Happy New Year 2018

Happy New Year 
Be Safe and Sane
May we face a Brighter 2018

Merry Christmas

Sleep in Heavenly Peace!

UN nations VOTE

Well, the UN nations voted on the Jerusalem issue, and I think their vote put Trashmouth's administration on notice that Threats won't work.......

(CNN)The United Nations voted overwhelmingly to condemn President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel despite threats from the US to pull funding from the world body.

Some 128 countries voted for the resolution, while nine voted "no," and 35 nations abstained, including Canada, Mexico and Australia.

The vote came after US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley issued a direct threat, saying that the US will think twice about funding the world body if it voted to condemn Trump's decision.

Even our closest allies voted against the U.S.

you would think that Trashmouth would understand that BULLYING doesn't work - which of course he doesn't!

Shades of 1984 and Big Brother

This was taken from CBS website story 12-20-17.

UNITED NATIONS -- President Trump will be watching a vote in the United Nations General Assembly "very carefully," and has asked his ambassador to the world body, Nikki Haley, to "report back on those countries who voted against us," Haley wrote in a letter sent Tuesday to some countries. The letter has been obtained by CBS News. 


Haley also sent a tweet warning the U.S. would be "taking names" in Thursday's scheduled vote, which is intended to show a United Nations unified around getting President Trump to withdraw his administration's unilateral recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.  

Truly, Trashmouth has overstepped the bounds of political correctness!  His position is NOT to dictate what other countries do or don't do!  And for Nikki Haley to kowtow to him, and be a tattle-tale(!), good grief she has NO moral compass.

SHAME! SHAME! SHAME!

Norman, a film

We watched this film the other night.

Norman is a very lonely man, with exaggerated ideas of what he can get other people to do, especially with money and in political areas.  He is continually walking around NYC with his phone ear-buds in, making (at least attempting) to make these deals.  We never see him in an apartment or home, just his Temple, train station, events - so we assume he is homeless, however, his attire is always spotless, never wrinkled.

Richard Gere becomes the most annoying figure in a movie that I have recently watched, however, he "nailed" the part perfectly!!!!  Kudos to him for taking this role!

Give it a try!

Last Cab to Darwin, an Australian film

We watched this film last night - at first we weren't sure, BUT WOW what a story.

Rex, cab driver in Broken Hill, is terminally ill with cancer. Dog his companion (don't worry it doesn't happen!) His across the street neighbor, Polly, is more than just a neighbor.  When he hears about a program to end the lives of terminally ill patients, he makes the decision to drive to Darwin (2,000 km away) to have Dr. Farmer assist him.  Along the way, he picks up Tilly, and they bump into Julie, a nurse from England.

Even with a "depressing" story line, this movie just shines through. This is a love story of a another kind. We were just riveted with the scenery, and the interaction of the characters.
With some great music along the way.

Rotten Tomatoes, "Tomatometer" gave it a 91%.  Some reviews call it a "comedy", and although there are comedic moments, it certainly would be more likely to be classified as a drama.

I do hope that you will give it a try - yes, there is the usual "f" bomb repeated, but, hey, this is Australia and it deals with death, so............

A Royal Night Out, a Film

We watched this film last night -

Based on a true story, A Royal Night Out reveals how the queen-to-be snuck out of Buckingham Palace to join the masses in VE Day celebrations (from the publication Telegraph)

The Queen recalled: “I remember lines of unknown people linking arms and walking down Whitehall, and all of us were swept along by tides of happiness and relief.”

Among the crowds was a cousin, in all likelihood Viscount Lascelles, who had safely returned from nearly five years in a prisoner-of-war camp. After heading up St James’s Street, along Piccadilly and across Green Park, the party finally returned to the front of the Palace, where they joined in the shouting for the King.

It was, as she said, “one of the most memorable nights of my life”. 

We enjoyed this "light-hearted" look at the events of the V-E day/night celebrations. The music was great, although at the beginning it was so loud over the dialogue one couldn't make out what was being said.

Give it a try.

 

 

Tom Ashbrook, On Point

And they continue to fall - what is it about men "in power" who believe that they will never be caught?
  
This one upsets me more than others, as I have really enjoyed his program on NPR over the years!

SHAME ON YOU, TOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And they continue to fall

It seems that "they" continue to fall. 
This is so distressing. 
Every morning when the radio alarm goes off, I wonder who will be named in this ongoing downhill escalation.
I could take Matt Lauer, but Garrison?

Dark Horse, a documentary

If you are a horse lover, well, even if you aren't a horse lover, this documentary (filmed in Wales) is a beautiful "love story".

Against all odds, after a major leg injury, and stem cell medical treatment, this horse goes back out on the race track!

The Luzhin Defence, film

Once again, no t.v. reception on Thursday, so we watched this one.

John Turturro and Emily Watson give very intense performances in this film about a Chess genius - who began as a child - switches back and forth between adulthood and his childhood recollections.

Beautifully shot on and near Lake Como in Italy.

Some graphic sex scenes, nudity limited.

Give it a try.

This Beautiful Fantastic, a film

We lost our t.v. reception this past Wednesday evening, so we watched this delightful film.

No sex, don't recall any bad language, no violence.

Beautifully shot, lovely colors, unusual buy enjoyable characters.

Give it a try.

Will it ever Stop?

Mark Wuerker has once again outdone himself with the on-going scandal.

Great one, Mark!

The Bridge, Swedish/Danish television series

Ok, so having watched the English/French television series "The Tunnel", previously mentioned in an earlier posting, I bumped into the original Swedish/Danish television series "The Bridge" -  we just finished watching this.

Once again, this is graphic.

Sofia, who portrays the Swedish police officer,
was absolutely perfect for this part - she certainly appears to have ice water in her veins!

We enjoyed this even more than "The Tunnel"

Give it a try.

Into the Mud They Go

From 11-16-17 Politico's M. Wuerker.

How far into the mud will American lawmakers, celebrities and other well known men be allowed to go before we all make THEM accountable?

The Tunnel, a TV series

This joint television production - English, French - is based on the Swedish television series The Bridge, which we are now watching.  

The cover here is from the second season, which we just finished watching.

The first season started with a body found in the Tunnel, between England and France, exactly at mid-point in the Tunnel, so police forces from both countries are involved in this extremely unusual case. Both detectives involved form a unique relationship.

Warning this series can be quite graphic.

We "enjoyed" this one as it has very interesting views into opposing police forces having to come together to solve very complicated cases.

Our Last Tango, a film

We watched this very interesting documentary, with actors portraying Maria Nieves Rego and Juan Carlos Copes as the dancers in their youth.

Maria Nieves Rego and Juan Carols Copes were Argentina's most famous Tango couple for 50 years. They performed one last tango years after their separation as a "couple".

Maria is more often the focus of the documentary, than Juan Carlos, even into her 80's she is still full of fire, determination, passion for dance and highly attractive.
Juan Carlos still displays the male tango attitude that seems to predominate the dance world.

Music was wonderful, dancing was great.

Who you "gonna" believe?

Trump's Renoir painting is not real, Chicago museum says

• 2 hours ago
• From the section US & Canada

• From the Entertainment and Arts section of www.bbc.co.uk
  .co.uj
• 
  

Image copyright Art Institute of Chicago

Image caption Pierre-Auguste Renoir's Two Sisters (On The Terrace)

A US museum says an Impressionist painting which President Donald Trump reportedly claims to own is a fake.

In a recent interview, Trump biographer Tim O'Brien said he was once told by the future president that his artwork was an original.

But the Chicago Institute of Art says the real painting, Two Sisters (On The Terrace) by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, has hung in its gallery for 80 years.

A museum spokeswoman said "we have had this authentic painting" since 1933.
"We're proud and grateful to be able to share this exceptional work of art with our 1.5 million visitors each year," Amanda Hicks said in an email to the BBC.

The painting was given to the institute in 1933 from a donor who bought it for $100,000 (£76,000).
The donor acquired it from an art dealer who purchased it directly from the French Impressionist painter in 1881, she added.

But Mr O'Brien said during a recent interview with Vanity Fair's Hive podcast that Mr Trump has repeatedly claimed to him that his version of the painting was authentic.

During a flight on Mr Trump's private jet while he was writing his 2005 book, TrumpNation: The Art of Being The Donald, Mr O'Brien said he spotted the painting and asked about it.
"You know, that's an original Renoir," the author said Mr Trump had told him, adding that the property tycoon repeated the claim the following day.

"Donald, it's not," he recalled telling Trump. "I grew up in Chicago, that Renoir is called Two Sisters on the Terrace, and it's hanging on a wall at the Art Institute of Chicago.

"That's not an original."

The artwork was later apparently moved to Trump Tower, the author said, noting that it was visible in the background of a CBS 60 Minutes interview that Mr Trump gave shortly after the presidential election.

"I'm sure he's still telling people who come into the apartment, 'It's an original, it's an original,'" Mr O'Brien said on the podcast.

Mr Trump sued Mr O'Brien for $5bn because the author wrote in TrumpNation that rather than being a billionaire, his net worth was actually as low as $150m.

The defamation lawsuit was dismissed. 

Who you "gonna" believe, the Art Institute where the original has been since 1933, and this writer lived in Chicago and saw it in the Art Institute back in the early 1970's  or Trashmouth?

Riches vs A Good Name

Proverbs 22King James Version (KJV)

22 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

Steven Mnuchin

United States Secretary of the Treasury

Betsy DeVos

United States Secretary of Education

and of course, Trashmouth, should take a moment and consider the above Biblical verse.

How many have been killed by guns since 1968?

Here’s a summary of deaths by major conflict:

War                                      Deaths
Revolutionary War                4,435
War of 1812                          2,260
Mexican War                         13,283
Civil War (Union and Confederate, estimate) 750,00
Spanish-American War           2,446
World War I                           116,516
World War II                           405,399
Korean War                            36,574
Vietnam War                          58,220
Persian Gulf War                     383
Afghanistan War                     2,363
Iraq War                                 4,492
Other wars (includes Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, Somalia and Haiti)                                     362
TOTAL    1,396,733

Americans killed by guns from 1968 - 2015       1,516,863

If not NOW, When?I

If not Now for talking about gun control, When?  When the next time hundreds of people are killed and thousands are injured?

Rest in Peace, Sweet Princes and Princesses

Rest in Peace, Sweet Princes and Princesses.

A French Village, tv series

This French television series chronicles the events that occur during WWII in a small central French village - starting in 1940 with the German occupation, and how at the beginning the Germans and French collaborated together to try to make the village cooperate with the Nazis. When the Nazis begin their forced separations of the Jewish  population, the villagers begin to realize that things will never be the same in France, and are under Nazi rule for 5 years.

As the war is beginning to go against the Nazis, the Resistance group and the Communists basically join forces to defeat the Nazis.  

At the end of the war, France is beginning to come together as a united country, those who assisted and collaborated with the Nazis begin to suffer the consequences of their actions - some are merely scorned (women have their heads shaved and are shamed publicly) others are put on trial and face the death penalty.

Over the course of the series, once looks into the lives of the many villagers, it is easy to know who are the ones who are only out for themselves, the ones who are just trying to make sure that others don't suffer.

There were several villagers that I had begun to despise greatly so their executions were justice served in my eyes.  

Different look at WWII from what we Americans have generally been taught in school.

Excellent series, well worth watching.

Trashmouth needs a History Lesson

It is time for Trashmouth to take a history lesson.......which of course he won't, he doesn't read books!

West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943), is a decision by the Supreme Court of the United States holding that the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution protected students from being forced to salute the American flag and say the Pledge of Allegiance in school. The Court's 6–3 decision, delivered by Justice Robert H. Jackson, is remembered for its forceful defense of free speech and constitutional rights generally as being placed "beyond the reach of majorities and officials."

Politico cartoon 9-13-17

They say a picture is worth 10,000 words - well this cartoon from Politico is worth about 2 million words, let alone $$$$$$$$!

Has any one seen Trashmouth giving the $1 million he promised to help out victims of hurricane Harvey?

Actions speak louder than words, Mr. President, although your words seem to get you deeper in the hole.  Check out your ratings on Real Clear Politics website!

J J Watt, a REAL American hero

There are heroes and then there are heroes!

Both photos show what REAL American heroes look like! 

J J Watt, when I last heard, had gotten over $16 million in relief pledges from around the country.

The men pushing the truck in the flood waters are also REAL American heroes.

Then there is our President, who will never be an American hero!  

Quote of the Day--------Goodreads

The only lies for which we are truly punished are those we tell ourselves.

V.S. Naipaul


Happy birthday, V.S. Naipaul! After the publication of his novella, The Suffrage of Elvira, the Trinidad-born British writer copied out many of the reviews by hand for his mother to read. 

The First Amendment

BREAKING:
"Trump Administration bans employees from using the term climate change."

Excuse me, Trashmouth, apparently you haven't taken the time to read the First Amendment to the Constitution!
Amendment I Essays » Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Hey, Trashmouth, you seem to be able to say anything you want!!!!!  Wake up and READ the Constitution, or have hire a tutor to understand what MY Forefathers lived and died for in this country since the 1630's - your family cannot say that, since you are only a first GENERATION American!!!!!!!!!  

What Does He Think?

What does the President think would happen, if these Neo-Nazis and other hate groups, would do to his daughter and son-in-law, if they were to gain power?
Does the fact that Jared is of the Jewish heritage, escape the President's thought processes, and that Jared would have been targeted by the Nazis in Germany? 
The President's own grandchildren would also have been targeted by the Nazis.  
These groups don't just hate African Americans, they HATE everyone!

HATE is NOT an option!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

We ALL NEED to take a stand against these groups.

And the President needs to take a serious history lesson about the Nazi philosophy.

Eve of Destruction ---- North Korea vs Trump!

Just listened, again, to Eve of Destruction! 

What is happening between Trashmouth and the man-baby of North Korea is the most scary thing I have ever witnessed in 68 years!

If those who voted, and still support, Trashmouth, aren't afraid, then they are truly FOOLS!

"When in the Course of Human Events" political cartoon

I saw this one, it is scary to think that our current President has no grasp of exactly what the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence truly stand for.......

He doesn't seem to understand that the Founders of this country separated the three branches of government with EQUAL powers! He isn't the supreme being of our government - He has to answer to Congress and the Justice Department.

His behavior brings to mind exactly WHY we separated from Great Britain or the monarch who was in power at the time ---- Mad King George the Third!!!!!! ------- the President's behavior seems to be following in those footsteps.

HEAVEN HELP US ALL!

Thank you Senator John McCain

Thank you Senator John McCain, for standing up to the incredible pressure put on you and all Americans by this current administration!

You are courageous and a TRUE American HERO!!!!!!

Quote of the Day ------- Goodreads

Only the very weak-minded refuse to be influenced by literature and poetry.


Cassandra Clare



Before Cassandra Clare (born July 27, 1973) wrote the bestselling Mortal Instruments series, she gained popularity for her fan fiction: The Draco Trilogy, based on Harry Potter, and The Very Secret Diaries, based on The Lord of the Rings

Our President should consider this one!

Make America Great Again?????????????????

Trump's Products aren't Made in America

Products aren't Made in America In July, the president traveled around the country for Made in America week. He rode firetrucks, waved flags, and most of all heralded the importance of buying and manufacturing in America. But soon it became clear that he doesn’t practice what he preaches—his daughter Ivanka’s clothing line is not made in America, and his restaurants and hotels are actively hiring more foreign workers. Similar hypocrisies came to light when, during the election, Trump placed emphasis on buying American while it was revealed that dozens of other goods he produced were manufactured overseas. In her defense, Ivanka’s brand president, Abigail Klem, told the Washington Post that manufacturing goods in the U.S. “at a large scale is currently not possible”; and in 2015, Trump defended his China-manufactured ties by arguing that “[the Chinese] have manipulated their currency to such a point that it’s impossible for our companies to compete.”

This is taken from

13 Trump Scandals You Forgot About

POLITICO Magazine · July 26, 2017

Paul Ryan Leader or Wimp?

Is this man the Speaker of the House, and a Leader in our country?  Or is this man just a wimp and a "Yes man" for Trashmouth?

He certainly does not appear to have any backbone, in the current mess that is occurring regarding AG Jeff Sessions - he can't even tell the President that it would be a disaster to fire the AG!

How can he look himself in the mirror in the morning, let alone sleep at night!!!!!????????

What did he expect?

I am not a particular fan of Jeff Sessions however.....

"Jeff Sessions takes the job, gets into the job, recuses himself, which frankly I think is very unfair to the president," the president said in the 50-minute interview. "How do you take a job and then recuse yourself? If he would have recused himself before the job, I would have said, 'Thanks, Jeff, but I'm not going to take you.' It's extremely unfair -- and that's a mild word -- to the president."

Sessions went on to say that he's "totally confident" that he, along with the rest of the agency can continue to run the department in an effective way. 

The President doesn't seem to understand anything (!) about our government and how it works, at least, the Attorney General has government experience and understands "The LAW"!

Every morning I wake up, I wonder when Trashmouth will declare himself  the "Great Dictator" and our country will be overrun by his minions!  SCARY, SCARY, SCARY!