The Kennedy family lead the push for civil rights that those born in the last 20 years take for granted.
I was born in 1955 during a time when Black people weren't served in some restaurants, Black people had to enter some hotels through the back door, had to use segregated water fountains, and were expected to move to the back of the bus to make room for White people.
The Vietnam War raged during that time and students, required to register for the draft, protested openly and sometimes faced down riot police and National Guard troops, at times with deadly results.
The Hippie movement, inspired in part by LSD Guru, Timothy Leary, and their more militant political offspring, the "Yippies" named for the "Youth International Movement" co-founded by Abbie Hoffman, author of the civil disobedience classic, "Steal This Book", lead the push for broader individual freedoms.
The Women's Liberation Movement joined fight for freedom and equality at home and in the workplace inspired by Betty Friedan's book, "The Feminine Mystique".
The Cold War against the Soviet Union kept the world on the brink of nuclear destruction. The Russians successfully launched the first orbiting satellite named, Sputnik and the United States responded by landing men on the Moon.
The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, founded by Huey Newton and Bobbie Seale, came into being with the war cry, "Black Power!" Demonstrating that Black people would no longer be passive victims of racial discrimination.
We know the music of those times, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana, M.C. 5, The Rolling Stones, James Brown, The Temptations, etc. because the grandchildren of that era are still rocking to that music forty years later.
President, John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. Civil rights activist, Malcolm X was assassinated in 1965. Martin Luther King was assassinated in April of 1968. Robert Kennedy was assassinated in June of 1968.
Angry and frustrated Black people, seeing their most heroic leaders murdered in the space of five years, rioted in America's major cities.
Things began to change after the 1968 riots. The national cost of keeping people down was just too much. Blacks in the Southern states won the right to vote when the "Voting Rights Act" was passed. The "Jim Crow" laws that kept the races separated were abandoned. Blacks and Whites could even legally marry anywhere in the United States. Black people could ride on any open seat of any public transportation.
Women found greater personal freedoms at home and more work opportunities outside the home.
The Vietnam war ended.
These times are known as the "Kennedy Era" due to the activism of the Kennedy's in promoting and fighting for equality and racial and social justice.
The Kennedy family has always fought on the winning side of history. In that sense, the Kennedy Era is now and forever.
Rest In Peace, Ted Kennedy.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
Walls
Sometimes someone throws a wall up between you and your destiny.
Too young to be trusted to your own judgments. Or too old to be fearless and with too much to lose. Roadblocked for your own good.
You find yourself living something like your life, but mixed with someone else's fears and dreams.
And life goes on with the nagging ache of wondering if you've played it wrong at a crucial juncture -- and missed the train you should be on.
Too young to be trusted to your own judgments. Or too old to be fearless and with too much to lose. Roadblocked for your own good.
You find yourself living something like your life, but mixed with someone else's fears and dreams.
And life goes on with the nagging ache of wondering if you've played it wrong at a crucial juncture -- and missed the train you should be on.
Monday, July 27, 2009
What if the Dailies went Crazy...
It's the same old stuff. There's no difference in reading the news from a newspaper or some online version of anyone else's news.
It's all the same dry, objective, impersonal delivery. Those articles could be written by anyone with equal skill and access to the information.
Why should I buy a boring newspaper when I can read the same boring news online for free?
What if a newspaper did something totally crazy? What if they published an issue with no news in it, just articles written by their reports on subjects that interested them. The front page photo would be a group photo of the staff. Maybe the headline would read, "No News Today - This is About US!"
Would people be curious enough to drop a quarter in the slot to see what was up with this crazy newspaper?
What if that newspaper continued to deliver news stories written with passionate prose, delightful photography, clever graphics, unusual layouts.
A couple of examples:
The Tree -
Reporter #1 - There's a tall green tree standing against a blue sky.
Reporter #2 - A tree reaches to a crystal-blue sky. It stretches its greening branches as if to shout Hallelujah!
The Ball Game -
Reporter #1 - She and the catcher are exchanging looks. She winds up for the pitch and throws. Strike one!
Reporter #2 - She and the catcher's eyes are locked as if they're in a telepathic trance. Transmission completed, they nod to each other. The pitcher twists her left foot into the ground - screwing herself firmly to the earth to build a platform -- a rocket launcher.
Her arm swings back like an ancient trebuchet. She unleashes her missile with a subsonic whoosh. The batter swings -- a second late. The ball has already hit the catcher's mit with a sound like a shotgun blast -- still echoing though the stands as the umpire shouts, "Steeeriiike one!"
And we're watching women's fast-pitch softball. The most vicious game of baseball I've ever seen.
Which reporter would you pay to read?
Why put the headline across the top of the page. Why not down the side? Then you'd have to buy the paper to read the headline -- and it had better be worth reading!
The surest way to boredom is to give people the same thing the same way all the time.
I sure miss Herb Caen...
It's all the same dry, objective, impersonal delivery. Those articles could be written by anyone with equal skill and access to the information.
Why should I buy a boring newspaper when I can read the same boring news online for free?
What if a newspaper did something totally crazy? What if they published an issue with no news in it, just articles written by their reports on subjects that interested them. The front page photo would be a group photo of the staff. Maybe the headline would read, "No News Today - This is About US!"
Would people be curious enough to drop a quarter in the slot to see what was up with this crazy newspaper?
What if that newspaper continued to deliver news stories written with passionate prose, delightful photography, clever graphics, unusual layouts.
A couple of examples:
The Tree -
Reporter #1 - There's a tall green tree standing against a blue sky.
Reporter #2 - A tree reaches to a crystal-blue sky. It stretches its greening branches as if to shout Hallelujah!
The Ball Game -
Reporter #1 - She and the catcher are exchanging looks. She winds up for the pitch and throws. Strike one!
Reporter #2 - She and the catcher's eyes are locked as if they're in a telepathic trance. Transmission completed, they nod to each other. The pitcher twists her left foot into the ground - screwing herself firmly to the earth to build a platform -- a rocket launcher.
Her arm swings back like an ancient trebuchet. She unleashes her missile with a subsonic whoosh. The batter swings -- a second late. The ball has already hit the catcher's mit with a sound like a shotgun blast -- still echoing though the stands as the umpire shouts, "Steeeriiike one!"
And we're watching women's fast-pitch softball. The most vicious game of baseball I've ever seen.
Which reporter would you pay to read?
Why put the headline across the top of the page. Why not down the side? Then you'd have to buy the paper to read the headline -- and it had better be worth reading!
The surest way to boredom is to give people the same thing the same way all the time.
I sure miss Herb Caen...
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
The Pork Monster
Yesterday, I bought an 8-pound 2-foot-long pork loin. It was cheap. I couldn't resist the price for that much tender pork.
Now, what to do with it?
I decided to cook it in one piece. I prepared a marinade (cola, soy sauce, dried garlic and onion flakes, Worschester sauce, smoke flavor, beer, salt, pepper, and other seasonings). The pork monster has been sitting in the marinade overnight, curled up in a big pot. I turned it first thing this morning, putting the fat side down so that the marinade will absorb evenly.
I think I'm going to grill it.
Well, I'll use my grill to cook it. My plan is to wrap the whole thing in foil and lay the beast across the warming rack and let it slow cook for maybe four hours.
Then I'll have to serve it.
Hmmm... what to do with 8 pounds of slow-cooked tender pork perfection? If only Anthony Bourdain were here -- he'd know what to do. Actually, he'd probably just eat the whole damned thing himself and drink up all my booze.
So, I think I'll divide it up into separate dishes that can be frozen now and heated up later -- pulled pork barbeque, carnitas, chili, and some kind of saucy thing that can be served over rice -- a mole' or tomato-based sauce.
Anyway, wish me luck. The Pork Monster awaits...
Now, what to do with it?
I decided to cook it in one piece. I prepared a marinade (cola, soy sauce, dried garlic and onion flakes, Worschester sauce, smoke flavor, beer, salt, pepper, and other seasonings). The pork monster has been sitting in the marinade overnight, curled up in a big pot. I turned it first thing this morning, putting the fat side down so that the marinade will absorb evenly.
I think I'm going to grill it.
Well, I'll use my grill to cook it. My plan is to wrap the whole thing in foil and lay the beast across the warming rack and let it slow cook for maybe four hours.
Then I'll have to serve it.
Hmmm... what to do with 8 pounds of slow-cooked tender pork perfection? If only Anthony Bourdain were here -- he'd know what to do. Actually, he'd probably just eat the whole damned thing himself and drink up all my booze.
So, I think I'll divide it up into separate dishes that can be frozen now and heated up later -- pulled pork barbeque, carnitas, chili, and some kind of saucy thing that can be served over rice -- a mole' or tomato-based sauce.
Anyway, wish me luck. The Pork Monster awaits...
Cooking and Photography
I do a lot of cooking. I also do a lot of photography. I've come to the conclusion that they are similar in this respect:
In photography, if you have an interesting subject - a model for instance; with great hair and makeup, and a beautiful setting and gorgeous lighting, the job of the photographer is to just not screw up in capturing the images. Beyond that, the photographer can help to bring out the best look of the subject and setting.
In cooking, if you have great ingredients, fresh herbs, an array of spices, and the right tools; the cook's job is then to not screw up in preparing the meals. Beyond that, the cook can help to bring out the best flavors and appearance of the ingredients.
I've done my share of overprocessed photos and overprocessed foods, obscuring and distorting what was already good in its original form. I'm lurching back towards simplicity and a more delicate, surgical approach to enhancement.
I think I'm getting better results in both my cooking and my photography.
In photography, if you have an interesting subject - a model for instance; with great hair and makeup, and a beautiful setting and gorgeous lighting, the job of the photographer is to just not screw up in capturing the images. Beyond that, the photographer can help to bring out the best look of the subject and setting.
In cooking, if you have great ingredients, fresh herbs, an array of spices, and the right tools; the cook's job is then to not screw up in preparing the meals. Beyond that, the cook can help to bring out the best flavors and appearance of the ingredients.
I've done my share of overprocessed photos and overprocessed foods, obscuring and distorting what was already good in its original form. I'm lurching back towards simplicity and a more delicate, surgical approach to enhancement.
I think I'm getting better results in both my cooking and my photography.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Whip It... (for us inventory tracking folks)
While diligently counting items for an equipment inventory, I relieved my boredom by reliving my days doing warehouse inventories captured by rewriting the lyrics to my favorite Devo song, "Whip It":
Grab that list
Give the rack a slap
Climb up on a stack
Don’t fall and break your back
When inventory comes along
You just whip it
When the boss comes on too strong
You must whip it
When it’s taking way too long
You really whip it
Now whip it
In a day
Write it up
Make it fake
Keep on moving
You’ll get ahead
They won’t inspect it
It’s not too late
To whip it
Whip it good
When the sun is setting down
You must whip it
You’ll never get it done
Unless you whip it
No one really cares
They know you whip it
Pencil-whip it
Whip it good
Pencil-whip it
Whip it good
Whip that list
Give the rack a slap
Climb down from the stack
Don’t fall and break your back
When inventory comes along
You just whip it
When the boss comes on too strong
You must whip it
When it’s taking way too long
You really whip it
Now whip it
In a day
Write it up
Make it fake
Keep on moving
You’ll get ahead
They won’t inspect it
It’s not too late
To whip it
In a day
Write it up
Make it fake
Keep on moving
You’ll get ahead
They won’t inspect it
It’s not too late
To whip it
Whip it good
No whipping it on this job.
Grab that list
Give the rack a slap
Climb up on a stack
Don’t fall and break your back
When inventory comes along
You just whip it
When the boss comes on too strong
You must whip it
When it’s taking way too long
You really whip it
Now whip it
In a day
Write it up
Make it fake
Keep on moving
You’ll get ahead
They won’t inspect it
It’s not too late
To whip it
Whip it good
When the sun is setting down
You must whip it
You’ll never get it done
Unless you whip it
No one really cares
They know you whip it
Pencil-whip it
Whip it good
Pencil-whip it
Whip it good
Whip that list
Give the rack a slap
Climb down from the stack
Don’t fall and break your back
When inventory comes along
You just whip it
When the boss comes on too strong
You must whip it
When it’s taking way too long
You really whip it
Now whip it
In a day
Write it up
Make it fake
Keep on moving
You’ll get ahead
They won’t inspect it
It’s not too late
To whip it
In a day
Write it up
Make it fake
Keep on moving
You’ll get ahead
They won’t inspect it
It’s not too late
To whip it
Whip it good
No whipping it on this job.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Responsible Firearm Use - Having the Conversation
Some people are passionately pro-gun and others are just as passionately against gun ownership. It's to the point where we haven't been having a more rational discussion about what constitutes responsible use of a firearm. Hunting, in season, and with a valid license is, of course using a firearm responsibly. But what about shooting people?
When is it appropriate to point a gun at someone and pull the trigger? And this is the conversation we need to have, particularly with our young people who have access to weapons either through their families or their friends.
I would say that it's not appropriate to shoot someone because they hurt your feelings or because you feel some disrespected you. Part of being an emotionally mature adult is the ability to take an insult without resorting to violence.
It's not appropriate to shoot someone to settle an argument or because the person pissed you off. Angry feelings pass. Death is forever.
It's not appropriate to shoot someone because they've taken something from you -- car, money, job, girlfriend, boyfriend, husband, or wife. Loss is painful, and being a grownup means learning how to handle loss, rebuild your life and move on to something better.
Playing with guns or showing them off to others can be very dangerous. Every year people are killed by a gun someone was sure wasn't loaded. Even professional gun handlers sometimes have a negligent discharge of a weapon.
Always assume a gun is loaded until you have personally verified that it isn't. If you don't know how to do this, either take a firearms safety course or don't touch guns or be around others who are playing with them or showing them off. It's perfectly reasonable to say, "I don't feel safe here." and leave.
Know your local laws concerning gun ownership and use. Some places allow handguns to be carried openly in public. Some places require a permit to carry a concealed weapon. Some jurisdictions will allow you to shoot someone who's breaking into your home or car. In some places you can only legally shoot someone if they are an immediate and deadly threat to your or someone else's life.
Guns are a fact of life in America. Whether you are pro or anti-gun, they aren't going to just disappear. Our young people either have guns or can easily get them. It's time to have the conversation about responsible use.
I got a crew together and photographed this project out of my own pocket. Here's the photo. I'm making a poster of it using much of the above text. When the poster is finished I'll post a link to it so that you civic-minded folks can buy copies and distribute them.
Guy is showing off his new gun to his girlfriend. Girlfriend takes the gun by the trigger. Gun goes off. Boyfriend goes bye-bye.
Order the poster here:
http://clearlake.photostockplus.com/album_253993
When is it appropriate to point a gun at someone and pull the trigger? And this is the conversation we need to have, particularly with our young people who have access to weapons either through their families or their friends.
I would say that it's not appropriate to shoot someone because they hurt your feelings or because you feel some disrespected you. Part of being an emotionally mature adult is the ability to take an insult without resorting to violence.
It's not appropriate to shoot someone to settle an argument or because the person pissed you off. Angry feelings pass. Death is forever.
It's not appropriate to shoot someone because they've taken something from you -- car, money, job, girlfriend, boyfriend, husband, or wife. Loss is painful, and being a grownup means learning how to handle loss, rebuild your life and move on to something better.
Playing with guns or showing them off to others can be very dangerous. Every year people are killed by a gun someone was sure wasn't loaded. Even professional gun handlers sometimes have a negligent discharge of a weapon.
Always assume a gun is loaded until you have personally verified that it isn't. If you don't know how to do this, either take a firearms safety course or don't touch guns or be around others who are playing with them or showing them off. It's perfectly reasonable to say, "I don't feel safe here." and leave.
Know your local laws concerning gun ownership and use. Some places allow handguns to be carried openly in public. Some places require a permit to carry a concealed weapon. Some jurisdictions will allow you to shoot someone who's breaking into your home or car. In some places you can only legally shoot someone if they are an immediate and deadly threat to your or someone else's life.
Guns are a fact of life in America. Whether you are pro or anti-gun, they aren't going to just disappear. Our young people either have guns or can easily get them. It's time to have the conversation about responsible use.
I got a crew together and photographed this project out of my own pocket. Here's the photo. I'm making a poster of it using much of the above text. When the poster is finished I'll post a link to it so that you civic-minded folks can buy copies and distribute them.
Guy is showing off his new gun to his girlfriend. Girlfriend takes the gun by the trigger. Gun goes off. Boyfriend goes bye-bye.
Order the poster here:
http://clearlake.photostockplus.com/album_253993
Saturday, October 18, 2008
On Rumors
Rumors are a great way to influence people's opinions about someone. They generally work, at least for a time, because the rumors circulate before the person knows about them and because the person has no way to give their side of the story or otherwise mount a defense before the damage to their reputation has been done.
Rumors are conviction without trial. Lynching without rope.
Rumors can be useful though. You can start a rumor about yourself - nothing damaging, but something interesting and juicy, and see how it spreads. You can learn a lot about your personal connections that way. It's interesting to see who actually follows up by asking you directly about what they've heard and who simply doesn't care if what they're heard is true or not or what your side of the story might be. Some people just love to spread rumors. And some people will smile in your face today and spread rumors about you tomorrow. It's nice to know who those people are.
Sometimes we're told that we're paranoid to think that people want to do us harm. It's a sad day when you find out you haven't been paranoid enough.
Rumors are conviction without trial. Lynching without rope.
Rumors can be useful though. You can start a rumor about yourself - nothing damaging, but something interesting and juicy, and see how it spreads. You can learn a lot about your personal connections that way. It's interesting to see who actually follows up by asking you directly about what they've heard and who simply doesn't care if what they're heard is true or not or what your side of the story might be. Some people just love to spread rumors. And some people will smile in your face today and spread rumors about you tomorrow. It's nice to know who those people are.
Sometimes we're told that we're paranoid to think that people want to do us harm. It's a sad day when you find out you haven't been paranoid enough.
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