New York Daily News columnist, Michael Goodwin, wrote "Are Wealthy candidates out of touch?" It seems that they would have to be at least a little bit when you hear how much they are worth:
Romney: $250 million
Giuliani: $70 million
Edwards: $62 million
McCain: $25 million
Clinton: $15 million
Richardson: $10 million
Obama: $1 million
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Friday, May 18, 2007
The Failure of Modern Women Writers
I do not consider myself an expert of literature, modern or classic, but I do consider myself a reader who knows good writing. I enjoy reading both classic books such as Hemingway, Wharton and Steinbeck. I also enjoy reading new literary fiction, which is often penned by women writers who have received some success. I have become more and more disappointed in these modern authors recently because they all seem to follow the same story patterns and have similiar details in their plots. For example, modern women authors usually include these elements in their stories:
1) Their main character is a middle-aged woman who is having a midlife crisis.
2) She has an affair (or yearns to have one) with a handsome man with a certain ruggedness about him and who is intelligent and well spoken. He also is seen as exciting.
3) The main character has a daughter.
4) The main character is a writer, an artist or a photographer.
5) She lives in a drafty Victorian house that needs work but is seen as having a lot of character.
I am currently reading The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd who wrote the very successful The Secret Life of Bees. I really enjoyed that book because it had more unusual elements to its plot: a young Southern girl trying to rescue a black woman who has been taking care of her afterthe girl's mother died. On the other hand, The Mermaid Chair is very disappointing because here is yet another book whose main female character is having a mid-life crisis, is cheating on her husband, is an artist, who has a daughter and who left a draft Victorian house to return to her childhood mom. Nothing unpredictable here.
The current fiction marketed towards women often has the above-mentioned elements. The reason that this upsets me so much is that I constantly see women being left behind in the world. I feel that women often don't live up to their potential because like the characters in these books they settle down and raise a family only to lose "their self." They lose contact with their inner soul and go through life without exploring and seeking adventures. Although the authors are just writing what women today may be feeling, and probably what the author and her friend are feeling, I believe that the authors are also becoming stagnant and are no longer exploring new possibilities. I know that it is incredibly hard to write a great piece of fiction, but I wish that modern female writers would explore some different topics and characters. Push the envelope. Have a character who lives in a modern ranch and who works as a social worker or as a chief operating officer.
I think to be at the forefront of any field, you have to be innovative and to challenge preconceived notions. I want to see more women in the writing business who get attention for being original and for confronting difficult topics. I know that women can do it!
1) Their main character is a middle-aged woman who is having a midlife crisis.
2) She has an affair (or yearns to have one) with a handsome man with a certain ruggedness about him and who is intelligent and well spoken. He also is seen as exciting.
3) The main character has a daughter.
4) The main character is a writer, an artist or a photographer.
5) She lives in a drafty Victorian house that needs work but is seen as having a lot of character.
I am currently reading The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd who wrote the very successful The Secret Life of Bees. I really enjoyed that book because it had more unusual elements to its plot: a young Southern girl trying to rescue a black woman who has been taking care of her afterthe girl's mother died. On the other hand, The Mermaid Chair is very disappointing because here is yet another book whose main female character is having a mid-life crisis, is cheating on her husband, is an artist, who has a daughter and who left a draft Victorian house to return to her childhood mom. Nothing unpredictable here.
The current fiction marketed towards women often has the above-mentioned elements. The reason that this upsets me so much is that I constantly see women being left behind in the world. I feel that women often don't live up to their potential because like the characters in these books they settle down and raise a family only to lose "their self." They lose contact with their inner soul and go through life without exploring and seeking adventures. Although the authors are just writing what women today may be feeling, and probably what the author and her friend are feeling, I believe that the authors are also becoming stagnant and are no longer exploring new possibilities. I know that it is incredibly hard to write a great piece of fiction, but I wish that modern female writers would explore some different topics and characters. Push the envelope. Have a character who lives in a modern ranch and who works as a social worker or as a chief operating officer.
I think to be at the forefront of any field, you have to be innovative and to challenge preconceived notions. I want to see more women in the writing business who get attention for being original and for confronting difficult topics. I know that women can do it!
Monday, May 7, 2007
Trip to Seattle and Vancouver
My time is winding down here in Seattle. I arrived on a sunny day and looks like I will be leaving on another warm and sunny day. My 8 full days here have been great. I have gotten to see and do so much. And the rain-didn't really interfere with what I was doing because it hardly rained at all and when it did, it was in the early morning. I have visited parks, waterfalls, Pike's Place Market, cool neighborhoods, coffee shops, the international district, took a ferry to Bainbridge Island, visited friends, worked on job applications and went to Vancouver for the day. I love both cities and hope to move to Seattle if the right job turns up. the city is beautiful, the people so polite, friendly, liberal and the city full of fun places to see. There is so much in this city and in the surrounding areas. I would never be bored here. It's a very enivornmentally-friendly place and full of great coffee shops, restarants and parks. I know why my friends love it here. One of my favorite things is actually how you can't see the Target and large stores because they are hidden behind trees and disguised by the winding roads. There is a large Asia population here so I am reminded of my time in Korea. I haven't had a bad experience the whole time that I have been here. The roughest aspect has been all of the homeless people. I was surprised to see so many beggers on the streets. I never know how to react. But, it's so beautiful here and if I can afford it (beauty is expensive) and I can get a good job, I hope to move here by the beginning of summer.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
typical Korean tv show
This is very typical of Korean tv shows. What are they saying? Is there any point to these shows? Why? why? I can't imagine watching these shows!
Monday, April 23, 2007
Thinking Green not only on Earth Day
Sunday was Earth Day here in the USA. For the first time that I remember, Earth Day got a lot of coverage in the media and many museums and parks had activities on the day. Oprah talked about it. The local newspaper ran many stories. Outpose foods had a special celebration. Even Cudahy Park had a clean-up day.
I found out about many little things that can make a huge difference that I plan to implement in my life. For one, I will buy about 20 cloth napkins at rummage sales this summer and start using those at meals instead of the very bad-for-the-environment paper napkins. Also, I plan to buy some flourescent light bulbs for my lamps, to unplug my cell phone charger when not in use, and to wash all of my clothes on cold.
Recently, I have begun to make a huge effort to take cloth totebags into the grocery store with me. They are durable and so much easier to carry than the paper or plastic bags. I can really load up my tote bag from Piggly Wiggle with lots of groceries. Once I began to get in the habit of using the tote bags, I was anxious to see what other little differences I could implement in my life. I strongly encourage you to make some small changes. Perhaps, just recycling more or cleaning up some trash in a park.
On Earth Day, my aunt Ellen and I collected litter along Lake Michigan. It was an impromptu thing. We had been going for a walk along the lake, when we found a plastic bag with a water bottle lying next to it. We took both bag and bottle and filled the bag up. The problem: there was so much more trash to pick up. I plan to make another trip to the lake this summer with a big black garbage bag to pick up a lot more!
Ellen picking up trash on Lake Michigan for Earth Day.
Quote:
"In wilderness I sense the miracle of life, and behind it our scientific accomplishments fade to trivia." -Charles Lindbergh, Life Magazine, 1967
"You are a child of the Universe, no less than the moon and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the Universe is unfolding as it should. "
-Max Ehrmann
I found out about many little things that can make a huge difference that I plan to implement in my life. For one, I will buy about 20 cloth napkins at rummage sales this summer and start using those at meals instead of the very bad-for-the-environment paper napkins. Also, I plan to buy some flourescent light bulbs for my lamps, to unplug my cell phone charger when not in use, and to wash all of my clothes on cold.
Recently, I have begun to make a huge effort to take cloth totebags into the grocery store with me. They are durable and so much easier to carry than the paper or plastic bags. I can really load up my tote bag from Piggly Wiggle with lots of groceries. Once I began to get in the habit of using the tote bags, I was anxious to see what other little differences I could implement in my life. I strongly encourage you to make some small changes. Perhaps, just recycling more or cleaning up some trash in a park.
On Earth Day, my aunt Ellen and I collected litter along Lake Michigan. It was an impromptu thing. We had been going for a walk along the lake, when we found a plastic bag with a water bottle lying next to it. We took both bag and bottle and filled the bag up. The problem: there was so much more trash to pick up. I plan to make another trip to the lake this summer with a big black garbage bag to pick up a lot more!
Ellen picking up trash on Lake Michigan for Earth Day.
Quote:
"In wilderness I sense the miracle of life, and behind it our scientific accomplishments fade to trivia." -Charles Lindbergh, Life Magazine, 1967
"You are a child of the Universe, no less than the moon and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the Universe is unfolding as it should. "
-Max Ehrmann
Friday, April 13, 2007
Oconomowoc Artists
This past week I had the privilege of meeting two local artists who are being recognized for their art by a local public tv station, Channel 10. The two painters, Michael Steinke and Andy Goralski, will have their original paintings and posters sold during the anuual fundraising auction. I interviewed the two men for the Oconomowoc Enterprise.
Michael Steinke does impressionist/abstract art, but he said of himself , “I am a colorist founded in the traditional line." Steinke, or as he refers to himself, mykulanjelo, is very creative and he believes that all people are creative. He believes that, “Art should cause them to transcend that moment.” Steinke explained that everyone is creative. “All of us have a seed of creation within us. The idea is that the creative urge in its essence transcends the day,” he said.
I was quite impressed with his art, but even more so with his views of art and the creative process. His studio is a surpisingly small space in a renovated Victorian school house. It is full of clutter: paintings, glass pane-tings (painted windows), drawings and postcards. Steinke has shared his art with people through his designs for the Florentine Opera of Milwaukee, The Oconomowoc Art Festival and charity events. “Art is animated, not only because of the color,” Steinke said, “but when you move it; it changes the space around it.”
some of Steinke's work:
The other artist that I met: Andy Goralski is very different from Steinke. Goralski is a sports painter and paints exclusively those people and things that have to do with professional sports. For the auction he has painted Donald Driver of the Green Bay Packers. Goralski is a self-taught painter, which is really amazing when you look at his work. Goralski's pastel paintings are so real-looking from a distance, that appears you are looking at a photograph. He tries to paint objects in a 3D reality. There are elements of impressionism in his paintings, such as the fields or stadiums. His paintings are often valued between $5,000 to $20,000 and only grow in value due to scarcity. I didn't really get to see the creative part of Goralski's personality. Our talk was more business and what it is like to work with all of the athletes.
Here are some of Goralski's pieces:
Michael Steinke does impressionist/abstract art, but he said of himself , “I am a colorist founded in the traditional line." Steinke, or as he refers to himself, mykulanjelo, is very creative and he believes that all people are creative. He believes that, “Art should cause them to transcend that moment.” Steinke explained that everyone is creative. “All of us have a seed of creation within us. The idea is that the creative urge in its essence transcends the day,” he said.
I was quite impressed with his art, but even more so with his views of art and the creative process. His studio is a surpisingly small space in a renovated Victorian school house. It is full of clutter: paintings, glass pane-tings (painted windows), drawings and postcards. Steinke has shared his art with people through his designs for the Florentine Opera of Milwaukee, The Oconomowoc Art Festival and charity events. “Art is animated, not only because of the color,” Steinke said, “but when you move it; it changes the space around it.”
some of Steinke's work:
The other artist that I met: Andy Goralski is very different from Steinke. Goralski is a sports painter and paints exclusively those people and things that have to do with professional sports. For the auction he has painted Donald Driver of the Green Bay Packers. Goralski is a self-taught painter, which is really amazing when you look at his work. Goralski's pastel paintings are so real-looking from a distance, that appears you are looking at a photograph. He tries to paint objects in a 3D reality. There are elements of impressionism in his paintings, such as the fields or stadiums. His paintings are often valued between $5,000 to $20,000 and only grow in value due to scarcity. I didn't really get to see the creative part of Goralski's personality. Our talk was more business and what it is like to work with all of the athletes.
Here are some of Goralski's pieces:
Friday, April 6, 2007
Albert Camus
In the hardest class that I ever took, Political Theory, Dr. McLemore loved to quote the "Plague" by Camus. In it, one of the characters like to spit on cats. This bit of information that McLemore often shared with us baffled me because it seemed like it never had anything to do with what we were discussing. Although after reading, McKinnon, Foucault, Arendt and about 35 others, McLemore's references to Camus are what I remember the most.
I just read a short book last night called "Summer in Algiers," by the famed existentialist who wanted to simply be known as a writer and a man.
Here are some quotes from the book that I enjoyed the most.
"Likewise, beyond the yellow walls of Oran, land and sea continue their indifferent dialogue. That permanence in the world has always had contrary charms for man. It drives him to despair and excites him. The world never says but one thing; first it interests, then it bores. But eventually it wins out by the dint of obstinancy. It is always right." pg. 37
"In the middle of the day when the sky opens its fountains of light in the vast, sonorous space, all the headlands of the coast look like a fleet about to se out." pg. 42
"Only at noon, at the hour when the cicadas themselves fall silent as if overcome, I would flee before the greedy glare of an all-consuming light." pg. 46
"When one has once had the good luck to love intensely, life is spent in trying to recapture that ardour and that illumination." pg. 48
"To come alive again needs a special grace, self-forgetfulness, or a homeland. Certain mornings, on turning a corner, a delightful dew falls on the heart and then evaporates. But its coolness remains and this is what the heart requires always." pg. 49
"I satisfied the two thirsts one cannot long neglect without drying up-I mean loving and admiring. For there is merely bad luck in not being loved; there is misfortune in not loving." pg 52
I just read a short book last night called "Summer in Algiers," by the famed existentialist who wanted to simply be known as a writer and a man.
Here are some quotes from the book that I enjoyed the most.
"Likewise, beyond the yellow walls of Oran, land and sea continue their indifferent dialogue. That permanence in the world has always had contrary charms for man. It drives him to despair and excites him. The world never says but one thing; first it interests, then it bores. But eventually it wins out by the dint of obstinancy. It is always right." pg. 37
"In the middle of the day when the sky opens its fountains of light in the vast, sonorous space, all the headlands of the coast look like a fleet about to se out." pg. 42
"Only at noon, at the hour when the cicadas themselves fall silent as if overcome, I would flee before the greedy glare of an all-consuming light." pg. 46
"When one has once had the good luck to love intensely, life is spent in trying to recapture that ardour and that illumination." pg. 48
"To come alive again needs a special grace, self-forgetfulness, or a homeland. Certain mornings, on turning a corner, a delightful dew falls on the heart and then evaporates. But its coolness remains and this is what the heart requires always." pg. 49
"I satisfied the two thirsts one cannot long neglect without drying up-I mean loving and admiring. For there is merely bad luck in not being loved; there is misfortune in not loving." pg 52
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