Random Thoughts: August 2012

I still am in a flux. I see Obama and Romney, and indifference is my feeling. I thought as these months went on I would feel passionate about ONE of the candidates for President, but, I am still in limbo. And, the channels and websites that promote the agenda of these gentlemen are of no help. I read or watch one, I feel the position of said candidate. I switch over to the other aisle of thought-- and, I feel differently. I am a fairly intelligent person, as you are also, no doubt [ because you read my blog I know you have smarts!], but, where is the truth in all this? One side cannot be all right and the other wrong. If you lean a certain way politically, you will always believe the friendly sites and disbelief the opposition sites. A few blogs back I wrote that I like to live my life in the middle on most things because that is where the truth resides, I believe. But, where is the middle with these two? The comedian Richard Belzer, himself an strong liberal, has a great analogy for the parties. He says, picture the American people riding in a bus going off a mountain ridge. If the driver is a Republican the bus is going 80 miles an hour. If a Democrat is driving it is going 40 miles an hour. Fast death or very fast death. I will vote because I owe it to the many who have fought for my right to do so. But, I am getting tired of every election voting for the lesser of two evils..... ''Elvis On Tour'' was on cable last night to honor the 35th anniversary of Presley's death. I had never seen it before and was glad I watched it. The King was just that, a Mighty King. Forgetting the silly outfits that he wore onstage Elvis still had the power to captivate in 1972. Wisely, the film shows Elvis knee deep in music. There are a few side comments by him and his father, but, the focus is the man and the music. I always thought Elvis was wise to not give press conferences too often because he was not the best of public speakers. When someone is not articulate talking in front of the public they generate a reputation of not being very smart [ George W. Bush has this stigma]. Elvis did not need to be verbal with his audience. He let the music sing his words. The stage presence was still going strong in 1972. The voice was still strong and his karate moves now brought a smile to my face instead of the derision it once did. There are few close-ups of Elvis in this film. I must admit that I was trying to see his eyes. Part curiosity if he was stoned, to be sure. But, also, the eyes are the window into the soul for a performer and I wanted to see if Elvis still had joy in them. From the snatches that I saw he still seemed to be happy to be performimg in front of his fans. In another part of the film there is a montage sequence of him--- supervised by the young director Martin Scorsese--- where we see Elvis kissing his many admirers and co-stars. There is one shot, however, that best catches Elvis, the person. He is in the limo after one of his concerts. He is staring out the window with his hand touching his chin. His face has lost about ten years in this shot. He looks like an innocent angel. For that brief moment he looks happy and comfortable. He is not ELVIS PRESLEY, but, simply, Elvis..... Brian Urlacher and Jenny McCarthy have apparently split up. I am pointing out the obvious to you all because chances are that you are suffering the grief as deeply as I am. Gee, it seemed like such a fairy-tale romance between these kids. A notorious lousy husband and father hooking up with a notorious Hollywood hosebag. How did it not survive??? Well, we must trudge on to find our heroes someplace else. Let us look around at other famous tales of love among the rich and powerful. I see Jennifer Anniston is engaged. Thank goodness, because I know the gal hasn't dated much since her break-up with Mr. Angelina Jolie. Jennifer went through the phone book looking for guys to hook up with after her divorce until she found the right fella. I wonder if Tom Cruise is borrowing that book now. Cameron Diaz must be lonely also. After dating Major League Baseball, and, a few football guys, she too, is lost for love. Do not get me wrong--- I like a woman who likes to have fun, but, really, girls, date a plumber or a sales guy, or, a guy from Schaumburg, Illinois, 60193. Back to Urlacher. I always liked his playing on the Bears, but, I never thought of him as one of the greats, certainly not a Butkis or a Buffone. The Bears need him strong for the upcoming season, and, his knee being scoped worries me greatly. The Bears have lined up a good, potent offense this year, but, you need to have the ball to do this....... Comedy Central had their recent roast of Roseanne. I never have liked this women. She is too coarse and has an unpleasant demeanor to her. I do not mind profane, but, she is not funny to me and I cannot understand her appeal after all of these years. She is popular. Her show was number one for several seasons. I personally do not like profane women acting disgusting. Men do that. I want a woman to have a little more class than a man. That is the reason I will not watch the movie ''Bridesmaids''. I do not mean to sound too old here. I have a fairly strong knowledge of comedy and its history to back up my argument. Good, mean-spirited, naughty humor is very welcome to me by a woman. On the same roast, a young comic named Amy Schumer hit a home run by playing it dirty. But, she wasn't harsh and crude. Neither was Katey Sagal, who was quite funny on the podium. Carrie Fisher was a disappointment to me. I am a fan of hers. She is very quick with the quip and a great storyteller. That is why I was surprised that she didn't take a joke better on the roast. When a barb was thrown her way, as all the comedians take shots at each other, she gave many a stone-face reaction to the slam. And, she seemed compelled to answer every insult by trying to top the comic--a comic no-no. Carrie Fisher is still head and shoulders above the vile Roseanne. Carrie can be dirty, but, wrap that around with wittiness. Roseanne will never be funny for me, I am confidant to say......