By: Erik Brooks,
on 9/7/2016
By: KatherineS,
on 5/22/2015
April 2015 will go down in history as the month that the 2016 race for the White House began in earnest. Hillary Clinton’s online declaration of her presidential candidacy was the critical moment. With it America’s two major political parties have locked horns with each other. The Democrats intend to continue their control of the presidency for another four years; Republicans hope to finally make good on a conservative bumper sticker that began appearing on automobiles as early as the summer of 2009 and that read, “Had Enough Yet? Next Time Vote Republican.”
The post Do America’s political parties matter in presidential elections? appeared first on OUPblog.
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By: PJ Reece,
on 11/4/2014
“The superior virtue is not to be free but to fight for freedom.” ~ Nikos Kazantzakis
I know writers who would argue, “That’s just a man talking.”
Seriously, you’d spend $12 to watch a movie called The Valley of the Happy Free People?
No one has made such a movie and for good reason. Audiences don’t pay to vicariously experience being free, but rather to suffer the personal crises that open us to freedom.
Which explains why screenwriters write movies like Zorba the Greek, Casablanca, Thelma & Louise, and Good Will Hunting.
And American Beauty, Moonstruck, A Late Quartet, A River Runs Through It, Up in the Air, Out of Africa, The Artist, A Room with a View, and A Passage to India.
And Rocky, Sideways, Nebraska, The Matrix, Disgrace, Ordinary People, Of Gods and Men, On the Waterfront, The African Queen, Silver Lining Playbook, American Graffiti, The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, and Labor Day.
Labor Day I saw just last night.
If you’re like me you don’t just watch movies, you examine them for how the writer does it. Does what? Frees the protagonist.
It happens in all the best fiction.
Let’s look at Labor Day.
Josh Brolin plays Frank, an escaped convict. Ask him about freedom. His bid for freedom will intercept the lives of a mother and son living in small town USA.
Kate Winslet is Adele, who has lost all faith in herself in the aftermath of a divorce. She’s a prisoner of the belief that she’s an utter failure. She can hardly get out of bed. Don’t ask her anything.
Henry is Adele’s adolescent son. Since Henry is not the protagonist, he is not required to behave as though he were fighting to be free. However…
Henry has to bring his poor depressed mother breakfast in bed, for goodness sake. Ask Henry if he’d like to be free of the responsibility that weighs so heavily upon him?
Labor Day is unique for depicting a trio of characters who each find freedom early in Act I.
Most stories depend upon a merciless plot to beat the hard-headed protagonist into an awareness of how to solve their problems, but in Labor Day the miracle takes ten minutes.
Five minutes into the film, Frank shows up to kick-start the story. Injured from his leap out a prison hospital window, Frank politely but firmly inserts himself into the lives of Adele and Henry. The violence and trauma you’d expect to characterize an abduction are quite unnecessary in this case.
Adele blows convention out another window by acquiescing almost immediately to this stranger’s demands. She wants nothing more than to escape her sorry life. Perhaps to end it.
(To die and be reborn—there’s a freedom trajectory!)
Frank, Adele, and Henry foresee their salvation in this strange and sudden togetherness. But wait! They haven’t arrived in Freedom Valley yet. Not only would that be utterly boring, but it ignores Kazantzakis’ aphorism:
The superior virtue is not to be free but to fight for freedom.
The manhunt!
Kazantzakis will be happy to know that the police are closing in on Frank. The story becomes a fight to escape the forces that would annul these newfound freedoms.
Suffice to say that Adele, Henry, and Frank must remain freedom fighters into the foreseeable future. And I think that’s an accurate portrayal of the human condition.
However many jail breaks we execute, the walls of our human condition keep us under house arrest. The fight for freedom is an ongoing battle.
Which explains why The Valley of the Happy Free People strikes us as a bogus premise.
Freedom isn’t a place, it’s an attitude. Good fictional protagonists earn this perspective only after the plot has beaten the apathy right out of them. Now we realize that there are two ways to live, just as there are two ways to die.
“Free or not free—this is our choice in every moment.”
And that’s a woman talking, by the way—Pema Chodron.
Just had a thought…
Why doesn’t someone write a story about an escape from Happy Valley?
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By: nicole,
on 8/30/2013
By: Julie Fortenberry,
on 9/3/2010
So he's done a little work for the NRA. Chris Gall has created some of the most powerful images of Labor since the WPA, as well as pro bono work for National Labor Federation (?).
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By: Shelli,
on 9/7/2009
What's in a cup??
This was the question of our Labor Day. Or should I say problem?
The Agonizing Labor of our Day.
No not pregnancy Labor.
Not hard labor.
Child Labor.
But not the kind you think.
No, I did NOT put any kids to work (though that's not a bad idea if you've seen my house lately!)
Our Labor Day started out quite normal and nice. Uneventful. Quiet.
The calm before the storm.
We decide to go to the zoo.
Great weather, animals, and family.
How could it get any better?
It can. Just throw in "Superhero weekend" at the zoo and you have it made.
A recipe for success?
You'd think so.
Problem #1: Instead of using our free membership, we spent an extra 40$ for Superhero tickets (money we did not budget this month).
Problem #2: Only to find out my son HATES superheros. Who knew? he loves wearing their costumes. But yes, he hates, loathes, despises men in tight uniforms. So 30 seconds in? Screams of terror.
Problem #3: Which separates the "family" for "family day" b/c hubby takes son out of show and waits outside while daughter cheers on Spiderman, Wolverine and Storm as they take out the evil Green Hornet. The show was about pollution and taking care of the environment. At the end, all kids are sworn in as "superheros of the earth." Cute right?
Problem #4: My daughter wants to wait and meet the "real" heros for a picture. In a Reaaaaaaaaaallllllly long line of screaming kids and bored parents in a hot tent. We wait in line for a long time.
Problem #5: Just before we finally reach the stage of superheros for the perfect photo op. Daughter decides she is scared and wants to leave. What a waste!
Not so bad you say. Just wait. I'm The leading up to it. Hang with me!
So family proceeds to walk around the zoo and check out more animals and get faces painted.
Problem #6: Hubby and I start to fight because I want to get food for kids b/c they are hungry but he wants to save money and rush home. Yet kids want to see more animals.
Problem # 7 - #12.5 : Meltdowns ensue. Lines to food are long. Temperatures are rising. The cute shirt I wore starts to feel like a straight jacket. I realize I forgot to use deodorant. I'm wearing my librarian glasses (BTW my contacts are on backorder - but I wont count that problem in this tally. No need to add more.) so sunglasses are not an option in the blazing sun.
Still with me? The doozey is coming. Trust me. I never disappoint my readers.
I decide (storm off) to go get food (anyway) while hubby takes kids to see Lions and Rhinos.
Problem #13: Of course, when I am not around, all hell breaks loose. (Side note: I think its b/c kids are hungry but what do I know? ah hem - maybe i was right. shhhhhhhh!)
Problem #14.333333: Son proceeds to throw a fit and throws big plastic water cup at my daughter's head, making a direct hit.
Problem #15: Evidently, the big sippy cup pummels her in the very spot you don't want it to. That's right, in the temple.
Crying begins.
can you see the escalation?? Don't worry I'm not done yet!!
Meanwhile I'm hot and mad and standing in a long line - behind someone who had 20 minutes to decide their order but now wants to change it when they get to the window - getting food and go to wait for family at designated meeting spot.
Problem #16 - #21: (b/c I am extra hot at this point, this deserves more than 1 problem) No one in my family unit shows up to meet me.
Then I get a call. On my cell. From my daughter (keep in mind she is 5!) telling me to come to the car?
Problem #22 - Hubby is in car in parking lot!??? Me? Still in hot zoo with bag of crappy expensive food after waiting for a long time!!! Now stuck alone in a huge crowd of stinky, hungry people.
I rush out of zoo to lot, even sweatier than before (did i mention food line was in the hot hot son by a hot hot grill.)
Problem #23 - argument ensues with hubby over failure to communicate over locale of meeting spot.
Problem #24 - Over my daughter's crying in the back seat, I'm filled in of my son's vicious cup attack (please keep in mind he's only 2 so during all of this drama - he's in the back seat happily singing "wheels on the bus". Totally oblivious to his offense.)
Problem #25 - Then I see my daughter's eye. A blood blister (about the size of a dime) is forming on her left temple. (Hm. That doesn't look good.)
Problem #26 - I try to lecture 2 year old about throwing cups as he is singing "no more monkeys jumping on the bed." He does not understand.
Problem #27 - ON way home, daughter says she feels tired and sick to her stomach. (wow this really doesn't sound good)
Problem #28- #30 - we get home and she won't eat. Anything. She just wants to sleep. She lays down and gets lethargic. I won't let her sleep. I think I saw that in a movie somewhere. She is not happy about that.
Problem #31 - I think she needs to go to emergency room. Hubby does not.
Problem #32 - a little later, when she perks up a bit, hubby says he is taking kids to park.(really?)
Problem #33 - #35: she throws up in car and then all over the bathroom. (I see lots of red stuff and start to freak out but hubby says it is jello?? But she only had 2 bites??)
We call the medical help line. They say, "OMG Bring her in!"
Yes I am serious? We are now scrambling wondering if she has a head injury from a random flying cup?
Problem #36. Hubby rushes daughter into car and to emergency room - which is only minutes from our house.
Problem #37-50 - I stay at home with son!!! Pacing! Freaking out. Now I am crying. What if she is really hurt? At the hand of my singing son?
Problem #51 - Just as they get in the door, daughter throws up in emergency room.
Problem #52. They are whisked away into another room and all the ER is forced to wear masks? (why? you guessed it - swine flu precaution??)
Problem #53: In the meantime, a trauma unit comes in with a kid in really bad shape from a car accident. So my daughter - who either has swine flu or massive brain hemorrhaging - waits and waits and waits. (And rightly so, b/c the trauma kid almost died but they saved him. That was definitely worth the wait. But the wait was agonizing.)
Problem 53.4 - Problem 61.3333 - Meanwhile - neurotic, worse-case scenario mom (AKA Me!) is freaking out at home. Calling family and best friend hoping to be talked out of visiting Panic-ville. (PS my family thinks I overreact so this calling drudges up family issues as well.)
Problem 61.4 - Problem 65 - Doctor does not come in to examine daughter for 2 hrs!!! Meanwhile, her brain is falling out of her head (at least to me)
Problem 65 - I am at home researching head trauma, CT scans, Natasha Richardson, and US statistics on "death by flying cups".
Problem 66 - Junior doctor checks out daughter and says she is fine. he wants to send her home.
Problem 67 - I tell (threaten) hubby. Don't leave until they scan her or I will come down there! (Do you blame me? The symptoms showed up with in 10 minutes of head impact.)
Problem 68 - Daughter has to go through scary CT scan.....without me! :(
Problem 69 - 99 - CT scan is 100% normal???? Daughter diagnosed with tummy bug!
Problem #100- My neurotic self once again looks like a hypochondriac, loony bird with entire family who I've been calling and putting on "emergency backup" notice for 2 hrs in case I have to go into hospital for brain surgery. (no not mine, hers!)
*sigh*
Blessing #1 - #100 - daughter is fine. family is fine.
Shout out #67 (don't ask about #1-#66) : to my daughter's guardian angel - you rock!!!!
Moral of the story?
We are switching to paper cups!!!!!!!!
By: Julie Fortenberry,
on 9/7/2009
By: Julie Fortenberry,
on 9/7/2009
"This is a record of all the songs of Eric_Von_Schmidt's book COME FOR TO SING" (Houghton Mifflin Boston 1963); "Produced and directed by Joe Berk and Eric von Schmidt"; "Artwork and Design by Eric von Schmidt" (found at http://www.wirz.de/music/vonscfrm.htm)
By: Bonnie J.,
on 9/7/2009
Is summer over already??
Many months ago some of you may remember a post called What’s on Your Summer Reading list? Throughout the summer my focus has been on classic titles. I am happy to report throughout the last few months I have been able to tackle a few big name titles such as A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, A Farewell to Arms, and The Grapes of Wrath.
I still have a few classics on my list, but I tend to get sidetracked by modern fiction so I also read She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb, re-read The Time Traveler’s Wife as well as squeezing in the wonderful children’s novel The Tale of Despereaux which I picked up at Book Expo America this year. With much of my reading list completed, and summer quickly coming to a close, instead of putting my classics reading list back on the shelf I am sticking to my plan and have started reading Gone With the Wind as my last read for the summer!
Other First Book employees are finishing off the last few weeks of summer with titles such as The Hottest State by Ethan Hawke, The Forever War by Dexter Filkins and the big read around the First Book office, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society! This title is still on my reading list, and I may just get to it by Christmas…any other end of summer reading recommendations?
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By: Anne Spollen,
on 9/5/2009
It's Labor Day weekend - the last weekend of summer.That's a picture of our backyard, and it already looks empty to me.
I'm never sure what to do on holidays like this. I could invite my neighbors over for a barbeque, but they tend to like to catch what they eat from the lake or the woods so I think I'll pass. We'll probably go shopping for school supplies, but none of the schools here tell us what the kids need until the first day of school, which is Wednesday. We try and guess in the middle of the store, big binders? small, vinyl ones? book socks or paper bag covers? It seems like everyone else has these neat lists...
When the kids asked me why we have Labor Day, I told them it was an extra day so they could start their summer reading.
They always remind me I don't really have a job, except a few days a week at the college. They see me writing on the computer, but they associate computer time with fun and socializing.
The weird thing about being a writer is you kind of feel that you don't really have a job, or are part of the labor force because you are usually home when you are writing. Plus, you could always be working. Always. It's kind of like having perpetual homework.
But I feel like we should all probably think about what we do during Labor Day, or something connected to what we do for a living.
In the spring, there was an article in The NY Times that I have thought about for a while now. It talks about the responsibility authors have in choosing what to write about, especially authors who write YA (and probably MG) It's sort of an old question I suppose, but do you think writing about things like cutting, anorexia, shoplifting, all those behaviors encourages it? Or just exposes it? Should those topics be avoided? When we write about drinking or drug use, does it give kids ideas? Or do they just see a reflection of what they already know?
I remember sneak-reading a book (during algebra which might explain a lot) about these two girls who ran away from home and experimented with everything I had never done - or even come close to doing. It was my favorite book for a few months, far more interesting than the Boston adventures of Johnny Tremain. Sin is far more compelling than compliance. That book was a hot topic at sleepovers, yet I still have never done any of the things those girls did.
I don't have an answer to this. I do know that we can't write for the mentally fragile. I also know there is a fine line between avoiding topics and censorship.
In the end, at least for me, I think writing has to reflect what is true. If it's not authentic, it's just not interesting. And when I write, I don't want to feel parental since it's really one of the very few things I do that doesn't involve my kids.
I also know that my answer isn't everyone's. Do you avoid topics that are controversial? or ones that go against your personal beliefs? Do you think what kids read influences them so easily?
By: Betsy Bird,
on 5/13/2007
I admit that in spite of the hitherto lack of little ones ah-banging and ah-bungling around my knees, I enjoy the occasional parenting blog like Strollerderby. Recently they had a great series of segments describing what NOT to get the matriarch of any given home. Take a moment today, then, to make it quite clear to your own mama that she should be bloody grateful you didn't get her anything found here, or here, or certainly not here.
By: Betsy Bird,
on 5/7/2007
Here's the logic. At a SCBWI Conference a Dial editor discussed the top twelve picture book topics that show up in her slush pile. These topics have, in turn, been compiled by author Darcy Pattison, who wrote 19 Girls and Me. I recall Darcy's book well, particularly because Donnell does a fancy schmanzy Valentine's Day display every year and this book (despite its lack of romantic themes or ties) was surreptitiously placed in V-Day cabinets. Suddenly 19 Girls and Me took on a whole new meaning. I regret nothing.
The list of 12 avoidable topics is fun since Darcy is calling on everyone to send in their favorite books on each topics. I vote for Let's Get a Pup, Said Kate in the Wanting a Pet category.
Thanks to Children's Illustration for the link.
Um, Shelli? Guess what? You're 100 percent Normal Mom. :)
Sorry, though, that it was such a crappy day. Sheesh.
OMG what a horrifying day - you're going to need another 3 day weekend to recover.
Yikes! I am glad it all worked out in the end, but what a nightmare!
That, my dear, is the crappiest Labor Day EVER! If there was a contest, you would win!
I mean, it does make a good story, but I am sorry you had to live it!
Shelley
Oh, man! What should have been a family fun day turned out to be fright fest! I'm so glad your daughter is fine though. Nothing is scarier when your child goes through a trauma.
Okay, that is officially the worst zoo trip EVER!
(And I would have reacted the exact same way at the hospital.)
OMG, I have been to ER with son for possible head injury (Had to give ME oxygen in the ambulance!) Two CT-scans... he was fine. I can TOTALLY relate!
That was unfortunately very fun to read but probably not so fun to experience. We went to the petting zoo yesterday with a few unhappy moments, but no brain hemorrhages. Someday, SOMEDAY, you and hubby and daughter and son will look back and laugh. It will be a favorite family story, and maybe then it will be worth it.
Tricia and Karen - thanks my family thinks im nutzo.
Jessee - im sure you are right.
Corey - stinks huh?
Kim - seriously!
alissa - glad its over
kelly/shelley - bad day but writers can always find stories in it right?
Sorry you had such a bad day, but I am glad to hear that your daughter is okay. And, I don't think you overreacted at all. That's totally normal in my book.
Okay, I'm wiping tears out of my eyes. Sorry, but they're the result of my hysterical laughter, not the tears of sympathy you might expect from a blogging buddy. Of course, I'm not laughing AT you, Shelli, just with you. You may not be laughing about it yet but you will -- eventually. My tears may also be bred from just a hint of familiarity. I don't know why they call zoos and theme parks "family fun" places. And the term "amusement park?" Really? Who is amused by what goes on there? You should turn this blog post into an article for a parenting mag, Shelli This is good stuff, because it's universal stuff.
Hugs from one mom to another!
Holy Mother of Zorg! What a day! We went to the Aviary (the bird version of the zoo), but it was pretty mellow in comparison to your day out.
glad everyone is okay in the end.
Oh my.
But I did have random flashbacks of my own perfectly normal, horrific, mommy days. So you're all good, and definitely not alone.
Whew! What an ordeal!
SO glad to hear your daughter is well. I was totally thinking concussion when you were describing her behavior!
((hugs))
Yikes, Shelli! What a day. Your actions were perfectly mom-like. Don't feel like a loon!
We had a zoo ordeal this weekend as well, but it was NOTHING like yours. Not as bad!
My daughter lost her stuffed lemur that we got from the zoo (after we left and went to lunch to avoid paying the ridiculous food cost). She was really upset. I was really upset (probably more so). Everyone was irritable from heat and exhaustion and hunger. My fiance finally couldn't take our moaning and upset anymore and drove us back and convinced the zoo peeps to let him in without paying again to go buy a new stuffed lemur.
My worst/best labor day? I had my daughter ON labor day in 2006. So much for a day off!
Yeah, you're 100% normal. I'm no where near a panic-er, and I never rush to the doctor or hospital, but I'd have taken her to the ER, too.
So glad she's fine, but yowsers what a day! Hope your next holiday is nothing like this one (and swings on the happier side of things). :)
Wow, I don't think I should have enjoyed this as much as I did. I'm glad your daughter is okay. :)
That is the worst most horrible day evah!!! Thank god she's okay. And u too!
OH MY GOODNESS ... what a day ... what a sequence of events! You poor thing. You were right, by the way ... to get her checked out and insist on the scan ... better safe than regretting not doing it! I'm sorry for all you went through to be able to write this post, but - I have to say - it was fabulous ... I was laughing, almost crying, sympathizing ... glad it all turned out OK.
shellie, kelly HY, and elana - you all are sick sick people to laugh :)
katie - we're good :)
tabitha and ali - thanks it was crazy!
lazy writer and Casey - thx for saing I am not the crazy mom.
tes, aimee, ali - all is ok thanks!
Oh Em Gee! That is frickin' hilarious, and you are hysterical (and not in the funny ha-ha way)!!! I love your (questionable) numbering system and the fact that your son was singing in the backseat. I may have to bookmark this so that next time I'm Googling symptoms of...well, anything, I can pull this up and see that I am not the only crazy mother out there. And you are one crazy-mother!!! ;)
Oh, and really happy that your daughter is okay!
I don't have any kids, but I would have reacted the same way. I worked at an afterschool program and a kid came in one time all sleep with a little bump on his head. I was freaking out b/c I learned that he was hit in the head w/ something during the school day. I called his mom, got mad at the school nurse, and I thought he had a concussion (diagnosed him myself...b/c I got an A in health back in HS...lol). But I was right...sometimes you will know better than others. Better to take things seriously, than let them get out of control.
I was laughing for a while.. and then I was like *gasp* Oh no hope daughter's OK!
Glad your daughter's ok!
Good moral... :D
Oh my GOD!!
You are such a great writer!
You are so crazy!
Men are so stupid!
KIds! Yeah, you have real ones, too!
So glad you are fine.
Love a happy ending.
I'm glad there was a happy ending to a horrible day.
OMG I have 3 kids and have never had it that bad!! Shout out to my hypochondriatic-mom sister!
shut UP!!!!!!! hahahahahaha- I am so sorry to laugh at your misery but it makes me feel better to hear I am not so nutso and that other families have days like this!!
Late getting to this post but so sorry you had such an AWFUL Labor Day. I had to chuckle, though, at the thought of your son singing happy tunes while panic ensued all around! And no, you didn't overreact . . . you did what any caring mother would do by getting her checked out at the hospital. Glad she turned out fine! :)