How is this cruel? Other than the usual I-have-go-to-work blues?
It's cruel to me because I'm about to list comments that would ALL generate response if I put them individually on social media rather than post them here. It's like I'm deliberately putting myself in a vacuum. Oh, well. No plan is perfect.
The Oscars
Since the DVR, I have learned to speed watch the show, so there may be some things I missed. Chris Rock was a great host, and his commentary was spot on, and did not go over the top. Lady Gaga's rendition of her nominated song was a show highlight. The In Memoriam segment is always overwhelming - you don't realize how many we've lost until they run through it.
A number of films came up winners, with Mad Max winning the most, thanks to the technical craft awards. I highly enjoyed Leonardo DiCapria's speech for his Best Actor win. I don't mind them using their speeches to make a political statement, especially when it's for something as incredibly important as recognizing global warming. We're running out of time, folks. Whatever can be done to focus our attention, I'm all for.
Spotlight may be a good movie, it may even be a great one. But it's most definitely NOT a ripping good yarn. It's something that could easily be seen from the home, and the kind of movie that is often made directly for HBO. For my money, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the best picture of the year. It wasn't even nominated.
Politics
Yep. No doubt about it. Bernie got his ass handed to him in South Carolina. The worst part of it is he has been unable to add significant numbers of African-American voters to his coalition. I think he could gain them in time, but I'm not sure there is enough time. Certainly not by Super Tuesday.
But this is a marathon and not a sprint. Clinton is not always an effective campaigner, particularly when she's in front. And I feel Bernie's message is too vital not to take all the way to the convention.
So, yes, absolutely. I'm still feeling the Bern.
There's not enough time this morning to say all the disgusting things I'm feeling about Trump. I just wish my Republican friends who know enough to be reviled by him will stay firm and prevail against unleashing this monster upon us all.
The Music Man
This is the beginning of Hell Week, where there are long rehearsals and then performances every night through Saturday topped with a Sunday matinee. This is on top of a hellacious work week, with a slew of tax deadlines to cope with. It will make one question one's sanity is choosing to do theatre.
But sometimes, when I'm front of an audience, and I can feel them respond and react, it makes it all worthwhile. I love applause and appreciation, and that sure don't happen in accounting.
And it's going to be a delight to be onstage again with my son, Benjamin. He has multiple characters, solo singing lines, and an incredible dance scene. Me? I try to be funny and not trip too badly over the furniture.
Until next time,
T. M. Strait
Monday, February 29, 2016
Saturday, February 27, 2016
Primary Endorsements: Saturday Political Soap Box 125
Quickie primary endorsements!
I'm going to endorse candidates before the Georgia primary, just like I was some big city newspaper, instead of just some crazed blogger for whom most of his blog stories tops out at around 50 views. Oh, well, If you can't be grandiose here, where can you be?
Republican
Yes, the election of any Republican would be an unmitigated disaster for the country. Global warming would worsen and go unchecked, our progress in health care would be reversed, and the Supreme Court would be socially conservative and corporate friendly for the next twenty to thirty years. BUT - political precedence actually favors an election of a Republican this year. Demographics make it a challenge, but that could be overcome with the right candidate and the right circumstances.
So, in all sincerity, which candidate do I recommend to Republicans?
John Kasich, Governor of Ohio.
He has a diverse background, experienced in politics and business. He has served at the national level and the state level. He has proven to be as adept at building coalitions to actually get things done as any Republican candidate in the race. He is very conservative, as are all the contenders (except Trump - Trump is a fascist, not a conservative...Well, Cruz is a conservative but he is also a Christian Dominionist). But I do believe he is one that can accomplish things. Maybe not the whole pie, but a larger slice than you might expect from the others.
And, as an extra bonus, he is by far your best bet to beat Hillary Clinton, should she be the opponent. He is based in the Midwest rust belt, where this year's election will be determined. The other sections are pretty well set how they will vote, but this section is up in the air. If you take Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin and PEnnsylvania, you will take the election. And he can neuter Hillary's claims as first female President by selecting a female running mate, like Kelly Ayotte, Republican Senator from New Hampshire.
Rubio is a choice that might help slightly with Florida and Latinos. but the Marcobot is inexperienced, unaccomplished, and prone to glitches when taken off talking points. His views are very extreme, something we don't notice as much because of the other crazies in the race.
Now, who do I recommend on the Democratic side?
Bernie Sanders, Senator form Vermont.
Anybody who has read my other political blog entries surprised by this? I would think not.
Both Clinton and Sanders are experienced. I would argue that Sanders has been more successful and accomplished. Clinton's sole term in the Senate was relatively modest, with little to show for it. Sanders is known as the Amendment King, for the number of amendments he is able to get into legislation. He has a solid record, from the time he was a Mayor, of working with the other side. Yes, he is an unabashed progressive, but he also knows how to get things done.
It's partly a matter of speed. Clinton will works towards progressive change at about five miles per hour. Sanders will go sixty. Mybe he is slowed to ten by other forces, but his ending point will be better than Clinton's.
I am first and foremost a single-payer person. I beleive decent medical care is a basic human right, and Medicare for All is the way to accomplish it. Bernie is for this. Hillary has said she is for universal healthcare, but I am not sure what she means, as she has stated that single payer will never, ever pass in this country. How in the world could I make someone with that attitude be my first choice?
Electorally, I believe that Bernie is the stronger candidate. He simply does not have the baggage that Clinton has, most of it not her fault, but it's still there. Will the Republicans demonize Bernie as well? Of course they will! But Bernie represents a new kind of politics that the old attacks just won't work as well on.
Clinton has simply been out of synch in both years she has run. She represents an old style of politics, a kind of Republican lite that was more suitable to the 90s. She has been backed into a corner as the less progressive candidate both times. She has yet to prove to be a highly effective campaigner, and she is a huge participant in the whole Super PAC responding to special interests style of politics.
Will I support her if she is the nominee? Of course. A corporate Democrat, as flawed as that may be, beats any corporate Republican a hundred fold over.
A vote for Bernie is an affirmative vote in the belief of our country's future, an endorsement of the path that we must follow in order for the nation to survive and prosper.
Will we follow it?
I don't know.
And that scares the bejeezus out of me.
I'm going to endorse candidates before the Georgia primary, just like I was some big city newspaper, instead of just some crazed blogger for whom most of his blog stories tops out at around 50 views. Oh, well, If you can't be grandiose here, where can you be?
Republican
Yes, the election of any Republican would be an unmitigated disaster for the country. Global warming would worsen and go unchecked, our progress in health care would be reversed, and the Supreme Court would be socially conservative and corporate friendly for the next twenty to thirty years. BUT - political precedence actually favors an election of a Republican this year. Demographics make it a challenge, but that could be overcome with the right candidate and the right circumstances.
So, in all sincerity, which candidate do I recommend to Republicans?
John Kasich, Governor of Ohio.
He has a diverse background, experienced in politics and business. He has served at the national level and the state level. He has proven to be as adept at building coalitions to actually get things done as any Republican candidate in the race. He is very conservative, as are all the contenders (except Trump - Trump is a fascist, not a conservative...Well, Cruz is a conservative but he is also a Christian Dominionist). But I do believe he is one that can accomplish things. Maybe not the whole pie, but a larger slice than you might expect from the others.
And, as an extra bonus, he is by far your best bet to beat Hillary Clinton, should she be the opponent. He is based in the Midwest rust belt, where this year's election will be determined. The other sections are pretty well set how they will vote, but this section is up in the air. If you take Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin and PEnnsylvania, you will take the election. And he can neuter Hillary's claims as first female President by selecting a female running mate, like Kelly Ayotte, Republican Senator from New Hampshire.
Rubio is a choice that might help slightly with Florida and Latinos. but the Marcobot is inexperienced, unaccomplished, and prone to glitches when taken off talking points. His views are very extreme, something we don't notice as much because of the other crazies in the race.
Now, who do I recommend on the Democratic side?
Bernie Sanders, Senator form Vermont.
Anybody who has read my other political blog entries surprised by this? I would think not.
Both Clinton and Sanders are experienced. I would argue that Sanders has been more successful and accomplished. Clinton's sole term in the Senate was relatively modest, with little to show for it. Sanders is known as the Amendment King, for the number of amendments he is able to get into legislation. He has a solid record, from the time he was a Mayor, of working with the other side. Yes, he is an unabashed progressive, but he also knows how to get things done.
It's partly a matter of speed. Clinton will works towards progressive change at about five miles per hour. Sanders will go sixty. Mybe he is slowed to ten by other forces, but his ending point will be better than Clinton's.
I am first and foremost a single-payer person. I beleive decent medical care is a basic human right, and Medicare for All is the way to accomplish it. Bernie is for this. Hillary has said she is for universal healthcare, but I am not sure what she means, as she has stated that single payer will never, ever pass in this country. How in the world could I make someone with that attitude be my first choice?
Electorally, I believe that Bernie is the stronger candidate. He simply does not have the baggage that Clinton has, most of it not her fault, but it's still there. Will the Republicans demonize Bernie as well? Of course they will! But Bernie represents a new kind of politics that the old attacks just won't work as well on.
Clinton has simply been out of synch in both years she has run. She represents an old style of politics, a kind of Republican lite that was more suitable to the 90s. She has been backed into a corner as the less progressive candidate both times. She has yet to prove to be a highly effective campaigner, and she is a huge participant in the whole Super PAC responding to special interests style of politics.
Will I support her if she is the nominee? Of course. A corporate Democrat, as flawed as that may be, beats any corporate Republican a hundred fold over.
A vote for Bernie is an affirmative vote in the belief of our country's future, an endorsement of the path that we must follow in order for the nation to survive and prosper.
Will we follow it?
I don't know.
And that scares the bejeezus out of me.
Thursday, February 25, 2016
Backstage The Music Man Cross the Crick at the Ritz!
One week to go!
The backstage cramming and concentration has already begun! Nikki Spivey, who is fortunate or unfortunate enough to play my wife, Eulalie Mackacknie Shinn, counts the pages until she goes back onstage.
Kimberly Beck leads the way across River City's romantic footbridge.
Professor Harold Hill, played by Taylor Hereford, stands on the footbridge waiting for his new sweetheart. He only looks tall because of the size of the bridge. He's not really tall. You would know that if you saw the way I towered over the bridge. Then you would know for sure who was tall and who wasn't. So now you'll just have to see the show to know.
Who's that kid dancing the Shipoopi? Why, that's the BenJerMan hisself! You'll have to come to the show to catch this triple threat!
We interrupt this rehearsal for a brief "Funky Chicken".
Monday, February 22, 2016
Pictureless Monday Musings
Yes, I know.
More people view my posts on social media when I have a picture with them.
But that's hard to keep giving the time to do when Facebook leaves it blank or picks Hillary Clinton at random or just puts in some bizarre black and white arrow.
I would take it more personal, but I have seen it with other people's postings. It may be some kind of war between Facebook and Google (my blog is from a Google Plus thing). I'm mot technologically inclined, so what I can do about mega-Corp wars? Oh, I know - elect Bernie Sanders.
Which is looking a little less likely this Monday. Hillary won Nevada with a slight lead, and now the mass media is back on board the HILLARY IS INEVITABLE train. She should tromp Sanders in South Carolina, which will clinch her victory in their minds.
But the nomination is long and complicated, often with unexpected bumps and twists, so I wouldn't get out the victory kazoos quite yet.
On the other hand, if you are a Republican, you must be a little fearful knowing your train is now officially the CRAZY TRAIN EXPRESS. Trump is so repulsively and frighteningly bad, it distracts from how horrible the rest of the field is. At least we won't have the feared Clinton/Bush triple replay. Never has a candidate been so soundly rejected as Jeb Bush, losing miserably while spending in the neighborhood of $150 million dollars.
-------------------------
I saw an amazing play this weekend. Purlie Victorious put on by Purlie Productions at the Okefenokee Heritage Center was off the chain good. Joey Timmons hit all the right notes as Rev. Purlie, varying his voice, emotions and responses like a virtuosos,
They performed the same play last year, with a different actor in the lead. It was good then, too, but I was distracted during the Sunday I saw it. It was during that performance that my good friend and Curator of the Okefenokee Heritage Center, Steve Bean, lost his battle in a hospital in Jacksonville. He was the one responsible for the revitalization of the Studio at the Heritage Center, and for encouraging both the performing and written arts at the Center. It touched me deeply to hear the director of Purlie, Barbara Griffin,dedicate the play to Steve.
It was one year ago today that Steve passed. His positive influence and love continues to embrace my family. We remember him and love him. He was a true inspiration to our creative and spiritual sides.
Until next time,
T. M. Strait
More people view my posts on social media when I have a picture with them.
But that's hard to keep giving the time to do when Facebook leaves it blank or picks Hillary Clinton at random or just puts in some bizarre black and white arrow.
I would take it more personal, but I have seen it with other people's postings. It may be some kind of war between Facebook and Google (my blog is from a Google Plus thing). I'm mot technologically inclined, so what I can do about mega-Corp wars? Oh, I know - elect Bernie Sanders.
Which is looking a little less likely this Monday. Hillary won Nevada with a slight lead, and now the mass media is back on board the HILLARY IS INEVITABLE train. She should tromp Sanders in South Carolina, which will clinch her victory in their minds.
But the nomination is long and complicated, often with unexpected bumps and twists, so I wouldn't get out the victory kazoos quite yet.
On the other hand, if you are a Republican, you must be a little fearful knowing your train is now officially the CRAZY TRAIN EXPRESS. Trump is so repulsively and frighteningly bad, it distracts from how horrible the rest of the field is. At least we won't have the feared Clinton/Bush triple replay. Never has a candidate been so soundly rejected as Jeb Bush, losing miserably while spending in the neighborhood of $150 million dollars.
-------------------------
I saw an amazing play this weekend. Purlie Victorious put on by Purlie Productions at the Okefenokee Heritage Center was off the chain good. Joey Timmons hit all the right notes as Rev. Purlie, varying his voice, emotions and responses like a virtuosos,
They performed the same play last year, with a different actor in the lead. It was good then, too, but I was distracted during the Sunday I saw it. It was during that performance that my good friend and Curator of the Okefenokee Heritage Center, Steve Bean, lost his battle in a hospital in Jacksonville. He was the one responsible for the revitalization of the Studio at the Heritage Center, and for encouraging both the performing and written arts at the Center. It touched me deeply to hear the director of Purlie, Barbara Griffin,dedicate the play to Steve.
It was one year ago today that Steve passed. His positive influence and love continues to embrace my family. We remember him and love him. He was a true inspiration to our creative and spiritual sides.
Until next time,
T. M. Strait
Friday, February 19, 2016
It's time to Vote!
It's time to vote!
Georgia gets to participate in our great, convoluted process of selecting the nominees for the major parties' Presidential nominees. It's one small thing that actually symbolizes everything - we live in a country whee we can still effect the process if we so choose.
Indeed, early voting has already begun here. It's designed to increase voter participation, How successful it's been, in the wake of greater registration and voter ID restrictions, in our unfortunate atmosphere of declining civic engagement, I'm unsure. Voter participation has not been rising.
Georgia will be part of a big event called Super Tuesday, that in particular has a good number of southern states voting on the same day. We may be deluged with commercials and campaigning, although all I see in this area so far are Cruz and Trump signs.
But you don't need to vote for one of those two just because those are the only signs you see. Don't be intimated by the deluge you see, from the negativity and superficial pangs that our political contests are heir to. Don't vote based on looks or whose personality you find most engaging. Find what you really want, what direction you really hope the country will turn to, and choose that. Who is going to do the best for your family, who is going to do the best for Georgia, who is going to help the country and the world be a better place.
Take away the filter of the nasty ads, the puffery personalities, the shifting polls, the intimidating endorsements, the fear mongering and hateful rhetoric. Replace them with the issues that drive you the most, and who you think can best accomplish the greatest progress with them. The country may be in less of a mess than some proclaim, but there are many places and ways it could improve.
You're not going to find the perfect candidate. None of us are completely one thing or another. We are all mix of motivations and positions. One candidate may seem refreshingly politically incorrect, wildly swinging at "telling like it is", but then you realize so does your crazy Uncle Bud at Thanksgiving dinner, Another candidate may promise to enforce a Christian version of Sharia law, blowing past any definition or understanding of separation of church and state. Other candidates may swear to you that they will take on Wall Street and other wealthy interests, while at the same time they are bloated with money received from the very interest they swear to you they will hold in check.
They may have something in their past that other candidates prey on and make you see that their opponent is less than perfect. Well, guess what? You're not going to find the perfect person. One of those hasn't been around for a couple thousand years. It's the candidate's journey that's most important, the strength of character and purpose that have allowed them to grow to represent the things most important to you.
So find that person that brings you your closest match to accomplishing goals for yourself, your family, your state, your country and Planet Earth. Disregard the polls, ignore the negativity, forget the clever ads, deemphasize the peer pressure that may cause you to lose sight of what may be important to you personally. Focus in on the issues that mean the most to you.
You might be surprised as to where the process takes you. Hopefully, it takes you to the polls as an informed citizen ready to do your part in participating in one of the greatest democratic processes the world has ever seen.
May it be revitalized, improved and continued forever!
Georgia gets to participate in our great, convoluted process of selecting the nominees for the major parties' Presidential nominees. It's one small thing that actually symbolizes everything - we live in a country whee we can still effect the process if we so choose.
Indeed, early voting has already begun here. It's designed to increase voter participation, How successful it's been, in the wake of greater registration and voter ID restrictions, in our unfortunate atmosphere of declining civic engagement, I'm unsure. Voter participation has not been rising.
Georgia will be part of a big event called Super Tuesday, that in particular has a good number of southern states voting on the same day. We may be deluged with commercials and campaigning, although all I see in this area so far are Cruz and Trump signs.
But you don't need to vote for one of those two just because those are the only signs you see. Don't be intimated by the deluge you see, from the negativity and superficial pangs that our political contests are heir to. Don't vote based on looks or whose personality you find most engaging. Find what you really want, what direction you really hope the country will turn to, and choose that. Who is going to do the best for your family, who is going to do the best for Georgia, who is going to help the country and the world be a better place.
Take away the filter of the nasty ads, the puffery personalities, the shifting polls, the intimidating endorsements, the fear mongering and hateful rhetoric. Replace them with the issues that drive you the most, and who you think can best accomplish the greatest progress with them. The country may be in less of a mess than some proclaim, but there are many places and ways it could improve.
You're not going to find the perfect candidate. None of us are completely one thing or another. We are all mix of motivations and positions. One candidate may seem refreshingly politically incorrect, wildly swinging at "telling like it is", but then you realize so does your crazy Uncle Bud at Thanksgiving dinner, Another candidate may promise to enforce a Christian version of Sharia law, blowing past any definition or understanding of separation of church and state. Other candidates may swear to you that they will take on Wall Street and other wealthy interests, while at the same time they are bloated with money received from the very interest they swear to you they will hold in check.
They may have something in their past that other candidates prey on and make you see that their opponent is less than perfect. Well, guess what? You're not going to find the perfect person. One of those hasn't been around for a couple thousand years. It's the candidate's journey that's most important, the strength of character and purpose that have allowed them to grow to represent the things most important to you.
So find that person that brings you your closest match to accomplishing goals for yourself, your family, your state, your country and Planet Earth. Disregard the polls, ignore the negativity, forget the clever ads, deemphasize the peer pressure that may cause you to lose sight of what may be important to you personally. Focus in on the issues that mean the most to you.
You might be surprised as to where the process takes you. Hopefully, it takes you to the polls as an informed citizen ready to do your part in participating in one of the greatest democratic processes the world has ever seen.
May it be revitalized, improved and continued forever!
Thursday, February 18, 2016
Comics Spinning Round and Round!
Just going to the drug store was such a treat! There was candy and toys, magazines and sodas, and best of all, there was a spinning rack of comics!
Each spin would take you somewhere new and exciting! It could be the world of Archie and Jughead, Betty and Veronica, those crazy teenage kids from Riverdale High. Others would allow you to read more exciting adventures from the TV shows you loved - Sea Hunt, Gunsmoke, Twilight Zone. There were comics based on your favorite stars - Roy Rogers, Bob Hope, Jerry Lewis. There were comics that would take you to deepest space, the wild west, World War 2, the Okefenokee Swamp (thank you, Pogo and creator Walt Kelly).
When I started to collect, taking a fist full of change to the local mom and pop, super-heroes were revived and starting to dominate again. I was then, and am now, a big Superman fan. When he is written at his best, there is no better defender of truth, justice and the American way. When he first came to Metropolis in the disguise of Clark Kent, he focused his career in helping the most disadvantaged citizens, and in going after those who would exploit them.
I saw the beginnings of the Marvel explosion, with the introduction of the Fantastic Four and the Amazing Spider-Man. New, more realistic heroes with every day conflicts and angst. They came one after another, creating incredible icons that still endure and dominate today.
Movie comics, Disney characters,adaptions of literary classics, funny animals, young romance - the variety was infinitely colorful and fun. And all available for first a dime, then 12 cents, then 15 cents. Now they cost as much as $3.99. But most of you don't know that. Because the spinner rack is gone. Even as comic book characters dominate our TV and movie screens, the actual monthly comic has disappeared from our lives. Oh, they still exist. But you have to be in a big city and visit one of the dwindling number of comic shops, or order them online.
Now the visit to the drug store and other local establishments are so much plainer. There is little to no reading material, certainly very little for kids. Even the number of paperback books have been narrowed or eliminated. You're left with greeting cards, celebrity gossip, and maybe a handful of magazines about hunting, cooking, guns or cars. Virtually nothing for the imagination to soar with, nothing to take you someplace else.
I know. Times change. Now kids get most of their stuff through computers and tablets. You can get books and comics right to Kindle. You can get video games from the computer, ones that can even play on your TV. You don't ever have to leave home.
I think they're missing out. There was nothing like getting on your bike and going to the drug store, and finding yourself someplace else. From the super-powered world of Metropolis or Marvel, to the jungles of Tarzan, to the teens of Riverdale High, to the delightful talking swamp creatures of the Okefenoke, your bike ride became a ticket to the infinite horizon.
All in color for a few coins. Ah, yes. I miss those days.
Monday, February 15, 2016
Grace Filled Valentine
Every year our church has a special Valentine's dinner put on by the Youth Sunday School class. Thanks to Sarah Rollison and others, our parish hall is turned into a very romantic and swanky place, the perfect ambiance for a special Valentine dinner.
Everyone enjoyed either Baked Ziti (prepared by Alison Strait) or Broccoli Bowtie Alfredo (prepared by Brandi Holland), and some clever few took a Tour of Italy and got both! The Artisan salad was prepared by Audrey Jernigan, garlic bread prepared by Jeris Tyre, and there was a Chocolate Raspberry cake prepared by Jennifer Strickland. Drinks included sweet and unsweet tea, coffee, water and wine.
Here we see Brandi Holland at the Kitchen prep table and Alison Strait at the stove busily preparing their signature dishes. My self assigned job was to aggressively and constantly taste everything, and I put on the extra pounds this weekend that proved I did my job well.
The talented and polite waiting staff consisted of Carli Holland and Benjamin Strait, seated here, ready to enjoy their own dinner after making sure everyone else was served and satisfied. Lilly Holland greeted guests, taking their tickets and helping them get seated. In the background, Mike Taylor was at the piano, serenading guests with romantic music.
Grace Episcopal is blessed to have the VERY best way to celebrate a Valentine's evening. Maybe next year you can join us too! (Do remember about the Tour of Italy!)
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