Saturday TeaRoom 9/19/09 "Ding Dong" ... and wicked witches?

[brandon]

Another one of my favorite versions maintains roughly the same political figures documented by Wikipedia, but claims the major theme to be an indictment of bi-metalism (dollars valued in comparison to a basket of gold and silver). I had an AP History teacher subscribing to this in school.

http://www.minyanville.com/articles/?a=11674

I find that the history of money and banking in the US to be one of the most interesting subjects in recent history. It is something that is often taken for granted, but is rarely what it seems.

[Intuit]

Absolutely spot on, Brandon.

The Panic 1893 and the preceding one in 1873 had it roots in silver and land speculation, longterm drought and agricultural collapse (familiar theme), and a pyramid scheme of debt financing (another familiar theme).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panic_of_1893

Oh, this is supposed to be tea-related. Chinese green in my cup.

[JazzNGreenTea]

I find it great that I just learned some new and interesting things about this film from both Brandon and Intuit. I think that's why I will really like sticking around here, you can always learn something new and unexpected.

Unfortunately I cannot add any brilliant statements, so I'll just say I voted for the flying monkeys I guess because they frightened me more than anything else in the movie. For some reason the poppy seed field and the Emerald City stick out in my mind as well, but those aren't characters....just little things that I recall when thinking of Wizard of Oz.

[depravitea]

Tin Woodsman is cool. I dig robots.

[Victoria]

Tin Man is my fave too.

Started the day with Tao of Tea Neela, then some Tea Master Baozhong, currently Floating Leaves Tea LiShan.

[brlarson]

... and the flying monkeys are two, make that three, lengths ahead in the home stretch.

[Cinnamon Kitty]

Has anyone read/seen Wicked? I keep meaning to get around to it...

I've read it, and hopefully will finally get to see it on stage soon. I loved the book. I thought the characters were phenomenal. The sequel, Son of a Witch, was okay, but not as awesome as Wicked. There is a third book to the series as well, called "A Lion Among Men," though I have not read it yet.

Growing up, I was never overly fond of the Wizard of Oz, except for Toto, who I thought was great simply because the dog that we had at the time was part Cairn Terrier, which was the same breed as Toto. I have visited Chittenango, NY, the birth place of L. Frank Baum. My three cousins and I skipped arm in arm down the yellow brick road in the middle of town.

In my cup is fresh apple cider from a local orchard. I love cider season. There was some Organic Monk's Blend, a cup of Irish Breakfast, and some iced tea earlier today too.

[Chip]

Away for the day at an out of town wedding. Had a sencha teabag in a plastic cup, a far dry from sencha in Hagi!!!!!

I enjoyed reading the very diverse reponses to today's topic!

[wyardley]

I liked the book as a kid... I was really disappointed by the movie though, as it wasn't very faithful to the book.

[kymidwife]

Flying Monkeys FTW!!!!!

Thanks Chip for leaving this poll up until I returned home from Disney... gave me a great excuse to post some photos. While at Disney, I attended Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in costume, dressed as none other than, "A Flying Monkey!" My sister was the Wicked Witch of the West, and my niece was Dorothy, complete with a Toto prop. Preparing the costumes was almost as much fun as the party itself.





By the way... "Wicked" is a great read if you haven't read it. The stage production was beautiful and funny and light. The book was dark and and heartwrenching with overt political implications. I fell in love with the little green girl and her life's story... but it was very very different than the theatrical interpretation. A definite must-read.

Sarah

[Chip]

That is a not so scary Flying Monkey! The witch certainly is however.