Celia, it’s no surprise we get along…your open world view is what makes life fascinating for me also. So many great people in my past helped me become the best parts of who I am today. Maybe that’s why I’m drawn to the more intimate, emotional soap stories, rather than the mob action or cliffhangers. Different strokes. I like people-oriented stories because that’s what I grew up hearing. Real life is not only stranger than fiction, but more interesting as well. One self-correction: the Hepburn movie is DRAGON SEED. DRAGONWYCK stars Gene Tierney and is a much better movie. What do you think of Brandon Barash temping for Tyler Christopher on DAYS? I’m all for it. Miss him on GH.

Well, you know Barash is Jewish? And he’s playing a DiMera? Aren’t they Greek? For shame! 😉

Hey CeeCee; let’s start with our fictional people first. Don’t know why but I actually thought they were Greek! But, here’s an example of people of different heritage playing others; Billy Flynn is Irish, Brandon Barash who will be stepping in for Stefan O is Jewish. My point is, as you stated, with some “looks” it’s hard to tell. Others it’s obvious. I still don’t know why it matters unless it’s a historical figure of great importance, like with my example of Jesus. I see you didn’t respond to that example. It makes no difference who believes in Jesus as the Son of G-d or just a person in history, either way he was Jewish. And though there are blond haired, blue-eyed Jewish people (my cousin has red hair, blue eyes and freckles) Jesus was a Sephardic Jew which would make him dark-haired with an olive complexion. As said, I’ve yet to see him portrayed as such or even by a Jewish actor. So, I’m not sure why there’s all this “discussion” about an actor who plays a pretty good mob boss and has had a lot of experience doing so playing a gangsta; well-known or not. Gotti’s no hero. And, though you bring up that Maurice isn’t “white”, I’ve never considered him anything but. Maybe not “Aryan white” like the good ol’ nazis adhere to, but then again Italians, Greeks, European Spaniards and many others didn’t fall into the nazis “definition.” Which is ironic since they fall into mine of white “trash.”

As for Kavanaugh vs Ford, there will be no “justice.” The good ol’ boys are being forced to let Ford have her say but there’s no doubt that he’ll be voted in. And, yes, I tend to believe her over him. Did you ever think the Church scandal would be so vast? Did you ever think that THOUSANDS of boys would be sexually abused? But they were; and there were massive cover-ups.

This is not a political debate. This is not republican vs democrat as some would like to make it. But it IS about a woman being believed and not scoffed at. Or asked why she didn’t say something sooner. She is a Ph.D. An educated, successful woman who is a professor and research psychologist who runs a clinical psychology program where she teaches statistics, research methods and psychometrics and has been a consultant between pharmaceutical companies and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. She’s no “little woman” who needs or wants the exposure. She has a lot at stake; her reputation, her career, her husband’s, etc. Since none of us were there, why believe him over her? Because he’s the “right” party and therefore he must be sided with? Many black people didn’t want to believe that Bill Cosby or OJ could be guilty because they were black. People, they claimed, were out to get them; to destroy their reputation, etc. Sometimes it’s not about “sides” ie color, religion, party, but about hearing the alleged victim’s side. You already are “suspicious.” Of course it’s the timing; why should she keep quiet when she’s bottled up this information all these years and this man’s about to ascend to the highest court in the United States? So, yes, if she was ever going to come forth the time would be; should be, now.

Our “justice system” has been made a mockery since Trump stumbled into office. He denigrates our system, the FBI, the democratic nation he declares he loves. He said he’d “drain the swamp” and yet he brought in one person more corrupt than the next. If someone looking like Bannon ever slithered his way across the halls of General Hospital we’d all be clamoring about what a sleeze he is. A Breitbart whispering in the “presiden’t” ear? Nazis and alt-right saluting Trump? The “president” endorsing a pedophile? Mocking a man with cerebral palsy? Separating children from their parents? Do you know how many kids are STILL not back with their parents? This entire sham of a cabinet is a nightmare and those of us who see it/know it can only hope people get out and vote. People got too lazy. Hopefully they’re awake now. The parade of shady people that Trump has brought in, the racists, anti-Semites, anti anything that doesnt walk, talk or earn like them is unprecedented. The desire to control women (which is ironic since the republicans want less regulation, less govt involvement) sounds more like the countries we oppose. Controlling whether a woman can have an abortion? Approving establishments that don’t want to serve gay people? Trying to get gay people out of the military? These are antiquated beliefs, much based on religion. Religion, in every religion, is personal. What you follow and how you live your life is personal. Trump is a narcissist and him putting Kavanaugh in power would be another feather in his cap. Doesn’t matter to him if Fords story is true; He’s been accused of molesting numerous women himself. Women who side with this type of man set all females back.

Hi CeeCee; actually, yes, we do know what Jesus probably looked like; well, the features he had. They’ve taken skulls and data from men who lived in his time from his origin/religion and deduced a reasonable representation. I think it was PBS many years ago and it was, I believe, an archeological study done by Christian theologians. There must be others, as well. But, yes, he was Sephardic and Sephardic are of olive complexion. They also derived that he had dark curly hair. So, all those lily white, blond, flowing hair images are just the “ideal” that one race came up with. But it’s not the reality.

I honestly don’t know how you cannot regret voting for Trump. Of course it’s your right and if I remember correctly, your family supports him, too. I know you have a mind of your own but, still, many times we’re influenced from what immediate family think/feel. Not sure if that’s effected your opinion or if you’d like him even if your family was dead set against him.

Personally? I don’t know how anyone can support him. You’ve said there was some personals connection and he ‘s a “nice man.” Well, nice men don’t separate children from parents. They don’t think there are “good people” in nazis. They don’t make fun of handicapped people.

He’s also extremely emotionally immature. For a grown man who is POTUS to tweet like he does, to talk about the amount of people who attended his inauguration, to give and call “names” to people who he doesn’t like, (like many do in grade school) to fight with Alec Baldwin because he’s insulted, (and yet he ignored an alt right meeting in Washington who saluted and praised him). His priorities are all about self. When I say he’s a narcissist I’m not just throwing out the word; he literally displays psychological impediment. Just because he has money doesn’t make him anything other than wealthy. Not smart, not wise, not mature, not compassionate, not empathetic, not a man of the world.

He is a con man. I know that’s been tossed around a lot but how can one not see it? How can one ignore the “Trump University” scandal? How can one ignore that he said he’d show his taxes but never did? How can one ignore the stupidity of him saying he could shoot someone and they’d still support him? He is THE least presidential person to ever sit in that house. And the majority who voted for him are either racists, white supremacists, anti-semitic (except for the Jewish people who think he supports Israel which to me is just to align himself with a huge voting block, Evangelicals, the same reason he picked Pence.). He’s not a “man of the Bible.” A man of the Bible would be compassionate. He is anything but. He speaks to crowds like he thinks he’s a rock star on tour. He thrives on the applause. He threw paper towels at Puerto Ricans when they lost everything; like, that was supposed to make them happy because he was there and he was, what, tossing out his guitar pick to screaming fans?

He talks out of his mouth to what will work. He speaks to gun lobbyists and gun owners because he knows they’ll vote for him (and he loves the NRA money). He lies and says the “opposition” want to take away their guns which was never true to begin with. But he plays with minds who don’t do the research on their own and he manipulates and they buy it; sorta like Hitler did. (By the way, he was a big fan of Hitler. Has read his book several times and apparently took a few notes in the way he addresses his supporters: “us” vs “them.”

It’s all very strategic. But, hey, master of the con. Art of the deal…

As for liberal? I’m not a liberal. A lot of liberals hate the Jews; so, no, that’s not me running along beside them. I’m just looking at this objectively.

As for the DeMeras? I realize why I questioned if they were Greek. I confused them in my mind at the time I wrote it with the Kiriakis clan!

Hi CeeCee; Just saw this; I think the “without rancor” was to me? If so, yes! I agree! LOL: can’t say we don’t keep on trying!

Hi, Shay,
I’m pretty sure I did respond…..did not post, perhaps?
I certainly did not mean to ignore you……very busy substituting…..plus, everyone chose late summer and fall to get get married this year.
We were invited to six weddings…..four of which I am one of the bride’s maids.
Sooo stressed out, LOL….
…..so, on that note….let’s discuss Oscar. For the first time in several months, I had the best cry…..a release I needed to have. I’d rather laugh, but crying was good.
Oscar is officially my favorite character. Such a ‘big’ man for one so young. He is killing his scenes……absolutely Emmy-worthy. I love this kid!!
Let’s have a miracle. Save Oscar, writers….
I am so tired, Shay….Zombie crawling into bed…
Until next time….nighty-nite…LOL.
❤️

Hi, Shaybelle,
Forgive me for taking so long answering you….finally returned from a 4-day ‘wedding’ stay, in Montauk. Last one, thank God!! I vowed to stop wearing stilettos for the rest of my life!! My poor feet!!
I will be sharing classes, back and forth, with another teacher ( she’s expecting). And, yes, one of the classes is English.
I am very happy for Laura’s return…..I haven’t caught up….just had a chance for a couple of episodes. I did catch up with Y&R and Days….I sort of snuck into the suite and caught a couple of eps….
I am working my way backwards. ….so glad to see Laura, but not her characterization of a shrew.
I do hope she catches on to Kevin…..she did appear puzzled a couple of times….you did say she would not be fooled so easily.
As yourself, I am still hoping for a Britt return….did you catch her in the TALTZ commecial?
Today’s episode was extremely boring for me. This Morgan-worship, especially an empty tomb, is ridiculous. He’s not there. Better to observe his death by praying before his picture. Something tells me that all this ‘fanfare’ is to herald his imminent return?
As far as Nina, I think we will be regaled with a surprise twist…..not so sure Sasha is her daughter. Iffy. I still believe it’s Kiki. Nope!! I won’t give up.
Current events? You mean current mayhem?
I have enough arguments with some of my family members. So, I have simply learned to shut up!! Too stressful.
Amazing how some of us are capable of reading body language and some of us are not. Adult woman switch to Little-girl talk did not fool me. Soooo…..
….no boat-rocking….LOL
Nite, bella….❤️

Ciao, bella,
Yeah….the bias runs rampant!! Too stressful to watch the obscenity in the streets of this beautiful land…..THE MOB, by definition, Shay—no matter how it is spun….we all have a voice and we should all be heard with words not actions. If there is any fairness within social media, bias should not exist. Protest with civility….not resort to such vile tactics.
Both sides of the aisle need to meet in the middle, but infringing upon one’s civil liberies? Gone too far. Engaging in perilous “oration” will not end well. We have seen that—before our eyes…Congressman Scalise!! Why? I want peace. I love everyone!! There should not be ‘sides’….only parties who agree or disagree in a friendly manner. I guess that’s asking for the moon.
There are many other venues, Shay, where we can be heard without worrying about fairness. It will print. Twitter, Google and Facebook are beggining to see the light after being castigated for the bias.
I can clearly see Mme Defarge knitting away, as the spectacle of violence unfolds, with her pleasure, before her eyes.
There is no civility left. No dignity!! To incite such radical behavior goes against all that America represents.–no due process–
I guess we must acknowledge Darwin and his philisophy…..yet, ’tis so primitive…..going backwards, we are. Neanderthal living!!
I wish there were a healthier, more constructive way to air our grievences and differences—-alack; not meant to be.
❤️

HaHaHaHaHaHa…gotta love you, Jimmy!!
❤️

CeeCee. Don’t assume ” me too” has gone too far. Women have not had a voice since forever. Victims are coming out now BECAUSE of that! If they’re not believed now, can you imagine what type of chance they had then? What about the Catholic Church and thousands of young boys that were sexually abused? You know the silence around that. You know many of those boys were afraid to speak up.

The entertainment field is taking the accusations way more seriously than the White House. Trump was accused of assault and even said he grabs pussy because if you’re “famous they “let you.” And yet he manages to twist it around. He backed an accused pedophile. He’s trying to disparage an educated woman with several degrees who has nothing to gain and everything to lose (she’s had death threats) because he and “the party” no pun intended, want their man in office. Even Ivanka has tried to talk him out of it.

Amazes me how one can be on the side of a fictional character, Kiki, and hate Bensch, but not believe a real life woman. Or at least give her the benefit of the doubt.

So, in other words, CeeCee, we are to be wary of own fathers, husbands, brothers, sons, and many other white males, like extended relatives, friends, mentors, educators and professionals, who have blessed and enriched our lives through the years with their impeccably-behaved presence? I don’t think so…if we cannot vocifierously defend what has been in my own—-and I suspect, your—-experience with the vast majority of (caucasian) men we have encountered who are truly upstanding individuals and do not conduct themselves in a manner unbecoming without being accused of the “r word,” then humanity really has reached the point of no return! I will never apologize for harboring admiration and respect for the countless males that I know are deserving of it….no matter how often repeatedly lame and, quite frankly, tedious, attempts are made to deride and defame me for it!

LOL! Yep, those poor, abused white men. “No other group as maligned than white males of a certain age?” “Their place being usurped in our society?”

Haha…the alt right would be proud. Where’s the barf option.

True. CeeCee. (about Jewish, Italian, etc looking similar to some extent. I’ve been taken for Italian many times, especially in my “dancing in the club” days! LOL). I went out with a Sicilian guy for two years during college (his parents and grandmother didn’t speak a word of English and he came here when he was three). When his grandmother met me she took my face in her hands and started talking to me in Sicilian? Italian? I don’t even know. I did get a fantastic baked eggplant parmigiana recipe and one for fried cardoon. Ever hear of it? Delish. LOL; I digress again!!!

Point is she thought I was her background and my then- boyfriend had to explain to her I wasn’t. I’ve had a few Italian boyfriends. There are also Italian Jewish people (Modigliani was an Italian Jewish; one of my favorite artists.) But, still, it usually (I say usually) makes no difference to me who’s playing a part as long as the acting is good and I “believe.” I have a feeling Maurice will knock it out of the park. Give him a chance. Have you seen The Godfather? James Caan played Sonny Corleone and Caan is Jewish. Good acting. And we’re there..

Hi Violet!

To be honest I’m not even a big Maurice fan. I can’t stand Sonny for a lot of reasons but I absolutely adore him compared to how I feel about Carly. But, objectively, I think he can do this role justice and I don’t think “race” matters one iota. I never even thought of Maurice as “non white.” Never even entered my mind. I’m not even sure he isn’t. I just can’t believe this is even an issue for some. I CAN see it as an issue if a minority hero is the subject of a film and actors in that minority are barely given ANY roles. So, to have a white person play him/her would understandably upset them. The opportunities should be open to all. But in this case; not even a blip on the radar.

LOL; as for DiCaprio? He’s a tad too good-looking to play Gotti but he has more than the acting chops. He’s a superb actor and can probably play anyone. And there is the magic of makeup… 🙂