Rant #1,593: Odds and Ends

Here are a couple of observations by me, none of which demand a full column, but nonetheless, do ask for some explanation and comment.

Lack of Recent Classics: I don't know if you have noticed, but I have not put up any Classic Rants lately.

There is a reason for me not doing this.

All of a sudden, I have been prevented from going into my archive on this site.

I have no idea why. It was like on Friday, I could, and by Monday, I could not.

I have asked Google for some answers and some help, but like what happened when the original Ranting and Raving site got hacked, I am not expecting much of anything to happen.

I miss having the archives at my disposal, and that doesn't just mean that I can't get into old stuff, I can't get into new stuff either, so I really can't edit what I write, which is what good writers try to do.

So if there is a mistake or a glaring error in my post, including this one, it is going to have to stay there until I can figure this thing out--or not, as the case may be, so bear with me, I am working on it.

First Big Storm of Winter Season Is Coming Our Way: Well, I am talking about in my neck of the woods, as other places have already gotten pelted.

Forecasters are expecting some type of nor'easter, to give us some significant snowfall after the first weeks of winter here have generally been like spring.

Depending on the trajectory of this storm, which is coming out of the west, we could get a lot of snow, a mix of rain and snow, or nothing. That is how funky this thing is right now.

And whatever we get, it will begin to come down on Friday into Saturday, so again, the work week pretty much misses a hit on this one.

And this weekend is a critical one in my house, which I will tell you about on Friday. If it does come, let it come when I said, and not any later.

I have my reasons, which I will tell you all about later this week.

Actors Respond to Boycott: Oh, you just knew that this was going to happen ...

Some actors and actresses have responded to the planned boycott of the Oscars due to the lack of racial representation of minorities, specifically blacks, in the nominations, and let me tell you, these people generally aren't the sharpest tools in the shed and should pretty much be happy that they are paid incredible amounts of money to do what they do.

George Clooney, Mr. Left Wing Without a Clue, again demonstrates to me that some of this flock have no clue as to what they are talking about.

He has said that the Academy "has not done enough" to encourage blacks to be members of this group, yet he offers absolutely no solutions to this supposed problem.

Look, the Academy is open to those in the business to join. There is a $250 annual membership fee, that is paid yearly, and that is pretty much it. You cannot force people to join an organization they do not want to join, but according to the Academy, more than 300 people joined last year, a year where the total was higher because the group went out of its way and tried to get as many minority members as possible to join.

But again, that begs the question: will minorities only vote for films that feature minority themes and minority performers? I think not, and thus, what happened this year was to be expected ... and applauded.

Do you really want blacks to just vote for black films and performers? Again, this is the problem that Clooney and many in his brood do not seem to get.

And one of Will Smith's former co-stars on "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" has told his wife to basically shut up and act. Janet Hubert, who played Aunt Viv on the show, basically said that Jada Pinkett Smith is doing this crusade simply because of sour grapes that her hubby did not get nominated, and that she, herself, should shut up about it, because this industry which she is knocking has afforded her and her family a lifestyle that they could never have dreamed about.

Yes, the woman herself is black, so she knows more than others do about how lucky many of those in the industry actually are, even though they refuse to acknowledge it.

Shut up and act, will ya?

The Best Movie I Saw This Year: Glen Campbell was a trailblazer, a performer who crossed over from country to rock to pop with ease during a time when few artists were doing so. He paved the way for the Taylor Swifts of today's world, and as a guitarist and entertainer, he was as big as they came during his time in the spotlight.

"I'll Be Me" chronicles Campbell's recent physical being, where he is suffering from Alzheimer's Disease, perhaps one of the most dreaded conditions a living person can have.

This documentary film shows us Campbell in his last throes of productivity, able to perform and play the guitar but unable to fully comprehend what is happening to him.

It was filmed a few years ago, wrapped around what was his farewell tour.

We see him try to grip the disease that is rapidly getting worse, and somehow, getting through a grueling tour schedule that was basically his farewell to a fan base of more than 50 years.

It is very difficult to watch, and honestly, I had to watch it in two pieces. It was a bit much for me, personally, to see this talented fellow falling into the abyss.

My grandmother fell into the same chasm more than 20 years ago. The problem she had was probably oncoming, but people didn't know as much about the disease as they do today.

She was getting older, and when you get older, you get a little more scatterbrained, forgetful, and maybe a little eccentric in your ways.

Then, I remember seeing her get really out of her usual bubbly, happy self, and I knew that something far worse than age was surrounding her.

The same thing happened to Campbell. He went from basically a happy go lucky person to someone who didn't know where he was, and someone who couldn't answer simple questions.

He had his guitar playing, which his doctor said was so ingrained in him that it actually might have kept the disease somewhat dormant for far more years than anyone could have expected.

When my grandmother was fully afflicted with this disease, happily, she went quickly. We now hear that Campbell has been returned to his own home, where he will live out his days, if you want to call that living.

I watch my father because of this, and yes, he has suffered the rigors of old age, and he has had a few personal episodes, but so far, it seems to be all due to him getting older.

I still worry that what afflicted his mother--my grandmother--will get to him too, and yes, it is a constant worry.

He still works, he still is active, but sometimes, I have to wonder about him.

But basically, so far, so good.

See the Campbell movie. It is often hard to watch, but it will give you a better appreciation of his talent, his disease, and what he and his family are forced to go through, together, to make things as good as they can be.

That is it for today. Speak to you again tomorrow.