Monday, May 22, 2006
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Five essential elements of leadership "as leadership":
Leadership
Guides the way
Speaks truth
Creates, nurtures, or protects group identity,
perhaps by naming and eliminating the enemy
Acts decisively
"and it's got to make you glad to be alive."
Guides the way
Speaks truth
Creates, nurtures, or protects group identity,
perhaps by naming and eliminating the enemy
Acts decisively
"and it's got to make you glad to be alive."
Thursday, December 08, 2005
weather or not
So, is it the weather? I've just had two phone calls in a row that really stretched my tolerance. (My tolerance is pretty low, anyway.)
I'm stuck in a horrible situation right now, so I don't have much to give to anybody except a resolve not to pass on any bad karma.
One conversation about drawing the line about church and liturgy. I draw lines, too, but when I find myself at that point, it feels like total failure.
Another from someone whose life is so incredibly messed up he'll never pull it together, and I'm stuck listening to him telling me why someone else is impossible to live with.
I don't want to argue about anything. Just live and let live.
It would be nice to get some constructive work done, too.
I'm stuck in a horrible situation right now, so I don't have much to give to anybody except a resolve not to pass on any bad karma.
One conversation about drawing the line about church and liturgy. I draw lines, too, but when I find myself at that point, it feels like total failure.
Another from someone whose life is so incredibly messed up he'll never pull it together, and I'm stuck listening to him telling me why someone else is impossible to live with.
I don't want to argue about anything. Just live and let live.
It would be nice to get some constructive work done, too.
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Special effects take the light from Harry Potter
If you've been to see the Goblet of Fire, you know that it has some of the most believable, seamless special effects of any fantasy movie. The dragon is the best I've seen. The underwater scene, in which Harry turns into a fish-person, is eerie and convincing. Merpeople and grindylows are believable.
Unfortunately, these beautiful, stunning, entertaining effects diminish the main line of the story of Goblet of Fire, take away the tension. Rowling's Goblet of Fire is a two-layered thriller. The background line is the extreme threat of Voldemort in Harry's life. The foreground school story features everyday challenges that are not evil, but extremely difficult, and this is the sense that is missing from the movie.
In the books, the TriWizard Tournament is a somewhat-over-the-top school event. It reminds me of the Wide Games we used to hold at Girl Scout camp, where everyone went all-out for some kind of theme adventure in which we immersed ourselves for a few hours or a few days. If it's a little overenthusiastic, well, so are our state football championships. People get hurt in them, too.
In the book, the dragon challenge is plenty real to Harry and the contestants, but the dragons are tethered, and a dozen wizards are standing by to stun the beasts if they get out of hand. It's a challenge of nerve, preparation and courage. We are priveleged to Harry's feelings of inadequacy and dread, and his huge relief when he finds himself able to use his Quiddich skill to meet the challenge well.
Harry's preparation for the second task is mostly avoidance. Rowling makes exquisite use of his awareness of time passing without this huge problem being solved. He does eventually start to prepare, but not soon enough were it not for luck (Dobby's help). When the task happens, the merpeople are there to see to the contestants' safety. Harry's near-drowning in the movie, while entertaining, would not have happened in the book-story. And for this reason, the book gives us the emotional tension of Harry's accomplishing the task, followed by acute embarrassment at coming in last because of taking it too seriously. He conquered the physical challenge, but missed the boat on the social challenge, he thinks, and THEN is exonerated by the judge's award of second place for "moral fibre." To me, this is more emotionally satisfying than a pretty rescue and escape scene.
The third task is very different for Harry. The second task has taught him how to prepare, and he, Hermione, and Ron spend a very large amount of time cramming and preparing. They research magical techniques, practice and perfect them. For the third task, Harry is nervous, but not afraid. He is ready. It's a real challenge, and the true challenge, as we see, is not one of skill, but of his sense of fairness.
THEN, the evil of Voldemort breaks in. And it is really evil. But Harry has grown, and his escape is not just luck or protection. His own growth is a very real part of what saves him.
So you see, the over-the-top movie effects cheat Harry of the very real accomplishments and growth. They also cheat the story line, for when the true beyond-his-skill challenge of Voldemort comes, we've long since suspended our disbelief, so there's no real shock or surprise. It's just another fantasy story.
Reading between the lines, director Mike Newell has said he was frustrated that the special effects had such a life of their own. I agree. Stunning as they are, they took away from the chance to tell the human story--a story of a person faced with difficulties who learns to overcome them, later finding himself able to prevail against unexpected difficulty.
I read somewhere that the special-effects people are salivating at their chance to portray Grawp in the next story. Well, I'd like to see Grawp well-done, but even more, I'd like to see the character interplay of the human side of the story. Order of the Phoenix is very much about people, their misconceptions in time of danger, their blindness and meanness. Ultimately it becomes the story of their ability (esp. Dumbledore's Army) to take charge of their own lives cooperatively. I'd hate to let this human story be swamped by special effects.
Unfortunately, these beautiful, stunning, entertaining effects diminish the main line of the story of Goblet of Fire, take away the tension. Rowling's Goblet of Fire is a two-layered thriller. The background line is the extreme threat of Voldemort in Harry's life. The foreground school story features everyday challenges that are not evil, but extremely difficult, and this is the sense that is missing from the movie.
In the books, the TriWizard Tournament is a somewhat-over-the-top school event. It reminds me of the Wide Games we used to hold at Girl Scout camp, where everyone went all-out for some kind of theme adventure in which we immersed ourselves for a few hours or a few days. If it's a little overenthusiastic, well, so are our state football championships. People get hurt in them, too.
In the book, the dragon challenge is plenty real to Harry and the contestants, but the dragons are tethered, and a dozen wizards are standing by to stun the beasts if they get out of hand. It's a challenge of nerve, preparation and courage. We are priveleged to Harry's feelings of inadequacy and dread, and his huge relief when he finds himself able to use his Quiddich skill to meet the challenge well.
Harry's preparation for the second task is mostly avoidance. Rowling makes exquisite use of his awareness of time passing without this huge problem being solved. He does eventually start to prepare, but not soon enough were it not for luck (Dobby's help). When the task happens, the merpeople are there to see to the contestants' safety. Harry's near-drowning in the movie, while entertaining, would not have happened in the book-story. And for this reason, the book gives us the emotional tension of Harry's accomplishing the task, followed by acute embarrassment at coming in last because of taking it too seriously. He conquered the physical challenge, but missed the boat on the social challenge, he thinks, and THEN is exonerated by the judge's award of second place for "moral fibre." To me, this is more emotionally satisfying than a pretty rescue and escape scene.
The third task is very different for Harry. The second task has taught him how to prepare, and he, Hermione, and Ron spend a very large amount of time cramming and preparing. They research magical techniques, practice and perfect them. For the third task, Harry is nervous, but not afraid. He is ready. It's a real challenge, and the true challenge, as we see, is not one of skill, but of his sense of fairness.
THEN, the evil of Voldemort breaks in. And it is really evil. But Harry has grown, and his escape is not just luck or protection. His own growth is a very real part of what saves him.
So you see, the over-the-top movie effects cheat Harry of the very real accomplishments and growth. They also cheat the story line, for when the true beyond-his-skill challenge of Voldemort comes, we've long since suspended our disbelief, so there's no real shock or surprise. It's just another fantasy story.
Reading between the lines, director Mike Newell has said he was frustrated that the special effects had such a life of their own. I agree. Stunning as they are, they took away from the chance to tell the human story--a story of a person faced with difficulties who learns to overcome them, later finding himself able to prevail against unexpected difficulty.
I read somewhere that the special-effects people are salivating at their chance to portray Grawp in the next story. Well, I'd like to see Grawp well-done, but even more, I'd like to see the character interplay of the human side of the story. Order of the Phoenix is very much about people, their misconceptions in time of danger, their blindness and meanness. Ultimately it becomes the story of their ability (esp. Dumbledore's Army) to take charge of their own lives cooperatively. I'd hate to let this human story be swamped by special effects.
Monday, November 21, 2005
Kelpie Wilson | Thanksgiving Day 2005
t r u t h o u t - Kelpie Wilson | Thanksgiving Day 2005: "We are like the addict who would have died of an overdose if he hadn't run out of smack first, so let's be thankful that our supply is being cut off."
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Monday, October 17, 2005
life, the universe, and everything in two sentences
"The difference between one and more-than-one
is all the difference in the world.
Indeed, that difference is the world."
--Ursula LeGuin, The New Atlantis, The Compass Rose, p. 17
is all the difference in the world.
Indeed, that difference is the world."
--Ursula LeGuin, The New Atlantis, The Compass Rose, p. 17
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Cindy's questions and mine
WHY are they dying?
WHEN will it end???
It's about Oil.
It's about Domination.
It's about Money
& Freedom to exploit.
It's NOT about Democracy.
Whose children will be sacrificed today?
WHEN will it end???
It's about Oil.
It's about Domination.
It's about Money
& Freedom to exploit.
It's NOT about Democracy.
Whose children will be sacrificed today?
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Cindy Sheehan
We held vigil last night with Cindy Sheehan.
We, too, believe that our government is NOT answering the following questions:
Why did we go to war?
How many have died because of this?
When will our military come home?
We, too, believe that our government is NOT answering the following questions:
Why did we go to war?
How many have died because of this?
When will our military come home?
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
What's wrong with this picture?
I just got cable television. We were privileged to see the President's press conference in Crawford, Texas, where he answered questions about, among other things, Cindy Sheehan.
The staging was interesting. President Bush is standing in his blue shirt-sleeves, talking earnestly like a good-ole-boy. Mr. Cheney is wearing some kind of windbreaker jacket outfit, and Dr. Rice is wearing a pantsuit outfit and low heels.
The dirt road is in the background, and the President, at least, is made up to look as if he belongs there, unless you realize that the whole country is experiencing a heat wave and these people are all all standing out in the sun.
What good ole country boy wouldn't have the sense to stand in the shade?
All hat, no cattle.
Brings to mind the 30,000 Boy Scouts who were forced to stand in the sun and heat for many hours so that the President could console them on their losses recently.
What kind of judgment is going on here?
The staging was interesting. President Bush is standing in his blue shirt-sleeves, talking earnestly like a good-ole-boy. Mr. Cheney is wearing some kind of windbreaker jacket outfit, and Dr. Rice is wearing a pantsuit outfit and low heels.
The dirt road is in the background, and the President, at least, is made up to look as if he belongs there, unless you realize that the whole country is experiencing a heat wave and these people are all all standing out in the sun.
What good ole country boy wouldn't have the sense to stand in the shade?
All hat, no cattle.
Brings to mind the 30,000 Boy Scouts who were forced to stand in the sun and heat for many hours so that the President could console them on their losses recently.
What kind of judgment is going on here?
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Dear Representative Ron Lewis,
I’m writing to express my extreme disappointment in learning that you voted for the 2005 energy bill and its billions of dollars in giveaways to coal, oil, and nuclear companies.
Nuclear power is not a safe option, although its construction will generate lots of money to big business entities. Any resulting catastrophes, which are bound to happen sooner or later, will generate cash flow as well, I suppose. Maybe that's the reasoning behind support of nuclear power?
I have spent time in Heidelberg, Germany, and have noticed that a more "green" lifestyle is not only a long-term benefit for the future of the people, but generates short-term, immediate well-being in a better lifestyle. Everyday life is much better. People enjoy themselves more, and are not caught up in the ratrace of "consume, consume, consume, work, work, work" that we are saddled with here in the US.
I hope you will go back to the drawing board before the next election and craft a truly forward-thinking national energy policy that includes the following: 1) An end, not an increase, to coal and oil subsidies; 2) A significant increase in funding for energy efficiency, conservation, and renewable energy programs – the quickest way to reduce our oil dependence; 3) An immediate and significant upgrade of the CAFE standards (Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency) on new cars and light trucks; 4) A comprehensive set of tax incentives for energy-efficient technologies and appliances; 5) Adoption of the Hannover Principles as guidelines for planning.
Please show that you care more about the well being of the people of our state than you do about increasing the already huge profits of coal and oil companies. Please lead the way back to the drawing board and immediately set to work on a national energy plan based on efficiency, conservation and renewable energy. We need a forward-thinking plan with real goals, real benchmarks, real dates for reaching energy sustainability.
I look forward to hearing from you on what you plan to do.
Nuclear power is not a safe option, although its construction will generate lots of money to big business entities. Any resulting catastrophes, which are bound to happen sooner or later, will generate cash flow as well, I suppose. Maybe that's the reasoning behind support of nuclear power?
I have spent time in Heidelberg, Germany, and have noticed that a more "green" lifestyle is not only a long-term benefit for the future of the people, but generates short-term, immediate well-being in a better lifestyle. Everyday life is much better. People enjoy themselves more, and are not caught up in the ratrace of "consume, consume, consume, work, work, work" that we are saddled with here in the US.
I hope you will go back to the drawing board before the next election and craft a truly forward-thinking national energy policy that includes the following: 1) An end, not an increase, to coal and oil subsidies; 2) A significant increase in funding for energy efficiency, conservation, and renewable energy programs – the quickest way to reduce our oil dependence; 3) An immediate and significant upgrade of the CAFE standards (Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency) on new cars and light trucks; 4) A comprehensive set of tax incentives for energy-efficient technologies and appliances; 5) Adoption of the Hannover Principles as guidelines for planning.
Please show that you care more about the well being of the people of our state than you do about increasing the already huge profits of coal and oil companies. Please lead the way back to the drawing board and immediately set to work on a national energy plan based on efficiency, conservation and renewable energy. We need a forward-thinking plan with real goals, real benchmarks, real dates for reaching energy sustainability.
I look forward to hearing from you on what you plan to do.
Friday, June 24, 2005
Karl Rove
Karl Rove is being quoted as saying: "Perhaps the most important difference between conservatives and liberals can be found in the area of national security. Conservatives saw the savagery of 9/11 and the attacks and prepared for war; liberals saw the savagery of the 9/11 attacks and wanted to prepare indictments and offer therapy and understanding for our attackers."
This statement makes a lot of people angry, but Karl's famous for being perceptive. Let's use hindsight to look at what he said.
"War." Those who prepared for war certainly got what they prepared for. War. We don't see signs of increased national security as a result. Instead we see exponential increase in desperate people who are prone to become terrorists, increased terrorist organizations, and a highly efficient training ground (Iraq urban battlefields).
"Understanding." One of the clearest bits of hindsight for all of us is the fact that our understanding of the Middle East was lacking. Our leadership's understanding, especally of Iraq, has proved to have been tragically, disastrously wrong. Can anyone argue against the need for more understanding?
"Prepare indictments." According to news reports, indictments and legal proceedings by world police and governments have brought many terrorists and their organizations to justice, far more than those apprehended by military means.
And "therapy." Therapy. Interesting concept. In Iraq, pouring money into military strength, though it has cost over $170,000,000,000 and used many, many thousands of people (including 1734 Americans who gave their lives), has not been able to prevail.
Suppose we had used "therapy?" Suppose our response to 9/11 had been to spend $170,000,000,000 dollars and set many thousands of people to use our knowledge of healing, peacemaking, community improvement, education, economics, global interaction to eliminate or reduce the indignities that have produced the last 30 years of tragedy and suffering on both sides?
Nothing like that has ever been attempted in the history of the world. But we, in the USA, do have the power.
When will we humans learn to put our strength behind our true strengths?
This statement makes a lot of people angry, but Karl's famous for being perceptive. Let's use hindsight to look at what he said.
"War." Those who prepared for war certainly got what they prepared for. War. We don't see signs of increased national security as a result. Instead we see exponential increase in desperate people who are prone to become terrorists, increased terrorist organizations, and a highly efficient training ground (Iraq urban battlefields).
"Understanding." One of the clearest bits of hindsight for all of us is the fact that our understanding of the Middle East was lacking. Our leadership's understanding, especally of Iraq, has proved to have been tragically, disastrously wrong. Can anyone argue against the need for more understanding?
"Prepare indictments." According to news reports, indictments and legal proceedings by world police and governments have brought many terrorists and their organizations to justice, far more than those apprehended by military means.
And "therapy." Therapy. Interesting concept. In Iraq, pouring money into military strength, though it has cost over $170,000,000,000 and used many, many thousands of people (including 1734 Americans who gave their lives), has not been able to prevail.
Suppose we had used "therapy?" Suppose our response to 9/11 had been to spend $170,000,000,000 dollars and set many thousands of people to use our knowledge of healing, peacemaking, community improvement, education, economics, global interaction to eliminate or reduce the indignities that have produced the last 30 years of tragedy and suffering on both sides?
Nothing like that has ever been attempted in the history of the world. But we, in the USA, do have the power.
When will we humans learn to put our strength behind our true strengths?
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)