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  • Look Out SEC - Alabama Rates No. 1 as Nick Saban Prepares to Go to War
    If you think football in the Southeastern Conference is just a game that generates a ton of money for the schools and the NCAA that regulates it in a highly publicized environment, you do not understand what success is about in the SEC. SEC games are not battles between teams, they are outright warfare with a fight to the last man standing won by heavy artillery (talent). Learn why fans of Alabama are smiling today.
  • Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon Make "Walk the Line" Better Than the Film
    "Walk the Line" is the story of Johnny Cash (Joaquin Phoenix) and June Carter Cash (Reese Witherspoon). Born poor in Arkansas, Cash rises to fame in the country music world and destroys a lot of relationships along the way with drinking, drugs and pandering. Phoenix and Witherspoon are outstanding in this film, even though the movie production could have been better.
  • Pardon Me, I Am Gushing Again About Movie's Incomparable Audrey Hepburn
    Like a lot of shoppers at supermarkets, I look at the magazine displays while waiting in line to check out. Recently I was thrilled to see a recent edition to LIFE's Great Photographers Series: "Remembering Audrey 15 Years Later" with photographs by Bob Willoughby. You better believe I bought a copy faster than a single heartbeat, and remain a better person for having done so. Let me share why.
  • For Romance Without Any Stress, "Sleepless in Seattle" Is the Cure
    If you were celebrating Valentines Day with a candlelight dinner for two at home and settled in to watch a movie, "Sleepless in Seattle" would be a great choice because it provides a pleasant experience and is already becoming a romantic comedy classic. Sleepless in Seattle stars Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan and reminds many viewers of "An Affair to Remember".
  • The Best Psychological Thriller Since "Wait Until Dark" Is "Dressed to Kill"
    "Dressed to Kill" is the most horrific psychological thriller I have seen since "Wait Until Dark" with Audrey Hepburn as a recently blinded woman who is terrorized by a trio of thugs while they search for a heroin stuffed doll they believe is in her apartment. Dressed to Kill is just as well done and adds indiscriminate sex, adultery and a razor-slashing murder to the mix in a tense drama.
  • For Kansas Coach Bill Self, the Long Wait Is Over as His Jayhawks Outlast Memphis
    The only guarantee going into the 2008 NCAA National Championship Game was that one of two very good coaches—Bill Self of Kansas or John Calipari of Memphis—would win his first national title. In the end, Bill Self, who had more NCAA tournament wins—18—without reaching the Final Four than any other active coach, would lead his Jayhawks past Memphis 75-68 in overtime to win the national championship.
  • First 2 Rounds in 2008 NCAA Tournament Produce 1 Major Upset in Every 6 Games
    The first two rounds of the 2008 NCAA College Basketball Tournament underscored just how far parity has come in the men's competition as at least 1 major upset occurred every 6 games (8 major upsets and 3 minor upsets in 48 games). Who was smoking hot? North Carolina and Davidson. Who was not? Duke, Georgetown, Drake, Clemson, Vanderbilt, Connecticut, Pittsburgh and Southern Cal. Get results and highlights during the first two rounds here.
  • The Final 4 for the 2008 NCAA Tournament: North Carolina, Memphis, UCLA and Kansas
    For the first time in the history of the NCAA National Basketball Tournament, all four No. 1 seeded teams made it safely through the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 brackets to the Final 4—UCLA, Memphis, North Carolina and Kansas. Three #1 seeds have advanced to the Final 4 only three times in NCAA history, most recently in 1999. Get the full story.
  • Female Executives Who Are Too Bold and Too Aggressive Do Not Rise as Fast
    Female executives who are bold and aggressive do not rise up the corporate ladder as quickly as you may think. Female executives who use a self-confident but much softer, indirect approach do not highlight or reinforce any pre-conceived notions that they might be too bold, too aggressive or too judgmental for a higher position. Learn why it matters in dealing with male executives.
  • Potential Hires Who Are Quick to Judge May Be Quickly Eliminated by Interviewers
    Female executives who are bold and aggressive do not rise up the corporate ladder as quickly as you may think. Female executives who use a self-confident but much softer, indirect approach do not highlight or reinforce any pre-conceived notions that they might be too bold, too aggressive or too judgmental for a higher position. Learn why it matters in dealing with male executives.
  • 2 Things We Cannot Teach Employees: Judgment and Personality Development
    We can teach people a lot of things, but there are two things we cannot teach people, potential hires or employees—judgment and personality development. We acquire judgment by making judgments, but unfortunately, some people have better judgment than others. Personality development cannot be taught because it is not driven by professional development but rather by personal growth. Learn why it matters.
  • Before You Interview, Learn and Practice Ed's "Zip a Lip" Theory
    My best advice to clients about to interview for a job is to treat the interview like an IRS audit. When the Internal Revenue Service thinks you are cheating on your annual tax return, and they ask you a question during an audit, it is a real good idea to answer the field auditor's question and shut up. The same strategy works during job interviews. Learn the technique in this article.
  • The Greatest Explosion Can Only Occur When Opportunity Meets Preparedness
    There is probably not a day in America when at least a million employees wonder "When am I going to get promoted?" or "I am so upset that they promoted him and not me?" These workplace sentiments tend to happen because employees tend to look only at opportunity, and employers tend to look only at preparedness. The reality of life is that the greatest explosion can only occur when opportunity meets preparedness.
  • How to Make an Incredible Impression During Your Most Vulnerable Moment
    When you start a new job, even if it is a part-time job, you can be thrust into a needy situation that could cause harm to your psyche and confidence. This real life story tells you how you can make an incredible impression during your most vulnerable moment. There is a real lesson to be learned in surviving in the work-a-day jungle of everyday life.
  • What Is the Most Critical Career Choice Graduating Students Make?
    After reading The Tao of Warren Buffett, I discovered that Buffett had some very valuable information on what students should know when selecting their first job after graduating. According to Buffett, one not only needs to learn what kind of business to invest in but what kind of business to work in. Learn why.
  • "Pretty Woman" Rocketed Julia Roberts into Becoming Hollywood's Sweetheart
    Read more of my other reviews on romantic comedies, including "Four Romantic Comedies That Will Not Stress Your Emotions", "Mystic Pizza", "Something's Gotta Give", "The Holiday", "What Women Want", "Failure to Launch" and "For Love or Money".

  • Michigan State's Nicole Bush Finishes 5th at NCAA Nationals, Best Spartan Run Ever - Part 2
    Senior Nicole Bush put the finishing touch on an outstanding cross-country season by finishing 5th in the NCAA National Championship meet, leading the Michigan State women to a 5th place team finish, the second best showing ever for the Spartans. Learn why Michigan State's women middle distance runners are among the rising stars nationally. This is Part 2 of a 2-Part Article.
  • Michigan State's Nicole Bush Finishes 5th at NCAA Nationals, Best Spartan Run Ever - Part 1
    Senior Nicole Bush put the finishing touch on an outstanding cross-country season by finishing 5th in the NCAA National Championship meet, leading the Michigan State women to a 5th place team finish, the second best showing ever for the Spartans, topped only by the 4th place finish in 1981 at the first-ever NCAA women's championships. This is Part 1 of a 2-Part Article.
  • Walt Drenth Becomes Director of MSU's Cross-Country and Track & Field Programs
    Michigan State University's cross-county and track & field programs have taken a really positive step forward with the appointment of Walt Drenth as the director. Just as Tom Izzo has led the Spartan basketball program back to national prominence, and new first-year coach Mark Dantonio has already dramatically improved Michigan State's football fortunes with a bowl appearance, Walt Drenth will create a winning tradition among Spartan runners.
  • Meet Michigan State's Newest Dynamo - Associate Head Coach Rita Arndt-Molis
    During the changing of the guard for Michigan State University's cross-country and track & field programs, Rita Arndt-Molis was named Associate Head Coach following Walt Drenth's appointment as director of the programs. Arndt-Molis will coach both men and women middle-distance runners. Her impact was immediate. Learn why the Spartans will benefit every day she is coaching.
  • If You Are Looking for Leeches, Skip the Pond, Go to Your Credit Card Company
    Two seemingly unrelated stories caught my attention yesterday. One was about corporations stockpiling cash and the other was about consumer savings rates, which moved into negative territory for the first time according to the U. S. Commerce Department. Credit card companies have no legal limits on what they can charge for interest and fees.
  • "Meet the Fockers" Gets a Real Boost From De Niro and Hoffman
    Meet the Fockers is the best comedy I have seen in a long time. This movie could have been easily over-the-top with its descriptive title, but there is no hint of it in the presentation. A believable story line and an all-star cast with former Oscar-winners gave this comedy a real boost of professionalism.
  • "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" Is Difficult to Understand But Rewarding
    "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" is the story of Eddie (Jon Voight), a simple man living a simple life as a maintenance man who has a regret and an ache in his heart. He dies while trying to save a little girl in an accident, and does not know if he saved her life or not. He awakens in Heaven and finds out the real meaning of his life. A complex but rewarding story and movie.
  • Famous Quotes by Lou Holtz During Football's Annual Bowl Season
    College football's annual bowl season is full of surprises and spectacular moments. Famous coaches have had some memorable remarks about American's most popular sport, and here are some of them by Lou Holtz, who some consider to be the best of the best college coaches and for good reason. Find out why.
  • Famous Quotes by Knute Rockne During Football's Annual Bowl Season
    College football's annual bowl season is full of surprises and spectacular moments. Famous coaches have had some memorable remarks about American's most popular sport, and here are some of them by legendary Notre Dame coach Knute Rockne, who many consider to be the best of the best.
  • Famous Quotes by Vince Lombardi During Football's Annual Bowl Season
    College football's annual bowl season is full of surprises and spectacular moments. Famous coaches have had some memorable remarks about American's most popular sport, and here are some of them by legendary Green Bay Packer coach Vince Lombardi, who many consider to be the best of the best.
  • Coach Was Color-Blind, He Only Wanted to Know If You Could Play Basketball
    Basketball Coach Don Haskins does not have to wait for his legend to happen. He was the coach at Texas Western in 1966 when his 27-1 team played Adolph Rupp's 27-1 University of Kentucky Wildcats for the NCAA title. Haskins would become the first coach in NCAA history to start an all-African American lineup which beat Kentucky 72-65 to become the NCAA champion. February is Black History Month.
  • "Coach Carter" Sends an Outstanding Message About a Coach with Integrity, Honor and Goodness
    Samuel L. Jackson plays Coach Ken Carter in a good sports drama with an outstanding message for today's high school basketball players who see playing with the pros as their only objective in life. Carter believes that a basketball scholarship and ethics should go hand in hand. This is an incredible story of a coach who will not compromise his values by not compromising his integrity.
  • Four Average Movies That Do Not Get Any Better the Second Time Around
    Here are four average movies that do not get any better the second time around: Anger Management with Jack Nicholson and Adam Sandler, The Emperor's Club with Kevin Kline and Emile Hirsch, The Fast and the Furious (a totally mindless guy flick about macho wannabe men street car racing), and Five Easy Pieces with Jack Nicholson and Karen Black (both Oscar nominees in a depressing film about a guy going nowhere 1,000 miles an hour).
  • "To Kill a Mockingbird" Exposes the Destructiveness of Bigotry
    Gregory Peck won a Best Actor Oscar in this adaptation of Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about white lawyer Atticus Finch defending an innocent African American man accused of raping a white woman. This is a story that illuminates everything that is wrong about hate, prejudice, bigotry, ignorance, stupidity, lack of backbone and lack of a heart.
  • Two Films Offer Great Examples of What Not to Do With Your Life
    Kiss the Bride centers around four sisters from an Italian Catholic family in Rhode Island trying to work out their childhood hang-ups as three of them-all self-centered, self-absorbed and out of touch with reality-return to help their little sister get married. Sideways focuses on two men in midlife crises taking a one-week excursion through California wine country.
  • "Tipping the Velvet" Is First Alternative Lifestyle Film with an Educational Message - Part 2
    Based on Sarah Waters' acclaimed debut novel, Tipping the Velvet was adapted by Andrew Davies, an Emmy award-winning British screenwriter who has also written "Doctor Zhivago", "Bridget Jone's Diary", "Sense and Sensibility", "Vanity Fair" and "Pride and Prejudice". Davies is a very talented heavyweight.
  • "Tipping the Velvet" Is First Alternative Lifestyle Film with an Educational Message - Part 1
    "Tipping the Velvet" is what some viewers would consider a terrible film about a sinful, raunchy lifestyle, and what I would consider an excellent film despite any apparent raunchiness. The BBC brought this controversial movie to a 5-millon strong mainstream television audience in England. Tipping the Velvet is an incredibly unusual firm because you rarely, if ever, see an alternative lifestyle movie with a happy ending.
  • "The Quiet Man" Is a Love Story Set in the Emerald Isle of Ireland
    No one ever said that filmmaking was easy, only that it could be very good and sometimes enduring, as in "The Quiet Man", starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara with legendary Director John Ford. The Quiet Man was the first American feature to be filmed in Ireland's picturesque countryside. Ford earned his 4th and last Best Director Oscar for The Quiet Man in 1952. See the film and understand why this love story will touch your heart.
  • "Nanny McPhee" - An Excellent Movie with Magic and a Message for Children
    In an entertainment world full of trashy and violent video games and movies, Nanny McPhee is everything good about movies for children. You and your children can watch this film without fear of unpleasant and unwanted garbage rooted in sensationalism for ratings and greed. Nanny McPhee is an excellent film with a wonderful message for all children to recognize and understand.
  • "A Lot Like Love" Is Light Enough to Fly Away and Never Be Missed
    "A Lot Like Love" chronicles the indecision of two young adults who are misguided and muddled in both their careers and love life. They haul off and do nothing with themselves and then wonder why they are not happy. No wonder they are confused about love. They deserve each other. See this film once and move on.
  • Movie History: If You Thought "Titanic" Was the Largest Grossing Film in the U. S., Think Again
    A lot of moviegoers think that "Titanic" is the largest grossing domestic film of all time, topping $600+ million in revenue following its release in 1997. Titanic, while No. 1 in actual dollars generated, is only No. 6 when adjusted for inflation. Learn the real No. 1 largest grossing domestic film in moviemaking history in this article.
  • A Disturbing Trend in Our Society: The Lack of Trust in Our Institutions - Part 2
    The lack of trust for institutions in our society may be reaching epidemic levels. A recent survey shows trust in banks and financial institutions has dropped from 35% to 28% in 40 years, major companies from 26% to 17%, the nation's press from 24% to 9%, educational institutions from 36% to 27%, and organized religion from 35% to 24%. Learn why this is happening.
  • A Disturbing Trend in Our Society: The Lack of Trust in Our Institutions - Part 1
    The lack of trust for institutions in our society may be reaching epidemic levels. A recent survey shows trust in banks and financial institutions has dropped from 35% to 28% in 40 years, major companies from 26% to 17%, the nation's press from 24% to 9%, educational institutions from 36% to 27%, and organized religion from 35% to 24%. Learn why this is happening.
  • "A Man for All Seasons" Demonstrates What Integrity Should Be in the Middle Ages and Now
    A Man for All Seasons poses the question: What would a man sacrifice for his principles? When Henry VIII seeks approval to divorce his wife and marry Anne Boleyn, his new Chancellor and Cardinal—Sir Thomas More—stands in his way. In the end, Sir Thomas becomes the only person in England who will die for his principles. A Man for All Seasons won 6 Oscars at the 1967 Academy Awards.
  • "Ryan's Daughter" Is a Love Triangle with Passion, Adultery, Rebellion and a Village Idiot
    "Ryan's Daughter" is a love story that evolves into a love triangle set in the epic splendor of an isolated village on Ireland's scenic Dingle Peninsula. Like all love triangles, it ends in a disaster that becomes a tragedy. Cinematographer Freddie Young captures the raw beauty of Ireland with its ocean cliffs, green countryside, lazy pastures and hidden forest love nest. He won an Oscar for his filming.
  • College Football - If You Thought SEC Was the Toughest NCAA Conference, Think Again
    There is so much buzz and hype about the Southeast Conference—better known as the SEC—you would think there are no other NCAA football conferences that can compare. I did a little investigating into the strength of schedule for the various conferences. Turns out that the toughest conference is not the SEC, it is the Pac 10. Find out why.
  • College Football - How to Ferret Out Which Teams Are Rising and Falling in the Polls
    Many sports fans who anxiously await the release of the weekly football polls really miss one of the best parts of the poll when searching only to see where their favorite is ranked. Many newspapers and online services list only the Top 25 picks. You have to dig a little deeper to discover which teams received votes but not enough votes to make it into the Top 25. Where to find the rest of the poll.
  • The Sagarin College Football Ratings: What They Are, How to Read Them and What to Do With Them
    While betting on sports is only legal in a few places in the United States, such as Las Vegas, millions of office workers are involved in sports pools every week now that the football season has arrived. For those who wager, it may be helpful to put some science on your side when you wager, and one of the best places to do that is with the Sagarin College Football Ratings. Here is what you need to know.
  • "Lost in Translation" Makes the Meaning of Life Sound Elusive
    "Lost in Translation" was written and directed by Sofia Coppola and won enough awards to fill a grocery cart. Seeing this film, I would not have guessed it would have won so many awards. I gave this film an average rating rather than a good or excellent rating. I wanted real substance in this film and I was left wanting. Learn why in my review.
  • Facts About the Second Most Controversial Topic in America - The First Is Abortion
    Many who read the title to this article might think that the second most controversial topic in America today is whether the United States should continue its war in Iraq. Those who thought that would be, in fact, dead wrong. This article is really about facts, not about our involvement in trying to make Iraq and its people adopt a democratic society, but to revisit the place God occupies in our public institutions and in our society.
  • Nancy Meyers Comes Up With a Winner: A Romantic Comedy that Really Works
    Christmas is coming soon and everybody is busy getting ready for another holiday season. A movie can be great comic relief. We want to be entertained and interested by a story that keeps us attentive and has a happy ending. Nancy Meyers delivers what we need as the writer/director of "The Holiday", a romantic comedy with Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Jack Black and Eli Wallach.
  • "Breakfast on Pluto" Is Really Not About an Alien from Outer Space
    "Breakfast on Pluto" is a gender preference movie about a boy who really wants to be a girl, and settles for being a transvestite trying to find a place in a world that curses his very existence. I endured Boys Don't Cry and Transamerica and am pleased to say I did not have to endure Breakfast on Pluto. I think that Neil Jordan is the reason why. This film is worth viewing for its message: to thine ownself be true.
  • Want a Six-Figure Income Without Getting a College Degree of Any Kind? Here Is How
    I have a client making $350,000 a year with a high school diploma. I have another client making $144,000 who is a high school graduate with two additional years of technical training. A third client is making $250,000 with a high school diploma only. If you are a high school graduate and have zero interest in getting a bachelor's degree at this point in your work career: go into sales if you have any people skills or personality.
  • "Transamerica" Transsexual Tale Misses Opportunity to Inform and Educate Viewers
    There are easier films to review than productions involving alternative life styles, and Transamerica is an example. It is one thing to make a comedy or romantic comedy with no other purpose than to entertain viewers, it is quite another to tackle a difficult, controversial subject without assuming some responsibility for making its presentation a positive, productive impact upon viewers. To do less is entertaining but useless.
  • Who Has Had the Greatest Influence on Your Life and Why?
    A lot of us remember our mother, and for good reason. I would never hesitate to talk about the most important person in my life, my mother. She was the biggest backer that I ever had. She was not a movie star, she was not famous, and she was not rich. She simply had the most important job in the world, she was a mother. There will be no greater calling, and there will be no greater reward.
  • You Cannot Forget Captain Jack Sparrow, But National Treasure Is One Heck of a Hunt
    It took an inordinately long time for movie land to bring us a modern day treasure hunt worth watching, but Director Jon Turteltaub delivered big time in National Treasure, the story of a secret treasure that crosses the centuries. National Treasure is full of obscure clues. National Treasure stays focused on the clues with the actors not upstaging the treasure hunt story line.
  • Boys Don't Cry Stirs Our Baser Emotions But Fails Miserably to Increase Our Understanding
    How can a film produce an Oscar winning Best Actress performance and a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination and still be a terrible movie? Easy, just fail to deliver an important message involving understanding and knowledge when you have millions of moviegoers who are glued to your presentation.
  • Dantonio Finally Arrives on the Big 10 Stage as Head Coach at Michigan State
    Michigan State University has a football history of folding when it counts. By unloading John L. Smith and hiring Mark Dantonio as their new head football coach, the Spartans have put themselves in a position to perform better than any time since the legendary Duffy Daugherty coached Michigan State to a combined 19-1-1 record in 1965 and 1966, winning back-to-back Big Ten and National Championships.
  • Nick Saban: A Great College Football Coach Who Might Bring Alabama Back to Greatness
    Nick Saban recently became the University of Alabama football coach by signing the richest contract ever awarded to a college football coach: 8 years for $32 million. Ah, it is good to be Nick Saban in Alabama today. Now he must win and win big, something he has been able to do at other college coaching positions at Toledo, Michigan State and LSU (Louisiana State).
  • Running - There is an Inescapable Correlation Between Weight and Cardiovascular Efficiency - Part 5
    Lifelong runners like myself who have been training and competing forever (47 years plus) know that there is an inescapable correlation between your weight and your cardiovascular efficiency. Essentially, when you lose 10% of your body weight, you increase your cardiovascular efficiency 10%. Learn why in this article.
  • Running - How Popular Running Magazines Are Constantly Giving Very Poor Diet Advice - Part 4
    Running magazines are great for recommending one-type-fits-all diets for runners, but they are dead wrong and their O blood type readers who follow their advice will not benefit from their recommendations. I used to swear by the advice of running magazines, and now I swear at their diet advice, especially regarding diets for runners. Learn why in this article.
  • Running: Gluten in Wheat Products Bind to the Lining of the Small Intestine and Turn to Fat - Part 3
    Gluten, the most common lectin found in wheat and other grains, binds to the lining of the small intestine, causing substantial inflammation and painful irritation in some blood types—especially Type O. This is serious business for all O positive blood types and especially runners because what is binding to the small intestines eventually turns to fat.
  • Running: How Lectins (Proteins in Foods) Are Very Negative in O Positive Blood Types - Part 2
    Dr. Peter D’Adamo’s findings are critical to understanding why Americans have become some of the most unhealthy and overweight people in the world. An inordinate amount of our children are walking about today as examples of obesity before they are even teenagers. When you know that there are more O blood types than any other type, you can then better appreciate the extent of our problem.
  • Running: How Wheat Products and Sugar Can Be the "Kiss of Death" When Trying to Lose Weight - Part 1
    As a high school, college, master’s and senior competitive runner, I used to often wonder why it was so difficult to lose extra weight as I grew older. Now I know why. That is why I feel so blessed to have read Dr. Peter J. D’Adamo’s book Eat Right for Your Type which chronicles the four basic blood types, and why each thrives on a different diet, stress/exercise profile and personality type.
  • Baseball: Craig Biggio Punches His Ticket to the Hall of Fame with His 3,000th Hit - Part 3
    Earlier this year Craig Biggio of Houston Astros became the 27th player in major league history to get 3,000 career hits. If it were easy to get 3,000 hits, many players would have done it, however, three factors stand in the way: 1) Injuries. 2) Longevity. 3) Consistency. Craig Biggio has it all and proved it by punching his ticket to the Baseball Hall of Fame when he retires.
  • Baseball - Barry Bonds Is a Whole Lot More Than Just a Home Run Hitter and Record Setter - Part 2
    When Barry Bonds broke Hank Aaron's major league career home run record with his 756th dinger, he had hit homers off of 447 different pitchers. Bonds also holds the major league career records for walks with 2,540 and intentional walks with 679. He holds the all-time single season major league records for most home runs (73), on base percentage (.609), slugging percentage (.863), and walks (232). Could he be the best ever?
  • Baseball - Tom Glavine, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez and Craig Biggio All Reach Milestones - Part 1
    It has been a year of milestones for Major League Baseball. From Tom Glavine to Barry Bonds to Alex Rodriguez to Craig Biggio the records have been piling up like poker chips in a major tournament. Glavine won his 300th game, Bonds captured the career major league home run record, A-Rod (Rodriguez) hit his 500th career homer, and Biggio picked up his 3,000th hit. Check their stats. All are headed to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
  • Pride and Prejudice Among 5 Films That Are Just Terrible
    Pride and Prejudice is among 5 flims that are just terrible. They include Pride and Prejudice (with Keira Knightly, who was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar), Punch-Drunk Love (with Adam Sandler), The Royal Tenenbaums (with Gene Hackman), Rumor Has It (with Jennifer Aniston) and Saturday Night Live: The Best of Chris Farley (which leaves out much of the best of Chris Farley).
  • 2 Weird Films That Have Stood the Test of Time: "Drag Queens in the Desert" and "Rocky Horror"
    What would Hollywood be without its share of bitchy, catty, gaudy, outrageous and crazy films? Two examples are "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" and "The Rocky Horror Picture "Show". Both of these films have a very limited audience because they are more negative than positive and have few redeeming qualities.
  • Your Credit Score: FICO Plans to Eliminate Authorized Credit Card User Accounts - Part 3
    For years young adults with no credit history, limited credit history or blemished credit history have worked around the problem by having someone with good credit—usually a parent, spouse or good friend—added as an authorized user to their credit card. All of this is about to end as Fair Isaac (the developer of the FICO credit score) will create a new scoring formula to eliminate the authorized user tactic.
  • Your Credit Score: 6 Actions You Can Take To Improve Your Contract Terms - Part 2
    The three top credit reporting agencies were too cheap to offer a toll-free line and better service on their own, and would not even continue to maintain the toll-free line system they were ordered to implement unless faced with prosecution by the Federal Trade Commission. Here are 6 things you can do to help protect yourself and your credit score.
  • Your Credit Score: How It Can Cost You Thousands More on Your Mortgage - Part 1
    A sharp rise in the delinquency of subprime mortgages has caused lenders to tighten up their standards and actually reject applications. Should you attempt to refinance your present mortgage or seek a new mortgage, your credit score has become more critical to your loan approval. Can it make a difference? Yes, it can make a significant difference in payment. Find out how and why.
  • "Ed Wood" Is a Very Strange Movie About a Very Strange Real Life Director
    "Ed Wood" is a biographical movie about Edward D. Wood, Jr. who has been dubbed the worst director in the history of filmmaking. The movie depicts the life of Ed Wood in the 1950s and shows Wood as a very determined director with virtually no financial backing and no real talent. Wood liked to direct really bad films and enjoyed dressing as a woman on the set. Johnny Depp stars as Ed Wood.
  • Arthur Lydiard, the World's Greatest Middle Distance Coach, on How to Train Effectively
    As a lifelong runner, master's and senior competitor in track, I have read hundreds of stories on techniques addressing specific aspects of training. It was not until I bought and read Running, The Lydiard Way that training philosophy became more important than individual workouts to achieve specific results. Lydiard's work is a textbook not only on his philosophy of running but also on the physiology of exercise.
  • "The Departed" Is Best Mob Film Since Mario Puzo's "The Godfather" in 1972
    Let me get to the most important thing first: Director Martin Scorsese won an Oscar for "The Departed". Scorsese, one of the most accomplished directors of our era, has been nominated for 7 Oscars—5 for Best Director and 2 for Best Screenplay—before winning with The Departed. The Departed is simply the best mob film since Mario Puzo's original Godfather in 1972.
  • NAACP Decides to Symbolically Bury the "N" Word in a Major Move Forward
    The NAACP has put to rest a long-standing expression of racism by symbolically burying the "n" word in a ceremony. The NAACP recognized that the very word that was being buried is also used by blacks when referring to other blacks, especially in comedy routines, rap and hip-hop music. The move could potentially do more for race relations than anything in recent years.
  • American Consumers Are Short on Discipline When it Comes to Parting With Their Income
    Like a 4-year-old child at the checkout counter in a supermarket, American consumers want just one more impulse buy to make their buying day complete, and apparently the more expensive it is, the better. All of this impulse buying is detailed in a recent USA Today article with this headline: "Spending is hotter than the 4th of July". And indeed it apparently is, but is this good cash management?
  • Loss of Odor Perception Might Signal Alzheimer's
    Imagine my recoil when I read the above Associated Press headline recently: The story went on to detail the first study that linked loss of smell to Alzheimer's. Difficulty identifying odors was associated with a higher risk of progressing from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's. As someone with very little sense of smell and taste, perhaps I should be worried.
  • Could You Be a Fan for a Team That Loses 10,000 Baseball Games?
    Philadelphia Phillies' fans are arguably the least patient and most volatile in baseball, and I know why. A report in USA Today (7-3-07) notes that the Phillies are on the verge of becoming the first pro sports franchise to record 10,000 losses. They had 9,996 losses as of July 3, 2007. The next nearest teams in losses are the Atlanta Braves (9,675) and Chicago Cubs (9,421). I would have guessed the Cubs but not the Braves.
  • The Apparent Murder-Suicide of Chris Benoit Really Creates More Questions Than Answers
    News of the apparent murder-suicide of well-known and well-liked WWE wrestler Chris Benoit left me with mixed emotions: sadness and dismay. I do not believe that Vince McMahon, the World Wrestling Entertainment owner and arguably the most gifted of sports entertainment promoters ever, could really tolerate a person so quiet and respected as Christ Benoit. There are no words to describe my anguish over Chris Benoit.
  • Mel Gibson's "Apocalypto" Brings the Past Violent Mayan Life into Our Consciousness
    Mel Gibson's "Apocalypto" shows the raw, violent face of the advanced Mayan civilization in its decline, with its rulers insisting that the key to continued prosperity is to build more temples and offer more human sacrifices to their Gods. The result is innocent Mayans being viciously attacked and their communal way of life being destroyed to meet an insane desire. Will they be able to survive the onslaught?
  • Is There Anything More Disingenuous Than a Whining, Petulant Political Party in America?
    Presidential elections provide a lot of humor when you can recognize the joke. Every few days some new, outrageous flap kicks another outrageous flap off of the front page of our nation's daily newspapers. I do not care if political parties whine about the events of the day. What I do care about is the righteousness with which the Democrats and Republicans do whine and complain. Please spare me the soap opera
  • Four Average Movies: Two Messy and Two Unpretentious
    Here are four average movies, two of which are pretty screwed up (The Family Stone with Sarah Jessica Parker, Diane Keaton, Craig T. Nelson and Rachel McAdams, and Mona Lisa Smile with Julia Roberts) and two of which are unpretentious and easy on the eye (Indian Summer with Diane Lane and Unlikely Angel with Dolly Parton) Despite being pure fluff, I would rate the last two better than the first two.
  • On Politics- We Are a Nation Divided When It Comes to the "a" Word - Part 5
    There comes a time in a person's life when you have to start thinking for yourself rather than be a lemming to politics, a political party, politicians, pundits, predators and a phony press. We are a nation divided when it comes to the "a" word. We are all about rights, and little about responsibilities. Rights crushed responsibilities a long time ago, and now we remain content to kill our unborn. It is really all about us.
  • On Politics - Propaganda Is Now Disguised as News - Part 4
    There is probably nothing that disappoints me more than the current sad, sorry state of newspapers in America today. There is more personal journalism in newspapers than news. Name brand newspapers that once had proud heritages with outstanding reporters have become nothing more than pandering sluts who cannot get enough of their personal journalism and politics into the news side of the paper.
  • On Politics - One of the Most Lucrative Jobs in America - Part 3
    Being a politician in America today is one of the best paying jobs a person could have. If you do not know that the vast majority of politicians lie, cheat and steal as necessary to get elected and stay elected, you do not understand much about politics in America today. The best job most national politicians actually do is helping themselves get rich legally at the expense of the electorate they are supposed to be representing.
  • On Politics: News Writers Are Really Political Hacks - Part 2
    When reading Krauthammer, I am reminded that Henry Ford said "the hardest thing to do in the world is to think, and that is why people do so little of it." This is especially true during Presidential elections which start about a year too early and end about a year too late. It is often hard for me to decide which is wearier, the droppings of a contentious person or a Presidential election. Yikes! We have 18 more months to go in this election.
  • On Politics - Giuliani Is a Pro Choice Republican - Part 1
    It is possible that Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani has infuriated his Democratic rivals to the point of distraction. As a good Republican Giuliani should be pro life but he is pro choice. Only Democrats are supposed to be pro choice. Giuliani is now under searing attack from every Democrat and flaming left-wing Democratic news organization worthy of the name.
  • These Two Films Create Confusion or Unbelievably Overblown Drama
    Ocean's Eleven is a confusing film about a $160 million heist of three Las Vegas casinos from an impenetrable safe 200 feet underground. Is Ocean's Eleven supposed to be an action flick, a comedy, a crime story or a drama? The Hours features three depressed women from three different generations trying to cope with life, some Academy Award-winning performances and a story line that is even more depressing and repugnant.
  • Two Films With Tons of Recognition That Leave This Viewer Unfulfilled
    A lot of moviegoers saw Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World as a great picture with great acting and pretty much a shoo-in for a handful of Oscars. I did not see it the same way, nor did the Academy. The Lion in Winter is a 2 Star movie with some 4 Star (Excellent) performances. Both movies stir no emotion in me, foment ill will and breed confusion when clarity should rule the day and resolution should be the result.
  • If You Think Little League Baseball Does Not Teach Important Survival Skills, Think Again
    Sometimes as parents we forget how simple and subtle the lessons in life can be. With all of the violence we are now seeing with youngsters, I am reminded that some of our children today seem less able to cope with adversity, and even less so with patience. How is it that they clearly lack coping skills and patience, two necessary traits for survival as an adult?
  • Whatever Happened to Helen Hunt After Making What Women Want?
    What Women Want is a romantic comedy light enough to float away. Helen Hunt is a real talent with real hardware and seemed so on top of her game after the release of What Women Want in 2000. Heck, I figured, move over Julia Roberts and hello Helen Hunt as America's newest sweetheart, but Hunt did Cast Away with Tom Hanks and then returned to Broadway. The two rising stars today are Reese Witherspoon and Hilary Swank.
  • A Romantic Comedy That Works With a Couple of 60+ Senior Citizens
    Something's Gotta Give is a romantic comedy without substance that works because of Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton. Keaton is one the few actresses at age 60 who has been able to partner with bankable leading men. She seems to have found the secret to staying young, alive and attractive while Nicholson at 69 and counting appears his age and has not benefited from the passage of time. Keaton is one fine looking 60-year-old woman.
  • Five Movies That Try Hard Yet Still End Up As Terrible
    Here are five movies that try hard but are rated terrible for the effort. They include Napoleon Dynamite (with Jon Heder), Once Upon a Time in Mexico (with Antonio Banderas, Johnny Depp and Salma Hayek), The Notebook (with James Garner, Gena Rowlands and Rachel McAdams), Of Human Bondage (W. Somerset Maugham's novel with Leslie Howard and Bette Davis), and The Prince and the Showgirl (with Marilyn Monroe and Laurence Olivier).
  • Put These 5 Films Together and Spell Terrible 5 Times
    Here are five more movies you think would be really better than they are, unfortunately for the films, the scripts, the direction, and the actors, they are not. All five get my terrible rating; they include Love Letters, Monster-in-Law (with Jennifer Lopez, Michael Vartan and Jane Fonda), The Fast Runner (about Eskimo life and culture on the tundra in Alaska), Myths and Logic of Shaolin Kung Fu, and Myra Breckenridge (with Raquel Welch).
  • Four Romantic Comedies That Will Not Stress Your Emotions
    Here are four romantic comedies that will not stress your emotions: Matthew McConaughey and Sarah Jessica Parker in Failure to Launch, Jennifer Lopez (J-Lo) in Maid in Manhattan and The Wedding Planner, and Michael J. Fox and Gabrielle Anwar in For Love or Money. Just sit back and be entertained. If you want great stories, great acting and great direction, try other movies.
  • Another 5 Movies You Think Would Be Better Than They Are
    Here are another five movies you think would be really better than they are, unfortunately they are not. All five get my terrible rating; they include Gods and Generals (with Robert Duvall, Jeff Daniels and Stephen Lang), Mr. and Mrs. Smith (with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie), Just Like Heaven (with Reese Witherspoon), Miracle (the U. S. Hockey Team victory at the 1980 Olympic Games), and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (with Kate Hudson).
  • The Real Heroes of Our Time Are Those Who Serve Others
    Words on a card are so inadequate to express how we feel when describing a tragedy. I find it difficult to accept the notion that death is part of life. One seems so alive and real, and the other so quiet and distant. I would be totally lost in accepting what is so natural and normal were it not for the fact that my life journey is also my faith journey. Thank goodness that God is in my life. He stands with us at our greatest hour of need.
  • Two Award-Winning Films That Are Pretty Average
    Antonia's Line won the 1995 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, but its postscript fails to reveal a dark side that Hollywood typically ignores, making it an average film at best. The Aviator earns 11 Oscar nominations and wins five, including Cate Blanchett's portrayal as Katharine Hepburn, but was simply too negative and too graphic in its presentation to become a great film.
  • "Camelot" Is a Magical Movie, and a Primer in Civilized Human Relationships and Growth
    Camelot, released in 1967, celebrates its 40th anniversary this October, and was based on the 1960 musical play Camelot written by Alan Jay Lerner with music by Frederic Loewe. Camelot became a modern day legend when it was immortalized after President John F. Kennedy's assassination. Camelot the play and Camelot the film were both truly inspirational musical productions.
  • "Prada" Boss Drives Away Everyone and Everything But Blind Ambition
    Meryl Streep, one of Hollywood's best actresses, carries The Devil Wears Prada like the namesake handbag we see early in this movie, which is about Miranda Priestly, a powerful New York fashion magazine editor who hires Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway), a recent journalism grad, to be her new gofer. In the end, she ditches the job when she realizes that life without her boyfriend, her friends and family are not worth the price of being exclusive.
  • Five More Movies You Think Would Be Better Than They Are
    Here are five more movies you think would be really better than they are, unfortunately for the films, the scripts, the direction, and the actors, they are not. All five get my terrible rating; they include Imagine Me & You, Down With Love (with Renee Zellweger), In Good Company, It Runs in the Family (with Michael Dougles and Kirk Douglas) and Laws of Attraction (with Pierce Brosnan and Julianne Moore).
  • Harvard Rejects 91% of Student Applications
    I opened my Friday newspaper and was reminded again that life is full of rejection. Take Harvard University for example. No less than 22,955 eager applicants applied for admission to Harvard this fall and only 2,058, or 9%, were accepted. A whopping 20,897 applicants came up short of admission. Hundreds of the applicants had perfect SAT scores on their verbal or math portion, and 3,000+ ranked first in their high school class.
  • Hollywood's Most Perfect Actress Had Beauty, Fashion, Grace and Humility
    Was there ever an actress who combined these four timeless qualities—beauty, fashion, grace and humility—better than Audrey Hepburn? I think not, especially when I see her again in Breakfast at Tiffany's. We shall not see another like her in our lifetime and by then the film industry may be on the way out when some newer, better technology unknown to us today arrives. Audrey Hepburn was a model of grace and humility.

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