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Stick It Where The Sun Don't Shine

Stick It Where The Sun Don't Shine

I'm thinking of consulting with friends, who may have flown out of Milwaukee, to reassure me that the sun is still shining. They could assure me that the warming rays of light from the sun are just not penetrating the cloud layer that has taken permanent residency over us. I'm running out of vitamin D supplements. (We got one day of fantastic relief on Sunday, fifty-seven degrees and sunshine.)

The Long and Short of It

The Academy nominated short films were screened at the Oriental Theater this Sunday. I have to say, given that it’s Super Bowl Sunday, I was surprised that upwards of sixty people attended.

Full disclosure: I dislike the Academy Awards. In general, I think award shows are symptomatic of everything that is wrong with America. We actually have lawnmower races for god's sake!

Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (if You’re a Girl) - Carol Dysinger, UK, 39 min.
Afghan girls go to school, which is a dangerous thing for them to do. Oh, and by the way they learn to skateboard

Life Overtakes Me - John Haptas and Kristine Samuelson, Sweden/USA, 39 min.
Children under stress respond by going into a coma state for months and even years. How they got there and how some of them recover.

In the Absence - Yi Seung-Jun, South Korea, 28 min.
The complete mishandling of a tragic ferry boat sinking that takes down Korean leader.

St. Louis Superman - Smriti Mundhra and Sami Khan, USA, 28 min.
A young black man inspired by the death of his brother runs for the state legislature, wins, and submits and passes groundbreaking legislation.

Walk Run Cha-Cha - Laura Nix, USA, 21 min.
The love story of a Vietnamese couple after their separation following the war, they're reuniting in Loa Angels after six years, and their performance in ballroom dancing.

As you might imagine, all of these films are compelling in their own way. “In Absence” made my blood boil with anger over the ineptitude of emergency responders to the report of a sinking ferryboat with hundreds fo school children on board.

“Walk, Run Cha Cha” is a love story about seniors. If you like “Grace & Frankie,” you will love this film. The dance scenes are marvelous, and the story is fantastic.

In the film “Life Overtakes Me,” the scenes of the lifeless children are hard enough to watch. Still, the burden the parents carry taking constant care of their children and fighting deportation from Sweden is heartbreaking.

St. Louis Superman, The story of a young black man who following the death of Michael Brown and, in the name of his nine-year-old brother who died from being caught in the crossfire of two thugs, runs for a seat in the Missouri legislature. While he is outnumbered, he is persistent and persuasive and passes meaningful laws.

“Learning to Skateboard in aWar Zone (If you’re a girl).” Watching the contagious spirit and courage of the Afghan girls as they go against their parents, society, and the Taliban to go to school is exhilarating. And then, there is the joy these girls take in learning to skateboard.

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