Greedy-Go-Round
(July 2006)
Fat bastard bandits, all over the globe;
Stealing from us all, the profits to be made.
But alas; they've left us the tip jar.
Now we eat from the shaker salt and pepper.
**Did ya ever wonder why there's such a gap between the haves and the have-nots?
And why it always seems there's fissures and cracks in our "democratic way"?
Our imperial minded "leaders" are running away with our foundations...
Peace
AM Son
5.31.2007
5.22.2007
Jasper Said You're A Fascist Pig!
Sometime last fall a movie by the name of 'Children of Men' was released to theaters. I'd not heard of this particular movie, and had no inkling of what it was all about. I was told by a friend that it was a lousy movie; that it was just some story about a girl and a baby and to not waste my time seeing it. Well, being that I'd no knowledge of the movie in the first place I figured "ok, not a problem...'
That was until this past winter when I began hearing rumblings from various sources about how glorious this film was. As I understood it at the time, it dealt with a future world population who had found itself suddenly infertile and unable to reproduce; all the while watching every nation around the world except Britain crumble down from the effects of terrorism, hunger, lack of social welfare programs, and general societal apathy. (gee, is Bush running this new world...??)
I thought to myself it sounded like a nice plot and atmosphere for a theatric story. It sounded like a lot of the fears I hold today, albeit fully fleshed out and amplified significantly. I guess we all may think of the future as a harmonic place of Utopian gardens and societal calm, but then deep within our souls we know there's a very real possibility our civilization as we know it could cave in unto itself in a hurry. These fears stem from many current trends, among them rampant capitalism, materialism, U.S led imperialism, political cronyism, lack of foresight, environmental ignorance, and overall social and familial apathy.
The film deals with a lot of these fears and portents, but in a very real and convincing way. It's not a 'Jetsons' type film at all, it does a quite remarkable job of depicting a modern dilapidated future. I'll leave the movie plot and details for you to decide upon, but overall this movie was an astute look at just what our future may hold.
Em and I rated this flick highly, as we were greatly pleased with the scope and result of the film.
8.5 out of 10
In addition to the actual film, the DVD has some pretty cool extra features. One in particular, titled "The Possibility of Hope" is a mini-documentary featuring interviews with current day philosophers, political activists, writers, pundits, and scholars. The discussion is of how our world may be headed for the ill-fated future the movie portrays. This feature was quite compelling and we were enthralled throughout. It's strange, this little feature kind of rounded out the actual movie as if it were an intended extension to an already beautifully crafted story. It just lent that extra bit of credence and palpability to the aura presented.
If you're into social or current affairs, then this movie is for you. We highly recommend!
Check www.childrenofmen.net for even more info.
Enjoy.
Peace
AM Son
That was until this past winter when I began hearing rumblings from various sources about how glorious this film was. As I understood it at the time, it dealt with a future world population who had found itself suddenly infertile and unable to reproduce; all the while watching every nation around the world except Britain crumble down from the effects of terrorism, hunger, lack of social welfare programs, and general societal apathy. (gee, is Bush running this new world...??)
I thought to myself it sounded like a nice plot and atmosphere for a theatric story. It sounded like a lot of the fears I hold today, albeit fully fleshed out and amplified significantly. I guess we all may think of the future as a harmonic place of Utopian gardens and societal calm, but then deep within our souls we know there's a very real possibility our civilization as we know it could cave in unto itself in a hurry. These fears stem from many current trends, among them rampant capitalism, materialism, U.S led imperialism, political cronyism, lack of foresight, environmental ignorance, and overall social and familial apathy.
The film deals with a lot of these fears and portents, but in a very real and convincing way. It's not a 'Jetsons' type film at all, it does a quite remarkable job of depicting a modern dilapidated future. I'll leave the movie plot and details for you to decide upon, but overall this movie was an astute look at just what our future may hold.
Em and I rated this flick highly, as we were greatly pleased with the scope and result of the film.
8.5 out of 10
In addition to the actual film, the DVD has some pretty cool extra features. One in particular, titled "The Possibility of Hope" is a mini-documentary featuring interviews with current day philosophers, political activists, writers, pundits, and scholars. The discussion is of how our world may be headed for the ill-fated future the movie portrays. This feature was quite compelling and we were enthralled throughout. It's strange, this little feature kind of rounded out the actual movie as if it were an intended extension to an already beautifully crafted story. It just lent that extra bit of credence and palpability to the aura presented.
If you're into social or current affairs, then this movie is for you. We highly recommend!
Check www.childrenofmen.net for even more info.
Enjoy.
Peace
AM Son
5.11.2007
How Do You Like Them Apples?
Will Hunting uttered that famous line in my favorite movie of all time, "Good Will Hunting". It's a great line, delivered with acerbic authority and wit, and I'm using it here today with the same biting force and exuberance... with one change necessary: I want to replace the word "them" with the word "green". For those of you that know the emotion and cadence Will uttered the line with, you can keep it similar and just add in the word "green".
How do you like green apples!?
Why?
Because Apple has announced it's going green! Yes, for all the naysayers, critics, and Apple curmudgeons out there, it is now not necessary to view Apple as the lowly environmentally unfriendly company. They're taking baby steps, I'll admit, but that's the way to improvement.
The thing that impressed me the most about the article was that they used the word "stakeholders". It's a word not seen too much in the discourse of big picture analysis, or when speaking of the interests of others when weighing economic or political concerns. The word stakeholder has a weighty definition, one that most people fail to consider when they hypothesize about cause and effect.
Stakeholder is defined as, "One who has a share or an interest, as in an enterprise" by Answers.com. In my humble opinion, this encompasses everyone and at all times when dealing with the environment and "being green". Don't we all have an interest or stake in the condition, control, use, misuse, and correction of the environment? Most times, corporations only consider "shareholders" and their own junta when deciding on their actions and expenditures- you know, the people with stock options and an economic interest in the proceedings.
It's refreshing to see an official press release from one of the biggest corporations in the world mention the little man- because we all matter when dealing with Mother Earth. No matter if you're an Apple fan or not, or if you even care if computers are made more environmentally friendly, you stand to benefit from a more stewardship-minded company.
Many years ago I read a book called, "Culture Jam". This is where I was first introduced to the ideas of caring for and considering the welfare of all "stakeholders". Basically, the idea being put forth was that if this world became more interested in the wellbeing of all "stakeholders" rather than only and always "shareholders", we'd all be better off. I liked this idea from the time I read it, and I try and live my life in that vein. It's again comforting to see an ideal like this being perpetuated in everyday life, for it's too easy to track and follow the daily acts of greed and pernicious vitriol on behalf of conglomerations.
So, good on ya Apple!! It's a start, and I hope (as a Mac owner) that it's a trend that will pick up great steam...
How do you like green apples!?
Why?
Because Apple has announced it's going green! Yes, for all the naysayers, critics, and Apple curmudgeons out there, it is now not necessary to view Apple as the lowly environmentally unfriendly company. They're taking baby steps, I'll admit, but that's the way to improvement.
The thing that impressed me the most about the article was that they used the word "stakeholders". It's a word not seen too much in the discourse of big picture analysis, or when speaking of the interests of others when weighing economic or political concerns. The word stakeholder has a weighty definition, one that most people fail to consider when they hypothesize about cause and effect.
Stakeholder is defined as, "One who has a share or an interest, as in an enterprise" by Answers.com. In my humble opinion, this encompasses everyone and at all times when dealing with the environment and "being green". Don't we all have an interest or stake in the condition, control, use, misuse, and correction of the environment? Most times, corporations only consider "shareholders" and their own junta when deciding on their actions and expenditures- you know, the people with stock options and an economic interest in the proceedings.
It's refreshing to see an official press release from one of the biggest corporations in the world mention the little man- because we all matter when dealing with Mother Earth. No matter if you're an Apple fan or not, or if you even care if computers are made more environmentally friendly, you stand to benefit from a more stewardship-minded company.
Many years ago I read a book called, "Culture Jam". This is where I was first introduced to the ideas of caring for and considering the welfare of all "stakeholders". Basically, the idea being put forth was that if this world became more interested in the wellbeing of all "stakeholders" rather than only and always "shareholders", we'd all be better off. I liked this idea from the time I read it, and I try and live my life in that vein. It's again comforting to see an ideal like this being perpetuated in everyday life, for it's too easy to track and follow the daily acts of greed and pernicious vitriol on behalf of conglomerations.
So, good on ya Apple!! It's a start, and I hope (as a Mac owner) that it's a trend that will pick up great steam...
5.02.2007
Pittsfield's Getting In The Mix
Although Biodiesel isn't exactly a perfect alternative fuel, it's a fuel that is filled (pardon the pun) with merit. Among the chief benefits of this alt. fuel is the fact that it removes our reliance on foreign energy sources. Because biodiesel can be made from crops produced in this country, or created from waste cooking oil, it is an energy source that mitigates our need for the Middle East.
I've mentioned and wrote about biodiesel previously, but today's thoughts are for a different reason. It turns out that Pittsfield is building a biodiesel plant. This may not come as a significant event to many of you, but to me it is not only significant but also a pleasant surprise.
When I think of forward thinking, progressive, bleeding edge communities; I rarely think of Pittsfield or The Berkshires. Those attributes and traits make me think of Northampton, the Pioneer Valley, ("The Happy Valley") or even way out to San Fran or the Pacific Northwest.
I think it's cool that Pittsfield will have this new plant. It's encouraging to me that maybe the concepts of environmental awareness, action, stewardship, and involvement are becoming more mainstream. That's what a biodiesel plant in Pittsfield means to me....
I've mentioned and wrote about biodiesel previously, but today's thoughts are for a different reason. It turns out that Pittsfield is building a biodiesel plant. This may not come as a significant event to many of you, but to me it is not only significant but also a pleasant surprise.
When I think of forward thinking, progressive, bleeding edge communities; I rarely think of Pittsfield or The Berkshires. Those attributes and traits make me think of Northampton, the Pioneer Valley, ("The Happy Valley") or even way out to San Fran or the Pacific Northwest.
I think it's cool that Pittsfield will have this new plant. It's encouraging to me that maybe the concepts of environmental awareness, action, stewardship, and involvement are becoming more mainstream. That's what a biodiesel plant in Pittsfield means to me....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)