oikoumene

Hail Colin!

2008-10-24T11:19:00.002-04:00

I'm encouraged this week to see that at least a few intelligent leaders from the other side can see past all the socially-damaging innuendo and falsehood being generated by McCain/Palin and their narrow-minded minions...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/22/opinion/22dowd.html

Huzzah!

Now, isn't this rich?

2008-10-23T11:45:00.002-04:00

I don't have an ounce of respect left for McCain...

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9408VO01&show_article=1

Trust

2008-09-13T09:40:00.003-04:00

Here we go again - someone restarted the Spin Cycle.

I've been seeing an awful lot of angry feedback about the ABC interview focusing on how the Media can't be trusted, they are so "liberal," "slanted," and using a "double-standard"; they "always get it wrong," and "nobody trusts the Media anyway." One comment I read obnoxiously stated that "...she could have bombed it and nobody would care either way..."

I just want to say this: aren't we focusing on the wrong issue?

We already know (or should know) the weaknesses and limitations of the Media. Yet the question in point remains: Can you trust the Candidate?

Tension Breaker

2008-09-12T18:38:00.002-04:00

And now for something a little lighter...

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=3aMDJP4VxY4&feature=related

Let's Bomb the Russians Too

2008-09-12T08:35:00.003-04:00

If you were not frightened earlier, you should be after the Charlie Gibson interview....which could have aired on primetime as "Dancing with Sarah Palin."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNPGnZurs1k

I encourage everyone to watch Part 1 of the recent ABC interview. Candidate Palin just showed the entire viewing public that she really hasn't a clue about foreign affairs, let alone our current administration's policies.

At one point, Charlie asks her what her interpretation of the Bush Doctrine is.

"His world view?" she responds, testily.

Well...not exactly. Charlie proceeds to spoon feed her. At that point I am squirming with utter discomfort - not for her mind you - but for the rest of us. A cold shiver ran down my spine. You could almost see her saying to herself "Oh...you mean that pre-emptive strike thing."

She not only made hardline statements about how we should conduct foreign policy, but just about threatened conflict with Russia. In the meantime, she really never answered any of the national security questions, instead dancing around and deflecting to "energy independence."

Yes Sarah, we ALL know you recognize what OIL is. Now it's time to find out what DIPLOMACY is.

Well done, Candidate Palin.

p.s. My condolences to the team that coached her before this interview. They probably just lost their jobs.

The Final Sense

2008-09-11T18:52:00.002-04:00

"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed."

- Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1953

I recently heard a reading of his "Chance for Peace" speech, part of which I quoted above. I was really moved by some of the forward-looking commentary, considering the context within which it was delivered.

Election Frustration, Part II

2008-09-11T18:23:00.004-04:00

Here's Part 2 of a recent rant:

Actually {name withheld}, that is one thing we can both agree on - it's what I was trying to say in my initial wrap up below - Americans do get the government they deserve - there is no doubt there. But when 51% determines the fate of the other 49%, it's a scary precipice to be teetering over. It is now time to change this fate.

In the current scenario, if we're going to be this blind, this distracted, then we truly deserve Sarah Palin (we know who everyone's coming out to rallies to see - it's not McCain). I repeat - Americans love a good hanging. I just wish they would instead start hanging the establishment and abolish the 2-Party deadlock.

To me, and to many hopeful Americans, Obama represents the most forward-looking candidate we've had in decades. I'm as cynical as they come, so I don't realistically think he's going to get all his promises accomplished. No President EVER has (FDR perhaps coming closest). But he will try, and he has a Democratic-majority in Congress to support his policies. It's our absolute best chance at changing the face of America, and domestic and foreign policy over the next 4-8 years. And perhaps we can show the ever growing minority segment of our population that there is hope for making a difference in an otherwise scared white establishment.

Indeed government control of health care scares me to some degree, but frankly not as much as the system we currently live with. The state of health care in this country may look rosy to the privileged few, but to most citizens it seems utterly unsustainable. Insurance costs increasing at double digit percentages each year. Millions of uninsured citizens, including a generation of otherwise healthy 20-somethings that is forgoing health insurance because it costs too much (a potentially catastrophic future problem). Insurance companies making record profits while doctors are financially punished, and are fleeing malpractice lawsuits left and right. Assembly line treatment at your physician's office, where the proper tests may not be ordered because they cost too much. Small businesses that can't afford to cover their workforce, or pass a large percentage of that cost onto them. It's an insane mess. Government has sat back and accepted special interest money and let it grow into a totally out-of-control situation.

Clearly there is no simple solution to this. I don't believe that Obama is necessarily proposing, for the long term, an entirely government-controlled health care system. We certainly need to look to other countries' examples, and realize that collective health care CAN work, and work well. We need to stop being so scared of change, stop paying insurance companies to jerk us around, stop conceeding to corrupt corporations, and reform this system. There needs to be accountability, if nothing else. If you compare some of USA health care stats to countries with "socialized" medicine, you'll note that we are beat out time and time again.

Why? FOR PROFIT INDUSTRY. Our system is completely at odds with the Hippocratic Oath.

So I just don't see how the GOP is looking forward at this issue. Abating the scare of "socialized medicine" does not solve a looming crisis.

Just because they have nominated a woman (and let's consider how many years it took the GOP to do that after the Dems nominated G. Ferraro) does not mean they are looking to change anything. They've picked someone who has a background and position that resonates with the far-right (who IMHO must be the most narrow-minded voting block there is). The fact that she is a woman is merely a sensational trump card in a truly historic campaign, where very real boundaries have already been broken by Senator Clinton. Let's also not forget that Palin never had to campaign for the VP nomination - she was plucked out of her remote Alaskan village and seated at the right hand of the father.

Most of what Palin represents really scares the bejesus out of me. I can't actually speak for modern women in this Nation, but I know that if I traded my Y for an X, I'd be feeling pretty uneasy right now about this person representing me. In fact, I think I'd be insulted.

Palin does not reflect change when her positions suggest such antiquated ideals. Overturn Roe v. Wade? Rape the environment to drill all the crude we can squeeze out of the ground? Teach Creationism? Restrict Choice? Shield children from proper sex-education? Teach Abstinence to teenagers instead of contraception - in 2008? You might as well ask rabbits to politely refrain from reproducing. She needs to seriously wake up. Let's solve social problems by educating people, not burying our heads in sand and pretending we're not human! These are not conservative policies, they're ludicrous policies. Bristol Palin seems to me a poster child for why such policies don't work. (Sarah was perhaps so busy lobbying for that Bridge to Nowhere that she forgot to give Bristol the abstinence policy notes).

As far as I'm concerned, "moral" hypocrisy IS an issue in this campaign. If you live by that moral sword, you should be prepared to die by it too (figuratively speaking, of course). By this I mean that if the same shoe was on Hillary's foot, the Right would NOT be making such excuses for Hillary. They'd be making political hay. They would pillory her from their "family values" pulpit from here to Sunday. It is hypocrisy at it's extreme, and I just can't stomach the bull any longer. Obama came right out and tried to re-direct attention away from this issue. But the Dems could have made this a much bigger stink. I'm partly glad they took the high ground here, but considering the cheap shots and hostile tactics being used against them regularly, they could very well loose the election for being the "nice guys".

So I may represent part of what the Right likes to call the "intellectual elite," but frankly in this day and age I'd rather be accused of having thought through a policy decision using logic, than be seen as praying for supernatural intervention to inspire the right course of action. I see the very same strain of misguided hubris in Palin that we saw in Bush...perhaps even more so. Can America really afford for her to be a heartbeat away from the Highest Office in the Land?

Heaven indeed help us.

Election Frustration

2008-09-11T18:07:00.004-04:00

I know I haven't posted in a while. OK, a looong while. But I have been writing a lot of emails to friends and family recently, expressing some perspective on the recent election developments, especially in this post-convention period. So I thought I'd begin sharing some of those thoughts here. I'm only going to present my own views to protect the innocent (and guilty). Here's Part I of a recent rant:

I don't know about you, but I am utterly flabbergasted at the tune being played by the GOP in recent weeks. I think we need to pause, take a deep breath, and remember that it's absolutely essential we remain aware of the facts - not just the spin - about so called "outsiders" and "reformers" who are going to swoop in and change Washington politics for the better.

Clearly each side shares equal portions of guilt in the climate of out-of-control, pork barrel spending. But I'm sick and tired of accusations of "flip-flopping" and other bunk claims against the "liberals" when we need to remind ourselves of Washington realities:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/bloomberg/20080911/pl_bloomberg/alulrclkxig4

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/10/palin.earmarks/index.html

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/10/earmark.check/index.html

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/09/palin.earmarks/index.html#cnnSTCText

[Oh, and let's keep training that GOP Pit bull to spin her history, because the media is (rightfully) going to skewer her, otherwise:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a7ZOLqyDWVsc]

I should note here that Bloomberg and CNN are not exactly the most Liberal part of the "Liberal Media Conspiracy".

I could post another dozen news articles like the ones above exposing Palin (and the McCain campaign) as playing fast and loose with the truth. These folks are unabashed liars. And they are so desperate to win, the campaign has decided that if they just repeat the lies enough times people will continue to believe them - even when presented with the truth.

This seems to be working, and I for one am physically sickened by it. I am embarrassed that Americans can continue to live in this world and be so blind to its realities. There are plenty of sources of information but some people (frustratingly) continue to look to campaign speeches for facts instead of the actual record.

For instance, Palin's record speaks for itself - just not the same message you're hearing tossed out at every campaign stop, over and over, and over again. (Let's hear that folksy "Thanks...but No Thanks" slogan once again, Sarah.) The campaign has masterfully ignored recent history, re-casting Palin as a champion of reform instead of just another politician with hands in Washington (e.g. OUR) pockets. In fact even now she is actively pursuing additional millions in earmarks for Alaska. She may not entertain lobbyists in her Juneau office, but the Alaska "delegation" in Washington has no trouble with them. Let's get real and call a spade a spade, shall we?

I really expected a much more honorable and honest approach from John McCain at the beginning. I actually held a lot of respect for the man. But when his hand looked too weak to win, he began to bluff. He hopped right on board the Goebbels Express with the rest of the GOP propagandists, and he's towing the party line like never before. In the past several weeks, truth has become a long-forgotten casualty, and continues to be cast aside, utterly...callously.

I don't think I've ever witnessed such boldfaced hypocrisy. They claim to be so "outraged" at out-of-context "lipstick on pig" comments? COME ON PEOPLE. It's probably the most overused turn of phrase in Washington. It's completely irrelevant. But desperate situations call for desperate plays, don't they? So we have to realize who's playing gender politics now.

Sadly, it works. It's sensational. It pushes our emotional hot buttons. Americans love a good hanging, and refuse to look past the distraction. Remember the Wizard of Oz? When are we going to start looking for the guy behind the curtain?

In the end I readily acknowledge that it's entirely possible that this GOP ticket is going to win the election. They're running a very clever and overtly deceptive campaign that is focusing on irrational fears and cosmetic issues that appeal broadly to the less informed amongst us, rather than the substantial issues that will affect those same uninformed people directly, in the long term: health care, economy, foreign policy, etc. I give the GOP credit - they may not be so good at governing, but they're damn good at distracting us from the real issues, the real crises. If this was a football game - where truly the only goal is to win - they'd be winning the game, because they've got a fatter book of trick plays. Unfortunately, in an election there's much more at stake than a Super Bowl ring and a trip to Disneyland.

It's probably a disappointing reality that approximately half of us continue to cling to an America of The Past in world that is rapidly leaving that idealism behind. It seems that regardless of how bad the situation gets, they remain bound and determined to drag the America of the Future down with them.

“Mmmmm, limonene.” -or- Those April Fresh Leftovers.

2008-01-07T14:30:00.000-05:00

I’m sure I'm pirating some form of trademarked advertising phrase (way to go you mass marketing peeps!). Regardless, I thought I’d share a peculiar experience with you today.

A and I enjoyed take out pizza last night. We were excited to discover the local pizza joint now offers whole wheat pizza dough, so we gave it a try. We get pretty psyched for anything that resembles a healthier alternative to the usual fare. It wasn’t too bad, really – a little heavier and drier than the typical artificially-enriched, chewy white crust - but it was packed with fibery, vitamin-rich, whole wheat goodness. The brown, sandpaper-like texture was an interesting change too – I could have sanded our chopping block with the toasted crust. But I should also point out that it maintained absolute firmness and crispness in the face of a moisture onslaught. Our usual veggie/mushroom toppings tend to saturate take out pizza, and leave us with limp-crust syndrome.

Due to the robustness of the new crust, we each ate a bit less pizza than usual – probably a good thing seeing as we’re heading to the beach in February. So we dutifully packed the leftovers into serving-sized portions for the next few days’ lunches. A, being her usual kind and thoughtful self, made sure I had a few leftover slabs for consumption today (I use the term “slab” instead of “slice,” because slice seems like a gross understatement for this particular species of pie). So she lovingly placed my portion into an innocent looking previously used zip lock bag, and tucked it away in the fridge for me to grab in the morning. Little did I know that this seemingly innocent bag would really kick up the fresh flavor of my humble repast.

So 11:39AM rolled around today at the office, and my stomach was engaged in its usual lunchtime alarm-ringing. I enjoy leftover pizza cold and coagulated - straight outta da fridge, yo. So I eagerly retrieved the slabs, and started devouring the first of two. I got through the first slab and was licking my fingers when I detected the faint "smell of fresh laundry". Or was it fresh-laundry taste? Initially, I wrote it off as a rising waft of the clean, freshly pressed pants I was wearing. As I continued working online, I casually reached for the second slab and failed to notice the small, gauzy napkin-looking thing left at the bottom of the bag. I made it half-way through this slab only to taste/smell “laundry” again - this time it was stronger, and tainted my mushrooms! I was finally suspicious enough to take a look in the bag. To my surprise (and quiet concern) I pulled out a slim stack of pizza-greased-but-otherwise-unused fabric softener (dryer) sheets. Alas...my rough and ready pizza had been...snuggled.

I dropped the remaining crusty portion, and immediately proceeded to google “dryer sheets+toxic,” only to be dismayed by the rather horrific reports I found - many of which claimed that dryer sheets contained a plethora of harmful chemicals, and were considered by some to be among the most toxic offenders in a typical American household. While I won’t be rushing to call poison control just yet, when you stop to consider that these industrial chemicals are impregnated in your clothing, and you wear that clothing against your skin - the body's largest organ - day in and day out, you can’t help but wonder what it’s potentially doing to you. I honestly hadn't thought about it before this perfumed pizza moment. I mean, static-free, fresh-smelling clothing is definitely worth rubbing known carcinogens (like limonene) against your bum every day...right?

Needless to say, I’ve decided we’re going to try NaHCO3 (sodium bicarbonate, AKA baking soda) in the wash next time. Yeah, it's also an artificially produced industrial substance, but it's water soluble, and a probably a lot safer. Supposedly it softens your clothes rather well, and ironically, prevents farting too, if you cook with it (cripes! why haven't we tried that yet?).

In the meantime, we obviously need to make sure we’re not being overzealous in our zip lock re-use program at home. Our marriage is good (as far as I know), so how a bag of leftover dryer sheets got into my leftover lunch bag will likely remain a mystery...

HNY

2008-01-01T19:25:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year!

Yes, I know - I got off to a roaring start here, and then became distracted by the holidays (and suffered from a bout of general laziness). So I haven't posted in a few weeks. Now that 2008 has begun, I have made it a "sorta" resolution to try to post more often. That said, this is going to be a short one, so cheers to you all, and I wish you a very happy and healthy 2008! More to come, I promise...

Then Beowulf spoke, Son of Ecgtheow

2007-11-19T16:30:00.000-05:00

OK, so being a big fan of historical epics, war/adventure films, and Dark Age legends in general, I went to see the new chest-beating testosterone fest, Beowulf, this weekend...and in 3D no less.

Not my first 3D experience recently - we had just seen Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas in 3D on Halloween night, and it was pretty cool. But as far as this film, I went into it thinking I'd check my brain at the door, and just enjoy the ride. I have to admit though, once I got used to the hybrid animation, poor accents, and seemingly cheesy hero-talk, I found myself completely engrossed. It was an entertaining telling of a familiar story, and I had a great time.

So good, in fact, that I immediately re-read the original epic poem the next morning - over dark coffee and an almond croissant (a most heroic breakfast, if I've ever heard of one). Needless to say, I enjoyed Beowulf a whole lot more the 2nd time around, which was not surprising considering I hadn't cracked the cover since I read it in Mr. Hodermarsky's high school English class. Not only was I awed by the stunning beauty of the text, but also by the complex layering, allusions, repetition, and many textural themes of the story, interlaced with other heroic and tragic legends (that would have been familiar to the original audience). It made me want to be there at the moment of its first telling, when such verses may have been composed on the spot, and recited aloud by the skilled bards of the day. In fact, this oral composition tradition reinforces for me just how much we underestimate our ancestors, and their vast creative powers. It is easy to imagine the extreme emotions a performance like Beowulf must have stirred within the hearts of its listeners, literally a thousand (or more) years ago. And those over-the-top, heroic speeches that Hollywood writers like to pepper the movies with - the ones we proud pseudo-intelligentsia like to snicker at - actually have their roots in a rather ancient art form, which remains quite effective today (whether we want to admit it to ourselves or not). Everyone enjoys a little inspiration in their life. Alas, Beowulf has enough inspiration to fill any movie.

Yet, before I immerse my head too deeply into the mists of time here, the point I want to make is that, whether or not you can stand an extra helping of fromage in your films, even the silliest of epics translated to the Big Screen can still inspire you to go back to the original art forms...and that's worth the price of admission.

How much is a statement worth?

2007-11-15T12:07:00.001-05:00

Up to 23 million, apparently: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071115/ap_on_en_ot/art_auction

I normally leave this issue alone. Having my own artistic sensitivity, limited artmaking skill, and having made small profits from some of my past work, I am naturally hesitant to debate whether "art" should be bought and sold as commodity. I mean, who wouldn't want their big steel heart to sell for $23M? Your Clever Vision, Larger Than Life. Sounds fabulous.

But could you live with yourself (that is, once the laughter dies out)?

When I see things like this - especially because it's this particular artist -a part of me dies inside. He's made a career out of kitch, and it's not even all that creative. It was novel once, and he's the first one to be truly recognized for it, and whatever the statement was worth. But now that he's famous, his work must be "culturally significant" - worth every penny, right? Riiiight. That cold hollow heart really resonates inside my soul...how about you?

Despite whether you consider this work art, or merely the aftermath of an untrustworthy fart, there are other ripples in this puddle. For instance, maybe it's the sinister socialist in me - or just humanitarian leaning - but when I think about the fact that some fool decided to spend $23M for a hideously overdone "expression," rather than using that enormous wealth to, say, fund a disease research lab, or raise the standard of living in poor communities, or rebuild a crumbling city school, you can't help but want to scream. Well, I guess if you're me.

So why is this particular object worth so much? Some might be tempted to beat me over the head with the oft-repeated "because it's what the market will bear." Indeed, Adam Smith, you're obviously able to supress your shame. But if for a brief moment you can take a step outside market forces, I think you might also consider what that behavior tells you about the market. I know it's a slippery slope to try to moralize Capitalism, but should we not pause to consider our collective madness, from time to time?

That said, I have to end abruptly here, my publicity agent is calling. A 50-foot pumpkin pie sculpture made of 3 tons of felted wool - part of my "Home Cooked" series - has to be installed before Thanksgiving. I expect that's the auction announcement now...

Finding my "blogging voice."

2007-11-14T21:46:00.000-05:00

So I sat down to start this blog, and I happened to be listening to a Johnny Cash shuffle in the background. My wife - the founder of Type B&B - was lounging beside me. Suddenly, she felt the need to alert me to the fact that she thinks the current song "is a turd." I quickly glanced at her, and flashed her a now-familar eye roll, before returning to the blank screen and the silent keyboard. Between JC crooning "I focus on the pain" and "that old familiar sting" I began wondering what I'm supposed to be saying here - you know, now that I'm up on this electronic-soapbox-stage. As I stared into space, darling wife followed up her incisive music critique with, "Don't worry, it'll take you awhile to find your blogging voice." Immediately, she spoke truth to my internal struggle.

She was absolutely right. I do "technical writing" all the time for a living...but this personal, put-myself-out-there style is something entirely foreign. Besides an occasional (but often verbose) email to a friend, or a rare yahoo group post, I don't really do much opinion publishing, for myself, or a broader audience. It's funny, but there's almost a palpable pressure to say something clever, or witty, or ironic...or cynical. Through a jumble of impulses, I kept thinking how do I stay true to myself? Will I sound crazy? Dull? Profound? And then I realized I had already started typing, and the words were flowing fairly naturally. So I guess I'm just going to have wait and see how this works out. The only way to get in the saddle is to start posting, and not worry too much whether any of the aforementioned adjectives will apply.

In fact, I rather hope you'll discover the chameleon in me. If there's one "interesting" thing I might offer in this world, it's the alternatingy sublime and smelly seepage of the fickle, easily distracted organ in my skull. Ideally, I wanted to focus this blog on my interests in Western history - hence the selection of the Greek "oikoumene" (the inhabited world). But in the end, I'll also want to share other "distractions" with you - some photos I've taken, the books I'm reading, and the activities I'm participating in...the everyday passions I waste time, energy, and resources on. Enjoy it...or don't. But feel free to chime in! I love a good discussion...

To be ignorant of what happened before you were born is to be ever a child. For what is man's lifetime unless the memory of past events is woven with those of earlier times? - Cicero