Our Four

The traditional Easter picture on our front bench 

 

It's Not that Complicated

 All this! It’s not that complicated! - Lisa

 My 15 year old cat Angel, who loves me more than anyone ever has and more than I deserve had been to the vet a few times recently and costing us money we can afford to lose.

Man I hope God let’s me keep her a few more years - Lisa

 

My Thoughts -

 One problem with Hollywood inserting diversity into film without regard for historical fact is this: I just watched a fine show, set in LA in 1932. A character, formerly white in all prior incarnations, was now African-American. As was to be sadly expected, esp given his job,, he experienced discrimination, a glass ceiling, and occasionally outright bigotry. I thought the character was actually handled pretty well; he isn't my complaint.

The issue is that while he was handled honestly enough, AT THE SAME TIME the producers inserted African-American extras into every church gathering, every public event, and every street scene. Apparently, American life was fully and serenely racially integrated by 1932. Even the bigots that harassed the beforementioned character seemed nonplussed at sharing a table with a black man, or with white woman spending time alone with an African American man.

So what does that make the character? Is he a victim of racial discrimination - after all, it seems largely confined to only him - or is it just one of those people that inspires dislike in everyone he meets? How do the producers reconcile the conflicting treatment? Aren't they watering down and confusing their message, when 80% of the time a causal, ignorant viewer is seeing racial harmony IN 1932!!?

RIP Beverly Cleary

I was nearly brought to tears by the news that Beverly Clearly died today at the age of 104.

I read "Henry and Ribsy" in 1st grade, the first true "book" I ever attempted, and for the last 40 years I've remained a devoted fan of her work

Henry Huggins. Ribsy. Ralph the Mouse. Beezus. Ramona. Every one of them a friend.

RIP Mrs. Cleary. You made a difference in this world.

The Bigots were Wrong

The Colorado shooter has been identified as 21 year old Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa.

Those of you who made snide little jabs about the alleged ethnicity of the murderer before his identity was established - as if somehow the death of innocents is a "win" if the killer has skin color A as opposed to color B - kindly try being informed AND opinionated, not just the latter.

Movie Trivia

Here's some neat trivia: Despite being screen icons for 40+ years, Henry Fonda and Katherine Hepburn had never met prior to filming "1981's  "On Golden Pond."