Allow fate to be the guide
As the horrifying images of Sept. 11, 2001 are shown on my T.V. screen at this moment, we question why. Why would a just God allow for so many to perish? If we are all created in his image, why do some seemingly only have one purpose -- to harm others? I was so proud to see how so many of us united in the days and weeks following these senseless attacks. This proved to me why all along I continually feel we share more commonalities than differences.
Of course, we have many today who share different perspectives. They're angered why a husband, wife, brother, sister, and someone who provided so much love could be taken away in a matter of moments. The love for lost loved ones is never forgotten on the day they left us. I choose to remember all the times of laughter, learning from experiences this person shared with me, and ultimately, what I learned from this person. This act buries all the fear that can lead to hate.
Selfish gain is never fondly remembered quite as much, is it? Try to memorialize a man or woman who spent his or her remaining days deceving and hurting others for personal gain. Ultimately, we are all here to love and help those around us. This is what has been written in every major religious text. The prophets who were all sons of Abraham to those who spent their lifetimes sacrificing their safety to fight for those who don't have a voice are remembered the most. In these uncertain times where people choose to spread hate to others they deem are different, let's not forget why we are here to live.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
A dear elderly friend: 'Don't worry. You don't have to hurt anymore' and please help us at Children Without A Voice
I walked out of the elevator at University Hospital in Augusta, frantically trying to find Dr. Wilson's room. As I asked a receptionist at the desk, she pointed to his room. I walked in and didn't recognize this man. There must be two Wilsons on this ICU floor.
"That's not Dr. Wilson," I told the receptionist. "Is there another Dr. Wilson on this floor?"
"No," she responded. "That's the only Dr. Wilson we have here."
"Was another Dr. Wilson moved off this floor," I asked as panic and anxiety began setting in.
"No. This is the only Dr. Wilson we've had here," she calmly replied.
As I turned around to head to the elevator, I saw Mrs. Wilson walk into the strange man's room. She motioned for me. I followed her into the room with disbelief. This is what Dr. Wilson looks like now.
"He lost a lot of weight," she told me.
A few hours earlier, Robin, my former longtime girlfriend called me with shear panic in her voice. "P.J. My dad's on life support." I froze. I didn't speak. Those few seconds of silence could've lasted an eternity. She ended by saying she didn't know if he would live through the night. Finally, I gathered myself and told her that her dad lived a remarkable life. It's best that he passes away without having to endure any further pain.
Dr. Wilson opened his eyes for a mere second or so. An oxygen tube extend from a machine down his throat, IVs covered his body, and a few catheter tubes ran from two other machines to his neck and genitalia. He had suffered a heart attack.
I went back the next day. His family members had come from Texas and South Carolina to see him. On this day, he was in much better shape. His eyes were open, he was writing on a notepad to his younger sister, and had those same mischievous looks I fondly remember. "When you get out of here, we're going to have to go to Chinese. You fly, I buy," I said with a lighthearted chuckle as his eyes widened.
He wrote on a little pad I brought, "P.J., That for coming." I knew what he really meant to say there and it was completely understandable how his writing was somewhat indecipherable. Next, there was another few moments in time that will never escape me. This was comparable to my near-death experience and reminded me that I should have faith there is a Heaven. He wrote on a notepad to his younger sister the following:
"I was toiling to get into Heaven. A man approached me at a gate and said, "Don't worry. You don't have to hurt anymore."
Tears began streaming down my face. This man has been there as a mentor, friend, and someone who deeply cared for the well-being of others (good, strong Democrat too). His family invited me to join them for lunch downstairs in the cafeteria. No way. I couldn't do it in this condition. I had to make the excuse that I had just eaten which I did and kindly declined the offer.
Since this experience, Dr. Wilson continues to be a fighter. It began for him in a small town in Tennessee where he was bullied by his peers, lived in poverty, entered the Navy at 16 while lying about his actual age on his Social Security card, finished top in every Naval technical class he took, earned his Ph.D from Boston University after dropping out of high school, worked for the Pentagon in the late '80s, and finished his service to society mentoring prospective Master's Degree teachers. Before I came back to the Atlanta area, the medical staff took the oxygen tube out of his throat. His voice is gravely, but he still has the same charming wit and sarcasm to him. I hope his vision is fulfilled to where not only him but all of us one day enter that place where one reminds us, "Don't worry. You don't have to hurt anymore."
Children Without A Voice
Currently, I spend a few hours a week volunteering for Children Without A Voice, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect. This is a nonpartisan, universal fight we have to rescue children from reckless and cruel adults. I ask each and every one of you to read the touching profile story of our founder, Lin Seahorn. She has lived an extraordinary life and is a great, down-to-earth woman.
The organization is still in its infancy stages. It began in 2007. Recently, Three Days Grace (I'm not a fan of their modern rock sound) performed a benefit concert for us. The lead singer and drummer for Linkin Park (not a fan of them either. Sorry, I'm picky when it comes to music) has thrown in their support. We need more. Please visit www.childrenwithoutavoiceusa.org. On the left hand side of the screen, click on the action alerts link. There's no obligation. All you have to do a few times a week is copy and paste an e-mail I send from our Legislative Committee to demand maximum sentencing for those charged with crimes against a child. And if you do feel like doing a little extra, you can contact me or Lin to come on board. She encourages you to do whatever you want by applying your strengths -- writing, audiovisual, etc. Any help you provide is greatly appreciated.
I walked out of the elevator at University Hospital in Augusta, frantically trying to find Dr. Wilson's room. As I asked a receptionist at the desk, she pointed to his room. I walked in and didn't recognize this man. There must be two Wilsons on this ICU floor.
"That's not Dr. Wilson," I told the receptionist. "Is there another Dr. Wilson on this floor?"
"No," she responded. "That's the only Dr. Wilson we have here."
"Was another Dr. Wilson moved off this floor," I asked as panic and anxiety began setting in.
"No. This is the only Dr. Wilson we've had here," she calmly replied.
As I turned around to head to the elevator, I saw Mrs. Wilson walk into the strange man's room. She motioned for me. I followed her into the room with disbelief. This is what Dr. Wilson looks like now.
"He lost a lot of weight," she told me.
A few hours earlier, Robin, my former longtime girlfriend called me with shear panic in her voice. "P.J. My dad's on life support." I froze. I didn't speak. Those few seconds of silence could've lasted an eternity. She ended by saying she didn't know if he would live through the night. Finally, I gathered myself and told her that her dad lived a remarkable life. It's best that he passes away without having to endure any further pain.
Dr. Wilson opened his eyes for a mere second or so. An oxygen tube extend from a machine down his throat, IVs covered his body, and a few catheter tubes ran from two other machines to his neck and genitalia. He had suffered a heart attack.
I went back the next day. His family members had come from Texas and South Carolina to see him. On this day, he was in much better shape. His eyes were open, he was writing on a notepad to his younger sister, and had those same mischievous looks I fondly remember. "When you get out of here, we're going to have to go to Chinese. You fly, I buy," I said with a lighthearted chuckle as his eyes widened.
He wrote on a little pad I brought, "P.J., That for coming." I knew what he really meant to say there and it was completely understandable how his writing was somewhat indecipherable. Next, there was another few moments in time that will never escape me. This was comparable to my near-death experience and reminded me that I should have faith there is a Heaven. He wrote on a notepad to his younger sister the following:
"I was toiling to get into Heaven. A man approached me at a gate and said, "Don't worry. You don't have to hurt anymore."
Tears began streaming down my face. This man has been there as a mentor, friend, and someone who deeply cared for the well-being of others (good, strong Democrat too). His family invited me to join them for lunch downstairs in the cafeteria. No way. I couldn't do it in this condition. I had to make the excuse that I had just eaten which I did and kindly declined the offer.
Since this experience, Dr. Wilson continues to be a fighter. It began for him in a small town in Tennessee where he was bullied by his peers, lived in poverty, entered the Navy at 16 while lying about his actual age on his Social Security card, finished top in every Naval technical class he took, earned his Ph.D from Boston University after dropping out of high school, worked for the Pentagon in the late '80s, and finished his service to society mentoring prospective Master's Degree teachers. Before I came back to the Atlanta area, the medical staff took the oxygen tube out of his throat. His voice is gravely, but he still has the same charming wit and sarcasm to him. I hope his vision is fulfilled to where not only him but all of us one day enter that place where one reminds us, "Don't worry. You don't have to hurt anymore."
Children Without A Voice
Currently, I spend a few hours a week volunteering for Children Without A Voice, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect. This is a nonpartisan, universal fight we have to rescue children from reckless and cruel adults. I ask each and every one of you to read the touching profile story of our founder, Lin Seahorn. She has lived an extraordinary life and is a great, down-to-earth woman.
The organization is still in its infancy stages. It began in 2007. Recently, Three Days Grace (I'm not a fan of their modern rock sound) performed a benefit concert for us. The lead singer and drummer for Linkin Park (not a fan of them either. Sorry, I'm picky when it comes to music) has thrown in their support. We need more. Please visit www.childrenwithoutavoiceusa.org. On the left hand side of the screen, click on the action alerts link. There's no obligation. All you have to do a few times a week is copy and paste an e-mail I send from our Legislative Committee to demand maximum sentencing for those charged with crimes against a child. And if you do feel like doing a little extra, you can contact me or Lin to come on board. She encourages you to do whatever you want by applying your strengths -- writing, audiovisual, etc. Any help you provide is greatly appreciated.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
The Other Spill
While tens of thousands of gallons of crude oil continues to desecrate the Gulf of Mexico and wildlife along the coast, the question sorely needed to be repeatedly asked, Why hasn't there been a disaster plan in place after decades of offshore drilling? One would think in this technological age we would have the necessary technology in place in the event one of these disasters occurs. It's a collective failure of past and present oil companies and government agencies. However, President Obama continues to be the fall guy for all of it. At this point, I don't understand why we're continuing to solely rely on a company who has repeatedly failed with safety regulations and has purposely misled us all. I think former President Clinton's advice to bomb the well is a good one. How could it get any worse at this point? Why aren't we using the devices proven to suck up the oil on the water's surface instead of these booms that have proven to not be 100 percent effective along the wetlands and coasts?
With this oil spill's depressing ad nauseum live web cam video feeds, we have another spill to contain. This is one long overdue -- the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan. As previously reported by a Conservative think tank, Rand Corporation, only 7 percent of military occupations have defeated terrorism. We are spending billions of tax dollars to private contractors who have used this occupation as a profit making venture. They've proven to be nearly stagnant in their reparations projects -- schools, water supply, utilities, etc. Finally, we see some good news. The majority of Americans in several polls across the board now oppose our occupation. Although this doesn't have the personal impact of a draft from Vietnam, I think it's high time people begin protesting in the streets to end this inflaming of extremism and extraordinary costs it has had on all of us.
This is one example of where I want President Obama to change course. Frankly, I'm critical of the Bush and Obama administrations on what they know about these contractors who have participated in a number of illegalities. Most notably, Eric Prince, founder of Blackwater (now Xe) should along with his upper management be at the forefront of these criminal prosecutions. Finally, one should investigate how these two administrations could possibly be linked as accessories.
I still support Obama and understand the harsh realities of obstruction set out by the Radical Right. However, I'm not one to make excuses for him when there are substantiated injustices occuring. Our occuaptions in Iraq and Afghanistan are glowing examples.
What else could be done to boost the economy?
1. The Far Right likes to pretend it has a monopoly on moral values. It's funny how the staunchest, self-proclaimed social conservative is caught for infidelity. So, marriage has a terrible track record in this country. With this said, I'll shift to a Libertarian view -- why not legalize prostitution and tax it? Can you imagine how many of these wealthy business elites would solicit these services and the returns that can go into our Treasury? Let's stop pretending we're so much more superior than the average mammals on this planet. Our biological urges take over. I commend all those who practice monogamy, and I'm no different in this approach. However, I also understand the reality of seeing so many who don't take their vows seriously.
2. Abolish the death penalty and legalize drugs. The city of San Antonio went bankrupt in 1992. It's no secret Texas is the death penalty capital of the world. It really shows how people's hearts are hardened and minds are numb to commit another murder. San Antonio's primary reason for bankruptcy was, you guessed it, death penalty appeals cases. Our jails are filled with convicts on death row for decades.
This country continues to spend billions a year on getting high. Yes, they're dangerous and have life-altering effects. However, tobacco continues to be the number 1 killer out there. Our jails are filled with non-violent offenders who pose no threat to others in society. One would think our priority would be rehabilitation and mental health service clinics, not more jail houses. It was criminal to see one community here in Georgia spend nearly half its annual budget on a new corrections facility. If this country legalizes marijuana like California is proposing and backed by its moderate Republican Governor, that's more revenue coming in.
3. O.k. The most pragmatic of the three here is quite simple. We need to place the tax burden back where it belongs -- the top 1 percent of this country's earners. There was a time when we had a strong middle class, but the decades have gone by and so has our collective bargaining empowerment. I don't think there's been a time in our history when corporations have been this powerful. So, implement the estate tax. This is millions that would be coming in. Second, provide tax incentives to companies who won't ship jobs overseas. Third, provide even more tax incentives to companies willing to develop alternative energy sources. Finally, forget the Tea Party's approach that we're being taxed to death. We're not. The tax rate was the lowest this past year since 1950. The problem -- costs have significantly increased and wages remain stagnant. Restructure the tax codes so the wealthiest are paying their fair share once again and shift the burden away from the lower and middle classes.
While tens of thousands of gallons of crude oil continues to desecrate the Gulf of Mexico and wildlife along the coast, the question sorely needed to be repeatedly asked, Why hasn't there been a disaster plan in place after decades of offshore drilling? One would think in this technological age we would have the necessary technology in place in the event one of these disasters occurs. It's a collective failure of past and present oil companies and government agencies. However, President Obama continues to be the fall guy for all of it. At this point, I don't understand why we're continuing to solely rely on a company who has repeatedly failed with safety regulations and has purposely misled us all. I think former President Clinton's advice to bomb the well is a good one. How could it get any worse at this point? Why aren't we using the devices proven to suck up the oil on the water's surface instead of these booms that have proven to not be 100 percent effective along the wetlands and coasts?
With this oil spill's depressing ad nauseum live web cam video feeds, we have another spill to contain. This is one long overdue -- the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan. As previously reported by a Conservative think tank, Rand Corporation, only 7 percent of military occupations have defeated terrorism. We are spending billions of tax dollars to private contractors who have used this occupation as a profit making venture. They've proven to be nearly stagnant in their reparations projects -- schools, water supply, utilities, etc. Finally, we see some good news. The majority of Americans in several polls across the board now oppose our occupation. Although this doesn't have the personal impact of a draft from Vietnam, I think it's high time people begin protesting in the streets to end this inflaming of extremism and extraordinary costs it has had on all of us.
This is one example of where I want President Obama to change course. Frankly, I'm critical of the Bush and Obama administrations on what they know about these contractors who have participated in a number of illegalities. Most notably, Eric Prince, founder of Blackwater (now Xe) should along with his upper management be at the forefront of these criminal prosecutions. Finally, one should investigate how these two administrations could possibly be linked as accessories.
I still support Obama and understand the harsh realities of obstruction set out by the Radical Right. However, I'm not one to make excuses for him when there are substantiated injustices occuring. Our occuaptions in Iraq and Afghanistan are glowing examples.
What else could be done to boost the economy?
1. The Far Right likes to pretend it has a monopoly on moral values. It's funny how the staunchest, self-proclaimed social conservative is caught for infidelity. So, marriage has a terrible track record in this country. With this said, I'll shift to a Libertarian view -- why not legalize prostitution and tax it? Can you imagine how many of these wealthy business elites would solicit these services and the returns that can go into our Treasury? Let's stop pretending we're so much more superior than the average mammals on this planet. Our biological urges take over. I commend all those who practice monogamy, and I'm no different in this approach. However, I also understand the reality of seeing so many who don't take their vows seriously.
2. Abolish the death penalty and legalize drugs. The city of San Antonio went bankrupt in 1992. It's no secret Texas is the death penalty capital of the world. It really shows how people's hearts are hardened and minds are numb to commit another murder. San Antonio's primary reason for bankruptcy was, you guessed it, death penalty appeals cases. Our jails are filled with convicts on death row for decades.
This country continues to spend billions a year on getting high. Yes, they're dangerous and have life-altering effects. However, tobacco continues to be the number 1 killer out there. Our jails are filled with non-violent offenders who pose no threat to others in society. One would think our priority would be rehabilitation and mental health service clinics, not more jail houses. It was criminal to see one community here in Georgia spend nearly half its annual budget on a new corrections facility. If this country legalizes marijuana like California is proposing and backed by its moderate Republican Governor, that's more revenue coming in.
3. O.k. The most pragmatic of the three here is quite simple. We need to place the tax burden back where it belongs -- the top 1 percent of this country's earners. There was a time when we had a strong middle class, but the decades have gone by and so has our collective bargaining empowerment. I don't think there's been a time in our history when corporations have been this powerful. So, implement the estate tax. This is millions that would be coming in. Second, provide tax incentives to companies who won't ship jobs overseas. Third, provide even more tax incentives to companies willing to develop alternative energy sources. Finally, forget the Tea Party's approach that we're being taxed to death. We're not. The tax rate was the lowest this past year since 1950. The problem -- costs have significantly increased and wages remain stagnant. Restructure the tax codes so the wealthiest are paying their fair share once again and shift the burden away from the lower and middle classes.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Waking up to utopia
One morning, everything is how you envisioned it. You have absolutely no fear, sadness, or regrets. There's only uninhibited euphoria. Neighbors wave, smile, and provide their well wishes to you. You have control. You know there isn't a single person who can take your power away. Everything is designed to your liking. Wherever you move, you are showered with more love. This is at the core of our being and existence. This is why many of us are engaged in sociopolitical issues where we all can wake up one day to have just a hint of utopia.
There is another perspective. What's the point of living if all of us aren't perpetually flawed? Why would we need to live if all our fantasies are attainable? We would lose all our zest, appreciation for what we have obtained, and all passions for love. Philosophers and writers have used this approach before. Paradise certainly seems more and more like a boring place.
Currently, I devote a few hours a week as a volunteer to a nonprofit that's dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect. There are some heartwrenching court cases and stories I've come across. However, this has me gain a growing appreciation every time I read these horrid pieces how I was given parents who provided for my best interests.
It has been a tough road seeing how countless applications I've sent have gone unresponded. One interview was disastrous with a firm that clearly would've turned into another disastrous employment experience. Another interview at the surface seemed ideal, until I read multiple sources reveal how it failed to compensate its workers for overtime, demanded they skip their lunch break, and spend all time and energy approaching strangers to meet outrageous quotas for an environmental nonprofit agency. This is the ideal time for employers to take advantage of the lower and middle class. It's nothing new and has happened throughout our young history.
Enter the Tea Party. I sympathize with this organization's supporters. After talking to a few distant friends of mine who attended rallies, their adamant opposition is squarely directed at government. Government is inherently evil, goes against the interests of ordinary citizens, and imposes unnecessary taxes. O.k. There have been some statements made on behalf of the ones spearheading this organization like former disgraced Rep. Dick Armey that are treasonous.
My father provided me this simple statement that applies at every level of our lives, "The data will lead the way." The Tea Party leaders and its followers continue misrepresenting the data. Start with taxation. This year, tax rates hit a low that hasn't been seen since 1950. Second, our founders knew the average citizen is incapable of self-governing. This is why we formed a representative democracy, although I still argue our country is controlled by the wealthy elite -- the same 1 percent who has owned more than half our wealth since the 1950s (restructure the tax burden on the top earners where they're paying 90 percent of our tax revenues). So, their outrage is misdirected and leads to a system that is more inherently dangerous than the one we had for eight years under President Bush.
I watched an interview that I quite frankly felt was overblown last night with Rachel Maddow and Kentucky Republican Senate nominee, Dr. Rand Paul. Paul recently made some outrageous statements pertaining to the 1964 Voting Rights Act. He said private businesses shouldn't have government interfering and telling them how to run their businesses even though he opposes discrimination at all levels. I understand where he comes from. Yes, I'm extremely confident Paul isn't a racist. However, he wants to implement a very destructive self-regulating society where we essentially eliminate all checks and balances.
Here's what Rand Paul's utopia would turn out. We would inevitably see more and more divisions in our society. People would become more hostile to each other. It's just out of good faith we trust good people like the ones who run Massey Energy, Beyond Petroleum (Beyond Pollution), Exxon-Mobil, Goldman Sachs, AIG, Royal Dutch Shell Petroleum (owns 80 percent of Nigeria's economy),.... Essentially, Rand Paul will stop at nothing to carry out Milton Friedman's vision for a laissez faire society. How did it work out during the Nixon years, Kissinger's direct involvement in overthrowing a Democratically elected leader in Argentina and seeing how a once prosperous country turned to privatization went from full employment to 20 percent unemployment, and those glorious Reagan years when Reagan once said poor people are poor out of choice.
As far as representing the lower and middle classes, this is why President Obama thus far has shown himself to be a centrist. He hasn't aggressively attacked big business, has an F rating by the Brady Campaign on gun control, passed a health care reform bill where an obscure statute states any insurer who denies a customer coverage based on a pre-existing condition pays a $100 fine per day, continues to go against historical results on military occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and barely scratched the surface funding for clean energy initiatives in the Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Overall, he's had to do it. Look at what he's up against. Bill Maher summed it up best, "Since the 1970s, the Left has become the center, and the Right has moved into a mental institution."
One morning, everything is how you envisioned it. You have absolutely no fear, sadness, or regrets. There's only uninhibited euphoria. Neighbors wave, smile, and provide their well wishes to you. You have control. You know there isn't a single person who can take your power away. Everything is designed to your liking. Wherever you move, you are showered with more love. This is at the core of our being and existence. This is why many of us are engaged in sociopolitical issues where we all can wake up one day to have just a hint of utopia.
There is another perspective. What's the point of living if all of us aren't perpetually flawed? Why would we need to live if all our fantasies are attainable? We would lose all our zest, appreciation for what we have obtained, and all passions for love. Philosophers and writers have used this approach before. Paradise certainly seems more and more like a boring place.
Currently, I devote a few hours a week as a volunteer to a nonprofit that's dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect. There are some heartwrenching court cases and stories I've come across. However, this has me gain a growing appreciation every time I read these horrid pieces how I was given parents who provided for my best interests.
It has been a tough road seeing how countless applications I've sent have gone unresponded. One interview was disastrous with a firm that clearly would've turned into another disastrous employment experience. Another interview at the surface seemed ideal, until I read multiple sources reveal how it failed to compensate its workers for overtime, demanded they skip their lunch break, and spend all time and energy approaching strangers to meet outrageous quotas for an environmental nonprofit agency. This is the ideal time for employers to take advantage of the lower and middle class. It's nothing new and has happened throughout our young history.
Enter the Tea Party. I sympathize with this organization's supporters. After talking to a few distant friends of mine who attended rallies, their adamant opposition is squarely directed at government. Government is inherently evil, goes against the interests of ordinary citizens, and imposes unnecessary taxes. O.k. There have been some statements made on behalf of the ones spearheading this organization like former disgraced Rep. Dick Armey that are treasonous.
My father provided me this simple statement that applies at every level of our lives, "The data will lead the way." The Tea Party leaders and its followers continue misrepresenting the data. Start with taxation. This year, tax rates hit a low that hasn't been seen since 1950. Second, our founders knew the average citizen is incapable of self-governing. This is why we formed a representative democracy, although I still argue our country is controlled by the wealthy elite -- the same 1 percent who has owned more than half our wealth since the 1950s (restructure the tax burden on the top earners where they're paying 90 percent of our tax revenues). So, their outrage is misdirected and leads to a system that is more inherently dangerous than the one we had for eight years under President Bush.
I watched an interview that I quite frankly felt was overblown last night with Rachel Maddow and Kentucky Republican Senate nominee, Dr. Rand Paul. Paul recently made some outrageous statements pertaining to the 1964 Voting Rights Act. He said private businesses shouldn't have government interfering and telling them how to run their businesses even though he opposes discrimination at all levels. I understand where he comes from. Yes, I'm extremely confident Paul isn't a racist. However, he wants to implement a very destructive self-regulating society where we essentially eliminate all checks and balances.
Here's what Rand Paul's utopia would turn out. We would inevitably see more and more divisions in our society. People would become more hostile to each other. It's just out of good faith we trust good people like the ones who run Massey Energy, Beyond Petroleum (Beyond Pollution), Exxon-Mobil, Goldman Sachs, AIG, Royal Dutch Shell Petroleum (owns 80 percent of Nigeria's economy),.... Essentially, Rand Paul will stop at nothing to carry out Milton Friedman's vision for a laissez faire society. How did it work out during the Nixon years, Kissinger's direct involvement in overthrowing a Democratically elected leader in Argentina and seeing how a once prosperous country turned to privatization went from full employment to 20 percent unemployment, and those glorious Reagan years when Reagan once said poor people are poor out of choice.
As far as representing the lower and middle classes, this is why President Obama thus far has shown himself to be a centrist. He hasn't aggressively attacked big business, has an F rating by the Brady Campaign on gun control, passed a health care reform bill where an obscure statute states any insurer who denies a customer coverage based on a pre-existing condition pays a $100 fine per day, continues to go against historical results on military occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and barely scratched the surface funding for clean energy initiatives in the Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Overall, he's had to do it. Look at what he's up against. Bill Maher summed it up best, "Since the 1970s, the Left has become the center, and the Right has moved into a mental institution."
Friday, February 26, 2010
Solitude
A pounding press machine's vibrations, clanging metal, forklift's horn, steel-toed boots shuffling on the cement floor, and voices fading away with distance are all activities that exlcusively or simoultaneously can be heard. An outside observer can marvel at the structured activities. Men and women inside the company's plant press a button, watch a few sparks fly, briefly examine the once flat steel flap that's now shaped as a wheel, and start the process over again... Over and over again. It's mass production technology at its best where human and robot are expected to fuse. There can be no structural breakdowns. Period.
How long can a robot last? I guess if you apply the proper maintenance it can withstand several straight hours of wear and tear six days a week. Eventually, a chip will burn out and the robot gets sick. The robot is healed by a general practice doctor who is otherwise known as a maintenance man. How long can a human last?
It's Friday and close to 8:30 a.m. Dennis and John, two of this plant's most personable and seemingly happy-go-lucky employees, approach my desk in the lobby. You see Dennis carrying that familiar brown and tan cup with a black lid from McDonalds, while John has his usual docile smile. Naturally, I know the guilt trip is coming.
"TGIF, Phil," Dennis loudly says with that ring of sarcasm.
"It's Finish Line Friday," I loudly reply.
"Yeah, for you," as Dennis' tone of voice lowers with frustration.
I empahtize with Dennis and John, because I had a similar schedule for three straight months. They just finished working an 11 hour shift yesterday. On Saturday, they have the luxury of coming into work at 4 a.m.
The physical toll turned from tolerable to pure exhaustion. I simply couldn't handle it. One day, a physical injury turned into a blessing.
It was a cold, winter morning and a box of hubs weighing approximately 60 pounds was set on my cart. I was annoyed having to pull this extra weight. The day before, I was told to bring the box to our office. There were some defects I found. So, I obliged. I decided to slide the box off my cart and in the process, felt a sharp pain in my back after successfully placing it against the wall. The pain intensified. Something was wrong, and I saw the man who hired me who had a good business relationship with my dad outside the Quality office. I approached him.
"I just hurt my back while trying to slide a box of hubs off my cart," I told him.
"Well, can you work or not," he coldly asked.
"I think I need to see a doctor."
"Go see Dave (Quality Manager who has half a set of teeth still in his mouth)."
I went back into the office and started composing an e-mail to my job coach. Yes, when things went sour here after I was moved to the plant, I played the disability card having been diagnosed at 17 with Asperger's Syndrome. While composing this e-mail, our defacto supervisor, Donna said I can only use the computer for work-related activities. We got into a contentious argument before I finally walked out with a mug of coffee in my hand.
While walking through our machine shop where our maintenance crew works, Paul (President) was chuckling with two of our upper-management guys. He flashed a smug look at my coffee mug. I couldn't hear with all the machinery noise, but he motioned for someone to go into the Quality Office. Dave later informed me I was selfish and should've known better than "flaunt a mug of coffee in front of Paul." I told Dave we're all adults here and the double standard applied for management and employees.
While filling out an accident report, Dave had a matter-of-fact tone rhetorically asking, "You don't need to see a doctor, do you?" "Actually, I think it would be best if I did." He shrugged his shoulders and continued filling out the report. My accident placed me to where I will finish my time with this company on March 12 -- at the reception desk.
I've enjoyed my solitude here and don't miss dealing with overstressed and overworked people. Outside of here, I think they might be reasonable. I've always enjoyed reaching out to others and making them feel good about themselves. However, in a place with so much tension, this proved to be a wishful approach.
Over the past few weeks, I've reflected on these experiences and also have lost faith in humanity. Do people really just want to remain apathetic? How long will they be able to function before their mind and body becomes permanently injured in this extremely fast-paced environment? Ultimately, the main question all of you and these guys need to ask themselves is this: Do I want to live to work or work to live? As they continue to accept this authoritarian environment, I'm reminded of what the late Pat Morita's character, Mr. Miyagi said in The Karate Kid, "No such thing as bad student, only bad teacher. Teacher say, student do. No questions."
Paul, our HR Manager, and I had another contentious meeting where I thought he'd fire me. We talked for over three hours with some great talking points he used. One stood out. He said when his time on Earth is done, "I want to be remembered as someone who was compassionate and helped other people." It's one thing to say the right things, but it's quite another to apply them to action.
This meeting could've been set as something already predetermined. My job coach made the foolish decision to forward an e-mail to the HR Manager that had some unflattering things said about an obnoxious, petulant Scheduler who I work with here. "We can trust him," she kept repeating. I knew she was wrong. This reached Paul's attention, and they came to the conclusion this wasn't a good fit. I couldn't agree more.
My next endeavor will be in government or nonprofit if lucky. It will be a job where human capital is valued. I'm looking at openings where I can make a difference in people's lives. Hopefully, my passions will open the eyes of just one out there who can give me a chance. I know the reality of receiving no responses, becoming frustrated finding jobs, and receiving little to no income will be a harsh one. However, as I mentioned in a previous post, "Sometimes you have to die a few times to live life just once."
A pounding press machine's vibrations, clanging metal, forklift's horn, steel-toed boots shuffling on the cement floor, and voices fading away with distance are all activities that exlcusively or simoultaneously can be heard. An outside observer can marvel at the structured activities. Men and women inside the company's plant press a button, watch a few sparks fly, briefly examine the once flat steel flap that's now shaped as a wheel, and start the process over again... Over and over again. It's mass production technology at its best where human and robot are expected to fuse. There can be no structural breakdowns. Period.
How long can a robot last? I guess if you apply the proper maintenance it can withstand several straight hours of wear and tear six days a week. Eventually, a chip will burn out and the robot gets sick. The robot is healed by a general practice doctor who is otherwise known as a maintenance man. How long can a human last?
It's Friday and close to 8:30 a.m. Dennis and John, two of this plant's most personable and seemingly happy-go-lucky employees, approach my desk in the lobby. You see Dennis carrying that familiar brown and tan cup with a black lid from McDonalds, while John has his usual docile smile. Naturally, I know the guilt trip is coming.
"TGIF, Phil," Dennis loudly says with that ring of sarcasm.
"It's Finish Line Friday," I loudly reply.
"Yeah, for you," as Dennis' tone of voice lowers with frustration.
I empahtize with Dennis and John, because I had a similar schedule for three straight months. They just finished working an 11 hour shift yesterday. On Saturday, they have the luxury of coming into work at 4 a.m.
The physical toll turned from tolerable to pure exhaustion. I simply couldn't handle it. One day, a physical injury turned into a blessing.
It was a cold, winter morning and a box of hubs weighing approximately 60 pounds was set on my cart. I was annoyed having to pull this extra weight. The day before, I was told to bring the box to our office. There were some defects I found. So, I obliged. I decided to slide the box off my cart and in the process, felt a sharp pain in my back after successfully placing it against the wall. The pain intensified. Something was wrong, and I saw the man who hired me who had a good business relationship with my dad outside the Quality office. I approached him.
"I just hurt my back while trying to slide a box of hubs off my cart," I told him.
"Well, can you work or not," he coldly asked.
"I think I need to see a doctor."
"Go see Dave (Quality Manager who has half a set of teeth still in his mouth)."
I went back into the office and started composing an e-mail to my job coach. Yes, when things went sour here after I was moved to the plant, I played the disability card having been diagnosed at 17 with Asperger's Syndrome. While composing this e-mail, our defacto supervisor, Donna said I can only use the computer for work-related activities. We got into a contentious argument before I finally walked out with a mug of coffee in my hand.
While walking through our machine shop where our maintenance crew works, Paul (President) was chuckling with two of our upper-management guys. He flashed a smug look at my coffee mug. I couldn't hear with all the machinery noise, but he motioned for someone to go into the Quality Office. Dave later informed me I was selfish and should've known better than "flaunt a mug of coffee in front of Paul." I told Dave we're all adults here and the double standard applied for management and employees.
While filling out an accident report, Dave had a matter-of-fact tone rhetorically asking, "You don't need to see a doctor, do you?" "Actually, I think it would be best if I did." He shrugged his shoulders and continued filling out the report. My accident placed me to where I will finish my time with this company on March 12 -- at the reception desk.
I've enjoyed my solitude here and don't miss dealing with overstressed and overworked people. Outside of here, I think they might be reasonable. I've always enjoyed reaching out to others and making them feel good about themselves. However, in a place with so much tension, this proved to be a wishful approach.
Over the past few weeks, I've reflected on these experiences and also have lost faith in humanity. Do people really just want to remain apathetic? How long will they be able to function before their mind and body becomes permanently injured in this extremely fast-paced environment? Ultimately, the main question all of you and these guys need to ask themselves is this: Do I want to live to work or work to live? As they continue to accept this authoritarian environment, I'm reminded of what the late Pat Morita's character, Mr. Miyagi said in The Karate Kid, "No such thing as bad student, only bad teacher. Teacher say, student do. No questions."
Paul, our HR Manager, and I had another contentious meeting where I thought he'd fire me. We talked for over three hours with some great talking points he used. One stood out. He said when his time on Earth is done, "I want to be remembered as someone who was compassionate and helped other people." It's one thing to say the right things, but it's quite another to apply them to action.
This meeting could've been set as something already predetermined. My job coach made the foolish decision to forward an e-mail to the HR Manager that had some unflattering things said about an obnoxious, petulant Scheduler who I work with here. "We can trust him," she kept repeating. I knew she was wrong. This reached Paul's attention, and they came to the conclusion this wasn't a good fit. I couldn't agree more.
My next endeavor will be in government or nonprofit if lucky. It will be a job where human capital is valued. I'm looking at openings where I can make a difference in people's lives. Hopefully, my passions will open the eyes of just one out there who can give me a chance. I know the reality of receiving no responses, becoming frustrated finding jobs, and receiving little to no income will be a harsh one. However, as I mentioned in a previous post, "Sometimes you have to die a few times to live life just once."
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Food, Inc. -- The Food Industry STILL has it their way
Burger King ran a catchy, empowering slogan for years, "Have it your way." This sounds great. As a consumer, I have variety and diverse foods I can eat. It's quite a different picture once you see the independent, groundbreaking documentary, Food, Inc.
You are exposed to the atrocities a few multinational food processing companies practice that could lead to our deaths. The introduction says it all. It begins in a supermarket where you have this mirage of all these diverse products -- averages to 47,000 per supermarket. You have cereals, produce, meats, and dairy selections. On these products, you see these pastoral images. Those images are artificial.
The film takes you inside the every day struggles farmers and hard working Americans confront. A chicken farmer can no longer produce at the exponential rates of a Tyson Foods Corporation. So, these farmers really have no choice but to sign contracts with companies like Tyson and Perdue. It costs them an average of $280,000 for one chicken farm. Inside, chickens grow at very rapid rates, twice the amount they did back in the early 50s. The average paycheck these farmers receive from the great folks at Tyson and Perdue -- $18,000 per year.
What really will alarm the viewer is how a seed (soybean and corn) is processed and used by animals and us. About 90 percent of all foods has some ingredient from corn in them. Monsanto Corporation owns the "patent rights" for what farmers can do to these seeds. If a farmer decides to replant and clean the seeds, he or she can be met by one of Monsanto's team of investigators. The next step, you guessed it -- lawsuit. Naturally, the farmer has no way to win with a multi-billion dollar business.
I'm the last person who lives in a glass house. My diet is terrible and I'm a heavy smoker. Once again, this isn't about me. I highly encourage all you who read this to watch this must-see documentary. These corporations operate in economically depressed areas where the poor have little to no choice but work for these guys. At these factories, they perform one task over and over and over... It's really no different than how swine, chickens, and cattle are treated before their deaths. The way this industry is regulated, it will only be a matter of time before another health scare surfaces.
Burger King ran a catchy, empowering slogan for years, "Have it your way." This sounds great. As a consumer, I have variety and diverse foods I can eat. It's quite a different picture once you see the independent, groundbreaking documentary, Food, Inc.
You are exposed to the atrocities a few multinational food processing companies practice that could lead to our deaths. The introduction says it all. It begins in a supermarket where you have this mirage of all these diverse products -- averages to 47,000 per supermarket. You have cereals, produce, meats, and dairy selections. On these products, you see these pastoral images. Those images are artificial.
The film takes you inside the every day struggles farmers and hard working Americans confront. A chicken farmer can no longer produce at the exponential rates of a Tyson Foods Corporation. So, these farmers really have no choice but to sign contracts with companies like Tyson and Perdue. It costs them an average of $280,000 for one chicken farm. Inside, chickens grow at very rapid rates, twice the amount they did back in the early 50s. The average paycheck these farmers receive from the great folks at Tyson and Perdue -- $18,000 per year.
What really will alarm the viewer is how a seed (soybean and corn) is processed and used by animals and us. About 90 percent of all foods has some ingredient from corn in them. Monsanto Corporation owns the "patent rights" for what farmers can do to these seeds. If a farmer decides to replant and clean the seeds, he or she can be met by one of Monsanto's team of investigators. The next step, you guessed it -- lawsuit. Naturally, the farmer has no way to win with a multi-billion dollar business.
I'm the last person who lives in a glass house. My diet is terrible and I'm a heavy smoker. Once again, this isn't about me. I highly encourage all you who read this to watch this must-see documentary. These corporations operate in economically depressed areas where the poor have little to no choice but work for these guys. At these factories, they perform one task over and over and over... It's really no different than how swine, chickens, and cattle are treated before their deaths. The way this industry is regulated, it will only be a matter of time before another health scare surfaces.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Arguing why college faculty aren't all liberals, long awaited return of 'Lost,' and scariest horror film of all-time, 'Paranormal Activity'
Little time to write and lots to talk about. I love this. You don't have an anal prudish editor with that fake bullshit, "This can flow better." Open your mouth and let's find out, jackass. This is why I enjoy the blogosphere. You don't have an editor's vision blocking your own.
Now that I've resumed a normal 8-5 Monday through Friday work schedule as a receptionist/procurement representative and still getting paid the same (for now), a man walked in wearing a University of Notre Dame sweatshirt. I spent most of my childhood living 5 miles away from this beautiful campus. And yes, I still hold onto my Catholic roots. In fact, every career personality test I've taken says one of my top career matches is a clergy member. Children? I kid. My personal near-death experience would have the likes of Christopher Hitchens even say, "Man, that's fucked up."
This man also had a no-nonsense approach. We began discussing our ties before he said how he could've become a pot-smoking hippie instead of graduating from the campus donning the Golden Dome. He proceeded by saying how our media is liberal and why he's a Rightie. I didn't solicit my political views but explained to him my history and journalism backgrounds. At one point, he looked pissed. Oh, well.
"The media is owned by corporations and corporations favor the status quo. I'd say what is said about our media comes from talk radio which is predominantly Conservative. You have a few Liberals out there."
I wish I had more time to talk to this guy. He had a ponytail and grey hair which made me think it's one of two reasons: 1.) He's wanting to relive his youth as a hippie. 2.) He's a possible film and art snob. Either way, I enjoyed talking to the guy. Anytime someone delivers straight talk is someone who quickly gains my respect. I just wonder what he's doing as a delivery guy for a distribution company with that Notre Dame degree. Wait. I'm one to talk with a degree from a much smaller and obscure school.
Lost
The greatest show I've seen on T.V. is about a mere hour away from its final season premier. What's attracted me to this show is what I've said since one of the first episodes, "We're all lost in a few moments." This is where I've connected with these characters and say to myself, "I would do the exact same thing." With Hitchcock-like filming and great acting, I'm confident albeit the science fiction in this show, we will end up seeing each character's spiritual journey come to a conclusion.
Paranormal Activity
Take a no-name director and two starring characters pulled off Craig's List and what do you get -- the highest grossing film of all-time. The film starts slow, but you will quickly gain vicarious experiences. Thanks to the simplest approach to making a movie through a hand-held video camera, this film intensifies. As it does, the events become more bizarre. Any casual or big fan of horror films should see this one. I've rated this as my new #1 ahead of Barbara Hershey in the early 80s horror film, The Entity.
Little time to write and lots to talk about. I love this. You don't have an anal prudish editor with that fake bullshit, "This can flow better." Open your mouth and let's find out, jackass. This is why I enjoy the blogosphere. You don't have an editor's vision blocking your own.
Now that I've resumed a normal 8-5 Monday through Friday work schedule as a receptionist/procurement representative and still getting paid the same (for now), a man walked in wearing a University of Notre Dame sweatshirt. I spent most of my childhood living 5 miles away from this beautiful campus. And yes, I still hold onto my Catholic roots. In fact, every career personality test I've taken says one of my top career matches is a clergy member. Children? I kid. My personal near-death experience would have the likes of Christopher Hitchens even say, "Man, that's fucked up."
This man also had a no-nonsense approach. We began discussing our ties before he said how he could've become a pot-smoking hippie instead of graduating from the campus donning the Golden Dome. He proceeded by saying how our media is liberal and why he's a Rightie. I didn't solicit my political views but explained to him my history and journalism backgrounds. At one point, he looked pissed. Oh, well.
"The media is owned by corporations and corporations favor the status quo. I'd say what is said about our media comes from talk radio which is predominantly Conservative. You have a few Liberals out there."
I wish I had more time to talk to this guy. He had a ponytail and grey hair which made me think it's one of two reasons: 1.) He's wanting to relive his youth as a hippie. 2.) He's a possible film and art snob. Either way, I enjoyed talking to the guy. Anytime someone delivers straight talk is someone who quickly gains my respect. I just wonder what he's doing as a delivery guy for a distribution company with that Notre Dame degree. Wait. I'm one to talk with a degree from a much smaller and obscure school.
Lost
The greatest show I've seen on T.V. is about a mere hour away from its final season premier. What's attracted me to this show is what I've said since one of the first episodes, "We're all lost in a few moments." This is where I've connected with these characters and say to myself, "I would do the exact same thing." With Hitchcock-like filming and great acting, I'm confident albeit the science fiction in this show, we will end up seeing each character's spiritual journey come to a conclusion.
Paranormal Activity
Take a no-name director and two starring characters pulled off Craig's List and what do you get -- the highest grossing film of all-time. The film starts slow, but you will quickly gain vicarious experiences. Thanks to the simplest approach to making a movie through a hand-held video camera, this film intensifies. As it does, the events become more bizarre. Any casual or big fan of horror films should see this one. I've rated this as my new #1 ahead of Barbara Hershey in the early 80s horror film, The Entity.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Baracky is still getting back up
Friday night I watched MSNBC and Barack Obama field some difficult questions from House Republicans. It was 140 vs. 1, and he tackled every one of them with eloquence. Chris Matthews made a great point when he said, As crazy as our American process can be, we elected the best person for the job. He was right.
Some questions were simply filled with false accusations. Take our dopey Georgia congressman, Tom Price. Price said Republicans had an alternative bill for health care reform that wouldn't cost the taxpayers a dime. Obama called him out on it saying, "Tom you know that's just not true." Others were riddled with hard numbers, thinking Obama would be stumped. Nope.
Another question was framed, accusing Obama for tripling the national debt. He quickly refuted this accusation and said he inherited $1.3 trillion and $8 trillion more in defense that wasn't paid for under the previous administration's watch. He made it clear this was before he was sworn in. If you fact check this, you'll find this to be true.
I've found Obama to be very frugal with spending. The only substantial bill was the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. Quite frankly, I criticized this one for being too small. It barely scratched the surface on investing in alternative energy and new energy grids. Conservative and Liberal economists rightfully came to this conclusion. Although only about one-third of this money has been spent, a good portion of it is going to road projects. It's great for the short-term but doesn't seem to lead to long-term employment.
Overall, I'd like Obama to continue confronting these adversaries. They clearly spoke and seem perfectly content on obstructing everything. We're the only Democray in the western world requiring a super majority. This needs to change. If votes came down to a simple majority in the Senate, a lot more could be done by now.
Friday night I watched MSNBC and Barack Obama field some difficult questions from House Republicans. It was 140 vs. 1, and he tackled every one of them with eloquence. Chris Matthews made a great point when he said, As crazy as our American process can be, we elected the best person for the job. He was right.
Some questions were simply filled with false accusations. Take our dopey Georgia congressman, Tom Price. Price said Republicans had an alternative bill for health care reform that wouldn't cost the taxpayers a dime. Obama called him out on it saying, "Tom you know that's just not true." Others were riddled with hard numbers, thinking Obama would be stumped. Nope.
Another question was framed, accusing Obama for tripling the national debt. He quickly refuted this accusation and said he inherited $1.3 trillion and $8 trillion more in defense that wasn't paid for under the previous administration's watch. He made it clear this was before he was sworn in. If you fact check this, you'll find this to be true.
I've found Obama to be very frugal with spending. The only substantial bill was the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. Quite frankly, I criticized this one for being too small. It barely scratched the surface on investing in alternative energy and new energy grids. Conservative and Liberal economists rightfully came to this conclusion. Although only about one-third of this money has been spent, a good portion of it is going to road projects. It's great for the short-term but doesn't seem to lead to long-term employment.
Overall, I'd like Obama to continue confronting these adversaries. They clearly spoke and seem perfectly content on obstructing everything. We're the only Democray in the western world requiring a super majority. This needs to change. If votes came down to a simple majority in the Senate, a lot more could be done by now.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
The Tragedies and Triumphs of Hubert Selby Jr.
Sometimes you have to die a few times to live life just once. This is paraphrasing a modern American author who lived an extraordinary life and told it to you through what he knew best. His works aren't for the faint at heart. Their narratives twist and turn with the precision of a surgeon's knife cutting you open very gradually while still fully conscious. Inevitably, you will feel the characters' pain and joy in Brooklyn.
Selby's Brooklyn roots expose you to his everyday experiences and observations. They're immersed with gratuitous violence, drug addictions, spousal abuse, prostitution, and ashes and cinder from the shipyards, hovering on the city's edges with a constant filthy reminder. It was a toxic hell. During these times, including the 1950s, we typically coalesce around a white picket fence, stay at home mom, father who is home in time for dinner, and meticulously manicured landscapes. Utopia. Selby tells a different story.
Start with Harry Black. I know, I know. I'm sure one can have fun when seeing and hearing the name Harry Black. In Last Exit to Brooklyn, Harry is featured as one of the main characters. He works in a production plant, frustrated by the daily grind and toll. The company's management threaten him and his colleagues with laying them off. This is when Harry decides to take it upon himself to stand up to greed and corruption.
Harry works closely with his union's leaders, as he's assigned to work at an office nearby the plant. He rouses his workers that none of them will return to work, until the company meets their demands for fair wages and hours. At this point, the reader sympathizes with Harry's plight and can easily liken him. There's another side to Harry though.
Harry can't stand his nagging wife. She wants him to watch over their infant and sex with her at nights, but his energy is drained. The child constantly cries and shouts when Harry tends to him. His wife loses patience with his lack of attentiveness and intimacy. The frustration builds. At one point, he attacks her and knocks her to the floor. He leaves the tiny apartment and goes where he can find comfort and acceptance.
Negotiations continue to stall between the union and company leaders which is fine with Harry. He continues obsessing about his leadership role and influencing his colleagues to continue fighting company management. Behind this guise, Harry's indulgences for drugs and alcohol quickly turn to addictions. A few colleagues begin bringing kegs of beer into the office. They curse about their circumstances, while Harry takes pleasure believing his leadership will have a life-altering impact on his colleagues. His alcohol consumption increases with a declining impact. Instead of returning home to face his nagging wife, he decides to stay out late with a friend and transvestite who have plenty of bennies (form of methamphetamine).
Georgie, a gay man and transvestite, falls in love with Harry at first sight. Harry teases Georgie constantly, but this doesn't stop Georgie's attraction for him. One night, after taking several bennies, the two decide to fool around. Harry wants to see how Georgie will react after kissing him. After the kiss, he rubs his hands up and down Georgie's body. This consumes Georgie. All he can think about day and night are those few intimate moments with Harry.
Finally, Harry feels like he's in control. He continues handing out signs to colleagues each morning, spends the rest of the day drinking, and still spends his late nights taking copious amounts of bennies with Georgie and friends. Little does Harry realize how weak he really is.
Company management and union leaders finally reached a compromise. Harry desperately tries to convince his colleagues to keep fighting. Management will win. They don't listen and agree to return to work. This drives Harry mad.
All feels lost forever. Harry leaves the office, knowing it's the last time he can be heard. He sees a boy playing at a park across the street and decides to approach him. After a few minutes of incoherent rambling, the boy feels very uneasy. He tries to run away, but Harry grabs him. He eventually overpowers the boy. As the boy struggles, Harry tells him to take off his clothes. He rapes the boy. A couple men walk by and quickly rush to the boy's aid.
They separate Harry from the boy. One of the men grabs Harry, as the other begins kicking and punching him repeatedly. The men just won't stop. After several minutes, Harry is left lying motionless.
This summed up just one of several narratives Selby wrote. Upon publication and distribution, the book was legally challenged in England. After a lower court ruled in favor of an injunction based on violating England's obscenity's laws, the high court sided with Selby.
Yes, this wasn't easy to rehash either. You can merely pass this up as garbage or look at it as a spiritual journey. Some just don't see any light at the end of the tunnel. His works have a profound impact on my approach to writing. I think we can all ask ourselves how we handle life when all hope seems to be lost.
All of my rehashing are recollections of what I read. Anything written verbatim from "Last Exit to Brooklyn" is coincidental. For some reason, I can't copy and paste on here. Check out a YouTube video, "The Life and Times of Hubert Selby Jr." This was one of his last interviews.
Sometimes you have to die a few times to live life just once. This is paraphrasing a modern American author who lived an extraordinary life and told it to you through what he knew best. His works aren't for the faint at heart. Their narratives twist and turn with the precision of a surgeon's knife cutting you open very gradually while still fully conscious. Inevitably, you will feel the characters' pain and joy in Brooklyn.
Selby's Brooklyn roots expose you to his everyday experiences and observations. They're immersed with gratuitous violence, drug addictions, spousal abuse, prostitution, and ashes and cinder from the shipyards, hovering on the city's edges with a constant filthy reminder. It was a toxic hell. During these times, including the 1950s, we typically coalesce around a white picket fence, stay at home mom, father who is home in time for dinner, and meticulously manicured landscapes. Utopia. Selby tells a different story.
Start with Harry Black. I know, I know. I'm sure one can have fun when seeing and hearing the name Harry Black. In Last Exit to Brooklyn, Harry is featured as one of the main characters. He works in a production plant, frustrated by the daily grind and toll. The company's management threaten him and his colleagues with laying them off. This is when Harry decides to take it upon himself to stand up to greed and corruption.
Harry works closely with his union's leaders, as he's assigned to work at an office nearby the plant. He rouses his workers that none of them will return to work, until the company meets their demands for fair wages and hours. At this point, the reader sympathizes with Harry's plight and can easily liken him. There's another side to Harry though.
Harry can't stand his nagging wife. She wants him to watch over their infant and sex with her at nights, but his energy is drained. The child constantly cries and shouts when Harry tends to him. His wife loses patience with his lack of attentiveness and intimacy. The frustration builds. At one point, he attacks her and knocks her to the floor. He leaves the tiny apartment and goes where he can find comfort and acceptance.
Negotiations continue to stall between the union and company leaders which is fine with Harry. He continues obsessing about his leadership role and influencing his colleagues to continue fighting company management. Behind this guise, Harry's indulgences for drugs and alcohol quickly turn to addictions. A few colleagues begin bringing kegs of beer into the office. They curse about their circumstances, while Harry takes pleasure believing his leadership will have a life-altering impact on his colleagues. His alcohol consumption increases with a declining impact. Instead of returning home to face his nagging wife, he decides to stay out late with a friend and transvestite who have plenty of bennies (form of methamphetamine).
Georgie, a gay man and transvestite, falls in love with Harry at first sight. Harry teases Georgie constantly, but this doesn't stop Georgie's attraction for him. One night, after taking several bennies, the two decide to fool around. Harry wants to see how Georgie will react after kissing him. After the kiss, he rubs his hands up and down Georgie's body. This consumes Georgie. All he can think about day and night are those few intimate moments with Harry.
Finally, Harry feels like he's in control. He continues handing out signs to colleagues each morning, spends the rest of the day drinking, and still spends his late nights taking copious amounts of bennies with Georgie and friends. Little does Harry realize how weak he really is.
Company management and union leaders finally reached a compromise. Harry desperately tries to convince his colleagues to keep fighting. Management will win. They don't listen and agree to return to work. This drives Harry mad.
All feels lost forever. Harry leaves the office, knowing it's the last time he can be heard. He sees a boy playing at a park across the street and decides to approach him. After a few minutes of incoherent rambling, the boy feels very uneasy. He tries to run away, but Harry grabs him. He eventually overpowers the boy. As the boy struggles, Harry tells him to take off his clothes. He rapes the boy. A couple men walk by and quickly rush to the boy's aid.
They separate Harry from the boy. One of the men grabs Harry, as the other begins kicking and punching him repeatedly. The men just won't stop. After several minutes, Harry is left lying motionless.
This summed up just one of several narratives Selby wrote. Upon publication and distribution, the book was legally challenged in England. After a lower court ruled in favor of an injunction based on violating England's obscenity's laws, the high court sided with Selby.
Yes, this wasn't easy to rehash either. You can merely pass this up as garbage or look at it as a spiritual journey. Some just don't see any light at the end of the tunnel. His works have a profound impact on my approach to writing. I think we can all ask ourselves how we handle life when all hope seems to be lost.
All of my rehashing are recollections of what I read. Anything written verbatim from "Last Exit to Brooklyn" is coincidental. For some reason, I can't copy and paste on here. Check out a YouTube video, "The Life and Times of Hubert Selby Jr." This was one of his last interviews.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
The Lovely Bones
Director Peter Jackson delivered another cinematic masterpiece. Based on my personal favorite and best-selling novel by Alice Sebold, the story is narrated by 14-year-old Susie Salmon. Growing up in the 1970s, Susie loves photography and has a crush on an Indo-Anglo boy, Ray Singh. Her happy-go-lucky innocence is suddenly lost in an instant. Her battle overcoming bitterness, vengeance, and loss is portrayed through awe-inspiring landscapes.
Certain settings show Susie running freely through vast open fields, while others seem more confined in a wooded area. This is where Jackson seems to be at his best. Creative time lapse photography, use of color lenses, and stark contrasts between bright and dark settings captivate the average viewer.
The film is well cast with a newcomer starring as Susie. Susan Sarandon plays the hip, chain smoking grandmother who isn't short of witty banter. Mark Wahlberg and Rachel Weisz play Susie's parents. Finally, Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Stanley Tucci?
Although I highly recommend this film, I was disappointed how quickly it moved. The book depicted a much more gradual turn of events. In the film, the characters aren't shown as they age several years. Second, it was difficult to really connect with the characters. It seemed you really had snapshots of each and couldn't identify with anyone other than Susie. Finally, the film's resolution isn't what was portrayed in the book surrounding a few major events.
I can say with confidence this film will be up for Best Picture and Best Director. Honestly, I hope you didn't read the book. You can view this film with a fresh perspective and like all films versus books, the book will win every time. Although it won't copy and paste here, check out the haunting melody in the film by This Mortal Coil, Song to the Siren. It was also featured in one of my all-time personal favorites, Lost Highway.
Director Peter Jackson delivered another cinematic masterpiece. Based on my personal favorite and best-selling novel by Alice Sebold, the story is narrated by 14-year-old Susie Salmon. Growing up in the 1970s, Susie loves photography and has a crush on an Indo-Anglo boy, Ray Singh. Her happy-go-lucky innocence is suddenly lost in an instant. Her battle overcoming bitterness, vengeance, and loss is portrayed through awe-inspiring landscapes.
Certain settings show Susie running freely through vast open fields, while others seem more confined in a wooded area. This is where Jackson seems to be at his best. Creative time lapse photography, use of color lenses, and stark contrasts between bright and dark settings captivate the average viewer.
The film is well cast with a newcomer starring as Susie. Susan Sarandon plays the hip, chain smoking grandmother who isn't short of witty banter. Mark Wahlberg and Rachel Weisz play Susie's parents. Finally, Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Stanley Tucci?
Although I highly recommend this film, I was disappointed how quickly it moved. The book depicted a much more gradual turn of events. In the film, the characters aren't shown as they age several years. Second, it was difficult to really connect with the characters. It seemed you really had snapshots of each and couldn't identify with anyone other than Susie. Finally, the film's resolution isn't what was portrayed in the book surrounding a few major events.
I can say with confidence this film will be up for Best Picture and Best Director. Honestly, I hope you didn't read the book. You can view this film with a fresh perspective and like all films versus books, the book will win every time. Although it won't copy and paste here, check out the haunting melody in the film by This Mortal Coil, Song to the Siren. It was also featured in one of my all-time personal favorites, Lost Highway.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
America the Desperate or America the Cautious ?
I've regained my spirit for writing. It left for awhile. There was no passion whatsoever. Now, I'm back to pushing the envelope. Robin and I have decided to date other people. Thus far, I went out with a drunk (literally) who was in a terrible car accident.
She had a free-spirited personality and was honest and upfront in our conversations. Recently, she lost her job. I sympathized with her plight. However, there were a few long-term concerns raised.
She slept over at a married man's house for two days, every time I called there were guys' voices in the background, and she initiated sex on the second date. As a guy, I wasn't going to turn it down. All these red flags along with those closest to me saying I should move on convinced me to end this relationship.
Another one I'm talking to off this free dating website recently lost her job. We cut the conversation short when she said she was about to eat dinner. This had me thinking what is really behind our recession. Is this high unemployment really about a tough economy or is there more to it? This is the next article I'd like to explore for a local publication.
Multiple sources show our unemployment is hovering around 10 percent. Bad. O.k. Are Americans really that desperate to be employed right now? It's even worse for those who are underemployed -- part-time work. This has the number jump even higher to approximately 17 percent unemployed or underemployed. I really think we've reached a monumental moment here. Will we continue to be at the mercy of these unscrupulous employers or will the lower and middle class stand up to greed and corruption?
Today, President Obama announced he's committed to returning all the TARP money back to the taxpayers. This is a good first step. What else? This continues to be the looming question. Companies continue to save by letting the baby boomers go before they can retire. The days of working for a company for 20+ years is now a rarity.
This is what I'm passionate about. Since the turn of the 20th century when coal miners stood up to President Theodore Roosevelt to Cesar Chavez, we need democratic rights in the workplaces. I've had some losses and victories where I'm at now. Health care reform, fighting terrorism, and diplomacy are all vital interests for us. Ultimately, I think it's imperative we reshape our attitudes. I look forward to shaking things up with employers, talking with employees, and those who continue struggling every day just surviving on little to nothing.
I've regained my spirit for writing. It left for awhile. There was no passion whatsoever. Now, I'm back to pushing the envelope. Robin and I have decided to date other people. Thus far, I went out with a drunk (literally) who was in a terrible car accident.
She had a free-spirited personality and was honest and upfront in our conversations. Recently, she lost her job. I sympathized with her plight. However, there were a few long-term concerns raised.
She slept over at a married man's house for two days, every time I called there were guys' voices in the background, and she initiated sex on the second date. As a guy, I wasn't going to turn it down. All these red flags along with those closest to me saying I should move on convinced me to end this relationship.
Another one I'm talking to off this free dating website recently lost her job. We cut the conversation short when she said she was about to eat dinner. This had me thinking what is really behind our recession. Is this high unemployment really about a tough economy or is there more to it? This is the next article I'd like to explore for a local publication.
Multiple sources show our unemployment is hovering around 10 percent. Bad. O.k. Are Americans really that desperate to be employed right now? It's even worse for those who are underemployed -- part-time work. This has the number jump even higher to approximately 17 percent unemployed or underemployed. I really think we've reached a monumental moment here. Will we continue to be at the mercy of these unscrupulous employers or will the lower and middle class stand up to greed and corruption?
Today, President Obama announced he's committed to returning all the TARP money back to the taxpayers. This is a good first step. What else? This continues to be the looming question. Companies continue to save by letting the baby boomers go before they can retire. The days of working for a company for 20+ years is now a rarity.
This is what I'm passionate about. Since the turn of the 20th century when coal miners stood up to President Theodore Roosevelt to Cesar Chavez, we need democratic rights in the workplaces. I've had some losses and victories where I'm at now. Health care reform, fighting terrorism, and diplomacy are all vital interests for us. Ultimately, I think it's imperative we reshape our attitudes. I look forward to shaking things up with employers, talking with employees, and those who continue struggling every day just surviving on little to nothing.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
New Year's Resolution
It's time to resolve the problems that continue surfacing in my life. I found a very insightful comment made by Dammerung from my last post. Yes, the most skillfully unscrupulous individuals are the ones who are rewarded in the corporate environment. We're oversized children here. If I can find one mistake a colleague makes, I'll tell someone. This way I can remove the threat. Besides, I'm not sure my position is safe. With this said, I'm committed to ignoring the perpetual "silly season."
I had a long talk with the President of my company. It was contentious and damn well could've cost me my job. That was the risk I was willing to take to speak truth to power. I've now gained a newfound respect for this man. He invested over 3 hours of his day providing philosophical life examples, how in any environment you come across difficult personalities, and most importantly, the theme was centered around avoiding excuses and moving forward to better ourselves. I want to really strive to achieve the latter point.
A few days ago, I jokingly told a colleague "I want to make everyone happy I come across this year." Silly, right? Well, I've reconsidered. There are two objectives I'm focusing on: 1.) Going to work each day with the utmost positive attitude and continuing to perform my duties to the best of my abilities. 2.) Allow my lighthearted nature to shine on others around me, particularly those who do have those tough personalities. I've wanted to be a leader everywhere I've been and albeit a layoff at my last job, I've done well making those around me laugh. This can be done.
I don't want to delve into all the events that transpired over these six months. Quite frankly, it would take up more than several pages on here. It's time to move forward. Recessions are always toughest on the lower and middle class. Employers seize upon these times to pressure employees more than is necessary. They know jobs are very hard to come by right now. It's my hope that others facing similar circumstances continue to persevere and every now and then, hold up a mirror to show the true ugliness where some of those unscrupulous individuals will see their reflections.
It's time to resolve the problems that continue surfacing in my life. I found a very insightful comment made by Dammerung from my last post. Yes, the most skillfully unscrupulous individuals are the ones who are rewarded in the corporate environment. We're oversized children here. If I can find one mistake a colleague makes, I'll tell someone. This way I can remove the threat. Besides, I'm not sure my position is safe. With this said, I'm committed to ignoring the perpetual "silly season."
I had a long talk with the President of my company. It was contentious and damn well could've cost me my job. That was the risk I was willing to take to speak truth to power. I've now gained a newfound respect for this man. He invested over 3 hours of his day providing philosophical life examples, how in any environment you come across difficult personalities, and most importantly, the theme was centered around avoiding excuses and moving forward to better ourselves. I want to really strive to achieve the latter point.
A few days ago, I jokingly told a colleague "I want to make everyone happy I come across this year." Silly, right? Well, I've reconsidered. There are two objectives I'm focusing on: 1.) Going to work each day with the utmost positive attitude and continuing to perform my duties to the best of my abilities. 2.) Allow my lighthearted nature to shine on others around me, particularly those who do have those tough personalities. I've wanted to be a leader everywhere I've been and albeit a layoff at my last job, I've done well making those around me laugh. This can be done.
I don't want to delve into all the events that transpired over these six months. Quite frankly, it would take up more than several pages on here. It's time to move forward. Recessions are always toughest on the lower and middle class. Employers seize upon these times to pressure employees more than is necessary. They know jobs are very hard to come by right now. It's my hope that others facing similar circumstances continue to persevere and every now and then, hold up a mirror to show the true ugliness where some of those unscrupulous individuals will see their reflections.
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