Pronouns: The Musical continues its trek this weekend featuring songs with Us in the title. Curtain time is Saturday at 1:00 am (Eastern US).
The next beach walk will be the last of the season – but hopefully not the last of the series because I plan to return to the beach in the future.
Wishing all the best for those in Hurricane Florence’s path.
Last weekend we saw the stage version of Misery (Stephen King). Well done – so did you see the movie with Kathy Bates?
Downtown Cincinnati installed a controversial streetcar several years ago. According to Channel 12, ridership is 46% below expectations – and I am not surprised.
At the dance studio where we regularly attended social dances, the owner/instructor is absent on Fridays during September and October. “Students” are volunteering to lead the hour-long class before the dance – and I’m doing one in mid-October.
A soon-to-be-announced blog break is on the near horizon. After all, fall is approaching – and yes, it will interrupt Pronouns: The Musical.
In the past 6-9 months, CBS News has been in the news for the various harassment issues. Their on-air personal continues to impress me by the way they address the reports.
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This past Tuesday marked the 17th anniversary of 9-11. An editorial title by a local resident caught my eye: Shared purpose after 9/11 nonexistent today Below I pulled three paragraphs that resonated with me – and are perfect for the politics section of this post.
I was in Manhattan on Sept. 11, 2001. Like all of us, I will never forget that day. But believe it or not, there is something about the days and weeks that followed 9/11 in New York that I actually miss. Something that we seem to have lost entirely today, and at great cost: a shared understanding of the world around us, and a common purpose. For me, that feeling was as unforgettable as anything else. …
Although New York City is famously diverse and also sometimes called the loneliest place on Earth, I found connection, common ground, and resolve in every eye I met walking the streets in those weeks. We were all thinking about the attack, the lives in the balance, and what we could possibly do to help. This shared understanding and purpose felt invigoratingly new then. It would be positively alien today. …
The public square is too regularly a shouting match, staged from our respective corners. This distance between so many of us has left in its wake a degraded political culture that simply can’t tackle big problems, or sometimes even little ones. And so those problems fester, trust in our institutions continues to dwindle and the distance grows.
For those interested, here’s the entire column.
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To lead you into this week’s dose of satirical headlines, The Onion made me laugh with this one about American politics – and the image is priceless. For more, click here.
Weekly Headlines from The Onion (combos welcome)
Two-faced house guest who didn’t need anything suddenly wants glass of water
Deformed, half-feathered Audubon Society President flees into forest after injecting self with bird DNA
Man discovers huge cache of rare fossils while walking through Natural History Museum
Returning Jesus Christ downed by U.S. missile defense 30,000 feet before making landfall
Is football bad for the NFL?
‘The Onion’ has chosen to publish an anonymous op-ed from two sources close to Trump who think their dad is the best president ever
Interesting Reads
A look back at Thomas Beckett, Henry II, and the church
Green the Sahara?
1968 in Eastern Europe
Linking chocolate syrup and medicine
Attempting to replicate termites in order to help society
The cello and the cellist
(Video) An interview with the first female to lead the cadet corp at The Citadel
(Photos) Stunning silhouettes from Africa
Early this past summer I started sending you into the weekend with a song having summer in the title. This post marks the end of the season here on OITS, so I send you into the weekend with a different version of the first song – this time by Cincinnati’s Comet Bluegrass All-Stars. (The audio isn’t the best.) Give it a chance and enjoy! In the words of Garrison Keillor, Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.
A Frank Angle 
I can honestly say that any catastrophe produces the shared understanding and purpose. We experienced it post Harvey. By its nature, it does have a shelf life and only lasts as long as the uncertainty of recovery. It would be nice if it went on forever but human dynamics make that an impossibility. Enjoyed the article about the Trump boys catching the Op-ed author.
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John,
Thanks for the reflection based on your experience of only a year ago. If memory serves me correctly, didn’t you go to San Antonio to ride out the storm?
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We went to Austin since there was a manditory evacuation. I came back alone three days after when the city allowed residents 12 hours to visit. The entire town was family for the next six months.
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Now I remember …. and recall you returning home to go back to Austin.
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Yup. 🙂
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PS: Glad you enjoyed The Onion link! … just knowing someone clicked and enjoyed it definitely caused a smile.
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😀
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I’m going to be out of town this weekend to celebrate my grandson’s first birthday. I hope I can still find a way to contribute to the weekend Pronouns: The Musical. I already have a song in mind. The editorial excerpt is worth contemplating. I’m glad you’ve shared it. All of your “Interesting Reads” look to be quite interesting this week. You do find some unique headlines! And great music, Frank! Excellent!
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Debra,
Enjoy the weekend and family celebration! Thanks for letting us know about your potential late arrival or even absence at the musical … Your normal seat will not be sold!
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Well done for putting up your hand. Does it bring a little apprehension with it, or are you completely at ease with the thought? Is the dance planned, or do you ‘have a choice’.
It is true; emergency situations of all kinds bring out the best, and worst, in us. The best lingers until we again feel ‘safe’; then, generally, peters out again. What remains is the knowledge that we, humans, carry this compassion tucked away within.
Hahaaa… Yes, Frank, I had a good laugh at the Onion/Trump/Laundry Basket article. I’m new to ‘The Onion’.. and will need a little ‘catch up’ time! Also laughing at the Weekly Headlines!
Your music choice brought back memories for me. During, I think, 1995, I sang this song, plus two others, in a song contest. It was one of the most exhilarating times of my life..
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Carolyn,
I volunteered. This studio has a dance every Friday (so we are planning to attend tonight). I even got my choice of the topic!
Thanks for sharing your “Summertime” memory. Singer and dancer – well know – you are quite musical! 🙂 Alto or soprano?
The Onion has done satire for a long time. US politics is an endless source for them, but I usually don’t use those headlines (because of my international audience). Glad you enjoyed it!
Florence is currently pounding North and South Carolina. I hope I never experience a storm of that magnitude. Good description about humanity and storms.
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Well done to you. I’ll be looking out for the follow-up post. Good luck! What’s your topic?
Soprano; though, never tutored. During an illness between 2013-2016 I couldn’t speak very well and, unfortunately, lost voice strength. I am a music lover; always!
I’ve acquired a basic appreciation of ‘The Onion’… Layers and layers…!
We are receiving news updates of ‘Florence’. Unbelievable power! 😦
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I probably won’t have a follow-up post because I’ll be focusing on past posts! 🙂 The class is usually a pattern on a particular dance – but my focus will be connection – therefore applicable across dances. Many of the dancers at this studio only take group classes, so connection isn’t their strength.
Cheers to your natural gift of a singing voice! …. and to your appreciation for The Onion.
I can’t recall ever seeing a hurricane turning the way Florence is at the moment … that is turning south to move along the coast.
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Glad to hear you’ll be leading your dance class sometime in mid-October. Do you get to choose the music?
I saved the Green the Sahara read for future reference.
I look forward to your take on the ways CBS News is handling differently its harassment issues.
I’m still behind the Cincinnati streetcar along with a plan to fund and expand the Metro bus system.
No splats.
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Tim,
In my normal contrarian manner, my class will be different than the others. I have not picked the music yet because I have to listen to the music she has available. I’ll make it work. Meanwhile, you know I was against the streetcar before it was built and still believe the main purpose was to line the pockets of key property owners – which included at least one city council member.
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Happy Friday Frank. Great post today, I really appreciated the excerpt on 9/11, I was not in NY but I think we all became New Yorkers that day and broken hearted Americans..
“The Don’t Care About Us” by Michael Jackson is my song contribution for today’s challenge.
I have seen Misery the movie about six times 😊 and would love to see the stage version. Here in Florida the big storms strike fear and our thoughts are with the folks enduring this catastrophic hurricane. Have a spendid day and hope to read you soon. Keep dancing my friend!
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Holly,
Glad you appreciated the quotes from the article because I found a strong message in them. Because you have seen Misery many times, I think you would enjoy the stage version I saw. Both key actors did very well.
In terms of the “us” song, that’s for the musical. The post went up overnight, so come on over and bring the song with you … Caution – before posting it, make sure it hasn’t been used. At this point, it hasn’t.
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I will return Frank….have I messed up again? Don’t block me.
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You’re fine … song is still available.
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What is the controversy as per that street car?
That piece in the local paper is right on!
And are you ready to invest in Bengals playoff tickets yet? . . .
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Marc,
LOL about playoff tickets. Answer is NO because no team has ever made the playoffs with two wins. After all, they can’t win four until they win three.
The streetcar was about money … a big investment that will operate at a loss vs. what else could be done with the money.
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Cincy,
Welp, 2-0 is better than the alternative. And sure there is a long way to go, but you should be more like me! Completely certain your team will be there come January . . .
Okay, I couldn’t NOT giggle as I wrote that. From the Miami perspective anyways.
Wow, I cannot believe they would do that with taxpayer money . . . Okay, I’m done giggling.
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Difficult next two … @ Carolina and @ Atlanta ,,, then host your Dolphins
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Well hopefully you guys win the next two before your first loss . . .;)
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Ha ha ha …. Usually have trouble with the Fins – but two other mountains to climb first.
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Big mountains. HUGE.
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I’ve seen the movie version of Misery and read the book–both years ago. I’m glad you enjoyed the play.
I read either that post or something similar earlier in the week. I understand the feeling to want the country to come together again (though there were also attacks on Muslims). In those moments right after the attacks, Bush (W.), stepped up as a leader–and I say this as someone who was not a supporter. This will never be the case with our current president.
The chocolate and medicine article was interesting.
Good luck with leading the dance class. I’m sure you’ll do a great job, Frank!
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Merril,
Agree – Bush W did a great job of leadership regarding the event. Nobody is perfect, but he stepped up. Then again, it was his decision to politicize the terrorism.
Glad you enjoyed the chocolate-medicine article. A few days ago we went to a museum to see a chocolate exhibit!
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Sounds yummy! 🙂
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Hi aFrank,
Great movie ‘Misery’. I like Stephen King books and movies. It sounds like the play was worth going to. : )
Hurricanes are one of the things that turns paradise into hell. Last year, Hurricane Irma, devastated my property. I’m still feeling stressed from time to time. With every news program warning people, the level builds. I’m trying to stay away from the tv. Anyway, Blessings 🙏🏻and prayers to those in the path of Hurricane Florence. It looks like many, many will be feeling the effects.
Still working on the ‘Us’ song. Mmmm … having a little trouble with this one.
Have a Happy Firday evening … Cheers 🍷
Isadora 😎
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Isadora,
Thanks for sharing your hurricane thoughts and experience. I shiver about hurricanes from afar and can’t understand how anyone stays put. Cheers to your weekend!
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I too shiver when the winds and rain begin. It’s the price paid for living in paradise. Also, there are states that have tornadoes or fires or floods. I suppose we’re all vulnerable to Mother Nature’s anger. ~~~ : – )
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After 9/11 I remember people even in our small town coming together in subtle ways – some put flags out. I wonder what it will take to bring us together again? We do come together in some ways when a hurricane hits but it is not something that affects all of the country. I loved the weekly headlines even on this Monday as well as the Trump brothers trying to trap the op-ed writer! Have a good week and enjoy your turn as dance leader.
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Jo,
True nationwide coming-together moments are probably rare — winning WW II, moon walk, Kennedy assassination, and 9-11 are a few. But our country could use one – although it would be temporary. Glad you enjoyed The Onion trap! 🙂
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You always find such interesting and entertaining photos to go along with these posts, Frank. That and your articles at the end are highlights for me. 🙂
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Betsy,
I put in an effort in selecting the photos for this series – so the fact that you notice makes me smile. … and I remember you’ve commented about them in the past! As I like to think, there is something in OITS for everyone.
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