I’m going to start this review a little different. I want to begin with copious praise for the people behind the scenes who make the actors/actresses/movies look their best, handle F/X, costumes, music and such. The look and feel of the movie and how it flows (cinematography and editing) are superb and light years beyond the Soska Twins freshman effort (“Dead Hooker in a Trunk“).

While their first film is, by their own admission, a love letter to grindhouse films, “American Mary” is their tribute to Asian/European horror films. But even so, the way the people behind the scenes made this film’s look really needed a  call out. Watching one film and then the other you see a major upgrade in quality and style. I HIGHLY recommend you watch the HD version (currently available region-free from Amazon.co.uk or in the US shortly (pre-order).

The Soska twins, owners of Twisted Twins Productions, rose to fame (or infamy as the case may be) with the release of their first film “Dead Hooker in a Trunk.” While that was raw, edgy and rough, their sophomore effort “American Mary” is mature, polished and darker. The twins have a cameo in the film that’s delightfully nutty, though it didn’t go where I thought it was going (thought we were about to see twins who wanted to become conjoined, maybe that’ll be in the sequel? Call me we’ll flesh it out – pardon the pun).

As portrayed by Katharine Isabelle (she of “Ginger Snaps” fame-all kinds of awesome-LOVE HER), Mary is a slow-building storm of surgical terror. We watch her get pushed to the breaking point and respond with the kind of “Kill Bill” snap/revenge streak I always love. She’s presented as almost a sociopath throughout. She’s generally numb or detached to things around her (loved the scene where she’s tested to see how she would deliver bad news to patients). There’s humor  throughout, but overall sadness lingers over each moment.

As with any film there are a few very minor quibbles. Things move a little fast at the beginning. I got that Mary had some money issues, who doesn’t, but it almost seemed she was took quickly looking into answering questionable online ads for easy money. At some points maybe a little too slow-paced, some of the club scenes with Billy and Mary, his fantasy of her dancing was a little prolonged (ok to be honest that was the best part of the movie…just kidding…so not). [Note I rewatched this amazing film at Fatality Fest and I missed some of the initial cues (must have been sleepy first time I watched) to her financial issues so I'm adjusting my rating higher to reflect my missing what was clearly there.]

I also didn’t realize that the men at the club were afraid of Mary until Beatress told her that (noting a great, great performance by Tristan Risk as a Betty Boop-wanna be). But I have to rewatch as I might have missed some subtle cues prior to that. [Still feel this was a surprise but again so minor a thing, but even MORE blown away by Tristan on a second viewing. What a performance. We need a prequel with her story!]

I really loved that it’s clear these gals did serious research into medical practices, surgery, and body modification. The film was well done so things don’t feel phony/fake (often an issue in indie horror). I really appreciate that they reached out to the “body mod” community and their involvement kept this from being a mockery of that world. Instead it’s inclusive and honest giving the film a solid core of respect to build the  horror onto.

Another direction choice I really loved was the use of “silence” throughout. After the “party” we see Mary get up, riding in an elevator and until the doors of it close there’s silence. In the above mentioned scene in the hospital the camera stays with the doctor while she goes in the back to practice giving bad news to families-we see her and them but don’t hear them. The constant unnecessary cutting (again pardon the pun) so prevalent in movies is absent here and that’s a very welcome thing to me as an avid film watcher. Often silence does more than a lot of unnecessary dialogue and sound f/x.

“American Mary” is not “oh my God” scary, it’s not as relentlessly gory or bloddy as you might expect. What it is, is a solid, bar-raising, bad ass indie horror film you won’t soon forget. In the hands of anyone else (well four hands I guess) or starring anyone less than someone as great as the always reliable, talented and gorgeous Katharine Isabelle it could have been direct-to-cable junk.

I definitely recommend anyone into indie horror, strong supporters of female filmmakers and women-centered films show their support. The only way the horror genre will survive and evolve is rewarding those out there taking chances and challenging the rest of us.

4.5 out of 5 stars – it’ll put a smile on your face for sure.

Have a Kindle (or Kindle app)?
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http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/robert-ropars

Most are free, all under $3 (ebooks).  Stories include all manner of horror, well-reviewed, have strong female characters and even my edition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.

If you like my books please help me spread the word on Twitter/Facebook and/or give me a “Like” and if you really like them a review is always greatly appreciated.

I was excited for my flash fiction horror story “Jenny Got Sick” to be featured in the horror compilation 100 Horrors (review: http://snakebitehorror.weebly.com/21/post/2012/03/100-horrors-by-various-authors-rating.html).

My short story “The Propagation” was featured in Sirens Call eZine issue 1 that can be downloaded here: http://www.sirenscallpublications.com/ezine.htm

Lass was somewhat familiar with the area, but Gogo helped navigate with both a map and her phone’s GPS. She frowned and turned the map around and back again while taking a drag on a cigarette. Lass reached out and Gogo passed it to her. Lass refocused on the road, took a drag and exhaled. Gogo meanwhile repositioned the map so it made better sense and saw they were near their next turn.

“A few more miles than turn left onto Hillview. It’s just before the river…the…Water of Ae? Seriously? The Forest of Ae? The Water of Ae? What’s next, the Village of Ae?”

Lass smiled as she took another drag and handed the cigarette back to her friend.

“Follow Hillview up from the highway.” Lass continued to smile and reached for her coffee.

Gogo traced her finger along Hillview which ran north from the A701 and parallel to the river known as the Water of Ae.

“Fuck me….Ae Village…Not too original around these parts. Where’s the Hill of Ae? Are we staying at the B&B of Ae?”

Radeo was asleep; her head resting on Sash’s left shoulder. Sash smiled at the conversation in the front and drank her own coffee. She moved slowly and carefully so as not to wake Radeo.

Lass turned briefly to Gogo as they turned onto Hillview.

“I told you were staying at a friend of the family’s cabin in the woods. Our guide is waiting to take us there and we’ll have all weekend to shoot.”

Read the whole story:

http://suicidegirlsblog.com/blog/suicidegirls-lupus-in-fabula/

It was late October, and even though it was only dinner time, the sun was already near the horizon about to set. A long summer drought had left the various Autumn Blaze maples lining the long driveway nearly stripped bare of their foliage. A chilly wind blew some of their multicolored leaves across their view, illuminated by the limo’s headlights as they drifted past like spirits.

In the back, the Suicide Girls had now begun to gather their things. Gogo finished a cigarette and flicked it out the window while exhaling. Her breath turned into a smoky whistle as she saw the ancient farmhouse coming into view as the last trees were passed and they turned to approach the front porch.

“So that’s the Bellingham estate?” Gogo looked at Milloux and smiled. “How the hell did you find this place?”

Milloux smiled at her and replied, “I was in Chicago earlier this year and was looking up haunted places for our shoot. This one was remote enough for us, but not too far to get to.”

Radeo looked up from her phone as she finished a text message. “What happened here? You still haven’t told us.”

Read the whole story:

http://suicidegirlsblog.com/blog/fiction-friday-halloween-special-suicide-girls-augmented-reality/

The Collins English dictionary defines “horror” like this:

horror [noun]
1. extreme fear; terror; dread
2. intense loathing; hatred
3. (often plural) a thing or person causing fear, loathing, etc.
4. (modifier) having a frightening subject, esp a supernatural one a horror film

[According to them and the American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, it's etymology is:  Middle English horrour, from Old French horreur, from Latin horror, from horrre, to tremble./trembling with fear]

The following films are presented in chronological order and are the ones I most often come back to for visceral thrills.  Some are classics that might not be nail biters, but more Gothic horror in nature, some are gory and some are scary as hell.  Many cross genres (Science Fiction in particular), but in one way or another, these are the films I come back to and exploring dark matters.  I’m also partial to films that try something new and are fully committed to their vision even if some flaws are present.

And before the attacks begin, there are some “glaring” omissions, but those are due to either my personal preferences or not getting around to certain films (which I’m intending to see asap such as Saw, Hostel, Audition, [REC] and [REC]2, etc.).  This list is based on films I’ve seen only not just ones I know are great by ratings/reviews/reputation.

Please feel free to comment and offer your thoughts on the list, your personal favorites, but again-these are my personal favorites.  I’m not saying this is a “best” list because that is subjective, but I did review a TON of sites’ “Best” lists to refresh my memory.  Some of those links appear at the bottom of the post for reference.

Without further ado…

The Phantom of the Opera (1925)
Frankenstein (1931)
King Kong (1933)
The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
Psycho (1960)
The Haunting (1963)
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
The Exorcist (1973)
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Jaws (1975)
The Omen (1976)
Eraserhead (1977)
Halloween (1978)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
The Fog (1979)
Alien (1979)
The Shining (1980)
The Fog (1980)
The Evil Dead (1981)
Poltergeist (1982)
The Thing (1982)
The Dead Zone (1983)
A Nightmare of Elm Street (1984)
The Terminator (1984)
The Fly (1986)
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
Aliens (1986)
Angel Heart (1987)
Evil Dead II (1987)
Fatal Attraction (1987)
Predator (1987)
Prince of Darkness (1987)
Clownhouse (1989)
Jacob’s Ladder (1990)
Misery (1990)
Nightbreed (1990)
The Silence of the Lambs (1990)
Candyman (1992)
Cronos (1993)
Fire in the Sky (1993)
Jurassic Park (1993)
Interview with the Vampire (1994)
The Addiction (1995)
The Prophesy (1995)
Se7en (1995)
Species (1995)
From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)
Scream (1996)
Cube (1997)
The Devil’s Advocate (1997)
The Lost World:  Jurassic Park (1997)
Starship Troopers (1997)
Blade (1998)
Bride of Chucky (1998)
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
The Sixth Sense (1999)
Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Ginger Snaps (2000)
Pitch Black (2000)
Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001)
Jurassic Park III (2001)
Session 9 (2001)
Signs (2002)
28 Days Later (2002)
Blade 2 (2002)
Underworld (2003)
Dawn of the Dead (2004)
Hellboy (2004)
Shaun of the Dead (2004)
The Descent (2005)
Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
30 Days of Night (2007)
Grindhouse (2007)
Paranormal Activity (2007)
Deadgirl (2008)
Let the Right One In (2008)
Quarantine (2008)
Dead Hooker in a Trunk (2009)
District 9 (2009)
The Final Destination (2009)
The House of the Devil (2009)
Jennifer’s Body (2009)
Suck (2009)
Black Death (2010)
Black Swan (2010)
Monsters (2010)
The Mutilation Man (2010)
Stake Land (2010)
Trollhunter (2010)
Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2010)
Red State (2011)
Prometheus (2012)
Sinister (2012)

Rotten Tomatoes – Best Horror Movies (2012 Update)

Rotten Tomatoes – Top 100 Horror Movies

best-horror-movies.com – Top 100 Horror Movies (2012)

IGN’s Top 25 Horror Movies of All-Time (2010)

Boston.com – Top 50 scariest horror movies of all time

AMC Movie Guide – The Best Horror Movies and Horror Movie Rankings

The 100 Most Popular Horror/Suspense Movies of All Time

Out in theaters now, I had the chance to record and see it early thanks to DirecTV’s HDNet channel which typically has one free showing of a film each month before it’s in theaters.  Fortunately for me, the films are typically indie, foreign and often horror genre.

Overall I REALLY enjoyed this film for trying something new.  I will always be supportive of films that try to do something interesting even if the final product isn’t perfect.

The poster at left is an inventive image of a skull made from VHS tapes arranged to form a pattern.  I particularly like the use of old school video given most young people seeing this won’t know what the hell a video tape is….

So what is the film “about?”  The overarching story (aka “Tape 56″) follows a group of low level criminals who seem to spend most of their time f’ing stuff up and filming themselves (ala almost anything you see on “World’s Dumbest…” show on TruTV).

I particularly liked how they showed distortions and videotape glitches that those of us growing up making video/audio tapes remember well.  Taping over prior recordings was S.O.P., but due to bad timing and/or physical glitches distortions and bleed through were common.  I even had times were audio for something old mixed with video for something new.

Young people today growing up with MP3s and other digital media are spoiled with near perfect quality and recording tools.  Hence anyone can be an instant YouTube popstar.  But back in the day, shit could get weird and when you see what this group of ne’er-do-wells is taping over it’s pretty funny.

The film is basically about this group of guys breaking into some guy’s home to steal a videotape.  One of the group promises he got the job as a test from someone, it pays well and if they succeed more work like this is coming.  We’re never told what the videotape is that they’re looking for (which is fine with me), nor why someone would pay to have it stolen.  They break in at night and find a creepy dark house with a room full of TVs and VCRs upstairs and a collection of videotapes tucked away in the basement.  Splitting up, one group is in the basement gathering up tapes (in a very claustrophobic basement filled with clutter and only illuminated by their video cameras’ lights).

The other group keeps searching the upstairs and playing the videos left in the TV room.  When they hit play, our view is the video they’re watching.  Essentially there are then a series of short films inserted into the overall burglary story.  Are they truly scary and terrifying?  I’ve certainly seen scarier films.  I had a really bad headache by the end and I believe 2 hours of the handheld camera motion did it to me.  It seems to die down over each film as the first few were really motion-jarring, but all of them have the running and filming issues.  So big warning if you get motion sick from shaky cameras (hallmarks of “found footage” films) this might be a rough ride.

The films seemed to get better as the film progresses.  I was particularly interested to see the short film by Ti “House of the Devil” West.  All of them are interesting and have some creepy moments (some more than others).  One about 4 friends going to the woods is a really great idea once you know why 1 of the girls has gotten to this particular camping spot and the f/x of the horror in this one was REALLY cool both visually and the audio.  The last story I really loved the set up and though it goes a bit overboard with visual effects which frankly I thought were too much and unnecessary, I like the story and use of sound as 4 guys going to a Halloween party explore a house where they think the party is at (unless they’re lost and this is really the WRONG house).

So other than some unnecessary visual effects and the caveat about motion sickness concerns, I definitely recommend horror film fans check it out.  I hope it also inspires more horror anthologies as short films are perfect for horror which is often stretched to 90-120min with only 30 min of really horror story.  In terms of “found footage” which began really was born of “Blair Witch Project,” I think “V/H/S” and “Sinister” have both taken this format in new directions, but though we’ll see more it’s probably a well that’s running dry.

How to rate this film?  Individually I would say:

“Amateur Night” – 3.5* (Directed by David Bruckner) – the main girl – creepy as all hell, slow burn

“Second Honeymoon” – 3.5* (Directed by Ti West) – slow burn (definitely his style) and based on a road trip he took and recreated here with the horror added (which is also his trademark making “The Innkeepers” about a scary hotel after cast/crew stayed in a creepy hotel making his first film “House of the Devil”) – reminds me of David Lynch’s “Lost Highway” in a few aspects.

“Tuesday the 17th” – 4.5* (Directed by Glenn McQuaid) – really liked this new take on killer in the woods with group of young people, f/x in particular awesome!

“The Sick Thing That Happened to Emily When She Was Younger” – 3.5* (Directed by Joe Swanberg) – creepy and obviously influenced by “Paranormal Activity” and other films which I can’t mention as it would spoil it.

“10/31/98” – 4.5* (Directed by Radio Silence) – really liked this story of lost guys looking for a Halloween party, use of sound in particular is really well done as they move through/up an old house and the sounds get louder…

Overall:  3.9* out of 5*

Trailer:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iv6S3RGMGw8

I had the pleasure of seeing this great horror film last night (9/26) at an advanced screening at Studio Movie Grill in Wheaton, IL.  It’s a new theater with digital projection (1st time I’ve seen such film presented digitally outside my home) and looked/sounded amazing.

This review is spoiler-free as the film won’t officially open for a few weeks (opens 10/12).

Top level:  Overall I give it 4.5 stars and if you love horror go see it-end of story.

Deeper comments:  It’s nice to see horror films moving away from the gore porn of the last decade with over the top, graphic torture and death.  Growing up in the 70s and 80s the films I love in most genres, horror in particular, emphasize character/story/mood and most importantly sound.  Horror is more implied and often the threat of violence is what’s scary.  Lately horror has evolved (or devolved) into topping the last excess with no holds barred graphic gore and violence, abandoned the classic “rules” of horror films to the point where films become more about endurance than a fright fest.

In other words, give me the John Carpenter 1978 “Halloween” any day.  I saw a Twitter post about an advanced screening of “Sinister” and not being a moviegoer (preferring the controlled home theater I have set up) I was hesitant but being a horror fan I had to jump at the chance.

The film is directed by the highly talented Scott Derrickson (previously made “The Exorcism of Emily Rose”) who co-wrote the script with C. Robert Cargill (his first feature script I believe).  The cast is mature and top notch with Ethan Hawke the main character who shoulders most of the film himself.  His wife is a relative newcomer to US audiences from the UK (Juliet Rylance) and his kids are played by Clare Foley (Ashley) and Michael Hall D’Addario (Trevor).

Law & Order alum Vincent D’Onofrio and Fred Dalton Thompson have small but pivotal roles further adding to the feeling of a maturity in the film.  This is an adult horror film aimed above the teen/tween audience usually pandered to with 20-30-year-olds playing high schoolers.

As the film opens, author Ellison (Ethan Hawke) is moving his family (wife Tracy, son Trevor and daughter Ashley) into a small house and it’s quickly clear he’s deceived his family in an effort to get another home run true crime non-fiction book.  The family who used to live here were brutally murdered and local law enforcement (in particular the Sheriff played by Thompson) are none too happy to see him in their small town digging at the wounds of the recent horror.  In particular, his true crime books have often focused on police errors which starts him out on the wrong foot with Thompson who (in classic horror film style) warns him to leave town right away.  Hawke of course ignores this advice and moves his unsuspecting family into the scene of the crime.

Much like the husband in “Paranormal Activity,” Ethan Hawke is a man so driven to reclaim earlier fame as an author that he will keep going deeper and deeper into a hell they may not be able to escape.  Much like “Paranormal Activity” and “Insidious” (other films by the producers of this film), great use is made of both silence and sound effects.  I can’t wait to rewatch this at home where it will be even more claustrophobic and immersive.

Without giving anything away (you’ll see the basics in the trailers), Hawke discovers 8mm film in the attic in a box marked “Home Movies.”  He sets up a writing war room with crime scene photos, files and such and on the first night in the home settles in to watch the found footage.

Certainly the “found footage” genre (kicked off and must successfully executed by “The Blair Witch Project”) has run its course, but I don’t consider this too much in that sub-genre as we’re only seeing the footage the character has found and the vast majority of the film is a normal film.

Needless to say, obsession with the recent murder, other murders and the films starts the increasingly unstable Hawke into darker and darker territory.  His family struggles to cope with his distance and changes.  In particular I want to call out Juliet Rylance’s work as his wife.  Several of her scenes are amazing and could easily have been mishandled in lesser hands.  I watch a lot of UK TV and film, but had never seen her before.  I want to see more she’s amazing.

From writing to direction to acting to music to sound effects, Sinister is a home run on all levels.  In particular, the extremely effective use of shadows, sounds and music made for great horror without excessive gore and torture.  On a side note, there is a lot of unexpected but effective humor between husband and wife, parents and kids and Ellison and a local deputy.  They provide some needed breathing room and relief amidst the increasing horror and scares.

A sucker punch roller coaster ride of chills you’ll love and want to see again.

Official site:
http://www.haveyouseenhim.com/

Twitter contacts:
C. Robert Cargill – @Massawyrm
Scott Derrickson – @ScottDerrickson
Movie – @SeeSinister
Blumhouse Productions – @blumhouse
Summit Entertainment – @SummitEnt

“The Doctor’s Granddaughter”

We “know” how Doctor Who began in November 1963.  In the very first episode/story “An Unearthly Child” we meet Susan (the source of the episode’s title) who is an awkward, odd child and two teachers (Barbara and Ian) who are confused by her apparent masterful knowledge of many things, but ignorance of 20th century matters.  Following her home, they see her disappear within a scrap yard and upon entering are confronted by a grumpy old man.  Shortly thereafter they hear Susan call for her “grandfather” and rushing into what they presume to be a junked 1950s police public call box they find her.

Not just any old police box, this one is really the TARDIS.  Angry at their discovery, the Doctor as we now hear him called locks them in and kidnaps them.  Thus started 50 years of time travel.  Along the way, this Doctor eventually leaves Susan behind to pursue love in the 22nd century after they’ve succeeded in saving Earth from the Daleks.  She’s in love with one of the rebels and conflicted about what to do and he makes the choice for her.  He states that he’ll be back.

In reality, he doesn’t see her again (20 years later in our terms) in the 20th anniversary special “The Five Doctors” where she is reunited with her grandfather and meets his future incarnations.  She doesn’t seem overly curious about them (in particular the 5th Doctor).  And at no point are we sure she’s really his granddaughter, if that was just a nickname, or if she’s actually a Time Lady (or just a young Gallifreyan).

When Russell T. Davies launched the new series began in 2005, we meet the 9th Doctor who’s apparently just regenerated (based on his looking in the mirror in episode one “Rose” and commenting on his looks).  Over the course of Series 1 we learn that a great Time War has just ended between the Time Lords and the Daleks and the Doctor ended it in such a horrific way that everyone was destroyed and locked forever outside of time.  He is now the last Time Lord.  Fans of the classic series were left (even up to and including the 2-part 10th Doctor finale “The End of Time”) what happened to Susan, the Rani, the Valeyard, Romana, Leela, 2 versions of K-9 and others who were either on Gallifrey when last seen or should be out and about if still alive.

The Doctor frequently comments that he’s the last of the Time Lords, that he’d sense them if any were out there and seems genuinely to believe this (even though “Rule #1 is The Doctor lies.”).  So as much as I’ve loved the new series questions like this linger with me.  In particular Susan.  Did all Time Lords and Ladies return to Gallifrey for the war?  Did they perish or are they trapped in the time lock?

With regard to Susan, a “timey wimey” idea came to me as I rewatched certain episodes or just pondered the ebb/flow of the 9th-11th Doctor’s stories.  In the 10th Doctor’s  Series 4 episode “The Doctor’s Daughter,” he’s cloned as “Jenny” his daughter.  At the end she recovers from being shot (with a regeneration glow at least healing if not regenerating as she remains the same body) and steals a ship
taking off (this all taking place some point in the future).  We know that originally she was to die, but Steven Moffat suggested she revive at the end (presumably to leave a thread open for the future).

Here’s my fiction.  Later it’s certainly feasible that Jenny would meet someone and have a relationship (if we wanted to be really timey wimey it would be Cpt. Jack while still a time cop but I digress) and has a daughter that she names Susan.

If there was some story involving her in jeopardy and the 11th Doctor saving them, he would realize that he is now holding his granddaughter Susan.  I’m not putting together the story involving this just the outcome.  Let’s say she’s young or injured and regenerates older.  Still naive and in need of protection (and family/blood) who better than himself to protect her?

I believe it’s suggested that when me the Doctor and Susan they’ve been on Earth about 6 months.  That’s a LONG time for someone like the Doctor who’s always on the run, can’t sit still and in that time period was supposedly on the run from his own people.  So in the Spring 1963 I see the 11th Doctor bringing Susan her to her grandfather (1st Doctor).  He’s told to give her some real-world Earth immersion so he has to stay for awhile in one place/time while she attends school.

This interference in his plans (running and dealing with the Hand of Omega as shown in the 7th Doctor story “Remembrance of the Daleks”) is why he’s grumpy to start when Barbara and Ian stumble upon them in “An Unearthly Child” and why he was happy/sad to leave her on Earth in 2165 AD after the “Dalek Invasion of Earth.”  In one sense loving her but ready to let her go her own way (she IS his granddaughter, but one he hasn’t made yet).

It’s timey-wimey and makes more sense as I pondered the superb Neil Gaiman story “The Doctor’s Wife.”  Idris talks about picking him and there’s no reference to Susan at all. It also explains his attitude-he had been stuck on Earth and forced into being a parent by a future version of himself.

It also would explain why the Doctor always vaguely alludes to a lost family and/or about having been married and having had kids, but we’ve never gotten anything concrete (River Song not withstanding).

Just my mind wandering the time stream – what do you think?  Timey Wimey enough?

So I did some research wondering about the flat tax (aka sales tax) approach brought up a few years ago and off/on since. I wondered if a tiered approach to taxing would help us and make things more fair. I started by trying to see a breakdown of Americans by salaries and found this page.

From there I came up with the following. Is it right? Wrong? Best for all? Fair? I think it’s at least an idea. Would love to get some feedback/discussion as to what people think of this and how it might help our country get out of debt and back on track (where we left off as former president Clinton left office and we had an actual SURPLUS).

1-Decrease size/scope/nature of IRS. Taxes come off paychecks right into government revenue no need to file each year.

2-With the following tiered flat/sales tax approach, most Americans would have less taxes coming off paychecks – more to spend/save every paycheck. If right now 28-30% of your check is going to taxes-imagine only 10-20% coming off and instead being actual money you have now, not a year from now as part of a refund.

Deductions maybe change for community service, environmental investment, saving at least x% of annual salary in a year and/or at least x% invested in retirement fund in a year, etc. Military service would reduce tax by half for each tier for successful service?

0-$25,000 – 28.22% of households – 0%

$25,001-50,000 – 26.65% of households – 10% tax off paychecks

$50,001-75,000 – 18.27% of households – 20% tax off paychecks

$75,001-100,000 – 10.93% of households – 25% tax off paychecks

$100,001-250,000 – 15.73% of households – 30% tax off paychecks

$250,001+ – 1.5% of households – 35% tax off paychecks

As for corporations, not sure what to do but hey the Supreme Court said you’re people too, so pitch in!!

US corporations – 35%
Foreign corporations – 40%
Companies can get breaks for job creation, environmental compliance, community investment, etc.

I’m really just trying to get some constructive dialogue out there and hope this is helpful to someone out there. Let me know what you think!

Final Atantis touchdown

What it’s reminding me of is the first Space Shuttle, the Enterprise.  Named after the USS Enterprise of Star Trek legend (thanks to the many Star Trek fans both within/without NASA), this mockup/test model never actually made it into space.  But it was tested for entry/re-entry and did a few solo flights/landings.  It paved the way for the program and after the second shuttle disaster (Columbia), parts were removed to test the theory that foam debris could damage the heat resistant underbelly tiles helping solve the mystery of that tragedy.

Original Star Trek cast & Gene Roddenberry at NASA

But what many Americans may not know/remember was something that NASA did with Enterprise.  At some point (haven’t been able to trace the actual dates so far) around 1978-80, they flew the Enterprise across the country on the back of a modified 747!  Sort of PR tour to build American excitement, they came to Tulsa.  We weren’t able to go to the airport to see it, however our house was directly under the flight path for approaching/departing flights.  So we saw it fly over as it arrived.  I remember stores were selling little space shuttle toys and running around the yard playing astronaut (I was 8-10 at this point).  My imagination already wild with the sci-fi/fantasy I watched and read was engulfed.  We were finally going up and away and going to really explore space.

Enterprise atop the special 747

The most exciting moment was when the tour moved on and the flight took off from the Tulsa airport.  I have no idea where it was headed next, but I was in the backyard randomly when it came over.  And boy did it do something that burned the memory forever into my mind.  It’s so vividly impacted me, that I can see it in mind’s eye to this day so many years later.

As I heard the sound of a roaring plane engine I looked up to the sky to see the 747 coming over.  It apparently needed to turn to head whichever direction it was going and the plan tilted (to my kid’s mind/memory nearly vertical).  I remember a feeling of awe and panic staring up at the massive objects above me.  I remember my heart soaring that I really got to see it since we couldn’t go to the airport for some reason (which was heartbreaking).  There it was above me.  The space shuttle.  So close, yet so far.

But it was a bit scary at the same moment.  As it was tilted nearly vertical (well pretty vertical) and engines strained as it turned and accelerated to change direction, I had some panic.  The Enterprise was attached by some kind of tether to the 747, but what if it broke.  A part of imagined the Enterprise breaking free and crashing down onto our home and me.  Years later watching Donnie Darko I had some serious flashbacks to that moment.

The 747 made the turn, the Enterprise went on to get things rolling and we had 30 years of a space program with some highs and real lows (Challenger/Columbia).  But although the space exploration program is entering a reduced new phase, I remain ever confident and inspired that humans will expand, explore and colonize our solar system and beyond.  As Earth continues to run out of room, resources and be devastated by our pollution and abuse, we will need to find new room to evolve and grow.

And as Stephen Hawking has noted, by staying Earth-bound, as a species we’re putting all of our eggs in one basket.  Assuming there are aliens, some being hostile, and some being far more advanced, if they come and attack do we all want to be in one spot?  Exploring and expanding into space will go a long way to ensuring humanity survives farther into the future than we could hope otherwise.

Think of this some night when you take a moment and stare up at the stars.  I know I do.