With the holiday season coming to a quick close and the new year breathing down our necks,
it seems like a good time to think about the tradition of...

Okay, now that that is out of our system.

I don't do "New Year's Resolutions". 
It just seems to be a practice in futility.

As a kid it was something my family would use as a challenge to one another
to see who was going to be the one to actually succeed.

As an adult it has become a way to set yourself up for failure
or to align yourself with your crowd.

This year instead of the empty promises of these annual resolutions,
I am going to make goals.

While the splitting of hairs allows for the naysayer to chime in with,
"Aren't they the same animal in a different coat?"
I offer this rebuttal,
"No."

The terms resolution and goal instill different emotive responses for the individual.
Personally, I hear...
"I am resolving to quit smoking this year."
and what I think is...
"I have 300+ days, if I can do it great. If I can't, I'll try again next year."

On the other hand, when I hear someone set a goal...
"By January 30th, I will have begun an active plan for quitting smoking."
and what I think is...
"I have 30 days to find and start a smoking cessation program."

The resolution always sounds kind of wishy washy to me, while the goal feels like a committment.

Whether you believe in resolutions, or setting goals, or letting the whole thing slide on by it is important to 
spend the time thinking of ways to set the steps for success and prepare yourself for what 
it all means to you.

To any and all who reside in/around my area, I am starting a 'support group' for those of us who love to write, but find ourselves in a place where a little support and maybe a little boot in the tuchus could come in handy.  

If you like writing, or think you may want to give it a try, come on over. 
Our first meeting will be January 4, 2018 from 5:00pm to 7:30pm 
​in the Niedecker Room (Upper Level)
at the Dwight Foster Public Library in Fort Atkinson, WI.

It's time to have this discussion...

Are you a Beauty and the Beast OG or are you a Beauty and the Beast In?


Back in 1991 when Disney released the animated film "Beauty and the Beast".
The film became an unbelievable success. Young girls and boys everywhere were beside themselves
with the joy of being a 'guest' in an enchanted castle with a 'monster' for a master.
(PERSONAL VIEW:  This movie was cute when I was younger (16), but my older sister (24)
drove me crazy with this movie (and not just this one,. Right sis?) once it was released onto VHS. 
I haven't watched this movie since 2001 and you can't make me now.)

The Cast
Paige O'Hara .......... Belle
Robby Benson .......... Beast
Richard White .......... Gaston
Jerry Orbach .......... Lumiere
David Ogden Stiers .......... Cogsworth
Angela Lansbury ........... Mrs. Potts
Bradley Pierce ........... Chip
Rex Everhart .......... Maurice
Jesse Corti .......... Le Fou

Songs
"Gaston" by Richard White, Jesse Corti and Chorus
"Be Our Guest" by Jerry Orbach, Angela Lansbury and Chorus
"Something There" by Angela Lansbury, Brian Ogden Stiers, Jerry Orbach, Paige O'Hara and Robby Benson
"The Mob Song" by Cast and Chorus
"Beauty and the Beast" by Angela Lansbury

In 1994, Disney began remaking some of their best/better animated films into live-action films.  
Disney's latest offering (available for home viewing) is Beauty and the Beast.  
Released in theatres on March 17, 2017 (US release)
Released for home viewing on June 6, 2017 
Released for online viewing (Netflix) on September 19, 2017

Much to my aforementioned sister's chagrin, this version is my personal favorite.
I prefer the songs in the live version
(with the exception of Beauty and the Beast -
sorry, Ms. Thompson & Ms. McDonald, no offense).

The Cast
Emma Watson .......... Belle
Dan Stevens .......... Beast
Luke Evans .......... Gaston
Ewan McGregor .......... Lumiere
Ian McKellen.......... Cogsworth
Emma Thompson .......... Mrs. Potts
Nathan Mack .......... Chip
Kevin Kline .......... Maurice
Josh Gad .......... Le Fou

The Songs
Gaston" by Luke Evans, Josh Gad, Ensemble
"Be Our Guest" by Ewan McGregor, Emma Thompson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Ian McKellen
"Something There" by Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Emma Thompson, Nathan Mack, Ian McKellen, Ewan McGregor, Gugu Mbatha-Raw
"The Mob Song" by Cast and Ensemble
"Beauty and the Beast" by Emma Thompson
"How Does a Moment Last Forever" by Kevin Kline

Another thing I would like to mention about the new version are the 2 controversies revolving around the film. 
Both controversies are based on very narrowed and scared views.  

Away we go...

Controversy 1:

"The Gay Moment" in the movie.  The scene they are speaking about
is at the end of the movie during the reel when
​Le Fou and Stanley get fumbled up and end up dancing with one another.  

And the other controversy...

Controversy 2:

Though not much of a controversy, it was a repeat from the first one.
Belle was a sufferer of Stockholm Syndrome.

When Dr. Frank Ochberg, MD, the psychiatrist who coined the phrase was interviewed about his views of Belle's 
succumbing to the Beast's tyranny he said, in an interview on Yahoo,
Belle doesn't exhibits the same trauma symptoms of other prisoners
 because she does not go through a period of feeling she is going to die,
she does not become emotionally dependent on Beast/Adam, and 
she is never in fear for her life in Beast's presence.

So, tell me...

What team you on?

ARTICLE 1:  After reading through the article (twice), I kind of got a little pissed until I realized it's not anger but disappointment I was feeling.  I can perceive different views and opinions, but what I cannot perceive is making the conscious choice to be a controlling, abusive ass just because someone's lifestyle and choices do not line up with yours.  What the hell ever happened to live and let live or fuck maybe even MIND YOUR OWN DAMN BUSINESS?!?  I was raised by older generational parents, can you guess what I was taught when it came to other people's lives?

So for the Governor and the people who support their hate-filled opinions, may you crotches be infested by the fleas of a thousand camels and your arms be too short to scratch.

For Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD President, and those fighting for the simple right to take care of their families, fight the good fight and never lose hope.

ARTICLE #2:  I read through this article and had to keep reminding myself, the children coming up are coming up into a techno-laden world and the earlier they get introduced to the working technologies they will need to succeed in the future the more experienced they will be with the aforementioned technologies.  Like I suggested, this was after I had my internal breakdown of the children who are unable to do basic mathematics without technological intervention.  You know what I'm talking about.  I am currently awaiting delivery of my hoverchair and my reservation confirmation for the Axiom Executive Starliner.

World AIDS Day (according to Wikipedia, link here) is a day "dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection, and mourning those who have died of the disease".  Its a day were governmental and non-governmental health officials, organizations and individuals "around the world observe the day, often with education of AIDS prevention and control".

WHO (World Health Organization, link here) says this years theme is "Everybody Counts" which is explained in a release from Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO-Director General (link).  If you read the release, Dr Ghebreyesus states (simply put) that though we have come a long way on the education and treatment of HIV/AIDS, we are still missing a large portion of those infected.  

Wiki reports there are 36.7 million people living with HIV and Dr. Ghebreyesus says in his release that 21 million people are receiving treatment.  While there are approximately still 29 to 47 million people worldwide who lose their life every year to this monstrous disease.  Now, I don't know about you, but I am discombobulated by these numbers.  Provided these numbers are true (or even close) this means there are approximately 16 million people who are infected by HIV and are not receiving treatment.  Why?  How come these people aren't getting help? I know all the bureaucratic reasons for why they aren't being treated, but its unacceptable.

This is something that took some time for me to figure out.  I have a few friends who are touched by this disease either by personally being diagnosed or loving someone who is.  

However, I never had anyone in my life, prior to the last two years, who had ever come into such intimate contact.  Over the last two years, I have learned about its history and its treatment.  I have also learned about the emotional toll it takes on family, friends, and partners, as well as the patient themselves.  So my views about HIV/AIDS are three points...

1.  No one (even my worst enemy) should have to fight for their life in such a way as to have to decide between having medicine to treat or food to eat.
2.  The demise of this disease is possible, we just have to get past the bureaucracy and pharmaceutical money machines and get back to taking care of our people.  And,...
3.  If your pos, I will love you and protect you the best way I can.  I will do the right thing and fight for education, fight for funding, fight for research and fight for treatments because even if you are the biggest douchebag on the planet (like the ones that go out to infect others over emotional issues) you don't deserve to have to do this alone, or at all.