Oy. Just when I thought this had been put to bed, back we come with the question of evolution and just what constitutes 'science'.
G*d gave us brains for a reason, people, and to not use them is a sin in my mind. The Almighty puts information in front of us and expects us to decide what's right for us. Ideally, what's right for us won't harm our fellow humans, but that's a notion we mortals are still having issues with.
To discount the theory of evolution because it supposedly leaves a Divine Source out of the equation doesn't wash with me. Dinosaur bones are infinitely older than 6 or 10K years. To say it's all wrong because it doesn't fit your 'calendar' is amazingly arrogant.
I, personally, have no trouble reconciling evolution with G*d's creation. I've seen the muscles and bones and arteries working inside a human body and am awed by the complexities of life. I find it inconceivable to discount evolution as a process simply because it supposedly leaves G*d out of the picture. Just how long was one of the Almighty's 'work days' in Genesis? Is it not possible that The Eternal Source has a hand in the evolutionary process?
The solution is simple -- teach evolution in the science classes, teach Intelligent Design in comparative religion classes where it belongs. And while you're at it, show how other religions view the Creation. Then the students can form their own opinions and use those brains that G*d so lovingly fashioned. Redefining science is not the answer to life's most intriguing question.
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Friday, April 08, 2005
Balance of Power
For those of us who are students of history, watching the events playing out in America is much like a train wreck. Frightening, but fascinating nonetheless. When you have the House majority leader (Tom DeLay) advocating the impeachment of judges because their rulings weren't what he and his ilk required, you are seeing one of the final strengths of democracy washing away in the tide.
As per an article in the NYT April 8th -- (DeLay Says Federal Judiciary Has 'Run Amok,' Adding Congress Is Partly to Blame) --
"Mr. DeLay alluded to Congressional authority to "set the parameters" of courts' jurisdictions and its obligation "to make sure the judges administer their responsibilities."
The organizers of the conference and Congressional staff members who spoke there called for several specific steps: impeaching judges deemed to have ignored the will of Congress or to have followed foreign laws; passing bills to remove court jurisdiction from certain social issues or the place of God in public life; changing Senate rules that allow the Democratic minority to filibuster Mr. Bush's appeals court nominees; and using Congress's authority over court budgets to punish judges whom it considers to have overstepped their authority.
"I am in favor of impeachment," Michael Schwartz, chief of staff to Senator Tom Coburn, Republican of Oklahoma, said in a panel discussion on abortion, suggesting "mass impeachment" might be needed."
Senator Cornyn from Texas took it a step further as cited here in the Washington Post.
"Sen. John Cornyn said yesterday that recent examples of courthouse violence may be linked to public anger over judges who make politically charged decisions without being held accountable.
In a Senate floor speech in which he sharply criticized a recent Supreme Court ruling on the death penalty, Cornyn (R-Tex.) -- a former Texas Supreme Court justice and member of the Judiciary Committee -- said Americans are growing increasingly frustrated by what he describes as activist jurists.
"It causes a lot of people, including me, great distress to see judges use the authority that they have been given to make raw political or ideological decisions," he said. Sometimes, he said, "the Supreme Court has taken on this role as a policymaker rather than an enforcer of political decisions made by elected representatives of the people."
Cornyn continued: "I don't know if there is a cause-and-effect connection, but we have seen some recent episodes of courthouse violence in this country. . . . And I wonder whether there may be some connection between the perception in some quarters, on some occasions, where judges are making political decisions yet are unaccountable to the public, that it builds up and builds up and builds up to the point where some people engage in, engage in violence. Certainly without any justification, but a concern that I have."
The prisoner in Atlanta who killed a judge, a court reporter, a deputy and a civilian wasn't pissed about the judge's political 'decisions.' He wanted to escape, pure and simple. To attribute a higher cause to his actions is an insult to the dead and to their families as if in some way they deserved their fate.
It's time for the Republicans to clean house, starting with DeLay. The man has no ethics and would castrate our Constitution and the protections embodied therein just to curry favor with a few fantatics. If you think this isn't such a big deal, time to polish off your history books and study the rise of totalitarian regimes in Germany and Russia. The overthrow of basic freedoms was a gradual one, not an overnight coup.
Hopefully the Republicans will "Newt Gingerich" this guy and send him back to Texas along with Cornyn. Compared to these two guys, Bush II is looking pretty harmless.
Later....
As per an article in the NYT April 8th -- (DeLay Says Federal Judiciary Has 'Run Amok,' Adding Congress Is Partly to Blame) --
"Mr. DeLay alluded to Congressional authority to "set the parameters" of courts' jurisdictions and its obligation "to make sure the judges administer their responsibilities."
The organizers of the conference and Congressional staff members who spoke there called for several specific steps: impeaching judges deemed to have ignored the will of Congress or to have followed foreign laws; passing bills to remove court jurisdiction from certain social issues or the place of God in public life; changing Senate rules that allow the Democratic minority to filibuster Mr. Bush's appeals court nominees; and using Congress's authority over court budgets to punish judges whom it considers to have overstepped their authority.
"I am in favor of impeachment," Michael Schwartz, chief of staff to Senator Tom Coburn, Republican of Oklahoma, said in a panel discussion on abortion, suggesting "mass impeachment" might be needed."
Senator Cornyn from Texas took it a step further as cited here in the Washington Post.
"Sen. John Cornyn said yesterday that recent examples of courthouse violence may be linked to public anger over judges who make politically charged decisions without being held accountable.
In a Senate floor speech in which he sharply criticized a recent Supreme Court ruling on the death penalty, Cornyn (R-Tex.) -- a former Texas Supreme Court justice and member of the Judiciary Committee -- said Americans are growing increasingly frustrated by what he describes as activist jurists.
"It causes a lot of people, including me, great distress to see judges use the authority that they have been given to make raw political or ideological decisions," he said. Sometimes, he said, "the Supreme Court has taken on this role as a policymaker rather than an enforcer of political decisions made by elected representatives of the people."
Cornyn continued: "I don't know if there is a cause-and-effect connection, but we have seen some recent episodes of courthouse violence in this country. . . . And I wonder whether there may be some connection between the perception in some quarters, on some occasions, where judges are making political decisions yet are unaccountable to the public, that it builds up and builds up and builds up to the point where some people engage in, engage in violence. Certainly without any justification, but a concern that I have."
The prisoner in Atlanta who killed a judge, a court reporter, a deputy and a civilian wasn't pissed about the judge's political 'decisions.' He wanted to escape, pure and simple. To attribute a higher cause to his actions is an insult to the dead and to their families as if in some way they deserved their fate.
It's time for the Republicans to clean house, starting with DeLay. The man has no ethics and would castrate our Constitution and the protections embodied therein just to curry favor with a few fantatics. If you think this isn't such a big deal, time to polish off your history books and study the rise of totalitarian regimes in Germany and Russia. The overthrow of basic freedoms was a gradual one, not an overnight coup.
Hopefully the Republicans will "Newt Gingerich" this guy and send him back to Texas along with Cornyn. Compared to these two guys, Bush II is looking pretty harmless.
Later....
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
The Right To Die
The Terry Schiavo case reminds me of a conversation I had with a country doc a couple decades ago. The doc was a wise fellow and when we were talking about heroic measures (CPR, feeding tubes, etc.) he said he wanted "DNR" (do not resuscitate) tattooed on his chest. "I don't want any S.O.B. standing between me and the Almighty," he said.
There are a lot somebodies standing between Mrs. Schiavo and the next life. Her brain is gone, her body continues. Personally I wouldn't want to be around in that case. I have a Living Will and will be updating it again to try to keep abreast of the current legal standards. But the bottom line is Terry Schiavo's husband is her legal guardian and he knows what she wants. The parents' devotion is touching, but unrealistic. Best to let Terry go onto a new life.
To bring the federal government into the mix is flat out horrifying. Don't like a state court ruling -- appeal to Congress who is always willing to pander to their constituents. But only a narrow band of voters are "pro-life" in this case. The majority of Americans believe they wouldn't want to be in Terry's state and are appalled at the government's intervention. They don't want to see their private family issues played out in a media circus in Washington. I blame the politicians and Terry's parents for that.
On the flip side, countless children in the world are starving to death... by the minute. I don't see Congress puffing up about them or the president flying back from Crawford to sign special legislation to keep them alive.
We need a little perspective, people.
There are a lot somebodies standing between Mrs. Schiavo and the next life. Her brain is gone, her body continues. Personally I wouldn't want to be around in that case. I have a Living Will and will be updating it again to try to keep abreast of the current legal standards. But the bottom line is Terry Schiavo's husband is her legal guardian and he knows what she wants. The parents' devotion is touching, but unrealistic. Best to let Terry go onto a new life.
To bring the federal government into the mix is flat out horrifying. Don't like a state court ruling -- appeal to Congress who is always willing to pander to their constituents. But only a narrow band of voters are "pro-life" in this case. The majority of Americans believe they wouldn't want to be in Terry's state and are appalled at the government's intervention. They don't want to see their private family issues played out in a media circus in Washington. I blame the politicians and Terry's parents for that.
On the flip side, countless children in the world are starving to death... by the minute. I don't see Congress puffing up about them or the president flying back from Crawford to sign special legislation to keep them alive.
We need a little perspective, people.
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
Where's Robin Hood When You Need Him?
Gee, who says $40 million dollars in political contributions doesn't buy you anything? Our esteemed government is about to gift the credit card industry with a new law that makes it harder for the average Joe and Jane (that's us, folks) to file for bankruptcy. Attempts to insert exclusions for service personnel in Iraq, the poor and elderly, those with serious medical problems, fell on deaf ears. So if you're sent to Iraq and your family runs into financial trouble because your salary is a tenth of your civilian life, you're screwed, even though you're risking your life dodging IED's. However, just to show they're not without heart, our esteemed lawmakers did not fiddle with the loopholes that allow the rich cats to shelter their assets when they file bankruptcy. Hey, it's an ownership society, folks. That means someone is doing the owning and if you haven't figured it out yet, it ain't you!
The credit card industry, which made $30 billion in profits last year, is whining that they need these protections to keep people from running up high credit card debt and then filing for protection against those debts. Admittedly, there are probably a few folks who do that. But over half of bankruptcies are due to illness or job loss. This legislation kicks people when they're down. As one Democrat put it, "This is just mean-spirited." The man's got it right.
Given the steady stream of card offers that flood into my door, the credit card industry needs to take a great deal of blame. My parents both died in 1999. I still get offers for each of them to acquire their very own "X" card at some ridiculous low rate of interest. The industry has made it too easy to obtain credit... period. And Americans are too hooked on their cards... period. I suspect there is worse to come -- if the housing bubble shakes out, this is going to get really ugly (the new law won't exempt your house if you've owned it less than 3 1/3 years.)
Welcome to the leaner, meaner American society. I'm glad my parents have crossed over. They would be appalled.
Later...
The credit card industry, which made $30 billion in profits last year, is whining that they need these protections to keep people from running up high credit card debt and then filing for protection against those debts. Admittedly, there are probably a few folks who do that. But over half of bankruptcies are due to illness or job loss. This legislation kicks people when they're down. As one Democrat put it, "This is just mean-spirited." The man's got it right.
Given the steady stream of card offers that flood into my door, the credit card industry needs to take a great deal of blame. My parents both died in 1999. I still get offers for each of them to acquire their very own "X" card at some ridiculous low rate of interest. The industry has made it too easy to obtain credit... period. And Americans are too hooked on their cards... period. I suspect there is worse to come -- if the housing bubble shakes out, this is going to get really ugly (the new law won't exempt your house if you've owned it less than 3 1/3 years.)
Welcome to the leaner, meaner American society. I'm glad my parents have crossed over. They would be appalled.
Later...
Monday, February 28, 2005
ShevaCon Post Mortem
ShevaCon, for those of you not in the SF&F world, is an annual convention in Roanoke, VA. Never been to Roanoke before and where I didn't get to see that much of the town, the delightful drive through the mountains to get there was quite nice. It's rather brown this time as year as spring hasn't taken hold, but on the whole, it was a pleasant trip.
ShevaCon offered a number of delights; reconnecting with friends such as authors Laura Underwood, David Coe, Steve Miller & Sharon Lee. All of these folks are just really high on the 'neat' meter. Also spent some time shooting the breeze with Stephe Pagel, head honcho at Meisha Merlin (an Atlanta publisher.) Stephe's always got good war stories. And I made the acquaintance of Tee Morris, noted scoundrel and author. Tee's a thespian and hence, lives large. Not in frame, mind you, but in cracking jokes and generally carrying on. Never dull. I interviewed Tee for a DIY Author Show in my makeshift hotel room studio so our general silliness has been immortalized. In general, the company at ShevaCon was some of the best I've encountered in a long time.
The panels were nifty, as well. Lots of senior folks around with decades of good wisdom to share. And Nth Degree's party was well worth the time to drop by, mix up a Rum & Diet Coke (I know, I should be shot) and nosh on their Oreos. Always a good combination - rum and Oreos.
In a couple of weeks, I'm off to Greensboro for StellarCon and then over April Fool's weekend, it's MidSouthCon in Memphis. Yup, the con season is in full swing which means my suitcase never really gets unpacked. Oh well, it beats staying home and stripping old wallpaper. But that's another story...
For those dying to check out the authors and others mentioned above:
Laura J. Underwood -- http://www.sff.net/people/keltora/
David B. Coe -- http://www.sff.net/people/DavidBCoe/
Sharon Lee & Steve Miller -- http://www.korval.com/liad.htm
Tee Morris -- http://www.teemorris.com/
Meisha Merlin Publishing -- http://www.meishamerlin.com/
Nth Degree - The Fiction & Fandom 'Zine -- http://www.nthzine.com/
Later...
ShevaCon offered a number of delights; reconnecting with friends such as authors Laura Underwood, David Coe, Steve Miller & Sharon Lee. All of these folks are just really high on the 'neat' meter. Also spent some time shooting the breeze with Stephe Pagel, head honcho at Meisha Merlin (an Atlanta publisher.) Stephe's always got good war stories. And I made the acquaintance of Tee Morris, noted scoundrel and author. Tee's a thespian and hence, lives large. Not in frame, mind you, but in cracking jokes and generally carrying on. Never dull. I interviewed Tee for a DIY Author Show in my makeshift hotel room studio so our general silliness has been immortalized. In general, the company at ShevaCon was some of the best I've encountered in a long time.
The panels were nifty, as well. Lots of senior folks around with decades of good wisdom to share. And Nth Degree's party was well worth the time to drop by, mix up a Rum & Diet Coke (I know, I should be shot) and nosh on their Oreos. Always a good combination - rum and Oreos.
In a couple of weeks, I'm off to Greensboro for StellarCon and then over April Fool's weekend, it's MidSouthCon in Memphis. Yup, the con season is in full swing which means my suitcase never really gets unpacked. Oh well, it beats staying home and stripping old wallpaper. But that's another story...
For those dying to check out the authors and others mentioned above:
Laura J. Underwood -- http://www.sff.net/people/keltora/
David B. Coe -- http://www.sff.net/people/DavidBCoe/
Sharon Lee & Steve Miller -- http://www.korval.com/liad.htm
Tee Morris -- http://www.teemorris.com/
Meisha Merlin Publishing -- http://www.meishamerlin.com/
Nth Degree - The Fiction & Fandom 'Zine -- http://www.nthzine.com/
Later...
Friday, February 11, 2005
Fairy Tale Come True: Charles and Camilla
I am extremely pleased to see that Prince Charles and Camilla will be marrying in April. Despite all the hoopla about Charles and Diana's supposedly 'fairytale' wedding, the truth is life doesn't always end 'happily ever after.' A real marriage is based on the ability to adjust to each other over the decades, not in the short term. Both Charles and Diana came to their wedding day with entirely different goals, neither entirely realistic. Both had internal issues that the other only aggravated. Did Camilla drive them apart? No. They were apart to start with, the marriage doomed the moment Diana said 'yes.'
I wish Charles and Camilla the best. They're run the course and deserve some happiness in their future.
I wish Charles and Camilla the best. They're run the course and deserve some happiness in their future.
Monday, February 07, 2005
Stiffing the Vets -- Again
Just in time for our service men and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, our government (mostly Mr. Bush) is hunting ways to 'trim' the federal deficit and the Vets are about to get nailed. Though a few loyalists in the Vet's Administration say the president has been very generous in the past 4 years, the onslaught of services needed by the mentally and physically wounded from our Operation Freedom will tax the V.A. System beyond its capacity.
For the V.A.'s current situation, check out some of the Vet boards. They'll let you know about the hospitals being closed and the long waiting lists for services.
For those of you who have never stepped inside a V.A. Hospital and think it might be like your private hospital, let me set you straight. I can tell you what the V.A. was like in 1976-1977 so you judge how 'generous' out government has been in the past.
As part of my practical 'in hospital' training as a student nurse, I rotated through the V.A. Hospital in Iowa City while also providing care in private hospitals. I spent six weeks in the 'Locked Ward' - the psychiatric facility - and six weeks doing floor duty on their regular medical floors.
Mercy Hospital (a private hospital) had semi-private rooms and was clean, cheery and bustled with staff. The V.A. hospital had 16 bed wards, a throwback to an earlier time. The needles were the kind you sterilized and reused, sharpening the tips if they became dull. The hospital was busy dealing with Vietnam Vets as the war had just ended in 1975. The whole situation was depressing as hell. It was a tremendous eye-opener for me. I had always thought our country would give our Vets the best and I couldn't understand why my dad said he didn't want to go into a V.A. Hospital. Thankfully, he never did.
Do I blame the Vet's Administration? Not really. You can't improve the quality of your facilities and services without $$$. They do wonders with what they're given.
The fault lies at the government's feet and at present, on Mr. Bush's desk. Cutting services, increasing the fees we charge our Vets for the 'privilege' of using the services and long waiting lists are an insult to the men and women who've risked everything for us. The ultimate insult. It tells them they're mere cannon fodder, easily replaced by a new crop of eager recruits. Well, the recruits aren't so eager any more as the Iraq mess drags out. Meanwhile, we're creating a new generation of war-damaged soldiers who will need assistance for decades to come.
Lest you think this isn't a problem for society as a whole, according to the NY Times, 25% of the homeless on the streets of L.A. are veterans. Alcohol or drug addictions pull them down and often there is no way back up. Crime rates rise and our streets become increasingly dangerous. More police are needed as charitable organizations struggle to feed and aid those without a safety net. A recent article on AOL highlights the issue -- http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20050208064909990001
Our country had a cash reserve when Mr. Bush took office. He's spent it unwisely and now he wants to stiff the Vets for their work on his behalf and on behalf of our country. It's time to retrench, reverse those tax benefits for his rich friends and put the money into our armed forces.
To do any less is criminal...
For the V.A.'s current situation, check out some of the Vet boards. They'll let you know about the hospitals being closed and the long waiting lists for services.
For those of you who have never stepped inside a V.A. Hospital and think it might be like your private hospital, let me set you straight. I can tell you what the V.A. was like in 1976-1977 so you judge how 'generous' out government has been in the past.
As part of my practical 'in hospital' training as a student nurse, I rotated through the V.A. Hospital in Iowa City while also providing care in private hospitals. I spent six weeks in the 'Locked Ward' - the psychiatric facility - and six weeks doing floor duty on their regular medical floors.
Mercy Hospital (a private hospital) had semi-private rooms and was clean, cheery and bustled with staff. The V.A. hospital had 16 bed wards, a throwback to an earlier time. The needles were the kind you sterilized and reused, sharpening the tips if they became dull. The hospital was busy dealing with Vietnam Vets as the war had just ended in 1975. The whole situation was depressing as hell. It was a tremendous eye-opener for me. I had always thought our country would give our Vets the best and I couldn't understand why my dad said he didn't want to go into a V.A. Hospital. Thankfully, he never did.
Do I blame the Vet's Administration? Not really. You can't improve the quality of your facilities and services without $$$. They do wonders with what they're given.
The fault lies at the government's feet and at present, on Mr. Bush's desk. Cutting services, increasing the fees we charge our Vets for the 'privilege' of using the services and long waiting lists are an insult to the men and women who've risked everything for us. The ultimate insult. It tells them they're mere cannon fodder, easily replaced by a new crop of eager recruits. Well, the recruits aren't so eager any more as the Iraq mess drags out. Meanwhile, we're creating a new generation of war-damaged soldiers who will need assistance for decades to come.
Lest you think this isn't a problem for society as a whole, according to the NY Times, 25% of the homeless on the streets of L.A. are veterans. Alcohol or drug addictions pull them down and often there is no way back up. Crime rates rise and our streets become increasingly dangerous. More police are needed as charitable organizations struggle to feed and aid those without a safety net. A recent article on AOL highlights the issue -- http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20050208064909990001
Our country had a cash reserve when Mr. Bush took office. He's spent it unwisely and now he wants to stiff the Vets for their work on his behalf and on behalf of our country. It's time to retrench, reverse those tax benefits for his rich friends and put the money into our armed forces.
To do any less is criminal...
Thursday, February 03, 2005
What, Another Crisis? So Soon?
Ah yes, another crisis -- this time it's Social Security. The solution sounds so soothing -- why not let folks put some of their $$ in a private account for retirement? If not, hey, the whole system is bankrupt by 2042.
Wrong. We already have the option of investing money in private accounts (like an IRA) and the system won't be bust by 2042. It'll be hurting, but not defunct.
And now the fine print (and something Mr. Bush isn't mentioning): When you retire, you will be required to use part of your 'private' account to buy a lifetime annuity FROM THE GOVERNMENT. Okay, you say, what does that mean? It means that you will receive a certain set amount each month until you die. Your children will not inherit what's left in the annuity (unlike a traditional savings account). That's contrary to what Mr. Bush is touting. So if this truly is a private account, why is it you can't use the money at your own pace, drawing it lump sum or passing it on to your family once you no longer need it?
And another kicker -- (and I cite this example from an MSNBC article)
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6903404/
If you put away $1,000 a year for 40 years and that bundle of cash earns 4 percent annually, your 'nest egg' would grow to $99,800 in today's dollars. Unfortunately, the government would keep $78,700 (approx 80%) of the account. The remainder ($21,100) would be yours.
That's like asking for change for a ten and only getting two bucks back. Just how does this make you better off?
And just to hammer the point home, check out what happened when Britain privatized retirement accounts for their OAP's (Old Age Pensioners) and you'll find the whole plan was a disaster. Their retired folks suffered and the country ended up having to spend more money to keep their aged from starving.
For Americans, there are two ways to solve the Social Security 'crisis' -- have folks who earn up to $200K pay into the program and increase the percentage we have to pay a wee bit. Both will go a long way toward alleviating the problem and neither will add trillions to our otherwise bloated debt.
The returns from Social Security may not be grand, but so far they're 'guaranteed.' Nothing about the stock market is a sure thing. Just ask those folks who got caught in the Tech Wreck or the aftershocks of Enron/WorldCom, etc. For future generations it could mean the difference between a stable retirement or a bleak existence.
Later
Wrong. We already have the option of investing money in private accounts (like an IRA) and the system won't be bust by 2042. It'll be hurting, but not defunct.
And now the fine print (and something Mr. Bush isn't mentioning): When you retire, you will be required to use part of your 'private' account to buy a lifetime annuity FROM THE GOVERNMENT. Okay, you say, what does that mean? It means that you will receive a certain set amount each month until you die. Your children will not inherit what's left in the annuity (unlike a traditional savings account). That's contrary to what Mr. Bush is touting. So if this truly is a private account, why is it you can't use the money at your own pace, drawing it lump sum or passing it on to your family once you no longer need it?
And another kicker -- (and I cite this example from an MSNBC article)
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6903404/
If you put away $1,000 a year for 40 years and that bundle of cash earns 4 percent annually, your 'nest egg' would grow to $99,800 in today's dollars. Unfortunately, the government would keep $78,700 (approx 80%) of the account. The remainder ($21,100) would be yours.
That's like asking for change for a ten and only getting two bucks back. Just how does this make you better off?
And just to hammer the point home, check out what happened when Britain privatized retirement accounts for their OAP's (Old Age Pensioners) and you'll find the whole plan was a disaster. Their retired folks suffered and the country ended up having to spend more money to keep their aged from starving.
For Americans, there are two ways to solve the Social Security 'crisis' -- have folks who earn up to $200K pay into the program and increase the percentage we have to pay a wee bit. Both will go a long way toward alleviating the problem and neither will add trillions to our otherwise bloated debt.
The returns from Social Security may not be grand, but so far they're 'guaranteed.' Nothing about the stock market is a sure thing. Just ask those folks who got caught in the Tech Wreck or the aftershocks of Enron/WorldCom, etc. For future generations it could mean the difference between a stable retirement or a bleak existence.
Later
Monday, January 31, 2005
And the Writing Goes On
Besides all the news of the day (Social Security 'reform', the elections in Iraq, SpongeBob being 'outted') this author has kept her nose to the keyboard. Not an easy position, by the way. But it's what I do.
For those of you not familiar with the writing process, it consists of a lot of work. You dream up a story, put it on paper, realize it sucks, rewrite it, realize it sucks and rewrite it again. Some author's books spring to life with minimal fuss. Most have to bleed on the keyboard. At present, I'm rewriting/editing a paranormal romance that features a Wiccan (witch) and a Irish Catholic P.I. They find common ground investigating the murder of a little six-year-old boy. The paranormal part? The witch does Light work -- escorting the souls of the dead into the next life. So I'm balancing paranormal elements with a romance wrapped in a mystery. Yipes. And trying to keep the size of the book within the publisher's guidelines.
You heard right, this one is being sent to NY for consideration. Will they publish it? Don't know. It's a crapshoot. If the editor finds it worth her time, then I'll make the leap from self-pubbed to NY-pubbed. And make the transition from self-pubbed hassles to NY-style hassles. The publishing industry today is pretty much rooted in the 20th century. Where technological innovation has raged through other industries, publishing lags behind. In many ways, it's as arcane as the airline industry.
Here's how it works -- the publisher pays the author an advance against sales but retains a certain percentage for unsold (remaindered) books. The key number for the author is 'sell through.' What percentage of books actually sold. The publisher will print "X" number of books (let's say 20K) and the bookstore reps will place their orders. What books don't sell are returned to the publisher for credit. Mass market paperbacks have their covers ripped off and the actual book is pulped as it's a waste of money to ship them back to the publisher. Trade paperbacks (the bigger ones) and hardcovers are returned. It's up to the publisher to 'guess' how many books will sell and eat the remainders. Not a good use of resources.
Now what about that sell-through thing I mentioned? If an author's sell-through is low, their next book will not have as many printed, despite the fact it might be a better book. Of course, less books, lower sales. It's a downward spiral. Add into that mix bad weather during the debut week, national catastrophes, botched print runs, etc. and the author eats all of that. Bottom line -- the sales have to be good. And getting bookstores to order MORE than they did the previous time is a hassle even though they have the option to return the books.
And lest you think author advances are generous, only the big names get the big bucks. Depending on the publishing house/imprint, the advance can be as low as $1000. Average for some of the romances is $5000-10,000. Hey, you're thinking, that sounds good. How hard can it be to pen a romance? For today's readers, a lot harder than you might think.
Depending on the size, it can take nine months or more to turn out a finished book. For me, it's close to a year. I'm getting faster, but there is a LOT of hours involved. Would I be better working at McD's? Dollar-wise I would. Especially after you cut a check to your agent (if you have one) for 15% of the advance.
I write books because the voices in my head drive me to the keyboard. They want to tell their story. It's an obsession. But on the order of things I could be doing, this one's relatively harmless.
Later...
For those of you not familiar with the writing process, it consists of a lot of work. You dream up a story, put it on paper, realize it sucks, rewrite it, realize it sucks and rewrite it again. Some author's books spring to life with minimal fuss. Most have to bleed on the keyboard. At present, I'm rewriting/editing a paranormal romance that features a Wiccan (witch) and a Irish Catholic P.I. They find common ground investigating the murder of a little six-year-old boy. The paranormal part? The witch does Light work -- escorting the souls of the dead into the next life. So I'm balancing paranormal elements with a romance wrapped in a mystery. Yipes. And trying to keep the size of the book within the publisher's guidelines.
You heard right, this one is being sent to NY for consideration. Will they publish it? Don't know. It's a crapshoot. If the editor finds it worth her time, then I'll make the leap from self-pubbed to NY-pubbed. And make the transition from self-pubbed hassles to NY-style hassles. The publishing industry today is pretty much rooted in the 20th century. Where technological innovation has raged through other industries, publishing lags behind. In many ways, it's as arcane as the airline industry.
Here's how it works -- the publisher pays the author an advance against sales but retains a certain percentage for unsold (remaindered) books. The key number for the author is 'sell through.' What percentage of books actually sold. The publisher will print "X" number of books (let's say 20K) and the bookstore reps will place their orders. What books don't sell are returned to the publisher for credit. Mass market paperbacks have their covers ripped off and the actual book is pulped as it's a waste of money to ship them back to the publisher. Trade paperbacks (the bigger ones) and hardcovers are returned. It's up to the publisher to 'guess' how many books will sell and eat the remainders. Not a good use of resources.
Now what about that sell-through thing I mentioned? If an author's sell-through is low, their next book will not have as many printed, despite the fact it might be a better book. Of course, less books, lower sales. It's a downward spiral. Add into that mix bad weather during the debut week, national catastrophes, botched print runs, etc. and the author eats all of that. Bottom line -- the sales have to be good. And getting bookstores to order MORE than they did the previous time is a hassle even though they have the option to return the books.
And lest you think author advances are generous, only the big names get the big bucks. Depending on the publishing house/imprint, the advance can be as low as $1000. Average for some of the romances is $5000-10,000. Hey, you're thinking, that sounds good. How hard can it be to pen a romance? For today's readers, a lot harder than you might think.
Depending on the size, it can take nine months or more to turn out a finished book. For me, it's close to a year. I'm getting faster, but there is a LOT of hours involved. Would I be better working at McD's? Dollar-wise I would. Especially after you cut a check to your agent (if you have one) for 15% of the advance.
I write books because the voices in my head drive me to the keyboard. They want to tell their story. It's an obsession. But on the order of things I could be doing, this one's relatively harmless.
Later...
Friday, December 31, 2004
Cancel the Inauguration?
As the genuinely Biblical proportions of the tsunami disaster become apparent, I have become more opposed to the idea of spending $40 million on a lame duck inauguration. At this point I don't care which party is in power, such a showy display is in despicable taste when people are starving while standing in a sea of mud and bloated bodies. If you have a strong constitution, go out on the web and find some of the amateur videos of the disaster as it played out. They will haunt your dreams.
Let's "downsize" the festivities and donate the money to tsunami relief fund and send a few dollars toward buying personal armor for our soldiers in honor of those who have fallen in service of our country. That's how a compassionate government should act.
I'm not holding my breath.
Happy New Year folks. Let's hope 2005 is vastly better across the globe.
Let's "downsize" the festivities and donate the money to tsunami relief fund and send a few dollars toward buying personal armor for our soldiers in honor of those who have fallen in service of our country. That's how a compassionate government should act.
I'm not holding my breath.
Happy New Year folks. Let's hope 2005 is vastly better across the globe.
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Oh Come All Ye Cell Phones
I note with some concern that the FCC is considering lifting the cell phone ban on airplanes. Where I always felt the ban was a bit odd (supposedly the phone interfered with navigational equipment) I loved it for another reason -- relative peace and quiet despite the cranky children and chatty seatmates.
I travel a lot by plane. Not as much as some of the million milers, but my butt is in an airplane on a regular basis. Hence I have the opportunity to observe a lot of silly human behavior. A lot of this ends up being fodder for my books (you know who you are!) but most of it falls into two categories -- benign and annoying. Cell phones fall into the latter variety if the phone's owner isn't using all those gray cells they were supposedly born with.
I wouldn't mind having cell phones midflight if I didn't have to listen to my seatmates chatting about (and yes, I've heard all of this at one time or another):
1) A child's bowel habits (or lack thereof)
2) An elderly parents' bowel habits (or the lack thereof)
3) Why the woman's soon-to-be ex-boyfriend (or husband -- it was never clear)was such a dick and how she refused to listen to all his crap. This conversation went on for fifteen minutes so obviously she WAS listening to all his crap (or vice versa.)
4) Copious outpourings of numbers, figures, orders and ultimatums as delivered by various business persons (note I use the generic term here as women are just as bad.) Was the contract faxed in time? What was the response? Is Alfred in Albania and Beatrice in Boston? No, that meeting time isn't good. Does everyone understand that this HAS to happen? (This sort of stuff just makes me flashback to my own time in the corporate maw and conjures up a nasty case of indigestion.)
In short, using cell phones during flight would be grand if people weren't attached to them. I have no desire listening to intimate discussions, business meetings or other nonsense at 30,000 feet when I don't have the option to chuck the offender out the nearest door.
Please, FCC, leave 'em banned in flight. It's bad enough I have to avoid the crazies in their cars with their phones pressed to their ear and their brains in neutral. Hours in the air with these folks could easily cause 'air rage.'
Later folks....
I travel a lot by plane. Not as much as some of the million milers, but my butt is in an airplane on a regular basis. Hence I have the opportunity to observe a lot of silly human behavior. A lot of this ends up being fodder for my books (you know who you are!) but most of it falls into two categories -- benign and annoying. Cell phones fall into the latter variety if the phone's owner isn't using all those gray cells they were supposedly born with.
I wouldn't mind having cell phones midflight if I didn't have to listen to my seatmates chatting about (and yes, I've heard all of this at one time or another):
1) A child's bowel habits (or lack thereof)
2) An elderly parents' bowel habits (or the lack thereof)
3) Why the woman's soon-to-be ex-boyfriend (or husband -- it was never clear)was such a dick and how she refused to listen to all his crap. This conversation went on for fifteen minutes so obviously she WAS listening to all his crap (or vice versa.)
4) Copious outpourings of numbers, figures, orders and ultimatums as delivered by various business persons (note I use the generic term here as women are just as bad.) Was the contract faxed in time? What was the response? Is Alfred in Albania and Beatrice in Boston? No, that meeting time isn't good. Does everyone understand that this HAS to happen? (This sort of stuff just makes me flashback to my own time in the corporate maw and conjures up a nasty case of indigestion.)
In short, using cell phones during flight would be grand if people weren't attached to them. I have no desire listening to intimate discussions, business meetings or other nonsense at 30,000 feet when I don't have the option to chuck the offender out the nearest door.
Please, FCC, leave 'em banned in flight. It's bad enough I have to avoid the crazies in their cars with their phones pressed to their ear and their brains in neutral. Hours in the air with these folks could easily cause 'air rage.'
Later folks....
Sunday, November 14, 2004
Invoking the "L" Word or What Would Jesus Think?
Now that the hurley burley of the election is over, I intend to return to the general theme of this blog -- writing. However, I do reserve the right to make comments re: politics, etc. as I see fit. This is one blog I've felt required to write and so I'll get it out of the way.
I am finding the current radicalized of Christianity a very disturbing trend. A prime example is the following, a congratulatory letter penned by Bob Jones III to Pres. Bush (full text of letter can be found here - http://www.bju.edu/letter). It pretty much states what Evangelical Conservatives expect in the next four years.
***
In your re-election, God has graciously granted America though she doesn't deserve it a reprieve from the agenda of paganism. You have been given a mandate. We the people expect your voice to be like the clear and certain sound of a trumpet. Because you seek the Lord daily, we who know the Lord will follow that kind of voice eagerly.
Don't equivocate. Put your agenda on the front burner and let it boil. You owe the liberals nothing. They despise you because they despise your Christ. Honor the Lord, and He will honor you. ...It is easy to rejoice today, because Christ has allowed you to be His servant in this nation for another presidential term. Undoubtedly, you will have opportunity to appoint many conservative judges and exercise forceful leadership with the Congress in passing legislation that is defined by biblical norm regarding the family, sexuality, sanctity of life, religious freedom, freedom of speech, and limited government. You have four years—a brief time only—to leave an imprint for righteousness upon this nation that brings with it the blessings of Almighty God.
...Pull out all the stops and make a difference. If you have weaklings around you who do not share your biblical values, shed yourself of them. Conservative Americans would love to see one president who doesn't care whether he is liked, but cares infinitely that he does right.
***
I found particular phrases (those in bold) very disturbing. Liberals supposedly "despise" Christ so it's okay to demonize them? I can imagine a few of my religiously observant so-called Liberal friends being rather offended by that. "Biblical norm" is now the standard for religious freedom, freedom of speech? Who decides what is and isn't Biblical norm? Is blasphemy soon to be punishable by death like it is in other parts of the world? And how do you define blasphemy?
Folks, does this sound familiar? Remove the word "Biblical" and add "Koranic" and you got it. Radical religious groups only see their own righteous agenda and anyone who gets in their way are expendable. Yes, you are right to argue that Bob Jones doesn't represent all of the Christian Right. That would be true. But he's not the only one calling on Mr. Bush to pay the bill for his re-election. That's what makes me nervous.
So I propose a homework assignment -- go get your Bible, dust it off if you haven't read it recently and reread the New Testament. In particular, read the words of Jesus. The man was, to use the modern term, a liberal. He challenged the establishment and preached a humane approach toward his fellow man. He scorned the hidebound Sadducees and tried to teach his fellow Jews about love, turning the other cheek, helping the poor and about justice.
I see nothing in Bob Jones' letter that speaks of justice or caring for the poor. Turning the other cheek is noticeably absent. Since he and his fellows are so causal in evoking Jesus, let me ask this -- what would the prophet of Nazareth think if this bunch?
I leave it to you to do the homework and decide for yourself.
May Peace Reign...
Jana
I am finding the current radicalized of Christianity a very disturbing trend. A prime example is the following, a congratulatory letter penned by Bob Jones III to Pres. Bush (full text of letter can be found here - http://www.bju.edu/letter). It pretty much states what Evangelical Conservatives expect in the next four years.
***
In your re-election, God has graciously granted America though she doesn't deserve it a reprieve from the agenda of paganism. You have been given a mandate. We the people expect your voice to be like the clear and certain sound of a trumpet. Because you seek the Lord daily, we who know the Lord will follow that kind of voice eagerly.
Don't equivocate. Put your agenda on the front burner and let it boil. You owe the liberals nothing. They despise you because they despise your Christ. Honor the Lord, and He will honor you. ...It is easy to rejoice today, because Christ has allowed you to be His servant in this nation for another presidential term. Undoubtedly, you will have opportunity to appoint many conservative judges and exercise forceful leadership with the Congress in passing legislation that is defined by biblical norm regarding the family, sexuality, sanctity of life, religious freedom, freedom of speech, and limited government. You have four years—a brief time only—to leave an imprint for righteousness upon this nation that brings with it the blessings of Almighty God.
...Pull out all the stops and make a difference. If you have weaklings around you who do not share your biblical values, shed yourself of them. Conservative Americans would love to see one president who doesn't care whether he is liked, but cares infinitely that he does right.
***
I found particular phrases (those in bold) very disturbing. Liberals supposedly "despise" Christ so it's okay to demonize them? I can imagine a few of my religiously observant so-called Liberal friends being rather offended by that. "Biblical norm" is now the standard for religious freedom, freedom of speech? Who decides what is and isn't Biblical norm? Is blasphemy soon to be punishable by death like it is in other parts of the world? And how do you define blasphemy?
Folks, does this sound familiar? Remove the word "Biblical" and add "Koranic" and you got it. Radical religious groups only see their own righteous agenda and anyone who gets in their way are expendable. Yes, you are right to argue that Bob Jones doesn't represent all of the Christian Right. That would be true. But he's not the only one calling on Mr. Bush to pay the bill for his re-election. That's what makes me nervous.
So I propose a homework assignment -- go get your Bible, dust it off if you haven't read it recently and reread the New Testament. In particular, read the words of Jesus. The man was, to use the modern term, a liberal. He challenged the establishment and preached a humane approach toward his fellow man. He scorned the hidebound Sadducees and tried to teach his fellow Jews about love, turning the other cheek, helping the poor and about justice.
I see nothing in Bob Jones' letter that speaks of justice or caring for the poor. Turning the other cheek is noticeably absent. Since he and his fellows are so causal in evoking Jesus, let me ask this -- what would the prophet of Nazareth think if this bunch?
I leave it to you to do the homework and decide for yourself.
May Peace Reign...
Jana
Thursday, November 04, 2004
I'm Weirdly at Peace
Somewhere Osama is smiling and giving a thumbs up at his television set. His best recruiter just got re-elected. Allah has been merciful.
And perhaps that's the point. Perhaps G*d in His/Her wisdom knows that Dubya needs to be in office four more years, for whatever reason. Where that unnerves me to no end given the erosion of freedom in this country (all in the name of national security) I just have to trust the Almighty has a plan. So in that respect, I agree with the evangelical Christians on this one --- Bush is in this office for a reason. I suspect that my theory won't be the same as theirs, however. Often the purpose of one's life is soley to serve as a warning to others. Perhaps it is G*d's intention to have us understand how incredibly bad it can get before we wake up and stop taking democracy for granted.
The bigger questions are -- will democracy as we know (knew) it survive four more years of the Patriot Act, the under-the-radar dealings of the White House and our foreign involvement in Iraq (Iran/Syria -- insert name of Muslim country)? Only time will tell.
I suspect the next four years are going to be, in short, damned ugly. There is every indication we're going to veer closer to a religious theocracy, renouncing our heritage as a nation of the many with tolerance toward all. We all know how well religious theocracies work -- we only need look at the radical Islamic model for proof.
And perhaps that's the Almighty's point -- walk your own religious path, but do not impose it on others against their will. All in all, maybe Dubya is doing us a favor.
I hope that's the case. Any other scenario won't let me sleep at night.
And perhaps that's the point. Perhaps G*d in His/Her wisdom knows that Dubya needs to be in office four more years, for whatever reason. Where that unnerves me to no end given the erosion of freedom in this country (all in the name of national security) I just have to trust the Almighty has a plan. So in that respect, I agree with the evangelical Christians on this one --- Bush is in this office for a reason. I suspect that my theory won't be the same as theirs, however. Often the purpose of one's life is soley to serve as a warning to others. Perhaps it is G*d's intention to have us understand how incredibly bad it can get before we wake up and stop taking democracy for granted.
The bigger questions are -- will democracy as we know (knew) it survive four more years of the Patriot Act, the under-the-radar dealings of the White House and our foreign involvement in Iraq (Iran/Syria -- insert name of Muslim country)? Only time will tell.
I suspect the next four years are going to be, in short, damned ugly. There is every indication we're going to veer closer to a religious theocracy, renouncing our heritage as a nation of the many with tolerance toward all. We all know how well religious theocracies work -- we only need look at the radical Islamic model for proof.
And perhaps that's the Almighty's point -- walk your own religious path, but do not impose it on others against their will. All in all, maybe Dubya is doing us a favor.
I hope that's the case. Any other scenario won't let me sleep at night.
Tuesday, November 02, 2004
One Person, One Vote -- Democracy in Action
It's a wonderful feeling -- the opportunity to walk into a voting booth and either fiddle with a handful of paper or play with a touchscreen and cast your vote. Outside there isn't the sound of gunfire, the sound of explosions nor is someone handing you a ballet with a menacing glare that indicates your choice better be the 'official' party line or life could get very nasty.
Democracy only works when its people care enough to vote. Obviously, Americans care enough as record turnout is in progress even as I type. Good. That's the way it should be. Losing one's ability to vote is the first step in the downhill slide toward a totalitarian regime. And if don't think we can go that way, well, you shoulda paid attention during history class.
This election has been damned ugly. No other way to put it. I found myself wishing Clinton was a candidate on more than one occasion. But he's done his bit and now can watch from the sidelines.
What will the next four years hold for America? No clue. I did find Osama's recent video tape annoying. He's still thumbing his nose at us, draining our bank account and rhapsodizing about how the tragic souls in the Twin Towers were probably thinking about failed American policy as they perished. That's bull. They probably had no clue what was happening to them. And if they did, my final moments on earth would not be thinking of OBL (other than wishing him a speedy trip to Hell), but rather my family and all the things I didn't get to achieve.
And that's the worst thing about indiscriminate death -- it robs us of our future. May the next four years help us find a way in this murky and dangerous world, with allies at our side.
Good luck, Mr. President... you're going to need it.
Later....
Democracy only works when its people care enough to vote. Obviously, Americans care enough as record turnout is in progress even as I type. Good. That's the way it should be. Losing one's ability to vote is the first step in the downhill slide toward a totalitarian regime. And if don't think we can go that way, well, you shoulda paid attention during history class.
This election has been damned ugly. No other way to put it. I found myself wishing Clinton was a candidate on more than one occasion. But he's done his bit and now can watch from the sidelines.
What will the next four years hold for America? No clue. I did find Osama's recent video tape annoying. He's still thumbing his nose at us, draining our bank account and rhapsodizing about how the tragic souls in the Twin Towers were probably thinking about failed American policy as they perished. That's bull. They probably had no clue what was happening to them. And if they did, my final moments on earth would not be thinking of OBL (other than wishing him a speedy trip to Hell), but rather my family and all the things I didn't get to achieve.
And that's the worst thing about indiscriminate death -- it robs us of our future. May the next four years help us find a way in this murky and dangerous world, with allies at our side.
Good luck, Mr. President... you're going to need it.
Later....
Thursday, October 28, 2004
When the Patriot Act Gets Too Close to Home
As a writer I have a vivid imagination. It helps when you're trying to make a plot work and your characters endure 350+ pages of nasty stuff. But there are some things my mind would prefer not imagine -- the use of the Patriot Act against my fellow writers.
Lest you believe the Patriot Act is solely used to target terrorists, a recent article in the Romance Writers Report (Nov 2004) published by the Romance Writers of America, puts that belief to rest. A multi-published writer who requested the magazine use the name 'Dilyn' was targeted by the FBI, Postal Inspectors (because of her website and email usage) and the Federal Police. Six agents raided her home before dawn, threatened to shoot her dogs and proceeded to confiscate almost everything related to her writing profession -- her computers, her writing contracts, research notes, computer disks, CD's of music she writes by, photocopier, the TV in her office, pictures off her walls, a case of paper... the list goes on. During this three hour horror, she was subjected to verbal abuse by one of the six male agents and not allowed to use the restroom without an escort.
So what did this writer do to earn the Fed's scrutiny? Was she tinkering with a dirty bomb in her basement or planning the overthrow of the government? Nothing that sinister -- she was researching Cambodia, including the history of terrorism in that country (yes, Al Qaeda is there)for an upcoming novel. To that end, she checked out books at her local library and ordered books online. She visited numerous websites to study about terrorism and landmines, which played a part in the plot. Ironically, she decided to remove the terrorism theme from her book to allow for reader's sensitivities post 9/11 even before the raid.
Has she been charged? No. Did she get her stuff back? Only the computers (they were bugged) and her disks, which were ruined. None of the rest of her belongings have been returned.
How does this relate to the Patriot Act and why should you be concerned? The warrant they served on her specifically mentioned certain books BY TITLE. Yes, the government is watching what you read and where you surf contrary to John Ashcroft's assurances.
To her credit, the author refuses to change how she conducts research. She is aware that some websites are 'flagged' and that the government runs certain email tracking programs. She does not feel she is committing a crime and will continue to exercise her right to research in a legal manner.
Yes, Big Brother is watching. For this writer, who frequently researches things like gunpowder, Irish pub bombings and the lot for my books, this is a chilling story. It's so easy to believe that it wouldn't happen to you.
Don't be so sure....
Later
Lest you believe the Patriot Act is solely used to target terrorists, a recent article in the Romance Writers Report (Nov 2004) published by the Romance Writers of America, puts that belief to rest. A multi-published writer who requested the magazine use the name 'Dilyn' was targeted by the FBI, Postal Inspectors (because of her website and email usage) and the Federal Police. Six agents raided her home before dawn, threatened to shoot her dogs and proceeded to confiscate almost everything related to her writing profession -- her computers, her writing contracts, research notes, computer disks, CD's of music she writes by, photocopier, the TV in her office, pictures off her walls, a case of paper... the list goes on. During this three hour horror, she was subjected to verbal abuse by one of the six male agents and not allowed to use the restroom without an escort.
So what did this writer do to earn the Fed's scrutiny? Was she tinkering with a dirty bomb in her basement or planning the overthrow of the government? Nothing that sinister -- she was researching Cambodia, including the history of terrorism in that country (yes, Al Qaeda is there)for an upcoming novel. To that end, she checked out books at her local library and ordered books online. She visited numerous websites to study about terrorism and landmines, which played a part in the plot. Ironically, she decided to remove the terrorism theme from her book to allow for reader's sensitivities post 9/11 even before the raid.
Has she been charged? No. Did she get her stuff back? Only the computers (they were bugged) and her disks, which were ruined. None of the rest of her belongings have been returned.
How does this relate to the Patriot Act and why should you be concerned? The warrant they served on her specifically mentioned certain books BY TITLE. Yes, the government is watching what you read and where you surf contrary to John Ashcroft's assurances.
To her credit, the author refuses to change how she conducts research. She is aware that some websites are 'flagged' and that the government runs certain email tracking programs. She does not feel she is committing a crime and will continue to exercise her right to research in a legal manner.
Yes, Big Brother is watching. For this writer, who frequently researches things like gunpowder, Irish pub bombings and the lot for my books, this is a chilling story. It's so easy to believe that it wouldn't happen to you.
Don't be so sure....
Later
Monday, September 27, 2004
Bumper Stickers
I love bumper stickers. I actually have one. I used to have two but the "Dragons Freed, Virgins Slain" one finally died. So now I have one that sums up my philosophy in seven words: "Not every problem has an American Solution." It's from a quote by JFK (as in John Kennedy, not the other JFK). Should you desire one of your own, check out Two Unemployed Democrats on the web. They've got lots of nifty bumper stickers and tee shirts. The husband wears their "One Nation Under Surveillence" tee shirt. That always gets him funny looks. Or maybe it's because he usually wears it with his Utilikilt. Hard to tell.
I spied a "Proud to be an Infidel" sticker today. Of course, it was accompanied by a Bush-Cheney one, but I still like it. It has a certain barbarian flavor you don't see nowadays.
This leads me to suggest a few more --- and please allow a little tongue-in-cheek on these.
So many regimes to change, so little time.
Deficit? Just send the bill to my grandkids.
Ignorance is Bliss. Ah, what was the question?
Politicians -- first up against the wall when the revolution comes.
Okay, so I got a life. Now what?
Be sure to vote early and often! The country you save may be your own.
Later...
I spied a "Proud to be an Infidel" sticker today. Of course, it was accompanied by a Bush-Cheney one, but I still like it. It has a certain barbarian flavor you don't see nowadays.
This leads me to suggest a few more --- and please allow a little tongue-in-cheek on these.
So many regimes to change, so little time.
Deficit? Just send the bill to my grandkids.
Ignorance is Bliss. Ah, what was the question?
Politicians -- first up against the wall when the revolution comes.
Okay, so I got a life. Now what?
Be sure to vote early and often! The country you save may be your own.
Later...
Friday, September 24, 2004
Are You Sure You Want This Mess, John?
You know, if I was Mr. Kerry I'd be wondering if running for president is such a hot idea. Work with me for a minute here -- think what it would be like to walk into your predecessor's office knowing that things were seriously off the rails, but not knowing all the stuff that's been swept under the rug. Your job is to make it right. Why do I hear the Mission Impossible theme at this moment? The minute Kerry is sworn in, the Right will turn on him like a pit bull. We saw that with Clinton. Rush and buddies will foam at the mouth. So Kerry will have no one in his corner as he tries to fix a broken economy, an ill-equipped Army, a poorly managed Homeland Security Department and a quagmire of a war that sucks billions out of our empty coffers. Top that off, most everyone in the world hates us at this point and isn't going to be too keen to jump on the US bandwagon. Gee, that's my dream job if there ever was one.
On some level I wish Kerry won't win because I suspect four years of trying to put out the forest fires will suck the life out of the man. It's only fair this mess blow up on Bush's watch. On a more practical level, I'm not sure if the US (or the world, for that matter) can stand another four years of the guy from Texas. The Pentagon just reported they don't have enough troops to handle any other situations we might find ourselves in. Gee, now that's a surprise. Iran and Korea are making nukes as Mr. Bush assures us that all is kosher, that the world is safer from terrorists and that Iraq is far better off than they were. I don't know what he's smoking, but he'd better share some with the rest of us.
My deepest concern is for the soldiers, followed by the Iraqi citizens. No, they're not all the bad guys. They're mom, pop and kids just trying to stay alive in an environment where bombs kill indiscriminately. How you would feel if you trudged down to your local grocery store and had to worry someone was going to kill you before you bought your ration of bread for the day? Queue for a job in Iraq (especially as a cop) and you get blown up. I can only imagine the sort of hell those people live in -- damned if you do, damned if you don't. You support the crazies, you get dead. You support the Americans, you get dead. That's not the way to build a country. While we've lost over a thousand of our folks, 16,000 Iraqis have been killed. Unreal.
I sometimes wonder what the Supreme Being thinks of all this. Probably sincerely disappointed in His/Her/Their creation. I know I would be.
Anon...
On some level I wish Kerry won't win because I suspect four years of trying to put out the forest fires will suck the life out of the man. It's only fair this mess blow up on Bush's watch. On a more practical level, I'm not sure if the US (or the world, for that matter) can stand another four years of the guy from Texas. The Pentagon just reported they don't have enough troops to handle any other situations we might find ourselves in. Gee, now that's a surprise. Iran and Korea are making nukes as Mr. Bush assures us that all is kosher, that the world is safer from terrorists and that Iraq is far better off than they were. I don't know what he's smoking, but he'd better share some with the rest of us.
My deepest concern is for the soldiers, followed by the Iraqi citizens. No, they're not all the bad guys. They're mom, pop and kids just trying to stay alive in an environment where bombs kill indiscriminately. How you would feel if you trudged down to your local grocery store and had to worry someone was going to kill you before you bought your ration of bread for the day? Queue for a job in Iraq (especially as a cop) and you get blown up. I can only imagine the sort of hell those people live in -- damned if you do, damned if you don't. You support the crazies, you get dead. You support the Americans, you get dead. That's not the way to build a country. While we've lost over a thousand of our folks, 16,000 Iraqis have been killed. Unreal.
I sometimes wonder what the Supreme Being thinks of all this. Probably sincerely disappointed in His/Her/Their creation. I know I would be.
Anon...
Monday, September 20, 2004
No Honor
I never was much of a liberal. Not in the past, at least. The last four years have made me a card-carrying member of the ACLU. But that topic is reserved for another post.
This one is about our sitting president and the flap about his National Guard service. Do I worry about the documents CBS uncovered? Not really. Paranoia would dictate that Karl Rove is at work, but I'm going to ignore that issue at present. Where I'm not that particularly happy with John Kerry, I simply feel he's our best alternative. I fear what the next four years will bring under a Bush presidency.
So what led me to that choice? To sum it up, there are only a few issues upon which I judge Mr. Bush.
Reason #1: He jumped the queue to join the National Guard to avoid going to Nam. Because of his political connections, some other poor schmuck got sent over there and probably came home in a body bag. A honorable man would not have used his daddy's influence to jump the queue. That tells me a lot about Dubya. And even after he got into the Guard, he shirked his duty. You can't tell me some other guardie wouldn't have been crucified for pulling Dubya's stunts.
Despite Kerry's criticism of the war once he returned home, he did his duty. Folks have been snarking about his medal-earning 'scratches.' Bullets don't discriminate. One of those could have easily hit his heart or his head. He put himself in the line of fire for whatever reason and didn't stick someone else with the job. That gets my vote.
Reason #2: Dubya's frightingly eerie 'deer in the headlights' maneuver in the first seven minutes after the planes hit the Twin Towers. He was clueless as to what to do. He should have excused himself from the kiddies and started working through the disaster. Instead, it was Richard Clark who was orchestrating things at the White House, not our commander-in-chief. That told me that Dubya is not a leader.
All the rest is icing on the cake; the missing WMD, the curtailing of civil liberties, the invasion of Iraq.
Vote your conscience, people. We still have a democracy. Let's hope it's intact in four more years.
Later --
Jana
This one is about our sitting president and the flap about his National Guard service. Do I worry about the documents CBS uncovered? Not really. Paranoia would dictate that Karl Rove is at work, but I'm going to ignore that issue at present. Where I'm not that particularly happy with John Kerry, I simply feel he's our best alternative. I fear what the next four years will bring under a Bush presidency.
So what led me to that choice? To sum it up, there are only a few issues upon which I judge Mr. Bush.
Reason #1: He jumped the queue to join the National Guard to avoid going to Nam. Because of his political connections, some other poor schmuck got sent over there and probably came home in a body bag. A honorable man would not have used his daddy's influence to jump the queue. That tells me a lot about Dubya. And even after he got into the Guard, he shirked his duty. You can't tell me some other guardie wouldn't have been crucified for pulling Dubya's stunts.
Despite Kerry's criticism of the war once he returned home, he did his duty. Folks have been snarking about his medal-earning 'scratches.' Bullets don't discriminate. One of those could have easily hit his heart or his head. He put himself in the line of fire for whatever reason and didn't stick someone else with the job. That gets my vote.
Reason #2: Dubya's frightingly eerie 'deer in the headlights' maneuver in the first seven minutes after the planes hit the Twin Towers. He was clueless as to what to do. He should have excused himself from the kiddies and started working through the disaster. Instead, it was Richard Clark who was orchestrating things at the White House, not our commander-in-chief. That told me that Dubya is not a leader.
All the rest is icing on the cake; the missing WMD, the curtailing of civil liberties, the invasion of Iraq.
Vote your conscience, people. We still have a democracy. Let's hope it's intact in four more years.
Later --
Jana
Monday, September 06, 2004
Another Day, Another Dragon*Con
Another year, another Dragon*Con under my belt. As usual, it was different. Each year seems to possess its own atmosphere. I'd sum up this year as "I'm having fun, but I'm tired, dude." Most people just looked weary, even on Day One.
We took a room at the Hilton downtown instead of one of the main convention hotels to avoid the crowds. That didn't work as tons of people (and their dogs) headed north into Atlanta to avoid Hurricane Frances. We honestly thought there was a dog convention somewhere in town until we asked someone. A number of the escapees were elderly folks and they seemed a bit bewildered. And that was BEFORE Dragon*Con started. The wait for the elevators proved almost as daunting at the Hilton as it would have at the Hyatt or the Marriott (the main con hotels).
I only ended up with one panel assigned (last year I did five) so I crashed one when other panelists didn't show up. Some snafu with the scheduling it appears. Hope they work that out for next year as I really like doing the panels. Got to meet a whole new batch of writer folks and reconnect with lots of friends from all over everywhere. And Mage (aka Harold, the husband) wore his new Utilikilt.
For those of you not familiar with Utilikilts, they are kilts for the average guy. Not plaid like traditional Scottish kilts, but made of denim or poplin or leather. They even have a version for guys who do construction. So these are seriously built kilts. Mage loves his and when topped off with a jacket, he looks great. "Freeing men of trouser tyranny" is their claim and it did the trick. Some go regimental (no underwear for those of you not familiar with the term) and some wear something beneath. Given the fact that women occasionally will hike your kilt just to look (without asking, I might add) you have to decide where to be modest or not. Given the sheer number of kilt-wearing men this year, I'd say the 'have a peak' trend is declining. A few years ago a guy in a kilt was a novelty. Now it's standard issue.
I also came to love sour apple martinis. I've never tasted one of these and so I actually tried one, contrary to my rule about not consuming a bunch of alcohol at Dragon. You can blame the husband -- he bought me the first one. And then Sunday night I decided to have more of them than I should have. Wheeeee! Monday morning I was up and back at the convention, doing just fine. By Monday afternoon, though, I was starting to fray at the edges and packed it in. Husband (who didn't drink a drop) claims to have a hangover. Go figure.
Next year's Dragon is Sept. 2-5. If you've never been to one -- give it a shot. Where else can you see an entire forest full of hobbits/elves and the most remarkable Gollum this side of Hollywood. And the Gene Simmons clones were pretty awesome as well.
Must find Advil...
Jana
We took a room at the Hilton downtown instead of one of the main convention hotels to avoid the crowds. That didn't work as tons of people (and their dogs) headed north into Atlanta to avoid Hurricane Frances. We honestly thought there was a dog convention somewhere in town until we asked someone. A number of the escapees were elderly folks and they seemed a bit bewildered. And that was BEFORE Dragon*Con started. The wait for the elevators proved almost as daunting at the Hilton as it would have at the Hyatt or the Marriott (the main con hotels).
I only ended up with one panel assigned (last year I did five) so I crashed one when other panelists didn't show up. Some snafu with the scheduling it appears. Hope they work that out for next year as I really like doing the panels. Got to meet a whole new batch of writer folks and reconnect with lots of friends from all over everywhere. And Mage (aka Harold, the husband) wore his new Utilikilt.
For those of you not familiar with Utilikilts, they are kilts for the average guy. Not plaid like traditional Scottish kilts, but made of denim or poplin or leather. They even have a version for guys who do construction. So these are seriously built kilts. Mage loves his and when topped off with a jacket, he looks great. "Freeing men of trouser tyranny" is their claim and it did the trick. Some go regimental (no underwear for those of you not familiar with the term) and some wear something beneath. Given the fact that women occasionally will hike your kilt just to look (without asking, I might add) you have to decide where to be modest or not. Given the sheer number of kilt-wearing men this year, I'd say the 'have a peak' trend is declining. A few years ago a guy in a kilt was a novelty. Now it's standard issue.
I also came to love sour apple martinis. I've never tasted one of these and so I actually tried one, contrary to my rule about not consuming a bunch of alcohol at Dragon. You can blame the husband -- he bought me the first one. And then Sunday night I decided to have more of them than I should have. Wheeeee! Monday morning I was up and back at the convention, doing just fine. By Monday afternoon, though, I was starting to fray at the edges and packed it in. Husband (who didn't drink a drop) claims to have a hangover. Go figure.
Next year's Dragon is Sept. 2-5. If you've never been to one -- give it a shot. Where else can you see an entire forest full of hobbits/elves and the most remarkable Gollum this side of Hollywood. And the Gene Simmons clones were pretty awesome as well.
Must find Advil...
Jana
Friday, August 27, 2004
Rollin' Toward Dragon*Con
Well, if you've never attended Dragon*Con (aka The Mother of All Conventions) then you've missed something. Think 20-25,000 of your closest buddies all packed into two hotels in downtown Atlanta over Labor Day Weekend. Squads of storm troopers, Klingons, Goths, elves, hobbits, historical figures and various cartoon characters. Always a good show. Not designed for anyone who has a crowd phobia, though.
As usual, I'm doing my writer gig at the con. That involves sitting on panels, trying to sound intelligent and going crazy for about 20 hours per day. Sleep is optional. One of the really cool things is that I get to meet up with all sorts of friends from all over everywhere. Lots of catching up, besides working the con as a guest.
Doing the writer panels is always fun, though you never know who you're going to be paired with until the last moment. Flexibility is the key. Almost all of these folks are far higher on the writer food chain than I am, so I always learn something.
One of my favorite things is doing the booksignings. Unfortunately, this year they seemed to have not scheduled me for any so we're trying to work that out. Mercury is in Retrograde, of course, so I'm not surprised.
Hie thee hence to Dragon, dear bard!
More anon...
As usual, I'm doing my writer gig at the con. That involves sitting on panels, trying to sound intelligent and going crazy for about 20 hours per day. Sleep is optional. One of the really cool things is that I get to meet up with all sorts of friends from all over everywhere. Lots of catching up, besides working the con as a guest.
Doing the writer panels is always fun, though you never know who you're going to be paired with until the last moment. Flexibility is the key. Almost all of these folks are far higher on the writer food chain than I am, so I always learn something.
One of my favorite things is doing the booksignings. Unfortunately, this year they seemed to have not scheduled me for any so we're trying to work that out. Mercury is in Retrograde, of course, so I'm not surprised.
Hie thee hence to Dragon, dear bard!
More anon...
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