July 19,2004

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Thursday night I treated myself to a light hearted movie

MOVIE REVIEW          MOVIE REVIEW               MOVIE REVIEW         MOVIE REVIEW




MOVIE: FARENHEIT 9/11

     I could do a whole Weekly Mail going point by point with the film, but it would take too long and I
don't want to give too much away. I will say that there were one or two things that came up in the movie
that surprised and troubled me and that I don't know why the anti-Bush people didn't make a bigger deal
about it. Instead they seemed to focus more on the connections between Bush's family and the bin
Laden's which I thought was a bit of a stretch.
    What isn't a stretch was Bush's connections to the Saudi's. 15 of the 19 hijackers on 9/11 were Saudi's
and I've never been convinced that they are our friends. Of course back in the day, when I suggested
that we bomb them as well as Afghanistan and Pakistan, I was told that we couldn't declare war against
the Middle East.
     The scene with the mother who lost her son in Iraq was gut wrenching as was the scenes of the
wounded soldiers. There was some creative story telling with the camera, making Bagdhad out to be club
paradise back in early March 2003, right before big bad USA came to screw it all up. Moore makes no
mention that had Saddam Hussein been in compliance with the UN resolution that called for weapons
inspectors, there may not have been a war (at least it would have been one less reason for Bush to
invade)
    Like BFC, as a film, it was very well done, and there were actually a couple of scenes where I found
myself laughing. His choices of music to help illustrate some of his points was great, like when he used
the Go-Go's "Vacation" while showing that Bush takes too much time away from the White House. (A fact
by the way that Weekly Mail has made numerous times) He was also able to come up with some amazing
footage, things you won't see on TV. In interviews I've read since the movie came out, he said that one
of his goals is to get people to vote. And to me, that's never a bad thing. If this becomes an election
with high voter turnout, then he should (and probably will) take some credit for that, regardless of who
comes out on top in November.
    There is one more point I want to make though. Moore's arguements, both in Farenheit 9/11 and
Bowling For Cloumbine was that the government uses fear to scare the public into buying into its
policies. But by making this kind of movie in an Election year that tries to paint Bush and his
administration as an election stealing, oil and money starved war machine, isn't he kind of doing the
same thing?
 
     Friday was a very good day. I got a shift working on the desk. Although I had hoped my days of
answering phones were behind me, working the desk pays more money and you never know who might
call.
     Anyway around 1:30 or so Friday afternoon, the guy who first showed me around the newsroom my
first day of work came over to say hello. He also told me that he had been offered a chance to go to
Boston for the Democratic Convention, but he couldn't. Apparently, the Post sets up an office, and in
addition to reporters they need general help.
      So he asked me if I would want to go, and of course I jumped at it. I had a meeting later on in the
day with the lady who hired me and it was all confirmed. Now its a long shot, but there is a chance that I
may get to do some reporting. Fear not though friends, one way of another, you, the readers of Weekly
Mail will get comprehensive reports all week from me.
       I decided for old times sake to go out and get smashed on Friday night. I started out at Annie
Moore's headed to Metro 53 (which was empty) hopped on the 6 and went uptown. After dinner in a
greasy spoon, and a pit stop at the infamous Dorrian's on 85th, I made it to the Saloon.
     I was fading fast too. But I managed to hang in there long enough to see a tuxedo clad Timmy
Tubbs. I also saw Jenney and Jessie and it a total surprise Pat tubridy made an appearence to bartend. I
told everyone who would listen about my good fortune that day.
Most of my time at the Saloon is a blur, so please if I offended anybody, accept my apologies.
    And then Saturday night, I went out with some of the crew from the Post for a co-workers birthday.
Still sore from the night before, I went easy. But it was another late night/morning. We went to an after-
hours place, and its been years since I drank a beer in a bar as the sun was coming up (God's flashlight,
someone once called it) It was a wild weekend.

Sports: Shaquille O'Neal traded

       The Lakers deciding that they want to leave the future of their franchise in the hands of an accused
rapist, let coach Phil Jackson go and traded big daddy Shaq to the Miami Heat for crissakes. This
means the Knicks will not come close to sniffing a championship for the forseeable future.
     Not that this guarantees Miami anything. Shaq's an old 32, with bad feet. He's still a great player, but
he can't carry a team alone. Not this team anyway.
      The thing is, neither Kobe Bryant, Jackson, or O'Neal are as good individually as the sum of their
parts. Of course none of them believe that. We'll see. I wouln't bet on either the Lakers or Heat for the
title next season.

Martha Stewart.
   
    Some feminists have used the Martha Stewart case as an example of society's fear of the successful
self made woman. I don't agree but they do make some good points.
     But how do these people defend Martha'a actions on the steps of the courthouse on Friday morning?
I mean, moments after she was sentenced to jail time, (a relative slap on the wrist by the way) she
actually started shilling her products right there! I guess she figured she had nothing to lose, her pride
and self respect won't be allowed in her cell with her.
     That's if she ever serves. She out pending her appeal and I still won't be convinced until I actually see
her enter the facility that she will spend one minute behind bars.

Happy Birthday's this week. Michelle Cartier (who I haven't seen in ages) celebrates on Wednesday
(right?) And Thursday, it's the first anniversary of Mary McGarvey DePuy's 29th birthday. Happy Birthday
to 2 wonderful women.

My next Weekly Mail should be coming from Boston. Stay tuned
and in the meantime Have a Great Week

Wild Bill