New Year’s Resolutions 2018

For 2018, I resolve -

- to spend more time with my parents.

- to travel more than I have in recent years.

- to publish works of my writing and music.

- to take better advantage of opportunities.

- to continue to run and exercise regularly.

- to work hard on meaningful and rewarding projects.

- to work hard on being a little bit better at everything.

- to help others, contribute to important causes, and advocate for the environment.

- to focus less on things that I cannot change and more on ways to make a valuable difference.

- to find something to love about every single day.

Happy New Year, Everyone!

Defending Santa Claus

At a dinner party last evening, a self-absorbed individual blurted out the following statement in a loud voice: “Our parents just told us, ‘There’s no such thing as the Tooth Fairy, and there’s no such thing as Santa Claus’.” Apparently, they failed to notice that one of the people seated at the table was a seven-year-old child.

The adults in the room immediately jumped into damage control mode, citing an extensive list of personal interactions with both Santa and the Tooth Fairy. The child’s mother reminded her that she had just seen “the real Santa Claus” at Macy’s, and that her little brother had just received a significant financial windfall from the Tooth Fairy.

Hopefully, our efforts were effective. How can anyone be so idiotically insensitive? 

Please Receive This Wish

I feel sad for people who, upon receiving a “Merry Christmas” wish, feel compelled to explain that they don’t celebrate that occasion. Christmas is my holiday, and I am wishing the cheer and spirit of that day to them. 

Unless you have invited me to your place of worship, I probably don’t know what religion you practice. I don’t keep track of such things. It hardly seems important.

When someone wishes me a Happy Diwali, I accept their wish graciously and wish the same back to them. I’m fairly certain that no one is going to mistake me for a Hindu. They are simply offering a friendly blessing from the tradition in which they were raised. I receive their kind wishes with joy and humility.

An Open Letter To Friends And Family

Dearest Friends, this is my holiday wish for you. It is simple and direct, but I feel that it is critically important. I urge you to consider these words carefully.

If, in the coming days and months and throughout the year ahead, you find yourself having dark or troubling thoughts, a lack of fulfillment, a lack of energy, or feelings of concern, anxiety, despair, grief, anger, or sorrow, even if it’s mild and/or occasional, I would urge you please to talk to someone about it. 

Talk to a friend. Talk to a family member. Talk to a professional. 

The troubles that we keep inside us can and will do us harm. Sometimes that harm turns out to be far more serious and tragic than we ever could have imagined. 

If you tell yourself, “I don’t want to bother anyone with this; it’s not a big deal,” I would urge you to talk about it anyway, even if the person that you talk to does seem bothered at first. It is almost certainly a big deal.

If you’re thinking that it’s not appropriate to talk about a particular issue, ask yourself whether its healthful to disregard something that is causing you stress or worry.

If you think, “this will just blow over and go away,” don’t be surprised when it doesn’t.

If you think that you’ll be judged for mentioning an uncomfortable topic or controversial subject, think of how shocked people are going to feel when an avoidable crisis hits their lives.

If you think, “I’m not going to discuss my private issues,” realize that private issues have a nasty habit of becoming public issues in a very shocking and humiliating way.

Finally, if you tell yourself, “No way! I am never discussing THAT with anyone,” you should probably consider discussing it with someone, because, like an atomic bomb with a malfunctioning detonator, the things that we fear the most can do us the most harm.

Rest assured that you can be discreet. Professional counselors treat sensitive matters with strict confidentiality. Further, the objective is not to incriminate yourself, but rather to feel better about what’s bothering you.

So, please, do me the favor of at least considering the idea. Consider expressing your concerns and feelings to a sympathetic listener if and when you enter a blue mood. Confiding in someone is not as scary as you might imagine, and it can do you a world of good. If you won’t do it for yourself, think of your loved ones and do it for them. They really, really, really do not want to lose you over some issue that could have been resolved through proactive conversation.

2017

As the winter holidays approach, we are inclined to reflect on the events of the previous year, to celebrate our joys and our accomplishments, acknowledge our losses and difficulties, and formulate a vision of how we might like to move forward in the coming months. 

This year past year cries out for a different approach.

The United States and neighboring island nations were pummeled by three massive hurricanes in 2017. Each of these storms might have been considered the most catastrophic in a generation. They just kept coming.

Hurricane Harvey brought death and destruction to East Texas and Louisiana. Irma, the largest and most powerful hurricane in history, devastated the Florida Keys and destroyed every standing structure on some of the smaller Caribbean. Finally, Maria, the mother of all storms, brought a second wave of devastation to the Caribbean and causes incomprehensible damage on Puerto Rico. Most of the island was left without power or clean drinking water for weeks. The slow and inadequate response from Washington compounded the impact of these problems.

Further afield, a deadly earthquake caused widespread damage in Mexico. Deadly floods ravaged Bangladesh and Sierra Leone. California burned like never before.

But 2017 was not just a year of unprecedented natural disasters. Acts of human cruelty set records as well. According to ABC News, from the first of the year to 15 November, there were 317 mass shootings in the United States, or about one per day. The shooting at the Harvest Music Festival in Las Vegas was the deadliest in the history of our nation. A mere thirty-five days later, 26 people were shot to death at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas.

Terrorism continues to be a global problem. An attack on a mosque in Egypt killed over three-hundred people. More than 500 were killed by a truck bomb in Mogadishu, Somalia. An ethnic minority in Myanmar suffered brutal persecution. Attacks of conveniences using motor vehicles increased. Either tourists were killed by such an attack in New York City. A woman protesting a White Supremacist rally in Virgina was killed when someone deliberately drove a car into a crowded street. Note that I have deliberately avoided mention of the appalling state of the political climate, another troubling dimension of life in this era.

Typically, I would post a summary of personal achievements and notable experiences at this time of the year. I may still attempt that - an internal debate has been raging for some time - but I could not in good conscience see myself writing about where I went on vacation before first addressing the unprecedented suffering that has occurred throughout the world over the past twelve months.

This could very well be how 2017 will be remembered by history, as a shocking and horrific time that brutalized our planet and us along with it. That’s how I remember it. Let us pray for a kinder, safer reality in 2018. My worst fear is that things could become even worse.

Winter Solstice 2017

Curse not the darkness, but let it emphasize the value of the light.

A Christmas Present For The Rich

You receive a coupon for a five-dollar discount on a meal at your favorite restaurant. You decide to treat yourself to dinner. You order twenty dollars worth of food expecting to pay only fifteen. 

It seems like a great deal until you ask for the bill, which comes to $19.15.

You ask the staff to send the manager to your table. When she arrives, you tell her that you were expecting to pay $15.00 instead of $19.15. She explains that the coupon is subject to rules that are detailed in the fine print.

“Eighty-three percent of the savings go to the wealthiest families in town,” she explains. “They get $4.15 out of the five dollars that you saved. The other 85 cents is yours.”

Consider now the tax bill that is about to be signed into law in the United States of America, a bill that gives 83 percent of its total benefit to the wealthiest one percent of the population. If you happen to be among the wealthiest one percent, but billionaires and the multi-millionaires among us, congratulations! You just received an absolutely wonderful Christmas present courtesy of your government. 

But here’s something that you might not know. The government didn’t pay for this gift; they bought it on credit. They expect the middle class to pay for it, now and decades into the future. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the bill will add a crushing $1.5 trillion to the national debt, a debt that weakens our position in the world and will take generations to pay off.

But they didn’t just borrow money to pay for this unapologetic transfer of wealth from the people that work to the people that own everything already. The bill automatically cuts funding for programs that help veterans, farmers, research, and families in need. It cuts infrastructure spending and demands a four-percent cut in funding for Medicare. And of course, being a Republican spending plan, it does everything that it can to weaken the Affordable Care Act.

If you’re in the top one percent, Merry Christmas. If you’re among the rest of us, get out and vote next November. Your country is depending on you.

Try It

You might fail, but if you don’t try, you’ll fail with absolute certainty. Why give up before you give it a shot? Try it. Learn. Try again.

When Fifty Was Sixty

How is it that Republicans can pass legislation with a simple majority in the U.S. Senate, whereas Democrats needed a super majority of sixty votes to get anything done? Democrats passed the Affordable Care Act with a supermajority. In the midst of enormous public backlash, the Republicans were unable to repeal the ACA with fifty votes.

Republicans stalled the Obama agenda using every tool at their disposal. Their favorite tool was the filibuster, a procedural rule that allows a senator to object to moving forward with an appointment or a piece of legislation until a super majority of sixty votes senators overrules his objections. 

The Democrats considered changing the rule to thwart the blatant stall tactics of the GOP, but the Republicans warned that if they did that, then the Republican might do the same when they took power. The Democrats chose to let the rule stand. But when the Republicans took power, they weakened the filibuster anyway. 

And so today, an unpopular tax bill that will benefit only the wealthiest citizens and corporations while adding US $1,500,000,000,000 to the national debt, will pass with a simple majority. 

I look forward to supporting the next Democratic majority as they pass a wave of progressive legislation including single-payer healthcare coverage for all citizens, a strong commitment to alternative energy and carbon reduction, massive funding for education and job training, a massive infrastruction bill, and a tax bill that will actually pay down the country’s debt load instead of expanding it, all with simple majorities. 

Thank you, Republicans, for setting the precedent of passing bills with a simple majority in the Senate. Hopefully, this will enable progressives to clean up your mess before you bankrupt the country and destroy the planet.

Deal With It

There’s no SHOULD 

There’s no FAIR 

There’s only SHIT 

And it’s EVERYWHERE 

Don’t get angry! 

Don’t say SCREW it! 

Hold your nose 

And you’ll get through it 

Life’s about 

How you deal with POO 

Don’t blame others -

You make crap, TOO! 

Copyright © 2017 Daniel R. South 

All Rights Reserved

Coffee Line

That feeling when the person ahead of you in line at the coffee shop orders for everyone in their office.

Female Voters In Alabama

Percent of women who voted for Roy Moore, a man who was banned from a mall for hitting on teenaged girls:

White Women: 63 percent

Black Women: 2 percent

Conclusion: Black women are 31.5 times more intelligent than White women.

The Time Is Now

You could be dead in a year. The time is now. Get up off of your butt and do what you need to do.

No Other Action

I’ll be the person that I need to be. I shall say what I feel, write what I need to express, and do what I need to do. No other action is acceptable. 

Do What You Need To Do

Do what you need to do. Write what you need to express. Be the person that you need to be.

Ugly Christmas Sweaters

Until every child has a decent winter coat, no one should spend money on an “ugly” sweater that they’ll wear once and throw away.

New York Minute 69 - Too Close For Comfort

The subway system was in chaos this morning after an explosion injured several people near Times Square. Some trains were cancelled or rerouted. The ones that were running their normal routes were delayed and overcrowded.

I managed to squeeze onto a where passengers were packed together tightly. Imagine “standing room only” with no room to spare. Bodies were pressing against me from every direction.

A guy to my right had set his briefcase on the floor between his legs, presumably to have a free hand to hold onto the handrail. - I couldn’t even reach the handrail where I was standing. Luckily, I’m tall enough to brace myself against the ceiling. 

As the train approached the station where the guy wanted to get off, he squatted down to pick up the briefcase. In the process, he slide the absolute center of his rear end down my leg and back up again. He could not have done it in a more disgusting way if he tried. I felt the crack and both cheeks slide all the way down and all the way back up.

This may not have been a deliberate act. I’m willing to accept that the guy was just picking up his briefcase and that they space was too crowded to him to bend at the waist. But, man, did that ever feel icky!

Copyright © 2017 Daniel R. South 

All Rights Reserved

You Are What You Finish

You are what you finish. What you attempt and dream about and almost did don’t matter.

Tax Bill B.S.

When people say, “We need this tax bill to stimulate the economy and create jobs,” and then those same people say, “Look at the stock market - the economy is doing great!”, I call that bullshit.

A Creepy Home Companion

I used to work in an office with two actors. The male actor did mostly commercial work. He was in a nationally televised ad for a financial services firm where he posed as a young, good-looking day trader sitting in front of a computer.

The female actor had a number of small roles in TV dramas and did comedy sketches for Conan and Letterman. Years later, she went on to have a small but recurring role on 'The Sopranos'.

I didn't know the male actor well. I met him one time in a meeting, but it was only later that I learned that he did acting on the side. The woman, I knew better, because she and I worked on a project together over the course of a year or so. As we worked together, she shared details about her acting work.

Garrison Keillor's 'Prairie Home Companion' was a popular radio program at the time. Most of the shows were produced in Minneapolis, but every year, he took his show on the road and performed two shows live at the New York City Center theater. The year that I was working with my actor colleague, Keillor hired her to perform in these live New York shows. It was a delight to hear her performing on the radio; she was amazingly talented.

It was a thrill for her, as well, and she felt that it could lead to more work with Keillor and to more exposure for other projects. The show's producers gave her excellent feedback, as did Keillor himself. My colleague is quite tall for a woman, and the six-foot four-inch star remarked that he liked the fact that it was easy to make eye contact with her while performing. The only negative from the whole two-week experience came when one of Keillor's friends hit on her after one of the shows. She told him that she wasn't interested in going out with him.

After those two shows, she never worked with Keillor or PHC again. The call never came despite the glowing feedback that she had received.

Perhaps this was due to the reality of show business, a business where many, many eager, talented, hard-working people compete for every role that comes along. But something about the situation never felt right to me. I always wondered whether my friend had paid a professional price for turning down the advances of that creepy friend. 

I felt bad for thinking this. I figured that these were probably unfounded suspicions, an emotional reaction to my colleague's disappointment. Keillor was a highly-regarded performer, respected by both the critics and the public. He had an extensive, devoted fan base and a glowing reputation as a performer, author, and story-teller. He's widely regarded as a comedic genius, and his show was consistently successful for decades. Why would he jeopardize his reputation by letting a creepy associate hit on the female talent that he hired to work on his shows?

Given that allegations of sexual misconduct have been leveled against the Prairie Home Companion star this week, suddenly those long-standing, gut level suspicions don't seem so far-fetched. We'll never know the real truth, of course, but it makes you wonder.

New York Minute 68 - Rock and Roll, Baby!

I’m having lunch in a crowded Italian restaurant. Popular music is playing from the speakers. I don’t know the names of the songs, but I’ve heard most of them before.

A family of four is sitting at the next table. The adults might be the grandparents judging from their age. Sitting with them are two boys, about five and eight years old.

An rock song plays over the speakers. Again, I don’t know the name of the song, but I’ve heard it many times in the last couple of years. It’s anthemic. It might be featured in a television commercial, if I recall correctly.

The five-year-old apparently likes this song, because he knows all of the words. He begins to sing LOUDLY right there in the dining room. 

Mom/grandma is aghast. “Stop it! People are eating. You’re being rude.”

The kid continues to sing. No amount of parental admonishment is going to stop this young rock and roller from belting out his favorite tune. Yeah!

The waiter must have assumed that I was annoyed. - I wasn’t. I thought that the kid was GREAT! He sang so passionately, and he was even in tune! - Anyway, they ended up giving me my coffee on the house. Double bonus! Rock and roll, baby!

Copyright © 2017 Daniel R. South 

All Rights Reserved

Today I Am Thankful

Today I am thankful -

- for life 

- for health 

- for family 

- for love 

- for music 

- for the arts 

- for words and thoughts 

- for dance, and for the people that make it such a memorable experience 

- for a beautiful planet, and for the opportunity to see some of it 

- for the opportunity to teach and inspire others 

- for the friends that have stood by me through good times and dreadful times 

- for dreams and the courage to chase them 

But mostly, I am grateful just to be here for another year, to have the opportunity to live and love and share and work hard on things that have importance in my heart. May God bless every one of you and keep you and your families safe and fulfilled as we find our way forward in an increasingly troubled world.

DRS

23 November 2017

California Moments - Part 3

Valet parking is popular in California. Pull up to a hotel or a fancy restaurant, and a bunch of guys will be standing there waiting to park your car. I even saw a mall with valet parking.

I prefer to park the car myself under most circumstances, but at this one L.A. hotel, valet parking was the only option. A young, nice looking fellow with a big smile greeted me at the valet stand. When I opened the trunk, he took one look at my tripod case and the special backpack that I use for my camera gear and asked, “Are you a photographer?”

I answered in the affirmative. Impressed that he recognized the tools of the trade so readily, I asked whether he was a photographer, too.

“No. I model.”

California Moments - Part 2

At the same Beverly Hills restaurant that doesn’t bother to put prices on the menu, I ordered the Insalata Caprese with my gluten-free pasta. I wasn’t sure how much this item would cost, either, but I was in an adventurous mood, so I went for it.

The waiter indicated that they served the Caprese Salad heated, but he offered to serve it cold if preferred. I said that although it’s typically served cold, I was willing to give the heated version a try if they thought that it tasted better that way. 

He assured me that it was delicious and went on to explain that they serve it cold in the summer and warm in the winter. The temperature had been in the upper 70’s that day with abundant sunshine. I thought to myself, “If this is winter, sign me up for an annual subscription.”

California Moments - Part 1

I walked into an Italian restaurant in Beverly Hills and asked them if they had gluten-free pasta. The hostess handed me a menu. At first, I was confused. “Which of these pastas is gluten-free?” I wondered. “It’s not clearly marked.” Then I realized that it was a special menu listing only gluten-free items. 

(Editor’s note: Of course they have a gluten free menu. It’s L.A.)

I noticed something strange. The menu had no prices on it. None. You place your order, and whatever it costs, that’s what you have to pay. Mentioning the price is just so gauche, so tacky, so 2016!

I felt a little nervous about ordering. “How much is this pasta going to cost?” I wondered. The only number beside each item was the number of calories that it contained. 

(Editor’s note: Of course the menu listed the calorie count for each item. It’s L.A.)

Not wanting to seem like an awkward out-of-town tourist, I went ahead and ordered my meal. Fortunately, the prices turned out to be reasonable. The pasta that I ordered was fifteen and change. (I was relieved that it wasn’t thirty bucks. Or worse.) It was an inexpensive bill for diner in the global center of new wealth. 

I have to admit, though, that placing the order without knowing the prices was a strange feeling. I was preparing myself to get jacked.

Violence In America

Gabby Giffords. Steve Scalise. Rand Paul. Even our congressmen and women aren’t safe from violence in this country. How many more people have to be hurt or killed before we start treating violent crime like the epidemic that it has become? It’s not enough just to lock people up after they commit crimes. 

We need to understand the root causes of this scourge on American society, and we need to have the courage to do something about it. And for once and for all, stop blaming immigrants for this. They are not causing this problem; our American-born neighbors are.

Awkward Dinner Conversations

That moment when a couple at the dinner table proudly proclaims that global warming is a hoax, Black Lives Matters is a bid for “special treatment,” and alleged victims of sexual abuse are “me too-ers” who were “aggressively pursuing their acting careers.” 

That moment when you realize that the only way to keep from ruining the evening is to be the bigger person and say nothing.

A Perspective On Violence And Public Policy

Yesterday’s terror attack in New York City was shocking. Acts of senseless violence have become part of our weekly reality, and we would all like to see steps taken to prevent future attacks.

But it’s important to keep the impact of violent attacks in perspective. On the same day that eight people were killed and twelve were injured seriously by the lone wolf attacker, well over one hundred people in the United States were killed in ordinary car accidents. When was the last time you saw politicians demanding “extreme vetting” for driver’s licenses? Nearly one hundred Americans were killed by firearms on the same day. Yet politicians steadfastly refuse to address the issue of gun violence.

When a lunatic kills a bunch of innocent people, it’s shocking and tragic. It makes us feel helpless, and when we feel helpless we long for solutions. The important thing is to avoid policies that do more harm than good. Do we really want to embrace laws that undermine basic freedoms in response to crimes with limited impact? Would it not be better to focus our attention on major issues that kill hundreds and hundreds of citizens every single day, issues such as healthcare, obesity, and gun violence?

Governments don’t enact harmful policies in a vacuum. They do so when the public loses sight of what’s truly important.

New York Minute 67 - Unwanted Exposure

Overheard while walking down the street this past weekend. A young man was talking on his mobile phone.

“She, like, posted a picture of her ass. And she doesn’t even, like, have an ass.”

You know what they say. It’s not what you have, it’s how you use it.

Copyright © 2017 Daniel R. South 

All Rights Reserved

Raves

On the second day of a nasty stomach bug during a typically hectic work week, my fortunes brightened significantly when a colleague surprised me with an award for outstanding performance. Woo hoo!

Days When I Want To Scream

There are days 

When I just want to scream 

Loudly and angrily 

And curse a blue streak 

At the world 

And everyone in it 

Throw a big ugly fit 

Tear up the carpet 

And even break 

Some furniture 

Like an angry, crazed, 

Overgrown two-year-old 

Who’s tired and cranky 

And totally 

Out of control 

But no

I won’t do it 

I won’t and I can’t 

I won’t let myself rant 

Uncontrollably 

It’s not good for you 

And it’s not good for me

I’ll do something else 

Anything else 

I’ll find a better way 

To express myself 

I’ll take a deep breath 

Balance myself 

And get a hold of that urge 

To scream 

And be mean 

I’ll take it 

And push it way down 

In my soul 

Where the darkest thoughts swim 

In a cold, deep well 

Waiting 

Waiting to be reborn 

I use them, you know 

Those thoughts in the well

I harness that angst 

And use it as fuel 

As pure motivation 

The fire and passion 

I need 

To take action 

I can make them burn bright 

And turn dark into light 

When my focus is right 

I can transform the rawest emotions

Into joyful 

And helpful 

Experiences 

I’ll just relax 

And think for a bit 

And soon I’ll have some ideas 

Of how to make something nice 

Or provide some advice 

That might help someone 

In need 

I can think of a way 

To contribute some pay 

In a generous way 

Or maybe just stay 

In the house for the day

Learning to do 

Something new 

Something fun 

Something 

That will ultimately 

Help someone

Anything 

Just do anything 

Anything but scream 

No 

Don’t do that 

I won’t do that 

I won’t lash out 

Or throw a mad fit 

I won’t show anger 

Or harbor it 

I won’t share frustration 

Or unchecked emotion 

Or do unkind things 

Or say thoughtless words 

No 

No one deserves 

The wrath of my unmanaged emotions 

No one should carry my burdens 

But me 

My heart 

Is my own 

Responsibility 

And I shall be 

As positive 

As I can 

I’ll handle things 

Patiently and quietly 

Because screaming 

Is a waste of energy 

And so far beneath 

My dignity 

Copyright © 2017 Daniel R. South 

All Rights Reserved

Diwali - Day 2 -Narak Chaturdasi

Today is Narak Chaturdasi, the 2nd day of Diwali, when special baths with scented oils remove evil spirits from the body. May your life be cleansed of all negativity.

Desperation Diplomacy

Does Drumpf think that he looks strong when he criticizes Iran and North Korea? He looks like the man with the smallest penis in the world desperate to demonstrate his virility.

The Human Tragedy of Senseless Violence

I learned this week that my wife is related to one of the victims of the mass shooting in Las Vegas. The great-grandmother of the woman who was killed was the sister of my wife’s grandfather. It seems like a distant relation, but I have relatives who are similarly related, and they don’t seem distant when I’m with them.

My wife and I vacationed in Las Vegas early in our relationship. It was one of our first big trips together. We had a wonderful time exploring the sights and experiences of this amazing city. I can’t imagine if something had happened to her there, some senseless act of violence. I question whether I would have had the strength to go on. A tragic event like that would have haunted me forever.

Fifty-eight people where killed in Las Vegas that evening. Fifty-eight families are left to deal with the sudden, permanent loss of a loved one. How many husbands, wives, parents, children, brothers, sisters, and friends are left to deal with that grief, left to ask how something so pointless could have happened? Left to ask why? Five hundred more suffered significant injuries. None of those people will ever be the same.

The scope of this tragedy and the pain left in its wake is incomprehensible. How could one person inflict harm on so many, people that he didn’t even know, people with whom he had no apparent grievance? What drove him to plan a massacre of innocent people methodically for months in advance? How will the families and the surviving victims cope with what has happened to them? How will any of us ever look at life the same way again?

Copyright © 2017 Daniel R. South 

All Rights Reserved

New York Minute 66 - Subway Bust

I saw a guy being arrested on a subway platform last night, a young, tall, White guy with a mop of unkempt curly hair. He was sitting on a bench in handcuffs being questioned by a large officer in uniform when I got there. A minute later, an undercover cop joined the discussion, and the two cops started going through items in the guy’s satchel.

Undercovers are easy to spot. They have a uniform of their own: jeans, sneakers, and a baggy shirt or jacket that can conceal a holstered pistol. They’re always short. Always. My guess is that this helps them to blend into crowds and bear witness to acts of theft like pickpocketing.

I saw a couple of folks glance over to see what was happening, but no one stared, and most people didn’t look at all. The New York instinct to mind one’s own business kicks in automatically.

Copyright © 2017 Daniel R. South 

All Rights Reserved

Presidential Succession Protocol

Is there a protocol that would enable the Vice President to take over if his boss goes totally bonkers? We seem to be approaching that point.

Light Rain

Soft and warm, 

A light rain 

Calms my mind 

And invigorates my senses 

Like a tender, staccato massage

Copyright © 2017 Daniel R. South 

All Rights Reserved

New York Minute 65 - Thursday Morning

It's Thursday morning. Even the sirens sound tired.

Copyright © 2017 Daniel R. South 

All Rights Reserved

Respect For Your Country

Respect your country. To some that means adhering to tradition. To some it means speaking out against injustice. Both are valid. Remember that. Peace.

They Are Not Protesting The Flag

They are not protesting the flag, the troops, or their country. They are protesting police brutality against people of color. Deal with it.

America Spoke Today

America spoke today. The message is clear. We are sick of this fake president.

NFL Anthem Protests

It serves your right, Mr. Trump, for heckling athletes instead of focusing on your job. Now they're all protesting.

Can Things Get Any Worse?

Can things get any worse? Wealthy senators are taking healthcare benefits from the masses and the poor, historic natural disasters, unprecedented government corruption, elections tainted by hostile foreign actors, and now, bitter, unbalanced men are posturing toward nuclear war. 

The Celebrity Marriage That You Didn't Hear About In The Tabloids

I didn't realize that Gina Torres (Suits) was married to Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix, Boyz In The Hood, Apocalypse Now). I didn't realize that she stepped away from Suits, which films in Toronto, to work on the marriage, which is now sadly ending. Two wonderful actors and probably very nice people. I feel sad that things didn't work out for them.

New York Minute 64 - Diplomatic Escorts

Tell tale signs of General Assembly week at the United Nations: traffic jams, motorcades, an ominous security presence around prominent hotels ... and escorts. Lots of escorts.

It's not uncommon to see "working girls" downtown. The Wall Street crowd seems to enjoy paying for their services. It's more striking when you see them in Midtown.

They have a distinctive look, overtly provocative but in a high end way. They have slender bodies and pretty faces with makeup for nighttime worn too early in the day. 

The ladies have a unique wardrobe, too, expensive-looking suits and dresses with a generous helping of slut factor, outfits that even the horniest, most desperate-for-a-date female office worker wouldn't dare to wear to happy hour. Escorts are professionals, and they want you to know it.

I'm guessing that the ladies are making a good living this week. What they make during the General Assembly probably pays their rent for months. 

Be careful out there, ladies! Diplomatic immunity means that some jerks will never have to say that they're sorry for beating up a prostitute.

Copyright © 2017 Daniel R. South 

All Rights Reserved

Marshall Plan For Puerto Rico

We need a Marshall Plan for Puerto Rico. Forgive all debts and commit enough money to rebuild completely. Hesitation is not an option.

New York Minute 63 - Beautiful Family

Friends of ours had their baby baptized this past weekend. The couple also has a toddler who's reaching the age where she insists on walking everywhere instead of riding in a stroller.

After the service, the father carried the baby and led friends and family to a nearby restaurant where they were hosting a small reception. The mother walked with the toddler. Since toddlers don't walk very fast, she fell back behind the rest of the group. 

I decided to walk with them and keep an extra pair of eyes on the toddler. If the child suddenly darted toward the heavily trafficked streets, I wanted to be there to catch her. It was fun to watch the little girl as she explored the world with curiosity. She stopped frequently to pick flowers or gaze at passing dogs.

Walking with us was the mother's friend, a very blonde woman from Norway with two young, blond children of her own. The Norwegian woman was also noticeably pregnant.

At one point, a passing male pedestrian yelled out, "You have a beautiful family!" 

I thought to myself, "Yes, sure! Me, my two blonde wives, my three children and a baby on the way - I'm all ready to move to Utah."

Copyright © 2017 Daniel R. South 

All Rights Reserved

What If Democracy Failed?

What if democracy failed, and a person who was totally wrong for the job got elected? What would that look like?

Fear Of Clowns

My generation wasn't afraid of clowns. We laughed at them.

New York Minute 62 - Tip Line

During my morning commute last week, I came to a section of a busy avenue that had been closed to traffic. One block was even closed to pedestrians.

Television news crews and at least a dozen police vehicles lined the streets at this spot. I remembered that it was Wednesday, the day after the primary election for city government positions. I thought that perhaps the mayor or some city official was planning to hold a press conference here, perhaps announcing some new project or initiative.

Yesterday, as I walked through the block where all of the police activity had been, I noticed a portable yellow traffic sign flashing a chilling message.

"Fatal hit and run 9/13/17"

The sign also displayed the number for the NYPD's anonymous tip line. Someone was killed early that morning, and no one knows who did it.

Copyright © 2017 Daniel R. South 

All Rights Reserved

Moving Ahead

When the train leaves the station without you, you can look for another ride or stand there like an idiot wondering why it left. Don't wait too long to move on.

New York Minute 61 - Turnstiles - Part Two

After escaping confrontation on the subway platform this past weekend (New York Minute 60), I made my way into the office. The entrance to the building is fitted with turnstiles to prevent unauthorized entry. You scan your identification card which unlocks the rotor and lets you pass through the turnstile by pushing a steel bar with your thighs. 

These aren't the fancy, self-opening electronic gates that more modern office buildings use these days. They are metal, mechanical devices like the ones that you might see at the entrance to an amusement park ride. I have experienced the pain of hitting that steel rod when the scanner fails to read the card properly. It's unpleasant, to say the least.

During normal business hours, you present ID to get into the building, but the turnstiles are unlocked for exiting. You just walk right through. At night and one weekends, however, they change the rules. You have to scan your card to get in OR out. - I don't know why they've set it up this way. It makes no sense to me.

Anyway, I finished my Saturday work at about 3 in the afternoon. As I rode down in the elevator, I pulled my ID card out of my wallet so I'd be ready to pass through the turnstiles. 

Another gentleman rode down in the elevator with me. I guess this guy didn't come in on weekends very often, because he seemed to be unaware that the turnstiles would be locked. Unfortunately for him, he seemed to be in a bit of a hurry. As he dashed toward the entrance, he hit the metal bar of the turnstile so hard that his sunglasses flew off of his head and onto the floor. I can't imagine how painful that must have been. It must have felt like getting hit in the thighs with a baseball bat.

"You have to use your ID card," the security guard explained blankly. Too bad she didn't think to share this advice when it might have prevented a painful crash.

I passed gently through the next turnstile, picked the guy's glasses up from the floor and handed them to him as he stepped gingerly through the gate. "I'm having a bad day," he said as his grimacing face betrayed his physical discomfort.

Copyright © 2017 Daniel R. South 

All Rights Reserved

New York Minute 60 - Turnstiles - Part One

I had to go into the office early on Saturday morning to work on some scheduled computer maintenance. I woke up early, showered, dressed, and headed to the nearest subway station as though it were a weekday.

As I was walking down the stairs from street level, I saw the train pulling into the station. I ran as fast as I could to the first in a row of turnstiles and swiped my card through the reader. It failed to read the card which, while frustrating, is a fairly common occurrence. "Please Swipe Again" read the message.

Around this time, I heard another guy run down the same stairs desperately trying to catch the same train. Unfortunately instead of using one of the other open turnstiles, he queued up behind me just as my second swipe was rejected.

"Please swipe your card again at this turnstile" the machine urged me.

The third and final try got me through the gate. I dashed down the stairs pushing past people who had just deborded the train. The other guy was running down the stairs behind me. I couldn't see him, but I heard him chanting, "Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa!" - I don't know why he used that word, of all things. It seemed stupid even in that frantic moment.

Unfortunately, I reached the train a fraction of a second too late. I lunged forward with my foot in an attempt to stick it in the closing door, but I couldn't reach it. The door closed and the train started moving forward. The other fellow who had been about three steps behind me as we raced down the stairs, expressed his frustration verbally as the train pulled away. 

Then he did something that surprised me. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him turn squarely toward me as though he were preparing for a confrontation. I suppose that he felt that I and my malfunctioning Metrocard had caused him to miss his train. Clearly, he was weighing the option of making a nasty comment.

I didn't look back at the guy; my instinct was to avoid eye contact. I stood my ground without reacting. 

The confrontation didn't happen. A couple of seconds later, the guy turned and walked away. I felt a sense of relief.

The electronic sign indicated that the next train would arrive in twelve minutes. That was twelve minutes too long to stand alone on a subway platform alone with an angry New Yorker. I checked the time on my mobile phone, walked back up the stairs, and transferred to the bus.

Copyright © 2017 Daniel R. South 

All Rights Reserved

New York Minute 59 - First Day Of School!

Today is the first day of school. I passed a number of students in uniform this morning, all of them looking fresh and rested, the boys in their ties and the girls in the skirts. The parents looked a bit stressed - school puts demands on everyone's schedule - but I'm sure that things will fall into place eventually.

Copyright © 2017 Daniel R. South 

All Rights Reserved

The Lasting Anguish of 9/11

Just typing the date hurts. That number cuts into my heart and dredges up the shock and the sorrow of a tragic day and the chaotic months that followed.

Believe What You Want To Believe

Either the climate scientists were right about a future with more powerful storms, or God is angry about the election. Believe in the version that appeals to you.

Don't Underestimate Me

You shouldn't underestimate me. I've already overestimated myself. :-)

Learning And Understanding

As we learn, we realize how much more there is to understand. The person who claims to know everything understands nothing.

The Economics of DACA

75 percent of the people covered under DACA have jobs. They generate $60 billion per year in tax revenues. And now they've been thrown back into the shadows. Not my president.

Still Feeling The Bern

Still feeling the Bern? I am. Every time I see Trump's name in the flipping news it burns me.

When The World Goes Mad

When it seems as though the world's gone mad, maybe the universe is just doing what needs to be done. A change is necessary. It's probably overdue. Perhaps some weakness has been uncovered and needs to be addressed immediately. Our old ways of doing things have not just gone out of fashion; they've lost all reasonable justification. 

Change can be maddening, but perhaps what we perceive as madness is a symptom of the chaos and the urgency that drives that change to occur. Change is uncomfortable, because things always get worse before they get bette.

Change is chaotic, because the best way forward is subject to debate. Those who reap the rewards of the current world order will fight to preserve that order. They'll push back against the rising tide - and encourage others to do so - until the tide overwhelms and flattens everything in its path.

Change is jarring, because new ways always seem odd and unacceptable to those who are used to the way that things have been. It's even more stressful for those who long for a selectively nostalgic past.

Change is fateful, because it picks winners and losers. Those who have prospered richly in the past may struggle to find their way in an emerging future.

Yes, there are times when the world seems to be going mad. These are major turning points, and they are often accompanied by suffering and catastrophic loss. But failing to change will lead to even greater losses. When the world does go mad, our primary responsibility is not to stop it and to pull it back to where it started, but rather to guide it rationally and thoughtfully out of the chaos, and to fight tirelessly and courageously for a brighter and more effective tomorrow.

Copyright © 2017 Daniel R. South 

All Rights Reserved

Source Of Love

I had a vision today 

I saw myself portrayed 

As a glowing ball of light 

Shining from the center 

Of a transparent human form

The light beamed out its energy 

Of love and warmth and acceptance 

To all who came near 

Freely 

Openly 

And without reservation 

There were other lights

In the periphery

Shining just as mine did 

We beamed out warmth 

And joy and love 

Gently to each other

Without a thought or a care 

We just simply there

And there we shared

Love is not a scarce resource 

To draw from other beings 

Worrying about the hunger 

That we'll feel when they are gone 

It's limitless 

We can make more 

On the spot

More than we'll ever need 

Love is something wonderful 

That we generate withing our hearts 

Like the endless light 

Of the sun 

We radiate it outward 

In all directions

Anyone who needs our love 

Can sample of it freely 

When first we make it ready to be shared 

Our love pours out

In many forms 

A smile 

A hug 

A handshake 

Or maybe

A great big, silly high five 

A laugh 

A look 

An encouraging work

Or a generous, heartfelt compliment 

Mentioned freely through 

Uplifting conversation 

Those pleasant chats 

So memorable and fun 

That leave us feeling stronger 

Wiser and elated 

For having had them

Love is what we make of our lives 

The good that blossoms from inside 

Connecting us with others 

Every day 

In all of the ways 

That leave us feeling positive 

And better able to face the day 

Never wait

For love to come to you 

No never wait 

For it love to stumble along 

With a smile and a song - 

That's a mistake! 

Start now

Wherever your are 

However you feel 

Let that love grow wildly inside you 

Let it warm and build up steam 

And let it surge 

With confidence and abandon 

Let it run so rampant 

That it overflows the container 

Of your body 

And your being 

Beam it out into the world

So pure

So sweet

So much fresh new love 

That there will always be 

A plentiful supply 

There in your space 

More than enough to share 

Not once 

Not twice 

But a thousand times 

Ten thousand more times over 

For anyone and everyone

Who needs a joyous lift 

Share that light out freely 

Let it shine 

All day and night 

In limitless supply 

From deep within

Your warm and open heart 

Copyright © 2017 Daniel R. South 

All Rights Reserved

Outrage Over NFL Protests

You have the right to express your outrage when NFL players refuse to stand for the national anthem. You also have the opportunity.

Freddie Gray doesn't have that opportunity.

Philando Castillo doesn't have that opportunity.

Ricky Ball doesn't have that opportunity.

Keith Lamont Scott doesn't have that opportunity.

Rekia Boyd doesn't have the opportunity.

Eric Garner doesn't have that opportunity.

Walter Scott doesn't have that opportunity.

Alton Sterling doesn't have that opportunity.

Michael Brown, who was 18 when he was shot dead in Ferguson, Missouri, does not have that opportunity.

Laquan McDonald (17) doesn't have that opportunity.

Jordan Edwards (15) does not have that opportunity.

Tamir Rice, who was a happy 12-year-old when a Cleveland police officer shot him from a moving patrol car, does not have the opportunity to criticize the behavior of protesting professional sportsmen.

The next time you see an athlete kneeling or sitting during the national anthem and you feel outraged by this public display of disobedience, consider focusing some of that outrage on the situations that inspired these protests in the first place. Everyone's life matters - police, citizens, everyone.

Copyright © 2017 Daniel R. South 

All Rights Reserved

New York Minute 58 - Psycho Cab Driver

After working until nearly three in the morning on a critical computer failure, I jumped in a taxi in an effort to get home and catch a few hours of sleep. My nerves were already on edge from the challenges of an extremely long and difficult day. Riding with an aggressive driver only made things worse.

Every time a traffic signal turned green, the guy punched the accelerator sending the car lurching forward. Because the guy was driving too fast, the light at the next intersection would almost always be red. (The lights in New York are timed to work with a 25 mile per hour speed limit.) Psycho taxi driver slammed on the brakes at the red light, then punched the accelerator again when the light turned green. 

Fifty blocks of lurching starts and stops were only part of the fun. Psycho Guy saw fit to cut off every other driver along the way. I heard so many horns beeping at us, I fears that one of those drivers was going to pull out a gun and start shooting.

When the dickhead dropped me off at my corner, I purposely walked on the wrong side of the street and several doors past my building. I didn't want him to see where I lived. I walked half a block pretending to look at my phone. When I stopped and turned around, he was still sitting at the intersection staring at me. Finally, he took off, and I went home.

Copyright © 2017 Daniel R. South 

All Rights Reserved

Eclipse!

Nothing can eclipse a day like this!

Happiness Is A New Lens

Happiness is a new lens for my favorite camera.

Restaurant Week Logic

Restaurant Week, when instead of ordering your usual fifteen-dollar entrée, you can save money by dining out for forty-two dollars per person. 😮

American Racism Revisited

I grew up seeing racism all around me. It wasn't directed toward me, but it made me feel uncomfortable nonetheless. The "off color" jokes were everywhere. The ease with which normally polite people could spout hateful epithets was shocking. It was like watching people play catch with a hand grenade without knowing that it could explode. 

Occasionally, I spoke up and protested the use of such language. That's when the deeply ingrained hatred rose up, showed its ugly face and bared its menacing teeth. "You're just a ****** lover!" Thanks for that assessment, Goober, but your thoughtless opinion means nothing to me.

Come To The City

Come to the city today
Meet me for a drink 
At a posh hotel
And we'll dine in some
Trendy new place
You can tell me 
About your day
And laugh
At the silly things that I say

Walk with me
Through the bustling streets
Sampling all that there is to see
All the way up to Times Square
Take me in your arms
And kiss me there
Under the lights
Those bright famous lights
Kiss me
With the whole world watching

Take in all of the best
That life has to offer 

The verve and the passion 
The thrill of the action
Then take it back home
In a heart filled again
With excitement 
And sweetest romance 

Come to the city 
And meet me
My love
Let's not let a single day
Slip away
Life is too precious
And love's too delicious
To waste 
This opportunity 

Copyright © 2017 Daniel R. South 

All Rights Reserved

Special Plans

Walk with me and take my hand
Tell me all of your special plans
Of things that we shall do and say
Together
When we can
I need to hear them today

I need to hear the words 

Copyright © 2017 Daniel R. South 

All Rights Reserved