"Boots on the Ground," A 2018 Take on the Vietnam War

Pictured, the National Guard surrounding an unarmed woman protesting the Vietnam War in Berkeley, California, in 1969. 

There were brains arms and legs all mixed together, and some of the men were on fire and moaned before all 12 Charlie Company soldiers died in Jan., 1970, after being blown up accidently because a mortar was mishandled, U.S. Infantryman, Jan Scruggs said.

Author, Elizabeth Partridge interviewed medics and infantryman for 2018s, "Boots on the Ground America's War in Vietnam," and provided some very good photos of this horrid and pointless war. 

The above picture was taken in 1966 of Claiborne L. Shaw. Shortly after this picture, Shaw was killed. 

I acquired "Boots on the Ground" from the Cloverdale library. It's a quick easy read, and Partridge touched on many of the political issues. 

Protesting the war in Vietnam while also advocating for civil rights was a major obstacle for Martin Luther King Jr., from both the black and white politicians. I learned this from reading "Boots on the Ground." 

Imagine the soldiers who got their feet blown off from stepping on a land mine, or the medics in 

Vietnam who had to work on wounded combat troops with severe burns, torn flesh, splintered bones and gashing belly wounds. Extremely sharp wooden stakes with feces on them were laden throughout the jungles, so infections would spread faster when American troops stepped on the stakes that penetrated their boots. 

The war effort made President LBJs "Great Society" a myth, and created a troubled and confused society, Martin Luther King Jr. said.

Many Infantryman were sent on Search and Destroy missions. Burning down villages and killing farm animals as well as unarmed women and children was a common thing for U.S. combat troops to do in this war.

 

"The Vietnam war was tragic, unjust, evil, brutal and senseless," King said.  

In October of 1967, 50,000 anti-war protesters marched in Washington D.C., and chanted, hey, hey, LBJ, how many kids did you kill today? More than 14,000 American soldiers were slain in Vietnam under the leadership of LBJ. 

"Being a combat soldier makes you real mean, and I was extremely mean," Gunner, Henry Allen said. 

Writer Eliazbeth Partridge with her boyfriend Warren Franklin in 1968. 

On May 4, 1970, the National Guard fired 67 rounds in 13 seconds amidst unarmed war protesters at Kent State, Ohio., killing four students and wounding nine. 

"If I am the last lone voice speaking for non-violence, that I will do," MLK Jr. said.

Three and a half stars easy for "Boots on the Ground." 

Mark Izzy Schurr 

Art of Nature Via Schurr Shot

 Blissfully surfing the celestial's currents of time, I simply smile.

While tapping into the unknown wells of the imagination, I sensed an intoxicating calmness.

  'Both pictures, Nor Cal beaches, Schurr Shot, October

Imbibed in curiosity, amazing poetry from a bygone era illustrates that man is a stranger to peace and a prisoner in a web of nameless fears. (Myself / Essential Silver Surfer vol. I)

Schurr Shot in October

 

The gilded realms of reality and the swirling vortex of the unknown have taught me to embrace the positives. 

Schurr Shot in Northern California in October

Mark Izzy Schurr

Tangible Fantasy

 The world killer, yet to be born, here in the burning core of ego, amidst the eternal realms of creation and myth. (Darren Shan / myself) 

Weaving Shan's words into my review of 2019s, "Silver Surfer Black" will be laden throughout this review. I acquired this 110-page comic book from Amazon Kindle, and it didn't disappoint. 

The tangible desires of reciprocated love are thwarted by the black winter of reality, and the Silver Surfer is forced to combat powers that can unmake the stars and fuel the fury of the abysses. 

The sword of darkness, wielded by its creator, the lord of the unending abyss clashes with the sword of light, a silver blade of cosmic power made of its makers living flesh, and the sound of these two swords colliding would deafen a god. (Shan) 

Shan's compelling combination of words and the awesome artwork of the many pencilers and inkers made "Black" a cosmic extravaganza. 

  

A world destroyer and the love of Chrome Dome's life, Shalla-Bal capture the moments in the conflicts and triumphs of the Silver Surfer in "Black". 

"In my long life, I have had many names, and of all of them, Norrin (Silver Surfer) is the one I carry in my heart, a breathless whisper to my love so far away," she said. (Shan) 

  Horror and beauty blend into the winds of eternity and the balance of light and darkness is a never-ending quest in the "Silver Surfer Black." 

Four stars easy for this comic book that feeds eons of atoms across the galaxies and penetrates the imagination. 

Mark Izzy Schurr 

"Roman Scandals" Reviewed

Sly humor and the deviant desires of ancient Rome are illustrated in 1933s "Roman Scandals." 

For much too long, I disliked many of these vintage flicks, simply because I didn't like the music. Mellow orchestra music is not the sound for my ears, but upon viewing these flicks now, I understand the production prowess of image and talent.

Two years later, moving picture shots like this were forbidden in mainstream movies, and these insane film laws lasted until the late 1960s. "Roman Scandals" starring Eddie Cantor is a certified Pre-Code Hollywood movie. Films made between 1930-1934 possessed a different timeclock, a doorway to a dark, yet compelling side of life amidst the safety of fantasy. 

Cantor made me laugh out loud a few times, and his sly humor was indeed timeless. As an ancient Roman slave, he said he could help with the cooking, cleaning and watching the children, and if the women didn't have children, he could help with that too.

Beauty and grace on the dance floor flaunted in "Roman Scandals." 

The only special features on this DVD are play and stop, but as the evening surpasses midnight, "Roman Scandals" is a pleasant voyage into vintage movie making. A solid three-star rating for this musical comedy. 

Mark Izzy Schurr

  

 

Seizing Adulthood

The emotions of happiness displayed in the mystic bands of time; a mother's blissful tears weaved into the bands of laughter.

Seizing adulthood...

As usual, Ruby is naturally photogenic. 

At 16-years-old, Ruby is already more grownup than I'll ever be, and I enjoy documenting sincere joy. 

 

Ruby's birthday gift to her boyfriend on Wednesday. As I snapped the above two pictures, Ruby boosted about being a good girlfriend. 

Tapping into the unknown wells of imagination, I imbibed an intoxicating sense of calmness as Ruby drove. I am not the constant back seat coach who criticizes the smallest of rookie driver inconsistencies. 

When it comes to driving a vehicle, I adhere to the ancient advice I received in the early 1980s; Driving is not a contest, and the object is to get from point A to B without incident.  

Ruby relaxed and blaring Taylar Swift music. Driving is so easy, glance, don't stare at the stereo controls and watch the road. 

The cosmic crackle of information fuels the embers of greatness. Traversing the depths of human nature while swirling in a vortex of sanity, or maybe?     

Mark Izzy Schurr  

     

Rock 'n' Roll Reviewed

 Long before Covid-19, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome panicked many souls from 2002-2004. 

On July 30, 2003, 490,000 fans gathered in Toronto for 12 hours to watch 14 bands, headlined by the Rolling Stones to show the world the SARS disease was not as dangerous as advertised. 

Peace, love, food, water and toilets was all there for the nearly half a million music drenched fans from start to finish. The Toronto police said they made fewer arrest at 2003s "Toronto Rocks" then the usual downtown Saturday night festivities. 

Rush did a fantastic instrumental of the Rolling Stones, "Paint it Black," and Justin Timberlake co-sang with Mick Jagger on "Miss You."

Rush saned keyboards for all four songs they performed, and the trio definitely held their own with the mighty Rolling Stones.

The Rolling Stones teamed with ACDC, and nailed B.B. King's 1964 blues tune, "Rock Me Baby."  

The Rolling Stones doing their six songs along with the tunes by Rush was more than enough to make "Toronto Rocks" worth watching and owning.  ACDC was disappointing to me only because of their song selections, "Back in Black" and "Thunderstruck." 

"Rock Me Baby" and Rush's "Freewill" blasting on a quality sound system seize my senses with every view. "Toronto Rocks," a solid three and a half stars. 

Mark Izzy Schurr 

 

Modern Moron Political Book Review

 An election for president was held on Nov. 3, 2020, Joe Biden won, Donald Trump did not, that is the truth, and any claim to the contrary is untrue, Republican, lawyer and political commentator, Chris Christie said.

Trump's speech about election fraud was untrue and rambling. As a lawyer, you cannot bring an indictment before you present the evidence, and that's exactly what Trump did when he said he won the election, Christie said.

I'm still no fan of Christie, but to my pleasant surprise, he's not an idiot. 

"Republican Rescue" is among my top four political books, an easy four-star rating for sagaciously expressing opposing points of views and opinions without pissing me off. 

Chapter 13, "Q AMOK" was my favorite part of "Republican Rescue." Christie said we need to renounce conspiracy theorist and truth deniers, the ones who know better and are just plain nuts. We need to discredit the extremist, Christie said.

QAnon theories are baseless, fact less, absurd and dangerous, Christie said. Too many politicians don't want to upset the truth deniers, QAnoners, The White Supremist and the wild extremist. (Christie)   

In 1983, then Michigan Senator, Daniel Patrick said everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but not their own facts, and Christie illustrated this quote marvelously in "Republican Rescue."    

Christie said Big Media and elites with far too much power are a serious threat to society and big business dealings, and I agree.   

Republicans will like this book because it rips President Joe Biden and the sub-par way Democrats run government. From my own personal experience, and everything I've read about politics; both the Democrats and Republicans have no handle on inflation or violent crime. In this less then 300-page book, Christie crunches the numbers on these issues and a lot more.

Digital soldiers have caused too many Americans to embrace dark fantasies. People are blinded by ideology and become too loyal to their tribe. These people are adamantly convinced all their prejudices are justified and deny anyone's truth's.   

November, 2021s "Republican Rescue Saving the Party from Truth Deniers, Conspiracy Theorist, and the Dangerous Policies of Joe Biden" would be a great read for English students from 6th grade through college in my humble opinion. 

It's easy for me to fly off the deep end of verbal rage when it comes to politics and Christie knows how to talk to everyone, regardless of their political and personal believes, a skill I envy. 

Mark Izzy Schurr  

"Union Depot," a Hidden Movie Gem

The two Daisy's, aka prostitutes, Jill Dennett (left) and Mary Doran in 1932s, "Union Depot," seen scouting out the arriving fleet of sailors at the depot.

This movie has a lot going on. Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Guy Kibbee play two vagabonds who steal a violin case full of money, and when Fairbanks falls for Joan Blondell, the story really starts to cook.  

Joan Blondell rocking the hat in "Union depot 

Blondell as Ruth in "Union Depot"  

Down on her luck Ruth, Blondell is desperate for fast cash and agrees to have sex with Fairbanks for the right price, and he's more than willing to do the dance with no underpants with her. At the last minute, Blondell can't hook herself, and Fairbanks still agrees to help her out with her financial woes. 

"Union Depot" is a very clever love story, and definitely not a Steo typical Hollywood love affair. When Fairbanks gets involved with Blondell, he's also forced to deal with her psychotic stalker. Fairbanks is also accused of murder and counterfeiting large sums of money. On top of all this, the armed owner of the cash wants his stolen loot back. 

The tangible endeavors of reciprocated love mixes well into this crazed cocktail of an intricated storyline.       

"The more you see, the more you wanna see," Fairbanks said to Blondell in the above picture. Drama and comedy worked extremely well in this four-star Pre-Code classic. Where I'm going there ain't no winter, snow or ice, only beautiful gals singing love songs Kibbee said in a drunken Stuper. 

Mark Izzy Schurr