tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42677608736037613592023-11-15T08:02:00.271-08:00Homer's OdysseyHomer Cook aka JR.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00744032311036942175noreply@blogger.comBlogger103125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267760873603761359.post-91024563715265865092012-11-05T15:10:00.001-08:002012-11-06T07:52:21.504-08:00Sidewalk chatter...<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Well, as I was out roaming around town, enjoying some time off and
“stay-cationing” it up. I saw something that I wanted to share.<o:p></o:p></span><u1:p></u1:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I was out, enjoying one of my
favorite day-off treats on Lower Queen Anne, Breakfast at Peso’s.<o:p></o:p></span><u1:p></u1:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">For those who are familiar with
the place, you probably know it’s a popular bar (and a bit of a meat market, at
that). But I don’t go there for the eye candy or margaritas, I try to get there
before 10 AM.<o:p></o:p></span><u1:p></u1:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Not that I am raging alcoholic,
but because they serve an amazing breakfast which is pretty much half-off
before 11 AM.<o:p></o:p></span><u1:p></u1:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">It’s an enjoyable dichotomy-
raging bar by night, mellow and delicious-food-serving by morning. I am finding
in my old(er) age, that bumpin’ clubs are less and less inviting and a chill
spot with good food is much more my speed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">So I enjoyed some good food, with
a good friend and proceeded to head-out and continue recovering from the overindulgences of the night before.<o:p></o:p></span><u1:p></u1:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">When we came across a gentleman,
who inspired me to pound away at this very keyboard.<o:p></o:p></span><u1:p></u1:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">It was a very quick
interaction, no more than a minute or two. But it was a minute that meant a lot to me.
Themes of kindness, patience and the tenacity of the human spirit were all brought
front and center.<o:p></o:p></span><u1:p></u1:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I spotted the fella crossing
the street about a block away from me. <u1:p></u1:p>He was an older gentleman,
who seemed to be dealing with some sort of a muscular disorder: multiple
sclerosis or cerebral palsy. He was doing his damnedest to cross the street as
quickly as he could…all the while his body seemed to be fighting his desires
with every step.<o:p></o:p></span><u1:p></u1:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I saw the fella and honestly, took
pity. I am not proud to admit it, but it’s the truth.<o:p></o:p></span><u1:p></u1:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Then I thought to myself- How
would I do were I placed into his situation? And the answer was not one I
liked.<o:p></o:p></span><u1:p></u1:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Eventually, the gentleman made it
across the street and our paths crossed. When he muttered something our way.<o:p></o:p></span><u1:p></u1:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">My buddy and I, both still
admittedly foggy and hung over, did what most Seattleites would do, kinda
nodded towards him and started on our merry way.<o:p></o:p></span><u1:p></u1:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Then the gentleman, reiterated
his muttering. And the look in his eyes stopped me in my tracks.<o:p></o:p></span><u1:p></u1:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">He wasn’t crazy. He wasn’t trying
to bum money. Turns out, he was just looking for directions to Bartell’s.<o:p></o:p></span><u1:p></u1:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I could see in his face, which
was slightly contorted from the betrayal of his own muscles, his eyes beamed
with an expression that said he just needed a little help with a simple request.<o:p></o:p></span><u1:p></u1:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">So after the third time of
placing his request, I discerned what he was saying and was able to direct him to
Bartell’s, which was only 2 blocks away.<o:p></o:p></span><u1:p></u1:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I still remember the look in his
eyes, it reminded me of seeing recent interviews with Mohammed Ali. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">There was a brightness, a
sharpness and an intensity. You can see that the mind is as sharp as any, even if
the body won’t allow them to express the thoughts they want to share.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">This gentleman was likely just as
quick and rational as anyone I’ve met. And to his credit, he was patient with
me. Although he did seem to be a bit frustrated with my inability to comprehend
what he was asking, I couldn’t tell if the frustration was directed at me, or
the situation.<o:p></o:p></span><u1:p></u1:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">But, and here comes one of the
lessons, he was patient enough to see the interaction through. And I’m glad he
was.<o:p></o:p></span><u1:p></u1:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">He headed on his way, as did my
buddy and I.<o:p></o:p></span><u1:p></u1:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">We got back to the car and
circled around the block, catching-up with the gentleman who was now crossing
the street near where we’d just been speaking.<o:p></o:p></span><u1:p></u1:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">It had been a good few minutes
since our interaction, and this fella had barely made it a quarter of a block.
Yet, there he was plogging along, placing one awkward foot ahead of the others,
doggedly trying to speed his way across a very busy intersection.<o:p></o:p></span><u1:p></u1:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Again, I pondered how I would do
were I placed in his shoes. But this time my answer was a bit different.<o:p></o:p></span><u1:p></u1:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">This experience had altered my
perception. The example of patience and perseverance that this fella exhibited
really did a lot to remind me of how indelible and amazing the human spirit can
be.<o:p></o:p></span><u1:p></u1:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">He just needed to get to the
store. And he was going to make that happen, even if it meant slowly navigating
a busy neighborhood or spelling things out for a couple of hung over yahoos.<o:p></o:p></span><u1:p></u1:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Never ceases to amaze how something so little, can lead to such a big realization. </span></div>
Homer Cook aka JR.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00744032311036942175noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267760873603761359.post-4902147879970941382012-10-22T08:39:00.001-07:002013-07-16T08:49:07.263-07:00Liking ain't quite Voting...<br />
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So I must admit, I am a social network fiend. I love me some Facebook. I am addicted. I check it far more than is healthy and/or reasonable. That said, I think social media is given a bit more credence in society than I think it is due…Let me ‘splain myself. </div>
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I enjoy the social media. It’s a great way to keep tabs on those I care about (a group no larger than 25 peeps) and those I kinda like keeping tabs on, but could honestly could do without (the rest of my 200+ "friends" on Facebook). </div>
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While I find it pretty cool to see what that guy I used to skip 5<sup>th</sup> period Spanish with, has been up to. I think my life would probably go on without knowing how delicious this acquaintance from high school found a VooDoo Donut. </div>
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*Way to state the obvious, VooDoo is delish!</div>
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So I was a lil off-put by a story I found in a (usually) reputable stalwart of journalism, Time magazine.</div>
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The title of the article was “Meet the 22-year-old who defeated Bank of America’s debit fee.” </div>
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On the surface, the preface was cool enough. A gal, PO’d with big banks (whom collected government hand-outs) charging fees for a service that was previously free, decided to say ‘Enough is enough,’ and started a social media campaign against Bank of America’s new debit fee. </div>
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The story (which you can read <a href="http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2101344_2101318_2101321,00.html">here</a>) goes on to talk about how the gal used social media to coalesce a group and create an online presence to illustrate how the majority feels on the matter. </div>
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Now I am no mind reader, so I cannot be certain of the assertion to follow, but…</div>
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Clicking ‘Like’ or ‘I agree’ does not a wholehearted act of support make. </div>
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While a form of democracy, joining an online movement takes no real effort or thought. If something strikes you at the moment, all you need to do is click a mouse and ‘make a statement.’</div>
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I think such gestures are hollow. And rather lame.</div>
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Submitted for your approval, the case of JR’s fake engagement. -- </div>
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I once left my (unpasscode protected) cell phone unattended at a bar…my bad. </div>
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Someone grabbed my phone and updated my Facebook status to: “I love my Fiancé!” </div>
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Now, I am not currently, nor have I ever been engaged. But I thought it was pretty funny, so much so that I even told the gal I was seeing at the time, that she should like the status, just to make it look believable. </div>
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(Oh what an impairment alcohol is…)</div>
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After 30 minutes and double-digit “likes” and/or “Congrats, I am so happy for you” comments, I decided I should put an end to the charade. So I commented, ‘Sorry to disappoint…someone grabbed my phone at the bar. I am not engaged. Yet.’</div>
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What blew my mind, and has since shattered my confidence in social media as a voice of the people, were the responses that followed my comment noting that I was not engaged. </div>
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At least, 10 more comments and 5 additional likes followed as people didn’t read into what they were liking and just clicked a button. </div>
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Sure, I didn’t help matters by taking steps to make the status look legit. But I think this story illustrates a few things. </div>
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First, “Liking” a status is not the same as voting or joining a movement. </div>
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Second, the ease with which someone can “like” something devalues the strength of that like. Let me illustrate, think of how much more receiving a text means versus simply getting a “Happy Birthday” comment on your wall on Facebook. </div>
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My thought process is like this, “Wow, someone took the time to compose and send me a text, and they may have honestly remembered my birthday.” As opposed to, “Welp, they saw the reminder on the Facebook homepage.” </div>
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Third, affecting real change takes action. </div>
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I am not devaluing the megaphone power of social media and the internet. But at some point, actors must step away from the keyboard and enter the real world. </div>
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While the power of the internet to affect the real world is very strong (see online bullying for example) I worry that people mistake liking a charitable organization with actually volunteering for said organization. </div>
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Again, here’s another real world example…</div>
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Election season is upon us, and while surfing the Seattle Times web site, I came across a pop-up ad that I really was impressed with- “Getting Married is so Gay. It’s About Time. Redhook supports Marriage Equality November 4<sup>th</sup>.”</div>
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I immediately shared that ad on Facebook and got more likes than usual and even a share. Which is great, as I was able to leverage social media to share a point of view that I agreed with. </div>
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However, that ad was in relation to Referendum 74, which is a ballot measure to legalize Gay marriage in Washington State. So although I have shown support for the cause, to make it a reality requires me to step offline and actually vote. Sure, my post on Facebook may influence others to vote…but there are a couple keywords in that last sentence to pay attention to “may influence others”…the only concrete result from my actions on social media would me my voting for that referendum on election day. </div>
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All the likes in the world won’t make that referendum law. </div>
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And I guess that is the takeaway from this diatribe- Leverage social media and have fun, but don’t forget to take real effective action when necessary. </div>
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And be sure to get out and vote on Nov 4<sup>th</sup>!</div>
Homer Cook aka JR.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00744032311036942175noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267760873603761359.post-76341311577397476392011-05-08T10:35:00.000-07:002016-01-28T10:08:53.588-08:00So long...<div class="MsoNormal">
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So it has been quite a while since I’ve felt the compulsion to tap away at this keyboard. <o:p></o:p></div>
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But it’s been one of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">those</i> weeks…</div>
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One of highs and lows, one of gain and loss. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I lost a family member this week. And as I’ve noted before, I am not very close to my extended family, as I live out on the west coast while the rest of the family resides in the Midwest. <o:p></o:p></div>
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But I lost my aunt, a woman I had only spoken to on a few random holidays and actually seen a handful of times in my life. Yet for some reason, her death really hit me hard. <o:p></o:p></div>
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She was a nice woman, the caretaker of the family…but I can’t tell you what she liked, what her favorite color was or even if she was a coffee or tea kinda person. <o:p></o:p></div>
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What I can tell you, is that she was the kind of compassionate, give-til-it-hurts person, that I hope to one day be. And although we were barely more than strangers to each other, she had an effect on my life that I only came to realize in her death. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The world lost one of the kindest people I’ve ever had the opportunity to meet. I never once told her that. And I think that is what is really bugging me.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So as I sit here on Mother’s Day, typing this post…not planning on seeing my Mother (My brother and I sent her flowers/candy) I note another lesson. One that’s a recurring theme for me.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Make the time for those who are important in your life. A 10-minute call every now and again or even a card can make a world of difference. The best folks get the least recognition. Don’t wait for holidays and birthdays…make appreciating those you love or have an effect on your life a daily thing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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So Aunt Janice, I never said it to you, but “Thank You for being you. It is people like you who restore my faith in humanity. I am sorry that I was blind to this during your life, but even in death, you are still a ray of sunshine in a cold, dark world that will miss your warmth.”<o:p></o:p></div>
Homer Cook aka JR.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00744032311036942175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267760873603761359.post-46720240583755133222011-02-16T07:24:00.000-08:002011-02-16T15:43:57.904-08:00Ch, cha, Changes...<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">So since I've cut the cord with my cable company and gone back to using an antenna, I found something I'd come to miss, given the plethora of channels available on cable: Saturday morning cartoons.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I used to watch English Premier League soccer on ESPN, but since that is no longer an option, I've found the broadcast channel RTV to fill my Saturday morning downtime. For those who don't know, RTV stands for Retro Television, and it plays awesome stuff like the original A-Team and the old school He-Man cartoon.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">But this is not an ad for RTV, it's about <span><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Magoo">Mr. Magoo</a></u></span></span>. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">So there I was, three-quarters of the way through my usual pot of Saturday morning coffee, when I noticed that 'Mr. Magoo' was on. I've been a fan of Mr. Magoo for years. For some reason, my parents bought a collection of the series on VHS that my little brother and I watched a lot. You know, back when movies were recorded on tape.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I enjoyed the nearly blind, yet well intentioned fuddy-duddy and the shenanigans he would get himself into. But, I also remember was his trusty sidekick, Charley.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">It's Charley that really spurred this most recent rant.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">See, Charley was Mr. Magoo's houseboy. Charley also happened to be Chinese, and being that the cartoons hey-day was the 1950's, Charley was one horribly stereotyped caricature. Charley sported slanted eyes and spoke with an accent saying things like “Mister Magloo,” or referring to himself as “Cholley.” *The Wikipedia link above has a more in-depth description of the Charley character, if you are interested.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">But, even with the over-the-top racism, I still remember Charley as Mr. Magoo's intelligent sidekick. Think 'Kato' from the <span><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kato_(The_Green_Hornet)">Green Hornet</a></u></span></span>.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">So I was a bit lost as I recently watched Mr. Magoo and heard Charley's voice for the first time in years...he had a Brooklyn accent. He still looked the “it's the 50's and we'll be racist if we want” part, but gone was the over-the-top ESL accent.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I was none-too-pleased.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Especially in light of the recent hub-bub over the removal of racially charged language from some of Mark Twain's most famous <span><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2011/jan/05/proposed-twain-changes-stir-up-controversy/">works</a></u></span></span>.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">The thing about it is that it happened. Charley's character was totally and utterly racist. A fact that was only reinforced by the fact that the re-runs of the Mr. Magoo cartoon were changed. But that doesn't change the fact that these shows were initially written, recorded and aired in an offensive way.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">The same goes for Twain's works. The books represent a time when slavery/racism where not only rampant, they were for the most part, accepted. This simply was how America was for a long time. Changing some terms in a book doesn't change history, but I fear what revising history in this way, does for the future.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Much like Holocaust museums and memorials encourage to “Forgive, but never forget.” I think the same rationale should be applied to this move towards revisionist history that is taking place before our very eyes.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Now I am not a minority. But that is not to say that I have never been on the receiving end of racial slurs or poorly treated because of what I looked like. I have.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">But I have never experienced the downside of institutionalized racism which the above examples illustrate. So while I understand the powerful demeaning nature of the N-word, I will not venture to state how an African American should feel about the changes to the Twain literature.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">But while I refuse to utter the term myself, I think it is important to remember what gave the term such power. There is a history there that many would like to forget, as opposed to address and deal with. Dr. Cornel West recently described the changes to Twain's work as nothing more than a futile attempt to “deodorize the funk of the text.”</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Continuing with that analogy, you can wash the socks as much as you want, but until you clean the feet, the core issue remains, and needs to be dealt with.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Should we move-on at some point? Yes, I hope we can.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">But don't confuse simply sweeping issues under the carpet with growth. And to be clear, giving a stereotyped caricature a different accent and finding-and-replacing the N-word in literature is not growth.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">No sum-up here. Just my usual call to be diligent and aware of the world around you.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Hopefully, we can all get to a point where this discussion no longer stirs such emotion. But until that is the case, we all need to be willing to acknowledge an address that this issue is alive and relevant.</p>Homer Cook aka JR.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00744032311036942175noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267760873603761359.post-87056319241635156602011-01-01T12:18:00.001-08:002013-12-24T07:35:17.820-08:00New Years 2011So I usually take time on New Year's Day to talk about the past year, marking the highs and lows. Then dictating what I hope to accomplish in the coming year.<br />
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And while I am all for listing your hopes/goals on paper, I am not going to do that.<br />
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Instead, I am gonna be honest. You may have seen my previous <a href="http://hojusodyssey.blogspot.com/2010/11/thanksgiving-goodness.html" target="_blank">post</a> about how I love snow and the holidays...In short, I love what they represent: family, friendship and fun.<br />
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With that in mind, I always find New Year's Day a bit depressing. It's definitely bittersweet, as it marks the culmination (read: end) of my absolute favorite time of year.<br />
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While there will be parties and dinners with family and friends throughout the year, they just doesn't have the same emotional heft that sitting around the table at Thanksgiving carries with it. There is just a lil something in the air, where even perfect strangers will buy a coffee for the person behind them, “Just Because.”<br />
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And yes, I know people do good deeds year round, but I think folks are more attuned/open to doing such things during the holidays. I love the refocus on 'what's really important' that the holidays bring as the year draws to a close. But even as exhibited in New Years Resolutions, the move away from others and family, starts on January 1st as people begin looking at themselves and what they want for themselves.<br />
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I think that as the world continues to become more (seemingly) connected, folks are finding themselves more and more isolated. The holidays encourage actual face-to-face interaction. Hugs and laughter seem to happen ad nausem. Think about the good-byes after Christmas dinner versus those at a 4th of July Family Reunion and you'll get my point.<br />
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But I don't mean to be a Debbie Downer. I love the optimism that the New Year brings. I love the 2nd Chance that it encourages. But I just miss the warmth that the passing season inspires.<br />
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So I'll just say to all of you. Remember who and what is important as you are lazing away an afternoon at the beach in August. Remember the smiles shared and the stories told around the holiday dinner table.<br />
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As for me, I definitely have some resolutions: <br />
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- Travel somewhere that isn't on the West Coast.</div>
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- Hit the gym a few times a week. </div>
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- Step forward in my career. </div>
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- Write a little more and read a few books. </div>
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- But most importantly, I want to put my words into actions and make more of an effort to actually see those who are important to me. And if nothing else, let those I can't see, know where they stand.<br />
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So I thank all of you for reading this and wish everyone a Happy and Prosperous 2011. </div>
Homer Cook aka JR.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00744032311036942175noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267760873603761359.post-75736984744892038642010-11-24T15:53:00.000-08:002010-11-24T16:22:08.363-08:00Thanksgiving goodness.*Please note, the first four paragraphs were drafted before Snowpocalypse 2010...<br /><br />Well, like it or not the Holiday season is upon us. <br /><br />The glut of parties that occur on Halloween mark the beginning of the celebration season for me. <br /><br />I am not sure what the difference is from a barbecue beer in August and sipping Witch's Brew at a Halloween party is. But it sure seems there is a general hankering for hanging-out come the official arrival of fall that Halloween represents. <br /><br />Yet there are still the Bah Humbuggers...<br /><br />It blows my mind that people view this time of year with disdain. Refrains of, “Is it really already Thanksgiving?” or “I can't believe they are already playing Christmas music,” ring throughout my office. <br /><br />I am just not one of those people. I love the holidays, I love snow, I love the smell of pine in the living room and mulling spices wafting about the kitchen. <br /><br />Given the recent blast of actual winter weather, this holiday disdain seems to have been transferred to snow. Which, given the traffic snarling nature of snow/ice here in Seattle, I can understand. However, I do not agree with the sentiment. Honestly, what's a few hours of PTO to have a carefree “snow day” that harkens back to your elementary school days? <br /><br />I recently posted the following question on my Facebook page after seeing a rash of snow-hating posts: So are my friends really to that age? The "F this Damn Snow" age? I mean really? This stuff is AWESOME!<br /><br />How many chances do you get to be a kid again? How many times do you see perfect strangers sledding together down a hill while sharing a lil “winter warmer”? How often do folks offer rides to perfect strangers as they trudge through the snow in sub-20-degree temperatures? <br /><br />I have witnessed and/or been a party to all of the experiences listed above. <br /><br />There is just a special sense in the air that seems to be more prevalent around the holidays. Perhaps it's the shorter days and colder nights. But there seems to be a greater sense of or longing for community during the winter. <br /><br />Whether it be folks helping push a stranded car or a stranger buying a shot for a guy sitting by himself at the end of the bar. There is just a lightheartedness that is elicited by the holidays. <br /><br />Just look at the pure joy on a toddlers face the first time they frolic in the snow. They don't care how cold it is, or how bad the traffic on the 405 is. They just know that the world is a quieter, gentler, more fun place. <br /><br />Having been a “city boy” my entire life, I have always been enchanted by how quiet the world is when blanketed in snow. Especially when accompanied by wind, the only things audible are the slight crunch of snow beneath your feet and whistle of wind past your ears. <br /><br />But I can see how snow, much like the holidays can become a burden when balanced with a full-time job, family & kids. I, luckily only have one of the three, and my job is pretty understanding. <br /><br />But anything worth having, is worth working for. Right? <br /><br />And really, aren't the holidays about others?<br /><br />So I say, kick back and enjoy it. There's no sense in freaking-out about the holidays. They are gonna come and they are gonna go. <br /><br />What is important aren't the gifts that are exchanged or even that the turkey was roasted to a perfect golden brown. <br /><br />It's more about the stories created and traditions extended with good people, be they family or friend. <br /><br />Keep that in mind, as you jockey for position while in-line at the store. Or as you freak-out in the kitchen while a roomful of probably oblivious guests relax and have another beer/glass of wine. <br /><br />Just have a good time and relax. No one wants to be in a Norman Rockwell painting...that's too much stress. Give me a <a href="http://blog.seattlepi.com/davidhorsey/">David Horsey</a> cartoon any day.<br /><br />Happy Thanksgiving, all!Homer Cook aka JR.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00744032311036942175noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267760873603761359.post-82052536332592665802010-10-27T11:12:00.000-07:002010-10-27T11:56:49.284-07:002010 Election EndorsementsHere are my endorsements for the 2010 Mid-Term Election. I have included my endorsements and those of the two major news reporting agencies in Seattle. <br /><br />If you agree with my opinions, great! Go <a href="http://www.kingcounty.gov/elections.aspx">Vote</a>! <br /><br />If you don’t agree with my opinions, OK. But still, Go <a href="http://www.kingcounty.gov/elections.aspx">Vote</a>!<br /><br />I-1082: Privatization of workman’s compensation insurance <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Vote- YES. </span><br />Washington is one of only a handful of states with a government monopoly on workman’s compensation insurance coverage. While I agree that government should step-in to provide such coverage when none exists, I do not agree with government freezing-out private competition. It’s time for Washington to modernize and move forward by providing those who are providing jobs some choice in their workman’s compensation insurance provider. The current Department of Labor and Industry is pretty broken-down and offers mediocre service at rather high prices, privatization just seems like a win-win here. Allow the State to focus on governing and not on insuring. <br /><br />Seattle Times: <a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorials/2012990343_edit26initiative1082.html">Yes</a>. <br />Seattle PI: <a href="http://www.seattlepi.com/opinion/426452_initiative1082.html">No</a>.<br /><br />I-1098: Installation of a State Income Tax<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Vote- YES.</span> <br />Most folks hear “State Income Tax” and run for the hills. I was one of those people. However, I am also one who believes that those who have benefitted from living in the State of Washington should pay their part. This initiative places an income tax on those with an “adjusted gross income” of over $200,000 (individual) and $400,000 (joint). To quote Chris Rock (talking about having to pay alimony in a stand-up routine)- “If I’m making $500,000 a year and the wife wants half, I ain’t stavin, but if I am making $35,000 a year…” That sentiment rings true here for taxes. Forget regressive sales taxes that penalize all and disproportionately take a greater percentage of income from the less-wealthy and tax those who A) can afford it and B) are making money living in the very system that allowed them to succeed.<br /><br />Seattle Times: <a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorials/2012588103_edit11incometax.html">No</a>.<br />Seattle PI: <a href="http://www.seattlepi.com/opinion/426062_I-1098.html">Yes</a>. <br /><br />I-1100 & I-1105: Liquor Privatization<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Vote- NO.</span> <br />I realize this endorsement flies in the face of my I-1098 argument, but they are different beasts altogether. First and foremost disclosure: I was once employed by the Washington State Liquor Control Board as a liquor store clerk. That being said, loyalty to a former employer has little to do with my decision. Mostly, I like having the state in control of hard liquor. Having worked for the board I know that the clerks are paid well and offered a good benefit package which creates an appreciation for the job that creates a diligence in distribution of liquor that makes me feel safer. I have little faith in some 18-year-old gas station attendant to keep from selling hard liquor to those who shouldn’t have it. Just look at the <a href="http://www.seattlepi.com/national/1110ap_us_party_overdoses.html">CWU situation</a>, it was the kids who mixed hard liquor with the malt beverages who got themselves sick, do we really need to make it easier for situations like that to occur? I think the cost of state administration is well worth the safety/oversight provided. And if you <span style="font-style:italic;">REALLY NEED</span> liquor on a Sunday or at every corner store…I don’t think state initiatives are your biggest worry. Simply put, state liquor stores are not that great of an inconvenience and are money fairly well spent, keep them around. <br /><br />Seattle Times: <a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorials/2012929380_edit19initiative1100.html">Yes</a>. <br />Seattle PI: <a href="http://www.seattlepi.com/opinion/426359_I1100-1105.html">No</a>. <br /><br />I-1107: Candy Tax<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Vote- NO.</span><br />Tax the vices! That has long been a mantra of mine, even before I was of voting age. I have no problem taxing things like alcohol and tobacco, and many folks agree with that sentiment. Candy should be on that list of vices, as it’s an indulgence. Which in and of itself, is just fine, but when done to excess can cause health problems…the same can be said of alcohol and tobacco. Since these overindulgences can cause harm, either financial or physical, to other citizens (be it drunk driving or increased healthcare costs) such actions/products should be taxed. Not as a deterrent, but as a measure to recoup some the expenses associated with the harms these overindulgences can incur. Leave the tax in place. <br /><br />Seattle Times: <a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorials/2012865077_edit12initiative1107.html">No</a>.<br />Seattle PI: <a href="http://www.seattlepi.com/election2010/endorsements/">No Endorsement</a>. <br /><br />Prop 1: King County Sales Tax Increase<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Vote- NO.</span><br />“Just a lil bit more,” then a few years later, “Just a lil bit more.” Such has been the pitch from King County for years, and years, and years. I remember a sales tax in the 6-7% range back when I was in high school, and now we are looking at a double-digit sales tax rate? Where will it end? Enough is enough. I am normally the bloodiest of bleeding-heart tax-and-spend liberals, but it’s time to say, “No.” It’s time for the county to become fiscally responsible and work with revenue the voters of King County have already granted them in previous sales tax hikes. The economy is too weak and the tax too regressive to be viewed as a viable fix. Look to the long-term instead of reverting to the equivalent of an irresponsible teenager asking the parents for lunch money because they already spent their allowance for the month. <br /><br />Seattle Times: <a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorials/2013173808_edit17sales.html">Yes</a>. <br />Seattle PI: <a href="http://www.seattlepi.com/opinion/426713_Proposition%201.html">No</a>. <br /><br />State Senator<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Vote- PATTY MURRAY.</span><br />I don’t trust Dino Rossi. I view him in the same light as Tim Eyman, someone who seems to love the political spotlight, yet offers nothing of substance to actually benefit the voters they are asking the support of. Meanwhile Patty Murray has been a steadfast and active representative of Washington State in the “other” Washington. Murray was instrumental in returning the Air Force Tanker contract to Boeing when it had all but been given to a non-domestic company in Airbus. The bulk of this endorsement is based-on a simple dislike/distrust of Rossi, but when you begin to review Murray’s track record, the Senior Senator deserves the job.<br /><br />Seattle Times: <a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorials/2013112273_edit10murray.html">Murray</a>. <br />Seattle PI: <a href="http://www.seattlepi.com/opinion/428233_PIUSSENATE.html">Murray</a>.Homer Cook aka JR.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00744032311036942175noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267760873603761359.post-75240247532751113942010-07-30T13:41:00.000-07:002010-08-31T14:36:52.374-07:00The Next Generation.So while on a recent trip to the only other town I've called home, I was reminded, oddly enough, of the security guard in my building. <br /><br />I took a day-trip to Bellingham, WA, as some college friends were playing in a soccer tournament. So I decided to head-up and do what I've always done: sit on the sideline and mooch some beer while getting sunburned. <br /><br />The soccer tournament has become an annual pilgrimage for me and my fellow Western Washington University Alums to get together and relive the old days...in my case, the good old days. <br /><br />It is a great time and a fun way to reconnect where we all met and recount the old times while catching-up on the new. <br /><br />But back to the security guard. <br /><br />He is an older fella. Approaching/past retirement age, by my estimation. And he, like most folks in my building, pretty much kept to himself offering nothing more than the slightest nod of acknowledgment as I entered/left the elevator. I can't say that I blame him, security guards have the worst job on the planet, they are basically like the police- deemed a necessary evil by most and never there when they should be...except this poor old fella doesn't get a gun, or even a stick! Which may explain his standoffish nature. <br /><br />However, my perception of this fellow changed a few months back. See, my building requires a magnetic key to enter the front door. A magnetic key that (apparently) requires a battery to operate. Well, one dark and stormy night (it really was), as I was stumbling home, intoxicated, I went to scan my key at the door and “Voila!” – Nada. <br /><br />D'oh! <br /><br />As I stood outside, drunk and poorly dressed for a night spent sleeping on the street corner, I began to ponder which corner of the entryway offered the most protection from the wind. After what felt like forever and just as my hope of another alternative began to fade, I looked in the front door and there he was, the security guard. <br /><br />I beat on the door like a crazy person and flailed my arms about pointing to my key as I tried to pantomime “Technology has let me down again. Batteries suck. And I am cold and drunk, please don't make me sleep on the street, sir. I really do live here! Really!”<br /><br />Either I am the best pantomime in the history of all mankind or the standoffish security guard has a heart. I'm voting for the latter.<br /><br />Needless to say, I was able to get into my building and -Gasp- the security guard talked to me! <br /><br />As it turns-out he, like most folks, is a heck of a nice guy. I came to find out that he lives far away from downtown Seattle as it was “way too pricey for a guy like him.” <br /><br />So what does a soccer tournament in Bellingham have to do with a security guard who saved my drunk ass? <br /><br />Glad you asked. <br /><br />The soccer tournament reminded me of college. The security guard reminded me of my Dad. <br /><br />I've never held education in a very high regard. School/college was just something that I did. It was not an option. <br /><br />Until I finished at Western and entered the workforce, it never really dawned on me that folks didn't go to college or that getting a degree was that big of a deal.<br /><br />But as I sat there at my old haunt, The Beaver Inn in Bellingham, surveying the day-time crowd of 'townies' as we referred to them in college (while looking down our noses a bit) I realized, these 'townies' were more of a reflection of my family than the people I was sitting with. <br /><br />So does that mean that I look down my nose at my family?<br /><br />Honestly, I probably have in the past, but as I look at the security guard, working into retirement doing what he has to do to get by, I come to appreciate the work ethic and nobility of the Workaday Average Joe, like my Dad. (I realize like I sound like a pompous above-the-fray a-hole in that last sentence, but it's the realization I had.) *By the way, Thank you Mom and Dad, I couldn't have done anything without you. <br /><br />It's an interesting dichotomy, being the first generation to get a degree. In theory, the degree will better your station in life. Yet as a result of that education, you begin to see the world differently than those who put you in the position to make that jump. <br /><br />Now let me say this, having a degree does not make you smarter/better than anyone else...it simply means you were willing to jump through hoops and could afford to do so. I know plenty of very intelligent people who do not have degrees, they just simply weren't dealt the same cards that I was...and many of those folks are no worse for the wear for it.<br /><br />So how does one rectify the situation? <br /><br />My Mom, is still Mom. Pops is still my Pops. And I still have my degree and will forever be a lil different than them for it. <br /><br />Does getting a degree in your early-to mid-20's trump the life experience of those who have been working since high school? <br /><br />Hell No. <br /><br />Am I impressed by someone who had the intelligence and tenacity to get an advanced degree?<br /><br />Heck yeah. <br />*I know, I just talked down the importance of a degree a couple of paragraphs ago. But they don't just give college diplomas away, there is some work involved.<br /><br />So I guess I am still trying to figure it all out. <br /><br />I'll get back to ya when I have it all dialed-in. <br /><br />Don't hold your breath, my four-year degree took me five and a half years to complete...Homer Cook aka JR.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00744032311036942175noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267760873603761359.post-78965503977276416462010-05-22T10:17:00.001-07:002010-05-22T10:22:10.517-07:00The little things...So there I was, sitting on the platform at the Pioneer Square station in the bus tunnel downtown. Minding my own business and people watching, while I waited for the bus to arrive and carry me off to my cube for another seven and a half hours of top-notch customer service. When a man caught my eye. <br /><br />Looking less than 'put together,' this fella didn't so much strut as much as saunter down the platform. The man carried himself and was dressed in a way that some would classify as “thugged-out.” Given that the man was far older than I, (now 31) I was quick to pass judgment and write him off. <br /><br />But just when you think you have the world figured-out, it goes and zigs...when you expect it to zag. <br /><br />As I was sitting there passing judgment on this 'loser,' another bus arrived and an older woman who had been sitting next to me, got-up to hop-on. The woman had a rolling cart for her belongings and was having trouble getting it onto the bus. <br /><br />To my surprise, the “thug” nearly tripped over himself as he ran over to assist the woman with her cart. All the while, what did I do? Sat there and did nothing. <br /><br />It was a forehead slapping moment. I shook my head, chuckled and thought “Well, I got that one all kinds of wrong. Whoops.” <br /><br />Needless to say, I was disappointed in myself. <br /><br />The saying, “You can't judge a book by it's cover,” repeated over and over in my mind as I rode the bus (of shame) into work. <br /><br />Sometimes it's the littlest things that can offer the greatest lessons. <br /><br />I pride myself on embracing diversity and being open to other points of view...yet there I was writing-off a seemingly heck of a nice guy, based on nothing more than his appearance. <br /><br />Life happens all around you. If you focus too much on yourself or the world as you want to see it, instead of how it is...you are going to miss out on a lot.<br /><br />No real tidy sum-up to this post. Just one of those random “A Ha!” moments that I felt like sharing. So, just keep the eyes open for chances to grow.Homer Cook aka JR.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00744032311036942175noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267760873603761359.post-48824074707037715892010-05-03T13:52:00.000-07:002010-05-03T21:33:17.223-07:00Moving-on.So I think I’ve finally decided to stop being angry. <br /><br />I’ve finally decided some things just weren’t meant to be. <br /><br />I’ve finally decided it’s time to accept the world as it is and just move-on. <br /><br />I recently caught the deciding game of the opening round playoff series between the Los Angeles Lakers and the team formerly known as the Sonics. (Tip of the cap to ESPN’s Bill Simmons for coining the phrase.) <br /><br />And I must say, I was impressed with the Oklahoma City Used-to-bes. <br /><br />I came of sporting age in the mid-to-late ‘80s, smack dab in the middle of the Lakers versus Celtics, Bird versus Magic, “Showtime” hey-day of the NBA. And while I loved the game, I hated, Hated, HATED the Los Angeles Lakers. <br /><br />So when I heard of the first round match-up pitting the Lakers versus the team formerly known as the Sonics, I was torn. Who should I root against, Magneto (the Lakers) or Dick Dastardly (the team formerly known as)? Which represented the lesser of the two evils? <br /><br />Then I came across a column by Steve Kelly, an actual writer, in the Seattle Times. The title of the column was “It should be the Sonics playing the Lakers in the first round of the playoffs” and it struck me…<br /><br />Man, we Seattlites must look bleepin’ PATHETIC. It’s been how many years since the Sonics left? And we’re still whining? <br /><br />At that moment, I decided it was time to move-on. <br /><br />Which, in reality, I think many Seattlites have done. As an example, I attribute much of the meteoric early success of Seattle’s new Major League Soccer franchise the Sounders FC, directly to the hole that was left by the departure of the Sonics. It was almost as if Seattle sports fans were/are saying “See, we can support a team. We really do appreciate it.” <br /><br />But back to the NBA, which I had sworn-off out of bitterness that can only be mustered by one who has been scorned.<br /><br />Yet, after seeing Kelly’s piece (well-written, as usual) I saw how infantile I and the Seattle fan base appeared, and decided it was time for me to grow-up. <br /><br />I mean, you are never gonna meet the girl of your dreams if you spend all of your time stalking the Ex who dumped you. <br /><br />So here’s my personal ad to the NBA: <br />Dear NBA, <br />I am a white male, age 30 (for a couple more weeks). I like food, music and spending excess income on sporting events. I’ve been out of the scene for a couple of years but am ready to start looking for a professional basketball team again. I have seen many who are taken and would like one to call my own. If interested please email me at: still.looking@needateam.com. <br /><br />So I say, “Congrats,” to the team formerly known as the Sonics. It looks like the foundation laid here in Seattle, is starting to bear fruit. The system, management & team atmosphere they’ve established has been described as one of the best in the league. Props to Kevin Durant, he’s growing into the star everyone thought he could be on draft day. I cannot be angry with the players, as they had nothing to do with the business side of things. And to see KD crumpling to the floor with his head hanging low after the loss to the Lakers, I earned nothing but respect. He doesn’t have to, but he really seemed to care.<br /><br />And I can’t hate on that.<br /><br />I just hope that one day KD will return to Seattle to compete against a next generation incarnation of the Seattle Supersonics. <br /><br />Until then, I’ll appreciate a game I love without sullying the experience with petty bitterness. Now if everyone else in the 206 could just get on-board with me.Homer Cook aka JR.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00744032311036942175noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267760873603761359.post-89743336661262032692010-04-05T07:39:00.000-07:002010-04-09T11:26:42.961-07:00So many light bulbs...<p class="MsoNormal">Well, as the six of you who read my blog may have noticed, I’ve taken a recent hiatus from the whole writing thing. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">There are many a reason for my absence, not the least of which is laziness. But after 100+ posts, I noticed the blog was getting a bit stale. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Especially after my <a href="http://hojusodyssey.blogspot.com/2010/02/simple-hello.html">last post</a> which I am pretty proud of and was seemingly well-received. I decided that I should take some time-off to recharge the batteries, in an attempt to keep all future posts on par with that last one. I mean, if you folks are gonna take the 5 minutes to read it, the least I can do is make it something worthwhile. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So given the decidedly ‘upbeat’ feel to my last post, I’ve decided to keep the “feel goods” coming. Which means that moving forward, I will try to focus on the positive. Disclaimer: I am not saying that I will never rant again, especially if I feel it needs to be said. But there is enough negativity in the world, just look at the news, why would I want to add to someone’s miserable day? </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">With that in mind, I present to you the first post of a new age. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">And speaking of a new age, I am closing-out my 3<sup>rd</sup> decade on this rock we call Earth and staring-down 31 pretty hard. But this year a few things started to really click for me. And honestly, it’s about damn time. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Topping the list of clicking items was a new mantra for life. Which, oddly enough, came to me while sitting on a bar stool. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I was chatting with a buddy about women and life in general and I muttered the following phrase, “You can’t live life assuming the worst possible outcome.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It was yet another of those ‘light bulb’ moments that I keep talking about. And when I saw his eyes light-up as the idea bounced around in his cranium, I figured I might be on to something. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Now what does the phrase mean? To be honest, I am still trying to figure that out. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">But since I coined the phrase* I figured I’d spout-off and share what I’ve got thus far. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">For the first 18 years of my life and probably a good part of my 20’s I was the ‘good kid.’ I got good grades, worked hard and was dependable. I did what I thought everyone wanted me to do. Even if doing so didn’t always coincide with what I actually wanted to do or who I actually was. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Those pesky teenage years are always fraught with insecurities and figuring-out who you are. But as I got older, other folks seemed to be getting more comfortable in their skin and I just felt overworked. Instead of figuring-out who I was, I was too busy maintaining the expectations I perceived as being placed on me. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I didn’t know what would happen if I didn’t get an A or if I didn’t make it to work or if I didn’t…etc.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I’d been living life assuming the worst possible outcome. Or more concisely, I was living life to AVOID the worst possible outcome.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Which taken at face value, sounds like a reasonable way to live life. So I went on living that way, for years. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Then one day, as I sat on the edge of my bed, desperately trying to summon the will to trudge into a job I hated with the passion of 10 jihadists, I came to a realization. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">While spending my time avoiding the worst possible outcomes, I was missing out on some really great experiences. If you always live to avoid trouble, you can never take an unnecessary risk. And at 30, I’m finding it’s the unnecessary risks that make life worth living. Sometimes the safe choice isn’t the right choice. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">If you live life assuming the worst possible outcome, you’ll never approach a woman, because she’ll probably say ‘No.’ </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">If you live life assuming the worst possible outcome, you’ll never travel because you have to save for that ‘rainy day’ which is probably never going to come.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">You get the idea. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Living a safe, reasonable life, while all well and good, is pretty boring. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Life is a gift. Instead of treating it like a classic car that sits in the garage under a car cover, take it out for a spin on the coast! Sure, you run the risk of wrecking the car, but what’s the point of owning a convertible if you never take the top down? </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I’ve been told that I don’t seem to care anymore. Not in a ‘<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howling_Mad_Murdock">Murdoch</a> from the A-Team’ kinda way, but in a ‘<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Buffet">Jimmy Buffet</a>’ song kinda way. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Which is 100% correct, I don’t really care and I am less stressed as a result. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Do I have it all figured-out? Hell no.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">But am I far more OK with that being the case? Hell yeah.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">*If I didn’t coin that phrase and there’s credit I should be giving someone else, please leave a comment so that I can give props.</p>Homer Cook aka JR.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00744032311036942175noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267760873603761359.post-82024220510088375892010-02-02T13:59:00.000-08:002010-02-02T14:01:06.447-08:00A simple Hello<p class="MsoNormal">So I had a nice revelation while riding the elevator in my building the other day. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">The owners had recently started some maintenance on one of the two elevator cars, which I wasn’t too happy about. Even with both cars running, in an 18-story building, the wait time can be a little long. But I figured, maybe I’d get the chance to meet some of my neighbors. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">While I am quite happy with my apartment and the amenities the building offers, my neighbors have left a bit to be desired. For the most part, folks seem to like to keep to themselves and are almost off-put by anything more than a head-nod or “Have a good day.” Damn that ‘<st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Seattle</st1:place></st1:city> nICE.’</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">That is, except for the cleaning lady. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">She’s an older, petite, Asian woman, whom I see every morning on my way out the door. Her kind smile and friendly “Good morning,” make my commute a little more bearable. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">It’s funny to see the little things that people pick-up on. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I never realized that I apparently respond to the cleaning lady’s morning greeting with a “Good morning to you, too.” </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Until recently. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">As I was taking the elevator downstairs, the cleaning lady got on a couple floors below mine. She usually waits for an empty elevator for her and her cart of cleaning supplies, but with one car running, she decided to hop-on. As she did, I said my usual “Hello.” And her response stopped me dead in my tracks. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">“You are a good man.” </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I was a bit puzzled and touched. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">She went on to explain, “You are a good man, you always say hello to me. Thank you.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Funny how that works. Two people, doing what they normally do, who see each other for mere seconds a day, are so affected by a seemingly innocuous interaction. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">It was a light-bulb moment that illustrated the importance of paying attention to your actions. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">You never know who’s paying attention or what the ramifications of your actions could be. Ask any parent and they’ll tell you that it’s amazing what kids pick-up on. I’d venture to say that idea permeates the ‘grown-up world’ as well. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">It really doesn’t take much to smile and say “Hello,” to that person you pass everyday on your way into the office or to simply be kind to folks who cross your path. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Much as the cleaning lady’s simple “Hello,” makes my mornings, you could be doing something that makes a stranger’s day. I am pretty sure most of us have a stranger that we deal with daily who brings a smile to our face(s). Be sure to appreciate that little something as well.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">By acknowledging both the actions of others and making an effort to extend a kind demeanor…I think you’ll find the big, scary world to be a much kinder and gentler place.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">If this sounds a bit like the ‘pay it forward’ movement, it pretty much is.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">So the next time you see that stranger, simply say “Thank you.” </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">It’s a small gesture of gratitude that just may end-up making someone’s day.</p>Homer Cook aka JR.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00744032311036942175noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267760873603761359.post-12119703267766806102010-01-28T19:51:00.000-08:002010-01-28T19:59:04.378-08:00Edu-tax-cation<p class="MsoNormal">So I came home last week to a piece of mail that surprised me.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">No, it wasn’t a delayed-delivery Christmas card with a crisp C-note in it…Darn it.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Instead, it was a ballot. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I had no idea there was a special election taking place and opened the ballot to see what pointless recount/initiative was causing all of the hullabaloo.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Color me embarrassed, but I soon realized the special election was about something I value greatly, education. The election was simple, the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Seattle</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">School District</st1:placetype></st1:place> offered-up two levies for approval. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">On the face, these levies appeared to be the <st1:placename st="on">Seattle</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">School District</st1:placetype> foisting even more taxes upon the over-burdened citizens of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Seattle</st1:place></st1:city>. *I should say, the <st1:placename st="on">Seattle</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">School District</st1:placetype> foisting even more taxes upon the over-burdened Property-Owning citizens of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Seattle</st1:place></st1:city>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I note that last distinction because I’ve previously been a property owner and now understand what property taxes are. They can be a rather foreign concept to a renter, and my previous stance was to approve any property tax increases as it didn’t affect me…I also think kids deserve books and enjoy paved streets/public transit. So why not approve everything and let someone else foot the bill?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">But I digress, as I delved into the nuts and bolts of the levies being proposed, I noted they were not proposing any new taxes, but simply requesting to maintain existing, but expiring levies. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Now that I am back to renting, I am on-board with approving property tax hikes, as long as they make sense. So I am not going to tell you how I voted, but I think you can figure it out. *I will note that even when I was a property owner, I stayed pretty true to my blue-state leanings and usually sided with tax increases, as long as I thought they served a greater good. By the way, Education = a greater good in my book.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">There is no such thing as a free lunch. I hate the saying, as it’s pretty cliché, but it’s so damn true. As I hear of cuts to what I consider vital social programs: education, mental health, social services, all in the name of a balanced budget that is anything but, I get a lil fired-up. It is akin to cutting off the nose despite the face. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">These programs (education especially) are in no less demand than this time last year, 4, or even 10 years ago. So why are they on the chopping block?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Simple answer- Politics. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Letting a levy expire is a backdoor way of lowering education spending without having to take the PR-hit that goes along with actually cutting education spending. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I’ll grant that every levy is a term-limited proposition. As such, everyone knows the levy will expire at some point. But I see levies as band-aids, not solutions. A levy is a short-term fix as a (hopefully) better long-term solution is researched and implemented. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">That obviously hasn’t happened here. And the economy has worsened, so offsets to budget shortfalls by donations from the private sector have disappeared. Which only increases the need to, at a minimum, maintain current spending on education. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Not that any of this matters to me anyway. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I am a single fella with no kids who rents his house. So the tax hike won’t burden me, much the same way letting the levy expire won’t benefit me. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Yet here I am ranting away, Why? </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Because a poorly educated populace does no one any favors. Isn’t giving kids a decent education worth a couple hundred bucks a year?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Poor education is not a blue or red issue. It’s a societal issue. Everyone is entitled to the right of being able to “read, write and arithmetic” regardless of political leanings. Kids are not a political token and education is not a place to cut corners, Period. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Maybe forcing senators and other such elected officials to take some of the unpaid furlough days they’ve forced on other lower-level public servants will drive the point home… </p>Homer Cook aka JR.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00744032311036942175noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267760873603761359.post-32058758986620578952010-01-14T07:22:00.000-08:002010-01-14T07:35:43.482-08:00Coming clean.<p class="MsoNormal">Not sure if you heard the news, but Mark McGwire recently came clean about his use of steroids during his professional baseball career.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">We all knew he did it. So why does the admission matter? </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Well, the short answer is that the guy is trying to get into Baseball’s Hall of Fame and missed election again this year, going 0-for-4. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">So much like Michael Vick’s ‘apology’ after getting caught, I see McGwire’s ‘seemingly sincere apology’ as nothing more than a PR-ploy. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">McGwire, seeing his chance to make some money/stay relevant begin to fade, simply did what he had to do. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">He lied. Again. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I doubt that McGwire is sincerely sorry about using steroids. (If he really was sorry, wouldn’t he have stopped using or admitted it sooner?)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">However, I have no doubt that he’s sorry he got caught. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">So why babble-on about it?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Simply, the guy put-up monster numbers while he was juiced. Without question, he was an exciting player to watch. And like it or not, his record-breaking pursuit of the single-season home run record did help bring Major League Baseball back from the brink after the strike of the early ‘90s. He was also elected to the All-Star team 12 times. That brief list didn’t do his career justice, as it is an impressive resume and one worthy of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">HOF</st1:place></st1:city> discussion. However, the <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">HOF</st1:place></st1:city> also takes off-the-field actions into account as well. Just ask Pete Rose. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">*I’ll note that McGwire wasn’t the only steroid-user to don a cap during his career. But he did lie, when he had the chance to come clean. And in doing so, has undoubtedly hurt his <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">HOF</st1:place></st1:city> chances. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">So the major <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4819153">argument(s)</a> for McGwire being admitted to the <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">HOF</st1:place></st1:city> is that juiced or not, he accomplished some unheard of feats. And he did so in a league where steroid use was rampant. Basically, he wasn’t the only one doing it and he was the best of those who were. So why penalize him alone and not the others who have yet to be caught?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">To which I respond: What if I pose the same question to a different scenario—</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Pablo Escobar wasn’t the only cartel boss in <st1:place st="on">Central America</st1:place>, so why should he have been unfairly targeted for scrutiny by the government? </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Some may think that is overly dramatic. But the logic is sound. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">A fundamental principle was violated when McGwire took steroids. Whether there was a rule against using/testing for steroids is irrelevant. If in his mind, McGwire did nothing wrong, then why deny the actions until now? </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">The answer is simple -- Because he knew he was in the wrong. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">McGwire is a cheater.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">There is no lower form of athlete than a liar and a cheat. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">And McGwire is both. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Both Escobar and McGwire were among the best at what they did. But, they attained such heights by employing illegal and immoral tactics and had no problem accepting the accolades as they were doled-out. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">If you are bold enough to cheat, you should be man enough to accept the punishment. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">But then again, if you are bold enough to cheat, you aren’t much of a man at all. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">The Hall of Fame is for great men, and Mark McGwire is obviously neither. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>Homer Cook aka JR.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00744032311036942175noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267760873603761359.post-74529245246227916172009-11-10T13:57:00.000-08:002011-01-22T20:14:12.220-08:00The 1st year…<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Well I can’t believe it, but it’s been a year since Barack Obama rode the wave of change to the office of President.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">No, this is not going to be a ‘coulda woulda shoulda’ column, nor is it going to be an ‘Obama is the best thing since sliced bread’ piece either.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">It’s going to be yet another piece on the further disillusionment of a formerly idealistic young(er) American.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">My disillusionment is not solely directed at Obama, but were I to omit the fact that I am utterly underwhelmed by him and his administration would be dishonest on my part.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">However, the roots of my melancholy lie in the politics that rule the day. They are the same politics that have ruled the day for as long as I can remember. They are the same politics I thought I was voting-out when voting for Obama.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">So here we are a year later and as usual, the American political machine has left me confused, unfulfilled and wondering why I even bother.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">But for me, politics are a lot like women, though I rarely get the end-result I am looking for, I am utterly intrigued and keep coming back for more.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">So most Sunday mornings I sit on my couch, sipping overpriced coffee in a high-rise apartment downtown, seemingly in the lap of middle class luxury, watching the political pundit shows and get pissed-off.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I saw a snipit of a </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIo0DzldoOI"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">speech</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">, from of all people, Jon Voight, that I think perfectly illustrates the return to the ‘business as usual’ ’us versus them’ politics that I thought Obama’s election would curb.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Voight stated that Obama is: “T</span><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">aking </span><st1:country-region st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">America</span></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> apart piece by piece" and suggesting he "had 20 years of subconscious programming by Reverend Wright to damn </span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">America</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">."</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">It’s the old tactic of extremism. Nowhere is there a shred of evidence to back Voight’s rants, but there he was on national TV getting face time spreading nothing more than gossip.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Now I understand politics, and there is always going to be an element of mud-slinging and creative license taken when anyone is out drumming for support, be they Republican or Democrat. Where I draw the line is at lying or defamation/character assignation. Simply put, neither has a place in American political discourse.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">And here’s the odd thing about this whole Jon Voight issue, this personal attack on Obama was given as Voight was trotted out by Republicans to defeat Obama’s universal healthcare bill. I have hard time seeing any logical line of reasoning that leads from universal healthcare to Obama’s former pastor.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Now, for what it’s worth, I’ve always thought of Jon Voight as a less-than-stable individual. I didn’t know of his conservative leanings until I saw the snipit of his speech. So while I don’t think all Republicans are zealots in the vein of Voight, someone decided to put him behind a podium with the proposed healthcare bill planted squarely in front of him.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">This ploy to paint Obama as a leftist Black Panther anarchist ideologue is bypassing the real debate and downright silly. Where is the substantive debate? What are the </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">legitimate Republican objections to the bill in its current incarnation? *You can see my prior </span><a href="http://hojusodyssey.blogspot.com/2009/10/news-flash.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">post</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> on lack of objectivity in the media as to why modern discourse has been oversimplified to sound bites instead of full disclosure.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">In debate, you address the issue being debated, not the debater. This critical aspect of political debate seems to have been forgotten by those taking part in modern political discourse.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I, while on-board with the idea of universal healthcare, am not sold on the bill in its current incarnation. I thought some disclosure was due, as I hammered Mr. Voight pretty good there. But oddly enough, he and I agree in our displeasure with the bill. Though I will note that our reasons for disliking the bill most assuredly vary greatly.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Later-on in the political pundit show, I saw a discussion between a democratic governor and a Republican Party representative and was again appalled. Here were two grown men, seemingly respectable enough, who were so embittered and entrenched on their respective sides that neither would let the other so much as finish a sentence. I felt like I was watching two 4-year-olds try to out tantrum one another. It was a downright pathetic display from both gentlemen.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">My how far the mighty have fallen…if our elected officials are unwilling to listen to anyone but those of their own ilk, how can they be true representatives?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I voted for Obama because I thought he represented a break for the ‘tow the party line at all costs’ style of politics that had caused </span><st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Washington</span></st1:place></st1:state><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> to grind to halt. But it looks like I was wrong. Obama has yet to exhibit the coalition-building and reaching across the aisle that won my vote.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I guess I should have known better. He’s got three more years to win it back, but at this point, Obama’s lost my vote. </span></span></p>Homer Cook aka JR.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00744032311036942175noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267760873603761359.post-6642426748845362102009-10-17T14:11:00.000-07:002011-03-30T11:15:43.618-07:00News Flash...<p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal">Earlier this week I stayed home sick. Something about a sore throat and my being a phone answering monkey just didn’t jive. So while sitting on my couch, nursing said sore throat, I came across the cable news channels. And remembered why I now keep the fact that I earned a journalism degree under wraps…</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">The hubbub of the day was the tiff between the Obama Administration and Fox News. For those unfamiliar with the story here is a <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33129643/ns/politics-white_house/">link</a> for a breakdown. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">In short, the Obama Administration has taken-on Fox News and labeled them ‘opinion journalists’ and ‘a wing of the Republican party’ basically alluding to the fact that Fox is anything but ‘Fair and Balanced.’</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Now I am not going to get into the political stupidity/public relations debacle this fight will prove to be for the Obama Administration, that sentence gives you and idea of where I stand, but what I am gonna delve into is the lack of true journalism (at least as I was taught) in America today. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">*Disclosure: I am willing to note the irony of a blogger/poorly-researched but ideological rant writer like myself discussing such matters as objective journalism. But I am not now, nor have I ever purported to be, a reporter. I am not employed by any journalistic outlet and therefore see no problem with my pointing-out flaws in the world as I see it. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, I just am up-front about when I am sharing mine and don’t try to mask anything I post here as ‘objective’ reporting. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">So I ended-up spending more of my sick day than I’d like to admit, watching the cable news channels. In doing so, I came to one conclusion- Fox News is not alone in its naked political bias. MSNBC would have to be considered the 'Yin' to Fox News 'Yang.'</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">It’s not a shock that I disagreed with a lot of the points and was off-put by some of the tactics employed by Fox’s talking-heads. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">What surprised me was my reaction to MSNBC. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Now I am a liberal, and a pretty left-leaning semi-socialist one at that. So MSNBC should feel like home. It should be my own little bastion of sanity in a sea of partisanism and over-the-top headlines. But somehow, I didn’t feel at home, at all. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">In fact, I was more disgusted by MSMBC than when I was by Fox. I felt lost, betrayed, bamboozled. It’s kinda like finding-out the girl you’ve been seeing smokes or is an unquestioning Bible-thumper…just a game-changing realization. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">One historical note, American Journalism started as an unapologetically partisan endeavor. Newspapers were founded to disseminate information of a partisan nature to inform those who were party members and recruit more to the cause. So for American journalists to show their political stripes is no less an American tradition than apple pie or blowing things up on the 4<sup>th</sup> of July. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">But as with all things American, there has been progress. The idea of objectivity wound its way into the fabric of American journalism within the past hundred-or-so years. Much to the betterment of society. Such things as food safety, monopoly-busting and government accountability can all be directly attributed to strong reporting by <a href="http://ehub.journalism.ku.edu/history/1900/1900.html">transformative journalists</a>. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Objective_journalism">Objectivity</a> is a tough goal. It is like utopia, something to strive for, but something that can never really be obtained. As long as there is a human being tapping-out a story on a keyboard, their personal feelings/opinions/stances will leech their way into a story. Whether it be the questions they ask, how they frame a quote or the overall tone of the story, there will always be a subjective element to journalism. It’s just one of the character flaws of being human. And that is just fine. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">What has been lost, or at least what I haven’t seen in journalism and the cable news networks of late, is an honest attempt to keep that subjectivity at bay. And that is worrisome. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">As America continues its cultural shift towards a culture of consumption, this progression of journalism to nothing more than a steady stream of Youtube clips with talking head ‘reporters’ noting how ‘Awesome’ they are, makes perfect sense. American society is fading away from its former spot at the center of the world ideological and political stage to that of a decadent and crumbling empire. The American empire is perfectly content to rest on it laurels instead of continue with the spirit of progress and improvement that allowed it to gain that seat at the top in the first place.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I have always been a firm believer in the concept of journalism/the media as the fourth branch of government. Especially as American politics have grown from a network of local municipal/state governments to a national-scale political scene. Given that backdrop it becomes even more critical for strong, objective reporting. For example, how else would I, sitting here in my little apartment in <st1:city st="on">Seattle</st1:city>, be kept abreast of what is happening in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Washington</st1:city>, <st1:state st="on">DC</st1:state></st1:place>? Government has gotten too big to be accessible by the average American, this is where journalists must step-in. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I don’t need someone to tell me my opinion. I need someone to give me enough information so that I can form one. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Then again, maybe I am the odd man out. Perhaps Americans are just too busy to care anymore. They seem to be OK with being told what products to buy by advertisers and how to look by magazines. Why not be told how to vote? </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">It does leave a lot more free-time to watch Youtube and hit the mall…</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Maybe Mike Judge had it right in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idiocracy">Idiocracy</a>, but I am not so sure that’s an <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">America</st1:country-region></st1:place> I want to be a part of. </p><p></p>Homer Cook aka JR.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00744032311036942175noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267760873603761359.post-20043297841930209682009-09-07T10:54:00.000-07:002009-09-07T11:46:18.839-07:00Actively Inactive<p class="MsoNormal">So for those of you who are Facebook members like myself, you may have seen the following status come-up a lot lately- </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">“<b>Enter name here</b> thinks that no one should be afraid to go to the doctor because they can’t afford it, no one should go broke because they got sick, and no one should die because they could not afford care. If you agree, please post this as your status for the rest of the day.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">The status update was a modern version of a chain letter. And while I agree with the sentiment behind the ‘movement’ I was really bothered by it. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">So my response to the so-called movement was this- </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">JR. Cook People should die, because it is their time to die. If they want insurance, OK. But I recommend putting down the cheeseburgers, beers and cigarettes first. And try taking a damn walk. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">My response garnered hot and cold reactions. Either folks were on-board or they thought I was the devil. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">And I cannot lie, awhile after updating my status, I looked at it and was disappointed in myself. I sounded like a pundit for FOX.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">But I, as with any of the letters foisted on society by these pudgy digits, stand by what I posted. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Logic trumps partisan-ism, at least in the world according to Homer. And my statement was based on logic. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Insurance is pretty simple. Risk versus reward. The more of a risk you are, the more expensive it is to be insured. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Cheeseburger lover? High cholesterol and heart attack are pretty sure to follow. Insurance cost uptick.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Smoker? Ahoy, Cancer and Emphysema. Bigger insurance cost uptick.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Beer? Well, I love beer. So I cannot knock it…but it is a less than healthy choice. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">So the point of my Facebook status retort was to exhibit how personal responsibility cannot be substituted by government. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">If I choose to ride a motorcycle at 140 mph and end-up crashing and dying, no one would feel sorry for me. That’d say that what you get for going 140 mph on a motorcycle -- Just a dumb decision. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">The same can be said for the average American’s lifestyle. It’s comfortable, but not so healthy. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">But the point of this rant is not to solve the insurance issue. I am not that bright of a bulb. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">My gripe is not with the movement to insure all Americans, which by the way I don’t think is too bad. My issue is with this pseudo-activism. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Copy-and-pasting some text into a web browser does not an action make. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Much the same way no one is getting rich from the Nigerian lottery, nothing comes from a mouse-click and no action. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Such hollow moves just garner head-shakes by yours truly. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I respond to these copy-and-pasters the same way I responded to a mass of pissed-off parents who had gathered to steam-roll school district representatives when I was in the audience for a taping of ‘<span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SAfont-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Schram">Town Meeting</a></span>’ when I was in high school.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">“How many of you are attending meetings? I see many of you here complaining, but how many of you are doing something to fix the issue?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Being 17 at the time, I was written-off by the vast majority of ‘adults’ in the audience even as the show’s host gave me kudos for the cut-to-the-quick question. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">And to all of you copy-and-pasters out there I ask the same thing- </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">What are you doing to fix the issue? (That you are advocating for/complaining about.)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I have no real issues with the system as it is. With the exception of one item- Prenatal care. If a gal is pregnant she should get anything she needs. It’s not the child’s fault they ended-up in a womb and properly caring for developing fetuses (not people, but that’s a whole other topic) can save everyone a ton of money by preventing issues after the child is born…again pure logic is pretty sound. And I sound like one hell of a nice guy. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">But back to the system, I have yet to hear of anyone getting turned away from a hospital. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Though I have heard of many folks being in financial ruin as a result of not being turned away. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">To which I note- They are still alive to be in financial ruin, a much better outcome than the alternative. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">So yeah, I am not starting any petitions or attending any town hall meetings. So I am as guilty as those I am calling-out in this post…But then again, I am not complaining about the system as it is. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">What I am complaining about is this faux-activism. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">If you have a stance on something, make it known, in the real world. And do something about it. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Until you do, you are just an enabler for the status quo. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">But then again, maybe you are fine with that.</p>Homer Cook aka JR.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00744032311036942175noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267760873603761359.post-27806870325681734612009-08-26T16:02:00.000-07:002009-08-27T09:40:39.490-07:00CoffeerightInfringment<p class="MsoNormal">After reading a few of my posts, it may surprise folks to learn that for the most part, I am a fella who avoids confrontation (in the real world) like the plague. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">But recently, I went counter to my natural inclinations and sought-out some controversy. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I found myself headed to a coffee shop that had become quite a central figure in a good old-fashioned dust-up here in our burgeoning ‘burg. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I headed to the epicenter of gentrified hipsterdom in Seattle, 15<sup>th</sup> Ave on Capitol Hill. Now don’t get me wrong, it’s a fun strip – such staples of (high-priced) Seattle-only greatness like Café Victrola and The Coastal Kitchen anchor this mostly chain/franchise-free neighborhood. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Decent food, good beer, high prices and snooty attitudes are all served here as the clientele is all-to-happy to pay the price to be seen. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">If you sense a wee lil bit of distain, good. You should. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">But back to the controversy. I headed to the area to visit a coffee shop- 15<sup>th</sup> Ave Coffee & Tea. The faux independent coffee shop was nice enough, offering 15 kinds of whole bean coffee, numerous kinds of loose leaf tea and they even served beer! </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So, you may ask- What’s the big-deal about this coffee shop? And what the hell do you mean by Faux independent? </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Well this coffee shop wasn’t what it appeared to be. It was actually owned by none other than Starbuck’s. Yes, that Starbuck’s. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Per the Starbuck’s brass, this was Starbuck’s attempt to ‘blend into the neighborhood’ as opposed to simply running the local independent coffee guys out of town.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The fact that this shop was a Starbuck’s-in-disguise is what has the neighbors all riled-up.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Which brings me to my point: Since when did Seattle become populated by such exclusive unoriginal lameasses?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I headed to the coffee shop looking for a fight. This hipster idea of independent-or-die, just seems dumb to me. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">*Disclosure: I am one of the seemingly few native Seattleites who unapologetically enjoys Starbuck’s. I’ve never been able to wrap my head around the idea of hating the big company simply because they are successful. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Seattle I grew-up in while a bit stand-offish, was mostly all-inclusive. Especially when compared to the separation (by race, economic class) that I had seen in cities back East- NYC, St. Louis & Chicago. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">At some point, Starbuck’s was a Café Vivace or a Stumptown. It still blows my mind to see the lil independent guy so revered, yet the local company who made good, so reviled. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Granted, this most recent attempt to ‘fit-in’ by Starbuck’s could have been handled with a bit more tact. Starbuck’s, a long-time staunch defender of corporate trademarks, pretty much ripped-off the design/décor of 15<sup>th</sup> Ave Coffee & Tea from Smith, the bar next door. So creating a carbon-copy of the neighbor, all the way down to asking where Smith bought their awnings, was a pretty hypocritical move by a company known for suing TM-infringers. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">All that being said, Starbuck’s as usual, did a fine job. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I used to be a coffee elitist, simply because everyone else was. In Bellingham, it was Tony’s Coffee, in Seattle it was Vivace and in Portland it’s Stumptown (though from what I hear, even the beloved Stumptown is beginning to get too big to be liked anymore). But after going to independent coffee house after independent coffee house, I realized something- The coffee at all of these joints was consistently horrible.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I began to ask myself: Why pay for an inferior product?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In my ‘independent coffee shop days’ was used to giving the glare as the soulless drones paid their toll to the Starbuck’s Siren. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Where it got a lil odd, was when I became one of the drones. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Trust me, I’ve noticed the glares, even got some nasty posts on my Facebook page when I noted that I was at Starbuck’s. The glares were even worse as I visited 15<sup>th</sup> Ave Coffee & Tea on Capitol Hill. I purposefully sat outside on the street to see what kind of reception I’d receive. And the blind corporation-hating hipsters didn’t let me down. I got a lot of glares, a couple head-shakes and a few sighs…Just as I’d expected. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I wasn’t making any political statements. I just wanted a decent cup of coffee. I guess that’s the lesson to be learned- </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Turns-out it wasn’t just the coffee that was bitter…and a bit of the Seattle I used to know and love seems to have disappeared just as the coffee in my cup had. </p>Homer Cook aka JR.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00744032311036942175noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267760873603761359.post-51505330946245295962009-07-29T07:35:00.001-07:002009-07-29T08:46:22.643-07:00Cops on Campus<p class="MsoNormal">I am not sure if you have heard the latest hullabaloo to come out of <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Cambridge</st1:city>, <st1:state st="on">MA</st1:state></st1:place>. But if you haven’t here’s a <a href="http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2009/07/harvard.html">link</a> to the story. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">The long and the short of it is that a Harvard Professor, who happens to be black, was arrested for trying to get into his own house. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Well, OK, he didn’t get arrested for trying to get into his own house, he got arrested for being a jerk to a police officer, who just so happened to be white. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I only bring it up as it was quite a hot button issue on the Sunday morning political pundit shows. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">The pundits weren’t debating who was in the right, the cop or the professor, they were debating President Barack Obama’s reaction to the incident. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Obama said he thought that the policeman acted ‘<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/23/us/politics/23gates.html?hp">Stupidly</a>,’ which it sounds like he may have. But I, like Obama at the time he made the comment, don’t have all the facts. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">But for these pundits to get upset that Obama is being bothered with such ‘trivial’ matters gets me pretty fired-up. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Here’s my point- Just because <st1:country-region st="on">America</st1:country-region> finally elected a black man to the Presidency doesn’t mean <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s long-standing racial ills have been corrected. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Obama was asked about the situation because racism is still alive and well in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region>. I being a white guy, have been the beneficiary of racial profiling many times. I have many minority friends who have been victims of it. So I have seen first-hand that the problem still exists.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Granted, we have <st1:country-region st="on">Russia</st1:country-region> making some worrisome moves and <st1:country-region st="on">North Korea</st1:country-region> threatening to drop bombs like <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Hiroshima</st1:place></st1:city>. And damn near everyone seems to either be unemployed, in foreclosure or worse. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">So a guy getting arrested, without and charges being pressed, seems pretty trivial by comparison. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">But it isn’t. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region> took a big step forward in electing Barack Obama, but it was only a step. Addressing <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s deep-seeded racial issues/divide is going to take a Lewis and Clark-esque expedition, not just a couple steps. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Should the guy have been arrested? Is it ever OK to talk to a policeman with anything but respect? Did the cop over-step his bounds? </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">The one black person on the panel of ‘This Week with George Stephanopoulos’ noted that from an early age, she was taught to talk to police officers with nothing but respect. She stated that as a black person in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region>, you had to be trained to do so, in order to avoid any problems with police…the insinuation being that cops were looking for any reason to bust a black person. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">While that may be the case, I’ll just add that as a (white) kid I was raised to interact with police the exact same way the black woman described: With Respect. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">While I’ll agree with the sentiment and have personally witnessed bias on the part of the police depending on race, I will also note, that I am never combative or aggressive towards police. Which is part of the reason why I think I have gotten out of a couple tough situations with police, not that I get a pass solely because I am white. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Now don’t get me wrong. I have seen cops who are simply power-abusing jerks. But cops are people…people who have a pretty tough job. But the cop in this case is a 16-year veteran who just so happened to be the first-responder on the day that former NBA Star Reggie Lewis died. The officer attempted CPR when he found Lewis collapsed on the floor. Hardly the actions of a bigoted power abuser. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Granted the Lewis incident was a long-time ago and people change. But there is nothing in the officer’s history that would indicate the officer is anything other than a good, decent, public servant. And if there was, you can be sure the stories would be all over the news. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I don’t know much about the professor ‘victim’ in this story, but I know that he specializes in racial profiling. While I think such work needs to be done, as it obviously still takes place daily here in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region>. I wonder if the gentleman allowed his passion for the focus of his life’s work to get the better of his judgment. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I think he over reacted. And while the cop is trained to deal with such situations, he is human. And if the professor got overzealous towards law enforcement, which is sounds like he did, he’s subject to the same rules as everyone else. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">It’s sad that we are still having this conversation today- </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Did the white cop treat the black man unfairly? But we are. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">The only saving grace of this particular instance is that it looks like it was just a matter of the cops dealing with a jerk as opposed to the cops preying on a black man. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">And that is a step forward. As pathetic as it is to say that. </p>Homer Cook aka JR.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00744032311036942175noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267760873603761359.post-65858257016967521822009-07-16T13:31:00.000-07:002009-07-16T13:39:31.678-07:00I like trains...<p class="MsoNormal">As I sit here on my couch watching ‘doomsday central’ aka The History Channel lament the eminent downfall of humanity due to societies’ overreliance on fossil fuel, I was reminded of a ray of hope. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.soundtransit.org/x1171.xml">Link Light Rail</a> is opening here in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Seattle</st1:city></st1:place> this weekend!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Being a long-time proponent but only recent user of mass transit, I am excited to see <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Seattle</st1:place></st1:city> move in the right direction. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Do I think this initial 13.9 mile stretch of light rail is going to be the cure-all for the region’s traffic woes? </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Nope. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">But they say the first step is always the hardest one. And <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Seattle</st1:place></st1:city> has finally taken the first-step towards a real mass transit solution. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">As you can see in the hyperlink above, Light Rail’s tentacles are already beginning to sprout. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">And I find the growth or should I say potential growth as exciting as the start of service this weekend. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">This initial line is a backbone off of which many lines will grow. The fact that expansion has begun even before the first passenger has boarded a train only proves that theory. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Now that we have a fleet of trains and a base of operations, growing the service is much easier. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I was a fan of the monorail. I even voted for and paid taxes for it. Mostly because I liked the planned service routes. The monorail plan proposed an X-pattern, spreading from Ballard and the U-District on the Northside to West Seattle and <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Rainier</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Beach</st1:placetype></st1:place> on the Southend, with all lines running through downtown. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I see the same idea coming together with Light Rail, the foundation has been laid with a downtown HUB and a (future) line from the U-District that extends to the Airport. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">The prospect of being able to take a train from Ballard to <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Kent</st1:country-region></st1:place> doesn’t seem at-all far-fetched when you see what is already under way. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">And this is all West-of-the-lake-centric.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Just think of the possibilities when you add a Seattle-Redmond Line via <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Bellevue</st1:city></st1:place>. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I already bus it to the Eastside and have loved the nearly traffic-free ninja-route that buses are allowed to take during the I-90 construction as the solo-commuting masses sweat-it-out. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">But my bus, the 550, seems rather underutilized outside of peak traffic hours so rushing to get an east-west line doesn’t seem necessary, yet. Though it would be nice to see some proactive as opposed to reactive planning for once. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">So needless to say, I plan on hopping-on the train this weekend like many other folks. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I just hope they plan on coming back, like me. </p>Homer Cook aka JR.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00744032311036942175noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267760873603761359.post-69168932563607646962009-07-09T12:40:00.001-07:002009-07-09T12:55:19.972-07:00I'll be right back.<p class="MsoNormal">Funny how going-out for a gallon of milk can change your perceptions. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I have lived in the Central District neighborhood of Seattle for over two years now. And for most of the time that I have lived there I have felt perfectly safe. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">That changed recently. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">As I headed-out to Safeway to grab some groceries, I thought nothing of it. I rolled north on 23<sup>rd</sup> Ave S, past landmarks like Garfield High School and Ezell’s Fried Chicken. After two years, I tend to pay such landmarks no mind. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It was on my way back home that I took note…</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">On my way back to my condo, I saw a cop roll-up behind me, lights-ablaze. Not an uncommon occurrence on 23<sup>rd</sup>, so I paid it no mind. Though as I approached 23<sup>rd</sup> & Cherry I saw a fire truck, ambulance and yellow police tape running the length of the thoroughfare. Now this…was an uncommon occurrence. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I ducked onto a back road and made my way home. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Little did I know, that what had just taken place at this intersection would profoundly change how I perceived the place I have called home for the past few years. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I hopped online to get the down-low on what had happened and found-out that two people were dead, victims of a drive-by shooting. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Normally such news would roll off my back. But the folks were alive as I rolled-by on my way to the store. And now, 30 minutes later, they weren’t. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">That realization blew my mind. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I grew-up in South Seattle, a place with an undeservedly bad reputation. I was a fat, white, nerd who managed to get-by just fine. So when I hear that Seattle is ‘Ghetto,’ I beg to differ. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I’ve been to Chicago. I’ve been to LA. I’ve been to NY/Brooklyn…</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Those are ghettos. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Seattle, by comparison, is a joke. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I live in the CD, grew-up in the South End and kick-it in South Park/White<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Center/Burien. All of which pale in comparison to the destitution of a real ghetto. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Which is why seeing such violence outrages me. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The CD, short for Central District for those not in-the-know, has seen quite an upswing in the past few years. Some call it gentrification, I call it not fearing being jacked as you walk to your car. (Which is not to say that jackings/break-ins don’t occur anymore.)</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Some folks see gentrification as a horrible thing, but I venture to say that most decent folks (regardless of race) like to see a community that takes pride in itself. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Sadly, I have seen signs of a backslide in the CD lately. Drug dealers have been openly operating on busy street corners. I am also seeing more and more kids rocking red clothing…when I was a youngster, the CD was Crip territory. Oh, how times have changed.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Every time I see signs of the ‘Hood, I find myself asking the same question, Why? </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Again, Seattle is not ghetto. And it really pisses me off that a couple knuckleheads, who have visions of 50-Cent dancing in their heads, can undo 10 years of redevelopment. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It’s not just white-folk who enjoy walking the streets without fear. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">And now, with one action, one knucklehead, has undone all of that. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">They say ‘One bad apple ruins the bushel.’ I say ‘A fuckin’ loser hoses a neighborhood.’ </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I was raised in a less-than-stellar area and have always minded my surroundings…being a cracka in the ‘hood, you learn to read the angles. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">But I never felt I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">HAD</i> to so in the CD, until now. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So while I normally don’t condone violence. I’d like to find the reject who lacked the testicular fortitude to face a foe straight-up and beat the living shit out of them.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Though knowing the ‘code of the street’ (as laid-out in various gangsta movies where I am sure this gutless shooter picked-up their code of ethics) I know retaliation would be necessary. So that is just a dumb road to venture down.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Instead, I’ll just say, remember the CD before Sunday afternoon. It’s still the same people. It’s still safe. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Don’t let the ball-less minority rule the good and decent majority. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Take control of your neighborhood. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We’ve done it before and we can sure as hell do it again. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Homer Cook aka JR.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00744032311036942175noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267760873603761359.post-3743265160007689662009-06-26T07:18:00.000-07:002009-06-26T07:22:45.805-07:00Did you hear about ... ?<p class="MsoNormal">So the talk of the town has been Michael Jackson’s death. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I won’t lie, I was glued to the interwebs once I caught wind of the King of Pop’s possible demise. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I was hitting refresh on my browser and had multiple news sites open looking for the latest update on MJ. *That’s Michael Jackson, not Michael Jordan, for the record. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I could hear everyone in my cube-farm-of-an-office chatting, trying to get the latest information about the King. *That’s Michael Jackson, not Elvis. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">But as I was clicking refresh and debating if I was going to give-in and credit TMZ.com as a news source, I came to a realization. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Does it really matter?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Not in the slightest. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Michael Jackson was a hell of an entertainer. And I count myself as a fan. He made some timeless music that brought joy, if only for a few minutes at a time, to millions of people. So that, I appreciate. The other stuff, I coulda done without. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">But what struck me as I was hitting refresh on Foxnews.com (yes, I was reading Foxnews.com, I am ashamed of myself, too) it dawned on me. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Instead of having multiple browser windows open trying to get the latest what was essentially celebrity gossip, I should be researching the Iranian Elections or examining how the Obama Administration is handing North Korea. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I mean, <st1:country-region st="on">North Korea</st1:country-region> has freaking NUKES pointed at the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region> and a leader who is talking a lot of shit about using them. I think the possibility of nuclear war should be slightly more important than well, Michael Jackson. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Then there’s the little matter of <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Iran</st1:place></st1:country-region>. I have waffled back and forth on this issue, from it’s none of our business, to we should intercede to enact the true will of the Iranian people. But no matter my stance (there may be another post on this topic specifically) democracy is trying to take a big step forward in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Iran</st1:place></st1:country-region> and it is being stifled mercilessly. Sadly no one knows about it, because TMZ and Perez Hilton aren’t tweeting updates directly to people’s cell phones. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Sigh…</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">The world lost a great entertainer yesterday. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">But I think the world loses a lot more everyday, when people choose to live in ignorance. </p>Homer Cook aka JR.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00744032311036942175noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267760873603761359.post-76281391632024347202009-06-16T13:30:00.000-07:002009-06-16T13:40:20.489-07:00Getting Taken Down a Notch.<p class="MsoNormal">This whole writing thing is pretty interesting. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">To be honest, the only reason I do it is because people read it. And some folks have gone so far as to say I am, wait for it, good at it. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Then again, when I think about it, when does anyone tell someone when they are bad at something? I know I meet plenty of morons on a daily basis and am sure to say ‘Thank you’ even after receiving horrible service from someone who managed to bungle the most mundane of tasks. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">So needless to say, I take these compliments, no matter how well-intended, with a grain of salt. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">But this past week, I had a J.D. from Scrubs moment. Just as I was busting-out a few posts, actually acting on inspiration as it hit me and feeling like I was hitting a groove…</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I read a couple of blog posts from friends of mine that knocked me on my ass. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I’ve got quite a list of blogs listed to your right there, some of which are there because they: refer traffic to my blog, can damn hell ass write or are just friends. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I read a couple posts from folks who can just plain write. In fact, the posts were so good, that I thought about just giving-up. Seeing such talent, made me examine what I had been putting out there. And it paled in comparison. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Don’t get it twisted: I am stoked to have such talented friends around me. Seeing such great thoughts expressed so stylistically is just impressive. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I’ve never really thought of myself as a ‘writer.’ I had to take English 101 twice and only took one class in literature. I am good at imparting what is in my head and putting it on paper. That does not a writer make. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I got my degree in journalism on charm, not skill. *It was a Public Relations degree, so I think it’s appropriate. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Even though I have a journalism degree, I've never been into researching, fact-checking or editing. Ask any of my professors/editors from college, or read these here rants, and you can see why the journalism thing never really panned-out. But I do have stuff to say and a pretty strong voice when sitting behind a keyboard. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I am to a journalist/writer, what Jon Stewart is to cable news anchormen. Entertaining, but not to be taken too seriously. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">And I am OK with that. The world needs Jon Stewart. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">*BTW, Stewart is much smarter and is far more educated on the topics he lampoons than yours truly.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">So here I am, aged 30 years, a tech support guy who manages to tap-out a rant every now and again, usually while hung-over. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Why keep doing it? Uh, well…</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Why did I start in the first place? Uh, well…</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I may not be the most eloquent, but I am easily annoyed and fairly observant. So there will be fodder for these pudgy digits of mine. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">The next Mark Twain or Hunter S. Thompson I am not, but whatever.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Life is much easier when you give in to mediocrity. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Homer Cook aka JR.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00744032311036942175noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267760873603761359.post-72755575515174581612009-06-11T07:31:00.000-07:002010-09-20T13:48:41.109-07:00The Superhero PhenomenaDrinking alone is an interesting phenomena.<br /><br />Pretty much frowned upon by society, I’ve come to enjoy heading to a bar, ordering-up a cold one and just listening.<br /><br />Not to say that I am eavesdropping per se, but while watching the game and BS’ing with the bartender, I tend to overhear a conversation or two.<br /><br />This very thing occurred the other night, as I sat at my laptop, IPA by my side, I overheard the table next to me chatting. The word ‘Western’ caught my attention. It appeared the folks next to me were WWU alums like myself.<br /><br />I went back to my surfing the net and watching the NBA Finals pre-game show. But I then overheard that the WWU kids were teachers. Again, this peaked my interest as I had gone to Western to become a teacher. Disclosure: I changed my major after I realized I didn’t like kids very much.<br /><br />While I thought, ‘Wow I have a lot in common with these kids,’ the conversation took a turn for the worse.<br /><br />One of the teachers, a self-described 2nd year middle school teacher said, “I am hoping to get assigned to a low-income school, where I can make a difference.”<br /><br />I took offense.<br /><br />Having attended a ‘low-income’ (read: minority) school myself, I am perhaps overly sensitive to the ‘great white hope phenomena’ that seems to engulf over-privileged white kids who want to ‘save the ghetto.’<br /><br />I was admittedly hyper-sensitive on this particular day as I had just seen a <a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009318351_webtopschools09m.html">story</a> on the Seattle Times web site noting that multiple eastside high schools were among the top 100 best in the country…and one of the first comments left was “Where is Rainier Beach? LOL” (Rainier Beach is my alma mater.)<br /><br />While I have no problem with anyone who has chosen to teach, I do have an issue with someone who has a superhero complex.<br /><br />If you want to teach, you teach. Regardless of where the job happens to be.<br /><br />The ghetto doesn’t need saviors. It needs schools/opportunities on par with those in the suburbs.<br /><br />If the challenge of the job attracts good teachers, then great. But I doubt the sincerity of teachers who are in it for the glory. They are there for themselves, not the kids.<br /><br />I came across a couple of these ‘saviors’ when I was a student, and you know where they are now? Not in the trenches, saving the ‘hood. They boned-out after a couple of years. When they realized the accolades and book-deals weren’t coming.<br /><br />To the superheros I say- “Good riddance, feel free to stay on the Eastside.”<br /><br />The ghetto doesn’t need that kind of charity.Homer Cook aka JR.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00744032311036942175noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267760873603761359.post-53840275250642187682009-06-10T07:29:00.000-07:002009-06-10T13:30:21.848-07:00The pipeline, re-visitedBeing that today is the 10-year <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">anniversary</span> of the Olympic Pipeline <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Explosion</span> I thought I'd re-post this editorial I wrote for The Western Front in 2001.<br />*My views have changed since then, please see the comment section for my updated take.<br /><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Frontline</span><br />Western Front Editorial Board January 29, 2001<br /><br />No explosions to report.<br /><br />No deaths to count.<br /><br />No lawsuits to cover.<br /><br />No congressional hearings to talk about.<br /><br />For most, silence is golden. But that goes double for<br />companies responsible for environmental disasters. Silence means people are beginning to forget. Silence means communities can return to business as usual.<br /><br />That is exactly what the Olympic Pipe Line Company is trying to do: return to business as usual.<br /><br />The pipeline isn't open - yet. But it will be in the near future. The company's new owners began refilling the pipeline on Friday. It could begin pumping fuel again as soon as next week.<br /><br />The risks associated with the pipeline are clear. Three people died, an ecosystem was nearly destroyed and a community will never be the same.<br /><br />This pipeline is simply a bad idea and it should not be re-opened. It runs through too many highly-populated areas. The next accident could take place in a much more populated area where the results will be worse than the last explosion.<br /><br />One argument for the pipeline is that it is safer than alternative modes of transportation, like the tanker trucks or barges. However, when a tanker truck crashes, Congress doesn't get involved.<br /><br />Gas stations in town don't seem to be running low on fuel in the pipeline's absence. So, obviously, there are viable alternatives to pumping flammable liquids through neighborhoods and city parks.<br /><br />Olympic has done an outstanding job of waiting out criticism and downplaying the pipeline's importance. The fact of the matter is that this pipeline is a big deal, and people need to remember that.<br /><br />People need to voice their opinions and make their feelings known. When this pipeline does reopen, public scrutiny will make Olympic accountable for its actions and therefore make the pipeline that much safer.<br /><br />The company has agreed to install more safety devices along the pipeline to detect problems before they become disasters. It has also retrained employees to ensure safety. All of which seem to be responsible actions for the company to take.<br /><br />Gee, maybe Olympic isn't that bad. Maybe they simply made a mistake and now are trying to make it right. Maybe we should just leave them alone.<br /><br />Or maybe not.<br /><br />Public scrutiny is the key to maintaining any sort of safety with this pipeline. Olympic workers who were on duty during the accident refuse to testify in front of the National Transportation Safety Board - hardly the actions of a community-conscious organization.<br /><br />Silence breeds complacency. Complacency breeds problems - in this case, a 37-mile long problem.<br /><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Frontlines</span> are the opinion of The Western Front editorial board: Andrea <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Abney</span>, Heather Baker, J.R. Cook, Alex P. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Hennesy</span>, Jessica Keller, Levi <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Pulkkinen</span> and Matt Williams.Homer Cook aka JR.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00744032311036942175noreply@blogger.com1