“There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man’s fears and the summit of his knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call the Twilight Zone.”

The Fourth of July means a lot of things to people. For myself it is about tradition. While I enjoy spending time with my family, fireworks, barbecuing in the backyard and putting away a few cold ones what I most enjoy about this holiday is the Twilight Zone Marathon on the SciFi channel. The Marathon has become a long-standing 4th tradition that I look forward to every single year with great anticipation.

Rod Serling’s classic and brilliant series reminds me largely of my youth and watching the show with wonder and amazement and a little bit of good old fashioned fear. It brings back memories of catching the Devil, visiting alien worlds, the after life, cheating death and exploring the unimaginable.

It is hard to imagine a show that had a greater impact on me. It gave me a love for black and white television and well crafted stories. It made me think about the world around me because Seling had a knack for infusing social commentary with amazing science fiction. The show has time and again grounded me as a writer. It has served to remind me that sometimes the best stories are short, direct and done with amazing skill.

Serling is one of my personal heroes. He introduced me to legenday writers like Richard Matheson and Charles Bueamont. The man has been a huge influence on me as a writer and as a person. He was truly ahead of his time and is not celebrated nearly enough as a serious writer. I can only hope that he will be remembered as one of the greatest storytellers of all time. They simply do not make television like this anymore nor has there been another person as visionary as Serling.

It is with great joy that I hope to keep the love of the Twilight Zone a tradition in my own family. Have a happy Fourth of July and enjoy celebrating your own traditions.

- SJR

©2008 Broken Sword Publications, All Rights Reserved

Coming out of the closet?

Too funny not to share…

The American Family Association (an extremist, right-wing, nutbag group) is boycotting the McDonald’s Corporation for promoting the gay lifestyle. Apparently Ronald is a big flamin’ homo and has been boffing Grimace all this time. Don’t even get me started on the “Hamburgler”…

“It is about McDonald’s, as a corporation, refusing to remain neutral in the culture wars. McDonald’s has chosen not to remain neutral but to give the full weight of their corporation to promoting the homosexual agenda, including homosexual marriage.”

Read the rest…

Coming to a city near you: Prayer at the pump! Apparently people aren’t feeling dumb enough these days so the “Prayer At The Pump Movement,” created by the Seventh Day Adventist Church, has begun an attempt to lower rising fuel costs by way of Christian telepathy. Once God gets the message he will move his magic intergalactic chess pieces and viola! lower gas prices.

The “movement” is traveling the country in  a magical mystery van in hopes of getting the Saudis to release more oil (even though the Saudis have said fuck off and get used to it). Forget the failing dollar, forget Iran or global trade, forget OPEC and filthy rich oil executives…because apparently God can lower gas prices all by himself (from space no less) if you ask him the “right” way and enough times. And all it takes is prayer! Who knew?

©2008 Broken Sword Publications, All Rights Reserved

* source D.R.

“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
- Albert Einstein

Knowing what we do now, amidst all the death, turmoil and uncertainty - even with two-thirds of the American public agreeing that the invasion of Iraq was a mistake -given the choice do it all over again, Presidential candidate John McSame says that he would still invade Iraq.

“I think there’s no question,” said the Republican’s likely presidential nominee. “I owe too much to these young people who are serving there to let political considerations interfere with what I know is right.
“I believe the American people, over time, will side with me, but if they don’t I’ll accept that,” he said. “I’d much rather lose a political campaign than lose a war.”

Another perfect example of “straight talk” from a man with an obvious agenda. He’s right. You’re wrong. And if you elect him you’ll get world war III for your trouble. He wants a victory in Iraq…whatever that means will have to remain unkown for now. Buckle your seat belts, this election year is going to be one hell of a ride.

Does the ‘Black National Anthem’ Matter?

By SJR

JACKSONVILLE, Fl. - Patriotism and racism were dragged kicking and screaming into the national spotlight once again, this time stemming from a controversial song that has people in a political uproar. Chanteuse René Marie, a jazz singer, was invited by Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper’s office to sing the national anthem during Tuesday’s annual State of the City address. However, after Marie was introduced to the crowd she sang the “Black National Anthem” instead of the standard version.

With so much debate running amok over the 2008 Presidential Election the last thing extremists needed was a song to kick around. To say that the song choice has spurned controversy is an understatement. The Denver city council has since received massive amounts of hate-mail over the song with no end in sight. Marie, who seems a little shocked at the reaction, says that given the chance to do it again she would not change her song choice. She went on to say that the song was a way for her to express what it means to be a Black woman in America.

Patriotism and racism are no strangers to controversy in these twisted times. One man’s patriotism is another man’s racism. This time around it was not “freedom fries” nor lapel pins fashioned to look like the tiny American flags - this time around it is a song that has people once again questioning and debating what it means to patriotic, what constitutes racism and more importantly, what it means to be American.

Not surprisingly Marie is unapologetic about her performance. She knew it was a risk and according to her, lives life unscripted. Radio talk shows and message boards are overflowing with different and heated opinions on what Marie’s intentions were. Was it an act of unpatriotic bravado? Was it racist? Was it some kind of protest meant to spurn discussion about Black Americans and the upcoming election? Was it even appropriate? Was it as offensive as a snickering Roseanne Barr butchering the Anthem at a baseball game? More importantly, does it really matter?

Denver is no stranger to Anthem controversy. During the mid-nineties former Denver Nuggets basketball player, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf chose to repeatedly sit during the anthem as an Islamic political protest during his basketball career. And while that caused its own share of controversy in its day something tells me the controversy surrounding the ‘Black National Anthem’ will not be going away any time soon. Rauf would crucified for pulling such a stunt in today’s political climate. The hate-mail over Marie’s song is only the beginning.

As a city, Denver is no longer the quiet cowboy, cow town it used to be. The city is all grown up now but, much like the U.S. at large, it seems to be in a constant state of identity crisis, especially where race and patriotism are concerned. Where once the mile high city was a solid red state, hard-wired to old school values and traditions, it cannot help the constant influx of blue influence it has endured over the past 10 years.

It is going to be extremely interesting to see how the city fares with the Democratic national Convention and all of the anticipated controversy that will allegedly come with it. Until then the rest of the nation waits like slack-jawed gawkers at an auto race waiting for someone to spin out and wreck into the stands in a fireball of death and carnage.

©2008 Broken Sword Publications, All Rights Reserved

If you are local to the Houston area you can now purchase a copy of Demon in the Mirror at Heights Books-Libros, located in the heart of the Houston Heights. In addition to a wide selection of Spanish and English books, HBL also offers custom jewelry, framed photography and features local artists. They are currently offering complimentary coffee and tea for interested patrons.

Heights Book-Libros
502 E. 20th St. STE D
Houston, TX 77008
Phone: (713)869-9966
E-Mail: heightsbooks@yahoo.com

*For more information visit Heights Books-Libros at their website.

*For more information on Demon in the Mirror you can read reviews and press here.

Blow: The Narcotics Mix

I updated the Broken Muxtape with songs inspired by the drug trade. Drugs are many things to many people. Drugs are big business. They are the saviors and the sinners cup of coffee. Drugs are an American institution; like apple pie and infomercials with subliminal messages. Drugs keep the soil fresh with red blood. They supply the demand as well as the damned. Drugs beckon and call in the late hours before dawn.

Enjoy the mix.

Santana: Singing Winds, Crying Beasts
Manfred Mann’s Earth Band: Blinded By the Light
Ram Jam: Black Betty
Link Wray: Rumble
Cream: Strange Brew
The Rolling Stones: Can’t You Hear Me Knocking
KC & the Sunshine Band: Keep It Comin’ Love
Lynyrd Skynyrd: That Smell
The Marshall Tucker Band: Can’t You See
Pink Floyd: Learning to Fly
Giorgio Moroder: Chase
Moby: God Moving Over the Face of the Waters

©2008 Broken Sword Publications, All Rights Reserved

Here’s a montage of 100 killer flicks in just under two minutes. I seen almost every film in here and own more than a few of them. There’s some really good clips mixed in. There are a few newer gems in here but clips like this always serve to remind me how far we have strayed from Hollywood’s golden age. Movies today are so very disposable. Enjoy.

* lifted rom Gawker

OPEC: Oil Will Rise to $170 A Barrel by 2009

By SJR

JACKSONVILLE, Fl. - Just in case you are expecting some kind of relief by the end of the year where gas prices are concerned you can forget it. True to his word, OPEC President, Chakib Khelil, is now claiming that oil will rise to $170 a barrel by the end of the year.

Khelil, who has no problem with abrupt and often in your face commentary, told reporters last week in Brussels that OPEC has done everything it can do and that prices are not coming down. Khelil has never pointed a finger at U.S. President George W. Bush but he did blame the U.S. Federal Reserve for the continued depreciation of the U.S. dollar against the euro. He also boldly cited continued “political conflicts” (particularly against Iran), as another reason for skyrocketing fuel prices.

The price of crude oil traded in the U.S. has more than doubled in a year resulting in unheard of prices at the pump, the closure of more car manufacturing plants and a spike in crime and violence. More people are carpooling, biking and generally struggling to find ways to keep up with the continued inflation. On the eve of a new U.S. President things are grim in the U.S. and morale is low.

Amazingly (and perhaps most telling of all), Khelil, along with his U.S. oil counterparts, remain steadfast in their position that the high prices have absolutely nothing to do with supply. In fact, Khelil says that there is more than enough oil to meet not only U.S. demand, but international demand as well.

And as bad as people think things are right now, with crude prices expected to jump to $170 a barrel, we may very well see gas prices in the $8 dollar range by next year. One can only wonder how things will degrade from here.

Mad Max anyone…?

©2008 Broken Sword Publications, All Rights Reserved

“Handlebars” by Flobots

Hometown: Denver, Colorado