TCM CLASSIC FILM FESTIVAL 2024: Film Review

Part I:  The “Coachella of Classic Movies” Rides Again at Hollywood

By Ed Rampell

Here’s an anniversary no one wants to celebrate: The Columbine school shooting — April 20, 1999 — just passed its 25th anniversary. Fifteen dead (including the two shooters), twenty-one injured. A new era begins . . .

Why, why, why bring up such a horrific event? Perhaps because it hasn’t stopped.

Even though I sit here in the comfort of my study, feeling perfectly safe, I can’t emotionally disentangle myself from the news, which is always, in one way or another, about the human need to kill itself — or rather, the human assumption that it’s divided from itself, and “the other,” whoever that other is, either needs to be killed or is, at best, expendable. For instance:

“The Senate has passed $95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.”

Our sloganeering Mayor Andy Ginther had been spouting off about how Columbus is “America’s Opportunity City” as far back as 2015 when he stated, his "Columbus will be America’s Opportunity City.” In 2018 Ginther told the inaugural cohort of the New American Leadership Academy, “We are a top city with immigrants. We are proud of that.” In his 2019 State of the City Address he claimed, “In my previous State of the City addresses, I committed to make Columbus America’s opportunity city, to tackling our most pressing challenges and making tangible, long-lasting changes to lift up Columbus neighborhoods and move our city forward together. We have. And we are.”

During Ginther’s 2023 mayoral campaign he wrote he would, “Ensure anyone who works in America's Opportunity City can afford to live in the neighborhood of their choice” and “Every family in every neighborhood should be able to share in the success story that is Columbus. But what makes Columbus truly special is how we respond to opportunity.” Ginther has been full of more empty campaign promises.

Protest at Chase "McCoy Center" Headquarters in Columbus
Wednesday, April 24, 2024, 3:30 – 5:00 PM
Chase is THE LARGEST fossil fuel funder on the planet. They've pumped over $434 BILLION into deadly fossil fuels worldwide since 2016.  

JOIN US for a protest at Chase "McCoy Center" headquarters in Columbus. If this is the 'Real McCoy' they need a REALITY CHECK!  

This will be peaceful protests and we do not anticipate any arrest risk. Rain or shine (unless lightning).

This protest, organized by Third Act Ohio, is part of a larger "Spring Spark" group of actions happening in NYC and across the country on this day.  

All are welcome.  Please Be There!!  

Meet up: 3:30pm, Krispy Kreme, 1021 Polaris Pkwy, Columbus (inside if raining, parking lot, otherwise).  We will convene and move to 2 close-by protest sites.  

If you have questions, or need a ride to the protest site, please email us at thirdactoh@gmail.com.