on "A Christmas Story" and "Babe."

I'm going to add "Conrack," with Jon Voight starring as author Pat Conroy, a true tale based on Conroy's book "The Water Is Wide." I'm quoting directly from an IMDb synopsis here: "A young, white teacher is assigned to an isolated island off the coast of South Carolina populated mostly by poor black families. He finds that the basically illiterate, neglected children there know so little of the world outside their island that they have virtually developed their own language ("Conrack" is their way of saying his name, Conroy) and, in fact, don't have much interest in learning about anything outside the island. He has to find a way to get through to these kids and teach them what they need to know and also to keep on the good side of the school superintendent, who doesn't want him there. Written by frankfob2@yahoo.com" (p.s. I would add that the movie shows how much the townsfolk needed to learn about these kids, too!)

One last note. I just finished two full days of caretaking for my great-niece (2 1/2) and what a refreshing break it was from "Dora the Explorer" to spend her quiet time, leading to nap time, watching the wondrous animation of "Fantasia" along with absorbing its sumptuous musical score.

I would have appreciated the "satire" more if the artist had included a depiction in the corner of a hunched-over, stringy-haired McCain as "Gollum" (a la the Lord of the Rings movie version), wringing his hands and maniacally chanting: "Precious, precious..."

Because, after all is said and done, it was a precious gift to the McCain camp. I HOPE the fuss dies down quickly. I FEAR the image will persist in much less capable and ill-willed hands.

BTW, I have a great sense of humor (irony, wit, and whimsy are three of my favorite things). But I do have to agree with some of the Salon posters that sometimes it's hard to drum up a belly-laugh when so much is at stake in this election and we've seen too often how "tools" such as this cartoon can be used to derail a campaign.

I have really appreciated your responses! I got sideways blocked from getting back to the site by some immediate "had to tend to" family situations/dramas. Tomorrow I'll check into the articles you suggested and give more attention to your posts. Got to call it a night here, I'm sleeping as I'm writing, but wanted to be sure you knew your messages weren't being disregarded.

I'm surrounded by Republican family and friends here in AZ. Some of them even begrudgedly admitted to being "attracted by" Obama earlier on (and none, seriously none, held one shred of appeal toward HRC, and I am NOT a "Hillary Hater," but the baggage...oh, it's heavy and these folks certainly convey to me the weight). But all have gone back to the fold. I could take up a Tolstoy novel telling all the tales of how they never ever really ever liked McCain *in the past* but now they just have to back him. (I just have to add--relative-wise, we come from Democratic Irish-Catholic stock--even my long-gone Grandpa Mahoney would be appalled! I try that angle, but no fly. They've come from humble roots and done well and the tax cuts look good. Oh, I could go on and on about that.) Anyway, they unite and we go nowhere? Uhmmmmm. Something wrong with this picture.

Thank you.