Thursday, February 01, 2007
KEY WORD Most certainly the one word which is going to control so much of the current presidential election in which we are currently becoming involved. The actual "forthcoming" voting event is set for well in toward the end of 2008. The key word, it seem, is going to be: "elect-ability." That seems to be the critical term in use at the moment. One's ability to get a majority to favor their views. It tells us it may be more important to affect a "landing" in the political area as a prelude to the actual campaign or the office at stake. It is being given attention at two levels: conventions where party people make the nomination and name a candidate they can be assured will prove to be best at pulling votes to their party's banner. Only after that choice is made do the actual voting citizens - usually just a bit over one-half of our eligible voter population - will take part in the choice to be made. This question of just who can be nominated with real confidence in their ability to garner in majority votes in the national election. Imagine yourself to be a V.I.P. in the coming Democratic Party convention. You realize, by this time, that it is no longer a monolithic organization but that you may well be- as are the others - a member of a group - even a minority segment. within what you may think of as being a firm entity with immutable guidelines. Take, for instance, tonight's poll favorites. There's Hillary Clinton - Senator, New Yorker- with undertones of Chicago and Ozark elements, perhaps, and she is very much a former First Lady with an ex-President as sidekick and manager. Is the Democratic Convention ready to name a woman as their main candidate? You have watched her moving gradually to the political center and admired her skill in doing so, but will the public buy such a modification? It is important to remember, too, that the name used f now is "Hillary", but the ballot will hit them with the cold word "Clinton." The others, quickly and then I'm going out and sit on my limb. Barack Obama - Senator, capable, eager,a good speaker, a people person and, obviously one we will,hear from in the future. The fact that is black does not disturb me, but I a not at all sure of the attitude of the nominating panel nor of that of the voters. I don't think they are quite ready to accept an Afro-American in the nation's top office. I think we can skip the others...with one exception. That brings me to my very own, personal opinion: If the nominating group has courage enough to name him and commonsense enough to support Senator John Edwards (D) of South Carolina when he names Senator Joe Lieberman (I)of Connecticut as his Vice-Presidential running mate..their problems are on their way o being solved, at at least, lessened in severity. Andrew McCaskey Sr. amccsr@comcast.net 2-1-07 [c513wds]
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
REEL WRONG We have been in a struggle of a sort for some months concerning our favorite TV shows, and in, not just one, but two categories. One has been the so-called "reality" shows making various forms forms of danger and risk more acceptable in the American home. The other kind of a TV show is any which gives away large chunks of money or fame-and-fortune as a moo la gartering sideline. Both so-called "reality" shows and those decked-out to offer ways to give away large chunks of moo la which would enable the participant to purchase paradise on their own. We have worried purple tizzy new realms of danger less peril witless wanderings into other culture to enjoy eating worms and other such tribal delicatenesses TV show producers have decided that the best way to improve TV viewing is to swing a pendulum over a pit and see how far we can stretch it before it snaps. This is an especially interesting avenue of exploration because one would think producers might seek out writers, or entire schools of capable writers and encourage to write some original program material. In recent years our TV seasons have have started off with brawny blustering s extolling a "new" show which is, you are not supposed to notice seems to be "very much like" one running recently in England. It's a mistake to decide anything that does well in London will do extremely well here. Such buyers, when they come across a vendor will accept the new out of his own ignorance. We, as viewers, have been in some interesting situations. Remember when "Dallas" was all the rage? People were upset when a player was shot to death in his shower. Now, decades later, there is a rumor they are going to say it was all a dream and bring the show back again. By saying the final show long they can bring the show back? Conan Doyle, they contend, did it, in a way, when he had Sherlock Holmes and his rival Dr swept over the edge of a high waterfall and crush each other to death on the sharp rocks below. It was just "elementary" to have Sherlock solving cases once again. I remember the last gasps of The "Amos 'n Andy" show on radio how Andy was accused of murder and the 7 PM episodes dragged it on-and-on until they found it was all a dream, Andy woke up and all was well again. The series died on radio and when revived to try TV a bit late racial irritations of that era gave it..."Beulah", and "Stepin Fetchit" ....all the big heave ho! We have in case after case revised TV shows from England and ad re-hashed them for American audiences. Several did well, but are mere shadows now. Others sank quickly and quietly in oblivion. One way used to jump-start older creations is to pay generous packets of hard cash to American writers, plus others from England for that matter, for them to write truly new material for TV use. The reality shows of many formats in been successful for a time. Some arrive in feeble condition at local re-work labs to be resuscitated by gimmicks which are added to make them more attractive to state-side viewers. "Millionaire"," Surviver","Idol" and "Dancing With the Stars" are among those which have done well. Their success causes producers and network officials to become even more committed to bringing more-and-more second-hand newness to our TV screens. "Reality" is - currently - fantasy. Andrew McCaskey Sr amccsr@comcast.net 1-31-07 [c623wds]
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
QUALITY ASSURANCES By all means,one should make every normal preparation against being thrust before critical eyes in ill-mannered actions - albeit unintended and socially uncouth conduct - or in verbal statements, when in attendance at the Opera. These basic rules are binding,of course,with all types of opera. Lovers of opera are, for the most part, I have found, persons who sometimes are given excess involvement with the highly emotional scenes being depicted so intensely dramatically and transcending perfection itself at times as actors-singers combine their artistic talents to present drama which can truly be called "grand". Such a powerful emotionally surge can cause persons in attendance to,for the moment, to dis-remember where they are and cause the utter aloud some crude localisms in an effort to show appreciation for and enthusiasm regarding the climactic peak attained; the absolute epitome of the superior thespian skills in speech - in song and dance. It is so very easy to let statements and plaudits of admiration for sterling performance to use common, trite and tired words from the mundane circumstances we know at home. Promise me, before next Opera season get underway, at you will, visit our local library and seek out a small volume titled "Fowler's Dictionary of Usage of the English Language." If you might find yourself listening to a fine lady singing a favorite of yours and, when she finished he treatment of the musical selection you bring your palms together forcefully and bellow: "Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!" You are happy, content enthused as are the others about you. Not so had you read Fowler's concerns with such moments of adulation. There is a proper protocol. If the singer be a male - one praises his singing with a spoken: "Bravo!" When a lady sings: "Brava!"and if multiple members of the entire company are presented a proper admirer shouts: "Brav-e!!" I step aside in something akin to shame for I, too, have fallen short of dictionary directions. The opera itself was real posh. Andrew McCaskey Sr. amccsr@comcast.net 1-30-07 [c352wds]QUALITY ASSURANCES By all means,one should make every normal preparation against being thrust before critical eyes in ill-mannered actions - albeit unintended and socially uncouth conduct - or in verbal statements, when in attendance at the Opera. These basic rules are binding,of course,with all types of opera. Lovers of opera are, for the most part, I have found, persons who sometimes are given excess involvement with the highly emotional scenes being depicted so intensely dramatically and transcending perfection itself at times as actors-singers combine their artistic talents to present drama which can truly be called "grand". Such a powerful emotionally surge can cause persons in attendance to,for the moment, to dis-remember where they are and cause the utter aloud some crude localisms in an effort to show appreciation for and enthusiasm regarding the climactic peak attained; the absolute epitome of the superior thespian skills in speech - in song and dance. It is so very easy to let statements and plaudits of admiration for sterling performance to use common, trite and tired words from the mundane circumstances we know at home. Promise me, before next Opera season get underway, at you will, visit our local library and seek out a small volume titled "Fowler's Dictionary of Usage of the English Language." If you might find yourself listening to a fine lady singing a favorite of yours and, when she finished he treatment of the musical selection you bring your palms together forcefully and bellow: "Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!" You are happy, content enthused as are the others about you. Not so had you read Fowler's concerns with such moments of adulation. There is a proper protocol. If the singer be a male - one praises his singing with a spoken: "Bravo!" When a lady sings: "Brava!"and if multiple members of the entire company are presented a proper admirer shouts: "Brav-e!!" I step aside in something akin to shame for I, too, have fallen short of dictionary directions. The opera itself was real posh. Andrew McCaskey Sr. amccsr@comcast.net 1-30-07 [c352wds]
Monday, January 29, 2007
THINGS TO COME I have hear it said that wise merchants does all he can to cause the buyer from taking actual physical possession of his purchase immediately upon terms made by mutual agreement. It is insisted that anticipation of such an acquisition plays a larger role in business than we might imagine. The suit which has been tailored exactly to your measurements will seem to be of exceptional value if you have to wait a while to don it. If you are buying a new car, you get a good feeling telling friends about your carefully planned purchase. Few of us like "to buy off the shelves" spite of our seeming preference at times, for haste. There is a strange sense of satisfaction to be found when your realize you can make that car salesman, for instance, "earn his salary for the day" by getting him to recount for you all the many advantages you can enjoy with the possession of the specific model of car your are trying so desperately to convince yourself you can afford to own and operate. A shoemaker produces a fine pair of shoes overnight, but he holds them the best part of the week before delivery because he feel sure the new owner's appreciation of such hard-to-find footwear is to be used once more in his favor. Certainly a small child anticipates a large chunk of joy to come his way his way during holiday seasons, his or her birth-day-week-or-month. Your wife looks forward to a scheduled perm appointment at her beauty salon, or a food sale at the local grocery store. We are all impressed with the attention we get from others, aren't we? We look forward to more, even better days, weeks and months. Anticipation of rewards may play a part in it at times,but we like to feel we area part of the civilized - but abused by strife warfare, murder, mayhem and massive mounds of of mis-understandings. How can we learn to enjoy some anticipation of better living, more love; less of hate's heat...more sincere mentions of things we can anticipate for tomorrow. It is not true, as we were told today, by the lady being lauded as the leader of the Poll Packs, that the question of ending "the war" is "Mr. Bush's problem." Do you find yourself anticipating what could - even "might" come about if we show such contempt for our national unity. Anticipation, improperly schooled, can become fear. Andrew McCaskey Sr. amccsr@comcast.net 1-29-07 [c435wds]
Sunday, January 28, 2007
PAST TWO HUNDRED YEARS A truly good book comes along now and then and, if you have any interest or concern with the New Hope, Virginia area of Augusta County - even if yours is about the nearby Battle of Piedmont during the Civil War - a new,"must-have" volume is now available. The title is lengthy as is oft times true of a new history book tracing the "past two hundred years" of events, circumstances and popular reactions which make up "The History of New Hope, Virginia." You will find find yourself being appreciative of the work of,a least,four persons as you read this book: The writers - Owen Early Harner and Wayne Edward Garber and Jennifer Wood and Nancy Sorrells,layout artists at Lot's Wife Publishing, Staunton,Virginia who did the cover and the photo layouts which highlight accounts, lists, official records, newspaper clippings and family snapshots which bring each story a bright intimacy which may have been muted - even lost - had they not been included. There is no possible way in which writers, editors, compilers, collectors, organizers and summarizers of this sort of information about a community can possibly say "thank you" to all who helped bring it all together. They fear the very real possibility that someone may be overlooked. If you want to know just how individuals and families who lived in the area during the early years, you can start with their homes,if you wish, some still standing even though they have been somewhat modified. The Kerr house,the first known settlers in the area, was constructed in part during the eightieth century. The early days of the community can be best be re-lived, perhaps,by our approximating the conditions under which we suppose they could have lived what they have to live with. We, today, are quite hard on our predecessors without realizing it as we continue to see them having benefits they never had available. We often read books of this nature to find out what it was most evident about the manner in which people existed. We have some of the same problems today in different, more modern guise, but we read such accounts of the relatively, small battle at Piedmont-New Hope with a rather vague thought in mind that we may find,in re-living past circumstance among our own kind,to avoid such disasters in our future. Some of these people,for me, have been kids I have had in my Sunday School Classes many years ago at Augusta Stone Presbyterian Church; and some of us grew old together in Adult Study groups. I am "kin" to a number of them through the families of both my first and second wives. I know some of these people of the New Hope area as relatives,too,through our children and grandchildren as well. I have actually lived some of the events recorded. Thank you - Wayne Garber and Owen Harner. Thank you, too - Lot's Wife, Staunton, Va. To all: "Well done! Andrew McCaskey Sr. amccsr@comcast.net 1-28-07 [c515wds]
|
