Virtual Confetti

You’re in luck!  This guide will tell you who and what to vote for, no matter where you live or what initiatives are on the ballot!

I predict the 2010 Fall election to be… a yawner.  Yes, I’m a patriot, and yes, I believe in democracy and voting.  But seriously, campaigns are spending and popularity contests, not demonstrations of public representation.  (This is nothing new.)  The worst of it are the sheep who only watch television ads, monitor single news sources, and believe mail brochure propaganda.  Obviously, these mediums are paid for by special interests, and money is democracy’s worst enemy.

The worst part of the voting process is the lack of political education.  This is especially worrisome with today’s youth — who are tomorrow’s political future — and tend to believe what they hear because it’s easier than learning and understanding real information.  As an American, it is essential to put effort into understanding what and who you’re voting for, otherwise you might as well hand over all your belongings and liberties, because they obviously aren’t worth protecting.

Information is a dangerous thing.  I can tell you a complete lie, and depending on my credentials, you may just believe me.  Maybe I’m a celebrity you find entertaining, maybe I have a list of causes you believe in, or maybe I simply say things that make you feel appreciated and important to humanity.  But they can be lies, specifically crafted to appeal to your emotions and self worth!  Always check facts, always obtain information from multiple and competing media organizations, and always do your homework.

So who or what do you believe? Here’s Jefferson’s recommendations and “Quick Start Guide” on how to vote, without actually telling you how to vote:

1. Shred all ads that arrive by mail.  They’re obviously sent to you by candidates or organizations with agendas.  Even when they seem to have a good case for smearing the other guy, that other guy will have some response that makes the accusation seem questionable.
2. Likewise, ignore all TV and radio ads.
3. Read, watch, or otherwise consume news from multiple media sources.  Yes, news is usually biased, so monitor several sources and understand the biases of each reporting agency and how it affects their programming.
4. Assess the list of the causes, organizations, politicians, or individuals that you believe represent your ideals and philosophies.  Then, go to their websites or otherwise obtain information from them about who and what they support.  This will tell you which politicians support those causes, and which ballot initiatives are most friendly to them.
5. After reviewing the candidate or ballot initiatives for the causes you support, compare them, and determine one by one which ones “win” over the others.  Sometimes this is hard, because you may believe strongly in two causes with opposing views.  Do your best, and compromise where needed.
6. Vote according to your conscience.

So the bottom line is… be educated, be American, and vote!

The Flower on the Pond
by Jefferson Feil

The wind breaks through the garden
Shaking flowers to the ground
Looking closer, I beg your pardon
Atop the pond, one flower is found

Two weeks later, I returned
Those flowers had withered away
But the one on the water, unturned
Well nourished, it survives today

I love bookstores.  Usually you think of them as being stuffy and library-like, staffed with spineless, stuffy librarians.  But if you read between the lines, they are loaded with comedy.

Let’s start with this iced mocha thing  from the café… it’s a joke in itself with all the uncrushed ice blocking my straw.  Apparently, ordering it “Light” means they cut the fat, sugar, and electricity to the blender.  But that’s ok — bookstores are usually located in the hot open sun where I may need to keep my drink cold for several hours.

Even the mere placement of books can inspire a giggle, such as with the Sex & Sexuality section conveniently located next to the Addictions & Recovery section.  You’ll find these humorous pairings throughout the store:  Games & Humor next to Relationships, True Crime next to Politics, Religion next to Alternative Lifestyle, etc.  Such interesting pairings are not exclusive to the normal aisles, mind you. Even in the ad-hoc bargain section, some clever employee found it entertaining to stack Chronology of the Holocaust next to a biography on Himler.  Yes, even the bland, innocent bookstores cannot escape dark, sick humor.  Of course the best joke in there is that some author thought a biography on Himler would become a best seller.

Perhaps I should write my own book:  Making Books and Bookstores Fun! Now that’s a novel idea.

People usually laugh at me when I take my car to the dealer for an oil change instead of the ZippyDip drive-thru.  “You’re wasting your money,” they say. “They rip you off.”  It is apparent that these critics do not drive luxury vehicles, and today’s events allow me to demonstrate my position.  I type this from the cafe inside the dealership, sipping my freshly-ground mocha espresso, accessing my blog using their free wi-fi connection.

When I arrived a couple of hours ago, the power to the complex had just failed.  This was due to L.A. losing some power lines as a result of a large fire that cropped up overnight.  I was offered a free loaner vehicle (luxury model), but instead chose to hang out.  I drive about 50 miles to get to this particular dealership, and I didn’t feel like camping out at a mall.  I bode my time by chatting with others sharing my predicament, nibbling on fresh fruit, and lounging in the extra large comfy chair.  After an hour, I became hungry and started asking where I could grab a quick bite.  I was cautioned not to leave, as they had just ordered several pizzas for us.

The power is back on now, and I wait for my car as I would normally do.  The impact to my schedule was minimal, and I no longer need to find somewhere to stop for lunch.  It looks like college football is showing on one of the three HDTVs, so I will conclude this note by asking my critics if they would receive such treatment as they sit in the oil bay waiting for their oil pans to drain.  Gotta run… warm cookies have arrived!

I haven’t felt very motivated lately.  And when I say lately, I mean the past year or so.  I start projects but fail to complete them.  Fail… that’s an interesting word. 

I am a writer.  At least I feel like a writer.  I live like a writer, I enjoy writing, and I feel like writing is what I’m supposed to do.  But when I actually sit down and start scribbling… nothing.  I don’t have any major credits to my name, and my longest works are only a couple dozen pages of a screenplay or two.  Some may dismiss this as writer’s block, but I know there’ something deeper preventing me from being successful.  Whatever it is, it isn’t obvious to me.  Perhaps a fear of something?  It’s certainly not a loss of creativity.  I have several thoughts each day that could pan out into a good story.  No, this is something personal that’s preventing me from pursuing this goal.  Something is standing in the way of my happiness and success.

Success.  Am I fearful that I might actually be good at writing?  Might others enjoy my sense of humor or descriptive drama?  Possibly.  Growing up, I don’t remember any strong force convincing me that I would never be successful in life or become a writer.  If anything, most role-model figures in my life were more-or-less apathetic and indifferent. 

Failure.  I could write a masterpiece, pouring in all the talent I can scrounge up.  But what if it’s met with harsh rejection?  Was it really that bad?  Dare I put more effort into writing another one?

Criticism.  I can be my worst critic at times, but how well do I take criticsm from others?  Usually when people criticize me, especially if they’re experts in their fields, I take it to heart.  I want to improve.  But in striving for perfection, it can be easy for someone to knock me off of my pedestal.

The Unknown.  Embarking on a new quest, particularly an artsy one that doesn’t necessarily pay well when you first start, can be intimidating.  I have a full-time day job, along with a lifestyle that demands it.  House, car, travel, cats, and some side endeavors.  Changing careers may mean sacrificing some things. 

So those are a few things that may be at the root of my problem.  Of course merely writing this blog helps pull me out of my rut.  Whatever it is, I need to work past it.