South Of Someplace: January 2016

Sunday, January 31, 2016

The Big Short

'The Big Short' is not only an excellent film - I wouldn't be surprised if it took home the Oscar for Best Picture - it's also an important one.

Every taxpayer should see 'The Big Short'. Every investor should see it. Everyone with a student loan should see it. Everyone who owns or ever hopes to own a house should see it.

Don't worry if banking seems like a boring topic. The clever folks who wrote and directed the movie figured out how to make everything clear, understandable, and genuinely entertaining. - Imagine Selena Gomez sitting at a roulette table explaining what a synthetic C.D.O. is, and you actually understanding what she's saying.

'The Big Short' is the Wall Street version of 'Ocean's Eleven', only based on actual events, events that can and will come back to haunt us if we don't start paying more attention to how the world of global finance works.

The Race and Ethnicity of Actors

Does the racial or ethnic background of an actor really matter?

I remember watching a production of Shakespeare's 'Julius Caesar' on PBS when I was a kid. The actors weren't Italians, and they didn't speak Latin. They were Brits speaking the Queen's Enslish. (I'll have to do some research, but I'm fairly certain that Julius Caesar wasn't British.)

When Shakespeare's own theater company put on its first production of 'Antony and Cleopatra', they probably didn't cast an Egyptian woman as Cleopatra. They probably didn't cast a woman at all - a young Englishman played the role.

Acting is pretending. Theater is a well-crafted illusion.

If a Chinese theater company wants to stage a production of Hamlet, should they feel compelled to fly in actors from Denmark? I'm certain that they Chinese can handle it. (Imagine hearing those soliloquies performed in Mandarin!)

Kurosawa's critically acclaimed film 'Ran' was effectively 'King Lear' set in feudal Japan. Kurosawa had previously influenced the West when his 'Seven Samurai' (1954) was adapted by Hollywood as 'The Magnificent Seven' (1960).

Granted, casting has suffered its share of abuses over the years. Blackface was a disgusting charicature of people of African descent. Depictions of Asians by White actors were often tasteless and disturbing. But I hesitate to call that acting. It was exploitive buffoonery, and we would do well to purge the lot of it from our collective cultural memory.

When real actors exercise their craft, the performance transcends the physical body and cultural identity of the performer. A Jew played presumably Italian-Catholic Arthur Fonzarelli on television's 'Happy Days'; no one seemed to mind. Henry Winkler played the role with verve and conviction; the character became a cultural icon.

Think of the creative possibilities of open minded casting - an African American actor playing Lincoln, for instance, or a Japanese actor playing McArthur. How about a remake of 'The Dirty Dozen' starring twelve women, or a gay men's version of 'Sense and Sensibilities'?

Creativity shouldn't have to adhere to boundaries. Art about breaking through boundaries and exploring new territory.

So, the next time you see a casting role that doesn't sit well with you, don't blame Hollywood. Don't whine about who isn't going to the Academy Awards. Instead, take a long, hard look in the mirror, accept that you may have some unresolved issues. Because that's what art does; it challenges you to grow as a person.

"And that's all I've got to say about that."

When Democracy Turns Lazy

The democratic process in the United States suffers from apathy - a lack of motivation, of interest, a lack of drive to pay attention, think critically, register, and vote.

Ours is a comfortable society. As one immigrant exclaimed to me: "In this country, even the poorest people have cars."

And running water.

And electric power.

And cable.

And video games.

And enough money to purchase comfort food at McDonald's and KFC.

The benefits of living in the world's top economy go beyond a paycheck.

- We all benefit from an aging but well-developed infrastructure.

- Our military can throw its weight around virtually unchallenged.

- We don't have to bribe a local official in order to acquire a driver's license.

Americans are addicted to comfort and convenience.

Comfort, for the Right, comes in the form of round the clock voices in the media. Those voices reassure the Right that their fears are well founded their outrage is justified.

For the Left, comfort takes the form of bold candidates who rail against established norms and power structures. Those candidates reassure the Left that society can be reshaped more equitably if only we can prevail in the next election.

It's unlikely that either promise will bear much fruit. How many right wing candidates have promised to overturn Row v. Wade, for example? How many left wing candidates have promised immigration reform or radical changes in banking?

The only promises that are met reliably in Washington are those made to the interests that fund the repeated elections of Congressmen. This is enabled, of course, by the aforementioned voter apathy.

The American political process makes real progress only when a significant portion of the population becomes involved and, more importantly, STAYS involved for the long term.

The Civil Rights movement required a long and difficult campaign of grass roots support.

Women's suffrage required a long and difficult campaign of grass roots support.

Change doesn't come easily. It requires sacrifice. A society that is addicted to comfort and convenience abhors sacrifice. Change will come only when the members of that society become sufficiently uncomfortable, when they look at the status quo and decide that they're not going to accept it any longer. When they decide that no cost is too great.

In 2015, voter apathy led to the election of a Tea Party candidate as governor of Kentucky. The governor-elect promptly reduced the minimum wage in that state by $3/hour. Did the voters (or non-voters) of Kentucky get the message? Do they understand now that there are consequences to NOT voting?

Some states now have a single operating provider of legal abortions. Are the women in these states getting the message that they ignore the political process at their own peril?

The US government spends countless trillions of dollars on the military and on waging wars abroad. Yet veterans don't receive adequate health care, because Congress cuts funding for the Veterans' Administration. Do veterans and their families realize that they need to be active in the political process in order to protect their interests?

How much more do the citizens of the USA need to endure before they realize that they need to take a personal involvement in the management of their government?

Thursday, January 28, 2016

Slush

Gray, dirty slush

Countless tons of slush, block after block after block

No choice but to wade through it

And now it's on my pants

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

That Moment Of Moments

That moment when you're on a beach attending a wedding reception in an exotic country, and the DJ spins a song by a band from your hometown region.

"Play That Funky Music, White Boy!"

The Poor Confused GOP

The GOP hates President Obama passionately.

They have hated Hillary Clinton for decades.

Now they're about to elect Donald Trump - despite the fact that they hate him, too!

Remember when your mother told you that nothing good would ever come from hating someone? This probably wasn't the scenario that she had in mind, but her advice was still solid.

What You Do Today

What you do today is all that matters.

Eat Bacon Before Flying

I always eat bacon before flying. I'll have a hearty breakfast of bacon and pancakes, or I'll have a BLT or a Club Sandwich at the airport. If the plane goes down, I can take comfort in the fact that I didn't waste my last meal by eating something healthful.

Monday, January 25, 2016

For Musicians Only

The Treble Clef says,"G! High notes are so exciting!"

The Bass Clef says, "F that! Low notes are fundamental!"

The Viola Clef says, "C! I always end up in the middle!"

New York Minute 25 - Snow Bank Bus Stop

The city is full of snow today courtesy of winter storm Jonas. Massive snow banks line the streets. Parked cars are buried.

During my morning commute, I saw a bus drop two passengers - a young man and a young woman - at the edge of a snow bank that was nearly four feet deep. The man struggled to walk though the deep snow, but eventually he managed to get to the sidewalk.

The woman, who was holding a cup of coffee in one hand, wasn't as fortunate. On her second step, she slid back down into the narrow gap between the snow bank and the bus just as the bus driver started to pull out. As he was turning a corner, the gap was closing.

I lunged forward. "Give me your hand!" She reached without hesitation, I pulled her up and out of the gap. "Before this guy kills you," I said, finishing my thought.

"No kidding!" she exclaimed as she stepped safely onto the sidewalk.

I let go of her hand hoping that I hadn't squeezed it too firmly.

One Advantage of Winter

One advantage of winter is that as soon as you walk out of the front door, you'll know whether you left your fly unzipped.

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Gym Membership

I look in the mirror and think, "Damn! I should join a gym!"

Then I realize that no one wants to see the body of a guy my age even if it is in great shape. So, I guess that I'm better off staying home and saving what a gym membership would cost.

Monday, January 18, 2016

Impressions of Mexico City

Sun

It's out and it's strong, even in January. Any Mexican who spends their days outdoors (gardeners, police officers, people selling items to tourists, etc.) wears long pants, long sleeves, and a wide-brimmed hat. Apparently, Mexicans would rather endure the heat of an extra layer than risk overexposure to the ultraviolet radiation. Tourists take note. The Mexican sun is serious business.

Bargains

If you have ever been on a vacation where things seemed to cost more than they should, Mexico will be a pleasant surprise. Meals, transportation, entry fees, and most goods are priced significantly lower than I would have expected. I bought a 1 liter bottle of drinking water today for about 40 cents. I would expect to pay $1.75 to $2.50 for a bottle like that back home. My wallet is smiling!

Police

They're everywhere, heavily armed, dressed in bulky bulletproof vests and looking quite serious. I don't know what they are preparing for, but I don't want to be around when it happens.

Antiquities

Mexico's pre-Columbian civilizations build impressive cities of stone. Those antiquities still exist, some of them are in excellent shape - better than the Greek ruins, for example - and Modern Mexican culture is very proud of its heritage.

Steelers!

Steelers jerseys! Steelers jackets! I've only seen one US sports team represented in Mexico: The Pittsburgh Steelers! I see Mexicans wearing Steelers apparel every day. Sorry Yankees! Sorry Cowboys! Sorry Reiders! Your logos just don't cut it south of the border.

Traffic

There's a lot of traffic in Mexico City despite adoption of an odd even system for limiting auto usage. Gridlock is common. Traffic jams are ubiquitous. Mexico just isn't a place where you can expect to get from place to place quickly.

Crossing the street can be tricky. Surges of traffic can appear suddenly from unexpected directions, and even when pedestrians have a green signal, turning cars will compete aggressively for the right of way.

Pedestrian traffic is also disorganized. No one follows any sort of convention on sidewalks. Navigating your way around crowds without being struck by a vehicle can be tricky. The bottom line: it's best not to be in a hurry.

Air Quality

It's better than it used to be back when Mexico City was known for its thick, sour-smelling smog. Happy, the city has improved quite a bit in this dimension.

Gay Couples

Mexico seems to be quite gay friendly. I've seen lots of couples enjoying the city together, tourists and locals alike. Viva Mexico!

Bus Stops

Bus stops exist in Mexico City. There are places where busses stop regularly in order to pick up and drop off passengers. What doesn't exist is any sort of signage indicating where the bus might stop - you just have to know - or where it might take you once you climb aboard.

Directions

If you're lost, ask for directions. Just don't expect those directions to be right. On the contrary, expect them to be completely wrong, even if the person seems certain that they know what they're talking about. (They don't!)

The only accurate directions I have received so far came from people working in hotels. So if you really need directions, look for a hotel and ask the people at the front desk for help. You might actually get to where you're going.

Uneven Sidewalks

Let's face up to an ugly truth here. So called 'slip and fall' lawsuits and one of the most prevalent scams perpetrated in the USA. If there's an uneven patch of sidewalk in front of your home or business, and someone trips on it and falls down, they'll hire a greedy lawyer and expect you to pay them a small fortune in damages.

Luckily, such un neighborly nonsense doesn't happen in Mexico. The sidewalks here are obstacle courses of uneven concrete, holes, dips, ramps, cracks, and unmarked steps and level changes. You, the pedestrian, are expected to watch your step instead of relying on the justice system to compensate you for being unmindful or clumsy. As a Norte Americano, I find Mexico's emphasis on self reliance refreshing.

Blue Hair

Bright blue. It seems to be in fashion.

Food

Outstanding! It's so good that it makes me sad, sad that I'll never be able to find Mexican food this tasty once I return to the States.

Thursday, January 14, 2016

Bold Arguments

I'm losing my patience for people who make bold arguments based on things that they don't understand - history, economics, and the US Constitution, to name a few.

Moments of Friendship

Friendship is a series of warm, surprising, and memorable moments. Like when you go for a hike in the woods with a couple of your best buds, you stop along the trail for a quick bathroom break, and one of them amuses himself by peeing on your pant leg.

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Future State Of The Union

I can't imagine Donald J. Trump giving a state of the union address. I just can't. It would be like watching Bill Cosby give your wife a gynecological exam.

Monday, January 11, 2016

Into The New Year

It's sad to watch the Christmas decorations being taken down. The city was adorned so beautifully this holiday season! I'm ready for Christmas all over again!

It's troubling to see all of the businesses that closed at the end of the year. So many empty store fronts! So many signs claiming "Retail Space Available!" Those spaces wouldn't be vacant if the buildings had kept the rents at reasonable levels.

Thursday, January 7, 2016

What Happened To The Gifts?

A child is born. A bright star lights up the sky. Three wise kings see the star as a sign that something significant has happened.

The kings organize caravans. They travel for twelve days until they find the child, his mother, and her husband making the best of their stay in a stable.

The kings realize that the boy is special. A Messiah. A Saviour. They give to him the finest gifts that they have to offer: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

And then the kings depart. They go back to their respective lands. But what happened to the gifts?

Granted, two of the gifts were not durable. Myrrh is a scented oil. It has to be used to be appreciated. Perhaps the myrrh was used from time to time to anoint the child.

Frankincense gives off a fragrance when it burns. Perhaps it was used to cleanse and purify the child's home and quarters.

Gold, on the other hand, is one of the most durable materials in the universe. It doesn't tarnish. It doesn't react with other materials. Gold lasts forever.

What happened to the gold that was given to the boy? As a young man, he worked as a humble carpenter. There's no mention of material wealth at this point of his life, no portfolio of precious metals.

Was the gold spent over time to take care of basic family needs? Was it lost? Stolen? Gambled away? Was it used for bribes in an effort to keep the boy safe from Herod's soldiers?

And what of the kings? Did they ever return to look in on their young protégé? Were they interested in his progress? Did they see intervention in his life as unnecessary? Or did they meet their demise before they could return?

So many unanswered questions! Unfortunately, none of the extant accounts were recorded as the events occurred. The Gospels were written decades later.

Over the centuries, people have kept the tradition of giving gifts. We give gifts on the anniversary of the Christ child's birth. We observe the Epiphany twelve days later in honor of the travelers who gave the very first Christmas gifts - gifts presented by kings to a newborn infant sleeping in a stable.

Monday, January 4, 2016

The Oregon Embarrassment

Calling these Oregon protestors terrorists would be an insult to terrorists. They don't have any guts. They're not prepared to give their lives for a cause. They don't even have a cause. They're immature bullies beating their chests in defiance of a non-existent enemy, a bunch of overgrown three-year-olds playing army.

The Waking City

I love the city when it's waking up, the beginning of a new day, a new week.

Saturday, January 2, 2016

Birdman

Alejandro G. Iñárritu's new movie 'The Revenant' goes into general release on January 8th. I'm looking forward to seeing it in a good theater; the cinematography is rumored to be groundbreaking.

Since I didn't have to work on New Year's Day, I decided to do a little bit of research on Iñárritu by watching his last film, 'Birdman'.

'Birdman' won last year's Oscar for Best Picture. On the surface, it's is a story about actors and acting - a subject that might have appealed to Academy voters. Personally, I found that my empathy for the acting profession started to wane after about 45 minutes - just about the time that Emma Stone's character chimes in and suggests that acting isn't as important as actors think it is.

(That was a nice touch by the writers. It was an excellent performance, as well. Stone won an Oscar for her part, and she deserved it.)

Michael Keaton plays Riggin Thompson, a movie actor who, decades ago, played a superhero in blockbuster action films. Now, Thompson wants to re-establish his relevance and his credibility by directing and starring in a Broadway play. The play, adapted by Thompson from a book, depends on ideas and dialog rather than stunts and special effects. This is a stretch for an action star, and the risks, both financial and professional, are significant.

The irony of 'Birdman' - and perhaps this is by design - is that it's the technical brilliance of the film that separates it from the pack. The camera technique is unlike anything that I have ever seen. - I'm not going to describe the effect; it has to be experienced to be appreciated.

Further, unlike Thompson's spare and dour play within a play, the film uses CGI extensively, producing effects that range from the subtle to the amazing.

The acting is phenomenal in just about every spoken part (probably a good thing given that it's a movie about acting). Keaton, Stone, and Edward Norton put on insanely good performances. I lost interest in the "you don't know how hard it is to be an actor" theme along the way, but I do admire the brilliance of a compelling performance.

Friday, January 1, 2016

New York Minute 24 - Gridlock Alert

Traffic is heavy in New York during the holiday season. Tourists, shoppers, and people going to shows add to the normal commuting and business traffic. It's not uncommon for gridlock to occur at busy intersections.

Gridlock occurs when cars going in one direction (for example, East or West) can't make it all the way through an intersection before their traffic signal turns red. With the East/West vehicles jamming the intersection, the North/South vehicles can't get through. Or worse, they squeeze partway into the intersection causing a two-dimensional traffic jam that's difficult to clear.

In an effort to prevent gridlock, the city deploys police officers to direct traffic at hundreds of intersections. The cops make a big difference, but some drivers become impatient while waiting for their turn to pass through.

One morning a couple of weeks ago, I saw this guy speed through an intersection despite the fact that the cop had signaled to him to stay where he was. I saw the guy, because he came within two feet of running me over.

"Asshole!" yelled the not-so-impressed cop.

Unfortunately for the impatient motorist, he only made it another fifty feet before he got stuck behind another column of traffic.

"Get his tag!" the cop yelled to his buddy up the street.

It's always fun when Santa stuffs your stocking with a nice three-point traffic violation!

South Of Someplace