Inception

Inception is an event that is a beginning; a first part or stage of subsequent events. This definition gives a hint as to what might be going on in this film starring Leonardo DiCaprio, that is if you can hang with this muddled plot which goes off in all directions at the same time.

DiCaprio is assisted in this caper by Ellen Page who floats through the mayhem and madness with a faint smile that changes into a worried look, then becomes that of a placid bystander. Not a lot of acting required for that role. She travels with DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ken Watanabe and Cilian Murphy as they play with mind control sequences as a form of corporate espionage. They invade the dreams of wealthy folks to dig up tightly guarded secrets. After absorbing that news you are on your own trying to translate the endless gun battles, chase sequences, explosive eruptions, buildings collapsing into the sea, people floating around the room and bouncing off the walls and ceilings while supposedly dreaming.

Every possible pyrotechnic mechanism is used to move the action along as the characters appear in six or more different locations, finally ending up landing at Los Angles Airport for the resolution of this two and a half hour contest to see whether the viewers are going to hang all the way through with this crowd or beat it to the nearest bar to try to sort out what it was that the writer/director Christopher Nolan had in mind.

The guest, a sophisticated film fan who accompanied this scribe, unscrambled himself out of his seat and wobbled out to the lobby with a sigh of relief. He searched his memory bank and shaking his head finally commented: “That Christopher Nolan is one sick dude.”

The best parts of the film according this duo were the sequences showing the rapidity with which the Japanese Bullet trains move.

Slogging through this piece it is easy to conclude that messin’ with dreams leads to a nightmare.

South of The Border

Oliver Stone's latest film, “South of the Border,” is an interesting survey of an emerging international trend that is taking place with our neighbors in the Southern Hemisphere. He begins his project as a road trip with a camera crew taping interviews of selected presidents. This effort paints an idealistic portrait of the "benovelent dictator," Hugo Chavez of Venezuela who receives an abundance of screen time leaving the viewer wondering if this is all there is to the documentary? Stone provides more information than we need to know about Chavez and his political manoevers and very little about the social and/or economic ills affecting that population. Finally he moves to other countries in that hemisphere where we see those presidents in conversation with Stone as they discuss their challenges and accomplishments.

Leaders interviewed are Néstor Kirchner- Argentina - who preceded his wife Christina as president; Evo Morales - Bolivia; Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva- Paraguay; Rafael Correa - Ecuador: and Raúl Castro - Cuba.

Several incidents give background information about the mounting disconnect these countries have with the USA. There is the revealing comment ex-president Kirchner had with George W. Bush who became irate when he wouldn't follow his financial advice on how to help his economy recover. Bush told him the way to improve financial problems was through war, not a Marshall Plan type aid program. Evo Morales recalled that his people rose up against the previous administration when they sold the water supply of Cochabamba to the Bechtel Group. This ornery corporation had that govenment pass a law forbidding poor people to collect rainwater! Mr. Correa spoke of encountering pressure from the United States to maintain a military base in Ecuador by agreeing to it only if the United States allowed Ecuador to establish one in Miami.

After wandering through this exercise, we realize most of the above had to take drastic steps to disengage from the USA and are quite pleased with how they function now. Nestor Kirchner reminded Stone that Simon Bolivar was the hero of South American who managed to save seven countries from the yoke of the Spanish king. His fellow compatriots see themselves now as "Bolivians" with their own governments, independent of others that would be inclined to tinker with their governmental functions and lifestyle. Kirchner also forsees a possible South American Union, similar to the one in Europe with a common economy, common currency and a common market. Rinse off the whitewash Stone has painted on Hugo Chavez and see if you think Kirchner's dream is a possiblity.

The Solitary Man

The Solitary Man

The Peter Pan syndrome is a pop-psychology determination that appeared in the 1970's. It has been found in men who exhibit socially immature behaviors of a psychological, social or sexual nature.Characteristics include irresponsibility, rebelliousness, anger, narcissism, dependency, manipulativeness, and the belief that he is beyond society's laws and norms. With this background, viewers are introduced to Michael Douglas in The Solitary Man, as the middle aged New Yorker and successful car dealer, Ben Kalmen, who through a series of bad choices loses his business as well as credibility with those important in his life.

Full of bluster and an outsized ego, Ben has a non-stop patter that he uses to advance business and sexual procedures to his advantage. As a classic example of the Peter Pan Syndrome, this amusing and earnest rogue, abandons his moral code to his satisfaction regardless of the consequences.

There are outstanding performances from Susan Sarandon as Ben's wife Nancy, a successful realtor, who is fond of Ben but deeply aware of his array of faults. Special kudos go to Jenna Fisher as Ben's daughter, Susan who rides wave after wave of frustrations and disappointments with her father, until she cuts off all communication.

Playing his girlfriend Jordan, who has a powerful and rich father who can put Ben back on his feet in the car business is Mary Louise Parker. Ben succumbs to the risk of bedding her daughter Allyson ( Imogen Poots) and this revelation initiates his downward spiral. When Jordan learns of this behavior, she lets loose serious consequences that are life-threatening to Ben. Not content with this sexual encounter, Ben snares one of his daughter's friends in his lair, leaving Susan outraged and disgusted. Another attempted conquest is shut down by the girlfriend of a student who has come to admire Ben.She exposes him for the lout he is.

All this sexual, social, emotional and commercial philandering leaves the viewer wanting to leap out of the seat and holler, "Don't you get it?" With Ben Kalmen you can't count on it.

Michael Douglas gives an amazing performance in this role. One particular scene is impressive. After an examination with the doctor, Ben is given some bad news about his health. Up to that moment he has been robust, colorful, energetic and full of life. Receiving this news Michael Douglas, pales, then almost melts into himself, abandoning the strong vibrant character he's presented up to this point.

A lousy friend, an intemperate father and grandfather, lacking any ability to be humble, there's not a lot to like about Ben.But still he endures to what end we don't know. Check out "The Lady and the Tiger"for a clue.

Letters to Juliet

With the Gulf of Mexico slathered in oil, some of Nerd trying to blow up Times Square and a large part of Nashville staggering under 16 inches rain, it was a great relief to take a seat and let the romantic comedy, "Letters to Juliet" take you away and prove once again that love conquers all.

Even if a romantic comedy sets your teeth on edge, the scenery and marvelous visuals created by the company's cinematographer, Marco Pontecorvo are worth the price of admission. He is responsible for soothing, sweeping scenes of the Verona and Tuscany environs that are almost like oil paintings in their construction and design. He shot several episodes of The massive "Rome" series that HBO produced in 2005 - 07, so his credits are impeccable.

Now to the plot. Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) goes on holiday in Verona with her fiancée Victor(Gael Garcia Bernal) who is opening and Italian restaurant in New York. He is absorbed with meeting his local vendors and learning as much as he can about Italian cuisine. Victor tears off to the countryside leaving Sophie alone, but not for long. She stumbles into the place where ladies in love write letters to Juliet, hoping for a thoughtful response to their dilemma. After all this is Verona.

Intrigued by this process, Sophie locates the ladies who answer the letters to Juliet and attaches herself to them. She unearths a very old letter written by a young woman did not meet her lover and have an affair of the heart because she went back home. The angst in the letter fascinates Sophie who writes such an intriguing answer that the writer, Claire (Vanessa Redgrave) appears with her grandson Charlie( Christopher Egan.) She hopes to find her amour of 50 years ago. Sophie encourages her to search for him while Charlie provides the plot conflict by seeing the entire enterprise as useless and a recipe for heartbreak.

After driving across scenic Northern Italy, the former lover is found and still has teeth and hair and lots of money and a huge estate. Fait accompli! Sophie and Charlie have a serious attraction for one another and you won't be surprised at the ending.

Its good to see Vanessa be so mellow. Always a firebrand in life as well on film or theater,in this role she is delicate, wise and wistful. Not a veil she wear lightly, but it works, although in some scenes she does seem to be a bit wobbly. Perhaps that's supposed to be fey...Quien sabe?

Gael Garcia Bernal is exquisite as the intense, enthusiastic chef more interested in food than in Sophie. Go figure.

"Letters to Juliet" is a lovely respite from reality and easy on the eye.

Remember Me

Remember Me

If your hair looks like Gaul- divided into three parts with a high wind blowing from the East, you are Robert Pattinson the heartbeat of tweens, teens and young mothers who adored watching you in the Twilight series. So you put the vampire bit on hold and assume another persona as Tyler Hawkins, a rebellious young man in "Remember Me" who is enveloped in a dysfunctional family attempting normalcy after enduring the suicide of Tyler's older brother. You give a lot of energy to your role and your chaotic surroundings do a credible job of reflecting your utter confusion.

Playing opposite him is Emilie de Ravin as Ally Craig, first seen as a young girl waiting on the subway platform with her mother. She witnesses an atrocious event during this sequence and is removed from this horror by her father, police Sgt. Neil Craig (Chris Cooper) As a result of this experience he remains overly protective of her as she matures into a blonde, shapely, stunning looking NYU student. Viewers are slowly informed of this pair's twists of fate as they meet and react to the unpredictable changes life tosses at them.

Tyler resents his father, Charles Hawkins (Pierce Brosnan,) a cold, distant yet hugely successful lawyer who appears to be indifferent to Tyler, as well as to his young daughter, Caroline. She adores Tyler and worries about her father's apathy toward her. This situation infuriates Tyler, but deepens his affection for Caroline.

A serious argument over a boy between Ally and her father thrusts her into Tyler's life and serenity reigns for a while, until she discovers she was set up to meet Tyler by his goofy room mate Aiden (Tate Ellington.) A crisis with Caroline brings all of the players together and a rather bumpy, but effective resolution is established. At this point, the tension lessens and the audience begins to relax after all the scenes with Ally's outraged father, fist fights, physical abuse, anger, frustration and confusion subside. But the script has another incomprehensible incident in store. It feels like a blow to the solar plexus.

Polanski Once Again Demonstrates Mastery of the Art of Film

The Ghost Writer

The film adaptation of Robert Harris' novel, The Ghost, is a tense political thriller that races from one unsettling event to the next leaving viewers wrapped in the clutches of intrigue, suspicion and corruption. It is the story of a successful British ghostwriter (Ewan Mc Gregor) who leaves England for the States to rework the memoirs of the former British Prime Minister Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan) as the British publisher deems the book unsuitable for publication in its present form.

Mr. McGregor arrives at a cold contemporary fortress-like mansion on the east coast (think Martha's Vineyard) to work on the book and upon arrival he meets a parade of characters adding mystery and distrust to the circumstances in which he finds himself.

Only when he begins to ask questions about the previous ghost does he learn that his predecessor boarded the ferry from the mainland to the island in his car and upon arrival his car remained but he was not found until his body washed ashore the next morning.

Shortly after learning of this disturbing state of affairs, a former British cabinet minister appears on television accusing Lang of authorizing the illegal seizure of suspected terrorists and handing them over for torture by the CIA--a war crime. This controversy brings reporters and protesters swarming to the island camping outside the mansion complex where Lang is staying with his wife, Ruth (Olivia Williams,) and his personal assistant/ mistress, Amelia.( Kim Cantrell.)

Mr. McGregor begins to uncover clues suggesting the previous ghost may have found clues linking Lang to the CIA--and this information is hidden in the manuscript he left behind. Then he wonders if the first ghost writer was murdered because of the ghastly truth he uncovered?

As the film is loosely based on the career of Tony Blair, Mr. Brosnan was emphatic with director Roman Polanski that he was not going to re-create Tony Blair. He decided to fill the character with his own interpretation of Adam Lang and not attach any of Mr. Blair's transgression to the character. In a recent interview Mr. Brosnan stated he viewed Adam Lang's life as sham. He saw him as a great pretender with no clue how to run a country and lacking leadership capabilities.

The cold wintry setting of the island is key in creating the lonely

and desperate mood of the film. Polanski has done a magnificent job

establishing this piece with the essence of evil that lurks in every frame.

Kudos go to Kim Cantrell who does a superb job as the tightly knit assistant without all the bling and glitz she uses in the Sex and the City franchise. Watch Olivia Williams as she maneuvers to steer the hapless Prime Minister in acceptable poses. The Ghost Writer retains the pace and essence of the book because Robert Harris had his hand on the tiller as the screenwriter.

Don't miss reading "Pompeii" - Mr. Harris' finest piece. It appears to be in a muddle regarding film production, but hopefully it will be resolved so that

The public can watch the retelling of the volcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius from the perspective of an ancient aqueduct engineer. It is set in August A.D. 79 in Campania, where Pompeii is located.

Saint John of Las Vegas

In St. John of Las Vegas Steve Buscemi engages his homely persona as John Alegheri, a reformed compulsive gambler living a mundane life working for an insurance company. One day, he asks his boss, Mr. Townsend (Peter Dinklage) for a raise and suddenly becomes the company’s newest insurance fraud investigator. Forced to work with Virgil (Romany Malco,) denying this claim, he begins a journey that turns into a peculiar sort of madness similar to the adventures of another Alegheri who descended into The Inferno in the first part of Dante Alighieri's epic poem “ The Divine Comedy.” If this recollection seems fuzzy, check with any senior English major for confirmation.

Before he departed on this quest, John has a brief fling with his cubicle mate Jill (Sarah Silverman) who is addicted to the smiley face creature wishing everyone to Have a Good Day. She even paints this image on her fingernails and calls John frequently during his trek proclaiming her love. Oh well.

They find the claimant, Tasty D. Lite, a stripper in a wheelchair, who claims a loss of nearly $200,000 in income since she no longer can do lap dances. John quickly disproves this claim. While searching for the damaged car, they approach a ranch with an entry surrounded by flames and guarded by gun-toting nudist survivalists. Entry is only by disrobing, so Virgil and John decline that option and sleep in the car. Sent by the sheriff to talk to the tow-truck driver that hauled the strippers’ car away, they find him in his part-time job as a circus performer sitting in his flame-retardant suit that frequently erupts in flames wishing for a cigarette. Directed to the next stop, a junk yard, John is attacked and barely escape with his life.

Meanwhile, John continues his gambling habit, betting on scratch tickets. A final scene finds him abstaining from that addiction. Or does he? And what happened with Virgil as the final resolution winds down in this frolic?

This quirky bizarre tale is a great satirical trip with Buscemi at his geekiest best in this epic adventure.

Valentine's Day -

Valentine’s Day

With a title like Valentine’s Day, you know you are not in for anything heavy. In fact you might balk at the thought of a sugary, sweet confection of a story wrapped up in roses and love. Well, it is a love story and it’s also a not-in-love story that has sharp twists and turns and isn’t too predictable. Well maybe yes it is.

It’s great to watch as the overall impression of the work may reminds you of the “look” of “Pretty Woman.” That would be an accurate comparison as Gary Marshall directed both.

There is an A-List of stars that includes Jessica Alba, Kathy Bates, Jessica Biel, Bradley Cooper, Eric Dane, Patrick Dempsey, Hector Elizando, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Topher Grace, Anne Hathaway, Ashton Kutcher ,Queen Latifah, Taylor Lautner, George Lopez, Shirley MacLaine. Then there are Emma Roberts, Julia Roberts, and Taylor Swift. It’s a good thing the aforementioned can sing as in this piece she has no clue how to act.

Among this crowd there are numerous love lines with Kutcher and Garner playing in the center of this circle of love that delivers, disappointment, frustration, demands, secrets, unmet expectations, emotional reversals and in some corner love swirling around. The players experience some, a lot and even all of the above emotions during the course of Valentines’ Day.

One interesting ecological tip: the production was one of the first in the industry to become a “green set” during the filming. That meant whenever they could eliminate unnecessary waste, they did so. To cut down from swimming in a cloud of water bottles, crew and cast members received their own stainless steel water bottle. Solar powered lighting was employed when possible and hybrid or clean diesel vehicles were used as well as biodegradable plates and utensils were placed with craft services.

The Valentine holiday can be wonderful, miserable, exciting or disappointing, but its seldom ordinary. Often there is a surprise during those important hours. And yes a huge disappointment may be lurking somewhere.

Enjoy the LA locations and if your Valentine’s plans are still in limbo, head for the theater before, during and even after this celebration. There’s something in this mix for almost everyone.

P.S. Ladies: It’ not too difficult to watch Ashton Kutcher whirl around in his bright pink shirt.

A 21st Century Sherlock Homes

Bah Humbug! and a pox upon your houses, Guy Ritchie. You have messed with The Man and he didn't need 'messin with. Haven't you ever heard of the quote, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it?" Evidently not, as you have tarnished and trashed the cherished image so many of us carry in our hearts and minds about Sherlock Holmes. There are plenty of stories out there that are available for you to jazz up for 21st Century film fans. Why did you have to twiddle with Sherlock?

Conan Doyle's first novel, "A Study in Scarlet" was published in 1887 and his work earned a respected place in history with numerous actors reflecting his talents. In Conan Doyle’s books, Sherlock Holmes gained a place in the hearts of Londoners and the rest of the world and stands as one of literature’s most vivid and fascinating creations.

The Holmes image has met with enthusiastic acceptance when played by Basil Rathbone, 1939; Jeremy Brett, 1984-94; John Cleese, 1973 and Michael Caine, 1988. In these films our hero has put forth his talents with careful deductions and unusual manipulations of people and places. And in this careful representation it was comforting to see him use whatever Victorian applications were available and suited him. We didn’t need mixed metaphors having Sherlock operate in that era then suddenly be surrounded by wildly imaginative 21^st century computer graphics.

To give the “Devil his Due”, Robert Downey, Jr. as this 2010 Sherlock and Jude Law as Dr. Watson deliver interesting performances that the 18 to 54 demographics finds appealing. Speculations can be made that this population segment probably never knew much about Sherlock Holmes or Conan Doyle until they showed up to pick up this late Christmas gift to this year’s holiday film goers.

To hard core Holmes fans, there is a universe of folk dedicated to keeping the flame alive. The Sherlock Holmes Society of London has more than 1,000 fans that hang out at London’s Langham Hotel where according to their publicist, “ the worlds of Sherlock Homes and Conan Doyle come together.” Dallas has a dedicated group of fans called the Diogenes Club of Dallas. They meet the first Sunday of every month according to the Web site: DiogenesClubDallas@earthlink.net. To find out more about the group across the Pond you can link to them at http://www.sherlock-holmes.org.uk/.

Bullock Is Dazzling in Blind Side

The Blind Side

While screening The Blind Side, recollections of Paul Bunyan, the larger-than-life folk hero who was a symbol of might with a willingness to work hard and overcome obstacles kept drifting through the memory bank.

Although at first unwilling to work at much of anything that didn't involve a ball, the film's central character Michael Oher, played by Quinton Aaron, sweeps viewers into this intriguing story with a level of anxiety that doesn't subside until the final resolution. Like Paul Bunyan he has a massive size that inhibits socialization for a while, but becomes the keystone for his future success.

The Blind Side, based on the book by Michael Lewis, is about a reclusive son of a drug-addled single mom who suddenly becomes one of the most valued college football prospects in America. One of thirteen children, he has no formal education, no social skills and no athletic experience. However, when spotted by Leigh Anne Touhy (Sandra Bullock) wandering down a road on a freezing cold night in Memphis, Tennessee, he becomes part of her family and a new world opens up. Married to successful entrepreneur Sean Tuoy, (Tim Mc Graw), she places Michael in the private school her children attend. He struggles to adapt.

His teachers are dismayed with Michael's lack of education, but that eventually improves enough that the giant figure that is Michael becomes eligible to go out for the school's football team. He stumbles through practice while both Touhy's watch on the sideline. Frustrated with the coach's inadequate method of communicating, Leigh Anne stomps out on the playing field and with a few essential maneuvers and comments explains to Michael how to play as a defensive tackle.

Diagnosed with a lack of agility, the coach sets Michael up with exercises to improve his condition. His younger brother S. J. (Joe Head) becomes his trainer and these scenes are remarkable and entertaining. Soon his poor grade point average is discovered and Leigh Anne is faced with hiring a tutor to get Michael into college and a hoped for football scholarship.

Enter Kathy Bates, who is ideal as Michael's tutor, Miss Sue. She announces to Leigh Anne and her hugely Republican family that they need to know one important thing about her before she's hired. She is a Democrat! She is successful and soon football coaches from across Dixie come to call on Michael attempting to recruit him to their school. The three finalists are Ole Miss, LSU and Tennessee. To learn Michael's choice, show up at the box office and buy a ticket.

Another Possible Award Winner

Invictus

Even if you don't enjoy watching any sort of organized sport, you will not want to miss Invictus, the latest work of Clint Eastwood, that brings to light, the early days of Nelson Mandela's presidency and the huge issues he faced. After he took office, this long-time rugby fan realized the need to unite the disparate South African populations, many who had suffered hideous indignities during the dreadful Apartheid regimes preceding him.

He chose rugby as the path to unity and harmony and felt the nation could support their national team, the Sprinboks, in spite of the fact that their ranking was in the basement.

To accomplish this endeavor President Mandela ( Morgan Freeman) reaches out to the captain of the Springboks, Francois Peinaar ( Matt Damon,) and with gentle urging gives the captain the charge to accomplish this goal. The captain begins intense workouts, drills, and the team is sent to black neighborhoods to teach young rugby wanna be's how to play the game. A final coup, right before the international teams assembled in Johannesburg in 1995, Mandela sends the Sprinkboks to Robin Island, the terrible prison where he spent 27 years as a prisoner. They see for themselves the indignity and desperation he endured and that is possible to overcome incredible odds, misfortunes and forgive.

Huge bouquets go to Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon for the purity and intensity they put into their roles. Freeman had wide access to Mandela to study his speech, his movements and his manner. Matt Damon has really bulked up for this part and an early scene showing him eating something while wearing a tee shirt reveals massive muscle development in his arms. Plus he played many of the scenes of the Springbok team on the field.. Eastwood neatly edited parts of original footage of the 1995 World Cup and inserted his actors, leaving the audience panting as we watched player romp up and down the field.

Rugby has to be one of the most intense physical games on the planet. The players wear really short shorts, run all the time while on the field, become adept kickers and wear no protective gear. It's a wonder they don't knock out teeth and break bones after emerging from every scrum. A player must do tough physical conditioning way beyond what football players do in order to play and survive this game.

This is a quality feel-good film and should receive several nominations. Producer Clint Eastwood has done it again...earned a five star rating!

Why the title, Invictus? Mandela sends the poem to the Springbok captain. This famous sonnet by William Ernest Henley is a powerful work describing how to overcome terrible hardship and ends with the famous line, "I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul."

This Was My Oscar Pick Last Summer

The Hurt Locker

It is impossible to sit through The Hurt Locker, without a knot in your stomach and your teeth on edge. This gritty fictional portrayal of a U.S. Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal team on duty in Iraq in 2004 appears at first to be a documentary thanks to the imagery and violent action in this intense war film.

Shot in Jordan on the Iraq border in forty-four days from July to September 2007, the film was written by Mark Boal, a first time screenwriter. Embedded with a bomb squad during the height of the Iraq war surge, that experience was the source for the story. All Iraqi roles were played by displaced Iraqi war refugees forced to leave their country.

The camera rides along with the bomb squad members and never lets the viewer escape the chaotic circumstances facing the squad. Your eyes never leave the target or Jeremy Renner as Staff Sergeant William James goes about defusing bombs in wild abandonment of ordinary safety procedures. Every step he takes is a matter of life and death and it suits him as war is an addiction and he needs that adrenalin rush.

Anxiety and the tension of battle are in every frame. Anthony Mackie as Sergeant JT Sanborn, and Brian Geraghty, as Specialist Owen Eldridge, struggle with James’ indifference to danger and death. His fascination with the mechanics of bomb mechanisms and the challenge of unscrambling them is vital to his persona and maddening to others.

There are hideous death scenes and outrage is palpable when James discovers a young Iraqi boy he’s befriended is killed and his body is wired to be used as a body bomb.

Seeking revenge for this tragedy, James lurches out after dark to an area where no one can be trusted and insurgents stay ready to reek destruction and death for their causes.

Ralph Fiennes, a contractor team leader is discovered by the team in time for a firefight in the desert. Guy Pearce as sergeant Matt Thompson, has a short role before a stray bullet gets him. David Morse as Colonel Reed has a brief cameo.

This American war thriller has been acclaimed the best film yet about the Iraq war. It is so real viewers can feel the heat, the sweat dripping off their bodies, smell the garbage and excrement and then decompress after killing people in a wild drunken physical encounter with the squad.

The film has captured four five nominations, three premieres and festival screenings, plus the AFI Dallas 2009 Film Festival gave an award to director Kathryn Bigelow. Don’t look for your date to accompany you to the film, as it is a sobering view of how and where many of our more than 4,000 men and women gave their lives. And the questions about why continue.

Movies,books and other nonsense

Salud! Here in the 21st Century with its wonderful technology we have innumerable ways to communicate. So many that one may pause to speculate if the current generation will in the very near future read a real book, newspaper or letter. Its all instantaneous now and while its splendid to keep in touch, it seems there is little time to ponder or rather folks don't take much time to ponder. Was it Emerson who opined that "No great thing was ever done in a hurry."

Musing, and cogitation over an issue or problem, often results in acceptable and creative options. In the GREAT RUSH to do just about everything, let us recall that the great advances in medicine, science and art didn't happen in minutes of even days. Let us have the courage to exercise our mental capacities and dwell for more than a moment on problems facing us. I recall that Michalangelo spent a considerable amount of time painting the Sistine Chapel, much to irritation of his Pope. However history has shown the value of the time he spent in his careful,amazing interpretation of The Creation.