Sending Down the Sparrows is a story based on the Nazi youth and reactions to the program of eliminating the weak or useless members of society.

This is a heavy show that has the potential to make you think but won’t offer you any new information. As a documentary it was very nice, but the commentary part was weak. Fortunately the topic itself makes one consider all of the many implications about a society who doesn’t cherish all of its citizens.

There is an excellent speech about the horrors of the gas chambers that was excellently done and very well placed. I would have liked for there to be an after-bow statement explaining briefly the realities that were shown in the play, and the audience was waiting for such a speech as everyone sat still and gave questioning glances to each other to confirm that there was nothing further.

This kind of show needs to be seen, and the topic needs to be known. It is certainly worth it, and would be a great educational tool. The US Congress established a day between April 28 and May 5 to be the “Days of Remembrance” as the nation’s annual commemoration of the Holocaust. This year the day fell on May 2nd making the play particularly timely.

New Tampa Players have done a good job embracing the Fringe style of a fairly minimalistic set. Shows run back to back to back so strike and set up need to be able to be done quickly. Their set up is simple and effective.

This show is at the HCC Studio Theater on the Ybor campus at 1411 E 11th Ave, Tampa, FL 33605 and is part of the Third Annual Tampa International Fringe Festival which runs from May 1-11, 2019.

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This year’s show is a longer narrative called Dandy Darkly’s All Aboard based on a train, and a “must have” toy, and a… Well, the less you know about it ahead of your journey, the better. You are all aboard for a great show.

Dandy’s performances are thoughtfully designed, almost poetic – both literally and figuratively, richly illustrated stories. There are plenty of negative spaces which let your mind wander into the world you are visiting through his words.

Photo from the Tampa Fringe website

This journey takes place while you sit in the Studio Theater at HCC’s Ybor City Campus. (1411 E 11th Ave, Tampa, FL 33605) Dandy’s timing, working with the sounds and audio textures, fills the theater with story and you simply ride along with him.

Certainly not something to be missed. Visit http://tampafringe.org or look him up at other Fringes around the world.

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I learned that it’s not about the show. Maybe that’s too simplistic, but for these people it isn’t. The hype is the thing. The certain amount of status that comes from seeing what everyone else is talking about. To be part of the history and be able to say, “I saw it when…”

Theatre needs more hype. There is such incredible talent everywhere around us. We saw a woman hit a couple of high C’s this weekend and she was volunteering her time. We saw over 80 performers in four shows – and that doesn’t touch the number of people behind the scenes who have talents beyond those of mere mortals. (I say this because they make the magic happen and mortals aren’t usually magic)

Hamilton had a cast of 21 for their bows. They had the hype and people were told that they were wonderful and they were. Hopefully some of those many, many people who came for the hype will realize that there are hundreds and hundreds of other amazing shows, with people just as talented, and will come around to see other shows.

Bike sales go up during and right after the Tour de France. Why not ticket sales for live theatre and people auditioning to be a part of the stage?

Welcome all new fans, there is so so so much more to see.

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This evening, because of my brother Garry’s request, I am going to join the APA and be on his team.  Nervousness ensues.  I have never played for money and have only ever played in one ‘fun’ tournament at the place where I used to play pool.  This is league play.

My family, wife, son, sister and I, joined a bowling league for fun, but it was not joining the National Bowling whatever, it was a local alley and no one had visions of grandeur – or if they did they were probably in the wrong place.  This group has sent a team to Las Vegas for competition.

Can it stay fun if it is competition?

I guess my fears are unjustified.  Writing it down forces one to think about things and I am sure it will be fun.  Maybe I will be amazing.  More likely I will play as I played before; good against good players and bad against the bad.  The concentration of a good player always helped me focus and improved my game.  Somehow I need to figure out how to keep that concentration with lousy or distracted players.  Learning will happen, this is a good thing.

Now if only I can understand the league rules!  Foul?  Safety?  Only call the pocket on the 8?

Sigh.

The post Playing Pool appeared first on ChrisHart.com.

Well that trial is the biggest thing that ever happened to that town and they are still milking it for as much as they can. Some of the landmarks on the brochure were priceless. The town is worth a visit if for no other reason than the history. If you are the kind of person who will drive a few miles out of your way to see a giant chicken or the biggest Sombrero, Dayton is for you.

Go for the real estate, stay for the funerals. (reference to one of our observations, more details at TravelHart.com)

The post The Liberal Media appeared first on ChrisHart.com.

As I have relayed in other posts, I like sayings that eloquently make a point. Possibly my favorite Twain quote is about the differences between man and dog.

"If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and man." - Mark Twain

So often I must repeat this to myself when looking at people whom I have helped. Parents know the feeling. Kinda makes one skeptical about society in general.

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Expresso.
Customer: 1, Spell Checker: 0.

The post The Customer is Always Right appeared first on ChrisHart.com.

Some old adages are more useful than others. That stitch in time reference, while still pertinent, just doesn’t need stating because people who procrastinate won’t care that you are trying to help until it is too late anyway. Don’t pick at it still gets lots of use, fortunately not with the company I keep though.

One of my favorite, and sadly often relevant, sayings is, “Never try to teach a pig to sing, it wastes your time and annoys the pig.”

Pig: Non-singing animal.

So often we have to choose which battles we are going to fight. I try to look at things objectively when I can and that saying can bring me back to reality when I have been looking through rose colored glasses too long.

In instances of a battle with a pig, the pig always wins.

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As a kid watching Gilligan’s Island, and loving the theme song, I always appreciated the word play at the end of the second stanza. This enjoyment of clever phrasing migrated into my love of good storytellers and more than a passing passion for puns.

One of my favorite lines from any book is from Douglas Adams’ The Restaurant at the End of the Universe where the author describes a scene with aliens watching the book’s main character, Arthur. The line read, “All eyes were on Arthur, some were on stalks.” A line that I find infinitely funny and still laugh at whenever I read it. (Maybe you had to be there, but trust me, it’s funny.) Sadly, lines like this get lost in the translation to video.

For Gilligan’s Island the wording is much darker. In one line the theme song seems to be praising the crew of the Minnow, in the next – using the same words – their impending marooning is foretold. A great and powerful line in what seems like a jaunty and somewhat flippant little intro diddy. Did the writers intend for the line to be so dark? Who knows? But I hear it that way every time.

I spent many happy afternoons right here.

The Ballad of Gilligan’s Island Lyrics by George Wyle and Sherwood Shwartz

Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale
a tale of a fateful trip,
that started from this tropic port,
aboard this tiny ship.
The mate was a mighty sailin’ man,
the Skipper brave and sure,
five passengers set sail that day,
for a three hour tour,
a three hour tour.

The weather started getting rough,
the tiny ship was tossed.
If not for the courage of the fearless crew
the Minnow would be lost.
The Minnow would be lost.

The ship aground on the shore of this uncharted desert isle
with Gilligan,
the Skipper too.
A millionaire and his wife,
a movie star,
the proffessor and Mary Ann,
here on Gilligan’s Isle.

(show plays)

So this is the tale of our castaways,
there here for a long long time.
They’ll have to make the best of things,
it’s an uphill climb.
The first mate and his Skipper too
will do their very best,
to make the others comf’terble
in their tropic island nest.
No phone, no lights, no motor car,
not a single luxury
like Robinson Crusoe
it’s primitive as can be.
So join us here each week my friends,
you’re sure to get a smile,
from seven stranded castaways
here on Gilligan’s Isle!

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I frequently listen to science podcasts from around the world.  New breakthrough this, our study shows that, recently discovered evidence reveals the other, etc.  Every discussion revealing, sadly, that it could easily be a ten-plus year wait before anything becomes a reality. And that chance only with perseverance, interest and funding.  Science fiction writers need not create new things, they can simply extrapolate from future realty, years before the newest science becomes reality, and then be hailed for their incredible vision of the future.

This doesn’t mean that writers like Robert A. Heinlein and Isaac Asimov do not create the visions of the future that scientists strive to emulate. There will always be visionaries and there will always be followers. Without sheep there is no need for a shepherd.

Everyone is uninformed to their own level on everything and everyone knows something you do not. The more you know on a topic, the more you realize how much more there is to know.

“If you wish to make apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe.”
– Carl Sagan

Everything goes deeper.

When I was young my mother told me to be inquisitive and to question things, then I got in trouble for questioning the things she said.

I have trouble dealing with those who do not question.

(Not much point to this post. It seemed so much clearer in my head.)

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