Drill Baby Drill (not so fast)

“Drill Baby Drill” was first heard at the Republican National Convention in 2008. Now President Obama has announced that he too is open to expanding the drilling that we do off the United States coastline and in Alaska. This drilling should ease our dependence on the importation of foreign oil. This is a good thing but without massive Federal Government oversight there will be a problem. The recent mining explosion at The Upper Big Branch Mine in West Virginia in which something like 30 miners were killed. The owners of The Upper Big Branch Mine Massey Energy Company do not have a good record of safety at there mines and have been called a Union Busting company at there non union mines. Part of the problem of the safety issues have be due to the gutting of regulations during the eight years of the George W. Bush administration. So if we are going to “Drill Baby Drill” it can only be done if that massive government oversight I mentioned is incorporated into any drilling contracts with very stern penalties for accidents that may occur I don’t want to happen what happen when a jury imposed a large fine on Exxon after The Exxon Valdez Oil spill then have that fine gutted in various courts. Yes I to want the United States to award contracts for the drilling off our shores and in Alaska but I want a clause included in those contracts that stipulates something along the lines of “If a drop of oil spreads into a coastline or causes the killing of aquatic life due to negligence all of the companies assets will be held until the entire spill is cleaned to the satisfaction of the EPA the cost of this cleanup will be paid for entirely by that company and non of it will be allowed to be claimed as a tax deduction. Simply put I want the EPA and any other Federal agency responsible for oversight on the drilling operations to be looking over the shoulders of the operation every minute form start to finish without this oversight accidents such as The Upper Big Branch Mine will become the norm rather than the exception.

Review- "Chloe"

The synopsis of “Chloe” simply says “A DOCTOR HIRES A ESCORT TO SEDUCE HER HUSBAND WHOME SHE SUSPECTS OF CHEATING” Now if you have seen past Atom Egoyan films you know it’s can’t be that simple. Throughout his career ( The Sweet Hereafter, Exotica, Adoration) non of Egoyan’s characters are ever what they appear to be nothing changes here. Dr. Catherine Stewart a Toronto gynecologist stumbles onto a text message on her husband Music professor David Stewart phone from a young women saying “Thanks for last night” along with a photo of the two together . This along with David’s constant flirting with every women he finds attractive leads her to suspects of cheating. She hires the attractive young escort / prostituted Chloe she has come to know from the neighborhood. to tempt Davis then to report back with the results. What follows keeps you in wonder and suspense and to who is telling the truth who is lying who is cheating who is not doing anything. The mystery surrounding all has Dr. Stewart on the verge of a breakdown. This in a way is a very different film for Egoyan as many familiar names from his past work is missing his wife Arsinee Khanjian has no part major or minor gone is longtime collaborator Robert Lantos even his production company Ego Arts Film is missing from the credits. Having only to direct seems to have allowed Egoyan to work his magic to a new level This may be his best film to date I don’t know if I would consider it his masterpiece but I do feel it does rise above all his previous work I hope this time his peers in the industry take notice this one deserves a Oscar for it’s director. Let’s leave it at that if you a re a fan of Egoyan you will congratulate yourself on having such good taste if you are not a fan or do not even know who he is go see “Chloe” after you do you will be heading to your local video store or Net Flicks to grab up all his previous work.

NHL Hockey in 3D

MSG Network last night presented The New York Islanders at the New York Rangers in 3D at The Theater at Madison Square Garden and on Cablevision channel-1300 for the few homes in the New York metro area that may have 3D television sets. It was a pretty cool experience it was a separate broadcast from the normal MSG broadcast using it’s own producer , director, camera people and announcers (Kenny Albert along with ex Rangers Captain Dave Maloney. Unlike the normal broadcast that uses the up high camera on the red line this broadcast used as it’s main camera a ice level red line position . It was like sitting in the Red Seats. The 3D really stood out more on the low in the corners cameras when players and officials were next to the glass it looked as it they were skating right there in front of you. The depth really stood out when shooting over the heads of the crowd in fact there was a point when that camera was being used that someone sitting near me shouted “Down in Front” to the screen. Between the 2nd and 3rd periods I bumped into NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and said to him “Gary This is Pretty Cool” He agreed. I’m sure as time goes by they will work out what camera angles and camera positioning work best. One thing I really liked was that there were no commercials in this broadcast it was like watching a early 1970’s MSG telecast before MSG became MSG Network during TV timeouts that camera was just left open shooting the ice with players gathered at there respective benches or the maintenance crew scrapping the ice I think all telecast should be done like that but I know that will never happen. But it was a successful trial there were like 2,000 of us or so can one day say “We were there when the did that 1st experiment in televising a live NHL game even more astonishing and amazing was the Rangers 5-0 Win

Dick Cheney

Good Point brought up today on MSNBC’s The Ed Show one I never Thought of.

Question- Why is not ever US Citizen entitled to the same Level of Care that Vice President Dick Cheney is Currently receiving for his reported “Heart Attack”

Let's Help Spread Freedom

The State of the Union Speech (January-27-2010)

Just thinking how refreshing it would be that on Wednesday when President Obama delivers his State of the Union address that he stops trying to be Mr. Nice "I'll work toward bipartisanship" with the Republicans. And says something Along the lines of "OK Here is what we are doing and as my predecessor once said Your Either with Us or You are Against US" Then state the way Healthcare, Closing of Guantanamo, and Bank regulations are going to be handled.

AVATAR :A Review

AVATAR : Breaking a personal rule not to bother seeing big budget over the top general release movies I purposely used “movies” because I like seeing “films” not movies difference simply being movie usually turn out to be dull / boring and empty of plot. Avatar was and is a Movie with all those traits and I should have known better. It was not worth the $12.00 cost of a ticket. The Hero and Good Guy is Jake Sully (Sam Wotyhington) a paraplegic ex marine who is the stereotypical “What are my orders Sir” marine meaning a dull character. The film takes place on the moon Pandora of the planet Polyphemus in Alpha Centauri ( for trivia buffs Alpha Centauri is where the LOST IN SPACE Robinson Family of 1960’s were headed) Lost in Space even had better story lines. Pandora looked like it was filmed a Rainforest Café Restaurant. The story takes place in 2154 where Dr. Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver) is still chain smoking. And the bad guys (People from Earth) are still using Guns Yes Guns bullet firing guns you would think by 2154 some type of laser or phaser would be used. I seen the film in a 3D IMAX theatre and have to admit the 3D effect and super big screen and awesome Sound were something to behold. But as far as story plotlines and acting it was a Big Blank. Essentially nothing more than a 1950's B Science Fiction movie with cool special effects. And director James Cameron is talking two more possible sequels. I suggest quiting while you are ahead. Save your Money go see a Film is a Art House / Independent Movie House. And leave this empty suit to the Friday night teen date multiplex.