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Jumbled Acuff info
Cain Acuff bought land Feb.25,1770 in Spotsylvania Co. Va.
Cain witnessed deeds in 1780,1764,1763,and 1774..all in spotsylvania co. va..
Cain and wife Esther Kenneday of Henry Co. Va. sold thier land in jan 1788 and another partial in jan 1787.. Cain and Eliz lived in Henry Co. but the land was in Spotsylvania Co.
Cain was in the 1799,1805,1810 census of Grainger Co. Tn..1810 taxpayers of grainger co. only shows Cain and his wife in the household..
there was a Cain in LIncoln Co. Tn in the 1830census.. there was a John and Bradley same census same county. were they brothers?
1820census of Lincoln Co. Tn. shows a Margaret Acuff was this the above mentioned's mother??same area consecutive Id#numbers..
I am searching a Bradley Acuff of LIncoln, and Marshall, and Maury co. tn...
i have a biography on a Coram Acuff lawyer of Union Co. MO. if anyone would like me to send it to them..
I have bios on Jeremiah Acuff of Polk Co. MO. s/oJohn and Nancy Watson Acuff.. it's short one but would send it if anyone would like it..
Also have the bio of his son b.J. Acuff..
I have a copy of a family tree descendants of John Acuff who married a Sarah would like to know who thier son Richard married and his chidren if possible..
Would like to know the children of Cain and Esther Kenneday Acuff.
who is cain's lineage??
who is timothy's lineage, is it Christopher?
family lore has it this Bradley i am searching is kin to Roy C. Acuff's family.. so i am trying very hard to connect,Bradley could of done as alot of Acuff's did and that was go by his middle name..Would appreciate some help!
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Audrey Jones 10/28/01
- Re: Jumbled Acuff info


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- Changing Corby - Scottish Sharing
- "Changing Corby" - Phase 2 - Poland!
- New Artistic Director
- Relax in a Sound Bath!!!
- Celebrating Scottish Culture with DRTT
- Harmonium - photo gallery!
- Share and Celebrate Scottish Culture with DRTT
- Time to practice those Scottish songs!!
- Exciting new piece from DRTT Dancetheatre!!
- Exploring the world of traditional Scottish songs!
- Scottish song workshops
- Corby and Migration
- "Changing Corby" - the first steps for our new project
- A date for your diary - Northants Sings Out, 13th November
- DRTT perform at Oundle Festival
- DRTT at Oundle Festival
- "Our Woods" - Grand Finale
- Kurt Laurenz Theinert - and the amazing VISUAL PIANO!
- Fantastical projections!
- Say hello to the "Our Woods" dance & movement group!
- Video introduction to "Is this a Waste Land?"
- Is this a Waste Land? 29th and 30th April - TICKETS ON SALE NOW!!!!!
- "Dreaming Our Woods" poster
- Poem by Matthew Oates - "Fairies Beyond the Garden Bottom"
- Continuum - walking event in Thoroughsale Woods - Sunday afternoon, 5th March
- Spirit of Place with Matthew Oates - 26th February
- "Woods in the Global Context" - Kate Thoday
- Neil Paris dance/movement sessions in full swing!!
- Spinning New Dreams kicks off "Our Woods" festival!
- Groundworks UK/Tesco Grant Scheme - VOTE FOR DRTT!!!!
- "Our Woods" blog: "The Corby Logbook"
- Revisiting Warkton - video!
- Xmas is coming - DRTT Concert 10th December!!!
- ... "to the trees" with Jo Blake Cave!
- Northants Sings Out - again!
- "Our Woods" - November Newsletter
- Get Involved! Performance opportunity for "Dreaming Our Woods"!
- "Sing in the Woods" with DRTT Artistic Director - Barb Jungr!
- Danny Hero - The Musical
- "Our Woods" on Radio 4 with Mark Watson - 12th November
- Photography with Late Developers Group
- Natural Visage - event flyer
- Climb a Tree - Make a Den - Hide - then Seek!
- November/December Our Woods Newsletter
- Danny Hero - Promo Recording Photos
- Magical Creatures - event flyer
- STOP PRESS - New event for your diaries on 8th October
- Our Woods Newsletter #2 - October
- CCA Late Developers Photographic Group
- Our Woods Newsletter #1 - September Events
- Sign the Tree Charter!
- The Man Who Planted Trees
- News of a unique performance opportunity....
- The Eloquent Fold - image gallery
- "Our Woods" Schools Programme
- "Our Woods" - downloadable event list
- The "Our Woods" brochure is out!
- Trustees Wanted
- Arts Council England and Heritage Lottery Fund grants
- Walking Stories - event flyer
- Leave to know and love your leaves!
- News Archive
- Artist, Rhoda Bertz, joins "Our Woods"
- Sounds of Home
- A Sky Full of Birds - Our Woods event - Thurs 26th Jan
- The King's Wood Health Walk - NEXT WALK on 28th March
- News Archive
- Celebrating Polish culture!
Exciting new piece from DRTT Dancetheatre!!
DRTT dancetheatre – would like to share with you their new work in progress – 'HARMONIUM'
Friday 23rd March at 7.30pm
The Rooftop Arts Centre, Chisholm House,
9 Queens Square, Corby NN17 1PD
Inspired by the redundant church of All Saints, Aldwincle, Harmonium is a collection of stories, characters and dances created by Deep Roots Tall Trees dancetheatre.
Featuring John Dryden, a late Victorian woman who finds solace in music, a group of happy campers, and Pot Noodle. The imaginative responses of the dancers are translated into the wonderful gallery spaces of The Rooftop Arts Centre.
There will be refreshments available and an opportunity to discover more about Harmonium and DRTT dancetheatre after the performance.
Find out more about DRTT dancetheatre HERE!

subset: commoncrawl


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This gorgeous blocked sweater is in reverse to the picture colour, we have black with white trim, as white was too sheer. Very slimming style
The great Allure sweater from Verge has sold out. We did have it inBlack / White / X Small.
Start a "Find It For Me" to notify hundreds of Australian Boutiques that you're looking for it and then be notified if it comes back in stock.


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Seaford United Methodist Church
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Sandy Francaviglia
Sandy has been the Preschool
treasurer since 1998 and the Church
since 2003. She graduated
from SUNY
Oneonta with a Bachelor's
degree in
Elementary Education.
For 10 years,
Sandy was the Youth Group
advisor. She is a
member of the
Praise Musicians, playing
the keyboard,
and along with her husband,
has been an active member of the
church for 20 years.
Church Organist
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Janet is a dedicated music educator
and has been working with children
for almost 20 years. She has taught
vocal and classroom music in
grades K - 6, as well as provided both
group and individual instruction
for piano, voice, strings, and
woodwinds. Janet can be heard
performing on clarinet at both
public and private venues
throughout the year with the Concert
Pops Orchestra, and has been
accompanying our worship
service at the organ console since
April of 2010. Janet and her husband
Brian were married in the
Seaford United Methodist Church,
and praise God each and every day
for their loving son and three daughters.
Walter Cook
Walter Cook has worked for Kelmar
Systems Inc. for 17 years. He is currently
a production manager. Walter is a graduate
of the Seaford Preschool , class of 1975
and has grown up in the Methodist Church,
being confirmed in 1985. Throughout
high school and college he worked as
Assistant Sexton here at the Methodist
Church and now, in addition to his
regular career at Kelmar, does a fine job
as our Church and Preschool Sexton.
Walter and his wife, Leslie, were married
in 1999 and they have two beautiful boys.
Walter is active in cub scouts where he is the
cub master for his boy's pack and the
den leader for each of his boys.
Rev. Steven Knutsen can be contacted at 516-785-8877 or
If you have questions about the preschool please call 516-785-0070 or contact
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You might have read that the Republican-controlled House and Senate, in Arizona, has sent Legislation, authorizing gold and silver coins as legal tender, to Governor Jan Brewer (R) for her signature. Governor Brewer hasn't indicated whether or not she would sign it. That would make it the second state, along with Nevada, to authorize the precious metals in lieu of cash transactions. (That also means that each state would mint its own coins.) Some ten other states are considering similar proposals.
Perhaps this is the next version of the rash of states that were starting referendums to secede from the U.S., after the Presidential Election, last November. I can't figure which is nuttier–a bunch of Sovereign Southern States, or each one having their own coinage. Now, what scams will the "Right" come up with next?
The U.S. Dollar used to be based on the so-called "Gold Standard". In those days, the Federal Reserve (acting for the Treasury Department), entered the Gold Markets to maintain the price of gold within a tight ban. It bought Gold when the price dropped, and sold it when the price rose. Has Arizona and Nevada thought this through? And, are they prepared to act? And what about big swings in the price of gold or silver?
Have you ever tried to use a Hundred Dollar bill in a store for a small purchase? Unless they know you, chances are that it will not be accepted. Well, suppose you travel from, let's say, Flagstaff, Arizona to Las Vegas (just across the boarder) for the weekend. Will you have to convert your coins–from one state's to the other–and, then, reverse that upon your return? Also, how about when more states get into the act?


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42nd Street Los Angeles | Pantages Theater Hollywood
The American Dream is within reach in Los Angeles! 42nd Street, the acclaimed Broadway musical classic that won Tony Awards for Best Choreography and Best Musical, is heading out on its widely-anticipated tour and touches base in Los Angeles for three weeks. Opening on May 31, 2016, 42nd Street takes center stage at the Pantages Theatre Hollywood until June 19, 2016.
The exciting new staging of an unforgettable Broadway fable, 42nd Street takes a look into the real world of Broadway. Peggy leaves Pennsylvania for New York in pursuit of her dreams. Wanting to have a shot at the big time, she auditions for Pretty Lady, a new Broadway musical by Julian Marsh, a renowned theater director who tries to stage a lavish show during the height of the Great Depression. When Peggy joins the cast, she gets to know the showbiz world that is full of has-been stars and prima donnas past their prime and of scandalous affairs between directors and co-stars.
Step into the intriguing backstage drama as 42nd Street plays the Pantages Theatre Hollywood on weeknights at 8 PM from Tuesday to Friday. The weekend shows are at 2 PM and 8 PM on Saturdays and at 1 PM and 6:30 PM on Sundays. The run time of 42nd Street is 2 hours and 40 minutes including one intermission.
Review the ticket options featured below for premium seating and sold out tickets. Tickets may be above face value and this site is not affiliated with the venue.
42nd Street Los Angeles Cast
Julian Marsh: Matthew J Taylor
Dorothy Broky: Kaitlin Lawrence
Peggy Sawyer: Caitlin Ehlinger
Maggie Jones: Britte Steele
Bert Barry: Steven Bidwell
Abner Dillion: Mark Fishback
Pat Denning: DJ Canaday
Billy Lawlor: Blake Stadnick
Annie: Natalia Lepore Hagan
Direction: Mark Bramble
Choreography: Randy Skinner
Book: Michael Stewart & Mark Bramble
Music: Harry Warren
Lyrics: Al Dubin


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Spanish Coffee at Huber's
July 1, 2010
In addition to having a passion for hair, I also have a love for Spanish Coffees. I have come to realize that Portland is quite possibly one of the few places that you can get one at almost any bar or restaurant you go to.
I'm going to start documenting my Spanish Coffee adventures. Each month, I'll be trying out my favorite drink at a local spot in Portland.
I'm on a mission to answer this, "Where can I get the best Spanish Coffee in Portland?"
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The subject of sexual orientation in antiquity is discussed here as a topic of a 'mission to the West' because recent, revisionist interpretations of the Church's consistent teaching on homosexuality through the millenia undermine the Gospel that a culture going through its own revisions and becoming increasingly post-Christian needs to hear: God transforms sinful human beings through the good news of Jesus Christ. Even sinful orientations, entrenched as they are (Aristotle called them, among other things, 'states of character'), can be transformed. Here, the subject is that Paul would have known about the idea of sexual orientation since his culture did. Thus, he does not oppose homosexuality in ignorance of orientation--as though we know more today and can therefore ignore Paul's teaching.
John Shelby Spong believed, along with any number of other persons discussing Christianity and homosexuality, that the ancient world knew nothing of sexual orientation. This was one of his key arguments in trying to revise the Church's teaching that homosexuality is a sin:
… any reference to same-sex practice by a Biblical writer or a Greco-Roman writer has no knowledge or understanding of the concept of "same-sex orientation." There is no Hebrew or Greek cognate word in the Biblical text to reflect the modern term "same-sex orientation" or "homosexuality." Moreover, there were no discussions or arguments concerning sexual orientation in the ancient and late ancient world, conversations that would only arrive in the modern era of psychology. Instead, ancient writers believed any wanton sexual behavior of any variety is a mismanagement of one's appetites. The apostle Paul, in the New Testament, follows this pattern.'[1]
Victor Paul Furnish concurred:
The ancient writers were operating without the vaguest idea of what we have learned to call "sexual orientation."[2]
This view, like certain other views about what ancient writers at the time of Scripture supposedly did not know (such as loving, committed homosexual unions in antiquity), can only be held by those who have failed at the scholarly task of researching primary sources in antiquity. Sadly, one finds this misrepresentation of the early Christians' social context among 'scholars' often enough. The following essay summarizes material mentioned in Unchanging Witness: The Consistent Christian Teaching on Homosexuality in Scripture and Tradition and in an earlier article, but it also offers a few other quotations of interest for this subject.[3]
1. Sexual Diversity Already in Youth:
Martial mentions developing orientations in youth: a heterosexual youth (?), a transgender boy, a homosexually active youth [pederasty?], 'soft'/effeminate boy wanting to be more masculine, effeminate boy from earliest childhood:
Martial mentions developing orientations in youth: a heterosexual youth (?), a transgender boy, a homosexually active youth [pederasty?], 'soft'/effeminate boy wanting to be more masculine, effeminate boy from earliest childhood:
Martial, Epigrams XII.75: Polytimus is hurrying to the girls, Hymnus doesn't like admitting that he's a boy, Secundus has buttocks acornsated [receives anal sex], Didymus is effeminate (mollis) but doesn't want to be, Amphion could have been born a girl….
2. Romantic Love (not just sexual gratification) in Pederasty
In our day, pedophilia is generally considered a matter of sexual deviancy. In antiquity, love of grown men for boys was not only thought of in terms of sexual desire but also in the same way as heterosexual romance—attraction, desire, and romantic love. Here is one major difference between pedophilia and pederasty. Plato explored the ideal of love itself, in either heterosexuality or homosexuality (in this case, pederasty) (cf. Phaedrus). In pederasty, argued Plato's character Pausanias in the Symposium, a higher love—a celestial love that was wholly male—proved superior to love between a man and a woman. This love went beyond sexual indulgence, and the discussion goes beyond any limitation of male love to boys. Such philosophical arguments demonstrate that love and sex were understood in far deeper ways than just acts or pederasty, and the discussion of a male love moves firmly in the direction of the notion of sexual orientation. As Virgil says,
Cruel Alexis, heed you naught my songs?
Have you no pity? You'll drive me to my death….
…. beauteous boy (Virgil, Eclogue II).[4]
3. Medical Theory / Physiognomy and Dispositions / Orientations
In the 4th century BC—well before the New Testament authors wrote—Aristotle noted that the homosexual's nature was expressed in particular behaviors. Homosexuality was not considered merely in terms of an act—it was a whole way of life that could be related to physical characteristics. He says,
Physiognomonica 6: Shrill, soft, broken tones mark the speech of the pathic, for such a voice is found in women and is congruous with the pathic's nature.[5]
Temperaments and attractions were also the subject of medical theory in antiquity. The 2nd century medical author, Galen, built on earlier theories about the relation between body types and temperament. The phlegmatic person could be a soft male. Maria Michela Sassi summarizes one of the orientations that Galen identified (cf. Opera Omnia 13.662):
the phlegmatic and cold/wet categories include the constitutions (all of them soft and white) of women, children, fair-skinned men, eunuchs, and peoples that live in cold regions.[6]
Kyle Harper's recent examination of primary sources reaches the similar conclusion that
folk belief had long held that women were underheated and incompletely formed men: moist, clammy, the female body had been contrived by nature to play its role in the continuous regeneration of the species, 'born to be penetrated.
For men, too, manliness was a matter of degree, and the insufficiently masculinized male became damp, soft, and, in extreme cases, an "androgyne" [man-woman].[7] The attempt to relate body types to sexual preference was an attempt to explore sexual orientation in antiquity.
4. Astrology and Sexual Orientation
Astrology is the attempt to explain human orientations and events with reference to the movement of the planets and stars. In antiquity, it also tried to explain sexual orientation, including homosexuality. The following explanation of natural and unnatural sexual orientation from the perspective of astrology uses terminology ('against nature' and 'according to nature') also found in Paul—that is, the language for orientation was well established. (Of course, Paul did not follow the astrological explanation for orientation.)
Ptolemy, Tetrabiblos III.14.171-172: But if likewise Mars [planet/god of war] or Venus [planet/goddess of love] as well, either one of them or both, is made masculine, the males become addicted to natural [kata physin] sexual intercourse, and are adulterous, insatiate, and ready on every occasion for base and lawless acts of sexual passion, while the females are lustful for unnatural congresses [para physin—also Paul's phrase in Romans 1.26], cast inviting glances of the eye, and are what we call tribades; for they deal with females and perform the functions of males [andrōn erga]. If Venus alone is constituted in a masculine manner, they do these things secretly and not openly. But if Mars likewise is so constituted, without reserve, so that sometimes they even designate the women with whom they are on such terms as their lawful "wives.
5. Philosophy, Mythology, and Sexual Orientation
There was a significant difference between Platonic and Stoic philosophy on the issue of homosexuality. Platonic philosophy, as already noted, thought in terms of ideals, such as Beauty and Love, whereas Stoic philosophy thought in terms of living according to nature. Thus, Platonism could idealize love for teenage boys and preference it over sex with women if the attraction was the ideal of Beauty and not purely physical lust. Stoic philosophers, such as Musonius Rufus and Epictetus, on the other hand, saw homosexuality as 'contrary to nature' (Paul's term, too, in Rom. 1.26). Plutarch, for example, saw homosexual orientation as an internal disorder peculiar to humans and not found in other animals:[8]
Not even Nature [physis], with Law [nomos] for her ally, can keep within bounds the unchastened vice of your hearts; but as though swept by the current of their lusts beyond the barrier at many points, men do such deeds as wantonly outrage Nature, upset her order, and confuse her distinctions (Plutarch, Whether Beasts are Rational 7).
In Romans 1.18-28, Paul, too, argues from nature that idolatry and homosexuality are against the Creator's design.
However, a natural argument might also be turned in favor of homosexual orientation if one argues for different 'natures' being created in the first place (a view contrary to Scripture, of course [cf. Gen. 1.27-28; Gen. 2.24]). The pre-Platonic myth of the creation of more than two genders (males with a heterosexual orientation, females with a heterosexual orientation, males attracted to males, and females attracted to females) was mentioned in Plato's Symposium. The speaker, Aristophanes, says,[9]
Plato, Symposium 191: "Each of us, then, is but a tally of a man, since every one shows like a flat-fish the traces of having been sliced in two; and each is ever searching for the tally that will fit him. All the men who are sections of that composite sex that at first was called man-woman are woman-courters; our adulterers are mostly descended from that sex, [191e] whence likewise are derived our man-courting women and adulteresses. All the women who are sections of the woman have no great fancy for men: they are inclined rather to women, and of this stock are the she-minions. Men who are sections of the male pursue the masculine, and so long as their boyhood lasts they show themselves to be slices of the male by making friends with men and delighting [192a] to lie with them and to be clasped in men's embraces; these are the finest boys and striplings, for they have the most manly nature….
6. The Acquisition of Homosexual Orientation through Social Factors
We should not limit the notion of 'orientation' to natural inclinations or biology in the arguments from antiquity. The discussion of orientation is not only a biological one: it might also be a matter of nurture and therefore a concern of psychology and sociology. This perspective, too, was well discussed in antiquity. Plato, for example, suggested that a culture of unbridled sexual passion led to sexual deviancy against nature, and that this was encouraged by the introduction of the gymnasium into Greek society: [10]
Plato, Laws 1.636b-c: … this institution [the gymnasium, with its naked males], when of old standing, is thought to have corrupted the pleasures of love which are natural not to men only but also natural to beasts. For this your States [Lacedaemon and Crete] are held primarily responsible, and along with them all others [636c] that especially encourage the use of gymnasia. And whether one makes the observation in earnest or in jest, one certainly should not fail to observe that when male unites with female for procreation the pleasure experienced is held to be due to nature [kata physin], but contrary to nature [para physin] when male mates with male or female with female, and that those first guilty of such enormities were impelled by their slavery to pleasure.
Philo, a first century Jewish philosopher in the Platonic tradition, relates uncontrolled desire, socialization, and homosexual orientation: [11]
Philo, Abraham 1.135-136:… they were overcome by violent desire; 136 and so, by degrees, the men became accustomed to be treated like women, and in this way engendered among themselves the disease of females, an intolerable evil; for they not only, as to effeminacy and delicacy [malakotēti kai thrypsei], became like women in their persons…
Herodotus, too, had earlier spoken of societies that took on certain practices that led to new orientations, including homosexuality:[12]
Herodotus, The Histories 1.135.1: But the Persians more than all men welcome foreign customs. They wear the Median dress, thinking it more beautiful than their own, and the Egyptian cuirass in war. Their luxurious practices are of all kinds, and all borrowed: the Greeks taught them pederasty.
The practice of pederasty, moreover, knew a variety of distinctions in antiquity—there were social and cultural distinctions that could be observed. Xenophon, for example, distinguishes three different practices:[13]
Xenophon, The Constitution of the Lacedaemonians 2.12: I think I ought to say something about intimacy with boys, since this matter also has a bearing on education. In other Greek states, for instance among the Boeotians, man and boy live together, like married people; elsewhere, among the Eleians, for example, consent is won by means of favours. Some, on the other hand, entirely forbid suitors to talk with boys.
Sextus Empiricus noted different social attitudes towards pederasty, and in so doing identified the cultural contribution to sexual orientations (as we also find, note, in Genesis 19.9):[14]
Outlines of Pyrrhonism 3:198-200: For example, amongst us sodomy is regarded as [199] shameful or rather illegal, but by the Germanic they say, it is not looked on as shameful but as a customary thing. It is said, too, that in Thebes long ago this practice was not held to be shameful, and they say that Meriones the Cretan was so called by way of indicating the Cretans' custom, and some refer to … the burning love of Achilles for Patroclus. And [200] what wonder, when both the adherents of the Cynic philosophy and the followers of Zeno of Citium, Cleanthes and Chrysippus, declare that this practice is indifferent?
7. Artistic Temperament and Homosexual Orientation
As today, the argument for sexual orientation in antiquity was also made with respect to artistic temperament. Aristophanes represents this view with respect to homosexual orientation in his play, Women at the Thesmophoria:
Women at the Thesmophoria 1.35.159ff: Besides, it is bad taste for a poet to be coarse and hairy. Look at the famous Ibycus, at Anacreon of Teos, and at Alcaeus, who handled music so well; they wore head-bands and found pleasure in the lascivious and dances of Ionia. And have you not heard what a dandy Phrynichus was and how careful in his dress? For this reason his pieces were also beautiful, for the works of a poet are copied from himself.
Softness (womanliness) and poetic talent in a man, the argument goes, go together.
8. Unrestrained (Natural) Sexual Desire Becoming Unnatural Desire
The following quotations show that the notion that lust is not merely to be thought of in terms of quantitative desire but also qualitative desire—desire that goes beyond natural boundaries. This point now needs to be emphasized, since James Brownson has suggested that Paul's concern in Romans 1.26-27 is about unrestrained lust, not unnatural, homosexual practice: the distinction is artificial.[15]
Philo, Abraham 1.135-136 … they were overcome by violent desire; 136 and so, by degrees, the men became
accustomed to be treated like women, and in this way engendered among themselves the disease of females, an intolerable evil; for they not only, as to effeminacy and delicacy [malakotēti kai thrypsei], became like women in their persons….
Plutarch, Whether Beasts are Rational 7 Not even Nature [physis], with Law [nomos] for her ally, can keep within bounds the unchastened vice of your hearts; but as though swept by the current of their lusts beyond the barrier at many points, men do such deeds as wantonly outrage Nature, upset her order, and confuse her distinctions.
9. A Corrupted Nature/Orientation
The notion of a sexual orientation is discussed in literature that focusses on the corruption of nature. Ancient philosophy made the discussion of 'nature' and 'nurture' a major subject of debate. (The topic will be explored in more detail at a later date.) Consider Plutarch's comments about the nature of animals and humans in his work on love:
Plutarch, De Amore Prolis [On Affection for Offspring] 493B-E: … we seek among horses and dogs and birds how we ourselves should marry and beget and bring up children (as though we had no plain indication of Nature in ourselves) and that we term the traits which brute beasts have "characters" and "emotions," and accuse our life of a great deviation and departure from Nature [kata physin], confused and disordered as we are at the very beginning concerning even the first principles? For in dumb animals Nature preserves their special characteristics pure and unmixed and simple, but in men, through reason and habit, they have been modified by many opinions and adventitious judgements so that they have lost their proper form and have acquired a pleasing variety comparable to the variety of perfumes made by the pharmacist on the basis of a single oil. And let us not wonder if irrational animals follow Nature more closely than rational ones; for animals are, in fact, outdone in this by plants, to which Nature has given neither imagination nor impulse, nor desire for something different, which causes men to shake themselves free from what Nature desires; but plants, as though they were fastened in chains, remain in the power of Nature, always traversing the one path along which Nature leads them. Yet in wild beasts versatility of reasoning and uncommon cleverness and excessive love of freedom are not too highly developed; and though they have irrational impulses and desires and often wander about on circuitous paths, they do not go far afield, but ride, as it were, at the anchor provided by Nature, who points out to them the straight way, as to an ass which proceeds under bit and bridle. But in man ungoverned reason is absolute master, and, discovering now one way of deviation and innovation and now another, has left no clear or certain vestige of Nature visible.
10. The Designation of Certain Males as 'Soft'
As with the previous point, there is much literature that could be cited in reference to 'soft males', a term (malakos) that Paul uses in his sin list in 1 Corinthians 6.9. The point here is that this is an 'orientation' term, not a term that has to do only with acts.[16]
Aristotle, Nichomachean Ethics 7.5-7: One who is deficient in resistance to pains that most men withstand with success, is soft [malakos] or luxurious (for Luxury is a kind of Softness): such a man lets his cloak trail on the ground to escape the fatigue and trouble of lifting it, or feigns sickness, not seeing that to counterfeit misery is to be miserable…. But we are surprised when a man is overcome by pleasures and pains which most men are able to withstand, except when his failure to resist is due to some innate tendency [dia physin tou genous], or to disease: instances of the former being the hereditary effeminacy [malakia] of the royal family of Scythia, and the inferior endurance of the female sex as compared with the male.
11. The Existence of Homosexual Unions and Marriages
This is a subject not fully explored in the literature. Those arguing that Paul knew nothing of loving, committed homosexual relationships in his day are simply claiming things they really know nothing about. I shall present this evidence at a later point but will offer one of the relevant quotations from antiquity on the matter. The presence of such texts demonstrates that Paul argued against homosexual practices in a context that did know of homosexual marriage or unions. Consider Juvenal on this:
Juvenal, Satire II: I have a ceremony to attend," quoth one, "at dawn to-morrow, in the Quirinal valley." "What is the occasion?" "No need to ask: a friend is taking to himself a husband; quite a small affair." Yes, and if we only live long enough, we shall see these things done openly: people will wish to see them reported among the news of the day. Meanwhile these would-be brides have one great trouble: they can bear no children wherewith to keep the affection of their husbands; well has nature done in granting to their desires no power over their bodies.
The discussion of sexual orientation, including homosexual orientation, was present in antiquity and is not some modern discovery through the social sciences. A variety of views were offered to explain the sexual orientation that some have for same-sex relationships. This orientation was expressed not only in terms of the desire for an act of same-sex intercourse: it was also discussed in terms of orientation. As I argue in Unchanging Witness,[17] Paul, too thought in terms of both homosexual orientation and acts when he stated in consistent interpretation of the Old Testament that this was sinful.
He also thought in terms of nature and nurture. He offered a religious and moral interpretation of homosexuality. At the root of his understanding of sexuality stood convictions about God's order in creation and human sinfulness. He also offered hope for change through the transforming grace of God in Jesus Christ's liberating death to sin and resurrection to new life. Thus, one cannot argue that Paul's views on homosexuality can be dismissed because antiquity knew nothing of sexual (including homosexual) orientation. Indeed, antiquity had much to say on the subject. Nor can one argue that Paul would have counselled someone struggling with same-sex attraction simply to avoid acting out such desires. His view, as expressed in detail in his letter to the Romans, of the transforming power of God in the Gospel of Jesus' Christ's death and resurrection was far bigger than that.[18]
[1] Lee Jefferson, 'What Does the Bible Actually Say About Gay Marriage?' A New Christianity for a New World (30 June, 2011). Online: http://johnshelbyspong.com/news/what-does-the-bible-actually-say-about-gay-marriage/ (accessed 10 November 2016). This website promotes Spong's views.
[2] Victor Paul Furnish, The Moral Teachings of Paul: Selected Issues, 2nd ed. (Nashville, TN: Abingdon, 1985), p. 85.
[3] See further, S. Donald Fortson, III and Rollin G. Grams, Unchanging Witness: The Consistent Christian Teaching on Homosexuality in Scripture and Tradition (Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2016).
[4] The Internet Classics Archive by Daniel C. Stevenson, Web Atomics 1994-2000. Accessed 4 May, 2011: http://classics.mit.edu/Virgil/eclogue.mb.txt.
[5] The Works of Aristotle, trans. T. Loveday and E. S. Forster, ed. W. D. Ross, Vol. VI (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1913).
[6] Ibid., p. 158.
[7] Kyle Harper, From Shame to Sin: The Christian Transformation of Sexual Morality in Late Antiquity (Harvard University Press, 2013), p. 33.
[8] Plutarch, Moralia, trans. Harold Cherniss and William C. Hembold (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1957).
[9] Plato in Twelve Volumes, Loeb Classical Library, Vol. 9, translated by Harold N. Fowler (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1925).
[10] Plato in Twelve Volumes, Vol. 10, translated by R.G. Bury (Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1967 & 1968).
[11] The Works of Philo Judaeus, the Contemporary of Josephus, trans. C. D. Yonge, 4 vols. (London: Henry G. Bohn, 1854-55).
[12] Herodotus, with an English translation by A. D. Godley (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1920).
[13] Xenophon in Seven Volumes, 7, Loeb Classical Library, trans. E. C. Marchant and G. W. Bowersock (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, Rev ed. 1925; William Heinemann, Ltd., London. 1984).
[14] Sextus Empiricus: Outlines of Pyrrhonism, trans. R. G. Bury (Loeb Classical Library 273; Cambridge, MA: Harvard Univ. Press, 1933). Also, a Sibylline Oracle (3.595-600) states that the Phoenicians, Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, Persians, Galatians, and the people of Asia Minor practiced pederasty. Plato, too, suggests that same-sex eroticism, particularly pederasty, arose among the Cretans (Laws 1.636b-c). Philo argued that the love of boys was a social development (Special Laws 3.37-42). Plutarch speaks of the practice as particularly notable among the Spartans (Lycurgus 17.1; 18.4).
[15] James Brownson, Bible, Gender, Sexuality: Reframing the Church's Debate on Same-Sex (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2013).pp. 155-156, 166, 172, 178.
[16] See further, S. Donald Fortson, III and Rollin G. Grams, Unchanging Witness, ch. 15.
[17] S. Donald Fortson and Rollin G. Grams, Unchanging Witness. See especially chapters 16, 17, and 18.
[18] For a detailed discussion of Paul's theology of the power of the Gospel and transforming grace, See Ibid., chapters 17 and 18.


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Archive for the 'perspective' Category
What Gives You Hope?
by Keith Yancy
What gives you hope?
Stop and think about that question for a moment. It's an interesting question that I came across while reading Regina Brett's book, titled Be The Miracle. In it, she lists a variety of personal observations that give her hope.
But the question itself is worth considering — after all, it's different from "what gives you happiness," or "what gives you satisfaction." "Hope" is different — rather than the immediate "what makes you happy," hope is more about what you look forward to or expect in the future.
So, what gives you hope? Hope for the future? The world? Humanity? Have you stopped lately to ask yourself what, beyond the typical fill-in-the-blank type reactions, you hope for? Do you have the courage to think deeply about hope?
I think it's easy to fall into the trap of hoping for the typical litany of outcomes our culture feeds us. We hope for success at work. We hope our families are safe. We hope for good weather, good service at the local restaurant, good traffic on our commute, an enduring marriage. We hope our sports teams win, our tax refunds are larger, our boss is nicer.
Perhaps it's easy and safe to hope for the immediate, the easy, the next step on your path to wherever you're going in life. And in a hyper-publicized world, hope can sometimes seem to be easily pummeled into despair by the barrage of negative news which constantly preoccupies our country and our world. Wars. Ebola. Environmental disasters. The decline of values in our society. Civil unrest, terrorism, scandals, corruption, partisan politics — too often, these are the main ingredients of the media diet we're fed. How can hope survive? Our culture often seems fixated on its own decay and decline — how can something like hope not seem trite or naive?
With so much negativity, so much to worry about, so much to fear, its pretty easy to keep our hopes focused on the "little things." But aren't there opportunities to hope for something greater? Something beyond ourselves, or the definitions of success/happiness/achievement that we've bought into?
I think so.
When I think of the question "What gives me hope?", I find myself searching for deeper answers. Yes, I hope for all the normal stuff — a raise at work, fewer meetings, Granny Smith apples in the cafeteria — but I'm trying to aim higher. I'm trying to change my opinion of "hope" from a naive, simplistic emotion to the powerful, profound emotion it can and should be. Hope is more than endurance of life's disappointments and steadiness in the face of defeat — the things we hope for should help define who we are, what we stand for, what our ultimate goals are for our lives. Our hopes should inspire us to think more deeply, feel more profoundly, act more purposefully.
Here are some things that give me hope:
- The glowing red sunrise above me on my drive to work, reminding me that there is always, always beauty in the world — no matter what problems I may face.
- The knowledge that I (and everyone else) is more than just the sum total of their jobs, their looks or their possessions — everyone has value.
- The kindness and understanding of my wife, because it reminds me that compassion for others still exists in the world.
- Watching my daughters growing up with moral values, strong opinions, and dreams of the future. Today's kids are no worse, or better, than any other generation. I believe in the idealism of youth.
- The knowledge that our present-day challenges are not that different from the challenges of generations past. If we can overcome slavery, the Black Plague and a host of other problems, humanity can overcome the problems that face us today.
- The comfortingly predictable and glorious change of seasons, marked by the leaves of Autumn, the chill of Winter, the blooms of Spring, and the glory of Summer.
- Watching and recognizing that people can and do change. Not always, and not always permanently, but people DO have the capacity to overcome their prejudices, to fight for what's good in the world, to become better people.
- That an African-American can be President, that women are breaking traditional barriers in sports/business/government, that people of different faiths can respect, understand and support each other without hatred, that those who have can and do try to help those who have nothing.
- The brilliant blue of Lake Huron, if only because of the awe it's beauty inspires inside me.
- The enjoyment of art, music and literature. May they always be an escape from the everyday and give us a glimpse of the sublime.
- The persistent, calming belief that there is, in fact, an existence beyond death and this world we live in. That belief is sometimes a tenuous one, but it's a lifeline of faith that remains unbroken for me.
- The recognition that the vast majority of people, I believe, are decent, honest, and good… and as such, are rarely if ever mentioned in what we call "news."
- That there is purpose and meaning in our lives beyond our understanding, and that, because the human mind has limits, there will always be a need for faith. What people choose to have faith in is their choice.
- Loyalty, courage, integrity, faith, morality, perseverance, compassion, empathy. In other words, the best elements of our nature. As long as these traits exist among us, there remains hope for the present and the future — and for us.
What gives you hope? Feel free to share your thoughts with me. I'm sure my list can be improved.
Until next time… 🙂
Smart Marketing: Beyond Selling Products
by Keith Yancy
Not long ago, Josh Bradley, an acquaintance of mine (via LinkedIn) sent me a message, asking me to give him my reaction to his blog post, "Can Smart Marketing Sell Anything?" (http://corporategraffiti.com/can-smart-marketing-sell-anything/). In short, Josh argues that even poor ideas or products can be effectively marketed, if in fact the marketing strategy is smart and clever enough. He cites several examples of smart marketing selling less-than-stellar ideas or products, including lousy movies like The Human Centipede, Bitch brand wine, and even the Iraq War.
My reaction? Josh is absolutely right, of course. Damn near anything can be marketed, and if done well and convincingly, someone — or many someones — will plunk down good money to buy it. The famous quote (incorrectly attributed to P.T. Barnum) that "There's a sucker born every minute," is famous for a reason: it's true. Pet rocks, Chia Pets, battery-powered pumpkin carving knives (don't ask)… someone will buy it, if the "sell" is effective.
Good salespeople know this instinctively. A good salesperson's greatest attribute is his/her ability to determine what's important to the customer and show how their product meets the customer's wants and needs. Marketing operates basically on the same principle — appealing to customer fear, or altruism, or even sense of humor. The trick is to find the best approach and make your product stand out from the competition.
Obviously, Josh's position in this argument is pretty strong. The only thing I would add to his perspective, however, is this truth really extends beyond marketing. Josh tips his hat to this fact himself with his mention of the Iraq War, and included a description of how Colin Powell effectively "marketed" the need to go to war, despite the fact that evidence later refuted the presence of weapons of mass destruction.
Since Josh started down the road to a "broader view" of marketing, allow me to go the rest of the way: Bad ideas, cruel ideas, stupid ideas, even deadly ideas have been and continue to be "sold" to people every day. Consider the fact that many of the "assumptions" in history were once ideas that were, in a real sense, marketed to those who would listen, believe and buy into them. Women are less intelligent/capable than men; black people are less than/inferior to white people; celebrities are somehow smarter/wiser/better than non-celebrities are just a few examples. The Nazis were expert marketers and propagandists of their ideology, which ultimately paved the way for millions of people to be exterminated while the local populations not only showed indifference, but in many instances, participated in the process.
At the core of all this — whether it be smart marketing or effective propaganda — is the effective use (or manipulation) of words and language. In fact, I believe that words and language are the most powerful weapons in the human arsenal to motivate and convince others. Just as propaganda can lead to great human failures, words and rhetoric can inspire people to fight for moral reasons (think Allies in World War II), stand up for civil rights (I read Martin Luther King's speeches, in part, for the sheer brilliance of his writing) and champion the causes of the poor, sick, oppressed and powerless among us.
In other words, language is incredibly powerful, and when the right combination of people, ideas and language comes together, the power of that combination can sell almost any idea, at least to some people. Show me the greatest marketing campaigns in history, and I'll show you that each of these campaigns were made by talented people with a powerful idea and the language/strategy to sell it.
The power of persuasion is merely a person's ability to sell his/her ideas. Marketing is this attribute focused in a business context. The best politicians, activists, and religious leaders instinctively understand this and are capable of selling their ideas to the public, sometimes with good motives… and sometimes not.
Other factors, of course, may influence a customer's thinking, including product placement, price, packaging, etc. And again… these factors can apply beyond marketing to any persuasive exercise. Leaders, prophets, and dictators understand the value of "theater" — that is, dramatic displays that underscore their message to great effect. The next time you see a single mother or a wounded veteran pointed out at a State of the Union address, recognize that this is simply a President using examples to "sell" his ideas or policies.
Can smart marketing sell anything? Yes, Josh, it most certainly can, and does. Whether that "thing" is a product, an ideology, or even a point of view. And being a "smart marketer" in any avocation — whether it be in business, politics, law, whatever — is a talent that everyone values, whether they recognize it as such or not.
Thanks, Josh, for inviting me to share my thoughts on the subject.
Until next time… 🙂
Closed, but not forgotten: faith lives and shines in Detroit
by Keith Yancy
I recently had a very eye-opening experience. I went back to high school.
In my case, that would be Detroit Lutheran West High School, home of the Leopards. My high school was one of many high schools in Detroit, a smaller high school that, like most others, had its highs and lows. To an outsider, Lutheran West was just another high school; but of course, a kid's high school is always his or her own, a place of memories (good and bad) and usually a place that has a marked impact on their lives. Lutheran West did that for me.
But, like so many other high schools in Detroit, Lutheran West didn't survive.
My high school closed years ago. Another school moved in for a few years, but the forces of decay and population flight were still present, and it eventually closed too. Like so many Detroit institutions, the problems of our area were just too large to overcome. Nowadays, the occasional reunion and a devoted Facebook page keep the memories of my high school alive, with former graduates sharing news, renewing friendships, and trading memories.
It was that Facebook page and the pictures on it that made me decide to take a drive over to school to see it once more. I confess, I've been a poor alumni. I hadn't physically been there for at least 20 years (class of 1985), even though it's only a 20-minute drive from my home. Only when I saw that the property had been sold to a land developer did I decide to visit, and on this occasion, I had my 10-year-old daughter Clara with me.
Even before I got there, I knew things had changed. Dramatically.
Just for fun, I intentionally went out of my way to re-create the route I took to school each morning. And while the street signs bore the same names, the trip was strange and unfamiliar; office buildings (some vacant) had replaced empty fields, old buildings were replaced by new ones; too often, those old buildings were either replaced by empty, weed-wild lots or simply boarded up. I couldn't help but feel slightly guilty about how long it had been since I had driven through the area.
All these strange feelings steadily increased as I got closer to where my old school was, and when I saw the familiar railroad tracks across Greenfield Road, I braced myself for what lay beyond. (I remembered how I — and a lot of other kids — used the "got caught by the train" excuse on more than one occasion to explain why I was tardy for first hour.) I bumped over the tracks, slowed down my car, and pulled into the parking lot of the school I had attended all those years ago.
It was a sad sight to see.
I stopped my car, and stared so long at the building and grounds that my daughter finally piped up from the backseat, "What is this place, Dad?" I took a deep breath, exhaled, and finally said, "This was where I went to school, sweetie." She paused, gave it some thought, and finally said, "That's sad."
We didn't say another word while we were there.
Tall fences stood where once was an open parking lot. Tall grass and weeds were everywhere. Everything from the concrete driveway to the building was crumbling. The forlorn school sign, still standing in front of the property, said "Faith lives and shines in Detroit." A playscape, added after my school closed, sat silent in a sea of overgrown grass.
Time, neglect and scavengers had definitely taken their toll on the building. Metal fascias had been torn off, doors boarded up, windows broken, awnings sagging. Fences leaned back and forth. Broken glass and peeling paint seemed to be everywhere. The sports fields in back — where we played our games, cheered our teams, and held our phys ed classes — were now silent and empty, overgrown and abandoned. The windows that remained gave glimpses of what I once knew as our school cafeteria, the band room, classrooms, principal's office. All empty, all silent.
Now, I'm a realistic enough person to know that my school wasn't perfect. We had plenty of problems, like all schools do, and while I had many good memories of high school, I have some that aren't very pleasant, either. I was neither popular, nor athletic, nor a scholar. (In fact, I was Napoleon Dynamite before Napoleon Dynamite even existed.) We had the same cliques, issues and dynamics every high school does.
But Lutheran West taught me a lot of valuable lessons, too.
Lutheran West was the place where I learned that white kids and black kids are, well… kids. We made friends with each other, could tease each other, laugh with each other, play sports together, occasionally fight with each other, and make up again. It was a place where I saw teachers and administrators who were characters, but who genuinely cared about the kids they taught, even if that meant running extra laps or getting sent to the back of the lunch line. It was a place where I learned that a good education could be gained even if we didn't have all the money and "stuff" that bigger schools had.
And Lutheran West was, in my opinion, unique. Instead of today's fixation with the color black, our school colors were maroon and white — still my favorite color combination. No one else we played had those colors. And I don't ever recall, even a single time, where we played another sports team called the "Leopards." That was us, and us only. We knew we didn't have as many resources as some other schools, and while we didn't all have matching uniforms on the JV baseball team (there weren't enough, so a few of us had older-looking versions), we loved — LOVED — when we beat the "rich kids" from the prep high school with their fancy uniforms and palatial baseball diamond. We had our rivalries with — who else? — Lutheran East, which eventually closed also.
Religion was, of course, important. One of the best experiences I had in high school was being required to read the ENTIRE Bible as part of the curriculum. I'm amazed, even now, at how many Christians haven't done that. We studied — with respect — other religions, too, and we had chapel for the entire school every Wednesday morning, no matter what. Though I didn't appreciate it at the time, this gift was the greatest gift Lutheran West gave to me, and I remain grateful for it every day.
All those memories came back to me in a flood as I slowly drove around the school. My daughter and I sat in my car for a long while, staring at the building and listening to the cars driving past. The entire place seemed utterly forgotten and invisible; it was as if the surrounding neighborhood didn't even see the school (or us) there at all. Before I finally pulled out of the driveway to go home, I found myself looking one last time at the school sign out front.
"Faith lives and shines in Detroit."
Whoever put that message on the sign was right.
The building is empty, the people long gone. Soon, I suspect, the building will be gone as well. But the true purpose of Lutheran West lives on, its mission accomplished. Graduates of all ages — and colors — are productive citizens, in all sorts of professions (many students went on to become teachers and pastors themselves). Some stayed local, like me, while others moved to Florida, or Texas, or California, or other far away places. And while it's sad knowing that my high school is gone, I feel better knowing that the lessons I learned there live on in many other people's lives as well.
"You can't go home again." Yes, perhaps that's true. But maybe you can take home with you. For those of us from Detroit Lutheran West High School, that's what we have left: our memories, our friendships, our faith. And those gifts are greater than any brick and mortar building could ever be. Faith does live and shine in Detroit, and beyond.
And no matter where I go, or how old I grow… I'll always consider myself a Leopard.
Until next time… 🙂
Removing a Three-Year-Old Beehive: Photos From The Scene
by Keith Yancy
It's over.
Honeybees have been part of my life for the past several years. In fact, bees have been living in my HOUSE for the last several years. This past Thursday, after repeated attempts to exterminate them myself (see previous blog posts) and after trying different exterminators, I finally had enough.
It may seem strange, but I was sorry it came to this. We had fought each other for a very long time, and I had grown to respect them; no matter how many I killed, they just kept going, more and more of them, apparently oblivious to how many I had vacuumed. I had hired an exterminator or two in the past, but nothing overcame their ability to keep up their work, and the swarms and steady stream of honeybees flying into my outside fascia continued.
But the time had come, at last, for them to go. My wife has wanted to remodel our living room for a long time, and the bees needed to leave to get that project started. I finally admitted defeat, found an exterminator who knew how tough a job it would be, and paid him to do it.
Below is a photographic "step by step" of the experience, complete with descriptions.
It started here. My living room, before the carnage. The beehive is in the upper left corner of this picture, near the picture window. Note the "sea of beige" (it was this way when we moved in) that will eventually be replaced.
Tom, the exterminator. Great guy who did a great job. Taught me (and my girls) a lot about bees, beehives, and cheerfully endured my photographs and videos. Here, he's poisoning them before opening up the ceiling. You could hear the bees buzzing angrily when Tom was doing this, which increased the tension level of the experience.
Tom, using a long scraper to find the hive. It was at this moment that I realized a) he wasn't wearing any bee suit, b) neither was I, and c) neither were my kids, all of whom were sitting on the stairs behind me. I was proud of them — after telling me they didn't want to be there, their curiosity overcame their nervousness, and they watched the whole thing.
Once he found the hive, Tom cut that section of the ceiling out. A few bees few out, but what I noticed immediately was the honey dripping down from the ceiling. A LOT of honey. You could still hear bees buzzing at this point, but Tom was completely untroubled by this. He mentioned — repeatedly, throughout the process — that it was a shame they couldn't be saved.
The process gets messy quickly at this point. Tom is looking at the honeycombs here, and you can already see honey on the walls.
We had put a large garbage can below the hole in the ceiling, which was a good idea… the can would get full very quickly.
Pieces of the honeycomb. There were many.
Another photo of the carnage. It was — and is — a gooey mess.
The hole in the ceiling. If you look carefully, you can see pieces of the hive still there, along with marks on the flooring above where the combs were hanging. Note that the hive extends well to the right of this hole, and down the wall. Bees were all dead by this time.
Tom realized that the only way to get all of the hive out was to go in from the outside. The entrance to the hive is located just to the right of the gutter, where the top corner of the board he's pulling off meets the siding. I killed many bees in this location.
Tom reached into the wall and handed me this comb. He later taught me how to make a candle with it. Tom was a fantastic guy — he regularly gives bee nests and other stuff he has to "manage" to science teacher friends. He was genuinely sorry he had to kill the bees, and was quick to point out how social honeybees generally are.
Whenever people ask me, "Did you get the honey?", I always think of this picture. This is the condition of much of the honey that came out, complete with bee guts, bits of hive, etc. I like honey, but I like sausage too — and I don't want to see either before it's been prepared and packaged for consumption, thanks. (It didn't help matters that I had the flu during this entire experience, so thinking of eating this was not a good idea.)
Another shot of the ceiling, this time after almost all the hive was removed. Blech. Cleanup is going to be an incredible pain.
Three of the combs. I put my foot next to them as a reference to their size. I wear a size 11 shoe, btw… 🙂
The aftermath. Not so bad, I guess, but the whole thing is incredibly sticky. Not much of a smell, though, and thankfully, no living bees. Now the real work begins of cleanup and repair.
The end. It's as gross as it looks.
I took this last photo to show that the honey is all over the place — the door handle to the house, on the front porch step (shown here), everywhere. Those bees were productive, if nothing else… there was, and is, a lot of honey, and a ton of cleaning up to do.
I hope this has given you a small glimpse of what it's like to have a beehive taken out of your house. All in all, a much better experience than I feared. Tom from Pestmasters is an excellent exterminator — and a pretty darn good teacher to boot. Even their prices were reasonable. I'd recommend them to anyone.
And now, I'm going to start cleaning this mess up.
Until next time… 🙂
I never thought these boots would last a quarter century…
by Keith Yancy
A few days ago, I decided to do some yardwork, and since I knew the ground was still damp, I decided to put on my work boots. I got them out, and decided — based on a father's instincts — to turn them upside down first to see if anything were inside them. (Don't ask me why I've developed this habit. Trust me — it's justified.)
One boot contained an impressively large collection of twigs and sticks, which rained down onto the floor and made yet another mess to pick up. The other boot housed a bracelet made out of Scrabble tiles, which I later discovered had been missing for "months and months." These sorts of discoveries cause me to have the same sort of resigned shoulder shrug as Ralphie's dad in "A Christmas Story," when he discovers his son Randy hiding in a cupboard under the kitchen sink. No, I don't know why that stuff was in my gross, nasty old work boots, but I'm too apathetic to try to figure such domestic mysteries out anymore.
Anyhow, I put the boots on, did my work, and took them off later. As I was going to put them away, though, it occurred to me that these boots were pretty old. In fact, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that these old boots were among the oldest items in my wardrobe. I finally realized that these boots were older than my daughters (one of which is 17), and even older than my marriage (20 years).
Incredibly, these boots are, by my guess, almost 25 years old. That, my friends, is a great investment.
Now, that's admittedly a great example of how cheap I am, too. I just never really felt like I needed new work boots. Even when the insulated lining succombed to dry rot and crumbled into dust, I just vacuumed out the dust and insulation out and put them back in the closet. When the left sole cracked in half, I tested them to see if the crack let in water, and when it didn't, I put them back in the closet again. Nope, these boots — which I purchased for about $18 at Kmart — just never seemed quite worn out-enough to throw away.
I've shovelled snow in them. Took my kids sledding and fishing in them. Stepped in dog poop (many times) in them. Killed bees, mowed lawns, assembled playground equipment, planted trees, remodeled a basement, even almost got electrocuted in them (a long and stupid story for another time). I've spilled chemicals on them, dripped wood stain, paint (and blood) on them, had spray foam insulation, Krazy Glue and metal filings stuck to them, and through it all, they've held up for a quarter century.
They've outlasted two houses (we're in our third house now), about a dozen "moving parties," 8-9 different cars (I'm too lazy to remember them all), a couple of friends' marriages, 5-6 American Presidents, and, because I live in Detroit, countless political scandals and exactly ZERO World Series or Superbowl championships. They were around when I got married, had three kids and one open-heart surgery. They outlasted two cats, several goldfish, one turtle, half-a-dozen uninvited mice, and a squirrel who hid in my basement for several weeks. They saw me start a 21-year stint at my former employer, and were there when it ended.
So, these silly, beat-up boots may look shot, but I'm keeping them around. In fact, they're staying until they literally fall apart (or, at this point, disintegrate).
By the way… they were originally branded as Texas Steer work boots. I don't know if they were American made, but I hope so. Because they were a pretty damn good investment, in my opinion.
Until next time… 🙂
200: Another example from the city of self-destruction
by Keith Yancy
Ever make a mental connection that, once inside your head, you can't seem to forget?
A few days ago, there was an article in our local newspaper about a political rally in a Detroit park called Belle Isle. Obviously, this park is an island on the Detroit River, and like many landmarks in Detroit, was once beautiful. It's now — again, like many landmarks in Detroit — largely falling apart. Bathrooms renovated only a couple of years ago are shuttered due to lack of funds. An aquarium that should be a wonderful attraction for tourists and citizens shuttered due to lack of funds. Roads that lately have been used for Grand Prix racing have huge potholes and repair issues (even during the race) due — you guessed it — to lack of funds.
Well, three Detroit Council members (try not to snicker) held this rally to save Belle Isle from the state, which offered to let Detroit retain ownership while negotiating a 99-year lease for maintenance, upkeep, etc. The local newspaper described it this way: "About 200 city residents and supporters sent a resounding message to state leaders Wednesday: Keep your hands off Belle Isle."
What a joke.
Let me be clear: what's NOT a joke are citizens who care, and I believe Detroiters should have a say in what happens on Belle Isle. I can even respect the fact that 200 Detroiters oppose state intervention for Belle Isle's preservation. I don't agree with them, but I respect their right to their opinion.
No, the joke here — or rather, jokes — are these:
- The silly newspaper article, first, for declaring 200 people — from a city of around 700,000 residents — to be a "resounding message" of anything. For the junior journalist at the Detroit News who whipped up that little puff of hot air, that represents exactly .0003% of the Detroit population — and I rounded that number UP.
- The utterly lame and incompetent three City Council members, second, for showing the world the power of their political and social influence by focusing their collective might to rally .0003% of the population to their so-called "rally." For good measure, these three — Kwame Kenyatta, Joann Watson and Brenda Jones — put an ideological cherry on top of this mess by describing themselves as the "just say no trio." This mentality, one that is rampant on the embarrassment that is the Detroit City Council, can be summed up thusly: "Leave your money at the door, go away and let us mismanage it like we have done for the past 40 years. Repeat as needed."
- And, finally, the complete absence of alternative ideas to save the park from further decay. In a city that cannot keep streetlights functioning, cannot pay its bills, cannot even demolish burned out homes (with federal funds that risk being lost due to lack of use), what alternative ideas does those like the "just say no trio" have to offer? The only one they could come up with was — you guessed it — having the state give them money and provide maintenance and upkeep while allowing Detroit politicians to have overall control. Given their horrific track record and "it would be funny if it weren't so pathetic" leadership, why would anyone give that Council any money for anything?
This episode is just a glimpse at the total circus that is Detroit city politics. Multiply this in number and scale and extend it for decades, and you can understand why Detroit has such incredible problems, and why the city has fallen so far from what it once was.
So… what was that mental connection again?
It was this: just before I read this story, I found an interactive map of Detroit in the Detroit News. A map that showed, by location, all of the "major homicides and shootings" committed inside the city between May 14 — MAY! — and the end of July. (Is there such a thing as a "minor" homicide or shooting?) You can see it here: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/99999999/SPECIAL01/120606001
And, by my count, for every person who bothered to endure the "just say no trio" at Belle Isle, there's more than one shooting or murder in Detroit. And that's just in the last 75 days or so.
I'm still wondering why I connected these two stories, but I think it's because I'm so incredibly frustrated with politics in Michigan and Detroit. It's so bad, so short-sighted, so divisive that we not only can't seem to help each other anymore, we can't even agree if help is needed… in a city that's witnessed over 21,000 murders since 1969. 21,000! Trust is virtually gone, the political parties are an embarrassment, the so-called "jewels" of the city rot and crumble while political dullards point fingers, and progress seems further away than ever before. How bad is it? Reading the comments in local political stories, and you'll find a lot of people HOPING for bankruptcy, and many who sum up their despair like this recent three-word comment: "Let Detroit rot."
Maybe that's why I'm open to the idea of Emergency Managers — individuals appointed by the governor to have near-absolute political power in cases of municipal bankruptcy. As much as I'm concerned about the seeming inconsistency with democratic process, I'm increasingly convinced that local governments in Detroit, Benton Harbor and elsewhere — specifically, the incompetents and even criminals elected in these cities — have failed so completely, for so long, that such a drastic "reset button" measure like an Emergency Manager appointment is the last alternative to bankruptcy court. These politicians have failed the people, and there are no political leaders (see the "just say no trio" above) who have the vision, intelligence, courage and political independence to make the hard decisions.
I don't care what party they're from, what color they are, what gender or sexual orientation they are — just find people who will DO THE JOB and be a leader. And if it means such a person assumes the temporary role of Emergency Manager, so be it.
200 protesters. 200 "major homicides and shootings" since May 14. To the journalist at the Detroit News: if you're looking for a resounding message, 200 "major homicides and shootings" is a real resounding message… a message that the days of "just give us money and leave" politics is simply another verse in Detroit's 40-year road-to-oblivion dirge. A message that it's time for the rotten local, regional and state politicians to — at last — drop off the political tree once and for all, and for local and state government to work together to benefit the citizens, city and state.
Stop fighting about control and ownership when you're on the brink of bankruptcy and the forced sale of city assets. You're holding a losing hand in this game of political poker, and it's time to accept it and make the deals and compromises needed to put Detroiters first and re-build the city. Otherwise, you'll be hearing some new "resounding messages" from an Emergency Manager, or in bankruptcy court. And your power, what little there is, will be gone.
Perhaps — gasp — it's even time for Detroiters and the suburbs to admit that they need each other, and accept the fact that we need solutions that help both Detroiters and suburbanites. Wake up and smell the coffee: suburbanites enjoy the benefits of Detroit's sports teams, landmarks (DIA!) and businesses… just like Detroiters enjoy the shopping, landmarks and businesses in the suburbs. Anyone who thinks we're not all mutually dependent upon each other is fooling themselves.
Until next time… 😐
What I Learned at My Daughter's Art Exhibition
by Keith Yancy
Driving down to my daughter's art exhibition this morning was more than just another errand for me, or another family activity for my wife and kids.
I'd been looking forward to seeing my daughter's artwork since she began her summer classes at CCS — the College for Creative Studies in Detroit. It's a great school, one of the many, many "diamonds in the rough" that make up the tapestry of Detroit's decaying downtown district. Since the very first day, she'd been inspired, excited, and motivated more than I'd ever seen her before, and her enthusiasm for what she was learning, her teachers, and the experiences offered by the program had given her a renewed sense of purpose.
But as much as she was excited about her experiences, I'm forced to admit that I was too. Maybe that's the true test of parenting: taking more pleasure from your kids' happiness than your own. But as happy as I was to see her artistic passion and creativity blooming, my concerns about an artistic career lingered in my mind like a fog. A life devoted to art and creativity can be a lonely one, with many unknowns; creative people very rarely have the luxury of settling into a predictable or consistent "career." An artist's career can often change and take many unexpected turns, with meteoric rises and plummeting falls, and abundant measures of both satisfaction and self-doubt.
This was on my mind as I drove my family downtown, from the suburbs to the inner city. It's a drive that in many ways is a mirror for some of my concerns. It's impossible to ignore the empty storefronts, the burned out homes, the waist-high weeds and the cracked, pock-marked asphalt that make up the trip into Detroit. The stark reality of joblessness and broken dreams marks the journey, in a way few other places in America can equal. The broken windows, boarded-up churches and weed-wild empty lots offer a silent, constant refrain: We were the dreams of yesterday, dreams based on work, dreams of prosperity, dreams of happiness… and we are gone. How can I feel confident that my daughter will survive in the future ahead, much less thrive? In a world where artists, musicians, and fine arts are increasingly seen as irrelevant — or worse?
I pulled into the parking garage near campus, and we walked inside the building where the exhibition was held. We were ten minutes early, but there were people there already, teenage students like my daughter, curious parents, bored siblings, all waiting around outside the exhibition hall. The walls are glass, and we could see inside and see some of the artwork, but no one went in. Mentors and teachers came in and out, preparing punch and cookies and trying to pretend like the growing crowd was both not there and not starting to grow impatient. We made small talk in low voices, the teenaged students trying not to look nervous. Eventually, ten minutes later than advertised, the mentor students opened the glass doors, and the families poured in, most of whom resisted the urge to bolt straight to their own kid's art display. People begin to politely review whatever artwork was nearby, with polite and somewhat comic expressions. It's hard to look like a dignified art critic when you're evaluating the shading on an eight-eyed, purple alien model figure set up on a small stand.
The artwork was surprisingly good, albeit uneven, and ranged from very, very rough drawings to 3D-animated graphics; futuristic models and a wide variety of self-made fashions were also well-represented. The subjects reflect both classic objects and those of popular culture: impossibly aerodynamic car models and self-portraits, skulls, aliens, and soldiers next to still life scenes, tomb-raider-esque women with outrageously exaggerated curves (and wearing the requisite tiny outfits) next to drawings of bedroom furniture.
But the common element through all the art, from those with substantial talent to those with only marginal ability, was the passion and enthusiasm of the students who created it. As I walked through the exhibition, trying (and failing) to ignore how old I looked and felt, I could see everywhere young adults showing off their creations, explaining their creative ideas and approaches, virtually radiating excitement and passion for what they'd done. I found myself increasingly studying the artists rather than the artwork, and as I did so, I began to recognize that their enthusiasm, their incredible drive to express themselves and their ideas, was what was really on display. The artwork was just a by-product of that collective power of self-expression.
And I found myself worrying less about my own daughter. Her work clearly belonged there, her talents clearly focused in a place that molds and channels such talent and makes it useful to the artist and to the society in which the artist lives. CCS has a strong reputation both for the rigor of their programs and their ability to find employment for their graduates, and though I know the road ahead won't be easy for my daughter, that road would be far darker — and more harmful — if it led somewhere where her heart wasn't. As difficult as it may be for someone to pursue a career in the arts, to want to and NOT to do so is far more difficult, and ultimately, more destructive.
And so, I now know with absolute certainty that if that's what she wants to do, then I'll do everything I can to support her and help her realize her dreams.
Nowadays, a career in the arts is, in some circles, considered frivolous, unnecessary, irrelevant. This line of thinking argues, often very loudly, that "STEM" subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) are where we should be guiding our children. Perhaps. But these same people are very often those who go to movies, listen to the radio, wear the latest fashions, send their children to dance classes and generally criticize those who pursue artistic careers — while being addicted to the very products those artists create. While I hope that such critics eventually recognize this absurdity, I'm forced in the meantime to encourage my daughter to follow her dreams while ignoring such naysayers.
As virtually every culture in human history has shown, there will always be a need for artists and the arts. Ultimately, I believe the many forms of artistic expression (music, literature, theater, design, etc) are what all of us enjoy most in life, artists and non-artists alike. And while it may feel expedient and practical to steer a young adult toward a career in science, technology, or business, I can't in good conscience push my daughter away from what she wants to do with her life.
I hope I'm right.
Until next time… 🙂
Decent People, All Around Us
by Keith Yancy
Maybe you are like me.
Maybe you find that reading the news — with its inexhaustible supply of crime reports, dire predictions, scandals, and hollow "newz" about celebrities — to be relentlessly depressing. Maybe you have issues with difficult people at work, at home, or elsewhere. Maybe you haven't seen close friends, or even close family, in much, much too long.
Maybe the combination of all these factors makes you feel increasingly, inevitably more isolated, despite the frenetic busy-ness of everyday life and technology designed to keep us connected.
And maybe it takes just one small incident to shake you out of that thinking, to remind you that despite all the negative "noise" which can threaten us, there's still good, decent people all around us. People who, with simple acts of kindness, or a smile, or just a thoughtful gesture, tap our proverbial shoulders and show us that there are still plenty of good people in the world.
I've witnessed several such examples over the past few weeks. Strangers who didn't think of themselves first, who helped me for no real reason or reward, who went beyond a job description to "do the right thing," when there was nothing extra to be gained by doing so. Consider some recent personal experiences:
The Guys Who Stopped to Help. One night not long ago, I blew out a tire and stopped to change it. Even though I stopped under a street light, it was still dark, still hard to see, and I drive a pretty large vehicle. While many people drove past, two complete strangers — for no reason at all — stopped to make sure I didn't need any help. One even stayed and used the headlights on his vehicle to give me enough light to change the tire more easily.
As we talked, he told me about his family (they were out of town), we talked about our jobs, and a local celebrity who lived nearby. Despite the fact that it was a holiday weekend, and he probably had way more interesting things to do, he stayed until I finished putting the spare tire on, and — once we both laughed about how dirty my hands were — we fist-bumped a parting thanks. He had no ulterior motive, there was nothing "in it" for him, he just wanted to help. And he did.
The Plymouth Township Little Caesars Guy. Ever try to get two cheese pizzas at 10:00AM? That's what my wife was trying to do for my daughter's last day of school pizza party. Problem is, there aren't any pizza places typically open that early in the day.
Nevertheless, my wife called the night before, and asked if they were open that early. The employee, once he told her they weren't, asked what she needed: in this case, two cheese pizzas (apparently, 9-year-olds aren't strong for toppings). After a brief pause, the guy told my wife that, even though the store wasn't open, if she stopped by at 10AM, he'd have the pizzas ready for her. No additional charges, no ostentatious windage about opening early, just someone going out of his way to help someone get pizzas to a school party. And because he did, we will be customers at the Little Caesar's on the corner of Sheldon and Plymouth Road for the foreseeable future.
The Plymouth Home Depot team. Yes, I know, they're trained to provide good customer service. But it's one thing to go through the motions, and quite another to come across as genuine. I'm there quite often (as my house is constantly falling apart), and I can't recall a single visit where someone didn't greet me, ask me if I needed anything, and offer assistance when I asked.
In fact, it's gone beyond simply acting friendly. I've discussed plumbing problems with their plumbing expert, who saved me a lot of time and money with his advice. I've discussed painting needs with their paint consultants, who helped me avoid mistakes. In fact, whenever I've had a home improvement problem, I've always found someone on staff who was able to help me, even when it meant spending less at their store. They don't have to go the extra mile, but they do… and I appreciate it.
The "bee guy." Yes, I have a honeybee infestation in my house — a large hive. Tom, who works for Pest Masters in Livonia, came out to get rid of them. Not only did he answer my endless supply of questions with patience and insight, but he took the time to teach me a few things about honeybees (all of which were disconcerting, considering they are living in the walls of my house).
But perhaps the thing about Tom I remember most is what he DIDN'T say about a competitive pest control company we had used previously. Once he heard we had used them, he went out of his way to explain why a) they were a very good company, and b) their lack of success wasn't a reflection on the company, just the severity of my infestation. He could have easily taken a cheap shot at a competitor, but didn't. He took the time to explain everything, told me about his own beekeeping challenges, and offered a referral for the inevitable drywall repairs that will result from removing the bees and their hive.
I know none of these people personally. And yes, a more jaundiced eye might see, in the case of the business examples, employees simply demonstrating "customer service." But I don't think so. I see examples of customer service every day, in which people follow the script of acting friendly and helpful while their attitude, body language and overall demeanor scream "leave me alone." Authenticity can be seen by going beyond the job description: going int0 work early (to make a pizza!), showing patience and kindness when no one's watching, demonstrating integrity when it may even run counter to your own business interests.
It's little instances like these that confirm for me that there are many, many good people still in this world, even if they're not covered in the news. They're all around us, if we choose to look for them. Recognizing that fact reminds me that doing things for others, whether it's helping change a tire, offering a kind word, or helping someone just for the sake of doing so makes the world that much better and brighter.
And maybe others will feel that way too.
Until next time… 🙂
Dead Fish and the Struggle to Save Detroit
by Keith Yancy
That's the first word that came to mind when I heard the news today — that someone poisoned the fish in the Belle Isle Aquarium in Detroit.
First, a bit of background: the Belle Isle Aquarium has been closed for years. Once a key attraction on the beautiful island of Belle Isle, a small island in the Detroit River, it had long ago been closed and fallen like so many other city landmarks into disrepair. Recently, a small group of volunteers had worked hard to refurbish the aquarium, and had at long last returned fish to the repaired fish tanks. All this effort was to culminate in a public viewing before the Grand Prix race which was to be held on the island June 3.
For those who had worked so hard for so long, this was a milestone event. And then, in the news today, stories were printed (incorrectly, it turned out) that, in an act of utter senselessness, someone vandalized the Aquarium's tanks, pouring bleach into them and killing the fish.
Before I learned that this incident was misreported, I found myself surprisingly angry about it. After all… people had worked, without pay, to try to give Detroit back a small jewel, just one gem on a city crown virtually stripped of every precious stone it had. It's a small symbol of what so many people in this region hope for — a renewal of a once proud city. And while no one expected Detroit's crushing problems to go away with the revival of an aging landmark, it was — and is — a sign that the city can rise up from its ashes to be great once more.
To many, at least judging by the comments in the news and on social media, it felt like a punch in the gut. It hit me the same way. Later in the evening, however, I learned that there was no vandalism; there was a mass die-off of fish, but there was no poison, no vandals, and that the aquarium and most of the fish inside were just fine.
But before the story was refuted, I was talking about it with my 17-year-old daughter (who was depressed about the news of the Aquarium also). It occurred to me as we were talking that this incident, while sad, paled in comparison to what goes on in Detroit every single day. Murders that happen so frequently, people become numb to the news of them (even when infants and children are killed). Neighborhoods so blighted and burned out that city officials are considering the possibility of not fixing the streetlights — in essence, abandoning them. A political system that seems only to produce scandals, incompetence, infighting, and a consistent, pervasive failure to overcome Detroit's many challenges.
When I stopped and really, clearly thought about Detroit, it occurred to me that maybe the reason I was so annoyed and deflated about a few dozen dead fish was because I had forgotten a very essential point: turning around a city gripped in a 50+ year decline takes much, much more than cleaning up fish tanks and repairing crumbling city landmarks.
It takes finding leaders that care more about the city than their egos (and their wallets). It takes — once and for all — cutting through the endless maze of regulations and paperwork that inhibits businesses from investing here. It takes creating neighborhoods — not just landmarks and businesses — that provide Detroit with a stable tax base. It takes providing children with schools, teachers, and funds necessary to break the bonds of poverty and give them the high-quality education they need to truly achieve success. It takes Detroiters, suburbanites, and the rest of Michigan's citizens working together for the benefit of all.
Bringing Detroit out of its death spiral will be long, hard, and costly. The work of the Friends of Belle Isle, a group of volunteers dedicated to preserving the island, is greatly appreciated by me and everyone else… but it will take more, much more, to bring Detroit back. For every dead fish in that aquarium, there are three or four dead people every year, city residents who should be alive today… but aren't. For all the anger and disappointment people may have felt about this now-refuted senseless act of vandalism, there are decades of neglect, corruption and indifference that created an environment that such vandalism is commonplace. For every landmark that today's civic-minded activists attempt to save, there are entire swaths of land where neighborhoods lie in darkness, marked by empty, weed-filled lots, burned out houses, and rampant criminal activity.
Killing fish at the Belle Isle Aquarium, had it been true, would have been a heartless and stupid act. Thinking back to my angry and depressed reaction to the story, though, made me realize that the forces that hold Detroit in its grip — poverty, crime, hopelessness — aren't easily defeated. I'm sure that the good people who worked so hard to refurbish the Belle Isle Aquarium see this as a minor setback rather than a defeat, and I'm glad that this false news report didn't serve to demoralize other volunteers and workers who struggle every day to improve the city.
To do so — to give up hope that Detroit can and should be saved — is the one sure way to ensure Detroit falls further into despair and ruin. A failed, defeated and destroyed Detroit, contrary to popular opinion, is bad for the region, bad for the state, and bad even for the country.
Thankfully, those reports of intentionally poisoned fish in the Belle Isle Aquarium were a false alarm, and that there was no crime committed. Still, for those few hours when everyone thought the aquarium had been vandalized, those dead fish were a sad reminder that, sometimes, the good guys don't always win. Decades of crime, poverty and neglect can't be easily or quickly wiped away by a small group of volunteers, no matter how dedicated they may be. Margaret Thatcher, one-time Prime Minister of Great Britain, once said that sometimes you have to fight a battle more than once to win it. I hope that people keep fighting, keep working, keep struggling to bring Detroit back.
The struggle is worth it. People care. The hope, motivation, and hard work shown by those who care about Detroit is far, far stronger and far more enduring than any single act of vandalism, and certainly stronger than a bunch of unfortunate fish in a fish tank.
I look forward to seeing the Belle Isle Aquarium, restored, with new fish inside. And I look forward to a renewed Belle Isle, a renewed Detroit, and better days ahead.
Until next time… 🙂


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Morgan Bryant
Morgan came to our firm with two years of personal injury law experience. She has been with Buckmaster & Ellzey for two years with experience in criminal, immigration and family law. Currently, her main focus is in the family law department. She is a proactive and punctual paralegal whose impeccable organizational skills help to move along the attorneys cases in a timely manner.
Morgan attended Auburn University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Liberal Arts in Political Science.
Morgan is a Port Orange Local and currently resides in her hometown close to her family, whom she enjoys spending her spare time with. Morgan has a passion for basketball and enjoys cheering on the Kentucky Wildcats. She enjoys music, commentaries and keeping up with current events.


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Friday, January 18, 2013
Pick O' the Week - January 18
Posted by Matt
This is the second year in a row that I have not watched the NBC telecast, even though Tina Fey and Amy Poehler were enticing hosts. One of the most blogged about moments was Jennifer Lawrence (in her Best Actress - Musical or Comedy win for Silver Linings Playbook) apparently dissing Meryl Streep! Those in the know were quick to defend Lawrence, as she was simply referencing The First Wives Club (1996). Perhaps the biggest development from the Globes was Jodie Foster's brilliant take on the coming out speech. Beautiful and thought-provoking, the best part of the speech was her tribute to her mother, which brought tears to my eyes!
In Theatres: After premiering at TIFF, Dustin Hoffman's directorial debut Quartet was one of the most talked-about films of the festival. In September, there was even early buzz for Maggie Smith, and a potential Best Actress nomination. Despite a nomination for Smith at the Golden Globes (Best Actress - Musical or Comedy), the film was forgotten amidst all the other Oscar contenders, and is finally opening in theatres this weekend, even with my tempered expectations.
At Home: Ashamed as I am to admit it, A History of Violence was the first David Cronenberg film that I ever saw. The 2005 crime thriller was also a welcome change of pace for Viggo Mortensen, who shines alongside Maria Bello, Ed Harris and William Hurt (who received an Oscar nomination for his performance). Often disturbingly violent, the film tells the story of a man whose small town life is turned upside down when a gangster accuses him of being a gangster himself. Fun Fact: Various scenes were filmed in my hometown!
On TV: Finally returning to our screens after a seemingly endless absence (only seven months) is Girls, the Lena Dunham HBO creation that you either love or hate. The series stars Dunham as Hannah, a hapless college graduate/wannabe writer who floats from one meaningless part-time job to another while trying to figure out her relationship with her friends (Allison Williams, Jemima Kirke and Zosia Mamet) and her relationship with her boyfriend (Adam Driver). Dunham, who iscredited as having at least co-written every episode aired to date and has directed more than half, also won the Golden Globe for Best Performance by An Actress in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical.
Retro Re-watch: In her speech, Jodie Foster mentions her forty-seven year career in acting. She is most associated with her Oscar-winning performance in Jonathan Demme's 1991 thriller The Silence of the Lambs, but her first Oscar-winning performance in the 1988 film The Accused is much too under-appreciated after 25 years. Foster stars as a woman under fire after accusing drunken men at a bar of gang raping her.
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