Seminole Sentinel (Seminole, Tex.), Vol. 97, No. 44, Ed. 1 Sunday, March 12, 2006 Page: 4 of 14
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PAGE 4, Seminole (Texas) Sentinel, Sunday, March 12, 2006
Sunday's
Editorials, Columns & Letters
PO Drawer 1200
406 S. Main
Email: sentinel@crosswmds.com
Phone: (432) 758-3667
Plugged In...Your computer
Diving Deeper into the Exiting
Microsoft Access
By Eric Spellmann
i Last week, 1 began a lesson in Mail
Merge using Microsoft Word. If you
missed it, you can find it your newspaper’s
website or my own:
www. Eric^pellmann. com
Ready? Let’s start where we left off.
Make sure you have the "Donor Letter
Main" document on your screen. Also,
make sure you have the Mail Merge Task
Pane open (Pull down the TOOLS menu
and choose "Letters and Mailings" and
then "Mail Merge Wizard")
Create a Data Source
Step 3 (Select Recipients) is where
people tend to get a bit confused. It's
totally understandable, considering some
of the language Microsoft uses
You have three chpices: "Use an
Existing List" , "Select from Outlook
contacts", and "Type a new list.” If your
data already exists (Use an existing list),
you can simply have Microsott Word link
to it.
Word knows how to access a variety
of file types including dBase, Access,
Excel, FoxPro, WordPerfect, and Outlook.
For the purposes of this example, though,
I am going to assume the data does NOT
exist. What were going to do is create
the data that will be merged with-our
donation letter.
Click the "Type a new- list" button on
the Task Panel and then hit the blue
"Create" link below
A new window opens, labeled, "New
Address List." It's already populated with .
a number of common fields, such as
name, address, city, etc. But, you will also
notice that it is missing a place to store the
AMOUNT. Click the "Customize" button
and then "Add" to put it in. Using the
"Moye Down" button, position this field
at the end of the list. Also, delete the fields
we don't need, such as Country, Home
Phone, Work Phone, e-ma(l address,
address 2, etc. When the list of fields is
perfect, hit OK.
Let's hold off on adding records and
just close this window. Word will now ask
you to save your data source. I know, 1
know, you haven't created any data yet.
Humor it, and give it a name like, "Donor
Letter Data." Look back over at the Task
Pane and choose "Edit Recipients." A
window will appear showing your
"recipients.” Of course, it is empty, but
we are about to remedy that.
Click the "Edit" button at the bottom.
A data entry window will appear, allowing
you to enter as many donor addresses as
you want. Enter three or four records.
When you're done, hit the Cancel button
and then OK.
Well, we’ve got our main document
and we've created our data source. Now,
we need to replace our pseudo-fields with
the actual Word merge fields.
Inserting Merge Fields
On the Task Pane, hit "Next: Write
your letter" at the bottom. Highlight
FIRSTNAME, hit "More Items” on the task
pane, choose "First Name;" and hit the
INSERT button. Your FIRSTNAME will
be replaced by the ACTUAL field. You
can tell it's a field by single-clicking on it.
It will turn grey. Replace your other fields
using the same steps. Two reminders:
Don't forget the AMOUNT field and make
sure you put appropriate spacing between
the fields.
Once you’ve inserted all of your
merge fields, click "Next: Preview your
letters" at the bottom of the task pane..
You will see a "sample letter" with the data
filled in for you from the first data record
you created. If all looks well, click "Next:
Complete the Merge."
The Actual Merge
Two options appear: "Print..." and
"Edit individual letters..." If you hit the
"Print..." button, Microsoft Word will start
merging the letters and send them straight
to your printer. Choosing "Edit individual
letters..." will cause Word to create one
document with a separate page for each
completed merge. Click this option to see
the final product of all your hard work.
Congratulations, you've done your
first Mail Merge! But folks, it doesn't stop
there. Next week, I'll share some mail-
merging secrets I've learned over the years.
Until then, 111..,.
See you in Cyberspace!
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Family Reunion ... Surprisingly Good
Preachy film zeroes in on
society's problems
Apparently Tyler Perry just
doesn’t care. And he shouldn't.
His movies get absolutely
lambasted, and, even while not
permitting any previews to
reviewers, his most recent release,
Madea s Family Reunion, is no
exception.
But Perry — and his millions of
mostly African-American female
fans — watched moviegoers of all
races pour into theaters to the tune
of $30 million to hear his positive,
God-based messages.
That’s why he doesn’t care.
About the film
There’s big money in
churches. Christians with above-
tithe cash are aching to attend films
that fit their niche. Hollywood has
flirted with Christians and secular
moviegoers for years, of course.
The Ten Commandments was
filmed as early as 1923; naturally,
the Charleton-Heston-as-Moses
1956 version is the classic.
moneymakers - was that they
were spectacles that were
incredibly long. (Of course, you'd
think it might take a while to tell
the story of the entire Bible;
Huston did it in “just" 174 minutes
Others: The Ten Commandments
was a whopping 220 minutes
[that's 3 hours, 40 minutes!]; The
Robe was a mere 135 minutes
long.)
The biblical epic waned in the
late 60’s. As the century ended and
apocalyptic fears grew, The
Omega Code and Left Behind
found devoted, mostly Christian
audiences. (Man, their sequels
were terrible!)
Then Mel Gibson hit his
cinematic home run by courting
churches almost exclusively before
releasing The Passion of the Christ
in 2004. It’s still No. 10 on the All-
Time money list (in America) with
an incredible $370.3 million.
You’d think analysts would be
prepared for such out of left field
successes, but they seriously
his bandwagon. Perry blew up.
His first major release. Diary
of a Mad Black Woman, shocked
the earth last year when it opened
as the No. 1 movie at a stunning
$21.9 million. (A video version had
been released in 2002 [directed by
Perry], but the 2005 theatrical
version was the Big One.)
With that success, Perry was
inked to a 7-picture deal by
Lionsgate. While Family Reunion
was aimed at black audiences, the
one with the Movie Man was
mostly white. Tack on some
Christians with some spending
money, and you have the equation
for a successful series of movies.
The plot
Three tales are intertwined.
1. The crusty Madea (Perry in
drag) avoids a court sentence by
taking charge of a delinquent
teenager.
2. Victoria (Lynn Whitfield)
wants her daughter (Rochelle
Aytes, who has serious Future Mrs.
Movie Man potential) to marry
The same can be said for
Underwood. He was a major
Flavor of the Week when he broke
out in TV’s L.A. Law. To his credit,
he’s taken his fame and tried to
improve the lives of others through
various causes.
Tyson’s deserved success
came in back-to-back films:
Sounder (1972) and TV’s The
Autobiography of Miss Jane
Pittman, still considered one of the
best made-for-TV film ever
produced.
As for Family Reunion, Perry
directed and he does okay. Early
on, there are some problems - too
many medium shots that illustrate
his stage beginnings - but he gets
better and intersperses some lovely
aerial shots of Atlanta.
Whether the message-heavy
film is too simple minded and direct
depends on the viewer. Some
need things spelled out and issued
point-blank. Others will roll their
eyes at the statements of the
obvious.
American society - and Angelou’s
poems are a bit too mundane for
some. (Not the Movie Man.)
The rating
Certainly, the violence
Underwood unleashes on Aytes is
startling. (Of course, Underwood
gets his.)
And Perry as Madea isn’t shy
about walloping anyone, even
kids.
There are a couple of bouts
of flatulence and some generic
cussing.
But the PG-13 seems harsh;
the Movie Man wouldn’t have
argued with a PG.
Summing up: a 6
A lot of reviewers hate this
movie.
Self-proclaimed intellectuals
will scoff at the simplistic Family
Reunion. And there” s even a
backlash against Perry from the
black community, claiming that he
simply is perpetuating racial
stereotypes.
Whatever the case, the
common man should find plenty
to like in Family Reunion. It has
laughs (yeah, they’re a bit crude
sometimes) and a positive message
- just what some Christians are
seeking. Cha-ching.
Trailers
Mo’Nique’s Phat Girlz had a
couple of laughs - a 5. It also stars
another ripped black guy.
Inside Man, with the great
Denzel Washington, looks decent;
the trailer was a 6. It’s directed by
Spike Lee - wonder what he thinks
of Perry?
For yeais (mainly B.C.. Before misjudged Tylei Perry. Even the very rich Blair^Underwood — who Kudos to any movie that offers
L.. i * iL. j 1 * (3recn’s “Peace, Love, and
Happiness” (even if it’s after a
particularly violent encounter).
A few outtakes play over the
end credits and Perry takes a page
from old Bob Hope films (and Bill
Murray in Scrooged) by “pointing
out” things in the audience.
Best scene
The bus driver (Boris Kodjoe)
is sitting with the old man (Perry),
waiting for his date to get ready.
Perry goes on a long diatribe
about how tough it is to contains
one’s Qaseous emissions,
especially when one gets older. He
lets fly and Kodjoe tries very hard
to be polite and keep a straight
face.
Over the end credits, an
extended, muffed version of the
scene is even funnier.
What doesn’t work
Some scenes in Family
Reunion are so flat and lifeless that
they are amateurish. A dramatic
scene betweefl Whitfield and her
two daughters is horribly
overwrought and ineffective.
Is every African-American
man fat-free and owner of 6-pack
abs? They are in Family Reunion.
There are awkward
expositions and the reunion comes
out of nowhere. Tyson’s speech
will bring groans from some -
. ----------------------------...------- especially twentysomethings who
How you want It delivered: Carrier_ Mail | career never found mainstream are certain that there’s nothing
wrong with the current African-
i
Making a Difference
By Gina Caswell Kelly
There is a lady who lives with us at the nursing home who is very
young. She has been struck by a horrible disease for which there is no
cure at this time. This lady has not walked well on her own for some
time. On Friday, she was in therapy but the therapists were not there
yet. I was sitting at my desk which is back in that area and this lady said
in her very quiet voice, “1 am going to walk over to the sink and wash
my face. ’’ I looked up and said, “What?” She repeated her statement.
About that time the therapists came in and she told them her plan. She
said, “1 have got to try sometime. Why not now?” The therapists got a
walker for her and stood to help her on each side. 1 got in front of her.
I told her I was praying “oh so hard” for her to be able to do what she
wanted so badly. As I backed up she began to walk. Very slowly to be
sure but walking nonetheless. I went to the sink and got her a rag out
and started the water to warming as 1 prayed that she would make it.
She made her way to the sink and with teary eyes I handed her the rag
and she washed her face! I had prayed so hard and she had worked so
hard and the therapists were standing at her side for support. We were
all in tears. The lady said she couldn’t wait to tell her mom ana, her
daughter what she had done.
Later in the day a church group came to sing. The lady stoppec
me as I walked by and asked if I would stand by her and sing with
them. I told her I didn’t have much of a voice but I would sure try.
Wouldn’t you know it, the first song we sang was “In the Garden. ” The
chorus begins, “And He walks with me and He talks with me.” I again
could not keep the tears from flowing as I thought about how I had
seen Him walking with her that very morning.
I saw a miracle that day as 1 watched her walk. On a day when I
needed a miracle so badly, 1 saw one. It was a miracle that showed me
how much more to life there is at times than what we see. Sometimes
we kind of want to wallow around in our problems and worries. We all
have things in our lives that keep us awake occasionally, I suppose.
But, just as I saw God work in this young lady’s life that morning, I get
the opportunity to see Him work in my own life if I will trust Him. She
trusted that He would guide each step for her as she physically walked
about 15 feet. Why can’t I trust Him to guide my steps mentally as I
walk this path? Why do we hang onto what God stands so readily
waiting to take for us?
Think about the words to that song, “And He walks with me and
He talks with me and He tells me I am His own. And the joy we share
as we tarry there, none other has ever known.” Walk with Him. It will
make the difference.
Cable), The Robe played on TV
every Easter. Jeffrey Hunter made
a gorgeous, blue-eyed Jesus in
1961 s King of Kings. And the
great director John Huston put out
The Bible in 1966.
One thing these movies had
in common - aside from being
Movie Man has to admit that he
was unfamiliar with Perry's base
audience.
As a playwright penning
lesson-heavy stories and catering
to African-American audiences,
Perry was successful enough, but
when Oprah Winfrey jumped on
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happens to beat the daughter
regularly.
3. Another scared daughter
harbors a secret that keeps her
from committing to a bus driver
who loves her.
Eventually, everyone gathers
at a family reunion where the old
folks are astonished at the behavior
of the young ‘uns - gyrating
against one another, throwing dice,
cussin’, etc.
That inspires Cicely Tyson
with support from poet Maya
Angelou (man, it’s like an Oprah
convention!) to tell all reunion
attendees just what’s wrong with
the world - and how to fix it.
What works
Tyler is funny as the old
woman and a flatulent old man.
Perry doesn’t mince words as
either character. It’s Barbershop
funny and that’s saying something.
As Madea, he curses one
minute while whaling away on a
wayward youth then issues a
platitude like “It ain’t what people
call you, it’s what you answer to.”
And, by gum, it all works.
The three most experienced
actors fare best. Whitfield is strong
as the cruel mother. At one time,
she was the ingenue to watch,
mainly about 1991 with the TV
movie The Josephine Baker Story
(when she won an Emmy). But her
career never found mainstream
success.
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Wright, Dustin. Seminole Sentinel (Seminole, Tex.), Vol. 97, No. 44, Ed. 1 Sunday, March 12, 2006, newspaper, March 12, 2006; Seminole, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth839499/m1/4/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Gaines County Library.