Good vs Evil?

First of all, I want to state that there is no such thing and "good" or "evil." They are relative terms that change from culture to culture and have changed over time (and will continue to do so). Ok, with that said, I wanted to comment quickly on what message exactly is Hollywood trying to tell us these days when it comes to morality. Take the new Batman: Dark Knight movie for example. Let me describe the two main characters and you pick who you think is the role model and who is bad for society.

Batman: Disgustingly filthy rich, high carbon footprint (arrives to a party at his house in a helicopter), womanizer, corporate giant, narcissist, violent, and a liar.

Joker: Makes his own clothes, worried about population size, extremely intelligent, self confident, funny (of course), misunderstood,  rebel, revolutionary, visionary, non-materialistic, and also violent.

Sounds like Joker wins to me. It also looks a little like David vs Goliath or the little shop owner vs Wal Mart. Aren't we supposed to side with David (the little guy?) If so, then why do the Goliath's always win. Why are Wal Marts still in business. It sounds to me like this Batman example is just one of many ways to corrupt young kids (and older ones) and teach them early on who to side with. I can hear the messages screaming to me during the movie: "get a job; dont be a hippy freak with home made clothes, wear Armani; envy the rich; fight to maintain the status quo; squash any attempt to be an individual or to fight against the system."

I'll leave you with that last thought.

Bring It On!

Yeah so it looks like rough times ahead huh? I'd say not nearly enough. Things are going to have to get a hell of a lot worse before people in the US are willing to do anything about it. For example, compare how the citizens of the UK protested England's bank bailout. And their numbers were pittance compared to ours: 37 billion pounds (64 billion US $) vs our incredible $700 billion + $250 billion rescue and buyout. Are these numbers not insane to anyone? Should we be bailing out a system that seems so far screwed up that it needs bailing out in the first place? Shouldn't everyone know by now that bankruptcy and foreclosures are built into the system..that someone or some group has to go bust in order for us to continue with business as usual.

So my advice, not that I like to tell anyone else what to do, is to do everything in your power to bring this recession (and eventually depression) on. We're all going to learn some valuable lessons here and maybe, just maybe we'll walk away from this with a better idea of how to move forward for the future. 

So I'm torn. Vote for Obama and slow the mess down (not change it like he says)...or vote for McCain--someone who so obviously has the wrong idea for what's best for ordinary 'Joes' like myself that he'll actually make our situation worse. Hmmm....I do want things to get tougher. Because maybe then people will get off their asses for 2 seconds and say, "hey, something's not right here and I'm not going to put up with it anymore." Alright...enough ranting for now. I'm off to Starbucks for a latte and then I'm back here to catch the new Grey's Anatomy.

Carry Rocks, Not Cameras

Do a web search for 'rock throwing demonstrators' and you may or may not be surprised to see hundreds of responses as to who, what, when and most importantly, where these events take place. The locations are overwhelmingly international. A question arises: are there more or worse problems in other countries than here in the United States? Or is it that the problems are the same but the people here lack both the desire and the motivation to actually do something about them? My guess is the later. 

I'm not a writer and I always say that if I can't say it better than someone else, quote them. So I'll quote Douglas Haddow from an article in this month's issue of Adbusters about Hipsters:

'...The half built condos tower above us like foreboding monoliths of our yuppie futures. I take a look at one of the girls wearing a bright pink keffiyah and carrying a Polaroid camera and think, 'If only we carried rocks instead of cameras, we'd look like revolutionaries. But instead we ignore the weapons that lie at our feet--oblivious to our own impending demise."'

So today, as a start, a friend of mine and I decided to 'go throw some rocks.' We started with a post on Craigslist that advertised the event, made a target and then met at a park. It felt good to get exercise and fresh air outdoors while constructively venting our current frustrations. If you haven't thrown rocks in a while, I suggest you do it. I know I'll be out there again in the near future, with my sign, my target and my rocks.

Speaking of One Less Car

I want to take a second and call attention to a couple events that may be marking the change of everything from city planning to wars for oil: yes, I'm taking about breaking the dependance on the automobile. Like most people, I grew up getting driven from place to place; got my own car when I was 17 and thought about buying a Porsche Cayman S as soon as I got that high paying job after graduation. But unlike most people, I spent some time studying in Italy where cars are a relatively new concept and most streets, plazas, etc are based around the human scale. What I learned from my experience is that the car is not and should not be something to depend on. It should be used and taken for exactly what it is: a product. A product that a handful of manufactures have been cramming down our throats for the last 60+ years. A product that is not needed and has not been needed for society to function safely and efficiently. 

All I can say is that if gas prices continue to rise at the rate they are currently, a good number of people in the US are screwed. My advice is to move to a city on a river with a functioning port. That and start writing your congressmen, mayer, city council, etc for bond money for light rail and streetcar projects. That's where we're heading to a place we've been before but rejected: the 1930's. Enough ranting for one night. Where'd I leave my fedora? I'm going out to see my favorite orchestra play at the club. If I'm lucky I'll meet a nice dame to dance with while I'm there.

Oh yeah, the events I meant to mention are Sunday Parkways in Portland, OR, Manhattan BLVDs, NY, and Ciclovia, Bogota, Columbia. These are all events where the streets are going to be shut down for a period of time in order to let cyclists, joggers, walkers, etc have access to the roads without fear of cars or inhaling of exhaust fumes. Look up both events and attend them if you live nearby. If not, write your city council, etc and ask for a similar event to be held in your town.

WNBR Portland Followup

Ok, so I don't have any pictures to post which may disappoint some of you out there but it's ok because it helps emphasize my point that you had to be there in person to really appreciate how cool of an event this is. I mean when else can you show up at a warehouse and then down a beer, strip off your clothes and ride through the busy streets of a downtown city center in the buff? The answer is not very often. And if anyone thinks about it being just for hippies, gays, pervs or whatever...it wasn't like that at all. I'm a respected member of business community and I felt just as welcome and comfortable there as anyone. 

My advice is if the WNBR comes to your town....do it. You'll be surprised at how much fun you have and how much better you feel about yourself afterwards. And if there isn't one in your town, organize one. You'd be surprised how many people will show up. 

Oh, and remember: "Less gas more ass"....and as the WNBR site says, "We face automobile traffic with our naked bodies as the best way of defending our dignity and exposing the unique dangers faced by cyclist and pedestrians as well as the negative consequenses we all face due to dependance on oil and other forms of non-renewable energy."

World Naked Bike Ride

I am so there.

My Thought's Exactly

"In any case, I needed to talk to someone, and I was alone. This is my habitual condition, by choice--or so I tell myself. Mere acquaintanceship leaves me unsatisfied, and few people are willing to accept the burdens and risk of friendship as I conceive of it."