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Gone Baby Gone is Ben Affleck s directorial debut, adapted by Affleck from the novel by Dennis Lehane Mystic River.
It is an intense look inside an ongoing investigation about the mysterious disappearance of a little girl. As two young private detectives (Casey Affleck and Michelle Monaghan) hired to take the case get closer to finding her, they discover that nothing is as it seems and more dangerous than they ever thought possible. Also starring Academy Award winners Morgan Freeman (Million Dollar Baby) and Ed Harris (Pollack).

Customer Reviews

Review date : 2009-04-28
First of all, the tried-and-true method of the main character narrating as the story goes along, just didn’t work with Casey Affleck’s nasally and whiny voice. Maybe it was because Ben Affleck directing his brother Casey, thought it would work. It was more annoying and distracting instead of adding to the movie.

Michelle Monaghan didn’t play a very important or effective part. Amy Ryan as Helene McCready, was perfect as the "doper" and irresponsible mother who got her child back. Ed Harris as Detective Remy Bressant, was very convincing as the main cop and co-conspirator of the kidnapping. Morgan Freeman the mastermind and self-proclaimed "saviour" of the child of Helene McCready played a minor part until the very end.

I’m glad this didn’t turn out to be a movie that I’d need a calculator to rack up the body count. Although there was considerable amount of victims adding up (related and unrelated) after the initial kidnapping.

And in the end, when Casey’s character Patrick Kenzie has Morgan Freeman and the others arrested for kidnapping because "it was the right thing to do," he himself goes "Scot-free" after murdering (read Executing) a child molester and killer that the cops helped coverup since he tried to save the life of a cop shot at the very same crime scene. This self-righteous ending just didn’t play into the message he wanted to convey. Sure, no one was going to miss the child molester/killer, but his summary execution was in step with that old saying of "the lesser of two evils." Pretty sour.

Casey Affleck’s tough-guy persona just didn’t work in this movie. He just doesn’t have that exterior gruff look or demeanor to portray a "bigger-than-life hero."

Review date : 2009-04-20
There’s a moment about 5 minutes into "Gone Baby Gone" when you think you might just have stumbled on a genuine masterpiece…

As Casey Affleck ruminates in a weary beaten-up voiceover about good and evil and the life choices we make and how neighbourhoods shape us as people and those choices, the camera pans across the locals he’s talking about and their Boston inner city terrain.

These are real people in the real world - all manner of faces, colours and creeds - just going about their business - a man sat on the steps of a tenement building having a midday cigarette - kids of 8 and 9 flipping open their mobile phones - murals on walls declaring all sorts - a white father plops his baseball cap on the head of his gorgeous son of one who giggles, while a black father positions his equally gorgeous older son on the baseball circle in the local park with a sense of pride - all of it eventually making its way to a media circus outside a suburban home and a picture of a 9-year old girl on a tree…

The opening minutes are full of these beautifully realised vignettes - the use of real Bostonians and their ‘tough’ suburbs adding a reality and power to Gone Baby Gone that is simply stunning - and that gritty reality continues throughout the film. And when you learn that the director is pretty boy Ben Affleck whom everyone loves to hate - you’re more than impressed.

But then of course it all goes to mush when the frankly ludicrously cherubic face of Casey Affleck appears with his equally drippy girlfriend Michelle Monaghan (an amazingly dull part for her) in tow beside him - they’re the leads? We’re expected to believe these dweebs?? While Casey is good in parts, he’s out of his depth in others - and worse - a lot of the time you feel he’s literally going to burst into a fit of the giggles at any moment. Monaghan is fabulous expressively as an actress, but her character Angie is a bit weedy and therefore difficult to care about - Angie seems almost superfluous to requirements (she was more fleshed out in the book).

But then you ask yourself why did top quality actors like Morgan Freeman and Ed Harris get involved in this movie - and the answer is the truly fabulous script adapted by Aaron Stockard from Denis Lehane’s book of the same name. This is "Mystic River" territory - Lehane has worked in child abuse and abduction cases and knows his monsters and their families so well that his observations of them hurt you - literally. There are many scenes in this excellent film where I found myself tearful - and not always for the grotesque things that Miramax must show you about pervs and their ways - but for the humanity of the other people involved - an emotion that seems all too often missing from other films about this easy-to-exploit subject. Ben Affleck has imbibed his debut with genuine heart even if the story does go off the rails a bit towards the end.

Given real meat to work with, the large varied cast is uniformly brilliant right down to even the smallest part - and just when you think you’ve seen all that Harris and Freeman have to give - they floor you - both of them - adding a gravitas throughout that must have had the older Affleck tingling in his Director’s chair. John Ashton is superb too as Ed Harris’ sidekick and Titus Welliver as the child’s father Lionel who may or may not be a nice guy. But the big surprise is Amy Ryan (Oscar nominated) who plays the devious trailer-trash druggy mum Helen McCready whose daughter Amanda is the girl pictured everywhere and abducted. You hate her and yet empathise with her in equal measure - and you wonder (like Affleck’s character does) should a 9-year old girl be back with this train wreck of a person - or does Helen McCready deserve a second chance at life like everyone else? And who makes that decision?

The Blu Ray print is surprisingly bad - speckled and blurry in the indoor and night scenes and hardly revelatory anywhere else. Also 2 of the special features cavalierly give away far too much of the plot and the twists - so don’t watch either before you see the movie. Also of note is David Buckley’s tenderly evocative music, which gives many of the down and up scenes a hugely powerful lift.

Despite being just a few notches short in places, "Gone Baby Gone" is a superb film - a genuine sleeper from 2008 - and Ben Affleck has arrived as a Director - big time.

I was moved, confused, hurt and left thinking about difficult decisions.

Highly recommended.

Review date : 2009-04-19
GBG provided authentic Boston grit, quality acting, and a storyline that keeps you guessing while it leads to a provocative and intense finale. Rated a 8.5/10 and recommended as one of ‘07 Top 10.

Review date : 2009-04-12
I came to this film with high expectations, I mean, it had gotten an Academy Award nomination for one of the supporting players, but honestly, I was perplexed as to what was so great about it, I mean, it’s a decent yarn, up until the end, but hardly Mystic River. First let me say, I HATED Casey Affleck in this, his character is so naive and makes the most foolish, obtuse decision at the end, that ruins the film entirely, and Affleck never makes you like or support this yutz, so your just let with thinking, wow, what a moron. The story is interesting, in a Mystic River sort of way, and the supporting players, starting with Ed Harris are fantastic, I just can help but come back to the way Affleck plays this idiot cop, I just never bought this guy being such a sap and his ruinous decision he makes at the end is positively sickening, and the way it fades to black at the end, is like, uh Ok, is that IT?!…recommended, but not highly, frankly had it had a different lead, maybe it would have been great, who knows.

Review date : 2009-04-04
The Bottom Line:

An interesting-enough crime story in its own right, Gone Baby Gone is elevated to another level by terrific acting and an ending that asks perhaps better than any movie what "doing the right thing" actually means; with several standout scenes and the courage of its convictions, it is most definitely a film to watch or own.

Didn?t most of us in a sense grow up with Bob DeNiro?

Starting with his unforgettable Taxi Driver (1976), DeNiro always treated us to cinematic excellence through his characters on the violent edge of life: Goodfellas (1990), Casino, The Deer Hunter (1978), Camp Fear (1991), The Godfather Trilogy, The Untouchables (1987).

Born in New York City on August 17, 1943, DeNiro attended the famous Stella Adler Conservatory. He has collaborated on many films with his close friend and director Martin Scorsese. He has done much to place his native city NYC on the map as a bustling and alternative movie-making center to Los Angeles. He owns the Tribeca Film Center and takes an active role in the annual Tribeca Film Festival.

Nominated for a total 6 times for the Academy Award, DeNiro won it twice — in 1975 for his role in Godfather II, and in 1981 for Raging Bull (1980).

Did you know these trivia facts about DeNiro?

1)His son Raphael DeNiro is also an actor.

2)He is the owner of the West Hollywood restaurant ?Ago.?

3)He is a lefty but wrote with his right hand in his break-out movie Taxi Driver (1976).

4)He does not like watching his own movies and claims he is ?falling asleep? every time he tries to watch one.

Ugur Akinci, Ph.D. is a Creative Copywriter, Editor, an experienced and award-winning Technical Communicator specializing in fundraising packages, direct sales copy, web content, press releases, movie reviews and hi-tech documentation. He has worked as a Technical Writer for Fortune 100 companies for the last 7 years.

In addition to being an Ezine Articles Expert Author, he is also a Senior Member of the Society for Technical Communication (STC), and a Member of American Writers and Artists Institute (AWAI).

You can reach him at writer111@gmail.com for a FREE consultation on all your copywriting needs.

You are most welcomed to visit his official web site http://www.writer111.com for more information on his multidisciplinary background, writing career, and client testimonials. While at it, you might also want to check the latest book he has edited: http://www.lulu.com/content/263630

Ancient Greek tragedy was influenced by the Peloponnesian satyr play. As the Romans called them, “Satyrs” were fauns–goatlike creatures–who were famous for being constantly drunk and chasing nymphs. The word tragedy comes from the Greek tragoidia, consisting of two words. The first one is tragos, meaning goat. The second word is oidia, which comes from the root oeidein meaning to sing.

In general, tragedy is a description of a fact of life. In our time, in day to day usage, the word tragedy defines a disastrous event, a calamity, or a series of terrible events. In its historical and literary usage, however, the word tragedy carries a deeper meaning. On one hand, tragedies are those disasters that happen by chance to the people involved who are not able to control the events. On the other hand, they are the images and stories of man in conflict with himself, his adversaries, or the world around him. The aim man’s tragedy is to
succeed as a human by gaining meaning, love, understanding, and
wisdom through the ordeals.

During the fifth century Greece and during the seventeenth century England and France, tragedy experienced its two most popular periods.
The origins of Greek tragedy are little known and foggy. One theory is that tragedy had its roots in the fertility ceremony of the God Dionysus, when the plays with the death and rebirth themes were put on stage during spring. Of the hundreds and maybe thousands of plays written for this celebration we have only thirty-three left today: those of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides. These early playwrights treated tragedy in their own unique way. Their common denominator was the connection between men and Gods, heavily emphasizing the role of fate, necessity, and the supreme rule of the Gods.

The seventeenth century tragedy honors go to Shakespeare who wrote
his plays mainly to entertain London audiences. With Shakespeare,
the hero is usually a famous and kindly figure who falls into some kind of a disaster through a flaw in his character. The Shakespearean tragedy points out to the good that has become spoiled through mishap. Alongside Shakespeare, Corneille and Racine in France wrote tragedies during the same era. Unlike Shakespeare, however, Corneille and Racine’s tragedies were harsh, high-handed, and simple remakes of the old Greek tragedies where destiny was the supreme ruler.

During the twentieth century, our understanding of tragedy has evolved through the unfortunate hero’s facing sudden revelations of the facts of character, of the paths he followed when, suddenly, he gained consciousness and realization. These heroes became victims and visionaries even though, once in a while, they lost their lives. Bowman’s “Death of a traveling Salesman”, Arthur Miller’s, Tennessee Williams’, Eugene O’Neil’s, Joseph Conrad’s and Hemingway’s works are some of the examples. Poets like Robert Penn Warren and Yeats, also employed tragedy in their subject matter, because tragedy happens in life.

Tragedy shows itself in the struggle of man against nature, man against man, man against fate, man against convention, man against reason with irreconcilable differences. These struggles usually move from safety to calamity as the hidden self is revealed. It is in this revelation, in this movement, that tragedy becomes attractive. After all, as long as the world stands, the calamities and disasters in real life that fall upon human beings–because they are human beings–will be inevitable.

Since we human beings plan to stay human, we are going to reflect those events in our art and in our writing. In other words, if we’ll bleed, we’ll write about it.

Joy Cagil is an author on Writing.Com/ Writing.Com/
which is a site for Writing.Com/ Poetry. Her background is in foreign languages and linguistics. Her portfolio can be found at www2.writing.com/main/view_item/user_id/joycag/ www2.writing.com/main/view_item/user_id/joycag/

The Atlanta Braves have been based in Atlanta, Georgia since the year 1966. They a professional major league baseball team that competes in the National League’s Eastern Division. Between the years of 1991 and 2005, the Atlanta Braves won their division each year. It is the longest record of any North American professional sport. In addition, the Atlanta Braves have the distinction of having won over a dozen divisional titles, nine pennants, and three World Series.

The history of the Braves dates back to the year 1871 when a charter National Association team, the Boston Red Stockings, was founded. In 1876, it became a charter of the National League. It has remained a part of the league ever since, thus establishing the argument that the Braves are the longest running sports team in all of American sports.

Some even trace the Braves’ history all the way back to baseball’s first professional team, the Cincinnati Red Stockings. Upon the formation of the National Association, the backers of the Cincinnati team were unwilling to field a team in the new league. As a result, Red Stockings player and manager Harry Wright left, taking three of the team’s best players with him. They relocated to Boston and kept their nickname.

Between the years of 1912 and 1952, the team was known as the Boston Braves. From 1953 to 1965, they were the Milwaukee Braves. Before 1912, the team in Boston had many nicknames that weren’t official. These included Red Caps, Red Stockings, Beaneaters, Doves, and Rustlers (after John Rustler owned the team.).

In the mid 1930s, after several poor seasons and bankruptcy, the team’s new owner, Bob Quinn, asked a crew of sports journalists to choose a new name for the team, hoping to revive their luck. They chose Bees, although the name never really caught on. Quinn was not even very enthusiastic, although the team members’ uniforms featured a giant letter B. From the year 1941, the team used the name Braves.

The Atlanta Braves are currently owned by Time Warner, although they are up for sale. The current roster includes such players as Manny Acosta and Brian McCann.

My URLs for MLB baseball: sportsbettingbaseball.com/category/scoring-report/ MLB Scoring Report | sportsbettingbaseball.com Sports Betting Baseball | sportswebsitemarketing.com Sports Web site Marketing

Ceilidhs are traditional Scottish dances, and are often held to celebrate special occasions such as Hogmanay (New Year), St Andrew’s Day, Burns’ Night and weddings. However, no particular reason is needed to hold one and they are held all year across Scotland in many pubs and town halls.

What does the word ceilidh mean?

It’s Gaelic and means an informal get together. Although it’s now more of a celebration event, the ceilidh originated in rural communities where neighbours would gather in a cottage and spend long winter nights in storyelling and song. It was a way of passing on traditions and folklore down the generations as well as keeping warm.

What do ceilidhs involve?

Most ceilidhs have a live band, with fiddles and accordions, and some also have drums, guitar and even a Clarsach (Scottish harp).

A selection of dances is held, usually including the most popular (and easy) ones such as The Gay Gordon’s, The Dashing White Sergeant and Strip the Willow.

The dances are held in groups of different sizes (usually from two to eight people in each group) and are generally easy to pick up if you?re not familiar with them. There are sometimes demonstrations before each dance to make sure everyone knows what they’re doing.

How do I learn the dances?

Most locals will be happy to teach you the steps, so there’s no excuse not to hit the floor. However, if you want to get some practice before getting your dancing shoes on, the Edinburgh Scottish Dance Resource explains the most popular dances.

When and where are ceilidhs held?

There are ceilidhs held all over Scotland all year, and are particularly popular in the Islands. Several rural pubs have regular events, such as The Lade Inn in Callander, Perthshire, which holds a ceilidh every Saturday night.

Local farmers, stalkers and gamekeepers entertain with accordion, fiddle, bagpipes and any other instruments that brought along on the evening, and guests are welcome to join in.

For a more modern take on ceilidhs, the Caledonian Brewery in Edinburgh holds a weekly ‘Ceilidh at the Caley’ event with a mixture of traditional and modern music and dances.

For further details of pubs holding regular ceilidhs and traditional Scottish music performances year round, see the Scottish Folk Directory.

Where can I go to a ceilidh on St Andrew’s Day?

A nationwide series of events has been co-ordinated to celebrate Scotland’s traditional music, song and dance, from Orkney to the Borders.

Hands up for Trad has details of where to go in each area to celebrate.

St Andrews itself is an obvious Mecca for festivities, with the St Andrews Week Celebrations. This includes street entertainment, lots of ceilidhs and even a Food and Drink Fair.

There are even several ceilidhs held abroad if you?re not going to be in Scotland on the day, such as the St Andrew?s Ball in Florence, Italy on Sun 30th.

Anything else I should know?

Dancing in high heels, skirts or directly after eating is definitely to be avoided, and be prepared to feel a bit dizzy generally. Other than that, a ceilidh is a great way to enjoy traditional Scottish culture and enjoying yourself is pretty much guaranteed.

Courtesy of uniquescotland.com Ecosse Unique Scottish Holiday Cottages

From a little spark, may burst a mighty flame.
—Italian Poet Dante (1265-1351)

Inspired to create your own child portrait? It’s very possible, with a little enthusiasm
and creativity, to create something very special. Children hold such wonderful
qualities, a simple innocence and a profound simplicity, beauty and awe about
them.

Children are, in touch with, and in tune with, what it is to be a part of this world.
With a refined sensitivity, they really are everything to us all.

And you too, can nurture these qualities in your own life… use a camera and take
pictures with the same gentleness, with the same inspirational-playing-field as
children.

Yet in creating a child portrait a certain approach is needed. I suggest coming at it
from a fun perspective. Have fun, be playful. That’s how you’ll reach children.

You’ve got to go to where they are, meet with them at their level. And generally
speaking, they hover in fun mode…

You’re aiming for the essence of what they are all about. You want to cherish that
unique spark of brightness in a child’s life.

Like I mentioned, children are at a level of refined sensitivity and openness. and I
think we need to be open to that, to be conscious of that, to be able to sit down and
capture something great with child photography.

Even if that means giving them the camera for a while, or rigging up a camera so
that they can shoot their own child (self) portrait!

The more passionate you are about getting a good child portrait, then you won’t
mind waiting for the time when everything comes together. It can take time.

There’s certain moments when you’ll know things look right, and the light is gentle,
and the colors are in harmony. Be ready for that.

And of course you can encourage it by setting up a room, a party, children’s time
with friends, activities or excursions when the day is motivating you to get out and
go somewhere.

Getting a good child portrait is not that difficult. Look for the right moments and be
prepared for it. Child activity happens fast. That means you’ve got to act fast. Wait
long time, but act fast. (You’ll need to hurry up and wait!)

Carrying the tools of trade (camera) is going to create some action, responses and performance. So make it into a performance piece.

It’ll be up to you what you want to achieve. But for me, I strive for a natural feel.
Often playful in front of a camera, we all spring back to normal-doing-stuff mode.
It’s then that you can potentially get more natural pictures.

What you want to achieve with your child portrait? You might want to stand way
back, relax and shoot with long lens and focus in as the children play. Or go in close
with wide angle and get action shots. Technically it’s your call.

My preference is to see what happens. But first and foremost I focus on the fun
factor. That’s because I’m just a big kid and I want to play too.

The purpose of our lives is to add value to the people of this generation and
those that follow. —Buckminster Fuller

Keep it fun. Keep it uplifting, hilarious, non-serious. You’re after moments. The
moments are the precious stuff. Stuff that feels right, is right. Let everything relax
and take your time. It’s easy!

Let me know how you go with it.

Copyright © 2006 Martin Hurley

Martin Hurley is an artist, photographer and info-preneur who
thrives on marketing, ideas and creating info-products. He never
sleeps. Get yourself on The Dudezine mailing list plus sample
great landscape photography FREE at: hurleypix.com/ hurleypix.com/

hurleypix.com/ Great Landscape Photography For Sale

Price : $62.99

Customer Reviews

Review date : 2008-10-12
I love Indiana Jones. Though it seems ridiculous that at 65 Ford can do all those stunts, especially at his age, Shia does a great job and so does Karen.
Number 4 is NO WHERE as good as the other 3 but it was still enjoyable fun to watch these stars go on yet another adventure.
But does anyone know if this box set contains the special editions recently released?

Review date : 2008-10-10
This set contains the four cinematic adventures of Indiana Jones. Raiders is a classic piece of cinema. A brilliantly directed action adventure film paying homage to adventure serials of the 30s. Temple of Doom pays similar homage, but takes Indy into horror and fantasy territory. Doom is extremely polished and lavish, personally I love it equally with Raiders. Last Crusade brings back the popular elements of Raiders, along with Sean Connery as his father. There is some brilliant dialogue in this film and banter between them. It’s probably the most family oriented of the original three. Then we have Crystal Skull, the new instalment. Personally I enjoyed it and think it is a worthy entry into the sage of Indiana Jones. There are some over the top moments, but like Temple of Doom before it, the film really pushes the fantasy elements of the action scenes. Marion Ravenwood is back and well, I won’t spoil it. It’s great to see Indy back after 20 years. Buy this set, you will watch all the films over and over again!

Review date : 2008-10-06
Cheesy fun. That’s all it is. If you’re expecting realism or drama or the Godfather, you’re barking up the wrong tree. If you’re looking for 8 hours of cheesy fun, best accompanied by a bottle of vodka, then look no further.

And if you’re wondering about the fourth movie, don’t worry. The ending very clearly emphasizes that Shia is NOT replacing Harrison, and there will only be one Indy

The only big reason that I can see against buying this boxset is as follows: will this be the last one? I doubt it. Personally, I’m waiting for the fifteen-disc, six-movie box to be released… and you know it’ll happen

Review date : 2008-10-04
People seem to keep talking about Indy 4, but this all four. And all are great. SEE THEM!

Review date : 2008-10-03
This movie was awesome! He still has the touch to make action and comedy blend together. Sure, he’s alot older now than when he did the last crusade, but that’s the beauty of it. I think he’s in great shape for his age and did alot of his own stunts in it. Shia, I could do without. I think he’s a bit overblown. Lucas/Spielberg/Ford are talking about doing another one but even they admit they would have to hurry because Ford is getting any younger to do these sort of things. I love the way it ends. Lucas has already said Shia will NOT replace Ford. And the end proves it if you pay attention to it. It’s masterfull the way they let the fans know there is and always will be one Indy!!

During my junior year in high school, my best friend told me he was making a parody of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. What was really cool about this short project was that I would play a version of Khan and do my Ricardo Montalban impersonation. But much to my excitement, the material never happened, as those involved later graduated, as did my buddy and I would a year later.

Space Cadets, my short film, would never die, as wouldn’t Captain James Kirk, if he and his crew were caught in a same situation on a reality show. After high school, I pretty much bumbed around taking odd jobs before I finally enrolled in a small (but expensive) college as a Communications Major. Since I was raised in a Catholic home, my mom encouraged me to attend a religious youth group that met every Sunday. The members that preached the word of God also acted in skits, and before I knew it, I was acting in those skits as well. It took a year before I introduced the members a skit I had written based on the original Star Trek series, but with a Holy-twist: Jesus vs. Khan. They liked it, but the skit, some felt, was long, and to design the bridge of the Enterprise would have been too costly for a church budget. Again, my dream of playing a villain from a popular series was closed out.

One day I was channel flipping on my television when I saw what was a home made, video spoof of James Bond. I thought this was the coolest thing since cable was invented. When the program was over, a screen appeared with a number for anyone who wanted to do his or her own program. The way it works is that I would take a class in learning to run a camera, shoot a scene, and then edit my program, all for free! What excited me more was that any program I created would appear on this particular channel, public access television. Well, I called that number, but it took about two to three months before I took my first class. I graduated, thank you, thank you, and directed subjects for other producers and acted in several spoofs. In 1995, I felt the time was ripe to make Space Cadets! I had created my first screenplay and showed it to my friend Scott John, whom I had acted for his programs. After looking over the script, he phoned me and said, Jose, this is too long.

My script was about 50 pages. John told me to consider how difficult it was to make any video based on sci-fi, especially when it came to designing the props, the costumes, etc. He should know: he did a version of Doctor Who that took months and labor. He recommended that I trimmed the script down, maybe to twenty pages. But I felt that every page could be done. I wish I had listened to him.

What begin as a spoof of Star Trek turned into a version of Kevin Costner’s Waterworld, which had premiered in theaters that summer. In fact, this was the nickname I gave my short film. And soon all the volunteers of the cable station would peak in the editing room and ask, So Jose, how’s Waterworld coming out? They mocked and laughed as my production took from spring to the end of the Christmas holidays to make.

During a fight scene between two actors, one of them accidentally hit his head against a wall when he was thrown against a stack of chairs. When he got off the floor after I yelled, Cut, he had lost some of his memory! I rushed this guy, who had done stunts for other films, to the hospital. The following day he recovered, thank goodness, and he repeated the same stunt the following week! As month passed, I was burning grudges with the Director of Program at the cable station, and the volunteers were upset with me for using up the editing room. Everyone was soon advising me to put Space Cadets! in the can. They wanted me to quit. But whenever I had faced discouragement, I pictured myself having a conversation with William Shatner and telling him my nightmare on filming this parody. And I fantasized that he had encouraged me by saying, ?Finish Space Cadets!?

In 1996, I had moved far away to attend (a bigger and less expensive) college, leaving Space Cadets half way done. I actually didn’t finish the film until I returned for Spring Break of that year. When it was over, Space Cadets premiered on public access television on April 1st, my birthday! And what was also special about that year was that Star Trek was celebrating its 30th anniversary. Ironically, in the ST episode Space Seed, 1996 was also the year that Kirk had discovered Khan and his people frozen in a space ship! Go figure on this one!

Jose Guzman is an actor and director of Space Cadets, A Star Trek fan film, which can be downloaded at http://www.shortfilmfanatic.com

The game is no limit Texas Holdem Poker, and you’ve made it to the end of a tournament. You’re playing “Heads-Up”. The one thing that never ceases to amaze me is how people rarely practice this part of their game, indeed it’s usually an after thought. “I’ll deal with the end if I’m lucky enough to get there”.

The reasons for poor play are easy to see. Most players never get to Heads-Up in major tournaments and in poker as in all other things in life, practice makes perfect. I’d like to start by recounting a common problem, and one I witnessed last night at the 7th www.Texashold-empoker.com monthly $1000 Texas Holdem Freeroll for members. When the tourney got down to the last 2 players the respective chipstacks for first and second were $300,000 for the chipleader and $120,000 for the shortstack. Blinds at this point in the game (originally a field of 327) were 15,000 and 7,500 respectively. The chipleader, as was to be expected, played the part of the bully raising each and every hand (as you should). The second stack, and ultimately second place in the tournament was waiting for good cards. Obviously you can’t do that in this position because if you lose a few blinds there is no coming back. In the end he folded every raise - even at the end. The game ended with small stack now on 18,000 folding a blind of 15,000 because he felt he couldn’t win with whatever cards he had. What was all the more amazing about this really poor play was that the guy who came last was in all other respects a good Texas Holdem player. I played with him throughout the first half of the game and he forged ahead on our table becoming table chip-leader early on. A position he maintained that until the final table.

Heads-Up Strategy

Enough about what not to do, what about your strategy? Well first of all you have to accept that the dynamics of the game have changed, and so must your play. Earlier, when sitting among 9 other competitors you must be cautious of other people’s potential hands. In heads up this doesn’t really apply. The obvious statistic is that you are a 50:50 chance of winning - far better than normal. It also means that if you hold a King or an Ace then you are odds on favorites to win the hand.

Blinds at this point in a major tournament will be huge and well worth stealing. Typically you won’t find it too easy to steal short of going allin pre-flop and I would suggest that is the way to play A or K hands. If you’re called you are probably ahead, and if not, you’ve just gained by adding a couple of significant blinds to your pot. Whatever you do, you should be raising every hand. A raise each hand (even with 2,7offsuit) will more often than not cause your opponent to fold his weak hands rather than take the chance with something lousy. Conversely, if someone bets at you (especially when you are big blind) then you should call it to see a flop. Hit anything on the flop and you should be allin. There are two times to consider a fold, when you are small blind, you have low mismatched cards, and have been going allin successfully for the prior couple of hands. The act of folding makes it look like your allins were considered plays with high cards or significant pairs. When you wade back in with the next significant raise or allin play it’ll create the illusion of a strong hand. If your bluffs are called, you still have a 1 in 3 chance even with your 2,7 against say AK. It goes without saying that if you come up against AA, KK, or QQ you will probably lose. This possibility should be dismissed however because each is a 220/1 event and your average heads up match lasts 10 hands or less.

It’s time to review the game described at the start of the article. It’s fair to say the big stack had the right strategy, but it’s always easy to push people around as the significant chipleader. The correct play with 120,000 in chips against 300,000 is to allin each of at least the first 5 hands. If the chipleader calls and loses (almost a 50:50) then you become chipleader at 240,000 against 180,000. That’s a psychological blow that your opponent may not recover from and he’s likely to want to conserve chips having just lost a big allin. Once your ahead you can be more selective about your opportunity, and given the standard of Heads-Up play around it’s quite likely you’ll be given the time to make a play on your terms. The only time where I would call the blind or slow play is with what should be the winning hand no matter what - the AA, KK, QQ situations that you rarely get heads up. If you follow an aggressive allin strategy as described above the sudden switch to simply calling the Big Blind will be misinterpreted as weakness and will in all probability be met with misplaced badly timed aggression.

Finally I’d recommend you practice at a home game against your friends. Alternatively there are a number of low value Heads-Up games that you can join (2 player Texas Holdem Poker tournaments) offered by most of the online rooms. All that remains is to wish you good luck at the tables.

Graham Easton is the author of this article. He is the webmaster at texashold-empoker.com texashold-empoker.com and has a track record in large Texas Holdem Poker tournaments with fields of 300-1500. He has made it to Heads Up 5 times in the last 15 tournaments (1 in 3) he’s played winning $9,090 from $430 buyins in the 5 months October 05 to Feb 06.

Sensational singer, songwriter Mylin is a great American story. Mylin’s fifth album, aptly titled American Girl, express her heartfelt story. The title track, “American Girl,” is Mylin’s autobiography, an uplifting, empowering anthem.

Born in the Philippines to a father in the U.S. Navy and a Filipino mother, Mylin’s father was pressured to return to the U.S. without she and her mother. Months later, the day Mylin’s 18 y/o father was to ship out, he got into a motorcycle accident. Badly injured in the hospital, he decided he didn’t want to spend the rest of his life without Mylin and her mother. They married in the Philippines. Baby Mylin and her mom were flown back to the U.S. in a C-130 military cargo plane, carrying the bodies of deceased U.S. soldiers. The trip took a week and a half. Mylin calls it “the 1st intervention of God” keeping her parents together.

Mylin accepted Christ at the tender age of 7 and later rededicated her life to the Lord at age 14, just before she was handpicked by Disney, out of tens of thousands of kids across the U.S., to star on the hit television show, and pop-star breeding ground, The Mickey Mouse Club (Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera). After three years starring on the show (which was like the American Idol of today), Mylin was pursued by major U.S. and foreign labels.

At age 18, while living in New York, Mylin got involved with what she thought to be a church, which later proved to be a cult. Mylin’s parents (who live in FL) drove up to New York to rescue her from that ordeal and brought her home. It was during this time that Mylin grew in her understanding of salvation by grace, after which her burden lifted.

Mylin was sworn in as a U.S. citizen and signed her first record deal with Avex, Inc., one of Japan’s major labels. Mylin spent the next four years touring Japan and Southeast Asia, releasing four albums, including a Greatest Hits recording. She sold over 80,000 albums, and was included on over 50 compilation albums, selling over 1 million copies. She topped many international charts, sharing chart space with everyone from Alanis Morissette, Mariah Carey, U2, Sheryl Crow, and Madonna, to Janet Jackson, Linkin Park, and Destiny’s Child. Whether she’s putting smiles on faces across Japan and Korea, or singing the national anthem at Major League Baseball and NBA games, Mylin’s velvety vocals stir hearts and ignite the passion of patriotism.

As the woman within and artist matured, Mylin who plays the guitar and piano, decided she wanted to put pen to paper and take time to express her story, on her terms. Purposing not to compare herself with others, Mylin, finding her security in the Lord, fearlessly began writing songs.

Mylin’s trust and willingness to follow God has greatly paid off as she’s blossomed into a great entertainer. Her shows have included the Celebrity Theater in Las Vegas, the Key Club at Morongo Casino, Crossroads at the House of Blues in Las Vegas, a show with Beth Hart at Hollywood’s The Knitting Factory, Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, and joining Nick Lachey for some shows on his tour, including a 10,000 seat amphitheatre in Georgia and New York City’s Nokia Theatre in Times Square.

Due to Mylin’s story and the patriotic nature of the title track, and most popular song on her album, “American Girl,” she also played a recent show with Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band at the Galaxy Theatre in Orange County, California, and has played six shows at military bases over the last eight months. Mylin has many fans throughout the million-strong U.S. military, who reach out to her from bases around the world, including Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mylin says performing at the military bases is both “heart-warming and heart-breaking” considering the very young married men and their families separated by extensive tours of military duty. Mylin always honors and supports our troops, telling them: “I’m grateful for your sacrifice.” Mylin used 3 female Marines from Camp Pendleton (all of whom have been to Iraq) in her American Girl music video. Mylin patriotically says, “We at this time as a nation need to be united.”

Mylin’s musical platform has enabled her to encourage many military soldiers and families, young girls, and people who write her daily. Mylin lovingly encourages young ladies, “You don’t have to dress or be a certain way to impress people. Being secure in Christ is enough.”

No stranger to life’s difficulties and pain, Mylin wisely says: “Life is not perfect, nor free from challenges. Tough and challenging times often are our best moments as God works it out, brings you through, and forms character in you.” Mylin purposefully transcends pain to locate God’s plan. She says, “God’s will is not always 100% what we want, but as we pray and obediently accept it, we can be at peace and content. It’s about following Him and living as Christ would want us to.”

“People have to feel it,” she says. “They have to know you believe what you’re saying. That’s when there’s a connection with the audience.” Mylin has a deep connection with her Creator, which causes her to be congruent in herself and authentic as a performer. Mylin says, “I’d go crazy in the entertainment industry without Jesus.”

Mylin unashamedly acknowledges her faith in Jesus as being most important, which enables her to be who she is and where she is in her career. Her husband and family, along with her local church, provide for Mylin the necessary encouragement and accountability she needs to stay straight spiritually and stable in the music industry.

Mylin is a world-class live performer with eternity beating in her heart as she pours all of her energy and emotion into every show. Realizing life is short, that we’re “here today and gone tomorrow” (as told in her song Mist), Mylin is making a difference through her music and reconnecting our country to its Creator.

Paul Davis is a motivational speaker, life purpose coach, worldwide minister, change master, creative consultant, and turnaround specialist.

Paul is the author of several books including Breakthrough for a Broken Heart; Adultery: 101 Reasons Not to Cheat; Are You Ready for True Love; Stop Lusting & Start Living; Waves of God; Supernatural Fire; Poems that Propel the Planet; and God vs. Religion.

Paul’s compassion for people & passion to travel has taken him to over 50 countries of the world where he has had a tremendous impact. Paul has served in many war-torn, impoverished and tsunami stricken regions of the earth. His Dream-Maker Inc. is building dreams, breaking limitations & reviving nations.

Paul’s Seminars inspire, revive, awaken, impregnate with purpose, impart the fire of desire, catapult people into a new level of self-awareness, facilitate destiny discovery and dream fulfillment.

Contact Paul to minister, speak at your event or for life coaching:

mailto:RevivingNations@yahoo.com RevivingNations@yahoo.com
407-284-1705

www.DreamMakerMinistries.com
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