Head's About to Explode

I feel that I've said this before, but I am totally overwhelmed and getting paralyzed with the current and despicable political climate.  I feel assaulted from all sides on social media.  The Alt-Right and POTUS blow my mind every minute since Inauguration Day.  I can't believe what they are trying to do to our Country.  I can't believe how many elected officials are choosing Party over Country.  All the people on the Left are posting actions to call, protest, send postcards. Some seem repetitive postings and I have to figure out if I signed before or not.  I was trying to flush out the noise and try to filter the important things "to do," but so far that hasn't worked.  There are so many things on both sides flying around and it's gotten so challenging to know where to begin.  I read one post that we should focus on two important issues and place all your concentration there.  Sounds good and yet, still not easy to do.  

The whole #DeleteUber didn't feel right to me.  I do not use Uber but it felt very quick to judge and condemn, which is no better than many on the Far Right. Do I think they did something underhanded and sneaky?  I really don't know.  I was trying to think how I'd feel if I had flown in to JFK and stuck without a ride home or to a hotel.  Maybe inconveniencing travellers is all part of the protest, but I don't think that helps the issue of unfair immigration Executive orders.  Uber has often stood up in terrible times to give rides to people in need.  I'm just not sure they did anything really wrong.  Again, I don't use Uber, so I am not standing in defense of them, but I know so many are quick for a boycott and condemnation on all sides.  That's why we haven't seen Billy Bush or Dr. Nancy Snyderman and so many more.  Gone, banished.  I just want the protesting to be fairly focussed and not destructive.  I don't know the answer, though I've read both sides.  Look, it's easy to delete when there are many other car services out there, but it's not true throughout the Country.  It's a balancing act and the outrage needs to be directed squarely at the feet of the new Administration and the elected officials.

I am beginning to feel hopeless and helpless.  I don't like that feeling.  I will keep reading articles and postings. I will try to make the calls, send the letters, and protest where I can, but it all feels so big.  Why aren't there more Senators and Representatives standing up for Country over Party?  Maybe we should take away all the lifelong packages of salaries and healthcare and the job wouldn't be as cushy to keep.  Maybe we incentivize politicians to do the right thing and not worry about the next election. Again, always goes back to the money and public campaign finance.  At this point, that's gone way down the list.  Now, we are fighting for equal rights, the environment, and survival.  Yes, to all you Tr**p voters, many of us feel our mere survival is at stake as both a Nation and a world.  How do you Tr**p supporters feel?  Happy with your decision?  I don't get it.  Even the Pope is standing up for what's right.  The Pope!!  

One more very important point to me.  The media, other than Fox because that would be too much to hope for, need to call things as they are.  No more Obamacare!  It's the Affordable Care Act.  If the media hadn't called it Obamacare, maybe we wouldn't be where we are today.  Even Obama started calling it Obamacare.  The Republican marketing machine is stellar, so the media needs to be the ones to keep things clear and honest.  We are depending on your integrity during these unchartered waters.  Let's call things by their correct names and labels.  Call out untruths and lies.  This is really your chance to rise and shine.

Sidebars:  Watched the SAG Awards on TNT.  Quite fun but far too many commercials.  Always great to see actors supporting each other.  On a personal note, was grateful and thrilled, that my dear John McMartin was honored in the In Memoriam section.  The Emmys didn't and should be ashamed.  ** So sad about the passing of Mary Tyler Moore, Barbara Hale, and John Hurt. Turned on the MTM marathon on Sundance and it was the episode "Mary Needs a Lawyer."  The lawyer was none other than John McMartin.  A beautiful and sad way to start Sunday morning.  **  Saw Arrival and not my cup of tea.  Saw Lion and thought it was so moving and compelling.  Definitely worth seeing.  **  Super Bowl Sunday coming up.  Oh, how I hope the Atlanta Falcons upset the Patriots.  That would make it a great game.  Not sure about Lady Gaga, but we shall see, won't we?  

Snowing here a bit. Stay warm and dry wherever you may be.  See you when I see you.

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@DianaPodolsky

The Globes, With Love

The 2016 Golden Globes are over.  I await them every year, though they are a far cry from their earlier under produced years.  Still the best night.  The Hollywood Foreign  Press always makes surprising picks.  None greater to me than an FX series I never heard of until I studied the nominations, Atlanta, and Best Actress in a Drama, Isabelle Huppert for Elle.  Overall, it was a good show.  Jimmy Fallon did a great opening number with his LalaLand take off, but he also disappeared halfway through.  Thinking they had to cut his bits because so many speeches went long.  Maybe they gave him the boot, I don't know, but everyone was overshadowed by the incredibly moving speech by Meryl Streep.  

Ms. Streep was presented with the Cecil B. DeMille Award and she took the opportunity to speak volumes and move hearts.  Of course, on my Facebook feed everyone gave it kudos.  She spoke from the heart about our PEOTUS without mentioning his name.  She spoke of the importance of the Arts and that we, as Americans and Global citizens, need to be vigilant about Freedom of the Press.  She spoke eloquently and with grace and dignity.  You could hear a pin drop in the ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel.  I saw one person in the distance moving. Everyone was spellbound and hanging on every word.  It was a wonderful television moment.  It's one of those moments that only happens on the Golden Globes. 

Of course, PEOTUS had to tweet because he is a petulant child and say she's an overrated actress, among other things. His reaction was so predictably immature, but I always hope that he will rise and deal with the important issues in our Country.  He seems completely incapable.  Again, that's why "we" can't get over it.

But I digress, the Awards season is off.  LalaLand broke Globe records with the most wins ever.  I am very surprised by that, though I thoroughly enjoyed it and found it to be inventive filmmaking.  There have been so many magnificent movies over the past half century.  Anyway, no big faux pas made other than some of the men went the same color as PEOTUS.  There were a few that were on the orange-ier hue.  Unfortunate.  The women looked beautiful.  I love Goldie Hawn, but am sorry she has had so much work done.  Thrilled that Hugh Laurie and Tom Hiddleston won for The Night Manager.  Loved Claire Foy and The Crown winning, too.  I wish that Hidden Figures got more recognition because it's a wonderful film, great acting, and needs to be seen.  So happy that "my" Dear, Evan Hansen guys, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, won for LaLaLand for Best Song! 

That's my very basic overview.  I am happy to have these distractions in the coming weeks.  I need some good Hollywood glamour and meaningless Awards!

Sidebars:  The Bachelor began last week opposite The Celebrity Apprentice and kicked its butt!  Apprentice will probably get killed tonight opposite the NCAA Football Championship Game. :-) -- If you haven't been watching The Crown on Netflix, it's well worth the 10 hours.  I love Peter Morgan, the writer.  I loved The Queen on film, The Audience on Broadway, and Frost/Nixon on TV.  He's a very thoughtful writer. -- Jenna Bush Hager got so much hate for saying Hidden Fences by mistake instead of Hidden Figures on the Red Carpet, but Michael Keaton said it on air during the show and crickets. Hmmm -- If you aren't a lover of our PEOTUS, turn your television on during the Inauguration to a non-Inauguration station: History Channel, Comedy Central, HBO, anything that's not that.  Keep it on, even if you're not home.  If you don't have the television on, it won't have the same resounding ratings result.  Something to think about.  Low ratings will create a tweet storm! -- NFL is down to 8 teams on the road to the Super Bowl.  Hope we get surprise teams. A girl can hope can't she? -- Hope the people effected by the massive rains are safe and dry.  Careful out there.  

Happy frigid Monday only to be in the 50's later in the week in NYC.

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@DianaPodolsky