Jimmy Hollywood

Okay folks it's time to get live and serious on King Baran Blog and give you a bit of the real TRUTH!  I still have a VCR and I still watch videos on VHS all the time!  If you don't have a VCR you are missing out on buying movies for the real cheap!  I'm talking like twenty five cents for a movie!  Yup, that's right, movies for a quarter!  I just watched Jimmy Hollywood and I thought it was a great flick!  If you are interested in Hollywood at all, this is a great flick for you because you can see some shots of the Hollywood area that looked different and real to me.  That is something you might not get from other movies.  It shows the true grit!  This is a great flick about Hollywood and a great movie about making movies!  Click the Amazon link below to check it out for yourself!

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More is a fantastic book written by Roald Dahl.  I first came across this book when I was probably about 12 or 13 years old, but the book is so good an adult would find it interesting and enjoyable.  It really is a must read for any age because the stories are just incredible!  The book is a collection of seven short stories, and I think the best one is the story of Henry Sugar.  Does anybody out there know if the story of Henry Sugar is true or not???  It is really hard to tell if this fantastic story is fiction or truth!  Whatever your age, The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More is an incredible read!  Click the Amazon link below to purchase your own copy of this grand book!

Sucker Free City

I saw this film several years ago, and I thought it was absolutely excellent!  I believe this film was actually created as a pilot for a television series that never got made, but the film really blew me away.  I thought there was some very cool music and images, with a unique look at San Francisco.  Although the film is fiction, it offers a very slick look at contemporary urban life and race issues.  A must see as far as I'm concerned!  Click the Amazon link below to purchase your own copy of this very cool film!

Free Stuff on the Internet!

One thing that I really like to do is look for free items on the internet that can be sent through the mail to my home.  A site that I have found that is fun to look through for freebies is Totally Free Stuff.  They add new links daily to lots of free stuff on the internet.  Just be careful though, because a lot of their offers are not really "free," there are a lot of surveys and other hoops that you have to jump through to find the true freebies.  I've been using this site for probably about 5 years now, and I've had a lot of fun with it, so I think it's worth checking out!

L. Ron Hubbard's The Problems of Work

As an artist, my life has taken some strange turns, and I haven't really followed many of the conventional rules of the American ladder of "success".  I had major difficulties holding a regular type job, and I became an artist for this reason and several other important factors as well.  I recently came across a book entitled The Problems of Work, written by the creator of scientology, L. Ron Hubbard. I recommend the book for anyone that has struggled with the world of employment because it provides insights about work, jobs, and life that actually are useful.  Click the Amazon link below to purchase your own copy of L. Ron Hubbard's The Problems of Work. 

Geronimo - An American Legend

I just finished watching the film Geronimo - An American Legend.  I must say that it is a very good film!  It reminded me of a classic American Western.  The scenery of the American Southwest was incredible and the music was also great!  It is an important film because it deals with American History and it also deals with how Native Americans were treated.  The film boasts great performances by Jason Patric, Gene Hackman, Robert Duvall, Matt Damon, and Wes Studi as Geronimo.

Ocean Grove New Jersey

I went to Ocean Grove this morning to pray again.  Whenever I feel down in the dumps about something I go to the beautiful town of Ocean Grove, NJ.  It is a beautiful Christian oasis, and in the summer they hold Sunday mass at the Great Auditorium.  There are also all types of other events and programs throughout the year that can bring spiritual growth.  I have recently been going through a separation from my girlfriend and I have been very sad.  I have been praying to Christ frequently to try and find my way through this.  When I go to the Great Auditorium in Ocean Grove I feel connected to Christ Consciousness as I pray and it helps me to deal with the pain.  It is a beautiful and magical place and I hope to see YOU there!

The Take

I had to write a post about this solid film because I am a John Leguizamo fan and I really think he gives a fantastic performance.  The film is also a very good action/drama in it's own right with stand out performances by Rosie Perez and  Bobby Cannavale.  For any John Leguizamo fan, this film will not disappoint!

Grand Canyon

Here is another excellent drama that is at least ten years ahead of it's time.  The film has a lot to say about contemporary society, city living, and the madness of our culture and how people deal with it.  One of my favorites!

The New Age

This is a great flick that has to be a least 10 years ahead of it's time. Play it now and it deals with contemporary issues of our pathetic culture. I really enjoyed the film although I found the gratuitous adultery to be disgusting and offensive. Other than that the film is an interesting take on contemporary society and culture in LA LA LAND!

Joe Somebody

I just finished watching Joe Somebody. It's a decent film about eventually taking the right Christian action and the disgusting behavior that can take place in Corporate America.

The Dangers of Marijuana

I know there has been all kinds of hype about marijuana because of the legalization in Colorado and Washington.  I have been smoking marijuana for 17 years and this is my personal story.  For me, marijuana is A VERY DANGEROUS DRUG!  Unfortunately, I am addicted to marijuana but it is something that I must stay away from at all costs.  Marijuana affected my mind and body in terrible ways and I could no longer function properly.  When I used marijuana it completely destroyed my body's natural ability to tell when I was hungry and when I was full.  It was absolutely awful and a prison sentence.  It was hell and I'm writing this blog post to get the message out that marijuana can be VERY DANGEROUS AND DAMAGING!  Again this is just my own personal experience and your experience might be different, but I will do everything in my power to avoid this god awful substance.  If you enjoy stuffing your face like a hog and a pig, marijuana is the drug for you.  If you care about your brain, mind, and body, AVOID MARIJUANA AT ALL COSTS!

A Wild Action Ride!

When you’re ready for a wild film experience, Wonderland, starring Val Kilmer is a must see!  I personally own this film on DVD and I consider it one of the best action flicks in my collection!  This film has everything:  Action, Drama, and the amazing TRUE story of legendary “Porn King” John Holmes!  Click the Amazon link below to order your own copy of this insane movie.  Don’t worry, you won’t be disappointed!  Is this Val Kilmer's best work??? You decide!

Are You Broken???

I just finished watching the film Broken, starring Heather Graham, Jeremy Sisto, and Michael Goorjian.  I think the film is excellent because it provides a look at a person who is truly struggling with a drug addiction. Hollywood can be intensely interesting when they are offering you a glimpse at TRUTH.  The final scene in the film offers a vision of peace and serenity for anyone who has experienced the mental exhaustion an addiction causes.  The final words of the film should be listened to, memorized, and cherished!  Kudos to Heather Graham, Jeremy Sisto, and Michael Goorjian for their fantastic performances.  Click the amazon link below if you are interested in ordering Broken for yourself.

Is Scientology a Fraud???

I recently read Tom Cruise An Unauthorized Biography, and I was surprised to find how much information was included about the inner workings of Scientology.  If the book is true, then Scientology is definitely a cult.  I read in horror and amusement of the silly crap that goes on inside of Scientology and their cult like structure.  I also read about their pathetic creationist myth and their ridiculous way of exorcising the body of bad spirits.  The whole mess seems like a good way to get money from celebrities.  I guess celebrities really do live in LALALAND if they believe in this crap! 

I highly recommend Tom Cruise An Unauthorized Biography.  The book is not just about Tom Cruise but about the inner workings of Scientology and it provides an amusing and horrifying look at the cult group.  Author Andrew Morton has done an excellent job of shedding some light on the controversial subject of Scientology.  Click the Amazon link below to order your own copy of this bizarre book!

An Intense Crime/Drama Action Film!

As an Action/Crime/Drama, Kiss of Death starring David Caruso & Nick Cage is excellent!  Maybe one reason why this film is so good is that it is based off a 1947 film noir classic.  David Caruso plays a very serious and sometimes humorous role as Jimmy Kilmartin and deserves a lot of credit for an all-consuming performance.  Nick Cage serves up a hilarious & gorilla like performance as Little Junior Brown!  This is a gritty New York crime drama with great performances from Ving Rhames and Michael Rapaport as well.  I own this film on VHS and have watched it several times over the years.   For any fans of crime movies, this is one you definitely want to check out!  I have included a link to the Amazon DVD if you are interested in purchasing this wild film noir update.   

The Essential Primer for starting an Information Age Business!

I personally own The 4 Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss and I have pored over the book for several years.  What you must know about this book is that its crowning achievement lies with the CONCEPTS discussed and not the actual way that you are going to apply these CONCEPTS.  The book originally was released in 2007 and was updated in 2009.  There is a lot of information on Google Adwords that I tried to apply and could not make it work for my situation. 

In any case, the book is revolutionary and one of the first of its kind because it can give you a new viewpoint on creating an Information Age business.  Information Age businesses are different from Industrial Age businesses and can be started by one person sitting in their underwear at their computer.  Millions can be made! 

Again, this book is vitally important for the CONCEPTS discussed.  You will have to go through the hard work of figuring out how you will apply these concepts to your situation.  Trial and error will be involved.  The book provides the conceptual framework to get you thinking in an Information Age mindset.  Read this book now or be stuck in the economic Stone Age forever!  Click the link below to purchase the book on Amazon.

The Amazing life of rapper Tupac Shakur!

For a detailed look at the astonishing life of rapper Tupac Shakur, the film Tupac Resurrection is a must see!  His life is hard to believe, but the truth was more incredible than the fiction!  For a Visual Artist like myself this film offers an incredible & inspirational look at a revolutionary rapper.  If you are interested in purchasing Tupac Resurrection, I have included the Amazon DVD link below.  I own the film on VHS, and I treasure it! 

 

Filling In Those Pesky Resume Gaps!

As a Visual Artist, I've had more than my fair share of problems with employment and jobs.  In fact, there have been times when I have been unemployed for multiple years at a time!  So what did I do???  I chose to FIGHT THE POWER, and you can too!  If you've got a creative bent, you can easily start a website selling your artwork like me.  What this does is provide an employer with PROOF that you have been doing something useful with your time.  There are many websites now that offer print on demand services where they will pay you a royalty for your artwork and designs.  I personally have used www.cafepress.com since 2008.  Another great place to start would be www.zazzle.com.  Both these websites can get you up and running quick with a website featuring your artwork on a variety of products.  Then you can tell an employer to shove it up their ass if they even think about questioning your work history, because you can provide them with that all important thing called PROOF!!!  If you would like to get some ideas for your own cafepress shop check out my newest website, Jazzy Home Decor & Accessories. 

Another idea I have for you is to create your own blog.  The best thing you can do with a blog is provide information that would be helpful to people searching on the internet.  On my blog, which you are reading right now, I provide book reviews, movie reviews, information about my artwork, and anything else interesting and fun that hopefully can provide value to readers.

Let's face facts, the job market has been in the toilet since Obama took office in 2008.  The job market sucks because we are in the Information Age and employers, corporations, politicians and the general population are stuck in the fucking STONE AGE!  The internet is providing vast opportunities every day for you to FIGHT THE POWER!  Let me know how you are using the internet to create your own Information Age business.  Let's FIGHT THE POWER together! 

Great Non-Fiction Reading!

One of my favorite non-fiction books of all time is Travels by Michael Crichton.  Probably nearly everyone knows that Michael Crichton wrote Jurassic Park, but Travels is not nearly as well known.  Crichton went to medical school before he became a writer, and the first part of the book deals with his medical school training.  I found this part fascinating because you get to go behind the scenes of what it would be like to be in medical school, as well as what it would be like to be a doctor. 

The book also deals with Crichton's journey of self development.  He talks about many of his trips to remote destinations all over the world.  Some of these stories are filled with excitement, while some of them offer life lessons.  He also discusses his experiences with psychics, meditation, psychology, and other forms of inner travel. 

On the whole, I found the book to be fantastic.  It's very interesting, as well as educational.  If you're a reader, this one is definitely worth checking out!  Click the link below if you are interested in purchasing Travels on Amazon.