We got another 4-6 inches of snow last night (December 15, 2007). That snow is lying on top of God only knows how much more snow that has been falling for weeks. We are in this cycle of cold and dry, than warm and wet which produces snow or freezing rain, than back to cold again.
Today all of that fluffy white snow that fell all day yesterday will be blowing back onto the sidewalks and streets from which we removed it last night and this morning. This Wisconsin in the winter. This is how it should be. We are latitude of seasons. Our summers are hot and winters are cold. it is part of the environment that produces the hardy and optimistic people we are.
I know, you hear people that live here complaining about our weather, but than people in good families complain about their relatives also. We complain about the weather because it's fodder for small talk. Secretly, we are proud of the fact that we experience these extremes. I for one do not know how much I would appreciate a great day in the summer if I had not gone through the splendor of fall, the white fury of winter and the rebirth of spring.
Wisconsin has not experienced winters of white fury as of late. The season has opened with a historical record for snowfall. Since these trends seem to get stuck in a cycle, we have no reason to believe this trend won't continue. If the jet stream moves a few miles north or south, if the arc of it's structure loops further north or south, it can change our weather in days, sometimes hours. What I'm saying is that we may lose all of this snow in a week and never see anymore until next December, but that is highly unlikely.
What makes this opening act noteworthy is that we haven't had a winter like this for years. Young people think it's unusual. More experienced residents know better. This is the kind of winter we could count on almost every year. This winter is like hearing your favorite oldy done by a new group in a movie sound track. The memories come in rush and you wonder if it was that vivid in the reality or if the event only rests in your mind in the filtered form you currently feel.
I sound like an old coot when I talk about a winter in the early sixties that had thirty plus days where the temperature never went above zero degree's . When I tell about winters where the city not only plowed but hauled snow away because there was no pace to plow it anymore. And yes, horror of horrors, we actually built tunnels and ice igloos in the drifts.
I don't know if we are going to see that kind of winter this year, but the severity of this winter should not be looked at as unusual. It's actually the kind of winter we used to have. It's the kind I remember
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
You Better be Paying Attention
Dear Non Involved Potential Voter;
I'm telling you that better become involved. You better start paying attention because the man or woman you will have the opportunity to elect president of the United States is being selected and according to the national pools, you are not paying attention.
The thing is that no one is going to tell Iowa or New Hampshire voters how to vote. It's true that their influence is beyond their political importance and numbers. However, if voters who are not involved in early primaries, work for and support the candidate of their choice, candidates will have the reason and resources of continue campaigning. Those of us who sit on the sidelines waiting patiently for our turn, will find that the person we want to lead us is already out of the race.
I'm telling you that better become involved. You better start paying attention because the man or woman you will have the opportunity to elect president of the United States is being selected and according to the national pools, you are not paying attention.
- It's to early.
- My states primary is not until next spring.
- I've got lots of things to worry about until then.
The thing is that no one is going to tell Iowa or New Hampshire voters how to vote. It's true that their influence is beyond their political importance and numbers. However, if voters who are not involved in early primaries, work for and support the candidate of their choice, candidates will have the reason and resources of continue campaigning. Those of us who sit on the sidelines waiting patiently for our turn, will find that the person we want to lead us is already out of the race.
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
President Obama, Get used to it.
I'll be the first to admit he doesn't have the kind of experience that we normally look for when we select or President. But that my friends is why I think, he is the best choice. Because the kind of people we have been electing for the past few years have not been getting the job done and just as only Nixon could go to China, only Obama can change the direction of the ship of state far enough to make a significant and necessary change.
The direction of government for the last eight years, and for sure and to a great extent since 1980 with the election of Ronald Regan, has been less government. Even a bleeding heart liberal like me has to admit in retrospect that maybe government was too intrusive. Time after time we have seen State and local governments come up with solutions to problems that the federal government could not. My issue with the Reagan approach was to throw the baby out with the bath water. Seeing government wasn't effective in certain area's he reasoned that eliminating the government all together was the proper response.
We have had trickle down economics and starve the beast legislative agenda's since then, except for the eight years Bill Clinton was in office, and the average person is less well off because of it. We are not keeping up income wise. More and more of us are falling behind in savings and health care costs. We certainly have given up our individual freedoms out of fear from our latest bogeyman, fundamental Islamist terrorists. The average guy is getting the shaft and I think finally we are waking up to it. We are getting a grasp on the idea that middle class is evaporating and the lower class is getting to be a larger more inclusive group.
Families who are relatively secure are fewer in numbers and are making astronomical amounts of money in comparison to most of us. The differences in the salaries makes no sense other than to reward managers for making sure the work is done at the lowest cost by the least amount of people, regardless of the social consequence of high turnover and job insecurity.
My favorite cartoon is of the boss complaining to an associate that he can't get any loyalty out of his temporary workers. The insecurity in the job market feeds a paranoia that encourages a shut up and take what you can get attitude. This feeds the cycle of "let them eat cake" postures by management.
There seems to be nobody that speaks for the most of us as most of us were dreaming that just any day now our ship would come in and we be one of the fat cats at the country club and weren't listening to the folks that raised the alarm. "Free Market' economics is just another closed loop kind of thinking that says we are right and concern for anything other than the free flow of dollars from the street to corporate accounts is not acceptable. Like fundamentalist religion there is no room for dissent or disagreement.
But now there is a voice. Obama has struck a chord with the millions of people who are slowly but evermore vocally realizing that the deck is stacked and system isn't working for them. Forget the man behind the curtain. Bush has wrought havoc on our concept of democracy and res assured he will do his damnedest to reward his supporters by trying to extend the perks he got for them this past eight years. No doubt no matter who becomes President, much of the work of this next administration will be undoing the mess Bush has created.
None of he candidates with the notable exceptions of Obama and Edwards are even discussing the issues that should be foremost in the minds of voters. We need to level the playing field. We have to deal with the failing infrastructure, out of reach health care costs, and welfare costs, corporate welfare that is. We have to give what's left of the middle class some hope and we have to give the underclass, which at this point maybe bigger than the middle class, more than hope.
Obama has what I refer to as the Tiger effect. No, I don't mean that he is multiracial. When Tiger Woods became a professional golfer, he brought people into the sport that never felt they belonged. Professional golf was a sport for rich old white guys. What Obama is doing is bringing people into politics that think that it's time that rich old white guys move aside. The telling point will be if this constituency organize, work and vote for him
The direction of government for the last eight years, and for sure and to a great extent since 1980 with the election of Ronald Regan, has been less government. Even a bleeding heart liberal like me has to admit in retrospect that maybe government was too intrusive. Time after time we have seen State and local governments come up with solutions to problems that the federal government could not. My issue with the Reagan approach was to throw the baby out with the bath water. Seeing government wasn't effective in certain area's he reasoned that eliminating the government all together was the proper response.
We have had trickle down economics and starve the beast legislative agenda's since then, except for the eight years Bill Clinton was in office, and the average person is less well off because of it. We are not keeping up income wise. More and more of us are falling behind in savings and health care costs. We certainly have given up our individual freedoms out of fear from our latest bogeyman, fundamental Islamist terrorists. The average guy is getting the shaft and I think finally we are waking up to it. We are getting a grasp on the idea that middle class is evaporating and the lower class is getting to be a larger more inclusive group.
Families who are relatively secure are fewer in numbers and are making astronomical amounts of money in comparison to most of us. The differences in the salaries makes no sense other than to reward managers for making sure the work is done at the lowest cost by the least amount of people, regardless of the social consequence of high turnover and job insecurity.
My favorite cartoon is of the boss complaining to an associate that he can't get any loyalty out of his temporary workers. The insecurity in the job market feeds a paranoia that encourages a shut up and take what you can get attitude. This feeds the cycle of "let them eat cake" postures by management.
There seems to be nobody that speaks for the most of us as most of us were dreaming that just any day now our ship would come in and we be one of the fat cats at the country club and weren't listening to the folks that raised the alarm. "Free Market' economics is just another closed loop kind of thinking that says we are right and concern for anything other than the free flow of dollars from the street to corporate accounts is not acceptable. Like fundamentalist religion there is no room for dissent or disagreement.
Note however in these politically correct times, the mantra of most organizations is that their most important asset is their employee's. And this is true, but not so true that the working people in an organization should profit from prosperity. That should go to the managers and stockholders, who under examination one sees have usually done the least.
But now there is a voice. Obama has struck a chord with the millions of people who are slowly but evermore vocally realizing that the deck is stacked and system isn't working for them. Forget the man behind the curtain. Bush has wrought havoc on our concept of democracy and res assured he will do his damnedest to reward his supporters by trying to extend the perks he got for them this past eight years. No doubt no matter who becomes President, much of the work of this next administration will be undoing the mess Bush has created.
None of he candidates with the notable exceptions of Obama and Edwards are even discussing the issues that should be foremost in the minds of voters. We need to level the playing field. We have to deal with the failing infrastructure, out of reach health care costs, and welfare costs, corporate welfare that is. We have to give what's left of the middle class some hope and we have to give the underclass, which at this point maybe bigger than the middle class, more than hope.
Obama has what I refer to as the Tiger effect. No, I don't mean that he is multiracial. When Tiger Woods became a professional golfer, he brought people into the sport that never felt they belonged. Professional golf was a sport for rich old white guys. What Obama is doing is bringing people into politics that think that it's time that rich old white guys move aside. The telling point will be if this constituency organize, work and vote for him
Choosing Our Next President
Peering across the ruins on the political battle field one does not see a pretty scene. Year of partisan politics's and loose leadership have left the field strewn with victims; some of these people deserve their fate others probably don't.
Hillary Clinton is a case in point. Clearly and ambitious women, Hilary is often described as being strident and cold. Politically, she is divisive. For various reasons, she is either loved or hated, with very few in the undecided category. She got the reputation for being a person who would do anything to get ahead, by not divorcing her meandering husband when he got caught with his pants down in the company of a White House Intern. She also tried and failed, as the first lady, to organize and legislate the first major health care reform in this country since Medicare.
In the first case, her loyalty was challenged by right wing "Christians" who taut the divorce rate in this country as one of the reasons for our moral demise. Let me note here that right wing Christians are selective in their application of morality, since many of their leaders and representatives have been caught in similar or worse circumstances. Suffice to say if Hillary Clinton had chosen to divorce the sitting President of the United States, she would have been equally vilified. The horns of that dilemma are wide and tips are sharp.
Her opponents don't like her because she is not an in-the--kitchen woman and does not bow with unqualified reverence to the ole boy establishment. The press and more importantly her constituents give her high marks as a Senator from New York State. The predictions of her inability to get along with the opposition being dashed, she now suffers from getting along to well with the enemy in a horribly partisan arena.
Representative of Bill and Hillary Clinton's two for one Presidency was the Health Care fiasco. Granted her tactics were suspect, but building support for a democratic bill of this magnitude with a ardently opposed republican controlled legislature would have been difficult if not impossible. And that may have been Hillary's first big lesson in Washington politics. You can be right, health care still needs an overhaul, but overreaching without building a consensus is folly and half a loaf is better than none. She took some great idea's and unwittingly turned them into fodder for late night comedians and right wing pundents.
Hillary Clinton could be a fine President and Leader of the Free World. She could turn around the terrible aftermath of the worst president we have ever had in a shorter time than almost any candidate we have running, except one. (I intend to clarify this in another blog soon) To redirect this country from an over reaction to world terrorism and redirect the fight from a unilateral contest to a true coalition of the free world and to face directly the horrible results of the so-called free trade global economy and mend the infrastructure here at home, she would need the support of the congress. If she got a mandate of 60% of the vote she might scare the republicans into being more the loyal opposition instead of ardent obstructionists, but that scenario is unlikely.
What is more likely is she would win by a slim margin and have to depend on what is so far a demonstrably weak democratic leadership and more embattled and cornered republican minority, that never showed the ability to lead even when they had the power, to work with and that spells disaster.
I like Hillary Clinton. She is to me a good leader. She has good ideas and she has showed she can work with others and get things done. The world will be a better place after four years of Clinton even though the poor woman is going to have to spend most of that time cleaning up after her predecessor.
The irony of seeing George Bush standing in the door of the White House giving back the keys to the Clinton's might be worth giving her a chance.
Hillary Clinton is a case in point. Clearly and ambitious women, Hilary is often described as being strident and cold. Politically, she is divisive. For various reasons, she is either loved or hated, with very few in the undecided category. She got the reputation for being a person who would do anything to get ahead, by not divorcing her meandering husband when he got caught with his pants down in the company of a White House Intern. She also tried and failed, as the first lady, to organize and legislate the first major health care reform in this country since Medicare.
In the first case, her loyalty was challenged by right wing "Christians" who taut the divorce rate in this country as one of the reasons for our moral demise. Let me note here that right wing Christians are selective in their application of morality, since many of their leaders and representatives have been caught in similar or worse circumstances. Suffice to say if Hillary Clinton had chosen to divorce the sitting President of the United States, she would have been equally vilified. The horns of that dilemma are wide and tips are sharp.
Her opponents don't like her because she is not an in-the--kitchen woman and does not bow with unqualified reverence to the ole boy establishment. The press and more importantly her constituents give her high marks as a Senator from New York State. The predictions of her inability to get along with the opposition being dashed, she now suffers from getting along to well with the enemy in a horribly partisan arena.
Representative of Bill and Hillary Clinton's two for one Presidency was the Health Care fiasco. Granted her tactics were suspect, but building support for a democratic bill of this magnitude with a ardently opposed republican controlled legislature would have been difficult if not impossible. And that may have been Hillary's first big lesson in Washington politics. You can be right, health care still needs an overhaul, but overreaching without building a consensus is folly and half a loaf is better than none. She took some great idea's and unwittingly turned them into fodder for late night comedians and right wing pundents.
Hillary Clinton could be a fine President and Leader of the Free World. She could turn around the terrible aftermath of the worst president we have ever had in a shorter time than almost any candidate we have running, except one. (I intend to clarify this in another blog soon) To redirect this country from an over reaction to world terrorism and redirect the fight from a unilateral contest to a true coalition of the free world and to face directly the horrible results of the so-called free trade global economy and mend the infrastructure here at home, she would need the support of the congress. If she got a mandate of 60% of the vote she might scare the republicans into being more the loyal opposition instead of ardent obstructionists, but that scenario is unlikely.
What is more likely is she would win by a slim margin and have to depend on what is so far a demonstrably weak democratic leadership and more embattled and cornered republican minority, that never showed the ability to lead even when they had the power, to work with and that spells disaster.
I like Hillary Clinton. She is to me a good leader. She has good ideas and she has showed she can work with others and get things done. The world will be a better place after four years of Clinton even though the poor woman is going to have to spend most of that time cleaning up after her predecessor.
The irony of seeing George Bush standing in the door of the White House giving back the keys to the Clinton's might be worth giving her a chance.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Taking Resposbility
I recently participated in an on-line discussion about voting in America. It was live chat concerning many aspects of voting in America, mostly the lack of pticipation. The power of the press to steer the conversation, the dollars of big doners to inordinately influence the outcome and just plain apathy were cited as a few of many reasons Americans don't vote. The responsibility of citizenship and the value of the right to select our leaders were mentioned as reasons we should vote.
(As an aside, we met for one hour each week for four weeks. while we discussed voting the conversation inevitably turned to the Conflict in Iraq.)
What didn't occur to me than and what was not discussed is the responsibility we have to the world as citizens of the world. I and many others have opposed the war in Iraq from day one. I continue to remain opposed to further interference in another sovereign countries business and I certainly remain steadfast in my opposition to expanding the war to Iran. While I can say that I didn't vote for Bush, because I didn't, but that does not give me the right to say that I have no blame in my President's actions. What we have to understand is that we vote for the Leader of the Free World, not just the president of the United States. And what he does affects the lives of people all over th world.
It may make Mr. Bush and his band of true believers feel good that they have exerted death and suffering on some people to bring about vengeance for the World Trade Center Attacks on September 11th, but I have to share in the disgrace and shame of that decision, because I didn't work hard enough to defeat Mr. Bush. I allowed the process to play itself out. It may even be said that if the better candidate did not surface to run against Bush, I was not active enough or smart enough to see that person and work for their election. Sound simplistic and naive? Well if it does it's because we have forgotten that the strength of a democracy lies not only in an educated voter, but an active voter.
Recently, we've heard that the election season is too long. Voters are not tuned in. This season is for the "Wonks" and insiders. What's really happening is that the candidates are choosing teams, the staff and contributors that will support them. They are trying to force the conversation of the election toward an emphasis on issues they think they can win. Trust me a lot will happen between now and the election that can not be predicted, by even the most informed insider, but what is said and how it is perceived is important. Being involved, even it means you're just listening, at this point is important.
Maybe the election cycle is too long, but until it gets shorter a good citizen of this country has to be engaged. Don't let anyone tell you it doesn't make a difference. If you don't think it does ask the people of Iraq.
(As an aside, we met for one hour each week for four weeks. while we discussed voting the conversation inevitably turned to the Conflict in Iraq.)
What didn't occur to me than and what was not discussed is the responsibility we have to the world as citizens of the world. I and many others have opposed the war in Iraq from day one. I continue to remain opposed to further interference in another sovereign countries business and I certainly remain steadfast in my opposition to expanding the war to Iran. While I can say that I didn't vote for Bush, because I didn't, but that does not give me the right to say that I have no blame in my President's actions. What we have to understand is that we vote for the Leader of the Free World, not just the president of the United States. And what he does affects the lives of people all over th world.
It may make Mr. Bush and his band of true believers feel good that they have exerted death and suffering on some people to bring about vengeance for the World Trade Center Attacks on September 11th, but I have to share in the disgrace and shame of that decision, because I didn't work hard enough to defeat Mr. Bush. I allowed the process to play itself out. It may even be said that if the better candidate did not surface to run against Bush, I was not active enough or smart enough to see that person and work for their election. Sound simplistic and naive? Well if it does it's because we have forgotten that the strength of a democracy lies not only in an educated voter, but an active voter.
Recently, we've heard that the election season is too long. Voters are not tuned in. This season is for the "Wonks" and insiders. What's really happening is that the candidates are choosing teams, the staff and contributors that will support them. They are trying to force the conversation of the election toward an emphasis on issues they think they can win. Trust me a lot will happen between now and the election that can not be predicted, by even the most informed insider, but what is said and how it is perceived is important. Being involved, even it means you're just listening, at this point is important.
Maybe the election cycle is too long, but until it gets shorter a good citizen of this country has to be engaged. Don't let anyone tell you it doesn't make a difference. If you don't think it does ask the people of Iraq.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
God Talking
I'm tired of people that wear their religion like a t-shirt with a smart ass saying on it. Thank your Lord and Saviour all you want, the reason you scored the touchdown is because the defensive secondary blew the coverage and your quarterback spotted you open. You child is not a miracle baby because it survived a terrible illness. some very hardworking intelligent people worked their ass off using the latest medical equipment and knowledge and your kid has a tremendous will to live.
No, I don't believe the answers are in the bible. I think there are lessons that can be learned in the stories of the bible, but there are lessons to be learned from all literature. I don't believe in churches, but I will admit that some of them do good work taking care of people in need.
What I do believe is that if there is a God, she's talking to us in ways we aren't listening for.
If God gave us any commands to follow it was, "I'm giving you all of this and the potential it represents. Don't screw it up! " I don't believe we are following that command. None of us are, including me.
When this earth cries out so loudly for relief and we come up with carbon credits, we aren't listening. When the water supply is short and we build swimming pools, we aren't listening.
When the air is foul and we drive gas guzzlers simply because, we personally can afford it, we aren't listening. I believe God is talking to us and we aren't listening
No, I don't believe the answers are in the bible. I think there are lessons that can be learned in the stories of the bible, but there are lessons to be learned from all literature. I don't believe in churches, but I will admit that some of them do good work taking care of people in need.
What I do believe is that if there is a God, she's talking to us in ways we aren't listening for.
If God gave us any commands to follow it was, "I'm giving you all of this and the potential it represents. Don't screw it up! " I don't believe we are following that command. None of us are, including me.
When this earth cries out so loudly for relief and we come up with carbon credits, we aren't listening. When the water supply is short and we build swimming pools, we aren't listening.
When the air is foul and we drive gas guzzlers simply because, we personally can afford it, we aren't listening. I believe God is talking to us and we aren't listening
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
The Price of Global Warming
For the past five years, it seems that I ride my moped later into November (November 20 this year). I and my friends play golf later into the fall. Not only are Fall Seasons longer, but winters are shorter. Caution, these trends can't be posited as proof that we are being affected by global warming. Even Scientists that believe that we are causing massive climate change, caution that looking at the changes in the local weather is poor proof of global warming, but it's hard to ignore.
I have kidded my friend that if short sleeve weather in November is the result of global warming, maybe it's not going to be that bad. Jokes aside now, a highly credible group of scientists working for the United Nations have now issued a report that tells us the facts. We have to do something to reduce carbon emissions or we will alter the climate of the earth. This alteration will change the way we live or result in making human in habitation impossible.
This report predicts massive population dislocation, starvation and general hardship in the short term and chaos in the long term. The problem is that while we might be worrying about the future and the price we may pay, the reason we are in this pickle is because we have not paid the price as we created this situation.
Tom Friedman, in his NY Times column, mentioned his late in the season round of golf in the Washington DC area. While he enjoys the opportunity to play late in the season but he mentioned that he felt guilty about the price we are paying for this. Price! What price?
Americans in particular have used carbon fuels with abandon with no thought or plan as to what the results would be. I truly believe we don't have the right to pollute the air of the world so that we don't have to walk two blocks for a DVD. Yet, I can assure you if you asked the guy on the street to give up his car, we would have a revolt on the order of general chaos. Horse Power can represent manhood. Any political leader that lead the way on serious prohibition on Automobile travel or other life style sacrifices will be laughed at not only by the late night comedians, but the general public.
Al Gore aside, people are urgently interested in other people giving up their SUV's, moving to smaller homes and erecting solar panels to keep their on-demand 100 gallons of hot water ready and waiting, but can't adapt their lives to recycling or simply walking more and leaving the car at home. The problem is that people need leadership in order to see the problem in terms of their contribution and how their changing can assist in solving the problem, but as mentioned, being in front of this problem can cost.
I think we're coming around. There is a modicum of recognition of this problem. And as you might expect, there are the naysayers. "This is another Y2K fiasco" "It's a liberal trick" "Tree-hugger revenge" "There is no scientific proof"... etc. but i think the average guy is finally getting the message. It's being helped by three dollar plus gasoline, which is throwing the whole gas-guzzler equals I-am-successful syndrome. into question. What we haven't done is calculate the cost and, at least as important, is how to exact that cost from the consumers
I have kidded my friend that if short sleeve weather in November is the result of global warming, maybe it's not going to be that bad. Jokes aside now, a highly credible group of scientists working for the United Nations have now issued a report that tells us the facts. We have to do something to reduce carbon emissions or we will alter the climate of the earth. This alteration will change the way we live or result in making human in habitation impossible.
This report predicts massive population dislocation, starvation and general hardship in the short term and chaos in the long term. The problem is that while we might be worrying about the future and the price we may pay, the reason we are in this pickle is because we have not paid the price as we created this situation.
Tom Friedman, in his NY Times column, mentioned his late in the season round of golf in the Washington DC area. While he enjoys the opportunity to play late in the season but he mentioned that he felt guilty about the price we are paying for this. Price! What price?
Americans in particular have used carbon fuels with abandon with no thought or plan as to what the results would be. I truly believe we don't have the right to pollute the air of the world so that we don't have to walk two blocks for a DVD. Yet, I can assure you if you asked the guy on the street to give up his car, we would have a revolt on the order of general chaos. Horse Power can represent manhood. Any political leader that lead the way on serious prohibition on Automobile travel or other life style sacrifices will be laughed at not only by the late night comedians, but the general public.
Al Gore aside, people are urgently interested in other people giving up their SUV's, moving to smaller homes and erecting solar panels to keep their on-demand 100 gallons of hot water ready and waiting, but can't adapt their lives to recycling or simply walking more and leaving the car at home. The problem is that people need leadership in order to see the problem in terms of their contribution and how their changing can assist in solving the problem, but as mentioned, being in front of this problem can cost.
I think we're coming around. There is a modicum of recognition of this problem. And as you might expect, there are the naysayers. "This is another Y2K fiasco" "It's a liberal trick" "Tree-hugger revenge" "There is no scientific proof"... etc. but i think the average guy is finally getting the message. It's being helped by three dollar plus gasoline, which is throwing the whole gas-guzzler equals I-am-successful syndrome. into question. What we haven't done is calculate the cost and, at least as important, is how to exact that cost from the consumers
The Current Problem for True Believers
It seems that in my lifetime I have drifted from the mainstream in my political beliefs. From the knees of my parents I learned that the "New Deal" saved the nation from depression and helped create the new middle class. The big tent of the democratic party got so big that not everyone wanted to be sheltered by it. As with any movement, the worst thing that can happen is success. Success breeds a complacency and a lack of forward motion that usually puts out of the fire of belief in the soul of the movement.
Once the idea of women's liberation and black equality became a reality, the house was built and the only thing that remained was maintenance. But as most of us know building the house, erecting something completely new, is exciting. Painting and fixing plumbing leaks is not so exhilarating. It also became apparent that moving out of the tent and into the house produced some restlessness in some who were surprised and disappointed with the facade.
There came a time of "to much change and the domination of the extreme left wing" that created something called "Regan Democrats". Personally I saw these people as individuals that never were comfortable with the objectives of liberty and equality particularly when it visited their backyard. School desegregation and single mom's became a rallying point about which these folks could jump ship and sail with folks who gladly pander to their fears and made them feel good about their prejudices.
Liberals became the scorn of the establishment and government was the problem. To much government at a cost too high became the underlying cause of all our problems and the only way to reverse things is to starve the beast, that is not fund the programs that were at the seat of the problem.
The "New Deal" was welfare with another name. An incentive killer in that it discouraged work and took money out of the system that could better be used to invest in businesses that would produce jobs. The "Trickle down" theory of economics became the buzz word. This is a variation on the old Calvinist-Social Darwinian thinking that basically says that if you let rich people keep their money, they will invest it wisely and the benefits will flow to those around them. After all they were smart enough to make the money, who better to trust the future with than those who have already succeeded. Oh Yeah, there is a little of that God stuff in there also. God rewards those on earth as well as in heaven who obey him.
I could write a book on the failures of this kind of thinking, but let me shorthand it by saying that it's to bad that the good Christian, God fearing, patriotic citizens that bought this line of crap weren't better served by the fornicating, draft dodging, grafters and crooks that they voted into office.
By now it's obvious that government is still the problem. The disdain of the New Deal has brought about the destruction of the middle class, more money for the rich and a switch from social welfare to corporate welfare. Some of us pay less taxes. We have reduced the size of government and regulations. We now have tremendous debt and more scandals with regard to lack of oversight than we have ever had.
True Believer's are still trying to sell their program, but the big tent the right built is leaking and some of their people have left the comfort of their belief and are questioning the man behind the curtain. Once the lop of thinking is no longer closed, people can stray into area's the mind managers would prefer they not go.
Tell me is your life better than it was eight years ago?
Once the idea of women's liberation and black equality became a reality, the house was built and the only thing that remained was maintenance. But as most of us know building the house, erecting something completely new, is exciting. Painting and fixing plumbing leaks is not so exhilarating. It also became apparent that moving out of the tent and into the house produced some restlessness in some who were surprised and disappointed with the facade.
There came a time of "to much change and the domination of the extreme left wing" that created something called "Regan Democrats". Personally I saw these people as individuals that never were comfortable with the objectives of liberty and equality particularly when it visited their backyard. School desegregation and single mom's became a rallying point about which these folks could jump ship and sail with folks who gladly pander to their fears and made them feel good about their prejudices.
Liberals became the scorn of the establishment and government was the problem. To much government at a cost too high became the underlying cause of all our problems and the only way to reverse things is to starve the beast, that is not fund the programs that were at the seat of the problem.
The "New Deal" was welfare with another name. An incentive killer in that it discouraged work and took money out of the system that could better be used to invest in businesses that would produce jobs. The "Trickle down" theory of economics became the buzz word. This is a variation on the old Calvinist-Social Darwinian thinking that basically says that if you let rich people keep their money, they will invest it wisely and the benefits will flow to those around them. After all they were smart enough to make the money, who better to trust the future with than those who have already succeeded. Oh Yeah, there is a little of that God stuff in there also. God rewards those on earth as well as in heaven who obey him.
I could write a book on the failures of this kind of thinking, but let me shorthand it by saying that it's to bad that the good Christian, God fearing, patriotic citizens that bought this line of crap weren't better served by the fornicating, draft dodging, grafters and crooks that they voted into office.
By now it's obvious that government is still the problem. The disdain of the New Deal has brought about the destruction of the middle class, more money for the rich and a switch from social welfare to corporate welfare. Some of us pay less taxes. We have reduced the size of government and regulations. We now have tremendous debt and more scandals with regard to lack of oversight than we have ever had.
True Believer's are still trying to sell their program, but the big tent the right built is leaking and some of their people have left the comfort of their belief and are questioning the man behind the curtain. Once the lop of thinking is no longer closed, people can stray into area's the mind managers would prefer they not go.
Tell me is your life better than it was eight years ago?
Monday, November 05, 2007
Marking a Sad Event
Today I discovered that a women who meant a great deal in my life passed away suddenly. Marsha was first a friend. I met her when I took up with her husband, John, or as the old rascal likes to be called Johnny B. She and John didn't make it and I'll confess I don't know her married name.
Over the years I would hear of Marsha through John and his kids, Sean and Kelly. Marsha was a nurse. She, like so many people like her, practiced nursing not from the "for profit" side of the ledger but from the"what's good for the patient" side. We prefer these people when we are the patients.
I next met Marsha when I checked my mother Mary Jane into Franciscan Care and Rehab. Mother was suffering from Dementia. She couldn't take care of herself. Marsha was one of her nurses. She took care of mom, but as important she took care of me. Marsha made sure that I knew exactly what was going on with mom and what she needed. I always felt like mom was Okay because Marsha was looking out for her.
I know that I was not special. I'm positive that all of Marsha's patients were treated with the same care and concern I'm just saying that making the difficult decision to put my mom in someone else's care was made easier knowing that someone was Marsha.
Over the years I would hear of Marsha through John and his kids, Sean and Kelly. Marsha was a nurse. She, like so many people like her, practiced nursing not from the "for profit" side of the ledger but from the"what's good for the patient" side. We prefer these people when we are the patients.
I next met Marsha when I checked my mother Mary Jane into Franciscan Care and Rehab. Mother was suffering from Dementia. She couldn't take care of herself. Marsha was one of her nurses. She took care of mom, but as important she took care of me. Marsha made sure that I knew exactly what was going on with mom and what she needed. I always felt like mom was Okay because Marsha was looking out for her.
I know that I was not special. I'm positive that all of Marsha's patients were treated with the same care and concern I'm just saying that making the difficult decision to put my mom in someone else's care was made easier knowing that someone was Marsha.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
What lies in the heart of an Urban soul?
Some one asked me today about our move to Milwaukee. Regular readers know my standard reply about moving to Milwaukee because I can't afford Manhattan. If you've read my recent account of our annual trip to New York, I submit that at heart I'm an New Yorker in exile. But that ignores the fact that I have never lived in NYC, my enduring love for Chicago, a rough and tumble Midwestern city, my suspicion of LA, a collection of suburbs, and my new found affection for Louisville, with its southern charm and culture.
I love cities because they are alive. They thrive on a speed cocktail of culture, history and big dreams realized. In any city worth it's salt you'll find the remnants of better days gone bad and the revival and recovery from the slump. My own city of Milwaukee has taken years to shake the "rust belt" label and in all honesty isn't 100% there yet. The rebuilding of Times Square and the financial rescue of New York is an epic tale. Cleveland, Philadelphia, St Louis and other Midwestern cities have pulled themselves up from bad times. Detroit and Gary haven't made it yet. That this rejuvenation is taking place in Northern Cities that had been written off, is of special enjoyment of those of us who finally realize that the South is still fighting the Civil War and feel foolish for not realizing it earlier.
Cities are where young people go to realize their dreams and where others return to find them again. Cities are where the social contract is tested, reshaped and refined. Cities are where the culture is nurtured and allowed to grow. It's where our music is written, our books are born and our art is created. Cities force us to confront "those "people and find out about our prejudices. Cities are where we come together, like it or not.
There is a lot wrong with America's cities. Part of what is wrong is the myth that life is better in the suburbs. This draws many people out of the cosmopolitan and into the confines of provincialism. Many of these suburban dwellers wake up to a new world when their children are out of the nest and they find the culture of family no longer welcomes them. Like a divorcee at a cocktail party, they are quickly relegated to the edges. They are coming back to the city in droves. And with them, thankfully, are those young families who aren't buying the suburban myth of serenity and bliss. Many of these couples are products of a suburban upbringing and recognize the bland and narrow lifestyle.
Politically, particularly with the rise of conservatism, cities have been the equivalent of an ethnic joke. The premise being that everything that's wrong with American society seems to emanate from cities. this bias has cost major American Cities clout and leverage. They have had to rely pretty much on their own resources to push forward and pull themselves up at the same times. Evidently we can bail out failed American corporations and the Savings and Loan Industry, but we loath to help cities improve their infrastructure. When the local team is the heat of the battle for a national championship, we love them for all their worth, but don't ask anyone outside of the local area to help build a new facility.
In the Milwaukee area the news stations and papers pander to the suburban rich by constantly parading all of the violent crime they can into their venues. Granted there is enough to report, but never is there anything written or spoken about as to what we as the metro community can do to turn things around. No, it's The Cities problem and we have to deal with it. And then they do everything they can to make sure "those "people don't move into their communities. Even if those people are filling the badly needed service jobs these communities need to support their life styles.
What is exported to the suburbs is wealthy and educated group of people who feel that the constant struggle to revitalize and recreate a city is not their job. What is equally true is that this same group of people will brag about how close they are to the city so they can take advantage of the cultural events and other advantages the city affords. It is true, that the further away you are from home the closer you live to a major city. If asked in California where someone lives, the answer will be Milwaukee, because no one outside of Wisconsin knows where Waukesha, Mequon or Oconomowac are.
I love cities because they are alive. They thrive on a speed cocktail of culture, history and big dreams realized. In any city worth it's salt you'll find the remnants of better days gone bad and the revival and recovery from the slump. My own city of Milwaukee has taken years to shake the "rust belt" label and in all honesty isn't 100% there yet. The rebuilding of Times Square and the financial rescue of New York is an epic tale. Cleveland, Philadelphia, St Louis and other Midwestern cities have pulled themselves up from bad times. Detroit and Gary haven't made it yet. That this rejuvenation is taking place in Northern Cities that had been written off, is of special enjoyment of those of us who finally realize that the South is still fighting the Civil War and feel foolish for not realizing it earlier.
Cities are where young people go to realize their dreams and where others return to find them again. Cities are where the social contract is tested, reshaped and refined. Cities are where the culture is nurtured and allowed to grow. It's where our music is written, our books are born and our art is created. Cities force us to confront "those "people and find out about our prejudices. Cities are where we come together, like it or not.
There is a lot wrong with America's cities. Part of what is wrong is the myth that life is better in the suburbs. This draws many people out of the cosmopolitan and into the confines of provincialism. Many of these suburban dwellers wake up to a new world when their children are out of the nest and they find the culture of family no longer welcomes them. Like a divorcee at a cocktail party, they are quickly relegated to the edges. They are coming back to the city in droves. And with them, thankfully, are those young families who aren't buying the suburban myth of serenity and bliss. Many of these couples are products of a suburban upbringing and recognize the bland and narrow lifestyle.
Politically, particularly with the rise of conservatism, cities have been the equivalent of an ethnic joke. The premise being that everything that's wrong with American society seems to emanate from cities. this bias has cost major American Cities clout and leverage. They have had to rely pretty much on their own resources to push forward and pull themselves up at the same times. Evidently we can bail out failed American corporations and the Savings and Loan Industry, but we loath to help cities improve their infrastructure. When the local team is the heat of the battle for a national championship, we love them for all their worth, but don't ask anyone outside of the local area to help build a new facility.
In the Milwaukee area the news stations and papers pander to the suburban rich by constantly parading all of the violent crime they can into their venues. Granted there is enough to report, but never is there anything written or spoken about as to what we as the metro community can do to turn things around. No, it's The Cities problem and we have to deal with it. And then they do everything they can to make sure "those "people don't move into their communities. Even if those people are filling the badly needed service jobs these communities need to support their life styles.
What is exported to the suburbs is wealthy and educated group of people who feel that the constant struggle to revitalize and recreate a city is not their job. What is equally true is that this same group of people will brag about how close they are to the city so they can take advantage of the cultural events and other advantages the city affords. It is true, that the further away you are from home the closer you live to a major city. If asked in California where someone lives, the answer will be Milwaukee, because no one outside of Wisconsin knows where Waukesha, Mequon or Oconomowac are.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Theater, Theater, God How We Love the Theater
MBC and I arrived in NYC a bit earlier than Snags and Missy. It afforded us the chance to see one more play. We chose a play in preview called The Farnsworth Invention, written by Aaron Sorkin (West Wing) about the invention of television and the fight for the ability to claim that distinction. Despite tremendous performances by Hank Azaria, as David Sarnoff and Jimmi Simpson, as Philo T. Farnsworth, this production has a way to go before the word Tony becomes associated with it. The characters are interesting and the story is epic when you look at how the medium has changed the world. But instead of delighting us with new perspective and information, it drags and sputters along
I think MBC hit on it right away when she noted Sorkin's famous walk and talk style. On Television we get a break from the frantic pace that this technique sets with the commercials. Not so on the Broadway stage. However with some adjustments in the pace and an overly scientific dialogue, this play could be worthwhile and entertaining.
Once we teamed up with the Tin Man, Snags and Cowardly Lion, Missy, we decided that we should see our one allotted Musical. Explanation is necessary here. Dorothy, MBC, refuses to see more than one musical per visit. Therefore this decision is always the most debated. This year Missy wanted to see Xanadau. Even I, the passive aggressive one, flinched.
We had all agreed the Disney on Broadway was for tourists. We are not tourists. We are New Yorkers in Exile. Avenue Q was fine. Putnam County Spelling Bee was charming, but overdone. Under no circumstances would we resort to seeing Tarzen, Lion King or Legally Blondie.
What is fun are the people you meet in line at Hot Tickets. Many of them have seen the performances you are wondering about and have no ax to grind. If they didn't like it they will pretty much tell you so. After a few moments conversation you can ascertain if their tastes are comparable to yours. If someone tells me Lion King was the best thing they have ever seen on the stage, I'm going to discount much of what they say. If they tell me they haven't seen a good play since Proof, I probably will listen closer.
The final play we saw was part of and off-Broadway experience that is something you get after you realize that all the good plays are not on Broadway. Of course, it doesn't make any difference if you are going to the theater on Broadway or, in this case, Chelsea you have to take the S train, but you've read that story.
Eating outside in the delightful, reasonable and tasty confines of Elmo's, is an unexpected treat for a visitor in late October, but the unusual warm weather permitted it this time. After a promise to return for desert, we marched down to The Atlantic Theater for a performance of the critically acclaimed play by Lucy Turber, Scarcity. The Atlantic is a converted church space and is slightly quirky but effective as a performance space.
The cast, headed by the recognizable Kristen Johnston,(Tird Rock from The sun) took us on journey through the night featuring the visceral features of dysfunctional family. It was, excuse the cliche, like watching a car wreck just before it happens. You know what's going to happen. You want to warn the people in the vehicle, but you're powerless. The play survives on the timelessness of the lessons it portrays and the faint glimmer of hope it extends at the end.
The strong cast and solid script make this play my favorite, but admittedly this season was not strong for us. We all agreed. There were no bad plays, but we have seen better. Even in the case of Scarcity, I'm not sure I wasn't overly influenced by the meatloaf from Elmo's. Good food can put you in an accepting mood.
I think MBC hit on it right away when she noted Sorkin's famous walk and talk style. On Television we get a break from the frantic pace that this technique sets with the commercials. Not so on the Broadway stage. However with some adjustments in the pace and an overly scientific dialogue, this play could be worthwhile and entertaining.
Once we teamed up with the Tin Man, Snags and Cowardly Lion, Missy, we decided that we should see our one allotted Musical. Explanation is necessary here. Dorothy, MBC, refuses to see more than one musical per visit. Therefore this decision is always the most debated. This year Missy wanted to see Xanadau. Even I, the passive aggressive one, flinched.
We had all agreed the Disney on Broadway was for tourists. We are not tourists. We are New Yorkers in Exile. Avenue Q was fine. Putnam County Spelling Bee was charming, but overdone. Under no circumstances would we resort to seeing Tarzen, Lion King or Legally Blondie.
So there it was. Sitting there like glitter ball in the ballroom of a Victorian home, Xanadau. You never know, you know. Snags, Missy and I loved it. Instead of being a revival, it was staged as a satire for everything that was wrong about the eighties. It was done with humor and expertise by a cast of talented and energetic people, featuring the dynamic and funny Kerry Butler. She so captivated us with her switch from the goddess Clio to the rollerskating muse Kara, with the Aussie accent. You couldn't help but look on with a smile on you face and amazement in your mind for her performance.
(MBC laughed and smiled all the way through it. She however, claims that she was enjoying the gay guy next to her who gushed and vamped all through the performance. It's her story and she is after all, Dorthy)
When you go to Hot Tickets booth for discount tickets, you have to know some things in order to be successful and not look like a rube.
(MBC laughed and smiled all the way through it. She however, claims that she was enjoying the gay guy next to her who gushed and vamped all through the performance. It's her story and she is after all, Dorthy)
When you go to Hot Tickets booth for discount tickets, you have to know some things in order to be successful and not look like a rube.
- Cash and Travelers Checks only. NO CREDIT CARDS. It doesn't matter what metal it represents. They don't take them.
- Have more than one play your willing to buy because by the time you get to the ticket booth the one you select first maybe sold out.
- DO NOT ASK FOR BETTER SEATS. They automatically give you the best seats available. If someone gets better seats from the theater at the last minute it's because someone turned them in and the customer was just plain lucky.
- There are two lines for tickets. Most people do not know that the little P next to the name on the board means play. Because there is less demand for these tickets, as a rule, there is a separate line for play tickets. It's always shorter. Ask a security person. They will help you find this line. Do not ask for tickets to musicals when you get to the booth. What happens is not pretty.
- Don't ask the booth people their opinions of the plays. They are busy.
What is fun are the people you meet in line at Hot Tickets. Many of them have seen the performances you are wondering about and have no ax to grind. If they didn't like it they will pretty much tell you so. After a few moments conversation you can ascertain if their tastes are comparable to yours. If someone tells me Lion King was the best thing they have ever seen on the stage, I'm going to discount much of what they say. If they tell me they haven't seen a good play since Proof, I probably will listen closer.
The final play we saw was part of and off-Broadway experience that is something you get after you realize that all the good plays are not on Broadway. Of course, it doesn't make any difference if you are going to the theater on Broadway or, in this case, Chelsea you have to take the S train, but you've read that story.
Eating outside in the delightful, reasonable and tasty confines of Elmo's, is an unexpected treat for a visitor in late October, but the unusual warm weather permitted it this time. After a promise to return for desert, we marched down to The Atlantic Theater for a performance of the critically acclaimed play by Lucy Turber, Scarcity. The Atlantic is a converted church space and is slightly quirky but effective as a performance space.
The cast, headed by the recognizable Kristen Johnston,(Tird Rock from The sun) took us on journey through the night featuring the visceral features of dysfunctional family. It was, excuse the cliche, like watching a car wreck just before it happens. You know what's going to happen. You want to warn the people in the vehicle, but you're powerless. The play survives on the timelessness of the lessons it portrays and the faint glimmer of hope it extends at the end.
The strong cast and solid script make this play my favorite, but admittedly this season was not strong for us. We all agreed. There were no bad plays, but we have seen better. Even in the case of Scarcity, I'm not sure I wasn't overly influenced by the meatloaf from Elmo's. Good food can put you in an accepting mood.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
The Dubious Adventures of Missy, Snags, MBC and Jeff Jay, NYC 2007
Missy said to me during our trip to New York City, “You guys wouldn’t have as many adventures as you do if you didn’t travel with directionally challenged me.”. This is true. We’ve suffered many a detour because Missy has this thing about second guessing herself. This is most discouraging when she makes these bad decisions with the map on her lap, but alas that is the crux of the matter. We don’t let her forget the many times she has been wrong and god knows she always remembers the once of twice she has actually been right. But as MBC always says, “She may be a pain in the ass, but she’s our pain in the ass and we love her.” Snags, Missy’s husband says, “Speak for your self.”
But directions and adventures is a lot of what our trips to New York City are all about. Much to the horror of some of our more skeptical friends, we use the subways. Almost the first tthing we do when we land in the City is buy the seven day unlimited Metro Pass. ($24.00) This is a deal in that we are moving all about the system. The Pass includes passage on the subway and the bus system.
New York is a city of people that walk. And as a visitor you will too unless you have unlimited money. There are alot of expensive things in New York and a car is at near the top of that list. Only the independent spirit of Americans in other cities allows them to discount and ignore the high price of owning and operating an automobile. Parking and the other ineffciencies of automobiles in the city, help place this problem in clear focus except for those who drive for a living.
Directional disorientation often occurs in the subway. You enter the ground level ramp and walk down. The subways run at defferent levels and often the stairs twist and turn in what appear to be odd angles and directions. With the loss of references, street signs, the sun and landmarks, you are reduced to making sure you are going in the right direction, by relating to the uptown, downtown on the signs. Downtown generally means toward The Battery. Uptown means away from The Battery. The Battery is the southern most tip of Manhatten Island.. Once you get that down cold all you have to do is orientate all of you destinations from a subway station and you’ve got it made, as long as you can fugre out North - South, East -West when you get above ground from the subway. MBC reccomends a compass.
When this unlikely troop is in New York City, we are centered on Times Square. This means that we are more thna likely to take the S train more than one a day. The S train is the shortest subway line in the bunch. It travels from Grand Central Station to Times Square with no other stops. Being as we were staying at the Thirty Thirty the closest subway was the 6. All trips to and from Times Square included a ride on the S. Seamless and flowing travel back and forth required a timed arrival at the S platform. Missing one meant minutes to wait for another one, but somehow that wait seemed to be the longest.
But directions and adventures is a lot of what our trips to New York City are all about. Much to the horror of some of our more skeptical friends, we use the subways. Almost the first tthing we do when we land in the City is buy the seven day unlimited Metro Pass. ($24.00) This is a deal in that we are moving all about the system. The Pass includes passage on the subway and the bus system.
New York is a city of people that walk. And as a visitor you will too unless you have unlimited money. There are alot of expensive things in New York and a car is at near the top of that list. Only the independent spirit of Americans in other cities allows them to discount and ignore the high price of owning and operating an automobile. Parking and the other ineffciencies of automobiles in the city, help place this problem in clear focus except for those who drive for a living.
Directional disorientation often occurs in the subway. You enter the ground level ramp and walk down. The subways run at defferent levels and often the stairs twist and turn in what appear to be odd angles and directions. With the loss of references, street signs, the sun and landmarks, you are reduced to making sure you are going in the right direction, by relating to the uptown, downtown on the signs. Downtown generally means toward The Battery. Uptown means away from The Battery. The Battery is the southern most tip of Manhatten Island.. Once you get that down cold all you have to do is orientate all of you destinations from a subway station and you’ve got it made, as long as you can fugre out North - South, East -West when you get above ground from the subway. MBC reccomends a compass.
When this unlikely troop is in New York City, we are centered on Times Square. This means that we are more thna likely to take the S train more than one a day. The S train is the shortest subway line in the bunch. It travels from Grand Central Station to Times Square with no other stops. Being as we were staying at the Thirty Thirty the closest subway was the 6. All trips to and from Times Square included a ride on the S. Seamless and flowing travel back and forth required a timed arrival at the S platform. Missing one meant minutes to wait for another one, but somehow that wait seemed to be the longest.
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Southern Hospitality
It may be that you get a different crowd at the one of the largest art shows in America, but all in all everyone I ran into in at the St. James Court Art show in Louisville, Kentucky represented the stereotypical southern image of politeness in gentility. And please I'm not canonizing these people, but many of us could learn something from them.
Let me start with the hucksters that were working the crowd near us. These folks were trying get prospects for their gutter magician, a system for keeping leaves out of the rain gutters. The approach to the passing customers was to ask them if they had trees in their yard. These people were nice enough and I am sure that my irritation level with them came from the constant repetition that the passer by didn't hear. Believe it or not a common response was, "I don't but thanks for asking." Thanks for asking? I think in Chicago you could get arrested for asking the question, for sure you could get shot. Time after time these folks got a polite and respectful response, for what I perceive as a question that could be ignored or even receive a response of none of your business or don't bother me. The whole approach is the equivalent of a telemarketing call at dinner time, but to these folks it was unthinkable to just hang up.
Waitresses, desk clerks and other service people may be expected to be polite, but these folks put politeness and respect on a level that's hard to duplicate. I didn't hear any crude language and please remember I was less than a mile for University of Louisville and they just lost a football game. I would test my mettle as to cursing and crude language as my Badgers, Cubs and Packer's all lost this weekend. When compared to my new southern friends, I'm afraid my language was a little more unacceptable than "darn".
The ladies seem to regard the event as one that required a modicum of proper dress and their mates and escorts responded appropriately. It seems that team shirts and nylon NASCAR jacket can be replaced for certain occasions. It's not that we didn't see this type of attire, it's just that it wasn't the predominate style of attire for those over twenty-five.
The crowds were tremendous, stressing the wide walkways to the maximum, but people were polite and gracious. I will never know how someone can be walking down a sidewalk jammed with people can suddenly just stop without regard to anyone around them, but I observe this happening all of the time. While many times this results in hard feelings and short remarks, these art lovers not only seemed to understand how a piece they not consider worth stopping to appreciate might be appealing to someone else.
There were 750 artists displaying at this show. There were innumerable little stands that were hi jacking the crowd from the legitimate vendors, by using front yards and alley's to hawk beverages, sandwiches and non-art. The street musicians were scattered throughout the venue adding even more flavor to this visual stew. The experience was not even diminished by the extreme heat.
Tobacco is no longer king in Louisville, UPS is, but the dignity and charm of this city is infectious. Frankly, I can't wait to go back and give my new friends a big hug and a howdy.
Let me start with the hucksters that were working the crowd near us. These folks were trying get prospects for their gutter magician, a system for keeping leaves out of the rain gutters. The approach to the passing customers was to ask them if they had trees in their yard. These people were nice enough and I am sure that my irritation level with them came from the constant repetition that the passer by didn't hear. Believe it or not a common response was, "I don't but thanks for asking." Thanks for asking? I think in Chicago you could get arrested for asking the question, for sure you could get shot. Time after time these folks got a polite and respectful response, for what I perceive as a question that could be ignored or even receive a response of none of your business or don't bother me. The whole approach is the equivalent of a telemarketing call at dinner time, but to these folks it was unthinkable to just hang up.
Waitresses, desk clerks and other service people may be expected to be polite, but these folks put politeness and respect on a level that's hard to duplicate. I didn't hear any crude language and please remember I was less than a mile for University of Louisville and they just lost a football game. I would test my mettle as to cursing and crude language as my Badgers, Cubs and Packer's all lost this weekend. When compared to my new southern friends, I'm afraid my language was a little more unacceptable than "darn".
The ladies seem to regard the event as one that required a modicum of proper dress and their mates and escorts responded appropriately. It seems that team shirts and nylon NASCAR jacket can be replaced for certain occasions. It's not that we didn't see this type of attire, it's just that it wasn't the predominate style of attire for those over twenty-five.
The crowds were tremendous, stressing the wide walkways to the maximum, but people were polite and gracious. I will never know how someone can be walking down a sidewalk jammed with people can suddenly just stop without regard to anyone around them, but I observe this happening all of the time. While many times this results in hard feelings and short remarks, these art lovers not only seemed to understand how a piece they not consider worth stopping to appreciate might be appealing to someone else.
There were 750 artists displaying at this show. There were innumerable little stands that were hi jacking the crowd from the legitimate vendors, by using front yards and alley's to hawk beverages, sandwiches and non-art. The street musicians were scattered throughout the venue adding even more flavor to this visual stew. The experience was not even diminished by the extreme heat.
Tobacco is no longer king in Louisville, UPS is, but the dignity and charm of this city is infectious. Frankly, I can't wait to go back and give my new friends a big hug and a howdy.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Tin Roof Blowdown
I'm angry today. Not Andy Rooney whining about little things such as people talking through movies angry. No it's more like I'd love to take someone by the scruff of the neck and wop them on the ass angry. I'm reading James Lee Burke's latest "The Tin Roof Blowdown". His fictional character, Police Officer from New Iberia, Louisiana Dave Robicheaux, is showing us the aftermath of Katrina from his viewpoint and it isn't pretty. My anger comes from the knowledge that it isn't much better two plus years later.
But from this anger comes a solution to the problem that frustrates me and most people today. It's the old, how come we are spending billions in Iraq trying to build a stable society and New Orleans and our Gulf coast still sits in ruins waiting for the greatest country in the world with a free capitalistic economy to fix it. If I was a citizen of Iraq, I would be questioning the capability of a country that tore my country apart, to reassemble it again, if that country could not take care of it self.
It has become a cliche to say that it is disgraceful that the Gulf Coast is still suffering from the effects of Hurricane Katrina. People are getting into that mind set, which I'm sure the current administration was counting on, that nothing can be done about it. Wrong! My suggestion for the solution is entirely doable and I am confident will produce results faster and fairer than any solution Bushwacked can come up with in the few months of his disastrous reign remaining.
What we have to do is reconvene the United States Congress, The Louisiana Legislature and move them along with the President of the United States including his cabinet, Officials of the Louisiana State Government and New Orleans City officials to the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans. While we're at it since many of the candidates for president would be stuck there, anyone who wants to be the next president of the United States should volunteer to move there. if they don't go they can't run.
They must live in existing homes and work in existing buildings that have been abandon by the owners. If the owners can be established they must pay them rent comparable to their own residence in their home community. (Can you see the cash flow possibilities?) If they can't find existing homes they must reside in FEMA trailers. As to the public buildings and offices that will need to be built, they must be of a quality that will last 100 years. No prefabs or temporary buildings will be allowed
Our politician legislative guests can not go to the French quarter for meals or entertainment more than once a month. They can not go home, however their families can live with them. In short, they must live, work and recreate in the Ninth Ward until such time that the Gulf Coast has the resources and the wherewith all to recover on their own.
It's one thing to pass bills of intention and it's another to fund them. It's one thing to set aside funds for a project and another to oversee the results of the spending in order to ascertain success based on the intentions of the legislature. What our government has done is what politicians always decry as wasteful and that is throw a bunch of money at this problem. What they got for the investment is little or no results to show for it.
Trust me, if they have to live in the squalor, things will be fixed. The Levees will be built to withstand the eventualities. The schools will be funded in order to provide education. The cops will patrol and the judges will be putting the bad guys in jail.
And as far as business is concerned, it's easy. All contracts for rebuilding would be let to local contractors, who hire local people. All property taxes would be suspended until the property could be proven to fit for use with all utilities and infrastructure restored. (Streets, sewers, water, electrical and gas service)
And don't worry about the prohibition on the French Quarter for politicians and their families, the press, that will be living with this story, will take care of them to start with. The lobbyists will have to move in from Washington and that will kick up profits bon sweet. Than there will be the tourists. Can you imagine the number of people that will pay to see their representatives having to work in that environment. They will have to expand the airport.
Once they get this problem solved, we might want to get them on planes and move them to Iraq. If stability in the middle east is so important maybe having the bulls eye on their backs will help getting to some commonsense solutions to the problems, so they and our soldiers can come home. Look for early abandonment of the we have to stay until Iraq is stable theory
But from this anger comes a solution to the problem that frustrates me and most people today. It's the old, how come we are spending billions in Iraq trying to build a stable society and New Orleans and our Gulf coast still sits in ruins waiting for the greatest country in the world with a free capitalistic economy to fix it. If I was a citizen of Iraq, I would be questioning the capability of a country that tore my country apart, to reassemble it again, if that country could not take care of it self.
It has become a cliche to say that it is disgraceful that the Gulf Coast is still suffering from the effects of Hurricane Katrina. People are getting into that mind set, which I'm sure the current administration was counting on, that nothing can be done about it. Wrong! My suggestion for the solution is entirely doable and I am confident will produce results faster and fairer than any solution Bushwacked can come up with in the few months of his disastrous reign remaining.
What we have to do is reconvene the United States Congress, The Louisiana Legislature and move them along with the President of the United States including his cabinet, Officials of the Louisiana State Government and New Orleans City officials to the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans. While we're at it since many of the candidates for president would be stuck there, anyone who wants to be the next president of the United States should volunteer to move there. if they don't go they can't run.
They must live in existing homes and work in existing buildings that have been abandon by the owners. If the owners can be established they must pay them rent comparable to their own residence in their home community. (Can you see the cash flow possibilities?) If they can't find existing homes they must reside in FEMA trailers. As to the public buildings and offices that will need to be built, they must be of a quality that will last 100 years. No prefabs or temporary buildings will be allowed
Our politician legislative guests can not go to the French quarter for meals or entertainment more than once a month. They can not go home, however their families can live with them. In short, they must live, work and recreate in the Ninth Ward until such time that the Gulf Coast has the resources and the wherewith all to recover on their own.
It's one thing to pass bills of intention and it's another to fund them. It's one thing to set aside funds for a project and another to oversee the results of the spending in order to ascertain success based on the intentions of the legislature. What our government has done is what politicians always decry as wasteful and that is throw a bunch of money at this problem. What they got for the investment is little or no results to show for it.
Trust me, if they have to live in the squalor, things will be fixed. The Levees will be built to withstand the eventualities. The schools will be funded in order to provide education. The cops will patrol and the judges will be putting the bad guys in jail.
And as far as business is concerned, it's easy. All contracts for rebuilding would be let to local contractors, who hire local people. All property taxes would be suspended until the property could be proven to fit for use with all utilities and infrastructure restored. (Streets, sewers, water, electrical and gas service)
And don't worry about the prohibition on the French Quarter for politicians and their families, the press, that will be living with this story, will take care of them to start with. The lobbyists will have to move in from Washington and that will kick up profits bon sweet. Than there will be the tourists. Can you imagine the number of people that will pay to see their representatives having to work in that environment. They will have to expand the airport.
Once they get this problem solved, we might want to get them on planes and move them to Iraq. If stability in the middle east is so important maybe having the bulls eye on their backs will help getting to some commonsense solutions to the problems, so they and our soldiers can come home. Look for early abandonment of the we have to stay until Iraq is stable theory
Monday, September 24, 2007
The Fine Art of Conversation
My son confessed to me not long ago that he didn't feel as if he was a conversationalist. "I don't make small talk,"he said. Of course this wasn't news to me, but you see the fallacy. Small talk is the opposite of a conversationalist. Small talk is passing time, filling the silence with noise. We all do it in varying degree's. It seems there is nothing so disquieting as quiet. It's the elevator full of strangers or the shared taxi that make people nervous.
Another nervous situation for most people is the neighborhood party where no one knows anyone of at best very few people. This results in groups of casual acquaintances hanging out trying to sound bubbly and at the same time casting nervous glances at the strays and the unknowns. The strays grab out eagerly for anyone to stand with so they don't appear on the outside.
It's the unusual person who excels in these arenas. I've met a few and I've tried to emulate them with varied degrees of success. They are the ones that can toss the lit conversational grenade into the group and get everyone to comment and often never reveal their thoughts on the subject.
I witnessed a young father at a table of his peers toss this comment into the small talk babble of a lunch table. "Does anyone here think the concept of organized sports for five years old children is a good thing." And then he stepped back out of the center of attention as first one than another comment promoted the degree's of interest in this subject.
I'm totally amazed at how people with this kill can get a conversation that has depth and meaning started in a group of relative strangers. Trust me, mention the fate of the local sports team will get the guys going. If you express and interest in the latest must see evening show you can probably get a rise out of the ladies. But commentary on local politics or the school bonding issue takes skill and nuance.
I remember being at a meeting of a New Comers in my former home in Northern Wisconsin. The folks in this group probably ranged from somewhat liberal to somewhat conservative. An older gentlemen, obviously from the south with his gentle accent asked, what we thought of Newt Gingrich, who at the time had just ascended to the leadership in The House of Representatives. A polite but spirited conversation took up the next hour, spinning off into comments on then President Clinton and other figures of political importance.
Claude, the older gentlemen who asked the kickoff question, was a former newspaper man and true to his profession observed with interest and delight. I got to know Claude fairly well in the next few months, he demonstrated to me that he was no one trick pony by pulling off this gambit many times to great success.
Good conversation to me provides a coupe of things. As in all things, I like to learn something I didn't know before. I think the conversation should have some meaning to everyone involved. And I don't like seeing blood on the floor. We can disagree, but we don't have to be jerks about it.
Another nervous situation for most people is the neighborhood party where no one knows anyone of at best very few people. This results in groups of casual acquaintances hanging out trying to sound bubbly and at the same time casting nervous glances at the strays and the unknowns. The strays grab out eagerly for anyone to stand with so they don't appear on the outside.
It's the unusual person who excels in these arenas. I've met a few and I've tried to emulate them with varied degrees of success. They are the ones that can toss the lit conversational grenade into the group and get everyone to comment and often never reveal their thoughts on the subject.
I witnessed a young father at a table of his peers toss this comment into the small talk babble of a lunch table. "Does anyone here think the concept of organized sports for five years old children is a good thing." And then he stepped back out of the center of attention as first one than another comment promoted the degree's of interest in this subject.
I'm totally amazed at how people with this kill can get a conversation that has depth and meaning started in a group of relative strangers. Trust me, mention the fate of the local sports team will get the guys going. If you express and interest in the latest must see evening show you can probably get a rise out of the ladies. But commentary on local politics or the school bonding issue takes skill and nuance.
I remember being at a meeting of a New Comers in my former home in Northern Wisconsin. The folks in this group probably ranged from somewhat liberal to somewhat conservative. An older gentlemen, obviously from the south with his gentle accent asked, what we thought of Newt Gingrich, who at the time had just ascended to the leadership in The House of Representatives. A polite but spirited conversation took up the next hour, spinning off into comments on then President Clinton and other figures of political importance.
Claude, the older gentlemen who asked the kickoff question, was a former newspaper man and true to his profession observed with interest and delight. I got to know Claude fairly well in the next few months, he demonstrated to me that he was no one trick pony by pulling off this gambit many times to great success.
Good conversation to me provides a coupe of things. As in all things, I like to learn something I didn't know before. I think the conversation should have some meaning to everyone involved. And I don't like seeing blood on the floor. We can disagree, but we don't have to be jerks about it.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Time slips through the glass.
If time were unlimited, I could get all I want to get done before...well let's just say before I can't do anything anymore. Of course time isn't everything. The physical ability to perform some tasks is another asset that diminishes with time. I don't have the same dreams for my golf game I once had and walking distances for health reasons is important, but not running.
The clock that bothers me is not so much the one on my wrist but the time lapse my mind tells me has occured. It's been many years since I raced our sailboat. I have three kids that are over forty. Those cuddly little grand kids, I marveled at, it seems like yesterday, are starting school.
I may never get a novel published. It's probable that my blog will never be widely read, but in my heart of hearts, I will be content because I wrote and only mildly disappointed that they are not on reader's shelves.
What I need to do and will never have enough time to do is learn more. I've always
been a scatter brain when it comes to education. I never concentrated enough in one area to be an expert. Instead I wander from this to that realizing that my excitement today will cool, but there will be some unknown in another area that will trigger by curiosity and pull me away from today's must-know. I think you might say that my mind is like the attic of a world traveler, eclectic and yet interesting.
Not only are there remnants of skills there, I've tried oil painting, photography, writing, design, and computer programs of many different kinds. There are thought journeys also. I became somewhat conservative for a few years before I realized the folly in all of that and returned to my liberal roots. I looked at, but did not embrace, atheism, reincarnation, and eastern religions in general. (I still do practice meditation).
After all of the books, films, lectures and classes, I still have not had enough. The only thing that saves my sanity from all of this is that I'm old enough to realize that I never would have had enough time even if I had realized in my youth the value of time.
The clock that bothers me is not so much the one on my wrist but the time lapse my mind tells me has occured. It's been many years since I raced our sailboat. I have three kids that are over forty. Those cuddly little grand kids, I marveled at, it seems like yesterday, are starting school.
I may never get a novel published. It's probable that my blog will never be widely read, but in my heart of hearts, I will be content because I wrote and only mildly disappointed that they are not on reader's shelves.
What I need to do and will never have enough time to do is learn more. I've always
been a scatter brain when it comes to education. I never concentrated enough in one area to be an expert. Instead I wander from this to that realizing that my excitement today will cool, but there will be some unknown in another area that will trigger by curiosity and pull me away from today's must-know. I think you might say that my mind is like the attic of a world traveler, eclectic and yet interesting.
Not only are there remnants of skills there, I've tried oil painting, photography, writing, design, and computer programs of many different kinds. There are thought journeys also. I became somewhat conservative for a few years before I realized the folly in all of that and returned to my liberal roots. I looked at, but did not embrace, atheism, reincarnation, and eastern religions in general. (I still do practice meditation).
After all of the books, films, lectures and classes, I still have not had enough. The only thing that saves my sanity from all of this is that I'm old enough to realize that I never would have had enough time even if I had realized in my youth the value of time.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
The Women Who Raised Me
I was privileged to hear Wisconsin Author Michael Perry , Population 465, at an author appearance at Harry W Schwartz Bookstore in Brookfield. Perry is a gifted writer and a magnificent storyteller. He follows the precept that you write about what you know and Michael writes, with love and caring, about his hometown in Western Wisconsin.
He told so many stories worth remembering and repeating, but all of them are from his book, so I would recommend just buying them at you local independent bookstore, or go to his website sneezingcow.com.
What resonated with me most directly was a comment he made when he was talking about the "strong" women in his life. He referred to them as the "women who raised me and continue to raise me". Men don't often admit the debt we owe to the women in our lives and it was particularly timely for me to be reminded of that debt.
My mother passed away this year. I've written about this before, but, as we say, time has passed". I told you that my mother suffered from extreme dementia and was gone from us years ago. The nice little old lady that I visited at the rest home passed away on March 24, 2007. She was loved and beloved by many that knew her right up until the time of her death. She had her detractors and they did not relent nor forgive her even in her death. Unlike me who saw her faults along with her many good traits, they couldn't get past a perception of a mistake or slight even after death, but the Blaylock's are like that and you have to have been raised by one of them to know how to handle that situation.
Like many parents, after the game is over it easy to look at the scorecard and see where they might have done a better job. God knows, I'd love to have a few dozen do overs. but it's the little things parents do that never make it to the statistic's that can make such a difference.
While we never talked about "things" in our family, we always had hot meals, clean clothing, a comfortable place to sleep and a safe neighborhood to play in and I must say a sense of why that was important and why we were lucky not better because we had such benefits.
And it's true that the smallest slights were never truly forgiven or forgotten, there wasn't a stray human or animal that couldn't get sympathy and comfort from my mother. She was as I like to say. "A good Catholic girl who wouldn't go to Doctors because she felt you never took your clothes off for any body but your husband and than only rarely and certainly not after your forty." But she had a pat on the head for a kid that did a god thing and a hand on the backside of the kid that got out of line. She seemed to discipline, not in anger, but the frustration of personal failing as to how she could ever brought into the world children that didn't obey her without question.
Typical of the Irish stock she came from, Mary Jane always questioned authority unless it wore "the collar". She voted as a democrat, because the other guys no matter how nice they seemed wore suits and somehow didn't get their hands dirty at work. I never could understand how my dad got by her scrutiny as he was a businessmen all of his life.
I think she passed away oblivious to the fact that she was on the "dole". She wasn't, in her mind, in a rest home. She was in a hospital trying to get better so she could go home to an apartment she vaguely remembered. Mary Jane lived in a world where decades came and went in seconds and reality was whatever she thought it was. Unless... unless she woke up one morning and reality came back to her in a rush. Maybe seeing the condition of her life and the hopelessness of it all she decided it was time to let go. We'll never know.
He told so many stories worth remembering and repeating, but all of them are from his book, so I would recommend just buying them at you local independent bookstore, or go to his website sneezingcow.com.
What resonated with me most directly was a comment he made when he was talking about the "strong" women in his life. He referred to them as the "women who raised me and continue to raise me". Men don't often admit the debt we owe to the women in our lives and it was particularly timely for me to be reminded of that debt.
My mother passed away this year. I've written about this before, but, as we say, time has passed". I told you that my mother suffered from extreme dementia and was gone from us years ago. The nice little old lady that I visited at the rest home passed away on March 24, 2007. She was loved and beloved by many that knew her right up until the time of her death. She had her detractors and they did not relent nor forgive her even in her death. Unlike me who saw her faults along with her many good traits, they couldn't get past a perception of a mistake or slight even after death, but the Blaylock's are like that and you have to have been raised by one of them to know how to handle that situation.
Like many parents, after the game is over it easy to look at the scorecard and see where they might have done a better job. God knows, I'd love to have a few dozen do overs. but it's the little things parents do that never make it to the statistic's that can make such a difference.
While we never talked about "things" in our family, we always had hot meals, clean clothing, a comfortable place to sleep and a safe neighborhood to play in and I must say a sense of why that was important and why we were lucky not better because we had such benefits.
And it's true that the smallest slights were never truly forgiven or forgotten, there wasn't a stray human or animal that couldn't get sympathy and comfort from my mother. She was as I like to say. "A good Catholic girl who wouldn't go to Doctors because she felt you never took your clothes off for any body but your husband and than only rarely and certainly not after your forty." But she had a pat on the head for a kid that did a god thing and a hand on the backside of the kid that got out of line. She seemed to discipline, not in anger, but the frustration of personal failing as to how she could ever brought into the world children that didn't obey her without question.
Typical of the Irish stock she came from, Mary Jane always questioned authority unless it wore "the collar". She voted as a democrat, because the other guys no matter how nice they seemed wore suits and somehow didn't get their hands dirty at work. I never could understand how my dad got by her scrutiny as he was a businessmen all of his life.
I think she passed away oblivious to the fact that she was on the "dole". She wasn't, in her mind, in a rest home. She was in a hospital trying to get better so she could go home to an apartment she vaguely remembered. Mary Jane lived in a world where decades came and went in seconds and reality was whatever she thought it was. Unless... unless she woke up one morning and reality came back to her in a rush. Maybe seeing the condition of her life and the hopelessness of it all she decided it was time to let go. We'll never know.
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Credability
The analogy is cliche, but apt. The once proud champion, now older, slower, stumbles about the ring. There is blood in his eyes and his face is stamped with pain and confusion. His opponent is being merciful, respectful. He circles the weaving confused and tired opponent attempting to give the champ a chance to end it. The manager in the corner reaches for the towel to signal capitulation before more harm is done, but the battered hulk waves him off and puts his fists in the air signalling he is ready for more.
In the movies this is good stuff. We may have learned through the story (Raging Bull) to dislike this guy, but we admire his courage and purpose, no matter how foolish it seems. It leaves the impression that maybe the champ may get up off the
canvas and prevail. But that's the movies. It is the seam in the story of redemption and grit. It's the conquering of the old west, It's the flight into space. And it's always against all odds.
But when you're President of the United States and the world is waiting for you to just lay down and get it over with, there's a lot more than your pride on the line. We've been back into a corner in this match and not by a superior enemy. We've done this to ourselves. We have no credibility in the worlds eye's because we don't deserve it. We have against the advice of our allies, invaded a sovereign country, because...well you pick the reason of the week.
First it was a preemptive strike against a terrorist sponsoring state that had WMD potential. Than it was because we could build democracy in the middle east. Than for a very short time, it was justified because they tried to kill Bush I, (My daddy). None of these reasons were worth the price that we are now paying. The price is that we can do nothing right in the eyes of the world. Everything we represent is challenged by enemy and friend alike.
And now it has spread to the domestic front. The Bush administration failure to deal with the domestic problems is an extension of outmoded and reactionary politics's we can't afford to continue. But alas, because of our political system, all our president has to do is turn to Rove and Company and wave off the attempt to throw in the towel. There is so much blood in his eyes, he fails to see that one by one his handlers and managers are leaving his corner and sulking off into the dark areas of the arena to shake their heads and wonder how things all came apart
In the movies this is good stuff. We may have learned through the story (Raging Bull) to dislike this guy, but we admire his courage and purpose, no matter how foolish it seems. It leaves the impression that maybe the champ may get up off the
canvas and prevail. But that's the movies. It is the seam in the story of redemption and grit. It's the conquering of the old west, It's the flight into space. And it's always against all odds.
But when you're President of the United States and the world is waiting for you to just lay down and get it over with, there's a lot more than your pride on the line. We've been back into a corner in this match and not by a superior enemy. We've done this to ourselves. We have no credibility in the worlds eye's because we don't deserve it. We have against the advice of our allies, invaded a sovereign country, because...well you pick the reason of the week.
First it was a preemptive strike against a terrorist sponsoring state that had WMD potential. Than it was because we could build democracy in the middle east. Than for a very short time, it was justified because they tried to kill Bush I, (My daddy). None of these reasons were worth the price that we are now paying. The price is that we can do nothing right in the eyes of the world. Everything we represent is challenged by enemy and friend alike.
And now it has spread to the domestic front. The Bush administration failure to deal with the domestic problems is an extension of outmoded and reactionary politics's we can't afford to continue. But alas, because of our political system, all our president has to do is turn to Rove and Company and wave off the attempt to throw in the towel. There is so much blood in his eyes, he fails to see that one by one his handlers and managers are leaving his corner and sulking off into the dark areas of the arena to shake their heads and wonder how things all came apart
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
The United States, World Power?
We are told that we live in the country that is the last remaining Super Power. Politicians, pundits and patriots preach that we have the best of any society on earth. We represent the finest in health care, educational opportunities and chances better ourselves, and these benefits are there for the taking.
Not only that, we are challenged by the current administration to spreed this freedom and bounty with the rest of the world, by force if necessary. We went to war in Iraq, President Bush would have us believe, to give the middle eastern countries a model for democracy.
Let's face the facts. We have failed to rebuild Iraq and New Orleans. We neither have the will, the assets or the organization to pull off both. We have bridges falling down in Minnesota, as the recipients of our largess in Iraq blow up the oil production facilities, hospitals and schools that we built for them.
Recent revelations from Medical Journals confirms that we've fallen in the world rankings in birth rates, life expectancy and excel in category of cost of health care per capita. On top of all of this we have more people who can afford the cost of health care and are not covered by insurance. However that compression is not fair. We are being compared to other western democracies that have government sponsored health care of one sort or another.
The whole mess in education is beyond the boundaries of this commentary. But can be summarized in findings that relate our low ranking among world students in math and science.
So, we as a world power we are losing in every category that matters. How does it feel to be a Super Power?
Not only that, we are challenged by the current administration to spreed this freedom and bounty with the rest of the world, by force if necessary. We went to war in Iraq, President Bush would have us believe, to give the middle eastern countries a model for democracy.
Let's face the facts. We have failed to rebuild Iraq and New Orleans. We neither have the will, the assets or the organization to pull off both. We have bridges falling down in Minnesota, as the recipients of our largess in Iraq blow up the oil production facilities, hospitals and schools that we built for them.
Recent revelations from Medical Journals confirms that we've fallen in the world rankings in birth rates, life expectancy and excel in category of cost of health care per capita. On top of all of this we have more people who can afford the cost of health care and are not covered by insurance. However that compression is not fair. We are being compared to other western democracies that have government sponsored health care of one sort or another.
The whole mess in education is beyond the boundaries of this commentary. But can be summarized in findings that relate our low ranking among world students in math and science.
So, we as a world power we are losing in every category that matters. How does it feel to be a Super Power?
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Fall, and other myth's about Wisconsin weather
Seasons in Wisconsin seem to transition overnight. This is the state where dressing in layers became a fashion statement out of necessity. One week we were drenched in sweat as the temperatures and the humidity raced each other at new heights. The next week we were soaked with warm rain. As I write, we are experiencing a significant cooling off period with a day or two of heat that visits like an old lover, tempting us to uncover, but with the knowledge that nothing is permanent in this seductive behaviour. Let me be clear, this is normal.
When I tell my wife that I can hear the death-rattle in the throat of winter and it's only February, she derides me. Her problem is that she confuses long gray days with sloppy snow piles with winter weather. To me, this seemingly endless, suicide inducing gloom is spring.
Spring in Wisconsin isn't a dream. It happens. It just doesn't happen for very long. It may happen while your taking your afternoon nap or stopping for lunch. You wake up or you come out of the restaurant and it's over. Needless to say, enough people miss the event to the extent that a great number of people don't believe in it or if they experience the phenomenon think they were mislead by an over consumption of mind altering drugs or alcohol.
The wide extremes in our normal weather patterns lead me to believe that global warming is nature way of giving us break. if we even slowed down the pendulum to swing from only highs in the 90's and lows of minus 20 degrees to say 85 and 0, we would become a mecca for people that lust for Ireland or some other country where the artists flourish because of genuine lack of interest in going out doors and yet it's nice enough to cultivate poets that are sad but not suicidal.
When I tell my wife that I can hear the death-rattle in the throat of winter and it's only February, she derides me. Her problem is that she confuses long gray days with sloppy snow piles with winter weather. To me, this seemingly endless, suicide inducing gloom is spring.
Spring in Wisconsin isn't a dream. It happens. It just doesn't happen for very long. It may happen while your taking your afternoon nap or stopping for lunch. You wake up or you come out of the restaurant and it's over. Needless to say, enough people miss the event to the extent that a great number of people don't believe in it or if they experience the phenomenon think they were mislead by an over consumption of mind altering drugs or alcohol.
The wide extremes in our normal weather patterns lead me to believe that global warming is nature way of giving us break. if we even slowed down the pendulum to swing from only highs in the 90's and lows of minus 20 degrees to say 85 and 0, we would become a mecca for people that lust for Ireland or some other country where the artists flourish because of genuine lack of interest in going out doors and yet it's nice enough to cultivate poets that are sad but not suicidal.
Monday, August 27, 2007
City Mouse vs Country Mouse
We were having dinner with old friends this last weekend. We are in contact with these folks on a regular basis, but because of schedules and the distance between our homes, we don't get to see them as often as we would like.
The subject of conversation was about trips to New York City. We all agreed it was a great city and wonderful to visit, but there the similarities began to evaporate. It was obvious to me that we would not be good traveling companions in NYC with these folks since our tastes and interests went in wildly diverse directions. I think it was when his lip curled when we related that we likes to just walk through Greenwich Village and dream about living there that I thought to myself, he'd rather go to see "Lion King". As it turned out I was wrong, it was "Mama Mia".
Don't misinterpret here. I'm not being a theater snob. Anything that keeps the lights burning on Broadway is a good thing, but my wife and I prefer drama to Disney. We live in the city and love it. They live in the suburbs and to them it's heaven on earth. I have another good friend that thinks living in the suburbs is living in the city and if he doesn't have acres around him feels penned in.
I have difficulty thinking of why the other guy's preferences are so great, and I 'm sure the reverse is true. I like to visit the burbs and the country, but I would not like living there. They think the city is a place of pollution and crime and I think their lives are devoid of any kind of human stimulation.
They claim they come to the city for theater and culture, but on examination they don't partake nearly as often as we do. In fairness, my wife points out the very often a neighbors in the city don't either. But I know Maria and I wouldn't involve ourselves in the cultural aspects of the city nearly as much if we lived in the burbs.
The other glaring difference is the cultural diversity of the City of Milwaukee and the suburbs. Put bluntly, there isn't any diversify in the suburbs and unfortunately both the white community and the black and Hispanic community seem content with that. We are not.
Again, I don't want to sound righteous and indignant. These likes and dislikes, and the differences in our comfort zones are what make us human. All bigots don't live in the burbs and many people from the burbs regularly take advantage of what the city has to offer. My point here is that there are differences and these folks are still friends and we can relate in areas where we are comfortable.
Because of our interaction we learn from each others experiences what is going on in their world and they in ours. We find that their world is not as sterile and lonely as we might think, and they find that we are not awaken to the sounds of gunfire every night. All in all, it's a good thing to have some contact with your opposite mouse
The subject of conversation was about trips to New York City. We all agreed it was a great city and wonderful to visit, but there the similarities began to evaporate. It was obvious to me that we would not be good traveling companions in NYC with these folks since our tastes and interests went in wildly diverse directions. I think it was when his lip curled when we related that we likes to just walk through Greenwich Village and dream about living there that I thought to myself, he'd rather go to see "Lion King". As it turned out I was wrong, it was "Mama Mia".
Don't misinterpret here. I'm not being a theater snob. Anything that keeps the lights burning on Broadway is a good thing, but my wife and I prefer drama to Disney. We live in the city and love it. They live in the suburbs and to them it's heaven on earth. I have another good friend that thinks living in the suburbs is living in the city and if he doesn't have acres around him feels penned in.
I have difficulty thinking of why the other guy's preferences are so great, and I 'm sure the reverse is true. I like to visit the burbs and the country, but I would not like living there. They think the city is a place of pollution and crime and I think their lives are devoid of any kind of human stimulation.
They claim they come to the city for theater and culture, but on examination they don't partake nearly as often as we do. In fairness, my wife points out the very often a neighbors in the city don't either. But I know Maria and I wouldn't involve ourselves in the cultural aspects of the city nearly as much if we lived in the burbs.
The other glaring difference is the cultural diversity of the City of Milwaukee and the suburbs. Put bluntly, there isn't any diversify in the suburbs and unfortunately both the white community and the black and Hispanic community seem content with that. We are not.
Again, I don't want to sound righteous and indignant. These likes and dislikes, and the differences in our comfort zones are what make us human. All bigots don't live in the burbs and many people from the burbs regularly take advantage of what the city has to offer. My point here is that there are differences and these folks are still friends and we can relate in areas where we are comfortable.
Because of our interaction we learn from each others experiences what is going on in their world and they in ours. We find that their world is not as sterile and lonely as we might think, and they find that we are not awaken to the sounds of gunfire every night. All in all, it's a good thing to have some contact with your opposite mouse
If you've been reading this regulary...
please forgive my unannounced absence. My time to write has been overtaken by life and the unexpected things it can throw in our path to make the journey interesting although bumpy.
I will resume today with a small piece. I've got to exercise my muscles before I try and run a race.
I will resume today with a small piece. I've got to exercise my muscles before I try and run a race.
Monday, August 13, 2007
The Futility of Faith
I was discussing my personal philosophy of religion with a friend recently. This is not a regular occurrence in my daily conversations. Somewhere along the line I learned that in polite company one did not discuss religion and politics.
I got over the political prohibition when my personal beliefs were in vogue. Than came the tough years, when liberals replaced communists in the major bogyman category and we went into hiatus only to emerge recently as progressives. (Actually we were always more progressive, but when you let the other guy define and label you, you have to take what they give you.) At any rate, I've been speaking out on my politics more recently because if I don't relieve the pressure of living in this age of conservatism, I will implode. Sometimes it feels like these snotty smug conservative bastards are here just to make my life living hell, and then there's the God factor.
So many conservatives are draping the flag around their shoulders and holding a bible that you'd think they owned them both. They, like so many despotic movements, use religion as a method of control. God said this,and that, and that is why we must do whatever I say because I need you to fulfil the agenda, which usually results in you giving them money or power or both. And let's face it if you care enough to vote, and trust me no politician cares about anyone who doesn't vote, you probably think of yourself as a patriotic American. So the flag thing works pretty well also.
I was raised Catholic. As an organized religion, Catholicism is no better and no worse than any of the major religions. Throughout history they have had their high points and their low. Religion is a human invention so it's inherently going to have flaws. The crusades, the Inquisition, ignoring the Holocaust and politicizing the church come to mind when I think of the Catholic church. But the one that they are good at and have performed well for hundreds of years is the holding out of false hope in order to mollify and comfort people who are normally without hope. Telling an women trapped in poverty, who is trying to hold together a family with no husband, that God loves her and has a special place in heaven for her as long as she doesn't practice birth control and gives weekly to her church, is holding out false hope. Sadly the desperate grab at scraps like this.
The reason I don't like to discuss religion is that my views are very far out of the mainstream. I do believe in a God like spirit. This belief may be categorized as faith, but there is an increment of logic also. I have a tough time believing that throughout the history of man that it consistently reflects a need to believe in God, that there wouldn't be a reason for it.
My God does not publish books. He did not instruct anyone to publish his rules for him. He doesn't appear to people and he doesn't intervene in human activity. Pray to him all you want the dog will still die if it gets hit by a car. If your cancer goes in remission there is a medical and scientific reason, even if we can't explain it. We don't know everything there is to know about the human body. God is not a Packer fan nor does he curse the Chicago Cubs. He is not Catholic, Jewish or Muslim. He does not feel that women are inferior to men, nor does he necessarily believe in monogamy.
My belief is simple. I believe this benevolent spirit did set into motion the possibility of a super species that could do all of the marvelous things that mankind has shown the ability to do. I believe that man has the potential to do even more. What God said essence was, 'Look what I've created for you, look and recognize it's potential. Nurture and grow it for the good of man and all of my other creations. But whatever you do, don't fuck it up". In my mind there are no other corollaries or codicils. Any thing else you've heard that God said was dreamed up by some guy with an agenda. Follow this guy if you choose to, but keep your hand on your wallet and watch your back.
I got over the political prohibition when my personal beliefs were in vogue. Than came the tough years, when liberals replaced communists in the major bogyman category and we went into hiatus only to emerge recently as progressives. (Actually we were always more progressive, but when you let the other guy define and label you, you have to take what they give you.) At any rate, I've been speaking out on my politics more recently because if I don't relieve the pressure of living in this age of conservatism, I will implode. Sometimes it feels like these snotty smug conservative bastards are here just to make my life living hell, and then there's the God factor.
So many conservatives are draping the flag around their shoulders and holding a bible that you'd think they owned them both. They, like so many despotic movements, use religion as a method of control. God said this,and that, and that is why we must do whatever I say because I need you to fulfil the agenda, which usually results in you giving them money or power or both. And let's face it if you care enough to vote, and trust me no politician cares about anyone who doesn't vote, you probably think of yourself as a patriotic American. So the flag thing works pretty well also.
I was raised Catholic. As an organized religion, Catholicism is no better and no worse than any of the major religions. Throughout history they have had their high points and their low. Religion is a human invention so it's inherently going to have flaws. The crusades, the Inquisition, ignoring the Holocaust and politicizing the church come to mind when I think of the Catholic church. But the one that they are good at and have performed well for hundreds of years is the holding out of false hope in order to mollify and comfort people who are normally without hope. Telling an women trapped in poverty, who is trying to hold together a family with no husband, that God loves her and has a special place in heaven for her as long as she doesn't practice birth control and gives weekly to her church, is holding out false hope. Sadly the desperate grab at scraps like this.
The reason I don't like to discuss religion is that my views are very far out of the mainstream. I do believe in a God like spirit. This belief may be categorized as faith, but there is an increment of logic also. I have a tough time believing that throughout the history of man that it consistently reflects a need to believe in God, that there wouldn't be a reason for it.
My God does not publish books. He did not instruct anyone to publish his rules for him. He doesn't appear to people and he doesn't intervene in human activity. Pray to him all you want the dog will still die if it gets hit by a car. If your cancer goes in remission there is a medical and scientific reason, even if we can't explain it. We don't know everything there is to know about the human body. God is not a Packer fan nor does he curse the Chicago Cubs. He is not Catholic, Jewish or Muslim. He does not feel that women are inferior to men, nor does he necessarily believe in monogamy.
My belief is simple. I believe this benevolent spirit did set into motion the possibility of a super species that could do all of the marvelous things that mankind has shown the ability to do. I believe that man has the potential to do even more. What God said essence was, 'Look what I've created for you, look and recognize it's potential. Nurture and grow it for the good of man and all of my other creations. But whatever you do, don't fuck it up". In my mind there are no other corollaries or codicils. Any thing else you've heard that God said was dreamed up by some guy with an agenda. Follow this guy if you choose to, but keep your hand on your wallet and watch your back.
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Nice Celebrity, Not So Nice Celebrity
There is no denying it, we are addicted to celebrities. Some of these people deserve our attention. Let's face it many politicians, Barak Obama for one, are, at this point, little more than celebrities. However while Obama has demonstrated the ability to excite our imagination n positive ways and possible become a great leader, Paris Hilton, has demonstrated the ability to be, and I quote some forgotten pundit, famous for being famous. She is talentless and boorish, but she has the ability to garner headlines, because of the ability of her publicity people.
Like Paris, some celebrities want headlines. I remember when I was stocking magazines at the bookstore. Cover after cover featured Angelina, Brad and Jennifer. "Oh, " one customer remarked, "It must be terrible to have your life splashed across the headlines like that." I assured her that Jennifer was probably paying someone serious money to make sure she stayed in the headlines, regardless of the personal tragedy. Bad publicity being better than no publicity, celebrities often take what they can get.
Which brings us to today's celebrity, Barry Bonds. Last night in San Francisco Bonds broke Hank Aron's home run record. The Giants lost the game but they got what they really came to see. Their man, Barry "I didn't take Steroid's" Bonds smacked a home run to the deepest part of the park to break the record and cement a place for himself in 'baseball history. Now what that place is we don't know yet because Barry is under investigation for Steroid use.
The question is, what happens if he is charged and found guilty of using illegal drugs to enhance his ability. Would this knowledge nullify his record, starting the inevitable O.J. type controversy. He did it, He didn't do it. White people hate him because he's black, yaddah, yaddah... Or will baseball push this to the back burner, "for the good of the game"
I've met Bud Selig and he seems like a nice enough guy, but don't look for him to be courageous on this or any other controversial decision. He's well aware that's what's good for baseball is what's good for the Television networks and their sponsors. They don't care about fans who, after all pay to sit out in the rain, cold or scolding sun to watch these young men compete.
But Bud may have a problem. The credibility of his sport is vital to it's existence and a few politicians can make real trouble for him and professional baseball. Baseball is the only legal monopoly in our society, if you look past utilities and political parties. If some enterprising politician, with his or her finger to the winds of public opinion decided to make the event an issue, the headlines would follow and we could be in for another round of culture wars.
I can see the headlines, "Presidential Candidate (fill in the blank) takes on Baseball Over Bonds Scandal". That would be the headline from he Murdoch Press. Don't expect the New York Times or The Washington Post to be much kinder.
The point here is that nothing seems to be up or down when it involves a celebrity because of one factor. Some of us identify so closely with these people that any attack on them is taken personally. The idiots that surrounded the stage... sorry... courtroom during the Michael Jackson trials, show us that anyone or anything can become an attraction for lost and lonely people seeking a community that they can latch onto. These unfortunates become attractive to the press and as a result become media surrogates for all of us. They are on the front page and fodder for the "twenty four hour crisis of the moment" media. As the rest of us watch and comment, we begin a tsunami of attention that seems to have a life cycle that some media, not unlike leech's, need for life support.
I think the low point for me was CBS newsman, Bob Schieffer making a tongue in cheek apology for not bidding on the exclusive first interview with one of our media diva's after her release from jail(name excluded on purpose). He had to realize that by even commenting on it he gave the incident credibility it didn't deserve.
This is the kind of air pollution that is hard to stop and I'm not suggesting anything formal be done about it. But I do ask you, who gives this kind of media engine velocity? It's us. It's the reading, watching, blogging public. And I am almost ashamed I even commented on it, because we are the one's that push the accelerator. At no peril to yourselves or your loved ones, Ignore these idiots, please.
Like Paris, some celebrities want headlines. I remember when I was stocking magazines at the bookstore. Cover after cover featured Angelina, Brad and Jennifer. "Oh, " one customer remarked, "It must be terrible to have your life splashed across the headlines like that." I assured her that Jennifer was probably paying someone serious money to make sure she stayed in the headlines, regardless of the personal tragedy. Bad publicity being better than no publicity, celebrities often take what they can get.
Which brings us to today's celebrity, Barry Bonds. Last night in San Francisco Bonds broke Hank Aron's home run record. The Giants lost the game but they got what they really came to see. Their man, Barry "I didn't take Steroid's" Bonds smacked a home run to the deepest part of the park to break the record and cement a place for himself in 'baseball history. Now what that place is we don't know yet because Barry is under investigation for Steroid use.
The question is, what happens if he is charged and found guilty of using illegal drugs to enhance his ability. Would this knowledge nullify his record, starting the inevitable O.J. type controversy. He did it, He didn't do it. White people hate him because he's black, yaddah, yaddah... Or will baseball push this to the back burner, "for the good of the game"
I've met Bud Selig and he seems like a nice enough guy, but don't look for him to be courageous on this or any other controversial decision. He's well aware that's what's good for baseball is what's good for the Television networks and their sponsors. They don't care about fans who, after all pay to sit out in the rain, cold or scolding sun to watch these young men compete.
But Bud may have a problem. The credibility of his sport is vital to it's existence and a few politicians can make real trouble for him and professional baseball. Baseball is the only legal monopoly in our society, if you look past utilities and political parties. If some enterprising politician, with his or her finger to the winds of public opinion decided to make the event an issue, the headlines would follow and we could be in for another round of culture wars.
I can see the headlines, "Presidential Candidate (fill in the blank) takes on Baseball Over Bonds Scandal". That would be the headline from he Murdoch Press. Don't expect the New York Times or The Washington Post to be much kinder.
The point here is that nothing seems to be up or down when it involves a celebrity because of one factor. Some of us identify so closely with these people that any attack on them is taken personally. The idiots that surrounded the stage... sorry... courtroom during the Michael Jackson trials, show us that anyone or anything can become an attraction for lost and lonely people seeking a community that they can latch onto. These unfortunates become attractive to the press and as a result become media surrogates for all of us. They are on the front page and fodder for the "twenty four hour crisis of the moment" media. As the rest of us watch and comment, we begin a tsunami of attention that seems to have a life cycle that some media, not unlike leech's, need for life support.
I think the low point for me was CBS newsman, Bob Schieffer making a tongue in cheek apology for not bidding on the exclusive first interview with one of our media diva's after her release from jail(name excluded on purpose). He had to realize that by even commenting on it he gave the incident credibility it didn't deserve.
This is the kind of air pollution that is hard to stop and I'm not suggesting anything formal be done about it. But I do ask you, who gives this kind of media engine velocity? It's us. It's the reading, watching, blogging public. And I am almost ashamed I even commented on it, because we are the one's that push the accelerator. At no peril to yourselves or your loved ones, Ignore these idiots, please.
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Passing of A Close Friend
When you lose someone you've spent the better part of ten years with, it's a profound loss. She saw me at my best. She saw me at my worst. Hell, she saw me naked and was often curious about my elimination processes. I'm sure she wondered why I didn't have to go out in the yard like she did.
Sadie, our "Golden" was ten years old, but acted like a puppy pretty much until the cancer in her stomach exhibited itself. She was frisky and immature right up until the day she stopped eating. Which except for the not eating part is pretty much a mirror of my activity level. Maybe that is why we got along so well, kindred spirits.
It seems like just a short time ago, Maria told me that she and the kids went out to a home west of Appleton to pick her out. Maria knew she wanted a female. The lady told her that she best bring a collar so they could assure Maria that we got the dog she and the boys would pick out, because the pups were to young to leave "mom" at that point, but the puppies were being spoken for quickly.
Some people like puppies but tire of raising a dog. Sadie would be perfect. She was off the wall hyper from the day we brought her home. She loved Maria, me and the boys equally. Later she spread her affection to Dan, Stacy, Grace and Eli. When we moved to Milwaukee, she embraced everyone in our building.
I know everyone speaks well of the dead, but in this case Sadie earned our sorrow at her departure. I will particularly miss her when I complain about the redheaded bitch. Everyone will now know I'm not referring to the dog
Sadie, our "Golden" was ten years old, but acted like a puppy pretty much until the cancer in her stomach exhibited itself. She was frisky and immature right up until the day she stopped eating. Which except for the not eating part is pretty much a mirror of my activity level. Maybe that is why we got along so well, kindred spirits.
It seems like just a short time ago, Maria told me that she and the kids went out to a home west of Appleton to pick her out. Maria knew she wanted a female. The lady told her that she best bring a collar so they could assure Maria that we got the dog she and the boys would pick out, because the pups were to young to leave "mom" at that point, but the puppies were being spoken for quickly.
Some people like puppies but tire of raising a dog. Sadie would be perfect. She was off the wall hyper from the day we brought her home. She loved Maria, me and the boys equally. Later she spread her affection to Dan, Stacy, Grace and Eli. When we moved to Milwaukee, she embraced everyone in our building.
I know everyone speaks well of the dead, but in this case Sadie earned our sorrow at her departure. I will particularly miss her when I complain about the redheaded bitch. Everyone will now know I'm not referring to the dog
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Looking for Balance
One of the nicest things my daughter, Mary Jo ever said to me is that she thought I had achieved a nice balance in my life. At the time, she was right and I continue to strive for that balance, but it becomes elusive at times.
As the family grows bigger with new grandchildren and new outlaws (affectionate term for in-laws), It's harder to maintain contact and stay up to date with the crowd. Thankfully we live in the Internet age were greetings and photo's fly back and forth easily. But having those precious few moments with loved ones a difficult experience when the people you love are miles away.
The other challenge is the ability to stay in the moment. Enjoying today for what it brings instead of wishing it were the weekend or next month when supposedly better things will be happening is a difficult.
All of this is not out of the womb genetic code, although I note that some have an easier time than others. I think it's learned behaviour and some of us need to learn more. The tales of the career driven spouse that literally abandons the family to make money or achieve success in one area is the stuff of the Sunday Night Disease of the Week Movie. But stereotyping the role doesn't make it any less true. Many of us become absorbed in events to the extent that we lose a grip on the reality of our lives and become a myth in our own family.
Many a conquering hero ends up on the pillar of success and looks around to find he is alone.
As the family grows bigger with new grandchildren and new outlaws (affectionate term for in-laws), It's harder to maintain contact and stay up to date with the crowd. Thankfully we live in the Internet age were greetings and photo's fly back and forth easily. But having those precious few moments with loved ones a difficult experience when the people you love are miles away.
The other challenge is the ability to stay in the moment. Enjoying today for what it brings instead of wishing it were the weekend or next month when supposedly better things will be happening is a difficult.
All of this is not out of the womb genetic code, although I note that some have an easier time than others. I think it's learned behaviour and some of us need to learn more. The tales of the career driven spouse that literally abandons the family to make money or achieve success in one area is the stuff of the Sunday Night Disease of the Week Movie. But stereotyping the role doesn't make it any less true. Many of us become absorbed in events to the extent that we lose a grip on the reality of our lives and become a myth in our own family.
Many a conquering hero ends up on the pillar of success and looks around to find he is alone.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Sitting by the Sea
Some of us are water people. I have heard it explained that man's attraction to water is rooted in the fact that at one time we were living in it before we evolved into the beings we are now. Kind of like my need to visit Ireland, the land of my ancestors. Others claim that our need for water in order to survive is the basis for or need to have it close by
I don't know what the real reason for the affection is but I'm hooked. We live about three blocks from Lake Michigan. Aside from the fact that we have a late summer algae problem that makes swimming disagreeable, Lake Michigan is an inspiring body of water. I've boated across her a couple of times and I can vouch for her temperament and demeanor. For the most part she is calm, cool and easy to get along with, but she can have her moments.
Looking out of the water is one of those activities that can reduce your significance in your own mind. Looking at stars at night can make us realize that in the scheme of things, individually we don't amount to much. Gazing out into the expanse of Lake Michigan can give you the same feeling. You sit for a while and watch an approaching boat. As it grows bigger you realize how large it appears on the shore and how small and frail it appears on the horizon.
In the last few days, I've had a lot on my mind. I found myself sitting by the lake and just contemplating my situation, my life. It wasn't that there were any answers on the waves that washed the sand beach, but somehow the important issues surfaced in my mind.
I guess it would pay to take a moment on a regular basis to sit by the water, realize that my problems are comparatively small and the like water, life gets more chaotic when the winds blow fierce, but just like the issues in our lives, they always abate sooner or later.
I don't know what the real reason for the affection is but I'm hooked. We live about three blocks from Lake Michigan. Aside from the fact that we have a late summer algae problem that makes swimming disagreeable, Lake Michigan is an inspiring body of water. I've boated across her a couple of times and I can vouch for her temperament and demeanor. For the most part she is calm, cool and easy to get along with, but she can have her moments.
Looking out of the water is one of those activities that can reduce your significance in your own mind. Looking at stars at night can make us realize that in the scheme of things, individually we don't amount to much. Gazing out into the expanse of Lake Michigan can give you the same feeling. You sit for a while and watch an approaching boat. As it grows bigger you realize how large it appears on the shore and how small and frail it appears on the horizon.
In the last few days, I've had a lot on my mind. I found myself sitting by the lake and just contemplating my situation, my life. It wasn't that there were any answers on the waves that washed the sand beach, but somehow the important issues surfaced in my mind.
I guess it would pay to take a moment on a regular basis to sit by the water, realize that my problems are comparatively small and the like water, life gets more chaotic when the winds blow fierce, but just like the issues in our lives, they always abate sooner or later.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Monday, July 16, 2007
Brand Names, Positive or Negative
No one who talks or e-mails with me on a regular basis can be unaware of my recent conversion to the Mac format of computing. It's made my life tremendously easier and the transition was pretty easy. But make no mistake, I still like Microsoft and Dell and I will not say I would never go back or use a PC. It's just that the machines and software they are presenting don't fit my needs and I find them unnecessarily complicated and fussy.
But there are other brands that not only do I find I can get along without I find that I have visceral feelings about. Walmart is probably at the top of my list. General Motors, Ford and Chrysler have disappointed me but I don't dislike them.
Walmart, I am afraid to admit, I am adamant about avoiding. Recently my wife found out that she might be able to get her prescriptions filled for less money at the Walmart pharmacy. She actually felt she had to apologize to me for caving in. As it turns out, they couldn't do any better than the pharmacy we currently trade, so the matter went away and our integrity on this issue is intact.
I dislike Walmart for all of the liberal exploitation explanations, but it goes deeper than that. I don't think their policy of lowest price is in my long term best interest. I probably should do an essay on that, but suffice to say I don't think their offerings have total value. Total value to me is the quality of the product, the service after the sale and the price. When you deal with Walmart you can usually count on a low price and nothing else, and the wise buyer will even check the price, because the low price is not a given.
I don't like any of the national TV networks, but Fox is a hot button for me. I realize this brands me as a liberal. I don't deny that the right wing have the right to their propaganda outlet, but they don't even do it well. Their merciless beating on a subject with no substance is tiring and unprofessional for a station that touts it's journalistic credentials like a talisman. Obviously I am outside of the massive public audience that cares passionately about the love life of Brad Pitt, the rehabilitation of Lindsey Lohan and the antic's of Paris Hilton. And I'll be the first to admit that Fox's addiction to this type of "news" has influenced the other news providers. However, for the most part, they do not participate with the moment by moment, breathless enthusiasm of Fox and certainly not with the everything that happens in this moment depends on resolving the "truth" of this incident outlook with the endless parades of experts to tell us how we should think and why it matters.
I know that the brands we buy are suppose to say something about who we are. I guess that means that I'm a Kohl's person because I find most of the clothing I like at their store. However, I also shop at Lands End. I'm never sure what all of this means because rather than trying to exhibit a lifestyle, I'm try to cover my rapidly aging body against the elements. Adding to my confusion is my total lack of knowledge about what shopping at the Gap versus Old Navy means in the code of social value and status.
I support the brands I do because what they provide works for me. I don't think that makes me unique, but I'm sure it drives marketing people nuts. (Assuming they give a damn about my category.) I don't know if I can be pigeonholed in the marketing category ladder. I think I'm and Advanced Age Urban Empty Nester. but that can't be, because the acronym isn't sexy, AAUEN. It's sounds more like a mantra for meditation than a marketing category.
But there are other brands that not only do I find I can get along without I find that I have visceral feelings about. Walmart is probably at the top of my list. General Motors, Ford and Chrysler have disappointed me but I don't dislike them.
Walmart, I am afraid to admit, I am adamant about avoiding. Recently my wife found out that she might be able to get her prescriptions filled for less money at the Walmart pharmacy. She actually felt she had to apologize to me for caving in. As it turns out, they couldn't do any better than the pharmacy we currently trade, so the matter went away and our integrity on this issue is intact.
I dislike Walmart for all of the liberal exploitation explanations, but it goes deeper than that. I don't think their policy of lowest price is in my long term best interest. I probably should do an essay on that, but suffice to say I don't think their offerings have total value. Total value to me is the quality of the product, the service after the sale and the price. When you deal with Walmart you can usually count on a low price and nothing else, and the wise buyer will even check the price, because the low price is not a given.
I don't like any of the national TV networks, but Fox is a hot button for me. I realize this brands me as a liberal. I don't deny that the right wing have the right to their propaganda outlet, but they don't even do it well. Their merciless beating on a subject with no substance is tiring and unprofessional for a station that touts it's journalistic credentials like a talisman. Obviously I am outside of the massive public audience that cares passionately about the love life of Brad Pitt, the rehabilitation of Lindsey Lohan and the antic's of Paris Hilton. And I'll be the first to admit that Fox's addiction to this type of "news" has influenced the other news providers. However, for the most part, they do not participate with the moment by moment, breathless enthusiasm of Fox and certainly not with the everything that happens in this moment depends on resolving the "truth" of this incident outlook with the endless parades of experts to tell us how we should think and why it matters.
I know that the brands we buy are suppose to say something about who we are. I guess that means that I'm a Kohl's person because I find most of the clothing I like at their store. However, I also shop at Lands End. I'm never sure what all of this means because rather than trying to exhibit a lifestyle, I'm try to cover my rapidly aging body against the elements. Adding to my confusion is my total lack of knowledge about what shopping at the Gap versus Old Navy means in the code of social value and status.
I support the brands I do because what they provide works for me. I don't think that makes me unique, but I'm sure it drives marketing people nuts. (Assuming they give a damn about my category.) I don't know if I can be pigeonholed in the marketing category ladder. I think I'm and Advanced Age Urban Empty Nester. but that can't be, because the acronym isn't sexy, AAUEN. It's sounds more like a mantra for meditation than a marketing category.
Monday, July 09, 2007
Vacation Over
I just got back from a weeks visit with my son's family in Seattle. Aside from the mind boggling concept of having to fly from Milwaukee to Detroit in order to get to Seattle, I have to say our flights were uneventful, and I consider that a compliment.
Seattle, as a city, has enough attractions by itself is reason enough to visit, but the attraction of spending extended time with my grand daughters is reason enough to visit. Devon, eight, is a wonderfully smart and imaginative child who is both athletic and intellectual. She had just returned from soccer camp and her favorite thing was to get "Poppa" off of his butt from the lounge chair on the patio to throw wiffle balls for her to hit with a plastic bat. We'd start with seven of balls and usually end up having to hunt down two or three of them from behind the neighbors fence.
Abbot is six. I predict she will be the first Jordan to win an Oscar, Emmy or Tony Award. She is a natural mugger and simply loves to make people laugh. She amused me with her running commentary during our viewing of "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" In one scene, Ferris disguised as his girl friends father picks her up from school so she can join him on a skip day. After she runs down the stairs to greet him she gives him a kiss. Abbott remarked that she wasn't kissing him like a Daddy.
Grand kids are the best thing that happen to you after you raise your own kids. they are a new promise of hope and a fresh start on the whole continuum, excuse me but, "the circle of life", as the Disney folks say. I am hugely proud of all of our kids and what they are accomplishing with their lives, but equally inspiring is the promise of these young ones. To be subjected to a solid week of them is to only feel the loss of their companionship when we returned home. I wish I had someone to pitch a wiffle ball for.
Seattle, as a city, has enough attractions by itself is reason enough to visit, but the attraction of spending extended time with my grand daughters is reason enough to visit. Devon, eight, is a wonderfully smart and imaginative child who is both athletic and intellectual. She had just returned from soccer camp and her favorite thing was to get "Poppa" off of his butt from the lounge chair on the patio to throw wiffle balls for her to hit with a plastic bat. We'd start with seven of balls and usually end up having to hunt down two or three of them from behind the neighbors fence.
Abbot is six. I predict she will be the first Jordan to win an Oscar, Emmy or Tony Award. She is a natural mugger and simply loves to make people laugh. She amused me with her running commentary during our viewing of "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" In one scene, Ferris disguised as his girl friends father picks her up from school so she can join him on a skip day. After she runs down the stairs to greet him she gives him a kiss. Abbott remarked that she wasn't kissing him like a Daddy.
Grand kids are the best thing that happen to you after you raise your own kids. they are a new promise of hope and a fresh start on the whole continuum, excuse me but, "the circle of life", as the Disney folks say. I am hugely proud of all of our kids and what they are accomplishing with their lives, but equally inspiring is the promise of these young ones. To be subjected to a solid week of them is to only feel the loss of their companionship when we returned home. I wish I had someone to pitch a wiffle ball for.
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Cue the Orchestra.
There is a theory that each one of us subconsciously thinks of ourselves as the lead n our own life drama. Take notice that means everyone else is a bit player in our script of characters. This is an interesting way of thinking and might explain why everyone is eat plugged with their iPod. We are listening to the theme music.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
There never is enough time
The old joke is that on facing their impending death, nobody ever wishes they had spending more time at the office. The joke is that it takes the threat of death to place value on our time and how we spend it. Humans, as far as we know, are the only species that knows that it has a limited life and it can end at any time. Still, we have this built in mental blind spot that allows us to spend our lives without dread.
We do place special significance on death and we ritualize in various ways how we treat the end of life. But even these rites are celebrations of the living. We speak well of the dead, despite what they might have done in their lives. We remember the good times. This is done to bring comfort to the living for it's obvious it can do nothing for the one that has died. And most importantly it creates a time for us all to stop and think of our own mortality.
I suspect that like a drunken New Years Eve promise to change our lives, we think briefly about how we spend our time and if we have our priorities straight. Following that moment of reflection, the burdens of life and the habits we have developed creep back in. We return to spending to much time thinking about work. We waste time watching mindless television. We shove off our kids on organized sports and computer camps. We don't visit our aging parents and we lose track of friends. sometimes. we actually lose them. Have you ever meet an old acquaintance and enquired about a mutual friend only to find that they have died?
I think we need more than funerals, birthdays and weddings to renew our relations with family and friends and I don't have an answer for myself much less anyone else. I do know that while many deride e-mail, it has kept me in closer contact with friends, except those that don't see the value in that crap. (This is the same person who can't conduct a conversation with you in person, but somehow values person to person contact exclusively.)
Our world has changed and will continue to change and is irrevocably on a path of widening our sphere. small towns have interstate highways near by and cities have ever more busy airports and train stations. We move about in ever widening circles to what avail, I do not know. But keeping track of those we love and need in our lives is made more difficult because of the demands of life and the distance between us. It's sometimes easier to feel fulfilled by going to the office.
We do place special significance on death and we ritualize in various ways how we treat the end of life. But even these rites are celebrations of the living. We speak well of the dead, despite what they might have done in their lives. We remember the good times. This is done to bring comfort to the living for it's obvious it can do nothing for the one that has died. And most importantly it creates a time for us all to stop and think of our own mortality.
I suspect that like a drunken New Years Eve promise to change our lives, we think briefly about how we spend our time and if we have our priorities straight. Following that moment of reflection, the burdens of life and the habits we have developed creep back in. We return to spending to much time thinking about work. We waste time watching mindless television. We shove off our kids on organized sports and computer camps. We don't visit our aging parents and we lose track of friends. sometimes. we actually lose them. Have you ever meet an old acquaintance and enquired about a mutual friend only to find that they have died?
I think we need more than funerals, birthdays and weddings to renew our relations with family and friends and I don't have an answer for myself much less anyone else. I do know that while many deride e-mail, it has kept me in closer contact with friends, except those that don't see the value in that crap. (This is the same person who can't conduct a conversation with you in person, but somehow values person to person contact exclusively.)
Our world has changed and will continue to change and is irrevocably on a path of widening our sphere. small towns have interstate highways near by and cities have ever more busy airports and train stations. We move about in ever widening circles to what avail, I do not know. But keeping track of those we love and need in our lives is made more difficult because of the demands of life and the distance between us. It's sometimes easier to feel fulfilled by going to the office.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Lifestyle Vs. Style
Can you live in your house if you're expecting Cottage Living magazine to visit any minute?
My wife, as reported in my blog entitled "Hunks with Hammers", is a big fan of remake and remodel programs on the cable. If you watch enough of these programs, particularly the ones that help the client stage their home for sale, you learn that having your house look good for buyers is not the same as it will look if you actually live in it. Example? Look at your house before a formal dinner party and than the way it looks after the party is over.
So what is acceptable is in the eye's of the resident is the standard. In our case, my vote doesn't count, ever.
I do agree that beds should be made. But our viewpoint is divergent on the issue. My wife learned how to make a bed from her father. The former navy veteran taught her the "bounce a quarter" style that the military is famous for. And I might point out that if you're five four and sleeping in a king sized bed tucking the sheets in at the bottom of the bed is fine. However, if your over six feet and your feet are being confined to the narrow pocket formed at the juncture of the sheets and the turn of the mattress, this is not so good. I learned to make beds from Martha Stewart. She maintains that you shouldn't tuck in any of the sheets or blankets except the bottom one.
My wife, Maria, has a fashion sense that is light years beyond me, but to me life style is as important as style. I need a lamp that gives me enough light to read by. She is does not. Her younger eyes and lack of cataracts allow her to read by the light of a candle. She does not like my high intensity floor lamp, because it doesn't fit our decor. Evidently if you put a dress on a pig it still pretty much looks like a pig.
My friend John Brownson framed for me a commemorative to legendary Green Bay Packer Quarterback, Brett Farve. My wife hates professional sports and in particular football. This piece, no matter how well it's crafted, will not hang on our walls. Fortunately we both agree on the numerous paintings we have purchased form our friend Len Nagler.
Maria has a reputation for her interest in housing and home decorating that is in unassailable. She has suburb taste and an excellent eye. she sees potential were others are thinking of writing the building off.
Where we differ is, when looking at a property or a decor, I think of what my life would be like if I lived in the neighborhood or how that room would work in my daily life. This is not Maria's first thought. She is looking at putting the thing together and making it a masterpiece. Maybe this difference is why all of the things I brought when we put our households together is been sold at a rummage sale or is in storage
My wife, as reported in my blog entitled "Hunks with Hammers", is a big fan of remake and remodel programs on the cable. If you watch enough of these programs, particularly the ones that help the client stage their home for sale, you learn that having your house look good for buyers is not the same as it will look if you actually live in it. Example? Look at your house before a formal dinner party and than the way it looks after the party is over.
So what is acceptable is in the eye's of the resident is the standard. In our case, my vote doesn't count, ever.
I do agree that beds should be made. But our viewpoint is divergent on the issue. My wife learned how to make a bed from her father. The former navy veteran taught her the "bounce a quarter" style that the military is famous for. And I might point out that if you're five four and sleeping in a king sized bed tucking the sheets in at the bottom of the bed is fine. However, if your over six feet and your feet are being confined to the narrow pocket formed at the juncture of the sheets and the turn of the mattress, this is not so good. I learned to make beds from Martha Stewart. She maintains that you shouldn't tuck in any of the sheets or blankets except the bottom one.
My wife, Maria, has a fashion sense that is light years beyond me, but to me life style is as important as style. I need a lamp that gives me enough light to read by. She is does not. Her younger eyes and lack of cataracts allow her to read by the light of a candle. She does not like my high intensity floor lamp, because it doesn't fit our decor. Evidently if you put a dress on a pig it still pretty much looks like a pig.
My friend John Brownson framed for me a commemorative to legendary Green Bay Packer Quarterback, Brett Farve. My wife hates professional sports and in particular football. This piece, no matter how well it's crafted, will not hang on our walls. Fortunately we both agree on the numerous paintings we have purchased form our friend Len Nagler.
Maria has a reputation for her interest in housing and home decorating that is in unassailable. She has suburb taste and an excellent eye. she sees potential were others are thinking of writing the building off.
Where we differ is, when looking at a property or a decor, I think of what my life would be like if I lived in the neighborhood or how that room would work in my daily life. This is not Maria's first thought. She is looking at putting the thing together and making it a masterpiece. Maybe this difference is why all of the things I brought when we put our households together is been sold at a rummage sale or is in storage
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
