Love, Nothing Is More Powerful

A long time ago when he thought his world was spinning out of control and he was getting ready to give up he received the following in the mail and it changed his whole perspective of life, love and living.

"Since we met,

I can honestly say

that I've loved every minute 

we've spent together.

I mean it. It's been wonderful.

And I find my self liking and loving you more and more

each time we talk.

You have this amazing ability 

to make me feel happy 

about myself,

about the funny little things in life...

but mostly about being with you.

Because it's a very good place to be

I'm lucky I met you, 

and I want you to know

just how great I think you are."

(J. Gahr)

He never knew who sent him the card. He didn't know if it was sent by a guy or a gal and it didn't really matter because the point of it all was he made a difference in someone's life that apparently made a great impact on their point of view at that time. The reception of the card meant a difference to him also. With the thought that he made an important contribution to some one he felt a sense of self worth that got his world back to spinning in control on its axis. He respected the sender's feeling of keeping anonymity,  whatever the reason it was the sender's wish and he respected it.

He kept the card for times that seemed his world was spinning out of control again and thought to himself how important it is to remain positive, keep loving and sometimes just reaching out to someone in an uplifting manner. The results can be more powerful than one may realize. 

Frank Sinatra, His Way

Just friends

Lovers no more

Just friends
But not like before
To think of what we've been
And not to kiss again
Seems like pretending
It isn't the ending
Two friends
Drifting apart
Two friends
But one broken heart
We loved we laughed we cried
Then suddenly love died
The story ends
And we're
Just friends
We loved we laughed and we cried
Then suddenly love died
The story ends
And we're
Just friends


Frank Sinatra would be 100 years old if he lived. But lets face facts Frank would never want to have lived till 100 if he couldn't have the girls, sour mash and the good life. But while he lived he did everything, at least twice. Breaking in with a group winning Major Bowes "Amateur Hour" in the 1930's which spring-boarded him to the boy singer in the Harry James Band, finally with Tommy Dorsey's band where he became a teen idol, as they fainted in the aisles in 1942 at New York's Paramount Theater.

By the end of the 1940's he managed to lose it all including his voice as he chased Ava Gardner all over the world and she rejected him. But he came back winning an Academy Award for his portrayal of Maggio in "From Here To Eternity". From there, there was no looking back as he made over 60 films and changed the singing world by his concerts, Vegas shows with his "Rat Pack" and making his albums tell a story many of them sad, because while he knew success and happiness he was always greatly saddened by his inability to keep Ava Garner as his very own. No she wanted to play around and that wasn't going to be the way for an Italian-American kid from New Jersey.

Songs like "Just Friends" told the story and Frank sang it from deep within his heart but he refused to be beaten by it all. He was happy while being sad, he was always that poor kid from Jersey while he became one of the richest men in America. He might of been beaten but he always got up and most of all succeeded doing it his way. Crazy as he might of seemed he was as sly as a fox who conquered all even the losing of the love of his life and he did it his way. The world's a better place because of him. Rest in peace Frankie!

Just friends
Lovers no more
Just friends
But not like before
To think of what we've been
And not to kiss again
Seems like pretending
It isn't the ending
Two friends
Drifting apart
Two friends
But one broken heart
We loved we laughed we cried
Then suddenly love died
The story ends
And we're
Just friends
We loved we laughed and we cried
Then suddenly love died
The story ends
And we're
Just friends

March Madness

Did you fill out your NCAA Brackets? March 19, 2015 is the day March Madness starts with the first 16 teams playing cutting that down to eight teams. Be still my Heart. Imagine eventually it will be the final four then two then the winner. I bet you think a particular college is the winner, or a student or a few college athletes. But you are so wrong the real winner is the group of Universities that reap in the benefits of this circus without really caring about the students or level of education provided. All they are interested in, like most of  the participants of providing levels of higher education is perpetuating the money machine which perpetuates the institution.

The College athlete sought after with scholarships to play football, basketball and the like is geared to make money for that institution. Most of these kids will never make it to the professional level, many get hurt and many get no real education as they are just there to play ball and make money for the institution.

We are reading more and more of sexual abuse by the young college men on the young college women with the institutions doing nothing to stop the assaults nor punishing the sexual predators.  Instead of looking for justice the administrators are looking to keep everything under cover, quiet, so that the institution seems above allowing such behavior. Lately the women aren't keeping quiet, thank God and we are seeing the rotten underbelly of the institutions of higher leaning.

Everyone is aghast because a fraternity at Oklahoma University sent a racist spewing video on the Internet. Now come on do you really think this is an anomaly? I'd bet dollars to doughnuts that there are racist frats.  and sororities all over the campus" of these United States and the administration of these institutions of higher learning know damn well who they are but keeping it quiet is better for the heath of the institution.
All one has to do is look closely at Penn State and its handling of that sex scandal committed by the assistant coach of their revered football team to come to the conclusion that the real concern of our beloved universities is the perpetuation of the institution whereas it should be to provide good education while providing safety and justice for their students.

The cost of colleges are soaring and the named professors and administrators are being paid enormous salary and benefits while the public  goes bankrupt supporting them believing that the real objective of these people is to provide the highest level of education, safety and learning of the moral values of our society. Instead tuition, and other costs soar while the college experience at many if not most is "Girl Gone Wild" on Spring Break instead of turning out the future leaders of this country. Hell many of the graduates can not find jobs that pay above poverty levels while they are burdened with paying off college loans. I don't know about you but I for one think we should stop getting all worked up over games and "March Madness" and start holding these Colleges and Universities responsible for providing higher level of education which includes teaching moral values, and concepts of Justice and respect instead of worrying about their own positions and salary levels.

  

  

Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga

Caught a bit of Public TV's special of Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga in their Cheek to Cheek special. Bennett is 88 I believe. I saw his concert at Westbury, New York a little while back and was amazed that he still had his voice, not like he had it in 1950, but he really knew how to sing now while back then he was learning how to put a song over. 

Lady Gaga is around 28. I saw her a couple of times on TV and heard a few of her releases and while I liked her personally I thought she was just a gal making a lot of money anyway she could and soon would fade. But since I first heard and saw her she has come out with talent and beauty I never imagined. The first I saw of this was The Grammies tribute to The Sound of Music when she gave tribute to Julie Andrews. She showed a voice and beauty that could grace any Broadway stage. But when I saw her with Bennett she showed an amazing understanding of Jazz, The Great American Songbook while displaying a quirky beauty that was sexy as well and not just because she was halfway showing her breasts.

There was 60 years separating these two artists. One could say one ascending, the other descending the ladder of life itself. Yet they meshed. Six decades separated them yet it was as if all that was brushed aside and they met in the middle and while one could see the age differences one could not see the differences in the respect, and I might say "love" (not sexy love) shown for each other. They really enjoyed performing with each other, each one feeding off the other's talent even when they were soloists. They showed tremendous respect for their environment acknowledging the musicians for embellishing their performances.

A couple of lessons these two artists showed me. The first one is that differences in generations doesn't necessarily mean inseparable differences. That respect for each other can bring a meeting of generations.

That general understanding can be had and friendship and love can emerge by sharing each one's experiences so that each member of that generation can grow and become more of the person they were meant to be.  Bennett showed me that you can be useful and successful at any age even if you made great mistakes when you were younger. Lady Gaga showed me that there can be many levels of genius and the real genius is the one who knows when to let each level show itself.

Art is a reflection of truth. We should all recognize the truths art reveals to us no matter what the form, or the artists. 

         

My Oscar Picks For The Year 2014

All the critics seem to be weighing in on who they think will walk away with Oscar tonight so I figured I should join the group and see if I have a better grasp of the subject.

Best Picture: "Boyhood"  told its story over a twelve year period and it was a marvel that one motion picture could be held together all those years and tell such a complete story with all the actors, contributing in such a believable which is a credit to the Director.

 

"The Imitation Game" or "American Sniper" are strong contender. Personally "Birdman" just didn't have it all together for best picture. "The Grand Budapest Hotel" would get my vote if the award was for the motion picture most like "Monty Python". 

Best Director: Richard Linklater.  Anyone directing something as intricate as a motion picture over such a long period of time and coming up with such a strong product has to win just because it is an almost  impossible task yet he did it and did it very well.

Best Actress: Julianne Moore for her role in "Still Alice". I knew someone intimately with early onset Alzheimer's and Ms. Moore captured all the nuances perfectly. She lived the role and did it well. 

Best Actor: Benedict Cumberbatch, "The Imitation Game". I must point out that this is the strongest field and anyone of the nominees could win and I would agree for all gave extremely strong performances.

Best Supporting Actress: Patricia Arquette for her role in "Boyhood" She was totally believable as she lived the role despite the fact that she could have lost something over the twelve years she was associated with the production.  Her performance was really remarkable.

Best Supporting Actor: Mark Ruffalo, "Foxcathcher". His quiet yet very strong performance gave one pause to understand that sometimes a look can be just as effective as a shout. J. K. Simmons, "Whiplash" will probably win. 

I was surprised that "Interstellar" and all that went into that production wasn't in the mix.

I didn't think there was anything wrong with "Selma" not being in the mix like last year's "12 Years A Slave"

was because while the picture was good it just wasn't as good as its competition. 

Can't wait for tonight to see who the Oscar goes to.

  

Kayla Mueller, and Other Martyers

How sad it is to hear that the beautiful, mind, body and spirit, Kayla Mueller is confirmed dead. There is no information as to how, where or when this beautiful young person died. ISIS claimed she was killed in an air strike by Jordan as she was in building that was destroyed by a bomb. This has not been confirmed and at this time thought to be untrue. The stark truth is that her death has been confirmed by her family and the United States government. Her only crime was that she was American. Her work was humanitarian aid to the Syrian people caught in the horrific civil war of that country. Her death combined with the horrific deaths of those who have gone before her, the latest being the burning alive of a captured Jordanian Pilot, can only galvanize the civilized world's determination to destroy this terrorist scourge called ISIS. The blood of martyrs is the foundation upon which the free world, including the righteous Muslim world,  will destroy terrorism which is said to be done in the name of God but in effect is the work of the Devil, evil to its core.

    
My prayer is that good people will take the right action to wipe out this evil force so that these martyrs will not have died in vain.

Defending our Blizzard Governor and NYC Mayor

Everybody is an expert. Everybody is a Monday morning Quarterback. We had a dire Blizzard of 15 forecast covering all points from NYC North and East. What happened was NYC was spared but out east on Long Island the blizzard hit hard. Decisions were made which were courageous and I believe correct.

First of all let me make one thing clear, NYC didn't escape fully. Manhattan got 8 inches but Queens got a little under a foot, so did Brooklyn. This isn't a dusting this is real snow. But out East from Old Bethpage, Plainview to Orient they got 18 to 30 inches. They are digging out the day after and will continue to do so for quite some time.

The Mayor and Governor made some great decisions, shut down the roads, all but most needed cars off the roads, shut down the railroads and subways. Now they are being questioned for making hasty decisions. The Weather people are being derided for making a poor forecast and are being made to make defensive rebuttals. But let me say to all who were disappointed for New York City's little snowfall you are all nuts. NYC lucked out but the rest of the forecast area didn't including all the way up to New England. Just who is crazy enough to want more snow in an urban area? Only the crazies because everything is shut down for weeks in some great snow falls.

The decision to shut down the Rails, Subways and roads were  shown to be correct because the plowers were able to do there jobs and get the roads back to being passable with only minor delays, there were no stuck cars on the roads and no deaths. The subways came back to service right away with slow service the first days. But there were no stuck trains to move which made the process easier and faster.

The people in charge, our elected officials and their appointed officials acted promptly and this whole area came through Blizzard 15 re-markedly well. What more can be asked of all involved? The weather people did really well giving early notice so everyone could be prepared which helped in making correct decisions on the ground which saved lives and time for recovery. The hard hit areas will definitely say the prognosticators were right on. We here in NYC can be thankful that the storm shifted 50 miles which lessened the impact on our City. When one thinks about all the decisions that have to be made including interpretations of weather information I can only come to the conclusion that all deserve our thanks and appreciation for a job well done.