Barack Obama...jets into San Francisco! Horns of dilemma!

Once again, President Obama is jetting into the picturesque bay area to lock "horns" with the captains of Industry on the West Coast.

Actually, on the heels of a controversy over the President's reluctance to engage in a little show-and-tell by coughing up his elusive long-form birth certificate - stirred up by irascible White House hopeful Donald Trump - Obama has reiterated once again for the record that he doesn't have any horns!

"And, I became a man in Chicago," he quipped at the podium last week on the heels of the "birthing" issue which was recently resurrected - ironically - during the sacred Easter holiday season.

However, Governor Brewer nixed all that when she got cold feet and vetoed a bill to force the President's claw - er - hand.

Did Brewer back down for political reasons (with an eye to the future) or because she just doesn't have the balls anymore to fight with the big boys on the hill in Washington?

Meanwhile, the President will rub elbows with enterprising Facebook owner - Mark Zuckerberg  - and other technology leaders shortly after he touches down on the tarmac.

The spirited talks - mostly behind-closed-doors - are expected to put the spotlight on Government investments in research and development, education, and clean energy," according to Barack's handlers.

The president is slated to arrive Thursday evening, then fly out of San Francisco International Airport on Friday morning, on a precise no-nonesense time-table.

Will Barack dawdle a moment-or-two at SFO to take a gander at dazzling spanking-new Terminal 2, which was recently transformed into a jet-setter's hop-over paradise?

By the way, the President has invited fascinated voters to get involved virtually - on the Internet this intriguing time-around.

Barack is now utilizing the potent power of the world-wide-web (and its ubiquitous presence) to rustle up - a younger, hipper, more technologically-advanced demographic - which will undoubtedly help him land the election in 2012.

While the White House insists that the President is only trying to reach out to Americans who would not generally turn to traditional media sources for information, Facebook has been exploiting the situation in a sly bold-faced effort to play a major role in President Obama's political campaign next year.

It's good for business, after all.

The heck with the country, eh?

Do you suppose the hornless one owns stock in the popular social hub?

Only the Winklevoss twins - and Mark Zuckerberg - know for sure.

News at 11!

http://www.thetattler.biz

Big Brother gets technologically with-it!

Charlie Sheen...jumps ship to Fox! Jimmy Kimmel good kisser!

 

 



Door still open?

Charlie Sheen (winning!) trotted out onto the stage of  a live! talk show last night and planted a big sloppy kiss on Jimmy Kimmel's mouth!

"Moist lips," Charlie grinned, as the audience beneath the footlights roared in approval!

If anyone knows anything about "moist lips", it's certainly the wild & woolly diminutive actor sweeping the Nation with his manic  (pathetic & desperate?) brand of humor!

And, Sheen was not without gifts, either.

Talk about swag!

The drug-addled superstar reached into his grab-bag of goodies and proceeded to plunk down a nifty coffee mug with the lovable image of a fox etched on its face.

Avid fans ecstatically cheered the "tiger blood" one on, also, as he tossed a bevy of t-shirts in their midst with some of his latest slogans (true gems) emblazoned on the front.

"Duh!"

"Winning!"

Though one should never look a gift horse in the mouth, the spontaneous moment begged the question.

Are the rumors true?

Tabloid gossips have been all a-buzz with the scuttlebutt that Sheen has signed on with the Fox network.

Well, the brass over there are no strangers to controversy, so go figure!

News at 11!

http://www.thetattler.biz

Charlie plays the perfect foil!

President Obama...a chauvinist pig? Governor Brewer meeting a fiasco...

A mob of protesters rallied outside the white house today to stridently voice their disapproval of Governor Brewer’s controversial Immigration law in Arizona - and her subsequent meeting - with the President to openly discuss the controversial issues with the aim of a resolution.

It was all to no avail.

According to Governor Brewer, she never caught site of the rag-tag band of upstarts, nor did any of the nasty slogans hurled in her direction fall on her Virgin (!) ears.

In contrast, Barack Obama was up-front-and-center, when the Governor made her pleas for stepped-up patrols, geared toward stopping the illegal flow of traffic on the Arizona border.

Brewer told one interviewer later that Barack Obama was adamant that he wasn’t going to even discuss the Immigration Law.

If not, what was the point of the meeting?

“I’ll leave it o the Justice Department,” Barack barked out, in spite of the fact he previously went off half-cocked and categorized the law as “misguided” before he even perused it!

In retrospect, it appears the President invited the Governor to the White House for all the wrong reasons!

Because Barack Obama specialized in Constitutional Law when he was a feckless student many moons ago, none of the issues should have been very tough to tackle, but the President stone-walled nonetheless.

Essentially, the Commander-in-Chief manipulated a military maneuver to ultimately put Ms. Brewer in her place.

If Barack was tight-lipped, it was probably because he felt backed into a corner - pressured - in fact.

Last week, for example, his aides informed Brewer’s handlers that his plate was too full to receive her for an impromptu appointment today.

When Obama suddenly suffered a backlash in the media - and his popularity plummeted in the latest polls - he was suddenly inclined to cave-in to save face.

But, it was all smoke and mirrors, when you consider what took place.

In spite of the fact Barack and Brewer (two of the principals) were present - with their teams in tow - the President informed Brewer that there would not be any discussion on the controversial issues right now.

Brewer was told in so many words that his “team” would contact her “team” in two weeks and arrange for a discussion about the National Guard on her home turf, with the specific aim of informing the Governor how many "troops" would be allotted for the Arizona Border, and so forth and so on.

Pretty Screwball, eh?

If what Brewer says is true - and I have no reason to doubt her recollection of the events since many witnesses were in attendance at the White House's Kangaroo Court - Barack Obama has fallen to a new low in my estimation.

Does he have a problem talking mano a mano to a woman?

Would Brewer ever be invited to a beer summit, I wonder.

Is the President, bottom line, a chauvinist pig?

News at 11!

http://www.thetattler.biz

There's more to the story! News @ 11...

In recent days - amidst a flurry of highly-charged news reports - one truism became crystal clear.

There's usually more to the story!

For this reason, viewers in TV land - and armchair critics in general - might be wise to hold judgment for a moment before succumbing to a knee-jerk reaction and going off-the-handle when the raw news splashes across the old boob tube.

In fact, I have a piece of advice, that may be worth listening to.

When the jolting breaking news interrupts regular programming - take a deep breath, fathom what just washed over you, reflect a little, collect your thoughts, then process and digest the data.

In particular, I am referring to the exhausting - at times hysterical coverage - on the Arizona State Law regarding Immigration Reform, the controversy over ethnics classes in public schools (funded by tax dollars), and the oil spill tragedy that has numbed the Nation.

The jolting newsbites have been non-stop, accusing, relentless, informative, wild, insightful - and at times - even thought-provoking.

But, it  did not escape my attention - that from one report to the next - the focus often tends to shift with a little more probing, intensive investigative journalism, and a more thorough review of the facts passing through what is usually a glass-darkly initially.

There is not only more to the story, but two sides to it, as well.

I compare all the media hoopla to a court of Law.

Wait for the evidence to be presented, reviewed, and substantiated before rushing to judgment.

Only fools rush in, after all!

http://www.thetattler.biz

Miley Cyrus...Kismet with twitter pal! Video launches controversial dialogue...

Call it Kismet!

Shortly after I rode the wave of media frenzy over Miley Cyrus's latest video offering - during the height of the morning New Hours today - I logged on to e-mail.

There smiling at me from a twitter-generated e-mail was the perky pretty face of the talented chanteuse.

OMG!

For some inexplicable reason, Ms. Cyrus just hopped on the celebrated band-wagon (along with a few notable show-biz legends) and is now following me on twitter!

Tweet!

'Bout time, darling!

After all, I've been avidly "following" your career highs (and lows) for many moons now!

In fact, when the press took a poke at a risque piece of stage threads you tossed on your sensual bod for one high-profile concert, I stood in your corner.

I actually pooh-poohed Perez Hilton's notions, if I recall correctly!

In respect to the controversy today - triggered by the style and content of the  latest video - I muse over the critics' folly.

One of the worst things an artist can do is stand on their laurels or flog to death - what was once an innovative look and sound - due to endless repetition.

In a nutshell, a true artist constantly pushes the envelope in respect to their creativity and vision.

Without taking that risk, there would be no growth, and the sorry minstrel would be left behind in a musical wasteland.

A prime example of this truism?

One-hit wonders!

David Bowie is one musician who has transformed his image over the years to his own advantage (and a heck of a lot of notoriety and acclaim).

Although one phase of the musical expession  may not appeal to die-hard fans, once on the other side, it is wholly possible the next metamorphosis may be the sound that propels the surprised artist into the stratosphere along with the greats like - the Beatles, Madonna, the Rolling Stones - you name it.

Miley, you go girl!

http://www.thetattler.biz/

Justin Bieber...quote of the day! Life in the slammer...

Today, Justin Bieber - in the wake of the controversial arrest of his manager (Scott Scooter Braun) for NOT tweeting to local law enforcement in a timely manner - was asked by one reporter if he had any advice for his handler as he stews in the slammer.

The Pop sensation's bang on quip was undoubtedly the upbeat humorous quote of the day.

"Don't bend over for the soap," Justin chuckled to a posse of frenzied paparazzi hot in pursuit.

Well, if the music gig doesn't work out, there's always stand up comedy, kid!

http://www.thetattler.biz

Hurt Locker...disqualified from Oscars? Ouch! 11th Hour controversy...

In the 11th hour just before the Oscar vote count (ballots are due in on Tuesday March 2nd) "Hurt Locker" has conceivably been dealt a couple of blows that may affect the outcome of the Oscar race.

One of the producers of the nominated film (directed by Kathryn Bigelow) was roundly criticized overnight in many quarters for zipping off an e-mail to family, friends, and supporters (a handful of  which were Academy Members) urging that eligible voters snub the "$500 million-dollar flick" (Avatar?)  in favor of  "Hurt Locker".

According to the rules of the Academy, filmmakers are barred from engaging in negative campaigns against competing nominees.

The producer in question - Nicolas Chartier (one of four involved with Bigelow's directing effort) - fired off a second e-mail later in the week, however, when he learned for the first time (he swears!) that his actions were a violation of Academy policy.

Chartier cited naivete, ignorance of the rules, and plain stupidity for the gaffe.

Meanwhile, eleswhere on page one of the Los Angeles Times this morning, journalists reported that Military personnel were inclined to pooh-pooh "Hurt Locker" on the grounds that it did not accurately depict the subject matter.

In sum, a number of soldiers on duty currently (and veterans, too) say the film amounted to sheer fantasy.

"The filmmakers have portrayed the soldiers as renegades while failing to represent details about combat accurately," they lamented in so many words.

In particular, one consistent complaint pertained to the Army's Explosive Ordinance Disposal team and procedures for disarming stray or planted (concealed) explosive devices.

Some military critics quipped:

"The Hurt Locker is a good action movie if you know nothing about defusing roadside bombs or the military."

Sgt. Eric Gordon (Air Force EOD) wasn't inclined to pussy-foot around the issue.

"I would watch it with other EOD people and we would laugh," he chuckled.

At issue was one scene where the lead actor diffused a bomb with simple wire cutters.

"It's similar to having a firefighter go into a building with a squirt bottle," he added distastefully.

In my own review, I noted that the film was "flawed".

From a technical standpoint, there were obvious errors made in respect to editing, for example.

Also, I felt that Mark Boal's script was too pat and predictable and not of Oscar calibre.

Hurt Locker Movie Review

Post:  11/19/10

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2009/11/hurt-lockerintense-flawed-film-director.html

In addition to the authenticity question, Military personnel also griped that Bigelow and the producers deviated from (and shot scenes) not approved by the Government.

Lt. Col. J. Todd Breasseale accused the production outfit of shooting a scene in which soldiers acted violently towards detainees.

On that issue alone, the Government was forced to back out of its agreement to assist on the project, because the military does not provide help to films which depict violatons of laws of war (unless the producers also follow through on the consequences of such wrongful acts).

Breasseale has taken the position on record -  that the film is a great story and a "spectacular-looking movie" -  but summarized the project this way:

"If you're looking for realism and how military relationships really work, I believe she missed the mark."

Pentagon staff gave Bigelow and her creative team a slap on the wrist as well.

"The filmmaker's interest in drama and excitement exceeded what we felt were reasonably realistic portrayals," added Phillip M. Strub (Special Assistant Pentagon for Entertainment Media).

Meanwile, the Academy will have to wrestle with the Chartier breach of policy and determine if the incident cries out for disciplinary action.

Worse case scenario at press time?

The Academy may consider removing the film from best picture contention.

In the event Chartier and the Bigelow production escape that fate, in the end scenario there still may be one niggling hurdle to overcome.

Why, the almighty ballot, of course!

How will Academy members react to the controversy on the eve of the vote count?

We'll know come Oscar night when the winners are ceremoniously announced on March 7th.

Director Kathryn Bigelow at the helm!

http://www.thetattler.biz

Barack Obama...Jacka** remark lowers Prez to level of common Joe!

Ooops!

I don't bray!

When I overheard the news flash in my travels about the city the other day, I laughed out loud.

Another controversy raged in  a week that (at a minimum) had been rife with bad behaviour from white and black trailer-trash alike.

Maybe the alignment of the planets was all screwed up.

Or, the soaring heat was making folks testy.

According to a tweet that zapped at lightning speed around the internet (and beyond into the frenzied mainstream media realms)  Barack Obama allegedly jumped into the Kanye West fray - and in an off-the-cuff moment - hissed to a few within earshot (off-camera) that the musician was (quite simply) a Jacka**.

How refreshing!

To a handful who once belly-ached that Obama was "uppity" - and occasionally was prone to act "Holier than thou" - it was a Godsend, really.

In sum, the Prez was no different than any common "Joe" prone to dish at whim when the occasion arose.

Personally, it was the word  Jacka** that titillated me.

In choosing that "label", Obama demonstrated a little imagination, in my estimation.

When you call a person an "a**hole", for instance, it simply conjures of a glaring demeaning image of all that is negative about sentient beings (and the inconsiderate and/or inappropriate selfish actions of an individual that often lead them astray from humanity).

For many, the label smarts.

Jacka**, on the other hand, is a much bigger rub.

Stings more, dudes!

After all, the "tag" gets to the very core of the personality - and in the final analysis - makes a broader, deeper, more insightful statement about the individual in a lasting humorous way.

The dictionary definition defines it best:

jackass

    noun
1. a male donkey.
2. a contemptibly foolish or stupid person; dolt; blockhead; ass

Barack hit the nail on the head, in a nutshell!

But, the controversy goes beyond the alleged name-calling.

Apparently, when the President uttered the off-the-cuff slight, he was off-camera in-between-takes.

But, worse than that, informed sources verified later that the powers-that-be at the Network in question agreed to respect the President's wishes that the remark remain "off-the-record".

Unfortunately, another overzealous Jacka**  (they're running rampant around the political landscape these days) seized the golden opportunity to tweet his way to fame before the strong arm of his employer was able to silence him.

Uh-huh!

Within hours, the President's comment was zig-zagging around the country - and overseas, too - causing a heapload of mayhem in its wake.

Part of the blame rests with the President, in my estimation.

Obviously, he's a bit balmy if he thought his wishes would be respected, in this tattle-tale back-stabbing media-befuddled age.

As to the press, well, they blew it too.

Now that the President's trust has been broken, it is doubtful they'll ever be welcomed into the inner sanctum again.

Doris Duke's father said it best when he cautioned her on his deathbed:

"Trust no one."

And not even your instinct, on occasion, Barack!

http://www.julianayrs.com/

Barack Obama..."taking it up a**! Gates controversy inspires LA Times editorial!

I penned a postover the weekened in which I derided Obama's decision to wimp out - and essentially roll over and take it up the a** - from the Cambridge Police Department in respect to the controversy which arose last week in the wake of the foolhardy handcuffing and subsequent arrest of Professor Gates on charges of disorderly conduct.

Post: 07/25/09

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2009/07/barack-obamabeer-bust-politics-poorly.html

An LA TIMES editorial in the morning daily (July 28th Edition) is obviously a response to my put-down of the Prez for wimping-out!

In a nutshell, writer Jonahan Zimmerman takes the position that because the conduct of Police in other Nations is much worse than here, that Americans should look the other way in respect to wrongdoing on the part of Law Enforcement on these Democratic shores.

For starters, Zimmerman proceeds to note that Transparency International (which surveyed 70,000 people in 69 countries for its Global Corruption Barometer in 2009) reported that 24% of the respondents confessed to paying bribes to police (and/or Officials) in the past last year.

According to the eye-brow-raising expose - citizens from around the world routinely identified the police as a "force" that was the most corrupt institution in their societies - ahead of the judiciary, collection agencies (!), and so forth and so on.

However, in addition to being corrupt - taking bribes, extorting money, that sort-of-thing - police officers routinely abused or murdered civilians with impunity in other foreign countries, without exception.

An Amnesty International country-by-country report noted that the abuses included brutalities such as - assaults with truncheons (Armenia), electric shocks (Bahrain), cigarette burns (Mauritania), sexual assaults (Pakistan), and suspension by the wrist and ankles (Yemen).

Based on these statistics, the Los Angeles Times concluded that while our system is not perfect, miscarriages of justice - including police corruption and brutality - happen every day.

Does that mean we should trivialize them or sweep the nasty business under the rug and out-of harm's way?

The editorial staff did concede, however, that any reasonable person would not deny that some police officers unfairly target racial minorities, especially minority males.

Although admitting that in view of the foregoing arguments, the Gates incident amounted to a high-charged one, they took a wild leap and - in the final analysis - concluded that from an International perspective the Gates fiasco was but a mere tempest in a teapot!

"Nobody got shot or assaulted. No money changed hands . And, whatever indignities Gates might have incurred, they paled next to the abuse that so many people in other nations receive at the hands of their own police."

What a cynical misguided jaundiced view of things!

It is because shocking incidents like the Gates matter are on the rise and there is a growing trend towards corruption in the Law Enforcement sector in the U.S. that we - as a polite Society in a just civilized Nation - must be ever-vigilante to ensure that the kind of fascist Police States that prevail elsewhere around the Globe do not have the opportunity to gain a foothold here.

The Gates' controversy has sounded a warning bell.

And, for whom does it toll?

For you and me, big brother!

http://www.julianayrs.com

Donald Trump...the chump in Beauty Queen fiasco! Aging Lothario led around by end of di**...

"Good pu**y is hard to find," says the "Donald"

One pundit put it quite succinctly yesterday on one of the dizzying array of network new shows blitzing the airwaves with updates on the Donald Trump beauty Queen fiasco that has unfolded in the last twenty-four hours.

"When men view half-naked photographs of sexy women, they get stupid."

A case in point.

In spite of the fact a handful of revealing photographs of Ms. California were circulating the Internet and stirring up a controversy, Trump opt to pooh-pooh the critics and look the other way.

To many, the aging letch simply succumbed to the animal side of his male nature.

"Trump's being led around by the end of his di**," some are lamenting.

Many reporters are also irked by the arrogance of the man and his bold-faced efforts to sweep the truth under his - um - rug.

For example, when Ms. California was asked a pointed question about the nude photographs - and whether or not she lied to pageant officials - Trump stopped the line of questioning short.

"That's an unfair question."

Hogwash!

News anchors - and gossip mongers alike - were stunned by Trump's flagrant disregard for the truth.

Although Ms. California lost her tarnished crown earlier in the week - rightly so, in my opinion - Trump chose to reinstate the statuesque flake yesterday.

The "Donald" is owner of the Miss Universe and USA Pageant system and - yes, choke on this - final arbitrator on all such matters.

So, the co** teaser gets off scott-free.

But, the intrigues don't stop there!

One celebrity gossip alleged in one updated news flash yesterday that the whole "gay marriage" controversy was a set-up from the get-go.

"Pageant officials instructed Perez Hilton to pose that question," one insider alleged matter-of-fact as jaws dropped in the newsroom.

Then, there is the question of ethics.

Allegedly, the pageant paid for Ms. California's "boob job".

In the final analysis, Trump had to protect his investment, eh?

And, what did the lounge lizard get in return?

News at 11.

A hard-on for blonds!

http://www.julianayrs.com/

The View...hell hath no fury!

After a brouhaha erupted over the air waves last night - on the heels of a nasty cat-fight which busted out on the View earlier in the day when writer Ann Coulter made an appearance on the incestuous gab fest - I was reminded of an old truism.

Hell hath no fury like 5 women scorned, eh?

http://www.julianayrs.com

CineVegas Film Festival..."Memorial Day". Filmgoers walk out in disgust!

When I spoke to director James Fox about his entry (Memorial Day) at the CineVegas Film Festival, he was a bit tight-lipped about the project.

But, when I crossed paths with actress Sarah Nedwek - who stars in the film - I was able to slip the muzzle off a bit for an intriguing reveal. At this juncture, for instance, I learned that the mysterious feature with a macabre twist was somewhat experimental in nature.

More succinctly, the promotional blurb boasted a wild sort-of ride.

"Beginning as a rowdy beach weekend, Memorial Day turns to find the dark hearts of Americans who live to tape their most debauched adventures. The characters are thrust into full exposure, both physically and emotionally, to a place where self-exploitation and the exploitation of others give rise to a shocking new kind of entertainment."

Well, one that the movie-going public may not be ready for!


At the screening a handful of irate filmgoers stormed out of the Theatre in disgust.

"It was well-done," one agitated theatre-goer assured me.

"But, the images were shocking."


Another film buff argued that while the offering was a turn-off in respect to the controversial subject matter, the actors were quite competent and turned in finely-tuned performances worth catching.

Ms. Nedwek informed me that although this was her first film, she flexed her acting muscles in a number of Theatre Stage productions in recent years, which amply prepared her to get a grip on the complexities of the "Memorial Day" role.

"We did a lot of improvisation."

In fact, Fox urged his actors to go beyond the basic framework - take risks, plumb the depths of their psyches, exorcise demons, if necessary - to meet the specific demands of their characterizations.

While the director may have succeeded in accomplishing his vision, it may have been too much for a viewing audience to handle.

From Fox's perspective, the camera created a sphere of provocation wherever it went, ramping up actions, and pushing characters to a place of hyper-real catharsis.

In spite of the lofty reach - "Memorial Day" - left filmgoers at a loss for words, for the most part. In fact, many were inclined to make a quick exit from the troubling images.

Another film - "South of Heaven" - affected audiences the same way.

"Pointless violence," one criticized.

"Shocking footage of females that were degrading and upsetting, " another lamented.


Maybe Festival Director (Trevor Groth) felt that he needed to push the envelope, and go beyond the bounds of good taste and cinematic excellence, in a bold-faced effort to conjure up controversy?

Get the theatre-going public in the door at any cost?

The scheme may have backfired.

A handful of filmgoers were turned off by a number of the films that were unveiled - signaling without doubt - that CineVegas needs to re-access Festival goals.

Ignoring the obvious may result in a slip in CineVegas credibility - which, bottom line - may reflect in poor ticket sales and attendance next year.

Samuel Goldwyn once said:

"A wide screen just makes a bad film twice as bad."