Saturday, July 14, 2012

(Video) WHAT CAR WOULD YOU BUY?


John Cullum, remembering his deluxe LX Camry, isn't sure?

Discussing what they've been learning from the advertisements they see every day, John says, "American cars, General Motors cars," and "electric."

Remembering her Acura Legend, Em chooses "electric" -- maybe a Cadillac.

It's a typical Cullum conversation. Each of the Cullums add reasons that unite them. They don't think about cost. They'd buy what's best for the environment.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

TALL TALLEST BUILDINGS

In April, six years after construction began at the 9/11 site in New York City, the new world trade center reached the height of 1,271 feet, becoming Manhattan's tallest tower. Within two years, it will reach the symbolic height of 1,776 feet, making it the world's third tallest building.

Oh my goodness, good heavens -- why in the world are we building tall, taller, tallest buildings? For tourists -- to get them flocking into the area?

This is the Nina Tower. in Hong Kong, that Hong-Kongers brag about to the tourists.

Or, gee, maybe the tall buildings are built so that hugely important, rich -- the richest corporations -- can flaunt their -- um -- prowess?

Is there a Freudian, symbolical significance to these massively marvelous, unique structures, that penetrate, poke into, impregnate the sky?

What thoughts, what ambitions, what inspires the guys, who give us these penile needles?

Would you want to stay at the only 7 star-hotel in the world on the left? (It's the Burj al, in Dubai.)

Hey, maybe it would be fun to have your Dubai office in one the Emigrates Twin towers on the right.

Excuse my French, but I can't help wndering what it costs to rent space in one of these peckers ....

Or get your thrills at the top of one of these other sky pecker-pokers.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

HOSTS WITH THE MOST

Ryan Seacrest and Nick Cannon have made it. They are hosts. They usher in the talent.

When I was growing up, an usher was a menial job you could get at Loews Theater. You wore an uniform and carried a flashlight.

These men, on different shows, usher the "talent" on stage, guide them off when they win, pat 'em on the back and soothe 'em when they've been disastered out.

Do you recognize American Idol's host, Ryan Seacrest? I know his name -- not his face, though I've seen him hosting various awards shows. He's friendly, down-to-earth, pleasant, clean-cut handsome, in an ordinary sort of way. Like the owner of a busy store, Ryan makes you feel welcome.

Seacrest, age 37, recently won an Emmy as a producer. He's host of "On Air with Ryan Seacrest"-- the #1 nationally syndicated LA morning radio show that has deals with Proctor & Gamble, Coca-Cola and Microsoft. According to Forbes Magazine, he earned $59 million last year; (including $15,000 per Idol episode), which means he earns $4,916,666.00 per month; weekly that's $180,000.00 -- he's making $236,000 a day.

Reading his bio. I see that Ryan Seacrest is doing what he dreamed of doing ever since he was in grade school.

So is Nick Cannon. He older, and maybe wiser -- 42 -- very recognizable, because he often outdo's the talent he ushers in for America's Got Talent. Whatever the act is, Nick joins in -- be it singing, dancing, magic tricks, or opera.

His bio tell the tale of a multitalented actor, stand-up comic, record-producer, TV Host, D.J., radio personality, and entrepreneur, and lists songs and albums he wrote and recorded. He's been married since 2008 to Mariah Carey, the R & B pop star, and the father of their twins.

What's ahead for Cannon? Well, he earns $70,000 per show; his net worth is about $25 million, and often he's more interesting than the talent or the show's wonderful judges -- Howie Mandel, Sharon Osbourne, and the fascinating Howard Stern.

Wow ... These two hosts make me feel ... gulp ... inadequate, full of wonderment.

I think I'm writing about them for JD, our son, who's built a career for himself as a stage, TV, and film actor in Los Angeles. JD's currently on location in Albuquerque, N. Mex. playing the accountant in "The Lone Ranger," a movie starring Johnny Depp.

All those jobs you've had, JD -- hundreds of shows, thousands of auditions -- all the efforts, study, rehearsals -- all the aspects of things you have done to keep going -- like Ryan and Nick, you just have to keep going, and do more and more. And more. It will pay off. Pay off or not, JD, the work of your work makes you the best you can be, makes you truly an artist.

Sunday, July 8, 2012

(Video) SHARP-EYED AL SHARPTON


"We never loved him -- not like we do now." Em says to John Cullum as each night, at 6 p.m., they tune into Sharpton's POLITICS NATION television news show.

His focus, his clarity of thought, his remarkable assembling of facts and putting over his point, have drawn us to Preacher Al, who doesn't preach -- he teaches.

Sharpton is strongly against "Willard" Mitt Romney.

Though politically they agree wiih Al, John Cullum and Em admit they;'ve been tuning in to other news. They don't want to keep hearing Sharpton, night after night, discussing Willard.