"Winny would spend all of his time practicing limbo... He got pretty good... He could go under a rug..."
Today I met with a subliminal advertising executive for just a second.
Last night I fell asleep in a satellite dish. My dreams were broadcast all over the world.
I was born by Caesarean section, but you really can't tell...except that when I leave my house, I always go out the window...
Right now I'm having vu ja de--deja vu and amnesia at the same time.
Sometimes I...No, I don't.
There's a fine line between fishing and standing on the shore looking like an idiot.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Randomness
The Man with Two Heads-1973, Ray Milland (post Oscar-nominee era!)Worth looking at, if nothing else for the train-wreck quality it has in spades. DO I even need to explain the plot here?? The title says it all! and who cares, anyway? it is flawless in its lack of coherent plot, very, very mediocre "special effects" and wonderful over-the-top acting...sigh. It's a beautiful thing. The chase scenes will make you laugh out friggin' loud. (Probably better-viewed while stoned but I wouldn't know).
For you anal types, here is a quip of the uh...
Plot Synopsis: A rich but racist man is dying and hatches an elaborate scheme for transplanting his head onto another man's body. His health deteriorates rapidly, and doctors are forced to transplant his head onto the only available candidate: a black man from death row.
On a 'whole n'other level' is a movie that is rather under-rated and deserves some decent Cult status (which I have read it has):
Velvet Goldmine-1998, Ewan McGregor, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Christian Bale, Toni Colette
Reasons to watch: great soundtrack, GLAM frigggin' ROCK style and madness, heavy David Bowie-esque biographic nudging, Oscar Wilde references artfully disbursed throughout, Ewan McG. acts like a softer Iggy Pop, gets buck nekkid, and kisses another beautiful boy J. Rhys Meyers (here very purdy, androgynous and sexy),cool directing, editing, nice visuals, Eddie Izzard great as a sleazy manager!
Only "drawback": you'll watch it twice to 'get' the mystery, within a love story, within a rock-opera-esque drama...and you kinda don't mind. Hee!
Friday, September 28, 2007
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Cinematic 'surprises'
Apocalypto
I had no idea I would grow to almost love this movie (in retrospect) and watch it twice in a row! Perhaps it was the intense and thrilling visual action sequences that riveted me without guns or car explosions, or the lush cinematography...perhaps it was the authenticity that captivated me...all these elements became fascinating. Equally fascinating was learning (somewhat) of the culture and ritual of the ancient Mayan civilization.
At one point during a particularly violent sequence, I was moved to tears as the scene unfolding seemed to be one 'out of my past'. Somehow I connected on a deeper level, one of blood kinship. It felt so real and though it was 'only a movie', it felt so close to home, and touched upon some primordeal memory from my spirit past perhaps in South America. This movie went to my gut, it felt so visceral and bloody and real, yet I didn't mind because it felt screamingly authentic. Conquest of a tribe IS violent and ugly!.
Personal politics: I get a little miffed at the holier than tho types who scorn Mel Gibson (the man) for having fucked up and spoken out of turn (foolishly, and I'm sure regretably) who now judge and negate his work as Mel the artist. I separate the man from the art. He made a fine piece of work with a lot of passion!
Oh please, let's not judge another as though he made a wrong that we could 'never' do. The man likely has a serious drinking problem. Quite honestly, THAT concerns me more than spewing foolish rhetoric. If we were all contested on what we have said, then none of us would be respected and we would all have received at least twenty lashings and a few sharp stones pelted at our bodies. I have certainly said some regretable things, but as a human being and also an artist, I would hope that civilians (note the root: civil) would judge my art based on the merit of the work, aside from my personal politics. THAT is fair and less hypocritical.
300
Another bloodbath(house) gem of a film! I'm not sure if I'm on some roll here with respect to catching very good, yet violent film or simply being more open-minded to the various forms of art. In any case, 300 was friggin gorgeous to look at, not to mention having incredible editing and camera techniques. Really groundbreaking stuff. I really liked that it was told like a myth or a fable with the surreal, larger than-life off-colored and sepia toned visuals. Wow. Very creative use of imagery and quite apropos. I was enthralled watching it.
At first, I saw much blood and thought, 'Oh, no, here we go, another he-man movie to inspire all the young boys to go out and fight, build muscle, be patriotic glory-men...blah, blah.' But I sat there anyway. Well, ultra machismo messages aside (and there are many), I really enjoyed the movie as a whole body of art. The imagery, the almost balletic fighting choreography, the music!, story and the supernatural elements woven in which made the story vacillate between the real and the ultra-real. Cool stuff! Another charmer that I did not see coming. After watching, it felt as though I had surprised myself by managing to consume a very rich-looking decadent, luscious strawberry tart...AND still wanting a little more.
Jarhead
A little older (2 yrs?) but very worthy of mention. Who would have thunk that an irreverent, almost satirical look at war and its idiosyncracies, confusion, chaos and the air of lunacy the elements lend themselves to - would come out to be such an entertaining product? I was impressed that the film did not stoop to make 'political commentary' or show itself to be pro or anti-war, but rather set up the pieces of a manic puzzle within a fantastical and semi-farcical storytelling. The surrealness of the elements around the story lets the viewer alone judge for him/herself what to make of this machine called war, and it is clear to see (to anyone who still has a pulse...) that some thing is definitely skewed. What I really admire is that the film mocks war and wartime ritualization WITHOUT looking or sounding like it is doing so (does that make sense?? I thought not).
Anyway, I loved the script (far removed from memory at this time...) but it had some choice lines and dark, ironic humor throughout it. Jarhead kind of reminded me of a Felliniesque farce: things are so intense, so hyper-real that the viewer empathizes with the main character's confusion and also feels that 'this cannot be real, for it is simply too absurd.' The blurring of lines between the absurdity of reality and the drama of the absurdity are what kept me glued to the seat. I managed to laugh the kind of laugh the mind likes. It is not a loud or obvious chortle, but more like the inner smile of havin' slipped one over the boss at the office, and you best office buddy is the only one in on the joke while all others remain oblivious. It's that delicious.
Great performances from Jake Gyll., Peter Sarsgaard (who was even better in "Shattered Glass") and others. Cool, brusque and absurdist in its perspective. Like one of the characters asks, "What the hell were we figting FOR again..?? I forgot!" 'Oooh, because they TOLD us to. That's IT??',he asks. Authority-schmority! Definitely one of my pics for one of the most original telling of war-time madness. Anyone thinking of enlisting should see this first, mull the muck over...then decide to talk to Uncle Sam (or even Harper these days...) later. Much, much fucking later.
Lakehouse
"And Now for Something Completely Different..."
A soft, sweet love-story. Small, quiet and beautiful it contains one of my newly favourite romantic scenes in a very looong time. I won't give it away, but watching it completely melted me back to the gentle stirrings of budding romance, that tingly soft feeling in your belly you get as you begin to drift into someone's eyes, connecting on such a level that words seem trivial. Truly romantic and emotionally satisfying. Keanu looks very nice and acts understatedly without too much sentimantality as the romantic lead. Sigh. A treat for weary eyes and for wearier hearts. Nice soundtrack too.
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Why...Why...Why??
"A 22-year-old man from California has broken the world hot dog eating record by getting through 59 hot dogs in the allotted 12 minutes. Short video news story."
uh. I feel slightly repulsed when I think of how much food has been prepared, set out and mass-produced just so that us (North Americans- lovers of buffet style restaurants and other Roman indulgences...)can gorge on it, overfeed ourselves with unnatural amounts under the guise of social "recreation". Much of the food left on plates or in the long buffet metal trays is discarded. It becomes waste. It pains me to think that (here where I will attempt to NOT hit an old cliche over the head--but who knows!) while others in the world are barely affording and having access to sustenance, day-to-day stuff, we have enough wealth and greed to lick our greasy fingers,overstuff our gullet and throw out too many crumpled bleached white paper napkins (sorry, tree) into the waste-basket and not give it a second thought.
I don't want to be a hypocrite. I have eaten at buffets. Yet, since my first visit it became an increasingly repellent thing, when I realized how centered our lives (and our unhealthy guts) are upon large mass consumption. The ritual that we partook in for my granny on the odd Sunday became a burden to bear until I stopped meeting my family there altogether. In fact, the last time I went (sans granny), I felt a new sense of shame.
Having come off fresh from my Peace and Conflict and Political Science and even Anthropological classes...I had grown a new layer of conscientiousness in that I realized that everything I did (ate, consumed, purchased, and so on...) had political and social consequence.
Maybe it seems small peanuts to worry about how 'wrong' a buffet in some Seattle mall is, but it becomes harder to enjoy putting food in your (ok--my) mouth when those tragic amounts are multiple times more than what I really need or even want to enjoy. Do I think the owner gives a healthy crap about his customers. Hell,no. He wants you to pack on a big plate, so he can sharge you for your larger portion and super-size his wallet (and of course, the higher-ups who run the system). I'm not feeding myself, I'm feeding The Man's pockets and making myself ill in the meantime. We (consumers) seem so devoid of substance, of connection to one another, hell-even to ourselves- that we susbtitute feeling with over-sustenance. Feeling full as to not feel. (I feel flatulent...fatigued at this notion. We are all F'd.
We have everything, but we want more. We have goods, but we need to upgrade. To live life like 'everybody else' does, we need to 'keep up with the J's'...or do we?
How did we all get so brainwashed to rationalize feeling good about gorging (and hell, some even purging to watch their girlish figures, I'm sure!)? It's not the fabulous fifties anymore, we don't have security and don't get a gold-plated watch for our efforts. These are uncertain, unstable times. We do not have the liberties that our early capitalists embodied, the idea that we do have an indefinitie 'sea of fish' is a misconception. It is a lie sold to us in plain sight right there next to the cheese-topped broccoli.
Not that you should not enjoy yourself as long as there are people hungry. I don't believe in martyrdom, that just stirs the Christian-satied pot- not to my taste really. But we should make ourselves aware: who is serving us this stuff? what is it this stuff? did anyone lose their wages, or have injustice imposed on them in order to deliver us this 'stuff'. While we are stuffing our face, we are blissfully, bloatedly unaware of other shite we are buying and injesting, and digesting. If not on our plate, then out above our heads, in our spirits. We are full and yet empty of reason, and of accountability. We do not seem to be adapting to seeing the overview of a hurting world, how we sitting here are actually playing a part in keeping that grand, manipulative machine (oh, Greed) going and churning.
Bottom line for me: it's not right to consume and to waste in such vast, unnecessary amounts. Be happy. Enjoy your food, rejoice in the pleasures of culinary discovery, throw dinner parties, but brother, if you can spare it, please don't fuel a machine that works by serving the needs of some (those who create and sustain the notion of 'need' and consumption) by hurting the chances of others (those who have very litle choice except to eat the GM foods while they sell their crops and their labour to mass-producers, economy controllers from the 'West'). Don't let greed drive a stake through the heart of the world.
uh. I feel slightly repulsed when I think of how much food has been prepared, set out and mass-produced just so that us (North Americans- lovers of buffet style restaurants and other Roman indulgences...)can gorge on it, overfeed ourselves with unnatural amounts under the guise of social "recreation". Much of the food left on plates or in the long buffet metal trays is discarded. It becomes waste. It pains me to think that (here where I will attempt to NOT hit an old cliche over the head--but who knows!) while others in the world are barely affording and having access to sustenance, day-to-day stuff, we have enough wealth and greed to lick our greasy fingers,overstuff our gullet and throw out too many crumpled bleached white paper napkins (sorry, tree) into the waste-basket and not give it a second thought.
I don't want to be a hypocrite. I have eaten at buffets. Yet, since my first visit it became an increasingly repellent thing, when I realized how centered our lives (and our unhealthy guts) are upon large mass consumption. The ritual that we partook in for my granny on the odd Sunday became a burden to bear until I stopped meeting my family there altogether. In fact, the last time I went (sans granny), I felt a new sense of shame.
Having come off fresh from my Peace and Conflict and Political Science and even Anthropological classes...I had grown a new layer of conscientiousness in that I realized that everything I did (ate, consumed, purchased, and so on...) had political and social consequence.
Maybe it seems small peanuts to worry about how 'wrong' a buffet in some Seattle mall is, but it becomes harder to enjoy putting food in your (ok--my) mouth when those tragic amounts are multiple times more than what I really need or even want to enjoy. Do I think the owner gives a healthy crap about his customers. Hell,no. He wants you to pack on a big plate, so he can sharge you for your larger portion and super-size his wallet (and of course, the higher-ups who run the system). I'm not feeding myself, I'm feeding The Man's pockets and making myself ill in the meantime. We (consumers) seem so devoid of substance, of connection to one another, hell-even to ourselves- that we susbtitute feeling with over-sustenance. Feeling full as to not feel. (I feel flatulent...fatigued at this notion. We are all F'd.
We have everything, but we want more. We have goods, but we need to upgrade. To live life like 'everybody else' does, we need to 'keep up with the J's'...or do we?
How did we all get so brainwashed to rationalize feeling good about gorging (and hell, some even purging to watch their girlish figures, I'm sure!)? It's not the fabulous fifties anymore, we don't have security and don't get a gold-plated watch for our efforts. These are uncertain, unstable times. We do not have the liberties that our early capitalists embodied, the idea that we do have an indefinitie 'sea of fish' is a misconception. It is a lie sold to us in plain sight right there next to the cheese-topped broccoli.
Not that you should not enjoy yourself as long as there are people hungry. I don't believe in martyrdom, that just stirs the Christian-satied pot- not to my taste really. But we should make ourselves aware: who is serving us this stuff? what is it this stuff? did anyone lose their wages, or have injustice imposed on them in order to deliver us this 'stuff'. While we are stuffing our face, we are blissfully, bloatedly unaware of other shite we are buying and injesting, and digesting. If not on our plate, then out above our heads, in our spirits. We are full and yet empty of reason, and of accountability. We do not seem to be adapting to seeing the overview of a hurting world, how we sitting here are actually playing a part in keeping that grand, manipulative machine (oh, Greed) going and churning.
Bottom line for me: it's not right to consume and to waste in such vast, unnecessary amounts. Be happy. Enjoy your food, rejoice in the pleasures of culinary discovery, throw dinner parties, but brother, if you can spare it, please don't fuel a machine that works by serving the needs of some (those who create and sustain the notion of 'need' and consumption) by hurting the chances of others (those who have very litle choice except to eat the GM foods while they sell their crops and their labour to mass-producers, economy controllers from the 'West'). Don't let greed drive a stake through the heart of the world.
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Retrospective
I have learned so much in the last 4 terms (half-way through the 4th), and the best thing education has given me is it has stimulated my curiousity and my passion for the world again. Although at times I find "it" (the world!) scary, or daunting, or caught up in and endless cycle of abuse and exploitation (blame the media--blame politics!) I at least feel like I can add my (2? 3?) cents to contribute something positive. Learning about the way things work makes looking at the world less daunting and overwhelming. I'm understanding the mechanics behind things, which helps immensely. Whereas before I was afraid and felt powerless (no to mention the fact that I was sick for a long while, which did not help my sense of self-efficacy...), I now hold a different perspective and that is one of advocacy, knowledge, intent and positivity. Learning has renewed my sense of power and efficacy. I can make educated (to the best of my present abilities, anyway) decisions, I can use my conscience, I can support things I believe in and who knows, hopefully when the journey of education comes to a "respite" (because it never really "ends"), I may even be of some tangible value to aid in healing the world around us. That is my hope.
I am humbled, and I am grateful. I feel thankful that I have been guided to this fore at this time in my life. I am ready.
"The teacher appears when the student is ready".
Monday, July 10, 2006
Well, I slept.
The state of Today is that: there is nothing to report. I have been so busy reporting in my school life, almost daily, thus I am "reported-out". I will however, "report" this: sun was peeking out, then suddenly darkness,rainstorm and thunder(yippee!). The thunder has now become the most exciting pt. of wkdn! So, today: test studying yet to do, book yet to review; tomorrow: essay left to finish (I'm trying to decide if I should make it brilliant or not...)
This has been my weekend: very little. Little boxes, taking little breaks, back into little boxes.
See? nothing (much) to report.
Monday, July 03, 2006
Grrreat Comedies (wk. in progress...)
The Big Lebowski (Farrelly Bros. of Fargo fame among others..)Loser guy loses rug (floor, not head), goes looking for rug, drinks few White Russians along the way, gets hooked up with crooked, kinky people, talks to cowboy Sam, learns the value of bowling with yer buddies John Goodman and S. Buscemi.
Rushmore - Typical underdog-is-really-a genius story. Geeky overachieving, but lousy studend Max Fischer befriends other underdog, doggy-faced Bill Murray, doth drool at a pretty British lady. One-upmanship between tycoon and nerd. Rooting for bright-eyed Max. Sweet, romantic, quirkyly funny, great music. Closeted Cult Classic to (B)come...
Bullets Over Broadway- one of my fave. Woody films. Frustrated playwright resorts to $ funding from gangsters, thus has to keep an untalented moll in his show, feels he is selling out, a ganster revamps his script, he falls for the diva leading lady (hilarious Diane Wiest), loses girlfriend, gains notoriety on Broadway. Lesson: you can love the artist, but hate the art, and vice versa.
Some Like It Hot- Marilyn, Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, dressed-up as bandgirls, sex innuedoes, steamy glasses, faux millionaires, jazz, Jack doing the cha-cha-cha with rose in his "pretty red" mouth. Precious.
Rushmore - Typical underdog-is-really-a genius story. Geeky overachieving, but lousy studend Max Fischer befriends other underdog, doggy-faced Bill Murray, doth drool at a pretty British lady. One-upmanship between tycoon and nerd. Rooting for bright-eyed Max. Sweet, romantic, quirkyly funny, great music. Closeted Cult Classic to (B)come...
Bullets Over Broadway- one of my fave. Woody films. Frustrated playwright resorts to $ funding from gangsters, thus has to keep an untalented moll in his show, feels he is selling out, a ganster revamps his script, he falls for the diva leading lady (hilarious Diane Wiest), loses girlfriend, gains notoriety on Broadway. Lesson: you can love the artist, but hate the art, and vice versa.
Some Like It Hot- Marilyn, Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, dressed-up as bandgirls, sex innuedoes, steamy glasses, faux millionaires, jazz, Jack doing the cha-cha-cha with rose in his "pretty red" mouth. Precious.
Monday, June 12, 2006
"No Hablo Ingles"
Check out this Spanglish mess from an online language "Translator". I literally translated from Spanish to English. Never a BUENA idea!!
(first, in Spanish [or "Piggish Latin" as indicative of my limited vocab])
"...Perdon. Rod numero 2 (mi pololo) tambien le ha hido bien (pero un poquitito meeeenos bien que yo...ji ji). El es un poquitiiiiito mas flojito que yo. He estado con el por un ano y medio! Lo puedes creer! Como pasa el tiempo! Estamos contentos y igual con hartos carino."
(now in English, the literal translation...eek!! Where it could not find the word in English, it kept the Spanish word - so the result looks like a tossed salad of verbage.)
"...Sorry. Rod I number 2 (my pololo) also has hido to him or (but a poquitito meeeenos or that I... ji ji). It is a light poquitiiiiito but that I. I have been with by an anus and means! You can believe! As it spends the time! We are fed up contentments and equal with carino."
(what drugs were they smokin'??)
(first, in Spanish [or "Piggish Latin" as indicative of my limited vocab])
"...Perdon. Rod numero 2 (mi pololo) tambien le ha hido bien (pero un poquitito meeeenos bien que yo...ji ji). El es un poquitiiiiito mas flojito que yo. He estado con el por un ano y medio! Lo puedes creer! Como pasa el tiempo! Estamos contentos y igual con hartos carino."
(now in English, the literal translation...eek!! Where it could not find the word in English, it kept the Spanish word - so the result looks like a tossed salad of verbage.)
"...Sorry. Rod I number 2 (my pololo) also has hido to him or (but a poquitito meeeenos or that I... ji ji). It is a light poquitiiiiito but that I. I have been with by an anus and means! You can believe! As it spends the time! We are fed up contentments and equal with carino."
(what drugs were they smokin'??)
"P*SSY POWER!"
A terrified bear gets chased up a tree - by the family cat! "The unwelcome intruder was forced up a tree - twice - by the family pet, a tabby cat called Jack." (click on link)
I love it! That Jack's got some real cat-titude!! (thanks to Darce S. for her "copyrighted" word ;)
I love it! That Jack's got some real cat-titude!! (thanks to Darce S. for her "copyrighted" word ;)
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
King Tut's "funny bone" (hee hee- did I say "Bone"?)
"AN ANCIENT riddle about the mummified remains of King Tutankhamun has been solved...
"When a team from Liverpool University X-rayed King Tutankhamun's body in 1968, about 3,300 years after the king’s death, they could find no sign of his penis. There was speculation that it had been stolen and sold to a private collector.(um, the collector who also had Rasputin's thingy in a jar? me wonders)
Actually, the Pharaoh's phallus was in phine phorm (couldn't resist alliteration...) when it was phound in the sand next to the mummified body. “It has always been there,” Professor Hawass told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation this week. “I found it during the scan when the mummy was lifted.”
“The pharaoh’s sex organ is clearly visible in Burton’s pictures; all was normal in King Tut. The penis is a highly vascularised organ and shrinks when it is mummified.”
sure, and George Costanza's wang-dang was shrivelled up just from being in the cold water...sure, sure...
"When a team from Liverpool University X-rayed King Tutankhamun's body in 1968, about 3,300 years after the king’s death, they could find no sign of his penis. There was speculation that it had been stolen and sold to a private collector.(um, the collector who also had Rasputin's thingy in a jar? me wonders)
Actually, the Pharaoh's phallus was in phine phorm (couldn't resist alliteration...) when it was phound in the sand next to the mummified body. “It has always been there,” Professor Hawass told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation this week. “I found it during the scan when the mummy was lifted.”
“The pharaoh’s sex organ is clearly visible in Burton’s pictures; all was normal in King Tut. The penis is a highly vascularised organ and shrinks when it is mummified.”
sure, and George Costanza's wang-dang was shrivelled up just from being in the cold water...sure, sure...
Thursday, June 01, 2006
"An Inconvenient Truth"
The vast majority of scientists agree that global warming is real, it’s already happening and that it is the result of our activities and not a natural occurrence. The evidence is overwhelming and undeniable.We’re already seeing changes. Glaciers are melting, plants and animals are being forced from their habitat, and the number of severe storms and droughts is increasing.
Just saw the film. I urge everyone to go and check it out if you can. Very well paced, interesting and easy to follow with respect to all the information that it discloses. While it may be disturbing (content-wise), it is also very informative and essential to see it as part of educating ourselves (and our friends and families), so collectively our actions can create real, tangible changes. I urge you to spread the word around about this film. It's a start!
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Ok, I AM happy about this!
Taylor Hicks is named ‘American Idol’
The Birmingham, Ala., 29-year-old, who wooed viewers with his raw singing style, wild dance moves and an unlikely mop of gray hair, said he wanted to travel back home to his legions of “Soul Patrol” fans, whom he thanked onstage the moment he won.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Saturday, May 20, 2006
The Kite-flyer Not the Phlegm Collector...
Ponderings from the "Ponderosa"
Went to see a certain movie last night (hint: one of the most anticipated and most controversial so far this year...associated with a certain famous work of art. 'k, nuff said). Sitting there in the throes of the thrilling first moments of previews...my second favourite part of "going to the movies"! Suddenly a young(ish) couple sits behind us. I glance at them quickly in an effort to assess their "loud-talkedness" potential..They had come in talking, "I hope they don't keep yacking during the movie", I think to myself.
(I'll take a dramatic pause here.)
You know how people tell you "don't think about it, it'll be a self-fulfilling prophecy"? Damn them, those f&*^% are right! The couple came in talking loud, they sat behind us talking borderline (but enough for us to understand every word) loud...despite my attempts to thwart their behaviour with a couple of stern "sshh"s during the course of the (long) movie. Nuthin. I was getting irritated, and even more so when halfway through they came back with popcorn and started to munch it loudly and openly for the enjoyment of the patrons around them. "Such assholes". I told myself, "don't give them any attention. That is what they want". It took every fibre of my Will and focus of mindset to repeatedly "ignore" them, until I realized I was working so damned hard to have a good time, enjoy the movie - in spite of some rude, stupid inconsiderate people who were trying to spoil it.
Why is this phenomena so prevalent? It's like they 'spot you', "This one will do". "Betcha we can really inflict damage here!" Sometimes I feel it is so unfair (whine) that since there is a lot of negative energy and antagonism in the world, those of us who ARE sensitive and feel this intent (vicious, sometimes malevolent) have to work overtime to survive and not be so wounded in the process. (I've ALWAYS have a sense of someone who has a bad "vibe", since I was little. Perhaps they too have 'sensed' me.) You don't want to give away your power to them, so you don't overreact...in the meantime the bullies get away with being bullies and continue to exercise the "power-over" dynamic and drain the energy from the nicer people. This is friggin' not right, people!
I know that ultimately it is up to 'you' to change your attitude or mindset, etc. since you're never going to change anyone else, around you. I 'know' that. Yet in my heart, I feel conflicted and wonder when is it correct to yell back, to shove back, to not back down from the fight? I have confronted the "uglies" (bullies, meanspirited people, etc.) before, with "mixed" results. I am usually the kind to reluctantly turn the other cheek (at the expense of getting my cheeks 'tanned' with abuse! in the past), yet there remains a constant state of unrest inside for me from this dilemna. I don't want to become like them and get sucked into the power game, yet I don't want to be easy fodder for pummeling either. I would above all, like to feel "safe".
As soon as I start to feel safe again, there comes another 'test', another healthy shot of antagonism and negativity just to 'keep me on my toes'. Sometimes I just want to hang my head down and cry from a sense of inevitability. It hurts to feel malevolence from others, it feels raw and I labour with converting my anger and frustration into Righteous Rage (the Correct direction of this force/energy). I feel as though there is no letting the guard down, that is when they swoop in and try to rob you, or drain your energies. Sigh. People can be so mean. I will never fully comprehend that...
Next day, the "movie thing" is behind me. I thought about the actual "movie" and the amount of times I am reminded of the mean-spirited couple has shortened, for the most part. I study for 3 hours, then go to the park. It is sunny but not hot yet, it is windy but not too cool. I like this wind. The sensation makes me feel like a little girl again, one who used to glee at the wind messing up the curls around her face! There is a man there with a little kite he is setting up for his young daughter. He shows her how to fly it. He is clearly enjoying himself. Maybe he's a kid too now, one who's forgotten he's supposed to be 'giving lessons' here, not just flying the kite for himself! ha ha. I lose myself for a moment ans pretend I am flying that kite too. I watch it drift and swoop and dance, teasing the winds. Suddenly, it swoops downward. Plop. A full stop. The man and his daughter smile and gather the kite for flying again.
I lay supine on the warm grass. Feel the beat of the warm earth. Ah, yes Mother, I had forgotten how rich your arms were. I had forgotten how I could always come and be embraced by you and the sun. I do need it today. I start to drift now. The warmth and the soft winds are combining in a lullaby for me...I drift, drift...suddenly a pedestrian shuffles along the sidewalk, making a great "harking" noise and a throated sound of collecting phlegm. He spits the great gob. I feel disgust. "Pig!", I think. I imagine: what if every Tom, Dick and Harry Potter were to walk around like that and dump their 'refuse' on every sidewalk. And if no city maintenance came in to do water sweeps to flush it away??" I think I would vomit. Hideous picture.
I quickly decide to shift the focus. "Think of something nice, think of something nice, quickly!" Ah, ok, got it. I picture the kite flyer and his kite again. Yes, that is the vision that I chose to fill my attention. There be too many other distractors and competition for my mind and my senses, too many that could destroy my good spirits and too many that might deflate my belief in things beautiful and the inherent goodness in (most) people. Sometimes it is a real challenge to remember all this - knowing what we know of our volatile, small world...
Determinedly, I have re-set my mindset, and it won't be the last time. I think "I would rather witness the kite, and the kite-flyer and his daughter, share in their reverie, wonder and celebration doing this simple, sweet ritual. I would rather let some bitter little disgust and mean "ugly" pass right by me, and freely move away and outward. This "ugly" never belonged to me and I therefore do not want this negativity to hurt me. I will always see it, and I will always have to acknowledge that it exists. But for today (and the next), I must employ steely persistence to see/hear/feel the "kite-flyers" and not the "phlegm collectors".
That is the gentle reminder I received today. For this I am thankful.
Went to see a certain movie last night (hint: one of the most anticipated and most controversial so far this year...associated with a certain famous work of art. 'k, nuff said). Sitting there in the throes of the thrilling first moments of previews...my second favourite part of "going to the movies"! Suddenly a young(ish) couple sits behind us. I glance at them quickly in an effort to assess their "loud-talkedness" potential..They had come in talking, "I hope they don't keep yacking during the movie", I think to myself.
(I'll take a dramatic pause here.)
You know how people tell you "don't think about it, it'll be a self-fulfilling prophecy"? Damn them, those f&*^% are right! The couple came in talking loud, they sat behind us talking borderline (but enough for us to understand every word) loud...despite my attempts to thwart their behaviour with a couple of stern "sshh"s during the course of the (long) movie. Nuthin. I was getting irritated, and even more so when halfway through they came back with popcorn and started to munch it loudly and openly for the enjoyment of the patrons around them. "Such assholes". I told myself, "don't give them any attention. That is what they want". It took every fibre of my Will and focus of mindset to repeatedly "ignore" them, until I realized I was working so damned hard to have a good time, enjoy the movie - in spite of some rude, stupid inconsiderate people who were trying to spoil it.
Why is this phenomena so prevalent? It's like they 'spot you', "This one will do". "Betcha we can really inflict damage here!" Sometimes I feel it is so unfair (whine) that since there is a lot of negative energy and antagonism in the world, those of us who ARE sensitive and feel this intent (vicious, sometimes malevolent) have to work overtime to survive and not be so wounded in the process. (I've ALWAYS have a sense of someone who has a bad "vibe", since I was little. Perhaps they too have 'sensed' me.) You don't want to give away your power to them, so you don't overreact...in the meantime the bullies get away with being bullies and continue to exercise the "power-over" dynamic and drain the energy from the nicer people. This is friggin' not right, people!
I know that ultimately it is up to 'you' to change your attitude or mindset, etc. since you're never going to change anyone else, around you. I 'know' that. Yet in my heart, I feel conflicted and wonder when is it correct to yell back, to shove back, to not back down from the fight? I have confronted the "uglies" (bullies, meanspirited people, etc.) before, with "mixed" results. I am usually the kind to reluctantly turn the other cheek (at the expense of getting my cheeks 'tanned' with abuse! in the past), yet there remains a constant state of unrest inside for me from this dilemna. I don't want to become like them and get sucked into the power game, yet I don't want to be easy fodder for pummeling either. I would above all, like to feel "safe".
As soon as I start to feel safe again, there comes another 'test', another healthy shot of antagonism and negativity just to 'keep me on my toes'. Sometimes I just want to hang my head down and cry from a sense of inevitability. It hurts to feel malevolence from others, it feels raw and I labour with converting my anger and frustration into Righteous Rage (the Correct direction of this force/energy). I feel as though there is no letting the guard down, that is when they swoop in and try to rob you, or drain your energies. Sigh. People can be so mean. I will never fully comprehend that...
Next day, the "movie thing" is behind me. I thought about the actual "movie" and the amount of times I am reminded of the mean-spirited couple has shortened, for the most part. I study for 3 hours, then go to the park. It is sunny but not hot yet, it is windy but not too cool. I like this wind. The sensation makes me feel like a little girl again, one who used to glee at the wind messing up the curls around her face! There is a man there with a little kite he is setting up for his young daughter. He shows her how to fly it. He is clearly enjoying himself. Maybe he's a kid too now, one who's forgotten he's supposed to be 'giving lessons' here, not just flying the kite for himself! ha ha. I lose myself for a moment ans pretend I am flying that kite too. I watch it drift and swoop and dance, teasing the winds. Suddenly, it swoops downward. Plop. A full stop. The man and his daughter smile and gather the kite for flying again.
I lay supine on the warm grass. Feel the beat of the warm earth. Ah, yes Mother, I had forgotten how rich your arms were. I had forgotten how I could always come and be embraced by you and the sun. I do need it today. I start to drift now. The warmth and the soft winds are combining in a lullaby for me...I drift, drift...suddenly a pedestrian shuffles along the sidewalk, making a great "harking" noise and a throated sound of collecting phlegm. He spits the great gob. I feel disgust. "Pig!", I think. I imagine: what if every Tom, Dick and Harry Potter were to walk around like that and dump their 'refuse' on every sidewalk. And if no city maintenance came in to do water sweeps to flush it away??" I think I would vomit. Hideous picture.
I quickly decide to shift the focus. "Think of something nice, think of something nice, quickly!" Ah, ok, got it. I picture the kite flyer and his kite again. Yes, that is the vision that I chose to fill my attention. There be too many other distractors and competition for my mind and my senses, too many that could destroy my good spirits and too many that might deflate my belief in things beautiful and the inherent goodness in (most) people. Sometimes it is a real challenge to remember all this - knowing what we know of our volatile, small world...
Determinedly, I have re-set my mindset, and it won't be the last time. I think "I would rather witness the kite, and the kite-flyer and his daughter, share in their reverie, wonder and celebration doing this simple, sweet ritual. I would rather let some bitter little disgust and mean "ugly" pass right by me, and freely move away and outward. This "ugly" never belonged to me and I therefore do not want this negativity to hurt me. I will always see it, and I will always have to acknowledge that it exists. But for today (and the next), I must employ steely persistence to see/hear/feel the "kite-flyers" and not the "phlegm collectors".
That is the gentle reminder I received today. For this I am thankful.
Friday, May 12, 2006
from the Dept. of "Think-Before-You-Speak"
You think YOU'VE tripped over your words?!
This ought to make you feel, oh, so much better. (*good for chuckle*)
"[I want to] make sure everybody who has a job wants a job." -- George Bush, during his first campaign for the presidency.
"Rarely is the question asked: is our children learning?" -- George W. Bush
"I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family." -- George W. Bush
"The most important job is not to be governor, or first lady in my case." -- George W. Bush
"We must all hear the universal call to like your neighbor as you like to be liked yourself." -- George W. Bush
"Well, I think if you say you're going to do something and don't do it, that's trustworthiness." -- George W. Bush
"I think if you know what you believe, it makes it a lot easier to answer questions. I can't answer your question." -- George W. Bush
"This campaign not only hears the voices of the entrepreneurs and the farmers and the entrepreneurs, we hear the voices of those struggling to get ahead." -- George W. Bush
"We cannot let terrorists and rogue nations hold this nation hostile or hold our allies hostile." -- George W. Bush
"Actually, I -- this may sound a little West Texan to you, but I like it. When I'm talking about--when I'm talking about myself, and when he's talking about myself, all of us are talking about me." -- George W. Bush
(After shaking m'head so much, I feel like I should go brush it now!!)
This ought to make you feel, oh, so much better. (*good for chuckle*)
"[I want to] make sure everybody who has a job wants a job." -- George Bush, during his first campaign for the presidency.
"Rarely is the question asked: is our children learning?" -- George W. Bush
"I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family." -- George W. Bush
"The most important job is not to be governor, or first lady in my case." -- George W. Bush
"We must all hear the universal call to like your neighbor as you like to be liked yourself." -- George W. Bush
"Well, I think if you say you're going to do something and don't do it, that's trustworthiness." -- George W. Bush
"I think if you know what you believe, it makes it a lot easier to answer questions. I can't answer your question." -- George W. Bush
"This campaign not only hears the voices of the entrepreneurs and the farmers and the entrepreneurs, we hear the voices of those struggling to get ahead." -- George W. Bush
"We cannot let terrorists and rogue nations hold this nation hostile or hold our allies hostile." -- George W. Bush
"Actually, I -- this may sound a little West Texan to you, but I like it. When I'm talking about--when I'm talking about myself, and when he's talking about myself, all of us are talking about me." -- George W. Bush
(After shaking m'head so much, I feel like I should go brush it now!!)
Friday, May 05, 2006
OWW-EE!! my ears IZ burnin'..!
"Dear Music God:
I'm twelve years old and I like music, especially hip-hop and pop. I look up to musicians coz they look good and the music makes me wanna dance...but you know what, I don't git it?? Lately I've been hearing really, really stoopid stuff that get really, really popular and goes to the top of the illegal downloading lists and stuff, but the lyrics to these songs...um, they, they make my ears like bleed a little?
Um, like that "Beep" song from the Pussycat Dolls (these chicks who used to gyrate their bootieses at burlesque girlie music shows and now are like, doing videos. The thing that is WACK is the words to the songs are, like, purdy stoopid,! Dude, check this: "you got nice brains but I'm lookin' at yo "beep*, No, I don't mind that you lookin' at my *beep*, I know you're looking at my *beep*. I don't mind that you're looking at my *beep*"...and so on. Like, I GET it, *beep* is a swear word or it's sex. Ok!! It was cute the first twenty times they said it...
Another one, wuz that SUUUPPER popular "My Humps" song by The Black Eyes Peas. I mostly like their stuff, even tho they rip off other old fogie artists' riffs to make their song sound way cooler, but whatev! Anyway, that song about ladies' "bumps" was pro'bly reeeal easy to write. Like I could have written better...WHILE TAKING A MATH TEST..CHEWING GUM, AND WITH MY HANDS TIED BEHIND MY BACK, I bet. It's really nuthin' to get super hot over or even..to really listen to, you know?? I think I know all the lyrics already. Ok, um: "My humps, my humps, my lovely lady humps."
and then "my lumps, my lumps, my lovely lady lumps"...ya get the picture, right. This dirty lady named Peaches did her own funny take on this called "My Dumps" (but my mom won't let me cruise her website. Whatev!)
Anyway, I may not know much stuff being twelve and all, but I know music is suppposed to like, HAVE MUSIC IN IT and the words are suppposed to be compliminting..or complatementing...cumplement--well, GO TOGETHER with the music in a musical way ! Thing is: lyrics and stuff I hear is CR-AY_ZZ-EE!!
Anyway Music God, if you have TIME make it stop, ok?? Or maybe make people that are out there rakin in the 'greens' and flashing their "grills" and their *bling* and twenty badd cars, with their group of "hoes", in their pimped-out wheels , whatever--make 'em wake up, get away from the weed and try to like, grow some real lyrics, so people like me don't grow up and wonder why we got so screwed up with no sense of direction without our IPod's or diamond-studded cellphones, or just wind up caring about where the mall is so we can get our lady lumps tanned, yo.
I know it's a BIG job, but Music God, I have to have faith and I think we really, really could use your help here too!! I'm still young so I don't wanna get brain rot like, before I can drive?? I know there's a lot of dumb peeps out there who just don't care, coz well, they don't have to now that they're rich...
'K. I got homework to do now. Later!
Aurora"
I'm twelve years old and I like music, especially hip-hop and pop. I look up to musicians coz they look good and the music makes me wanna dance...but you know what, I don't git it?? Lately I've been hearing really, really stoopid stuff that get really, really popular and goes to the top of the illegal downloading lists and stuff, but the lyrics to these songs...um, they, they make my ears like bleed a little?
Um, like that "Beep" song from the Pussycat Dolls (these chicks who used to gyrate their bootieses at burlesque girlie music shows and now are like, doing videos. The thing that is WACK is the words to the songs are, like, purdy stoopid,! Dude, check this: "you got nice brains but I'm lookin' at yo "beep*, No, I don't mind that you lookin' at my *beep*, I know you're looking at my *beep*. I don't mind that you're looking at my *beep*"...and so on. Like, I GET it, *beep* is a swear word or it's sex. Ok!! It was cute the first twenty times they said it...
Another one, wuz that SUUUPPER popular "My Humps" song by The Black Eyes Peas. I mostly like their stuff, even tho they rip off other old fogie artists' riffs to make their song sound way cooler, but whatev! Anyway, that song about ladies' "bumps" was pro'bly reeeal easy to write. Like I could have written better...WHILE TAKING A MATH TEST..CHEWING GUM, AND WITH MY HANDS TIED BEHIND MY BACK, I bet. It's really nuthin' to get super hot over or even..to really listen to, you know?? I think I know all the lyrics already. Ok, um: "My humps, my humps, my lovely lady humps."
and then "my lumps, my lumps, my lovely lady lumps"...ya get the picture, right. This dirty lady named Peaches did her own funny take on this called "My Dumps" (but my mom won't let me cruise her website. Whatev!)
Anyway, I may not know much stuff being twelve and all, but I know music is suppposed to like, HAVE MUSIC IN IT and the words are suppposed to be compliminting..or complatementing...cumplement--well, GO TOGETHER with the music in a musical way ! Thing is: lyrics and stuff I hear is CR-AY_ZZ-EE!!
Anyway Music God, if you have TIME make it stop, ok?? Or maybe make people that are out there rakin in the 'greens' and flashing their "grills" and their *bling* and twenty badd cars, with their group of "hoes", in their pimped-out wheels , whatever--make 'em wake up, get away from the weed and try to like, grow some real lyrics, so people like me don't grow up and wonder why we got so screwed up with no sense of direction without our IPod's or diamond-studded cellphones, or just wind up caring about where the mall is so we can get our lady lumps tanned, yo.
I know it's a BIG job, but Music God, I have to have faith and I think we really, really could use your help here too!! I'm still young so I don't wanna get brain rot like, before I can drive?? I know there's a lot of dumb peeps out there who just don't care, coz well, they don't have to now that they're rich...
'K. I got homework to do now. Later!
Aurora"
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Online LABYRINTH
"(we) sometimes have difficulty quieting the chatter in our minds long enough to hear what our soul is trying to tell us. Meditation is the art of listening to your heart and learning to be present... Sometimes unconsciously, we withdraw from the present and live in the past or the future."click on link to follow the labyrinth
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
a "sensible" work week?
These days it's hard to get together with friends. During the week it's pretty much out of the question, no matter how well-intentioned the plans may have been. Usually they call back, feeling guilty because they are just plain too tired. Ah, yes. I've been there.
Some days I wonder if it is not totally implausible to alter the way we "productive", time-oriented westerners approach the work week. Some South American countries have a siesta mid-afternoon, sensible, since our bodies are naturally attuned to rest at this physical low-point of the day. Europeans in some lucky countries take as long as SIX WEEK holidays (nice!) or employ shorter work weeks(they also watch less tv, eat less crap, but that's another rant!).
Zooming back to N.A...in most cases, people that I know (and know of) go through the rut, er...routine of the 40 hr. week and at the end if it, are absolutely spent, physically, emotionally and mentally with very little feeling of personal "satisfaction". Why have we all been set up this way? Obviously the underlying reasons are more related to profitability and lessening of calculation and organizational effort (read: time).
The roots probably stem earlier than last century's "Taylorism", which put the grand idea that it might be a nifty time-saver to actually calculate and time the mechanics and precise movements of the (factory) labor worker while doing a task. Obviously, today there are too many human rights implications that this exact measuring, timing and thus, dehumanization of human beings gets into, yet some socioeconomically poorer countries are still employing these methods in an effort to "copy" the supposed economically "matured" capitalist systems. These nations are unfortunately still largely the pawns that were used in early colonialism and the victims of a power-over dynamic residue. Surely our "poverty" is still relative to their REAL life-and-death type poverty and the ever-increasing exploitation of their human and natural resources. Yes, poverty and exploitation does also exist in our backyard, I certainly won't negate that.
That is where my beef is at: the rest of us working Joes and Josephines who are employed by "North America Inc.", a rich and "privileged" continent by the world's standards, are still subject to being caught in the petty web of exploitation.
Somebody else made the rules and we (seemingly) have no choice but to play along and make our way, sure. But what disturbs me is "Why is our (collective) mentality still so tunnel-visioned and driven by our economic and capitalist systems that we cannot yet mature enough to see the err and shortcomings of not valuing the HUMAN worker (along with, of course the environment)?" (don't we gain any insight from past follies leading to wars, strife and revolution?) It almost feels like there is too much at stake for the powers-that-be to grant true value to the worker. Perhaps "Give 'em an inch, and they'll take a ruler" might be a silent fear? We get so caught up in fear we will lose our job, our standing, our favour with the boss, etc. that we start to believe the "screen". We act like they are doing us a favour by granting us a heavily loaded, fully stocked-up 40+ hour work week with no benefits (benefits, if we're *real lucky*). We thank our lucky stars that they are employing our sorry arses, but really, we've got it all wrong: we are doing THEM the favour!
Pushing people to the hilt to save a nickel is pathetic. In North America (esp. "Dubya's" US of A) we have the resources to obliterate exploitation altogether! Corporations would NOT be left crying. The politicians wouldn't have to scrimp on groceries either. (Capital could very diverted toward the social wage and away for the military efforts, for example). We could be, and should be setting an example of higher way to structure things, of a better, healthier life sustenance. This could be the real moment to shine and prove ourselves worthy of 'praise' as a great powerful nation, live up to the rep, beyond just buying our way in.
It's frustrating to see very little "advancement" (ie. change) beyond the ever-present dog-eat-dog system, and as part of this, the incredible demands placed upon the average person.
We have to become a two-income household to provide for our children, or to manage to scrape by off a teeny pension as a senior or a disabled person, or to survive hand to mouth, deeming ourselves "middle class", when we are really the "well-dressed poor" an ever-expanding large underclass. We are faced with so many OTHER responsibilities and a constant stream of stimulus at once attacking and demanding of our senses, on a moment by moment basis (ie. think of crossing the lights at a crowded intersection, with cars honking while confirming an appointment by cell phone). In this millenia, we, on average deal with three-fold more stimuli, distractions and demands on our energies than our grand-parents' generation.
We have to work to survive, granted, but not only that, we HAVE to work our asses off to survive. We have to work hard enough so that our bodies and minds are so spent, that we can barely remember why we were putting in these hours and energy in the FIRST PLACE! Does this seem logical?? Is this really just "human nature"?? Not to me, I'm not yet "sold" on that one (figuratively nor literally).
From the "elite" owners' perspective (for you Sociologist-minded) getting the most juice out of your people equals gain, but for the rest of us "worker bees", more often than not, there is little to be gained personally and much to be lost in terms of physical ailments, stress-related illness, and loss of quality of life.
When I myself was working steadily at a "low on the totem pole", yet centralized admin-graphics-do-it-all-and-smile-too job, all I started to want was that I would find a way to balance my life out and come out with strength and mental energy at the end of the day to delve more into the things I really cared about (volunteering, connecting with friends, reclaiming my social life, learning to date, working out, etc). I was lucky if I managed to muster enough snuff to go work out twice a week and make a few strategically-timed calls (between dinner and burn-out) out to the world.
I finally manifested my wish. One day, my boss (very nice man, all in all) talked to me about the struggling finances of the company. He asked me if I would mind that he had to shorten my hours per day. I bettered that one and offered to CUT OUT one full work day instead. He (gratefully) accepted. I had a bigger plan.
I found immeasurable quality earned by this one 'extra' day. In fact, I had time to think rather than 'react' into my automatic routines, to rest mentally, to read more, to go for walks, to assist my family. I even had the "luxury" of time, to really reflect on my life. I reflected so well in fact, that I decided to go back to school. I wanted to figure out how this wheel turned and where I was placed among the "cogs".
The next job I take, I will put my foot down on the issue of time and energy extracted at my expense. Let it be a slight "loss" monetarily to me and let others slightly smirk, and let it be a gain to my new (open-minded) boss who will save a nickel, but I will want to discuss the implementation of a 4 day work week or a job-sharing program. I intend to gain as much balance and peace out of my life. It starts with the decision to claim it back for my self, on my terms. Somebody out there, is gonna want to hire me. And betcha they'll be "my kind of peeps" too.
Here's to a 4 Day Work Week and "taking in" your space!
Some days I wonder if it is not totally implausible to alter the way we "productive", time-oriented westerners approach the work week. Some South American countries have a siesta mid-afternoon, sensible, since our bodies are naturally attuned to rest at this physical low-point of the day. Europeans in some lucky countries take as long as SIX WEEK holidays (nice!) or employ shorter work weeks(they also watch less tv, eat less crap, but that's another rant!).
Zooming back to N.A...in most cases, people that I know (and know of) go through the rut, er...routine of the 40 hr. week and at the end if it, are absolutely spent, physically, emotionally and mentally with very little feeling of personal "satisfaction". Why have we all been set up this way? Obviously the underlying reasons are more related to profitability and lessening of calculation and organizational effort (read: time).
The roots probably stem earlier than last century's "Taylorism", which put the grand idea that it might be a nifty time-saver to actually calculate and time the mechanics and precise movements of the (factory) labor worker while doing a task. Obviously, today there are too many human rights implications that this exact measuring, timing and thus, dehumanization of human beings gets into, yet some socioeconomically poorer countries are still employing these methods in an effort to "copy" the supposed economically "matured" capitalist systems. These nations are unfortunately still largely the pawns that were used in early colonialism and the victims of a power-over dynamic residue. Surely our "poverty" is still relative to their REAL life-and-death type poverty and the ever-increasing exploitation of their human and natural resources. Yes, poverty and exploitation does also exist in our backyard, I certainly won't negate that.
That is where my beef is at: the rest of us working Joes and Josephines who are employed by "North America Inc.", a rich and "privileged" continent by the world's standards, are still subject to being caught in the petty web of exploitation.
Somebody else made the rules and we (seemingly) have no choice but to play along and make our way, sure. But what disturbs me is "Why is our (collective) mentality still so tunnel-visioned and driven by our economic and capitalist systems that we cannot yet mature enough to see the err and shortcomings of not valuing the HUMAN worker (along with, of course the environment)?" (don't we gain any insight from past follies leading to wars, strife and revolution?) It almost feels like there is too much at stake for the powers-that-be to grant true value to the worker. Perhaps "Give 'em an inch, and they'll take a ruler" might be a silent fear? We get so caught up in fear we will lose our job, our standing, our favour with the boss, etc. that we start to believe the "screen". We act like they are doing us a favour by granting us a heavily loaded, fully stocked-up 40+ hour work week with no benefits (benefits, if we're *real lucky*). We thank our lucky stars that they are employing our sorry arses, but really, we've got it all wrong: we are doing THEM the favour!
Pushing people to the hilt to save a nickel is pathetic. In North America (esp. "Dubya's" US of A) we have the resources to obliterate exploitation altogether! Corporations would NOT be left crying. The politicians wouldn't have to scrimp on groceries either. (Capital could very diverted toward the social wage and away for the military efforts, for example). We could be, and should be setting an example of higher way to structure things, of a better, healthier life sustenance. This could be the real moment to shine and prove ourselves worthy of 'praise' as a great powerful nation, live up to the rep, beyond just buying our way in.
It's frustrating to see very little "advancement" (ie. change) beyond the ever-present dog-eat-dog system, and as part of this, the incredible demands placed upon the average person.
We have to become a two-income household to provide for our children, or to manage to scrape by off a teeny pension as a senior or a disabled person, or to survive hand to mouth, deeming ourselves "middle class", when we are really the "well-dressed poor" an ever-expanding large underclass. We are faced with so many OTHER responsibilities and a constant stream of stimulus at once attacking and demanding of our senses, on a moment by moment basis (ie. think of crossing the lights at a crowded intersection, with cars honking while confirming an appointment by cell phone). In this millenia, we, on average deal with three-fold more stimuli, distractions and demands on our energies than our grand-parents' generation.
We have to work to survive, granted, but not only that, we HAVE to work our asses off to survive. We have to work hard enough so that our bodies and minds are so spent, that we can barely remember why we were putting in these hours and energy in the FIRST PLACE! Does this seem logical?? Is this really just "human nature"?? Not to me, I'm not yet "sold" on that one (figuratively nor literally).
From the "elite" owners' perspective (for you Sociologist-minded) getting the most juice out of your people equals gain, but for the rest of us "worker bees", more often than not, there is little to be gained personally and much to be lost in terms of physical ailments, stress-related illness, and loss of quality of life.
When I myself was working steadily at a "low on the totem pole", yet centralized admin-graphics-do-it-all-and-smile-too job, all I started to want was that I would find a way to balance my life out and come out with strength and mental energy at the end of the day to delve more into the things I really cared about (volunteering, connecting with friends, reclaiming my social life, learning to date, working out, etc). I was lucky if I managed to muster enough snuff to go work out twice a week and make a few strategically-timed calls (between dinner and burn-out) out to the world.
I finally manifested my wish. One day, my boss (very nice man, all in all) talked to me about the struggling finances of the company. He asked me if I would mind that he had to shorten my hours per day. I bettered that one and offered to CUT OUT one full work day instead. He (gratefully) accepted. I had a bigger plan.
I found immeasurable quality earned by this one 'extra' day. In fact, I had time to think rather than 'react' into my automatic routines, to rest mentally, to read more, to go for walks, to assist my family. I even had the "luxury" of time, to really reflect on my life. I reflected so well in fact, that I decided to go back to school. I wanted to figure out how this wheel turned and where I was placed among the "cogs".
The next job I take, I will put my foot down on the issue of time and energy extracted at my expense. Let it be a slight "loss" monetarily to me and let others slightly smirk, and let it be a gain to my new (open-minded) boss who will save a nickel, but I will want to discuss the implementation of a 4 day work week or a job-sharing program. I intend to gain as much balance and peace out of my life. It starts with the decision to claim it back for my self, on my terms. Somebody out there, is gonna want to hire me. And betcha they'll be "my kind of peeps" too.
Here's to a 4 Day Work Week and "taking in" your space!
"POP! Goes the Bone-mass"
"Cola is fun, cola is fizzy. Stop drinking the pop til it makes you dizzy!..." This may be "old news" to us, but still bears repeating. (See full article at link.)"Animal studies...phosphorus, a common ingredient in soda...deplete bones of calcium."
"Diabetes...devastating and debilitating disease...eliminating soda from your diet is one of the easiest preventative measures you could take..."
"Soda...zero nutritional value...loaded with addictive sugars.
A study...those who drink soda...have a higher risk of developing esophageal (throat) cancer (ACE). The study showed a strong link between the accelerated rate of people drinking...soft drinks and the growing number of cases of esophageal cancer."
Don't get seduced by the company's "sexy" ad campaigns. quote: “In the search of wealth, we destroy our health”.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)