Monday, May 31, 2010

Test screenings: I don't go to nearly as many test screenings as I use to, but this past week I went to 3. And all of them were pretty good, which is also pretty rare. I saw Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, the Next Three Days, and The Fighter. Scott Pilgrim was by far the best one of the bunch, and the least traditional. Based on a series of black and white graphic novels stars Michael Cera, pretty much doing what he does in every film. Though slightly diff

Friday, May 21, 2010

GLEE: Live at the Gibson Amphitheatre at Univesal Studios. Started off the day at School, then came to Universal to kill some time and take some pictures. Ended up getting into Universal studios for free. Saw the semi new Simpsons ride which was really the only thing I wanted to see. Took a lot of pictures, had over priced mac and cheese at The Hard Rock Cafe, and yogurt at yogurtland. Now I'm waiting for Glee to start. They had some weird warm up dance t

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Movie Hopping



Movie Hopping: Robin Hood, Just Wright and Nightmare on Elm Street this weekend. Robin Hood featured some really nice sets, as well as costume design and a very talented cast. Though the film doesn't have any real highs or lows in terms of dialogue, acting or much anything for that matter. In fact I found my mind wandering a lot during the film, especially when the characters were talking. Just Wright was fine for what it was, a nice piece of romantic fluff. Nothing special and the kind of cinematic fair one sees on a transatlantic flight. Lots of old white people in the audience which seemed odd, but I guess they like Queen Latifa or something. Nightmare on Elm Street was nowhere near as good as it could pr should have been. Any film that features dreams made flesh should be visually amazing! Especially with today's technology, but Nightmare was just so so. I wasn't afraid and it wasn't funny like the original series of films were. Plus I didn't like the way the new Freddy Kreuger looked, and the new actor is a lot shorter than the original actor as well. Overall it should have been much better than it was, and this is coming from someone who is not a horror fan at all!

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Immigration: Why it's such a hot button topic



These two pictures are of an illegal immigrant repeatedly seen in my neighborhood who is constantly high or drunk out of his mind, staggering around ( in traffic) asking people for money in Spanish. A prime example of the kind of illegal immigrant who needs to be returned to their own country post-haste!





Lately immigration has become a serious hot-button issue with the general public, especially after the recent bill regarding immigration was passed in Arizona. Where upon any police officer or city official could simply walk up to anyone they found to be even remotely non-American looking and ask to see documentation that they are indeed legal citizens. SOmething that has the community screening racism and racial profiling, especially so here in Southern California. Mainly because So Cal has such a large number of Hispanics residing here ( legally and illegally) compared to other parts of the United States.


Now for me the issue is pretty cut and dry. If you are living in the US without proper documentation you are a criminal, pure and simple-nothing more! People tend to lose sight of the fact that all illegal residents in the US, aside from those who have legitimately asked for asylum or officially applied for residency, are criminals! To live, work, and/or reside here in the US without the proper documentation is illegal and a criminal act. End of story! Though I will admit that if you have been here for a really long time, let's say longer than you were in your own country of origin, you are pretty much a US citizen in my book. But there has to be a line drawn. We cannot just let everyone who wants to come ive in the US live in the US. All countries, states, cities, towns, villages, township or what have you, have a limit to the number of people they can realistically support. California reached that limit a long time, and cannot absorb the influx of illegals that continuously flood our borders. It's simply not possible, nor is it realistic. So my solution would be to grant citizenship to all law abiding immigrants who have been here and can prove they have been here for let's say the past 10 years, and then kick out every single person who hasn't. Even people who missed the 10 year mark by a day or something, as there has to be a cut off point.


Not everyone is going to be happy with this decision, but the truth is they don't have to be. They are here illegally, they get absolutely no say in weather they get to stay or not. It is as simple as that! It shouldn't even be a debate as we are talking about criminals being allowed to reside here illegally. Think of it this way, would you ever allow someone who snuck into your backyard when you weren't looking to live there for the rest of their lives? Or to set up a tent, use your land, eat your food, drink your water and have several children on your property without ever paying you a dime of rent? I don't think so, so why should California or any otehr state do the same?


Now technically I am 1st generation French and American. Making me the son of an immigrant, but my mother came to this country legally. She is highly educated, gainfully employed and never caused a day of trouble in her life. She is also more well versed in the English language and usage than most naturally born Americans. How many immigrants can boast the same? In fact a huge number of illegals who have been granted green cards still do not speak English to this day, which is another part of the problem. I think people would be less concerned with the influx of immigrants if they actually spoke the language or were making an actual effort to learn the language, but the truth is they are not. In fact they don't actually need to here in California because we have so many businesses that cater to the Hispanic community, that you could get without knowing a word of English here. Which personally I am against, for my philosophy is that you need to speak the official language of the place you have chosen to live. regardless of whether it be legally or illegally. You made a choice to be there, so you need to speak the language. Which is why I speak German. I chose to live in Austria for 3 years, and I needed to speak the language as a result.