Uncivil civilization

What the hell is going on?From Congress to talk shows, from tea parties to other tempests...everyone is losing it.Everyone has gone too far in expressing themselves. It's all too argumentative and ugly and I'm not sure where it started but it should end!
Political news shows started yelling at each other years ago so that you could almost not watch. Then Congressmen yelled out during State of the Union Speech and sessions and "voters" are spitting on them! Reality shows that were fun became combative and Housewives went from gossiping to pulling wigs off. And it all seems to intrigue people. Even Dancing with the Stars is now "I quit" and hostility. (Although I'd walk out on Kate too..what a ballbreaker!) Anyway...see...now even sweet little Me..I am getting hostile.
I think the genie is out of the bottle and don't know if it'll ever be able to go back in.
Sad state of affairs for all of us.

Girl With Dragon Tatoo

If you, as I, was...a devourer (if that is a word) of the two "Girl" books, about
to be a trilogy...then you must go see this movie! It was a brilliant
adaptation of the book. So often, particularly in American movies they
ruin a book, either by casting or commercializing and this Swedish film with
subtitles was neither.
What it is, is a crisp action thriller with all the highpoints of the book.
It has sex, kinky sex, disgustingly wierd sex, and Nazis. What more could
you want from a thriller? And it moves like the wind. The book was very
long in the winded area...often digressing and repeating. This did neither.
In fact, it eliminated two of the subplots but wow, what you can suggest
with just a look. It was all there if you knew the book.
The Girl who is the star...is fab. The guy is a sort of pockmarked weary
non hero and that works very well. Here they'll make them into two
glamour-pusses and ruin it.
Read the book first then you will really love it. Not sure what those
who haven't read it would think. But let me know.

Jesse James..you robbed her!

I know in the big picture it's not that important, but I am personally
very upset about Jesse James cheating on Sandra Bullock. Seriously!
She is such a doll, so real and so bright and after she thanked him
for "having her back" at the Oscars, this must be devestating.What's
with these Hollywood people? Why is marriage so impossible. Sandy...
love you. Jesse...used to love you. No more. And those tatoos? On the
"mistress?" Yeesh!

Throw the bums out!!

I know this is going to sound strong...but I have come to the conclusion that our government does not work!! I think Congress with its hyper partisanism and gridlock is no longer accomplishing anything other than spewing hot air. I have a bad bad feeling about our entire system. The oft quoted line about Democracy being the best of the worst is now questionable. Do I have a solution? No...but I and others I know have lost faith and worse, interest, in this game. Now what?

facebook recommendation!

Bill Shafer: Looking for a great blog to follow? Check my friend Susan Silver. She was a writer for the Mary Tyler Moore Show and other great classic series. She's as witty, sexy and creative as ever! (You'll find lots of her at GB, too!)The Search For Mr. Adequate
WOW THANKS BILL...I ALREADY GOT SOME GREAT COMMENTS FROM YOUR WONDERFUL LISTENERS AT GROWING BOLDER..MY FAVORITE RADIO SHOW AND WEBSITE FOR BABY BOOMERS.

Ellen and O?

Is it just me or was Oprah a little bit uncomfortable, even defensive when she had
Ellen DeGeneress on today? Ellen is great. I think she is a wonderful talent and a
very genuine person. The "deep" talk today was mostly Oprah trying to find a weak spot in Ellen and though she laughed a lot at Ellen's jokes and success...just a tiny bit of well...something...was getting the way. Oprah feels different to me these days in general and this was just kind of interesting. thoughts??

Darwin is spinning!!

I just saw a report on the news that a Texas School Board of Ed has changed schoolbooks to reflect a "Christian biblical" pov. Well, we know what they say
about Texas!Everything is bigger...including, I guess...MISTAKES!
All kidding aside,this is frightening.
In the Interview, the Dentist/Board Member/dictator stated that he himself
was amazed at his "power" but intended to use it for as long as he could.
Part of what he did was change the history books, emphasize Conservatives
and make Joe McCarthy "less of a bad guy." He also made an error in banning
an author who it turned out had the same name as someone he disagreed with.
Hmmm..seems like Joe McCarthy still lives!
This guy has been voted out of office, but has some time remaining on his term
of service ...all the more worrisome. What's next? Darwin spins in anticipation.
We all should be quaking and protesting.

Academy Awards

I loved Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin's opening material..some hysterical bits.
Lots of gorgeous dresses!Way too many commercials!Love Sandra Bullock, didn't like her lipstick. Loved Zoe Saldana's top, hated bottom of dress.Love George Clooney. Period!
First surprise...Precious won adapted screenplay when Up in the Air was supposed to. Wow!Very moving speech by the writer.Steve Martin's adlib was great.
More commercials.God, Lauren Bacall was beautiful when she started out.
I still can't understand a word Penelope Cruz says.The young actress in Up in the Air,Ana Kendricks, is going to be a huge star.Monique deserved it.I guess there was some problem with her not wanting to campaign for it. And she didn't need to. Good on 'er.
Some of the lesser known movies looked worth seeing. An Education, Crazy Heart and District Nine. "Up" with my old pal, Ed Asner won animation but they should have thanked him as the main "voice."He thanked me when he won an Emmy for a script I'd written. Never forgot how exciting that was.
The show is too slow. Why? Again...too many commercials.
Sigourney Weaver needs a stylist, I think.
Before they announce I'll just say what I think and hope should win as Best Director...Katherine Bigelow. And Best Film: Avatar.
We'll see.
My favorite line...in introducing Tom Ford and Sarah Jessica, Steve Martin said"He directed A Single Man, she weighs a single pound." Sounds like one of his own lines.
Ok, Charlize Theron's dress was bad...bad...bad. Two cinammon buns on her breasts!
Losing interest because of you know what...TMC...too many....etc. going to bed and read while watching the rest. night all.

The Seinfeld Olympics

As Jerry would say "what's with the curling thing?" I just don't get it.
Guys in pajama bottoms whisking brooms and yelling in swedish? Huh?
How is this a sport again?Would chimneysweeps be ineligible?I honestly
tried to watch for more than five minutes.Couldn't do it.Does the
USA have a team?

Olympics finally

Well, I finally took a good look at the Olympics and watched Apollo Ono
do his thing. Amazing!The way they take those turns an inch away from the
ice and right on top of each other is wild. I was kicking and skating in
bed!
And for once, my ankles didn't turn in like they used to.Wow..these
kids are really something. Although the 'homerism" of the sportscasters
does get a bit much.

Back from LA

I stayed longer than I had expected because the sun came out! Why not? A walk on the beach everyday does wonders emotionally and probably physically too. The Renaissance Weekend was, as usual, great stimulation, fun and no it's not the Renaissance Fair!
No costumes. Just a lot of tremendously successful, achievement oriented types who are instructed to leave "the egos at the door" when they are invited to participate.
What always amazes me is that the Pulitzer winners, Nobel winners, and other assorted genuises or is it genusi?...love to talk show biz. I was on five panels, four of which were show biz and they are always crowded. I guess I can be the entertainment for these brains...it's ok with me.
I always make great friends at these things and they are often younger and that is always good..though an elderly couple who must remain anonymous as the rules are we can't blab about who we meet...were really great and I hope to stay in contact with them as I do some really brilliant political professors whose lectures were excellent.
I also saw "stars" as I tend to do...and this time they were of the reality show variety. The bitch on the Millionaire Matchmaking show...the only woman millionaire was a tad nicer than on the show..and assured me her hissy fit was fake..but I still wonder why anyone would want to appear so bitchy real or fake!
The lovely Ruby who was on Oprah and has her own show dealing with her tremendous struggle to lose hundreds of pounds was walking along the boardwalk and is beautiful inside and out and we hugged and shmoozed.
Too much eating, a lot of sun, some exercise and stars. That's LA for ya! I like it in small doses.

In LA

So I left the snow to come to the sun which was one day and now it's rain. oh well.

It's about time!

Now that the Chrm of Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US military has
stated it's about time...how about it? Of course gays should
be allowed in the military. It's ridiculous that it has
taken this long. Anyone who has the guts and patriotism
to volunteer to fight for this country should be welcomed
and blessed!Or how about all the bigots volunteer in their
place?

O Oprah!

I watched the Oprah interview with Jay Leno and I was kind of shocked.
I thought she was on his side!? He was being grilled like James Frey
who pretended to write that memoir which she plugged. She was way too
tough on Jay who didn't need to apologize for anything!
NBC screwed up. He did what anyone else would...and she would have too.
Why say "are you being selfish" for taking a job? Talk Show Hostess...
heal thyself.

Co No

In the big scheme of things with everything important happening around
the world the NBC debacle with Jay and Conan is really unimportant.
But...since it seems to be the media's own story it's getting all the play.
My opinion...It's not Jay's fault!! Why would it be? Conan is not funny,
was never funny, is lucky beyond all understanding and should just
go away!I once saw him bomb at an industry event and it was embarrassing.
The totally classless exit he made with all the knocks at the network
lost whatever sympathy he could have gotten as far as I'm concerned.
Take your millions and shut up!

The Hurt Locker

Wow!!I just saw this movie on demand. I had been avoiding it as I don't like war movies. But since it's winning all the awards I thought I'd try. EVERYONE IN AMERICA
must see this movie!! What we put these boys through is unbelievable, disgusting,
traumatic. I will never forget this! You actually feel that you are in the action and
the tension is unrelenting. They disarm the bombs and my heart was going faster than
the ticking of the timers!This should be forced viewing for every member of Congress who votes on sending these kids off without the proper equipment! Shame on them!!!
Wow..congrats to the WOMAN who directed it too! Katherine Bigelow is amazing.
And how do we expect these soldiers to come back and lead normal lives. I wont be sleeping well tonight and it was just a movie!

Help Haiti!! And then reward yourselves...

Dear Readers, Please send something to Haiti relief. This is the saddest, most apocalpytic thing I can remember. We all have to help these poor people.Think if it were your city, your neighborhood.Your children!By the way, I LOVE Diane Sawyer and her coverage. It's human, it's passionate.
Then, on a lighter note you can reward yourself if you are lucky enough to be in NY or visiting, you must run to the incredible revival of the Arthur Miller play "A View From the Bridge!"
Of course I love anything he wrote, and believe him to be our greatest playwright.
This production is with Liev Schriber and Scarlett Johanson (sp?) for star power but the entire cast is sensational. The direction riveting and the whole nite is a time in the theater that I haven't had in years!
Saw "Avatar" and loved it!Not really my cup of tea...all the special effects I thought, but they are staggering! And it was like escaping into another world for two hours. Harry Potter for adults.
Reading the sizzling new political book Game Change. Along with the few gossipy
things that have already been published, it offers much more. I am a political junkie and can't get enough of the backroom stuff and it's a treasure trove. Cant put it down. Plan on reading it in one fell swoop this weekend.

me on the radio again...

I just guested with my favorite guys Bill and Mark at GrowingBolder!
For some reason I can't link to it here...but this is it...(just copy this and paste)
http://growingbolder.com/media/entertainment/television/susan-silver-537562.html

or just go to the site....http://GrowingBolder.com
and scroll down to the the link that says "radio"...Jan2. I'm there.
Hope u like it.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Dear Readers, For the dreaded New Year' sEve this year I decided to stay in bed and put the bad year to rest as soon as possible. I think everyone feels that way.Instead, my friend Stan, who had a rough year himself, decided last minute to have friends in and I forced myself to go.
Good idea! It wasn't so much a "party" as a gathering and it was lovely, the food was great, the company good and I was home by 10.
It has not been the greatest year either financially or healthwise for me and others and 2010 feels like a good number to look forward to...new decade and all that.
I do make resolutions but not fanatically as I am too old to think I will keep them!
But there is a feeling of hope and a better future and I wish that to all of you!