For one brief moment, he stood on the precipice of greatness. Now, 30 stories above the earth, the view was very different. Suddenly, in a blink of an eye, the ground rushed up to meet him and it was over. He was 32 years old.
It didn't have to be this way but it was. There had been choices that begged for different answers. They had all been ignored in the pursuit. He had been blinded by the light and now there was nothing left.
There was no getting back up, no ladder to climb. The weight of what he had done would not let him eat another meal, plant another kiss on a baby's head, shake another hand, send another misleading e-mail. The end was a relief for him, if not for others.
The gathering crowd surrounded the still figure. No one had seen it happen but many would later recall being witness to the descent. It was a scene that would repeat itself with increasing regularity over the next months. Earthjumpers they would be called as a group.
It was bound to start happening with everything that was swirling around. The world as we had long known it no longer existed. With the axis of the earth on tilt we were all losing our balance and our hold on our sanity. It was hard enough for us to put one foot in front of the other. For him, it was impossible.
He had been in the right place at the right time for so long that he wouldn't allow himself to be anyplace else. The money had come so quickly and so easily. If he passed up the opportunity, it would only go to others. If there were no consequences to pay for him, to hell with anything else. To hell was where he believed he would be going now.
The policemen soon appeared. The area was cordoned off and the remains of the short flight were examined. As the wallet was removed from the dead man's rear pocket by the officer, there was a slight flinch and a gasp. He had heard of this person. He had seen him in the papers, shaking hands with other rich and famous like him.
Now, he was just the first of many to come. It had all been so senseless. The worst of times were precipitated by the worst of men. He had been one of them. He was now just the leader of a new group, the Earthjumpers.
Soon the crowd dispersed. They had seen all that they could. They would take away with them stories to be repeated over many months. When they learned of the former celebrity of the silent body, it would make their tale take on added importance. Even in death, he would retain his notoriety. Only now, it would be associated with all things evil.
This is a tale that has not happened, yet. However, with each day that we get revelations of lives turned upside down and people who swindled and cheated in the chase for the golden ring, this story will be written. And when it is , you can say you read it here first.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Rising Star?
Last night, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, one of a pair of "rising stars" in the Republican party (the other is, of course, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin), gave a shockingly tone-deaf and almost universally-panned speech in reaction to President Barack Obama's address to Congress.
The lowest--and most painfully ironic--moment in his speech came when he used the government's shameful and negligent response to Hurricane Katrina as an example of why government cannot be relied upon to help solve our nation's problems (as the Obama administration and the Democratically-controlled Congress are trying to accomplish with the stimulus package). If the outcome of the government's inadequate response to Katrina had not been so tragic and sad, Governor Jindal's remarks would have been comic for their complete lack of logic and self-awareness; instead, they were simply stupid.
Given the above, now compare the Fox News and CNN transcripts of Jindal's speech. Are the right-wing cheerleaders over at Fox trying to help Bobby Jindal clean up his mess and salvage his Republican wunderkind reputation by truncating the worst parts of his speech?
Here's a sampling of reviews of Bobby Jindal's speech:
Paul Krugman, Nobel Prize-winning Princeton economist and liberal columnist for the New York Times:
"Republicans, Democrats criticize Jindal's Speech" Associated Press Article
VIDEO: David Brooks, conservative columnist for the New York Times
"I think it's insane...a disaster for the party."
VIDEO: And, lastly, Governor Jindal himself.
rj
The lowest--and most painfully ironic--moment in his speech came when he used the government's shameful and negligent response to Hurricane Katrina as an example of why government cannot be relied upon to help solve our nation's problems (as the Obama administration and the Democratically-controlled Congress are trying to accomplish with the stimulus package). If the outcome of the government's inadequate response to Katrina had not been so tragic and sad, Governor Jindal's remarks would have been comic for their complete lack of logic and self-awareness; instead, they were simply stupid.
Given the above, now compare the Fox News and CNN transcripts of Jindal's speech. Are the right-wing cheerleaders over at Fox trying to help Bobby Jindal clean up his mess and salvage his Republican wunderkind reputation by truncating the worst parts of his speech?
Here's a sampling of reviews of Bobby Jindal's speech:
Paul Krugman, Nobel Prize-winning Princeton economist and liberal columnist for the New York Times:
And leaving aside the chutzpah of casting the failure of his own party’s governance as proof that government can’t work, does he really think that the response to natural disasters like Katrina is best undertaken by uncoordinated private action? Hey, why bother having an army? Let’s just rely on self-defense by armed citizens.
"Republicans, Democrats criticize Jindal's Speech" Associated Press Article
VIDEO: David Brooks, conservative columnist for the New York Times
"I think it's insane...a disaster for the party."
VIDEO: And, lastly, Governor Jindal himself.
rj
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
The great .....................disconnect
Hundreds of speeches, thousands of words and millions of comments. And so far, nothing to show for it.
We are in a hurry. We want to see pictures of foreclosure signs being removed, as people continue to live in their now more affordable homes. We crave images of the first shovel of dirt being dug on road reconstruction or needed rehabilitation of a school. We long for the picture of new wind turbines. We need to see the first new energy efficient car come off the lines. While money seems to get to the banks and Wall Street in a nano-second, there is a huge................gap in our minds between the thoughts of true economic recovery and any signs that it is about to get underway.
It is this I think, above all else, that has us in such a panic. Enough with the speeches. We have heard all the rhetoric. Show us the money. Show us the money.
In tonight's speech, President Obama would do well to pull out the down home stories of people's lives being turned around by what is being done. Let there be a glimmer of light, that tomorrow holds out the promise of hope and not a year or 2..........down the road. If we can feel some sense of immediacy, we can begin to put our house and our country back in order. Until that happens, I fear that all the words in the world will just dry up and............vanish.
We are in a hurry. We want to see pictures of foreclosure signs being removed, as people continue to live in their now more affordable homes. We crave images of the first shovel of dirt being dug on road reconstruction or needed rehabilitation of a school. We long for the picture of new wind turbines. We need to see the first new energy efficient car come off the lines. While money seems to get to the banks and Wall Street in a nano-second, there is a huge................gap in our minds between the thoughts of true economic recovery and any signs that it is about to get underway.
It is this I think, above all else, that has us in such a panic. Enough with the speeches. We have heard all the rhetoric. Show us the money. Show us the money.
In tonight's speech, President Obama would do well to pull out the down home stories of people's lives being turned around by what is being done. Let there be a glimmer of light, that tomorrow holds out the promise of hope and not a year or 2..........down the road. If we can feel some sense of immediacy, we can begin to put our house and our country back in order. Until that happens, I fear that all the words in the world will just dry up and............vanish.
Monday, February 23, 2009
More new shows
As the economy continues in free fall, here is a list of potential new shows to study the downside of the downside:
1) American Idle
2) The Weak in Review
3) Who Wants To Find A Millionaire
4) Wheel of Misfortune
5) Double Jeopardy
6) 12 (What's left of 24)
7) No Deal or No Deal
8) Bare Bones
9) Lost, Forever
10)The Too Late Show
11)Apartment (as we lost House)
12)Damages, gone wild
13)Law and Order, Special Victims (us)
14)Lie to me, please
15)Friday nights lights out
16)The small bang theory
I am sure there are many more possibilities. If you learn of one, please let us know.
1) American Idle
2) The Weak in Review
3) Who Wants To Find A Millionaire
4) Wheel of Misfortune
5) Double Jeopardy
6) 12 (What's left of 24)
7) No Deal or No Deal
8) Bare Bones
9) Lost, Forever
10)The Too Late Show
11)Apartment (as we lost House)
12)Damages, gone wild
13)Law and Order, Special Victims (us)
14)Lie to me, please
15)Friday nights lights out
16)The small bang theory
I am sure there are many more possibilities. If you learn of one, please let us know.
My cousin Yuri
And the Oscar goes to:
Mickey Rourke playing a self -destructive tortured superstar of his sport, Alex Rodriguez, in the picture of the year, "my cousin Yuri"
Mr. Rourke:
"First, I want to tell everyone how difficult it was to bulk up for this role. I want to thank my trainer , Jose Canseco, for making it perfectly clear to me that you cannot succeed in anything in life without making the necessary sacrifices. I also appreciate the special talents of Ralph Macchio who brought the role of cousin Yuri to life in a way few could ever imagine. Madonna, in the role of Madonna, nailed every single nuance."
"In this life we have very few opportunities to showcase our talents at their highest. In the news conference to provide his mea culpa, Alex Rodriguez gave a once in a lifetime performance. It was that sense of you can't believe a thing I am now saying to you that I tried to capture in this role. Like Alex, I have spent most of my life making curious decisions and putting my foot directly into my mouth. I am so grateful for the opportunity that has been afforded to me to show the world, this late in my career, that one can learn and mature. I know that Alex is listening to me and nodding his head. I just can't tell if he is nodding side to side or up and down. Or maybe he is just nodding out."
"I want to thank the Academy and all its members. Last, a special shout out to my dogs. I love you and will be home soon. Go to bed"
Mickey Rourke playing a self -destructive tortured superstar of his sport, Alex Rodriguez, in the picture of the year, "my cousin Yuri"
Mr. Rourke:
"First, I want to tell everyone how difficult it was to bulk up for this role. I want to thank my trainer , Jose Canseco, for making it perfectly clear to me that you cannot succeed in anything in life without making the necessary sacrifices. I also appreciate the special talents of Ralph Macchio who brought the role of cousin Yuri to life in a way few could ever imagine. Madonna, in the role of Madonna, nailed every single nuance."
"In this life we have very few opportunities to showcase our talents at their highest. In the news conference to provide his mea culpa, Alex Rodriguez gave a once in a lifetime performance. It was that sense of you can't believe a thing I am now saying to you that I tried to capture in this role. Like Alex, I have spent most of my life making curious decisions and putting my foot directly into my mouth. I am so grateful for the opportunity that has been afforded to me to show the world, this late in my career, that one can learn and mature. I know that Alex is listening to me and nodding his head. I just can't tell if he is nodding side to side or up and down. Or maybe he is just nodding out."
"I want to thank the Academy and all its members. Last, a special shout out to my dogs. I love you and will be home soon. Go to bed"
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Hair yesterday, gone today
So it's 4 AM and I just shaved off my beard. There is actually more to this story.
As you may recall, shortly before Christmas I began the great facial experiment. The beard grew for several weeks. I got a few compliments, Joanne liked it, and I felt I was looking very professorial. Given my new internal fame as a writer, the look seemed to fit me well.
At that point I went to the barber for a trim of my hair and beard. I came out of the shop dissatisfied with the results. The beard remained too long. I was told that today's appearance was to always look like you were growing a beard, never like you really had one. I decided to take matters into my own hands.
Joanne and I shopped and found a simple working beard trimmer. I got it home and couldn't wait to use it. I actually found the results of my first experiment with it to be excellent. With the beard trimmer set at 2, I looked as if I hadn't shaved in about 10 days.
Over the succeeding few weeks, I would shave my beard back every 6 or 7 days. This was going well.
In fact, it was going so well that yesterday I decided the wonder trimmer would work equally well for haircuts. Without the benefit of reading whether or not this product was actually intended to be applied to the top of one's head, I was going to apply tonsorial tenderness to my pate. My mistake.
The setting was put at 6. This should be a minor trim. Nothing happened with applied pressure downward of the blade. The next logical assumption was to try it going up the scalp. Scalp turned out to be the critical term. With one upward motion, virtually whatever hair had been on that part of my head was no longer. The job now underway, there was no turning back. Within minutes I had an almost shaved head.
Suddenly the beard and haircut gave me a very different appearance. Jo and I went out to dinner with some friends last night. The reactions were consistent and often brutal. The most benign remark was that I looked like I had my head on upside down. The rest of the comments were not as complimentary.
As I lay awake at 3:30 AM (my attempt to cure my insomnia with Valerian root not yet proving wholly successful) I decided bold steps were needed. I hopped out of bed, into the bathroom and the results, several minutes later, was much hair in the sink, and a new virtually Mr. Clean staring back at me in the mirror.
Joanne is, like any normal human being, still asleep. She should be waking in a few hours. If she has any compassion ( and she does) she will say little. There is not much she can do about living with someone clearly going through some sort of mid-life crisis except try to ride out the storm. Sometimes I feel sorry for her.
As you may recall, shortly before Christmas I began the great facial experiment. The beard grew for several weeks. I got a few compliments, Joanne liked it, and I felt I was looking very professorial. Given my new internal fame as a writer, the look seemed to fit me well.
At that point I went to the barber for a trim of my hair and beard. I came out of the shop dissatisfied with the results. The beard remained too long. I was told that today's appearance was to always look like you were growing a beard, never like you really had one. I decided to take matters into my own hands.
Joanne and I shopped and found a simple working beard trimmer. I got it home and couldn't wait to use it. I actually found the results of my first experiment with it to be excellent. With the beard trimmer set at 2, I looked as if I hadn't shaved in about 10 days.
Over the succeeding few weeks, I would shave my beard back every 6 or 7 days. This was going well.
In fact, it was going so well that yesterday I decided the wonder trimmer would work equally well for haircuts. Without the benefit of reading whether or not this product was actually intended to be applied to the top of one's head, I was going to apply tonsorial tenderness to my pate. My mistake.
The setting was put at 6. This should be a minor trim. Nothing happened with applied pressure downward of the blade. The next logical assumption was to try it going up the scalp. Scalp turned out to be the critical term. With one upward motion, virtually whatever hair had been on that part of my head was no longer. The job now underway, there was no turning back. Within minutes I had an almost shaved head.
Suddenly the beard and haircut gave me a very different appearance. Jo and I went out to dinner with some friends last night. The reactions were consistent and often brutal. The most benign remark was that I looked like I had my head on upside down. The rest of the comments were not as complimentary.
As I lay awake at 3:30 AM (my attempt to cure my insomnia with Valerian root not yet proving wholly successful) I decided bold steps were needed. I hopped out of bed, into the bathroom and the results, several minutes later, was much hair in the sink, and a new virtually Mr. Clean staring back at me in the mirror.
Joanne is, like any normal human being, still asleep. She should be waking in a few hours. If she has any compassion ( and she does) she will say little. There is not much she can do about living with someone clearly going through some sort of mid-life crisis except try to ride out the storm. Sometimes I feel sorry for her.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Thinking Outside the Boxee
I know that the average reader of this blog might not be on the cutting edge of internet and media technology, rendering most of this post indecipherable. But I thought I'd post my latest rant--which started as an email to a friend--for your amusement anyway. I've tried to define and describe terms here as much as possible, but I'd be happy to offer further clarification. -Richie
From the fine folks who brought us hundred-thousand-dollar copyright infringement lawsuits involving sweet-old-grannies-on-fixed-incomes and adorable-little-nine-year-olds-who-really-like-Miley-Cyrus, comes the latest in a string of dumb moves:
Media 'content providers' (i.e. the major television networks and studios) just made HULU (the amazing website--memorably endorsed by an other-worldly Alec Baldwin during the Super Bowl--that delivers hundreds of television shows and movies to your computer, instantly and free of charge) pull the plug on BOXEE (that neat little application that delivers Hulu's shows and movies to set-top boxes like XBox and AppleTV, and consequently right to your television screen).
Bear in mind that Boxee was streaming ad-supported, legally-viewed content, the exact same content viewed in the exact same format with the exact same ad breaks as someone who viewed them on hulu.com on a computer screen. You know, the kind that the struggling media companies--who always seem about 5 years behind the zeitgeist and double that behind the technology delivering it--actually condone. The kind that, theoretically, helps said companies remain profitable and, even more theoretically, enables them to justly compensate performers and technicians for their work*. Yeah, that kind.
[*As an aside, fair compensation for online viewing is a whole 'nother can of worms, but the fact remains that the networks have made a decision to make more of their media available online as viewers' habits have changed, and being dickish and territorial about distribution still does nothing to help the people who actually create this content]
But, instead, they've decided to tell the Boxee users--who watched more than 100,000 ad-supported, legally-distributed, revenue-generating television and movie clips on Hulu last week alone--to take a hike. They've literally blocked, by their own volition, a steady source of viewership and income.
Boxee, obviously, thinks this is a stupid move. And, to Hulu's great credit, they, too, are working to convince the media mega-conglomerates that it is in their best interest to encourage the legal distribution of their content. But the folks back at corporate headquarters are still busily typing cease and desist letters and snail-mailing them off to BetaMax users.
So, until the media executives remove their oversized crania from their regions most nether, I'll have to go back to watching Hulu on my laptop (or, in all likelihood, simply watch much less of it, which is probably a good thing for my overall well-being), while other more desperate and less wholesome Boxee users will surely retreat into the shadowier realms of the internet where content flows freely and completely devoid of commercial interruption.
Of course, with the state of the world right now, I suppose this falls somewhere in between luke-warm pizza delivery and miscounted change at the coffee shop on the Injustice and Inhumanity Scale--but I do think it provides yet another example of big business in America acting stupid, and then seeking to blame the masses (i.e. their 'customers') for the consequences of their own stupid decisions.
From the fine folks who brought us hundred-thousand-dollar copyright infringement lawsuits involving sweet-old-grannies-on-fixed-incomes and adorable-little-nine-year-olds-who-really-like-Miley-Cyrus, comes the latest in a string of dumb moves:
Media 'content providers' (i.e. the major television networks and studios) just made HULU (the amazing website--memorably endorsed by an other-worldly Alec Baldwin during the Super Bowl--that delivers hundreds of television shows and movies to your computer, instantly and free of charge) pull the plug on BOXEE (that neat little application that delivers Hulu's shows and movies to set-top boxes like XBox and AppleTV, and consequently right to your television screen).
Bear in mind that Boxee was streaming ad-supported, legally-viewed content, the exact same content viewed in the exact same format with the exact same ad breaks as someone who viewed them on hulu.com on a computer screen. You know, the kind that the struggling media companies--who always seem about 5 years behind the zeitgeist and double that behind the technology delivering it--actually condone. The kind that, theoretically, helps said companies remain profitable and, even more theoretically, enables them to justly compensate performers and technicians for their work*. Yeah, that kind.
[*As an aside, fair compensation for online viewing is a whole 'nother can of worms, but the fact remains that the networks have made a decision to make more of their media available online as viewers' habits have changed, and being dickish and territorial about distribution still does nothing to help the people who actually create this content]
But, instead, they've decided to tell the Boxee users--who watched more than 100,000 ad-supported, legally-distributed, revenue-generating television and movie clips on Hulu last week alone--to take a hike. They've literally blocked, by their own volition, a steady source of viewership and income.
Boxee, obviously, thinks this is a stupid move. And, to Hulu's great credit, they, too, are working to convince the media mega-conglomerates that it is in their best interest to encourage the legal distribution of their content. But the folks back at corporate headquarters are still busily typing cease and desist letters and snail-mailing them off to BetaMax users.
So, until the media executives remove their oversized crania from their regions most nether, I'll have to go back to watching Hulu on my laptop (or, in all likelihood, simply watch much less of it, which is probably a good thing for my overall well-being), while other more desperate and less wholesome Boxee users will surely retreat into the shadowier realms of the internet where content flows freely and completely devoid of commercial interruption.
Of course, with the state of the world right now, I suppose this falls somewhere in between luke-warm pizza delivery and miscounted change at the coffee shop on the Injustice and Inhumanity Scale--but I do think it provides yet another example of big business in America acting stupid, and then seeking to blame the masses (i.e. their 'customers') for the consequences of their own stupid decisions.
Idiots
David Brooks writes today (Money for idiots) at the sense of outrage felt by having to 'shower money upon those who have been foolish or self- indulgent'. Is that the way we are supposed to feel?
Much of our country, and truly much of the world, is now reeling under the collective weight of bad economic decisions that have seemingly spiraled out of control. Those of us who have not taken unwise steps are being asked to carry the burdens of others. Somehow, those millions and millions of people who find themselves in the most serious trouble are cast as villains in this global disaster. Brooks speaks of the "regrettable moral logic of housing bailouts" that compels us to help them , only based on the theory that "if their lives don't stabilize, then our lives don't stabilize".
Mr.Brooks, we were ALL duped. We all bought into the good, better, best for today and tomorrow. You and I are still living in our homes not because we are any smarter than those less fortunate, but only because we are more fortunate. You and I both were equally as stupid as all the others. We have just been a little luckier, so far.
And where does compassion play a part in our choices? If I were one of the people now facing the possibility of foreclosure, wouldn't I be hoping that you had the human decency to help me out in my time of need? It seems like hard times bring out the worst in many of us. We do not easily suffer fools I guess. We must be the one who can cast stones because we have no sin. Rick Santelli of CNBC went on a tirade on the air yesterday and shouted at the President to "have people vote... to see if they want to subsidize losers' mortgages!" ( quoted in the piece by Mr. Brooks)
I want to let you in on a secret. You and I are all part of one whole. We are not separate from our fellow man. There are not millions of bad, greedy people suffering out there today. That is you and me who is unemployed, hurting and desperate. We must all suck it up in these hard times, and do our part to make everyone's lives a little better. We should do this because it is the right thing to do, not because it is the only way to get us out of this mess. Shame on you for your selfish view of the world. You and I, and all of us, should be better than that.
Much of our country, and truly much of the world, is now reeling under the collective weight of bad economic decisions that have seemingly spiraled out of control. Those of us who have not taken unwise steps are being asked to carry the burdens of others. Somehow, those millions and millions of people who find themselves in the most serious trouble are cast as villains in this global disaster. Brooks speaks of the "regrettable moral logic of housing bailouts" that compels us to help them , only based on the theory that "if their lives don't stabilize, then our lives don't stabilize".
Mr.Brooks, we were ALL duped. We all bought into the good, better, best for today and tomorrow. You and I are still living in our homes not because we are any smarter than those less fortunate, but only because we are more fortunate. You and I both were equally as stupid as all the others. We have just been a little luckier, so far.
And where does compassion play a part in our choices? If I were one of the people now facing the possibility of foreclosure, wouldn't I be hoping that you had the human decency to help me out in my time of need? It seems like hard times bring out the worst in many of us. We do not easily suffer fools I guess. We must be the one who can cast stones because we have no sin. Rick Santelli of CNBC went on a tirade on the air yesterday and shouted at the President to "have people vote... to see if they want to subsidize losers' mortgages!" ( quoted in the piece by Mr. Brooks)
I want to let you in on a secret. You and I are all part of one whole. We are not separate from our fellow man. There are not millions of bad, greedy people suffering out there today. That is you and me who is unemployed, hurting and desperate. We must all suck it up in these hard times, and do our part to make everyone's lives a little better. We should do this because it is the right thing to do, not because it is the only way to get us out of this mess. Shame on you for your selfish view of the world. You and I, and all of us, should be better than that.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
No it alls
They are consistent. They are, in the words of Michael Steele, the Republican National chairman, as one in "disagreement with Congressional Democrats and President Obama" in denouncing the stimulus package as a waste of money (NY Times, February 18).
It is the voice of opposition for the sake of political gain. If the plan fails, there will be hundreds of Republican leaders standing over the carcass with I told you so in their eyes.
The future is fraught with peril. Almost as soon as billions had been handed out to the Big 3, they are back with empty pockets and pleas for more. As we send 17,000 more troops into harms way in Afghanistan, the coffers will continue to empty in our ongoing struggles to even find our enemies. We now have formulated plans to provide aid to those facing the imminent threat of loss of their home. We are using our money to stop the bleeding and hope we don't hemorrhage.
We will take many steps back for every step we take forward in the coming months. There will be times of legitimate finger pointing. But, like the boy who cried wolf, it will be virtually impossible to separate the Republican mantra from true dissent. If the sky is always falling, how do we know when Chicken Little is not just clucking?
If yes we can is always met with no you won't, we will all suffer. Let us be selective in how we try to instill fear and negativity. In a time where there is little positive, let the Republicans permit yes to creep into their vocabulary. It may hurt a little at first, but they might be surprised where it can lead them, and all of us, in the end.
It is the voice of opposition for the sake of political gain. If the plan fails, there will be hundreds of Republican leaders standing over the carcass with I told you so in their eyes.
The future is fraught with peril. Almost as soon as billions had been handed out to the Big 3, they are back with empty pockets and pleas for more. As we send 17,000 more troops into harms way in Afghanistan, the coffers will continue to empty in our ongoing struggles to even find our enemies. We now have formulated plans to provide aid to those facing the imminent threat of loss of their home. We are using our money to stop the bleeding and hope we don't hemorrhage.
We will take many steps back for every step we take forward in the coming months. There will be times of legitimate finger pointing. But, like the boy who cried wolf, it will be virtually impossible to separate the Republican mantra from true dissent. If the sky is always falling, how do we know when Chicken Little is not just clucking?
If yes we can is always met with no you won't, we will all suffer. Let us be selective in how we try to instill fear and negativity. In a time where there is little positive, let the Republicans permit yes to creep into their vocabulary. It may hurt a little at first, but they might be surprised where it can lead them, and all of us, in the end.
A New Play
THIS IS A REVIEW OF A FICTITIOUS PLAY MEANT TO HELP OUR WOUNDED PSYCHES.
I walked into the theatre last night a cynic. Two hours later, I emerged reborn. In what is sure to take us by the hand and lead us in from the cold, a new play has now opened to a stunned and captivated audience.
It is a wake up call to the American public. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Pick yourself up, get off your derriere and get back in the game. When times get tough (you know the rest).
Arising out of the ashes is a bright new star for today and many tomorrows. The lead was played by a young man who not too long ago was known only by a select few. Carrying himself with a dignity and purpose we have not seen in many years, our hero invoked worship from the gathered throngs. He was born to lead and lead he would.
From the worst of times do we find the best? It is in our most vulnerable moments that our true strength emerges. These are the lessons we are taught, as we sit as mesmerized students, listening and learning. We want to believe. We have to believe. We do believe.
We should travel, as one, to the theatre tomorrow and for as many tomorrows thereafter as it takes for us to emerge refreshed and ready to take on the fight. In these times where every dollar has meaning, we will leave the theatre much richer than when we arrived. Run, don’t walk, to become part of an experience that will change you forever.
I walked into the theatre last night a cynic. Two hours later, I emerged reborn. In what is sure to take us by the hand and lead us in from the cold, a new play has now opened to a stunned and captivated audience.
It is a wake up call to the American public. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Pick yourself up, get off your derriere and get back in the game. When times get tough (you know the rest).
Arising out of the ashes is a bright new star for today and many tomorrows. The lead was played by a young man who not too long ago was known only by a select few. Carrying himself with a dignity and purpose we have not seen in many years, our hero invoked worship from the gathered throngs. He was born to lead and lead he would.
From the worst of times do we find the best? It is in our most vulnerable moments that our true strength emerges. These are the lessons we are taught, as we sit as mesmerized students, listening and learning. We want to believe. We have to believe. We do believe.
We should travel, as one, to the theatre tomorrow and for as many tomorrows thereafter as it takes for us to emerge refreshed and ready to take on the fight. In these times where every dollar has meaning, we will leave the theatre much richer than when we arrived. Run, don’t walk, to become part of an experience that will change you forever.
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