• Film & Television

    When You Grow Up (1973) | Film

    When You Grow Up Film 1973

    When You Grow Up This short film is an interesting time capsule from 1973. Fascinating educational short film from 1973, discussing possible future careers for its youthful audience. Set to a mildly rocking score, this film shows the intended middle-school audience some of the jobs available for them in the future. I like the fact that the film shows diversity with people of color and women represented in the film. I also like that it shows people doing all kinds of blue-collar and white-collar work. They can all take pride in a job well done. Analysis We still had a manufacturing economy back then! Those jobs hadn’t been sent overseas…

  • Seasons

    Verona Park | Verona, New Jersey

    Verona Park

    Verona Park In New Jersey The park is 54.32 acres with a 13-acre lake. It was designed by the Olmsted Brothers, who also designed the magnificent Central Park in New York, and Branch Brook Park in New Jersey (see my April 29th post). The park has paddle boats (including swans!), a boathouse, a lake stocked with trout, bocce courts, tennis courts, a gazebo, playgrounds, softball fields, and many other attractions. You can read about the park HERE and HERE. Please check out Leap Day 2020! Thank you for reading The Literary Lioness!

  • Film & Television

    Every Sunday (1936) | Film

    Every Sunday

    Every Sunday This 1936 short film is fascinating because MGM was showcasing their two incredible young singers, Judy Garland and Deanna Durbin. Judy and Deanna both had amazing voices, but very different styles, as can be seen in this film. Deanna Durbin MGM let pretty Deanna’s contract lapse, and she was snapped up by Universal Studios. She had talent and great charm, and success came quickly.  Deanna had a huge success with Three Smart Girls (1936), a sequel to that film, and several other films musical films. Deanna Durbin was credited with saving Universal Studios from bankruptcy as it was struggling during the Depression. Most of her films are delightful.…

  • Writing,  Journalism,  Politics,  Publishing,  Resistance

    World Press Freedom Day 2018

    World Press Freedom newspapers

    It Is World Press Freedom Day 2018 In this troubled time in history, where journalists are attacked and even killed by politicians and terrorists from around the world, we celebrate World Press Freedom Day 2018. We live in very dangerous times when autocratic rulers want to destroy anyone who opposes them. There are some fascinating videos in this blog post from NFB: Mark World Press Freedom Day Around the world, politicians like Vladimir Putin are having journalists who oppose him killed: Here are 10 critics of Vladimir Putin who died violently or in suspicious ways Just the other day journalists were killed in Afghanistan: Journalist killings in Afghanistan: ‘An attack…

  • Seasons

    Cherry Blossoms in Branch Brook Park!

    cherry blossom tree

    The Cherry Blossoms Are Back In Bloom Branch Brook Park is a beautiful 360-acre county park that is located in both Newark and Belleville, New Jersey. Branch Brook Park has the LARGEST collection of cherry trees in the United States. That’s right, larger than Washington, DC.!  There are over 5000 trees in the park. The park was designed by the Olmsted brothers, as was New York’s Central Park. Check out Verona Park! If you love nature, please check out my post on Environmental Mindfulness! Thank you for reading The Literary Lioness!