ENDANGERED SPECIES

I liked this picture. Seemed quite appropriate since the eagle has been removed from the endangered species list - and we are getting ready to celebrate the 4th of July. But, as I thought about it, I wondered if, in light of current events, real Americans should be put on the endangered species list. Remember when we were welcomed in foreign countries? Remember when we were the "good guys"? When we were known for our generosity and kindness - our open hearts? Remember when we could be counted on to "do the right thing"?

Everything is so "mean spirited" lately. We seem to embrace a palpable hatred between the political parties in our country. We fill our ears - and minds - with bitter talk-show rhetoric. We delight in the downfall of celebrities. We suffer through people like Ann Coulter - tuning in to hear the latest outrageous pronouncements she dispenses. Evidently someone is actually buying her books - which is truly scary. Actually - in many ways - all this nastiness is more destructive than these terrorists that we are so worried about. I am not minimizing the horror of car bombs - or 9/11. But, I am saying that we are being "blown- up" from the inside out, by allowing our nation to be polarized - by giving in to choosing sides, and permitting vitriolic language against each other to become the norm when discussing world events and politics. Hatred spreads. It's that simple. And soon it is oozing out from everywhere - coating everything and everyone in negative slime - and becoming fertilizer that breeds more enemies - that creates more destruction, more divisiveness and more war.

Instead of singing "God Bless America" this year - I want someone to SAVE America - to bring us back to our senses...to stop using fear as an excuse to become bullies...to open the eyes of our hearts once again so that we can see the world through the eyes of love. I want us to take responsibility and save ourselves.

"To him in whom love dwells - the whole world is but one family." Buddha

So, light a sparkler, and let it ignite something powerful inside your heart. Let it serve as a reminder that we are a great nation, founded on the courage of conviction, the belief in freedom, and the heartbeat of love for all mankind. Then, do your part to keep that spark of love alive. Stop and think before falling into the trap of negativity. Be courageous and speak out for what is right. Let us recommit ourselves to becoming "the good guys" again.

WHO COAXED THE BLUES RIGHT OUT OF THE HORN?

I love musicals! Absolutely grin from ear to ear whenever I am watching one - and my favorite is now out on DVD. I might be the only person in the world who LOVED Lucille Ball's version of the musical, MAME. But I don't care.

I remember when it came out in the theater, during my college years - and I actually sat through the 2 hour+ movie TWICE in the same day. Okay - I know she was filmed through so many filters that her image was hazy at best - and I know that she sounded more like a frog than a singer - but no one could convey more with her eyes and face than she could. I bet most of you can instantly recall what Lucy looked like during the famous "vita-meta-vega-min" episode of I Love Lucy. And it was this unique gift that made her perfect for this role.

The costumes are extravagant - as is the scenery. It was a big-budget film that crashed and burned, but I am so happy it has been restored and is now available.

I watched it today - I don't usually watch movies during the day, but I couldn't resist. And it was just as magical as I remembered. I've been humming ever since! It is sad that these great entertainers, like Lucy - and Robert Preston - are gone. They were class acts, always. Now we are fed a steady diet of reality TV. Oh - but that is another subject, and I'm in too good a mood to tackle that one now.

So - "Open a New Window" and remember the great line from Mame: "Life is a banquet - and most poor sons of bitches are starving to death!"

Smile. Rent a musical. I recommend this one!

WHAT ARE YOU "JONESING" FOR?

The word "addiction" is everywhere these days - and it conjures up varied images in our minds. It used to be that an addict was someone in a dark opium den somewhere far from wherever WE were. They were unwashed, pitiful shells of humanity, greasy from sweat and stinking of urine - just waiting for their next "high" - that moment in time when their eyes would roll back in their heads and they would find oblivion - whatever that was. At least, that is how I pictured an addict for most of my life. Growing up in a small town in the 50's - we didn't see many addicts. I thought they all lived in New York City. After all, that was as far away from small town rural America as a foreign country could be. I thought everything strange or unusual happened there.

Then there was the cultural phenomena of the 60's - and addiction took the form of smiling hippies with long hair. Girls who didn't where bra's and smoked "weed". The Hippie revolution didn't happen in my town. I personally think the Baptist church squelched it - but I can't prove it. Still - addiction was simply not relevant to me.

When cigarettes were labeled addictive and destructive, the reality of addiction was getting a little closer. I didn't smoke - but I certainly knew people who did - some within my own family. And before long - addiction spread like wildfire - covering everything from Valium to alcohol to sugar - from prescription pain meds to caffeine - from gambling to Internet usage. And now the focus is on video games. They are actually claiming addiction to video games as a medical problem, and trying to determine if treatment is covered by the Almighty HMO's.

When does lack of self-control move into the area of a medical problem? Look - I am all too happy to admit that I LOVE my morning coffee - chocolate is something to die for - carbohydrates are the most important food group to me - but I draw the line at calling any of this an addiction. It is a matter of choice. I am responsible.

So - with these young people claiming addiction to video games - I have to ask where are the parents and why aren't they monitoring the time spent in front of the game consoles? If adults are claiming addiction to games - where are the employers? Don't they have a job to go to - or a family to support? Don't they have other people in their lives SOMEWHERE? Or, are we truly becoming a society of victims and whiners, who crave isolation and live on excuses?

Oh well - just something to think about as I drink my fourth cup of coffee. I'm not addicted - and if I am, I don't really want to know!!!

AND HOW DID THAT MAKE YOU FEEL?

I was leafing through a magazine today - and I found an article discussing the possibility of J.K. Rowling killing off Harry in her final book of the series, due in stores next month. I know that scenario has been circulating for some time - and while I hope that is not the case, if it is - we will all deal with it. At least, that is MY opinion. However, in this magazine article - a child psychologist was interviewed for the purpose of providing advice on helping your child cope with this possible loss.

Give me a break.

It seems we have become so overprotective of children - we rush in to keep them from experiencing any anxiety - and so they are unprepared when life smacks them in the face with REAL loss and heartache. Where were the counselors when little brains were subjected to the violence in Bambi? How about those flying monkeys in the Wizard of Oz? I still dream about those creatures sometimes! I just watched the video "Bridge to Terabithia" the other night (FABULOUS MOVIE!) and cried like an idiot at the end! That book was a Newberry winner - in the 70's I think - where were the counselors then?

Don't get me wrong - I love Harry. I really do. And - if he dies, at the hands of his creator, J.K. Rowling - I will be sad. Kids everywhere will be sad. BUT - it is not the end of the world! There will be other books and fictional characters to fill our hearts and minds. That's life. There is a season for everything - and then it ends. A good lesson for all of us to learn - to appreciate the now - and look forward to whatever the future holds. Perhaps one of those little devastated readers will grow up to be an incredibly successful writer because of the emotional attachment to Harry. Because of the magic that is still possible through the printed word.

So - if Harry Potter does not survive this last book - I can only hope that his ending will be far more satisfying than the end of the Sopranos! If there are onion rings involved in his demise, then I will have to make an appointment with MY therapist!

CAN YOU COME OUT AND PLAY?

Last night on the evening news, there was a segment on The Dangerous Book for Boys by Conn Iggulden. The book was first released in England, where it was a huge success, and has now been modified a bit, for release here. (Modifications have to do with things like cricket vs. soccer, etc.) Anyway - I was fascinated by the video footage of young boys rolling down hills, playing with homemade wooden swords, flying paper airplanes from tree houses, and generally jumping and running and doing all the things that boys AND GIRLS used to do - before the digital age.

This morning, on The View, the audience give-away, was the video game for the - as yet unreleased animated movie - Ratatouille. BEFORE THE FILM HITS THE THEATER - we are already roping the children into their designated place in front of a video game console where they will move their little thumbs frantically, and manipulate digital images on the screen. This is what "playing" has become.

What are we doing to our kids? We are killing their imagination. We are teaching them isolation. We are destroying social skills. How sad.

Some people have criticized the Dangerous Boy book as being more about nostalgia than actually being something for children. I think that criticism is unfair. I do wish there was a book for girls - but that is another subject. I personally believe that the Dangerous Boy book is a voice of reason - a wake-up call - a tool that parents can use NOW to begin engaging with their children, stimulating their imagination, and bringing a halt to, or at least minimizing the mind-numbing effects of computers, video games, ipods, and text-messaging.

When my son was young, (granted, that was 20 years ago) he would see a movie, like Star Wars, and then pretend to be Luke Skywalker for weeks - running around in the yard with his friends, along with their pretend Wookies and Ewoks - and a stick for a light saber. There was something magical happening there - something that fed his creative thought processes. He grew up to be a highly creative young man - who writes music and poetry now, and I can't help but believe that his imaginative play as a child was an important component in his development into a well-rounded adult.

In today's society - we have even gone so far as to eliminate "tag" from recess - for fear of the school being sued. Parents are hyper-vigilant in some things - like fear of scraped knees, or god-forbid, a broken arm - and yet, lax in other areas - like computer chat rooms and instant messaging. It is easier, in this fast-paced lifestyle, to park kids in front of a TV, computer, or game system. They can entertain themselves. Even family vans now come with DVD players so you NEVER have to talk to the little ones!

So - I applaud Mr. Iggulden and his book. If I ever have grandchildren - I will buy this book for them before they can walk, because it is a way I can give them the world of imagination and play. From the book they can learn how to build forts from cardboard, how to make invisible ink, or how to tie different kinds of knots, how to build a kite, and even how to make "conkers". (Horse chestnuts strung on a shoelace and knocked together until they shatter! Sounds like fun!)

Okay - maybe there is some nostalgia involved here - but that's not a bad thing. Change isn't always progress. And, progress isn't always positive.

Hmmmm...that could be a bumper sticker.

BOOK TRAVELS

Summer has landed - and I am lost in "vacation mode." Seriously - I find that I am just lazing along at a relaxed pace, and enjoying the sensation of simply being in the moment.

That, however, does not make for an interesting blog. But - during this restful time, I am reading some great books! I discovered Cornelia Funke. Okay, perhaps I am late to the discovery of this author - but she could not have come at a better time in my life. Her novel, Inkheart, was the first book, in a long time, that I HATED to finish. I wanted it to go on and on and on. Many of the reviews say that it is a booklover's book - and I would have to agree. While the plot is strictly fantasy - every character in the book is absolutely in love with the printed word. So much so, that one character has the ability to actually bring fictional characters out of a book, just by reading out loud. I understand that Inkheart, the movie will be released in the theaters sometime next year, with Brendon Fraser and Helen Mirren as stars. Can't wait.

I quickly purchased the sequel - Inkspell - and am savoring each page of it, happy to discover it is as good as Inkheart! I am trying not to race through this one - since Ms. Funke has not yet finished the final book of the trilogy.

As for my writing - I am taking a break from crime (writing, that is!) and working on something completely different. But again - I seem to be moving at a snail's pace - just enjoying the process of living in my head and writing down my "imaginings."

Enjoy the summer with me - find a quite place - and let a good book take you on vacation. In the real world, there is Iraq, and the Gaza Strip, and Iran, and Dafur, oh - and Paris Hilton. I think we all need a break from reality every now and then - at least, I do - even if it is only for a few days.

Have a great weekend - and Happy Father's Day!

OH NO! SAY IT ISN'T SO!

It was bound to happen. There were warning signs. I should have paid more attention - but instead, I chose to ignore them...to justify them. Now it is simply too late.

I have the beginning stages of stupid news addiction. Something must be done immediately.

It began during the OJ trial. But, of course, I could excuse my continuous interest in that fiasco because it involved a gruesome murder. It was a matter of life and death, so to speak.

Oh - and then there was Wacko Jacko. I was there, along with hysterical Nancy Grace - but, I chose to paint my obsessive curiosity with a coat of righteous indignation. After all - it was about a crime against children. (I also have to admit it was entertainment at its finest - but weirdo Jackson continues to be shockingly attention getting!)

But, yesterday, alas, I had to admit to myself that this media addiction of mine has passed the point of no return. I willingly tuned into Entertainment Tonight in the hopes of glimpsing Paris Hilton going to jail. Sigh. I know. It pains me to make this confession. There is no way I can justify this one. I have become one of the media pod people - mindlessly traipsing after celebrity news. Shame on me.

Is there a rehab for this condition? There's one for everything else - even bigotry. Certainly there must be a clinic somewhere for me to receive treatment. I don't want to be this way - I really don't.

Oh - but I'll have to tune in tonight because I understand Paris is scheduled to received a physical and psychological examination today, and I must see how that turns out.

After that - it's cold turkey. I promise.

Or, maybe not.

HELP! I'VE TURNED ON THE TV AND I CAN'T TURN IT OFF!

Summer is upon us - and that means all the good TV shows are now in reruns. What does that leave us with? Dear God. Reality TV and MORE reality TV. When is enough, ENOUGH?! Is Hollywood really bereft of any individual creative thought? Oh - I forgot - there is also the other BORING genre: game shows! I have all the game shows I need with Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. I do not need to watch adults jump up and down and scream hysterically. Actually, that is what I FEEL like doing sometimes when I turn the TV ON! There is nothing to watch. Nothing.

The news is repeated ad nauseum. How many times do we have to hear about this poor guy with TB? Or the thoughts about the 2008 election? sigh.

Sometimes a summer show will break through the tedium - like The Closer. I like that one. It starts sometime this month. Lifetime has a new show entitled, Army Wives. We'll give that a try. I think FX has something interesting starting in July with Glenn Close called Damages. That has promise. But, that still leaves long evenings with NOTHING.

I suppose we could do something unheard of, and turn the damn thing off. Then, we could spend the time reading or talking, but I am not sure how any of us would actually react to that. If you think about it, we are conditioned to sit in front of the TV from the 6:00 news - until 10 or 11 - every night. It is our routine. What would we do with outselves if we didn't follow the routine?

What about those rare times when a summer thunderstorm knocks out the electricity? The first few minutes are frantic. We wonder when is it coming on? Has anyone reported it? Even the dog looks confused in the silence of an electrical free enviornment. We usually settle in, with battery operated reading lights, candles, and a Coleman lantern. We spend the hours reading in the dark - and it is nice. When the electricity returns, there is a blast of lights that were left turned on, and sometimes the noise of stereos, or TV's. We are returned to "normal". I'm always a little sad. Relieved, but sad. The forced time of stillness was surprisingly pleasant.

So - perhaps summer TV programming could offer this same respite - without the thunder and lightening. Ahhh....but it would require self-control! We would have to purposely stop flicking through the 300 + channels and grumbling that there is nothing on. We would have to actually turn the TV off.

Just think of it. A little scary, don't you agree? But it does offer some interesting possibilities.