Year of Dog

I feel sorry for those that don't celebrate the Asian New Year. It's another holiday to fill up the year, another excuse to be with family and friends. I can't say I get every tradition (and yes, some are meant to be broken), but overall, it's a pretty cool thing to be a part of.

Writing for an audience.

Yesterday, I sent out a story I wrote recently to see if some journal would want to publish it. It's a different story. I like some parts of it a lot, but I'm not sure I'm ever quite satisfied with anything I write.

Anyway, this got me thinking, how much of writing is just for myself, and how much for an audience? How much do I care if no one ever reads a thing I attempt to put in words?

I do write just for myself. If no one ever read a thing I wrote, I'd probably still spend some time working on it. But when I finish something I still feel compelled to send it out a couple times, see if anyone wants to give it a chance with a larger audience.

I think I'd break it down like this:
Writing contracts or other work related stuff. 50% for me. 50% for audience.
Writing stories. 40% for me. 60% for audience.
Writing blog. 80% me. 20% for audience.

Yeah. That's right. This is my journal.

Dog eat Dog

One of the most difficult challenges out there is finding the right jobs. There doesn't seem to be a sensical way to match up people and jobs and the competition is fierce. More often than not, it's pure luck if you find something that you're happy with.

Barbara Ehrenreich explores some of the pitfalls of finding a middle class job in today's economy in her latest book, Bait and Switch. She goes through career coaching, personality testing, boot camps, job fairs, and networking events to study the white collar unemployed. Unfortunately, a lot of that stuff turns out to be a scam. There are over 10,000 "coaches" out there who for a fee can assist you in finding your passion. There are unscientific personality tests that have nothing to do as predictors of performance that are used over and over again, (again for a fee).

Networking is the only thing that seems to work at all, but networking events are pretty useless. All you'll find is other unemployed people. Networking needs to be more organic than that.

It's hard out there. Those without work are looking hard, fearful of downward mobility. Often they've done everything right. They got the degrees, they give the right attitude, and sometimes it's still not enough. And from the other side, even if you have a job, there's the contstant fear that you're going to lose it.

This book is basically the experience of one invetigative journalist, it's not a very scientific study or anything, but I think there are some interesting conclusions to draw.

1. Coaches and others will tell you there are jobs out there, the problem is YOU. Maybe the question needs to be What's wrong with this Picture.
2. Much of the job seeker's work, internet searches, and applications is uselss except to fill time.
3. Keeping a winning attitutude means letting go of negative thoughts, never questioning.

Each of these points explain why the basic system never changes. I'm not advocating the overthrow of capitalism or anything like that, but these criticisms make some sense. Capitalism has built in checks even for the unemployed to keep people from really thinking collectively about systemic changes in our system. There are still jobs out there. The fact you can't find one has nothing to do with anyone's economic policies. It's just you.

I wish I had answers. I don't. All I can right now is point out that this is one of the ways America's middle class is under attack these days.

Transfer Tubes

Does anybody know what a transfer tube is? It's modern propoganda speak for a body bag. I guess we're supposed to forget that they're dying.

Why skiing?

Because there are mountains people need to climb them. And if they go up, they must come down. I spent the last few days up in the Lake Tahoe area with fiberglass bars strapped to my boots, hurtling myself down mountains in a semi-controlled, very unstylish fall. It's beautiful up there. The mountains are covered in white snow and the clear blue lake sits as the backdrop. There is nothing like the sound of skis swishing through the snow.

I wish Tahoe were a little closer. I wish skiing were a little cheaper. It takes a lot of time, effort, and planning to get up there. There's always traffic and there's always weather. But when you share the trip with good friends, when you stand at the top of the mountain and look on at the wide expanse before you. When your mind and body work as one to keep you alive as you fly down the mountain. That's what it's all about.

Cat lessons

I've been counseling my cat. At times she seems a little timid, so I've been trying to get her in touch with her "inner tiger". She's had extensive pouncing training. Soon she'll be able to jump higher than Michael Jordan.

This weekend Anya's will also have language lessons in Hungarian. Pretty soon, the furball will be able to ignore me in 4 languages.

Junior just can't wait to be King.

Excuse me as I stand on my soapbox once again. It's been a little while.

Every day there is another scandal involving the Republiskunks. It would be wearisome if it weren't so sad. I think I'm reacting the same as most reasonable people. First there is a sense of outrage, and hope that the scandal will be the final straw that causes real regime change, or at least enlighten people as to the myriad ways they are being duped. But eventually as the legal wheels slowly grind and another scandal erupts, I just try to keep awake and not bored to death by the back and forth allegations.

Still there is one item that hasn't gotten enough attention outside of a Boston Globe piece by Charlie Savage on 1/4. Bush recently signed the defense appropriations bill he needs to keep his illegal war funded. In doing so, he was forced to accept John McCain's anti-torture amendment. So he signed it, and on top of the bill he attached a "signing statement" which gave his interpretation of what he was signing. And of course, this official document quietly reserves the right to bypass the McCain amendment and comply only when he feels like it. Essentially, for the upteenth time, he's saying he's above the law and Congressional legislation means squat.

Maybe it was the holiday, maybe it was that this grab for power was overshadowed by his repudiation of the Foreign Services Act and warrantless wiretaps. Maybe we've been so desensitized to this stuff, we'll accept him as King just to get it out of the news. Everyone, Junior is quietly destroying that which he swore to defend. He acts as if our Constitution is pointless and the Executive branch is the only seat of power. Don't pretend you don't see it. Do something.

Sharks on the move.

I have not been a huge hockey fan. It rates somewhere above bowling, but below college football in holding my interest. That settles it somewhere aroudn the leveo of the WNBA or the World's Strongest Man competition. But I think after last night's action, I might have to take a more serious look at the sport in the future.

I went to the game last night where the San Jose Sharks knocked off the first place LA Kings 3-2 at the HP Shark Tank. Every seat was taken and the place was maddingly loud. It was a riveting game, even for a casual fan like me. It was great to cheer when people cleared the puck from their zone or ooh and ahh and plays that just didn't quite develop. But the biggest cheers are reserved for when someone from the home team rams an opposing player into the wall on a check. Pretty cool.

I think I've never developed an affinity for the game because my parents certainly weren't going to take me to a game and it translates really poorly on TV. On TV, it looks like soccer on ice, low scoring and not a lot going on. Because the game moves so quickly, you really need to be able to see the whole playing surface to get a real sense of what's going on. Baseball and basketball are pretty good on TV but better live. Football is better on TV. There are much fewer stoppages with subs jumping in and out while the clock runs. What I'd say is try a hockey game live, and you might start to appreciate it. I'll probably try and go again sometime.

Back in the Groove

It's the last day of the week and I finally feel like I've recovered from vacation. For the last couple days it's been a struggle to get through anything at work. I wonder if this is how bears feel when the come out of hibernation. But I think I'm still the early bird when it comes to recovery. Most of the people in my office lost at least one day to being "sick" this week.

New Thoughts for 2006

I guess all good things must come to an end. It's been a great two weeks off. I haven't gone anywhere or done anything real exciting, but the change to sit at home and relax has been absolutely wonderful. I feel recharged. I'm okay with going back to work tomorrow, but just a little sad to see this small period of my life end.

The only exciting thing over the last couple of days was a small New Year's gathering. We had a couple friends over and ate and drank and talked and spoke of the twenty something glory days when we had stood out in Times Square, or at the Embarcadero and spent too much money to chase a good time. This was much more relaxed and fun. At least on my part, I'm looking forward to 2006. I see no reason it won't be even better than the last year.

The second day of the New Year has started well. Congratulations to the Badgers who just smoked the Tigers and congratulations to Barry for a fine career as head football coach.

I really don't have any new resolutions. I just hope to continue walking gently upon this Earth and making a difference for the better whenever I can. Maybe I'll grow in my thoughts and blogging. Unlikely, but we'll see.

Our First Christmas with Anya