"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