Fireworks on multiple fronts
Comedian Rosanne Barr, star of the eponymous hit sit-com, lost her job this week. She sent out a message on Twitter that has been branded as racist by the show’s network, ABC. In what Barr swears was an Ambien (sleep medication) fueled Twitter session she said: “the Muslim Brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby=vj.”
She was referring to former Obama administration Director of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs, Valerie Jarrett.
It is interesting that of all the things said by celebrities in this land of free speech, this insult from one public figure about another brings down a successful television show representing a loss of employment for hundreds of innocent people.
I can’t help but think there is much more to this story that the general public is not being told. A Tweet sent by Rosanne’s co-star, Sara Gilbert said, “Roseanne’s recent comments about Valerie Jarrett, and so much more, are abhorrent and do not reflect the beliefs of our cast and crew or anyone associated with our show. I am disappointed in her actions, to say the least.”
What is this “so much more?”
Shortly after ABC announced the new show’s cancellation the removal of the reruns in syndication took place.
Male comedians make cracks about political figures every night on late night talk shows.
I can only assume everyone who surfs the web has seen pictures of President Trump comparing him to an orangutan. Yet one reference comparing Jarrett to a Planet of the Apes female and it hits the fan.
The female apes were the smart ones in the movies, so what is the big deal?
Anyone who has watched The View has seen Whoopie Goldberg and Joy Behar make comments about the president and other people who displeased them.
Is the lesson “Shoot off your mouth and lose your job?” On the other hand, is it “If you have the power use it with impunity?”
The ABC Disney merger must be at a delicate point for the network to kill a proven moneymaker.
Barr is a loudmouth, uncouth and vulgar individual. She is not wrong about the weird side effects of Ambien but that is not an excuse for her stupidity.
The full story is still not being told and may never be shared with us mere mortals.
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The first of what I believe to be illegal fireworks began going off in my neighborhood on Sunday. According to the discussion on The Madera Tribune website, the noise has been going on for longer, making me late to the party.
While I haven’t seen the chemtrails of any bottle rockets yet, I did hear a few groups of loud explosions I took to be firecrackers. Soon after I heard a batch of single-spaced louder detonations that I really hope were cherry bombs and not gunshots.
Some states not only allow a wider variety of home pyrotechnics than the “safe and sane,” line of fireworks we get in California, plus the fireworks shops operate year-round.
While living near Nashville in 1968 I learned to safely light firecrackers from my eldest brother Rocky Hill. He bought me packs of “lady-fingers,” for Christmas. These miniatures are half the size of the standard firecrackers and arguably safer.
Learning to light firecrackers served as a bonding experience between Rocky and me. Our middle brother Brian was still in California completing his senior year of high school. Rocky and I got closer that year than at any time in our lives.
Setting off fireworks is a lot of fun. The child that still lives in my soul remembers the excitement that came along with all those explosions. The adult that I have become reminds me of the kid in my seventh grade homeroom that lost part of three fingers and one eye playing with fireworks.
Readers responding to my previous column on illegal fireworks have vented that the noise created by these munitions are making their dogs freak-out. The fifth of July is usually extremely busy in our classified advertising department. Lost dog ads are so sad. Our furry friends become an important part of our families and when they disappear the pain is extreme.
Administering a drug to alleviate the anxiety of your dog is possible. There are many dog tranquilizers and over-the-counter compounds available on the Internet.
I strongly recommend consulting with your veterinarian before dispensing anything to your dog.
According to webmd.com, “The standard dosage for oral Benadryl is 1 mg per pound of body weight, given 2-3 times a day. Most drugstore diphenhydramine tablets are 25 mg, which is the size used for a 25-pound dog. Always double-check the dosage before giving an over-the-counter medication,” they said.
Since we are still more than a month away from Independence Day it is probably too soon to begin a regimen of antihistamine drugs without a vet involved.
Have a good weekend.
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Readers, may contact Tami Jo Nix by emailing tamijonix@gmail.com or following @TamiJoNix on Twitter.
