Saturday, September 27, 2003
OUR PATHWAY
Among those people who sit around figuring up such statistics, it is reported that we have now spent about one per cent of our Gross National Products total on the Iraqi War of 2003. The same people have also calculated that we spent 134% of our G.N.P. value on World War II. The whole idea, of course, is to show how economical making war seems to have become over the years.
Don't be too quick to believe any such figures.
It is difficult to price war-making in relation to the prices of commodities, many of which are essential.
The contrast provided by such figures does - even logically - suggest that one was larger than the other in cost, but they were very much different as well, in dimensions, texture and quality. I you replace a small bag of potato chips on the grocer's shelf and select a much larger one , you expect it to cost you more.
Wars do not come cheap. If the Iraqi war had lasted as long as WWII and expanded to include as many nations in active conflict, the cost of the total war would be quite a bit larger. Ironically, the same statistically minded people would still be around but quoting opposite figures, no doubt.
No count, no list, tally, or detailed , in-depth studies can ever tabulate the true costs of war. It costs area are far removed from things countable. There is psychic and emotional damage, there are physical damages which will not become evident until the passage of many years, there are mental aberrations which, while they may never surface in an individual's lifetime, may affect others in his or her extended family.
A little more honesty concerning the actual cost of wars, might be one pathway toward avoiding them.
A.L.M. September 25, 2003 [c320wds[
Friday, September 26, 2003
C-SPAN EXERCISES
Those people who watch C-Span with some degree of regularity soon find that it can be one of the most revealing segments of the TV spectrum.
I have always watched some of it, but in recent months the absolute dearth of worthwhile programs on the regular channels, we have found those offered by C-Span can be superior. You will notice this more readily if you have undergone a need for some economy in viewing TV.
There was time when we had over one hundred fifty channels available, but none local. That became tiresome after a few years of trial. It offered too much of the same thing. Antennae arrangements were limited. The end decision was to go with cable and that, too, offer too much of the same thing ...hardly worthwhile in an economic sense . We cut back to what might be called the economy or cheapskate version of cable TV. That offers 19 channels . Five are local area stations, one is ABC affiliated, one NBC and one PBS. The two are civic slide bulletin things and a rather static medical interviews offerings by a local hospital. There are three out of Richmond,Va.- one ABC, one CBS ; one NBC out of Roanoke , plus TBS, Atlanta, the “Insp” channel which is either a religious smorgasbord or info-mercial platform. The others are QVC, NBC store and HSN hawking channels. The two C-Span channels are a welcome bonus much of the time.
We are said to have the basic line-up, and that is a very accurate designation, too, because when you think of the 140-plus others available they prove to be largely copies, imitations, re-runs, re-hashes and echoes of the basic eight or ten. With what we have, there are far more than we can watch. One of the locals carries CNN Headline News, and the PBS runs old BBC farces with tedious regularity.
Don't get me wrong:. All have some good shows. . I am not knocking any one of them ”en toto”. I have some favorites, but I find myself watching more and more of C-Span. .
That is the only place you can see the typical American political figure in his version of the “Emperor's Clothing.” C-Span is the only place you can get eye-witness accounts to portions of the legislative bodies “at work”, and , if you favor or oppose any particular legislative project, this is where you can gather some first-hand knowledge of the action - or lack-of- action . Senatorial and House routines are not theatrically enhanced, so don't expect too much..
C-Span offers a lectern for those people who have b been elected to office an d never get o make the headlines. The only time we see many of their names is on the lists for re-election. You see them and hear them C-Span.... both the apt and the in-ept.
You can see and hear them hours on end standing among a few fellow workers and far too often they will be reading extended lists of statistical drivel. If you wish to retain your memories what the legislative halls seemed to be in your old-fashioned high school Civics textbook you may do s,but be prepared for something less exciting.
We have a host of leaders, it seems, who continually set forth both visual and verbal evidence concerning their mediocrity. Lifeless readings are the routine, and when you do get a speaker who orates or speaks even half-way ... it is a sensational thing to do. Dolt wait too long for any such high moments.
I sometime wonder how much of C-Span is picked up and re-run on overseas TV to prove to their viewers that they don't have too much to worry about from the United State after all.
A.L.M. September 23, 2003 [c 615wds]
Thursday, September 25, 2003
BY CHANCE PHOTOS
Some of our most appreciated photography seems to have been a result of chance, of the photographer being at the right place at the right moment.
It may well be that the artist's eye and consciousness was needed to realize the moment was exactly at hand, the work he must do is to sense when the moment is upon him or her and, then, to edit out those elements which are not to be a part of the finished work's composition. The true artist with a camera, instinctively knows when there is too much or too little. The slightest angle; a subtle backing off to include more or closing in to clip the shot's edges - all those are essential mannerisms of picture takers. It is a phase of training which comes with experience, and is not found in formal instruction books in any meaningful way.
Recall your favorites. Be they the work done by a master of he art or by an amateur, it is the qualities of simplicity and exactness which hold the greatest charm for the viewer. The could be said that the old Oriental maxim of: ”Less is more” aptly applies to more than just flower arrangements.
News photographers, in particular, have to develop such a skill for taking story telling shots. The celebrated photograph of an exuberant young WW II soldier kissing a young girl during a Times Square in celebration of the War's end is good example and typical of a photographer catching a specific act in it's only, ever time. A series of such shots are contained within the film of the fiery crash of the “Hindenburg” at Lakehurst, New Jersey' and you, no doubt, have your favorites both in black and white and in color.
Editing, often unwittingly, is part of photographic perfection or “nearly perfect” because no two viewers thereof actually see such a thing in the same way.
We need to apply some of that editing to the picture of ourselves we present each day to others about us.
Someone is taking an estimate of you at every moment of our life as we share it with others about us.
A.L.M September 24, 2003 [c353wds]
Wednesday, September 24, 2003
UN OR US
Chirac presented us with a good example of conniving comment the other day when he alluded to the nature of his and Bush's viewpoints as being either “black” or “white”.
I don't have his exact phrasing at hand at the moment, but the gist of his statement was designed to keep him from seeming to be a chronic fault-finder. He does not want to be seen as being hard headed or obstinate. This, in turn, suggests changes are possible in his view which can be seen as a weakness based on being, essentially, unsure of his original stance.
The situation in the Greater East is not a simplistic thing which can be said to be as clear as the rather limited differences between “black” and “white”. It has long been realized by men and women of only moderate intelligence, to be much more “colorful” with the prevalent hue being red - blood red!
The black-white reference which, sadly, may be mis-read by more people than one might surmise, too. It is very nice of Mr. Chirac to say he is not being petty about who is going to run the governmental in Iraq. He wants it turned over promptly to as yet to be designated Iraqi officials under the guidance and control of United Nations.
This is very much like asking sight-impaired persons to guide others who are in the same stage of unawareness through an undetermined labyrinth of vague uncertainties. The UN has, long ago, become so complex as to able to see only in sepia tones.
President Bush has had a far more intimate view of the situation than others and his opinions should not be summarily discarded in favor of those concocted by some far off observer ... especially by one who has blithely looked the other way when danger was first noticed in the area. He should, if honesty were the basis of his actions, be eager to associate himself with the one man best suited to teach him the rudiments of leadership in such a complicated era.
We had best leave race, color, religion and a few other important facets of it all lie as sleeping dogs, until such time as we have re-established competent rule of the Iraq area. Then, it will be the duty of the new Iraqi nation to deal with those element they deem to be most urgent.
Chirac, and his followers both here and in France, Germany and other such areas would seemingly foresee Iraq as a UN occupied state more or less forever.
Is that what Iraq needs? Is that what the Iraqi people want?
A.L.M. September 22, 2003 [c445wds]
Tuesday, September 23, 2003
THESE TELLING TIMES
I get a bit tired of being today when I am told I am a member of a minority.
O course I am, We all are, in some facet of our active life. Those do-gooder people who like to harp on the subject seem to think I will be a better citizen if I can think of myself as being one who must do without, the very poor, the underprivleged, the have-nots - which is their sole way of defining a “minority” in modern society.
They speak often of “walking in the other fellers shoes “for a time and, believe me, the leather is wearing mighty thin on that mode of movement.
No too many years ago was told I was among the few people in the nation who did not have a personal computer. When I advanced to that equipment stage, I found I was among the few people who did have such a computer as I was fortunate enough to acquire.
I have gone though this social environment thing from the days of 78's, 33-l/3, ED's,, LP,'s. thru 8-Track, mono, stereo, wire reorders, tape recorders in a dozen forms, and now I find myself among the minority of people who do not possess a DVD player or a complete home theater setup. New and puzzling acronyms pop up almost daily for equipment which does wonderful things -called whatever the alphabet can handle.
Each new wave of such letters puts me in a new minority group.
Religious differences are a main focus with some They often, however, seem to find it unpleasant to comment on this type of minorty, possibly because of our unpleasant historical background in an international sense in dealing with so many manifestations. I am seldom reminded that, as a professing Christian, I am automatically, in a minority group.
Far too many political figures of our time seem to see the government is blend people such as themselves banded together to satisfy the wants and desires the downtrodden minorities. Government becomes a mechanism for handing out packaged happiness, medical care, and other illusive forms of of pre-packaged happiness, free medical care, and financial security.
TV ,pocks at me as being minoroty,too. I am to eat, drink and wear what I am told is “in”. I am told what others think and to be grateful for such guidance
I have been a minority person a good many years. I used to get mail with/ amazing regularity from Ed McMahon. Publisher's Clearing House set up an endless series of dates on which they never knocked at my door. Many people did not realize that “Reader's Digest “ was magazine as well as a sweepstakes heaven and a source of short-cut books for quick reading.
I tend to think of as being “average” But, that, too, has become a minority. Maybe you have noticed that, where as, years ago, one could attend Medical School and graduate as a “General Practitioner” - a general all-ailments medic. No more. GP is now alphabetically included in the list of “Specialist” training programs.
You and I are minorities in so many portions of our lives. There's no need to deny it. Think back a bit and you will see how many of the truly great leaders and re-makers of Mankind have come from what you might call “minority” elements. And, in many such cases they never knew they were so classified.
.A.L.M. September 22, 2003 [c620wds]
Monday, September 22, 2003
DOWN SIZING
We have recently had occasion to sell off some old possessions which have become a clutter in our household. For the second time in our years, another house has outgrown us. We need less space.
The process is now called “down-sizing”which sounds efficient and business-like.. Not too many years ago it would a have been called “getting rid of some junk.”
It has not been an easy thing to do. Some of the items which “must go” have been a part of our lives for many years, some since childhood. It is a pleasant thing to have to part with such treasures.
We are especially blessed in having children, grand and great-grand children for which I am most grateful. That helps eliminate much of the pressure and anguish of surrender of prized possessions. Our initial downsizing action was to to offer all members of the family free rein in selecting anything they felt they could use
.
That meant, for instance, that hundreds of books we had gathered over the years are now spread out among family members. They have, in one sense, gone nowhere at all; they are just being put to new, more varied use within the larger family, which is, after all,. what books are intended to doing. The glass-front bookcases went with many of them and our Rec Room area downstairs is almost book-less for the first time in many years - perhaps a hundred or so books remaining. We have done the same thing with silver, china and crystal accumulations.
During this process various items no one wanted had formed a pile in the double garage area. Several weeks ago friends helped load in into a small trailer, a pickup truck and our own van and off it went to a weekly auction sale site where it was translated into hard cash. It proved to be well worth the effort, too.
One of the first indications that you are approaching the time of downsizing because of advancing age is when you can no longer navigate the stairs with out wishing you didn't have to do so. We're looking for a single storied house of a bit more than a thousand square feet of floor space with no big lawn to mow, shrubs to keep up with, and driveways to free from snow in wintertime. Our house has been sold, and we are looking. Moving day looms ahead. The next few weeks, brimming with mystery and uncertainty at the moment are going to be most interesting.
A..L.M. September 21, 2003 [c430wds]
Sunday, September 21, 2003
TRUSTING THE MEDIA
We seem to be experiencing occasional outbursts expressing distrust of various branches of the media.
So many of the attacks are unwarranted, unfair and based on the flimsiest of circumstantial evidence and anecdotal trivia.
Such bad-mouthing of the “press”is not new, of course not is it a thing which should be forbidden or eliminated. Honest criticism can be helpful in many ways, but constant carping on inconsequential details can be deadly.
Our American system actually thrives on sincere opposition. The story may be apocryphal, but I recall when the well-known author Sherwood Anderson is said to have done. Anderson, the author of many fine novels of our time, wanted to invest some of his earnings in a weekly newspaper. I may be wrong by twenty miles or so, but I think he chose the town of Marion, Virginia for an interesting journalistic experiment. Instead of buying one weekly newspaper Anderson bought two of them in the same area.. He named a dedicated Democrat as Editor of the one; and a rival Republican for the other. He funded each equally and instructed - even ordered - them to take firm party stands and to debate the issues regarded as critical for the area. I moved away from the area, and I cannot tell how the situation actually worked out, but the idea is useful. Each party thrives on sincere opposition from the other; if there is no give-and-take there can be little growth with a resulting laxity in maturity and durability of popular concepts of just what good government ought to be.
Today the various branches of what we now call “the Media” are in direct competition with each other. We should keep that in mind and be aware, always, which field of special interest they favor. It can be a good thing when one element of the media actually supports the very political party with whom you find yourself in agreement. It is a benefit quality as long as they make it obvious to all to what point they are biased in their view
So much of the distrust we talk about in relation to the Media today can be traced along two paths. The one leads to the door of those members of the media who are still living in the past. Violent changes have taken place in all the media and few, if any, can function as they could, and did, years ago. Far too many of them continue to try to be all things to all people.
The second pathway which can cause distrust leads to the individual's doorway - people such as you, such as me - who expect every portion of the media to be just that - all things to all people !
The worthy media is not structured that way at all.
We, as individuals, have the responsibility to pick and choose the segments of the media which best state our views and speak to our vital concerns. If you turn that job of yours over to talking heads, boiler plate printers, jingo jabberers, knee-jerk side-takers or erudite, educated idiots ... you are forfeiting your right to a freedom envied by much of the rest of the world.
A.L.M. September 19, 2003 [c565wds]
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