Paul Levinson's Blog: Levinson at Large, page 121
August 18, 2020
Podcast Report on Second Day of 2020 Democratic National Convention
Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 139, in which I offer my assessment of the second night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention.
Further reading (my blog):
Report on the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Day 2
Paul Levinson's books ... Paul Levinson's music
Podcast Report on 2020 Democratic National Convention, Day Two
Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 139, in which I offer my assessment of the second night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention.
Further reading (my blog):
Report on the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Day 2
Paul Levinson's books ... Paul Levinson's music
Written Report on 2nd Day of 2020 Democratic National Convention
I thought the second day of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, totally virtual, and just concluded on television, hit an emotional tone which was at once as deep as it gets, and hopeful. The casting of the nominating ballots, state by state, in alphabetical order, was especially moving and satisfying, a much better multi-faceted picture of America than could ever be offered in an in-person physical convention, because we actually got to see the states and cities across this country from which the delegates, multicultural, colorfully dressed and spoken, were casting their votes.
It was also good to see Joe Biden himself at critical moments in the convention, as we did last night. Tonight he accepted the nomination, spoke with people who survived because of the Affordable Health Care Act, which he helped bring over the finish line with Obama, and came out to hug his wife Jill after her speech. This was something you also didn't see, or didn't see much of, in the traditional old-fashioned in-person conventions. (Right, I'm increasingly thinking of those in-person conventions as old-fashioned.)
I also thought the segment of Biden working with John McCain and other Republicans was very effective. Whatever McCain did that was right or wrong in the Senate, his saving of the Affordable Care Act from the Trumpian onslaught will be remembered for a long time in history.
And Jill Biden's talk, and its analogy of making a family whole (what she did when she married Joe Biden) and making a nation whole (what Joe and she will do once they're in the White House), was just the tonic we needed.
As a parting note, it was great to see Caroline Kennedy and her son Jack Schlossberg, looking a lot like his uncle John Kennedy, Jr. and he has the same bearing as his grandfather JFK. There's no going back to Camelot, but Jack may well play a role in building the new and better America in the decades ahead.
See also Report on the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Day 1 ... Report on the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Day 3
Written Report on 2020 Democratic National Convention, Day 2
I thought the second day of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, totally virtual, and just concluded on television, hit an emotional tone which was at once at deep as it gets, and hopeful. The casting of the nominating ballots, state by state, in alphabetical order, was especially moving and satisfying, a much better multi-faceted picture of America than could ever be offered in an in-person physical convention, because we actually got to see the states and cities across this country from which the delegates, multicultural, colorfully dressed and spoken, were casting their votes.
It was also good to see Joe Biden himself at critical moments in the convention, as we did last night. Tonight he accepted the nomination, spoke with people who survived because of the Affordable Health Care Act, which he helped bring over the finish line with Obama, and came out to hug his wife Jill after her speech. This was something you also didn't see, or didn't see much of, in the traditional old-fashioned in-person conventions.
I also thought the segment of Biden working with John McCain and other Republicans was very effective. Whatever McCain did that was right or wrong in the Senate, his saving of the Affordable Care Act from the Trumpian onslaught will be remembered for a long time in history.
And Jill Biden's talk, and its analogy of making a family whole (what she did when she married Joe Biden) and making a nation whole (what Joe and she will do once they're in the White House), was just the tonic we needed.
As a parting note, it was great to see Caroline Kennedy and her son Jack Schlossberg, a lot like his uncle John Kennedy, Jr. and has the same bearing as his grandfather JFK. There's no going back to Camelot, but Jack may well play a role in building the new and better America in the decades ahead.
See also Report on the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Day 1
August 17, 2020
Podcast Report on First Day of 2020 Democratic National Convention
Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 138, in which I offer my assessment of the first night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention.
Further reading (my blog)
Report on 2020 Democratic National Convention, Day 1
Paul Levinson's books ... Paul Levinson's music
Podcast Report on 2020 Democratic National Convention, Day One
Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 138, in which I offer my assessment of the first night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention.
Further reading (my blog)
Report on 2020 Democratic National Convention, Day 1
Paul Levinson's books ... Paul Levinson's music
Written Report on 1st Day of 2020 Democratic National Convention
I thought the first night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, the first virtual convention ever held, was truly effective. Not only because of what the well-known speakers said, which was passionate and true and highly effective, but also because of several speakers I don't recall seeing before at any national political convention.
Probably the best of these not-yet-famous people, certainly what moved me the most, was what Kristin Urquiza said. Her father, a Trump supporter, died of COVID. His only pre-condition, Ms. Urquiza said, "was that he trusted Donald Trump". That statement not only rings true to the soul, but shows that Ms. Urquiza has a future in the political world, if she wants it.
Now to some of the people we already knew. I thought Bernie Sanders gave the best speech of his life tonight. He spoke plain truth to his millions of supporters, which didn't include me. But every word he said made eminent sense. His confessions of a progressive -- his confessions about why he was supporting Joe Biden for President -- should be a handbook for every rational person. In a phrase, they explained the dangers of Trump (which we already know), but also how Biden's positions take important steps towards what Sanders wants, most importantly universal health care. I hope those points become known and are believed by every progressive.
I thought the Republicans supporting Trump were convincing, and, for some reason, even more so Biden's rivals in the Democratic Primary, like Bernie. In addition, the more moderate Amy Klobuchar continues to impress as one of the most sensible thinkers and speakers in America. Andrew Cuomo didn't run for President this year. But his dealing with the COVID pandemic in New York -- we now have just a one-percent infection rate in this state, after starting out as the most infected state in country -- was masterful, including his daily briefings (which I said at the time were akin to FDR's fireside chats during the Great Depression). His speech tonight followed in that tradition.
And then there's Michelle Obama. She already ascended to being far more than a former First Lady. But tonight she hit new heights, of passion, compassion, and just clear common sense. Her speech was a pleasure and an inspiration to hear, and I hope that it gets everyone who voted for Barack to vote for Biden this time around. Her plea that we should vote as if our lives depended on it was never more true.
And I'll be back here tomorrow with thoughts on what tomorrow's segment of the 2020 Democratic National Convention brings.
See also Report on the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Day 2 ... Report on the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Day 3
Paul Levinson's books ... Paul Levinson's musicWritten Report on 2020 Democratic National Convention, Day 1
I thought the first of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, the first virtual convention ever held, was truly effective. Not only because of what the well-known speakers said, which was passionate and true and highly effective, but also because of several speakers I don't recall seeing before at any national political convention.
Probably the best of these not-yet-famous people, certainly what moved me the most, was what Kristin Urquiza said. Her father, a Trump supporter, died of COVID. His only pre-condition, Ms. Urquiza said, "was that he trusted Donald Trump". That statement not only rings true to the soul, but shows that Ms. Urquiza has a future in the political world, if she wants it.
Now to some of the people we already knew. I thought Bernie Sanders gave the best speech of his life tonight. He spoke plain truth to his millions of supporters, which didn't include me. But every word he said made eminent sense. His confessions of a progressive -- his confessions about why he was supporting Joe Biden for President -- should be a handbook for every rational person. In a phrase, they explained the dangers of Trump (which we already know), but also how Biden's positions take important steps towards what Sanders wants, most importantly universal health care. I hope those points become known and are believed by every progressive.
I thought the Republicans supporting Trump were convincing, and, for some reason, even more so Biden's rivals in the Democratic Primary, like Bernie. In addition, the more moderate Amy Klobuchar continues to impress as one of the most sensible thinkers and speakers in America. Andrew Cuomo didn't run for President this year. But his dealing with the COVID pandemic in New York -- we now have just a one-percent infection rate in this state, after starting out as the most infected state in country -- was masterful, including his daily briefings (which I said at the time were akin to FDR's fireside chats during the Great Depression). His speech tonight followed in that tradition.
And then there's Michelle Obama. She already ascended to being far more than a former First Lady. But tonight she hit new heights, of passion, compassion, and just clear common sense. Her speech was a pleasure and an inspiration to hear, and I hope that it gets everyone who voted for Barack to vote for Biden this time around. Her plea that we should vote as if our lives depended on it was never more true.
And I'll be back here tomorrow with thoughts on what tomorrow's segment of the 2020 Democratic National Convention brings.
London Kills: Storyline and Characters that Kill
My wife and I binge-watched another two-season U.K. offering from Acorn TV: London Kills. It's been billed as akin to Criminal Minds and Castle, but, episode for episode (five per-season for this mini-series), I liked it better than either of those fine shows. How's that for praise?
Like Striking Out, another Acorn gem with two seasons that I just reviewed here yesterday, London Kills combines individual murder investigations in an episodic format, with a continuing story that spans the two seasons: DI David Bradford's wife Sarah has gone missing. He commands a four-person unit consisting of DS Vivienne Cole (don't call her Viv!), DC Rob Brady, and TDC Billie Fitzgerald (I just love those U.K. police detective ranks: Detective Inspector, Detective Sergeant, Detective Constable, Trainee Detective Constable), who must decide if Sarah is dead or missing, and, ultimately in logical analysis, if she is dead, did Bradford kill her?
The characters are well-drawn and distinctive. They all have minds of their own. But Cole is by-the-book, Brady's strong suit is loyalty, and Fitzgerald is the most empathetic. Bradford has all of those elements in his persona, all of which are filtered through the torment he feels about his missing wife, amplified by a troubled step-daughter who thinks he murdered her mother Sarah and a psycho who knew too much about what happened to Sarah.
The cast is more than up for the narrative and roles, and put in memorable performances across the board (Hugo Speer as Bradford, Sharon Small as Cole, Bailey Patrick, who was good in The Nest, too, as Brady, and Tori Allen-Martin as Fitzgerald). Unlike Striking Out, it looks like there's every chance there will be a third season, and I'll stop watching whatever else I may be viewing and switch to the third season of London Kills.
Paul Levinson's books ... Paul Levinson's music
August 16, 2020
Striking Out: A Solid Hit
My wife and I binged the two seasons of Striking Out, originally (in 2017-2018) on Irish TV, now on Acorn via Amazon Prime. The show only ran two seasons, and there's apparently no prospect for a third season, which is a shame, because the two seasons were quite good, and the second season ended on an unexpected turn of events.
The set-up of the show is something we've seen before: a happily married or about to be happily married woman comes home to find her man happily going at it in bed with another woman. In the case of Striking Out, Tara and Eric, the about-to-be-married happy couple, both are attorneys, who work in Eric father's firm, and just for good measure, Tara's father is an attorney, too. Lots of possibilities there, and the narrative is especially enjoyable to see because it all takes place in Dublin, a sight for sore eyes in these our current COVID-beset times.
But the stories are good, too, and come in two kinds. One is episodic, as Tara struggles to establish her own practice, and takes this unusual case and that. The other narrative is continuing, and delves into what's going on in Eric's father's firm. It's under investigation, by some kind of independent prosecutor who is both brilliant and drinks too much, and who Tara's comes to sometimes work with, which adds further provocative permutations to the story.
The acting is excellent. Amy Huberman plays an appealing Tara, wounded, powerful, loving, and funny. The supporting cast features Moe Dunford (Vikings), Neil Morrissey (Line of Duty), and Maria Doyle Kennedy and Nick Dunning from The Tudors, so how can you wrong? The only thing wrong about Striking Out if that there's no third season, so here's a final plea for one in case anyone who can make that happen is reading this.
Paul Levinson's books ... Paul Levinson's music
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