Category Archives: Current Events

“Woody Wednesday” Allen on the meaning of life

July 18, 2012 – 7:35 am

Here is a review of a Woody Allen movie followed by a great post I got from Brad Williams’ blog.

PopcornBiz

You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, Woody Allen, Billy Graham

The Night Woody Allen and Billy Graham Argued The Meaning of Life

It’s the kind of encounter made in TV heaven: the neurotic intellectual New York Jew and the fire-and-brimstone televangelist arguing about what it all means.

Woody Allen interviewed Billy Graham in the 1960s, where the two men discussed all manner of topics touching on religion, morality and the meaning of life. It was a respectful, intelligent and often funny conversation the likes of which would be impossible in today’s cultural climate, according to the legendary director, who recounted the meeting to the film press as he promoted his latest movie.

Allen‘s talk with Graham resonates with him today, informing in part the themes of his latest film, “You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger.” The movie stars Naomi Watts, Josh Brolin, Anthony Hopkins and Gemma Jones in a story about the quest for comfort and certainty, and how faith — even an irrational one — can help us find solace.

In New York this week to discuss “Stranger,” Allen reflected on his meeting with Graham.

“Years ago I was on television with Billy Graham and I was taking this position, this bleak outlook position and Billy Graham was saying to me that even if I was right and he was wrong, and there was no meaning to life and it was a bleak experience and there was no god and no afterlife or no hope or anything, he would still have a better life than me, because he believed differently and even if he was 100 percent wrong, our lives would both be completed and I would have had a miserable life wallowing in a bleak outlook and he would have had a wonderful life, confident that there was more.”

In “Stranger” these two opposing positions are staked out by Josh Brolin as Roy, a struggling novelist, and Gemma Jones as Helena, his mother-in-law who has begun taking great comfort in her visits with a psychic.

“And so that was one of the main themes of this picture, that someone like Gemma could be deluded — as I felt Billy Graham was deluded — and she would have a better life than someone like Josh, who is more scientific minded and had a more realistic of life, but was going to have a more miserable life.”

While Allen is steadfast in his belief that people like Helena — or Billy Graham — are comforting themselves with lies, he does harbor a certain level of jealousy of the peace it affords them.

“I do feel that it’s important to have some kind of faith in something, but\ impossible for many of us. I personally don’t have any faith in anything. It’s great if you can. The only trouble is, is in Gemma’s position in the movie, she’s happy, deluded, with that character she through her lot in with at the end — they’re both crazy — but happy for the moment, because they’re going to have a rude awakening eventually, because she was not Joan of Arc, the reincarnation thing doesn’t really happen and she’s going to sooner or later, reality sets in in a crushing way. As it does and will with everybody, including Billy Graham. But it’s nice if you can delude yourself for as long as possible.”

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Woody Allen and the Meaning of Life

 
I have a strange sort of appreciation for Woody Allen, though I can’t say that I’ve ever seen a single one of his many films. My entire sympathy for Allen rests in the interviews and comments that I read about him from time to time. Some day, I may have a Woody Allen film fest to get to know him a little better.Today I read another interview/excerpt about Woody Allen, and it did a good job of expressing his hopeless world view. Here is a quote for you to get the feel of his philosophy, “The fact that there is no god and that we’re alone in the universe makes it more important than ever to act decently, but people don’t, very frequently.” Allen believes that there is no God at all, and yet he persistently and stubbornly insists that people ought to “act decently.” The natural response to that is, “Why, Woody, should we act decently then?” It seems that it is precisely this sort of question that has driven his most recent films.His latest film, “Cassandra’s Dream,” demonstrates Allen’s struggle with this very question. He says, “I’ve always felt that the worst kind of crimes and sometimes not the worst crimes often go unpunished. Everyday, from genocide in the political spectrum to street crime, people do terrible things and get away with it.” If there is no God, then Allen is precisely right, which again begs the question of why people ought to “act decently.” Allen has no good answer for that.Eventually, this sort of reasoning must lead one to ponder why to live at all, which is another thing that Allen ponders. What, exactly, is the point of life. Here’s Allen again, “I feel the trick is to try and find, not meaning, because there is no meaning, but to try and find some enjoyment in that context and know that it’s meaningless, short, nasty, brutal, and still, you know, find a modicum of enjoyment, get what you can get out of it, which is not a lot.” Can you see the connection between believing that there is no God to the inevitable conclusion that there is no meaning to life? Once God is erased from the equation, one is left with a meaningless existence in which the best one can hope for is to scratch a “modicum of enjoyment” out of life.This leads to the final Allen quote in the article. His philosophy of life eventually cause people to ask him the ultimate question. Here he answers in his own words, “People say, `Well, why go on at all?’ Camus’ question, why choose life? And the only answer I can ever give to that is we seem to be hard-wired to. The brain asks the questions, but the blood says live. So if a guy comes in here with a gun, you do everything you can to get it away from him. You do whatever you can to live. You bargain, you lie, you jump on top of him.”You’re hard-wired for self-preservation, but when you think about it cerebrally, why, to what end, what am I savoring here? And you can’t really think of a good answer, so you give up and say, `I can’t think of an answer, but my body fights to live, so I’m not going to resist that. I’m going to go along and trust the impulse toward life.”

I find Woody Allen interesting because his reasoning is sound. He is right to say that if there is no God, then art and life and love and everything here is meaningless. I like reading about him because he is clearly uncomfortable, or so it seems, with this dismal outlook. His philosophy forces him to admit that horrible crimes will ultimately go unpunished, and that truly, there is no reason to go on living because life is both meaningless and without purpose. In his films, he struggles with this Godless reality. I grieve for him and for others like him who can have no hope for any meaning beyond fleeting, worldly pleasures.

Perhaps you wonder why I find this interesting at all and not simply morbid. I find it interesting because Woody Allen displays the inherent hopelessness of a godless universe and the bleak truth that without God, there truly is no purpose in the anything. That explanation will never satisfy one made in the image of God. Fallen as we are, we still long for something more than that. I hope that Woody Allen can find mercy in Jesus Christ, in whom we find purpose and justice and meaning for life.

Related posts:

“Woody Wednesday” Will Allen and Martin follow same path as Kansas to Christ?

Several members of the 70′s band Kansas became committed Christians after they realized that the world had nothing but meaningless to offer. It seems through the writings of both Woody Allen and Chris Martin of Coldplay that they both are wrestling with the issue of death and what meaning does life bring. Kansas went through […]

Francis Schaeffer and C. Everett Koop were prophetic (jh29)

Francis Schaeffer and C. Everett Koop were prophetic (jh29) What Ever Happened to the Human Race? I recently heard this Breakpoint Commentary by Chuck Colson and it just reminded me of how prophetic Francis Schaeffer and C. Everett Koop were in the late 1970′s with their book and film series “Whatever happened to the human […]

“Woody Wednesday” Allen is searching for satisfaction in wrong place jh17

Coldplay – 42 Live Coldplay perform on the french television channel W9. In 1992 Woody Allen took up with one of his adopted kids and lived in with her. He was given over to the pursuit of pleasure. Actually he has made that a major focus of his life. In the latter part of his […]

“Woody Wednesday” Allen realizes if God doesn’t exist then all is meaningless (jh 15)

The Bible and Archaeology (1/5) The Bible maintains several characteristics that prove it is from God. One of those is the fact that the Bible is accurate in every one of its details. The field of archaeology brings to light this amazing accuracy. _________________________- I want to make two points today. 1. There is no […]

“Woody Wednesday” How Allen’s film “Crimes and Misdemeanors makes the point that hell is necessary (jh 14)

Crimes and Misdemeanors: A Discussion: Part 1 Adrian Rogers – Crossing God’s Deadline Part 2 Jason Tolbert provided this recent video from Mike Huckabee: John Brummett in his article “Huckabee speaks for bad guy below,” Arkansas News Bureau, May 5, 2011 had to say: Are we supposed to understand and accept that Mike Huckabee is […]

Agnostic Allen notes, “The people who successfully delude themselves seem happier than the people who can’t” (Woody Wednesday Part 5)

Woody Allen interviews Billy Graham on Religion This article below makes we think of the lady tied to the Railroad in the Schaeffer video. Dr. Francis schaeffer – The flow of Materialism (Modern man sees no hope for the future and has deluded himself by appealing to nonreason to stay sane. Look at the example […]

A review of Woody Allen’s latest movie “Midnight in Paris” (Woody Wednesday Part 4)

Midnight in Paris Not Dove Family Approved Theatrical Release: 6/10/2011 Reviewer: Edwin L. Carpenter Source: Theater Writer: Woody Allen Producer: Letty Aronson Director: Woody Allen Genre: Comedy Runtime: 100 min. MPAA Rating: PG-13 Starring: Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Kurt Fuller, Kathy Bates Synopsis: Midnight in Paris is a romantic comedy that follows a family travelling […]

Woody Allen films and the issue of guilt (Woody Wednesday Part 3)

Woody Allen and the Abandonment of Guilt Dr. Marc T. Newman : AgapePress Print In considering filmmaking as a pure visual art form, Woody Allen would have to be considered a master of the medium. From his humble beginnings as a comedy writer and filmmaker, he has emerged as a major influential force in Hollywood. […]

According to Woody Allen Life is meaningless (Woody Wednesday Part 2)

Woody Allen, the film writer, director, and actor, has consistently populated his scripts with characters who exchange dialogue concerning meaning and purpose. In Hannah and Her Sisters a character named Mickey says, “Do you realize what a thread were all hanging by? Can you understand how meaningless everything is? Everything. I gotta get some answers.”{7} […]

“Woody Wednesday” Part 1 starts today, Complete listing of all posts on the historical people mentioned in “Midnight in Paris”

I have gone to see Woody Allen’s latest movie “Midnight in Paris” three times and taken lots of notes during the films. I have attempted since June 12th when I first started posting to give a historical rundown on every person mentioned in the film. Below are the results of my study. I welcome any […]

 
Posted by Brad Williams at Thursday, January 17, 2008

 
By Everette Hatcher III | Comments (0)

SEC football coaching jobs ranked

July 17, 2012 – 8:19 am

I am a little confused about these rankings below. I don’t know why Auburn slipped in before Tennessee. I understand why the recruiting base put some of the schools in the leader position but I think the tradition should have been weighed more.

ESPN’s website had this article below:

Ranking the SEC coaching jobs

July, 10, 2012

Jul 10
9:00
AM ET
By Edward Aschoff | ESPN.com

The SEC has the reputation of being the toughest conference to play/coach in. But what is it like to be in charge of one of these high-profile programs?

That’s where we come in. As we take a deeper look into programs around the country this week, we’re looking at how each program stacks up in every conference. In the SEC, there’s always a fierce arms race going on, and getting left behind can be dangerous.

Today, we’re ranking each coaching job in the SEC. We considered a lot of factors, including location, tradition, support, fan bases, facilities and recruiting access.

Here’s how we ranked all 14 SEC jobs.

1. Florida: For starters, Florida is all about location, location, location. It’s in a state that produces some of the country’s top talent and it’s a state that players around the country will flock to. Thanks to Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer, Florida has become a national brand like Ohio State, USC, Notre Dame and Texas. Recent significant facility upgrades and a tremendous fan base have only helped this be the top job in the SEC.

2. LSU: It’s one of just a handful of schools around the country that’s considered the school in the state. Every football player in Louisiana grows up wanting to play in Tiger Stadium. Louisiana is also extremely bountiful when it comes to producing football players, and Texas is right around the corner. The facilities are top notch and the program has great tradition and a tremendous fan base.

3. Alabama: Talk about extraordinary tradition. Though there were some down years before Nick Saban took over, there’s no escaping the success this program has had. Prospects from all over are drawn to Alabama. There’s tremendous support inside and outside for the program, and the facilities are some of the best in the nation. This is also a school that didn’t hesitate to pay Saban the big bucks when the opportunity arose.

4. UGA: There is so much talent around Athens that it’s hard for Georgia not to have a top recruiting class year in and year out. Georgia’s facilities are near the top of the conference, and the campus is gorgeous. The tradition and game-day atmosphere would draw anyone in.

5. Auburn: While it’s constantly knocking heads with Alabama, Auburn has plenty going for it. The campus is gorgeous, the stadium is one of the best game-day venues in the league and the fan base is extremely passionate. Auburn is in the heart of recruiting central in the Southeast, and the recently updated facilities are a major plus.

6. Tennessee: While the Vols have struggled with consistency on the field lately, this is still an attractive job. Nearly $50 million was spent to build a brand-new football complex, Neyland Stadium has been spruced up over the years and the program does have a rich tradition. Though with the state not being so talent-rich, coaches are forced to target other areas in the Southeast to recruit.

7. Texas A&M: The Aggies’ tradition is well-known in college football. The game-day atmosphere is one of the best in the country, there is a great alumni base, their home state is filled with elite talent and the school is huge. Now Texas A&M can sell playing in the SEC to Texas athletes. But one thing that does hang over the program is that it’s still playing second to the Longhorns.

8. South Carolina: Spurrier has completely transformed South Carolina and proved he can win there. The state has an underrated talent pool, and Spurrier has made it a priority to get the best talent to come his way. The fan base is one of the most loyal ones in the country, standing by the Gamecocks even during the rougher years.

9. Arkansas: The Razorbacks are basically the pro team of the state, and Bobby Petrino’s success made it a very attractive job nationally. The fan base takes great pride in its program, and recent facility upgrades have really helped draw more attention to Arkansas. However, the state isn’t as rich with talent as other southeastern states, meaning the Razorbacks have to turn to other states, such as Texas and Oklahoma, for more prospects.

10. Missouri: New to the SEC, Missouri is making sure it keeps up in the arms race by upgrading and expanding Memorial Stadium. There’s good tradition at Mizzou, but Gary Pinkel really turned things around and made the Tigers more relevant when he arrived in 2001. Location could be an issue for some southeastern prospects, but Pinkel and his staff are making a conscious effort to expand recruiting efforts into Georgia and Florida.

11. Ole Miss: Oxford is the quintessential college town, rich with history and a game-day atmosphere envied by many, thanks to the Grove. The campus is beautiful, and the football facilities are pretty impressive. However, consistently recruiting top talent to Ole Miss has been a major issue for coaches, as the Rebels have won nine games or more just five times since 1971 and have had 11 head coaches during that time.

12. Mississippi State: Starkville can be a little out of the way for people, and like Ole Miss Mississippi State is having to try to keep top Mississippi talent away from the likes of Alabama and LSU. The fan base is very loyal, and the program has seen a bit of resurgence since Dan Mullen’s arrival. The school is also breaking ground on a new $25 million football facility.

13. Kentucky: The football program will always be in the shadow of the basketball program. Even though Rich Brooks turned things around, it’s hard to sustain that when Kentucky has to go out of state so much for recruiting and has to do a lot of projecting with prospects. Before last season, the Wildcats went to five straight bowl games, and recent upgrades to the Nutter Training Facility have players excited.

14. Vanderbilt: The high academic standards leave coaches without the opportunity to recruit some of the top prospects, and Vandy only has been bowl eligible five times in school history. While the administration drug its feet on facilities for so long, the school agreed to upgrade facilities, including adding a new multipurpose practice facility, when James Franklin received a new contract last fall.

By Everette Hatcher III | Comments (0)

Discussion of Woody Allen’s 1989 movie “Crimes and Misdemeanors” (Part 4)

July 17, 2012 – 8:17 am

Crimes and Misdemeanors: A Discussion: Part 1

Uploaded by on Sep 23, 2007

Part 1 of 3: ‘What Does Judah Believe?’
A discussion of Woody Allen’s 1989 movie, perhaps his finest.
By Anton Scamvougeras.

http://camdiscussion.blogspot.com/
antons@mail.ubc.ca

_____________

One of my favorite films is this gem by Woody Allen “Crimes and Misdemeanors”:

Film Review

By Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

 

Crimes and Misdemeanors
Directed by Woody Allen
MGM/UA 12/89 DVD/VHS Feature Film
PG-13 – adult situations

This film is a metaphysical comedy about how we conduct our lives in a time when many think the world is devoid of moral purpose. Woody Allen, who wrote, directed, and acts in the film, is joined by a repertory company of actors including Martin Landau, Sam Waterston, Anjelica Huston, Alan Alda, Mia Farrow, Claire Bloom, Jerry Orbach, Jenny Nichols, Joanna Gleason, and Caroline Aaron.

The story revolves around two men who, in the end, share their feelings briefly with each other at a wedding. Judah Rosenthal (Martin Landau) is a successful ophthalmologist and philanthropist whose mistress threatens to tell his wife about their two-year affair and his financial improprieties. When he conveys his dilemma to a rabbi, he is advised that honesty is always the best policy. But Judah’s brother, who has connections with the underworld, convinces him to have his mistress killed.

Meanwhile, Cliff Stern (Woody Allen) is making a documentary about his brother-in-law, a pompous television celebrity. Unhappily married, he falls in love with the associate producer. Convinced they are soul mates, Cliff shows her a serious film he’s working on about a philosopher concerned with values and the modern world.

Crimes and Misdemeanors starring Martin Landau

In his 19th film, Woody Allen provides a thought-provoking portrait of the amorality of our times when individuals are no longer troubled by guilt over their crimes and misdemeanors. Power, greed, and self-interest animate men and women who only worry about getting caught.

Related posts:

Discussion of Woody Allen’s 1989 movie “Crimes and Misdemeanors” (Part 1)

Crimes and Misdemeanors: A Discussion: Part 1 Uploaded by camdiscussion on Sep 23, 2007 Part 1 of 3: ‘What Does Judah Believe?’ A discussion of Woody Allen’s 1989 movie, perhaps his finest. By Anton Scamvougeras. http://camdiscussion.blogspot.com/ antons@mail.ubc.ca _____________ Today I am starting a discusssion of the movie “Crimes and Misdemeanors” by Woody Allen. This 1989 […]

Woody Allen’s movie “Midnight in Paris” wins an academy award (link to complete listing of all historical figures mentioned in “Midnight in Paris”)

Sleepers (1973)   Allen (left) wrote, directed and starred in this oddball love story, set 200 years in the future.  It was his first on-screen collaboration with Diane Keaton (second left), who went on to become one of the director’s muses in the early days of his career.   ___________ I have written more on […]

Can we learn from Woody Allen Films? (Part 2)

Looking at the (sometimes skewed) morality of Woody Allen’s best films. Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) Allen continues the art-as-salvation theme in Hannah and Her Sisters, an ensemble drama about family and infidelity. The film tells three stories, one of which stars Allen as a hypochondriac named Mickey. Terrified of death, Mickey begins a search […]

Chris Martin of Coldplay unknowingly lives out his childhood Christian beliefs (Part 3 of notes from June 23, 2012 Dallas Coldplay Concert, Martin left Christianity because of teaching on hell then he writes bestselling song that teaches hell exists)

Viva La Vida Published on Jun 23, 2012 by TheRyanj64 Coldplay’s Viva La Vida at American Airlines Center in Dallas on June 22, 2012 __________ Coldplay brought confetti, lights and thousands of fans to the American Airlines Center; see photos from their colorful show Photo Gallery News Sports Lifestyles   Comments (0)   5/11 Chris […]

“Woody Wednesdays” Woody Allen on God and Death

Good website on Woody Allen How can I believe in God when just last week I got my tongue caught in the roller of an electric typewriter? If Jesus Christ came back today and saw what was being done in his name, he’d never stop throwing up. If only God would give me some clear […]

Michelangelo Antonioni influenced Woody Allen and was discussed by Francis Schaeffer

Francis Schaeffer discussed modern films and how they showed the state of man. That is why I like Woody Allen’s films so much. He knows what the big issues are in life and even though he present the right answers he does grapple with the right questions. Michelangelo Antonioni heavily influenced Allen and below is […]

Review of “To Rome with Love”

Jesse Eisenberg – Press Conference “To Rome With Love” Published on Apr 21, 2012 by portugal888 Review: Allen’s ‘Rome’ delivers lackluster love Published: Tuesday, June 19 2012 11:06 a.m. MDT By David Germain View 4 photos » This film image released by Sony Pictures Classics shows, : Alec Baldwin as John, left, and Jesse Eisenberg […]

Woody Allen, ‘To Rome With Love’ Director, Talks ‘Midnight In Paris’ Success, Acting Career

How To Recover From a Break Up With Greta Gerwig Published on May 16, 2012 by younghollywood Young Hollywood is hanging out in NYC during the Tribeca film festival, where we chat with rising star Greta Gerwig about her hip slice-of-life movie, ‘Lola Versus’. Greta offers up some advice on how to get over a […]

June 14, 2012 Wall Street Journal interview of Woody Allen and he is still talking about the meaninglessness of existence

TO ROME WITH LOVE – conferenza stampa con Allen, Benigni e Cruz http://WWW.RBCASTING.COM Published on Apr 18, 2012 by RBcasting http://www.rbcasting.com Conferenza stampa del film “To Rome With Love”, scritto e diretto da Woody Allen. Tra gli interpreti, lo stesso Allen, Alec Baldwin, Roberto Benigni, Penelope Cruz, Judy Davis, Jesse Eisenberg, Ellen Page e Greta […]

Woody Allen’s worldview as seen in his movies

  I love the movie Crimes and Misdemeanors and have written on it many times in the past. This quote below sums up Woody Allen’s worldview which I disagree with. In fact, the person who said this actually could not live with its conclusions in the movie and committed suicide.   Because Allen continues to […]

Atheists have no basis for saying that Hitler was wrong!!!!!

On April 30, 2012 (67 years after Hitler killed himself) I stated on the Arkansas Times Blog: Hitler’s last few moments of life were filled with anxiety as they should have been. He went on to face his maker and pay dearly for his many sins. When I look at the never before released pictures […]

“Woody Wednesday” Will Allen and Martin follow same path as Kansas to Christ?

Several members of the 70′s band Kansas became committed Christians after they realized that the world had nothing but meaningless to offer. It seems through the writings of both Woody Allen and Chris Martin of Coldplay that they both are wrestling with the issue of death and what meaning does life bring. Kansas went through […]

 

By Everette Hatcher III | Comments (0)

Top football stadiums in the country (Part 18)

July 17, 2012 – 8:13 am

Here is a list of the top football stadiums in the country.

Power Ranking All 124 College Football Stadiums  

By Alex Callos

(Featured Columnist) on April 19, 2012 

When it comes to college football stadiums, for some teams, it is simply not fair. Home-field advantage is a big thing in college football, and some teams have it way more than others.

There are 124 FBS college football teams, and when it comes to the stadiums they play in, they are obviously not all created equal.

There is a monumental difference from the top teams on the list to the bottom teams on the list. Either way, here it is: a complete ranking of the college football stadiums 1-124.

_________________

I remember back in the 1990’s when I went to play golf in Florida and ran into Emmitt Smith. He had just finished up his time at Florida and at that time was a beat up running back at the Dallas  Cowboys. As a cowboy fan I was hoping for the best and sure enough the Cowboys delivered with three super bowls in the 1990’s with Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer (two former razorbacks) as their coaches.

The Florida Gators made some noise when Emmitt was there but when the old ball coach got there they took off and have never looked back.

  
8. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium: Florida Gators
300px-ben_hill_griffin_stadium_display_image

Known by everybody in Gainesville as simply “The Swamp,” this stadium has been around since 1930.

It seats 88,548 people and offers a college football experience that few other places do.

Many people consider it to be one of the toughest places in college football to play. The intimidation starts with the video board before the game even begins and continues throughout, as “The Swamp” can get rather loud on Saturdays.

 

7. Notre Dame Stadium: Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Stadium-450w_display_image

South Bend has always been a college football town and located right at the heart of that town is Notre Dame Stadium.

Home to 80,795 screaming fans, this stadium has been around since 1930 and has seen some of the greatest players, and teams take the field here every Saturday.

There is more tradition here than anywhere else in the country, and the stadium has a classic feel to it, unlike anywhere else in college football.

Touchdown Jesus is a trademark statue that helps to set this place apart from the rest.

Related posts:

Top football stadiums in the country (Part 10)

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Top football stadiums in the country (Part 9)

South Carolina D vs Arkansas O 2011 Tennessee ’86 Sugar Bowl Memories by Russ Finley Uploaded by yankeefanintenn on Dec 12, 2009 All video footage is copyright of WATE-TV6 and the University of Tennessee, but legally reproduced here in conjunction with Fair Use laws. Vols feature (1986 win over Miami 35-7 in the USF&G Sugar […]

Top football stadiums in the country (Part 8)

Vanderbilt Highlights vs. Arkansas – Oct. 29, 2011 Memphis 21 Tennessee 17 excerpt from “1996 Tiger Football Here is a list of the top football stadiums in the country. Power Ranking All 124 College Football Stadiums   By Alex Callos (Featured Columnist) on April 19, 2012  When it comes to college football stadiums, for some teams, […]

Top football stadiums in the country (Part 7)

Final Moments of Kentucky vs. Tennessee Football Game 2011 Uploaded by videorocker112 on Nov 27, 2011 Kentucky wins 10-7 and ends the 26 year losing streak!! Here is a list of the top football stadiums in the country. Power Ranking All 124 College Football Stadiums   By Alex Callos (Featured Columnist) on April 19, 2012  When […]

Top football stadiums in the country (Part 6)

THE FLEA KICKER – Nebraska vs. Missouri 1997 Here is a list of the top football stadiums in the country. Power Ranking All 124 College Football Stadiums   By Alex Callos (Featured Columnist) on April 19, 2012  When it comes to college football stadiums, for some teams, it is simply not fair. Home-field advantage is a […]

Top football stadiums in the country (Part 5)

Arkansas vs. Troy (2007 Football) 2010 Music City Bowl North Carolina vs Tennessee Uploaded by piotrkol1 on Jan 1, 2011 Highlights of North Carolina’s win over Tennessee in the 2010 Music City Bowl. Tennessee had the home-field advantage with the game being played at LP Field in Nashville, and the Volunteers thought they had won […]

Top football stadiums in the country (Part 4)

Rice 27 BYU 14 (1997 2nd half) Here is a list of the top football stadiums in the country. Power Ranking All 124 College Football Stadiums   By Alex Callos (Featured Columnist) on April 19, 2012  When it comes to college football stadiums, for some teams, it is simply not fair. Home-field advantage is a big […]

Top football stadiums in the country (Part 3)

Kansas Football 2007 Here is a list of the top football stadiums in the country. Power Ranking All 124 College Football Stadiums   By Alex Callos (Featured Columnist) on April 19, 2012  When it comes to college football stadiums, for some teams, it is simply not fair. Home-field advantage is a big thing in college football, […]

Top football stadiums in the country (Part 2)

2011 Arkansas State Football Highlights Here is a list of the top football stadiums in the country. Power Ranking All 124 College Football Stadiums   By Alex Callos (Featured Columnist) on April 19, 2012  When it comes to college football stadiums, for some teams, it is simply not fair. Home-field advantage is a big thing in […]

Top football stadiums in the country (Part 1)

Arkansas VS Tulsa 2008 Uploaded by jonesark on Nov 2, 2008 Arkansas entering the field to play #19 Tulsa. Here is a list of the top football stadiums in the country. Power Ranking All 124 College Football Stadiums   By Alex Callos (Featured Columnist) on April 19, 2012  When it comes to college football stadiums, for […]

 
By Everette Hatcher III | Comments (0)

Johanna Larsson “Tennis Tuesday”

July 17, 2012 – 1:23 am

From Wikipedia:

Johanna Larsson
Country  Sweden
Residence Helsingborg, Sweden
Born 17 August 1988 (1988-08-17) (age 23)
Boden, Sweden
Height 1.74m (5′ 9″)
Weight 66 kg
Turned pro 2006
Plays Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money $449.950
Singles
Career record 220–124
Career titles 11 ITF
Highest ranking No. 46 (July 11, 2011)
Current ranking No. 58 (January 30, 2012)
Grand Slam results
Australian Open 1R (2011)
French Open 2R (2010, 2011)
Wimbledon 1R (2011)
US Open 1R (2010, 2011)
Doubles
Career record 141–79
Career titles 2 WTA, 15 ITF
Highest ranking No. 62 (June 13, 2011)
Last updated on: August 19, 2011.
By Everette Hatcher III | Comments (0)

The best quarterbacks in the SEC in 2012? (Part 6)

July 16, 2012 – 2:03 pm

Below is an article from ESPN’s website:

Ranking the SEC quarterbacks

July, 9, 2012

Jul 9
1:00
PM ET

Earlier, we ranked all 14 quarterback groups in the SEC. Now, it’s time to rank the top 10 SEC quarterbacks heading into the 2012 season.

Again, we are looking at overall talent, game-changing ability and experience. We also looked at past performances and projections for 2012.

Here are our top 10 SEC quarterbacks:

[+] Enlarge
Tyler WilsonAP Photo/David QuinnArkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson passed for more than 3,600 yards and 24 touchdowns last season.

1. Tyler Wilson, Sr., Arkansas: He could have easily left for the NFL after passing for more than 3,600 yards and 24 touchdowns last season. His big-time arm and incredible toughness weren’t too shabby either. While his decision-making came into question sometimes last season, Wilson made tremendous strides this spring and should be an even smarter passer this fall.

2. Aaron Murray, RJr., Georgia: Murray has a chance to own a few more school and SEC records before his time at Georgia is up, but he does have to get over his turnover issues. Murray has some of the best technique and mechanics around, and when he’s on and focused, he is one of the most talented passers out there.

3. Tyler Bray, Jr., Tennessee: Bray might have the strongest arm in the SEC, and has the ability to make some of the toughest throws in traffic. If he’s healthy, he could go for 3,000 yards and 30 touchdowns. His focus hasn’t always been great, but he made sure to correct that this spring and appears to finally be transforming into the real leader he’s wanted to be.

4. AJ McCarron, Jr., Alabama: He has the tools and the moxy to be a real star. As last season progressed, he looked better and better, and capped things off with a marvelous performance in the BCS title game. If coach Nick Saban is really going to let him loose, McCarron has to improve some of his on-field decisions.

5. James Franklin, Jr., Missouri: If he’s healthy, Franklin will be the SEC’s top dual-threat quarterback. During a breakout season last fall, he passed for 2,865 yards and 21 touchdowns, and rushed for 981 yards and 15 more scores. Franklin wants to be a pass-first quarterback in his new league, but his shoulder injury is a concern.

6. Connor Shaw, Jr., South Carolina: Shaw showed his inexperience when he was first thrown into the starting spot last season, but seemed to improve and calm down every week after. Coach Steve Spurrier wants him to be more of a pass-first quarterback, and that seemed to be the case at the end of last season and this spring.

7. Zach Mettenberger, Jr., LSU: Mettenberger was a top quarterback prospect coming out of high school, but has very little experience outside of a stint at the junior college level after leaving Georgia. Still, he’s certainly an upgrade for the Tigers, and showed this spring that he should make LSU’s passing game stronger and more explosive.

8. Jordan Rodgers, RSr., Vanderbilt: Rodgers was an instant playmaker for the Commodores when he replaced the struggling Larry Smith last year, but he struggled with turnovers. This spring was all about him improving his leadership skills and his game management. Vandy’s coaches left spring more confident in Rodgers’ play.

9. Tyler Russell, Jr., Mississippi State: He bided his time during his first two years, but is now the guy in Starkville. The hope is that he’ll be more consistent and more comfortable now that he knows he’s the starter. It looks like the Bulldogs will have a more downfield passing game with Russell taking over.

10. Maxwell Smith, So., Kentucky: Smith played in eight games last season, but proved to be a much more effective player than former starter Morgan Newton. Despite averaging just 102.4 passing yards per game, Smith earned SEC All-Freshmen honors last fall. Smith looked even better this spring, and it appears the Wildcats’ starting quarterback spot is his to lose.

By Everette Hatcher III | Comments (0)

Did Fred Smith start and build Federal Express or did the government?

July 16, 2012 – 10:32 am

Obama 7.13.2012: If you’ve got a business — you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen.

Published on Jul 15, 2012 by

Obama at campaign event in Roanoke VA 7.13.2012: “If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you’ve got a business — you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen.”

__________________-

President Obama said on July 13, 2012:

Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you’ve got a business—you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen.

I got a simple question. Did Fred Smith come up with the idea for Federal Express and then spend every cent of his own money and gamble to see if his idea was workable or did the government take those risks?

Did you know that Fed Ex started in Little Rock? Entrepreneurs like Fred Smith need to be encouraged, not discouraged by government. This comment by President Obama actually insults them.

 Here is a funny Fed Ex Commercial from the 1980’s.

A few more funny commercials from Fed Ex:

I love the movie Castaway:

 
On July 3, 1981, I was in Prague, Czechoslovakia in the middle of a 20 country student tour. Our group of 48 American students had the opportunity to speak to a Communist government official for over an hour. We asked him several questions. My questions were quite direct and I will share some of them at a later time.
 
However, I did want to share one question that I asked. I told the official about an entrepreneur from Memphis named Fred Smith. Back in the early 1970’s we heard about how Smith had this crazy idea about delivering overnight packages from LA to San Francisco via Memphis. Sounded like it would not work, but Smith was able to invest all his money and eventually it paid off. His idea was successful.
 
I asked the simple question: Could something like this happen here in Communist Czechoslovakia? He responded, “No. That is because no private citizen is allowed to own that much capital. The government must do things like that.”
 
There was no chance for entrepreneurs to exist in communist countries. I was simply pointing out that economic freedom allows an environment for entrepreneurs. Why would someone put the time and energy in putting together a grand plan like Fed Ex when the benefit and reward would just go to a communist government? Entrepreneurship should be encouraged, but many times today in the USA we find that our lawmakers pass laws that discourage entrepreneurs. Now our President has insulted these same entrepreneurs!!!!
 

Amy Payne

July 16, 2012 at 9:02 am

That sound you hear is silence—as millions of small business owners and entrepreneurs were left speechless this weekend from President Obama’s latest insult.

The slap in the face to hard-working Americans conveyed Obama’s belief that it takes a village—a heavily subsidized village—to create that venture you’re profiting from:

Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you’ve got a business—you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen.

Obama pushed his policy goals of infrastructure (aka stimulus) spending and “government research” as part of a collectivist utopia “doing things together.” It’s simply stunning that he would tell Americans, “If you’ve got a business—you didn’t build that.”

After all, could individuals be resourceful and hard-working enough to create whole new enterprises? Obama said:

Look, if you’ve been successful, you didn’t get there on your own. You didn’t get there on your own. I’m always struck by people who think, well, it must be because I was just so smart.

It is this view of successful businesses—essentially, “You owe us”—that drives Obama’s continued attacks on the country’s job creators in the form of tax hikes and regulations.

It’s a tough time to be a business owner and entrepreneur in America. Surveys show small business owners are struggling, and they are not expanding or hiring because of tax and regulatory uncertainty. Federal agencies, from Health and Human Services to the Environmental Protection Agency, are regulating them to death. And just last week, President Obama announced his latest economic plan was to hit job creators with a tax increase.

The President’s plan to raise taxes on earnings above $200,000 ($250,000 for joint filers) would hit 1.2 million small-business employers who pay their taxes through the individual income tax, known as flow-through businesses. These businesses that are creating jobs earn almost all—91 percent—of the income earned by flow-through employer-businesses.

The new tax increase could be equivalent to one employee per small business. According to calculations by The Heritage Foundation’s Center for Data Analysis, the average American with $250,000 or more in income can expect an average $24,888 tax increase next year under Obama’s proposed policies. That $24,888 figure is often enough for a salary. So the President could be putting about 1.2 million jobs—perhaps even more—at risk with this tax hike.

Hitting private job creators while advocating more stimulus spending and government jobs. That’s the President’s plan for the economy.

Meanwhile, businesses large and small suffer from the highest corporate tax rate in the developed world. This has long made the U.S. an uncompetitive place for new investment and has driven new jobs to other, more competitive nations, meaning fewer jobs and lower wages for all Americans.

If the U.S. is to see economic recovery, we must encourage entrepreneurship. Stopping the biggest tax increase in American history, Taxmageddon, would be a good place to start. It’s a $494 billion tax hike set to hit on January 1, when a number of tax policies expire and just a few of Obamacare’s new taxes kick in. Businesses are already hesitating on hiring decisions because of the impending effects of these taxes.

Democratic leaders are demanding tax hikes, however, and threatening to allow Taxmageddon for the sake of politics—despite warnings that it would send the U.S. back into recession.

Real recovery will take even more than saving job creators from punishing taxes and regulations. It requires leadership that appreciates and values the long hours that America’s business builders put in and the personal sacrifices they make for their dreams. It will take leaders who say, “If you’ve got a business—you built that. And we want more of that in America.”

By Everette Hatcher III | Also posted in President Obama | Tagged , | Comments (0)

Preview of Arkansas football opponents in 2012 (Kentucky)

July 16, 2012 – 7:11 am

Kentucky had some great games against Arkansas in the past. Of course, the 7 overtime game is still an NCAA record. This year I think the Razorbacks should prevail against the Wildcats and even this reviewer from Kentucky below agrees. He has his hopes up that they will win against Georgia and Tennessee and I know that their history against those teams in the past has been very bleak. Hope springs eternal I guess.

From Wildcatbluenation:

 

We’ve touched on Kentucky’s 2012 schedule a couple of times since its release, but not really in depth.  While it may be way too early to even think about the outcome of the 2012 season, I’m going to try to peer into the ole crystal ball and see into the future a little bit.

Kentucky will be rebuilding to an extent in 2012.  The Offense will return several key players at key positions.  Both quarterbacks that saw starting reps will return in Maxwell Smith and Morgan Newton, every scholarship running back will be back this season and the receiving corps lost only Matt Roark.  There will be a question mark along the offensive line, but starters Matt Smith and Larry Warford will be back along with oft used freshman Darrian Miller.  Several playmakers will be coming off of their redshirt seasons at the skill positions, and the offensive line will be restocked with Zach West coming off of his redshirt season and the addition of several new recruits.  The defense though, will have to replace five starters.  The defensive line will return every player that played meaningful snaps except Luke McDermott and Mark Crawford.  Three linebacker spots and both starting cornerbacks will be open after the departure of the five starting seniors from 2011, but a recruiting class full of talent and depth should help out in addition to the backups who should be ready to step up. 

Overall, the 2012 team should be talented, but plenty of question marks should make for an interesting season.

On to the schedule…

I’ve separated out the games into three categories.  WINs are games that Kentucky should win.  Games marked LOSS are contests in which the Cats will have little hope for victory.  The games listed as TOSS UP are the ones that should be the most interesting.  While UK may not be favored, these are games Kentucky can win if they come to play.

9/1/12 – @ Louisville

Kentucky stumbled to a loss against the Cardinals this past season despite the many question marks surrounding theLouisvilleprogram.  This year, the Cardinals will be more experienced and will get the Cats at home.  Call me crazy, but I’m not overly impressed with the roster Charlie Strong has assembled.

TOSS UP

9/8/12 – vs. KentState

The Golden Flashes aren’t a bad team, but they’re a team Kentucky should beat.  Scares against WKU and Central Michigan this past season should ensure that the team doesn’t take any opponent lightly.  Unless the wheels completely fall off, this one should be a W.

WIN

9/15/2012 –vs. Western Kentucky

I don’t think the Hilltoppers are as sure of a win as a lot of other fans.  WKU has improved and is continuing to bring in talented players.  Add to that, that in-state opponents always seem to bring the best out of a team, and this game makes me a little uneasy.  All that considered, Kentucky will be the better team, and will be playing Western at home, and the game will actually be on a Saturday this time.

WIN

9/22/12 – @ Florida

The Gators are in a state of flux right now.  Will Muschamp didn’t exactly set the world on fire in his first season, and the offense will be replacing offensive coordinator Charlie Weis and quarterback John Brantley.  Still, beating the Gators in the Swamp is always tough and Florida will not be overlooking the Cats after their 2011 campaign.  I just don’t see the Cats pulling this one out right now.

LOSS

9/29/12 – vs. South Carolina

The Gamecocks had a decent season last year, but failed to live up to the lofty expectations of winning the conference.  Most of the talent from last years’ team will return and another excellent recruiting class will restock the cabinet from the players that are gone.  I highly doubt we see the blowout loss that the Gamecocks handed Kentucky in Columbia, but this one looks like a long shot at best.

LOSS

10/6/12 – vs.MississippiState

The Bulldogs started out 2011 looking like a top-10 team, but petered off quickly and barely held on to beat Kentucky in Lexington.  The Cats will actually welcome MSU into town again this year and this should be a good game once again.  It’s tough to say who will be favored at this point, but I think this one could really go wither way.

TOSS UP

10/13/12 – @Arkansas

The Razorbacks were overshadowed by LSU and Alabama this season, but they were still one of the best teams in the country.  Bobby Petrino has managed to recruit some serious talent to go along with his unique offense and the combination has proved lethal. Kentuckymight have a chance in Lexington, but winning in Fayetteville is probably a pipe dream at this point.

LOSS

10/20/12 – vs. Georgia

It seems like Georgia produces a top-10 recruiting class each year and always finds a way to replace the players they lose quickly.  After starting slow in 2011, they ramped it up late in the season and it looked like they might win the conference at halftime of the SEC Championship.  As good as Georgia is, I still think Kentucky has a pretty decent shot at the Bulldogs this year due to the game being in Lexington this year and the ridiculously high number of Georgians on the UK roster that are likely looking forward to getting a shot at the Bulldogs.  This one might surprise some people.

TOSS UP

10/27/12 – @ Missouri

The Tigers are likely to have a tough year in their first season competing in the SEC and Kentucky will need to take advantage of that.  As the new SEC East team, Misouri will come in as a solid squad, but not a juggernaut.  It will be important for the Cats to compete against them and make sure that they don’t fall down a rung in the conference ladder.  A win at Missouri will be tough, but not impossible.

TOSS UP

11/03/2012 – vs. Vanderbilt

The Commodores handed Kentucky a loss in Nashvilletthis past year and will return much of the talent from coach Franklin’s debut season.  That’s great and all, but Vanderbilt is still Vanderbilt and winning on the road is always tough in this conference.  I expect this to be a close game and a loss wouldn’t surprise me, but I’m leaning more towards a Kentucky “W” than an “L.” 

TOSS UP

11/17/2012 – vs. Samford

Kentuckywill be coming off of their bye week when Samford comes to town.  We all remember Appalachian State, Jacksonville State, and James Madison beating BCS-conference teams over the last few years, but Samford overtaking the Wildcats would be a shocker.

WIN

 1/24/2012 – @ Tennessee

The Wildcats finally broke ‘the streak’ this past year, so the monkey is finally of the team’s back. Tennessee will be rebuilding to an extent and Derek Dooley may not even be the team’s coach by the time this game is played.  I would think that the Volunteers would be looking to avenge the loss in Lexington, but they will not have the talent that Tennessee teams of the past have had. Kentucky will probably be an underdog, but I think a win is not out of the question.

TOSS UP

So…

By my estimation, Kentucky should have a season somewhere in between 3-9 and 10-2.  I know that seems like a ridiculous range, but there are just more winnable games on this schedule than there have been in the last few years.  Realistically, a 6-6 or 7-5 season is about where this team should finish, but a lot will hinge on the Louisville game.  If Kentucky can start the season with a bang, we could have a surprising trip in 2012.

Keep following the WIldcat Blue Nation on Facebook or Twitter.

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By Everette Hatcher III | Comments (0)

“My Life” is one of the best Beatle songs of all-time (Music Monday)

July 16, 2012 – 7:06 am

On May 20, 2012 I attended the St. George’s Independent School commencement exercises in Collierville, Tennessee. School President William W. Taylor used the Beatles as an example of a group of people that brought different talents together to accomplish much.

He also quoted from the song “My Life” which happens to be one of my favorite songs. It goes like this:

There are places I’ll remember
All my life though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places have their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I’ve loved them all

But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
Though I know I’ll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I’ll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more

Though I know I’ll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I’ll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more
In my life I love you more

_________

‘In My Life’

Hulton Archive/Getty Images
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Writers: Lennon-McCartney
Recorded: October 18 and 22, 1965
Released: December 6, 1965
Not released as a single

‘In My Life” represented a crucial breakthrough for John Lennon — as well as a creative struggle. The song began with a question: During a March 1964 interview with Lennon, journalist Kenneth Allsop asked why he hadn’t written more lyrics about his life and experiences. “I had a sort of professional songwriter’s attitude to writing pop songs,” Lennon said to Rolling Stone in 1970. “I would write [books like] In His Own Write, to express my personal emotions. I’d have a separate songwriting John Lennon who wrote songs for the meat market. I didn’t consider them to have any depth at all. They were just a joke.”

Taking Allsop’s critique to heart, Lennon wrote a long poem about people and places from his past, touching on Liverpool landmarks like Penny Lane, Strawberry Field and Menlove Avenue. “I had a complete set of lyrics after struggling with a journalistic version of a trip downtown on a bus, naming every sight,” he said. When he read the poem later, though, “it was the most boring ‘What I Did on My Holidays’ song, and it wasn’t working. But then I laid back, and these lyrics started coming to me about the places I remember.”

What happened next is a dispute that will never be resolved. “In My Life” is one of only a handful of Lennon-McCartney songs where the two strongly disagreed over who wrote what: According to Lennon, “The whole lyrics were already written before Paul even heard it. His contribution melodically was the harmony and the middle eight.” According to McCartney, Lennon basically had the first verse done. At one of their writing sessions at Lennon’s Weybridge estate, the two painstakingly rewrote the lyrics, making them less specific and more universal. (Some of Lennon’s lines, like his reference to the late Stu Sutcliffe, the Beatles’ former bassist, in “some are dead and some are living,” remained.) McCartney also says he wrote the melody on Lennon’s Mellotron, inspired by Smokey Robinson, as well as the gentle opening guitar figure.

Regardless of its true authorship, “In My Life” represented Lennon’s evolution as an artist. “I started being me about the songs, not writing them objectively, but subjectively,” Lennon said. “I think it was Dylan who helped me realize that — not by any discussion or anything, but by hearing his work.” The Beatles were huge Dylan fans by early 1964, playing The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan nonstop in between gigs. When Dylan visited the Beatles in New York that August, he famously introduced them to marijuana. (He thought the Beatles were already pot smokers, having misheard the lyrics “I can’t hide” in “I Want to Hold Your Hand” as “I get high.”) Dylan and pot would be the great twin influences that led the Beatles out of their moptop period and on to their first masterpiece, Rubber Soul.

Before that album, “We were just writing songs à la the Everly Brothers and Buddy Holly,” Lennon said, “pop songs with no more thought to them than that.” He rightly called “In My Life” “my first real, major piece of work. Up until then, it had all been glib and throwaway.”

Appears On: Rubber Soul

By Everette Hatcher III | Comments (0)

Discussion of Woody Allen’s 1989 movie “Crimes and Misdemeanors” (Part 3)

July 16, 2012 – 7:04 am

Crimes and Misdemeanors: A Discussion: Part 3

Uploaded by on Sep 23, 2007

Part 3 of 3: ‘Is Woody Allen A Romantic Or A Realist?’
A discussion of Woody Allen’s 1989 movie, Crimes and Misdemeanors, perhaps his finest.
By Anton Scamvougeras.

http://camdiscussion.blogspot.com/
antons@mail.ubc.ca

______________

One of my favorite Woody Allen movies and I reviewed it earlier but I wanted you to hear some key quotes from the movie. Here are some:

Halley Reed: After all, he is an American phenomenon.
Clifford Stern: Yeah, but so is acid rain.
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Judah Rosenthal: I remember my father telling me, “The eyes of God are on us always.” The eyes of God. What a phrase to a young boy. What were God’s eyes like? Unimaginably penetrating, intense eyes, I assumed. And I wonder if it was just a coincidence I made my specialty ophthalmology.
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Clifford Stern: While we’re waiting for a cab I’ll give you your lesson for today. Don’t listen to what your teachers tell ya, you know. Don’t pay attention. Just, just see what they look like and that’s how you’ll know what life is really gonna be like.
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Clifford Stern: [after being handed a box of Milk Duds] Great. Now I can get rid of my few remaining teeth.
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Halley Reed: [on the philosopher Lewis Levy] He was very eloquent on the subject of love, didn’t you think?
Clifford Stern: I wish I had met him before I got married. It would’ve saved me a gall bladder operation.
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[On Lester]
Halley Reed: He wants to produce something of mine.
Clifford Stern: Yeah. Your first child.
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Clifford Stern: Show business is, is dog-eat-dog. It’s worse than dog-eat-dog. It’s dog-doesn’t-return-other-dog’s-phone-calls, which reminds me. I should check my answering service.
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Clifford Stern: [on Professor Levy’s demise] He left a note. He left a simple little note that said “I’ve gone out the window.” This is a major intellectual and he leaves a note that says “I’ve gone out the window.” He’s a role-model. You’d think he’d leave a decent note.
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Clifford Stern: I don’t know from suicide, y’know. Where I grew up in Brooklyn we were too unhappy to commit suicide.
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Clifford Stern: What is the guy so upset about? You’d think nobody was ever compared to Mussolini before.
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Clifford Stern: [on receiving his love letter back] It’s probably just as well. I plagiarized most of it from James Joyce. You probably wondered why all the references to Dublin.
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Ben: It’s a human life. You don’t think God sees?
Judah Rosenthal: God is a luxury I can’t afford.
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Judah Rosenthal: She’s not an insect! You don’t just step on her!
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Judah Rosenthal: It’s pure evil, Jack! A man kills for money and he doesn’t even know his victims!
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Cliff Stern: I think I see a cab. If we run quickly we can kick the crutch from that old lady and get it.
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Lester: If it bends, it’s funny. If it breaks, it isn’t.
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Judah Rosenthal: If you want a happy ending, you should go see a Hollywood movie.
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[first lines]
Professor Levy: [voiceover] We are all faced throughout our lives with agonizing decisions. Moral choices. Some are on a grand scale. Most of these choices are on lesser points. But! We define ourselves by the choices we have made. We are in fact the sum total of our choices. Events unfold so unpredictably, so unfairly, human happiness does not seem to have been included, in the design of creation. It is only we, with our capacity to love, that give meaning to the indifferent universe. And yet, most human beings seem to have the ability to keep trying, and even to find joy from simple things like their family, their work, and from the hope that future generations might understand more.
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Lester: Comedy is tragedy plus time!
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Judah Rosenthal: [to Ben] Jack lives in the real world. You live in the kingdom of heaven. I’d managed to keep free of that real world but suddenly it’s found me.
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Professor Levy: You will notice that what we are aiming at when we fall in love is a very strange paradox. The paradox consists of the fact that, when we fall in love, we are seeking to re-find all or some of the people to whom we were attached as children. On the other hand, we ask our beloved to correct all of the wrongs that these early parents or siblings inflicted upon us. So that love contains in it the contradiction: The attempt to return to the past and the attempt to undo the past.
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Ben: But the law, Judah. Without the law, it’s all darkness.
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Judah Rosenthal: And after the awful deed is done, he finds that he’s plagued by deep-rooted guilt. Little sparks of his religious background which he’d rejected are suddenly stirred up. He hears his father’s voice. He imagines that God is watching his every move. Suddenly, it’s not an empty universe at all, but a just and moral one, and he’s violated it. Now, he’s panic-stricken. He’s on the verge of a mental collapse-an inch away from confessing the whole thing to the police. And then one morning, he awakens. The sun is shining, his family is around him and mysteriously, the crisis has lifted. He takes his family on a vacation to Europe and as the months pass, he finds he’s not punished. In fact, he prospers. The killing gets attributed to another person-a drifter who has a number of other murders to his credit, so I mean, what the hell? One more doesn’t even matter. Now he’s scott-free. His life is completely back to normal. Back to his protected world of wealth and privilege.
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Sol Rosenthal: Whether it’s the Bible or Shakespeare, murder will out!
Judah Rosenthal: Who said anything about murder?
Sol Rosenthal: You did.
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[first lines]
Testimonial Speaker: We’re all very proud of Judah Rosenthal’s philanthropic efforts. His endless hours of fund raising for the hospital, the new medical center, and now, the ophthalmology wing, which until this year had just been a dream. But it’s due to Rosenthal our friend that we most appreciate. The husband, the father, the golf companion. Naturally if you have a medical problem you can call Judah…
Miriam Rosenthal: You’re blushing darling.
Testimonial Speaker: …day or night, weekends or holidays. But you can also call Judah to find out which is the best restaurant in Paris – or Athens. Or which hotel to stay at in Moscow. Or the best recording of a particular Mozart symphony…
Sharon Rosenthal: My father’s so nervous about having to get up to speak.
Chris: I know, I know. I knew he was nervous when you didn’t eat any of those cocktail weenies at the hors d’oeuvres.
Miriam Rosenthal: He was so courageous all week. Then suddenly tonight, stage fright. Really Judah, you were fine until you got home from work today.
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Jesse Eisenberg – Press Conference “To Rome With Love” Published on Apr 21, 2012 by portugal888 Review: Allen’s ‘Rome’ delivers lackluster love Published: Tuesday, June 19 2012 11:06 a.m. MDT By David Germain View 4 photos » This film image released by Sony Pictures Classics shows, : Alec Baldwin as John, left, and Jesse Eisenberg […]

Woody Allen, ‘To Rome With Love’ Director, Talks ‘Midnight In Paris’ Success, Acting Career

How To Recover From a Break Up With Greta Gerwig Published on May 16, 2012 by younghollywood Young Hollywood is hanging out in NYC during the Tribeca film festival, where we chat with rising star Greta Gerwig about her hip slice-of-life movie, ‘Lola Versus’. Greta offers up some advice on how to get over a […]

June 14, 2012 Wall Street Journal interview of Woody Allen and he is still talking about the meaninglessness of existence

TO ROME WITH LOVE – conferenza stampa con Allen, Benigni e Cruz http://WWW.RBCASTING.COM Published on Apr 18, 2012 by RBcasting http://www.rbcasting.com Conferenza stampa del film “To Rome With Love”, scritto e diretto da Woody Allen. Tra gli interpreti, lo stesso Allen, Alec Baldwin, Roberto Benigni, Penelope Cruz, Judy Davis, Jesse Eisenberg, Ellen Page e Greta […]

Woody Allen’s worldview as seen in his movies

  I love the movie Crimes and Misdemeanors and have written on it many times in the past. This quote below sums up Woody Allen’s worldview which I disagree with. In fact, the person who said this actually could not live with its conclusions in the movie and committed suicide.   Because Allen continues to […]

Atheists have no basis for saying that Hitler was wrong!!!!!

On April 30, 2012 (67 years after Hitler killed himself) I stated on the Arkansas Times Blog: Hitler’s last few moments of life were filled with anxiety as they should have been. He went on to face his maker and pay dearly for his many sins. When I look at the never before released pictures […]

“Woody Wednesday” Will Allen and Martin follow same path as Kansas to Christ?

Several members of the 70′s band Kansas became committed Christians after they realized that the world had nothing but meaningless to offer. It seems through the writings of both Woody Allen and Chris Martin of Coldplay that they both are wrestling with the issue of death and what meaning does life bring. Kansas went through […]

 

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