Movie News

Those who have been reading this blog since I started it in June know that I am a HUGE Steven Spielberg fan and have spent much time whining on and on about the recent drought of any Spielberg blockbusters for me to sink $10 or $12 into the box office over and over again.

So, you can imagine how happy I now am to report that the drought is rapidly coming to an end. Daniel Day Lewis has signed on to play Lincoln in Spielberg's upcoming epic based on Doris Kearns Goodwin's Team of Rivals book. The movie has had a bumpy road so far. At one point Sally Field was rumored to about to sign on as Mary Todd Lincoln. Also, playwright Tony Kushner (Angels in America) was working on the screenplay.

What do you think? Will DDL make a good Lincoln? For one thing, he's British. For another, he stands at 6'1 while Honest Abe was about 6'5 I think. But heck, DDL is a great actor so I am quite optimistic.

Party All The TIme

Thanksgiving week is one of my favorite weeks of the year as the holiday season officially gets underway. I just really like the warmth of the holiday season (actually, I think I kind of like the contrast of the cold outside and the warmth the holidays generate in many people, but anyway, I'll save that mush for another post perhaps).

One of the holiday traditions that has found its way into my life over the past few years is a pre-Thanksgiving trip to the Party & Gifts Super Store on the block between 70th Ave. and 70th Road across from MacDonald Park. I go to stock up on all the stuff I need because Thanksgiving has been held at my house over the past few years.

If you've never experienced this store, I have found it to be one of those kinds of places that look kind of tired and rundown on the outside, but are a neighborhood treasure on the inside! I mean, this place has EVERYTHING you could need for entertaining guests, and just about everything to celebrate the holidays.

Walking through its aisles of products is quite an experience. It's chaotic but somehow it all just works! I highly recommend you pay this place a visit at least once this holiday season.

Pat Down Panic

My two cents about the Pat Down Panic currently raging in the country as we enter the busiest travel time of the year:

Having traveled to Israel a few times, I strongly agree with others who say that that is one country that doesn't fool around when it comes to airline security. They go up and down the line and interview every single passenger before they board the plane, trying to weed out those they deem suspicious. And they then take those people into another room for a more intensive interview.

My conclusions about the controversy currently raging about the pat downs and full body scans:
1. We should adopt the Israeli method. It is the only true way to really deter terrorists from getting on our planes.
2. We most likely will never adopt that method because the airlines (and maybe even the passengers themselves?) do not want to reduce the number of flights that are now available and I would assume interviewing every passenger would have to lead to more spacing between flights. Less flights would hit the airlines' profit centers and many of them are already struggling. Also, having less flights is just not as convenient. And let's face it.  We as Americans expect a certain level of convenience in flying. It's supposed to be the fastest way to get from point A to point B!
But the truth is I don't think we can have both the level of security really necessary to deter terrorists and the convenience we are already used to.
And finally,
3. The chances of a terrorist being on your plane are so much slimmer than you meeting your demise as a result of a health issue like heart disease or cancer that I just have to add: isn't this issue being completely overblown? The threat is so incredibly minimal. Our exaggerated fear of terrorism has taken what used to be a rather pleasant way to travel and made it so incredibly stressful that virtually all the fun has been sucked right out of it. And that is a big shame, and, in a way, a victory for the terrorists already.

Intriguing Cable News

In case you haven't heard, Time Warner is launching a pared-down package of channels it is calling TV Essentials (which just so happens to include it's own CNN in lieu of Fox News and MSNBC) for around $50.
Firstly, this is very smart. Cable TV is way too expensive, especially considering most of it consists of a vast wasteland of crappy programming being spewed out 24 hours a day that we have no choice but to pay for if we want to get certain other decent channels.
The idea of this pared-down service appealed to me. But for me, the game-stopper was when I heard it would only include CNN and not MSNBC and Fox News. I can't do without my occasional dose of Rachel Maddow to bring clarity, sanity and truth to my world, and I certainly can't do without my occasional doses of Glenn Beck and Bill O'Reilly for just plain out uproarious laughter!
I guess I could just suck up free doses of Beck and O'Reilly via YouTube whenever I need a good laugh. But I don't know. I guess the jury is still out on this whole deal and I have to ponder it some more.

In the meantime, here's the press release Time Warner issued about the deal:

Nov. 18, 2010, 6:45 p.m. EST

Time Warner Cable Launches TV Essentials

New Video-Only Package Targets Customers Hit by Tough Economic Times

NEW YORK, Nov 18, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Time Warner Cable today announced the launch of Time Warner Cable TV Essentials, a new video-only package designed to address the video needs of customers facing difficult choices during these tough economic times. The Time Warner Cable TV Essentials Package will begin commercial trials in the coming weeks in Time Warner Cable's New York City and Northeast Ohio divisions, with further launches planned for 2011.

"We understand that people are under pretty serious economic duress and would like to have more choice and the option of paying for less programming," said Glenn Britt, President, CEO and Chairman of Time Warner Cable. "This video-only package isn't for everyone, but we hope that some of those most hard-hit by the current economic conditions find it to be a helpful option."

The Time Warner Cable TV Essentials package includes:

Time Warner Cable's Basic tier (including local channels from ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and PBS) 12 of the top 20 Nielsen-rated cable channels, plus other channels Representative channels from each major genre: news/information, sports, kids, music, lifestyle, shopping, and general entertainment Two standard-definition digital cable set-top boxes, featuring an on-screen guide and Music Choice Enhanced TV features including StartOver(TM) and LookBack(TM) (where available) Access to the library of new release movies through Time Warner On Demand (paid VOD only; no free VOD)

The package, valued at $49.99 per month, will be discounted to $39.99 per month in New York City, and $29.95 per month in Northeast Ohio, for a promotional period of 12 months.

About Time Warner Cable Time Warner Cable is the second-largest cable operator in the U.S., with technologically advanced, well-clustered systems located in five geographic areas -- New York State (including New York City), the Carolinas, Ohio, Southern California (including Los Angeles) and Texas. Time Warner Cable serves more than 14.7 million customers who subscribe to one or more of its video, high-speed data and voice services. Time Warner Cable Business Class offers a suite of phone, Internet, Ethernet and cable television services to businesses of all sizes. Time Warner Cable Media Sales, the advertising arm of Time Warner Cable, offers national, regional and local companies innovative advertising solutions that are targeted and affordable. More information about the services of Time Warner Cable is available at www.timewarnercable.com, www.twcbc.com and www.twcmediasales.com.

SOURCE: Time Warner Cable

Things Not To Do in Post 9/11 NY

Running through the Lincoln Tunnel in combat fatigues is one of them. But, hey, they're not from the Big City. How were they to know? Running Through Lincoln Tunnel in Camouflage Not Ideal