I built this business. All by myself, with no help from anybody, especially not that over-reaching , intrusive government. I built this business. Just me.
I did get my footing in this business with my Dad's help. He started the general line of business that we do, and he did help me learn the ropes, and helped with customer contacts and stuff like that. So it was me and my Dad that helped build this business. Just the two of us. Nobody else.
I have been grooming my son to be prepared to take over the business. And I've relied on his advice in helping set up my business, and keep it growing using his smart business sense, which got honed in the school of hard knocks, and the training he got at public university. So it was me, my Dad and my son. But that's it. Just family.
I do have some great employees, and thank god they already came with some basic skills, thanks to public schools and universities. And it was my employee, Ralph, who came up with that new method of production that saved us so much money. So it was just me, my Dad, my son, Ralph, and my other employees that built this business. And maybe public education, they helped in a way.
I get my product back and forth on public roads, so I guess they're a part of what helps build my business too. But it's just me, my Dad, my son, Ralph, my other employees, public education, and public roads that built my business. But that's it.
Oh, and I almost forgot. I did get $800,000 in government interest free loans to help kick start my business into high gear. And I did get some local tax breaks when they realized my business was growing and gave me some additional tax breaks. And there's been numerous other tax breaks I've gotten that somehow got passed to help small business. Must have been Republican pushing them through over the veto pen of that awful Obama. So it's just me, my Dad, my son, Estelle (my wife, can't forget her and her loving support, and bookkeeping skills), Ralph, my other employees, public education, public roads, government loans, local tax breaks, and Republican small business tax breaks that must have been put in over awful Obama's veto pen. But that's it.
Oh! And there's also.......
Thanx and a hat's tip to Steve Martin in The Jerk.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
The Strait Boys Block the TV and Other Monday Musings
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| The Strait Boys gathered for a conspiracy meeting in Atlanta. The now only slightly shorter one in front is Benjamin, 11. The middle one with the gray hair and dynamic circumference is me, the operator of this world famous blog. The tall on my...whichever direction - the tall one is Greg, 30, our Hollywood film editor. The boy on the other side of me is Doug, 28, an environmental scientist who is engaged to be married.
This last Saturday we were able to take a trip to the wilds of Atlanta and spend some time with my three sons. We went to a mall in Gwinnett County called Discovery Mills that had many amusing things for kids (of all ages, including my age, to do). They did slot car racing, Dave & Buster's, and watched the movie Brave. It was great time, and it did my heart good to see my boys bond.
We also ate at a Greek restaurant, one that several years ago with Doug, we first tried Hummus, something that has become a regular part of our diet at home. One of the lacks in the Waycross/Blackshear area is not having a really good Greek restaurant (or any Greek restaurant for that matter). Chinese, Mexican, Southern Style - you can find those in abundance here - not so much anything else. I'm not sure why - a town of similar to slightly smaller size about forty minutes away has Thai and German, among other choices. But here the palette of restaurants is much more limited.
The Summer Olympics have started, and our viewing of them has been hit or miss, really much more miss than hit. I like the more unusual sports. I watched part of a team handball match. When the Olympics came to Atlanta, Alison and I saw a team handball match, between the USA and a team from a slavic country. The American team did not play well. They looked more like a frat team than Olympic athletes. I almost expected them to be playing with a beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other. Nevertheless, it was a fun sport to watch.
Chick-fil-A blog entries generated great page-view traffic for me, but now I'm a little exhausted by the controversy, and will be glad to set it behind me.
I am struggling with my book reading system. I have picked a book through my random selection process, that I quickly realize, really blows. But my anal-retentive nature is preventing me from just setting it aside and giving up on it. Instead I keep plowing through it as if it's a sacrifice that I must make. Oh, Lord, please give me the strength to set aside this book!
We start a special assignment at work that should have me in the field most of the month. Thankfully, it is an in-town location, so I won't be away from home. Still, it is a change of routine that I will have to get used to. It should not change the entries to this blog. I may just have to get up even earlier.
Until next time, my friends!
T.M. Strait
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Sunday, July 29, 2012
Ripping Good Yarns: A Brave Review
This is indeed a brave review, not just because of it's about the movie Brave, but because it's several weeks after the movie has been out. What can I say? This is the first time I got to see it.
The way people see movies is quite different nowadays. There is a big rush of people that often see movies the first week they come out. Publicity and advertising of movies is designed to promote that. There are others, like myself, who don't always get that first weekend. It takes awhile and some intense family negotiation to work out when we see things. We haven't yet seen The Dark Knight Arises, although we fully intend - just haven't worked it out yet. Not even sure I saw Avengers opening weekend. It's a disadvantage if you're writing blog posts. or in other ways are trying to be an opinion leader, or just want to see something before your other friends spoil the ending.On the other hand, if a movie is not very good, it can sometimes be gone before we are able to get out to see it.
Some don't see them until they're rentals. so a whole new wave of reactions or reviews will be generated at that time. The majority of movies we see are from Netflix or similar services. And we may see them at a the time they're first released for rental or months later. It just depends.
Others see them when put on television, TBS - TNT - AMC and stuff like that. That's fine, too. It does all call into question when a review is relevant. So, I'll continue to call 'em as I see 'em. If I ever start making a fortune as a blogger, and quit my day job, I might start reviewing things in a more timely fashion.
So...Brave! This Saturday, I had my three sons together - my 30 year old son, Greg, who is a film editor in California,; mu 28 year old son, Doug, who is an environmental scientist and grad student in Atlanta; and my eleven year old Benjamin, who is at the moment career-less. And what movie did they all decide to see? Brave!
And it was a brave, but very good, choice. I knew it had a great story of a Princess who refuses to fit the mold set for her, but I didn't know it had such a touching story centered on mother-daughter bonding. The story was unique enough to feel new, and the animation was Pixar at it's best. Greg was very impressed with the quality of animation, particularly the Princesses hair, and with the grass and woods scenes. Benjamin stayed interested throughout the whole movie, with many exciting action moments included in the film. There are moments where the bears are especially threatening, so very young children might have a slight problem.
There are some superb voice talents, with some very good Scottish accents. Kelly MacDonald voicing Princess Merida is particularly excellent. The same actress doe an excellent job with an Irish accent on Boardwalk Empire, so she is a real talent.
It is an excellent counter- role model movie for girls inundated by images of princesses waiting to be rescued. She does get some assistance from her hilarious triplet kid brothers, but for the most part it is her daring, complemented by the wisdom of her mother that sees the day through. I have some close friends whose daughter reminds me very much of Merida, and sure enough, when she saw it, she was enthralled by this character. She, like many young girls, is a very special and independent young girl, one is also blessed to have a very special and caring mother. I am very glad that this fine movie is out there for them.
Thank you, my three sons! A brave and special choice, indeed!
The way people see movies is quite different nowadays. There is a big rush of people that often see movies the first week they come out. Publicity and advertising of movies is designed to promote that. There are others, like myself, who don't always get that first weekend. It takes awhile and some intense family negotiation to work out when we see things. We haven't yet seen The Dark Knight Arises, although we fully intend - just haven't worked it out yet. Not even sure I saw Avengers opening weekend. It's a disadvantage if you're writing blog posts. or in other ways are trying to be an opinion leader, or just want to see something before your other friends spoil the ending.On the other hand, if a movie is not very good, it can sometimes be gone before we are able to get out to see it.
Some don't see them until they're rentals. so a whole new wave of reactions or reviews will be generated at that time. The majority of movies we see are from Netflix or similar services. And we may see them at a the time they're first released for rental or months later. It just depends.
Others see them when put on television, TBS - TNT - AMC and stuff like that. That's fine, too. It does all call into question when a review is relevant. So, I'll continue to call 'em as I see 'em. If I ever start making a fortune as a blogger, and quit my day job, I might start reviewing things in a more timely fashion.
So...Brave! This Saturday, I had my three sons together - my 30 year old son, Greg, who is a film editor in California,; mu 28 year old son, Doug, who is an environmental scientist and grad student in Atlanta; and my eleven year old Benjamin, who is at the moment career-less. And what movie did they all decide to see? Brave!
And it was a brave, but very good, choice. I knew it had a great story of a Princess who refuses to fit the mold set for her, but I didn't know it had such a touching story centered on mother-daughter bonding. The story was unique enough to feel new, and the animation was Pixar at it's best. Greg was very impressed with the quality of animation, particularly the Princesses hair, and with the grass and woods scenes. Benjamin stayed interested throughout the whole movie, with many exciting action moments included in the film. There are moments where the bears are especially threatening, so very young children might have a slight problem.
There are some superb voice talents, with some very good Scottish accents. Kelly MacDonald voicing Princess Merida is particularly excellent. The same actress doe an excellent job with an Irish accent on Boardwalk Empire, so she is a real talent.
It is an excellent counter- role model movie for girls inundated by images of princesses waiting to be rescued. She does get some assistance from her hilarious triplet kid brothers, but for the most part it is her daring, complemented by the wisdom of her mother that sees the day through. I have some close friends whose daughter reminds me very much of Merida, and sure enough, when she saw it, she was enthralled by this character. She, like many young girls, is a very special and independent young girl, one is also blessed to have a very special and caring mother. I am very glad that this fine movie is out there for them.
Thank you, my three sons! A brave and special choice, indeed!
Friday, July 27, 2012
Chick-fil-A: The Verdict Is In!: Saturday Political Soap Box 31
After much great anxiety, I have devised my answer to the Chick-fil-A boycott dilemma, and it is one of those answers politically designed to straddle both sides and wind up pleasing no one. Solomon's baby never had it so good.
Chick-fil-A does do good things. The company has a friendly persona, makes itself accessible to families. The toys in the kid's meals are generally more practical and educational. It treats workers better than most fast food places, including advancement and scholarship opportunities. Those who work there seem better attuned to the public. Their food is not as nutritious as many home meals, but by fast food standards it does fairly well. The founder, Truett Cathy, seems like a genuinely nice man. And, like I said, they do make a damn fine sandwich.
As best as I can determine this is more that a freedom of speech issue by the company's founder and son. This is company policy. I have no problem with religious beliefs influencing a privately held business. Unless those practices are discriminatory, which these appear to be. Granted, the discrimination is not as blatant as some might state, but it does exist. Whether it is in the extension of health insurance to same-sex couples, or them giving money to groups that try to de-gay people, or just in the comfort level of a gay couple coming to eat there, these mean that some discrimination exists. And I don't care what you say about no employee discrimination. You really think an openly gay person is going to advance to the top at Chick-fil-A? Well, maybe if they were closeted and their last name Cathy.
Comments I received vary greatly. Some said a boycott was good, but for one reason or another (against fast food, vegetarian, etc) they didn't really eat there anyway. Well, I don't eat fast food often, but I must say that their chicken sandwich rules the roost, so I would definitely be giving up something. Others claimed that this was just the owner shooting his mouth off and it doesn't mean anything - that's not quite right either. One person called me a bigot, I guess, well, I'm not sure why.
I will not fully boycott Chick-fil-A, mostly because I remain unconvinced that they are alone in their imperfections. We start throwing stones, soon there will be no one left standing. My friends who wish to boycott need to still convince me that there is something uniquely nasty about the Chick-fil-A position compared to other businesses, INCLUDING local, not just national competitors.
On the other hand, I am not showing up on August 1st for Appreciation Day. That sends the reverse message that you approve of their discriminatory practices and I most definitely do not. So don't expect me there Wednesday.
And I will bang Chick-fil-A a little further down our list. It will go from occasional to rare. Lord knows, I need to eat better anyways.
Chick-fil-A does do good things. The company has a friendly persona, makes itself accessible to families. The toys in the kid's meals are generally more practical and educational. It treats workers better than most fast food places, including advancement and scholarship opportunities. Those who work there seem better attuned to the public. Their food is not as nutritious as many home meals, but by fast food standards it does fairly well. The founder, Truett Cathy, seems like a genuinely nice man. And, like I said, they do make a damn fine sandwich.
As best as I can determine this is more that a freedom of speech issue by the company's founder and son. This is company policy. I have no problem with religious beliefs influencing a privately held business. Unless those practices are discriminatory, which these appear to be. Granted, the discrimination is not as blatant as some might state, but it does exist. Whether it is in the extension of health insurance to same-sex couples, or them giving money to groups that try to de-gay people, or just in the comfort level of a gay couple coming to eat there, these mean that some discrimination exists. And I don't care what you say about no employee discrimination. You really think an openly gay person is going to advance to the top at Chick-fil-A? Well, maybe if they were closeted and their last name Cathy.
Comments I received vary greatly. Some said a boycott was good, but for one reason or another (against fast food, vegetarian, etc) they didn't really eat there anyway. Well, I don't eat fast food often, but I must say that their chicken sandwich rules the roost, so I would definitely be giving up something. Others claimed that this was just the owner shooting his mouth off and it doesn't mean anything - that's not quite right either. One person called me a bigot, I guess, well, I'm not sure why.
I will not fully boycott Chick-fil-A, mostly because I remain unconvinced that they are alone in their imperfections. We start throwing stones, soon there will be no one left standing. My friends who wish to boycott need to still convince me that there is something uniquely nasty about the Chick-fil-A position compared to other businesses, INCLUDING local, not just national competitors.
On the other hand, I am not showing up on August 1st for Appreciation Day. That sends the reverse message that you approve of their discriminatory practices and I most definitely do not. So don't expect me there Wednesday.
And I will bang Chick-fil-A a little further down our list. It will go from occasional to rare. Lord knows, I need to eat better anyways.
Ripping Good Yarns - Hall of Fame Finalists!
It's time!
Yes, I was not flooded with votes on this. But any new idea takes time. I have faith that Ripper Nation will become more vocal as time goes on.
The list of ten finalists to vote on is a compilation of what little opinion I could gather, filtered through my own input. As we gather steam, I'm hoping to more straightly go by Ripper votes. Every nominee was mentioned by at least one other person.
The finalists are:
All In the Family
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Cagney & Lacy
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
Lost
M*A*S*H
Medium
Seinfeld
Star Trek
The Twilight Zone
So now the question changes slightly. Of the shows mentioned here, which one do you think is most deserving of entry into the Ripper Hall of Fame? Which one is your favorite in this group? If you don't have a clear favorite, or haven't seen much of any of these shows, still try to pick one that, from the best of your memory, may have had the most impact on television and/or the culture.
This list is very heavy on recent favorites, and not so much on great classics. i may have to remedy that in the future by having a vote between programs that ended twenty or more years ago. But I'll save that for when we get increased participation.
Vote here on the blog - you may have to go the anonymous route if you don't have a google account, or haven't become an official follower of the blog, but that's okay. Facebook friends can post in the Ripper group, or even send me messages. Any kind of vote will bring great smiles to my face.
So vote, Rippers, vote!
Yes, I was not flooded with votes on this. But any new idea takes time. I have faith that Ripper Nation will become more vocal as time goes on.
The list of ten finalists to vote on is a compilation of what little opinion I could gather, filtered through my own input. As we gather steam, I'm hoping to more straightly go by Ripper votes. Every nominee was mentioned by at least one other person.
The finalists are:
All In the Family
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Cagney & Lacy
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
Lost
M*A*S*H
Medium
Seinfeld
Star Trek
The Twilight Zone
So now the question changes slightly. Of the shows mentioned here, which one do you think is most deserving of entry into the Ripper Hall of Fame? Which one is your favorite in this group? If you don't have a clear favorite, or haven't seen much of any of these shows, still try to pick one that, from the best of your memory, may have had the most impact on television and/or the culture.
This list is very heavy on recent favorites, and not so much on great classics. i may have to remedy that in the future by having a vote between programs that ended twenty or more years ago. But I'll save that for when we get increased participation.
Vote here on the blog - you may have to go the anonymous route if you don't have a google account, or haven't become an official follower of the blog, but that's okay. Facebook friends can post in the Ripper group, or even send me messages. Any kind of vote will bring great smiles to my face.
So vote, Rippers, vote!
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
To Chick-fil-A or Not to Chick-fil-A?
I can't decide whether to boycott Chick-fil-A or not. That is the question. I don't know whether to suffer the slings and arrows of whatever decision I make, or by ignoring them, end them. There's the rub! I'd sleep on it, maybe even dream on it. Alas! I know not what to do!
I freely admit, I do not know all the facts. It's hard for me to discern everything from the random posts I get. So I'm open to other's thoughts, opinions, sources where I can go get facts. Seriously, people, inform on this one!
Here's my general thoughts, so it will help you guide me. I hate discrimination. I'm in favor of gay marriage. I'm not sure that Chick-fil-A raises it's chickens in a humane manner. Chick-fil-A is a Christian organization and makes no bones about it. They close on Sundays, because it is THE DAY for worship, oblivious to the fact that other groups worship on other days. I'm sure the organization gives money to religious groups, some of whom participate in behavior that is discriminatory towards gays and others. The calories, salt, and fat content of their food probably contributes to the obesity epidemic in this country. Yes. I'm one of those people who attribute our obesity increase not just to our moral decline, but to the diet that we are encouraged to eat. If you don't agree with any of these, fine. Just thought you'd like to know what you have to deal with to move my opinion..
On the other hand, I'm not a big supporter of boycotts. Let's say Dairy Queen endorses gay marriage, extends insurance to gay couples, maybe has a gay rainbow sherbet day. Mightn't the right-wing Christians choose to boycott them. And this boycott of Chick-fil-a, isn't it just rallying their base to support them? Other organizations disgust me and I'm not yet walking out. I tried to boycott BP, but that doesn't always stop me when I'm traveling and they're the most convenient to pull into. Walmart is the Great Satan, destroying family businesses and creating crappy jobs to replace good jobs, and still I go. I delude myself into thinking that all I need to do is support unionizing efforts, and it could change things for service workers around the country. So why single out Chick-Fil-A? Finally, selfishly, my god, it's a damn fine sammich!
I met Truett Cathy once. He came to the business class I was taking at Berry College in the early 80s. He seemed like a nice enough fellow. He still had that slightly inflated view that he had succeeded because he possessed a magic formula that when combined with hard work couldn't fail. Luck, support of others, using government infrastructure and help, that wasn't really his focus. But like I said, as far as entrepreneurs go, he seemed like one of the good ones.
So what should I do, dear readers? Should I boycott or not? I stand ready to receive your guidance.
I freely admit, I do not know all the facts. It's hard for me to discern everything from the random posts I get. So I'm open to other's thoughts, opinions, sources where I can go get facts. Seriously, people, inform on this one!
Here's my general thoughts, so it will help you guide me. I hate discrimination. I'm in favor of gay marriage. I'm not sure that Chick-fil-A raises it's chickens in a humane manner. Chick-fil-A is a Christian organization and makes no bones about it. They close on Sundays, because it is THE DAY for worship, oblivious to the fact that other groups worship on other days. I'm sure the organization gives money to religious groups, some of whom participate in behavior that is discriminatory towards gays and others. The calories, salt, and fat content of their food probably contributes to the obesity epidemic in this country. Yes. I'm one of those people who attribute our obesity increase not just to our moral decline, but to the diet that we are encouraged to eat. If you don't agree with any of these, fine. Just thought you'd like to know what you have to deal with to move my opinion..
On the other hand, I'm not a big supporter of boycotts. Let's say Dairy Queen endorses gay marriage, extends insurance to gay couples, maybe has a gay rainbow sherbet day. Mightn't the right-wing Christians choose to boycott them. And this boycott of Chick-fil-a, isn't it just rallying their base to support them? Other organizations disgust me and I'm not yet walking out. I tried to boycott BP, but that doesn't always stop me when I'm traveling and they're the most convenient to pull into. Walmart is the Great Satan, destroying family businesses and creating crappy jobs to replace good jobs, and still I go. I delude myself into thinking that all I need to do is support unionizing efforts, and it could change things for service workers around the country. So why single out Chick-Fil-A? Finally, selfishly, my god, it's a damn fine sammich!
I met Truett Cathy once. He came to the business class I was taking at Berry College in the early 80s. He seemed like a nice enough fellow. He still had that slightly inflated view that he had succeeded because he possessed a magic formula that when combined with hard work couldn't fail. Luck, support of others, using government infrastructure and help, that wasn't really his focus. But like I said, as far as entrepreneurs go, he seemed like one of the good ones.
So what should I do, dear readers? Should I boycott or not? I stand ready to receive your guidance.
Come Thursday To The Flying Dragon Ribbon Cutting!
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| Come on Down! We'll turn the air on for ya! |
This will be a great opportunity to see our air-conditioned theater, share some snacks with the cast of the upcoming production of Annie and learn more about the future projects of The Flying Dragon, a place where children of ALL ages can gather and express themselves, meet and mingle with other children and their families and have a good time. Hope to see you there!!!
The above was stolen from a facebook posting by Karissa Cook. She is a good writer, an important part of our group, and said things better than I could.
The only thing I want to add is - THERE WILL BE COOKIES! I love cookies. I will try to leave some for the rest of you.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Feed Me....Bacon! Little Shop Comes to Bacon County!
If you don't get a chance to see Little Shop of Horrors the first weekend in August, you are missing the very finest that community theatre has to offer. I saw it last weekend an it was amazing! Located at the beautifully restored Bacon Theatre in downtown Alma, Georgia, it shows what outstanding work even a small town can do when it gets behind the arts. This play is incredibly well-directed by the highly talented and dedicated Blake Kildow. Come see it Friday Aug 3 at 7 PM, or Saturday Aug 4 at 7 PM, or Sunday Aug5 at 7 PM. Don't miss this great show!
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| Two of my favorites, Michael Lee and Chelsea Nelson , had featured roles in the production. I have had the pleasure of watching and performing with Michael since my first production in the area back in 1997. He has been involved in every facet of theatre over the years, and is one of our areas greatest community theatre treasures. Chelseas is one of the most talented stage performers I've ever seen. I don't like missing any of her performances, because I know I'm in store for the finest acting this area has to offer. |
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| Sneak peek at Audrey II and the set. |
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| Jeofry Wages(tall guy on right or maybe it's left - well at any rate, he is the guy in the picture) and Sarah Crutcher (girl in middle, yeah, can't get that wrong - definitely middle) were outstanding in the lead roles, Seymour and Audrey. Brilliant singers, but also well drawn characterization. If you don't have compelling characters at the center of a story, everything else falls apart. The actress next to Sarah Crutcher is Jessie Goodson, a great young actress who I had the honor of working with in Wizard of Oz. |
Monday, July 23, 2012
Monday Little Shop of Variety Pack
It's Monday. I find myself once again in search of a theme. I don't think another variation of 'ugh, it's another work week' is quite what I want to do.
We picked the Benjamator form camp on Saturday. He was in really good health and very good spirits. We were very happy that it was a positive experience for him. When we came in he was up front of the gathering campers doing a stand-up comedy routine. I don't know where that boy gets stuff like that from.
We took a trip Sunday afternoon, with a good friend and her boys, to see a community theatre production in a town about 30 miles away (Alma, Georgia) and saw the musical Little Shop of Horrors. It was magnificently performed, in a beautifully restored downtown theatre. There were tremendous performances by some actors I had witnessed in the past, including Chelsea Nelson, Michael Lee and Jennifer Goodson. Others I were seeing for the first time blew me away, especially Jeoffrey Wages and Sarah Crutcher. I hope to have pictures and more to post in a story later this week. Me and technology...we're like two peas in vastly different and highly separated pods.
I thoroughly addressed some of the issues associated with the awful shooting at the Batman movie in my Saturday Political Soapbox. I just want to reiterate that for those of you think it is improper to talk about American violence and gun control so close to such a tragedy, I think you're wrong. I tried to hold my thoughts in the Gabrielle Gifford shooting, and by the time I could talk about it, it was already too late. People had moved on to other things and didn't want to talk about it anymore. So, no, I'm sorry. There is no waiting. Victims need to be honored and remembered, the perpetrator deserves our scorn, the police and investigators deserve our prayers and support. But I'm tired of these things occurring and then nothing happens, nothing changes.
As far as The Dark Rises, I did not get to the theatre to see it. And it looks like next weekend is out too. I'm looking forward to it some. although it may be a little more dark than I like. The highlight for the summer and the year for me continues to be The Avengers. Saw at home Martha Macy May Marlene and Columbiana. Martha Macy May Marlene, was a little too disjointed for me, ended in the middle - I had to have Alison help me realize when they were in the present and when they were in a flashback. The whole movie was kind of artsy-fartsy, with more fart than art. Columbiana, about a girl who becomes a hitman (person?) was not a great movie, but it did at least have a chronological plot I could follow.
We have high hopes that this coming weekend I will get to see my oldest son Greg. He lives in California as a film editor, and my opportunities to see him are pretty rare. So we are very much looking forward to that. My middle son, Douglas, looks like he may be moving out to California too. So it looks like I might have to get out to California at least some. I'd build a second home there, but I don't think I could afford even a first home out there. I think we would have difficulty affording a van down by the river.
I've managed to get through this whole post without groaning about the coming work week. So I think I will quit while I'm ahead and can still suppress the "Oh, Man! I can't believe it's Monday!" blues.
Until next time,
T.M. Strait
We picked the Benjamator form camp on Saturday. He was in really good health and very good spirits. We were very happy that it was a positive experience for him. When we came in he was up front of the gathering campers doing a stand-up comedy routine. I don't know where that boy gets stuff like that from.
We took a trip Sunday afternoon, with a good friend and her boys, to see a community theatre production in a town about 30 miles away (Alma, Georgia) and saw the musical Little Shop of Horrors. It was magnificently performed, in a beautifully restored downtown theatre. There were tremendous performances by some actors I had witnessed in the past, including Chelsea Nelson, Michael Lee and Jennifer Goodson. Others I were seeing for the first time blew me away, especially Jeoffrey Wages and Sarah Crutcher. I hope to have pictures and more to post in a story later this week. Me and technology...we're like two peas in vastly different and highly separated pods.
I thoroughly addressed some of the issues associated with the awful shooting at the Batman movie in my Saturday Political Soapbox. I just want to reiterate that for those of you think it is improper to talk about American violence and gun control so close to such a tragedy, I think you're wrong. I tried to hold my thoughts in the Gabrielle Gifford shooting, and by the time I could talk about it, it was already too late. People had moved on to other things and didn't want to talk about it anymore. So, no, I'm sorry. There is no waiting. Victims need to be honored and remembered, the perpetrator deserves our scorn, the police and investigators deserve our prayers and support. But I'm tired of these things occurring and then nothing happens, nothing changes.
As far as The Dark Rises, I did not get to the theatre to see it. And it looks like next weekend is out too. I'm looking forward to it some. although it may be a little more dark than I like. The highlight for the summer and the year for me continues to be The Avengers. Saw at home Martha Macy May Marlene and Columbiana. Martha Macy May Marlene, was a little too disjointed for me, ended in the middle - I had to have Alison help me realize when they were in the present and when they were in a flashback. The whole movie was kind of artsy-fartsy, with more fart than art. Columbiana, about a girl who becomes a hitman (person?) was not a great movie, but it did at least have a chronological plot I could follow.
We have high hopes that this coming weekend I will get to see my oldest son Greg. He lives in California as a film editor, and my opportunities to see him are pretty rare. So we are very much looking forward to that. My middle son, Douglas, looks like he may be moving out to California too. So it looks like I might have to get out to California at least some. I'd build a second home there, but I don't think I could afford even a first home out there. I think we would have difficulty affording a van down by the river.
I've managed to get through this whole post without groaning about the coming work week. So I think I will quit while I'm ahead and can still suppress the "Oh, Man! I can't believe it's Monday!" blues.
Until next time,
T.M. Strait
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Ripping Good Yarns: Emmy Short Series Victory Parade
Well, the Emmy nominations were released earlier this week, and what an amazing mess they were! They confirmed some of my worst complaints about the Emmy's and the problem between short form and long form.
I know that concept leaves some baffled. But what we've got are shows that have 13 or episodes or less competing against shows that run full seasons (usually 22 episodes). How can the full season shows compete with programs where writers, producers and performers can concentrate their quality over a smaller range of episodes. Not to mention that many of these programs are on premium channels that are available to fewer people, and where greater artistic license is given.
So here are the Emmy nominees for Outstanding Drama:
Boardwalk Empire
Breaking Bad
Downton Abbey
Game of Thrones
Homeland
Mad Men
Please note that every single program here is a short series program. They all ran 13 episodes or less. Three of the six ran on premium channels, two on HBO and one on Showtime. Two others ran an AMC, a basic cable channel that has less censorship and allows for greater range of artistic impression. Downton Abbey is on PBS. Neither of our two long form winners, The Mentalist and Fringe were nominated. One of our short form nominees is on here - A Game of Thrones and the other, Falling Skies, is not. None of the shows nominated are bad shows - they are just not representative of the board range of television. There is no major broadcast network show (ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW) on this list. My favorite is obviously A Game of Thrones. The winner is likely to be Mad Men.
Outstanding Comedy Series:
The Big Bang Theory
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Girls
Modern Family
30 Rock
Veep
This list has three long form shows, which includes our Comedy Series winners, The Big Bang Theory and Modern Family. The other three are from HBO - Curb Your Enthusiasm (Seinfeld with swearing and partial nudity), Girls (couldn't stand this - but I'm not a privileged twenty-something white girl living in New York City), and Veep (not very funny, and politically tone deaf). My favorite is Modern Family, and I think it is the likely Emmy winner, although tragically I would not discount Girls.
I won't list other awards this time, but just to show the imbecility of some of these categories, The Outstanding Mini-series or made for TV movie category includes American Horror Story. This was a fine program that I really liked, but what is it doing in this category? It ran 12 episodes, two more than A Game of Thrones!
Hollywood...it's a special place!
I know that concept leaves some baffled. But what we've got are shows that have 13 or episodes or less competing against shows that run full seasons (usually 22 episodes). How can the full season shows compete with programs where writers, producers and performers can concentrate their quality over a smaller range of episodes. Not to mention that many of these programs are on premium channels that are available to fewer people, and where greater artistic license is given.
So here are the Emmy nominees for Outstanding Drama:
Boardwalk Empire
Breaking Bad
Downton Abbey
Game of Thrones
Homeland
Mad Men
Please note that every single program here is a short series program. They all ran 13 episodes or less. Three of the six ran on premium channels, two on HBO and one on Showtime. Two others ran an AMC, a basic cable channel that has less censorship and allows for greater range of artistic impression. Downton Abbey is on PBS. Neither of our two long form winners, The Mentalist and Fringe were nominated. One of our short form nominees is on here - A Game of Thrones and the other, Falling Skies, is not. None of the shows nominated are bad shows - they are just not representative of the board range of television. There is no major broadcast network show (ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW) on this list. My favorite is obviously A Game of Thrones. The winner is likely to be Mad Men.
Outstanding Comedy Series:
The Big Bang Theory
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Girls
Modern Family
30 Rock
Veep
This list has three long form shows, which includes our Comedy Series winners, The Big Bang Theory and Modern Family. The other three are from HBO - Curb Your Enthusiasm (Seinfeld with swearing and partial nudity), Girls (couldn't stand this - but I'm not a privileged twenty-something white girl living in New York City), and Veep (not very funny, and politically tone deaf). My favorite is Modern Family, and I think it is the likely Emmy winner, although tragically I would not discount Girls.
I won't list other awards this time, but just to show the imbecility of some of these categories, The Outstanding Mini-series or made for TV movie category includes American Horror Story. This was a fine program that I really liked, but what is it doing in this category? It ran 12 episodes, two more than A Game of Thrones!
Hollywood...it's a special place!
Saturday, July 21, 2012
American Violence: Guns and the Third Rail Saturday Political Soap Box 30
April 26th, 2014: Yet another update as the gun violence problem in this nation continues to worsen instead of get better. Here in Georgia they have passed the Guns Everywhere bill, passed by a Republican controlled legislature and gleefully signed by a Republican Governor, making it clear in a speech at the signing that this was a gift to the NRA. Now we can have guns in bars, churches, schools, government buildings, even parts of airports. The Stand Your White Ground law has been strengthened to potentially even include felons. The state has gone too far, farther than any other state in the union, and I am still surrounded by people who would defend this madness.
Second Update: I am updating this post. What I had to say on this subject remains the same so I'm re-posting this rather than try to recreate my thoughts and wind up in the same place.
The horrific events at a Connecticut elementary school are beyond my comprehension to absorb and understand. The senseless attack involving the loss of so many young lives is mind numbing. I don't want to fight or argue. BUT we have to do something. And that means a balanced approach that involves sensible gun control. It's not the only thing, but you can't ignore it or leave it out of the equation.
Horrific, sick and saddening. Saw the Gabrielle Gifford campaign shooting on the show Newsroom the other day and it brought me to tears. Not just the awful loss of life that day, but that since that incident we have done nothing, NOTHING to change anything.
And now it's happened again, A mass shooting at a movie theatre. Yes, I understand that the details of the story are in flux. It's clear that the killer was some brand of lunatic - his motives and intent as yet or perhaps forever shrouded. And the type of weaponry and injuries from bullets and shrapnel continue to evolve. But two things are clear, regardless of the shifting details - this was a disturbed individual, and the type of weaponry he had allowed him to kill more people in a short period of time. So once again it pains me to say....nothing, NOTHING will change.
So what exactly is it that I'm hoping will change?
Second Update: I am updating this post. What I had to say on this subject remains the same so I'm re-posting this rather than try to recreate my thoughts and wind up in the same place.
The horrific events at a Connecticut elementary school are beyond my comprehension to absorb and understand. The senseless attack involving the loss of so many young lives is mind numbing. I don't want to fight or argue. BUT we have to do something. And that means a balanced approach that involves sensible gun control. It's not the only thing, but you can't ignore it or leave it out of the equation.
Horrific, sick and saddening. Saw the Gabrielle Gifford campaign shooting on the show Newsroom the other day and it brought me to tears. Not just the awful loss of life that day, but that since that incident we have done nothing, NOTHING to change anything.
And now it's happened again, A mass shooting at a movie theatre. Yes, I understand that the details of the story are in flux. It's clear that the killer was some brand of lunatic - his motives and intent as yet or perhaps forever shrouded. And the type of weaponry and injuries from bullets and shrapnel continue to evolve. But two things are clear, regardless of the shifting details - this was a disturbed individual, and the type of weaponry he had allowed him to kill more people in a short period of time. So once again it pains me to say....nothing, NOTHING will change.
So what exactly is it that I'm hoping will change?
Gun violence in this country takes an enormous amount of lives. Bob Herbert on The Rachel Maddow Show (ably substitute hosted by Melissa Harris-Perry) last night said that since the assassination of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy, we have lost over a million people in this country to gun violence (includes incidents labeled as "gun accidents"). We are averaging three gun related deaths per hour in this country. I don't know about you, but I find these statistics very upsetting.
Watching Michael Moore's film Bowling for Columbine, I thought that that would solidify my view about gun control, help shore my feelings that that was the primary answer to gun violence in this country. But the movie demonstrated something much more complicated than that. After all, Canada also has an incredible number of guns, and yet they only have the fraction of the gun violence that we have. So there's more than just a large number of guns causing the problem.
We have a sickness in this country, something in this culture that causes us to reach for guns in such a destructive way. The primary driver is our frontier attitude of circle the wagons, our deeply embedded fear of the other. We constantly fear that what we have will be taken from us. For whatever reason, many of us have a quick, fierce temper in this country, and guns are often used to settle problems, or are brought out in the heat of the moment.
It is true that there are many, many very responsible gun owners in this country. But it also undeniably true that irresponsible use of guns is rampant in this country.
So nothing changes because our country doesn't seem to evolve to a higher state of caring for each other, of not resorting to guns to settle disputes or dissipate anger. We may actually be going backwards on this as our politics become more divided and hate filled. And yes, I see no reason to indulge in false equivalencies. At least for the last thirty to forty years, the vast majority of the violent rhetoric and action has come from the right. I'm not absolving the left by any means. but we need to be aware that this is not balanced.
There was some hope in the wake of the Gabrielle Gifford shooting that our political rhetoric would clean up it's act. But, after a brief period of mouthing platitudes, things went right back to the way they were. Nothing changed. And if you think the atmosphere is poisonous now, just wait for the next couple of months when we start getting the negativity super-charged by the deluge of Citizens United-fueled ads. Baby, you ain't seen nothing yet!
But now we get to the third rail. The NRA has this country by the cojones, and any kind of common sense gun control is choked off and shot dead even before it is aborne. My guess is, if I know my Facebook audience, it is the one thing that will cause the most squealing and screaming than any other issue I could bring up.
And yet, something obviously needs to be done. Gun show loopholes need to be closed, background checks need to be intensified, assault rifle legislation needs to be renewed. There are many measures that we if we talked as reasonable people we could accomplish, and still preserve the rights of gun owners.
100 magazine clips. My god. If you use it for deer hunting, there won't be much left of the deer. If you have it in your house, and you're responsible, it's not assembled. If it's not assembled, the robber, the "other" you fear, is not going to give you the time to assemble it. And odds are high that he will have all or part of it before you do. If you think it's going to help you overthrow a tyrannical government - surprise! Your problem is the other way - no matter what you do, their weaponry is going to exceed your weaponry. You are much better off using the non-violent methods of Martin Luther King and Gandhi.
Guns may not kill people, as the cliche goes, but certainly people with 100 magazine clips can kill a whole lot more people.
I don't know if America can change. I don't know what will wake us up to do something about this. I can only pray and have faith that we do.
FIRST UPDATE: Keep praying.
SECOND UPDATE: Keep praying. Particularly my fellow Georgians. And stay out of bars.
And avoid Black Friday at Walmart.
FIRST UPDATE: Keep praying.
SECOND UPDATE: Keep praying. Particularly my fellow Georgians. And stay out of bars.
And avoid Black Friday at Walmart.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Annie's Coming to Tebeau!
Pictures and information stolen entirely from Flying Dragon's wonderful Facebook site. They are making fantastic progress on this great show in their new air conditioned facility. Casts change frequently, so be sure to see this show multiple times!
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| Orphans take charge! Amy Burgamy Hill, Anita Dejaynes and Lydia Varnes. |
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Ripping Good Yarns - Hall of Fame Time!
C'mon people! Still looking for Hall of Fame nominations! Thank you Chris, Benita, Barbara and little ol' me! But I need many more nominations to make this work. What are you favorite shows of all time? What show should be the first to be enshrined in the Ripping Good Yarns Hall of Fame?
I'm looking for any scripted show that is no longer running. No reality , no news programs, no game shows.
The following at this point have two nominations:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Thirty-Something
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
Cagney & Lacey
Without A Trace
Medium
I also want to note for consideration the following:
Dallas
The Waltons
The Andy Griffith Show
Columbo
The Rifleman
Lassie
Star Trek
Lost
Firefly
Twin Peaks
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
The Twilight Zone
The Fugitive
I Love Lucy
St. Elsewhere
NYPD Blue
Cheers
Taxi
Seinfeld
Three's Company
Judging Amy
Chicago Hope
House
All In The Family
M*A*S*H
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
The Dick Van Dyke Show
The Adventures of Briscoe County Jr.
The Sopranos
There are many, many more, but it's going to be up to you to nominate! Second these or add more of your own. C'mon, Rippers! I'm depending on you!
I'm looking for any scripted show that is no longer running. No reality , no news programs, no game shows.
The following at this point have two nominations:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Thirty-Something
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
Cagney & Lacey
Without A Trace
Medium
I also want to note for consideration the following:
Dallas
The Waltons
The Andy Griffith Show
Columbo
The Rifleman
Lassie
Star Trek
Lost
Firefly
Twin Peaks
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
The Twilight Zone
The Fugitive
I Love Lucy
St. Elsewhere
NYPD Blue
Cheers
Taxi
Seinfeld
Three's Company
Judging Amy
Chicago Hope
House
All In The Family
M*A*S*H
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
The Dick Van Dyke Show
The Adventures of Briscoe County Jr.
The Sopranos
There are many, many more, but it's going to be up to you to nominate! Second these or add more of your own. C'mon, Rippers! I'm depending on you!
The Great Sort
A fairly dramatic change in our religious culture has occurred over the last thirty years or so. It involves where people go to church, and what kind of denomination they choose.
The match between one's religious preferences and one's particular politics used to be less clear than it is now, particularly among protestant churches. Each church might have a healthy mix of Democratic, Republican and Independent voters. Even among evangelicals, although clearly socially conservative, it wasn't an entire predictor of how they would vote.
But that changed starting in the seventies and accelerating to the present. People began to gravitate towards certain churches not just based on religious preferences but also political. This seems to be true regardless about how much the congregation feels the preacher/religious leader was directly expressing political opinions. So now, even though Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Al Gore were all Southern Baptists, today you would be hard pressed to find a Southern Baptist congregation that had all but the tiniest smattering of Democrats. And self-confessed liberals in these congregations are as rare as unicorns or Bigfoot.
The effect of this in Pierce County has been devastating. The political loyalties of the entire county has been heavily swayed by the power of some of the local mega-churches preaching conservative politics from the pulpit. One church contemplated whether it was possible for Democrats to even be Christians. That church has run or promoted specific candidates. Just in the time I have been here, Pierce County has gone from a county that was about 45% Democrat to something around 15% or less. It is now very unpleasant for that handful to speak openly about what they think.
UPDATE: As of the 2014 election, the Great Sort is continuing. The average Democratic vote in Pierce County was around 13%. My son, Benjamin, had some problems with the 2012 election, in that his political values were mocked and scorned, and he even received physical threats. I did not hear that in the 2014 election. He is slightly older, and that may have made him use more discretion in how he expressed himself, and his peers are probably more mature as well. The school was still overwhelmingly Christian right, and there is much denominationally driven open prayer, legal or not. But he is finding his own niche. And it's not that Benjamin is unchurched. He goes to church as much or more than most of his peers.
African American and Jewish churches have always had a political bent, mostly because of the centrality of social justice issues in their faith practice. The energizing of the evangelical base is relatively new. People who are moderate to liberal are either in mainline churches such as Presbyterian, Congregationalist, Episcopalian, United Methodist, or they are dropping out altogether, which is very sad.
If you are a church-going Christian, but of a liberal political and/or theological bent, as far as I know, outside of the African-American churches there are only two choices in this area -Blackshear Presbyterian and Grace Episcopal church. I don't think either one of these churches are majority liberal, but there are places you can go to and not feel under attack.
I go to Grace Episcopal and am very proud of it. It is an open, tolerant church, and we have a wide variety of people from all walks of life going to it. We have very conservative parishioners, and very liberal parishioners. It's the only Episcopal church in the area, so if you get mad, you can't go to another Episcopal church - you just stop being an active Episcopalian. I like being in a church where people are able to express a variety of opinions. I'm not sure I would even like to go to a church where everybody agreed with everything I believed. What kind of growth or learning would there be in that?
So our church defies The Great Sort. I wish more churches would do the same.
The match between one's religious preferences and one's particular politics used to be less clear than it is now, particularly among protestant churches. Each church might have a healthy mix of Democratic, Republican and Independent voters. Even among evangelicals, although clearly socially conservative, it wasn't an entire predictor of how they would vote.
But that changed starting in the seventies and accelerating to the present. People began to gravitate towards certain churches not just based on religious preferences but also political. This seems to be true regardless about how much the congregation feels the preacher/religious leader was directly expressing political opinions. So now, even though Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Al Gore were all Southern Baptists, today you would be hard pressed to find a Southern Baptist congregation that had all but the tiniest smattering of Democrats. And self-confessed liberals in these congregations are as rare as unicorns or Bigfoot.
The effect of this in Pierce County has been devastating. The political loyalties of the entire county has been heavily swayed by the power of some of the local mega-churches preaching conservative politics from the pulpit. One church contemplated whether it was possible for Democrats to even be Christians. That church has run or promoted specific candidates. Just in the time I have been here, Pierce County has gone from a county that was about 45% Democrat to something around 15% or less. It is now very unpleasant for that handful to speak openly about what they think.
UPDATE: As of the 2014 election, the Great Sort is continuing. The average Democratic vote in Pierce County was around 13%. My son, Benjamin, had some problems with the 2012 election, in that his political values were mocked and scorned, and he even received physical threats. I did not hear that in the 2014 election. He is slightly older, and that may have made him use more discretion in how he expressed himself, and his peers are probably more mature as well. The school was still overwhelmingly Christian right, and there is much denominationally driven open prayer, legal or not. But he is finding his own niche. And it's not that Benjamin is unchurched. He goes to church as much or more than most of his peers.
African American and Jewish churches have always had a political bent, mostly because of the centrality of social justice issues in their faith practice. The energizing of the evangelical base is relatively new. People who are moderate to liberal are either in mainline churches such as Presbyterian, Congregationalist, Episcopalian, United Methodist, or they are dropping out altogether, which is very sad.
If you are a church-going Christian, but of a liberal political and/or theological bent, as far as I know, outside of the African-American churches there are only two choices in this area -Blackshear Presbyterian and Grace Episcopal church. I don't think either one of these churches are majority liberal, but there are places you can go to and not feel under attack.
I go to Grace Episcopal and am very proud of it. It is an open, tolerant church, and we have a wide variety of people from all walks of life going to it. We have very conservative parishioners, and very liberal parishioners. It's the only Episcopal church in the area, so if you get mad, you can't go to another Episcopal church - you just stop being an active Episcopalian. I like being in a church where people are able to express a variety of opinions. I'm not sure I would even like to go to a church where everybody agreed with everything I believed. What kind of growth or learning would there be in that?
So our church defies The Great Sort. I wish more churches would do the same.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Rumbles in the Weight Loss Jungle
Yeah, I know. I need to lose weight.
I'm one of those lazy, quasi-obese, despicable Americans everybody talks about. When I see news programs about the obese, and they invariably cut to people on the street, and all they show is the torso blobbing down the street, my heart clutches with fear, and I go, "Oh my God! Is that me? Could that possibly be me?"
Alison, my esteemed espousal connection, appears to most to not have a weight problem. Beautiful and shapely, she does very well indeed. But she works very, very hard to sustain her weight. She often follows Weight Watcher guidelines and exercises quite a bit. So with this shining example before me, you would think I could do better.
I have had brief periods where my weight has dropped substantially. Most of those times, in addition to not eating enough to feed a gerbil and in exercising, I have had to be fiercely angry at myself, a self-loathing that is difficult to sustain even for me. And, like most severe dieters, when the brake pads come off, the weight roars back on with a vengeance.
Then I am experiencing the complication of age. My metabolism has shifted into super low gear, and any change I make seems to do no good and just lowers the thermostat further. I have attempted to do what worked a few years ago, and my body is now saying, "What are you? Freaking nuts? This tub is here to stay!"
We're not perfect but we eat out much less than most Americans. Alison is a marvelous and inventive cook, who use many nutritional and low-calorie dishes. Weekends are harder than weekdays, but that's been true my entire life. I need to exercise more than I do - what I do is too sporadic. It also doesn't help that both my accounting and blogging/writing careers involve me sitting on my posterior development.
Nevertheless, I will do my best to try harder. I will redouble my efforts to follow the dietary system Alison already has. And make a more faithful effort to incorporate exercise into my life.
I no longer aim to be a svelte guy whom everyone wants to cast as a leading man in the movies that I so richly deserve to be in. But I would like to lose enough to be comfortable in my clothes, and help insure my health and longevity.
So I intend to start working on this right away!
Well, except for I have a lunch with a friend today, and on Wednesday also, and oh, I can't forget that Alison and I are going to eat at the Brick Yard on Friday in Thomasville - calzones the size of a table!
Okay, so maybe it won't be right away that I start. But soon, very soon.
I promise.
I'm one of those lazy, quasi-obese, despicable Americans everybody talks about. When I see news programs about the obese, and they invariably cut to people on the street, and all they show is the torso blobbing down the street, my heart clutches with fear, and I go, "Oh my God! Is that me? Could that possibly be me?"
Alison, my esteemed espousal connection, appears to most to not have a weight problem. Beautiful and shapely, she does very well indeed. But she works very, very hard to sustain her weight. She often follows Weight Watcher guidelines and exercises quite a bit. So with this shining example before me, you would think I could do better.
I have had brief periods where my weight has dropped substantially. Most of those times, in addition to not eating enough to feed a gerbil and in exercising, I have had to be fiercely angry at myself, a self-loathing that is difficult to sustain even for me. And, like most severe dieters, when the brake pads come off, the weight roars back on with a vengeance.
Then I am experiencing the complication of age. My metabolism has shifted into super low gear, and any change I make seems to do no good and just lowers the thermostat further. I have attempted to do what worked a few years ago, and my body is now saying, "What are you? Freaking nuts? This tub is here to stay!"
We're not perfect but we eat out much less than most Americans. Alison is a marvelous and inventive cook, who use many nutritional and low-calorie dishes. Weekends are harder than weekdays, but that's been true my entire life. I need to exercise more than I do - what I do is too sporadic. It also doesn't help that both my accounting and blogging/writing careers involve me sitting on my posterior development.
Nevertheless, I will do my best to try harder. I will redouble my efforts to follow the dietary system Alison already has. And make a more faithful effort to incorporate exercise into my life.
I no longer aim to be a svelte guy whom everyone wants to cast as a leading man in the movies that I so richly deserve to be in. But I would like to lose enough to be comfortable in my clothes, and help insure my health and longevity.
So I intend to start working on this right away!
Well, except for I have a lunch with a friend today, and on Wednesday also, and oh, I can't forget that Alison and I are going to eat at the Brick Yard on Friday in Thomasville - calzones the size of a table!
Okay, so maybe it won't be right away that I start. But soon, very soon.
I promise.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Benjamin Goes to Camp and other Musings
Let's open up the ol' hatchback this morning and see what we've got inside!
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| Why, lookee here! It's Benjamin Strait, headed off to summer camp at Honey Creek for the third year. He now call himself a "veteran"!
So there's my youngest, a confident veteran, so anxious to get started at camp he could barely say goodbye to us, making good friends within thirty seconds of his arrival. Thank goodness he's not like his shy Daddy, who would've started to make friendships a few hours before camp was to end. We have prepared a a package of cookies to mail to him. I'm sure he'll share in a fashion because as he told us from his experiences last year "candy and cookies are currency." Well, that fills with confidence.
We saw a house right next to the big city of Blackshear, contemplating a move into that huge metropolis (about 3,500 people!). The house was interesting, good square footage, a property loaded with fruit trees and vines, but in the end, it wasn't as nice as the house we have, and would have cost more money. As much as we want to move closer in, we find it hard to justify spending more money just to wind up with a house that is inferior to the one we have. So we stay in the boonies, keeping our eyes open to an opportunity that may not happen.
We went to a birthday party for the incredible Emily Beck, the very smart and talented daughter of our friends Kimberly and Ken Beck. She turned 9, is an avid reader, a lover of tech, and will be playing Lilly St. James in Flying Dragon's upcoming production of Annie. If you are in the area, this is a production not to be missed, and will be the first to be performed Flying Dragon's new air conditioned Tebeau Street building. I will posting dates and other information very shortly.
We also went bowling with our good friends Karissa and Jeff Cook, with their boys, seven year old Noah and three year old Eli. Great fun was had by all. The children had a bumper guard on their lane. Most of the adults wished they had the same. I was unprecedentedly awful, but at least kept my ball in the right lane.
Things look pretty good for the President's re-election. Mitt Romney was or was not involved in Bain in some mysterious way that is just confusing everybody. Suffice to say, whatever they did while he was or was not with them, did they do anything that violated the cultural and business practices that he had set for them? I don't think what they did in closing and outsourcing businesses was out of the norm of what they were designed to do. Bottom line, Mitt Romney was a vulture capitalist. Either you're okay with that or not.
Started The Big Bang Theory this weekend with it's first six episodes. Hilarious program! The lead actor, Jim Parsons as Sheldon, reminds of a cross between Mork and Spock. The only downsides of the show is the laugh track (most of the comedies we watch now do not have one), and the occasional overreaches into crudity.
Well, I can see that my little zone to write is up. My real job beckons. And, boy, I'd sure hate to refuse that call!
Until next post,
T. M. Strait
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Saturday, July 14, 2012
Independent's Day Saturday Political Soap Box 29
Another election is coming. The electorate is as deeply divided as it's ever been. The Republicans are moving dramatically further to the right, and the Democrats look ineffective trying to deal with people whose best interests are not that of helping people but of in complete destruction of the opposition. So once again our election comes down to those independents in the middle.
Most people who call themselves independents are not. They actually lean one way or another based on a general philosophy or outlook. Despite whatever you think from reading my posts. I am not a Democrat. I consider myself an independent progressive/liberal. Having said this, however, given the deep division in American politics, I'm effectively a Democrat since moderate to liberal Republicans don't exist anymore. In my lifetime, I've gone from voting for Republicans half the time, to about a quarter of a time, to maybe one an election cycle, to not at all. I didn't move away from the Republican party. The Republican party moved away from me.
When I have people who tell me they vote for the best person, and wind up voting a conservative slimeball with a shady business record or a personally morally queasy background, over a person who is both an exemplary military veteran AND a preacher, I know that they're really not voting for the best person but an ideology. Which is okay - I'm just frustrated that they won't admit it.
A true independent can exist. I think many Americans belong to the Git-Er-Done party. They're not ideological, they're more pragmatic, and want to see problems solved. That's part of what happened in the 2010 election. To people like me, changing direction at that moment was a proposition of sheer lunacy, like pushing the car back into the ditch instead of trying to continue to try to pull it out. But an impatient independent group did not see it that way - they just wanted to send a message that things weren't improving fast enough.
Independents can operate as good checks and balances, which I believe in. It's the counter balance in my belief system, coequal to my liberal/progressive beliefs. If I ever feel like the power of certain liberal groups was getting to be too much, I could see myself voting for a more moderate candidate to check the excess. The likelihood of me doing it the way things are going right now, though? Don't hold your breath.
On the other hand, Independents tend to be low-information voters. They don't particularly like politics and they don't like to waste time thinking about it. so they tend to make their decisions based on what they would call "gut instincts". This so-called gut instinct is influenced heavily by negative ads. Now, most independents will tell you they hate negative ads. They may actually believe that. It's not true. Ask them why they don't like a candidate - they will quote verbatim from a negative ad.
Independents are also influenced by their friends and neighbors. They may get their news completely second hand. Ask them if they watch Fox News or MSNBC, they will tell you NO! Ask them their opinion, once again they will quote something from one of those channels. How did that happen? They're not quoting the channel - they're quoting a friend who watches that channel.
I don't quite accept this, but I do think there is some wisdom in what Texas writer and activist Jim Hightower says, "The only things in the middle of the road are white lines and dead armadillos."
Bottom line is, I think having some truly independent voters is healthy for the democratic process. Having low-information voters is not. Our system only works with an informed voting populace. So, please independents, make a greater effort to really explore what direction you really want the country to take, and what individuals are best able to take our country to that goal.
Most people who call themselves independents are not. They actually lean one way or another based on a general philosophy or outlook. Despite whatever you think from reading my posts. I am not a Democrat. I consider myself an independent progressive/liberal. Having said this, however, given the deep division in American politics, I'm effectively a Democrat since moderate to liberal Republicans don't exist anymore. In my lifetime, I've gone from voting for Republicans half the time, to about a quarter of a time, to maybe one an election cycle, to not at all. I didn't move away from the Republican party. The Republican party moved away from me.
When I have people who tell me they vote for the best person, and wind up voting a conservative slimeball with a shady business record or a personally morally queasy background, over a person who is both an exemplary military veteran AND a preacher, I know that they're really not voting for the best person but an ideology. Which is okay - I'm just frustrated that they won't admit it.
A true independent can exist. I think many Americans belong to the Git-Er-Done party. They're not ideological, they're more pragmatic, and want to see problems solved. That's part of what happened in the 2010 election. To people like me, changing direction at that moment was a proposition of sheer lunacy, like pushing the car back into the ditch instead of trying to continue to try to pull it out. But an impatient independent group did not see it that way - they just wanted to send a message that things weren't improving fast enough.
Independents can operate as good checks and balances, which I believe in. It's the counter balance in my belief system, coequal to my liberal/progressive beliefs. If I ever feel like the power of certain liberal groups was getting to be too much, I could see myself voting for a more moderate candidate to check the excess. The likelihood of me doing it the way things are going right now, though? Don't hold your breath.
On the other hand, Independents tend to be low-information voters. They don't particularly like politics and they don't like to waste time thinking about it. so they tend to make their decisions based on what they would call "gut instincts". This so-called gut instinct is influenced heavily by negative ads. Now, most independents will tell you they hate negative ads. They may actually believe that. It's not true. Ask them why they don't like a candidate - they will quote verbatim from a negative ad.
Independents are also influenced by their friends and neighbors. They may get their news completely second hand. Ask them if they watch Fox News or MSNBC, they will tell you NO! Ask them their opinion, once again they will quote something from one of those channels. How did that happen? They're not quoting the channel - they're quoting a friend who watches that channel.
I don't quite accept this, but I do think there is some wisdom in what Texas writer and activist Jim Hightower says, "The only things in the middle of the road are white lines and dead armadillos."
Bottom line is, I think having some truly independent voters is healthy for the democratic process. Having low-information voters is not. Our system only works with an informed voting populace. So, please independents, make a greater effort to really explore what direction you really want the country to take, and what individuals are best able to take our country to that goal.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Ripping Good Yarns: Favorite Genre Show Awards
Continuing our glorious television awards, we have our first winners in the division of specific genres. Most of this is a gut reaction based on past general comments by Rippers, and by my own choices. I did not get sufficient votes in most categories to make a vote count be the determinant of the outcome. We'll work on that, and as the Ripper Movement continues to gain strength, we will have more input to make these decisions.
All categories do not include shows that have won one of our previous awards.
But enough general jawboning. Let's get on with the awards!
Favorite Science Fiction Show:
Eureka
The emphasis on this show is on science. Sometimes silly, off the wall science, but science nonetheless. It does so with colorful, good-natured characters. My son Benjamin loves it, and we enjoy watching it together.
Favorite Medical Drama:
House
Combines a delightfully curmudgeonly doctor with Sherlock Holmes level medical mysteries. I personally don't watch medical shows, but if I were to make an exception, this would be it.
Favorite Horror Show:
The Walking Dead
Yes, I agree. I can't believe this didn't win one of our main awards. I would say it's the best show that didn't. Alison is not too fond of horror, yet this show has captured her because of the brilliantly written and preformed characters. If you're not shambling into The Walking Dead train, you're missing one of the best things on television.
Favorite Fantasy Show:
Once Upon A Time
Disney figures out once again how to make money off of fairy tale characters. But they do it so well, who can complain? Great show, and can't wait to see where they go next season!
Favorite Mystery/Detective Show:
Psych
Okay, there was absolutely no consensus in this category. Opinions were all over the map, So I just went with our family favorite. We laugh at this show as much as at any situation comedy on television. Any show that draws the whole family together is a winner in my book!
Favorite Western:
Hell On Wheels
I really like this show. It has been very good, and has shown a lot of potential. It is a gritty, realistic western. I'm not trying to take away from this quality drama when I say that I can't think of any other western on television. I really like this kind of show, and wish there were more of them. Let's bring back the western!
The next and final category for our television programs will be nominees to the Ripping Good Yarn Hall of Fame. What are your favorite shows of all time? Please only nominate shows that are no longer on the air, also no reality , game or news shows.
C'mon, fellow Rippers! Let the nominations begin!
All categories do not include shows that have won one of our previous awards.
But enough general jawboning. Let's get on with the awards!
Favorite Science Fiction Show:
Eureka
The emphasis on this show is on science. Sometimes silly, off the wall science, but science nonetheless. It does so with colorful, good-natured characters. My son Benjamin loves it, and we enjoy watching it together.
Favorite Medical Drama:
House
Combines a delightfully curmudgeonly doctor with Sherlock Holmes level medical mysteries. I personally don't watch medical shows, but if I were to make an exception, this would be it.
Favorite Horror Show:
The Walking Dead
Yes, I agree. I can't believe this didn't win one of our main awards. I would say it's the best show that didn't. Alison is not too fond of horror, yet this show has captured her because of the brilliantly written and preformed characters. If you're not shambling into The Walking Dead train, you're missing one of the best things on television.
Favorite Fantasy Show:
Once Upon A Time
Disney figures out once again how to make money off of fairy tale characters. But they do it so well, who can complain? Great show, and can't wait to see where they go next season!
Favorite Mystery/Detective Show:
Psych
Okay, there was absolutely no consensus in this category. Opinions were all over the map, So I just went with our family favorite. We laugh at this show as much as at any situation comedy on television. Any show that draws the whole family together is a winner in my book!
Favorite Western:
Hell On Wheels
I really like this show. It has been very good, and has shown a lot of potential. It is a gritty, realistic western. I'm not trying to take away from this quality drama when I say that I can't think of any other western on television. I really like this kind of show, and wish there were more of them. Let's bring back the western!
The next and final category for our television programs will be nominees to the Ripping Good Yarn Hall of Fame. What are your favorite shows of all time? Please only nominate shows that are no longer on the air, also no reality , game or news shows.
C'mon, fellow Rippers! Let the nominations begin!
Thursday, July 12, 2012
One Brick at a Time
Things don't change. People's opinions don't shift. Facts don't matter, persuasion is irrelevant. I put out my lantern, like Diogenes, trying to figure out what the conservative alternative to "Obamacare" is, and received deafening silence. Nothing I post seems to get anyone to think -everyone just goes to their ideological corners.
Or so it seems.
Our church was recently discussing the proposed (since passed) blessing of same-sex couples. Given that we are a "blessings" church that blesses people, pets and inanimate objects, it seems like a reasonable thing to do. But in our discussion, it became clear that people had solid opinions one way or another. There was little movement on either side, and there was some concern that it might be an issue that could split us apart. I gave my opinion in favor of it firmly and without compromise or fudging. When I was finished, I felt like I had made no impression, and may have contributed to the divide. We also had a loving, same-sex couple, who had been together for over twenty years, speak out eloquently and movingly (at least it was to me and fellow supporters). As the discussion went on, I quietly despaired that all I was accomplishing was driving people further in their camps.
After the meeting was over, a very nice but very conservative couple came up to me. They said that they came into the meeting opposed, but that what I had said and what the couple had said had moved them, and they were now open to the blessing. My heart soared. So it wasn't a mass movement, it wasn't a great swelling of change. But it was a couple of bricks. And that was something. Change happening one brick at a time.
And then it feels like all the chattering done by myself and others regarding the Affordable Care Act is not penetrating, that it is doing no good. My call goes out and if I get anything back it's foaming filled with hatred of the government, cries of socialism, fear that you will have to more pay while deadbeats skate for free. It saddens me and I don't know what to do. The Affordable Care Act, like any legislation, is far from perfect, but it is a brick, an important and vital brick, towards building a better system. But nothing we say is getting through.
Or so it seems.
I have received private messages from a few people, indicating their support for Obamacare, people who are not normally political, people that have given me heart. Yes, my conservative friends, at least here where we live, your wind and roar is fierce, too fierce for everyone to speak out, but they exist. And they're growing in number. The bricks are falling into place. One brick at a time.
So, the winds, they are a-changing. You may not be able to feel it yet, but it's coming. One brick, one breath, one soul at a time.
Or so it seems.
Our church was recently discussing the proposed (since passed) blessing of same-sex couples. Given that we are a "blessings" church that blesses people, pets and inanimate objects, it seems like a reasonable thing to do. But in our discussion, it became clear that people had solid opinions one way or another. There was little movement on either side, and there was some concern that it might be an issue that could split us apart. I gave my opinion in favor of it firmly and without compromise or fudging. When I was finished, I felt like I had made no impression, and may have contributed to the divide. We also had a loving, same-sex couple, who had been together for over twenty years, speak out eloquently and movingly (at least it was to me and fellow supporters). As the discussion went on, I quietly despaired that all I was accomplishing was driving people further in their camps.
After the meeting was over, a very nice but very conservative couple came up to me. They said that they came into the meeting opposed, but that what I had said and what the couple had said had moved them, and they were now open to the blessing. My heart soared. So it wasn't a mass movement, it wasn't a great swelling of change. But it was a couple of bricks. And that was something. Change happening one brick at a time.
And then it feels like all the chattering done by myself and others regarding the Affordable Care Act is not penetrating, that it is doing no good. My call goes out and if I get anything back it's foaming filled with hatred of the government, cries of socialism, fear that you will have to more pay while deadbeats skate for free. It saddens me and I don't know what to do. The Affordable Care Act, like any legislation, is far from perfect, but it is a brick, an important and vital brick, towards building a better system. But nothing we say is getting through.
Or so it seems.
I have received private messages from a few people, indicating their support for Obamacare, people who are not normally political, people that have given me heart. Yes, my conservative friends, at least here where we live, your wind and roar is fierce, too fierce for everyone to speak out, but they exist. And they're growing in number. The bricks are falling into place. One brick at a time.
So, the winds, they are a-changing. You may not be able to feel it yet, but it's coming. One brick, one breath, one soul at a time.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Route of the Highland Glee
I see a distant border
I taste a far off sea
There is no land lorder
No payment or fee
That will stop me
slow me
deter me
from what I seek.
The trail is not for tears
The frail will be steeled
The trial we will not fears
The sail outrigged and dereeled
The flying canvas is unfurled
displayed
remasted
racing to the peak.
The distant shore awaits
A noble far off land
We sail into our fates
Until we sight the sand
And then I will dance
will jig
will tango
on your grave.
I taste a far off sea
There is no land lorder
No payment or fee
That will stop me
slow me
deter me
from what I seek.
The trail is not for tears
The frail will be steeled
The trial we will not fears
The sail outrigged and dereeled
The flying canvas is unfurled
displayed
remasted
racing to the peak.
The distant shore awaits
A noble far off land
We sail into our fates
Until we sight the sand
And then I will dance
will jig
will tango
on your grave.
Ripping Good Yarns: The Newsroom Bulletin!
From the input I have seen so far from my fellow Rippers , it doesn't seem that many have the premium cable network HBO. That is understandable. It does cost and it is only one of several premium channels that a household could have. We have it primarily because of A Game of Thrones, but there are other things we watch on it.
It is not always easy that Alison and I can find a show we can agree on, catch it at the beginning, and then keep following. Treme' was one of the good ones. Alison is catching up to me on True Blood via HBO Go. And now we have Newsroom.
Newsroom is a snappy, intense new show on HBO from the creative producer and writer Aaron Sorkin, most famous for the series West Wing. It has that crisp walking style action that West Wing had. You know, where much of the dialogue is delivered while people are in movement. It stars Jeff Daniels, much smarter than his Dumb and Dumber days, as an intelligent news anchor, whose skills and news instincts have been suddenly awakened by Emily Mortimer, playing an executive producer who had a prior romantic relationship with Daniel's character. Her dialogue is sharp, smart and fast, the best of it's kind since Lauren Graham in the Gilmore Girls. Allison Pill is absolutely charming as the young assistant torn between the bad boyfriend and the gut who would be absolutely perfect for her.
The Newsroom tries to hearken back to a time when news broadcasts were actually about news, not fluff pieces about overweight cats and what kind of wedding cake to get, nor overly wrought political screeds from the likes of Sean Hannity and Bill O'Liely, nor even false equal time fests where an obviously false point of view is given equal time with a truthful point of view. They strive for journalism at it's finest, to get to the core of a story and better inform the public. It's set slightly in the past, and the news stories they uncover ring true, because they play off real events.
At times, it borders on pompous and and almost preachy in trying to convey it's point of view, but most often it is moving and meaningful. Other times, the dialogue among is fairly comedic, reminding me of Back To You and News Radio.
The question is - is it a ripping good yarn? If it was just the pompous speeches, I might say no. But the characters are vibrant, the plot is intriguing and has some continuing elements. So I would say yes, at least to this point, after the first three episodes.
The show, however, is in part re-creating the wheel. The type of program it is suggesting is already done. It is called The Rachel Maddow Show. It is the best journalism on TV today, and when I watch Jeff Daniels is doing as Will MacAvoy, it often seems it is pulled straight from Rachel Maddow. Check out Rachel Maddow if you haven't already.
All in all, I would give this show a 9 out of 10.
It is not always easy that Alison and I can find a show we can agree on, catch it at the beginning, and then keep following. Treme' was one of the good ones. Alison is catching up to me on True Blood via HBO Go. And now we have Newsroom.
Newsroom is a snappy, intense new show on HBO from the creative producer and writer Aaron Sorkin, most famous for the series West Wing. It has that crisp walking style action that West Wing had. You know, where much of the dialogue is delivered while people are in movement. It stars Jeff Daniels, much smarter than his Dumb and Dumber days, as an intelligent news anchor, whose skills and news instincts have been suddenly awakened by Emily Mortimer, playing an executive producer who had a prior romantic relationship with Daniel's character. Her dialogue is sharp, smart and fast, the best of it's kind since Lauren Graham in the Gilmore Girls. Allison Pill is absolutely charming as the young assistant torn between the bad boyfriend and the gut who would be absolutely perfect for her.
The Newsroom tries to hearken back to a time when news broadcasts were actually about news, not fluff pieces about overweight cats and what kind of wedding cake to get, nor overly wrought political screeds from the likes of Sean Hannity and Bill O'Liely, nor even false equal time fests where an obviously false point of view is given equal time with a truthful point of view. They strive for journalism at it's finest, to get to the core of a story and better inform the public. It's set slightly in the past, and the news stories they uncover ring true, because they play off real events.
At times, it borders on pompous and and almost preachy in trying to convey it's point of view, but most often it is moving and meaningful. Other times, the dialogue among is fairly comedic, reminding me of Back To You and News Radio.
The question is - is it a ripping good yarn? If it was just the pompous speeches, I might say no. But the characters are vibrant, the plot is intriguing and has some continuing elements. So I would say yes, at least to this point, after the first three episodes.
The show, however, is in part re-creating the wheel. The type of program it is suggesting is already done. It is called The Rachel Maddow Show. It is the best journalism on TV today, and when I watch Jeff Daniels is doing as Will MacAvoy, it often seems it is pulled straight from Rachel Maddow. Check out Rachel Maddow if you haven't already.
All in all, I would give this show a 9 out of 10.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Post Vacation Blues
The reality has hit. The routine is back. We hit our cycle of vacations all in June, and we're pretty much done for several months. Start the countdown to Labor Day Monday, and perhaps a couple of days in October and a few December days in Michigan.
Whether vacation is as relaxing as days on the beach, or is an extension of family like our trips to Michigan, they come to an end and routine is started back. The realization that I still work for someone else for a living smacks me in the noggin.
Not all is created equal. Looking across my friends and associates from Facebook, some seem to be on vacation quite a bit. Others seem never to vacation at all. As I've talked about in other posts, Americans take less vacation than almost anywhere on Earth. Regardless of how many or how long you take vacation, unless you are retired or independently wealthy, they do come to an end. And then it all comes back.
So now I go back and am jolted back into work patterns again. Within a day or two, the adjustment is made, and resignation to one's fate gradually takes place. Much of my work is routine, but there is variance, because as a CPA generalist, I deal with a wide variety of clients and accounting systems. It can be frustrating, but it does keep me mentally on cue at least some, as I often have to interpret ways of thinking and logic that are quite different from one another.
And I am very fortunate in my family, friends and church. The routine does make it easier to establish a more regular diet, exercise, participating in storytelling, maintaining my blog. So maybe the routine is not so bad.
On the other hand, we have Labor Day marked on our calender and the countdown has begun. And we're already thinking of where we might go for a short trip in October. Routine and drudge punctuated with hope and dreams. Isn't that the way things should be?
Whether vacation is as relaxing as days on the beach, or is an extension of family like our trips to Michigan, they come to an end and routine is started back. The realization that I still work for someone else for a living smacks me in the noggin.
Not all is created equal. Looking across my friends and associates from Facebook, some seem to be on vacation quite a bit. Others seem never to vacation at all. As I've talked about in other posts, Americans take less vacation than almost anywhere on Earth. Regardless of how many or how long you take vacation, unless you are retired or independently wealthy, they do come to an end. And then it all comes back.
So now I go back and am jolted back into work patterns again. Within a day or two, the adjustment is made, and resignation to one's fate gradually takes place. Much of my work is routine, but there is variance, because as a CPA generalist, I deal with a wide variety of clients and accounting systems. It can be frustrating, but it does keep me mentally on cue at least some, as I often have to interpret ways of thinking and logic that are quite different from one another.
And I am very fortunate in my family, friends and church. The routine does make it easier to establish a more regular diet, exercise, participating in storytelling, maintaining my blog. So maybe the routine is not so bad.
On the other hand, we have Labor Day marked on our calender and the countdown has begun. And we're already thinking of where we might go for a short trip in October. Routine and drudge punctuated with hope and dreams. Isn't that the way things should be?
Monday, July 9, 2012
My Father at the Nine-Oh
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| A "surprise" birthday party for someone who is turning 90? Maybe not the wisest decision on Earth. But on June 29th, my Dad handled with aplomb, charm and class. He had already watched with the family a very special compilation of pictures going back to the fifties, that my sister had arranged on a DVD and had set to music. She did a bang up job, and when I talked to my father on the phone yesterday (July 8) he was still watching and talking about it. |
 |
| Earlier in the day, this fabulous team of Eugene Strait and Alison Strait were declared Poker Bingo Champs of the world. |
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| It's a birthday cake! Notice his name is "Grandpa". I guess we get defined by other youngest generation. Perhaps not as fanciful a name as the PaPas and Peepaws, etc., that is more frequently found in the South. Nevertheless, Grandpa seems to fit him so well. Not the most prolific family on Earth, he is 90 and has two children, five grandchildren and zero great-grandchildren. We try to make up in quality what we miss in quantity. At least, that's the theory. |
 |
| One balloon? No people? What's going on? |
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| After careful thought, the decision to go with the numbers 9 and 0 instead of ninety candles, seemed like a pretty good one. |
Saturday, July 7, 2012
July Speculatron Saturday Political Soapbox 28
I am still obsessed with the reaction I see to the mild reforms that will be put in place by the Affordable Care Act. There is a great partisan divide in America, one that breaches little compromise, and it appears to be getting worse instead of better. Most of what I have to say is in my blog entry The Infinite Sadness of the Health Care Debate, so I will just repost that today as a supplement to this soap box. Suffice to say, so far I have been unable to discern any coherent objections by my conservative friends, and so find it hard to even debate with them.
I believe with all my heart that in ten years that anybody bad-mouthing Obamacare will not even be able to be elected dog catcher. There too many provisions of this that will prove too popular to remove. And I have faith that it will prove to be a gateway to true universal health care. Some states will exceed the requirements and cover more people, offer a public option for example. Other states will see that and will accelerate the move to it.
I now feel like the window to do anything constructive about global warming and associated climate change is now pretty mush past. I don't see the political will to do anything about it. So we might just start having to plan our lives around dealing with horrible consequences of our inaction. Although I am generally a long term optimist, this awful shadow may make all our other efforts mute.
In a logical and rational world, President Obama would be a shoo in for re-election. But this is a post Citizens United world, and the super wealthy and corporations intend to try to bury the system in an unlimited flow of cash. And Americans are much more susceptible to negative advertising than you will ever get them to admit. Still, I would bet on an Obama victory. The economy should improve ever so slightly, and Romney is a particularly bad candidate.
Again, rationally, the Democrats should have at least modest gains in the House. Maybe not enough to take control, but hopefully enough to punish some of the more extreme wackos of the Tea Party. This might improve the atmosphere for compromise.
I don't see the Senate doing much but changing by only a few seats, most likely on the Democratic side. I haven't done a seat by seat analysis, but generally tea party candidates fare more poorly in statewide races than in Congressional races.
The best case scenario is that President Obama wins re-election with a slightly more co-operative congress. For those of you who think this is my rose-colored liberal/progressive dream - you're wrong. It's just the best I can see coming now. That's still going to leave us in a precarious position to solve the problems we need to solve.
The worst case scenario is the Romney wins, the house stays tightly in the hands of the Tea Party extremists, the Republican gain enough in the Senate to take control and then get rid of the veto (they're not Democratic wussies - the Republicans won't put up with the very tactics that they themselves deployed). In that case, you can kiss the social safety net goodbye, come up with other retirement plans besides Social Security and Medicare, watch global warming spiral out of control, learn how to use the ER and charity for health care, gear up for war with Iran, and for women (particularly on reproductive issues and pay equality) to become second class citizens, and to slowly live under the one ism you didn't expect and nobody warned you about - feudalism.
Have a great day!
I believe with all my heart that in ten years that anybody bad-mouthing Obamacare will not even be able to be elected dog catcher. There too many provisions of this that will prove too popular to remove. And I have faith that it will prove to be a gateway to true universal health care. Some states will exceed the requirements and cover more people, offer a public option for example. Other states will see that and will accelerate the move to it.
I now feel like the window to do anything constructive about global warming and associated climate change is now pretty mush past. I don't see the political will to do anything about it. So we might just start having to plan our lives around dealing with horrible consequences of our inaction. Although I am generally a long term optimist, this awful shadow may make all our other efforts mute.
In a logical and rational world, President Obama would be a shoo in for re-election. But this is a post Citizens United world, and the super wealthy and corporations intend to try to bury the system in an unlimited flow of cash. And Americans are much more susceptible to negative advertising than you will ever get them to admit. Still, I would bet on an Obama victory. The economy should improve ever so slightly, and Romney is a particularly bad candidate.
Again, rationally, the Democrats should have at least modest gains in the House. Maybe not enough to take control, but hopefully enough to punish some of the more extreme wackos of the Tea Party. This might improve the atmosphere for compromise.
I don't see the Senate doing much but changing by only a few seats, most likely on the Democratic side. I haven't done a seat by seat analysis, but generally tea party candidates fare more poorly in statewide races than in Congressional races.
The best case scenario is that President Obama wins re-election with a slightly more co-operative congress. For those of you who think this is my rose-colored liberal/progressive dream - you're wrong. It's just the best I can see coming now. That's still going to leave us in a precarious position to solve the problems we need to solve.
The worst case scenario is the Romney wins, the house stays tightly in the hands of the Tea Party extremists, the Republican gain enough in the Senate to take control and then get rid of the veto (they're not Democratic wussies - the Republicans won't put up with the very tactics that they themselves deployed). In that case, you can kiss the social safety net goodbye, come up with other retirement plans besides Social Security and Medicare, watch global warming spiral out of control, learn how to use the ER and charity for health care, gear up for war with Iran, and for women (particularly on reproductive issues and pay equality) to become second class citizens, and to slowly live under the one ism you didn't expect and nobody warned you about - feudalism.
Have a great day!
Friday, July 6, 2012
Ripping Good Yarns: An Aaaamaazing Spider-Man
I got to a movie1 I got to a movie! Benjamin and I got out to see the reboot of Spider=Man. So it's not like THE Amazing Spider-Man. It's more like AN Amazing Spider-Man.
Yes, I'm an old fan who started reading his comics starting in 1963 and still read the new ones to this day. I'm highly aware that Peter Parker should be about 67. But aging people normally is not a special gift of comics. Nor apparently the movies either. So I have seen constant reboots and rewrites over the years.
It was kind of hard getting my energy up just to go through this again. But, I must say, the results were fairly positive. A little more toned down in pace and plot than previous movies, it did come across as a little more character oriented. As usual, they mess around with the elements of the story, but the heart of it is still there.
Peter Parker is a slight, vulnerable young man who learns the hard way about responsibility.
We saw the 3D version and although not spectacular, it was very naturalistic. Even though Andrew Garfield is not an American, he sounded more like a New Yorker than any previous version of Spider-Man I've seen. I think Sally Field is hot, so I was glad to see her in the movie, although Benjamin wondered why Aunt May had gotten younger. The rapport between Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy was very good - they did seem very drawn to each other. Dr. Curt Connor had moments of greatness, but I don't think he rose to Hall of Fame villain level (hints of things to come sound very promising). I also give props to Dennis Leary for a fine portrayal of Captain Ned Stacy.
None of The Daily Bugle people were in it. Missed the old blowhard, J Jonah Jameson. But much of the other essentials were there.
Although the Stacy/Parker relationship was nice, I am a Mary Jane Watson fan (from the comics - not just Kirsten Dunst). So I am waiting for her re-emergence. Of course, true comic fans know where the Stacy/Parker relationship is headed, if they stay true to the comics.
So my last question is, for you fans who follow more closely than I do, was one of the young girls at the school Mary Jane Watson...you know, the girl who got paint dumped on her sign by Flash Thompson? I think it could have been, but if anybody has any insight or insider knowledge, please let me know.
All in all, I give it an 8 out of 10.
Yes, I'm an old fan who started reading his comics starting in 1963 and still read the new ones to this day. I'm highly aware that Peter Parker should be about 67. But aging people normally is not a special gift of comics. Nor apparently the movies either. So I have seen constant reboots and rewrites over the years.
It was kind of hard getting my energy up just to go through this again. But, I must say, the results were fairly positive. A little more toned down in pace and plot than previous movies, it did come across as a little more character oriented. As usual, they mess around with the elements of the story, but the heart of it is still there.
Peter Parker is a slight, vulnerable young man who learns the hard way about responsibility.
We saw the 3D version and although not spectacular, it was very naturalistic. Even though Andrew Garfield is not an American, he sounded more like a New Yorker than any previous version of Spider-Man I've seen. I think Sally Field is hot, so I was glad to see her in the movie, although Benjamin wondered why Aunt May had gotten younger. The rapport between Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy was very good - they did seem very drawn to each other. Dr. Curt Connor had moments of greatness, but I don't think he rose to Hall of Fame villain level (hints of things to come sound very promising). I also give props to Dennis Leary for a fine portrayal of Captain Ned Stacy.
None of The Daily Bugle people were in it. Missed the old blowhard, J Jonah Jameson. But much of the other essentials were there.
Although the Stacy/Parker relationship was nice, I am a Mary Jane Watson fan (from the comics - not just Kirsten Dunst). So I am waiting for her re-emergence. Of course, true comic fans know where the Stacy/Parker relationship is headed, if they stay true to the comics.
So my last question is, for you fans who follow more closely than I do, was one of the young girls at the school Mary Jane Watson...you know, the girl who got paint dumped on her sign by Flash Thompson? I think it could have been, but if anybody has any insight or insider knowledge, please let me know.
All in all, I give it an 8 out of 10.
Flying Dragon Takes Tebeau!
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| Welcomin, Tebeau BinAvenue! Some of our fine creative minds standing in front of our new theatre building located on Tebeau Street in beautiful downtown Waycross. We've just moved in, and the facility still needs some work, but it will be a wonderful, intimate theatre experience that all will enjoy! We've got AIR and BATHROOMS, great offstage areas, and a magnificent concession area. Congratulation, Flying Dragoneers! |
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| My photography skills continue to shine! There are pictures in these windows proclaiming this a great children's theatre and also Flying Dragon Dragonfly. But mostly what you'll get to see is a reflection of the old SunTrust building from across the street. As the Flying Dragon takes hold of our new facility, you will see more and more great art! Flying Dragon is about ALL the creative arts...so get ready to be amazed! |
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| Even at this early stage, you can see Flying Dragon's most essential element for success - children! |
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| Please note this as an important BEFORE picture...some of the staging elements have been brought over, but there is still work to be done. When it is finished, you will be astonished what it turns into! Get ready, Waycross! The magic of theatre, the joy of watching our children grow and express themselves awaits you! ANNIE is coming in August! All July will be an opportunity to but tickets at pre-sale prices! |
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