Keeper of the Clown Bell

Academy Awards Dump 2019 is here but I really don't have much to say about this year's nominees (Links to old Oscar dumps can be found at  KOTCB The Hart of the Matter ). The only films I saw from the best picture category are "The Favourite" and "Roma" which are both pretty awful stories about miscarriages and frailty of human life. "The Favourite" explains why the American Colonies formed a revolution against the British Crown and created their own nation. "Roma" explains why the US Government, after marching to the gates of Mexico City in the 1848, turned around and gave the land back to the Spanish. There were also some movies about black folks, "Black Panther", "BlacKkKlansman" and "Green Book" but I haven't seen any of them. Also Bio-epics on Freddie Mercury, Dick Cheney and Lady Gaga but I didn't see any of them either. No, a pretty boring year as far as cinema is concerned - I did see "

State of Emergency Recent events have forced a question to the front of my mind. Q. How is it that I'm labeled a racist for wearing a red MAGA hat but two guys who wear blackface are my Governor and Attorney General? [Remember those guys? Governor Ralph Northam and AG Mark Herring were in big trouble 2 weeks ago but now it's all forgotten... move along... and don't even look at our rapist Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax.] Well, I think I found the answer and it's not some MAGA hat wearing “kid smiling at a man” but turns out to be a black gay thespian named Jessie Smollett and some Nigerian friends he hired to Make America Great Again by assaulting him, putting a rope around his neck and dousing him in bleach ( Smollett follows the brothers’ bodybuilding page on Instagram ). I'm not saying it's fair but I think I understand it a little better - The "MAGA Country" is so hateful and horrible to these sensitive Left winger types that they simply must h

The Heart of the United States of America It has long been my proposition that Virginia + what is now West Virginia is (was) the beating heart of what became the United States of America, and it is from this old, broken beating heart that the republic it founded derives its life source. I write this as a Virginian who, inculcated the Commonwealth's noble history since childhood feels a natural pride,  but also as an American who has lived in many magnificent States over my lifetime - Colorado, Massachusetts, California, New York and Rhode Island - which, extraordinary though they are, all have mystic ties to Virginia and what happened there between the years 1763 - 1820. The start date corresponds with the end of the French and Indian War which showed the colonists that the European powers were planning to replicate the same horrible strife and hatred in the New World that they enjoyed in the Old Country. The end date is pegged to the conclusion of James Monroe's presidenc

Last night Jim Acosta sat down for an interview with Larry Sabato at a national symposium series presented by the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics titled “Democracy in Perilous Times.” The evening’s topic was “ The Fourth Estate: Enemy of the People? ” and the crowd was warmly receptive of Acosta’s message which, boiled down to its essence, is that Donald Trump is a liar and he’s making life dangerous for reporters. Sabato introduced Acosta to the audience as Enemy #1 which drew mirthful laughter from the auditorium and then presented a short video montage of President Trump and his deplorable rubes insulting the reporter on many occasions over the past two years. This was all a set up for his first question which was, “how do you do your Job?” Acosta said the he accomplishes his duties by maintaining focus, reporting the story and telling the truth but acknowledged that it is difficult when the White House erodes the peoples faith in the press by bullying reporters. Whe

On the subject of that Big Beautiful Wall Fence winding its way along the US southern border I have to agree with Donald J. Trump's admonition - "No Cave." Without a Wall our Country can never have Border or National Security. With a powerful Wall or Steel Barrier, Crime Rates (and Drugs) will go substantially down all over the U.S. The Dems know this but want to play political games. Must finally be done correctly. No Cave! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 22, 2019 I realize that the Elvis from Queens fired this rock from his trebuchet on Jan. 22nd and a lot has changed since that time including the fact that he "caved" on the government shutdown and "reopened"  the dragon's lair on Friday, Jan. 25th. In point of fact, it was not the POTUS who caved but the sniveling Republicans in the Senate that could not hold the line and push this policy demand into the sweet spot of civic and economic torture which would have forced the