Movies to Get You Through

Despite my numerous objections, the holiday season is once again upon us. But there’s one good way to make the most of it – by locking yourself indoors, away from the hustle and bustle, and enjoying some favorite holiday films. That’s why I’ve compiled this short holiday playlist that everyone should enjoy!

You don’t have to view them in any particular order, but here’s what I suggest:

1. Trading Places (1983) – Starring Eddie Murphy (when he was still funny) and Dan Akroyd (near the height of his hilarity as well), Trading Places is a perfect way to jump in to the holiday season. There’s plenty of cold weather apparel and holiday decorations as part of the scenery, and a great rags-to-riches/revenge plot all at the same time. Add in Denholm Elliot, a young Jamie Lee Curtis (as a loveable hooker, long before Julia Roberts), the early ’80s requisite Frank Oz cameo, and you’ve got a holiday movie that doesn’t make you want to spew with a bunch of feel-good crapola.
2. Keep the comedy coming with suggestion #2: Aqua Teen Hunger Force Season 1 Episode 17 “Mail Order Bride” – Tis the season to buy yourself a present, which is precisely what Carl and Master Shake do when they split the cost of a Russian mail order bride. Meatwad makes holiday gifts out of pine cones and twigs, Carl winds up in a neck brace while trying to get in to his own house…absurdity and hilarity ensue.
3. Die Hard (1988) and Die Hard 2 (1990) – Ah, on to the real meat and potatoes of any holiday viewing list. John McClane can’t catch a break, even at the holidays. Fly clear across the country to be with your family for Christmas, and wind up getting caught in a terrorist plot to rip off the wealthy firm that your wife works for. And that’s just the first movie. In the second installment, McClane’s wife is trapped on a plane circling the airport and running low on fuel as terrorists have shut the airport down to free a dictator. McClane foils both of these plots, stabs a terrorist in the eye with an icicle, engages in a snowmobile chase, blows up an airliner full of terrorists, walks across broken glass (cue Annie Lennox song), swings from a fire hose, and drops Alan Rickman from the top floor of an L.A. high rise. All in all some kick ass accomplishments for a chain-smoking New York cop.
4. Lethal Weapon (1987) and Lethal Weapon 2 (1989) – Where the buddy cop action film was perfected. Los Angeles is the perfect setting for a Christmas movie, since it doesn’t snow; hence, you can film whenever the hell you feel like it. Just toss some decorations on the houses and you’re all set. Mel Gibson (before his tirade), Danny Glover (still too old for this $hit), Gary Busey (before he went extra super duper crazy)…awesome cast, international special-forces staffed drug conspiracy, lots of gun fights, explosions, a bit of martial arts…what more could you ask for? And there’s just enough holiday decoration in the background to let you know when all this awesomeness takes place. Flash forward to Lethal Weapon 2 – add some South African bad guys, political undertones (anti-apartheid style, of course), Joe Pesci (for comic relief), Riggs pulling down a house with his Chevy truck (Like a Rock!), massive shootout on a cargo ship, and you’ve got yet another totally sweet movie to watch during the holidays that doesn’t make you want to spew with any holiday hokieness.
5. Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (2005) – Writer/Director Shane Black, who created the Lethal Weapon series (and pretty much the genre) takes thematic elements and a good cast and combines them to spoof the genre he helped create. Career small-time criminal (who is bad at it) Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey Jr.) stumbles in to an open audition while running from the cops…confusion ensues, and he somehow winds up in L.A. to study under private eye Gay Perry (Val Kilmer, giving a hilarious performance as a gay detective with little patience and a dry sense of humor). Before you know it, Harry and Perry are caught up in a swirling, ridiculous series of murders, crimes and events that all somehow manage to tie together at the end. Michelle Monaghan helps tie all the cases and crimes together, and even manages to rescue Gay Perry (in spite of herself). You’ve got L.A. for the holidays (again), being spoofed fantastically, an unlikely duo (or trio), absurd humor, some all-too-easy jokes as well…basically a spot-on spoof in any category. Kilmer is hilarious, Robert Downey Jr. plays the not-so-bright New York criminal well, and the movie even makes fun of itself at the end. If you haven’t seen it before, put this on your holiday list for sure.

There you have it. All the titles I can come up with for now. Sure, they’re great any time of year, but they have just enough holiday in them to justify watching them between now and the end of the year. Plus, none of them will bore you or sicken you with sugary sweetness. You can get that from ABC Family, I would imagine.

Have an explosion-filled and hilarious holiday! Oh, and I guess you can add your suggestions below too.

Under (or behind) Pressure

Forget “Trickle-Down Economics” – it’s time for something new. Something I like to call “Backpressure Economics”.

Think of the way in which Wal-Mart operates, and the way in which you are able to pay about a buck and a quarter less for a box of cereal there than any other grocery store. Wal-Mart approaches a company, vendor, etc., and says “We’re willing to pay this much. That’s it. You want in, make it work.”

Now, I’m not a huge fan of Wal-Mart necessarily, but I will say that this model is exactly what the healthcare industry in this country needs, and why the public option is needed.

We need someone who can push back and start a “backpressure” effect on the cost of everything. Of course MRI machines are expensive. Of course medication is expensive. Etc, etc.

But…if there was someone saying to GE, “We’ll give you this much, not a penny more – make it work”, then GE would have to make it work.

And what that means is that they would, in turn, have to place pressure on their suppliers, saying “here’s what we will pay. That’s it.”

Which in turn places pressure on that company’s suppliers…and so on.

Right back down the line.

It’s not about artificial cost control – it’s about real-world cost control. Real market cost control.

If Chevrolet priced a Cobalt at $39k, do you think they’d sell any? Of course not. The market tells GM what it’s worth, solely by virtue of what the consumer is willing to pay for it.

And so it should be with health care. Why pay $3000 when you could pay $1500?

We bargain shop for everything else in this country, particularly when we’re in the midst of an economic crisis. So why shouldn’t people have the option to “shop around” for a deal on health care, instead of dangerously foregoing preventative or necessary treatment?

Like an engine, the current system needs a bit of backpressure in order to operate properly.

What’s Good for the Goose, Anyway?

Voters be damned – Unless you brought your wallet.

Health care is not the only legislative item on the agenda these days, to be sure, but it does have something in common with many of the other subjects up for procrastination in this Congressional session – Money.

Specifically, there are a number of legislative initiatives that seem to be losing steam, or are being actively stalled, because some organization somewhere (with a lot of money) doesn’t want to see it happen. In spite of the fact that so many voters do want to see these things happen.

But votes won’t pay the rent, evidently. Nor will they pay for the 30-second targeted ad buys in hotly contested voting districts, and the lawn signs and bumper stickers and banners that apparently are required purchases for the upcoming midterm elections.

Like many of my fellow lowly voters, I think I’ve been operating under a foolish assumption for far too long; I’ve assumed that our elected officials were elected to vote/act/speak on behalf of the majority of their constituents (a.k.a. – you and me).

This is, as I’m sure we all realize now, not the case. In fact, it was a rather childish view to hold of the political process, and I feel a bit silly for having thought so.

I present exhibit A

In the above story, big livestock interests (read: corporate farms) and Great Lakes shipping interests (read: massive shipping companies/corporations) managed to hamstring some important legislation that would have allowed the EPA to actually do their job and enforce companies to comply with environmental protection standards and guidelines.

I’m fairly certain that the voters, like myself, would have preferred clean air and water that we could all benefit from. The problem is that I don’t know any voters who can pony up $25k to toss to one Congressional candidate. But companies can.

It’s as simple as following the money. And it’s every bit as infuriating (if you care, that is) as having your money taken from you.

The health care debate suffers from the same potential fate. According to polling data, 54% of those polled agree that major changes are needed to the health care system in this country, and 61% say that it is important for Congress to pass health care legislation this year.

But then again, where is the money? The real money, as we know, comes from insurance providers and large health conglomerates, who have little to no interest in seeing any significant change to the status quo.

So, then, what is a congressman (or woman) to do?

If you’re like me, you foolishly believe at one point or another that elected officials were supposed to be voting along the lines of those who elected them. And you would assume, once again foolishly, that the people (like you and me) who punched the card in the ballot would be the ones who elected them.

I would add an additional layer to this question: Certainly you should vote in line with those who voted for you, but what about the national level? If you’ve been elected to the House or Senate, you’ve been placed in a position that now has two concerns – your local constituents, and the good of the entire country.

Never an easy balance to strike, of course, but when voting for or proposing legislation, you now have to be concerned with two categories – what’s good for the voters in my district/state/hometown, and what’s good the country at this time?

Then, add a third wrinkle – what do my major campaign contributors want me to do?

This third category seems to be where the largest problems come from.

I don’t have an answer for you, though I certainly wish I did. It’s painfully obvious that when you follow the money, you can pretty quickly tell where a candidate will fall on particular issues. What I have yet to figure out, however, is the solution. Limiting campaign contributions to $5 is not practical, so what is the answer?

If I find it, I’ll be sure to let you know. In the meantime, if you’re unhappy with how your particular Senator/Congressman is voting or speaking, feel free to extend them a healthy dose of unemployment and vote for someone else.

Go Go Gadget Economy! (or “Change Precedes the Dollars”)

It’s been quite a while since I’ve written here, though not for lack of wanting to. In actuality, it’s more a matter of feeling like I’m not as fully connected to what’s going on as I used to be. I’ve also been sitting on this particular post idea for over a month now, and every time it seemed I’d get the opportunity to work on it, something else arose and stole the time away.

But I digress…On to the proceedings.

There was a time, lo these many decades ago, when products were designed, made, manufactured, advertised, sold and purchased all right here within the good old U.S. of A. But, as we’re all too aware, the only constant is change.

And so, in the midst of this recession (or “economic clusterf&#k, if you prefer), it’s perhaps wise to take a moment and fully absorb the current state of affairs.

The days of stable manufacturing jobs in the United States, the days of “Made in the USA”, the days of buying automotive parts and accessories made just down the road from your house…those days are gone. It should come as no revelation that throughout the last several decades we’ve been undergoing (if not witnessing and acknowledging) a fundamental shift in the basis of the American Economy. We’re no longer the manufacturing center of the world.

And that’s actually a good thing.

The present economic crisis is the culmination of these decades of change – a delayed shift from physical capital and production to a new position within the global economy.

And that position is this – The United States has moved from the central producer of physical goods to the central repository for ideas.

We are now, predominantly, a nation of ideas. We have the greatest designers, engineers, scientists, managers, political thinkers, creative professionals, etc., in the entire world. Some of the best concepts, ideas and inventions were thought up right here in the US. And with the shift to a global economy, and the outsourcing of manual jobs to other countries that desperately needed employment opportunity of their own, the focus here should be on developing that economy of ideas.

One of the wonderful aspects of this shift is that, in an economy of ideas, the potential and the possibilities are limited only by what we can think of. That’s it. We have the technology at this point that, if we can think it up, we can probably make it happen. Solutions to many of the world’s problems could be within our grasp, so long as we are willing to expend our mental capital, and so long as we can learn to be comfortable with change.

The old way simply isn’t cutting anymore. I think the majority of people will agree with that.

Where is the roadblock, then, on our path to enlightened economic recovery?

It should stand to reason that, in order to position ourselves as the new center for innovation in the global economy, and in order to equip ourselves with the ability to maintain that position, we will need one thing – a well-educated nation.

And this is where the difficulty stems from. The decline of our economy will continue and remain in lockstep with the status of our educational system – a status that remains globally lower than it should be. An educational system that is in dire need of an overhaul.

How can we ever expect current and future American workers to realize their full potential in the marketplace of ideas if they aren’t equipped with the knowledge and critical thinking skills needed to present, provide or conceptualize solutions to old and new problems?

The only way to do that, and to provide for opportunity in a new type of economy, is to ensure that everyone has an adequate, basic educational foundation to build on.

We must, first and foremost, address the educational deficiencies that are holding us back from fully capitalizing on the opportunity that lies before us – the opportunity to once again become a global leader, just in a new category.

The President’s call for more training and education is not only justified, but makes complete sense when understood in the context of this economic shift. But the education system needs a major update as well in order for us to make use of it and come out the other side prepared for the challenges ahead.

Both the economy and the education system are big problems. And they require big fixes. They desperately need an influx of new ideas and new ways of addressing their deficiencies.

But that’s what we do here. We think of stuff. We come up with solutions, and then we make them happen.

The phrase “put on your thinking caps” has never been more necessary or appropriate.

(Note: Thanks to author Richard Florida, whose piece “How the Crash Will Reshape America” in the March, 2009 issue of The Atlantic provided not only great reading material on my flight to Portland, but also the inspiration for this post. And perhaps more to come.)

The Outlaw Governor

Stepping in to a hailstorm of fire, fallen compatriots all around, nowhere to go but straight into the open arms of a battle that can’t be won…

No, this isn’t the climax of a serial western novel, nor is it the final panel in a comic book whose story is “to be continued.”

Instead, it’s the tale of one “Quasi-Governor”, Pat Quinn*. Or, at the very least, that’s the impression I’m beginning to get from his actions and statements.

As the State of Illinois, like so many others, struggles to get anything even approaching a serviceable budget passed, Quinn stands steadfastly opposed to each and every half-assed (pardon the language) budget that the state legislature throws back his way.

Most recently, Quinn reaffirmed his position that the State needed to make massive budget cuts and fiscal sacrifice, by vetoing the already overdue makeshift budget that was presented to him.

Which, combined with his rather strong statements to the press lately about the State of the State, and his pressure on the State legislature to get on board, brings me to one inevitable conclusion – He knows he can’t win.

I’m speaking not only of the current budget battle, but more importantly, and perhaps more seriously, the upcoming 2010 Illinois Gubernatorial election.

I believe, judging by his demeanor, his actions and his inflammatory statements as of late, that Pat Quinn knows, or at least strongly believes, that his chances of winning reelection are on the Kate Moss side of slim, and perhaps none at all.

The field of potential Democratic contenders who will be challenging current Governor Quinn for their shot at the chief executive’s desk is not short on genuine threats, including Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan*.

Earlier this year Quinn said that he would be running and would seek reelection, after much speculation to the contrary. And of course, at this point, any name tossing and ballot building is all hypothetical.

That being said, there are certainly more than a handful of challengers, and that’s just within Quinn’s own party. Additionally, judging by his recent actions and statements, Quinn may be prepared for the loss, so long as he leaves office with his scruples intact (a feat which has now eluded the last two governors of our illustrious state).

It is also possible, however, that Quinn is banking all of his reelection hopes (or at least his nomination hopes) on the passage of a budget that makes some sort of headway towards pulling the State out of its precarious budgetary position.

If, in fact, Gov. Quinn manages to get a budget passed that reduces the deficit and “keeps the lights on”, so to speak, he’s automatically got a leg up on potential contenders, hanging his hat on the fact that he was able to achieve something that other governors and politicians in Illinois were unable to do.

In a state as politically fickle as Illinois, though, it may not be enough. After all, this is the same state that put Blagojevich in office due, in large part, to the fact that his opponent’s last name was the same as the corrupt, outgoing Governor (Ryan). Never mind that there was virtually no connection between the two – The people of Illinois were not going to put another guy named “Ryan” in office after the last one turned out to be fully corrupt. Or maybe everybody was voting for the hair. It’s tough to say.

At any rate, either scenario could be true. Either Quinn knows he can’t win next November and is putting up one hell of a 12^th round effort, or he’s banking all his potential reelection hopes on the passage of a fiscally responsible budget that moves Illinois out of the financial doghouse.

The coming months on the Illinois political landscape should prove to be interesting. Though probably not for the same reasons as California, South Carolina, New York, Michigan, New Jersey, Arizona, or Nevada.

*Note – I use the term “Quasi-governor” for Mr. Quinn simply because he isn’t the one that was elected to hold that office, technically speaking. One can make the argument that his name was on the ballot, but it certainly wasn’t his platform that the people were likely voting for, it was the head honcho. Or, in this case, the “Hair Honcho”.

*Note #2 – It is unfortunate that Madigan isn’t going to get the chance to run against Blagojevich, affording her the opportunity to use the perfect campaign slogan that I crafted for her months back – “Spare the Rod.”

Addendum – Sometimes, I actually know what I’m talking about. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0709/24543.html