A POLYGLOT OF BEAR TALK

The Bear hasn't been stimulated to visit with you over the past few months. Oh why great blogger?
Well, first movies coming out have for the most part not excited the Bear. Most of my movie watching has been via DVD. Summer does have that affect. However a smart, totally different flick was "In Bruges" starring Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes, a movie that takes you to the city of Bruges in Belgium and a snappy two hours of chases, dialogue and comedy which keeps you glued to your 61" inch high def Sony! (Ugly American). The Bear loves old movies and here are a few viewed in recent weeks: Song of Bernadette (A beautiful 1950's Movie of the Year about the miracle at Lourdes starring Oscar Winner Jennifer Jones and such movie neat guys like Vincent Price, Lee J. Cobb and William Bickford. A beautiful and true story and what I liked about it was the stringent rules applied to would be miracles by the Roman Catholic Church. Say what you want about the Church, it continues to be one of the greatest and powerful entities ever created and no wonder. If you believe and I certainly do, its creator was none other than JC himself! If you want more, read Franz Wurfel's book "The Song of Bernadette." You don't have to believe, be a Catholic, follow Mohammed, Buddha, or whoever. This really happened and miracles continue to this day!

Other neat "at your home" movie included: The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3 which stars the great Walter Matthau and takes you to one of NY's very busy Pelham subway where highjackers, led by the magnificent Robert Shaw (Jaws), take over and cause havoc. Comedy, great story, suspense and great actors, (I forgot Martin Balsam), and you find yourself grinning from ear to ear and thats not being corny!

The Bear wants to recomend a couple days reading with none other than the former Speaker of the US House, Newt Gingrich who collaborated in a well done novel about Pearl Harbor: Pear Harbor.
Yes, I know, its amazing that the Bear would back a Republican like Newt but this is a solid rendition of the events leading up to Dec. 7th or 8th (whatever time you or our friends of Nipon tell you it was). There is already a sequel to this one out there. I immediately raced to Blockbuster to rent Tora Tora Tora to follow up on my reading! Wow, OK, OK!

I couldn't believe it but Barbara Christian actually sat and stayed seated for all of Henry Fonda and Claudette Cobert in "Drums Along the Mohawk" a 1930ish frontier movie which is still a stimulating and exciting visit to the Revolutionary period in upper New York! What a time it must of been to live out there with the Injuns constantly threatenind and the Red Coats waiting around every corner.

Oh yes, another DVD favorite last week was one of the all timers in Hollywoodland, the Duke starring in "The High and the Mighty" about a Hawaii to San Fran flight that goes bad. The whistling in this one, sensational and so many old time stars strapped into their seats with bedlam
a foot on this flight!

To the Baseball Wars: Yes, the St. Louis Cardinals deserve a "hats off." This young team led by the brilliant mentor Tony LaRussa, has been oneof the top teams in baseball this year with a young and steady squad. Led by the likes of Ryan Ludwick, the amazing Rick Ankiel, the great Albert Pujols, a pitching staff of young arms Waignwright, Wellemeyer, leadership behind the plate with Yadier Molina this suprising Mound City squad shows what "teamwork" can provide to a decent team! Even with the great Pujols this Cardinal team exudes the kind of production that leads to winning baseball and "the race is on" once again in St. Louis, surely the finest baseball city of them all. "Oh, if the Bear could only have his Brownies back!"

Time Out: yes, its time to rest a bit from the political wars, even though Obama and McCain continue to romp around the globe selling their wares. These campaigns are much much too long and why Americans demand this physical and mental test for our candidates for the Presidency baffles me. WHAT DOES IT PROVE that the never ending primaries and debates cost big bucks
and leads to lethargy on more important issues like the Economy, Iraq, the Environment, Energy etc etc etc. One thing is certain: If we want to make the kind of change in this country necessary for real change, we need 1. A Democratic President 2. A Democratic Congress with huge majorities and 3. State Governors and City Mayors Democratic, all backed by well prepared, smart leaders not worrying about the Social mores of the country but the policies and programs which yield results for all classes in our society. The last eight years of Republican administration policy has been the most inept in our history! Thats right! OUR HISTORY! Should the Demos prove to be successful in November they and they alone will have to right the ship of state and will be responsible for the results. Lets not mix it up with a Republican Congress and Demo President or vice versa. WHY NOT A GOVERNMENT THAT GOVERNS!

Here are a few thoughts to close out today's blog:

1. Would you commies in China please get your act together on putting together this year's summer Olympics? Time is running short, and guess what? Now the locusts are coming!

2. Please Mr. DeWitt: Lets do something with "Ballpark Village" Florida bought out US Sugar and who knows MO may have to take over the St. Louis Cardinals and clean up the bayou north of the ballpark.

3. Is High Definition TV hurting physical presence at athletic events. With ticket prices up, gas up,
drinking and brawling plentiful and athletes pampered, NFL, AL, NL, NHL, NBA beware!

4. We all miss the lovely Georgia Frontiere. She brought the Rams to St. Louis. She supported many a charity in the St. Louis area. This team has brought us a Super Bowl and some very poor football as well. Note: The team will be out there in late July readying itself for the pre-season and the opening game in Philly. Question: Has the team improved in the off-season. We say YES!
Al Saunders is now the Offensive Coordinator. The Offensive Line, physically destroyed last year is back led by the great Orlando Pace at Left Tackle. Our Defense has been strengthened with good draft day work and additions up front! Don't downplay the acquisition of Kicker Josh Brown and the Bear is going out on a limb and say the surprise of this year will be Wide Receiver Donnie Avery! THIS KID CAN FLY!

The Bear is now departing to "clip his stock coupons" and weep!