Jul. 06, 2002 - 20:43 MDT

THE WONDERING JEW

Amazing & Amusing

Here in Denver we are privileged to have a cartoonist whose wry humor and street-smart common sense can pick apart humbuggery and chicanery. Ed Stein is his name and today's two toons prove a point I think. I can only quote. His Denver Square deals with the 'No Call' rule here in Colorado that the telemarketers hate. Four panels today which feature one of us who answered the phone. First panel -- From the other end, "In only one hour a week you can earn $500 to $1,000 using our patented . . .)" Joe average breaks in, "HEY, I'm on the No Call List, and . . .)" Second panel -- Telemarketer again breaks in, "Yes sir, but charities are exempt." Joe Average screams, "CHARITIES !?" To which the voice in his ear replies, "Yes sir, but charities are exempt." Third panel the disembodied voice says further, "Yes sir, a portion of your investment of only $39.95 - Visa and Mastercard accepted -- goes to a fund to benefit. . .)" Fourth panel the haunt on the phone continues, . . . .former telephone solicitors cruelly thrown out of work . . .)" Me (Joe Average), "THAT didn't take them long."

I do sincerely hope that no telemarketer or his bosses gets on to that horse and rides.

His big cartoon of the day shows a minion with papers in his hand saying, "Some of the biggest corporations overstated their revenues, hid massive losses and used all kinds of funny accounting to hide what they were doing ! What are we going to tell the voters ?" The figure seated at the desk who bears a cartoon resemblance to the Shrub, with a bright look on his face says, "That we're running government like a business ?"

Those possibly might even be funny to a laid back Republican, if one can be located.

Another article notices and mentions the bit of our administration having this flip-flop attitude toward terrorism. "Don't worry, be happy, have fun, enjoy - fear not." While all the time trying to sow the seeds of paranoia in the public in order to foward more of the restrictive policies being tried for."

Being mentally deficient about movies and not hearing worth a darn I am a reluctant curmudgeon about attending same. But, Heather wanted to go and she sweetly put it this way, "I sure want to go see a movie today, will you go with me ?" said plaintively with an overtone of lonsomeness (those are words ?) how could I resist and asked cringing, "What's showing ?" She said, "Well there are two showing I would like to see and I could see the other with our grandson later in the week. One is a movie made before 9-11 and only released recently. It deals with terrorism, the other is My Big Fat Greek Wedding and is supposed to be a comedy."

My reply ? Cut and dried, "Honey I spend so much time dwelling on and ranting about the state of the world, why don't we go to see the comedy just for fun ?"

Very early in the picture John Corbett shows up and becomes the romantic lead. Most anything he does, even the Ford Commericals, I like. He was Chris who ran the radio station on Northern Exposure and I admired how he played that role. Made me perk up and strain my ears to hear. Fortunately it was a loud movie and I could hear most of it. What I couldn't hear I could infer. To me it was laughable to the utmost with just a tinge of bittersweet. Very seldom have I enjoyed a movie more than I did that one. How could not a tear form in the corner of my eye when the bride to be's father escorts her to the altar, takes a hand and leads the hand of the groom to the hand of his daughter. Yep, it was well done and mirrored the father in all of the men who have had the great privilege to go through that rite, at least it was such a moving moment for me as I gave our daughters away.

We live less than a mile from the Greek Orthodox Church here and every year in June they have a festival, a very fun thing having good eats of the ethnic kind and entertainment. One year Heather and I went into this big tent and sat on a bench and listened to the music. Soon there were a few people dancing out there in the middle. Something like line dancing with an accent, their arms interlocked and all in step. It was a beautiful thing and became more heartening and beautiful when we saw little kids run up, get in line and dance up a storm, in perfect step. There was much laughter and appeared to be much love and happiness between all. Heather and I stayed until it was time to leave. When someone would get tired and leave the line it seemed to me that there were people to fill the gap and then some. Don't know to this day how that band lasted the night of continuous playing, but they did and also appeared to like what they were doing.

Whoever wrote the story and those who cast and directed the picture, put that family feeling and happiness in that picture. I relate there too, I was an only child who married a family wherein I gained brothers and sisters as well as beaucoup cousins and aunts. I guess that is why it appealed to me in many ways. I only recognized one other actor in the picture, the father of the bride. I have seen him before, many times and it seems to me usually in a supporting role but it seems to me he did an outstanding job in this film.

I don't usually have much to say about books and films and with the exception of being almost through the trilogy, A Child Called "It" -- The Lost Boy -- A Man Called Dave by Dave Pelzer which I also think is a graphic word picture of how much suffering abused kids go through. I am no expert, but can say what amuses me greatly and moves me greatly, unashamed.

This life which I am living in these times can be so Amazing & Amusing . . . . . . .

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