Category Archives: Are we there yet?

Long excruciating events.

Are we there yet?, Writing

Random Thoughts – One

Random Thoughts

One

I look in the mirror and I can see the traits my father had. The errant eyebrow twisting out from the other hairs, the narrow face. Growing up, people always said I looked like my father and that my brother looked more like my mother.

Looking in the mirror now as I comb my hair, I see the eyes. Lately, my eyes have been tearing for no apparent reason, and tearing a lot. Just the way my mother’s eyes teared. She was always dabbing away tears.

I don’t know… My eyes just keep waterin’.

She said that often. Now, it is my eyes that are watering and there’s nothing I can do about it. I look worried, despite feeling fine. I look like I have a permanent scowl. I got my kidney disease from my mother. Is that what causes the constant look of sadness?

I look in the mirror now, and I see my mother. My father has receded. And she and I are in the foreground. Just like it used to be.

Photo of snow with footsteps

Are we there yet?, film, Is this politics?

Elysium

Matt Damon with gun

I thought I was tired of the blockbuster summer movie busts, but here I am, anticipating yet another one. Basically it’s because this new one has two of my favorite actors in it.

Jodie Foster and Matt Damon are being billed as the stars of the movie Elysium1. Both are known for choosing movies with interesting subject matter, so this looks promising.

Neill Blomkamp, the director of District 92 is also directing this film. Apparently Elysium will explore more of the same types of themes. This time dealing with issues such as immigration, health care and class issues. Seems pretty timely.

Check out the previews. (When I viewed these, there must have been a large number of people at the server because there was a lot of  stutter.  Hopefully  Sony Pictures will correct this soon.)

Jodie Foster

  1. Scheduled for release 9 Aug 2013. ↩
  2. From Wikipedia: The story, adapted from Alive in Joburg, a 2005 short film directed by Blomkamp and produced by Sharlto Copley and Simon Hansen, pivots on the motifs of humanity, xenophobia and social segregation. The title and premise of District 9 were inspired by events that took place in District Six, Cape Town during the apartheid era. ↩
Are we there yet?, MSM, You've got to be kidding!

Taxes for fun and profit

chart by Gabe courtesy of MoveOn.org

Well, it’s tax day again and I just thought I’d remind those of us who are retired and working, that  while we are  counting our pennies and deductions before the dreaded deadline, there are entities of our society that would like to be treated as though human but not suffering any of the duties of taxes.

A few weeks ago, Senator Bernie Sanders released a list of the ten worst companies for paying their taxes.  You sorta knew that Exxon Mobil would be there as number one, but check out some of the other names.


Are we there yet?, You've got to be kidding!

Rip Current

I got caught in a “rip” the other day, and despite the fact that I knew what to do, it was scary. So scary that a lifeguard had to help me out.

I was playing in some waves when I noticed that I was further out than other people. At first I tried swimming back in to shore, but soon realized I wasn’t going anywhere. Figuring I must be in a rip current, I started swimming parallel to the shore… again, I wasn’t going anywhere. Fighting down panic, and trying to avoid tiredness, I floated on my back and used my legs to kick. Seemed I was still going nowhere. It was at this time that a lifeguard showed up. At the time he showed, I was only a few feet from being able to get my feet on the ground.

“I couldn’t get in,” I gasped.

“You were in a rip current,” he said calmly. Then he told me what I should do if I should find myself in one again. Here’s the scary part… I did all that he told me except… signal for help. :/

Now, here’s the deal. At no time did I feel the rip current except when I was standing inshore and noticed the strong pull around my legs. Once I was swimming, however, I was totally unaware of any pull.

NOAA graphic on rip currents
NOAA graphic on rip currents

Follow the link of the graphic, and get some very interesting information. I think what I took away from the experience, is to not wait to ask for help.

Are we there yet?

when stars die

I don’t mean the celestial kind.

I mean the human kind.

I’ mean stars… not celebrities.

For many reasons we find the death of a star extremely fascinating.  We become totally obsessed with what their lives were like.  As if we some how could identify with them.  In reality, we may share certain facts like a birthday, or a strict parent, or some other superficiality, but we don’t have any idea what their lives are/were like.   We can imagine what their lives were like, and I think that’s where the fascination begins.

Just as we can imagine what it would be like to win the lottery.  Just as we can imagine what heaven or hell is like.  We can’t really know what their lives are like, but we do know how their talents have influenced us.  And because we feel personally affected we care when they die, even more than when a war is started.

We still have Iran, Medical coverage, Global warning, Iraq and numerous other things to deal with, but talents have been lost.