"Democracy or Else," A Modern Moron Book Review

 

"Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those other forms that have been tried," Winston Churchill said.  

The three writers and hosts of "Pod Save America" are not Trump supporters by any means, nor do they praise the democrat party, they present common facts with very minimal bashing of the MAGA cult.  

This is a very worthy read for anyone whose into politics, left or right, or in my case, foward, as in the Foward Party. This book really illustrates the importance of voting, no matter how futile all winning candidates seem to be. Political god Andrew Yang said if all eligible voters exercised their rights, there would be a lot of positive change in the government. The 2020 election had record turn-outs in America's history, and yet only 67 percent of the registered voters cast their ballots. 

Currently less than 30 percent of Americans believe in the presidency and eight percent of Americans believe in congress. This book has extensive and understandable details in becoming a politician yourself. I myself have as much political experience as many elected officials. Page 144 clearly states," If you've read this far you have as much political experience...

If you think your vote doesn't matter, think again. In 2000, Bush won the state of Florida by 537 votes, only one sentence in the entire book about that years so called rigged election. When JFK defeated Nixon in the 1960 election, he only won the popular vote by a 120,000. This book didn't mention that John Fetterman won his first mayoral primary in Braddock, Pennsylvania by a single vote in 2005. The 2020 election was finalized by three states which Joe Biden won by a combined 43,000 votes, so yes, your vote matters. 

This book details how to become involved in local and national politics. It's very easy to become a member of Congress for example. Fund raising is the key. Anyone whose insanely wealthy can waltz into the political spectrum and if your not rich, you just need to smooze the right people or get millions of Americans to send you money. Anyone whose extroverted and passionate about politics can become a senator, mayor, whatever, even president. This book has the vital and valid details you need. 

"Our broken political system depends too much on fund raising," one or all three authors of this book said. 

A four star politcal read. 

Mark Izzy Schurr

 

"Ice Cream Blonde," A Modern Book Review

 

Thelma Todd was an iconic beauty and brains actress from the vintage era of the movies and "Ice Cream Blonde" details her life and controversial death with sagacious detail. 

Born in 1906, dead before 1936, Thelma Todd spoke several different languages, including Russian and Spanish. She negotiated her own film contracts and was a student teacher and Miss Massachusetts years before Hollywood Filmograph called her an outstanding example of the new school of women evolved in motion pictures.  

Thelma Todd wasn't the punch line for dumb blonde jokes. What do you call a smart blonde? A golden retriever. I myself can't make Cool Aid. How do you get two quarts of water into those tiny packets?    

Thelma Todd began her movie career in the silent era of the movies and by the early 1930s, she was an established actress. The 21 two-reelers she did with Patsy Kelly, she played the one with common sense, while Kelly, the plain looking brunette was the goofball frequently getting the two into jams and marvelous mayhems. (Thirty-five millimeter film runs 10 minutes on one reel, hence 20 minute short films were known as two-reelers.) Her first two-reeler was with Laurel and Hardy in 1929s "Unaccustomed As We Are," and she rocked the black slip! 

Thelma Todd, shortly before arriving in Hollywood in the 1920s. This book has eight pages of photos, this is my favorite. 

In 1932s "This is the Night," Todd portrays an adulterous woman in this clever comedy, Cary Grant's first movie incidentally. This Pre-Code film put humor in adultery and praised the wanderlust of youth while summoning laughter to the heart.

Cary Grant & Thelma Todd in "This is the Night."

"Ice Cream Blonde" inspirational dvd's added to my collection. 

Michelle Morgan spent five years on research alone for this 2016 book and it's a five star read easy. Morgan details her life from childhood, including the tragic death of her brother when he was only 6-years-old. "Ice Cream Blonde" reveals the business and pleasure's of her personal and Hollywood life, including her sudden horrible death. 

Her death was ruled a suicide, and the legal arguments in the courts made an OK case for this, but like her mother Alice, I believe she was murdered and this book has compelling facts to back her claim. 

Upon her death in December, days before Christmas of 1935, legal arguments in court pointed to accidental death, suicide or murder. Writer Michelle Morgan doesn't reveal her personal opinions on Todd's death. She presents the facts and speculations for all three possible causes of Todd's death, and allows the reader to form their own thoughts on this horrid matter.

Todd ran the Cafe Trocadero, aka the Troc in southern California. This book suggests Al Capone and Lucky Luciano may have been involved in her sudden death. Whether they were or not, one thing is certain, real life gangsters wanted an illegal gambling ring in her club the Troc, and Todd stood up to the mobsters and wouldn't allow illicit casino activities in her club. 

As of 2015, the Troc still exists and is called the Sidewalk Cafe. The glass doors Todd used herself were still attached to the building.

Bravo to author Michelle Morgan for writing this amazing book. 

Mark Izzy Schurr

  

 

"Spinal Tap II The End Continues", A Modern Moron Movie Review

 

It's hard to have a memorial for someone whose still alive David St. Hubbins, aka Micheal Mckean said. 

After more than 40 years the main three writers, artist and actors, Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer and Mckean return as the core of "Spinal Tap," along with the bands rockumentary commentator Rob Reiner.  

The bands new drummer Valerie Franco is Didi Crockett, the Tap's first female drummer, and she rocked the drums, she's a true musician. Does she survive, given the history of Spinal Tap drummers? I've seen the movie, and I'm still uncertain.  

The clever goofiness reigns on, I laughed and I'm still laughing about the Holdy award and Tap Water. The Holdy is an award given to song writers whose music is played while people are on hold.

Spinal Tap and their guest performers rose to the occasion of music. Sir Paul McCartney and Elton John  fit the Tap with aplomb as guest musicians. The humor was wry and sly, and full of jabs on the business end of the music industry.

"Spinal Tap II The End Continues," like its 1984 predecessor "Spinal Tap" showcases the musical talent of the writers and preformers while also making fun of themselves. Four stars easy for the sequel.   

  

Mark Izzy Schurr

"Pre-Code Hollywood..." A Modern Moron Book Review

 

Vice drench films of the Pre-Code era showcased the complete spectrum of depravity, excessive boozing druging, picturesque violence, and sexual liaisons. (Thomas Doherty)

Sound on film became mainstream in 1930, the same year Pre-Code began. The exquisite four year era of these flicks ignored the Christian critique of the times and mainstreamed crime with Tommy Gun totin' hoodlums making wads of cash in the era of bootleggers, babes and bullets. The eloquence of Thomas Doherty is griping and incisive. I've watched many of these movies because of him.  The second I heard Joan Blondell say she was APO, Ain't Putn' Out in 1931s "Other Men's Women," I've been impressed with Doherty's taste in vintage cinema. 

Today's movies are far more gratuitous obviously, yet the Pre-Code films from March 1930-July-1934 had all the elements of today's movies. The sex was implied, not shown, as was the violence. In 1931s "Public Enemy," James Cagney, brandishing a pistol is standing behind a man playing the piano. The scene then shows his friend in the same room look over in shock as the audience hears a gun shot. Cagney causally walks away from the man he just killed and tells his friend to have the girls meet them for dinner. "Public Enemy" inspired Martin Scorsese he said on a documentary.   

 

Anti-war movies presented World War I as a horrific farce and medals meaningless. Anyone who reads and thinks knows wars are bullshit and the Pre-Code writers got flack from the government and other people who buy into the lies of wars and what the government tells us. "All Quiet On the Western Front," a 1930 film depicting the stupid politics of war and how rich world leaders dupe their nations young into hating people they don't even know and send other people's children to die in vain.

I didn't expect this book to be political, yet the elements covering this sordid subject illustrated the current fiasco and shame of the Republican party nearly a 100 years ago. Even in the early 1930s, Hollywood flicks took their jabs at the Republicans. 

"The Hobo's Psalm"

Hoover is my Shepard, I shall not want

He maketh me to lie down on park benches

He leadeth me beside the still factories

He arouseth my doubt in the Republican Party

He leadeth me in the path of Destruction

For his party's sake I fear evil, for thou art with me. 

In 1933s "Heroes For Sale," economic institutions, politicians and all other figures of authority are depicted as unjust, corrupt and unfeeling. Movies have always been an opiate to the senses, and I'm impressed how many of these films empowered women. In 1931s "Big Business Girl," Loretta Young portrays a college graduate in business and moves to New York to seek out a job in her field to pay off her $2,000 student debt. In 1932s "Miss Pinkerton" Joan Blondell portrayed a nurse helping a detective solve a murder case. In 1933 Fay Wray was Ann Carver, a lawyer in "Ann Carver's Profession."   

 

Jean Harlow as Lil, flirting with her married boss in 1932s "Red-Headed Woman"

The above picture is a scene from "Red-Headed Woman" in which Lil, Jean Harlow flirts with her married boss and gets between the sheets with him. Lil is a woman who moves up the economic ladder via horizontal means. Lil plays several wealthy men in this movie, and in the end she marries a very rich and much older man, and it's obvious she's doing "The dance with no underpants" with his young good looking chauffer. Her quote unquote sins go unpunished, and even rewarded. If this movie was made in 1935, she would have had to have something bad happen to her by the ending of the movie.

Joan Blondell in 1934s "Dames" 

A year later, this much skin was forbidden to be shown in the movies, and even Betty Boop, the iconic cartoon character could not be shown in her garter belt after 1934.

This 1999 book details the insane rules movie writers had to go through because of urging priests and politicians who got Biblical with written rules; Thou shall not photograph girls in scenes which femmes pull up their skirts to show a lengthy display of legs and the unfasting of garters. The motion picture industry of America started following these ludicrous guidelines in August of 1934 and it wasn't until the 1950s when Hollywood started to wake up again. The current rating system used in the movies today began in 1968.

  

The beffy of information Thomas Doherty sets forth in "Pre-Code Hollywood Sex, immorality and insurrection in American Cinema 1930-1934," is amazing. I've simple scratch the surface of information laden throughout this four star read. 

Mark Izzy Schurr

  

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"Dealing With Dragons," A Modern Moron Book Review

Book one of the Enchanted Forest Chornicles" is laden with female wisdom and poise, Cimorene is adept at fencing, magic, dancing, economics, juggling and cooking, she's not ready to marry while only 16.

The enchanted frog who talks doesn't like the prince she's supposed to marry because he used to skip rocks into his living room. The enchanted frog doesn't have the hots for Cimorene, he's just a chill frog with smarts and Cimorene likes talking to him, he knows a lot about the Enchanted Forest.

Prince Therandil is far from estatic about marrying Cimorene, but he's willing to abide by silly ancient tradations. Cimorene is determined not to marry and she journeys away from her kingdom to live with dragons. 

If you know how to make cherries jubilee and read latan scrolls to dragons, your safe from being eaten by them. Cimorene proves this in "Dealing With Dragons." 

Cimorene decides to journy to the Enchanted Forest where many people have been turned into flowers, rocks or trees, and much worse. Giants, ogres and trolls have carried people away. Cimorene herself is attacted by a giant white bird who wants to feed her to its babies. 

Magic, wizards, ancient fairy tale lore, and many dragons, devious and delightful made "Dealing With  Dragons" a solid four star read. This 2015 book is the first of four in the "Enchanted Forest Chronicles" by Patricia C. Wrede and I will be reading the other three books in this series. 

Mark Izzy Schurr 

  

 

"Weapons," A Modern Moron Movie Review

 

Witch craft, alcoholism, adultery and the dissapearance of 17 classmates in a single elementary school classroom set the tone for "Weapons." 

Seventeen students go missing on the same night in Julia Garner's classroom. Garner is the prime suspect responsible for the children's disappearance in Josh Brolin's eyes. Brolin portrays the father of one of the boys gone missing in the classroom. The students all ran out of their homes at 2:00 a.m. This is known because home security cameras from many of the parents, including Brolin show the children leaving their homes by themselfs, and running off into the darkness.  

One student remains in Garner's classroom, and he has no answers for the police or parents, and there's no clear evidence Garner is the one responsible. 

Who is the witch in the town? Is there dark magic? This flick is more dialogue then action, and it worked for me, despite it's bizarre realm into witchcraft.  It's a three star flick that's more of a video than a big screen watch. 

Mark Izzy Schurr  

"The Conjuring: Last Rites, Another Modern Moron Movie Review

Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga return as Ed and Lorraine Warren, the real life paranormal investigators in the 9th instalment of the Conjuring flicks. 

Whether or not you believe in the paranormal, this movie has some creepy and disdurbing scenes. A black framed mirror is the conduit allowing evil entities into the realms of our world in "The Conjuring: Last Rites." 

The Warren's are forced out of retirement to help a family in Pennsylvania being viciously tormented by demonic spirits. These evil spirits also seize control of the Warren's teenage daughter Judy, portrayed by Mia Tomlinson, and the story really starts rolling.   

The crazied looking Annabelle doll makes her appearance too, and as usual she gets in your head and doesn't leave. 

If I live to be a 1,000-years-old, I'll be extremely content to never awake to the sounds of a rocking chair occupied by the demon doll Annabelle with those devious eyes looking right into my soul.  

 

Three and a half stars easy for "The Conjuring; Last Rites."

Mark Izzy Schurr