Page 17 - August 2020 - The Castle Pines Connection

CastlePinesConnection.com 17 The Bibliophile’s Corner Discussing ALL THINGS literature While “Mrs. America” is not based on a particular book, it was fashioned from the biographies, memoirs and journalistic accounts of the 1970s and blended with a hefty dose of Hollywood creative license. MRS. AMERICA By Lisa Nicklanovich “We are in the midst of a conservative revolution,” stated Rosemary Thomson, played by Melanie Lynskey, in the historical drama “Mrs. America” streaming on FX on Hulu. “It’s bigger than the ERA now,” Thomson explained. The nine-part series is based on and dramatizes the story of the movement for and against the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) which would guarantee equal protection, regardless of gender, under the U.S. Constitution. As history played out, we know that Phyllis Schla y, depicted spectacularly by Cate Blanchett, and her crusaders kept the Constitutional amendment from passing the required 38 states by its deadline, despite the strong bipartisan momentum it had coming out of the Senate and the House of Representatives. In fact, Virginia became the 38th state to ratify the amendment just this year, making the series relevant today. With the music, style and fashion of the 1970s as the backdrop, each episode of the series focuses on the prominent second-wave feminists Gloria Steinem, Betty Friedan, Shirley Chisholm, Bella Abzug and G.O.P. activist Jill Ruckelshaus. Each character is brought to life with an excellent cast, with Schla y’s anti-ERA platform as a driving force. Schla y is portrayed as cunning, ambitious and complicated. Initially her Stop ERA lobbying organization was largely dismissed until Schla y mobilized conservative women, arguing that the ERA would cause women to be drafted into the military and lose protections such as alimony and child custody in the case of divorce. Schla y’s sheer force of will transcended stopping the ERA from passing and became a revolutionary, religious tide that advanced a conservative agenda. With hired help at home and a sister-in-law dedicated to Schla y’s family, she gets a law degree, runs for congress, and has ambitions to be in President Ronald Reagan’s cabinet. Representative Bella Abzug, played by Margo Martindale, stated that Schla y was actually a feminist. “She may be the most liberated woman in America,” Abzug said. The series helps to gain a deeper understanding of the feminist movement and the conservative backlash, with storylines and positions that continue to this day. Community resident Karen Welden watched the series and said, “Schla y was prescient. She thought the ERA would shake the foundation of the American family. I think she was right.” Fellow resident Tammy He ebower stated, “I believe if you are a citizen of the U.S., you should have equal rights under the law.” As the ERA continues to be debated, “Mrs. America” raises many complicated issues and opens the door to have worthwhile and important discussions that a ect us all. BE IN THE KNOW In an attempt to stay in touch with younger generations and keep abreast of what’s hip, what’s hot and what’s happening NOW, this segment delves into the fringes of pop culture. Our intention is to educate, and we in no way endorse any of the products or ideas shared in this column. By Terri Wiebold What is a Puff Bar? Pu Bar is one of many brands of disposable, all-in- one vape devices that is designed for one-time use. These disposable devices are newer to the e-cigarette space and have grown in popularity, as they are exempt from the federal ban earlier this year on avored e-cigarettes. With bright colored packaging and a variety of 24 avors – strawberry banana, grape, peach ice, pineapple lemon and O.M.G. (orange, mango, guava) to name a few – it is no surprise that these devices have quickly captured the attention of younger users. The bright-colored plastic devices are small enough to t into a pocket and resemble a USB drive. Each is lled with cotton soaked in a liquid mixture of avor additives and anywhere from 1.8 to 5.0 % salt nicotine. When you inhale from the device (“hit” it), the lithium-ion battery in the device heats the liquid to produce a mildly-sweet smelling and tasting vapor. Unlike other vaping products with pods, Pu Bars are pre-charged and pre- lled, making them disposable. Once the battery dies or the device has run out of liquid, it can be discarded. According to the manufacturer, a user can expect to get up to 300 pu s per bar, which can range in price from $7 to $9. The newer Pu Bar Plus can yield up to 800 pu s per device. These disposable devices are available over-the- counter at most gas stations and convenience stores. E ective last year, you must be at least 21 years of age to purchase ANY tobacco products. (Editor’s note: Just prior to going to press, the FDA issued warning letters to several companies, including the makers of the Pu Bar, to pull their product(s) from the shelves and cease online purchases due to non-compliance with multiple regulations). August 2020