We feature the music of George Harrison and John Lennon 12pm – 4pm ET on RadioMaxMusic.

NEW DAY AND TIME for Rockollections!

http://radiomaxmusic.wordpress.com/2009/12/02/remembering-george-harrison-on-the-next-rockollections/

Delilah is hot, with her lilting l sounds and the chart-topping Plain White Tees single.  But what of the legendary strongman she brought down?

Thanks to Laura for suggesting Samson as Name of the Day.

The Biblical Samson had the strength of Hercules.  In one story, he tears apart a lion with his bare hands; in another, he fells one thousand attackers with a weapon fashioned from a small bone.

Samson is usually pitted against the Philistines.  They’re the ones who bribe the fair Delilah to learn the secret of his strength.  When she learned that Samson’s never-been-trimmed hair fueled his strength, Delilah called for the shears.

He gets the last laugh, though.  The Phillistines fail to keep up the manscaping while he’s in prison.  His locks grow back.  When Samson is summoned to their temple, he’s strong enough to bring down the house, killing his captors – and himself.

Besides the Old Testament tale, Samson appears in the Tanakh and the Talmud.  Basque mythology includes tales of the giant Sanson, who did things like kick up mountain ranges.

Sanson was apparently based on Samson, and Samson probably came from the Hebrew word for sun – shemesh.

You’ll find him in use in Medieval England, but the source is a Welsh-born saint.  The future Saint Samson established monasteries and evangelized much of Brittany.  He died sometime in the 5th century.  There’s a second Saint Samson from around the same time – Saint Samson the Hospitable, of Constantinople.

But it is the first Samson commemorated on the map throughout France.  He’s also the reason the name was in use amongst the Normans who came to England.  You’ll spot him in the historical record, most notably in the eleventh century as the given name of an influential Bishop of Worcester.

Samson fell out of favor over the years, possibly as artists embraced the Biblical tale.  John Milton published Samson Agonistes in 1671; Rembrandt was just one of many to depict Delilah’s legendary betrayal.

Even as parents discover more and more obscure Old Testament choices for their sons – Hezekiah and Zevidiah, anyone? – odds are that the Bible isn’t inspiring parents to pick Samson.

Instead, Samson started to appear in the US Top 1000 in the 1970s – the same time several now-popular picks surfaced.  Also spelled Sampson, he could strike many parents as a legitimate surname choice, similar to:

• Jackson has artistic style and offers parents a fresh take on the evergreen John.  He ranked #32 in 2008;
• Farther behind are I’m-just-wild-’bout Beatlesque Harrison, at #219;
• Newcaster Anderson, at #326;
• Surname/whiskey Jameson, at #382;
• Other ends-in-son surnames in favor include Carson, Mason and Tyson.

Samson’s best showing was #829 in 1988.  As of 2008, he stood at #948.  Odds are that many parents dismiss Samson in favor of one of his style-siblings when they think of the Biblical tale.

But Top 25 favorite Samuel has been bestowed on more than 125,000 newborn boys since 2000 alone.  Another 5,000 boys were named Sam – and that’s without considering Samantha and company.

If you’re comfortable disregarding the Biblical tale – and inevitable first-haircut jokes, Samson fits nicely with current trends and manages to be quite unusual without being too different.

Seeking to expand the scope of this blog (at the request of its creator), I present a review of the video game “The Beatles: Rock Band.”  For those unfamiliar, Rock Band is an extension of the Guitar Hero game, in that you try and play along with songs using a guitar, bass, drums and vocals.  There are varying degrees of difficulty for each song, both overall and with each individual component (for example, you can set the drums to “easy” on an overall “difficult” song, etc).

The Beatles version of Rock Band contains a wide variety of tracks to choose from, spanning their short but prolific career.  It has early stuff like “I Saw Her Standing There,” “Twist and Shout,” and “I Wanna Be Your Man.”  It has well-known songs like “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” “Yellow Submarine,” and “Ticket to Ride,” but also delves into the deeper album cuts like “I Me Mine,” “Within You Without You,” and “I Want You (She’s So Heavy).”  It’s a well-rounded selection of tunes of varying degrees of difficulty to play, from the relative ease of “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” to the very tough “I Am the Walrus.”  Of course some people will be disappointed that their own personal favorite Beatles song isn’t on here, but there’s no way they could include their whole catalog.  I’m sure some sort of expansion pack with more songs will eventually be made available, or certainly you will be able to download (for a fee) other songs.

A cool aspect of the game is the numerous computer-generated background videos that accompany each song.  Some are depictions of the Fab Four recording in a studio, some feature their appearance at Shea Stadium in 1965, and some are imaginary representations based on the atmosphere of the song; “Here Comes the Sun,” for example, shows the band playing in a flowery meadow in the sunshine, and for “I Am the Walrus,” we see the group in their trippy animal mascot costumes from the “Magical Mystery Tour” film.

I enjoyed playing this game, partly because of the song selection and partly because of seeing John, Paul, George and Ringo represented digitally, playing their tunes.  It definitely takes practice to get good at the instruments, which is why I enjoyed the vocals better than anything else, but that’s just me.  Essentially, Rock Band is karaoke on steroids…in a fun way.

The Beatles: Rock Band gets 4 out of 5 stars.

Book Description:

Introducing the most dramatically revised edition of Harrison’s ever! Now with NEW bonus DVD with 37 chapters and more than 500 brand new images and video clips

MORE THAN TRUSTED, BEYOND ESSENTIAL . . .The #1 selling medical textbook worldwide, Harrison’s has defined internal medicine for millions of clinicians and students. The new Seventeenth Edition retains Harrison’s acclaimed balance of pathobiology, cardinal signs and manifestations of disease, and best approaches to patient management, yet has been massively updated to give you an innovative array of bold new features and . If ever there was one must-have resource for clinicians and students – this is it.
UNMATCHED EXPERTISE AT YOUR FINGERTIPS. As an unprecedented amount of medical information bombards you and your patients, where do you go to sort it out and make sense of it all? When your patients request clarification on something they’ve “printed off” where do you turn for expert explanations? The same trusted resource physicians and students have turned to for over fifty years: Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine. Now more than ever, trust Harrison’s to filter and clarify the exploding knowledge base, to highlight the breakthroughs, and to deliver a clear, balanced distillation of the best and most current information on which to base clinical decisions.
THE MOST EXCITING AND EXTENSIVELY REVISED EDITION EVER! Here are just a few of the reasons why the new 17th Edition of Harrison’s is the best edition yet
Bonus companion DVD featuring: 37 new “e-chapters”; over 500 brand-new radiological, laboratory, and clinical images, including complete atlases; state-of-the-art video clips; an Image Bank of nearly all the illustrations contained in the parent text, and much more
Expanded, modernized illustration program with more than 800 brand-new, additional illustrations-a 60% increase over the previous edition
Dozens of brand new chapters on vital topics in medical education and clinical practice: Global Issues in Medicine: Patient Safety and Health Quality; Health Disparities: Atlas of EKGs; Clinical Management of Obesity: Atlas of Hematology: Atlases of Chest, Neurological, and Cardiovascular Radiology, and much more! Also included a complete new Section on biological foundations and emerging clinical applications of regenerative medicine!
Brand new, reader-friendly text design optimizes the full-color format
An expanded, innovative focus on global health
NEW Global Advisory Board comprised of 11 prominent medical experts from Asia, India, Europe, and South America
Revision of the popular On Line Learning Center, which offers more skill-sharpening self-assessment questions and answers, plus additional case studies for helping you apply Harrison’s to the daily care of patients
Harrison’s related products are available in a full suite of formats to meet all your educational and clinical needs. Harrison’s Practice of Medicine is a complete database of more than 700 clinical topics formatted for use at the point of care. The Harrison’s Manual of Medicine is one of the most popular and heavily used handbook-sized resources in internal medicine. The Harrison’s Self-Assessment and Board Review features more than 1000 board-type cases and questions and highlights the use of Harrison’s as a great board prep resouce

Download Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine 17th Edition CHM 170 Mb

Download Link part1, part2, part3, part4, part5, part6, part7

Our family photos are here!  Liz did a great job, and I wanted to share a few with you… so here they are!

The "Hot Toddy," a traditional flu "curing" cocktail

According to the New York Times, Swine Flu-curing cocktails are being poured in bars all over the city. While many believe in the hot toddy, a warm mixture of whisky, lemon, and honey, Manhattan bars are creating complex concoctions to cure even your most severe symptoms. Try the “Flu Shot,” available at Drop Off Service on Avenue A. The drink consists of garlic-infused honey, jalapeno infused tequila, orance lemon ginger puree, and liquid drops of echinacea. Signe Grant, the owner of Drop Off Service, swears by the Vitamin C and immunity boosting power of the mix.

The Harrison on Greenwich Street is also looking to create an alcoholic cure. Their drink, the Western Smash, includes lemon balm, whiskey, and mint. Not too far away in Chinatown, Apotheke specializes in healthy cocktails with ingredients like tellow Chartreuse,  thyme, lavendar, cinnamon, warm rum, hibiscus, and rosehips.

While some believe in the curing abilities of the cocktails, doctors aren’t so sure. Noting that there may be a placebo effect, a Doctor at the University of Virginia said,”If it makes you feel better, go for it.”

-Caitlin

Can you believe it harrison is half a year old. we went the dr last Wednesday found out harrison weighs 17 lbs and is 25 inches long. he is 50% in his weight and only 10 in his height, basically he is short and chunky. lol. he got three shots and is terrified of dr hogandobler.

no pictures today i’ll have some up tomorrow or Wednesday.

We love cribbing! Don’t we?

…

So as far as the update goes, I gave my first mid-semester exam today and felt restless the entire duration of the test. So as I left my seat on submitting the paper, I scribbled over my desk right… below my name…. SCREWED! Indeed!  :)

Exams do not motivate me now! Its been ages that it did anyway! Specially here in Calcutta, I just do not get the ‘feel’ to ’sit’ and ’specially’ study for the exam next day. Doesn’t happen. I have a couple of exams tomorrow! Few hours from now already!

…

Picked up the book a while back! Two chapters done! Its like a drop in the ocean, but feels good! So I thought I’ll take a break!

Check Gmail! No new mails!

Check Facebook! No new comments!

Check Twitter! No @charuconsul

Check Blog! Ok I’m here now!

…

I’ve been thinking and ‘w-o-n-d-e-r-i-n-g’ about a few things lately! Firstly, of how much our lives have changed in the past two years! I’m in no great school right now, but still the last two years have been a lot of learning! Ofcourse outside the class!

…

I’d written about how expectations were good! And that we should, as humans, expect from each other! I do not believe in ‘you-are-my-special-friend’ or ‘you-are-my-best-friend’ theories anymore! Its crap! Telling somebody that ‘you-are-my-true-friend’ sucks all the way more! Friend? True friend? Special friend? Ohh ok! Give me a break! Isn’t a friend! A friend! In a world where most of the relationships are primarily built on interest! Once the interest is lost, or diluted, the essence of relationships diminishes! Reality Check, my friend!

…

I hate to hear ‘out of sight, out of mind’ kind of quotes from people! Specially when they talk of friendship or relationships! You guys need to get a life! Really!

…

In continuation with the expectation bit, One should only expect from their parents, their partner and their children and nobody else! It doesn’t help! It surely doesn’t! Not that I want to say that its a really mean world and that you should just do things in your self interest only! But one shouldn’t die one’s own life expecting to get a part of someone else’s! Here I would also like to say that one reason that I feel proud to be in India is that we are taught and made to practice family values right from our childhood. Its amazing!

…

Another thing that comes as a learning is that one shouldn’t waste away life in jealousy! Or as I like to say here, denying that you were jealous! Easy said than done, sure, but one SHOULD NOT get jealous of just any other person! Im f**k**g jealous of Bill Gates, not this other friend of yours that you talk to!

‘Chhota Munh, Badi Baat’

…

Life goes a full circle! Always remember that! Take out some time for yourself tonight! Tell that person that you love like hate. Tell the person how much you miss him/her!… Gyaan… Make that phone call! Send in that SMS!

F**k**g gyaan? Stop thinking about it then!

…

All things must pass! All things must pass away! Sigh!

All things must pass away- George Harrison

August 8^th – Could I of asked for a better day? Film is in the camera; I have 10 minutes to shoot. “O.K. So John, if you lead; Ringo, Paul and George follow and just walk across the zebra crossing”. This is great, there is even a white VW parked on the side of the road and if you think of the association with the band a little further, you’ve got the registration plate reading ‘Linda McCartney Weeps’. Brilliant.

“I’m gonna’ take my shoe’s off. Is that O.K?”. John is wearing this all white suite – very smart, looks a bit like a priest. Ringo; all black, McCartney has no shoes on like a ghost and George… well he looks a bit like a grave digger come to think of it, wearing his all denim attire. I hope this comes out ok, It’s like Sgt. Pepper I guess… being able to read into it. But who would do that?

Like any other Americans, the family living in the big white house on Pennsylvania avenue has traditions surrounding the holiday season as well. Sit back, and get comfortable, while we explore how Presidents have celebrated Christmas from President George Washington to President Barack Obama.

Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas. ~ President Calvin Coolidge

History of Christmas at the White House (1789-1849)

President George Washington and First Lady Martha (1789-1797)
President John Adams and First Lady Abigale (1797-1801)
President Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809)
President James Madison (1809-1817)
President James Monroe and First Lady Elizabeth (1817-1825)
President John Quincy Adams and First Lady Louisa (1825-1829)
President Andrew Jackson and First Lady Rachel (1829-1837)
President Martin Van Buren (1837-1841)
President William Henry Harrison and First Lady Anna (1841-1841)
President John Tyler and First Ladies Lettitia and Julia (1841-1845)
President James K. Polk and First Lady Sarah (1845-1849)
President Zachary Taylor and First Lady Margaret (1849-1850)

History of Christmas at the White House (1850-1901)

President Millard Fillmore and First Ladies Abigail and Caroline (1850-1853)
President Franklin Pierce and First Lady Jane (1853-1857)
President James Buchanan (1857-1861)
President Abraham Lincoln and First Lady Mary (1861-1865)
President Andrew Johnson and First Lady Elizabeth (1865-1869)
President Ulysses S. Grant and First Lady Julia (1869-1877)
President Rutherford B. Hayes and First Lady Lucy (1877-1881)
President James A. Garfield and First Lady Lucretia (1881-1881)
President Chester A. Arthur and First Lady Ellen (1881-1885)
President Grover Cleveland and First Lady Francis (1885-1889, (1893-1897)
President Benjamin Harrison and First Lady Caroline and Mary (1889-1893)
President William McKinley and First Lady Ida (1897-1901)

History of Christmas at the White House (1901-1953)

President Theodore Roosevelt and First Ladies Alice and Edith (1901-1909)
President William Howard Taft and First Lady Helen (1909-1913)
President Woodrow Wilson and First Ladies Ellen and Edith (1913-1921)
President Warren G. Harding and First Lady Florence (1921-1923)
President Calvin Coolidge and First Lady Grace (1923-1929)
President Herbert Hoover and First Lady Lou (1929-1933)
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor (1933-1945)
President Harry S. Truman and First Lady Bess (1945-1953)

History of Christmas at the White House (1953-1977)

President Dwight Eisenhower and First Lady Mamie Eisenhower (1953-1961)
President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy (1961-1963)
President Lyndon Johnson and First Lady Claudia (Lady Bird) (1963-1969)
President Richard Nixon and First Lady Patricia (1969-1974)
President Gerald Ford and First Lady Betty (1974-1977)

History of Christmas at the White House (1977-2009)

President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalyn Carter (1977-1981)
President Ronald Regan and First Lady Nancy (1981-1989)
President George HW Bush and First Lady Barbara (1989-1993)
President William J. Clinton and First Lady Hillary (1993-2001)
President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush (2001-2008)
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama (2009- )

Back to Happy Holidays Main Page

President George Washington and First Lady Martha 1789-1797

George Washington was sworn in as the first President of the United States on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York City. There was no White House at that time so the Washington’s lived in houses that were “borrowed” as Presidential homes, first in New York City and later in Philadelphia.

At a time when Christmas was still quite controversial in a new nation, at the time Martha Washington’s holiday receptions were stiff and regal affairs, quite befitting the dignity of the office of President of the United States and invitations were much desired by the local gentry. A Christmas party was given by the Washington’s for members of Congress on Christmas Day, 1795 at which a bountiful feast was served to the guests, all men with the exception of the First Lady.

The 2009 Mount Vernon Holiday Ornament

Some documents show that Christmas at Mt. Vernon were quite a celebration. The traditional feast varied from household to household (depending on how wealthy the family was) but generally, consisted of wines, rum punches, hams, beef, goose, turkey, oysters, mincemeat pies, and various other treats. The season was considered a grown-up celebration, but presents would generally be given to children. Irena Chalmers notes that in 1759, that George Washington gave the following presents to his children: a bird on Bellows; a Cuckoo; a Turnabout Parrot; a Grocers Shop; an Aviary; a Prussian Dragoon; a Man Smoking; a Tunbridge Tea Set; 3 Neat Books, a Tea Chest. A straw parchment box with a glass and a neat dressed wax baby.

President John Adams and First Lady Abigale 1797-1801

When the second President of the United States, John Adams, moved into what would come to be known as the White House, the residence was cold, damp, and drafty. Sitting at the edge of a dreary swamp, the First Family had to keep 13 fireplaces lit in an effort to stay comfortable. It is in this setting that the cantankerous president held the first ever White House Christmas party in honor of his granddaughter, Susanna. It could be said that the invitations sent for this party were the very first White House Christmas cards, though in those early days, the building was referred to as the President’s Palace, Presidential Mansion, or President’s House.

Peacefield, the Quincy, Massachusetts home and farm of John Adams, where he spent Christmas with his family before and after his presidency

The 2009 John Adams Administration Christmas Ornament

President Thomas Jefferson 1801-1809

Since Christmas did not become a national holiday until 1870 during the administration of Ulysses S. Grant, it is not surprising that the exchanging of White House Christmas cards was not a yearly presidential custom during the very early history of our country. For most of our earlier presidents, there is very little documented information regarding Christmas celebrations or traditions they or their families may have practiced. However, whether it is because he was a prolific letter-writer or that scholars have accumulated a wealth of information on his life from painstaking research, there is more information describing Christmas celebrations of our third president, Thomas Jefferson, than any of our other Founding Fathers who became president. This information reflects both the time Jefferson spent as president in the White House and at his famous Virginia home and plantation, Monticello.

Monticello, the Virginia home and plantation of Thomas Jefferson, where he celebrated many Christmas seasons with his family before and after his presidency

2004 American President Collection Thomas Jefferson Ornament

President James Madison 1809-1817

President James Monroe and First Lady Elizabeth 1817-1825

Monroe, a Virginian who is considered the last of the United States’ Founding Fathers, was, however, one of the participants in what may be the most famous Christmas in our nation’s history.

It was on Christmas in 1776 that Monroe, a lieutenant in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, was wounded in the shoulder serving with General George Washington in the surprise attack against the Hessians at the Battle of Trenton in New Jersey. In fact, in the famous 1851 painting by German-American artist Emanuel Leutze, it is the young James Monroe who is shown holding the flag as Washington leads his men into battle as their boat crosses the Delaware River from Pennsylvania into New Jersey. Had the exchanging of Christmas cards been a custom back in Colonial times, certainly none would have been exchanged between the pro-British Hessians and the revolution-minded colonists!

The famous painting by Emanuel Leutze featuring George Washington leading his troops across the Delaware on Christmas of 1776. Future President James Monroe is depicted holding the American flag.

In 1831 James Monroe died from tuberculosis and heart failure one year later on the 4th of July – the third president of the first five in our country’s history to pass away on the date of the birth of our nation.

President John Quincy Adams and First Lady Louisa 1825-1829

President John Quincy Adams spent four Christmases in the White House and yet there is very little written about his Christmas celebrations, if indeed there were any. He was a very prolific writer and there is certainly the possibility that he sent Christmas messages from the White House. Since Christmas cards were not in vogue until after the 1850s, we can be sure that President John Quincy Adams did not send out White House Christmas cards.

President Adams appointed Joel R. Poinsett as the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico in 1825, who shortly thereafter brought back red, wild growing plants from the southern Mexican states. These red plants would be called poinsettia, the popular Christmas plant of today.

President Andrew Jackson and First Lady Rachel 1829-1837

During the 1835 Christmas season, a number of young relatives occupied the White House of President Andrew Jackson. His wife’s niece, her four children and the two children of his adopted son, Andrew Jackson, Jr., all made their residence in the executive mansion. The President and his family sent invitations, White House Christmas cards, of sorts, to the local children inviting them to an event in the East Room on Christmas Day.

On Christmas Eve, President Jackson and the White House children embarked upon a carriage ride, delivering gifts to former First Lady Dolly Madison and Vice President Martin Van Buren. As they rode, one of the children asked the President if he thought Santa would visit the White House. Mr. Jackson replied that they would have to wait and see and told the children of a boy he once knew who had never heard of Christmas or Santa Claus and who had never owned a single toy. The boy, he told them, never knew his father and then his mother died. After her death, he had no friends and no place to live. Jackson and the children then visited an orphanage and delivered the remaining gifts in the carriage to its residents. Years later, one of the children, Mary Donelson, realized that the boy the president spoke of had been Jackson himself.

The 2004 American President Collection Andrew Jackson Ornament.

Later that day, the children who had received the White House Christmas card invitations arrived at the residence and found the East Room decorated with mistletoe and other seasonal foliage. They participated in song, games and danced throughout the afternoon. At dinnertime, the youngsters filed into the dining room two-by-two as the band played “The President’s March.” The French chef had created a remarkable feast including winter scenes filled with animals carved out of icing and confectionery sugar. Also featured were cakes shaped like apples, pears, and corn. In the center, there was a large pyramid of cotton “snowballs” – frosted creations which exploded when struck in a certain way.

The Hermitage, the Nashville home of Andrew Jackson, where he spent several Christmas holidays following his stay in the White House

After two terms, Jackson retired to his estate, the Hermitage, outside Nashville, Tennessee. He remained a force in national politics and was instrumental in the elections of Democrats Martin Van Buren in 1836 and James K. Polk in 1844. He died from tuberculosis in 1845 at the age of 78.

President Martin Van Buren 1837-1841

President William Henry Harrison and First Lady Anna 1841-1841

William Henry Harrison was not in the White House long enough to enjoy a Christmas season, serving only one month before he died. It is very clear that he did not send White House Christmas cards. The first known Christmas cards sold in the United States weren’t until 1843, two years after Harrison’s election in 1841. The custom of sending White House Christmas cards began officially with President Dwight D. Eisenhower, although many prior presidents sent Christmas cards to family and friends.

President William Henry Harrison was portrayed in a 1991 Christmas ornament issued by the White House Historical Society. He was depicted atop a white charger in full military regalia. Harrison spent many years on the Northwest Frontier (as it was known in his time) probably spending Christmas with family or his troops. There is little written about President Harrison’s Christmas celebrations prior to his short tenure in the White House. There is little doubt that he would have followed his Episcopalian beliefs in any Christmas observances.

Grouseland, the Northwest Frontier home of William Henry Harrison, where he spent many Christmas seasons before his short stint in the White House

President Harrison gave the longest inauguration speech in history and had the shortest term. He was the first president to die in office. He served only 30 days before dying of pneumonia. His wife, Anna, never had a chance to be First Lady, but was given a widow’s pension of $25,000 and lifetime franking privilege. President William Henry Harrison was buried in Ohio and the Whig party died with him.

President John Tyler and First Ladies Lettitia and Julia 1841-1845

There were probably no White House Christmas cards sent at the beginning of the Tyler administration. There is no information whatsoever as to whether the Tyler family followed that present-day Christmas tradition, but it was not until 1843 – during the middle of the Tyler administration – that the first commercial Christmas cards were even commissioned. That card was quite controversial as it showed a family and their young child partaking of some wine drinking, a picture of which would have been scandalous had the Tyler’s sent out something similar as their White House Christmas cards. Although Christmas cards were not exchanged, it is known that President Tyler enjoyed hosting Christmas parties for young children.

Married to wife Letitia since 1813, by 1839 she had become an invalid. After her husband acceded to the presidency, a daughter-in-law, Priscilla Cooper, became the President’s official hostess since the First Lady was not able to perform her official duties. On September 10, 1842, after a lengthy illness, Letitia died.

An illustration of party for children thrown by President John Tyler, perhaps a Christmas party

Serving as First Lady for only a little more than eight months until the end of her husband’s term, Julia made quite an impact during her short reign. At the age of 24 and 30 years younger than her husband, she was the youngest woman to serve as First Lady. Bringing gaiety and a youthful feel to the White House, she made sure that the song “Hail to the Chief” was played at state occasions and she also introduced the Waltz and Polka to White House dance festivities. The one Christmas Julia spent as White House hostess must have been one of joy and celebration.

President James K. Polk and First Lady Sarah 1845-1849

James K. Polk is considered by historians to be the last strong pre-Civil War president. In his one term, he nearly doubled the territory of the United States, strengthened the economic power of the federal government, promoted trade, and bolstered the power of the chief executive. While nearly all give him credit for greatly strengthening the nation, he is often criticized for his lack of a forward-looking vision on the issue of slavery.

Polk accomplished the first two fiscal goals before the middle of his term. These policies were popular in the South and West, but not in Pennsylvania and much of the northeast. His first foreign policy victory came four days after Christmas of 1845, when Texas was admitted to the Union as the 28th state. This angered Mexico, which viewed the area as its own breakaway province. Avoiding a costly war, Polk reached an agreement with Great Britain to recognize the 49th parallel as the border between British Canada and the U.S., acquiring slightly more than half of the Oregon territory in the process. Acquisition of California and New Mexico would prove more difficult as the Mexican government refused Polk’s $20-30 million offer for the territories and by the spring of 1846, the nations would find themselves at war.

The Tennessee home of President Polk where he celebrated Christmas with Mrs. Polk before taking up residence in the White House

President Zachary Taylor and First Lady Margaret 1849-1850

Zachary Taylor served as the 12th President of the United States before dying in office after leading our nation for only 16 months. Having spent only one Christmas in the White House (1849), there is no information as to how the President and his family celebrated the holidays or whether they exchanged White House Christmas cards with friends and acquaintances.

Indeed, First Lady Margaret Mackall Smith Taylor cared so little about performing the traditional social duties of a president’s wife that she would not have had a hand in sending out White House Christmas cards anyway. In fact, President Taylor was empathetic to his wife’s feelings of not wanting to take on the role of presidential spouse since his wife had endured a life of hardships as the spouse of a career military man. One of their daughters, newly-married Mary Elizabeth (Betty) Taylor Bliss, assumed her mother’s role at official functions and carried on in that capacity during President Taylor’s short term in office. Whether Betty Taylor Bliss had a hand in overseeing the exchange of White House Christmas cards is unknown as well.

Kentucky boyhood home of Zachary Taylor where he spent Christmas with his seven brothers and sisters

Taylor’s death, however, has been clouded in controversy. Being a robust man in good health, historians have surmised that perhaps because of the controversy surrounding the country at that time, certain people upset with Taylor’s stance on slavery might have had reason to do him harm. In 1991, acting on the idea that Taylor was possibly poisoned, the former president’s body was exhumed, and hair and fingernail samples were taken. After testing, it was determined that there was arsenic present but the levels were too low to consider that Taylor – rather than Abraham Lincoln – had been the first president of the United States to have been assassinated.

Back to The History of Christmas at the White House Main Page

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Dylan (parents Sally & Clayton)

Rosie (Eli & Harrison) (parents Jo & Grant)

Corey (parents Angela & Shane)

Sophie (parents Catherine & Sam)

Hayato (Yamato) (parents Kaori & Yasu)

Nina (Chloe & Ethan) (parents Toni & James)

I think this is a good time to write my second post as my Stat teacher is absent, leaving me with nothing else to do. So, I will cave to popular demand and give my thoughts on some of baseball’s most recent blockbuster moves.

Yankees get Granderson, D’Backs get Jackson, Tigers get Prospects

From a Yankee fan’s perspective, I am a little skeptical about this trade. Granderson brings speed and power to the table and immediately upgrades the Yankees’ outfield defense. However, he hit close to .250 last season with a relatively low on-base percentage. In addition, he stirkes out a ton. My main question is where he is going to fit in the batting order. Does he hit lead-off like he did in Detroit? Before or after Cano? My feeling is that he does not fill enough holes for the Yankees not to re-sign Johnny Damon. At the very least though, the Yankees have acquired a quality person who will contribute to the comraderie in the clubhouse. 

I feel the Diamondbacks got the best out of this deal. Edwin Jackson is not yet a household name, and the only reason I know anything about him is because I had him on my fantasy team this past season. He quietly was among the AL leaders in ERA, and his win total would have been far higher had he received improved run support. He can overpower hitters with his fastball while also keeping them off balance with quality off-speed stuff. Additionally, despite the fact that he is now on his fourth team, (Dodgers, Rays, Tigers, Diamondbacks) he is still really young. I think he will have a major season statistically as he moves to the hitting deficient NL.

Red Sox Acquire Lackey and Mike Cameron

The acquisition of Lackey means that in a given series, a team might be forced to face Lester, Lackey, and Beckett. All three have the capability to dominate the opposition on any given night, and all have excelled in the postseason. Quite frankly, I am a little scared of that top three. Even though Lackey has had some injury issues in recent seasons, I feel this is the best off-season move that has been made thus far. In terms of Cameron, quite frankly, he is terrible. Enjoy a .230 batting average and a 170 strikeout season, Boston fans.

Phillies get Halladay, Mariners get Lee, Blue Jays get Prospects

This trade just confused me to be perfectly honest. So, the Phillies were not willing to give up prized prospect Kyle Drabek over the summer, but they were now? I don’t know what happened between now and then. In the end, I feel it will pay dividends for the phillies. I expect Halladay to far surpass what Lee accomplished last year and post huge numbers. The phillies were already the class of the NL and this move just further separates them from the pack.

The Mariners were able to add Lee to a rotation that already features King Felix Hernandez. They will form a very solid 1-2 punch that could push them over the top in the AL West. However, I expect his numbers to dip a little with a return to the AL.

Stat class is not quite over yet so I have time to write about some other topics.

First and foremost, Rest in Peace Bengals Wide Receiver Chris Henry. Although he had a troubled past that included five arrests, it seems as though he had gotten on the right path. But, this development brings me to another question I have been contemplating for quite some time. Why does it seem like NFL wide receivers are more troubled than players at any other position. It is almost as though they have a disposition that makes them act out inappropriately. Between Chad Ochocinco, Brandon Marshall, Terrell Owens, Randy Moss, and guys like Keyshawn Johnson, there is a large sample size of receivers who have acted detrimentally to their respective teams. You would think it was a pre-requisite in order to be any good. 

The bell is about to ring so I am going to have to conclude this post. I think the blogging during school thing is going to have to become a tradition. Sorry Mom. Please feel free to comment on this, or any of my other posts.

The Beatles hour featuring The Group and solos from Paul McCartney, George Harrison, John Lennon and Ringo Starr

Every morning you greet me….

So I should really be doing CAS – have I forgotten to mention that? IB. International Baccalaureate. Usually I try not to rant too much about this program, as it was really my own choice. And I wouldn’t give it up for the world, however I just can’t deal with the administrative aspect of it right now. You want reflections and photos and signatures? Not right before Christmas. Not when I’m exhausted to the point where I can’t even sleep anymore.

I’m listening to the -duets- playlist on iTunes. It’s all Broadway music. I made it when Harrison and AQ were prone to just bursting out into song and it put me in a Broadway mood.

All I want is freedom, a world with no more night.

But really – who gets exhausted to the point of not being able to sleep? I took a nap when I got home. Two hours. When I woke up I felt worse than when before my nap. I’m not sure that is the purpose of naps, to be quite honest. If that were true, I would just boycott sleep – not that I don’t already, but the little sleep I should get shouldn’t make me feel like dying.

I think I want to spend all of winter break in the dark – curled up with my laptop and asleep. Unfortunately, there is work to be done. As always, as always. So much work to do, but never enough time. Never enough time…

A fractured faerie tale – your life is only a crooked tiara.

Hello all. This is my first ever blog post so I hope it turns out well. On to sports:

Off the Wall
With his performance against a quality UCONN team last week, John Wall solidified himself not only as the nation’s best freshman, but arguably the most dynamic player in the country. Wall took over a hotly contested game at MSG and scored 12 of his team’s final 15 points. Wall iced the game on a driving layup which encompassed all of the things that make him so special: speed and an uncanny ability to finish around the rim. He could be for Kentucky what Carmelo Anthony was for Syracuse. Any non-Kentucky fan will be glad to see him move on to the NBA after this season.

Ingram takes the Heisman
After watching him gauge through the “vaunted” Florida defense in the SEC Championship Game, I feel this award was well deserved. All the respect in the world to Toby Gerhart, who had an unbelievable season in his own right, Ingram did it in the SEC and set the Alabama record for rushing yards in a season. He also seems like a model citizen, and I am rooting for him to do well both next year at ‘bama and in the NFL.

Pursuit of Perfection
Mercury Morris may want to start buying some housewarming gifts because the Colts and Saints are officially “in his neighborhood.” I can’t wait to see him on sportscenter in the upcoming weeks as he tries to maintain his dignity. It is always a pleasure to watch. Anyway, the Colts managed to beat a good Broncos team despite losing the turnover battle and allowing Brandon Marshall to snag and NFL record 21 balls to go along with 200 yards and 2 touchdowns. It is almost unfathomable to believe that the Broncos lost under those circumstances. Based on that and all of the Saints good fortune, I would be shocked to see any other team at the super bowl. (It’s ok Sean Suisham. The rest of the league will eventually forgive you for missing that 23 yard field goal and maitaining the Saints run. Seriously though, how much did they pay you to miss it? Was it worth being cut over? I have friends who would have made that kick.)

Out of the Woods?
So, news leaked today that Elin Nordegren is leaving Tiger and heading back to Sweden. Good for her. It shows she has a legitimate sense of reality. Tiger is clearly a bigger idiot than we all thought. But, does this new development mean Tiger might revoke the whole “I am taking an indefinite leave from the game of golf to improve my family life” thing? The golf tournaments and advertisers are certainly hoping that is the case because no individual means more to his/her sport than Tiger. I have never particularly cared for golf, but if Tiger was in his final round on a major sunday, I would be glued to the TV. Now what? Phil Mickelson is good, but is he going to make me watch golf? NO. There are people out there who watch golf only to see Tiger dominate. Plain and simple. Here’s to hoping “indefinite” does not last too long.

So, this concludes my first post ever. I am open to comments and suggestions because this is all new to me. I hope you all continue to read this in future.

Meet John Jackson And Brian Harrison On Tour with Shelby Lynne

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arpf41uVZd8&hl=en

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I wrote this essay for my MHIS 429 Topics in Film/Video course this semester at the Emily Carr University of Art + Design. Special thanks to Sarah Wichlacz for her essay titled, “Issues of Narration: Voice-Over in Film” which definitely helped me in the writing of my own essay. You can see her very well written piece at http://sarahwichlacz.com/?p=74

– FlashAddict

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Voice-Over Narration as an Active Agent in Film

The use of voice-over narration can and has been used in film to help convey greater depth and meaning to the audience. Whereas on the one hand, there are some who see it as a crutch when the director or writer is unable to move along the storyline effectively within a given scene; yet on the other however, when it is used effectively, voice-over narration can be inserted as an active agent to help provide greater impact and understanding to the audience in a way that a complex actor’s performance or scenery cannot convey. It is within this context that this essay will explore individual examples of voice-over narration from select films in which both sides of the issue will be explored; by not simply analyzing each voice-over narration example as either good or bad, but looking deeper at how the context and overall delivery affect the films, scenes and actors within.

To begin with, a proper definition of voice-over narration in film must be established, “Narration, or voice-over, is used in both documentary and fiction. It may be used to deliver information, provide the point of view of an unseen character, or allow an onscreen character to comment on the action.”(Ascher and Pincus 493) Put more simply, “A narrative text is a text in which an agent relates (‘tells’) a story in a particular medium, such as language, imagery, sound, buildings, or a combination thereof.” (Bal 5) By using this standard, multiple methods of providing voice-over narration in film can be utilized to help tell their respective stories, “In documentary filmmaking some of the key stylistic questions relate to how much the filmmaker attempts to control or interact with the subjects, and to the way information is conveyed in the movie.” (Ascher and Pincus 332)

The style adopted by U.K. documentarians such as John Grierson in the 1930s and 1940s is a kind of hybrid that can involve staged events and real people (non-actors)…Many of these films use a ‘voice of God’ narration-the authoritative male voice that provides factual information and often spells out the message intended for the viewer to take from the film. (Ascher and Pincus 333)

On the other side of the spectrum, Ascher & Pincus further explain:

Cinema vérité (also called just vérité or direct cinema) films attempt to spontaneously react to events and capture life as it is lived…Many of these films use no narration or interviews and attempt to minimize the sense that the material has been influenced or interpreted by the filmmaker. (Ascher and Pincus 333)

Within this context, one of the most notable examples of the use of voice-over narration can be seen in the opening of the film, Citizen Kane (1941), “The film’s plot sets another purveyor of knowledge, the ‘News on the March’ short. We’ve already seen the crucial functions of the newsreel in introducing us both to Kane’s story and to its plot construction, with the newsreel’s sections previewing the parts of the film as a whole.” (Bordwell and Thompson 105) In essence, this scene of paramount importance was purposely written by Orson Welles in order to allow the principal characters follow-up with further details later on in the film in their own flashback narrations.

The reinforcement of the scenes, characters and events detailed in this brief montage showcasing Kane’s life over the span of only a few minutes is accentuated, as referenced earlier by Ascher and Pincus, via the deep authoritative voice in which the booming male narrator speaks, which was quite representative on the actual newsreel footage of the era. In other words, by creating a fictionalized representation of a factually based newsreel within a film and having a similar sounding voice actor provide the narration within it, Welles provided the audience with further reinforcement of the importance of Charles Foster Kane on a global scale, in which he truly was within his own Xanadu.

Further evidence of life imitating art and vice versa comes from the voice-over narration within the film, Little Children (2006) which featured the deep resonating male voice of Will Lyman as the film’s narrator. Lyman’s voice was already recognizable, even his face wasn’t, for the 125 episodes of the PBS documentary television show Frontline (1982-2009) that he has narrated. With such various titles as, A Death in Tehran (2009), Breaking the Bank (2009), and Black Money (2009), Lyman has narrated multiple episodes for the series, while remaining unseen to the audience, in which investigative journalists scour the globe looking for corruption, abuse of power and instances of government, humanitarian and ecological tragedies.

To that end, Little Children (2006) director Todd Field must have realized the impact that Lyman’s voice would have on the film’s audience as an implied and trusted broker of knowledge and wisdom. “In the history of the documentary, this voice has been for the most part that of the male, and its power resides in the possession of knowledge and in the privileged, unquestioned activity of interpretation.” (Doane 369)

One scene of particular note from the film is where the character of the husband, Richard Pierce, shows the length to which he will go in order to satiate his obsession. The scene opens up with him in his work office as his secretary heads home for the night and now suddenly alone, Richard decides to indulge his favorite pastime of late, masturbating to pictures of the internet sensation that is Slutty Kay. In comes the booming, authoritative and faceless voice of narrator Will Lyman, as the audience begins to realize the level of Richard’s obsession at not being able to truly connect with her.

Lately, Slutty Kay had become a problem. He thought about her far too often and spent hours studying the thousands of photographs available to him…Though as close as Richard sometimes felt to Slutty Kay, as much as he believed that he knew her, he could never get past the uncomfortable fact she existed for him solely as a digital image. The panties were an attempt to solve this problem, maybe a sniff or two would hurry things along so he could get back downstairs to his real life, where his wife was waiting for him; her impatience increasing by the minute…(Little Children)

To that end, the scene changes to his home office as he now tries to put on her soiled panties over his head in order to accentuate the experience, as the frame changes yet again to show Richard’s wife coming upstairs as Lyman explains her growing impatience and finds him masturbating while breathing deeply into the soiled panties. Lyman’s matter of fact and monotonous voice-over breathes, for lack of a better term, immense irony into the scene and provides a very functional backdrop in order to place such an absurd setting as a woman walking into her husband’s office and finding him masturbating to a Polaroid of a naked woman while gasping into a pair of soiled woman’s panties. “The different components of the cinematic narrator as diagramed usually work in consort, but sometimes the implied author creates an ironic tension between two of them.” (Chatman 484)

An additional aspect of voice-over narration is when the director or creative vision behind the film as a whole provides the narration themselves. Take for instance the case from the film, A River Runs Through It (1992), in which director Robert Redford took on the persona of the book’s original author, Norman MacLean, and provided the film’s flashback voice-overs.

…films often create the sense of character-narration so strongly that one accepts the voice-over narrator as if he of she were the mouthpiece of the image-maker either for the whole film or for the duration of his or her embedded story. We put our faith in the voice not created but as creator. (Kozloff 45)

After auditioning several different prominent voice-over actors, Redford was not happy with any of the takes and as a result, he decided to try it out himself. Given Redford’s long standing stature within the film industry and recognizable voice, what followed was that he was able to further personify the essence of what the author and main character experienced while growing up in small-town Montana, the trials he went through with his younger brother Paul and how the quiet and serene beauty of glacier fed streams full of trout could help heal the soul. This was especially evident in the final scene of the film in which the viewer sees what is now an elderly and frail looking Norman MacLean fishing the river alone, with Redford’s voice-over providing the full meaning as Paul reflects on his life.

Now nearly all those I loved and did not understand when I was young are dead, but I still reach out to them.  Of course, now I am too old to be much of a fisherman, and now of course I usually fish the big waters alone, although some friends think I shouldn’t. Then in the Arctic half-light of the canyon, all existence fades to a being with my soul and memories and the sounds of the Big Blackfoot River and a four-count rhythm and the hope that a fish will rise.

Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world’s great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs.

I am haunted by waters. (A River Runs Through It)

The next logical focus to explore is whether or not to use voice-over narration at all and how the format is different from written media for example, “Unlike in literature, in film the distinction between telling a story through verbal narration and showing it on the screen through images and action is not so easily discountable.” (Kozloff 13) A case in point for this argument comes from the multiple versions of the film, Blade Runner (1982), in which it has gone from its original theatrical release to being re-edited seven times to its most recent ‘Final Cut’. The most obvious change that was made from the original film was the removal of Deckard’s voice-over and while this had already been removed from an earlier 1992 ‘Director’s Cut,’ this final version of the film was also the only version that director Ridley Scott had complete artistic control over.

The climactic scene of the film in which the removal of the voice-over warranted greatest scrutiny was the scene near the end of the film, where on the original inception of Deckard’s monotonous voice-over was further evidence, although somewhat ambiguous, of him being a replicant (a humanoid looking robot who cannot show or feel emotion), from a viewer’s perspective, the use of the voice-over caused more controversy than it was worth according to prolific filmmaker, Frank Darabont:

There’s one area where I thought the voice-over was so clunky; it landed with such a hollow thud, was the ‘Tears in Rain.’ I remember when I first saw the movie, I’m in the theatre and I am so drawn in by what Rutger Hauer is doing and I am so drawn in by what the theme of the movie has brought us to, this magnificent moment where he is letting go of life…‘I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe, all these moments will be lost, in time, like Tears in Rain. Time to die.’

And right as I am just…it’s like having sex and someone dumps cold water on you. Right at that moment where I am at my most emotional crescendo as a viewer, here comes this thudding, dunderheaded voice-over, ‘I don’t know why he saved my life, maybe in those last moments, he loved life more than he ever had before.’ Yes, I know that, thank you. Thank you for kicking this beautiful, delicate, emotional note that we were achieving right in the nuts. (Dangerous Days: Making Blade Runner)

Conversely, in the subsequent versions of the film in which Deckard’s monologue has been removed, greater emphasis has been placed on Rutger Hauer’s performance of Roy when he releases the dove as he dies and it flies up to the dark and stormy clouds above. Layered over all of this is the minimalist orchestration by the film’s composer, Vangelis and the slightest of crescendo booming sound as Deckard slowly closes his eyes and deeply inhales as he bears witness to his former foe’s final testimony; all of which is realized without the use of the voice-over.

At the end of the shooting cycle and on the bottom of the cutting room floor, directors, editors and screenplay writers have debated the merits of inserting or removing voice-over narration in film for decades now. In some instances, overall theme, plot and character development or simply personal taste can dictate whether or not to use voice-overs to help provide the audience with a greater understanding of what they are seeing on the screen. To that end however, and when it is an active agent in the storytelling process and manufactured to cater to the targeted audience in subtle and imperceptible ways, then voice-over narration can help bridge the gap between what can and cannot be shown on film. But if it is used in a contrived and convoluted manner, then the opposite can occur and further alienate the audience from being able to fully appreciate the level of understanding that the filmmakers are trying to achieve.

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Works Cited

A River Runs Through It. Dir. Robert Redford. Allied Filmmakers, 1992

Ascher, Steven, and Pincus, Edward. The Filmmaker’s Handbook. New York: PLUME, 2007

Bal, Mieke. Narratology: Introduction to the Theory of Narrative. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1985.

Bordwell, David, and Thompson, Kirstin. FILM ART: An Introduction. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2008.

Braudy, Leo and Marshall Cohen, eds. Film Theory and Criticism: Introductory Readings. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999.

Chatman, Seymour. “The Cinematic Narrator.” Braudy and Cohen, 473-86.

Dangerous Days: Making Blade Runner. Dir. Charles de Lauzirika, Frank Darabont, 2007. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_nsSxblpoI

Doane, Mary Ann. The Voice in the Cinema: The Articulation of Body and Space. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1980

Kozloff, Barbara. Invisible Storytellers: Voice-Over Narration in American Fiction Film. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1988.

Little Children. Dir. Todd Field. New Line Cinema, Bona Fide Productions, Standard Film Company, 2006.

Wichlacz, Sarah. 27 May 2006. Issues of Narration: Voice-Over Film. http://sarahwichlacz.com/?p=74

John Lennon – născut la data de 9 octombrie 1940, asasinat la data de 8 decembrie 1980 (la vîrsta de 40 de ani, fiind împușcat de un fan cu probleme de natură psihică)

John Winston Ono Lennon, a fost compozitor, cântăreţ, poet, chitarist al grupului britanic The Beatles.

L-a întâlnit pe Paul McCartney în timp ce cânta în această formaţie, în liceu. Cei doi s-au împrietenit imediat, au legat o prietenie strânsă şi au început să compună cântece împreună.

După ce au cântat sub mai multe nume, cei doi, alături de George Harrison şi Pete Best au hotărât să se numească “The Beatles”. După o perioadă, bateristul Pete Best a fost înlocuit cu Ringo Starr iar la puţin timp după aceasta au semnat un contract cu George Martin de la “EMI Records”.

Formaţia a început să scoată hit după hit, cu numeroase locuri 1. Lennon şi McCartney erau forţa creatoare din spatele grupului. Au început să facă turnee prin lume şi au devenit foarte populari, mai ales în SUA. Acest lucru s-a schimbat când, la o conferinţă de presă, Lennon a susţinut că trupa era chiar mai populară decât Iisus, provocând un scandal imens în toată America. Au hotărât să termine turneul şi să se întoarcă acasă în 1966. În jurul acestei perioade, Lennon a cunoscut-o pe Yoko Ono.

Deşi au fost imediat atraşi unul de celălalt, John era căsătorit cu Cynthia Powell din august 1962 şi aveau un copil, Julian Lennon, ce avea să devină muzician mai târziu.

John şi Yoko s-au căsătorit în 1969. În anul 1970, Paul McCartney a părăsit trupa, provocând tensiune între el şi John. Un an mai târziu, Lennon a lansat popularul album Imagine. El şi Yoko făceau campanie pentru pace mondială.

La 29 de ani de la moartea sa, John Lennon, a rămas un simbol al muzicii și probabil cel mai important muzician din toate timpurile …

JOHN LENNON – Imagine

Enjoy :

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir – 1947

Director – Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Starring – Gene Tierney, Rex Harrison, and George Sanders

I may be run out-of-town on a rail for saying this, but The Ghost and Mrs. Muir was a pretty stupid movie.  Posturing and posing as a lighthearted romantic comedy about a young woman contending with the spirit of a salty old sea-captain, instead, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir is the story of a lonely woman wasting her life and the lives of those around her (her daughter and maid) because she had a etherial fling with a crotchety old ghost for less than a year.  Not only is it implausible (even within the mythology of the world that is set up in the film), but it also annoyed me to the point of anger.

Firstly, the story.  Gene Tierney plays Lucy Muir, who at the beginning of the film is a freshly widowed woman.  Her first order of business is taking her daughter, their maid, and parting ways with her prying, manipulative in-laws.  Their anger at her leaving them, and forsaking the memory of her late husband is brushed casually aside.  She gives as her reasoning the fact that there was little, if any, real love in the marriage, and without another word, they’re off. 

The sort of wacky, lighthearted comedy kicks in for a little while, as she goes through the trial and error of buying a home, discovering that it’s haunted, and acclimating herself to her etherial housemate.   It is from this point that the romance part of the romantic comedy kicks back in, as Rex Harrison’s Captain Gregg and Lucy begin to like, and eventually grow very fond of one another.  When the money that her dead husband left her dries up, Captain Gregg has her write out the story of his life, and sell it as her own.  It’s during the selling of this book, that Mrs. Muir meets a charming, living, man who sweeps her off of her feet.  Captain Gregg reacts at first by acting out, and eventually by giving up (telling her while she is sleeping that it was all a dream, and that she’ll think of it as a dream upon waking), and fading away. 

***SPOILERS*** (Although the whole movie is a bit of a spoiler)

Well as it turns out, the suave, dashing man turns out to be an absolute cad, go figure, and Lucy soon finds out that he is married with children.  Not only that, but his wife doesn’t seem at all surprised by her showing up, and says that it has happened before.  After that, Lucy spends the rest of her life alone, growing old along with her trusty (read: stupid) maid, until she dies and is greeted as a ghost by the spirit of Captain Gregg.

***END SPOILERS***

As far as movies of this era go, I don’t think I’ve ever seen one so mired in the antiquated notion that women are these weak willed pets that need constant tending to, and taking care of.  The idea that this woman would spend her entire life doing nothing for herself, be it for income, chores, for income, or in her interpersonal relationships is ludicrous.  When the money that her husband left her runs out, does she get a job?  Does she sell the big expensive, fucking house that she bought willy-nilly?  No, she claims that she’ll “find a way”, until a fucking ghost helps her.  The only friendships she has are the ghost that is trapped in her house, the maid that does everything for her, and the man who trips over himself to court her.  It is as insulting and demeaning to women as it possibly could be.  Now I understand that in the 40’s women generally stayed at home, and took care of the children.  They, very often, didn’t go to school, and never had to work (unless they were poor or of another color), but as a guy raised by a strong female role model, who herself was raised by a smart, capable, female role model as well as  a respectful, intelligent man, I hated this movie.

It doesn’t even really matter about the other qualities of the film, although it was competently shot, the sound and music were okay, and I don’t recall any of the actors accidentally messing up a line.  Based solely on the merit of what this film has to say, not only to women, both young and old, but to me, I definitely does NOT deserve to be on the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die list.

One final point, just to illustrate how poor this movie is, I would rather watch Katherine Hepburn, and Diane Keaton reading the phone book, to me personally, in my house, while I was tied to a chair, with bamboo slivers under my fingernails (well, maybe not the bamboo).  Watch one of these instead…”Lost In Translation”, “Singin’ In The Rain”, or “Garden State”