  It will fail to the tune of over $100 million because it’s Will Smith in a 4^th of July movie, but it will not be good… Rush Hour levels of 3 bad.  (If any of you are even thinking Smith’s other July 4^th release in ID4 wasn’t that good you can shut your filthy mental mouth right now!  I will not have such heresy floating about the Karmic continuum.  President Whitmore’s pre-battle speech oozes so much goodness I’ve not had to use syrup on my pancakes since 1998.)

   In somber news our condo had an assessment to the tune of 120K.  As we’re a small building my share hits the 6K mark.  It sucks because as the President I did it to myself.  Not only that but I increased it 20K from our initial estimate.  (I’m such an ass.)  Now of course it was unanimously supported by our Board of Trustees, which I’m also on, but when Shiite hits the fan you need a figure head and here I stand at the top of the mountain.  Better yet I need a patsy.  Hrmm, maybe one of the people who own a unit but don’t live on site… like Xian (sean), he’s Chinese and no good red blooded American likes them right?  Or do we?  Are we waiting for the Olympics to determine our opinion?

   Lastly, as I always do in these messages, I’d like to end discussing puppets.  They bring me joy and like a kitten with butterfly wings they must just be the solution to all our problems.  This time they take the form of Avenue Q.  Sesame Street for adults.  One of the characters is Gary Coleman.  Not literally, but yes literally.  The super(intendant) of the block is supposed to be Gary Coleman, former child star, all grown up.  I think the fact that Gary Colman is played by a 5’9 black woman really hammers home the insult of broken dreams in considering he’s still 4’-nuttin’.

   When Taj and I saw Rent in college we said “Brilliant! I have no grounds on which to relate to starving artists and the Aids epidemic affecting our gay community!”  For Ave Q it’s “Brilliant!  Puppets are mocking my own life so closely that if they weren’t day-glo colors I’d cry!”  I recommend you see it.  SCHADENFREUDE!

Am 232. Jahrestag der Declaration of Independence, des wahrscheinlich bedeutendsten politischen Dokuments aller Zeiten, grillen wir an einem noch festzulegenden Ort in Berlin.

Für weitere Informationen RSVP: lagerfeuer@fdog.org

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Source: Bloody-Disgusting

Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Get more Cloverfield (Untitled JJ Abrams Project) news

I can pretty much guarantee that by us reporting this, it will either be denied or changed - again. We learned exclusively here at Bloody-Disgusting that JJ Abrams' monster movie was in fact going to be titled "Monstrous", but was changed the second it hit the web (man we all gossip way too much!) Now it's our turn to ruin a possible title for the Matt Reeves' helmed giant monster movie, which wrapped last month in Los Angeles and New York... the title just might be..........

The user comments all sum up the feeling that Wreck is the lamest title for this movie. One person "Moonset" remarked that it should be called 1-18-08. Having a number title does set it apart from being different from other movies for example ID4 works much better as a title than Independence Day. Myself, Monstrous was and still a cool title.

The best part of the Transformer movie was the trailer to the later J.J. Abrams project. While its not the new Star Trek film, the new film was called Cloverfield. I heard the name before reading various articles on the new Trek. However, there was no further details. To begin with, the trailer does not mention a title for the new film anywhere; which I think this adds to the mystery.

To start off with, the trailer is shot in a cinema verte style which captures the moment in a a documentary style where the camera is hand held and shaky. Nonetheless, the cinema verte style when done properly grabs the audience and brings them into the action with the "You are there" moments. Battlestar Galactica (BSG) and Arrested Development are two great examples which work best with this style. Whereas, in a feature film, the shots are carefully composed to frame the scene ie, master shots, close up, tracking, panning.

To describe the Cloverfield trailer would be served by this description, Blair Witch meets ID4. Blair Witch is shot in the cinema verte style with an awe inspiring ID4 scene where a huge fireball is coming down the New York avenue and lifting cars off the ground in its wake. Cloverfield worked brilliantly to quickly put us in a situation and draws into the movie when the lights go out in the scene. I will say nothing more except to say that I recently had a nightmare where really big monsters like Godzilla were and real I was terrified. This was my nightmare brought to life on the big screen.

Look at the trailer and give me your thoughts. Side note, Cloverfield is the street J.J. Abrams works on. Also, the movie is NOW called Monstrous coming out 1/18/08. I can't wait to see this J.J. project but please God, don't let this be giant Polar bear like on Lost.  

Best line ever - "I thought this was a party. Lets dance." Yes Kevin Bacon - lets dance.

Here are 10 movies that would have been so much better if Kevin Bacon was given one of the starting roles.

10 - Shrek - Shrek

I know its computer animation. But Kevin Bacon is so talented - screw Mike Meyers. He is a nobody. Kevin Bacon is a somebody. Honestly, would there be anything sexier if Kevin Bacon was a green ogre. I know If I were a princess my ass would be his.

9 - Jesus - Passion of the Christ

Jesus: He was a cool cat. 5 Coolest people ever. Jesus, Dean Martin, the bad guy from Tron, my mom and Kevin Bacon.

Thats why Kevin Bacon should have played Jesus in the Passion. Because it was his destiny.

8 - Capitan Steve Hiller - Independence Day

This is a simple one for so many persons. Kevin Bacon can play as a black man, thats the easy part. Kevin Bacon is also certified to fight aliens in fighter plains (I have a pie chart that proves it). If I were an alien, I would let Kevin Bacon punch me multiple times and they say "Welcome to Earf."

7 - T-Rex - Jurassic Park

This part would just prove to the world how versatile Kevin Bacon truly is. Any actor can play a serial killer, an evil mastermind, or any Will Ferrell part. But only a true genius with superior acting skills can play a dinosaur. Who is that true genius you ask? The one and only Kevin Bacon.

6 - Agent Smith - Matrix Revolutions.

This is why I believe in cloning and why Matrix Revolutions was a great movie. At the end of the film there were multiple Agent Smiths - Who was played by Hugo Weaving. I know he may be an elf, but he is a nobody compared to Kevin Bacon. This is why we need. Multiple Kevin Bacons. If Hugo Weaving tried to take over your body and make you him - you'd be pissed. But if Kevin Bacon did it? Why wouldn't you want to be Kevin Bacon. Imagine the possibilities.

5 - Frodo Baggins - Lord of the Rings

Elijah Wood was good - but not GREAT. One thing I noticed when watching footloose, Kevin Bacon not only has great moves, but hairy feet. Couple that with the fact that Kevin Bacon could handle the burden of the ring a lot better. All of Middle Earth rests on a small hobbit from the shire - Frodo "The Bacon" Baggins.

4 - Pick any of the horrible actors - You Got Served!

You just got served!

3 - Luke Skywalker - Star Wars

Luke Skywalker - the last of the Jedi. Kevin Bacon - the last talented actor. Mark Hamill was good for the part, no doubt. But Kevin Bacon in Latin translates to "Jedi". You think I am lying? Wikipedia that shit. Wait, don't. eBay it!

2 - Whoever Julia Roberts character was in Pretty Woman - Pretty Woman

Don't deny it. You have a man crush on Kevin Bacon. What's better than having hot man love with Kevin Bacon? Paying for it!

1 - Jabba the Hut - Star Wars

Sorry to go back to more Star Wars theme. But not only could Kevin Bacon play Luke, but he could also nail down Jabba. At the same time! What's hotter than seeing Princess Leia dancing for Jabba (Kevin Bacon) and then Luke Skywalker (Kevin Bacon) appears as a Bounty Hunter and demands for Princess Leia's freedom. Thats good TV. Hence I proclaim him - Jabba the Bacon

Thats it folks - 10 movies that would have been light years better if they would have just casted Kevin Bacon. I guess we can all dream, just a little.

It is 60 years ago this week since the Roswell Army Air Field released a press statment that said it had recovered a crashed "flying disc" from a ranch near Roswell, New Mexico, a statement quickly retracted a few hours after.

With a 60th Anniversary festival planned for the town reliant on the UFO tourist dollar, the mystery, which has inspired movies, TV shows and documentaries has deepened, with witness testimony shining light about what happend at the old air base just south of the site of the first ever atomic bomb test.

A sworn affidavit from the deceased 1947 Roswell Army Air Field public relations officer.

News.com.au reports the story:

Last week came an astonishing new twist to the Roswell mystery.

Lieutenant Walter Haut was the public relations officer at the base in 1947 and was the man who issued the original and subsequent press releases after the crash on the orders of the base commander, Colonel William Blanchard.

Haut died last year but left a sworn affidavit to be opened only after his death.

Last week, the text was released and asserts that the weather balloon claim was a cover story and that the real object had been recovered by the military and stored in a hangar.

He described seeing not just the craft, but alien bodies.

He wasn't the first Roswell witness to talk about alien bodies.

Local undertaker Glenn Dennis had long claimed that he was contacted by authorities at Roswell shortly after the crash and asked to provide a number of child-sized coffins.

When he arrived at the base, he was apparently told by a nurse (who later disappeared) that a UFO had crashed and that small humanoid extraterrestrials had been recovered.

But Haut is the only one of the original participants to claim to have seen alien bodies.

UFO pieces handed around

Haut's affidavit talks about a high-level meeting he attended with base commander Col William Blanchard and the Commander of the Eighth Army Air Force, General Roger Ramey.

Haut states that at this meeting, pieces of wreckage were handed around for participants to touch, with nobody able to identify the material.

He says the press release was issued because locals were already aware of the crash site, but in fact there had been a second crash site, where more debris from the craft had fallen.

The plan was that an announcement acknowledging the first site, which had been discovered by a farmer, would divert attention from the second and more important location.

The clean-up operation

Haut also spoke about a clean-up operation, where for months afterwards military personnel scoured both crash sites searching for all remaining pieces of debris, removing them and erasing all signs that anything unusual had occurred.

This ties in with claims made by locals that debris collected as souvenirs was seized by the military.

Haut then tells how Colonel Blanchard took him to "Building 84" - one of the hangars at Roswell - and showed him the craft itself.

He describes a metallic egg-shaped object around 3.6m-4.5m in length and around 1.8m wide.

He said he saw no windows, wings, tail, landing gear or any other feature.

Haug 'saw the alien bodies'

He saw two bodies on the floor, partially covered by a tarpaulin.

They are described in his statement as about 1.2m tall, with disproportionately large heads.

Towards the end of the affidavit, Haut concludes: "I am convinced that what I personally observed was some kind of craft and its crew from outer space".

What's particularly interesting about Walter Haut is that in the many interviews he gave before his death, he played down his role and made no such claims.

Had he been seeking publicity, he would surely have spoken about the craft and the bodies.

Did he fear ridicule, or was the affidavit a sort of deathbed confession from someone who had been part of a cover-up, but who had stayed loyal to the end?

The US government came under huge pressure on Roswell in the '90s.

In July 1994, in response to an inquiry from the General Accounting Office, the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force published a report, The Roswell Report: Fact Versus Fiction In The New Mexico Desert.

Weather balloon 'cover story'

The report concluded that the Roswell incident had been attributable to something called Project Mogul, a top secret project using high-altitude balloons to carry sensor equipment into the upper atmosphere, listening forevidence of Soviet nuclear tests.

The statements concerning a crashed weather balloon had been a cover story, they admitted, but not to hide the truth about extraterrestrials.

A second US Air Force report concluded claims bodies were recovered were generated by people having seen crash test dummies that were dropped from the balloons.

Sceptics, of course, will dismiss the testimony left by Haut.

After all, fascinating though it is, it's just a story. There's no proof.

But if nothing else, this latest revelation shows that, 60 years on, this mystery endures.

I have been thinking about the problem for days and it came to a serious head last night when I watched Independence Day, one of my favourite films. I wanted to watch the film and then take in the Special Material including discussions with the director, Roland Emmerich. Usually when I watch movies I am thinking about loads of things, the directing, acting, production design, scripting and most of all the editing. Last night while watching ID4 I couldn’t do it. I wasn’t thinking about camera positions or “I wonder how many takes it took to get that…” When I watched interviews that showed the director directing material that would usually excite me and make me want to direct, I felt nothing.

Becoming quite worried about what seemed to be a serious mental blockage to all creativity regarding film I started considering my options. I started to wonder if directing / producing / editing films was what I wanted to do. How can I do it if the skill has disappeared? I finally got myself together enough to discuss the problem with my brother and according to him, the solution is simple.

It seems that I have been over working my brain. The constant bombardment of studying film and production has left me weary and “running on empty.” My brother told me that what I need, and need badly is to take a break from my indulgence in the study of film and try and recoup some of my energy. He said this problem happens to him and is normal. I have never felt as useless as I have done in the last few days. Thank god my writing skills have not been totally disabled.

Following my brother’s advice I have made the following decision. I am not going to read about, engage in or view any films for study until next Monday. I am attempting a full restart of my brain and its creative properties and hopefully this time next week I will be able to look back on this situation and laugh.

So where am I looking for the part inside that has gone missing? The answer is that I am not looking for it but I believe it will come back to me on its own after I have recharged my batteries a little. I am most interested to hear what my readers think of this and if anyone else has experienced this phenomenon. How did you deal with it?