i`m a big movie fan. i will watch almost anything. i grew up with my mother`s taste in movies or more accurately films. she was a huge fan as well and has regaled me with tales of her and my father spending all day at the various movie theatres in Port of Spain watching whatever was showing.
her influence wore off, because in my second to last year of high school, i cut class every afternoon to spend time in one of the six movie theatres in Port of Spain. sadly there are only two left and just barely at that. the theatres that remain are old school; one screen, a balcony with a box area, a house section on the ground floor and the space between the elevated screen and the front row of seats that used to be the orchestra pit.
there is also still a drive-in; or was when i left Trinidad last; that was barely holding on. it was there that my mother too me to see Star Wars, not episode IV, not A New Hope, just Star Wars and i was hooked. it was also the site of some necking that turned into one of the more interesting nights in my life; but that is a tale best left in my mind.
in my love of movies, i`ve sat through; and continue to do so; some truly horrendous shite which far outweigh the gems, but that`s what makes the gems so good isn`t it. there are movies that i`ve avoided, based on the hype generated; prime example being Titanic, which i haven`t seen to this day, movies that i`ve only need to see once that still resonate; Saving Private Ryan, movies that i will watch over and over again even on broadcast television; Shawshank Redemption.
well if i had enough money to not have to work another day in my life there are two things i would do; i would paint houses and pump gas.
for the first i`d probably join habitat for humanity just so i could paint and make a difference. i like painting, even ceilings, it`s a relaxing and calming occupation for me. a roller or a good brush, a container full of paint and a blank surface and i can find many hours of calm and comfort and no it`s not the fumes.
although the pumping gas might be about the fumes. gasoline is one of those smells that i like along with rain on hot asphalt and freshly printed material. those are the artificial smells that i can stand. i don`t most other manmade scents very well, even the thought of walking through the perfume section of a department store is enough to give me a headache, much less for the duty free section of the airport.
i can deal with some scents on people although i think most people tend buy stuff that they can smell on themselves and i think the reverse should be true. if you`re buying a scent for yourself, it should blend with your natural scent, it should be subtle, a gentle highlight; not an overwhelming assault.
when you have as many books as we do, you need a way to keep track of them for our own edification as well as insurance purposes.
for the last three months we`ve been making an effort at creating a definitive catalogue for our insurers, it`s been difficult entering each of books by hand in an excel spreadsheet but this weekend to my great joy, i have discovered a new tool that has made my life infinitely easier.
it`s called Books, it`s a tiny little application that; provided with the ISBN and internet connection; will pull in all the book information from a variety of sources not limited to Amazon, the Library of Congress and the British Library. from title to publication date, original price to current price, books provides an fantastic resource for anyone with a library. you can if you so desire acquire a barcode reader for entering your books into the database. the database itself is proprietary but exports to a number common formats including HTML, XML and tab delimitated text
there is even a lending details feature, you can keep track of who has what, for how long and when it`s due back, keeping someone like me who anxiously loans books out extremely happy.
however, the best thing about this wonderful application is that is it completely free. it is mac only but was created under the GNU Public License which means the code is readily available if desire to port it to another platform.
it`s friday and whether or not there are beers in the office today, i`m going to have one, it`s been a long week and i deserve one.
i also found a very interesting photo site in my mindless wanderings today; zonezero
these photos are by Paulo K. Ogino of Chile and are part of an international collection of nudes.
have a good weekend all.
that`s how i feel today.
i always had respect for flight attendants and after yesterday`s short haul in a monkey suit and uncomfortable shoes, my appreciation increases. the presentation went fairly well and all three blocks of Silver Spring, MD and the sections of highway i observed to and from the airport were all very lovely.
i managed to get back home in one piece despite the inclement weather in Nashville, that was the remnants of Ivan. we got delayed out of Baltimore and then put on an advisory meaning that at the pilot`s discretion we could be diverted to another airport or returned to Baltimore. luckily neither of those things happened and most of the bad weather were the vicious crosswinds just prior to the smoothest landing i have every experienced.
i`m sure i had something intelligent and worthwhile to contribute when i started writing this, but my exhaustion is getting the better of me and i am unable to form coherent thoughts.
but i only going as far Baltimore, for the day. it`s not a trip i`m entirely thrilled about. i`m going with my boss to a presentation. i`m not sure if it`s the superfluous nature of my presence at this presentation or that i miss my almost daily lunch with vic or the fact that i have to wear a suit and tie all day. i think of the three, the suit might be the greatest irritant, one of the reasons i enjoy my job is that i generally don`t have to dress for success, i can go to work on most days in ratty jeans and flip flops.
i like flying, i`m exceeding comfortable in air planes; i should be, i`ve been doing it for 33 years now. i flow all manner of commercial aircraft excluding the concorde; which is my loss, i believe; and they hold no fear for me. i know smaller aircraft are safer than their bigger compatriots. there used to be a website called amigoingdown.com that i would frequent before i got on a flight and it would calculate the odds of a crash based on airline, type of aircraft, destination and point of departure, sadly it`s no longer around.
in the last four years i`ve logged a lot of frequent flyer miles, in 2000 alone, i logged enough to join bwia`s platinum preferred programme. i think however; between my inability to leave the country, the cost of travel for two adult and a child and wanting to spend as little time as humanly possible away from vic; that my flights are going to be limited to little jaunts like these for a while to come and being a flight junkie, i`m just going to have to take my little fixes where i can.
well there is a list actually. vic and i were discussing this a couple of months ago and i came across it on a journal today, original published in
what makes me afraid is how appropriate this has become lately. i could probably find a news link for each of these points, for now i`ll just include one.
1. Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism.
From the prominent displays of flags and bunting to the ubiquitous lapel pins, the fervor to show patriotic nationalism, both on the part of the regime itself and of citizens caught up in its frenzy, was always obvious. Catchy slogans, pride in the military, and demands for unity were common themes in expressing this nationalism. It was usually coupled with a suspicion of things foreign that often bordered on xenophobia.
2. Disdain for the importance of human rights.
The regimes themselves viewed human rights as of little value and a hindrance to realizing the objectives of the ruling elite. Through clever use of propaganda, the population was brought to accept these human rights abuses by marginalizing, even demonizing, those being targeted. When abuse was egregious, the tactic was to use secrecy, denial, and disinformation.
3. Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause.
The most significant common thread among these regimes was the use of scapegoating as a means to divert the people’s attention from other problems, to shift blame for failures, and to channel frustration in controlled directions. The methods of choice—relentless propaganda and disinformation—were usually effective. Often the regimes would incite “spontaneous” acts against the target scapegoats, usually communists, socialists, liberals, Jews, ethnic and racial minorities, traditional national enemies, members of other religions, secularists, homosexuals, and “terrorists.” Active opponents of these regimes were inevitably labeled as terrorists and dealt with accordingly.
4. The supremacy of the military/avid militarism.
Ruling elites always identified closely with the military and the industrial infrastructure that supported it. A disproportionate share of national resources was allocated to the military, even when domestic needs were acute. The military was seen as an expression of nationalism, and was used whenever possible to assert national goals, intimidate other nations, and increase the power and prestige of the ruling elite.
5. Rampant sexism.
Beyond the simple fact that the political elite and the national culture were male-dominated, these regimes inevitably viewed women as second-class citizens. They were adamantly anti-abortion and also homophobic. These attitudes were usually codified in Draconian laws that enjoyed strong support by the orthodox religion of the country, thus lending the regime cover for its abuses.
6. A controlled mass media.
Under some of the regimes, the mass media were under strict direct control and could be relied upon never to stray from the party line. Other regimes exercised more subtle power to ensure media orthodoxy. Methods included the control of licensing and access to resources, economic pressure, appeals to patriotism, and implied threats. The leaders of the mass media were often politically compatible with the power elite. The result was usually success in keeping the general public unaware of the regimes’ excesses.
7. Obsession with national security.
Inevitably, a national security apparatus was under direct control of the ruling elite. It was usually an instrument of oppression, operating in secret and beyond any constraints. Its actions were justified under the rubric of protecting “national security,” and questioning its activities was portrayed as unpatriotic or even treasonous.
8. Religion and ruling elite tied together.
Unlike communist regimes, the fascist and protofascist regimes were never proclaimed as godless by their opponents. In fact, most of the regimes attached themselves to the predominant religion of the country and chose to portray themselves as militant defenders of that religion. The fact that the ruling elite’s behavior was incompatible with the precepts of the religion was generally swept under the rug. Propaganda kept up the illusion that the ruling elites were defenders of the faith and opponents of the “godless.” A perception was manufactured that opposing the power elite was tantamount to an attack on religion.
9. Power of corporations protected.
Although the personal life of ordinary citizens was under strict control, the ability of large corporations to operate in relative freedom was not compromised. The ruling elite saw the corporate structure as a way to not only ensure military production (in developed states), but also as an additional means of social control. Members of the economic elite were often pampered by the political elite to ensure a continued mutuality of interests, especially in the repression of “have-not” citizens.
10. Power of labor suppressed or eliminated.
Since organized labor was seen as the one power center that could challenge the political hegemony of the ruling elite and its corporate allies, it was inevitably crushed or made powerless. The poor formed an underclass, viewed with suspicion or outright contempt. Under some regimes, being poor was considered akin to a vice.
11. Disdain and suppression of intellectuals and the arts.
Intellectuals and the inherent freedom of ideas and expression associated with them were anathema to these regimes. Intellectual and academic freedom were considered subversive to national security and the patriotic ideal. Universities were tightly controlled; politically unreliable faculty harassed or eliminated. Unorthodox ideas or expressions of dissent were strongly attacked, silenced, or crushed. To these regimes, art and literature should serve the national interest or they had no right to exist.
12. Obsession with crime and punishment.
Most of these regimes maintained Draconian systems of criminal justice with huge prison populations. The police were often glorified and had almost unchecked power, leading to rampant abuse. “Normal” and political crime were often merged into trumped-up criminal charges and sometimes used against political opponents of the regime. Fear, and hatred, of criminals or “traitors” was often promoted among the population as an excuse for more police power.
13. Rampant cronyism and corruption.
Those in business circles and close to the power elite often used their position to enrich themselves. This corruption worked both ways; the power elite would receive financial gifts and property from the economic elite, who in turn would gain the benefit of government favoritism. Members of the power elite were in a position to obtain vast wealth from other sources as well: for example, by stealing national resources. With the national security apparatus under control and the media muzzled, this corruption was largely unconstrained and not well understood by the general population.
14. Fraudulent elections.
Elections in the form of plebiscites or public opinion polls were usually bogus. When actual elections with candidates were held, they would usually be perverted by the power elite to get the desired result. Common methods included maintaining control of the election machinery, intimidating and disenfranchising opposition voters, destroying or disallowing legal votes, and, as a last resort, turning to a judiciary beholden to the power elite.
in all the furore over the assault weapons ban lapsing, not many people know about the Induce Act or that it is being fast tracked.
for those unfamiliar with the Induce Act, it`s a bill that will make it illegal to “induce” copyright infringement. the bill proposes will in theory make peer to peer networks, mp3 player and cd manufacturers liable for `inducing` the public to violate copyright laws. shoot me in the head now. i`m a big believer in personal responsibility and this bill has to be one of the most backward steps ever conceived. that`s akin to tell rape victims, it`s their fault because they`re female.
how much lower are we going to sink; are we going to start suing teachers because our children don`t learn?
you can`t legislate values, no matter how hard you try and by removing the onus from the individual to an organisation or government, it just perpetuates the cycle. if people don`t take personal responsibility and teach their children right from wrong, then no matter how manner bills, laws, acts are passed it`s not going to make a difference.
i sympathise with all the people that lost friends and family on that day but all these `we will not forget` banners and trotting out the flags on Saturday really just pissed me off. i tend not to watch the news on television because it just irks me, so i missed all the lip service being paid to the people that lost their lives three years ago.
at this stage it is just mouthing the words because none of the actions since then have done nothing to honour the lives lost. actions speak louder than words and between Camp X-ray, the Abu Gharib prison abuses and the 1000+ dead soldiers in Iraq to date, i don`t think any of the people who lost their and their family are taking any comfort in the events of the last three years.
an `eye for eye` doesn`t work, it just perpetuates the cycle of violence, this is what terrorism thrives on; you have wronged me, so i will retaliate. we`re not getting anywhere.
if the dead are to remembered and mourned properly then the US needs a massive revision in foreign policy; the policies of the last century haven`t helped and what is going on now isn`t either. there needs to be some consistency, either shoulder the role of global policemen with all the pitfalls that includes or withdraw completely, no more selective intervention.
