Got My Ire Up

While so many are talking about the State of the Union address, which for the first time in my adult memory, I skipped, all I can think about is the cheating Patriots.  Now, I have hated Bill Belichick since he was last caught cheating against his former team, the New York Jets.  He was caught stealing the Jets coaches signals.  Disgraceful. The NFL gave him their severest penalty at the time, other than suspension.  He paid around $400,000 in fines and lost a draft pick.  BFD!!  He never showed remorse.  He got away with it.  His reputation tainted but remembered mostly only by people in New York.  This go round, he has cheated far more egregiously.  Okay, yes, I am jumping the gun.  It hasn't been proven who knew what, who did what, or who ordered what, but, seriously, once a cheater, always a cheater.  

For those of you not caring about football, the New England Patriots have been charged with using deflated footballs in their 45-7 win over the Indianapolis Colts for the NFC championship.  It has been proven that 11 out of 12 footballs were 2 pounds lighter than they are supposed to be.  Less air makes it easier to throw and catch.  Easier gripping in the cold, driving rain the game was played in Sunday night.  It's a total disgrace.  It's a tarnish that will not go away, regardless of the final investigative report.  Other players are coming out of the woodwork with other instances that, in hindsight, the Pats footballs may have been deflated.  This stain will not go away.  Even the great and illustrious former coach of the Miami Dolphins, Don Shula, called Bill Belichick, Bellicheat and that was a few weeks ago.  Who knows what we don't know or what wasn't discovered?  

It is unbelievable that if these allegations are deemed true, that there was a nefarious act done, the New England Patriots don't have to forfeit the win.  They still get to go to the Super Bowl.  The Colts get cheated out of a chance at another Super Bowl and so do their fans!!  When the facts are collected and assessed, if Belichick knew anything in advance or looked the other way, he should be suspended for a whole season!  Maybe that would make him reassess his priorities and his cheatin' ways.  

So while you're sitting there on Sunday, February 1, 2015, eating your nachos, pigs in a blanket, burgers, etc. trying to have fun with family and friends, think about how the Pats got to the game.  Think about the Colts fans and players.  Think about the message that we are sending to our children.  It's a total disgrace.  Fans always get screwed by our professional sports teams.  This is just another example.

I just couldn't take watching the State of the Union Address.  I couldn't stand the thought of seeing all the Republicans not clapping and the Democrats giving standing ovations.  It's gross and meaningless.  I think the SOTU should be on radio or alone in the oval office.  The partisanship year in and year out makes it so irritating.  Watching the Speaker of the House from the opposing party look so dour the entire speech is painful.  These past years it's been, John Boehner, but it could just as easily have been Nancy Pelosi.  It's predictable and pointless, so the SOTU may be important, but it gets lost in the B.S.  So DC elected politicians, get to work.  Do something that helps the 99%.  You all have dipped into the cookie jar too many times.  There's not enough for the rest of us. Maybe I'm becoming a socialist....

Sidelines:  Couldn't be happier to see JK Simmons getting all the kudos he so richly deserves.  If you haven't seen Whiplash, go!  Trying to catch up on the movies I've missed.  Not easy.  The Bachelor has caused such a controversy with their censored black square blocking one woman's butt.  It's weird.  ABC isn't saying anything.  Whether in a swim suit or shorts, the black box is blocking something.  It's so odd and making the not knowing more uncomfortable.  Saw The Judge last night.  Did you see it?  It's the movie that Robert Duvall is nominated for starring Robert Downey Jr., Vera Fermiga, Billy Bob Thorton, Leighton Meester, Ken Howard, and more.  It's really a great cast and some great acting, but the screenplay....It's Wednesday cold, grey, and snow on the way. A Yankee Clipper is coming.

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@DianaPodolsky

Je Suis Juif

I am heartsick about the terrorism in Paris.  I have a huge love/hate relationship with Paris.  It is my most favorite city in the world and I am conflicted because Paris and France have a long history of anti-semitism.  It has been on the rise and French Jews have been fleeing in droves to Israel to find peace.  The brutal murders at Charlie Hebdo earlier this week, made the Parisians stand up for all that they believe.  Democracy, freedom of expression, liberte.  The horror of the unconscionable murders of journalists shook the French to their core.  There were three terrorists, one 18 year old and two brothers in their 30's.  The 18 year old folded and surrendered the first day.  The two brothers fled and held the police off until today where they held hostages and were surrounded by the police and army.  Finally, this hostage situation ended in the death of the two terrorists.  

At the same time, waking up this morning to hear that there was another hostage situation at a Kosher market in Paris, in the Marais, by another two terrorists.  As upsetting as the Charlie Hebdo murders are, I can't tell you how upsetting it is to me that more Jews are targeted.  As non-religious as I am, I am through and through Jewish.  I relate to the history and the culture of the Jewish people.  I have spent my life conflicted about the religious aspect, but still find myself drawn to the Jewish religion if any religion at all.  It seems simple and fluid.  I am not speaking about the extreme right of the Jewish religion.  Any extreme I don't get.  It's difficult for many to understand that anti-semitism is alive and well everywhere.  Young people don't see it, just like many young people don't see racism and homophobia, but it's all still there.  The slights and covert undercurrents of anti-semitism are clear when watching the news or reading the New York Times.  The "dog whistles" (as Chris Matthews coined regarding the racism of Republican speak) of anti-semitism are getting louder the older I get.  Is it me getting wiser and more aware?  Or is the reality that the drums of Jew-hating is getting louder and louder.  

I am trying to process all of this.  There are still so many more facts to get. How many have died? How many are injured? How did the French police decide to raid both locations at the same time?  How many are dead??  Have you been to the Marais in Paris?  It is a tiny, small, Jewish community. Smaller than the former lower east side in NYC.  It's hard to even fathom that terror could be inflicted on these small streets of Paris.  It is quaint and old.  Everyone knows everyone.  The streets are teeming with tourists.  It's a gem of a neighborhood.  A slice of a time gone by.  So, for those that know me, you may feel that I am hypersensitive to the plight of Jews, but I don't think I am hyper anything.  I feel I have to help point out acts against Jews and Israel.  We are mighty but few, that pisses people off.  We won't stand down.  

Whether you are Jewish or not, take a moment to think about the journalists and Jewish people that were killed by terrorists.  Maybe light a candle in their memory and in hopes for a brighter future.  I can't shake it off.  Je suis triste.  Je suis Juif.  Shabbat Shalom.

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@DianaPodolsky

New Year...I'm Ba-ack

The slate is metaphorically clean.  We begin again. Some make resolutions. Some break resolutions.  After 55 years, I don't make New Year's resolutions.  I don't think that there is one that I have kept so I finally stopped. I always re-commit to being healthier and workout more, but that's just hoping that by some miracle, if I say it year in and year out, it will happen.  So, everyday, I try to re-commit to different things.  Some days I am successful, other days, not so much. 

Personally, the year is starting off fairly well.  Globally, ugh. Don't want to be Debbie Downer, but there's so much.  The fact that our President declared the war in Aghanistan or Iraq or both over just drains me.  The fact that the Iraq war was the longest war the USA ever fought in is also staggering.  I am grateful for all the sacrifices that our military and their families made, but....What was it all for?  Are we safer?  Is the world better for the wars?  Certain wars are clear or seemingly clear.  The Civil War, World War 2, but these unending wars in the Middle East?  If our leaders would just study, watch, and learn from history, it's no understatement that history repeats itself.  Hear that?  History repeats itself.  The smartest statement President Obama made recently was about Cuba.  If you try something for 50 years and it hasn't worked, it's time to try something different.  Of course, if people learned from history, it would take down psychotherapy as an occupation.  

Local politics in NYC is dreary and painful.  Mayor DiBlasio has done nothing to instill confidence with his leadership skills.  Every time he speaks, he steps in it.  Now that he is dancing as fast as he can to win back the entire NYPD, he sounds so disingenuous.  Maybe he should've taken public speaking before he became Mayor.  We are stuck with him for 3 more long years.  Do you hear that?  If I could think of anyone to replace him, I would start a recall election, but I don't see anyone on the horizon to run this city.  "Houston, we have a problem."  I can only hope that DiBlasio doesn't destroy this city while he is in office.  Bloomberg can't run again. Christine Quinn has virtually vanished into thin air since she got walloped in the primary election in 2013. It won't be Joe Lohta.  Who is there? Come on good, smart, educated politicians, who will be able to have the skill set and win an election in NYC?  If you reveal yourself soon.... 

Sidebars:  Took the family to see The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time on Broadway.  It was breathtaking.  Best production since The Lion King.  If you get the chance, don't miss it.  Trying to catch up on movies.  Theory of Everything, The Imitation Game, Into the Woods all worth seeing.  Want to see Cake but isn't playing here yet.  Still have to see Birdman, which is getting scarce to find showtimes.  The Golden Globes are Sunday, January 11th.  Best awards show, by far.  Set your DVR's.  The new television season began with new episodes of The Good Wife, Madam Secretary, and the 5th season of Downton Abbey.  Not to be left behind, The Bachelor started last night its 19th season with "Prince Farming."  The season preview at the end was, as always, thoroughly entertaining.  The Bachelor editors must have the most fun of all.  American Idol begins its umpteenth season, but don't think I have it in me, certainly will not DVR it. I started an Instagram account over the holidays (MamaPodo).  I am realizing that I have little to say through photographs, but my kids began an Instagram for "OurBlindDogChloe."  Follow her.  I will use mine to follow others until or if I can find my visual voice.  Snowing and bitterly cold here today.  The Polar Vortex is ba-ack. Wishing everyone a very healthy and happy 2015.

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@DianaPodolsky

Bah, DiBlasio!

I didn't vote for our Mayor.  I didn't like him from the moment I was introduced to him through my television screen, but I tried to have hope when he was elected.  I knew people that were supporters and tried to have faith, but....I can't stand him.  I think that Bill DiBlasio is the worst Mayor this city has had in decades and maybe ever.  He comes across completely inauthentic.  When his big campaign promise was the banning of the horse and carriages, I knew we were in trouble.  There are so many other far more important issues in this city, besides the fact that I think it's all being propelled by emotion and not facts.  I love the Horse and Carriages.  It is one of the last bastions of the past in this town.  They have put into place more restrictions for the well being of the horses.  If the City Council actually passes to ban the horses, I surely hope that all the facts that their decision is based are revealed.  What happens to the horses if they can't work anymore?  I've heard they get put down.  Is that true?  I have also heard that one of DiBlasio's biggest campaign donors wants the land that the stables sit.  Is that true?  Facts, people, just the facts.  Not emotion!!!!

Every time Mayor DiBlasio opens his mouth, it's a disaster.  After a long grueling decision making process (and I say that with every ounce of sarcasm), the DiBlasios decided to move on up to Gracie Mansion where every Mayor has resided other than Mike Bloomberg.  This past weekend, we were treated to the news, that he added a fence without permits so that he could have more privacy.  Seriously???  It's the People's home.  It's just on loan to him.  No Permits!!!!!! What the hell was he thinking?  I hope that the neighborhood makes him take it down.  Who the hell does he think he is?

He was in office for 6 or 7 months, when he did something no other Mayor has done since I've lived here...he took a two week vacation to Italy with his family.  Really?  After only 6 months???  We foot the bill for some of that trip and it's totally unacceptable.  It's disgusting.  Again, he plays the "everyman" and just isn't.  I am a bit surprised that there wasn't a louder out cry about that.  

It was also revealed that the historical artwork that grace the walls of City Hall and Gracie Mansion aren't diverse enough for him.  Are you f**king kidding me??  It's historical portraits.  You can't whitewash history and change it to your liking.  You can't pretend that the history in New York is different than it is.  It's history!  

DiBlasio has alienated much of the police force in recent weeks.  He needs their backing and he's loosing them.  He was asked by one police association not to show up to a fallen officers funeral.  During the protests this past weekend, two police officers were injured by a few unruly protesters throwing a garbage can at their car windshield.  DiBlasio called it alleged.  The police are furious.  They feel completely unsupported.  Who can blame them?  Overall, all of the protests have gone on without incident from both sides, but if he doesn't back his police force....

We are only at the tail end of his first year.  It is going to be a very long term.  I see no hope while he parades around this city as "Mayor."  We are the fools that suffer.  Who in the world can run in 2016?  Please, please someone step out of the shadows.  I guess you can tell, that when DiBlasio speaks, my blood boils over.  Sigh.

Sidelines:  Okay, on a happier note.  It is the first night of Chanukah, Christmas is in a week, 2015 is in two weeks, and we get to start all over again.  The Voice finale is tonight.  Vacation begins soon.  Seniors everywhere are finding out about college acceptances.  So, to everyone, wishing you and yours a very healthy and happy New Year.  May all your dreams be bright.

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@DianaPodolsky

Clap Yo Hands If You Believe in Fairies

Maybe it would have helped if the producers of Peter Pan did the "black" version, like they did for Hello Dolly and Pearl Bailey in the late 70's-early 80's.  It definitely needed something.  Look, I am over-the-top pro-musical lover.  I never want to be harshly critical so that NBC doesn't continue to do live musicals.  Bringing musical theatre to the masses is a fantastic idea.  Love, love, love it, but how in the hell can you decide to produce Peter Pan and do it on a school night from 8-11?????  That is so ridiculous.  Craig Zaden and Neil Meron should be producing live musicals for the night before Thanksgiving or Thanksgiving itself and begin a new family tradition.  If they don't want to "waste" it on a holiday weekend, for god's sake, perform it live on a Friday night or start it earlier.  What kid in elementary school can stay up until 11pm?  It was hard enough in my home and I wanted to watch it.

However, they didn't make it easy for viewing.  Peter Pan isn't a great musical, but it has some tug-at-your-heart-string songs that if you grew up with Mary Martin or Sandy Duncan will always get you.  Allison Williams was a curious choice for Peter Pan.  Not a high profile choice and not from the Broadway stage.  Her father, Brian Williams, is the known entity to America.  She was serviceable to good.  Very likable, but not a big wow.  The Wendy was long in the tooth and had the teeth to bear that out.  I can't believe there isn't a teenage Broadway starlet that could've done more justice to the role.  The large male company of pirates and lost boys were all very good and definitely came from the land of Newsies.  I am a huge fan of Kelly O'Hara and she didn't disappoint, but if we were going to cast actors too old for the parts, she may as well have played Wendy....Christian Borle was a new twist to Smee and probably would've made a great Hook but....

Christopher Walken cast as the villain, Captain Hook, was, on paper,seemed like a coup, but it didn't make it to the screen.  He is too old.  I can't believe that I am saying it, but he is. He is 71 and too old to play Captain Hook on the small screen.  He looked pasty and wrinkled.  Maybe if his portrayal was outrageously fantastic, it would have been overlooked, but it wasn't.  He hardly came to life.  At times, he looked like he was reading his lines.  He looked down a lot.  He came to life, slightly, when he got to dance.  Maybe he was tired.  I sure was.  Can you imagine them hiring Glenn Close to play Peter Pan?  It would never happen.  She's "too old."

What they decided to do to the Ugg-a-Wug song was so dumb.  I can't believe that we have become so PC, that they had to modify the Ugg-a-Wug to basically oy-vey.  I really don't know what they were singing but, come on, it's a silly little song.  The songs that were added, shouldn't have been.  They didn't add, but seemed that the actors were contractually given "moments" so they'd do the musical.  Those unmemorable songs just highlighted how draggy the production was.  It never should've been 3 hours.  Too many WalMart commercials.  

Though from a production stand point it looked beautiful and fantastical, I can't believe that you can still see the cables for flying.  It is 2014 and there are no invisible cables that can help make the magic magic?  It was so awkward and odd in this day and age not to have a more high tech answer for flying than Flying by Foy.  It bunched up just like it does in any stage production under the actors' costumes.  Really?  That really surprised me.  If they couldn't do better than that, maybe this wasn't the right musical to pick....

I can't go more in depth because I felt nothing, really.  I was sitting in my chair thrilled in the beginning.  I love the opening of Peter Pan when Pan and Tinkerbell first show up, but 90 minutes into it...I was bored.  They should have picked up the pace, cut the new songs, and been done.  They could have bought back the local time and started this three hour production at 7pm. It was the wrong musical to choose. There are so many great scores and stories.  Curious why they'd  pick Peter Pan for their second outing. Anyway, it wasn't unbearable, please don't think that's what I am saying, but I love, love, love musical theatre and I want it to be introduced to the masses so they will hunger for more. 

Sidebars:  I can't even call this a sidebar, but an after thought.  My last RantsandRuminations was prior to the Eric Garner Grand Jury decision.  I'm sure you all know by now, but the Grand Jury, again, decided, not to indict the police officer that killed Eric Garner.  There have been many protests in the streets since that happened, disrupting traffic everywhere.  Largely, peaceful protests.  More will continue.  Maybe the Grand Jury system needs to be revisited.  More another day, I'm sure on this.  It's Friday.  Enjoy your weekend, hug your family and friends, let go of the bad, and hold on tight to the good.

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@DianaPodolsky

We Wait....

I clearly don't have enough knowledge about our judicial system.  Most of what I know is from Perry Mason and Law And Order.  Having made every wrong decision in the Ferguson case, we in NYC are waiting for our own decision in the Eric Garner case against the NYPD.  Hoping against all hope that no matter the decision, there will be peaceful protests only.  

Are Grand Juries used when you're not sure there's enough evidence to press charges?  Not every indictment goes through a Grand Jury, right?  In the Mike Brown murder, there seemed to be plenty of evidence to take it to a public trial, but the jurors decided there wasn't.  In the Eric Garner case, the police tried to question a large black man thinking he might be selling cigarettes illegally on the street (which I'm not sure there was any evidence of that ever), he resisted, and about 8 cops tackled him to the ground, one cop put an illegal choke hold on him and, as everyone heard, he said he couldn't breathe and he died on the street.  There is vivid video of this altercation and death that has been seen millions of time.  The Medical Examiner of NYC declared the death was homicide.  So what's the issue?  I'm not being flip, but if homicide is the determined death, someone has to be responsible, right?  

So, here we wait.  For some reason, we are not getting the national attention, which may be a good thing for the city.  Every New Yorker knows this story.  Every New Yorker has seen the video.  It's unfathomable to me that the Grand Jury wouldn't vote to indict, but clearly, I don't get the system.  I think every crime should have its day in court, unless both sides voluntarily can plea it out.  Every victim's family should get to have the chance to hear what happened to their loved one.  Let's throw out all the superfluous lawsuits and keep the courts open for real crimes, there are plenty of those.  

We wait for news.  There will be no National Special Bulletin interrupting your TV shows.  Local news will interrupt, because they interrupt for just about anything.  I really can't believe that the outcome will be the same as it was in Ferguson.  I can't believe it, but my Pollyanna glasses are getting cloudier. 

And so we wait....

Heavier Heart

I can't believe that at the age of 55 years old I am still shocked and saddened by the injustices in our judicial system.  I always think the best of people and think "right" always wins out, but time and time again I am proven wrong.  My world view is very different as a white mother than my friends that are black mothers.  I can't totally understand the fear and terror of raising a black male, but can understand the total dismay and pain of the repeated outcomes of our system.  The scales are tilted against black youths and I can't understand how the scales of justice still aren't balanced. 

The Grand Jury decisively declared that no criminal charges would be brought against Officer Darren Wilson in the killing of Michael Brown.  I sat there listening to the Prosecutor read the decision and try to explain away how a cop can shoot an unarmed young man 12 times and nothing happens to him.  I can't wrap my head around that.  I am not blaming the citizens on the Grand Jury.  They are doing their best in a very difficult situation.  I do blame the prosecutors giving no guidance in the possible litany of charges and the law.  None.  I blame the decision by Governor Jay Nixon a week ago to bring in the National Guard to patrol the streets of Ferguson.  I blame the Prosecutor that decided that announcing the Grand Jury decision would be best to deliver at 8pm.  Every step that was made since the tragic death of Michael Brown by the local and State government has wreaked of cover up.  

Seriously, hundreds of people anxiously awaited the announcement in the streets of Ferguson.  Crowds kept growing. Schools were closed in advance of the announcement for fear of the aftermath.  The anxiety of what was to come was manipulated and toyed with by those people in charge.  It was apparent that "they" knew the outcome and it wasn't going to please the masses.  By every single decision made, it felt like the government was the matadors and we, the people, were the bulls.  The red flag being shaken in our faces, taunting us all.  

The longwinded, unsatisfying outcome was presented at around 8:20pm Central Time Zone.  First of all, what f**king nerve for them to plan for 8pm and be late!!!!  Just adding more tension in the air!  The media types immediately went to their people in the streets to report on the unrest.  They, too, were ready for the worst and tried to hype whatever they could in the immediate aftermath.  It seemed tense but somewhat under control.  When I woke up in the middle of the night and saw the images of burning stores and cars, my heart sank.  I will never understand the destruction of one's own neighborhood.  These aren't big box stores being burned to the ground these were small, mom and pop stores.  Neighbors'.  It happened in Los Angeles after the Rodney King verdict and they burned down buildings all around their own neighborhoods.  What good does that do?  Seriously?!  I can empathize with the despair and the anger, but not destroying businesses of innocent bystanders.  

The person who came out the very best in this entire tragedy is Michael Brown's father.  He repeatedly has asked for calm and peaceful protests since his son was killed.  He has gone out of his way to thank neighbors for their support.  The statement the Brown Family put out was clear, thoughtful, and brave:   

We are profoundly disappointed the the killer of our child will not face the consequence of his actions. While we understand that many others share our pain, we ask that you channel your frustration in ways that will make positive change. We will need to work together to fix the system that allowed this to happen. Join with us in our campaign to ensure that every police officer working the streets in this country wears a body camera. We respectfully ask that you please keep your protests peaceful. Answering violence with violence is not the appropriate reaction. Let's not just make noise, let's make a difference.  - The Brown Family

​Sadly, many people didn't listen. Justice was not served. 12 bullets. Overkill, no matter how you slice it. 

​Sidebars: In two days, it is Thanksgiving and many people are not feeling it at all. ​Please take the time on Thursday to thank the people in your life. Take a moment to think of others that may not be as lucky. I must give a shout out to my dear, dear friend Steve on the passing of his Dad. It feels that November has been a very tough month for loss, so this Thanksgiving I want to hold on even tighter to the people that I carry in my heart.  Wishing every one a moist turkey and many laughs with your friends and family.

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@DianaPodolsky