Scotland, The Roosevelts, The Mysteries of Laura

[cactuswatcher]

I get annoyed when people from around the world try to tell Americans how they should run their politics, so I won't get into how I think the vote on Scotland's Independence could have been avoided. I will say that if I were a Scot I'd vote no. At least in the short term the economics of setting up separate bureaucracies for all the services Scots will surely want doesn't add up. And local government doesn't insure good government. I wouldn't live in Arizona if it suddenly became an independent nation. If the vote passed and I were a Scot, I wouldn't fret, but I would be in favor of cutting ties to the monarchy, again mostly on economic grounds.

I can't say I'm enjoying the new Ken Burns series on the Roosevelts as much as I'd hoped. Maybe younger people who aren't as familiar with much of the story might find it more interesting. Even though Franklin was gone by the time I was born, we still grew up knowing the sound of his voice and hearing most of the adults we knew praising what he'd done. Eleanor was still an important living figure, when I was a kid. Teddy was in the distant past, but in our first dabbles into American History in school we learned all about his bluff personality. That was notable because no other President's personality seemed worth mentioning in school.

I saw the pilot of The Mysteries of Laura last night. It had some good points. Debra Messing plays a Columbo-like detective, a bit of a slob, but very wise and clever. Decent writing and a good mystery. But its weak points were fairly glaring. Female cop with broken marriage that keeps pulling on her time is such a cliche that we shouldn't be forced to watch it yet again. It's nice that Messing still looks fantastic in a swimsuit and in her skivvies, but showing off her body regularly probably isn't the best way to keep the show on the air. Maybe the exhibitionism will end with the pilot, but who knows. The way the show is now set up they can't push Laura's family life too far in the background. I think that's a serious mistake.

Comments

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

It's true that there is a LOT about the Roosevelts, but I'm kind of fascinated and keep watching. I've always really, really admired Eleanor in so many ways, and both the men were amazing. I didn't know about TR's trip to the Amazon, or about FDR's taking battleships home with him (!)--not that either is surprising. However, I can see why most people are bored with the series. Too recent and too long ago, at the same time.

[cactuswatcher.livejournal.com]

Maybe what the series needs is a historian like Shelby Foote was in the Civil War series to put some real zip into it.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that biographer of FDR is not too exciting. I like Goodwin, though. More of her might have been better.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Yep, I tried the Roosevelts, but lost interest rather quickly - mainly because I know too much about them already and don't find them all that interesting. Not a fan of biographies. The Dust Bowl, the National Parks, and the Civil War however held my interest all the way through.

I will say that if I were a Scot I'd vote no. At least in the short term the economics of setting up separate bureaucracies for all the services Scots will surely want doesn't add up. And local government doesn't insure good government. I wouldn't live in Arizona if it suddenly became an independent nation. If the vote passed and I were a Scot, I wouldn't fret, but I would be in favor of cutting ties to the monarchy, again mostly on economic grounds.

More or less agree. And Arizona is actually a good comparison, since they've threatened to leave once or twice. So too has various southern states. (*cough*Texas*cough*). They don't - for the same reasons - the Civil War, and the economic issue.

I get where Scotland is coming from. Scotland and Wales have never been happy with English rule. Wales was quite annoyed with it - when I visited in the 1980s. They'd leave if they could. I got along okay because my last name was a popular Welsh name and I could claim heritage. And both get rather upset when Americans call them English. That said? Ironically - they love their royals. Sort of like Canada and Australia are - they adore the Royal family and don't want anyone to mess with that. Always found that ironic.
Maybe because the Royals don't really have any governing power? As an American, it's admittedly hard to understand the British and European view of Royal Family. I've never understood it. I'd have disbanded the whole thing and made them fend for themselves ages ago. But, I was also one of the few people in the world who didn't watch the royal wedding of Kate Middleton and I've forgotten the Prince's name, Harry. So there's that.

Hmmm..thanks for the review of The Mysteries of Laura, haven't tried it yet. It is however recorded. The critics appear to be on the fence regarding it. They like it better now than they did last spring when it was first announced, which is interesting. So it won them over.

[cactuswatcher.livejournal.com]

I was the other person in the world who didn't see that wedding (although I do know the groom's name was William. Harry's still a bachelor.). ;o)

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Well, to be fair, I can't remember half my co-workers names either. Yet for reasons I'll never understand, I seem to recall the names of current movie stars and television actors. Along with writers and directors.

Scary.

[scrollgirl.livejournal.com]

When Quebec had the referendum on whether to separate or not, I know they had much the same arguments as Scotland now. I personally don't see how it substantially benefits people to separate, other than die-hards who are standing on principal more than anything else. *shrug*

Happy birthday, btw! Hope you're having a good one! :D

[cactuswatcher.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Scroll!

[anomster.livejournal.com]

Hi, CW! Slightly belated happy birthday!

I haven't watch MoL. Just doesn't sound interesting to me.