BOG IT BLOG

Going In Low Mode

This is my final 'regular' Blog entry. I am not shutting down my blog at this time. However, I am cutting back the time I devote to it.

My family situation has changed in the last month. With my physical problems, I have been in 'semi' retirement here at the homestead. However, that may have to change. My wonderful wife of many years lost her job of 28 years at a Pasco hospital. With our only form of income now gone, everything is on the table. We are living on retirement money, but it won't last.

I am considering finding work. With my heart condition, it might be difficult to maintain the energy to complete an 8 hour day, but it is only fair that I try. It isn't a time factor that keeps me from continuing, it is a matter of nausea. We are very upset at this turn of events, and it is hard to concentrate on anything but our troubles.

I am not closing the blog, but putting it on low-mode. I will try to put up an entry once in awhile. But I can't guarantee it. But please keep checking back. I have enjoyed the friends I've made, and will try to return to a regular schedule when our finances become more solid.

God Bless You All

Movie Scorecard Update - Final

Well my last Scorecard for this summer is over. And I have learned one insurmountable trueism. You can't learn a book by its cover. With a final total of 11 to 5, my prognostication abilities bordered on the fringe of miserable. But it was fun, and I thank all the encouragement I recieved.

Wall-E is a great movie. Took one of my grandchildren to see it Saturday night. Very well made, and will probably go down as an animation classic. Most critics raved about it... while others said it didn't have enough heart in it. I just don't see how they missed the heart-string tugs evident in the last hour of the film. Oh well, it cleared $62.5 million, way over my paltry prediction of $35 million.

As for Wanted, I guess an A-list star, like Angelina Jolie, has a lot more pull than I give 'em credit for. The movie pulled $51.1 million this weekend, in which I predicted only $20 million. Oh well, it will be interesting to see how many will come out next week to see it. With some of the cartoonish aspects of the film, it makes you wonder how much word-of-mouth will take place.

Well that is about it for the Scorecard. It was a good run, and I might do it next year.

Final Scorecard: Box Office 11 - Bubba Bog 5

Asta La Vista

Working Class Actors: S. Z. 'Cuddles' Sakall

His name was rarely known, but his voice and appearance was a familiar, integral part of the golden age of Hollywood. S. Z. Sakall, better known in the business as 'Cuddles', always played the lovable businessman, grandfather or uncle. His film persona was always the same.

With the persecution of the Jews just before World War II, Sakall returned to Hungary from Germany. And then later left Hungary with his wife for Great Britain. Most of his relatives died in the Holocaust, along with his three sisters.

Sakall eventually came to Hollywood. He appeared in over a 100 films. The most memorable ones are 'Yankee Doodle Dandy', 'Casablanca', 'Gentleman Jim', and 'Christmas in Connecticut'. He is most famous for his portrayal of the waiter in 'Casablanca'.

His initials were Hungarian for Szoke Szakall, which means 'blonde beard'. In his Hungarian days, he used to perform in theatre wearing a blonde beard. After finishing his last film, 'The Student Prince' in 1954, he decided to retire from Hollywood. He died of a heart attack only a few months later.

'Cuddles' Sakall was a working class actor for much of his 71 years of life. He never recieved any awards for his work in American films.

Saturday Comedy: George Carlin

It is only appropriate for me to highlight one of the more significant comedians of the past century. The passing away (he hated the term) er ah, death of George Carlin leaves a gaping hole in the counter-culture movement. The man was the first to use comedy to make observations of the absurdity of modern society. I guess most of us baby-boomers remember his 'seven words' skit. It is a little too much even for my blog. So I have picked another routine in which he talks a little about words used when sick and dead.

WARNING: I tried to pick a clean family routine, but there isn't such an animal with this guy... so here is one of his least offensive routines...

As he said, we shouldn't call it 'passing away' or being 'expired'. We just gotta say it for his sake, George Carlin has DIED. No euphanisms please.

Giving Primates Legal Rights

Spain has become the first government in the world to proclaim legal rights for primates other than man. The Spanish Parliament passed the 'Great Ape Project". It does not give primates 'human' rights, but ensures proper treatment.

It provide apes with "the right to life, the freedom from arbitrary deprivation of liberty, and protection from torture". It is an interesting political posture, considering Spain has no great apes to speak of. It is an unusual stance, considering Spain gets a lot of grief for their bull fights. The law will prevent any lab experimentation, and will alter how primates are housed in zoos.

This is the second government that has been asked to pass such a measure. New Zealand passed a watered down measure forbidding lab experiments in 1999.

Swirling Skyscrapers!

Doing my usual scowering of news around the world, I came across a report of a new kind of skyscraper that will probably change what our cities look like. World reknown architect David Fisher has created what he calls 'Dynamic Architecture'. Each floor in his towers rotates on it's concrete center independently. With computer control, the whole structure changes it's appearance in a fluid movement.

He considers 'Dynamic Architecture' as a combination of feasibility, functionality and engineering. It as three-dimensional design along with a fourth dimension, time. His 'Dynamic Towers' compose a new era of architecture in which positioning is an important part of the overall design.

All in all, his inventions have been toward pre-fabrication of elements of his towers. Each floor is created in a factory and then transported and assembled onto the concrete center. He states that if a whole floor is purchased, it can have it's own voice activated controls, in which the owner can change the scenery to their liking.

From what the reports are stating, two towers are in the works. One in Dubai, Saudi Arabia and the other in Moscow. The 80 story Dubai tower will go into production in the next month. It will cost over $700 million dollars. Mr. Fisher is hoping to have one in production for New York in the next couple of years.

One other note: each skyscraper is designed to generate it's own rotating electric. Between each floor there will be a horizontal wind turbine, along with photovoltaic cells on the roof.

Bollywood coming to Hollywood!

As India's Bollywood film industry continues to grow, it was only a matter of time before a Bollywood production would be made here in America. Universal Studios in Hollywood will be the location for an Indian movie called 'Incredible Love'.

The movie stars India's Ashkay Kumar and Kareena Kapoor. On the American side, both Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger will appear in the film. It is the story of a successful Indian stunt man working in Hollywood. The plot revolves around his attempt to find true love, while working in America. It is the highest budgeted film in Bollywood history.

It is one more blending of the two film industries. Indian billionaire Anil Ambani recently paid $500 million to resurrect 'Dreamworks Entertainment' after its split from Viacom. Ambani's 'Reliance Big Entertainment' will work with 'Dreamworks' in both American and Indian productions.

And the traffic is both ways. Many of the major movie companies have set up shop in Bombay, India. There is one problem that will arise. India has very strict codes involving movie content. To make a movie for both markets might be problematical. But you never know, with lots of money flowing around... I wouldn't bet against it.

Movie Scorecard Update - Part 6

Another push on the Movie Scorecard this past weekend. It seems more of the young generation came out for 'Get Smart' even though they never saw the series. Warner Brothers shrewdly added more action to the movie than what was portrayed in the series. So the young 'Action' crowd came out for it. I predicted that it would do around $15 million at the domestic box office, and it did around $39 mil.

'The Love Guru' was fairly predictable. It only did $14 million, being beat out by both 'Incredible Hulk' and 'Kung Fu Panda'. A rather disapointing turn out for Mike Myers. My prediction of $20 million was overly optimistic. But still close enough to be considered a win.

As for 'Kit Kittredge: An American Girl', unknown to me was that the movie was being released in a limited amount of theaters. Since it wasn't a wide-release, I consider it a disqualification. It is expected to increase in availability next week.

As for this weekend, its Animation against the A-List. 'Wall-E' is the new Disney Pixar animation that has been promoted for over a year. It should do real well. I've predicted $35 million. It may go a lot higher. A-List actor Angelina Jolie is getting a lot of buzz with 'Wanted'. I don't like the trailer. Some of the 'real life' antics seem to defy the laws of physics. Almost cartoonish. Maybe I'm wrong, but my prediction is at $20 million.

Scorecard:

Box Office 9 - Bubba 5

Weekend USA Box Office

Wall-E TRAILER

Wanted TRAILER

The Love Guru TRAILER

Get Smart TRAILER

Kit Kittredge: An American Girl TRAILER

Check out the new movies and see what you think they will make this weekend.

Working Class Actors: Ward Bond

He was one of the most visible of the 'working class' character actors. His impact in movies of the 30's, 40's and 50's is undeniable. Ward Bond played many a character over the years. His jovial personality made him much sought after by the casting department. He became proficient both as a good guy or a bad guy.

After growing up in Denver, he attended college at USC. Along with playing on the same football team with John Wayne, he went on to play in the Trojan's 1928 National Championship game. He was recruited into Hollywood, along with others from that team, including the 'Duke'. He became a favorite casting of director Frank Capra and John Ford. The movies he played in is like 'the best' of the golden age of Hollywood.

'Sergeant York', 'Drums Along The Mohawk', 'Fort Apache', 'The Maltese Falcon', 'Rio Bravo', and 'The Grapes of Wrath' are just a few. He was a fun loving individual, but with a real streak of arrogance. He was either loved or hated.. one of those people with no middle ground. When he made a friend it was usually for life. He was counted as one of the few staunch friends of director John Ford. Even though Ford was merciless in his behavior to both Wayne and Ward, they loved him for it, and accepted the director's habits as just his way.

Alas, Ward Bond left this world too early in his career. He had a starring role in television for four years in 'Wagon Train'. Many believe he would of been a true star if he had not died of a massive heart attack in 1960. His 'working class' status was falling away, and true stardom was just around the corner.

Ward Bond died in a Hotel in Dallas, Texas. He had gone there to watch a football game. He was 57 years old. The only award on record for Ward Bond is a star on 'Hollywood's Walk Of Fame'.

Saturday Comedy: Bill Cosby

This series would not be complete without at least one trip down memory lane with Bill Cosby. The man is an institution. His stand-up was more his memories than punch lines. And many considered them better than anything ever transcribed since.

His 30+ hit albums canvas the past 5 decades. He has authored 11 books and has had a remarkable television career. But all in all, he will always be remembered for his family stories...

You are probably aware of the controversial speeches he has made recently to the African-American community. Whether you believe his opinions or not, we all should appreciate what he has given us. His family observations will be a legacy that will outlast us all.