Is the "Rock and Roll Hall-of-Fame" really for Rock and Roll?

With the announcement this week of the 2014 class of performers to be inducted into the "Rock and Roll Hall-of-Fame" (Cat Stevens, Hall and Oats, Nirvana, Kiss, Linda Ronstadt, and Peter Gabriel), I felt it was a good time to discuss a few issues and questions I have with and for the Rock and Roll Hall-of-Fame (RRHOF) Foundation.

As you may or may not know, the RRHOF resides in Cleveland, Ohio and began voting in recipients in 1986.  Since then, 719 people, 295 performers, and 104 groups have been inducted.  Which brings me to my first question.  The induction of 295 performers over a 27 year period averages about 11 per year.  At that rate, isn't every performer going to be in the RRHOF at some point in the future?  I would hope that the RRHOF foundation will decide sometime soon to start inducting fewer people (five or less) each year to preserve the dignity of the hall.  If not, we'll start to see more and more mediocre acts being inducted, and the quality of the RRHOF will slowly be diluted.

My next question to the RRHOF would be a pretty basic one:  "What is your definition of Rock and Roll"?  I only ask, because here are a few of the performers who have been inducted into the hall since its initiation:  Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday, The Supremes, The Temptations, The Platters, The Four Tops, The Four Seasons, Gladys Knight and the Pips, the Bee Gees, Brenda Lee, Donna Summer, The O'Jays, The Ronettes, Run-D.M.C, and Abba.  All great and even legendary performers in their own right, but Rock and Rollers? Pop Hall-of-Fame, Rap Hall-of-Fame,  Soul Hall-of-Fame, Hip Hop Hall-of-Fame, R&B Hall-of-Fame for sure.  Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?  I'm not too sure about that.

"Artists become eligible for induction 25 years after the release of their first record. Criteria include the influence and significance of the artists’ contributions to the development and perpetuation of rock and roll.  The RRHOF Foundation's nominating committee selects nominees each year in the Performer category. Ballots are then sent to an international voting body of more than 600 artists, historians and members of the music industry. Those performers who receive the highest number of votes are inducted."  That is the extent of the RRHOF Foundation's explanation of their voting/induction process. What is considered a high number of votes?  Is there a minimum number of votes needed to be elected? If not, who determines which performers have the "highest number of votes" for any given year?  Where's the cut off?  Inquiring minds want to know!

Finally, what do the following list of performers have in common:  The Doobie Brothers, Chicago, Yes, Emerson, Lake and Palmer (ELP), Jethro Tull, The Cars, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Journey, Dire Straits, Bad Company, the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), Styx, and Kansas?  None, I repeat, none, are in the RRHOF!  That's stunning to me.  What's even more outrageous is that outside of Yes, NONE of them have ever been nominated!  And all but The Cars and Dire Straits have been eligible for over 15 years now!  How can this be?  How can some, if not all of these groups be omitted?  They certainly fit the RRHOF Foundation's criteria of "Artists become eligible for induction 25 years after the release of their first record. Criteria include the influence and significance of the artists’ contributions to the development and perpetuation of rock and roll. "  Sure, some of the groups border on pop (Chicago, Dire Straits) or New Age (The Cars), but no more than any other group already in the RRHOF (The Beach Boys, The Bee Gees, Abba, Simon and Garfunkel, Earth, Wind and Fire, Beastie Boys, Hall and Oates this year, or any of the other members mentioned earlier).

Aerosmith and Queen were inducted 12 years ago.The Talking Heads and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers 11 years ago. The Police and AC/DC 10 years ago. ZZ Top in 2004 and The Pretenders in 2005.  Blonde in 2006.  Van Halen in 2007. Genesis in 2010. Kiss and Hall and Oates this year.  I'm a fan of most of these groups, and all probably should be in the RRHOF at some point, but is there really a good argument for any of them being inducted before Chicago, The Doobie Brothers or Yes? And not just elected, but some 10 years (and counting) before them?  I have a hard time finding one.

Unfortunately, I don't have the answers to any of my questions above. I wish I did!  If you fish around the internet, you'll find various opinions, including some who believe the whole process is very political with grudges and favorites existing throughout the music industry. That I could believe and would actually make some sense. Regardless, being a big fan of music, and especially rock-and-roll, the RRHOF's process has always been a perplexing one to me. Not to mention a bit vague!

So there you go.....my gripes and confusion with the RRHOF Foundation.  I feel much better now!  Feel free to chime in with your thoughts!

Good links:

• RRHOF Snub list:  http://www.futurerocklegends.com/The_Snub_List.php

• RRHOF Overview page:  http://www.rockhall.com/inductees/

All is Lost/Last Vegas

Here's my take on a couple of theatrical movies I've seen during the past month that are about as polar from each other as you can get:  "All is Lost" and "Last Vegas"!  Be interested to read your comments and opinions as well!

All is Lost

Could have easily been called "Perseverance", as persevere is what Robert Redford's no-named character was forced to do throughout the movie.  Redford's eight day journey stranded at sea is nothing less than a constant struggle and battle against the elements. Not to mention bad luck, which starts off right away when his boat collides with a large storage container anchored by itself out at sea in the middle of nowhere. The collision rips a large hole in the side of his boat, that, with a little ingenuity, he's able to fix. Watching the Redford character troubleshoot through various obstacles like this using nothing but his imagination and skill is what I enjoyed the most about the movie. Just as important, the character, for the most part, keeps his cool throughout the ordeal. This, I would think, would be crucial to surviving something like this. (Although personally, I would throw in a little prayer as well!)

More bad luck ensues as Redford's already crippled boat sails into what all stranded-at-sea boat movies seem to encounter....a massive storm.  Although lost for just eight days, Redford encounters not one, but two storms!  Very back luck.  Regardless, Redford's boat continuously and relentlessly takes a beating until finally Redford must take alternative action.  The bad luck unfortunately continues when two  boats pass by and don't see him, and salt water gets into his fresh water supply. But, not to be beaten, he simply refuses to give up.

To add to its uniqueness, the first five minutes of the film contains 95% of the movie's dialog as Redford audibly reads the goodbye note he writes on day 8 of his adventure. But is it goodbye?  The story keeps taking us back and forth, and we literally don't find out until the final scene of the movie.
  

Redford is excellent in the role, and just as importantly, believable.  Sure, he's 76 years old, but I've never doubted that he, or any reasonably fit 70+ year old, couldn't actually do anything he did in the movie.  I'm sure there were a few scenes a stunt double was used, but Redford was in the majority of the film, and thus did most of the physical acting that was required. The last thing I'd like to mention is the cinematography.  It was beautifully filmed.  From the underwater shots to the high-in-the-sky views, you get a real grasp of the solitude the ocean can present, and what the Redford character must have felt. Reminded me a bit of "The Life of Pi", as that film incorporated the vast ocean as a character as well.

Using my rating system (1= skip it, 2= rent it, 3= worth a matinee, 4= worth full price), I’d give it a solid “4”.

Last Vegas

I was pretty sure I knew what I was getting myself into when I went to see "Last Vegas".....cheesy, dumb, nothing new.  And I was mostly right.  But I couldn't avoid the cast!  Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Kline.....four of my all-time favorite actors!  Six Academy Awards trophies and 14 nominations between them! So I had to see it.  The movie certainly had it's highlights, and a few pretty funny scenes.  But it was your typical "the pains of getting old" story.

The four actors play childhood friends who are currently scattered around the country and don't see much anymore.  When one of them, Douglas, announces that he's getting married, the others arrange a bachelor party/reunion in Las Vegas. Once reunited, the jokes really begin to flow.  The storyline in Vegas was nothing memorable, but did have it's moments.  One of the highlights was Mary Steenburgen, who was terrific as a nightclub singer that two of the friends take a liking to. This triangle actually becomes a re-enactment of an event that happened some 50 years earlier between the same two friends.  This backstory was actually one of the better parts of the movie.  And the climax of the current situation provided for me the best scene in the movie where the Douglas character spills out his heart about how he really feels about life and being 70 years old.

Outside of that, I felt the movie was mostly a waste of the talent of four premium actors. But it was kind of fun seeing them all together.  Plus it was probably the only chance for them to actually have a chance to work together, and I'm sure the money was good. So who can blame them?

Using my rating system (1= skip it, 2= rent it, 3= worth a matinee, 4= worth full price), I’d give it a “2.5”.

Movieguide: The family guide to movies and entertainment

A couple of years ago at our church I heard some people discussing a movie review site called MOVIEGUIDE® that was a) family-oriented and b) had an emphasis on Christian values.  Upon checking it out, I really liked it, particularly how they broke up their reviews into four areas:  "Content", "Summary", "Review" and "In Brief". I found the "Content" section especially helpful, as it broke down into specific detail the violence, language, sex, or nudity (if any) that could be found in each movie. In other words, you'll know what to expect before you see it. This is pretty handy if you're looking for an appropriate movie for your kids to see....or not see.

MOVIEGUIDE® was founded in 1985 by Dr. Ted Baehr, a former president of the Episcopal Radio & Television Foundation and former director of the Television Center at the City University of New York, and is affiliated with the Christian Film & Television Commission® ministry (CFTVC),

Another unique feature of MOVIEGUIDE® is their two rating system when reviewing movies. Here's a brief rundown of both, taken directly from their webpage (www.movieguide.org):

1. Quality:

The Quality Ratings refer to the production values in the movie, the entertainment quality of the production, and whether the movie fulfills what it tries to do. A four-star rating does not guarantee that the movie will meet our criteria for what makes a truly fine, much less great, work of art.  Quality ratings used are:

* * * * EXCELLENT
* * * GOOD
* * FAIR
* POOR

2.  Acceptability:

Acceptability Ratings take into account cognitive stages of development, moral issues and theological issues. Acceptability Ratings help parents with children and the media-wise adult viewer. Acceptability Ratings are based on a traditional view of the Bible and Christianity. Some movies receive positive ratings because they fit a biblical worldview of ethical monotheism, even though there is little specific Christian content in them. The ultimate evaluation of a movie depends on one’s moral and spiritual values. Those values depend on one’s worldview or total philosophy of life, humanity, the universe, and the supernatural. Acceptability ratings used are:

+4           EXEMPLARY:  Biblical, usually Christian, worldview, with no questionable elements whatsoever.
+3           MORAL:  Some minor questionable elements.
+2           GOOD:  Moderately questionable elements.
+1           WORTHWHILE:  Discernment required for young children.
-1            CAUTION:  Discretion advised for older children.
-2            EXTREME CAUTION:  Discretion advised for adults.
-3            EXCESSIVE:  Excessive sex, violence, immorality, and/or worldview problems.
-4            ABHORRENT:  Intentional blasphemy, evil, gross immorality, and/or worldview problems.

So there you go. A good movie review site focused on family values and promoting quality entertainment that you can trust to help you find the right movie to take you or your family to.

Here again is the their website:  http://www.movieguide.org. They have an excellent iPhone app as well. Check them out!

The Story of Akiane and Colton....

Thought I'd share a couple of interesting stories that involved two average, every day kids: one born in 1993 in Illinois to a family of atheists, and the other in 1999 in Nebraska to a family whose father was the pastor of a church.  Both were celebrating their fourth year of life - some six years apart - when they had a similar experience that would change their lives. Although they didn't know each other, they would share a similar, thought-provoking vision. 

Although the events in these two unrelated, yet intertwining stories happened over 10 years ago, I only came across them fairly recently while reading the book "Heaven is for Real" (a 2010 #1 New York Time Best Seller book and upcoming 2014 theatrical motion picture), which tells the story of one of the kids. So whether you believe them or not, you have to admit that the two stories are undeniably interesting and intriguing!  

While I did read "Heaven is for Real" and included some of what I read, I borrowed much of what appears below from the following three resources, which I encourage you to check out if you find this at all interesting:

http://heavenisforreal.net/  (Official website of "Heaven is for Real")
http://www.artakiane.com/  (Akiane Kramarik's home page) 
http://www.jesusprinceofpeace.com/  (Secondary Akiane Kramarik web page)

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Akiane, Part 1
Born in 1994, Akiane Kramarik grew up in an atheist family. Her mother came to the US at age 16 from Lithuania. She met Akiane's father who was a chef in Chicago, and they were married. Akiane's father who had been raised Catholic had turned to atheism.

In 1998, at the age 4, Akiane unexpectedly began having vivid visions of heaven, Jesus, angels, and God. At one point, after missing for several hours – Akiane explained that during that time she had been to Heaven and saw Jesus. Being atheist, her parents were understandably mystified and concerned by what their daughter was describing. They eventually came to realize that what Akiane was experiencing was actually very real to her. In fact, after weeks of articulating the things that she saw in heaven, her family eventually became believers in Jesus.

Colton, Part 1
Fast forward to 2002, where another 4 year-old, Colton Burpo of Nebraska, began a similar journey.  Colton, the son of a small town Nebraska pastor, claimed to have experienced heaven during emergency appendicitis surgery.  He told his parents that he met Jesus riding a rainbow-colored horse and sat in Jesus' lap, while the angels sang songs to him.  He also talked about looking down to see the doctor operating,  and saw his grief-stricken dad praying in a small utility room  (not the waiting room) he had escaped to….a fact his dad never shared with him.

In heaven, Colton said he met his miscarried sister whom no one had ever told him about and his great-grandfather who died 30 years before Colton was born. He shared impossible-to-know details about each. Colton went on to describe the horse that only Jesus could ride, about how “reaaally big” God and his chair are, and how the Holy Spirit “shoots down power” from Heaven to help us. In “Heaven is for Real”, which chronicles Colton’s story, his parents state that although they had exposed the 4 year-old Colton to some of the basics of the Bible, following his surgery he revealed detailed facts that they never taught him, and weren't planning to until he was older when he could understand better.

Akiane, Part 2
Following her visions of heaven and Jesus, Akiane became very passionate about drawing and painting. She began drawing at 4, and painting at 6, teaching herself and learning mostly from observation and study.  At age 6, according to her jesusprinceofpeace.com website, she began searching for someone that looked similar to who she saw as Jesus in her visions so she could paint His portrait. Her family prayed about it off and on for two years, to no avail. Her parents would even take her to shopping malls so she could search the faces. She could find no one who fit her vision.

After organizing a day of prayer aimed at fulfilling this desire, a man "over 6 foot tall and whose profession was a carpenter" came to her door and stated that he understood that she was looking for a model for her Jesus portrait and that he would be happy to pose. Not surprisingly, it turns out that he was the person she had been looking for.

Akiane sketched and took pictures of the man and began her painting.  Although this was one of her first oil paintings, it took only 40 hours for the 6 year-old to complete the painting that she would call 'Prince of Peace'.

Colton, Part 2
The months that followed Colton’s recovery from surgery, during which he claimed to be with Jesus in heaven, his parents also showed Colton a published painting and portrait of Jesus whenever they came across one, hoping he would identify one that resembled the Jesus he met in Heaven.  He routinely rejected them all. It wasn't until a couple years later when one day Colton's dad came across Akiane's "Prince of Peace" painting. Upon showing it to his son, Colton became uncharacteristically quiet and stated, "That's Him".

Heaven Is for Real is the true story of a four-year old son of a small town Nebraska pastor who experienced heaven during emergency surgery. He talked about looking down to see the doctor operating and his dad praying in the waiting room. The family didn’t know what to believe but soon the evidence was clear.
In heaven, Colton met his miscarried sister whom no one ever had told him about and his great-grandfather who died 30 years before Colton was born. He shared impossible-to-know details about each. Colton went on to describe the horse that only Jesus could ride, about how “reaaally big” God and his chair are, and how the Holy Spirit “shoots down power” from heaven to help us.
- See more at: http://heavenisforreal.net/book/#sthash.oK90ji7i.dpuf

Heaven Is for Real is the true story of a four-year old son of a small town Nebraska pastor who experienced heaven during emergency surgery. He talked about looking down to see the doctor operating and his dad praying in the waiting room. The family didn’t know what to believe but soon the evidence was clear.
In heaven, Colton met his miscarried sister whom no one ever had told him about and his great-grandfather who died 30 years before Colton was born. He shared impossible-to-know details about each. Colton went on to describe the horse that only Jesus could ride, about how “reaaally big” God and his chair are, and how the Holy Spirit “shoots down power” from heaven to help us.
- See more at: http://heavenisforreal.net/book/#sthash.oK90ji7i.dpuf

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So is it a coincidence that two kids, born six years apart, had similar visions when both were four years old; that the man who visited Akiane unannounced happened to be a carpenter and fit the physical description she had in her vision of Jesus (and had been searching two years for), and that the portrait she painted of him was identified by Colton (whom she never met) over a half decade later as looking like the Jesus he met during his vision?  Did both families find a way to make a few bucks off of their kids, even though one were atheists and the other Pastors of a church?  Could Akiane's "Prince of Peace" portrait possibly be that of the real Jesus?

For naturally rational-thinking creatures like us, this type story of can be hard to swallow for some. But all are good questions and ones you'll have to answer for yourself.  As did I.

Feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you think!

Netflix SN #5 - "56 Up"

Like documentaries?  How this for an idea:  start in 1964, select a group of 14 seven year-old Britons as subjects, all with various backgrounds and from different working classes, and then re-visit them every seven years to check up and question each about their lives and beliefs. Sound interesting?  Well, such a documentary actually exists.   

Called the “Up Series”, director Michael Apted began following 14 British youths in 1964 and in 1970 released part 1 of the “Up Series”, called "7 and Seven", which covers the 14 kids at ages 7 and 14. Thereafter, Apted visits his subjects every seven years, interviews them to see how and what they are doing in their lives, and then creates a new documentary. As a result, “21 Up” was released in 1977,  “28 Up” in 1984, and so on.

Amazingly, the latest version of this documentary, called “56 Up” was released in 2012 and is now available on Netflix Instant View.  Even more remarkable is that 13 of the 14 “kids”, now all 56 years old, are still participating in the documentary (not to mention the 73 year old Apted).  The one person no longer taking part dropped out before the “28 Up” episode (for privacy issues) and no updates have been provided about him since.

Unfortunately, none of the earlier versions of the “Up Series” are currently available on Netflix Instant View, although all of them have been at some point, which means they will be again sometime in the future.  If you’d rather not wait until then and want to check out “56 Up”, the two-and-a-half hour documentary does an excellent job of recapping the highlights of each person via clips from the previous shows.  If you enjoy "56 Up" though, I'd recommend watching the rest when they become available on Netflix again.

In summary, this documentary provides a rare opportunity to literally watch 14 people grow up before your very eyes.  I found it fascinating to observe how life’s circumstances has evolved each of them from innocent 7 year olds into who they are now at 56 years of age.  Check it out!

New DreamPower Fundraiser Sept. 14: Pony Up for Dreams!

Pony Up for Dreams is a new friendraiser/fundraiser at DreamPower Horsemanship.  It will be Saturday, Sept. 14 from 4-7 pm at DreamPower (located at WoodMyst Farm, 7460 Crews Road, Gilroy, CA).  You will enjoy: Dinner at the ranch on a beautiful fall evening A tour of the ranch facility The Parade of Horses (from big Chief to tiny Trigger you can meet them all) The "Just Picked String Band" (a GREAT bluegrass band) The Cowboy/Cowgirl Fun Zone (for children) Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. Tickets must be purchased in advance. No tickets will be available at the door.Tickets can be purchased here via PayPal.  All veterans of the U.S. armed forces and their immediate family members are invited as DreamPower's guests. Veterans' guest tickets must be reserved in advance by emailing dreampowerhorsemanship@hotmail.com. No guest tickets will be available at the door.

Come and learn about DreamPower's programs, horses and volunteer opportunities. Please share this email with anyone who would enjoy a beautiful fall day at the ranch and learning more about how DreamPower Horsemanship is helping our community.

Netflix SN #4 - "Hawaii 5-0 (1968-1980) Favorites"

Any Hawaii 5-0 fans out there?  No, not the current interpretation, but the 1968-1980 Jack Lord “Book ‘em Danno” version?  If so, I’d like to recommend my five favorite episodes, all of which are available on Netflix Instant view, along with the other 275 episodes during the series 12-year run.

The first two episodes feature the same star playing the same role but in two different seasons. In both episodes, veteran character actor Hume Cronyn (“Cocoon”) plays the likeable thief/disguise artist Lewis Avery Filer, who repeatedly teases and taunts McGarrett and the 5-0 crew with notes and clues that sends them on wild goose chases and into dead ends. This clears the road for Filer to rob local establishments, frequently donning some sort of disguise or costume. Needless to say, in both episodes, the 5-0 team finally catches on, but up to that point it’s fun watching the cat-and-mouse games both play.  McGarrett actually develops a fondness and respect for Filo, even though he is breaking the law.

The first episode featuring Lewis Filer is called “Over 50? Steal” and is the 11^th show in season 3.  The second, in which Filer escapes from prison following his season 3 arrest, is called “Odd Man In” and is the 14^th episode in season 4. Filer doesn’t appear again during the final six seasons of Hawaii 5-0, unfortunately, so I guess McGarrett took him a little more seriously the second time around. Good, light-hearted entertainment, which isn’t the norm for this rendition of Hawaii 5-0. Check out the soundtrack too. Pretty fun.

My second recommendation is actually a three-part trilogy called “V for Vashon”.  The story pits McGarrett  against the Vashon’s, a “mob” family that has been manipulating Oahu for decades while successfully avoiding the police.  The first episode, called “V for Vashon: the Son” features the youngest Vashon, a spoiled brat old who’s bored, resents his father, and is looking for some excitement. So what does every 20-something year old bored rich boy do?  Rob hotels of course!  And not any hotel, but hotels owned by his family!  Unfortunately for him, McGarrett catches him in the act on one of his exploits....with fatal results. Enter the father.

Part two, called “V for Vashon:  the Father” focuses on the boy’s grieving father and the plot he devises to get even with McGarrett.  McGarrett obviously foils the attempt, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t some good drama to be had.  When this plot fails, it’s grandpa’s turn. 

Part three is called “V for Vashon:  the Patriarch”. With both his son and grandson put out of action by 5-0,  the ticked off grandfather, and current leader of the Vashon family,  sets out to ruin McGarrett.  His plot is actually quite imaginative, and he nearly gets away with it.  But seeing that Hawaii 5-0 went on another five seasons, he obviously didn’t. 

Anyhow, I thought the trilogy was very entertaining and some of my favorite TV ever from that era.  Worth checking out on some upcoming rainy night.  “V for Vashon” appears in the fifth season on episodes 9 through 11.

Netflix SN #3 - "Margin Call"

"Margin Call" is a gem released in 2011 that unfortunately snuck under most people's radar, although it did receive an Academy Award nomination for "Best Original Screenplay".  Although well written, the cast is what really stood out to me.  Kevin Spacey, Jeremy Irons, Stanley Tucci, Paul Bettany, Simon Baker and Zachary (Mr. Spock) Quinto lead the top notch cast, all of who give first class performances.

"Margin Call" basically follows the key people at an investment bank over a 24-hour period during the early stages of a financial crisis.  The movie opens showing many of the bank's employee's being layed off as a result of a downsizing plan. One of these employees is risk management division head Eric Dale (Tucci) who was working on a major analysis when notified of his fate. As he is being escorted out of the building, Dale gives the work he's started to one of his reports, Peter Sullivan (Quinto), who completes the study late into the night. What Sullivan discovers is a situation that could ruin the bank. The remainder of the movie then focuses on the next several hours where senior management (Spacey, Irons, Baker) discuss and plan what to do to avoid the mess and limit the inevitable impact on their company.  The eventual strategy decided upon, was, to say the least, a bit mischievous. That's all I'll say about it!

As I said earlier, the acting was phenomenal. Spacey, Irons and Tucci have been favorites of mine for a long time, so watching them together was a  a real pleasure for me. Particularly watch for the scene where all of the key characters meet in a board room with CEO John Tuld (Irons) a recent arrival via helicopter. The strategy session that ensues is ensemble acting at its best. Particularly between Irons and Spacey.

Ironically, the CEO's name, John Tuld, rhymes with the name of the ex-CEO of the now-defunct investment bank Lehman Brothers, Richard S. Fuld. Lehman Brothers, like the firm in this film, found themselves catastrophically over-leveraged in mortgage-backed-securities in the financial crisis of 2008. Coincidence? We'll never know, as the movie never claims to based on any actual events or people.

I will admit, and should warn you, that the subject matter is a bit dry and gets pretty technical at times. I've seen the movie twice and still don't understand some of what was discussed! "Margin Call" is one of those movies you really have to pay attention to in order to follow what's going on.  But to me, the film takes a fascinating look at what could go on behind the scenes, both good and bad, of a major investment bank, led by a top-notch cast.