Now you know this story you’re about to read is a bloody shame.

This poor senior citizen named Eileen Wilbur owed a one cent balance for an overdue water and sewer bill. ONE CENT! Oh and she is BLIND!

Antonio Viveriros, a former city councilor wrote a check for the penny. He was so irritated by the fact that the federal government can spend BILLIONS of dollars for bailouts, but a poor old lady was threatened with a lien on her home because of one cent.

Wilbur’s daughter saw the letter that notified her mother of a lien and a $48 penalty if the overdue bill was not paid by December 10th.

This is horrible and I’m flabbergasted by this. Why are they always coming after the little people? ONE CENT!

11/19/2008

Independence of the Seas

Drum roll please… Royal Caribbean’s “Independence of the Seas” is one of three of the world’s largest groundbreaking cruise ships and passenger vessels ever built that is part of the line’s Freedom-class. And she has just arrived at her new port in Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale.

She spent her introductory season in Europe, and is now residing in Port Everglades. This ship features all of the wonderful novelties including an interactive water park, full size ice-skating rink, a rock climbing wall on the top deck, a Flow Rider surf park, a boxing ring, shops, restaurants, movie theater, flat screen TVs in every stateroom, Wi-Fi capabilities throughout the ship and many other innovations that are on their Freedom-class line.

Independence of the Seas carries 20% more guests than any other cruise ship. The ship accommodates 4,370 passengers served by 1,360 crew. I’ve been on her sister ship the Freedom of the Seas and it was FANTASTIC. I had a great time. Oh yes! However, get this… In 2009, the first in a new Oasis Class of ships is slated to replace the Freedom class as the world's, largest passenger ships. Can you believe it? The Oasis Class is going to have its own Central Park. Oh my word! I’m there.

Independence will sail the Western and Eastern Caribbean from Port Everglades. I say book your cruise now through Brandon’s Sunshine Travel. They are my trusted travel agents I’ve used for over 10 years. Check them out here. Get yourself a group together and just sail the seas.

11/12/2008

HOPE CHANGE & ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES

Several days have gone past since the November 4th election and I’m still excited about it. Just to know that hope, change and endless possibilities won, it still makes me smile from ear to ear. WHEW!

I still go back to the day I voted for such an important and historical event. I dressed up, put my special lip gloss on and did my hair all up. I also had my shoe game going to the point where a little old lady said that my shoes were “charming.” Ahhh. I’ve never been told that before. I felt like it was a special occasion so I had to look my very best.

When it was my turn to vote I was soooo excited. I checked the machine to make sure I hit the right names. I doubled checked to see if the green checks were by my man’s name. I wanted to take in the moment and breathe and smile. THEN…the very old volunteer saw that my red ‘vote’ button was flashing for me to press it to complete my vote and he yelled out, “You can press vote now.” I know this man. I’m just trying to take in the moment and make sure I voted correctly. I kindly told him, “Thank you, I know. I just want to make sure I have everything right.” AHhhh shiggety shoot! He all busted my magical voting moment. “YOU CAN PRESS VOTE NOW.” I don’t think I’ll ever forget that. It’s funny now, but then…I was fit to be tied.

HOPE CHANGE & ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES! Say it with me. HOPE CHANGE & ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES!

11/4/2008

VOTE VOTE VOTE

GET OUT THERE AND VOTE! It's a privilege and an honor to have the right to vote.

10/29/2008

Robert Downey Jr. and Marvel Comics

Okay…in Robert Downey Jr. news, he will be resuming his role as Billionaire inventor Tony Stark in this past summer’s hit Iron Man with the sequel Iron Man 2 due out in the spring of 2010. He also just signed on to do Iron Man 3 and The Avengers. Well excuse me Mr. Downey. Do your thanggg baby.

Also, some of you may have already heard that Don Cheadle is joining the Iron Man 2 clan as Stark’s best friend Col. James “Rhodey” Rhodes. Cheadle just swooped in and took Terrence Howard’s Rhodes role in Iron Man one. I know that Terrence Howard is fit to be tied. The Rhode’s role is about to be huge and they just excluded Howard and grabbed some other brotha. They are expanding the role for the sequel claims president of Marvel Studios. So, Iron Man is going to have a straight up side-kick. Perhaps they didn’t like the chemistry between Howard and Downey. Who knows, but I’ll miss my boy Howard.

Anyhoo, it doesn’t matter who really plays Rhodes, because the movie is going to be a big ole’ hit again. The first Iron man grossed $318.3 million domestically.

10/29/2008

The Slowdown - I'm Sick

I’m sure you’ve been wondering, “What in the world is Marla doing? Come on girl and get me some movie critiques.”

Well, I’m on the last leg of a horrible cold. You know the stage --the coughing. I tell you, I’m fit to be tied with this night time coughing keeping me up. Shoot, it makes a sista want to cry. I’m about to try this remedy that I read about where you are supposed to put Vick’s Vapor Rub on your feet at night and you should instantly stop coughing. Doesn’t that sound funny? I cracked up when I read it, but the longer my coughing ruins my much needed sleep; I’m going to have to try it. I’ll let you know if it works.

Anyhoo, I just wanted to let ya’ll know that ReelMarla will be updated very soon with some overdue reviews. I tried to fight my cold, but the cold punched me in my belly juice and then finished me off with a round house kick to the head. Jive Turkey!

10/16/2008

Cheeta - Tarzan's chimp

Did you all know that Cheeta the chimpanzee from the original Tarzan movies of the 1930’s and 40’s is still alive and kicking? WHAT? YES! Ole’ Cheeta is 76 years old. Please excuse my ignorance, I had no clue that these primates could live to 76. Come on now. I think because he’s lived such a pampered life it helped stretch out the inevitable perishing. Typically the average life expectancy of a chimp in captivity is 45 to 60 years. Cheeta is out living a lot of humans I once knew.

Oh and did you know he paints and he is actually good? This chimp gets his chill on while watching cartoons and enjoying his retirement. Well, exuseeee me. No wonder a chimp is kickin strong. He’s living better than Homer the homeless dude. That’s a bloody shame.

10/6/2008

News in a Minute

Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson cancels fourth show in a week because of some illness. Some rumors have it she is suffering from vertigo, but who really knows. Representatives for JJ say she became “suddenly ill” and was hospitalized in Montreal shortly after she arrived for her concert. She also canceled shows in Philadelphia and Boston. Mmm mmm mmm . I sure hope JJ will be okay.

Natalie Cole
Singer Natalie Cole is released from NY Hospital and is resting at her LA home. The singer entered a New York City hospital September 12 as a result of a very enduring work schedule and side effects from her medication. Hang tough Miss Natalie.

Bra Bandit
Okay, what is going on? There is a bra bandit on the run from Victoria’s Secret in Florida. An employee at Vicky S says a woman entered the store and made a mad dash to the new bras cabinet and stuffed about 160 undergarments into a shopping bag before kickin’ it out of the store. Reports by CBS station in Miami have it that the theft of the bras totaled $5,600.

Happy Birthday
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is celebrating its 250th Birthday.

Vote
Check for Voter Registrations deadlines.

Oprah
Oprah Winfrey will guest-star on the Emmy-winning sitcom 30 Rock. The episode will air on Nov. 6.

Crush
Shemar Moore (Criminal Minds) confessed on Ellen that he wants the match-making hook up with Jennifer Aniston. He wants to put his big ole’ head in the ring for her affections. Well excuse me.

10/6/2008

BOX OFFICE

Beverly Hills Chihuahua came in No. 1 for the weekend with $29 million according to studio estimates Sunday. Hey, not bad considering movie sales have been real low lately. The top 12 movies brought in $95.4 million. This is up 42% from the same weekend one year ago. The Game Plan was No. 1 last year with $16.6 million. Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, Starring Micahael Cera (Super Bad) and Kat Dennings (The House Bunny) came in No. 3 with $12 million. I was $3 million off. I thought they’d make $15 million. An American Carol, debuted at No. 9 with $3.8 million. I’m not surprised. It looked stupid. Universal’s Flash of Genius, Starring Greg Kinnear (Little Miss Sunshine) opened pitifully with $2.3 million, finishing at No. 11. That’s a shame because Flash of Genius was a good movie. Two movies that totally BOMBED were How to Lose Friends and Alienate People and the apocalyptic Blindness.

9/26/2008

I Am Legend Prequel

Big Will might be at it again. There is some talk that Warner Bros is looking to do a prequel of I Am Legend starring money-maker Will Smith. The prequel will chronicle the last days of human-kind in New York before a virus caused a horrible plague that left Big Will's character the only survivor among thousands of infected humans who are turned into creatures of the night. I think it will be interesting to see how everything happened leading up to Will's lonely days.

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