A Few Links

Here's a few good reads I've come across lately.  Although they are of opposite ends of the spectrum, I think they're both very well written and do a great job at conveying a soild idea.

Confessions of a 52 Year Old Gamer

- here's an extremely compelling account of a 52 year old guy's passion for video games.  I feel very similarly, and presume that when I'm 52 I will have much of the same view.

Serious People

- a great argument for why Obama's starting out on the right foot in his cabinet and advisor selections.  Too many people are quickly and ignorantly harping on him for some of the selections.  Well, this article explains the objective reasons for some of Obama's picks.

I'll be back with more later.

Peace

AM Son

President-Elect

Congratulations to Barack Obama, who yesterday was elected to be the 44th President of the United States of America!

Lets put aside politics and partisanship for a moment... and regardless of political party or doctrine, there's got to be a sense of immense satisfaction in every American citizen today.  Without hesitation, I can say it's an historic day in America.  We should all stand tall and proud, because history will forever show that it was on November 4th, 2008 an African American was elected to the highest office of our great nation... and to be frank, this man will lift our nation from that of world power to that of preeminence!

Congratulations Sir, your campaign and this event have moved me to the purest of joy and pride!

Thank you, and best of luck Mr. Obama.

Peace

AM Son

Do Your Duty...

Go Vote today!

What if...?

How would things be different today?

Peace

AM Son

As Autumn nears... oh wait, it's here!

I always think to myself and say to others, "when fall gets here I'll have more time to... (to write, to visit, to listen to music, to relax, to travel, to read, to watch the entire Presidential debate, etc)".  But alas, fall arrived nearly two weeks ago and I've still not updated the blog, caught up on reading, or taken a nap...  so what gives?

Well, to put it simply, I'm still kind of busy haha!  Soon though, I do hope to have more to share and write.  This time of year sparks many curiosities, emotions, and thoughts which will surely find their way here at some point- so keep checking back!

Hope all is well,

Peace

AM Son

RIP Leroi Moore

Dave Matthews Band saxophonist Leroi Moore passed away unexpectedly yesterday due to complications from an accident he suffered in June.  As a fan of the band, he will be immensely missed by myself and many millions more.

Here's the official site report:

LEROI MOORE 1961-2008

08/19/2008

We are deeply saddened that LeRoi Moore, saxophonist and founding member of Dave Matthews Band, died unexpectedly Tuesday afternoon, August 19, 2008, at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Angeles from sudden complications stemming from his June ATV accident on his farm near Charlottesville, Virginia. LeRoi had recently returned to his Los Angeles home to begin an intensive physical rehabilitation program.

Peace

AM Son

Tied to a leg of Sisyphus

The struggle mounts… this election thing has got me scared of my own urges, afraid of the facts I’ve yet to confront.  My political peripheral vision is truncated by certain facts I wish not to heed; and blurred by ideals and ideologies I’ve grown scared to harbor.
This race has tired my soul already, and I don’t know if I’ve got the strength to even become aware of the “correct” approach and decisions…

Viva la Revolucion!

Peace

AM Son

Admired Leader

Too many words can spoil the core of true sentiment, and too few words can fail to convey the gravity of a situation.  Having stated that, I'll try to introduce this topic and let the weight and emotion of it do the heavy lifting.

Recently I was introduced (figuratively) to Randy Pausch- an inspirational professor from Carnegie Mellon University.  Sadly, Randy died of pancreatic cancer a few days ago, but his story will live on in lore forever.  There are people in this world who truly move a soul, and Mr. Pausch is one of those people.  Even in the brief experience I've had with his message, I can say definitively that it's changed my life.

He gave a "Last Lecture" at Carnegie Mellon last autumn, and immediately became famous for the life message he impressed upon his audience.  Soon after the lecture, his story became an internet phenomenon; inspiring millions of people with his courage, integrity, humor, and grace.

I challenge anyone to view this "Lecture" and not be moved to tears multiple times during its duration.  Due to my personal history, I may be a fair bit more impressionable in situations like this, but I still think it's a story that will move anyone.  From beginning to (especially) end it is an immensely powerful experience.

It's a fairly long video (1hour 16minutes), but please watch the entire thing- I guarantee you'll be glad you did.

Lead your life the right way, and Karma will take over- the dreams will come to you

--Randy Pausch

There's also a book by the same name.

Try this for comfort and relief.

Peace & Good Health

AM Son

TV & off the cable grid!

Yes, you read that right- Emily and I have taken the plunge- we canceled our crappy Charter cable service and purchased an AppleTV.  We're no longer beholden to the draconian limits and restrictions of a cable company- we're the arbiters of our fate; we now have complete dominion over what we watch!!  Well, OK, maybe that's getting a little carried away... but it is nice to now pay à la carte for what we watch rather than paying a blanket fee for the many, many shows and channels we didn't watch.  Besides the fact that we're not huge television watchers anyhow, all that we really miss is live sporting events (ie. Pats, Sox, Celts)- especially since we watched almost all of our shows time shifted.

So, welcome TV and goodbye Charter.

So far it's been damn nice- we have more options of what to watch, when to watch, and how to watch.  Aside from This Old House and Sports, we're not missing any of our major interests.  And besides, this frees up our night times for more reading, video games, hanging out, chatting, etc... which is always a good thing.  We definitely watch far less TV now than before, and when we do watch, we're totally committed and not just using the TV as a third companion in the room.  And surprisingly, in a short period of time we will also save money.  No static monthly amount to be charged anymore- if we watch zero programs then we pay zero dollars for that month's service.  I remember many months in the past where each of us were busy enough where we didn't watch much (or any) TV and yet still had to fork over a ridiculous amount of cash just for the "chance" to watch.

In addition to TV programming, we also have the opportunity to rent/ buy movies.  While we're also not huge movie people, it's nice to have the opportunity should we want to settle down with a good movie.  And the prices are no worse then a video rental from the local conglomerate of a video store.

May favorite aspect of the TV is the ability to download and watch/ listen/ to audio and video podcasts directly through the device.  There's access to hundreds of FREE (yes, FREE) podcasts- which we enjoy just as we would a television program.  I love podcasts- as you all know- so it's no stretch to imagine my excitement for this feature.  While most podcast video quality is less than great, it sometimes is superior to that of mainstream broadcasters or cable providers.  Either way, it's the content that matters, and my tastes tend to align more with the podcast community than those of pop programming anyhow!!  Bring on the p-casts!

The first show to hook us thus far has been The Wire- an HBO orignal series that began in 2001.  We're totally into this show, and owe the opportunity to the AppleTV- because with cable the cost to order premium channels was uneconomical and wasteful.  We now pay for each show we watch, which makes us think to ourselves, "do we really want to watch this now- or even at all?".  It adds an element of existentialism to our viewing habits- which is absolutely a positive sign!

And the device is smaller than an ordinary cable box-  so we're saving space to boot!!

Check it:

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[caption id="attachment_194" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="ATV's new home!"][/caption]

Just over a week off of Charter- and loving it!!

Now off to get some reading in!

Peace

AM Son

**written while listening to the mountain goats/ jason collett/ and john mellencamp**

Zakaria engages Obama

I'm semi-back from my month long hiatus.  Still trying to rest and recuperate from a few long weeks of prep at work, I'll be back on a more regular basis hopefully soon...

-----------

Just this afternoon, one of my favorite foreign policy experts- Fareed Zakaria- interviewed Barack Obama on his weekly political round-table show (Fareed Zakaria- GPS).

Here's a quick excerpt from the interview- of which in my opinion kind of paints the overall picture of why Obama is exactly what this country needs starting in January of 2009.

ZAKARIA: You are going to Europe and the Middle East. You know that in places like France you have 85 percent approval ratings.

Isn't that going to make some Americans very suspicious? If all of Europe likes you, if France likes you, there must be something wrong.

OBAMA: Well, I tell you what. You know, it's interesting. As I travel around the country, here in the United States, I think people understand that there has been a price to the diminished regard with which the world holds the United States over the last several years.

It's something that bothers people. It's something that's brought up.

You know, when I'm doing a town hall meeting in some rural community, invariably, somebody will raise their hand and they'll say, "When are we going to restore the respect that the world had for America?"

And, you know, the American people's instincts are good. It's not just a matter of wanting to be liked. It's the fact that, as a consequence of that diminished standing, we have less leverage on a whole host of critical issues that have to be dealt with.

So, I think the American people are ready for a president who is not alienating the world. And if that president is liked a little bit, well, that's just a bonus.

Now, I don't know how long that will last. We'll see if my approval ratings hold up after I'm president.

ZAKARIA: You're bound to disappoint people. I mean, with approval ratings that high, it's bound to be a letdown. Don't you think?

OBAMA: You know, my job is to make sure that, here in the United States, the American people feel confident that I'm going to be advocating for their interests, that I'm going to keep them safe.

The way to do that though, I believe, is to make sure that we're paying attention to the rest of the world, their hopes, their aspirations, as well, and that we're leading with our values and ideals, and not just with our military.

I'm a tad too tired to (nice alliteration eh!?) analyze the entirety of the excerpt, but I will say that answers with this much foresight, bipartisan sensitivity, intelligence, and "greater good" mentality have got to be remembered and considered when pulling that lever in November.

Peace and Barack the Vote!

AM Son

Windy Willie Brown - Annual Lecture on Political Trends

Windy Willie Brown gives a great speech to The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco, CA,
May 7th, 2008.

Disclaimer: I'm not implying Mr. Brown is full of himself or talks too much by my "windy" description, I'm simply making light of the trees blowing in the backdrop (if you look through the backdrop you can see the trees blowing).

Former Mayor of San Francisco Willie Brown is seen here giving a great speech- in part about his new book, and also dealing with the current political landscape in our country. I've always enjoyed listening to Mr. Brown speak, and this talk is no different. I like his humor, his apparent candor, and I love the way he says "Oh-BA-MA"!!

Enjoy, and be forewarned that this is about an hour long speech.

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Take care,
AM Son

6 Word Story Solemnly Modernized

Ernest Hemingway once penned a six-word story, which reads as follows:

"For sale: baby shoes, never worn."

He later credited this as his life's best work. Many regard Hemingway's "Baby Shoes" as the best of its kind. I'd have to agree with that sentiment, even though I've limited experience with the art form.

What I want to explore today is how the meaning of that simple six word story has changed over time. The apparent intention of Mr. Hemingway was to depict a sad tale of infant mortality. The obvious intent of a six word story is to be concise, but the mere simplicity in his word choices invoke not only the child's brief life and the implied grief of the family, but also the utter sadness and power of the tragedy. Unless anyone finds another way to interpret the story, there's really not much else to ponder.

I've been ruminating on this micro-story for some time now, and I keep returning to and pondering the incredible irony and revelation in the work when examined through a modern day lens. At the time of Hemingway's writing of this story, there was pretty much only one approach to its interpretation. Fast forward to today however, and there seems to be a new way to read his thoughts and intentions.

To explain this train of thought, I need to offer some historical perspective. In "those days", a family would most likely not purchase or acquire baby shoes (or anything for that matter) without absolute intention in utilizing that item. Weather it be hand me downs, new purchases, or other means; goods were obtained for specific and obvious utility, duration, and function. So the tragedy in this story comes from the fact that these baby shoes were fully intended for use- and when the situation arose that they were not needed and subsequently sold- the grief and sadness becomes apparent. Simple, heartbreaking, true.

When I think of this same story in the context of modern times, I come to very different conclusions. I am aware that todays world is very different. We now live in a society that sometimes urges us to consume for the sake of consuming. We buy much more than we need, live above our means, and often times resort to storage unit space because of this trend. We buy to keep up with the Jones', we spend to "feel better", we purchase to "better our lives", and sometimes we buy/ spend/ purchase because we "need". What a concept huh!?

So, think of Hemingway's masterpiece in this aforementioned context. Really- think about it. After having done so, I don't read his story with the same heartache and sadness. I don't read the story with the same clarity and vividness. I now read the story with the inflection of a question rather then the assertiveness of a strong statement. Why you ask?

It comes down to a basic premise- one which plays off my original evaluation of Hemingway's story. As read currently, I have options as to what the story may mean. Could the baby shoes be the wrong size; only to be thrown into a closet and never utilized? Could the parents have bought two different pairs of shoes- one name brand and one generic brand; and then decided to only use one pair, thus relegating the other to the "sale bin"? Could someone else have gotten the shoes for the baby/ family in a gifting manner, and again not be of any use at the present time?

Each of these scenarios could be true, as could several others. Either way, there doesn't seem to be the same relevance, immediacy, and genuine tug of the heart strings that the original had. I don't mean to infer that the story can't stand the test of time (or maybe I am?) I'm more ruminating on the fact that taken into current contexts, it just doesn't pack the punch it once did. It's almost as if it's been sullied by our "progress", where it now requires thought and context rather then a purely visceral response by the reader.

I don't quite know how to react to my thoughts on this one? Has the arc of time made us too complicated , to cumbersome in our materialism and consumerism, overly concerned with outlying status quo's and competition. Are we incapable of describing our worlds in six words anymore? I sure hope not, and I'm fairly certain that Mr. Hemingway would be astonished that someone could read his masterpiece and not come away with a clear and resolute feeling.

*********************

One of the reasons I began thinking about this topic is due to a recent chord that was struck in my mind. An NPR radio show (podcast) that I love called "On The Media" recently held their "12 Word Novel Contest", and it jogged this whole train of thought. While not the 6 word type that Hemingway nailed down, it's still a rewarding, enjoyable, and enlightening segment. It's worth checking out, as there is definitely hope for the simple and short form of writing. It's definitely not lost on today's world!

Have fun chewing on all this fat I put on your plate!
Peace
AM Son

Read more >> Options >>

"Spygate", will you please die now!?

I hate to play a role in dragging out this scenario even longer; in sensationalizing a story that ought to be put to rest, but I just can't resist posting this video from CBS News.

First and foremost, I laud Belichick for his apparent candor and forthrightness during the interview. Many people will always feel that he's a sneak, a cheat, and arrogant; and that any truth he tries to spin at this point is just his way of putting his finger in the hole in the dam. I feel otherwise, he appears to have clear and concise answers and reasons for the "situation", and doesn't resort to emotional finger pointing and dodging of blame and reason. I like his demeanor and tone, and wish that an interview like this could be the sort of thing that puts an end to this melodrama.

I do wish that CBS News would have played the whole interview on their broadcast- instead of relying on viewers to surf to their website for the entirety of the conversation. The snippets from the TV broadcast are sensationalistic and shallow, and beget more questions than they answer.

Here's the entire interview. In my opinion, this "spygate" crap should be put to rest, and all the "cheating" talk should die along with it.

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D-U-M-B Dumb, Dumb, Dumb!

When one takes to accusing another individual or even an entire sect of people of being "dumb", they are seemingly opening up themselves to a litany of criticisms and attacks. In essence, they had better be sure they aren't residing in a glass house. This is not to say that I'm accusing anyone of the pot calling the kettle black, but rather that it becomes relevant and important for one to understand what parameters of "knowledge" and "experience" and "information" we've set up in a scenario in which one individual or group calls another individual or group "dumb".

This scenario plays itself out in a new book entitled "The Dumbest Generation: How the Digital Age Stupefies Young Americans and Jeopardizes Our Future (Or, Don't Trust Anyone Under 30)", written by Mark Baurlein. Out of full disclosure, I've yet to read this book, so I've no real clue as to what is discussed, laid out, assumed, or discovered within its text. I am, however, intrigued by its premise and scope and plan to read it this summer. I just hope that it's not a blanketed condemnation of an entire generation. I also hope that the blame isn't placed solely on one sect- be it the generation in question, their parents, the media, religion, poverty/ economics, or any other possible influence or excuse.

I thought this book was an interesting tie-in to my previously aforementioned "GQ" article. As I mentioned, I plan to read the book, so look forward to a possible review and discussion here at the blog.

Edit: Here's a fascinating take on this book- a worthy read indeed! I like the tone of the article, and the way the writer stays relatively objective while still defending both sides passionately.

GQ (but not like you think)

Thomas Friedman is one of today's foremost experts on world economics and globalization. As a journalist of foreign affairs, he's written a few books- including an extremely lengthy and fascinating book entitled "The World Is Flat", which encompasses much of what has transpired in the global economic and socioeconomic spheres over the past forty or so years. In short, this dude knows what he's talking about when it comes to the interrelations of global economics and global politics. I liked "The World Is Flat", and also find some of his NY Times articles and columns interesting as well.

An October 2007 article titled, "Generation Q"- written by Friedman- has had my interests piqued for months now. Check it out and decide for yourself weather or not you're a member of Generation Q., and if so what it means to you. I'm fairly guilty of some of his accusations- both the good and the bad. I'm aware of my part time ambivalence, and looking for a way to give it some regularly scheduled vacations.

You?

Peace

AM Son

Firefighters Make a Great TV Commercial!

I don't watch too much television, and most of what I watch is either sports or DVR'd shows that Em and I watch regularly. Because of that I rarely see many "mainstream" commercials, and the ones I do see I usually end up fast forwarding through (due to our timeshifted TV viewing habits).

But this commercial is one I've seen many times already, and it's a good one. I don't think I'll get sick of it...

check it out:



What a take/ parody/ satire on bureaucracy and red tape!! Why can't things just be this simple!?

Enjoy and take care,

Peace

AM Son

Obama and Race

A little late to the game here, but consequential nonetheless.



Obama never disappoints when he speaks. This guy's got a gift for oration and holding a crowds attention. He rarely makes a bad or mediocre speech, and here's an example of one of his finest. I won't go into any detail or review here, just enjoy Obama at his best.

November can't get here soon enough!!

Peace

AM Son

Goin' Geek on ya here!

Haven't posted in a while. Been thinking of writing a little something. Just haven't done it. That is until now!

Been playing a ton of video games lately. Yes, I'm a 29 year old who loves video games. Heck, I grew up on these things, and they've advanced so much over the years that they're basically akin to theatrical releases nowadays. The depth and breadth of current generation videogames are mind-blowing. Some of today's games have stories that can rival or even surpass blockbuster movies, and budgets to go along with them. Sport simulation games can make the gamer feel like they're actually managing a big league game, or feeling the pressure in a late game situation. Graphics have approached reality, while sounds and soundtracks are sometimes more intimate and deep than the games themselves. Games sure have come a long way since the days of "Pong" and "Defender".

All in all, games aren't simple time sinks like they were back in the early days (circa 1980's). They've grown and matured, and the gamers who nurtured them in their infancy have also grown and matured. Simply put, we're a match made in heaven- and anyone who knows me well knows I'm a gamer and I spend much of my free time engaged in playing, discovering, reading about, and critiquing games.

So what have I been playing lately? I recently bought a Playstation 3 to go with my Xbox 360. So now that I have both "next-gen" systems, I can focus my attention on playing the best games possible rather then staying blindly loyal to one particular system.

The PS3 is a very powerful and capable system, but does lag behind the 360 in many areas- namely online functionality and friends integration. The Blu-ray player within the PS3 is a great side benefit, and I'm sure it'll be nice to have that Hi-Def option going forward.

It's springtime, and that means I'm getting into my baseball gaming mode. This year, it's MLB '08: The Show on the PS3. Great game, I just can't get enough of it.

I'm also knee deep in a few first person shooters (FPS). As of now Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and Frontlines: Fuel of War are my main interests, but I'm sure a new game will appear on my radar (no pun intended) soon.

Looking forward, I think Grand Theft Auto 4 will take up much of my time in the coming months. What else I'll be playing in the near future is anyone's guess at the moment. Summer is generally considered a slow time of year for game releases.

So, there ya have it. For the last few weeks before the golf course takes much of my free time, I've been enjoying myself in the comfort of my living room (coffee close by) playing some great games!

Take it easy, Peace!

AM Son

Another Castro Revolution?

So, unless a large rock served as your home on the morning of February 19, 2008; you surely know that Fidel Castro resigned his position as President of Cuba.

I'm sure the pundits, philosopher kings, and bloggers of the world are having a field day with this news, especially seeing as Castro is one of the U.S's main adversaries in their "war on anything undemocratic, American, or un-imperial".

I don't share the putative view that paints Castro as the most severely evil man on the face of the earth- although I do concede that he's some sort of megalomaniacal nationalist. He's done some things worthy of the discontent and isolationist attitude from the U.S and other countries... but remember, we're currently under the reign and shade of a Cheney Bush (Hegemenous alatus). Who are we to criticize?

Now what will come of Fidel's resignation? Who knows- for his brother Raul has been rumored to have many of the same beliefs and misgivings that Fidel harbors. I hope that, for all Cubans sake- things begin to change for the better. I'm not sure if the U.S trade embargo against Cuba will be eased or lifted, but for the sake of all Cubans I do hope that they are at the dawn of a better Cuba.

We shall see...

Peace

AM Son

Dickerson, You Comic!!

Bush's last (yippee!) "State of the Union" address last night was just another pothole in the long winding one way path called Bush Street- a path we've been traveling down for 7 years now. He spoke with the same disgusting rhetoric and jingoistic flippancy that he's been lecturing us with for far too long. He seemed to- as usual- have a penchant for entertaining and speaking mostly to his "base", while saving snarky and blunt criticisms for the "other" side of the room. I'm going to save energy and not pick apart the entire speech (I think most of you know how I feel).

But, what I'd like to do is link you to an article that summarizes my feelings quite nicely. A Slate journalist named John Dickerson whom I read frequently has written a compelling, witty, and evocative article about Bush's little ditty from last night. I've sectioned out my favorite part of the article- as I think it offers a perfect glimpse into the mindset of this irreverent and irresponsible man we call our President.

For Democratic lawmakers in the audience, perhaps the most irksome item was the president's tough new approach to congressional earmarks, those little projects lawmakers insert not into the text of bills presented to the president but in reports that accompany them. He says he will veto spending bills this year unless Congress cuts in half the amount of money earmarked for lawmakers' pet projects, and he will order agencies to ignore future earmarks unless they are explicitly listed in the text of legislation.

I am all for this. Legislators should have to be honest about what they're trying to get us to pay for. Bush is playing a political angle here. He's picking an election-year fight with Democrats who control Congress to make them look like big spenders, and he's also trying to rehabilitate his reputation among Republicans as a spendthrift. But there is chutzpah in George Bush, who perfected the use of the signing statement to circumvent Congress when it worked its will, targeting earmarks because they circumvent the regular congressional process. "If these items are truly worth funding, the Congress should debate them in the open and hold a public vote," he said. Next, Bush will offer executive orders that demand better elocution from public officials and ban smirking.

Dickerson does a tremendous job of articulating the way in which Bush decided to essentially change policy positions on the fly in order to elicit applause from that "base". Not only is he changing policy position, he's flat out lying- he's been the most consistent abuser of some of what he claims to be against. I also like the example given and shot taken at Bush's oration skills- it's not only fitting and true, it's very funny!

Thankfully, the sun is almost at its midpoint in the final year of the Bush regime. My vision of an approaching Bush setting sun have me giddy and anxious, and articles like this only fan the flames of my disdain for and disappointment in this junta. Yes, I said junta!

Peace

AM Son