Happy Thanksgiving to You and Yours

Happiest Thanksgiving wishes to all my readers.

With appreciation,
Laura

"Putting Homeland Security First"

Robert Speer of Front Page Magazine on the six Muslim imams pulled off the plane in Minnesota this week: "It seems clear that they had no terror plans, but there is a possibility that they were being intentionally provocative."

Frankly I think one of the intents may have been to create the exact incident which happened and, via lawsuit, discourage future similar responses by airlines...which would leave us more vulnerable.

Speer continues: "If America is to survive, it is eventually going to have to choose national security over political correctness...

"In a sane world, officials would tell the imams that if they’re upset about being taken off the plane, they should redouble their anti-terror efforts in the Muslim community in the U.S."

Ann Coulter is typically un-p.c. but accurate: "Six imams removed from a US Airways flight from Minneapolis to Phoenix are calling on Muslims to boycott the airline. If only we could get Muslims to boycott all airlines, we could dispense with airport security altogether."

One might say this is unfair to non-terrorist Muslims, but one of the things that troubles me is something Speer alludes to: the deafening silence in most of the Muslim world about the sins being committed against the West in the name of "Allah."

Coulter goes on to recite chapter and verse about exactly what was so troubling about this group of Muslims and past connections of terrorists to Minnesota and Arizona.

It's rather interesting that the mainstream media continue to ignore the group's disturbing connections, which have been detailed by Speer, Coulter, and Power Line.

The Latest on TV Newser

Brian Stelter of TV Newser, who was profiled last summer by USA Today, is the subject of a story in the New York Times.

Fascinating that a college student has the ear of everyone in TV news, and way beyond.

No Room for Political Correctness

Kudos to U.S. Airways for responding to passengers' concerns and removing six Muslim imams from a flight yesterday.

The imams were said to have made anti-American statements and chanted "Allah, Allah." According to The New York Times, some of the imams made a strange request for seat-belt extensions, though they were not overweight.

This and additional behavior, including the men sitting spread throughout the plane, concerned alert passengers and crew members and the pilot refused to leave until the men were removed.

The imams, of course, are screaming racism.

Tough luck. Even if their behavior was perfectly innocent, in this day and age there is simply no room for political correctness.

As Power Line wrote: "They just can't understand why lots of Americans don't find the sight of a group of Muslim men saying 'Allahu akbar' on an airplane reassuring."

Turns out the passengers were correct to be concerned. Although the men were not detained, the leader, Omar Shahin, has ties to terrorist organizations (see subject link).

Given that, I'd like to know what the heck Shahin, who is Jordanian, is even doing in the United States.

The Pelosi-Harman Feud

These ladies seem intent with providing political watchers with a soap opera of sorts. No one seems to know very much about what started it...Harman being on TV more often than Pelosi? The pressure of the Congressional Black Caucus on Pelosi?

Another member of Congress: "Anyone who underestimates Nancy Pelosi does so at her own risk."

Rolling eyes...

Thomas Sowell on "The Washington Meat Grinder"

Dr. Sowell on the coarsening of the level of discourse in Washington, where too many people prefer to yell or score political shots rather than civilly discuss differing points of view. He cites the treatment of Donald Rumsfeld as but one example:

"Whether Donald Rumsfeld's policies were mistaken or not, that is no reason to accept superficial and even gutter-level discourse on momentous national issues. There was a time when even politicians understood that...

"The issue is not whether people should be nice to Donald Rumsfeld or even whether history will vindicate him or condemn him. The real issue is whether we can have responsible adult discussions of issues at a time when the fate of this nation hangs in the balance in its most dangerous hour."

It's an excellent piece.

New on DVD: Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Tuesday, November 21st, will see the release of a Special Edition of MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET.

It has previously been released on DVD, but I've been holding off on a purchase in hopes of an edition just like this one, with a commentary track by Maureen O'Hara.

Other extras include an AMC BACKSTORY documentary and a 1955 television production starring Teresa Wright, Macdonald Carey, Thomas Mitchell, and Sandy Descher in the Natalie Wood role. I love the way DVDs make TV rareties such as this special available once more.

Unfortunately the set includes a disc with the computer-colorized version, but other than that, it's all good. :) Disc Two does contain the original version in beautiful black and white.

This film is a Thanksgiving Day tradition for many, inasmuch as the story begins at Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. I'm posting news of the release a day early in case any readers would like to pick it up for the holiday weekend.

If you don't mind waiting a while to receive it, Deep Discount DVD has the best price I've seen online.

Tuesday Update: Here's a lovely review of the set from Digitally Obsessed.

Democrats, Hypocrisy, and Alcee Hastings

We're going to find out soon whether the Democrats actually want to be taken seriously when it comes to matters of national security.

As previously posted here, the leading contender to be the new Chair of the House Intelligence Committee is Alcee Hastings, a former federal judge who was impeached and convicted of bribery. Not exactly the kind of person one wants in charge of national secrets. I continue to find it shocking that he has served on the committee at all, let alone that he is a serious contender to be its chair. (In fact, I find it shocking he was elected to Congress...a sad commentary on his constituents.)

Many of those who now support Hastings for this post were among those who voted to impeach Hastings. Particularly noteworthy is Rep. John Conyers, who argued for Hastings' conviction in the Senate trial; now Conyers, along with the rest of the Congressional Black Caucus, supports Hastings in his quest to head Intelligence.

Perhaps I should be wishing for the Democrats to install Hastings in this position, as it would make a great election issue, but sometimes national security is more important than politics.

Unfortunately, it's quite apparent that racial politics and political back-scratching is more important to some members of Congress than national security.

Christmas Cookies

'Tis the season when thoughts turn to baking up scrumptious goodies like Christmas cookies.

Rose Levy Beranbaum, author of the modern classics THE CAKE BIBLE and THE BREAD BIBLE, wrote an entire volume exclusively on Christmas cookies, which was first published in 1998. This will be the first year I delve into it. My 11-year-old has been going through the pages with Post-its selecting her favorites to try. It's hard to choose!

The brand-new magazine from Taste of Home, Best Loved Cookies and Bars, is another visual delight, filled with tempting recipes. It's pricey at $9.99, but this is really a cookbook, not a magazine, and as such the price is well worth it. I found my copy at the local grocery store.

Cook's Illustrated also has a special Holiday Baking Issue ($6.99). It doesn't have lovely color photography, but that is more than compensated for by Cook's Illustrated's reliability. I haven't had one of their recipes let me down yet.

Although not specifically Christmas baking books, the reissued replica editions of Betty Crocker's COOKY BOOK and COOKBOOK FOR BOYS AND GIRLS have fabulous recipes.

The Betty Crocker recipe for Molasses Crinkles, found in each of these books, has been a holiday favorite of mine since I first found it as a little girl in my BETTY CROCKER'S NEW BOYS AND GIRLS COOKBOOK, first published in 1970. I still cook out of that book today. I usually make a double batch of the Molasses Crinkles, dipping half the cookies in sugar prior to baking, and frosting the other half with icing made from powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. These cookies freeze really well and can thus be made now and saved for Christmas gatherings or gifts.

Happy cookie dreams...

Tonight's Movie: Junebug (2005)

JUNEBUG is a fish-out-of-water story about a worldly Chicago art gallery owner, Madeleine (Embeth Davidtz, recently seen as "McDreamy's" sister Nancy on GREY'S ANATOMY) and her new husband George (Alessandro Nivola) traveling to North Carolina to meet his family.

When I began watching the movie, I wasn't quite sure what to make of it. Madeleine takes a detour during their drive to meet with a folk artist who paints disturbing (!) battle images. Her new mother-in-law (Celia Weston) is rude, her brother-in-law (Ben McKenzie) is surly and disturbed, her father-in-law (Scott Wilson) kind but ineffectual. And the camera had an artsy-craftsy habit of lingering too long on empty rooms and beautiful but empty scenery, not to mention the lengthy process of blowing up an air mattress for expected company. What was to love?

And then Amy Adams burst onto the screen as Madeleine's talkative, cheerful, lonely, innocent, wise, and very pregant new sister-in-law, Ashley. Ashley initially seems like a goofball, but bit by bit the layers underneath are revealed, climaxing in her final scene. I also loved the moment when Ashley tells her husband "God loves you just the way you are, but He loves you too much to let you stay that way." Adams lit up every scene she was in; her performance made the movie. Her Oscar nomination as Best Supporting Actress was well deserved.

Slowly the film began to grow on me. I liked the unquestioning way Madeleine accepted her new family, despite their strange behavior. I also liked the realistically depicted baby shower -- the awkwardness of an uninvited neighbor coming to the door, the prayer for the unborn baby. The surly brother unexpectedly reveals he cares for his wife when he desperately attempts to videotape a show he happens across on a subject he knows interests her. And when Madeleine saw an entirely new and unexpected side of her husband when he beautifully sang a hymn at a church social, I was hooked.

The movie is a slow-paced character study which requires patience. The emotional payoffs at the end are subtle but worthwhile. While I think some of the reviews I read when the film came out may have overpraised it, the film is worth seeing and sticks with you after the credits roll.

JUNEBUG was filmed on location in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. (I especially enjoyed the peek into Replacements, one of my very favorite Internet companies.) The movie runs 106 minutes.

Viewer advisory: JUNEBUG is rated R for language and a couple of sexual situations, including a glimpse of a bare rear end. I didn't find these issues to be too much of a detriment, though I could have done without them; on the positive side, how refreshing to have the couple in question happily married.

JUNEBUG is available on DVD. The extras include a commentary and deleted scenes, but unfortunately no trailer...which is the first thing I look for on any DVD. :)

Can McCain Win?

Er, no.

And no again.

He could win a general election, but I don't believe he could first get through the Republican primaries.

The gentlemen at Power Line are a bit puzzled by the level of hostility many conservatives feel toward John McCain.

I'll give you two words why: McCain-Feingold. McCain's lack of regard for free speech is enough to doom him right there.

Or how about a couple more words: Gang of 14.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

McCain is undeniably conservative in certain areas, but he is not reliable or trustworthy. I also have strong concerns about McCain personally. He can be charming, but I also sense there is a lot of anger inside him. I have read any number of stories over the years about him engaging in very "uncharming" behavior which causes me concern.

McCain often has a loose tongue (see link in first paragraph) and is quite happy to "diss" the religious right, talk radio, and others who disagree with him on issues, rather than attempting to work constructively with those in his party with whom he disagrees. I think McCain is happier to work with Democrats than he is with some conservatives!

I simply would not feel secure having McCain in the Oval Office.

John Hinderaker also raises the question of Rudy Giuliani. Rudy is an interesting conundrum. He's a social liberal, and I strongly disagree with his positions on abortion and homosexual marriage, for starters. Rudy has a couple things going for him, being completely reliable when it comes to the war on terror, and a strong record when it comes to "law and order." He also seems to have the right executive and managerial qualities. I can't say at this point that I'd vote for him, but unlike McCain, I would give Giuliani a close look and listen to what he has to say to conservatives, particularly if the alternative were Hillary Clinton.

I wonder how Giuliani's judicial picks would be; if the law and order side of him dominated rather than the socially liberal side, they might not be that bad. On the other hand, they could be disastrous. It would be a real gamble.

It's a funny thing: McCain might possibly be the one with the more conservative overall track record -- though McCain-Feingold is such a huge negative it offsets his conservatism in other areas -- but Giuliani is the man I feel is more trustworthy. That means something, especially in this day and age.

I fail to understand the excitement many conservatives have about Mitt Romney. He does not have a strong conservative record and until 2002 ran as a pro-choice candidate.

Bill Frist? No. A nice man, obviously very talented, but not a leader.

Newt Gingrich is right on when it comes to conservative beliefs, but I think he would be done in by the strong media antipathy, not to mention his rather messy marital track record. (However, that doesn't seem to be hindering Rudy...)

So who is the answer for Republicans in 2008?

Your guess is as good as mine.

Saturday Update: Hugh Hewitt on McCain's attempts to defend the Gang of 14.

Thanksgiving Turkey Tips

The USDA has overhauled its decades-old recommendation that turkey be cooked to a temperature of 180 degrees, which kills salmonella but also dries out the bird.

The new recommendation is to cook turkey to 165 degrees, which is sufficient to kill bacteria yet will leave the turkey in a moist condition.

Today's L.A. Times had a nice section with a variety of ideas for preparing your Thanksgiving turkey.

Mark Bittman in the New York Times turns his attention to stuffing. While his suggestions are always worth considering, I can't say I agree with him that stuffing from the bird is a "soggy, unappealing mess" -- I love it! I follow a family recipe for preparing stuffing in a way I don't typically see in cookbooks -- the stuffing from the turkey is mixed in with more stuffing (dressing?) prepared in the oven, which results in the entire mixture having a lot of great turkey flavor. It's all moistened with broth made from simmering the neck and giblets the night before Thanksgiving.

The N.Y. Times also ran an article on the perfect pie crust.

Hard to believe it's just a week till Thanksgiving! Wasn't it just Halloween?

"Nancy's First Mistake"

Robert Novak on Nancy Pelosi's backing of John Murtha for Majority Leader.

Ms. Pelosi's fellow House Democrats rejected her candidate today, electing Steny Hoyer.

Pelosi may have a rough road ahead.

Tonight's Movie: Bend of the River (1952)

BEND OF THE RIVER is a tremendously entertaining Western starring James Stewart. It's one of eight films Stewart made in the '50s with director Anthony Mann.

The movie has it all: an engaging performance by Stewart as a former outlaw turned wagon train guide, plus action, romance, comedy, spectacular Oregon scenery, and a deep supporting cast. Stewart's costars are Arthur Kennedy, Julia (later known as Julie) Adams, and Rock Hudson. The many recognizable supporting players in the film include Chubby Johnson, Harry Morgan, Jay C. Flippen, and Frances Bavier (Aunt Bee from THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW).

I have special memories of Julie Adams. When I was in high school I had a nonspeaking supporting role as a student in a local junior college production of THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE. "Miss Adams," as we called her, starred in the play. She was gracious and professional, and I treasure my signed program and the memory of having performed on the same stage with her. She is still acting, appearing this year in WORLD TRADE CENTER and episodes of the TV series LOST. For more photos and biographical information on Julie Adams, look here and here.

BEND OF THE RIVER was shot in Technicolor and runs 91 minutes. It's available on DVD and video.

The movie is also part of the Turner Classic Movies library.

October 2011 Update: I've written a more detailed review of BEND OF THE RIVER in conjunction with seeing it at the Egyptian Theatre with Julie Adams in attendance.

2019 Update: This film is now available on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber. My review of the Blu-ray is here.

2026 Update: Kino Lorber has released a new, even better restored edition of BEND OF THE RIVER on Blu-ray.  I've reviewed it for my Western RoundUp column at Classic Movie Hub.

Choosing Majors in 8th Grade

Spunky Homeschool points out a disturbing new program in Florida, in which 8th graders will be required to choose from among 80 "majors" and careers.

A district spokeswoman said "This is intended to be a career plan to help them better engage in making plans for their future."

This seems uncomfortably like educational systems in Europe, which help perpetuate the class system by funneling students into college vs. jobs at an early age.

My daughter is a college freshman and is torn between several different areas of study. It's hard enough to narrow one's options when one is college age. How can an 8th grader possibly be expected to choose a so-called major at the age of 12, 13, or 14?

And as Spunky points out, certain jobs are not offered as options...want to be a pastor? Not on the list.

A school board member in Florida: "As long as we encourage students to think about it and let them know they have choices, and as long as we keep it flexible, I don't think it will do too much damage."

That's a disturbingly low goal for a school board -- hoping their program won't "do too much damage"?

"Should Government Take a Yardstick to Colleges?"

No.

This proposal by Education Secretary Margaret Spellings is just one more sad symptom of the expansion of the nanny state under a Republican administration.

The free market works fine when it comes to colleges being held accountable for their "product." The last thing we need is more government intrusiveness, with Uncle Sam tracking (anonymously, we're assured) students' progress through college. Is there nowhere anymore where we're safe from the prying eyes of big government?

And I might add, with all the problems prevalent in public schools, why does Spellings also want to take on monitoring colleges?

Let the market work. A college which graduates students poorly qualified to succeed will soon be lacking customers.

If only we could bring that kind of free market "policing" to our K-12 public schools! Ms. Spellings is approaching these issues exactly backwards.

Choices, Choices

President Bush is nominating a Senator, Mel Martinez, to head the RNC...which means that the head of the RNC will be filled by a part-timer. Somehow I don't think this choice is what the party needs at this point. Don't we need someone fully focused on recapturing control of Congress, rather than a member of the clubby Senate, to head the RNC?

Captain's Quarters has more.

Martinez is also somewhat of a divisive figure among the party due to his support for amnesty for illegal immigrants -- which, unfortunately, is in line with the President's views and may be one reason he was named to the post.

President Bush passed over Michael Steele, who ran a strong campaign in Maryland and would have been an appealing new face nationally for the Republican Party. Steele was interested in the job.

The Democrats are providing their own post-election entertainment, what with Nancy Pelosi choosing John Murtha, who has a questionable ethical background, to head the House Democrats in what she pledges will be the most ethical Congress ever. It will be interesting to see if she chooses Alcee Hastings, who was impeached and convicted of bribery, to head the House Intelligence Committee, in order to win the votes of the Black Caucus.

Pelosi apparently has taken a dislike to Jane Harman, who is the ranking Democrat member on the Intelligence Committee and would normally be next in line for the chairmanship. According to last week's New York Times, Harman doesn't intend to relinquish the job without a fight.

A former Carter Administration official, Leslie Gelb, said that if Pelosi appoints Hastings over Harman, "A lot of people would be astonished. I think it would send a signal that Democrats are not going to be as serious about national security as they need to be."

Pelosi has indicated she may compromise by selecting Silvestre Reyes, a Texan, for the House Intelligence job.

Tonight's Movie: Man in the Saddle (1951)

MAN IN THE SADDLE (1951) is one of Randolph Scott's many Westerns. It's a moderately entertaining movie, though not on a par with the Westerns I've seen thus far in which Scott was directed by Budd Boetticher, SEVEN MEN FROM NOW and THE TALL T.

Scott plays a rancher who loses the woman he loves (Joan Leslie) to a wealthy neighboring rancher (Alexander Knox), who is also wildly jealous and launches a war against Scott in an attempt to drive him away. Scott spends most of the movie battling Knox's henchmen, as well as finding a new love in a resourceful neighbor (Ellen Drew).

The supporting cast includes John Russell and Cameron Mitchell, along with Tennessee Ernie Ford as a cowhand. Ford sings the title song. MAN IN THE SADDLE was directed by Andre De Toth.

Like many other Randolph Scott Westerns, much of MAN IN THE SADDLE was filmed in the Alabama Hills outside Lone Pine, California. A fight sequence with the combatants sliding down a snowy hill makes particularly effective use of the scenery. (Unfortunately, a number of the scenes are somewhat murky, possibly as a result of "day for night" shooting, which dilutes the ability to fully appreciate the setting.) The creative staging of the climactic gun battle in a windstorm is another of the film's high points. 

MAN IN THE SADDLE was filmed in color and runs 87 minutes. It's not a top-drawer Western, but it has enough memorable moments to make viewing it worthwhile.

This movie is available on DVD and video.

2022 Update: I've written a new, more detailed review of this film which is available here.

Lieberman in Control

Joe Lieberman was clear during his campaign as an Independent that he intended to caucus with the Democrats, but today he left the door open for a move to the Republican Party.

I rather doubt Joe would make the switch -- he's very liberal on everything except the War on Terror -- but he's definitely reminding the Democrats who didn't support him that he's in control. Were Lieberman to switch which party he supports, control of the Senate would shift back to the Republicans.

Between Joe holding the final key to the Democrats' control of the Senate and Nancy Pelosi announcing she's backing John Murtha for the House Majority Leader over the current Democrat whip, Steny Hoyer...well, it's going to be an interesting two years.

Today at Disneyland

It may not be Thanksgiving yet, but it's Christmas at Disneyland:


This is one place I don't really mind the season coming early, as there is so much to take in during this season that it's hard to do it all in one trip.

We started out at Disney's California Adventure, as admission to Disneyland was temporarily closed due to crowded Veterans Day weekend conditions. DCA's San Francisco area had a pretty tree up:


After a nice meal at Pizza Oom Mow Mow and a ride on Soarin' Over California, we headed over to Disneyland.

The tree is up at Main Street's Town Square, the lights are strung in New Orleans, and everything looks very festive. It was too dark to get a good shot of the tree, but the exterior of Pirates of the Caribbean looks appropriately spooky at night:


If today is any indicator, the crowds we've seen since the start of the 50th Anniversary celebration aren't going to go away anytime soon.

My one criticism of Disneyland at this time of year is that I would really like to see the verboten word Christmas return to the park. If Wal-Mart can re-embrace Christmas, so can Disney.