The mayor finally caught up with one of the more widely viewed films of 2012: The Silver Linings Playbook. The lead actress, Jennifer Lawrence, received an oscar for her performance as the troubled young widow dealing with grief over her the death of her late husband. She worked with a great cast, including Bradley Cooper and Robert DiNiro.
Hollywood has made hay with "psychological thrillers", but has often had mixed results with the topic of mental illness. Schizophrenia is an illness we've all heard about, but have difficulty understanding its many 'faces'. Bipolar disorder is another illness we've heard about, more so recently.
In this film, which begins in the institution, as Mr. Cooper is leaving after 8 months, we follow Mr. Cooper as he tries to cope with his illness, his family, his ex-wife(the adultress), and his neighbor, Ms. Lawrence.
Set in a middle class neighborhood of Philadelphia, we follow the steps as he copes: Dad, a bit distant; Mom, a bit quiet; the brother, a bit sympathetic, and the neighbor girl, a bit hot, a bit lonely, a bit take charge.
It all makes for good entertainment; but as my psychologist friend says, "there are no good outcomes with bipolar disorder". So, Hollywood entertains us, implies that drugs and therapy work fine(the psychology professional has the requisite accent from Delhi), and we leave feeling good about the ending. No hot sex scenes, no shoot 'em up cops, no chase scenes, and some good music mixing.
**** Mayor's 4 star rating= worth the price of admission
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Il Papa: Francis
In his own words, the new Pope says he will be 'only' Francis until there is Francis II. So, "Hi, Frankie". Good luck taming the minions of 1.3 billions of Catholics around the world. After 5 ballots, he was selected to replace the retiring Benedict XVI. At 76 years of age, he's a seasoned veteran of much, including Argentina's "Dirty Wars" when the country was ruled by a military dictatorship.. His selection will focus the world even more on Latin America's largest countries: Brazil and Argentina. With the World Cup and Olympics to be hosted nearby, the Americas in general will be observed more closely than they have been.
All Tahomans wish the best for the pontiff. He'll be busy as he sets up his inside advisers. As a Jesuit, he knows the role of the Church as an educator and leader of change, however slowly. It will be interesting. He had the inside track; last time a pope was selected, Jorge Bergoglio was a close second. HIs talent and intellect are widely recognized. He was also trained in chemistry. I expect he'll understand some aspects of modern science, not a bad trait these days.
All Tahomans wish the best for the pontiff. He'll be busy as he sets up his inside advisers. As a Jesuit, he knows the role of the Church as an educator and leader of change, however slowly. It will be interesting. He had the inside track; last time a pope was selected, Jorge Bergoglio was a close second. HIs talent and intellect are widely recognized. He was also trained in chemistry. I expect he'll understand some aspects of modern science, not a bad trait these days.
Friday, March 8, 2013
Mayor to LA
The Mayor will be out of the office for the weekend. The mayoral elections in LA need a look. Local affairs will be taken care of by the chief of staff, located at " Where We Met" in downtown Tahoma. There's a little snow on the ground, watch your driving!
Looks to be a good skiers' weekend!
Looks to be a good skiers' weekend!
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
The Professor and Friends
Mayor went to San Jose for a lunch meeting with the professor(emeritus) of Geography from San Jose State. He was a mentor of the Mayor, providing guidance and expertise through undergrad and graduate school a number of years ago. We were joined by two other former students and had a fine lunch at the Flame restaurant on 4th and San Fernando sts., across from the SJS Library.
Naturally, we talked about campus life, and how it has changed. Mike, the prof, also gave us a nice recap of his sabbatical year when he traveled to New Zealand to teach and do some field research. He talked about his visits to Guadalcanal and Bougainville islands in the Soloman Islands group where he spent time during World War II as a Marine officer with the 3rd Marine Division. He described his visit to New Caledonia and compared it favorably to Hawaii. He said it is rarely visited by Americans, but Australians like it quite a bit, visiting often and enjoying the nice beaches. He didn't make it to Okinawa or to Guam, two other stops on his earlier South Pacific tour.
He followed those stories with another that happened a few years later when in the Phillipine Islands doing research for his Phd. The Korean War broke out and he could not get a flight home. He had to wait for space on a ship(a few months); then endure a lengthy boat ride back to California. The Marines wanted him back, but he was able to put them off owing to his current status as a father of two infant children!
He is doing amazingly well at 92- a member in good standing of "The Greatest Generation".
Naturally, we talked about campus life, and how it has changed. Mike, the prof, also gave us a nice recap of his sabbatical year when he traveled to New Zealand to teach and do some field research. He talked about his visits to Guadalcanal and Bougainville islands in the Soloman Islands group where he spent time during World War II as a Marine officer with the 3rd Marine Division. He described his visit to New Caledonia and compared it favorably to Hawaii. He said it is rarely visited by Americans, but Australians like it quite a bit, visiting often and enjoying the nice beaches. He didn't make it to Okinawa or to Guam, two other stops on his earlier South Pacific tour.
He followed those stories with another that happened a few years later when in the Phillipine Islands doing research for his Phd. The Korean War broke out and he could not get a flight home. He had to wait for space on a ship(a few months); then endure a lengthy boat ride back to California. The Marines wanted him back, but he was able to put them off owing to his current status as a father of two infant children!
He is doing amazingly well at 92- a member in good standing of "The Greatest Generation".
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Il PAPA-The Pope va via
Pope Benny 16 has retired, officially, he is the Emeritus Pope. First time in 599 years. Do we care? Well, for the approx. 1 billion in the world who call themselves catholic, most care. A scathing rebuke of the current state of the church(its ruling elite) appeared in the wall St. Journal today. The writer called for the church(ruling elite) to give up the hypocrisy and embrace the moral high road by removing the sham of celibacy among its clerics.
This is a bold statement in the most widely read newspaper in America. In plain terms, the writer lances the bubble surrounding the issue(s) regarding sexual improprieties found 1) everywhere,2) at all levels,3) and the shameful complicity in cover up and denial.
The College of cardinals have a lot more on its plate than the selection of a new pope. They must select a new path for the entire church. Are they up to it? It is doubtful. It really is time for another reformation. Time to sweep out the old and bring in the new.
When the white smoke rises from the chimney will it signal a new pope or a "new" church"?
This is a bold statement in the most widely read newspaper in America. In plain terms, the writer lances the bubble surrounding the issue(s) regarding sexual improprieties found 1) everywhere,2) at all levels,3) and the shameful complicity in cover up and denial.
The College of cardinals have a lot more on its plate than the selection of a new pope. They must select a new path for the entire church. Are they up to it? It is doubtful. It really is time for another reformation. Time to sweep out the old and bring in the new.
When the white smoke rises from the chimney will it signal a new pope or a "new" church"?
Friday, March 1, 2013
Clowns in Italy?
Yes, Beppo, the professional clown/comic has carried the election for premier to a future run off.
Now Italian politics have been the subject of much discussion of late, dur in part to the ongoing concern of its fiscal condition(the country).
Mario Monti, the previous premier, ran a distant 4th to Bersani, Berlusconi, and Beppo- the 3 B's!
Now, the rules in the Constitution require certain accommodations as a result. The rules will be changed, of course. Then, a new election will be held in May. It seems the Italians want change, but finding a method that a majority can swallow, not so easy.
I wonder how Mr. Mariani, owner of downtown Tahoma, feels about the election outcome? I will have to poll his opinions.
More later.
Now Italian politics have been the subject of much discussion of late, dur in part to the ongoing concern of its fiscal condition(the country).
Mario Monti, the previous premier, ran a distant 4th to Bersani, Berlusconi, and Beppo- the 3 B's!
Now, the rules in the Constitution require certain accommodations as a result. The rules will be changed, of course. Then, a new election will be held in May. It seems the Italians want change, but finding a method that a majority can swallow, not so easy.
I wonder how Mr. Mariani, owner of downtown Tahoma, feels about the election outcome? I will have to poll his opinions.
More later.
Lack of Moisture 2013
Screaming from the front pages as headlines do, comes the announcement of the latest snow depth measurement at Echo Summit, our southern neighbor on Highway 50. "Only" 29 inches were measured at the famous Phillips Station, that solitary cabin near the summit. 2 months ago it was 4'.
California just recorded the driest January/February on record.
Writer Peter Fimrite(great name, like his Papa), notes facts about the winter '12-'13: we are below average to date. Trot out the gloom and doom descriptions. State of california water resouurces director, Mark Cowlin, predicts a bad year(summer/spring) for consumers of water: fish, people, crops,etc. Protect the smelt, save the fish, shut off the pumps(in the Delta).
We've heard it all before, unless you arrived yesterday. People: let's review a few "facts"-we live in1)California, 2) California has a mediterrenean type climate, 3) it rains in winter, not summer, 4)summers are dry, winters are wet, usually,5) rain and temperatures vary year to year.
So, after a couple of generations of living in California(Tahoma is in California), we don't panic.
So, don't panic. Look at the Lake. Enjoy the serene surface, the deep color, the surrounding mountains, the ever changing views. Ahhhhhhh, Tahoma. We will not run out of water in Tahoma for at least the next 275 years if it doesn't rain anymore this year. Even if you shower twice a day!
California just recorded the driest January/February on record.
Writer Peter Fimrite(great name, like his Papa), notes facts about the winter '12-'13: we are below average to date. Trot out the gloom and doom descriptions. State of california water resouurces director, Mark Cowlin, predicts a bad year(summer/spring) for consumers of water: fish, people, crops,etc. Protect the smelt, save the fish, shut off the pumps(in the Delta).
We've heard it all before, unless you arrived yesterday. People: let's review a few "facts"-we live in1)California, 2) California has a mediterrenean type climate, 3) it rains in winter, not summer, 4)summers are dry, winters are wet, usually,5) rain and temperatures vary year to year.
So, after a couple of generations of living in California(Tahoma is in California), we don't panic.
So, don't panic. Look at the Lake. Enjoy the serene surface, the deep color, the surrounding mountains, the ever changing views. Ahhhhhhh, Tahoma. We will not run out of water in Tahoma for at least the next 275 years if it doesn't rain anymore this year. Even if you shower twice a day!
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