Loss of Mystique?
Posted on 19. Jul, 2009 by Deb.
“The first thing I did when I walked into the arena to work on the set I said, ‘It’s 2009 and there’s a million iPhones with a million opportunities to take a picture of our show and ruin Christmas.’
“I’m so over the Internet, Twitter is ridiculous and there’s too much info out there. Celebrities, movie stars and rock stars are losing their mystique.”
I certainly understand his feelings. I love the instancy of communication and the huge amount of information at my fingertips. But I also mourn the days where there was mystique about a person, when we had privacy. When someone protests their privacy, I always wonder if they have something to hide or are simply wanting things to be the way they were twenty years ago. Maybe it’s just a desire to keep a few things to ourselves and those who really love us.
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from 1968
Posted on 19. Jul, 2009 by Deb.
I was going through my hard drive looking for a piece of an old story, and found this:
It’s me and my mom. Taking a walk on Hillcrest Street. Believe it or not, her hair style is the same.
Just thought it needed to see the light of day.
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Marijuana Is Gateway Drug for Two Debates
Posted on 19. Jul, 2009 by Deb.
Marijuana, the country’s most widely used illicit drug, is typically not thought to destroy lives. Like alcohol, pot has been romanticized by writers and musicians, from Louis Armstrong to Bob Dylan, and it has been depicted as harmless or silly in movies like “Harold and Kumar.” And addiction experts agree, marijuana does not pose as serious a public health problem as cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine. The drug cannot lead to fatal overdose and its hazards pale in comparison with those of alcohol. But at the same time, marijuana can be up to five times more potent than the cannabis of the 1970s, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
And this new more-potent pot and the growing support for legalization has led to an often angry debate over marijuana addiction. Many public health officials worry that this stronger marijuana has increased addiction rates and is potentially more dangerous to teenagers, whose brains are still developing. And officials say the movement to legalize marijuana — now available by prescription in 13 states — plays down the dangers of habitual use.
“We need to be very mindful of what we are unleashing out of a Pandora’s Box here,” said Dr. Richard N. Rosenthal, chairman of psychiatry at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital in Manhattan and professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University. “The people who become chronic users don’t have the same lives and the same achievements as people who don’t use chronically.”
via Marijuana Is Gateway Drug for Two Debates – NYTimes.com.
I have a million thoughts on this article. Most of my thoughts would make me unpopular with many folks who believe that marijuana is “no big deal”. I understand the medical benefits of use and I wouldn’t want to deny that use by those who medically need it. My issue is with those who choose this as part of their lifestyle.
I hope you take a moment to read the article.
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Thoughts on Journalists
Posted on 18. Jul, 2009 by Deb.
One of the best pieces I’ve read today is Susan Toepfer’s piece in the Wall Street Journal’s “Speakeasy” blog. My degree is in Broadcast Journalism and the foundation of that education is that the reporter should always stay neutral unless it is an opinion piece. I worked at ABC News while Peter Jennings was still there, and the maintenance of that journalistic integrity was key to how the evening newscast was put together.
We’ve entered a time, of course, when objectivity–whatever that is, exactly–is not a sellable product. What we want instead is opinion. Talking points. Or vulnerability. Certainly, there are some who struggle to keep their tone civil, their reports tethered to truth, not to the political tides that crash through MSNBC and Fox News. Old-line network stars like Brian Williams and Charles Gibson gaze solemnly forward, without pausing for personal asides. CNN, despite the challenges of instant, dubiously reliable Internet news flashes (how could TMZ declare Michael Jackson dead before doctors did?), continues to put on a globally neutral face, even as its anchors’ faces become more glamorous by the day.
But the whole Anchor-as-Immobile-God persona started to crumble back in 2001, when Dan Rather-–always the most volatile of the Big Three evening newscasters—dissolved into tears on David Letterman’s show, talking about the 9/11 attacks. A few years later he was gone, along with Tom Brokaw and Peter Jennings.
In 2005, Anderson Cooper, overwhelmed by the body count of Hurricane Katrina, broke down on the air. Then, in 2008, came the sudden death of Tim Russert. The loss of this admirably affable newsman, who never showed his hand, may well have marked the end of the politically neutral broadcasting for which Cronkite once stood as stolid symbol.
Not that I personally object to the proliferation of blatantly biased news–I’d rather have journalists flaunting their political preferences than sneakily (or subconsciously) slanting their reports. And I do confess a fondness for the overblown Olbermann, with his boorish cries of “Fascist!” “Liar!” “Treason!,” just as O’Reilly and Rush have their supporters. O’Reilly once threatened to “boot right off this set” that mild-mannered talk show host from another era, Phil Donahue.
If that’s not entertainment, I don’t know what is! And just how does a traditional, trained-to-be-objective newsman compete with this newfangled display of passion and bile? It is, after all, impossible to imagine Cronkite going after John Chancellor or David Brinkley.
Uncle Walter did not engage in such antics. Nor did he brandish his political beliefs, or reveal the full extent of his anguish, joy or grief. He was first and foremost a reporter, a stalwart announcer of the day’s events.
via WSJ.
I honestly don’t watch much Network news any longer. I’d love to say that newspapers are more objective, but I can’t honestly say that, either. It’s a matter of digging through the news from different sources and putting things together.
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Read Worthy News (Saturday, July 18 – New York Times)
Posted on 18. Jul, 2009 by Deb.
Just a few of the stories I’ve read this evening that are worth pointing you to:
- Henry Allingham, one of Britain’s last three surviving veterans of World War I, died on Saturday at a nursing home in the south coast town of Brighton, staff at the home said. Age 113, he was officially recognized as Britain’s oldest man. (via Henry Allingham, British Veteran of World War I, Dies at 113 – Obituary (Obit) – NYTimes.com.)
- A disconnect between perception and reality worsens the problem. New studies show that drivers overestimate their own ability to safely multitask, even as they worry about the danger. (via Dismissing the Risks of a Deadly Habit – Multitasking on the Road – NYTimes.com.)
- The seven points proposed by President Óscar Arias of Costa Rica during a second round of negotiations at his house in the capital, San José, would require the political elite of Honduras to recognize Mr. Zelaya as the country’s legitimate president, something they have refused to do until now. But in restoring Mr. Zelaya, Mr. Arias’s plan would also sharply curtail his powers and focus much of the country’s political energy on the next election. (via Plan Would Return Honduran Leader – NYTimes.com.)
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American Moments with Walter Cronkite
Posted on 18. Jul, 2009 by Deb.
Walter Cronkite escorted America through the 1960s and 1970s every night, from his boyish, awestruck enthusiasm for the wonders of space to Vietnam, assassinations and a nuclear scare. See the videos below:
via Speakeasy – WSJ.
For those of you too young to remember, The Wall Street Journal has gathered a set of six Walter Cronkite Videos. Click on the link….
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Korean Taco War?
Posted on 18. Jul, 2009 by Deb.
Baja Fresh filed for trademark protection for the term “kogi” on May 8th, Mr. Rink says. Kogi filed its trademark paperwork for “kogi” on December 4th of last year, but only for narrow use, just on mobile food carts. Baja Fresh is seeking protection for the use of Kogi with everything from tacos and burritos to promotional toys. Kogi co-founder Caroline Shin-Manguera says a steep “learning curve” when starting the business accounts for the wording on the trademark application.
via Kogi and Baja Fresh in a Korean Taco War? – Speakeasy – WSJ.
To me, this is an example of Big Business capitalizing on what a small, independent business has done. It will be interesting to see how it all comes out.
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Magnetic Words: Know
Posted on 17. Jul, 2009 by Deb.
My mother could never read me enough books and my grandmother could never tell me enough tales about her life. When I learned to read, I could never consume enough books. When I meet people, I want to know about them. And when someone does something incredibly odd, I want to know why.
How does a story unfold? How did a character get through a sticky situation? Why is my grandmother crying in the only family photo of her family when she was a child? Why does this person have an obession? Where are we in the world?
I think it’s my innate curiosity.
I want to know.
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RIP – Walter Cronkite
Posted on 17. Jul, 2009 by Deb.
Most of you wouldn’t know that I have a degree in Broadcasting. I worked for the NBC Affiliate in Dallas as well as ABC News. I majored in broacasting because of Walter Cronkite. It’s heartbreaking that he is gone.
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Magnetic Words: Rhythm
Posted on 16. Jul, 2009 by Deb.
Music is as much a part of my life as words. Not that many nights ago, I had mentioned to The Boy that a constant soundtrack plays in my head throughout the day. My tastes are quite pedestrian to most, but still diverse. I like music I can sing or music that makes me want to dance. Especially music that I can sing, as I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember, though I haven’t done it in public in ages. When I listen to a song, I hear the rhythm of the words and the melody. I’m not much of a poetry writer, though I have dabbled there. I admire a good poem, just as I admire a good book or a good song. Poetry often depends upon the rhythm of the words.
Maybe it’s time I dabble back in poetry a bit.
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Magnetic Words, Day Five
Posted on 15. Jul, 2009 by Deb.
The pile of magnetic words originated from two collections: Art & Literature. I knew eventually I would draw a color. Today, the word of the day is blue. Two thoughts come to my pre-caffeinated mind: “Robin Egg’s Blue” and “Cerulean”.
Several months back, I was suffering from a severe case of writer’s block. When The Boy asked why I hadn’t written in weeks, I told him I couldn’t think of a thing to say. He suggested I baby step back into writing and describe my morning walk. The sky that day was a beautiful Robin Egg Blue. I baby stepped into writing again after that.
And Cerulean. I love the way the word rolls off my tongue when I say it.
I had wondered what a simple color would say to me when it came to writing and I immediately knew when the simple blue appeared on my refrigerator door. Words are another form of art, and getting a reader to see through a writer’s eyes depends upon descriptive words. Blue is the parent to a whole rainbow of blues. It’s an angel’s azure eyes, an officer’s navy uniform, a teenager’s teal prom dress, and my cotton cornflower nightgown.
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Magnetic Words: Observe
Posted on 14. Jul, 2009 by Deb.
I wrinkled my nose when I first saw my word for today: Observe. Wasn’t the point of this exercise to get me doing, not just watching? Then I recalled the words of those who have gone before me. Writers who have published multiple books. In order to write, you have to live and observe life.
From Breena Clarke author of River, Cross My Heart and Stand the Storm:
There is balance as a writer. It is a solitary profession in many respects. One thing that has been fortunate for me is that before my first book was published, I worked full time in an office and part time at my writing. After River, Cross My Heart, I was able to write full time. I do have a lot of buddies and friends, I’m married and I have my dogs. I have a nice little social circle, and when I was working full time, I used public transportation. Having contact with people, just looking at them and watching them, is a great asset. It’s interesting to try and read what they are thinking, seeing their faces and bodies and attitudes and being sketch out them as characters. I have continued to do that when I can. Now that writing full time, one thing that was most difficult was (took an early retirement) was the thought I could write all day. I thought how fabulous it would be, but it doesn’t work that way. No one works twenty-four-hours a day. It took me quite awhile to achieve a schedule. For the first time, I was in charge of my whole schedule.
From an interview with author, screenwriter, and television producer George Pelecanos:
It was at a point that many hardboiled detective novels were more about the WHY rather than the WHO. I had gone down there (with the police) and hung out and done the street work, and I saw a different possibility and changed direction. I look at it as a form of reporting and you have to feel the dirt between your fingers. I talk to people, and I listen. An afternoon of work can consist of walking into a bar and ordering a beer and listening to people talk, riding the bus down the avenue, or just getting outside and hanging out with people. What I try to do is to front load all my research – spend a couple of months being out there – with police, prison, parole officer, humane society officers. It’s part of the job. You have to get enough ammunition to write a book, then come home and lock yourself in for five or six months – day and night – and everything (due to my research) is there at my feet.
When you are researching, I keep it all in my head. It intimidates people when you pull out a pad or a tape recorder. Then, when you get home, you make your notes.
The trick now, is to take those observations and write them down into something substantial and cohesive.
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Magnetic Words, Day Three
Posted on 13. Jul, 2009 by Deb.
In the dark last night, I shuffled the magnetic word pile, allowing my fingers to grope and pluck until five words had been chosen.
I held them in my hand. I could feel the heat of the words; it was as if they would burn through my fingers if I didn’t look at them. But I couldn’t. Look, that is. It was against the rules of the game as the word of the day cannot be seen until the morning when it is placed on the refrigerator door do the right of the handle. And even though I am the one making the rules, I can’t break them.
At least not yet.
The kitchen still dark, I open my hand and gently place the words – one by one – on the side. These would be my words for the work week. My hand was still warm from the words as I climbed into bed for the night. I could hear them whispering to me in my dreams, begging me to “pick me” in the morning.
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Pre-coffee, I reached around the side of the fridge and chose a word. I could feel the heat emanating from all of them, but I can only choose one. I slide it into its space for the day and allow myself to finally gaze upon it. Today, the word is from The Boy.
I could hear this word roll off his tongue and into my ear. It’s whispered to me with his growly bear voice, the one reserved for mornings and intimate moments. When I try the word upon my own tongue, it sounds foreign. So I will keep it in my ear all day. And when I think it or type it, it it comes out only in his voice, a gift to me.
“Glorious,” he says to me. “You, my baby, are glorious. Now be a good girl, and write.”
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Magnetic Words: Compose
Posted on 12. Jul, 2009 by Deb.
I closed my eyes, reached into the pile of magnetic words, and gingerly plucked one. I kept the word face down until I made my way to the refrigerator, turned it over and placed it in the space beside the handle. I find that, though quiet at times, my guiding spirit is ever present and speaking to me, so I am sure that it was a purposeful nudge that sent me in the direction of this word today instead of canvas or green.
I look at the word and listen to my heart as the voice whispers in my ear my word for today: “Compose.”
“Create,” says the voice. “And while you are at it, pull yourself together.”
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Magnetic Words: Grace
Posted on 11. Jul, 2009 by Deb.
I mentioned the pile of magnetic words the other day. In some ways, they are still mocking me, but I am beginning to make friends with them in small ways. I figure if I make friends with them, they won’t be mean to me. Well, maybe not as mean to me.
This morning, I found a single word on the refrigerator door: GRACE
From Webster’s:
2 a: approval, favor barchaic : mercy, pardon c: a special favor : privilege d: disposition to or an act or instance of kindness, courtesy, or clemency e: a temporary exemption : reprieve
I took “grace” to heart this morning as the words played through my head: mercy – kindness – pardon – reprieve. It was the perfect word to find as I struggled to wake and began to prepare my first cup of coffee.
I’ve been off the last month or so. Nothing most of you around here would notice, unless you knew me pre-Tumblr. Know on days when I am reblogging a photo someone posted or sending you to interesting news pieces from around the globe, I am doing it because I care about the world around me and I care about what you care about – because it’s important enough to you to make you laugh or make you cry.
When asked what I am, for years I have said I am a writer. It isn’t about a want, it is a need. Words play in my head from the moment I wake and often haunt me when I sleep. One of my biggest problems is that I allow reality to creep in too much and lose sight of my inner child. Needing to be in touch with that inner child is critical, but you cannot behave as a child when it comes to craft. I am too undisciplined and too emotional – and that has got to change. I must find the way to corral the child’s enthusiasm and love into a disciplined practice.
I know that it may start slowly. Discipline isn’t something you can just strap on and wear as you would a new pair of shoes. It is something that has to be cultivated and tended. And in some ways, it begins with grace.