People scare me. Not every person just the unreasonable ones. The recent health care debate has really brought down the nuts from the crazy tree. Opponents have posted the home addresses of democratic politicians on the web. Sarah Palin has a map on her site with target symbols over certain states. Whatever happened to fighting fair? Is a person's home no longer sacred? What really bothers me is the way the media portrays these people as representative of the majority voice. I truly hope that they are not.
It is a given that many on two legs act more like their brethren on four. Television and radio personalities would have no audience were it not for their flock. Rhetoric, euphemisms and sound bytes are used to their advantage. People are rallied under the banner of nonsensical one-liners written on signs and banners. Getting these people to think for themselves is near impossible. Knee-jerk reactions are their stock in trade. Regardless of whichever talking head these people follow their extreme points of view get displayed on the nightly news.
There must be others like myself who realize that multiple valid viewpoints exist. Many of our nation's problems simply cannot be solved with one simple answer nor can every citizen be placated. Compromise is the key. Intelligent people understand that others exist and that their feelings and needs are valid. Too often I hear complaints that come down to one ridiculous idea: If I do not like a thing then it should not exist no matter what anyone else thinks, wants or feels.
Think I am being extreme? Look at any effort by a minority group to change the status quo. I have yet to see one of these groups willing to negotiate. They proclaim their truth and their way as the solution to the evil that only they perceive. Inevitably our political representatives will kowtow to their wishes. Why might this be? It is like the old saying about the squeaky wheel. I liken it more to a room full of babies. It is the one that constantly cries that gets the most attention. I guess I should be thankful therefore that actual babies do not get to vote.
A true majority exists. The reason that these special interest groups get so much attention for their whining is that we, the majority, are too busy with real problems rather than the sleights suffered by our narrow-minded neighbors. The silent majority is comprised of real people with real lives that take precedence over that which appears too far away and not terribly relevant. Certainly we vote when asked and get involved when the issues are tantamount. What we do not is raise our voices when the minority viewpoint does not match our own.
This has always been the biggest complaint. A small but vocal minority rallies for change and when they have succeeded the majority finally notice. We say, "Gee, where did our rights go?" It has been said that those who will not remain vigilant deserve what they get. And to some extent this is true. If we as a nation do not stand up for what we believe in we deserve what we get. I for one am damn tired of what I am getting thanks to the few as opposed to the many. I wish I knew what it will take to awaken the sleeping giant that is the silent majority. I only pray that we awaken before it is too late.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Random Thoughts
Writing can be a chore. Finding new and interesting subjects is probably easier for professional wordsmiths. My own abilities feel hampered by what is euphemistically called "fibro fog." I feel my mind is not always working at full capacity. My posts may become more sporadic as I try to give myself a break. In the meantime here are a few musings for my readers to chew on.
There is a book review in a magazine I subscribe to that talks about cheating in baseball. Playing any sport where the stakes are so high, as in monetary gain, and cheating becomes commonplace. The author argues that it is an integral part of the game. Just how many must skirt the rules before it no longer matters? It matters not whether it is one or a million. You can dress it up any way you like but any argument on the pro side just comes off as a halfhearted rationalization. We define cheating as wrong so it hardly matters how many do it. A culture may exist that espouses freely murdering its members. No matter that all accept this reality it is still murder no matter how you look at it.
There has been quite a debate as we round the corner of national health care. One side cares for people and little for corporate profits. The other ignores the sick and dying and works only to please their moneyed monolithic masters. (Try saying that three times fast!) It is not true but what other impression would one get while watching the news? I just cannot stand the pejoratives. Every one is either FAR left or RADICAL right. What happened to just left, right, or heaven forbid, centrist thinkers? All I see are "catchy" one-liners written on signs being waved at news cameras. I fear that true perspective is truly dead.
Judges are there to interpret laws or so we are taught. Assuming this is so how do we define what a law is? In every form and in every way people break the rules. Most assume they will get away with it and usually do. Lawyers either twist the law to punish or obfuscate it to relieve. Our laws have been recorded for all to see yet for what purpose? They seem like mere suggestions of what may be true depending upon who, what, when, where, which and how. Our laws are like various hobby price guides. Most prices are just starting points for dealer negotiations. Not every dealer charges the same price, and like lawyers, there are plenty of different dealers to choose from.
As cynical as I may seem there is some validity to what I write. Truth is relative. It is for this reason that there never seems to be one standard for human behavior no matter what the interpersonal dynamic might be. Sports, politics or law. Take your pick or choose any field of human endeavor and what is true one moment for one person cannot be counted to be so for another no matter how similar the circumstances. Chaos theory aside we as humans, as unpredictable and as fickle as we are, create the ever-changing miasma that is existence.
There is a book review in a magazine I subscribe to that talks about cheating in baseball. Playing any sport where the stakes are so high, as in monetary gain, and cheating becomes commonplace. The author argues that it is an integral part of the game. Just how many must skirt the rules before it no longer matters? It matters not whether it is one or a million. You can dress it up any way you like but any argument on the pro side just comes off as a halfhearted rationalization. We define cheating as wrong so it hardly matters how many do it. A culture may exist that espouses freely murdering its members. No matter that all accept this reality it is still murder no matter how you look at it.
There has been quite a debate as we round the corner of national health care. One side cares for people and little for corporate profits. The other ignores the sick and dying and works only to please their moneyed monolithic masters. (Try saying that three times fast!) It is not true but what other impression would one get while watching the news? I just cannot stand the pejoratives. Every one is either FAR left or RADICAL right. What happened to just left, right, or heaven forbid, centrist thinkers? All I see are "catchy" one-liners written on signs being waved at news cameras. I fear that true perspective is truly dead.
Judges are there to interpret laws or so we are taught. Assuming this is so how do we define what a law is? In every form and in every way people break the rules. Most assume they will get away with it and usually do. Lawyers either twist the law to punish or obfuscate it to relieve. Our laws have been recorded for all to see yet for what purpose? They seem like mere suggestions of what may be true depending upon who, what, when, where, which and how. Our laws are like various hobby price guides. Most prices are just starting points for dealer negotiations. Not every dealer charges the same price, and like lawyers, there are plenty of different dealers to choose from.
As cynical as I may seem there is some validity to what I write. Truth is relative. It is for this reason that there never seems to be one standard for human behavior no matter what the interpersonal dynamic might be. Sports, politics or law. Take your pick or choose any field of human endeavor and what is true one moment for one person cannot be counted to be so for another no matter how similar the circumstances. Chaos theory aside we as humans, as unpredictable and as fickle as we are, create the ever-changing miasma that is existence.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Unsung Heroes
I take a few things for granted. Each night my wife will be next to me while I sleep. Reaching another birthday means a few more gray hairs. Every week someone tries to sell me new gutters right from my front porch. These things occur regularly in my life. It is common for me to take people for granted as well. Certain individuals in the service industry meet our needs yet most never give them a second thought.
Eventually every car gets dirty. Many car wash establishments require the driver to get out and hand over the reigns to an employee. As the car goes through the cleaning process it is vacuumed, washed and dried. There are machines that do half the work but people handle the detailed areas manually. Payment is handed over at the end but tipping is optional. It is assumed that the workers will always do a decent job but they deserve to know that their work is appreciated.
Waitstaff are in a similar situation. No matter whether a tip is left by the patron, or how large it is, the government gets a flat percentage in taxes. Good service is by no means guaranteed. If the food is not up to one's standards or arrives late the server gets blamed. The kitchen staff have control over how and when the food is prepared. Waiters do their best to please the diner, the kitchen and management all at the same time. They are human beings after all.
Mailing letters seems passe' in our world of rapid email. Bills and catalogs still arrive each week in our mailboxes. Letter carriers are rarely seen but their delivery six days a week is expected nonetheless. It is a thankless job. Rainy days are no fun for anyone. No matter what the weatherman predicts every mail carrier must make their appointed rounds. When a friend or family member says they sent us something we expect it to arrive. We know just whom we should thank.
As painful as it is to think about emergencies do occur. Our taxes pay for public services that help during these times. Just because someone dials 911 does not guarantee that all will be well. Some of the most difficult careers are that of policeman and fireman. Complaining abounds when we get a ticket but these same people protect us as well. A kind word goes a long way. Even better is voting yes for the next millage proposal to retain these vital services.
There must be others that deserve to be recognized. I am as guilty as the next person when it comes to assuming people in service industries will meet my needs. Paying people for what they provide is just a start. Saying thank you or being kind in some way is just as important as remuneration. A tip is nice. A handshake is better. Just using a person's first name in conversation makes them feel better about themselves. I hope that next time we will remember to look someone directly in their eyes while we wear a smile on our face.
Eventually every car gets dirty. Many car wash establishments require the driver to get out and hand over the reigns to an employee. As the car goes through the cleaning process it is vacuumed, washed and dried. There are machines that do half the work but people handle the detailed areas manually. Payment is handed over at the end but tipping is optional. It is assumed that the workers will always do a decent job but they deserve to know that their work is appreciated.
Waitstaff are in a similar situation. No matter whether a tip is left by the patron, or how large it is, the government gets a flat percentage in taxes. Good service is by no means guaranteed. If the food is not up to one's standards or arrives late the server gets blamed. The kitchen staff have control over how and when the food is prepared. Waiters do their best to please the diner, the kitchen and management all at the same time. They are human beings after all.
Mailing letters seems passe' in our world of rapid email. Bills and catalogs still arrive each week in our mailboxes. Letter carriers are rarely seen but their delivery six days a week is expected nonetheless. It is a thankless job. Rainy days are no fun for anyone. No matter what the weatherman predicts every mail carrier must make their appointed rounds. When a friend or family member says they sent us something we expect it to arrive. We know just whom we should thank.
As painful as it is to think about emergencies do occur. Our taxes pay for public services that help during these times. Just because someone dials 911 does not guarantee that all will be well. Some of the most difficult careers are that of policeman and fireman. Complaining abounds when we get a ticket but these same people protect us as well. A kind word goes a long way. Even better is voting yes for the next millage proposal to retain these vital services.
There must be others that deserve to be recognized. I am as guilty as the next person when it comes to assuming people in service industries will meet my needs. Paying people for what they provide is just a start. Saying thank you or being kind in some way is just as important as remuneration. A tip is nice. A handshake is better. Just using a person's first name in conversation makes them feel better about themselves. I hope that next time we will remember to look someone directly in their eyes while we wear a smile on our face.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
All Fun And Games
I love a good game. Sports are for spectators unless you are the athletic type. Shooting a basketball or throwing a football with friends was something I used to be good at. Otherwise I prefer to watch others who are clearly more talented than the majority of the population. With most games intellectual acuity matters more than physical prowess. As we age we tend to forget how special playing a game can be.
My wife tells me how important it is to de-stress. She recommends exercises that involve the tightening and releasing of each muscle group. I believe that the best way to release stress is to give the mind a different subject to mull over. We do not spend our day working on our stressors but we tend to think about them - a lot! Games give us the opportunity to change gears and starts endorphins flowing.
Many types of games allow people to compete on a level playing-field. It may be outdoors with a team or a board game with a few or even a video game with just one or two. As nice as it is to win these experiences allow us to use our brains in positive ways. Only basic physical dexterity is required and simple luck factors more than anything else. It is all about having fun and this is a word that adults have let slip from their vocabulary.
Sometimes the smallest things bring us joy and happiness. Games of all kinds challenge us in good ways. Sex, drugs and cable television do not completely satisfy. When was the last time you can honestly say you had fun? Without it a balanced life is not within reach. There will always be challenges to our time and mental resources. What better way is there to give our mind the respite it so desperately needs? Even school children look forward to recess each weekday. I hope that adults will begin to realize the benefit it can bring to the quality of their own lives.
My wife tells me how important it is to de-stress. She recommends exercises that involve the tightening and releasing of each muscle group. I believe that the best way to release stress is to give the mind a different subject to mull over. We do not spend our day working on our stressors but we tend to think about them - a lot! Games give us the opportunity to change gears and starts endorphins flowing.
Many types of games allow people to compete on a level playing-field. It may be outdoors with a team or a board game with a few or even a video game with just one or two. As nice as it is to win these experiences allow us to use our brains in positive ways. Only basic physical dexterity is required and simple luck factors more than anything else. It is all about having fun and this is a word that adults have let slip from their vocabulary.
Sometimes the smallest things bring us joy and happiness. Games of all kinds challenge us in good ways. Sex, drugs and cable television do not completely satisfy. When was the last time you can honestly say you had fun? Without it a balanced life is not within reach. There will always be challenges to our time and mental resources. What better way is there to give our mind the respite it so desperately needs? Even school children look forward to recess each weekday. I hope that adults will begin to realize the benefit it can bring to the quality of their own lives.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Relative Cleanliness
I like to keep my home clean. Minimizing clutter is a priority. If I have an item that serves no purpose I either donate it or dispose of it. Dusting is a real pain so that only gets done once in a while. Areas like the kitchen and bathroom get sanitized regularly. When one is away from home cleanliness becomes the responsibility of someone else. Hotel rooms look clean, but below the surface, there lingers all manner of disgust.
My advice comes from what I have experienced. Christine and I have stayed in hotels hundreds of times. What we have witnessed should serve as a warning to others. Housekeeping staff is notoriously overburdened. They have many rooms to clean and little time in which to accomplish their task. Their task is not what you might expect. A room is not cleaned so much as it is made to appear so. Due to this there are things every person should do when they first walk through the door.
The bed is the first place to look. Bed bugs are quite hard to get rid of and are common to find even in expensive hotels. It is best to lift the sheet and mattress cover to get a closer look. Little black dots that jump and move is the best way to tell if your mattress is infested. The next area to examine is the bathroom. There should not be signs of the previous occupant. Floor, sink and shower areas should be stain and hair free.
When the maid comes to clean they will use chemicals of course. The concern is that what they use may not sanitize surfaces which people come into contact. Windex makes glass shine but it hardly makes anything sanitary. Bringing a can of Lysol spray is a good defense against unwanted bugs. I recommend spraying the television's remote control, all doorhandles and any bathroom surfaces. A little bit of prevention helps to keep a person healthy.
Some rooms have glasses for drinking water or for whatever beverage one might have. I learned my lesson the hard way. I assumed these glasses were sanitary until one fateful hotel excursion. I happened to catch the maid cleaning my glasses in the bathroom sink. Why did I think they would use a big dishwasher somewhere in the hotel? In this case she was cleaning them using hand soap and the same rag she used to wipe down surfaces. When I inquired as to her "cleaning method" she explained that this was how she and the rest of the staff washed glasses.
These few tips are meant to inform and educate. I certainly wish someone had told me about this years ago. There are probably more ways to keep yourself safe in a hotel room but unfortunately it is easier to stop a burglar than to stop a bug. There are similar stories of maid service in people's homes. House cleaners are often only concerned with surface appearances. Everyone deserves to get away once in a while. Please remember that wherever you lay your head there have been countless other heads there as well.
My advice comes from what I have experienced. Christine and I have stayed in hotels hundreds of times. What we have witnessed should serve as a warning to others. Housekeeping staff is notoriously overburdened. They have many rooms to clean and little time in which to accomplish their task. Their task is not what you might expect. A room is not cleaned so much as it is made to appear so. Due to this there are things every person should do when they first walk through the door.
The bed is the first place to look. Bed bugs are quite hard to get rid of and are common to find even in expensive hotels. It is best to lift the sheet and mattress cover to get a closer look. Little black dots that jump and move is the best way to tell if your mattress is infested. The next area to examine is the bathroom. There should not be signs of the previous occupant. Floor, sink and shower areas should be stain and hair free.
When the maid comes to clean they will use chemicals of course. The concern is that what they use may not sanitize surfaces which people come into contact. Windex makes glass shine but it hardly makes anything sanitary. Bringing a can of Lysol spray is a good defense against unwanted bugs. I recommend spraying the television's remote control, all doorhandles and any bathroom surfaces. A little bit of prevention helps to keep a person healthy.
Some rooms have glasses for drinking water or for whatever beverage one might have. I learned my lesson the hard way. I assumed these glasses were sanitary until one fateful hotel excursion. I happened to catch the maid cleaning my glasses in the bathroom sink. Why did I think they would use a big dishwasher somewhere in the hotel? In this case she was cleaning them using hand soap and the same rag she used to wipe down surfaces. When I inquired as to her "cleaning method" she explained that this was how she and the rest of the staff washed glasses.
These few tips are meant to inform and educate. I certainly wish someone had told me about this years ago. There are probably more ways to keep yourself safe in a hotel room but unfortunately it is easier to stop a burglar than to stop a bug. There are similar stories of maid service in people's homes. House cleaners are often only concerned with surface appearances. Everyone deserves to get away once in a while. Please remember that wherever you lay your head there have been countless other heads there as well.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
New Blog Started
I now have a new blog at WordPress. My intention for this blog is to write more comprehensive articles, on a weekly basis, in a more objective fashion than posts found here. The new blog is also called Dan Kravitz so please take a look and feel free to contact me with any comments. I will continue here, as I have been, posting two or more times per week.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Our Choices
A whole is made up of various parts. So it is with our lives. Just as we wear many hats, each representing a facet of our personality, our life is also divided. These parts do not exist on an even playing field. Some bring us joy, others strife, while others still are works in progress. I humbly submit a three-part method of clarifying and categorizing one's life. This outline may not work for everyone but I hope that it might act as a starting point for self-reflection.
Our behaviors do not always bring desired results. We want things to get better but it is not always clear how to do so. Banging your head into the wall only causes pain. Only a fool performs the same acts and believes that different results will occur. Acceptance must be the first part of the method. We must face the problem and understand that whatever we have done thus far must be revised. Only once we acknowledge what we dislike can change begin.
Not everything new must be made from whole cloth. In other words, when we break down a part of our lives, we find aspects that can be integrated into our new plan. This brings us to part two which I call compromise. Just like when dealing with others it is better to pick our battles. When it comes to ourselves small changes are often enough. Negotiation is key when changing maladaptive behaviors. Keep what works and combine it with new ideas that may lead to positive change and a positive outlook.
There will always be those things that we can do little about. Some behaviors, like other people, cannot be changed. It takes thought, time and patience to determine what is at fault and how to create a resolution. As painful as it may be we must accept the immovable objects of our lives. Resignation is the third part that saves us from further pain. As I mentioned the sooner we stop beating ourselves up the better. The truth is that some problems have no workable solution.
What I have written may be construed as a philosophical version of the popular serenity prayer. What the prayer mentions in its few lines seems trite when a person is suffering and longs for things to get better. Just as blueprints are used in construction a plan must be used as we daily build, change and remove parts of our inner selves. The greatest barrier to change is perspective. This is why it is so important to look at ourselves honestly and remain flexible. Some things can be made better while others remain as challenges we daily must overcome. Through this process we build character as we traverse the long highway of life.
Our behaviors do not always bring desired results. We want things to get better but it is not always clear how to do so. Banging your head into the wall only causes pain. Only a fool performs the same acts and believes that different results will occur. Acceptance must be the first part of the method. We must face the problem and understand that whatever we have done thus far must be revised. Only once we acknowledge what we dislike can change begin.
Not everything new must be made from whole cloth. In other words, when we break down a part of our lives, we find aspects that can be integrated into our new plan. This brings us to part two which I call compromise. Just like when dealing with others it is better to pick our battles. When it comes to ourselves small changes are often enough. Negotiation is key when changing maladaptive behaviors. Keep what works and combine it with new ideas that may lead to positive change and a positive outlook.
There will always be those things that we can do little about. Some behaviors, like other people, cannot be changed. It takes thought, time and patience to determine what is at fault and how to create a resolution. As painful as it may be we must accept the immovable objects of our lives. Resignation is the third part that saves us from further pain. As I mentioned the sooner we stop beating ourselves up the better. The truth is that some problems have no workable solution.
What I have written may be construed as a philosophical version of the popular serenity prayer. What the prayer mentions in its few lines seems trite when a person is suffering and longs for things to get better. Just as blueprints are used in construction a plan must be used as we daily build, change and remove parts of our inner selves. The greatest barrier to change is perspective. This is why it is so important to look at ourselves honestly and remain flexible. Some things can be made better while others remain as challenges we daily must overcome. Through this process we build character as we traverse the long highway of life.
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