A few weeks ago I was a cheerleader for Fresh & Easy (keep working Cassie!).
This week it came to my attention that many of you do not watch PBS, so I thought I would switch uniforms, as it were, and bring a few programs to light that might interest you. PBS, is I realize, considered by some to be some sort of “commie’ front~ and I hope to show you just how very American PBS really is.
The first show is not very American, but it does feature our “cousins” across the pond and past does inform the future~ plus it is good fun! Last night I bid a fond farewell to Mystery Theater’s excellent series of Miss Marple, the fictional detective creation of Agatha Christie. Check those listings, many shows repeat and this series was very well done, a do not miss for lovers of murder, poison and plucky old ladies. Next week (Sundays 9:00p.m.), the mysteries continue with a new detective, more murder and mayhem.
Tonight at 8:00 p.m. ~ History Detective: This show accepts historical mysteries, things, places etc that ordinary people have and may be part of American history.
Tonight, a person submits a twisted piece of metal that story attributes to the famed airplane of Amelia Earhardt. It is fascinating the work that goes into verifying a pieces authenticity.
The site has a DIY section that allows you to find out if that autograph of Lincoln is authentic, a section on detective techniques and videos of past episodes.
Time Team America~ Wednesdays 8:00 p.m.~ my newest addiction, features a dream team of archaeologists armed with the latest in technology and techniques , who visit sites that need additional development. The episode that explored the Roanoke Islands Fort Raleigh, the first English settlement in America was fascinating. Each episode is presented in an entertaining and educational way~ not at all dry and scholarly.
This week’s dig is at the buried streets of New Philadelphia, the first town established by free African Americans, they comb the area for evidence of the schoolhouse where children learned.
The site for Time Team America has some great features: Site Reports that give all the details and a “Since We Left” section that keeps you up on what new developments are found at each site. For the budding ,or ancient wanna be archaeologists among us there is a section called Field School where you can find out if you have what it takes to be an archaeologist. There are also some video clips. I really recommend this one if you love history. If you have small children, this show will inspire them~ what child does not dream of finding buried treasure.
This next show I am excited about~ The National Parks: America's Best Idea. It begins on September 27th,at 8:00p.m.
Six years of filming in some of America's most beautiful locations, this series promises to be at the bare minimum a visual wonder. Burns says, “You think you know (about the Parks) but you don’t”. Six episodes explore our connection to the Parks, the people behind their creation and preservation, our connection to the land and the concept of democracy that the Parks represents. The 150 year history of the Parks is outlined with first person accounts, photos and historical documentation. The Parks story is our story~ full of tensions, conflict and yet a deep healing that only nature can bring. Check the site now for an preview video and when the series starts go back as Burn films always have an interactive and educational features.
Sure PBS has its political shows~ but those are not the focus of my post. These three shows, in particular, have no political bias, no “commie” agenda. They are just explorations of all things American.
I hope one will catch your interest.
A shout out to Tina for finding this great YouTube clip~ after all the sad/bad news we have here lately ~ this clip shows some real joy! Go ahead watch this and try not to smile!
Much was made over the weekend about the 40th anniversary of the sad death of a young woman. I made a comment about the young woman in question not being a saint and a princess in my book.
To further clarify I would like to present some people that do qualify as saints, princesses and a prince in my book. Not for dying at night tragically in questionable circumstances but for living selfless lives, quietly in dignity and dying needlessly at the hands of true monsters.
While it is true we do not know what the young woman might have done, for good or ill in this world, we all are trapped in this moment right now. The next breath is not guaranteed to any of us. This is not a dress rehearsal and any given moment maybe your last as Mr. & Mrs. Billings could have told us.
The Billings case has been in the news for days now. The couple famously adopted some 13 special needs children raising them along with their two biological children. Three of the adopted children had died, leaving nine to be in the home when the cowards entered and murdered their parents.
These thieves thought to rob the Billings wealth~ only to find a safe containing some prescription medicine, some jewelry and adoption records, birth certificates …the true wealth of this couple. In what the police describe as a well thought out crime with a gaping hole~ the security cameras that the parents used to keep track of that family, captured the brigands entering and leaving the home. What turned a robbery into murder we may never know.
“”A funeral service for the couple drew hundreds of mourners to Pensacola's Liberty Church on Friday.
At a graveside service later, church pastor Buford Lipscomb read from a letter that one of the couple's daughters, Missy, had written, referring to her parents and her own newborn son.
"We will tell him how the world wept with the injustice that took you from us," the letter said.
Several of the couple's younger children released balloons with messages attached.
"Words do not express the pain they feel in their hearts or great loss of this incredible couple," Lipscomb said of the family.
"They loved their children beyond anything else.””
More here.
The couple’s daughter has decided to take her remaining nine siblings into her care.
I wonder in 40 years time how many will mark this tragedy? Two wonderful giving people struck down for greed, pure and simple. The inspiring true story of a young woman and new mother, taking on such responsibility, joy and pain…
Blessed be to her and her young husband.
Not!
But I thought this was pretty funny.
We often hear about he good old days, about a “better time when we all ____”, fill in the blank. I recently ran across a movie~ while expertly acted, directed and filmed ~ chilled me to the bone with the true “real story” behind it. It does come with a man of God as a key character, but it reflects the whole of society with its devils, saints and simple people of courage.
It perfectly illustrates why the good old days are seen through the proverbial rose-colored glasses, while some may have had ideal pasts, there is always a dark and twisted side to life.
Changeling~~ Directed by the incomparable Clint Eastwood, with Angelina Jolie as Christine Collins, John Malcovich as Rev. Gustave A. Briegleb, Jeffery Donavan as the police Captain Jones. There are several young actors who give credible performances but Eddie Alderson (Matthew Buchanan on OLTL) brings to life Sanford Clark, the young nephew and the key to the case. As Gordon Stewart Northcott ,Jason Butler Harner gives a chilling performamce. SPOILER ALERT.
Called into work suddenly on Saturday, March 10 1928 Collins leaves her son alone only to return to find him missing. At the time, a missing person report could not be filed for 24 hours, so the next day the search begins in earnest. The LAPD is under fire for being corrupt, with the good Rev. Briegleb leading the crusade, and after 5 months the LAPD produces a boy they say is Collins son. At the reunion, covered by all the news, Collins takes one look at the boy and proclaims him not her child. Needing some good press desperately, the police convince her she is mistaken, grief has clouded her “mother’s heart” and the captain tells her to take the boy home to “try him out for a couple of weeks”.
She does and returns with dental records, teacher and Doctor statements to back up her assertions and the Captain promptly uses “Code 12” interment to put her into the L.A. County Hospital psychiatric ward.
Through a series of events, the case unravels before the eyes of the LAPD, only to reveal a brutal series of abductions, molestations and murders of up to 20 young boys. One Gordon Stewart Northcott is arrested, tired and sentenced to hanging~ all the while maintaining his innocence, especially in regards to Walter Collins, Christine’s young son. During this time the corruption and scandal, surrounding this case has led the city Council to investigate the LAPD, the misuse of “Code 12”, and change is wrought by the tribulations of Collins.
The day before the execution Northcott wires Collins. If she will come see him, he will tell her the truth before he meets his maker. She arrives and he refuses, going to the scaffolding with the secret.
Christine Collins never gives up looking for her son. Some five years later, a boy is found who tells of a harrowing escape from Northcott~ an escape made possible by Walter Collins. In the escape attempt, the boys are separated so the fate of Walter remains uncertain to this day. Christine Collins never gave up the search for her son. Not for the kids~ but I recomend this movie highly. I also recomend finding out more anout the real story.
The Truth Behind the Movie~ the movie does veer from reality somewhat. Northcott’s mother, Sarah Louise, aided and abetted him in these crimes. She was spared the death sentence, given life but was released after serving only 12 years in Tehachapi State Prison.
The reforms depicted in the movie did take place, but unfortunately, the Captain behind the injustice kept his job and never paid Collins the money she won in a civil suit against him. The real suffering,pain and humilliation this woman suffered is unimagineable.
As a woman, seeing this story in the year 2009, all I could think was “Huh? How did they ever imagine they could get away with this?” Fortunately, the movie shows exactly how they could and would have~ if not for the extraordinary courage and love of one mother. Christine Collins is a hero and it is sad to see how history almost lost her story.
Dark and evil things have been humans constant companions,thankfuly so has good ~ it would do us all good to remember that in “looking back”.
For more on Collins and the Wineville Chicken Coop Murders see here.
For the Wiki impaired the article is heavily referenced from L.A. County records, the Times (both New York and L.A.), and several other sources.
Lamar Colorado,population 8,500, started it's own stimulus plan~ heeding the call of the President to DIY.
The city started a simple voucher system for an initial investment of $25,000.The end result? Some $360,000 in spending.
The concept is as simple,and as self reliant, as the cowboy roots of the community~ spend $300 at a local business, get a voucher for $30 to spend at any other local business.
Instead of complaining and watching their community dry up and blow away~ they took action.
More here.
Some 19 states have their own stimulus programs in place~ including California.
|
RSS 2.0
