Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Our thoughts are with the city of Boston and the victims of Monday's bombings.

I do not know about you but it has taken two days to process the event that occurred Monday during the Boston marathon. I would like to say foremost: our hearts, thoughts and prayers are with our brothers and sisters in Boston. This act of terrorism (regardless of its origin) was the epitome of cowardice and I hope that the dastards feel the brunt of the American legal system.

It is events like these that have me questioning humanity. My philosophical beliefs preclude me from feeling that man is inherently evil but it is things like this has me wondering. While the perpetrators are not a sizable portion of humanity, it has me questioning my faith in fellow man. Of course, it does take long for my faith to be restored as Americans tend to rally in times of crisis and the events in Boston are no different.

We will pull through because that is what do. We will care for the victims and we will not forgot the events that transpired on April 15, 2013.

-Manny

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

A year older, a year wiser...

Happy Birthday Maus!

I wanted to take the opportunity to wish the little Maus, happy birthday. You are going on fourth year and it is time to put on the big boy pants. I know that I say this every year but I am truly surprised that this "little engine that could" is still chugging up that hill.

As of this moment, we are at over seventy thousand hits and that might not seem like a lot but there was a time that we had zero (month in and month out). Hopefully, in the next few months, I will be able to upgrade the look and feel of the website... I have said that before but the Maus could use a facelift. Also, since it seems like I am neglectful, as the semester winds down, I will be posting more often. Curse you research projects!

Anyway, I must also point out that this endeavor would not be anything without you dear reader... You should receive your slice of cake in roughly six to eight weeks.

From everyone here at the Maus, your humble servant,

Manny Funkowitz

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Roger Ebert, we say goodbye...

The cinematic world lost one of the premier film critics of all time. For those curious, Roger Ebert has passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer. While I have never been a huge fan of the profession of film criticism (I am aware of the irony) since most are not good at it (myself included), I always respected Roger Ebert. Frankly, he was always a cut above the rank and file that fill the profession.

I would be hard pressed to find someone who at the very least did not respect his contribution as a journalist. Sure, I may not have agreed with him from time to time or felt that some he adopted relatively pretentious positions but damn, the man was a hell of a wordsmith. He always struck me as a man that you would not argue about film with. Simply, he ate, breathed and dreamed about... In short, you watched film to escape your life, for Ebert, film was his life.

To merely call Roger Ebert a film critic, is to him a disservice. He was for all intents and purposes, Ebert was a journalist. Some cover business and law, others might travel abroad and cover the destruction of humanity in war... Ebert covered the realm of film and his death leaves a void in the discipline that is journalism. With that being said, Roger, your wit and wisdom will be missed. Godspeed.