Gulp, part I

Tomorrow morning I go to the dentist to have Tooth #19 (6 year molar on my lower left) extracted.
I have a history of extreme anxiety about being stuck in the dentist chair - being stuck or committed to anything honestly. I'm trying very hard to stay in this present moment ('cause I'm not there) and then when I am there, I will try hard to breathe deep and remember I chose to be there.

Earth Hour 2009

Saturday night was Earth Hour...
I turned off my television and all my lights at 8:30. However, I didn't unplug anything and I did use electricity because I decided to watch an old episode of "My Three Sons" on my portable DVD player. My intention was good, but my execution was poor. Then, I fell asleep.
I don't know if there were any gatherings in my area.
Go to the Earth Hour website for more info and pictures.

What's going on with the Catholic Church?

Prequel: I was raised Catholic. I appreciate the religious foundation I grew up with. We went to church every week but we were definitely "American" Catholics. To me that means we know what the Pope in Rome says, but he lives in a different world in a different 'time' and is required to say those things even if its not particularly true, which is why priests give their Sunday homily about living life with compassion and forgiveness and the lessons of Jesus and how God is in everything and everyone. Some would say that's not a 'true' Catholic upbringing.
I feel most comfortable in a Catholic church service than in other Christian services (I've tried most of them at least once). I stopped calling myself Catholic when priests called for John Kerry to stop taking communion. That was unacceptable.

Here's a quick article from FireDogLake about more hypocrisy from the Catholic church.

An American Cardinal, Daniel DiNardo of Houston/Galveston, has jumped on the K-Lo bandwagon and condemned Notre Dame for honoring a Democrat.

"I find the invitation very disappointing. Though I can understand the desire
by a university to have the prestige of a commencement address by the President
of the United States, the fundamental moral issue of the inestimable worth of
the human person from conception to natural death is a principle that soaks all
our lives as Catholics, and all our efforts at formation, especially education
at Catholic places of higher learning."

So where was DiNardo when in 2001, Notre Dame invited George W. Bush, who had honored the "inestimable worth of the human from conception to natural death" by executing more people than any other governor in US history?

Where was DiNardo in 2002, when the pro-choice, pro-capital punishment, adulterer Rudy Giuliani delivered the commencement address at Georgetown?

Where was DiNardo when in 2006, Boston College invited Condi Rice -- who not only is pro-choice, she's pro-capital punishment, pro-torture, and one of the architects of the bloody, unjust war the Vatican opposes?

The silence was deafening.

This practicing Catholic has a message for Cardinal DiNardo: stay the hell out of partisan politics, Your Eminence.

I agree.

Obama's Press Conference 03/24/2009, #2

Dear President Obama -

You sold me. I've been feeling nervous about the right thing to do. I've been wondering how I could tell who's right, who's wrong, and who's telling me reasonable things and who's just trying to scare me. I'd like a more radical change in our system so I wondered if Paul Krugman might be right.

The reality is, though, that we can't be as radical as I might like. Its not politically feasible, and sometimes revolutions come in small steps anyway - so in ten years it may LOOK like a radical change has taken place.

I would also like to say that you're most effective when you speak forthrightly and directly. Your answer to Ed Henry's question was so appropriate it made me happy. Your general tone of truth and honesty is refreshing and makes me even more confident. And laughing at the crazy place we find ourself is perfectly acceptable too.

In any event, I'm very proud of you. I'll do my best to continue paying attention to what's going on in Washington, be available in my community, and Keep Calm and Carry On.

All the best to you and your family!!! :)

Vicky

Obama's Press Conference 03/24/2009

I'd like to go on record, while Obama's press conference is still in progress that Ed Henry of CNN asked the first really stupid question of the evening. Really stupid. Once the transcript is up, I'll put it here. I can't believe Obama didn't tell him what an idiot he is...OMG and now he is pushing OBAMA on it????!! What a jerk...good for you Obama. Wow - CNN is so low in my estimation now, I don't know that I'll ever watch it again.

Larry Summers on the Newshour

Oy Vey - Did I really hear that? Based on this excerpt from the transcript of Larry Summers appearsnce on The Newshour, I guess I did.

And increasing the flow of credit is one component of an economic strategy that will get our economy going again, because more credit will mean a stronger economy, which in turn will mean a healthier financial system, meaning more credit, and we'll see some of those vicious cycles of recent months turned into virtuous circles.

Vicious cycles will turn into virtuous circles?
I can't make too much fun of it because its exactly the kind of thing I would say. But, I wonder if he made it up on the spot, or if he waited for the opportunity to say it, and if its the latter, then who wrote it?

Anyway - that's quite a phrase.

This is the most 'out there' e-mail I've sent to Barack Obama

I feel silly for sending this e-mail to Barack Obama. But, I also can't help feeling its something I need to at least put out there, into the universe.

Dear President Obama,

I supported your campaign. You're the first politician I ever donated money to. I believe you have the instincts of a leader.

But, something's not right. With all our good hopes and good wishes for your success on behalf of the USA, and with all the patience and sacrifice we're ready to offer, why isn't there a feeling that the government is working on the problem? Why don't I feel that really intelligent, nonpartisan, people of integrity are working together to save this country's economic and social future?

Is it the media, your advisors, too many voices, ineffective communication, moving too quickly, partisan politics, bureaucracy or something else? I don't know what it is, but something doesn't feel right

I know it sounds goofy, but in all honesty, I think you need to sit alone in the oval office with your eyes closed and clear your mind. Or, stand in a hot shower and allow the water to clear your mind.

Only then will you hear the truth of your instincts (your God, your spirit, the universe) and you will know the right way to proceed.

Even if it is audacious.

I dare to hope it will be.

All the best to you,

Matt Dancing

This video always fills me with emotion.
We live in a beautiful world filled with beautiful people and its a shame that much of the beauty is forgotten in the wake of greed, fear, and violence. How can we stand idly by while any of our brothers and sisters are treated unjustly?
How do I do it? How do I continue to stand idly by? Even now. In this moment.

Visit Matt's site for more about how this video was made.

By the way, I know I'm a bit over the top. But, really, how can I sit idly by?
And yet I do.
(Notice, even, how originally it was how can I STAND idly by and it became how can I SIT idly by. I'm lazy.)

Today's note to Obama...

This is what I'm writing to Barack Obama today...

Dear President Obama,
I understand you don't want to govern from anger, and I'm glad. Taxing the AIG bonuses or legislating executive compensation, that's not the answer. Those are reactions to frustration.
Your best bet is to set an example. Its not capitalism that has failed, its the failure of a shared common goal in the United States. We've forgotten what it is.
Remind us. Remind Americans what it means to live here.
Don't embed the answer in a long speech, make it short and simple.
This is what we believe in:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
What does that mean in today's world?
We are all free to realize our dreams, but not when our dream is achieved through lying, stealing, physically harming, or devaluing another human being.
President Obama, I know you believe this. I know you've said it in a speech.
But, I think you're allowing the details of all the problems to distract you from communicating this simple truth again and again and again.
Tell Americans to 'vote' with their dollars. Help us see how we can have a hand in changing the ethics and behavior of wealthy people who try and take everything from us. We can shop responsibly, we can educate ourselves, we can pay attention to the news.
We need to believe in our collective power again. You have the personal authority to help us see that we can be a force in our own lives.
The problems of today cannot be resolved with government legislation.
The problems of today can only be solved when we the people decide to take back the power that democracy gives us.
Tell us we can.

Don't forget to get plenty of rest and be 100% in the moment.
All the best to you and your family -

*****

And don't you forget...if you want to write to the president, click here...
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

I don't know where I live anymore.

What's going on?
I live in a world in which we're politely discussing how to deal with a group of elite, wealthy, greedy, and ambitious people who turned the world's economy on its ear. Isn't this a scandal at least as grieveous as Watergate? As any sex scandal?
I understand the audaciousness of this 'crime' is overwhelming and there are so many at fault we don't know who to punish. But, we're not only not punishing anyone - we're debating how to reward the perpetrators! Right? I mean, we're discussing how or if we should take away their bonus money.
Isn't that odd? It seems there shouldn't even be a question of whether any of those people should get a bonus. The obvious answer is no. Its common sense. Right? Right?

Series finale of Battlestar Galactica

Phew, its over. I'm underwhelmed and satisfied.
The mysteries, puzzles, and questions during the series were interesting and held more promise than the answers I found last night.
Maybe that's okay. The journey is more important than the destination. Many people had a great ride on Battlestar Galactica's five year mission. It was hit and miss for me; I didn't feel a connection to the characters and some of the storylines weren't organic to the overall story I understood.
I prefer to believe the author of this kind of story starts out with a plan that stays consistent throughout, which is why the puzzles and mysteries make sense and have an appropriate payoff. I imagine with a television series its hard to do that because when you don't have an endpoint, you can't plan how to dole out your information properly.
I think Battlestar Galactica started out as a gritty tale of survival with some mystery here and there, and over the course of a year or two turned into a stylized drama where the mystery of the backstory was primary and key to delivering viewer interest and buzz.
I have to say, though, there are lots of people I read on the internet who love Battlestar Galactica and see in it much more than I ever did. In fact, it wasn't unusual that there were scenes in the 'previously on Battlestar Galactica' start of the show that I didn't even remember.
I did not delve too deeply into the mythology. Which might be why I was underwhelmed.
In any event, here are my thoughts on the series finale of Battlestar Galactica...
1. This show has always had lots and lots of alcohol. In fact, its kind of a plot device. There was too much drunken beligerence and angst for me - throughout the show and especially last night.
2. The driving force of everything in the show. as I understood it explained by Baltar towards the end, is the natural cycle of life in the universe - birth, growth, destruction, chaos, rebirth, growth, destruction, chaos, rebirth...etc.
However, at the very end, in the tag scene that takes place 150,000 years later, Baltar refers to a specific being - 'He' - who does't like to be called God. Were they trying to have it both ways? Is it the natural order of the universe OR the one true God?
3. I don't understand how the rest of the fleet caught up to Battlestar Galactica when Kara Thrace got them to Earth. She didn't know the rendesvous coordinates. And she put in coordinates that there would be no way for anyone else to have known before hand. So, what?
4. The tag ending was a little too preachy (I don't know if that's the right word). Though, its not without some merit, of course. Will we go down the same path we've always gone down and destroy our world? Once again, popular media has warned us.
5. I'm glad they all decided to mege with the preverbal humans on a non-technological level. But, that doesn't seem realistic at all. Like the new president guy said - its a little peculiar that everyone would be so willing to give up their creature comforts so easily. Also, I think they'd want to preserve some of their knowledge and technology. I thought it made more sense if they had become the Lost City of Atlantis. But, that would have been too easy and pat as well. If I'd been in that situation I would have wanted to be the librarian - the keeper of the knowledge in a hidden underground city or something. Or maybe a Valhalla type oasis in the middle of nowhere.
6. It ended fine for everyone. Everyone who should have died did, it seemed. And the rest will live on. Some in solitary.

So, those are my main impressions of the finale. Eh. I'll be interested to read what other people thought of it, and if there are additional updates, I'll add them.

UPDATE: After reading this from The Watcher (Mo Ryan) at the Chicago Tribune, I'm satisfied I got out of the show everything I wanted to. Also, Mo has a real love for the show and provides a counterpoint to my lack of emotional interest in the show. If you loved it, you'll enjoy her blogs about it. Me? It was okay. I'm not unhappy its over.

UDATE 03/24/2009
Over the last several days I've read a few glowing tributes to Battlestar Galactica. I have to say...the more I read, I realize I'm really glad its over. I don't think I liked that show very much. And, although people think it will live on for years and years - I think it won't. Too obviously topical and the characters weren't that believable (to me). Again, good for all the people who love it.

Enjoy the day...

Little Girl Blue's Flickr photostream.

I still miss Phil Hartman

He had a lot of talent. I enjoyed him on Newsradio and Saturday Night Live.

AIG Bonuses

A lot of sturm und drang about AIG bonuses in the last day or two.
In yesterday's New York Times, Andrew Ross Sorkin wrote a piece to make the case for why we must pay the bonuses to AIG:
1. Sancity of Contracts - employees have airtight contracts that guarantee bonuses.
Answer: When the government became an 80% shareholder in the company, the contracts meant nothing. I don't know about the legality of that, but it seems reasonable that when you get a new boss, new rules are put in place. The new rule is, you get bonuses when we say you get bonuses.
2. Breaking the contracts would set a precedent that other companies would take advantage of.
Answer: Hypothetical fear-mongering. I think that's an illegitimate argument in defense of bonuses.
3. "A.I.G. built this bomb, and it may be the only outfit that really knows how to defuse it."
Answer: Really? That's a reason to pay people bonuses? That may be a reason not to fire someone (I don't concede it is, only for the sake of this argument I accept it could be), but its hardly a reason to give people MORE money. It may take people longer, but I suspect there are one or two people who could get everything unraveled.
4. If the employees don't get bonuses, and because of that, leave the company, "they might simply turn around and trade against AIG's book. Why not, they know how bad it is. They built it."
Answer: Wow - and these are the kind of people you think we should not only keep around at the company, but also give more money to them so they'll STAY at the company? If their morality and integrity is that shoddy, then we've got more problems than paying them money will solve. The author is showing his cynical view of the world. Sad for him. Hey Andrew - there are good people in America you know. Some of them even live in New York City and work on Wall Street. Some AIG employees might even be good people outside the clutches of a bad leader who developed a company with bad rules. Give them a good leader and good rules, and they'll be good too. I may be underestimating the depravity of Wall Street employees, but you might be underestimating the desire of most people to live and work in a sane world.
Besides, whether we give them a bonus or not, many employees are probably leaving AIG anyway.
6. Retaining the best and brightest.
Answer: The best and the brightest don't have any use to me if they aren't also people of integrity and character. I'll allow that they played along to get along under a bad system (they might still be redeemable), but if not getting bonuses is enough to drive them away from the company, good riddance to bad rubbish.
7. Employee "compensation is subject to continued and arbitrary adjustment by the US Treasury."
Answer: All we're saying is don't pay bonuses. Again, fear-mongering. The CEO of AIG Edward Libby (who made the statement) is trying to create a picture of the government rubbing their hands together in glee because they get to exercise their newfound power over AIG. I see no indication the government is requesting anything other than to stop the employee bonuses this year, and put a cap on executive salary while the company is being supported by the United States taxpayers. Reasonable.

My final conclusion - Andrew Ross Sorkin, your case was not made. Dismissed.

A thought...

I wish people would choose to focus on their own illumination, rather than trying to diminish someone else's light.

As Marianne Williamson wrote:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Jon Stewart and Jim Cramer

Had you heard about this 'showdown'? If not, go to The Daily Show's official website to watch clips of last night's show.

Its hard not to lionize what Jon Stewart and his crew do on the Daily Show four nights a week.

Many nights its funny and not serious, sometimes its not funny at all, and often enough, its serious and funny and 'kick you in the ass' righteous.

The corporate dogs that drive mainstream media don't care about the mission of the press in our society. The Daily Show does. It asks - pleads - for the mainstream media to seek truth and do reporting so The Daily Show doesn't have to.

And I'm quite sure there are a lot of journalism school graduates who would agree; if given the chance, they'd do fantastic reporting.

We live in a world in which its customary and acceptable to believe in or promote the facade as much as the gritty underbelly.

First the press didn't have the courage to speak out against the mud-slinging Bush administration when they got us into war in Iraq, and now they're so deeply embedded with the big money managers and corporations that they didn't report the truth about how our economy works.

Jon Stewart isn't a lone crusader, but he and his staff are courageous, articulate, pointed, and appealing in their effort to speak truth to power.

I'm grateful they're good at what they do because it makes me feel my thoughts are being voiced.

I'm trying to walk a fine line between expressing how valuable I think their work is and being clear that I know they think it should be done by someone other than comedians.

I ask, though....why? Mark Twain and Will Rogers did political, social, and media commentary with a sense of humor.

I understand the larger point though - mainstream media...its you're job - start doing it!

Jim Cramer's contribution to this discussion is that he's thin-skinned, took the criticism of CNBC personally, and really believes he's different from all the others.

Eh. Not so much, I think.

He's willing to play the game by whatever rules the corporate fat cats decide. He played their game and won money. Big deal.

Its a short-term game that relies on most of the players being ignorant of the rules or being willing to sacrifice their integrity for financial gain.

That's nothing to be proud of.

I feel so out of touch...

I can't decide what I think about Facebook and Twitter.
In person, I'm not good at small-talk or chit-chat.
Facebook and Twitter seem like mostly small-talk and chit-chat.
Am I missing something?

Today's message to Obama,,,

Dear President Obama,
I'm a little tired today, so forgive me if I sound more vitriolic than I would want to.
I continue to support you and believe your 'multi-tasking' is effective, understandable, and necessary.
Don't listen to all the people on broadcast media with their chorus of 'you can't do that!'. They're scared. The 'bad' rich people are scared. They know how to manipulate a system they're familiar with and one that works in an expected way. The 'bad' rich people don't know how to manipulate a new economic and government system; it frightens them because their wealth is threatened.
You're doing the right thing.
As Gandhi said "“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.”
They're fighting. You're winning. We're all winning. Its not easy and it requires sacrifice, but we're winning.

Take care and stay strong - have a great day!

Vicky

Wicked

A great day! Salon gals in the morning at my house, picked up my digital equipment from Comcast right after, and before I'd gotten much more than the box open the phone rang. My musical theater friend had an extra ticket to "Wicked". She left it at the Will Call window. I had 45 minutes to be in my seat for the 2:00 show! Eeek! I raced downtown. Will Call didn't see the ticket, I decided to buy one on my own, I checked again - Will Call still didn't have it. I watched the play from row F, far right aisle seat. I missed a bit of the stage, but they played enough of it up front that I don't think I missed much. Just when the first or second song was playing, the gal from Will Call came to me, they'd found the ticket! How did she find me I asked and the gal who sold me my ticket remembered where I was sitting! How lucky. How wonderful that they made the effort. They refunded my ticket and I went up with my friend at intermission for a different view from the box seats!

The play was better than I expected. I was touched by how badly Elphaba was treated, and how much love she still had to give, and how much Glinda changed. Their friendship brought tears to my eyes - especially during "For Good".

I came home and contacted one of my salon gal friends because we'd thought about seeing the show, but decided not to because of the cost and the timing. Afterward I called her and let her know that not more than 60 minutes after we'd decided not to go, I was there! She would have enjoyed it, so I felt bad that I didn't make more of an effort.

In any event, I appreciated my musical theater friend gave me the opportunity to see "Wicked". She's incredibly generous and even bought me a t-shirt!

I'm filled with good feelings for this day.

I'm grateful for salon gals
I'm grateful for musical theater friend.
I'm grateful for the two people in the Will Call office who found me (I'm going to write an e-mail to the Keller to let them know).
I'm grateful to the Fred Meyer clerk who, without asking, gave me 20% off Season 1 and Season 3 of Lost, which I couldn't resist buying after the last few episodes.

I'm now going back to fixing my Comcast setup with TIVO. I think there's a problem.

Thank you for this day!

Defying Gravity!!!!!

When I was younger...

...I could eat a whole bag of Puffed Cheetos and 1/2 pound bag of Peanut M&M's with no ill effects. Both flavors in my mouth at the same time? Heaven.

Lost: LeFleur

Excellent episode. It turns out I don't want Sawyer with Kate I want him with Juliette. It works! It makes sense. She's good for him and he's good for her. Now, Kate looks all wrong and she can stick with Jack 'cause I like Juliette the best. What a quadrangle they've created! Jack's the only one of them I don't like. But, Kate is my third favorite of the four. Juliette and Sawyer, that's the ticket! :) Love it.

Who knew I'd like this show so much after four years of not caring? Just shows you what a little time travel will do for me. Its totally my Achilles Heel. I'm weak in its power. Time travel will suck me into the story.
But, the great thing is its got the battle between faith and reason, a mystery, and this Sawyer love story. That's what makes it fun to watch now.
I suspect, in the end, Kate will still be the heroine Jack and Sawyer both want to be with. How boring. Juliette is much better. Or so I think.
Anyway - Sawyer and Locke. Gotta love 'em.

My strategy for the economic crisis

Posters from You The Designer blog and here

Here's my plan:
Save money, but not be spartan. Bottom line - I need to keep my job and build my cushion so I have six months salary in the bank - right now, I don't. My concern for myself is that I'll be blindsided by a layoff or getting fired. I don't want to panic or be vulnerable. 22 more months will give me enough time to get my six month cushion.

By the end of 2009 I expect the 'experts' will have a better idea of what's working and what isn't and what we can save and what we can't. We'll either have hit bottom or have a better idea where bottom is.

If Obama's strategies aren't showing visible signs of working by the end of 2009, we'll at least know what doesn't work and try something else. In that case I'll hold my breath through 2011.
If, at the end of 2009 Obama's strategies are working, it will probably still take another year for people to regain their confidence. By the end of 2010, though, we should be in much better shape - still struggling, but at least feeling stronger.

That gets me through the next 22 months.


Even still, I have faith in my fellow man. People will find ways to create an economy from the ruins of this economy - new industry, new ideas, new ways to make money, new resources. Eventually, people will purchase things they value.
Young people are always hopeful.
Smart people find ways to make things work.
Daring people are willing to take risks in good economies and bad.

If everyone will remain calm and believe in themselves, we can get through this. We can build the America we want for our children and grandchildren. We can live the America our parents believed in on our behalf. We can be the dream of America that has survived from farm to factory, from toddler to senior, from wealthy to poor, from lonely to loved, and for more than 200 years. We are the United States of America.

So, that's my plan. Be calm and carry on. Be positive and ever vigilant. Be prudent and always hopeful. Wait and see.

I wish...

I wish I could do this. Of course, she's 16 and a trained ballet dancer, but still. It looks so relaxing.

Photo by Jake Chessum

Learn about Beatriz Stix-Brunell here

Cranford

If you enjoy stories about village life in mid 19th century England, the clash of new industrialism with old gentility, a little romance, and strong women characters, then I recommend BBC's five hour miniseries "Cranford".

It was adapted from several stories serialized by Elizabeth Gaskill (b 1810 d 1865)

That's all I'm gonna say 'cause I don't want to create any expectations.