Shaky Tuesday

For decades upon decades, residents of California have been trying to prepare for the "next big quake", which, according to a report out on Monday, could hit within the next few years. But are we truly educated enough to even educate ourselves to survive what has been called "The Big One"?

I think most of us learned our lesson from the San Francisco Earthquakes of 1906 and 1989. Times do change, and so does the technology needed to strengthen our buildings to withstand major earthquake damage. I don't know if there's precise science out yet to accurately predict when the next quake will hit, but we're trying.

The one thing we really need to worry about is the San Andreas Fault, which lies in the middle of a great deal of California. Like all earthquake faults, it is unstable, but at a certain point in time it will gather enough energy to move, thus creating the next quake.

So does it mean residents have to move away from the fault to safer ground? I'll leave it up to them, but now is as good as time as any to really do our homework and study up big time on how to prepare for an earthquake, no matter where it hits. Yes, it can happen anywhere on this lovely green planet. Of course, the Internet is now adding to the vast world of information check-points available.

I can sympathize with those who ever survived an earthquake, because I actually felt the 1989 S.F. quake from all the way in Sacramento, CA, where I was at the time.

So go ahead, mentally enroll yourselves in "Earthquake Survival 101". As the saying goes, "forewarned is for-armed".

Friday Fly-Away

Before we fly away for another week, let me tell you a bit about all those airlines lately. Airline after airline after airline is going under. I'm sure you've heard about that. Only one thing is behind this...competition. So many airlines flying cheap these days that there's really no need for other expensive airlines to operate. That's how it is these days when planning a vacation. You want to spend as little money as possible. That has been the weakness behind such airlines as Aloha (boy, did we literally say 'aloha', didn't we?). I betcha these bankrupt airlines will make the surviving ones chuckle a bit. They know the one thing that works these days...low prices.

Which brings us to another issue...airline safety. Recently, American Airlines (and to some small extent, Southwest) has been cancelling flights out of concern for the airlines that are being inspected for flaws and safety. While it's too bad about the cancellations, maybe checking those planes is a good thing in itself. Who doesn't remember all those airline disasters over the decades? I won't bore you with one particular one. But all the better to make sure their aircraft is A-100 percent safe for you to fly. Every air craft has to be flawless to the letter. At least the airlines have learned from all those crashes. Gee, I hope you fly those friendly skies safely.

True, flying isn't like it was before, but these days, you have to make sure everything, and I mean everything, is OK before you step on to that plane. Good work, guys who are still operating. I wish them all friendlier skies in the months and years to come.

Now it's time for me to fly on out of the Internet until next week. Take care! And make sure you're still worthy of those wings!

A Vita-blog

Long before there was Dolby Stereo, DTS, or SDDS sound, there was Vitaphone. Vitaphone was a primitive process that employed sound-on-disc, the chief challenge to sync up disc to film. I'm sure you have heard all the stuff about this on the Internet, so I'll spare you what you may have heard before, and say it really was the beginning of the end of the silent movie era.

I finally had a chance to look at the new DVD of "The Jazz Singer", the original 1927 film that propelled Al Jolson to success, and certainly I was blown away by the restored and remastered picture and sound...the print sharp (with a few unavoidable anomalities), and a soundtrack almost free of pops and scratches.

Now let me tell you that "The Jazz Singer" is not the kind of experience you think. Despite all the hype over the decades that this was the first ever sound picture, it is really a silent film with sound segments. But what few there were (and I enjoyed watching them on this DVD, too) began to spell THE END for silent films. Because of this, other studios would notice, so why fiddle with what would become obsolete?

Not everyone's up of tea, but because of its significance in film history, this is truly a DVD set that should be enjoyed again.

Warner/Turner should be commended for an excellent job reviving this film for new generations. For me, it was a trip back in time when sound (albeit mono, nonetheless ANY sound) was the "new phase" for motion pictures.

Al Jolson, if you were here, you haven't seen or heard nothing yet!

Oly-Oly-Uh, Oh!

Not since 1984 have I heard such controversy over an Olympic games. I'm talking about what's going on in San Francisco and the possibility of the U.S. boycotting the upcoming Beijing Olympics. Sure, there are always going to be political issues keeping things out of check, but come on, world! What have we come to since 9/11?

We pretty much learned our lesson from our boycotting the 1980 Moscow games, and Russia boycotting the 1984 L.A. games. Or, at least, I hope so.

The Olympic games were built around one thing...to bring our entire world together and fight for the glory of sport. To show the world that we indeed are totally one. Why can't every country see that very fact? Every four years, each country is supposed to set aside their differences and prove that we have a chance to show how strong we can be as one world.

The Olympic games have begat true champions over the decades, a lot too numerous to mention here in a brief blog. And there will be again. But without the U.S. taking part, it won't be much of an Olympic games at all. All the same when NBC is involved, the fourth place network languishing in the ratings (more about that in a future gripe)...remember, when we boycotted the Moscow games, NBC boycotted them too.

Whatever happened to unity and friendship? For the answer, stay tuned whenever we get on the ball and participate in Beijing.

What's up with UA, lately?

Tom Cruise may be one of the biggest stars and movie makers in Hollywood, but right now he's finding that trying to bring a legendary studio back to prominence is not easy.

He and his studio, United Artists, are currently filming "Valkyrie" under "Superman Returns" director Bryan Singer, about a plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Unfortunately, it is the latest in a series of bad luck runs for the nearly 90-year-old studio, the very studio whose existence got turned upside down by the legendary 1980 flop "Heaven's Gate". First, some film that had been shot was said to be damaged during processing. Then, the film got delayed several times--it had been scheduled for release this fall, but has recently been moved up to February of next year. And all this coming off the heels of last year's "Lions For Lambs", another box office flop.

UA has had a rich, rich legacy since it was founded in 1919. However, recently it has been difficult to find the right chemistry to produce a film that audiences will remember, and the award community will recognize. True, such UA films as "Around The World In 80 Days", "Rocky", and "Rainman" (which, incidentally, co-starred Cruise) have gotten the Best Picture Award honors, but time and fate have not been kind to UA since it started up again last year.

It can be safe to say UA does have some tough competition out there...and it is those very studios that are trying to be the next UA. How about Lionsgate, the independent studio founded in an earlier form by late director Robert Altman? Lionsgate has the same motives as UA, but they have found a way to make money by not investing so much in their pictures, yet keeping the studio quality values to make a box-office hit.

If UA is to be on the same level as Lionsgate and other major studios, they should evaluate their pictures before they are made, to map out the kinks, attract both top and raw talent, and create a smooth production free of trouble before even one frame of film is shot. UA has to have a definitive plan of action. Maybe then people will start going to see UA movies again, and the studio will once again find its once former glory.

OK, Mr. Cruise, that is your mission. This blog will self-destruct in five seconds.

Charlton Heston: A Brief Appreciation

Actors are born to be legends. Then there are those that are trademarks of Biblical epics. "Ben-Hur" and "The Ten Commandments" are two such films. Millions of people have been touched by these great films. Certainly, there was no other talented actor than Charlton Heston. This last week, Heston became one with the God he had exalted so much on screen.

Heston's performances in these and other great films were, without question, among the best I have seen in my lifetime. One brings to mind the Red Sea sequence in "Commandments". Heston pulled off a performance that was way ahead of its time. The image of the parting of the Red Sea and his classic line, "Behold, His mighty hand!!!" remains fixed in the minds of all who were inspired by the story of Moses.

The Chariot race in "Ben-Hur" has been copied by so many filmmakers, including George Lucas. But again, it was Heston's performance that won out. He certainly deserved his Oscar for that performance.

Let's not forget the original "Planet Of The Apes" and that final scene with the Statue of Liberty. No one can picture a science-fiction classic without Heston and his struggle to adapt to a futuristic upside-down Earth.

I urge you to go to your video store and see these three great films again, and you will look at a man who was, and is, amongted the last of a breed of legendary actors whose performances surpass success. It is very rare for something like this to happen in motion pictures.

Thank you, Mr. Heston, for all you have left us to enjoy.

See ya later.

Some fast bucks

Hello, folk! Yes, after a season away from the keyboard, I am back with a whole new round of gripes for all to see. Hope you had a great holiday season and Easter (boy, it came early, did it!).

Well, without even trying to do any advertisements for anyone, over the past few months I have found ways to make money on the Internet. OK, we've all heard that before. Everyone these days is trying to make that fast buck on the World Wide Web. Even that guy with the question mark on his shirt, Matthew Laslo, would agree that you can indeed make some big (well, OK, some) dough.

If you think the subject of today's gripe is Internet scams, well, you're wrong. Let me tell you there are ways...legitimate ways, to make money. I won't mention any site names (as again, it would imply I'm doing advertising), but here are a few wise tips.

First, remember that many of the sites ask you to do surveys, while others want you to try out certain services (legit). Second, make sure they are reputable and trusted (many of these sites are approved by certain authorized agencies). Third, when you sign on for a site, make sure they're not asking for your money first. There are sites out there that charge you to do surveys. But it should be the other way around...they pay you to do that! Next, after going through the legal stuff they require you to see, remember this rule of thumb...the more difficult and longer the survey they offer you is, the more you get paid. Some sites pay you cash almost on the spot (most of the time you have to have a certain limit of money accumulated before you can redeem), while others pay you points to redeem for prizes. Now, if you join a points program, remember, don't expect to get the whole "9 yards" right away...it takes time. It also depends on what you want to try out and what you want to use on their web sites. By all means, sign on to as many legit survey sites as you want...the more the merrier. Beware though...don't go on a site that will rip you off!

If you play it right, you just might be earning cash. Again, and I say this from experience, don't expect to get hundreds of dollars a week. Just learn what to expect and go from there, and I can guarantee you will enjoy the Internet even more with no problem whatsoever.

Whew! Time for me to start getting my baseball fill for this weekend. Check you out hopefully with a new gripe next week!