THE STRUGGLE TO BE AN ARTIST while believing your only worth is in how you look. Strange conundrum in America.
For a long time I've wanted to write about teenagers, materialism, looksism, sexism and depression in America. It's far beyond a teenage problem. Now it seems to affect all age groups.
What is it about our country, that remains so primitive and unawakened? We almost seem to thumb our nose at higher ideas. And how can a country thrive or survive on the archaic model of cut-throat competition? If you win, I lose? We should be cooperative not competitive.
The 80s, when my show (Too Close for Comfort) came on the air, are now known as the "greed era." But when I was a young girl, all I dreamed about was being a movie star or model. My favorites were Hayley Mills, Colleen Corby, Rene Russo, Christie Brinkley and Cheryl Tiegs.
But what I really wanted to be was Walt Disney. Or Thomas Edison. Or Albert Einstein. If only our country and our society valued intelligence in young women.
Then, when I was on my first cover of a magazine, next to these icons on the newstand, I had to pinch myself.
But there is something wrong with a society that values only the material picture.
When will we grow up?
To be continued...
y dozens of elders in our community will receive hot meals and other forms of assistance that otherwise would not have been possible. - received this note from Linda Vasquez. Thank you to everyone involved. Had a BLAST in Lancaster where I filmed "Quantum Leap" pilot years ago. STayed at Embassy Suites in Palmdale - an amazing hotel! THANK YOU BRAD BERENS and LINDA VASQUEZ and many more.
Johnny said...
ReplyDeleteI had no clue "The Pianist was war related? The name of the movie sounded gay so I dismissed it. Is it a must watch???
Absolutely. For you, a definite must watch given that you liked Schindler's List.
Its a first rate movie and a true story about the Warsaw occupation, shows the actual building of the Wall in the Ghetto. I had to google the character's spelling of his name but its "Szpilman" (pronounced "Schpeilman" ) who is a Pianist on the radio in Warsaw when the war begins and Germany invades Poland in 39.
Its Biographical and takes you from Szpilman's life in 39 playing on the Radio living with his family in a nice home in Warsaw and through the Nazi occupation where they round up all the Jews, his family included (but not at first).
First they end up in the Warsaw Ghetto and then sent to Treblinka.
Szpilman is spared by a buddy of his in the Jewish Ghetto Police and follows his adventures both working as a laborer on the Ghetto wall to going into hiding, etc.
I won't tell you more if you don't know the story because its very, very good. I mean like first rate.
It won several Oscars including Best Screenplay, Best Director and Best Actor (Adrian Brody who plays Szpilman) and is perhaps one of the definitive movies on the Warsaw Ghetto.
This weekend I did a charity event for AVCOA: Antelope Valley Community on Aging. (The Greek Chronicles) as well. Your participation will mean that literall
ReplyDeletey dozens of elders in our community will receive hot meals and other forms of assistance that otherwise would not have been possible.
Its amazing how you find the time to do all these charity functions. Its cool that you do it though. Our society is losing respect for seniors and seems to be youth-centric. Or maybe I'm just getting old and starting to notice, lol.
By the way Johnny, when I say it shows the "actual building of the wall" that's poorly phrased. I mean they actually depict them building the wall, ...its not newsreel or something, lol.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete....so Johnny, Volty and and a horse walk into a bar....bartender looks at the horse and says, ..."well we don't mind the long face but the animals will have to wait outside..."....
ReplyDelete
ReplyDelete...tap tap....this thing on...?
OK,"The Pianist" is definitely next on my list. I will tell my buddy to pick it up at the library next time he comes over.
ReplyDeleteIts a powerful bummer that you cant rent CD's anymore. Netflix Canada sucks.....BIG TIME.....and falls far short of the American version!
It could be on my cables "Video On Demand" channel which has all the latest releases and many older ones?
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ReplyDeleteBTW,I made this war video many years ago.......enjoy!
ReplyDeletehttps://plus.google.com/photos/110524449258573044392/albums/5793400851766971617/5793400853474653490
Lydia said
ReplyDelete"
THE STRUGGLE TO BE AN ARTIST while believing your only worth is in how you look."
Hmmmmmmmmmm.......I wonder if Lydia would consider dating this guy albeit she seems to think that society is shallow for placing value on outward appearances only?
http://www.all2need.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Ugly-People.jpg
mook mook's trollin' fer dates online again
ReplyDelete;)
OK,"The Pianist" is definitely next on my list. I will tell my buddy to pick it up at the library next time he comes over.
ReplyDeleteAt the library?
What's wrong with Amazon or Netflix?
What are you, some sort of "Socialist"?
Just kidding, ...that sucks Amazon won't rent CD's but why not just watch it Streaming?
ReplyDeleteOr better yet just buy it? There's used copies on Amazon for like 6 bucks.
This is one you'll want to own, trust me on this. You'll want it right there on your shelf next to Oscar Schindler.
I looked at your "war video", ....hope you made that when you were like 12.
ReplyDeleteSeriously I'm a big WWII "buff", but not a "war fan", there's a difference.
I grew up in a WWII family. Having been born just 15 short years after the war ended to a family who's father had served I grew up learning about "The War" (that's what it was referred to, when someone said "The War", we all knew they meant WWII, i.e. "The Big One").
My Dad's medals were not on display like you see today. He kept them in a wooden box on the chest of drawers in his bedroom. He didn't have many, he didn't see lots of combat like my uncles did, but he did have a purple heart and a few ribbons. He had lots of souvenirs and stuff. We had old ammo cases for the 30 cal that he kept tools in. We had actual Jerry Cans (with the X on them) that he kept gasoline for the lawn mower in.
There were a few M1's with the bolts removed in the basement along with a German rifle. I had lots of 50 cal bullet casings and my Dad's MP helmet.
My one uncles house had different stuff because he went to a different theater of war. He went to the Philippines during the "Clean Up", and had all sorts of Japanese stuff in the basement. Lots and lots of pictures of dead Japanese soldiers, some rifles, there were tanks off a flame thrower and a couple of Japanese helmets. He also had one of those rising sun flags folded up and stuffed away.
My other uncle, who went to Normandy on the morning of the landings had a lot of the really cools stuff but I only saw it once. We got into a lot of trouble when me and my cousin pulled it out but it was like a NAZI flag, (the red with the swastika), a Luger (functional I think) and some really cool Kraut helmets we tried on (which is about the time our Aunt caught us and smacked the shit out of us, lol). We were running around the basement with the helmets on and she came down to get the laundry and saw us and boy was she mad. See that Uncle and one other I had I guess had some bad experiences there and never, ever talked about it. I remember asking him when I was little "how many Germans did you kill" and he said ..."oh I was just too busy running".
My fourth (and final) Uncle had stuff in his den, like shell casings (he was an artillery gunner) and such on display. He had weapons, German, weapons, pieces of Tiger Tanks (like the gun breech) and a disassembled MG42. All on display, most up on the wall or behind glass. He was proud of his service but he drank himself to death because he was what they called back then "Shell Shocked". Now they call it PTSD but its the same thing. He was in Bastogne, pinned down by the King Tigers up on the hill. He hated the cold after that. Never ever wanted to be cold again he said but then he'd drink and start shivering. Anyway he died young, from the booze and I only met him a few times when I was little.
But for us war isn't something "cool" and I don't like that mixing of heavy metal with war as if it were a show or something. Its not.
Those who've been there know this. I'm a WWII Buff because it is where I came from and its reminiscent of my childhood. But I do have to admit I "enjoy" a good war movie about WWII and even WWI (Grandpa was a Doughboy in France) , but I'd never put music to it like heavy metal.
Maybe Hans Zimmer.
"....so Johnny, Volty and and a horse walk into a bar....bartender looks at the horse and says, ..."well we don't mind the long face but the animals will have to wait outside..."....
ReplyDeleteNever happen.
Neither I nor Johnny knows Sarah Jessica Parker...
(I'm guessing, Johnny may know her)
Sorry about the icon. Obviously another favorite show that highlights my affinity for evil...
ReplyDeleteWorf walks in a bar sits down and orders a shot of tequila, downs it in one gulp and orders another.
ReplyDeleteThis goes on for 10 shots. Finally the bartender say's "what's the occasion?" Worf say's "My first blow job".
Bartender say's well!, let me buy you the next one! Worf say's "no, if 10 shots didn't get the taste out of my mouth, one more isn't going to help..."
if 10 shots didn't get the taste out of my mouth, one more isn't going to help..."
ReplyDelete.... speaking from personal experience eh volt?
Come on Volt, mine was in good fun and not mean.
ReplyDeleteThat's just nasty.
The icons ok though, although I don't have any clue what it is or what "show" it is from.
ReplyDeleteWhat are you watching children's television now?
ReplyDelete...decided to try something more age appropriate?
Worf, it is stitch from the Disney movie Lilo & Stitch
ReplyDeleteHaving an 8 year old daughter when the movie came out, I was invited by her to go to it.
Actually,I meant DVD's in my 3:01 am post.
ReplyDeleteNetflix Canada does not have "The Pianist." Hell,it doesn't even have any of the Matrix movies or Star Wars.
The public libraries up here carry an excellent selection of DVD movies for free.......don't you guys have that?
Your 8:51am post is ultra-cool Worf......wish I could see all of your uncles stuff and talk to the one about Bastogne........extremely interesting!! Sad he drank himself to death.I guess I understand your view regarding my video.
'Worf walks in a bar sits down and orders a shot of tequila, downs it in one gulp and orders another.
ReplyDeleteThis goes on for 10 shots. Finally the bartender say's "what's the occasion?" Worf say's "My first blow job".
Bartender say's well!, let me buy you the next one! Worf say's "no, if 10 shots didn't get the taste out of my mouth, one more isn't going to help..."
LOL
: D
I haven't laughed that hard in a long time........thanx Volt!
: D
Oh,and Cliffy, you could be right regarding Anthony B Herberts battlefield commission........its been years since I read his book!
ReplyDeleteclif said...
ReplyDeleteWorf, it is stitch from the Disney movie Lilo & Stitch
Having an 8 year old daughter when the movie came out, I was invited by her to go to it.
ahhh, so he is going for a more age appropriate viewing schedule.
Johnny said...
ReplyDeleteThe public libraries up here carry an excellent selection of DVD movies for free.......don't you guys have that?
....no...that would be socialism.
The Tea Party doesn't want anyone getting "nuttin fer free".
ReplyDeleteVoltron, Johnny and Worf are out hiking one day through the countryside when they come upon a farm where a beautiful girl is working in the field. All three of them approach her and tell her they'd like to have sex with her. She says "ok, but only one of you can come over each night, ...and you have to be really quiet because my dad has a shotgun and will shoot anyone messing with me".
ReplyDeleteSo Voltron asks," well what do we do if he hears us? "
She replies "just pretend you're a cat....we have lots of cats in the barn so it'll fool him".
So the first night comes along and Worf is first so he goes out to the barn to meet her at midnight and starts having sex with her when suddenly he knocks over a bucket and the farmer grabs his gun and shouts out the window towards the barn, "WHO'S OUT THERE?....and Worf responds.........meeeeooww....."....and the farmer puts away the gun and goes back to sleep.
Next night's Johnny's turn so he goes out, gets down with her and ends up making a noise.
Farmer grabs his gun and yells "WHO'S OUT THERE?" and Johnny says ....."...meeeeeeoooowwwww..."...farmer puts away his gun and goes back to sleep.
Finally the third night's Voltron's turn. He starts getting into it and accidentally makes a noise.
Farmer yells "WHO'S OUT THERE?"...and Voltron responds...."....Its a cat."
Worf and Voltron are at war on opposite sides of the lines. The whistle blows and up over the trenches comes Worfs battalion.
ReplyDeleteSheepishly, voltron peers over the trench line and sees Worf and his battalion charging at them, only instead of carrying guns, they're just carrying broomsticks.
Voltron laughs, "..well, this is gonna be an easy one men", and they all stand up with their rifles to meet the onslaught.
Only something odd is happening. Worfs men carrying the brooms are pointing the brooms at Voltron's men, and saying "bangity bang, stabbity stab....bangity bang, ...stabbity stab...."....and Voltron's men are falling down dead from it.
Seeing this Voltron drops his single shot rifle and picks up one of the broomsticks from one of Worfs fallen men.
He looks around and sees Worf, coming straight towards him very steady and slow.
Voltron point's the broomstick at him and says "bangity bang, stabbity stab....bangity bang, ...stabbity stab...."...but it doesn't work.
Worf's still coming straight towards him. So he tries again, saying faster and faster, "bangity bang, stabbity stab....bangity bang, ...stabbity stab....".....but nothing. Worfs still coming.
"what's wrong with this thing?" he shouts, ...."why does it work for them and not me?"....and Worf responds...."tankity tank....tankity tank...tankity tank....
LOL........your joke is funny too Worf,but,how come you get to go first???
ReplyDelete: |
After-all,I am "The One" so I should get to go first.
: )
...because I wanted to cut me a slice before she got the clap.
ReplyDeleteLOL
ReplyDelete..hey, uninfected goes first.
ReplyDelete...so Johnny, Voltron and Worf are out boating one day and they hit a storm and the boat sinks and they swim to a nearby island.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately the island's inhabited by cannibals. The cannibals capture the three and take them back to their village.
The leader of the cannibals approach the three and says "we're going to kill you, cut your skin off and make canoes out of it. ....but you have a choice in how you die.
You can either kill yourselves, or let us do it for you. Its up to you"
First they come to Voltron and say to him " what's it going to be? Are you going to kill yourself or have us do it?".
Voltron being very timid and afraid says "...oh no, I couldn't kill myself, you do it for me".
So they kill him, cut off his skin and make canoes out of it.
Next they get to Johnny. "...well, what's it going to be?" says the leader.
Johnny says, "hey, I'm tough, give me a knife. "
So the leader gives him a knife, he stabs himself killing himself, then they cut him up and make canoes out of his skin.
Finally, they come to Worf. "well, what's it going to be?" says the leader.
Worf says, "give me a fork".
"a fork? " asks the leader.
"yea a fork" says Worf.
Okay, give him a fork" says the leader.
They give him the fork, Worf takes it and starts rapidly stabbing himself all over his body and says " ......here's your fucking canoes.....
Wow, I'm surprised volty's not in here doing cartwheels. Looks like his boy Romney's got a good shot. He was on his game tonight. Obama was way, way off his game.
ReplyDeleteI thought Obama had worked on his succinctness but he kept rambling on past the moderators warnings and that just blew his entire position.
See in a debate like these moderated ones where you have a time limit, you HAVE TO CUT IT SHORT BEFORE the time limits up.
If you ramble on with the moderator telling you to stop, then it doesn't matter how good your point is, how right you are, etc. All people will remember, is you couldn't follow the 2 minute rule.
All they'll remember is the moderator, telling you to shut up.
You'd think his people would have prepped him better than this.
ReplyDeleteWhoever they are, he should fire them tonight.
ReplyDeleteRomney on the other hand, looked polished, ready, ...like the up and coming contender taking down the champ.
Don't know how the rest of them will go but be looking for a big bump in the polls tomorrow for Romney. This was definitely his night.
What I really liked, and my hats off to both men, (and their families) was their civility, both during the debate and on the stage afterwords.
ReplyDeleteIt was frankly rejuvenating.
It made them look classy, made America look cool again and will go a long way to healing this country if they can keep it up.
If Romney's smart, he'll keep doing exactly what he did tonight.
If Obama's smart, he'll fire his handlers and hire one who knows how to prep with a stop watch.
Obama was horrible.......he clearly lost that debate, he looked weak, professorial and confused he didnt counter or confront ANY of Romney's lie, flip flops or lack of details and facts.
ReplyDeleteBill Clinton would have cleaned Romney's clock..........he would have handed Romney his ass within 5 minutes.
ReplyDeleteObama needs to take lessons from Clinton explain things clearly and briefly so the average person can understand it...........counter lies immediately and dont let them stand and appear strong and confident.
That's what you get when your debate practice dummy is John Kerry...
ReplyDeleteHoly crap, is that Mike?
ReplyDeleteHi Mike. Long time no see.
ReplyDeleteThe whole gangs back, almost.
If Obama's smart he'll fire whoever prepped him and hire someone who knows how to train with a stop watch.
ReplyDeleteWe're down to the wire now and long winded facts no matter how accurate aren't going to sell people.
The average citizens pretty dumb, and they respond to "one liners", that are well delivered, terse and to the point.
Romney got that. He was on his game. Calm, cool, collected. And BRIEF.
Obama rambled on and on, and missed lots of great opportunities.
Like for example jobs. Why didn't he just point out that EVERY STATE IN NATION was LOSING jobs when he took office in 2009, and now almost every state in the nation is gaining jobs?
How hard is that to say?
ReplyDeleteWhen you ramble on past the 2 minute limit, it doesn't matter WHAT you said.
Right or wrong, ALL people will remember, is the moderator telling you to shut up.
I think the reason Volty's not doing cartwheels, is because he knows if Romney wins, he's going to do exactly what Obama did when he took office, and run straight to the center.
ReplyDeleteOh sure, he'll do a couple of token gestures to appeal to his base, like Obama did with health care. But at the end of the day, like Obama, he'll turn out to be a moderate.
How do I know this?
Easy.
All anyone has to do is look at how he governed when he was governor of Massachusetts. He's a moderate. Not the hard right wing nutjob, he pretends to be on the campaign trail.
Of course, its important to remember that its not the first time an incumbent has lost the first debate, then went on to win the general election.
ReplyDeleteObama lost the first debate to John McCain too, but look who won in the end.
So it ain't over yet. Romney did well, and has a shot, but it ain't over till next month when the votes are counted.
Voltron meets worf at a bar, looking tired and depressed.
ReplyDelete"What's wrong ask worf?"
Voltron responds "well its my job....its really got me down."
"Really? What do you do?" asks Worf.
Volt responds, "well, my family and me breed dogs."
"Really?" replies worf. "..that sounds like fun...what's wrong with that? "
"Well," replies volty," ...its all the inbreeding.
Its led to poor temperament, low intelligence and distorted unattractive features in the group."
"wow" says Worf. "that sounds pretty bad."
"Yea," replies voltron"....and the dogs aren't doing too well either."
Hey please move over to the new thread. I just posted a mini-blog called The Temporal Zone. I would like your opinion on this.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think is happening and what do you think the meaning of life is?
Thanks guys and girls :)
Hey please move over to the new thread. I just posted a mini-blog called The Temporal Zone. I would like your opinion on this.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think is happening and what do you think the meaning of life is?
Thanks guys and girls :)
Oh, and I have a comment on the debate on the next thread. Something so obvious, I can't believe NO ONE EVER BRINGS IT UP!!
ReplyDelete