Drive-Ins

I have a pretty good memory.  I remember a plethora of things, whether significant or not lol.  I delve into the past, but do not live there. 

The new year is just that over much of the world already and soon here.  Those last gasps, dregs of sand in the hourglass, are nearly done.

I'm just recalling drive-in movies.  They used to be a common national feature in most states years ago.  Now, they are few and far between.

We used to go fairly often and see first run flicks.  I even saw Goldfinger at one.  Many more were viewed to my young delight under the stars.

It was cheap and gave people a feeling of freedom as we were together as an audience yet each family date etc had their own car. 

I loved the concession stand of course.  The barbeque/pulled pork and cheeseburgers were local classics.  Sometimes we'd get a pizza and bring it.  Everything but anchovies lol. 

I made the acquaintance of a projectionist as a young adult.  I spent time at several theaters and watched movies from the booth.  It was fascinating watching him feed the film platters and see the light flicker the parade of frames onto the screen. 

Even earlier, we knew the owners and manager of the Vogue indoor theater, long before it was a night club.  Ever see part of a movie behind the screen?  Talk about beyond the front row lol!  Moby Dick seemed truly life size!  The projection booth was smaller and then they had the old projectors, with attendant whirring and clicking as the filmic stories spun their spells.  And, btw, I first saw Goldfinger indoors there -s-.

Well, enough rumination.  Remember so you do not forget!

A new year, another day.

Lots of work to be done each day.

Maybe I'll stop by one of the dwindling drive-ins, but not til Spring!

Lottery

I admit I buy the occasional lottery ticket.  I've actually won small amounts.  I don't depend on it though.  I've seen people spend large amounts of money simply for nothing.  Of course one can be conditioned and get a 'rush' from gambling.  Not me.  Most of my dough is from my own sweat.

Life is a gamble.  Well, choices for weal or woe.  Chances to succeed or fail and learn from both.

A lot of Hollywood types can be called lottery winners.  Some work hard and reap the benefits.  Some luck into their fortune and produce mediocre pap which oddly gets slurped up by sycophants.  Some are a flash in a pan and some endure.

Being in the right place at the right time together with dogged determination can make it more than chance.

Far as political stuff goes, I remember what my Psych prof said.  Opinions are like a$$holes.  Everybody has one.  True.  But we should all are free to express ourselves.  And the good taste to know when to do so.

Actors etal are no different than anyone else.  But some think they are above the crowd.  It's true for any group.  I remember family members who think they are superior when they are most certainly not, for instance.

Sure, there can be a big financial gain for some, but boy oh boy, very few.  Most actors I know aren't fabulously wealthy.  Some, though, do well and invest etc.  Nothing wrong with reaping benefits.

Let's say I hang with people who have common sense. That includes taking calculated risks.

I will tell you one thing Pat McGoohan said to me.  He mentioned how there are 10s of 1000s of people who are striving to be actors etc.  Most fail.  It's relative.  It takes luck.  That translates to positioning oneself to accept whatever one deems success.

A thought for all this New Years weekend.

False Witness

Back in the day, a lot of people hitchhiked.  It had gone on before I appeared on earth.  A lot of soldiers went from base to home and vice versa.  In my day, hippies hitched all over and many of us who weren't did so too.

I can tell you I met a lot of different people.  They were mostly good, with a few bad ones.  I think by and large most folks were ok.  But there were criminals too, the carbuncles of society. 

Some robberies, rapes and murders occurred.  But they were fewer and farther between.  Of course there was a risk, not the least of which could have been a traffic accident.  There is a downside to everything, eve just taking a walk or going to your car.  However, I could write a book about my experiences hitching.  Maybe I will someday.

A particular crime happened with young women being the perpetrators.  They would hitch, get rides with guys, then yell rape or assault. It seemed random, but it was planned, often with a boyfriend as enforcer. How do I know?  My experience, knowledge and association with police for decades.  There were prosecutions, though I expect some people were extorted, even robbed and threatened it would get 'out'.  Just for giving a girl a ride.  Or the girl would come onto the victim, he'd fall for it and literally pay.  And sometimes a guy, but not as often.

Did drivers rape and rob?  Yes but the old game of point the finger was active enough on the road.

There is a current trend of point the finger that's similar.

Women have merely to point at someone and accuse them of sexual crime.  They are expected to step down, resign, quit whatever they are doing.  No proof save for accusation or if there is something it is easily proven to be fallacious.  Lies and half truths are the bailiwick of collectivists.  There is no innocence til proven guilty.  Just a sexual Madame DeFarge.

In spite of some perps with long histories of abuse, I believe there is a concerted effort to try again to point the finger at President. Trump (How I like the sound of that name and title together).  Collectivists don't like it and we see the perfidy they ooze and spew against Restoring the Republic.  It'll get worse before it gets better, and it has improved immensely.

If Russia doesn't work, perhaps sexual abuse accusations will.  Ironic since The President's admin is bagging so many child rapists and rescuing kids.  That, of course, is part of it.  The evil ones are desperate to make it stop.

If the sex stuff fails there is a plan afoot to 25th Amendment him out by declaring him mentally unfit.  It's not working well either.

The last resort is something repulsive.  There seem to be those bandying assassination around.  May they do their worst. They are failing that too.

I've counseled victims and know about the consequences of rape, both adult and child. 

They should tell.  It must be thoroughly investigated and victims protected as perps are brought to justice.  AG Sessions and many more are doing this.

I have worked to improve chances for joint custody and failing that, decent justice for noncustodial parents.  I have been a witness for a couple of  people who were falsely accused of hurting both their former spouse and their kids just to deny them any contact.  Talk about perfidy.  Turning kids against family and using them as weapons.

False witness.  There is a reason it is one of the Ten Commandments.  Deadly sin.  Character assassination.

One of the collectivists chief weapons.

And they scoff that if they lie, they are held accountable in this world and the next.

Justice must be sure for all.

Respect

It is earned, not given.

Just because someone is a (Fill in the blank) doesn't mean they garner respect.

Sure, the title is supposed to 'suggest' esteem, such as 'reverend', meaning worthy of reverence'. Not always and certainly the best are human. Father, mother, grandma etc should evoke memories of love and security.

Sometimes they do not.

Abuse is often done by someone known by the victim.

We think we  know politicians but it's abundantly clear we do not.  It's a reverse in that they garner contempt more than respect.

Accountability.  When trust is betrayed, that's out the window. 

And at the end of the year, it may seem like desperate clichés that are nonetheless true. 

The coming year we can prove we've had enough.  Not one person should be abused for any reason.

So, be reasoned, balance head and heart and do all each can do to pluck the weeds and replant.

Oh yes, be assiduously observant for voter fraud will be rampant.

Don't be a victim.  Nor survivor.  Be victorious.