In Yemen, the newest focus of terrorism and anti-terror concerns, 45% of the population lives on less than $2 a day. Many of us spend that much or more daily on a cup of coffee. For half of Yemen's population, that amount is their entire "allowance" for all necessities and "luxuries." It is one of the poorest nations in the Arab world.
People here in the U.S. are angry because our standard of living has been so seriously damaged by the Wall Street and Bush economic rapists, and the longer-term decline of American industry. And, rightly so! But, to me, this little fact helps put the global situation in perspective. Looked at comparatively, even many of the poorest among us have quite a lot.
And, when you add in that someone upset about such injustices can make a frightening, murderous point with a bomb in his underwear, you realize that all the expensive weapons of our very impressive military hardly matter at all.
It is a whole new world out there, and a very dangerous one. There was an article a number of years about how we were likely to miss the good old Cold War, because it provided relatively stability along with of course great nuclear danger. I do think that has come to pass.
And that's a fact.
This was taken on New Year's Eve. I did not bring my D90 *hitsmyheadagain* so here is a video taken with my copact
Do you realize that there were no net jobs created in the US during the entire decade of the "naughts?" None at all. No wonder so many people are troubled, and many are furiously angry, or in despair.
Trouble is, many are angry at the wrong person or people! It was George W. Bush who was president from 2001 to early 2009. Republicans controlled the Congress (not to mention Wall Street, finance, and industry) for most of the same period. If you didn't like the naughts, then you should never again vote Republican.
The large metropolitan area that fared the worst is Detroit, losing 21% of its employment. That, of course, is where my son is. They are thinking of buying a house there in Michigan. Boy, I'd be worried about that!
Americans do make darn good movies; why not cars? But, really, Americans do make some pretty darn good cars. Somehow, though, we aren't able to make the cars on a big enough scale, or on a profitable enough basis, or we don't do it in a labor-intensive enough way, to keep enough people employed. We can't do it and make a profit (with the lack of government health insurance as among the contributing factors). So one of our major industries has shrunk away, taking so many people down with it.
There is an election going on over there in Michigan, and some moron running for governor has used the failed airplane bombing as a rationale for seeking campaign contributions. But what does a governor, or a state government, have to do with aviation security and terrorism? Nothing at all.
That is a Republican for you, trying to profit from the fears and misery of others. To ignite the passions, spur the hatred.
Not cool, Rep. Pete Hoekstra, not cool. You are not a fit man for office. We need a better quality of leader than you! This is a tough time for our country. We need the good guys and gals to step forward, and the giant blood-sucking leeches to step back.
Where is my phaser?
I just removed a number of people from my Vox "neighbors and friends" lists who hadn't updated their Vox since sometime in 2008. It feels sort of harsh to me to do that--but I guess they aren't active, and a fair number were no longer members.
I greatly enjoy writing, and I love receiving comments on what I write. I am much less good about reading the posts of others. Perhaps this partial clean-up will be an aid in helping me reform my ways. But I still am not totally sure what the "customs" are here on Vox. And, in particular, how is the "family" category used. For actual family??
Did you hear that "unfriend" or "defriend" because an Official Word this past year? Actually, it was the "word of the year."
Unfriend beat out sexting, birther, and tramp stamp.
Example: "If that cute girl with the tramp stamp doesn't start sexting me more, I am going to unfriend her! Besides, she talks like a blathering birther."
(The above is an example of the kind of sexting I never seem to receive any of. But don't even aging Vulcans need a little love? Not to mention, of course, dirty old humanoids).
Just as I said in response to Emmi:
Just what you need for fighting outer-space aliens, or traveling in any other kind of hostile environment.
You can even get her action figure. Isn't that better than a Barbie doll?
I got a kick out of it that Sigourney also played a main scientist in Avatar. And of course she has been (among other things) Dian Fossey protecting gorillas All fine causes.
I hope that, "in reality" too, she is a good person. She is considered a political activist, and for a time, lived in a tree house.
However, the movie she is working on now is G-String Mother, about Gypsy Rose Lee. Pretty funny! Not that there is anything wrong with it....
So far, I have enjoyed my first day as old man Spock. Or is it the start of the new year and decade? The completion of the holidays, which are both fun and too busy? Or because we are (finally) getting to go on a vacation--Florida, here we come!--before too long??
Anyhow, I have been nice to a person I have been angry at for many months. I noticed I was more talkative at my coffee group, in a better mood generally too. Thought a little faster than recently.
Also, I bought a bunch of books on my way home. I do realize that could be an attribute of a manic phase.
Anyhow, it is pleasant to feel better. It definitely isn't because my appraisal of the world or human nature or American politics has improved. But, still, somehow, I do feel "better." Whatever that is, and without chemical intervention of any kind, except coffee (decaf) and a bagel with tomato and cream cheese (lite).
Without being clear on the cause, provisionally, I attribute it to the Spock persona.
Okay, did I lose you all by making so many changes in my Vox?
My name is still the same; I guess you can't change that, right? And the title of the Vox. I'm hoping not to cause confusion. But perhaps I needed a new "persona" for the new year (or even the new decade?)
Do you? Not just a couple resolutions. Do you need a whole new you? ;)
Previously I was emphasizing travel, but I am less certain that I will be able to do as much of that any more. Health is one of the obstacles. Then politics and government (a long-time and professional career interest) crept into more and more of my posts.
Where am I now, as 2010 begins? I am concerned that much that was good about the United States is being weakened, damaged, lost. Kind of like the interstate bridge in Minneapolis a couple years ago:
But not only our manmade wonders, but our natural wonders as well. And not only those of the U.S., but really the entire planet--which I guess explains the new environmentally-oriented banner I selected, viewing the Earth from a distance.
Before I felt like I was driving down a side road, as the photo showed, in a place where not to many other people go. Now I feel perhaps even more isolated than that; kind of as a cosmic condition, not merely a localized one.
That isn't all bad. One needs to try to gain perspective. And I, I think, need a bigger, wider, deeper perspective. That is something I need to keep working on.
Do you think science fiction helps? History? Philosophy? Religion? Or is the very best help just a good night's sleep!
I got a blu ray player as a Christmas gift, and a couple of blue DVD's, including the recent Star Trek movie (which I also gave a copy of to my son, who has a Playstation). (A second such DVD is part of the Planet Earth series from BBC).
I am so impressed with the Trek show that I have changed my Vox identity, at least for a time, to being Spock as an old man. There are quite a few old guys I like, admire, and enjoy, and Mr. Spock is among them.
Actually, Leonard Nimoy is a good bit older than me: 78. But I do often feel older than I am; I do sometimes feel like I must be from another planet, especially after hearing commentaries from the Alternative Universe of the American right wing; and I do try to be reasonable and rational. That was how I was brought up, by a professor and a professor's daughter. Through the "hard" sciences and engineering in the 1950s, and the "soft?" human and social sciences in the 1960s and thereafter. With a little bit of art and design thrown in.
Well, I try--but can fall short. But really, Spock had a human mother, so he had some remnant of non-logical failings of humans, right? He could become "emotionally compromised." (One time was when his home world was destroyed). So, too, it is with me. In a totally exasperating and dangerous situation, I become exasperated and frightened. I am like that, lately.
But anyhow, I will adopt a Spockian persona, at least for a while. (This is also partly a tribute to Avatar, another sci fi movie I enjoyed, which presents a world in which people have a different form of representation through the power of computers. For now, the Subaru (and the actual photo of the "real me") are gone. Hope not to lose y'all out there in cyberspace! I hope it isn't too confusing!
Live Long, and Prosper . . . in 2010.
PS--for the moment, I am wondering why this Vox page came up with a photo of a young Thai woman and a place to click to "Find a Pretty Thai Today." How does that work, Google? Does not seem logical.
But, perhaps I ought to browse them. Once, I considered importing a Chinese bride (as many others do babies) but ended up with a partner from exactly ten miles away. I do feel a little past all that now, as I am sure Spock does himself.
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