Another post over on The Otter Limits got me thinking, but this time about welfare. There are those that see welfare programs as a bad thing. That they are entitlement programs that do nothing to actually help people out of poverty. These arguments have their merits and too often the welfare system is one that gets abused and it turns into a way of life that stifles instead of lifts up, but does that mean that it should be abandoned completely?
It is my belief that one of the core functions of the government is providing a safety net for the citizenry. This is done through labor laws, anti-trust / anti-monopoly laws, and through welfare programs.
I believe that we have a collective moral responsibility to each other to help those who have fallen. I see this as part of the social contract and one of the best ways to do this is through government programs. Anyone that knows me or has read this blog with any regularity knows that I trust the government about as far as I can throw it. The last thing I want is even more intrusion into our lives, but I don’t think programs like Food Stamps or WIC do that. These programs have helped millions of people through very tough time and to stay afloat. I’m not really sure how that can be seen as a bad thing.
Do the welfare programs in this country need reform? Absolutely. Should they be eliminated? No. Obviously the government can’t make someone a success and that isn’t the government’s job, but it can help in giving someone a hand up so that they can better themselves and lead a productive and meaningful life. Is this how it actually works out? No, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t work to make it that way.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Going It Alone
My good friend and future political powerhouse Steve at The Otter Limits recently wrote a piece about his political life’s journey entitled Becoming an Elephant. In my comment to his post I referred to my disgust of both parties. He responded stating that he thought that I was probably better off as an independent but for him joining the GOP was the right move and he cited Reagan’s 80% rule. I’m happy for my friend because I know that he has found somewhere that he feels at a home and a cause he can support. I on the other hand feel all alone.
Based on my stances on the issues, I do not fit in with either party (even though I am closer in line with the traditional positions of the Democratic Party, but that party has gone way astray IMHO). Also I hold no trust or faith in either party. Both are filled with blind partisan polemics that rather scream at the rain and blame each other for the ills of the world than actually work towards finding real solutions to our problems. Both parties biggest concern is their own power. They do not care about the people of this nation and have done nothing to earn our trust or our votes.
So here I sit watching this pathetic debacle that is called civil discourse and I totally feel alone. The voices of common sense are so few and far between that it is almost mind numbing. I can count on my one hand the number of local blogs that do not resort to pathetic snark infected swill and one, that’s right one, that I actually feel is a kindred spirit. On a national level things aren’t any better. There is one major blogger that I think is really good (there is another that I also think is good, but his blog isn’t one that I would call major and sadly even he dips into the snark swill from time to time). Beyond that most blogs seem to just parrot the talking points of the two controlling parties. There are some on both sides that express their points without sounding like a rerun of either Limbaugh or Olberman but they are few and far between (I can think of one local conservative blog that I would put into this category; there is another one that I would include as well but I see it more as a news blog than an opinion blog).
This puts me in a bit of a conundrum. I am a man without a party or even a group or movement or anything. Even within the communities that I consider myself a part of (the underground music scene and the sci fi/fantasy community), I’m an outsider. In a way I wear this as a badge of honor, but even so I can’t help but feel all alone.
Based on my stances on the issues, I do not fit in with either party (even though I am closer in line with the traditional positions of the Democratic Party, but that party has gone way astray IMHO). Also I hold no trust or faith in either party. Both are filled with blind partisan polemics that rather scream at the rain and blame each other for the ills of the world than actually work towards finding real solutions to our problems. Both parties biggest concern is their own power. They do not care about the people of this nation and have done nothing to earn our trust or our votes.
So here I sit watching this pathetic debacle that is called civil discourse and I totally feel alone. The voices of common sense are so few and far between that it is almost mind numbing. I can count on my one hand the number of local blogs that do not resort to pathetic snark infected swill and one, that’s right one, that I actually feel is a kindred spirit. On a national level things aren’t any better. There is one major blogger that I think is really good (there is another that I also think is good, but his blog isn’t one that I would call major and sadly even he dips into the snark swill from time to time). Beyond that most blogs seem to just parrot the talking points of the two controlling parties. There are some on both sides that express their points without sounding like a rerun of either Limbaugh or Olberman but they are few and far between (I can think of one local conservative blog that I would put into this category; there is another one that I would include as well but I see it more as a news blog than an opinion blog).
This puts me in a bit of a conundrum. I am a man without a party or even a group or movement or anything. Even within the communities that I consider myself a part of (the underground music scene and the sci fi/fantasy community), I’m an outsider. In a way I wear this as a badge of honor, but even so I can’t help but feel all alone.
Which Halen was the Best Halen?
Yesterday while in the car I heard two different Van Halen songs within a matter on ten minutes on two different stations. One song was from the David Lee Roth era (their cover of “You Really Got Me”) and the other was from the Sammy Hagar era (“Dreams”). It is safe to say that not a day goes by in the OKC area that at least one song from each Van Halen era isn’t played on the radio.
Generally if the question of which era of Van Halen comes up, most people seem to agree that it was the David Lee Roth era. My theory on Van Halen has been that they had more energy with Roth but were a better band with Hagar. Sure the songs were often wimpier with Sammy, but he brought a greater musical ability and pop sensibility to the band.
In my humble opinion, the band’s two best albums were their last one with Roth, 1984, and their first one with Hagar, 5150. And if I were asked, which Van Halen was the best Van Halen, my answer would be the Sammy Hagar era.
Generally if the question of which era of Van Halen comes up, most people seem to agree that it was the David Lee Roth era. My theory on Van Halen has been that they had more energy with Roth but were a better band with Hagar. Sure the songs were often wimpier with Sammy, but he brought a greater musical ability and pop sensibility to the band.
In my humble opinion, the band’s two best albums were their last one with Roth, 1984, and their first one with Hagar, 5150. And if I were asked, which Van Halen was the best Van Halen, my answer would be the Sammy Hagar era.
Currently Listening
1. “Wrong” by Archers of Loaf (from Icky Mettle)
2. “Stiff Competition” by Cheap Trick (from Heaven Tonight)
3. “Hope” by Descendents (from Milo Goes to College)
4. “Gonna See You Tonight” by The Devil Dogs (from 30 Sizzling Slabs!)
5. “Just Like Heaven” by Dinosaur Jr. (from Fossils)
6. “Favorite Shirt” by The Figgs (Low-Fi at Society High)
7. “Lucky Star” by The Goo Goo Dolls (from Superstar Car Wash)
8. “Crane” by Jawbreaker (from Unfun)
9. “Allison’s Starting to Happen” by The Lemonheads (from It’s a Shame About Ray)
10. “Good Things” by Sebadoh (from Smash Your Head on the Punk Rock)
2. “Stiff Competition” by Cheap Trick (from Heaven Tonight)
3. “Hope” by Descendents (from Milo Goes to College)
4. “Gonna See You Tonight” by The Devil Dogs (from 30 Sizzling Slabs!)
5. “Just Like Heaven” by Dinosaur Jr. (from Fossils)
6. “Favorite Shirt” by The Figgs (Low-Fi at Society High)
7. “Lucky Star” by The Goo Goo Dolls (from Superstar Car Wash)
8. “Crane” by Jawbreaker (from Unfun)
9. “Allison’s Starting to Happen” by The Lemonheads (from It’s a Shame About Ray)
10. “Good Things” by Sebadoh (from Smash Your Head on the Punk Rock)
Saturday, August 29, 2009
US Failing at Muslim Outreach
According to this story, “(t)he U.S. military is bungling its outreach to the Muslim world and squandering good will by failing to live up to its promises, the nation's highest-ranking military officer wrote Friday.”
Money Quote –
From the story –
Money Quote –
"We hurt ourselves and the message we are trying to send when it appears we are doing something merely for the credit," Mullen wrote in an essay published in a military journal. "We hurt ourselves more when our words don't align with our actions."Since the start of the war on terror I have said that the only way to truly defeat the extremists is by winning over the hearts and minds of the people in the Muslim world. It seems that we’re not doing a very good job at this.
From the story –
A survey of two dozen nations conducted this spring found that positive public attitudes toward the United States have surged in many parts of the world since President Barack Obama's election, but not in most of the Arab and Muslim world.It is this last point that I think is the most telling and disappointing. So much of what is promised by those great folks on the ground, who are risking their lives to keep us safe, gets lost in the bureaucracy of politics back home and that is a crime.
The poll registered continuing levels of profound distrust about U.S. influence and motives among Muslims, particularly in Turkey, Pakistan and the Palestinian territories. There, the report from the nonpartisan Pew Research Center said, animosity toward the United States "continues to run deep and unabated."
[…]
"Our biggest problem isn't caves, it's credibility," Mullen wrote in the Joint Force Quarterly. "Our messages lack credibility because we haven't invested enough in building trust and relationships, and we haven't always delivered on promises."
Currently Listening
1. “Cut-Out Witch” by Guided By Voices (from The Best of Guided By Voices: Human Amusements at Hourly Rates)
2. “Sound of Mariachi Bands” by J Church (from Camels, Spilled Corona and the Sound of Mariachi Bands)
3. “Already Gone” by The Methadones (from This Won’t Hurt)
4. “Girlfriend in a Comma” by Mojo Nixon (from Whereabouts Unknown)
5. “All Your Friends” by One Man Army (from Last Word Spoken)
6. “Son of Another Family” by Teenage Frames (from More Songs, Less Music)
7. “I Let It Go” by The Thermals (from Now We Can See)
8. “World Shut Your Mouth” by Julian Cope (from Left of the Dial: Dispatches from the ‘80’s Underground Disc 4)
9. “Escape Velocity” by Sicko (from More Bounce to the Ounce Disc 1)
10. “Sometime to Return” by Soul Asylum (from Never Mind the Mainstream: The Best of MTV’s 120 Minutes, Vol. 1)
2. “Sound of Mariachi Bands” by J Church (from Camels, Spilled Corona and the Sound of Mariachi Bands)
3. “Already Gone” by The Methadones (from This Won’t Hurt)
4. “Girlfriend in a Comma” by Mojo Nixon (from Whereabouts Unknown)
5. “All Your Friends” by One Man Army (from Last Word Spoken)
6. “Son of Another Family” by Teenage Frames (from More Songs, Less Music)
7. “I Let It Go” by The Thermals (from Now We Can See)
8. “World Shut Your Mouth” by Julian Cope (from Left of the Dial: Dispatches from the ‘80’s Underground Disc 4)
9. “Escape Velocity” by Sicko (from More Bounce to the Ounce Disc 1)
10. “Sometime to Return” by Soul Asylum (from Never Mind the Mainstream: The Best of MTV’s 120 Minutes, Vol. 1)
Too Much Power
According to this story, there is a bill in the Senate, the Cybersecurity Act of 2009, that would give the President “emergency control of the internet.”
From the story –
Color me crazy, but I don’t want anyone in the government, nor any part of the government, to have that kind of power.
Thanks to zTruth for the find. (Note -- Her post on the topic is more detailed than mine and definitely worth checking out.)
From the story –
The new legislation allows the president to "declare a cybersecurity emergency" relating to "non-governmental" computer networks and make a plan to respond to the danger, according to an excerpt published online -- a broad license that rights experts worry would give the president "amorphous powers" over private users.
Color me crazy, but I don’t want anyone in the government, nor any part of the government, to have that kind of power.
Thanks to zTruth for the find. (Note -- Her post on the topic is more detailed than mine and definitely worth checking out.)
Friday, August 28, 2009
My Core Values
I wanted to lay out the values that I hold the most dear and that are at the core of my being. The more I thought about it, the more I found that I could break down my core values into four things/categories:
- Compassion
- Fairness and equality
- Common sense
- Accountability, responsibility, and integrity
From these four comes everything else. These are the values that shape my worldview, political, philosophical, and spiritual beliefs.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Fun with Numbers
I opened up Google Reader this morning and was greeted to 666 new posts. I wonder if this is a sign.
Sicko’s Catalogue Back In Print
PunkNews.org is reporting that Red Scare Records is “reissuing the back catalogue from 90s-era pop-punk outfit, Sicko.” The only downside to this great news is that the reissues are going to be available in the digital format (i.e. MP3 downloads). While this is better than nothing, I would love to have all of Sicko’s albums in my physical library. I’m old school like that.
Quote of the Day
“I think that this is the first time that I am meeting most of you. But to me, whether it is an old friend or a new friend, there’s not much difference anyway, because I always believe we are the same, we are all human beings. Of course, there may be differences in our faith, or we may be of a different color, but we are human beings, consisting of the human body and the human mind. Our physical structure is the same, and our mind and our emotional nature are also the same. Wherever I meet people, I always have the feeling that I am encountering another human being, just like myself. I find it is much easier to communicate with others on that level. If we emphasize specific characteristics, like I am Tibetan or I am Buddhist, then there are differences. But those things are secondary. If we can leave the differences aside, I think we can easily communicate, exchange ideas, and share experiences.”-- The Dalai Lama speaking to an audience at Arizona State University in 1993 (quote taken from the book The Art Happiness). Emphasis mine.
Remembering the Best
One thing that I have noticed is that when people pass away, they tend to remember their best moments, but is this a good thing? Since Ted Kennedy’s passing on Tuesday night, the media has been flooded with stories about the man and his legacy. I have to admit that I have learned a lot about Kennedy in the past 24 hours and I have begun to wonder if my extremely low opinion of the man was fair.
There are some who will claim that this is just another example of “liberal media bias” but I disagree. For one I think that the idea of a systematic liberal media bias is malarkey, but that is a topic for another post. For another thing, one only has to look at the coverage of the deaths of Presidents Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford to see that the media greatly praised both men during the time after their deaths. Religious leader Jerry Falwell also received very positive coverage after his death. All three of these individuals were conservatives.
So if it’s not “liberal media bias,” then why does the industry that lives off of death, destruction, and negativity decide to go positive in the wake of the death of a celebrity, politician, religious leader, etc.? First I think they go with it because it sells. The backbone of the story, the individual’s death, certainly fills the negative requirement for the story. I think that the media focuses on the positive aspects (or the tragedy as in the case of Heath Ledger) because our collective psyche wants to remember the best of the individual…at least during the initial mourning period (given enough time and the wolves will return; some never go away but they are generally scurrilous and tasteless individuals that don’t understand the definition of words like tact and common courtesy). I think that collectively we agree that it is wrong to vilify those who have died, at the very least during the grieving period. History will be the ultimate judge and these individuals’ loved ones don’t need to be inundated by heartless attacks in the media.
There is a great post on this same topic called Euphemizing the Eulogy over on The Daily Dish that is well worth reading.
So the question is, does the overflowing praise and positive coverage paint an accurate picture of the individual who has died? Probably not, but is that a bad thing? Can you think of a time at a funeral where someone actually spoke ill of an individual or his/her idiosyncrasies? Sure it happens sometimes, but not very often and when it does, it is usually shunned. Like I said before, history will be the ultimate judge and it is through history that the true picture of the individual can be painted, the good and the bad. For now though, it should be enough to remember the good while the family mourns their loss.
There are some who will claim that this is just another example of “liberal media bias” but I disagree. For one I think that the idea of a systematic liberal media bias is malarkey, but that is a topic for another post. For another thing, one only has to look at the coverage of the deaths of Presidents Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford to see that the media greatly praised both men during the time after their deaths. Religious leader Jerry Falwell also received very positive coverage after his death. All three of these individuals were conservatives.
So if it’s not “liberal media bias,” then why does the industry that lives off of death, destruction, and negativity decide to go positive in the wake of the death of a celebrity, politician, religious leader, etc.? First I think they go with it because it sells. The backbone of the story, the individual’s death, certainly fills the negative requirement for the story. I think that the media focuses on the positive aspects (or the tragedy as in the case of Heath Ledger) because our collective psyche wants to remember the best of the individual…at least during the initial mourning period (given enough time and the wolves will return; some never go away but they are generally scurrilous and tasteless individuals that don’t understand the definition of words like tact and common courtesy). I think that collectively we agree that it is wrong to vilify those who have died, at the very least during the grieving period. History will be the ultimate judge and these individuals’ loved ones don’t need to be inundated by heartless attacks in the media.
There is a great post on this same topic called Euphemizing the Eulogy over on The Daily Dish that is well worth reading.
So the question is, does the overflowing praise and positive coverage paint an accurate picture of the individual who has died? Probably not, but is that a bad thing? Can you think of a time at a funeral where someone actually spoke ill of an individual or his/her idiosyncrasies? Sure it happens sometimes, but not very often and when it does, it is usually shunned. Like I said before, history will be the ultimate judge and it is through history that the true picture of the individual can be painted, the good and the bad. For now though, it should be enough to remember the good while the family mourns their loss.
Currently Listening
I’m letting the computer pick the tunes today.
1. “Cool to be You” by Descendents (from Cool To Be You)
2. “The Ambulance Song” by Dag Nasty (from Field Day)
3. “The Last Song” by The All-American Rejects (from The All-American Rejects)
4. “Allison Road” by The Gin Blossoms (from Outside Looking In: The Best of The Gin Blossoms)
5. “Can’t Hardly Wait” by The Replacements (from Don’t You Know Who I Think I Was?: The Best of The Replacements)
6. “Don’t Turn Out the Lights” by Screeching Weasel (from My Brain Hurts)
7. “Hold On” by Pearl Jam (from Lost Dogs: Rarities and B Sides Disc 1)
8. “Flowers of Guatemala” by R.E.M. (from Lifes Rich Pageant)
9. “Sorry to Keep You Waiting” by The Methadones (from Not Economically Viable)
10. “Bilge Rat” by The Pavers (from Local 1500)
1. “Cool to be You” by Descendents (from Cool To Be You)
2. “The Ambulance Song” by Dag Nasty (from Field Day)
3. “The Last Song” by The All-American Rejects (from The All-American Rejects)
4. “Allison Road” by The Gin Blossoms (from Outside Looking In: The Best of The Gin Blossoms)
5. “Can’t Hardly Wait” by The Replacements (from Don’t You Know Who I Think I Was?: The Best of The Replacements)
6. “Don’t Turn Out the Lights” by Screeching Weasel (from My Brain Hurts)
7. “Hold On” by Pearl Jam (from Lost Dogs: Rarities and B Sides Disc 1)
8. “Flowers of Guatemala” by R.E.M. (from Lifes Rich Pageant)
9. “Sorry to Keep You Waiting” by The Methadones (from Not Economically Viable)
10. “Bilge Rat” by The Pavers (from Local 1500)
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
R.I.P. Ted
Senator Ted Kennedy passed away last night after a year long battle with brain cancer. While I have never been a fan of Senator Kennedy, I have a problem with speaking ill of the dead.
Rest well Ted.
Rest well Ted.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Some More Books for My Library
I’ve come across a couple more books that I just have to have in my personal library someday.
The first is Vampires, Burial, and Death: Folklore and Reality by Paul Barber. Vampires have fascinated me ever since I got hooked on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and this books looks at the history of the folklore and history from which the vampire arose. I might also be able to use this book in the class that I am taking this semester (Folklore at OCCC).
The second is The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler, M.D. The Dalai Lama is one of my personal heroes and someone I admire greatly. This book in particular was recommended to me by my mother, but I probably won’t have time to read it with school starting up.
The first is Vampires, Burial, and Death: Folklore and Reality by Paul Barber. Vampires have fascinated me ever since I got hooked on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and this books looks at the history of the folklore and history from which the vampire arose. I might also be able to use this book in the class that I am taking this semester (Folklore at OCCC).
The second is The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler, M.D. The Dalai Lama is one of my personal heroes and someone I admire greatly. This book in particular was recommended to me by my mother, but I probably won’t have time to read it with school starting up.
10 Things to Avoid Saying at Work
Here is a list of the 10 Worst Things to Say in the Workplace. I guess the good news for me is that I’m only guilty of # 5, but I say that on a daily basis at work.
Monday, August 24, 2009
If a Public Option Passes…
This was originally going to be a fairly in-depth post and I wrote some stuff out by hand the other day at work, but I don’t have time to type it all out.
Here is the gist – If a public option becomes available, or if there is a non-profit co-opt that becomes available, I will probably sign up for it. While I am opposed to the idea of the government taking over the health care system, I’m also a realist about my own personal financial situation.
At the moment $200 of each paycheck is taken out for insurance, yet since I have been on this plan I have seen my co-pays only get higher and higher and my coverage get lower and lower. But beyond even that…I can’t afford losing $200 a paycheck ($400 a month). I make barely over $10 an hour (supporting a family of four with this as our only income) and that $400 a month would make a HUGE difference in our financial situation.
I’m not saying that I support Obamacare (because I don’t). I’m just being honest about what I will probably do if it, or some other health care reform with a public option, passes.
Here is the gist – If a public option becomes available, or if there is a non-profit co-opt that becomes available, I will probably sign up for it. While I am opposed to the idea of the government taking over the health care system, I’m also a realist about my own personal financial situation.
At the moment $200 of each paycheck is taken out for insurance, yet since I have been on this plan I have seen my co-pays only get higher and higher and my coverage get lower and lower. But beyond even that…I can’t afford losing $200 a paycheck ($400 a month). I make barely over $10 an hour (supporting a family of four with this as our only income) and that $400 a month would make a HUGE difference in our financial situation.
I’m not saying that I support Obamacare (because I don’t). I’m just being honest about what I will probably do if it, or some other health care reform with a public option, passes.
The Theology of Potter
Is apparently a growing field.
From the Story –
The part that I find interesting is the fact that people are interpreting the Harry Potter series as a Biblical alegory. I do not think that was something that was done on purpose by JK Rowling (I of course could be wrong on this but I’ve never seen her say anthing that would give an indication that the story is a reinterpretation of the Bible), but since the story contains many of the classic elements of the Hero’s Journey, as laid out by Joseph Campbell, it is not surprising that someone could read those types of interpretations into the text. Personally, I think this is another excellent exaple of how we all read and interpret things differently.
Money Quote –
Thanks to The Daily Dish for the find
From the Story –
“There is a whole burgeoning field of religion and popular culture, not just looking at what exact parallels there are, does it jibe with religious beliefs or is it counter to religious beliefs, but looking at these stories as a reflection of the spiritual or religious sensibilities of the culture,” says Russell W. Dalton, an assistant professor of Christian education at Brite Divinity School in Texas and the author of “Faith Journey through Fantasy Lands: A Christian Dialogue with Harry Potter, Star Wars, and The Lord of the Rings.”The fact that people see Harry Potter as a Christ-like hero is not that surprising. Harry, like Jesus, is a classic hero and his story follows the Hero’s Journey (I wrote a paper on this for Mythology class which can be found here). So from that stand point, Harry is as much a Christ-like figure as Luke Skywalker and Superman.
“When stories become as popular as the Harry Potter stories, they no longer simply reflect the religious views of the author, but become artifacts of the culture, and they say something about the culture that has embraced them,” Dalton says. “And that is certainly the case with Harry Potter.”
The academic interest in The Boy Who Lived is part of a larger search by religion scholars and writers for signs of faith, and in particular for echoes of the Christian narrative, in culture. The search is not new, though scholars have historically concentrated on high art - like painting and literature. More recently, religion journalists have turned their attention to popular culture, authoring books with titles like “The Gospel According to the Simpsons,” by Mark Pinsky, and “The Gospel According to the Coen Brothers,” by Cathleen Falsani, while scholars are examining the role of religion in Madonna’s videos, in the Star Trek series, and on “Lost.”
“We have to be engaged with the conversation that’s going on in the public,” says Jeffrey H. Mahan, a professor of ministry, media and culture at the Iliff School of Theology in Colorado and an early proponent of studying religion and popular culture.
There is also a long history of children’s literature being used as a form of religious pedagogy. Amy Boesky, an associate professor of English at Boston College, says that the use of children’s literature to teach moral values goes back at least as far as Erasmus, who wrote during the Renaissance, and includes children’s classics from “The Pilgrim’s Progress,” published in 1678, to “A Wrinkle in Time,” published in 1962. The best known example is the seven-volume Chronicles of Narnia, written in the early 1950s by the Christian apologist C.S. Lewis, which, in addition to being entertaining fantasy literature, is often read as a Christian allegory featuring Aslan, a heroic lion and obvious Christ figure.
Although some scholars now see Harry Potter as a Christ-like figure, the parallels are subtler, and, undoubtedly, for many readers vastly overshadowed by a dizzying torrent of magical spells, strange creatures, and Quidditch games. Harry is, himself, a complex adolescent hero, haunted by the murder of his parents but at times conflicted about his own role in the world and unsettled, as anyone would be, by his mind’s strange connection with that of the series’s evil antagonist, Voldemort.
“The Potter books are not explicitly religious in the way that C.S. Lewis’s Narnia tales are, but there is a strong sense of evil, and issues of good and evil are not only philosophical issues but also theological issues,” says Gareth B. Matthews, a professor of philosophy at UMass Amherst.
Some scholars take the search for Gospel themes in the Harry Potter series quite far. Oona Eisenstadt, an assistant professor of religious studies at Pomona College, offers a particularly elaborate analysis, arguing that Rowling explores the complex natures of biblical characters by presenting two versions of each in the Potter books. Snape and Malfoy, she argues, represent competing understandings of Judas - each seeking to kill Dumbledore, but one because he is serving evil and one because destiny demands it. Eisenstadt sees Dumbledore and Harry, in different ways, as Christ figures - perhaps Harry representing the human Jesus, and Dumbledore the divine. And she posits that the New Testament depiction of elements of the Jewish community is represented by the goblins (unappealing bankers) and the Ministry of Magic (legalistic and small-minded).
“Rather than offering a one-to-one allegory which would shove a theology down the throats of her child readers, Rowling’s role doublings, her one-to-twos, are an invitation to them, and to us all, to think,” Eisenstadt writes.
Some religion scholars seem most interested in the Potter series as social commentary - in particular, they focus on Harry’s refusal to take part in the anti-Muggle bias demonstrated by some pure-blood witches and wizards, as well as the hostility toward giants and ghosts and other menacing magical creatures that some characters in the series evince. “One of the overall themes of the Harry Potter series has to do with race and race-based persecution,” says Lana A. Whited, a professor of English at Ferrum College in Virginia and the author of “The Ivory Tower And Harry Potter.” And Dalton, of Brite Divinity School, takes the argument a step further, suggesting that the series’s association of tolerance with the heroic characters is a critique of fundamentalism.
“To Dumbledore and Harry and his friends{hellip} it didn’t matter whether you were Muggle-born, or whether you were a giant,” Dalton says, “whereas clearly the Death Eaters, the evil ones, were intolerant of people who were unlike them.”
The part that I find interesting is the fact that people are interpreting the Harry Potter series as a Biblical alegory. I do not think that was something that was done on purpose by JK Rowling (I of course could be wrong on this but I’ve never seen her say anthing that would give an indication that the story is a reinterpretation of the Bible), but since the story contains many of the classic elements of the Hero’s Journey, as laid out by Joseph Campbell, it is not surprising that someone could read those types of interpretations into the text. Personally, I think this is another excellent exaple of how we all read and interpret things differently.
Money Quote –
At the same time, scholars of religion have begun developing a more nuanced take on the Potter phenomenon, with some arguing that the wildly popular series of books and films contains positive ethical messages and a narrative arc that is worthy of serious scholarly examination and even theological reflection. The scholars are primarily interested in what the books have to say about the two big issues that always preoccupy people of faith - morality and mortality - but some are also interested in what the series has to say about tolerance (Harry and friends are notably open to people and creatures who differ from them) and bullying, the nature and presence of evil in society, and the existence of the supernatural.Harry Potter is a very moral and ethical character who tries to do the right thing, even when it is hard to do. He and his friends are also shinning examples of tolerance and the importance of treating people (and supernatural beings) as individuals based on their actions and not on their color, origin, sexuality, and any other superfluous criteria.
Thanks to The Daily Dish for the find
We’re Not Getting Enough Sleep
According to this story, 51% of people rather have a good night sleep than great sex.
Money Quote –
Money Quote –
Clearly the rigors of modern living are having a deleterious effect on our national libido.Thanks to The Daily Dish for the find.
Currently Listening
1. “Far and Away” by Down By Law (from All Scratched Up!)
2. “Too Much Grey” by Down By Law (from Down by Law)
3. “Concrete Times” by Down By Law (from Last of the Sharpshooters)
4. “Bright Green Globe” by Down By Law (from punkrockacademyfightsong)
5. “Not the Only One” by The GC5 (from Kisses From Hanoi / Horseshoes & Handgrenades)
6. “Turn Their Backs” by The GC5 (from Never Bet the Devil Your Head)
7. “Fun Tonight” by The Riverdales (from The Riverdales [Bonus Tracks])
8. “Riverdale Stomp” by The Riverdales (from Storm the Streets)
9. “Lead the Way” by The Riverdales (from Phase Three)
10. “Something for Nothing” by Those Unknown (from Those Unknown)
2. “Too Much Grey” by Down By Law (from Down by Law)
3. “Concrete Times” by Down By Law (from Last of the Sharpshooters)
4. “Bright Green Globe” by Down By Law (from punkrockacademyfightsong)
5. “Not the Only One” by The GC5 (from Kisses From Hanoi / Horseshoes & Handgrenades)
6. “Turn Their Backs” by The GC5 (from Never Bet the Devil Your Head)
7. “Fun Tonight” by The Riverdales (from The Riverdales [Bonus Tracks])
8. “Riverdale Stomp” by The Riverdales (from Storm the Streets)
9. “Lead the Way” by The Riverdales (from Phase Three)
10. “Something for Nothing” by Those Unknown (from Those Unknown)
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Epitaph Goes Radio Disney?
My kids love Radio Disney and thusly I end up listening to quite a lot of it in the car. Admittedly not everything they play sucks…in fact, some of it is pretty good. And surprisingly, most of the music played on Radio Disney falls into the pop rock genre (kind of like if Cheap Trick were teenagers). Often the songs are catchy and harmlessly fun, so they are perfectly safe for kids and sometimes fun to sing along to.
So today I found a video by the band The Higher for their song “It’s Only Natural.” The band is on Epitaph Records (which is run by Bad Religion’s Brett Gurewitz) and I’m not really sure why I decided to watch the video, but about 5 seconds in to the thing, I thought that it was the kind of song (and band for that matter) that would be perfect for Radio Disney.
Here’s the video…you be the judge.
So today I found a video by the band The Higher for their song “It’s Only Natural.” The band is on Epitaph Records (which is run by Bad Religion’s Brett Gurewitz) and I’m not really sure why I decided to watch the video, but about 5 seconds in to the thing, I thought that it was the kind of song (and band for that matter) that would be perfect for Radio Disney.
Here’s the video…you be the judge.
American Political Violence
TPM takes a look at the history of political violence in the American right.
(Note – For those that don’t know, TPM is a liberal blog. Like The Daily Dish, which is a conservative blog, TPM is written by a respected journalist that does his research on the issues of the day. That having been said, there is a liberal slant to the posts on TPM and this one is no exception.)
(Note – For those that don’t know, TPM is a liberal blog. Like The Daily Dish, which is a conservative blog, TPM is written by a respected journalist that does his research on the issues of the day. That having been said, there is a liberal slant to the posts on TPM and this one is no exception.)
The Sports Analogy
There are those who often talk about politics like it was a sporting event. Things are broken down into teams and the us-vs.-them competition mentality. I’ve never bought into this analogy and I think I’ve finally figured out why.
First off, I don’t really like sports, but more than that though I don’t think of politics as a game or competition. I don’t think of governance as an us-vs.-them or a “my team wins and your team losses” situation. To me, everyone should win. Governance should be about bringing together the best minds and ideas to work towards the solutions that are best for the citizenry. I know that this is a bit of a pipedream, but that is how I view politics and how I think it should work.
Secondly, I don’t respond well to competition. That’s not to say that I am anti-competition or think that there’s not a place for it…I just don’t see life in term of competition. I believe in hard work and doing your best, but I think that we should do those things for personal growth and achievement and not to defeat someone else. I completely understand that in life there are times that we will all fail and there are times we will succeed. I just don’t want my successes to be on someone else’s back.
Because of this, I have a very hard time understanding when people look at politics in this way. I don’t get the blanket condemnations of one party of philosophy. Sure there are specific issues that I disagree with the “right” on, but that doesn’t mean that I am going to throw around generalizations, stereotypes, and/or wide-brushed attacks their way or that I am going to think of them as some rival team that needs to be vanquished. That just seems counter-productive and like a waste of energy and time.
First off, I don’t really like sports, but more than that though I don’t think of politics as a game or competition. I don’t think of governance as an us-vs.-them or a “my team wins and your team losses” situation. To me, everyone should win. Governance should be about bringing together the best minds and ideas to work towards the solutions that are best for the citizenry. I know that this is a bit of a pipedream, but that is how I view politics and how I think it should work.
Secondly, I don’t respond well to competition. That’s not to say that I am anti-competition or think that there’s not a place for it…I just don’t see life in term of competition. I believe in hard work and doing your best, but I think that we should do those things for personal growth and achievement and not to defeat someone else. I completely understand that in life there are times that we will all fail and there are times we will succeed. I just don’t want my successes to be on someone else’s back.
Because of this, I have a very hard time understanding when people look at politics in this way. I don’t get the blanket condemnations of one party of philosophy. Sure there are specific issues that I disagree with the “right” on, but that doesn’t mean that I am going to throw around generalizations, stereotypes, and/or wide-brushed attacks their way or that I am going to think of them as some rival team that needs to be vanquished. That just seems counter-productive and like a waste of energy and time.
Monday, August 17, 2009
My Favorite TV Theme Songs
I’ve been kicking the idea for this post around for a while and today I found myself at the library with time to kill and not many ideas for other posts, so I figured this would be as good of a time as any.
1. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
2. Mystery Science Theater 3000
3. The Adventures of Pete & Pete
4. Kids in the Hall
Honorable Mention
All Grown Up
Pick Your Apocalypse
This is fairly disturbing and yet hard to tear yourself away from.
And the option the honestly scares me the most (because I see it happening already) –
And the option the honestly scares me the most (because I see it happening already) –
Decline of Civic SpiritThanks to The Daily Dish for the find.
As happened in Rome, excessive taxation leads citizens to lose respect for the state. The all-volunteer Army shrinks as no one cares to assume the risks of fighting for the country.
This Dude has Some Good Karma
According to this story, British skydiver Paul Lewis “survived a 2,000-foot drop onto the roof of an aircraft hanger after his parachutes malfunctioned.”
From the story –
From the story –
At about 3,000 feet, Lewis tried to open his main parachute, but it failed. He then managed to release his reserve, but it only partially opened, causing him to spiral down rapidly.This is why you will never see my fat hinder jumping out of an airplane. My karma just isn’t that good.
Lewis ended up plunging a few thousand feet onto the steel roof of an aircraft hanger. The only reason he didn't proceed to roll off onto the ground was because his parachute got snagged on something.
"He is incredibly lucky, he's almost without an injury. If he'd fallen 10 (feet) either way he would have landed on concrete," Colin Fitzmaurice, owner of the Parachute Centre, where Lewis took off from, told the Times.
Should Brad Run for the 5th?
Calvin Rees asks the question –
Yesterday at the 5th District Democratic Party Summit attended by over 100 activists Dick Morrissette said we should start a “Draft Brad Henry for 5th District Congress.” what do you think?It seems like the folks on the Democrats of Oklahoma Community Forum are torn on the subject; some think Brad should run against Tom Coburn for the Senate. Personally, I’d like to see Governor Henry run for President.
Some People Blog Too Much
I recently started using Google Reader to follow my favorite blogs and I’ve noticed that some blogs are just way too active. The two prime examples are Andrew Sullivan’s The Daily Dish and Talking Points Memo. The Daily Dish is so active that I wonder id Sullivan ever sleeps.
I like blogging and all, but come on folks…there is a world outside, go and live in it.
I like blogging and all, but come on folks…there is a world outside, go and live in it.
Concert of the Day
Here is an entire set by 7 Seconds from 1986. This is classic punk rock, plus it captures the band in their transition period (which I happen to like, but apparently I'm alone in that among 7 Seconds' fans).
Sunday, August 16, 2009
I Got a New Cell Phone…
And I don’t like it. Sure it looks nice and can text and access the internet and all, but it doesn’t support java applications and that means that I can’t use the Gmail or Opera Mini browser applications. Luckily there is a 30 day return policy, so this thing might be heading back to Sprint. I only got it because the charger for my old phone is not working right. I like my old phoned and really don’t want to change. I think that it is time to shop for a new charger for my old phone.
MySpace + “Spam Filter” = ARGH!
Twice today I’ve tried to contact some folks through MySpace to see if they would be interested in doing interviews with me for this site and for OklahomaRock.com and twice I received a message stating that the message did not pass the “spam filter.” What the crap is that?!? I’ve never had problems previously contact people via MySpace for interviews. Is this some new thing that the site has instituted? Or is it a setting that people can adjust. I’m hardly ever on MySpace anymore and this will just add to the reasons why I go back even less often.
The REALLY frustrating part is that I still want to try and contact these folks for interviews, but I’m not sure of any other way to get in contact with them. :-(
The REALLY frustrating part is that I still want to try and contact these folks for interviews, but I’m not sure of any other way to get in contact with them. :-(
Tropical Storm in Space
According to this story, astronomers discovered a tropical storm on Saturn’s moon Titan.
From the story –
From the story –
In many ways Titan's climate resembles that of Earth, but instead of a water cycle, Titan has a methane cycle. Clouds, rain and lakes all exist on Titan, but they are all made of methane. In the moon's frigid climate, any water is frozen into rock-hard ice.If we are ever to find life in our solar system, I suspect that it will be on one of the moons of Saturn.
Clouds of vaporized methane are not uncommon on Titan, though they have never before been observed in Titan's tropics. But in April 2008, astronomers using the Gemini North telescope and NASA's Infrared Telescope Facility in Hawaii spotted a severe storm covering almost 2 million square miles (3 million square km) over the equator.
"The models predicted that the equatorial region should be very dry and should not support cloud formation," said astronomer Henry Roe of Lowell Observatory in Arizona. "But this episode created clouds over both the equator and the south pole. We don't know what set off that sequence, but something gave a pretty good kick to
the atmosphere."
Scientists suspect the storm's trigger may have been some kind of geologic activity on the moon's surface, such as a geyser or new mountain range forming. Atmospheric effects may also have set off the storm.
[…]
"It's an amazing place because it is deeply familiar to us, being form Earth, in terms of the processes - clouds forming, rainfall, carved out channels on the surface, huge fields of what look like sand dunes," Roe told SPACE.com. "But the materials that are involved are quite alien."
Empire and Science Fiction
The World in a Satin Bag has put together a post that examines science fiction and American imperialism as a potential M.A. thesis topic. The post entitled Science Fiction and Empire, and Other Thesis Considerations is a fascinating read, especially for those who like the genre.
While there, you should also check out the post New Weird Science Fiction?.
Money Quote –
While there, you should also check out the post New Weird Science Fiction?.
Money Quote –
…Claims to originality are always already flawed, because everything has already been done before, in some capacity or another. Originality now seems to apply only to pieces that make readers aware of their greatness to the extent that they no longer see where its influences arise from (and some obvious exceptions must be made for those people who make it their jobs to always be aware of the past, such as literary critics, etc.). …
[…]
P.S.: I should clarify that while I do not believe originality exists in a pure form, I do believe in the power of suggestion inherent in good writing. A good story, in its more pure, unarguable form, will always separate the reader from the genre experience, will remove the past from the reader and create anew the present or future or whatever. This assumes, of course, that an individual reads a piece of fiction as a reader, not a critic or eagle-eyed literary narcissist.
10 Blogs That Could Be Films
Film School Rejects has put together a list of 10 Blogs That Could Be Films. I’ve only read one of the blogs on the list, but I think that I’m going to have to check out some of the others because they sound great.
Thanks to The Daily Dish for the find.
Thanks to The Daily Dish for the find.
Wow Story of the Day
Headline: Thai Elephant Fitted with Artificial Leg
Gist of the story: An elephant who stepped on a landmine 10 years ago was fitted with a permanent artificial leg.
There is a pretty amazing picture of the elephant with her new leg in the original story.
Gist of the story: An elephant who stepped on a landmine 10 years ago was fitted with a permanent artificial leg.
There is a pretty amazing picture of the elephant with her new leg in the original story.
Currently Reading
Title: Twilight (Amazon, Wikipedia)
Author: Stephenie Meyer (Official, Wikipedia)
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (Official, Wikipedia)
I saw the movie adaptation of Twilight and I enjoyed it. I liked its take on vampires and thought it was very well acted, directed, produced, and written, so I decided to try my hand at the book.
So far the book is a good, quick, and visual read. Unfortunately I’m picturing things based on the film, but that’s not too terribly bad. I’m only in the second chapter, but I have noticed the scenes that were condensed and/or cut. As usual, the book is doing a better job than the film in telling the story, but I still have a ways to go. So far though, so good.
Author: Stephenie Meyer (Official, Wikipedia)
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (Official, Wikipedia)
I saw the movie adaptation of Twilight and I enjoyed it. I liked its take on vampires and thought it was very well acted, directed, produced, and written, so I decided to try my hand at the book.
So far the book is a good, quick, and visual read. Unfortunately I’m picturing things based on the film, but that’s not too terribly bad. I’m only in the second chapter, but I have noticed the scenes that were condensed and/or cut. As usual, the book is doing a better job than the film in telling the story, but I still have a ways to go. So far though, so good.
Currently Listening
1. “Clean Sheets” by Descendents (from ALL)
2. “Global Probing” by Descendents (from Bonus Fat)
3. “Dry Spell” by Descendents (from Cool To Be You)
4. “Sour Grapes” by Descendents (from Enjoy!)
5. “Sick-O-Me” by Descendents (from Everything Sucks)
6. “Christmas Vacation” by Descendents (from I Don’t Want to Grow Up)
7. “I Quit” by Descendents (from ‘Merican [EP])
8. “Suburban Home” by Descendents (from Milo Goes to College)
9. “Just Like Them” by ALL (from ALL)
10. “Casual Girl” by TonyALL (from New Girl, Old Story)
2. “Global Probing” by Descendents (from Bonus Fat)
3. “Dry Spell” by Descendents (from Cool To Be You)
4. “Sour Grapes” by Descendents (from Enjoy!)
5. “Sick-O-Me” by Descendents (from Everything Sucks)
6. “Christmas Vacation” by Descendents (from I Don’t Want to Grow Up)
7. “I Quit” by Descendents (from ‘Merican [EP])
8. “Suburban Home” by Descendents (from Milo Goes to College)
9. “Just Like Them” by ALL (from ALL)
10. “Casual Girl” by TonyALL (from New Girl, Old Story)
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Anyone Want to Start a Band?
I’ve got this wacky idea that it would be fun to start an ALL/Descendents tribute band. Anyone interested in joining?
It’s All Mr. Brady’s Fault
Recently my daughter has taken to watching reruns of The Brady Bunch and for whatever reason she loves the show. I watch it now and get a ton of laughs out of the abysmal acting, writing, and production values, but I also remember watching the show quite a lot as a kid.
For some reason this come up on a call with a customer the other day. The customer went off on this hilarious tangent about how growing up watching that show completely messed with his view of humanity because that show taught that deep down, all people were good and since he grew up believing this, he was constantly disappointed with the reality that many people are actually far from good.
In between my gulps of air brought on by uncontrollable laughter, it occurred to me that this guy made an excellent point. More than that though, I also realized that I suffered from the same experience because I too believe that deep down people are good, or at least have the ability to do incredible good. Unfortunately though, I’m often greatly disappointed by people.
So I wonder if those lessons of morals and whatnot have just set me up for a lifetime of disappointment. I sure hope not, because I’m trying to instill those same morals on my kids.
For some reason this come up on a call with a customer the other day. The customer went off on this hilarious tangent about how growing up watching that show completely messed with his view of humanity because that show taught that deep down, all people were good and since he grew up believing this, he was constantly disappointed with the reality that many people are actually far from good.
In between my gulps of air brought on by uncontrollable laughter, it occurred to me that this guy made an excellent point. More than that though, I also realized that I suffered from the same experience because I too believe that deep down people are good, or at least have the ability to do incredible good. Unfortunately though, I’m often greatly disappointed by people.
So I wonder if those lessons of morals and whatnot have just set me up for a lifetime of disappointment. I sure hope not, because I’m trying to instill those same morals on my kids.
The Shack?
Radio Shack has re-branded itself The Shack.
And the people who make these kinds of decisions make probably at least three to four times the amount of money that I do. Does the phrase “New Coke” not ring any bells?
And the people who make these kinds of decisions make probably at least three to four times the amount of money that I do. Does the phrase “New Coke” not ring any bells?
The Most Popular Band in America
Spinner is reporting that according to a poll by the Pew Reseach Center, The Beatles are the most popular band in America.
This really doesn’t surprise me that much. The Beatles have influenced just about every band that has come after them, whether directly or indirectly. As much as Elvis Presley, they changed the face of popular music forever. Now if I could just figure out why I dislike them so much.
This really doesn’t surprise me that much. The Beatles have influenced just about every band that has come after them, whether directly or indirectly. As much as Elvis Presley, they changed the face of popular music forever. Now if I could just figure out why I dislike them so much.
Diplomacy…Muppet Style
Sesame Street in Palestine.
From the story –
Money Quote –
From the story –
In the Palestinian territories, Muppets teach nonviolence on a local version of Sesame Street called "Shara'a Simsim." Sesame Workshop calls this effort "Muppet diplomacy."I grew up on Sesame Street and I can honestly say that it had a huge impact on my life. I truly hope that Shara'a Simsim is successful in laying the seeds of cooporation and tolerance in the children of Palestine. That region has been torn apart by war and religious strife since the re-introduction of Isreal and those children, on all sides, deserve better.
"This means using our characters -- characters children love and parents trust -- to bridge some of the world's most intractable divides," Knell said. "Muppets give children, and the parents who watch the show with them, a chance to explore other cultures from the safety of their living room, where no one will criticize them for being curious."
Daoud Kuttab, executive producer of "Shara'a Simsim," knows that the Muppets are highly effective communicators. "Anything the Muppets do, anything they say, any idea they transmit, the children accept."
An internationally respected Palestinian journalist, Kuttab began working with the show more than a decade ago. After covering the war-torn region for years, he realized that Sesame was a great way to reach Palestinian children who desperately needed an alternative to the harsh lessons they were absorbing.
"I would say 3-, 4-, 5-year olds -- if we don't catch them at that early age, we do risk losing them to all kinds of propaganda, whether it's conservative, religious or fundamentalist," Kuttab said.
Hamas television runs a weekly program for kids, that sometimes preaches violent resistance.
"They have to be willing, prepared for the future. And that's why the Palestinians are showing seriousness," said Ahmed Yousef, a political leader in Hamas, the party in power in Gaza. "To keep our dignity and our independence, we have to sacrifice our life. We are either victorious, or we die for the good cause."
With some funding from the U.S. State Department and guidance from the U.S. producers, Kuttab's team developed the Sesame program into something uniquely Palestinian, complete with live-action segments filmed in the West Bank and Gaza, a set that looks like a typical Palestinian street and Muppets named Haneen and Karim.
"We are interested in teaching tolerance, respect, pride in their own country and their own nation, and also in understanding that there are people who are different, and that's OK," Kuttab said.
[…]
In the Palestinian version, "Shara'a Simsim," direct references to the region's political situation are not included. The Muppets like Haneen and Karim show pride in their own culture but also understanding that there are differences in the world.
And Karim, an upbeat young rooster Muppet, aims to provide a healthy role model for boys.
"Boys are a problem in our society. They see their parents being humiliated. They think they are the men of the house and have to do something about it. But they can't do anything," Kuttab said. "We're trying to tell them, 'your energy is OK, but let's channel it in a different way.'"
Live-action segments introduce children to Palestinians who have channeled their energy into becoming teachers, doctors or business owners -- people, Knell says, "who can act as role models, people who strive to remove themselves from the hardships children see."
Money Quote –
The program has always found fun and funny ways to teach reading and counting. But interspersed with those ABCs and 123s are lessons in cooperation, tolerance and mutual respect. It wasn't by accident that Sesame was a multiracial street as far back as the 1960s. Its creators wanted children to understand that integration was OK, a message so controversial at the time that "Sesame Street" was banned by some TV stations in the U.S. South.
The Libertarian Stance Against Obamacare…
Makes a lot more sense than the shenanigans plaguing our discourse at the moment.
Currently Listening
1. “Wishing Well” by ALL (from Allroy for Prez)
2. “Prison” by ALL (from Allroy Saves)
3. “Hooidge” by ALL (from Allsoy Sez)
4. “Man-O-Steel” by ALL (from Allroy’s Revenge)
5. “Excuses” by ALL (from Breaking Things)
6. “Can’t Say” by ALL (from Dot [EP])
7. “Away She Went” by ALL (from Everything Sucks Demos)
8. “All’s Fair” by ALL (from Guilty)
9. “Silence” by ALL (from Mass Nerder)
10. “Wonder” by ALL from Percolater)
11. “Make Believe” by ALL (from Problematic)
12. “Long Distance” by ALL (from Pummel)
2. “Prison” by ALL (from Allroy Saves)
3. “Hooidge” by ALL (from Allsoy Sez)
4. “Man-O-Steel” by ALL (from Allroy’s Revenge)
5. “Excuses” by ALL (from Breaking Things)
6. “Can’t Say” by ALL (from Dot [EP])
7. “Away She Went” by ALL (from Everything Sucks Demos)
8. “All’s Fair” by ALL (from Guilty)
9. “Silence” by ALL (from Mass Nerder)
10. “Wonder” by ALL from Percolater)
11. “Make Believe” by ALL (from Problematic)
12. “Long Distance” by ALL (from Pummel)
Friday, August 14, 2009
Is Killing Terrorist Leaders Making a Difference?
Robert Wright gives a theory that it might and it might not do any good in the long-term.
My own assessment is sunnier: Chances that the killing of Baitullah Mehsud will help our cause, hurt our cause, or have no effect are, respectively, 33 percent, 33 percent, and 33 percent. This is based on a rigorous multidecade study of organizations I’ve worked for. Here’s the data: When someone leaves the organization—whether through resignation, getting fired, or even death—the chances that their replacement will be more effective than them, less effective, or about the same are: 33, 33, 33.I have believed for a long time that the only long-term resolution to the war on terror is to win over the hearts and minds of the Muslim world. How to accomplish this goal is the hard part. Obviously the best thing would be to spread freedom and liberty throughout the Middle East, but that is easier said than done.
[…]
Now, reducing the “demand” for a brand of terrorism is hard to conceptualize. But it would include reducing the amount of grass roots support for the terrorists both in their own habitat and around the world. And one problem with trying to kill terrorist leaders with drone strikes is that the number of civilians you kill in the process can actually increase that support.
Of course, civilian deaths can have the opposite effect, if enough of the public blames the terrorists for them. Still, I suspect that, on balance, collateral damage helps the terrorists and hurts us. One reason is that, even if civilian deaths cause the local populace to turn on the terrorist organization (a big if), they can still help terrorist recruiters in the wider world. So, come to think of it, my 33 percent estimate of success may be a bit high, all things considered.
Ellis, Anger, and the Talk of the Nation
Historian, author, and college professor Joseph Ellis was on Talk of the Nation yesterday during the segment This Angry moment And The Political Divide.
From the interview –
NEARY: Now, as you explained earlier this week, we'll just go over a little bit of what you told us earlier this week. There are those in this country who think of the government as one of us, that is that it has an important role to play in making our lives better. And there are those who think of the government as them, that it's a force kind of outside the body politic, should be kept at arm's length, sometimes does more harm than good.
In this current political climate, do you see that underlying mistrust of government as being at least part of the reason for the anger that we're seeing?
Mr. ELLIS: Yes, I do, and well, I do think that some of the people at these open meeting are orchestrated. I mean, especially when they're reading from note cards, but the outrage that many Americans were expressing and the anger is a really long-standing American tradition.
I mean, it's built into the political DNA of the United States, almost like no other country in the world. We're one of the few countries where patriotism is often expressed as a love for country and a hatred for government, and presidents from Jefferson to Ronald Reagan have campaigned for the presidency on the principle that they will dismantle the government once they get in office - although they seldom do that.
It's, as I say, built into the political DNA, all the way back to the American revolution. That's the wellspring. That's where it starts, which you'll recall was an attempt to leave the British empire - successful attempt - based on the principle that parliament and the king represented an arbitrary form of government that imposed itself without the consent of the American colonists.
And so the notion of a distant government, far away, not under your eyes, as a leviathan that devours your liberties and that you can't let it in just an inch because once it's in, it expands and takes away all freedoms. This - and if you read the Declaration of Independence, it has absolutely nothing good to say about government and everything good to say about the sovereign individual, not the collective, but the individual, and the government only exists at the consent of the citizenry.
So these are long-standing values imprinted on us for a very long time that have been drawn upon both by left and by right. I mean, Thoreau retreating to Walden and refusing to pay his taxes because of the Mexican War. And if you will, the biggest movement of the 19th century, the South's secession because it fails to recognize the legitimacy of the federal government.
The entire segment is really worth listening to. Of all of the guests, Ellis was the best, most logical, and the one who understands our nation and history better than any of the others. I have only read one of Ellis’ books (American Creation: Triumphs and Tragedies at the Founding of the Republic) but it was such an impressive book, that I plan on reading more of his work (when the mood to read history hits me…lately I’ve been reading purely for escapism but that is another topic all together).
R.I.P. Les Paul
Guitar legend Les Paul passed away on Thursday at the age on 94. The heavens have yet another legend to listen to for eternity. Rest well Mr. Paul and thank you for all of the great guitars and music.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Book Review: Death’s Daughter
Title: Death’s Daughter (Amazon, Penguin Group)
Publisher: Ace Books (Official, Wikipedia)
For some reason I’ve gotten out of the habit of writing reviews for books, probably because by the time I get around to writing a Currently Reading post on the book, I’ve read a pretty good chunk of the book and the post ends up feeling like a bit of a review in and of itself. After finishing Death’s Daughter, I felt the book deserved a review (you can see my Currently Reading post on the book here).
Death’s Daughter follows the adventures of Calliope Reaper-Jones from mild mannered NYC home and garden office worker to the height of power in the supernatural world. Calliope is the daughter of Death and dad has gone missing, forcing her to take over the family business (not something that she desires in the least). The story follows the classic Hero’s Journey that includes some twists and turns along the way.
In the book, Death is a job held by a mortal that is granted immortality and supernatural powers. The current CEO of Death, Inc. (yes, Death is a person and a company) family are also granted immortality and supernatural powers and one is given the title of birthright. A deal was struck between God and the Devil shortly after Lucifer’s fall from heaven. They decided that it was best to have Death controlled by an impartial third party which was overlooked by a Board of Directors, which consists of three different gods and goddesses (in this case the Board consisted of Kali, Persephone, and Wodin). Each new candidate for the job must complete three tasks before being given the title and power of Death.
The thing I liked best about the book (aside from a main character at times who was a complete jerk and you almost wanted to go down in flames) was the way that Amber Benson weaved elements of the world’s religions into the supernatural world. Aside from the gods/goddesses in the Board, the Hindu god Indra and demon Vritra both play big parts in the story. There is even a scene with God (who is a unisex voice) that really reminds me a lot of the scene with God in the movie Hello.
Overall the book is a very fun and satisfying urban fantasy with characters that are full and flawed. I’m looking forward to reading more books in this series.
For some reason I’ve gotten out of the habit of writing reviews for books, probably because by the time I get around to writing a Currently Reading post on the book, I’ve read a pretty good chunk of the book and the post ends up feeling like a bit of a review in and of itself. After finishing Death’s Daughter, I felt the book deserved a review (you can see my Currently Reading post on the book here).
Death’s Daughter follows the adventures of Calliope Reaper-Jones from mild mannered NYC home and garden office worker to the height of power in the supernatural world. Calliope is the daughter of Death and dad has gone missing, forcing her to take over the family business (not something that she desires in the least). The story follows the classic Hero’s Journey that includes some twists and turns along the way.
In the book, Death is a job held by a mortal that is granted immortality and supernatural powers. The current CEO of Death, Inc. (yes, Death is a person and a company) family are also granted immortality and supernatural powers and one is given the title of birthright. A deal was struck between God and the Devil shortly after Lucifer’s fall from heaven. They decided that it was best to have Death controlled by an impartial third party which was overlooked by a Board of Directors, which consists of three different gods and goddesses (in this case the Board consisted of Kali, Persephone, and Wodin). Each new candidate for the job must complete three tasks before being given the title and power of Death.
The thing I liked best about the book (aside from a main character at times who was a complete jerk and you almost wanted to go down in flames) was the way that Amber Benson weaved elements of the world’s religions into the supernatural world. Aside from the gods/goddesses in the Board, the Hindu god Indra and demon Vritra both play big parts in the story. There is even a scene with God (who is a unisex voice) that really reminds me a lot of the scene with God in the movie Hello.
Overall the book is a very fun and satisfying urban fantasy with characters that are full and flawed. I’m looking forward to reading more books in this series.
How Did They Do It?
The water in our neighborhood was turned off today for maintenance by the city and I had never realized how much we depend on running water. How did our ancestors do it? How did people live in the desert of Mesopotamia or the great plains of America without running water? I truly don’t think that I could have done it.
Currently Listening
1. “Big Little” by Goodbye Harry (from Food Stamp B-B-Q)
2. “2nd Street” by Pinhead Gunpowder (from Compulsive Disclosure)
3. “The KKK Took My Baby Away” by The Ramones (from Hey! Ho! Let’s Go: The Anthology Disc 2)
4. “Moaner” by Hagfish (from The Blasting Room)
5. “Sheena is a Punk Rocker” by Josie Cotton (from Brats on the Beat: Ramones for Kids)
6. “Gitchee Gitchee Goo” by Phineas and the Ferbtones (from Disney Channel Playlist)
7. “Casemaker” by Sinkhole (from Punk USA)
8. “Guitar Case” by TonyALL (from New Girl, Old Story)
9. “Alternative is Here to Stay” by The Mr. T Experience
10. “Wishes Would Pass” by The AG’s
2. “2nd Street” by Pinhead Gunpowder (from Compulsive Disclosure)
3. “The KKK Took My Baby Away” by The Ramones (from Hey! Ho! Let’s Go: The Anthology Disc 2)
4. “Moaner” by Hagfish (from The Blasting Room)
5. “Sheena is a Punk Rocker” by Josie Cotton (from Brats on the Beat: Ramones for Kids)
6. “Gitchee Gitchee Goo” by Phineas and the Ferbtones (from Disney Channel Playlist)
7. “Casemaker” by Sinkhole (from Punk USA)
8. “Guitar Case” by TonyALL (from New Girl, Old Story)
9. “Alternative is Here to Stay” by The Mr. T Experience
10. “Wishes Would Pass” by The AG’s
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Supporting Freedom
The blog Classically Liberal has a fantastic post entitled When everyone wants freedom that is so dead on that it is staggering.
From the post (emphasis mine) –
Freedom is never an easy thing to support, but lord knows we need more people doing it.
From the post (emphasis mine) –
At times you will find political figures who are willing to fight for freedom. Those, unfortunately, are rare occasions. Few individuals are willing to do this consistently. Most are, at best, sunshine libertarians —those who advocate freedom when it is safe and bright and appealing; when it has the sanction of the majority; when even the mob can applaud the virtues of liberty.This makes such perfect sense to me that it is scary. CLS has hit the nail on the head in regards to power and the inconsistencies of politicians, people, the left, and the right.
There are some trends that we can discern regarding support for freedom. And I should state that by freedom, I mean the right of the individual to control their own life, liberty and property, restricted only by the equal ights of others. This is classical liberalism, which is not the same thing that the illiberal Left promotes. And by illiberal Left I refer to such people as Nancy Pelosi, Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
On the Right we saw figures like Goldwater and Reagan, who were more liberal than not, and certainly more liberal than most on the Right. George Bush and the advocates of the Religious Right were part of the illiberal Right. Liberals want to expand freedom not restrict it. And there are people on both the Right and the Left who wish to do that.
In my view liberals on what is called the Left, and what is called the Right, are inconsistent liberals. They are advocates of freedom sometimes, and advocates of authoritarianism other times. These are liberals who fail to live up to their own principles.
Most politicians, however, lack principles. They are not advocates of great principles at all, just advocates of power, particularly power in their own hands. They are the people who see humanity as a great lump of clay and themselves as the God-chosen sculptors, with the vision and the right necessary to beat that clay into shape. And “beat” is the operative word when political power is wielded.
Most politicians, like most people, are of mixed premises. More importantly, they are people of contradictory premises. Your typical human holds political values that conflict with one another. They neatly compartmentalize these issues so as to avoid the cognitive dissonance that comes from holding conflicting values. In other words, they avoid thinking about how their own politics is a conflicting jumble of values that ultimate undermines the good values that they do hold.
Take the so-called “Tea Bag” meetings as an example. Many of these people, while shouting wildly about freedom, advocate Big Brotherism in the bedroom. They are not advocates of freedom in principle; they are advocates of their freedom, not your freedom.
That most politicians hold conflicting values of freedom is no surprise. In fact, I should not say most, I should say all. I honestly don’t know of one single prominent politician who consistently advocates freedom—not one. Some do so more than others but all apply their principles inconsistently and often, incoherently.
Freedom is never an easy thing to support, but lord knows we need more people doing it.
Olbermann Endorses the 9/12 Project
Apparently Keith Olbermann has endorsed Glenn Beck’s 9/12 Project.
In his own words –
You can read my thoughts on the 9/12 Project here.
In his own words –
OLBERMANN: At its core beneficial, calling, unifying, thoughtful, restore the sense of September 12th, 2001? Not the dread or threat but of collaboration, meeting in the middle somewhere, standing together under one flag and trying to improve the conditions of all Americans.I have had very little exposure to Olbermann’s work, but this does improve my opinion on the man.
You can read my thoughts on the 9/12 Project here.
The Japanese Plan
Stan Geiger did an interesting post on health care reform and how it is handled in Japan called The Japanese Plan. The basics of the health care system in Japan is that health insurance is mandated; the government picks up the tab for those that cannot afford the premiums; and the government regulates the industry and sets prices for all medical services.
Money Quote –
Money Quote –
Oh my goodness, I can hear the health care professionals screaming from here. Since government sets prices, you see, nobody gets rich off sick people in Japan.The idea is interesting and it’s something to think about. I sure don’t have the answers for our health care mess, but I think that looking at all of the possible solutions is the best and most prudent thing that we could do as a nation. This is a decision that needs to be made in the most detailed and methodical manner possible and not just hammer rushed through Congress and signed by the President before anyone (including the law makers) knows what has really happened.
Yeah, I know, nobody gets rich off sick people in this country, either, and yada, yada, yada. I find it amazing that hundreds of billions a year flow into health care, 17 percent of the economy and all that, yet nobody will admit to making a profit. I mean doctors don't make money, hospitals don't make money, insurance companies can't make money because the payouts are too high. So I guess all that cabbage just evaporates into thin air, right?
But at the same time everybody issues disclaimers about making money in health care, if you start talking about cutting back on the money that flows to the system the argument about money being the motivator for a top-notch health care system surfaces. Fascinating.
The notion that profit motivates good health care seems to be refuted by the stats put forth in the PBS report. The report said Japanese people, on average, go to the doctor 3 times as much as Americans. On average, Japanese people live longer than Americans. And the infant mortality rate in Japan is lower than ours.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Mr. Crispy, Where Are You?
I’d like to do a story/post/interview with/about the old Edmund/OKC pop-punk band Mr. Crispy, but I’m not sure how to get in contact with any of the former members of the band. I had heard that a couple members were now in The All-American Rejects, but that’s about all I know.
If anyone out there knows how I could get in contact with the band, please let me know.
If anyone out there knows how I could get in contact with the band, please let me know.
Why the Other Dave Opposes Obamacare
From DaveTown* --
DaveTown is one of my favorite blogs to read and this post is a shining example as to why. Now let’s just hope that Dave gets back to blogging on a regular basis.
*Note – I quoted the original post in its entirety because I thought it was well worth reading (plus it was short and sweet). As a general rule of thumb I am not a fan of posting other peoples work in their entirety, but occasionally I will go against my own rule on the matter and this is one of those times.
Here’s what I see happening: Opponents are quoting specific pages and lines, giving concrete examples of parts of the bill they object to. The President is trying to stifle debate and the Speaker of the House engaging in ad hominem arguments and slander. The bill is over 1,000 pages, and its proponents just want us to accept it without debate. That in itself tells me the bill must be defeated.Dave (a.k.a. The Other Dave, which he comments under here) has hit the nail on the head as far as I’m concerned.
Wheter, and to what degree, nationalized medicine is a good idea doesn’t even enter into it at this point. Just the fact that a complicated bill is being crammed down our throats is enough. The same goes for the Climate Change legislation. A bill that complicated which is rushed into law is inherently an unwise law.
DaveTown is one of my favorite blogs to read and this post is a shining example as to why. Now let’s just hope that Dave gets back to blogging on a regular basis.
*Note – I quoted the original post in its entirety because I thought it was well worth reading (plus it was short and sweet). As a general rule of thumb I am not a fan of posting other peoples work in their entirety, but occasionally I will go against my own rule on the matter and this is one of those times.
Sarah Agrees with Me
It looks like Sarah Palin agrees with me that the discourse in our country needs to be more civil.
Sunday night, Palin was back on Facebook counseling against tactics that could be seen as "intimidation or harassment," which she said "diminish our nation's civil discourse."Let us hope that her call for civility receives a better reaction than mine has.
Christian Teen Fears for Her Life
According to this story, 17-year-old runaway, and recent Christian convert, Rifqa Bary is “is worried about her family's reaction to her change in faith.”
From the story –
This is messed up on a number of levels. First of all, no one should be fearful of their family. Second no one should be fearful of being killed over their religion.
Sadly it is stories like this that fuel so much of the anti-Muslim feelings throughout this country. This kind of thing just shouldn’t happen.
Thanks to zTruth for the find.
From the story –
"She says her life is in danger and she could be killed in an honor killing," Rosa Gonzalez, the teen's lawyer, said after the hearing. "Unfortunately it happens every day in the U.S."
The young woman has been staying with an Orlando family she met through a prayer group on Facebook for several weeks.
The teen had been staying with Beverly Lorenz and her husband, pastors of the newly launched Global Revolution Church in Orlando. Bary is now in the custody of the Department of Children And Families.
Lorenz said the teen hitchhiked to a Greyhound station in Ohio, and then took a bus to Orlando.
The girl asked Lorenz if she could come to her house. Even though she barely knew the girl, Lorenz said it was OK.
The teen, a non-citizen, told Lorenz she was fearful that her father would send her to Sri Lanka.
This is messed up on a number of levels. First of all, no one should be fearful of their family. Second no one should be fearful of being killed over their religion.
Sadly it is stories like this that fuel so much of the anti-Muslim feelings throughout this country. This kind of thing just shouldn’t happen.
Thanks to zTruth for the find.
Here’s a Thought
TPM wonders...
Personally I’m against the Health Care Reform Bill that is currently in Congress. While I believe that our health care system is in desperate need of reform and repair, I don’t think this bill is the way to do it.
Too bad we didn't just have a national election where voters got to decide between health care reform or health care status quo. That would have really helped clear things up ...That’s not a bad idea really, other than the possibility for mood rule. Our Founding Fathers were distrustful of direct democracy and for a good reason. But on this issue, it might not be a bad idea to hold a vote, just to see where everyone stands.
Personally I’m against the Health Care Reform Bill that is currently in Congress. While I believe that our health care system is in desperate need of reform and repair, I don’t think this bill is the way to do it.
Sorry About the Spam
It appears that this blog has been marked by spammers as a good place to peddle their wears. They are getting around the little security word thing, so I can only think that it is an individual (or series of individuals) that is wasting all of our time by posting comments to try and sell their crap.
Since I have a true and refined hatred of comment moderation, I will not be using that tool. I’ll look to see if Blogger offers anything else to help prevent the spam, otherwise let’s just hope that it goes away.
Since I have a true and refined hatred of comment moderation, I will not be using that tool. I’ll look to see if Blogger offers anything else to help prevent the spam, otherwise let’s just hope that it goes away.
Albums for the Times
Often during the tough times, people look to music to help them survive and cope. Music can often capture a time or a moment or a feeling better than a picture. Music can also speak to the soul and provide insight into our troubles, toils, and potentials. Lately I’ve been listening to some records that I think really do speak to our times, even though only one was released this decade.
Album: Percolater
Artist: ALL
Label: Cruz Records
Year Released: 1992
ALL has never been well known for their socially conscious lyrics, but they are there tuck in-between the songs of girls, heartbreak, and food, but they’re there. Percolater was released in 1992 and written during the recession of 91-92. The album is often overlooked but IMO is one of solid and thoughtful songs.
Songs that speak to the times: “Nobody’s” and “Wonder”
Album: The Meanest of Times
Artist: Dropkick Murphys
Label: Born & Bred Records
Year Released: 2007
The Meanest of Times is a record that was born out of our current environment. The entire album is a testament to the strife of the working class and the decay of our society.
Songs that speak to the times: “Tomorrow’s Industry” and “Rude Awakenings”
Album: What’s Going On?
Artist: Marvin Gaye
Label: Tamla Records
Year Released: 1971
Marvin Gaye’s classic spoke to a generation going through the horrors of a war and the protests that was driving the country apart. This record speaks as loudly to us today as it did when it was released.
Songs that speak to the times: “What’s Going On?” and “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)”
Album: Lifes Rich Pageant
Artist: R.E.M.
Label: IRS Records
Year Released: 1986
Lifes Rich Pageant was R.E.M.’s first overtly political record and its songs of desperation and hope still hold true to this day.
Songs that speak to the times: “Fall on Me” and “Cuyahoga”
Album: Percolater
Artist: ALL
Label: Cruz Records
Year Released: 1992
ALL has never been well known for their socially conscious lyrics, but they are there tuck in-between the songs of girls, heartbreak, and food, but they’re there. Percolater was released in 1992 and written during the recession of 91-92. The album is often overlooked but IMO is one of solid and thoughtful songs.
Songs that speak to the times: “Nobody’s” and “Wonder”
Album: The Meanest of Times
Artist: Dropkick Murphys
Label: Born & Bred Records
Year Released: 2007
The Meanest of Times is a record that was born out of our current environment. The entire album is a testament to the strife of the working class and the decay of our society.
Songs that speak to the times: “Tomorrow’s Industry” and “Rude Awakenings”
Album: What’s Going On?
Artist: Marvin Gaye
Label: Tamla Records
Year Released: 1971
Marvin Gaye’s classic spoke to a generation going through the horrors of a war and the protests that was driving the country apart. This record speaks as loudly to us today as it did when it was released.
Songs that speak to the times: “What’s Going On?” and “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)”
Album: Lifes Rich Pageant
Artist: R.E.M.
Label: IRS Records
Year Released: 1986
Lifes Rich Pageant was R.E.M.’s first overtly political record and its songs of desperation and hope still hold true to this day.
Songs that speak to the times: “Fall on Me” and “Cuyahoga”
Monday, August 10, 2009
The Problem is Dogma, Not Religion
The blog Unreasonable Faith has a great post entitled Fight Dogma, Not Religion. The post discusses the issue of fundamentalism and atheists.
From the story –
Money Quote –
From the story –
As the number and visibility of atheists and other freethinkers increases, some spectators have questioned whether atheists are becoming more fundamentalist.I am not an atheist, but there is a lot of truth going on here, but this isn’t the past part of the post. That I’ve saved for the…
Let chaos ensue: how does one judge who is fundamentalist and who is not? What does it mean to be a fundamentalist — are vegetarians, environmental activists or gun rights supporters fundamentalists, too? Where does one draw the line?
Meanwhile, atheists contend that they are subject to a vicious double standard: when nontheistic individuals speak prominently about their beliefs in public, they are lambasted as fundamentalists; yet when popular religious figures share their ideas, they are hailed as devout.
How many people have been dismissed as fundamentalists only because their beliefs are unpopular? How does the term “fundamentalist” retain its meaning in the context of those who do not wield it thoughtfully?
“Why are atheists so uptight about religion?” I have been asked. “Isn’t that a form of fundamentalism?”
People are confused. There is a lack of transparency in the public religious dialogue which prevents meaningful consideration of the issues. Many people are baffled by what atheists want and who is fundamentalist and who isn’t.
Money Quote –
Dogmatism is the belief that an opinion or viewpoint about the world must be true no matter what the circumstances may be or what new experiences may indicate. Dogma is the bedrock of fundamentalism.I couldn’t agree with this last point more. We should all stand against dogmatism, in all of its forms, whether it be Islamic jihadists, governmental statests, or Popes.
Whether embraced by cronies of Joseph Stalin or friars of the Spanish Inquisition, dogmatism kills.
It is dogma which leads Pope Benedict XVI to claim that condom use is evil, even though it saves lives. It is dogma which leads parishioners to accept that priests can do no wrong, even when they abuse children.
It is dogmatism which leads to violence. When individuals believe in their ideas absolutely, then they will be prepared to do absolutely anything for their ideas.
Dogmatism is a weakness inherent to all human beings. Both atheists and theists alike are capable of suffering from its effects. Opposing dogmatism universally, instead of opposing religion universally, bridges the us/them divide between the religious and the non-religious.
We’re all capable of being irrational, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to be rational: it means that we should try even harder to be rational.
Adherence to dogmatism limits our critical thinking, exposes us to abuse from authority, and leads to underdeveloped empathy and an over-reliance on unalterable rules instead of real-life experience.
Not all religion is dogmatic. Not all atheists are dogmatic. All people should oppose dogmatism, whether they are religious or not.
Losing Friends Over Politics
Throughout my life I’ve had friends of all different stripes, shapes, colors, and political persuasions (in fact, a few of my closest friends are conservatives). Political persuasion, sexuality, religion, or taste in music has never been a prerequisite or precondition to my friendship. I take everyone as an individual and treat them as such and am far more concerned with how said individuals treat me than how they vote. Sometimes though, even that is not enough to hold things together.
I once had a friend that I worked with who was a conservative Christian and a fellow nerd. We’d always gotten along pretty well and had a good time discussing a variety of issues. Over time we started participating in an email discussion group that eventually morphed into a blog (which someone deleted) and a forum. In these online arenas, we had some pretty intense discussion and eventually it began to affect the way that this person and I interacted while at work. In fact on quite a few occasions, the arguments went from email to face to face discussions that got way too heated. Eventually it got to the point that I was uncomfortable just being around this guy because we were always about to get into some argument. We had argued so much that we seemed to be unable to do anything else. I had lost a friend over politics.
I had another friend that I met while at UCO. We immediately bonded over music and kept in touch for years by email. Eventually we started interacting on my blog and often we butted heads over a variety of political and religious topics. You see, he is an anarchist and an atheist and thus much farther to the left of the political map than I am. Over time our discussions got more and more heated and eventually he stopped coming to my blog, deleted his blog, and we have spoken or corresponded since. I had lost another friend over politics.
Lately I’ve felt like I am in the process of losing more friends simply because we disagree politically. This is just not right. Politics shouldn’t ruin a friendship, but sadly it does. And this has nothing to do with being a liberal or a conservative or any of that nonsense. This is about personal relationships between individuals.
Real friends are few and far between, and maybe those friends that I lost were never really my friends but they felt like they were and losing them still hurt (no matter how mad I would get at them). The older I get, the more alone I feel, so the prospect of losing any more friends is not a pleasant one, especially over politics.
I once had a friend that I worked with who was a conservative Christian and a fellow nerd. We’d always gotten along pretty well and had a good time discussing a variety of issues. Over time we started participating in an email discussion group that eventually morphed into a blog (which someone deleted) and a forum. In these online arenas, we had some pretty intense discussion and eventually it began to affect the way that this person and I interacted while at work. In fact on quite a few occasions, the arguments went from email to face to face discussions that got way too heated. Eventually it got to the point that I was uncomfortable just being around this guy because we were always about to get into some argument. We had argued so much that we seemed to be unable to do anything else. I had lost a friend over politics.
I had another friend that I met while at UCO. We immediately bonded over music and kept in touch for years by email. Eventually we started interacting on my blog and often we butted heads over a variety of political and religious topics. You see, he is an anarchist and an atheist and thus much farther to the left of the political map than I am. Over time our discussions got more and more heated and eventually he stopped coming to my blog, deleted his blog, and we have spoken or corresponded since. I had lost another friend over politics.
Lately I’ve felt like I am in the process of losing more friends simply because we disagree politically. This is just not right. Politics shouldn’t ruin a friendship, but sadly it does. And this has nothing to do with being a liberal or a conservative or any of that nonsense. This is about personal relationships between individuals.
Real friends are few and far between, and maybe those friends that I lost were never really my friends but they felt like they were and losing them still hurt (no matter how mad I would get at them). The older I get, the more alone I feel, so the prospect of losing any more friends is not a pleasant one, especially over politics.
Life as a Bitch
Yesterday started off like most others. I dragged bed, blogged, fixed meals for the family, did some work around the house, check email on my cell phone (and responded to some pretty angry comments thrown my way…this should have been my first indication of things to come), and then I went to work.
Upon arriving at work, I realized that I had forgotten my badge (which you need to get in the door and without it you have to ask security for a temp badge). When I went to security to get a temporary one, I was berated by the old lady behind the desk. She was pissed because apparently on the weekends, lots of people forget their badges and for whatever reason, I was the one that she decided to take it out on (on top of that, she was egged on by a member of management which only made things worse). So after a good five minutes of being treated like the scum of the earth for the egregious offense of forgetting my badge, I finally got situated and right off the bat I got screamed at and treated like dirt (all because of TV).
Yesterday I also started on a new team with a new boss. We had our first coaching session and while she was nice and all, I never once got the impression that she cared or was the least bit interested in me as a person or as an employee. Never once did she ask me about me or even how I was doing. And when an issue came up that I had a concern about, she basically blew me off.
So what’s that point Dave? That point is that I realized today that I am life’s bitch. My job seems to be to be the on the receiving end of everyone’s frustrations, anger, and hatred. Yes I know that things could be much worse, but after a while being on the receiving end of all of this crap grates on the soul and eats away at you.
Upon arriving at work, I realized that I had forgotten my badge (which you need to get in the door and without it you have to ask security for a temp badge). When I went to security to get a temporary one, I was berated by the old lady behind the desk. She was pissed because apparently on the weekends, lots of people forget their badges and for whatever reason, I was the one that she decided to take it out on (on top of that, she was egged on by a member of management which only made things worse). So after a good five minutes of being treated like the scum of the earth for the egregious offense of forgetting my badge, I finally got situated and right off the bat I got screamed at and treated like dirt (all because of TV).
Yesterday I also started on a new team with a new boss. We had our first coaching session and while she was nice and all, I never once got the impression that she cared or was the least bit interested in me as a person or as an employee. Never once did she ask me about me or even how I was doing. And when an issue came up that I had a concern about, she basically blew me off.
So what’s that point Dave? That point is that I realized today that I am life’s bitch. My job seems to be to be the on the receiving end of everyone’s frustrations, anger, and hatred. Yes I know that things could be much worse, but after a while being on the receiving end of all of this crap grates on the soul and eats away at you.
Currently Listening
Today I’m picking songs that I think, lyrically at least, fit the times.
1. “Walk Together, Rock Together” by 7 Seconds (from Live: One Plus One)
2. “Wonder” by ALL (from Percolator)
3. “Nobody’s” by ALL (from Percolator)
4. “Choice’s Made” by CIV (from Set Your Goals)
5. “(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais” by The Clash (from The Clash)
6. “Tomorrow, Wendy” by Concrete Blonde (from Bloodletting)
7. “People Are People” by Depeche Mode (from The Singles 81>85)
8. “Tomorrow’s Industry” by Dropkick Murphys (from The Meanest of Times)
9. “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding?” by Elvis Costello & the Attractions (from The Very Best of Elvis Costello & the Attractions)
10. “Better Than That” by ALL (from Problematic)
11. “Children” by EMF (from Schubert Dip)
12. “Labor Day” by Hudson Falcons (from La Famiglia)
13. “Manic Depression” by Jimi Hendrix (from Experience Hendrix: The Best of Jimi Hendrix)
14. “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye (from What’s Going On)
15. “Fall on Me” by R.E.M. (from Lifes Rich Pageant)
1. “Walk Together, Rock Together” by 7 Seconds (from Live: One Plus One)
2. “Wonder” by ALL (from Percolator)
3. “Nobody’s” by ALL (from Percolator)
4. “Choice’s Made” by CIV (from Set Your Goals)
5. “(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais” by The Clash (from The Clash)
6. “Tomorrow, Wendy” by Concrete Blonde (from Bloodletting)
7. “People Are People” by Depeche Mode (from The Singles 81>85)
8. “Tomorrow’s Industry” by Dropkick Murphys (from The Meanest of Times)
9. “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding?” by Elvis Costello & the Attractions (from The Very Best of Elvis Costello & the Attractions)
10. “Better Than That” by ALL (from Problematic)
11. “Children” by EMF (from Schubert Dip)
12. “Labor Day” by Hudson Falcons (from La Famiglia)
13. “Manic Depression” by Jimi Hendrix (from Experience Hendrix: The Best of Jimi Hendrix)
14. “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye (from What’s Going On)
15. “Fall on Me” by R.E.M. (from Lifes Rich Pageant)
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Do You Have a Hard Time Avoiding Temptation?
According to this story, resisting temptation is harder than most people think.
From the story –
From the story –
"People are not good at anticipating the power of their urges, and those who are the most confident about their self-control are the most likely to give into temptation," said Loran Nordgren, senior lecturer of management and organizations at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, in Illinois.So in other words, we don’t know how we will react as much as we think we do. This actually doesn’t surprise me all that much. The story ends on this sobering and somewhat disturbing note –
The result: Many of us unwittingly expose ourselves to tempting chocolate or cigarettes, leading to a greater likelihood of indulging in addictive behaviors.
[…]
The new study, which will be published in an upcoming issue of the journal Psychological Science, builds on past research showing that when not in the "heat of the moment," individuals have a hard time understanding the depths of their cravings.
"If you aren't feeling a cigarette craving or hunger or sexual arousal at this moment, I believe you have a real difficult time appreciating the transformative force of those experiences," Nordgren said.
And most of the time, we aren't gripped by impulse, he added.
To figure out how this so-called cold state (opposite of the "gripped by impulse" state) influences behavior, Nordgren ran experiments on:
Hunger pangs: Seventy-nine university students and employees rated a list of snacks from least to most favorite and then selected one. Participants were told, "You can eat the snack anytime you like. However, if you return the snack to this location in one week, we will give you four Euros (and you will get to keep the snack you
chose)."
Questions also measured participants' level of hunger. Satiated participants exposed themselves to more temptation, generally choosing their first or second favorite snack, while the hungry individuals selected their second or third favorite item. Those with full bellies were also less likely to bring back an uneaten snack, Nordgren said.
Cigarette cravings: Fifty-three university students who smoked were placed into a high- or low-control group, in which a bogus test suggested each had either a high or low capacity for impulse control. Then, the participants had to watch a film called "Coffee and Cigarettes" without smoking. Participants chose their level of temptation with corresponding levels of payoff. They could either keep the unlit cigarette in another room (lowest), on their desk, in their hand, or in their mouth (highest).
On average, low-control students chose to watch the film with the cigarette on the table, and those who thought they could easily resist temptation chose to keep the cigarette in their hand. About 33 percent of the high-control students caved and smoked during the film, while just over 11 percent of the low-control participants lit up.
Mental fatigue: An experiment of 74 college students revealed those who were drained mentally reported having less control of mental fatigue than their bright-eyed counterparts. The "sleepy" students also said they intended to leave about 53 percent of their studying to the last minute, compared with about 60 percent for the non-fatigued group.
The thinking is that the alert students couldn't appreciate the enormous drawbacks of having a drained brain and so chose to leave more studying to the last minute.
In addition, he added, the study results suggest people often can’t predict how they will react in a given situation.
"It's not just about eating and addiction, but the 'cold self' has a really hard time understanding what you're capable of in a moment of despair, in a moment of rage," Nordgren said.
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