A Weekend In The Dark

Attention: If you haven't yet seen Disney's new version of The Lion King or Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon A Time In Hollywood" and don't want to read any spoilers you may want to skip this post until you do. Remember, you've been warned. 
Hello again. Welcome and thanks for clicking on this the last YNN blog post for the month of July. 

How was your weekend? Between Thursday and Sunday, I did something I haven't in a while. I went to see 3 movies in the same week. For this post, I'm going to share with you my opinions about all of them. This post is pretty long but only because its about 3 movies and I have a lot to say about them. 

On Thursday afternoon, I went to one of those special Fathom Events. It was the showing of a 1979 film that has a very special place in my heart.

It's hard to believe that it's been 40 years since I took my nieces to see Kermit & Company's first film. 

It has been and continues to be a part of my life after all these years. The Paul Williams/Kenny Ascher soundtrack being the thing that comes up the most. It's my all time favorite movie music. 

I have a DVD and digital copy of The Muppet Movie. I can literally watch it anytime I want on my TV, phone, or computer. Yet I decided to go and enjoy it on the big screen once again.  

I was one of only half a dozen people in the theater but I didn't mind. Sitting in alone in the front section, I sat and recited some of the lines and quietly sang along with the songs. This was a walk down memory lane with thoughts of family and friends who through this movie I have a "Rainbow Connection".  All in all even though it happened in public with other people around, it was a very private personal experience.

On Friday, wife managed to get the afternoon off. We went to see the new version of Disney's The Lion King.
  
Let me just say that the things I write here about this movie are simply my opinions, not gospel. So yours may differ. 

Visually, it was amazing. Even though its computer generated animation, it looked like real footage shot in Africa. The director, Jon Favreau, turned a Disney animated classic and reimagined it to look like a Disney Nature film. Its like nothing I've ever seen before; a visual treat. 

I have seen both Disney's original animated and stage version of this story. Both capture the majesty of the story while remaining true to the medium in which it is set. In this new offering, Disney has managed to present Simba's story for a third time in a way that separates it from the previous two. 

I think that one of the key reasons for Lion King's success over these many years and incarnations is the opening scene. The song sets the tone in the magnificence of the gathering of the animals. It has creatures of all shapes and sizes, even natural enemies, coming together to honor something greater than themselves. This version of that scene, although somewhat different still conveys that message. Something we all need to hear; especially these days.   

There were many moments in the film were I was awed by or delighted with what I was seeing on the screen. 

The most of the characters are animated to look very real and their mouth movements are subtle enough so as to not to be distracting. 

Just like the stage play, the dialogue that's the same as the original is delivered with different emphasis but still works in the situation. 

There are several other well known lines from the original (most of which I know by heart) that aren't used at all. Then there are scenes that either use entirely new lines or go in an unexpected ways. This happens mostly with Timon and Pumba. 

The casting of these two is pretty good. Billy Eichner's Timon is a homage to Nathan Lane while at the same time he puts his own personal touch into the meerkat's character.
   
Seth Rogan plays Pumba as slightly more intelligent and a little more like Timon's equal than his side kick. The one thing that bothers me is the bathroom humor the director allowed. The inferred joke in the original would have worked in this one too. 

Also this pair, at times try too hard to break the fourth wall and let the audience know that they are in on the joke. 

I found the decision to make Timon & Pumba part of a community with a permanent home rather than total outcasts wandering place to place an interesting choice.   

I like John Oliver's voicing of Zazoo. The fact that I know he's from South Africa must have planted a subliminal thought in my mind that he's the perfect alternative for the part. In this version Zazoo's a bit more proactive. 

Unfortunately, some of my favorite Zazoo lines and moments are not there. His interaction with Scar, is almost totally cut out. Being launched into the air by the hyenas via the "birdie boiler" is not there, either.  

But Zazoo's part in the song "Just Can't Wait To Be King" was included. The way that number was staged in the "reality" setting was different and impressive. 

As you may have guessed by now, I don't think this is a perfect film by any means. The lack of ferocity in the villain characters was rather disappointing. Chiwetel Ejiofor's Scar was not anywhere as menacing as Jeremy Iron's. 
Scar's rendition of "Be Prepared" was just confusing.  

Because it's my favorite song in the original, I was very disappointed in the mess of spoken word and singing it was in this one.

I realized that a full on production number would not have been a good fit at that point in the picture. But the new version just felt awkward. 

Also, even though they may have looked like they do in reality, the hyenas faces were uncanny and disturbing to look at. They lacked any distinction or personality. The humorous banter between two of the hyenas, seemed forced, got old really quick and just didn't work for me. 

The two "nature" sequences: the scampering of the mouse before it gets caught by Scar and the path taken by Simba's fur takes to get to Raffiki, are both a bit too long. 

On the other hand the initial "OMG I can't believe it's you" moment between Nola and Simba is not fleshed out enough. It seemed very rushed to me. 

I could say a lot more about the movie but I think that's enough. 

To wrap things up, for me, I liked this version of The Lion King. Now that I know where the story is going I may even like it more when I get to see it again. I'll just have to wait for the home video to find out. 

The third film I went to see this past weekend was Quentin Tarantino's latest, "Once Upon A Time...In Hollywood". Until I started seeing commercials for this movie I had no idea it was being released. 

A couple of weeks ago, I began to see TV commercials and social media buzz about it. I started reading the articles. I found out that it takes place in 1969 and that the Charles Manson family murders are part of the plot. 

A couple of months ago I listened to an audio book called "Member of the Family" by Dianne Lake, a former follower of Manson's. The things I learned in that book helped me enjoy "Once Upon A Time...In Hollywood" a whole lot more than if I had gone in relatively uneducated about the infamous events of August 8, 1969. 

The movie stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt. They play an aging actor, who's best days seem to be behind him, and his driver/stun double. Margot Robbie, plays actress and wife of Roman Polanski, Sharon Tate. 

The first half of this 2 hour and 20 min feature moves relatively slowly. From the start it is made clear that it takes place in 1969 in Hollywood, CA. The story rotates between the 3 characters I mentioned above. Most of it seems very disconnected. But as it turns out it all pays off in the 3rd act. 

As with all Tarantino films, the cast includes many recognizable actors playing supporting parts. This kept me wondering who would show up next. The most impressive unexpected performance is by 10 year old actress Julia Butters. She plays a child actress in a TV pilot that DiCaprio's character is part of. 

The film really starts to get moving once Pitt's character picks up a member of the Manson Family and gives her a ride deep into a California valley to the Span Movie Ranch. Once a western TV and movie set now home to Manson's followers. 

He has a very uneasy experience at the ranch where he crosses the line a bit in trying to find out about the ranch's owner, played by Bruce Dern. He ends up having to uses his fighting skills to allow him to make a close getaway. 

As aware as I was to what was going in the film, I must admit that I missed the most important fact about it. Something which is alluded from the beginning and hinted at throughout. One of the hints I caught involved something stated about Walt Disney, that in our reality would not have been true.

This was not a reenactment of the Tate murders but rather an alternative tale. A telling of what might have happened in an alternate timeline. 

I was rather surprised by the alternate way the events of August 8th was played out. It was a total turnaround of the tragic way it actually happened. In true Tarantino style, there is an "over the top" element in making for a not so cool climax and very satisfying ending. 

What is set in motion for DiCaprio's character when all is said and done is the unstated cherry on the sundae that is the film. 

Although it had a lot less action and was a lot more subtle than most other Tarantino movies, the way the story was told made the film. If it had been faster paced or more over the top it would have been disrespecting to the victims involved in the tragic events as they really happened. 

I would recommend "Once Upon A Time In Hollywood" to anyone who remembers or is familiar with the Manson Family murders. It is also a snapshot of what Hollywood was like back in the late 60s.         

There you have a very very long and detailed post about the 3 movies I saw over this past weekend. I hope I didn't go on too long and that you enjoyed reading my observations and opinions. If you have a different point of view about any of these films please comment below. 

Finally, time for me to go. But I'll post again on Friday as I get ready for my performance in the SOKY's Got talent semi-finals. I'll see you then. 



















  

Saturday July 20: Part 2-Vendor Event

Welcome back. Today I am going to continue sharing with you what July 20 was like for both my wife and me and why it was one we'll be talking about for a while. 

Once I got home from my SOKYGT audition I found my wife busy finishing up last minute details of her Color Street table display and packing up it up for transport.  

The thing that would be the overwhelming factor of the day, the excessive summer heat, had the temperature already near 90 at midday.  

Once my wife finished packing up her product inventory it was time to get ready to go to her first vendor event. 

About a month ago she signed up to set up at the Duncan Heinz Festival sponsored by the Bowling Green Junior Women's Club. It was being held on the grounds of Chaney's Dairy Barn south of town. 

Chaney's is a very popular restaurant/ice cream shop that sets in front of an actual working dairy. It hosts a plethora of events during the year including showing outdoor movies throughout the summer; a corn maze in autumn, and a self-guided dairy tour. 

About 2 o'clock, we loaded up a 10X10 canopy; two 4 ft. long folding tables; 2 rocking lawn chairs; a large plastic bin filled with nail strip sets; display racks and supplies; a portable misting fan and the five gallon plastic bucket that goes with it; a cooler filled with drinks, ice, and Color Street nail strip samples into the back of our Kia Soul. I was surprised it all fit but it did. 

We arrived a little early and had to wait to find out where we were going to set up. Around 3:30 when we started unloading the car the heat index had jumped close to triple digits. Not being very good in handling the heat under "normal" conditions, my wife and I had to take breaks, drink plenty of water and go into the restaurant to cool off during the set up process. Combined with the fact that we were setting up the canopy for just the 2nd time and the display tables for the first time it took us about 90 minutes to get completely set up. 

Paula, is a lot more susceptible to the effects of the heat than I am. I had to actively make sure she stayed cool. I did that throughout the day with a combination of the portable fan and a cooling rag dipped in ice water draped around her neck.  

She actually did most of the set up work. It was new and she had to flesh it out so it looked the way she designed it. But by the time the event "officially" started at 5 o'clock the Paula's Nail Haven Color Street booth was ready for customers.

I would like to take a second and say how impressed I am with the set up. Paula put a lot of creativity, time and effort into it. Thanks to the support from her Color Street sponsors, she had a lot of resources, guidelines, and examples to follow. But the unique features of the booth came from Paula. 

Those include the racks that the sets are on which are originally meant to hold spools of thread. 

The wheels with the different nail samples and the mannequin hand showing, what an applied set looks like, are her original creations.   

For it being such a hot afternoon, there were a lot of people thru with a lot stopping by our booth. Paula would engage those showing interest with the simple inquiry, "Have you tried Color Street?"

A very good opening question that sparked, not only conversations, but a lot of sample applications and even some sales. 

Some friends, who are also members of the Nail Haven Facebook group, came by to support Paula (and get some points toward winning the July give away). Barbara and her daughters; Dawn; Emily; and Paula's sister, Theresa all came by to offer support. 

I've said this several times on this blog before, but I am very proud of the way Paula has grown into being a Color Street stylist. Her interactions with her customers is becoming more and more natural as her experience grows. It was fun for me to watch.  

By the time the festival was over at 8 o'clock both of us were tired, hot, and ready to go home. 

As we took down the canopy and packed up it was still very hot even though the day had transitioned into twilight.  As we loaded the car, darkness set in and the outside movie for the night, Disney's Incredibles 2, had started on screen set up near by. Finally, packed up we headed toward home.  

It was a very successful first vendor event but the heat totally wore us out. 

We stopped for something to eat and drink on our way home. Once we got there, the only things we unloaded from the car were Paula's Color Street sets and the cooler. The rest would wait until the next day. 

Thus, ended one of the longest, exhausting, but most rewarding and memorable days of 2019. 

The next day we basically just rested and recovered from the festival. On Sunday night Paula invited me to participate in her weekly Facebook Live with her Color Street group. 

We played a fun game of 80s & 90s pop music trivia. I came up with 20 multiple choice questions. I used my old Joel Whitburn Billboard chart history reference book and google as my resources.

We did live event together. I read the questions and Paula monitored the responses and kept score. We had a great time with about a dozen people in on the fun. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed it. It was a very fun way to end the weekend. 

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog today. I hope you enjoyed reading about our weekend. Come back next week when I will share even more adventures of a Yankee Near Nashville. 
  





  

Saturday July 20: Part 1-The Audition

Hello everyone, welcome back. Thanks for taking the time to stop by and read the first post for the 4th week of July. 

Hard to believe, but in about 5 1/2 months from now we will be looking at 2019 in the rear view mirror. For my wife and I this past Saturday will be one of the most memorable days of the year. It was both physically and mentally exhausting but extremely rewarding at the same time. 

In my pair of posts this week I want to share with you what made our day one we'll always remember. 

It started out early in the morning. I went to the Southern Kentucky Arts Center for my talent show audition. 

I had rehearsed all week. I added and cut jokes from the act quite a bit over that time. It wasn't until I went to bed Friday night that I finally decided the exactly banter Cecil and I would be doing before we sang our song. Paula helped me out by fixing up Cecil's costume late Friday night as well. 

The next morning we were dressed and ready to head to the venue about an hour ahead of when the audition was scheduled. 

I arrived at the Arts Center about 20 minutes before my audition. 

 There were several people already there waiting for their turn. The hallway outside the audition room was full of people waiting their turn. Some nervously practicing their talent right where they stood.

I checked in at the registration table and then took a seat on a couch in the center's lobby. I still had about 15 minutes before the scheduled audition time. But I didn't have to wait that long. After about 5 minutes I got called. I was rather nervous as I followed the young lady into the rehearsal hall. 

There was a stage area with a microphone on a stand and a video camera set up in the middle of the room. I quickly recognized the people who would be taping me were from Sublime Media Group. 

Let me take a few paragraphs to tell you about Sublime Media. I know them because they have been making local TV commercials for the last decade or so, using puppets.

In 2017, I went to an exhibit of their puppets in the SKYPAC art gallery. Here are a couple of my favorites.

The puppet commercials are the aspect of their business that I've enjoyed over the years. Here's a link to their You Tube Channel if you want to see some behind the scenes video of the commercials. 
Sublime Media Group You Tube Channel

But Sublime Media Group does a lot more than just puppets. They are one of the most creative and progressive production companies I've ever seen. Although they are headquartered in Bowling Green their work reaches way beyond the area.

Now back to my audition.
I handed the CD with the backing track for my song to a guy named Will, and gave him the vocal cue for when to start it. He took it back into the sound room. 

Austin, who was most recognizable of the 4 in the room because of his appearance in their commercials, immediately told me how much he liked Cecil's look. He directed me to the microphone. I got myself comfortable in front of the mic and my audition began. 

Although there were two videos shot as part of my audition; just one of was my performance. Once Cecil was finished singing, Austin asked me to stay and do an additional on-camera interview. This video will be edited and used as a pre-performance intro, should I make it into further into the competition. I called the "Here's Your Journey" video. Of course I agreed to do it.

I was a little distracted while being interviewed by Austin for a couple of reasons. First, I was trying to review and evaluate what Cecil and I had just done. 

Also, I was worried that the judges would be watching this video as part of their decision about me and I might not be saying "the right things." Among the questions, he asked me what I thought of SKYPAC offering this competition to the area. I struggled the most with that answer. 

But once the interview was done. I decided to tell Austin how much I appreciated and admired Sublime Media groups work and accomplishments. 

I walked out of the rehearsal hall and checked with the woman in charge of the competition. She told me that I could expect to find out if I moved on to the semi-finals by the middle of the week. 

Although I was not very sure I would do well in my audition, I am pleased with what I did. I gave it my best. I think I deserve to move on but that's up to the judges. 

So as I write this post I am very anxious to get the email with the news of my SOKY's Got Talent fate. But I will keep hoping that by the end of August...

...Cecil and I get to enjoy this view from the SKYPAC stage. I will be sure to let you know if I am going to the next round. 

Later on in the late afternoon of this memorable Saturday, Paula and I would venture out for her first time setting up at an event as a Color Street vendor. I will share our experience at the Duncan Heinz Festival in Friday's post. Thanks again for taking the time to stop by and read the Yankee Near Nashville blog. 

Event Prep, Softball Memories & Enduring Friendship

This next to last Friday in July 2019 finds the middle and south east parts of the country in the midst of a heatwave. Around here, tomorrow, is supposed to be the hottest day of the year so far. This is going to impact our weekend.
As I wrote on Monday, this week I've been busy getting ready for my SoKY's Got Talent audition on Saturday morning. It's been a process of refining my vocal technique and revising my script. I've finally settled on what my performance is going to be but I still have to tweak it a bit.
It's also been a week of helping my wife prepare for her first ever outside vendor event as a Color Street stylist.
She will be setting up at the annual Duncan Heinz festival. Because it's an outside event, even though it's just 3 hours in the late afternoon/early evening, the excessive heat is going be a factor.
Its is been an even busier week for her than it has been for me. But there's an air of excitement surrounding the event preparation. With this event, she takes another step into something that will help her succeed as a Color Street stylist.
This week's "Throwback Thursday" pic that I put up on my Facebook page yesterday, was a team photo of my church softball team from 1987.

I spent 11 years playing for the Easton Assembly Of God softball team in Easton, Pennsylvania. 1987 was my last year. About half of the guys in this picture also started playing in 1976. I got the experience of having my dad on the team for the first couple of years. He was a pitcher. My cousin, Gary, also played those first couple of years.
I started out playing 2nd base but being left-handed that didn't work out too well. I eventually switched to catcher and that's where I stayed.
I was 15 years old the first year the church had a team. I was really into collecting baseball cards at the time. I ended up making my own softball card. This was way before there was any computer technology to help me design it. So I had to make it as an "arts and crafts" project. The only picture I had was my sophomore high school picture. I adopted a nickname for our team the "AGs". Here's my baseball card.

On the back of the card I put my first season stats, personal info, and a "fun fact" just like the real Topps baseball cards did. Of course I had to mention my dad.

I have so many stories about playing softball for the church. I can't even begin to share them all here. But there is one place I know stories about my church softball days will always be shared and it involves the reason I am writing this post.

In this second version of the softball pic, I've circled 3 people. From left to right: 26 year old me and my friends, Gene and Larry.
Out of all the people on that team, Gene and Larry are the only two I still have contact with. But to me they are more than former teammates I keep in touch with. They are lifelong friends.
In the last 20 years I've only had a couple of chances to spend time with them. In September 2016 they came to visit me in Kentucky. We went to Nashville and visited the Corvette Museum.

The following summer, in August 2017, on a visit back to Pennsylvania I had the chance to have lunch with them.

Both times we got together, it was like no time had passed since we'd seen each other.
Gene was my church youth leader when I was a teenager and Larry coached the softball team for a while. So we have a lot of stories to share about those days. But we have a lot more in common, too.
Gene and I exchange texts all the time. He sends me pics of all the festivals and activities he goes to in the downtown Easton area.
As of this post, Larry and his wife, Tina are planning a trip that passes by my way in October of this year. I look forward to seeing them again.
As a guy who doesn't have a lot of close friends, I must say that I really love these guys. I cherish their friendship and can't wait to see them again. It was Gene who sent me this picture of the softball team and I'm glad he did. It got me thinking about how blessed I am to have a pair of enduring life long friendships.
Do you have any friends that you don't see very often but have that "no time has passed" connection anytime you do get together? Let me know about them.
Thanks for taking the time to read this 2nd post of the week. I will update you on the events I mentioned in the beginning next week. I will see you then.

Audition Week

Hello everyone. This is the start of an important week for me. This coming Saturday I will be taking the first step toward winning a local talent contest. 

For the 2nd year the Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center, in downtown Bowling Green, is presenting a talent search inspired by the NBC TV show, America's Got Talent.   

"SoKy's Got Talent" invites people of all ages from a 10 county area in Southern Kentucky to sign up for the local talent competition. 

I signed up last year but a case of laryngitis forced me to drop out.  

It all starts with the first round of auditions. They are being held in a rehearsal room at the SKyPac center this Saturday, July 20. 

Mine is scheduled for 9:50AM. I've entered as a ventriloquist in the "Meteors" category, which is the last of 5 age groups. It's for people 36 and older. 

The last time I performed in a talent show was back in 2015. It was a fund raiser for a high school Beta Club held at the Plaza Theater in Glasgow.  

Here's a link to a video my performance on my You Tube channel. 
Playing The Plaza-March 2015

Once again, I am going to use Cecil, my turtle for my audition. This time he's going to be dressed in Western clothes to go along with the song we're going to perform. Here's what he looks like. 

I have been practicing but I still need to put in a lot of work to be good enough to make it to the semi-finals in the competition. 

If I make it to that level I'll get to be on the stage at the Capitol Arts Theater. It's a refurbished movie theater that serves as SKyPAC's smaller venue. The finals will be on SkyPAC's stage. 

Getting to do my act on either or both of those stages would mean a lot to me. If for nothing else, because I saw two of the best ventriloquist in the business, Jeff Dunham and Terry Fator, perform on each of them, respectively.

But I'm not going to settle for just performing. I really want to bring home a trophy. There will be winners in each of the age group categories and an overall winner. 

On a day when the world celebrates the Apollo 11 mission. I am going for it. If they can put a man on the moon, I can win SOKy's Got Talent. So wish me luck and I'll keep you up to date on how I do. 

Now it's time to get back to rehearsing. While I will be working on the details of my act, I am also going to try and have some fun. Allowing part of me to just sit back and enjoy the experience. For the next 6 days I'm going to be saying a lot while keeping my mouth shut. 

A Positive Podcast Poll

Hey Y'all. It's great to be at the laptop keyboard writing again. Thanks for being patient with me as I dealt with being a little off my game earlier this week.  

I want to begin this post with a couple of points that explain why I'm going to ask for your opinion on about something I'd like to do. I feel it's important you know what's behind this request so here I go. 

First, for several years now I've been thinking about starting a podcast. But I have put it off again and again because I've been telling myself that no one would be interested in listening. 

For those of you not familiar with what a podcast is here's the easiest way I can explain it. It's a episodic  audio program automatically downloaded onto your phone or other electronic device. You can access and listen to it at your convenience. Kind of an audio"on demand" service.

What builds an audience for a podcast is it's being about something people are interested in and a host and guests they connect with. Based on what I've heard, these types of podcasts get the most subscribers. 

So I've come to the conclusion that if I want to have success with a podcast it needs to be genuine and appeal to a broad audience. 

I've kicked around several ideas and subjects. But for various reasons, none of them met the criteria for what a sustainable, successful podcast might sound like.

I've volleyed back and forth for years between attitudes of "I can't wait to get this started" and "It's never gonna work, I might as well not even try."

To be honest, the main issue holding me back for so long is not the choice of a subject. It's me dealing with my biggest personal character flaw. 

Like most lifelong issues, it is somewhat complex so I won't go too into it here. I'll just say, I'm looking for ways to overcome it. 

I came face to face with my issue of podcast procrastination, a couple of months ago when my wife decided to start a small business with a company that sells nail polish tabs.

When she decided that she was going to get involved in being a Color Street nail stylist she didn't hesitate. In fact she jumped in head first. 

Although a novice in certain aspects of how this business worked, she searched out information and training. She quickly learned how to start a Facebook group and do Live sessions. That's not out of the ordinary for her. When she gets her mind set on something she does it. That's one of the things I love about her.  

But this time the things she did to get started served as a "wake up" call for me. 

Here, right in my own house, was someone who settled in on an idea, which became a dream, then turned into a goal, and is now a reality. 

Sitting on the living room couch, watching her work hard at her dream, made me realize that it's time to start working on mine again as well. 

So thanks to my wife's example, not only have I been inspired to start working on producing a podcast again; but I have come up with my topic as well.  

I believe that, just like my wife did for me, people can be encouraged and inspired by others who have made or are on their way to making their "dreams" a reality. 

Overall, it would be a positive program which would address "dreams" in a very broad way with a very practical and sincere approach. 

As I've looked around through the "everyone has a dream" lens I've seen that it applies to people from all walks of life. I have family members, friends, and people right here in my small town, who have worked to make their dreams come true who would make wonderful examples. 

Then there are people who are well known or "famous" that may be a little more difficult to get as a guest but would be inspirational. I think it would be a very positive thing to explore the ways they are "living their dream" and how they got there.  

On the other side of that same coin is the fact that producing a podcast, would be my personal version of "a dream come true." 
It's something,which up until now, I've been putting off. But making it happen would be an true success. 

Each episode, in and of itself, would be an example that life change can come from anywhere. I mean that in the most humblest way possible. If it was not for those in my life who have inspired me, I would not even be thinking about this. 

With all that said, here's my question for you. Would a positive spirited podcast with a focus on those whose dreams have come true, and those who would like them to, be something you would listen to?

If so, what type of people would you like to hear from? If you wouldn't be interested, why not? Please leave your responses in the comments below or on my Facebook page. 

Because it's been just an idea or a dream for so long, I've still got a lot to learn about the logistics and aspects of producing a podcast. 

Because its so popular there are plenty of resources. I have to take myself to school. So it may take a while until you can listen to my "dream" podcast. But I am determined to make it happen. I would like to thank my wife, Paula for the "push". Like the song by the group Chicago says, "You're The Inspiration." 

I appreciate y'all taking the time to read this post and allow me to lead you down my current path. I hope you have a good weekend and I'll see you back here next time. 









  




















  

A Best Of "RH Factors" Post

Hey everyone. When I woke up this morning I realized that I hadn't come up with an idea for a new YNN post. Not feeling my best for a couple of reasons (nothing long term just "one of those days" you get after 50 when you've had a busy weekend). I'm not in a very creative mindset today. It's hard to write with a headache. So, I have decided to flashback to a post from my previous blog. 

Today I am featuring a link to a post from my RH Factors blog that was posted a little over 5 years ago. This post was also written on a day when I was at a loss as to what to write about. Nevertheless, I did share some of the things that were happening in my world at the time. 

I know this a "rerun" or "best of" type move but I didn't want to not offer anything to my readers today. 

Some recent statistical research has shown me that I get the most "reads" from posts that are personally nostalgic. So I'm optimistic that some of you will read this look back 5 years. I hope you enjoy it. If not, I apologize. But come back Friday and I will have a new post about life as a Yankee Near Nashville. 

Thanks.   

Here's The Link:

Talkin About "B"s

One Toy Left Behind

Spoiler Alert: This post contains plot points and spoilers from Toy Story 4. However, it's not going to be a full on review of the film. If you haven't seen it yet and don't want to know what happens, I suggest you come back after you have. You've been warned up front, so I'm covered. Thanks. 

Last year, former Disney executive and longtime Pixar director, John Lassiter, left the company after admitting to workplace sexual misconduct accusations that were made public. 

Once this happened establishing a proper, fair, and appropriate work environment for everyone at Pixar became a very public priority. 

It would only seem logical that this cultural change would in some way be reflected in the features that Pixar created going forward. 

In June of 2018 Lassiter left Disney permanently. This gave the Pixar  creative team an entire year to include a public commitment to their new policies as part of Toy Story 4.   

The film, which is getting very good reviews by both critics and the public, is full moral messages and characters that break the sterotypes. 

After a prologue explains the reason for her absence over the last 2 films, Bo Peep returns. It immediately becomes evident  that she has become a strong independent toy.

(Prior to the movie's release, Tom Hanks, during a publicity appearance on the Jimmy Kimmel Show, revealed some talking points about Toy Story 4 issued by Disney.  Regarding the reappearance of Bo, he read. "Bo should be described as a strong character from the beginning. Her recent experience, perhaps, made her stronger, but she was never a week character" Now there's your affirmation that Pixar/Disney used this film to make an apology and convey their commitment toward the new corporate attitude, toward women in general) 

Now on her own for 7 years, Bo, now ascribes to a purpose that goes beyond being loyal to just one child.   

In the end Woody goes against what has been his dominant character trait over 3 films and follows his heart to take up with Bo. At the end of the film they become a team of lost toy advocates. Seeking to match them with the children who need them. 

I get this change and how it develops the Toy Story universe but I don't like it. How could Pixar break up, Woody and Buzz, one of the strongest team of friends in Disney features, if not in all of modern animated movies? It's like breaking up Laurel & Hardy or Abbott and Costello or Martin and Lewis. (Wait! that last team did break up, so never mind about them) 

Ironically, other than Woody, Buzz, and Bo, the original Toy Story characters aren't given a lot to do in this film. However, there are lots of strong and funny new characters. Many of them go against stereotype and display their individuality.  

But because of my personal bias I noticed that, in Toy Story 4 Pixar decided, not to break, but exploit, a stereotype of one toy that's already has a very negative image. I'm talking about the character of Benson, the ventriloquist dummy. 

Ventriloquist figures (a term preferred over "dummy" by those who perform ventriloquism) have been feared and misunderstood since they became part of touring entertainment troupes in the 19th century and vaudeville in the 1920s & 30s. 

In the 1940s, because of the popularity of Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy on radio and in movies...

...and later Jimmy Nelson...

 ...and Paul Winchell on television

Ventriloquist puppet toys became part of the American scene and marketed to babyboomer children through the new and fascinating medium of TV.  

But in addition to being part of kids shows, ventriloquist figures were also portrayed as sinister characters who were controlling, eerie and evil thanks to anthology mystery/drama shows like the Twilight Zone, One Step Beyond, and Alfred Hitchcock presents. This negative image also began to appear in movies and continues to this day. 

American children developed a love/hate relationship with the ventriloquist figure. But over the years, with a few exceptions, it's the fear that has remained prominent in the public psyche.  

Toy Story 4 perpetuates the stereotyping of these puppets by making them a squad of zombie henchmen who provide the "muscle" and do the "dirty work" for a doll named "Gabby Gabby". Throughout the film they chase and capture the good toys.

The decision to portray these characters in such a way gives this toy an unfortunate distinction among toys featured in the Toy Story franchise. 

Other than those toys that are the villains (Stinky Pete the Prospector, Zurg, Lotso Huggin Bear) there are not very many toys initially portrayed in a negative light who are not given an eventual path to redemption. 

Once Gabby Gabby, who is transformed into a sympathetic character, leaves the antique store with Woody and Bo, the Benson toys are left behind never to be seen again. They are not transformed or viewed in a positive way. Thus continuing the "ventriloquist dummies are scary and evil" stereotype.

Why Pixar? Why? Why celebrate the toys that everyone loves in a positive nostalgic way and not include the favorite childhood toy of many babyboomers including lot of famous people? Johnny Carson, Don Knots, Lisa Welchel, Terry Fator and Jeff Dunham, quite a few beauty pageant and TV talent show contestants, just to name a few. 

I'm not sure if I liked Toy Story 4 or even if it needed to be made. I'll wait to decide that once I see it a second or third time. But I do know that in a movie whose overall moral is that all toys should be accepted and loved by a child there's one toy left behind. The toy ventriloquist figure.

Not fair Pixar. Not fair at all. 

What do you think? Does this inconsistency mean anything to you? Please feel free to comment below. I appreciate what you have to say. Thanks for taking the time to read this post. Come back next week for more on the Yankee Near Nashville blog.