Change We Must-Welcome, President Obama

Hello World Family,
Falcon, here. I wanted to take a few moments away from what will be a hectic day of celebration for so many of us to pause and honor what an extraordinary day this is for the Unites States of America.

This is a prayerful day for Falcon. I have seen a lot happen in this country in my lifetime that has amazed me and at times, challenged me. When I was a little girl, in many places in this nation, I could not have sat in the front of the bus. I couldn't get a drink of water unless a sign gave me permission to do so. I was lucky being raised in Pittsburgh, where there were no signs, but make no mistake...there were whispers. You knew where you could go, where you could live, and what was completely off limits.

When I was three, my caregiver took me to the Carnegie Library in the Oakland section of the city. The BIG library. I got my first library card that day. I was told that I could take out books; if there was a limit, they never imposed it on me. There were special books that couldn't leave the library, but I could look at them...all of them. This was amazing to me, since there were so many places that had limitations outside of my Hill District neighborhood. This place was different. As I strolled with her past the large oaks and chestnuts, and walked with the granite steps, I noticed the letters engraved across the top of the doorway. I asked her what it said. He said," It says 'Free to the People'. That means anyone can come here."

I found myself thinking about that day this morning. It has been America's dream to live up to its proclamations, The Gettysburg Address, and even our Pledge. When I was child, the pledge didn't match what I was experiencing as an American, and my people have been here for thousands of years. I yearned for a day that "indivisible, with liberty and justice for all" would actually mean what it says. Today, we get closer to the realization of that pledge.

I used the title today (with its obvious nod to YES vocalist extraordinaire, Jon Anderson) to thank all of us for recognizing that we have to collectively grow up. It is time to change, and for the better. It must be better.

We have come together to elect a president on the basis of his content, not the color of his skin, so today, it is better. We have a collective vision that we will not go backward, no matter what challenges lie before us to days of division for division's sake...so today, it is better.

Today, we must commit to the idea of personal service to our communities in ways we never have before. I know some of you are weary; we have been doing this a long time...but, I would ask you to continue to put out just a little longer, so that our children know how to do the job well, and can carry the tasks forward. They are willing and able...so today, that is better.

There will be tough times ahead, there's no way around it, but we are going to keep our heads up, our hearts light, and our perseverance in place. Regardless of the challenges that come, today...because we have decided it will be a 'United' States of America in the truest sense of those words, it is better.

Change, we must. Change, we have. Change, we will continue... because we must.

The world is watching. Our children are watching. Our ancestors are watching...and today, they are smiling.
Peace,
Falcon

Go STEELERS!

Hello World Family,
If you haven't yet heard, the Steelers have won the AFC Championship, and are going to Super Bowl XLlll in Tampa, FL!!! They will be playing the Arizona Cardinals who beat the Philly Eagles earlier today (sorry Eagles, we really wanted it to be a PA Super Bowl outing).

This should be an interesting match-up. Ken Wisenhunt and Russ Grimm used to be assistant coaches with the Steelers, so it should be a good game.

Everyone did such a great job this season! Most of the media did not think with the difficult schedule that the Steelers had that they could do it, but they did, and did it in style.

Santonio Holmes had an incredible run today after an ace pass reception for a touchdown...and Troy! What can I say about the best Strong Safety in the NFL?! He rocks!!!

Troy had several touchdowns after interceptions this year, and not all of them counted in the final statistics (due to referee error), but this one today sure did!
The "O' line did a great job, and the best defense in the NFL did a fantastic job!!!

I wore my special Steelers crocs all season long (the only time I didn't have them was the Eagles game early in the season), and they kept up the good work, and I even wore them this week in the coldest weather in 10 years...no socks. Don't worry! I am the link between Hobbits and Humans, so no worries! My feet are fine! So are the Steelers!

We hope that the injured players all recover quickly. Let's pray for their health, and celebrate the victory!

Great season! Congrats to the AFC Champion Pittsburgh Steelers!Falcon and Dove

It is FAFSA Time!

Hello World Family,
It's Falcon here. Parents and college age students and high school seniors...
it' the fun time of year we have all been waiting for...
FAFSA time!!! Yeah!

Okay, yes, I know it is about as much fun as dental surgery sans anesthesia, but hey, you need to do it. This is the form that determines your teen's eligibility for federal grant money...FREE MONEY!!! Now do you feel better?

IF this is your first time...
You need to go to the FAFSA website:

www.fafsa.ed.gov

This is the only official FAFSA website! Be careful. Don't give your personal information out to anyone else!

You must apply for a PIN number parents. Students, you have to do the same. It is a different number. Don't share your numbers!!! The feds will send you a confirmation email in a few days, then you can apply online. Parents, you apply. Students, you apply. Separately.

Why is this so important?

The FAFSA application determines your eligibility for federal grant money, which also determines your federal eligibility for federal loans. Remember, we want to avoid private loans at all costs, because their interest rates can be raised at any time during the life of your arrangement, and can never be disposed of unless you pay them off entirely. Bankruptcy will not dispose of private student loans, they will stay with you to the grave...so use them sparingly, if at all.

Secondly, the application for the FAFSA determines the EFC (Estimated Family Contribution)...translation, what you pay. This EFC is not only used for government grant and loan eligibility, but many, many scholarship programs that grant based on need use this EFC number to determine how much money they will give your aspiring college student, should they select them for a scholarship.

Without this filing, you child may not get federal aid, or many scholarships.

I know, the form is scary. Very. Guess what? There is help!

Contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) or 1-319-337-5665. If you are hearing-impaired and have questions, contact the TTY line at 1-800-730-8913.

There are very nice people there who are patient and know their job well. They will be happy to help parents or students with the form. Make a mistake, don't freak out! Call them, and they can pull up the form, and help you make corrections. You can copy the form after completion. I suggest you make several copies, and put them in very safe places. You may need this information when talking to the university your teen attends, or with the universities that your child is considering attending.

Many schools have need-based aid and they determine the amount they give students based on the information in the FAFSA. Many funding streams depend on this information. Make it easy on yourselves and do this form early...like now!!!

More students than ever will be looking for more money than ever this year. If a school runs out of their allotment of funding, your student could miss out. Do the form early and make sure your child gets all the funding they deserve. This saves them from literally thousands of dollars of debt now and later on.

Know your social security number. If you don't have one, get one at your local social security office. This is a busy experience, but not hard.

Have your tax forms from the previous year, or current year if you have already done your taxes. You can always update your report online. Go with last year's information for now, and update it with a few clicks later.

If your financial situation has changed in the extreme in the last few months (because you were laid off or a company closed, etc.) TELL THE UNIVERSITY YOUR CHILD ATTENDS!!!

Your family won't be the only one impacted by this economic crisis. The earlier the parents and student sit down with their financial aid officer, the better the chance of additional funding to help fill the gaps. Please, don't be afraid to ask. There is nothing wrong with asking for a little help. We are all in this together.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS:
Although there is rarely federal money available at the undergraduate level, there is a lot of money at certain universities for the foreign student. If you have a list of universities that you are considering, be bold and contact the financial aid offices of each about what kind of funding is available for international students. Many schools have merit money scholarships for students from abroad. Just ask, they will probably provide a link. Do the applications as soon as possible, even if you are not sure if that is the school you are going to attend. When acceptances come in, you will have to decide which institution is best for you by teaching excellence, career services, and by aid. They are competing for you, not just you to get in.
Make sure you have all your options in place so that you can make the best decision for yourself.

Let's get started, students and parents. It is going to be a real horse race this year.

Stay focused, and don't get frustrated. Take your time on the form. It will take a bit of time your first time at bat. Be patient with yourself and your teen. Make an appointment on your calendar and DO IT!!!

Good luck!
Peace,
Falcon

Golden Globe Winners-2009

Hello World Family,
Here are the Golden Globe results from last night's awards. The Falcon and Dove picks are in BOLD that actually won.

Overall, we are very happy with the results. One or two points: We wish Heath Ledger could have been there. We hope his spirit was. Second, we hope Mickey Rourke is really back, and gets some additional roles to show us he really is back at the top of his game. We felt the best delivered thank-you speeches were given by Colin Farrell and Kate Winslet, surprise Best Actress, Drama. (Not really a surprise to anyone who saw her in this film).

We hope those of you that can get to see some of these films, they are really a great group this year.

Peace,
Falcon and Dove

FILM

Best Picture-Drama-Slumdog Millionaire

Actress/Drama-Kate Winslet-Revolutionary Road

Actor-Drama-Mickey Rourke-The Wrestler

Picture/Musical or Comedy-Vicki Christina Barcelona

Actress/Musical or Comedy-Sally Hawkins/Happy Go-Lucky

Actor/Musical or comedy-Colin Farrell/In Bruges

Supporting Actress-Kate Winslet/The Reader

Supporting Actor-Heath Ledger/The Dark Knight

Director-Danny Boyle/Slumdog Millionaire

Screenlay-Simon Beaufoy/Slumdog Millionaire

Foreign Language-Waltz with Bashir/Israel

Animated Film: WALL-E

Original Score: AR. Rahman/Slumdog Millionaire

Original Score: The Wrestler

TELEVISION


Actress Anna Paquin-True Blood

Actor, drama-Gabriel Byrne/In Treatment

Series, Musical or Comedy-30 Rock

Series, Drama-Mad Men

Actress, Musical or Comedy-Tina Fey/30 Rock


Actor, Musical or Comedy-Alec Baldwin/30 Rock

Miniseries or Movie made for Television: John Adams


Actress, miniseries or movie: Laura Linney/John Adams

Actor, Miniseries or movie: Paul Giamatti/John Adams


Supporting Actress; Laura Dern/Recount

Supporting Actor-Tom Wilkinson/John Adams

Golden Globe Predictions-Television

Hello World Family,
Here is part two of Falcon and Dove's predictions for the Golden Globes Sunday evening.

Falcon and Dove's Television Award Golden Globe Predictions

Best Television Series-Drama
This was an impossible category; we picked three: Dexter, House, and In Treatment. We have no idea what will win...it could be House, but Dexter is darkly uber cool, and In Treatment is just so dramatically good! Fine actors, great writing. Man Men and True Blood aren't bad either. Pick one.

Best Actress in a Television Series-Drama
Tough Category; we think my fellow birthday gal Sally Field in Brothers and Sisters has a shot. We love Kyra Sedgwick in The Closer. Mariska Hargitay is fierce in Law and Order: SVU. We think one of these three women will get the globe.

Actor in a Television Series-Drama
In this category, we have to go with one of our favorite actors of all time, Gabriel Byrne for In Treatment. This group has stiff competition with perennial favorite, Hugh Laurie in House; Michael C. Hall from Dexter, and the Welsh actor Jonathan Rhys-Myers in The Tudors. Jon Hamm in Mad Men is probably the outside guy.

Actress in a Television Series, Comedy or Musical
Our favorite television category! Who do you pick>! Give them all one!
We believe Tina Fey will win this year for 30 Rock. We love, love, love America Ferrera in Ugly Betty, Debra Messing and Christina Applegate are hysterical in their shows The Starter Wife and Samantha Who respectively. Mary Louise Parker in Weeds has been here before. We wish them all good luck!

Best Actor, Comedy or Musical
Falcon and Dove are going with David Duchovny in Californication. This is a a tough group with the ever talented Steve Carell, Kevin Connolly, Alec Baldwin, and Tony Shalhoub. These guys are good.

Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
An extremely impressive grouping, we are choosing John Adams for the winner.
A Raisin in the Sun is one of Falcon's favorite plays and movies, and Recount was excellent.

Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture made for Television
What a beautiful group! We are going with Laura Linney in John Adams, but could easily have gone for Dame Judi Dench in Cranford, Shirley MacLaine as Coco Channel, or Catherine Keener in An American Crime. Susan Sarandon is one of Falcon and Dove's favorites.All outstanding performances, all deserving.

Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture made for Television
This is such a difficult category for a decision, but we are tied with Ralph Fiennes in Benard and Doris, along with Paul Giamatti as John Adams. Kevin Spacey, Keifer Sutherland, and Tom Wilkinson all rock and this is such a hard decision.

Supporting Actress
We are going with Laura Dern in Recount, but we also have Dianne West and Melissa George from In Treatment, Rachel Griffiths in Brothers and Sisters, and the impressive Eileen Atkins in Cranford. It was a good year.

Supporting Actor
Jeremy Piven has had a great year in Entourage, and a hard fall and winter on Broadway with his sudden illness. He probably has this one. CMU graduate Blair Underwood was a sympathetic and frightening character in In Treatment.
Denis Leary has always been a favorite, and he was good in Recount. Neil Patrick Harris is hysterical (and is good with swords as well) in How I Met Your Mother. Tom Wilkinson was good, but not my favorite portrayal of Ben Franklin.

We wish all the nominees good luck and hope that Falcon and Dove fans see some of these actors in action in additional productions this year.

Peace, World Family!
Falcon and Dove

Golden Globe Predictions-Film

Hello Family,
Falcon and Dove hope that you are having a wonderful New Year! Well, the Golden Globes are tomorrow, and if you listened to our podcast, you have an idea of how we are going to vote for our favorites, and how we think the Hollywood Foreign Press did. We didn't cover everything there, though, so without further ado...

Falcon and Dove Golden Globe Predictions 2009

Best Motion Picture-Drama
This is a tough category, but we are going to stick to our favorite here and go with Slumdog Millionaire. The others, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (a high contender and this one may walk away with it), Frost/Nixon, The Reader, and Revolutionary Road are all excellent films with some of our favorite actors in them, but we think Danny Boyle outdid himself this year, and should be rewarded for it. Kate Winslet did a superb job in the last two mentioned, and should be an Oscar nom, no problem.

Best Motion Picture-Comedy
This was a challenging category because the performances in all of these films were so out-of-the-box. It was a tie for us between In Bruges and Burn After Reading. Happy Go-Lucky, Vicki Christina Barcelona and Mamma Mia all had endearing qualities and plenty of laughs...and VCB may actually take this category, but the ensemble casts of our two choices were just too cool, and we think one of them will walk away with the top prize.

Best Actor-Drama
This was an impossible category, but our two choices are Brad Pitt and Sean Penn for Benjamin Button and Milk, respectively. Falcon cannot adequately explain in words how strong all of these men were in their roles this year. Leonardo DiCaprio in Revolutionary Road was outstanding. Frank Langella brought out the balance in the historically complex character that is Richard M. Nixon, (Frost/Nixon) and Mickey Rourke was unbelievably good in The Wrestler. This may be one of the best 5 performances in nomination for the Golden Globes in this category, ever.

Best Actress-Drama
In another extremely competitive category...a tough decision, but we are going with Kristin Scott Thomas in I've Loved You So Long (English title). This was a dynamic, complex character to bring to life on the screen, and Falcon and Dove both hope we see more roles like this for actresses in the future. We think that Anne Hathaway is about to break out and get all the attention she so deserves, and Meryl Streep did a strong, dynamic job in Doubt. We think Angelina is diversifying her resume well with Changeling, and as previously mentioned, Kate Winslet is going to get an Oscar nom this year, we hope. We went with what we thought was the best performance overall, but believe me, it was tough.

Actor-Comedy or Musical
All of these great actors are rarely known for their comedy (except maybe Brendan Gleeson), so this was a tough call, especially since some were in the same films...but we are going for handsome Irishman Colin Farrel in In Bruges. James Franco could easily get this one, but more because of what he did in Milk, than in Pineapple Express. A Best Supporting Actor nomination from the Academy should be coming. Javier Bardem can do anything and nearly does in Vicky Christina Barcelona. I love Dustin Hoffman, and this is a great role for him. He is fearless. IF you can, see all of these films.

Actress-Comedy or Musical
We are going with a probable long shot, but she did such a great job, and does in nearly every film she is in...home-town girl Frances McDormand in Burn After Reading gets our nod. We know that Sally Hawkins or Rebecca Hall are probably going to get this one...but part of Falcon really wishes Emma Thompson would in Last Chance Harvey because I cannot recall a time or a film I have not enjoyed with her presence.

Best Supporting Actor
Okay, we admit it. When we heard the nominations for this category we burst out laughing. We did. All these actors rock, but pitting Robert Downey, Jr. against Ralph Fiennes in the same category didn't seem quite right somehow. So here it is: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight, hands down. We have one for Ralph Fiennes later in teh Television categories. Philip Seymour Hoffman would have won this if Heath had not delivered his last acting performance this year. PSH: Your Oscar is coming, my friend. Tom Cruise in Tropic Thunder? Come on, he was better in Legend.

Best Supporting Actress
This is a tough category, but we are going with Kate Winslet in The Reader.
She plays an extremely emotionally wrenching character and she pulls it off well. Amy Adams and Viola Davis are both in Doubt and do very good jobs. Penelope Cruz rocks in Vicky Christina Barcelona, and Marisa Tomei, is an actress I love, and she is in her element in The Wrestler.

Best Director
This is such a tough category every year, and this year is no exception. I love all of these guys (I wish there were some women) but, in the end...we can choose only one. Falcon and Dove go with Scottish director Danny Boyle for a mind-blowing nearly speechless outstanding job on Slumdog Millionaire. Every human being who can et to a movie theatre should see this film. Falcon doesn't say this lightly. In my adult life, I have only given a couple of films perfect grade "A". That is, films that I thought in every way were flawless from beginning to end. David Fincher did an excellent job on The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. This is a strong contender. Ron Howard is always an Oscar favorite, I just don't know if he will win it here at the Golden Globes. Sam Mendes has done a truly strong period piece in "Revolutionary Road", and I hope he gets one Oscar noms as well.

Best Screenplay
Eric Roth gets high props for Benjamin Button. Adapting this F. Scott Fitzgerald story for a three hours film was tremendous. He is our choice for Best Screenplay, but of course, Slumdog Millionaire's Simon Beaufoy is another possibility. Peter Morgan did a fantastic job on Frost/Nixon. John Patrick Shanley took the play of Doubt and put in on the screen well.

Best Foreign Language Film
I've Loved You So Long is our choice for the winner. Waltz With Bashir is also a strong film from Israel. Gomorrah from Italy is impressive. Everlasting Moments from Sweden is incredible. Check this one out. The Baader Meinhof Comlex from Germany we have not seen, but has received excellent reviews.

Best Animated Feature
We are picking Bolt, over Kung-Fu Panda and WALL-E.. All of these were well done, but Bolt has the best spirit and organic angles of the three.

Original Score
This is a tough category. We are going with Alexandre Desplat, for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, , but seriously, all of these noms are excellent contenders. James Newton Howard for Defiance, in particular.

Original Song
Falcon is picking a song from a film that isn't nominated elsewhere, but is really cool: Once in a Lifetime from the film, Cadillac Records. For music lovers, this film rocks, and has some history you may have missed. See it if you can.

We will post the Television division shortly.
Peace,
Falcon and Dove

TFATD: Holiday Movie Review and New Year's Show

- Holiday Movies that are Golden Globe Contenders
- Falcon and Dove’s top movie picks of 2008
- The Chronicles of Disney
- New Year’s Resolutions


The Chronicles of Disney

Disney makes a premature exit on the financing of the film series based on the C.S. Lewis books, “The Chronicles of Narnia”. Walden Media will probably have to seek more financing as “Dawn Treader” is supposed to be in production. Disney (in our humble opinion) has no one to blame but themselves as far as “Prince Caspian” sales went. They did not market it well at all, even though it was much better than the first installment of the film series, “The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe”. They released it at the wrong time of year, with lots of competition and a screen shortage. Dumb. It would have done better in the winter season, but probably at the time of consideration, they were concerned about the Harry Potter franchise and their “Half-Blood Prince” release originally scheduled for Nov. 2008, now pushed back to July 17, 2009. Prince Caspian would have been a nice compliment and would have done well with HBP…which was moved anyway. They could have ruled the Holiday Season this year along with “Marley and Me”. They probably weren’t going to make all of them anyway…why bail now? Oh, well…

Golden Globe Contenders in the Holiday Movie Marketplace

Milk

Although we mention in the show that Milk covers 1968-78…it doesn’t. It actually starts in 1970. We have seen this film and it really is an Oscar contender, and should do well at the Golden Globes. Both Sean Penn and James Franco fill their characters' shoes, as does the ensemble cast. The documentary-film inputs add a needed reference from those too young to realize how important this man was to politics and civil rights for gays.

Slumdog Millionaire

This is one of the contenders for Best Picture, and it should be. We loved this film, and so will you. Don’t let the synopsis fool you; this film will change your world. Everything from the cinematography to the breathtaking music is beautiful, and worth multiple viewings!

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Another serious Best Picture contender. Brad Pitt may have found the role of his career. The entire cast was extremely competent and moving. There should be a lot of Globe winners from this group and Oscar nominees.

Seven Pounds

Will Smith’s latest will leave you breathless. This is a very intimate film, not shot in the usual Hollywood style, but more like an independent film. Rosario Dawson is touching…and so is her character’s dog, Duke. This film is subtle and doesn’t hit you over the head with anything, so pay very close attention. It is worth it. It is tragically beautiful.

The Tale of Despereaux

Three years of animation work went into this delightful children’s film that certainly deserves some attention. It is soft and organic; take the whole family. It is genuinely entertaining, and no entendres of adult jokes to spoil the mood. It's easy on the eyes with a nice, complex story. This is how all animated films should be like. Big props to all who worked on this film!

Doubt

Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman are brilliant! Period. If you saw the play, see the movie. If you didn’t, see this one. The entire cast is perfect. It is going to be a touch year for decisions on great films.

More are in the podcast…give a listen.

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

Falcon and Dove discuss which will be on our list, and suggestions of what could be on the world’s list. We keep it simple.

Download or listen to our Holiday Movie Review and New Year's Show here! (Right-click, Save Target As) (Length: 1 hour, 23 minutes; Size: 154 MB, sorry about the large file size!)

Enjoy!