S: Is for up-holding your statements

The following is part of a transcript from a speech offering hope. I will tell you at the end by whom:

It is a pleasure to be with you, among people transforming this city with good will and good works. People on the front lines of community renewal should work together. And government should take your side. I've carried one message. Our country must be prosperous. But prosperity must have a purpose. The purpose of prosperity is to make sure the American dream touches every willing heart. The purpose of prosperity is to leave no one out--to leave no one behind. We are a wealthy nation. But we must also be rich in ideals-- rich in justice and compassion and family love and moral courage. I am an economic conservative. The reality here is simple. Often when a life is broken, it can only be rebuilt by another caring, concerned human being. Someone whose actions say, "I love you, I believe in you, I'm in your corner." This is compassion with a human face and a human voice. It is not an isolated act -- it is a personal relationship. And it works. in solving the problems of our day, there is no substitute for unconditional love and personal contact. Real change in our culture comes from the bottom up, not the top down. It gathers the momentum of a million committed hearts. So today I want to propose a different role for government. A fresh start. A bold new approach. In my administration we will make a determined attack on need, by promoting the compassionate acts of others. We will rally the armies of compassion in our communities to fight a very different war against poverty and hopelessness, a daily battle waged house to house and heart by heart. This will not be the failed compassion of towering, distant bureaucracies. On the contrary, it will be government that serves those who are serving their neighbors. It will be government that directs help to the inspired and the effective. It will be government that both knows its limits, and shows its heart. And it will be government truly by the people and for the people. Self-control and character and goal-setting give direction and dignity to all our lives. We must renew these values to restore our country. So today I am announcing a series of proposals. And they are guided by some basic principles. Resources should be devolved, not just to states, but to charities and neighborhood healers. We will strengthen Social Security and Medicare. We will fortify the military. We will cut taxes in a way that creates high-paying jobs. Yet there is another priority. In my first year in office, we will dedicate about $8 billion-- an amount equal to 10 percent of the non-Social Security surplus--to provide new tax incentives for giving, and to support charities and other private institutions that save and change lives. We will prove, in word and deed, that our prosperity has a purpose. As Americans, this is our creed and our calling. We stumble and splinter when we forget that goal. We unite and prosper when we remember it. No great calling is ever easy, and no work of man is ever perfect. But we can, in our imperfect way, rise now and again to the example of St. Francis, where there is hatred, sowing love; where there is darkness, shedding light; where there is despair, bringing hope.

This was spoken by our exiting President Bush July 22, 1999. Let us hope that incumbent President Obama does more than just inspire but upholds his words. The pop artist best known for his LOVE word sculpture has created a installation that spells HOPE — in celebration of Barack Obama's message of hope. Artist Robert Indiana's HOPE was unveiled Thursday at Jim Kempner Fine Art, a Manhattan gallery. Indiana's publicist says the artist raised more than $1 million for the Obama campaign by creating HOPE prints, posters, T-shirts and other memorabilia. The 6-foot stainless steel sculpture was shown privately during the Democratic National Convention in Denver last August and now they are deciding where it should permanently resides. Hope inspires and that is a F.A.C.T.

T: Is for Troubled Times

There are lots of movies out there right now about the holocaust. Tonight I saw Defiance. With each of these movies there is inevitably the scene where nobody believes that humanity could conceive of such a fate of another human being. A holocaust, according to Webster's dictionary, is a complete destruction by fire. The destruction starts of the soul. People lost the ability to see what was happening. They lost constructive reasoning. In Europe, during this period, there was a complete destruction by fire of homes, businesses, neighborhoods and people. This destruction was carried out under the direction of Adolf Hitler, during the years 1939-1945, but it actually began earlier, in 1933, when Hitler came in to power in Germany. The Holocaust, which was caused by ignorance could of been prevented. Much like the warnings of Wall Street with the Enron scandal. The Soviet attitude were more concerned for its own survival, The British fought in defense of their own interests which luckily coincided with the defense of humanity. At first the thought of such destruction in Europe was incomprehensible to other Nations. The suffering of hundreds of millions and ignorance cause of the death of over 6 million lives. By not recognizing the events leading to the Holocaust people walked into their fates. It started because rising inflation left many Germans poor and jobless. Political differences exploded into a new democratic government. That government was unable to prevent disorder and caused people to lose faith in democracy. Hilter, offered a solution. Hitler blamed most of Germany's problems on the Jews. Auschwitz, Treblinka, Sobibor were rumored to be death camps, where human life was soon to be destroyed. In this country we have been building these same kind of camps and we sit idly by. We associate the holocaust with just the Jews but homosexuals, disabled and gypsies were also experimented on and killed. Who ever the government felt was an undesirable was terminated so who is next. We need to wake up and that is a F.A.C.T.

C: Is for The Colbert Report

My son Zach is in town and he is into the production side of film and television. So on to seeing shows filmed in NY we went. The first day we went to see the Letterman Show. Getting tickets to this is not as difficult as it sounds. You go on-line and make your request. Since it is not high tourist season there is a good chance that you will become a recipient. It also turned out that my son is a fan of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report, with the later being his favorite. Now, until two days ago I lived with my head under a rock in terms of tv shows, but Zach introduced me to them. They are satirical and right up my alley politically so in search of tickets I went. The same rule to Letterman applies, however these are the new generations, cult favorites, so we were going to have to pray for stand-by. Since I have been getting up early (not my norm), when I read the address I had us on the other side of town and a few blocks off. Not a problem though as we ran into the Jon Stewart line. Though not first choice, this was left as an option. A few blocks away was our target, The Colbert Show, but where the Stewart show had a line, blocks long the Colbert Shows line was hidden. We finally found it and managed to get in. Score one for the Mom. Whew!

Stephen Colbert turns out to be one terrific actor, highly funny and his show, well run. Stephen got his start with the famed improve group Second City, initially as an understudy for Steve Carell. Leaving Second City he relocated to New York and worked on the sketch comedy show Exit 57. The series debuted on Comedy Central in 1995 and lasted a year. Next, he was not only a cast member, but also a writer on The Dana Carvey Show. Then onto Saturday Night Live, VH1 and MTV as a sketch writer and a script consultant, which lead to...Strangers with Candy and The Daily Show. On the Daily Show, Colbert developed a correspondent character for his pieces on the series. In 2005, Colbert got his own television show, The Colbert Report, a Daily Show spin-off which parodies the conventions of television news broadcasting. The series has strong ratings, averaging 1.2 million viewers nightly and winning a Emmy for writing. Colbert has also appeared as a actor in Bewitched, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Spin City, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and on the improvisational comedy show Whose Line Is It Anyway?. To fans of the Simpson's, he was Homer Simpson's life coach in the Simpsons episode "He Loves to Fly and He D'ohs".

The Colbert Report is totally worth watching on TV and standing in line to watch live and that is a NY F.A.C.T.

A: Is for Art that is sexsational

On Sunday I went to review an "erotic theater/dance extravaganza" and since I had spent the day before in total decadence, I was on the right path. Entering the Duo Theatre at 62 East 4th Street to see "The Judgement of Paris," I was transported back in time. Slightly Moulin Rouge, the decaying opulence set the mood. Women corseted, stocking with ruffled satin skirts lured you into their world as Seth Numrich in one of his many roles as the MC beguiles you into this acting troupes world. As the house lights dimmed it is like being plunged into Dante's fall as the story of Paris and Helen of Troy unfold. Seth Numrich now Paris, is given a golden apple bestowed upon him by Cupid (Davon Rainey) to either Hera (Laura Careless brilliantly on pointe), Athena (Yeva Glover ala war time Boogie) or the zaftig, Reubenesque Aphrodite (Gioia Marchese) who promises him Helen (Elyssa Dole) despite the fact that she’s already married to Menaleus (Seth Numrich as well). Seen through a series of choreographed vignettes, the tale takes on a contemporary twist. The Greek goddesses become showgirls, then melt into blonde burlesque dancers, while Aphrodite their voluptuous Eastern European madam. I loved the Trojan War sequence, as a slow, pageant of helmeted figures reaching out for each other as if stuck in a nightmare. As the choreographer Austin McCormick has created a world where this story becomes not only relevant, but also dangerously and hypnotically sexy. Mixing burlesque with ballet melting into a bawdy can-can, McCormick proves he is someone to be reckoned with and watched. Gioia Marchese is powerful as Aphrodite who arranges Helen's downfall. She twists, manipulates, while all the time she's a luring devil who makes you seem as if Hell was your own doing. There are times when you are watching a star in the making and the incredible, versatile Seth Numrich who plays all of the male roles, is one of those people. With nothing but a minor costume to separate each character, he manages to give each one the emotionality that makes you care. He is sexy, venerable, tragic and has a passion that leaps off the stage and engrosses the audience. This production is well executed as well. From the lighting by Leigh Allen to the costumes by Olivera Gajic to the set design by Rumiko Ishii, but it is the concept, visualization by Mr. McCormick that makes The Judgment of Paris one seductive and entertaining production.

As it is a limited run, you only have until January 31st to be seduced. Tickets $35.00 Students and Seniors $20.00 and it is worth every cent and that is a F.A.C.T!

F: Is for Fashion that still appeals

It is no surprise to me that when I went to the shows at the Javits last week and grabbed material from companies that I wanted to write about, low and behold I picked some of the same ones, without realizing it. Last year I wrote about Cynthia Ashby a Chicago based company located in the heart of East Ukrainian Village. A modern clothing line. With a harmony of sublime reminiscence with contemporary appeal. Each piece is independent and original, embellished and refined. Worn alone or with past collections, garments create a daring allure, an enchantment, a feel that you stepped out of another time. Made from natural linen, cotton, silk and wool the fabrics are dyed in small batches, which gives an exclusive, individuality to each garment. This process heightens tonal depth and intensifies color and texture creating a concert of assorted weaves and resonant hues. Always daring in design and adventurous in rendition, Cynthia’s impulses eschew trends offering risk-provoking style. Every aspect of the garment is designed to incite and inspire imagination. As Cynthia states "The poetry of color is a key part of what makes these garments unique. The clothing is garment dyed, which creates a quality of uncommon depth and texture. The garments are made from linen, cotton, silk and wool in assorted textures and weights. The raw look of the fabric is animated with fine detailing in design and construction." Cynthia Ashby speaks to the woman who does not subscribe to fashion trends. This woman is on a perpetual treasure hunt, collecting pieces to mix and layer, creating different combinations and infinite choices for her wardrobe. I for one am one of those women and that is a F.A.C.T.