Thanks, Katrina
Blogging from Slidell, Louisiana about loving life on the Gulf Coast despite BP and Katrina
Monday, September 18, 2023
Sunday, September 17, 2023
Tom on Politics and the GOP
The Texas Senate has apparently begun deliberations in the matter of Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is truly sleazy. That characteristic alone is not unusual among the political class, regardless of party. General Paxton is simply more reprehensible than most. I actually began this note yesterday, and the morning saw General Paxton acquitted by the Texas State Senate.
Wednesday, September 13, 2023
Boebert escorted from 'Beetlejuice' performance
Monday, September 11, 2023
Monday, September 04, 2023
Tom on the GOOD Cartoons
We were the generation that had all the good cartoons, Some of those cartoons were theatrical releases, most of which originated from the Disney Studios, and they were feature length productions that dazzled the eyes and stimulated the imagination. I can still remember being a kid and sitting in a darkened theatre and watching the Dwarf Chorus perform today's Subject Line Song. You have to suspend reality when you watch cartoons, because animated characters can do things that are logically impossible. But kids are comfortable with magic, because much of their lived experiences seem magical. The science fiction writer Arthur C Clarke once observed that: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic", and since children understand little about the larger world, magic seems as likely an explanation for that which they don't understand as anything else.
Sunday, September 03, 2023
Tuesday, August 29, 2023
Tom on Mens Rooms in Bars
Part of an email I received from my brother:
Subject: "Wind Beneath My Wings"-Bette Midler. (1988)
But back. to Bette Midler. The first time that I ever heard of her was when I read an article in Rolling Stone magazine back when it was printed on a cheap newsprint. The article was about the Continental Baths, which was a gay bathhouse in the basement of the old Ansonia Hotel. Besides being a safe space for spectacularly sexually active gay men, (ever hear of 'Glory Holes'? Ask me and I'll tell you), the baths were one of those quintessentially New York venues where quality live music could be heard on a regular basis. Miss Midler was the Queen of the Continental Baths, but she was far from the only quality musical act. Barry Manilow would occasionally act as her pianist, (check out the video of Mr. Manilow's 'Copacabana' on YouTube.It's hilariously campy). Melissa Manchester performed there, as did Nell Carter and Labelle. And The Manhattan Transfer were regulars. The place wasn't open all that long, but it made its mark on the New York music scene. And for some reason, every time I think of Bette Midler, I think of the Continental Baths. The movie, "Beaches" was your standard Rom-Com, and I had a crush on Barbare Hersey after I saw the film. But Bette Midler made that movie...
Monday, August 28, 2023
Tom on Politics and presidential types
The presidential debates were pretty much as I expected them to be. Nikki. Haley performed better than I expected her to do, as did Ron DeSantis, although he continues with his 'Mr Grumpy' persona. Mike Pence was more animated than I ever recall seeing him. But 6 of the 8 candidates drank the Trump Kool-Aid, by raisding their hand agreeing to support him, even if he's convicted of a felony. None supported Mr Trump with more gusto than Vivek Ramaswamy, swho demonstrated that he's not ready for prime time. He touts his business skills as a qualification for government, much like Mr. Trump did in 2016. Business and governance demand completely different skill sets. A businessman would refuse to use federal funds to rebuild the charred ruins of the old royal town on Maui. He'd sell the placer to developers from out of state, who'd erect expensive condos and leave those left homeless to fend for themselves, and that's exactly the prospect the worried the dispossessed residents of Lahaina. A businessman's purpose in life is to make a profit, and you don't make profits by being a mensch.
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