Quote of the Week
“The rain to the wind said,
You push and I'll pelt.'
They so smote the garden bed
That the flowers actually knelt,
And lay lodged--though not dead.
I know how the flowers felt.”
― Robert Frost
Easter Sunday and Family
Sunday is family day with us. Since we are empty nesters, Sunday is the one day we reconnect. We make it a priority and as the saying goes...it is good. This past Easter Sunday was especially great. All of our kids have significant others, my mother-in-law lives across the driveway in her own home, and a great friend, Ellen, were over. I looked around the filled dining room table and breathed deep. Then, I listened. Conversation, laughter, jokes and more laughter made the Easter dinner all that much better. As I've grown older, I've come to appreciate more and more my family, and especially now since the nest is empty, refilling itself on Sundays. We've always been a tight knit group of 5—not perfect by any means as no family is perfect—but always willing to forgive and love each other.
It was a great day.
Volunteer Basketball
What a fun season. Rick Barnes, Dalton Knecht, Zakai Ziegler and all the rest were so much fun to watch. Frustrating at times (which team isn't for fans), but always playing hard and to the last whistle. As a former coach, that's the best compliment I can give. It's not easy to motivate young people to play with their last ounce of energy each time out, and it's not easy to demand that of one's body as often as college sports are played these days, but this team did. They were a fun group to watch.
Speaking of college basketball...
I tuned in to the LSU/Iowa women's basketball game on Monday. I'd not seen Caitlyn Clark nor Angel Reese play so I wanted to see what all the hubub was about. Angel Reese is a top-notch player. Smart, tough, fearless, and aggressive. She reminds me of a female Dennis Rodman...always is around the ball and always moving.
Caitlyn Clark...also aggressive, smart, and despite her ability to score seemingly at will, and at a distance, she's also willing to make the extra pass to an open teammate, drawing people to her and then feeding someone under the basket.
It was a shame Ms. Reece fouled out, but I'm not sure it mattered as Iowa was simply better this night. I'm glad I tuned in.
Squatter's Rights
Historically, there is a long history of squatters, although they were not referred to as squatters. Dating back to ancient Rome, those who occupied unworked land eventually gained rights so said land might be worked. This notion also applied to English common law in the 1600s. As a way to "settle" the West, President Lincoln signed the Homestead Act (1862). There were other instances of squatting as well: the California gold rush, the Great Depression, and during World War II. Even in the modern day, during the economic meltdown of 2007-2008, abandoned homes were taken over, squatted, as foreclosure ensued.
While squatting has a long history, what is currently occurring throughout states is not what the laws were intended, yet, via legal loopholes, those squatting are taking advantage and, in some cases, depriving owners of their own homes with the owners’ little recourse other than lengthy and expensive legal procedures.
Many are calling for the federal government to step in, but this is incorrect. This is a state and local issue, needing to be solved by state and local officials, highlighting the need for people to spend less time on the national government and more time locally, electing those people who will best serve the state and local community.
ACORN, a group created in 1970 to bring awareness to housing shortages and help the homeless encouraged squatting as a way to highlight the housing shortage and attempt to generate laws and government action to make changes.
The concept of squatting is actually referred to as Adverse Possession, meaning if a person does not have title to a property, they may acquire said title by continuous possession of the property without permission of the owner. Of course, there is more to it than that, but that is the gist. Each state has specific laws regarding squatting, as stated earlier, making this seemingly easy to stop problem a bit murkier, made all the murkier when agencies get involved to deliberately foster squatting.
Jesus Christ Superstar
Each year on Good Friday, I watch Ted Neeley, Jesus, in the original film adaptation of Jesus Christ Superstar perform his Gethsemane performance. I especially like his take much later in his career as his emotion pours forth and his voice, now aged and a bit more "gruff" simply adds to the moment (Here's the link).
I've listened to JCS for many years, waffling back and forth as to how biblical or accurate or even if it is blasphemous (it's not), but still come back to a few notions. First, the story is told from Judas' point of view, a man who wants to do the right thing but doesn't quite understand Christ is the Son of God. He sees him as a good man who has gained a following but losing sight of a simpler mission of helping the downtrodden. Second, the musical also highlights Christ and his understanding of his mission, completely, but attempting to deal with his own humanity thrust upon him by the Father, along with the myriad emotions that go into being human. Finally, and this is my own take, that conflict comes to fruition at Gethsemane, for my money, the peak of the film/musical.
What I didn't know was the controversy it sparked in the early 70s when it was released, made its way to Broadway (the creators hated that version), and finally to film, filmed on location in Israel (they weren't too fond of that version either). Jewish leaders called it antisemitic (it's not), Christian leaders called it a distortion of the story of Christ (it's not). It seemed as though so many had terrible takes on "rock opera" simply because they wanted something to complain about.
If you've not seen it, try it out. Carl Anderson as Judas is impeccable...as is Neeley as Jesus. Yvonne Elleman, she of disco music fame, plays Mary Magdalene (her implied relationship with Jesus is what got Christians mad). It is a wonderful musical and quite thought provoking. If nothing else, click the link to see a much older and seasoned Ted Neeley speak to God in Gethsemane. Truly moving.
Speaking of Music
I read where AI is now generating lyrics and music. Really? That's a hard NO for me.
It's Baseball Season!
...and you know what that means...
The Chicago White Sox, as of this writing, are 0-4. And not a good 0-4.
Maybe I'll watch cricket from India this year.
Random Facts of the Day
On this day in 1513, Ponce De León claims Florida for Spain, and Annie Hall beats out Star Wars for Best Picture. Does anyone actually remember Annie Hall?
Welp, that's it for this week's mid-week musings. Have a great rest of the week and don't forget…it's all downhill from here!
Michael DiMatteo
Somewhere In Time
Triple Option Publishing
©2024
Although I'm not a fan of Jesus Christ Superstar, it may reach people in ways the Church does not reach. Too many "good" Christians try to "santize" the Story of Jesus. It's truly an ugly, violent Story from our human perspective. That's how God works! On another note, squatters must occupy the property for several years (depending on which state you're in), make attempts to maintain and improve the property, and pay property taxes. That said, it's a messy and expensive process to undo this. Lastly, convert and become a Cub fan. We're 3-2 and rising! My two cents.