Finally, I can post this blog after seeing “Carol”.
Although the Oscars were months ago, I didn’t want to agree or disagree with voters on the Academy Awards until I watched each of the movies nominated for Best Picture and the ones featuring acting nominees.
In May, I posted whether I agreed or disagreed with the “Best Picture” category and I suggested some of the movies in that category that you may not have seen yet. Here’s that blog again.
Now, on with the acting categories. I agree with Oscar on three of the four winners!
BEST ACTOR
I agree that Leonardo DiCaprio won this category hands down for “The Revenant”.
Eddie Redmayne was incredible in “The Danish Girl” and Michael Fassbender was mesmerizing as “Steve Jobs”.
Bryan Cranston is always amazing and his role in “Trumbo was no different.
And, while I enjoyed “The Martian” and Matt Damon’s performance in the movie, I’m still a little surprised he was nominated for the big acting award.
BEST ACTRESS
This was a very tough category because all five women were captivating. However, unless there had been a tie, Brie Larson was the true winner and was rightfully awarded the Oscar for her heartbreaking performance in “Room”.
I once blogged that Jennifer Lawrence (and Melissa Leo) should be in every movie and she outdid herself in “Joy”. I know many see it as a movie about a woman and a mop and that would be simplifying it too much. I loved this movie and Jennifer.
Charlotte Rampling is one of the most underrated actresses working today and if more people saw her in “45 Years”, they’d have to agree.
I admit that it took a turn on the final season of Showtime’s “Dexter” to introduce me to Rampling and her calculated performance in “London Spy” makes me want to check out more of her movies.
I also loved Saoirse Ronan in “Brooklyn”, which was one of my favorite movies of last year. It was amazing and if more people see the movie, I’m sure they’d fall in love with her “Eilis” and Emory Cohen’s “Tony”.
And, then there’s the always captivating Cate Blanchett and her turn in “Carol” was no exception.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
I want to do this supporting category first because I agree that Alicia Vikander won the Academy Award without a doubt playing opposite Best Actor nominee Eddie Redmayne in “The Danish Girl”.
If Vikander hadn’t been in the category, I would have wanted Rooney Mara in “Carol” to win because I fell in love with her just as Cate Blanchett’s Carol did.
It’s interesting that both Vikander and Mara could just as easily been nominated in a less crowded “Best Actress” race.
I’m glad that Jennifer Jason Leigh was nominated in the over-the-top “The Hateful Eight” because I couldn’t take my eyes off her and she kept me laughing. However, she didn’t deserve to win this category.
Kate Winslet was almost unrecognizable in “Steve Jobs” and the performance was duly recognized by Oscar.
While Rachel McAdams put in a strong performance in the “Best Picture” winner “Spotlight”, her reward was the nomination.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Here’s where my agreement with the Academy voters ends. They chose Mark Rylance for “Bridge of Spies” as the winner. It was a great performance opposite Tom Hanks in the Steve Spielberg movie.
But, there are two other actors in the category that I thought deserved the gold statuette more.
Before the Oscars, odds makers put their money on Sylvester Stallone picking up the award for his latest installment as Rocky Balboa in “Creed”. I agree with them.
And, if it wasn’t Stallone, I would have given the award to Tom Hardy for his villainous performance opposite Oscar winner Leonardo DiCaprio in “The Revenant”.
The other nominees in the category were Christian Bale in “The Big Short” (incredibly quirky and unrecognizable) and Mark Ruffalo in “Spotlight” (solid performance, but not worthy of Oscar).
Now that it’s taken me almost five months to finally post this blog after seeing all of the Best Picture and acting category movies, the 89th annual Academy Awards is just seven months away — February 26, 2017.
I hope you’re enjoying your week following the Fourth of July weekend.
I loved the cooler temperatures last weekend, but the heat and humidity definitely returned to the Midwest.
As always, I appreciate you checking out my random thoughts and many of you did last Friday, so thank you again.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
I want to extend Happy Anniversary wishes to one of the most perfect couples — my favorite President Jimmy Carter and his beautiful bride, Rosalynn.
Thursday marked the couple’s 70th wedding anniversary.
After the couple married in their hometown of Plains, Georgia, they lived in several different parts of the country when President Carter was in the Navy. After that, they returned to Plains to run the family’s peanut farm and business before moving on to Atlanta to become to Governor and First Lady of Georgia.
As I’ve written before, as a 12-year-old boy, I accompanied my grandmother, Helen, who was mostly illiterate into the voting booth in November 1976 in Mayfield, Kentucky, and placed my first presidential vote for the former Georgia governor.
I want to think that my vote was instrumental in him winning my state’s nine electoral votes.
I went with her again in 1980 and, again, voted for President Carter.
I’ll be visiting Atlanta in early September for the first time and I can’t wait to see the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum. I’m so hoping that the former President and First Lady will be speaking at the Carter Center while I’m there.
So, President and Mrs. Carter, I’d love to treat you to an anniversary lunch or dinner if our path’s cross in Atlanta this September! 🙂
Happy Anniversary!
In case you missed it, here’s the blog from four years ago confessing my admiration for President and Mrs. Carter. (It’ll open in a new window and you won’t lose your place in this week’s blog.)
I already had this week’s “Random Friday Thoughts” ready to post when the bloodshed in Dallas, Texas, became the top story.
A sniper (or snipers) opened fire on about 100 police officers at a demonstration of around 800 people in Dallas. Eleven police officers were shot and, at least, five were dead.
The group gathered to protest two police-related deadly shootings this week — one in Louisiana and the other in Minnesota.
At least three people were in custody after an exchange of gunfire with police at a parking garage downtown.
This story is changing by the minute and will continue to do so throughout the day and weekend.
America and the world, violence is and has always been a part of our existence. But, the lack of empathy and the total disregard for life and our fellow man has to change.
I’m a realist and I know how this will play out, but I truly want society and mankind to prove me wrong!
STOP THE HATE
(This part of the blog was already written before the Dallas shooting spree.)
It’s been almost a month since the deadly shooting at the gay nightclub, Pulse, in Orlando, Florida.
49 people were gunned down and another 53 were injured.
There have been many vigils and memorials in the past few weeks.
Now, heavyweight producer Ryan Murphy (“American Horror Story”, “American Crime Story”, “Scream Queens”, and “Glee”) is behind a very powerful and beautiful 18-minute video tribute featuring Hollywood stars sharing the stories of each of the 49 victims’ lives with their photographs.
The video may be long, but that time pales in comparison to the lifetime that each of those 49 people will never experience now.
I hope you take the time to watch it.
So touching and heartbreaking!
THOSE “DAMN EMAILS”
“The American people are sick and tired of hearing about your damn emails.”
Those words came from Senator Bernie Sanders on October 13, 2015 (my birthday) in a Democratic debate with Hillary Clinton, the presumptive U.S. Presidential nominee, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Clinton quickly replied with a chuckle, “Thank you. Me, too. Me, too.”
Now, almost nine months later, the debate is over with FBI Director James Comey stating in a press conference with his agency’s decision, “Our judgement is that no reasonable prosecutor would bring such a case.”
But, Comey did call Clinton’s handling of private emails “extremely careless.”
Yesterday, while being grilled by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, he basically said that none of the Clinton documents in the investigation had headers stating it was “classified”.
Now that precedence is set, hopefully every Secretary of State from John Kerry forward will learn from this and new guidelines will be instituted that can keep up with the always changing internet world.
BENGHAZI — FOUR YEARS LATER
If you asked Americans what country Benghazi is in or where to find it on the map, most would not know. From a security standpoint four years ago, our own government didn’t seem to have it (and several other places) high on their radar either.
It didn’t seem like a priority until September 11, 2012, when Islamic militants killed U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans there.
The U.S. government, the Obama administration, and then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton admitted formal responsibility and she said this of the blame game, “With all due respect, the fact is we had four dead Americans. Was it because of a protest or was it because of guys out for a walk one night who decided that they’d they go kill some Americans? What difference at this point does it make? It is our job to figure out what happened and do everything we can to prevent it from ever happening again, Senator.”
Hearing were held and many studies were conducted (even independent ones). Yet, in this presidential election year, people are still looking for the “silver bullet” to implicate Clinton for this tragedy.
Dr. Anne Stevens, the sister of Ambassador Stevens, is that family’s spokesperson and she says the latest reports added nothing new because it was already established that Benghazi was not secure.
Stevens adds, “I do not blame Hillary Clinton or Leon Panetta. They were balancing security efforts at embassies and missions around the world. And their staffs were doing their best to provide what they could with the resources they had. The Benghazi Mission was understaffed. We know that now. But, again, Chris knew that. It wasn’t a secret to him. He decided to take the risk to go there. It is not something they did to him. It is something he took on himself.”
And, when asked what Chris would have thought about this year’s upcoming presidential election, she says, “I know he had a lot of respect for Secretary Clinton. He admired her ability to intensely read the issues and understand the whole picture.”
Sadly, many people are keeping this tragedy alive, not because they are saddened by the loss of Ambassador Stevens and the three other men, to make it another piece of this year’s election puzzle.
It’s time to make security changes to ensure this doesn’t happen again, and, most of all, it’s time to move on people.
“13 HOURS: THE SECRET SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI”
When it was announced in late 2014 that director Michael Bay would be bringing a movie about the Benghazi tragedy to the big screen, I didn’t have any interest in seeing it.
He’s famous for making popcorn movies geared toward teenage fanboys and fangirls (“The Transformers” series and “Armageddon”).
However, once I heard that the movie wasn’t just propaganda (it was released two weeks before the Iowa Caucus on February 1, 2016, which is the kick-off to the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election), I decided I would check it out on DVD.
It’s much better than I expected it to be. From a Hollywood telling of real life events, it was definitely a great thriller. It ended up making about $70 million in theaters with a $50 million budget.
Since we’re talking about the movie here, John Krasinski looks incredible with his newly buffed physique.
GRADE: B
TICKETMASTER & FREE TICKETS
The concert movie giant is trying to make good after a losing a lawsuit over the crazy fees it charges.
Ticketmaster has already released two waves of tickets totaling almost $15 million, but it’s only for select concerts and venues.
It’s a nice gesture, but it’ll not likely benefit most of the customers it ripped off over the years, including myself.
Here’s a July 1st post from Ticketmaster:
Ticketmaster, I have an idea if you really (and I stress, REALLY) want to make good on redemption from your shady activities that got you sued.
Since you’re only offering select number of tickets anyway, let us pick the general admission seats to the concerts we’d want to attend — if seats are available.
For instance, there are two shows that still have plenty of cheap seats open in Las Vegas when I’m there later this month. Let me use my free vouchers there.
Just a thought!
SULLY
You might not remember that it was in January 2009, but I’m sure just looking at this photo, you’ll remember the story.
This is US Airways Flight 1549 resting on the Hudson River after taking off from LaGuardia Airport in New York City.
Shortly after take-off, the plane hit a flock of Canadian geese, which caused engine failure.
57-year-old Captain Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger and 49-year-old First Officer Jeff Skiles skillfully saved all 155 passengers on board in this amazing, unpowered emergency water landing.
Director Clint Eastwood and Oscar winner Tom Hanks are bringing this amazing story to the big screen September 9th.
The movie also stars Aaron Eckhart as Skiles and Oscar nominee Laura Linney as Sully’s wife, Lorraine.
FISH POND UPDATE
It appears that the anti-viral chemical we’re using in the fish pond is making a difference!
As I told you in last week’s “Random Friday Thoughts”, we had four larger koi to die in about a week’s time and then we quickly treated the pond with an agent to fight viruses in case the last fish we acquired were sick.
Sadly, Snowflake, another of the larger koi, died last weekend. (She’s on the left here. Pumpkin Pie, my favorite fish, on the right, died two weeks ago.)
While I think the medicine is definitely working, it was already too late for Snowflake.
FIRST LADIES
For the past three weeks, I’ve been sharing tidbits from the book I read called “First Ladies” by Betty Boyd Caroli.
I’m wrapping it up this week.
Eleanor Roosevelt: She worked for the advancement of women and civil rights for black Americans. Many saw her and FDR as a team in politics. She loved press conferences — she had 348 in the three terms as First lady. She also ended Prohibition by serving wine in the White House in 1934.
Elizabeth “Bess” Truman: She and President Harry Truman made it no secret that they closely worked together for his policies. She didn’t travel by air and mostly took the train. Unlike her First Lady predecessor, she hated press conferences and only gave one!
Mamie Eisenhower: Her favorite color was pink and she surrounded herself with it. She saw her role as wife as secondary and supportive. She made many “best dressed” lists, but often bought clothes off the rack. While she exuded a “soft” side, White House staff saw her as militaristic.
Jacqueline Kennedy: She worked hard to restore the White House (she didn’t like the word “redecorate”). She was the first First Lady to hire her own press secretary and she was very into art and not just what was popular at the time.
Lady Bird Johnson: Her first name was Claudia. She borrowed against her inheritance, so her husband, LBJ, could run for Congress in Texas in 1937. She also borrowed money to buy an Austin radio station in 1942 and when television took off in the 1950s, her broadcasting complex made her a very rich woman. She’s best known for supporting the environment and for starting Highway Beautification projects.
Pat Nixon: Thelma was her first name. In her renovations of the White House, she made it more accessible for disabled and the sight-impaired. She responded to her correspondences individually and she was also a well-traveled First Lady visiting 83 nations.
Betty Ford: Her real name was Elizabeth. She was widely lauded (and likely mocked) for her frankness — about her kids, health problems, and her life, including using Valium. She wasn’t afraid to share her views even when they contradicted President Gerald Ford’s stances.
Rosalynn Carter: Her first name is Eleanor and she gave the valedictory speech at her high school graduation of eleven students in Plains, Georgia. As First Lady of Georgia and the country, she worked very hard for mental health reforms. She also fought to get the Equal Rights Amendment ratified. She also played a big role in the Middle East Peace Talks at Camp David by making many trips back to Washington D.C. during the lengthy process to stand in at events for President Jimmy Carter.
Nancy Reagan: She wasn’t shy about asking for White House renovations and new china even as the country was in a major recession. She was often criticized for influencing her husband, especially in his second term. The “New York Times” even wrote about her “Associate Presidency”.
Barbara Bush: She worked hard during her White House years for literacy and to bring attention to the fight against AIDS. She was heavily into volunteerism before she became First Lady.
Hillary Rodham Clinton: As First Lady, she was seen as highly ambitious because she was a strong woman that worked on policy for her husband. To counter criticism, she lightened her hair, wore a more feminine wardrobe, and cut back on her public speaking. To top it off, she even added her married name publicly to her already establish name of “Hillary Rodham”.
This book was updated in 1993 and it didn’t have chapters on Laura Bush and Michelle Obama.
One last interesting comment that the author made was “By 1993, the credentials of First Lady Hillary Clinton looked very much like those of the President.”
Prophetic much???? 🙂
PICK HIT
I saw Cardiknox, the pop duo of Thomas Dutton and lead singer Lonnie Angle, open for Carly Rae Jepsen in New York City in March on the “Emotion Tour”.
They are full of energy and their debut album, “Portrait”, is fantastic.
Here’s their new video, “Wild Child”.
PICK HIT BONUS
I also want to share the first song and video from the album, “On My Way”, which is one of my favorite songs of 2016.
The video is amazing because it definitely looks like it done in one take with no edits.
THAT’S IT
With all that’s going on in the world, I hope you can make your little part of this f**ked up world a little brighter! ☮
The Fourth of July weekend is upon us and that means the first half of the year is already behind us. Time flies when you’re having fun or so they say.
Have a safe holiday weekend and thank you for checking out my random thoughts. As always, feel free to let me know your thoughts.
NO DOG IN MY FUTURE — MAYBE EVER!
It’s been almost four-and-a-half years since Miss ABBA went to puppy heaven and people understandably ask, “When are you getting another dog?”. I always thought that we would one day.
However, over the past week, I’ve come to the realization that I don’t think I need one!
As you know, Ray and I built our first fish pond a few years back and last summer, we expanded it from a mere 200 gallons to 1,000 gallons.
It’s so much fun to watch the 50-plus fish at feeding time and the sound of the waterfall is so relaxing.
Sadly, it’s likely that Blizzard, the largest and most recent fish we acquired, or one of the small koi we just bought was sick.
Without warning, Blizzard died early last week. It came as a total shock and then the real trauma hit me.
Last Friday, my favorite fish, Pumpkin Pie, the one I saved from the mink last summer, died.
Pumpkin Pie is the orange one with black spots and Snowflake is the yellowish/white one.
I held her (or him) as it died. It was heartbreaking and I cried. At that point, I realized that I’ll not ready for the heartbreak of losing another pet.
After Blizzard and Pumpkin Pie, two days later, Strong, a koi that we adopted from our friends Nathan and Amanda died, followed by one more large fish, Norma Bates, the next day. (Yes, we name the big ones and a few of the small ones.)
As hard as we work to keep the fish pond clean and happy, the fear quickly set in that this wasn’t just a coincidence and that a fish bacteria or virus was raging through the pond.
The pond is now being treated by a strong anti-virus treatment and we hope that the last of the five or so large fish survive. So far, none of the 40-plus small fish (mostly goldfish) have been affected.
In memory of the four fish, we planted ornamental grasses around the pond.
Here’s a another look at a happier day not too long ago when Pumpkin Pie, Strong, and Norma Bates were alive and well! (All three are in this video — the largest ones!)
PEOPLE NEED SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN
Many people choose the Bible when they need something to believe in. However, others put their faith and money, money, money into self-help books and motivational speakers.
Look at 56-year-old infomercial star Tony Robbins. He’s made so much money convincing people that they can do almost anything they set their minds to.
That trust and faith sent dozens to the hospital late last week in Texas.
About thirty people were burned and had to be treated after walking on hot coals in a fire walking event at a seminar in Dallas. Several were hospitalized and others were transported to medical facilities that treat burns.
Jennifer Connelly, a spokesperson for Robbins says, “The fire walk portion of the event has been celebrated for 35 years.”
She adds that the goal of the exercise is to have guests to feel no discomfort afterwards, but it’s “not uncommon to have fewer than one percent of participants experience ‘hot spots’, which is similar to a sunburn, which can be treated with aloe.”
Um, I think she has this terribly wrong. Burn treatment at a hospital sounds much different than hot spots and a sunburn.
Seriously people, believe in yourself and not some person that wants your money because they know you’re weak!
PRIDE HIGHLIGHTS
Pride parades were held all across the world this past weekend and earlier in June.
Years & Years, the English dance band, with openly gay lead singer Olly Alexander played the annual Glastonbury Festival in England last weekend.
Decked out in a rainbow flag outfit, he told the crowd, “As you might be able to tell by the way that I’m dressed, I’m gay. And in fact, I’m really, really, super gay.“
And, then he got more serious about the recent tragedies like the Pulse massacre in Orlando, Florida earlier this month.
“But what I keep thinking about in the last year, some crappy and messed up stuff has happened. As a queer person, as queer people, we know what it’s like to be scared and we know what’s it like to live with fear as part of our every day. But tonight, at Glastonbury, I would like to ask you to join me on Pride weekend and say, ‘no thank you fear. Bye fear bye. Shove a rainbow in fear’s face. All I have to say to finish is, I am here and queer and sometimes I am afraid but I am never ashamed of who I am.”
Meanwhile, on Pride weekend in London, “Now You See Me 2” actor Jesse Eisenberg left a West End stage rehearsal of “The Spoils” and walked by an anti-Pride Christian group.
He was asked “Is your mind closed?” by a man offering a brochure. Eisenberg responded, “That’s so f*cking sad.”
The man asked the same question again and Jesse scoffed and laughed adding, “Is my mind closed? That’s so f*cked up” and walked away.
Back in the the United States, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton made a surprise visit and walked in New York City’s Pride parade.
NO PRIDE HERE, JUST SHAME!
As many of you know, Pride parades and celebrations started 46 years ago when the gay community took a stand and said we’re not hiding away in the shadows of society any longer.
We’ve made so much progress and there’s still so much more room for advancement.
Sadly, in the LGBT community as it is in society in general, there are those that do things that shine a really bad light on others.
YouTuber Calum McSwiggan claims that three men attacked him outside a West Hollywood, California gay bar earlier this week.
But, police now say that he faked the report and actually injured himself inside the cell with a pay phone to cover up his arrest on vandalism charges!
I’m not sharing McSwiggan’s picture because if he lied (and police and a witness say he did), he’s just desperate for fame and attention and I’m not giving him face time. Pulling a stunt like this makes him scum of the earth.
As we saw at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando and from all the hate talk that comes from politicians, the Westboro Baptist Church, and other haters, the LGBT community has to be vigilant enough already without having some media whore desperate for attention lying about an anti-gay attack!
McSwiggan is now being charged with filing a false police report.
THIS WEEK, THE POPE SAYS…
While I’m not Catholic, much of my family is.
I believe that Pope Francis, who began his papacy in March 2013, is good for Catholicism and is working to bridge the religious and real world divide between the Church and LGBT people. However, he’s really hard to figure out.
This is what he said in the summer of 2013.
While he opposes marriage equality and he thinks being a practicing homosexual is intrinsically immoral, he believes gay people should be treated with respect and love.
He’s making headlines again. On a trip to Armenia last weekend, Pope Francis declared on the flight, “I think that the church not only should apologize to the person who is gay whom it offended, but it must also apologize to the poor as well, to the women who have been exploited, to children who have been exploited by (being forced to) work. It must apologize for having blessed so many weapons.”
He’s not the first Pope to apologize for Catholics and Christians, but he’s the first to ask for an apology to the LGBT people. In 2000, Pope Saint John Paul II apologized to several groups including Jewish people, immigrants, women, and indigenous peoples.
It’s a step forward if he doesn’t contradict his statement the next time he speaks on the matter!
CLUELESS CAITLYN
I applauded Caitlyn Jenner for coming out as transgender, but I never had any faith in her advancing the cause for my transgender brothers and sisters. So far, I’d say I’m correct.
The more I see her name in the press and the more she opens her mouth, the more I cringe. Okay, that’s a polite way of expressing how I really feel about her views.
Jenner’s latest ignorant and misinformed statement: “Trump seems to be very much for women. He seems very much behind the LGBT community because of what happened in North Carolina with the bathroom issue. He backed the LGBT community. But in Trump’s case, there’s a lot more unknowns. With Hillary, you pretty much know what you’re gonna get with the LGBT community.”
Maybe she meant to say that Trump is “very much behind” on issues regarding the LGBT community!
I agree with the Huffington Post calling it a “WTF of the week”!
NATE SILVER PREDICTS OUR NEXT PRESIDENT
American statistician and writer Nate Silver of fivethirtyeight.com has spoken and he predicts that Hillary Clinton will be the next president of the United States.
If you don’t know him, you definitely don’t follow politics as closely as I do.
The baseball and politics analyst successfully predicted the outcomes in 49 of the 50 states in the 2008’s U.S. Presidential Election.
In the next election cycle, in 2012, Silver successfully called all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Earlier this week, he made his first prediction for the 2016 presidential race and gave a big edge to Clinton. Here’s how he made his prediction.
PICK HIT
“Worth It” by Fifth Harmony was one of my favorite songs of last year.
Earlier this year, the band released the first single, “Work From Home”, from their new album “7/27”, that came out in late May. It topped the airplay charts at Top 40 radio.
It’s an incredibly catchy song with a super hot, sexy video. (I featured it last week, so just glance back one week to watch it.)
Their new song, “All In My Head (Flex)” is already racing up the charts and it’s catchy, too. It features the hot ladies of Fifth Harmony, more sexy men, and rapper Fetty Wap.
By the way, what the hell is Fetty Wap singing?
ANOTHER PICK HIT
Michael Ray topped the country radio airplay chart last year with “Kiss You In the Morning”. It ended being one of my favorite songs of last year and his self-titled album was my #9 album of 2015.
He’s back with a new video for the third single from the album, “Think A Little Less”.
If you’d like to know more about Michael Ray and his incredible album, here’s my blog review. (It’ll open in a new window.)
For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been sharing little known (or well known) tidbits about the wives of the presidents of the United States from the book I read by Betty Boyd Caroli called “First Ladies”.
I’ve covered Martha Washington to Frances Cleveland. Here’s more trivia that may help you in “Jeopardy” or “Trivial Pursuit”.
Caroline Harrison: She became ill in the last year of her husband’s presidency and died a few weeks before the 1892 election becoming only the second First Lady to die while in the White House. She’s best remembered for having electricity added to the White House during 1891’s spring renovations and for starting the White House china collection.
Frances Cleveland: She served two non-consecutive terms in the White House as First Lady. In my last blog, here’s what I wrote about her: “She was 21-years-old when she married the president, who was 28 years older than her! Frances was the daughter of a former law partner to President Cleveland and he had known her since she was born. He also bought her her first baby carriage! Okay, that’s just downright creepy”.
Ida McKinley: She was very sick and frail as First Lady. In public, she was prone to seizures. President McKinley would have a white handkerchief on hand and he’d place it over her face when she had a seizure and would remove it when it was over. They would continue on in conversation as if nothing had happened.
Edith Roosevelt: She controlled the information going out to social reporters very carefully and handle criticism well. Once a famous woman was quoted in a national magazine that the First Lady “dresses on 300 dollars a year and looks it.” She happily clipped the column and placed it in her scrapbook.
Helen Taft: She was known to push her husband into positions that would align him to become president one day. She was influenced by the years she spent in the Orient and as First Lady, she had thousands of Japanese cherry trees planted and the spring blossoms are now a major tourist attraction in Washington D.C.
Ellen Wilson: She became the first First Lady to address Congress to improve housing conditions in Washington D.C., especially the slums, with “Ellen Wilson’s Bill”.
Edith Wilson: President Woodrow Wilson’s second wife was highly criticized for “petticoat government” after he suffered a stroke in the fall of 1919. She kept people away from him until he recovered enough to carry out his presidential responsibilities. That’s why people didn’t really know who was running the government. Meanwhile, she set a good example during World War I by having “meatless days” at the White House and she even brought in sheep to graze the lawn to save money and would auction off the wool to raise cash for the American Red Cross.
Florence Harding: She was known to manipulate the White House press corp. Because of that, the public never knew how sick she and the president really were and thus their deaths came as more of a shock. Publicly, she blamed their extended illnesses on food poisoning and other things.
Grace Coolidge: Her husband, President Calvin Coolidge, was very strict and never allowed her to give interviews. While he often demeaned her, he spent a lot of money to buy her a lavish wardrobe.
Lou Hoover: She was a geologist who moved to China with husband and then added Mandarin to the languages she spoke. She embraced radio and gave many speeches with a feminist slant.
I’ll have the final installment next week.
THAT’S IT
I hope you found something interesting this week in my many random thoughts. As always, feel free to share your thoughts with me, even if we disagree. Just do it diplomatically.
Have a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July weekend. Happy 240th Birthday America!
Summer is officially here. It’s been feeling like it for weeks now in the Quad Cities.
Last weekend, we were in Fort Dodge, Iowa, for Papa Ray’s (Ray’s dad) 80th birthday party and are ready to chill out at home this weekend.
Have a great one and I appreciate you checking out my “Random Friday Thoughts”.
STAY COOL THIS SUMMER
ALLIGATOR ATTACK
It was a very sad week in Orlando, Florida, last week following the previous weekend’s shooting death of 22-year-old singer Christina Grimmie of “The Voice” fame and the Pulse nightclub massacre that left 49 dead and 53 injured.
Then, last Tuesday night, a two-year-old boy visiting Walt Disney World from Nebraska, was wading in the water at a Grand Floridian Resort and Spa beach when he was dragged away by an alligator.
His body was found the next day and an autopsy showed he died from drowning and traumatic injuries.
My heart breaks for Luke and his family. What was supposed to be a fun trip to Disney will now be a nightmare for the rest of their lives.
While there were “no swimming” signs posted at the beach, there were no warnings posted about alligators.
I’m sorry, but I don’t need a sign to warn me about alligators in waters in Florida and Louisiana (where I took picture above). If you’re the least bit familiar with those states, you know there are alligators.
And, there’s no way I’d be wading in water when it’s dark and I can’t see what’s around me!
When it comes to blame, there’s enough to go around. I just hope we don’t see another tragedy like this (or the other two I mentioned).
What are you thoughts? How much of the blame is on Disney?
HE’S ALIVE AND STILL FULL OF VILE
Twisted “Christian” mouthpiece (note “quotation marks” and mockery) Pat Robertson of “The 700 Club” shares these words of advice to haters
“Christians need to just let Muslims and homosexuals kill each other off.”
I guess now Florida will probably see a hurricane this summer to punish them for their sins.
That’s not my forecast. That just how Robertson thinks.
If you think I’m kidding, check out this blog I wrote about him and his forecasting skills about four years ago. (This will open in a new window for you.)
In last week’s “Random Friday Thoughts”, I was going to talk about the gunmen that fired upon a Tel Aviv, Israel open-air market in early June killing four people.
However, the mind-boggling massacre at the gay nightclub Pulse, in Orlando, Florida, stunned the nation where more than one hundred people were shot — 49 of them died.
Now, I want to revisit that.
I visited Tel Aviv in the fall of 2014 for my 50th birthday and it was the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen. I’d go back there in a heartbeat!
Before we went, there was heightened tensions around Jerusalem, so we didn’t visit the holy city. People kept asking, “aren’t you scared to go the Middle East”? Of course, you think about it, but I wasn’t afraid.
In early June, four Israelis were killed and five others were injured in a shooting by two attackers, identified as Palestinians, at a popular food and shopping market.
I want to comment about the Israeli and Palestinian conflict and how many Americans fear visiting Israel because of the the violence and put it into perspective. (And, this was before the massacre at the gay nightclub in Orlando.)
Over the past few years, shooting deaths and injuries have gotten out of hand in Chicago.
So far this year, 1,819 people have been shot in Chicago (through June 23rd). Of those, more than 200 have died! (Last year, there were 2,988 shooting victims in the “Windy City”.)
Last weekend alone, the “Chicago Tribune” reported 59 people shot and 13 of those people died. That was in a 60-hour period from Friday afternoon through early Monday morning over Father’s Day weekend.
I lived in Chicago for four years (1994-1996 and 2002-2004) and I never felt unsafe. I can’t say that now when I do make it back to the city.
As a matter of fact, I would feel much safer in Tel Aviv, Israel!
TRAGIC ENDING FOR PROMISING ACTOR
Anton Yelchin was a charismatic, attractive young actor that I thoroughly enjoyed watching on screen and listening to talk (yes, he has a very sexy voice).
The 27-year-old died tragically last weekend in a freak accident when his Jeep pinned him against a brick mailbox pillar attached to a security fence outside his home.
TMZ.com reports that his death certificate shows he died from “blunt traumatic asphyxia” and he didn’t suffer — he was dead within a minute of impact.
It’ll be interesting to see how, if any, a spring recall on his Jeep’s year and model will play into the death investigation and if the accident could have been avoided.
I loved Yelchin in “Alpha Dogs”, “Odd Thomas”, and his two “Star Trek” movie in 2009 and 2013. The latest, “Star Trek Beyond” arrives in theaters July 22, 2016.
Also, I’m really looking forward to seeing Anton and co-star Patrick Stewart’s critically acclaimed movie, “Green Room”. It comes out on DVD on July 12th.
This is “red band” trailer (adult language and situations).
R.I.P. Anton
IT’S SUMMER — TOO SOON TO THINK CHRISTMAS?
Summer officially began here in the Midwest this past Monday evening. While we have three months of hot weather to look forward to, is it too soon to think winter?
Maybe not since Christmas is only six months from this weekend!
“ALMOST CHRISTMAS”
I’ve already found my first holiday movie that I want to see.
It’s directed by David E. Talbert, who was behind “Baggage Claim”, one of my twenty favorite movies of 2014.
“Almost Christmas” features an all-star cast including Oscar winner Mo’Nique, in a much different role than her Academy Award turn in “Precious”.
It arrives in theaters on November 11th.
PICK HIT
This week’s pick hit, “This Is What You Came For” by Calvin Harris and Rihanna, is already a Top Ten hit in America at pop radio and in dance clubs and it’s an international smash. I’m featuring it because the video is new.
Calvin Harris is one of the world’s highest paid club DJs. He’s also placed 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 with four of them reaching the Top Ten.
Meanwhile, Rihanna has charted an amazing 48 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 since her debut in 2005. Of those, 29 have made the Top Ten and 14 have hit number one!
Will lightning strike twice for Harris and Rihanna? Their last collaboration, “We Found Love”, spent ten weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2011.
Okay, I know they’re just friends, but I have to throw this out there.
Rihanna is so beautiful and stunning and Calvin is so gorgeous and hot, I just want to ship them like my teenager daughter does with “Star Wars”. Could you imagine how beautiful their children would be?
In case you’re less familiar with Calvin and didn’t see what I’m talking about in his fifteen second cameo in the video…
MORE FIRST LADIES
Last week, I started sharing a few tidbits about president’s wives after reading “First Ladies” by Betty Boyd Caroli. I covered Martha Washington to Letitia Tyler.
And, now on with a few more. We all need a little bit of useless (or useful) trivia. 🙂
Julia Tyler: She married President John Tyler 18 months after his first wife Letitia became the first First Lady to die in the White House. She’s remembered for starting the “Hail To The Chief” tradition and she hired a press agent to promote herself.
Sarah Polk: She became the most outspoken and politically involved First Lady since Abigail Adams.
Margaret Taylor: Delegated First Lady duties to her daughter. She was so obscure that no authentic likeness of her exists. In her obituary, “The New York Times” just referred to her as “Mrs. General Taylor”.
Abigail Fillmore: She established the White House library and she died about a month after President Millard Fillmore died. She caught a cold during the inauguration of her husband’s replacement, President Franklin Pierce.
Jane Pierce: She wasn’t very happy being in Washington and was regularly depressed after the death of her son, Bennie. (Their other two sons died in childhood, too.). From the public’s perspective, it was acceptable for her to grieve, but not her husband for they saw it as a weakness for the president.
Mary Todd Lincoln: She was known for freely spending money and received plenty of criticism. She was also institutionalized by her son to a private mental hospital near Chicago. Ms. Lincoln was thought to be insane because of her erratic behavior.
Eliza Johnson: She mostly remained out of sight as First Lady unlike her predecessor.
YOU MIGHT AS WELL SWEAT — IT’S SUMMER!
I don’t know what floats your boat, but the video to “Work From Home”, the recent #1 song from Fifth Harmony, is too freaking hot!
It’s an equal opportunity crowd pleaser.
I can’t believe I’ve listened to the song thousands of times, but never watched the video. Big Mistake! Big! Huge!
Fifth Harmony’s second album, “7/27”, came out in late May and debuted at #4 on the Billboard Top 200 album chart.
EVEN MORE FIRST LADIES
Julia Grant: She was the first First Lady to write her autobiography once out of the White House. It wasn’t published until 1975, almost one hundred years later.
Lucy Hayes: Unlike fun-loving Julia Grant, Ms. Hayes was known as a “tight-lipped moralizer” because of attending daily prayer meetings each morning and singing hymns Sunday evening. Also, for refusing to serve alcohol in the White House.
Lucretia Garfield: She continued her teaching job in New York during her first years in the White House. After her husband’s assassination, she became the first presidential widow to participate in her husband’s public memorial service.
Ellen Arthur: She died before her husband became the 21st president.
Rose Cleveland: She was the sister of bachelor President Grover Cleveland. As a hostess, she was often bored and was happy when he married and his young wife became First Lady.
Frances Cleveland: She was 21-years-old when she married the president, who was 28 years older than her! Frances was the daughter of a former law partner to President Cleveland and he had known her since she was born. He also bought her her first baby carriage!
Okay, that’s just downright creepy and a perfect place to end this week’s blog.
THAT’S IT
Thank you for checking it out and feel free to share your thoughts on any of my random thoughts.
I want to wish all the dads out there a “Happy Father’s Day”. We’re spending it with Ray’s dad, Papa Ray, who’s also turning 80 years old.
There are so many thoughts going through my head almost a week after last Sunday’s horrific massacre at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida. I’ll get the heartbreaking ones and the ones that anger me out of the way first.
ORLANDO NIGHTCLUB MASSACRE
It’s been a sad week for the LGBT community.
The nightmare is still settling in for the families of the 49 victims, the 53 people who were hurt, and the rest of the people inside the popular gay nightclub last Sunday morning when a 29-year-old terrorist opened fire with a semi-automatic assault weapon and a gun (a third gun was found in his car) after taking hostages. He was killed by police.
I’ve gone back and changed this part of the blog several times as more details are released.
First, I wrote that the killer’s father said it happened because his son didn’t like gay people. But, it seems the more his father talks, the more he sounds like a lunatic himself!
Now there are reports that the shooter may actually have been gay, or at least, a regular at Pulse and on gay hook-up sites and apps.
If that’s true, it’s very sad that he was such a self-loathing, closeted gay man. He wouldn’t be the first person forced into a sad life of hiding the fact that he was gay. Most of the time, that fear is perpetuated by the views of family, religion, or society in general. This has to change! However, people in those situations normally don’t resort to such a heinous crime of murder!
CALL IT WHAT IT IS — A HATE CRIME
The shooting in Orlando is now the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. This surpasses the Virginia Tech (April 2007) and Sandy Hook shootings (December 2012).
After I started processing the shock and sadness I felt, I was angered by Republican politicians addressing the shooting while ignoring the fact that nightclub and the victims were targeted for being (or suspected of being) LGBT.
Failed Republican presidential wannabees Marco Rubio and Mike Huckabee shared these tweets:
Rubio: “Our prayers are with those injured and killed early this morning in horrifying act of terror in Orlando.”
Huckabee: “Please join Janet and me in praying for the victims of the Orlando attack and their families.”
Notice that there’s no mention of where this senseless tragedy took place or why they were slaughtered. It was because of who they were!
Rubio and Huckabee are just two of the politicians who demonize the LGBT community on a regular basis — except when it gives them face time in front of cameras with empty sympathetic apologies. The LGBT community needs love and support every day, not when it’s convenient.
Disgusting!
“THESE PEOPLE”
When I shared my blog about the shootings and who the LGBT community is on Facebook last weekend, someone commented, “these people are in our country to harm us and are just sitting back waiting for that call.”
In this case, I know “these people” was referring to Muslims or Middle Easterners. The shooter’s parents are from Afghanistan.
Still, I was taken aback by the comment and replied, “There are “these people” in every walk of life — they may have different color skin, religions, upbringings, ideologies, etc. The white kid who (allegedly) murdered the innocent black church goers in South Carolina last year is one of “these people”.
In the weeks following the Charleston, South Carolina shootings one year ago today, there were suspicious fires at seven black, or predominantly black, churches in South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida.
Trust me people, hate is very much alive in this country. We have a major problem and we’ve got to work together to find a solution. This means all of us.
GUN CONTROL
There’s a lot of debate about guns and gun control. Some think that when you ask for tougher regulations, you want to take their guns away.
I want people to be checked thoroughly before they legally own a gun. I want to know if these people have criminal records, if they’re on the “no fly list”, have mental issues, etc.
I don’t care if people own guns for protection or hunting. But, there is NO reason for the general public to own an assault-style weapon like the AR-15! None!!!
But, legally, it’s considered the same as other rifles and there are anywhere between 2.5 million and 3.7 million guns in the AR-15 family in civilian use today in the United States.
Now, for the first time ever, the family of the gun’s inventor is speaking out.
They told NBC News, “Our father, Eugene Stoner, designed the AR-15 and subsequent M-16 as a military weapon to give our soldiers an advantage over the AK-47. He died long before any mass shootings occurred. But, we do think he would have been horrified and sickened as anyone, if not more by these events.”
My final thought on the matter is that when the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was adopted in 1791 allowing us to “keep and bear arms”, I know that our founding fathers never imagined a weapon of that caliber — a weapon that would be responsible for cutting so many lives short here in America!
The Second Amendment would be worded much differently today and bearing arms would mean something else.
LET ME TELL ABOUT THE LGBT COMMUNITY
In case you didn’t get to read my blog last Sunday that expressed how devastating this massacre is to the LGBT community and who were are, here it is again. (This will open in a new window.)
There have been many stories coming out from family members grieving over the loss of their loved ones. This one really breaks my heart.
32-year-old Christopher “Drew” Leinonen and his 22-year-old boyfriend Juan Guerrero were two of the victims inside the Pulse nightclub.
Juan’s sister, Aryam, says, “They were honestly so in love. They were soul mates. You can tell by how they looked at each other. It’s a little comforting that they died together.”
Look at the caption taken from this Instagram photo of the men with their families, “Christmas was perfect”. This Christmas won’t be perfect for the grieving families.
As much as I love the holidays, I’m going to make sure that Christopher and Juan are not forgotten this Christmas.
The two men had planned on getting married and their families have decided that they’ll be buried together.
LOVE IS LOVE
Before I married almost five years ago, I found this video and it still makes me smile. I even borrowed the “sparkler toast” for our reception.
Today, I dedicate it to the memory of Christopher and Juan, the love they shared, and the wedding they never experienced.
Make sure the person you love knows it everyday! Life is too short.
Ray, I love you!
GAGA HONORS THOSE MURDERED
Lady Gaga addressed thousands earlier this week at Los Angeles’s City Hall at a vigil to remember those killed at the Pulse nightclub. Gaga read off the names of the 49 people murdered.
The pop star told the tearful crowd, “I can’t help but feel that this level of hatred, like all prejudicial crimes, this is an attack on humanity itself.”
She added, “This is an attack on everyone.”
ON A LIGHTER NOTE….
JUST ONE DONALD TRUMP COMMENT (BUT, I HAVE SEVERAL)
If anyone ever says he doesn’t have a sense of humor, I’ll always have this tweet of his to remember. I’m still laughing out loud over his ignorance.
We might have been born at night, but not last night!
Please let him become a footnote in American history November 8, 2016.
DON’T UNDERESTIMATE FISH
As you know from reading my blog and following me on social media that we love our expanded koi and goldfish pond.
Now, I have scientific proof that the fish know me, they really know me!
Culum Brown, an Australian biologist studies fish intelligence and he says, “Most fish species are social and have the capacity for individual recognition.”
He adds, “We have known that for more than 20 years. We also know that fish can use facial features to categorize predator and non predators. Fish are much smarter than people think.”
Now I know that Pumpkin Pie, the orange koi with the black spots featured above and at the beginning and end of this feeding frenzy video, recognizes me for more than just being the “food man”!
So, she’s not just a Pavlov fish! 🙂
By the way, she’s the one that I rescued from the mouth of a mink late last summer. You can read about that harrowing experience here. (Again, the link below will open in a new window.)
People waiting for Gaga’s first new album of pop material since 2013’s “Artpop” (not counting 2014’s “Cheek to Cheek” with Tony Bennett) may have to wait until later this year or early 2017!
Sir Elton John reveals that he’s heard two or three of the new songs and they are “absolutely brilliant”.
Until the new music arrives, this is still one of my favorite Lady Gaga songs.
FIRST LADIES
As you know and you can’t escape, it’s an election year. I’ve been reading mostly autobiographies, biographies, and books about political figures.
I just finished “First Ladies” by Betty Boyd Caroli. It was an easy read because it spent just a few pages or so on each of our president’s wives.
Here are a few tidbits I learned that you may already know. If not, they may come in handy while watching “Jeopardy” one day.
Martha Washington: A multi-millionaire (adjusted to today’s dollar) left to her after her first husband’s death.
Abigail Adams: Very hands-on in helping to shape her husband’s, John Adams, policies.
Martha Jefferson: Died almost two decades before Thomas Jefferson became president, so she was never First Lady, but future First Lady Dolley Madison stood in to entertain at the White House for President Jefferson.
Dolley Madison: Before being forced to evacuate the White House in August 1814 before British soldiers burned it down, she saved the painting of General Washington.
Elizabeth Monroe: Ordered her dresses from France at reportedly $1,500 each and wasn’t regarded as too social in her role as First Lady.
Louisa Adams: Only First Lady born outside of the United States (London, England) and she was the daughter-in-law to second president, John Adams.
Rachel Jackson: She died days after her husband, Andrew, was elected president, so she was never officially First Lady.
Hannah Van Buren: She also died before her husband, Martin, became president.
Anna Harrison: She was the wife of the ninth U.S. President and grandmother of the 23rd president, Benjamin Harrison. While she was First Lady, she never actually lived in the White House because her husband, William Henry Harrison, died on his 32nd day as president, and she hadn’t moved in yet.
Letitia Tyler: She was the first First Lady to die while living in the White House (stroke).
I hope you learned something there and I’ll share more First Lady tidbits in the next “Random Friday Thoughts”.
ONE MORE “PULSE” TRIBUTE
Back in 2013, I shared an interview and blog about Eli Lieb, an Iowa singer and songwriter working to make it to the big time.
Since he grew up not far from the Quad Cities, I’ll post the blog again after the video.
His self-titled album was one of my twenty favorites of 2013.
He and Brandon Skeie, both out and proud singers and songwriters released “Pulse” earlier this week to honor the gay nightclub victims.
Typically, I have less serious material in my “Random Friday Thoughts”, but there is so much to process this week.
Take care of yourself and those around you.
Thank you for checking out my thoughts this week and, as always, feel free to share your thoughts with me. If we disagree, do it diplomatically. More gets resolved that way.
The worst mass shooting in American history (at the time) took place Saturday night in an Orlando, Florida, gay nightclub called “Pulse”.
The shooter killed 49 innocent people!
I pray for each and every person — gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, questioning, or straight — in that nightclub.
I pray for their families and their friends that someone took it upon himself to come into that nightclub to destroy the lives of everyone there and for the people who love them.
This is a disgusting act of cowardliness and it’s a sad expression of where some in humanity stand in life. It’s pathetic and heartbreaking!
If this shooting and mass murder took place because it was a gay nightclub, that compounds an already inhumane act.
Hate is hate! No one has the right to inflict emotional or physical pain or death upon another person because they think being gay is a sin.
Let God decide that when the time comes.
Learn to be human and talk about your differences or move along down the road in a different walk of life.
June is the month for Americans to celebrate “Gay Pride”.
It’s a time to celebrate diversity and everything that we in the LGBTQ community has had to fight for in life — from being discriminated against for who we are, to having others neglect them and kick them out of their homes for being different, and that’s only the tip of the iceberg.
“Gay Pride” was established in 1970 after the Stonewall Riots in New York City in the summer of 1969.
Bar patrons, who already had to hide in the shadows to meet, said to police who came in harassing them on a regular basis, “enough is enough”.
They fought back with bottles, rocks, and whatever they could find to protect themselves. Harassment, even at the hands of police, who demeaned and mocked gay people at the bar, is harassment and is wrong.
The “Stonewall Riots” started a revolution! Gay people could be themselves anywhere in America — whether it be Mayfield, Kentucky, Pocatello, Idaho, or San Francisco, California.
When America is faced with an act of terrorism, such as the 9/11 attacks in September 2001 or terrorist attacks on a smaller scale, we stand strong in the face of sadness, tears, and blood.
As Gay Pride events take place this month, I hope all our friends embrace the LGBTQ community and look out for us, just as we would do for you — we are one!
I’m thinking of the U2 song, “One” right now and I think it’s appropriate.
I hope America and the world come together at this sad time to open their arms and open their hearts to their brothers and sisters in the LGBTQ community.
We’re human just like you — we love and we want to find love, we work and pay taxes, we’re someone’s son, daughter, brother, sister, niece, nephew, friend, or co-worker.
And, when some coward charges into a nightclub armed with “an assault-type weapon, a handgun” and “some type of (other) device”, we bleed and die just like the rest of America and the world.
All we want is peace, love, and understanding.
That starts at home, at schools, and at work.
That starts with each one of us.
Please pray for those hurt and killed at the Pulse Nightclub, their families and friends, and the world.
We’re moving closer to the official start of summer, but this is going to be the hottest weekend in the Quad Cities since last September. I’ll definitely be floating in the pool with a cold beverage!
Great response and feedback to last week’s “Random Friday Thoughts”, so let’s jump right into this week’s edition.
WHITNEY HOUSTON RUMOR CONFIRMED (?)
It’s been more than four years since superstar Whitney Houston died, but in his new book, “Every Little Step”, ex-husband Bobby Brown confirms a longstanding rumor about Houston.
As I wrote in a blog in early 2013, there was always speculation that Whitney was in an intimate relationship with her personal assistant, Robyn Crawford.
In that blog, Whitney’s mother, Cissy Houston denied it.
However, in his new book, Brown says that Whitney was bisexual and that she and Crawford were in a longtime relationship.
Brown writes, “I really feel that if Robyn was accepted into Whitney’s life, Whitney would still be alive today.” He goes on to say that Whitney didn’t have any close friends after Crawford.
It’s sad to think that if that’s true and she had been accepted for who she was, she might still be with us.
You can read my blog about her mother’s views on Whitney’s sexuality and relationship with Crawford by clicking this link. (It’ll open in a new window and you won’t lose your place in today’s blog.)
One last thing — Bobby Brown, please don’t continue to mine Whitney and Bobbi Kristina’s deaths for your personal financial gain. Let them R.I.P. after this.
BEST.COMEBACK.EVER.
Those 115-thousand-plus Hillary retweets and likes were just in the first hour!
On the other hand, Donald Trump’s comment had 100-thousand less retweets and only 26-thousand likes in the same time period!
Oh Snap!
BERNIE SANDERS, THANK YOU!
While things didn’t work out for Senator Bernie Sanders in the 2016 Democratic race for president and he did get testy and borderline rude toward the end of the primary and caucus season, I commend him on the fight and the awareness of the broken system he brought to this year’s race for the White House.
After meeting with President Obama Thursday, Sanders told reporters he would “work as hard as I can to make sure that Donald Trump does not become president of the United States”, which he said would be a “disaster”.
He also said, “I look forward to meeting with (Clinton) in the near future to see how we can work together to defeat Donald Trump and to create a government which represents all of us and not just the 1%.”
Here’s to unity and the political demise of Trump!
PAUL RYAN CALLED DONALD TRUMP WHAT?
House Speaker Paul Ryan (Mitt Romney’s 2012 vice presidential running mate) this week said that 2016 Republican presumptive nominee Donald Trump made “a textbook definition of a racist comment” about U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel.
Trump claims that because Curiel is of Mexican heritage he can’t preside over Trump’s case fairly because the likely GOP presidential candidate wants to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico.
But, Ryan still says he’ll be voting for Trump in November.
Nicely played, GOP!
GOODBYE BRETAGNE, YOU BEAUTIFUL GIRL
Bretagne (pronounced “Brittany”), a 16-year-old golden retriever, crossed the “rainbow bridge” earlier this week in Houston, Texas.
She’s the last known surviving canine hero who searched the rubble of “Ground Zero” after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
“The Daily Golden” reports that her owner and handler noticed that Bretagne wasn’t eating (her favorite thing) and she knew something was wrong.
On Monday, members of the Texas Task Force 1 and the Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department greeted Bretagne as she entered the veterinarian’s office for the last time.
She was later brought out draped in an American flag while her admirers still stood saluting.
An autopsy is being conducted since the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation is conducting a study of all 9/11 search and rescue dogs.
I don’t often tear up when writing my blogs, but I did with this entry.
GORILLA KILLING FOLLOW-UP
Last week, I talked about the Cincinnati Zoo incident that led to the shooting death of a 17-year-old silverback gorilla after a 3-year-old child crawled into the animal’s exhibit.
Hamilton County prosecutor Joseph T. Deters announced earlier this week that no charges would be brought against the little boy’s mother stating she “did not act in any way where she presented this child to some harm. She had three other children with her and turned her back.”
Deters added, “The zoo lost a beautiful animal and one that many people in this area have enjoyed watching for some time.” But, he continued, “it’s still an animal”.
He stated that zoo officials are “heartsick” and “on so many levels, this is a tragedy.”
TODRICK HALL IS A GENIUS!
If you’re a big YouTuber or an avid “American Idol” fan, you might know 31-year-old singer-dancer-choreographer-actor-director Todrick Hall.
If not, let me share with you a soon to be masterpiece. Hall blends together two of my favorites into seven minutes of pure bliss — Britney Spears and “Beauty and the Beast”.
So, until Britney drops her new single “Make Me (Oooh)” in July and the album this fall and the live-action version of “Beauty and the Beast” arrives in theaters next spring (more on that below), this will be on repeat on my computer.
Classic!
THE PUBLIC RESTROOM DEBATE
Confused over the whole controversy of allowing transgender Americans to use the bathroom of their gender identity and not their sex?
If you haven’t been following the story, North Carolina put into place “House Bill 2, the Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act” which bans people from using public bathrooms that do not correspond to their biological sex in late March 2016.
The Department of Justice alerted the state’s Governor and the University of North Carolina system that this is a violation of the U.S. Civil Rights Act.
In just the first month after “House Bill 2” was announced, tourism and hospitality took a $77 million hit in investments and visitor spending with cancelled concerts, TV and movie production, and many state and city governments refusing to travel to North Carolina.
THE INCREDIBLE DOLLY PARTON SPEAKS OUT
You don’t have to be a country music fan to think the world of Dolly Parton because of her open-mindedness and honesty.
While Dolly didn’t cancel the opening night of her “Pure & Simple Tour” in Greensboro, North Carolina last Friday night, she definitely has something to say about the transgender community and the controversy.
This appeared on CNN Money’s Facebook page last Friday.
Kudos Dolly!
“JUST PEE”
Pop icon Cyndi Lauper, Broadway and movie star Harvey Fierstein, and the cast of Broadway’s “Kinky Boots” have an entertaining and thought-provoking look at the whole bathroom debate with “Just Pee”.
What are your thoughts on the matter?
“THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN”
We’re already six months into the year and I still haven’t gone to the movies yet. I had planned on seeing “Money Monster”, but that never materialized.
Last year, it was December before Ray and I finally went to the theater and we saw “Krampus”.
This will all change October 7th when “The Girl on the Train” hit multiplexes with Emily Blunt.
If you’re not familiar with it, get on board and read the thriller.
In Paula Hawkins’ 2015 worldwide best seller, “Rachel is an alcoholic, divorced woman who becomes obsessed with a couple she sees on a regular basis from the train she takes into London. One day, she sees something strange that will trigger a series of events that will have you feverishly turning the pages to see what’s real, what’s not, and what really happened. It’s a page turner until the end!” (That’s what I had to say about the book last July.)
Here’s the movie trailer.
After finishing the book last summer, here’s a blog I posted with my dream cast. Needless to say, Hollywood didn’t listen. But, I do love Emily Blunt.
“Beauty and the Beast” is my favorite Disney movie ever! I absolutely adore Belle!
I honestly grew up in Kentucky as the male “Belle”. In Mayfield, where I was born and raised, I felt like Belle in the “poor provincial town” — just waiting to get out there and I’ve been gone 26 years now!
I’ve been very protective of the 1991 “Best Picture” Oscar-nominated original. I haven’t seen the musical, but I’d like to one day.
When the direct-to-video sequel, “Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas” arrived in 1997, I bought it only because it was Christmas-themed. It was enjoyable.
Two summers ago, a live-action version of the film was announced for a March 2017 release date starring Emma Watson of the “Harry Potter” series and “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”.
I was elated and scared at the the same time. Now, after seeing the first trailer, I can’t wait until March 17, 2017 arrives!
The trailer has been viewed almost 16 million times already in just over two weeks!
PICK HIT
American singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor blasted on the music scene with her chart-topping single, “All About That Bass”. That song stayed #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks and was downloaded more than 9 million times in the U.S. alone!
“Bass” also won two Billboard Music Awards in 2015 and in 2016, Trainor picked up a Grammy Award for “Best New Artist”.
She’s now added three more Top Ten hits on the Hot 100 (“Lips Are Movin”, “Like I’m Gonna Lose You” (with John Legend), and “No”).
While I thought her music was cute, I didn’t jump on the “Bass” band wagon.
However, I do like “Marvin Gaye”, a duet with Charlie Puth.
I fell in love with Meghan after her smoking hot performance of her new song on Jimmy Fallon’s show. I probably wouldn’t have noticed it if she hadn’t fallen off her high heels after the incredible performance.
But, it was the style and class she exhibited when she fell that endeared her to me. And, the song, “Me Too”, is now one of my favorites. It’s such a fun “Song of the Year” contender.
“Me Too” is already a Top Ten hit in Australia and Canada and is currently one of the twenty most played songs on American Top 40 radio.
“SONG OF THE SUMMER”
There’s already speculation as to what will be 2016’s “Song of the Summer” (Memorial Day to Labor Day). Justin Timberlake’s “Trolls” movie song, “Can’t Stop The Feeling!”, is a front-runner.
“Billboard” magazine just released its Top Ten songs of each summer dating back to 1985.
Flashing back thirty years to 1986, Madonna had the “Song of the Summer” with “Papa Don’t Preach”. I remember so well getting ready on Saturday nights and heading out to “Club DV8” jamming to this song.
BEN WHISHAW…JUST BECAUSE
I have nothing new to report on the talented English actor!
However, if you haven’t checked out the mini-series “London Spy” or the movie, “Lilting”, stop wasting time and do so now!
THAT’S IT
Well, this has been fun and I already have some thoughts for next week. I didn’t want you to have to read all day!
As always, thank you for checking out my thoughts and I always welcome yours — as long as you’re diplomatic if we disagree.
Depending on who you listen to, it might already be summer. Some say Memorial Day is the “unofficial” start to the summer season and meteorologists call the three hottest months of the year (June, July, and August) “meteorological summer”.
However, if you go by the calendar, the summer solstice begins Monday, June 20th at 5:34 p.m. CDT.
Whatever you call it, I hope your spring or summer is off to a great start. Since I had so much fun bringing back “Random Friday Thoughts” last week, here’s another one!
IT ALREADY FEELS LIKE SUMMER
After a pretty chilly start to the month of May in the Quad Cities, it sure got hot over the last week or so. Check out these recent unseasonably warm temperatures in Moline, Illinois, right on the Mississippi River.
After a cooler weekend, warmer weather is forecast to return through, at least, the middle of June.
HOW DID PRINCE DIE?
A medical examiner and the toxicology report confirm that musical icon Prince died of an accidental opioid fentanyl overdose. Even before that news broke, there was widespread speculation that an overdose was the cause of death.
Opioid fentanyl is a very potent pain reliever — 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine.
Even before the news broke Thursday, I was already writing about Prince in today’s “Random Friday Thoughts”. Here’s what I had already written:
“It’s now been six weeks (!) since music icon Prince died at Paisley Park, his Minneapolis-area home, but we still don’t know how he died.
I know medical examiners want to be thorough when determining the cause of death, but six weeks? Typically, toxicology results are released a couple or a few weeks after someone dies.”
While Prince is gone, his music will live on. Following his death, in the first full week of sales, he had 19 albums on the Billboard Top 200 chart. That broke the Beatles’ record of 14.
To honor the musical legend, here’s my favorite Prince song — it’s so hard to narrow it down to one!
ARE SOME PEOPLE “FOR REAL”?
Social media is great to reconnect to people you’ve lost contact with over the years and to communicate and share ideas with others.
However, the anonymity it provides allows people to say things they normally wouldn’t say to someone in person.
Some people can handle it and blow it off, but some can’t. For me, I have a tougher skin from working in a public forum all these years. While crazy or mean comments on social media still tick me off, it has to be really bad to even remotely hurt my feelings.
For example, look at this inspirational picture I posted again earlier this week.
It got a lot of love on Facebook. However, I have to share this Twitter correspondence with some anonymous person.
I’m the kind of person that tries to respond to all comments (good or bad), but I’ll not carry on a lengthy debate and waste my time with someone who’s main objective is just to argue just for the sake of it.
Trust me, most of the posts on this person’s Twitter page proves he/she just trolls the internet and social media to make negative comments.
Voters in California and New Jersey, two very delegate-rich states, head to the polls Tuesday, June 7th.
From a mathematical standpoint, Hillary Clinton will almost certainly become the presumptive nominee for the Democratic party.
In full disclosure, if you’re reading my blog for the first time, I’m a Hillary Clinton supporter. However, I’m not writing today to boast or gloat.
I’m trying to understand things from the perspective of a Bernie Sanders supporter and I want your diplomatic feedback. But, first, here’s a little set-up to my questions.
Much to my chagrin back in 2008, after a long fight, Hillary dropped out of the race and fully supported Senator Barack Obama in his successful bid for president that November.
In a perfect world, we’d have more than two parties choosing candidates with a real chance of being elected president. If we had three or four strong, viable parties fighting for the job, the House and Senate would work for the people and with the president to get things done. Now, it’s just say the opposite of what the other side is saying!
If this was the case, Sanders could run as an independent and he’d likely be on the ballot in November in a race on equal footing with the other candidates.
This election season (especially lately), there’s been a lot of talk about the “superdelegates” having the power to choose the nominee. That’s a realistic part of the process now, as it was in 2008 and many elections before that. Should that part of the election process change? Probably.
Also, I wish that every state and territory had primaries and we’d totally do away with caucuses. We should be able to go into the booth and choose the candidate we want. We shouldn’t have to argue and debate it in a room full of people. Let the candidates debate and just let us vote.
Thus far in the race for the Democratic nomination, I’ve been mature and I’ve taken the high road not to personally bash Senator Sanders. However, since we’re being honest, it’s getting harder and harder and I’m very frustrated with his mean-spirited rhetoric lately. I know he wants to win and I know you want him to win and aren’t happy with the way it’s turning out.
Now, Bernie supporters, here’s what I want to know — at what point do you think that he should move toward backing Hillary since he’s running on the Democratic ticket? After California and New Jersey? Before the Democratic National Convention? At the convention?
I’ve also heard, “I’d rather not vote than to vote for her”. How many of you would actually want Donald Trump to be president if it isn’t Sanders? Doesn’t that fly in the face of everything that Bernie stands for?
I want to hear what you have to say — as long as you’re diplomatic!
MURDERED ZOO GORILLA
Unless you’ve been on vacation or living under a rock, I know you’ve heard of the incident at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden last weekend.
A 3-year-old child crawled through the barrier and then fell twelve feet into the gorilla enclosure.
Zoo officials, fearing for the life of the child, shot and killed Harambe, the 17-year-old silverback gorilla.
The way the incident was handled has sparked outrage online. Hundreds of thousands of people have signed a petition wanting the boy’s parents to be held criminally responsible.
A witness, Kimberley Ann Perkins O’Connor, told CNN that she overheard the boy joking to his mother about going into the water and the next thing you know, he was inside the exhibit with the gorilla.
But, Cincinnati Zoo director Thane Maynard stands by the decision to kill the gorilla, “That child’s life was in danger. People who question that don’t understand you can’t take a risk with a silverback gorilla — this is a dangerous animal. He adds, “Looking back, we’d make the same decision. The child is safe.”
Famed zookeeper Jack Hanna agrees “1,000 percent” with the zoo’s decision.
Watching the (frightening, at times) video, I fully believe the gorilla felt it was protecting the child. However, I don’t know the nature of gorillas and it could have ended up hurting or killing the child with all of the commotion going on.
I know that “kids are kids” and that they can be elusive, but you can’t tell me that the mother was fully in control of that child. Should she go to jail? No. Should there be some penalty? Yes! How about community service at the zoo?
What do you think? Was the right decision made to shoot and kill the gorilla with a rifle instead of tranquilizing him? Should the parents face any criminal charges — neglect or child endangerment?
AIN’T YOUR MAMA
I’m ready for my next trip to Las Vegas in late July. I can’t believe it’s been over a year since we were there. During that trip, we ate plenty of great food and enjoyed many mimosas.
Since 2012, we’ve seen Elton John, Madonna, Lady Gaga, Olivia Newton-John, Shania Twain, and, last year, Bette Midler in Vegas.
This time, I’m working to get my hands on tickets to see one of the sexiest women ever (okay, maybe not “one of the sexiest”, but “the sexiest”), Jennifer Lopez.
J. Lo danced her way onto the entertainment scene as a “Fly Girl” on Fox’s “In Living Color” in the early-1990s, endeared herself to movie and Tejano music fans playing slain international singer Selena in the 1997 hit movie, “Selena”, and then blasted to the top of the music charts in 1999 with her first international hit, “If You Had My Love”.
She’s back with a fun dance song with a strong feminist point of view.
“Ain’t Your Mama” even features a very powerful message from former Secretary of State (and possibly the next president of the United States) Hillary Clinton, “Human rights are women’s rights and women’s right are human rights once and for all.”
“Ain’t Your Mama” is already a Top Ten hit in Finland, Hungary, Lebanon, and Spain. Here is the U.S., it’s finally cracking the airplay charts at Top 40 radio.
I can’t wait to go back and listen to all of J. Lo’s music (and not just the songs she performs in the “All I Have” Las Vegas show at The Axis Planet Hollywood) and rank my favorites. I’ll post that in July before I see the incredible show!
PICK HIT
As we near the halfway point of 2016, “Matter”, the latest album from the New York City-based synth-pop band St. Lucia, is one of my favorites of the year.
The band makes dance music that sounds new and refreshingly 1980s at the same time.
I reviewed the album back in February giving it an “A”.
Here’s what I said then, “Most of the eleven songs on his second album are very upbeat and very synth-heavily.
My favorites are “Dancing on Glass” (which I’m sharing with you),”Home”, “Rescue Me”, and “Physical”, which is very energetic, but ends very chill. “The Winds of Change” is very similar in composition — higher beats-per-minute, but ends chill.
“Help Me Run Away” is so retro in feeling that it makes me giddy every time I hear it.”
And, I’m even more giddy now because St. Lucia just released “Help Me Run Away”, which was co-written by Jack Antonoff of fun. and Bleachers, as the next single and video.
If you haven’t heard of them and you need a fantastic album to get you through summer, grab “Matter” now.
The band is getting ready to embark on a nationwide tour that kicks off next week and runs through late October.
In October, they’ll be playing in Des Moines, Iowa, which is just three hours from the Quad Cities. I just might have to drive in, see the show, and drive back home just in time to go into work for the graveyard shift! 🙂
PICK HIT BONUS — COUNTRY STYLE
Canadian country music star Brett Kissel now lives in Nashville, Tennessee, and has opened for some of the biggest names in the business like Garth Brooks. However, here in the U.S., he’s probably unknown outside of the Nashville music circles. I hope that changes soon.
Since his 2013 debut album, “Started with a Song”, generated five Top Ten Canadian Country songs, he’s moved into superstar status there with his second album, “Pick Me Up”, which arrived last fall.
It produced his first #1 song, “Airwaves” and the Top Ten follow-up, the title track.
His new single, “Cool With That”, is out now and it’s racing toward the Top Ten in Canada. I’m featuring it as my pick hit today and I hope this is the one that introduces him to American country radio.
If you’d like to know more about Brett and his music, here’s a blog from February.
How about a bonus track from “Matter” and St. Lucia?
THAT’S IT
As always, I appreciate you taking time out of your day to check out my random thoughts and I value your opinions, too. We can disagree, as long as it’s diplomatic.
Happy Memorial Day weekend! It’s the unofficial kick-off to the summer season. I hope you have a great one. It’ll be especially nice for those with a three-day weekend (Ray!).
I wasn’t planning on an installment of Random Friday Thoughts, but here it is. Surprise!
We’re running behind schedule this year, but we’re putting up our pool this weekend.
We closed it down in late September, but I’m ready to float the weekends and afternoons away — especially now that we’re enjoying summer-like, above average temperatures in the Quad Cities.
R.I.P. BETH HOWLAND
Beth Howland, who played ditzy waitress Vera, on the long running 1970s-1980s CBS sitcom, “Alice”, has died of lung cancer. She was 74.
Howland actually died December 31, 2015, but her actor husband, Charles Kimbrough, told The Associated Press that it “her choice” not to have a memorial service or funeral. That’s why the news is just now coming out.
As a kid, I loved her character and comedic timing.
“GOODNIGHT MOMMY”
For whatever reason, the 2014 Austrian psychological thriller/horror movie, “Goodnight Mommy”, just hit Redbox and I highly recommend it!
Susanne Wuest is incredible in the role as “The Mother” and twins, Elias and Lukas Schwarz, are mesmerizing.
The movie was Austria’s entry for Best Foreign Language Film for the 88th Annual Academy Awards, but it wasn’t picked as a nominee. Oscar fail!
Before I saw the movie, I wrote, “the trailer definitely creeps me out”. Wait until you see the movie!
I don’t give too many movies this grade, but “Goodnight Mommy” gets….
GRADE: A+
LET’S CHARGE FOR PLASTIC BAGS!!!
I know Earth Day is in April. But, there’s something that we can do to cut back on pollution and some communities are working hard to make it happen.
As I travel across the country (and the world), I see more and more businesses charging for those paper-thin, flimsy plastic bags that Walmart and other stores use.
They’re cheap to produce and many aren’t used again because they rip open before you even get home! Many end up blowing in the wind or floating in area lakes and rivers.
More businesses are selling cloth reusable bags and I think that’s fantastic.
Aldi stores sell the reusable bags, but they also have plastic bags. However, if you want one (whether you throw it away or reuse it), you pay for it.
I know it’d get expensive if you’re paying for the plastic bags at big stores like Walmart, but it’d probably prompt you to buy quality, reusable bags. And, the environment would love you for it.
Many communities are even banning or proposing bans on the plastic bags.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY (AND EVERYDAY)
POLITICS TIDBITS
I was wrong!
In my “Random Friday Thoughts — December 19, 2014”, I predicted that Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush would be the two candidates on November’s ballot for U.S. president.
Well, it looks like I’ll be right with the Democratic nominee come June 7th once New Jersey and California vote, but who would have thought the presumptive nominee out of seventeen candidates on the Republican side would be Donald Trump!
Scary, right? Yes! I don’t need to wait for an answer!
NEXT VEGAS PLAN CHANGES
Going to Las Vegas is an annual pilgrimage for me and Ray.
We love to eat, gamble, catch a couple of shows, walk, walk, walk, and see the sights.
We love checking out the beautiful hotels and casinos — especially the displays made of flowers at the Bellagio. I really want to visit one December when the glitzy city is decorated for Christmas.
However, our next trip in late July will not include a visit to the gorgeous The Venetian and The Palazzo.
The CEO is donating $100 million (yes, million) to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign! I’m sorry, but I will not help fund in any way that sorry excuse of a man that wants to be president!
There are plenty of other places there to try my luck at the slots — and eat desserts!
We’ll be visiting the Spice Market Buffet at Planet Hollywood. It’s a tradition for us to eat there and have the weekend champagne brunch at the Stratosphere.
Have I mentioned how much I love buffets, slot machines, and Las Vegas?
FOR THE LOVE OF NANCY REAGAN
Former First Lady Nancy Reagan died earlier this year of congestive heart failure at the age of 94. Her husband, Ronald, our country’s 40th president, died back in June 2004 at the age of 93.
Since it’s an election year, I’ve mostly been reading biographies and autobiographies of political figures. I’ve read books from Hillary Rodham Clinton and Jimmy Carter, plus books on presidential wannabees Marco Rubio and Mike Huckabee.
I just finished Nancy Reagan’s “My Turn” and Kitty Kelley’s “Nancy: The Unauthorized Biography”.
What I concluded from Nancy’s book is that she definitely heavily influenced Ronald Reagan in his two terms as California’s governor (1967-1975) and his two terms as president (1981-1989).
Even in her own words, I don’t think she was probably a very nice person (outwardly). However, I don’t think she was the evil pariah that Kelley made her out to be.
But, reading some of the accusations made by Kelley — including an affair with Frank Sinatra, date rape, and unplanned pregnancies — it definitely makes one wonder what was really going on in the lives of one of the most conservative political families.
To restore some of my faith in Ms. Reagan, I read Michael Deaver’s “Nancy: A Portrait of My Years with Nancy Reagan”.
Although it’s a short book, don’t waste your time. It’s basically the “CliffsNotes” version of Nancy’s “My Turn”.
He told the same stories she did with very little new insight. The book only one earned its worth when in the last thirty or so pages, he addressed Ronald Reagan’s Alzheimer’s Disease.
There’s one thing that I would never dispute about the Reagans — their love for each other in their 50+ years of marriage. It’s very admirable.
I still have a few more books to read about them — about their love and President Reagan’s autobiography.
PRESIDENT REAGAN, I NO LONGER HATE YOU
I didn’t personally know or like the Reagans (especially the President).
There’s one big reason that I used to despise Reagan and it was much deeper than him defeating my favorite President Jimmy Carter in the 1980 presidential election. Here’s a blog from the summer of 2012 to explain. (Clicking on this blog link will open a new window, so you won’t lose your place in today’s reading.)
Since my last “Random Friday Thoughts”, Ray and I spent two weeks in China. We met some really nice people in our tour group from all over the world, including New Zealand.
We climbed the Great Wall of China, cruised on the Yangtze River (when we weren’t fogged in and unable to move), saw the stunning Gorges, endured the worst smog I’ve ever seen in Beijing where our trip started and ended, and witnessed the lights and glamour of Shanghai, the reason we went to China!
Maybe because it was for a tour group, the food was pretty bland and too Westernized. I’m ready to enjoy my favorite Asian food in the Quad Cities, Osaka Buffet, in Moline, for some “real” tasty cuisine.
Would I ever go back to China? Probably not. Would I recommend seeing it once in your lifetime? Definitely!
PICK HIT OF THE WEEK
The first time I heard “Faded” by 18-year-old British-born Norwegian record producer Alan Walker (with vocals by Iselin Solheim), I fell in love with the song.
Instantly, I searched out more songs from Walker and much to my chagrin, I found there isn’t an album — yet.
The ethereal, very moody, and captivating song is already a chart-topping smash in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Vietnam, and eight other counties!
Here is the United States, the song is racing up the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart jumping from #26 to #17 this week and it’s already in the Top Ten on the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart.
It’s getting some airplay at Top 40 radio here, but I hope it really catches on soon. If you haven’t heard it, here it is.
Call B100 and 101.3 KISSFM here in the Quad Cities and request it. Just tell them that Anthony from Local 4 requests that you play it. 🙂
“LONDON SPY”
If you’re looking for an intelligent television series to add to your summer viewing, you have to check out this five-part BBC America series. (You can catch it on Netflix.)
“London Spy” stars one of the best English actors working today, Ben Whishaw, who’s also appearing on Broadway in “The Crucible”.
It doesn’t hurt that Whishaw is charming and adorable, too! But, I’m recommending this thriller because he’s incredible and the story is very suspenseful.
It also stars Jim Broadbent (“Moulin Rouge!”) and Oscar nominee Charlotte Rampling (“45 Years”).
GRADE: A
THAT’S IT
Since I don’t write as much as I used to or as much as I’d like, I appreciate you checking out this week’s “Random Friday Thoughts”. As always, feel free to let me know if you agree or disagree — just do it diplomatically.
Have a great holiday weekend and remember the great men and women that made this Memorial Day weekend a holiday.
The 88th annual Academy Awards were almost three months ago and this is not a spoiler: “Spotlight”, Leo, Brie, Alicia, and Mark came away as the winners in the movie and acting categories.
It’s taken me this long to see all of the nominees (the exception is “Carol”, which hopefully, I’ll get around to seeing next weekend — sorry Cate and Mara!)
So, did Oscar voters get it right? Maybe I should rephrase that — “Do I agree with the Hollywood vote casters? Yes, except for one category.
If you’ve already seen them, feel free to weigh in. Here are my short reviews.
BEST PICTURE
The nominees: “The Big Short”, “Bridge of Spies”, “Brooklyn”, “Mad Max: Fury Road”, “The Martian”, “The Revenant”, “Room”, and “Spotlight”.
And, the Academy Awards goes to: “Spotlight”!
“SPOTLIGHT”
This incredible story is about the Boston Globe’s investigation that broke open the Catholic church sex scandal and cover-up.
The acting was above par with Mark Ruffalo and Rachel McAdams both picking up Best Supporting Actor and Actress nominations, respectively. For both of those actors, I agree that “it’s an honor to be nominated”. Like Oscar, I think someone else in the categories shined brighter.
GRADE: B+
“THE BIG SHORT”
This movie about the housing bust is very talky with very little physical action and that’s a good thing.
Ryan Gosling was awesome, as always, and an almost unrecognizable Christian Bale was very intruiging. Bale picked up a nomination for “Best Supporting Actor”, but I didn’t pick him as the winner in that category.
GRADE: B
“BRIDGE OF SPIES”
This Steven Spielberg directed “Cold War” caper was an enjoyable movie starring the always stellar Tom Hanks and Mark Rylance, who won the Oscar for “Best Supporting Actor”.
GRADE: B
“BROOKLYN”
I saw this Oscar-nominated Best Picture on the flight to China and what a beautiful love story it turned out to be.
Best Actress nominee Saoirse Ronan was heartbreaking as Eilis, a 1950s woman living in New York City and having to choose between the man she met and loves in the U.S. and a charming man back home in Ireland.
GRADE: A
P.S. I would have loved to see Saoirse and my dreamboat, Ben Whishaw on Broadway this spring in “The Crucible”.
Damn you, Tony Awards, for snubbing them both! (Okay, different blog at a different time!)
“MAD MAX: FURY ROAD”
I’ve never seen any of the previous “Mad Max” movies and since they star the hateful Mel Gibson, that’s a good thing.
As beautiful as Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron are, I admit that during the first thirty minute of this movie, my thoughts were “WTF”. Oh, if that’s too harsh for your sensitivities, I was thinking, “WTH”!
But, then it all started making sense and the movie blew me away. I want to see it again just to marvel at director George Miller’s brilliance.
GRADE: B
“THE MARTIAN”
Here’s what I wrote in my “Random Friday Thoughts — February 19, 2016”:
“I finally got around to see this $614.2 million dollar blockbuster that’s nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Film, Best Director, and Best Actor for star, Matt Damon.
Everyone (and their mother) has already seen this, so I won’t write a long review. I loved this movie much better than “Gravity”, which I didn’t like, and I haven’t seen “Interstellar”.
Damon does a great job in the role, but Oscar winning-worthy? No.
My biggest complaint — the 2 hour, 21 minute running time was excessive and I think the movie could have been just as entertaining 30 minutes shorter.
GRADE: A-
“THE REVENANT”
This movie took home three Academy Awards (“Best Actor” for Leonardo DiCaprio, Alejandro G. Inarritu for “Best Director”, and Emmanuel Lubezki for “Best Cinematography”).
The cinematography was breathtaking and beautiful. While the movie was brutal, graphic, and realistic, you couldn’t take your eyes off the screen.
When I’m watching a movie and there’s an animal that is killed or injured, I tell myself that it’s a “Holly (insert animal here)” for “Hollywood (fake) animal”. Well, there were many “Holly animals” in this one. 🙂
GRADE: A
“ROOM”
From my “Random Friday Thoughts — March 11, 2016”:
“When I read the blockbuster book, “Room” by Emma Donough, I didn’t know what I’d think of the movie adaptation when it was announced. Even after seeing the trailer last summer, I still was unsure.
However, after watching the potent movie that earned star Brie Larson this year’s Best Actress Oscar, my reservations were unfounded.
Because I had read the book, tears were streaming down my face after just the first ten minutes of the movie. Tears continue to fall at different times in the movie.
GRADE: A
So, there you have all eight nominees for “Best Picture”, the Oscar winner, and my grades.
You’ll notice that my top picks (based on grades) were “Brooklyn”, “The Revenant”, and “Room”. If it was based solely on that, I’d say Oscar was wrong.
It was definitely a hard choice for me for “Best Picture” between “The Revenant” and “Spotlight”. However, with the social message, the real life emotions, and the changes it brought in humanity, “Spotlight” rightfully won the Oscar.
And, I want to add that Oscar was correct honoring Inarritu for “Best Director” and Lubezki for “Best Cinematography” for “The Revenant”.
Soon, I’ll blog about the acting categories since I still need to see “Carol”. As of now, I agree with three of the four winners.
Stay tuned or coming soon, whichever you like best.
Decked out in a rainbow flag outfit, he told the crowd, “As you might be able to tell by the way that I’m dressed, I’m gay. And in fact, I’m really, really, super gay.“
Back in the the United States, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton made a surprise visit and walked in New York City’s Pride parade.
The band makes dance music that sounds new and refreshingly 1980s at the same time.
What's Peeps Thinking About Now? It's Probably Random! 