Libraries are Good for Everybody

I was at the library one day, doing my library DVD/CD polishing thing when I came across a Barney DVD. Ewww. The idea of cleaning it and sending back into circulation gave me pause. Whoever came up with the concept really understood a child’s mind because adults hate him. I say we should burn Barney in effigy, dammit. So what if it would be upsetting to kids, they aren’t traumatized enough I say.

I looked at the surface of the disc as I always do and noticed deep scratches in it. I showed to the DVD guru in technical support.

“Boss, I could be wrong but this looks like it was clawed by a mountain lion. I don’t think it’s salvageable.” she agreed and it was tossed. Yes! I have removed a clone of the hideous purple beast from the world. My work is done.

As I basked in the glow of triumph I looked around and was suddenly struck by the wonder of libraries.

Think about it. An entire facility devoted to the collecting and cataloging of books, media, magazines, the internet and a dozen other services for the public to access. Look at how big an infrastructure they are just for citizens to use- and withdraw material from-for free.

Oh sure they are voted on and paid for with taxes but at a bargain I might add. The one here in Eugene is modern, spacious and heavily used. There are long waiting lists for some books and movies. On average I wait at least an half an hour to use the computers for internet access. It’s always busy. You can ask a librarian who will gladly help you find what you are looking for, unlike, say Borders ( if you can find an employee).

Libraries are the last bastion of free speech, unfettered information and unlimited knowledge. I have learned so much and saved thousands of dollars by using my library card. And I am ridding the world of Barney too.

Top ten blog ideas

A new blog? I have been rethinking the purpose of my blog. The entries have meandered all over the place since chronicling my training for a black belt in aikido. Much like my own thinking, nothing wrong with that but it can be distracting. Perhaps gentle readers you can help me find a new direction and help you find a voice as well. Here are some suggestions from the authors of “Design Your Life”

1. Write a book, like the authors of “Design Your Life” did. They posted chapters, solicited suggestions from readers, worked out ideas. This could work as the original intent of my blog was to work on my book “Stubborn Turtle” before it got away from me.

2. Start a reading club. Pick a book, tag some friends, read the book, discuss.

3. Teach a class. Now there’s a cool idea. Many Community Colleges already have on line classes, why not one of my own. I wanted to teach a class on Metaphysics for beginners and this might be a good way to do it.

4. Build a portfolio. See #1. Store photos, writing, or links to projects for use by possible employers, clients, agents and editors. Especially editors.

5. Curate an exhibit. Nah, not for me. That would involve cataloging photos, art or writing of other people. I have enough of my own crap to handle.

6. Brand a business. Advertise your business whatever it is. Sounds iffy to me. Some things sell on the internet and some don’t, it can be hit or miss.

7. Form a support group. This actually sounds like it would work, this is already done on bulletin boards and chat rooms but hey why not a blog.

8. Share your expertise. Whatever your skill, use a blog to give instructions, provide examples and store information.

9. Plan an event. Wedding, party, birthday etc. Hey let’s take over the world.

10. Listen and learn. Don’t just sit there reading people, feedback, I want feedback. Pick a subject, start a conversation, suggest cool links, leave comments. Join the fun.

I want to write like. . .

I have a hard time reading good writers I admire. Why? Because I am insanely jealous of their skill. Every time I read something clever, well written- so right I just sigh and think "I wish I had said that."

My taste in reading wanders all over the map and encompasses everything I can get my hands on. Since I work in the technical department at the library I get to see all the new books being processed and browse through the random collection on the carts before they are shelved in the oh so orderly Dewey Decimal way. A biography of Napoleon's sister, a book on architecture through the ages. An memoir by Adam Nimoy son of -yeah that guy. Every thing and anything catches my eye and I greedily read It. I tell my friends they are just raw material for my writing and reading is the same thing. Raw material.

My mom was a huge sci-fi/ fantasy fiction reader so I was raised on Robert Heinlein, Ray Bradbury and Ursula Le Guin. Barbara Hambley's "Dragonsbane" has one of the most awesome dragons I've ever seen. "Lord of the Rings" is without a doubt a modern classic. It's also a long slog. This is the only time you will hear me say this but - watch the movie version, it's as good as the book.

When I started writing it was short stories that were my genre and inspiration. I read "The Stranger" by Mark Twain and "The Lottery" a famous short story by Shirley Jackson. I finally got around to reading her story and was left puzzled by it for a couple of days until I happen to be watching the news and the latest incident of insanity then I understood.

"The Commitment" by Dan Savage. His writing flows from humor to pathos with the ease of a magician. Damn, how can I write like that? Kathy Griffin's memoir is like sitting with her at a bar, spilling out her sorrows and buying you drinks. Christopher Buckley's book about the death of his mother and father -the other famous Buckley is the funniest thing I've ever read.

All I can say kids is that reading will never go out of fashion as long as there is a story to tell and there will always be a story to tell.

Homos vs. The Moralists Part 763

Man do conservatives hate homos. Especially the ones who want to marry. They go on and on about how perverse, how immoral and uppity those homos are to demand equal rights. The nerve. The constant bickering and noise from both sides is annoying as hell.

Well, I have an idea to stop all this nonsense. Call it weird and out there but it occurred to me if you really want these people to shut up already- stop campaigning for same sex marriages. I know it sounds counter intuitive but the way to deal with bullies is to ignore them; they love nothing better than a fight. Picking on a minority who can’t push back is their M.O. Don’t give them any ammo and they’re stumped.

After about 3 months of gloating over how they stopped the “homosexual agenda” and claim victory, the moralists will be stuck. They will have turn their attention to real issues that affect families and marriages, you know things like poverty, violence and the 51% divorce rate.

Then quietly, sensibly, the matter of equality under the law will be addressed and settled. We won’t have to listen to the hypocritical bombast anymore and can get back to normal life.

Until another group can be found and picked on as the hate du jour. Sigh.

Cheaters, Voyeurs and the Right to Privacy.

The Tiger Woods scandal has raised issues far more serious than infidelity or public leering. Privacy. Woods has shut out the media since his transgressions have been discovered and with good reason. Look at the media frenzy.

In a press release he has asked for privacy stating: "no matter how intense curiosity about public figures can be, there is an important and deep principle at stake which is the right to some simple human measure of privacy . . . Personal sins should not require press releases and problems within a family shouldn't have to mean public confessions."

He is right. This is none of our business. That hasn’t stopped the continuous public speculation and talk show jokes. Just one more scandal everyone can talk about the next day at work. It may all seem like good fun but let me ask you this: what if everyone was talking about you? What happens to a person when their private life is held up for judgment?

Well he’s a public figure and that goes with the territory you may answer. Aren’t public figures allowed a private life-however disreputable it may be? Woods is famous and rightly so, for being an exceptional golfer. it’s the public and sports media that hemp praise and adoration on him only to scorn him when he doesn’t live up to their unrealistic expectations. His behavior and the reaction to it reveals a great deal about current social attitudes.

Privacy is a rare commodity these days. Sportscaster Bryant Gumbel kept his cancer and treatment a secret. Farrah Fawcett tried to keep her illness secret for the same reason. It’s private. The woman - a nurse at the hospital- revealed the information to a tabloid for a few thousand dollars. Fawcett tried to keep The Enquirer from publishing the story but they did so anyway. Her right to privacy be damned.

There are endless stories of extortion and black mailing famous people with threats of going public with information about their private lives. What I find shocking is the lack of outrage at such revelations. In fact such attempts become stories themselves. The media and public take it all in stride as perfectly acceptable and normal.

It’s not, it’s more than natural curiosity it’s unhealthy obsession with the private details of other peoples lives we are being taught to indulge.

How often does someone’s error in judgment end up on YouTube? It’s automatic for people to pull out their camera or cell phone and shoot whatever is happening. Sometimes as a witness to history, as the protests in Iran and sometimes as voyeurism as in teenagers sending explicit photos of themselves to each other. Since no one is taught the difference people do so without thinking of the consequences.

Tiger Woods knows the difference and now he is suffering the consequences of it- with our voyeuristic help.

I predict-

Now that the rush of the holidays is over, let's cast our sight to the coming year.

As I said in a previous post, predicting the future is not that hard. Up ahead I see. . . . Small rural farms will make a comeback with the greater demand for local organic produce. As the the cost of transportation goes up and corporate farms downsize, even urban areas will be used for farming.

In the future, people will return to retro technology as the desire and need to make life more simple grows. The turntable and vinyl records are already becoming popular again as audiophiles embrace the warmer, richer sound over the (still) costly clinical sound of CD's.

There is more, so much more to see as we look around us. I encourage you gentle readers, to think deeply and offer your own predictions of the coming years.

I hate christmas music

Garrison Keillor is getting flack for his column on Christmas in which he complains "Christmas is a Christian holiday - if you're not in the club, then buzz off. Celebrate Yule instead or dance around in druid robes for the solstice."

Wow. Strong words. I mean bringing religion into the holiday, that's ballsy. Of course you wouldn't know it with all the consumerism, decorations featuring snowmen, Santa and reindeer. The producer of the Charlie Brown Christmas from eons ago recalled that the network didn't want Linus' eloquent nativity monologue from St. Luke's. It was too religious they insisted. He was aghast. I'm with him.

I was raised Catholic and understand where it all the traditions, rituals and meanings involved come from. I like the whole gift giving thing and putting up a tree. I like seeing decorative lights but we could do without the cheesy commerical crap passing for christmas music. I grew up hearing traditional European songs like "Adeste Fidelis", and "Ave Maria". I still cry when I hear "I wonder as I wander". Now that's Christmas music.

Keillor and other traditionalists have to get used to the fact that the holiday has been appropriated by many people with many meanings. Let's enjoy this as a time to be with family and friends instead of complaining.

By the way Happy Holidays.

What's on the Internet tonight?

I surf the net almost every day. For a writer it’s great resource for raw material. You can find anything on the internet but knowing how to do a search is the key. Fortunately I know some librarians so they can show me how it’s done.

Cruising the information hiway is not without it’s pitfalls. Even though it has been around for years and many web sites have been designed-supposedly- by pros, navigating some sites is like driving in a foreign country without a map and you can’t read the road signs. Every time I see a page with white or yellow text on a black ground or animated arrows I want to take a blunt object to the designer’s face. But I digress.

My homage is wunderground.com where I get the local weather, which is kind of silly because I can just as easily step out on the back porch to tell me what’s going on. I start by checking the mail. Spam, spam, spam, a library book due notice, letter from friend. I don’t know why I bother, I don’t get a lot of messages but like Charlie Brown waiting by the mailbox for a Valentine I look every day. There was a time when people wrote letters but that’s gone the way of birthday cards and telegrams. Now we have e-cards and iphones.

Up next is the news. I prefer CNN online to the clutter of the TV version. News crawls, popping graphics, constantly changing info boxes. Enough already, slow down. I’m getting old and I don’t have the attention span of a hamster. The New York Times, BBC and Al Jeezera fill out the variety of views. Locally there’s the Oregonian and the Eugene Weekly.

I move on to the blogs. I like seeing how other blogs are done compared to my paltry attempt. Dan Savage and Andrew Sullivan are gay but politically opposite, so they make for interesting reading. I also look in on Wil Wheton’s page. I’m not a geek as he proudly admits but he writes well and is very funny.

I check my facebook page. I’ve heard how great FB is for networking and combining the best of many online uses but frankly like the rest of the internet I’m underwhelmed. To me it’s like getting a snapshot postcard from friends, “hi this is what I’m doing here’s a neat picture of me and my pet, spouse and or car.” I might have a picture of me when I was younger, thinner and had better hair. I could play for hours one the endless games they offer or obesess on getting more friends than my friends but that would be um, a waste of time?

In the evening, when there’s nothing on TV, I’ll do some blog writing. For entertainment there is the movie insider Ain’t it Cool, the Darwin Awards and of course YouTube. However, I steadfastly refuse to watch cute videos of people’s pets or children throwing up. Then I look at pictures of naked men. Hey we all need a mental health break from the endless harvesting of information, right?

I can see the future

You can too, it’s not that hard. No, I’m not psychic, I’m just observant. All it requires is paying close attention to history and how it repeats itself over and over.

Two years ago a friend and I were talking about the economy. You know, two middle aged women sitting around shooting the breeze. It’s seemed really strained we observed, and when the housing bubble bursts, it will be bad I opined. You don’t have to be an economist to see that coming. We did. When I hear government analysts and bankers saying with (almost) genuine surprise they didn’t see this coming, I know it’s bullshit.

About a year ago I was watching a show on the Discovery channel about the construction of the world’s tallest building in Dubai. How can they possibly afford, justify and maintain such an expensive monstrosity I wondered. There was an aerial shot of Dubai with tall condos and office buildings on either side of a main street and man made islands with rows of high priced houses I thought, oh look it’s a ghost town. Looks like I was right. The greedy little country is going broke.

Our economy is struggling but we’re are told it’s not that bad, it’ll be over soon, just go out and buy more stuff that will help. That’s how we recovered from the terrorist attack of 9/11 and it worked, right?

I got news for you kids, the depression -oops I mean recession, mustn’t use the D word, is not over by a long shot. When the economy does recover in say, 5 to 10 years from now, it won’t be anything like it was before. History shows us that great Empires rarely rise to their previous glory after such falls. Nothing new there. Read “How Empires Choose to Fail” by Jared Diamond and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

The government gave the airlines a huge bail out because of a week of grounding after 9/11 and how did the industry handle the crisis? Many airlines went bankrupt (and didn’t repay the loan -sorry) and CEO’s walked away with big bonuses while thousands of workers lost their jobs. Meanwhile consumers are angry at almost no protection from increasing prices and shoddy service.

Sound familiar? Let’s see, the big failing banks were given bail outs with little oversight, are continuing the same practices that caused the problem in the first place and shafting consumers by jacking up fees and interest rates. It will be another or two years before new regulations meant to protect the consumers from these predatory practices take effect.

See? It’s not that hard to predict the future because it’s already happened in the past.

Earth to Alisa, come in Alisa

I thought once I was done with NaNoWriMo things would get back to normal fairly quick. Not so. I have been out of sorts all week. All semblance of order or coherent thinking have gone down a drain and no new thoughts to replace them. It takes me more time than usual to remember why I wandered from one room to the next or get my shit together when leaving the house.

I find myself bumping into everything like how to spell say, couch or where I put that spoon I just had in my hands. I had no idea this writing would take so much out of me, even typing out the first draft is draining. It's never happened before during previous creative frenzys but then this one was pretty intense.

Hopefully I can get the brain back on line and have better entries. Pray for this poor writer's mind.