tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47101836929933924632024-03-18T05:48:19.680-04:00Kreative DiscussionsWe are all here for a purpose and it is incumbent on us to determine the point of it all. Ultimately, every conversation or discussion must propagate from an idea...and ideas are what this company is all about. This blog is here for the purpose of information, help, and occasionally, entertainment. Please join us in sharing your thoughts...and exchanging ideasDennis Kreative Ideahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198159370078849491noreply@blogger.comBlogger256125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710183692993392463.post-78099610757790740012019-09-25T01:39:00.000-04:002019-09-25T21:12:47.948-04:00Eating Well in Boston, Again (2020)<style type="text/css">
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I was thinking on how best to introduce the new places I think are the best in the Boston area to eat, and realized my original introduction still captures the exact tone I wish to set. So, here it is again:</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-converted-space"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“I don’t think it’s a big secret that I love to eat good food. I think that it’s an improvement from my previous position of just loving to eat…nearly any food. As I age and grow wiser, I try to make better decisions on how I treat my body and that starts with what I put in it. That said, when I’m at home I follow a strict diet and try to give myself a fighting chance to enjoy my later years. This also has the benefit of make those times when I indulge purely for the joy of taste, less detrimental to my overall plan.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I don’t eat out too often, but when I do I’m very selective in where I go and what I eat. I look for places that can present healthy choices<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>(relatively speaking considering how I eat at home) without sacrificing extraordinary taste. Once I find such a place, they gain a loyal customer…and I gain weight (LOL!).”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have decided to showcase my current favorite places to eat. If you live in the Boston area (or the Brattleboro area as one of these places is in Vermont), treat yourself and check these places out. If you don’t live here but find yourself visiting for a bit, treat yourself and check these places out. I present them in no specific order…except that I have saved the best for last, so if you can’t restrain yourself on knowing what place I love the best, skip to the bottom.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="s1">1.) <span class="s2"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.joes320cafe.com/" target="_blank">Joe's 320 Cafe</a></span></span></span><span class="s3"><b><span style="color: red;"><a href="https://www.joes320cafe.com/" target="_blank"> </a></span></b></span><span class="s1">- West Roxbury, MA</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I love breakfast. It’s one of my favorite meals of the day and nobody does it better than Joe’s. I admit that I don’t know his secret. After all, how many variations of eggs and toast are there? Yet, somehow, Joe manages to set his a cut above the rest and separate a good breakfast from a great breakfast. If you are a regular reader here, then you already know I’m a <span style="color: blue;"><span class="s4"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2013/01/im-potato-head.html" target="_blank">potato head</a></span></span> </span>and Joe’s “breakfast potatoes” makes you wonder why someone would ever prepare potatoes differently and call them anything other than, potatoes. Also, sourdough toast is something you don’t find at many other places (I know, I’ve looked) and I’m still just at the tip of the giant culinary iceberg I’m floating you here. Joe does lunch also, but honestly, I have never passed on the opportunity to order breakfast here, even at lunch time. I can say that one of my sons swears by the lunch menu and like me, he’s BIG on great food.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="s5"><span style="font-size: large;">2.)</span><span style="font-size: large;"> <span class="s6"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.whetstonestation.com/" target="_blank">Whetstone Station Restaurant and Brewery</a></span></span></span></span><span class="s1" style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span><span class="s5" style="font-size: large;">- <span style="font-size: large;">Brattleboro, VT</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There is so much I could say about this place. I think I’ll start by saying that I live in Boston, and nearly every Sunday (that we are able), we drive to Brattleboro…just for lunch. Think about that. I could say it’s just for the food, but there is so much more going on here from the postcard scenery to the craft beers brewed right at the restaurant, this is a day trip we always look forward to making. The menu, both food and beer, change every often to keep things fresh, but eating (and drinking) here are never a disappointment regardless of what is (or is not) on the menu.</span></span></span></div>
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3.) <span class="s2"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://dumplingkingdomallston.com/" target="_blank">Dumpling Kingdom</a></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="s3"><b> </b></span><span class="s1">- Allston, MA</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I would ask what list would be complete without the best Chinese food in town, but seeing as how I had not listed any Chinese restaurants in my first <span class="s4"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2014/12/eating-well-in-boston.html" target="_blank">post</a></span></span>, it’s rather a silly question. I’ll just say that of you like Chinese food, you’ll love this place. You will quickly understand that the places you have been eating are just doing it wrong. That’s the best way I can describe their food from other Chinese food places, and it may not be true…they might be just doing it that much better that other places simply taste “wrong.” All I know is that I wasn’t a big dumpling eater until this place. I start off every order with the egg fried rice and round it out with either sautéed string beans, spinach with garlic, or Shanghai bok choy with garlic. Just remember if you ever order all that together (I could never conceive of being that hungry) either bring plenty of friends, or have lots of time, as they are very generous with the portions.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="s1">4.) <span class="s2"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.veggiegalaxy.com/" target="_blank">Veggie Galaxy</a></span></span></span><span class="s3"><b> </b></span><span class="s1">- Cambridge, MA</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If all the awards they’ve won and articles about them hanging on the wall in their foyer wasn’t enough to let you know this place is special, then trust your gut after it thanks you for stopping here. People like to crack jokes about vegans and vegetarians but I assure you there is nothing funny about this place. Quite the contrary, they take making unforgettable food very seriously. They make breakfast. lunch and dinner, but just as I have never had lunch at Joe’s, I have never had breakfast here. Also, like before, I have a son (not the same one as before) that swears by their breakfast (and yes, he is a vegan). Just by the very fact that of you are not a vegan or vegetarian, you will still love this place, should be all you need to hear to drop in and treat yourself to some excellent food that is actually good for you.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">5.) <span class="s2"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.coastsoulcafe.com/" target="_blank">Coast Cafe</a></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="s3"><b> </b></span><span class="s1">- Cambridge, MA</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Let me sum this up in a few words so that you understand very quickly (before I really go deep) what you’re getting into here…southern-cooked soul food.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I have been living and eating in Boston for a long time, and had never heard of this place before a year ago, and had never eaten there until a few months ago. I heard about in passing conversation with a friend, but that was a conversation…that was just passing. It wasn’t until I needed food for my mother-in-law’s 80th birthday party that things got serious.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Of course, I went back to my friend to nail down some details (good looks Ray!) and set aside some time to go by and test the product (note when someone uses the word “product” when talking about something, you’ve entered another level of “whoa.”). We had some budgetary concerns due to planning this giant party, but we wanted the best value for our money…and some decent food. Well, after ordering a couple of plates of what we figured we’d like, it was evident that what we ordered went way beyond “decent” and the budget wasn’t our concern anymore…getting more of that food was, a lot more.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Listen, there are those few moments in life when you look at your significant other and have a moment of shared astonishment, neither one of you quite able to grasp that what is happening is indeed, happening. The first bite of this food was exactly that.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Fast-forward past all the details and prep and we find ourselves at the day of the party and the food is set up and we are ready to roll. Let me take a moment to add that Coast’s catering deals are second to none and their commitment to great service, treating you like family, is a reflection of the warmth, love, and kindness that they prepare their food with ( “food from the soul” as they say) that make this place the very best of the best (thank you Tony!)</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The real story here starts with when it came time to serve the food. Most of the family came from down south, so we made sure to have a good variety of food to please everyone. We also got more than what our actual guest count was and were a bit worried that we may have ordered too much…but in retrospect, it was foolish of us to think every person in that room wouldn’t have the exact same reaction to the food we did when we first tasted it.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We expected people to take a plate home. Most everyone took three to four plates home. To this day, all anyone talks about in regards to the party, is the food.<br />
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<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Now, scroll back up and read all the reviews again, then realize this place is the BEST on the list. Marinate on that.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><a href="https://www.joes320cafe.com/"><span style="font-size: small;">https://www.joes320cafe.com</span></a></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2013/01/im-potato-head.html"><span style="font-size: small;">http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2013/01/im-potato-head.html</span></a></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><a href="https://www.whetstonestation.com/"><span style="font-size: small;">https://www.whetstonestation.com</span></a></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><a href="https://dumplingkingdomallston.com/"><span style="font-size: small;">https://dumplingkingdomallston.com</span></a></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2014/12/eating-well-in-boston.html"><span style="font-size: small;">http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2014/12/eating-well-in-boston.html</span></a></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><a href="https://www.veggiegalaxy.com/"><span style="font-size: small;">https://www.veggiegalaxy.com</span></a></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><a href="http://www.coastsoulcafe.com/"><span style="font-size: small;">http://www.coastsoulcafe.com</span></a></span></div>
<br />Dennis Kreative Ideahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198159370078849491noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710183692993392463.post-62240455958206973102018-12-30T20:11:00.002-05:002018-12-30T20:11:57.580-05:00The Withering Constitution<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"> We are nearing the end of history. I have not spoken of prophecy here much and know full well that many people embrace many different beliefs. If you are among those that do not believe in biblical prophecy, you probably should start. A huge part of it is facilitated by the drastic reduction of our civil liberties and freedoms. If you think that it can never happen here in the good ole’ US of A, you haven’t been paying attention to world history, or even the history of our own country…which is rapidly unfolding , even as I write this.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Let’s start with the First Amendment. It affords us the freedom of religion. There wasn’t much of that back in 2011 when a <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/california-family-fined-bible-study-home/story?id=14582868"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: red;">California couple was fined $300</span></span></a> for holding bible study in their home. A <a href="https://www.faithwire.com/2018/03/13/lawsuit-filed-after-florida-condo-bans-residents-from-playing-christian-music-holding-bible-studies-in-common-area/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: red;">condo association in Florida banned bible</span></span></a> study and the playing of Christian music in March 2018. A town in <a href="https://www.christianheadlines.com/contributors/michael-foust/town-bans-bible-studies-in-family-s-home-threatens-500-fines.html"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: red;">Pennsylvania banned bible study in a home</span></span></a> with a threat of a $500 fine (per day!) in July 2018. A man was threatened with <a href="https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2018/08/16/1553164/0/en/Senior-Living-Community-Threatens-Resident-with-Eviction-for-Holding-Bible-Study-in-his-Apartment.html"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: red;">eviction from his apartment</span></span></a> in October 2018 after bible study was banned. How far off are we from a time when holding church in your home will be outright illegal?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> It gets worse though. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Banning religious worship in your private residence is just the pebble in the avalanche. The merging of church and state, where the state dictates and regulates religion is where we really blow the First Amendment to smithereens. How far off are we when the President vows to close the gap between church and state? How close are we to religious oppression when the prevailing thought is that only Christians should serve in government?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> How long will the First Amendment guarantee the freedom of the press if the narrative is constantly pushed (and believed) that the press is the “enemy of the people?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> How long will the First Amendment protect the right to public assembly when 19 states have already introduced legislation that criminalizes peaceful assembly and public protest? I’d say not long at all, especially when the President himself calls for the loss of citizenship and jail time for anyone burning the flag…a protected action under the First Amendment.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fFgJS9VIkiE/XClrJ0HScHI/AAAAAAAAEaU/Nt1nCrAv0aYDYsumX7aaAPackHIGzGLygCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/second-amendment-right-to-bear-arms-usa-pin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fFgJS9VIkiE/XClrJ0HScHI/AAAAAAAAEaU/Nt1nCrAv0aYDYsumX7aaAPackHIGzGLygCK4BGAYYCw/s320/second-amendment-right-to-bear-arms-usa-pin.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The Second Amendment grants the right to bear arms. In light of all the recent school shootings, the push to confiscate firearms and impinge the ability to purchase them is a daily headline. A disarmed populace cannot defend itself from government abuse. If you think governments never abuse their citizens then, again, you have not paid attention to history.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The Fourth Amendment protects us from unreasonable searches and seizures…but the NSA and Homeland Security has some nifty loopholes to get around that. Add to that the newly nominated Attorney General (William Barr) is against freedom and actually thinks the Patriot Act should go further than it does. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The Fifth Amendment says we are not to be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process. A more expansive Patriot Act will trample all over that, and the President (Trump) won’t even blink since he is also against due process (as he stated when talking about taking away guns first, and worrying about due process later!). Can we not see how close we are?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The Sixth Amendment gives us the right to a speedy and public trial buy an impartial jury. Yet in 2011 the military was given power to detain us citizens without a trial. In 2012 the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was signed into law and permits the indefinite detention of American citizens, without a trial. This law has NOT been repealed, so Trump has this very power, now…today. In fact, he re-authorized it just this year!<br />
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The Eighth Amendment prohibits cruel and unusual punishment of the citizens. Our current president is a supporter of torture and promised in 2016 to expand torture laws. Now, you might be thinking to yourself that those laws only apply to non-US people suspected of acts of terror, but don’t forget that they apply to <i>anyone</i> accused of acts of terror against the USA, even American citizens.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8AwGe2JF0B0/XClrTZPXc6I/AAAAAAAAEac/XcRpGHMrS1cUgEsU6NjmhSSN_hoNPgfmQCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/8thamendmentsc.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8AwGe2JF0B0/XClrTZPXc6I/AAAAAAAAEac/XcRpGHMrS1cUgEsU6NjmhSSN_hoNPgfmQCK4BGAYYCw/s320/8thamendmentsc.png" width="315" /></a><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The Fourteenth Amendment allows citizenship to anyone born or naturalized here that is subject to USA jurisdiction. President Trump is actively trying to get rid of this. How tenuous are our rights when the Constitution can be amended by executive order? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> People are so caught up in Democrats versus Republican, they don’t realize that BOTH parties are slowly taking away our constitutional rights. They don’t realize that once those rights are gone, they are never coming back. They don’t realize that biblical prophecy is facilitated by the erosion of these rights. They don’t realize how very close we are to the close of history.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> It’s time to wake up and realize that salvation is real and we need to do everything in our power to spread the gospel. Prophecy is not going to change, so we must.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/california-family-fined-bible-study-home/story?id=14582868"><b>https://abcnews.go.com/US/california-family-fined-bible-study-home/story?id=14582868</b></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.faithwire.com/2018/03/13/lawsuit-filed-after-florida-condo-bans-residents-from-playing-christian-music-holding-bible-studies-in-common-area/"><b>https://www.faithwire.com/2018/03/13/lawsuit-filed-after-florida-condo-bans-residents-from-playing-christian-music-holding-bible-studies-in-common-area/</b></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.christianheadlines.com/contributors/michael-foust/town-bans-bible-studies-in-family-s-home-threatens-500-fines.html"><b>https://www.christianheadlines.com/contributors/michael-foust/town-bans-bible-studies-in-family-s-home-threatens-500-fines.html</b></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2018/08/16/1553164/0/en/Senior-Living-Community-Threatens-Resident-with-Eviction-for-Holding-Bible-Study-in-his-Apartment.html"><b>https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2018/08/16/1553164/0/en/Senior-Living-Community-Threatens-Resident-with-Eviction-for-Holding-Bible-Study-in-his-Apartment.html</b></a></span></div>
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Dennis Kreative Ideahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198159370078849491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710183692993392463.post-12317352936427135352018-11-28T21:31:00.001-05:002018-11-28T21:31:54.800-05:00Your Health: Back To Basics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I have written extensively about health and fitness on this blog, but the subject never gets old and is never dated. In fact, the older we all get the more important our health becomes. It is my hope that all I have written before on the subject has inspired someone in a positive way. This post is also meant for inspiration, but I want to present it very simply for anyone feeling down and unmotivated…thus a “back to basics” approach.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Recently I have been exposed to a very effective program called <a href="https://o2x.com/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: red;">O2X</span></span></a>. I have used it to inspire myself and jumpstart a lifestyle change that is rooted in the basics of health and fitness. These four simple pillars revolve around diet, exercise, rest and attitude. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">DIET:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> No matter what your health or fitness goals are, your diet plays a profound role in it. When I say “diet”, I’m not talking about any particular program, but instead simply referring to the food you eat. Most of us don’t make the best choices all the time, so it’s probably safe to say there is room for improvement. Eating “healthy” has become debatable these days with so many people <a href="https://www.forksoverknives.com/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: red;">going vegan</span></span></a>, but what can be agreed upon is what it means to eat unhealthy…especially when talking about the extreme (fast food all day, everyday). </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Balance your food with a good mix of protein, carbohydrates, and vegetables. Depending on your goals, these mixes should vary, but the basic start is to have the mix, instead of neglecting one or more categories.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">EXERCISE:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> This is the part people most focus on, to the detriment of the other factors that go into good health and fitness. I’m an advocate for being active, <a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2011/03/work-it-out.html"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: red;">regardless of what physical activity you do</span></span></a>, it’s better than not doing anything at all. That said, get regular with working out. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Get specific with moving your body. I once read that Bruce Lee would purposely park in a far space in a store parking lot just to increase the distance he had to walk to get to the store. It sounds inconsequential, but all those trips to the store add up, in a good way…not to mention that <a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2014/08/walk-about-it.html"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: red;">walking</span></span></a> is one of the best things you can do for your overall health. You’d be surprised what an hour of walking can do for you, especially if you take an <a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2015/09/take-hourtake-hill.html"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: red;">extreme approach</span></span></a> to it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The basic start to exercise is to do <i>something</i> that increases your heart rate and makes you sweat, making sure to properly warm up and recover.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">REST:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> You may not believe this or even agree with what I’m about to say…but proper rest is probably the most important component to the entire health and fitness discussion.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Regardless if you are working your body through exercise or abusing your body through lack of exercise and improper diet, your body needs time to recover and heal…from whatever you are putting it through.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Many people have sleep disorders, and of those that do…some are completely unaware they are afflicted. Sleep disorders double your risk for cardiovascular disease and getting into an auto accident, and triple your risk for mood and anxiety disorders. If you know you have a sleep disorder, get it treated…all others get checked out to see if you do, or make sure you don’t.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The benefits of proper rest are tremendous (the list is extensive and my fingers are tired, so google it). The basics of sleep is that adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night. Adjust your schedule to achieve this, or get as close as possible.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">ATTITUDE:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Sometimes people look at their health and fitness in slices instead of looking at <a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2012/06/total-fitness.html"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: red;">the total picture</span></span></a>. A lot goes into maintaining ourselves and even more with improving ourselves. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> You might be looking at your life, keenly aware of the negativity in it, and thinking you are not where you want to be with your health and fitness. You may not know how to get where you want to be, how to begin, or where to even get the motivation to start. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Fitness doesn’t have to be a <a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-fitness-war.html"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: red;">war</span></span></a>, but sometimes it is, and we have to embrace the warrior within us for our daily taste of victory. That’s just one attitude that might work for you, there are others. Adopting the right attitude that commits you to the basics presented here is exactly where you should start. </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Stay positive and focused with the goal of creating a better you today than you were yesterday. Take yourself back to the basics…and build from there.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://o2x.com/"><b><span style="color: red;">https://o2x.com</span></b></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.forksoverknives.com/"><b><span style="color: red;">https://www.forksoverknives.com</span></b></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2011/03/work-it-out.html"><b><span style="color: red;">http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2011/03/work-it-out.html</span></b></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2014/08/walk-about-it.html"><b><span style="color: red;">http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2014/08/walk-about-it.html</span></b></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2015/09/take-hourtake-hill.html"><b><span style="color: red;">http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2015/09/take-hourtake-hill.html</span></b></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2012/06/total-fitness.html"><b><span style="color: red;">http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2012/06/total-fitness.html</span></b></a></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-fitness-war.html"><b><span style="color: red;">http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-fitness-war.html</span></b></a></span></div>
Dennis Kreative Ideahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198159370078849491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710183692993392463.post-2866647771654449172018-10-30T15:02:00.000-04:002018-10-30T15:02:01.633-04:00In God We Trust…?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SpthaF25FKA/W9iqD6JoGqI/AAAAAAAAEYc/2MQM11O1TM4zg-KhjObeVYxZ8t_az8YJQCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/shutterstock_52126561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SpthaF25FKA/W9iqD6JoGqI/AAAAAAAAEYc/2MQM11O1TM4zg-KhjObeVYxZ8t_az8YJQCK4BGAYYCw/s320/shutterstock_52126561.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: #2b2f2f;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(43, 47, 47);"><span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;">Funny how our money says that when, through its use, leaves little room for trust in God at all. Am I saying we should endeavor to live life without the use of money? Absolutely not. I’m just pointing out how we inject God into the strangest of places, and then wonder why His influence seems to be missing from our society.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Patriotism seems to be the latest thing sweeping the country, or should I now say nationalism? People are wrapping themselves in the flag, if not completely embracing the ideals the flag actually stands for. Through the divisiveness of our social commentary, being loyal to God and country is becoming something of a fashion trend…figuratively speaking. But is it still God and country, or are we actually moving to God IN country? See, “and” suggests there is a separation between the two, while “in” is indicative of both being merged.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Many may not see the wisdom of the separation of church and state, so therefore do not see the danger of church in state. God has always offered himself as a choice and to that end, has given us free will to make that choice. So what does it say about us, or more specifically, those that profess to abide in godly ways, if God is no longer a choice, but a mandate?</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KBLkW9I-1Jw/W9iqIm7VeYI/AAAAAAAAEYk/RNHz6nvUeCgUjuqnYBztVjtZWNOHExYEACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/freedom-of-religion-does-not-mean-punishing-those-who-dont-25219942.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KBLkW9I-1Jw/W9iqIm7VeYI/AAAAAAAAEYk/RNHz6nvUeCgUjuqnYBztVjtZWNOHExYEACK4BGAYYCw/s320/freedom-of-religion-does-not-mean-punishing-those-who-dont-25219942.png" width="228" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Do we really want to move our country from a constitutional republic into a theocracy? You may think I’m overthinking this, but when faith becomes the basis for how we govern the people and is injected into every decision of policy, is it not a theocratic model we have embraced? Perhaps there is nothing wrong in that, but I see little “freedom” in being told who to worship, how to worship, and when to worship….because ultimately that is where every theocracy ends up.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> We must understand that we need not embrace a theocratic state in order to preserve our morality. Yes, our laws against murder are absolutely grounded in “Thou shalt not kill”…but how do you stand up against abortion, but remain silent about unjust police killing? How do you champion the sanctity of life, while loading your rifle for the hunt? How do you profess to speak for those without a voice, but turn a deaf ear to those with voices pleading for your help? Wrapping yourself in the bible doesn’t make your position more tenable, it simply makes your hypocrisy more repugnant.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="https://whnt.com/2018/10/21/alabama-to-vote-on-ten-commandments-amendment/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Alabama is poised to vote</span></a> this November on the placement of the Ten Commandments in public schools and government buildings in an effort to shatter whatever separation exists between church and state. Where is the “freedom of religion” in that? It’s more like the freedom of ONE religion, at the expense of all others. I won’t even go down the rabbit hole of the daily breaking of those commandments by the very people seeking to mandate them…all the while claiming this to be a Christian nation, but showing it instead to be a nation of hypocrites.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> We don’t need mandated morality to combat the woes of our society, we need moral people living by example…specifically THE example, <a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2018/09/what-would-jesus-do.html"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">as shown by Christ</span></a>. Unfortunately when this is pointed out, Christ becomes outdated and gets marginalized. He ceases to be our creator and instead becomes a very nice man that meant well. How quickly He is abandoned by those upholding Him.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> It doesn’t seem to me that there is much trusting in God, despite what our money says. Instead it seems we trust in what we want and how we want things to be, and if wrapping ourselves in “faith” can get that for us, so be it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I’ve never seen Malcom X as prophetic, but “by any means necessary” has become the modus operandi of our society, and the only thing sadder and more frightening is our inability to understand how very lost we are becoming because of it. In God we surely do not trust…but we absolutely should.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://whnt.com/2018/10/21/alabama-to-vote-on-ten-commandments-amendment/">https://whnt.com/2018/10/21/alabama-to-vote-on-ten-commandments-amendment/</a></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2018/09/what-would-jesus-do.html"><b>http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2018/09/what-would-jesus-do.html</b></a></span></div>
Dennis Kreative Ideahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198159370078849491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710183692993392463.post-83113590662851770082018-09-29T23:11:00.004-04:002018-09-29T23:11:55.597-04:00What Would Jesus Do…?<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(43, 47, 47); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #2b2f2f; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BS7jZjkV7eI/W7A-S1l_8CI/AAAAAAAAEXg/mcWEYnlMhhQozGbam9pZgwNWhDhfgapuwCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/what-would-jesus-do.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BS7jZjkV7eI/W7A-S1l_8CI/AAAAAAAAEXg/mcWEYnlMhhQozGbam9pZgwNWhDhfgapuwCK4BGAYYCw/s320/what-would-jesus-do.png" width="320" /></a><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> A serious question, for those that profess to love and follow Him, that likely isn’t asked enough and when asked, probably isn’t answered with any serious intent. Now I realize that everyone doesn’t have the same religious views, so this post obviously isn’t going to resonate with everybody. In fact, it is written for a very specific audience to provoke a very specific response.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> We like to divide ourselves. Oh, we lament about the divisiveness of it all, yet willingly set ourselves apart from each other with all kinds of labels. These labels often reflect what we do or what we believe, so as to easily identify what we are about. For example, if you call yourself a Christian, it’s expected that you are one that follows the example and teachings of Christ. Unfortunately it seems our society has mislabeled many of us and many of us have mislabeled ourselves. Taking the given example, it makes no sense to call oneself a Christian if you do not live your life in agreement with Christ.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Some say religion is politics and the barrier between the two is razor thin. I say…what would Jesus do? Do you think if Jesus walked the Earth today that He would be going to the polls and pulling a lever for His favorite candidate, or would He be doing the same thing He did before…and minister to the masses about how to attain the Kingdom of Heaven? Would He help the poor, feed the hungry, heal the sick? Or would He lobby government representatives to enact legislation that reflect His political beliefs?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I don’t recall Jesus getting involved in the politics of Rome…until he was taken into custody to account for all the good he had done.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> So forgive me if I’m perplexed by the agenda of those that have been labeled, and label themselves, as Evangelicals. To evangelize is to preach the gospel and convert people to Christianity. I don’t recall Jesus ever converting anyone through force, but instead through example. I recall He lived by the Ten Commandments, but did not seek to have Rome enforce them. Today it seems there is a concerted effort to make America into a theocracy instead of maintaining it as a constitutional republic. There is no need of human legislation to enforce the law of God. If Evangelicals are truly reading their bibles, then they should be living by faith knowing that God is fully capable of enforcing His laws, and judgement is soon coming. That being the case, their only question should be…what would Jesus do?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> People are willing to abandon their moral compass if the off-road trip brings them to where they want to be. Essentially, it doesn’t matter how you get there, as long as you get there. “By any means necessary” doesn’t seem to be the way of Christ. I seem to recall He was very specific in the “way” and it was rooted in “truth” in order to have “life.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> So as you read this and get all bent out of shape (or not), just remember that many people heard the words of Christ and chose to walk away…but they did not call themselves Christians or Evangelicals after they parted ways. If you are wondering if you have parted ways with the Almighty…all you have to do is first ask yourself, what would Jesus do? Then answer the question, as found in His word. You will either agree or disagree…how you label yourself after that is up to you.</span></span></div>
Dennis Kreative Ideahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198159370078849491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710183692993392463.post-34807767805457620162018-08-31T13:15:00.001-04:002018-08-31T13:15:23.052-04:00Served…With Honor<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(43, 47, 47); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #2b2f2f; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AH8vp5RV5Ao/W4l3BIDdgUI/AAAAAAAAEWU/xBTJ9lfUg_YuM587UJbPruK8oGY_hgN5QCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/McCain%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AH8vp5RV5Ao/W4l3BIDdgUI/AAAAAAAAEWU/xBTJ9lfUg_YuM587UJbPruK8oGY_hgN5QCK4BGAYYCw/s320/McCain%2B1.jpg" width="198" /></a><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The country has lost a true American hero with the passing of Senator John McCain. His service to this country has been absolute and he is truly an inspiration to anyone looking to dedicate themselves to a life that looms larger than their own self interest. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> There is very little I can say about Senator McCain that has not already been covered by the outpouring of tribute and memories from those that loved and respected him. Instead, let me take a moment to share some instances that have left a lasting impression on me that not only elevated my respect for Senator McCain, but my expectations for those wishing to truly serve at the highest levels of our nation.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> John McCain was an imperfect person. We are all imperfect people. The separation between McCain from most others in politics was the ability to not only understand his imperfections, but to fully embrace them as a means to consistently strive for a better version of himself. Too often people enter politics thinking there is no room for error and that any showing or acknowledgment of such is a sign of weakness. They could not be further from the truth.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I grew up a Democrat and throughout my adult life I have steadily moved from the left to plant myself squarely in the middle. I feel that the only way to maintain balance and truly see the the world of politics is be able to look, at an equal distance, to both the left and the right. That said, I did not always agree with McCain politically, but he also left no doubt that despite a differing view, he truly wanted to make America a better place.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> There are four specific events that elevated my respect for McCain beyond what I already afforded him from his war service and sacrifice in Vietnam.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #2b2f2f;"> The first was in an interview McCain gave wherein he expressed a deep regret and shame for his role in the </span><a href="https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2018/04/02/john-mccain-keating-five-scandal-arizona-senator/538034001/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: red;">Keating Five Scandal</span></span></a><span style="color: #2b2f2f;">. His disdain for himself was palatable and a lasting scar, for himself, that reminded him to never lower himself to that level again. Too many politicians are shameless, and thus do nothing but continue to lower themselves farther and farther into an abyss of questionable behavior. McCain lived his days with regret regarding that situation which tells me he was a man of principal, that simply made a mistake. A person with no regrets is a person that believes they’ve made no mistakes, or feels nothing for the consequence of their mistakes. Beware of such people.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #2b2f2f;"> The second was in South Carolina in his first bid for president. </span><a href="https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2000/apr/20/20000420-011113-5633r/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: red;">McCain compromised himself</span></span></a><span style="color: #2b2f2f;"> on his position on the Confederate Flag because he thought it would get him votes. Shortly after, he stood up publicly and admitted what he had done and reinstated his integrity by sharing what he really believed concerning the flag. His exact words…” I feared that if I answered honestly, I could not win the South Carolina primary. So I chose to compromise my principles. I broke my promise to always tell the truth.”</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Few politicians have the stones to stand up publicly, as a matter of conscious, and be truthful about who they are and what they have done to compromise their principles. How can anyone not respect a person that does this? How can anyone trust a person that could never bring themselves to do this?</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #2b2f2f;"> The third was during his second bid for president wherein he was at a rally and a woman spoke up about </span><a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2008/10/mccain-obama-not-an-arab-crowd-boos-014479"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: red;">Obama being Arab</span></span></a><span style="color: #2b2f2f;">. McCain, to the disdain of his own supporters, rejected this narrative and stood up for his political opponent citing that they just had differing views on how best to run the country. Right is right, and wrong is wrong. Integrity is standing up for what’s right regardless of the overwhelming number of people in the wrong. Your moral compass should not sway in the wind, but be a beacon for those that are lost in the storm. McCain was a beacon that day.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #2b2f2f;"> The fourth was his </span><a href="https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/aug/26/john-mccain-obamacare-repeal-thumbs-down-cemented-/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: red;">infamous vote</span></span></a><span style="color: #2b2f2f;"> on repealing The Affordable Care Act. This was the ultimate expression of being a “maverick,” but also one of the biggest acts of moral independence ever seen on the Senate floor. It takes a form of courage, that is sorely lacking today, to oppose your own party because they refuse to legislate via the proper procedures. Politics has become so tribal recently, with very few realizing that the only tribe they should uphold is “American.”</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> We need more mavericks in Congress, on both sides, willing to do the right thing no matter how unpopular it is. We need more people of conscious in government that regret their mistakes. We need more people of strong character that will step forward and confront themselves when they fall short of their own convictions. We need more people that will stand against hate and intolerance, even at the expense of their own political machinations. We need more people that will stand up for doing things the right way, even if that means standing alone against their own party.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> This country needs more people in government like John McCain, that exercise integrity, duty, and honor… and will put the country first and work toward leaving it better than how they found it. Anyone professing a willingness to honor the memory of John McCain need only serve this country selflessly.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">John McCain III served…honorably.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2018/04/02/john-mccain-keating-five-scandal-arizona-senator/538034001/"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2018/04/02/john-mccain-keating-five-scandal-arizona-senator/538034001/</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2000/apr/20/20000420-011113-5633r/"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2000/apr/20/20000420-011113-5633r/</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2008/10/mccain-obama-not-an-arab-crowd-boos-014479"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.politico.com/story/2008/10/mccain-obama-not-an-arab-crowd-boos-014479</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/aug/26/john-mccain-obamacare-repeal-thumbs-down-cemented-/"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/aug/26/john-mccain-obamacare-repeal-thumbs-down-cemented-/</span></a></span></div>
Dennis Kreative Ideahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198159370078849491noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710183692993392463.post-13351833458332636822018-07-30T23:51:00.000-04:002018-07-30T23:51:50.346-04:00Say Anything (I’ll Believe It)<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(43, 47, 47); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #2b2f2f; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SZpzhnNsGP0/W1_b1IPvkxI/AAAAAAAAEVo/1QDWMd2a9XIhLsaKyUcqRU40dHNpIif9QCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/Direct%2BBuy%2Bletter%2Bsigned.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SZpzhnNsGP0/W1_b1IPvkxI/AAAAAAAAEVo/1QDWMd2a9XIhLsaKyUcqRU40dHNpIif9QCK4BGAYYCw/s200/Direct%2BBuy%2Bletter%2Bsigned.png" width="200" /></a><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"> I think we can all agree that words matter. They convey what we are thinking and reveal much about who we are and what we stand for. They become meaningless when we form them as lies…at least meaningless at revealing the truth, since they still say much about the person speaking them. In an age where we have terms like “fake news” finding legitimacy among the masses, we really need to examine how we process and weigh the things that are said. If words really matter, then we should be wary of those that will say anything, and those that will believe everything.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"> I remember when I once tried to run for class office while in middle school. My campaign speech was filled with wild promises that I fully intended to keep, but were making because I knew what would move the class. Free lunch, longer recess, shorter classes…I was about to win, when one of the teachers did the dastardly deed of asking the class to simply think about what I was saying. Of course, he had to explain further because the more they thought about my promises, the more they liked them. What they hadn’t realized was the way things </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><i>really</i></span><span style="font-kerning: none;"> worked in the school and because of that reality, none of my promises had a snowball’s chance in Hell of materializing. To this day I think back in my Scooby-Doo villain voice, “…and I would have gotten away with it, if not for that meddling teacher.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"> There are people that </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><i>are</i></span><span style="font-kerning: none;"> getting away with it though. They are saying whatever they think their audience wants to hear, and nobody in that audience seems to have the ability to think beyond how good the words sound as they cascade their audio senses. They never seek to compare the words with the facts of their reality. Worse still, when reality kicks their door in, they just go get a thicker door. It would be comical, if not for the fact that the future of the nation, and by extension, the world…is being shaped by such people.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I frown on people that blame the system without realizing that they are the very system they are complaining about. If you think politicians can’t be trusted, then stop trusting them. I’m amazed when the news puts our politicians on display, for all of us to see, and we willfully refuse to see what is right in front of us. Take for example when a politician is campaigning and the news says they need to “tweak” their message. Or they say they need to make their message “resonate” with their base. Does nobody understand what they are really saying, is that politician needs to find out what the people want to hear…and say that? Does nobody realize they are telling you, in your face, that the politician needs to lie to you so that you will vote for them?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"> How about when they play actual footage of said politician holding a different or even opposite view than what they are currently saying…and the response is one of acceptance, as if they wouldn’t dare be saying what they are saying </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><i>just</i></span><span style="font-kerning: none;"> to get votes. It’s to the point that factual evidence is irrelevant to whatever narrative is being pushed, and reality is an anomaly not to be believed for what it is; real.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> How did we ever get to the point that “fake news’ has become a thing? When did people abdicate reason and the ability to research fact from fiction, and instead embrace twenty words from a tweet as their only measure of reality? Our political landscape has become so divisive, polluted, and poisonous that nobody seems to care about the truth. All they want is their feeling of being “right” validated by the power to institute whatever whim crosses their mind on any given day. We are so “right versus left” that we can’t see where either might be falling short because such vision would require a view from the middle, and nobody seems to want to be brave enough to stand without a tribe.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"> So instead, we are inundated by politicians, celebrities-turned-President, and news </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><i>opinion</i></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"> show hosts (that nobody can seem to understand is not actual news) that willfully say absolutely anything (truth be damned) because they know we will believe everything (facts be damned)…and we sit around like confused lemmings wondering why things are getting so bad. We the people, are the problem, and so must also be the solution.</span></span></div>
Dennis Kreative Ideahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198159370078849491noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710183692993392463.post-44367478845342882052018-06-28T20:32:00.000-04:002018-06-28T20:32:44.037-04:00The Moral High Ground<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Politics in America have become more divisive and polarized than I have ever witnessed in my lifetime. Granted I’m not an old man, but Trump is the eighth President that I can actually remember, so I’ve seen my fair share of politics. We have all heard disparaging jokes about politicians, they rank right next to the jokes about lawyers. It’s probably more than coincidence that a lot of people in politics are also lawyers. These days though, the jokes have given way to visceral scorn as it seems the nation is struggling with what the moral high ground is…and where it can be found.</span><span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Political association has become tribal and very primitive. It seems as though higher reasoning is something to aspire to have, instead of a given as the norm. As I sit here squarely in the middle, I chuckle at how each side thinks they are right simply because they occupy their side. I stop chuckling when I see the depths of depravity each side stoops to in their quest to claim a higher morality over the other.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> If it hasn't been explained yet…you can’t claim the high ground while digging a trench.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> It’s discouraging to see my country spiral into the abyss simply because people are choosing to abandon their personal moral compass in favor of upholding their tribe. Politics has become the arena of cowards, where courage is plentiful when the enemy is the other tribe, but nowhere to be found when your own tribe diverges from decency and truth.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> In case you haven’t gotten it yet…don’t defend your party at the expense of upholding decency and your own personal morality.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Leadership starts at the top. Without question, the President sets the tone of the country and certainly his own party. The hypocrisy of Trump ever trying to check someone else on civility, decency, and truth is epic. He can cry “fake news” until he’s blue in the face, but it won’t erase the facts. What has been erased though is the moral compass of every Republican that will readily call out a Democrat for being Trumpian…but won’t stand their ground, the moral high ground, against Trump.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> In case you don’t understand…accomplishments are not free passes for bad behavior. Defending incivility and indecency at the expense of your personal integrity for the purpose of keeping your party in power is probably the most un-American thing you can do.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Neither party can claim the moral high ground because neither party even understands what it is. All they seem to understand are their own tribal talking points and avenues of attack for their opponents. All they understand is political warfare, and take no responsibility that the American people are the collateral damage. A society as divided as ours is becoming, is a society in peril and on the brink of ruin.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SH-_vg99R6I/WzV46NTcIAI/AAAAAAAAEVM/PewKXjO1wvAm4bSgSLc4M-CwMV6dW_dGACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/decency_respect_672x372.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SH-_vg99R6I/WzV46NTcIAI/AAAAAAAAEVM/PewKXjO1wvAm4bSgSLc4M-CwMV6dW_dGACK4BGAYYCw/s320/decency_respect_672x372.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(43, 47, 47); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #2b2f2f; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"> If you haven’t figured it out yet…the moral high ground is staying loyal to truth, not rhetoric…staying true to decency, not poll numbers…and staying civil while calling out incivility </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><i>wherever</i></span><span style="font-kerning: none;"> you find it. The only place you can find the moral high ground is within your own heart. People should be choosing their hearts over their </span></span><span style="color: #2b2f2f; font-family: Lucida Grande; font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(43, 47, 47);">political affiliations, no matter the cost.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Now that you know what the moral high ground is and where to find it, you need to choose if you really want to claim it. If you're not willing to climb, you're never going to rise.</span></span></div>
Dennis Kreative Ideahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198159370078849491noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710183692993392463.post-22271379471287828272018-05-31T00:23:00.001-04:002018-05-31T00:23:32.360-04:00The Guns or The People<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(43, 47, 47); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #2b2f2f; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-psnZ5n4NrQc/Ww94N5WhRCI/AAAAAAAAETc/a1kydMDA8ugRKkx_r4WrmzRVKp37IjMvACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/3F9EDE1F-E7BE-4412-9BC8-63AE41A9EE6E_cx0_cy3_cw0_w1023_r1_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-psnZ5n4NrQc/Ww94N5WhRCI/AAAAAAAAETc/a1kydMDA8ugRKkx_r4WrmzRVKp37IjMvACK4BGAYYCw/s320/3F9EDE1F-E7BE-4412-9BC8-63AE41A9EE6E_cx0_cy3_cw0_w1023_r1_s.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"> It’s a sad day when this debate has to actually happen, but in the wake of all the recent school shootings, this is a discussion that absolutely has to happen…and something needs to be done sooner rather than later. Some people see the problem as having a very simple solution, but anyone honestly looking from all angles can see that it is a bit more complicated than any simple solution offered.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"> Children are being killed and it has to stop. I don’t care what side of the argument you fall on, this has to be the starting point for any real discussion. The problem is </span><span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">how</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"> you stop these tragedies from happening. On one side there are those that say restricting the ability for </span><span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">anyone</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"> to own the type of gun being used most (the infamous AR-15) will save lives (and could have already saved lives had it already been banned). Looking at this logically, imagine the AR-15 was already banned…then every child that has recently been killed by one would NOT have been killed, by an AR-15. Looks like a real simple solution.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"> It’s tough to argue in opposition to this specific line of reasoning since removing the exact weapon used from the equation actually changes the equation. But…what does it change the equation into? Do these children still die from another type of gun (as has happened in other school shootings)? Do they die by other means since any person determined to kill </span><span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">will</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"> find a way? Do they not die at all? These are all interesting questions that don’t change the real probability that without the availability of the AR-15, our children would be (or would have been) safer.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> On the other side, infringing on the rights of law-abiding citizens for the actions of those that break the law doesn’t seen at all fair, or logical. People use cars to intentionally run other people over all the time, yet nobody calls for all cars or the specific types of cars used in these crimes, to be banned. You can take any object and insert it into this equation and it will never make sense to deprive everyone of the object.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> So perhaps the question should be how we keep our children safe without infringing on the rights of our citizens? Can we even do it? If all guns were banned and out of the hands of the populace, would that make our children complete safe? Probably not. Would that make them a bit safer than they are now? Absolutely. So why aren’t we doing that?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> We aren’t doing that because it would violate the 2nd Amendment of the Constitution. That amendment provides for citizens to protect themselves from other citizens as well as a government gone awry. So what’s really happening here is we are weighing those rights against the lives of our children. We are setting up a discussion where we have to choose the guns or the people…but is it really that simple? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Britain has successfully deprived the general populace of guns, and have a stabbing problem you wouldn't believe. Take away the guns, and the people use knives. Take away the knives…and what will they use next? Could it be the issue isn’t with the weapon of choice, but the mind using the weapon? How do we legislate behavior beyond having laws that clearly define what is acceptable behavior and what is not? Despite these interesting questions, I think it’s safe to say that a lot more people would be killed and injured had those knives been guns instead.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> People kill other people by any means necessary and although we all say it has to stop, we should all be intelligent enough to realize it will never completely stop. However, that doesn’t mean we should not take all the steps we can to minimize it as much as possible. You have to ask yourself…would you want to live in a society with no freedom, if it meant that no child were ever killed by a deranged mind? What parent would not to give up everything for the safety of their children?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> We have a system in place to protect us, but when that system in not diligently adhered to…children can (and have) pay the price. Even when that system works, it’s not a 100% guarantee of safety. So where does that leave us?</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> It leaves us with a lot of questions we need to answer for the safety of our children and the foundation of our nation. It leaves us having to balance freedom and safety…in a world becoming less of both. God help us all. </span></span></div>
Dennis Kreative Ideahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198159370078849491noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710183692993392463.post-28418667773230525122018-04-30T20:51:00.000-04:002018-04-30T20:51:11.258-04:00Best Movie Ever !!<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(43, 47, 47); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #2b2f2f; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OvvC7nXHy_s/Wue3hycru1I/AAAAAAAAER4/wXteX-URy0A9M9GYKxk-WawG1p7lTAN1QCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/avengers-imax-main-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OvvC7nXHy_s/Wue3hycru1I/AAAAAAAAER4/wXteX-URy0A9M9GYKxk-WawG1p7lTAN1QCK4BGAYYCw/s320/avengers-imax-main-large.jpg" width="220" /></a><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"> It was not my intention to write a film review this month (even though this is not one in the traditional sense of how I do them here). In fact, I had a completely different subject I wanted to delve into that really needs more discussion by everyone. That said, I have seen “<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4154756/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Avengers: Infinity War</span></a>” twice already with more viewings looming in my future, so I’ll save the serious discussion for next month and jump into defending my assertion the title of this post claims.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Let me state clearly that being immersed in pop culture as an avid comic book collector, I’m biased. If you’re the type that thinks “<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097239/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Driving Miss Daisy</span></a>” is one of the greatest films ever…don’t even set foot into the theater to watch Infinity War. I respect that people have different tastes in films. I understand some folks prefer a specific type of film (comedy, romance, historical, etc.). I get all that…and so what. My thing (and you don’t have to agree) is anything that entertains me. To me a great film is any film that moves me in a significant way from where I was when I started watching it. The greatest of these films encompasses something for nearly everyone and has a balance (as all things should) of action, drama, and comedy.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RfMVQHXwRJs/Wue31OKllTI/AAAAAAAAESE/s-EuHoedyzs0A4uPK2kXMquSEhNbci2VACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/josh-brolin-as-thanos-in-avengers-infinity-war-2018-f9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RfMVQHXwRJs/Wue31OKllTI/AAAAAAAAESE/s-EuHoedyzs0A4uPK2kXMquSEhNbci2VACK4BGAYYCw/s320/josh-brolin-as-thanos-in-avengers-infinity-war-2018-f9.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Infinity War is just such a film…perfectly balanced (as all things should be) in delivering tons of action, barrels full of laughs, and enough drama to satisfy any queen.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Even if you are not onboard my biased train and think this is not the best film ever…many have already consented that it is the best super hero film ever. I suppose we’ll have to wait and see if the financial numbers hold up with “<a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2018/02/way-of-wakanda.html"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Black Panther</span></a>” (I doubt it) but money has never been a measure for me of a great film since there have been a lot of financially successful films I regard as trash.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Regardless of where you are with all of this, there is no question that Marvel Studios has done it again. Not only have they put together another masterpiece, but they have set the bar on how to do a great film with a HUGE cast of beloved characters, and done so without taking anything away from those characters. This is an example that needs to be understood by Warner Brothers, but will likely continue to be ignored as they remain dead set on not cashing in on the success of Marvel.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Marvel was always on the right track by introducing their characters to us via their own films. They let the audience grow and evolve with the characters so that by the time we get to this third Avengers film, we have already had three Iron Man films, three Thor films, three Captain America films, two Guardians of the Galaxy films, and one film each of Hulk, Doctor Strange, Spider-Man and Black Panther. This all without counting the two Avengers films…because in this third film we get everyone together (with a few exceptions) including supporting cast!</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9QvpgvEbn9w/Wue4Wx3y3rI/AAAAAAAAESc/gol4S-q8kygsli31biyX7L4d1hkgKbwiACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/Screenshot_72-620x349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9QvpgvEbn9w/Wue4Wx3y3rI/AAAAAAAAESc/gol4S-q8kygsli31biyX7L4d1hkgKbwiACK4BGAYYCw/s320/Screenshot_72-620x349.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"> Unlike the Justice League film…we </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><i>know</i></span><span style="font-kerning: none;"> the characters in Infinity War and care about what happens to them since we have grown with them since 2008. In contrast, the journey from “<a href="http://theboxedoffice.blogspot.com/2013/06/steel-vision.html"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Man of Steel</span></a>” to “<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0974015/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Justice League</span></a>,” though entertaining…just isn’t on the same level as the MCU.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> If you haven’t seen “Avengers: Infinity War” yet and care about the content as it relates to your own entertainment…stop now (but you’ll miss the final element to what makes this the best film ever)</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #2b2f2f;"> ***</span><span style="color: magenta;">SPOILERS</span><span style="color: #2b2f2f;">***</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> There are very few films that dare to challenge the audience by smashing the age old belief that the good guys always win. “<a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2011/06/movie-review-skyline.html"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Skyline</span></a>” did it and I thought it was an excellent twist. “<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080684/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Star Wars:The Empire Strikes Back</span></a>” did it and was one of the greatest science fiction films ever. Add to this list “Avengers: Infinity War”…and understand why when the film ends the audience is left in “dead” silence, and completely stunned.<br />
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I have never seen so many people traumatized by a film…and I have never enjoyed such a reaction so much. I’ll admit the first time I saw the film I was the only person laughing at the end, but I was also probably the only person rooting for Thanos from the beginning. I would say he is the best villain of all time (somebody give Josh Brolin an award), except I take issue with applying the term “villain” to Thanos…but that is a discussion for another post.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rg3i2f7xzls/Wue44yzasKI/AAAAAAAAES4/oct-C_EGQ9Q1mVh3x7-PFE4eOchkFW2_gCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/Avengers-Infinity-War-2018-Thanos-4K-UltraHD-16-9-Widescreen-3840x2160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rg3i2f7xzls/Wue44yzasKI/AAAAAAAAES4/oct-C_EGQ9Q1mVh3x7-PFE4eOchkFW2_gCK4BGAYYCw/s320/Avengers-Infinity-War-2018-Thanos-4K-UltraHD-16-9-Widescreen-3840x2160.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(43, 47, 47); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #2b2f2f; font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span style="font-size: large;"> I can only hope that in Thanos succeeding in </span></span><span style="font-family: Lucida Grande; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #2b2f2f;">eradicating half of the universe (or should I say balancing to bring paradise)...</span><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3322310/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Iron Fist</span></a><span style="color: #2b2f2f;"> was fortunate enough to be whisked away into nothingness. Now <i>that</i> would truly make this the best movie ever!</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4154756/"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4154756/</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097239/"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097239/</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2018/02/way-of-wakanda.html"><span style="color: blue;">http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2018/02/way-of-wakanda.html</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://theboxedoffice.blogspot.com/2013/06/steel-vision.html"><span style="color: blue;">http://theboxedoffice.blogspot.com/2013/06/steel-vision.html</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0974015/"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0974015/</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2011/06/movie-review-skyline.html"><span style="color: blue;">http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2011/06/movie-review-skyline.html</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080684/"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080684/</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3322310/</span></div>
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Dennis Kreative Ideahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198159370078849491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710183692993392463.post-66501933099817488192018-03-30T11:33:00.001-04:002018-03-30T11:33:51.633-04:00A Snapshot in Time<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(43, 47, 47); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #2b2f2f; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"> We never know when we are on the cusp of events that will shape the future, or be that point in time where we can point to as that moment that “changed everything.” Every now and then we need to take a snapshot in time so that we can reflect to quantify if these were indeed the moments, we had no idea were unfolding.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The President:</span></b></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uT_khORlw48/Wr5YBXcO9fI/AAAAAAAAERA/2-RtJQWgORURCaMkQt80ws0xFpNbBSAhgCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/Trump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uT_khORlw48/Wr5YBXcO9fI/AAAAAAAAERA/2-RtJQWgORURCaMkQt80ws0xFpNbBSAhgCK4BGAYYCw/s320/Trump.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Now some may say that the very election of Donald Trump as President was a watershed moment, and it would be hard to argue…but there is much more happening after the fact that might later be looked on as having historical significance. The current scandals plaguing the President are the subject of today, but how will they be looked on tomorrow?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"> With a rash of women coming out making claims of sexual relationships and misconduct, the headlines are dominated by our human curiosity of our human nature. Now…I’m not too certain these claims will amount to any more than to cement the fact Trump puts his pants on one leg at a time like the rest of us, but I do know there is a fundamental difference between his scandals and that of Bill Clinton, namely that all of Trumps accusations are said to take place </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><i>before</i></span><span style="font-kerning: none;"> he was in office, not </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><i>in</i></span><span style="font-kerning: none;"> the oval office.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Perhaps this will all “blow” over and be forgotten, or perhaps he will make the same mistake Clinton did and lie about the situation. After all, people forget Clinton was impeached because he lied, not because he had an extra-marital affair. Given that Trump has a continuous war with the truth, the odds are not in his favor…but time will tell.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Police:</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: #2b2f2f;"> Anyone that is a regular reader of this blog knows the </span><a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-good-guys-dont-wear-badges-part-1.html"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: blue;">police</span></span></a><span style="color: #2b2f2f;"> have been the </span><a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-good-guys-dont-wear-badges-part-2.html"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: blue;">subject</span></span></a><span style="color: #2b2f2f;"> of a few </span><a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-good-guys-dont-wear-badges-part-3.html"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: blue;">posts</span></span></a><span style="color: #2b2f2f;">. Apparently the right people have not been reading them since we seem to have more of the same when it comes to police conduct, or lack thereof. The officers responsible for the death of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_of_Alton_Sterling"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: red;">Alton Sterling</span></span></a><span style="color: #2b2f2f;"> have been found innocent of </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #2b2f2f; text-decoration: underline;">any</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #2b2f2f;"> wrongdoing, despite the President himself remarking during his candidacy, that the cops obviously needed more training and the situation reflected very badly on them.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"> Watching the discussions on this and seeing people remark how Sterling was on drugs, would not comply, and had a gun in is pocket just doesn’t seem to cover the entire issue because they completely ignore the climate that has been created by the constant exoneration of cops, regardless if they are right or wrong. How many videos of people complying with police and </span><span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">still</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"> being brutalized do we need to see before its understood that for Black people, an interaction with police is a life or death situation…no matter what you do?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Stephon Clark is the latest victim of the police, specifically Sacramento PD. People can say that running from the cops was the problem, but who does not run from that which you think is trying to kill you? That segment of America that only see police as protectors simply refuse to understand how another segment of America see them as hunters, sanctioned by those in power to execute whomever they want to.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> If you are not seeing the disparity in police behavior when a white person can shoot up a church or a school having confirmed kills, yet every effort is taken to capture them alive, but a black person that hasn’t killed anyone is quickly shot and killed…then you are being willfully ignorant, and are part of the problem.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Guns:</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The hottest topic of the day, by far, is gun control. With the rash or recent school shootings, young people all across the country are leading the way to gun control reform by having their voices heard, and promising to have their votes count when they come of age.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Politicians want to be re-elected, regardless if they are doing a good job or not, and you can bet that if their jobs are threatened, they are going to listen. My question is what is the message and is the answer as cut and dry as banning some guns?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> There is no question that improper enforcement of the current gun laws had a hand in facilitating the recent tragedies. So shouldn’t the first step be to enforce the laws already on the books? Shouldn’t the next step be to make the children safe in school? Nobody wants to go to school with metal detectors at the doors, but if those detectors and school police keep the guns out, shouldn’t they be installed? Obviously we probably need more stringent laws and the enforcement of such, to keep guns out of the hands of unstable people, but it seems to me that we skip a few logical steps on our way to infringing on the rights of others that actually obey the law.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I’ve heard the argument that the AR-15 is not used for hunting, but is only used to shoot other people…and that there is never a need for that. Well, if the 2nd Amendment was made to arm the people against the tyranny of their own government, then I sincerely hope there will never be a need for citizens to own such a weapon. That said, to assume such a time will never arrive is to ignore the lessons history has already taught us.<br />
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The debate on guns is a complicated one, but being fired up on one side or the other and not trying to understand each other will make progress slow, if it happens at all.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-good-guys-dont-wear-badges-part-1.html"><span style="color: magenta;">http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-good-guys-dont-wear-badges-part-1.html</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-good-guys-dont-wear-badges-part-2.html"><span style="color: magenta;">http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-good-guys-dont-wear-badges-part-2.html</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-good-guys-dont-wear-badges-part-3.html"><span style="color: magenta;">http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-good-guys-dont-wear-badges-part-3.html</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_of_Alton_Sterling"><span style="color: magenta;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_of_Alton_Sterling</span></a></span></div>
Dennis Kreative Ideahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198159370078849491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710183692993392463.post-26796923354650560422018-02-28T21:07:00.000-05:002018-03-01T13:03:32.898-05:00Way of Wakanda<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(43, 47, 47); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #2b2f2f; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">THE FILM:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(43, 47, 47); color: #2b2f2f;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">There has been a lot of hype about the release of Marvel Studio’s Black Panther film. Much of it has been positive, but some has been in the form of controversy…which is nothing new when discussing T’Challa and the ways of Wakanda. Black Panther was the first black super hero to appear in comics, and although he debuted onscreen in 2016 in “Captain America 3: Civil War”, his solo film is the first major superhero film to boast a mostly all black cast (I say “major” because in comparison, “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Meteor_Man_(film)"><span style="color: #011a99; line-height: normal;">Meteor Man</span></a>” was minor, albeit enjoyable).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Some see this as significant given the level of success the film has had thus far as it breaks and sets box office records. Others see it as highlighting real issues with Black America…that they will come out in droves to see a film, but not to vote (although I would love to see some concrete numbers on this instead of percentages). Then there are those screaming foul on the film because it has a mostly black cast, citing “reverse” racism.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">If you haven’t seen the movie and plan to, you might want to stop reading now before some spoilers drop.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">There are also those crying foul because the film was not the first Marvel Studios film to showcase LGBT characters in a major way (this has yet to be done onscreen by Marvel, but was expected by some since the current iteration of the comic portrays the Dora Milaje as lesbian).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">If you’re into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you’re going to like this film. Heck, it’s entertaining as a film regardless of its affiliation to the MCU. That said, if you take a closer look, you will find much more to the film than special effects and CGI.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">For example… the struggle between T’Challa and Killmonger can be seen as not just a microcosm of black-on-black violence, but the continual breakdown of the black family since these characters are blood relatives. A point further driven home when we learn that T’Challa’s father killed his own brother, making Killmonger an orphan early on. T’Chaka leaves his nephew in America (the abandonment of the black man on his children), a victim of whatever the system will produce (in this case another angry black radical…or liberator of his people, depending on the lens you choose to look through). Not to mention reinforcing the fallacious generalization, but sometimes true point, that black Americans cannot be in harmony with Africans.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Of course much of that is overlooked when the film continuously tries to reinforce the empowering of black people (Wakandans), even as the story is about stopping Killmonger from trying to do the very same on a global scale, albeit not the Wakandan way (but the American way).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">As we keep tunneling down this rabbit hole we eventually come to Everett Ross, one of only two non-black major characters…and a CIA operative (and all that such a job implies), that is given the awesome responsibility of helping to save Wakanda (insert America to the rescue in the form of a great white hope) from an angry radical black man that would likely kneel for the anthem (I couldn’t help myself).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> All power to the people, er…all power to Killmonger.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Killmonger is right. His methodology is questionable (and some will say flat out wrong, while saying the same methodology used by America is right), but his position that Wakanda should have been doing more to help other black people around the world is right. The film itself makes this point and shows T’Challa buy up the area in Oakland where Killmonger grew up with plans to open a Wakandan outreach program to help uplift the community (a nod to the real-life Black Panther organization).</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-btRKbM-IzTM/Wpden6BtgiI/AAAAAAAAEQo/kq5WdsMdNngYWWFTgQ28lrgdwGeo3b8bQCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/Black_Panther_Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-btRKbM-IzTM/Wpden6BtgiI/AAAAAAAAEQo/kq5WdsMdNngYWWFTgQ28lrgdwGeo3b8bQCK4BGAYYCw/s320/Black_Panther_Poster.jpg" width="224" /></a><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Of course Killmonger has let his own personal pain and agenda trump the cause, as evident by his burning the heart-shaped herb, proof he doesn’t have any vision or care beyond his own reign as king (or perhaps he simply is not vested in the welfare of Wakanda specifically, beyond their use to achieve his goals). Either way, power to the people has given way to absolute power to Killmonger. While it can be argued that Killmonger is a lost soul, it can also be argued that the Wakandans are a lost people…and the actions of Killmonger have found them, to the benefit of not just black Americans, but the entire world.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Go see the movie…and even though it is much more profound than I have presented here (and thankfully it takes from all the Panther lore, not just the current iteration), it is an enjoyable experience regardless of how deeply you choose (or not) to look at it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">THE BOOK:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Now let’s tackle the book…from which everything stems, and understand the Wakandan way. My first experience with this material came in the 70’s from Don McGregor (Jungle Action). My childhood was enriched by these stories and they were the foundation for my love of the character of T’Challa. Along the way of reading over the years, the lore has been further enriched by Reginald Hudin and Jason Aaron. <br />
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Of course we can not have a valid discussion of the subject without talking about the absolute best run of Black Panther as written by Christopher Priest. If anyone is interested in truly understanding the character and what the Wakandan way is all about, read everything by Priest…and be welcomed into a truly wonderful place (his imagination as it expanded upon the established lore).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Unfortunately, the conversation does not end with discussing the best writer (and I would love to stop here). We have to discuss the worst as well, as written by <a href="https://www.change.org/p/marvel-comics-remove-ta-nehisi-coates-from-writing-black-panther-and-and-prevent-writing-for-storm"><span style="color: #011a99; line-height: normal;">Ta-nehisi Coates</span></a>. Coates never understood the material, so it doesn’t matter what accolades he has as a writer, when you don’t “get it”…it shows.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Coates was so blunt to the material that he thought the Dora Milaje were simply accessories to T’Challa who were just an extension of his arsenal (he could he not understand the position to be one of the most honored in their society, akin to how a patriotic soldier might see the assignment of being the President’s personal Secret Service attachment and therefore didn’t understand how stupid it was for the Dora Milage to turn on their king). He didn’t understand why Wakanda was a monarchy (and subsequently made it into a democracy). He didn’t understand that T’Challa was a king first and foremost (and tried to make T’Challa into Spider-Man). All of these lapses of understanding (and more) contributed to the increasingly declining sales of the current book…and subsequent cancelations of the two spin-off books.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Long time Panther fans walked away from Coates, with good reason. Even <a href="https://youtu.be/D2keDZ5Qiq8"><span style="color: #011a99; line-height: normal;">Ben Shapiro</span></a> didn’t like Coates’ iteration…which simply means Coates has run the table on his damaging the character, from long time hardcore fans all the way to filthy casuals.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> A great letter to Coates was published at the end of the <a href="http://readcomiconline.to/Comic/Black-Panther-2016/Issue-14?id=112955"><span style="color: #011a99; line-height: normal;">14th issue</span></a> of his run that explained all this to him. In a nutshell, Coates was writing the book from a western philosophical mind set (or conditioning) and needed to write the book from a Wakandan mindset instead. His response citing “anti-colonial struggles in Africa” and not being able to write about democracy while excluding Nelson Mandela just highlights his disconnection to the material (and lack of understanding of the letter) since Wakanda was never a victim of colonialism, and thus doesn’t fit his references or reasonings for them having such a struggle for freedom and democracy.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Coates is a perfect example of the saying “I can explain it to you but I can’t understand it for you.” Hopefully Marvel wises up and understands that Coates might be better off elsewhere (and I don’t just mean adding Captain America to his plate) and instead gets someone who actually understands the character to bring the book back to greatness, back to the way of Wakanda.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Meteor_Man_(film)">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Meteor_Man_(film)</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.change.org/p/marvel-comics-remove-ta-nehisi-coates-from-writing-black-panther-and-and-prevent-writing-for-storm">https://www.change.org/p/marvel-comics-remove-ta-nehisi-coates-from-writing-black-panther-and-and-prevent-writing-for-storm<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #4787ff;"></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://youtu.be/D2keDZ5Qiq8"><b>https://youtu.be/D2keDZ5Qiq8</b><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; line-height: normal;"><b></b></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://readcomiconline.to/Comic/Black-Panther-2016/Issue-14?id=112955"><b>http://readcomiconline.to/Comic/Black-Panther-2016/Issue-14?id=112955</b></a></span></div>
Dennis Kreative Ideahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198159370078849491noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710183692993392463.post-14719119524657208052018-01-31T23:39:00.002-05:002020-09-06T00:24:36.323-04:00Fall in Love Again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I don’t often write about love or matters of the heart, but I have been known to dabble in the subject from time to time. I think one of life’s most complicated subjects, but also one of its most necessary, is the subject of love…with emphasis on how we find and maintain it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Now I’m no expert (and really, don’t trust anyone that says they are since life and love is unique to those living while loving), but I have lived long enough to observe and experience love from a variety of perspectives. Most people believe that there is someone for everyone, and that everyone is deserving of love at some point in their lives. Notwithstanding some very disturbing elements of our society, every single one of them was a child at some time and who really thinks the innocence of a child is underserving of a nurturing love?.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Today you can often find a discussion of who loves whom, whether it be in a tabloid, on the news, on your favorite entertainment show, reality show, or even just in fictional television and film. It seems we have an undying fascination with the business of other people when it comes to love. I think many go wrong when they try to apply these observations to their personal experiences, but I digress.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Instead, let’s continue to explore love from the perspective of being and staying in it. I mean, that is ultimately where all these observations and fascinations boil down to anyway right? Isn’t it all really about our desire to find someone with whom we can feel connected to? Isn’t it about finding that special someone, our “<a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-soulmate-blues.html"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(71, 135, 255); color: #4787ff;">Soul Mate</span></a>?” Or are we thinking deeper than that and figuring out that finding is just half of the equation, with <a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2014/11/together-forever-ultimate-relationship.html"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(71, 135, 255); color: #4787ff;">staying together</span></a> being the other half?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Recently I heard a fantastic song that succinctly embodied the real life dynamic to this whole love issue. The name of the song is “Fall in Love Again” and it speaks about the rough patches real relationships go through, but then it always brings it back to what is needed to keep that relationship going and growing…and that is getting back to the basics, back to that “fall in love” place where it all begins.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">It gets better though. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Turns out the artist of the song, <a href="https://brianajean.bandzoogle.com/home"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #011a99;">Briana Jean</span></a>, lives in the same city as me and was open to a quick interview about the song and herself, making this the first ever interview on this blog!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">KD: How did you get into music?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">BJ: I’ve always had some sort of attachment to music. I feel like as I got older, my connection grew stronger. It all began when I started hitting piano keys on this app called”music studio” which is basically a watered down version of garage band. After that, I realized how much I love music and I’ve been making music ever since.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">KD: What was your inspiration for the song?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">BJ: At the time, my parents were arguing a lot. I thought, you know, maybe this is it. Maybe they’re falling out of love. I wanted to write a love songbook I just didn’t know how or what to say. Then I thought to myself, “How would Ed Sheeran write this? What would he say?”…and just went from there.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">KD: Who are some artists that influence your musical style?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">BJ: Ed Sheeran is my biggest influence. I’ve always admired his style and his songwriting skills. Shawn Mendes also inspires me because he and I are the same age and I feel like if he can do it, so can I.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">KD: What are your plans for the future?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">BJ: I plan on going to Berklee College of Music to enhance my skills so that I can produce, and possibly own my own music business some day.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Briana Jean’s song can be found on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/briana-jean/1332827609"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #011a99;">iTunes</span></a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/2P0PFlwSyd6z0gbAkSxZbE"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #011a99;">Spotify</span></a>, <a href="http://www.apple.com/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #011a99;">iHeartRadio</span></a>, <a href="https://play.google.com/store/music/artist/Briana_Jean?id=Ahjgtjyck5s65am7ohgy7occzea"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #011a99;">Google Play</span></a>, <a href="https://listen.tidal.com/album/80845642"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #011a99;">Tidal</span></a>, and probably anywhere really. I look forward to hearing more from her in the future.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-soulmate-blues.html">http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-soulmate-blues.html</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2014/11/together-forever-ultimate-relationship.html">http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2014/11/together-forever-ultimate-relationship.html</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/briana-jean/1332827609"><b>https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/briana-jean/1332827609</b><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #011a99;"><b></b></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/2P0PFlwSyd6z0gbAkSxZbE"><b>https://open.spotify.com/album/2P0PFlwSyd6z0gbAkSxZbE</b><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #011a99;"><b></b></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><a href="https://www.iheart.com/artist/briana-jean-31905733/"><b>https://www.iheart.com/artist/briana-jean-31905733/</b></a></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(43, 47, 47); color: #2b2f2f;"><b> </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://play.google.com/store/music/artist/Briana_Jean?id=Ahjgtjyck5s65am7ohgy7occzea"><b>https://play.google.com/store/music/artist/Briana_Jean?id=Ahjgtjyck5s65am7ohgy7occzea</b><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #011a99;"><b></b></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://listen.tidal.com/album/80845642"><b>https://listen.tidal.com/album/80845642</b><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #011a99;"><b></b></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.pintaram.com/u/brianajeann"><b>https://www.pintaram.com/u/brianajeann</b></a></span></div>
Dennis Kreative Ideahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198159370078849491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710183692993392463.post-23761747053833077342016-12-31T17:26:00.001-05:002020-01-01T15:58:47.620-05:00Out With the Old, In With the…Old?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sO8xUTcwSUc/WGgwHZOjfxI/AAAAAAAAEL4/vS1_v-Hq8fwBhqYBzNr1qrznau7WLWzOwCK4B/s1600/OUT.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sO8xUTcwSUc/WGgwHZOjfxI/AAAAAAAAEL4/vS1_v-Hq8fwBhqYBzNr1qrznau7WLWzOwCK4B/s320/OUT.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> As the new year approaches we traditionally think of discarding the “old” and implementing the “new.” We make resolutions (some realistic, some not) and commit ourselves to making the reflection in the mirror a better person. I can’t say what percentage of people actually follow through (I haven’t done a study and am not even motivated enough to look one up) but it occurs to me that instead of simply swapping old for new, that maybe we should <a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-stranger-within.html"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">examine ourselves</span></a> a bit more closely and realize that maybe the old…is actually best for us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> I won’t list what is good or bad since those terms are subjective to what you are doing and <a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-pain-of-success_19.html"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">trying to achieve</span></a>. I will say that we don’t always realize what works for us and tend to take that measure based on what is working for someone else. It makes no sense…but I’ve seen it happen. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Throwing out the baby with the bathwater leaves you with no baby…when all you really wanted was to get rid of the bathwater. Trying to fix something that isn’t broken can leave you with something that does not work. What I’m saying is sometimes when we go to make <a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-changing-face-of-you.html"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">sweeping changes</span></a>, we end up changing some things that we really didn’t want to. Other times we try to improve upon something that is great the way it is…and the process of trying to make the improvisation actually destroys what has already been working (and the replacement may not work as well, or even work for us at all).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> I’ve watched people buy new cars (a fresh start) without accounting for the financial impact it can have on a budget. Eventually the reality presents itself and the new car is gone…replaced by a worse car than the old car, or no car at all. The kicker was the old car was great for what it was being used for (short distance travel to and from work). This is just a simple example of the above analogies, but clearly illustrates that new for the sake of new is not always the best decision or change to make.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Things get a little more complex when dealing with personal <a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2012/03/were-facebook-friends.html"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">relationships</span></a>. Sometimes we need to change the type of people we have around us…and sometimes we need to change our <a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2012/02/burning-bridge.html"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">exposure</span></a> to just one person to make all the difference. Maybe our friends are really just people we associate with (I’ve spoken about <a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2011/04/friend-ship.html"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">friendships</span></a> before) and we simply need to change how we use the term. Self examination can be complicated, but if improvement is your goal for the new year, it’s absolutely necessary.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f14vSj1Wl_o/WGgwaurilyI/AAAAAAAAEMY/PyDZmRmJDZw6Qph_U41j2XOrHV0oFXYGwCK4B/s1600/6360466890630740511910080590_B%2BScene_It%2527s%2BComplicated%2BDating%2B%2526%2BRelationships.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f14vSj1Wl_o/WGgwaurilyI/AAAAAAAAEMY/PyDZmRmJDZw6Qph_U41j2XOrHV0oFXYGwCK4B/s320/6360466890630740511910080590_B%2BScene_It%2527s%2BComplicated%2BDating%2B%2526%2BRelationships.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Romantic relationships are even more complex than the interactions mentioned above. I’ve seen people change <a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2014/11/together-forever-ultimate-relationship.html"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">romantic relationships</span></a> like others change clothes (I can’t make this stuff up) and I gotta wonder if they will ever realize the baby was in the bathwater. A new relationship might not be the best answer when a few changes to the old one might be better. I’ve spoken about relationships before here so won’t go into that rabbit hole, but if I had to convey one aspect we could all benefit from paying more attention to, it would be communication/consideration (see how I snuck two in there when I said it would be only one).</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QS7ajHXa1Vs/Xg0HxOXAcTI/AAAAAAAAEeQ/YxQ4RCHrad4O6TO1UVzpdJyLiIJIPbSfQCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/Happy-New-Year-2020-with-lights.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QS7ajHXa1Vs/Xg0HxOXAcTI/AAAAAAAAEeQ/YxQ4RCHrad4O6TO1UVzpdJyLiIJIPbSfQCK4BGAYYCw/s320/Happy-New-Year-2020-with-lights.png" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Whatever it is you want the new year to bring with it, realize that some of those things might be what you have to bring with you…not the new year. So this year when you go to make your resolutions, take a moment to examine what has been working for you and commit to maintaining that occurrence. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Happy New Year! </span></div>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-stranger-within.html"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-stranger-within.html</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-pain-of-success_19.html"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-pain-of-success_19.html</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2014/11/together-forever-ultimate-relationship.html"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2014/11/together-forever-ultimate-relationship.html</span></a></span></div>
Dennis Kreative Ideahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198159370078849491noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710183692993392463.post-85494214223296688302016-12-28T23:10:00.000-05:002017-02-27T08:44:31.338-05:00“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OcGbRPD8drg/WGSJX354fvI/AAAAAAAAEJ0/dI70RvVQ044tJ-GrmtibjGPi2cUed8VBQCK4B/s1600/rogue-one.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OcGbRPD8drg/WGSJX354fvI/AAAAAAAAEJ0/dI70RvVQ044tJ-GrmtibjGPi2cUed8VBQCK4B/s320/rogue-one.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> I am an ardent fan of the cinematic arts. Although I have certain genre preferences, I don’t let that stifle my curiosity and close myself to different flavors of entertainment. That said...I am a huge fan of science fiction, super hero and action movies! Typically an review like this would be on my other blog <a href="http://theboxedoffice.blogspot.com/"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">The Boxed Office</span></a>, but please enjoy this slight change.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The Cast: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felicity_Jones"><span style="color: blue;">Felicity Jones</span></a></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diego_Luna"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255);"><span style="color: blue;">Diego Luna</span></span></a>, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Mendelsohn"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255);"><span style="color: blue;">Ben Mendelsohn</span></span></a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Jones plays Jyn Erso, daughter of the man responsible for building the Death Star seen in the original film in 1977, Star Wars: A New Hope. This is the first time a Star Wars film has had a female lead and Jones does a great job carrying this film (and us) further into the Star wars mythos.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CS05Q6XjmQg/WGSKNIjZv1I/AAAAAAAAEKE/eKuso1MEkT8ePkNYRluFC5OtGePz4TZ3wCK4B/s1600/rogue-one-diego-luna-670-380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CS05Q6XjmQg/WGSKNIjZv1I/AAAAAAAAEKE/eKuso1MEkT8ePkNYRluFC5OtGePz4TZ3wCK4B/s320/rogue-one-diego-luna-670-380.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Luna plays Cassian Andor, a rebel loyal to the cause and willing to do whatever is necessary to defeat the Empire. Not having really seen him in anything else, I had no real expectations from him…but early in the film I realized Luna was a very capable actor as he sold me on his role just on his execution (pun intended) alone.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2rc8-v79xds/WGSKlrQQnSI/AAAAAAAAEKQ/HpPwpTIGNTI2CWfENVDjGnVb-mFGT2jngCK4B/s1600/rogue-one-orson-krennic.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2rc8-v79xds/WGSKlrQQnSI/AAAAAAAAEKQ/HpPwpTIGNTI2CWfENVDjGnVb-mFGT2jngCK4B/s320/rogue-one-orson-krennic.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Mendelsohn has always been a good actor (imo) and didn’t disappoint here. He seems to be very comfortable playing a villain, as well he should, since he plays them so well. In this film he plays Orson Krennic, a commander for the Galactic Empire tasked as the director in charge of building the Death Star. Mendelsohn seems to gravitate to characters with questionable authority issues as Krennic was unsure if he was in charge, dealing with Vader, in this film, and Dagget (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1345836/"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">The Dark Knight Rises</span></a>) had a similar complication with Bane (lol).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The Plot: </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l6DyQ289jIQ/WGSLQ6outlI/AAAAAAAAEKc/dpx_O2f73qIgBY0TYV7egAxDpXROw5i8ACK4B/s1600/star-wars-_galen-erso.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l6DyQ289jIQ/WGSLQ6outlI/AAAAAAAAEKc/dpx_O2f73qIgBY0TYV7egAxDpXROw5i8ACK4B/s320/star-wars-_galen-erso.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> The Rebellion is in full swing and the Galactic Empire has developed a new super weapon that will end it. To that end, they require Galen Urso (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mads_Mikkelsen"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Mads Mikkelsen</span></a>) leaving his daughter Jyn on her own, to be cared for by the infamous Saw Gerrera (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest_Whitaker"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Forest Whitaker</span></a>).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> When the Rebels find out that the Empire is nearly done with this new super weapon, they acquire Jyn in hopes that she can lead them to the whereabouts of her father. Together with Andor and a reprogrammed Imperial security droid K-2SO (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Tudyk"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Alan Tudyk</span></a>), they travel to a moon called Jedha seeking out Gerrera since he has pertinent information and the Imperial pilot (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riz_Ahmed" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Riz Ahmed</span></a>) that delivered it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> While on Jedha, they are helped and joined by Chirrut Îmwe (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donnie_Yen"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Donnie Yen</span></a>), a blind former <a href="http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Guardians_of_the_Whills"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(148, 33, 147); background-color: white;"><span style="color: magenta;">Guardian of the Whills</span></span></a> and his partner-in-arms Baze Malbus (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiang_Wen"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Wen Jiang</span></a>), a man with a rapid fire file that can’t seem to miss. The five rebels succeed in escaping Jedha with the defected Imperial pilot as the Death Star destroys the capital city (and Gerrera). </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> As a traitor within the Empire is revealed the Rebels race to find galen Orso. Not reaching him in time, our unlikely heroes take it upon themselves to steal the plans to the Death Star and exploit the weakness Orso built into it. What follows is a mesmerizing and exciting adventure full of explosions and blaster fire that will leave you stunned and clamoring for more.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The Verdict: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> This is one of the best Star Wars films….ever.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Now before we have a huge clamoring of dissented voices, think about it for a second. There have been seven films before this one. This one is certainly better than the three prequels. It’s better than the last sequel (“Force Awakens”). It’s better than “Return of the Jedi.” It’s on par with “Empire Strikes Back” and “A New Hope”…so, that makes it one of the best. Don’t believe me, ask George Lucas:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">“George Lucas loved the film so much that Director Gareth Edwards posted on his Twitter "it was the most important review to me he's kind of like God, I will take that conversation to my grave, his opinion means the world to me”.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> The third act alone is better than the entirety of some of the other Star Wars films.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1xJq7PCEyCA/WGSMIQ4IwnI/AAAAAAAAELY/R4cUq919lAIWrCa3FVSgwtzZ28LTjQ31gCK4B/s1600/161209_MOV_rogueOne.png.CROP.promo-xlarge2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1xJq7PCEyCA/WGSMIQ4IwnI/AAAAAAAAELY/R4cUq919lAIWrCa3FVSgwtzZ28LTjQ31gCK4B/s320/161209_MOV_rogueOne.png.CROP.promo-xlarge2.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Before I get into all the good, let me discuss the bad. The CGI of certain characters could have been better. The first two acts were a bit slow. On that second one though, it could be that the third act is so action packed and filled to the brim with awesomeness that it just <i>seemed</i> like the other acts were slow when in actuality, they may not have been.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Chirrut Îmwe (Donnie Yen is a badass) and K-2SO were the stand out characters that will have a lasting impression on you…until the end of the film, when the only thing that will matter is that dang door that did not open all the way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> This film is a Star Wars story. It tells us exactly how the Rebels got the plans to do what they did in “Star Wars: A New Hope” and while some may feel it didn’t need to be told, I am very glad it was as it burned four and a half (4.5) cinnamon sticks into the side of my cup of tea with laser-like precision.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Rating 4.5 / 5</span></div>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3748528/trivia?ref_=tt_trv_trv"><span style="color: red;">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3748528/trivia?ref_=tt_trv_trv</span></a></span></div>
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Dennis Kreative Ideahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198159370078849491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710183692993392463.post-52006816552453066442016-11-29T00:52:00.000-05:002016-11-29T00:52:40.876-05:00“Jack Reacher: Never Go Back”<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-miZJ2wEDKVA/WD0Uu6oWipI/AAAAAAAAEHg/DoxeX4DB1mgq4_AV06do-qDRMhrQncJLACK4B/s1600/jack-reacher-never-go-back-tom-cruise-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-miZJ2wEDKVA/WD0Uu6oWipI/AAAAAAAAEHg/DoxeX4DB1mgq4_AV06do-qDRMhrQncJLACK4B/s320/jack-reacher-never-go-back-tom-cruise-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> I am an ardent fan of the cinematic arts. Although I have certain genre preferences, I don’t let that stifle my curiosity and close myself to different flavors of entertainment. That said...I am a huge fan of science fiction, super hero and action movies! Please visit my other blog <a href="http://theboxedoffice.blogspot.com/"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">The Boxed Office</span></a> for reviews, exclusively, on these types of movies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The Cast: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Cruise"><span style="color: blue;">Tom Cruise</span></a></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobie_Smulders"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255);"><span style="color: blue;">Cobie Smulders</span></span></a>, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danika_Yarosh"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255);"><span style="color: blue;">Danika Yarosh</span></span></a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Cruise is back as Jack Reacher (sparking up the Reacher versus <a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2014/11/movie-review-john-wick.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">John Wick</span></a> debates) and delivers more of the same we saw in the first film. There will be no Oscars going out for his role, but Cruise is consistent in bringing Reacher to life and does well with the material both in acting and action.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kSgRL7-Xfjc/WD0VGWD8L-I/AAAAAAAAEH4/kzXDsjRB3f8XNHeTH0gVtd7GZZ6JU0nYgCK4B/s1600/film_review_-_jack_reacher-_never_go_back.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kSgRL7-Xfjc/WD0VGWD8L-I/AAAAAAAAEH4/kzXDsjRB3f8XNHeTH0gVtd7GZZ6JU0nYgCK4B/s320/film_review_-_jack_reacher-_never_go_back.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Smulders (Major Susan Turner) is used to playing the military woman-in-charge type of character from her role as Agent Maria Hill in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She does it well although the chemistry between her and Reacher seems to get lost later on after being built up so nicely. Kudos to her for doing her own stunts (a page taken from Cruise himself no doubt).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Danika Yarosh nails the rebellious Samantha, who not only has a huge chip n her shoulder for life in general, but is also street savvy, observant, and a proficient thief doing whatever needs to be done to get by. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The Plot: </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UxeO3SBzTLA/WD0VTqbDaXI/AAAAAAAAEII/Ac19-V6-K_kmCjOLy5dC_adFUxi9i4OAgCK4B/s1600/jackreacher0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UxeO3SBzTLA/WD0VTqbDaXI/AAAAAAAAEII/Ac19-V6-K_kmCjOLy5dC_adFUxi9i4OAgCK4B/s320/jackreacher0007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Reacher is still drifting from place to place doing good wherever he can, but now has a military connection (Major Turner) feeding him information to resolve cases and helping him out with amenities from time to time. Of course their interaction begins to lead in a romantic direction…I mean, how could it not (sarcasm).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> When Reacher finally decides to drop in personally and finally meet Turner, he finds she has been arrested and locked up. His inquiries about her case draws attention and inadvertently lead to Reacher finding out a paternity suit has been filed against hm.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Reacher begins to investigate the paternity claim while digging deeper to prove Turner’s innocence and finally get to the bottom of what is really going on. This puts Samantha in the cross hairs of those that are trying to stop Reacher as he must free Turner from prison and expose a conspiracy involving top brass in the military.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2SMeufEjgfo/WD0VloLTF7I/AAAAAAAAEIg/MwkCGEeCAEkp4bq6iMYt2mQGigO2s35wACK4B/s1600/jackreacher0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2SMeufEjgfo/WD0VloLTF7I/AAAAAAAAEIg/MwkCGEeCAEkp4bq6iMYt2mQGigO2s35wACK4B/s320/jackreacher0004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> As the players and their machinations are revealed, Reacher is marked for death by The Hunter (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Heusinger"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Patrick Heusinger</span></a>) and must protect both Samantha and Turner while battling elite forces for survival. What follows is tirade of busted skulls and broken bones as Reacher shows why he is one of the best of the best.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The Verdict: </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aMRqwfiv0r4/WD0V4RxaPPI/AAAAAAAAEIw/dZd3TSsWa2g9z2WiFMgvklN-qr9QL-z0ACK4B/s1600/reacher9009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aMRqwfiv0r4/WD0V4RxaPPI/AAAAAAAAEIw/dZd3TSsWa2g9z2WiFMgvklN-qr9QL-z0ACK4B/s320/reacher9009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> I very much enjoyed the first installment of “<a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2013/01/movie-review-jack-reacher.html"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Jack Reacher</span></a>” and thought this sequel was almost just as good. Whereas I found the first film to have a great story that unfolded smoothly, this story wasn’t as interesting nor did it unfold quite as smooth. </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--spK9FtJm-o/WD0V7H1z3TI/AAAAAAAAEI4/G2EwPqr4eD4uLGxksn7rPD6NB3XvE6zPQCK4B/s1600/hero_Jack-Reacher-Never-Go-Back-2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--spK9FtJm-o/WD0V7H1z3TI/AAAAAAAAEI4/G2EwPqr4eD4uLGxksn7rPD6NB3XvE6zPQCK4B/s320/hero_Jack-Reacher-Never-Go-Back-2016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> I realize these films are loosely adapted from the Jack Reacher novels, but perhaps more attention should be paid to the actual content of these novels to avoid making films that are just “good” and instead make films that are “great.”</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F-89aO4viAQ/WD0WgMTM--I/AAAAAAAAEJQ/LWoK855Z9bMQUs2oNxaPypzbkhdCbYooQCK4B/s1600/2a30bb3a-942e-11e6-89e7-0e47003bc2df_1280x720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F-89aO4viAQ/WD0WgMTM--I/AAAAAAAAEJQ/LWoK855Z9bMQUs2oNxaPypzbkhdCbYooQCK4B/s320/2a30bb3a-942e-11e6-89e7-0e47003bc2df_1280x720.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> I was very pleased though with the increased combat action as it really showcased Reacher’s abilities against trained and elite personnel instead of regular and ordinary people whom you’d expect Reacher to dismantle with ease.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZazdiRmd2us/WD0WChBTRmI/AAAAAAAAEJA/G5nSR5Nmx84F5FAS-vFGRm32IjCwtL_PgCK4B/s1600/Jack-Reacher-Never-Go-Back-Aldis-Hodge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZazdiRmd2us/WD0WChBTRmI/AAAAAAAAEJA/G5nSR5Nmx84F5FAS-vFGRm32IjCwtL_PgCK4B/s320/Jack-Reacher-Never-Go-Back-Aldis-Hodge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> The film tried to make an interesting character out of Espin (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aldis_Hodge"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Aldis Hodge</span></a>) but I never felt that interested in him as it first seemed he would be an antagonist only to later fall into the role of hero support…without ever making the transition feel real.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LOR7J-i9BeQ/WD0WHOwFiQI/AAAAAAAAEJI/PCMABJR_UuIdVayXkZ1v7yQpah1CXm2SgCK4B/s1600/jack_reacher_never_go_back_ver2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LOR7J-i9BeQ/WD0WHOwFiQI/AAAAAAAAEJI/PCMABJR_UuIdVayXkZ1v7yQpah1CXm2SgCK4B/s320/jack_reacher_never_go_back_ver2.jpg" width="204" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Overall this film was just good although still quite entertaining. It could have benefited from a better script and better direction, but despite that, was still able to deliver more of those elements of Reacher I wanted to see…revealing three (3) cinnamon sticks in my cup of tea.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Rating 3 / 5</span></div>
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<a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2013/01/movie-review-jack-reacher.html" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0);"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2013/01/movie-review-jack-reacher.html</span></a></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2014/11/movie-review-john-wick.html</span></div>
Dennis Kreative Ideahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198159370078849491noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710183692993392463.post-26813072644086632012016-11-26T15:34:00.002-05:002016-11-26T15:36:06.840-05:00The Changing Childhood<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Being a child isn’t what is used to be, especially with the interjection of current technology. I can remember having quite a bit of fun growing up. Sure, there were some times when it was not so fun, but overall my memories are good ones filled with the excitement and joy of discovering my abilities and finding out my boundaries. Now, maybe not everyone can say that about their childhood (in fact there are certainly those that obviously can’t), but I don’t see that as a reason to so drastically change the school recess experience of being a child today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> There are many games and activities that are increasingly being banned from schools. The result of which has yet to be fully determined (we’ll have to wait to see the full impact as these children grow up) but what is clear is much of the joy and discovery I experienced in my youth is being denied to the youth of today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Take for example “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodgeball"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Dodgeball</span></a>” being banned for being too violent and promoting a bully mentality. Sure I can remember times when we had to be reminded not to “head-hunt” but overall it was great fun to dodge the ball (especially if you were good at it) and to throw it at someone. Did I want to beat someone up because throwing a ball at them gave me a thirst to conquer those weaker or slower than me? Certainly not…it was just a game.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kickball"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Kickball</span></a>” is another game going the way of the Dodo. Having to hit someone with the ball to get them out is too violent apparently, but not only that, if it is allowed you can’t keep score (because nobody ever loses in real life right?). I can remember amazing kickball games we used to have in the schoolyard…the stuff of legends when certain kids were up to kick with seemingly a bionic leg that could launch the ball into the stratosphere, eclipsed only by the occasional catch by that one kid that, at that time, developed and iron nerve and a laser-like focus. Good times some children today will never experience.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Of course “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tag_(game)"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Tag</span></a>” is banned. Heaven forbid a child have emotional distress over being “it” and of course touching another child is certainly out because…touching. Never mind the fun variations you can make to the game like freeze-tag or team-tag. Sure some kids can’t run as fast as others, but how does a child learn to cope with their own limitations if you do not allow them to find out what those limitations are and discover how to improvise to compensate?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Banning “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duck,_duck,_goose"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Duck, Duck, Goose</span></a>” threw me for a loop until I read the continued skewed reasoning behind it. I just can’t cosign that being the goose is emotionally distressing when it’s the most exciting part of the game, instead of just sitting there being a duck. Always being one of the fastest kids was certainly an advantage since if I didn’t feel like exerting myself I could “goose” the slowest kid, but that didn’t stop any of the slower kids from “goosing” me in hopes that they might finally outrun me and make it back in the circle (and some certainly did). I can tell you from experience, it was an esteem booster for those kids and took nothing away from me personally since I knew I was still actually faster (just not fast enough in those instances).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Rover"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Red Rover</span></a>” is another banned game that is depriving children of fun and developing strategy. Sure…I loved becoming a human missile that few could stop and some actually let go at the last minute, but I had my share of surprises when I hit those sets of arms that would not yield, no matter how fast I was. Of course this game is banned since learning to work together and be stronger together to thwart the machinations of a lone abhorrent is something we never do in real life…as a nation or otherwise (smh).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_chairs"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Musical Chairs</span></a>” has been added to the list. The emotional stress of being that person without a chair is just too much. The potential for argument and confrontation over a chair is too great. This game wasn’t one of my favorites since it had less to do with actual physical ability and more to do with the anticipation of being in the right place at the right time…but isn’t that a skill set we use in real life? Why are we depriving children an early look at what they’ll need when they get older?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Winning is also being banned. The very point of most games, the icing on the fun cake, is now a bad thing. We teach children now that there are no winners or losers…and that’s just an outright lie, and setting them up for the hard truth later on. Everybody should not get a trophy just for participating (a ribbon maybe, but the trophy should be for those that go above and beyond). Winning makes the losers feel bad, and of course nobody ever feels bad in real life (sarcasm).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Hey, I get it. Children could get physically hurt playing some of these games. That’s a part of life though, getting hurt actually happens. Children might feel bad playing some of these games. That’s a part of life though, feeling bad actually happens. How do we prepare our children for these parts of life by trying to remove them from their childhood? We don’t…we just create a generation of people that will be disillusioned by reality, to the detriment of society. If this continues, methinks it won’t end well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> For our future…marinate on this one.</span></div>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://listverse.com/2013/07/10/top-10-recent-ridiculous-bans-on-kids39-games/"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">http://listverse.com/2013/07/10/top-10-recent-ridiculous-bans-on-kids39-games/</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.exrx.net/Questions/Tag.html"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">http://www.exrx.net/Questions/Tag.html</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/14/education/14recess.html"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/14/education/14recess.html</span></a></span></div>
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodgeball"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodgeball</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kickball"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kickball</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tag_(game)"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tag_(game)</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duck,_duck,_goose"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duck,_duck,_goose</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Rover"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Rover</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_chairs"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_chairs</span></a></div>
Dennis Kreative Ideahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198159370078849491noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710183692993392463.post-88624100431574995952016-10-31T11:05:00.004-04:002016-10-31T11:05:41.225-04:00“Magnificent Seven”<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1P0RylPq20M/WBdbTB71seI/AAAAAAAAED4/9VGyVM3NE-87xIl4p83GgGE5abWeartGgCK4B/s1600/the-magnificent-seven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1P0RylPq20M/WBdbTB71seI/AAAAAAAAED4/9VGyVM3NE-87xIl4p83GgGE5abWeartGgCK4B/s320/the-magnificent-seven.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> I am an ardent fan of the cinematic arts. Although I have certain genre preferences, I don’t let that stifle my curiosity and close myself to different flavors of entertainment. That said...I am a huge fan of science fiction, super hero and action movies! Please visit my other blog <a href="http://theboxedoffice.blogspot.com/"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">The Boxed Office</span></a> for reviews, exclusively, on these types of movies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The Cast: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denzel_Washington"><span style="color: blue;">Denzel Washington</span></a></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Pratt"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255);"><span style="color: blue;">Chris Pratt</span></span></a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethan_Hawke"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255);"><span style="color: blue;">Ethan Hawke</span></span></a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_D%27Onofrio"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255);"><span style="color: blue;">Vincent D’Onofrio</span></span></a>, and <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255);"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Sarsgaard"><span style="color: blue;">Peter Sarsgaard</span></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> What can be said about the quality of Denzel’s acting that has not already been said? He seems to ignore his own age and continue to astound with quality acting giving what we all have come to expect from him exercising his craft. Taking the lead here is just another notch in his lengthy habit of meeting expectations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Chris Pratt put himself on the map with <a href="http://theboxedoffice.blogspot.com/2014/08/marvels-great-space-gamble.html"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Guardians of the Galaxy</span></a> and continues to deliver with each role he takes. This role is no exception as he mixes his style of comedic drama with the western genre to bring us Josh Faraday, a gambler that makes his own luck in a world decidedly unlucky.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Ethan Hawke is Goodnight Robicheaux, a man with a past rooted in the Civil War that continues to define him as he tries to move on. Hawke plays this role well dangling the mystique of his character in front of us before delivering a very human affliction that brings the character full circle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Vincent D’Onofrio is the frontier tracker Jack Horne and although he is a man of few words surrounded in mystery and fear, when he does speak it captures your attention to the exclusion of all else, showcasing why he is such a great actor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Peter Sarsgaard is the villainous Bartholomew Bogue, a role he seems born to play as he is very good at “bad.” Granted, it doesn’t take much to be the bad guy (one would think) but not everyone seems able to pull it off and the fact this film is a period piece just makes his brand of villain all the more interesting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The Plot: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> A small mining town is besieged by the nefarious intentions of Bogue to take over the mine and by extension, the town. When his actions spurn the resistance of the townspeople getting one in particular killed, the wife of this brave soul (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haley_Bennett"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Haley Bennet</span></a>) seeks justice…but will settle for revenge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> In her travels to find someone wiling and able to defend the town against Bogue, she happens across a man named Chisolm (Washington). Unbeknownst to anyone, Chisolm not only has a past familiarity with Bogue, but after staunch persuasion, is willing to help the town .</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> To help the town Chisolm needs the help of some very gifted men, the first of which he recruits is Faraday (Pratt). Knowing exactly who he wants to recruit, he and Faraday set out to gather the rest of the “seven” with Faraday bringing in Robicheaux (along with his partner Billy Rocks…played by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Byung-hun"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Byung-hun Lee</span></a>) while Chisolm recruits Vazquez (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_Garcia-Rulfo" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Manuel Garcia-Rulfo</span></a>).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> With five assembled, they actually fail initially to recruit Horne, but he soon comes around just in time for the recruiting of their last and unlikely member Red Harvest (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2936232/"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Martin Sensmeier</span></a>). With all seven assembled, it’s time to teach the town how to defend itself and ready it for the invasion of a small army.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> What follows next is a magnificent display of bullets, knives, death and mayhem…western style.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The Verdict: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> I don’t much remember the original (western) version of this film or the original samurai version so I was not burdened with watching this film while subconsciously making comparisons. I took in what was presented and found it to be a very entertaining way to spend an afternoon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Although I kinda felt the assembling of the seven was a bit rushed, especially in the case of Red Harvest (like what really was his motivation to even join), I felt the characterizations of the different character’s personalities and how they interacted with each other really brought some depth to the film.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> It was the classic formula of bad guy terrorizes town, town gest heroes to help, heroes s stop the bad guy. You really can’t mess that up…all you have to do is add your own flair and style to it and this film did that.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F-aEE8j_tew/WBddon4HGJI/AAAAAAAAEFs/mjo1nDaKhzwdZAKMJw2ctgKSlHJxLGrQgCK4B/s1600/magnificent_seven_ver3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F-aEE8j_tew/WBddon4HGJI/AAAAAAAAEFs/mjo1nDaKhzwdZAKMJw2ctgKSlHJxLGrQgCK4B/s320/magnificent_seven_ver3.jpg" width="216" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"> There were no Oscar performances here, but there was a lot a fun. It wasn’t the best film ever made, but it certainly wasn’t the worst film either. It did just what the formula it followed should have, with a few surprises here and there, and shot up three and a half (3.5) cinnamon sticks in my cup of tea.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Rating 3.5/ 5</span></div>
Dennis Kreative Ideahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198159370078849491noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710183692993392463.post-34457071951865250272016-10-29T12:45:00.000-04:002016-10-29T12:45:42.162-04:00Land of the Free (Politically Enslaved)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">The “land of the free and home of the brave” is an expression associated with America, but have you ever stopped to wonder who the free and the brave really are? Freedom is a subjective term and bravery is more than putting yourself physically in the line of fire. When it comes to our political system, there is very little freedom and the brave are those that seek to challenge the status quo machine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span>This election cycle has exposed the American people to their own folly by flaunting a rigged system in front of them with no consequences. I’m not talking about the rigging Trump is talking about, I’m talking about the rigging he is actively a part of. We live in a country that is dominated by two parties…but was never intended to have simply a two party political system.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> It’s absolutely sad to me when I try to have a political conversation with a friend…and they say things like “We only have two choices.” The sad part is not them saying that since they may honestly think that only two candidates are worthy of the office. The sad part is them believing that there are only two candidates to actually choose from. It’s tragic actually, when you consider this mindset is not happenstance, but by design.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Even people that are aware that there are more choices often retort that a third party candidate has “no chance of winning, so why waste the vote?” Personally, I think the real wasted vote is one cast for a person you know is bad for the country but is the “lesser of two evils.” See, the lesser of two evils…is still evil. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Being a third party candidate is brave.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Neither the Democrats or Republicans want to lose votes to a third party candidate, so to be one means you have the financial and political power of these two entrenched machines gunning to shut you out of the process, and shut you down if you become a part of it.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y5ZiOXQgTIU/WBTRuOO3X2I/AAAAAAAAEDQ/F1NUI_aSK8UPuo9fCg_hH6dVxl8TWPpWwCK4B/s1600/Illusion-of-Freedom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y5ZiOXQgTIU/WBTRuOO3X2I/AAAAAAAAEDQ/F1NUI_aSK8UPuo9fCg_hH6dVxl8TWPpWwCK4B/s320/Illusion-of-Freedom.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> There is a monopoly on exposure and funds controlled by the Democrats and Republicans that is politically enslaving the citizens with the illusion of freedom. If we do not educate ourselves though, we, the people, are at fault for the calamity this process is bringing us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> There is a reason why we never see a third party candidate on the debate stage anymore and that reason is nicely summed up with this quote:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Lucida Grande;">“</span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the land of the free they feel the voting population are teenagers that require structure and limited choice. In the land of the free two parties get to debate as decided by a debate commission comprised of those two parties.</span><span style="font-family: Lucida Grande;">”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> That’s right….the people that control who can debate on national television are sponsored by the very parties debating.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Lucida Grande;">“</span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) is an independent nonprofit corporation established in 1987 under the joint sponsorship of both the Democratic and Republican political parties in the United States.</span><span style="font-family: Lucida Grande;">”</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MXtg1K7ELCo/WBTRxwOyHGI/AAAAAAAAEDY/MdFue4q9ITIUvrHWD0v2b6BVqSqCJIfCACK4B/s1600/7a8afa44ce2bcbb8e5c8fff723eb7b41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MXtg1K7ELCo/WBTRxwOyHGI/AAAAAAAAEDY/MdFue4q9ITIUvrHWD0v2b6BVqSqCJIfCACK4B/s400/7a8afa44ce2bcbb8e5c8fff723eb7b41.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> If you believe the political system is set the way it is to benefit the people, you are wrong. If you think the mainstream media is interested in exposing this travesty for your benefit, you are wrong. So when a brave soul steps forward with a desire to help the country and serve the people, it’s no wonder you never hear about them. Those in power have only one desire…to remain in power. They learned a valuable lesson when they allowed an alternative to be heard:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Lucida Grande;">“</span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the intervening 28 years, there has been one commission-organized debate that included a third-party candidate: Ross Perot in 1992, with Bill Clinton and the senior Bush. That was allowed to occur because both parties thought Perot’s inclusion would ultimately help them, but that may have backfired, the suit contends: Perot’s public support nearly tripled after the debate, from 7 percent to 19 percent.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It hasn’t happened again.</span><span style="font-family: Lucida Grande;">”</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JfSDQ3LuPzA/WBTR-FkAV6I/AAAAAAAAEDo/i-Y0NVDHrPk7f5IqCEfbaULz3GFstlgwQCK4B/s1600/clinton-trump-no-choice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JfSDQ3LuPzA/WBTR-FkAV6I/AAAAAAAAEDo/i-Y0NVDHrPk7f5IqCEfbaULz3GFstlgwQCK4B/s320/clinton-trump-no-choice.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> This particular election cycle is relevant to the subject since both candidates (Clinton and Trump) each have a national disapproval rating of over 60%. Imagine what would happen if all those people voted for an alternative candidate.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LS5YXZJLonU/WBTR2YEU2pI/AAAAAAAAEDg/t6tDW21YsZs5jq6aex6NIcb9CP-W5HQHwCK4B/s1600/tumblr_nefpn6K7h11u2i93so1_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LS5YXZJLonU/WBTR2YEU2pI/AAAAAAAAEDg/t6tDW21YsZs5jq6aex6NIcb9CP-W5HQHwCK4B/s320/tumblr_nefpn6K7h11u2i93so1_1280.jpg" width="316" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> When you do the research into why things are the way they are you will understand why the system is set up so that only those with money can be a part of the process. You understand why the mainstream media gives no coverage other points of view. You understand why you will only see a Democrat and Republican on the debate stage and why the debate is formatted the way it is.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> When you do the research into why things are the way they are you will understand why we live in the land of the free, but freedom is a subjective term because we are politically enslaved.</span></div>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.ocregister.com/articles/debates-730122-presidential-candidates.html"><span style="font-size: large;">http://www.ocregister.com/articles/debates-730122-presidential-candidates.html</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/pete-tucker/the-clintontrump-debates-_b_11277118.html"><span style="font-size: large;">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/pete-tucker/the-clintontrump-debates-_b_11277118.html</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/pete-tucker/what-the-hell-how-third-p_b_11277474.html"><span style="font-size: large;">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/pete-tucker/what-the-hell-how-third-p_b_11277474.html</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/pete-tucker/can-jill-stein-and-gary-j_b_11284394.html"><span style="font-size: large;">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/pete-tucker/can-jill-stein-and-gary-j_b_11284394.html</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/pete-tucker/the-rigged-primary-debate_b_11290064.html"><span style="font-size: large;">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/pete-tucker/the-rigged-primary-debate_b_11290064.html</span></a></span></div>
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Dennis Kreative Ideahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198159370078849491noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710183692993392463.post-28514969009333027562016-09-30T12:05:00.002-04:002016-09-30T12:05:59.016-04:00“Hell or High Water”<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-epR9K4_6Tr4/V-6LGR96iXI/AAAAAAAAEAw/N6M36JPCvKQVapaKqSUHPAu7wlLa_F64wCK4B/s1600/hellorhighwater2-large_trans%252B%252BFM8JNviqypEqpEVTJZDkiQ1vLvhkMtVb21dMmpQBfEs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-epR9K4_6Tr4/V-6LGR96iXI/AAAAAAAAEAw/N6M36JPCvKQVapaKqSUHPAu7wlLa_F64wCK4B/s320/hellorhighwater2-large_trans%252B%252BFM8JNviqypEqpEVTJZDkiQ1vLvhkMtVb21dMmpQBfEs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> I am an ardent fan of the cinematic arts. Although I have certain genre preferences, I don’t let that stifle my curiosity and close myself to different flavors of entertainment. That said...I am a huge fan of science fiction, super hero and action movies! Please visit my other blog <a href="http://theboxedoffice.blogspot.com/"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">The Boxed Office</span></a> for reviews, exclusively, on these types of movies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The Cast:<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Pine"><span style="color: blue;">Chris Pine</span></a><span style="color: #0433ff;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Foster" style="color: #0433ff;">Ben Foster</a><span style="color: #0433ff;">, </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">and</span> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Bridges" style="color: #0433ff;">Jeff Bridges</a></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N72AZGMAocQ/V-6MvXRHo7I/AAAAAAAAEB4/f44XlMH0Iqw7OauTS2XkqA_ZrsKHUafeQCK4B/s1600/chris-pine-trailer-hell-or-high-water.jpg.640x387_q100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N72AZGMAocQ/V-6MvXRHo7I/AAAAAAAAEB4/f44XlMH0Iqw7OauTS2XkqA_ZrsKHUafeQCK4B/s320/chris-pine-trailer-hell-or-high-water.jpg.640x387_q100.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Chris Pine plays Toby Howard, half of a desperate duo that sees no other option to save their family ranch than robbing the very bank that is foreclosing on the ranch. Pine does an excellent job of portraying a man that, although he is desperate, still tries to make his gains with a minimum of problems and no casualties if he can help it.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fTDx1VQ-_9o/V-6LVR-HkII/AAAAAAAAEBA/UeDhhh77HykOC4jjF-CDJ2DJ41B3QyCLQCK4B/s1600/Hell-or-High-Water-Machine-Gun.sized-770x415xt.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fTDx1VQ-_9o/V-6LVR-HkII/AAAAAAAAEBA/UeDhhh77HykOC4jjF-CDJ2DJ41B3QyCLQCK4B/s320/Hell-or-High-Water-Machine-Gun.sized-770x415xt.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Ben Foster plays Tanner Howard, the other half of this desperate duo. Being an unstable ex-con, it’s likely he would have robbed the banks anyway without having to be motivated by saving the ranch and helping his brother. Foster plays this role well and excellently conveys a man with a lot less empathy than his brother, while having quite a bit <i>for</i> his brother. </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dS1axCtZIvU/V-6LZH2xFVI/AAAAAAAAEBI/w4fvvhLm9okpMd9Nptd3GSWcQy6QZsWJwCK4B/s1600/jeff-bridges-gil-birmingham-and-jackamoe-buzzell-in-hell-or-high-water-2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dS1axCtZIvU/V-6LZH2xFVI/AAAAAAAAEBI/w4fvvhLm9okpMd9Nptd3GSWcQy6QZsWJwCK4B/s320/jeff-bridges-gil-birmingham-and-jackamoe-buzzell-in-hell-or-high-water-2016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Jeff Bridges is one of my favorite actors that only seems to get better over time. In this film he plays Texas Ranger, Marcus Hamilton, slated for mandatory retirement. Bridges executes the role of a man not ready to hang his hat up perfectly. Further, he nails the crotchety, ball-busting ranger raining constant racial zingers at his partner Alberto Parker (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gil_Birmingham"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;">Gil Birmingham</span></a>) stemming from a deep affection and respect. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The Plot:</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-guUBV8pEeWY/V-6LeImY5-I/AAAAAAAAEBQ/ECqo7XQeITMPg0GVKMdkMRfDSDTCSDFUgCK4B/s1600/HellOrHighWaterRobbery.0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-guUBV8pEeWY/V-6LeImY5-I/AAAAAAAAEBQ/ECqo7XQeITMPg0GVKMdkMRfDSDTCSDFUgCK4B/s320/HellOrHighWaterRobbery.0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Two brothers in West Texas are in need of $40,000 owed to the Texas Midlands Bank from a reverse mortgage their mother took out before her death from cancer. If they cannot raise the money in a week, the bank will foreclose and take the ranch. One brother, Toby took care of his mother and tended to her until her death. Bring divorced and having two children and no job, he is desperate to save the family ranch from being taken by the bank.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nAX4fBExYiE/V-6LiADQkFI/AAAAAAAAEBY/8XX2_x9IKA4Uw0-GlJBtHbrB5VJA5PWGwCK4B/s1600/C_05278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nAX4fBExYiE/V-6LiADQkFI/AAAAAAAAEBY/8XX2_x9IKA4Uw0-GlJBtHbrB5VJA5PWGwCK4B/s320/C_05278.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Tanner is an ex-con (sent to prison for killing his abusive father) that is all too happy to help his brother Toby save the family ranch and is exuberant to be robbing the very bank that is trying to take the ranch. As both brothers rob their way across Texas, they draw the attention of a particular Texas Ranger slated for mandatory retirement that sees solving the robberies as a perfect way to end his career.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> As the brothers continue their spree, Texas Ranger Hamilton begins to put the pieces together from the evidence and witness testimony. It’s not long before he has profiled them good enough to begin closing in on them, knowing he has to catch them soon since the evidence points to them trying to raise a certain amount. Just as he deduces the next branch they will rob, and on his way there, the brothers rob said branch…but end up getting into a massive shoot out with customers and townsfolk (the right to bare arms is real).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> What happens next is the culmination of an extensive investigation and financial desperation coming together in a hail of bullets and bodies that will leave everyone involved, changed forever.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The Verdict: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> This film is simply excellent. There is much action throughout the movie but that just serves to further the story as it is a story-driven film with an excellent cast and flowing script. From the beginning of the film it’s clear that the ride is going to be a good one as it jumps right into the first robbery. The banter between the brothers is great and the reactions of the employee is probably about as “Texan” as you can get (I’m guessing since I’m not from Texas).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Although the film tries (and successfully) to give the feel that it’s just the little guys standing up to corporate greed, if you take a closer look, you really see a bunch of crazy guys robbing banks for money they probably could have gotten legally and easily (since oil was found on the ranch). The film does a great job of never allowing you to look closer as it draws you into the world of both these brothers, and the retiring ranger…and has you thinking the bank is sticking it to them just to get the oil.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> The camaraderie between the rangers is also effective and fun. It’s just as important and relevant as the relationship is between the brothers. I’m not sure if everyone will understand (at first) that all the racial jokes Hamilton makes about Parker is simply his way of showing affection and does not stem from any malice…but indeed reveals how they have bonded over the years.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> This film has it all….drama, comedy, and action and with an excellent cast executing the story, it’s no surprise this is one of the best films to come out this year easily robbing four (4), out of five, cinnamon sticks from my cup of tea.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Rating: 4 / 5</span></div>
Dennis Kreative Ideahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198159370078849491noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710183692993392463.post-26804879664901832412016-09-28T00:32:00.000-04:002016-09-28T00:32:28.371-04:00“America the Great….?”<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Yes!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> That is the simple answer to that inquiry, but where many want to put a period, there should probably be a comma. Yes, America is great and there is no place else I’d rather live. Does that mean America is perfect? No. Of course there is room for improvement. Of course we can reach greater heights and continually become better than we are. Not only can we do this, but we absolutely <span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><i>should</i></span> do this….we are, after all, America!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Why should any of this even be a question? </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cUmR-j4vkyk/V-tGreBEXtI/AAAAAAAAD_4/QW2g8AazuHomqOeU733WGNHdQ5V4BeDAQCK4B/s1600/https---blueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com-uploads-card-image-226243-507029fa1047406085c9582758b3b9b8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cUmR-j4vkyk/V-tGreBEXtI/AAAAAAAAD_4/QW2g8AazuHomqOeU733WGNHdQ5V4BeDAQCK4B/s320/https---blueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com-uploads-card-image-226243-507029fa1047406085c9582758b3b9b8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Well…current events are bringing the character of America to the forefront. Colin Kaepernick has, by his refusal to stand for the national anthem, brought the issue of <a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-good-guys-dont-wear-badges-part-1.html"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">police brutality</span></a> against minorities (really, in general) to the forefront of a discussion that was formerly not even being had. The seemingly daily incidents of black people being killed by police is being injected into the leisure time of many (as this is being talked about on various sports outlets), and the backlash is very telling.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> I’m personally stunned at all the attention Kaepernick himself is getting instead of the reason why he has chosen to bring such attention to himself. Many are offended by his refusal to stand for the anthem citing his disrespect for the country, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/veteransforkaepernick?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Ehashtag"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">veterans</span></a> (although there are many that support his position), and police. Few of these same people seem to have any outrage when a black man is killed with his hands up while <span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><i>not</i></span> in the process of committing a crime.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> So…it seems the way many in America are choosing to deal with all this is to simply change the subject. Obviously it all just goes away if you ignore it…except, it really doesn’t…and you really can’t.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> I saw a <a href="https://youtu.be/5otk3-BQxWc"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">video</span></a> on social media by Mike Slater of AM 760 KFMB on the subject and was just flabbergasted by many of the points he made. He brought up the fact that Kaepernick is adopted (which does not address recent <a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-good-guys-dont-wear-badges-part-2.html"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">police brutality</span></a>). He mentioned many programs that help inner city youth (which does not address recent police brutality). He mentioned Frederick Douglass calling America “righteous” (which does not address recent police brutality). He even mentioned one of the leaders of Black Lives Matter taking a crash course in law enforcement to understand the other side of all this (which does not address recent police brutality). He brought up black-on-black crime (which does not address recent police brutality). He even had the audacity to end his segment by saying “I only have time for people making a positive difference”…as if bringing attention to recent <a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-good-guys-dont-wear-badges-part-3.html"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">police brutality</span></a> in hopes of correcting this issue is not positive. Perhaps we should just ignore the issue and simply continue to let people be killed unjustly by police? Yes…that seems positive.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> The backlash has been visceral…all over the national anthem.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Well, Kaepernick’s protest has even brought the anthem itself into the discussion and much of what has been revealed is astounding. Forget the fact it was written by a slaveowner and the <a href="http://www.scoutsongs.com/lyrics/starspangledbanner.html"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">third stanza</span></a> actually talks about killing runaway slaves, let’s talk about how it even came to be a part of the NFL ritual as observed today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Until 2009 no players stood for the anthem because no players were even on the field when it was being played. They were moved to the field as a marketing scheme (yes, <span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><i>scheme</i></span>) to make them look more patriotic, as the US Department of Defense and the US National Guard <span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">paid</span> the NFL more than $10 million (combined) between 2011 and 2015 to stage on-field patriotic ceremonies as part of a military recruitment budget line item (<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/paidpatriotism"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">#paidpatriotism</span></a>).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Wait…what…?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> America is great, but it is not flawless…and we do not have to simply accept the flaws when the very identity of being an American means we strive to correct them. There is a segment of the nation that doesn’t want correction, they simply want to bask in a false image of a “perfect” country and lambaste anyone that interrupts that image with reality. They care more about what Kaepernick is doing than why he is doing it. They are more outraged by their perceived disrespect of our flag, than the blatant civil violations of the citizens that flag represents. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> I have faith that America will move forward despite these people wanting to hold it back. It’s what America has always done and must continue to do if being “great” is going to continue to be a statement instead of a question.</span></div>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-good-guys-dont-wear-badges-part-1.html"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-good-guys-dont-wear-badges-part-1.html</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/veteransforkaepernick?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Ehashtag"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">https://twitter.com/hashtag/veteransforkaepernick?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Ehashtag</span></a></span></div>
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Dennis Kreative Ideahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198159370078849491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710183692993392463.post-57669137173650788262016-08-31T00:59:00.001-04:002016-08-31T01:00:03.482-04:00“The Legend of Tarzan”<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Eex5Hu8_ar0/V8Zi0ltKsPI/AAAAAAAAD94/38cHlUhRANgHLdJpKO2EGFVPWhmDw8acQCK4B/s1600/maxresdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Eex5Hu8_ar0/V8Zi0ltKsPI/AAAAAAAAD94/38cHlUhRANgHLdJpKO2EGFVPWhmDw8acQCK4B/s320/maxresdefault.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12px;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">I am an ardent fan of the cinematic arts. Although I have certain genre preferences, I don’t let that stifle my curiosity and close myself to different flavors of entertainment. That said...I am a huge fan of science fiction, super hero and action movies! Please visit my other blog <a href="http://theboxedoffice.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">The Boxed Office</span></a> for reviews, exclusively, on these types of movies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The Cast:<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.apple.com/"><span style="color: red;">Alexander Skarsgård</span></a></span><span style="color: #0433ff;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christoph_Waltz"><span style="color: red;">Christoph Waltz</span></a><span style="color: #0433ff;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margot_Robbie"><span style="color: red;">Margot Robbie</span></a><span style="color: #0433ff;">, </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">and</span> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_L._Jackson"><span style="color: red;">Samuel L. Jackson</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Skarsgård plays the hero and title role of Tarzan (aka John Clayton) and brings back to life a very controversial character (given his origin and historical context) and does a decent job of it. They won’t be handing out any Oscar’s for the performance, but given the lack of depth of the script, Skarsgård did what he was able to do to make Tarzan somewhat relatable. A tough assignment given the current pulse of society.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Waltz is always a joy to watch, and that was probably the only reason I was watching him here as Leon Rom. Again, the dud of a script left him with very few lines (but he is still able to convey his villainy without speaking) and the few times he did speak I felt I was giving him a pass simply because I like his style and have enjoyed him in past films. Watching him here save what little he could of his character made me decide I like him much better as a hero (<a href="http://theboxedoffice.blogspot.com/2012/12/a-bloody-bounty-of-bullets.html"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Django Unchained</span></a>) than a villain.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Margot Robbie plays Jane…and what would Tarzan be without her? Probably more interesting. What would this film be without her? Probably better. Really though, with shades of <a href="http://batman.wikia.com/wiki/Harley_Quinn"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Harley Quinn</span></a> peeking out every now and then, I found it hard to take her seriously. The “damsel-in-distress” is a tired cliche at this point and really didn’t help the film advance beyond the bubble it was already in simply by tackling the Tarzan mythos and the subject matter surrounding it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Samuel Jackson has been in more films than anyone in the history of Hollywood…ever. Taking roles like this is why. Playing George Washington Williams, the token sidekick to the real hero, didn’t help dispel the racial quagmire presented here, and instead reinforces everything that is wrong with the film (well, not everything). Sam is a great actor, but here it seems as though he was just playing himself, and calling the endeavor someone else. A shame really since <a href="http://www.blackpast.org/aah/williams-george-washington-1849-1891"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">George Washington Williams</span></a> was a real person of great accomplishments.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The Plot:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Taking heavily from history and sprinkling some fictional Tarzan in the mix, King Leopold II is using slave labor to rape the Congo of all it’s natural resources. Heading this endeavor up for him is Captain Leon Rom, a man with no moral code willing to do whatever is necessary to get the job done. Of course, all this is happening in secret and is suspected by George Washington Williams (the true life hero that exposed all this <i>without</i> Tarzan).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Williams uses Tarzan as his ticket into the Congo, after Tarzan is invited back by the nefarious Rom under a false invitation. Rom has cut a deal with Chief Mbonga (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Djimon_Hounsou"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Djimon Hounsou</span></a>) to deliver Tarzan in exchange for some rare diamonds that will pay for the funding of the exploitation of the land (unbeknownst to Mbonga).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Of course Jane insists of going (even though she has no skill for the mission or purpose for the trip) and the three of them set out for Africa. Naturally they are ambushed and Jane is taken captive by Rom…and Tarzan and Williams must set out to rescue her…and as a side note, expose the fact King Leopold II is using illegal slave labor…and settle up old scores with King Mbonga along the way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> What follows is an adventure through the lands and jungles of the Congo filled with treachery and danger from all sides that only a native son not native to the land (huh?) can solve.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The Verdict: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> This travesty should have never been made. It is barely watchable with very few redeeming qualities aside from the fact…it’s barely watchable. I honestly don't know where to begin to dissect this film into it’s base components. Do I start with the racial quagmire? Do I start with the incapable script? Do I start with the fact they built this film up to be something really special and the only special thing about it was my fortitude to watch it?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> This film has been called a racist film that should never have been made, indeed…it’s being said the character and subject matter simply cannot be rebooted in it’s original format and find relevance in our time (although current events seem to be disputing this). I agree with all of these sentiments and will simply add that Hollywood knew exactly what they were doing when they made this film…and simply didn’t care.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> The CGI borders on horrible but oddly enough fits the film since the script is just as bad. There was not a single moment in the film that blew me away, not a single scene that jumped out as something for conversation later, not a single memorable moment in character development or action in the entire film. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t hate this film…I just didn’t find any redeeming qualities in it given how insulting it was to my common sense and need to be entertained. Tarzan was written by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Rice_Burroughs"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Edgar Rice Burroughs</span></a> during a time when racism was the widespread accepted social norm. There really is just no way to reboot this story in that setting without cultivating those seeds and trying to modernize the character for 2016 seems ridiculous given the current technology and the state man has reduced nature to. Could Tarzan be a character who’s time has finally passed? If this film is any indication, that would be an affirmative.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> This film was aching tooth from the beginning and became a root canal the more I watched it…making it hard to enjoy the two cinnamon sticks (2), out of five, it dropped in my cup of tea.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Rating: 2 / 5 </span></div>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://theboxedoffice.blogspot.com/2012/12/a-bloody-bounty-of-bullets.html"><span style="color: red;">http://theboxedoffice.blogspot.com/2012/12/a-bloody-bounty-of-bullets.html</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://batman.wikia.com/wiki/Harley_Quinn"><span style="color: red;">http://batman.wikia.com/wiki/Harley_Quinn</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.blackpast.org/aah/williams-george-washington-1849-1891"><span style="color: red;">http://www.blackpast.org/aah/williams-george-washington-1849-1891</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Djimon_Hounsou"><span style="color: red;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Djimon_Hounsou</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Rice_Burroughs"><span style="color: red;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Rice_Burroughs</span></a></span></div>
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Dennis Kreative Ideahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198159370078849491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710183692993392463.post-44093960177993875462016-08-28T19:02:00.000-04:002018-01-23T14:09:43.507-05:00“Ever Wonder Why….?”<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5LS0DqEjeUE/V8NsHqGiDLI/AAAAAAAAD9I/KJbPODcV79kcE0mS80AUaFnvZjbmg6LswCK4B/s1600/did-you-ever-wonder-why003f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5LS0DqEjeUE/V8NsHqGiDLI/AAAAAAAAD9I/KJbPODcV79kcE0mS80AUaFnvZjbmg6LswCK4B/s320/did-you-ever-wonder-why003f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Sometimes I find myself observing situations that defy logic (in my mind) and I have to wonder why those situations are taking place. I know the world doesn’t always make sense, but that doesn’t mean we have to go along for the ride… and not make sense with it. Perhaps I’m the one having comprehension issues and simply can’t figure out what the perfectly logical explanation is for the things I see? Maybe there is more to the puzzle than the pieces I’m observing? Whatever the case is…join me now for a few simple observations that made me wonder…”why?”</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ULS_Q9RJucE/V8NsLBkK8EI/AAAAAAAAD9Q/4rr1Q0DVVdEbEg8dCzVu_516nCak1YAPwCK4B/s1600/Unknown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ULS_Q9RJucE/V8NsLBkK8EI/AAAAAAAAD9Q/4rr1Q0DVVdEbEg8dCzVu_516nCak1YAPwCK4B/s400/Unknown.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> So you’re sitting in traffic, bumper-to-bumper, moving at a crawl for what must be an accident or some sort of construction. It’s not “rush hour” (the time of day where <span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">nobody</span> is actually rushing) so the aforementioned hypotheses seem to be good ones…when you spot the real cause of your traffic ailment, a police officer…”directing” traffic. It’s not the fact that the cop is directing traffic that has you wondering what the heck is going on…it’s the fact they are doing it when the traffic lights are <span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">working perfectly</span>! Yes, the lights are operating as they should, but there is a cop directing traffic anyway…sometimes against the light, sometimes attempting to go along with the light…but all the time making a holy mess of traffic, unnecessarily. I have a few friends that are police officers, and would love for them to clarify for me…why?</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ctCdMcT7k4M/V8NsQim_5VI/AAAAAAAAD9Y/p1hT9FLzlqYJsPMQhPn1YCdnzo1qu5gFQCK4B/s1600/cos_bike_to_work_117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ctCdMcT7k4M/V8NsQim_5VI/AAAAAAAAD9Y/p1hT9FLzlqYJsPMQhPn1YCdnzo1qu5gFQCK4B/s320/cos_bike_to_work_117.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> So you’re sitting in traffic (again) and you see a bus go by with a bike on the front secured to a bike rack. Umm…if you have a bike that is working fine, then why is it on the bus rack while you are riding the bus? Can’t you simply ride the bike where you need to go? Now, I get there are some obvious situations that would explain why you would see such a thing, like the bike has a flat tire or is in some way damaged that would prevent riding. I’ll even concede the person was simply tired and decided to take a break. Really though, if you’re going to be biking and need to ride the bus during your travels, you probably should stop using the bike and stay with the bus because when I see you get off the bus, don your helmet while wearing you racing gear, all I’m thinking is…why?</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rSixxXeZSz8/V8NsUP-RnjI/AAAAAAAAD9g/vZdU9OAC81ocXlwmG6ghd0pgkGzD5xR3gCK4B/s1600/Express-Checkout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rSixxXeZSz8/V8NsUP-RnjI/AAAAAAAAD9g/vZdU9OAC81ocXlwmG6ghd0pgkGzD5xR3gCK4B/s320/Express-Checkout.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> So you’re at the supermarket (after finally getting out of traffic because of the cop) and you grab a few items you need before making your way home. You go to the front of the store to check out, and see a line that goes down the isle and around the corner. No big deal, since you got only a few items, you’ll go to the <span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">express </span>lane except….that long line IS for the express lane. Wait..what…? If everyone that has twelve items or less, regardless of the status of any of the other lanes, actually takes a spot in that line, it’s no longer “express” now is it? I mean, when you can go to a regular line and still get through it before that last person that was in the express line can get through….the express line is probably too long. I’ve always thought that maybe they put the slowest cashier in the express lane and the fastest in the other lanes to even them out….but when the fast person is <span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">really</span> fast and slow person is <span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">really</span> slow, it results in an express line that isn’t really express….and me looking at all the drones in that line and wondering…why?</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tXWYnXSOU-k/V8NsjhXTOLI/AAAAAAAAD9o/h0q9W4gD9Xk87HcOua7MEdfH1Dul_UIFwCK4B/s1600/inq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tXWYnXSOU-k/V8NsjhXTOLI/AAAAAAAAD9o/h0q9W4gD9Xk87HcOua7MEdfH1Dul_UIFwCK4B/s320/inq.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> I’m not the smartest guy in the world….I’m not even the smartest guy in the room when I’m sitting in one by myself (huh?), but I’m inquisitive enough to wonder about these things, and perceptive enough to even notice them in the first place. Like I said earlier, perhaps I’m the one having a comprehension issue and the true logic is escaping me…or, perhaps not.</span></div>
Dennis Kreative Ideahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198159370078849491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710183692993392463.post-39541128110470955262016-07-29T21:35:00.001-04:002016-08-31T00:59:54.202-04:00“The Shallows”<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cYMkIFqnBqc/V5wB6ZsZsTI/AAAAAAAAD6c/URq3NxU-z5I4vjBLqJgoE1F8US2z2WaeQCK4B/s1600/the-shallows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cYMkIFqnBqc/V5wB6ZsZsTI/AAAAAAAAD6c/URq3NxU-z5I4vjBLqJgoE1F8US2z2WaeQCK4B/s320/the-shallows.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> I am an ardent fan of the cinematic arts. Although I have certain genre preferences, I don’t let that stifle my curiosity and close myself to different flavors of entertainment. That said...I am a huge fan of science fiction, super hero and action movies! Please visit my other blog <a href="http://theboxedoffice.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: red;">The Boxed Office</span></a> for reviews, exclusively, on these types of movies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The Cast:<br />
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blake_Lively"><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">Blake Lively</span></a></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a0nTAYFW6iw/V5wB-Gt04XI/AAAAAAAAD6k/SUsSFxyZdAYSKLc0GApQxo0xSiTIe1_PgCK4B/s1600/3ee85960-1aba-0134-9e9a-0697135981d7.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a0nTAYFW6iw/V5wB-Gt04XI/AAAAAAAAD6k/SUsSFxyZdAYSKLc0GApQxo0xSiTIe1_PgCK4B/s320/3ee85960-1aba-0134-9e9a-0697135981d7.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;"> </span> I enjoyed<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 51, 255); color: #0433ff;"> </span>Blake Lively’s performance in her first top billed film, “<a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2015/10/age-of-adaline.html"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Age of Adeline</span></a>” and think she did very well in this film also even though the role called for her to be much more physical and display a different emotional range due to the context of the action.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Here</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"> she plays a woman named Nancy that has come to a secluded beach, once frequented by her late mother, to surf and enjoy some alone time as she gathers herself to determine what direction she wants to take her life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RUnMxE0try0/V5wDBHOosbI/AAAAAAAAD7k/w1nC9uoEjzw9bTP9mnCrntEb7kFEhYq8QCLcB/s1600/thumbnail_24351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RUnMxE0try0/V5wDBHOosbI/AAAAAAAAD7k/w1nC9uoEjzw9bTP9mnCrntEb7kFEhYq8QCLcB/s320/thumbnail_24351.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lively does an excellent job of conveying her need to experience this secluded beach and what it means to her to finally be where her late mother once was. Throughout the film, Lively’s performance is enthralling which speaks volumes of her ability to perform her craft as she is effectively the only character in the film with any real substance.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The Plot:</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j_uCtL5o2mY/V5wDIZKf02I/AAAAAAAAD7w/YUGMXMD-h3YLbbu7SCCisdcFwInjeRGeQCK4B/s1600/thumbnail_24538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j_uCtL5o2mY/V5wDIZKf02I/AAAAAAAAD7w/YUGMXMD-h3YLbbu7SCCisdcFwInjeRGeQCK4B/s320/thumbnail_24538.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> As stated above, Nancy has come to a secluded beach (the name is never revealed as if there is some mystery that needs to be solved) to unwind the only way she knows how to…by surfing. With her mother having passed, the beach is all the more significant to her since her mother also surfed the waves in this secret spot.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EKUmt0BnjlY/V5wDSZvx9OI/AAAAAAAAD74/qb4YW1mLlQsN1_PbHT1GF0jQoCtyU1whwCK4B/s1600/a9374b90-2e55-11e6-8ba2-7d7a1f58be90_af97f033f717b1f97a546c7d370d39a8.png.cf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EKUmt0BnjlY/V5wDSZvx9OI/AAAAAAAAD74/qb4YW1mLlQsN1_PbHT1GF0jQoCtyU1whwCK4B/s320/a9374b90-2e55-11e6-8ba2-7d7a1f58be90_af97f033f717b1f97a546c7d370d39a8.png.cf.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"> From the beginning Nancy is not alone as there are a pair of surfers already surfing there that seem to frequent the area daily. Nancy is a bit cautious at first but soon realizes that if there is some sort of threat, these local surfers are not it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> After the locals leave for the day and Nancy opts to stay out in the water for more surfing, things begin to take a turn for the worst. Nancy notices something strange in the water and decides to investigate. That investigation reveals a dead whale…but more importantly the predator that killed the whale is still in the area and has it’s sights set on Nancy as the next meal.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vuR6nvKe7gc/V5wDeoZQMfI/AAAAAAAAD8E/whdTebVYQcgMJN8AVfKfBDcu9kxssOzsQCK4B/s1600/shark_0_1462363225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vuR6nvKe7gc/V5wDeoZQMfI/AAAAAAAAD8E/whdTebVYQcgMJN8AVfKfBDcu9kxssOzsQCK4B/s320/shark_0_1462363225.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> What follows next is <i>not</i> just a reiteration of a simple “Jaws-type” film, but a battle for survival that happens so close to shore that hope is never abandoned, but so fierce that tragedy is the only outcome that makes any sense…all happening on the edge of your seat!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The Verdict: </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MR5TuQOgU-g/V5wDrG5d5UI/AAAAAAAAD8M/9m_Fqt91FYcGV8qW33xvDtdkbQ3RI3MLQCK4B/s1600/the_shallows_official_trailer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MR5TuQOgU-g/V5wDrG5d5UI/AAAAAAAAD8M/9m_Fqt91FYcGV8qW33xvDtdkbQ3RI3MLQCK4B/s320/the_shallows_official_trailer.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> This film was better than I expected it to be as I thought it was only going to be some cheap remake of “Jaws.” However, the simple dynamic of this one woman versus this one shark in the shallows of a secluded cove made the film more personal and gave this small encounter a huge impact.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4nIvTILUSD0/V5wDu-IKaKI/AAAAAAAAD8U/UGG8LLQvHtwjxCnbWx5Cd6_jQT_whC2RACK4B/s1600/51a00ece-8192-4aba-80c8-061198831840-large16x9_theshallowsdomDF06220_r_rgb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4nIvTILUSD0/V5wDu-IKaKI/AAAAAAAAD8U/UGG8LLQvHtwjxCnbWx5Cd6_jQT_whC2RACK4B/s320/51a00ece-8192-4aba-80c8-061198831840-large16x9_theshallowsdomDF06220_r_rgb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> The shark in the film looks completely real and raises the hairs on the back of your neck as it terrorizes Nancy with it’s simplistic need to feed and the instinct to do whatever it has to do to get that done. Kudos to the special effects crew here as the shark is all CGI and at no time does it feel like we are dealing with a fake shark.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XhmSG3psB0w/V5wD4GzKoeI/AAAAAAAAD8g/iWkMXGHRH682c0X2bnnZSNtzNOnIyQU4wCK4B/s1600/maxresdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XhmSG3psB0w/V5wD4GzKoeI/AAAAAAAAD8g/iWkMXGHRH682c0X2bnnZSNtzNOnIyQU4wCK4B/s320/maxresdefault.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> I like how the direction of the film keeps ramping p the suspense as the situation seems to keep deteriorating with no visible resolution in sight. Every temporary solution to the situation is made <i>more</i> temporary as the antagonist (shark) is absolutely relentless in it’s goal of making Nancy the cherry topping to his whale cake.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-njv1MVoijHw/V5wEBRfFjoI/AAAAAAAAD8o/jL1FJZtyEpYSyXDqc8oZjGT4b0T1T3WDACK4B/s1600/the-shallows-poster01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-njv1MVoijHw/V5wEBRfFjoI/AAAAAAAAD8o/jL1FJZtyEpYSyXDqc8oZjGT4b0T1T3WDACK4B/s320/the-shallows-poster01.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> That said….I’m not an expert on shark behavior, but it did seem to me that the shark was more single-minded than is believable possible (seeing as it had a whole whale to feed on just a few yards from Nancy), but it was easy to look past this for the thrill of the hunt, and fight for survival.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> This film was better than expected and kept me on the edge of my seat to easily soak three (3), out of five, cinnamon sticks in my cup of tea.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Rating: 3 / 5</span></div>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2015/10/age-of-adaline.html"><span style="font-size: large;">http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2015/10/age-of-adaline.html</span></a></span></div>
Dennis Kreative Ideahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198159370078849491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710183692993392463.post-19916254087698566652016-07-28T23:27:00.000-04:002016-07-28T23:29:36.740-04:00“Viva Vermont”<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XgshWGM91Vs/V5rL_mRsLSI/AAAAAAAAD5o/icbE5XgFSqQ_r5PATtEj3t-MvkJR37y3ACK4B/s1600/welcome-to-vermont.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XgshWGM91Vs/V5rL_mRsLSI/AAAAAAAAD5o/icbE5XgFSqQ_r5PATtEj3t-MvkJR37y3ACK4B/s320/welcome-to-vermont.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Planning a vacation can be stressful and expensive. Every year I probe my brain to figure out where to go that will be fun and relaxing, but not force me to mortgage my home to do it. You might be surprised to know (I was) that you need not travel around the world or cruise the ocean to find wonderful places you have never really been, or do exciting things you have never done before. Sometimes adventure and relaxation is right around the corner…or in your backyard, figuratively speaking</span><span style="font-size: large;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Living in Massachusetts, Vermont is my “backyard.” Now some of you reading this might have a certain impression of that state (as my daughter admitted to after we got back...that her impression was way off), but trust me when I say there might be a lot more to it than just mountains and woods (although the mountains and woods are absolutely majestic at times).</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tCQTdUmGIpE/V5rMDvi_-MI/AAAAAAAAD5w/51v02BT5h0EQShsIN2E2xm2z-00GqImnACK4B/s1600/DSC_0780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tCQTdUmGIpE/V5rMDvi_-MI/AAAAAAAAD5w/51v02BT5h0EQShsIN2E2xm2z-00GqImnACK4B/s320/DSC_0780.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">I started off my vacation with a trip to an amusement park (yes, Vermont actually has one, sort of). Bromley hosts <a href="https://www.bromley.com/summer/attractions/mountain-adventure-park/"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Vermont’s Summer Adventure</span></a> and it’s what happens when you turn a mountain for skiing into a fun park in the summer. Without going into all the details I’ll just say it’s fun to go down the mountain on a sled gingerly married to a track (although I left quite a bit if skin on said track), and I retained my crown in mini-golf.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">I ended my vacation with trips to a couple of cheese and maple farms that had more varieties of cheese and maple syrup than I ever imagined were possible. Seriously….some of the combinations were so far off the wall they hadn't even made it to the floor. That said, most of them tasted absolutely fantastic, with a few that either gave you the stank face, or were so hot and spicy that they turned all the soft tissue in your mouth to ash.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8v8NHjM676g/V5rMOzaaLCI/AAAAAAAAD6A/5qSvErn1PPUuJrEu7a7CMpUmYPTK5uJ9gCK4B/s1600/Lincoln-Peak-Vineyard-2014-wines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8v8NHjM676g/V5rMOzaaLCI/AAAAAAAAD6A/5qSvErn1PPUuJrEu7a7CMpUmYPTK5uJ9gCK4B/s320/Lincoln-Peak-Vineyard-2014-wines.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">In between the beginning and the end of vacation was a plethora of trips to the local wineries and brewing companies. Let me tell you….wine tastings are one of the best kept secrets in the world. For a few bucks you get to sample some really good wines, and when I say “good,” I mean great when it comes to alcohol percentage by volume! The beer was the same, although there are less breweries than wineries, I particularly recommend <a href="http://www.magichat.net/"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Magic Hat Brewery</span></a>. The <span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">free</span> guided tour ends with samples of their beers…and it should go without saying how that ends (wink).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Vermont being big on their local food and drinks, has many places to get some excellent food…native to the region, that you really can’t get anywhere else. Even the <a href="https://www.cabotcheese.coop/cabot-visitor-center-tours"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Cabot Cheese</span></a> factory has flavors of cheeses that don’t seem to make it across the border, and they are a big company.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">I am no stranger to <a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2016/06/isnt-there-enough-pizza.html"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;">Bennington VT</span></a>, having been there numerous times throughout the years, but I must say traversing the rest of the state and exploring all the beauty and hospitality (seriously, the people are some of the nicest anywhere) was one of the best vacations I have ever taken.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Now….not everyone reading this will go to Vermont (although I expect some to actually trust me on this and make the trip), but the larger point I am making is that no matter where you are, perhaps a great time of fun and relaxation is just the next state over and with some meticulous planning and a few hours of driving, you can have one of the best times of your life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.bromley.com/summer/attractions/mountain-adventure-park/">https://www.bromley.com/summer/attractions/mountain-adventure-park/</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.magichat.net/">http://www.magichat.net</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.cabotcheese.coop/cabot-visitor-center-tours">https://www.cabotcheese.coop/cabot-visitor-center-tours</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2016/06/isnt-there-enough-pizza.html">http://dkidiscussion.blogspot.com/2016/06/isnt-there-enough-pizza.html</a></span></div>
Dennis Kreative Ideahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198159370078849491noreply@blogger.com0