Vlog #43 THE BIG ASK EXERCISE

MY NETFLIX MOVIE REVIEWS #191

Eddie Murphy portrays real-life legend Rudy Ray Moore, a comedy and rap pioneer who proved naysayers wrong when his hilarious, obscene, kung fu fighting alter ego, Dolemite, became a 1970s Blaxploitation phenomenon. (Courtesy of Internet Movie Database)

Upon seeing the trailer for DOLEMITE IS MY NAME via Netflix my anticipation to see this film was triggered. This was partly due to not having seen Eddie Murphy in a film for sometime and that the film was taking on a blaxploitation subject matter. Once I got my chance to watch I was pleasantly surprise as the film tells a great story of perseverance. I felt the cast was well selected and performed well in this heartfelt film. So in the end it looks like Eddie Murphy is back and so for DOLEMITE IS MY NAME I give it a 3.85 of 5 stars.

ARTIST INTERVIEW: 2019 #3 w/ Ken Maccall

ROCK BOTTOM

It didn't happen all at once, nothing this tragic ever does. It's not like a car accident or randomly getting mugged as you walked down the wrong street. This was slow and methodical, this took time. 

This all started with a few simple decisions that on his or her own, seemed like it wouldn't matter either way. Yet those choices became routine. It's not going to hurt. I'll catch it later, thinking you can quit at any time. 

These are the phases that make it seem all too benign, but again as it becomes routine, it's like the sun rising and setting you to become used to it, almost expecting it. At its worst, you are expecting it, dare I say craving it, but for others, the fact that it has become so routine it is hard to see it for what it is. 

The sad part is when others can see that it is a problem and some will say something and others won't, while some will encourage it using it as a way to get what they want from you. Others even seem to care yet don't want to get mixed up in a mess. And rather than being a strong force against your unwillingness to see what you are doing to yourself will set you up with whatever you crave just to keep you quiet, to keep from getting dirty or even just to keep the peace. 

Hopefully, for someone going in this direction, they have someone who will stop them from eventual destruction because this road only leads to one direction when you've gone so far. If your the type that doesn't heed the warning, it is hard to say if you'll make it out, although if you do prepare to face your demons, those voices that thrive on your pain and want to keep you there. 

What am I talking about? I'm talking about rock bottom the place a great few have to go to before they realize they have a problem. The place some have to go before asking for help. The place some go who get there and stay too long and never get to tell their story of recovery. 

Vlog #42 THE HOLIDAYS & COLIN KAEPERNICK IS BACK?

MY NETFLIX MOVIE REVIEWS #190

Childhood friends Jerry (Jeremy Renner), Callahan (Jon Hamm), Randy (Jake Johnson), Sable (Hannibal Buress) and Hoagie (Ed Helms) have been competing in the same game of tag for 30 years. When Jerry gets married, he attempts to retire from the intense annual game without ever being "it," causing the other four to band together and go to extreme lengths to finally tag him. Directed by Jeff Tomsic. Inspired by the Wall Street Journal article "It Takes Planning, Caution to Avoid Being It." (Courtesy of Internet Movie Database)

For a film on the joys of never fully growing up TAG has that in aces. Having seen the trailer to this film in the theater I was intrigued by the premise and added it to my Netflix queue. Although this film wasn’t on the top of my list it took some time to come around. When it did though, I was reminded of my past interest and pleasantly surprised by the film itself. I think the initial attraction was in the cast, which I felt delivered the goods in this unique true story. Furthermore, this true to life story had some good organic laughs so for TAG I give it 3.2 stars of 5.

BOOK REVIEW: GUERILLA MARKETING

ALL FOR THE ART

They had been working on a project together for months. They'd meet at a coffee shop or some quiet space for their meetings, each doing work on their own to make the process go faster. The research was in the remodeling of a vacant building and turn it into an art gallery for the new art crowd. The talk at first seemed natural, but as they both dove headfirst into the project, there were roadblocks and numerous situations where no one they asked knew what to do. 

They had teamed up as she had answered an ad he had posted on a craigslist site looking to create a team to help bring more cultural and artistic diversity to his community. He was a recent master's degree grad who had returned for his masters once he saw that those with standard degrees were having so much difficulty finding positions in their majors. The decision was decisive, and he never looked back, knowing he'd have to struggle to make ends meet, spending another four years in school to reach his masters in business administration. Slow and steady, he made his way through with his real love being in art and those things creative. In his time in the MBA program, he grew to become the preppy type of fitting in dressing down in oxford shirts and chinos. Showing his own bit of personal style with a pop of color or vintage piece of jewelry. His parents were immigrants from Jamaica who admired his drive wondering where he had gotten it from, but still overjoyed. 

She was a librarian volunteering as an advocate for a nonprofit agency. That worked for those who were disenfranchised from there homes. In her work, she had found that life is filled with a lot of gray areas and things that explanation could not be explained. When she had seen the ad on craigslist, she was feeling a moment of regret and wondered where her life had gone. She liked to help those less fortunate but asked what she could have accomplished if she was a bit more selfish or even ego-driven. The vainest she had ever been was her hair color and trim she had been getting since age 40 to blend the gray with the blond. The message hit her in that spot were it gave her the chills and a boost of empowerment knowing she'd be working with a younger team of adults. She wanted to feel young again but didn't know how to exactly go about doing it since being divorced. 

It ended up she was the only one to reply to the ad, which made for an exciting first meet up. Realizing they were looking for each other, they laughed at how they were expecting completely different people. Yet they hit it off he liked that she was older, was from the area, and was already working with people. She wanted his ambition from his schooling to the size of the project he was proposing; it all made him attractive in her eyes. 

Their first meets were just filling out forms to apply for federal grants for art installations in the state. She had been overseeing this while he was meeting with those who could be donors to help get the art gallery up and off the ground if they weren't able to secure any grants. They sat across from each other,  near a large window next to the street. She shared with him the progress she had made in the past month, nothing coming through till the last weeks. He told her about the four donors he met in the previous week that guaranteed a check of some sort to help get the project in motion. The constant messaging and being in contact had created a strong bond within the two that this day proved to take a new form. 

Earlier in the day, she was feeling a bit vulnerable when another grant declined them combined with the stress of her work. He was like she was stressed from having to be denied to his face taking meetings only to have donors laugh at his idea. Where they were sitting in the coffee was gradually flooded by the sun pouring through the window, making everything with the ability to shine sparkle. Her eyes were lit up at that moment and shone marvelously on her freckled skin. He was in awe. She caught him looking into her eyes like he had never before. She blushed on her face and chest. Then out of nowhere, reaching for her hand on top of the communication folder on the table. She didn't pull away. He tenderly caressed her hand, looking at it on the table. 

Something moved in her that she had felt had long gone, and now he was arousing it's second coming in her. He became full of lust in just touching her. Her wrist, forearm, shoulder, neck, her face. She closed her eyes and held his hand there as he caressed her cheek with his thumb, the sun glowing in her hair. To him, at this moment, she was so beautiful, beyond words. Beyond that, their time of bonding had brought on the respect that now blurred into his current desires. In a moment of whim, they each felt there was an even a higher level they wanted to discover. 

She snuggled against his hand on her face. He moved next to her, keeping the display of affection to publicly acceptable. They were close enough to feel their body heat coming from the other. She smiled and pursed her lips as they began to breath deeper. He whispered in her ear, "Do you really want this?' She shook to her innermost being opened her eyes, and looking at him with desire, shook her head, coly saying, "Yes." They questioned themselves inside where had this passion come from, and was it always there lying in wait for a random sunny day where they were both feeling the blues. 

Their minds scrambled, thinking of where in the immediate vicinity they could go to push this moment further. Rubbing on the shoulders and neck of the mistress to be with his muscular yet tender hands. She felt each stroke all the way down to her spasming thighs. This was all so new and refreshing; it took her like a storm. She was having a hard time just sitting there still as he touched her. 

He then stood up, holding her by the hand, leading her covertly to an open restroom. The spontaneity of the moment was overwhelming them both as they locked the door behind themselves. She liked the way he was gentle with her making her feel beautiful, desired, and precious or as much as a coffee shop bathroom could make her. It was more about the unbridled desire that formed from a noble endeavor. They watched themselves in the mirror as he kissed her neck and ear, entering her slowly.  She gasped, biting her bottom lip. They proceeded uninterrupted to an eventual mutual climax that relived and drained their stresses and created a connection they both couldn't deny. Once they had reordered themselves and kissed passionately one last time. They returned to the central part of the coffee shop and continued working fervently.

Vlog #41 CONTINUED PROGRESS & THE CAMPFIRE 1 YEAR LATER

MY NETFLIX MOVIE REVIEWS #189

Joker centers on an origin of the iconic arch nemesis and is an original, standalone story not seen before on the big screen. Todd Phillips' exploration of Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix), a man disregarded by society, is not only a gritty character study, but also a broader cautionary tale. Written by Warner Bros. (Courtesy of Internet Movie Database)

Well I finally broke down and went and saw JOKER. This was definitely at a point where the major hoopla around the movie had died down and I had seen enough quotes on how great it was and was ready to see it myself. Not knowing what expect having avoided all spoilers I felt the film was set up very well putting you in a world and time in Gotham that parallel and stayed true to the storyline I was familiar with. The development of Joker in the film played by Joaquin Phoenix I found was incredible and I am sure there is Oscar buzz for him there. In the end I found JOKER to be very entertaining and thought provoking so I give it 3.75 of 5 stars.

HE'S BACK

He found himself in the kitchen trying to avoid a catastrophe before the party. The disaster on the verge was that the special dish he was making for the party was looking dreadfully like it wasn't going to turn out. He had perspiration beading upon his brow and was feeling like a contestant on a Gordon Ramsey show. He told himself to give it a few more minutes, and if it still weren't working out, he'd always have time to give it another try. 

So he then rushed to prepare himself visually for the party he had already showered and shaved, and now he just needed the final touches. He messed with his hair looking to have just the right amount of messed with so it looked good, but also to look like he didn't care. He threw on his cornflower blue oxford button-up with a pair of dark khaki shorts and white leather shoes. Quickly rinses his mouth with mouthwash, and he rushed back to the kitchen to check on his masterpiece. 

To his great surprise, the dish was turning out the way he'd hoped, but it still needed time to cook, so he pushed the timer back two more minutes and returned to the bathroom to primp a bit more. As he stood in the mirror, he thought about the list of people he'd invited. It was a mix of people throughout his Rolodex. These were people he worked with, some were acquaintances, others were friends from way back, to girls that he'd just like to show up. There were a few on the list who gave no idea if they intended to come but hoping they would show. It was like as the host, there was always the anxiety that people would not show. Partly because of the past experience or that the current experience would keep them from showing ever again. 

He was looking the best he could when the timer went off. He entered the kitchen. The smell was indiscernibly fantastic; this is what he was going for. He turned the oven off and set the dish on the Italian marble countertop to cool down a bit. He looked at his watch; it was 5:37pm. He should be expecting guests soon or within the hour. He reviewed his list of 10 to 15 things to see if they were done. He turned on some music, and with some time to spare, he just breathed. 

He had spent time all week just tidying things up so it wouldn't be a whole day thing. He also junked a lot of stuff that just wasn't bringing him joy anymore, which really uncluttered the house. The music he was playing was from his own mix, letting him wind down a little before people began showing up. He thought about one girl he had invited a model he had worked with several times who had gone back to school, wondering if she was still in photoshoot shape. He thought of a metal artist he had been following online and was dying to ask how he created those fantastic pieces. He had another male friend talking about the dish he was going to bring and dying to try. 

At about that moment, he reviewed his list once more and seeing everything was taken care of. He found his lighter and a joint from his stash and lit it up and hit it a few times then put it out, clearing the smoke he began to feel the feeling of a job well done. He had made his way back as the guy with the fabulous dinner parties. He smiled to himself as the doorbell rang, and the guest began to arrive with gifts to share and festive moods.

Vlog #40 CREATING A ROADMAP FOR SUCCESS

BOOK REVIEW: Richest Man in Babylon #6