tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32831504941281117322024-03-05T19:36:17.184-07:00Blatherings and botheringA place to blather on, and to see what's worth bothering over.Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183821631585672805noreply@blogger.comBlogger331125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283150494128111732.post-55241196779843358462022-11-27T14:39:00.003-07:002022-11-27T14:39:48.389-07:00It's the most *#@$ time of the year<p> Thinking about what Christmas means, and has meant.</p><br />When I was a kid it was about magic, a season where folx were actively trying to be nice, where adults worked to create mystery and enchantment for children. It was also about family dysfunction, guilt, with a side of crying and cursing from adults, and general anxiety and disappointment for the kids. Jesus's birthday was a bit of a mess.<br /><br />As a teen I realized that our extended family Christmas was a bit of a potlatch as well. Each family spent more money than they should; if you didn't go broke spending for Christmas, you were doing it wrong. My mother and her siblings would compete to see who could give the gift most appreciated by their parents, or at least who could give the biggest and most expensive gift (my oldest aunt pretty much always won, and my mother generally came in dead last, hence the grown up tears). <div>There was an emotional ritual around gift giving. Gifting to others did not involve asking the recipient what they wanted, no wish lists allowed. No, instead, a gift was supposed to show how well you knew the recipient and could intuit the "perfect" gift. As children we were specifically taught how to ooh and ah over a gift as we unwrapped it in front of the giver. A simple "thank you" was considered rude and insolent. We had to show (in person) how we were over the moon with excitement and gratitude. This was most especially amusing/distressing when the gift was obviously a miss, and if you overdid it you risked not only rolling over into insolent/subversive sarcasm, you risked a smack or worse when you were back home as reward for embarrassing your parent.<div><br /></div><div>Now as an adult, trying to figure out what to give my young adult children, I'm enjoying Christmas as a time to connect. Gift giving becomes a chance to ask about what they need, want, what they'd like to be doing, and figuring out if there's anything we can contribute to that. Gift requests on my part have become an invitation to notice what I'm interested in, or for my family to share with me their interests in a way they think I'd find engaging. I don't find the gifts of Christmas to come with as much emotional baggage as they did when I was a kid. I hope that means it's more enjoyable for my kids as well.</div></div>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183821631585672805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283150494128111732.post-64855258928090074212021-01-24T16:39:00.002-07:002021-01-24T16:39:29.105-07:00August 2020 - January 2021 Books<p> The truth is that my attention has been wandering. I find myself reading more articles and fewer books. In part it's perhaps the intermittent openness and closedness of the public library, but my guess is that it's more these crazy times. Pandemic, a wack-a-doodle as the national executive, the election, an armed gang of white supremacists terrorists storming the capitol building.... it's just all... a bit much.<br />Here's to more peaceful times in the future.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082NMPJWW/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1" target="_blank">The Once and Future Witches</a>, by<a href="https://alixeharrow.wixsite.com/author"> Alix</a><a href="https://twitter.com/AlixEHarrow?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor"> E</a>. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alix_E._Harrow" target="_blank">Harrow</a></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005NACYQU/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1" target="_blank">American Gods</a>, by <a href="https://www.neilgaiman.com/">Neil</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Gaiman">Gaiman</a> (yes, again)</p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ABAE6ZI/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1" target="_blank">The Princess Diarist</a>, by<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrie_Fisher"> Carrie Fisher</a></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083G6W17G/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1">Falling in Love with Hominids</a>, by <a href="https://www.nalohopkinson.com/">Nalo</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nalo_Hopkinson">Hopkinson</a></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003FMV63U/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1" target="_blank">The Tempest Tales</a>, by <a href="https://www.waltermosley.com/">Walter</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Mosley" target="_blank">Mosley</a></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KA11ZI0/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1" target="_blank">When Marnie was There</a>, by<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_G._Robinson" target="_blank"> Joan</a> G. Robinson</p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08T5QPP1X/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1">The Overstory</a>, by <a href="http://www.richardpowers.net/" target="_blank">Richard</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Powers" target="_blank">Powers</a></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077D73V4Z/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1" target="_blank">Lilith's Brood</a>, series by <a href="https://www.octaviabutler.com/" target="_blank">Octavia</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octavia_E._Butler" target="_blank">Bulter</a></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/bookseries/B071JSL55L" target="_blank">The Old Guard</a>, by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Rucka" target="_blank">Greg Rucka </a>and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Rucka" target="_blank">Leandro Fernandez</a></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Born-Crime-Stories-African-Childhood-ebook/dp/B01DHWACVY" target="_blank">Born a Crime</a>, by <a href="https://www.trevornoah.com/" target="_blank">Trevor</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trevor_Noah" target="_blank">Noah</a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /><br /></p>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183821631585672805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283150494128111732.post-64709087926617349262020-10-04T11:10:00.002-06:002020-10-04T11:12:07.716-06:00Freeloaders<p> </p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCIp_mbZtOxXrH_k2drHXCCW_myKAkOYY3_aoykDv96UMWlTBcuH-7eoNB5Nim0bT4ivN9AeuXoPMP-04amKxOj5KsKlahvw32QFa4X1xzdyuBSXob6oZUEAGM2NJNmWR85HrCuQ76zcw/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1504" data-original-width="2048" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCIp_mbZtOxXrH_k2drHXCCW_myKAkOYY3_aoykDv96UMWlTBcuH-7eoNB5Nim0bT4ivN9AeuXoPMP-04amKxOj5KsKlahvw32QFa4X1xzdyuBSXob6oZUEAGM2NJNmWR85HrCuQ76zcw/w387-h293/vote.jpg" width="387" /></a></div><br />Freeloaders kinda bug me.<br /><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>I suppose to have a discussion about freeloaders you'd first have to define your terms, and "freeloader" is a pretty loaded term. A quick internet seach turns up this</p><div class="WI9k4c" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: table; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; word-break: break-word;"><div class="GgmXif jY7QFf" style="font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; min-height: 36px;"><div class="DgZBFd XcVN5d" style="line-height: 36px; vertical-align: top;"><span data-dobid="hdw">free·load·er</span></div></div><div class="S23sjd" style="color: #70757a; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="XpoqFe">/ˈfrēˌlōdər/</span></div><div aria-hidden="true" class="K6GhFd" data-is-bilingual="false" jsaction="BtuVOb:V46pce" jscontroller="AImii" style="max-height: 0px; opacity: 0; pointer-events: none; transition: max-height 0.3s ease 0s, opacity 0.3s ease 0s;"><div class="b8aKlc" style="padding: 8px 0px 6px;"><a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+pronounce+freeloader&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAOMIfcRowy3w8sc9YSnjSWtOXmPU5eINKMrPK81LzkwsyczPExLjYglJLcoV4pPi4eJKK0pNzclPTEktsmJRYkrN41nEKp2RX65Qkq9QANSVD9SWqoBQBABCMCPqXwAAAA&pron_lang=en&pron_country=us&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjz4KTerpvsAhUOWs0KHbRqBRsQ3eEDMAB6BAgBEAg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); color: #660099; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;" tabindex="-1"><div class="S5TwIf" style="border-radius: 6px; box-shadow: rgb(218, 220, 224) 0px 0px 0px 1px inset; display: inline-block; overflow: hidden; padding-right: 12px; vertical-align: top;"><g-img class="FamOtd" style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" class="rISBZc M4dUYb" data-atf="1" height="32" id="dimg_14" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,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" style="border: 0px; display: block; position: relative;" width="32" /></g-img><span class="fe69if" style="color: #3c4043; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 10px; vertical-align: middle;">Learn to pronounce</span></div></a></div></div></div><div class="ABgcGb vmod" jsname="p0q1Sd" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></div><div class="vmod" style="background-color: white;"><div class="vmod" data-topic="" jsname="r5Nvmf"><div class="lW8rQd" style="color: #222222; display: flex; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><div class="vpx4Fd" style="font-size: 14px;"><div class="pgRvse vdBwhd" style="min-height: 20px; padding-top: 10px;"><i>noun</i><div style="display: inline-block;"><span class="mQo3nc emHvJd" style="background-color: #eeeeee; border-radius: 2px; display: inline-block; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px; margin-left: 8px; margin-top: -1px; padding: 0px 6px; text-transform: uppercase;">INFORMAL<span class="BkZwPe" style="margin: 0px 3px;">•</span>DEROGATORY</span></div></div><div aria-hidden="true" class="xpdxpnd vk_gy" data-mh="-1" jsname="jUIvqc" style="color: #878787; max-height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: max-height 0.3s ease 0s;"><b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b></div></div></div><ol class="eQJLDd" style="color: #222222; display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;"><li jsname="gskXhf" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="vmod"><div class="thODed Uekwlc XpoqFe" style="font-size: 14px; font-weight: lighter; padding-top: 10px;"><div data-topic="" jsname="cJAsRb"><div style="margin-left: 20px;"><div class="QIclbb XpoqFe" style="font-size: small; margin-left: -20px;"><div data-dobid="dfn" style="display: inline;">a person who takes advantage of others' generosity without giving anything in return.</div></div></div></div></div></div></li></ol><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div> That works for me. <br /><br />Let's talk about who is not a freeloader.<br />I think we can all agree that while babies might meet the technical definition of the term, babies are not freeloaders. Babies are wee humans who need us, who will learn, and grow, and are cherished members of our family. Elders in care facilities might seem to meet that definition, but again, these are cherished members of our families and whose lives have contributed to our collective wellbeing. <br />What about people who use social services like Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, etc? Nope, not freeloaders either. These people are making use of public services that were created to support people in need. Nearly every person who use these services are either adults who have worked and paid into these services, or are minors. These services have been created to better conditions for all of us individually as well as our nation collectively.<br />Children attending public school? Nope, not free loaders, citizens using a system we have decided benefits not just them but all of us. An educated citizenry is better than an ignorant one.<br />Veterans using VA benefits? Quite the opposite, there will never be enough to pay back what they have given to all of us.<br />You get the picture.<br /><br />Let's talk about who is a freeloader.<br />That friend who "lets" you by his drink every single time, and never remembers his wallet when it's time to pay for dinner. That one uncle who borrowed your car, crashed it, barely told you about it, never compensated you, and never brought up the subject again. The friend who borrowed your treasured copy of The Hobbit, never returned it, and claims to have forgotten all about it... ya those folks are free loaders.<br /><br />Who are freeloaders? <br /> People who cheat on their taxes. <br />Corporations that use our roads to ship their goods, hire citizens educated in our public schools, then pay those workers so little that even a full time worker needs welfare to get by, and then use every loophole to pay as little tax as possible.<br />Millionaires and billionaires who got rich using our resources and our labor then pay off politicians to write laws that favor them even more. <br />Politicians who get government paid benefits for life after making laws that they and their handlers will profit from.<br />A millionaire president who has paid $750 annual tax while signing orders that harm his own people - those are the freeloaders.<br /><br />And I'm sick of it.<br /><br />The only way our system works is if we all participate, accept our own responsibility, and meet our obligations. A good citizen pays their taxes. A good citizen votes. Every single time. </div><div>It's literally a basic obligation of being an adult part of our society.<br /><br />VOTE<br /><br /><br /><br /></div></div></div>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183821631585672805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283150494128111732.post-72270872424818509242020-09-22T14:17:00.001-06:002020-09-22T14:18:31.968-06:00It's Just for Now<p> I talked to a friend today. She was trying to find the right educational place for her crazy bright 7yo. She and her partner each work full time at jobs they both want and need. Oh ya, and there's a pandemic on, and wild fires, and smoke, and a heated election, and protests, and and and and.... On-line school, even at a progressive public charter school, is not working for this kid. (the busy work alone would be enough to make the kid crazy, but sitting still in front of a computer for that long?!? nope.) They've got an interview for an in person private school 20 minutes from their house, if their virus protocols seem safe, should they enroll their kid?<br /><br />I don't know the right answer. All I could do was ask questions. </p><p>How does it feel right now? If you were to enroll at the private school how would that be? The commute? The cost? If you leave the public charter school could you get back in later? What is your child telling you about what they're experiencing and thinking about their school? If you chose to homeschool how would that feel? How would it work? How could you work? What would your child do while you're working?</p><p>In normal times I might talk about how much social interaction their child needed, but it's not normal times, and none of us are able to get "normal" social interaction. Even if schools are in person the safety protocols mean that kids can't play together they way they use to, so any concerns about socialization will have to be set aside for now.</p><p>For now the question is - what do the parents need to be functional, sane and safe? What does the child need to learn, be safe and sane? Where those things intersect, do that.<br /><br />Whatever parents decide to do right now? It's fine. Short of beating the children, do what you need to do to get by. Keep your kids as safe as is reasonably possible in the midst of this maddness, but do it while taking care of yourself. You matter, your health, safety, sanity, they matter, just as much as your kids.</p><p>Whatever you do, remember - it's only for now. It will change. In a year things will be different, and we don't know what kind of different. We're all going to have to be flexible and resilient, ready to try new things, and to switch and try something different when that doesn't work.<br /><br />Do what works. If it doesn't work, try something else. Wash, rinse, repeat.<br /><br />It's only for now.<br /><br /></p>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183821631585672805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283150494128111732.post-36020541516175179252020-08-04T16:57:00.000-06:002020-08-04T16:57:09.645-06:00Jan - July Books !?!<ul style="background-color: white; color: #474b4e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="line-height: 1; padding-bottom: 5px;">So, something must have distracted me this winter/spring/summer.... what could it have been?</li>
</ul>
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<span style="color: #474b4e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #474b4e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">So, I'm sure I've missed some books :-(</span></span></div>
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #474b4e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="line-height: 1; padding-bottom: 5px;"><br /><br />A Man Without a Country, by Kurt Vonnegut</li>
<li style="line-height: 1; padding-bottom: 5px;">The Luster of Lost Things, by Sophie Chen Keller</li>
<li style="line-height: 1; padding-bottom: 5px;">The Last Wish, by Andrzej Sapkowski</li>
<li style="line-height: 1; padding-bottom: 5px;">Circe, by Madeline Miller</li>
<li style="line-height: 1; padding-bottom: 5px;">Columbus Day (Expeditionary Force book 1), by Craig Alanson</li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="color: #474b4e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">Mort, by Terry Pratchett</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #474b4e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">Reaper Man, by Terry Pratchett</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #474b4e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes, by Maya Angelou</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #474b4e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">It Can't Happen Here, by Sinclair Lewis</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #474b4e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">How to be an Antiracist, by Ibram X Kendi</span></span></div>
Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183821631585672805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283150494128111732.post-46904065970093650222020-07-30T18:05:00.001-06:002020-07-30T18:52:04.203-06:00Comedy NeededI don't know about you but I need some humor in my life.<br />
<br />
I made the mistake of listening to NPR as I did a lot of driving yesterday. Don't get me wrong, I love me some NPR, but the news is more than I can take sometimes.<br />
<br />
So I posted a request for comedy movies on FB, and my friends came through. (because my friends are AWESOME like that)<br />
<br />
Back at the beginning of the pandemic Hot Dog started us on a Marvel movie marathon, then we did a Harry Potter marathon, then some stuff I didn't remember (edit to note at least some of it was 007 movies, and Bridge over the River Kwai),... right now we're three seasons in to Parks and Rec, which is a lovely show, but I'm ready for a break. So I'm going to suggest a comedy movie marathon, and hope that since friends recommended them rather than me, Hot Dog will go a long with it.<br />
<br />
So, with no further ado, in no order, and probably with some repeats, here are recommendations from my friends. If you see something missing, let me know in the comments!!<br />
<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Monty Python</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Princess Bride</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Young Frankenstein</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Some Like it Hot</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Dr. Strangelove</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Airplane!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Producers</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Groundhog Day</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Waiting for Guffman</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Bringing up Baby</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Any Chaplin film</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Safety Last</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The General</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Steamboat Bill Jr.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Pee Wee's Big Adventure</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">In Bruges</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Top Secret</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Stripes</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Galaxy Quest</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The In-laws</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Lavender Hill Mob</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Dirty Rotten Scoundrels</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Clueless</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Its a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Mr. Roberts</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">All About Eve</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Being There</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Heaven Can Wait</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Office Space</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">What We Do in the Shadows</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">O Brother Where Art Thou</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Raising Arizona</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Lady Eve</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Little Shop of Horrors</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Shaun of the Dead</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Lady Eve</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Ninotchka</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Shop Around the Corner</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Harvey</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Arsenic and Old Lace</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Naked Gun</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Thin Man (multiple movies in this series)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Roman Holiday</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Apartment</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Trouble in Paradise</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Top Hat</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Singin in the Rain</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Hot Fuzz</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Muppet Movie</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Moonrise Kingdom</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Flirting with Disaster</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Sabrina</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">His Girl Friday</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Philadelphia Story</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Superbad</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Romancing the Stone</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Adam's Rib</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Miracle of Morgan's Creek</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Spinal Tap</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">A Fish Called Wanda</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Team America: World Police</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Foul Play</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Silver Streak</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">How to Steal a Million</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Batman the Movie</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Funny Farm</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Amelie</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Idiocracy</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Planes Trains and Automobiles</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Some like it Hot (Marilyn Monroe)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Paris When it Sizzles (Audry Hepburn)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Love Birds</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Palm Springs </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Bird Cage</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">City Slickers</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Shanghai Knights</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">It’s Complicated</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Mr. Bean (movie series)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Young Frankenstein</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Office Space</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Space Balls</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Harold and Maude</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Waitress</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Holy Grail</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Amelie</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Roberto Bernini (not sure of spelling)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Il Monstro </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Johnny Toothpick (Italian comedies)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Best in Show</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Mediterranio (also not sure of spelling- Italian Fascisists occupying a Greek Island), Babette’s Feast (also falls into food porn genre)</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Pink Panther movies</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Mr Bean shows</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">all Monty Python</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Outrageous Fortune</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">When Harry met Sally</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Scott Pilgrim vs the World</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">RED (with Bruce Willis)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Tintin</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The African Queen</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Mastermind</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Incredibles</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Pirates of the Caribbean</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Something About Mary</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">A Fish called Wanda</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Best In Show</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Spinal Tap</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Galaxy Quest</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Eurovision (movie, new on Netflix)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">It Happened One Night</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Gunless</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Second Hand Lions</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Dirty Rotten Scoundrels</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Date Night</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Hero (with Dustin Hoffman)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Philadelphia Story</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Trading Places</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Big</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Local Hero</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Holiday</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Elf</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">My Man Godfrey</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Son of Paleface</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">How to Marry a Millionaire</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Ghostbusters</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Emperor's New Groove</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Best in Show</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">School of Rock</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Kung Fu Panda</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Rush Hour</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Midnight Run</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Silver Streak</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Blues Brothers</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Beetlejuice</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Deadpool</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Guardians of the Galaxy</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Tucker and Dale vs Evil</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Better off Dead</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">True Lies</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Benny & Joon</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Waking Ned Devine</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Spy</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Fabulous Mr Fox</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">About Time</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> Blast from the Past</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Bedazzled</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">A Fish Called Wanda</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The African Queen</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Second Hand Lions</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Groundhog Day</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Big Fish </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">What we do in the Shadows</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Spies like Us</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Long Shot</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">A Simple Wedding</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Dioni and Devine Meet the Apocalypse</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Bandits</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Secret of Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller)</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Liar Liar</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Water Boy </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Cable Guy</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-9cff2afe-7fff-e4a5-c0b1-435de46672e6" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Series</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Life in Pieces (Amazon Prime</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Barry (dark comedy, HBO)</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">FX TV</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Performers:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Anything with Tim Conway</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Stephen Wright</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Amazing Jonathan</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Not comedy but recommended</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Greyhound (Tom Hanks)</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">train to Busan (Korean)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183821631585672805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283150494128111732.post-70043111736240552732020-05-27T12:34:00.002-06:002020-05-27T12:34:37.441-06:00Past me vs Present and Future meDoes anyone else have time laden conversations with themselves?<br />
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Like Present me is grateful to Past me for taking pictures of the garden, especially the iris in bloom so I know what colors they are when I'm separating them. <br />But Present me is also somewhat irked because Past me planned to organize the photos such that Future me could easily see what was where without having to search through years of photos. <br />Past me was also going to make beautiful photo albums for each of the children when they turned 18. Or 21. Or 22. But Past me has not been as helpful as she intended. <br />Present me would like to do better for Future me, but Present me is also already talking to Future me about exactly when would we have the time for that kind of bullshit? It's a nice idea and all, but I don't see you doing it either bitch, so cut the complaining already.<br /><br />Also, pouring through the photos makes Present me jealous of Past me, who got to travel and take lots of fun camping trips. Present me wants to do that, but thinks that being a thoughtful adult means that would be a stupid and irresponsible action right now. Present me hopes Future me appreciates our sacrifice.<br />
<br />
Ya, so that's a tiny bit of what it's like to live in my head.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOoUaBqQJHyfpqRY9cU9CL0mlZr55vshYTmtETbM7LfcIj119uNObma-Q7wlggKz4GqMBeqxnXfRBAVsXRMPHQMbmuoEACYA2PSV0WOKJD8Ki1P1TK6MIgkE0idKBxKlKLHg7mZNvrPLA/s1600/024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOoUaBqQJHyfpqRY9cU9CL0mlZr55vshYTmtETbM7LfcIj119uNObma-Q7wlggKz4GqMBeqxnXfRBAVsXRMPHQMbmuoEACYA2PSV0WOKJD8Ki1P1TK6MIgkE0idKBxKlKLHg7mZNvrPLA/s320/024.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These smell like purple kool-aid!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_TVQLq1y9rRAnR8kcKujOoyA2GGDqkaY-sK-mlYEexnmPEPjMKfQjBDWjE-gb74VPYV-zKjHtF26DMtpGtjpoyXoAljNNcY4fQ0mq-8U3zmMkB5Gvu33ibeLAX8zbALP6LicyV5_ZyHg/s1600/052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_TVQLq1y9rRAnR8kcKujOoyA2GGDqkaY-sK-mlYEexnmPEPjMKfQjBDWjE-gb74VPYV-zKjHtF26DMtpGtjpoyXoAljNNcY4fQ0mq-8U3zmMkB5Gvu33ibeLAX8zbALP6LicyV5_ZyHg/s320/052.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEaVPUhq3s8fs2RNffigaiRfRsr0U4UAO9eTUkjFKxxuLbxo_T8wRvcOzvrD37Wa8-jLfts03pQmeBinIMd9tY4Pmh5BI9mC3ljXfrcp1eQLFHqJjzKRnv2NNcsymFq-U6K5EnCe_xfZU/s1600/063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEaVPUhq3s8fs2RNffigaiRfRsr0U4UAO9eTUkjFKxxuLbxo_T8wRvcOzvrD37Wa8-jLfts03pQmeBinIMd9tY4Pmh5BI9mC3ljXfrcp1eQLFHqJjzKRnv2NNcsymFq-U6K5EnCe_xfZU/s320/063.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg43aqtBSJ6NcTgjB4M6fbPpjdmfEIBLO1IK529UqzdqUmbOcbsPCeOlkdlWMFR9Tgy7jm8TzxW8909-6dFcuEWcZ6nWLuj1CWRdye140TjkXSsux5GU1sUESKO_hPtVGRV79jQvW8z-VQ/s1600/042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg43aqtBSJ6NcTgjB4M6fbPpjdmfEIBLO1IK529UqzdqUmbOcbsPCeOlkdlWMFR9Tgy7jm8TzxW8909-6dFcuEWcZ6nWLuj1CWRdye140TjkXSsux5GU1sUESKO_hPtVGRV79jQvW8z-VQ/s320/042.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2sBLhoGVfqHPGNtAVMYfVFUJbn8tFjmK2-Jl9ZugP4qSLVzw38rObSHUYivAd07Pz3zubpFm0aL6COM_Bg40nD9izAs4auS08xpATcPW90X3dgOJWQ_oXs9rBl9rsvY4Nhe-S_prWvyM/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2sBLhoGVfqHPGNtAVMYfVFUJbn8tFjmK2-Jl9ZugP4qSLVzw38rObSHUYivAd07Pz3zubpFm0aL6COM_Bg40nD9izAs4auS08xpATcPW90X3dgOJWQ_oXs9rBl9rsvY4Nhe-S_prWvyM/s320/007.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBEe5NSx2ESHdD6xqbtn4kvkTUEGD5LZ_4mfHtZ-5wITwX5K4J_uQBtV18PKU8UFvikZl_TUxxMgbUKFxpOmpyj1OjynL0Nwsr48APvMk0PN2szLlkC4PkSaH7y6zhzVJvZ_pMQ5fjqbs/s1600/098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBEe5NSx2ESHdD6xqbtn4kvkTUEGD5LZ_4mfHtZ-5wITwX5K4J_uQBtV18PKU8UFvikZl_TUxxMgbUKFxpOmpyj1OjynL0Nwsr48APvMk0PN2szLlkC4PkSaH7y6zhzVJvZ_pMQ5fjqbs/s320/098.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this exists somewhere in the yard, good luck figuring out where</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23NExv4mmKs87wks7ANqToJXq_eUrM4ETSlQd-TGRoLjmI5OUj-WtL56nnKBRmYNizQGYmboWCbGAkc6DEYlTlXz8mSrzje59m4LOkQcHtcAbEgD3a9J6qWBl-kWINfD4YmnV1PGh2A8/s1600/045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23NExv4mmKs87wks7ANqToJXq_eUrM4ETSlQd-TGRoLjmI5OUj-WtL56nnKBRmYNizQGYmboWCbGAkc6DEYlTlXz8mSrzje59m4LOkQcHtcAbEgD3a9J6qWBl-kWINfD4YmnV1PGh2A8/s320/045.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBbJpon8QVxYsiD9aFzBa9MZl6fOuVh1fjs-a41D748z32d2By7eBmyW2FKPh5fRwe5PGHr_DIbsc1sLFtVG0F6-m_I76GwPmIqo2C8c7AftDoZjcsTm2lMN192uqZXbGLyPvXE4SWBPk/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBbJpon8QVxYsiD9aFzBa9MZl6fOuVh1fjs-a41D748z32d2By7eBmyW2FKPh5fRwe5PGHr_DIbsc1sLFtVG0F6-m_I76GwPmIqo2C8c7AftDoZjcsTm2lMN192uqZXbGLyPvXE4SWBPk/s320/015.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183821631585672805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283150494128111732.post-35525033582983596872020-05-06T11:49:00.000-06:002020-05-06T11:49:02.808-06:00Games for sanity, or at least a little fun<br />
Pleasant distractions are welcome, especially in this time of pandemic when we are trapped inside with the same people, day after day after day. A recent New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/30/arts/board-games-soothing-virus.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage&fbclid=IwAR0dt6Ft2CyzD-G0tP6K-9_VlqNyoz3QgzlNtS4jx5CjaxYZUd7RKWEQ1Co" target="_blank">article</a> touted the value and joy of table top games. Which is great, and it recommended a couple of good games (Patchwork and Japir), but they left out some of our favorites. <br />
We have a lot of games, as I've <a href="https://blatheringsandbothering.blogspot.com/search/label/games" target="_blank">posted before</a>, so I'm here to <strike>correct</strike> add to their list.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQbWlh_ntIUcyImf1HLAeH52WgEAXhzY2Gb_1DE_EgpsJWGpt63cd9msHvSd7BU2D8qnX0roybnXsY-nhTIagc3pSvH1497PZKqWoMQd6iKkFu1VXeT51_J8O2R5IO1f0r82c7mdSW34c/s1600/024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQbWlh_ntIUcyImf1HLAeH52WgEAXhzY2Gb_1DE_EgpsJWGpt63cd9msHvSd7BU2D8qnX0roybnXsY-nhTIagc3pSvH1497PZKqWoMQd6iKkFu1VXeT51_J8O2R5IO1f0r82c7mdSW34c/s320/024.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Carcassonne<br />
Quirkle<br />
Century Spice Road<br />
Pandemic the Cure<br />
VivaJava<br />
King Domino<br />
Xenon<br />
Bonanza<br />
Dominion<br />
Wits and Wagers<br />
Codenames<br />
Las Vegas Dice<br />
Dixit<br />
Anomia<br />
Geistes Blitz<br />
Hey That's My Fish!<br />
Gobblet<br />
Trambahn<br />
San Juan<br />
Citadels<br />
Sheriff of Nottingham<br />
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and so many more....<br />
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So how to pick? I'd want to know about who you've got stuck in your house with you.<br />
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Want to buy a gateway game? Quirkle and/or Carcassone<br />
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Party game? Anomia, Wits and Wagers, Dixit, or Codenames<br />
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Need something quick and easy to learn?<br />Quirkle, Las Vegas Dice, Wits and Wagers<br />
<br />Some pre-reader or not-yet-fluent readers? Remember, just because a kid isn't reading, doesn't mean they can't clean the table with you.<br />
How about Quirkle, Hey That's My Fish, Dixit, Gobblet, Geistes Blitz, Las Vegas Dice, King Domino, or Carcassone<br />
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Only two of you? Try Gobblet, Carcassone, Quirkle, Hey That's My Fish!, Trambahn, San Juan, ...<br />
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For more details on each game and suggestions and ideas for more games, check out <a href="https://boardgamegeek.com/" target="_blank">BoardGameGeek</a><br />
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If you want to play virtually with friends there are a few resources to try, <a href="https://www.tabletopsimulator.com/" target="_blank">TableTop Simulator</a> and <a href="https://tabletopia.com/" target="_blank">Tabletopia</a> are some I've heard of.<br />
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Got a specific question or need? Ask me, and I'll offer an opinion.<br />Let me know what your favorites are. (but don't say <a href="https://blatheringsandbothering.blogspot.com/2016/12/monopoly-sucks.html" target="_blank">Monopoly</a>, please)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-vDfuoGjzb3DPEnmQBYHTSwd73XQ20iLHLnfOALV3pCCxgSEcXGXwuiLxUhaeF8Yx3QsnlpyoIESHQYxIzwcw8HRwv6Z4phnhz1N01xiRXcDGujh_NcwwRVSuRen0rmDGMbMEv7LtXpY/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-vDfuoGjzb3DPEnmQBYHTSwd73XQ20iLHLnfOALV3pCCxgSEcXGXwuiLxUhaeF8Yx3QsnlpyoIESHQYxIzwcw8HRwv6Z4phnhz1N01xiRXcDGujh_NcwwRVSuRen0rmDGMbMEv7LtXpY/s320/027.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<br />Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183821631585672805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283150494128111732.post-25049991592168221492020-03-27T16:37:00.000-06:002020-03-27T16:37:10.969-06:00Universal SlackI want to introduce you to a most useful concept<br /><br /><b>Granting Universal Slack</b><br />
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I just got off the phone with Janice, who had to tell me that a surgery for our big rescue dog had to again be rescheduled to some date that is not yet known. I said of course, and that I hoped she was staying well in these crazy days. She almost cried, and said "Thank you for making this easy" - because other folks had been making it hard.<br /><br />So, don't be that person. Don't make it harder for anyone else right now. Things kinda suck at the moment. They just do. It's hard enough, grant folks some slack. Grant Universal Slack, to everyone. Including yourself. <br /><br />Universal slack means acting with patience regardless of how you're feeling. It means remembering that nothing about the current state of affairs is anything like normal, for anyone, and we're all just doing the best we can. Universal slack means granting it to someone who isn't ready to reciprocate.<br />
It means remembering that what is really important is how we treat each other, and that real character is shown when things aren't going your way. And it's ok to screw up, just try again. and again.<br /><br />We're going to figure this out together, somehow. Somehow, some day, we'll be on the other side of all of this mess. What we'll remember is how we stood together, how we treated each other.<br /><br />So cut each other some slack, ok?<br /><br />I love you enough to share some cuteness<br />Here's a picture of two of our foster kittens<br />
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and our eighty pound rescue dog who won't be having surgery anytime soon<br />
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<br />Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183821631585672805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283150494128111732.post-33720004184756620732020-03-21T19:53:00.000-06:002020-03-21T19:53:24.578-06:00Make bad art<br />
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The act of imagination is <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/01/11/795010044/feeling-artsy-heres-how-making-art-helps-your-brain" target="_blank">an act of survival</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.johnholtgws.com/" target="_blank">To learn is human</a><br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Engineer-Human-Failure-Successful-Design/dp/0679734163" target="_blank">To engineer is human</a><br />
To create is human<br />
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Create because it feels good, not because the product is good, but because the process is. It fufills a basic human drive to effect change, create, express. It's good to feel good. But, if you need an excuse, make art because making art<a href="https://www.rtor.org/2018/07/10/benefits-of-art-therapy/" target="_blank"> is good </a>for us, like<a href="https://www.healing-power-of-art.org/art-and-the-brain/" target="_blank"> vegetables</a> and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2804629/" target="_blank">exercise</a> <a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/mental-health/the-healing-power-of-art" target="_blank">level</a> good.<br />
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Remember when you were little? You'd make something and not know that it was "bad"? Mud pies were real. You'd draw a picture and it was so satisfying, no, it didn't look like what you'd intended, but it felt good to do it, you liked the colors, the shape, the way it felt. You'd hear a song, it gave you shivers, and then maybe you'd sing it, with no thought to if you were "good".<br />
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Then, probably, somewhere, you got feed back that didn't feel so good. You handed someone a picture and the tone when they asked "what is this?" stung. Or your fourth grade music teacher told you to just mouth the words instead of singing. <br />
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When I was a little kid I would sing, all the time. Real songs I'd heard (or mis-heard), songs I made up, pretty random, but to me it made sense. It was comforting. Some time in 6th grade I learned that maybe this wasn't socially acceptable. (ya, late bloomer here)<br />
[I think it was when I got peeved with a friend on the play ground and loudly sang at her "Anything you can I can do better, I can do anything better than you!" You get a certain sort of rep when you do shit like that.]<br />
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Even as a teen my brother and I would play a game where we would only respond to each other with snippets of song. Huh. Firelord and I found ourselves doing that when the full implications of COVID19 started to hit us. "It's the end of the world as we know it" "We didn't start the fire, 'cause the worlds been burning since the world's been turning" "Staying alive, staying alive"<br />
So, ya, I guess I haven't really outgrown it. It feels good.<br /><br />There's research out there that shows that art is good for you. <br />
Making art is good for you. The objective quality of your work is irrelevant. <br />
Play.<br />
Make art because it feels good. <br />
Call it a mediation if you need an excuse. <br />
Do it to stay sane. <br />
Do it to model for your kids and community this oh-so-valuable survival mechanism.Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183821631585672805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283150494128111732.post-48709370672265080082020-03-18T20:00:00.000-06:002020-03-19T09:23:58.482-06:00learn anything, go anywhere - virtuallyI am one of those awful people who leaves stuff out so I can see it and be reminded to deal with it. It's a mess, but it mostly works for me.<br />
I do the same thing with tabs on my browser, but when I opened my computer this morning and realized that I had 52 tabs open, I knew I needed to do something. Even I have my limits.<br />
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Here it is, a list of some of the resources I've found in the last couple of days for keeping a kid busy at home. I was going to sort it all out in, write several {<i>absolutely brilliant</i>} blog posts with specific topics and ages in mind. But, fuck it. I don't have time and I'm moving on.<br />
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So here's a brain dump, I hope you have some fun poking around. Oh, and check out your local library's website. They'll almost certainly have many resources there like <a href="https://www.kanopy.com/" target="_blank">Kanopy</a>, <a href="https://www.hoopladigital.com/" target="_blank">Hoopla</a>, <a href="https://www.overdrive.com/" target="_blank">Overdrive</a>, <a href="https://flipster.ebsco.com/" target="_blank">Flipster</a> and<a href="https://mangolanguages.com/" target="_blank"> Mango</a><br />
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Remember that this is not all about your kids. It's about you too. You never know, you might find something of interest here for you too.<br />
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<a href="http://www.openculture.com/2018/10/art-institute-chicago-puts-44000-works-art-online-view-high-resolution.html?fbclid=IwAR3Ne3dsaPnfEoi2LFCSqbU3vW1rfnMilS2A2wUGeHSRDzqZzKq9vZlDQa4" target="_blank">Open Culture</a> <a href="http://www.openculture.com/2020/03/use-your-time-in-isolation-to-learn-everything-youve-always-wanted-to.html?fbclid=IwAR1qhDXv4vS8wEA6zThU3ukupXe80rfdFkCzqxgHoNcV-s8JvLpAWdtvjCk" target="_blank">lists free</a> and education media on the web<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.pbs.org/" target="_blank">PBS</a> listed <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/19-immersive-museum-exhibits-you-can-visit-from-your-couch?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=pbsofficial&utm_campaign=newshour&utm_content=1584453638&fbclid=IwAR004j-ZXRs1lsRrRcn_UBCRQ0C5uiVrlq3DUEzxBY-28vnJlVrtssqvUXI" target="_blank">19 museums you can visit from home</a><br />
<a href="http://parismuseescollections.paris.fr/en" target="_blank">Paris Musees</a> has <a href="https://kottke.org/20/01/paris-museums-put-100000-images-online-for-unrestricted-public-use?fbclid=IwAR0jVVAdUAeQnW1kzc_WLbizt67e4NtDZVdKTSeDeDhMbCvMjbJH2cBmKBg" target="_blank">thousands of images</a> you can <a href="https://kottke.org/20/01/paris-museums-put-100000-images-online-for-unrestricted-public-use?fbclid=IwAR0jVVAdUAeQnW1kzc_WLbizt67e4NtDZVdKTSeDeDhMbCvMjbJH2cBmKBg" target="_blank">access for free</a><br />
<a href="https://www.playbill.com/article/15-broadway-plays-and-musicals-you-can-watch-on-stage-from-home?fbclid=IwAR0MdC0lJNfw1RUPe8HhDK3oQou_QrLo2HZhrGD_WOFb23NFdySj-mi197Q" target="_blank">Broadway shows </a>you can access from home<br />
list of<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SvIdgTx9djKO6SjyvPDsoGlkgE3iExmi3qh2KRRku_w/preview?fbclid=IwAR1yXEaAomiTyVzjH9iZ4U3_IArNqSVppIQBBNbE-hftbemDMsHYQ--4Qtc&pru=AAABcQNcL_E*EvPa3vzSwGnT463van_qkA" target="_blank"> virtual field trips</a><br />
Adventure Journal has <a href="https://www.adventure-journal.com/2020/03/if-youre-stuck-inside-might-as-well-enjoy-this-list-of-animal-cams/?fbclid=IwAR0Ge1awu8YYYXqgucZEgFdbdtgDkSNMI3d96ThkoZHJOt92Bwp2B8D7hLk" target="_blank">a list</a> of live feeds of animals<br />
U.S. National Parks<a href="https://techcrunch.com/2016/08/25/google-now-lets-you-explore-u-s-national-parks-via-360-degree-virtual-tours/" target="_blank"> virtual </a>tours via <a href="https://artsandculture.withgoogle.com/en-us/" target="_blank">Googles Hidden Worlds of the National Parks</a><br />
<a href="https://www.geoguessr.com/" target="_blank">Geoguesser</a> is a fun geography game G<br />
<a href="https://geoawesomeness.com/10-top-google-maps-games-of-all-times/" target="_blank">List of</a> other Google maps games<br />
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<a href="https://www.aaastateofplay.com/50-bird-species-sounds-they-make/?fbclid=IwAR1CRD2isuyDFpdcna1UJjA75NkKJSXvIatls4ruJUEX-z2_Eifyd06xFdA" target="_blank">50 birds and the sounds</a> they make<br />
The NYPL is offering an <a href="https://www.nypl.org/books-music-movies/ebookcentral/simplye" target="_blank">app </a>that lends e-books<a href="https://www.timeout.com/newyork/blog/you-can-now-download-over-300-000-books-from-the-nypl-for-free-071216?fbclid=IwAR3XxZDtxA2Z9JrulaG5dHuD_A0-Qw8TQK_ssmigd8760ePH7zRc_uinWmE" target="_blank"> for free</a><br />
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There are many free courses on line<br />
<a href="https://thecrashcourse.com/" target="_blank">Crash Course</a> has some really amazing/fun/wonderful <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/crashcourse" target="_blank">educational classes/videos</a><br />
Disney <a href="https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/hass-storytelling/imagineering-in-a-box?CMP=ILC-DPFY19Q4wo0808190814190031F" target="_blank">Imagineering in a Box</a><br />
Ivy League Courses <a href="https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/ivy-league-free-online-courses-a0d7ae675869/?fbclid=IwAR0iIlWETrvN0Gc45aXbIcW5bartSKWUC7akto2er0BsbJq80ampFjTCwTw" target="_blank">on line for free</a><br />
<a href="https://www.coursera.org/courses?query=free" target="_blank">Coursera </a>also has many free on-line classes<br />
the <a href="https://www.khanacademy.org/" target="_blank">Khan acadamy</a> has free on-line educational classes and videos<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tVfVvmJP7E" target="_blank">Doodle with Mo</a>, lunch art for kids on the <a href="https://www.kennedy-center.org/" target="_blank">Kennedy Center'</a>s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeJesXuEK5ERsyh-0DvM4PQ" target="_blank">youtube channel</a><br />
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<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1o6kEgCKLn3cyIm2hehhhSTIk7yRTd0C3zx49JS4wwCI/preview?fbclid=IwAR1jK8wZbk9NpE7HalsZsJ7N4bdjvoRsqxTZ1RC4CR6Kk7_YViMYC854INk" target="_blank">Giant list of ideas for being home with kids</a><br />
Here's a <a href="https://virtualschoolactivities.com/" target="_blank">website</a> of Virtual School Activities, virtual tours of museums and zoos around the world.<br />
<a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1t3r618pd8MAi6V87dG2D66PtiKoHdHusBpjPKXgm36w/htmlview?fbclid=IwAR2ocYI2If-GYiMzPd7CvPuGeoJAm8Zfhwv5XwMaFa5b3etGPiQP7iIy64U&sle=true#gid=0" target="_blank">Amazing Educational Resources</a> is a website of crowd shared found resources<br />
<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oCM2Ue9w32EUIGfRXsjwEXU_-Up8D6FSSWT8YGiBEtE/preview?fbclid=IwAR0_BBM9-OH5GZOOOuH6v_bAsTMJ80c6XVK0eZV8CLx172JM9GNByM0cd58" target="_blank">Engineering ideas </a>for kids to try at home<br />
another crowd sourced list of <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1a8gHijpkmjGfjHmbC-BvpiZ0afCcejY5oeXti_8CyW4/edit?fbclid=IwAR3OjP8JEAyTnOG89LPOAvOTmkD2NnZgCjtMcClTf5P_I9CydRsn0OV8V1M#gid=0" target="_blank">ideas</a><br />
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<a href="http://netflix.com/" target="_blank">Netflix </a>has tons of documentaries<a href="https://homeschoolhideout.com/educational-shows-on-netflix/?fbclid=IwAR0cBam4-vfAtAnT9yoYSAQ_wPWLT3LFPcfniX3B1swjURJ3ZxZ3VEiSDSc" target="_blank"> and</a> <a href="https://homeschoolhideout.com/educational-shows-on-netflix/?fbclid=IwAR0cBam4-vfAtAnT9yoYSAQ_wPWLT3LFPcfniX3B1swjURJ3ZxZ3VEiSDSc" target="_blank">educational videos</a> (hint, anything w/ David Attenbough is excellent) Also, I just learned that you can do a <a href="https://www.gamespot.com/articles/netflix-party-lets-you-watch-with-friends-online-l/1100-6474858/?fbclid=IwAR1T7e4Mp14FxY6fv9qgjmbNqP3s75eEEUSX36jiDSjXd97eiexiwgQPUEs" target="_blank">Netflix party</a>!<br />
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And finally, if your school is going to make your kid to school at home, you might find this helplful -the <a href="https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1PDVZvie0DnFbFEVFB8U3j89o1mD5BCUXTE6ymbb9y_k/mobilepresent?fbclid=IwAR3LGWi2utQwHnXc0vFkdNz7HN8-jQM20oSNQ_pBwojves56CY43iD8syxA&slide=id.g4f60ec15fb_1_0" target="_blank">Parents guide to Google Classroom</a><br />
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<br />Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183821631585672805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283150494128111732.post-14918111657052989122020-03-17T15:51:00.003-06:002020-03-17T15:51:38.449-06:00Sudden HomeschoolingSo, here are a few notes I made for myself when brainstorming for emergency homeschooling - no complete thoughts here, but perhaps it will spark something for you (or for me to flesh out!)<br /><br />chill the f out<br />
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routine vs schedule<br />
neighborhood community/support<br />
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chores<br />
you are useful you are appreciated you are notice you are an important member of the family<br />
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acting things out, making up stories<br />
make videos?<br />
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whereto find how to pick educational videos - kanopy<br />
david attanbough, crash course<br />
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read aloud<br />
make stuff - art, write, comic books (both)<br />
exercise - dance party, hoolahoop!, juggling, poi,<br />
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audio books (librivox, library, hoopla,<br />
hand work/ crafts - crochet, knit, art, weaving<br />
scheduling<br />
math (place values) real life - money, cooking, books -beast acadamy, a o ps, math u see (videos)<br />
legos<br />
games<br />
creativity<br />
library - what do they have at your local one? free stuff, e stuff<br />
virtual museums<br />
google<br />
nature watching<br />
music - practice an instrument, chord charts, free songs<br />
art - so many links!<br />
google map games, geoguesser<br />
languages duolingo, muffy,<br />
science - how does soap work? what is a virus?<br />
<br />Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183821631585672805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283150494128111732.post-27237015140153685372020-03-17T15:49:00.000-06:002020-03-17T15:53:35.416-06:00Where to start when emergency homeschooling?I've been postponing this post because I didn't know where to start, and then I thought, well, neither does anyone else. This is a crazy situation, one that no one alive in this country has faced before.<br />
<br />
So, for my friend who is stuck at home with a 6yo....<br />
How do you get through these first few days of COVID19 social distancing/shelter in place/quarantine?<br />
<br />
Again, ease in to this, and consider this first bit (and maybe all of this) as enrichment rather than "school". School is boring, enrichment is fun and interesting.<br />
<br />
<b>Think about the difference between a routine and a schedule. </b><br />
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A schedule has a specific time at with specific things need to be done. It's great when you're trying to coordinate people who have busy lives and other things going on. It keeps you on track and helps you be accountable to other people. It's not so great when you're in a flow, immersed in an activity and you don't have anywhere else you need to be.<br />
<br />
A routine, on the other hand, is a series of actions that you do almost habitually. Rise, let the dog out, eat, brush your teeth, wash your hands after the using the toilet, etc. A routine is flexible and also easy to remember because you do what you've always done.<br />
<br />
When homeschooling, a routine is much easier to manage than a schedule. You need a schedule for things like lessons and appointments, stuff outside the home. You're not going to have those right now, so think instead about how to create functional routines that will meet everyone's needs.<br />
<br />
<b>Exercise -</b> build this into your routines, and do something more than once a day<br />
When my boys were young they would often bicker, and when they made me crazy, I'd give them laps to do around the yard. They always came back united in their resentment towards me, and a little less grumpy, so win/win!<br />
<br />
If your child is like mine were at that age the first thing you need to do is to give their physical energy somewhere to go. Seriously, children (and adults) are much nicer when well exercised. Hey, and join in if you can<br />
<br />
Some ideas:<br />
jump rope<br />
calisthenics<br />
dance party!<br />
trampoline if you have one<br />
jumping on the bed if you don't (bail is way more than a new mattress will be when this is all over)<br />
bike ride<br />
hoola hoop<br />
yoga<br />
video workouts<br />
<br />
Google for <a href="https://www.todaysparent.com/family/activities/15-ways-to-keep-kids-active-indoors-even-if-you-dont-have-much-space/" target="_blank"> indoor</a> <a href="https://whatmomslove.com/kids/active-indoor-games-activities-for-kids-to-burn-energy/" target="_blank">exercise </a>f<a href="https://parenting.firstcry.com/articles/30-indoor-and-outdoor-physical-activities-for-kids/" target="_blank">or kids</a>, yoga, dance, etc.. you name it, it's out there.<br />
Get onto Facebook and look for groups that fit your kids interest, during this crisis most gyms are shutting down and many are offering free videos and live stream workouts on their pages.<br />
Pinterest is another place to find ideas.<br />
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<br />Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183821631585672805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283150494128111732.post-47161238845666805662020-03-14T22:31:00.001-06:002020-03-19T08:37:16.846-06:00Chill, it's going to be ok<br />
<br />
Folks out there are going to be spending <a href="https://blatheringsandbothering.blogspot.com/search/label/COVID19" target="_blank">a lot more time</a> with their kids than they expected in the next weeks. Us homeschoolers (and former homeschoolers) might have a bit of an advantage.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnP3xkBJ59JQqJlpd9Lxz9cEvmj65717RJzifPhp5OGh1N4RK5oRbVcBuUB72RA9CBL2OfBtJYFgrsxHZKUW6nWas857Qau9RIH9jFCCYvmieDhu4Zn0nwfriA7LfDTDtc6XqNfW3Q5Iw/s1600/zombie+homeschooling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnP3xkBJ59JQqJlpd9Lxz9cEvmj65717RJzifPhp5OGh1N4RK5oRbVcBuUB72RA9CBL2OfBtJYFgrsxHZKUW6nWas857Qau9RIH9jFCCYvmieDhu4Zn0nwfriA7LfDTDtc6XqNfW3Q5Iw/s400/zombie+homeschooling.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Although, to be fair, it's not the advantage I expected to have back when I envisioned the apocalypse. </div>
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So, I will try to share some of my thoughts and opinions. They're worth exactly what you're paying for them. If they don't work for you, that's fine.<br />
<br />
There is an emotional content to learning that is more important than technique, theory, or materials<br />
<br />
There are no educational emergencies. No one will die if little Susie hasn't memorized her time tables or Timmy doesn't know how to read by the end of the season.</div>
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Humans learn, all the time, like it or not. It's what we do. </div>
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Everything is learning.</div>
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Homeschooling is really just parenting. Sending your kid to school is just outsourcing some parts of parenting, which is fine. (Seriously, I'd outsource pregnancy if I could. pregger => 4/10 do not recommend, but the baby is nice) </div>
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School at home is not homeschooling, and school at home sucks for all involved, so maybe let up on that </div>
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Try to think about this time as fun enrichment, not make or break, not high stakes. </div>
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You're a coach, and a cheerleader, not a professor.</div>
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Follow your kids interest, strew, explore, ask your student what their goals are and what they're curious about. Luckily, even if we can't leave our homes, with the internet and web, we have the world at our finger tips.</div>
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You matter too, so be sure to organize so that you get done what you need to and still stay sane. More on this later, but a friend once told me "If you're not using the TV as a babysitter, you're doing it wrong. That's what it's FOR" There's a time and place for electronics and that time is most certainly when a parent needs a break.<a href="https://blatheringsandbothering.blogspot.com/2011/02/this-post-is-for-you.html" target="_blank"> Don't beat the children.</a></div>
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I'll try to post every couple of days to answer some questions for a friend w/ a <a href="https://blatheringsandbothering.blogspot.com/search/label/for%20Anika" target="_blank">precocious 6 1/2 year old</a>, but until I get to all those, you could take a peak at some older stuff.<br />
I've written a lot about <a href="https://blatheringsandbothering.blogspot.com/search/label/homeschooling" target="_blank">homeschooling</a>, so you can check that out. My friend<a href="https://blatheringsandbothering.blogspot.com/search/label/J%27s%20question" target="_blank"> J asked</a> about our eclectic unschooly ways several years ago and I answered her <a href="https://blatheringsandbothering.blogspot.com/search/label/J%27s%20question" target="_blank">here</a>. You can check out the pages over there in the side bar. They were up to date a decade ago, but if I get some motivation I might fix the broken links.</div>
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Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183821631585672805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283150494128111732.post-61893303809983555702020-03-13T14:31:00.000-06:002020-03-14T16:22:20.638-06:00 SARS-CoV-2 triggered<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijKczbTqLdVbDykyd9jFw-Z0qJWUQ_9g9HUCgqTa8rCM9-i0_uDBvOW2ixT811lUUL76tdYaeOwhAePhD6dd76dgOQXbxNt1ZtvOj7VZenPDM3tehBF-F08ylnHTDeeVp3NqtrdKl27Fo/s1600/sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijKczbTqLdVbDykyd9jFw-Z0qJWUQ_9g9HUCgqTa8rCM9-i0_uDBvOW2ixT811lUUL76tdYaeOwhAePhD6dd76dgOQXbxNt1ZtvOj7VZenPDM3tehBF-F08ylnHTDeeVp3NqtrdKl27Fo/s320/sunset.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The world is a different place than it was just a month ago, just a week ago.<br />
<br />
This shock, this surreal feeling, this grief.... it's actually an old friend. I remember you. You've been here before. But before it was just me. Just me, my whole world suddenly upside down, suddenly nothing would ever be the same again.<br />
Now.<br />
Now.<br />
Now it's all of us. together. Our worlds won't be the same. This feels even bigger than 9/11, which happened only in the U.S., only in NYC. Here in Colorado we cried, tucked in for a bit, then poked our heads back out of our shells comparatively quickly and carried on.<br />
<br />
This will not be quick.<br />
This will last for a year, or more.<br />
A lifetime, or more.<br />
Many lifetimes all at once<br />
I find myself wondering...<br />
<br />
Will this be what kills my 98 year old grandfather? Will I be able to go to his funeral?<br />
What about my 72 year old mother?<br />
<br />
when my youngest graduates from high school, how many memorials will there be for the kids who didn't make it to graduation? Will one be his?<br />
<br />
<br />
40-70% of the population will get SARS-CoV-2.<br />
1-4% of those will not survive not survive it.<br />
Are you good with math? Can you run the numbers?<br />
I will help you.<br />
329.5 million x .4 x .01 = 1.32 million people just in this country will not be here next year. Because they'll be dead. Everyone of those will leave behind people who loved them and will never be the same. That's the conservative estimate. The other end .... the other upper end number is more than 9 million.<br />
<br />
This uncertainty is something that other humans in other countries, other humans in most of all our history, have lived with. But it't not something a privileged U.S. citizen has had to think about since vaccines for polio and measles were available. Even if you are so privileged that you could chose to opt of of vaccines, you've had the benefit of the rest of us getting them and not exposing you to these diseases.<br />
<br />
This surreal waiting, this almost nebulous fear? That's an every day occurrence for some folks, even today.<br />
The undocumented immigrant<br />
The compromised cancer patient<br />
The parent of that wee little premie<br />
<br />
Most of us will survive.<br />
History will record what we did, how we handled this huge test of our collective character.<br />
<br />
We'll figure out what worked, what we could have done better.<br />
<br />
I hope one thing we get right, or at least learn is that<br />
we're all in this together, and we help each other out.<br />
<br />
<br />Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183821631585672805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283150494128111732.post-11209906578260597042020-01-29T13:35:00.000-07:002020-01-29T13:35:02.770-07:00October - December Books<ul style="background-color: white; color: #474b4e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="line-height: 1; padding-bottom: 5px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000O76NMS/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1" target="_blank">Gilead</a>, by<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marilynne_Robinson" target="_blank"> Marilynne</a> <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/author/marilynnerobinson/" target="_blank">Robinson</a></li>
<li style="line-height: 1; padding-bottom: 5px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MZN2B2/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1" target="_blank">The Man</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Man_in_the_High_Castle" target="_blank"> in the High Castle</a>, by<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_K._Dick" target="_blank"> Philip K. </a><a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/just-because-you-re-paranoid-philip-k-dick-s-troubled-life-1.3243976" target="_blank">Dick</a></li>
<li style="line-height: 1; padding-bottom: 5px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Q2RCQ72/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1" target="_blank">Beverly Right Here</a>, by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_DiCamillo" target="_blank">Kate</a> <a href="https://www.katedicamillo.com/" target="_blank">DeCamillo</a></li>
<li style="line-height: 1; padding-bottom: 5px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007PKQ2RI/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1" target="_blank">Loitering with Intent</a>, by<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muriel_Spark" target="_blank"> Muriel Spark</a></li>
<li style="line-height: 1; padding-bottom: 5px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Thrift-Shop-Murder-hilariously-reverse-ebook/dp/B07B9YD86V" target="_blank">A Thrift Shop Murder</a>, by <a href="https://www.fantasticfiction.com/h/n-m-howell/" target="_blank">N.M. </a><a href="https://twitter.com/Nikk0Marie?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor" target="_blank">Howell</a></li>
<li style="line-height: 1; padding-bottom: 5px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VRBBD2/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1" target="_blank">Garden Spells</a>, by<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Addison_Allen" target="_blank"> Sarah</a> <a href="http://www.sarahaddisonallen.com/index.html" target="_blank">Addison Allen</a></li>
</ul>
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<span style="color: #474b4e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">Not enough reading these last few months. :-(<br /><br />Gilead was a book group read, took me a little bit to get into it. Written as if a letter to a grown son by an elderly father, by the end I was immersed.<br />Man in the High Castle is a SF classic that I had missed. I was prompted by an add for a new TV series by the same name. Book is excellent.<br />Beverly Right Here is a YA novel, lovely, well done.<br />Loitering with Intent was enjoyable and had a few too true truths in it. Loved some of the turns of phrase. Bummed to find out this author is dead. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #474b4e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">A Thrift Shop Murder was a <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/welcome" target="_blank">BookBub</a> find. It was a light read, fun, but not so much that I have run off to buy the rest of the series. (But then I don't have time to read everything I already have so....)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #474b4e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">Garden Spells was a sweet unexpected offering a FB friend recommended. I loved the sisters stories.</span></span></div>
Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183821631585672805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283150494128111732.post-58157402502474237092019-10-22T11:41:00.001-06:002019-10-22T19:12:49.382-06:00June - September Books<ul style="background-color: white; color: #474b4e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="line-height: 1; padding-bottom: 5px;">Wow. I really lost it. I keep these lists for me, not you, but man, past me is letting future me down. Someday I'll read a book and think "That seems really familiar. Have I read it before?" and I'll look here and not find it, and have no idea if it's because I didn't read that book or because I just didn't keep track. Hmph.</li>
<li style="line-height: 1; padding-bottom: 5px;"><br /></li>
<li style="line-height: 1; padding-bottom: 5px;">Anyway, future me, here's what Oct. 2020 me remembers from all last summer and the beginning of this fall. Sorry, </li>
<li style="line-height: 1; padding-bottom: 5px;">signed, </li>
<li style="line-height: 1; padding-bottom: 5px;">present me (past me to you)</li>
<li style="line-height: 1; padding-bottom: 5px;"><br /></li>
<li style="line-height: 1; padding-bottom: 5px;">looking at this list I think it can be safely gathered that I like books, books with cats, fantasy, and generally still need more time to read than I get. </li>
<li style="line-height: 1; padding-bottom: 5px;">personal notes: <br />Genius was a good book, I knew Steven T. Seagle in passing (he was dating and ended up marrying a college roommate)</li>
<li style="line-height: 1; padding-bottom: 5px;">I met Stephanie Tolan at a retreat this last summer, and it was knowing that I would that lead me to read her books.</li>
<li style="line-height: 1; padding-bottom: 5px;">For years I've been on a listserve that Tamora Pierce is on, but it's only recently I started reading her work, my loss!</li>
<li style="line-height: 1; padding-bottom: 5px;">I've known A.E. Wasp for years and our kids are friends, I got to beta read this book, it's a fun sweet story.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Boys-Summer-Hot-Off-Book-ebook/dp/B07YK3SG2Z/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=boys+of+summer&qid=1571765843&s=digital-text&sr=1-3" target="_blank">Boys of Summer</a>, by<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Boys-Summer-Hot-Off-Book-ebook/dp/B07YK3SG2Z/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=boys+of+summer&qid=1571765843&s=digital-text&sr=1-3" target="_blank"> A.E. Wasp</a><br /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Self-Published-Kindling-Memoirs-Homeless-Bookstore-ebook/dp/B00E9DHKG6/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=self+published+kindling&qid=1571764600&s=digital-text&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Self Published Kindling</a>, by<a href="http://www.theindieview.com/2013/10/17/indieview-with-mik-everett-author-of-self-published-kindling-memoirs-of-a-homeless-bookstore-owner/" target="_blank"> Mik</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/mikaroo32?lang=en" target="_blank">Everett</a><br /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A1QPD3M/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1" target="_blank">Welcome to the Arc</a>, by <a href="https://www.stephanietolan.com/" target="_blank">Stephanie</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephanie_S._Tolan" target="_blank">Tolan</a><br /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A1QPEXQ/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1" target="_blank">Flight of the Raven</a>, by Stephanie Tolan<br /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007ED6ZGY/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1" target="_blank">Surviving the</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surviving_the_Applewhites" target="_blank">Applewhites</a>, by Stephanie Tolan<br /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mother-Knows-Best-Witch-Villains-ebook/dp/B07DVPH4D6/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=mother+knows+best&qid=1571764832&s=digital-text&sr=1-3" target="_blank">Mother Knows Best</a>, by<a href="https://www.serenavalentino.com/" target="_blank"> Serina</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serena_Valentino" target="_blank">Valentino</a><br /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Paris-Book-Novel-Liam-Callanan-ebook/dp/B073QZPXD1/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=paris+by+the+book&qid=1571764914&s=digital-text&sr=1-2" target="_blank">Paris by the Book</a>, by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liam_Callanan" target="_blank">Liam</a> <a href="https://www.liamcallanan.com/" target="_blank">Callanan</a><br /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Meow-Catnip-Assassins-Book-1-ebook/dp/B07N39C3WB/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=meow&qid=1571764974&s=digital-text&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Meow</a>, by <a href="https://skyemackinnon.com/index.html" target="_blank">Skye Mackinnon</a><br /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Love-Lies-Hocus-Pocus-Beginnings-ebook/dp/B01DB5ITIK/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3E3E8XM0QDQXX&keywords=love+lies+and+hocus+pocus&qid=1571765031&s=digital-text&sprefix=love+lies+and+ho%2Cdigital-text%2C270&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus</a>, by <a href="https://lydiasherrer.com/" target="_blank">Lydia Sherrer</a><br /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fingerprints-Gifted-Touch-Melinda-Metz-ebook/dp/B000FC11S8" target="_blank">Gifted Touch</a>, by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melinda_Metz" target="_blank">Melinda Metz</a></li>
<li style="line-height: 1; padding-bottom: 5px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B478X43/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1" target="_blank">We Who are About to..</a>, by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joanna_Russ" target="_blank">Joanna Russ</a></li>
<li style="line-height: 1; padding-bottom: 5px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003VPWXTM/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1" target="_blank">Crave</a>, by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_J._Burns" target="_blank">Laura J. Burns</a> and<a href="http://www.melindaandlaura.com/melinda-metz" target="_blank"> Melinda Metz</a></li>
<li style="line-height: 1; padding-bottom: 5px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C2RSA9C/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1" target="_blank">The Human Division</a>, by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Scalzi" target="_blank">John</a> <a href="https://whatever.scalzi.com/" target="_blank">Scalzi</a></li>
<li style="line-height: 1; padding-bottom: 5px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dispatcher-John-Scalzi-ebook/dp/B06XZ41MYR" target="_blank">The Dispatcher,</a> by <a href="https://www.npr.org/2017/05/31/529749088/the-dispatcher-is-a-short-stroll-in-a-strange-neighborhood" target="_blank">John Scalzi</a></li>
<li style="line-height: 1; padding-bottom: 5px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Genius-Steven-T-Seagle/dp/1596432632" target="_blank">Genius</a>, by <a href="https://imagecomics.com/creators/steven-t-seagle" target="_blank">Steven</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_T._Seagle" target="_blank">T. Seagle</a> & <a href="http://teddykristiansenblog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Teddy</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teddy_Kristiansen" target="_blank"> Kristiansen</a></li>
<li style="line-height: 1; padding-bottom: 5px;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34197014-trickster-s-choice" target="_blank">Trickster's Choice</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamora_Pierce" target="_blank">Tamora</a> <a href="http://www.tamora-pierce.net/" target="_blank">Pierce</a></li>
<li style="line-height: 1; padding-bottom: 5px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Harley-Merlin-Secret-Coven-Forrest-ebook/dp/B07DNGRZF7/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=harvey+merlin&qid=1571764410&s=digital-text&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Harley Merlin</a>, <a href="https://www.bellaforrest.net/" target="_blank">Bella Forrest</a></li>
<li style="line-height: 1; padding-bottom: 5px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0054LJGWS/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1" target="_blank">Good Omens</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Pratchett" target="_blank">Terry </a><a href="https://www.terrypratchettbooks.com/" target="_blank">Pratchett</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Gaiman" target="_blank">Neil </a><a href="http://www.neilgaiman.com/" target="_blank">Gaimon</a></li>
<li style="line-height: 1; padding-bottom: 5px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004YW4L5K/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1" target="_blank">American Gods</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/neilhimself?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor" target="_blank"> Neil Gaimon</a></li>
</ul>
Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183821631585672805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283150494128111732.post-34201598546655922932019-09-10T19:09:00.000-06:002019-09-10T19:10:32.298-06:00Good job making things work<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I had a really good day today.<br />
I did good work.<br />
I did not get paid, in fact, we're down money. <br />
I barely got recognition, and what I did will not be remembered.<br />
I hardly got done anything I'd planned to do.<br />
But, it was a good day.<br />
<br />
I helped someone get some medicine. I lifted a little chore that made 2 people's lives easier. I walked with one friend and listened to her thoughts around a hard decision. I walked with another friend, vented some of my frustrations, got some good ideas, and listened to her vent about her frustrations. I practiced letting go. Yesterday I was in a well justified snit, but it didn't make anything better and wasn't helpful so I'm still practicing letting go.<br />
I accepted the chance to help an older adult learn to read.<br />
<br />
I'm not exceptional. I'm the norm. This work I did? There were others directly involved doing even more. There always are others, doing what needs to be done, not because they get paid, but because it just needs to get done. What do women do? Get shit done.<br />
<br />
This world runs on the unpaid, unacknowledged, and unappreciated labor of women.<br />
<br />
Just thought you should know<br />
<br />
Also, to all my women friends doing the good work every.single.day.<br />
<br />
I see you.<br />
<br />
You're amazing.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183821631585672805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283150494128111732.post-41700106648677850742019-09-01T16:55:00.000-06:002019-09-01T16:55:34.648-06:00It's definitely me this time<br />
<br />
I'm am so sick of old white men who think they are the center of the fucking universe.<br />
<br />
I'm also sick of women who belittle and disrespect other women.<br />
<br />
But mostly it's old white men trying to propagate the patriarchy, especially as it relates to them.<br />
How ever unconscious it is for them, it's fucking exhausting for me.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
That's all. Thank you for coming.Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183821631585672805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283150494128111732.post-9457021292492296712019-08-20T22:21:00.000-06:002019-08-20T22:21:14.464-06:00It it me?I had a day.<br /><br />You know those days where everyone around you seems like an idiot? Maybe it's just me.<br />
I've got a thing....<br />One idiot, probably is an idiot. Five idiots in the same day, I start to think it's me. I'm grumpy and impatient and need to put myself in a time out. Actually, by the third idiot I'm usually sending myself home asap, so as to not injure anyone.<br /><br />So recently I've been feeling ignored, shut out, pushed aside, shut down. If it happened just once, I'd write it off. Some one was having an off day, or I rubbed someone the wrong way, or I read the situation wrong. But when it happens again and again, in more than one situation, with more than one person, over a series of days and situations, I start to think - maybe it's me.<br />
<br />
Maybe I'm being particularly abrasive, or bossy. I heard that enough growing up to know - not everyone can take a full dose of me. Maybe it's karma catching up with me. Maybe I'm extra sensitive for some reason and reading things into it that aren't there. Or maybe lots of people are short tempered and feeling sensitive themselves and I'm just handy.<br /><br />Here's the thing - I have not had the experience of it being nothing when I sense something. Whenever I get these feelings, something has been up. The question is, is it something I need to do anything about? Is it something external or internal to me? I don't know yet. Maybe there's something in the air, a general feeling of anxiety and fear, an itchiness just where you can't reach, a rock in our collective shoe. Maybe I'm being a bitch on wheels and am oblivious.<br /><br />Here's what I know is true, people have been acting unusually irritated around me. It's unpleasant and unexpected. <br />
I think I'm ready to not people for a while.<br />Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183821631585672805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283150494128111732.post-15609070288014016032019-08-11T16:07:00.002-06:002019-08-11T16:07:48.883-06:00Art is for everyoneLast year I did a program called Wellspring. One part of the program was that we had to commit to a daily spiritual practice, although what you did could vary day to day. One of my favorite things to do as a spiritual practice is to create. Sometimes I practiced an instrument, or wrote something, but some times I drew.<br />
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<br />Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183821631585672805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283150494128111732.post-64026619389067954152019-08-03T23:27:00.000-06:002019-08-03T23:27:22.551-06:00We all get free togetherWe're not free until we're all free. We all get free together.<br />
<br />
You know how sometimes you see things in your media stream, and the seemingly random juxtaposition suddenly refocuses something and then you see relationships where you didn't before?<br /><br />Ya. That.<br /><br />There's<a href="https://everydayfeminism.com/2014/09/equality-is-not-enough/" target="_blank"> this</a>, and <a href="http://www.theinclusionsolution.me/equity-vs-equality-eliminating-opportunity-gaps-education/" target="_blank">this</a> article about improving education.<br />
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<br />
We're not free until we're all free. We all get free together.<br />
<br />
Then there was <a href="https://www.npr.org/2019/08/01/747471451/texas-rep-will-hurd-houses-only-black-republican-won-t-seek-reelection-in-2020?utm_source=fark&utm_medium=website&utm_content=link&ICID=ref_fark&fbclid=IwAR3HXcp2U32hQuAxUBQw0QH2-MOn2b2BRJBpsDExoJrat_JtZFPIauS7x7c" target="_blank">this</a> article followed by a discussion<a href="https://psmag.com/social-justice/republicans-are-the-main-purveyors-of-identity-politics" target="_blank"> about</a> "<a href="https://www.vox.com/identities/2016/12/2/13718770/identity-politics" target="_blank">identity</a><a href="https://www.newstatesman.com/2019/04/all-politics-identity-politics-and-pretending-otherwise-only-benefits-far-right" target="_blank"> politics</a>" and a facebook comment from an amazing intelligent young man I really respect about how "identity politics" is going to bring down the Democratic party. In my experience, all politics is identity politics. It's just white-identity-politics is called "politics". The white experience is considered the norm, so anything else is dismissed as "identity politics".<br />
<br />
We're not free until we're all free. We all get free together.<br />
<br />
Then I remembered a <a href="https://www.npr.org/2017/11/18/565025419/the-longevity-economy-what-does-it-mean-to-be-old" target="_blank">story</a> about <a href="https://www.oxo.com/blog/behind-the-scenes/behind-design-oxos-iconic-good-grips-handles/" target="_blank">OXO good grips</a> I heard on NPR. OXO products were designed for people with arthritis, but it turned out that a really good design was better for a lot of people.<br /><br />We're not free until we're all free. We all get free together.<br /><br />Designing a good product, a good system, or a good policy, takes a lot of work. It takes time and energy. It's so tempting to say "good enough", we got the worst of it, dust our hands and call it done. So tempting. I get it, we're tired. I'm tired.<br /><br />But the extra effort to really make it better for everyone, to make it equitable and not just convenient, not even just equal, but truly equitable, it does make it better for everyone. Even those who didn't expect to benefit from it do.<br /><br />We're not free until we're all free. We all get free, together.<br />Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183821631585672805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283150494128111732.post-47545978901106002292019-07-27T13:33:00.002-06:002019-07-27T13:45:33.936-06:00Econ101This morning at the breakfast table we were talking about economics and capitalism. Yes. I know. We're nerds. But, since FireLord has been busy teaching full time at the maker space summer camp, it was the first breakfast we'd been able to have together for a week.<br />
And somehow that makes it... normal? Normal for us anyway.<br />
<br />
Anyway. set scene: Hot Dog, Lego Kid, FireLord, and I - eating waffles, talking over the Wall Street Journal.<br />
<br />
Economics. Capitalism.<br />
What works and what doesn't.<br />
The conclusion we came to is that capitalism isn't great, it creates winners and losers, the risks aren't born equally, and it's easily corrupted. BUT, it works better than anything else we've figured out, especially when you're dealing with huge numbers of people, IF there are certain checks and balances put into place.<br />
<br />
It works when you have rule of law, a fair and functional judicial system, non-corrupt and unbiased law enforcement, and controls on monopolistic practices. It works when workers are truly free agents, able to make choices about what work they're willing to do for what price. It works when there is one-vote one-person and your voice actually matters. (Yes, I'm aware we're mixing up governance w/ economics and that they're different, but they're intertwined in this country, and I'm not a f'n PhD)<br />
<br />
It doesn't work when the laws are applied (or not) in arbitrary, capricious, and or biased ways. It doesn't work when those in positions of power are able to use their power for personal gain, to avoid the consequences of their actions, and/or to abuse and take advantage of others. It doesn't work when companies become "too big to fail". It doesn't work when companies create cartels to control supply and cost of goods. It doesn't work when companies don't bear the true cost of production. It doesn't work when people aren't free agents, when they can't move jobs for improved pay/conditions/benefits. It doesn't work when a corporation counts as a person, when an individuals vote doesn't matter. It doesn't work when people feel like there is no chance to improve their situations.<br />
<br />
For capitalism to work we need things like police, the judicial system, laws protecting competition (anti-monopoly). This need for balance is why there are some things that we all pitch in for when competition doesn't work, things like schools, utilities, commodities, etc. <br />
<br />
When the system is unbalanced, when people stop trusting the system, when there is a huge difference between the haves and the have-nots, things can get ugly. <br />
<br />
There's always going to be tension between a laissez faire market and regulations. The pendulum swings back and forth, not in a reaction to what's happening but in a reaction to what happened in the recent past (or what was <i>perceived</i> to have happened). But if it swings to far, we will all suffer, one way or the other.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183821631585672805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283150494128111732.post-39595376346582338192019-07-05T09:27:00.001-06:002019-07-05T09:27:53.616-06:00What's my problem?This last year I've been playing a new game. It's fun, enlightening, and helps me set better boundaries. I've shared with a few others and, in addition to laughs, I get fairly positive feedback about the game and it's usefulness.<br />
So, in the hopes that it might be useful to someone else, here's my new-ish game.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>What's my problem?</b><br />
<br />
When someone approaches me with a complaint or anger, or I start to feel angry, threatened or defensive, I ask myself "What's my problem?"<br />
Nine times out of ten, whatever they're talking about is not my problem.<br />
<br />
It's like magic! What's my problem? Not this.<br />
Their response to a situation is NOT MY PROBLEM.<br />
Their emotions are NOT MY PROBLEM.<br />
My behavior, my actions and reactions - definitely my problem.<br />
<br />
A slightly less helpful game is<br />
"<b>What's your problem?</b>"<br />
Pretty much the same game, but asking someone else to play, which has shown itself to be problematic. Huh.<br />
<br />
Try it and let me know what you think.Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183821631585672805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283150494128111732.post-54520847913389341352019-06-15T11:18:00.000-06:002019-06-15T11:18:50.684-06:00New things and old things<br /><b>New: Soccer</b><br /><br />So I did something that might turn out to be as dumb as that time a couple of spring breaks ago when I went mountain biking for spring break with the kids. I joined a co-ed soccer team.<br />
<br />
I've never played soccer. Although, I was mistaken when I told my team last Thur at our first game, that it was the very first time I had ever played. I remembered later that for Hot Dog's first soccer team, at the end of the season, there was a kids vs parents scrimmage I was on the field for. <br />
<br />
It turns out, not surprisingly, I kinda suck at soccer. Also, I'm old, fat, menopausal, out of shape, have osteoporosis, and generally am better at laying on a couch reading a book than anything involving sports ball.<br />
<br />
That said, despite our team loosing 13-0, only playing the first half, being not only wiped after that, but flat on my back the next day, I had a great time! I liked it. Mostly what I did was get in the way of the opposition as they tried to approach our goal. Turns out I can do that, at least for a while. I want to get better at actually moving the ball around. Maybe, if I keep going, I'll even be not completely wiped after less than an hour of play. But for now, I'm pretty happy to have had a good time and be on a team where not a single soul mentioned how I was the worst player, but rather a couple of team mates pointed out things I did right. They're good people.<br />
<br />As a team member said "I'm glad you're doing something that is a stretch for you"<br /><br /><b>Old/New: Trip to Indiana to see family:</b><br />
The very week after Hot Dogs school let out we drove to Indiana to stay at a house on a lake and visit with family near there. It was lovely to see them again, they might not all like each other perfectly, but I like and love them. I lucked out on the in-law thing, despite our political and religious differences.<br /><br />And Indiana is beautiful. It really is. I had no idea. It's lush and glorious, frogs chorus all night, there were ducks and swans on the lake. I got to rescue a fledgling purple martin from the lake and take it back to what I was hopeful was it's home. I can why it would be a good place to raise a family, although given all the Trump and anti-abortion signs I can also see why it would be a hard place to live too.<br />
<br />
<b>New:</b><br />
Bit Boy graduated college in May (in 3 years, w/ honors - mama brag), moved into his own place in the big city an hour from here, and started a full on grown up job in June. He's moving off our insurance, now I'm wondering when he can take his drum set with him. <br /><br />
<b>New:</b><br />
Lego Kid graduated high school in May and will start engineering school in Aug. I honestly didn't expect him to go into engineering, but I can see how if it works for him, he would be excellent at it.<br /><br /><b>New:</b><br />
Hot Dog finished middle school in May and will be going to high school in the fall. He continues on with his music and sports. He's moved from being sure he was going to be lawyer to thinking he'll become a police officer, or join the military, or be a fireman, or maybe a scientist. He's been focused on law since he was 8, so it's kind of a relief to see him being a kid.<br />
<br />
<b>Old:</b><br />
We're still here, same home, Fire-Lord is still "retired" and working plenty of volunteer hours. The garden still needs never ending work. No family or close friend has died for a couple of years. I kind of love that.<br />
<br />Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183821631585672805noreply@blogger.com0