An Ethiopian Blockbuster

 Tradition, Tragedy & Trial, July 13, 2016

By 

W. Powell

This review is from: Difret [DVD] [2015] (DVD)

I found the movie "Difret" to be a triumph for women's rights while at the same time a sad indictment of a male dominated society married to a cultural tradition as hurtful and scarring as slavery. To hear grown men justify the abduction, beating and rape of a 14 year old girl under the premise of love & tradition made me as a loving father wanna take up arms against these men; and I'm a God-fearing believer in nonviolence.

The movie is so touching and real that any human being with just a smidgen of love in their heart will be moved by the story and performance of the actors. Us men must stand up against violence toward women especially if its an accepted tradition. If a 14 year old girl, scared for her life can find the courage to stand and fight back against the odds, then all men must find courage to do right by women and defend their right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. We as men are no better than the worst of men among us. And we're as guilty as the man perpetrating the crime, if we stay silent, stand down or withhold our support of a woman's right to exist as equals among men.

We're not gods fellas, we're men. Hopefully, family men. Time to bury the many myths and traditions that once upon a time made us feel godly, and start being the family men our women can love and cherish without fear of us sacrificing them to our macho egos and ancient ideas of what a man should be. And that is what this movie made me feel. Anger, compassion, hope.

Giants Stop Yankees and Losing Streak

The San Francisco Giants are back playing winning baseball again as they snap a six game losing streak. The Giants didn't make it look easy as they went toe-to-toe against the Yankees in New York. Giants starter Johnny Cueto gave up six hits in six innings for only one New York run. Giants outfielder Mac Williamson hit a one run homer in the 5th to tie the game 1-1. Then big Mac squeezed a base hit up the middle to score the final run of the game in the top of the 12th inning.

Final Score

Giants 2

Yankees 1

It was torturous to watch the game as the Giants just seemed to squander opportunity after opportunity.  It's so scary to watch them play because it feels as if there's a schleprock type curse hanging over them.  They're racking up errors and leaving runners on base like someone giving away Halloween candy to kids.  For the first season in years I'm questioning many of the decisions manager Bruce Bochy makes. And what the heck is going on with our defense, one of the strengths of our team?  Do you blame injuries or what?

Well, hang in there Giants fans, we're back to playing torture baseball in a season that seems so promising.  We still lead the Dodgers by 4.5 games in the NL West and have only dropped one game down from having the best record in the Majors.  God bless those schleprock Chi-Town Cubbies for taking over the lead spot. How can you hate on the Cubs.

We're surviving the dog days of summer and being on the road. There's time enough to right the ship and get some winning streaks going.  But here's the thing; baseball is a funny sport. The season is long and teams get thrown curve-ball challenges like injuries, suspensions and trades that nobody could of seen coming. It's what makes following your team so dramatic and rewarding when they win.

As Giants fans we must remember that all important talisman we've carried these past six seasons; it's an even numbered year. We won it all in 2010, 2012 and 2014.  And I'm as superstitious as the next baseball fan. I like our odds in 2016!

Let's Go Giants

John McGraw and 1922 Baseball

ThisGreatGame.Com

Giants History:

In the early 1920's the Giants (playing in New York), led by manager John McGraw, went to Four consecutive World Series. They won the first two in 1921 & 1922, but lost in 1923 & 1924.

Game three of the 1922 World Series between the Giants and Yankees, ended in a controversial 10th inning 3-3 tie. The game was called due to darkness. Bob Meusel, born in San Jose, Ca., and Babe Ruth both doubled in the 8th to tie the game for the Yankees. Officially, it took five games for the Giants to sweep the Yankees in a seven game series. All five games were played in New York's Polo Grounds, home to both clubs.

Giants left fielder Irish Meusel, a native of Oakland, Ca. who came over from the Philadelphia Phillies in 1921, drove in seven runs in the series. Irish batted .331 for the 1922 season. He'd batted 329 the previous season for the Giants. Both seasons the Giants were Champions.  Emil Frederick Meusel stats

1922: Giants 4, Yankees 0

Irish Meusel drove in seven runs and Heine Groh had nine hits in the Giants' sweep of the Yankees. The Giants scored three times in the eighth inning of Game 1 to overcome a 2-0 deficit and win 3-2. Game 2 was called after 10 innings on account of darkness with the score tied at 3-3. Jack Scott threw a four-hit shutout for the Giants in Game 3. Hugh McQuillan won a 4-3 decision in Game 4. George Kelly's two-run single in the bottom of the eighth gave the Giants a 5-3 victory in Game 5. Babe Ruth went 2-for-17 with two singles and only one RBI for the Yankees.

And The Winner Is!

Of the five Chinese Movies I was lucky enough to find at a used library book sale at bargain prices, one stood out as a true masterpiece of cinematography. 

Bodyguards and Assassins 2009, is a must see for any movie lover who takes in sight, sound, action, drama and overall entertainment value of a film.  The history and time period is what pulled me in. 

Imagine 1906 Hong Kong, where a meeting of rebel leaders is about to go down and the corrupt government has hired Assassins to take out the guest speaker, Sun Yat-sen. Picture a rebel force made up of young students, martial artists and everyday working citizens coming together to protect Sun against the would be assassins.  The future of the country of China is at stake.

There's plenty here, more than just a martial arts movie.  As a matter of fact, martial arts takes a back seat to the backstory of many of the characters, as well as the drive to see Sun-Yat-sen arrive, speak and depart Hong Kong safely.

It's a race against time and killers as the producers give us a plot that quickens its pace unto its climatic conclusion.

I call this style of film-making a Masterpiece!



TheMovieBlogger breaks down Bodyguards and Assassins masterfully.

Honorable mention goes to Wu xia (Dragon)

Black Trauma Surgeon Treats Dallas Cops

SERENA!

Serena Williams. My Girl! Not only does she dominate on tennis courts the world over, but her athletic presence simply exudes a Champion aroma. The sweet smell of success!

This weekend at Wimbledon 2016, Serena claimed her 22nd grand slam title, tying Steffi Graf for most Major wins in the modern era. In a week that saw our nation's racial divide suffer another gaping blow, Serena's representation of America on foreign soil couldn't have come at a better time.  I always say that if you wanna see a diversified, united front of peoples, go to a Raiders game, or any sporting event for that matter.  Sports has a way of uniting the most unlikely of neighbors.

This weekend saw the return of former UFC champion Brock Lesnar, saw the crowning of a new UFC female champion Amanda Nunes, saw SF Giants all-star pitcher Madison Bumgarner striking out 14 in a one-hitter shutout, saw Portugal upsetting France in soccer's Euro Championship. And yet, in my mind nothing tops the magic and championship caliber of Serena Williams defeating Angelique Kerber at Wimbledon 7-5 6-3. Oh, maybe a distant second was Serena teaming with sister Venus Williams later in the day to claim her sixth Wimbledon Doubles championship. In my book the weekend honor of being a uniting force for fans of America goes to Serena Williams; a colorful champion. 

Of course Serena in her post-game interview was asked her feelings about the recent incidents of American police killing black men as well as the ambush killing of police in Dallas, Texas. Serena answered the question with deep concern and a heavy heart for the loss of life in all three incidents. She voiced her concerns about having male family members being pulled over by police officers in America and at risk of being unjustly harassed, harmed or killed. 

The foreign interviewer smoothly transitioned questions back to tennis and Serena gracefully shifted gears, returning the serve.  So not only does Serena garner praise for her competitive on-court maneuvers, she's most capable and convicted to voicing her views, and not that of sponsors or league representatives, when it comes to current events that effect her and/or her family. Serena not only has a tennis racquet that won't be silenced, she has character and a Voice!

Here's a link to an article in The Atlantic by Van R. Newkirk II titled: 

Serena Williams is the Greatest

With the passing recently of the great one, Muhammad Ali, sadly it's almost nostalgic to hear an athlete today speak so freely about race and police violence in America. Unfortunately, it's a sign that we haven't come as far as those 1960's American freedom fighters for racial equality and justice dreamed we would in 50 years. 

Hopefully, with the courage and character that Serena displayed internationally, America can renew it's march toward equality for all and begin accepting and protecting a diverse nation of equals.

I Have A Dream

6 Shots

I post this music video because it seems local Oakland rapper Mista F.A.B. puts it down like no other when it comes to asking WHY white police are killing blacks.  

• “DISOBEDIENCE, IN THE EYES OF ANYONE WHO HAS READ HISTORY, IS MAN’S ORIGINAL VIRTUE. IT IS THROUGH DISOBEDIENCE THAT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE - THROUGH DISOBEDIENCE AND THROUGH REBELLION.” - OSCAR WILDE

Coney Island Hot Dog Champ

Joey "Jaws" Chestnut went to Coney and took back the mustard yellow championship belt that he'd lost in a hiccup last year after 8 consecutive wins.

Joey, a San Jose, Ca. native, not only paid back reigning champion Matt Stonie for ending his 8 year winning streak, but Jaws broke a competition record by chomping down 70 hot dogs. 

Congratulations Joey! Way to represent the Bay Area.

As for that legendary eating machine that got my Competitive Eating attention, Takeru Kobayashi, he hasn't touched a Nathan's Hotdog in years. In 2010 he was handcuffed and arrested for trying to crash the Nathan's July 4th stage. Kobayashi's story about his break from Nathan's can be found on Fansided's OutsideTheGame.com: 

On The Fourth Of July, Takera Kobayashi Checks America's Pulse

The article is very interesting and makes us Kobayashi fans just a bit prouder to be rooting for his success. Unfortunately, it paints Nathan's Hot Dogs and it's competition as just another money hungry/contractual controlling corporation who'll stoop to inciting race hating and nationalism to promote their annual event.  Kobayashi found out the hard way that the majority of his true American supporters were from so-called American "minority groups."  

Kobayashi says about Nathan's Hotdog: "They were selling the American against the Japanese. And that wasn't something that I wanted. That was something that they branded"

Exiled from competitive eating's biggest stage, Kobayashi forges on - by Ben Baskin 

I'm still in search of a "FRee Kobi" t-shirt.

Durant A Warrior!

NBA 2016-17 season. It's A Wrap!

A signing that's a dream come true for the Golden State Warriors is predicted to be a fearful and scary nightmare for the rest of the NBA.

OKC Superstar forward Kevin Durant has just signed on to be a part of the Warriors dominating offense. It's a match made in heaven that has immaculate written all over it.  The Warriors have to be a favorite for not only reaching the 2017 Finals, but winning the darn thing. KG puts the Warriors over the top and makes them a conversation piece for best team ever list.  

The Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers teams that had thriple (3+) superstars on their modern day Championship rosters will be joined next season by a Golden State Warriors team hungry for another championship, Kevin Duran'ts first. It's almost unfair to fans of the other 29 teams in the NBA. Almost!

So light up your Fourth of July sparklers and set off those illegal fireworks you got at half price in chinatown Warriors fans, Kevin Durant is coming to Oaktown to insure that the Golden State Warriors have plenty of gas for reaching their championship destination in the years to come.

Harrison Who? Good luck HB and congrats for getting the dollars you were seeking.  

Slave Revolts of North America

North American slave revolts
1526 San Miguel de Gualdape (Spanish Florida, Victorious) c. 1570 Gaspar Yanga's Revolt (Veracruz, New Spain, Victorious) 1712 New York Slave Revolt (British Province of New York, Suppressed) 1730 First Maroon War (British Jamaica, Victorious) 1733 St. John Slave Revolt (Danish Saint John, Suppressed) 1739 Stono Rebellion (British Province of South Carolina, Suppressed) 1741 New York Conspiracy (Province of New York, Suppressed) 1760 Tacky's War (British Jamaica, Suppressed) 1791 Mina Conspiracy (Louisiana (New Spain), Suppressed) 1795 Pointe Coupée Conspiracy (Louisiana (New Spain), Suppressed) 1791–1804 Haitian Revolution (French Saint-Domingue, Victorious) 1800 Gabriel Prosser (Virginia, Suppressed) 1803 Igbo Landing (St. Simons Island, Georgia, Suppressed) 1805 Chatham Manor (Virginia, Suppressed) 1811 German Coast Uprising (Territory of Orleans, Suppressed) 1815 George Boxley (Virginia, Suppressed) 1816 Bussa's Rebellion (British Barbados, Suppressed) 1822 Denmark Vesey (South Carolina, Suppressed) 1831 Nat Turner's rebellion (Virginia, Suppressed) 1831–1832 Baptist War (British Jamaica, Suppressed) 1839 Amistad, ship rebellion (Off the Cuban coast, Victorious) 1841 Creole case, ship rebellion (Off the Southern U.S. coast, Victorious) 1842 Slave Revolt in the Cherokee Nation (Indian Territory, Suppressed) 1859 John Brown's Raid (Virginia, Suppressed)