"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

"Fantastic Four: First Steps," A Modern Moron Movie Review

Fantasy from "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" tinges on the tales of the Silver Surfer, and the chaos of the cosmos brings Galactus to Earth, the devourer of worlds, a being as old as time itself who feeds on entire planets. 

Straying from the Silver Surfer comics, Shalla-Bal and not the Silver Surfer is herald to Galactus, the one who finds him planets to destroy. She does this in order to save her own planet Zenn-La. She was the Silver Surfer's first love, and both are from Zenn-La. 

The power cosmic is as vast as space and timeless as infinity. Extensive knowledge of the Fantastic Four stories and those of my favorite, the Silver Surfer are not needed to follow the story of "The Fantastic Four: First Steps", yet a small dose of the history of Galactus and the Fantastic Four certainly comes in handy for viewers of this flick. 

The movie reveals how the four astronauts acquired super natural powers and became the Fantastic Four. The writers vastly upgraded the adventures of the vintage Fantastic Four comic books and screen-played this sometimes sappy movie with clever humor and serious conflict. Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman spawn a child, and Galactus offers to spare the Earth if they give up their child. They decide not to give up their son to Galactus and attempt to keep our bless-ed planet alive. 

Compared to Galactus, everyone, including the Fantastic Four are like mere ants trying to fight a lion. So how do they save the Earth from the all powerful Galactus? No spoilers from me. 

Bravo to the special effects team, the 3D was amazing, espically when Shalla-Bal soars through outer space along side the rocket ship of the Fantastic Four. This flick is meant for the big screen. Three and a half stars easy for this movie. 

Mark Izzy schurr

"Megan 2.0," A Modern Moron Movie Review

In "Megan 2.0" Gemma and Cady are forced to align with Megan in order to combat Amelia, a highly trained android, built for military combat. (Allison Williams returns as Gemma and Violet McGraw as her 12-year-old niece, Cady.) 

Create a psychotic robot with advanced military fighting skills in order to combat another one? Gemma and Cady are faced with this dilemma in the sequel, still fresh in theatres, released on Friday. The second installment of "Megan" is laden with the same cast and crew members, and a completely different story. 

In the first movie, Gemma's AI creation Megan killed four people and one dog and threatened to rip out her tongue and put her in a a wheel chair. Gemma's hesitation and distrust in Megan is indeed warranted, but Megan 2.0 is always learning and infinitely striving to better herself, Megan said. 

Are electronic devices a dopamine and as addictive as cocaine? Gemma seems to think so, yet she also embraces today's technological advances, hence her career in AI technology. Cady has aspirations of a college degree in the same field, following in her aunts foot steps. 

The music in "Megan 2.0" is modern and marvelous, just like the first "Megan," and I sensed an ambience of pride from the musicians and film makers in both the Megan movies. 

The Autonomous Military Engagement Logistics Infiltration Android, aka AMELIA is on a mission to collapse the global economy and set forth a new world where machines rule the world. 

Should a human brain have Megan's complete algorithm chipped into its cerebral core to contend with Amelia? Will AI ride shot gun with a human brain? "Megan 2.0" has clever theories on this subject and so much more. This flick was a blissful buffet, nourishing my hunger for entertainment. 

Megan's mind is vast and freighting, yet fascinating. As a fighting robot, she's a realistic bad ass. A robot can take a hard punch a lot better then a human, and with advanced technology, Megan is faster and stronger then the imagination. 

Ivanna Sakhno is the enemy AI, Amelia, an alluring android eager to to kill anyone hindering her mission of an ultimate electronic take-over. She's a yowza looking bot and her robotic facial expressions are deliciously dangerous.  

Amie Donald returns as the human Megan and bravo to her dance moves. 

Jenna Davis also returns as the voice of Megan, and yes, she sings with aplomb. 

Writers Akela Cooper and Gerald Johnstone expanded the story with exquiste excellence. It's safe to say, the Megan saga is just begining. Four stars easy for "Megan 2.0."

Mark Izzy Schurr 

   

  

Mind Journey

 

The dream child journeys into the mystic bands of imagination, where fantasy becomes fact, its a wondrous world without wars and bombs. 

I followed her into a land where the currency was laughter and the illustrious ambience of nature, complete with lush forests, radiant rivers and magnificent beaches was nourishment, thus the tails of Wonderland immortalized peace. 

Lewis Carroll / Mark Izzy Schurr 

"Hurry Up Tomorrow," Another Modern Moron Movie Review

 

Not my type of music, but it worked in "Hurry Up Tomorrow," and I applaud the artistic view of the camera close-ups and the odyssey of the odd.

Jenna Ortega displays her depths in the acting field in this bizarre film which journeys into the very core of the souls of the main characters. I'm certain if I saw this flick a second time, I'd still have questions for myself, yet I understood the human desire for affection and success this movie was trying to convey, or at least I think I did. 

"Hurry Up Tomorrow" showcases the calamity of broken spirits in the most original way I've ever seen in a movie. 

Right off the bat I was hooked because I had to know where the story was going, and while I still have questions, my answers were satisfied. 

Mark Izzy Schurr

"Final Destination Bloodlines, a Modern Moron Movie Review

"Final Destination Bloodlines" is the 6th instalment of this movie genre, and like the previous five, over the top accidental deaths claim several lives. 

Unlike the prior films, the main character has recurring dreams of her family members meeting untimely and violent deaths as opposed to priminitions of burly and violent deaths. Can the cycle of death be broken? Is there a way to cheat death? "Final Destination Bloodlines," like its predecessors begots these questions, and while searching for the answers, a large shard of glass might get lodged in your throat and a running lawn mower might dismantle your entire face, or perhaps a grand piano will push you through the window of a burning high rise.

The death scenes and the things leading up to them didn't disappoint, and "Final Destination Bloodlines," like the previous five has earned its way into my October watch again and again flicks. 

Mark Izzy Schurr  

   

"The Surfer," A Modern Moron Movie Review

You can't stop a wave, born in its storm way out to sea, it's pure energy, all building to a breaking point, and according to the villain in "The Surfer," one must suffer before you can surf. 

Almost for the life of me, I wish I could remember everything Nicolas Cage said about surfing in the opening of this flick, a fantastic poem reminiscent of the alluring wording only found in Silver Surfer comic books.

I've never surfed, but it's a way of life for many, a gateway to the ultimate understanding of nature and the origins of everything tangible and spiritual, or so its been said. 

"The Surfer's" previews project a certain predictability and those projections are non existence in the actual movie. 

Upon viewing the previews of "The Surfer," I thought it was going to be about local surfers bullying The Surfer, aka, Nicolas Cage and The Kid, Finn Little who protrays Cage's son. At a glance, I simply thought, Cage was going to stand up to the locals taking over a public beach and kick their gloutuous maxes, or get his booty beat. Yes, The Surfer and The Kid get bullied, but the story goes way beyond anything I could have ever imagined. 

The action is minimal and "The Surfer" releys on plot and dialogue rather then gratuitous action scenes. 

Three stars easy for "The Surfer."

Mark Izzy Schurr

"My Effin' Life," a Modern Moron Book Review

Bell bottoms, babes and the Beatles reigned strong in Geddy Lee's teenage years in the 1960s. "My Effin' Life" details his marriage to Nancy, his passion for music and a blissfully bizarre rock 'n' roll lifestyle.   

Imagine the steoreo spectrum as a blank canvas, absolute nothingness becomes music. Sounds fueling the imagination. 

Geddy Lee is the only member of the band that never worked amidst the ticking time traps of works gilded cage. As a high school drop out, he knew exactly what he wanted to do. He and his wife Nancy have been together since they were teenagers, and her parents were not happy with their daughter dating a high school drop out pursuing a career in music.   

Lee and his wife Nancy

Credit Ed jr, aka my brother for gifting me Geddy Lee's, "My Effin' Life," a fantastic Christmas gift incidentally. I've been an avid Rush fan since the Grace Under Pressure tour, read three of Neil's Peart's  books and I've watched R30 a geekish amount of times. 

Lee's book isn't just for Rush fans. It's laden with information, including raw details about his soul, his fascination for music and his relationship with his wife Nancy. "My Effin' Life" is a bevy of information, delving into the origins of Rush and Lee's life outside the band.    

Taking acid was a right of passage for a teenager in the 1960s, Lee said. He's very candid about his prior drug use and I liked his references to LSD. Lee dubbed one of his summers as the summer of acid. This related to me on a personal level for some unbeknownst reason. 

This 2023 book isn't a friouvous account of some rock star, although the book is riddled with foolish facts and trivial information. Despite that, the book contains harsh realities and compelling facts.    

No spoilers from me in this review. I'll simply tinge the edges of his aspirations and accomplishments he's revealed in the book. How much did Lee's first bass cost? Trivial knowledge, I know, but if anyone says his first base didn't cost $35.0 is wrong. 

Intense realities of the Holocaust were documented with extreme eloquence. Lee's mom spent much of her teenaged years not knowing if she was going to get an actual shower or be gassed to death with zyklon B gas. During her time in Holocaust hell, she did have her grandmother with her. She was my savior, she knew how to calm me and talk to me, his mom, Mary said. 

Lee's parents meant in a German concentration camp during WW II, they were both Jewish, and that's how their romance began. For breakfast they got water, one piece of paper thin bread, no lunch, and for dinner they got watered downed cabbage soup, fit to serve a horse. Every second day for a month they also had to give blood. The German soldiers wondered why a lot of Jews were fainting. "My Effin' Life" contains an entire chapter on this horrid subject.  

If your fascinated with music emitting dark and authoritative sounds while brandishing a melodic magnificent inspired by Paul McCarntney, My Effin' Life" is a must read. 

Lee's grandmother refered to Alex Lifeson and his friends as "little Hitlers," using her native tongue. 

Lee sounds like a guinea pig with an amphetamine habit...if his voice were any higher, only dogs and extraterrestrials could hear it, Dan Nooger and another writer said.  

Some lucky Rush fans who wrote actual fan mail, pen to paper, then a stamped envelope, received hand written letters from Neil Peart answering their mail to him. 

Rock 'n' roll's symbol of defiance involving drugs and the demands of the imagination are detailed wisely by Geddy. Lee liked what the Nazi's hated and its work out very well for him. 

Read the book and find out which member of Rush said the anthem of redemption, I posses the technique of music and the spirit of voice, and the ability to play my story, he said. 

"My Effin' Life" reveals all three alcohols used in the diabolical mix of Panther Piss, Alex Lifeson used to make in the infancy of Rush touring.  

How do we keep or sanity, ego's and dreams intact? Geddy Lee and his two other comrades in Rush knew how to. Five stars easy for "My Effin' Life."

The basic ingredients for success is stick-to-it-ness and when you've got everything together its ticky-boo, Lee said.  

Mark Izzy Schurr     

      

A Modern Moron Movie Review

An aging teacher gets caught in the political tyranny of Argentina in the 1970s, and the turmoil continues to this very day.    

To impress a beautiful woman in the hopes of doing the horizontal mumble with her, he rescues a penguin from the horrors of a massive oil spill. He doesn't get laid, but ends up with a pet penguin, and that's where "Penguin Lessons" begins.

This movie is laden with subtle humor throughout and pulls on the heart strings without being sappy. When to do nothing? When to fight back? When to relax? Sometimes you just gotta put the penguin in the pool and put your mind at rest. 

"Penguin Lessons" showcases compassion, exposes politics and displays the spirit of penguins and humans. I laughed out loud with tears in my eyes. Four stars easy for "Penguin Lessons," released on March 28. 

Mark Izzy Schurr    

Reefer Madness The Musical, A Modern Moron Review

The moral and mental depravity wrought by the leafy green assassin marijuana is a silly, stupid, campy and fun musical, Director Dorinda Toner said in the program notes. (Pictured above is Alex Youngblood as the innocent 16-year-old Jimmy and his righteous girlfriend Makena Barnane as Mary Lane.)

"Reefer Madness The Musical holds the key cords of the original storyline, based on the 1936 propaganda film, "Reefer Madness." Much bravo for Theatre in the Grove for its sensationally bizarre presentation of this iconic film. 

Teenagers who imbibe cannabis become hooligans and whores, engaging in weird orgies and wild parties with unleashed passions. Despair, sorrow, crime and shame follow. The Devil's harvest is the smoke of hell, leading to drug crazed abandon. Killing a cat with a chain saw and lusting after your mother are just some of the debaucherous debacles caused by cannabis. I didn't write the script, but the origins of the intended scare tactics have spawned into a laugh fest. 

Athena Leanard, Placard Girl / Ensemble

Director Dorinda Toner and choreographer Alicia Turvin sagaciously guided the entire cast in this musical written by Kevin Murphy and Dan Studney. 

Murphy and Studney added some very sly elements to the plot, and made it their own, and the singing and dancing was very solid. The chorus carried the leads and vice versa. 

I sensed a sincere happiness between the cast. Alex Youngblood portrayed Jimmy with melodrama magnificence, as did all the actors. A special shout out to Trevor Sanderson with his wonderfully raucous portrayal of Ralph who becomes clinically insane from his toils of toking. 

 

Annabelle Stern as Sally and Trevor Sanderson as Ralph

Nick Serrone was the blissfully baleful pimp Jack who peddles the Devil's lettuce to teenagers and dual roled as Jesus, portraying both with aplomp.   

Nick Serrone as Jesus and Jack

Leslie Inmon as Mae

The characters Jack, Mae and Sally leading Jimmy into a marijuana maze of mayhem and lascivious lunacy. 

Annebelle Stern was hilarious as Sally, the leading lady of prostitution addicted to the leafy green assassin. 

To be perfectly honest, I'm not a true fan of theatre. I prefer movies over plays, it's just a simple fact embedded into my senses of entertainment. This cast and crew proved those senses wrong. The only  disappointment about "Reefer Madness The Musical" was attending only one show. 

My sister's husband Ron gifted me a front row seat to this laugh out loud satire I didn't know existed. Thanks again Ron! 

Cruising the coastlines of California and Oregon on my extended weekend brought me to Forest Grove on a whim and bravo again for this magnificent matinee of mature mayhem.

Mark Izzy Schurr

 

A Modern Moron Movie Review

Mythical mayhem weaves its way into the emotions and tangible realities of Jenna Ortega and Paul Rudd who portray father and daughter in "Death of a Unicorn." 

Rudd is a widowed father engulfed in his career. There's a strong communication breakdown between the parent and child. Ortega is bright and distant, and she doesn't share her fathers views of success. 

The unicorn mends their tarnished relationship into a blizzard of bliss, and everybody is happy and lives forever. If you believe this, "Death of a Unicorn" may not suit your movie mojo. 

Rudd inadvertantly aides a notoriously wealthy family in their quest to kill and cage unicorns. The allure of curing cancer and awarding immortality with unicorn blood or remnants from its horn fuels an insane greed. 

The acting is great with a coherently bizarre story. The Dolby Atmos sound Airport Stadium 12 omitted on opening night fit this flick, especially when Ortega touched the unicorns horn. Three stars easy for "Death of a Unicorn."   

Mark Izzy Schurr 

  

A Modern Moron Movie Review

 "Novacaine" was laden with over the top action violence, yet the souls thirst for love is the prevailing reason I liked this flick. 

Nate and Sherry are co-workers in a bank, and the sparks between the two feed the flames of tangible passion. Sherry is kidnapped by vicious bank robbers who kill the bank manager, seriously dampening the romance. Nate goes after the homicidal bandits in a sly and comical way, he can't feel physical pain. 

"Novacaine" strays from predictability, it's a dark comedy that awakens laughter. Jack Quaid and Amber Midthunder showcased delicious desirers with G rated aplomp. 

Three stars easy for "Navocaine." 

Mark Izzy Schurr   

  

Ten Gamer Girls Spotlighted

Taylor Ballantyne. Photography 

Honor Smoke, pictured above is the current New York state champion for her weight group in boys and girls wrestling. She trains and competes mostly against boys, often winning. Smoke is 10-years-old, she's also an assistant coach for 5 and 6-year-old wrestlers at the "Little Scrappers" program in upstate New York. She's one of the ten girls  featured in the March issue of Sports Illustrated. 

Honor was immediately sure of herself when she first stepped onto the mat at 7, her mother Brittany said.

"She's a sponge for knowledge, she picks up everything really fast. She does everything with a smile, and has an amazing attitude. She's naturally talented," her coach Jason Chase said.

I still don't know what a tilt is in wrestling, and I read the article I'm currently reviewing. Coach Chase taught her the tilt during a match, and remembered the opposing coach telling his wrestler to stay away from Smoke's tilt, it's her best move. Chase said Smoke learned the move and scored with it in less than a minute.  

Hope's married parents, Brittany and Michael mostly played basketball, and their oldest daughter  is passionate about wrestling, puzzling, yet promoted by the parents.

My fascination for "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland weaves well into my youth sports photography. I simply like young empowered girls. They awake wisdom, showcase positive vibes and instill happiness. 

Maggie Mertens co-wrote this 28 page article with Erin Strout. Each girl generates goals beyond sports. Extracurricular activities, sports or not is a conduit for personal and professioanal goals. Pushing past perceived boundaries and obstacles to get to where you want to go is how Alexa Encarnacion, a mom detailed the importance of her 13-year-old daughter Julia Dinar being on the fencing team.

Five stars for Merkens and Strout's SI article.     

Pepper Persley is a dual sportster in basketball and soft ball, pictured below. She also has a second degree black belt in taekwondo. She's adapt at her sports and avid about its journalism. She has her own podcast, Dish With Pepper, also on the You Tube Channel. She's interviewed WNBA players such as Diana Taurasi and A'ja Wilson. 

Erick W. Rasco. Photography 

Eighth grader Pepper Persley is the starting point guard on the high school girls varsity team. Two of her friends, also 13, play on the high school jv team, and say it was Pepper that convinced her peers to try out for the high school basketball team. 

Eleven-year-old Liana Chan was on the swim team for four years and currently plays hockey scrimmage at the Bronx Boys and Girls Club, competing mostly against boys, Merkens said. 

Hockey fuels Chan's happiness and confidence while making her strong. 

Erick W. Rasco. Photography

Carmen Wilkey is a 12-year-old track star for Move United. In June, 2022, she set the national record in the 60 meter race for her age group, gender and disability. Her left leg was amputated when she was 14 months old because of Fibular Hemimelia. 

A month after her 60 meter record, she set two more national records with the disc throw and long jump. This spring, Wilkey will compete with her middle school alongside and against able bodied athletes. 

Two years ago, Wilkey learned how to snow board, and was riding the intermediate slopes, aka blues on her first day trying. 

This 12-year-old wants to be a two time paralympian in the summer track and field games and a snow boarder in the winter games. Some may say her goals are too big, and she loves proving people wrong. 

Kohjiro Kinno photography

Lala Scholl bagan her passion for playing and organizing pick-up games when she was seven years old. She played on the all boys soccer team in elementary school.

Scholl's tales of soccer continues. Now 12-years-old, she's on the girls soccer team in middle school and said, the level of competition has sky rocketed since elementary school. The natural leadership skills she's demonstrated thus far is an encouraging entree of positivity.    

Jeffery A. Slater. Phototrography

"I'm intelligent, powerful and confident," 13-year-old Krin Brown brown said of herself. 

The Eyekonz Sports curriculum, based in Philadelphia includes skill development, and lessons to build self esteem and coupe with adversity on and off the field. 

Eyekonz Sports is for five to 18-year-olds in field hockey and lacrosse. 

Brown has juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis and AMPS, Amplified Pain Syndrome, yet still plays on the team. 

"Winning as a team, losing as a team, just being there for each other whenever we can, that'he best feeling ever," Krin said.

Erick W. Rasco. Photo

Twelve-year-old Noelani Spicer was born with spina bifida and cerebral palsy. At the age of five she joined Kinetic Kids which provides training in ambulatory and wheel chair track. 

Spicer has set national records in eight track events for her age group. She maintains confidence through the support of sports and she aspires to be Paralympian. 

Kinetic Kids isn't just about athletic goals and fast times, it's about learning to live independently as possible for as long as possible. 

Taylor Ballantyne. Photography

In the summer of 2020, Julia Dinar's best friend introduced her to Fencing in the Park in Brooklyn. She was 8-years-old at the time. Fencing in the Park was founded and directed by Nzingha Presod, a four time senior world medalist winner, two time Olympian and world champion in fencing. Prescod was the first black woman to medal in the Senior World Championships when she won bronze in 2015. 

In 2021, Prescod Institute for Sport, Teamwork and Education was created by Prescod. The goal for PISTE is to provide students with pathways to become champions, leaders and scholars in fencing. 

Now 13-years-old, Julia Dinar is still hooked on fencing. It allowed her to find confidence in herself and what her body can do, she has severe asthma. Julia credits her mom Alexa Encarnacion for keeping fencing encouraging and fun and to do her best. Don't get too upset when her performance falls short of expectations.

Dinar has appeared on the Kelly Clarkson Show and attended a youth fencing event ahead of the 2024 Summer Games. 

Body image hinders many girls from not even trying out for sports. Be the best version of yourself in sports, or anything chosen to pursue. Bravo again to Merkens and Strout for spotlighting these amazing young girls and the importance of exercising the mind and body. Sound advice for all of us.  

"For girls who might not feel confident in sports because of body image...just because your body doesn't fit into the image of what somebody in your sport is supposed to look like, it doesn't mean you're not capable of great things," Dinar said. 

At 13, Dinar aspires to get a college scholarship in fencing, and moving on to medical school to become a pediatrician. 

Twelve-year-old Ja'nor Elzie is the only girl on her football and basketball team, pictured below. 

High school freshman, Calyz Watkins started playing football when she was six, and misses the sport, but now plays on the varsity basketball girls team. 

Watkins aspires to attend Louisiana State University and getting drafted into the WNBA. Medical school and women's flag football are her back-up plans. 

If your still reading, I'm surprised. All ten of the girls I just mentioned from SI have realistic paths for success and happiness. These girls, yet to start high school possess the wisdom of the ancients and moderns.  

"Never let someone bring down your confidence in yourself, believe in what you want to do," Watkins said.       Mark Izzy Schurr