FEATURED ARTICLE
"After Japan quake, cherry blossoms are reminder of fragility of life - and its strength"
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5j2v8NTbEZtxvdbzopQqDwFPfgsiw?docId=6383234
Excerpt:
"Thinking about how these people living normal lives suddenly disappeared, you can't escape the feeling that humans, like the flowers, are transient things," Yoneta said. But consider this Japanese paradox: the delicate cherry blossom was also the symbol of the samurai, the epitome of Japanese valour.
The warrior class liked the flowers because they didn't cling to life, but rather showed up for the briefest spell, and fell at the peak of their splendor. In this way, they embodied the spirit of "bushido" — the way of the warrior that combines stoicism, bravery, and self-sacrifice.
These days, people invoke bushido less often than the common man's down-to-earth version — "gaman." It means gritting your teeth and just getting on with life. When people refer to Japan's salarymen as modern-day samurai, it's taken not so much in a swashbuckling sense but for the way these men in suits endure crushing, monotonous toil, and display unwavering loyalty to a common cause.
And amid death, people of all stripes here are plowing ahead with life, in an orderly and co-operative way. Many are already starting to return to the sites of their devastated homes, and thinking cool-headedly about how to start over amid Japan's biggest catastrophe since World War II.POLITICS
"Michigan Seizes Assets of Town" (Title edited for brevity, pomposity)
http://www.pensitoreview.com/2011/04/20/michigan-gop-fiscal-martial-law-czar-seizes-assets-of-predominantly-african-american-town/
The impoverished former industrial town of Benton Harbor has become a flashpoint in the controversy over the new law that allows the governor to appoint Emergency Managers with virtually unlimited authority over local governments.
On Thursday the state-appointed Emergency Manager Joe Harris used the expanded powers granted by the new law to issue an order banning the city commission from taking any action without his written permission.
“They are using Benton Harbor as a test case,“ Henry said. “If they have disenfranchised the people so badly they just don’t respond to anything, they can do this all over the country.”Editor note: I'm not sure which side I take on this issue. My first reaction was that this reeked of abuse of power by state officials. However, there must be a lot more than meets the eye to this story. People have such a lax attitude toward government today, it seems like it hardly matters "who's in charge", because the people have zero interest. It is also incredibly difficult to affect political discourse at the individual level. Running for local office can be compared to being in a rowboat without an oar in a sea of regs & red-tape. Where do you go?
However, even though the party executing this is GOP, this is the kind of new tactic I think we got from the economic crash and the resultant TARP/'stimulus' ram-it-through ideology. The question is: Is it crucial? How was that proven? Will it rescue the town from economic disaster? How severe would the disaster have been? Is this ethical? Will the "emergency manager" be in place for a lengthy period of time? Etc. Etc.
- - - -
Notable quotes:
The beauty of passing so many laws that thwart business development is that when businesses raise their prices to compensate for the laws, the government can blame the businesses for raising prices and entact price controls, the final piece of control that will drive the U.S. into hyperinflation and empty store shelves. These laws may only be for CA, but the U.S. is working hard to catch up. ~Unknown- - - -
PERSONAL
"Don't Be That Guy in 20 Years"
http://www.askmen.com/dating/curtsmith_300/387_dont-be-that-guy-in-20-years.html
Excerpt:
You don't want to beat yourself up during this time. So many guys during this period of their life are hard on themselves because they feel like they should get everything right on the first try, or that they should be achieving certain milestones by a certain age. They will think -- about every part of their life -- "When am I going to get this?"
MILITARY
"Life After Iraq: 10 Lessons on Transitioning Out of the Military" http://www.huffingtonpost.com/don-gomez/life-after-iraq-10-lesson_b_848011.html
Excerpt:
1. Your military service will define you, whether you like it or not. With less than 1% of the population serving, you are part of a tiny minority who have shouldered incredible responsibility. If you served overseas, to many, you are exotic. People around you will find out you served (trust me) and will define you by your service. When you raise your hand in class, people will refer to you as the "military guy" or gal.MUSIC
L.A. Times Duran Duran interview:
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-duran-duran-20110413,0,4899157.story
"...offers Taylor, 50, reflecting back to the early days when he and his childhood friend Rhodes were first choosing to follow in the footsteps of the musicians that inspired them, artists such as David Bowie, Roxy Music, Kraftwerk and Chic. "We were an art school band; we became a pop group because of the way we looked.""Modern Indie College Aging Hipster Rock" whoops, I mean 'Alternative Rock for Hipsters', "or MICAH for Short"
"In a way, [our success] happened so quickly, we were quite ambitious. We were very ambitious. And we achieved our goals. I certainly achieved my goals. I didn't realize how limited the idea of wanting to play Madison Square Garden was, because we achieved it within four years, and then I didn't know what to do for years after that. What I thought what it was all about had to change, it had to not be so goal-oriented."
"We've had a lot of time to ponder the question of what our job is, what we do in the world," Le Bon says. "I feel that we do something which brings people together, makes people feel good about themselves, makes people feel that they're not alone. Making people feel not alone, I feel we're providing a very useful service."
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/column/139554-modern-indie-college-alternative-rock-for-hipsters-micah-for-short/
Excerpt:
Because of its origins at under-the-radar college radio stations at the dawn of the ‘80s, this music first gathered under the “college rock” banner. Some of the genre’s earliest champions were U2, R.E.M., Duran Duran, INXS, Depeche Mode, and the Cure. In what became the MICAH music trend, these bands all forfeited their college-rock membership badges when they landed top-selling albums fueled by top ten hits. Fanatics who had supported these bands pre-MTV cried “sell out” and embraced the never-quite-prime-time rockers like the Replacements and Sonic Youth. By the late ‘80s, the term “college rock” was overhauled to “modern rock”, presumably because its 20-something listener base were now struggling to pony up cash for rent and car payments instead of textbook fees and pizza deliveries.
LITERATURE
"Usagi Yojimbo: Stan Sakai's Rabbit Samurai Makes the Mundane Seem Amazing"
Excerpt:
Stan Sakai's Usagi Yojimbo, published by Dark Horse Comics, is the story of Miyamoto Usagi, a rabbit ronin (masterless samurai) who wanders the roads. He often takes odd jobs protecting villagers, hunting bandits, or briefly serving as a sword-for-hire for the feudal lords who dot the land. He's foiled assassination attempts, teamed up with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, befriended gruff rhinos, and battled ninjas for more than 25 years now. Stan Sakai is one of the best (and most consistently good) cartoonists in the game, and I'm going to use his eight-page story "Jizo" to show you why.
SELF-HELPThe true beauty of Sakai's work in Usagi Yojimbo isn't just his cartooning (which is very good) or his writing (which is refreshingly to the point). It's how Sakai manages to take things we're used to, things that are considered rote or mundane, and make them compelling simply through the strength of his craft.
Locke's Goal-setting Theory
http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newHTE_87.htm
Excerpt:
Goal setting theory is generally accepted as among the most valid and useful motivation theories in industrial and organizational psychology, human resource management, and organizational behavior."How to Hack Your Brain"
Many of us have learned – from bosses, seminars, and business articles – to set SMART goals. It seems natural to assume that by setting a goal that's Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound, we will be well on our way to accomplishing it.
But is this really the best way of setting goals?
http://minddump.posterous.com/how-to-hack-your-brain
Excerpt:
If any of those common words come up again later in the day, you'll immediately associate that word with the associative value of the group. Here's an example: drive do go make objective important create commitment purpose enthusiasm eager motivation This is a list of words synonymous with or related to ambition. It's designed to be read aloud to put you in a more ambitious mindset, focusing your thoughts and priming your brain to react ambitiously when these words, or portions of these words, come up later in your day."To Help Your Resume Rise to the Top of the Pile"
http://blog.simplyhired.com/2011/04/to-help-your-resume-rise-to-the-top-of-the-pile.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=apr19
Excerpt:
Focus on what would make you better than your competitors for the desired position. Examples:
•Critical skills not held by your competitors. For example, I had a supply chain manager stress his expertise in sourcing not only from Beijing and Shanghai but also from even lower-cost suppliers: inland China, Viet Nam, and Thailand.
•Quotes from customers or from your latest performance review. For example, "Jane Jones has the rare combination of brains, great work ethic, and being fun to work with." (from my most recent performance review.)
•Evidence that you not only have experience critical in the target job but excel at it. Examples:
-- In each of my four past performances reviews, I received the top rating: "Exceeds Expectations.
FEATURE
"Starbuck: Lost in Castration"
http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/dbenedict/2009/01/19/lt-starbuck-lost-in-castration/
Excerpt:
There was a time, I know I was there, when men were men, women were women and sometimes a cigar was just a good smoke. But 40 years of feminism have taken their toll. The war against masculinity has been won. Everything has turned into its opposite, so that what was once flirting and smoking is now sexual harassment and criminal. And everyone is more lonely and miserable as a result."All You Need Is Poopers" (Duran Duran homage to my dog)
It's all up to you now
Find yourself in the treat bag
Don't step in the doo-doo
Now the channel is tail wag
Lose your leash
Lose collar
You come on a bit stinky and fine
Like snuggling or playtime
And you howl at the moon
The way you did when you were younger
When we told the other puppy
All you need is LT Poopers
Every puppy's gunning
For the little dog section (ugh)
All you need, all you need is LT Poopers
No comments:
Post a Comment