Good night, and good luck

After having watched this movie over the weekend, and seen the integrity and incredible journalism skills of the late Edward R. Murrow, it was especially painful for me today to have a conversation with a visitor to our town at this weekend's art and music festival.

I spent a lovely four hours at the festival on Sat. with my kids, enjoying the music, entertainment, and buying some art. One of the vendors there is a favorite artist of mine, and I bought a couple of prints from her. I got home last night and decided that one of the prints just wasn't working for me once I got it in the house, so I returned it today to exchange it for another one I had been considering.

While talking to the artist...a very, very nice woman...I asked her where she was from. New York, she said. I said, "oh you are the one they quoted in the newspaper." She looked aghast and said, "WHAT did they say about me? I've been hearing that I've been quoted in the newspaper all day."

What they said wasn't bad, in effect, it was that she wasn't selling much art, and that she needed to at least make enough money to cover her gasoline expenses to drive here from NY. I told her what the paper had said, and she told me that the "reporter" who interviewed her looked no more than 12 years old. We laughed about the fact that they probably sent a first-year summer intern to cover the story, but she was still bothered that this quote didn't really represent what she had told the reporter, and was concerned that she came across as negative about the festival.

Okay, so that can happen with lots of papers and tv reports...they take one thing you say out of five minutes of talking, and often it is the one thing that sounds the worst out of context. I completely understand that. But the fact that the story about the festival was accompanied by three photos, the biggest of which was of two out-of-focus people in the foreground, walking through the food vendor area, with a big "funnel cakes" sign in the background, represents the mentality that accompanies their editorial decisions.

Honestly, you morons, this is NOT what this festival is about. Could you at least have taken a photo of someone interacting with one of the artists, or looking at a painting? Could you not have photographed a child drawing in the chalk art area? No, it had to be about the damn funnel cakes.

Sigh.

I hate my local newspaper

Hate is a strong word, I know, but when the editors of my local newspaper print an editorial once again lashing out at anyone who believes that global warming is a threat to our planet and the future for our children, then I find that I pretty much hate anyone who writes such an obscenity.

I am so frustrated to live in a community represented by media who a) can't spell or use proper grammar in their writing; and b) publish this sort of incredible garbage.

"The Moon," as a friend has aptly named it, claims that the average family income will actually drop by "$1,494 by 2016; and our annual energy bill would increase by $938 by 2030" if some of the proposed current climate change legislation is passed. Guess what, you idiots, our energy bill will probably increase by that much in the next two years, not all the way out at 2030, if oil prices continue to increase. Know what else? Our household income will decrease accordingly as long as the bonehead conservatives you are all so chummy with continue to allow both oil companies and healthcare lobbyists run this country.

I'm spittin' mad. Once again...what the HELL is wrong with trying to make our planet healthier and safer for future generations? What the hell is wrong with acknowledging that SOMETHING (okay, DON'T believe it's manmade if you want) is making this planet warmer, and our lives and existence as we know it are going to change? If that means trying to at least help the situation by being more friendly to our natural resources, what the hell is wrong with that?

The sources The Moon quotes in this editorial are all extreme conservative think tanks...there is no doubt as to where their loyalties are. Of course there never has been. They recently refused to cover a fantastic volunteer-organized recycling event that was HUGE. Apparently it wasn't a big enough story for them, even though hundreds of people in this town were involved, or brought in recycling. No, those all must have been wacko liberal hippie freaks trying to feel good about their excess elite micro-brew beer bottles and green tea plastic bottles...they are just the fringe element of our community.

This "newspaper" --and I use that term with great reservation -- is an embarrassment to themselves, and to the community they represent.

I'm so damn happy to be able to go vote today.

Robo-calls amuse me

Well people, it seems that I got my wish after all. My Super Tuesday frustration (see entry from Feb. 10) that my vote wouldn't ultimately play any part in the selection of the Democratic nominee appears moot. Even though things seem to be favoring Obama, I still get to actually vote and feel like I'm making a statement. Hooray! I'm part of the process!

"Billary" have been in the Commonwealth in recent days, including a stop he made yesterday in my own town, and just by driving around town I would say there is definitely a more distinct presence of her signs than Obama's. I'm not sure if this is a true indication of how people will vote....but it appears from the polling I've seen that O isn't expecting to win this state. STILL...I get my two cents in, and that makes me happy.

The robo-calls have begun in earnest. We probably had a dozen today, including one from Bill himself asking that I vote for his wife. I hung up on him.

I just wonder how many people out there actually LISTEN to these calls and make a decision on who they will vote for based on an automated, recorded message?

Probably the same people who voted recently in WV who flat-out told national reporters that they didn't vote for Obama because a) he's a Muslim; and b) the two races just don't get along (I swear!).

In Memory of Effie

A woman who was part of my "village" as I was growing up has died. Her name was Effie Eyler, and she was one of those dozens of people who had an impact on me (and my brother and sisters) as I are growing up.

Effie was a Sunday School teacher at the church my family attended, and even though I can't remember any specific lesson she taught me, I do remember that I had fun in her class. She had a great laugh, and a positive attitude, and you always looked forward to going to any event she was going to be attending.

Effie was the person at church dinners and Vacation Bible School who gave you a hug and fussed over you like she hadn't seen you in years, instead of just the day before.

She was also the person who gave me a 10" iron skillet for a wedding present and told me that there were two successful ways to use a skillet like that...one was to fry fish; the other was to keep my husband in line. In addition, she gave me a fundraiser-type cookbook from an Oklahoma 4-H group that is quite literally falling apart now, but has some of the best recipes I've ever tried in it.

Effie and her husband Ralph were among the folks who often shared a meal of a fresh "mess" of fish with their friends, along with slaw, fried potatoes and cold iced tea. They were also part of the group of church "family" who came to our house for ice cream socials; and were present at many, many events in my young life.

Effie's not with us anymore, but here's to all the women who have her ability to make a positive impression on the children they meet in their lives.