Consie

Rainman isn't exactly a Vegas movie, but the best part takes place in Vegas. When I was a kid I loved the spoof film Mafia!... there's a Vegas scene with a game called "Sorry, You just can't win" and the dealer stands there collecting peoples money and shaking his head, apologizing, while people empty their wallets and purses, frustrated :lol: :lol:

It's so damn easy to continue blaming the parents for being irresponsible and negligent, but nothing is that simple. Parents are either: a ) impoverished and thus forced to work long hours and can't monitor their kids b ) uneducated or uninformed because of a failure in the education system c ) in single-parent situations because of either a or b or just plain misfortune And often they fit all three categories. It is a recipe for disaster because without some support structure, each generation will follow that of the previous one. You have to go after the roots of the problem, in my opinion. Enable a system of economic development that spurs economic opportunity in communities with high unemployment, and establish a fair welfare system that keeps people from falling through the cracks. Fix the schools, make sure they were well funded and have teachers who care about their students. A woman with a good job and a decent education will be more responsible in her decisions to have and raise children. Those kids will be far less likely to join gangs.

Of course that's true, but there are many things that Europeans should consider before brushing off the situation. Much of the US was developed during the motor age, from WWII on. Bar a couple of years in the 70s, oil has always been cheaper than water here. For decades. Entire cities with millions of people were developed since then, mostly "sunbelt" cities like Atlanta, Phoenix, Dallas and Houston. These cities are gigantic and sprawling. Suburbs spread out 40+ miles from the city center. And they were built without an ounce of consideration for public transportation because oil companies and car companies bought out the trolleys and trains and shut them down in the 50s and 60s. And actually, that trend is global (just look at cities like Brasilia or Dubai; they look more like Atlanta than London). Thus for the vast majority of Americans (virtually all of them living in areas developed since 1950), a car is essential. There are millions of people who live on poverty level wages and were used to spending $20/week on gasoline. Well when that expense triples over the course of a few years and your salary remains the same, you've got a problem. Further, high priced oil (and smaller streets) has led to smaller cars in Europe and in much of the world. Americans have always had a thing for big cars. Mostly because they could afford it. Attitude does play a role, of course, but I honestly think that SUVs/4x4s would be just as popular in Europe if they were as cheap as they are in the US. Anyway, high oil prices have changed the American car buying trends dramatically in the past 5 years. SUV sales have plummeted and small cars and hybrids abound. But it will take more time for people to gradually accept smaller, more fuel efficient cars. I am happy to live in Chicago, a dense, urban city developed long before the age of the automobile. As a result, I can take a bus or train anywhere I want. But the vast majority of Americans need a car for school and work and often have to drive long distances. In my opinion, it's a devastating legacy left by greedy oil and automobile companies. And the US will have to adjust to the new price of oil to survive.

Gas prices will probably not decrease after the election, as they are almost never dictated by politics. Basic supply and demand theory assures that so long as countries like China and India continue to develop rapidly, demand will continue to skyrocket and prices will rise. So far it seems supply is keeping up, though we all know oil is a limited resource. Thus I don't think prices will ever decrease. Be prepared for that.

I applaud Britons for this progressive stance.

We want it all!!! B)

I say go for it. It would get me to add more to the horror film discussion on this forum than constant whining about terrible remakes. By the way, "Suspiria 2008" will keep the awful trend going later this year... :puke2:

Your religion may forbid them, but what about you? Have you given the issue any independent thought?

Well the remakes of House on Haunted Hill, Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Dawn of the Dead, The Fog, The Omen, The Hills Have Eyes, Halloween, The Amityville Horror, The Haunting, House of Wax, When a Stranger Calls, and Psycho were all so masterful, I'm sure this will be a fabulous update!!!!!!!! :) :) <_<

I'd be interested in seeing a list of the top selling digital downloads, period. If that exists.

It's really not unfortunate that Leona fell to #4, the song is going up against brand new songs by two of the Hot 100's best performers in the last decade (Mariah and Usher) and a new song with the likes of Timbaland, Justin Timberlake and Madonna on the credits! Besides, Bleeding Love's airplay is skyrocketing and sales are holding strong fairly well. This will be a loooong top 10 run for her. Meanwhile her album is practically gauranteed a top 3 debut at this point.

:blink:

The twist in 80's horror film April Fool's Day is kind of fun, if not totally predictable.

Samantha Mumba released Divine cover "Lately" in 2002 in the US, only 3 years after the original was a #1 hit. I always thought that was kind of silly. Anyway it failed to chart.

I doubt she'll have another single as popular but I think she could sell a ton of albums. She's being promoted not as the singer of Bleeding Love but as Simon's favorite singer, Clive Davis' newest adopted superstar, a global phenomenon, etc. I think this could translate into a lot of albums sales, maybe even a #1 debut.

It's great that Leona has scored a #1 hit... but I imagine she'd be way more thrilled to be in the presence of (perhaps) the two biggest female stars of all time, Mariah and Madonna.

I believe the last solo female #1 by a British artist was Kim Wilde "You Keep Me Hanging On" in 1987. The last #1 with a female vocalist was Spice Girls - Wannabe (1997).

I have so many!!!! Bjork - Desired Constellation Evanescence - My Immortal Loreena McKennitt - Dante's Prayer Johnny Cash - Hurt Coldplay - The Scientist Frou Frou - The Dumbing Down of Love Tegan & Sara - Welcome Home Pink - Who Knew Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah Something Corporate - Konstantine John Lennon - Imagine Sarah McLachlan - Angel Counting Crows - Colorblind Phil Collins - Against All Odds (sorry!!)

Agreed, that's a really poor debut considering "Low" has been the biggest smash of 2008 so far. But hip/hopp has NOT sold albums well the past couple years, with a few exception.

I would argue that the Grammys she won are significant... Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Best New Artist, etc. Now some of the more obscure ones probably don't mean much... I think I have a Grammy lying around somewhere for Best Comedic Spoken Word Instrumental Collaboration by a Duo or Group. :lol:

No no no the Testarossa should be the Ferrari represented!! Ahh, the pastel jackets and sunny beaches, big hair and cocaine... 1984! http://dhost.info/thesupercars/supercars/ferrari/testarossa/testarossa3.jpg Although come to think of it... I seem to recall Tony Montana drove a Porsche 928... http://imagehost.vendio.com/preview/da/danschmitt/PPP1309.jpg

Adiemus - Adiemus

Hometown Glory was a free iTunes song one week in February and seemed quite popular. Then again, so was Sandi Thom last year and she never went anywhere here.

France's prime minister has called for a law known as "passive euthanasia" to be revised after a woman who was refused active euthanasia was found dead. Fifty-two year old Chantal Sebire, who suffered a rare and incurable cancer which attacked her nose and sinuses, had been denied euthanasia by a court on Monday. She was found dead in her apartment yesterday. The cause of her death has not yet been determined. Unable to leave her bed to hear Monday's verdict because of pain, she said it was the last straw: "When a person asks for an act of love to be allowed to leave in a dignified and humane way, they are not even allowed to do that because the law intervenes," she said. Chantal Sebire's death has reignited a public debate on euthanasia, which is legal in the Netherlands, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Belgium. Her death comes as Belgium mourns its world-famous philosopher Hugo Claus, who was in the first stages of Alzheimer's disease, and chose death by euthanasia on Wednesday. Under existing law, doctors said Sebire could have fallen into a coma and died, but she was keen to set a legal precedent to allow euthanasia in exceptional cases instead of artificial coma. Opponents of euthanasia, including the Roman Catholic Church, say the sanctity of life overrides all other factors. Other critics fear a right to kill patients could easily be abused. Source: Euronews / http://www.euronews.net/index.php?page=inf...76171&lng=1 Personally I am for legal assisted suicide. However I don't think a doctor should be the one to do it. Doctors are trained to do anything possible to keep someone alive, no matter who the person is, what the illness is, or what the circumstances are. It is a fundamental contradiction to have a doctor let someone die. What do you think?

All the Bleeding Love news is exciting, but I'm already asking... Could Spirit debut at #1 on Billboard? Very few female artists have debuted at #1 with their first albums. Her company would include Kelly Clarkson, Alicia Keys, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Alanis Morissette (anyone else?)