Donna S.'s blog

As we approach this coming Memorial Day, I considered this holiday in a little different way.  Since Armed Forces Day is also celebrated in May – on the third Saturday each year – I decided to broaden the subject.

Traditionally it was men who marched off to serve their country, in peacetime and in war.  Eventually, for various reasons, women became a part of the military as well.  In the beginning, the roles of women were supportive.  They worked in offices and in hospitals.  Today, women work in a wide variety of jobs in the armed forces, and their duties continue to expand.

There was a time when the majority of people lived in rural areas.  It made sense.  There was opportunity for owning land.  Maybe you’d farm.  Maybe have a ranch.  In wooded areas, you might have a lumber business.  On coasts, you could fish.  Perhaps you could have a business that would cater to these folks.  And, of course, there was always the possibility of working for someone in any of these industries.

Then came the Industrial Revolution.  People started leaving the rural areas for the cities, where there were manufacturing jobs.  And that led to growing businesses of all kinds.  Cities were busy and exciting.  And that trend has never slowed down. Today, the majority of people live in urban areas.

It’s said that on St. Patrick’s Day, everyone is Irish.  Sometimes in the movies, it feels that way.
While I do like films set in Ireland, we don’t need those movies to find Irish talents in movies and TV.  They are everywhere and always have been, both in front of and behind the camera.

So as St. Patrick’s Day approaches, I thought I’d draw attention to the Irish who entertain us.  They have become a most welcome part of our movies and television, sometimes without our knowing that they were born and/or raised in Ireland or Northern Ireland.
 

The Oscar show is over.  The gold statues have been handed out.  The show biz pundits have praised and panned various dresses worn by the women attending.  Some have even talked about the men’s clothing.  Comments have been made about the length of the ceremony.  And many have mentioned the host.

The majority of actresses nominated this year have one big thing in common: they’ve been nominated before.

The array of talent is truly amazing.  Every actress in the supporting category has been nominated in the past.  Two of them have won Academy Awards in the lead category.  Three of those nominated for leading actress have been down the red carpet before, two for supporting and one for lead.  The other two in leading roles are up for the award for the first time – and they just happen to be the youngest and the oldest nominees in that category in Oscar history.