If you are a man and you have a woman in your life, there’s a decent chance that she’s a fan of a book called “Twilight”. You might be a little curious as to why this book is so popular with the ladies, but chances are that you aren’t curious enough to actually pick it up and read it.
I, however, was that curious, and I recently completed the nearly 500-page journey into the world of teenage vampire romance. I’m not going to recommend that any men out there follow my example, but just so you won’t be completely in the dark about this estrogen-charged phenomenon I’ll give you a brief summary of what happens in the book.
The story opens with our teenage protagonist, Bella, moving to a new city to live with her single father. Bella is a moody, sarcastic teenage girl with a poor self-image, but the single most defining thing about her is that she is extremely clumsy. She can barely walk without falling down and injuring herself, and I had to wonder if she had some sort of undiagnosed neuromuscular disorder. Unfortunately no one in the book thinks of this, so we’ll never know.
At her new school Bella immediately makes a bunch of new friends and inexplicably seems to despise them all, especially the boys. Being a typical girl, she is instead fascinated by the one guy in school who seems to want to have nothing to do with her.
That guy turns out to be Edward, our other protagonist. Edward is apparently the most attractive man ever to walk the earth, a point that is driven home mercilessly throughout the book. We eventually learn that that Edward is also a vampire, and he lives with a sort of adopted family of six other vampires who are all achingly beautiful in their own right. Not to worry though, they are all “good” vampires and only drink animal blood. They jokingly refer to themselves as vegetarians. Cute!
Some of the vampires in this book have psychic powers, and Edward can read people’s minds. He can read everyone’s mind except Bella’s, and of course that causes him to be fascinated by her. Being as fine as he is, it doesn’t take long before Bella develops a little fascination of her own, and for the next 250 pages or so the two of them slowly get to know each other and fall hopelessly in love.
One day Bella joins the Cullen family as they go out to play baseball during a thunderstorm (don’t ask) when out of nowhere three more vampires show up. Unfortunately the new vampires are not vegetarians, and one of them (James) decides he wants to make a meal out of Bella. Edward scares him off, but this new guy is a relentless hunter and he now has Bella squarely in his sights. Edward’s family quickly spirit her out of town for her own protection.
The dastardly James manages to trick Bella into meeting up with him alone using a scam that involves Bella’s mom, an abandoned ballet studio, and a VCR. Once James has her where he wants her, he makes the classic bad-guy blunder of going into a long, boring speech about how great it is going to be to kill her instead of just sucking her blood and calling it a day. That gives Edward and his family time to catch up and save Bella at the last minute.
“Twilight” is not destined to be on my short list of favorite books as it drags way too much in the middle section and could have benefited greatly from the services of a good editor. It’s not awful though, and I may continue on with the next book in the series, which I hear involves werewolves. No doubt these werewolves will be strikingly handsome when in human form. Just because you’re a monster doesn’t mean you can’t be smokin’ hot
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Discrimination – it’s all around us
Americans are not known for their humility. We’ve been the richest, most powerful nation in the world for a long time now, so I guess it’s only natural that we tend to think of ourselves as being a cut above the rest.
After all, we are among the world leaders in so many categories. Some of them are obvious (income, personal freedom, fast food consumption, etc.), but there are others that you would have to dig beneath the surface to recognize. Like guilt, for instance. Is there any other country that wallows in its past and present shortcomings with the enthusiasm that we do? I don’t think so. As a white male, and a Southerner to boot, I try to set aside some time every day to mentally flog myself over the many bad things my forbears might have done.
And I have to do that, otherwise I might slip up and say or do something that will cause offense to some group of people to whom I should be more sensitive. That point was driven home for me a few weeks ago when I had the temerity to question whether or not the process that led to the nomination of a certain Supreme Court nominee was really an exhaustive one that fairly considered all possible candidates, even those who happen to be male and/or Caucasian.
Shortly thereafter I was subjected to an editorial trip to the woodshed on these pages, and I consider myself to be properly chastened. I must keep in mind that not only can white men not jump, they also cannot talk about reverse discrimination without feeling like they are being lumped together with those bed sheet-wearing yahoos who inexplicably consider themselves to be part of some “master race.” And let me tell you, those are definitely not the kind of people I want to form a lump with.
So I am trying to turn over a new leaf and be more sensitive to the subject of discrimination in our society. And in that spirit I want to discuss a story I came across this week that highlighted a previously unsung class of people who are, through no fault of their own, experiencing verifiable discrimination in the work place.
Did you know that recent studies have shown that tall people make significantly more money than their vertically-challenged coworkers? After accounting for all other factors, it appears that every additional inch of height accounts for almost an extra $1000 a year in annual salary on average. That’s right, mister 5-foot-nothing, that former basketball player who sits in the next cubicle is probably making ten grand a year more than you just because he’s tall enough to dunk.
That’s just plan unfair, and in this golden age where we continuously seek new ways to redress discrimination and eliminate unfair practices, something needs to be done. Obviously the vertically-challenged should be added to the protected list of people who can sue for workplace discrimination. But thinking about this injustice has got me wondering, how many other people are being mistreated by our society yet have not been awarded the deserved title of “victim”?
I would be willing to bet that people who are introverted, overweight, homely, obnoxious, or smelly could very well be suffering from unfair treatment in the workplace and in our culture in general, just like short people are. And something needs to be done about it.
President Obama should institute a new, cabinet-level department that would be in charge of rooting out and redressing any and all instances of discrimination being perpetrated on any American for any reason. Laws should be written, tax breaks should be handed out, and apologies should be made. There is no excuse for any American to be discriminated against in this day and age, and it is the federal government’s job to actively combat all forms of prejudice wherever they occur.
The exception, of course, would be when the discrimination is targeted at Caucasian males, which
After all, we are among the world leaders in so many categories. Some of them are obvious (income, personal freedom, fast food consumption, etc.), but there are others that you would have to dig beneath the surface to recognize. Like guilt, for instance. Is there any other country that wallows in its past and present shortcomings with the enthusiasm that we do? I don’t think so. As a white male, and a Southerner to boot, I try to set aside some time every day to mentally flog myself over the many bad things my forbears might have done.
And I have to do that, otherwise I might slip up and say or do something that will cause offense to some group of people to whom I should be more sensitive. That point was driven home for me a few weeks ago when I had the temerity to question whether or not the process that led to the nomination of a certain Supreme Court nominee was really an exhaustive one that fairly considered all possible candidates, even those who happen to be male and/or Caucasian.
Shortly thereafter I was subjected to an editorial trip to the woodshed on these pages, and I consider myself to be properly chastened. I must keep in mind that not only can white men not jump, they also cannot talk about reverse discrimination without feeling like they are being lumped together with those bed sheet-wearing yahoos who inexplicably consider themselves to be part of some “master race.” And let me tell you, those are definitely not the kind of people I want to form a lump with.
So I am trying to turn over a new leaf and be more sensitive to the subject of discrimination in our society. And in that spirit I want to discuss a story I came across this week that highlighted a previously unsung class of people who are, through no fault of their own, experiencing verifiable discrimination in the work place.
Did you know that recent studies have shown that tall people make significantly more money than their vertically-challenged coworkers? After accounting for all other factors, it appears that every additional inch of height accounts for almost an extra $1000 a year in annual salary on average. That’s right, mister 5-foot-nothing, that former basketball player who sits in the next cubicle is probably making ten grand a year more than you just because he’s tall enough to dunk.
That’s just plan unfair, and in this golden age where we continuously seek new ways to redress discrimination and eliminate unfair practices, something needs to be done. Obviously the vertically-challenged should be added to the protected list of people who can sue for workplace discrimination. But thinking about this injustice has got me wondering, how many other people are being mistreated by our society yet have not been awarded the deserved title of “victim”?
I would be willing to bet that people who are introverted, overweight, homely, obnoxious, or smelly could very well be suffering from unfair treatment in the workplace and in our culture in general, just like short people are. And something needs to be done about it.
President Obama should institute a new, cabinet-level department that would be in charge of rooting out and redressing any and all instances of discrimination being perpetrated on any American for any reason. Laws should be written, tax breaks should be handed out, and apologies should be made. There is no excuse for any American to be discriminated against in this day and age, and it is the federal government’s job to actively combat all forms of prejudice wherever they occur.
The exception, of course, would be when the discrimination is targeted at Caucasian males, which
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
From tea parties to the ballot box
This past Sunday I read an article in this newspaper that was as disturbing to me as anything I’ve read in long time. It had nothing to do with dead celebrities, election fraud in Iran, or global warming. Instead, it was a seemingly innocuous little piece about a congressman who represents a certain district here in Middle Georgia who is facing reelection in just over a year and as yet has no apparent opposition in that contest.
Now that may not seem like a big deal to you, but to a person like me who feels strongly that our system of government only works when the people who are governed by it give a rat’s behind about who represents them, it was very hard pill to swallow.
Before I go any further, let me say this. I think Jim Marshall is a good guy and, in general, he has represented Middle Georgia about as well as any career politician could be expected to. I understand the practical reasons why none of the leading lights in the state Republican Party have jumped at the chance to oppose him, but that knowledge does nothing to cool my outrage that we could have a race for a national office in my own home district where no one may bother to oppose the incumbent.
Some of the views expressed in this piece made me want to tear my hair out. Numerous potential Republican opponents are refusing to throw their hats in the ring because of the long odds against winning and because their personal prospects are more promising if they run for state or local positions. And local conservative firebrand Erick Erickson said that some state GOP officials are hoping that Marshall does indeed go unopposed because a strong turnout for him might unduly influence the governor’s race in favor of the Democrats.
Take a minute to digest that. The GOP brain trust in this state are not simply disinterested in this race, they are actively opposed to anyone of substance from their party running against Marshall because of the effect it might have on the governor’s race. Here we see the genius of the two-party system at work. Do you feel well-represented?
Still, an optimistic soul might see the situation as an opportunity rather than a problem. So the Republican machine has no interest in this race. Fine. That could provide an opportunity for some candidate who is outside of the political mainstream to enter the race and become a viable force.
I want to speak directly now to the citizens who participated in the “tea party” rallies on tax day this year. You are fed up. You are sick and tired of government-as-usual. You have had it up to here with deficit spending, intrusive government, and the lack of respect for our constitution displayed by nearly all of our representatives in Washington. That was the message you were trying to send with these rallies, if I’m not mistaken.
Well, here is an opportunity to do more than wave signs and sing songs. Surely there is someone in your ranks who can speak in complete sentences and has an ounce of personal charisma. I think it’s time for that person to step up and run for office. This is a perfect opportunity for an outsider, a candidate that represents a fresh alternative to business-as-usual in Washington to emerge and give 8th district voters a real choice next fall.
I once wrote that I believed the tea party rallies were political theater, a chance for anti-Obama Republicans to release their frustrations over losing power in Washington. I hope I was wrong, and that some true believer will emerge from that movement and give those of us who are fed up with our bloated federal government a reason to go to the polls next year. The clock is ticking however, and the time to act is right now.
Now that may not seem like a big deal to you, but to a person like me who feels strongly that our system of government only works when the people who are governed by it give a rat’s behind about who represents them, it was very hard pill to swallow.
Before I go any further, let me say this. I think Jim Marshall is a good guy and, in general, he has represented Middle Georgia about as well as any career politician could be expected to. I understand the practical reasons why none of the leading lights in the state Republican Party have jumped at the chance to oppose him, but that knowledge does nothing to cool my outrage that we could have a race for a national office in my own home district where no one may bother to oppose the incumbent.
Some of the views expressed in this piece made me want to tear my hair out. Numerous potential Republican opponents are refusing to throw their hats in the ring because of the long odds against winning and because their personal prospects are more promising if they run for state or local positions. And local conservative firebrand Erick Erickson said that some state GOP officials are hoping that Marshall does indeed go unopposed because a strong turnout for him might unduly influence the governor’s race in favor of the Democrats.
Take a minute to digest that. The GOP brain trust in this state are not simply disinterested in this race, they are actively opposed to anyone of substance from their party running against Marshall because of the effect it might have on the governor’s race. Here we see the genius of the two-party system at work. Do you feel well-represented?
Still, an optimistic soul might see the situation as an opportunity rather than a problem. So the Republican machine has no interest in this race. Fine. That could provide an opportunity for some candidate who is outside of the political mainstream to enter the race and become a viable force.
I want to speak directly now to the citizens who participated in the “tea party” rallies on tax day this year. You are fed up. You are sick and tired of government-as-usual. You have had it up to here with deficit spending, intrusive government, and the lack of respect for our constitution displayed by nearly all of our representatives in Washington. That was the message you were trying to send with these rallies, if I’m not mistaken.
Well, here is an opportunity to do more than wave signs and sing songs. Surely there is someone in your ranks who can speak in complete sentences and has an ounce of personal charisma. I think it’s time for that person to step up and run for office. This is a perfect opportunity for an outsider, a candidate that represents a fresh alternative to business-as-usual in Washington to emerge and give 8th district voters a real choice next fall.
I once wrote that I believed the tea party rallies were political theater, a chance for anti-Obama Republicans to release their frustrations over losing power in Washington. I hope I was wrong, and that some true believer will emerge from that movement and give those of us who are fed up with our bloated federal government a reason to go to the polls next year. The clock is ticking however, and the time to act is right now.
Some creative suggestions for a cash-strapped government
The recession has been hard on a lot of people, and it hasn’t been easy for our state and local governments either. They can’t just print their own money like the federal government can, so when the economy tanks and tax revenues plummet they have trouble paying the bills just like we do. And often times they are forced to tighten their belts in ways that cause real discomfort for their constituents.
Some government workers have had their pay frozen and some are facing mandatory unpaid “vacations.” Important capital improvement projects have been put on hold. Parks and recreation areas are not open as many days of the week or for as many hours a day as they used to be. And now local libraries have also had their operating hours cut back at the worst possible time – just as the kids are getting out of school and needing a nice safe place to hang out.
I realize that our government is faced with a difficult situation and I understand that they have to do something to cope with the loss of revenue caused by this troubled economy. But it seems like the cuts that they are making are depriving us of some of the best things the government does for us, and I’m not sure that they’ve considered all the options here.
Are there other areas of spending that could be cut or avenues of generating additional revenue that might be tapped so that Georgians would not be deprived of much-needed government services? Frankly I believe that we can do better than furloughing school teachers and shutting down public libraries. Here are just a few ideas off the top of my head:
- Furlough the state legislature. It costs a great deal of money to operate the legislature, and if they were to meet for a shorter period of time for the next several years it would save us a significant amount of money. I’m not so sure that we wouldn’t be better off overall if they had less time to “improve” the laws we already have in place anyway. Oftentimes it seems like they do more harm than good, doesn’t it? And while we’re talking about the legislature, maybe we should…
- Tax lobbyists. I’m not sure what kind of fees the representatives of big businesses and special interest groups pay in order to have the privilege of cozying up to our lawmakers, but whatever it is I bet it’s not enough. Lord knows they’ll probably get it back with grants and “targeted tax cuts” anyway, but maybe we’d at least have a chance to break even if we charged them a significant registration fee.
- Sin taxes. Now hold on a minute – it’s not what you think. I’m not advocating raising taxes on cigarettes and liquor. Those taxes are high enough as it is, and frankly I’m not convinced that smoking a Marlboro or drinking a Budweiser is a “sin” anyway. I’m talking about adding huge fines to the jail sentences of the real bad apples in our society. Murderers, rapists, child abusers, repeat-offender drunk drivers – those are sins that really need to be taxed. Instead, their room and board is coming out of your family budget. Why should they be protected from the recession if they have money in the bank or houses and cars that could be auctioned off?
- Rent out the governor’s mansion. I don’t know how many rooms there are in that big house we provide for the governor and his spouse, but I have to believe that they aren’t using all of them. Imagine how much a high-roller (if there are any of them left out there) would pay for the privilege of sleeping down the hall from our chief executive and the first lady. Turn it into a bed and breakfast I say, and turn the profits over to the people.
Some government workers have had their pay frozen and some are facing mandatory unpaid “vacations.” Important capital improvement projects have been put on hold. Parks and recreation areas are not open as many days of the week or for as many hours a day as they used to be. And now local libraries have also had their operating hours cut back at the worst possible time – just as the kids are getting out of school and needing a nice safe place to hang out.
I realize that our government is faced with a difficult situation and I understand that they have to do something to cope with the loss of revenue caused by this troubled economy. But it seems like the cuts that they are making are depriving us of some of the best things the government does for us, and I’m not sure that they’ve considered all the options here.
Are there other areas of spending that could be cut or avenues of generating additional revenue that might be tapped so that Georgians would not be deprived of much-needed government services? Frankly I believe that we can do better than furloughing school teachers and shutting down public libraries. Here are just a few ideas off the top of my head:
- Furlough the state legislature. It costs a great deal of money to operate the legislature, and if they were to meet for a shorter period of time for the next several years it would save us a significant amount of money. I’m not so sure that we wouldn’t be better off overall if they had less time to “improve” the laws we already have in place anyway. Oftentimes it seems like they do more harm than good, doesn’t it? And while we’re talking about the legislature, maybe we should…
- Tax lobbyists. I’m not sure what kind of fees the representatives of big businesses and special interest groups pay in order to have the privilege of cozying up to our lawmakers, but whatever it is I bet it’s not enough. Lord knows they’ll probably get it back with grants and “targeted tax cuts” anyway, but maybe we’d at least have a chance to break even if we charged them a significant registration fee.
- Sin taxes. Now hold on a minute – it’s not what you think. I’m not advocating raising taxes on cigarettes and liquor. Those taxes are high enough as it is, and frankly I’m not convinced that smoking a Marlboro or drinking a Budweiser is a “sin” anyway. I’m talking about adding huge fines to the jail sentences of the real bad apples in our society. Murderers, rapists, child abusers, repeat-offender drunk drivers – those are sins that really need to be taxed. Instead, their room and board is coming out of your family budget. Why should they be protected from the recession if they have money in the bank or houses and cars that could be auctioned off?
- Rent out the governor’s mansion. I don’t know how many rooms there are in that big house we provide for the governor and his spouse, but I have to believe that they aren’t using all of them. Imagine how much a high-roller (if there are any of them left out there) would pay for the privilege of sleeping down the hall from our chief executive and the first lady. Turn it into a bed and breakfast I say, and turn the profits over to the people.
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