The Greatest Article of All-Time

Will Someone Tell Time Magazine (or whoever is publishing them) to Stop Creating “...Of All-Time” Lists?

I came across the Time Magazine's latest list of 25 All-TIME Best Animated Films

Richard Corliss of Time compiled the list of animated films as follows:

1. Pinocchio (1940)
 2. WALL-E (2008)
 3. The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Movie (1979)
 4. Dumbo (1941)
 5. Spirited Away (2001)
 6. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999)
 7. Up (2009)
 8. The Triplets of Belleville (2003)
 9. Finding Nemo (2003)
 10. The Little Mermaid (1989)
 11. Toy Story 3 (2010)
 12. Toy Story (1995)
 13. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
 14. The Adventures of Prince Achmed (1926)
 15. Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
 16. Happy Feet (2006)
 17. Akira (1988)
 18. The Lion King (1994)
 19. Tangled (2010)
 20. Paprika (2007)
 21. Kung Fu Panda (2008)
 22. Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who! (2008)
 23. Yellow Submarine (1968)
 24. Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
 25. Lady and the Tramp (1955)

Click Here To Read the Full Article From Time Magazine

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Now, of course, their will be debate about this list….Just like every other ALL-TIME lists that Time Magazine or any other publication publishes…

My main gripe is not the list but WHY THE "...OF ALL-TIME" LIST?

The publishing “...Of All-Time”  listings went out with the dawn of the “New Millennium” or between 1998-2000 when some people of earth thought the world would have ended by now.

Ummm….we see what happened to the Y2K scare, right? NOTHING.

Posting these so-called “...Of All-Time”  lists is essentially a slap in the face to the future of creativity.

Its like saying:

“Well these things are the greatest (whatever you like) of All-Time and there will NEVER be another great (whatever you like) EVER! Nope, no one will EVER come up with anything new or exciting to change our perception of life or imagination. Its OVER. FINISHED. DONE.”

Now, I’ll post my favorite music, books, artists, etc. BUT that’s me. I’m not imposing on anyone’s opinions by saying “These things are the Greatest that I Like and They’re better Than What You Like!”

I’m posting MY favorites and if I say some one thing is the best of All-Time, I’m not going to say it just for the sake of it, I’m going to back it up with a some research and present my case.

It is my opinion that anything to make a list for All-Time or Best of Everything Ever of the Past, Present or Future, should be based on 3 principles:

1. Innovation – Did the creative body of work or person(s) present anything innovative; nothing that was ever done before?

2. Influence – Did the creative body of work or person(s) influence the world at large or the creative process in their genre and beyond?

3. Success – Did the creative body of work or person(s) have great success financially or in other numbers since its release?
These three factors should be a part of any argument of what is or not the best or greatest “...Of All-Time”

An example to point out is the movie Citizen Kane. During the week of this past year's Oscars I posted in The Turner Movie Classics Facebook page, my favorite movies. It was when I posted my thoughts on Citizen Kane and listed it as the greatest film of All-Time, it wasn't too long afterwards that it opened up an argument of epic proportions.

From research that I gathered through interviews and documentaries I’ve watched and articles and books I’ve read, the movie Citizen Kane has been the most influential film to the creative process. How? Every modern filmmaker of the last 40-50 years have studied it and used elements of that film in their body of work.

Sooooo…favorite directors Spielberg, Scorsese, Lucas, Kubrick, etc. have all been influenced by this film (among others I’m sure) but it is the one that is MOST influential because it was innovative and have been successful since its release. And in turn influenced current favorite directors Nolan, Jackson, Abrams, Snyder, etc.

I also pointed out that I was not trying to override other people’s opinions of favorites just that whether you like it or not, its influence, innovation and success cannot be denied.

There’s also a difference between having “...Of All-Time”  Lists and pointing out a single “...Of All-Time”  creative body of work or person(s)

Another example, many may argue with but cannot deny is The Beatles being the All-Time Greatest Music Band because of their creative innovations, influence and success that continues to this day.

When a writer or critic gives an opinion of ONE being the best or greatest it should be with some merit, involving the 3 factors previously mentioned.

When a writer or critic gives an opinion of a select list of others, then it is very much open for debate.

Then again, I believe the best way to solve the “...Of All-Time” List problem is to just list the year-to-year.

For example: The 25 All-TIME Best Animated Films 1935-2011

That way you have the best of that era, and NOT the best of All-Time as if the world will end tomorrow….

Not unless Time Magazine knows something we don’t…..

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By the way, here’s a list of my 25 favorite animated movies of All-Time 1970-2011 – listed alphabetically:

1. Akira
2. Alladin
3. Appleseed Ex Machina
4. Beauty and the Beast
5. Charlotte's Web
6. Cowboy Bebop the Movie: Knockin' on Heaven's Door
7. Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
8. Finding Nemo
9. Ghost in the Shell
10. The Iron Giant
11. Lion King
12. Meet the Robinsons
13. Monsters Vs. Aliens
14. Monsters, Inc.
15. Ninja Scroll
16. Robots
17. Shrek 2
18. Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie
19. The Incredibles
20. Toy Story
21. Toy Story 2
22. Toy Story 3
23. Up
24. WALL-E
25. Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

Kingsington Post: November 27, 2010

Well, I’ve decided last week to begin posting my thoughts about the happenings in and around our world in a topic-by-topic list and call it the “Kingsington Post”. Why? Because it sounds official…and cool.

These are my thoughts and commentary on current events, things I heard about, celebrities or whatever else that has crossed my path on TV, radio, print, etc. I know everyone is dying to pick my brain so here ya go….

Blockbuster to remind people it still exists - The movie-rental chain is about to launch its first national ad campaign since 2007. http://articles.latimes.com/2010/nov/22/business/la-fi-ct-blockbuster-20101122-47



What are these guys doing? There was a time where renting a movie was limited to a few choices but in this day and age, umm, everybody’s sellin’! You can got to Wal-Mart and find a RedBox or online with NetFlix or OnoDemand at Comcast. C’mon Blockbuster! This better be the one offer that can’t be beat.

N.J. anti-Facebook pastor taking leave over affair - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40359035/ns/us_news-life/



OK. Heard about this one. Its obvious. You can’t expect people to leave the #1 social networking site because of a few rotten apples. Plus if this guy wanted to tell his congregation to leave Facebook for the publicity he got it and a whole lot more! A “three-way” relationship? Dude, should’ve left Facebook alone.

First-Grade Girl Bullied for Liking Star Wars?! - http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2010/11/first-grade-girl-bullied-for-liking-star-wars/



This bullying is getting out of hand. Good thing the actors and fans of Star Wars stepped in to offer her some encouragement. Wish the creators and fans of Marvel comics could have stepped in when my friends and I were kids and our teacher took away our Avengers comics and threw them away. Dang school and their rules….

The Six-Million Dollar Man is Back: Lee Majors does interviews http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/20101123_With__Six_Million_Dollar_Man__DVD_set_coming_out__Lee_Majors_reminisces.html


Well, it was good to see ol’ Lee Majors promoting the Six-Million Dollar Man box set the other day on CNN. Haven’t seen him on TV since The Fall Guy and a couple of reunion movies. He talked about some behind the scenes stuff and showed a clip of the na-na-na-na sound when he ran in slow motion. Awesome!! Now where’s my Buck Rogers box set…

Tiger Woods: 1 Year Later - http://www.usatoday.com/sports/golf/2010-11-22-1448610128_x.htm



…And we still don’t know what REALLY happened that night.
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With that said,

Good night and good luck.

Torrence King

RE: Racism In The Comic Book World: Dwayne McDuffie and JLA #34 Preview

The following is a post by comic book writer Dwayne McDuffie from his Facebook:

Here’s a preview of my final issue of Justice League of America, featuring the JLA teaming with Icon and Hardware in battle with Starbreaker. Don’t miss the secret of how the Milestone heroes ended up in DC Comics’ continuity.

I also suggest you take a look at some of the comments from your fellow comic book fans. Every once in awhile, I’m reminded how racially backwards a portion of our audience is and how important it is to… You know what? I’ll let them speak for themselves:

“…how many blacks did McDuffie manage to sneak onto the team this time–five? (I bet DC editorial gave him the same order as Burger King in that lawsuit–to “lighten things up around here.”)”

“Why don’t they call this the “Minority League”? ”

“I don’t think anyone will support an original black “mainstream” character. I know I won’t.”"Couldn't they get Static, Black Lightning, or one of his daughters instead of Dr. Light on the cover of BET League of America? Ha!"

“Maybe they should establish a separate league for all the negro superheroes. I’m not saying kick them ALL off. One would be okay. (Doesn’t Hollywood have some kind of law that says every movie has to have at least one black in it?) I just think they’re going overboard with all this diversity stuff. I mean, how many comics do minorities read anyway?”

Dwayne again. Welcome to my world. You know, the one where race doesn’t matter…__________________________________________________________________

TO Dwayne: That is definitely not cool...Man, are we still living in the 50's?? I remember reading comics, DC, Marvel, independents, growing up in the 80s because they were cool to me...it didn't matter to me what color the hero being featured...but obviously there are those who read them to see which "minority" is being thrown in the mix....WTF?? I bet there are some so-called comic book fans who don't want to admit that comics were developed by jewish artists and writers...that other minorities have continued to buy comics for years, despite what "statistics" say....That all races go to see the comic book movies put out by Hollywood.

I wonder if these racist comic book fans think that the millions of dollars The Dark Knight made came from an all White audience...as ol' Biff would say: think McFly, think!

To Everyone Else: This is just sickening. The great divide will happen someday. Until that happens, we had better learn to get along.

Comic books are truly meant to be our modern mythology, our method of conveying timeless truths, wisdom and justice in a way rarely experienced in our own world.

Me personally, I have faced racism from all ends of the spectrum. Racism in the church. Racism in the comic book world. Racism in Politics. Racism in the entertainment industry. Racism. Reverse Racism. Hate. Hate. Hate.

I've heard it all. From blacks, whites, Hispanics, etc. and I must say I can't stand it anymore. I'm tired of it all. All my life I have fought everyone, it seems, because people judged me for being either "like white" or "not black enough" or "too black for the job" and because I do not believe in judging others by the color of their skin or religious beliefs.

I have been known to leave the presence, even get up and leave a home, of those talking racist crap before I resort to popping them in the mouth. Violence doesn't solve anything but I will make sure to take a stand. In the end, of ALL our lives, all that hate won't matter.

We may take whatever feelings with have to the grave but, as we've seen over and over again, that it is the surrounding hate that stays with us.

If I am alone in this. If I do not have any friends both black or white because I'm standing up to fight against their views..so be it. They were never my real friends to begin with...NO "friend" of mine would be filled with hate toward another human being....I may know of a person...doesn't make them a "friend".

Of course, we cannot control others but we can control and limit ourselves to being subjected to views we do not agree upon.

All these "Little Hitlers" will soon find out that in the end...it really doesn't matter.

Torrence

The End of An Era: Chicago’s WNUA Gets The Ax – So Long Old Friend….

It’s a wonder how things change.

“Nothing stays the same” is the phrase I’ve heard so many times. We tend to get use to things day in and day out that we don’t realize how true it is.

The other day while driving, I turned on the radio and was trying to find some music to listen to because my CD wasn’t playing. (Keep in mind, I’m not a big radio listener like I use to be because everything is so segregated now and I guess I’m just getting old but they really don’t play what I like all the time. Its hard to find a station to just put on and let play. That’s why I’ll listen to my CDs or MP3s. Having that control works best especially with sitting at a desk for hours drawing or writing. I can listen to Classical, 70’s Soul, Grunge, Hip-Hop, 80’s synth-pop and anything I like all in one setting.)

Back to the driving and tuning in on the radio…

Trying to find something to listen to, I turned to what I thought would be my “old faithful”, WNUA 95.5FM, a smooth-jazz-soul-r&b station that I would play all the time. I tuned in and there was "something" on the station, an instrumental song but it was different. I just thought that, "Its WNUA. They play all type of music even Brazillian, classic Jazz, etc. No big deal". Then, the commercial came on….IT WAS IN SPANISH! I said “Whats this??” It took me a moment to gather my thoughts and recover from the shock and horror---then my daughter, who was in the car said “Its Spanish music, dad.”

I---I---was—it was like a bad dream. What happened? Did it move? I started to stare at the station making sure it was on FM. Check. 95.5? Check. What’s going on? I turned to WXRT 93.1, a classic-alternative rock station. Has the world come to an end? No---WXRT was there. Whew!

Then it dawned on me like a bolt of lightning striking the scarlet speedster known as the Flash-----CLEAR CHANNEL!!!!! (You got to say it like Captain Kirk yelled “Khan!”)

I was determined to find out what happened to my beloved station.

After getting home and having every memory of WNUA race through my head. The first time I listened to it back in the late 80’s. The Saturday night radio programs Legends of Jazz with Ramsey Lewis which showcased the music of instrumentalists Charlie Parker, Oscar Peterson and Miles Davis, as well as vocalists Louis Armstrong, Billie Holliday and Ella Fitzgerald. The radio program, The Sounds of Brazil. The Dave Koz specials. The on-air personalities, Rick O'Dell, Danae Alexander, Dave Koz, Bill Cochran, and Scott Adams. Dammit!

I went to the internet, which knows all, and low and behold it was true: The format changed on May 22, 2009. It is now an all Spanish station. THANK YOU CLEAR CHANNEL!

WNUA, was more than a smooth-jazz station to me. It was collection of the best and brightest in the world of smooth R&B, pop and more. It was one of the few stations in Chicago that still played the music of Sade, Diana Krall, Chris Botti, Kenny G, Luther Vandross and others. It had programs set aside for different formats to appeal to the listener. The Legends of Jazz and The Sounds of Brazil is probably what I will miss most. It was music that set a different mood and to listen to historical tidbits about the songs was always really cool.

And, of course, Danae Alexander during the week-nights. Hmmmm, she definitely had the voice to fit that timeslot…

I’m going to miss that station. Dammit!

22 years it was on the air and it introduced me to many artists and their music and kept me going through those long hours of drawing and writing.

After thinking about all the radio stations that I've listened to throughout the years like Q101, WXRT, The Lite, Classical stations, B96, WGCI, The Mix, Jack FM, V103, Gospel stations, US99, The Drive, The Loop, WMBI among others, I would have to say that I probably listened to WNUA more than any other station on the radio throughout the years by the sheer volume of hours I would have it on while I worked. Damn.

WNUA 95.5. Thanks for the memories. You will be missed---sniff-sniff---

Now, here’s a write up by Phil Rosenthal of the Chicago Tribune that tries to explain Clear Channel’s decision (thanks for nothing!):

May 22, 2009--Adios to smooth jazz at Clear Channel's WNUA-FM 95.5.

Hola, Mega 95.5.

WNUA, a pioneer 22 years ago with the adult-contemporary format that blended pop instrumentals and jazz influences, is poised to become a Spanish-language station, complementing the music of artists such as Shakira, Enrique Iglesias and Aventura with local on-air personalities, news and traffic in an effort to seize a share of a rapidly growing audience segment.

The flip, set for Friday morning, has been the subject of a guessing game within the industry as other smooth jazz stations around the country dropped the format in recent weeks. But much of the speculation wrongly had WNUA embracing country, oldies or classic rock rather than what is being billed as Spanish hot adult contemporary. A change in call letters has not been finalized, but the new Chicago station branding will be Mega 95.5, and it will be available online through Mega955.com.

Jazz pianist Ramsey Lewis, a long-time WNUA personality, is supposed to bid fans farewell in Friday's 9 a.m. hour. That will be followed by a brief audio montage recalling the history of the 95.5 frequency in Chicago, from the Moody Bible Institute to WDHF to WMET to WNUA. Then at 9:55 a.m., the plan is to begin playing 5,000 successive songs from the new format over the next two weeks as an introduction before regular Mega 95.5 programming begins.

Clear Channel has yet to name the station's personalities. It may be small solace for loyal WNUA listeners, but its smooth jazz format will remain available online at yoursmoothjazz.com, as well as on smart phones via iheartradio.com and to those with HD Radios at 95.5 HD2.

The problem that ultimately doomed WNUA was not the devotion of its audience, which didn't flag. The problem was Clear Channel's ability to cash in on it. According to independent industry revenue figures, WNUA's take was off by almost $2 million in 2008 compared with '07, while Spanish-language leaders -- WLEY-FM 107.9 and Univision's WOJO-FM 105.1 -- showed gains. "The revenue support for WNUA declined significantly in recent years due to the changes in how advertisers evaluate radio stations, and we were faced with a very difficult decision," said Earl Jones, president and market manager of Clear Channel Radio Chicago. "This is something we really struggled with," said Tony Coles, vice president of programming and operations of its six-station cluster. "We're fans of WNUA. So it was really tough to even have conversations about the end of that radio station. But we looked at all the indicators. We really put a lot of time and energy and research and marketing and everything for that radio station, and the needle wasn't moving -- and then the economy started going south as well."

It will not be an inexpensive switch for Clear Channel, which is hiring about 25 new bilingual employees, including on-air talent, a programmer and a sales staff. But other numbers favor the move. Hispanics are a fast-growing population group in the United States, passing African-Americans as the nation's largest minority segment in recent years.

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that, as of mid-2008, the nation's population included almost 47 million Hispanics, or about 15.4 percent of the total, while African-Americans accounted for about 12.8 percent. Since 2004, when Clear Channel Radio announced an initiative led by Alfredo Alonso, its senior vice president of Hispanic Radio, the company has expanded the programming and availability of Spanish-language programming and formats on stations in 20 markets. But Coles and Jones stressed this decision originated locally and is about positioning Clear Channel's full portfolio -- which also includes WLIT-FM 93.9, WVAZ-FM 102.7, WGCI-FM 107.5, WKSC-FM 103.5 and WGRB-AM 1390 -- for what the market will look like in five years. Univision, which owns WOJO-FM, WPPN-FM 106.7, WRTO-AM 1200 and the duo of WVIV-FM 103.1 and WVIX-FM 93.5 here, says on its Web site that Chicago is the nation's No. 5 Hispanic market, with 1.8 million people and $24.2 billion in buying power. Clear Channel, which says Hispanics make up 28 percent of the city of Chicago's population, thinks it can do more than take a slice out of that segment. It might even be able to increase the size of the pie by appealing to bilingual listeners and courting general-market advertisers as well as those specifically targeting Hispanics. It also benefits from WNUA's signal strength. "It's our commitment to live and local programming, our commitment to community service," Coles said. "Just the ability that we have to be in the community, be active and use the leverage of our other radios stations. We have Kiss and Lite [WKSC and WLIT] as the No. 1 and No. 2 stations for English-speaking Hispanics, and then you combine that with Mega, it's a really powerful force."

philrosenthal@tribune.com

To see more of the Chicago Tribune, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.chicagotribune.com.

Copyright (c) 2009, Chicago Tribune

THERE’S A GHOST IN ME….AND Other Thoughts That Make A Day Go By

“In the first days / of the spring time /

made you up and / split from one thousand enemies / made a trail of / of a thousand tears/ made you a prisoner / inside your own secrecy / There's a ghost in me /
who wants to say "I'm sorry" /
Doesn't mean I'm sorry”

- “Ghosts”, Ladytron

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Nothing is what it seems.

People can be who they are, when they want to be, but we find that in the end, it has all been so unreal.

In my most recent take on this adventure in life, I have found myself questioning all that I am. And at the same time questioning those who I have come to know.

At one time I did write “There was a time before symmetry”*. And thus it has begun.

I believe Edison and Tesla had the right idea. Or, shall I say, ideas. Invention is the key to invasion. Making it stick doesn’t matter. Making it up by sheer act of will and imagination, that is what matters most.

In the past few weeks I’ve faced everything, so it would seem. And have been at a very creative peak. Its funny what music can do for the body, mind and soul. I needed a shot in the arm. I got that and so much more. A fire has been lit.

But, I will not be understood. To be understood, that is for the future.

I’ve been labeled everything but no one ever tries to get to know what’s real. I’m so far removed from their misguided perceptions that its quite amusing sometimes. No one can seem to lock me in a box. Once they’ve done their best Sherlock, I’ve gone and done something that blows them away.

There are those who would seek my failing. Those who, because of no fault of my own, would rather have me at the heel of their foot before they will shake my hand in solidarity. You know the ones. Why does it have to be like this?

Do I fight or do I laugh? Do I let them know that they can kiss my ass or do I crack jokes on them for years to come?

Damn. It is a dilemma.

Back to the future.

So, today I made it very clear that I wasn’t going to be so laid back. I’ve done my best and now its time for something new.

I think very hard about the past and the challenges and opportunities that have come my way. I have been fortunate and blessed. Talents, knowledge and a keen sense of direction….with no end in sight. I’m sure there are others more fortunate than me. More blessed by the graces of both God and man. I lean forward and take a bow---while thinking to myself that it can all end in an instance.

Now, that we’ve got that out of the way, how about you finding your place in this world. Either being part of the problem or part of the solution is now a matter of opinion. Just don’t hurt anybody along the way.

I wanted to make things right. But I’ve found that if you come ‘round here talking about love, pain, hurt, happiness, suffering and the like “you better wear your toughest skin”**.

So its time to step back, wish the world a way and listen to the soothing sounds of ambience…..

Peace.....and let love in....
_______________________________

*”The Unbearable Likeness of Being Here” from Dead Artists Symmetry
**”Skin” – Vigilantes of Love