I just saw "Kill Bill Vol. 1" and I must say that Quentin Tarantino has done it again. This guy is a wonderful, innovative filmmaker serving up a story with style and panache. I first disovered him when I saw "Reservoir Dogs" so many years ago. I still can't hear "Stuck in the Middle With You" by Stealers Wheels without seeing that torture scene with Michael Madsen in my mind.
The anime was a very cool touch, even though Roger Ebert pointed out it was rather a necessity. I look so forward to the next Volume!
A great homage to spaghetti westerns and Japanese films...a great filmaker...
Thursday, September 30, 2004
Wednesday, September 29, 2004
Cable News Beef
I love to watch cabel news in order to keep up on the latest developments; however, it really bugs me that the same news is played over and over, day after day on all three cable networks. I would guess that 30 minutes per hour (Approx. 20 min. devoted to commercials) are devoted to two subjects: Iraq (Here is a prediction...a bomb via car or sucide will go off tomorrow in Iraq) and the Pesidential Election (Currently, they've now added extensive coverage on the debate coming up tomorrow and hammering it over and over and over...). I know these are extremely important issues (And if something major happens, of course it should be extensively covered), and I'm not trying to trivialize them, but must we hammer them to death on a daily basis? There are other very important things going on in the world and U.S. (An example: In the words of James Carvell - "It's the economy, stupid!)!
The networks then leave about 10 minutes for "Oh, by the way, here is other news..." And that means it's Laci Peterson time! What gives????
Also, whenever the President speaks (I'm generic about this...nonpartisan), all three networks cover his speech from beginning to end. Most of the time he speaks platitudes relating to the people he is addressing. Why not either rotate the coverage or just not show every speech but tape it, and if he has anything important to say at the time, the networks can then cut to the speech.
The two shows I watch that somewhat get away from this is Dan Abrams' "Abrams Report" and Keith Olberman's "Countdown." They devote a smaller portion of time regarding these issues.
I just saw a ratings poll for the cable news networks this morning. Fox has more ratings than the others combined! It would seem to me that the other news channels might want to be a bit more daring and innovative in their news coverage instead of plodding along behind Fox and doing the same thing Fox is doing. They can't lose much more than they already have!
The networks then leave about 10 minutes for "Oh, by the way, here is other news..." And that means it's Laci Peterson time! What gives????
Also, whenever the President speaks (I'm generic about this...nonpartisan), all three networks cover his speech from beginning to end. Most of the time he speaks platitudes relating to the people he is addressing. Why not either rotate the coverage or just not show every speech but tape it, and if he has anything important to say at the time, the networks can then cut to the speech.
The two shows I watch that somewhat get away from this is Dan Abrams' "Abrams Report" and Keith Olberman's "Countdown." They devote a smaller portion of time regarding these issues.
I just saw a ratings poll for the cable news networks this morning. Fox has more ratings than the others combined! It would seem to me that the other news channels might want to be a bit more daring and innovative in their news coverage instead of plodding along behind Fox and doing the same thing Fox is doing. They can't lose much more than they already have!
Tuesday, September 28, 2004
Welcome to DD's Blog!
The dictionary says that a "dilettante" is "a dabbler in an art or a field of knowledge." I love to dabble in many arts and fields of knowledge. I am very opinionated, and I hope that my opinions will spur vigorous debates between all of us. Any subject, from the arts to politics (I admit up front that I lean to the left), sports and beyond, is open to discussion. I plan to discuss anything that comes to mind on the days I add to this. So let the games begin!
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