Did you see the movie Midnight in Paris? It’s a romantic comedy splashed with fantasy. That fantasy begins one midnight when Gil Pender, played to the hilt by Owen Wilson, is whisked back in time to 1920s Paris. On a deserted, cobblestone street, a vintage Peugeot creeps to a stop, a door opens, and a gloved hand bids him enter. He does. Once inside, he discovers he’s in the presence of some of the 20th Century’s greatest writers and artists.
But what if you were whisked back in time? Imagine a balmy summer’s eve on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Gentle waves lap the shore. Ribbons of silvery moonlight dance across the water. Suddenly, out of the dark, you hear the clip-clop of horse hoofs. An elegant carriage approaches. You hear laughter as it glides to a stop. Riding in it are a distinguished gentleman and a beautiful lady dressed in the latest haute couture fashions. They smile, introduce themselves, and you discover you’re in the presence of Upton Sinclair and his Southern belle wife, Mary Kimbrough Sinclair. It’s August, 1915. Europe has descended into the madness of WWI, but your night of fantasy with the Sinclairs has begun.
More @ Anthony Kalberg
PS: I post every one of his, but it appears I haven't received the last few for some reason.
What a great love story - and to think it all started in Battle Creek ! Loved the piano music playing along as I read. ;)
ReplyDeleteI can understand why people would have embraced the socialist cause in the early industrial days of our country. It was that push-pull with the capitalists that led to improved working conditions and financial recognition of skilled labor with the unions. I don't think the company owners would have voluntarily done this without some brave souls pushing the issues. For today, though, just how far will it all go to ruin what our forefathers built, both owners and workers?
For today, though, just how far will it all go to ruin what our forefathers built, both owners and workers?
DeleteAll the way if they have their way. He is an excellent writers and has many good ones posted. Glancing at them, I believe I remember Miss Effie the most.
http://anthonykalberg.com/archives/556
Just read the Miss Effie story - what an awesome life she had - thanks so much for the link.
ReplyDeleteCertainly and they are all Recent Articles worthwhile. Met him on the Belle Grove site some years ago. http://www.bellegrove.net
Delete"It was that push-pull with the capitalists that led to improved working conditions and financial recognition of skilled labor with the unions"
ReplyDeleteI heartily disagree. The whole problem was distortions of the free market in the first place. Too many immigrants were flooding this country then (as now) and they created a large pool of surplus labor that allowed for and caused poor working conditions and low wages. When workers are few in number, their labor has greater value and their working conditions improve radically as companies have to compete to get the best and hardest working.
Lets take just a moment and look at Philco Radio (the Philadelphia Storage Battery Company) They and their neighbours Atwater Kent and RCA; all were highly successful companies building cutting edge technology in Philly. All survived the worst of the great depression.
Then came the Unions. By 1936, they had captured both Philco and RCA; while Mr. Atwater Kent publicly stated that if they unionised his workforce, he would close the factory. Well, in 1936 alone, the Union struck RCA, and cost the company $200,000 and a sizable percent of the workforce was fired, while Philco went from its best year ever in 1935, to a net loss of $100,000 for the year, and ended up firing 2/3 of its workforce of 18,000 people because of the cushy contracts the Union demanded.
12,000 people fired and a net loss of $100,000 for the year -entirely due to unionisation, just so 6,000 could get more pay and benefits. Where is all this goodness and unicorn rainbow farts from the union for the 12,000 unemployed? Where is the incentive to stay in business when you lost 2/3 of your company and Still lost money for the year?
When the union finally made its play for Atwater Kent; he chained his factory shut, fired 'em ALL and walked away forever.
You have been deliberately lied to by the socialists and the unionistas into seeing the wrong lessons and a false history.
(Philco, by the way, made major cost cutting measures in product quality to try to balance the books, and soon became known for producing cheap trash, Phillips AG (of Belgium) ended up buying the name -which is the only bone the unions left.)
Low wages are caused by a surplus of labor (or a particular skill.) High wages result from a shortage of skills or workers. It is just that simple. The unions tried to distort the free market with government coercion and only ended up killing the host like any other parasite.
Good review and fortunately recent news shows them receding.
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