#50 - Buffalo Guys & Gals at Work

Well, the storm of 2006 saga continues here at the Cozy Cottage.

Jerry and Little Bear have been on the road for almost two hours now looking for any place that still has some bottled water in stock.

Nothing so far. Jerry headed south about an hour ago and let's keep our fingers crossed.

In the meantime I continue to boil, boil, double, triple boil and then nuke the stuff.

Elderly aunt and in-laws are going to move into a hotel for awhile.
I think our little space is just too little for them so they are opting for the luxury of running water, with no pets and hyper cabin fevered seven year olds to deal with.

My 81 year old mother is on the ground floor of her eight story apartment complex policing the laundry rooms and scolding the "water hogs" who are actually doing laundry during a water ban.

Yep.

That's my mom.

She grew up through a Great Depression, WWII (that ended the life of her only brother), raising a kerjillion kids and more hurdles than anyone can imagine...

and not one complaint out of her.

I think she slipped into Civil Defense mode with the laundry room today.

I keep offering to have us stop by with supplies or whatever she needs and she gets annoyed.

"I can walk, can't I? I'll go to the market myself if I need something."

Sister Peg got her fireplace going with those duralog thingies, they bought a generator in Pennsylvania last night, and I think they found the basement floor.

Other sis still without electric, and doing the boiling water gig too. Tons of downed tree junk on their property and my nephew (who is a volunteer firefighter) is comatose right now after working himself into exhaustion with all of the emergency calls.

Yet the other sis, who is a medical professional, is back on call and darting to the hospital to help out on her day off.
This is why people hang around Buffalo.

Our economy stinks, our weather leaves something to be desired several months out of the year, but we stay put because of family.
And good neighbors.

Last time we had a major chunk of tree falling down weather, Hubby and I lost three giant trees simultaneously on our property.

Our neighbors were over to our house with their chainsaws before we even knew the trees had fallen down.

A few weeks ago, our community looked terrible on the headline news during the Ralph "bucky" Phillips manhunt. (We live about 15 minutes from where the chase was going on). And, of course, there were a bunch of yahoos helping Bucky hideout and griping about the State Troopers tying up traffic and what not.

They're a very small group in this area...

and they got all the press because well, heck I don't know why...

because they were behaving like dingalings.

The national news failed to mention that people were baking and bringing fresh hot meals to the troopers at their main headquarters during that manhunt.

And during this storm, some good neighbors cooked hot chicken and brought it over to our elderly aunt...

after snow ploughing three feet of snow from her front door.

In the city of Buffalo, good neighbors are hiking to the markets to buy groceries for elderly and shut ins, checking to make sure everyone is okay.

And there are relief stations with hot food cooked by volunteers.
One of our major shopping malls is shut down for business and is being used as headquarters for all the electricity guys coming in as far away as from Boston.

They are handing out free supplies to people in the community who are going to be without power for a long stretch of time.
Reports are now saying maybe next weekend.

My husband gets a call this morning to get the trauma counselors out and about. His agency provides such services...

they were there for 9-11, Katrina and Rita.

The problem this time is that the trauma counselors are trapped in the middle of the mess, but other folks step up to bat.

And that's why folks stay put in Buffalo.

When Katrina hit last autumn, the hospital my sister works for emptied out a whole floor to take in Katrina survivors. Our city was ready, set to go immediately with emergency teams and such. There was disappointment all around when FEMA and the powers that be did not accept our city's offers to help.

Same with September 11th, our volunteer firefighters, paramedics and mental health counselors were there promptly.
Buffalonians come across as gruff, probably a bit backwards, blue collared, and not too warm fuzzy.

But, we get the job done.

#49 - Friday the 13th in Buffalo (originally posted MySpace 10/14/06)

So it snowed last night.

YES!

S-n-o-w-e-d.

And being a Buffalo gal I was rather blase' about the whole thing.

Unlike my southern born Honey.

He's bantering on about a snowstorm!

A snowstorm!

Yes, right... okay sweety... calm down.

We sit down to watch the late night news, and all local reports are going on about a massive power outage and trees falling and ice and snow and...

I say the bad luck thing you should never say 15 minutes before the clock strikes midnight to Friday the 13th:

"Good thing we still have power."

We hear a clunk and immediately are thrown into toal darkness.

TOTAL can't see your hands in front of your eyes darkness.

poop.

Light some candles and realize that this is going to be a bad one.
First of all it is freezing cold outside and without electricity we have NO HEAT!

And no SNORE MACHINE for Hubby who saws the wood at night like a lumberjack.

I state that I am taking the futon you go sleep in the other end of the Cozy Cottage.

Several candle trips, flashlight checks, goodnight honeys, and many quilts...

I tuck in on the futon surrounded by the kitties and Tilly the Wonder dog.

Tilly?

She only snuggles up like this during a thunderstorm...

and then BLITZ!

Bright blue flashes outside.

Snow lightening.

Trust me it is a sight to see...

especially out here in Cozy Cottage ville where there is no ground light.

So I sleep for a few hours.

Power comes on, power goes off again.

But, no complaints here.

My guys got to stay home.

We had a stuffed animal throwing contest. The best ever.

Little Bear built a fort under the dining room table and all was good here.

A ton of time spent on the phone making sure family members are tended to.

We are the only ones with power we discover.

So I relay the news reports to everyone else and we try to figure out how to get our elderly aunt out of her northern Buffalo home with all the travel bans in force.

My sister, Peg (who also happens to have lupus) is bailing out her basement as it floods. All the trees on her property are no more. She refuses to stay with us... insists on bailing without our help.
Tough gal she is.

:)

Other sis is doing okay.

Trees crashed into her front porch, but she's a Buffalo Gal too...

you take these things in stride. No heat, but plenty of doggies and feeling confident about no heat for the night.

Another sister MIA. No power, no phone. Her cell phone service is out and so is her MEDICAL pager service. She should be fine. Her household is good with weather crisis.

My elderly Mom whose retirement apartments get priority got power by this evening while my elderly in-laws have a possibly live power line lying across the driveway.

But, more news comes rolling in...

WATER EMERGENCY.

I have been chugging tall glasses of tap water all afternoon.

Should have watched the news.

We now have to boil the dink out of the water and conserve.

Latest news report is that we probably won't have water for much longer.

Water shortages have started as there is no power to pump the stuff.

My mom has no water now, and here it is a little after midnight, and I am boiling what water is left.

HAPPY FRIDAY THE THIRTEENTH.

We're fortunate, because we have electricity.

Over 380,000 folks in our area are doing without.

We watch the news and see one of our Buffalo theater cronies and his wife hanging out at a local shelter. Good old Les, figures he would nab a photo op out of this mess!

Aieeya!

We probably will have houseguests by tomorrow.

We are hearing that there will be no power in some areas until next week.

Well, then...

life is never dull around here.

And I'm off to boil more water.

Hope I got enough cookies stashed around here to keep Winga out of our hair.

#48 - My Birthday Thus Far

When I was young I never really thought much about life in my 40's.

I had some vague notions of being a published author and living a cozy life with a Hubby and child to dote over.

But, you know... never put a heck of a lot of thought into it.

I am 44 today.

A palindrome year.

And now I am officially older than my best gal pal, Ellen. She died last autumn of ovarian cancer.
I miss her everyday. Sometimes I cry, sometimes I laugh, and every now and then I still scold her.

Like today.

She was always supposed to be the one who was a few months older than me.

Damn it, Ellen.

I think a lot about her right now. We hit the one year anniversary of her dying...

and when someone that close to you dies...

trust me the shock doesn't even begin to wear off until the first anniversary bounces on by.

I keep thinking of picking up the phone to chat with her.

Heck, I even miss our bickering.

It's her fault that I'm blogging.

She would not stop pestering me about it.

"Have you read my blog?"

"Did you start Winga's blog?"

"Blog?Blog? Blog?"

So I did start a blog just to get her to shut up about it...

and well, she had cancer..

you do things less grudgingly when someone you love has cancer.

So everytime I blog away...

I feel closer to her.

And in honor of Ellen's free spirited ways...

I had Oreo cookies and coffee for breakfast.

Mom came by...

in time to catch me with Oreo crumbs all over my face, in my mismatched fuzzy clothes with the kitty socks, watching reruns on television.

She brought me flowers and sweets.

I swear I am going to put myself into a diabetic coma!

She kept telling me not to tell her how old I am.

I am the "Baby" of 7 girls.

So I make everyone feel old.

Must have slipped because I told my 81 year old mother this morning that I am now 44.

"I'm so sorry Mom... so sorry about that."

My Mom is tough.

She can take it.

She is my hero.

After that visit, I danced around the kitchen singing to myself and have been playing on the computer ever since.


Rather liberating it is.

Oh!

I got TWO letters from our sponsor child today!

He lives in Thailand and I just love hearing from him.

The post is screwy though. It takes months to send a letter to him and hear back again.
The poor kid was sick and in hospital in July. I wish I had known!

He wants us to come visit his village and his family.

And we so want to go.

Damn.

I need to get rid of this stinking lupus. I'm not even supposed to be around people, let alone leave the country.

(The drugs knock out my immune system).

Blah. Blah. Blah.

Whiner rama bama.

Heck... I'm old.

I get to do what I want.

What I REALLY want is to feel good enough for the next few hours to have fun with Little Bear and Hubby.

They have a ton of little packages wrapped for me, they ordered a cake (MORE SUGAR!) and I know Little Bear is going to be running around the Cozy Cottage today doing his version of decorating.

Well, the bus should be pulling up in just a moment.

Gotta go!

Oh!

postscript:

If you can afford $25 a month... please consider sponsoring a child. The need is intense and they actually do an incredible job with your support.

Christian Children's Fund

#47 - My First Middle-Aged Dream

Okay...

I think I am officially middle-aged now.

I dreamt last night that I was a Cub Scout den mother...

in tract housing...

chasing after a mob of screaming kids with Clorox wipes...

and...

baking cookies.

Lord, help me!

#46 - Thoughts on Turning 44

I have more lovely lady lumps than Fergie.

Nyah, Nyah!

Oh... that's just middle aged spread.

Never mind.

#45 - T.I.F.F.: Yoko Ono at The U.S. vs. John Lennon Premiere

I am probably repeating myself here, but this year's Toronto International Film Festival was chock full of pleasant surprises.

We had arrived relatively late for lining up to see the premiere of The U.S. vs. John Lennon. So we were at the tail end of a line that wrapped around a huge city block.



Such lines are no cause for worry at the Film Festival. We were going to be seated at the Ryerson Theater which is on a college campus. The seats are not the most comfortable, but this screening would provide plenty of balcony space which is prime spot to view movies here... and also about the last place that most audience members go for seats.

As we were the last of the group to herd into the theater we had the incredible joy of seeing Yoko Ono on the red carpet who would be present for the premiere of this refreshing documentary about her husband's commitment to peace.

Here's a picture that Jerry was able to nab as folks were supposed to keep walking and not stop to see Yoko san, so it is a tad blurry:

I am sorry but the photo will have to go up at another time. I am having a problem with Blogger today. :(

More surprises in store after we were seated.

Michael Moore was a guest to the screening and we spotted him before he was introduced to the audience. Jerry (my hubby) got a little too excited (being a HUGE Michael Moore fan) and yelled out "Hey Michael!" from the balcony. At which point the whole theater got dead quiet for a brief pause. Michael Moore stood up and turned around waving at the two of us to resounding applause from the audience. Jerry happily waved back as I tried to sink deeply into my seat turning three sheets of red.


Viewing this documentary with John Lennon's widow in the audience was a shocking experience.

I mean you can view these types of biographical work with a detachment. But, having Yoko Ono present for this screening... I felt the pain as never before.

The interviews offer fresh insights into John and Yoko's advocacy for peace. They address some of the very criticisms that I had held about how they were going about drawing attention to peace activism.

I just never really thought about why they did "bed peace" or "hair peace" or many of their other approaches.

But, seeing them on film as the couple they were and also as strong individuals, the answer became quite apparent.

They are artists, and art is their voice of expression. How could we expect them to do anything else?

To truly "get" Yoko Ono, I think you have to experience her art in person.

I had the pleasure of visiting one of her exhibitions in Toronto about four years ago... and the "Aha" moment came across loud and clear.

She touches on that facet of life that we often miss... that life is supposed to be fun.

ENJOY.

Humor is a gift from the Divine... embrace it.

And I can see the appeal between her and John Lennon.

He had the most incredibly sharp sense of humor, and his mind was so unique that no one has filled the space that he left behind when he was killed.

Among the interesting interviews you will find in this documentary are clips with G. Gordon Liddy, and George McGovern singing "Give Peace a Chance" a cappella.

You should give this film a chance.

I left feeling inspired and primed to find ways to be a better person... to bloom right where I have been planted.

Here is a link to the Film Festival Information about this film:

Toronto International Film Festival

ENJOY!

POSTSCRIPT: As we were making a mad dash to our next film screening we stumbled across a pile up of security. Lo and behold, Yoko Ono and Michael Moore were sneaking out the back of the theater so we had the chance to see them up close and personal.

Yoko Ono is incredibly beautiful close up. She truly is, and she was so gracious as people reached out to her requesting autographs or a handshake. I found her composure overwhelming considering the circumstances of her life.

Immediately following was Michael Moore (whom I will write about more in another entry). But, it is important to note that we discovered that Michael Moore is actually an incredibly shy person. This was evident as he approached the small gathering that had lined up at the exit. He did shake Jerry's hand, but he did not speak to the crowd.

There are many reasons for this which, once again will be explained when I write about an Evening with Michael Moore.

#44 - T.I.F.F. : Confetti

Jerry & Confetti Director, Ms. Debbie Isitt

WHAT A HOOT!

CONFETTI is absolutely hilarious and well worth a look see.

You can read the synopsis via the links at the end of this entry to get more film details.

This was the last film of our trip, but I wanted to put the word out quickly because Confetti opens in US theaters this Friday, September 15th.

There was a Q&A after the screening of Confetti at the Paramount theater.

Director, Debbie Isitt, answered audience questions about the making of her second feature film.

Here's the Scoop:

The whole film is IMPROV! No script. The actors were given detailed relationship backgrounds and information to develop character. Other than that, this movie was filmed in real time (6 weeks) the same length of time in which the story takes place.

Casting took six months... which was longer than the actual filming. And the cast is perfect.

The couple who played the wedding planners for Confetti have actually started their own wedding planning business.

One of the featured couples of the film are nudists, or more aptly termed "naturists".

Yes, they perform in the buff for the film.

Ms. Isitt reported that in order to be fair to her poor cast doing the naturist scenes in the nude, all of those scenes were directed with her in the buff as well!

There are musical numbers in the finale, and surprisingly... no professional dancers were used. You'll have to see the film for yourself to find out why this is such a surprise.

Here's a clue though... think Busby Berkeley.

One of the delights of the Toronto International Film Festival is that the makers of the film are accessible to the general public. This is one of the few major film festivals that allows such contact.

We had the opportunity to meet briefly with director Debbie Isitt.

She is quite friendly and gracious. She was interested in the fact that I have been a church musician for hundreds of weddings. Jerry and I told her about the "Phantom of the Opera" wedding that we sang a duet for.

Chuckle, chuckle and back into the huge crowd.

If you enjoy Christopher Guest's mockumentaries, this movie is definitely going to be a favorite... just as long as you don't mind seeing folks (normal everyday run of the mill folks) in the nude.

ENJOY!



Read more about Confetti here: http://www.e.bell.ca/filmfest/2006/films_schedules/films_description.asp?id=81

Opens in US cinemas this Friday, September 15th:
http://movies.aol.com/movie/confetti/23379/main?date=20060912&uid=5532

#43 - Hello From the Toronto International Film Festival!

Loretta & Jerry hanging out at the Friar & Firkin after Hula Girls at the Paramount


Hello Everyone!

I'm sitting in my fuzzy clothes trying to rest up (and warm up) after a spectacular three day vacation to the Toronto International Film Festival.

Jerry and I agree that this has been the BEST film festival experience we have had to date. Every film was either a world premiere and/or featured the director/cast/writers.

Lots of pictures and lots of fun.

Hang around for more information.




OFFICIAL SITE : http://www.e.bell.ca/filmfest/2006/home/default.asp

#42 - FILM: Bollywood to Bubba

my frazy music, movies and books!



Lots of time on my hands this week to sit down with the DVD player for a little entertainment and enlightment.

Here's the scoop:

Bride & Prejudice (2004)

If you are not big on foreign films, this is a delightfully romping silly introduction to Bollywood.

You will probably recognize one of the stars, Naveen Andrews, of LOST fame.

I thoroughly enjoyed the predictable plot and romantic angst of the young lovers in this story and the fretting parents.

Director, Gurinder Chadha, (Bend It Like Beckham) uses the plot of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice (complete with Mr. Darcy) to introduce American audiences to romance India style.
One of the highlights of this film are musical numbers that are vibrant and somewhat corny (think GREASE) and sweet.

I could easily see this film turning into a musical.

PG13 - Storyline is about romance, but compared to most American PG-13 films, nothing to worry about here.



Being Julia (2004)

Annette Bening and Jeremy Irons grace this adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham's tale called "Theatre".

Here's my theory on films like this...

Don't bother making a film unless there is no other way to reveal the story.

This plot could have been (and SHOULD have been) a stage play. A live audience may have served it better.

This film survives only due to the amazing performance of Annette Bening. She received a Golden Globe for her presentation of Julia in this film. She is a gifted American actress whose subtlety may very easily be overlooked when thrown into the throngs of starlets desperately grabbing for attention.

If you really want to see Annette Bening at her best check out Richard III (1995).

Being Julia is burdened with a predictable plot which feels more like a chore than an escape into entertainment. Here's the short and skinny, a middle aged actress falls for a young lover who is a cad and uses her terribly. Cad gets his comeuppance in final scene.

R rating - Sex


Bubba Ho-tep (2002)

This has got to be the third time I have viewed this film.

It is an absolute gas!

Each time is funnier than the last.

The plot revolves around Elvis and JFK saving a nursing home from a mummy's curse.

It is well worth your time.

R rating - Lots of bathroom and old man humor; not appropriate for the delicately inclined.

Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003)

There are a lot of good reasons to see this film.

I wish I had seen it on the big screen. The cinematography is breathtaking. If you are an admirer of Vermeer's artwork, you will easily see the detail given to light and making the simplicity of life breathtakingly beautiful.

For the visual treasure that this film is, I recommend it... but, I will tell you this...

the book by author, Tracy Chevalier , is infinitely better when it comes to storyline. The filmmakers cut away the subplot of the book.

If you have never read the book, your experience of this film may be different than mine.

I was disappointed in the lack of depth given to Griet, the beautiful woman of the famous painting, Girl With a Pearl Earring.

The film is slow-paced, which I enjoyed, my husband did not.

If you are curious about the details of medieval life, then you will surely enjoy this film as a treasure trove of historical information.

Scarlet Johansson is breathtakingly beautiful in this story, Colin Firth plays Colin Firth in period costume (as usual) and the supporting cast is flawless.

3 Oscar Nominations and 2 Golden Globe nominations were given to this film. Definitely worth a look see.

Rating PG-13 - Scenes depicting sexual assault

Dogville (2003)

This film, starring Nicole Kidman, is shocking and stark.

I love it... that is not the correct term. I am passionate about this film.

We saw the red carpet premiere of Dogville during the Toronto International Film Festival, complete with an appearance by Nicole Kidman.

Even in the balcony of the huge Pantages theater, Ms. Kidman is radiant.

And her beauty as the tormented, Grace, in Dogville makes this film disturbing.

Director, Lars von Trier, is known for his minimalist work. And such is the case with Dogville.

The set is stripped away, taking place on a soundstage with just enough scenery to tell the tale. Scenes are created by lighting, a few props and intense performances.

The first viewing of this film left me feeling overwhelmingly confused by the powerful emotions stirred up. My husband became so upset over the plot, that he actually walked out of the theater during a scene, returning later.

Here's why.

Rape happens in this story.

And there is nothing Hollywood glamorized about it.

Nor is it something that any voyeur would enjoy.

The plot shows rape for what it is... a horrendously brutal act of anger against a vulnerable victim.

And for that, Dogville is something worth viewing.

The story shows how women who are victimized may not run away from an attacker, they may not fight back, they may just do what they have to do to survive.

The theme of this film also addresses the shadow that lies within each of us. When presented with having power over someone else, would we also victimize?

I viewed the film for the second time this week, and saw the film in a different light than the first viewing. I was so shocked by the unexpected turns in the plot, that my first viewing left me overwhelmed.

The second viewing, now knowing what was going to happen, I was able to focus on the characters... and Lars von Trier has definitely defined the darkness that lies waiting in each of us.

This film is not for everyone, and definitely did not get the recognition it deserves... thus, the reason it was not released to mainstream audiences. But, if you want to learn something about the human heart... you may want to consider watching this film.

Rating R - Explicit Sex, Violence

#41 - Naughty Ken Jennings

Jeopardy all star champion, Ken Jennings, has a bee in his bonnet.

Using his blog like a sledgehammer on Alex Trebek, Ken declares that Alex died in a firey crash and was replaced with a cyborg... opr something like that. Here is an excerpt from naughty Ken's Alex Trebek rant:


"Finally, Alex. I know, I know, the old folks love him.

Nobody knows he died in that fiery truck crash a few years back and was immediately replaced with the Trebektron 4000 (I see your engineers still can’t get the mustache right, by the way.)

But that’s beside the point:

“Alex” is the franchise. You can’t just bring in Ryan Seacrest without warning, more’s the pity. But I think a few little host tweaks would do a lot of good.

On Price Is Right, Bob Barker ends every show with a plug for his personal favorite cause. “Spay or neuter your pet!” or whatever. Something like this would humanize Trebek. I propose a new sign-off, along the lines of, “Can our returning champion do it again on tomorrow’s show? Tune in and find out, everybody. Legalize cannabis. Good night.”

You know how Trebek likes to read foreign words in these thick, strained accents, thinking he’s being muy auténtico? He should continue to do this, but instead of delivering them himself, he needs to have a little ventriloquist’s dummy with a sombrero to pipe in with those words. (The sombrero can be switched with a beret for French words.)

Whenever Alex says “Correct!” to a contestant, he should do the two-index-finger point, like Isaac in the Love Boat credits.

You and I have a lot of history, Jeopardy! You know I think the world of you…you’re putting my kids through college, for crying out loud! So I think I can be open with you in a way that others just can’t. I hope you take this advice in the spirit in which it was offered. Remember, I only criticize because I…

Love,

Ken

XOXOXO

Okay, I am reminding myself to never cross Ken Jennings.

I mean... what a stinker!

The automaton on that show had been Ken...

or was I the only one to notice that.

Okay, sometimes Ken could be snippy, but... hey didn't you start thinking after awhile that his performance on Jeopardy was a tad scary.

Guess it takes an automaton to know one.

AOL readers' polls show that folks response to Ken Jennings little Jeopardy "bash-a-thon" is overwhelmingly appalled.

Why?

Because after winning $2.5 million , Ken Jennings... your attitude seems just a bit... hmmm...

ungrateful?

So what is the final answer to Mr. Jennings little Trebektron 4000...

Here you go, Ken:

"What is humble pie?"



RESOURCES:

Ken Jennings - Blog

#40 - Project Runway!!!!

Oh, I feel so lame... but, I am going to admit this:

I HAVE BEEN COUNTING DOWN TO THE NEXT SEASON FOR PROJECT RUNWAY!

And tonight is the big night.

I am not thrilled with the whole Heidi Klum says "We have a great villian this season."

I am not in this for the "drama".

I like the assignments and the results.

Let's talk about reality for a moment.

Do you really think that anyone is going to throw a six figure prize and licensing contracts to an idgit who does not know how to interact with the human race.

Here's the answer:

NOPE.

What I hope does not happen this season is that said "villian" gets carried into the top three as this happened last season.

I don't want to see such idiocy.

I want to see talent.

Plain and simple.

So let's see what this season brings.

Heat up the popcorn, gimme that remote and hold all calls tonight,

because Project Runway's new season premieres.

Auf Weiderschein!

#39 - A Creepy Phone Call

I just got off of the telephone with a creepy computer person.

Stay with me on this…

Not a person calling about computers…

This was a computer pretending to be a person.

She claimed to be representing DOVE.

I ask, “The soap?”

Long pause…

“No.

DOVE.

D-O-V-E.”

I respond, “Oh…yes… I got that part. “

Thinking to myself I KNOW how to spell dove.

Good grief!

The pleasant June Cleaver voice explained that Hollywood media is dominating the selection of film and television broadcasts.

DOVE wants people to take control of that by promoting family value oriented programming.

So I am thinking to myself,

“Whose family values?

Mine?

Are you including our multiracial second married selves…

and our sibling of the lesbian persuasion who is a proud parent and in a loving relationship with her partner.

Oh, and our brother who is also of the same sex persuasion…

um..

is that what you mean by family values?”

But, I thought I best be polite.

So instead I asked, “Which religious organization are you affiliated with?”

Long pause…

“DOVE is not affiliated with any church organization, but we promote the family values of the Judeo-Christian faiths.”

Again I am thinking…

“WHAT??! Muslims don’t have family values?

What about Buddhists?

Or Quakers…

do they count?”

I am starting to go on slow burn.

While my mind is racing… June Cleaver keeps on talking and talking.

I guess she is following a script.

So I decide to relieve her of the script and I ask another question.

Long pause.

And the voice switches gears and recites something else… and now I am VERY SUSPICIOUS.

I ask, “Am I talking to a COMPUTER?!!”

Pause.

Smooth as silk Not June Cleaver explains, “You are talking with a computer facilitated by a person.”

Well, something like that.

This was getting too surreal.

I push, “Look is this a computer or a person?”

And out comes a laugh on the phone line.

I sigh, “Oh! This is a person! Thank goodness, I was beginning to wonder what is going on here.”

And I let out a small laugh of relief.

And the response is the same laugh.

IDENTICAL to the first laugh.

Oh shoot.

This IS a computer.

A computer with an attitude thinking it was gonna be all human and stuff and trying to laugh.

Nope.

I had enough by now.

I am creeped out by this female HAL wannabe so I hang up.


So sorry, but I just DO NOT chat with computers.

Especially ones that sound like the voice of Big Brother on estrogen.

Bothered me so much I just had to locate the DOVE website.

I did.

It’s not too bad actually.

So I think they need to be enlightened by my disgruntled self.

Clicked the CONTACT US button and left the following message:

“I do not appreciate being interviewed by a computer.”

Yep.

I think that about sums it up.

Nuf’ said.

Oh… here’s their website just in case you are curious:

http://www.dove.org/default.asp

POSTSCRIPT:

They wrote back.
Here is what I got:

"If you would kindly provide me with your phone number, I can take you off of our calling list. I apologize for the call that was placed toyour home. We strive to be as professional as possible; however, whenworking with people, we are bound to fall short on occasion. I'm surethis is what happened in your case. Again, I apologize but want you toknow that our mission and cause are noble which is to get more cleanentertainment made for families and to provide families with informationso that they may make informed decisions. We in no way try to censor ordictate what families and/or adults watch. We feel strongly inproviding an alternative for what is generally available to families.Thank you for your feedback and with your phone number I can take youoff our call list.
Thank you.
Dave Lukens
Executive Director
The Dove Foundation535 East Fulton, Suite 1AGrand Rapids, MI 49503Phone: XXX-XXX-XXXX

I thought about a reply, but I am too tired and grouchy now.
But, I will tell you this... I am soooo not going to give these folks my phone number.
:P
TA!

#38 - Portrait Time!

I haven't posted any paintings in awhile.
Here is a portrait from a few years back that I gave one of my online pals.

#37 - Radio Broadcast Link

Sesame Street :Knickers in a Twist was aired this morning at my area's local National Public Radio (NPR) station.

Here is an audio link for anyone who would like to here my western New York accent:

wbfo NewsRoom

This commentary is copyrighted so please do not copy and distribute.

Thanks!

#36 - Television: The Other Side of the Coin

I love Sesame Street, and I am not ready to give up the family television quite yet...

but, TV Turnoff Week is coming soon: April 24 - 30, 2006. (Welcome to TV Turnoff Network)

That is certainly food for thought.

In the meantime, in all fairness to the folks who are working hard for humankind to regain control over the technology slumping into our homes... here is an interesting article printed in full with the author's permission:



A LOOK AT HOW THEY DO IT

By Steve Wagner, LMNOP

(Lake Merrit Neighbors Organized for Peace)

The Society for the Eradication of Television was started by Mary Dixon and some friends in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1980. Following several all-night discussions about media, especially television, and the bad effect that it usually seems to have, they printed a simple membership card that read: I do not have a working television in my home and I encourage others to do likewise. The befuddled and sometimes hostile response from the people they gave these to (who seemed to be just regular folks otherwise) reinforced their worst fears about what television was doing to people.

One thing led to another, and soon S.E.T. was holding meetings and publishing a newsletter. Anarchistic from the get, S.E.T. members started to spread the word in many other ways as well. Ester Erford sent a response to Dear Abby when Abby gave a tepid response to a woman who had written that her husband had stopped even acknowledging her presence once they bought a television. Esther asked Abby why she hadn't suggested booting the boob tube -- a perfectly reasonable question, it would seem. Abby printed Esther's letter, and then a blistering response, in part calling S.E.T. unamerican. Ellen Trabilcy and I coordinated a Radio Bridge dialogue about television between Americans and people in the Soviet Union on Radio Moscow. Radio Moscow and the Voice of America were at that time heard by more people worldwide than any other stations anywhere. Pat Brown did interviews on both the Voice of America and Radio Australia. In short, S.E.T. members were innovative in getting the message out in both big and little ways. After the Dear Abby column, followed by a second Dear Abby column given over totally to rabid attacks on S.E.T., and then the radio interviews, S.E.T. was suddenly flooded with requests for information from all corners of the world.

Now, many years later, the Society for the Eradication of Television is even more timely than it was when it first started in 1980: The number of non-television households is still right around 2%, the number of televisions manufactured is almost identical to the birthrate, and the media masters who own television still try to dictate what we think, what we think about, and when we think about it.

The most important thing we've learned So far as children are concerned Is never, never, never let Them near your television set - Or better still, just don't install The idiotic thing at all. . . They sit and stare and stare and sit Until they're hypnotized by it, Until they're absolutely drunk With all that shocking ghastly junk. . . 'All right!' you'll cry. 'All right!' you'll say, 'But if we take the set away, What shall we do to entertain Our darling children? Please explain!' We'll answer this by asking you, 'What used the darling ones to do? 'How used they keep themselves contented Before this monster was invented?' Have you forgotten? Don't you know? We'll say it very loud and slow: They used to read. They'd read and read and read and read and then proceed To read some more. -Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. A couple of years back Mary Dixon wrote a brief guide called Start a S.E.T. Chapter in Your Locality: Not hard to do, which outlined several activities step by step. The steps, which apply to organizing around this or almost any other issue, are these:

Decide on an easy-to-find, easy-to-get-to meeting place. Maybe a coffee house where everybody can order what they want and no responsibilities are put on a host or hostess;

Publicize this as best you can. Some papers allow social issue groups to put in a classified ad for free. Consider getting yourself interviewed as a non-watcher of television and include the organizational announcement in the article. Distribute flyers in places like laundromats and libraries. Other newsletters might announce your meeting;

Show up at the announced event. Feel optimistic and positive no matter what happens. If no one shows, enjoy your cuppa and consider what kind of rumblings just your ads and flyers caused. If one other person shows up, the two of you can have a good talk and cook up plans. If more, enjoy each other's company and establish a regular time and place to meet;

Keep organizational matters to a minimum. Concentrate on the purpose of the group. Just talking about the media, reinforcing each other, gives you strength when dealing with others. Other projects are as varied as your imagination:

Speaking to other groups

Making and displaying posters

Entering the Xmas parade as a unit

Setting up a booth at a local fair

Protesting an offensive media event

Starting a small library concerning media and television

Working up a comedy routine for a coffee house "open mike" evening

Designing quick radio spots and trying to get radio stations to run them as Public Service Announcements, etc.;

Enjoy the process. Since we have nothing to lose, we can be outrageous. Almost any publicity is better than none at all;

Put out a newsletter. Ideas in print seem to carry more weight.

Encourage others to find articles and cartoons. Encourage also the writing of articles and submitting of graphics. A newsletter does carry clout, allows people to mull over ideas, gets passed around, and helps to publicize both your ideas and your group.

I hope this brief history of S.E.T. is of interest. More important, I hope it is of use to Match! readers, and that they will soon create two, three, many chapters of the Society for the Eradication of Television.
Permission to post, reprint, forward, or otherwise distribute A Look at How They Do It is hereby granted.

To contact the Society for the Eradication of Television, write to
Society for the Eradication of Television
Box 10491
Oakland, CA 94610-0491

or e-mail set dot info at webwm dot com

To contact The Match!, write to

The Match!
Box 3012
Tucson, Arizona 85702

Society for the Eradication of Television

#35 - Sesame Street - Knickers in a Twist

Sesame Street is releasing a series of videos designed for children under the age of two.

The American Academy of Pediatrics have their knickers in a twist over this one. Children under the age of two don't need television.

I happen to agree with that, but...

The reality is that some parents...

oh heck, let's admit this...

MANY parents plop their kids in front of the television.

I would rather have the next generation plopped in front of Sesame Street than the other junk floating about in the great unwashed masses of television shows available.

I think back to when my little guy was two.

He would not utter one word... not a peep.

My sister told me to let him watch television.

My overly educated self went into hysterics... briefly.

Television!!

Oh no!!

I will ruin my child for life!!

But, I was desperate... and Little Bear was allowed to watch Teletubbies.

I hated Teletubbies, but the programming appealed to my ever silent toddler.

He started cooing and talking back to the baby floating in the sunshine. He mimcked the early language used by Dipsy, Tinky-Winky, Lala and Po.

Lo and behold... our son eventually turned into a chatterbox.

Frank McCourt eloquently explains in his book 'TIS, that these television shows are the mythology of our childhood.

I learned classical music through Bugs Bunny which has led to an almost four decades long love affair with the piano.

I learned how to find happiness in growing up in a large family of six kids by tuning in every week to The Brady Bunch. Those kids were happy, and kind... I learned to dream that for my family.

I made bag puppets and hid behind card tables enetertaining myself and anyone in my vicinity for hours while imitating Jim Henson's muppets from Sesame Street. As a teacher and then counselor... I continued to use hand puppets to educate and heal.

I met Gene Kelly through Tom and Jerry and took up dancing in front of a mirror until I eventually got the chance to dance on a stage in front of an audience.


The television provides the storyline to our childhood.

The fairy tales, the myths that are so desperately needed to help our young minds form meaning out of this huge big world.

And after teaching and counseling over one thousand kids in my career... quite frankly, some children would do a far bit better plopped in front of Sesame Street and absorbing that mythology than the horrors that await them in their real world.

My son started with "The Count" on Sesame Street (numbers are still his passion), and now has a very rich imganitive play life full of the storylines of SpongeBob Squarepants and The Fairly OddParents.

I hope he grows up as quirky as we, his parents did. Delving from the humor of his childhood.

Should we plop our kids in front of television?

No.

But, the American Academy of Pediatrics needs a reality check.

People are gong to use the television.

Ninety-eight percent of us in the U.S. have at least one television in our home.

Try working a bit harder on helping parents to find the energy in their lives to be more active in their parenting roles. Look at healing society's ills that cause exhausted and desperate parents to turn to the television as babysitter.

Stop tromping around on an organization that is trying to make the best out of what is already there... and put the money and effort in fixing the root of the problem... because folks, it's not Sesame Street that is going to create a generation of vacuous drooling t.v. watchers.

© Copyright 2006, WBFO



RESOURCES:
1) AOL News: entertainment tv articles - Sesame Street Videos Spark Controversy
2) American Academy of Pediatrics Web Site
3) PBS Kids: Sesame Street
4) relationships : electronic babysitters

#34 - Project Runway - Lessons Learned

Everything is right with the universe.

Chloe Dao won PROJECT RUNWAY. Good thing too... that gal worked like a pro throughout the contest. I love her designs and can't wait to see what she does with this.

Daniel Vasovic was generously offered an internship with Michael Kors. He never would have fallen into that without this show.

And Santino?

Santino... is well, selling t-shirts, buttons and undergarments on his web site, doing interviews , and toodling about having a good time.

Here's the thing...

I thought Santino was going to win...

I truly did.

I thought his final show was excellent, but he fooled around so much with all the previous assignments, that I think the judges soured on him.

It didn't help that he yelled at the judges either...

Nope...

that doesn't work in your favor.

I hope Santino gets a good business manager who can get his stuff out there, and give Santino the liberty to design and...

well...

be Santino.

What shocked me about being a viewer of PROJECT RUNWAY is that I got so caught up in the whole thing.

I mean really caught up.

Just like an armchair quarterback watching Monday Night Football.

I rallied for the "good guys" and booed the "bad guys" and totally fell for the show aspect of this contest...

hook, line, and sinker.

And that brought out the worst in me.

Looking back, I am stunned.

Is this what reality television does to you?

The contestants are not scripted characters pulled out of the imaginiation of some playwright's creative mind.

They are real people being squished into stereotypical roles, manipulated by blunt editing and used up to feed the television machine.

I think I caught track of that after some of the contestants started blogging and I saw how they were truly being effected by the representation fo themselves on PROJECT RUNWAY.

I learned that reality television is sort of kind of real, but then again it is not.

For someone of my generation, this form of television programming is confusing.

I grew up on The Brady Bunch, Mary Tyler Moore, Starsky and Hutch, Happy Days...

that sort of stuff.

The actors became famous and known for the characters they played, but you know they were playing CHARACTERS...

that they existed separately from the images on the television screen.

This reality television thing is turning out to be something that I really have become quite wary of.

People become fodder for the purposes of entertainment.

Public humiliation seems to be the goal of most of the reality programming.

Singling out people's idiosyncracies, encouraging wild behavior (it makes good television), and character assassination are the prime objectives of reality television.

I would love to know the after effects for the participants in these programs.

I know that during Survivor, contestants are given psychological exams prior to being selected and that debriefing counseling is done afterwards.

But, I have a feeling that this is the exception, not the rule.

Who helps out the women from Flavor of Love who have bared themselves on television and are tossed away like yesterday's trash?

Who helps the Wendy Peppers (Porject Runway - Season 1) whose marriages fall apart after the show?

Do the makers of reality television own any responsiblility for the psycholgical damage created by their shows?

I just have to wonder.



In the future everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes.
Andy Warhol

#33 - Jumping the Shark with Water Skis and Final Thoughts on Project Runway

Blogging pal, Paul, Aurora Walking Vacation, informed me that Fnozie not only jumped the shark... but, that he did it on WATER SKIS!

Oh, Fonzie!!!

There is an interesting remark about Fonzie in the film THE WEDDING SINGER. ( Moviefone: The Wedding Singer Movie: MAIN)

You know why shows like Happy Days get cancelled?

Because no one wants to watch a fifty year old Fonzie still trying to act cool and picking up girls.

Good point.

Which brings me to tonight's finale episode of PROJECT RUNWAY.

After last week's debacle... I am half heartedly waiting to see who will win tonight's fashion show.

Truth be known, though... I feel like I have had "reality" television smudged all over my face and the creators are rubbing viewers noses in it.

PROJECT RUNWAY should just be a contest... plain and simple.

I think back to an event that was documented on film, Quiz Show (1994), is about summing up my feelings to the whole thing.

The creators manipulate to appease what they think the audience wants.

When does the whole thing border on fraudulent?

Oh, gosh... who knows.

But, I don't blame the contestants.

These are all talented folks just trying to break in to a highly fickle and competetive arena.

Still thinking Santino is going to walk away with the prize tonight.

#32 Project Runway Jumps the Shark

I am going to show my age here:

When I was growing up there was a truly popular television show starring Ron Howard and Henry Winkler. It was called Happy Days.

The show ran forever.

And as with any show the plot lines were drying up.

There came an infamous episode in which Fonzy (Winkler) uses his motorcycle to jump over a shark tank.

Sorry to say that I have yet to see that episode.

But, that terrible moment of media has gone down in the annals of entertainment criticism as "jumping the shark".

Last night's Project Runway show jumped the shark.

The episode was so horrible that I felt sorry for Santino.

See!

It was so bad I can't even call him Jafar anymore.

WAH!

The powers that be decided to throw in one last challenge during fashion week:

design one more outfit.

To make matters even more complicated each finalist had to choose a former Project Runway contestant to assist.

Now... I have had the pleasure (if you can call it that) of working in costuming for stage perofrmances. Not a lot of experience, but enough to know the bedlam that reigns before opening night.

I can tell you that this "stunt" was absolutely cruel.

Cruel to the designers, and cruel to the viewing audience.

I have no feelings about Heidi Klum delivering this pathetic assignment. She would make the designers dance down their own runway in tutus if it guaranteeed ratings....

but, Tim Gunn????

FOR SHAME!

Tim Gunn if the chairperson for the Department of Fashion Design at Parsons school. He has also been a faculty member for 21 years.

He is an EDUCATOR.

I expect him to adhere to a higher standard of ethics. He is a teacher... he knows what emotional turmoil can be created by such a horrendous stunt.

I am deeply disappointed in his participation in such a manipulative ploy for ratings.

Will I watch next week's finale?

Of course.

Will I ever watch Project Runway after this season?

Highly unlikely.

Last night's episode has turned a delightful show into the Jerry Springer of fashion design.

Contestant Updates:

Uncle Nick has been in Torino:
Nick Verreos: PHOTOTS FROM TORINO!

New pics of Santino with his friend and children:
In the Park with Tony & the kids. - Santino Rice

And I am making it official... I am sorry I called Santino Jafar.
There... I've said it.

Daniel Franco has been the victim of really bad editting. He explains the origins of "I love you Heidi" in his blog:

blog.myspace.com/finedetail

(You may need to be a myspace member to view his blog... so here is a VERY brief summary. The statement was completely taken out of context. When you read his explanation... which makes perfect sense... you may feel incensed by the editting for the reunion show.)

Andre needs to finish his site... nothing new there.
:(

Diane Eng has new scarves for sale and a cute pick from a visit to Red Lobster after the reunnion show:

Popular Transit

Emmett just released a newsletter... just scroll down this blog for a read and a link.

Kara Janx has a jumpsuit for sale on her website:

KARA JANX :: Womens :: Jumpsuit

And that's all I have today for updates.

If you would like to learn more about shark jumping, please visit here:

Jump The Shark - Chronicling the Moments of When TV Shows go Downhill

WELCOME!

#31 - Project Runway - Emmett McCarthy Update

Just received my first newsletter from Emmett's website:

http://www.emmettmccarthy.com/

Dear Loretta:

I was so pleased to see all the designers again at the reunion show and at Bryant Park during the taping of the final runway shows during Olympus Fashion Week. Chloé, Daniel, Kara, and Santino put their best work on the runway--I was especially pleased that Chlóe and Kara where there, as they both have become very close friends to me since our bonding experience under the intense scrutiny of the Project Runway cameras last summer. I loved both of their collections and was happy to see Kara get raves afterwards from non other than Womens Wear Daily and Fern Mallis, whom apparently didn't know Kara was the decoy and declared Kara the winner! Kara actually lives a few blocks from my apartment and I talk to her and Chloé almost daily. Chloe showed a passionate collection focusing on luxury fabrics with beautiful and unusual construction.

Chloe's generosity for sharing her experience, insights, and advice regarding my new EMc2 boutique have been incredibly helpful. I also liked Daniel's collection, it amazed me how young and sophisticated he is as a designer. Santino's left behind his television theatrics for his presentation and his designs had both beautiful use of color and silhouette. After the filming, I hosted a cast party at the boutique. It was nice to relax and get to know one another better and, with the cameras finally off, see each other as individuals not TV characters.
Since November, starting my own brand and opening the boutique (more on that later...) has been the most exciting, terrifying, and challenging experience of my life--much worse than wearing that skintight pink shirt during my final episode as a Project Runway contender. My family, friends and colleagues have come out to support me as well as thousands of supporters who have emailed me from all over the country. Thank you, thank you thank you! It's a huge risk but I know I am not alone.
The grand opening is set for March 17--Saint Patrick's Day--wish this Irish lad luck.
much love,

Emmett

For more information and to be put onto my newsletter contact me at www.emmettmccarthy.com and sign up for the news letter.

#30 - Portraits

Here's a little sample of my portrait work:


TILLY THE WONDER DOG:






LITTLE BEAR


SELF-PORTRAIT ala Anime Style (as if I ever would look like this...LOL!)


HUBBY



AKIKO WAKABAYASHI