Bible Verse That Are Important To Me 5

                       Is not this the fast I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?  Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house: when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin?

If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.

From Isaiah 58:1-10

Symbolic that there are many good parts of the Old Testament, that speaks to social justice and hope.  

Checkers 'n' Balancers Saturday Political Soap Box 40

The great genius in our Constitution lies in it's use of checks and balances.  Three separate branches of government, all with the ability to cross check each other.  The mix of influences on the Constitution includes newer philosophies like Locke  ancient Roman and Greek political concepts, and importantly, the bylaws and structure of the Masonic lodges that so many of the founding fathers participated in.  Whatever the influences  it was perhaps the greatest gift they could have given us.  Even if we are constantly trying to throw it away.

Ah, elections!  The time when we should be discussing issues but instead focus on birth certificates and dogs on roofs of cars.  When the latest inadvertent misstatement is more important than the direction they'll take the country.  When the election of the other guy will lead to a thousand years of darkness.  In the face of that, I will continue to try to focus on some basic issues and what I believe is the direction we should take. And yes, I am taking a sacrifice in number of page views by going this route instead of the Mittbot Thurston Howell route or that darn Kenyan Socialist route. 

 I believe in checks and balances.  That right now wealthy individuals and big corporations dominate, are out of control and need to be reigned in.  Unions need to increase in strength as a countervailing force.  I don't think we'll get out of our economic doldrums until we afford service workers the pay and respect they deserve.

It is virtually impossible to look at our electoral and political process and not see the contamination of big dollar donors.  They effect who wins elections.  They effect what legislation is passed.  And right now, thanks in part (but only in part) to the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, the strongest controlling influences are individual wealthy donors and mega-corporations.  It is any wonder then, that the tax code works in their favor, to the point of the shockingly low rates the Governor Romney pays?  Or that so much legislation and regulation actually favor the wealthy and big business over small business or the working poor?

Citizens United technically freed unions too to increase their donations.  But unions have been a reducing force in America for several decades now, and currently public worker's unions are under a full scale assault.  After everything that unions have done to make America a decent place to work, it saddens me to see the lack of respect given to them in the country as a whole, and most particularly in the area that I live in.  It was disgusting to me to see teachers in this area line up against the striking teachers in Chicago, a strike supported by the majority of Chicagoans and even more significantly, a vast majority of parents whose children were in Chicago schools!

I wish that the Congress would pass the Employer's Free Choice Act, and restore unions to a stronger place in our society.  I don't want then to dominate any more than the other elements of our society, but I want them to be strong enough to be a countervailing force.

At one time, manufacturing jobs were good jobs in this country.  They were made that way by unions.  Manufacturing jobs are not naturally superior to any other - they were low paid with excessive work hours, low pay and no benefits or vacations.  

Right now, many of our service jobs are that way.  We think of them as secondary, and somehow it doesn't bother us that the people don't make enough money to lift themselves out of poverty.  So I am hoping in the coming years there will be a worker's revolution in these jobs, with unions helping them obtain better pay, benefits and improved workplace safety.

So here's to a restoration of checks and balances, not only in our government branches, but in the different economic and social groups we have in this country.  Political circumstances right now don't look good for this type of improvement.  But I have faith.  We don't always go backwards in this country.  We don't always stay stagnant,  Sometimes we actually.....lean forward.

Ripping Good Yarns- Friday Fall TV

Back to our Fall TV summary!  Featuring what's on Fridays!

I won't kid you.  For myself, I see no new shows worth trying.  But I'm not everybody, so let me note the two new Friday shows.  Malibu Country is basically like the Reba show featuring Reba McEntire.  In the show's favor, it does feature the talents of Lily Tomlin.  Made In Jersey is a new show.  I've read the description and I still can't figure out what it's about.  Some kind of legal show I think.

The best show on prime time broadcast television is on this night.  Fringe has it's final season this year, and all signs it will go out with the same topnotch characters and writing that it has maintained.  This show has T.M. Strait's highest seal of recommendation. It is it's fifth and final season, and is only scheduled for 13 episodes. The show Grimm, in it's second season, is growing on me.  As the characters sharpen, it's becoming a more interesting show. Silas Weir Mitchell as Monroe steals the show.

Also on Friday are CSI:NY in Season 9.  Is CSI:Miami gone?  Oh, I guess it is.  Blue Blood is in it's third season, starring Tom Selleck (I wonder if the show will run longer than Magnum, PI?).  Whitney is in it's second season and Community is in it's third on the Fall schedule.  I have heard good things about Community, but I have only seen it's pilot episode.  Touch is back after a Spring run where Keifer Sutherland tries to learn things without torturing the crap out of people.  Last Man Standing is back - something to do with Tim Allen.  Finally, the CW kicks in with Nikita's third fall season.

Almost finished!  Since Saturday is nothing but a vast wasteland, only Sunday night to go!

The Robin Hood Excuse

I may not get much to my blog today, as I am trying to finish the Robin hood script.  That may mean a delay in the next chapter of History of the Trap, in presenting the Friday night TV line-up, and possibly the Saturday Political Soap Box.

But rest assured, this is only temporary.  I will repost older posts as I can. And if I get a wild hair, I may even post script samples from Robin Hood.

So hang in there and have a great weekend!

Last Rose of Tyvale

I could see that no one was there.
The village was empty except for one stare.
It was the girl with the windswept hair.
Acting as if she didn't have a care.

She looked at me and curled a grin.
She took a hand and touched my chin.
I knew there was something I wanted to pin.
If only it wasn't such a great sin.

It was the last rose in all of Tyvale.
The locust plague had torn like a whale.
Chewing everything to dust and to dale.
Leaving only the crying to no avail.

But I picked it
I plucked it
I carried it
I brought it

To the last girl standing
The only one remaining
The prettiest in calling
The one I go dreaming

The last beautiful rose for the last beautiful girl.
It seemed only fair.
A sin worth bearing.
The last bit of beauty.


Before the darkness falls.

Traveling Dreams and Distant Ports

I like to travel.  I really do.  It just doesn't always happen.

I have bemoaned America's lack of vacation travel in other posts.  Suffice to say American traveling, specifically tourist-style vacations, are becoming a thing of the past, at least for wide swaths of people in this country.

I did a lot more traveling before I graduated from college.  My Dad got science/math teacher scholarships in the summer, and we would travel to distant places like Oregon and California so he could attend universities there.  My parents also owned a travel trailer, and they would go to a national rally in the summer, to places like Wyoming and Kentucky.  In college, I was in a singing group that toured across the country.

I have seen virtually every state in the continental United States.  I have only been out of country to see Canada, and then some Disney island in the Bahamas.

As an adult, most of my trips have been to Michigan to see family.  I have been to New York City and Washington, DC a couple of times.  The grandest trip was a couple of days in Las Vegas when I turned 50.  And, of course, living only three hours from Orlando, we've seen many of the attractions there.

Recently, when Doug (my middle son) and his fiancee' began to contemplate where their wedding would be, we prepared ourselves for it's potential exotic location.  At first we though it might be in India, and we researched how we might handle a trip to Bangalore.  Then we thought it might be in California, near the San Francisco area - that was quite exciting to think about!  Then it looked like it might be Atlanta, and then maybe Tybee Island near Savannah  Finally, the location was settled. It was going to be the far-off, exotic location of - St. Simon's Island.  Which is about an hour from.  Which we have been to many, many times.

Oh, well.  We've been saving for Ireland, a trip for Alison and me.  So maybe someday.

I'll keep dreaming those traveling dreams to distant ports!

Robin Hood Fever Catching This November!

I'm in the the middle of the biggest theatrical challenge of  my amateur career.

I've been in over fifty plays in one capacity or another, but nothing like this before.

I've written a lot of stuff before, on this blog or other places.  But a full-length play?  I did a short Christmas play for the church once (featuring an alligator at the manger scene), but nothing like this.

When Benjamin tried out for Robin Hood, and I saw the script being used, I saw that it might not be the best fit for our theater.  I volunteered to tweak the script, which Executive Chris Jeffords generously allowed me to do.  But I soon went off completely on my own tangent.

So I had to prepare a script very quickly, as casting needed to be finalized and rehearsals to begin. I've spent much of the last two weeks trying to get it ready, including taking an extra day off work.  I now find myself  two scenes short of completing (having finished 12 of 14 scenes), which I hope to do this weekend.

Having written it after auditions, I was able to shape many of the parts to the talents of our Flying Dragon children.  Blake Barnhill is a perfect fit for the kind of Robin I had in mind, and has been outstanding in rehearsals.  This is a Robin Hood that will charm you and take you into the kind of story I want to tell.

The play is a joyous celebration of many of the Robin Hood versions you have seen, plus a mix of other tales, movies and legends as well.  There will be plenty of songs, action, romance, jokes, lots of clever (hopefully clever) references to other movies, and an over-arching theme about standing up to bullies.It is kid-friendly, and with plenty of fun stuff that adults will find amusing as well.

I am not writing this alone.  I have the awesome talents and support of Karissa Cook as a collaborator on the script.  She has made many helpful suggestions, including some of the song choices, corrected my errant grammar and spelling, kept me focused on major plot points, and has prepared the manuscript in a format that makes it look like I actually know what I'm doing.

I hope to post pictures soon, and will continue to update you on the production.  This, along with my son's upcoming wedding will a major part of my life the next couple months.  Robin Hood is scheduled to be performed the weeks of the 9th and the 16th in November.

Wish me luck, and be sure to see The Adventures of Robin Hood if you're in the area!

UPDATE:  Got a picture!

First read-through!  Upper left features our erstwhile villain, the Sheriff of Nottingham, played by Enum Hyers, standing at the down stage corner..  Upper right is our young Robin Hood, Blake Barnhill.  The lower left also has Little John (Benjamin Strait) and in the green shirt, Friar Tuck (Noah Cook).  The lower right has the magnificent Big John Eli (Eli Coook) in the light blue shirt. 

Hitting on All Cylinders

Clear the room!

Tom is going to talk about a religious/spiritual issue!

What is the most important theme in the Bible?  What is most often repeated again and again and again?  Disregarding highly theological concepts, such as Jesus saves and what that means, or how we are led out of the wilderness by our faith in God, what is it that the Bible comes back to repeatedly?

It is implored in the opening words of Jesus, in that he has come to free the captives and let the oppressed go free.  It is in taking care of the least of us, in providing for the widow and the orphan and the sick and the disadvantaged.  Verse after verse in the Bible implores us to take care of each other, to stand against the exploitation of the powerless by the powerful.

In our times, there is much dispute over what this means.  We live in a culture that borders on Social Darwinism, where the prosperity gospel flourishes, and where generosity is often trumped by fear or jealousy. We hear arguments that the exhortation to take care of the poor does not include government involvement, that it is sufficient just to give personally,

It's a cliche to say what Jesus would do if he saw the way we were making these distinctions, but I still can't help but feeling that he would smack us in the face (verbally/symbolically, of course - unless we had a table to overturn), and tell us to snap out of it!  He was not very big on exclusions or limits.  We need to combat poverty and human misery at all levels - individual, church, community, nationally and globally.  Anything less will not get the job done.

We need to be working individually.  The charity that was most touching in A Christmas Carol was Scrooge's generosity towards his employee Bob Cratchett.  We need to have that kind of responsibility and caring with the people that we come in contact with. If you are an employer or have any other kind of control over other people, you have the power and responsibility to treat those people better than the general culture demands.  Even if it cuts into your own ability to live at a fancier level than you could otherwise.

We need to work with our churches.  If you are in a church that believes in social and community action, become involved with those missions.

We need to work within our communities.  There are many problems that can be addressed at the community level.  The outpouring of support in our area for Chase Brauda (who recently passed after a valiant struggle)and Amris Bedford, very sick children in our area , has been very touching.There are many other community based groups that do good things to make life better.

We need to work nationally.  There are underlying reasons why poverty and disadvantage under-gird our society and those solutions cannot be found individually or locally.  And sometimes that does mean entering the political arena.  There is much to say about this, but in the interest of brevity, and the fact that I've got to go to work very shortly, I will save that for another blog post.

We need to work globally.  We live in a rapidly shrinking globe, with more and more interaction and inter-dependency, and to think the problems in places outside of the US can be ignored is naive and dangerous.  We are meant to take care of all of our brothers and sisters.  I'm of the school of thought that believes that national borders don't mean a whole lot to God.

None of us are saints.  We are all fall short of this five level approach in one way or another,  I know I certainly do.  How active we are at each level may vary, but if you have total disdain for any of the levels, it's going to be almost impossible to succeed.  I believe that most of us are struggling to succeed.

There is no room, however, for people who believe the poor are poor because of their own doing, and it is up to them to pull themselves up without our help. I have no patience with people who quote the idea that the poor will always be with us and use that as an excuse not to do anything.  The fact that it is a never-ending battle does not mean it is not a battle worth fighting every day and in every way.

March onward, Christian soldiers, and those of goodwill in other faiths!  Keep up the good fight!

Four Day Break and Other Monday Musings

I took Thursday off in addition to Friday this week.  That is officially over now as I prepare once agian to return to work.  When Monday hits, it doesn't matter whether the break before has been one day, two days, three days, four days or even ten days.  The reality is - you're going back.

This break was not really one of leisure.  I had a specific task that I wanted to achieve   I have taken on the responsibility to complete a script for the Flying Dragon Arts Center's upcoming November performance of Robin Hood.  I've done a number of writing projects, but I had not written a play before.  I spent most of Thursday writing large chunks of Act 2.  On Saturday, I reviewed what I had done with my collaborator, Karissa Cook (whom her boy Noah came over earlier in the day and got to play with my son Benjamin), who has done much in the way of suggestions, reviewing my impulsive grammar, keeping me on track, formatting the play into something readable and presentable.  One of the great things about theater is that it does take a lot of people working together to make something wonderful.  Young actors, parents contributing time and costumes and all kinds of help, stage and scenery from the Jeffords and others - it will take many, many people's talents and time to make this work.

Of course, for every choice made, there is another choice foregone.  I had hoped to try for Waycross Area Community Theater's (WACT) A Christmas Story, as I thought it might give Benjamin and me a great opportunity to act together.  But I don't think that's a commitment that we can take on in addition to Robin Hood.

We also prepared the house for pictures today.  The real estate agent listing our house is coming to take pictures to run on her web site listing.  I had no idea all that it would take to make our house "presentable".

I sped watch the Emmy's through the miracle of the DVR.  One of my favorites, Modern Family swept the comedy awards, but most of the awards went to shows I don't watch.  The humor in the show, what I saw, was fiarly middle of the road, not truly awful but not truly great.

Mitt Romney's presidential run continues to implode.  I think it's hard for the very conservative people around where I live to comprehend that, so they're starting to get more surly.  On the national front, some of the big money donors, like the Karl Rove controlled super pacs. are thinking about focusing more on the Senate.  That's good that they are giving up on the presidency - not so hot about the Senate as nothing much will happen in this country until the Republican filibuster in that body is over or diminished.

My predictions this year aren't complicated so I can quickly repeat them here - President Obama wins re-election at a margin greater than his victory over McCain/Palin, the Democrats retain the Senate and perhaps gain a seat or two (so the filibuster-control the Republicans have will stay - the new majority is the new 40), and the Democrats will gain a moderate number of seats in the House but not wenough to wrest control from the Republicans.

Well, work time beckons.

Until next time,

T.M. Strait

Bible Verses That Are Important To Me 4

                      Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

From Matthew 5:2-19

The Sermon on the Mount, greatest speech in the history of mankind…only Martin Luther King’s I have a Dream speech can even come close.

Togetherness Rap

I hear them rapping
I hear them shouting
I hear them knocking
But they can't come in


If they come in
If they barge in
If they break it down
They'll take me away

Take me away from her
And I could not stand that
I could not abide that
I cannot leave her

I told her that we would never be apart
I promised that I would never leave her side
I gave my word that I would be devoted to her
That we could not be separated

I see her in her chair
She is very still
She does not move
Not for the last few days

I tear up at the notion of our parting
I reach out to touch her hair
I stroke down the golden tresses
Too hard!  As her head lolls to her chest

The ramming at the door grows louder
They're going to break it down
I don't know how to stop them
I don't know what will make them go

Maybe I should pick her up
Squeeze us through the bathroom window
Run for someplace far away
Where her smell and decay won't be noticed

The door is beginning to splinter
I clutch the gun in my right hand
I don't want to give up
But we must not be apart

The door gives way
They will be upon us in seconds
I have time for my one round
And then I will join her

For I will never be without her

The Freedom to Choose Saturday Political Soap Box 39

There are many things about the this country that remind me of what a special place this can be compared to some other systems of government. One of the most important ones, that may seem fairly minor is going to the grocery store, seeing the peanut butter section, and realize I have choice of many different kinds and brands.  I think of old communist Soviet Union and that in their grocery store, after you've waited through a long cue, that whatever peanut butter they have left on the shelf says "Peanut Butter" in a blank generic jar- no other choices.  So it is disappointing in this country when we are offered so little choice in our elections.  Many districts have been gerrymandered to the point that opposition is futile.  

Ah, elections!  The time when we should be discussing issues but instead focus on birth certificates and dogs on roofs of cars.  When the latest inadvertent misstatement is more important than the direction they'll take the country.  When the election of the other guy will lead to a thousand years of darkness.  In the face of that, I will continue to try to focus on some basic issues and what I believe is the direction we should take. And yes, I am taking a sacrifice in number of page views by going this route instead of the Mittbot Thurston Howell route or that darn Kenyan Socialist route. 

I believe that we need a multi-party system in this country, and a whole host of electoral reforms, including how campaigns are financed, and the opportunity to have more choice.  

One of the major reasons for the decline in voting population is the utter lack of real competition in most places.  I love voting, but even I have trouble mustering up enthusiasm to vote when I am faced with far-right candidates running unopposed, and the state's electoral college rendering my presidential vote mute.  This not just a progressive problem.  I imagine the conservative voter in Berkeley  California might feel the same way.
A multi-party system would allow someone to choose politicians that more closely align with their interests.  There are multi-party countries who are run very well, thank you very much.  In fact, the strict two-party model is very rare.

I am going to briefly sketch a model that I believe will re-engage people in politics.  This is only a sketch, but hopefully in time, I can fill it out more for those who are interested

For the Presidential race, we need to eliminate the electoral college.  Direct election of a President will make everyone feel like their vote counts.  I would make it where they would be a run-off between the top two contenders and that the winner would get a majority of votes.  This way we would be sure to have a President that had to appeal to a wide swath of people, not just one interest group, and would be willing to operate more independently in the interests of all of us. An effective President must be more of an American than a partisan.

For the Senate, I would add one Senator per state so that there was an election every two years.  I would also have run-offs for Senate candidates.

The house should be dramatically expanded, to reflect a better population ratio.  There as many as two thousand or more Congressman.  Hey - stop whining!  - It's a big country.  Each Congressional district should elect multiple representatives.  These representatives should run as slate from each party.  People vote for parties rather than individuals, and then representatives are assigned proportionally.  So one district might elect two Republicans, two Democrats and a Libertarian.  When they get to Washington each district would share staff designed to represent each district.  This was when you go to the polls, even if you are in the minority in your area, you still have a chance for your voice to be heard and have a representative speaking your interests in Congress.

Of course there are other substantial problems with elections. The stink of big money is polluting the stream of American politics.  Big time campaign finance reform is in order.  And the current voter suppression efforts is one of the most disgusting, anti-democratic thing I've seen in politics in recent years. So much needs to be done.

Until next time,

T.M. Strait

Poetry Scampi

I don't like going to restaurants
                   Alone
But I am always alone so I never go to
               Restaurants

I go to the walking track intending to
                    Walk
But I do not get out of the car because I am too
                      Fat


Monday through Friday I do go to my
                     Work
I never miss a day because I do not want to give them an
                   Excuse

I thought about getting up Sunday and going to
                    Church
But I don't because I don't know what God would think of
                        Me

There is a girl at the library who smiled at me
                      Once
But she looked very scared when I went up to say
                       Hello

So I go through life by
                        Myself
Thinking maybe someday that won't
                             Be

         

History of the Trap: April Promises Part 4

SYNOPSIS:  After being visited in prison by Morgan LaDona Tigh, Lance Martin has agreed to Dr. Duncan's request to detail what happened in the time that Lance is calling "the Trap."  Lance begins his journal by describing the morning before the trap fell, where we learn his father was the Principal of Loren High, that Lance is a Junior, and has a sister named Diane who is a sophomore.  After a couple hours at school that morning, where we see how different is relationship with Morgan is, we also meet Lance's best friend, Artie Pentler, and their gang. Just as Lance is ready to ask Ginny Estill out, the Trap falls, and they witness the horrible death of two P. E. students as they are caught in some kind of electrical storm.  After a very rocky, scary day, the students were called to gather in the gym, where some students broke out.  After the rally, Lance and his sister meet with their father and find that he doesn't know much more than they do.  Lance spends his first night in the trap, listening to late night screams and sounds of electric zapping.  When this scene opens, it is now two weeks later, Wednesday April 30th.  

4

I don't think we fully realized what a psychological barrier we were passing by being on the verge of entering into another month.  The unspoken promise was that this was an April problem.  That surely things would wrap by then, and we would all be back with our families.  When May would hit, it was like it was becoming impossible to pretend that this might not go on and on.  As illogical as it might sound, as if it might not ever end.

They had already divided the day for most of us.  We all had chores and responsibilities.  Mine was at the TV studio, where I helped prepare the morning newscast.  Mostly involved in the writing, I was up earlier than most preparing that day's stories.  In many ways, between my Dad as Principal, my position on Student Council, and seeing the raw information that we would turn into news stories, I was privy to a lot more information than most.  But that didn't mean that I knew what was going on.  Much of what I was learning I couldn't piece together to make any sense.

I was up by 6 AM, down at the news studio, helping to prepare the news Bob Short would read.  Mr. Resart, the TV studio teacher, would carefully look over the news we were preparing, trying to make sure we weren't going over the line. He would often consult with Vice Principal Crowler via intercom.  A couple of mornings Mr. Crowler had actually been with us.

One morning there was some confusion about a story concerning girls and their periods.  The gist of it was that there had not been a run on sanitary napkins like they thought there would.  The nurse had a very limited supply available, but there had been virtually no requests for them.  I think there was the fear that, maybe, because of the stress that was happening, girls periods were coming into alignment.  If that was so, then the administration feared the sudden onslaught when all the requests came in at the same time.  They didn't know how to make an announcement about this, about where girls should go if they needed this, or any other help they might need in this regard.  It was finally decided to handle the problem off air, by going through health and P.E. teachers and other female staff.

They also censored any speculation that there might be a hole or gap in the barrier that some students were getting through, Some student names were given, asking if they could report to the front office, or if anyone who might know their whereabouts to let the front office know as there was important information they needed to give them.  They actually located a couple of students that had been thought missing, but that still left over a dozen more.

There was also a damper put on speculation as to why we were not running out of things we had been expected to be running out of.  Other than worries about things like fruit or clean underwear, this had not yet reached a level yet that most students thought about.

Ripping good Yarns: Thursday Fall TV

Continuing the unprecedentedly exciting preview of the new fall TV season!

Returning shows of personal greatest interest are The Big Bang Theory in it's 6th fall season, and Parks and Recreation it's 2nd fall appearance (the show has been on longer than that, but only twice premiering in the fall).  I am a latecomer to both shows, so I am trying to watch on DVD and Netflix in trying to catch up.  The Big Bang Theory is a wonderful character-driven show that appeals to the nerd in all of us.  The neurotic Sheldon is a television Hall of Fame Classic!  Also a classic is Amy Poehler's Leslie Knope in Parks and Recreation, a government bureaucrat who has not lost her enthusiasm for civic solutions.

The best new show looks like Last Resort, a drama about a submarine commander who refuses to follow orders to nuke Pakistan.Other new shows on Thursday include Elementary, a modern take on Sherlock Holmes; Beauty and the Beast, a highly blanded down and present day version of that story.  Scandal had a spring premiere and is on the fall schedule for the first time.

Two and a Half Men is in it's 10th fall season (wouldn't that half be whole by now?). Person of Interest returns for a 2nd season of stalking, 30 Rock will present it's final season, Up All Night it's 2nd, Glee is in it's 4th season (soo, all the originals should have graduated by now?), Grey's Anatomy starts it's 8th season and The Vampire Diaries it's 2nd.  I've never seen The Vampire Diaries.  Is it more like Twilight or Salem's Lot?

Super Sophisticated Man About Town!

Benjamin Strait strikes the most sophisticated pose anyone ever has while standing next to a giant tin of lard. He is getting ready to participate in something called cotillion.  No, I'm not completely sure what it is.  It's something to do with teaching manners, and as the year progresses they have dances.   Alison very much wanted him to be involved with it.  I was somewhat more hesitant.  Cotillion for some reason, in my mind, smacks of old plantation culture.  The whole idea of putting on airs I find a little disturbing and elitist.

But in picking up Benjamin from his first meeting, I found the group waiting to pick up their children to be large and diverse.  There was a wide variety of ethnic groups, and the cars in the parking lot varied from very fancy to very, uhh, non-fancy.  The kids were having a good time and taking to their politeness training very well.  He learned a new way to sit in a chair, showed great politeness to his mother and even danced with her a bit.

So my attitude toward Cotillion has begun to soften a bit.  Being polite is an important skill, as is learning to respect women and girls, and to be able to treat people properly.  And if I was afraid that the boy I know and love would be completely replaced by an etiquette drone, those fears were allayed by the next day at school, when he got written up for dropping the F bomb after hitting his head  There's my boy!

Ripping Good Yarns: Wednesday Fall TV

Continuing our special Ripper's preview of the new fall TV season, we come to the center of the television week, Wednesday.  Please note that I am giving information about all shows except reality or news program.  Nothing wrong with them, just not a focus of Ripping Good Yarns, which concentrates on fictional storytelling.

The returning show I'm most looking forward to is Modern Family, the best comedy on television.  The intertwined trio of families constantly provide great laughs and positive in sight, and is starting it's 4th fall season.  Gloria (Sofia Vergara) will be pregant on the show, and that sometimes a risky undertaking for shows, but I have faith the Modern Family writers can pull it off.  I'm also looking forward to CSI, now in it's 13th season.  Thse cast has solidified, with Ted Danson and Elizabeth Shue adding great depth to the cast.

There are three new shows I am going to check out.  One is Animal Practice, as Alison is big animal lover and we would like to see what they do with the premise - we will quickly bail if the premise of the show is cruel or stupid.  Arrow looks a very interesting take on the DC comic Green Arrow.  This is not the same Green Arrow of Smallville, so it's hard to say where it's going to go.  But the premise and creators make it worth a try.  Finally there is Nashville, which sounds like it could be a real hoot and a holler, with an older country star being crowded out by a younger one.

Other new shows are Guys with Kids, another variation of 3 men and lots of babies; The Neighbors, about a family moving to an alien neighborhood (Alf times twenty), and Chicago Fire, about firefighters who, uh, fight fires while sometimes forgetting to wear their shirts.

Criminal Minds returns for its 8th fall season, adding Big Love's Jeanne Tripplehorn to the cast. Law & Order:SVU (which I used to keep thinking was SUV) is big foe fall season number 14!  The comedies The Middle (4th season) and Suburgatory (2nd season) return for more hilarity, and Supernatural is back for a whopping 8th season (I would think that would be some kind of record for a horror series).

Where Have All the Conservatives Gone?

As the election nears, I have noticed an unusual phenomenon over the last few weeks on my blog and on my Facebook posts.  Conservatives have stopped engaging with me.  The last time I had comments was a bizarre take on my blog post about Lewis Grizzard, comparing Lewis's disregard for the rules with President Obama's.  That was several weeks ago.  For the most part since then, everyone has gone to their separate corners.

I don't know if that's the way it was during the 2008 election.  I didn't have a blog and wasn't using Facebook yet.  Maybe what is happening is natural.

I don't miss the vitriol or the blind call of "Socialism!" to every idea or thought.  But I do miss the interchange of ideas.  It's not like I'm going to lie down and agree with every conservative thought.  I intend to battle back with everything I've got.  But that doesn't mean I don't appreciate reasonable dialogue.  When people just talk sometimes, they find they have more common ground than they thought.  Of course, this civil engagement is missing now not just in internet talk, but also in Congress and the national dialogue.

I was particularly trying in my "I Believe" political soap box series.  I was making a deliberate effort to discuss issues on a more practical level.  To date these have received no conservative responses. I might have gotten more engagement had I instead kept up my Mittbot 2012 5.0 and Paul "Ayn Rand" Ryan attacks.  Oh, well.

In the nation and world as a whole, my blog and Facebook comments would not be considered that radical. But here where I live, Southeast Georgia, I am in a very distinct minority.  Some of us run the risk of losing our job or alienating our friends if we speak out.  Most Facebook environments here are very, very conservative.  I have a good friend who said that when President Obama's "You didn't build that" remark was warped into another universe of meaning, she had received hundreds of response vilifying the President for his remark and only mine and one other trying to explain how far out of context the remark was taken.  And I believe that is how most people's Facebook newsfeeds are like around here.  99% Fox, 1% a different drummer.

So I will continue to beat that drum, even if the other side acts like they're not listening.  From tiny seeds, a mighty oak might grow.  Conservatives, I know you're there.  Please join the conversation whenever you can.  Yes, I will battle back.  But even with this impending election, there is no reason for us not to engage.  You never know. We both might gain insights that would surprise us!

Getting A Move On and other Monday Musings

Everybody feels more comfortable one place or another.  We've lived in the boonie outbacks of Pierce County for about seven years now, but quasi-country living really is not naturally suitable to either Alison or me.  Alison prefers living directly in town, in a secure neighborhood where she is able to comfortably walk and knows the neighbors.  Me?  I would like to live in a 2400 square foot condo in a university town set near the mountains and the ocean.  Since her vision is more practical, we're going with hers.

We've been looking off and on, particularly in the City of Blackshear, just to see what was available.  The homes have usually been more expensive in the city (city being a relative term, as we are only talking about a town of a few thousand),  A few weeks ago we added a residential area in neighboring Waycross called Cherokee Heights.  The homes there were priced better, more in line with the county area we live in.

But it was hard for us to move too hard, as we had not put up our home for sale.  We had seen many homes for sale for months on end in the two county area, and were worried about how long it would take us to sell.  On Wednesday we made inquiries of a realtor that we were told would be an aggressive and helpful agent for us.  She gave a good starting selling price on our house, and said she had somebody ready to look at it on Friday.

We did a marathon clean-up and jam-up, and the people saw the house.  And two hours made an offer to buy it, a good offer very close to our asking price.  We are still negotiating some fine details, and it could still fall through, but we thought that was a very exciting and fast start.

And we suddenly have to scramble to find something quite a bit faster than we anticipated.  We've found some good ones, but nothing that rings all our bells yet.  So keep your eyes and ears open for us.  The city of Blackshear near College Avenue or Cherokee Heights in Waycross.

I have finished the first act of Robin Hood, and although it needs polishing, I think it's going to be a fun play enjoyable for both children and adults.  We have a tentative cast, although I'm not sure it's been announced yet.  Rehearsals should begin very soon.  I had not expected to get so involved in Robin Hood, but it's hard to pass up an opportunity to write, and I do love the Flying Dragon.  So keep checking here for progress!

The Lions almost came back last night, but an offside kick went slightly awry, and it was hard to overcome an excellent 49er team in their windy home stadium.  If the Lions ever string together two good halfs in the same game, they should be quite awesome!

Finished The Passionate Friends by H.G. Wells, written in 1913.  The book had amazing feminist overtones, with a woman pretty much demanding the same sexual opportunities of her Victorian male counterparts.  Interesting to see that kind of talk from that long ago.H.G. Wells was not just a visionary when it came to scientific breakthroughs, he was also forward thinking on many social and political issues.

Blog progress has stagnated a bit, but I am doing my best to get it growing again.  If you like teebee, don't miss my Ripping Good Yarn series about the TV fall schedule.  I also have the Saturday Political Soap Box, which is trying to stay focused on issues.  There is the ongoing saga of History of the Trap, which I hope to accumulate and make available on Smashwords.  And the odd pseudo-poetry I do on Thursday Midnights.  There will continue to be stuff about family, pets, Flying Dragon, other stories, musings, and what ever else that crosses from brain to the keyboard.  So keep watching!  Something is bound to splat across that you would like!

Until next time,

T.M. Strait

Ripping Good Yarns: Tuesday Night Fall TV

The TV fall schedule review continues, with Tuesday's exciting lineup.  I think I got it a larger this time, and I'll try to mention some cable shows as well!

The two returning shows most popular at the Strait household are Raising Hope and New Girl.  Raising Hope is a very funny show produced by the people who made My Name is Earl.  The family is funny and their working class roots are delightful to see, but the scene stealer is the incredible Cloris Leachman, who is in her eighties and has been performing since the late forties.  She is a hoot and a half as the unpredictable Maw Maw.  New Girl features the talented and nerdy/sexy Zooey Deschanal as Jess, and a great ensemble group surrounding her.  The show  does offtrack into the raunchy side, and is definitely not for the children.

The most interesting new show on Tuesday looks to be The Mindy Project, featuring Mindy Kaling of The Office,  playing an ob-gyn looking for love in all the wrong places.  Ummm, or something like that.  Alison has read a book she wrote and is a big fan. Other new shows include Ben And Kate, about two siblings, irresponsible brother and responsible sister, trying to raise the sister's 5-year-old daughter; Go On, featuring friend Matthew Perry as a sportscaster in group therapy; The New Normal, about a gay couple who try to start a family via a surrogate (done by the creators of Glee and American Horror Story - Alison's mother saw the pilot and found it emotionally engaging;: Emily Owens, M.D., about an intern at a Denver hospital who likes to talk to herself (stars Mamie Gummer who is Meryl Streep's daughter);  and Vegas, crime drama set in the 60s and starring Dennis Quaid.

 NCIS returns for it's 10th fall season and NCIS:Los Angeles returns for it's 4th (there must be a whole lot more crime in the Navy than I thought). Private Practice is on for it's 6th fall season, and features Pierce County native Kadee Strickland. Parenthood is back for it's 3rd season, a show that Alison still enjoys but I have dropped out of (too many relationship changes).  Happy Endings and Hart of Dixie are back for second fall seasons, Don't Trust the B---- in Apt. 23 started in the spring and is back for the fall.

On F/X  Sons of Anarchy, the violent but engaging biker drama returns for Season 5.  It had its premiere last Tuesday and features Ron Perlman (Beauty and the Beast and Hellboy).  I've seen the first season on DVD and found it fairly interesting.

Bible Verses Important To Me 3

                       What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works?  Can faith save you?  If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace: keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.  But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.”  Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.

                 

                  From James 2:14-18

Case closed to those who argue exclusively one over the other.

The Growing Gulf Between Us Saturday Political Soap Box 38

Ah, elections!  The time when we should be discussing issues but instead focus on birth certificates and dogs on roofs of cars.  When the latest inadvertent misstatement is more important than the direction they'll take the country.  When the election of the other guy will lead to a thousand years of darkness.  In the face of that, I will continue to try to focus on some basic issues and what I believe is the direction we should take. And yes, I am taking a sacrifice in number of page views by going this route instead of the Mittbot Thurston Howell route or that darn Kenyan Socialist route. 

I believe that the growing divide between rich and poor is very dangerous, and threatens the democratic foundations of this country.  The social and economic mobility has become the worst of any industrialized nation.  More and more money is concentrated in fewer and fewer hands.  We are rapidly marching towards a kind of feudalistic society. 

It is true that many statistics bear out the fact that wealth in this country is becoming more and more concentrated at the top.  Generational wealth is coming into play too, as the estate tax is weakened and vilified.  America, which used to brag about it's social and economic mobility, now finds itself ranked near the bottom in industrial nations.

So families that are at the top are increasingly having the means to retain and grow their money and power, often aided by politicians they have bought and paid for.  I don't know how far away we are from just giving these people titles.  Sir Donald Trump? Lady Kim Kardashian?

It's easy enough to check and reverse.  Restore progressive taxation.  Increase the ability of unions to organize.  Establish campaign finance reform that diminishes the controlling influence of wealthy donors.

The Republicans are sinfully awful on this score.  The Democrats are only marginally better.  The power to do something about this is in the hands of everyday citizens.  Whether it is Occupy Wall Street, or just simply refusing to do business with a bank that has made billions off questionable financial instruments, it is up to us. What are we going to do?

Time to Get Out and Howl

On what principle does the sliding ship lie?
For what reason does the fair maiden sigh?
I lost the grounded mooring.
There is no other trade that I can ply.
You must forgive me if I do cry.

Why must I abandon all I hold dear?
What is it that grips me with fear?
I find the distant shoring.
There is no one left on the pier.
You must see that I am changing into weir.

Is there nothing that can stop this change?
Will the cycle be out of range?
I see the full moon goring.
There is nothing that can rearrange.
You must find soon very, very strange.

Ripping Good Yarns: Monday Fall TV

What's on TV this fall?  Well, Rippers, let's start with Monday night!

First, I apologize for the tiny picture of the Fall line-up.  I will continue to work with that and see if I can't subsequent days larger and clearer.  But with my blogging time being limited, I'll need to start with this one.

The most exciting returning show for the Strait household is Castle, the series about a mystery who gets to hang with a police homicide unit, featuring the intelligent beauty of Kate Beckett (Stana Katic).  Alison and I are huge Nathan Fillion fans (albeit our reasons may differ slightly), and we look forward to this season, as Beckett and Castle have finally gotten together.  Will the series continue to soar, or will it go the way of Moonlighting?  There is a theory that once two characters you long to see together do indeed get together, that the interest and energy in the show dissipates.  We will see.  This is Castle's fourth year on the fall schedule.

The most intriguing new show on Mondays is Revolution. It comes from J.J. Abrams (Lost, Fringe, Alias) and is based on the premise that all electronics in the world cease to function.  The series starts five years after this has happened.  Expect great characters, and yes, my friends, some bow and arrow action!

Other new shows on Monday are The Mob Doctor about a female doctor who must treat mobsters in order to settle old debts she has to them (can anyone say - thin premise?), and Partners, which focuses on a long-standing gay-straight friendship (created by the creators of Will & Grace).

CBS has a number of crude comedies that I don't watch but may be your cup of tea. How I Met Your Mother is in it's 8th season, and is now officially the world's longest explanation to one event.  Mike & Molly is in it's 3rd season, a show we desperately wanted to like but couldn't handle it's crudity, and 2 Broke Girls starts season number 2.  CBS also has Hawaii Five-O coming back for season 3.

Other returning shows include Bones for it's 8th fall season,  90210 for season 5, and Gossip Girl for Season 6.  These may be fine shows but I've never seen them.

The biggest thing now missing on Mondays?  House!  This show ended last spring, and I know many of it's fans will be disappointed it is gone.  But, I suspect, as disappointed as Fox when they see the ratings to The Mob Doctor.  Oy vey!

Yet Another Dog and Cat Post!

Dogs and Cat...sleeping together!  Help!  The Mayans were right!

Ellie Mae finds there is nothing good on television.

Cocoa Bear is ready for her karate class!

It's okay.  Come try and pet me.  I won't scratch you.  I promise.  Bwahaha!

A Day of Remembrance

We'll always remember the sheer, relentless horror of that day.  As the towers fell, and the Pentagon burned, and planes crashed, we had no idea how much further it was going to go.  How much more would happen before it let up?  A growing paranoia gripped the entire country.

We'll never forget the heroism of the first responders, and all those who sought to selflessly give help in those early days.  Many at the risk of their own safety and health.  Many of the first responders who survived, suffered subsequent cancers, diseases and poor health.  Thank you, Jon Stewart, for helping a reluctant Congress pass legislation to help provide them support.

I'll always remember how Muslims were treated in this country immediately after, with an irrational, horrible hatred.  Actually debating in this country whether Muslims should be racially profiled.  In this, and with the Patriot Act, we turned our back on many of the freedoms and liberties we said that we cherished.  We were ready to give up so much in order to achieve a false sense of security.

I'll never forget how we let Osama Bin Laden escape from Tora Bora, and then inexplicably stopped making him a priority, but instead focused on a country that had no part in 9/11.  And if you raised any objection to this spectacular mis-adventure you considered unpatriotic and could lose your job and your social standing.

It should be remembered that what Jesus said was true - love and understanding are more powerful than hate and intolerance.  We solve more by targeting the actual bad guys (the highly disdained police action approach) than we did by throwing a blind hissy, turning potential allies into permanent enemies.

It should not be forgotten that we live in a dangerous world.  Sometimes the only answer to force is force.  But indiscriminate, brutal force only continues the spiral to oblivion.

Let us remember the fallen.  Let us not forget that the forces of evil and destruction must be challenged and opposed.  But also remember that love is greater than hate, that diplomacy, as difficult as it may be, matters. And that you have already lost if you are willing to abandon everything you hold dear in order to win.

A Long Season Begins and Other Monday Musings

A long season of college football begins.  I am a Michigan Wolverine fan, and it does appear to be a long, rough season ahead.  I have a lot of faith in Coach Brady Hoke, and I believe they will improve as the season progresses.  At least one can hope.

Meanwhile, based on their disastrous performance against Alabama, I'm going to have to listen to another full year of "SEC is the only football conference that counts" talk.  I am so sick of it I could chuck a tuna bunwich!

How bad is the "SEC is king"  bias around here?  I advocate that a college football championship should be against conference champions.  The top five or six champions automatically qualify for a national championship playoff, with the remainder being wild cards selected by polls/coaches/computer or whatever. I mean, conferences should MEAN something, and winning a conference championship should MEAN something.  But oh, that's not good enough for the SEC fanatics around here.  They're not going to be happy until an unlimited number of SEC teams can qualify.  You just can't bend far enough backwards for them!

It's the start of a long pro football season.  Both the Atlanta Falcons and the Detroit Lions got off to winning games, which we're grateful for, but there are many tough opponents and games ahead.  It is discouraging around where we live that there are so many Jacksonville Jaguar fans.  We live in GEORGIA, not FLORIDA, people.  C'mon!

It's the beginning of a long play season.  I have made a larger commitment to the Flying Dragon than I expected with their production of Robin Hood.  I have taken on the task of writing the script.  I am writing as fast as I can, and have one scene left in the first act.  Unfortunately, the start of rehearsals are just days away and the cast needs to be solidified.  Wish me luck.

Benjamin begins a long season of band.  He has his Baritone Horn, and he's doing pretty good, but we are having a hard time enforcing home practice.  Any band parents out there, please let me know.  how much do they really practice at home?  I have no direct experience with it, and can't tell if he's able to skate, or if we should be enforcing a practice time.

It's a long season of accounting leading up to tax season.  We have corporate deadlines the 15th, and final individual deadlines October 15th.  As the holidays approach and pass, I partly enjoy them, and I partly click off more time that brings me closer to the submarine ride that encompasses January through mid-April.

A long new TV season is about to start.  I hope to do a Ripping good Yarn blog post detailing the good, the bad and the ugly of that.

It's a long, hard political season.  I love politics, but I am not looking forward to the barrage of negative ads headed our way, particularly from the wealthy super-donors of Mitt Romney, including the Koch Brothers, Sheldon Adelson, and the Super PAC of Karl Rove.

It's a season for a final countdown to the marriage of Doug and Ramya.  It has been interesting ride in preparing, and there have been enough twists and turns to make me feel like I'm in the movie Father of the Bride (even though I am the father of the groom).  I know, however, as it gets closer, there will be many moments to treasure.

Life is busy, but life is good!

Until next time,

T.M. Strait

Bible Verses Important to Me 2

                     He left that place and entered their synagogue; a man was there with a withered hand, and they asked him, “Is it lawful to cure on the Sabbath?” so that they might accuse him.  Jesus said to them, “Suppose one of you has only one sheep and it falls into a pit on Sabbath; will you not lay hold of it and pull it out?  How much more valuable is a human being than a sheep!  So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath”  Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.”  He stretched it out, and it was restored, as sound as the other.  But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.

From Matthew 12:9-14

An example where Christ communicates one of his most treasured gifts – the ability to interpret the law with thought, reason, caring and love.  He gave us the ability to think!

Flowing Up Economics Saturday Political Soap Box 37

Ah, elections!  The time when we should be discussing issues but instead focus on birth certificates and dogs on roofs of cars.  When the latest inadvertent misstatement is more important than the direction they'll take the country.  When the election of the other guy will lead to a thousand years of darkness.  In the face of that, I will continue to try to focus on some basic issues and what I believe is the direction we should take. And yes, I am taking a sacrifice in number of page views by going this route instead of the Mittbot Thurston Howell route or that darn Kenyan Socialist route.

I believe in Keynesian economics, or at least some modified version.  You only get out of recessions/depressions by accelerating demand.  This means government action and projects.  This means getting money into the hands of people that will spend it.  I prefer government works projects, research and development, infrastructure improvements, shoring up states and increased support off education.  But the cold hard facts are that the most effective stimulus is unemployment insurance and food stamps, at least for the immediate bang for the buck.  Austerity programs in the face of recession do nothing but fuel the recession.

The dominant Republican theory since the early eighties has been in something called trickle down economics.  This represents the belief that if you allow those at the top to have a very low tax rate and few regulations, the effects of this will trickle down and benefit the rest of us, in more jobs and opportunities, because those at the top have more money to invest in enterprises that will trickle down to support the rest of us.  In actuality, all this theory has down has allowed the continued acceleration and concentration of money at the top.  The rich save and become richer.  Their priority is often to save money and pass it on to their family.  Ergo, the vicious hatred of the estate tax.  They are as likely to invest overseas as they are domestically.  With some philanthropical exceptions, their major goal is to accumulate more wealth, not to benefit society as a whole.

Real economic growth comes from the bottom, not the top.  It is relatively full employment at good wages that contributes to a healthy society and a growing, vibrant middle class.  Businesses are fueled not by investment, but by demand.  If there is no demand for a product or service, why the hell would you invest in it?  The businessman Henry ford understood this.  He wanted to pay his workers enough so they could afford to buy the cars they built.  somehow, this fundamental principle has been completely and utterly lost.

When the engine of demand loses steam, that is when recession and depression hits.  And the only way to bring to back is to rev up demand.  You can give money to the wealthy all day long and it's not going to help much.  You can cut regulations, but why make even unregulated, unsafe things if there is no demand for them?  You can eliminate public sector jobs, and cut services to the poor and middle class, and all your austerity will do is further reduce demand, which further fuels the economic downturn, which cuts government revenues even further thereby increasing the deficit everyone was worried about.

I would love to see us in this country refocus on grand projects and dreams, and they can be public/private partnerships.  I would love to see a revived space program taking us to Mars and beyond.  It is fundamentally vital to the leadership of the United States and the preservation of our planet that we focus on green energy solutions.  And we will not lead the planet if we don't invest more practical dollars in PUBLIC education, and make higher education more accessible and affordable.

Austerity, anger against the poor, jealousy of public sector workers, giving more and more tax cuts to the wealthy and fewer and fewer services to those in need, is only going to result in a continuing  spiral downward  Whether they tell you they will or not, whoever is President will have to bend to Keynesian economic reality.  Bet your bottom dollar on that.

Pool Night in the Lighter Fay

A pool of intrepid solitude
Is broken by thoughts of you.
A light plays across the waters
Diffracted in a shimmering blue

No one saw me there
Behind a startle bush
I just watched in awe
And decided not to push

But then I saw her coming out of the water
Looking like a vision
Something you only dream about
Not to be measured against a reason

My eyes lit up as she dried off
Then she saw me, peering through trees
Giving me  a wicked smile
One that would automatically frees

Tyvale is far off
At least for me in waiting in the  trap,
The trap from sorcery's poisonous lips.
The trap is getting a bad rap


Soon, she was there beside me
A beautiful ghost who  walks with grace
Someone far beyond my ken
Someone with a radiant face

Come in, she pleads
The pool will refresh you
The promise will revive you
The hope will keep coming back to you.

I stand at the edge of the pool.
I so much want to go in
But that is not in my nature
I find it hard to lead the win

Goodbye, my pool friend!
So long, the tempting splash
Farewell, to the wicked smile
Hello, to an empty sash!

Ripping Good Yarns: Hall of Fame Movies

Hail to the mighty cinema!

There's nothing like going to the movie show!  The old drive-ins we went to with my parents, the large downtown movie theaters that even had balconies. the old Court Theater in Saginaw that on Saturday afternoons would show a double feature, cartoons, a serial chapter and more for no more than a quarter or two.  Even the suburban megaplexes with their cushier chairs, stadium seating, deluxe sound systems and 3D.  Of course, now, admission may take a trip to the small loan department!


So I could wax all day about my love affair with going to the movies.  And that's just one of many ways people see great movies now.  They might download them, watch them on TV, rent a DVD, or even see them on their phone.

For my new Ripping Good Yarn award, I would like to start a Hall of Fame for movies.  We will start with a general category, for movies all types.  The only rule?  It can't be a movie from the 21st century.  It needs to be from 1999 or earlier.

I will throw into contention five movies that did very well in our Facebook Faceoff from awhile back.  Feel free to comment on these and to nominate many more!

Wizard of Oz

Gone with the Wind

It's A Wonderful Life

Casablanca

Star Wars

I wait your input, Rippers!  The nominations are afoot!

Even Infomercials Can Have Great Moments

Our first lady, Michelle Obama, at the Democratic Convention, giving one of the best speeches of recent years.

It can be very infuriating, sometimes, to lean towards the side of the Democratic Party.  As a genuine progressive, their half steps and compromises can sometimes seem exasperating, constantly giving in where they do not need to. The party is of such a big tent nature that it includes very conservative members like Sen. Ben Nelson or Sen. Max Baucus, and these blue dogs drag progress out.  There are also those who sometimes seem more anxious to serve core liberal constituency groups than they are to solve problems for the betterment of the country.

But then someone with the dynamic, quiet strength of First Lady Michelle Obama comes along, and it helps crystallize why I identify so much more with this party than I do the other.  Her rhetorical skills, her caring, common sense approach, her love of family and this country shine through in everything she does.  It rips to shreds the complete lies and fabrications told by the opposition about the first family.

Here is the true American story.  Not in the story of second generation wealth, of those building their careers on wealthy family connections and manipulating the system to serve themselves, but in climbing the rungs of the American dream using one's intelligence and merit.  And yes, the use of government programs where necessary to help launch equality of opportunity.

There are so many great moments in this speech, so much that makes me proud to be an American and a progressive, but let me end with these two paragraphs quoted directly from her speech:

If farmers and blacksmiths could win independence from an empire...if immigrants could leave behind everything they knew for a better life on our shores...if women could be dragged to jail for seeking the vote...if a generation could defeat a depression, and define greatness for all time...if a young preacher could lift us to the mountaintop with his righteous dream...and if proud Americans can be who they are and boldly stand at the altar with who they love...then surely, surely we can give everyone in this country a fair chance at that great American Dream.

Because in the end, more than anything else, that is the story of this country – the story of unwavering hope grounded in unyielding struggle.