Matter, Ian M. Banks and God - an open discussion

On page 340 of Ian Banks' newest novel Matter (which is really very, very good by the way) he makes a statement that caused me to realize that he is using this wonderful story to further his declaration of being an "evangelical atheist." The fact is that I have no argument with his doing so - as it is absolutely his right... However I would simply like to point out that I find his logic to be somewhat flawed...

What follows is not a verbatim quote because I recognize his right to his own copyrighted material, however I do encourage anyone reading this note to check to see what exactly he says so that everyone can be clear that I am not slanting the information for my own purposes: a link to the Amazon book search page is here.

So, Mr. Banks asks the following questions: what god would create a universe that would have his creations suffer or to cause the suffering of others? What sort of creator would impose such conditions? He then goes on to call such an activity: infinitely sadistic, cruel deliberate premeditated barbarism on a horrific scale...

My purpose in writing this note is simply to respond to the idea that the creator of the universe must be involved in such activities, is an anthropomorphic conceit, and of course there's no particular reason why the point must be either black or white... Inherent in the statements above is that the creator of the universe must be that one claimed by Judaic/Christian theology. Why is this? What if god had nothing to do with any of the myth? I would suggest at least being open to other possibilities, even if one considers them to be improbable... One must consider at least, that a creator of a universe might just have no more use for human qualities than a rabbit has for clothing... Further, it must be noted that taking this stand against god, asking such questions or attempting to answer them is really not all that original. There are plenty of these arguments and more that have been used many times by many famous people.

Nevertheless Mr. Banks I must ask if you have ever had an experience that you could not explain away with logic? Surely in your "rock’n’roll days" there were often events of the senses that would not fit into any tidy little logical boxes... It's worth a thought or two, for I would suggest that nothing in this world is exactly as it seems. I would ask this as well: what if god where inside you (and everyone) at this very moment experiencing the world through your senses - as a connected observer, yet not as a direct participant? What if said god simply gave each individual the full capability of making their own decisions, thinking their own thoughts, writing anything they wanted including their own lack of belief or even hatred for such a creator? What if, Mr. Banks, such a god wanted nothing more than for you to have whatever experience you have?

Please know that I am not in any way writing this in defense of God or against atheism, for neither has need of my input. Rather I write this in an effort to open a wider dialogue than can be offered within the confines of your book in which you make the statements (above) with what can easily be described as a religious fervor. I would not be any better pleased to have you make statements within your science fiction stories about how one must properly pray.

Mr. Banks' I can see by your statements that, for whatever reasons, you presuppose that the word creator implies guardianship... which it does not necessarily do: If a group of people were to be given a beautiful ceramic vase created by an artisan of the highest caliber, and that vase was later to be broken or marred in some way - who could blame the potter? On considering the previous line - I do suppose it might be possible to return to the potter and request a repair, (and one might consider that the entire group making such a petition might carry more weight), but it would be inappropriate to ask for repairs as though they were implied as a matter of the artisan's responsibility in having made the vase in the first place.

The way I see it Mr. Banks (and I think that you will agree) is that we live in a world for which we must each take personal responsibility - if, that is, we wish for a better life for all. Whether or not God is involved - this is still an essential truth. But think for a moment, what would that responsibility look like if it just happened that God was within us... perhaps motivated by a united thought? What then would we be collectively if everyone on the planet worked toward a single purpose?

Peace on Earth

Beyond Twitter...

Although there is safety in the confinement of 140 characters I've made the decision to step beyond that barrier, into the realm of expanded expression, only to find that on this particular day of new beginnings, that I've reached the absolute end of what needs to be said on the subject...

Okay, okay there is one other thing: I've found that there's another blogger who uses the name iambook (Who would ever considered that there might be two of us?) Anyway, I wish to state for the ongoing record that his is a reference (and assumed reverence) to all things Spiritual and Meditative, and that this blog is one of irreverence and all things that I find interesting, literary, bookish, sci-fi, fabulous (as it pertains to Tom Robbins), and any other damned thing that comes into my mind. It is not that I would ever mock what he is addressing, but rather that I am more of a mind - to not discuss the matter. It is mearly a personal taste or possibly a desision on my part (that, of course, is for me to know - and I choose not to share it). So, I am not in dissagreement with him I simply wish him well, and make note of the fact that I will very likely never again visit his blog...

Bottle Deposit

When I was a child my family would often go to spend a few days by the water in Malibu. My dad would hitch up the 16 foot camping trailer to our Ford station wagon. (yes, the same one that I once released the parking brake on and consequently rolled across the street up onto the neighbors lawn. All my dad said was, "don't do that again." I was seven. I guess the lesson stayed with me because I've not done it since). Anyway, we go off into the sunset on a Friday evening and wake up on the beach for the weekend or sometimes for a couple of weeks when it was vacation time. I would get up really early with the sun and wanted to be off doing stuff when every one else wanted to sleep, so my dad suggested that I go along the shore and retrieve the bottles scattered from the day before by the idiots of that time and cash them in. I took to this idea with a vengeance and when I made ten bucks the very first day I was hooked. My summer mornings were filled with the clank of all sorts of bottles each of which had a deposit on them between a nickel and twenty cents. I was happy because I was making money. At the same time I was performing a service by keeping the beach clear of bottles. It was a good deal all around with perhaps the exception of one person - the old wino who lost out to me each day because I was up a hell of a lot earlier than him. I'm sure that for the times I spent on the beaches of Malibu his times of sobriety were of equal measure. It looks like New Jersey is about to take a step toward a cleaner world. Good times...

City LiTTERfe

This is the experimental film I just completed and posted on youtube.

A Ridiculous Proposal - Right?

I need to begin with this: I found this image on a government site for the state of Missouri and frankly I'd like to see these sorts of signs around NYC. More than that I'd like to see actual enforcement. I want to see those people who consciously or unconsciously drop papers, plastics, or whatever happens to be in their hands at any given moment - end up with tickets in their hands. Even if they don't end up paying a fine I think that spending a day or so trying to cut through the red tape might make them think twice the next time they have something to throw away.

But on with the proposal: It's very simple really. I would like to see any company that provides logo bearing materials to along with it's products (IE: shoe boxes, fast food wrappers, cups, cigarettes, condoms, gums, candies, bottled waters, soft drink containers, hard drink bottles, computer packaging and on and on...) being held responsible to offer cash back for the return of such items or to contribute to centralized collections centers which would then pay cash for such pieces of detritus. These companies wouldn't need to spend a lot (pennies per item), and their contribution to our environment would be great. Then they could blah, blah, blah all over the place about how they're working to clean up the planet. As things are now, the way I see it is that each and every MacDonald's bag or cup or wrapper that's left to rot before our eyes is an illegal advertising placement. If each one of those items were replaced by a sign on a stick advertising those products - MacDonald's would be fined and the signs would be removed. But they're not signs - they're just trash left over from someone' gross-out meal. Nevertheless MickyDs has it's name plastered everywhere we look and they've washed their hands of the whole thing. Their defense (as they might present it): "hey we just sold the stuff. The customer owns it now. What they do with it is up to them and we truly believe they should place such things in the proper containers."

Give me a break. Yes, please, I would like a break today - a break from advertising tyranny and corporate irresponsibility, a break from litter that often works its way into our overburdened oceans. A break from an littered environment

We all deserve a break today. Don't you agree, Ronald Mac Donald - icon to children everywhere?

Everything's Connected

I came across this little item and cannot help but see the relationship between what we do each and every day and the planet's dilemma. From my way of thinking (and I know that everyone does not share this view) all of life emanates from each individual person and coalesces into what we know and agree upon as reality. Therefore if we want things to change globally it is up to each of us to transform ourselves personally.

Each instance of litter is an example, a reminder if you will, of something that needs to be paid attention to. Picking it up and encouraging that practice on the level of community is needed action. Litter then, is the signifier of larger issues that can be addressed by individual action.

Breathe deeply.

Trash Stash Evolution

As small as this blurb is it actually contains some very good news for the environment and for the issue of what to do with those recycling items. The article points to the idea that we will soon be moving to using a single container system for all disposables and it will all get sorted on the other end. No more special containers no more sorting for the consumer! Yes.

Further, even though the MTA has made no announcement of any kind to let people know they are already using this system on all platforms and throughout the system. If you look carefully at the bottom of the photo of the sticker that has been afixed to all of the containers you will see a line that states, "Subway litter is recycled after collection." Amazing! One would think with all the negative press they get for all of the truly stupid decisions they make having to do with the use of funds, they they would welcome something to crow about. Ah well. Anyway, I'm personally happy to know that I no longer need to haul that newspaper, or recyclable bottle home in order to assure that it will be recycled properly - I can just place it any one of the hundreds of receptacles in the subway system and know that it will be taken care of. Yippie!

It All Has To Go Somewhere

Note: The image is clickable for a larger view of the original.

All I can say is that thank god this stuff didn't end up as a part of the plastic vortex.

I noticed that the blurb does not provide a webdress for "Clean Ocean Action" which is referenced as the people responsible for post the included information so here is is: http://www.cleanoceanaction.org/. A great group putting their actions where their hearts are. Keep it up people, and thanks. - You rock!

One of the most important things to notice is the number of cigarette filters: 38,019. Even the most environmentally responsible smokers continue to be unaware of the fact that filters are made of plastic and consequently are not biodegradable. This is information that they need to be aware of. It's a huge problem.

Keeping it clean,

Jon

Peace - pass it on.

The Light's of Grand Central - revisited

As you know I was pointing to (read: crabbing about) this subject back at the beginning of March (I See This: The Light's of Grand Central) and what do you know? Progress has indeed been made. Perhaps there was some effect just in the fact of putting it out in the universe? Whatever. I am pleased for all of us. Congratulations!

The Humble Off/On Switch

Ya' just can't beat a story like this one

BBC NEWS | Technology | Nano switch hints at future chips

US army robot suits tested

Yeah I know it's all about the military and what they're doing to optimize their ability to kill, but this is way cool and really worth checking out... Ultimately this tech will find its way into the marketplace and frankly - I'd like to have one:-) I have no idea what I would do with it but I'm sure that I'd think of something. . .

Naw I don't need a hammer to pound those nails - I'll just use my fist.


BBC NEWS | Technology | US army robot suits tested

Okay - I just found this kinder gentler version that isn't quite so bulky:

She's Baaaack...

Randi Rhodes is now back on another station and I consider this to be a very good thing in the progressive movement in America.

This country belongs to all of us Progressives and Conservatives alike. On the other hand if you're a conservative I just have to ask, "have you noticed the condition of our country?"

Click on http://www.novamradio.com/live/stream.php and choose the last of the three links to stream through iTunes. Support the message in any way you can.

Oceanic Plastic Soup

This little blurb was found on page 7 of the throwaway Metro paper. It seems to me that this is a much larger issue than John McCain paying for pizza and tipping big on the front page.

Further information on this atrocity can be found at this location as was noted on our first post on the 7th. The obvious implication is that we can clean up after ourselves or we can wade through our crap on a daily basis.

I once heard a comedian (who it was I cannot remember at the moment) talk about how he was not able to think about what was inside his own body; the idea of considering blood and organs and the cycling of food to waste was simply too much for him to bear. His solution was to simply imagine that his insides were composed of nothing but white light. As noted in the article that I've posted here it used to be that the garbage that formerly ended up in this vortex would decompose (so its been going on for a long time that we've not been informed about), but now since there's so much plastic - 403 billion pounds - it just swirls around and around endlessly. Endlessly! This is not white light. This is where litter goes when we pretend that it's not there.

What Exactly Does He Mean By That?

I saw this article in the Metro yesterday and it stayed with me because I realized that there was a message in it that had to do with much more than the subject at hand. (If you click on the image it will take you to the article online where you will more clearly see this quote): "It takes courage to ask people to change — even if it won’t really cost them much. Political leaders today are afraid of their constituents,” he [Bloomberg] said.

There is an underlying idea that politicians have more common sense then the rest of us, that they somehow know better and should therefore be given free rein to do whatever they damn well please. To be specific on this Bloomberg wanted the congestion tax levied on anyone entering the city within certain streets. As far as it goes, at least on the surface it sounded like a good idea. On the other hand it is exactly the same plan that has already been put into place in London and has been declared a dismal failure in the reduction of traffic. Where it has been successful is as a money raiser. A tax without calling it a tax - let's call it "pricing." Right. Also, as a person who, in terms of taxation lives in the city, but as an occasional driver across the 59th street bridge is someone who does not live in the city. Bloomie ya' can't have it both ways. Those of us who live across the river are also a part of the New York community.

Now let me get to that offhanded remark concerning the so called fear that political leaders have of (us) their constituents. Lets get real. The people we elect are supposed to be responsive to our needs. What Bloomberg has called fear I am going to take as another word for respect. So, I'm not saying that they should be afraid of us, but at least they should have enough respect for us and our opinions that they'll listen and take what we have to say seriously. We are not children. We did not elect a parent. A politician that does not have a certain and healty amount of "fear" of his constituents is called a King or a Queen. Politicians are not in the positions that they are in because they know so much more than the common man, but because the common man elected them fully trusting that the decisions they make will be just and representative of their constituents. The reason that the US is at war with Iraq is due in large part to the fact that we currently have an administration in office that has no fear whatsoever of their constituents. What a better world it might be if only they did. . .

More

I am currently working on an experimental video project and have already posted this information on another blog, but thought it would be appropriate to post it here as well:

We live together in large communities that in some ways have a life of their own. The ways in which we collectively interact with our fellow citizens reflects on who we are as individuals. I personally believe that there are members of the community who look but do not see, use but do not contribute, and drop their wastes as though the world were their limitless trashcan. I want to make the point that those persons in political office have a responsibility to work toward an environment that is nurturing to its citizens. Currently the focus of those in power appears to be punishment (and money raising for the city) for "crimes" such as parking too long at a meter, having a broken tail light, and skateboarding or bicycling on the sidewalk, while turning a blind eye to the businessman who sets down his Starbuck's cup on a park bench and simply walks away, or a school-kid who eats an ice cream and drops the wrapper where she stands.

I'm not intimating in any way that we will end up like this:

...but the fact is that when the inhabitants of a city stop seeing what is all around them that does not mean that the effect of what has been done and is the constant process of being done isn't affecting them. The video above clearly shows that the people in this city, Kathmandu are all too aware of what is going on. I see no particular reason why it needs to come to such an exaggerated state to gain awareness. This film is one of many that I will be appropriating for my project and I expect that as I move along I will be learning many things, some of which I would rather not know, but this is a personal issue for me something that I see as one of the few drawbacks to this city. Somehow other big cities manage to keep themselves clean. An animal that does not clean itself has given up. What the hell does that say about NY?

I grew up in Los Angeles where every child is indoctrinated into the idea that littering is a bad thing. It's simple and effective. If one is made aware of the issue that means that in this particular area of life - a person is made conscious. And consciousness is contagious. I simply cannot help myself - I am bringing my LA consciousness to New York. I do not want to see streets awash in trash. I do not want to anyone trashing our city.

TwLitter Begins

Image from http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/Po-Re/Pollution-of-the-Ocean-by-Plastic-and-Trash.html

This is the beginning of a social experiment in the raising of consciousness in one area of life - our immediate surroundings on the streets of our communities. Litter, Trash, Debris.

Some of you reading this will be inspired to participate, some will not. Either way the simple effect of placing the information where it can be seen and followed is to create a focus point.

In meditation to focus one's attention on the area of the "third eye" is to cause a reaction in that location. The reaction is: that the more one focuses upon the location the more it becomes sensitive to the attention. . .

Trash, litter, debris, waste..., whatever you call we all have to deal with it. How does the trash in your neck of the woods affect your daily life? Do you see trash on the side of the road, street or yard and feel compelled to pick it up, regardless if its yours or not, or do you simply leave it where it lies in hopes that it won't be there when you return? Does the presence of loose debris in your fair city bring down the neighborhood you grew up in, go to work in or come home to? What are your thoughts on what can or should be done to get a handle on overwhelming piles of trash?

A couple of sites worth looking at:

http://www.litterproject.com/ http://www.cleanthebay.org/

While the world is rightly focused on the problem of Global Warming there continues to be issues such as this one that although smaller, has a more immediate impact and is at some level directly connected to the larger problem. I recently heard on the radio about a huge (the size of Texas) dense soup of refuse being identified in the Atlantic composed of tons and tons of plastics mixed into other unidentified waste products. Here is a link to that information. We consider this to be a truly important media-ignored revelation: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex

Please use the Follow Me link function on the upper right of this blog to work with us and please consider the following questions as you post your thoughts:

• What litter did you see today?
• What did you do about it?
• How did your action or lack of action make you feel?
• Is litter really a problem?
• Would you like to see more of it?
• What can be done in the future if we do see littering as a problem?
• What good deed did you see today?
• What was beautiful today?

Thanks to Brent Donaway for his contributions to this blog.

Re: STATEMENT OF AIR AMERICA RADIO, FROM CHAIR CHARLIE KIREKER | Air America Radio

This is the posting that I've been attempting to add to the Air America blog in response to their statement concerning the suspension of Randi Rhodes for remarks about Hillary Clinton and Geraldine Ferraro (she called each of them, in their turn, f-king whores) made off air in a stand-up comedy routine, (video embed below), but for some reason my posting never appears on their site:

Get real Charlie. While I believe that the usual message that Air America delivers is what progressives want and need to hear, I also believe that its actions in this matter are counter progressive and work to support a very conservative position. Randi Rhodes has been the jewel in the crown of the progressive movement. Suspending her is the stupidest thing I can imagine, and represents the sort of pissy and scolding type of behavior that I would expect of the repressive Bush administration and the formerly Republican congress.

I notice that there is a lot of talk around the net and even on this blog calling for a boycott of Air America until Randi is reinstated. I want you to know that I reject that idea because it will not get the message across.

I am calling for a boycott of all advertisers and asking that people take the time to call each advertiser and tell them that you would never think of doing business with them until Randi Rhodes is not only reinstated but offered a sincere apology as well.

Hit Air America in the pocketbook.
When that happens they will listen to us.

Here are a few numbers, that I will continue to update, to get everyone started (listen for others on the air and call them as well):

The Nation Magazine 800-999-6863
Zoom Credit 888-367-2144
ITM Trading 888-696-4653
Sears Kitchens 800-264-9994
Debt Solution Adviser 877-712-8114
Education Connection 36educationmatching.com 561-912-1855
Senior Lending Network 800-995-4290
Jay Warren Financial 888-912-9090
Direct Buy 800-711-1052
General Steel Corp 800-965-1295
My Debt Negotiation 800-651-5279
Power Tax Relief 888-931-5511
Swiss America 800-818-3967
Novation Capital 800-260-5446
SEOP Internet Sales 800-819-8329
Diabetic Testing 800-368-6704
Company Corporation 800-499-8458
Term Life Insurance 800-430-6722
American Tax Relief 800-622-5931

STATEMENT OF AIR AMERICA RADIO, FROM CHAIR CHARLIE KIREKER | Air America Radio

Warning: Video Contains Strong Language

Moonie Evolution

Online Videos by Veoh.com

All I can say is ya' gotta watch this. I simply do not know what to think. If you believe this stuff (and I tend toward that position) you are led to ask the obvious question:

What the hell is going on?

Seeing is media is believing media?

Anyone else see this? In truth you may not be able to properly read it here so I've set it up so that you can click on the image and be linked to the Metro site (Philly not NY - but it's the same). Holy crap!

More On Obama - And Change

Why the image of a young Abraham Lincoln? He was a man with a scant amount of experience before becoming president.

The following opinion (letter to the editor ) was posted in the Metro paper this morning by Benjamin A. Sperling:

"What is Barack Obama changing?
It is a sad but true testament to the intelligence of this nation when a populist with no credentials whose only positive is a vote against the Iraq war can even be allowed to run for president. I have asked many Obama supporters why they are voting for him and the response is always that he promotes change. What is he changing? None of them know. How will he do it? Again, no response. Is it just that he speaks eloquently? Please, someone tell me why?"

I've heard this question asked many times before, and I've decided to take this opportunity to respond with my view. In case they choose not to print my letter - this is the answer that I sent off about an hour ago to the Metro and Mr. Sperling. . .

In response to the question raised by Benjamin A. Sperling in Thursday's edition of the Metro: "What is it that Barack Obama changing?" Have you been listening to the so-called campaign tactics of Ms. Clinton? She has stated publicly that sees herself and John McCain as experienced, but calls Obama nothing more than a speechmaker. Mr. Obama is changing that willingness on the part of a presidential candidate to do anything to win - even at the cost of one's own party. And let us examine the question of experience once and for all: Have you noticed that the man in the White House right now has seven years of experience behind him, and that such experience clearly does not qualify him to be President? Experience in office or in public service is not the measure of who will be the best person for the job. Who it is that people are supporting in this call for change is a person with life experience who knows how to communicate clearly with the rest of the world as our representative. Based solely on Mr. Obama's ability to speak diplomatically, passionately and persuasively he will most certainly change the current bullying tactics of the Bush administration. Change is what it's all about Mr. Sperling. Let me ask you a question. Do you really want things to stay the way they are?

The Light's of Grand Central

The beautiful and ornate light fixtures in Grand Central Station are icons passed to us from 1913. A few days ago, as I walked my usual path through the crowds in the Main Concourse, I found my focus on the ten central chandeliers. Each one supports one-hundred-forty-four 40-watt bulbs. I was struck by the impact of that number. To burn those standard tungsten bulbs 24 hours a day at 40 watts apiece requires 57600 watts. Notably, I checked one of the single light fixtures along the wall and those are 50 watt bulbs, perhaps a special purchase. Whatever, my point is that the cost of lighting a 40 watt bulb for 24 hours is approximately $.0.86, assuming the kwh cost is around $0.09. For 1440 of them that's around $452,016.00 each year just for the bulbs in those chandeliers. There are possibly thousands of bulbs throughout the terminal. Why does the MTA need to increase fares when they are so clearly willing to waste money to the tune of millions for an environmentally unfriendly choice?

In the film, "An Inconvenient Truth" it was noted that we could each take personal responsibility for the planet. In my house we have indeed switched to the CF (Compact Florescent) bulbs. The following is a quote from the energystar.gov site: "If every American home replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, more than $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars." In our home we have switched out all the bulbs. What's keeping Grand Central from doing the same?

In December here was a lot of talk around the New Year's ball on Times Square being converted to LCD lights and the amazing amount of energy being saved. As I look back now, I'm seeing all that media coverage as so much smoke and mirrors; a slight of hand distracting our collective attention away from something economically and environmentally meaningful. If energy efficient bulbs are good enough for my home and your home, then I would think that they are plenty good enough for our transportation cathedral. Will it continue to be beautiful if all of the bulbs are replaced with energy efficient alternatives? Of course it will: have you not seen the place?

My Flickr

Sounds somehow wrong, doesn't it?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/xozoome/ is a link to my Flickr web page and I'm trying to figure out why it's better to use Flickr than to simply upload images right here into the blog. I'm sure that the answer will soon become apparent. it is only recently that I've figured out how to upload a video to the blog. Here's one that I shot yesterday as I was heading home and encountered the mob scene at Grand Central (where by the way I've recently taken issue with the thousands of tungsten lights used throughout the building). But that's another post (my next one) titled The Light's of Grand Central which is an editorial essay that the Metro New York paper refused to print.

Barack H. Obama

I cannot say why, perhaps because of all of the attack-talk from the right - calling this candidate by his middle name as if it were the determining factor of his abilities, but I was inspired to run Mr. Obama's name through an online Anagram Generator when I happened across something very interesting: It was only when I inserted his middle name, "Hussein" into the mix was the word, "American" produced.

I pulled the image from http://www.flickr.com/photos/tsevis/

Thanks

Yes, yes I know...

...I haven't been around for a while. What can I tell you? I've been busy:-) However this is a posting With the specific intent of introducing you to my del.icio.us account - which can be found here (have you ever noticed that when you create a link on a page that you have to switch it off if you don't already have a space after it?) Not that I get distracted by technology or anything... Anyway, you'll find that the del.icio.us (that's http://del.icio.us/xozoome in case the link doesn't work) account is all about media - since that's what I'm into and what I do.

Frankly, with that being said I've only seen the social bookmarking thing in passing in the past, and never took the time to investigate it. Now that I have I suppose that it will take over my life like some sort of alien life form - and I'll be driven to heat my house to 100 degrees and maintain that temp at all times. After seven days when I determine that the temp is stable I will grow pods in the basement and pay obeisance to my cat. Not that that's anything that could really happen... and has never happened before... or anything.

Have I ever mentioned that I love sci-fi?

Oh the image of the guy on the road you ask: well funny thing I was on a flight to Rome, flipping through a French language magazine (wow I sound so cosmopolitan) when I came across this pic. What you may not be able to determine because you don't know me that well is that this guy looks one hell of a lot like me - if I decided to become a biker or something - but still he looks very much like me even to the way I stand. Yes Virginia I have a doppelganger, and this is not the Twilight Zone.

Graffiti is art - when I like it

The fact is that I hate the scrawled scribbles of idiots that feel the need to express their unhappiness to the world through aerosol excreta. I actively campaign against what has been splashed across walls in my neighborhood, while at the very same time I admire and enjoy the work of artists who choose to place their art where anyone can view it for free. Who decides what is what? Well, I do ,of course. No really, I'm of the opinion that even the likes of SLAG would agree that once you've seen his (or her) name done up in bright purple with a yellow drop shadow - you've seen it. There is really no particular need to see it everywhere on every stone wall or subway station. At the same time when I look at the amazing work of such as Banksy (click on the "outdoors" link and use your scroll on the bottom of the page to move right) in London I am amused, moved and humbled.

It may seem to you as if I am torn on this issue, but I assure you that I am not. Graffiti Art and graffiti litter are not the same but for the materials used and the general placement choices. If Michaelangelo had painted his name on the ceiling I do not think there would be even the slightest discussion of it's merit. Perhaps some gang members of the time had done such a thing and "Mikey" was hired by the Medicis to cover it up...

I suppose that should admit that sometimes I do encounter examples that at least in my mind walk the borderline between crap and art. Yesterday I encountered one of these and made the decision that when I passed that spot today I would shoot a short video of it. Imagine my disappointment when I passed the location and found that it had been wiped away. If only sanitation worked so quickly when I call about the blight in my neighborhood. Still, I missed my chance - so I'll just have to tell you about it: Someone using a marker (clearly no the permanent sort) placed a perfectly straight line across the white tiles of the wall of the escalator up from the 7 train into Grand Central. Obviously the marker wielder braced their hand on the rail and held the tip of the marker to the wall while they rode up. There were a couple of random points in the continuous line where the "artist" moved the marker so that the line took on a wave shape for maybe 10 inches of so before becoming straight once again. That was it, except for the single word printed at the end of the line, "Hi."

So was it art or vandalism? Perhaps it was both, or neither, but I found it interesting, and let's face we've all seen an extraordinarily valuable solid blue canvas hanging on the wall of MoMA.

At this point I'm kind of tempted to get a marker; replicate what I saw then video it as I wanted to do - and then go back and wipe it away, but it really wouldn't be the same. . .

Blog on Blogging

A week ago I had no blog and now I'm writing three of them. "What the hell has happened?" you ask, with a puzzled expression on your face. The same thing that always happens - I become immersed in the things that I take on. I begin to see applications and pathways expanding from the original ideas that I'm exposed to. This is the way I always do things. It's the way I do software; the way I became a sculptor and moldmaker, and then a writer and film-maker. The fact is that when I am interested - I am really interested. The idea of a blog only had meaning to me as something abstract, until I was given the assignment of putting one together for class. Part of the assignment was to make a couple of posts to the blog within a couple of weeks. I know, I know I'm the overachiever sort. I simply can't help myself. I took that couple of postings to mean posting at least once a day if I could find something to post about. Clearly, I have no problem in that area. I should have known by the evidence at hand: I spend too many nights unable to sleep because of so many ideas clamoring for my attention.

Who knows where this will lead?

Perhaps in a couple of years I'll find myself standing in front of a group of anonymous people saying these words, "hello - my name is Jon and I (see me - pulling myself up and squaring my shoulders - in the face of making the terrible admission I'm about to make) . . .am a blogger. "

I love this kinda thing

I've been researching for a narrative film script that I'm working on with two partners. Our story revolves around a simple alternative to fossil fuels. I came across this a couple of days ago:
Very interesting.

OMG - it's a day later and I've convinced myself! As I looked at what was being offered it became more than interesting to me and I bought the books. I'll be in the process of converting my car (a '97 Honda) over the next few weeks. I'll post updates of my progress in this blog (or I may start another one just for that exploration). Well there you are - I did start another blog beginning with a copy/paste of this posting. If you want to see that one which will document my experience...
You Can Get There From Here.

The more I look at the technology the more I like it. In the meanwhile I've signed on as an affiliate so that others can get the information as well.

If you want to support my experiment you can begin by Clicking Here.

Life On The Street

As I was leaving Union Square last night I was confronted by a terribly thin man who sat with his back against the wall of a building. He held a sign declaring that he was homeless and a veteran. He was bearded and garbed in several layers of rather dirty clothing. He was shaking the change he'd collected in an old stained cardboard coffee cup, and asking for donations from passersby. He had the look of someone who really did need assistance. Having no money to give I handed over a half of a sandwich that was left over from my lunch. He took it, though somewhat grudgingly, and asked me if the bread was organic. . .

The Great Temple of Apple

Thursday night the worst possible thing happened. My iPod died! It simply stopped working; a black screen. Honestly, I did everything I could to save it: I pressed the Menu and Select buttons for a full 5 to 8 seconds, I switched the Hold control back and forth until my fingernail was in danger of being bent backwards, I considered mouth to mouth but alas, to my surprise, I could find no mouth. Taking desperate measures I escalated the issue to the next level and made an appointment with the Mac Genius iPod expert at the store on 5th Avenue. I carefully selected the 5:40 time slot considering the length of the journey, crowd density, and subway issues so that I would be able to arrive on time. True to the way of things the subway did have a problem and I was forced to get off several long blocks away from my destination. I hurried along the windy and frozen streets, knowing that if I arrived late they would give my spot away to someone else. It was 5:35 when I entered the Mecca of all that is Macintosh and hurried to the iPod bar. I was early! Success. I was greeted by a smiling energetic person, who was somewhat reminiscent of a Scientologist offering to give people "personality tests" in the subway. I was informed that, yes my appointment was for 5:40 - A.M! (insert stunned pause here) OMG, I was almost exactly 12 hours late! (or early - I never did figure out which) I immediately threw myself upon the mercy of Mac, and the greeter took pity on me. He introduced me to Eyven, a woman higher up in the chain of command - obviously a young goddess in the organization - who made the decision that I would still be given sanction to see a real Mac Genius. I had been granted favor. I was in. The Genius, for his part, quickly looked at my iPod, pushed buttons, hummed a little tune, tapped a pencil on the counter and then took my hand to lead me in prayer over the deceased. With that ministration completed he poked at his keypad with the pencil and handed me a brand new toy. Just like that. I gratefully kissed his ring. As I thanked him and stepped away I was instructed to say a couple of, "Hail Jobs - full of ideas, clever are thy works," and I was released, squinting and bedazzled, into the PC dominated world above.
In conclusion I wish to state for the record that in spite of vicious rumors circulating the net, the great and wondrous Apple is not a cult, and all people who enter the building are exactly the same people when they leave .
Really. . .
We, are the same now.

Lose $10B? Open a new office.

Citi Loses Almost $10B, Slashes Dividend - washingtonpost.com: "The news sent Citigroup's shares skidding 7 percent, wiping away almost $10 billion in market value on top of the $125 billion the shares already have lost over the past year."

So let me get this straight: Citibank is in the midst of a downturn to the tune of nearly $10Billion just in the last Quarter. Right. Lets put this in perspective: if a person were to count $10Billion by hand figuring 1 bill counted each second it would require 347 years! (Amount derived from http://www.zodl.net/billion.htm) Let's just say that it's a lot.

Considering that I'm not really all that good with numbers and can only guess at what the hell is actually going on with the banks who lent money for mortgages - with stipulations in the mortgage contracts that specify while the interest rates were low the payments would remain low, but if the interest rates when up the payments would go up.

Okay, that sounds pretty simple on the surface of it. Still I'm left with questions: how do the interest rates go up? I mean who is in control of that seemingly arbitrary number? I've actually included an answer to that question below, but don't get all excited. Its not really all that satisfying.

Money, in truth, is only an agreed upon idea of exchange; of value.

My wife and I have a fixed rate loan with another company so it's not an issue for us, but I need to think of it this way, if my payment can remain the same throughout the term of the loan - that means that the bank is willing to accept that amount of interest being paid. That's a decision that we all agreed to, but lets face it when interest rates go up the bank is in no way losing money because I'm paying less than the guy who buys a house now at the new rates.

So how is it beneficial for a bank to foreclose on a homeowner when the interest rates become so high that the owner cannot make the payments? Wouldn't it make more sense for the bank to continue to accept ongoing payments from that customer.? Isn't an ongoing payment better than no payment? Why would a bank want to force a family out of their $100,000.00 home because they can only pay $800.00 per month instead of $2400.00? The bank is then left with a house it doesn't want so they're willing to sell the foreclosed home at a fraction of the $100,000.00 value. Sometimes no one wants the house because the entire neighborhood have been foreclosed upon and people don't want to live or invest in ghost towns. How does this benefit the bank or the homeowner? It only benefits the investor who has scored a major deal because of someone else's pain.

As I mentioned above I did some wandering on the net and found the following explanation on who sets the mortgage rates: "... huge banking conglomerates like Citigroup Inc. and Wells Fargo & Co. answer to a higher mortgage rate power -- namely, the secondary market. The secondary market is where Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and other mortgage investors ply their trade. These huge agencies -- which were founded with government help decades ago to make the mortgage lending process more efficient -- purchase loans that lenders make, then either hold them in their portfolios or bundle them with other loans into mortgage-backed securities. Those securities get sold to mutual funds, Wall Street firms and other financial investors who trade them the same way they trade Treasury securities and other bonds.As a result of this business model, investors -- rather than bankers or mortgage brokers -- are in the driver's seat when it comes to setting mortgage rates." http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/mtg/20020722a.asp

So again we're looking at investors being the driving force behind the interest rates and consequently the rate of foreclosure. Yet I cannot continue to believe that having a steady payment over a period of years amounting to $100,000.00 is not at least equal to or better than nothing at all or a fraction of the actual value.

Ultimately, it appears to me, that all of this is about interest being equal to how much can be squeezed out of the consumer at any given moment. I suppose in some circles (say the character played by Michael Douglas in the film Wall Street) that philosophy is all that there is. Whether we like it or not we do live in a society governed by investors. It's an all American thing. Super wealthy investors in China and Saudi Arabia are buying up quite a lot of all that is American. They want to play the game too. To the investor - the game is to be richer, isn't it?

So what does the largest bank in the US do when they have just posted the largest loss in their history? They open a brand new branch, polished and gleaming, high tech and marvelous in every way, just outside the Grand Central Station exit to Park Avenue. I don't suppose they had to get a loan to do that.

You can bet that on this day investors are exulting at their win (convoluted though it might be to people like me), what they have made, the money in their pockets, the luxury cars they drive, the lives they have manipulated, and the unknown families; losers, who did not play the game very well at all. They can go on home now to posh lives of forgetfulness and denial and visions of more ways to gather more wealth. Today they have all the money they've ever wanted. Tomorrow however... will be a new day with a new interest rate.

Small things are not so small...

A few weeks ago I was entering the train station at Times Square. As I went down the steps there was a very large, very drunk, and intimidating guy hassling every woman who walked past. When I say hassling I don't mean at the level of making rude remarks, I mean that he was using his bulk by standing aggressively in their path, and using his really foul mouth to make women afraid. It would have been less than stupid of me to confront him. However, as I reached the bottom of the steps I went directly to the station booth and reported what was going on. The woman, safe in her glass and metal booth, looked in my eyes and asked, "so what do you expect me to do about it?" Frankly, in that moment, I had several perfectly usable sarcastic remarks come to mind, but instead I calmly suggested that she contact the cops. She told me she was too busy and the maybe I should call them myself. Let's just say that I felt frustrated. What I really wanted to do was to scream rude things at her, but I didn't. Instead I went through the turnstile into the station to look for a pay phone. (No cell reception down there.) Naturally, there was a pay phone, and just as naturally it was broken. It was only as I turned away from the sticky and disgusting non-communications device that I found myself looking directly at three uniformed officers. I went over and told them what was going on upstairs, and reminded them of the often advertised credo of New York City, "if you see something - say something." The fact is that I did see something; I did say something. The problem apparently was that what I reported had nothing to do with guns, knives, or bombs. I was not reporting an abandoned suitcase or backpack tucked under a bench. I was not reporting potential widespread death or destruction. This was just a big besotted jerk. What I was doing was making an attempt to live in world that cares about the things that make a difference in everyday life, such as respect for others, personal dignity and other such arcane ideas. I suppose I wasn't alerting the authorities to the sort of terrorism that the slogan infers, but it was after all - terrorism. If we as NYC citizens see something and say something and the response is , "so what?" I'd say we're in trouble. The woman in the booth simply didn't want to take responsibility for what was happening on her watch - which is, after all, pretty much her job description. The police did go off to take care of the problem, and assured me that they would speak with booth-woman. I felt better after that because for my part, I felt that I had done some small thing - right.
It's just the way I see this...