The Lost Art of Letter Writing

Word has it the art of letter writing has gone somewhat missing in the wake of the text and email boom.



In our society it is important to write. You need to write lists,notes to yourself, thank you notes to people who've done you a good service,term papers for school,books to sell,your inner most feelings to loved ones and so on and so forth. So many of us,myself included,get so used to the ease and communication of digital and electronic formats, we often don't take the time to sit down,reflect and write a needed letter. Go ahead take the time out. Write!

Silver Lining Playbook: A Lighter Side of Mental Illness

This movie which is adapted from a book by author Matthew Quick was a critically acclaimed debut novel by Matthew Quick. The movie kept my attention from beginning to end. There were certain scenes which were particularly resonant including thescene where Tiffany and Pat are at the table flash discussing the prescription meds they are both famiar with by experience, the ranting Pat who screams to the top of his lungs as he storms through his sleeping parents bedroom searching for a mislaid novel.

For two hours, the near length of Silver Linings Playbook, what one might usually charaterize as crazy behavior seems comfortably sane,if not familiar and weaves the fabric of the silver lining PAT is on a quest to find in his movie of a life. His friend Tiffany stunninglyportrayed by Jennifer Lawrence gives him a run for his money with all her quirks and eccentricities. It is her feistiness which shinrs through most of all and ultimately contributes significantly to his healing whilr winning his heart at the same time. Solid performances by Robert Deniro,Chris Tucker and a well written script.

4 out of 4 stars.

"Cheering Obama On" -An Upcoming Book Excerpt

Edit-publication date is wrong.

This post begins a series of brief excerpts from a book I have,for all intents and purposes,written about the President as viewed through the lens of an enthusiastic supporter and spiritual cheerleader of sorts. I consider it tremendously fortuitous to have witnessed the inauguration of this country's first African American President in my lifetime. I even served as a volunteer on the Presidential Inaugural Committee when as fate would have it,I wound up once again living in our nation's capital just around the time of the historic election and inauguration.

 So, even though some may be expecting a great intellectual,political and theological treatise on such a monumental topic, I just kept it simple and have compiled all of my retorts to news stories,spins and what some have characterized as minor or major scandals, reducing  them to writing in the form of this humble book.

This is a chapter entitled " Morehouse Men"

I was listening to President Obama's commencement address to Morehouse college given last Sunday,May 19, 2013. It was so real, so inspiring. I like the fact that he talked to them and not over them like numerous public officials do to the point of  projecting stodginess and prioritizing decorum over truth that keeps it real. With all the stresses and chaos involved in being President, particularly in light of recent events, it became clearer during that speech what he is truly made of, a quality which exudes from the Obama core. His quality of being 'present', down to earth and in the moment. And, he was the perfect one to give the address whether as a brother who made extraordinarily good or as first African American Commander in Chief.

With all the stonewalling, dilatory tactics and filibusters he has experienced in office since the inception of  politics in Washington, he still has time to talk to youth our future.