From The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp on Paul Newman's passing:
The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp is honored to receive tribute gifts in the name of Paul Newman. We will make sure that Mr. Newman's family is aware of your thoughtfulness and caring.
To send your gift by mail, include your name, address and a note designating your gift as a tribute to Paul Newman. Please send your check to:
The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp 555 Long Wharf Drive New Haven, CT 06511
Please join me in remembering a great American and the children with serious illness his vision will forever continue to help. Thank you.
Michael Manning,
Legacy Foundation member, Hole in the Wall Gang Camp
“I wish I could recall with clarity the impulse that compelled me to help bring this camp into being. I’d be pleased if I could announce a motive of lofty purpose. I’ve been accused of compassion, of altruism, of devotion to Christian, Hebrew, and Moslem ethic, but however desperate I am to claim ownership of a high ideal, I cannot. I wanted, I think, to acknowledge Luck; the chance of it, the benevolence of it in my life, and the brutality of it in the lives of others, made especially savage for children because they may not be allowed the good fortune of a lifetime to correct it.” –Paul Newman
Founder, Hole in the Wall Gang Camp & Newman's Own
Actor, Director, Producer, Philanthropist, & an Extraordinary Human Being
Good Morning! By my count, we have just 13 "Friday Movie Suggestion Night" features" remaining in 2008. About 2 years ago, during a bone chilling Winter in Ohio after breakfast, I spent an entire Saturday in the downtown library film department armed with a clipboard, a Yellow paper tablet and a pen. The blank papers from my notepad filled up with notes on over 400 movies that I was evaluating for the 2006 movie feature on this Blogsite. One of the sweetest comments I have ever received on my Blog (among so many) came from my Blog Bud Merritt over at "It's Just the Coffee Talking". It may not mean much to the casual observer, but it meant a lot to me! Merritt, who uses a photo of the late actress Marilyn Monroe on her site said: It's obvious how hard you work on your website" (www.michaelmanning.tv). I'm still touched by that note of kindness to this day!
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For the the last 13 films to be featured this year, (and the approximately 58 films for 2009) you will be very surprised. The choices will be interesting and unexpected. The performances will be intense. To borrow from a line of dialogue that Steve McQueen speaks to Jacqueline Bisset in the thriller "Bullitt":"Time starts now".The Annual Steve McQueen Festival is in the planning stages for next March and promises to be a wonderful celebration during the week of Steve's birthday as we celebrate this great actor's legacy. As previously this past Spring, the format for the Festival will be totally changed to freshen things up a bit with what I believe will be exciting results. And in the meantime? Well, I'll be by to catch up with you this weekend.
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Thanks for your continued Love and Loyalty in what has been a pretty remarkable year filled with a big changes, a move across 6 states to a new city, and for this Blog many "firsts".
FRIDAY MOVIE SUGGESTION NIGHT PRESENTS: "GOOD WILL HUNTING"!
After agonizing over whether or not to post a film that signaled the end of Summer, I opted to hold off on conceding to the Official season we are in and refocus instead on a film that people either loved or hated. I happened to love it. So, I chose GOOD WILL HUNTING for our belated "Friday Movie Suggestion Night" selection.
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In 1997, I was midway through completing my college degree when I first caught this film one weekend (penned by actors Matt Damon and Ben Affleck). The story revolves around Will Hunting (Damon) who posseses a genius level ability for solving mathematical theorems. His job as an MIT janitor belies a deeply troubled life as an abused foster child who consequently grows up sabotaging professional and emotional opportunities that come into his life as an adult. His bare bones existence in a poverty-ridden neighborhood in Boston begins to change after he solves a math challenge that he notices posted on a classroom blackboard. The math problem is left to a graduate class to ponder for an entire semester. The math Professor Lambeau (Stellan Skarsgard) catches him solving the problem, but mistakens him for a vagrant and runs him off. After he has discovered the astonishing truth, Lambeau tracks down Hunting and manages (with great effort) to have him released to his custody from a criminal court following a violent altercation. Will accepts the challenge to study mathematics and begin regular therapy as a condition of avoiding hard time in jail, but is in denial that he needs therapy. After numerous psychologists come and go without helping Hunting, Lambeau reaches out to psychologist Sean Maguire (Robin Williams) and this doctor-patient relationship ranks among the richest character development scripts ever written for the silver screen, with plenty of tension. Robin Williams gives the performance of his career as a grieving widower who loses his wife-the love of his life--to illness, but encourages Will to try to establish a relationship with a woman whom he meets in a bar named Skylar (Minnie Driver).
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Many revelations are uncovered by Maguire and Hunting in the course of their therapy sessions that allows the audience a spyglass view on the subject of risking emotional pain in the course of choosing love. The choices we make in life becomes the focus of the film which takes a surprising turn. Okay...enough already!
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The Cast:Robin Williams as Dr. Sean Maguire; Matt Damon as Will Hunting; Ben Affleck as Chuckie Sulivan; Stellan Skarsgard is Professor Gerald Lambeau; Minnie Driver is Skylar; Casey Affleck is Morgan O'Mally and Cole Hauser is Billy McBride. Directed byGus Van Sant;Written by Matt Damon & Ben Affleck.Oscar Winner:Robin Williams as Best Supporting Actor;Best Screenplay for Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.
Wow! Last night, I received word that I was re-inducted for my 5th year in the periodical, "Who's Who in America?" pictured above. This is such a wonderful Honor for me. I am humbled more than you know! Further, I am receiving an inclusion in "Who's Who in the World?" This is really quite a surprise. I address this in a one-minute videotaped interview on my REEL Page at http://www.michaelmanning.tv/. Many years ago, in one of her acceptance speeches, Comedienne Carol Burnet once stated extemporaneously, "Well, you know something? We all come into this world wanting to be accepted". As a young kid then, I sort of bookmarked that observation because I knew that later in life it would hold meaning for me no matter what field I chose. I think one of the most wonderful experiences that comes to us daily in life is to feel validated and accepted. Anything less, to quote Steve McQueen ..."is just waiting".
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I stepped away from hard news in 2004 because frankly, I needed a break at the time after a wonderful stint at NBC TV and 12 years before that at ABC and CBS affiliates. Like any other field, change is a constant. Today, so much boils down to who you know. And I don't mean that to sound snarky or ungrateful in any way. In fact, there are some wonderful national producers in the News Magazine format and in Cable Television who have always been "in my corner". We've just never found the right "fit" for me (I mention this in more detail in my REEL Page segment on "When Dreams Come True"--a program that was designed for cable or a 4 minute segment inclusion within an existing TV News Magazine show format that needs a good home). Has it been a perfect life or career without "bumps in the road"? Certainly not. We filmed my unscripted interview during late Winter of last year, when I was not feeling my best and certainly not in peak form. But I chose to push myself forward because I had been battling delays for more than a year and I wanted to "keep it real". I must say that I have no complaints at all. I've been very lucky in my life to have met many interesting film personalities; I've emceed film award shows, charity benefits and more. Today, my time in Arizona is spent quite heavily on physical conditioning four nights a week after work, then practicing guitar with a terrific teacher. Always room to grow! There are always Media projects ahead. The most recent arrives on September 30th with my cover story in Airways magazinecoming to Borders Books and Barnes & Nobles bookstores in the U.S.featuring an interview I conducted with an aviation legend in Latin America. lt will be released in the U.S. first, then in the U.K. and worldwide markets by October 7th. All good stuff on the road ahead! That is also my wish for all of you! Take care and...
Good Morning! Today's BLOG is on CD's that have magic in them, but are sometimes overlooked. So let's dive in.
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First of all, I have always had a thing for Emmylou Harris. An atractive lady, her voice is clear and cutting, her musicianship as a guitarist is terrific and she isn't afraid to "go for it". When she was advised to hire a "hot band", she basically drained her bank account and hired Elvis Presley's backup band (who toured with him from 1969-77) and actually renamed them "The Hot Band". Her financial gamble paid off with a great selection of albums along with "Elite Hotel", "Blue Kentucky Girl", "Luxury Liner" and the acclaimed "Wrecking Ball". Emmylou is a "Must See" in concert. I just ordered this CD (I buy them used). It is very ethereal and solid on all fronts. Emmylou herself is ageless. A fascinating lady who has worked with everyone in the business from the late Gram Parsons, the late Towns Van Zandt, Guitarist James Burton, Linda Ronstadt and The Nash Ramblers to name but a few. I don't think you could go wrong with any CD's in her portfolio.Okay, this CD has a mixed story to it. According to Peter Frampton, Grand Funk was the first sledge hammer arena rock band. Guitarist Mark Farner, drummer Don Brewer and bassist Mel Schacher started out as a "Power Trio" garage band in Flint, Michigan who went on to sell out Shea Stadium in just 72 hours in 1970, sold over 30 million albums and somehow The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has failed to induct them. That my friends, is a travesty. Mark Farner has always been my inspiration for a true rock guitarist. At the time of this CD's release, the band was suffering from years of lawsuits with their late producer Terry Knight, who according to the band, made off with $57 million while paying the guys a stipend of $350 a week. After parting with Knight, the IRS put the band members through a living hell for years over a shelter corporation Knight set up with a dumb investment in speculative oil drilling using Mark, Don and Mels' money. They added Craig Frost on Keyboards and started all over again from scratch by produced their own LP "Phoenix"--appropriate as in "rising from the ashes"-- (with the hit "Rock and Roll Soul", and even invited fiddle player Doug Kershaw along on the title track). Next, the band hired Todd Rundgren to produce the albums "We're An American Band" and "Shinin' On. Then came the now-defunct Capitol Records, who forced the band to deliver two more albums and threatened to sue them if they resisted. Tensions in the band were strained beyond belief! This CD was their final obligation to Capitol. Despite all of these circumstances, the CD is a remarkable performance with all original music. The project would have been a huge commercial success were it not for two Public Relations miscues. During recording, Mark Farner's cousin lost his life in a tragic motorcycle accident and the morning after, a grieving Farner penned the song "Born To Die". The band later regretted using the song as the CD's title. Worse, famed photographer Lynn Goldsmith felt it would be cutting edge to photograph the band members laying in caskets--another move they regretted for the CD cover! In 1976, the album came and went virtually unnoticed. Only today, have devoted fans like myself come to embrace the music on this CD with the standout "I Fell For Your Love". Grand Funk was burned out, but managed to stay together long enough to have a dream realized when the late Frank Zappa produced "Good Singin', Good Playin'". But the magic was over and band broke up. A reunion concert benefitting war-torn Bosnia in 1996 with David Letterman band leader Paul Schafer and the Detroit Symphony (on the second CD Disc) brought the band back and today they are touring heavily with new music and performing all of their classic hits. Mark Farner left the band after the CD "Bosnia" and was replaced by singer Max Carl of 38 Special and ex-KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick. Keyboardist Craig Frost was replaced with Terry Cashman, but founding members drummer Don Brewer and bassist Mel Schacher remain. This is a great CD! Crank it!!!
When I visited Bud Buckley in Venice, Florida we set out for breakfast and coffee one morning and I cranked this CD up in my rental car. We agreed that Willie Nelson is a most understated guitarist--just an amazing musician. This LP was recorded in an old abandoned movie theater pictured on the jacket and the sound is all original. A new direction for the "Red Headed Stranger".
Jim Morrison was burned out by 1971 as lead singer for The Doors, but like Grand Funk, the band owed Elektra Records one more album. So, for this outing, they hired Elvis Presley's road band bassist Jerry Scheff instead of relying on Ray Manzarek to double on keyboards and bass. Marc Benno was also brought in as Rhythm Guitarist to Robbie Krieger's lead guitar work with John Densmore on drums. While "L.A. Woman", "Riders On The Storm" and "Love Her Madly" were huge FM Radio hits, the cut "L'America" is a knock out. An aside: To get the vocal sound on :Love Her madly", Jim pulled a microphone into a bathroom, shut the door and sang with tape rolling. Pay attention the next time you hear this one! Preliminary plans were made for the band to retain Benno and Scheff to go on the road and in at least one letter sent by Jim from France, he referenced a willingness to tour with it. Jim died at 27 in Paris.
This is a good example of Todd Rundgren "live" with his long time band Utopia and worth a listen. A master songwriter ("Hello, It's Me", "I Saw The Light", "A Dream Goes On Forever" and "Bang the Drum"), guitarist and studio producer, this is a nice way to experience the artist in concert.
Jesse Winchester's outing here has many gems aside from the cover song and includes "Bowling Green" and my personal Winchester favorite "You Remember Me". I feel this one is almost forgotten. Take it out for a spin!
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WISHING YOU A NICE WEEK!
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You are invited to visit my REEL Page Interview filmed in November, 2007
A CLOSING CELEBRATION SALUTE TO YOU! (PART 6 OF 6)!
Simply Unforgettable...
If I had to pick a scene--just one scene--from a movie to watch that is so memorable to me, this one would be a true contender. It's worth a pause and for me, it sums up so much meaning to life. Thanks for all of your wonderful comments this past week. With work, strength conditioning and music lessons, it has been a little challenging to stay caught up with each of you who have commented. But, as Dudley says..."Keep a light in the window, I may be back!"
"FRIDAY MOVIE SUGGESTION NIGHT" PRESENTS DEAD POETS SOCIETY!
Robin Williams returns for another appearance on "Friday Movie Suggestion Night" for a nice way to close out the waning days of Summer, 2008. William's genius for me is the sheer scope of his remarkable acting ability in both Comedy and Drama. Moreover his genuine warmth is beloved by millions. If there exists an Actor with a sharper God-given wit for either genre', he or she remains sadly undiscovered. In this regard, Robin Williams is, in fact a gift to all of us who love film. In this role, he is at once a devoted, mischievous professor at a New England prep school in 1959. The school is run by stiff necked administrators. However, Director Peter Weir cleverly combines a respect for the school's history and tradition while fearlessly creating in William's character of Keating a vulnerable person. Still, he's not afraid to enlist unorthodox methods to bring the boys in his class out of solemnly accepting whatever is blindly thrown to them without thinking for themselves. It is here where he dares students--seven boys in all--to "Carpe diem, seize the day!" They form the "Dead Poets Society". This is a secret club whose members read their own and others' verse in a spooky, dark cave (I ask you. Could a cave be described any other way?). Of course, going against the grain of the school administrators established Metropolitan Club Members of Tomorrow creates a lot of tension. But there is a message about life here. And that message is the need for each of us to create something truly extraordinary with our own lives. Tom Schulman's screenplay in 1989 was observed upon by many at the time as addressing the compliance of '80s kids. However, the film avoids becoming preachy and takes us on a wonderful journey of dreams that all too many have abandoned. Keating is the catalyst who encourages us to pick them up and dust them off again for another run at life!
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The tremendous supporting cast here includes Robert Sean Leonard as the victim of a domineering father who wants him to be a doctor. We have Ethan Hawke as his roommate, a second son who suffers from parental neglect and a lack of self-worth. Gale Hansen is a rebellious poet who endures a beating from the headmaster but refuses to trade his principles for expedience (a breath of fresh air!). Josh Charles is a curious kiddo who uses poetry and courage to win the girl of his dreams.
If the horizon seem limitless, you can thank Cinematographer John Seale.
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The Cast:Robin Williams is John Keating; Robert Sean Leonard is Neil Perry; Ethan Hawke plays Todd Anderson; Josh Charles is Knox Overstreet; Gale Hansen is Charlie Dalton; Dylan Kussman is Richard Cameron; Allelon Ruggiero is Steven Meeks; and James Waterston is Gerard Pitts. 1990 Academy Awards Oscar WINNER "Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen":Tom Schulman; NOMINATED "Oscar Best Actor in a Leading Role": Robin Williams; "Best Director":Peter Weir; "Best Picture":Steven Haft, Paul Junger Witt and Tony Thomas.
- I feel you'll enjoy this one! We'll close out Sunday with one final memory that is very important to me from these Past 3 years (and 4 seasons) of "Friday Movie Suggestion Night",-----"the little BLOG feature that could!"
So, what happened? My schedule prevented me from getting this week's film posted. So, I figured 'why not continue the party?' After all, we've covered a lot of great films here in 3 years. God only knows! Here's a memorable scene from "The Graduate". Have a good Friday and we'll eventually get there when life and responsibilities wind down this weekend.
This has been quite a special week if you've just joined us. Usually, "Friday Movie Suggestion Night" is unveiled tonight. But I felt that our 3rd Anniversary celebration must continue. We'll unveil the movie tomorrow night, just as we started out. Until then, here's a look at another one of my personal favorite Top 10 movies that I hope you'll enjoy. It was brought to my attention and suggested for FMSN by my great friend and Blog Bud, Deni Bonet over at "Last Girl On Earth" and I think you'll enjoy it!
A SALUTE TO YOU AND "FRIDAY MOVIE SUGGESTION NIGHT"! (PART 3)
Aside from being professionally and personally swamped, I have really struggled with what to BLOG about. I'm not even sure how the week will end up. So, I've decided to post a series of Clips inspired by a suggestion from my new Blog Bud: 3 Magpies. I do so not to be self-congratulatory over "Friday Movie Suggestion Night". Rather, to raise my own glass to a series I started here 3 years ago with only two emotions: Love and Passion. Here is a scene that is among the Top 10 that has stayed with me from the first time I saw it in a movie theater. And I think it will remain with me...forever.
This is being posted late as I celebrate my BLOG Feature, "Friday Movie Suggestion Night" with those who make it whatever it is...YOU! This is a film I have watched over a hundred times. It is Paul Newman in a very short clip at his finest. Cheers to all of You..and to a love of great Movies!
THE 3RD ANNIVERSARY OF "FRIDAY MOVIE SUGGESTION NIGHT"! (PART 1)
Air Date: 12:00 AM, September 15, 2005: Wow! Could it really be that 3 years ago tonight, on a melancholy evening (which is how I felt stuck in Cincinnati at the time) I "lit a candle and cursed the darkness" to launch a feature on this BLOG Page called "Friday Movie Suggestion Night"? Many films are missing from the 2006 season (some I recovered this afternoon and posted below). But then, "What happens here on Thursdays at 12 Midnight, stays here on Thursdays at 12 Midnight"...Did you buy that? Not really?. Actually, I thought it sounded compelling. But I digress... Three-years on now! Geez!
In a year that witnessed my hosting the National Parkinson Foundation Gala in Florida, my 1,000th BLOG Post, at least two "firsts" for FMSN and a move across 6 states to Arizona, we will be now be shifting into high gear in these final 4 months of the 2008. I can't thank you enough for all of your comments and to those brave souls who rallied me to move the Feature back a day to use Net Flix and follow along on what Orson Welles once called "that lonely, rocky road". I didn't figure out the Net Flix part for a while, but hey! It's certainly never boring around here. And I'm putting final touches on the schedule for next year. Yes, it's going to be amazing! So, let's have a colorful look at where we've been with so many films on this great journey of ours in no particular order...
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32 Short Films About Glenn Gould, Cinema Paradiso,Cool Runnings, Children of a Lesser God,Patch Adams, The Last Waltz,Play It Again, Sam,Woodstock (The 1969 Aquarian Music & Arts Festival),Author!, Author!!,The Legend of Zorro,The Fisher King,Stealing Home, The Graduate, The Horse Whisperer, The Verdict,Junior Bonner,12 Angry Men,The Towering Inferno,The Fabulous Baker Boys, The Last Picture Show,The Pink Panther,Exodus,Sabrina,Dirty Dancing,Scent of a Woman,La Traviata (Zeffirelli-Opera film), Taxi Driver,Cactus Flower,Chariots of Fire,American Graffitti,Brubaker,Let It Be (The Beatles), Beyond the Sea,Casablanca,The Outlaw Josie Wales,The Banger Sisters,A Black and White Night (Roy Orbison Concert Documentary),Atlantic City, The Freshman, Tom Horn,The Electric Horseman,The Getaway,Papillon,Le Mans, The Sand Pebbles, The Great Escape,Never So Few,Standing in the Shadows of Motown(The Funk Brothers' Documentary),Swept Away (Foreign Film),Kramer vs. Kramer,Serpico, Conrack, The Big Chill,Starting Over,Moonstruck,Broadcast News, In the Heat of the Night,East of Eden, Citizen Kane, Someone to Love,Bridges of Madison County,Elvis: Aloha Via Satellite from Hawaii (1973 Worldwide Concert), GIANT,To Sir With Love, Summer of 42', Over the Rainbow: A Performance by Eva Cassidy,St. Elmo's Fire, August Rush, Capote, Nell,Five Easy Pieces,Silver Streak, "10",Miracle On 34thStreet, The Maltese Falcon,Patience, From Here To Eternity, Experience: Jimi Hendrix Live in The United Kingdom, Message in a Bottle,In The Shadow of The Moon (The Apollo Astronaut's Documentary),Coal Miner's Daughter, That's Life!, Good Night and Good News, Driving Miss Daisy, Picnic, Rear Window,Network,Good Morning Vietnam,Key Largo, Round Midnight, Wall Street, The Man Who Loved Women, This Is Elvis (Biography),Cat On a Hot Tin Roof, The Commitments, HUD,Butterfield 8,Moulin Rouge,Grand Canyon, For Your Eyes Only, Belle De Jour (Foreign Film),I Am Sam,High Fidelity,Tender Mercies,The Magnificent Seven, Soldier In The Rain, Annie Hall, Deliverance,Barefoot in the Park, The Sound of Music,Quiz Show, The African Queen, Gigot!, Arthur,Save the Tiger, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, The Cincinnati Kid, Bullitt, The Hunter,The Who Live at The Royal Albert Hall in 2000,Love With The Proper Stranger, The Misfits, Ed Wood,Amost Famous, The Freshman, Frankie & Johnny,Running,Shine A Light: The Rolling Stones Live in New York, 2006, Raging Bull, Across the Universe, West Side Story, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Cocoon,Ed Wood,Elvis: That's The Way It Is (Las Vegas 1969 Concert Documentary), All The President's Men, Straight Time,A Night at The Opera, Say Anything,South Pacific,Pale Rider, An Affair to Remember,Slapshot,48 Hours,Tootsie,Coach Carter,Cool Hand Luke,Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?,Hamlet (with Mel Gibson), Harry & Son, Say Amen, Somebody (Documentary), The Manchurian Candidate, Hotel, Stand by Me, E.T., A Touch of Evil, Tucker: A Man and His Dream, Carousel, SOB,Victor Victoria,Stalag 17,M*A*S*H, Easy Rider,Two Mules for Sister Sarah,Dirty Harry, Any Which Way But Loose, Bronco Billy, Blazing Saddles, Chimes at Midnight, Renaldo & Clara (Bob Dylan and the Rolling Thunder Revue with Joan Baez),The Brave One...
My career as a broadcast journalist has been an unusual one. There are many aspects about it that I have never BLOGGED about in the entire time that I have had my Website up. But among the many remarkable moments in my career was an event that took place in a small aircraft hangar in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The date was August 9, 2001 at 2:00 PM. Colonel Frank Borman had not spoken to the media much since he retired as Chairman, president and CEO of Eastern Airlines. I had read his biography "Countdown" (a must read) so many times that the book binding was coming apart. Today, I consider Colonel Borman both a friend and mentor. And he is a genuine American Hero. I find it more than coincidental that my large custom built shadow-box picture frame containing artifacts from our interview is in the repair shop until next week. In addition, last Friday I met a man who is a neighbor of The Bormans and he asked me to write down my name, my Website and contact information so he could mention our meeting. As if this wasn't enough, I came across the short film posted above. A graduate of West Point, Colonel Borman became a teacher, fighter pilot and a test pilot. When President Kennedy announced America's commitment to the exploration of space in 1961, a handful of men and women stepped forward to lead that charge and Colonel Frank Borman was one of them. He flew two of NASA's most dangerous missions: the Gemini 7 space mission over 14 days was to execute the first manned-spacecraft rendezvous in orbit with Gemini 6. Next, came Apollo 8, the first manned voyage around the moon that took Commander Borman and his his crew of Jim Lovell and Bill Anders a half-million miles through space. They were the first human beings to see the world in its totality during their Christmas Eve 1968 live broadcast to billions of people worldwide. Later, he was NASA's liaison with the White House for the Apollo 11, lunar landing mission. Borman was offered cabinet level positions by three American presidents, and he addressed the joint sessions of Congress twice. A down to earth man, he is a national treasure and I hope you enjoy this film clip.
My curiosity almost killed me, when I took a 6- story tumble!
The ASPCA rescued me from a life of abuse. -
Like many of you, I have been reading about the thousands of people who have lost homes in foreclosure due to the sub-prime mortgage meltdown. Many turned in their pets to ASPCA shelters. And while this sounds cruel to some of you, a far crueler fate would have been for these owners to have done nothing. For reasons I will never understand (thanks to my love of animals), pets that are no different from the ones you see posted above are abandoned every day in America. That's where ASPCA--Thank God--steps into the picture to provide immediate medical care and nurturing for these innocent pets before working hard to find them loving homes. Perhaps this weekend, you might visit an ASPCA Shelter in your city or town and just consider adopting a dog or cat who needs you. If you do, let me know how it goes!
"FRIDAY MOVIE SUGGESTION NIGHT" PRESENTS: SAY ANYTHING!
Lloyd Dobler:"I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that".
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Our Summer Series continues with the Cameron Crowe film "SAY ANYTHING". As you may (or may not) know Crowe also wrote "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" (his debut), "The Wild Life","Singles", "Jerry MaGuire", (featured here in 2006) "Almost Famous" (featured here in 2007), the obtuse (and strange) "Vanilla Sky" and of course, "Elizabethtown".
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Ione Skye, who plays Diane Court just turned 37 last week. This film is somewhat relevant to this BLOG because I have a history of having a hard time letting go of Summer. So, while it is still Officially Summer, my thinking was 'Why not feature a film worthy of realistic dialogue?'. All of which brings us to John Cusak in his break-out role of Lloyd Dobler, a graduating high school senior who has a serious infatuation with Diane Court. Court is the attractive if not alienated class valedictorian. In the genre' of "escape films"--(films for those of us with too much reality in our lives to see a serious drama every week) Skye's character is well played as brainy, but not a nerd, beautiful, but not popular -- and she's scared about her future. Cusack takes the cake for the anti-hero whose strongest ambition is kick-boxing. The group of confidants surrounding him include Cusack's real-life sister Joan (uncredited as Lloyd's sister, Constance), Lili Taylor and Amy Brooks. The dialogue is fresh, funny and for now--about the lightest fare you'll see here on FMSN. Directed and Written by Cameron Crowe, we have a hell of a good cast including: John Mahoney as Diane's Dad, Bebe Neuwirth as Mrs. Evans, Eric Stoltz as Vahlere, Chynna Phillips as Mimi, Pamela Adlon as Rebecca, Loren Dean as Joe and Glenn Walker Harris, Jr. as Jason Dobler. Yes, we'll get into more intense waters later. But for now, break out some Bailey's Irish Cream on ice, sit back and enjoy life with your cell phone set on "Silent".
After 12 years and 17 CDs of making music hailed for its lyrics, David listened to his fans who had been urging him to do an instrumental album. He called together a few of his talented friends for a weekend in a mountain cabin. They got there Friday night and left Sunday morning with aching fingers and a mountain of music. 5 guys, 7 guitars, 1 mandolin, 1 dobro, 1 fiddle and a few harmonicas, 1 bass and no words. All notes. The results were amazing. Here is David's latest song and he was gracious in allowing me to share it here with you. I hope it makes Your day!
This Could be Your Day
by: David M. Bailey
Ever had a day when you feel a little broken?
Like your story has been told before you’ve even spoken
I don’t know why I’m asking I already know the answer
Everybody’s had those days - feels like your heart has cancer
And you’d do almost anything just to stop the pain
Born under a dark cloud and you can’t stop the rain
But you don’t have to drown in troubled waters
You can let the waters wash you clean
Someone’s making breakfast on the shoreline
This could be your day if you know what I mean
Ever had a day when you feel a bit dejected?
Like you’ve given all you got but still end up rejected
I don’t know why I’m asking, the answer is so clear
Everybody has those days when you just can’t fight the fear
And you'd do almost anything just be be set free
The storm on the horizon is all that you can see
But you don’t have to drown in troubled waters
You can let the waters wash you clean
Someone’s making breakfast on the shoreline
This could be your day if you know what I mean
I know everybody makes mistakes
The heart is the easiest thing to break
But if you can give more than you take
You can find the good for goodness sake
Ever had one of those days when you just don’t feel like trying?
When you’re walking in the dark and the dream feels like it’s dying
I don’t know why I’m asking I know what you will say
But that doesn’t change the fact that this still could be your day...
On October 3rd, the UnitedStates Postal Service (aka USPS) will roll out their latest set of commemorative stamps entitled "50's Fins and Chrome". I've mentioned here that guitars and a love of cars go together quite well. I've loved both since the age of 6. So does rock guitarist extraordinaire Jeff Beck (who restores Hot Rods). Okay, pictured above is the five-stamp set for those of you who either love great designs and imagination as I do, or perhaps you just collect stamps at random as your hobby. That the Lincoln Premeire is pictured above the Studebaker Hawk is no mistake. I arranged for that deliberately to make two points. First, if you are a car lover you can GOOGLE "Studebaker-Packard" or "Studebaker" on Wikipedia and read about a merger that I wish would have survived in my lifetime. I have tremendous respect for these two troubled companies, because even though they were financial basket cases, their designers were First Class and so were the employees who assembled the cars. In Studebaker's case, The Hawk was the last car to wear the "PACKARD" badge in 1958. The S-P merger of 1954 went very badly for a number of sad reasons. But as desperate as Packard was, they refused to turn out anything less than a quality product. That's what I call Guts! Secondly, as Studebaker-Packard found themselves in "hot water", many of the designers defected for The Ford Motor Company. This explains why the Lincoln Premier carried similar lines of a Packard. With all of the hybrids entering the marketplace, I have no doubt that Studebaker (the surviving name of S-P) would have been the first car maker in America to have a model in production. But then, some of the finest ideas and talents are often lost to time...until someone writes about it. ;-)
As we wind down Summer, this short movie scene comes to mind. Remember, this was before self-indulgent cell phone users walked into every public dwelling having loud conversations and not caring who they annoyed. I dedicate this to all of them!
Good Morning! It's been busy around here, so I've had to adjust my blogging schedule. I've enrolled in a Wellness Program and last night, we ran through the cardio training that I will undertake on alternate days from strength training.
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The music is coming along at a nice pace, and my beloved Laptop Computer was repaired and re-delivered to me.
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On the journalism side, I am covering three stories that are each in varying stages of development. This is often the case when you are awaiting clearances. Speaking of Journalists, I was paging through a 3 ring binder I have here at home and came across a January 2, 2006 newspaper article titled: "New Era Begins for ABC Newscast". The article was about one of my favorite Journalists--Elizabeth Vargas (who once worked here in the Phoenix market) and Bob Woodruff. Bob grew up in Michigan and became a corporate lawyer in New York City. During a leave of absence to teach school in China, Bob wound up helping ABC cover the Tienanmen Square uprising. Elizabeth worked in Missouri, Nevada, Arizona and Chicago markets before she landed at ABC as host of "20/20". I felt that the pairing Elizabeth and Bob was a stroke of genius, with Elizabeth in New York while Bob traveled worldwide. His near fatal head injury in Iraq as the consequence of a roadside bomb led to a lengthy recovery period. During this time, Elizabeth resigned to start a family and Charles Gibson took the reigns. Bob Woodruff thankfully recovered. In the meantime, all evening news shows struggle and I believe we will see more changes at all of the networks. Where do you turn for news and who is your favorite news anchor? Radio or Television is fair game.
Some time ago, I Blogged about my buddy Captain Handel Wellington. I met Handel while using a computer terminal in the Business Lounge of a Hilton Hotel where I was staying in Kentucky. Handel was one of many pilots from a regional airline crammed into the room to check-out their flight intineraries on-line. Ultimately, we struck up a conversation after he learned that I am a journalist with Airways magazine. We began speaking in general about the airline industry and a businessman also joined in the conversation. It was an enjoyable visit, but each of us had early morning flights, so we exchanged business cards and shook hands as we all went our separate ways.
Welcoming a young admirer!
Fast forward to early 2008 after I had relocated to Arizona. One morning, my cell phone rang and it was Handel calling me from an island in the Caribbean. The name rang a bell, and he had to remind me that he was "the guy who spoke with me at a Kentucky Hilton Hotel Business Lounge about the airline industry". I remembered. He secured a fine position First Officer with Spirit Airlines, a terrific Low Fare Carrier with a young jet fleet and an extensive route system from Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport in Florida to Caribbean and Latin American destinations. Then last week, another dream unfolded for Handel. With great pride he landed an Airbus A321 in his native country of Jamaica! This was a wonderful homecoming and it was great to see such a determined man achieve so much progress in just one year alone! Cheers to Captain Handel Wellington! He is a fine example that dreams really do come true!
FRIDAY MOVIE SUGGESTION NIGHT PRESENTS: "THE WHO LIVE AT ROYAL ALBERT HALL" !
Surviving band members: Roger Daltry and Pete Townshend
Two years after The Rolling Stones organized themselves as a band, along came The Who in 1964. The lineup of guitarist Pete Townshend, vocalist Roger Daltrey, bassist John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon led to one of the most influential rock bands of all time. Their Top 10 singles include: "I Can't Explain" in 1965 (covered nicely in the 2005 live reunion CD by The Rasperries), "I Can See for Miles" (1967), 1969's epic rock opera "Tommy"--a Top 5 album in the U.S. (with the hit "See Me, Feel Me") along with "Live at Leeds" (widely regarded as one of the best "live" CD recordings), the CD "Who's Next?" (with the hit "Won't Get Fooled Again") in 1971, "My Generation", "Magic Bus", another epic rock opera: "Quadrophenia" in 1973 and "Who Are You?" in 1978 among others. The band gained notoriety for ending concert performances by smashing their equipment on-stage, to which my guitar teacher merely shrugs and says, "Hey, it's Rock and Roll!" Following the death of drummer Keith Moon in 1978, The Who soldiered on before officially disbanding in 1983. They re-grouped during their 25th Anniversary in 1989, and later with tours of "Quadrophenia" in 1996 and 1997. Bassist John Entwistle's died in 2002.
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This concert, filmed in November, 2000 as part of the bands' United Kingdom Tour finds them in fine form. It is a high energy salute to the end of Summer, 2008. Supporting musicians include: John Bundrick, keyboards and Ringo Starr's son Zak Starkey on drums. The film is directed by Dick Carruthers and marks the final show of the tour. Guests include: Paul Weller, Bryan Adams and Noel Gallagher, Kelly Jones and Eddie Vedder. Do keep in mind that Summer for me doesn't end until October 1st. There you have it.
"We'll get there, Pop. We'll get there". ---Al Pacino as Michael Corleone
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Looking through my journal, I see that one year ago today I was in Los Angeles. So, I decided. What better time than now to bring out Godfather Vito with a familiar message we can all nod over with a slice of pizza, right?
Seriously, I've managed to catch up with most of you by borrowing computers from friends to remain somewhat connected until my laptop emerges from the waranty repair shop. If I've missed anyone, hang tight. In the meantime, to all my PAISANS:
Basically, I'm a Public Relations Consultant with a background in Broadcast News. I've worked as a Reporter and Anchor with PBS, ABC, CBS & NBC affiliates and in Cable Television. I'm active in Radio & Television Commercials, Guest Speaking engagements and I enjoy writing, music and sports.
