Review: Blue Jasmine, Woody Allen's latest movie

     Sorry, folks. I wouldn't urge anyone to drop everything they're doing -- even if it is darning socks -- to run out and see "Blue Jasmine."

     I saw Woody Allen's new movie, Blue Jasmine, this afternoon -- the after effect is leaving me down in the dumps. It is a movie about a woman who is so selfish and mean she hurts everyone who gets near her. 

      It was a jumpy back and forth exercise in flashbacks that was disturbing in itself. I really wish I had done something else with my afternoon. Overall? Predictable and unsatisfying in spite of really good performances by all the actors. It was the theme and editing that failed. Sure, it tells the story of a shallow woman -- but beating a dead horse is not the making of greatness.

How can we blame our children for what we do?

I couldn't believe what I was hearing this morning. A PRESCHOOLER is going to be disciplined for bringing a gun to school. What kind of ignorance flourishes here in Georgia? It is beyond belief. NPR had the story. Nothing mentioned about whoever made that gun available. No one sold a gun to a preschooler. He couldn't have filled out a gun license form. Give me a break. My head hurts just thinking about this. Oh, yes, and they are going to throw the book at -- what is it -- an 8th grader who brought a gun to school. Where are the grownups? Who is taking responsibility here?

Instead of passing reasonable gun control laws, we will put preschoolers behind bars? Or, are we talking time out? With grownups not taking charge, how will our children ever grow up to understand they world they live in?

Fulton County Proposes Cutting Arts Funding 100% -- Bad Timing!

ARTS ALERT:

I just wrote the following email message to my Fulton county commissioner (relating to the Fulton County Commission Manager's recommendation that we cut the arts budget by 100%!) Feel free to "borrow" any or all of my text:

Dear Commissioner Hausmann,

I am sure you appreciate the value of the arts to our community and economy,
and would hope that you agree slashing the arts budget 100% is counter-productive.

I am a member of several arts organizations including Georgia Production Partnerships,
Atlanta Film Festival and Women's Caucus for Arts of Georgia.  I am also a financial advisor
and former business columnist for the Los Angeles times.

Putting all the pieces in logical fashion, one of the most attractive pieces in Georgia's
economy, and certainly a piece we would be wise to nourish, is the film and television
industry that is currently embracing our state and investing heavily here. It is
bringing BILLIONS of dollars in revenue into Georgia.

As someone who is involved has been involved in the film and television industry in
California and currently here in Georgia, I am very aware of the integrated nature
of all the arts and the film industry. It pulls talents from all the arts. They use dancers,
artists, animators, actors, light designers and a hoard of other individuals with talents
that relate to the arts in every way imaginable. It would be the most short-sighted
management of our budget to cut funding for the arts at this moment in time.

Cutting arts funding? When the arts feed a major industry that we are trying to
romance and entice into our backyard?  Please convey this message to those who
have not thought all of this through. I have friends in Hollywood who are painfully
aware of business moving to Georgia. Is everyone on the Fulton County Commission
getting the message?

If I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you very much,

Loretta Andre Paraguassu

What is he thinking?

     Last night I was part of the captive audience -- watching the Tonight Show and listening to Barack Obama pitch his positions on various issues. Much as I admire the man, I couldn't help wishing he had a little more of the Bill Clinton talent for entertaining an audience.

     No, that isn't what is bothering me this morning. What has me upset is that he wants to dump Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and reward our oh-so-admirable private sector with the whole kit and caboodle of mortgage loans. Who was responsible for the mortgage meltdown? It wasn't the government agencies. It was Bank of America and its compatriot private enterprises. They are too big to fail and too big to control.

    So, the banks are to be rewarded with the entire mortgage business? Tell me, if they couldn't be controlled before, how are we going to control them in the future? They must be high fiving and toasting each other like there is no tomorrow. I, personally, am sickened by the possibility.

    What I want to know is which member of the GOP sold this idea to Obama and what is being bargained in return? This, as far as I'm concerned, really stinks. Sure, one of the cornerstones of the middle class is home ownership. Obama put that in his outline for the conventional American dream. Oh, yeah, this is AFTER the great transfer of wealth and bargain basement sales that have thrilled "investors," AKA, the people who can write a check to buy a house, the people who don't have to worry about taking out a mortgage. And, as those houses go on the rental market for inflated prices to the very people who lost their homes, what is going to change?

    I don't get it!

Drama in the Sky

The women in the Alpharetta Community Pool with me this morning were staring at a tall pole off to the side. A red tailed hawk, a huge bird was circling the pole and several small birds were diving at that hawk. The women were riveted by the scene and I found I couldn't take my eyes away either. There was nothing we could do but watch. What happened was playing out so far from our reach.

One of the women told me that the hawk had a bird in its mouth. The smaller birds around the hawk were relentless in their attacks. The hawk didn't seem to be phased as they dove at it. He -- and I will say "he" although it could have been a female -- settled on the flat top of the post. What he had could have been a baby bird. We couldn't know. There were three birds that kept diving at the hawk. It went on for what seemed like -- maybe ten minutes -- maybe less. It seemed like forever. The attackers were so focused,
so fierce, I could only think that they might have been the parents of a baby bird. But, then, it seemed that there were three who were most involved in the attacks.

With my companions in the pool, I felt the tragedy of what was happening above us. Finally, the hawk
flew away and the small birds were no longer to be seen.

The clouds moved in, the rains came and my neighbor and I stood under the shelter of the walkway,
hoping that the weather would clear and that we could go back in the pool. I looked up at the sky,
pleased to see patches of blue between the clouds. It was clearing and bright again.

Then, I saw it -- the hawk flew by overhead. Behind it a flock of the small birds, clearly in pusuit.

"I wish I hadn't seen that," I said.

My neighbor nodded.

I was left with the thought that the master plan for life has so many devastating realities. Above us was a breathtakingly beautiful sky -- and a tragedy in progress.

Boycott of Target Is in Order!

What follow is  a disturbing response from Target regarding poisonous COCO MULCH that can be deadly to cats and dogs (verified on snopes.com): Here is my response and their message today:

Dear Cathy,

I regret that you consider a poisonous substance merely matter of "taste." Killing domestic animals is not acceptable. Until I hear that Target has stopped selling coco mulch, I will contact every organization that may have an interest in this and urge them to boycott Target.

Again, this is with deep regret that Target is not taking this matter more seriously.

Your former customer,

Loretta Paraguassu
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 30 May 2013 09:35:40 -0500
From: guest.relations@target.com
Subject: Your Comments About our Merchandise
To: eyelandone@hotmail.com

Dear Loretta Paraguassu,

I’m sorry to hear you’ve been offended by us selling the Coco Mulch at Target®.

Target welcomes everyone to shop in our stores and has a long history of offering a large assortment of merchandise to a wide variety of guests. Though we serve a significant number of families across the country, we also serve many guests with diverse tastes and interests. Occasionally, we carry merchandise that some guests may find objectionable, as was your experience.

I apologize that you’ve been disappointed by our mulch selection. Your feedback is a big help to us, so I’ll be sure to share your comments with our buyers.

Have questions or want more information about our stores, products or service? Give us a call at (800)440-0680. You can also drop by the Guest Service Desk at any store, or visit us on Target.com. Either way, we’re here to help!

Thanks for shopping with us. We look forward to your next visit to Target.

Sincerely,
Cathy
Target Guest Relations
www.target.com
(800) 440-0680

Person-Dogs, a personhood long overdue.

This morning, I advised Penny and Boots that they are "person dogs," not just
dogs. If corporations are considered persons, certainly my best friends in fur
coats are definitely more persons than that. P and B have emotions, loyalty,
intelligence and memory. What does a corporation have that even compares
to those qualities? Ergo, personhood for dogs.