Category: Uncategorized
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How Has “Die Hard” Lasted in Movie Memory for 38 Years!
As with many remarkable films which I saw and absorbed as a teenager, I was too young to note that “Die Hard,” which is 38 years, was upturning a decades-established genre. I know and remember “Die Hard,” which came out during the summer of 1988. I was in high school. I’m a very different man…
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Richard Roundtree, and “Shaft’s” Resonance on the Actor’s July 9th Birthday
In Hollywood career and celebrity terms Richard Roundtree, who was born July 9 1942, immortalized John Shaft, the titular character in “Shaft,” and affirmed a modern and sure Black manhood. He was born on July 9th. I guess that I need to be grateful? I don’t know what is was as a Black man circa…
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The July 4th Movie Corridor as a Gate for Movie Events. But…
Ever since Chat GPT told me that “event” or “tent pole” movies are a thing because 1975’s “Jaws” brought the blockbuster to and 1996’s “Independence Day” wrought the July 4th movie corridor upon cinemas, my eyebrows raised. When an algorithm reigns, and human perspective carries less influence how do independent voices succeed? I guess I’m…
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“The Karate Kid” Ripples throughout Cultures after 40…
The anniversary of “The Karate Kid’s” release is June 22, 1982. In 2018 “Cobra Kai” made “The Karate Kid” reborn and revived. It reminded the film’s fans of the relevance while introducing that to GenZ and Millennials. They hadn’t connected the presumed YouTube excerpts of “wax on, wax off” and Miyagi’s pithy thoughts to the…
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Freedom Delayed Ripples as U.S. Marks Juneteenth
The Emancipation Proclamation of Jan 1, 1863 didn’t free everyone immediately. Juneteenth is on some American’s minds. In Minnesota it’s a state holiday. Freedom “is not finished” acknowledges that work for race inclusion continues. Among the stubborn regressive whites, a nagging, oft-minimized crisis persists with “uppity” Blacks who act with strong self-confidence.
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What Can Happen if You Watch too Much “Criminal Minds”?
After you’ve watched enough “Criminal Minds,” you begin to wonder how some people become fucked up enough to hurt people in some cruel ways, enjoying it and feeling no guilt about it. Some episodes are too creepy to enjoy watching; too disturbed. Why do I still watch it? That’s a good question. The characters’ chemistry…
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A Beret. Just to Keep my Head Warm. I Never Served.
What do you put on your head when it’s cold? As I entered the public library on Tuesday, one Black man near the entrance asked what my hat was called. “A beret,” I said. The next one to speak reverently declared “thank you for your service”. Below my beret I wore a Navy pea coat,…
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In the 2020s Does Sending Cards Instead of DMs, Texts, Etc Make You Outdated?
I’m old-fashioned. I remember articles years ago in “Fast Company,” “Harvard Business Review” and the like telling readers that the average person is refreshed by the effort required to write and send cards vs. digital messages. The commonness of direct messages and text messages marked greeting cards as novel. “No body” makes a habit of…
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In Minneapolis, Winter and Brutally Short Days are Thieves
In December the skies are dark by or before 5:00pm, telling me that it’s bedtime or close to it! How are you supposed to maintain your artistic motivation and energy! In grade school I remember learning that a year has 12 months. Four seasons broke down into three months per season – But winter lies!…
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October’s Westminster Town Hall Forum Was a Public Media Love Fest
The Westminster Town Hall Forum addressed public media was a center-left love fest. This happened one day after the federal money stopped going to Twin Cities Public Television (TPT) and Minnesota Public Radio (MPR). Lawyer Sylvia Strobel runs TPT. Long-time journalist Duchesne Drew runs MPR. One-time Minneapolis mayor R.T. Rybak, president of the Minneapolis Foundation,…
Will Wright: Award-Winning Independent Journalism, Exec Oratory and More... 