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Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Stills from Film Shoot at Home Saturday
Photos Courtesy of George Csicsery
These were shot with a still camera by George during our interview about the life of our mutual friend, Ken Kelley.
Monday, March 21, 2016
Goodbye to Someone Special
We lost Aunt Reta Anderson today; her son Dan messaged me via Facebook. Let me tell you about Aunt Reta.
One story I remember is when her oldest son, George, wanted to go outside in a storm without a coat, She let him do it, but with a warning:
"You're going to fall down, get wet, and come down with a cold."
George went out anyway, without a coat. He fell down, got wet, and came home with a cold.
Today, this kind of thing is being called wise parenting -- let your kids encounter risks and learn the consequences. Too many modern parents try to limit risks, for understandable reasons, but that is not necessarily what our kids need to grow and learn.
I always loved going over to Aunt Reta's house because she would say, "Dave, have a cookie." She always had sweets for her nephews and nieces.
She was also quite a character. I think her dad was some sort of carnival man. She also was the last member of my parents' generation in our family to live this long.
Tonight, I am grieving for her two surviving sons, Dan and George, Jr. I was very lucky to have an aunt like her.
-30-
One story I remember is when her oldest son, George, wanted to go outside in a storm without a coat, She let him do it, but with a warning:
"You're going to fall down, get wet, and come down with a cold."
George went out anyway, without a coat. He fell down, got wet, and came home with a cold.
Today, this kind of thing is being called wise parenting -- let your kids encounter risks and learn the consequences. Too many modern parents try to limit risks, for understandable reasons, but that is not necessarily what our kids need to grow and learn.
I always loved going over to Aunt Reta's house because she would say, "Dave, have a cookie." She always had sweets for her nephews and nieces.
She was also quite a character. I think her dad was some sort of carnival man. She also was the last member of my parents' generation in our family to live this long.
Tonight, I am grieving for her two surviving sons, Dan and George, Jr. I was very lucky to have an aunt like her.
-30-
Saturday, March 19, 2016
Saturday's Story
The film crew came and spent four hours; I recounted the life and times of my old friend, Ken Kelley. He is the one who convinced us to migrate to San Francisco in 1971 to help launch SunDance magazine.
That was really te start of my career...
-30-
Thursday, March 17, 2016
Another Film Crew Coming
This one is about my old friend, Ken Kelley, who passed away a number of years ago. The filmmakers are coming on Saturday to my home.
Ken was an amazing character; like all of us complicated and contradictory.
I realize I do not know exactly what to say or even what I remember.
-30-
Ken was an amazing character; like all of us complicated and contradictory.
I realize I do not know exactly what to say or even what I remember.
-30-
Monday, March 14, 2016
Another 'Super Tuesday'
It looks like Trump will win Florida, ending Rubio's hopes, but who knows whether the polls are accurate. It also appears that Kasich will win Ohio. Depending how Cruz does overall, we still could be looking at an open convention in Cleveland, therefore.
I think Clinton will probably do well enough to further reduce Sanders' chances going forward, but he has enough delegates and money to stay in the race, regardless. Given the appeal Bernie has with young voters (including my 19 and 21 year old sons), I can envision a Clinton-Sanders ticket in November.
The Democrats may need whatever excitement they can generate to stop Trump. If the GOP cannot stop him from being the nominee, I'm afraid this country may not be able to do so, either.
And I think a President Trump would be a very dangerous outcome for the U.S. and the world.
But, hey, I'm open to being persuading otherwise...As I have written before, Trump is likely like Reagan -- a pretend conservative who will act as an actual liberal once in power. If so, his election wouldn't change much of anything whatsoever.
Plus, Presidents do not have anywhere near as much power as people think.
-30-
I think Clinton will probably do well enough to further reduce Sanders' chances going forward, but he has enough delegates and money to stay in the race, regardless. Given the appeal Bernie has with young voters (including my 19 and 21 year old sons), I can envision a Clinton-Sanders ticket in November.
The Democrats may need whatever excitement they can generate to stop Trump. If the GOP cannot stop him from being the nominee, I'm afraid this country may not be able to do so, either.
And I think a President Trump would be a very dangerous outcome for the U.S. and the world.
But, hey, I'm open to being persuading otherwise...As I have written before, Trump is likely like Reagan -- a pretend conservative who will act as an actual liberal once in power. If so, his election wouldn't change much of anything whatsoever.
Plus, Presidents do not have anywhere near as much power as people think.
-30-
Friday, March 11, 2016
Chicago
So Trump had to cancel his rally tonight there as protesters showed up in great numbers. Trump seems to have unleashed a major protest movement.
This is probably a healthy thing. Having been present at so many civil rights and anti-war demonstrations in the '60s, I know how many social changes occurred eventually as a result.
Does Trump know what he is doing? Who knows. I suppose we will find out a bit more in the coming days...
In any event, as far as I can tell, the protest was peaceful, with people exercising their free speech rights. Apparently there were no arrests or injuries. What other options does anyone have when a large group of people feel deeply insulted and threatened by a candidate's comments?
What kind of America do we live in?
-30-
This is probably a healthy thing. Having been present at so many civil rights and anti-war demonstrations in the '60s, I know how many social changes occurred eventually as a result.
Does Trump know what he is doing? Who knows. I suppose we will find out a bit more in the coming days...
In any event, as far as I can tell, the protest was peaceful, with people exercising their free speech rights. Apparently there were no arrests or injuries. What other options does anyone have when a large group of people feel deeply insulted and threatened by a candidate's comments?
What kind of America do we live in?
-30-
Sunday, March 06, 2016
Taxes
I've mostly filled out all the forms for my accountant to file my tax forms for last year by now; I helped Connie with her's yesterday; handled Aidan's today; and talked with Dylan about his yesterday. Dylan is outraged by the tax bite taken out of his minimum wage paycheck and who can blame him?
He barely made any money last year ($3,000) yet has to pay a bunch of that in taxes. Watching billionaires like Trump grandstand about this and that reminds me of what a huge price poor people pay to prop this country up. Of course, Dylan isn't a poor person, as he is the first to tell you.
"I live with my parents, so I can save money even at the minimum wage" he says. And he is saving money at an impressive rate.
But if he were on his own he couldn't find a place to live in this city based on what he earns. And that is the issue facing the guys in the backrooms of the market where he works, all Latinos, all undocumented, and all struggling just to get by.
If Americans want an authoritarian leader, then this is Trump's time. But if what we need to better understand the poor among us, any other candidate would be far better.
-30-
He barely made any money last year ($3,000) yet has to pay a bunch of that in taxes. Watching billionaires like Trump grandstand about this and that reminds me of what a huge price poor people pay to prop this country up. Of course, Dylan isn't a poor person, as he is the first to tell you.
"I live with my parents, so I can save money even at the minimum wage" he says. And he is saving money at an impressive rate.
But if he were on his own he couldn't find a place to live in this city based on what he earns. And that is the issue facing the guys in the backrooms of the market where he works, all Latinos, all undocumented, and all struggling just to get by.
If Americans want an authoritarian leader, then this is Trump's time. But if what we need to better understand the poor among us, any other candidate would be far better.
-30-
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