The Best Way to Travel/ Part One/ Bifocals

Part One: The Best Way to Travel

This 1/2 hour show includes AAA representative, Marie Montgomery talking about why having AAA is the best way to travel, and clips from Sands of Time Racers (about the first senior team of motorcycle racers at the Baja 1000) as well as National Lampoon's Vacation, and the 6 minute motorcycle scene of Steve McQueen in The Great Escape...full of fun and info.

All of the Best Picture Trailers for 2014

Who else would put all the trailers in one place for this year's Academy Award Best Picture nominations? Then, we give you our Binocular choices, as only we do it. Here is our latest for L&L Magazine and Channel 6:

Capt. Leonardos Message (+playlist)

While we were on our recent Caribbean cruise, the captain of the Celebrity Summit cruise ship gave a wonderful lecture, that amounted to a discussion of how he uses the five principles to guide the massive ship, and is that he is especially fond of conflict avoidance. Afterward, we asked him for his Message in a Bottle (which will be posted on L&L Magazine, and the education website, Vision-Revision. It is short and sweet. It appears below.

The Wolf of Wall Street

The Wolf of Wall Street— Directed by Martin Scorsese/starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie, Matthew McConaughey, Cristin Milioti/screenplay written by Terence Winter from the autobiographical book by Jordan Belfort/3 hrs/rated R

Bifocal Reviews by Ageless1der, Barbara Rich & The Other Guy

(BR) Please, NO CHILDREN! NO TEENS! This is borderline porn, and I’m not sure about the border. We need better border patrol! Having said that, The Wolf On Wall Street is a great tribute to the real truth about decadence in this era of brokerage scams and bank shenanigans. I guess I’ve been subtly aware of the “F&^%B^#S” that goes on in Wall Street, but the extremes that this movie takes you to really wakes you up to the reality of how far some will go for the sole purpose of making money. The Jordan Belfort character is worshiped by his followers offering nothing more, at the end of anyone’s rainbow, except making money without regard for rules, regulations, or morality. DiCaprio’s performance is riveting. In fact, there are no weak performances in this movie. I even thought Cristin Milioti was beautiful as Belfort’s first wife. I was also struck by the incredible amount of dialogue that DiCaprio had to memorize. He was in almost every scene, and once you get a salesman talking, there is no stopping him. The truth of the matter is that nobody wants to see a criminal glorified, but it’s hard not to allow yourself an appreciation of a guy who could sell an ice cube to an Eskimo, and make the Eskimo think about going into the ice cube selling business. The real life Belfort only served 22 months for his crimes and kept a bundle of his money. I hesitate to give this one five binoculars, but four and a half seems fair…except for DiCaprio. In a year when male performances excel, I think that he should win an Oscar.

(OG) Sex, drugs and all the excesses that go along with a lifestyle that puts making money above everything else, is what this movie is about. I am glad someone made a film that deals honestly with this theme, but I don’t know how Martin Scorsese got away with an R rating. Wolf stretches the credulity of the rating system. It opens with Leo DiCaprio blowing a cocaine-like substance up the anus of a young woman’s backside. Yes, that is the OPENING SCENE. From there, you see Jonah Hill masturbate at an office party (he’s not trying to conceal anything, either) and while the characters discard any semblance of social contribution, (with orgies and wild partying that would make Dionysus blush) the audience is heartily entertained. It was one of those films where you can’t decide if it’s a comedy or a tragedy, but most in the audience didn’t really care. Please, don’t get me wrong. I loved this movie. I thought the acting, directing, and editing were superb. I’ve always been a fan of DiCaprio (and Scorsese for that matter). Maybe this will be Leonardo’s year for awards. He certainly has some stiff competition though, but in his role of Jordan Belfort, I don’t think anyone could have done better. The only problems for him clinching an award or two come in the form of some very steep and talented competition and an uneasiness that permeates the theater as the viewer nears the third hour. How much is too much? This true story doesn’t give us an answer, but at least  it appears to ask the question. I give this one, four and a half binoculars with five for Leo, as well as my vote for best actor in a very, very tight race.

American Hustle

American Hustle--Directed by David O. Russell/starring Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Jeremy Renner/written by Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell/ 138 min/rated R

Bifocal Reviews written by Ageless1der, Barbara Rich & The Other Guy

(BR)  American Hustle has a wild, crazy kind of energy and it keeps you chasing after something but you don’t know exactly what. This is a 1970’s story about ABSCAM, con artist scams and bribery schemes that were newsworthy, at the time. The fashion and the hairstyles is what amazed me. I thoroughly enjoyed going back in time to bad comb-overs, perms, and puffy pompadours. The hair stylist alone deserves an Oscar. And those barely there dresses! I don’t know how those girls kept them on. This was a great, dynamic ensemble, too. But make no mistake, Christian Bale and Amy Adams were the nucleus of this team. I also have to mention that I was thrilled with the selection of songs. I found myself dancing in my seat while listening to this mix of ’70 tunes, which afforded me the luxury of nostalgia.  Jennifer Lawrence again, proves her versatility, adding a New Jersey housewife to her litany of characterizations. Jeremy Renner nailed the mayor-role, and this is the best acting I’ve seen him do. Bradley Cooper’s role as a government agent is all over the place, with an ego that propels his character to extremes. In conclusion, I give this film four binoculars.

(OG) I couldn’t help but compare this movie to The Sting, the Robert Redford/Paul Newman classic, and I’m certain that a Sting-look-alike comparison will not offend either Singer or Russell. They did a great job writing this snug script. It was nice to see Jeremy Renner doing a different kind of acting than he’s had a chance to do in previous films, and Christian Bale was phenomenal, and completely immersed in his character (even gaining some weight to fill in his pot-belly). Both Adams and Lawrence demonstrate their versatility and Bradley Cooper’s character—a complex and creative cop character—allows him to deliver a full spectrum of emotions. I think we’ll see this ensemble cast working together in the future, as a kind of male/female rat pack without the need of a “chairperson of the board.”  I agree, this is a four binocular film, with a possible five for Christian Bale. I expect his name to be at the top of the awards lists throughout the season.

Nebraska (the movie)

Nebraska (the movie)-- directed by Alexander Payne/ starring Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb, Bob Odenkirk/screenplay by Bob Nelson/rated R/115 minutes

Bifocal Review written by Ageless1der, Barbara Rich & The Other Guy

for L&L Magazine and 

(BR) Thank God for June Squibb; she is the only performance that made this seemingly endless field of nothing worthwhile. If not for her, I would have fallen asleep. I might add that the gentleman sitting in front of me, did indeed fall asleep and snored lightly. How long does one have to drive through barren lands and sit in a living room with comatose aging men to get that in some towns, states and regions nothing interesting ever happens? Will Forte’s presence in those rooms and scenes made me feel, at times like I was watching a Saturday Night Live skit, so someone might say something funny any minute, but they never did. It is not impossible to have a sparsely populated screen keep my attention, if other conditions are met. Even films as simply plotted as About Schmidt starring Jack Nicholson, was very entertaining. Movies without the large budgets for costumes and special effects can be great. This one just isn’t. I give this film one binocular, mainly because of June Squibb. She dominated every scene she was in, I missed her when she wasn’t present.

(OG) I really wanted to like this movie. I love going to the movies and I almost always find something positive to say, even if it is only a about the way a line was delivered or the editor did a great job putting the scenes in the proper order. There is rarely a movie that I feel, after watching it, that the time was wasted. Sadly, that is how I feel about Nebraska. This film is nearly two hours, but it seemed MUCH longer. Why? Because, nothing happens! I was reminded of the classic Seinfeld episode where George is trying to sell television executives on the idea of a show where nothing happens, but that was television. Nebraska is not a tv sitcom. Even on television, when there is no plot per se, at least there are funny lines, gags and bits to fill the time. This is a movie, a film that we paid money to see, and all I can remember is that nothing happens. There is no suspense, no mystery, no emotional development of characters, no interesting dialogue, no real resolution of plotlines or themes. There is nothing, for two hours, except, as Barbara said June Squibb lifting her dress to flash someone buried in a cemetery. I don’t really know who she was flashing or why, but at least I remember the scene. One binocular seems fair and for the same reason stated above.

Tom Laughlin/ Billy Jack creator has died

It is with a heavy heart that we tell you, Tom Laughlin died on Thursday, at the age of 82. Known by the character persona of Billy Jack, a character he created, Laughlin was a unique link in the timeline of martial arts movies, as we transitioned away from a narrow, Asian-centered view of the warrior philosophy, toward a more realistic and broad view that honors indigenous cultures from around the globe, people who have traditionally governed themselves according to Core Human Values, Traits and Conditions as outlined in the Five Principles of Everything. In fact, in that book I tell a story about a young man whose interest in Billy Jack helped to open his eyes to a healthy life, which had eluded him in his earlier years.  The following--in memory of Laughlin’s passing and to express how important his contribution was to many-- is an excerpt from The Five Principles, where Billy Jack was referenced:

Movement and stillness, tension and relaxation, thinking and feeling all have appropriate times and places. Human beings, exercising a proper responsibility to all the forces that surround them, learn to balance their lives with these contradictory forces, so that they can receive the benefits of all.

The definition of “beneficial” is also always subject to the peculiarities of the time, place and situation (as we've seen in a previous chapter). Again, we never know when a piece of information is going to be of use to us. Likewise, we never know how our actions or words are going to affect others. I often tell the following story to my students: Before I worked as a teacher in L.A. County Jails, I worked with emotionally disturbed children at a facility called Hathaway. During my close to seven years there, I worked with hundreds of kids and learned a lot from each of them. During this time, I was working on obtaining my Master of Arts degree and on my first black belt. Part of the job was that we lived in a house with about twenty kids for two and a half days each week. Staff was rotated so that there were always two “house parents” on duty at all times. While living in the house for my shift, I had to practice martial arts while the children were asleep. One boy, about ten years of age, sneaked out to watch me while I practiced and we formed a strong bond.  The reason I let him hedge on his bedtime and his unusual attachment to me was that he was a half white/half Indian kid who had formed a strong bond to a character in the movie, BILLY JACK. This character was also half-white and half-Indian, a Viet Nam War vet who had returned to the reservation to save an Indian School from local evils. The local evil took the form of unscrupulous white ranchers who were illegally hunting and capturing wild horses for the dog food trade and who also hated anything related to Native Americans or hippies. Billy Jack's tools for keeping the kids safe were his hands and feet and “Green Beret tricks” he'd learned while serving in Viet Nam. Oh, I forgot to mention that Billy Jack had a signature black, round-topped, flat brimmed hat. The boy who wanted to watch me at night-we'll call him Little Billy--also wore one of these hats. Little Billy had been badly abused by adults growing up, I was told, and when I made the connection between Little Billy's heritage and his association with the Billy Jack character, I realized that it made him feel safer to know that someone was practicing martial arts in the same house where he slept, just as wearing the Billy Jack hat made him feel less vulnerable. I also encouraged Little Billy to be proud of his Native heritage and told him about some of my teachers and of the great heroes of the American past who were his ancient relatives. We shared some good moments together and eventually he was removed from the therapeutic environment of the Village.

Now, we need to flash-forward about 20 years. I was teaching ESL, GED preparation, drug and alcohol abuse prevention and high school diploma subjects within the L.A. County Jails to the inmates, sitting in my classroom with about 50 inmate-students when the phone rang. This was a little unusual, in itself, since I got very few calls in jail. However, what was stranger was when I picked up the receiver and a voice at the other end said, “Hello sir. I'm looking for Gordon Richiusa, sir.” Immediately there was recognition.

“Little Billy? Is that you?”

“Yes, sir. I didn't think you'd remember me sir.”

“Billy,” I said, interrupting. “Have you been in the service?”

“Yes, Sir,” he responded. “How did you know, sir?”

“Billy, you can stop calling me Sir,” I said, and then quickly added. “I can't believe this. How did you get through on this line? How did you find me? Why are you calling?”

Billy told me that he had left the home where I worked with him, had gotten his high school diploma and his black belt and then joined the service. He had served honorably and was discharged after which he had pursued him heritage and found his maternal grandfather on the Piute Reservation in Nevada. His grandfather was a medicine man in the tribe and had agreed to teach Billy the old ways.

“Congratulations,” I told him. “But, why are you calling me now?”

“I was in a ceremony recently and I had a vision of you telling me the one thing that had changed my life for the better. I just wanted to let you know and to thank you.”

For some reason I was stunned. Billy told me that he had been hunting for me for a couple of weeks, going back to Hathaway then following leads until finally finding out that I was working in jail. He then had to get the education department's phone number and convince a few receptionists to put him through to the phone I was talking on, all because I had finally said something memorable that had benefited someone's life in a profound way. I couldn't wait to hear what these words were that had affected him so much that he felt he had to find me.

“So what did I say?”

“You told me that there are two ways to breathe.”

I admit that I was a little deflated. This did not seem profound at any level and I did not immediately remember the context in which I had imparted this questionable wisdom. “Could you please explain?” I asked.

Billy went on to remind me that often the children in our care would have what we lovingly referred to as, “freak outs.”  These were emotional displays, tantrums of monumental proportions in some cases. Billy was legendary in his writhing, howling and frothing exhibitions, so much so that during one episode four grown adults where holding him down in a panic shouting directions such as “Calm down! CALM DOWN!”

When I saw what was happening, I lay down on the floor next to Billy's head, with my face next to his and said, “I know this is going to be hard Billy, but these staff members are not going to let you go until you calm down. When you calm down, they will calm down. I want you to try something. Just notice the way you are breathing.” He was near hyperventilating, rapidly panting between growls. Try thinking about nothing else except your breathing. If you can slow your breathing, you will relax. When you relax, they will let you go.”

Billy said that not only did it work in this situation, but also it was probably the most significant piece of information in his later successes. You never know what affect your words or actions are going to have on others. The best we can do is to deal with every situation honestly, honorably and with respect that each action may be of far greater significance that we realize in the heat of the moment. As a person who calls himself a teacher, it's a big responsibility that I take more seriously now. I thanked Billy for calling me and got his permission to tell this story to others.

Remember: The Gradual Diet, by Barbara Rich is included as one of fifteen bonus essays, by notable experts about how they use the five principles to achieve success.

You can buy the book, in Spanish or English--along with other books and ebooks-- by clicking here.

Below is a theatrical trailer for the movie Billy Jack, which basically tells the story in brief: