Poetry: "Pension"

Poetry: "Pension"

Don't mention

Your bloated pension

If you go to work

You'll just inspire jealousy

In people who are jerks... (tbc?)

Poetry: "My Toaster" A work in progress

Poetry: "My Toaster" A work in progress

My toaster became self-aware

It burned my face, my hair, my easy chair.

It also burned my bread

And ignited my blankets and bed... (tbc?)

Poetry: "Don't Get Killed On Craigslist"

Poetry: "Don't Get Killed On Craigslist"

Don't get killed on Craigslist

Don't respond to ads

Where you might get ambushed

By people that are bad

Don't click on e-mails from strangers

You know it is a scam

Or it could be a virus

Which ruins computer RAM.

Poetry: "Just Give Thanks"

Poetry: "Just Give Thanks"

Just give thanks

To the New York Yanks

Whenever they do lose

When they win

It's not a sin

That is just bad news

Don't take bets

On the New York Jets

When they play the Pats

We'll beat them almost every time

On gridiron flats.

Poetry: "Broken Drier"

Poetry: "Broken Drier"

My laundromat has a broken drier.

At least the lint has not caught fire.

The drier salesman is a liar.

I'm wasting my change when times are dire.

A repairman my landlord will have to hire.

When my laundry is cleaned of mire.

The machine should die inside a pyre

[Then] a chorus of joy would be sung by a choir.

This happens so often it ought to be retired

Or, if not, [it] should be rewired

Our laundromat's drier is broken

It won't accept quarters or tokens

My clean laundry is all asoaken

At night my neighbors aren't awoken

My Goddamned drier won't dry.

To it we should say goodbye

In agony I could cry

The machine ought to be replaced or to die

Shakespeare would say of it "Fie".

I am one ticked off guy.

I put the machine thrice on high

Another drier's not nigh.

For clothing of even one ply.

All I can do is just sigh

or yell and swear to the sky.

Poetry: "Maynard G. Krebs" A work in progress

Poetry: "Maynard G. Krebs" A work in progress

I'd rather be a ne'er-do-well

Than have to go to work.

I'd much rather drink the wine

Than have to pull the cork.

Sure I'm still thankful I'm alive

But mention "work"

And like a jerk, I break out in hives.

Poetry: "Keeping Up With E-Mail"

Poetry: "Keeping Up With E-Mail"

Keeping up with e-mail

Is really quite a chore

Every time I turn around

My inbox has some more

Ninety-Nine per cent of it is

What is known as "Spam"

I ought to just delete it all

But all I say is "damn".

Poetry: "Wait Until It's After Dark" A work in progress

Poetry: "Wait Until It's After Dark"

Wait until it's after dark

Alone in the safari park

Bring some rifles to your tent

For the lions smell your scent... (tbc?)

Poetry: "Kenso Sword" A work in progress

Poetry: "Kenso Sword" A work in progress

Never sheath a Kenso sword

Until it has drawn blood.

Stand over your opponents

Writhing in the mud... (tbc?)

Poetry "Infomercials"

Poetry: "Infomercials"

Infomercials, full of lies

Inducing folks to buy, buy, buy

When your credit card bill comes

You'll want to cry, cry, cry... (tbc?)

Tribute: "R.I.P 'Iron Mike' Pusateri

Tribute: "R.I.P. 'Iron Mike' Pusateri

The same week that renowned one-time heavyweight champ 'Smokin' Joe' Frazier died of liver cancer, locally former light heavyweight contender 'Iron Mike' Pusateri, formerly of Dedham, Mass. succumbed after a long battle with non-hodgkins lymphoma with a lot less fanfare. Pusateri graduated from Dedham high with my late father and my uncle Billy. According to the internet Iron Mike was a "Protege' of Rocky Marciano", he fought professionally from "1961 to 1972", and he had a respectable record of "30" victories, "24" defeats, and "4 draws." After retiring from the ring, Mike worked a long time for the MBTA. When I was about 13 years old my younger brother and I briefly took boxing lessons from Mr. Pusateri. He was a class act, and he will be missed by many.

Poetry: "Why Is Wood Frail?"

Poetry: "Why Is Wood Frail?" A work in progress

Why is wood so frail?

It oft breaks when the wind is a gale.

Strong as bone, but weak in tone.

Trees are fragile when the wind is agile... (tbc?)

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "In Time"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "In Time"

Dir.: Mike Niccol ("Gattaca")

Characters/Actors: Will Salas (Justin "The Social Network" Timberlake), Rachel Salas (Olivia TV's "House" Wilde), Timekeeper (Cillian "28 Days Later" Murphy), Sylvia Weis (Amanda "Jennifer's Body" Seyfried), etc.

In a dystopic future, human beings are genetically engineered to live to the ripe old age of 25, unless they have the means to extend their time on earth. In the future, the only currency is time. People work, barter, pay and steal or kill for time instead of money. How much time they have is digitally displayed on their forearm for everyone to see. People work for an increase in time, and when they make purchases, time is deducted from their display. If you have an excessive amount of time you can be targeted by robbers, thieves and ruthless time gangs, who often resort to violence or murder. Once your arm displays zero you die. Naturally, the well-off can theoretically live forever, while the poor must struggle by toil to gain time.

Will Salas (Justin Timberlake), the protagonist of this film, must beg, borrow and steal to gain enough time to live beyond his 28 years. He is wanted by the authorities for a crime he didn't commit. Not only that, but a well-off man (Matthew Bomer) gives him most of his supply of time and commits suicide soon afterward. Having all this extra time puts his life in danger from thieves and time gangs. A great quote of the movie was: "Noone should live forever if even one person has to die." The rich and powerful hoard lots of time for themselves, while forcing the poor to struggle or die. While on the run from ruthless 'Timekeepers' (future cops), Salas goes on a crime spree and manages to both avenge his mother's unnecessary death and to rebel against and bring down a system where the Haves live forever, while the Have-Nots usually die before their time. I really liked the premise of this film.

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Let's Scare Jessica To Death" (1971)

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Let's Scare Jessica To Death" (1971)

Characters/Actors: Jessica (Zohra Lampert), Emily (Monticlare "The Waltons" Costello), Mystery Girl (Gretchen Corbett, etc.

I recently caught this eerie movie on Turner Movie Classics. Although not particularly gory and only intermittently scary, this is one of my favorite vampire movies. Jessica, a young woman who has recently been released from a psychiatric hospital, moves with her husband and a male friend to a farm in Connecticut. While rubbing gravestones she starts to see a woman who promptly disappears. When they get to the farmhouse they find a young woman named Emily who is a squatter at the house. They invite her for dinner, and she ends up staying. Emily is the spitting image of a woman in a photograph who drowned in the 1800s, and who is rumored to roam the land as a vampire. At first the four seem to live in harmony, but after a while Jessica hears strange whispers, and notices townspeople with weird scars on their necks. Eventually, while swimming, Emily's ghost tries to drown Jessica. The scariest part of the movie was the last fifteen or twenty minutes, when Emily kills the male friend and turns her husband into a vampire. I would recommend watching this movie after dark.

Poetry: "Corporations Aren't People"

Poetry: "Corporations Aren't People" [Note: Previously posted on my Political Blog "Rage Against the Regime]

Corporations are not people

They don't have a mind

They don't deserve the tax breaks

That politicians find

Corporations are not people

They can't go to jail

When they screw the people

By what they do or fail

Corporations are not people

They don't deserve to vote

Or influence our Leaders

With millions in bank notes

Corporations have no heart

Not compassion, that is true

Their actions seldom help the many

But benefit the few.

I don't care what [Mitt] Romney thinks

For corporate policies have brought our

Nation to the brink.

Poetry: "Certain Things"

Poetry: "Certain Things" A work in progress

Certain things you can't forgive

Some folks don't deserve to live

It's not right to seek revenge,

But your rights you must defend... (tbc)

Poetry: "Breaking Bad" A work in progress

Poetry: "Breaking Bad" A work in progress [Note: I am a huge fan of the AMC tv drama series "Breaking Bad"]

Walter White had lung cancer

He thought he was to die

So he started 'cooking meth'

To get the tweakers high

He went in remission

Found he'd stay alive

But he kept on "Breaking Bad"

At least from 9 to 5... (tbc?)

Poetry: "Clowngress: The Jokes on You"

Poetry: "Clowngress: The Joke's On You" Note: This poem recently appeared on my political blog Rage Against the Regime: http://www.themidnightrambler-the iconoclast.blogspot.com/. An earlier version of the poem also may have appeared on this blog.

Clowngress, the Joke's on you

Vote for them, you know you're screwed

Count on them to overtax your pay,

While voting for their own pay raise.

All the while, they're funding wars,

Into which your money pours.

Tax Breaks for the very rich,

As you Dreams go in a ditch.

Cutting programs you may need.

If you're poor they fail to heed

Congress are a bunch of boors.

Vote them all right out the door!

Take away their unearned perks,

For they are a bunch of jerks. (tbc?)

Poetry: "Incantation' A work in progress

Poetry: "Incantation" A work in progress

Tears of Sadness

Tears of Joy

Tears of Fabric on a toy.

Whorls on fingers,

Whirls of wind

Worlds of women drinking gin.

Praying mantids

Preying priests

Demons coming

From the East... (tbc?)

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Real Steel"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Real Steel"

Characters/Actors: Charlie Kenton (Hugh "X-Men" Jackman), Max Kenton (Dakota Goyo), Bailey Tallet (Evangeline Tv's "Lost" Lilly), Hope "Next Stop Wonderland" Davis, etc.

Dir.: Shawn Levy "Date Night", "Night at the Museum', etc.

Charlie Kenton, a one-time pugilistic contender turned ne'er-do-well once human prizefighting becomes obsolete, barely makes a living in the underground world of robotic fighting. A lot of money changes hands between those who wager on the result of multi-ton automatons beating each other like human boxers once did. After a while, Kenton finds out that a former lover has died, and he is due in court for a custody hearing of his abandoned son. Instead of fighting for custody of his child, he leverages his abandoned son to manipulate the boy's future adopted father to get a large amount of money to purchase a fighting [ro]'bot' to try to pay off some of his debts. He gladly gives up custody of his son, but reluctantly allows the boy to tag along with him for the summer. The father and son bond over an underdog sparring robot the boy names Atom, who with the help of the father's boxing skills; has the chance to become a champion fighting robot against much bigger and more advanced machines. Boxing fans, sci-fi fans, sports fanatics, video gamers and anyone who has ever played rock 'em sock 'em robots will likely really enjoy this film, but it is hard to get emotionally invested in a fighting automaton compared to a human fighter. Dakota Goyo as Charlie Kenton's son Max holds his own with Hugh Jackman. Also, Kevin Durand plays a memorable villain in the film, a former fighter who once beat Kenton in the ring and now pursues him to try to extort money that Charlie owes him. I enjoyed this film.

Poetry: " Atrophied" A work in progress

Poetry: "Atrophied" A work in progress

My Social Skills have atrophied

From lack of use.

I avoid certain people

Due to their verbal abuse.

If my tv were a female

She I would seduce.

Perhaps my time in front of 'her'

I really should reduce. (tbc?)

Poetry: "No Income, No Job, No Assets (NINJA)

Poetry: "No Income, No Job, No Assets (NINJA) A work in progress

There's another kind of NINJA

That doesn't have a dime

So desperate for money

(S)He might just turn to crime.

There's another kind of NINJA

Who cannot pay their bills

When the taxman cometh

They head right for the hills.

There's another kind of NINJA

Who doesn't own a sword

If you ask them to repay you

They take off in a friend's Ford.

We're all a bunch of NINJAs

We can't afford a home

Our politicians fiddle

While our way of life it burns. (tbc?)

Poetry: "October Snow'

Poetry: "October Snow"

In October there's snow

In December like summer

In summer it's too cold

What a bummer... (tbc?)

Poetry: "Waging War and War Wages" A work in progress

Poetry: "Waging War and War Wages" A work in progress

Waging war and war wages

It doesn't pay to fight

Waging war and war wages

You might get killed tonight

War for sure is not a game

If you're out of luck

You could get maimed

War is not meant for the weak

In times of war

The future is always bleak... (tbc?)

Poetry: "Beware of Connivers"

Poetry: "Beware of Connivers" A work in progress

Don't give a fiver

To that awful conniver

Or you won't get it back

And that money you'll lack

He says he needs it for 'smokes'

But that's a Lie and a joke

If by giving money you're easy

You'll be swarmed

By those who are sleazy

Don't give to the scrounge

He'll hound you from town to town

But he'll spend your money in the lounge.

Watch out for the Mooch

He'll beg you for cash

He's a douche

He says its for one thing

But chances are

He'll spend it on Hootch... (tbc?)

Poetry: "Fork-Tongued Pol"

Poetry: "Fork-Tongued Pol" A work in progress

Fork-tongued pol

All the Lies you have tol'

Your heart, if you have one

Is black,dead and cold

You'll do anything to win

And the means to do so is called

"political spin" (tbc?)

Poetry: "I Threw an Ember" A work of fiction in verse

Poetry: "I Threw an Ember" A work of fiction in verse form

I threw an ember

On that day in September

Then the building went up

And the firemen came.

So I ran far, far away

And looked at the damage the very next day

They razed the old dwelling

From smoke it was smelling

People lost their belongings

A few lost their home

But as of September 5 all there were alive

I confessed to a parson

'Bout my day of arson

He didn't tell a soul

Or I'd be paying a horrible toll

In prison or jail

And then I'd have reason to wail... (tbc?)

Poetry: "Spawn of the Dead" A work in progress

Poetry: "Spawn of the Dead" A work in progress

If the Dead gave birth

What would life be worth?

The thing would have to feed

If it made new friends

They'd all meet their ends

And bodies would be found in the weeds

Where would they go to school?

For teachers and peers couldn't go near

An undead child

Unless they were damned fools

To kill an Undead Child

When it does go wild

May result in time in jail

But if it grows and learns to kill

Then society has failed... (tbc?)

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Abducted"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Abducted"

Characters/Actors: Nathan Price (Taylor "Twilight" Lautner), Bennet (Alfred "Not Without My Daughter" Molina), Sigourney "Alien" Weaver, Maria (TV's "Prime Suspect) Bello, etc.

A high school student accidentally discovers that he may have been abducted as a child and his parents may not be his real parents. It turns out his real mother was murdered when he was young by very bad people, and his father is a spy/assassin. His foster parents have a secret life, but they are in danger by villains who want to capture or kill the teen. Before long, he runs off with his next door neighbor, a cute girl he has admired from afar for years. Until then, he doesn't have the nerve to ask her out. It turns out she has similar feelings for him. While running, they are both in mortal danger, and when the supposed 'good guys' in the CIA catch up to them and try to 'rescue' them, it is questionable whether the spy agents can be trusted, especially an agent played by Alfred Molina, who may or may not be a traitor. Taylor Lautner is not the greatest actor, but "Twilight" fans will like his character. I must say the nearly nonstop action held my interest, but the love story subplot was more than a little lame.

Poetry: "People Hate Lawyers" A work in progress

Poetry: "People Hate Lawyers" A work in progress

The people hate the lawyers

They so often lie

If they're overzealous,

The innocent may die

Then they want more money,

Before the tears can dry.

Then they run for office

They Lie to get your vote

Ignore the voters' wishes

Spend free time on a boat

Ruining the nation

Bankrupting the land

Killing off our soldiers

The bleep has hit the fan... (tbc?)

Sci-Fi Bri's Television : "Terra Nova"

Sci-Fi Bri's Television: "Terra Nova" (on Fox, Mondays at 8:00 pm. Eastern Time)

In the near future, with the earth facing a cataclysmic man-mad environmental catastrophe, a family gets the chance to start over 85 million years in the past. Problem is, the father, an ex-cop turned convict, has to break out of prison to join his family; and his youngest daughter has to be sneaked in luggage to be able to go with them due to strict overpopulation laws. Although the Terra Nova colony has bright sun, fresh air, and beautiful surroundings, it also has large and/or dangerous beasts such as Carnosaurs (think T. Rex) and 'rippers' (like velociraptors with knife-like tails), plus treacherous human rebels known as "sixers". Like a cinematic combination of "Jurassic Park" and "Avatar", starring Stephen Lang ("Avatar") and produced by Stephen Speilberg.

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Point Blank"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Point Blank" (In French with English subtitles)

Soon after saving a wounded felon from a murder attempt, a male nurse's very pregnant wife is abducted and he is knocked out cold. With great reluctance, he takes assistance from the same violent criminal he saved to rescue his wife and yet to be born child and to uncover a conspiracy of corrupt cops. A relentless action film with a great plot.

Essay: "The Playboy Club" is Off the Air

Essay: "The Playboy Club" is Off the Air

Long before it aired, the new fall tv show "The Playboy Club" on the NBC network was a controversial show. Not surprisingly, the conservative pressure group "The Parents Television Council" condemned it. Feminists naturally condemned it, and even former Playboy Bunny turned feminist Gloria Steinem condemned it. Perhaps largely as a result of this controversy, low ratings, and a lousy Monday night timeslot (when many of its intended audience are likely watching Monday Night Football), the "Playboy Club" was pulled from the airwaves after a mere three episodes. I watched all three episodes and I rather enjoyed the show. In about the first ten minutes of the pilot episode a drop dead gorgeous Bunny, Maureen, played by Amber Heard, is manhandled and attacked by a prominent Chicago gangster who has a membership key. Before he can rape her, Maureen unintentionally kills the thug with her stiletto heels. Once again, the highly flawed Nielson ratings causes a potentially good show to meet its demise before its time.

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Rise of the Planet of the Apes"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies:  "Rise of the Planet of the Apes"

   Starring:  James "The Pineapple Express" Franco, John "Third Rock From the Sun' Lithgo, etc.

            A brilliant scientist (James Franco) obsessively searches for a cure for his father's Alzheimer's disease. He devises an effective vaccine which he tests on chimpanzees. The first ape he tests is pregnant, and she becomes violent and gets killed while protecting her unborn offspring. After she dies her son is born and he has the vaccine in his DNA. The dementia-afflicted father (John Lithgo) is at least temporarily cured. He names the young chimpanzee Caesar, and due to the vaccine he becomes super intelligent. The scientist raises Caesar and hides him from the lab, where he is ordered to destroy all the laboratory apes after the pregnant chimp turned violent. Eventually, Caesar grows up and has run-ins with violent and/or ignorant humans. A second strain of the vaccine is given to a lot of apes, and there is an uprising by the mistreated apes against humans. Also, while making the apes super intelligent, the second strain of the vaccine has the unfortunate side effect of killing any human who comes into contact with it. The movie wasn't exactly what I expected. I thought the apes would take over the whole planet in one fell swoop. Nevertheless, this movie was much better than the previous Apes reimagining, and just about as good as the classic original starring Charlton Heston and Roddy Mcdowell.

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Contagion"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Contagion"

Dir: Steven Soderbergh Starring: Gwyneth Paltrow, Matt Damon, Jude Law, Laurence Fishburne, Kate Winslet, Elliott Gould, etc.

When I arrived at the movie "Contagion" there was an onscreen cough and then the words "Day 2". I thought I may have arrived late to see the show. (Later on in the movie is Day 1) Gwyneth Paltrow's character, a businesswoman, comes home from a trip to Hong Kong with an unexplained illness and eventually goes into convulsions and dies. Her young son also succumbs to the illness, and the husband/father (Matt Damon) is temporarily quarantined. Before long, at least 10% of the world population is afflicted and civilized society quickly collapses. Meanwhile, a blogger (Jude Law) tweets about the mysterious virus, and a CDC (Centers for Disease Control) spokesman (Laurence Fishburne) does his best to reassure the public in absence of a cure or vaccine. However, while racing to develop a vaccine, the CDC fails to publicize a possible homeopathic remedy. This movie had an all-star cast, good acting, smart dialogue, a suspenseful plot, and relevance to recent headlines with so many recent food poisonings, salmonella scares, and deaths and illnesses.

Poetry: "On the Street"

Poetry: "On the Street"

On the Street

Without a Home

'Cuz I failed to pay a loan

The bank foreclosed upon my house

So I am justified to grouse.

On the street

Without a home

To soup kitchens I do roam

And through the trash I often comb... (tbc?)

Poetry: "Spiders"

Poetry: "Spiders"

"The Male Spider"

Its primary role is to mate

Then it is usually eaten

By the much larger female,

it can't help but be beaten...

"The Female Spider"

Its spinnerets are spinning

As she weaves her web,

Any sudden movement

Her prey will soon be dead... (tbc?)

Essay: "The Best Time of the Year"

Essay: "The Best Time of the Year"

Some people believe that Christmas is, as the annoying Andy Williams song says, The best time of the year". Others think the summer is. They both have a point I suppose. However, Christmastime where I live is too cold and stressful, and summer is too damned hot. To me, autumn is the best time of the year. Fall is neither too hot nor too cold, at least at first. But the real reason that fall is the best time of the year is that by late September the "Fall Preview issue of the TV Guide (R, TM?) comes out and it is time to watch as many shows as I can before the damned highly flawed Nielson (TM?) rating system causes many good shows to meet their demise. At least for me, my DVR machine is working overtime, and what shows I don't have room to record or watch, I try to view online. I purchase the Fall Preview issue every year. It includes all the new shows on ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox and the CW (formerly the WB). Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to include USA, TNT, FX, TBS HBO, and other good shows on basic and premium stations. By the way, other than music and talent competitions, I pretty much detest so-called Reality Shows. Plus I prefer dramas over comedies, especially situation comedies. (tbc?)

Poetry: "In a World"

Poetry: "In a World" Note: Perhaps a Parallel World, very similar to but not necessarily our own.

In a world where God is Dead

And Bed Bugs bite you in your bed

And mold gets on your Daily Bread

And bullies beat you for Street Cred

Young people die, their parents' dread

And you get fired by a guy named Ed

Who answers to a guy named Fred

And Nazis kill with bursts of lead

And the girls you love have all been wed...

Poetry: "Going Medieval"

Poetry: "Going Medieval"

I am just a peasant.

My life's not very pleasant.

If I'm lucky once a year

I get to dine on pheasant... (tbc?)

Update: Eulogy of a Small Theater" Part 3

Update: "Eulogy of a Small Theater" Part 3

I recently found out that the Sharon Community Theater 1-8 in the Shaw's Plaza on South Main Street in Sharon, Massachusetts isn't going to close after all. However, with competition from Patriot Place Cinema Deluxe (less that 5 miles away), Legacy Place Cinema Deluxe (less than 15 miles away), and other area cinemas, it may just be a matter of time before it does close. That is unless its loyal patrons and others who rarely or never go there continue to or start attending on a regular basis.

Poetry: "Chatham Shark Sighting"

Poetry: "Chatham Shark Sighting" A work in progress

In waters off of Chatham

I saw a Great White Shark

Then I quickly swam ashore

And drove to Fenway Park

I was lucky that the toothy fish

Didn't mistake me for a seal

For if it did I'd likely be its next and latest meal... (tbc?)

Poetry: "Airport Run" A work in progress

Poetry: "Airport Run" A work in progress

T.F. Green(e) or Logan

SST or Jet

That the airport will be crowded

Is an almost certain bet.

Baggage fees and patdowns

Late or overbooked flights

Traveling to the airport

Is an ordeal any night.

Lost baggage or flight diversions

Terrorists or jerks

Is it really worthwhile

For frequent flier perks.

Traffic and pollution

Ruthless State Police

It's really inconvenient

Renting cars to fly to Greece... (tbc?)

Update: "Eulogy of a Small Theater"

Update: "Eulogy of a Small Theater"

Several weeks ago I reported that the Sharon Cinemas 8 in Sharon, Massachusetts was "closing forever" in late June. Here it is July and the theater is still open. I didn't find out for sure, but rumor has it that the cinema is closing some time in July. If you live near Sharon, if enough people attend perhaps they may reconsider closing.

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Super 8"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Super 8"

Dir.: J.J. (TV's "Alias", "Lost",etc.) Abrams Characters/Actors: Joe Lamb (Joel Courtney), Alice (Elle [Dakota's sister] Fanning), Jackson Lamb (Kyle [TV's "Friday Night Lights"] Chandler), Nelec (Noah Emmerich), etc.

In the summer of 1979 in the town of Lillian, Ohio, four schoolboys and a girl several of them have a crush on film a zombie movie to try to win a prize near a train station. While filming, a pickup truck on the tracks derails an oncoming train and causes a massive explosion and mayhem. The children stumble across a government and military secret that could get them killed for knowing too much. Before long a contingent of military personnel with berets and rifles take over the town and round up the inhabitants. Perhaps an homage to movies from the eighties like "E.T" made by the producer of this film Steven Spielberg. There is a lot of explosions, unexplained creatures, and mysterious happenings to satisfy the urge to escape from the real world for a couple hours in an air conditioned theater on a hot summer day. I expect that this will do well.

Poetry: "The Land Beyond The Forest"

Poetry: "The Land Beyond The Forest" (Transylvania) A work in progress

In the Land Beyond The Forest

There are creatures of the night

Bats and wolves and vermin which

Are bound to cause ye fright... (tbc)

Poetry: "The Murky River"

Poetry: "The Murky River"

Don't ever swim in the Murky River

A hidden shark may eat your liver

Especially at night, when you'll never see it bite

It's not a fair fight

The water turns red and you'll turn white.

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "The Conspirators"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "The Conspirators" (2010)

Dir.: Robert "Ordinary People" Redford Characters/Actors: Captain Frederick Aiken (James "The Last King of Scotland" Mcavoy, Mary Surrett (Robin "Forrest Gump" Penn), Tom "Batman Begins" Wilkinson, Edwin Stanton (Kevin "A Fish Called Wanda" Kline), Colm "Star Trek: The Next Generation" Meaney, Evan "Across The Universe" Rachel Wood, Justin "Accepted" Long, etc.

During the American Civil War Union Army war hero Frederick Aiken (James Mcavoy) resigns from the military and becomes a civilian lawyer. In one of his first cases he reluctantly defends a Southern devout Catholic widow and owner of a rooming house (Robin Wright) who as the mother of a collaborator in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the attempted assassination of two other prominent people is likewise charged as a conspirator. Throughout the trial she proclaims her innocence, but in spite of being a civilian she is in a Kangaroo Court military tribunal where her guilt is pretty much assured. Aiken makes many enemies when he zealously defends the unfortunate woman. An excellent film with a great cast.

Poetry: "A Place Called Hell on Earth"

Poetry: "A Place Called Hell on Earth"

There is a place called Hell on Earth

A place devoid of any mirth

Makes you regret your day of birth

And makes you doubt your very worth

This hellish place is really bad

The stress enough to drive you mad

Even on the best of days

Just being there can make you sad... (tbc?)

Eulogy for the Demise of a Small Theater

A few days ago (today is Friday morning, June 2nd) while inquiring about job openings, I found out that the Sharon Cinema 8 on 700 North Main Street in Sharon, Massachusetts is closing forever in late June. The Sharon Cinemas is part of The "Your Neighborhood Theatre" chain by Boston Culinary Group: Theatre Division. These cinemas are in seven states, most of which are in New England. What I liked about Sharon Cinemas was that every Tuesday was bargain day, with all seats $6 from matinees to evening films. All matinees before 6 p.m. were $6 seven days a week. The evening shows were less that $9. They had a discount punch card. When paying for a movie with the card after 9 or 10 movies you'd get one free. The theater was seldom crowded and never had a sellout as long as I went there. Within the last couple years the Patriot Place Cinema Deluxe (owned by National Amusements) in Foxborough, MA opened a couple miles away adjoining Gillette Stadium where the New England Patriots and New England Revolution play. That combined with the recent Legacy Place Cinema De Luxe in Dedham, Mass, about 10 miles away from the Sharon Cinemas likely led to the neighborhood cinemas inevitable demise. Although I attend several local theaters, I will miss the Sharon Cinema 8 and I hope it is not too late to save it.

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Bridesmaids"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Bridesmaids"

Characters/Actors: Annie Walker (Kristen "SNL" Wiig), Lillian (Maya "SNL" Rudolph), Helen (Rose "Insidious" Byrne), Jon TV's "Mad Men" Hamm, etc.

Annie Walker (Kristen Wiig) is a former cake shop owner who while named maid of honor for her lifelong friend (Maya Rudolph) Lillian's upcoming nuptials her life seems to be spiraling out of control. She is taken for granted by a male sex buddy, she loses her job, she is about to get kicked out of her apartment, and a policeman pulls her over for a nonfunctional tail light. On the bright side, this goodhearted policeman may be Annie's soulmate.Also, she takes an instant and pretty much mutual dislike to a recent friend (Rose Byrne) of Lillian's who is much younger and prettier. At a pre-wedding dinner the two friends of Lillian keep trying to one-up each other. There are a lot of funny parts of this movie, presented by Judd "Superbad", "The 40 Year Old Virgin",etc. Apatow. This movie shows that a group of funny women can do a gross out comedy as well as the boys can. Also, this is a chick flick that men can enjoy too.

Poetry: "Gloom and Doom" a work in progress

Poetry: "Gloom and Doom" A work in progress

Gloom and Doom

Inside your tomb

Will you die in your mother's womb

A sonic boom

From a nuclear bloom

Can cause the time of your demise to zoom... (tbc?)

Poetry: "The World Is Not a Pleasant Place"

Poetry: "The World Is Not a Pleasant Place" A work in progress

The world is not a pleasant place

That includes the human race

We often get in deadly war

And the rich stay rich and the poor stay poor

Nature is of tooth and claw

And we ourselves have a similar flaw... (tbc?)

Poetry: "A Blessing or a Curse" A work in progress

Poetry: "A Blessing or a Curse" A work in progress

A Blessing or a Curse

A Buggy or a Hearse

A hearse is a hearse

Oh Curse Oh curse

He shouldn't be gone

" He should be alive", said the nurse.

As she took some tissues for tears right out of her purse... (tbc?)

Poetry: "A Slave's Life" A work in progress

Poetry: " A Slave's Life" A work in progress

A Slave's life

Is hardly blithe

The stress alone can shorten one's life... (tbc?)

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Soul Surfer"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Soul Surfer"

Characters/Actors: Bethany Hamilton ( Annasophia "Bridge to Terabithia" Robb), Tom Hamilton ( Dennis "Dragonheart" Quaid), Cheri Hamilton ( Helen "Twister" Hunt), Sarah Hill ( Carrie "American Idol" winner Underwood), Kevin TV's "Hercules: The Legendary Journey" Sorbo, Craig T. "Coach" Nelson, etc.

Based on a true story. A home schooled teenage girl from Hawaii who surfs when most other kids her age are stuck in school loses an arm while engaging in the sport she loves. Not too long after recovering, she decides to get back in the water and competes as a championship caliber surfer against able-bodied young women. I enjoyed this movie, especially the surfing scenes and the Hawaiian scenery. However, the born-again Christian message while uplifting, was more than a little cloying. It is hard to say if country singer Carrie Underwood has much of a future as an actress, though.

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Water For Elephants"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Water For Elephants"

Dir: Francis "I Am Legend" Lawrence Character(s)/Actor(s): Old Jacob Jankowski (Hal TVs "the Event" and a slew of movies" Holbrook), Young Jacob (Robert "Twilight" Pattinson), August (Christoph "Inglourious Basterds" Waltz), Marlena (Reese "Legally Blonde" Witherspoon), etc.

Based on a popular novel. During the Great Depression, Jocob Jankowski, a veterinary student at Cornell University, is forced to leave school after both of his immigrant parents perish in a tragic car accident. Not sure what to do with his life, the former collegian stows aboard a train which he doesn't know is the home of a traveling circus. When he is caught, instead of being thrown overboard, he is offered employment with the rival circus to Ringling Bros. At first he willingly does unpleasant jobs like shoveling manure, but before long he gets the opportunity to use his veterinary skills to help the beautiful Marlena (Reese Witherspoon) with a lame horse at the behest of August, the ruthless, volatile and unpredictable Boss and Marlena's hard-drinking, frequently abusive husband. I really enjoyed this movie, but the love story between Jacob and Marlena was very reminiscent of the forbidden romance between Jack Dawson and Rose in "Titanic". The real star of this movie was the pachyderm Rosie, a very talented circus elephant.

Poetry: "Mary #4"

Poetry: "Mary #4"

Mary had surveillance cams all throughout her house

Better watch your eyes when checking out her blouse

Mary had surveillance cams in each and every room

And if you do chicanery the cameras they could zoom... (tbc?)

Poetry: "Mary 3"

Poetry: "Mary 3" A work in progress

Mary ate a little ham

For her Easter dinner

After all, she thought aloud

"I'm not getting any thinner".

Mary ate a little ham

For her Easter meal

And she thought when buying it,

"What an awesome deal!"

Mary had a little ham

For her Easter lunch

The meal was free so Mary thought,

"Why not have a bunch?"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Win Win"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Win Win"

Dir: Tom McCarthy Characters/Actors: Mike Flaherty (Paul "Sideways" Giamatti), Jackie (Amy Ryan), Burt "Rocky" Young, Jeffrey Tambor, Bobby Cannavale, Kyle (?), Cindy (?), etc.

In this independent film, Paul Giamatti plays Mike Flaherty, an overextended lawyer and part time high school wrestling coach. He is deeply in debt and his wrestling team hasn't won a match all year. Flaherty goes out of his way to put off expensive repairs in his home and office or to do them himself. When one of Flaherty's wealthy, elderly clients (Burt Young) starts to show signs of dementia the lawyer offers to be his client's caretaker. Flaherty gets $1500 per month for his efforts, but instead of following the old man's wishes of keeping him in his home, the lawyer puts Young's character in an Assisted Living facility. Soon afterward Flaherty notices a teenager hanging around Young's character's residence. The teenager is a runaway named Kyle, who is the old man's grandson and the son of a drug addicted mother. Giamatti and his wife (Amy Ryan) reluctantly take the boy in, and it turns out Kyle is a high school wrestling phenom. Before long, Kyle practically becomes part of Flaherty's family, joins the wrestling team, and inspires the wrestling team to start winning matches, that is until the boy's mom returns after getting out of drug rehab. This movie was excellent. Almost as good as "Sideways' and about as good as "Barney's Version" in which Giamatti plays a Canadian businessman and hockey fan who over the course of twenty years marries three very different women.

Essay: "Writing Contests"

Essay: "Writing Contests"

I subscribe to several free on-line writer's websites such as WinningWriters.com. In addition to advice, poetry, essays and prose these websites feature writing contests, most of which have monetary prizes for winners. I have entered very few of these contests, but I have noticed that at least 80% of writing contests have a mandatory "reading fee". For those who offer these contests I'm sure that these reading fees add up. If a contest requires a $5 fee, if one thousand people enter that's one thousand dollars. If a contest requires a $10 fee that's ten thousand dollars if 1000 people enter. If anyone is foolish enough to pay a $20 fee, if one thousand people enter that's an easy $20,000 for those who put on the contest. Anyway, I refuse to enter any writing contest that requires a fee of any kind. Some of these contests offer several thousand dollars in prizes, but if there is a fee I don't want to be scammed, manipulated or exploited. Who knows if these contests are legit? Another thing to be wary of is if a poetry contest requires or recommends that poets who enter contests purchase an anthology of winning poetry. I made that mistake a decade or two ago and wasted about forty dollars. To their credit, WinningWriters.com does offer free writing contests, but to access all of the 750 some-odd free to enter contests you have to pay a quarterly free. It is hard to say if that fee is a worthwhile investment.

Poetry: "A Word Is Worth a Thousand Pictures"

Poetry: "A Word Is Worth a Thousand Pictures"

A word is worth a thousand pictures

In a skillful author's pen

Sometimes what an author knows

Is beyond his reader's ken

The written word sometimes can influence

Women, child and men...

Poetry: "When I Wake Up To Seize The Day"

Poetry: "When I Wake Up To Seize The Day"

When I wake up to seize the day

I'd like to lay back down

When I have to go to work

My smile turns to a frown

I'd rather live in greenery

Than a world that is all brown

I'd rather prepare for graduation

Than have a night out on the town

I'd rather that I'd learn to swim

Than risk that I would drown.

Our so-called current leaders

Have turned the world all upside down.

Poetry: "Beauty" A work in progress

Poetry: "Beauty"

Beauty is a superficial wound

Which oft heals with age

Its no wonder in Hollywood plastic surgery is all the rage

Sometimes looks are hard to gauge

It's perhaps better to die

Than to be in a cage... (tbc?)

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Red Riding Hood" Rated PG-13

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Red Riding Hood" Rated PG-13

Dir: Catherine Hardwicke ("Twilight") Characters/Actors: Valerie (Amanda "Jennifer's Body" Seyfried, Billy "Drive Angry" Burke, Virginia "TV's "Scoundrels" Madsen, Father Soloman (Gary "Bram Stoker's Dracula" Oldman, Grandma (Julie "Doctor Zhivago" Christie), Lukas Haas, Henry (?), Peter (?), etc.

Valerie (Amanda Seyfried) is an attractive, spirited girl in a medieval village plagued by a ruthless werewolf. Her fellow townspeople have up to now kept the wolf at bay by offering animal sacrifices. Unfortunately, the werewolf has started killing villagers again, including Val's younger sister. Meanwhile, the young lady has fallen for a boyhood friend who her parents don't approve of, while they arrange a marriage to another young man she does not love.

The villagers hire the services of a zealous werewolf hunter named Father Soloman (Gary Oldman). He is so ruthless that he holds everyone in the village under suspicion. As the moon turns "blood red", when a werewolf bite could curse a victim to become a werewolf instead of their demise; Valerie finds she can relate to the werewolf unlike other villagers. This could put her under suspicion for doing the Devil's work. Not only that, but she realizes that the wolf could very well be someone she knows, possibly even her beloved Grandmother (Julie Christie). What I liked most about this movie is it kept me in suspense about who the werewolf or wolves might be until just about the very end. The romantic aspects will appeal to the female audience and the horror aspects will appeal to the men.

Poetry: "I'd Like To Be A 'Blog of Note'"

Poetry: " I'd Like To Be a 'Blog of Note'"

I'd like to be a 'Blog of Note'

For every post I ever wrote

Then perhaps I'd buy a boat

And wear to it a Gore-Tex (TM) coat

I'd put down my tv remote

My female fans would start to dote

Perusing my blog they would devote

To my critics I then could gloat

I'd even move to Terre Haute

And swim across a fetid moat

My words others would often quote

By those who use a Laptop tote

Posts I've done could then denote

I'd grab my readers by the throat

If I won the Blogging Vote...

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Battle: Los Angeles"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Battle: Los Angeles"

Characters/Actors: Staff Sergeant Michael Nantz, USMC (Aaron "Thank You For Smoking" Eckhart) , Sergeant Elena Santos, USAF ( Michelle "Avatar" Rodrgues), Michelle (Bridget TV's "Blue Bloods" Moynahan), etc.

An attack by mysterious alien entities originating from falling meteors happening simultaneously around the globe culminates in a huge battle between a heroic platoon of U.S. Marines led by Staff Sergeant Michael Nantz (Aaron Eckhart) out of Camp Pendleton near Los Angeles, California and malevolent aliens from another planet. Sergeant Nantz is a medal winner with some notoriety due to tragic deaths among some of the soldiers he once led into battle about to retire from the military when he is called into combat. A constant running battle from the first five minutes to the end. Like a combination of "War of the Worlds", "Skyline" and "Platoon" or similar war films. Similar but in my opinion not quite as good as "Skyline" which came out several months ago and which I positively reviewed. Whether you like this movie will probably depend on your enjoying war films, science-fiction, and movies about aliens from out of space with hostile intent.

Poetry: "How the World Is Now" A work in progress

Poetry: "How the World Is Now" A work in progress

A river caught fire

Due to political liars

Our American Dream is burning on a monumental pyre

Our situation is becoming increasingly dire

Most industries here are refusing to hire

While the economy is in a quicksand-like mire

Our elected leaders act like aristocratic sires

And they ought to get hit by spinning car tires

Terrorists make bombs without any wires

And the Common Man feels a frustrated ire

Wondering, "Can I ever afford to retire?".

"Got Stabbed in the Leg" A work in progress

I tried to beg

To buy a keg

Met one of society's dregs

Got stabbed in the leg

Was treated by a nurse named Meg

There goes my Nest Egg... (tbc?)

Poetry: "Bury the Bodies" A work in progress

Poetry: "Bury the Bodies" A work in progress

Bury the bodies

Mourn for the dead

Wake up in the morning

And curse destiny's thread

Bury the bodies

Mourn for the dead

Drink 'til the morning

And fall out of bed

Bury the bodies

Mourn for the dead

Cry 'til the tears stop

And life goes ahead... (tbc?)

Poetry: "My (Overactive) Bladder Is a Nuisance" A work in progress

Poetry: "My (Overactive) Bladder Is a Nuisance" A work in progress

My bladder is a nuisance

I always have to go

I'd get an operation

But I don't have the dough

My bladder is a nuisance

I always have to pee

Sometimes when I'm outside

I have to go next to a tree

My bladder is a nuisance

I always have to go

At 3 a.m. I must wake up to make the urine flow

My bladder is a nuisance

I always have to go

When no one's there

I often change the color of the snow.

My bladder is a nuisance

I always have to go

I can't afford the operation

So I'll maintain the status quo.

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Drive Angry" in 3-D Rated R

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Drive Angry" in 3-D Rated R for Violence, Profanity, Profanity and Sexual Situations

Characters/Actors: John Milton (Nicolas Cage), Piper (Amber "The Pineapple Express" Heard), The Accountant (William "Prison Break" Fischter), Jonah King (Billy Burke), etc.

John Milton (Nicolas Cage) is a man who escapes from Hell to avenge the murder of his daughter and the abduction of his infant granddaughter by a messianic Manson-like cult leader who intends to sacrifice the child in order to bring "Hell on earth." An arguably fun Grindhouse picture with campy sex, violence and nudity. This film is not for everyone and is certainly not for kids. Movies like this are Nic Cage's forte ( "Con Air", etc.) along the way he catches a ride with a badass waitress (Amber Heard) who becomes like his sidekick. They end up killing a couple cops, and are soon pursued by cops, the murderous cult, and a guy known as "The Accountant", an emissary from Perdition (sort of like the Grim Reaper) who wants to bring Milton back to Hell where he probably belongs. There is a high body count and a lot of mayhem along the way. Nothing, not even Hell, is going to stop John Milton from getting his revenge and saving his granddaughter from the insane cult leader and his henchmen and women. Depending on your tolerance for violence and nudity, this movie may be worth seeing on either the large screen or eventually on home video or cable.

Movie News: AMC Theatres to end or amend their "Moviewatcher Card" Program

I recently got an e-mail that AMC Theatres will end their Moviewatcher Card program, in which a patron would get free movies or refreshments when presenting a Moviewatcher Card. When I recently attended a movie at an AMC Theatre (I used to work at the AMC theatre in Braintree, MA) I found out that the new program will cost $12 a year. The old program was free to join. I am not too thrilled with having to pay the $12, especially on an annual basis. I don't know if I will continue in the program, because I live at least eighteen miles away from the nearest AMC Theatre and I only attend movies at these theatres about 5 or so times a year.

Poetry: "American Nightmare"

Poetry: "American Nightmare"

Your mortgage is upside-down

And you work way out of town

You just may lose your land

And you expect to see the Repo-man

Beware of your bookie

What happened to nookie?

If you don't get sick

You better get working quick

Don't spend on your whims

Or you'll be stressed out on a frail limn

If you don't watch out

You could be homeless without a doubt

You once believed in the 'American Dream'

Now you just want to scream... (tbc?)

Poetry: "Did the Right Thing"

Poetry: "Did the Right Thing"

Did the right thing

Worked hard every day

Got screwed over and over in

Every possible way... (tbc?)

Poetry fragments (works in progress)

Under the RADAR

Over the clouds

Moving so fast

But not very loud... (tbc)

I have deep pockets

But no money

I can't buy things

And I'm not being funny... (tbc)

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Word Wars"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Word Wars" (2004)

This fascinating documentary from 2004 depicts four distinctive professional Scrabble (R) players who make most if not all of their money competing in Scrabble tournaments. Sitting around watching other people play Scrabble is not necessarily fun, but these four very different men are fascinating to see. One player, known as "GI Joel" has gastrointestinal issues, another is a part time stand up comic, one is a perennial Scrabble champion, and last but not least is a foul mouth, African-American militant who seems to believe that Scrabble and/or the English language is a conspiracy against blacks. The African-American contendor is unemployed and makes all of his income from Scrabble tournaments. As a casual Scrabble enthusiast who plays at a local library Scrabble club on most Tuesdays I really enjoyed watching this video. For crossword players, people who enjoy words and word games, and even those who don't, most people will find this documentary fun and worth watching. For instance, if I remember correctly, I learned from this film that "the anagram of Eric Clapton is narcoleptic."

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "The Fighter"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "The Fighter"

Characters/Actors: Mickey Ward (Mark "Boogie Nights" Wahlberg), Dickie Eklund (Christian "Batman Beyond" Bale), Charlene (Amy "Julia and Julia" Adams), etc.

Story of Lowell, Massachusetts born prizefighter Mickey Ward and his former fighter turned trainer and recovering drug addict half-brother Dickie Eklund. Like a real-life version of "Rocky". Nominated for many movie and acting awards. Melissa Leo won many prominent acting awards as Mickey's domineering mom, and Christian Bale won numerous acting awards for his over the top portrayal of has been fighter and sibling to Mickey, Dickie Eklund, whose out of control lifestyle winds up behind bars.