Is John McCain an American?

Barring a miracle that Huckabee is paying for, Senator John McCain will become the Republican nominee for President of the United States when the convention is held later this summer.

Not surprising since Romney drop out almost a month ago.  But can Senator McCain become President?  I can hear you left wing nuts already yelling at my blog that Senator McCain can’t touch Obma-mania which is sweeping the country. I beg to differ, but that is another blog for another day.

Per the United States Constitution and I quote from Article II, Section 1 – The President, “No person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty-five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.” What does this have to do with Sen. John McCain? 

The public might not know this but Senator John McCain was born in Panama — another country or foreign land.  Per the Constitution this prohibits Senator McCain from running for office.  There is a catch…  Sen. McCain was born on Coco Sol Air Base in then American-controlled Panama Canal Zone.  Technically not on American soil, but on American soil.  What?!?! 

At a point when Senator McCain was born, the Panama Canal Zone was protected and administrated by the United States, basically a territory of the United States.  The United States gave up control of the land and canal to the Panamanians in 1979.  For the record, what a bad move by President Carter, anyway back to my point.

The question that needs to be raised — is government facilities and military bases outside of US soil (States and Territories) disqualify a person from running for President?  Good question.   If you look at the true intent of what our Founding Fathers were trying to create is to ensure that all foreign-born individuals cannot hold the most powerful office in United States government and being influenced by their “native land” in conducting policy.  The Founding Fathers looked at how the monarchies in Europe were all related by marriage and used this influence in negotiating trade, conducting war, treaties, etc.  The Founding Fathers did not what this occur in American politics.  However, our dear Founding Fathers never envision that the US would have such a global presence with overseas military installations that we have today. 

Personally I take the approach that military bases overseas have the same type of classification as US embassies which under diplomatic law are considered sovereign US territory or soil.  If you take this approach, then Senator McCain has the right to run and win.  However, I can see where some people (the far left) will interpret the language that Senator McCain can not run.  So, before we get too far into the electoral process and not repeat the scenes from 2000 all over again, let’s get a Supreme Court ruling now before its too late.  Let the games begin!

2008 Summer Movie – “Blockbusters”

Time to light up the marquee, put oil in the popcorn popper, stock the counter with juju beans, and pour the sodas because the 2008 Summer Movie season is about to kick off.

This year looks to be just as hot as the 2007 season judging by the number of blockbusters scheduled to hit the silver screen in 2008.  To help you navigate the summer movie season, I have listed the movies that I feel have what it takes to become a summer blockbuster movie.  Can these movies make the grade and rock out the summer as “the” movie to see?  Who knows, but it will fun to find out!  Let season begin!

• Iron Man - Based on the Marvel comic book series, Iron Man tells the story of Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) a billionaire, inventor, and CEO who straps on state-of-the art armor to fight crime and protect the American way while battling demons of his own – alcoholism. Think of Batman in hi-tech armor. It opens May 2^nd.

• Speed Racer – Based on the 1960 anime, Speed Racer follows the adventures of your favorite teen race car driver named Speed (Emile Hirsh) while he chases the checkered flag to glory to save his family’s business from ruin. It opens May 9^th.

• The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian – The second book in the seven-book Narnia fantasy series. This installment finds Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy back in the realm of Narnia. This trip is 1300 years after the battle between the Lion and the Witch. Since their last visit, Narnia has been conquered by the Telmarines and under rule by another tyrant – King Miraz. Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy join forces with the rightful heir Prince Caspian as they try to liberate Narnia once again from the forces of evil. It opens May 16^th.

• Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull – The fourth installment in the adventures of everyone’s favorite archeologist has Indy battling the forces of communisms during their late ‘50s as they race for Aztec treasure and the fate of the free world. It opens May 22^nd.

• Sex and the City: The Movie – Based on the long running HBO series that follows the lives of Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda in the concrete jungle of New York City. It opens May 30^th.

• You Don’t Mess with the Zohan - Adam Sandler plays a former Israeli Mossad agent who fakes his own death so he can reinvent himself as a hair stylist in New York City. I never knew getting a hair cut could be so dangerous. It opens June 6^th.

• Kung Fu Panda – This animation comedy features the voice of Jack Black as a big, cute panda bear named Po who has dreams of becoming a Kung Fu master. His dream takes him to the legendary Furious Five (Tigeress, Crane, Mantis, Viper, Monkey, and Master Shifu) who are shown a mark that indicated this clumsy panda is The Chosen One. Can The Chosen One become a master and defeat the evil, cunning snow leopard Tai Lung? Find out June 6^th.

• The Happening - M. Night Shyamalan’s latest movie is about a man (Mark Wahlberg) who is on the run with his family as a cataclysmic natural crisis turns the world upside down as it threatens to end of the world as we know it. It opens June 13^th.

• The Incredible Hulk – Remake of the Ang Lee version of this superhero, The Incredible Hulk stars Ed Norton as Bruce Banner. Not only is Banner battling the monster inside of him, he now as a new adversary who also been inflected by same Gama radiation – The Abomination (Tim Roth) and is the only creature that can truly destroy the Hulk! It opens June 13^th

• The Dark Knight - The sequel to Batman Begins. This installment of Batman finds our hero, with the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, waging a war on dismantling all organized crime in Gotham. Their success goes unchecked until a new criminal arrives on the scene – The Joker. Joker uses this crack down as an opportunity to steal from organized crime and to blackmail them into forming a united army to take down the Dark Knight. It opens July 18^th.

• Get Smart – The continued adventures of America’s ultimate secrete agent – Maxwell Smart (Steve Carell) and his lovely/smart partner Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway) as they battle the evil syndicate know as KAOS from world domination. Can Maxwell Smart save us from chaos that KAOS would like to unleash on our unprepared world? Find out on June 25^th.

• Wanted - Based on the graphic novel series by Mark Millar, the story is about a nobody named Wes (actor name?) who is solicited by a woman named Fox (Angelia Jolie) to join the Fraternity. The Fraternity is a secret organization who trains Wes as an enforcer of justice. The Fraternity lives by an ancient code: carry out the death orders given by fate itself. Fox uses this opportunity to use Wes as a tool to avenge her murdered father. It opens June 27^th.

• WallE – From the studios of Pixar and Disney, comes this adventure, set in 2700, about a robot, WALLE (Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth Class) who meets a search robot EVE and discover that WALLE is more than a trash collector. He has the key to the future of Earth! It opens June 27^th.

• Journey to the Center of the Earth: 3D – Based on the classic story by Jules Verne. A geologist (Brandon Frasier), his nephew and mountain guide discovery a new “world” as they search for his missing brother. Their adventure takes them to “center of the Earth,” which is shot in 3D. It opens July 11^th.

• Hellboy II: The Golden Army - In the sequel to the 2003 movie Hellboy, Mike Mignola’s Dark Horse comic character, Hellboy (Ron Peralman) must battle a ruthless leader who is marching an army of fantasy creatures towards the destruction of humankind. Can “Big Red” save us from this Armageddon fate? Check it out July 11^th.

• Mamma Mia! - The big screen version of the Broadway hit staring Meryl Streep as a single mother who is about to be wed. Unfortunately, she has never met her father so she invites three? parental candidates to her wedding. Now the fireworks start with the back drop of 22 classic Abba hits. It opens July 18^th.

• Step Brothers – From the team that brought you one of my favorite movies, “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” is a movie about two middle age guys – Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly – that live with their respective single parents. Ferrell lives with his mom while Reilly lives with his father. You guessed it; Ferrell and Reilly’s parents marry and they become step brothers. Their antics as new brothers turn this new family upside down as they try to get along and keep their parents together. It opens July 25^th.

• The X-Files - Scully (Gillian Anderson) and Mulder (David Duchovny) are back! This time instead of taking on the establishment and aliens, Scully and Mulder now deal with the supernatural in a stand alone story that pays homage to some of the classic episodes from early in the series. Not much known more about the story due to the gag order put in place by Fox Studios. It opens July 25^th.

• The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor – Rick O’Connell (Brendan Fraser) is back battling mummies and the undead in a new adventure. This time Rick, his son Alex, his wife Evelyn (Mario Bello, yes Rachel Weis has bowed out), and his brother-in-law Jonathan are in China as they combat the ancient Dragon Emperor (Jet Li) who is resurrected with only two goals on his mind to raise his 10,000 warriors who are suspended in animation and to take over the world. This adventure takes the O’Connells from the catacombs of the Forgotten Palace to the tops of the snowy Himalayas. It opens August 1^st.

• The Pineapple Express - Seth Rogen is back with another side-splitting comedy about two slackers who end up with a price on their head by a drug gang after witnessing a drug-related murder. It opens August 8^th.

• Star Wars: The Clone Wars – The story picks up after the “Attack of Clones” as Anakin and Obi-Wan fight the evil Count Dooku and General Grievous as they try to save the Republic. This all-new animated movie tells the exploits and trails the Jedi Knights as they face The Cone Wars that engulf the Republic. It opens August 15^th.

• Righteous Kill – DeNiro and Al Pacino play two detective partners who are feverously searching for a serial killer that has put New Your City on edge when a poem is found with each death. It opens September 12^th.

• The Punisher: The War Zone – Vigilante-hero Frank Castle is in New York City battling mob boss Billy Russoti who has is seeking revenge on Castle after being horribly disfigured . If the mob wasn’t bad enough, Castle is being hunted by the FBI “Punisher Task Force.” New York will never be the same with Castle in town! Get ready for lots of empty brass and dead bodies. It opens September 12^th.

I hope you enjoyed the list.  I will see y’all in line at the box office!

Post Strike TV Episode Guide

As the end of the obnoxious WAG strike becomes a reality in the coming days, the question everyone is asking – “when will scripted programming return to our TV sets?”  What a great question! 

Thanks to people at TV Guide, we now have a road map on when our favorite shows will return with new episodes. 

Below is brief sampling on what you can find at TVGuide.com.  Thank God the strike is over!

Bones – four pre-strike episodes are left.  Fox has not made a decision if any additional episodes will be produced for this season.

24 - Jan 09

Chuck – Fall 08

CSI – CBS will shoot anywhere from four to seven new episodes to air in April/May.

Friday Night Lights – Done for the season and rumors are stating that the show may not return for the fall.  What a shame NBC can not commit so such a quality show! 

Dirty Sexy Money – Three pre-strike episodes are left, but ABC will use them to kick off the Fall 08 season.  Currently there is talk that ABC will commit to only 13 episodes next season.

Heroes - No idea?  With the decline in ratings, it is anyone’s guess if or when this show will return.

House – Fox is planning four to six new episodes for April/May.

Life – Fall 08

Lost – Six pre-strike episodes remain and are currently running on Thursday nights on ABC.  An additional six could be produced and air this season.  Let’s hope so!

NCIS – CBS is planning on five to seven new episodes, however only three will air this season.

Numbers - CBS is planning on five to seven new episodes and like NCIS only three will air this season.

Pushing Daisies – Fall 08

Reaper – Three pre-strike episodes remain while its overall fate of the show is now the Devil’s hands (CW).

Smallville – Two pre-strike episodes remain.  CW is hoping to shoot three to five additional episodes for April/May.  This could be the last year for Samllville.

Supernatural – Two pre-strike episodes remain.  Like Smallville, three to five episodes will shoot to air in April/May.

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles – Five episodes remain.  Fox has not determined if the Terminator will be terminated.  Let’s hope not!

Theory about the Writer’s Strike

Is it me or does this WGA (Writers Guild of America) strike feels like it’s been going on for an eternity?  For me, it sure does especially when I am subjected each week to such quality shows as Deal or no Deal, American Gladiator, The Moment of Truth, & Don’t Forge the Lyrics.  Will this strike ever end!!!!!  Ugh!!!!!!!

So, I am been thinking, maybe there is more to this strike that meets the eye.  Maybe the networks have a larger goal they are trying to achieve – lowering programming costs.  Before I start explaining my theory, I would like to make note that this is a hypothesis and I do not have any proof at all that this is true.  With that said, let me explain my theory.

Since the strike started, we have seen a hard stance by both camps – the networks and WGA.  Neither group is budging from the position nor are they willing to make great sacrifices in order to achiever their goal, especially the networks.  

I think networks see this strike as a golden opportunity to wean the American public from traditional scripted programming and to infuse the schedule with reality-based programs.  Scripted programming like CSI, Grey’s Anatomy, Heroes, House, etc. have seen their production cost rise over the last several years while viewership has diminished as a result of increased competition from cable (FX, AMC, TNT, TBS, ABC Family, HBO, Showtime) and other outlets like the internet. 

This change has lead to lost opportunities in charging premium dollars for advertisement time on successful shows.  For instance, ratings for Heroes were down so dramatically, NBC gave money back to their advertisers which are unheard of in this industry. 

On the flip side, reality programming is ½ to ¾ the cost to produce than traditional scripted programming.  Reality programming does have high actor, set, special effects, writer, and location costs to deal with. 

In addition, networks are not limited on the number of shows they can produce.  Most traditional scripted series run 20-24 episodes a season.  So the window to make money is limited between September and May. 

On the other hand, reality program can be unlimited and run practically all year long.  Lower production costs and longer windows for viewership allow for more opportunities to increase revenue.  You can see why the networks might want to switch business models.  What a genius idea!

If this is not proof enough, then I would like to point to the Director’s Guild.  Their contract was up for renewal and they were able to get a deal done in January without a threat of strike.  If this could be done with the directors, then why it can’t with the writers…I will tell you, the networks do not want the strike to end. 

I predict the strike will come to an end around May.  Why May?  Well May is the end of the normal network schedule.  By ending the strike in May, the networks are not obligated to produce any more scripted shows until the fall and by then; the public would have already developed an affection for reality TV during the strike and would expect to see these shows on the fall schedule.  This strategy means more reality programming and less scripted programming – a win for the networks.

As a fan of scripted programming, I just hope that my theory is not true and the strikes ends as soon as possible, because reality TV SUCKS!

News on Indiana Jones

If you are like me, you can’t wait to dust off your Fedora and your leather coat for the May release of the latest adventures of Indiana Jones – Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. 

Since the movie the movie went into production more than a year ago, very little information about the plot has been released to the public.  It wasn’t until 2007 Comic Con in San Diego that the public learned who would be co-staring with Harrison Ford –  Karen Allen – and the name of the film.

Well since then, a few more details are now leaking out.  From what I have just read; I hope this tidbit is truly a hoax.  So if you don’t what to know and would like to be surprised in May, then stop reading.

With that said, the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is centered on the Aztec nation and the idea that aliens had a hand in the technological advances in this ancient society.  Furthermore, there is a scene in which three aliens are seated on thrones in an Aztec structure that resembles a spaceship.  From what is being said, these aliens look a lot like the aliens from Close Encounters of the Third Kind, which happens to be turning 30 this year. Hmmm….

So, do you think Spielberg is paying homage to Close Encounters in the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull?  He could be.  There is precedent for it.  In Raiders of the Lost Ark, THX-1138 (Lucas’s first movie) is present on a wing of the plane and in Indiana Jones & the Temple of Doom, there is a café at the beginning of the film that is named Ben Kenobi – Obi-Wan’s real name.  Not to mention ET in the Galactic Senate in Star Wars” Episode I – The Phantom Menace, to name a few.  So, it is not surprising if this holds true. 

So, I been thinking…Lucas and Spielberg should not stop with aliens in the film.  Instead they should interject a few other references for the fan enjoyment which I have listed briefly below.

1. Indy is briefly stranded at sea while a Great White Shark circles his boat. (Jaws)
2. Indy kills a bounty hunter over drinks at his favorite pub (Star Wars)
3. Among the Aztec treasures, Indy discovers a plan to recreate dinosaurs using DNA found in fossils – (Jurassic Park)
4. Cameo of Oprah (Color Purple)
5. A discharged Private Ryan (Saving Private Ryan) works as a guide for Indy.
6. War of the Worlds playing on a radio in the back ground
7. A DeLorean that almost runs over Indy, but stops right in front of him with Professor Brown getting out asking him what year it is (Back to the Future).  Then the passenger door swings open and a foul mouth duck hops out giving Indy an ear full (Howard the Duck) about jay walking.
8. The Aztecs try to sacrifice Karen Allen in a volcano (Joe Versus the Volcano)
9. As Indy investigates the Aztecs ruins, he stumbles across a gaggle of Gremlins (Gremlins) that he has to fight while being haunted by lost souls of the Aztec Empire (Poltergeist).
10.  Instead of finding the lost Aztecs secrets, he stumbles across the long lost treasure of “One-Eyed” Willie.

What could be better…see you all the movies in May.  Stay tune for more Indy news!