3 Words

GMA has a segment called Your Three Words, where viewers send in their sentiments in, obviously, three words.  I first saw it on December 28,2011 on ABC World News and it really touched me.   Unfortunately I can't find that segment so I found another which I liked but I'm not able to load the video so try clicking this link to see it  Three Words.   I hope that one works and these inabilities are not a hint of things to come in 2013.  Jeesh. 

I like the concept of summing up how the week or year went, what we're happy/grateful about, what we're passionate about,  our dreams, our realities - anything in three words.   Can you think of any?  Let's give it a try, eh?    Come up with three words that tell what you want to do in the new year.

Here's a couple of mine:

Get Off Butt

Must Get Organized

Drop the Guilt  

Think of possibilities

        Hey, I'm on a roll here

Keep positive thoughts

Give Thanks Daily

Get in Shape

Protect the Environment

Work that brain!

Okay enough of mine.  Now let me hear from you. 

Chauncey and I want to wish you all a fantastic new year filled with wonderful opportunities, good health, good friends and love.
(Don't mind Chauncey's demeanor.  He's just being silly because he's already started  celebrating.   But he has a good heart  so please forgive him.)

Notes of the Season

Christmas music comes in all varieties  from religious to pop to traditional to humorous.  It stirs our feelings and memories.  The notes play with our senses evoking cheer, a lightness of spirit, a reminder that not all can be where they want to be on that special day and/or  a renewing of faith. 

Here are a few of my favorites.

                           
          

I'll be Home for Christmas by Bing Crosby.  This always hit home probably because they usually played it on   WWII documentaries.    (Blogger hates me.  Anything I put first wouldn't play.  Sorry)

Handel's Messiah.  Love how lively it is.

                                          
Snoopy's Christmas by the Royal Guardsman.  It's sweet and reflects  the Christmas truce between Britain  and Germany.


What does  holiday music do for you?  What are your favorite songs?

Let them Grieve

As I was watching the morning news today about Newtown , a reporter said something to the effect that they, the news, were getting wary looks from some of the citizens of that town.  I said back to my TV, "Gee, ya think?".

  Come on now.  A huge mass of  news related people converge on a town that is reeling from a horrific tragedy, asking parents and children for details of what they saw and how they feel.  Even though the names of the poor victims are known and grief is tearing at the hearts of the families and friends of those who died, and the community, the news machine is still there pounding away reporting on the funerals.  And this guy is questioning why they're getting looks??

It's time for the press to leave Newtown.  They'll never find out exactly why Adam Lanza did what he did.  Let the town come together, without intrusion, so they may be as one, offering each other support, comfort and love without a camera trying to record it.  Let them grieve in peace, in  private, and with respect.

Shock Jocks -too much?

                                                   

We've all heard about the poor nurse, Jacintha Saldanha, who allegedly committed suicide (autopsy being done to confirm) after being duped by the pair of Australian "shock jocks", Mel Greig and Michael Christian.  My sympathy goes out to her loved ones. 

 Do I blame those DJ's for her death, no.  They could not foresee that such an event would ever happen and now they're full of remorse.  I do blame them for trying to catch a human mistake, to the dismay of the unknowing victim, for the amusement of their audience.

Truthfully I never liked "shock jocks".  Hell, I don't even like Don Rickles or any other comic or "celebrity" who degrades or embarrasses others or does outrageous negative things to get a laugh or to scandalize.  Howard Stern is one that comes to mind.  But that's my opinion,   obviously there's quite a large number out there who don't share those same views.  They, like those who supply it, like to push things to the edge or beyond it.  Nothing off limits.

2DayFM, the station who hired these disc jockeys, had been warned, this past year, by Australia's independent communications regulator when a radio host, while on the air, talked a fourteen year old girl into revealing she had been raped.  This created listener outrage and some sponsor backlash but obviously not enough to stop such actions.  The money still flowed and the people still tuned in.   I don't understand the mentality of it all.  I'm not saying to get them or anyone else like them off the air because, hey, if I don't like it I don't have to listen to it.   What I am saying is lets have some common sense here.  Think a little about the possible repercussions that might happen.  Freedom of speech, as other freedoms, come with responsibilities.

The saying goes: it's funny until someone gets hurt.  Well, unfortunately someone did.

How do you feel about this or "shock jocks"?  Do you listen to any of them? 

Do You Know the Title?

As writers we all know titles are important. They help catch the eye drawing a person to pick up that book or read the review of a movie.  I recently came across an article stating some working titles that didn't make it onto the finished product. Finding it interesting, I thought you might enjoy a little quiz on just that subject.

Below are the working and final titles of some well known books and movies.  Can you match them?

Books

1)  Pride and Prejudice                                        A) The Last Man in Europe

2) To Kill a Mockingbird                                     B) Before this Anger

3) Gone with the Wind                                        C) First Impressions

4) Atlas Shrugged                                                  D) Four and a Half Years of
                                                                                          Struggle Against Lies,  
                                                                                          Stupidity and Cowardice

5) 1984                                                                      E) Atticus

6) Mein Kampf                                                        F) Tomorrow is Another
                                                                                           Day

7) Roots                                                                    G) The Strike
_____________________________________________________________________________

Movies                                                     

1) Unforgiven                                                    A) The Last First Kiss

2) Pretty Woman                                              B) The Loners

3) E.T                                                                     C) The Cut Whore  Killings
                                                                                 (the title was changed twice 
                                                                                    before settling)

4) Dirty Harry                                                     D) 3000

5) Easy Rider                                                       E) A Boy's Life

6) Hitch                                                                F) Dead Right
                                                                                                                                                                    

Answers:

Books:
Pride and Prejudice - (C) First Impressions                
 To Kill a Mockingbird - (E)  Atticus
Gone with the Wind - (F) Tomorrow is Another Day    
Atlas Shrugged - (G)The Strike
1984 - (A)The Last Man in Europe                            
Roots - (B) Before This Anger
Mein Kampf - (D)Four and a Half years of Struggle Against . . . (No wonder they shortened it to My Struggle)
*I was going to use the Great Gatsby but F. Scott Fitzgerald had about 6 working titles.

Movies:
Unforgiven - (C) The Cut Whore Killings                    
Pretty Woman - (D) 3000
E.T  - (E) A Boy's Life                                                
Dirty Harry - (F) Dead Right
Easy Rider - (B) The Loners                                          
Hitch - (A) The Last First Kiss

So how many did you already know?  Did any surprise you? Hope you enjoyed my little quiz.  Thanks for stopping by.


Sources: Huff Post Entertainment, Wikipedia, IMDb, and Mental Floss

Really?

                                               

                                Hurry we must make it to the stores before 8!


Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching and with it Black Friday. I personally don't like Black Friday and try not to shop on that day.  I hate the crowds and I seem to catch good sales on other days without getting caught up in that frenzy.

 You've probably have heard there are enough petitions to stuff a turkey against stores trying to get a jump on that day and opening for business on Thanksgiving .  (If you want you can go to Change.org  to sign any number of them.)    As you can imagine, I'm against opening up on Thanksgiving.  To me it 's just wrong.  It's a day to reflect, to appreciate the things that truly matter and if possible spend time with people you care about. ( My father and his wife have passed on and my mother and sister live in another state but they will all be at our table, if only in our thoughts.) It's a shame people have to leave their families behind because they have to work.

In fairness I have to report that Target said on their blog,  A Bullseye View,   "The holiday season is highly competitive, and Thanksgiving weekend is one of the busiest shopping times of the year. Target’s opening time was carefully evaluated with our guests and team members in mind. Our opening time this year reflects the feedback we have heard from our guests – many prefer to shop following their family gatherings rather than in the very early hours of the morning."   They also state they asked for volunteers and had not forced anyone to work.  But I have to wonder, in this economy, would one feel pressured into working? If they're seasonal workers, probably. Do they feel it would be a check mark against them if they didn't?  Could be, I don't know for sure.  Remember, this is Target's rendition of the facts.

 And who are these consumers, whom they speak of, who are so hell bent on shopping? What, there's no other sales for the next four weeks they can go to? Is cooking and having company not enough that they have to walk for hours from store to store?  And if there has to be one,  why can't Black Friday come a week after Thanksgiving?  What priorities are we accepting and teaching our children if we allow Thanksgiving to be violated ?

I know this is more of a rant  but I just don't get it.

Do you shop on Black Friday? Are you going to shop on Thanksgiving?  If you are tell me what I'm missing here.  Thanks.


A little side note: Small Store Saturday - support the little businesses that are a part of America's  hometown.  Also checkout craft sites or go to craft shows for unique gifts. 

Veteran's Day

For all who have served and those who will in the future, we thank you from the bottom of ours hearts for your selfless gift.

First Lady Debate

On October 18, Jimmy Kemmel had a segment asking people, on Hollywood Blvd., who they thought won the First Lady Debate between Michelle Obama and Ann Romney.  Most thought Michelle had won while another thought Ann had.  These people went on about how Michelle was more aggressive and accurate.   One did admit to having only watched part of it.  The Ann supporter was asked if there was anything in particular that Ann said.  The woman replied, no I just like the way she looks. 

The trouble with all this is there is no such thing as a First Lady Debate.  Nada.  Zilch.  So what’s going on here?  Are they transferring what they saw the candidates do to the candidate’s wives?  Or have we been bombarded with so many ads, talk shows appearances and “news” of these women that it seems they have done a debate?  Maybe but that doesn’t really explain how people actually “watched” it.

Or could it be something entirely different – vanity.  Could these people, when approached by a reporter, want not to appear uninformed or stupid so they agree there was one and proclaim their views about this fictitious debate?  Sounds a little like The Emperor’s New Clothes, doesn’t it?

I have to admit this insight has me a tad worried about the American voter.  If they believe they saw the First Lady Debate what other things are they being swayed into thinking?

Why do you think people said they watched something that didn't happen?


Note: this was to have been posted sooner but Sandy had other plans for me.

Winter's Gone

Well with the passing of Easter I guess it's safe to say that we're not going to get any snow. So I wanted to share this shot from two winters ago with you.

I know it might sound crazy but I like the cold weather and snow. Of course not a prolonged cold or an immense amount of snow but just the right combo to make me appreciate Spring.

How do you feel? If you didn't have as harsh a winter as you usually get did you miss it? What's your favorite season?