Swithin

The infant mortality rate is considered a measure of quality of life and level of civilization. Here are the U.S. states with the highest and lowest infant mortality rates. Or, in other words, "Why are Republicans killing their children?" The first list (worst stats) are all states that voted for Trump; the second list are all states (apart from Montana) that voted for Clinton. Ohio, Tennessee, Alabama, George, Oklahoma, West Virginia, South Carolina, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. The states with the lowest rates: New Hampshire, New Jersey, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Oregon, New York, Colorado, Washington, Montana. In terms of overall death rates from all causes: The five US states with the highest death rates have an average rate 49% higher than that of the five states with the lowest death rates, according to a new report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The five states with the highest death rates overall were: Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma, West Virginia The five states with the lowest death rates were: California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Minnesota, New York

"The Leaping Nuns' Chorus" -- Bedazzled (1967) [Trampoline song] Next: Favorite song from a 1930s drama

I'm sorry about that, but I thought Mr. Trump was going to be your savior, and bring back the coal mines. I'm certainly no fan of Trump, but I must confess to feeling a little thrill of seeing how a New York con artist landlord can fool so many people in this country!

West Virginia has the highest rate of drug deaths in the country (as well as the highest rate of accidents, whatever that means). It's also one of the poorest and most unhealthy states and in the bottom five or ten of many state rankings. So maybe the protests are keeping us Yankee urbanites healthy and happy!

I showed two young friends the sequence from The Egyptian (1954) in which Sinuhe (Edmond Purdom) meets Nefer, the Wh_ore of Babylon (Bella Darvi). My friends were riveted. It's a great, substantial scene, beautiful color/sets, great music behind it, with great dialogue. I think maybe the way to get young people interested is to show them good scenes from various movies, which may entice them. Nefer: "I'm fond of gifts. And the greatest gift any man can bring to a woman is his innocence, which he can give only once."

CNN: Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms on Friday evening denounced vandalism in her city as "chaos" after demonstrations over the death of George Floyd while in in the custody of Minneapolis police turned violent. "What I see happening on the streets of Atlanta is not Atlanta. This is not a protest. This is not in the spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr. This is chaos," an impassioned Lance Bottoms said at a news conference. "A protest has purpose. When Dr. King was assassinated, we didn't do this to our city," she said. "If you want change in America, go and register to vote. ... That is the change we need in this country."

I met him once, briefly, maybe 30 years ago. We had the same physician, and he was the patient seen just before me. We were in the waiting room together and had a little chat.

"Four Years After the Revolution" -- Marat/Sade (1968) Song mentioning a toy

One of the sad results of this awful affair in Minneapolis is that it may assure Trump's reelection. He doesn't have to say anything or do anything to enflame the situation. Many people who were horrified at the death of Mr. Floyd, and who understand the anger and frustration, will not accept that violent protest and destruction is the answer. That generally enhances the sense of tribalism, which always accrues to the benefit of the Republicans. I hope I'm wrong.

Nice to see East Side, West Side mentioned, Lavender! I remember watching them shoot part of an episode, with Diana Van der Vlis, in 1963. They did a lot of location work. (I don't think I'm ready to post in this thread -- too complicated! But I'll get to it at some point.)

"Ben Bolt" sung by Trilby (Marian Marsh) in Svengali (1931) "Oh don't you remember sweet Alice, Ben BoltSweet Alice whose hair was so brownWho wept with delight when you gave her a smileAnd trembled with fear at your frown.In the old church yard in the valley, Ben BoltIn a corner obscure and aloneThey have fitted a slab of granite so grayAnd sweet Alice lies under the stoneThey have fitted a slab of granite so grayAnd sweet Alice lies under the stone" Next: Labor union song

That is one of very few Fields film that I like, largely because of that scene.

Eleanor Parker was in Caged with Gertrude Hoffmann.

"The Wrong Note Rag" -- Rosalind Russell and Jacqueline McKeever in Wonderful Town (1958) Next: Song mentioning an amount of money (but not "7 1/2 cents")

"Flying Down to Rio" is a great song. Martin Sheen even references it in The Subject Was Roses.