Monday, January 18, 2016

New Year Observations!

Well a new year is here and I'm glad I came along with it. I have had some thoughts pop into my head and since the space up there is limited I need to air out a few of them.

I am deeply saddened by the recent passings of David Bowie, Alan Rickman and Glenn Frey.  I have liked all of them but it is more personal because they are my contemporaries. I literarily grew up with them and followed their careers. We are all the same age and anyone's demise does affect me.  I remember when I taught high school the announcement would come over the PA system that a teacher had passed away. Even if I wasn't close with that person I always shed a tear outside my classroom for them. You can't share a space with someone and feel nothing when something happens to them.

The word Available has become of interest to me. I hear that wifi is available. My friends are available. Discounts are available. The list goes on. The problem with the word is that people take it as a definite. Sure wifi is available in GM cars if you pay for. My friends are available if they have the time. Discounts are available if you have the coupons and they haven't expired. It is a word that implies one thing but means sometimes the opposite.

Once again the award season is upon us. Golden Globes, Sag Awards, People's Choice, Grammys, Academy Awards, Tony Awards. Why can't just the best be nominated the awards regardless of race or creed. Someday it may all be a diverse group of nominees. So be it.  The word Best means above all others not pretty good.

Lastly this became evident with the film The Martian. Classifying it as a comedy just so it could garner an award was gratuitous at best and downright silly. An embarrassment for the foreign press awards.