Shift Towards the East for Italy?

    Truthfully speaking, Europe, especially NATO nations, feel deserted these days and have to reconsider things. Angela Merkel said so loudly a few days ago, but there are some quieter signs as we; So much for Donald Trump's diplomacy.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/29/world/europe/russia-courts-italy-in-us-absence.html?_r=0

JFK born 100 years ago today

     Now this makes me feel old! Turning 64 yesterday did not, but the centennial of John F. Kennedy's birth does give me pause. I vividly remember the 1960 election. My second grade class had a mock vote. I believe he won by one vote I voted for Nixon. Then recess came and we were all friends again. Such it was before America became bitter, mean, and antagonistic.

     As you can infer, my family where rock-ribbed Republicans, and I did not hear a kind word spoken about JFK growing up. But as I aged, I came to appreciate him more and more. In high school I shed my conservatism and became a liberal Republican. One could be that back then, especially in the Northeastern part of the country.

     By university I became a Democrat officially. In German class we read Kennedy's Ich bin ein Berliner speech,and I was struck by how hawkish he was. Certainly the situation required it, but I began to question everything that I had heard at home about the man.

     During my seminary internship I read a used copy of William Manchester's biography of Robert Kennedy, and saw him in a different light. While I did not support Teddy Kennedy's challenge to President Carter for the Democratic nomination in 1980, I came to admire Teddy.

     Doubtless some will talk about the affairs, placing his brother in the cabinet, and all of the other things that swirl around JFK. But compared to what we have now for presidential leadership and vision, I would take all of that in a heartbeat.

     All that I will say about the assassination is that the whole story has yet to be told. From what we know/think/suspect, it is not a pretty won, and the nation started on a long path in the wrong direction on 22 November 1963.

     JFK;s daughter Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg and her daughter Tatiana appeared on a video talking about his legacy. Below is a link.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/24/politics/jfk100-caroline-kennedy-100th-birthday/

A dangerous trend

     The bitterness and rancor which have marked politics, not only in the USA, intensified when a (now) victorious candidate for the US House of Representatives from Montana body-slammed a reporter from the UK Guardian newspaper.

     While the body-slammer apologized, the episode marks a nadir. During the  2016 presidential campaign Donald Trump egged on supporters, but did not himself throw any punches.

    The historical precedents are ominous. Memories of Nazi thugs come to med, and also of Communist enforcers as well. Totalitarian systems will stop at nothing to stop anyone asking uncomfortable questions. They also effectively control or brainwash their supporters into applauding the actions, and blaming the victims for whatever happens to them.

     We live in scary times indeed.

 


https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/may/26/greg-gianforte-wins-montana-congress-race-body-slam-reporter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wItUjFU1i4M

My Favorite Movies Collection

https://plus.google.com/collection/8GnCPB

    I was thinking about this collection recently. When Sir Roger Moore died earlier this week, I thought of the films in which I saw him. One that usually is overlooked in his filmography is the 1978 action picture The Wild Geese. Moore starred with Richard Burton, Richard Harris, and Hardy Kruger.

     While a heavy-on-the-testosterone flick about mercenaries in Africa, the movie also touches on some philosophical and morality issues. Much of this was cut out for the long-ago USA showing of the movie on NBC, likely so that commercial time was used to its full effect.

     Take a peak if you have the time at some of my fave movies. I do update this every so often, and check out the other collections that I have. Thanks.

Sir Roger Moore, RIP

    When I was in elementary school, I got to touch the James Bond car from Goldfinger. Of course Sir Sean Connery drove that one, not his successor. When the first change in Bonds occur ed, I was not upset. After all, my family had recently moved from one end of Pennsylvania to the other; I understood change. Also, I saw that Connery did not want to be typecast! Look what happened to Adam West after Batman!

     Moore was elegant, suave, intelligent and daring, as all Bonds are. He had unique spin to it, however, and while I could never be him, I did not envy him. I also liked him in The Wild Geese, where he played a Bond-like mercenary.

     The world is a little less elegant tonight, for several reasons (Manchester, England, but I will write about that later), and there is nothing as suave on the horizon. But there will be someone, I am sure.

      Here is the theme from my wife's favorite Bond movie, since action takes place in and around New Orleans.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR46gQLyxuE

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/may/23/roger-moore-saint-persuader-and-the-suavest-james-bond-dies-aged-89

Two Soundcloud Recordings of Poems from "Accents"

     Truth be told, when I wrote and recorded them, I did not know that they would be in Accents. There are a few others in that category. In the coming weeks I will be recording some others

     If there is a poem from this book that stands out to you, please feel free to record it and send me the link. I will be most than glad to post it. f someone did the poem you like already, do not let that stop you!  Thanks!

On Lenka;s List Banner

  Click on the Accents cover on the left side of the abnner to see more about that book. Thanks, Lenka!

Excellent interview by Heather Cassaway timed to coincide with the launch of Accents!

Thanks, Heather!

ttps://hlc027.wixsite.com/inthecomingtime/single-post/2017/05/19/Author-Interview-with-Arthur-Turfa

I donated a signed copy of Accents to the Blythewood High School Cyber Center. Ms. Crystal smith is also i the picture, She is one of two Library Media Specialists. Blythewood HS has been my home for ten years, with more to go!

"Accents" Released Friday, 19 May

      It will be available in the usual places on Friday, 19 May.. For some of you, that is already today!As I said earlier, I am excited the way this book came together thematically. Writing is relatively easy, but the difficulty comes from deciding where a poem should go and why.


     One thing I will will be doing over the next few weeks is recording some of the poetry. Two pieces have been recorded before I started in earnest on Accents. When and if you find a favorite, please feel free to record it and send me the link!

     

The Books Came Today!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10212783915894360&set=a.3964603195127.171614.1281784341&type=3&theater

A Slight Break From "Accents"

     Accents comes out this Friday from Blue Deco Publishing. It is a very nice group and the experience has been enjoyable.

    On 15 May 1891 Pope Leo XIII issued the defining work on social justice, the encyclical Rerum Novarum (On Revolutionary Change). Its influence extends far beyond Roman Catholic circles circles

.

    In an age when the traditional blue-collar labor force is changing (some would say disappearing),, a glance at this document is worth the time. Consider how Trump won the Rust Belt in 2016, how UK Labour is on the ropes before next month;s General election, the collapse of the French Socialist Party, and the Social Democrat Party of Germany's failure to win its stronghold of North Rhine Westphalia in yesterday's state elections.

   It is not about the party label, but about treating people fairly.

    

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rerum_novarum

"Accents" released on 19 May

     Blue Deco Publishing will release Accents on Friday, 19 May. I m excited about this, because thematically the books is better-structured (which I attribute to a dream as per an earlier post).

     Signed copies are available. If you are not around where I am out and about, do not despair! US/Canadian readers need only send a check for $20.00 US and I will sign and ship. for everyone else, I am willing to do the same for $23.)) US, but I am also willing to send you a signed card that you can insert into the book. All you have to do is to verify purchase by contacting me. It would be fun to see a picture of you with the book!

     I will also open up a Google+ community for audio recordings of your favorite poems, just like I did for Places and Times. If someone else has read your favorite poem there, go ahead and record your version; it does not matter!

    Thanks for everything! I wish I could hang out with you all in person.

     

"Accents" Trailer is Out!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ikmr1UIpWzg

Thanks to Colleen Nye at Blue Deco Publishing (book released Friday, 19 May), and to Elyse Bruce for the music! 

ATLANTIC Articles on Poets

      Once again, the ATLANTIC is full of good articles. In the May 2017 issue there are two on poets:

      https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/05/poet-on-the-edge/521412/ I even have followed her on Twitter!

      https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/05/tragic-muses/521418/   I intend to read more of them, and eventually maybe even some of these books!

"Accents" available veyr soon! Offoically, 19 May

     Accents will be available very soon. Blue Deco Publishing has been doing a fantastic job on this in a very busy month for them. This is from their Facebook page:

Busy month for us here at BDP! Our May releases are:

Driving Crazy by Randy D Pearson
The Secret of Mermaid Island by Judith Wade
The Mermaid's Gift by Judith Wade
Mermaid Dreams by Judith Wade
In the Drawing by Simone Snaith
Accents by Arthur Turfa
and
Whispers in the Alders by H.A. Callum

Clear your reading calendars!

Perceptive and excellent review of "Places and Times"

Always a pleasure to read these due to the pleasure my verse has brought to someone!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VQUVS4U/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1#customerReviews

How "Accents" Came into Being

    Two weeks from release (19 May from Blue Deco Publishing), I will tell you how this second book of poetry came into being. Between the poems that did not appear in Places and Times (eLectio Publishing, 2015) and some newer ones, Since I wanted to organize this book a little differently, I thought about what I should do.

    One night a year ago, I dreamt I was a young boy walking the streets of Donora, Pennsylvania. I was with my father or grandfather, and I heard again about ten foreign languages and accented English in those languages.

   Some time ago I began to compare foreign languages to instruments. Each one has its own distinctive tone quality. There were similarities and differences between them, as there were with languages. From that dream about Donora, the opening of my book emerged. I saw the languages as musical leitmotifs. From there I moved to different sections, and organized the poems accordingly. More about that later, though!

   Yes, i was in my right and natural mind that night! I hope you will read and see what I meant!

commas Are Important!

     If you do not think so, read this article. The State of Maine would have saved millions!

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/16/us/oxford-comma-lawsuit.html?_r=0