ESPIRIT DU BROTHERLY LOVE

Alpine Adventurists Charlie Fowler and Chris Boskoff have been listed as missing in Tibet when they did not return home as planned on December 4th. Your donations are urgently needed to help find them. Fellow climbers Jim Otto and Dan Mazur will lead the search team.
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The Alpinist reports that "Fowler had written an email on November 7 that read, "We're in the town of Litang for a few days.... getting ready for one more trip into the hills. We just got back from attempting a peak I tried in '96 doing a film. Didn't make it that time due to complications with the film crew. This time the peak was a lot less icy (global warming?)... we got near the top but backed off due to scary conditions—thin snow over rock slabs. Had a blast climbing as far as we did, though. 'We did our best with dying,' to quote Chris. Now off to one more different area to try a 6000-meter peak and a smaller one, then traveling back doing the tourist thing."

"View from the north of Gurla Mandhata's North face at sunrise from Darchen, the start of the Mount Kailash kora. The photo was taken on September 10, 2006, just before we made the first American ascent of the standard route via the Chaglung'mlungha Glacier. Photo by Jake Norton / MountainWorld Photography.
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Gurla Mandhata is the highest peak in the remote Gurla range, located in western Tibet, 100km south of sacred mountain Kailash. The landscape around this peak includes nomad inhabited high plains, huge turquoise lakes, and the neighboring Kailash range to the north. Gurla Mandhata offers extremely wide variety of terrain, ranging from gradual walk-ups along the NE-ridge to difficult mixed routes up the vertical North face.
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This North face was for the first time attempted in 1997, by a team from the USA. The Colorado mountainguide Charlie Fowler almost got killed when he fell 1500ft!!!off the North Face on the 1997 first and failed attempt of the N face. Thera are two ways of reaching Gurla Mandhata: A four day drive from Lhasa, or a four to five day from Kashgar, along the extremely remote Tibet Xinjiang highway. " http://www.peakware.com/peaks.html?pk=976

"Charlie Fowler is a professional photographer, filmmaker, writer and trip leader from Norwood, Colorado. An avid climber since 1968, he has ascended many of the world's most difficult peaks with the world's best climbers, including my brother, desert climber Kyle Copeland (Diamond Star Halo, Longs Peak, CO '86 FA also with Joe Burke).
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Charlie has explored and pioneered new routes on rock, ice and mountains in the Andes, the Himalaya, North America and Europe. Recent climbs include 8000 meter peaks Cho Oyu, Everest and Shishapangma in Tibet.
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Charlie has trekked and explored some of the planet's most remote and scenic spots, and is an acknowledged expert in risk management and leadership.
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Charlie was born in North Carolina, but grew up in Virginia. He graduated from the University of Virginia in 1975, with a degree in Environmental Science. He moved to Boulder, Colorado, where he lived for the next twelve years. During his time in Boulder he worked variously as a computer programmer, carpenter, and as a mountain guide and trip organizer.
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Since the mid-80's he has been self-employed, leading numerous trips overseas. He became a member of the American Mountain Guides Association in 1986 and became certified; He has taught and help establish many courses for the AMGA and served as an assessor on AMGA certification exams in the Rock and Alpine arenas.
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Since the early 80's he has had photographs published in many books, magazines and catalogs. He has also written several articles for magazines and journals, as well as writing and publishing three local climbing guidebooks. Today, writing and photography is his main business, supplemented by guiding.
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He moved to southwest Colorado in 1987, first to Telluride then to Norwood in '92, where he has lived ever since. Currently, he travels extensively, exploring remote areas of the Himalaya and Patagonia mostly, taking a lot of notes and pictures along the way.
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He has been involved with filmmaking for many years. Among other projects, he worked on National Geographic's "Ice Climb" as a guide and rigger; he did "Rock and Road" and "The Kingdom of Muli" for American Adventure productions; several episodes of "High Country Climber" for the Outdoor Life Network. He also appeared in, and helped film, John Catto's award-winning "La Escoba de Dios".
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Charlie went to Mt. Everest in the spring of 2002, guiding a trip for Mountain Madness. Later in the year he and Christine Boskoff traveled to Pakistan to attempt K2.
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The American Alpine Club awarded Charlie the Robert and Miriam Underhill Award for outstanding mountaineering achievement in 2004. In 2005 Charlie and Damon Johnston co-founded Mountain World Media LLC, a publishing company."
http://www.charliefowler.com/cf_info.html
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See Also Charlie on the Loose: http://charlieontheloose.blogspot.com/

"Christine Feld Boskoff is known as America’s leading female alpinist and CEO of Mountain Madness, (an adventure travel and expedition operator.); in actuality she has climbed the most summits of any woman alive, from any country. Christine, a Wisconsin native was born in 1967; in 1993 she took a two day climbing course. Four years later she became the first woman from North America to reach the summit of Lhotse. In 2000 she led a successful expedition to the summit of Mount Everest.
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The first mountain Christine climbed was in the Bolivian Andes, 17,000ft Tariji. After this first success she began organizing climbing expeditions to Africa, Mexico, Europe and North America. In 1994 she made her first trip to Asia and climbed Ama Dablam. In 1997 Christine bought the name, Mountain Madness. Mountain Madness is a company which was started by Scott Fisher; however Scott lost his life while guiding clients to the summit of Everest in 1996. Christine has turned Mountain Madness into one of America’s finest climbing schools and 8000m expedition leaders.
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Christine has been a member of eight 8000m expeditions, six of which were successful in reaching the summits. She has reached the top of Shishapangma, Everest, Gasherbrum II, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, and Broad Peak. Other accomplishments include Jilliper North and Ganaio in Pakistan; she has made winter ascents of Mt. Angor, Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Kenya in Africa, she has climbed Mt. Blanc and the Matterhorn in Europe and climbed extensively throughout North and South America.
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She is the only American woman alive to have reached the summit of 6 8000 Meter peaks. She also has an extensive record of unexplored first ascents, primarily in Tibet. Committed to living her dreams, Christine will be guiding Cho Oyu and attempting to climb K2 in 2002. She was the first North American woman to summit Lhotse.
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She has taken part in 9 8000 meter expeditions, being successful on 6, including Everest, when she summitted from the S. Col/SE Ridge, on May 24, 2000 (a Mountain Madness expedition with Peter Habeler). Christine lives in Seattle, Washington.
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Just the Facts: Christine Boskoff: American born 9/7/67, with her 6 8000M summits is now tied for second all time for women. Christine has summitted Broad Peak (8/13/95), Cho Oyu (9/27/96), Lhotse (5/26/97), Gasherbrum II (8/19/99), Everest (5/24/00), and [the main TRUE summit] Shishapangma on 10/10/00 by the British route on the Southwest face."
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Mountain Madness: http://www.mountainmadness.com/
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Quoted from Everest News.com
http://www.everestnews.com/stories2006/missing14162006.htrm/

"When Fowler and Boskoff failed to return to the United States December 4, a cautionary note was raised among friends. In the time since, the concern has focused on developing a search team and strategy. American climber Jon Otto, who has extensive experience in the area, has been retained to lead the efforts.
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The search leaders sent a team to Litang on December 14 to investigate the town for clues about the Ameicans, but found no information regarding any stays in local hotels.
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It is possible Fowler and Boskoff stayed with a family or in a farmer's field; Boskoff had also cited a monastery at the base of the 6200-meter Genyen, so searchers are also considering this location.
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The U.S. Consulate General has asked the provincial Foreign Affairs Office to coordinate a search with the local foreign affairs office and local police. They have sent two groups around the town of Litang to ask if anyone remembers seeing the Americans, and are checking with hostels, monasteries, bus stations, and the Litang Climbing Association.
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They have also requested more specific information about their travel plans and when they would gone to climb the mountain.
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As of December 11, the weather was reported as -10 degrees C, with no recent unusual weather activity. The chief of Zhangla, the last village before Genyen, was contacted December 9, but said that no climbers had been known to go recently to Genyen.
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The Sichuan Mountaineering and the Ganzi Mountaineering associations have also been contacted, but as no climbers had registered for a climbing permit, no information was forthcoming from this source.
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As friends wrote this morning, "Lets hope [Chris and Charlie] are happily seeking nirvana and drinking chang with Buddhist monks in [the monastery at head of the Genyan valley], waiting for the weather to break."

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Quoted from The Alpinist
http://www.alpinist.com/doc/ALP18/newswire-charlie-fowler-christine-boskoff-missing-tibet
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Damon Johnston, Charlie's climbing friend and publishing partner, has these below details and more at: Fowler-Boskoff Search Engine: http://fowlerboskoff.blogspot.com/

YOUR DONATIONS ARE URGENTLY NEEDED!

"Mountainfilm In Telluride has opened a new account under its non-profit umbrella to accept tax deductible donations for the Fowler-Boskoff search effort.
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The account is titled The Fowler-Boskoff Search Fund.
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It is a Wells Fargo account and the account number is 1736253632.
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All checks should be made to Mountainfilm in order to qualify for tax deductibility.
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Checks can be deposited at the Wells Fargo drop box next to its ATM in the Wintercrown Building breezeway or at the Wells Fargo branch in Mountain Village.
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Checks should reference the account name and/or number.Checks will also be accepted at the Mountainfilm office at 109 East Colorado Avenue (above The Toggery) or may be mailed to Mountainfilm, PO Box 1088, Telluride CO 81435.
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The Wells Fargo routing code for in-coming wires to the Fowler-Boskoff Search Fund is 121000248."
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Please help them any way you can.
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Charlie's Take on The Tibetans

"Tibet is the highest and most mountainous region in the world, so it's no wonder mountaineers, like myself, have been drawn to the area for centuries. Having wandered about the Tibetan plateau for several years now, I'm learning some important lessons.

For one, Tibet is not so much a political entity, but a unique geographic region. It is inhabited by distinct peoples who are united by language, culture, religions and a shared history. A region which transcends political boundaries - the people who live here had no say in drawing up national frontiers and hardly any allegiance, politically or culturally, to the foreignors who did.

A region where the many of the world's highest and wildest mountains are found along these borders; and where the climbing is as interesting and varied as the landscape and people. Given their environment, it's no surprise that Tibetans are a tough, resourceful people.

Anthropologists continue to debate their origins , but to the traveller some things are obvious - the Tibetans are not a race, but a diverse collection from central asian stock. This diversity is reflected in the culture - not all Tibetans are Buddhist as is commonly supposed; Islam is widespread, mostly in the west, and Bon, the animist religion which preceeded both, is still commonly practiced, predominately in the east.

Situated between the two great and ancient cultures of India and China, Tibet has had a long and turbulent history. United politically only rarely, Tibetans often expanded into nearby states, and in turn these nations invaded Tibet. The Tibetan plateau has now become incorporated into China, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Burma and Bhutan.

The Chinese invasion and occupation of the greater portion of Tibet in 1950 was one of the most disruptive events in recent history. Not only was an ancient culture threatened, but borders were closed, severely impacting the economies of neighboring countries; many thousands of refugees were created, and the on-going instability of central and south Asia was further exacerbated.

A vast array of problems was created which exist to this day. For the Tibetan people, it means that they are largely cut off from the outside world , second class citizens in their own country. Historically, climbers had been among the earliest explorers of remote Tibet. Now, the few who trickle in remain one of the few contacts Tibetans have with the free world.

It has been estimated that there are approximately 3000 peaks over 6000 meters on the Tibetan plateau, and another 70 peaks over 7000meters. The vast majority of these summits are unclimbed, the ranges where they are found, unexplored.

First unified in the 7th century ad (a period which coincides with the arrival of Buddhism), Tibetans traditionally divided their mountain country into three provinces: Utsang, the western and central highlands, is bound by the Kunlun Range to the north, the Karakoram to the west and the great Himalayan barrier to the south. To the northeast, are the great lakes plains of Amdo, crowned by Amnye Machen . And in the southeast, Kham. A land of deep valleys and rugged mountains , it is culturally the richest part of Tibet, as well as being the most populuous province. The mountains of Kham , largely unknown to outsiders, offer vast opportunities for the adventurous climber today.

Travelling in Tibet , I've been struck by the wealth of climbing to be done - from bouldering to crags to the highest alpine faces. But more than that, it the Tibetan people who draw me back; a people who treat mountains with respect, often reverence. Their generosity, resilience and good humor under difficult circumstances is impressive.

The Dalai Lama has proposed that the Tibetan Plateau be de-militarized and designated a "Zone of Peace". It is an idea that helps everyone - stability in the region will bring prosperity to those who live there; and for visitors a chance to experience a rare land and people.The situation in Tibet is complex, defying simple answers. I've only touched on a few of the many issues here.

For those interested in learning more, I'd suggest these sources as a start:

Recent history:A History of Modern Tibet, 1913 - 1951.

The Demise of the Lamaist State Melvyn Goldestein, University of California Press, 1989

Dragon in the Land of Snows. A History of Modern Tibet since 1947 Tsering Shakya, Pimlico, 1999

The Official website of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile: http://www.tibet.com

The US State Dept. website: http://www.state.gov . It has lots of great info and links for any travelling climber.

The annual Human Rights Reports, issued for most countries, have concise, objective background material on the political situations of nations - issues that direct affect climbers.

Travel: Tibet Handbook, A Pilgrimage Guide, Victor Chan, Moon Publications, 1994.

Tibet Handbook, with Bhutan, Gyurme Dorje, Footprint Handbooks, 1998.

Culture:The Sacred Life of Tibet, Keith Dowman, Thorsons, 1997

Of special interest to climbers:The American Alpine Journal, published annually by the American Alpine Club.

The Himalayan Journal, published annually by the Himalayan Club (India)A Guide to Climbing in China, Chinese Mountaineering Association, 1992.

Imitating Life in

“A man may fulfill the object of his existence by asking a question he cannot answer,

and attempting a task he cannot achieve.”

Oliver Wendell Holmes

Several years past the golden age of television lay bygone reminisces of my early childhood. In our collective psyche, approved by Mr. Clean and Chef Boy-Ar-Dee, Superman made the day for seventy-eight million of us baby boomers, even in reruns. From the small screen’s mythical ethers he arose, persona grata, within actor George Reeves. His heroic icon still springs eternal in the figments of our imagination. "Knock the "t" off the "can't," Reeves always said. Everyone was affected by him, and seems to have an opinion or comment about his work and life to this day. The late Christopher Reeve and Keanu Reeves both took names that invoke him. And the Superman franchise follows “in suit” to yet another generation. His legacy made us want to be better people, despite his suicide. He was allegedly “despondent” after being typecast and facing career crises as an aging actor. Preceded by Marilyn Monroe, who decided that “Hollywood is a place where they’ll pay you a thousand dollars for a kiss and fifty cents for your soul.” The circumstances of both deaths were determined suicides and shabbily resolved; there are still a multitude of unanswered questions about them both. Hollywoodland epitomizes reel life, generalizes real life, and lays bare the relative ethos of those persevering to reach the A-list. Not a crime mystery per se, this retrospective is a mesmerizing film! Director Allen Coulter, of Sopranos fame, gives us an existential show of fragmented and wasted meaningful perceptions. There is a rumbling philosophical tsunami beyond its too few facts that hasn’t quite hit the shore. I was thoroughly engrossed waiting for the possibilities of some shocking truth that never happened. The film exposes those same dirty games and thuggery in play today. As William Faulkner observed, “Hollywood is a place where a man can get stabbed in the back while climbing a ladder." Reeves’s wavering personality was as appealing as his on-screen persona. He was nailed by the fun sullen charm of actor Ben Affleck, who won a golden lion at the Venice Film Festival to validate his excellent portrayal. Both are dynamos, and there are immediate and recognizable similarities in his own life that permeate Reeves’. In today’s world, the Reeves affair would have been public knowledge and, likely, only a temporary career setback, not a suicidal end, because he was so well-liked. And although Mr. Affleck’s life has overshadowed his talent, his sexual press could also be considered career suicide due to his typecast roles. But, he too, is well-liked. He throws in other hints of his life in the film, as well....All aspects of the production and cast have taken their place and run well with their tasks. ”The concealment of art by the actor is as great a mark of genius as it is in the painter,” expounded French acting teacher Francois Delsarte. As does often happen in real life, Hollywoodland places all the troubled blame on the womenfolk in his life, when most of it lies deservedly within ego and on the macho trappings of image. In flashbacks, Mr. Reeves has an affair with a spousal-powerful, fastly aging, married women, for her favors and, to get more work. Toni Mannix is deftly portrayed by the hotly obsessive Diane Lane. Her husband, Eddie Mannix, lovingly played by the bossy and overprotective Bob Hoskins, runs MGM and their "open" marriage. Reeves and Mannix play around until The Adventures of Superman is cancelled. Toni never helps him find work after that. She is spurned when he goes to New York, and it is implied she shot her 6'4" lover in the temple because of their break-up. There Reeves meets his future fiancé, Leonora Lemon. He brings her back to L.A. where they have a rocky relationship, and he allegedly dumps after several months. She is also implied to have shot her 6'4" ex-fiance in the temple because of their break-up. She is portrayed as a opportunistic social climber, and is played fabulously supercial by Robin Tunney.

The quadrangle ensues, never resolved. A few beatings and a couple of payoffs later, his death is ruled a suicide. His demise is never explained: who could shoot a 6'4" man to death, at close range, in his temple? And it is lightly answered that only he could do that to himself. “I don't mind living in a man's world as long as I can be a woman in it,” as Monroe was wont to say. Hollywoodland doesn’t expose the hidden use of lawyers to pressure and cover-up before speculations and suspicions become gossip, accusation, and indictment. But you know they are there, involved somewhere, as fixers, the doers big brother employ. They are everywhere implied in those unseen legal binding connections of finance, of which any impropriety dismisses future contact outright. In real life a lawyer named Geisler was hired by Reeves's mother, Helen Bessolo, to be the fixer, not a P.I., as this film depicts. Such "fixers" are directly spoken of to those about to go under contract, who must abide and live their lives by these connections or live without them. The pursuit and signing of these type of contracts has mocked constitutional rights and made lives voidable. "Hollywood is a place where they place you under contract instead of under observation," as Walter Winchell surmised. Underlying all the fake passion that rules all those twice told tales of and the battles that rage from within, expressed throughout Hollywoodland. However, it is possession which determines the success and direction a life will flow. Enforcements are made first by the claims of big money, while lesser others fall to the wayside, unable to afford the relief they need. It is a set-up from the beginning. There were no real choices to be mulled over. No fruitful decisions to be made. Beyond immediate gratifications, the rest of life had already been planned because a contract, or its negotiation, even a verbal one, was already been made. A done deal for an elite membership and career route already defined. It is part and parcel of the threadbare commonality accompanying most acting careers. Reeves' mysterious end death is still one of the most notorious deaths in Hollywood history. Ratings and box office earnings are still king, today, at the networks and studios, respectively, and even today, a similar death can easily happen, again. “Behind the phony tinsel of Hollywood lies the real tinsel,” Oscar Levant has famously declared. These A-listers and wannabees are public people of whose truths will never be discovered, they have this protection guaranteed, legally pre-empted. In this social Darwinism for the aspiring classes, the rat race promise implied is that authority will let you off, or will give you success for your silence, if your information can harm them. This is what Louis Simo, a private investigator and Reeves’s greedy selfish mother, Helen Besselo, have to face down. “I'll do anything for money - even associate with my agent,” mused the late, great Vincent Price. It appears George Reeves has found his immortality after all, as an actor and as a character. Both live on in equanimity, in the astonishing dissimilar sides of a singular being, as this movie reveals. My guess is that his ever widening psychic psychic would have engulfed everybody he knew had we known more about him. This is the greatest mystery of George Reeves. We are left never knowing what want to know, and are left only to ponder what could be the truth or not. And we let it go because he was Superman, our hero. We want him more as Superman. Knowing more might destroy Superman and leave us with George Reeves, whoever he was, unless he had played some other popular role as well. Only then could we have them both on equal footing. Sure, in the back of his mind, George Reeves must have thought so, too. That he could take or leave Superman, and not be stuck with him as he is, if he was known for other characters. George must become more famous than Superman. He would only be his character otherwise. As they are promised more to goad a sell out, damage control can only allow minor dirty gossip, in baseless speculation and suspicion. The Mannixes are safe from confrontation and criticism, of their shady affairs, investments, and mafia dealings. With or without clamor, these empty promises held their goal. The results are a few more enemies on top of nothing. Their flattery having so easily manipulated ego-driven fame, that which is most thin-skinned about the industry. More won’t happen because the status quo is secure in its kept secrets. Besselo sells out, to keep her son's legacy alive, and leaves Simo without a case, and, despite all his Raymond Chandler leanings, he goes no further. He leaves the money, and the case is over. “Success consecrates the most offensive crimes,” so Seneca, the famed tradgedician during Nero’s Rome, still echoes timelessly. And Simo too, has finally arrived at a conclusion, but as a real man, in his daily mundaneness, having survived the film’s distractions, and forgone its wicked temptations. But for his son, he is newly aware of what could happen to him. His son symbolizes his personal future, and his legacy, a karmic realization, of his attempts to get past his flaws and once and for all to overcome them; to directly engage his life. Both are content with Oliver Wendell Holmes’s expunction. This film should be remembered as transcendental, even though its static existentialism initially grabs you. Its timeless message is what holds you in. Maybe the next film Mr. Affleck chooses will be an equally stimulating biopic of Peter Jennings. Both George Reeves and Superman are a very tough act to follow. We will always remember them both, equal in fame and infamy. We have felt safe from all harm through his heroic common touch. And forever endeared to him by his gentle Southern charm.:)

For the Love of my Bat

Batman is my lifetime love. He is the first man I ever really understood. He was always there for me; we were compadres, and childhood sweethearts. I learned to read from his comic books. I imagined him into reality. He became my personal hero, saving Gotham from evil doers. On the small screen, he defeated Egghead by exposing his allergies and avenged the death of the Green Hornet by almost destroying the Joker. He was gorgeous, funny and human.
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On the silver screen, we shared brooding inner turmoils; the approaching aspects and issues of the day always excitingly resolved. As an old fart, I appeared to have outlived him. I am Batman's widow long before my time. What happened to him?
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The studio franchise released its Monster of Functionality (MF) to devour my Dark Knight. They want to bring back the Joker from fandom's sacred burial ground. I feel very alone. And can only voice my protest in this blog. The MF lives off past successes, citing money grubbing as its main creative tool, wasting time reconstructing the past to deconstruct its fond memories in the greatest of all goals: more profit.
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MF perverts his fans to gain more ticket sales. Purely format driven content. In a creative sense, in a memorable, in a legendary sense, the idea, its content, has always successfully driven its form, the format is secondary. Had we not had a history together the MF could not even hope to sucker my Batman this way.
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Batman Begins was a historical piece I enjoyed along with every kid allowed to see it; success was because it covered Batman's missing years. Nothing here was retold to us. The familiarity and acceptance of the fans remained. Logic dictates that this next incarnation "The Dark Knight" should involve any of the hundreds of villains not yet silver screened, to keep up audience interested. King Tut (very Bin Ladenesque)could not be more timely a topic. Or have Marsha Queen of diamonds and Egghead return (pick any politician). Or the MF should try to trick us and make a new villain, revealed masquerading as the Joker, but who really isn't.
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It makes no sense to bring back the Joker. Avid fans like me, in the audience, will quickly lose interest. The Joker is a known and twice-told tale already. No one watching TVLand will ever forget Caesar Romero's laugh. And as a Tim Burton fan, I am still fascinated by all his movies. He was an animator and his Batmans were so compelling, and so good, that none of the films that followed dared even breathe similarities to his work.
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Any mention of Batman just naturally gears the discussion up to his "Purpleness" and his beauty and the beast comment. He is a pop culture icon, still a king character reigning over all villainy. Plus, Jack Nicholson was paid $60 million dollars for the definitive role of the Joker, no one has since forgotten, it is one of the legendary roles in Hollywood, equal to "Chinatown" and comparable to the "Godfather" himself. It is way too soon to bring back the Joker!
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We are presently in an age where diversity sells, and the MF has given "The Dark Knight" an all-white cast. The MF will likely win because I don't think less of Heath Ledger as the Joker, but why waste talent on the script's also-ran roles when the cast you've got is more than up to the task of creating their own legendary parts.
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The MF's managerial skills have made decisions as bad as both the Clinton and the Bush administration, akin to brain-death. At age 27, Heath Ledger is way too young and still too new in his movie career to do any old fart has-been role. He may become the reverse of Dorian Gray by reprising this role.
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One can only hope the cast makes as much as Jack before this film is released so they, at least, have something when the MF tanks their careers and the franchise. The MF is bent on burying fond memories of my childhood and tainting the love of my Dark Knight. We can only hope this is a bad practical joke. And that our Batman will win over the MF and his actor-proof CGI relatives.
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The Mainstream Screwball-i-ness of You, Me & Dupree

"The spirit of liberty is the spirit which is not too sure that it is right; the spirit of liberty is the spirit which seeks to understand the minds of other men and women; the spirit of liberty is the spirit which weighs their interests alongside its own without bias; the spirit of liberty remembers that not even a sparrow falls to earth unheeded...that spirit of an America which...never will be except as the conscience and courage of Americans [who together] create it....

Judge Learned Hand
The Spirit of Liberty p. 190-1 (1944).
http://www.commonlaw.com/Hand.html

It slipped past unnoticed by everyone. We have been far too distracted by other issues, by other people telling us how bad things are. The bad that spread to all other areas of our lives and to our few esacpes: the scripts, the actors, the convoluted editing that still can't disgiuise CGIs from actual scenery. We have unwittingly become more sophisticated than the CGI, and the camera lens. It appears that while actors are moving to CGIs, they aren't really "acting" in those scenes (they aren't given the time nor the words to).
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With the price of tickets at the bottom of critiquing many movies unworthy to see by myriad detractors, we've been told what to see and look for. So often now, for over a decade at least, we didn't even recognize their effect on our own changing lives. Our old fartiness has shrivelled our minds into judgements we have forgotten how to make objectively. We need to be shaken out of this pending disaster mentality. It is wearing us down. It is wearing us out! I, personally, have been sick of me, for at least as long I have listened to all the negativity surrounding my media choices.
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I have suspected deeper happenings for several months now and I just assumed it was because I was behind the curve. But every ten years or so things get drastic, they culminate from many inklings, from an expertise that is culled and crafted, out of many short term experiences, even though they are looking us straight in our eyes. The long run is here! We have to come out of ourselves and look. I was shaken out, during my weekly movie date, while viewing the film "You, Me and Dupree." And I get it! I have proudly discovered that our young ones are just as praiseworthy as any of us in any generation in their skill and abilities, actors included.
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The critics panned "Dupree" as unworthy, albeit, another dumb experience the whole family should do well to avoid. The same critics who pan these films have become those the audience must see and become hits at the box ofice. And in opposite they avoid the acclaimed films because they suspect some larger ulterior motive at hand. They initially panned hits such as "50 First Dates" and "Dumb and Dumber." I tend to follow the typical audience regards films.
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In this instance I criticize the critics. They were wrong to pan "Dupree." It, like "Cinderella Man" and "Failure to Launch" have struck a deep resonnance with its audience and is not forgotten afterwards. Even "Dupree's" advertisers appeared to blast it. I was rather insulted by the trailer and found the movie to be much better its media rushes. My low expectations were actually lifted up. It belies a hidden sophistication for the audience to discover. And a modern day feel of the old films I still love so much.
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"Dupree" is as funny as "My Man Godfrey" or "Bringing Up Baby" ever was. The character development is outstanding. When "Scarlett," the sequel to "Gone with the Wind" was made, all the critics could say was that the only thing wrong with Joanne Whalley Kilmer was that she wasn't Vivien Leigh. It is an insulting comparative to make for both generations involved. "Dupree" wasn't made during WWII, but of the same ilk. It is entertaining and one goes in with ready made expectations of what the film will be like.
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The decent filming and editing would makes it a passable film for its genre. All the characters are deeply involved with each other, and that makes it a great audience experience. For a change we are not talked out of liking it with spectacular effects that become boring staying in our seats for too long. We are want to be there for the film, as welcome participants. With "Dupree" there is more to deal with than a battle of the sexes and warring generation gaps.
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On the surface the film suggests "tainted moneygrabber" and implies stealing from other films. Gordon Gecko is there, Michael Douglas is a jealous, almost irate, empty nester. But, Gecko never rears his ugly head. The Wiseguy newlywed husband is there, Matt Dillon as the pent-up angry, befuddled hubby...we are just waiting for the godfather to show up for a shootout or a bloodfest to break out, but it never dhappens. The bitchy spoiled controlling typical Hollywood wife has got to be there, and she is. But she is a minor character, as the wife of Dillon's conning buddy Neil. The naive dumb rocker newlywed wife doormat, should be there, the same as her dippy mother in a different generation, but WHOAA!! OUR EXPECTATIONS ARE TOTALLY REVERSED HERE!!!! Kate Hudson has come into her own actor-ness, finally, a fun and practical, working wife. She is a tribute to Goldie, not a genetic copy (and that had to take some years of doing!) Of "Dupree" himself, the split personality dumb and dumber character we expect to get stupider and very seriously injured or worse is actually saved by his good-ness. Owen Wilson delivers his best ever warmt-hearted bohemian. The film actually works to defy audience expectations.
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And the film actually works well. I expected it to turn into an Albert Brooks musical at any minute, but it didin't go there. I found myself grateful that there was no singing! And I was relieved it didn't stray into the actors' past roles because I would have strayed along with them, into their past with my past, and resented them for it. The film did not go there. It looked ahead, which was a nice change and a fitting audience finale. With the Audrey Hepburn, extreme games, and Lance Armstrong tributes, it has a happy unexpected result. This cast of very talented actors, competed from the get-go to be so emotionally generous and entertaining that we`would want to look to the future; that is the gift of "Dupree."
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There is another "gift of Dupree, too. An a la Dan Brown controversy brewing. It has been reported by the associated Press that "Dupree," the movie is a rip-off of Steely Dan's tune "Cousin Dupree," which won a 2001 Grammy Award for best pop performance. The band asked Wilson...to appear at a concert to apologize to their fans. "In a statement released by his spokeswoman, Ina Treciokas, Wilson said: "I have never heard the song `Cousin Dupree' and I don't even know who this gentleman, Mr. Steely Dan, is. I hope this helps to clear things up and I can get back to concentrating on my new movie, `HEY 19.'" Hey 19 is a song made famous by Steely Dan. This is one of those generic groups everybody knows of. And there appears to be a lot of mockery from both sides. The screwball-i-ness of the film is set to imitate grim money-grubbing reality. The name Dupree came fom somewhere, no doubt. Here are the lyrics4all.net a la Dan, FYI:

Artist: Steely Dan
Song: Cousin Dupree
Album: Two Against Nature

Well I've kicked around a lot since high school
I've worked a lot of nowhere gigs
From keyboard man in a rock'n ska band
To haulin' boss crude in the big rigs
Now I've come back home to plan my next move
From the comfort of my Aunt Faye's couch
When I see my little cousin Janine walk in
All I could say was ow-ow-ouch

(CHORUS:)
Honey how you've grown
Like a rose
Well we used to play
When we were three
How about a kiss for your cousin Dupree

She turned my life into a living hell
In those little tops and tight capris
I pretended to be readin' the National Probe
As I was watchin' her wax her skis
On Saturday night she walked in with her date
And backs him up against the wall
I tumbled off the couch and heard myself sing
In a voice I never knew I had before

(CHORUS)

I'll teach you everything I know
If you teach me how to do that dance
Life is short and quid pro quo
And what's so strange about a down-home family romance?

One night we're playin' gin by a cracklin' fire
And I decided to make my play
I said babe with my boyish charm and good looks
How can you stand it for one more day
She said maybe its the skeevy look in your eyes
Or that your mind has turned to applesauce
The dreary architecture of your soul
I said - but what is it exactly turns you off?

I seem to recall a news tidbit, way back when, that George Clooney started out in a friend's closet before moving up to his aunt Rosemary's couch....My guess is this becomes one of those ridiculous court cases in the near future. Legally, both titles are different enough, and both personalities are different enough to be quickly dismissed, as titles are generally not copyrightable, unless trademarked, and neither is a book (as of yet). "Dupree," is only part of the titles, but someone should have checked, known, and caught this striking similarity during pre-production. Hopefully, as it generally follows in the "screwball" genre, this controversy won't last and will end in belly laughs on all sides.
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The only downside to the film is more of the characters should have been racially diverse. It is a sign of our times that diversity sells. And that may keep "Dupree" from spreading to as broad an audience as it deserves. If you can see beyond what other people tell you, take a chance on "You, Me, and Dupree." This film remains moderate in all areas, and ends with genuine mush. But, this is not a chick flick nor kid flick, nor buddy flick, it is a film for all generations to relate to. And like me, everybody should leave with some enduring thoughts on their lives to take home with them. To put confused memories and sorrow back into perspective, and move forward.
:)

THE PINK CROSS

“Look at me. You embarrass me. You embarrass yourself.”
-Cameron, (Terence Howard), from Crash
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In the ABC show Commander-in-Chief, President Mackenzie Allen (a disarmingly serious and believable Geena Davis) sits across from her nominee for attorney general, who is under fire and attempting to resign from the nomination process. He is almost broken by the attacks on his family and media saturation of a single case making him look weak on crime. She says “Welcome to my life.” He decides to stay despite the rife antagonism, and is later confirmed. She won by recruiting a primary opponent to run the treasury, instead of probably unseating, the swing-voting incumbent.
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Our independent Executive barely succeeds, only to abate one political crisis after another, life imitates art imitates life on this show. Academy award winner Geena Davis has rookie Golden Globe award for best actress as Mac. CinC has also won EPIC, Inspiration, and Matrix awards, and appears to be still wining them. Numerous nominations make her eligible for next year's accolades, too. Behind the scenes turmoil has been equally as fierce.
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ABC has tried to downgrading its potential, by pulling Commander-in-Chief (CinC) from its lineup. It is a bad decision culminating from the basically good idea of this show. Awards are sign of mainstream impact. Winners used to be over--hyped selling points for a show!
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But this has only increased controversy. What better symbol of presence and potential than a woman President? What worse embarrassment than to cancel this show?? Sexy, popular, and attractive to those registered voters who want cast their vote in good conscious, CinC is a show of hopeful service to all Americans, of what the majority moderates want in a leader: neither a Clinton nor Bush be. It is embarassing we have not voted for the best leadership, and that other things distract us from bettering ourselves and the lives of thse we love.
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FROM GRAYSCALED REALITIES
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By no means the only good idea gone bad in the white hot heat, CinC, has strung in stealth, in grayscale, a line of voice between reality and fantasy, a critical path of effects that have defied actual ratings to reach a globally appreciative audience. From its phenomenal harmonic start, the zeitgeist of Cinc is still hums from its 15 seconds of fame. This "grayscaling" is due from overexposure in the media, a black and white marketing too creating its "event," which hasn't faded, is not covered anymore, yet is still there. It has been "grayscaled," lesser, but constant level in the public psyche that still discuss despite media coverage. We don't want it to go away!: :
The rareness of original thought, of truth, and even greatness, makes content almost irrelevant in our computerized formulaic structures of process. Entertainment money trees, made from digital files must fight for audience and exposure to grow. They are gone if they don't grow. Zero sum gains have been thrown to the wayside for pointlessness. What we like and want to watch becomes more complex and expensive. However, with many substitutes freely available on the web, we have fragmented into gangs and mobs instead of ciizens of our country. The more saturated we become, as law of diminishing returns says, the less we, to participate.
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There is so much “in our face,” all at once, forcing us to give immediate importance to minor events or lose . We blink and stress out. And sometimes suffer over what we are persuaded to choose, when deep down we aren’t all that interested. We let ourselves be coerced out of habit. No decision is not a choice, but a personal stalemate. We don’t know what is actually going on, because our media over-personalize the limited choices we think are out there, from what is cheap and easy to produce on-air. Common sense should have some say about all this. We know grayscaling will continue because it is our revolt over what we are told. What we are e-told isn't “the way it is.” And in the legal fashion of our times, the courts take on the high profile cases to prosper and to prove they are a functional authority.
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Leading up to the future disputes of CinC, the most notable event of grayscaling is The Da Vinci Code lawsuit. Most agree it should never have gone to court. It is analogous to the CIA suing James Bond over Felix Lighter. Millennia-held secular and sacred ideas could have become someone’s property. There may still be the potential to make justiciable issues between belief and fiction. Patent disputes over God could also arise. What would Mary Magdelene do?
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Luckily, Justice Peter Smith didn’t go there! The court found, with prejudice, that similitude is not copycatting. There is only speculation about the relationship between Mary Magdelene and Jesus, yet she has been maligned throughout history for following him. It is the original sexism. No one knows except what the gospel and other historical documents merely mention.So the modern case was not about accuracy or a centuries old smear. Though Mary was a business whiz who financed Jesus for three years, and it was Pope Boniface that labeled her a 'ho.": :Yet those aside doubts has raised the discussion out of court; of the place of women and sex in religion. We may have arrived here after waning weary arguments and unresolved issues of the church sex scandals. Mary was not defended well, and never had to defend herself while alive.And as she is actualy mentioned in the gospels, I am confident her role or association with Jesus was not seen as improper in some way.
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In a nutshell, the Dan Brown case shows the extent that money rules mass media. These plaintiffs were allowed to use any legal means necessary. They wanted to get their destined share of the biggest grossing film in history. Instead they lost their meager fortunes, and were tried in the media, as notorious outlaws, under the mob rule of popular culture.
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There is more thought-provoking fallout from this case. Since The Da Vinci Code is a sequel, the Tomb Raider people could also sue Mr. Brown for the Illuminati in his first book, Angels and Demons (it’s a better read). He, again, thieves his own architecture in it. Maybe they’ll change their minds when another lucrative movie deal with Columbia Pictures is reached. Apparently, the controversies will increase for both books.
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More ridiculous jurisprudence is pending for the Dick Tracy sequel . It is being litigated for an option already signed for. Please name me one comic book hero that was only in one movie, never remade or sequelized? Mission Impossible III, now considered a flop, broke the mystical $100 million mark in one week, a goal only about 100 movies has broken through. Someone may have to compensate for those missing $50 million dollars more it was expected to make. Superman Returns has come back as a memorial emphasizing its urban legends where it should be a celebration.: :Modernizing the characters only makes us long for the good old versions. The fictions are being re-fictionalized to compete somehow with reality. Sylvester Stallone, the famed creator of sequelitis, from the Rocky and Rambo films, once pontificated that every time you try to raise your head above the crowd, someone will try to lop it off. He is likely to be beheaded by public opinion before Rocky VI gets made. In a rush to judgement, one bad decision usually begets another. These are reminders of what men once were and are not. And of how insignificant the roles women take on are.
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The Beatles are appealing their Apple trademark infringement case. Apple Computers had no Itunes or Ipods when their agreement was signed? The lower court has ruled that the Apple doesn’t stand for music. Apple Computers is at the forefront of digitally retooling the entire music industry. Ipod is the new industry standard. Any Ipod commercials are unforggetably musical. The Itunes store has "tunes" in the name, and adding movies and videos hasn't changed this. Both parties have good ideas. Suing each other makes them both look bad, even though the music and film industries have a long history of such disputes. Mass media follows their forays into digital litigation. We never hear about women in these types of situations. Although, no parties here have sold unique concepts.
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Non Bon-cases pay for the conversion of the courts into digital, paperless forums. The courts will become an extension and expansion of mass media that are accountable only for their processes, not the content, nor effect of their cases. This merger of digital structures on traditionally analog communities will draw its own baseline of exclusion. In our denial of reality, which started with the Supreme Court gutting 4th amendment rights. The convenience of bits and byte simplicity will rule. Who’s next? It is a black or white, on or off matter? We are all insignificant now.
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Corporate media bullies waste much time and expense to persuade you that you have no individuality without them. The wonder and infinite possibilities of the world are revealed in your media choices, only through your pocketbook. They have invaded our cultures to impose their own legal fictions. They mimic reality to manipulate us.
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The Da Vinci case has caused ideas we hold dear to possibly become intangible personal property--we can buy their version or be sued for plagiarizing. Just ask the viewers what they think--just this once! Media managers are not making audience savvy decisions without their millions made off it, either from the audiences or from court, or could find someone who didn't meet their expectations to blame. Oh, It would never be their fault for their own miscalculations! Our mortality, success and survival have been made to depend on personal consumerism; as an addictive right of passage in consecutive short—term spurts, confusing our steadily longer--term lives.
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GHOSTS OF MEDIA PAST
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Our childhood ideals are overexposed moments of changing technology. These wasted, and passing, isolated emotions, further shred our sense of self, only to become outlet of humongous points-of-sale. Entertainment is highly repetitive without purpose. Its results are inconclusive, and therefore unastonishing, adding boredom to stress and panic, because it is so easily recognizable. Perhaps we gleaned this from the Da Vinci Code; even through the legal battles. That we have grayscaled that we can still make a difference somewhere.
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Grayscaling will increase as people change to want more than stupid and thrilling. The saturation and overexposure will be as ignored as jury duty or the vote. We want others to take on the burden, it is pent up in all of us because what we are shown is static and unchanging--we will join whoever takes it on, even when they make false promises. It is the sneaky revenge of the people, who have tended to do the opposite of both the critics and the programmers, of not what they predict will be based on their calculated influence.
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My oldest and fondest memories are from television. They revolve around the notion that the world can be made a better place to live for all of us, that mass media is the light of truth that shines on both the facts of our experiences and the possibilities of what life can be. It is too easy an excuse to blame mass media for for our procrastination, our not living our lives to the fullest because of mass media bombardment. Unfortunately, and habitually, I still expect to view our best selves. Mrs. Peel from the sixties shows The Avengers was always “needed.” It became a duty for most of us to find a way to be needed. And our current denial, as a people, is that after all these years, we have not done our best. When is it too late to be those leaders we know we should be?
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The networks competed to invite controversy and debate by hiring mavericks from all walks of life. People who were different, who were unafraid to explore and talk about any event they encountered-as a common ground for all of us. My generation wanted to grow up to be decent and good adults, we were raised this way by our parents, grandparents, and media babysitters; it was our job as children to grow up to be productive adults. Back then, we found change easy and actually sought change in our lives; change was a positive thing.
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These days, change from the status quo is viewed negatively. It is the status quo that is harmful. Grayscaling will evolve into more than minor numbers of people, counted and identified, therefore known and targeted, for their good ideas, to be expelled from a minority based society that has imposed their will on us all. Today feels more like “pay up or get out of the way.” We have been misled and coerced to search longer and deeper into new formats and software to find quality: to the corporate joy of those who want to control our choices.
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We are incorrectly thought of and reported as one voice, from a past voice that used to be in a unison that hasn’t existed in a long while. Much to mass media’s dismay, hatred and violence are not unifying forces. We defer and agree to disagree, but we should not have one voice as a culture. We should all sing the American Anthem in every language that has ever existed. We should accept our many voices. There is much that can unify us that is not heard. The grayscale hums their failed overexposures to bring us together.
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FUTURE SCHLOCK
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On TV, last season, there were many female leads and roles to choose from: World News Tonight, Commander-in-Chief, Gilmore Girls, Reba, Veronica Mars, The Closer (the only show, on cable, not in danger of cancellation), and Alias. But, the same illogical sexism that stemmed from the The Da Vinci Code case has led ABC to transform at least one good idea into many bad ones. And for CBS to overhype Katie Couric as the first female anchor. To stumble just when it could have made a significant change to all generations, and shake the staus quo into inspired participation that would open the floodgates of fearless discussion. They will not likely change their reactionary format, or attitude towards women. One can only wish her well.
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We have a tri-hundred year tradition of being a multi-dimensional, multi-facted culture whose dissents have changed the world for the better. These are anti-climactic issues of debate. Had Katie pioneered news in some way, or been first at something, or if there weren't so many other "trusted" news sources outside of tv, or no Oprah, maybe her achievement would be more empowering. Conceptual trust is as overposed as the graphics and faces of its claimers.
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Mary's label is held high to modern women with a highly public persona. The reality is no one is above reproach. CBS has untihinkingly and ham handedly dissed women. She won't be credited for upping the news ratings, either, in a format that has long been out of touch and uninformative. I guess it's okay as long as CBS makes a profit.
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The grayscale hums its deepest from the Da Vinci Code dichotomy, of fictional possibilities of a sainted mythical figures and the reality of a solo woman president. Women in both these roles are a strength and phenomenon, recognized and appreciated, it seems, by everyone except its home network. The quality of both stories are equally effective, seemingly interchangeable definitions of women's roles, although these impression counter what we think should be happening.
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At ABC news, Elizabeth Vargas is the first pregnant and solo network news anchor, albeit due to Bob Woodruff’s injury, on World News Tonight. She had an embarrassing second billing in his absence, while competently filling that late Peter Jennings’s shoes. She creditied with falling to third place in the ratings. The ratings fell because of this treatment, not because she anchored an amazingliy innovative stress free and otherwise highly watchable broadcast. Typically, ABC didn't defend her, even in the name of competition against CBS. Being replaced by Charles Gibson (like Regis, on medication for a heart attack) prior to taking maternity leave gives another black eye to women. It was another giant step backward when the news format remains indelibly the same to a widely changed audience.
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Perhaps it saved ABC from her rights to family leave. Perhaps while she goes on maternity leave ABC will be the first network to finally do hour long news in primetime (in 3-D, please!) it would more profit than any reality show and regain the credibility news should have strived for. This has been talked about this for years and been consciously avoided by network executives.
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From the ficticious side, Commander-in-Chief has a big “cult” following. People talk about it in grocery stores and libraries, students and teachers revel in the possibility of a female president. And even more so in the fact that she is an independent, as most moderates, non-voting, and in both parties, are thrilled. Not having an admirable candidate to vote for, we all revel in the possibility of one we would like to vote for. Most would vote for a male like candidate like Mac. She actually wants to serve and do the right by her citizenry.
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Ironically, CinC is reportedly to be replaced by another yet another incarnation of the Primetime newsmagazine, more intersections of fiction and reality? For next season, though, Primetime has been relegated to news specials to make room for ABC’s Fall formulaic lineup. It appears the demographic market has soured for both news and drama. This may be another misstep for Disney, which has had more than its share of ongoing dyspeptic court disputes. Cinc is rumored to become a made for tv special, to appease our disappointment of them.
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A disappointed public should voice their outrage; they should be listened to and respected. It does exist out there. A balance of intelligent vs. stupid television should be sought after and protected. All the networks could better society, treat females better. There is a glut of cancellations that will minimize women's presence on the air; and ignored this result to make ready for the next media assault. Fiction sells, and reality is ignored; the two manage to glean a profit from this merger.
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Who we are and what we want to be has been reflected through a tradition of good television. CinC has perpetuated those childhood ideals we think lost, and by staying on the air will keep a devoted audience in tow, to help define what we stand for today, despite network poo-poo-ings. Doing what is right and decent is the ultimate, and cheapest marketing tool and can just as easily add another zero to corporate balance sheets.
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Television can regain its leadership role and revive mass media’s greatest strength: showing the possibilities out there, of what we can (and should) accomplish: to be as fair-minded, and independent, as this fictional American President or as actual female news anchors? We can only gaze mystified as President Allen steps away, Ms. Vargas steps down, and Ms. Couric leads the charge into obsolescence. I expect them to write a book about all they have witnessed!
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We hold ourselves down until the feeling passes, as we are trained, knowing there is something missing, and something deeply wrong with all this. We know we can be and do better than this! We have become all of the same repetitive opinions online. An unread majority of leaders whom no one wants to listen to. We are mesmerized by our own personified one-sided media bombardment. Absorbed into communal stereotypes, against any opinion less than our own.
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We all silently suffer from marketing labels and pictures. So far, men have more easily shrugged these pressures off, keeping the focus on women. Of nuns, bimbos, divas, whores, and bitches. It is the pink cross we are forced to carry, as one-half of all people. Together, in rebellion, we ignore what can’t face up to as a culture. As have become the first grayscaled generation, and without active solution. In the steps of the Da Vinci Code forays, Cinc follows, with amazingly similar result. The addage is whatever works is copied, despite the consequences to common sense. And despite the crises to our conscience. We are only left to mull and ponder: what would Mac do?

:)