This article was first published on Technorati http://technorati.com/politics/article/enough-is-enough-radical-reform/

The foundation of America was built upon the notion of capitalism, freedom and hailed as the land of opportunity. Where has the dream that was once America gone?

People decide to take a stand with the Occupy Wall Street protest and the media as well as politicians and pundits accuse them of having a muddled message that is not easily discernible. That the group is unlawful because they camp in a park where is camping is illegal. That any one of the messages could have been used in seventeenth century France. Are you (expletive) kidding me??? Here are thousands of Americans taking a stand so their voices can be heard and all we hear are wise cracks from the rich belittling people who are fed up and speaking their mind. Doesn’t this anger you? I wrote about people in a position of power being completely out of touch  because they could not relate to the middle class. But this is ludicrous. If you are watching the news then you know what I am talking about. All these people foaming at the mouth for the opportunity to make a quip at the expense of the protesters. Just lying in wait for their interview so they can take their shot at the thousands of average Americans who are tired of the system and are saying “Enough is Enough”.

To these anchors of news programs and politicians, to the pundits and mouth pieces of the governmental system  that has sold you out I say WAKE UP!!! You have the audacity to make jokes at the expense of Americans who would bleed red, white and blue for this country. Who are suing the First Amendment right to Freedom of Speech to make their views heard and you mock them. I have a suggestion. Instead of making offhand comments, why not take a stroll down to Wall Street and actually ask some people what they want. Do not rely on the media who grab a bunch of interviews and edit them in turn making a mockery out of a peaceful protest. If their message is muddled why not take the time to sift through the message and get to the bottom of what is eating away at the middle class. Take the time to listen. To pay attention and focus on these people so you can see that America is crying out “NO MORE!”

I am not claiming to know the true issues that we, all over the world, are facing. But I can see from here that this is a call to action. People need to know their government has their back and is listening to what they need. We do not need to watch debates on whether this is “Tea Party” protesting. Do you think anyone cares what joke you can make about people who are desperate for change? To watch a panel of speakers who all make well over six figures talk about how useless this protest is? You should feel ashamed of yourselves.

We all watch debates. Republicans, Democrats as well as Independents. We go through the whole process and watch the big, beautiful map with the red states and the blue states. But in the end nothing is changing. The economy is in the toilet. The White house is constantly under fire from the Republicans. The two parties constantly battle and scrape for an edge to gain ground on the other. America, it is not working. The political system is past the point of repair. Regardless of what party wins the White House, you will still be cheated because of partisan politics. So what do you do?

The country is in its most dire time since the depression. Desperate times call for very desperate measures. I say it is time for radical reform. The system is faulty and out of date. So what can be done? I have a suggestion but fear I will end up with a black bag over my head, in Guantanamo Bay. I will say it anyways.

Disband the political parties. Dispense with Republicans and Democrats as well as Independents. If we want change then we need drastic action. Of course this makes the whole process more difficult. No longer can you vote by just choosing a party. You will actually have to listen to a candidate to see if he falls in line with your own ideology. But imagine a world where people do not vote according to party lines. Imagine a government comprised of representatives from all walks of life who have no political ties to any party whose job it is to actually look over bills and platforms that are tabled and vote according to what the people he or her represent feel best suits them. To take their direction from the millions of Americans instead of their House Speaker or party head. Imagine a country where the election process has multiple representatives for you to choose from. To have options other than Red and Blue. To have a say in what you want and where you want the country to go. To have a government without sides. Who work together to figure out how to solve the issues plaguing the everyday American. Get rid of the asses and elephants. Dare to dream that you would not be subject to constant debates among parties. Dare to dream you could have a Congress and a Senate who work together, without party lines drawn in the sand. Dare to dream of having politicians without lobbyists from large corporations steering candidates and influencing how they tackle each topic.

Dare to dream something is done besides talking about it. Dare to dream the country can be fixed. Dare to dream of living in America, the land of opportunity once again. Dare to dream. It’s one of the few things left that is free.

Article first published on Technorati http://technorati.com/technology/article/steve-jobs-the-loss-of-the

On Wednesday evening, this October 5^th, in Palo Alto, California the world lost one of the most innovative minds since Thomas Edison. We bid farewell to the founder of Apple computers, Steve Jobs.

No matter who you are or where you live in North America or even all around the world, Steve Jobs has touched your life. True rags to riches story, Jobs worked his way to the top. He was adopted by Paul and Clara Jobs, a working class couple from Santa Clara County in California near San Francisco. He would later build the first Apple computer with Co-Founder Steve Wozniak in the same garage of the house he grew up in.

Wozniak built the world’s first computer that could have a keyboard punch in letter and have them appear right in front of you on the screen. Imagine the technology!! Okay, so it doesn’t seem like much now but you have to realize that this was all taking place at a time when the idea of building a profitable business with personal computers was laughable if not foolhardy. The first Apple I was released in 1976 but it was the release of the Apple II that really flipped the switch on where we are today. The Apple II was the first consumer-friendly PC.

Steve Jobs took action and did the things we only dream about. In 1985 Jobs was actually tossed out of his own company. So in 1986 he started NeXT to develop hardware and software and then decided to purchase a company called Pixar for 5 million dollars. Yes, the same Pixar with the lamp. The guys who brought us Toy Story and Cars. After 10 years Jobs returned a champion as Apple purchased NeXT for $429million. That’s a lot of zeros for the man you kicked out 10 years earlier. They let bygones be bygones and even appointed him CEO.

I’m not going to sit here and write about the history of Steve Jobs. I’m sure if you Google the name there is over 400 accounts of life and times of Steve Jobs. I want you to think about the man himself. He was a regular guy besides being worth as much as Bolivia…or more. He had three kids with his wife. He even had a child out of wedlock before his marriage. He was just like you and me only he took action. And I assume most of us are not computer geniuses but that’s beside the point.What has he brought to your life? I know when I go to the gym I always see multiple people with an IPOD or an IPHONE to listen too during their training. I use my ITOUCH. If you look into some of your favorite movies that have great special effects, 9 out of 10 of the companies will be using MAC’s. I think his greatest feat is how come there are so many bugs and viruses for Windows based systems and yet you never have to worry about a virus with MAC? And don’t give me that whole not enough people use MAC to warrant developing viruses garbage. Look where we are today. The IPHONE has features that people would have considered science fiction 15 years ago. I bet if I asked you how many of your friends own an IPHONE you wouldn’t be able to count because there is so many of them. So many that if I took it a step further I bet that more of your friends own an IPHONE as opposed to any other phone all put together.

Unfortunately money can’t buy you everything. Steve Jobs lost his 6 years battle with pancreatic cancer. Next time you hear someone blowing smoke about conspiracy about the rich having access to things the poor do not in terms of health care, ask them their thoughts on Steve Jobs. I wish he had access to miracles cures and lived on. Many people will say he was a ruthless business man, maintaining proprietary systems. But the man was here to try and make our lives easier. He was all about ease of use. He built those first computers for us thinking that this would never be a profitable business. He was a hippie. He did LSD when he was younger. He was a caring father and a good man. He was just like you and me.

The world will mourn his loss in the years to come. I only ask that each time you play Angry Birds you say “Thank you Steve Jobs.”

I had the honor of having an article published for Technorati and I just thought I would share that post with you. This is my take on American Politics. http://technorati.com/politics/article/enough-is-enough2/

Is it just me or everyone tired of politics? I don’t mean politics at work and I do not mean being politically correct. I am talking about Republicans and Democrats. Throw in the Independents and we have a ball game. But it is a ball game I no longer have the urge to watch.

The United States of America is in trouble people. Unemployment is at its peak, the economy is on the cusp of collapse and it is not making any lives any easier. President Barack Obama’s approval rating is at its lowest to date in the latest Washington Post-ABC polls. The Republicans are cheering and licking their chops for the election coming up next year. The Democrats are trying to put out more fires than a forest fire fighting crew stationed near Los Angeles or San Diego. Both sides are attempting to position themselves for next year. Enough is enough.

When are we going to stand up and say we are tired of this? When are we going to turn off Rush Limbaugh and all the pundits verbally berating each other? When is someone going to start acting on your behalf.

Do you know that President Barack Obama has the American Jobs Act, which he submitted to congress, lying in wait to be tabled and brought to the floor? This bill could stimulate job growth by planning to give extensive payroll tax breaks to small businesses as well as the complete payroll tax holiday for new jobs or wage increases. There is even a reform to federal unemployment insurance which would enable young entrepreneurs access to guaranteed startup capital. Where is this bill? Why is it not passed? Ask House Majority Leader Eric Candor who boasted Monday that House Republicans would not bring Obama’s $447 billion American Jobs Act to the floor for a vote. Many economists have said this plan can help and as Americans that is what everyone needs at this point. So why are we not seeing the plan? Well mostly because political pundits have said that the jobs act would not only help Americans but it would help Barack Obama which is the last thing in the world Republicans would want. So Republicans counter with “Why can we submit our act? Why not our plan?”.

This is exactly what America does not need right now. Barack Obama was elected because he gave people hope. Now people are laughing at him saying he is doing an awful job. The problem isn’t Mr. Obama. It’s partisan politics. The job that needs to be done will never be achieved by any party unless you have a voice. If the Republicans win the next election do you honestly believe things will change? Obama was elected because for the first time in a long time people dared to believe that a politician was telling the truth. The problem is not President Obama. The problem is the system. There is a sickness in America. A dark under belly which eats away at the fabric of society. All we see is political positioning through and through. People who make obscene amounts of money are on Capitol Hill claiming they know what is best for America! Saying they understand what you need. Seriously???? What does someone making 300,000$ a year have in common with infamous Joe the Plummer in rural America who is in debt up to his eyeballs and is barely staving off a mortgage foreclosure? We all know the answer. They can make the rounds giving soap box speeches and claiming to be just like you but they can’t relate anymore.

The world of politics has become a North and South revolution but instead of guns they use words. There are still casualties but they are not deaths and bullet wounds. They are job loss, unemployment, mortgage foreclosures and homeless people. Both sides are just as stubborn and are lost within their parties beliefs to realize no one is actually helping Americans anymore. Put away the speeches. Put away the banter. Put away with partisan politics. This is for all of you in state positions of authority, in Governor’s mansions, in Congress, in the Senate and in the White House. We come for you. We come with open hands and open arms asking for help. We come baring the scars of your battles and the spoiled fruits of your lack of labor. We come looking for mercy and understanding. We come in dire need of change. We come for you. Now do what you were elected to do and listen and act. TOGETHER! Enough bickering and positioning. No more words. This is a call to action.

This was once the land of opportunity. Is has been lost for a long time now. We need to stand together and let them know, enough is enough.

Today I have the unfortunate burden of attending a funeral. It is the funeral of my girlfriend’s Aunt who passed away from Cancer (Obituary here). It was not unexpected but that doesn’t change the difficultly in dealing with a loss. Earlier last week I learned that a very close friend who lives in Calgary father had passed away as well (Obituary here). Again, not unexpected but the loss leaves an empty hole in the family. I spoke with this friend last night to extend my condolences and pay my respects as I was unable to fly out for the funeral. Thankfully two other of our friends were there to lend a shoulder to grieve upon. It was an interesting conversation and it definitely made me think. So much so that I am here writing you today.

My friend’s father had been in the hospital for the last little while. He shared some stories. Apparently his father was no longer able to swallow due to a stroke and the only way the hospital would be able to feed him is to force a tube into his stomach. Knowing that his father had suffered enough and knowing that it is very possible that he had no idea where he even was, he made the brave decision to make his father comfortable with a higher dose of morphine and let him pass on when he was ready.

My friend showed something that very few of us have, the ability to let go for the benefit of another. There is another family that was in the next room whose father has been dying of cancer for two years. He also can no longer eat and they decided to force the tube for him to eat. Only now his body is no longer absorbing the food and it is only making the father bloat. The hospital asked if they were prepared to let him go but they informed the hospital that they would be taking their father/husband to Mexico for some miracle cure. The hospital strongly recommends against it and I would ask them to read the story of Tyrell Dueck before buying any plane tickets. There are no guarantees in life and sometimes we have to let go and we are just too selfish. We can’t stand the thought of moving on without our loved ones. But what if we are prolonging their pain? Do we not owe it to them to make them comfortable and pass in a way they would have preferred? With dignity or pride? I know I do not want to be a burden to my family and have them grasp at straws to keep me alive. My girlfriend’s Aunt bravely decided to end treatment while she still had the mental capacity and was assured there was no cure, to die in her home surrounded by family. This was not easy for the family as a whole but they all accepted their mother’s choice and tried to make her last days on earth as comfortable and as happy as they could.

Loss is never easy. There is nothing worse than losing a loved one before you are ready. But it will happen to all of us. It is how we choose to deal with that loss that will determine how we move forward. By desperately searching for a miracle when the inevitable is your loved one will not be around much longer can leave you empty and remembering the way they were in their last days. I suggest a different approach. One that will be much harder at first but will help you remember them in the way you want to.

Gather your immediate family together for an afternoon or evening. Find as many home videos and photos as you possibly can before everyone is to come over. Cook some of the loved ones favorite foods and drinks. And when everyone arrives, celebrate his or her life. Share stories with each other about your favorite time with them. Some of your most precious memories. Things that they did that shows what kind of character they were and what affect they had on your life. Celebrate. I promise you will cry hard but you will all be there for each other. IT will be a hard night but the most important thing to remember and make sure that everyone there remembers is that the last thing on earth the person you lost would want, would be for you to wander around in constant sorrow. They want you to laugh, not cry. To look forward and not dwell. To live in honor of them since they can no longer be we with us. To make the most of your life and pursue your dreams. Live.

There is a great scene dealing with loss at the end of Tombstone with Doc Holiday (Val Kilmer) dying while he talks to Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell). Right before Wyatt leaves Doc asks him to “Live Wyatt, live for me.” I invite you all who suffer tremendous loss to do the same. It is what they would have wanted. Live.

This article can also be viewed on Technorati at http://technorati.com/women/article/life-after-death/

There are creepy things in the world. Some are scary creepy like circus clowns and evil children in films. Then there is creepy in something you would never expect to see and just makes you uncomfortable. Like seeing a child actress who just “Gets it.”. Such is the case with Saoirse Ronan. You may remember her as the 13 year old novelist Briony Tallis in the Joe Wright directed film adaptation of Ian McEwan’s 2001 novel Atonement. Or as Susie Salmon in Peter Jackson’s The Lovely Bones (great film). Ronan actually was nominated for both a Golden Globe and Academy Award for her role in Atonement at the age of 13.

Last night I watched her in Hanna. Having being a fan of The Lovely Bones but never having seen Atonement, (which I will see shortly I assure you), I thought the premise was interesting and figured I would give it a shot. Now when I say it is creepy to see a child actress who knows what she is doing,I mean it. Now try watching a child actress who “Gets it” as well as does a very believable German accent. Erie. This is talented actress who will one day win an Academy Award. You heard it here first. She will only grow as an actress and get better which is again…creepy. Funny enough I talked about accents in film in an earlier blog. As someone who prides himself I being able to pick up accents this film had some great accents. In that same blog I mention Tim Monich who was the dialect coach for Invictus and so he assumes the same role for Hanna. What I would give to have been born into an acting family. She is something to behold and I invite you to check out her films. But now a little more about Hanna.

Joe Wright directs this film about a girl who was raised in the deep forest of North Finland by her ex-CIA father Erik Heller played by Eric Bana. Her father trains her in an “Adapt or Die” fashion helping her gain strength, stamina and acute survivor instincts. She is trained in multiple facets of fighting weaponry and even languages. There is a great scene with her stating she like Arabic because it is so full like Japanese.

This film is a very twisted, yet entertaining, coming of age movie. Basically having lived in the forest all her life Hanna feels she is ready to make her way in the real world although she has known from a very early age that once she leaves, there is a woman who wants to find her and it is a “one of us must die” scenario.  Hanna decides the time is right and so the story really begins to unfold. The CIA realizes that Erik Heller (Bana) has come out of hiding and made his presence known. This leads to the capture of Hanna…or better stated as the orchestrated capture of Hanna. Enter Marissa Wiegler, (played by the incredible Cate Blanchette), the CIA operative who was assigned Heller years ago and the aforementioned nemesis of Hanna. Now the plot really begins to unfold. Throw in the really spooky “fixer” Isaacs (Tom Hollander) who has an affinity for whistling and hermaphrodites and we really get rolling. We get to see the dark side of Hanna but we also get to see her make some friends and try to be a normal girl while avoiding the clutches of the people hunting her.

This film is not a fast paced, non-stop action movie. The action scenes are well choreographed and the detail is great. It is the story of Hanna and the amazing performance by Ronan that keeps us watching. Her very demented coming of age story is gripping. The cast is top notch and the film makes you think at least a little so you have to keep “Focused” (oh yeah, it is a “Focus” feature). I enjoyed this film and seeing a great actress just starting her career and I think you would as well.

I should have seen this film sooner. Guess I will just have to figure out a method for my “Atonement”.

I know…cheesy.

Earlier this week I talk to you about The Wire. Possibly the greatest show to hit television screens. But this show wasn’t an innovative, ground breaking series. It was a fine tuned machine. David Simon actually started out on another great series and it is this series I bring to you today. Ladies and gentlemen I present you with Homicide: Life on the Street.

This was a Barry Levinson project and David Simon was one of the writers and producers. Also set in Baltimore this show was far too ahead of its time. After almost being cancelled the first couple of seasons, this show went on for seven seasons total. Much like The Wire, this show will leave you hungering for more. Although the last season was without the show’s star (in my opinion) Det. Frank Pembleton. Andre Braugher gave this character life and created one of television greatest characters….ever. It also finally culminated in an Emmy for the role in 1999. If you want to know how to be a good actor, you need to study great performances. For television, you start here. The enigmatic and often polarizing Pembleton is a master of his craft. If you are the suspect in a murder, you are interrogated in “The Box”. If the detective investigating the murder just happens to be Frank Pembleton, then write home and say you will be gone for a few years because even if you didn’t do it, Frank will convince you that you did. Just ask his Lieutenant Al Giardello (Yaphet Kotto). He’ll tell you that nobody can beat Frank in the box. I do not know how many of you have seen Kotto in films but he has a huge presence. You can feel his intensity and he draws your attention whenever on screen.

Already I have introduced you to two great actors. Have you seen The Fighter? Remember his mom who went on to win an Academy Award? Yeah, Melissa Leo cut her teeth on the road to stardom in Baltimore. Do any of you watch Law and Order Special Victims Unit? If you do then you might be used to seeing Richard Belzer playing Det. John Munch (who is rightfully not Motel Williams, very memorable scene on Homicide). Well guess what folks, he has been playing John Munch for 18 years. The character originated on Homicide and had a couple of crossover episodes with the original Law and Order and then the character moved to New York once Homicide was cancelled. You also have Clark Johnson who was on The Wire as well. Kyle Secor as Det. Tim Bayliss, Callie Thorn who also ended up on The Wire as well as Rescue Me, Zeljko Ivanek who seems like he is in everything, Daniel Baldwin as Det. Beau Felton and a host of others.

The writing on this show was incredible. There were also some very memorable guest appearances by actors such as Lily Tomlin, Mekhi Phifer, James Earl Jones, Bruce Campbell, Joe Morton, Julianna Margulies, Charles Durning, Vincent D’Onofrio and probably the most highly acclaimed Robin Williams pre-Dead Poets Society. He plays the grieving husband to a murdered wife. It is a very powerful episode.

Homicide changed the playing field for police dramas. Bringing you into the policemen’s lives and showing you the hard politics in police work as well and showing you the dark side of the job. Not all the glitz and big arrests from the campy shows. This was the next evolution of police drama taking the reins from the 80’s classic Hill Street Blues. People could not get used to the drama and violence or depression the show portrayed. This was still the age of the surreal. Nobody wanted to see the dark side or realism associated with being a policeman. Hell you know all those expensive cars you see cops driving around in on shows. Like Nash Bridges and his barracuda. This squad drove around in white Chevrolet Cavaliers. And I am talking about the ugly box ones. I actually owned a red one. This show displayed the life of a homicide detective.

So many shows on television these days try to capture what it is like being a cop. Go talk to some real cops and ask them what they think. It’s 2011. The Wire started showing the realistic life of a cop in 2002. Shows still can’t get it right. Homicide got it right on the first try and that was in 1993. Catch up people.

I will like to take a moment to talk to you about Life. No not life in general. An amazing television series which aired on NBC for only two seasons. It is my second favorite show. It was also one of my daughter’s favorites which impressed me as she was 10 when it first aired. Let me give you some background.

This is the story of Charlie Crews. Mr. Crews is played by Damian Lewis who is an actor I admire and look for in films or shows. I will give anything a chance if he is in it. Moving on. Mr. Crews was a policeman who was convicted of murdering his best friend. After 12 grueling years in general population in prison, Charlie’s conviction is over turned and he is proven to be innocent thanks to the tenacious help of his attorney Constance Griffiths (Brooke Langton). Mrs. Griffiths then help Charlie win a 55 million or so settlement with the state for wrongful imprisonment. The main condition of the settlement? Charlie Crews must be reinstated as a police office.

Strange you say? Not to Charlie. His full intention is to be a cop and to track down who set him up to go to prison as well as discover who murdered his best friend. Crews enlists the assistance of a former fellow inmate who was a financial wizard before going to prison Ted Earley. Masterfully portrayed by the amazing Adam Arkin. Ironically enough he has Ted handle his money for him. Charlie then gets back to work and is assigned to work with the stunning Dani Reese (Sarah Shahi). She is not happy about the assignment and doesn’t trust him. It also annoys her that since Charlie has been released from prison his has an insatiable urge to eat fruit. Any fruit. The more exotic the better. It makes for some very amusing scenes.

The most interesting part of the series for me is prison has never really left Charlie Crews. To cope with prison Charlie started studying Buddhism but more specifically Zen.  To be at peace with himself. He can be found driving around listening to tapes on the Zen mentality. It works mostly. But not all the time. There are times of stress where Charlie cannot control his emotions and the prison side comes out. Whether he takes out a knife and brandishes it as he would a shiv in the yard or flat out violence due to the amount of times he was jumped in prison. Crews is a conflicted character and so very interesting.

The relationship with his partner is so much fun to watch. Much like Bones the conversations are fluid and amusing. More so in Life because there is so much anger in Reese and she is so short tempered. Every episode has an interesting case and always advances the subplot of Crews’ search for justice.

This show should never have been cancelled. They never gave it a fair shake or even tried it in multiple time slots. They gave up early and such is our loss.

As for me, after all this talk, I’m going home to watch season one again.

Today we will move into a current show which is still on now and returns to Fox November 3^rd, Bones. Before jumping on the tube and checking out the newest episode, I invite you to go back to the beginning and watch the evolution of this great series. It is now entering its 7^th season so there is a fair amount of viewing required but it is worth it.

The show is based on Kathy Reichs’ novels which are about Dr. Temperance Brennan a forensic anthropologist. Reichs who is, herself, a forensic anthropologist, also produces the show.

The show is set in Washington D.C. at the fictional Jeffersonian Institute Forensic Sciences Department. Basically, Brennan, played by Emily Deschanel, and her team do a fantastic job of analyzing dead bodies. The show focuses mostly on Dr. Temperance Brennan and F.B.I. Special Agent Seeley Booth portrayed by one of my favorites David Boreanaz. “Bones” Brennan, (an affectionate nickname given by Booth), takes to the field with Booth to scenes of some horrific, creative deaths, and/or very amusing deaths. Police call for their help whenever a body is unrecognizable. So you can imagine the state of some of these discoveries. The plot is straight forward but the magic of this show lies in the diversity of the team that works with Brennan but especially the interaction between Tempy (what her dad calls her) and Booth. The denied attraction and sexual tension is palpable and very intriguing. Most of all the character of Temperance Brennan is an extremely socially awkward, terribly rational and horribly introverted person who hides all of her feelings and pretends that there is no scientific proof that emotions benefit the human race at all. Her directness is always entertaining and is so amusing but especially teamed with Booth who is empathetic, caring and very charming. The show is worth watching on the simple fact that you could put on a blindfold and be vastly entertained by the conversations the main characters have. But there is more.

Enter the team. I will start with the team in season 2 which really started to mesh and develop chemistry. The lab at the Jeffersonian is actually run by Dr. Camille Saroyan (Tamara Taylor) who is the person also responsible for analyzing the flesh parts before the rest of the team get at the bones. We then have the dynamic duo of Dr. Jack Hodgins ( T.J. Thyne) the bug guy and Zack Addy (Eric Millegan) who is very much a junior Brennan in all facets. Finally we have the beautiful Michaela Conlin who plays Angela Montenegro who is not of the science world but is an artist as well as a computer specialist. She is also very worldly and a sexual character who is best friends with Brennan so she helps explain how normal humans interact to Tempy. She assists with giving a face to the deceased by using facial reconstruction and markers on the skull to come up with how the person looked when they were alive.

This ensemble has great chemistry and makes for very good entertainment. In every episode we get to see how each member is just as important as the next. The show is humorous while also has very tender moments of the heart. There are cameos by some great actors but most of all the show is intelligent and well written. It pulls you in effortlessly and lets you escape for an hour while not dumbing you down with stories of how happy the sixteen year old on T.V. will be when her baby is born (not my kind of entertainment).

They also usually have great season finales. Did I mention that Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top plays Angela’s Dad?

Just a quick update for the loyal constant reader, “The Public Relations Specialist” position is not in my immediate future due to the corporate policy that I am such a fan of. I will not even be granted an interview. C’est la vie. I will admit that it makes for a difficult work environment for me seeing as I know I am perfect for the job and, because of policy and of course the always popular corporate politics, I am on the outside looking in.

So let us turn to look on the bright side of things because dwelling on the negative in your life will only promote weeping by yourself in the dark sitting in an old lazy boy with a spaghetti sauce stain on the arm of the chair and on the chest of the plain white tee you’ve been wearing for the last 4 days listening to REO Speedwagon and quoting Marlon Brando from On The Waterfront with “I could’ve been a contender. I could’ve been somebody.”

With all the new shows and old favorites premiering this time of year, I have decided to talk to you about some television series you may not watch or are now off the air and you may have missed. Over the next little while I will discuss and recommend some shows you might want to consider. Consider it my fall lineup of shows to catch up on.

Today I will begin where you should always begin. At the top. I am proud to recommend “The Wire”.

Many have touted The Wire as quite possibly the greatest television show ever written. Variety actually wrote “When television history is written, little else will rival The Wire, a series of such ambition that it is, perhaps inevitably, savored only by the appreciative few.” Spun out from the always reliable HBO for producing great television in general, The Wire introduces us to the dark side and under belly of Baltimore. Created by David Simon, the show tackles facets of city life that always seem to have an unexpected effect on our lives. The first season gives you the inside view of the illegal drug trade. Season two-the harbor, season three-the political system, season four-the school system and season five-the newspaper.

This show started casting and selected actors who were not big name stars. They went the ensemble route and did an amazing job. Although now some of these actors are now recognizable, they got their big breaks on the streets of Balmore…at least that’s how it sounds when a local says it. This show is gritty and very realistic. The characters in the show are incredible. You have drug dealers, drug users, policemen and women, politicians, business men, teachers, dock workers, reporters and all are portrayed by some great actors or by actual figures prominent in Baltimore. There are cameos by actually city officials, policemen and even a reverend. The show always maintained a realistic image and never went over the top.

Simon’s writing partner is Ed Burns who is a former Baltimore city homicide detective. This gives us an insight into the internal politics of the police force. The show’s major drug lord Avon Barksdale (Wood Harris) is actually based on a real life person “Little Melvin” Williams who was arrested following an investigation that Burns was a part of. Even better is the fact that “Little Melvin” Williams became part of the cast in season three playing a Deacon.

The story lines will grip you. The characters will make you believe. The show will reel you in until then credits roles in season five and leave you crying for more which I truly did. I am not going to dive into story lines or give away anything. I want you to take a chance and watch the show knowing only the premise. Watch five episodes. If after that you are not hooked, you need psychiatric care and should institutionalize yourself immediately!

This show is a must see. My favorite characters were Lester Freeman played by Clark Peters and Omar Little played by Michael Kenneth Williams, although Omar has some scarring scenes, you would be hard pressed to find a more interesting character or a better performance. Easily one of my favorite television characters ever. You will have different favorites. Stringer Bell portrayed by Idris Elba, Bubbles played by Andre Royo in easily one of the greatest acting performances on this show. To Wendell Pierce as Bunk Moreland and Dominic West as the infamous James “Jimmy” McNulty. This is one of the most well written shows you will ever see.

Give it a shot. And let Omar come calling.

Happy Monday everyone. I hope you all had a great weekend. My weekend was filled with friends and football so it was a great weekend. It was just missing some acting and it would have been perfect.

This weekend I was reflecting on what actor I would love to mirror on my road to success. What actor has taken on a variety of roles in diverse genres and created interesting characters? I found my answer after reading a great article which listed all of his performances. The actor is Gerard Butler and the article can be found on AVClub.com. Gerard Butler and I seem to have the same traits. I once went to an improv show where the audience is more than welcome to join in the show. I was terrified of improv. So naturally I got up on stage the first chance I got. If you read the article on Mr. Butler you will see that he is the same when it comes to challenges. In 2004 he was in The Phantom of the Opera and it scared the crap out of him. So naturally he did it. He is scheduled to begin shooting a surfing movie shortly (Mavericks) and yet he has never surfed a day in his life. Whenever something scares me I want to take it head on. I did the same with stand-up comedy. Right away I could see this is someone I could relate to on a personal level.

Professionally, this is a man who has done it all and that’s what I want more than anything. I have always wanted to do an action movie and of course we know he has done some great ones. 300, Law Abiding Citizen, Reign of Fire and one of my favorites Beowulf and Grendel. But he has also done some very good romantic comedies like The Ugly Truth and of course P.S. I Love You. Now we get to see Butler in a role which is very emotional and is also based on the true story of Sam Childers entitled Machine Gun Preacher. I can’t wait to see this movie and go back and read the article with Gerard’s interview for more information.

This is a man who I would love to pattern my professional career after. I want to create multiple characters that will make people laugh and cry. Make them happy and sad. I would really love to create a character to make people cringe. The time is getting closer and the more I blog the more the fire burns within me to carve my own path and do what I have to do to start acting more consistently. Never give up on your dreams. You only have one life so make the most of it and reach for the stars. In my case, maybe soon I’ll audition for a role of a character that actually has a full name without “The” in middle.