Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Making a New Year’s Resolution – Should the Stars Be Our Guide?

First appeared on Blogcritics.

new 3 If you are anything like I am, you probably like to check your horoscope. There is something irresistible about learning what the stars have in store for us on a daily, monthly, and yearly basis. Many people invest time, money, and energy in studying their signs and following the “advice” that comes from the heavens (as interpreted by astrologists with varying degrees of acuity).


I have often read my horoscope and felt it was sort of universal enough to cover the bases; however, there have been times that there has been such synchronicity between my life at the moment and the words I read that forced me to think that it was more than mere coincidence. I have researched more in depth horoscopes for people I know very well, and many times it seems more than the coincidental in how accurate the description was of their personalities and behavior. So

I have been passively checking my horoscope for years, but today felt different. On the cusp of a new year, I wanted my horoscope to mean something even before I read it. In the past year I have dealt with major changes in my life, and also came to terms with the loss of loved ones (some of the residual pain going way back before 2014). Contemplating where I want to be not just in 2015 but for the rest of my life, I opened the page and was confronted with this:
Like all of us, Vic, you are mixed up in the events that surround you. The collective movements of the planets right now have the strength of a huge animal. Our individual forces are powerless against it. Just relax, and make an effort to let your life take its course. Imagine yourself drifting downstream, letting the current take you where you are meant to go. You will avoid much tension this way. Besides, the water is cool and refreshing...
I was completely unprepared for those words; furthermore, and most surprisingly, I felt totally receptive to every syllable. I am usually extremely practical, but now I was being drawn into what seemed a very attractive but highly impossible notion. Should I forget everything and follow the lead found in my end of the year horoscope?

I think my receptivity had much to do with the way I was feeling at the moment. There is always a bit of sadness on New Year’s Eve, leaving behind all that we could or could not do, remembering those lost, those beyond our help, and those who didn’t want it. Yet there is also that glimmer of hope that the new year will be better, be different, and bring joys unexpected or fathomed at midnight on December 31st.

Reading this horoscope made me think of wars, of plane crashes (and planes lost and not found as well), of Ebola and other diseases, violence in the streets in all countries, abuse of animals all over the world, the staggering volume of people suffering from poverty and hunger, and the continuing world-wide war against women, including those living right here in America – no matter how many glass ceilings are said to be shattered. All of this coalesces into the “huge animal” mentioned in the horoscope that seems like coming upon a bear in the woods, when all you have to defend yourself is a camera and a backpack. There is an ominous feeling to the thought of powerlessness, to being unable change anything no matter how wrong it is. 

But the rest of the horoscope appealed to me, and the idea to “let your life take its course” seemed profound in its simplicity. Instead of always trying to steer the boat, wouldn’t it be infinitely more enjoyable to let “the current take you where you are meant to go”?

new 1I took a deep breath and exhaled after reading this. It reminded me of the song “Let It Go” from the Disney film Frozen. My daughter exuberantly embraces this song when she plays it on the piano and sings, and I have often sat and listened to her and enjoyed it, but now I realized that the appeal of the song is the lyrics and the concept of not caring about what everyone else says to do – letting go allows you to avoid the wrong turns, the supposedly essential possibilities, and the hard stops. It is a frightening thing for us to allow the flow to take us freely away, but in the end we are not steering by the stars but just letting them bring us where we need to be.

This is, I suppose, my new year’s resolution – or a semblance of one. I really don’t like making resolutions because they are usually broken too soon or, upon reflection, are seen as impulsive and irrational. This one has a chance though, if I can be strong enough to believe in the universe as knowing much more than I do about what is best for me.

new 2I don’t know what you year ending horoscope says, but I hope you find something in it that will help guide you as you turn the page to 2015. Happy New Year to all and to all a healthy and successful 2015!





  Photo Credits: wallpaper-kid.com, Disney.com, hottytoddy.com    

Sunday, December 28, 2014

Limbaugh Says Actor Can’t Play James Bond Because He’s Black

First appeared on Blogcritics.

To start off let me say that I have truly enjoyed James Bond movies over the years, and even as a kid I had the “spy toys” associated with the character, especially the attaché case that I wish I had kept. In my mind James Bond is more than the actors who have portrayed him – the character somehow subsumes the men, and they are “Bond” for however many films in which they appear.

bond 4
Limbaugh - foot in mouth yet again!
When I heard the story that radio personality Rush Limbaugh said that actor Idris Elba couldn’t portray Bond because he is black, I thought that Rush must have a case of foot-in-mouth disease again. Known for his inappropriate comments about women, gays, and blacks, it would seem Rush is living up to the title of the book Al Franken wrote a book about him (Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot). Yes, he has his right to freedom of speech, but he has a history of caustic and unnecessarily inflammatory statements. I guess that he is playing to the audience that gives him ratings. If you explore some of Rush’s rationale, he incorrectly states that Bond comes from Scotland. If you look at one of the best sources for Bond information (author Ian Fleming who created him), we get the history of Bond’s lineage:
James Bond was born in Zurich in the early 1920s to Andrew Bond of Glencoe and Monique Delacroix, from the Canton de Vaud in Switzerland. The family divided their time between a flat in Chelsea and a large house just outside Basel which enabled James’ fluency in French and German, as well as English. Tragically, both James’ mother and father died in a climbing accident whilst on holiday in France when he was only eleven.
bond 2
Connery- the tuxedo fit just right.
Now while Glencoe is indeed in Scotland, we can see that Bond would not actually identify much with that judging from what we are told. Of course, in Skyfall, the latest Bond film, we learn that Skyfall is actually Bond’s family estate in the Scottish highlands. All of this may have tinged Rush’s thoughts about Bond, but he has lost sight of one of the most salient things about James Bond – he is a fictional character! While I believe Bond is more than just a stock character, why can’t he be morphed in different directions? After all, anyone who believes that Roger Moore’s James Bond was the same as Sean Connery’s version needs to see the films again. They are distinctly different while retaining certain aspects of the Bond legend.

One needs only to look at other traditionally “white” characters who have been played by black actors to see there is precedence for it. The current smash hit film Annie stars young Quvenzhané Wallis as the titular heroine, the old red hair and blank oval eyes nowhere to be seen. Samuel L. Jackson has done a nice job as Nick Fury in the Marvel films, Halle Berry has played Catwoman, and who can forget William Marshall’s turn as the blood thirsty count in Blacula? A number of black actors have tackled the Shakespearean Hamlet, Macbeth, and King Lear roles in plays, sacred cows that sometimes could use some tipping. Why should any actor be prevented from taking a role simply because of his or her race? If you are thinking this is 2014 and why are we having this conversation, join the club.

This situation reminds me of another ludicrous moment from last year when FOX newscaster Megyn Kelly infamously declared both Jesus and Santa to be white. Santa is once again a fictional character; therefore, should he not be depicted as however the eye of the beholder envisions him? I have been in stores and public places where Santa has been played by persons of various ethnicities, and none of the kids ever seemed to mind – it’s some of the adults who have issues with it I suppose. As for Jesus, if you are a Christian and believe that he is the Son of God, isn’t it your right to see him in whatever form is pleasing to you? People who think of God can and should see him in a similar way. Since the Bible tells us that God made humans in his own image, there is certainly every reason to think the entirety of the human race looks like God, not just one race.

bond 3
Elba would be a great Bond.

Back to Idris Elba, I am certain that he would slip into Bond’s finely tailored suits, sip shaken not stirred martinis, and drive sports cars as well as any of the previous actors. Having seen Mr. Elba in various roles, my first impression of him is as an actor who can handle any role. No wonder the SONY executives (whose emails were revealed during the hacking of that company) were discussing Elba for the part.


Current Bond Daniel Craig is probably the best actor to ever play the suave spy, and certainly is my favorite after Sean Connery; however, as with all actors who have played Bond, there is a shelf life to the role, and it seems like Craig is nearing his expiration date. There is no reason why Elba shouldn’t be considered for the role, and certainly race should have nothing to do with it.



bond 1
Craig - best actor to fill the role thusfar.
 

James Bond is a cultural phenomenon that has remained extremely popular after 23 films. Craig will next appear as Bond in Spectre, and then he is committed to one more film. After that the search for a new Bond will be on, and I for one hope that Elba gets serious consideration for the role. Of course, if they really want things shaken and not stirred, why not cast a female and call her Jane Bond? I fear old Rush then might get his appendage caught in his mouth permanently and be forced to quit radio. Well, one can dream anyway.

  Photo credits: dailycurrant.com, 007.com, collider.com

Saturday, December 27, 2014

Favorite Christmas Toys – The Joy Playing on Days after Christmas

First appeared on Blogcritics.

Christmas is over and presumably Santa Claus has removed his boots, has his red stocking feet up by the fire, is drinking some hot cocoa, and allowing the elves some time off. In these days after Christmas, the toys are the story as new ones encroach on old favorites. Since I am off for the holidays, there is no better time for my son and I to have playtime with all the new things while still incorporating some of the old ones in the mix.

I remember those glorious days after Christmas as a kid. I recall my Lost in Space robot terrorizing my sister’s Barbie dolls, the G.I. Joes punching out Ken’s lights, and my trains circling the lighted village under the tree for hours at a time. Those were exciting days of no school and playing and letting my imagination run wild. Thankfully, I am getting to do that again with my son (though his sister has wisely protected her dolls by hiding them in her room).

The best toys are not necessarily those that are most popular with other kids, but rather the ones that stoke the fires of my son’s imagination. Usually, they are connected to things he loves – in this case the safest bets are usually SpongeBob and Mickey Mouse, which my six-year-old still enjoys the most on TV and in toys. In a strange twist, after watching Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame he’s become obsessed with getting those toys (trying to get them from an almost twenty-year-old film wasn’t easy). So here is one kid’s list of top five favorite gifts from Santa this year. The list is purely subjective, of course.  

toys 3  5. Happily, this is not a toy but a book! We have had to read this at least a dozen times over the last two days. He is really very interested in the story of “Scrooge” as portrayed by Professor Von Drake (Donald is his nephew Fred). Mickey is Bob Cratchit and all the assorted ghosts and characters are there in this Dickens tale in the Disney universe. The basic story is the same anyway (Scrooge's chance for redemption), and the fact that my son likes Mickey’s Christmas Carol so much (especially the part about Scrooge finally becoming good) means he gets what Dickens was trying to do in the first place. I can't think of any better excuse for picking a man's pocket on the 25th of December than this beautifully illustrated Disney book.      





toys 6  4. Hunchback of Notre Dame toys have taken center stage, especially the main villain Frollo from the first animated Disney film. In fact, Frollo has now become the “bad guy” in just about every game we play. Fortunately, as you can see, the protagonist is our favorite Disney duck who just happens to defeat Frollo every time. I just found out this morning that it is indeed possible for Frollo to time travel (in our cowboy town), breathe under water (in SpongeBob’s world), and go into space with Mickey on his rocket ship. He’s one resilient bad guy toy.  



toys 53. SpongeBob SquarePants Glove World! is one of those toys that keeps him playing for hours. Any fan of the show will know that Glove World! is the amusement park where our titular Sponge and his goofy friend Patrick can go to let off some steam after a hard day in Bikini Bottom. The two figures in the picture are included with the set, and since he has all the other characters from other sets, Mr. Krabbs, Sandy Cheeks, Gary, and the whole gang have climbed aboard the rides to have a good time. This is a keeper!



toys 22. Disney’s Planes Charge and Fly Dusty is a real hit. When we went to Disney World earlier this year, we stayed in a Cars themed room, and while he really liked that very much, I think that Planes may have eclipsed that in popularity now. This is a really cool toy that charges on the base. You pull the trigger and Dusty goes over the TV, through the dining room, and crashes into the Christmas tree. Oh, yes, the box tells us that we should play with this toy outside, but we couldn’t resist testing it out anyway. A few broken ornaments later, we have learned a lesson and played with it only in the backyard.    







toys 11. The number one most favorite gift of all is (imagine drumroll now) Disney Railroad Train Set. With a locomotive that lights up, blows a whistle and a bell, this set reminds me of the old ones I had as a boy (which I sadly gave away as a teenager). The coal car features a distinctive coal bin and Donald with a shovel. Goofy is the conductor, and Minnie Mouse comes on board as a passenger. Of course, Mickey’s the driver and the tracks are wide and rugged. I’m not surprised that this is the favorite toy (Daddy loves to play with it as well), which my son originally saw in Disney World. The size of the box alone caused me to have it shipped, which the nice people in the store there took care of in order to get it on Santa’s sleigh. When he tore the paper off the box he yelled, “Yes!” That Santa does good work.



So these are the gifts that are most popular now. Runners up include a Nerf target set, a radio controlled Camaro, and a new baseball glove. He did get clothing and pajamas, but as those things were opened he rolled his eyes and tossed them aside, almost as if he wanted to say, “What was Santa thinking?” I must admit that I too did that kind of thing as a kid. Alas, now all I get is clothing. Santa, if you’re reading this, I want one 50th anniversary G.I. Joe next year if I’m a good boy. Please!!  

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Fall on Your Knees - A Short Story By Victor Lana

First appeared on Blogcritics.

baby 3 Bartimaeus looked back only once at Herod’s temple, remembering that his mission came from the king himself. He wore his sword and sheath hidden beneath beggar’s robes, his face and hands purposely smudged with dirt to give the appearance of poverty and being on the road for a long time. As a trusted member of the Temple Guard, Bartimaeus had gone undercover before amongst the Romans and the Jews. This time though Herod recruited him personally, and he knew the rewards would be great if he brought back this Jewish child the three kings from the east were claiming would be the Messiah.

He tracked the kings and came upon their encampment, noticing the sentries dozing off on the perimeter. Bartimaeus slipped quietly up to the tent where the kings drank tea and studied charts on the table. They talked about the large star; he glanced over his shoulder at the road to Bethlehem and saw one large bright beacon amongst its lesser brethren in the firmament. One king said, “We will continue away from Bethlehem but then make our way to see the child in good time.”

He knew that they had lied to Herod now, but he had no time to go back and tell this news. No, he understood that he had to reach the child first and bring him back, as Herod instructed – dead or alive!

The night grew cold as Bartimaeus walked along the road to Bethlehem. Having grown up with a religious father, he had heard him talk about the Messiah but never believed himself.

He came upon three thieves attacking an old man. Bartimaeus drew his sword, and the attackers scattered into the night. The old man could not catch his breath, but he looked up at Bartimaeus and smiled. “Thank you for helping me.”

Bartimaues said, “You should not be travelling along here at night. This road is full of thieves.”

The old man got to his feet and pointed to the star. “I must go there to see what has been promised by Micah from days of old.”

“What do you hope to find there?”

“The King of the Jews,” the old man said.

“Very well. Let’s go.” Bartimaeus took the man by the arm and they continued their journey.

baby 2A few miles down the road they saw shepherds and their flock in the distant field. The old man left him and started walking across the field. The earth shook so much as to knock him to the ground. Suddenly the sky was filled with light as if it were noontime, and Bartimaeus had to shield his eyes as he saw the shepherds seemingly paralyzed with fear.

The old man rose above the shepherds, and he spoke as if he were a poet with a lyre. Bartimaeus finally heard the words he needed to hear – “You will find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” 

Bartimaeus didn’t understand how the old man had done this, but with this information he rushed into Bethlehem and got caught in the crush of people in the streets, and then he saw the Roman soldiers directing people away from the square and recalled Herod complaining about the Roman census. He now understood the connection to the scripture – the child was foretold to be born in the city of David.

He asked around the town about the baby, but no one knew anything. He found a bustling tavern and went inside, seeing men with their jugs of wine and noting the foul stench in the air. The inn keeper suddenly grabbed his arm saying, “We don’t serve the likes of you in here.”

Instinctively he prepared to go for his sword, but then he remembered that he was undercover. To the innkeeper he appeared to be a beggar. He took a deep breath as the large man started dragging him toward the door. “Sir, I apologize, but I am trying to find the baby that was born tonight.”

Once out on the street the innkeeper looked him over. “It figures that you’re poor like they are.”

“Who?”

baby 1“The baby’s parents. I couldn’t give them a room here, but see that barn out there in the field?” Bartimaeus looked to where the man pointed and saw a small illuminated structure; directly above it shone the large star. “They are in there. My wife said the babe was born just an hour ago.”

“Thank you, sir,” Bartimaeus said. He rushed down the hill, across the field, and anxiously went toward the small barn. Outside there were sheep sleeping on the grass, and as he made his way inside he saw some of the shepherds he had seen in the field and the man that he had saved from the thieves. They all knelt before a crib where the baby lay indeed wrapped in swaddling clothes. These few scrawny men would be no match for him, he thought, as he moved forward and prepared to take the sword from its sheath.

He saw the baby’s parents kneeling next to the crib, and the old man looked up at him and said, “Behold your salvation, Bartimaeus of Beersheba.” Bartimaeus released the sword and stared at the man.

"How do you….”

“See what the world has waited for all these years. “

baby 4Bartimaeus feared looking at the child, but as he did he felt his knees quiver. The radiance surrounding the baby overwhelmed him, and he fell to his knees and felt ashamed by the realization of what he had been prepared to do. He understood completely now as his heart opened and allowed the rush of energy inside.

He would never return to Herod or the killing of men. Bartimaeus understood his father now and why he awaited the Messiah, and as he stared at the child with love he had never known, he understood that from this day forward this blessed baby would be the only king that he served forevermore.

  Photo credits: hqwallpaper plus.com, crackberry.com, pinterest.com, renwaldyanics.com  

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Shot NYC Cop’s Son Mourns His Father – A Fate All Cop Families Always Fear

First appeared on Blogcritics.

cop 1 When I heard the news that New York City police officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos were assassinated in cold blood by some ruthless thug (in keeping with my practice I neither use the killer’s name nor photo because he deserves no publicity) as they sat in their patrol car, I immediately thought of their families. Besides the senseless loss of their lives, their friends and loved ones suffer incalculably from such a loss.


As someone whose father spent twenty years in the NYPD, I can empathize with young Jaden Ramos, Rafael’s 13-year-old son who, instead of preparing for Christmas, is mourning his father and trying to make sense of a world where someone would kill someone just because he was wearing a uniform. Of course, there is no making any sense of such things because they go beyond rational thought and understanding.

My family has bled NYPD for over a century – my great grandfather, my grandfather, and Dad all served the city as police officers. In following the family tradition, I took the police test and did extremely well. As I waited to be called to serve as the fourth generation of my family in the NYPD, I got an offer for a teaching position in Brooklyn. I was going to skip the interview, but Dad became very adamant – he said that he feared the city had changed and that cops were targets for just wearing the uniform (and this was thirty years ago). I went on that interview, got the job, and thus ended thoughts of following in Dad’s footsteps.

cop 2
My grandfather around 1930
I still worry about family members, friends, and sons of friends in the NYPD. Every time I hear something like a cop being shot, I feel a rush of fear and also remember my own palpable worries as a kid. Again and again I saw my father getting dressed for work knowing that he was going out of the house for maybe the last time. This took a toll on my mother too, but she deftly put on a happy face for us and never once revealed her fears about losing him.

This is a reality every police family faces on a daily basis. Just one glance at a the list of killed NYPD officers is a stark reminder of the toll on the department and city. While we have tremendous pride in our fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, cousins, and friends for doing a job many would not do, we also know that it is very dangerous work. The worry never goes away until that last day on the job, and then finally you can breathe a sigh of relief; however, the fear still goes on for all those families of current cops. That is rule number one of police work: cops are going out into something similar to a war zone, and there is nothing their families can do about it but pray that they come home.

This has to be something Jaden Ramos always feared because he is old enough to know how tough the job his father did was, but there is always a defense mechanism you use to get through the day and night. I used to think, “Dad’s smart; he can take care of himself; he was a street smart city kid and knows what he’s doing.” All those things help you cope, but none of them take in account a maniac who is bent on killing a person just because he is wearing a uniform.

cop 3

My heart breaks when I read about young Jaden mourning his father. On his Facebook page he writes “This is the worst day of My life” (sic). He posts pictures of his father and him, and you see the love emanating from the images. You can’t imagine what he’s going through, but you know that there will be a good deal more bad days ahead and that his life is forever altered and that he will carry this loss all the rest of his days.

When I think of Jaden I know that I was one of the lucky ones to see my Dad retire and enjoy the rest of his life. I count that among my blessings, but now I worry about those other family members and friends who are still out there. They are working hard for the city they love. The vast majority of the NYPD (and police everywhere for that matter) are good people who are in the job because they care and want to make a difference. They don’t get the press coverage and the stories on CNN. We only see media saturation when a rogue cop does something.

As in all careers in all walks of life, there will be a few bad apples. Unfortunately, this is what we get on TV and in the papers and what they make movies about. The world sees a “bad cop” and has a tainted image, thinking his story is a microcosm instead of realizing that he is an anomaly.

Most cops are good people, have loving families, and hope to be lucky enough to come back home to them again. Despite all the dangers, they go out there every day knowing it could be their last day on earth, but that doesn’t stop them. You have to admire that kind of dedication and determination; I know that I do.

  Photo credits: NYPD, Facebook   

Sunday, December 14, 2014

The Walking Dead – Zombies Are the Least of the Problem

First appeared on Blogcritics.


dead 1 *This article contains spoilers.

For those of you who are missing your Sunday night dose of the zombie apocalypse, you’re not alone. "Coda," the mid-season finale of season five, left us wanting more, needing answers, and wondering where our dwindling band of survivors is going to go next. Add the death of the radiant Beth Greene (Emily Kinney) to the mix, and you have a recipe for angst that will last until that Sunday in February when we can get back into this dismal version of the near future.

This season has been lacking light moments (except for Eugene’s joking about his mullet). There has been a decided shift toward grim that is unrelenting. It really started at the end of season four when Beth was taken and our group became prisoners at Terminus, and the first half of season five included the escape from Terminus, the search for Beth, and the loss of any hope for reprieve from the “virus” that turns the dead into flesh eating ghouls. We learned that Eugene (Josh McDermitt) was nothing more than an intelligent weakling, hoping to secure protection by creating the story that if he could get to Washington D.C. he could fix things. In short the first half of season five was as bleak as you can get.

dead 3

Still, we are compelled to watch, maybe even more so now than ever. Nothing is more obvious than the shift in our protagonist Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), who has become more Shane than his ex-partner Shane Walsh (Jon Bernthal) ever was. In the mid-season finale Rick runs down a handcuffed police officer with a police car and then shoots him in the head. Rick’s going over to the dark side started when he ripped Joe’s (Jeff Kober) throat out after the guy threatened to rape and murder his son. Rick’s fall from grace is nothing but necessity as the mother of invention, and Rick’s character is compelling because one minute he is cradling his daughter baby Judith in his arms and the next he’s blowing away someone (usually a living person) who is a threat.

At this point zombies are the least of the survivors’ problems. They have become adept at killing them (or is that re-killing them?) and dispensing with the feelings that plagued Hershel (the incomparable Scott Wilson) in season two when his barn was filled with walkers. The concept that the zombies still retain something human has lessened over the seasons; however, the introduction of conflicted priest Gabriel Stokes (Seth Gilliam) revisits the notions of the hazy line between zombie-human persona. He cannot bring himself to kill zombies (is it more about his weakness or one of the Ten Commandments?), especially when he sees a cross around one’s neck.
dead  4The idea of faith in a sea of faithlessness is one of the more interesting aspects of season five; however, Stokes seals himself up inside his church and allows his flock to get devoured outside. This is an ironic twist on the Eucharist, which promises eternal life to the faithful by eating the host (body of Christ). Credit showrunner Scott M. Gimple and his writers for playing up this connection as the walkers eat humans to keep their version of life going on, though it seems as if the animated dead can survive for a long time without eating anything.

dead 5The extended metaphor of faith as being lost is a strong aspect of season five; however, there are also indelible moments of faith shining through Beth as she is forced to work in Grady Memorial Hospital under the despotic cop Dawn (Christine Woods). Kinney’s performance rose to ethereal, her eyes betraying the inner strength she had from not only being Hershel’s daughter but also surviving with the group.

How can we forget Hershel’s Bible or Beth singing for Darryl in the funeral parlor? Dawn couldn’t recognize Beth’s inner power until it was too late for both her and Beth. That scene in “Coda” when Beth tells Dawn, “I get it” is burned in my mind now. I understand why Beth does what she does there, but it has shaken me worse than even the deaths of Dale and Hershel. If there was any vestige of good left in the world, Beth embodies it until Dawn vanquishes all that she represents.

I’ve read some articles in which the writers believe that Beth’s death was inconsequential – they claim that the deaths of Carol (Melissa McBride) or Beth’s sister Maggie (Lauren Cohan) would have been much worse. While I didn’t want to see anyone die, I had a feeling that it would have been a lesser character. My bet had been on either Rosita (Christian Serratos) or Tara (Alana Masterson); however, I should have known that TWD usually takes great pains to build up a character’s story right before he or she gets the axe, so it shouldn’t be surprising that Beth got killed, but it still felt like a sucker punch.

The reaction of the rest of the group, especially Daryl (Norman Reedus), is indicative of how deeply Beth affected the group. Not only was she the beloved Hershel’s daughter, but she also seemed to be a beacon of light in the darkness. Daryl’s goal to find Beth was to bring some light back into his life, one that she had kindled when they had their experiences together in season four. Some people questioned if there would be a romance between the two, but I saw it as a love that rose way above physical needs and attraction. For Daryl, Beth represented an ideal he never had in his life before, and it’s being extinguished crushes his hopes for any kind of respite from the despair he has always known.

dead 2The final scene of “Coda” gives us Daryl walking out of the hospital carrying Beth’s body. Maggie collapses in grief, and all the rest stare in shock as they see the petite girl’s body sagging in Daryl’s arms. I have to hand it to Gimple for ending on absolutely the bleakest note he possibly could have, and the notion of where to go is less important than how can they go on?

How does the group recover from Beth’s death, Eugene’s deception, and the reality that the church is no longer a safe place? When given an option to stay at the hospital even after Daryl dispatched Dawn after she killed Beth, Rick decides immediately that is not possible. They all leave and are now back out in the world of zombies and the more dangerous foe – the humans who still survive and would harm them.

The problem the group faces is that there are no more standards for anyone. In an all bets are off world, it is okay for Joe’s group to rape and plunder and Gareth (Andrew J. West) and his Terminus minions to kill and eat their captives. This TWD universe is sort of like the fall of the Roman Empire, and the barbarians are hanging out among the ruins and in charge of the show. Rick and company can try to navigate through these rough waters, but there is a sense that time is running out for everyone.

In seasons past stability was found first at Hershel’s farm and then at the prison, but even these places became vulnerable as eventually any place probably will. Now, with the notion of getting to Washington abandoned, where will our group turn next? The idea of getting to a place with more people has never been appealing. Recall how Rick didn’t move the gang into Woodbury after the Governor (David Morrissey) ran off. More people equal more problems in TWD world, as we have seen again and again in seasons past. 

With rumors that the second half of season five will require even more Kleenex, we can only imagine that the horrors and loss will be amplified by Gimple and company. It’s going to be a bumpy ride no doubt, but if you’re like I am you will want to be there for every dip, sharp turn, and bottom-out along the way.

  Photo credits: AMC

Monday, December 8, 2014

Top Ten Most Annoying Christmas Songs

First appeared on Blogcritics.

chris 1 As we get closer and closer to the big day – Christmas Day, of course – the plethora of stations pumping out Christmas music is at a peak now. If you are depressed or just not interested in celebrating or feel like December 25 is a poor excuse for picking a man’s pocket (Ebenezer Scrooge thought so), it is kind of hard to escape the ubiquitous carols and songs. Almost every store is cranking out the holiday tunes now, as well as banks, office buildings, and post offices. There is virtually no place to escape this non-stop assault except your own home, unless you are like I am and you have kids playing the songs on the piano and the stereo.

I feel like Peter Finch’s character Howard Beale in the film Network - I’m mad as hell and not going to take it anymore. Alas, there is virtually no quiet place for me except my home office, where I can barricade the door, plug up my ears, and try to get some work done.

Since I have been subjected to this barrage of holiday playlists from all quarters, I have been noticing that some of these Christmas songs are worse than others. They are quite irritating to say the least. Besides the “Deck the Halls” and “White Christmas” variety and those of the sentimental traditional ilk, there are ones that grate on the nerves more than an Ann Coulter monologue.

So I have composed a list of the ten most annoying, totally unnecessary to hear Christmas songs that I absolutely turn off if I have the power to do so. The first five are those songs that neither mention Christmas nor seem to have an affiliation with it. They are:

 10. “Let It Snow”

All about the weather being frightful and a fire delightful, hearing it makes me want to take a snow shovel and teach the radio a lesson. Worst version – Stephen Colbert with Cyndi Lauper and Alan Cumming

9. “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”

I am sure this will be number one on some lists because it is so hard to take, especially when the duet is totally incongruous. My vote for worst version goes to Rod Stewart and Dolly Parton, who have about as much chemistry as oil and water.

8. “Jingle Bells”

Again, a song that could land as number one on many people’s lists, this ditty is most annoying when sung accompanied by said bells in the background. Slews of bad versions, though my vote for number one is Ray Conniff and company (they have quite a few annoying versions of other Christmas songs as well).

7. “Frosty the Snowman”

Everyone loves old Frosty, right? Every time I hear it I wish for tropical sunshine. The absolutely worst version is by Jimmy Durante from the old TV show based on the lyrics, which took a bad song and made it horrible.

6. “Winter Wonderland”

Does it make sense that in the meadow we’re building a snowman and making believe he’s Parson Brown? No connection to Christmas or any other holiday, it grates on the nerves if especially sung by someone who thinks it’s a classic tune. My vote for worst version goes to Willie Nelson.

Now we move on to songs with an obvious Christmas connection that are still dreadful. The top 
five are:

chris 3 5. “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer”

I get it that someone thought this was a funny idea, and Elmo and Patsy give the song their best shot, but there is nothing remotely amusing about Grandpa being happy that Grandma got killed. I dare you to try to listen to the whole song once without changing the channel.

4. “Santa Baby”

Isn’t it cute that Santa has a little honey on the side who wants a duplex and for the Jolly Old Elf to write checks? The dreadful lyrics that are milked for all their worth (a buck fifty is about right) by everyone from Eartha Kitt to Taylor Swift to Madonna. It’s a song that is more irritating every time I hear it. If I were Santa, I’d jump back in the sleigh and go right back to the North Pole and kiss Mrs. Claus.

3. “All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth”

Perpetually annoying and often played for laughs, this song makes me wonder if the original kid who sang it didn’t get his teeth knocked out for doing so. Written by music teacher Donald Gardner “in thirty minutes” (isn’t it obvious?), the absolute worst version is by RuPaul. Avoid this one at all costs.

2. “Dominick the Donkey”

One of the oddest, most grueling in this collection of misfit songs, this one is hard to sit through even once. As sung by the obviously enthusiastic Lou Monte, it is a novelty song that will make you search for the “off” button while hoping the donkey will kick Mr. Monte away from the microphone.

chris 41. “The Chipmunk Song”

People of a certain age will remember growing up with this one and loathing it. Sung by its writer Ross Bagdasarian in the “chipmunk voice” (he also plays “Dave” their owner), it is hands down the worst Christmas song ever – and vies with “Disco Duck” (sung by an awful Rick Dees) for the worst song of all time. How Bagdasarian parlayed this dreadful ditty into a franchise is beyond explanation, but I’d like to take Alvin’s hula hoop and hit “Dave” over the head with it.

So there is my list for the absolutely most annoying, dreadful, awful, and eardrum piercing Christmas songs. If you are listening to one of those all Christmas music radio stations, you are bound to come across some of these clunkers. My advice is change the channel before you damage your psyche any more than it already has been by this incessant saturation of holiday tunes.

What are your nominations for worst Christmas songs? Please let me know in the comments section – I am sure that I missed a few.

  Photo credits: pixgood.com, aragec.com, wikipedia   

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Thanksgiving – Being Thankful Today and Everyday

First appeared on Blogcritics.

t 1Sandwiched between the celebrations of Halloween and Christmas, Thanksgiving sometimes is forgotten. In the scheme of the “Hallo-mas” or “Chris-ween” mega-holiday, Thanksgiving can seem to be neglected. It certainly is in retail in terms of decorations. Try to find light-up Thanksgiving items for your window. Indiana Jones had an easier time finding The Holy Grail.

Yet watching the parade in New York City this morning on TV, I was pleasantly surprised by throngs of spectators lining the canyons of the old city. The turnout has nothing to do with Black Friday sales or any of the Christmas shopping hype. It becomes clear that Thanksgiving is more popular than anyone in retail or the media can fathom because, above all things, it is the people’s holiday and one that they enjoy in full vigor.

The reason is simple – Thanksgiving is an equal opportunity holiday for all Americans. Speaking to people from all backgrounds this past week, I realized that every one of them was ready to celebrate on the fourth Thursday of November. No matter what their countries of origin are or their faiths, they bring their own customs into the mix, meaning tasty food of all types being cooked, fried, and baked for the occasion.

t 2Perhaps it is the fact that religion does not have to be involved as you celebrate this day that accounts for its popularity. We can say the first Thanksgiving celebrated by the Pilgrims and Native Americans was a day when the settlers prayed to God and thanked Him for the harvest that their new friends helped them gather. People of different faiths will thank their gods in whatever way they do, but atheists and agnostics can embrace the holiday as well. We don’t have to thank a deity on this day, but we can always thank the people who come into our lives and make each day a little better.

The concept of being thankful is a powerful one. Thanking someone is on the surface fairly simple, but the notion of gratitude is one that can warm the other person’s heart even on the coldest day. The nature of being thankful is humility, which signals to other people that you know you cannot go it alone. As the old Three Dog Night song goes, “One is the loneliest number,” so if you are gathering with one or one hundred people today, you definitely have something for which to be grateful.

Being thankful should not be reserved for one day a year; it is a practice to be utilized year round. We should be thanking people all the time – thank your barista, your mail carrier, the person pumping your gas, the guy mopping the department store floor, the crossing guard getting your children to school safely, the cashier in the fast-food restaurant, and the list goes on and on. If you are thankful to every person you encounter each day, you will put a smile on his or her face, and smiling is the currency of good will. While it may seem inconsequential to some, thankfulness actually dispenses joy and that is a reward in and of itself.

t 3Enjoy Thanksgiving for the notion that it is a day devoted to family, friends, good food, and football. At your gatherings, be sure to thank everyone at the table, and there will be smiles shared before the turkey and fixings are devoured. And starting tomorrow, go out and be thankful to everyone you meet on that day and every day! People of the world unite and give thanks; we have nothing to lose and so much to gain.

  Photo credit: clipartbest.com, thejoyfulheart.com, huffingtonpost.com 

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Waiting for Dad to Come Home on Thanksgiving - A Short Story by Victor Lana

First appeared on Blogcritics.

I couldn’t sleep that early Thanksgiving morning. Mom already had started cooking in the kitchen, and the aromas drifted upward to the second floor where I lay in bed staring at my poster of Joe Namath throwing a football.

I went down the hall into the master bedroom, and Dad stood in front of the mirror putting his tie on. I glanced at the dresser where his gun, handcuffs, keys, and detective’s badge glistened in the light of the green-shaded banker’s lamp. I noticed for the first time that there were four small lines cut into the bottom of the gun’s wooden handle.

“Hey, Pal,” Dad said. “You’re up early.”

He walked over to me, touched my head affectionately, and put on his jacket. “Hey, Dad, what are those little marks on the gun’s handle?”

Dad took the S&W revolver and slipped it into the holster on his belt. “You notice everything, Pal.” He squatted down and took me by the shoulders. “I did that as a reminder of times I had to shoot someone.” 

“Really?” I asked. “Yes, you’re big enough to understand now. I’m not happy or proud about it. Those marks really just remind me that four times I might not have come home to you.”

I felt tears running out of my eyes, and he hugged me. “You’re always careful, right?” I asked. “You bet, Pal. Now I have to go.”

 *

t1My sister Janice and brother Jimmy sat in front of the TV watching the big parade. Janice looked up at me and said, “I just saw Dad.” At seven years old she probably thought she saw him. He “worked the parade” every year, but how could we see him with all those people?

I helped Mom in the kitchen, mashing the sweet and white potatoes, opening cans of vegetables, and squeezing boxes of broth for the gravy into a big bowl. Mom’s sisters were in the dining room putting finishing touches on the pies they were making. The house never smelled better than on this day with the big bird in the oven and all the pots steaming on the stove.

A few hours later my other aunts and uncles arrived with all my cousins. My four grandparents came in right after them. Everyone sat around laughing and talking. I glanced at Mom and said, “When will Dad be home?”

t3“He’s working an 8-to-4,” she said. I looked at my watch and noticed it was 3:30. I knew the parade was long over because my uncles and older male cousins were all in the living room watching the football game. If Dad were there I would have wanted to watch it too, but it meant nothing without him.

I went into my room and stared out the window at the Queens’ street. Brightly colored leaves covered the sidewalks, and the bare trees snaked limbs up against the dull gray sky. The sun would be setting soon, and Dad would get the subway and hopefully be home by the time we started dinner.

 *


t2As our mantle clock struck six, everyone was getting restless. Mom had put everything out on the table, and it all really looked wonderful to my ten-year-old eyes. The steam rose from the big bird, and those melted marshmallows on top of the sweet potatoes were calling my name. The kids’ table in the hallway had serving bowls on it with all the same things that were on the main table.

Uncle Jack called for another beer from the living room, and I ran to get it and I saw the look on Mom’s face – she was worried too now.

Finally, Mom relented and broke her policy of waiting for Dad to start dinner. As Dad’s brother Tony sat down at the table he said, “Who’s gonna carve the turkey with Vince not here yet?”

Uncle Jack stood up and grabbed the big knives. He was a little tipsy, and he hacked away at that bird like he was chopping a tree. Uncle Tony kept shaking his head, and my Dad’s father mumbled, “Vin’s like a surgeon when he does it.”

Jack looked up at him and whined, “Come on, Dad; gimme a break here!”

Mom sat at one of two seats at the head of the table and said, “Vincent always leads us in grace, but this year I wonder if little Vinny would do the honors.”

I felt like I was ready to cry being so worried about Dad, but I stood up at the kids’ table. “Bless us oh Lord, and these Thy gifts….”  

*  

When people started to leave, I felt really scared. Dad had been delayed before, but he had always called. Mom’s sister Ruth hugged her tight as she went out the door. “Don’t worry, sweetie; Vince can handle himself.”

Mom’s parents stayed after everyone left. Pop Carney sat in the living room smoking his pipe, and he called me over to him. “You worried about Dad?”

“Yeah, Pop.”

“Say a prayer, Vinny,” Pop said.

“I’ve been praying all day.”

“Good boy,” Pop said, patting my cheek.

I peaked in the kitchen door and saw Mom crying on Grandma’s shoulder. I didn’t know what to do, so I went upstairs. Janice and Jimmy were already asleep; they were both too young to understand. I fell on my bed, stared up at the ceiling, and prayed for my Dad.  

*  

When I woke the next morning, I heard someone talking in my parents’ room, so I rushed down the hall. Mom lay in bed and Dad stood there still wearing his work clothes. I ran and wrapped my arms around him. “I heard you were worried about me, Pal.”

I looked up at him. “Yeah, a little bit.”

I noticed his gun in its holster; on the handle a fifth line crossed the other four. I hugged him harder then, wishing I would never have to let go.


 Photo credits: scholasticatravel.com, thlectures.com, megaodd.com

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Bill Cosby – The Warped Cult of TV Personality

First appeared on Blogcritics.

cos5 If you have been watching TV or reading daily news stories, it would be almost impossible not to have encountered the ever growing “scandal” connected to TV personality Bill Cosby. My goal here is not to bury Cosby, nor to praise him – as I recall the brilliant oratory of Marc Antony’s eulogy in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. Rather, it is to recognize a mistake of which most of us are guilty. We invest too much emotion and interest in personalities (movies and TV), and in doing so we are basically always setting ourselves up for a Humpty Dumpty moment.


cos4There is no way to dispute Cosby’s cultural impact through his various television projects going back to 1965. Appearing as Alexander Scott alongside Robert Culp in I Spy, Cosby burst onto the scene as an equal partner to Culp’s Kelly Robinson in their weekly espionage series. This role as Scotty established Cosby as a bankable star and would lead to his many other successful ventures.



When I was a kid I first knew about Cosby through Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, a cartoon series that I remember watching every week. Fat Albert came right out of Cosby’s comedy routines, and the funny, affable, and overweight character won the hearts of many kids like me; it also convinced parents, who had been fans of Cosby since I Spy, that his brand was family-friendly. Those Jell-O Pudding commercials did nothing but corroborate what kids and moms already knew – Cosby was an American favorite.

Another TV series would seal the deal – The Cosby Show came into people’s homes from 1984-1992, and it was hard to separate the image of the good doctor and the star. The amiable personality depicted on screen didn’t seem too far removed (if at all) from the one Cosby projected when interviewed on talk shows. He was a loveable father figure, a wise yet funny guy anyone would go to to seek advice or to get a laugh. For all intents and purposes, Bill Cosby and Cliff Huxtable were the same person, and people of all ages loved him.

cos2If that were not enough, Cosby went out and created another cartoon character that would enhance his standing even further. Targeted for toddlers and their parents, Little Bill premiered in 1999 just in time to capture an entirely different market. Conveniently, all those kids like me who had loved Fat Albert and grew up to love Dr. Huxtable now had kids of their own. Little Bill features the image of Cosby in the opening credits, and that seemed better than the Good Housekeeping seal of approval – if Cosby were attached to something it had to be family friendly, wholesome entertainment.

So forgive us all for feeling like we have been slapped in the face now, but many of us have lots of years invested in old Bill. The problem with him is one we have with all stars that we allow ourselves to fall in love with – we swoon for a media created image, a concocted persona that is as natural as those faces enhanced by Hollywood plastic surgeons. All the nips and tucks, all the publicists, all the TV and movie studio lot contrivances in the world don’t change the person inside the shell, but we become enamored with that shell anyway.

Why do we continue to feel devastated when stars keep falling like dominoes right before our eyes? We hear of marital infidelity, of drug and alcohol abuse, of drunk driving accidents, of spousal abuse, and a litany of other offenses. We have seen the mug shots of everybody from Nick Nolte to Justin Bieber, but we still feel disappointment and disbelief at every new revelation of indecent or illegal behavior. The truth is that we are too invested in the cult of personality that has been churned out by the media.

We are too quick to believe in the persona of the star as it appears to us, rather than realizing that it is all smoke and mirrors. The best example is “reality TV,” which is neither real nor true television. I know it’s difficult to accept that everything from Dance Moms to Cake Boss is scripted, plotted, and edited just as much as your favorite sitcom, but the truth is reality TV is as unreal as it can be.

So now, if all of us who have bought the Cosby image all these years feel burned, we have no one to blame but ourselves. We should realize that TV and movie stars are nothing more than prefabricated packaging. They are like the most beautiful and large present under the Christmas tree. As long as we don’t open it, the possibilities and excitement are endless; unfortunately, when we rip off the fancy bows and pretty wrapping paper and get the box open, sometimes we are disappointed.

When thinking of Cosby let’s go back to Marc Antony talking about his dear murdered friend Julius Caesar. “The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interréd with their bones.” In my life and my children’s lives Cosby’s shows have brought a good deal of happiness and laughter, but all that will be forgotten now by most people, and he will be fodder for late night TV hosts and other comics who can poke fun at him. Just one caution to those people who also fall into the personality category – let he without sin cast the first stone.

cos1One interesting thing to note is that Cosby performed in Florida last night and received a standing ovation. He went about his usual routine, never mentioning the scandal that is in the news. I don’t know what that says about him or the crowd that supported his appearance, but perhaps the cult of personality is more powerful than anything reality can throw at it.


  Photo credit: AP ,diyfather.com, tvworthwatching/com, dragoart.com, biography.com
 

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Classroom Environment Is a Key Element for Student Success

First appeared on Blogcritics.

class 2 If you are an adult, what do you remember about your classrooms? In my memory I can think of big windows that let in bright light and through which I could see blue sky and treetops. I also recall in some rooms, when the sun could become a distraction, that teachers pulled the shades in order to block it. The key fact about those rooms was that they had big windows and most of the time they let in bright, natural light.

It turns out that this was a good thing for me and my classmates. A new study found in Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, an annual publication from Princeton University, notes that students exposed to more natural light do better in school. In addition the study authors noted "For students to learn to their full potential, the classroom environment must be of minimum structural quality and contain cues signaling that all students are valued learners."

This makes a great deal of sense. For example, the study notes that in science classrooms it is not enough to have photographs of male scientists, but a wide range of male and female ones of various ethnicities. It is important to “boost the achievement” of all groups and not alienate certain students by displays that are not inclusive of “groups who traditionally face educational barriers.”

Besides concerns about lighting, ideal classroom conditions would obviously include temperature of the room, arrangement of teacher and student desks and chairs, and the way a classroom is painted and decorated. If we think back to our own days in school, we can recall those classrooms that were warm and inviting and those that were austere and uncomfortable. The best classrooms that I have been in are those that feature generous amounts of student work. They are also painted in colors that are not too dark, making the rooms seem bigger and more airy.

class 3In Kindergarten classrooms we can often find the most colorful and warm atmospheres for students. Everything from color coordinated tables and chairs to the copious amounts of children’s work hanging from every available space on the walls (and even laundry lines strung across the room) contributes to a friendly and successful environment. Children can see their past successes hanging there along with the alphabet, numerals, calendars, and reading posters. This kind of room utilizes every inch of space to provide a positive learning area.

Unfortunately, sometimes this is not the case as students move up the educational ladder. I recall the bare walls and boards in my high school classrooms. Once in a while an inspired teacher put up subject related items, but for the most part there was a rather bleak atmosphere that did nothing to enhance the academic climate.

class 4If we look back at the old fashioned idea of a classroom, we find what I had in my New York City public high school. Desks were fastened to the floor, still had holes in them for inkwells, and the teacher usually stood in the front of the room to lecture. In that truly antiquated setting, there was a definite sense of stasis, and the idea of aligning desks differently was physically impossible. Many of us faced the same things growing up, and maybe we can say that we got through okay, but is “okay” what we want for our children?


As for the arrangement of desks, in this era of Common Core State Standards, the move is toward more student-centered classrooms and to leave the days of lecturing behind. I like walking into classrooms that have desks arranged to maximize potential for group work, for meaningful interaction, and to let the flow of discourse be more natural and effective. This is not to say that the frontal teaching mode is always negative – it still seems to work well for test taking – but that is why it is essential for desks to be mobile in order for teachers and students to arrange the configuration to best suit the needs of the moment.

Sometimes educators can feel as if everything is out of their control. We have curriculum guides, CCSS, and standardized and state assessments that must be given, but one of the things definitely within the teacher’s power is the way the classroom looks. He or she might not be able to dictate the color of the walls, but how the classroom looks and feels can be coordinated by that teacher. Sometimes it is exciting to include students in implementing ideas when decorating, and teachers shouldn’t be surprised that kids have great ideas about how they want their classrooms to look.

class1Take note of the way spaces look in doctors’ offices, shopping malls, food stores, and restaurants. The lighting, arrangement of furniture, and configuration of displays directly affects the way you feel about going to these places. In my children’s dentist office there are walls painted with cartoon characters, bubblegum machines (with toys not gum in them), and their favorite TV shows playing on screens above the dentist chairs. My kids are not afraid to go to the dentist, proving the power of environment.

This study corroborates what most of us probably knew all along – setting correlates with success. It is true in schools and in other places as well. At this time there is no excuse for a drab classroom atmosphere. It is up to educators to brighten up their spaces and make them relevant to the subject matter they teach with the goal being to highlight student achievement and maximize their learning potential. In classrooms everywhere the attitude should be – let in the light, brighten the colors, and make every space reflective of an attitude promoting success.

  Photo credits: wikipedia, worldof stock.com, mashable.co, conval.edu   

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Veteran’s Day – Make Time to Get to Know a Veteran

First appeared on Blogcritics.

vets On this Veteran’s Day 2014, some of you who are reading this are fortunate enough to know (or have known) a veteran of military service. Usually, this is someone in the family. In other cases, you may know a friend or neighbor who has served his or her country. Either way, on this Veteran’s Day when we honor those who served or made the ultimate sacrifice for their country, the best thing we can possibly do is to get to know one of these remarkable individuals.

Of all the many wonderful aspects of knowing my father (sadly, he passed away last year), one of the most rich and continually rewarding elements was his stories of his years in the Army. Though that was only a brief time in his life (1942-1946), it shaped the way he viewed the world, how he lived his life, and the way he raised his children.

To say that he had stories is an understatement – his tales could make Tolstoy’s War and Peace seem like a short story; however, Dad was always very honest in telling all his tales. The amazing thing was not just the details of battles, of how he had been wounded (twice), or even the glory of victory; no, the best parts of his stories were the humanity, the decency, the sadness of losing friends, and the realization that he was one of the lucky ones because he got to come home and live his life.

In my family members have served in the Spanish-American War (great grandfather), World War I (grandfather), World War II (Dad and my uncles), Korea (more uncles), Vietnam (cousins), and Iraq (more cousins). I have also had friends who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is a complex and rich tapestry of people with many stories to tell. Now we can magnify their stories by the millions of people who have served over the years, and they are a rich resource of historical details and personal tales.

One thing I have noted in talking to vets over the years (in my own family and friends and acquaintances) is that none of them have ever bragged about anything. There was no “guts and glory bluster” from any of them; rather, there was a sincere belief in their mission and dedication to the service of their country. They would speak of the horrors of war (and there were many), but there was also the love of their comrades, the “good” times they managed to have between battles and even while dodging bullets, and their memories are often tinged with sadness and loss, but also there is a sense of fulfillment and honor in doing the job that they were sent to do.

Dad paris 1On this Veteran’s Day, if you are lucky enough to know a veteran, sit down and listen to his or her stories. If you take even a few minutes, you’ll be happy that you did because you will hear something astounding that will stay with you for the rest of your life.

If you don’t personally know someone who has served, make it a point to go to your local parade. See if you can get to talk to one or more of them, shake their hands, and say the simple words, “Thank you.” I know that can be difficult or even awkward for some people, but believe me it makes the veteran happy to know that he or she was appreciated.

One time when I went out to eat with my father, he happened to be wearing his Army jacket. At this point he was old and sitting in a wheelchair. A complete stranger came up to him, shook his hand, and said “Thank you.” He then proceeded to go to the owner of the place and pay for the entire meal. My father, never the one to get emotional, started to get teary-eyed. He couldn’t believe that this man would appreciate what he had done even after so many years. This was not the only time this happened when my father wore that jacket, and in other cases he would turn down the offer because the offer itself meant more than anything.

Veteran’s Day should have no political implications – even if our elected officials use the parade and the moment to exploit their own agendas. This is not about being pro-war or promoting peace or being Democrat or Republican. This is simply a time to honor anyone who served – those who came home and those who never did.

Dad paris 2Before he left France, my father visited the cemetery and honored the memory of a friend lost in battle. He was a young man just like my Dad who went in a ship across the vast ocean, got off the train in England, and stormed the beach in Normandy, but unlike Dad he never made it out of the water. Dad and guys like him knew too many of those lost, and there is no other way to honor them other than to respect their memories now.

Even if it is not Veteran’s Day, whenever I see anyone in a military uniform, whether in the bank, the mall, or a grocery store, I try to stop and shake their hands and say “Thank you.” This can either be the start of a conversation or it can just be a pleasant way to show appreciation. The best thing you can do though is to stop, ask about their service, and listen for a few moments. “Thank you” may not seem like enough, but it’s the least any civilian can do for the men and women who have made it possible for us to live life as we do here in this country.

Photo credit: trevorloudon.com

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Jesus Wants to Go to Outer Space – A Child’s Game Becomes a Teachable Moment

First appeared on Blogcritics.

There are always those times that parents want to remember what their kids say because it is so poetical, beautiful, or mysterious, and then there are those times when we would like to forget they ever said certain things. One time when my daughter was little she talked about dreaming “of a princess dancing on moonbeams.”  That dream inspired me to write a poem for her, and in that way I never forgot her 4-year-old voice and the exciting wonder of her little mind. Flash forward ten years later, and my son (now 5) was going through some of the things left by my father (who passed away last year). He had a deep connection with my Dad, and now after all this time he constantly talks about “Papa” and has interest in all things about him.

Jesus 2In the box there were old papers, a letter opener, a magnifying glass, a small screw driver, and other things. One item my son discovered was a small statue of the Holy Child Jesus that my father used to keep on his desk. He immediately took possession of it, and soon after (as I was going through the papers) he began playing with the small figure as if it were a toy. I saw him bringing Jesus into the game that included knights in a castle, a farmer and his animals, and Donald Duck – a veritable potpourri of unlikely characters.

I went over, knelt next to him, and said, “Jesus is not a toy. Papa kept Him on his desk to honor it.”

“Dad,” he said, rolling his eyes, “I made Jesus king of the castle. He is wearing a crown, right?”

“No, Jesus is not a toy. Don’t play with him. Put him on your desk.” My son then put Jesus on his desk, turned around, and got back to playing. I went about going through the papers again and doing other work. A short time later I heard him counting down as if preparing for lift-off. “10, 9, 8, 7…” I glanced over and now Jesus was inside a spaceship (to be specific, my old Lost in Space space pod that my son has also commandeered) ready for blast-off.

I said, “What did I tell you about Jesus?” 

My son responded, “But Dad, Jesus wants to go to outer space.”

Intrigued by his creativity and thinking that he doesn’t understand fully about Jesus yet, I sat down with him and figured that this was a teachable moment. Yes, we overuse that word “teachable” sometimes, but I felt that if ever there was a time for it to be used this was it. I started asking him questions.

“Do you know who Jesus is?”

“Yes,” he said. “His first name is Jesus and His last name is Christ.” We went on like this for a few more minutes. The he got to what I thought was the fascinating part. “His father is God and He lives in heaven, and Jesus is small and is missing Him. So that’s why He wants to go to outer space.”

“To see his Dad?” I asked.

“Yes, exactly!” my son’s eyes lit up the way my daughter’s did when she spoke of her princess on the moonbeams.

Convinced that it would be best to leave more theological discussions to when he got older, I told him that it was okay for Jesus to go on this trip to see God. “That’s good because he has a gift for Him,” my son said. When I asked what that was he pointed to the statue and said, “See, He is carrying the world.”

Jesus 1Not to confuse his childhood enthusiasm with profundity, I still felt there was something he knew innately that he may not realize for a long time to come. Jesus was returned to the space pod, countdown began again, and then there was a blast-off that included a trip around the basement playroom.

When the game was over, Jesus suddenly appeared on his desk next to pencils and crayons. I inquired as to why and my son said, “He’s not a toy. I think I’m going to keep Jesus just like Papa used to do.”

I rubbed his head affectionately and said, “What a great idea.”

There was a teachable moment in my house that day, but I think it was more for me than for my son. My initial instinct was to crush his creativity because I felt he was denigrating something sacred, but in truth this was just a small statue and my son’s motivation in his game had something good to it. He understood that a child wants to be with his parents because that was what he felt as well. If I had stopped his game I would have been ruining what turned out to be a lesson for us both. 

Now as I write this the statue of young Jesus remains in its special place on my son’s desk. There will be more trips into space for Donald, the knights, and the farmer without him. I am sure that my Dad is smiling somewhere, happy to know that this small statue invokes his memory, and it will be with my son forevermore.  

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Daylight Saving Time – One Hour Can Change Everything

First appeared on Blogcritics.

time 1 I don’t know about you, but I got up on the wrong side of the bed today. Lulled into the thought of getting an extra hour of sleep because of the time change (clocks went back 1 hour at 2 a.m. on November 2nd), I stayed up late watching a Rambo marathon on AMC (in each movie Stallone gets one soliloquy that is worth watching the rest of the film to see). Well this morning – very early no matter what the “real” time may have been – my son saw daylight and was up and ready for action. This was 6:30 a.m. (but should have been 7:30) – so that hour really changes everything and then some.

From the second Sunday in March until the first Sunday in November, we are caught up in what is known as Daylight Saving Time. Initially conceived as a nascent concept by the great Benjamin Franklin (I wish he would have stuck to writing almanacs and flying kites), DST actually came into use in the United States during World War I but was stopped in 1919. Then in 1966 the Uniform Time Act was passed, but states could opt out if they wished. It wasn’t until George W. Bush got the bright idea to save more energy in 2007 that he expanded the months of DST to what we have today.

The problem is that after being on one “time” for eight months, we are thrust into a different one, making us all time travelers whether we like it or not. This extra hour comes at a cost – this early daylight will mean that nighttime comes earlier. As we move into December it starts getting dark before 5 p.m. For me this feels like the day is lost because the darkness is symbolic for the end of the daily cycle. I have been going to work in the dark for weeks, and now I’ll be coming home in the dark. What is worse? I guess it affects each individual differently, but I believe this shortchanges me. I don’t like coming home in darkness. It is annoying that my children will want the Christmas lights to click on as soon as it gets dark – and burn well into the night. Bah humbug! And they won’t go to bed any earlier either.

Of course, the worst part of the scenario is that this hour gained is “lost” in March. I heard all these people laughing about getting an extra hour of sleep yesterday (which didn’t happen for me), but don’t these fools realize that hour will be given up in March? If this day makes me Sleepy, the one in March definitely makes me Grumpy. Then I really feel as if the whole system is working against me in some nefarious plot out of a sci-fi novel where they steal time.

time 2I’d like to run away to someplace that doesn’t observe DST, but 70 countries around the world also observe DST – many of which would be places that I’d like to go to live if not for that. Hawaii and Arizona do not observe DST, as well as American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and Guam. All of these present possible places for relocation, but then I would have to adapt to being a New Yorker living elsewhere (how could this Mets fan walk around in his blue and orange cap with all those Diamondback fans around?).

No, I suppose I will have to suffer with DST just as I do every year. Right now I am all off kilter, and will force myself to eat lunch and dinner at the usual times. I will try to get to bed as usual as well, feeling almost like that traveler going to the Far East and then forcing himself to walk around and not sleep as to adjust his body clock.

The truth is that I have never done that either. When I flew to Tokyo one time I immediately put on the kimono and slippers provided in my hotel room and took a long nap. Yes, I did mess up my body clock, but that sleep was worth it. When I finally went outside it was dark and I felt like I do this morning – totally out of synch with the rest of the world.

time 3I personally see no reason to keep up the charade of accepting DST and Standard Time as if it doesn’t mess up my life in tangible ways. How about if I didn’t remember to turn that clock back this morning? I could miss an important meeting tomorrow through no fault of my own. How many people this happens to is never reported. It’s a nefarious cover-up I tell you; they are keeping the records sealed away, but I guarantee that the time changes everything for more people than anyone can imagine. I’m not the only one. I can’t be. This feels like I’m stuck in a Twilight Zone script. I’m expecting those alien guys with one eyeball to walk in the door any minute now.

Obviously, on this day I have no choice but to accept my fate. I will try to go about my day normally, but since I got up way too early, my body clock is already ticking off beat. All I know is this – if I fall asleep during tonight’s episode of The Walking Dead, I’m going to be walking around like one grumpy zombie tomorrow. Oh, the slings and arrows of this outrageous time change! Thanks for your big idea, Ben Franklin!

Photo credits: Amarillo.com, Wikipedia, thinkprogress.org   

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Halloween – Hooligans, Hijinks, and Happiness

First appeared on Blogcritics.

Hallo Another Halloween has come and gone. This year there was less doorbell ringing once it got dark. I used to look forward to that because this is when the more creative costumes used to appear – over the years my favorites included Hillary and Obama (as a couple), Bill Clinton with foot in his mouth, George W. Bush as a monkey, and a guy in a fat costume and Chris Christie mask carrying five pizza boxes. Alas this year the most creative thing I saw was Elsa and Olaf (from Frozen). Maybe with Halloween being on a Friday, the most creative older trick-o-treaters were too busy attending parties to bother with the door-to-door stuff. 

Still, during the daylight hours the bell rang steadily, and the most popular costumes were witches, ninjas (turtles and human alike), Batman, Disney princesses, and the Frozen sisters. I gave out the candy and marveled at how the houses in my neighborhood had been decorated. People actually enter contests to compete for the most haunted house in town, and the extent of the decorating now rivals Christmas in its intensity.

hallo 3I don’t know when this happened, but it occurred during my lifetime. Somehow Halloween went from being a minor holiday mostly loved by children into a mega-holiday, rivaling Christmas in terms of retail sales and decorated houses. This morphing into a super duper extravaganza is okay by me, but it sort of came a little too late in my life. I know I was in my twenties when it started happening and, while I still could enjoy the day, I wish it had been celebrated with such vigor when I was younger.

My father always spoke of Halloween as a silly day – one in which kids dressed up like hobos, carried around chalk dust or flour in a sack, and ran around the streets hitting objects and people to create clouds of spooky smoke. It was less about ghosts and goblins and more about a little bit of hooliganism and hijinks.

Dad noted that he would dress like Happy Hooligan, a cartoon character hobo that had been very popular back in my father’s youth. All the kids wore their parents’ old clothes, sometimes several times too big for them, and they would enjoy being “bums” for a night of revelry. The “treat” part, at least in my father’s time, came on Thanksgiving Eve. He told of walking from house to house in the cold asking for snacks or sweets. This was during the Depression, so I am wondering if this was inspired by the times more than it being a tradition. Dad said that things changed “at some point over the years” with kids dressing in costumes and going door-to-door to ask for the treats on Halloween – just as we know it today.

When I was a boy, I recall trick-o-treating with friends and carrying brown paper bags to catch our loot. We wore terribly made store bought costumes with awful plastic masks that smelled funny (I suppose they were made from toxic materials), and it used to be so cold on Halloween that my mother always made me wear a coat over the flimsy costume, defeating the whole purpose of wearing one in the first place. I remember the old ladies who opened their doors saying, “Oh, what a nice – what is that costume under your coat, son?” I still got my candy but that was annoying.

Flash forward to my twenties and I loved going to parties as an adult. Now I could dress as anything I wanted, and I recall a series of gory costumes over the years that varied from gross to gruesome. Long before the current adulation of zombies, I was a fan of George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead, and one year I dressed as a zombie and used Hershey’s chocolate syrup as blood (just as Romero did). The problem was the smell and the fact that life is in color, not black and white like the film.

hallo 2I think the real shift in the holiday came with the advent of Michael Myers in John Carpenter’s Halloween (1978). The film still is chilling and set a standard for the “slasher” genre that would eventually include Jason, Freddy and countless other imitators. This is the time, for me, when Halloween changed from just the average silly holiday and became something more sinister, more caught up in the darkness of the Gothic novels that inspired the goofy song “Monster Mash” and all the others that would follow. I think this was when Halloween started becoming more than a kid’s holiday – it became big business.

Now Halloween is my children’s second favorite holiday after Christmas, and it is a day that they revel in as they dress in their costumes that would put my old ones to shame. Besides the costumes being more intricate and expensive, they go trick-o-treating to "haunted" houses that have all the special effects we would expect from Hollywood movies.

Houses all over rival the Munster’s 1313 Mockingbird Lane in their spookiness, and kids roam the streets like Romero’s zombies looking for treats instead of brains. There is a hideous under current to some of the decorations, with certain places pushing the limit in terms of the gore-fest ratio. Yet the kids scream in glee as they run past these houses, then double back and dare to ring the bell to see what horrors await them as the door squeals open. Who knew there could be such happiness in getting scared?

Halloween is that magical time when a kid can be a kid and an adult can be one too. Yes, things have gotten a bit more macabre as the years have passed, and those who embrace the holiday have taken it to sometimes odd extremes as they transform houses into catacombs, dungeons, lairs, and labyrinths. The truth is it is a good opportunity to allow your inner ghoul to express itself, and each year it seems more people want to join the party and make sure that it is a graveyard smash.

On Halloween night after the kids went to bed with dreams of overflowing trick-o-treat buckets dancing in their heads, I settled down not to a winter’s nap but to watch two of my favorite scary movies – the original Halloween and Dawn of the Dead. Both films came out the same year, and obviously directors Carpenter and Romero were on to something. Despite all the imitators of these two types of films over the years, they still stand the test of time as better than the rest.

I look forward to Halloween because I feel like a kid again and have an excuse to dress up, eat candy, and watch old scary movies. Halloween is a blast for kids of all ages, and truthfully we can all use a little trick or treat in our lives, even if it’s only one day a year.

  Photo credits: Halloween-2014.com, flickr.com, Wikipedia