![\"\"](\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/0\/09\/McCutcheonNY1905.jpg\/800px-McCutcheonNY1905.jpg\")
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\u201cBaby New Year<\/a> 1905<\/strong> chases old 1904<\/strong> into the history books\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The image above shows\u00a0Baby New Year 1905<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0as “personification<\/a> of the start of the New Year<\/a>.”<\/p>\n (Personification <\/b>is giving “human form and characteristics to abstract concepts such as nations<\/a> and natural forces<\/a> likes\u00a0seasons<\/a> and the weather<\/a>.” \u00a0Or<\/strong> of a whole new\u00a0blank slate<\/a><\/em>.)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n So this personification<\/em> of New-Year-as-baby symbolizes a rebirth<\/a>. \u00a0(Spiritual<\/a>\u00a0or otherwise<\/em>.) \u00a0In turn the birth<\/em> of that New Year can only come with the passing – the “dying<\/em>” – of the Old Year.<\/p>\n But before thinking too much on the possibilities presented by “Baby 2016” – like the personified\u00a0Baby 1908<\/em><\/strong> at right – it helps to look back at the year just past. \u00a0(I.e., 2015.<\/em>)<\/p>\n That is, the end of an old year – and birth of a new year – is a time to “take stock and review the outgoing year.” \u00a0It’s a time to look back at the “wins, the challenges, the mistakes” of the old year. \u00a0And<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong>it’s a time to identify areas for improvement<\/em>.<\/p>\n So for starters, I did my first post here last March 12.<\/p>\n On \u201cBirdman,\u201d the movie<\/a>\u00a0reviewed the\u00a0\u201c2014 American black comedy<\/a>–drama film<\/a>” starring Michael Keaton. \u00a0(An actor playing<\/span> a \u201cfaded Hollywood actor.”<\/em>)<\/p>\n And just as an aside, I started this<\/em> blog as a spin-off<\/a>\u00a0of my first blog,\u00a0DOR Scribe<\/a>. \u00a0(This one<\/em>\u00a0let me work on more “secular” issues, like weird movies with “farce<\/a> and morbid humor<\/a>\u00a0… on subject matter usually considered taboo<\/a>.\u201d<\/em>) \u00a0 But unfortunately, it took awhile to translate the lessons learned from that other blog. \u00a0As a result,\u00a0Birdman<\/a>\u00a0looks a bit “blog-primitive…”<\/p>\n At least to me and in hindsight.<\/p>\n But\u00a0Birdman<\/a>\u00a0also reminded me why I started<\/em> this blog. \u00a0In large part it was and is an\u00a0homage<\/a><\/em>\u00a0to\u00a0Harry Golden<\/a>\u00a0and his style of writing. \u00a0For years he published and wrote\u00a0the\u00a0Israelite<\/a><\/em>,\u00a0“a pre-Internet blog of sorts.” \u00a0And eventually – in 1958 – his book\u00a0Only in America<\/a>\u00a0came out. \u00a0A collection of what today would be called his “blog posts.”<\/p>\n Harry’s book\u00a0Only in America<\/a>\u00a0has been “an inspiration [to me] ever since…”<\/p>\n Birdman<\/a>\u00a0also explained the blog’s\u00a0nom de plume<\/em><\/a>, \u201cGeorgia Wasp.\u201d \u00a0Then there was this:<\/p>\n Apparently there\u2019s a website, \u201cdating psychos…\u201d \u00a0One of the bulletins tells of a crazy guy \u2013 \u201cAlias \u2018Georgia Wasp<\/strong>\u2019\u201d \u2013 who is said to be a \u201cpathological liar” who’s been “married many times and has cheated on each wife with multiple partners!\u201d<\/p>\n So here\u2019s a heads up:\u00a0 I\u2019m not that guy!!!<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n One thing I liked about the movie was how it showed Moses growing ever more\u00a0senescent<\/a><\/em>. \u00a0(Thanks largely to his having to metaphorically\u00a0herd cats<\/a>\u00a0or “shovel fleas.”<\/em>) \u00a0I noted that something like that happened to Abraham Lincoln, after four years as president:<\/p>\n He arrived at the White House as a sinewy 6-foot-4, 180-pound strongman.\u00a0 In the course of four years, he dropped 30 pounds.\u00a0 \u201cHe was sunken-eyed and grizzled, nothing like that bright-eyed lawyer of Springfield [and] looks 75 years old, but he\u2019s 56.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n That led to some lessons<\/a>\u00a0including this: \u00a0To “the icons<\/a> that we choose to throw our cares and responsibilities on \u2013 like Moses \u2013 we followers are pretty much a pain in the neck<\/a>.”<\/p>\n Which seems especially\u00a0apropos<\/a><\/em>\u00a0as the\u00a02016 election season<\/a>\u00a0heats up.<\/p>\n “Pogo<\/a>” – told in three parts – was about fulfilling a life-long dream. The dream involved and led to an overnight camping trip deep into the sinister<\/em> and mysterious<\/em> “Swamp Water” locale. \u00a0(The\u00a0Okefenokee Swamp<\/a>, as illustrated by the 1941 movie poster at left.)<\/p>\n Ashley Wilkes<\/a>\u00a0detailed the circumstances surrounding the mysterious death of\u00a0Leslie Howard<\/a>. \u00a0(Best known for playing\u00a0Wilkes<\/a>\u00a0in 1939\u2019s\u00a0Gone with the Wind<\/a><\/strong>.) \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Briefly, the commercial airliner in which he was flying got shot down by eight German fighter-bombers in 1943. \u00a0It happened over the Bay of Biscay – west of France – on a flight from ostensibly-neutral Lisbon and London.<\/p>\n The shoot-down spawned a number of conspiracy theories. \u00a0One said German spies mistook Howard’s friend and bodyguard for Winston Churchill. \u00a0Another noted\u00a0Nazi propaganda chief\u00a0Joseph Goebbels<\/a>\u00a0calling Howard “Britain\u2019s<\/em> most dangerous propagandist.” \u00a0A third said Howard really was a British spy, on a secret mission with the help of the beautiful\u00a0Conchita Montenegro<\/a>. \u00a0(One of many women with whom he\u2019d ostensibly had a “torrid love affair.”<\/em>)<\/p>\n That post ended: \u00a0“And some people think those were better and simpler times\u2026”<\/p>\n And speaking of politics… \u00a0On April 2, I posted\u00a0On Blue Dogs and the \u201cVia Media<\/a>.” \u00a0It addressed\u00a0the dearth of\u00a0moderate Republicans and conservative Democrats. \u00a0One point the post made was that the Political Middle [Seems To Have] Disappeared<\/a>. \u00a0But the good news seems to that our\u00a0political system was “specifically designed to keep moving back to the middle<\/em>, even though it\u2019s clumsy at times.”<\/p>\n In other words, “Don\u2019t Forget That Politics is Cyclical<\/a>.” \u00a0That – I wrote – could be “the best political news ‘we\u2019ve’ heard in a long time\u2026”<\/p>\n But then I noted that Matthews’ book – after actually reading<\/em> it – gave me a sense that our presidents have been mostly “decent, honorable and capable.” \u00a0And<\/em>\u00a0it\u00a0gave me a sense “that the same applies to politicians in general.\u00a0 (Gasp!<\/em>)” \u00a0Then a third thought: Maybe\u00a0politicians today are especially nasty because too many voters they\u2019re trying to woo<\/a><\/em> are just plain nasty.<\/p>\n But the 1950s and ’60s – when Harry Golden did most of his writing – weren’t any\u00a0bed of roses<\/a>\u00a0either. \u00a0(They featured\u00a0McCarthyism<\/a>,\u00a0 Vietnam War protests<\/a>, and the Civil Rights Movement<\/a>.) \u00a0 Yet through all those dark years,\u00a0Harry Golden<\/a> exuded<\/a> <\/em><\/strong>hope.<\/p>\n All of which brings us back to the old saying noted in the Peanuts<\/em><\/strong> cartoon [below], that in \u201cbad times or hopelessness, it is more worthwhile to do some good, however small … than to [just] complain about the situation<\/em>.\u201d\u00a0 See also Better to light a single candle<\/a>.\u00a0 And that great bloggers \u2013 like great politicians \u2013 should work harder on \u201cselling hope.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Which is exactly what this blog will try to do. \u00a0In 2016 … and Beyond<\/em><\/strong><\/a>!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n * \u00a0 * \u00a0 * \u00a0 *<\/p>\n \u00a0* \u00a0 * \u00a0 * \u00a0 *<\/p>\n The upper image is courtesy of\u00a0New Year \u2013 Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia<\/a>. \u00a0The full caption: \u00a0\u201cBaby New Year<\/a> 1905 chases old 1904 into the history books in this cartoon by John T. McCutcheon<\/a>.\u201d \u00a0See also\u00a0\u2018Ringing\u2019 Or \u2018Bringing In The New Year:\u2019 A History<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0The full \u201ctake stock\u201d quote is courtesy of\u00a0The Year in Review<\/a>\u00a0(Huffington Post):<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Before we start to talk about the plans, goals and resolutions for the new year. \u00a0It is important to take stock and review the outgoing year. \u00a0This includes looking at the wins, the challenges, the mistakes, the areas for improvement and just appreciate how are you feeling at this time of the year. \u00a0When you take the time to take stock of the past year\u2019s experiences you will achieve 2 things[:] \u00a0 1)\u00a0Ability to count your blessings[; and] \u00a02)\u00a0Identify the areas for improvement.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Re: \u00a0\u201cLife\u2019s a Campaign<\/a>.\u201d \u00a0(“What Politics Has Taught Me about Friendship, Rivalry, Reputation, and Success.”) \u00a0<\/em>My first exposure to the book was listening to the six hour book-on-CD version. \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n The Reagan-Kennedy image is courtesy of www.boston.com\/bigpicture\/2009\/08\/senator_ted_kennedy<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n The lower\u00a0\u201cstupid darkness\u201d cartoon is courtesy of You Stupid Darkness! | Kurtis Scaletta\u2019s Site<\/a>, which in turn links to comics.com\/peanuts<\/a>, \u201cone of the most amazing but little-known Internet resources.\u201d\u00a0 See also lightasinglecandle.wordpress<\/a>, and The 5 Greatest (newspaper) Comic Strips Of All Time<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n * \u00a0 * \u00a0 * \u00a0 *<\/p>\n Other notable 2015 posts included\u00a0On American History, \u201cpatched and piebald<\/a>,” the\u00a0Mid-summer Travelog<\/a>\u00a0series, and\u00a0On RABBIT \u2013 and \u201c60 is the new 30<\/a>,” Parts I and\u00a0Part II<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n “Piebald<\/a>” talked about history as it actually happens – and is lived through – compared to how we learned\u00a0in schools. \u00a0In “school-taught” history, the\u00a0Founding Fathers<\/a><\/em>\u00a0– for example – knew exactly what they were doing. \u00a0They were “carried [on] by a sure and steady tide.” \u00a0But the more-real version – history actually lived through – was\u00a0\u201cimprovised, patched together, made up from one moment to the next.” \u00a0That thought was exemplified by\u00a0<\/em>John Adams<\/a><\/em>, a Founding Father himself:<\/em><\/p>\n I\u2019ll not be in the history books. \u00a0Only Franklin. \u00a0Franklin did this, and Franklin did that, and Franklin did some other damn thing. \u00a0Franklin smote the ground, and out sprang General Washington, fully grown and on his horse…<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The Mid-summer Travelogs<\/a>\u00a0were on a two-week early-July road trip to Atlantic City and New York City. Modeled on Steinbeck\u2019s Travels with Charley<\/a>, they spoke of\u00a0pilgrimages<\/a> in general, driving<\/strong> pilgrimages especially, and had a nod to a canoe trip\u00a012 miles offshore<\/a>. \u00a0Part II<\/a>\u00a0added this:<\/em><\/p>\n Maybe understanding is only possible after.\u00a0 Years ago when I used to work in the woods it was said of lumber men that they did their logging\u00a0in the whorehouse and their sex in the woods<\/strong>. \u00a0(E.A.)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Which was another way of saying it seems we can’t truly enjoy our “road trips” until they’re over; “Now that my trip is over … I can look back and relish the memories just lived through.”<\/em><\/p>\n And finally,\u00a0RABBIT [and] \u201cthe new 30<\/a>” talked about the series of books by John Updike centered on\u00a0Harry “Rabbit” Angstrom<\/a><\/em>. \u00a0They started with Rabbit as a new father in 1960. \u00a0Then:<\/em><\/p>\n Updike revisited his hero toward the end of each of the following decades in the second half of this American century; and in each of the subsequent novels … Updike has chronicled the frustrations and ambiguous triumphs … the loves and frenzies, the betrayals and reconciliations of our era.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/d\/d1\/Babynew.jpg\/220px-Babynew.jpg\")
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So anyway, on March 28 I moved on to review\u00a0\u201cExodus: Gods and Kings<\/a>.” \u00a0(Complete with images of\u00a0Moses – Christian Bale, at left – and Ramses – Joel Edgerton, at right.) \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n
![\"SwampWaterPoster.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/4\/46\/SwampWaterPoster.jpg\")
Other post-highlights from 2015 included\u00a0Operation Pogo \u2013 \u201cInto the Okefenokee<\/a>,” and\u00a0The mysterious death of Ashley Wilkes<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"http:\/\/inapcache.boston.com\/universal\/site_graphics\/blogs\/bigpicture\/kennedy_08_31\/k15_20120853.jpg\"](\"http:\/\/inapcache.boston.com\/universal\/site_graphics\/blogs\/bigpicture\/kennedy_08_31\/k15_20120853.jpg\")
Then came\u00a0\u201cGreat politicians sell hope\u201d<\/a>\u00a0on June 12. \u00a0(Featuring the shot at right, of Ronald Reagan and Ted Kennedy “supping<\/a>” with a political enemy<\/em>.) \u00a0That post led off with the Peanuts<\/em> cartoon below. \u00a0That in turn was a kind of\u00a0spin-off<\/a>\u00a0from a quote from Chris Matthew\u2019s 2007 book,\u00a0Life’s a Campaign<\/a>. \u00a0I then wrote: \u00a0“When I [first] heard that a few days ago I thought, ‘What rock have you\u00a0 been living under<\/a>?<\/em>‘”<\/p>\n\n
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