On my wedding day–May 28, 2005–I met a very sweet lady: Miriam’s aunt, Adora. She had been been diligently helping Miriam assemble the final touches to make the wedding come off perfectly, and that it did is in no small part thanks to Adora. Flowers and decorations, and hours and hours of hard work, and Adora seemed to do it all happily.
Aunt Adora died tonight in Los Angeles where she lived alone. God bless her.
Filed under: Family on September 25th, 2007 | No Comments »
I read tonight that the United States Supreme Court will hear arguments against the use of lethal injection this term. It has been well over a hundred years since a death penalty case of this sort has been argued before the court. Back then the court held that the use of firing squads did not constitute cruel and unusual punishment. Considering the exceedingly conservative makeup of the present court, I have no doubt that lethal injection will be deemed neither cruel nor unusual. It wouldn’t surprise me if Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia brought back the guillotine.
I consider this rather bad news, actually, given the timing. It seemed as though capital punishment was beginning to be seen by more and more states as inhumane, and a moratorium has been initiated in some places. Alas, once the court gives lethal injection its seal of approval, it’ll be open season on state-sanctioned murder.
So, you “culture of life” conservatives: WWJD?
Filed under: Current Events, Politics on September 25th, 2007 | No Comments »
What must it be like to live in a city with two major opera companies, one of which is among the best known in the world? Well, judging from these photos from the New York Times (some of which depict the spill-over audience) from last night’s sold-out season opening at the Metropolitan Opera, it must be pretty good. The Met presented Lucia di Lammermoor in a new production (conducted by James Levine!) which starred Natalie Dessay. Since the Met, large as it is, cannot hold all the people who want to see such a performance, screens were set up at Lincoln Center and Times Square.
Filed under: Music on September 25th, 2007 | No Comments »
I love me some Tina Fey, and did even before her show 30 Rock began last year. But 30 Rock is hilarious; I never miss it, and I eagerly await its return. I had been quite worried toward the end of last season when, in light of its lackluster ratings and Alec Baldwin’s wanting-to-quit controversy, it appeared the show might be doomed. But, in a surprising display of network nurturing, NBC renewed the series, even though many other series with more viewers had failed. The show redeemed itself by winning an Emmy this month, which is much deserved.
I hope that more viewers warm to Fey’s humor, which I admit isn’t for everybody. Mrs. Hill feels that it is artificially self-deprecating, in a Conan O’Brien fashion. I can see how she might think that, though I don’t mind either way. For me it is an endless stream of intelligent and subtle characterizations that makes the show so magical. Also, no matter what anyone else says, Tina Fey is wicked hot.
Filed under: Comedy, Television on September 24th, 2007 | 2 Comments »
The Simpsons season premiere was last night, and it is welcome. It boggles the mind to consider that the show is in its 19th season, and, at least judging from “He Loves to Fly and He D’oh’s”, it is still funny. For instance, last night, the opening theme followed up on events from last summer’s Simpsons Movie with humorous results.
Importantly, I was glad that the season premiere came on September 23. You see, for several miserable years, new episodes wouldn’t begin until the end of October, or even early November, with the “Treehouse of Horror” for that season, to make room for the World Series which Fox was airing. So, to have the season begin in September once more is a pleasure, though I doubt we’ll ever see a start as early as that magical Season 6, which began September 4, 1994, or Season 13, which began in August.
Still, The Simpsons has been a big part of my life, and I am glad it’s back. May it never end.
Filed under: Comedy, Television on September 24th, 2007 | No Comments »