While I wrote about my spring European cruise and about the 30th anniversary of the biggest and best decision I’ve made, I haven’t shared any random thoughts lately.
So, why not do it now and next week! Thank you for checking them out.
THE FUTURE
All I’ll say right now is that I’m saddened to think about the future — the next four months and the next four years.
I’m not talking about my particular future, but generally speaking.
DRUNK NATIONAL ANTHEM
Earlier this week, singer Ingrid Andress slaughtered, not slayed, the National Anthem at the MLB Home Run Derby. (I have no clue who she is and I know that “Derby” is not the Kentucky Derby and it has something to do with baseball!)
I could enlighten myself on both accounts, but I’m not that concerned.
What I did see in headlines and intros to stories on Andress is she’s a four-time Grammy nominee. WOW!
So, why am I even talking about it? I saw her Instagram post saying she was drunk and she apologized. But, what caught my attention was the glib last line.
“I’ll let y’all know how rehab is I hear it’s super fun.”
She sounds very committed to getting help. Hell, who knows? She might have still been intoxicated writing that apology.
You go (AWAY) girl!
2024 OLYMPIC GAMES
On a happier note, excitement is building as the 2024 Olympic Games get underway next Friday, July 26th. I’ll be cheering on Team USA in spirit.
What sports will you be watching?
FLASHBACK TO THE 1984 OLYMPICS
Hello Mitch Gaylord!
Am I the only one that went to the theater to see him in 1986’s “American Anthem”?
“UNDER PARIS”
If you haven’t watched “Jaws” lately and you need a shark attack fix, this is it.
Before I watched this movie, I expected it to be hokey. It’s not (totally), but you’ll need to suspend belief.
Clearly, from the title, you expect sharks in the Seine River in Paris.
However, this movie goes off the rails in the best way possible and it turns into a true disaster flick with heart.
It stars Oscar nominee Berenice Bejo (2011’s “The Artist”) and heartthrobs Nassim Lyes and Marvin Dubart!
A sequel is already underway.
GRADE: B+
SEINE AFTERTHOUGHT
America, let’s not bastardize the beautiful French language.
While Americans pronounce the Parisian river, “sane”, the French say “sin”!
“BEVERLY HILLS COP:” AXEL F”
This is latest and the fourth movie in the “Beverly Hills Cop” franchise that started back in 1984.
I enjoyed the first movie and I can’t remember if I saw the second one. I know I didn’t see the unpopular third movie.
Overall, this one was enjoyable. It definitely got better toward the end.
And, luckily, it wasn’t homophobic like the original.
About that, I think a large part of it stems from the 1980s mind-set in Ronald Reagan’s conservative, homophobic and AIDS-phobic America.
And, a larger part due to Murphy’s very homophobic and AIDS-phobic comedy routine of the day.
GRADE: B-
“HIT MAN”
I wanted to like this movie because I love seeing Glen Powell and yes, I think he can act. But, mostly because I love seeing Glen.
I’d watch “Top Gun: Maverick” again just for the beach volleyball scene.
“Hit Man” was just okay. The first 30 minutes were pretty boring and I didn’t like the silly ending.
GRADE: C
“ANYONE BUT YOU“
When it comes to Glen, I’d suggest you watch him and Sydney Sweeney in “Anyone But You”. This romantic comedy was funny and sexy.
GRADE: B
“THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO HMMM…”
Since I mentioned it earlier, “Things That Make You Go Hmmm…” took me back to 1991 and C + C Music Factory and their Top 5 Hot 100 and #1 dance hit.
I totally love their 1990 album, “Gonna Make You Sweat”! It sold more than 5 million copies in the U.S. alone!
“GOLDA”
This movie was pretty much a thrilling telling of a Wikipedia page on the Yom Kippur War (aka the Ramadan War) that started in early October 1973 when Israel was sneak attacked by an Arab coalition of Egypt and Syria on the holy day.
Oscar winner Helen Mirren (“The Queen”) played Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir. When the movie was announced, some were (rightfully) upset because she isn’t Jewish.
But, I admired Meir and I loved watching Mirren play her.
GRADE: B
“MY LIFE BY GOLDA MEIR”
Earlier this year, I shared things I learned about the first and only female Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir from Peggy Mann’s 1971 biography.
I then read Meir’s 1975 autobiography, which was after she retired from public office.
Meir was born in Russia, but she grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Denver, Colorado, before moving to Palestine in 1921, which would become Israel in 1948. She lived there until her death in December 1978.
About Milwaukee in the early-1900s, Meir wrote, “In general, I thought Milwaukee was wonderful…” and “I think back on those five years in Milwaukee with great pleasure.”
She worked for Palestinian labor parties from the late-1920s before working for the Israeli government from 1948 until 1969 when she became Prime Minister (PM). She was PM until June 1974.
Meir was brutally honest about her marriage and her love for her husband, Morris. They remained married even after they separated (they married in 1921 and he died in 1951). She said, “I had already realized in the course of those four years in Jerusalem that my marriage was a failure.”
She added, “What I do regret — and bitterly so — … I was not able to make a success of our marriage after all.”
Meir was baffled from 1939-1945 and even as she was publishing her book in 1975 about how calloused the British were in not letting European Jews settle in Palestine.
Meir writes all the Palestinian Jews wanted was “Just to be allowed to share the little that we had with men, women and children who were fortunate enough not to have been shot, gassed or buried alive yet by the very people to whose downfall the entire British Empire was in any case totally committed.”
In early 1948, Meir visited the United States and spoke to as many of the American Jewry as possible and raised $50 million dollars toward making Israel a state. When she returned David Ben-Gurion (Israel’s first PM) replied, “Someday when history will be written, it will be said that there was a Jewish woman who got the money which made the state possible.”
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
Anthony
What's Peeps Thinking About Now? It's Probably Random! 