We've watched a bunch of movies lately, some in the theatre, some at home on roku (amazon & netflix). I'll mention only the notable ones. First, Gone Girl -- can't believe I had not read the book (although it's been a long time since I've read anything like it). It was excellent, and I think a contender for best actress. Next, The Imitation Game -- it was interesting and I liked it, but I don't believe it will or should win any awards. Like all biopics, it served its own agenda, and had many inaccuracies. Plus, if I had realized the guy from Sherlock (a show I can't stand) was playing the lead...I would not have gone to see it (so I'm glad I didn't know).  Then, the very best of the bunch -- Boyhood. I had heard an interview with the star on NPR, and disliked the gimmick so expected to not like it, and almost vetoed seeing it, but it was awesome! I hope Patricia Arquette wins best supporting actress. Finally, It Happened One Night, a 1934 Clark Gable movie that was great. Romantic comedies are a genre that I dislike, but this movie was clearly the standard that others have copied ever since. And, during a scene where the main characters are riding on a bus, the passengers sing The Flying Trapeze. I immediately remembered the song - -could sing every word:

Once I was happy, but now I'm forlorn

Like an old coat that is tattered and torn

Left in this wide world to fret and to mourn

Betrayed by a girl in her teens.

Now this girl that I loved she was handsome

And I tried all I knew her to please

But I never could please her one-quarter as well

As the man on the flying trapeze!

Oh! He'd fly through the air with the greatest of ease

That daring young man on the flying trapeze

His movements were graceful

All girls he did please

And my love he has stolen away

And my love he has stolen away!

Afterwards, I was curious about the origins of the song (and the lyrics, as the bus passengers sang "his actions were graceful" rather than "his movements were graceful" so I googled it.  I learned that it  was published in 1867, and is about a real circus performer, Jules Leotard. Also there were several verses, and a few alternate versions (which explains the minor differences in wording). In the 1930s it resurfaced in popular culture and was used in some movies, including the one I saw.

I am going to call this the winter of the never ending cold! I have had two in a row, and Bob is on what must be his third, which I will surely catch.

First week on campus was pretty good. The classes seem fine, anyway. And that's all I'm going to say about that for the moment.

I've made some really good Stewart's satire graphics lately. Not that they have budged, but I will never, ever give up. Here's today's (actually yesterday's as it is after midnight):

Just a little over a week before my classes start. Thins are moving along in terms of being ready, which means I'm not good to go yet, but I will be.

We have our third economic development meeting for the village tomorrow night. The focus will be on the work Bob and I did so far.

Another very cold day today.

I don't get into fights on facebook, and I rarely post or comment on political subjects there. But it is interesting what you learn by reading it. Today I have learned that it's wrong to publish satire because it's disrespectful and might "attract" terror, and it's right for the state to force a 17 year old to have medical treatments. You might say I'm a bit alarmed since this  is exactly backwards in my POV.

I am finally getting over my two colds in a row (!) [what a way to spend winter break] and so with a box of tissues nearby, I've made progress on winter session, next semester, advisement, and even the village comprehensive plan.

It is cold -- zero etc.

Bob turned a milestone age (55) on January 5 & we celebrated Elwyn style -- Ommegang & Oneonta (stolled Main Street & felt sad once again over Bresee's, stopped at campus and the Autumn Cafe, went to Brooks) on Friday, Yono on Monday. So not a month. but a long weekend.

I felt pretty bad about the French cartoonists being murdered by terrorists. I don't mean "as usual" over these type of sick events. In this case I have always loved drawing satire cartoons, and for a brief period (until a more mature sensibility set in at about age 16) I flirted with the idea of being a cartoonist "when I grew up." I know satire, whether as an illustration or in writing, often pushes people's buttons, and they may react with hostility. But to think they'd machine gun down a whole office. The world can be a scary place, but that's all the more reason to be vigilant about free speech.

I submitted grades a few hours before the deadline on 12/22, and almost immediately came down with a bad cold. I didn't get enough rest due to the holidays, so have had some trouble completely shaking it :-(. Having a cold is so much worse now that the Main Street Stewart's is gone! Tissues...juice...ginger ale...ice cream. All things I wanted and had to do without recently, and felt a pang at the reminder that the store is gone.

The last two panels of A Castleton Christmas Carol.

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Panels 6 and 7 of A Castleton Christmas Carol. 

A response to Stewart's facebook post about their premium candy bars as stocking stuffers. I loved their chocolate bars, even though the Castleton store usually only had caramel and raspberry. (Why? Selling all the varieties would have been profitable enough with me as the only customer, since I thought so many! Yeah right -- they tried to save the store. I call B.S.)

Panels 4 and 5 of A Castleton Christmas Carol 

And the latest doctored image, original taken rom the Stewart's facebook page

The daily Boycott Stewart's image

And panel 3 from A Castleton Christmas Carol.

A commenter on the original video post on the Stewart's FB page (appears to be an employee) labeled it "creepy." Well, yeah. I may never be able to eat sherbet again, regardless of the boycott.

This semester's evaluations are coming along. (Enoigh said.) We have an economic development meeting tonight, so grading will have to keep.

And...stay tuned. Another panel of "A Castleton Christmas Carol" is coming.

I thought dollar bills were the only thing Stewart's listened to, but apparently, it's a scoop of ice cream with eyeballs! And I'm the one who was called crazy?

Last week, in my post about the Stewart's song, I wrote that I felt a Nileston News brewing. Well, here it is: the first two panels of A Castleton Christmas Carol.

The shill activity continues. A new one surfaced yesterday. He alleges to be a 90+ year old WWII vet who said he is praying for me and will ask his congregation to do the same because I am mentally unstable and remind him of his daughter who is also mentally ill. LOL! My mother was furious when she read this bully's post on our FOCSS page. She said, if he os really a WWII vet, it's a wonder we won the war. And, if the FB picture is really him, it was taken 40 year ago. LOL again. I think I know who he may be, as the writing style is telling. Let me put it this way, it is someone very important over at Stewart's. At the same time the new social media person is busily threatening commenters and hiding comments. Hopefully, they are being paid adequately for this job! Ya think maybe the boycott and advocacy are working?

Today's images. Stewart's is now selectively hiding negative comments from others on their facebook page. 1,000 wasp stings hurt pretty bad, evidently.

Take away message: Boycott is working.

Take away message #2: Stewart's is a mean company. Give your business to ShopRite and Dairy Direct instead -- they appreciate Castleton!

PS Welcome new visitors.

Apparently, I have offended Gary Dake with my satire. I stood with Castleton, and Stewart's said I was unethical!

Today's fun.

 The new social media hire at Stewart's has been pumping out posts. The original post was a slap in the face, so I doctored it to be more truthful.

  But not to worry, Santa and the Spokescow are Standing With Castleton and Boycotting Stewart's.

Today as a "TBT" post on facebook, Stewart's put up the following sheet music:

This was almost too good to be true! I made some revisions, as follows:

I think that's a bit more honest for the 21st Century -- don't you?

PS I feel a Nileston News brewing