George Orwell publishes "Animal Farm" 1945

George Orwell first published his satire of the Communist party, Animal Farm, August 17, 1945.  The original title was Animal Farm: A Fairy Story but US publishers dropped the subtitle, but other variations included subtitles like "A Satire" and "A Contemporary Satire".

According to the author, Animal Farm reflects events leading to the Russian Revolution in 1917 and then the introduction of communism into the Soviet Union. 

Time chose it as one of the 100 best English-language novels (1923-2005).

I'm going to let Sparky Sweets, PhD, give his unique perspective and review of Animal Farm below.  Nobody says it like he does.

"Not Necessarily The News" wins 3 CableACE Awards 1983

Not Necessarily the News, a favorite of mine and an HBO satire show, won 3 CableACE awards at the 5th ceremony held December 12, 1983.  The show was on air from 1983-1990 and won 14 CableACE awards during its run.

The satire won for General Entertainment or Variety: Comedy, Single Program - General Entertainment or Variety: Comedy; and Best Writing in a Variety Program.  Stuart Pankin was nominated for Best Actor in a Variety Program.  Anne Bloom and Audrie Neenan were both nominated for Best Actress in a Variety Program. John Moffitt was nominated for Directing in a Variety Program.

The same evening, Angela Lansbury won the award for Actress in a Theatrical or Musical Program.

The CableACE Awards (ACE = Award for Cable Excellence) was created in 1978 as cable television's answer to broadcast television's Primetime Emmys.  The Emmys did not honor cable television until 1988 and soon cable shows began dominating the Emmys. The CableACE Awards waned in popularity and the last awards were handed out in 1997. 

When comedy becomes reality

The other day, I watched an episode of Not Necessarily the News, an HBO comedy that poked fun at the government during the 1980s.  I enjoyed this series because of its satire, snarky attitude and political commentary disguised as comedy.  (Also Mitch Laurence was gorgeous!). This episode aired in April 1983 and I was expecting that although still funny, that it had not aged well either.

To my utter surprise, I realized how many things HAVE NOT changed.  Among the skits in this episode:

1. A celebrity for president, who has trouble pronouncing words and reading teleprompters
2. A vacuous first lady who though pretty, doesn't have much going on upstairs.
3. Dioxin Dolly, a character formulated after then EPA Administrator Anne Gorusch who gutted the program in favor of corporate interests
4. A news flash about Russian missiles heading to the US that turns out to be a false alarm.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.  And it's scary

Oklahoma legislature: "Let them use duct tape!"

The Oklahoma State Department of Education is recommending that schools do not purchase new textbooks for the upcoming school year since Oklahoma lawmakers did not appropriate any funds for purchasing new textbooks for the fiscal year, which begins July 1.  Students will have to use tattered, beat-up, dog-eared books held together by duct tape.

http://www.gayly.com/oklahoma-schools-chief-laments-elimination-textbook-funds

Oklahoma Superintendent Joy Hoffmeister

The Oklahoma Legislature has a method to their madness.  By gutting the state's education budget so it looks like a child's piggy bank account, the legislators are forcing the schools to cut back to four day school weeks and shorter school years.  That means that students will have less time to abuse their textbooks, ensuring the books will be in as good shape as the previous year.  In the meantime, if books do begin to deteriorate, the Oklahoma Legislature says "Let them use duct tape.  Duct tape is the item that holds the universe together so why not use it to fix textbooks, the highway infrastructure, homes damaged by earthquakes caused by fracking, etc.  The possibilities are endless!"

In an unrelated newstory, the Oklahoma Legislature approved funding for the Oklahoma State Department of Education, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and homeowners to buy duct tape.