Fish for Friday

The following "solitary fact," referred to in a review of George Packer's book The Unwinding, is even more striking when it comes to the disproportion of wealth in America than the often-cited one about America's anonymously wealthy "1%":

If a solitary fact can stand in for Mr. Packer’s arguments in “The Unwinding,” it is probably this one, about the heirs to Walton’s Walmart fortune: “Eventually six of the surviving Waltons,” the author writes, “would have as much money as the bottom 30 percent of Americans.”
    It was only after Walton’s death, Mr. Packer says, “that the country began to understand what his company had done.” He writes: “Over the years, America had become more like Walmart. It had gotten cheap. Prices were lower, and wages were lower. There were fewer union factory jobs, and more part-time jobs as store greeters.” He adds: “The hollowing out of the heartland was good for the company’s bottom line.”

This image from the anti-Monsanto demonstration, posted by the mother of these kids, was censored by Facebook; and her access to her page has been blocked. Why? would be my question, if I didn't understand that Mark Zuckerberg was going political—as detailed by this article by George Packer in The New Yorker: "Change the World: Silicon Valley transfers its slogans—and its money—to the realm of politics."
    Two points on the article: Almost everyone who works in Silicon Valley is a nerd—a person much more comfortable with the seeming certainty of numbers than with the ambiguity of people and culture. Next, a large number of the leadership are functioning Aspergers syndrome, meaning socially inept and incapable of empathy. Not who you want making political decisions, even if they weren't in denial about the role of government in the success of their businesses. I found the Packer article very scary, especially his empathy with the subjects.
    The final couple of paragraphs, where the hired political consultants do things that are counter productive, is one ray of hope—that most of the leadership had poor socialization as youths and aren't likely to develop a feel for political persuasion. On the other hand, the impact of Silicon Valley cube rats on San Francisco has nearly killed off the vitality and creative ferment that has been the hallmark of the city for over a century—by pricing out marginal economic people, whether artists or blue collar ethnic.

Just a nice image (and thought).

This indoor luxury resort is amazing! "Tropical Islands Resort Set In Former Aircraft Hangar In Germany (PHOTOS)."

Remember when the Discovery Channel was devoted to educational, enlightening programming? You know, back when MTV played music? Well, Discovery has yet another new angle to lure viewers—"Naked and Afraid"—a "reality" show that "follows a pair of complete strangers, a man and a woman, as they attempt to survive in the wilderness for 21 days with nothing but their smarts and one personal item each." That quote is from the "News From the Field" online post "Discovery Unveils Nude Survival Show: 'Naked & Afraid' to feature nude couples surviving" by Outside Magazine, which used to feature excellent articles about adventure sports and nature, before it got sidetracked into becoming the outdoors-related version of People magazine.
    Naked and afraid of what? That the other person is really, really fat and ugly and you don't even have a very tightly stretched layer of Spandex to offer at least a little camouflage? I should just hit "Send" right now, but my mind has wandered into the math of "21 days" and "one personal item each." If each person brings one condom as their personal item, that means they can safely have sex about as often as an average couple in their 60s? That is worth spending 21 days coated in mud, starving, pretending to be a close cousin to a Neanderthal? And if they aren't going to have sex, why on earth would they sign on to spend 21 days in the wilderness—naked—with a member of the opposite sex? Come on, Discovery, please go back to snow leopard documentaries....

I thought you might enjoy this <grin>: "Yale student to Tom Friedman: Actually, We Really Are Better Than Other People."

Your blog frequently features commentary about "gun people" so I thought you might like a photo essay about them: "Shooting Proud, Legal Gun Owners (with a Camera)." Click the "view full slideshow" button at bottom left.

Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah

Since the drones and Israeli missiles won't stop the Hezbollah, maybe shaming them will—is that the theory? "Hezbollah should change name to ‘Party of Satan,’ Turkish Deputy PM says."

Adventure looks like a rich topic. Anyone want to take it out of the "Third Monday Random" comments and into its own column?

An adventure to me anymore would probably be something that doesn't involve small children.

Some truth just doesn't get old....

Now we finally have a clue why guys around the world prefer to play soccer instead of American football: "World Cup 2010–Top 10 Hottest Soccer/Football Wives and Girlfriends (Photos)."

Today I am celebrating the 19th anniversary of my liver transplant, a medical miracle that allowed me to enjoy the past nineteen years of life and adventure, none of which would be possible without the loving care and attention of my devoted wife. I am grateful for all the good times we all had together and look forward to many more memorable years.

I hope your readers have discovered the GREAT commentary on Tuesday's "Rememorial Day" post....

Memorial Day is a challenge. Is it a holiday to honor needless killing, prolonged stupidity, poor boys being killed to make rich men richer? "The war to end all wars" was fought nearly 100 years ago, and we've only had how many since? Seven, I think, directly involving just our country, plus Bosnia, Falklands, Angola, Liberia, Chad, Sudan, Congo (a few times)—not to count the five million people killed in the recent decade in Congo in what is not officially even a war. I don't know if Memorial Day is taken as glorifying war and that is part of the problem, but it definitely is not part of the solution. Memorial Day is much like organized religion. A whole lot of people absolutely hate the whole charade, but they don't dare say so. Which means, of course, they both endure and continue to do the same damage—or worse—to present and future generations, as they did to the past.

Banksy on advertising.. This image should be fished.

In what may be a first, in this universe at least: "Beaver Kills Fisherman In Belarus; Wildlife Experts Blame Aggressive Behavior For Upsurge In Attacks." Really bad luck? Or just a really bad decision to stand right next to an animal that chops down trees with its teeth?

Thanks for trying, Pope Francis

Speaking of unbelievable news: Vatican says atheists can't be saved after all ("Vatican Clarifies Pope's 'Atheist' Remarks"). So now, instead of every new pope re-interpreting the bible every few years, we also have the pope's spin doctors re-interpreting what he says. Yesterday we had hope, if only briefly. Today we are back to being doomed to hell. So quit wasting your time on the good deeds, folks. Just go ahead and live your shallow, selfish lives, molest a few kids, throw your aging parents out into the street, and as long as you say you believe in some long-haired being sitting in the clouds wearing a robe and sandals—and send in a great big donation to seal the deal—you are good to go for eternity.

Limerick of the Week:

Did those people ever find their faith again, the ones who lost it?
Those did who missed the line from fact to fancy...and crossed it.
    But those who saw the line
    Rallied and managed fine—
They came to see they didn't need to believe in faith...and tossed it.

_______________
Copyright © 2013 by Morris Dean

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