The grief an sorrow took control over me like a dictator over his country. I had no consolation what so ever looking at everybody's faces to look, to search, to see, to find my childs face or to hear again the sweet and angelical voice yelling mommy! mommy! like when he wanted me to turn around and watch him do something new, but not anymore. I will never forget the little voice that woke me up in the mournings screaming and jumping "its time for work! get up its time for school!"or the minuature ,soft and warm hand i held when walking to the park. Those are memories that are not to be forgotten and yet to be remembered, when out in the distance i saw you! -Mayneli R.

You and Me

You don't pay attention to me.
You're too clingy.
I don't like your friends.
I don't like your parents.
We don't see each other enough.
We see each other too much.
I don't like your smoking.
I don't like your drinking.
Well I don't like you.
Well I hate you!
I hate you too!
Kiss and make up, rinse and repeat.

Movie recommendations: Dark City (1998)

Dark City (1998)

Director: Alex Proyas

Starring...
Rufus Sewell as John Murdoch
Richard O'Brien as Mister Hand
Kiefer Sutherland as Dr. Daniel P. Schreber
William Hurt as Inspector Frank Bumstead
Jennifer Connelly as Emma Murdoch

A $28 million budget art house film that features several actors who have now ascended the ranks of stardom. The story follows John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell) who wakes up in a bath tub at the scene of a murder where he soon finds himself pursued by a mysterious group of black clad, pale fleshed men lead by Richard O'Brien (you may know him as the creator, writer, and co-star of the midnight screened, all-time cult favorite musical The Rocky Horror Picture Show) and John must recieve aid from a man claiming to be his doctor (TV's 24 star Kiefer Sutherland). Discovering that the black-clad men (refered to as Strangers) control all that is within the city it is up to John to discover the secret of the city, the Strangers, and why the city never sees daylight. To do this he must discover the location of Shell Beach; the place everyone knows about, but no one seems to remember the directors to.

The film also stars William Hurt as the detective who is placed in charge of the mysterious case, and Jennifer Connelly as the woman who claims to be his wife.

Dark City has over the past 11 years become a cult-favorite, starring actors who have risen in status in recent years, starring film-cult-figure Richard O'Brien, and being the immediate follow-up of director Alex Proyas' critically acclaimed adaptation of The Crow (which starred the late Brandon Lee who died from a technical acident during filming) and Proyas continues to dazzle with low-budget visual flair in this film-noir masterpiece that earned the title of being Roger Ebert's top film of 1998. Alex Proyas may be used as a corporate tool now, having his style severely cut back by studio control (see: I'Robot, and Knowing, both of which are severely different than Proyas' original ideas).

DVD to watch: I strongly recomment the director's cut over the theatrical cut, not so much because of content, but because the pacing of the director's cut is far more

Long Live the Critic

Long Live the Critic
By Vance Berk

No one cares for voices of reason
No one cares for those who do
Why listen to they who write
When they aren’t the ones who pay

See them
We do
As loathsome creatures
Without emotion or care
Why take their advice?
Treat them as if they don’t care

He who spends hour upon hour
Viewing and reading
Writing and observing
Is he not qualified to share his voice?
Has he not devoted his life to such?

Man – the masses – fails to grasp
That a critic is…
An important breed
One that deserves to be heard
So that all can be learned
Thumbs Up
Or Thumbs Down

‘tis not their job
To order
But it is to imply
To help guide

What they wish is to help
Make your choices wise

Can’t it be seen that their pin
Their wit
And cruel tongue
Is only to help you
To decide on your economic splurge

As you whine and complain
They sit on through the things
You would never do
Or see
All to make it easier for you
What to do
And what not

It is not a demand,
What they do or say
But an opinion
Their opinion
An alternate view
Meant to help decisions
To be made soon

So long live the critic
For by his
Or her pen
We can decide with ease
What to do
Or what not

Long live the critic
Long live human speech
That is meant to be forever free



R.I.P. Gene Siskel
&
Wishing a speedy recovery to Roger Ebert, whose writing I continue to read every week.

Down From View
By Vance Berk

Welcome to the sight beneath the world,
Where you must do as constant told
Where you are far from love’s view

Now hold down your rosy hair,
As it begins to fade to ash
Because of one time you dare

Foolish it was to cover up
The things that couldn’t be seen
Now every last one of them spills
Over edge of life, you are cup

Do not question anything of fate
No longer will you sing to Kate
Now all that you are is state
Such a fool to fill a whole slate

Look up and see how it is
How it is that you’ve failed
From breath, to sight, to life
You are now slipping down a well
Where you go? Straight to Hell
There you know not to fight
All while listening to our bell

You are never to plan escape
Without first having held his cape

The Stingray by Yasmine Saqer

He is the bottom feeder of the sea,
lingering beneath the sand.
The creatures who surround him glisten in the water,
their marvel of colors reflecting happiness throughout the sea,
he is their dark and melancholy shadow.
His piercing eyes watch you from across the water,
sending an uneasy message to your soul.
He threatens your life with every cold and deceitful glide he takes.
He is the Hades of the sea,
the Grim Reaper of down below.
He is the stingray.

Just because I'm quiet
I'm not dumb
I'm not selfish
I'm not spoiled
Just because I'm quiet
It dosen't mean i dont get mad at others
It dosen't mean what you say dosent hurt me
It dosen't mean I cant be kind
Just because I'm quiet
It dosen't mean im always nice to others
It dosen't mean i like everybody
It dosen't mean i cant be a good friend to others
Just because I'm quiet
Dosent mean I dont fight for what i love
-Mayneli R.