text:
Review: George Lucas' 'Red Tails' Poorly Commemorates Real Heroes
by Jeremy Kirk
It's easy to see what was being attempted with Red Tails. Executive producer George Lucas has been developing the story of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first African American fighter pilots who took to the skies during World War II, for more than 20 years. Lucas, a fan of the serials of the 1930s and 1940s as well as an admirer of comic books dealing with fighter pilots, wanted to fuse the tone of those with the very real story of these men. With Lucas' affection for aerial fighting as well as the digital achievements from ILM on full display in the Star Wars films, you would have thought Red Tails would've been an absolute thrill. Read on!
Unfortunately, the screenwriters behind the finished film, John Ridley and Aaron McGruder, and the director, first timer Anthony Hemingway, have churned out a cheap-looking, message-heavy machine of poor dialogue, worse performances, and some of the blandest action pieces put to film. Everything about the film, save for its very existence, is uninspired, languid, and the people behind it end up practicing hand-holding their audience instead of providing fast-paced thrills. To put it succinctly, Red Tails is a mess. The people behind the true story were brave and inspiring, and if this film was the way Lucas wanted to commemorate them, his head is clearly still in a galaxy somewhere far, far away.
At the heart of Red Tails is the 332nd Fighter Group in Italy. Hundreds of miles away from enemy lines, the men grow frustrated and bored without the opportunity to fight. Their major is played by Cuba Gooding, Jr, who uses his pipe as the biggest acting prop crutch in history. Terrance Howard as the colonel fighting in Washington for the men to get some action skulks around speechifying and looking generally disappointed. But the main story here is with the men in the sky and the first missions they used to prove themselves worthy of respect and honor.
But Red Tails hardly gives us any sense of character with most of them. There's the loud one. There's the smart one. The new kid shows up about halfway through. All of them seem to have been given a single sheet telling them to simply explain everything going on. The hand-holding begins early and carries through to the end, never missing an opportunity to catch anyone up who may have fallen asleep. That might not be such a bad thing in this particular case.
It's not just simple exposition. These characters are cartoon shells of the real items, but that could be said for the entire movie. Nothing about Red Tails feels genuine, heartfelt, or gives us any notion that Hemingway cares about his characters. He shoots them with such a stagnant, medium-shot frame and chintzy lighting that any weight the actors could bring to the table is completely lost. Any feeling of intensity Hemingway wants to give the audience is cut short by hammy dialogue married with stilted delivery. Choices made in Red Tails hinder it every step of the way. It's why distractions come at the very moment you should be engaged. It's why sizable, bright red credits appear over the opening scene of German fighters taking out American bombers left and right. Any suspense you might feel is distracted as your view becomes blocked by letters.
Those dogfights carry something of intrigue with them. ILM brings the planes and the fights to life, and when the fights are going on in the air, when everything you are seeing has been created by a computer program, it's serviceable. Your eyes almost trick you into believing it's all real. The same can't be said for when those same planes are on the ground, when they are added in with photographed imagery of soldiers or the airfield. Standing them side-by-side shows us precisely how unrealistic ILM's creations are here.
They're hollow, just like the screenplay, just like the performances, just like the connections between characters. The strongest relationship in Red Tails is found between the brash Lightning, played by David Oyelowo, and the group's leader, Easy, played by Nate Parker, who likes to take a shot of whiskey now and then. Their's is a sturdy arc in the film. You get the feeling they do care for one another, but the characteristics that define them are so on the nose that it gets in the way of everything else.
Hemingway and his screenwriters make the struggle of the Tuskegee Airmen such a heavy-handed pill to swallow, as well. A scene doesn't go by without someone pointing out why they're different than other soldiers. The film makers never shy from having the race difference become an issue. Their point has been made very early in Red Tails, but that doesn't stop them from continuing the game of "Pick Out the Racist". It all comes to a boil when an ace German pilot who becomes the thorn in the Airmen's collective side, upon discovering their race, lets out a "My God. They're African." We know the German pilot is evil, by the way, because he speaks with a heavy accent and delivers villainous lines of bad-guy exposition.
Weighed down in message, cheap in its thrills, and generally flat and uninteresting, Red Tails is the perfect example of how poor film making can hurt a very real and poignant story of bravery and overcoming the odds. It isn't that the film should never have been made. Quite the contrary, and, if you're looking for an engaging film about the Tuskegee Airmen, the HBO film from 1995 has you covered. Sadly, all the CG toys in the world couldn't help sell a film as full of unmotivated decisions and blatant commentary as Red Tails. Here's hoping the next time someone has a 20-year passion project in their sights they can take down the target with more precision and grace than George Lucas has brought us here.
Jeremy's Rating: 3 out of 10
Find more posts: Review
"These characters are cartoon shells of the real items, but that could be said for the entire movie. Nothing about Red Tails feels genuine, heartfelt, or gives us any notion that Hemingway cares about his characters. Any feeling of intensity Hemingway wants to give the audience is cut short by hammy dialogue married with stilted delivery." LOL! Mesa thinks mesa see dissa somewhere before! But where.....?
Dangerous Don Danger on Jan 20, 2012
I,m sorry to report that I',ve seen Red Tails,I,m no critic and went to the theatre with the highest expectations. It's true the acting and dialogue was stilted and uninspiring. The battle scenes were terrible. The reviewer was correct ..If only, if only ..The film is sad and misses the mark terribly. What a dishonor for the brave Tuskeegee airmen
Palabras53 on Jan 24, 2012
Its difficult for me to find the words to describe my disgust.. I havnt yet seen the film but I most certainly will.. You couldnt wait to bash this movie, could you? I advise anyone with a mind of their own to go see the movie and ignore the small minded ideas of one insignificant person and find out for yourself as I plan to.
Coffeegirl on Jan 20, 2012
Well what about you comment? You haven't seen the film and yet your bashing the opinion of one that has already seen it and genuinely did not like it.
Xerxexx on Jan 20, 2012
Coffeegirl has a point. this site reeks of something. predetermined opinions? pandering to the crowd? can't quite pinpoint it. you'll see the glorifying of Christopher Nolan, for instance, because almost everyone thinks he's awesome. on the flip side, you get the predictable bashing of Eddie Murphy, and now George Lucas. this dude probably went in looking for all the negative stuff so that he could write about it. they all do it. if it weren't for the fact that this site actually has movie news, i'd wouldn't even get on here.
Maverick Pete on Jan 20, 2012
If you want an unbiased approach to movie news find a site where the writers don't care about movies
Richie G on Jan 20, 2012
Its an opinion site, Billington and friends post articles with their opinions, and allow us to post our opinions as well.
I would disagree, CoffeeGirl doesn't have a point. She hasn't seen the film. The author of this article and I have seen the film. I was given an opportunity at an advance screening due to my service in the Air Force and the fact that I taught several classes on the Tuskegee Airmen. Structurally speaking Jeremy is right on the money, poor dialog, poor camera angles, etc. From a purely film makers perspective this was a difficult movie to watch. In fact, if you pay close attention you can tell where the re-shoots were because the characters looked physically different, like they put on a few extra pounds in a matter of days and then lost it just as fast. Then there is from the historians perspective. I wanted to like this film, I was sending people to the theater to watch the film. I enjoyed the fact that they included aircraft maintenance into the film, because that is what my job is. However, if you want to see a good film about the Tuskegee Airmen watch the original. George Lucas did to the Tuskegee Airmen what James Cameron did to the Titanic. Avoid this one, stay at home and save money by watching the original.
TSgt Isenhour on Jan 20, 2012
This is what makes a site like this great. Everyone can have an opinion no matter how anyone else feels and you can post it to be criticized or supported. Well, that is until you use the "C" word.
Quanah on Jan 20, 2012
Coco Puffs?
Chris Amaya on Jan 20, 2012
You're real close Chris. 😉
C-C-C-COMBO BREAKER!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jericho on Jan 21, 2012
Go see the movie and you'll agree. I saw a sneak preview of this a week ago and it was as bad as described here. If I had paid for it, I would have left in the first 15 minutes and asked for my money back. You can tell the quality of the movie is going to be bad right from the start with the ugly red block lettering during the intro. If you want to see in the theater, fine. But I concur that this film was bad.
JC on Jan 20, 2012
I hope you have the same POV when, "The Expendables 2", opens and gets potentially trashed!
Blue Silver on Jan 21, 2012
I went to see it for myself yesterday. I enjoyed it. In reality it is impossible to cram so much history into a 2 hour film. I loved it, though it was motivating and took it for what it was, along with the persistance it took to get it done. Mofos cant wait to bash something. I loved it. Go see it @pincgator:twitter
Pincgator on Jan 21, 2012
Saw the movie tonight, and this review hit the nail on the head. Save your money and see it on cable.
whatever on Jan 28, 2012
I might rent it or wait for it the drop on a premium channel...Gooding Jr makes me want to see it.
He was one of only a few that could act.
I was really hoping Red Tails would be good. That's all I'll say.
Jeremy Kirk on Jan 20, 2012
Are you sure that's all? This is you chance to come clean about your part in the Christopher Nolan conspiracy. Just stand up before the group and say, "Hi, I'm Jeremy Kirk and I'm a crowd panderer."
Great review, saved me the price of a cinema ticket and I got two new words of the day. yay
Interesting review! I'v read many reviews from Jeremy Kirk and most have been spot on! This film, however, does not catch my attention. The cartoon-ish effects I saw in the trailer turned me off as well as Gooding's appearance in this! I will see, "Underworld", instead!!!
Firstshowing's reviews may veer into fanboyishness too often, but I'm pretty sure this movie's as bad as he says. I do plan to see it regardless.
Boiler Bro Joe on Jan 20, 2012
I think everyone should relax about the critique and enjoy the movie for what it is...an 'Action War Drama!'
Edkhim on Jan 20, 2012
After having met one of the Tuskegee Airmenin real life, and almost in tears when the entire auditorium stood up to salute him, this makes me very angry. These men were some of the best pilots in history, and this is how Lucas wants us to remember them?
Cody on Jan 20, 2012
my grandfather, may he rest in peace, was a airforce bomber in WW2 and he flew along side of the Tuskegee Airmen many a time during the war and through that he got to know some of them but one thing he told me was they were no different then any other fighter pilot he knew except they may have been a little bit friendlier so i dont know what u mean by "and this is how Lucas wants us to remember them?"
Dr.Pepper on Jan 20, 2012
The difference was that they were the FIRST African American fighter pilots !! How could he say there was no difference ?!
Onenonly on Jan 21, 2012
This review is about as awful as he says the movie is. Race was the biggest issue for African Americans back then so of course it's going to be addressed a lot in this movie. Read a history book. Apparently this must have made you uncomfortable. This review appears to have been written by ola very simple minded man trying to sound educated but in turn sounds a bit racist to me.
JayJoy2 on Jan 20, 2012
It is clear that you are reading way too much into this review! You are interpreting the review the way you want to see it! You shouldn't make a mountain out of a mole hill!
@JayJoy2 Are you a terrorist? You sound like one.
Rmanblur on Jan 23, 2012
What a shallow review that cheapens the great character and level of social responsibility that it took george lucas to do a film that positively portrays african americans in a town where over 95% of all the images projected of african americans are negative-- based on academic research. The story should have been told decades ago, but as our current election shows, racial preference in america still reigns. Now, these film makers have global license to export their obvious lack of social responsibility and racism and have critics like these to discourage braver, more socially conscious whites from going to see this great movie. Go. Go see the movie. Its better than many of the highly acclaimed films out there and most importantly, its real. It is part of our storied history and journey to psychological freedom from the racial sickness of america. Take your children and tell them it contexts the racial rhetoric and divide that exists still in our great country --but also tell them it shows that there is hope. Ignore this obviously biased reviewer.
Patperryrivers on Jan 20, 2012
What the fuck is this shit? Jeremy is a film critic, not a morality critic. His job isn't to confirm or deny a certain world view, or to make political or societal points. His job is to review the fucking film. He did, and he found it wanting. I completely agree that Hollywood largely leaves minority groups to villains and comedic relief, and I agree that socially, we have a long way to go before we reach any sort of real equality. But the fact that you manage to conflate his criticism of the film with some sort of pan-global racist conspiracy is laughable.
Lebowski on Jan 20, 2012
So, it's ok to knock/hate the critic for reviewing a flick? Happens all the time, but the level of ignorance and animosity that the stone flinging has escalated to is unreal! A lot of posters on this thread are making this a 'heated' racial issue! The "racial divide" begins with us, the people/audience. It's clear that we hate opinions that don't cater to our proclivities and we cite with what's convenient to us! Yes, Jeremy is a film critic--this is HIS review, HIS POV. Big deal! Those who do wish to check out this flick, do so--it's a free country; but, it's uncool to spew out venom for the sake of pseudo-racial bias because you didn't like his review! It's just a review people! To each his own opinion about the flick!!
Spider on Jan 21, 2012
its a movie either go see it or stfu about it its not hard they still got paid for it so I'm pretty sure they can careless about you people think smh .
Leysha Crear15 on Jan 20, 2012
its a movie either go see it or stfu about it its not that hard they still got paid for it so I'm pretty sure they can careless about what you people think smh .
lc on Jan 20, 2012
Honestly..I'm very shocked at the negative review of the film.i did not go into the film expecting Gone with the wind, I thought the film had character...i mean Neyo, Method Man, Cuba, Howard.I did not fall asleep once and im a harsh critic...Lightn up People!!!
Tommy on Nov 8, 2012
O just came from the first shoeing and it was the best black movie i had ever seen loved it
Shynarose48 on Jan 20, 2012
"the best black movie I have ever seen" Outstanding.
"Best Black Movie"... this is a set-up right?
Markysri on Jan 21, 2012
what a dumb comment! funny but dumb!lol!
jah p on Jan 21, 2012
McWilly on Jan 22, 2012
I once watched the "fat kid" try to dunk a basketball and fell to the ground hard. It was inspiring to watch him try.
Sweet fuck, when are you bastards going to get the idea through your heads that the writers on firstshowing are fucking CRITICS, not arbiters of political and social discourse. Yes, there is are many important stories of WWII that have been neglected due to racism. Yes, Hollywood is often extremely racist. TOO BAD THIS ISN'T FUCKING NEWSWEEK, AND JEREMY ISN'T AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER. He is a film reviewer, and that's what he goddamn did. He reviewed the film.
I was going to say "in before all the reverse racists show up", but I see I'm too late for that.
Blurb on Jan 20, 2012
Just saw the movie with a group of friends and I must say we all really enjoyed it. Go see it yourself and enjoy its entertainment value then move on to the next one. This movie was a long time in the making, don't kill it off so fast. I would personally recommend it.
Kbsmith on Jan 20, 2012
I was really excited for this movie. Now I'm not so sure. Lately I've been let down by misleading trailers and I'm not trying to start a flame war but it started with Drive. I'll probably catch this on Redbox.
(F) the person behind this REVIEW this movie was great simply said. (I'm WHITE)
Farrockaway5c on Jan 20, 2012
^ he's white
Anonymous on Jan 21, 2012
Why are people getting butthurt just because one (Key word here) REVIEWER didn't like it?
Ok so I watched the movie and I would say watch it... What movie is accurate with the history??? Saving Private Ryan is one of the only ones. George Lucas made this movie with pocket money and didn't make it for historic accuracy, he made it for entertainment and it was enjoying to watch! The people in the theater were all satisfied.
Kris on Jan 21, 2012
I just saw this film. I REALLY wanted it to be good, but sadly... everything in this article is 100% true. It was really terrible and painful to watch... I feel like a good story got ripped-off.
wunkus on Jan 21, 2012
I too just saw it and agree with most of the article written. What I was most disappointed in was the lack of heavy dogfights. I mean, you see trailer for a movie about these planes, and you expect great, long, aerial fight scenes....and that movie lacked them. If you wanna see men talking on the ground, this is your kinda movie
JBrotsis on Jan 21, 2012
You only need to see the trailer to see how bad this film is. Even with the very best bits distilled down into two minutes and it still looks pants.
Payne by name on Jan 21, 2012
Keep up the good work Jeremy. I always enjoy reading your reviews and mostly agree with you. (that's also why I'm gonna skip this one)
Davide Coppola on Jan 21, 2012
Is this a shock to anyone that watched the trailers for this movie ? Come on
Tester on Jan 21, 2012
Psychologist have done many studies on stuff like this, it's called the "It's ok to jaywalk syndrome!" That's where you get lead to believe what your opinion is. Folks are so affraid to be themselves that they'd rather follow a lead. 5% of folks cross the street whilst the hand/law suggest you shouldn't and then the vast majority of 80% follows. If you haven't seen the movie, it's only entertainment, go see it. Don't walk behind the one fella who wrote this telling you its ok to cross the street and not OK to take a chance on entertaining yourself. HELL, even corny shoes I've paused on be accident "might" get a chuckle out of me... And that makes it the least bit of entertaining. OH YAH, TWILIGHT IS FUCKING GAY AND IT SUX!!! LOL!!!
Quali on Jan 21, 2012
My grandpa was a Tuskegee Airman, I'm gonna go see the film for him. Everyone is entitled to his/her opinion, my man Jeremy is not excluded. I KNOW for a fact that the STORY of these dudes is a rich one. It SOUNDS like, in the larger scope of "great films" or "great American film", this particular take won't make the cut in Jeremy's opinion. I read the review and it sounds like Jeremy is AWARE of the Tuskegee Airmen story and has an understanding of their importance in American history. It also sounds like he's really passionate about film and might have a few films in his mind that have done an excellent job of turning an emotionally/opinionated topic into a great piece of art. 'Red Tails', THE FILM, in Jeremy's opinion (in my opinion), simply isn't as fantastic as he hoped it would be, as fantastic as it could have been...
My father saw REDTAILS with some actual members of the Tuskegee Airmen last night. They all really enjoyed it. Some of them actually did consulting work for the film. Its a shame J. Kirk did not enjoy the film, but everyone should be allowed to make their own opinion about any film, including REDTAILS.
DAVIDPD on Jan 21, 2012
just judge it for yourself im sure just cause one person that has a website didn't like it. It doesn't mean its a horrible movie for everyone else ya know? im actually about to go see it in a bit so im going to judge it for myself
rollingthunder89 on Jan 21, 2012
Many of the critics are going to say negative things about "Red Tails" and that's based on their particular point of view. That's cool and that is part of their job. I really did not expect a high rating from any of the so called "Film" critics. So I chose to "ignore" them. I was determined to see the film "Red Tails." For me, the film was personal as with the way any film should be to the one who looks at it. The most important thing for me was that "Red Tails" serves as a testament to the "bravery and camaraderie" the Tuskegee Airmen had in the face of incredible hardship. And that is what Black youth, in my opinion need to see. You don't know where you are going unless you know where you have been. I rate Red Tails - 10/10.. Red Tails is a bit more personal to a segment of this country.
Mrwho50 on Jan 21, 2012
Any time I read a review with a sentence in the form of "the ______est ____ ever put to film", I immediately ignore the rest. This is why I only come here for the news. I can definitely believe that not all the acting may have been up to snuff though, because Howard is in it and he rarely impresses me.
I don't get where some of these comments are coming from. There wasn't a single thing in the review that led me to believe the author of the review didn't like the movie because of the story behind it or because he's a racist. He reviewed the movie, that's it. He gave good reasons for his opinion, non of which were racial. The people posting such b.s. need to work on being a little less ignorant and just read whats in front of them, not what their own racism is telling them to think is there. p.s. i had a feeling this movie would be bad, glad to read the review to confirm it. 99% of the reviews on here are bang on. keep up the good work.
canadianmoviefan on Jan 21, 2012
I thoroughly enjoyed #RedTails, and everyone in my theater did too. Multiple applause points, flat out laughter and many misty eyes. It was a great movie! I can tell it is going to be a monster in the @AuroraTheater:twitter , the audio at the Cinemark was horrendous. Bring on the Blu-Ray!
Everman on Jan 21, 2012
The only racist here seems to be Lucas himself who once again paints people of different color and creed as typical character stereotypes. Lucas' very own foundation of prejudice and discrimination seems to escape him as he uses film making as a desperate attempt to understand his own shortcomings. Clearly the man has caught a glimpse of his own ignorance, yet he doesn't seem to understand that one can't be a champion of racism if they continue to typecast performers as exploited characters who are caricatures of their race. Lucas may truly have compassion for the Tuskegee Airmen but in the end, he still calls them Niggers by the way he portrays them on screen.
The story of the Tuskegee Airmen is one of the most cherished stories of the war to me. The HBO movie is head and shoulders better than Red Tails. I am extremely angry that Mr. Lucus, for all his massive wealth and influence, could not find better writers and a good director to breathe life into this movie. I am proud that this movie exists only for the spotlight it rightfully shines on these war heroes but I will will no longer pay any money to support any further George Lucas endeavors. He is a hack who has either lost any sense on how to put a good movie together or never had that sense and has had the fortunes to hide this fact by the talented people he has surrounded himself in the past.
Scared S#!tless on Jan 22, 2012
What movie did this guy see? I enjoyed it quite a bit.
8311xht on Jan 22, 2012
What's important to me, is seeing that this is the last meg budget film George Lucas is saying he'll ever make. Were there any 3d animated comedic animals?
Crapola on Jan 22, 2012
it has been a long time for me ... but i had to walk out of the movie theater .... i love the store of the men and what they gave to there country ... but this by far is GL worst movie ever
Oliver21 on Jan 22, 2012
I found it hard to wank to. 😉
Bananboy2000 on Jan 23, 2012
my wife farther was an original tuskegee airman,col Andrew Johnson,and after talking with his two daughters and a cousin that col johnson menor they gave the movie a thums up.my wife ans i hope to see the movie today, was sold out over the weekend.
Lgilliam52 on Jan 23, 2012
To each his/her own. This reviewer gave the film a low mark, rotten tomatoes gave it low marks, but Metacritic gave it higher marks & cinemascore gave it an "A." Seems to be all over the place. I saw it, liked it and had family who was the part of the 2nd wave of pilots these guys paved the way for so needless to say I was holding my breath until i'd seen it before giving a review. Was it Saving Private Ryan? No. But it definately wasnt "flyboys." This is not a direct comparison, but IMO i think it's along the lines of the Blindside being considered a sports movie like Any given Sunday and I think thats what might have rubbed people the wrong way... Both football movies, but slightly different feel with how the story is told. just me. I say see it for yourself and develop your own opinion.
Aaron McGruder, please go back to The Boondocks. Stop with this movie-making/writing bullshit. Give the people what they want - more Boondocks!
Corey on Jan 24, 2012
This review hit the nail on the head. I saw the movie tonight with great hopes. The story of the Tuskegee Airmen is so amazing, that I thought hollywood couldn't miss. It did. The characters are not developed to the point where you care who gets killed when they do go into battle. I was also frustrated with the character flaws of the "ace pilot" lightning, and the squadrin leader...forgot his name. What good officer would not rat on a squandron leader that hit the bottle before leading his guys into battle? Or, what good is a captain that clears a half blind soldier for flying...and then Lightning goes and hits white officers in the officers' club and they give him a "get out of jail free" card? Not bloody likely, especially because he was black! My guess is that the real Tuskegee airmen, kept their noses cleaner than any white counterpart, or they would have paid dearly. Not only that, it gave the impression that they operated under a different, and not so honorable, set of rules...why would that be, because they were colored? Yes, just a lousy movie on a really inspiring story.
hmm.. Im beginning to suspect some of the comments in this post are made by "plants" (people who get paid by an studio or a marketting firm to comment positively and avert disasters) I havent seen the film yet. But based on Lucas most recent work, the review seems completely spot on.
Anonymous on Feb 1, 2012
I thought the movie was heartwarming. Was it the best action movie? No. Did it have the best dialogue? No. But it truly shows the struggle of the tuskegee airmen and how they realistically moved on with life day by day. The fighting scenes weren't horrible, I found myself at the edge of my seat squealing, hoping they would all be fine. The graphics were fantastic, so were the settings, and the actors did amazing. All critics just want to be assholes. And to say the whole thing was disconnected and uninspired makes you a bigger one. Were YOU a Tuskegee airman? No! So you don't have the right whether to say whether it was accurately portrayed or not. They are the only ones who should be critiquing this movie.
Leeniemb12 on Feb 5, 2012
Jeremy Kirk is a jerk. I give him a whopping 1 on a scale from 1-10 as a critic: "the film makers never shy from having the race difference an issue." lol.
Rell Allyn on Jul 4, 2012


A large collection of links to Internet resources. Maintained by Arnold Neufeldt-Fast.
"Emergent Village is a growing, generative friendship among missional Christians seeking to love our world in the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Our dream is to join in the activity of God in the world wherever we are able, partnering with God as God's dreams for our world come true. In the process, the world can be healed and changed, and so can we."
A very extensive list of links regarding contemporary philosophers. Maintained by Martin Ryder at the University of Colorado at Denver.
This is a very substantial collection of Derrida stuff.
This is the homepage of Leonard Sweet, professor at Drew University who focuses on Christianity, postmodernism, and the future.


After being in business for only four months, a Midland gun store has established its name among the local gun community. The owners of S&K Arms are building on their success by developing plans to build the region's first indoor shooting range.
Plans call for the range to have between 20 and 30 lanes, at least six of which will be 100-yard-long ranges. Memberships will be available, but patrons also will have the option to rent a lane for an hour at a time rather than pay for an ongoing membership and will be able to shoot anything from a .22 to a 50 cal., Anderson said. Machine guns will also be available for rent.
Additionally, there will be 6,000 square feet of retail space -- about three times the size of the current location on Midland Drive -- and a dining area for VIP members, Anderson said. The price tag for the facility, expected to open next year, could be as much as $8 million, and investors have already been identified to cover costs, Anderson said.
The expanded S&K Arms, which will be located near the current location, will have the look and feel of a country club, said Anderson, who expects it to draw clientele from as far as Lubbock and, possibly, El Paso.
Their announcement comes not long after S&K Arms employee Charles Browning suffered a gunshot wound while working at the store after hours with a coworker. This incident isn't a reflection of their attention to safety, Anderson said.
"This is going to be safer than any of the other ranges (in the region)," he said.
The shooting, which made headlines earlier this month, is still under investigation, and few details have been released, but the publicity it generated hasn't made a noticeable negative impact on the store's revenue, Anderson said.
As planned, the new location will employ off-duty Midland police officers who will monitor range safety, and each bay will be enclosed in several inches of bulletproof glass, steel and concrete, Anderson said.


text:
Panama City Youth Orchestra celebrates 10 years of teaching children the joys of music
by: Risdon Bonnell
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) — It was a night of music and celebration at First Baptist Church in Downtown Panama City on Thursday.
The Panama Youth Orchestra performed their Fall Centennial Concert.
The all-volunteer orchestra commemorated its tenth anniversary and started the night with performances from students learning under the Suzuki method, which starts music lessons with children as young as three.
The group's rehearsal space at the Historic McKenzie House was destroyed during Hurricane Michael forcing them to rehearse at Gulf Coast State College while repairs are being completed.
Conductor Cody Smith said playing music gives the children a sense of stability in an uncertain time. "They're displaced like the majority of our society and our community and yet they come here and they feel together," said Smith. "They don't feel like they're fighting against the odds here. We're all just cohesive."
Smith also highlighted just how important the program has become for the performers.
"The first thing we heard from after the hurricane wasn't about insurance companies, it was about these students wanting to come back to rehearsal. This is the most important thing to a lot of them. It gives them that one sense of normalness."
Since the group is entirely volunteer driven, they are always in need of those willing to help, especially adult musicians able to play in their ensemble and help mentor aspiring players. Their contact information can be found on their website.
Search for missing Gulf County man ends after his body is found
by Risdon Bonnell / Jan 19, 2021
GULF COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) -- The recovery effort along the Apalachicola River for a Gulf County man has ended.
According to the Gulf County Sheriff's Office, crews found the body of William "Bill" Davis Jr., 76, of Dalkeith shortly before noon on Tuesday.
Calhoun County Commission approves two new solar farms
by Emily McLeod / Jan 19, 2021
BLOUNTSTOWN, Fla. (WMBB) -- In a 4-to-1 vote, the Calhoun County Commission approved the installation of two solar farms in the area on Tuesday evening.
After hours of presentations and passionate discussion, Florida Power and Light got the approval they needed to build to solar farm sites: the Chipola River site and the Flowers Creek site.
Fishing pier to be constructed in Parker near Tyndall Bridge
by Faith Graham / Jan 19, 2021
PARKER, Fla. (WMBB)--If you enjoy fishing and live in the inland areas of Bay County, you're in luck. A brand new fishing pier is being constructed in Parker and should be complete by next year.
The project has been in the works for 8 to 10 years. It will be built at Gilbert Park by the Tyndall Bridge. The pier will be around 3 to 500 feet long and will extend out into the channel. It will feature lights and be open 24/7 for fishermen and anyone wanting to come out and enjoy all that it has to offer.
Latest Local News Video
Fishing Pier to be constructed in Parker
A Freeport neighborhood is called to action
covid one year later
BCSO Deputies go to Tallahassee
No More BayLink

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Improving yields in a sustainable and environmentally-friendly manners is key to our business, and is supported by the Asian Agri R&D Centre in Tebing Tinggi, North Sumatra. Established in 1989, today it employs 46 staff and 120 technicians, and specializes in agronomy, soil, pests, diseases, breeding and biotechnology.
Our science staff focus their research efforts on the creation of superior seeds, fertilizers, environmentally-friendly pest control, water and soil conservation, and utilization of organic production waste.
Analytic Laboratory in Tebing Tinggi, North Sumatera for analysis of leaf nutrients, soil, fertilizers, compost, oil palm, wastewater and fresh fruit bunch yield.
Pest & Disease Laboratory for developing Integrated Pest (and Disease) Management (IPM) technologies in Tebing Tinggi, North Sumatra.
Clonal Oil Palm Propagation Unit (COPPU) in Pangkalan Kerinci, Riau, to produce superior seeds through tissue culture technique.
Biomolecular Laboratory in Pangkalan Kerinci, Riau, to develop Molecular Marker Assisted Selection.
Oil Palm Research Station (OPRS) in Topaz, Riau, that specifically manages breeding and production of superior seeds.
Test fields in various locations with different agroclimates for testing fertilizers, pest and disease control bioagents, progeny trials, and collection of genetic resources.
Superior seeds produced by OPRS Topaz have been released to the market in 2004 under a Ministry of Agriculture Decree, and more than 130 million seedlings have been shipped.
In addition to research, Asian Agri R&D Centre also actively provides technical services and training to promote knowledge, awareness and skills in applying the technological packages to maximize biotic and abiotic factors to produce high yield and sustainable harvests.


text:
'Hard to look away': Steve Baird's fight against modern-day slavery
Lunch with
By Anna Patty
Steve Baird, airline executive, looked at his phone and saw the text message. A friend had sent him a link to an ad for the top job at the International Justice Mission, an anti-slavery charity.
Baird knew little about the scourge of modern slavery, other than it was fundamentally immoral and abhorrent. And he wasn't keen on working in the charity sector, assuming non-government organisations never had enough money to drive big, consequential change.
"I could see the downsides of going into an NGO," he said. "It just wasn't a path I thought I would go down. Yet what had always appealed to me was how to help people who need a leg up."
Steve Baird knew little about modern-day slavery until he took on a job trying to prevent it. Credit:Wolter Peeters
But his wife, Annemaree – who's a "tough critic" – knew and admired the organisation, from her time working as a lawyer in Washington. "She said, 'the work they do is brilliant. You should take a look at that'," he recalls.
Baird, then a marketing executive at Virgin Airlines, took her advice and, after a lot of reading, discovered just how prevalent modern slavery had become. "It is hard to look away from once you become aware of it."
For many years, he had volunteered his Friday nights to help Sydney's homeless behind St Mary's Cathedral in the city. While he got to know many of the blokes well – some even helped him work up his marriage proposal – he was saddened to see the same people coming back, week after week, seemingly unable to break the cycle of poverty. International Justice Mission, or IJM, however, had broken the chains of modern slavery for 70,000 people around the world, getting them out of bondage.
We are meeting for a lockdown lunch via Zoom on Baird's one-year anniversary as IJM's chief executive officer. A virtual office backdrop surrounds him on the computer screen, cloaking any glimpse of the Blue Mountains home he shares with his wife, three young sons, eight chickens and two dogs – a spoodle and a cavoodle.
The owner of Kickaboom, a Glenbrook cafe, has delivered Baird's meal: a salad with pecans and pepitas ... and fried chicken. "One offsets the other," he says, smiling.
Kickaboom cafe delivers a meal to Steve Baird at his Glenbrook home. Credit:Wolter Peeters
But there is no pretence about his dessert: a Portuguese tart and a butterscotch latte. "They do a homemade butterscotch sauce; the butterscotch latte has a cult following," he says."It's good for the good times and the bad times."
The veggie grain bowl with fried chicken, butterscotch latte, and Portuguese tart from Kickaboom café in Glenbrook. Credit:Steve Baird
I've picked up a takeaway meal of red salmon curry with Asian greens and rice from Barzura in Coogee, with just the right amount of kick.
The salmon red curry from Barzura café in Coogee. Credit:Anna Patty
After we compare our menu choices, and Baird noted my lack of dessert, he tells me how COVID-19 clinched his decision to leave the corporate sector.
Like many who have re-evaluated their work during the pandemic, Baird says it "accelerated" a shift he had been considering. Virgin Airlines had given him a good career but was facing voluntary administration.
"It was just a good chance to step back and think: what do I want to do?" he says. "I could see there was a high degree of integrity in what IJM was doing."
With a marketing man's nous, Baird also knew that IJM needs to constantly raise awareness of modern slavery if its campaign to get the state government to enact its tough anti-slavery legislation is to succeed.
For more than three years, the NSW Modern Slavery Act has been in limbo. In 2018, it passed parliament with the support of all parties. Premier Gladys Berejiklian backed it strongly. Britain's former anti-slavery commissioner Kevin Hyland even called it "world-leading".
The NSW law goes further than similar Commonwealth legislation by establishing an anti-slavery commissioner and criminal penalties of up to $1.1 million if companies with an annual turnover of more than $50 million fail to report, or provide false information on, the risk of slavery in their supply chains. The threshold under the Commonwealth Act is higher at $100 million, limiting its scope and power.
But at the 2019 election, the architect and champion of the bill – Christian Democrat MP Paul Green – was not re-elected, and big business interests started pushing back. The historic legislation was effectively put on ice, shunted to a committee for review, so it aligns with the Commonwealth law. "The Commonwealth legislation is a step in the right direction, but there are no penalties," says Baird.
"What we desperately need is some people who are saying this is a huge issue, and we need some people on the inside rattling the can. We cannot accept that our supply chains could have people in slavery helping to make goods. We need more people to stand up and say this is completely unacceptable."
"We cannot accept that our supply chains could have people in slavery helping to make goods... this is completely unacceptable."
Steve Baird
Baird says the forced-labour industry generates an estimated $US150 billion ($AUS205 billion) in illegal profits each year. Slavery is not only rampant in business supply chains. Australia is the third highest consumer in the world of online sexual exploitation of children. "The online sexual exploitation of children has trended upwards during the COVID-19 pandemic," he says. "This is not child pornography. This is the live sexual abuse of children sometimes as young as two years old. It is one of the most abhorrent forms of slavery."
Of the estimated 40 million people in modern slavery, 10 million are children.
One of Baird's IJM colleagues in India, Raja Ebenezer, was trapped in slavery and working 18-hour days at the age of 12. After his parents were tricked into bonded labor at a brick factory to pay for their daughter's wedding, Ebenezer and his younger brother went looking for them and ended up getting caught. He was rescued by IJM and later trained to become a lawyer. He now works for the organisation and helps other children in similar situations.
Baird's Christian faith and family upbringing help explain why he is at odds with the political party that his family served for many decades. His brother, Mike, was NSW treasurer, then premier, and his father, Bruce, was the NSW minister who helped win the 2000 Olympics for Sydney and later served in the federal parliament. Both are considered men of principle: the classic combination of hard head and soft heart. But Steve Baird fears the Liberals have caved to corporate interests on this crucial moral issue.
Bruce and Judith Baird with their three children Mike, Julia and Steve, who is the youngest.
Baird was seven years old when, in the early 1980s, his father – who had been Australia's trade commissioner in New York and an executive with Esso – gathered the family to explain how their lives were going to change. "'Guys, guess what'," Steve recalls his father saying. "'I'm going into politics, and we think this is a great way to live a life of faith and make a difference in the community. And as part of that my pay is going to halve. It just means our holidays will be a little less fancy, but this is an important thing to do.'"
"Wow, this is a bit exciting," Baird thought at the time. His father's decision made him realise "there was more to life than boats and cars, and you can actually make some calls that go against the grain to make a difference".
Steve Baird chats online from his Blue Mountains home with a virtual office backdrop behind him. Credit:Anna Patty
It must have lodged in the back of his mind for more than 35 years because Baird made a similar speech to his children last year, upon accepting the job at IJM. Expecting a rousing response, the eldest of his three sons instead asked him to "talk us through what that means day-to-day" before coming around to the decision.
After Bruce Baird moved from state to federal politics at the 1998 election, he didn't enjoy the same success, partly because he gained a reputation as a rebel on former Prime Minister John Howard's backbench. He publicly opposed the government's harsh approach to the mandatory detention of asylum seekers. Befriending a future Labor prime minister – Kevin Rudd – through the Parliamentary Christian Fellowship probably didn't help, either. But Steve was particularly impressed that his father's prayer group included people "from right across politics".
Mike Baird took on politics cautiously, and only after a long wait. He initially studied theology at Regent College in Canada, with plans to become a church minister. Instead, he became a banking executive, finally entering NSW politics in 2007.
For Steve, the choices are not as stark as politics, business or the church. It comes down to approaching any secular job with integrity. "That can look like business, it can look like politics."
Steve Baird with his older brother Mike.
Having won the 2015 state election, Mike shocked the public by retiring from politics in early 2017, returning briefly to banking as an NAB executive, before taking on the leadership of Christian welfare provider HammondCare. Mike – who admired William Wilberforce, the English politician who led an effort to abolish slavery in Britain in the early 1800s – was particularly keen for his younger brother to take on the IJM job.
"The ironic thing was I'd seen Amazing Grace, the movie about William Wilberforce, and it is compelling and a great story, but the problem for me was that I walked out thinking, 'isn't it great that slavery is dealt with?' And yet, there is more of it than ever now," Steve says.
At 43, Steve is the youngest member of the family, and "unless the Archangel Gabriel wakes me in the night" to tell him otherwise, he has no desire to enter politics. He seems to like the low profile, brought home to him in May at the funeral of his mother Judith, when John Howard greeted him as "the Baird I haven't met".
Baird had an evangelical Anglican upbringing in Wahroonga and was active in an Anglican youth group at St Ives. Wife Annemaree is Catholic and, yet, the couple feel equally comfortable at Catholic, Anglican and Pentecostal services. "I can speak the language of all of them. I have lots of friends I'll happily pray with from a variety of backgrounds."
His late mother, who worked in prisons and as a counsellor with police who had experienced trauma, occasionally attended a Catholic prayer retreat, which for some strict Anglicans was a bit "controversial". "In Egypt, she'd worked with people in mud slums," Baird recalls. "Mum was very good at getting beside people in tough situations. She had this huge influence on people around her." Particularly him.
While Steve's childhood was not one of great wealth, the Bairds were solidly upper middle class. Mike went to the Kings School in Parramatta, sister Julia – the Sydney Morning Herald columnist, co-host of ABC's The Drum and award-winning author– attended Ravenswood School for Girls, and Steve attended Knox Grammar, with its world-class sporting, athletic and music facilities. "Being at a school like that, there is a lot of wealth around you. Mum and Dad were always conscious of that. They would always foster us to think of other people."
When he visits Wahroonga these days, he is taken aback by the grandeur of the houses. He and Annemaree moved to the Blue Mountains 12 years ago, scared like so many by the weight of a Sydney mortgage. In the end, it also made his decision to take a big pay cut, for a job that is enriching in so many other ways, a lot easier.
THE BILL PLEASE
Kickaboom, Shop 1/6 Ross St, Glenbrook, 0247 048 158, admin@kickaboom.com.au.
Open 7am-3pm Monday to Friday, 7.30pm-3pm Saturday and Sunday
Barzura Cafe & Ristorante, 62 Carr St, Coogee. 9665 5546.
Open 7 days, 7am-7pm
In need of some good news? The Greater Good newsletter delivers stories to your inbox to brighten your outlook. Sign up here.
Anna Patty is a Senior Writer for The Sydney Morning Herald with a focus on higher education. She is a former Workplace Editor, Education Editor, State Political Reporter and Health Reporter.Connect via Twitter, Facebook or email.
Most Viewed in Business