As father of a severely autistic boy, I enjoyed very much Cuba Gooding Junior's portrail of a developmentally disabled man who just wanted to be part of a community. Gooding's character becomes mascot of the town high school football team, as he gains acceptance from the team, he still has to battle with the stereotypes of the conservative towns folk who think this "freak" has no place in our town.

Good study of human nature the best and the worst too!!

Jeffrey McAndrew
author of "Our Brown-Eyed Boy"

William Macy, like no other actor I think, can evoke such feelings of compassion. He is also plays a very likeable developmentally disabled person in this film. Bring a Kleenex box along when you view this movie. As a parent of a severely disabled autistic boy, I felt for the character who was limited in his coping skills but who tried and tried and tried to make his life meaningful and to help others through his job as a traveling salesman. Detractors may say Macy over acts, but I think his character makes a sterling point, that people can overcome their severe disabilities with perseverance and the constancy that evolves from the honesty of the human heart.

A+

Jeffrey McAndrew
author of "Our Brown-Eyed Boy"

William Macy is brilliant again! He portrays a role of a decent man caught up in big time trouble, trouble created by ignorance and misunderstanding. In this post World War Two time, Macy's character suffers through anti-Jew feelings in his neighborhood. It is interesting how he deals with such discrimmination and how he attempts to live his life in a meaningful way. "Meatloaf" plays a frightening but effective bigot..and supporting actress Laura Dern does a great job too. This is a "must see".

This book has so much hope, and exudes respect for human experience. In essence, rituals are spiritual and they are found all the time in the lives we lead. Until we recognize this we will be less aware of the spiritual magic of being alive each and every day. Fulghum illuminates this page by page. He has a very philosophical view of life that is quite contagious. His presentation style is much like Garrison Keillor in the audiotape of this book I listened to. Soothing, but it jolts us awake with spiritual truths time and time again. I also like his sense of humor and his accepting of life and death.

You will respect your own life more after reading this book.

Jeffrey McAndrew
author of "Our Brown-Eyed Boy"

Many familiar melodies in this collection! Would be interested to see them on the county fair circuit. Last time I saw them, there were on the "Grand Illusion" Tour.

ELO was a great band to listen to in college and still is now.

"Telephone Line" and "Strange Magic" are gems.

This recording still has amazing energy after all of these years!

Nobody can make their sound!

What a powerful group when they came on the scene!! "More than a Feeling" boosted them into worldwide following. "Peace of Mind" and "Don't Look Back" are great tunes on this album!

"Wheel in the Sky" and "Faithfully" are the best...and oh yeah, a song played at many a democratic party politic rallies, "Don't Stop Beleving." Steve Perry has a unique voice that takes the group to the "next level."

This early EJ is like magic. You can see the start of the growth of a very gifted musician!!