Eric Grode review’s Sylvan Oswald’s “Nightlands” in the article Astrologist Meets Wig Seller in Simmering ’60s. He begins by describing the setting of the play, Oswald’s hometown of Philadelphia during the 1960s, which was a time of racial tension and uneasiness. Grode mentions that one problem that the play has is that it tries to jam too many stories and styles into the production. He then goes on to give the reader a small background of the production. The play is about two main characters who develop an interesting an unusual relationship. Netta Klein, a Jewish wig saleswomen, seeks “respite from her stultifying marriage,” by heading to a predominantly black section of the city for astrology lessons from Ivy Silver, the black host of an astrology show on the radio. The play portrays the development of their relationship during a time in which these relationships were frowned upon.
One thing about the play that really intrigues me is the development of a relationship between people on the opposite sides of the spectrum. Sometimes even when certain things may be right it is hard to pursue them when others view it as unorthodox. However, these two characters do not succumb to that “pressure” and develop a friendship that doesn’t follow the norm of society.

Whenever fate is an important theme in literature often times it is accompanied by a great deal of irony. The characters always have an understanding of their fate but their refusal to accept ends up being the driving force that causes their destiny to play out. Through this the author teaches the characters and the reader humility and acceptance of that which they cannot change.

When Count Almaviva sees Rosine for the first time he immediately falls in love with her. Dr. Bartholo witnesses this and keeps Rosine in his house under security so that no other person would be able to woo her. His actions obviously don’t dismay the Count because a fruit made forbidden only tastes that much sweeter. Locking Rosine in his house under constant supervision may be able to keep most of the gentlemen callers at bay but this does not make Rosine love him in fact it does the opposite and pushes her away. In the end the Count reveals his identity and marries Rosine immediately and Bartholo can do nothing about it.

The play unfolds like a typical comedy. Two people try to win the same woman’s heart. Through disguises the protagonist is successful and the woman falls in love with him. Comedies always end in marriage but what of Bartholo. He was only trying to keep the woman he loved in his arms and away from any usurpers. Can you really blame him from going against fate? Most people in his position would do the same but such is the hand of fate. Some people are dealt happiness and marriage while others are on the losing side of the bargain who are left alone with their dowry.

In tragedies, Fate usually forces the characters against their will and positive intentions and eventually they die miserable deaths. On the other hand, in a comedies, fate usually aids the characters through hardships and eventually the characters end up having happy endings. This is especially true in Beaumarchais’s Barber of Seville, where the Count falls in love with Rosine and in the end they marry. Though it was inevitable that they will marry all the way from the beginning, Count wanted to make sure that Rosine fell in love with him for him and not his money. He disguises himself as a poor student named Lindor and tries to meet her as Lindor, though his plan is quickly halted by Dr. Bartholo who also loves Rosine and wants her all to himself. Fate presents itself as Figaro, who used to be a servant for Count and Figaro helps the Count devise clever plans to meet with Rosine as different characters.

In this play, Figaro is like fate because he successfully aids and pushes the Count in his plans to meet Rosine. Even when the Count’s plan was shot down by Dr. Bartholo, fate stepped in as Figaro and made the inevitable when Rosine and the Count finally marry in the end.

Isadore and I did a talk show in which we discuss the memorial

Since I can remember, my favorite show in the world was Family Guy. I remember before an episode, they would say, “Viewer discretion is advised. May be inappropriate for children under 14,” and I thought to myself, “WOW, imagine me being 14!” That is how long I’ve been watching the show!

“Channel Surfing: ‘Family Guy’ Returns, Zingers Intact” by Neil Genzlinger is an article in which Genzlinger tells the reader of the new season of Family Guy and gives a brief intro to the new episode this Sunday. He begins the article by talking about Seth MacFarlane’s role I the Comedy Central Roast of Charlie Sheen and relates his amazing success with hilarious jokes to his cartoon shows. For readers like me, who know a great deal about the show, this article does not bring much insight but for readers who have never seen the show, this introduction of Seth MacFarlane is an incredibly effective one.

Genzlinger continues his article by telling the reader of some key parts in the new upcoming episode. He explains that Peter wins the lottery for a sum of 150 million dollars and eventually shoots someone’s eye out. While this information is very short, I believe it definitely draws the reader to set their DVR to record this new episode!

All in all, Genzlinger does a fantastic job in drawing the reader to watch this new season of Family Guy. With his relation to the Comedy Central Roast of Charlie Sheen and the brief but intriguing intro to the new episode, Genzlinger delivers an amazing review of what is to come.

My grandfather was born in Germany in 1930. His father was a very successful doctor and he was very wealthy. However when the Nuremberg Laws were passed in 1935 less and less people started going to him. Eventually my great grandfather noticed what was going to happen and in 1938 they left behind everything they had and moved to New Jersey                                        \

When my grandfather first moved here his family was very poor, his father had a hard time finding a good job. Since potatoes were very cheap they ate them all the time except on Friday night, because in Judaism it should be a special meal, my grandfather would have something else like chicken or meat. Eventually my great grandfather found a stable job and my grandfather grew up to live a stable life. Still to this day however my grandfather refuses to eat anything with potatoes on friday night. He told me it helps remind him of how difficult it was to move here but how his dad and then him eventually made it.

I’ve been told by quite a few friends that I would greatly enjoy “Avenue Q” a crude and hilarious broadway show performed with puppets. I love to get a good laugh and this show seems like something I’d love to see. The show was supposed to close but will actually be moving from Broadway to an Off-Broadway theater.

I would also like to visit the Museum of Modern Art (aka the MoMA). I have lived in New York my entire life and it shames me to say that I’ve never gone. I’ve seem photographs of the exhibits but I really want to go see them for myself. They have added an exhibit called “An Auteurist History of Film” and hopefully I can find time to go sometime soon.