My Take on Point Blank

You can read my gust post attestation as to the Twelve Reasons Why Lee Marvin Kicks Ass in Point Blank on Brent Allard’s Criminal Movies blog found here.

Feel free to return to this thread to comment.

Unclaimed Property in California

Have lost your job due to the fraudulent shenanigans perpetrated by Goldman Sachs, et al.?

Have you lost your home that was appraised at the half million mark and is now worth less than dog shit?

Have you exhausted your unemployment insurance?

Are you now living out on the street because your government doesn’t give a damn about Main Street nearly as much as it loves to fellate Wall Street bankers and shitty American car manufacturers?

You could be one of the millions of Californians owed money by the State because your crazy ass Uncle Louie did not bother to leave a will, and, as a result, left the contents of his safe deposit box unclaimed.

The State of California is currently in possession of more than $5.7 billion in Unclaimed Property belonging to approximately 11.6 million individuals and organizations.

If you are a resident of the Golden State, don’t rob a bank in south county to feed your family.  Check out the State Controller’s Office Unclaimed Property Division, instead.

For Love Or Money

Written by guest blogger Christine Comtois

I am the owner of Gentle Paws Pet Care and Vice-President of a soon to be nonprofit organization called Against Cruelty. In my years of experience with animal care and rescue work, I have dealt with many veterinarians both good and bad alike, but I always asked the age old question…Are they in it for the money or because they love what they do?

Imagine for an instant that you have a newborn kitten and a toddler playing together. Within a moment, a mere blink of the eye, a tragic accident happens when your toddler tips over a heavy object right onto the head of the unsuspecting kitten. You find yourself rushing the kitten to an emergency center. Upon arrival at this center the vet and technicians work swiftly to stabilize your tiny baby. As you watch the small figure tremble from a seizure the technician comforts you and your crying toddler.

After some time passes they tell you that they need to keep the kitten overnight to observe and stabilize his condition. With assurance that he is in good hands you leave with the knowledge they will call with any changes in his condition. Over the next few days this wonderful group of people watch over him calling you three times a day with updates. Finally you get to bring him home with specific instructions on how to care for your fragile bundle.

By the end of his first week home you start to notice signs of distress, immediately you call your local vet and make an appointment. While the vet examines him you tell the vet everything that has occurred including his emergency visit. During this time the vet does not acknowledge any of your information but proceeds to tell you your kitten has ear mites. When he finishes the examination he informs you that the cause of seizure is the ear mites causing an imbalance and then leaves the room. As you pay for the visit you feel shocked and at a loss.

These two vets proved to be completely different, both in care of the animal and treatment of the family. So when you are looking for a good vet and find you are asking “Is this vet in it for the money or will they love treating my pet?”

Here are some guidelines to help you find the answer to that question:

1. Price does not determine how good or how bad the service may be
2. Neither does local
3. Do NOT be afraid to ask for a meeting before you bring in your pet
4. Do NOT be afraid to ask to observe them with another patient
5. All states have an Official Website with a tab and/or number you can check and verify information on a vet
6. Ask questions, and lots of them:

Do you offer emergency care?

Do you accept pet insurance?

What food brands and guidelines do you offer for animals with health problems?

How do you handle a frightened animal that may turn aggressive?

Why did you choose this field?

How long have you practiced?

What are your thoughts and feelings on all of the vaccinations on today’s market?

Every family deserves to have the best care for their family member and armed with the right kind of information we can all find the vet that loves what they do.

©2010 Christine Comtois All Rights Reserved

Crazy California’s Everything Must Go Sale!

Are you in need of a few passenger school buses?  How about an industrial sized fryer?  Couple dozen computers?  You can find it all at Crazy California’s Everything Must Go Fire Sale!

Having over-leveraged itself in public pension monies, and, just generally pissing away revenue without regard for the future, the State, including the City of San Diego, must now sell off everything from its law enforcement equine and canine forces to public school supplies and everything in between.

As long as you are willing to travel to the west coast to pick up your property, you can start Internet bidding on San Diego property here.

PS:

The city is still considering its Spanos family billionaire bailout program and hopes to build the Bolts a brand new stadium on the taxpayer dime!

Next Week in the Spotlight

Guest post by blogger Christine Comtois from Gentle Paws Pet Care.

Midnight Express

Written by guest blogger Brent Allard from Criminal Movies

Billy Hayes (Brad Davis) is strapping hash to his body as we open this film. From there he heads to the airport and it’s clear that he’s no professional. He’s sweating and nervous, looking like at any moment he could jump out of his skin. His discomfort only grows and this is terrifically accentuated by the sound of a racing heartbeat played in the background. The heartbeat slows down and speeds up depending on his anxiety when he’s first checked out by airport authorities. He doesn’t understand a word they’re saying when they ask him about a Frisbee (we don’t know either as there are no subtitles provided, a technique used to great effect throughout the film) When they let him get on the bus to the airplane, he is obviously pleased with himself, thinking he has outsmarted the system.

He even brags to his girlfriend Susan (Irene Miracle) that he doesn’t take anything seriously. This changes when he realizes that the real security is between the bus and the plane. They quickly discover his drugs and his experience in custody begins.

He’s escorted to the security room, where again, no one speaks English. They’re very excited that they’ve caught an American, even bringing in a photographer to snap pictures of them with their captive. They let him hold his drugs for the sake of a good picture. Not realizing the trouble he’s in, Billy even smiles for the photograph. Billy is questioned and told there will be no trouble if he cooperates. He’s allowed to leave escorted by Tex (Bo Hopkins) a well dressed English speaker who was also present during questioning. Billy tries to escape but is pursued and soon caught by Tex who holds a gun to the back of his head.

Before bringing him to the main prison, the guards beat him severely with a heavy stick leaving him unconscious for days. When he wakes, he meets fellow English speaking inmates Jimmy (Dennis Quaid,) Erich (Norbert Weisser) and Max (John Hurt,) who fill him in on the details of life in a Turkish prison. They all tell him that his best bet is to get out of there, either through appeals or as Max tells him “The Midnight Express” which is another way of saying escape. Conditions in the prison are absurd even for prison standards. Rapes and beatings (often by the warden) are arbitrary, and shankings are acceptable as long as they’re below the waist. Billy faces it stoically at first just hoping to be released soon.

His father soon flies out to see him and work on getting him out, ostensibly trying to get him released on bail so he can cross the border into Greece and leave Turkey behind. Court however doesn’t go as planned. Billy again can’t understand a word that’s said, which again shows Billy’s experience perfectly because we can’t either. His defense is completely inept, corrupt or both, happy that Billy receives a four year sentence (for possession) as the prosecutor passionately called for a life sentence (for smuggling) Billy’s dad breaks down, overwhelmed by his powerlessness. And then Billy is back to prison. He still copes fairly well, spending time with Max, Jimmy and Erik, biding time and hoping his defense comes through.

After awhile Billy’s defense visits again to tell him there’s been progress in the case but it will require paying off certain officials. Billy rolls his eyes, sensing that this is just an additional hurdle leading nowhere. Jimmy, Max and Billy start planning an escape. Jimmy comes up with a plan that seems too risky to the other two and decides to try it alone. He gets caught and is beaten so savagely that he loses a testicle due to hernia. “In comparison,” he writes to Susan “my troubles don’t seem so bad.” With Jimmy gone for a bit, Billy and Erik develop a close bond even turning to each other for physical affection and more time passes. Max is still around as well, but his drug problem keeps him occupied.

With 53 days left on his sentence, Billy gets notice that he’ll have to go through the process again. The prosecutor objected to the possession charge and moved to have it changed to smuggling (which carries a life sentence) Billy gets a chance to speak in court, and uses the time to give a speech about the nature of crime and punishment, the quality of mercy defining a country, fair play, etc. I’m certain he doesn’t gain any points with the court when his speech devolves into calling the Turkish people pigs, and proclaiming that he hates them all. This was the weakest part of the film in my opinion, as while I can understand some anger, and even an outburst or two, the sermonizing didn’t seem believable for Billy’s character, as much as a chance for Oliver Stone (who wrote the screenplay) to get some points across. Still it was only one moment and viewed against the rest of the film, it isn’t enough to damage it badly.

Billy gets sentenced to thirty years, which is better than life, but it’s doubtful that Billy appreciates the difference. Resigned to the idea that he’ll never get out, he turns to thoughts of escape immediately, Jimmy and Max both help, Max standing lookout as Billy and Jimmy chisel stones free from a wall in their cell to expose a hidden shaft to underground catacombs leading out of the prison. Happy that the shaft exists, although it’s too late in the day to attempt escape, they resolve to try the next day.

The three of them descend into the water filled tunnels only to encounter a dead end. They return to their cell and replace the stones and repeat the routine every day hoping to discover a way out. Although they replace the stones, Rifki (Paolo Bonacelli,) the despised Turkish supplier of drugs, tea, and anything else, discovers the tampering and reports it. Not knowing who to blame the warden decides to punish Jimmy (possibly because he tried to escape before.) Determined to punish Rifki, Max and Billy decide to steal his money, which is the reason for his existence. After realizing his money is gone, Rifki has the guards turn the prison upside down in search.

They learn that the latest beating has ruptured Jimmy’s hernia, and Rifki, knowing who took his money, blames Max for selling him the hash the guards “discover” on him. Seeing Max get dragged off for a beating (he’s too old and damaged to endure it) unhinges Billy into releasing all of his anger on Rifki, beating him within an inch of his life. Billy doesn’t even pause when Rifki cuts him on the arm, completely lost in his lashing out. Davis is brilliant in this scene, completely becoming the character lost in his rage. Of course, we see him next being dragged off by the guards.

Max and Billy both end up in the prison sanitarium which is far more miserable than the main prison was. The lighting is darker and the conditions dirtier, while the guards are still free to give out random beatings as they like. Billy takes on a blank stare, totally despondent, his spirit completely crushed. Everyone in the sanitarium wanders listlessly in a fog as if their spirits were removed and it doesn’t matter where they end up. The noise is also unbearable there, chaotic voices clash with each other drowning out any sense. The sanitarium resembles a hell from a medieval painting, minus the flames a perfect representation of despair as a place.

It’s at this point that Susan returns for a visit. She tries to tell Billy that people care and efforts are still being made to get him released. Billy can barely speak, muttering half phrases, obsessed with seeing Susan’s breasts. She obliges, although watching Billy masturbate to the sight of her breasts like a monkey in the zoo, brings her to tears as she realizes how broken he is. She gives Billy a photo album telling him about a teacher in Greece, who wanted him to have something on a certain page, which is clearly code that seems lost on Billy. She pleads with him to get himself together and not count on anyone else or he’ll die there.

Encouraged by the visit, Billy regains vitality, walking contrary to the circle the other inmates walk in continually. He discovers the money in the album and decides to leave. In a moving moment he says goodbye to Max, who is only an empty shell by now. He talks to a guard who lets him in to see the warden. We’re not really sure what his plan is as Billy is now speaking their language fluently (without subtitles of course.) Billy attempts to bribe the warden to bring him somewhere. He decides instead to bring him to a locked room, presumably to beat and rape him. Seeing him unbuckle his pants Billy charges the warden, accidentally knocking him into a peg sticking out of the wall, killing him. Billy takes his gun and uniform and has no trouble obtaining the keys and walks right out of the prison complex. The ending text fills in the fact that he escaped to Greece and flew home from there.

It should be mentioned that this film was based on the autobiographical account of William Hayes, but for the purpose of the character, it doesn’t matter how true or untrue the story is, as the movie is a world of its own. This is a case of a man trying to extricate himself from an impossible situation, and only barely succeeding through luck.

The Midnight Express, whatever its intention, does not convey a message of morality or mercy, as much as it says be aware of the penalties of what you’re doing as the system can easily destroy you. Stupid kid or not, you will face heavy penalties if caught smuggling drugs between countries.

As a cautionary tale this film is flawless. Director Alan Parker did a wonderful job, using enhancing effects such as the heartbeat at the beginning and the noise in the sanitarium as well as abstaining from subtitles to put us as much as possible in Billy’s shoes. Oliver Stone, won an Oscar for the script, which despite its flaws, told a gripping story . The cast is solid all the way through and Davis really makes the part his own right up until the last moment, walking like a beaten prisoner even outside the walls.

Soundtrack available here.

My Guest Post

You can read my guest post on The Colors Magazine here.

Driving in the South After it Snows

Written by guest blogger Rachel Davis

In case you missed my last post, I am a relocated yank, living in North Carolina.

Being from Michigan, the Great Lake State, or my favorite, the Wolverine State, I had to learn how to drive in the snow.   Literally, my dad took me out and made me drive in it, because driver’s education class was conducted during the summer.  I was taught how to pump breaks, turn into your skid, not to tailgate, keep to the side roads and when I DO get stuck, not to rock the car back and forth unless I want my transmission to die earlier than the usual life expectancy of an automobile.

I remember these lessons. I am a safe driver, in any weather. But there are these folks, say, from New York, maybe, who didn’t drive in the snow when they lived there, and who are now out on the roads today, in their 4-wheel drive SUVs, flying down the roads, tailgating and swerving all over the snow-covered roadways because they are, “from the north and grew up with this kind of weather all their lives.”

These folks actually believe that they can drive safely in this snow simply because they came from the northern states where it snows for four months out of the year. Some of these people are probably the same people who had to walk to school in snow like this, both ways, up hill, in their leather moccasins, and, liked it! But they didn’t DRIVE in that snow, up hill, in their moccasins…They WALKED!

We woke this morning to the news of the century – It snowed in North Carolina last night. It is freakin’cold and be careful when driving, because it is slippery…. Oh yeah, and there have been 180 accidents reported this morning since 6a.m. The News forgot to plead with the public asking all of the assholes out there from the north to stay off of the roads because they couldn’t drive on their home streets to begin with, and, they certainly can’t drive down here where the roads are not yet plowed.

My southern-born husband and I are going to enjoy a forced day of relaxation eating foods that are bad for us, and, watching movies. MAYBE we’ll venture out to the Canes’ hockey game we have tickets for this evening, and maybe not. In either case, we will be free from having to deal with SUV owners who haven’t quite mastered being able to drive in the snow.

©2010 Rachel Davis All Rights Reserved

When It Snows in the South

Written by guest blogger Rachel Davis

Photo by Dana McCall (Used with permission.)

I am a relocated yank,  residing in Raleigh, North Carolina, which I don’t count as being “southern.”  I mean, the state has the word, north, in the title, after all. There are many of us relocated northerners here.  In fact, there are four people with whom I haven’t spoken with in twenty years, but graduated with from high school, and now live close by once again.  Small world!

It snowed last night. The news coverage was/is ridiculous. Starting last weekend, the “meteorologists” starting tracking this winter storm coming our way. And the build up and speculation throughout the week had the communities around the state gearing up for the Storm of the Decade. I went to do my weekly grocery shopping last night when I got home from work only to find that all the fixins’  for French Toast were gone from the shelves.

Why do southerners want to make so much French Toast when it snows?  I don’t get it!

Batteries were in short supply, as were diapers, flashlights and candles. I was starting to think, “Wow, if everyone is this panicked about the snow, maybe they know something I don’t.”   So I  stocked up on my own French Toast supplies and headed for home where I dug out my candles and matches and wished for the second time since I have been here that the husband would buy a generator for when the power goes out.  (These are important to have, especially when a hurricane comes through… oh wait… in the last ten years, a hurricane HASN’T come through here, has it??)

Anyway, we decided that if we were going to be snowed in, then we’d go to dinner and get out before we couldn’t move for days, weeks, maybe even months. We weren’t the only ones to think to do this, BTW.  It actually started to snow while we were out. Uh oh! The storm was four hours early.  I know this because it is the only story that the news was talking about – pin-pointing when the snow would actually get here.  And they were wrong. Again.  Argh.

Fast forward to this morning. I woke up to all of three inches of snow, and yes, it is still sleeting away.  Any and all of the usual TV shows that I might watch are being preempted by the news – IT SNOWED!!

Some places actually got five inches. The city is shut down and will remain that way until it melts.  See, every year, it snows once, usually here.  And the cities haven’t figured out a way to get snow plows and salt trucks out on the roadways so that life can go on with this crazy, white stuff falling from the sky.  Thankfully, though, I will have my French Toast!

©2010 Rachel Davis All Rights Reserved

I Am Afraid of Not Missing You

Written by guest blogger Lena Toporikova from The Colors Magazine

Do you believe in forever friendship? Imagine it like that.
You get to meet someone, you talk for hours, you laugh, you joke, you have a good time together.

You grow closer to each other… you start trusting, you know each other’s thoughts, ideas, feelings. You share more… and you care more.

You can talk about anything and everything, you would not bother about work when that person needs you, you are there for them and they are there for you. You can cry on their shoulder when you need it. And you do cry, because sometimes you need it.

You can’t imagine your life without them… they are a big part of it like your parents, like your boyfriend or girlfriend, like your husband or wife. They are not just any friend, you consider them BEST friend.

Of course you fight, but you get over it … and it seems nothing will ever change… they’ll be there forever. And you honestly believe that forever has no end.

But you forget that life has its own rules. And whatever is forever for you is just a moment for eternity.

One day you fight, and then nothing is the same. You do your best to maintain this friendship, you forget about your ego, emotions, pride… you just keep showing them how important they really are in your life, but all in vain. They don’t say it is over… just the regularity of talks you have is different and in the whole one month after all your messages and mails you only get “thanks, I’m doing good” – reply.

Once.

First, you did miss them. And the intensity of the pain couldn’t be described… Then, the pain lessens but reaches its peak each time you don’t get a reply to another mail, another text message. And then you get used to their absence. Sadly. You miss them still… not that intense, or maybe the ego still is playing its role. But the pain is not the same anymore.

Just somehow you lose faith in forever.  Just somehow you stop believing in the term “best friend”. And somehow you just don’t want to get close to anyone anymore.

You play in your mind millions of variants of why, how, when, if.  None of them would give you the answer to your questions.  None of them will soothe your pain.  None of them will get that one person back to you.

In all of this you are not afraid of pain, not afraid of losing hope, faith, trust. All you are afraid of is that today you are still missing him… but what if tomorrow you don’t.

Relationships are worth fighting for but sometimes you can’t be the only one fighting. Sometimes, people need to fight for you.

And it hurts so much when they don’t…