Thrown Cell Phones

It wasn't that many years ago when cell phones became a body part. Now, the computer you can wear on your wrist, in your hip pocket or possibly around your eyes lead in articles below the flag.

Oh, say the writers of #007, Get Smart, and Scarecrow and Mrs. King, with their tech savy inventor characters in the prop rooms, we were way ahead of the curve in the 20th century. Art imitating life or life imitating art in those shows? 

In reality, regular cell phones are so "start of the century",  26 years ago and counting. We know who wrote the songs for the whole world to sing last century. Who wrote the scripts? Who programmed the phones? 1999 was actually the year of trouble, not so much YK2.

PS. Are you tracked? Are you chipped yet? 

Yesterday's news hughlights cell phones in stories above the fold. In schools, the banning of cell phones leads. What is old, is new. In the 1990's, bans were common. Every district has its reasons now. Distractions tops the list. Do they not want recordings? Do they not want texts during live action horror or calls to 911? How about the ordinary days record keeping?

Two cell phone lives are directly connected to shootings explained in videos gone viral two weeks ago, not so viral today. 

Remember JT? What did he do to his teacher's phone a day before he brought and used a gun?  Did you laugh at the blonde teacher in that viral video of JT? Did you know that a thrown cell phone was a red flag?

How about the projectile cell phone that distracted a murderer? No classroom videos yet. The link below, in hearsay fashion, tells. Can you hear the teacher's voice now? She is also blonde. Are you laughing, crying or asking questions?

Teacher who threw the cell phone, a news report:

https://youtu.be/OS71yQrsbfU?is=09QALEUgSXTYGPFj

This maybe the only time the teacher/cell phone speak, unless of course some trials ensue. Then lawyers will caution, guide and ask. Was it recording? Does it have DNA on it? Whose fingerprints explain ownership?

The most disturbing part of this cell phone's story is when the owner of the injured cell, in a prepared statement,  included "speaking through the district" and "will not be making any other statements". I realize the nightmares she experiences are haunting but she is an eyewitness. She really won't be able to get out of depositions, neither will the cell phone. Heroes do not want the attention, but their actions speak volumes. Only one other witness can talk. Both are teachers. Their actions matter.

Is the cell phone in the evidence room? Was the teacher able to leave the building as fast as the father hero? What were her steps? Did she need to be carried out? How was the cell phone retrieved? 

You can bet, insurance companies and lawyers, who follow the ambulances, are asking.

I am glad that the Bend teacher had the courage to speak, but are they her words, her voice or some district's lawyer calling the shots? Is the statement part of the pattern of damage control? 

The school is not yet reopened. The collaterals may be lining up to speak. Hopefully, they will talk without someone writing the script.

Please, No Hallmark movies or Daily Wire movie. Just the facts, mam, just the facts.

Are we out of the spin zone yet from Bend, Oregon?

Shine a light of truth into the darkness of school shootings. Trials can be revealing and lead to healing. The truth as they say, may hurt, but it does set our spirits free.

Three dead children and a teacher need that cell phone's owner to talk. Recordings are necessary and not just behind closed doors. 

The brave phone owner, who fought the shooter, should want to have her voice heard and not hold back. She stood up to the demon and lived. In some part of her story, it is told, that because she threw a cell phone, the killer did not move to another room.

Was it her phone?

From the Teacher's Desk with Love,

Marian R. Carlino

October 31, 2026  after 8 pm.

Cleansing the Palate

"Hope begins when you stand in the dark, looking out at the light"

The widowed character on a train quotes his deceased wife whom he is mourning. She was a teacher. His character's motivation is that he learned a lot from her and is inspired to share the wisdom. The lines are caught on film in the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, The Christmas Train.

Do you get my connection yet? Ugh, hmm, or yeah? Cheesy question?

Some think Hallmark movies are cheesy. Some are, but they all tell stories of love and hope. 

I am a serious person, remember the names in my book? Labeled as an SNL character, the insult was fitting. Moms are like that, especially teacher moms! 

Breaks are needed from serious jobs, life in general, serious writing, or Michelin star courses 

I raised two children who have a great sense of life. They are loving, stable, and hard workers. They are not Hallmark movies fans. We did not live in a Hallmark mansion or drive fancy cars. My romance did not result in married happily ever after, (almost at 29 years). We survived a few storms just like the characters in the movie today. A train, lots of snow, ex lovers, new lovers, strangers, and an exentric, the Hallmark trope is real. 

Divorce and family strife are not taboo. Luckily, no one gets murdered. The "ex" is not a common role cast, but factors into dialogue often these days. Do script keepers write from experience?

Hallmark movies, adapted from books or ideas of the original script writers, are my go to "sorbet".  They should not be anxiety producing. The screen writers know that going into contract.

The writers take regular life, put in a few twists and turns, sometimes an angel plus miracles or two, in order to create Hallmark Hall of Fame award winners, Mysteries, or Channel memories. Some need to be served with a basket of crackers, but even those tell of love and hope. ( Repeat!)

Young lovers, reconnections, new friends, veterans, blended families of all sorts, sickness, health, faith are woven into the fabric of the Hallmark trademark. 

Actors with five star credentials have graced the Hall. Some haul out Christmas, Halloween or suitcases with tickets. Plane, train, and automobile adventures are plentiful. There is not a lot of screaming. No one is left alone, but sometimes memories have to be jogged. Yes, Alley that word "sorry" is spoken and thank you. Four letter curse words actually seem to be banned.

The train in this movie choice has sleeper cars, fine dining and a bar. It would not be a cheap ride. 

Some prefer dark fantasy, I like the light. As in my real life train adventures, people in this movie meet friends for the limited train ride and/or make lifetime connections. Train rides can create mini villages.

If Hallmark ever jumps the shark, the disappointment could end the brand. No one would ever go into a Hallmark store to buy a gun or to Hallmark movies, even the mysteries, for extreme madness. 

I do not tune into the "who dun its" much. "Columbo" style detective work is the style. They do draw guns in the mysteries, but did Columbo ever need one? When we use brain power, guns do not have to be used. Hallmark uses knowledge as power even in the crime scenes. Do the writers know how to piece a story puzzle?

This movie, which I was drawn to today, does have a reformed thief who slips off the straight and narrow after the death of his spouse but the people on the train make a difference to the older, widowed passenger. A character described as odd is under wraps. A wise baby boomer comes out of retirement.

The author put a script within a script. I had never watched this before, so the ending, predictable in the love outcome, had a twist. Planning and plots, but not of murder; well watch till the end, the word is mentioned! It is not a Carrie surprise, thank you writers!

I can attest that connections on trains are real. Did you read "I will meet you at the station" on this blog? How about the heavy lifting one.

Life, real or created from an author's imagination, happens. An author has control of the ending, well, maybe with help from the production companions. 

Roll the credits, no one is an island. We may have twists and turns, but we can have control of the beginnings and endings as long as we make it out of the womb. No one is riding alone on real life journeys either.

Sometimes we do have to journey the best way we know how. I love trains. Hallmark movies give positive examples of the how to travel. Many mention God.

An older cousin, on her 25th Jubilee as a Sister of Mercy, handed out a little satin cloth, no bigger than a bookmark. It reads: 

"Thank you for being a colorful thread in the fabric of my existence." 

I passed that very phrase on to a group of children I taught, in thanksgiving for how they played in my life. 

Hallmark is a good weaver.

Whether they are pretend or real, characters can impact us. I would rather watch a caring set of produced characters then any #007 fast acting or crime seeking chaos bearers. If all the worlds a stage, then turn on the lights.

If movies evoke memories, call to action, or just allow a break from the maddening crowd, then treasure the ones who, when you are standing in the dark, lift your spirit.

Taking a Hallmark break today. The Christmas marathon is on ( even on Up and GAF).

Maybe I will be inspired for another blog post. People, actions and words can mean life changing or inspiring experiences. We all need breaks from heavy lifting.

We are coming up to Thanksgiving and festivals of light. In the Christian and Jewish traditions angels, miracles, Good Samaritans, Good Shepherds, and prodigals abound.

Hallmark (UP and GAF) gets it. Maybe the owners know that a little bit of light will brighten the way of a darkened soul. Strategies for success in a dark world?

Does orange sherbert sound good right now or some more crackers and a glass of wine? It is 5 o'clock somewhere.

No cheese or sherbert in your life?  Well, I hope this post served up some. Didn't I say something about annoying in another post? Irritating? Inspiring?

Halloween is today, turn on those lights! Have some holiday fun. Get to know people in your neighborhood. They just may be serving some adult beverages or will improve your spirits while they offer treats to the costumed cavalcade. Haul Out the Halloween, Hallmark style!

Life is the here and now.  Keep the light on. Do not lose hope.

How are you writing your story? 

From the Teacher's Desk with Love,

Marian R. Carlino

October 31, 2026