Desperately Seeking Susan

By Alex P. Vidal

“Boredom: the desire for desires.” — Leo Tolstoy

THOSE who have watched the 1985 American comedy-drama film Desperately Seeking Susan will probably understand when we suggest stopping blaming instantly the notorious riding in tandem motorcycle killers every time somebody was found dead in or outside his car with a bullet wound on the head.

There must be more than meets the eye in the cases of some VIPs and executives waylaid by killers outside their homes.

Some are murdered because of business rivalry, a personal grudge, or act of vendetta. Different motives and angles; sometimes it’s a crime of passion, a dalliance that started in the work place and went awry: an attractive and gullible female officemate falling for a playboy colleague or playboy boss. Suspicious wife stumbles into the affair and the lovebirds’ world gets smaller day by day.

In the movies and in real life, somebody younger, sexier, prettier always wins the cat and mouse game.

It’s imperative to let the police investigators do their job in any sensational murder case and refrain from making premature conclusions or speculations in the absence of concrete pieces of evidence.

Meanwhile, let’s listen to Madonna’s (Susan in the movie) song “Into The Groove”, the film’s soundtrack:

Music can be such a revelation

Dancing around, you feel the sweet sensation

We might be lovers if the rhythm’s right

I hope this feeling never ends tonight

Only when I’m dancing can I feel this free

At night, I lock the doors, where no one else can see

I’m tired of dancing here all by myself

Tonight, I wanna dance with someone else

-o0o-

We’ve been warned that no matter if we’re traveling in New Jersey, the days leading up to Christmas could feature some treacherous periods of winter weather.

According to Josh Bakan of Patch, forecasters expect a combination of rain, powerful winds and potential flooding on December 22 (Thursday) and 23 (Friday), leading into what could become the coldest Christmas in decades.

While widespread snow in the state now appears unlikely, the impending storm will likely cause trouble in New Jersey, Philadelphia and New York City, according to AccuWeather.

The weather platform updated its Thursday travel outlook from “poor” to “fair” for Thursday in the area. But Friday remains a poor travel day in AccuWeather’s forecast.

The widespread storm will have severe impacts throughout the nation, forecasters say. Several major travel hubs, including New York City, face significant disruptions, according to AccuWeather.

Affected aircraft and crews could spark ripple-effect delays throughout the nation.

Meteorologists reportedly disagreed on when the precipitation may begin Thursday in New Jersey. But the earlier it starts, the higher the chance of a combination of snow, rain and freezing rain, according to Bakan.

“But overall impacts from any snow or ice are not expected to be significant,” said Tuesday morning’s forecast discussion from the National Weather Service’s Mount Holly office.

Bakan reported that the rain could get heavier overnight Thursday into Friday morning.

With just more than an inch of rain falling during that window, localized flooding may occur, the National Weather Service says. There’s a slight chance of snow showers Friday, but the agency generally expects 1-2 inches of rain overall during the storm.

Strong winds will pick up Friday, according to the National Weather Service. Gusts could reach 40-50 mph inland and exceed 50 mph along and off the coast.

-o0o-

NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR NEW YORK-BASED DAMAYAN. Niña Cabardo, Damayan Migrant Workers Association (DMWA) media liaison, sent this press release via email on December 21:

Last weekend, Damayan Migrant Workers Association officially introduced its new Executive Director (ED), Riya Ortiz, at the Damayan 20th anniversary and Annual Holiday Party and Fundraiser at The People’s Forum, Manhattan. Ortiz has been a long-time organizer and case manager with Damayan for many years, and served as the Director of Programs when she applied for the ED position this fall. As a daughter of a domestic worker who was forced to migrate to the US to provide for their family, Ortiz has experienced the painful impact of family separation and forced migration. “My family’s experience on forced migration and years of organizing and activism convinced me to embrace the mission and vision of Damayan”, Ortiz expressed.

Co-founder and outgoing Executive Director Linda Oalican is set to transition out in the first quarter of next year, after two decades of providing critical services, educating, organizing, and mobilizing Filipino migrant workers in New York and New Jersey. With her leadership, Damayan is now a sustainable workers-based and workers-led organization and a sanctuary for Filipino migrant workers, especially for labor trafficking survivors and their families. Damayan has also become a leading Filipino grassroots organization in the fight against labor trafficking and modern day slavery and in building the domestic workers movement in New York.

The ED transition is a culmination of a thoroughly-executed open application and candidate selection process led by the Damayan Succession Planning Committee composed of Board members and key staff. Through the funding support of the New York Foundation, the executive transition received guidance and support from its consultant, Community Resource Exchange (CRE), to ensure that the transition process is with transparency and integrity.

Demonstrating their approval of the new ED and growing support for Damayan, members, supporters, and allies donated generously enabling Damayan to exceed its fundraising goal of $20,000! This support will go a long way for the community. Donations are still welcome, and we can keep the momentum going. Donation link is open until December 25. To donate: www.damayanmigrants.org/HolidayParty

Damayan, together with the community, are looking forward to this new milestone of leadership within the organization.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo.—Ed)