The Coming of Spider-Man

     Hollywood - Spider-Man is the quintessential Marvel character.  Although a super hero Spider-Man is spared none of the slings and arrows of ordinary life.  Spider-Man even started fighting crime for a common theme in motion pictures, he was motivated by the murder of a father figure, his Uncle Ben.   Spidey's driving force is guilt, not revenge; he must live forever with the knowledge that he could have prevented the killing of his uncle if he had not been so self-absorbed.
     Creator of Spider-Man Stan Lee used Spider-Man to challenge some concepts of the super hero theme.  Spider-Man was neurotic, compulsive, and profoundly skeptical about the whole idea of becoming a costumed savior.  The first Spider-Man story was intended as no more than a one-shot experiment, and almost didn't get into print at all.  Publisher, "Martin Goodman didn't want to publish it", recalls Stan Lee.  Goodman was convinced that readers would find the subject of spiders distasteful.      Fortunately, a comic book called "Amazing Fantasy" was about to be cancelled, due to low subscriptions.  "Nobody cares what you put into a book that's going to die", Stan Lee says.  "So I threw in Spider-Man."  "I featured him on the cover and then forgot about him."  Lee didn't know that Spiderman as about to become the most important adolescent super hero in comics.  Spider-Man was the hero and teenage helper rolled into one; he was his own sidekick.  In the first publication Spider-Man thought to himself out loud, but subsequently, Stan Lee adopted the device of the thought balloon, with it's characteristic bubbles.
     Peter Benjamin Parker is the son of Richard and Mary Parker who worked as S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and were killed on a mission involving an impersonator of the Red Skull.  Peter Parker attends a science exhibition where he is bitten by a radioactive spider.  Peter later discovers the spider gave him a number of spider-like powers, including wall-crawling, superhuman strength, speed and agility, and an extraordinary "spider-sense."  Peter Parker initially sets out to find fame and fortune by using his powers to  win wrestling matches.  Wearing a makeshift disguise he wrestles professional wrestler Crusher Hogan, and wins.  After quickly becoming a minor celebrity Peter appears on a television special, but during the show Peter allows a thief to escape the TV station, "saying it isn't his problem."  Peter begins to regret his action when he finds out the same burglar from the television station, subsequently kills his uncle Ben.  Realizing that he could have prevented his uncle's murder, the remorse-ridden Peter Parker commits to a life of crime fighting and lifesaving.  See also, www.universalstudios.com.

Television Exploring New Relationships

     Hollywood - From "Game of Thrones", to "The Blacklist", to "Elementary", to "Lord of The Rings", to "Sleepy Hollow", to "Homeland", to ""Breaking Bad" television is increasingly making room for relationships that side-step easy sentiment (and sometimes boring storylines) to explore the other ways in which we bind ourselves to each other, in ways that range from daily contact with your mail man, to once in a lifetime events like birthdays and weddings, for example.  Some of the ways that we relate to one another are being made possible by the evolution and progress from old prejudices; for example, today we have non-romantic male/female partnerships, we have the intermingling of races, we have evolving sexual preferences, and many other emotions that exist between humans.  Television storylines (or plots) mirror what we as humans are doing in our own lives. 
     In "Game of Thrones", behind all of the fantasy trappings, the brutal parents, the endless tally of interfamily slights, and the war of the Five Kings, "Game of Thrones" is a celebration of unlikely alliances that explore the hybrid emotions too often ignored  by television, in favor of a narrower range of storylines.  On "Elementary", Johnny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu's portrayal of a modern Sherlock Holmes and Watson could eventually pay off handsomely.  On "Homeland" the mutually wary working relationship between Carrie (Claire Danes) and Saul (Mandy Patinkin)  was a highlight of last years television season.  Also, "Breaking Bad",  pushed the teacher-student, faux-father-son, template to the limits of television creativity.  "Sleepy Hollow's equally attractive Ichabad Crane (Tom Mison) and Abbie Mills (Nicole Beharie) are united by fate, but not longing for one another.  The partnership of Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone) and Red Reddington (James Spader) on "The Blacklist" is untouched by the sadistic sexuality of the Clarice Hannibal bond on which it seemed at first to be based.
     If you are chronicaling a quest, for example, destroying the one ring of power in  "The Lord of The Rings", or sitting on the Iron Throne, you can't go wrong with the odd-couple pair.  See also, www.variety.com.      

Life Without Michael Jackson

     Hollywood - 28 songs performed by Tito, Marlon, Jermaine, and Jackie Jackson haven't been performed together in nearly 30 years make the Jackson Four a unique combination of tribute band (to Michael Jackson) and legacy band, because they are continuing in their own footsteps,  as well as commemorating their legendary brother, Michael Jackson. 
     The moves may be exaggerated and the style of music may be reminiscent of a by-gone era, but some of the energy still remains in songs that range from "ABC" to "Wanna Be Where You Are." The spectre of a lost sibling (Michael Jackson) occupies a key spot in the performances of the now, Jackson Four.  The brothers hardly downplay the impression that Michael Jackson was a key member of the group.  The show the Jackson Four has put together features four different video montages of Michael Jackson.  The Jackson Four perform many songs which originally featured lead vocals from their missing brother, some of which came from Michael Jackson's solo albums alone. However, backed by a band of seven musicians, playing so loudly it sometimes drowned the singers out, the Jackson Four sound wobbly compared to their original selves.  As the second most commercially successful of the male Jacksons, Jermaine carved out a segment for his new wave era solo hits, which have held up remarkably well.  The new shows also seem to benefit from the Jackson Four's classic choreography, that is now tailored with moves that men who range in age from 55 (Marlon) to 61 (Jackie), this according to the New York Daily News.  For fans, the show has value, the volume, the choreography, and the outfits of the band still say rock stars. 
     In the recording studio the Jackson Four are preparing to release the follow-up to their most previous album together, "2300 Jackson Street" (1989).  If they were a little shaky with some of the songs they performed on their "Unity Tour 2012", they are polishing up their act with small up-close and personal venues.  "The whole thing was about doing small, up-close and personal venues.  When we first started, we wanted to do a few dates", Jermaine said.  "The tour organizers threw a whole bunch at us."  Euroweb.com says, the last time the Jackson's performed as a group in Los Angeles, they were closing out six dates at Dodger Stadium during the large 1984 "Victory Tour".  On the final night the groups most famous member (Michael Jackson) announced the tour would be their last.  The brothers disbanded after that, with only one moonwalking his way to superstardom, and ultimately scandal, Michael Jackson.  "When you have someone like Michael in the band, he was so incredible," Jermaine said.  "We are now doing what we probably wouldn't get a chance to because he was our front."  See also, www.billboard.com.               

Amphibious Monster

     Tokyo - There is no myth in Japanese culture that is specific to Godzilla (Gojira in Japanese).  Japan, like most cultures did have folk stories of rampaging monsters and giants.  Some of those stories inspired Godzilla's creators.  The Japanese knew first hand the horrors of an atomic weapon.  With the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki still fresh in the minds of the Japanese consciousness, Godzilla was conceived as a symbol of nuclear weapons. Radiation is a central theme to the creation of Godzilla, for example, Godzilla breathes fire and Godzilla's main food is radiation. 
The appearance of monsters in Westen motion pictures, in 1954, helped inspire creators Eiji Tsubaraya, Tomoyuki Tanaka, and Ishiro Honda, of the Tokyo-Takarazuka Theatre Company (now part of The Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group and known as Toho Company, Limited) a Japanese film studio headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo. 
     Godzilla has become a worldwide pop culture icon, starring in 28 films produced by Toho Company, Limited.  Godzilla's appearance has varied slightly over the years, with the overall look staying the same.  Ray Harryhausen (1920-2013), a United States motion picture model animator, inspired Tsubaraya, Tanaka, and Honda to use Harryhausen's fictional Rhedosaurus monster, to create an amphibious reptilian monster based around the loose concept of a dinosaur, with an erect posture, scaly skin, human-like torso with muscular arms, spikes on its back, tall (1954 165 feet; 2014 350 feet), and a cute "I'm thinking",  furrowed brow.  As the film series expanded, some stories took on less serious, even comical ("Son of Godzilla" 1967), undertones, portraying Godzilla as a hero, while other plots still portrayed Godzilla as a destructive monster. 
     Although, Godzilla does not like humans, Godzilla will fight alongside humanity against common threats.  However, it makes no special effort to protect human life or property and will turn against it's human allies on a whim.  When inquired if Godzilla was "good or bad," producer Shogo Tomiyama likened it to a Shinto (God of Destruction) which lacks moral agency and cannot be held to human standards of  good and evil.  See also, www.warnerbros.com.   

Science Fiction Becoming Science Fact

        Hollywood - Mobile telephones have gone to areas traditional phone companies can not reach (land-lines cannot go some places).  For, example a person sitting in a  restaurant in South America can now plug themselves into Hollywood, or see what's happening with the global economy. 
      Yet, even as it connects users to the wider world, wireless also enables them to get the most of their local neighborhood.  One can now do everything from looking for sale items while walking around inside the shopping mall to making airplane reservations for ones next trip.  Until recently (10 years ago) people became powerless whenever they left their home or office.  Mobile phones allow us to keep communications in our pockets. 
     Thus,we see the nature of mobile phones transcends distance (you can consult the library of Congress in Washington, D.C.) or, enhance you location (searching for sales while walking up to the store in a shopping mall).  Application program developers are constantly creating programs for people on the go.
     It took the mobile phone industry only 20 years to reach 1 billion subscribers.  It took the land-line industry more than 99 year to reach 1 billion homes around the world when telephones were first invented.  See also, www.popularmechanics.com. 

Professionals and Celebrities Race at Long Beach

      Long Beach - The field included film, television, music, and sports stars, in the annual charity racing event.  They drive Toyota Scions and it's called the Pro/Celebrity Grand Prix race because, you guessed it, the formula one drivers race with the entertainers (the professionals give the performers a 30 second head start).  "The pace of the race was extremely fast and competitive", said Toyota National Motorsports Manager Les Unger.  MTV actor, 22 year-old Brett Davern, was the winner of Saturday's, April 12, 2014, 10 lap, Long Beach Pro/Celebrity Grand Prix.  Toyota will donate $100,000 to Racing for Kids, a national non-profit program benefiting children's hospitals in Orange County, California and Long Beach.  The Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race is scheduled to be broadcast on CBS Sports on April 27, 2014.  "Bates Motel" star Max Thierot finished second and "The Grand Budapest Hotel" star Adrian Brody, finishing third, made a late run for the trophy in the final two laps of the 1.97 mile street course in downtown Long Beach.  See also, www.mtv.com.

Formula One or IZOD IndyCar

       Long Beach, California - Exciting, fun to watch, and reminiscent  of the early days of racing (Ferrari); Formula One and IZOD IndyCars may look the same but the two racing series have very distinct differences that viewers of the two different types of races might love to know. Formula is the fastest, most elite, richest, and most popular of the two series.  However, from the start the races are different. 
     Formula One cars line up in two rows and start their race from a complete stop.  Five red lights go on, one second apart (sometimes known as the starting pole or a Christmas tree)  and when the fifth light goes on it activates the car's starter and the race begins.  IZOD Indy- Cars start while moving behind a safety car, commonly known as a pace car.  The pace car is traveling at 85 mph as it leads the cars around the track to the starting line.  IndyCars race on ovals and are American based.  While Formula One uses proper tracks with curves and straight ways.  Formula one may have originated in Italy, but now is an international race.  IZOD IndyCars allow turbocharging and Formula One cars do not.  IZOD IndyCars are cleaner aerodynamically.  Aerodynamics are the air that passes over the car as the car moves forward. Formula One cars tend to limit the effects of ground effect IZOD IndyCar does not.  Ground effect is the branch of aerodynamics of the car that creates down force.  Down force equals grip and grip makes the car hug curves while sticking to the track during other acceleration.  This is because IZOD IndyCars need that grip to avoid hitting the wall as they speed around banked ovals.  Slowing the cars down around those curves is different too.  Formula One cars use lighter carbon fiber brakes only, while IZOD IndyCars might use carbon fiber on some super speedways they race at, while using steel brakes (similar to the ones we have on our cars) on some of the slower oval tracks they visit during the racing season.  Lastly, Formula One cars (also known as F-1 cars) use gasoline mixed specifically for racing and the fuel must last the entire race.  IZOD IndyCars use ethanol and are allowed to refuel during the race.  See also, www.izod.com.         

Warning Labels on Sodas and Sugary Drinks

      California may be the first state to require warning labels on the front of sodas and other sugary drinks.  The proposed legislation was announced in Sacramento, California on February 13, 2014.  The dispute is over added calories.  The bill, SB1000, would require the warning on the front of all containers of drinks with added sweetners that have 75 or more calories in every 12 ounces. Medical groups supporting the bill countered with their own data saying sugary drinks are the largest source of added calories to Americans' diets in the previous three decades.  Democratic Senator William Monning proposed the bill, and said, the warning labels are similar to efforts to control alcohol and tobacco.  Senator William  Monning says there is clear research showing the link between sugary drinks and obesity.  The bill has the support of the California Medical Association and the California Center for Public Health Advocacy.  The goal of the label is to give consumers the right to know about the medical risks of drinking sodas, Monning said.  CalBev the California arm of the American Beverage Association says that the industry already posts nutrition on the front of many bottles, that is part of a similar campaign that began in 2010.  Soda companies are saying only six percent of the country's diet comes from sodas and energy drinks.  Most of the excess food that we are  eating comes in the form of oils and starches in food.  Soda companies are also saying the price tag of adding new labels would increase the cost of doing business in California.  See also, www.jambajuice.com.