In Focus: An Inconvenient Truth

After sending off my August On The Town articles, I jettisoned off to Studio 28 to see An Inconvenient Truth. I have not been to film in some time and after weighing the options, I felt this was the one to see.

Turns out it was the right choice since it was eye-opening. Given how terrible I was doing last week combined with my no news fast and fragile emotional state, the film is one filled with a slivers of hope and humanity. I really do believe all the hype now.

A lot of documentaries can render one to a state of paralysis. This film was edited in a way to allow the viewer to digest each science portion only giving enough data for one to chew on for a moment before returning to the hard data.

While other filmmakers have tried to employ this technique, I think it works beautifully here.

In a funny aside, my father and I was talking today and he brought up that he takes 17 pills a day. As we talked about the film and he began to cast doubt since Al Gore was a part of it, I simply said, "Let me see if I get this straight. You trust scientist when they tell you to take 17 pills but scientisst who tell you to cut your environmentally damaging lifestyle you ignore?"

Until this moment I never saw the argument this way. It is fun sometimes to have a hard line right wing father.

Most times he ends our calls with a bit of laugh as he says, "You are my lovable liberal son."

For a hard liner, he can be pretty cool. And I am sure he imagines right after our calls I race out to hug a tree.

And just like I told my father to do, this film should be required viewing for every American.

Visit: ClimateCrisis.net

Spotlight: Amy Sedaris

Over the years I have enjoyed watching Amy Sedaris in various acting roles.

She is probably best known for her character Jerri Blank, a boozer, a user and a two time loser, who returns to high school at the age of 47. The TV show Strangers With Candy ran for three seasons on Comedy Central before being made into a feature film.

I do not want to be guilty of saying it is must see entertainment, but for anyone who remembers the silly drama of the afterschool special, this is just the ticket.

Be sure to also visit one of the best waste of time spots on the 'net, YouTube.com for further viewing of Amy Sedaris. Stand outs include her David Letterman interview from 2005, her PETA anti-fur video with Todd Oldham and the funny tumbling episode on The Colbert Report.

Its summer, so have fun and talk with food in your mouth!

One of My Hardest Assignments

Today I delivered an eulogy for a 26 year old boy who committed suicide. Since I had taken this kid, along with his aunt ot NYC for his senior grad gift, the family asked me to say a few words.

As I spoke with family members I learned how happy he was on that trip and how he always asked how I was doing.

He suffered silently from suicide and took the family off guard.

After delivering it I had a group of elderly ladies while eating white bread and ham sandwiches ask me if I did eulogies for a living. (Of course their miracle ear filtered out my intro where I said, "I have never done this before and do not know where to begin.")

I smiled and nodded a polite thank you. When pressed furthe, I then spoke again from the heart, "no, I would short out my keyboard from all the crying."

Scott was a very loving person and will be missed so deeply by those who met him along the way. I count myself lucky to have made the journey to NYC with him over 8 years ago. His family has always made me feel at home.

As i prepared to leave, the grandfather said, "You know we consider you family."

Not missing a beat I replied, "This isn't about me having to send you cards nad gifts now thorughout the year?"

We both laughed. The real test of family is if you can find laughter through your tears.

I need to rest now. I may publish a few comments here but doubt I will post the entire eulogy.

-Tommy