GROUNDHOG DAY REDUX

This isn't "Good Stuff" in the sense that it's about something good.  In fact it's about something awful!  But it's important stuff, so it's good to know about it and to think about how to confront it.  

That's why I'll post it here for now.  

Remember that film Groundhog Day?  In this 1993 film, actor Bill Murray finds himself trapped in a sequence of events that keeps happening over and over like a bad dream.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundhog_Day_(film)

See a clip here:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107048/

This is how I feel during these dark days at the end of January, 2022, watching TV coverage of the Supreme Court 5-4 vote to overturn Roe v Wade.   

How long will this horrific battle go on?   

It is like watching a bizarre volleyball game, with an important human right as the ball knocked back and forth by politicians playing to their bases, with judges as referees whose motives may be more guided by their personal biases than by the public good. 

For a Boston Globe article with the text of the recent Supreme Court opinion, see:

https://www.bostonherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Text-Supreme_Court-abortion-document-6-24-2022.pdf

For other commentary presenting many views on this, see:

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-supreme-courts-argument-for-overturning-roe-v-wade/

and:

https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2022/06/25/liz-cheney-supreme-court-roe-v-wade-planned-parenthood-johnson-ebof-vpx.cnn?dicbo=v2-12df805528f1ebea0916196c0a311372&iid=ob_lockedrail_topeditorial

and:

https://www.cnet.com/health/dobbs-v-jackson-womens-health-organization-overturn-roe-abortion/

and:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/opinion/roe-was-wrong-the-day-it-was-decided-the-supreme-court-did-the-right-thing-opinion/ar-AAYQitp?ocid=uxbndlbing

I may annotate the above links later.  For now, just past midnight, I'm too exhausted to do more.

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A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN CHICAGO

Today, June 18, 2022, is a perfect day in Chicago.

It is 4:30 pm and people are out on Oak Street Beach and there is a brisk breeze for sailboats as well. 

Here's the view of beautiful Oak Street Beach from my balcony today:

And out on the lake is what I call the "Octopus Boat" because of the picture of an octopus on its sail.  (Sorry it doesn't show up so well here - the camera in my iPhone has its limits!)

This boat is a regular feature - I'll try to catch it again when it's closer! 

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ALBERT EINSTEIN AND MUSIC

The text here reads: "If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician.  I often think in music.  I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music." Albert Einstein.

 

A Moment in the Vatican -- 2022

 

THE 57TH STREET ART FAIR -- 2022

 

https://www.facebook.com/57thstreetartfair

Here is a link to the "Virtual Fair" --

https://www.57thstreetartfair.org/virtual-fair

And here is some of the history:

https://www.57thstreetartfair.org/history

So many great pictures and so many memories here!

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LINKS TO LEAR

 Some links to a great play by Shakespeare: King Lear

They may take a bit of time to load. 

 First read the play: 

https://shakespeare.folger.edu/shakespeares-works/king-lear/entire-play/

Then search for links to performances -- including some full length performances!    

Here's a bit from a modernized version with Anthony Hopkins. 

Sadly the diction is mushy.  So read it first and then enjoy the acting online!

https://www.amazon.com/King-Lear-Season-1/dp/B0884XZ7X1

And visit other performances -- some animated (including an animated instant sketch one!) from movies and stage are now online as well!

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VIEW FROM MY BALCONY MAY 29, 2022

 SUMMER IS HERE!  

Chicago Beaches are OPEN!   

Here is the view from my balcony of the Chicago's famous Oak Street Beach, around noon on Sunday, May 29, 2022, the traditional Memorial Day Weekend date for this event.

              Smaller view of Oak Street Beach & John Hancock Building.

                                      Larger view of Oak Street Beach 

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THE SNAKE BY OSCAR BROWN

Enjoy Oscar Brown's classic about a woman's relationship with a snake:

Hear it performed by Al Wilson at many websites.

Here's a YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULx9k2QkL94

And here's another: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Vjfw7UHl_E

Or search for "The Snake" featuring Al Wilson.  

Here are the lyrics: 

https://www.songfacts.com/lyrics/al-wilson/the-snake 

And here are the lyrics to print so you can sing along!

• On her way to work one morning
  Down the path alongside the lake
  A tender-hearted woman saw a poor half-frozen snake
  His pretty colored skin had been all frosted with the dew
  "Oh well," she cried, "I'll take you in and I'll take care of you"
  "Take me in, oh, tender woman (yes, come on in)
  Take me in, for heaven's sake (yes, come on in)
  Take me in, tender woman," sighed the snake
  
  Now she wrapped him up all cozy in a coverture of silk
  And laid him by the fireside with some honey and some milk
  Now she hurried home from work that night, as soon she arrived
  Now she found that pretty snake she'd taken in had been revived
  "Take me in, oh, tender woman (yes, come on in)
  Take me in, for heaven's sake (yes, come on in)
  Take me in, tender woman," sighed the snake
  
  Now she clutched him to her bosom, "You're so beautiful," she cried
  "But if I hadn't brought you in by now you might have died"
  Now she stroked his pretty skin again and then kissed and held him tight
  But instead of saying thanks, that snake gave her a vicious bite (ooh)
  "Take me in, oh, tender woman (yes, come on in)
  Take me in, for heaven's sake (yes, come on in)
  Take me in, tender woman," sighed the snake
  
  "I saved you," cried that woman
  "And you've bitten me, even why?
  And you know your bite is poisonous and now I'm gonna die"
  "Oh, shut up, silly woman," said that reptile with a grin
  "Now you knew darn well I was a snake before you brought me in"
  "Please take me in, oh, tender woman (yes, come on in)
  Take me in, for heaven's sake (yes, come on in)
  Take me in, tender woman," sighed the snake
  Sighed the snake
  Take me in tender woman
  (Come on in you pretty snake, come on in)
  Snake, snake (yeah, come on in you pretty snake)
  Take me in, tender woman (come on in, yeah, yeah, yeah)
  Snake (come on in yeah, yeah, yeah)Writer/s: Oscar Brown Jr. 
  Publisher: CARLIN AMERICA INC
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind