There are many things that might hold a person back in our great American society. But many of them are forgiven, excused or tolerated. I have seen people advance in the workplace who are alcoholics, abusers, gamblers, racists and uncaring. The one unforgivable sin, for most jobs in America that pay well or offer advancement is shyness. If you hesitate at talking to new people, look unsure or insecure, be reluctant to call people on the phone, in many American jobs you will be eaten alive or discarded. I fully understand this and respect this, but it is hard to deal with on a day to day basis.
Frequent comments I get, like when someone sees me act in community theatre, is "I didn't even know he could talk!" I often get "What's wrong? Why aren't you smiling?" I have to feel like my whole family or job is on the line in order to call somebody on the phone. I don't even social call my closest friends.
We all have our crosses to bear. Physical and/or psychological things that are just a part of who we are. My cross to bear is selective mutism. For more details on this, please look at an article on it in wikipedia. It is not an exact match as to what I deal with, and my problem only varies from mild to moderate, but I think it will give greater insight to anyone who cares to investigate. I'm not complainin', I'm just explainin'.
It helps explain, for my high school friends, why my school experience was shadowed. Why I might not have seemed friendly in the halls for example. I was not a snob, I was scared to death. With selective mutism, you have the ability to talk, you just feel so swamped in new social situations that you're not able to get anything out. Once I felt comfortable with a group of people, I could come out more. I think it's one of the reasons why, most of my school career I had such a high desire to date someone from my own class. That way I wouldn't have to establish a relationship with somebody new. Of course, most girls in school are more interested in the exciting outsider than the same-old-same-old, so it made for an interesting, uh, non-match.
College was worse, in that classes were constantly changing - you hardly saw the same person for more than one course. I might go a week or more without speaking to anybody besides my roommate or a few of his buddies. I had one girlfriend two years younger who left me as soon as I got to University of Michigan, and a second one who left as soon as she got to the University of Michigan. College was not conducive to somebody who was a selective mute AND didn't drink AND wasn't a conservative Christian.
Work has been interesting. It hasn't been a complete failure, but given my relative intelligence and abilities, it hasn't been a swimming success either. It's hard to think of many professions that reward shy people. When I'm in a relatively closed group, I do think management does tend to see my value, but I always tend to fade in any new situation with new people. And you can forget about sales call jobs!
Some will wonder, if you're shy, how can you act? If you read the selective mutism article, you will see that people with this problem speak fine, and that indeed, many of them have an artistic bent. With plays, there is no mystery. I know EXACTLY what it is that I'm supposed to say. In real life, I often don't know what people want.
I love plays not just because I enjoy the actual acting, but because it is a small group experience that binds people together. I often start out practices very quiet, not really talking to anybody, and then get more open as the play goes along and I feel safer within the group. The hard part of plays is that they end, and I find it hard to still stay friends with the people I met. I have trouble going to see plays, or even visiting practices or performances of plays that I'm not in, because the curtain of shyness is already descending. I quickly feel out of place, that I'm an intruder, that I don't deserve to be there. Nevertheless, I am currently doing everything I can to stay connected to Flying Dragon Arts Center even though I'm not in their current production. I am doing my best, but like I said, I feel the shadow descending.
This can even happen with my family. It doesn't last long, but I can even be shy when my wife leaves on a trip and comes back after a few days. It doesn't last long, but it is there. I seem to only to be able to do close relationships. I have a much harder time with secondary relationships or casual acquaintances.
Facebook, which many criticize, has been a plus for me. Again, if you see the description of selective mutism, online conversations, texting, etc are much easier for people like me. It has helped rekindle some connections that I thought would never exist again.
I can work around it, and I will strive to do my best. I have a loving family that I'm obligated to help support. Even though my career might not be what it should be, they love me and I do contribute everything I can. Just be patient with me if I don't seem to respond as quickly or as openly as you think I should. I'll come around.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
A Descending Curtain of Shyness
There are many things that might hold a person back in our great American society. But many of them are forgiven, excused or tolerated. I have seen people advance in the workplace who are alcoholics, abusers, gamblers, racists and uncaring. The one unforgivable sin, for most jobs in America that pay well or offer advancement is shyness. If you hesitate at talking to new people, look unsure or insecure, be reluctant to call people on the phone, in many American jobs you will be eaten alive or discarded. I fully understand this and respect this, but it is hard to deal with on a day to day basis.
Frequent comments I get, like when someone sees me act in community theatre, is "I didn't even know he could talk!" I often get "What's wrong? Why aren't you smiling?" I have to feel like my whole family or job is on the line in order to call somebody on the phone. I don't even social call my closest friends.
We all have our crosses to bear. Physical and/or psychological things that are just a part of who we are. My cross to bear is selective mutism. For more details on this, please look at an article on it in wikipedia. It is not an exact match as to what I deal with, and my problem only varies from mild to moderate, but I think it will give greater insight to anyone who cares to investigate. I'm not complainin', I'm just explainin'.
It helps explain, for my high school friends, why my school experience was shadowed. Why I might not have seemed friendly in the halls for example. I was not a snob, I was scared to death. With selective mutism, you have the ability to talk, you just feel so swamped in new social situations that you're not able to get anything out. Once I felt comfortable with a group of people, I could come out more. I think it's one of the reasons why, most of my school career I had such a high desire to date someone from my own class. That way I wouldn't have to establish a relationship with somebody new. Of course, most girls in school are more interested in the exciting outsider than the same-old-same-old, so it made for an interesting, uh, non-match.
College was worse, in that classes were constantly changing - you hardly saw the same person for more than one course. I might go a week or more without speaking to anybody besides my roommate or a few of his buddies. I had one girlfriend two years younger who left me as soon as I got to University of Michigan, and a second one who left as soon as she got to the University of Michigan. College was not conducive to somebody who was a selective mute AND didn't drink AND wasn't a conservative Christian.
Work has been interesting. It hasn't been a complete failure, but given my relative intelligence and abilities, it hasn't been a swimming success either. It's hard to think of many professions that reward shy people. When I'm in a relatively closed group, I do think management does tend to see my value, but I always tend to fade in any new situation with new people. And you can forget about sales call jobs!
Some will wonder, if you're shy, how can you act? If you read the selective mutism article, you will see that people with this problem speak fine, and that indeed, many of them have an artistic bent. With plays, there is no mystery. I know EXACTLY what it is that I'm supposed to say. In real life, I often don't know what people want.
I love plays not just because I enjoy the actual acting, but because it is a small group experience that binds people together. I often start out practices very quiet, not really talking to anybody, and then get more open as the play goes along and I feel safer within the group. The hard part of plays is that they end, and I find it hard to still stay friends with the people I met. I have trouble going to see plays, or even visiting practices or performances of plays that I'm not in, because the curtain of shyness is already descending. I quickly feel out of place, that I'm an intruder, that I don't deserve to be there. Nevertheless, I am currently doing everything I can to stay connected to Flying Dragon Arts Center even though I'm not in their current production. I am doing my best, but like I said, I feel the shadow descending.
This can even happen with my family. It doesn't last long, but I can even be shy when my wife leaves on a trip and comes back after a few days. It doesn't last long, but it is there. I seem to only to be able to do close relationships. I have a much harder time with secondary relationships or casual acquaintances.
Facebook, which many criticize, has been a plus for me. Again, if you see the description of selective mutism, online conversations, texting, etc are much easier for people like me. It has helped rekindle some connections that I thought would never exist again.
I can work around it, and I will strive to do my best. I have a loving family that I'm obligated to help support. Even though my career might not be what it should be, they love me and I do contribute everything I can. Just be patient with me if I don't seem to respond as quickly or as openly as you think I should. I'll come around.
Frequent comments I get, like when someone sees me act in community theatre, is "I didn't even know he could talk!" I often get "What's wrong? Why aren't you smiling?" I have to feel like my whole family or job is on the line in order to call somebody on the phone. I don't even social call my closest friends.
We all have our crosses to bear. Physical and/or psychological things that are just a part of who we are. My cross to bear is selective mutism. For more details on this, please look at an article on it in wikipedia. It is not an exact match as to what I deal with, and my problem only varies from mild to moderate, but I think it will give greater insight to anyone who cares to investigate. I'm not complainin', I'm just explainin'.
It helps explain, for my high school friends, why my school experience was shadowed. Why I might not have seemed friendly in the halls for example. I was not a snob, I was scared to death. With selective mutism, you have the ability to talk, you just feel so swamped in new social situations that you're not able to get anything out. Once I felt comfortable with a group of people, I could come out more. I think it's one of the reasons why, most of my school career I had such a high desire to date someone from my own class. That way I wouldn't have to establish a relationship with somebody new. Of course, most girls in school are more interested in the exciting outsider than the same-old-same-old, so it made for an interesting, uh, non-match.
College was worse, in that classes were constantly changing - you hardly saw the same person for more than one course. I might go a week or more without speaking to anybody besides my roommate or a few of his buddies. I had one girlfriend two years younger who left me as soon as I got to University of Michigan, and a second one who left as soon as she got to the University of Michigan. College was not conducive to somebody who was a selective mute AND didn't drink AND wasn't a conservative Christian.
Work has been interesting. It hasn't been a complete failure, but given my relative intelligence and abilities, it hasn't been a swimming success either. It's hard to think of many professions that reward shy people. When I'm in a relatively closed group, I do think management does tend to see my value, but I always tend to fade in any new situation with new people. And you can forget about sales call jobs!
Some will wonder, if you're shy, how can you act? If you read the selective mutism article, you will see that people with this problem speak fine, and that indeed, many of them have an artistic bent. With plays, there is no mystery. I know EXACTLY what it is that I'm supposed to say. In real life, I often don't know what people want.
I love plays not just because I enjoy the actual acting, but because it is a small group experience that binds people together. I often start out practices very quiet, not really talking to anybody, and then get more open as the play goes along and I feel safer within the group. The hard part of plays is that they end, and I find it hard to still stay friends with the people I met. I have trouble going to see plays, or even visiting practices or performances of plays that I'm not in, because the curtain of shyness is already descending. I quickly feel out of place, that I'm an intruder, that I don't deserve to be there. Nevertheless, I am currently doing everything I can to stay connected to Flying Dragon Arts Center even though I'm not in their current production. I am doing my best, but like I said, I feel the shadow descending.
This can even happen with my family. It doesn't last long, but I can even be shy when my wife leaves on a trip and comes back after a few days. It doesn't last long, but it is there. I seem to only to be able to do close relationships. I have a much harder time with secondary relationships or casual acquaintances.
Facebook, which many criticize, has been a plus for me. Again, if you see the description of selective mutism, online conversations, texting, etc are much easier for people like me. It has helped rekindle some connections that I thought would never exist again.
I can work around it, and I will strive to do my best. I have a loving family that I'm obligated to help support. Even though my career might not be what it should be, they love me and I do contribute everything I can. Just be patient with me if I don't seem to respond as quickly or as openly as you think I should. I'll come around.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Saturday Political Soap Box 11
I'm going to switch out and go for sheer entertainment and speculation this Saturday, and we can all pretend that we are as shallow as the mainstream media. Let's once again open up the POLITICAL SPECULATRON and predict what we think will most likely happen in the 2012. Put on your hip boots and let's go wading in the possibilities.
Who do you think will be the Republican nominee? Will President Obama select a different vice-presidential running mate? Do you think we are likely to have a strong third party run? Who will win in 2012?
Not to turn this into an argument about my choices, I'll still start off with mine. I'm beginning to think it increasingly likely that Mitt Romney will be the nominee for the Republican party. If you're the only quasi-sane one in the room, and everyone else is crazier than bat crap (except for Huntsman, who is even more tainted by pragmatic reasonableness than Romney and is simply considered The Other Mormon), you can't help but stand out a bit. The second most likely scenario is that there is no clear front runner and the Republican establishment, in a desperate bid to retain control, draft Jeb Bush. The third, the only Tea Party candidate with half a prayer, is the secessionary, let's end Social Security and Medicare, look at how many people and coyotes I've killed, Rick Perry, Governor of haven't we already tried this Texas, the state with the the form of state government that has a very weak governor system, with the legislature retaining virtually all of the control.
So the question then becomes, if the Tea Party is shut out from controlling the Republican nomination, what then will they do? These are people who are used to having their way. I think a third party run is more likely than not. I used to think this effort would be led by Sarah Palin. Now I'm not so sure. If Rick Perry is stiff-armed enough, it could be him, but I think it might more likely be Michelle Bachmann. She is much more committed to her Christian Jihadist religious vision than any political party. And right now the strongest part of the Tea Party is the old Christian right. How successful this will be is anybody's guess, but I do think this will exist in the 2012 make-up. It might get 1% of the vote. It might get 15%.
I would say the same thing about Ron Paul and the Libertarians, but I doubt it. Here's the problem with the Libertarians. Let's say there are ten million people in the country that call themselves Libertarians. If so, there are probably ten million definitions of what libertarianism is. Hard for them to get together to have much of an effect.
Another remote possibility is for a third party to coalesce around some super-rich guy like Donald Trump or Michael Bloomberg, on the presumption that they are "independent". Again, the problem with that is what is an independent? I have many who comment on my stuff claim they are independent, but believe you me, there is a difference between an Independent who calls the health care act "Obama care" or "forced health care" and one calls it "a good start" and the only truly good answer is "single-payer". They can call themselves independent until the cows come home, but they're not voting for the same people. We also have a President who is running the country as a centrist Republican, slightly to the right of Eisenhower and Nixon. Doesn't leave a lot of room on the other side.
I love Joe Biden. Yes, his mouth is a loose cannon sometimes, but his actual policy positions are pretty good. When the Afghanistan discussion was going on the White House, I wish to God that they had picked his side (reduced troops, more targeted attacks). Nevertheless, I think the political reality is that President Obama may be forced to make a change, and that change would be to Hilary Clinton. She's not as good as Biden, but she does connect with lower income voters better than the President does. So I believe there is good chance this will happen.
As far as actual results, I think the President will win, with about the same electoral college totals as the first time. His vote percentage may be less because of third parties. The bottom line is, it would be the ultimate insanity to return to the policies that put us in this ditch in the first place. And you have to trust the intelligence of the American people to figure that out.
.
Who do you think will be the Republican nominee? Will President Obama select a different vice-presidential running mate? Do you think we are likely to have a strong third party run? Who will win in 2012?
Not to turn this into an argument about my choices, I'll still start off with mine. I'm beginning to think it increasingly likely that Mitt Romney will be the nominee for the Republican party. If you're the only quasi-sane one in the room, and everyone else is crazier than bat crap (except for Huntsman, who is even more tainted by pragmatic reasonableness than Romney and is simply considered The Other Mormon), you can't help but stand out a bit. The second most likely scenario is that there is no clear front runner and the Republican establishment, in a desperate bid to retain control, draft Jeb Bush. The third, the only Tea Party candidate with half a prayer, is the secessionary, let's end Social Security and Medicare, look at how many people and coyotes I've killed, Rick Perry, Governor of haven't we already tried this Texas, the state with the the form of state government that has a very weak governor system, with the legislature retaining virtually all of the control.
So the question then becomes, if the Tea Party is shut out from controlling the Republican nomination, what then will they do? These are people who are used to having their way. I think a third party run is more likely than not. I used to think this effort would be led by Sarah Palin. Now I'm not so sure. If Rick Perry is stiff-armed enough, it could be him, but I think it might more likely be Michelle Bachmann. She is much more committed to her Christian Jihadist religious vision than any political party. And right now the strongest part of the Tea Party is the old Christian right. How successful this will be is anybody's guess, but I do think this will exist in the 2012 make-up. It might get 1% of the vote. It might get 15%.
I would say the same thing about Ron Paul and the Libertarians, but I doubt it. Here's the problem with the Libertarians. Let's say there are ten million people in the country that call themselves Libertarians. If so, there are probably ten million definitions of what libertarianism is. Hard for them to get together to have much of an effect.
Another remote possibility is for a third party to coalesce around some super-rich guy like Donald Trump or Michael Bloomberg, on the presumption that they are "independent". Again, the problem with that is what is an independent? I have many who comment on my stuff claim they are independent, but believe you me, there is a difference between an Independent who calls the health care act "Obama care" or "forced health care" and one calls it "a good start" and the only truly good answer is "single-payer". They can call themselves independent until the cows come home, but they're not voting for the same people. We also have a President who is running the country as a centrist Republican, slightly to the right of Eisenhower and Nixon. Doesn't leave a lot of room on the other side.
I love Joe Biden. Yes, his mouth is a loose cannon sometimes, but his actual policy positions are pretty good. When the Afghanistan discussion was going on the White House, I wish to God that they had picked his side (reduced troops, more targeted attacks). Nevertheless, I think the political reality is that President Obama may be forced to make a change, and that change would be to Hilary Clinton. She's not as good as Biden, but she does connect with lower income voters better than the President does. So I believe there is good chance this will happen.
As far as actual results, I think the President will win, with about the same electoral college totals as the first time. His vote percentage may be less because of third parties. The bottom line is, it would be the ultimate insanity to return to the policies that put us in this ditch in the first place. And you have to trust the intelligence of the American people to figure that out.
.
Saturday Political Soap Box 10
Is Social Security a Ponzi sheme?
This is summarized from Nick Baumann found at Motherjones.com
Ponzi Scheme: is run by someone like Bernie Madoff, who can't print money or tax anyone. Social Security: is run by the government, which can print money and tax people.
Ponzi Scheme: does not tell particpants where their benefits come from. Social Security: tells participants where the benefits come from.
Ponzi Sheme: is a deliberate fraud. Social Security: is NOT a deliberate fraud.
Ponzi Scheme: is paid into by a small group of select investors. Social Security: is paid into by every American who works.
Ponzi Scheme: is supervised by someone like Bernie Madoff, who stole millions of dollars from his clients every year to pay for yachts and homes. Social Security: is supervised by Social Security Commissioner and Horace translator Michael Astrue, who made around $200,000 in 2011.
Ponzi Scheme: promises massive returns over just a few years. Social Security: promises fairly modest rates of returns over the course of decades.
Ponzi Scheme: is usually not invested in anything. Social Security: is invested in US treasury bonds.
Ponzi scheme: Can't be tweaked, expanded, cut, or ended by anyone but the schemer - until he's caught. Social Security: can be tweaked, expanded, cut, or ended by Americans' elected representatives.
Ponzi Scheme: the original Ponzi scheme lasted around 200 days. Social Security: Has been operating continuously since 1935.
The only place where Social Security and a Ponzi scheme are the same is in the fevered, delusional mind of C & D student, the Governor of the state with the most agressive form of weak governor state government, Rick Perry.
Any comments greatly appreciated.
.
This is summarized from Nick Baumann found at Motherjones.com
Ponzi Scheme: is run by someone like Bernie Madoff, who can't print money or tax anyone. Social Security: is run by the government, which can print money and tax people.
Ponzi Scheme: does not tell particpants where their benefits come from. Social Security: tells participants where the benefits come from.
Ponzi Sheme: is a deliberate fraud. Social Security: is NOT a deliberate fraud.
Ponzi Scheme: is paid into by a small group of select investors. Social Security: is paid into by every American who works.
Ponzi Scheme: is supervised by someone like Bernie Madoff, who stole millions of dollars from his clients every year to pay for yachts and homes. Social Security: is supervised by Social Security Commissioner and Horace translator Michael Astrue, who made around $200,000 in 2011.
Ponzi Scheme: promises massive returns over just a few years. Social Security: promises fairly modest rates of returns over the course of decades.
Ponzi Scheme: is usually not invested in anything. Social Security: is invested in US treasury bonds.
Ponzi scheme: Can't be tweaked, expanded, cut, or ended by anyone but the schemer - until he's caught. Social Security: can be tweaked, expanded, cut, or ended by Americans' elected representatives.
Ponzi Scheme: the original Ponzi scheme lasted around 200 days. Social Security: Has been operating continuously since 1935.
The only place where Social Security and a Ponzi scheme are the same is in the fevered, delusional mind of C & D student, the Governor of the state with the most agressive form of weak governor state government, Rick Perry.
Any comments greatly appreciated.
.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Sky Blue and the Seven Little Ladies
Sky Blue, a delightful fairy tale for children of all ages, opens this Saturday night at Flying Dragon Arts Center. This show was written by Waycross's own Barbara Griffin. Barbara is directing her first FDAC production. She is an experienced director,actress and playwright. Originally from Brooklyn, New York, she has lived in Waycross for ovr 30 years. Local audiences will remember her from Steel Magnolias, Cabaret, Christmas Carol, Jake's Women, The Odd Couple and Gypsy. Barbara has also directed shows for Waycross Area Community Theater. She directed To Kill A Mocking Bird and Purlie Victorious in 2002 and had the honor of hosting author/actor Ossie Davis's visit, appearance and reception in his honor. Her first playwriting endeavor was The Portnow Trilogy: 3 short plays about the romance of an elderly couple who meet in a nursing home. Barbara serves as Publicity Director at FDAC. We are honored to have her direct in our theater. Sky Blue and the Seven Little Ladies opens Saturday night Sept. 17th at 7pm. Three additional performances Sunday,Sept. 18th at 3pm, Friday,Sept.23rd at 7pm, last show Sunday, Sept. 24th at 3pm.TICKET PRICES:
AGES 13 AND UP $8
AGES 6-12 $5
AGES 5 & UNDER FREE
534 PLANT AVENUE DOWNTOWN WAYCROSS
This is Tom Strait. I freely admit I stole all the pictures and play descriptions from Flying Dragon Arts Center, who said it way better than I could. Come see this show! And bring every child you know! It'll be a blast and great entertainment!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Randolph Scott Loses His Shirt
I see the western skies a paler through the trees
A fine misted lady takes a petticoat break
Into the cold river she dares to freeze
Her shivering eyes into my soul do stake
Come, she beckons, the water's fine
Ignore the cinnamon rusty hue
Cross that cowboy gentleman line
I want to skinny dance with you
Hesitant I stand at the lapping shore
I'm supposed to guard the captain's miss
Not charge into the river and pore
A heart of mine into the preacher's sis
Mesmerized by her beckoning hand
I start to unbutton my studded shirt
She says she is the promised land
And next to go is my belt from Gert
She looks in awe at my magnificent chest
Oh Randolph she gasps hurry it up
Come get me while I'm at my best
Soon the others will be here to sup
Before the fly could be unmast
I heard the sounds of Captain's crew
Coming with game caught for tonight's repast
Laughing, carousing to start a merry stew
Clothes adjusted, dreams foregone
Randolph Scott puts his shirt back on.
A fine misted lady takes a petticoat break
Into the cold river she dares to freeze
Her shivering eyes into my soul do stake
Come, she beckons, the water's fine
Ignore the cinnamon rusty hue
Cross that cowboy gentleman line
I want to skinny dance with you
Hesitant I stand at the lapping shore
I'm supposed to guard the captain's miss
Not charge into the river and pore
A heart of mine into the preacher's sis
Mesmerized by her beckoning hand
I start to unbutton my studded shirt
She says she is the promised land
And next to go is my belt from Gert
She looks in awe at my magnificent chest
Oh Randolph she gasps hurry it up
Come get me while I'm at my best
Soon the others will be here to sup
Before the fly could be unmast
I heard the sounds of Captain's crew
Coming with game caught for tonight's repast
Laughing, carousing to start a merry stew
Clothes adjusted, dreams foregone
Randolph Scott puts his shirt back on.
Monday, September 12, 2011
9/11 Recollections a Day Late
I got the feeling yesterday that America was turning a page. It was a day of remembrance, but also a day of putting it aside. Taking it out. polishing it, reflecting on it, and then putting in a display case on a shelf, along with Pearl Harbor and the Titanic. It will be remembered, but never in such a media saturated fashion as it was yesterday. This is not evil or wrong. It is just the nature of things.
I was working that day, alone in my windowless second floor office. Dean, my co-worker, told me a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. I pictured some wayward lost pilot in a small Cessna. Then, tuned to PBS radio, I gradually figured out that it was a larger plane. When the second plane hit we knew something awful was going on. Dean kept wanting me to search the internet for live feeds, but I was concerned about what my employer's reaction would be. As the terrible news accelerated that day, the bosses seemed hardly uninterrupted in their focus on work. That was perhaps the most surreal part of the day. That as the news of the day got worse and worse, my bosses seemed hardly effected. After all, there were payroll tax deadlines to meet.
Alison's work had a TV, and she would call me with some of the news. I wouldn't see much of the TV coverage until that night. One of the feelings I remember, which I'm sure many Americans did, was the uncertainty of how far it would go. Would there be more crashed planes? A land attack of some kind? Could they want to hit railroads, bridges, subways, small towns? Paranoia was rampant.
Given all that, the reaction I had that will not be popular, even among some of my liberal friends, was fear not just of the "terrorists", but of us. How far would we go in retaliation? Would we lash out blindly, with rage not just against those who did this, but against entire groups of people because of their religion or ethnicity? Would we forfeit our own rights in order to feel more secure? Would we root out the real terrorists using targeted attacks and police methodology, or would we attack whole nations? I thought of the Nazis, who would kill a hundred villagers for every Nazi soldier killed - God, please don't let us be like that! And if we did anything like that, what would they do in retaliation, as every strike we did created more angry terrorists - the many headed Hydra - for every head we cut off, another ten take it's place. A never-ending exchange of retaliation and counter-retaliation, where the only winners are hate and violence.
Anyways, popular or not, those were some of my thoughts that day.
.
I was working that day, alone in my windowless second floor office. Dean, my co-worker, told me a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. I pictured some wayward lost pilot in a small Cessna. Then, tuned to PBS radio, I gradually figured out that it was a larger plane. When the second plane hit we knew something awful was going on. Dean kept wanting me to search the internet for live feeds, but I was concerned about what my employer's reaction would be. As the terrible news accelerated that day, the bosses seemed hardly uninterrupted in their focus on work. That was perhaps the most surreal part of the day. That as the news of the day got worse and worse, my bosses seemed hardly effected. After all, there were payroll tax deadlines to meet.
Alison's work had a TV, and she would call me with some of the news. I wouldn't see much of the TV coverage until that night. One of the feelings I remember, which I'm sure many Americans did, was the uncertainty of how far it would go. Would there be more crashed planes? A land attack of some kind? Could they want to hit railroads, bridges, subways, small towns? Paranoia was rampant.
Given all that, the reaction I had that will not be popular, even among some of my liberal friends, was fear not just of the "terrorists", but of us. How far would we go in retaliation? Would we lash out blindly, with rage not just against those who did this, but against entire groups of people because of their religion or ethnicity? Would we forfeit our own rights in order to feel more secure? Would we root out the real terrorists using targeted attacks and police methodology, or would we attack whole nations? I thought of the Nazis, who would kill a hundred villagers for every Nazi soldier killed - God, please don't let us be like that! And if we did anything like that, what would they do in retaliation, as every strike we did created more angry terrorists - the many headed Hydra - for every head we cut off, another ten take it's place. A never-ending exchange of retaliation and counter-retaliation, where the only winners are hate and violence.
Anyways, popular or not, those were some of my thoughts that day.
.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Facebook Face Off: Best Movie of the 20th Century
What is the best movie of the 20th century? I am conducting a facebook contest amongst my vast army of 150 facebook friends in a one by one faceoff until a top movie is determined. Voting has ranged from a low of seven votes to pick between Modern Times and Duck Soup, to a high of 31 between The Lion King and Mary Poppins. It's interesting to me that this is roughly the same vote range that I got when I conducted Best Actor and Best Actress contests at a time when I only had 50 to 60 friends. It's like there's a weight of only so many people that can be active friends on facebook at any given time.
I have selected movies from various lists including AFI, an Imdb list of top 250 favorite films, box office rankings and my own warped sense of judgement. There are no foreign language films on the list, and it is skewed more towards films in the last three decades of the century. If I put too many older films, I get a lot of people complaining that they haven't seen the films, ergo explaining the vote totals for Modern Times vs. Duck Soup. I also have tried to stay within some loose genre categories for films to compete against each, particularly for the first round. I get a lot of apples and oranges complaints. But if you're going to have one winner, sooner or later very different films are going to have to compete against each other.
I am going to list all the contests to date so that everyone can see where we're at, and will periodically update. I am not presenting this as a bracket because 1) I'm not sure who will match up to whom in the second round because it will be based on voting strength, matching strongest to weakest of the first round winners and 2) I don't know how to do it.
So are the winners to date:
Round 1, Contest 1 : The Shawshank Redemption wins over Rocky, 18 to 2 (34)
Round 1, Contest 2 : The Godfather wins over Chinatown, 7 to 2 (12)
Round 1, Contest 3 : Star Wars wins over Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind, 17 to 3 (31)
Round 1, Contest 4: Forrest Gump wins over Stand By Me, 12 to 7 (17)
Round 1, Contest 5: The Lion King wins over Mary Poppins, 16 to 15 (17)
Round 1, Contest 6: The Sixth Sense wins over Halloween, 13 to 6 (20)
Round 1, Contest 7: Duck Soup wins over Modern Times, 4 to 3 (5)
Round 1, Contest 8: Schindler's List wins over Apocalypse now, 9 to 3 (15)
Round 1, Contest 9: Titanic wins over The Grapes of Wrath, 8 to 5 (11)
Round 1, Contest 10: E.T. wins over Alien, 10 to 4 (16)
Round 1, Contest 11: Grease wins over American Graffiti, 17 to 5 (29)
Round 1, Contest 12: Toy Story wins over Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, 13 to 12. (14)
Round 1, Contest 13: Jaws wins over The Silence of the Lambs, 8 to 6 (10)
Round 1, Contest 14: Back to the Future wins over The Graduate, 10 to 3 (17)
Round 1, Contest 15: Saving Private Ryan wins over Raging Bull, 10 to 6 (14)
Round 1, Contest 16: Gone with the Wind wins over The Color Purple, 13 to 6 (20)
Round 1, Contest 17: Raiders of the Lost Ark wins over Terminatot 2, 15 to 0 (30)
Round 1, Contest 18: Top Gun wins over Scarface, 8 to 5 (11)
Round 1, Contest 19: The Sound of Music wins over Singin' In the Rain, 7 to 6 (8)
Round 1, Contest 20: Rear Window wins over Vertigo, 4 to 3 (5)
Round 1, Contest 21: Animal House wins over Monty Python and the Holy Grail, 9 to 6 (12)
Round 1, Contest 22: To Kill A Mockingbird wins over Driving Miss Daisy, 17 to 2 (32)
Round 1, Contest 23: Casablanca wins over Citizen Kane, 8 to 4 (12)
Round 1, Contest 24: A Clockwork Orange wins over 2001: A Space Oyssey, 8 to 7 (9)
Round 1, Contest 25: Butch Cassidy and the SunDance Kid wins over High Noon, 12 to 1 (22)
Round 1, Contest 26: The Wizard of Oz wins over The Rocky Horror Picture Show, 22 to 0 (44)
Round 1, Contest 27: Psycho wins over The Exorcist, 6 to 5 (7)
Round 1, Contest 28: Blazing Saddles wins over Young Frankenstein, 8 to 6 (10)
Round 1, Contest 29: Blade Runner wins over Metropoli, 6 to 0 (12)
Round 1, Contest 30: It's A Wonderful Life wins over Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, 7 to 5 (9)
Round 1, Contest 31: Open voting winner When Harry met Sally, 5 nominations (10)
Round 1, Contest 32: Open voting winner Sleepless In Seattle, 5 nominations (10)
ON TO ROUND 2!!!!
Round 2, Contest 1: The Wizard of Oz wins over Duck Soup, 16 to 5 (27)
Round 2, Contest 2: The Shawshank Redemption wins over Rear Window, 8 to 5 (11)
Round 2, Contest 3: To Kill A Mockinbird wins over Psycho, 8 to 6 (10)
Round 2, Contest 4: Star Wars wins over Sound of Muisc, 12 to 6 (18)
Round 2, Contest 5: Raiders of the Lost Ark wins over A Clockwork Orange, 17 to 0 (34)
Round 2, Contest 6: It's A Wonderful Life wins over Grease, 11 to 5 (17)
Round 2, Contest 7: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid wins over Sleeples In Seattle, 8 to 7 (9)
Round 2, Contest 8: Gone with the Wind wins over When Hearry Met Sally, 20 to 4 (36)
Round 2, Contest 9: The Sixth Sense wins over Jaws, 12 to 8 (16)
Round 2, Contest 10: Blazing Saddles wins over Back to the Future, 9 to 8 (10)
Round 2, Contest 11: Forrest Gump wins over Top Gun, 15 to 3 (27)
Round 2, Contest 12: The Lion King wins over Titanic, 12 to 8 (16)
Round 2, Contest 13: E.T. wins over Blade Runner, 14 to 2 (26)
Round 2, Contest 14: Casablanca wins over Schindler's List, 10 to 7 (13)
Round 2, Contest 15: Toy Story wins over Animal House, 11 to 6 (17)
Round 3, Contest 16: Saving Private Ryan wins over The Godfather, 7 to 5 (9)
I will update at least once a week. Based on number of votes for combined with victory margin (the number given in parantheses), I would say Round 3 will feature, for example, Gone With the Wind vs. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and Raiders of the Lost Ark vs. Saving Private Ryan. Let the complaints begin!
I have selected movies from various lists including AFI, an Imdb list of top 250 favorite films, box office rankings and my own warped sense of judgement. There are no foreign language films on the list, and it is skewed more towards films in the last three decades of the century. If I put too many older films, I get a lot of people complaining that they haven't seen the films, ergo explaining the vote totals for Modern Times vs. Duck Soup. I also have tried to stay within some loose genre categories for films to compete against each, particularly for the first round. I get a lot of apples and oranges complaints. But if you're going to have one winner, sooner or later very different films are going to have to compete against each other.
I am going to list all the contests to date so that everyone can see where we're at, and will periodically update. I am not presenting this as a bracket because 1) I'm not sure who will match up to whom in the second round because it will be based on voting strength, matching strongest to weakest of the first round winners and 2) I don't know how to do it.
So are the winners to date:
Round 1, Contest 1 : The Shawshank Redemption wins over Rocky, 18 to 2 (34)
Round 1, Contest 2 : The Godfather wins over Chinatown, 7 to 2 (12)
Round 1, Contest 3 : Star Wars wins over Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind, 17 to 3 (31)
Round 1, Contest 4: Forrest Gump wins over Stand By Me, 12 to 7 (17)
Round 1, Contest 5: The Lion King wins over Mary Poppins, 16 to 15 (17)
Round 1, Contest 6: The Sixth Sense wins over Halloween, 13 to 6 (20)
Round 1, Contest 7: Duck Soup wins over Modern Times, 4 to 3 (5)
Round 1, Contest 8: Schindler's List wins over Apocalypse now, 9 to 3 (15)
Round 1, Contest 9: Titanic wins over The Grapes of Wrath, 8 to 5 (11)
Round 1, Contest 10: E.T. wins over Alien, 10 to 4 (16)
Round 1, Contest 11: Grease wins over American Graffiti, 17 to 5 (29)
Round 1, Contest 12: Toy Story wins over Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, 13 to 12. (14)
Round 1, Contest 13: Jaws wins over The Silence of the Lambs, 8 to 6 (10)
Round 1, Contest 14: Back to the Future wins over The Graduate, 10 to 3 (17)
Round 1, Contest 15: Saving Private Ryan wins over Raging Bull, 10 to 6 (14)
Round 1, Contest 16: Gone with the Wind wins over The Color Purple, 13 to 6 (20)
Round 1, Contest 17: Raiders of the Lost Ark wins over Terminatot 2, 15 to 0 (30)
Round 1, Contest 18: Top Gun wins over Scarface, 8 to 5 (11)
Round 1, Contest 19: The Sound of Music wins over Singin' In the Rain, 7 to 6 (8)
Round 1, Contest 20: Rear Window wins over Vertigo, 4 to 3 (5)
Round 1, Contest 21: Animal House wins over Monty Python and the Holy Grail, 9 to 6 (12)
Round 1, Contest 22: To Kill A Mockingbird wins over Driving Miss Daisy, 17 to 2 (32)
Round 1, Contest 23: Casablanca wins over Citizen Kane, 8 to 4 (12)
Round 1, Contest 24: A Clockwork Orange wins over 2001: A Space Oyssey, 8 to 7 (9)
Round 1, Contest 25: Butch Cassidy and the SunDance Kid wins over High Noon, 12 to 1 (22)
Round 1, Contest 26: The Wizard of Oz wins over The Rocky Horror Picture Show, 22 to 0 (44)
Round 1, Contest 27: Psycho wins over The Exorcist, 6 to 5 (7)
Round 1, Contest 28: Blazing Saddles wins over Young Frankenstein, 8 to 6 (10)
Round 1, Contest 29: Blade Runner wins over Metropoli, 6 to 0 (12)
Round 1, Contest 30: It's A Wonderful Life wins over Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, 7 to 5 (9)
Round 1, Contest 31: Open voting winner When Harry met Sally, 5 nominations (10)
Round 1, Contest 32: Open voting winner Sleepless In Seattle, 5 nominations (10)
ON TO ROUND 2!!!!
Round 2, Contest 1: The Wizard of Oz wins over Duck Soup, 16 to 5 (27)
Round 2, Contest 2: The Shawshank Redemption wins over Rear Window, 8 to 5 (11)
Round 2, Contest 3: To Kill A Mockinbird wins over Psycho, 8 to 6 (10)
Round 2, Contest 4: Star Wars wins over Sound of Muisc, 12 to 6 (18)
Round 2, Contest 5: Raiders of the Lost Ark wins over A Clockwork Orange, 17 to 0 (34)
Round 2, Contest 6: It's A Wonderful Life wins over Grease, 11 to 5 (17)
Round 2, Contest 7: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid wins over Sleeples In Seattle, 8 to 7 (9)
Round 2, Contest 8: Gone with the Wind wins over When Hearry Met Sally, 20 to 4 (36)
Round 2, Contest 9: The Sixth Sense wins over Jaws, 12 to 8 (16)
Round 2, Contest 10: Blazing Saddles wins over Back to the Future, 9 to 8 (10)
Round 2, Contest 11: Forrest Gump wins over Top Gun, 15 to 3 (27)
Round 2, Contest 12: The Lion King wins over Titanic, 12 to 8 (16)
Round 2, Contest 13: E.T. wins over Blade Runner, 14 to 2 (26)
Round 2, Contest 14: Casablanca wins over Schindler's List, 10 to 7 (13)
Round 2, Contest 15: Toy Story wins over Animal House, 11 to 6 (17)
Round 3, Contest 16: Saving Private Ryan wins over The Godfather, 7 to 5 (9)
I will update at least once a week. Based on number of votes for combined with victory margin (the number given in parantheses), I would say Round 3 will feature, for example, Gone With the Wind vs. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and Raiders of the Lost Ark vs. Saving Private Ryan. Let the complaints begin!
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Saturday Political Soap Box 9
President Obama will be giving an important speech related to jobs and getting the American economy going again on Thursday. What are you hoping our President will focus on as solutions? What do you believe would be the best things we could do to get the economy moving again?
I would vastly prefer that we keep the conversation focused on solutions. I really don't want it to veer off into rants against President Obama or other Democrats, and likewise about Bush, the Tea Party and other Republicans. This issue is too important, ans I want us to consider ideas from the entire political spectrum, and discuss on their own pragmatic merits.
In order to facilitate this discussion, I will start with a sketchy outline of what I would think would work best. It will probably make this longer than many will read, but so be it. I may repeat the initial question throughout the week as a free standing post.
Immediate measures must focus on increasing demand. According to Moody's. a business think tank and ratings service, the most effective methods are increasing food stamp dollars and extending unemployment. These people will immediately turn the dollars back into the economy and fueling demand. Neither are attractive long term measures - I would rather have people working at good paying jobs, but these simple measures have the best kick start effect. The infrastructure bank idea, that combines both public and private funds, could be helpful if projects can be fired up as quickly as possibly. The infrastructure is crumbling and we're going to need to do it anyways, or risk accelerating our continued descent towards third world nation status. I and Moody's see most tax cuts as gimmicky and ineffective. However, if they must be done, than renewing the payroll tax holiday at least gets it into the hands of the right people. On the business side, only tax cuts that specifically encourage employment would be helpful. The rest are a diffuse waste. Finally, some mortgage relief program is warranted. I don't want to reward idiots who bought way too much house, or re-inflate housing values again. But enough must be done to stabilize the market, and restore some sense of balance and equity after the horrible abuse perpetuated by mortgage companies and banks.
Longer term measures must be focused on restoring a booming basis for the American economy - the next great thing that Americans do best. My best bet would be to make America the leaders in the greening of the world economy. Climate change is real and it is accelerating faster than scientist's initial projections. So in my estimation it's kind of like - Save America - Save the planet. To facilitate this, we need to redouble our commitment to research, including joint public/private efforts. We need to commit to developing alternative energies, and we need to commit to mass transit. We need to do this in big, bold race to the moon fashion.
We need to renew our commitment to public education. We are galloping completely in the wrong direction on this now, and the developing world must be laughing their kiesters off at us as they see us cut back school days and treat teachers as if they are greedy, lazy leeches. Use the infrastructure bank to improve school physical plants. Encourage more school hours, not less. Stop teaching to tests, and start teaching to create thinkers. Stop trying to divert funds to private schools. There are a hundred other ideas to improve public education, but I'll leave it there for now.
The infrastructure bank is both a long term and a short term idea. Improved transportation systems can only help businesses move goods faster and more efficiently. Proper power and energy sources will help too. So the short term dollars we spend will be returned multi-fold later. Think of where Vegas would be without the Hoover Dam.
We're never going to get the manufacturing base like we want. We can't compete with the wage structure of developing countries. Granted, the wage structure around the world needs to be improved, but boy, is that gonna take alot of time! Selected tariffs may help, but we don't want to go the way of Smoot-Hawley that helped fuel the Depression. It's a global economy, and we should be a major global player, not a wagons-drawn isolationist.
I think we need to give dignity to our service workers. I don't understand why it's necessary to pay service workers sub-standard wages. Manufacturing jobs used to be in the same boat, and it was only the unions that helped bring them dignity and the ability to truly support families. I believe we should pass the Employee's Free Choice Act. I believe the American economy won't be truly revived until Wal-Mart is unionized.
There are other good ideas. We need better financial reform, so Wall Street doesn't keep plunging us into this madness. Our whole tax reform needs to be radically reformed, in such a way that improves it's progressivity. Our elections need to be more open, not less - the wave of laws trying to make it more difficult to vote are poisonous and truly anti-American. We need campaign finance reform so that our elections are not simply bought off by large corporations and wealthy donors. And we need to have an election structure that allows multiple parties to flourish, so that more ideas are brought to DC, and different groups can compromise and form broader solutions.
So if you managed to get through all that, I would really like to hear your ideas. This is an immediate crisis, and the only truly awful solution is no solution. So let us pray and hope we can come together on this.
.
I would vastly prefer that we keep the conversation focused on solutions. I really don't want it to veer off into rants against President Obama or other Democrats, and likewise about Bush, the Tea Party and other Republicans. This issue is too important, ans I want us to consider ideas from the entire political spectrum, and discuss on their own pragmatic merits.
In order to facilitate this discussion, I will start with a sketchy outline of what I would think would work best. It will probably make this longer than many will read, but so be it. I may repeat the initial question throughout the week as a free standing post.
Immediate measures must focus on increasing demand. According to Moody's. a business think tank and ratings service, the most effective methods are increasing food stamp dollars and extending unemployment. These people will immediately turn the dollars back into the economy and fueling demand. Neither are attractive long term measures - I would rather have people working at good paying jobs, but these simple measures have the best kick start effect. The infrastructure bank idea, that combines both public and private funds, could be helpful if projects can be fired up as quickly as possibly. The infrastructure is crumbling and we're going to need to do it anyways, or risk accelerating our continued descent towards third world nation status. I and Moody's see most tax cuts as gimmicky and ineffective. However, if they must be done, than renewing the payroll tax holiday at least gets it into the hands of the right people. On the business side, only tax cuts that specifically encourage employment would be helpful. The rest are a diffuse waste. Finally, some mortgage relief program is warranted. I don't want to reward idiots who bought way too much house, or re-inflate housing values again. But enough must be done to stabilize the market, and restore some sense of balance and equity after the horrible abuse perpetuated by mortgage companies and banks.
Longer term measures must be focused on restoring a booming basis for the American economy - the next great thing that Americans do best. My best bet would be to make America the leaders in the greening of the world economy. Climate change is real and it is accelerating faster than scientist's initial projections. So in my estimation it's kind of like - Save America - Save the planet. To facilitate this, we need to redouble our commitment to research, including joint public/private efforts. We need to commit to developing alternative energies, and we need to commit to mass transit. We need to do this in big, bold race to the moon fashion.
We need to renew our commitment to public education. We are galloping completely in the wrong direction on this now, and the developing world must be laughing their kiesters off at us as they see us cut back school days and treat teachers as if they are greedy, lazy leeches. Use the infrastructure bank to improve school physical plants. Encourage more school hours, not less. Stop teaching to tests, and start teaching to create thinkers. Stop trying to divert funds to private schools. There are a hundred other ideas to improve public education, but I'll leave it there for now.
The infrastructure bank is both a long term and a short term idea. Improved transportation systems can only help businesses move goods faster and more efficiently. Proper power and energy sources will help too. So the short term dollars we spend will be returned multi-fold later. Think of where Vegas would be without the Hoover Dam.
We're never going to get the manufacturing base like we want. We can't compete with the wage structure of developing countries. Granted, the wage structure around the world needs to be improved, but boy, is that gonna take alot of time! Selected tariffs may help, but we don't want to go the way of Smoot-Hawley that helped fuel the Depression. It's a global economy, and we should be a major global player, not a wagons-drawn isolationist.
I think we need to give dignity to our service workers. I don't understand why it's necessary to pay service workers sub-standard wages. Manufacturing jobs used to be in the same boat, and it was only the unions that helped bring them dignity and the ability to truly support families. I believe we should pass the Employee's Free Choice Act. I believe the American economy won't be truly revived until Wal-Mart is unionized.
There are other good ideas. We need better financial reform, so Wall Street doesn't keep plunging us into this madness. Our whole tax reform needs to be radically reformed, in such a way that improves it's progressivity. Our elections need to be more open, not less - the wave of laws trying to make it more difficult to vote are poisonous and truly anti-American. We need campaign finance reform so that our elections are not simply bought off by large corporations and wealthy donors. And we need to have an election structure that allows multiple parties to flourish, so that more ideas are brought to DC, and different groups can compromise and form broader solutions.
So if you managed to get through all that, I would really like to hear your ideas. This is an immediate crisis, and the only truly awful solution is no solution. So let us pray and hope we can come together on this.
.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)