QUARANTINE BLOG # 168

September 14, 2020

It used to be that in order to get an Academy Award for Best Picture the film had to be, well, the best picture.  Simple, right?  Not any more.  In 2024, to be eligible for best picture, a film must meet at least two standards across four categories: “Onscreen Representation, Themes and Narratives,” “Creative Leadership and Project Team,” “Industry Access and Opportunities” and “Audience Development.”  Within each category are a variety of criteria involving the inclusion of people in under represented groups, including women, people of color, LGBTQ+ people and those with cognitive or physical disabilities.  Previously, the only standards to qualify for best picture involved a film’s running time (over 40 minutes) and specifics about how, where and when it is  screened in a public venue.

👉  On September 14, 1814, Francis Scott Key penned a poem which was later set to music and in 1931 became America’s national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.”  The poem, originally titled “The Defense of Fort McHenry,” was written after Key witnessed the Maryland fort being bombarded by the British during the War of 1812.  Key was inspired by the sight of a lone U.S. flag still flying over Fort McHenry at daybreak, as reflected in the now-famous words: “And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.”

👉  A little after midnight Moscow time, the Soviet Union’s Luna 2 intentionally crashed into the Moon on September 14, 1959, becoming the first man-made spacecraft to reach the Moon.  It was actually the Soviet Union’s second attempt to reach the Moon.  Luna 1 had missed its target by about 3,700 miles after it launched nine months earlier.  There were no propulsion systems on Luna 2 – if the trajectory was off, it would miss like Luna 1.  It took about 36 hours to reach the Moon from launch, and did so through direct ascent trajectory (when the American Apollo missions reached the moon they did so by first orbiting the earth and then venturing out in a translunar insertion).

👉  Today is National Coloring Day.  NCD is dedicated to coloring, whether it be with crayons, colored pencils, markers, or some other implement.  The McLoughlin Brothers company invented the first coloring book, The Little Folks’ Painting Book, in the 1880’s.  Early on, paint was used in coloring books instead of crayons, and crayons didn't gain popularity until the 1930’s.  Go to a website like https://www.crayola.com/featured/free-coloring-pages/ or https://topcoloringpages.net/ or http://www.supercoloring.com/ download a picture, color it, take a picture of your work – or an artistic endeavors from one of your offspring, and text it to me.  I’ll include them in a blog later this week.

👉  It’s been a while since we’ve played some music, so let’s go to the Jukebox today.  I have listened to a lot of music, but I have bought very few recordings.  Oh, a number of Broadway musicals to be sure, but to the best of my memory only two singles, and only three albums.  There’s no particular reason for that except I am not a collector of recorded music.

The first single I bought was “Rainbow” recorded by Russ Hamilton in 1957.  It was what they call in the industry, a one hit wonder.  It charted at #4 on Billboard Hot 100 in June 1957 and #10 on the R&B chart.  Interestingly when released in the United Kingdom it was the B side, the one intended just to take up space on the wax so the buyer would get two songs for the price of one.  Listening to “Rainbow” on KDKA, my Mom liked it, and I bought it for her for Christmas (with money she and Dad gave me to shop)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyDvBmvFGPY.

The only other single I remember purchasing was “To Sir With Love” by Lulu, from the movie of the same name https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT5OmavfOWg (and we’ve already taken a close look at song and movie).

Two of the non-musical albums in my collection were by satirist Tom Lehrer (we’ll look at his recordings tomorrow).

The other one – which attracted me by their close harmonies – was the self-title album by “Wilson Phillips.”  The group consisted of Carnie Wilson, Wendy Wilson, and Chynna Phillips, the daughters of Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys and of John and Michelle Phillips of The Mamas & the Papas.

Their 1990 debut album sold over 10 million copies worldwide and consisted of five major US hits, three of which went to number-one on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1990, the group won the Billboard Music Award for Hot 100 Single of the Year for “Hold On” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIbXvaE39wM.

Since their debut album they have released two reunion albums, hosted their own reality show on TV Guide Network, performed in 2016 on ABC’s “Greatest Hits,” and the season finale of NBC’s “The New Celebrity Apprentice.”

My favorite cut from the debut album is “Impulsive” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_naUDz5WMZM&list=PLFBgfSAIU1-vYm97hoqGKaORMjoDVrMPx&index=3.

👉  We used to use the expression – when things were going from bad to worse – that we were going to hell in a handbasket.  My 2020 version is we are going to hell on a roller coaster that has no up slope.

Consider: Protesters reportedly shouting slogans like “Death to the police!” showed up to the Los Angeles area hospital treating two LA Sheriffs who were ambushed and shot on Saturday.  Protesters blocked the entrance and exit of the hospital emergency room yelling “We hope they die.”  One protester shouted, “Y’all gonna die one by one.  This ain’t gonna stop.”

Los Angeles’ Democratic  Mayor Eric Garcetti said, “There’s no place in civilized society for anybody to draw an arm and to shoot our law enforcement officers that put their lives on the line.”

The shooting was caught on CCTV: https://twitter.com/LASDHQ/status/1304993095725932545.

President Donald Trump said on Twitter, “Animals that must be hit hard!” 

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden also condemned the ambush, saying, “This cold-blooded shooting is unconscionable and the perpetrator must be brought to justice.”

This morning, just before I posted today’s blog I googled “Nancy Pelosi speaks out on Compton shooting.”  I found her comments on visiting a beauty shop, but could not find a comment on the ambush shooting of two police officers by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.  And I searched multiple newsites.

It is time and past time for every American of whatsoever color or political leaning to stand up with the police.  They are our first line of defense, and if they are gone ...

👉  Sermon: “The Victory of Faith: (Psalm 3:1-8) http://davidsisler.com/christian/TheVictoryOfFaith.mp3.

👉  The closing piece today is from Christ Beside Me, Christ Within Me by Beth A. Richardson.

Some Days Are Very Hard

Some days are very hard.
And on those days
May you know you are loved,
You are held,
You are not alone.

Some days are very hard.
And on those days
May you remember that
Hope and healing surround you.

And if you cannot remember,
If you cannot trust,
If you cannot feel the Presence,
We will remember and trust
And feel and believe
On your behalf.

Some days are very hard.
And on those days
May light and love
Soothe your heart,
Calm your mind,
Heal your spirit,
Surround you in peace.

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