In Memorium: Former Members of the U.S. Senate Who Passed Into Ancestry in 2021

 

Tenth Circuit Federal Courts--Demographics

 The 10th will now join the 1st, 3rd, 6th and 11th circuits as we work our way through the demographics.  The tenth sits like a little buffer between the mammoth 9th with its liberal ways and the obstinate little 5th refusing to accept modernity.  It is comprised of six states and eight districts: Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma (Western, Eastern and Northern) and Kansas.  Early on President Biden as focused attention of vacancies in Colorado and New Mexico, while waiting on the open seat in Oklahoma and one to become on January 2nd of the new year in Kansas.   

Woolly Mammoth Theatre: A Strange Loop

My second and final holiday theatre adventure was to Woolly Mammoth's pre-Broadway production was to Michael R. Jackson's Meta-black-queer musical "A Strange Loop"--did I mention that it's already won a Pulitzer prize?  Woolly Mammoth is an intimate theater with scarcely seating for 120.  It has old fashioned theater style seats in the orchestra section with the exception of the last three rows, which are an after thought to the design of the place and fill in around the tech hub with seats that each have their own arm rests.  That's where I purchased my seat, and to make things even better, the two seats to my right went unoccupied, and so I was able to create my own bubble of social distancing.

As to the plot, it'd s very curious musical about the author's very particular experiences as a fat gay black man who longs to write a musical about that it means to be a fat gay black man who love's tough white girl singers, is under-sexed, and has the burden of homophobic parents; an alcoholic father and a love-me-some-Jesus momma (love Jesus above everything else).  Besides the character of "Usher" who is an usher working at The Lion King on Broadway (as was the author at the time he wrote the show), there are six "Thoughts".  Each thought represents some facet of his inner world like "Self loathing".  Thus set as an ongoing series of dialogues with his thoughts, he attempts to be real with his parents, but this leads to his capitulation with his momma in which he ghost writes a Gospel musical for Tyler Perry.  Confused?  don't worry, everything is constantly looping.

And here are a couple of points, it's a humorous show.  I, and my fellow audience members, laughed A LOT.  It's also an UN-apologetically GAY show.  They warn you in the opening number that there will be buff-fucking, and this is butt-fucking.  The lyrics throughout are clever in a good way and thought provoking, too.  The entirety of the supporting cast are reprising there Obie Award winning roles from the Playwright's Horizons production in 2020.  The lead actor in this production is a newly minted actor straight of drama school for whom there has been quite a bit of positive buzz.  Unfortunately, he was available for this performance and instead it fell to his understudy, Christopher Michael Richards to carry to role.  

I have known Christopher Michael's work in the DMV through previous performances in roles at Round House theatre, Constellation Theatre, Ford's theater and Signature Theater.  Each time I thought, he's just getting better and better.  So I figured it would be okay.  Okay?  His performance was fabulous!  While the entire cast received a well deserved standing ovation, Mr. Richardson got two ovations of his own.  The photos I'm sharing are press photos with the other actor in them.  I don't have photoshop, so you'll just have to imagine them with Christopher Michael's face instead!

I would love to say theater in the DMV is back, but there no way to know that at this moment in time.  My Holiday triple crown was cut to a double by Covid's latest iteration, and honestly, I over predicting things.  I'll just be taking it one show at a time.  My next foray isn't scheduled until the end of January--so we'll see where things are then, eh?  Break a leg!

The "Thoughts" left to right: Antwayn Hopper, L. Morgan Lee, Jason Veasey, James Jackson Jr., John-Michael Lyles, and John-Andrew Morrison.  The other usher in the middle.

In the back: Antwayn Hopper and John-Andrew Morrison; In the front: James Jackson Jr., L. Morgan Lee, the other actor, and Jason Veasey.

L. Morgan Lee, James Jackson Jr., Jason Veasey, the other actor, Antwayn Hopper, and John-Michael Lyles.

James Jackson Jr., John Micheal Lyles, and Antwayn Hopper.

One of the things that all of the "Thoughts" brought to the stage was a fearless commitment and joy.  Each of them is the recipient of an Obie Award special citation for Creative Team and Ensemble.  For L. Morgan Lee the award represents the first time an Obie Award went to a transgender actor.   In 2020 Lucille Lortel Awards went to John-Andrew Morrison for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical, and L. Morgan Lee for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical.

Sixth Circuit Federal Courts--Demographics

 Obviously, in random order, we've looked at Federal District Court Demographics for the 1st, 3rd, and 11th circuits, let's take a gander at the 6th.

The Sixth Circuit scoops out the heart of the Ohio Valley encompassing 4 states and 9 Districts: Michigan (Western and Eastern), Ohio (Northern and Southern), Kentucky (Western and Eastern) and Tennessee (Eastern, Middle and Western).  

I have a slight connection to the Eastern District of Kentucky.  I went to college with Justice Van Tatenhove.  Appointed to a seat on the District court by President George W. Bush, I remember that he was a smart, driven, kind person.  I would think that he would interpret the laws and the Constitution with the same qualities.

Everyman Theatre: The Skin Of Our Teeth

I do like to go to the theatre, and I know a lot about a little bit of American theater.  What I learned today is that I don't really know that much about Thornton Wilder at all.  'Cuz, Hun, this is some weird ass shit.  What it ain't is?  It ain't Our Town!

As an aside, this is my first visit back to Everyman Theatre company in Baltimore since before the pandemic's start.  And it felt damned good.  Everyman is my favorite theatre company in Baltimore.  It is a repertory theatre with a very talented stable of 19 actors, many of whom I have also seen perform in productions throughout the region to great acclaim.  It is always a delight to find their names among and cast.

As to the story---for anyone else who's never had the privilege--it's an allegory about the neurosis of the American intellectual at the onset of the second World War.  Written in three acts which are simultaneously and loosely set in the fictional town of Excelsior, New Jersey with each act occurring at pivotal epochs/moments in life on earth.  Timelines are intermingled to the point of being mere scrim upon which the actions, dialogue, and ideas of the characters are stitched.  Now, I could be wrong about this, I haven't read any explanation or cliff notes--this is just how upon reflection it seems to me.  Those of you who may know the play well, the degree to which I got it right speaks to this fine company of thespians and their power to embody the words and idea of Thornton Wilder low these nearly 80 years hence from their debut.

The historic ideas around which each act revolves include: Act I the advancing of the Ice Age, Act II the Great Flood, and Act III the end of a cataclysmic war.  The action write small centers around the Antrobus family (father, mother, son and daughter) and their maid, Sabina.  The first and last acts take place in the family home at "216 Cedar Street" (I remember such weird details) and the middle act takes place at Atlantic City on the boardwalk.

The things that really standout, the sets are beautiful and so are the costumes, the lighting and integration of video elements was truly spectacular. Starting acts I and II with grainy projected black & white news casts was a novel touch.  The attention to detail of the props and especially a series of four amazing puppets: a baby triceratops, a young mammoth, a mangy dog and human baby were par excellence.  

As to the actors.  Not a slider in the entire cast.  Each member down to the smallest roll was simply put, perfectly who they were meant to be.  Several members played multiple parts, even a couple of the principal characters.  Two that deserve singling out were Beth Hylton of Mrs. Antrobus and Zach Powell as Henry, her son.  Beth demonstrated the power of restraint in her portrayal, so adroitly holding back until the ideal moment to strike and shine.  Zach's character in general is supportive throughout the first two acts.  In the third act; however, as the instigator of homicide in the world, he really had and seized the opportunity to show us what he's got.  

Now, having said two, I claim reviewer's rights to add a third.  Felicia Curry in the role of Sabina was really in a class of her own.  The role is throughout the binding that brings any semblance of order to the tale.  It is also the character that breaks the fourth wall between the happenings on the stage and the audience--a conceit that could have easily become annoying in the hands of a lesser talent--more often than any other in a play where this happens often.  She really commanded my attention and then rewarded me richly for my obedience--and did I mention that this play is 3 hours long?  

A final word of gratitude--THANK YOU! Everyman Theatre for printing an actual program!  

Mammoth puppeteer (Bruce Randolph Nelson), Telegram Deliverer (Danny Gavigan), Triceratops puppeteer ( Helen Hedman), Mrs. Antrobus (Beth Hylton)

Mr. Antrobus (Jeffery A. Russell), Henry Antrobus (Zach Powell), Gladys Antrobus (Deidre Staples), and Mrs. Antrobus

Members of the Ensemble: Back row (Tony Nam, Hannah Kelly, Danny Gavigan), Front Row Act1 Sabina (Felicia Curry), Ensemble members (Helen Hedman and Bruce Randolph Nelson)

Mr. and Mrs. Antrobus

Mrs. Antrobus, Gladys' baby, and Mr. Antrobus

Gladys' baby, puppeteer (Hannah Kelly) and Act III Sabina (Felicia Curry)

First Circuit Federal Courts--Demographics

Let's look at the smallest geographically based circuit of all. The humble First Circuit.

Composed of most of the New England states and Puerto Rico, it's the only circuit where all of the Districts are complete states/territories.  From top to bottom the Districts are: Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Puerto Rico.  Having seen my previous offerings, I will present this one without additional commentary and allow the graphics to speak for themselves.

Well, one additional comment.  With gender parity impossible in Districts with odd numbers of justices, I have (and do) trade off between districts in order to achieve gender parity at the Circuit level.  In this circuit, with the openings that currently present themselves to be filled, it is possible to make history and achieve that for the first time every on the Circuit level in the history of this nation.  I sure hope that whomever is in charge of vetting candidates is also aware of this in the Biden Administration.  It's a milestone centuries overdue.

Potato, Cauliflower and White Bean Soup

 The simplest of all recipes really!

INGREDIENTS (round 1)

1 lb potatoes

1 lb cauliflower

2 cans white bean (15.5 oz)

3.5 c vegetable broth

2 tbsp dry white wine

3 tbsp unsalted butter

1 small yellow onion (minced)

3 cloves of garlic (minced)

1 tsp (heaping) fresh Thyme leaves

.5 tsp black pepper (freshly ground, of course)

kosher salt to taste

Saute garlic and onions in butter for about a minute, then add rest of ingredients and bring to a boil.  Boil on medium heat for about 20 minutes, then down to a simmer for an hour covered.  Remove from heat and let sit about 5 minutes then puree contents in a blender, and return to pot.

INGREDIENTS (round 2)

8 oz sour cream

1 tsp fresh lemon juice (1/2 a lemon)

1 tsp (heaping) fresh chives (chopped)

Stir in the sour cream, followed by the lemon juice and chives.

Voila!  Great for a vegetarian, but I could easily see garnishing it with bacon (diced).  I simply swirled in a little more sour cream and a sprig of chive.  Worked well for me.  This is adapted from a recipe recently published in the NYTimes, my cooking Bible.

Post-Christmas Present #1

A brilliant young man and the son of my best friends for over 30 years sent me this wonderful little gift! I mean, the wrapping paper alone wins high praise!--Dino-mite! And that this brilliant young man so perfectly selects a delightful gift for me? "The force is great in this one."

Christmas Dinner

 

Roast Beef with Moroccan tangine spices

and Carrots, Green Olives and Apricots

Swiss Chard and Sweet Corn au Gratin

Saffron Rice

Side Salad

with French Vinaigrette dressing

Christmas Door

 Every year I do accumulate my holiday cards and place them upon the inside of my front door for the year to come.  It's a lovely way to remember all the joy I am fortunate to be the recipient of.

Christmas Presents!

Santa's helpers have been busy this year!  Packages from New York, Massachusetts, Kentucky and Illinois with gifts for both me and Romeo.  

However, poor Romeo has had all the excitement he can manage with just a sumptuous repast.  A nap is in order.

Such wonders, such wonderful friends!

I know for a fact that my friend made the bayberry candle from scratch.  An amazing gift from a gifted person.

Christmas Breakky

 

The holiday starts with a good Breakky.  

Bacon

2 eggs sunny-side up

sourdough toast

cantaloupe

hazelnut coffee

Romeo gets his own egg--it's Christmas!

The Third Circuit of the Federal Courts - Demographics

Placing the same lens over the Districts of the Third Circuit of the Federal Courts.  The Third Circuit serves a total of 6 Districts covering three states and one U.S. territory.  The breakdown looks like this:

• Pennsylvania
• Western District - 10 seats
• Middle District - 6 seats
• Eastern District - 22 seats
• New Jersey - 17 seats
• Delaware - 4 seats, and
• U. S. Virgin Islands - 2 seats

The Eastern District of Pennsylvania is one of the 4 largest being of equal size to the Northern District of Illinois, and smaller by 6 seats from either the Central District of California or the Southern District of New York.  The District of the U. S. Virgin Islands is one of 4 territorial Districts that include: Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Northern Marianas Islands.  The United State's other colonial holding, American Samoa, does not have a resident court, but Federal cases are referred to the jurisdiction of the District of Hawaii.

One notable difference with the 11th Circuit, wherein active judges who were appointed by presidents George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton are still serving, the longest serving active judge in the 3rd Circuit only goes back to the George W. Bush presidency.  Another interesting fact about this Circuit is that in the District of New Jersey, female Justices hold the majority of seats.  This is one of only a handful of Districts where this is true out of the total of 97.  And the Districts of Western Pennsylvania and the U. S. Virgin Islands both have gender parity.  Additionally, there is a seat that will open up on the District of Delaware Courts, as Justice Leonard Stark has been nominated to a seat on the Federal Appellate Court.  This would give President Biden the opportunity to bring Delaware's District court to parity, as well, thus giving the Third Circuit the honor of being the first Federal Circuit where the majority of Districts have either parity or majority for female Justices.

Without further ado, the Demographics:

The Eleventh Circuit of the Federal Courts: Demographics--part 2

 The most telling demographics are those of gender and race/ethnicity.  Whenever anyone is called before a Federal Court, they ought to have a fair chance of standing before a Judge who looks like them.  To that end 51% of all Federal Judges ought to be women.  Further more the Racial/Ethnic backgrounds of the Judges ought to reflect the demographics of the state, if not the district.

Here is what the Eleventh District looks like vis a vis these two data sets.

At a glance, you can see the White Judges make up the vast majority and men outnumber women.  The current gender ratio is 7 to 4 in favor of men.

Now lets compare the "real"--what is--with the "ideal"--what I believe should be and should be the goal.

The Eleventh Circuit of the Federal Courts: Demographics--part 1

 I will confess straight away, I do love keeping up with the Third Branch of Government.  Until recent years, most Americans under-estimated the out-sized power the men and women who serve in these seemingly tedious and mundane jobs possess.  Clearly, not every day is a home run, but when they are asked to swing at a really big issue, the results of that "hit" can profoundly effect the lives of every single one of us.  

Quick tutorial: 

• The Federal Courts have three basic levels
• District 
• 90 in the states, plus
• 4 territories (Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands & Puerto Rico)
• Appellate
• 11 state-based Circuits, plus
• District of Columbia, and
• Federal
• Supreme
• 9 Judges, final stop
• The Eleventh Circuit
• Covers three states
• Alabama
• Georgia
• Florida
• Is comprised of 9 Districts
• Each state is divided into three jurisdictions
• Northern
• Middle
• Southern
• The smallest districts (M Alabama, S Alabama & S Georgia) each have 3 Judges
• The largest District (S Florida) has 18 (twice their combined total)

In the first set of graphics where Districts are delineated by thicker lines and states by lines that even thicker, you see the states in a rough configuration to their geographic proximity and shape.  Alabama is in the upper left (14 total judges in three Districts), Georgia is in the upper right (18 total judges in three Districts), and Florida is in the lower portion with 37 judges in three districts.

APPOINTED BY WHICH PRESIDENT

This graph does NOT indicate the total number of judges any president appointed, but only the judges whom they appointed who are still serving in a full-time capacity.  Judges do not have a mandatory retirement age.  Nor do they have a minimum age before eligibility.  Hence a president is free to appoint a person to a seat who is 32 or 72 with the consent of the United States Senate.  Most of whom's members are closer (on either side) to 72 than 32!

[Another point of design, each square represents both a seat within the district/state, but also a specific judge.  They are dis-aggregated left to right, top to bottom, within the constrains of the District from longest serving to most recent.]

I hope that both of these graphs is self-explanatory enough to leave to you to draw your own conclusions, I would, however point out one thing.  President George H. W. Bush served in office from January of 1989 to January 1993, and here as we approach January of 2022--Almost 30 years later--two of his appointees continue to serve full-time in the Districts of Middle and Southern Florida.  Judges are the longest living legacy any President has to offer this nation.

My August Wilson Stats

 

If I were to give GRADES on the overall quality of the performances

A+: Jitney @ Arena Stage

A+: Gem of the Ocean @ Round House Theatre

A: Seven Guitars @ Arena Stage

B+: Ma Rainey's Black Bottom @ 1st Stage

B: Radio Golf @ Everyman Theatre

C: Fences @ Ford's Theatre

Dinner: Moroccan Pork Tangine

 A bit of a non-traditional take on a dish/style of cooking that would have obviously NOT used pork, but lamb or chicken.

Arena Stage: Seven Guitars - August Wilson

 

Two days after the world came to a crashing Covid-19 halt in Mid-March of 2020, I had tickets to see a play at Theatre J here in DC.  I did not go.  Eventually, I converted the price of the ticket into a contribution to the Theatre J, and over the next several months, converted a host of other tickets into contributions to theatre companies across the DMV: Signature Theatre, Mosaic Theater, Arena Stage, Woolly Mammoth Theatre, Chesapeake Shakespeare Theater, Ford's Theater, and a couple of others...

In the interim I have attended a couple of virtual productions at Everyman Theater out of Baltimore, Signature Theater, and Constellation Stage.  The DMV is lousy with excellent live theater.  But today was my first foray back into an actual theater setting surrounded by other human beings in the flesh to experience a production again.  The venue was Arena Stage in DC down on the waterfront in southeast DC.  The production was one of playwright August Wilson's 9 play group called the Pittsburgh Cycle.  It is my goal to see all nine performed live on stage.  They are written to represent a decade from the 20th century.  Thus far I have seen: "Gem of the Ocean" 1900's @ Round House Theater, "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" 1920's @ 1st Stage, "Fences" 1950's @ Ford's Theater, "Jitney" 1970's @ Arena Stage, "Radio Golf" 1990's @ Everyman Theater, and today "Seven Guitars" 1940's @ Arena Stage.  6 down, 3 to go. 

As a plot, "Seven Guitars" reminded me a lot of "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom."  Clearly the parallels must have been obvious to Wilson, as well.  MRBB is the only play not set in Pittsburgh, but Chicago.  The protagonist in SG aspire to go to Chicago.  Both plays center around an ensemble of musicians.  Both end tragically.  While I did not really think that MRBB was his best work, I found this play more compelling.  The soliloquy written for some of the main characters were complex and more importantly brilliantly performed by a cast with no loose ends.

Of the seven actors featured, I have only any experience with one, Roz White.  Ms. White delivered one of the worst performances I have ever experienced in the DMV in a production of "The Gin Game" at Metro Stage, and so I worried about how much effect she would have on this production.  I am pleased to say, quite a wonderful one!  She owned the role of Louise, the chain-smoking matriarch of the household.  She was sassy and commanded the moment of comic banter especially well.  Utterly transformed my respect for her as an actor.  

The others wove themselves into and out of their roles with moments of quite recitative in one moment, only to rise up and shine wonderfully in another.  This interplay of foci is written into the fabric of the play, but only comes to life in the hands of an accomplished director who both understands how it works and how to build the trust in the actors to make it work.  Kudo's to director Tazewell Thompson, a luminary of theatrical talent in his own right.

But the highest praise is saved for Roderick Lawrence in the role of Floyd Barton, the frenetic ne'er-do-well dreamer beaten down by one systemic injustice after another and still hellbent on realizing his success as a musician.  A hallmark of Wilson's brilliance is his refusal to sugarcoat reality while creating such complicated and compelling characters.  In the adept hands of Mr. Lawrence, you see Floyd's faults clear enough.  But you also see his humanity and you want so desperately for him to make real that elusive destiny that he so passionately works to have.

Excellent 5 stars with shout outs to Donald Eastman for his spare, evocative sets, and Harry Nadal for such rich and beautiful costumes.  I often find myself appreciating good set design, and yet, rarely does the design of costumes capture my attention and admiration as much as these did.  

What a wonderful way to return to live theater! 

Vera (Joy Jones) and Louise (Roz White)

Canewell (Michael Anthony Williams), Vera, Red Carter (Eden Marryshow) and Floyd Barton (Roderick Lawrence)

Ruby (Dane Figueroa Edidi)

Vera and Floyd

Canewell, Red Carter, Louise and Vera