Every thing I have put forth here, I have heard articulated from the Occupy Wall Street movement. Some of it was not news to me. I have grown up in the latter half of the 20th Century. When the Greatest Generation was replaced by the greediest generation and what was known as the Protestant Work Ethic became a quaint chestnut. The definition of success became getting the most for doing the least. It became about getting away with what you can and the only issue was getting caught. Which pretty much defines the Wall Street culture of today. Never have the world’s greatest financial markets been controlled by such dangerously short-sighted people as they are today. And never has this country been cursed by a more incompetent and derelict Securities and Exchange Commission as we are today. In the wake of 9/11, America attacked a perceived terrorist community with all it had. In the wake of some of the worst financial scandals in US history, the SEC took a dive, throwing the fight in the first round.

Occupy Wall Street people understand that not only are more difficult times possibly around the corner, they know that the current government will likely do as it has historically done, which is to protect the rich and powerful at the expense of the long term interests of the middle class. Some of the most financially successful people in America continually remind us all that capitalism is a contest. There are winners and losers. And the winners want to enjoy their success and they want the losers to keep it down. The noise of the vanquished is spoiling the victors’ fun.

OWS talks a lot, too much in fact, about One Percent versus Ninety Nine Percent. As if success itself were a crime. That’s a mistake. But what OWS has helped to remind me is that One in Five is a far more unsettling ratio. Twenty percent unemployment. In the 21st Century United States.

There won’t be enough cops any where in this country to rip down all the tents that are going to pop up in places you never imagined if we hit that figure. That’s what OWS has taught me.

Robert Redford urges President Obama to “say no to the Keystone XL” in a video op-ed for The New York Times.

By Elizabeth Weingarten and Chris Wilson | Slate.com

Group offended: gays and lesbians
What to say: As a role model, you must lead the fight against gay slurs.

Group offended: the mentally disabled
What to say: Offer to join Shriver’s campaign against the “R-word.”

Group offended: Jews
What to say: The Jews control nothing whatsoever.

Group offended: women
What to say: Hate speech against women is absolutely unacceptable.

Group offended: African-Americans
What to say: There is no excuse for your racism.

Group offended: Indian-Americans
What to say: You never meant any harm to the Indian-American community. 

Group offended: Mormons
What to say: Mormons are just like regular Christians.

Group offended: the blind
What to say: Blind people are just as capable as people with perfect vision.

Group offended: the obese
What to say: Overweight people are people, too.

Group offended: Arab-Americans
What to say: You’d be happy to meet with Arab-American leaders to prove that your contrition is genuine.

Group offended: Catholics
What to say: Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year.

Scream, when originally released, played on a self-referential joke at a time when so many slasher films were entrenched in their “reality.” It became a cult classic due to its ability to bring the audience in on the joke (and the horror). Three films later, Scream has become wrapped up in its own “meta reality,” which is both the best and worst part of the film.

Out of the gates, Scream 4 gets the audience in on the joke. But I won’t say more about the opening sequence except that it nearly tops Drew Barrymore’s now-classic death. From then on, it’s a bit of color-by-numbers Scream edition.

There are the pop culture references, a play on the horror genre (did they really produce seven Stab films? Personally, I’d like to see more of them), the new crop of actors fresh off the CW lot, and the aging set of the original.

Neve Campbell brought some serious ass-kicking to the role of Sidney Prescott. However, every scream queen has to take off her tiara at some point and I think it’s time for her to pass over the reign to a fresh face.

Strongest additions to the franchise: Kirby’s Hayden Panettiere and Robbie’s Erik Knudsen (the film’s possibly sole gay character – a debate best saved for later) and the bitch on heels reminding us that Gale was so 90’s, Alison Brie. Her character was a smart, snap-of-a-bitch that we didn’t get enough of.

The pacing and plot were better than expected for a decade old sequel remake. Though, I kind of hoped for a bit more character development (In a slasher film? I know right!). But in a world of Twitter, I can’t expect too much.

Speaking of status updates, the film’s attempt to address the new reality of social media resulted in a great reference to Facebook. But modern society is not just iPhones and live-blogs. We saw what happened in Halloween: Resurrection. No one should ever let Tyra Banks run a blog.     

Resolution has never been the franchise’s strongest point. But I won’t let that ruin a fun ride. If anything, this reboot left the least amount of room for a sequel. And I’m curious to know if it will go beyond that. (And judging by the box office numbers, most likely not.)

The scariest thing about Scream 4? Reminding me I am old and no longer the target demographic of the franchise – the true reality of the film.