Michael - you are a calming voice in the tempest of our present tension. I remember seeing you in person at whatever movie theater premiered "Roger And Me", back in the day. You have since provided fortification for me, from the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Thank you for your steady voice of reason, resolve, reassurance, rhetorical reprieve.
May we continue to follow in your grandmother's footsteps. I left CA for OK and writing my R elected officials weekly to repeal the sales tax on menstrual products. The right to vote is just the beginning as we continue to fight for control over women’s reproductive health.
Michael, I have always admired your tenancy and the work you have done. I rarely comment and that is a fault of mine as I am writing to correct a word you used that is derogatory. In "Suffs" there is a whole song that makes it clear that Suffragette is a derogatory term meant to belittle brave women who dared work for suffrage. The correct term in Suffragist. And the play "Suffs" corrects that bad information that most people think is fine. As a Feminist activist my whole life it is one of those sticking points I must address. Your grandmother was an amazing Suffragist and you follow in her footsteps and have taken it to the next level!
Our challenge now is getting those who can vote to vote. If you are ready for political action and not just hoping someone else does something, here are some suggestions:
1) Check your own registration and make any necessary changes at USA.gov and Vote.gov
2) Ask graduating high school seniors whether they have registered to vote. Thecivicscenter.org and Rockthevote.org have great how-to information. Thirdact helps use VR students to set up non-partisan voter registration drives (if allowed in your state). Call your school board to request that graduating seniors be given information on how to register to vote. Do this next fall too.
3) Volunteer to be a poll watcher or poll worker. It’s hard work, especially on election day. But you are trained. In some places you are even paid. The NYT has an article on what individuals can do to ensure the integrity of our voting system. “Trump could interfere with the midterm elections.” Check it out.
4) Google “how to help Democrats win the midterms.” The following organizations can help you choose: Voteforward.org
Roses and Radicals: The Epic Story of How American Women Won the Right to Vote, published by
(Random House) Viking and Puffin Publishing. Booklist Editors' Choice, rave reviews in the NY Times, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, and more. Bernice King(Martin Luther King's daughter)
stated"Roses and Radicals is a 'must-read '. With the attack on a womens right to vote from the SAVE ACT, it has never been more important to learn our history .
I don't see "Suffs" on PBS -- Portland OR evening 5/8/26. The other thing I don't see is some recognition for the pilot shot down over Iran who was rescued in time for the Easter Egg Roll at the White House. Has anyone seen his (her?) name?
Suffs is part of the Great Performances series. Season 53, Episode 18 - BUT I can only see a Clip available, not the full performance. I'm in Columbus OH.
And yes, I saw a comment about the pilot earlier today on Facebook. No name, no follow-up information. A question that has subsequently arisen is whether or not the report of his/her rescue is accurate or even true. I remember thinking at the time, "Boy that was quick!"
Suffs is terrific! Saw it on Broadway. Thanks for the heads up, Michael. I'll be watching. (For those in NYC , it's on Optimum on WLIWH channel 21, Sunday at 8:00 pm.)
On another topic, I have been missing you and your thoughts lately. I hope it's only because you are making another brilliant movie.
Michael, your grandmother set a wonderful example for you to follow as a child, then guiding your path as you grew into adulthood. Love the photo of her that you posted: a strong, steadfast leader for women's rights, human rights. Powerful.
If you want to transcend time and space even in the slightest degree you will personally need at least one hundred times the power of Earth's sun.
.
The sun puts out about 3.8 × 10²⁶ watts (386 billion gigawatts) every second...
.
So you need to compress 3.8 × 10^28 - 386 - one hundred - Billion gigawatts of continuous luminous energy into a tiny fleshy baby less than I cubic foot in total volume.
.
Foundation* and Larry Ellison already tried that - but did not succeed.
When you start doing the math on all this - the movie's name we do not mention might win more Oscars in a diverse range of categories than any other film / movie previously.
You know - they really tried everything and pretty much everything didn't work first time round now they try something else.
.
The reason the Laestrygonians are wearing full body armor as the skin tones and flesh (such as it is) looked absolutely terrible and the whole idea was to NOT make it look like CG/ CGI.
.
Everything has a reason and is rooted in initial failures of trying to "Do The Right Thing".
Michael - you are a calming voice in the tempest of our present tension. I remember seeing you in person at whatever movie theater premiered "Roger And Me", back in the day. You have since provided fortification for me, from the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Thank you for your steady voice of reason, resolve, reassurance, rhetorical reprieve.
Thanks for sharing the beautiful photo of your grandmother. I’d be proud, too.
May we continue to follow in your grandmother's footsteps. I left CA for OK and writing my R elected officials weekly to repeal the sales tax on menstrual products. The right to vote is just the beginning as we continue to fight for control over women’s reproductive health.
Michael, I have always admired your tenancy and the work you have done. I rarely comment and that is a fault of mine as I am writing to correct a word you used that is derogatory. In "Suffs" there is a whole song that makes it clear that Suffragette is a derogatory term meant to belittle brave women who dared work for suffrage. The correct term in Suffragist. And the play "Suffs" corrects that bad information that most people think is fine. As a Feminist activist my whole life it is one of those sticking points I must address. Your grandmother was an amazing Suffragist and you follow in her footsteps and have taken it to the next level!
Our challenge now is getting those who can vote to vote. If you are ready for political action and not just hoping someone else does something, here are some suggestions:
1) Check your own registration and make any necessary changes at USA.gov and Vote.gov
2) Ask graduating high school seniors whether they have registered to vote. Thecivicscenter.org and Rockthevote.org have great how-to information. Thirdact helps use VR students to set up non-partisan voter registration drives (if allowed in your state). Call your school board to request that graduating seniors be given information on how to register to vote. Do this next fall too.
3) Volunteer to be a poll watcher or poll worker. It’s hard work, especially on election day. But you are trained. In some places you are even paid. The NYT has an article on what individuals can do to ensure the integrity of our voting system. “Trump could interfere with the midterm elections.” Check it out.
4) Google “how to help Democrats win the midterms.” The following organizations can help you choose: Voteforward.org
Swingleft.org
Emily’s.org
The leagueofwomenvoters.org
Postcardstovoters.org
Movementvote.org (directs you to specific locations)
Above all, tell others what you are doing and ask them to help. That’s what I am doing right now. Please 🙏 help. Our country needs you.
Roses and Radicals: The Epic Story of How American Women Won the Right to Vote, published by
(Random House) Viking and Puffin Publishing. Booklist Editors' Choice, rave reviews in the NY Times, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, and more. Bernice King(Martin Luther King's daughter)
stated"Roses and Radicals is a 'must-read '. With the attack on a womens right to vote from the SAVE ACT, it has never been more important to learn our history .
I don't see "Suffs" on PBS -- Portland OR evening 5/8/26. The other thing I don't see is some recognition for the pilot shot down over Iran who was rescued in time for the Easter Egg Roll at the White House. Has anyone seen his (her?) name?
Suffs is part of the Great Performances series. Season 53, Episode 18 - BUT I can only see a Clip available, not the full performance. I'm in Columbus OH.
And yes, I saw a comment about the pilot earlier today on Facebook. No name, no follow-up information. A question that has subsequently arisen is whether or not the report of his/her rescue is accurate or even true. I remember thinking at the time, "Boy that was quick!"
Might I recommend a present day fighter for the cause:
https://heatherdelaneyreese.substack.com/p/if-we-lose-this-fight-the-usa-will?r=pw3qp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
Oh, and Bette Midler too.
https://substack.com/@meidastouch/note/c-248643619?utm_source=notes-share-action
Gonna watch, thanks, and for that photo of your grandmother too, really nice of you to share.
Suffs is terrific! Saw it on Broadway. Thanks for the heads up, Michael. I'll be watching. (For those in NYC , it's on Optimum on WLIWH channel 21, Sunday at 8:00 pm.)
On another topic, I have been missing you and your thoughts lately. I hope it's only because you are making another brilliant movie.
Sending much appreciation for all you do.
Thank you Michael, be well and don’t give up the fight!😎
Michael, your grandmother set a wonderful example for you to follow as a child, then guiding your path as you grew into adulthood. Love the photo of her that you posted: a strong, steadfast leader for women's rights, human rights. Powerful.
If you want to transcend time and space even in the slightest degree you will personally need at least one hundred times the power of Earth's sun.
.
The sun puts out about 3.8 × 10²⁶ watts (386 billion gigawatts) every second...
.
So you need to compress 3.8 × 10^28 - 386 - one hundred - Billion gigawatts of continuous luminous energy into a tiny fleshy baby less than I cubic foot in total volume.
.
Foundation* and Larry Ellison already tried that - but did not succeed.
.
.
Authenticity is really important.
.
________________________________________________________________.
.
* Isaac Asimov's... "FOUNDATION" and later TV show.
.
.
.(I'm starting to think the future really is in "T" "V".).
.
.
When you start doing the math on all this - the movie's name we do not mention might win more Oscars in a diverse range of categories than any other film / movie previously.
.
It's gonna win in categories that it wasn't even nominated for ...
.
... ' ... and best title writing for a foreign animated documentary short goes to ..."
.
Drum roll - "XXXXXXXX*! " (applause ! applause !).
.
.
_________________________________________________________
.
* The movie who's whose ? Whose name we cannot mention...
.
Andre the Giant RIP.
.
It's a tale of REWEnGEAAAAEEEEIIIIII
.
.
You know - they really tried everything and pretty much everything didn't work first time round now they try something else.
.
The reason the Laestrygonians are wearing full body armor as the skin tones and flesh (such as it is) looked absolutely terrible and the whole idea was to NOT make it look like CG/ CGI.
.
Everything has a reason and is rooted in initial failures of trying to "Do The Right Thing".
.