Illinois has 19 representatives in the House. Eleven of them voted against the bailout. They are:
Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D)
Bobby Rush (D)
Dan Lipinski (D)
Peter Ruskam (R)
Jerry Weller (R)
Jerry Costello (D)
Judy Biggert (R)
Timothy Johnson (R)
Donald Manzullo (R)
Ray LaHood (R)
John Shimkus (R)
As businesses fail to make payroll, as your assets freeze in banks, as the streets clog with the displaced people who couldn't afford their mortgages, these are the people who should be in the second wave of the metaphorical guillotine.
The first wave is, of course. reserved for those who actually deregulated and profited from this mess.
That means you Phil Gramm, top financial advisor to John McCain.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Paul Newman
For me, the passage of time is marked by the loss of iconic figures. When Katherine Hepburn passed, it was the vestiges of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Newman was from the generation that bridged that gap from the Technicolor Fifties to the Gritty Seventies. He was an authentic actor who happened to be a movie star. He's the only actor who was more beautiful than Elizabeth Taylor on screen.
We just don't have anyone who compares.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Bloodless Revolution
Can there be any doubt that there is something sinister and fishy going on in Washington?
Palin is sequestered from press?
Bush administration uses national crisis -- that it helped to create -- as an excuse for yet another mad power grab.
I'm beginning to believe that there is a faction within the Republican Party (and some Democrats as well) who may be part of a secret, shadow party that is willing to take generations and creep its way into complete and total control. I first thought this when I read that Bush I called himself the "Education President," while slashing education funding. At that time I was reading a Hitler biography, who believed that the masses need only be educated to the point of being able to read street signs and count to 100.
No Child Left Behind further scared me with its emphasis on rote memorization masquerading as eduction instead of the development of critical thinking skills.
With each passing day, it feels like this might be America's darkest hour and this election will prove whether the "American Spirit" for liberty and freedom is a reality or whether its a myth.
Palin is sequestered from press?
Bush administration uses national crisis -- that it helped to create -- as an excuse for yet another mad power grab.
I'm beginning to believe that there is a faction within the Republican Party (and some Democrats as well) who may be part of a secret, shadow party that is willing to take generations and creep its way into complete and total control. I first thought this when I read that Bush I called himself the "Education President," while slashing education funding. At that time I was reading a Hitler biography, who believed that the masses need only be educated to the point of being able to read street signs and count to 100.
No Child Left Behind further scared me with its emphasis on rote memorization masquerading as eduction instead of the development of critical thinking skills.
With each passing day, it feels like this might be America's darkest hour and this election will prove whether the "American Spirit" for liberty and freedom is a reality or whether its a myth.
Greatness
I want artistic greatness, and I want it NOW.
OK. I'll settle for artistic proficiency.
My problem is that I want to do it all, and I want to do it all brilliantly. I'm a little scattered right now, and blogging falls to the bottom of my priority list. I spent the weekend updating my photography site and turning down work. I was contacted by a rather creepy wedding photo broker and it took me about an hour to decide to turn down the two weddings he was offering. At this stage in my development, it's not modesty when I say that any wedding that would want me as their lead photographer is probably a wedding I don't want to photograph. The deeper I get into this, the more I learn I have more to learn. There are the technical aspects of mastering f-stops and apertures and artistic considerations like composition and light placement. And doing it on a budget doesn't help.
But, if I've learned anything, it's to enjoy the moment and right now I am enjoying the learning and the mistakes. I'm quite certain that on my deathbed I will look back at this period as my most daring.
And, slowly, I'm starting to see a small, drip of income from my photographic endeavors. That's good. I learned from my days as an actor that means I've officially moved to the next rung. I'm not what you'd call a professional -- but I am being paid to point my camera at people and click the shutter. The time to take the next step will be soon.
Years ago I used to meet with friends and test audition material. In one of these meetings I read a Salieri speech from Amadeus. I just read it. My friends were laudatory to the point of giving me pause. The speech is Salieri in church begging God to give him the talent that matched his taste. Salieri is a second-rate talent, and he knows it. I can relate.
Then there's the writing, which is stalled. One story. Just one story more and then the first draft of the collection is complete. I have drafts of three, and they all suck ass. I've got a fourth one beginning to form and it's going to take discipline to get it out.
Ultimately, I'm beginning to think that discipline is really the secret to great talent. Just keeping at it, whatever it is, no matter what.
So, back to work.
OK. I'll settle for artistic proficiency.
My problem is that I want to do it all, and I want to do it all brilliantly. I'm a little scattered right now, and blogging falls to the bottom of my priority list. I spent the weekend updating my photography site and turning down work. I was contacted by a rather creepy wedding photo broker and it took me about an hour to decide to turn down the two weddings he was offering. At this stage in my development, it's not modesty when I say that any wedding that would want me as their lead photographer is probably a wedding I don't want to photograph. The deeper I get into this, the more I learn I have more to learn. There are the technical aspects of mastering f-stops and apertures and artistic considerations like composition and light placement. And doing it on a budget doesn't help.
But, if I've learned anything, it's to enjoy the moment and right now I am enjoying the learning and the mistakes. I'm quite certain that on my deathbed I will look back at this period as my most daring.
And, slowly, I'm starting to see a small, drip of income from my photographic endeavors. That's good. I learned from my days as an actor that means I've officially moved to the next rung. I'm not what you'd call a professional -- but I am being paid to point my camera at people and click the shutter. The time to take the next step will be soon.
Years ago I used to meet with friends and test audition material. In one of these meetings I read a Salieri speech from Amadeus. I just read it. My friends were laudatory to the point of giving me pause. The speech is Salieri in church begging God to give him the talent that matched his taste. Salieri is a second-rate talent, and he knows it. I can relate.
Then there's the writing, which is stalled. One story. Just one story more and then the first draft of the collection is complete. I have drafts of three, and they all suck ass. I've got a fourth one beginning to form and it's going to take discipline to get it out.
Ultimately, I'm beginning to think that discipline is really the secret to great talent. Just keeping at it, whatever it is, no matter what.
So, back to work.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Reason Number 8,453,711,004,613 - j, sub x...
...not to vote for McCain.
8 years of Bush
8 years of McCain (even though he's vowed to only hold office for one term)
8 years of Palin
What do you think the country will look like after TWENTY-FOUR YEARS of Republican rule?
8 years of Bush
8 years of McCain (even though he's vowed to only hold office for one term)
8 years of Palin
What do you think the country will look like after TWENTY-FOUR YEARS of Republican rule?
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Sunday Safari
My safari extended to the end of the block this morning as it has been raining nonstop since Friday night.
There are so many things I need to be more disciplined about, and practicing my pictures is one of them.
The above is a plaster sculpture that was salvaged from a neighborhood bar. The bar dated back to the 1920's and all of the Art Deco decorations were relocated next door when the cafe opened up. In the background they play music from the era and the coffee shop is really an oasis in the neighborhood. For me it is my home away from home and although I don't drink coffee, I do manage to keep the Diet Coke flowing. Yesterday I spent the entire day there, on my laptop, studying the work of some of my favorite photographers. While I was unemployed, I spent huge chunks of time most days there writing my short stories.
Which, brings me back to the discipline. I need one short story to finish the collection and I have drafts of three unfinished stories, but I just can't seem to find the time to get to it.
Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow...
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Sexism in Politics
Is there sexism in America?
Duh.
I've seen it on a daily basis in ways too numerous and nuanced to catalogue here.
Did I support Barak Obama over Hillary Clinton because he's a man and she's a woman?
Absolutely not.
I supported Barak Obama because he ran a better campaign. I continue to support him because he continues to take the high ground. He says he wants to change Washington and he's starting with his campaign. He's doing it right.
Of course, that does not guarantee that he'll win.
I watch Keith Olberman. I cannot deny that Olberman is becoming just as shrill as his conservative counterparts. He's arrogant and condescending to anyone with an opinion that doesn't mesh with his own. He's intellectually incurious about anything different, and he's easily outraged. At times I watch his show and think the man is my media doppelganger.
And when there's a commercial, I flip over to catch a few seconds of the Bill O'Reilly Show. Because a few seconds are all I can take. I am not disgusted by Bill O'Reilly because he has views that are completely different from my own. I'm revolted because in the few times I've peeked into his show, he's been talking about himself and what an exceptional journalist he is. I watched a few minutes of his interview with Obama and was embarrassed at just how rude and combative he was. I was, however, equally embarrassed at how deferential Olberman was in his interviews. But this, of course, is the result of putting "personalities" into positions where "professionals" are required.
However, Obama was the same guy in both interviews. He answered the questions. He was respectful and thoughtful and sincere. And he garnered more respect from me because he sat down with the vile O'Reilly, knowing full well that O'Reilly would be an arrogant prick. He took it like a man.
And if she were now the nominee, so would Hillary Clinton. And I suspect that to some degree so would John McCain.
No one condescends to Joe Biden. It can't be done.
Facing the media is part of the campaign. It's what professionals do.
So, where is Sarah Palin? Hiding because the media has yet to demonstrate its deference to her. The media, in an attempt to actually do its job and fill an informational void left by the Republican party by nominating an unknown and then refusing to provide access to the candidate has done presented what information it could on the candidate, and not surprisingly not all of the information has been good.
And not only has the Republican campaign seen fit to feign outrage that the media would actually investigate their candidate, they've had the nerve to say their motive is sexism. They have hidden the hothouse flower Palin from scrutiny by the American press and only trotted her out to deliver the same speech over and over.
Why?
The sexism sword cuts both ways.
Duh.
I've seen it on a daily basis in ways too numerous and nuanced to catalogue here.
Did I support Barak Obama over Hillary Clinton because he's a man and she's a woman?
Absolutely not.
I supported Barak Obama because he ran a better campaign. I continue to support him because he continues to take the high ground. He says he wants to change Washington and he's starting with his campaign. He's doing it right.
Of course, that does not guarantee that he'll win.
I watch Keith Olberman. I cannot deny that Olberman is becoming just as shrill as his conservative counterparts. He's arrogant and condescending to anyone with an opinion that doesn't mesh with his own. He's intellectually incurious about anything different, and he's easily outraged. At times I watch his show and think the man is my media doppelganger.
And when there's a commercial, I flip over to catch a few seconds of the Bill O'Reilly Show. Because a few seconds are all I can take. I am not disgusted by Bill O'Reilly because he has views that are completely different from my own. I'm revolted because in the few times I've peeked into his show, he's been talking about himself and what an exceptional journalist he is. I watched a few minutes of his interview with Obama and was embarrassed at just how rude and combative he was. I was, however, equally embarrassed at how deferential Olberman was in his interviews. But this, of course, is the result of putting "personalities" into positions where "professionals" are required.
However, Obama was the same guy in both interviews. He answered the questions. He was respectful and thoughtful and sincere. And he garnered more respect from me because he sat down with the vile O'Reilly, knowing full well that O'Reilly would be an arrogant prick. He took it like a man.
And if she were now the nominee, so would Hillary Clinton. And I suspect that to some degree so would John McCain.
No one condescends to Joe Biden. It can't be done.
Facing the media is part of the campaign. It's what professionals do.
So, where is Sarah Palin? Hiding because the media has yet to demonstrate its deference to her. The media, in an attempt to actually do its job and fill an informational void left by the Republican party by nominating an unknown and then refusing to provide access to the candidate has done presented what information it could on the candidate, and not surprisingly not all of the information has been good.
And not only has the Republican campaign seen fit to feign outrage that the media would actually investigate their candidate, they've had the nerve to say their motive is sexism. They have hidden the hothouse flower Palin from scrutiny by the American press and only trotted her out to deliver the same speech over and over.
Why?
The sexism sword cuts both ways.
Friday, September 05, 2008
Sarah Palin
Maybe it's because I'm paying closer attention to this election than I have to any other, but I have to say that the Sarah Palin is not receiving equal treatment to any other candidate.
After the convention she returns to Alaska to prepare her son to be deployed to Iraq. That is understandable and commendable. She may very well make the greatest sacrifice that any mother can make for her country. Were I in her shoes, I'd do the same thing.
But, her return home really demonstrates one thing. Actions speak louder than words and by returning home to be with her family at this critical time she's choosing her family over her duty. As a candidate, not only is it her duty to avail herself of the press and demonstrate that she is worthy of her position on the world political stage, as a woman she needs to disprove all of the naysayers who have said that she's not an appropriate choice. Yet, she's choosing her family over her duty, seeming to demonstrate by her actions that a woman's place is truly in the home.
It's not fair that she has so much to prove. She has the added burden of sprinting the extra mile in a pair of pumps, but that's the political reality. Clinton did it. Numerous governors, senators, and representatives -- not to mention countless executives, middle managers and front-line workers across the country. But it is the political reality of this country that a woman has to be twice the man a man has to be to get half the respect. The cultural stereotypes are so deeply ingrained that it will be generations, if not centuries, before women are viewed as truly equal in this society.
But, to be taken as truly equal a woman has to at least meet the same standard of expectations that a man would have to meet. Joe Biden also has a son being deployed. Yet, he's on the campaign trail giving the American public the oppportunity to question his record. If Palin is ready to be president on day one, that doesn't necessarily mean on the first day it's convenient.
And, if there are more organized, Republican systemic reasons for her return to Alaska, such as putting outside the tougher media spotlights, and perhaps "train" her, what more evidence is there that she's not qualified for her new position? Not as a woman, but as a candidate.
Just like the answers to the question of how many houses McCain owns, there is no way to justify the decision to return to Alaska that strengthens Palin's candidacy? Yes, it's absolutely the human, family-values decision to make. I applaud it, support it, and thank her and her family for this. But, the optics of the situation cannot be ignored and at the end of the day the American people deserve a president and vice-president who, for once in the past two decades, puts them before all else.
But, it's not a bad headshot.
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Schadenfreude
I wish I was a better person. I wish I lived up to Christian ideals. I'm a terribly flawed person. I'm a sinner.
But, I just love watching what goes around coming around.
A year ago I was laid off from a company that was/is peopled with evil, narcissistic bigots. Ordinarily I would at least make an attempt at Christian charity. Not in this case. These people were/are horrid. The only consolation I have is that my termination was not personal, nor did it reflect upon my abilities. They'd had several rounds of layoffs before I left, and several more after I left.
And it's the several more after I left that entertains me immensely.
To wit:
The Iago who continually stirred the pot, the one who, with his law degree from Northwestern had somehow convinced himself that he was qualified to head the company, has been let go. I have no first-hand knowledge, only circumstantial indicators, but I know that company and how things work. I suspect that all of the whiz kid's big talk finally caught up to him. In playing both ends he found himself in the middle and was devoured. Pity. I know he has massive student loans to pay and now he's probably living off the largess of his very, very wealthy father in law.
One of the sales people who also was famous for saying one thing and doing another just got very publicly burned by one of his clients. After swindling our company out of hundreds of thousands of dollars and then "leaving to start his own agency," one of his clients used his services and then in the eleventh hour went with a competitor, thus robbing this salesperson of nearly a million dollars in commissions and loads of public humiliation.
And the current president of the company, the one who lied and connived to get into the position, is being sued by one his former employees for millions of dollars. In all likelihood, this case whether it goes to court or not, whether it's won or not, will most likely close the company's doors for good.
The tragic part of this story is that there are some really decent people still trapped in this company who will most likely have a very, very difficult time replacing their jobs. I genuinely hope that they're OK.
As for the rest of them...
Meanwhile, I'm successfully employed and from all indications seem to be on the verge of establishing a successful business and new career. Living well truly is the best revenge.
But, I just love watching what goes around coming around.
A year ago I was laid off from a company that was/is peopled with evil, narcissistic bigots. Ordinarily I would at least make an attempt at Christian charity. Not in this case. These people were/are horrid. The only consolation I have is that my termination was not personal, nor did it reflect upon my abilities. They'd had several rounds of layoffs before I left, and several more after I left.
And it's the several more after I left that entertains me immensely.
To wit:
The Iago who continually stirred the pot, the one who, with his law degree from Northwestern had somehow convinced himself that he was qualified to head the company, has been let go. I have no first-hand knowledge, only circumstantial indicators, but I know that company and how things work. I suspect that all of the whiz kid's big talk finally caught up to him. In playing both ends he found himself in the middle and was devoured. Pity. I know he has massive student loans to pay and now he's probably living off the largess of his very, very wealthy father in law.
One of the sales people who also was famous for saying one thing and doing another just got very publicly burned by one of his clients. After swindling our company out of hundreds of thousands of dollars and then "leaving to start his own agency," one of his clients used his services and then in the eleventh hour went with a competitor, thus robbing this salesperson of nearly a million dollars in commissions and loads of public humiliation.
And the current president of the company, the one who lied and connived to get into the position, is being sued by one his former employees for millions of dollars. In all likelihood, this case whether it goes to court or not, whether it's won or not, will most likely close the company's doors for good.
The tragic part of this story is that there are some really decent people still trapped in this company who will most likely have a very, very difficult time replacing their jobs. I genuinely hope that they're OK.
As for the rest of them...
Meanwhile, I'm successfully employed and from all indications seem to be on the verge of establishing a successful business and new career. Living well truly is the best revenge.
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
I Survived
For the last two months I've been studying what is required of a wedding photographer -- all in preparation for taking the wedding shots I'd agreed to do for free.
First, there were a lot of things going for me. The bride and groom were adorable and very concerned about not asking for too much. My goal was to have as close to a paid engagement as possible. From what I've read, the fact that I had a realistic, understanding bride was really lucky. I loved her.
Since I was learning how to do this all for the first time, I was thrilled when they suggested meeting a week before to get some formal portraits. The bride had no worries about her groom seeing her in her dress before the wedding, and since I've been doing headshots for the past year, I knew that whatever else happened, we'd have some good portraits. That shoot, which took about four hours including the trip down to Michigan Avenue was exhausting, but very educational.
And when I was finished I went to the nearest Barnes & Nobel and bought two more wedding photo books. Then, during the next week I continued to read and get more and more depressed.
I only have one camera, and according to the books even that camera is woefully inadequate. I've been haunting a photographer's website and posting questions, and all of the answers have been derisive. The general consensus was that I was insane to try to handle an entire wedding by myself with one camera. What if it failed? I'd ruin this once-in-a-lifetime day. How could I be so stupid and heartless?
So, the day came and was to begin at 10:00 in a beauty salon in the southwest suburbs. That part of the shoot was fine. The chapel, according to Mapquest, was thirty-seven minutes away.
The long and short of the story is that I HATE Mapquest. The thirty-seven minute drive actually took me ninety. I arrived at the chapel for the thirty-minute ceremony fifteen minutes late. As I pulled into the parking lot I was actually hyperventilating. I forced myself to take a few deep breaths and I assembled my camera. I flipped it on.
The LCD screen remained dark. I ripped it open and switched out the battery. Still dark. There was nothing to do but grab the tripod and run. As I approached the garden, the coordinator gave me the most evil glare ever generated by a living human. I dropped my bag and tripod and just started shooting, with no idea if the camera would function or not. After about five clicks, something fell into place and the camera began recording shots.
That's when I took my first breath.
The shots of the actual ceremony are not great. I need a longer telephoto lens to get the shots I want. Once the ceremony was finished, the coordinator informed me that I had twenty minutes to complete the formal portraits. And as I tried to set up the tripod, I discovered that it was broken. I had to shoot free hand. Not my strong suit. So, with every set up I did five or six takes. There was no time to check the quality of the shots or get fancy with composition. All I could do was herd people around and shoot.
Oh, did I mention that the bride's family made their first trip from Taiwan for the wedding. They spoke no English. And the groom's family was Mexican. Although they spoke English, there was a lot of awkward tension between the families. And there I was in the middle of it all trying to get a decent snapshot.
Thankfully, I've been through the ceremony shots and have about thirty good prints. That's more than I need for my website. And I posted them on my photographer's website for comments and got "not bad." Coming from that crowd, that's high praise.
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