The Future Debate

Announcer standing in the middle of the dimly lit, stage, three people sitting, one woman, one man, and one androgynous creature between the two, with pad and pen in hand. The announcer (can be to the gender of your preference) smiles and quietly states.

“Good evening and welcome viewers. This is an amazing discussion we are about to witness, for with the magic of science and technology, we have been able to acquire DNA from Carolyn Merchant and Susan Bordo to create Suslyn Merdo, and Paul Gross and Norman Levitt, to create Norual Groman. This spectacular achievement in itself is cause for great discussion, however we would like to narrow the discussion to the difference in their perspectives regarding the contribution of science and the effect of male domination of the issue. I’ll now turn this over to our host, Pat.

Thanks to both of you for being here this evening; I know you have tremendously busy with you work. We have drawn numbers, lowest number to speak first, in order to avoid the “women first…age before beauty debate, and Suslyn you have won. Please begin.



Suslyn: Males have dominated science, raped “Mother Earth’s” offering, used witch-hunts to eliminate independent women, and forced us to live under Capitalism. They’ve used science to accomplish this, and have destroyed Natures opulence in the process. People are forced into labors they do not desire because of industrial over-consumption and rely on disputable scientific babble to continue this charade, which merely allows males to run the show, and dominate women.

Norul: Suslyn, you forgot to invent new vocabulary to totally misrepresent the true nature of science, which leads me to believe you have failed to even attempt to understand the nature of that which you despise. You seem to desire a return to the Medieval times…have your truly considered the absurd nature of the thought? For Capitalism, when practiced in the true Libertarian ideal of John Locke, doesn’t it allow for individuals, including women, to live whatever way they choose?

Suslyn: Capitalism imprisons people in meaningless work, destroys Nature and alienates people. During Medieval times, we had the proper organic vision of Nature and took steps to care for it. People used renewable wood for heating and cooking; there was a wonderful respect for nature…this was before men used machines to reorder the world to their pleasure, and concentrate their power, and force the world into submission, and you even have the gall to try to manage Nature, which should not be tampered with.

Norul: I believe woman’s suffrage came to being under Capitalism, and now you have achieved prominence under this system you deplore so greatly, and that is admirable, but to assert life was better when, sorcery, alchemy and the lowest of classes bore the brunt of work, taxes and fighting for the richest of the rich is just plain silly. Imagine being a peasant girl of then, working in the fields, no reading or writing skills, using superstition to combat the plague, eating probably nothing but bread for sustenance and having no control over your destiny; for being a peasant, that’s where you remained. I wonder whom your father would have married you to, with so little choice to make.

Suslyn: You men still, totally ignore the plight of the ecosystems; you are destroying Nature itself. Your bases for truth is in error, look at all of the mistakes Descartes made in Meditations.
Norul: My dear Suslyn, not too many scientists ever took these thoughts to be held as dogma, for if science becomes dogma, it is of no use to human existence; this is why we continually test and retest for verification. I truly believe your anger towards science is misdirected. The issue you speak of is originated in the Book of Genesis, in the following sentence, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” The book was stacked against you from the beginning, not as the result of the science, which allowed freedom to the masses. Maybe you have a grip for making men physically stronger than women.

The camera focuses on the announcer:
This issue will not be solved any time soon. Both side have valid points, however, neither is totally correct, and neither seems willing to compromise, for we are mortal, fallible beings in search of answers we cannot seem to find, and even if we find such answers, we may not be able to comprehend them.

Starbucks Dissing Customers

Any good marketing executive knows that out-of stocks cause lost sales and lost customers. Starbuck should understand this. Not having freshly brewed decaf coffee is the same as an out-of-stock-situation. So I wonder why this once great place for coffee enjoyment neglects the decaf drinking portion of their customer base. It’s definitely counter-intuitive. Let’s look at the ramifications of this particular out-of-stock at the micro level.

In the past week, when the local Starbucks locations (three of them) failed to have freshly brewed deaf available, I walked out. Of course, they offered me the so-called quick-brew. That’s not the product I want. This represents a pathetic substitute for the real “thing.” It tastes terrible and leaves a yucky aftertaste. So what you say.

Often, one or two others join me for a coffee and a chat. They leave with me. Three sales are lost that day. This doesn’t include the sandwiches and pastries we might have purchased.

I no longer buy pounds of coffee at Starbucks for consumption at home. I’ve found a coffee I like better, more lost sales

Sometimes, I don’t even bother going to Starbucks first because I suspect the foul tasting quick-brew will be the sole alternative.

My monthly expenditures at Starbucks are down 64%.

I can’t be the only person in Starbuck’s marketplace to experience the same dilemma because I’ve had this happen in more than a dozen Starbucks stores in four states. This is just too much cost cutting, an overly aggressive reaction to economic conditions.

Starbucks isn’t the only corporate entity alienating their customers. Restaurants and several global retailers also estrange their client base with excessive measure to maximize profits. As far as Starbucks is concerned, all we can do as consumers is wait for the next entrepreneur who still cares about the customers starts the nest global chain of coffee houses.

Charlie Chaplin

Modern Times

Charlie Chaplin, in the method of his successor Michael Moore, exploits the plight of the poor to line his own pockets. He took what was a global disaster, and like the evil Capitalists that he claimed to disdain, profited from a psychedelic portrayal (Modern Times) of how Capitalists work. Chaplain wrote, produced, and directed most of his own movies, often forcing his staff to work late into the night, so he could capitalize on his wealth producing skills, and feed his Capitalistic cravings. He was a millionaire in an era when that really meant something.
He and his brother founded United Artists. Although Chaplin lived and earned all his money in America, he declined to become a citizen and was considered a coward, by his British countrymen. However, his films were quite hilarious, and he undeniably possessed tremendous talented.
Chaplin’s creativity and physical skills were manifest in scenes he performed, such as the roller-skating in the department store and the dive into the shallow stream (Modern Times). The most riveting imagery of the film involved the tragic aftermath of the Great Depression—a deflation of our economy—the sorrowful faces of mankind “wanting,” the soup kitchen lines, joblessness, and the inability of labor to effective bargain with employers.
In another film, “The Tramp,” he effectively portrayed an unemployable character who inadvertently errs is his every attempt to fit into industrialized society. His character unwittingly lands in front of a union organizing march, landing him in jail where he shows his high ethical and moral character, and reaps his reward, employment. He proceeds downhill from there.

Charlie Chaplin: an amazing individual.

The Return

It's been some time since I last made an entry, and that needs a remedy. So I will get back to my old ways and produce new and interesting items.

Honoring Veterans

The United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I when it passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926, with these words:

Whereas the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed, and

Whereas it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations; and

Whereas the legislatures of twenty-seven of our States have already declared November 11 to be a legal holiday: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), that the President of the United States is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.

Beautiful Cover

Here’s a wonderful performance by the Corrs of the song REM made famous. The Corrs are a Celtic folk rock group from Dundalk, Ireland.

Reflections on Terror

September 11, is an exceptionally sad day for me. 

On February 26, 1996, I visited the World Trade Center for lunch on a bitter cold day.  Sadly, I ate in the PATH Center, and left the coffee shop just at 12:17 PM.  The bomb blast went off, and sent me, and others, into the air.  The man I stood 20 feet from lay in a pool of his own blood—his ashen face indicated he was no more.  It was the worst day of my life.

Seeing people die in a wanton act such as bombing a building, to kill innocent people merely going about their business, tends to linger in the recesses of one’s mind.  It took several years to overcome the experience.  But eventually I overcame the tragedy, and restored my life.  Granted, it was never the same again.

On September 11, 2001, upon entering a 7-11 for a cup of coffee, I had no idea the unprovoked attack occurred.  The first thing I noticed was the owner of the store, a Pakistani, punching his fist.  His unexplained agitation stood out.  He knew what happened, and it didn’t make him, happy.  Since I had no knowledge of the tragic event, I couldn’t appreciate the tension of the moment.

While pouring my coffee, I glanced at the television mounted on the wall.  Stunned and shaken, I placed the lid on top to stare at the events.  One plane, then another crashed into the towers.  Mind-boggling.

I left the store and walked to my car, and called someone I knew in Florida to advise them of the incident.  I began shaking and crying.  I conducted business with some of the innocent people in that building—I hoped they were okay.

Soon the noxious odors I smelled during my terror encounter returned.  I relived the 1993 event in my memory.  The state of shock and existing in another unfeeling dimension overcame me.

The situation became progressively worse as the day progressed.  My depression increased with each additional piece of news.

The aftermath left many a family devastated.  My heart aches for them on this anniversary.