Who is Squeekicleen?

Who is this mysterious contributor? Who is Will Charles? Perhaps more information about these 'people' will be revealed later. A mission statement for this blog also needs to be written. Once this is complete, perhaps the blog can be registered at sites such as:

Blog Catalog
Blogarama
Blogwise
Globe of Blogs
Bloggernity
Bloghop
Bloghub
Blog Universe

(list copied from here)

I will also have to see Hancock for myself after Squeekicleen's last post.

Will Smith is Hotness

I saw Hancock this afternoon and thoroughly enjoyed myself. This summer Hancock joins fellow superheroes - The Hulk, Iron Man, and Batman as they attempt to repackage patriotism for a cynical, savvy generation; a generation at war and in recession, but nonetheless optimistic. A black president? How about a black superhero to test the waters? Hancock is a worthwhile addition to the summer blockbuster list because it is at once satirical, sincere, charming and action-packed. The original and artfully shot and staged narrative is punctuated by wham-bam special effects -- allowing the film to work on two levels. On one, it's about a disgruntled superhero (and what movie this summer isn't?). Will Smith, like The Incredibles of 2004, is living in a post-fantasy era where the superhero has grown old and fallen out of favor due --(no surprise)-- to the economic toll he takes, and the homeland security risk he poses as a vigilante who reports to something other than the law. That's a theme this summer -- the fine line between lawful and corrupt, good and evil, Us and Them. The second level on which Hancock works -- the level that distinguishes this movie from the others -- is as a haunting, somewhat underdeveloped but very compelling drama about love. The complexity and power of love, the almost supernatural way that it both weakens and strengthens humans (and superhumans), and the way it transcends time, race, power, and reality -- all are addressed here more than in Iron Man or The Hulk. The movie, in ways I can't quite put my finger on, reminds me of some off-beat hits like Eternal Sunshine, Crash, and 21 Grams. Weird, I know, but the characters teeter on the edge of great depth. Charlize Theron is the surprise star of this movie. Jason Bateman is wonderful as the 'real-life' but under-funded hero, and Will Smith's performance is a sweet blend of Ali-style angst and Men in Black charm. He pulls the movie together with his irreverent humor and sensitivity. The movie is short, but rewarding. It feels complete but maybe too heady for its time and place among the other summer hero movies. I hope people give it a chance -- and I hope you, Will Charles, will see it before you continue to bash it! On the topic of superheroes, if you're in the mood for more noir crime-fighters, check out Showtime's Dexter.

Weekend overdraw blues

A close friend of mine called me about overdrawing from his or her bank account earlier today. Maybe said person should have called Louis CK; watch beginning at 3:40 for a segment about this subject:

Independence Day and Hancock

Will Smith is in theaters across the country with [insert title of movie here] oh wait - it's "Hand Cock". Actually, the name is "Hancock", but apparently the movie is so rude that hand cock might be a good warning for anyone going to see it; plan to hear lots of rude language and profanity. The movie is rated PG-13, but the language really pushes the rating's boundaries. I personally don't like to hear lots of profanity so I'm disappointed with this development. I prefer comedy that relies on witty and creative dialogue and situations. It's great when someone can write something humorous without relying on terse language. Will Smith can certainly be funny without using much profanity - just think back to his roles in films like "Independence Day", "'Men in Black", and more recently in "Hitch". I guess I will just wait to see "Independence Day 2":



Oh wait, this isn't a real movie? *sigh*

Re: "Dress Code Politics"

I'm intrigued by the last post about clothing regulation in the work place. I agree with your conclusion that women should feel free to wear whatever they want -- but I arrive at it through different reasoning.

People criticize the temerity of women's work clothing as a way to criticize the women themselves for their boldness, fearlessness, and confidence. Women are unfairly demonized for demonstrating the very things that employers look for -- self-confidence, courage, and creativity. Employers and those they employ need to accept that confidence, courage, and creativity have always been and are becoming more genderized. See the following article in Newsweek Magazine (http://www.newsweek.com/id/140457) about Nerd Girls ..."they're smart, they're techie and they're hot" reads the tag line. These young women are engineers, good at what they do, driven, and creative. They've manufactured themselves using more of the tools at their disposal than their predecessors. No longer are nebbish she-nerds the prototypical and peripheral players on the science scene.

In short, women are powerful because of their brains and their bodies, as are men.