Christmas Eve Thoughts

I have been negligent once again in my blogging. I promised to write about my trip to Africa, which I will still do, but many things have distracted me (namely dealing with crazy people). One thing I have taken to doing that has sequestered my time is sewing and other crafts. For Christmas gifts this year I decided to give all hand made gifts. No money going to large corporations this year. They've already taken too much of my money. It would be nice if everyone could give handmade gifts, but it is hard to find the time. Instead, we work too hard for not enough money and then go home and spend time with some form of media. Oh well, happy holidays everyone!

I haven't been that great about posting regularly recently, but now I have a good excuse. I'm heading to Zambia for the next couple of weeks and am leaving my computer behind. I will be sure to write a few posts about my trip when I return.

Zero dollars a day?

Most of the time the stories that pop up on the Yahoo home page are pretty lame but every now and then one catches my eye as I'm passing through. Today it was “Living on zero dollars a day.” I thought, hey I would like to live on zero dollars a day, why not give it a perusal. Turns out it is an interesting and fairly descriptive homeless by choice story. I am not prepared to go that far to save money. I like having a bed to sleep in. One question I do have, though, is why does the author not address the issues that face those who are homeless not by choice, as a comparison to this gentleman who apparently has the luck of the Irish when it comes to his hunting and gathering forays. While I agree that less conspicuous consumption is generally a good thing, I also understand that the security that comes with having an actual home is important. Besides the issues with sanitation, the homeless are often harassed by the police, they are abused and robbed, underfed, and practically invisible and dehumanized when it comes to considering the ills of society. And most of them do not have the option to leave the lifestyle so easily as, it seems from reading the story, that this man can.

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

I just finished reading The Left Hand of Darkness a couple of days ago and have found myself pondering it quite a bit (this could be because I've been stuck at home for the most part with an injury). Any book that leaves me thinking tends to wind up in my favorites list. This book in particular has me thinking in a slightly new way about subjects that have taken up much of my thinking time in the past, namely the concepts of duality, unity and wholeness.

In her introduction Le Guin states:
“ ...I am an artist too, and therefore a liar. Distrust everything I say. I am telling the truth. The only truth I can understand or express is, logically defined, a lie. Psychologically defined, a symbol. Aesthetically defined, a metaphor.”
That is exactly it. In this lie of a fictional world we find truth, truth in the form of questioning what we currently hold to be true.

On the world of Gethen the people have no permanent sex. They live in a state of neuter until the mating part of their cycle when they lean one way or the other with no predetermination or consistency. It is hard to imagine this state of being in our own world so set on the mutually exclusive nature of sex (though it is not the rule). But I find that by calling into question this particular dualism, Le Guin is also questioning dualism in general.

One of the main characters, Estraven, reflects that, “To be an atheist is to maintain God. His existence or his nonexistence, it amounts to much the same, on the plane of proof. Thus proof is a word not often used among the Handdarata, who have chosen not to treat God as a fact, subject either to proof or to belief: and they have broken the circle, and go free.” The Handdarata, a religious group on Gethen, escape the circle by not thinking in opposites, relieving themselves of duality, and therefore just being. We, humanity, are often caught up in dualistic thinking. And through this duality are caught.

We create duality through the idea of feminine and masculine, through love and hate, etc. But these opposites are only points on a gradation and there can never be something that is all one thing because there is always that relationship to the opposition. Opposites cannot exist without each other. It is impossible to know what one thing is without having another thing to contrast with. Sanity cannot exist without insanity. Insanity cannot exist without sanity. The two coexist to the point that they are the same thing, to the point that neither exists because there is nothing to compare them to.

Le Guin shows us, as she calls it, a “thought-experiment” in which we can a imagine moving away from dualism and towards unity and wholeness, not only through the gender-less(full) beings of her made up world, but also through the relationship and experiences of unlikely leading pair, both alien to each other, but still able to love. “But it was from the difference between us, not from the affinities and likenesses, but from the difference, that that love came: and it was itself the bridge, the only bridge, across what divided us.”

Perhaps the experiment is to find unity and wholeness not through, completely denying our tendency towards duality (like the Handarrata of the book), but to accept everything we see as opposites as merely opposite sides of the same thing. Or beyond that opposites as the essence of being of each other. Light is “the left hand of darkness.”

Le Guin also says in her introduction:
“In reading a novel, any novel, we have to know perfectly well that the whole thing is nonsense, and then, while reading, believe every word of it. Finally, when we are done with it, we may find-if it's a good novel-that we're a bit different from what we were before we read it, that we have been changed a little, as if by having met a new face, crossed a street we never crossed before. But it's very hard to say just what we learned, how we were changed.”
I find Le Guin to be genius in her writing precisely because her writing accomplishes this so well. Though I may not be able to say very well how this book as change and developed my way of thinking about the world, it has most definitely made an impression. I will continue to ponder the words while I place this book back on my shelf among my favorites.

Cash for Clunkers

At first glance this program seems like a good idea: get fuel inefficient cars off the road and replace them with efficient ones. But "Five Reasons 'Cash for Clunkers' is a Joke" makes a couple of really good points as to why this incentive isn't really the greatest for those of us who own clunkers to begin with.

Kotori by Yves Geleyn

I found this video while surfing the web and think it is very sweet and well done. It has given me a few creative video ideas of my own as well. He also has a blog with more videos and graphics.

Ography Update

Hello readers! I just wanted to let you know that as soon as I am done being super busy with my job I will be back to posting regularly. Thanks for your patience. Check back soon!

Health care for everyone, please.

Here is a sad story about a health clinic shutting its doors. This clinic supported a wide range of the Half Moon Bay community, rich, poor, insured, uninsured. It is precisely for this reason that the clinic eventually faced bankruptcy. Without the support of federal money designated for clinics that only work with the disadvantaged, and without the financial security of an entirely insured or paying clientele, the clinic had to stretch itself too thin to provide equal health care for all. "The tragedy from a national point of view is that unless the model changes, America will be divided in its care of patients. If you're poor, you'll go to one place. If you're wealthy, you'll go elsewhere." This quote from the article points out a major problem that needs to be addressed, separate, but unequal care, a sort of economic segregation within our current heath care system. This is a problem that could be fixed with some sort of universal health care. Thoughts?

Noooo!!!!!!

Parkway theater to close! I'm sad about this. Maybe I can catch one more show before then.

A very sad thing...

This past Friday a five year old was stuck and killed while crossing the street in Berkeley. This tragedy shows just how much responsibility we take every time we get behind the wheel of a car. Even if we are following all the rules, and feel confident of our driving abilities, we can't take for granted how many lives we are taking in our hands. One moment of less then hyper awareness can lead to something like this. Keep that in mind always. The family of the five year old has set up a Web site, www.zacharymichaelcruz.com, where people can send donations to help with funeral costs.

Old poem still in progress...

Jesus used to talk to me in my dreams and then I stopped believing.

When I was little
and everything was scary,
He would come
and lead me to the place
where I belonged.
I would follow him
over hills,
down through valleys.
When we got there,
it was beautiful and warm.
The colors were vivid;
the feelings were even more vivid.
He would sit and talk to me
and there, at his side,
hearing his soothing voice,
in this place that was pleasure,
I could feel his compassion
beyond all intensities.

Then I stopped believing.

And when I was little,
I would see angels,
two of them standing
at either side of my bed.
They were my guardians,
creating comfort for sleep
and thoughts of dreams
in which Jesus would come
and lead me away again.

There was another angel,
statuesque and hopeful,
imprinted on a hillside.
I saw her in the mornings
as I was driven from my home,
safe and warm,
to a place that created disbelief
in the form of knowledge
and religion
and discipline
and growth.
When I saw her upon that hillside
blowing her trumpet,
looking even more holy after rain,
I knew.
I just knew.

Then I stopped believing.

On days when the skies were dark
But the sun still illuminated the clouds,
I would wait and watch for Jesus.
I knew that he was going to appear on one of those perfect clouds
as it descended from the sky.
I waited and listened for the trumpet to blow
as I had been told again and again that it would
when Jesus returned to save us one final time,
taking us to a better place.
I felt in my heart that it would happen on a day like that
On a cloud just like that
And I knew that he had to be coming soon
He just had to,
But he never did.

And then I stopped believing.

Later in life, when I was alone and lonely
I would pray and pray for God to send me someone to love.
I would thank him for giving me so many friends,
But I needed more.
I needed it.
And one night I had a dream
Of an angel standing at my bedside.
The angel talked to me plainly.
I was meant to be alone.
I had a purpose from which I could not be distracted.
I never figured out what that purpose was
And I couldn’t forgive a God that wanted to keep me lonely.

Then I stopped believing.

Journalists everywhere are shaking in their boots.

Rocky Mountain News, a well respected and well established paper in Denver, Colorado, announced today that they are closing down and releasing their final edition tomorrow. And here in San Francisco, the Chronicle, a nationally recognized news source, is glimpsing a similar fate as they frantically try to cut costs.

These newspapers, as well as other media outlets, are above all businesses and need to be making a profit (appease shareholders) to remain viable. But in this economy that is getting harder for everyone to do. It is possible that part of the reason newspapers in particular are failing is that print is no longer a sought after medium with competition from TV and internet, but these financial woes can be seen, if not to the same degree, in those latter realms as well. Young Broadcasting owner of several TV stations declared bankruptcy a couple of weeks ago, and major media company stocks have been heading downhill this past week.

So, to avoid closure and increase profits, media companies area cutting costs through lay offs and salary cuts. And it appears to me that this cost cutting is focused on the smallest profit producing departments, mainly, the news. From an insiders point of view of broadcast journalism (I will not name the company since my opinions are not theirs and I don't want to compromise my position...as an unpaid intern) I have heard about efforts to change the structure of the news to cut cost which involves having individual journalists doing more jobs and dramatically increasing output. While this plan is ultimately about saving as many jobs as possible while still pleasing the shareholders, one major thing that will most likely suffer is the quality and depth of the news, both because journalists are forced to plow quickly through stories to prove productivity, and because they will now be taking on roles they are not experienced with. Right now the news room is divided into specialized areas: there are the writers, the editors, the reporters, etc. but as the journalist are to take on all roles at once the high production value that comes with specialized skill will suffer.

This jack of all trades journalist, I've been told, is the future of broadcasting journalism. And, indeed, there are many journalist, especially in the independent realm, who have been working this way for years. But I cannot help but think a major shift in this direction will profoundly affect the field of journalism. For one, will it still be a viable career option for as many people? Or perhaps this change will give alternative and independent journalists a chance to gain more recognition. Either way we might end up with a bunch of unemployed highly qualified journalists. The real concern, though, is will the public still have access to information in the same way?

No matter the criticism of the mainstream media, they are still an important part of the day to day running and understanding of this country. And there are many journalists in this mainstream who hold on to their idealistic motives, but are now faced with a move it or lose it ultimatum. This definitely includes the journalists I am currently working with for whom I have a great deal of respect. I am also big fan of independent media, but unfortunately, I also believe that a huge portion of our country does not view them with credibility. It is those who strive to do their best with in this corporate news system that perhaps best reach those in middle America where Free Speech Radio News is associated with the term "Pinkos." I personally feel that to lose them would be a great loss to this country. Your thoughts are more than welcome.

In baseball news...

It looks like the Oakland Athletics are staying in Oakland! Fremont is out, at least for the time being. I'm looking forward to catching a few games this season.

Advertising psychology at its most blatant...

There goes any hopes I had of becoming a doctor.

This past week the SF Chronicle ran the article, "No help for dyslexics who want to be doctors." The CA state Supreme Court decided that American Association of Medical Colleges does not need to provide accommodations, such as extended time, for learning disabled test takers. This is rather unfortunate because it will make it harder for some who would probably make a great doctor to get into medical school, even though they have the knowledge and intelligence necessary. I happen to know from familial experience that dyslexia is not a determining factor in what kind of doctor a person will make, and should not be apart of determining medical school entrance. This certainly does seem like a set back for disabled rights. Any thoughts?

BTW...

I know I've lost steam on the blog writing recently, but there are plans to add more coal to the fire soon. But in the time being I would just like to mention I just watched yesterday's Colbert Report and TV on the Radio was on and it was awesome. Actual writing coming soon.

Ground Hog Day

This morning Punxsutawney Phil stuck his head out of his hole and saw his shadow predicting another six weeks of winter. But perhaps what he should have been looking for is a foreclosure sign outside his humble abode. Maybe then he could predict how much longer this economic 'winter' is going to last. It certainly doesn't seem like it's going to be over anytime soon. All the promises of a 'bailout' plan for the rest of us, seem so far to be just that...promises. To many people on the hill and on wall street,it seems, are perfectly happy with the status quo. Exxon reported its largest profits in years and bank CEOs are taking home bundles in bonuses. The republicans are dragging there feet on plans suggested by President Obama, and as long as he keeps trying to appease them, I foresee less 'stimulus' coming to us and more going to those who need it the least. John Stewart mentioned a great plan during his interview with Gwen Ifill on Jan. 27th, “Give us the money, but only for consumer debt and mortgages. We'll pay it back to them, make it clean, hit the reset button. We know where it went to. It's a trickle up theory of economics. I don't know why they keep talking about giving it to banks. Give it to us specifically for our consumer debt...and then they'll have money, we'll have no debt and the world will be made of unicorns and rainbows.” Wouldn't that be nice?

Other reading:
“Herbert Hoover Lives,” Frank Rich, New York Times
“How to rescue the bank bailout,” Joseph E. Stiglitz, CNN

Women’s lib is not over.

Nor should it be. I am happy that today we are leaps and bounds ahead of where women stood in, say, the 1950’s, where the ideal was Donna Read. While some women might very well prefer that way of life (and that’s perfectly okay), the rest of us can more easily pursue other avenues. The emphasis is on the “more,” not the “easily.” I think it says a lot about how much further we have to go towards equality that just this week we are seeing the Senate pass a wage discrimination bill. This news makes me happy to no end, but the fact that we need a bill of this sort highlights the fact that women are still not treated equally in the work force. I was aghast a couple of years ago when I heard that Lilly Ledbetter's lawsuit against Goodyear for wage discrimination was denied simply because she had not known about the discrimination until after working there for 19 years, basically saying that wage discrimination was A.O.K. as long as it was kept secret.

Also, I caught a bit on CNN today about how women are upset that with President Obama’s possible job creation plan there will not be enough jobs created for women, since most of the work will focus on construction. I think that is another barrier to overcome, thinking that women can’t do construction jobs. Ever heard of Rosie the Riveter? Creating public works jobs can benefit both sexes, as long as women are not discriminated against in hiring practices. The idea of “women’s jobs” and “men’s jobs” is an outmoded idea. There are in within both sexes people capable of doing all sorts of jobs equally well and the only profession I can currently think of that requires specific male or female roles is pornography.

As I’m writing this I notice that Sparky has also posted something on the struggle of women in the work place. Check it out. There is definitely still a ways to go for women to be on equal footing with men in this sphere.

Catchy Headline

Sex smell lures 'vampire' to doom

Anger in Oakland

Oscar Grant, 22, was shot to death at the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Fruitvale station in Oakland by a BART police officer New Year's Day . Grant was unarmed and restrained at the time of the shooting. The officer, Johannes Mehserle, resigned this week avoiding questions about the incident. The extreme action, and the lack of accountability for Mehserle have sparked a lot of anger in Oakland. According to an Associated Press article, protests last night turned violent, and arrests were made.

This is not the only incidence of wrongful death by law enforncement in Oakland. In 2007, an Oakland police office shot and killed Gary King, Jr. in the back. There were protests then as well, but the death of King, Jr. did not gain nearly as much attention as that of Grant. The likely reason: video of Grant's death taken by standers-by, and shared widely across the web. This media event has put spot light on the police brutality in this city.

The wider awareness and undeniable evidence of the wrongful death of Grant has given police brutality activists the stage, brought more community involvement, and also more outrage and anger. The protest I witnessed this morning outside of the Oakland offices of BART, were peaceful, but there were signs that the peace was fragile. The group chanted "justice for Oscar Grant" and listened to speaches, but as they approached the glass door entrance angry pounding could be heard. A voice over the bullhorn said, "let's be respectful" and "don't break the glass." When I left everything was still intact.

This event has also given the youth of the city the impetus to get involved. Many of the people there were students from a local highschool, the same highschool that Grant attended one of students told me. I talked with a highschool teacher who had come to the protest with his students. "We knew that they were going to come no matter what , so we came with them, to help keep what happened last night from happening again, and I think it's important for them to be here."