Celebrating World Down Syndrome Day - Jamie Brewster, actress/model

World Down Syndrome Day, observed March 21,  was started in 2011 to raise public awareness and advocating for rights, inclusion and well being of people with Down Syndrome, a genetic disorder caused by the presence of all orpart of a third copy of chromosome 21.  People affected with DS experience physical growth delays, characteristic facial features and mild to moderate intellectual disability but this can vary widely.

Education and proper care have shown to improve quality of life.  People with Down Syndrome have been making great strides in advances in all aspects of life, which were formerly off-limits.

As with Black History Month, I decided to feature someone with Down Syndrome who has made history.  Jamie Brewster is best known for her roles in the anthology American Horror Story with Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates and Angela Bassett.

I've liked her since the first season, because of her starring in non-stereotypical roles.  Her characters aren't written for characters with DS, showing her versatility and broad talent, playing a suburban daughter, a witch and wife to Neil Patrick Harris' character.

In February 12, she became the first model with Down Sydrome to walk the runway during New York Fashion Week.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Down_syndrome
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Down_Syndrome_Day

Oklahoma City closing schools due to budget cuts

Always one to sacrifice education and children, Oklahoma's budget deficit and their government's unwillingness to stop sucking up to the oil & gas industry has led to Oklahoma City's school district to shut down several elementary schools.  The media has also blamed low enrollment as part of the reason for the closings, but it's clear in the articles the decrease in the state's budget is the main culprit.

Five elementary schools are on the chopping block: Edgemere, Gatewood, F.D. Moon, Green Pastures and Johnson.

The plan has also been labelled a "consolidation" plan since the students from the schools that are closing will be sent to other schools nearby.  They appear to be dancing around the subject, perhaps they don't want to "anger" Governor Scary Failing who continues to cut funding for education.




http://newsok.com/article/5542383
http://kfor.com/2017/03/20/several-schools-in-oklahoma-city-may-close-due-to-budget-crisis/

"Gamera vs Viras" released 1968!

Gamera vs Viras, released March 20, 1968, was the fourth film in the Gamera series.  It was released later in the U.S. as Destroy All Planets, trying to cash in on the success of Toho's Godzilla movie Destroy all Monsters.

An alien force bent on conquering Earth must contend with Gamera first.  Gamera destroys the first spaceship, so a second one arrives with another cunning plan.  It manages to gain control of Gamera's mind and command him to destroy Earth, while keeping two young boys hostages.

But a spaceship controlled telepathically, capable of interstellar travel, mind control and teleportation is no match for two mischevious 9-year olds.  They figure out how to reverse the mind control process and escape the ship.  Thus, Gamera is free from the alien's influence and turns his wrath onto the spaceship.  Viras, however, becomes a giant squid and engages in hand-to-hand combat with Gamera.

Much of the movie is childish and silly, but the Gamera series is geared towards children, although I'm not sure if the "multiple beheadings" scene is kid-friendly.

Voskhod 2 launched 1965, first EVA

Voskhod 2, launched March 18, 1965, carried two cosmonauts, Pavel Belyayev and Alexey Leonov, into space.  Alexey left the capsule to perform the first extra-vehicular activity.  It last only about 10 minutes.

Despite the success of the spacewalk, the cosmonauts experienced problems during the flight and re-entry.  They touched down nearly 400km from the planned landing point.  They landed in a forested section of remote mountains.  Before the rescuers could get to them, night fell and the temperatures dropped below freezing, but they managed to stay alive.

Rescuers on skies finally reached them but it would be another day before they would be able to get back to civilization.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voskhod_2

"The Glass Slipper" is available now at Amazon!

My latest story The Glass Slipper, published by JMS Books, is now available on Amazon!  It's my M/M take on Cinderella.  Read the excerpt below!

Blurb:

Cillian is trapped in his small village, by his loser uncle and cousins until the royal family comes to the village. The Queen Mother Beyta seeks him out to repair a glass slipper the Princess Itha broke.  Cillian’s uncle and cousins try to sabotage his work for Beyta but she saves him and brings him to the notice of the King, the prince and princess.  He presents a gift to the lovely Princess Itha but he catches the eye of the handsome Prince Pari.  Who will break the curse of his entrapment and cast a spell on him?

Excerpt:

A noise above him brought Cillian out of his thoughts. The door opened and footsteps descended the stone steps. Arten appeared dressed in his finest jerkin with slashed sleeves and satin chemise, his best hose and a hat Cillian had never seen before. His boots had been cleaned and tied with new laces. He carried a bowl and a wooden spoon.

     Arten sat the bowl and spoon on a small table and removed Cillian’s gag.

     “We’re off to the holy day celebration dinner at the king’s cottage,” he sneered. “The Queen Mother came by and picked up the slippers but we told her you were all tied up.” He laughed at his own joke and then pivoted in place. “By the way, do you like my new hat? I used the money you hid to purchase it today.”

     Cillian gaped but said nothing, glaring at him.

     “I brought you some soup for you, since you won’t get anything else until breakfast,” Arten said caustically. He brought the bowl and spoon closer to Cillian. Ladling some of the soup, he held the spoon to Cillian’s lips, letting him take some food. The broth was cold and watery, with little taste. He screwed up his face as he swallowed the vile liquid.

     Arten raised another spoonful to his mouth. This time, Cillian took the soup in his mouth and then spat it out, spraying Arten’s fine clothing.

     “My jerkin! It’s ruined! You bastard,” Arten shouted. He dropped the bowl to the floor and slapped Cillian hard across the face. Cillian’s head snapped around at the blow. He turned to face Arten but received another strike. And a third.

     He endured several minutes of the beating, until Arten stopped, seemingly more from fatigue rather than mercy.

     “Just starve then! See if I care!” he screamed. He re-tied Cillian’s gag, tighter than before. Arten ran out the door and slammed it behind him, leaving Cillian in the dark.

https://www.amazon.com/Glass-Slipper-Alex-Morgan-ebook/dp/B06X9M2K7P/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1489852224&sr=1-1

Richard Biggs born 1960

Richard Biggs, born March 18, 1960, was best known (by nerds like me) as Dr. Steven Franklin on Babylon 5.  He also appeared in an episode of Crusade, the mini-series spin-off.  Unfortunately, he left us too early.  Biggs passed away May 22, 2004 from an ascending aortic aneurysm.

Inhofe accuses EPA of "brainwashing" children, offers no proof. Sound familliar?

Sen. Inhofe continues his parade of insults and accusations against the EPA, now claiming they are "brainwashing" our kids, but taking a page from The Donald's MO, offers no proof, no evidence and no reasoning bechind his false statements.

In this interview with CNN, he "justifies" Scott Pruitt's numerous law suits against the EPA by saying that other states havae also sued the EPA.  Why, Inhofe?  You don't say why.  You just keep accusing them of over-reaching their authority, brainwashing, and alarmism.