Posts tagged what to do
“Water for Elephants” Story Construction Rip-Off
0April 27, 2011
“Story Construction Rip-Off”
Water for Elephants, as we are told at the beginning of the film, is about pretty much the most famous circus disaster in history, and it stars three of the most popular actors in the movies these days.
However, don’t look now, but the story construction of the film is pretty much an exact rip-off of an earlier, more successful disaster film.
Reese Witherspoon, Robert Pattinson, and Christoph Waltz star, but before we meet them, we see Hal Holbrook show up at a circus after it has shut down for the night. He has left the nursing home where he is living and wanted to see the circus for old-time’s sake.
The manager of the circus invites him inside while the manager tries to figure out what to do with this old-timer who seems to know a lot about circuses.
The old-timer tells the manager that he was there when the circus disaster occurred in 1931 with the Benzini Bros. Circus, and he says, “I had a good life, you know. A good life.”
Then as the old man starts reminiscing and telling his story, his voice changes to that of a young man, Jacob Jankowski, and we see and hear Pattinson narrate the story.
A personal tragedy forces Jacob to change his plans to become a veterinarian, and while he is hitchhiking to Albany, he jumps onto a passing train that happens to be the Benzini Bros. Circus train.
The roustabouts take a liking to Jacob, and the next day he is taken to meet the owner and ringmaster, August, to apply for a job. August says that Jacob can have the job of carrying water to the elephants, but the joke is that this is a third-rate circus, and it doesn’t have any elephants.
However, when Jacob’s experience as a veterinarian is revealed, he becomes the veterinarian of the circus animals, which brings him into contact with Marlena, the boss’s wife and the star-attraction trick rider.
Of course, Jacob and Marlena become attracted to each other, of course August is a cruel and possessive taskmaster, and of course events are not going to turn out well for everybody, even when the circus does acquire an elephant.
Water for Elephants is okay as a love story, but it has the same story construction as the 1997 Titantic.
I’m Dan Culberson and this is “Hotshots.”
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Sunday Editorial: What happened on the Hill the night Todd Walker was killed : a possible defense
8March 20, 2011
by Boulder Channel 1
in News
EDITORIAL: BY JANN SCOTT PUBLISHER
It’s on everybodys mind but no one wants to talk about it in writing. The Daily Camera wrote a pretty harsh inditement of the CU students behavior on the hill Friday night when Todd Walker was murdered. The Chancellor of the University of Colorado released a document laying out proper protocol when being robber: DON’T FIGHT BACK.
There are some big questions that may never be answered. Or maybe they will when the murder trial begins. Surely part of the defense will be that:
Elizabeth Roach was drunk, aggressive and itching for a fight. Todd Walker posed a huge football player threat. There was fighting in the streets. People were throwing bottles and rocks. Kevin McGregor was just trying to get away. And as he did he stumbled into Walker and Roach who didn’t like the way this working class skin head looked. They curse at him pushed him shoved him hit him. McGregor thought Walker was going to kill him so he reached into his back pants crack, pulled out a pistol and fired a warning shot. But Walker and Roach kept at him. Walker had him by the throat, So Mcgregor shot again and killed Walker. Roach let go of McGregor and McGregor ran. The riot crowd who were watching McGregor get beaten dispersed. Then McGregor came back as witness’s told Boulder Channel 1 news. But the crowd was hostile McGregor so he left not sure what to do? He really didn’t was to shoot at all. It was self defense!
You don’t think this will be the defense??? Hell it might even be true.
And what was the environment on the hill when Todd Walker was killed?? The conservative Daily Camera called it a Riot with 500 students chanting FUCK THE POLICE. Cops were getting pelted. Where were Roach and Walker in all of this?
Were they fighting. Was roach drunk and out of control. When McGregor tried to Rob them, did she not see the gun? Did she attack him? Did she keep on fighting even after McGregor fired a warning shot.? Was Walker trying to Keep Roach under control , away from McGregor so he wouldn’t shoot them. Maybe he wasn’t trying to protect her as much as to get her to cut it the fuck out. Did she get Todd Walker killed. In the end perhaps we will find this out at the trial. If there is a trial. Or was McGregor a crazed lone gunman caught up in the juice of a college drunken riot ? Was this his chance to finally use that gun he always carried. I suspect a combination of both.
Are the riots and murder connected. Did the drinking crazed student riots create the energy for this terrible murder to happen.? Is it not the college culture of drinking , disrespect and violence that led to this.? Is this not just the escalation of violence in general in our community. And now this!! A hand gun Murder!. We are all to blame for this is my take. I’d like to really know what happened up there.
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New 29th Street Teen center planned above Laudisio’s
0August 3, 2010
BOULDER BETWIXT AND BE TEENS! No Place to go
Boulder’s teenagers are at a loss. So many families have two parents working full time, giving Boulder’s teens few options for play. Recently Mark Megibow, the original percussionist for Face — the all-vocal group, came up with a plan. Start a “teen club” and use the former Purple Martini bar facilities at 29th Street above Laudisio’s restaurant. There Megibow will have musical entertainment in a club atmosphere for teens. Will costs prohibit some from going there?
Not long ago a group of high school teens were overheard talking after school hours about what to do. One said, “My parents aren’t home and we can’t go there now,” another said, “My parents don’t want us at the house” and it went on from there. While “use to be’s ” don’t count any more the truth is there were so many activities and sport options during the summer and school years for teens until schools and teachers decided they didn’t have budgets nor time for these activities. In the winter the well-off go skiing while the others seem to hang around shopping centers.
A few years ago, several people started a teen center on the Hill and it failed badly with the organizers deciding that most teens don’t want a “center.” After that, some proposed a fancy teen club in the Flatirons Theater building but that was heavily thwarted by the Hill residents who used parking as an excuse. I would say a better excuse was that it was too close to all the bars and alcohol outlets on the Hill.
Teenagers are filled with fun-loving positive energy until it is thwarted by bad experiences or influential friends and others. Let’s support a safe, positive and entertaining environment for these young people who represent this country’s future. Provide activities, including musical lessons, opportunities to perform on stage, etc.and sports. We wish Mark Megibow and others who join in this new proposed venture, the very best in this new teen club idea!
Positive stories about teenagers are wonderful, enriching and inspirational. Let’s see where this “club” idea goes. Support these beautiful teens! They are the future!
Donna Marek writes for Boulder Channel 1 News 3-5 times a week. contact her here in the comments section.
