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JUSTICE FOR ERIC GARNER
One day after it was announced that the family of Eric Garner (above) will receive a $5.9 million settlement from New York City, the family has called on city officials to charge NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo with murder. Garner, who was allegedly selling illegal cigarettes, was in the midst of a minor run-in with NY cops when Pantaleo took him down with a chokehold. The coroner ruled the death a homicide, but a Grand Jury failed to indict. Now, the family wants justice. In a news conference, Garner’s mother and wife called for U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch to prosecute Pantaleo. "They deserve to be prosecuted. They treated my husband like an animal," said Esaw Garner, Garner’s wife. Meanwhile, just days before the settlement was revealed, Pantaleo’s attorney reported the cop wants to rejoin the NYPD. “The unbelievable part is this has not soured him one bit on doing law enforcement,” said attorney Stuart London. This, even as Pantaleo is under investigation by the U.S. Justice Department for possible civil rights violations. In fact, Pantaleo still works for NYPD, albeit in a menial paper-pushing position. Garner’s case spawned nationwide demonstrations, using his last words, “I can’t breathe,” as the rallying call. Keep an eye on this case: With the current national climate of racial division, if the Justice Department fails to charge Pantaleo, the long hot summer may just boil over. In the following video, Pantaleo (in green t-shirt) can be seen essentially murdering Garner. Judge for yourself:
BIRTH CONTROL BONANZA!
Way back in 1961 when the birth control pill was introduced, no one could have predicted what would follow. Some call it a sexual revolution. It lasted quite a long time, really well into the 1980s, when HIV was first discovered in the population. Now, Oregon is leading the way with its own revolutionary legislation that will allow women to buy the pill over the counter. Women will be required to answer 20 questions to assess their health risks with the use of the pill. Actually, the country is loosening its grip on birth control in other ways. The state of Washington is expected to follow Oregon’s lead with a similar law. For the past six years, Colorado has provided free, or low-cost intrauterine devices. More controversial, however, are certain schools in Seattle that are implanting IUD’s in girls as young as sixth grade, without even consulting or informing the parents. Stay tuned, since parents are already making some angry noises about that. Meanwhile, on July 10, the Obama administration outlined firm rules for contraception coverage in employee health insurance programs. The bottom line: Most plans will now provide birth control at no cost to the insured. There are some specific compromises provided for companies that object to offering “morning after” pills, and for companies that are privately held and controlled by fewer than five people. So, are we in a second sexual revolution? Hmmm…probably not. The first one never really ended, now did it? But get this: researchers are actively working on a male birth control pill. Now THAT will likely spark a real revolution. (Click on the image above to watch a brief video on the history of birth control—Lysol…who knew)
TRUMP FATIGUE
By now, the whole world (including Mexico!) knows that NBC fired presidential hopeful Donald Trump, former host of “Celebrity Apprentice,” on June 29, after he summarily labeled Mexican immigrants killers and rapists. (Way to gather up the Latino vote, Donald). That followed Univision announcing it was severing ties with The Donald, and would not air the beauty pageants he owns. NBC won’t air them either. Meanwhile, a former Miss Holland, Linda Grandia is battling with Trump over her own pageant, Miss Multiverse. Trump claims Miss Multiverse violates his Miss Universe trademark, citing Grandia’s use of the term “Miss,” according to Page Six. As of June 29, more than 700,000 people had signed a petition urging Macy’s to disconnect from Trump, whose menswear line does a fair amount of business in the stores. Meanwhile, Trump visited Chicago and in a speech at the City Club he rattled on about how negative the perception of Chicago is throughout the country, due to the high crime rate. His solution? "You've got to stop it. You're not going to stop it by being nice. You're going to stop it by being one tough son of a bitch." Quite a platform. He then spent considerable time talking about how much he admires Rod Blagojevich, the former Governor of Illinois who is currently serving a 14-year prison sentence for trying to sell Barack Obama’s U.S. Senate seat. Very presidential, Donald. Is it just me, or are we already tired of Donald Trump? How long until he bows out of the presidential race, as we all know he ultimately will? Donald, please, please go back to your shimmering tower in the Manhattan sky and make more YouTube videos that target your “enemies.” So entertaining. Please. Just go.
A POWERFUL STATEMENT FROM TYLENOL
Just as the U.S. Supreme Court was about to announce its ruling on marriage equality, and right when social issues such as surrogacy, blended families and adoption are at the forefront of the cultural conversation, Tylenol offers some perspective. In its new commercial, Tylenol makes a powerful statement about what comprises an American family. A sincere tip of my blogger’s hat to the powers that be at Johnson and Johnson, the parent company that makes and distributes Tylenol, for its forward thinking message, and validation of what we already know – there are all kinds of families. And each one is as real and as loving as any other. Please watch the video below and then pass it on. Click on the image above to hear director Dustin Lance Black explain how Tylenol’s “How We Family” project came to be.
BEWARE THE SANTORUM
I’m sorry to say, “Here we go again.” Rick Santorum is running for President of the United States. Is there really an American who can picture Rick Santorum in the White House? About his current plan to run, Santorum told an interviewer recently, “America loves an underdog. Being underestimated has given me a lot of latitude.” Ugh. Santorum reportedly has a supportive organization called Patriot Voices, which is about 150,000 strong. That’s 150,000 people in a country of about 316 million, according to U.S. Census Bureau 2013 figures. So, while it is unlikely Santorum has a snowball’s chance in hell of becoming the nominee, much less winning the election, we will still have to be subjected to his ongoing tirade against…well, almost everything. Remember, Santorum is the guy who actually said pornography causes brain damage, and who pledges to make it a focus issue of his campaign. Santorum is also the guy who once described contraception as "a license to do things in a sexual realm that is counter to how things are supposed to be." He has also compared marriage equality to polygamy; called Obama a snob for wanting all Americans to have an opportunity to go to college; curses “radical feminism” for moms not being at home, where presumably he believes they should be; likened homosexuality to “man on dog” sex. But it is Santorum’s consistently exclusionary and judgmental views on socio-political and economic issues that did him in in 2012 and will likely do so again. Still, ready yourself, because Rick Santorum will be all up in your business for the next couple of years. And yes, you can surely expect to see those God-awful 1973 sweater vests in an an array of colors.
GERSHWIN ON BROADWAY!
If you are in NYC or planning to be there, do yourself a great favor and go to see An American in Paris. Gershwin labeled his creation a “rhapsodic ballet.” Technically it is a “symphonic poem,” which simply stated, is a composition played in one long movement, and one that tells a story through music. I can’t think of a better description of An American in Paris than that…except maybe “rhapsodic ballet.” Indeed a seriously Broadway-worthy troupe of dancers brings this piece to life, eight times a week at the Palace Theatre. If you have seen the movie a thousand times, as I have, it’s tough to get the image of Gene Kelly, the master, out of your mind as you watch this production. But Robert Fairchild holds his own in the iconic role of Jerry Mulligan, the American soldier who falls for the elegant French girl, Lise, remarkably danced by Leanne Cope. It doesn’t hurt that Cope bears an uncanny resemblance to Leslie Caron, the movie’s Lise. Gershwin fits Broadway like a hand in a kid leather glove. As striking as this production is, just three years ago Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess was one of the best Broadway productions I had ever seen. I now add An American in Paris to my short list. Amazingly, it was written in 1928 and now, 87 years later it still evokes universal themes. Take a minute and 46 seconds and get lost in the artistry:
STILL JAMES TAYLOR
If the words “Sweet Baby James” conjure memories of the 1970s, listen up. Our unofficial crooner laureate, James Taylor, has a new studio album of all new songs, his first in 13 years. Taylor, whose hits include “Fire and Rain,” “You’ve Got a Friend,” and “Country Road,” among dozens of others, has survived and realized commercial success by staying true to his poetic and melodic roots, through the rock era, through disco, through hip hop and all the other genres of the past half century. In fact, his first recorded song was 54 years ago. At 67, this is the first time Taylor has ever had an album debut at #1 on the Billboard Charts. Even if you don’t remember the cool 70s glamour of Taylor’s marriage to singer Carly Simon, or his career-long rhapsodic partnership with Carole King, the new album is fully representative of the gentle-spirited storyteller at his seasoned best. Oh, and that cello you hear now and then? Yes, that’s Yo Yo Ma. Listen::
WHEN ART MEETS ART
Crooner Tony Bennett, who is wise enough and musically powerful enough to get away with calling the great American songbook “classical music,” has had some very cool collaborations over the years. Amy Winehouse, Christina Aguilera, Aretha, Willy Nelson, Streisand, McCartney, Stevie Wonder, just to name a few. But now he seems to have met his tuneful match in none other than Lady Gaga. Listen, art is art. It doesn’t matter that Bennett was born when Calvin Coolidge was President, and Gage entered fully 60 years later. And it doesn’t matter that Bennett’s style is sheer class and smooth sophistication, while nobody dares try to categorize Gaga. What matters is that they have finally found each other and nobody wins bigger than you and me in this lyrical coupling. See for yourself:
Paul A. Greenberg
"The Ranter"
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