Brigid
Brigid's JournalSomething serious occurred to me while watching old "Perfect Strangers" episodes:
Larry moved from Madison, WI to Chicago to pursue his dream of becoming a photojournalist. Balki immigrated from a small Mediterranean island because he was tired of poking sheep around with a stick. They worked, they struggled -- but eventually made it. By the time the series ended, they were both working at a newspaper -- Larry was a reporter, as I recall; and Balki was drawing a comic strip. They were both married. There is an optimism in these early episodes I've been watching (the only ones available on DVD, for some reason) that seems almost quaint now: We know that though it won't be easy, they will be successful so long as they don't give up.
But that show is from the '80's. If it were made today, Larry would probably be snowed under with student loans and Balki might be wishing he'd never left Mypos.
And they would still be working in Mr. Twinkasetti's store for minimum wage.
The fascinating election of 1896.
Watching a favorite documentary, and right now they're talking about the election of 1896. It's William Jennings Bryan v William McKinley. Terrified that Bryan's attacks on them are resonating with the public, industrialists like Carnegie, Morgan, and Rockefeller colluded together to get McKinley elected. They donated heavily to McKinley's campaign. They also employed this tactic: Warning workers that their jobs would disappear if Bryan won. And back then, balloting was apparently not as secret as it is now, and it was sometimes possible to find out how an individual voted. As one historian put it, "Are you going to vote with your heart or your pocketbook?" Does this tactic sound familiar?
OK, it's Friday night. What's for dinner, DU?
I can't decide: That little storefront Chinese place? The cool little grill and lemonade place a couple of doors down from it? The nifty little Italian place downtown run by a guy from a little island just off the coast of Naples? Subway?
The most heartbreaking story you'll see here today. Guaranteed.
OK, so the one about Giggles the baby deer was a close contender. But then I ran across this one:
DYING 2-YEAR OLD SON TO BE PA COUPLE'S BEST MAN
When a couple was told that their 2-year-old boy, Logan, had weeks to live, they decided to get married as soon as possible -- with their son as best man.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/08/01/son-best-man/2610091/
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Gender: FemaleHometown: MO
Home country: USA
Current location: Indianapolis, IN
Member since: Sat Apr 8, 2006, 03:12 AM
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