Wednesday, December 01, 2004
5 pounds of crap in a 2 pound bag.
I tried and tried and tried again to think of a way to weave a few of my thoughts into one post, but it isn’t happening. After failing 4 straight practice exams for my Pharmacy Calculations course, my brain is a little stunned. So this may be a little fragmented, but I wanted to stay in the habit of writing here, so off we go!
1) Spongebob Squarepants, or as my Mexican friends call him Bob Esponga, is making a lot of news in the USA. In an advertising stunt, Burger King has affixed 10 foot tall inflatable Spongebob’s to the top of their restaurants. They are so cool! The problem is that nationwide (and even locally) there are people who are somehow steeling these things! They are valued at $1200 each, so you can imagine why Burger King is upset. Why does anyone want to steal a giant Spongebob? It must be a perilous procedure, as these things are tethered to the roof, and most BK’s are open pretty darn late. Can you imagine trying to stuff a 10 foot tall Spongebob into your car? Not to mention it would be painfully obvious where you got it if you were to display your yellow trophy.
2) While surfing Blog Explosion, I came across a link to an art gallery. The exhibit that it was promoting currently is a display of photos of pornographic film stars. The odd thing is that the photos are taken with their clothes on (normal, every day street clothes) and then next to that is the same pose, but naked. The nudity was a little shocking for an unsuspecting eye, but I found myself a little fascinated. When clothed, these people look very normal. That may sound like the dumb-statement-of-the-day, but consider that nude, these people LOOK like porn stars. They look trashy. They look too confident in their nudity. One photo was a beautiful woman, wearing jeans and a hooded sweatshirt, standing with her hands on her hips. Then when you click on it, there was she was, in thigh-high hose, tattoo rather low on her shaved pubic area, and standing with her legs and hips aligned so that you can see quite a lot of her “lower bits.” And she was still smiling away. The way she stood there unashamed sort of made me feel a little bit disgusted. I don’t know why. My attitude towards this woman was very different only because of the clothes she had on (or not). I don’t really want to draw too many conclusions here, I just wanted to share what I felt was an interesting event. If I may editorialize just a bit about this, I think that pornography is something that the USA is going to find it self battling very soon. I think that the ease of access and the anonymity that is afforded by the internet and digital cable is secretly changing the moral base of our nation. I think that it is already obvious that the US population in general has softened to sex. Personally, I think porn is bad, but that is a subject for later blogs.
3) A famous US television reporter, Tom Brokaw, is broadcasting his last broadcast this week. I think he will leave a small void when it comes to news presentation on TV. I watched his “Eyewitness to History” program, and it is simply amazing what this guy has seen with his own two eyes, and the historical events he was present for. He’s met kings, presidents, killers, and heroes. I hope that the rest of his life is spent pursuing happiness and health. Good luck Tom!
4) Speaking of “Eyewitness to History,” five things struck me rather powerfully while watching that 2 hour show (which could have easily been stretched into a mini-series… it was very interesting).
a) The Vietnam War. I can’t believe my dad made it home alive. And I can’t believe that while Washington was telling us it was a “winnable” situation, behind closed doors they were wringing their hands, calling it a terrible mess. It is a sad mark on US history. And to see the way the soldiers were mistreated upon return to the states was shameful.
b) The L.A. Riots (after the Rodney King hearing). Man, the anger of the people was palpable, even today. They were being told all their lives that racism isn’t in the US lexicon anymore, and that the system was playing fair. They were being told that any perceived mistreatment was because of oversensitivity. They were laughed at when they suspected racism working behind the scenes. Then along comes this court case, and the white guys get off free. The videotaped beating served as evidence to this community that they were right all along. And the acquittal of these white cops told them not only were blacks not equal, but that they will forever be held down. Whether this is true or not, it didn’t matter. The perception was enough to trigger a violent riot. But who did the rioters hurt? Themselves. They burnt down their neighbors’ homes and businesses. They reinforced all of those unfair negative stereotypes that whites have of urban blacks. And those who were rioting were enjoying the destruction and theft… the political aspect of the rage was lost in the greed and animalistic behavior. The most striking moment was when a black store owner ran out to confront looters and arsonists, without regard to his safety. He was crying and yelling “What y’all are doin’ is wrong! Why you wanna burn this down? I am from the ghetto, like you! I came up from nothin’!” It was really sad. Not only was the black community betrayed by the system, but now they were being stabbed in the back by their own neighbors. It was a very sad thing to watch, and my heart really goes out to those who were victims of that mob scene. Racism is alive and well, but unfortunately so is ignorance.
c) Tiananmen Square. What a horrible mess. I hope that China grows as a free and powerful nation, but there have been some horrible events. The bravery of the students, especially the one who stood-down the column of tanks was almost inhuman. We truly are spoiled in this country.
d) 9/11. I don’t want to talk too much about this, but I cry every time I see this stuff. It is still very painful to me, and I live in Iowa. I didn’t know anyone who died. And yet, seeing those towers, by heart leaps into my throat and my eyes burn. It is very hard for me to watch, and talk about… and it sort of makes me angry that I can’t cope with it any better. All of those poor people, who were not political targets… just going to work… ack. I’ll stop.
e) The Clinton Impeachment. What a colossal waste of time and money. Ken Starr, standing there telling Brokaw that it had nothing to do with politics of any sort… what a joke. What President Clinton did was wrong, no doubt about it. But America lost its mind. The scope and depth of the investigation truly seemed to be a unified and well funded character assassination. I feel bad for the President. And yet, he still acknowledges the scandal and inappropriate relationship in his Presidential Library. I think that took courage and integrity, because it would have been easy to revise history in this way (and many would not have faulted him). I miss President Clinton, he is a very likable man. And I think he did a good job during his 8 years. Not the best President we’ve ever had, but much like Regan, he was the right guy for the era he served in. He was a 90’s President. And the Starr Report was a 90’s embarrassment.
Well, that’s more than enough!
See ya!
1) Spongebob Squarepants, or as my Mexican friends call him Bob Esponga, is making a lot of news in the USA. In an advertising stunt, Burger King has affixed 10 foot tall inflatable Spongebob’s to the top of their restaurants. They are so cool! The problem is that nationwide (and even locally) there are people who are somehow steeling these things! They are valued at $1200 each, so you can imagine why Burger King is upset. Why does anyone want to steal a giant Spongebob? It must be a perilous procedure, as these things are tethered to the roof, and most BK’s are open pretty darn late. Can you imagine trying to stuff a 10 foot tall Spongebob into your car? Not to mention it would be painfully obvious where you got it if you were to display your yellow trophy.
2) While surfing Blog Explosion, I came across a link to an art gallery. The exhibit that it was promoting currently is a display of photos of pornographic film stars. The odd thing is that the photos are taken with their clothes on (normal, every day street clothes) and then next to that is the same pose, but naked. The nudity was a little shocking for an unsuspecting eye, but I found myself a little fascinated. When clothed, these people look very normal. That may sound like the dumb-statement-of-the-day, but consider that nude, these people LOOK like porn stars. They look trashy. They look too confident in their nudity. One photo was a beautiful woman, wearing jeans and a hooded sweatshirt, standing with her hands on her hips. Then when you click on it, there was she was, in thigh-high hose, tattoo rather low on her shaved pubic area, and standing with her legs and hips aligned so that you can see quite a lot of her “lower bits.” And she was still smiling away. The way she stood there unashamed sort of made me feel a little bit disgusted. I don’t know why. My attitude towards this woman was very different only because of the clothes she had on (or not). I don’t really want to draw too many conclusions here, I just wanted to share what I felt was an interesting event. If I may editorialize just a bit about this, I think that pornography is something that the USA is going to find it self battling very soon. I think that the ease of access and the anonymity that is afforded by the internet and digital cable is secretly changing the moral base of our nation. I think that it is already obvious that the US population in general has softened to sex. Personally, I think porn is bad, but that is a subject for later blogs.
3) A famous US television reporter, Tom Brokaw, is broadcasting his last broadcast this week. I think he will leave a small void when it comes to news presentation on TV. I watched his “Eyewitness to History” program, and it is simply amazing what this guy has seen with his own two eyes, and the historical events he was present for. He’s met kings, presidents, killers, and heroes. I hope that the rest of his life is spent pursuing happiness and health. Good luck Tom!
4) Speaking of “Eyewitness to History,” five things struck me rather powerfully while watching that 2 hour show (which could have easily been stretched into a mini-series… it was very interesting).
a) The Vietnam War. I can’t believe my dad made it home alive. And I can’t believe that while Washington was telling us it was a “winnable” situation, behind closed doors they were wringing their hands, calling it a terrible mess. It is a sad mark on US history. And to see the way the soldiers were mistreated upon return to the states was shameful.
b) The L.A. Riots (after the Rodney King hearing). Man, the anger of the people was palpable, even today. They were being told all their lives that racism isn’t in the US lexicon anymore, and that the system was playing fair. They were being told that any perceived mistreatment was because of oversensitivity. They were laughed at when they suspected racism working behind the scenes. Then along comes this court case, and the white guys get off free. The videotaped beating served as evidence to this community that they were right all along. And the acquittal of these white cops told them not only were blacks not equal, but that they will forever be held down. Whether this is true or not, it didn’t matter. The perception was enough to trigger a violent riot. But who did the rioters hurt? Themselves. They burnt down their neighbors’ homes and businesses. They reinforced all of those unfair negative stereotypes that whites have of urban blacks. And those who were rioting were enjoying the destruction and theft… the political aspect of the rage was lost in the greed and animalistic behavior. The most striking moment was when a black store owner ran out to confront looters and arsonists, without regard to his safety. He was crying and yelling “What y’all are doin’ is wrong! Why you wanna burn this down? I am from the ghetto, like you! I came up from nothin’!” It was really sad. Not only was the black community betrayed by the system, but now they were being stabbed in the back by their own neighbors. It was a very sad thing to watch, and my heart really goes out to those who were victims of that mob scene. Racism is alive and well, but unfortunately so is ignorance.
c) Tiananmen Square. What a horrible mess. I hope that China grows as a free and powerful nation, but there have been some horrible events. The bravery of the students, especially the one who stood-down the column of tanks was almost inhuman. We truly are spoiled in this country.
d) 9/11. I don’t want to talk too much about this, but I cry every time I see this stuff. It is still very painful to me, and I live in Iowa. I didn’t know anyone who died. And yet, seeing those towers, by heart leaps into my throat and my eyes burn. It is very hard for me to watch, and talk about… and it sort of makes me angry that I can’t cope with it any better. All of those poor people, who were not political targets… just going to work… ack. I’ll stop.
e) The Clinton Impeachment. What a colossal waste of time and money. Ken Starr, standing there telling Brokaw that it had nothing to do with politics of any sort… what a joke. What President Clinton did was wrong, no doubt about it. But America lost its mind. The scope and depth of the investigation truly seemed to be a unified and well funded character assassination. I feel bad for the President. And yet, he still acknowledges the scandal and inappropriate relationship in his Presidential Library. I think that took courage and integrity, because it would have been easy to revise history in this way (and many would not have faulted him). I miss President Clinton, he is a very likable man. And I think he did a good job during his 8 years. Not the best President we’ve ever had, but much like Regan, he was the right guy for the era he served in. He was a 90’s President. And the Starr Report was a 90’s embarrassment.
Well, that’s more than enough!
See ya!
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