Michael's Musings

January 10, 2011

What happened in Tucson, AZ, this past Saturday (8) was a national tragedy and my prayers go out to the victims and their families.

However, I am disturbed by much of the talk that I am hearing (and reading)  on television, radio and the internet in the wake of this horrific incident.

The person who pulled the trigger in Tuscon was a total loser, a nut-job.  He was rejected when he tried to join the Army and he was kicked out of college because of his perceived mental instability.

The Tea Party didn't pull the trigger.  Sarah Palin didn't pull the trigger.  Neither did the political Left or the Right.

This tragedy was caused by one crazy person for whatever bizarre reason he had in his head.  [I am sure that we will, eventually, find out what that reason was.]

People who are trying to politicize what happened in Tucson should be ashamed of themselves.

Please join me in keeping the victims in your prayers.

Michael

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January 7, 2011

A man wakes up in the hospital bandaged from head to foot. 

The doctor comes in and says, "Ah, I'm glad to see you've regained consciousness. You probably won't remember, but you were in a huge pile-up on the freeway. You're going to be ok, you'll walk again and everything, but your penis was severed in the accident and we couldn't find it."

The man groans, but the doctor goes on, "You've got $9000 in insurance compensation coming and we now have the technology to build a new penis.  They work great but they don't come cheap.  It's roughly $1000 an inch."

The man perks up.

"So," the doctor says. "You must decide how many inches you want.  I understand that you've been married for over forty years and this is something you should discuss with your wife.  If you had a five incher before and get a nine incher now she might be a bit put out.  If you had a nine incher before and you decide to only invest in a five incher now, she might be disappointed.  It's important that she plays a role in helping you make a decision."

The man agrees to talk it over with his wife.

The doctor comes back the next day and asks, "So, have you spoken with your wife?"

"Yes I have," says the man.

"And has she helped you make a decision?"

"Yes," says the man.

"What is your decision?" asks the doctor.

 "We're getting granite counter tops."

You have a creative weekend, and I'll be back on Monday.

Michael

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January 6, 2011

I have the greatest respect for actors.

They breathe life into words on the printed page.

However, they do not "create" the characters that they play.

They may "originate" them, but the characters are "created" by the writer.

Ethel Merman, for example, did not "create" the role of "Mama Rose" in GYPSY.  She was the first actress to play the part, so she "originated" it.

Arthur Laurents, who wrote the book for the musical, "created" the role.  He, of course, based his work on the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee.

I wish reviewers and people who write about theatre and movies would remember that distinction.

For those of you who are fans of legendary writer-director Samuel Fuller, I've just uploaded reviews of his films, SHOCK CORRIDOR and THE NAKED KISS, onto the Best Bets on DVD site, accessible via the link in the Introduction

You have a creative day.

Michael


section on this page.  So, please take a look.

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