Its that time! Its official we can listen to Christmas music. We don't have to listen to the killjoys anymore (not that we really ever did). So here are 20 amazing Christmas songs and 10 not so amazing ones. You may prefer a different rendition of a song but....tough, it is my list! In no particular order.
1. Fairytale of New York by the Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9jbdgZidu8
I lied. There is one Christmas song I like the very very very best in the whole wide world, and it is this one. This is the one I hold off as long as I can to listen to so I can have a very special Christmas moment! I still have listened to it for 2017. It is a love story! It is Christmas eve in the drunk tank! It's naughty! It's lovely! It's everything!
2. Hard Candy Christmas Dolly Parton-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivLpzyTA9ik
Now I am in no particular order! This is among the best because Dolly Parton is an American treasure and it's from Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Take that conservatives that complains about Starbucks cups!
3. Do You Hear What I Hear- Whitney Houston
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZ-coIXJf4s
For whatever struggles Whitney Houston had, we never really deserved her voice. This proves that
4. Do they Know It's Christmas- Band Aid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjQzJAKxTrE
It is basically a big Christmas guilt trip, but it is one with George MIchael, Bono, Simon Le Bon and Boy George. So it is amazing.
5. Someday at Christmas Andra Day featuring Stevie Wonder
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaA7B9cu4kU
Some people would just include the Stevie Wonder version, but this is my list so they should shut up.
6. Little Drummer Boy/ Peace on Earth- David Bowie and Bing Crosby
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_ReMi7tVWA
This one was my favorite when I was a kid because of their amazing clothes and home decor. But it is still one of the greats. I can't believe both of them are gone now. :(
7. Have Yourself A Merry Christmas- Judy Garland
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxxTHzERTsk
Many a dive has tried to sing this, but Judy lived it. There is no comparison.
8. Oh Holy Night- All the divas. Martina McBride in this case.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOd4nTz0hhY
It doesn't matter who sings it as long as it is a diva with serious pipes. It's the dream Christmas song for people who can SANG! I chose Martina McBride because this list could always use some more country.
9. Children Go Where I Send Thee- Audra McDonald and The Mormon Tabernacle Choir
You thought no Audra? No Broadway? Wrong! Sadly no version of this is on the internet. But the link below proves it exists. It is also on Apple Music.
https://www.mormontabernaclechoir.org/about/guest-artists/audra-mcdonald.html
10. Merry Christmas Darling- The Carpenters
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR1ujXx2p-I
What? Not everyone is happy during the holidays? The Carpenters is evidence.
11. River- Joni Mitchell
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAK9Pj5-QXY
What? I love Christmas, but I'm moody! Not just a great Christmas song, but it is perhaps a perfect song all around.
12. Christmas Wrapping The Waitresses
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nud2TQNahaU
Because who hasn't forgotten cranberries too...and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed.
13. Silent Night Stevie Nicks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRP06e3jFt4
Silent Night is one of the greatest Christmas hymns ever, but Stevie Nicks haunting voice elevates it!
14. Ave Maria Chris Cornell
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pd2emzFAqv8
That voice! Many will never know what we have lost!
15. Song for a Winter's Night Sarah McLachlan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV4F2yfEt9o
Yeah Sarah is a late 90s Lilith Fair relic, but her version of Gordon Lightfoot's song is amazing.
16. Merry Xmas/ War is Over John Lennon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN4Uu0OlmTg
Sure it is a liberal pipe dream as long as Republicans exist. But one can dream
17. Wonderful Christmastime The Shins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qReziqBwEr4
Perhaps you think it is blasphemy not to choose Paul McCartney's version, but that one is pure cheese. This one is much better.
18. We Need a Little Christmas Angela Lansbury
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St7mQWwmo70
My gay shame is that I have never seen Mame, but Christmas isn't Christmas without this manic need for Christmas. Right. This. Very. Minute.
19. That was the Worst Christmas Ever! Sufjan Stevens
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpmiPbDkvBQ
Because not everyone's Christmas's are bright!
20 Put A Little Love in Your Heart- Al Green and Annie Lennox
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3J_3mcOwdQ
It wasn't technically a Christmas song until it was in a Christmas movie. And now it is 80's. positive and necessary.
10 Bad Christmas Songs with NO LINKs because you shouldn't have to suffer.
1. Grandma Got Ran Over by a Reindeer- Elmo and Patsy
Look even bad grandmothers deserve better
2. Baby It's Cold Outside: All versions
Because Christmas never should have been date rapey. Especially now.
3. The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)
Sure the song itself isn't terrible, but the original autotuning of the Chipmunks is nails on a chalkboard.
4. Merry Christmas from the Family Rosie O Donnell and the Dixie Chicks
This pains me but.....once upon a time Rosie Donnell was so popular (and deservedly so) that she got her own Christmas album. The great Dixie Chicks agreed to participate. They should not have.
5. My Favorite Things: All Versions
Because it is a song from Sound of Music. Not. A. Christmas. Song.
6. Santa Claus is Coming to Town- Bruce Springsteen
Because no one is perfect. Even the boss.
7. Zat You Santa Claus? Buster Poindexter
For a short period in time, the character Buster Poindexter was made popular much to many people's astonishment. This song proves it happens.
8. The Christmas Shoes- Newsong
In no way is this so bad that it's good. It is just bad. The most emotionally manipulative song ever created. They should feel shame.
9. Santa has got The AIDS Tiny Tim
I discovered this yesterday. I wish it didn't exist. Do not link to the video. It will give you nightmares. Not only does Santa have AIDS. Santa has THE AIDS and that is much worse. So offensive. Really don't search for it. Trust me. It is real.
and finally
10. I think you might Like it Olivia Newton John and Travolta.
You deserve this link. It is the most deliciously awful thing ever. The two stepping!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGNIDXUaVts
You're welcome!
Happy Holidays!
Friday, November 24, 2017
Wednesday, November 8, 2017
11/9...One Year Later...I won't forget
In a few hours it will be 11/9/2017, one year after the current disaster President was officially named through our convoluted electoral system. I believe it was and continues to be an American tragedy.
Early into the morning hours of 11/9/2016 I was in an Uber (don't do those anymore), and I was talking to the driver. The results of the Presidential election had not been officially decided yet but things were not looking good for the future of America.
"Can you believe people voted for him?" my driver asked.
I could not.
I still can't
One of the best unplanned things I ever did was time my vacation the day after the 2016 Presidential Election. When I arrived at the airport after getting no sleep and suffering a minor nervous breakdown at home (watch the first 20 minutes of American Horror Story: Cult. That shit was my life). After I went through the security lines, the newscasters quietly announced that we had a new president, and it was not who I had hoped (and that is putting it nicely). The person the Electoral college would choose was about the worst possible choice I could think of. I still can't say his name and President in the same sentence. In my mind then and now, America had just committed an act of terrorism--against itself.
It was early morning in the airport, but I have never heard a place so eerily quiet. I was in the airport the day that it was announced Michael Jackson died and this was still quieter and different than that. No one was talking, but you could tell people were thinking. How and why did this happen?
Most of us have survived, but one year later--
I am still angry.
I won't forget.
I am still angry.
I won't forget that when Evangelicals were given choice they chose the least moral option even when they had all the evidence of what kind of man he was right in front of him.
I am still angry.
I won't forget growing up in a conservative environment and having people make judgments about my life, and then they had the nerve to vote for evil. Prior to 11/9, I had always been open minded about people who have different opinions politically than my self. on 11/9 that ended for anyone I know who voted for Trump. I don't think I will ever be able to move past it and have any kind of respect for those I know who did vote for him.
I am still angry
I won't forget that some people were apathetic. They didn't like their choices and stayed home. Their votes could have put us in a different place one year later.
I am still angry.
I wont forget that people were careless with their vote and voted 3rd party or voted for someone who wasn't even on the ballot. I am not against 3rd party candidates, but when Donald Trump is one of two choices, you should not be reckless with your vote. There vote could have made a lot of lives different one year later, and no I don't care what state you live in.
I am still angry.
I won't forget last night. Hope returned again. Even though most of the elections were minor, I felt a sea change-- albeit a small one. I hope once again. I hope that 2018 is a disaster for conservatives. I hope in the long run supporting Trump runs people far away from bigoted evangelical churches. I hope that Donald will no longer be president by January 2021.
Because if this country survives him, the night he is no longer President, I am going to be dancing in the streets. And if you know me you know...I. don't. dance.
But even then I will never forget anyone who played a part in his election.
Early into the morning hours of 11/9/2016 I was in an Uber (don't do those anymore), and I was talking to the driver. The results of the Presidential election had not been officially decided yet but things were not looking good for the future of America.
"Can you believe people voted for him?" my driver asked.
I could not.
I still can't
One of the best unplanned things I ever did was time my vacation the day after the 2016 Presidential Election. When I arrived at the airport after getting no sleep and suffering a minor nervous breakdown at home (watch the first 20 minutes of American Horror Story: Cult. That shit was my life). After I went through the security lines, the newscasters quietly announced that we had a new president, and it was not who I had hoped (and that is putting it nicely). The person the Electoral college would choose was about the worst possible choice I could think of. I still can't say his name and President in the same sentence. In my mind then and now, America had just committed an act of terrorism--against itself.
It was early morning in the airport, but I have never heard a place so eerily quiet. I was in the airport the day that it was announced Michael Jackson died and this was still quieter and different than that. No one was talking, but you could tell people were thinking. How and why did this happen?
Most of us have survived, but one year later--
I am still angry.
I won't forget.
I am still angry.
I won't forget that when Evangelicals were given choice they chose the least moral option even when they had all the evidence of what kind of man he was right in front of him.
I am still angry.
I won't forget growing up in a conservative environment and having people make judgments about my life, and then they had the nerve to vote for evil. Prior to 11/9, I had always been open minded about people who have different opinions politically than my self. on 11/9 that ended for anyone I know who voted for Trump. I don't think I will ever be able to move past it and have any kind of respect for those I know who did vote for him.
I am still angry
I won't forget that some people were apathetic. They didn't like their choices and stayed home. Their votes could have put us in a different place one year later.
I am still angry.
I wont forget that people were careless with their vote and voted 3rd party or voted for someone who wasn't even on the ballot. I am not against 3rd party candidates, but when Donald Trump is one of two choices, you should not be reckless with your vote. There vote could have made a lot of lives different one year later, and no I don't care what state you live in.
I am still angry.
I won't forget last night. Hope returned again. Even though most of the elections were minor, I felt a sea change-- albeit a small one. I hope once again. I hope that 2018 is a disaster for conservatives. I hope in the long run supporting Trump runs people far away from bigoted evangelical churches. I hope that Donald will no longer be president by January 2021.
Because if this country survives him, the night he is no longer President, I am going to be dancing in the streets. And if you know me you know...I. don't. dance.
But even then I will never forget anyone who played a part in his election.
Monday, October 9, 2017
For World Mental Health Day: My so called anxious life
Tomorrow, October 10th, is World Mental Health Day. Wednesday, October 11th, is Coming Out Day for the LGBTQ community. Since I long ago passed that particular milestone years ago, I will come out about something else for World Mental Health Day.
It isn't really a secret that I live with a mental illness called GAD (generalize anxiety disorder). I was diagnosed with this about 20 years ago, but I should have known that something was not quite right way before that.
I can only speak about my experience with anxiety, so I will not generalize that my experience to others. But here is a glimpse of my experience. Having GAD does not mean that I just get a little bit more stressed out than "normal" people. I could write a book (and may do that one day) about how different chronic anxiety is than how most people handle a usual amount of stress. But here is how I would illustrate my experience with anxiety.
Imagine that your brain is represented by a clean house. For people who do not have anxiety, I would represent stress as this quiet clean house getting a little dirtied up or noisy now and then. So for example, maybe someone leaves a towel on the floor in the bathroom or you forget to make your bed one morning. This amount of "stress" is annoying, but its manageable. It is relatively harmless to go pick up a towel or make a bed, maybe your kids run around screaming sometimes but ultimately it is manageable and people with regular anxiety can resolve whatever is dirtying up their "clean house" There are days that a room gets messier than that and things start to get cluttered , but it generally stays manageable. Everyone has days that they are more stressed out than others, but again it’s ultimately manageable.
Even as I write that description, I am envious of people who are able to handle anxiety in this way. Because my dealing with stressdoes not work this way at all. Imagine my "clean house" as a small claustrophobic studio apartment. My clean studio apartment is often above a really busy noisy neighborhood. And when a mess happens in my apartment it is just one big pile of a mess that piles and piles and piles and doesn't stop to the point where it often feels totally overwhelming, and Sometimes I don’t even know where to begin for clean up.
I hope that kind of clears up the difference between chronic anxiety and gettibg stressed out. I believe my anxiety is genetic as it has been diagnosed by doctors as such, but I also believe situations that I have experienced in my life starting as a kid to becoming an adult have added to my relationship with anxiety.
I tell you all of this not to get pity or for people to say sorry. Because the last thing a person with anxiety wants to do is think more about their anxiety. I say this all because there are many many other people in this world and country and your neighborhood who have anxiety about or a variety other mental illnesses. And many of them, because of pride or lack of resources suffer in silence.
I have been very lucky because for the past 20 years I have had resources such as counseling and medications at my disposal for a relatively small amount of money thanks to decent health insurance. So many who need or may want help are not so lucky
In the last week, the USA experienced a terrible mass shooting in Las Vegas. One of the responses from "conservatives" is to not even talk about gun control at all, and then they mention that one of the reasons these things happen is because of how we deal with mental illness and we need to do something about that instead of gun control.
While I disagree about not focusing on gun control at all. I do agree with what "conservatives" are “saying”about mental illness. We, as a country, need to take care of our citizens who have mental illness. However, really doing something abut mental illness required providing the citizens of the USA with better health care options which I know that most "conservatives" are not in favor of. So I must ask, as a person with a mental illness to stop using mental illness as an excuse to not talk about gun control. If you really believe in helping people with mental illness I will stand behind you. But praying it away and going to church are not the answer. If you really believe in helping people with mental illness put up or shut up.
For anyone who has any kind of mental illness like me whether it be anxiety, depression, or many other forms of mental illness, please reach out to someone to help you get help. There is nothing embarassing about having a mental illness. When you sre physically sick, there is no shame in going to a doctor to get medicine or Physical therapy when t is needed. The same is true with mental illness. It should not be stigmatized as something different or something less than any illness.
Finally, I want everyone to know I have a pretty fun, amazing life. This is the case because of the choices I make in my life and being a bit lucky as well. But my truth is this: there isn't a day in my life, no matter how fun, or exciting, or adventurous, that I don't deal with my issues with anxiety. Every day I am keenly aware that I have a mental illness and that is also the case for so many people. If you do not have these issues, consider your self lucky and please consider open your heart and mind to someone who does deal with these things in their mind every day.
It isn't really a secret that I live with a mental illness called GAD (generalize anxiety disorder). I was diagnosed with this about 20 years ago, but I should have known that something was not quite right way before that.
I can only speak about my experience with anxiety, so I will not generalize that my experience to others. But here is a glimpse of my experience. Having GAD does not mean that I just get a little bit more stressed out than "normal" people. I could write a book (and may do that one day) about how different chronic anxiety is than how most people handle a usual amount of stress. But here is how I would illustrate my experience with anxiety.
Imagine that your brain is represented by a clean house. For people who do not have anxiety, I would represent stress as this quiet clean house getting a little dirtied up or noisy now and then. So for example, maybe someone leaves a towel on the floor in the bathroom or you forget to make your bed one morning. This amount of "stress" is annoying, but its manageable. It is relatively harmless to go pick up a towel or make a bed, maybe your kids run around screaming sometimes but ultimately it is manageable and people with regular anxiety can resolve whatever is dirtying up their "clean house" There are days that a room gets messier than that and things start to get cluttered , but it generally stays manageable. Everyone has days that they are more stressed out than others, but again it’s ultimately manageable.
Even as I write that description, I am envious of people who are able to handle anxiety in this way. Because my dealing with stressdoes not work this way at all. Imagine my "clean house" as a small claustrophobic studio apartment. My clean studio apartment is often above a really busy noisy neighborhood. And when a mess happens in my apartment it is just one big pile of a mess that piles and piles and piles and doesn't stop to the point where it often feels totally overwhelming, and Sometimes I don’t even know where to begin for clean up.
I hope that kind of clears up the difference between chronic anxiety and gettibg stressed out. I believe my anxiety is genetic as it has been diagnosed by doctors as such, but I also believe situations that I have experienced in my life starting as a kid to becoming an adult have added to my relationship with anxiety.
I tell you all of this not to get pity or for people to say sorry. Because the last thing a person with anxiety wants to do is think more about their anxiety. I say this all because there are many many other people in this world and country and your neighborhood who have anxiety about or a variety other mental illnesses. And many of them, because of pride or lack of resources suffer in silence.
I have been very lucky because for the past 20 years I have had resources such as counseling and medications at my disposal for a relatively small amount of money thanks to decent health insurance. So many who need or may want help are not so lucky
In the last week, the USA experienced a terrible mass shooting in Las Vegas. One of the responses from "conservatives" is to not even talk about gun control at all, and then they mention that one of the reasons these things happen is because of how we deal with mental illness and we need to do something about that instead of gun control.
While I disagree about not focusing on gun control at all. I do agree with what "conservatives" are “saying”about mental illness. We, as a country, need to take care of our citizens who have mental illness. However, really doing something abut mental illness required providing the citizens of the USA with better health care options which I know that most "conservatives" are not in favor of. So I must ask, as a person with a mental illness to stop using mental illness as an excuse to not talk about gun control. If you really believe in helping people with mental illness I will stand behind you. But praying it away and going to church are not the answer. If you really believe in helping people with mental illness put up or shut up.
For anyone who has any kind of mental illness like me whether it be anxiety, depression, or many other forms of mental illness, please reach out to someone to help you get help. There is nothing embarassing about having a mental illness. When you sre physically sick, there is no shame in going to a doctor to get medicine or Physical therapy when t is needed. The same is true with mental illness. It should not be stigmatized as something different or something less than any illness.
Finally, I want everyone to know I have a pretty fun, amazing life. This is the case because of the choices I make in my life and being a bit lucky as well. But my truth is this: there isn't a day in my life, no matter how fun, or exciting, or adventurous, that I don't deal with my issues with anxiety. Every day I am keenly aware that I have a mental illness and that is also the case for so many people. If you do not have these issues, consider your self lucky and please consider open your heart and mind to someone who does deal with these things in their mind every day.
Saturday, October 7, 2017
Art Isn’t Easy; 25 Sondheim Songs
In honor of my completing the half way point of Stephen Sondheim’s Major works. Here are my top 25 songs written or co-written by Mr. Sondheim. The more I see the more this will change.
25. Our Time from Merrily We Roll Along
24. Sooner or Later from the film Dick Tracy
23. Putting it Together from Sunday in the Park with George
22. Rose’s Turn from Gypsy
21. Not A Day Goes by from Merrily We Roll Along
20. Everything’s Coming Up Roses from Gypsy
19. The Gun Song from Assassins
18. America from West Side Story
17. Giants in the Sky from Into the Woods
16. Getting Married today From Company
15. A boy like that/ I have a love from West Side Story
14. Unworthy of your Love from Assassins
13. Being Alive from Company
12. Sunday from Sunday in the Park with George
11. Some People from Gypsy
And now the top 10!
10. The ladies who lunch from Company
9. I know things now from Into the woods
25. Our Time from Merrily We Roll Along
24. Sooner or Later from the film Dick Tracy
23. Putting it Together from Sunday in the Park with George
22. Rose’s Turn from Gypsy
21. Not A Day Goes by from Merrily We Roll Along
20. Everything’s Coming Up Roses from Gypsy
19. The Gun Song from Assassins
18. America from West Side Story
17. Giants in the Sky from Into the Woods
16. Getting Married today From Company
15. A boy like that/ I have a love from West Side Story
14. Unworthy of your Love from Assassins
13. Being Alive from Company
12. Sunday from Sunday in the Park with George
11. Some People from Gypsy
And now the top 10!
10. The ladies who lunch from Company
8. Losing my Mind from Follies
7. Not While I’m Around from Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
6. Children and Art from Sunday in the Park with George
5. Somewhere from West Side Story
4. A little priest from Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street
3. No One is Alone from Into the Woods
2. Send in the Clowns from A little night music
Not!
And my favorite song written by Stephen Sondheim is
1. Moments in the Woods from Into The Woods
Sunday, September 10, 2017
My favorites of the 2016-2017 TV Season with my choice of winners
The Emmys are over! And their choices didn’t suck this year!
Here are my nominees for last season and my choice of winners labeled!
Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Desmin Borges You’re the Worst
Tituss Burgess Unbreakable Kimmie Schmidt WINNER!
Jaime Camil Jane the Virgin
Andrew Rannells Girls
Timothy Simons Veep
Zach Woods Silicon Valley
Best Supporting Actress in A Drama Series
Millie Bobby Brown Stranger Things
Anne Dowd The Handmaid’s Tale
Vera Farmiga Bates Motel
Judith Light Transparent WINNER!
Chrissy Metz This is Us
Samira Wiley The Handmaid’s tale
Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie
Benito Martinez American Crime WINNER!
Alfred Molina Feud: Bette and Joan
Alessandro Nivola Wizard of Lies
Alexander Skarsgård Big Little Lies
Michael Stuhlbarg Fargo
Michael K Williams The Night Of
Best Guest Performance in a Comedy Series
Riz Ahmed Girls
Daveed Diggs The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Matthew Rhys Girls
Becky Ann Baker Girls
Angela Bassett Master of None WINNER!
Maya Rudolph Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Ron Cephas Jones This Is Us WINNER!
O.T. Fagbenle The Handmaid’s Tale
Joseph Fiennes The Handmaid’s Tale
Michael Kelly House of Cards
Christian Navarro 13 Reasons Why
Chris Sullivan This is Us
Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie
Judy Davis Feud: Bette and Joan
Laura Dern Big Little Lies
Jackie Hoffman Feud: Bette and Joan
Michelle Pfeiffer Wizard of Lies
Mary Elizabeth Winsted Fargo
Shaileen Woodley Big Little Lies WINNER!
Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Donna Lynne Champlin Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Jenifer Lewis blackish
Carol Kane Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Kaliko Kauahi Superstore
Zosia Mamet Girls
Kate McKinnon Saturday Night Live WINNER!
Best Guest performance in a Drama Series
Alexis Bleidel Handmaid's Tale WINNER!-Tie
Laverne Cox Orange is the New Black
Shannon Purser Stranger Things
Lonnie Chavis This is us
Gerald McRaney This is Us WINNER!-Tie
Denis O'Hare This is us
Denis O'Hare This is us
Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Sterling K Brown This is Us -WINNER!
Freddie Highmore Bates Motel
Kevin Spacey House of Cards
Jeffrey Tambor Transparent
Milo Ventimiglia This is Us
Dominic West the Affair
Best Lead Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie
Carrie Coon Fargo
Nicole Kidman Big Little Lies
Regina King American Crime
Jessica Lange Feud: Bette and Joan WINNER!
Susan Sarandon Feud: Bette and Joan
Reese Witherspoon Big Little Lies
Best Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Anthony Andersen blackish WINNER!
Aziz Ansari Master of None
Tommy Dewey Casual
Billy Eichner Difficult People
Donald Glover Atlanta
Josh Thomas Please Like Me
Best Episode of a Drama Series
The Bridge The Handmaid’s Tale
Jack Pearson’s Son This is Us
Memphis This is Us
Night The Handmaid’s Tale
Offred The Handmaid’s Tale WINNER!
Pilot This is Us
Tape 7 Side A 13 Reason’s Why
Best Lead Actress in A Comedy Series
Rachel Bloom Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Julia Louis Dreyfus Veep
Ellie Kemper the Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Julie Klausner Difficult People WINNER!
Issa Rae Insecure
Tracee Ellis Ross blackish
Best Lead Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie
Riz Ahmed The Night Of WINNER!
Robert DeNiro Wizard of Lies
Harvey Fierstein Hairspray Live
Jonathan Groff Looking The Movie
Evan McGregor Fargo
John Turturro The Night Of
Best Lead Actress in A Drama Series
Viola Davis How to Get Away With Murder
Katherine Langford 13 Reasons Why
Mandy Moore This is us
Elizabeth Moss Handmaid’s Tale WINNER!
Winona Ryder Stranger Things
Robin Wright House of Cards
Best Episode of a Comedy Series
Goodbye Tour Girls
Kimmy’s Roommate Lemonades Unbreakable Kimmie
Schmidt
Lemons blackish
Patches Difficult People
Religion Master of None
Thanksgiving Master of None WINNER!
The Thief Master of None
Best Limited Series or Television movie
American Crime
Big Little Lies
Fargo
Feud: Bette and Joan
Hairspray Live
The Night Of WINNER!
Wizard of Lies
Best Comedy Series
blackish WINNER!
Dear White People
Girls
Master of None
Please Like Me
Superstore
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Best Drama Series
13 Reasons Why
Bates Motel
The Handmaid’s Tale WINNER!
House of Cards
Stranger Things
This Is Us
Transparent
Saturday, May 6, 2017
My 2016 film favorites.
At last you say! It's May and Dan is finally revealing his favorites in film from last year. I could not be more timely.
Well to start, here are the best of some of the best in behind the scenes in film 2016.
Best Visual Effects: Kubo and the Two Strings
Best Editing: La La Land
Best Cinematography: Moonlight
Best Costumes: Jackie
Best Use of Sound: La La Land
Best Original Score: Moonlight
Best Art and Set Direction: La La Land
And now my favorites in twelve other movie categories in alphabetical order.
My 5 favorites animated films of 2016 were...
Finding Dory
Kubo and the Two Strings
Moana
Sausage Party
Zootopia
And my very favorite was.....Moana
My 5 favorite Foreign Lamguage films of the year were.....
The Handmaiden South Korea
Julieta Spain
The Salesman Iran
Tanna Australia
Toni Erdmann Germany
And my very favorite was.....The Handmaiden South Korea
My 5 favorite Original Songs from a film were....
Another Day of Sun La La Land
Audition (The Fools Who Dream) La La Land
Can't Stop the Feeling Trolls
Try Everything Zootopia
We Know The Way Moana
And my very favorite was....Audition (The Fools Who Dream) La La Land
My 5 favorite Documentaries of the years were.....
I Am Not Your Negro
OJ: Made in America
13th
Tickled
Weiner
And my very favorite was....Weiner
The best 5 Supporting Male Actor performances were...
Mahershala Ali Moonlight
Ralph Fiennes A Bigger Splash
Lucas Hedges Manchester by the Sea
Dev Patel Lion
Trevante Rhodes Moonlight
And my very favorite was....Mahershala Ali Moonlight
The 5 best performances by a Supporting Female Actor were...
Viola Davis Fences
Naomie Harris Moonlight
Nicole Kidman Lion
Janelle Monae Hidden Figures
Michelle Williams Manchester by the Sea
And my very favorite was...Viola Davis Fences
Best 5 best Original Screenplays were...
La La Land
Manchester by the Sea
Other People
20th Century Women
Zootopia
And my very favorite is....Manchester by the Sea
The 5 Best Adapted Screenplays were....
The Handmaiden
Hidden Figures
Lion
Loving
Moonlight
And my very favorite was...Moonlight
The 5 Best Directors of the years were.....
Damien Chazelle La La Land
Garth Davis Lion
Barry Jenkins Moonlight
Kenneth Lonergan Manchester by the Sea
Chan-Wook Park The Handmaiden
And my very favorite was Barry Jenkins Moonlight
The 5 Best Lead Female actors were....
Annette Bening 20th Century Women
Isabelle Huppert Elle
Ruth Negga Loving
Natalie Portman Jackie
Emma Stone La La Land
And my very favorite was Annette Bening 20th Century Women
The 5 Best performances by a Lead Male Actor were...
Casey Affleck Manchester by the Sea
Joel Edgerton Loving
Colin Farrell The Lobster
Ryan Gosling La La Land
Denzel Washington Fences
And my very favorite was Casey Affleck Manchester by the Sea
And finally the 10 best films of 2016 in rank order were....
10. The Handmaiden
9. Moana
8. La La Land
7. Loving
6. 20th Century Women
5. Hidden Figures
4. Weiner
3. Lion
2. Manchester by the Sea
and the Best Film of 2016 was....Moonlight
In Summary
Best Visual Effects: Kubo and the Two Strings
Best Editing: La La Land
Best Cinematography: Moonlight
Best Costumes: Jackie
Best Use of Sound: La La Land
Best Original Score: Moonlight
Best Art and Set Direction: La La Land
Animated Film Moana
Foreign Film The Handmaiden
Documentary Weiner
Original Song Audition (The Fools Who Dream) La La Land
Original Screenplay Manchester by the Sea
Adapted Screenplay Moonlight
Best Supporting Actor Mahershala Ali Moonlight
Best Supporting Actress Fences
Best Director Barry Jenkins Moonlight
Lead Actress Annette Bening 20th Century Women
Lead Actor Casey Affleck Manchester by the Sea
Best Film of 2016 Moonlight
Well to start, here are the best of some of the best in behind the scenes in film 2016.
Best Visual Effects: Kubo and the Two Strings
Best Editing: La La Land
Best Cinematography: Moonlight
Best Costumes: Jackie
Best Use of Sound: La La Land
Best Original Score: Moonlight
Best Art and Set Direction: La La Land
And now my favorites in twelve other movie categories in alphabetical order.
My 5 favorites animated films of 2016 were...
Finding Dory
Kubo and the Two Strings
Moana
Sausage Party
Zootopia
And my very favorite was.....Moana
My 5 favorite Foreign Lamguage films of the year were.....
The Handmaiden South Korea
Julieta Spain
The Salesman Iran
Tanna Australia
Toni Erdmann Germany
And my very favorite was.....The Handmaiden South Korea
My 5 favorite Original Songs from a film were....
Another Day of Sun La La Land
Audition (The Fools Who Dream) La La Land
Can't Stop the Feeling Trolls
Try Everything Zootopia
We Know The Way Moana
And my very favorite was....Audition (The Fools Who Dream) La La Land
My 5 favorite Documentaries of the years were.....
I Am Not Your Negro
OJ: Made in America
13th
Tickled
Weiner
And my very favorite was....Weiner
The best 5 Supporting Male Actor performances were...
Mahershala Ali Moonlight
Ralph Fiennes A Bigger Splash
Lucas Hedges Manchester by the Sea
Dev Patel Lion
Trevante Rhodes Moonlight
And my very favorite was....Mahershala Ali Moonlight
The 5 best performances by a Supporting Female Actor were...
Viola Davis Fences
Naomie Harris Moonlight
Nicole Kidman Lion
Janelle Monae Hidden Figures
Michelle Williams Manchester by the Sea
And my very favorite was...Viola Davis Fences
Best 5 best Original Screenplays were...
La La Land
Manchester by the Sea
Other People
20th Century Women
Zootopia
And my very favorite is....Manchester by the Sea
The 5 Best Adapted Screenplays were....
The Handmaiden
Hidden Figures
Lion
Loving
Moonlight
And my very favorite was...Moonlight
The 5 Best Directors of the years were.....
Damien Chazelle La La Land
Garth Davis Lion
Barry Jenkins Moonlight
Kenneth Lonergan Manchester by the Sea
Chan-Wook Park The Handmaiden
And my very favorite was Barry Jenkins Moonlight
The 5 Best Lead Female actors were....
Annette Bening 20th Century Women
Isabelle Huppert Elle
Ruth Negga Loving
Natalie Portman Jackie
Emma Stone La La Land
And my very favorite was Annette Bening 20th Century Women
The 5 Best performances by a Lead Male Actor were...
Casey Affleck Manchester by the Sea
Joel Edgerton Loving
Colin Farrell The Lobster
Ryan Gosling La La Land
Denzel Washington Fences
And my very favorite was Casey Affleck Manchester by the Sea
And finally the 10 best films of 2016 in rank order were....
10. The Handmaiden
9. Moana
8. La La Land
7. Loving
6. 20th Century Women
5. Hidden Figures
4. Weiner
3. Lion
2. Manchester by the Sea
and the Best Film of 2016 was....Moonlight
In Summary
Best Visual Effects: Kubo and the Two Strings
Best Editing: La La Land
Best Cinematography: Moonlight
Best Costumes: Jackie
Best Use of Sound: La La Land
Best Original Score: Moonlight
Best Art and Set Direction: La La Land
Animated Film Moana
Foreign Film The Handmaiden
Documentary Weiner
Original Song Audition (The Fools Who Dream) La La Land
Original Screenplay Manchester by the Sea
Adapted Screenplay Moonlight
Best Supporting Actor Mahershala Ali Moonlight
Best Supporting Actress Fences
Best Director Barry Jenkins Moonlight
Lead Actress Annette Bening 20th Century Women
Lead Actor Casey Affleck Manchester by the Sea
Best Film of 2016 Moonlight
Saturday, February 25, 2017
My Finalish Oscar predictions.
Here they are and also who would get my vote if I had one on categories that I have seen all of the nominees.
Best Picture
Will win: La La Land
My choice: Moonlight
Best Actor
Will win: Denzel Washington but no one really knows.
My choice: Casey Affleck
Best Supporting Actor
Will win: Mahershala Ali
My choice: depending on the moment Ali or Lucas Hedges
Best Actress
Will win: Emma Stone
My choice: Ruth Negga
Best Supporting Actress
Will win: Viola Davis
My choice: Viola Davis
Animated Feature: Zootopia
Cinematography and Costumes La La Land
Best Director
Will win: Damien Chazelle La La Land
My choice: Barry Jenkins
Documentary Feature: OJ Made in America
Documentary Short: Joe's Violin
Editing: La La Land
Foreign Film: The Salesman
Makeup and Hair: Star Trek Beyond
Score: La La Land
Song: City of Stars La La Land
Production Design: La La Land
Animated Short: Pearl
Live short: Ennemis Interieurs
Sound editing: Hacksaw Ridge
Sound Mixing: La La Land
Visual effects: Jungle Book
Adapted Screenplay:
Will win: Moonlight
My choice: Moonlight
Original Screenplay:
Will win: Manchester by the Sea
My choice: Manchester by the Sea
Best Picture
Will win: La La Land
My choice: Moonlight
Best Actor
Will win: Denzel Washington but no one really knows.
My choice: Casey Affleck
Best Supporting Actor
Will win: Mahershala Ali
My choice: depending on the moment Ali or Lucas Hedges
Best Actress
Will win: Emma Stone
My choice: Ruth Negga
Best Supporting Actress
Will win: Viola Davis
My choice: Viola Davis
Animated Feature: Zootopia
Cinematography and Costumes La La Land
Best Director
Will win: Damien Chazelle La La Land
My choice: Barry Jenkins
Documentary Feature: OJ Made in America
Documentary Short: Joe's Violin
Editing: La La Land
Foreign Film: The Salesman
Makeup and Hair: Star Trek Beyond
Score: La La Land
Song: City of Stars La La Land
Production Design: La La Land
Animated Short: Pearl
Live short: Ennemis Interieurs
Sound editing: Hacksaw Ridge
Sound Mixing: La La Land
Visual effects: Jungle Book
Adapted Screenplay:
Will win: Moonlight
My choice: Moonlight
Original Screenplay:
Will win: Manchester by the Sea
My choice: Manchester by the Sea
Tuesday, February 7, 2017
Don't Call Her Gaga.
It started from the moment that Lady Gaga was announced as the Super Bowl halftime entertainment. The gnashing of teeth from conservatives. The rolling of eyes from the people who have never liked her anyway? Why was she going to be at America's biggest football events and even more, what was she going to do during the halftime show to corrupt the children of America.
In these politically polarized times there were many stories written by the press up to the moment that she came on stage wondering what horrible disrespectful thing Lady Gaga was going to do to protest the chaotic and disastrous first two weeks of the Trump presidency. Every one knew about Lady Gaga and knew that she is one of those insane liberals who only expects kindness and respect to everyone. Oh the horror of it all!
And then she performed.
Here is what she did. She sang a couple patriotic verses that explained what America is about to be about.
Lady Gaga! How dare you?????
Then she broke into her hits. She did not disappoint. There wasn't anything especially controversial about her performance. Her breast didn't pop out. She did not decry Trump. But she did sing Born this Way.
Born this Way is one of her biggest hits and most people didn't bat an eye, but how many years ago would it have been controversial to sing a song about gay, bisexual and transgendered people being ok? There would have been a right wing media huff and puff about it only a few short years ago. . Only a few years ago that would have been a big deal for a football game audience that leans conservative. Only a few years ago that would have been controversial in Texas.
But almost no one batted an eye. Thus is the power of Lady Gaga's career, and the impact she has had. From day one of what could have easily just been a one hit wonder career, Lady Gaga has been unapologetic about being a mother figure to all of her little monsters. They are the people that society dismisses or mocks, but Lady Gaga never looks down on them and only lifted them up. She lifted us all up.
Ultimately Lady Gaga's biggest statement she made was not making a big statement. She didn't have to. She's been making those kind of statements for years, and on one of the biggest nights of her career everyone knew about the kinds of things she would protest against. She was smart enough to know she didn't have to say anything. Her impact had already seaped into the consciousness of people all over the world including viewers who weren't fans. It also included viewers who were perhaps haters.
Lady Gaga has made a difference to many young people's lives with her career, and on Super Bowl Sunday she perhaps had her greatest impact by just showing off her beautiful voice.
And to celebrate that voice I give you my three favorite tracks from every one of her solo albums.
The Fame:
1. Paparazzi
2. Just Dance
3. Lovegame
The Fame Monster
1. Bad Romance
2 Dance in the Dark
3. Telephone
Born this way (the hardest one to only choose three!!!!)
1. You and I
2. Hair
3. Bloody Mary
Artpop (an underrated flop)
1. Gypsy
2. Dope
3. Donatella
Joanne
1. Grigio Girls
2. Million Reasons
3. A-yo
Cheers to many more great songs to come!
In these politically polarized times there were many stories written by the press up to the moment that she came on stage wondering what horrible disrespectful thing Lady Gaga was going to do to protest the chaotic and disastrous first two weeks of the Trump presidency. Every one knew about Lady Gaga and knew that she is one of those insane liberals who only expects kindness and respect to everyone. Oh the horror of it all!
And then she performed.
Here is what she did. She sang a couple patriotic verses that explained what America is about to be about.
Lady Gaga! How dare you?????
Then she broke into her hits. She did not disappoint. There wasn't anything especially controversial about her performance. Her breast didn't pop out. She did not decry Trump. But she did sing Born this Way.
Born this Way is one of her biggest hits and most people didn't bat an eye, but how many years ago would it have been controversial to sing a song about gay, bisexual and transgendered people being ok? There would have been a right wing media huff and puff about it only a few short years ago. . Only a few years ago that would have been a big deal for a football game audience that leans conservative. Only a few years ago that would have been controversial in Texas.
But almost no one batted an eye. Thus is the power of Lady Gaga's career, and the impact she has had. From day one of what could have easily just been a one hit wonder career, Lady Gaga has been unapologetic about being a mother figure to all of her little monsters. They are the people that society dismisses or mocks, but Lady Gaga never looks down on them and only lifted them up. She lifted us all up.
Ultimately Lady Gaga's biggest statement she made was not making a big statement. She didn't have to. She's been making those kind of statements for years, and on one of the biggest nights of her career everyone knew about the kinds of things she would protest against. She was smart enough to know she didn't have to say anything. Her impact had already seaped into the consciousness of people all over the world including viewers who weren't fans. It also included viewers who were perhaps haters.
Lady Gaga has made a difference to many young people's lives with her career, and on Super Bowl Sunday she perhaps had her greatest impact by just showing off her beautiful voice.
And to celebrate that voice I give you my three favorite tracks from every one of her solo albums.
The Fame:
1. Paparazzi
2. Just Dance
3. Lovegame
The Fame Monster
1. Bad Romance
2 Dance in the Dark
3. Telephone
Born this way (the hardest one to only choose three!!!!)
1. You and I
2. Hair
3. Bloody Mary
Artpop (an underrated flop)
1. Gypsy
2. Dope
3. Donatella
Joanne
1. Grigio Girls
2. Million Reasons
3. A-yo
Cheers to many more great songs to come!
Monday, January 23, 2017
My Oscar Nomination predictions!
These are my predictions for who will be nominated for an Oscar in 8 categories tomorrow morning. These are not my preferences but who I think will have their name called tomorrow.
Best Supporting Actress
Viola Davis Fences
Naomi Harris Moonlight
Nicole Kidman Lion
Octavia Spencer Hidden Figures
Michelle Williams Manchester by the Sea
Best Supporting Actor
Mahershala Ali Moonlight
Jeff Bridges Hell or High Water
Hugh Grant Florence Foster Jenkins
Lucas Hedges Manchester by the Sea
Dev Patel Lion
Best Original Screenplay
Hell or High Water
La La Land
The Lobster
Manchester by the Sea
Zootopia
Best Adapted Screenplay
Arrival
Fences
Hidden Figures
Lion
Moonlight
Best Actor
Casey Affleck Manchester by the Sea
Andrew Garfield Hacksaw Ridge
Ryan Gosling La La Land
Viggo Mortensen Captain Fantastic
Denzel Washington Fences
Best Actress
Amy Adams Arrival
Isabelle Huppert Elle
Natalie Portman Jackie
Emma Stone La La Land
Meryl Streep Florence Foster Jenkins
Best Director
Damien Chazelle La La Land
Garth Davis Lion
Barry Jenkins Moonlight
Kenneth Lonergan Manchester by the Sea
Denis Villeneuve Arrival
and I believe the nominees for Best Picture will be
Arrival
Fences
Hacksaw Ridge
Hell or High Water
Hidden Figures
La La Land
Lion
Manchester by the Sea
Moonlight
Best Supporting Actress
Viola Davis Fences
Naomi Harris Moonlight
Nicole Kidman Lion
Octavia Spencer Hidden Figures
Michelle Williams Manchester by the Sea
Best Supporting Actor
Mahershala Ali Moonlight
Jeff Bridges Hell or High Water
Hugh Grant Florence Foster Jenkins
Lucas Hedges Manchester by the Sea
Dev Patel Lion
Best Original Screenplay
Hell or High Water
La La Land
The Lobster
Manchester by the Sea
Zootopia
Best Adapted Screenplay
Arrival
Fences
Hidden Figures
Lion
Moonlight
Best Actor
Casey Affleck Manchester by the Sea
Andrew Garfield Hacksaw Ridge
Ryan Gosling La La Land
Viggo Mortensen Captain Fantastic
Denzel Washington Fences
Best Actress
Amy Adams Arrival
Isabelle Huppert Elle
Natalie Portman Jackie
Emma Stone La La Land
Meryl Streep Florence Foster Jenkins
Best Director
Damien Chazelle La La Land
Garth Davis Lion
Barry Jenkins Moonlight
Kenneth Lonergan Manchester by the Sea
Denis Villeneuve Arrival
and I believe the nominees for Best Picture will be
Arrival
Fences
Hacksaw Ridge
Hell or High Water
Hidden Figures
La La Land
Lion
Manchester by the Sea
Moonlight
Sunday, January 22, 2017
No Chances for Trump!
Let me be clear from the start. What I am about to say is NOT about the fact that I am sore loser and you might not have voted for who I wanted you to vote for. Absolutely not. What I am about to say is about who you DID vote for (if you were a Trump voter).
The nerve some of you have to tell anyone that they should give Trump a chance! Trump had his chance in a very long Presidential campaign, and just when you thought he couldn't go lower he surprised and went even lower. He squandered his chance. No friend ,I will not give this man a chance. When someone shows me their true self, I believe it. And your President showed his true self to me over and over again.
No, I cannot give him a chance because in my gut when I know something is very wrong, I am going to listen to my gut easily over your Fox News fried mind. The thing I keep going back to is wondering when Hitler came to power if the people who supported him also told people to give him a chance. Good job there! History doesn't disappear. Even for Trump.
No, Trump may not be the next Hitler, but again if my gut and history tells me that he may be, I am going to listen to my gut. If you voted for Trump this is maybe the one thing I really want you to read. Whether or not you actually liked him or not and voted for him, you bear a small piece of responsibility for every action he takes during his term just as I did for the last 8 years of the decisions of President Obama. If Trump does great amazing thing, you get to celebrate that, but if he does any of the awful hate filled things that he promised to do, you bear some responsibility for them, and I hope you feel that guilt every time you look at me in the eyes.
I've been most disappointed with some of my Christian friends and let me be clear: I. Am.A. Christian. Too. The hardest part of all of this is that Trump was the Christian choice. Christians allegedly have some grip on the teachings of Christ!
Wait! stop there! Hillary was dishonest because Benghazi and emails and all these things that Rush Limbaugh told me!
No one is perfect certainly, but straight out of Trump's mouth and out of his Twitter account came evil things about Muslims, people from Mexico, and immigrants In general. He belittled women, he admitted to being ok with sexually assaulting women, he surrounded himself with people who mean to harm gay people, and he made fun of a disabled person. It's all there. Rachel Maddox didn't tell me he did these things. I saw or heard him do it. I could go on for days, but if you are a follower of Christ at all then You understand that he did all of those things to God's children. Why do you not have a problem with that? Again, by don't you have a problem with that?
But yes there was Benghazi and those emails and all those other terrible things Sean Hannity told you that Hillary did.
I can answer that for some of you. It's his alleged stance on abortion because for some that is all you care about. And I get it. We may not agree on this issue, but abortion is a complicated matter and it isn't something anyone likes regardless of which side you stand on. But I am going to give you a news flash here: Roe vs. Wade was made law over 43 years ago. In that time there have been now 6 Republican presidents serving all or part of their term and none of them have made significant inroads to overturning in. Now why is that? Because you are a pawn. They know you will keep coming out to vote for them as long as it is law. They aren't really interested in ever overturning it because if they do, your vote may start going elsewhere. Think about that. Please.
I'll close by repeating what I started with. Donald Trump will get no chances from me as President of the USA. I accept the election outcome, but I do not accept him as someone who represents me as an American to the world. I will work with the plurality of Americans to see that his time as President is as short as possible. I will not give him a chance. And my question is: why will you?
History has its eyes on you.
The nerve some of you have to tell anyone that they should give Trump a chance! Trump had his chance in a very long Presidential campaign, and just when you thought he couldn't go lower he surprised and went even lower. He squandered his chance. No friend ,I will not give this man a chance. When someone shows me their true self, I believe it. And your President showed his true self to me over and over again.
No, I cannot give him a chance because in my gut when I know something is very wrong, I am going to listen to my gut easily over your Fox News fried mind. The thing I keep going back to is wondering when Hitler came to power if the people who supported him also told people to give him a chance. Good job there! History doesn't disappear. Even for Trump.
No, Trump may not be the next Hitler, but again if my gut and history tells me that he may be, I am going to listen to my gut. If you voted for Trump this is maybe the one thing I really want you to read. Whether or not you actually liked him or not and voted for him, you bear a small piece of responsibility for every action he takes during his term just as I did for the last 8 years of the decisions of President Obama. If Trump does great amazing thing, you get to celebrate that, but if he does any of the awful hate filled things that he promised to do, you bear some responsibility for them, and I hope you feel that guilt every time you look at me in the eyes.
I've been most disappointed with some of my Christian friends and let me be clear: I. Am.A. Christian. Too. The hardest part of all of this is that Trump was the Christian choice. Christians allegedly have some grip on the teachings of Christ!
Wait! stop there! Hillary was dishonest because Benghazi and emails and all these things that Rush Limbaugh told me!
No one is perfect certainly, but straight out of Trump's mouth and out of his Twitter account came evil things about Muslims, people from Mexico, and immigrants In general. He belittled women, he admitted to being ok with sexually assaulting women, he surrounded himself with people who mean to harm gay people, and he made fun of a disabled person. It's all there. Rachel Maddox didn't tell me he did these things. I saw or heard him do it. I could go on for days, but if you are a follower of Christ at all then You understand that he did all of those things to God's children. Why do you not have a problem with that? Again, by don't you have a problem with that?
But yes there was Benghazi and those emails and all those other terrible things Sean Hannity told you that Hillary did.
I can answer that for some of you. It's his alleged stance on abortion because for some that is all you care about. And I get it. We may not agree on this issue, but abortion is a complicated matter and it isn't something anyone likes regardless of which side you stand on. But I am going to give you a news flash here: Roe vs. Wade was made law over 43 years ago. In that time there have been now 6 Republican presidents serving all or part of their term and none of them have made significant inroads to overturning in. Now why is that? Because you are a pawn. They know you will keep coming out to vote for them as long as it is law. They aren't really interested in ever overturning it because if they do, your vote may start going elsewhere. Think about that. Please.
I'll close by repeating what I started with. Donald Trump will get no chances from me as President of the USA. I accept the election outcome, but I do not accept him as someone who represents me as an American to the world. I will work with the plurality of Americans to see that his time as President is as short as possible. I will not give him a chance. And my question is: why will you?
History has its eyes on you.
Sunday, January 15, 2017
One on One: My reflections of the life and music of George Michael
I liked George Michael from the first time I saw him. In America it began with Wake Me Up Before You Go Go. And aside from my coveting his Choose Life T Shirt, I found something instantly relatable about him. It wasn't a physical attraction as it was for other gay kids and teens of that time. I was actually more attracted to his Wham collaboratorAndrew Ridgeley. I think it was because for whatevever boldness and honesty he brought out in his lyrics that he always held us at a distance like he had a secret. I think maybe it was his always sad eyes. This was relatable as a fearful gay kid growing up in Wyoming. I always could look into George Michael's eyes in his video and know that there was something about him than was just like me-even if it was unspoken at the time.
When I drove home this last Christmas evening to hear that George Michael has passed away it was devastating but unfortunately not surprising. For all of the obituaries praising him, I remember that it had not always been the case. There were times where the world was very cruel to George Michael. I had actually been surprised this tragedy hasn't happened sooner. There are those in the world that always seem a little bit too sensitive for the cruelty of the world and George Michael despite his tough words in interviews he always seemed to be a bit of a soft and kind soul. The kind that the world often chews up and spits outs.
Almost 10 years ago I was lucky enough to see George Michael in concert in what would be his last tour of the United States. The tour had been the tail end of all the problems he had with substance abuse and his arrest for public indecency. He seems very vulnerable. I frankLy expected that the concert would not happen because his behavior had become somewhat erratic at the time. Fortunately he did performer, and I was able to see this amazing performer live. He did not disappoint.
As we left the show, I heard some concert goers who were obviously unfamiliar with his music beyond the Wham! and Faith hits talking about their disappointment that he didn't sing more of his Wham! output. I really like a lot of his later music so naturally I just rolled my eyes at them. George Michael always tried to live life and his career on his own terms despite the pressure to do other wise. I will definitely miss him.
Here are my choices for Twleve of George Michael's and Wham!'s best recordings in no particular order.
Everything She Wants Wham!
Too Funky!
Freedom 90
Careless Whisper Wham!
One More Try
Praying for Time *My personal favorite
I knew you were waiting for me (a duet with Aretha Franklin)
Heal the World
Different Corner Wham!
Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me (featuring Elton John)
I Can't make You Love Me (remake of Bonnie Raiit's song)
Jesus to a Child
When I drove home this last Christmas evening to hear that George Michael has passed away it was devastating but unfortunately not surprising. For all of the obituaries praising him, I remember that it had not always been the case. There were times where the world was very cruel to George Michael. I had actually been surprised this tragedy hasn't happened sooner. There are those in the world that always seem a little bit too sensitive for the cruelty of the world and George Michael despite his tough words in interviews he always seemed to be a bit of a soft and kind soul. The kind that the world often chews up and spits outs.
Almost 10 years ago I was lucky enough to see George Michael in concert in what would be his last tour of the United States. The tour had been the tail end of all the problems he had with substance abuse and his arrest for public indecency. He seems very vulnerable. I frankLy expected that the concert would not happen because his behavior had become somewhat erratic at the time. Fortunately he did performer, and I was able to see this amazing performer live. He did not disappoint.
As we left the show, I heard some concert goers who were obviously unfamiliar with his music beyond the Wham! and Faith hits talking about their disappointment that he didn't sing more of his Wham! output. I really like a lot of his later music so naturally I just rolled my eyes at them. George Michael always tried to live life and his career on his own terms despite the pressure to do other wise. I will definitely miss him.
Here are my choices for Twleve of George Michael's and Wham!'s best recordings in no particular order.
Everything She Wants Wham!
Too Funky!
Freedom 90
Careless Whisper Wham!
One More Try
Praying for Time *My personal favorite
I knew you were waiting for me (a duet with Aretha Franklin)
Heal the World
Different Corner Wham!
Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me (featuring Elton John)
I Can't make You Love Me (remake of Bonnie Raiit's song)
Jesus to a Child
Monday, January 9, 2017
Make one big change in 2017!
How are your New Years resolutions going after one week into 2017? Most people have probably forgotten they made them. I don't make resolutions, but I did decide to try something different this year. I think Making one big change is a lot easier to manage than a list of resolutions. I've decided during the work week days to stay away from take out and restaurant food. For personal reasons, I got into the habit of eating out and doing take out a lot in 2016, and I definitely put on some weight because of it. So I am now taking a look to see what a difference it makes if I stay away from those usually unhealthy choices. . I started it last week, and I already had several pounds fall away.
The problem is that if I don't have a healthy option to replace it, I'll likely just go back to my bad food habit. (Especially because I have no intention of giving up beer during the week). So I decided to look into some food delivery services. I tried Blue Apron last summer, and I definitely felt the difference because their food selections is much more healthy than a pub!
However, after awhile I realized that I wasn't going to be motivated to cook a time consuming meal after a long day at work. So I have started looking into services that deliver fully prepared meals. I currently ordered 7 meals from the first one I am Trying this week. It's vegan, and I chose it because it was the least expensive of the ones that deliver to my area. I have no intention of becoming vegan and hope to find a service with meat meals soon. Even if these services are kind of expensive up front, they are still a lot cheaper than a week of eating out.
Regardless, if I stick with it, I am guessing that changing this habit is going to make a significant improvement to my health. Everything else I'm keeping pretty much the same. I'm just making this one big change for 2017!
I will keep you updated as I progress!
The problem is that if I don't have a healthy option to replace it, I'll likely just go back to my bad food habit. (Especially because I have no intention of giving up beer during the week). So I decided to look into some food delivery services. I tried Blue Apron last summer, and I definitely felt the difference because their food selections is much more healthy than a pub!
However, after awhile I realized that I wasn't going to be motivated to cook a time consuming meal after a long day at work. So I have started looking into services that deliver fully prepared meals. I currently ordered 7 meals from the first one I am Trying this week. It's vegan, and I chose it because it was the least expensive of the ones that deliver to my area. I have no intention of becoming vegan and hope to find a service with meat meals soon. Even if these services are kind of expensive up front, they are still a lot cheaper than a week of eating out.
Regardless, if I stick with it, I am guessing that changing this habit is going to make a significant improvement to my health. Everything else I'm keeping pretty much the same. I'm just making this one big change for 2017!
I will keep you updated as I progress!
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