THIS WEEK’S RECAP…
Superstar of the
Week: Taylor Swift
Everyone who knows me knows I am a huge Taylor Swift fan.
She is an outstanding singer/songwriter and a beautiful human being inside and
out. I do not care what people think of me being a fan of hers. She is awesome
and ignorant haters can suck it. Over the last couple of weeks, Swift has did a
couple of simply outstanding things that further justify my allegiance to Team
Swift.
Last week in Nashville, Taylor cut the ribbon at the opening
ceremony for the Taylor Swift Education Center at the Country Music Hall of
Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee. The school, which encompasses parts of
two floors and features three functional classrooms, came from Swift’s $4
million gift to the Hall of Fame – the largest single donation in the museum’s
history. At a time when the government is cutting money from educations,
especially involving the arts, Swift has helped to create a place in Nashville
for many young children – including children from improvised families – to
better their education in the arts.
"I'm so glad this is becoming a space where that's readily available, " Swift said regarding the school's opening. "There will be demonstrations, and instruments kids can try without having to spend money and buy one for themselves. If they want to hear songwriters talk about what it is to craft a song, the fact that that can happen here is really unbelievable."
Three weeks earlier in Nashville, in the midst of
back-to-back-to-back sold out shows at the Bridgestone Arena, Taylor took time
out of her business schedule to make one young fan’s dream come true a month
after her dream concert turned into a nightmare.
 |
| Taylor Swift and Grace Markel - moments before Swift took the stage on September 21st in Nashville |
Grace Markel, a 7-year-old Missouri native, was struck by a
speeding motorist when walking into Taylor’s concert in Columbia, Missouri on
August 10th. Markel spent two days at Children’s Mercy Hospital for
two skull fractures, a slight left orbital fracture, multiple head lacerations,
a severe concussion, and road rash over her face and body. While recovering
from her injuries, the girl’s parents took her to Swift’s September 21st
concert in Nashville. Before the show started, Swift surprised the family with
a backstage invitation for a personal meet and greet. The story, which did not
become public knowledge until weeks after it occurred, is one of many that
occurred over the course of the wildly-successfully Red Tour. It is also just
another sign of the genuinely wonderful human being Taylor Swift truly is.
In a world filled with egotistical jerks like Justin Bieber
or Miley Cyrus proving to be horrible role models for young people, Taylor
Swift continues to shine. She cares for her fans and, despite many within the
genre hating her non-traditional sound, the country music genre she continues
breaking new ground in. Taylor Swift is clearly one of the few and rare class
acts left in the entertainment world today.
Jerk of the Week:
The United States Government
On October 1st, the United States Government
entered a shutdown after Congress failed to reach an agreement regarding the
2014 fiscal year. For the first time since 1995, the US Government is not
working. Many governmental employees are currently on furlough without pay
while many others are still working without receiving pay for the near future.
The shutdown has led to many services, including national parks and memorials,
closing indefinitely as a result.
The major hang-up, at least according to the talking heads
on television trying to make sense of this disaster, stems from a congressional
disagreement regarding the Affordable Care Act – Obamacare. The game of chicken
between the Republicans and Democrats has led to an America without a
government for two weeks now. There is no real end in sight. However, I do not
see this as a bad thing yet.
I do not know all of the ins and outs of this shutdown. All
I know is that, despite what the fat cats in Washington would want you to
believe, the world is still spinning without the United States Government
functioning. In fact, America appears to be running better without the
government squabbling, meddling, and manipulating the country in ways hindering
it from living up to its potential. Gas prices have fallen over the last month.
Talk of American involvement in a war with another country over nothing appears
to be quieting down. America seems to be improving greatly without a
government.
Still, it is a horrible thing knowing that the Statue of
Liberty – a symbol of freedom – is closed. The Washington Monument, Lincoln
Memorial, and Vietnam Memorial are all closed… closed because professional
liars more worthless than the paper they right bills on cannot come to an
agreement on which specific way they will screw over the American public next.
I hope that these jerks can finally get a clue and start to do their job again
– maybe better than previously. However, that is just a pipe dream as silly as
believing in the government in the first place.
Babe of the Week:
Jennifer Lawrence
 |
| Coming soon to rock a theater near you... American Hustle opens this Christmas and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire opens on 11/22 |
A Melancholy Happy
Trails to…
- Tom Clancy, 66 – American author best known for The Hunt for Red October and Patriot
Games (October 1st)
A Very Fond Farewell
to… Frankie Kallam and Chesley Overby
Over the last two weeks, two people I thought highly of have
lost battles with dementia and other aliments as they passed away.
On October 3rd, Frankie Mae Smith Kallam passed
away at the age of 79 after a long battle with dementia. Frankie was my aunt,
the wife of my uncle Brownie who passed away in 2007. She was a wonderful woman
– very frank and not one to hold back words – and a caring individual. I
remember spending many days during my middle school years through my early
college years joining my mom to visit Brownie and Frankie at their home in
Stokesdale. I loved watching Wheel of
Fortune and Jeopardy with Brownie
and talking about how Jeff Gordon was going to “put it on them” the next week
with Frankie. I miss those days.
My friend, Mike, lost his father Chesley Overby on October 8th
after a long battle with brain cancer and dementia-like symptoms. I only met
him a few times over the years but Chesley – known as The Chez to Doug Smith
and myself – was always a good man to chat with. The last time I was able to chat
with him for an extended period was in 2010 when I worked for the United States
Census Bureau. Of course, I ran into him at Reid House – a local restaurant in Reidsville,
NC.
I believe that are in better places with their minds and
bodies intact again, surrounded by the loved ones they previously lost.
However, I feel bad for the family and friends they both left behind. As I
attended both funerals and saw the many family and friends left behind, I know
the memories of both Frankie and Chesley will live on long after the pain of
their passing begins to fade. With faith, we will see them again. I believe
that to be true. They already know the pleasures and joy of the other side.
RIP, Frankie and Chesley.
No comments:
Post a Comment