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ON THE SILVER SCREEN: HOLIDAYS BRING A MIXED BAG OF MOVIES

 

Reviews:  True Grit, Tangled, The Fighter, and I Love  You Phillip Morris

By Brian Lafferty

 

December 30, 2010 (San Diego)—Today’s column is going to be different. Normally I post one movie review at a time. Today I will have several shorter reviews in this one post.  Before I post them I would like to explain what has happened the last two months that have made for less reviews than normal.

 

 


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WILL POWER REPORT: THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS


Nothing but the Truth!

 

By Will Power

 

December 25, 2010 (San Diego)--When I was a child, the entire month of November was the prelude to Christmas. I'd start seeing Christmas cartoons and get more and more excited until the Big Day! I would try as best I could to get something my parents could afford and usually it worked, though sometimes gifts were years off in age-appropriateness.

The older I got, the less I needed to buy things.


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WILL POWER REPORT: PAYING FOR BABY


Nothing but the Truth!

By Will Power


December 16, 2010 (San Diego)--While thousands of illegal immigrant mothers wade the Rio Grande in January to see their children become US citizens, US health insurance companies are refusing to cover the birth of legitimate US citizens because it may cost too much.


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WILL POWER REPORT: PRIVATE FREEWAYS

Nothing but the Truth!
By Will Power
December 14, 2010 (San Diego)--Necons, who have made the 21st Century the Age of Unbridled Greed, have a new plan. Not happy with a monopoly on electricity, gasoline, and natural gas, the new Conservatives want to privatize the LA Freeway system, to keep those damned poor people on the surface streets, while they cruise in Lexus Lanes.


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PURPLE MOUNTAIN SAGE: A NEW KIND OF CHRISTMAS


Thoughts on giving, plus egg nog recipes for your holiday season


By Sharon Courmousis, Sacred Rocks Reserve

 

December 15, 2010 (Boulevard)--The presents are wrapped and the little dears are tucked up tight. All the games and toys and electronics advertised on TV – wrapped up under the tree. Oh, wait, that was last year, or the one before. This Christmas everyone seems to be downsizing IF they are lucky enough to even have a home, and a job, and something extra. So the question is HOW do you make this a wonderful Christmas if the day itself is not really about the quantity of gifts?


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ON THE SILVER SCREEN: TINY BUDGET, LIMITED RESOURCES NO PROBLEM FOR INDIE "TINY FURNITURE"

By Brian Lafferty

 

December 11, 2010 (San Diego)--While watching Tiny Furniture, which opened yesterday at the Ken Cinema, I was somewhat captivated and never bored. It accomplishes its goals and captures without fail the feeling it wants to convey.

 


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PEARLS: DON'T DO IT THIS WAY

By Charlavan Baker Hart

 

December 7, 2010 (El Cajon)--I thought if you didn’t see very well you go to the eye doctor and have yourself checked. I was braced for learning I had a cataract forming and would need an operation.


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MARKETING MATTERS: THE PRE-TRADE SHOW PLAN

 TIPS AND TRICKS FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS AND GROWTH

 

 

By Rama Beerfas

 

December 1, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – We’ve identified the three components of a successful trade show marketing plan:

• Have a system in place for attracting potential customers to the exhibit.
• Qualify those people who visited the booth.
• Follow up with those visitors who left contact information.
 

The fact is that exhibiting successfully at a trade show means developing good pre-show plan to ensure that the people with whom you would most like to make contact know you will be there and have a reason to come visit your booth.


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ADVICE FROM THE PURPLE MOUNTAIN SAGE: CELEBRATIONS


By Sharon Courmousis, Sacred Rocks Reserve

Increase your enjoyment of living

November 30, 2010 (Boulevard)--This is the time of year when we turn our eyes toward celebration. The thesaurus also calls celebration by the words commemoration, festivity, party, gala, observance, and remembrance. Unless a person is a true hermit, it is hard to celebrate by oneself. Some folks have few or far flung families. Some folks feel alone. Others create their own families, their own circle of friends that are like family.


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LEFT HOOK: CORPORATOCRACY

 


By Walter Davis

November 29, 2010 (San Diego) --According to a recent CNN report, the number of billionaires in this world had nearly tripled since 2000. With Americans losing their homes in record numbers and the Seventh Fleet headed to waters off the coast of Korea, catastrophe is in the air. Our gridlocked government is unable to respond effectively to the needs of Americans.

 


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MARKETING MATTERS: THE #1 REASON BUSINESSES DON'T BENEFIT FROM EXHIBITING AT TRADE SHOWS

 

Tips and Tricks for Business Success and Growth

By Rama Beerfas

 

November 1, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – It’s a sad, sad story and one that I have heard many times: A company spends anywhere from a few hundred dollars for a local tabletop show to tens of thousands of dollars for a national trade show and ends up with little or nothing to show for it – not even a breakeven on expenses.


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ON THE SILVER SCREEN: MAKE TRACKS FOR "UNSTOPPABLE"

By Brian Lafferty

 

November 12, 2010 (San Diego)--Tony Scott’s last movie, The Taking of Pelham 123, had exciting action and suspense on an immobile subway train hijacked by John Travolta with Denzel Washington trying to stop him. In Unstoppable, we get equally exciting action and suspense on a runaway train loaded with toxic chemicals with Denzel Washington trying to prevent it from careening towards a populated town.

 


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ON THE SILVER SCREEN: YOU'LL BE SURE TO GET YOUR MONEY'S WORTH - AND MORE - BY SEEING SMALL, INDEPENDENT "THE FREEBIE"

By Brian Lafferty

 

November 12, 2010 (San Diego) – The Freebie has a simple story, and it runs only seventy-eight minutes, but director Katie Aselton has crafted a movie that is more than mere premise. In addition to having two likeable characters and dialogue that is real, honest and rich, the movie also kept me guessing until the very end.

 


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WILL POWER REPORT: BLESSINGS OF OLD AGE

 

Nothing but the Truth!

By Will Power

 

November 16, 2010 (San Diego)--I am officially a geezer on Thanksgiving. So I thought it would be a good idea to think of how being old is a good thing. So here goes! I am thankful:


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CRAFTING WITH MARY: YOU WON'T BE "BORED" WITH THESE EASY—TO-MAKE BOARD GIFTS

By Mary Genser
 

November 14, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Hand-made boards provide easy, inexpensive, and customizable ways to brighten up the holiday season for those on your gift-giving list. Whether you need gifts to give—or you’re simply a little bored—get some little boards and have fun!


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MEDIA WATCH: CRITICS OF COMCAST-NBC MERGER EXPECT WIDESPREAD CONSUMER FRUSTRATION IF MERGER IS APPROVED


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ON THE SILVER SCREEN: BY HOOKER, BY CROOK, CAUSES OF FORMER GOVERNOR SPITZER'S RISE AND DOWNFALL CHRONICLED IN "CLIENT 9"

 

By Brian Lafferty

November 12, 2010 (San Diego) – At the beginning of Client 9, Eliot Spitzer describes his rise and downfall as a classic Greek story archetype. You have the hero who overcomes all odds and becomes successful. Then he makes a fatal mistake that brings his downfall. What makes this story fascinating is that it isn’t fiction.

 


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DOLLAR-WISE DIVAS: YOU EARNED IT-- TAKE ADVANTAGE OF VETERAN’S DAY FREEBIES!

 

“We can’t all be heroes. Some of us have to stand on the curb and clap as they go by.” --Will Rogers

 

 By Nancy and Dawn Clement

November 5, 2010 (San Diego) - Today’s column is dedicated to our military in East County, and to active duty military and veterans worldwide--especially Dollar-wise Divas’ good friend Katie R. who is serving in Kabul, Afghanistan. Thank you for your service to our country. 


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THE DOG BLOG: HOLIDAY NUTRITION TIPS FOR YOU AND YOUR DOG

 


By Dawn Celapino

 

November 11, 2010 (San Diego's East County)--'Tis the season for cakes, cookies, pies and a lot of food! The average person gains between 7 - 10 pounds from now until the end of the year. Along with the parties, dinners and social events comes the end of daylight savings time. People tend to get more sedate and eat more. Not a good combination!

 


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ON THE SILVER SCREEN: EXPECT SOLID SOPHISTICATED HUMOR FROM "DUE DATE"

By Brian Lafferty

 

November 7, 2010 (San Diego) – Due Date feels like an in-between job for Todd Phillips. His previous film, last year’s The Hangover, is one of the funniest comedies I’ve ever seen and that is not something I say lightly. The sequel is set to release next year. Due Date doesn’t have anywhere near the number of laughs as The Hangover, which I don’t fault; that movie achieved a seemingly impossible feat in which every single gag was not only funny but downright hilarious. But Due Date has enough laughs for me to recommend it.

 


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ON THE SILVER SCREEN: "GAME" HAS RIVETING SECOND HALF BUT FIRST HALF IS TOO "FAIR" IN RETELLING OF PLAME AFFAIR

By Brian Lafferty

 

November 6, 2010 (San Diego)--I remember following the Valerie Plame scandal. I was astonished when I heard a CIA operative’s name was leaked to the press. I was mad when I learned of the motive and whom it allegedly came from. I was happy when Scooter Libby was convicted. Soon I was beyond outraged when George W. Bush commuted Libby’s sentence. When Bush left office, I could not be any more relieved when he refused to pardon him.

 


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WILL POWER REPORT: GOP WINS, FED RELEASES MONEY

Nothing but the Truth!
 

By Will Power

 

November 4, 2010 (San Diego)--For those of you that do not think the banking industry makes up the Fourth branch of government- ponder this. The day after the GOP won the house, the Fed announces $600 billion in new loans to banks.


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ON THE SILVER SCREEN: IN "ENTER THE VOID" DIRECTOR GASPAR NOE'S BOLD USE OF CAMERA, IMAGERY BREATHES LIFE IN PSYCHEDELIC TALE ABOUT DEATH

By Brian Lafferty

 

WARNING: If you have epilepsy or are prone to seizures, do not see this film, as it contains frequent strobe effects.

 

October 30, 2010 (San Diego)--After seeing Enter the Void, it became clear to me that the newest film by Gaspar Noe is shaping up to be a very divisive movie. It is not for those even remotely squeamish. People either love it or hate it. I went to the screening with three to five other critics and they thought they had seen one of, if not the, worst movies of the year. I felt I saw one of the year’s best.

 


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THE DOG BLOG: RAINY DAY TIPS FOR YOU AND YOUR DOG

By Dawn Celapino
 

October 30, 2010 (San Diego) -- Most dogs don't care if it is raining, but some do. Most people do care if it’s, raining but some don't!

Exercising in the rain can be fun and can feel good-- but there are some things you may want to do to make your session safe and enjoyable for you and your dog.


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FREEBIE ALERT! SAN DIEGO EARLY HISTORY CONFERENCE – FAMILY FUN FOR EVERYONE


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ON THE SILVER SCREEN: CLINT EASTWOOD'S DIRECTION, PETER MORGAN'S SCRIPT GIVE "HEREAFTER" LIFE

By Brian Lafferty

 

October 23, 2010 (San Diego)--After the hilarious yet powerfully dramatic and tragic Gran Torino and the rousing Invictus, director Clint Eastwood has followed up with the somber and sedate Hereafter, which presented a challenge for my attention span. The movie opens with a spectacular tsunami that nearly takes the life of French journalist Marie LeLay (Cecile De France). For the first hour after this sequence I started getting a little restless, feeling that the film wasn’t delivering anything close to the level of the opening action. But that changed over the next hour and I began to fully appreciate it. It doesn’t rank among Eastwood’s best directorial efforts but it is a good movie that doesn’t have a lot to say about its subject matter but is interesting if you’re willing to listen.

 


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ON THE SILVER SCREEN: TV SCRIPT, DIRECTION BUILD A CASE AGAINST LESS-THAN-CINEMATIC "CONVICTION"

By Brian Lafferty

 

October 22, 2010 (San Diego)--Conviction has a well-told, if formulaic, story. The acting is OK, although I felt at times Hilary Swank was trying too hard. It somewhat touched me emotionally and I got mad at times, in a good way. However, I cannot recommend it because of its one major flaw: it’s nothing more than big screen television.

 


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KIDS EAT FREE AT APPLEBEE’S ON HALLOWEEN


This is no trick…treat your children to a free meal at Applebee's


October 22, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) - Applebee’s, a family-friendly restaurant, is offering a treat for parents; kids eat free on Saturday, October 30 and on Sunday, October 31, Halloween.


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ON THE SILVER SCREEN: "NOWHERE BOY" COMES TOGETHER IN PORTRAYAL OF TEENAGE JOHN LENNON

By Brian Lafferty

 

October 17, 2010 (San Diego)--Nowhere Boy doesn’t offer anything revelatory about John Lennon but that doesn’t matter. It is easy to go into this movie expecting something extraordinary. But if the film were to take such an approach, it would have been wrong. We know Lennon is a legend but that began as a member of The Beatles. The filmmakers could have made a film about his time with the Fab Four or his relationship with Yoko Ono. But writer Matt Greenhalgh and director Sam Taylor-Wood elect to explore a time in this man’s life that hasn’t really been touched on: his teenage years.

 


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ON THE SILVER SCREEN: THREE CHEERS FOR "RED"

By Brian Lafferty

 

October 17, 2010 (San Diego)--There isn’t a lot in Red that is original. We get the usual shootouts, chases, and other typical action movie staples. But director Robert Schwentke and screenwriters Jon and Erich Hoeber take what could have been a standard action movie and make it both refreshing and funny. They take scenes that could have been clichés and reinvigorate them by filming and editing them in ways that are both refreshing and surprising.

 


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