Lurie column April 26- Marriage is Murder

David,

Marriage is Murder

Those who know me rarely see me without a newspaper or magazine. Dozens of titles cross our doorstep every month. However Paperbacks are my deepest indulgence. I can get lost is a good mystery for hours. Absorbing the characters, thinking through the plot; and wrestling with the possibilities are of endless fascination.

I know some people who pick up a book and read the last chapter, then start at page 1. Nonsense. That would be like starting with dessert and proceeding to the bread and salad (yuck).

Others rarely even touch a book- on fiction, fiction, or even supermarket romance pulp. They are missing an opportunity to discover new worlds and new people. To explore relationships, evil-doers and hero’s. To solve the murder, or just turn the pages blissfully and let the author explain it without the reader needing to think. How you read a mystery is completely up to you; and can change from week to week.

Yet an alternative way to read a mystery is to watch it unfold live and in person. To hear and see the main characters banter and bicker as they seek to unravel the layers of personalities; the multiple levels of attitude; and the myriad twists and turns a good author will proffer up.

Watching a mystery unfold as the characters blossom, the props on-stage lend an aura of mystique and drama. What matters? Which one will be used in the plot? Or is it maybe just an innocent piece of brick-a-brack?

Books are a solo experience while reading, but a group experience when discussing it with fellow readers in upcoming weeks. Live theatre however, is a group experience from the start; feeling the energy and reactions of a surrounding audience is what makes theatre a special event.

This Friday, starts a two week run of such a very special event. ‘Marriage is Murder’ opens at the renovated Duke Audiorium at the Barn in the Park Friday/Sat at 8pm and Sunday at 4pm. Call 339-7700 for tickets that are going fast.

The play features an obviously mis-matched couple who create and write murder mysteries in a unique and physical way that will have you laughing and crying. All we ask is that you not overly enthusiastically punch a neighbor in the ribs with your elbow to see if he “gets it”.

The challenges faced by an author with writers block are all too apparent here, as the couple strive to uncover, unravel and unmask the perpetrator as they create and solve the ideal mystery.

Of course you may also wish to see what the city gets for their money. The new special needs accessible restrooms will be ready thanks to the City of Troy; and thanks to the Miami County Foundation, hearing impaired patrons can now pick-up a free headset and tiny amplifier to boost sound level, so even the softest whispers come across loud and clear. Although since some of the jokes are rather ‘punny’, being blissfully unaware of them could, conceivably, offer a welcome respite from them.

Ps-While out in the Troy City Park, look around for the nine new stainless steel giant suet holders spread around the park. These giant devices are easily big enough for the great bald eagle they are apparently designed to attract. So watch out for swooping birds of prey.

 

Leib Lurie is a Troy Civic Theatre Board Member, You can reach him at Leib@Lurie.net

Or see these columns on his blog at www.llurie.blogspot.com

Lurie column april 12- Iraq and 9/11

I will be out of country next week- so this week you get two for one...

Iraq and 9/11

My recent column about the cost in lives and dollars in Iraq generated this letter from the President of the Republican Students Club at the University of Michigan, a Troy High School alumnus…

“Just wondering if you’ve seen any estimates of what the total financial loss was due to the recession following the 2001 attacks?

I consider a trillion dollars a pretty wise investment when put in that context. While I’ll never support stifling constructive criticism about the way a war that puts American lives at risk is being fought, and I in fact feel the administration is FAR too cavalier about that, I don’t think its very becoming of a businessman like yourself to misrepresent economic arguments in  such an oversimplified manner. Op-eds aren’t designed nor required to present fair and balanced opinions, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t reflect the respective wisdoms and strengths of the author.   “

Bob Scott, Jr. (Integrity in Journalism note- his father is also a Republican, my friend, business partner and CFO at OneCallNow)

Scottie,

The total economic impact of the 2001 attacks has nothing to do with the war in Iraq. Afghanistan- maybe. Iraq no. It bears noting that according to the State Dept. Iraq and Saddam's regime had NO - repeat NO - links to the attacks and to Al Queda.

The Iraqi war was to 'stop WMD's" - period. Then when this proved a wisp, the argument shifted to 'we needed to replace a tyrant'. Oh how I wish we had used that argument in 1939 against Hitler. Or to dump Pol Pot, Idi Amin, Pinochet, and more.

Then- as the Iraq morass became entrenched, the drumbeaters of war tried time and again to call this "part of the war on terror" and by keeping IED's there, they wouldn't show up on I-75. Pure hogwash to justify 2300 American lives lost.

A businessman such as myself- looks at revenue and cost- and reasonable forecasts of both- and makes sound, logical decisions based on expected returns, and risk-reward. From that perspective, the war in Iraq has NOT…

Protected me from bio/chemical attacks- our rail yards, chemical storage areas stand unguarded. Recommendations to change this are rejected as being ‘costly to industry’.

Helped me sleep better knowing Iran now can throw missiles anywhere in the Middle East and is nuclear bound, as is North Korea. The insistence of dialogue and six-way talks with North Korea hammered home by President Bush in the 2004 debates are the last we heard about that issue.

Given me comfort about my brethren in Israel- since our anti-world attitude has fomented such hatred abroad that Hamas had no trouble raising the funds to win a democratic election in Palestine.

Stopped our government from spending 60% of anti-terrorism dollars on the states with 26% of the population. I’m sure that Montana desperately needed the $32 million in anti-terrorism funds they have received since 9/11.

Generated serious thoughts to protecting us at home; if it takes 4 days to respond with the first trucks of relief after a Hurricane gave 8 days advance warning, how long would it take to get help to Columbus for example, in case of a sudden attack? And is a lawyer and political advance man in charge of homeland security the guy to make me sleep safer?

That Cheney saying 'conservation is noble- but not practical' to reduce our dependency on their largess is ludicrous. After the 1973 attack (the oil embargo), a wake-up call if ever there was one, dropped foreign oil use by 50% in 7 years as conservation became a mantra, not just a noble cause.

That selfishly, as a businessman, with our company's technology; Army Reserve and Guard spouses are being notified that their spouses units are being activated hours or days BEFORE the Pentagon’s manual phone tree gets through to the soldiers themselves. And yet the Army has rejected this cost, of 50 cents a soldier, as being too expensive. I am constantly amazed at what the government spends money on, and even more amazed where it chooses not to.

As a US citizen and businessman- I am more than disgusted and appalled- I am scared for the long term survival of my marketplace and customers.

Too bad I only get 700 words in print. Fair and balanced thought needs more than that.

Leib Lurie is a Troy resident You can reach him at Leib@Lurie.net

Or see these columns on his blog at www.llurie.blogspot.com

Lurie column April 3- Openiong Day Madness

Opening Day Madness

I dislike the Cincinnati Reds. Years ago I felt more than a little slighted by Marge Shott’s antics and inflammatory and anti-Semitic statements she bandied about.

It also has to do with the overpriced and undervalued games, food and parking. The Dragons have it right- make fans feel welcome, invited, excited, involved and appreciated; and you’ll sell out every game. Add a bunch of young, hungry, eager players who interact with fans, sign autographs and play their hearts out to the mix and you’ll sell out the lawn seats too.  

Yet the Reds do have a way of celebrating opening day. For the 87^th time, the Opening Day parade wound through downtown Cincinnati Monday to show the fans and folks that baseball is back from its’ long winter nap.

The Reds have new owners, a new manager, a few new traded players, and

The weather wasn’t looking very promising. Wicked thunderstorms and twisters blew through Sunday night, and Monday’s parade kicked off just as a fresh band of clouds whipped across the river at 50 miles an hour, spitting rain and pushing gusts through the concrete canyons of Cincinnati at 45 miles and hour.

The sidewalks were flush with reds fans, waving blow up “Number 1” fingers (Not, however, the same finger gesture Supreme Court justice Scalia chose to share with a reporter last week). It seems that virtually everyone was branded with the scarlet letter (OK, it was a ‘C’ and not Hester Prynne’s “A”). But judging from the ticket scalpers’ pricing, and the recent players’ salary contracts, a fan might be justified in feeling less than truly loved.

I did not fork up $120 for a scalped ticket, and other than seeing some squish-balls flung into the crowd from passing floats; I never saw a baseball pitched.

President Bush flew into town to throw out the first pitch. Ohio’s favorite son president Howard Taft was the last sitting President to show up for opening day in 1912. The papers and radio media were preening, prepping and pumping the pitch for days. Yet when it happened, WLW was on commercial break. So much for the hype.

The parade itself was hokey. Barely half a dozen themed floats with some patched together flowers and posters reminded us that this was home of flying pigs, and some true baseball legends; but Troy’s Strawberry Festival brings out significantly more talent and design. I will say that Cincinnati has far more radio stations in their parade than Troy gets in June. It seemed that 50 of them wired up obnoxious speakers to garishly painted vans and Hummers to bombast us with their current play list. Add in a couple dozen big rig trucks gratuitously granted parade rights so we could be impressed with the size of their air horns, and the situation was bleak.  

No clowns and no Clydesdales, but I still enjoy parades- unicycles, motorcycles, dogs, and waving characters dressed in furry or fuzzy icons of their commercial sponsors make me smile. My wife says I am easily entertained. Maybe someday we’ll get Cable TV at home and I’ll and upgrade my standards. Nonetheless, even when the weather stinks, and particularly when I have come for someone special, I like parades…

Eighteen High School bands came through, including the Twin Valley South Panthers from Preble County. I mention this because my wife teaches choir there, and volunteered me to join her as chaperone for the Sunday/Monday ‘Band goes to the big city party & parade’ activity. Chaperoning 80 kids to Pig town was far less strenuous and stressful than accompanying 150 marching Trojans to London for New Years’ Day Parade, but it was a nice diversion to create a long weekend.

Band kids are a special breed. They work incredibly long hours practicing and honing. They learn teamwork, camaraderie, dedication, and musicianship. Some will go on to a career in music. But they all will take away something special. Band kids are the most diverse, inclusive group of kids I have ever seen on a school campus. They were marvelous to accompany.

What a day. The Reds were undefeated for the season as the parade started. Too bad it didn’t last.

Leib Lurie is a dutiful husband to a High School teacher. You can reach him at Leib@Lurie.net

Or see these columns on his blog at www.llurie.blogspot.com