Editor's Corner
By
Mary E. Adair
December 2005
Here we are at the end of the year again. It must be true that time passes quicker as you get older, because the last two months have simply flown by, and Aha! this writer is definitely two months older now.
Thinking back on this year seems to be the occupation and stated programming for many--from individuals to the elite networks that plan to wring the last teardrop from our saddened hearts by replaying each traumatic incident of the year...for which, surprise surprise, they just happen to already have miles of film ready to use. Some of the things that have happened are still far from the recovery stage, such as all those losses caused by various dramatic weather changes. Have you ever wondered why climatic and climactic appear so similar? Perhaps there is a hidden warning right there.
But, if you don't want to watch those weather related disasters from all over the world, the TV is ready and able to serve up imaginary weather disasters, with digitally enhanced catastrophies. Is this the new "boo! Scare you medium" for adults? However, even those are not more frightening than the reality copycats of some of the fare on the tube. Not speaking here of the challenges people choose to put themselves through on competitive series, including Survivor and all the offshoots and near carbon-copies, but of the portrayals of such departments of criminal detection and law enforcement as you will find in CSI, (in all its locales) and Criminal Minds or Close To Home. Although they are basing their episodes on the type of cases actually worked by law professionals, and they are under a scripted presentation with a limit of time that must allow for 12 or 14 commercials three to four times in an hour, the competition here has downgraded in many instances to relying on the shock value and sensationalism of gory and decaying representations of victims, rather than sticking with the intelligence gathering and glimpses of lab techniques and field discoveries of key clues that first made CSI, for instance, such a treat to view.
The development of the background of the department staff, bringing a bit of info forward on one character or another in an episode, as they do in NCIS, makes a far more captivating series. Without A Trace is another show that details steps taken to solve the disappearances rather than depending on those shock scenes that are apt to have the viewer changing channels.
If you are into the spiritual side of TV drama, don't miss Ghost Whisperer which is airing on CBS in the time slot that Joan of Arcadia held last season. Both set in modern times, and with great clothes for the actors, they introduce possibilities many people have never considered. Entertaining fare.
Perhaps it is the cooler weather that led your editor to more TV time, or perhaps just being at home for a change as this past year has included a lot of travel, enjoyable but a veritable time gobbler. Speaking of which... hope all had a happy "Gobbler Holiday" and may each of you have glorious memories when this December month of holidays is over.
Begin building those memories today by getting into this month's issue with just one brand new author to our pages, Christine as she prefers to be known, who submitted the poem "My Life." There are 20 more poems (including a couple about Christmastime) to delight you with six by John I. Blair; five each from Bud Lemire and Bruce Clifford; and four from Sheila J. Keith. (See list below.)
Our columnists have contrasts and unexpected treasures in store this December: LC Van Savage with "Consider This;" Leo C. Helmer with "Cookin' With Leo;" Eric Shackle with "Eric Shackle's Column;" Thomas F. O'Neill with "Introspective;" Mattie Lennon with "Irish Eyes;" and Gerard Meister with his column "Thinking Out Loud" as well as the article, "A Marine Dies in Iraq."
Poems: Christine: My Life.
John I. Blair: Crossword; Dry Country Funeral; Eating Meditation; Don't Be Fooled By The Sunshine; Keeping Christmas; and Passwords.
Bud Lemire: Autumn Winds; Nobody; The Light At The End Of The Tunnel; Through The Pain; and Where Our Spirits Rest.
Bruce Clifford: So Far Away; Tic Toc; I'm Invisible; When You're Not Near; and You Didn't Know Me.
Sheila J. Keith: Christmas.
Don't skip reading anything! You may find your own hidden message this issue!
See you next year!
EDITOR'S NOTE: The poems originally credited to Sheila Keith (Shining Star; In The Father's Hands; The Gift of An Angel) in the December issue have been removed at her request as she said someone submitted them in her name and they were NOT her work.
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