Return of the King

Lord of the Rings is so cool. I just bought the extended version of the 3rd part of the trilogy. Yeah, I know what's part 3 without the first two, but I was in the mood to get a new movie and I could only afford one new release, so I chose this one. It was my favorite of the three anyway. The thing I love about DVD's is that you can completely skip the boring parts, or parts that aren't your favorite. Goodbye plot exposition.

In the realm of movies and theatre...Valley High School is putting on the Laramie Project. That is a play about the community where Matthew Shepard was murdered. There's a bit of a controversy arising from the cake-eating suburbanites. I would venture a guess that most of their complaints are based on rumor and very few (if any) have read or seen the show. I believe that you shouldn't openly dismiss something without knowing at least something about it. How can you say you truly have faith or beliefs without knowing why you believe what you do. I am opposed to WDM teenagers putting on the Laramie Project because I am a firm believer that these high schoolers do not have the talent needed to pull of such a production. Many of the parents are concerned about the profanity and "adult" themes in the play. The school has gotten permission to remove much of the profanity. I'm not upset by the school's move, but this is play about a town where someone was murdered because of hate. I have been around some of these students and guess what...they know and use those words all the time. As far as adult themes...these students are getting ready to enter an adult world. Like it or not there is homosexuality in our world...and it is a part of life now. This play, done correctly, is a play about a community. Not about a person. Not an advertisement for "alternative" lifestyles. It is a story about a small town where a brutal, horrific crime was commited by two native sons. It captures the shock of how a community deals with near sensless brutality. Was Matthew Shepard gay...yes. Does that mean he deserved to die...no. That is what this show is supposed to capture, a community rocked to its core. Once again I will say...it's a dumb move for Valley because it requires a maturity that you will not find in preppy high schoolers.

Well it is about 2000 hours...and all I can think about is sleep. I told my news director this week that I am looking forward to a day when I can do more than work and sleep. I just wish I knew when that day will come. I have to go back in this weekend to finish stuff I didn't get done Friday. I did leave after only 9 1/2 hours today, so it serves me right for not putting in my normal 12 hour day. If only I got overtime pay...24 hours of overtime pay each week would make for quite a nice paycheck.

mE