January 28, 2009
Snow Day!
This is the first snow day I have ever experienced as a teacher, and I now know that it is appreciated equally by students and faculty. So why do we ever have to go to school? Learning! But even on my day off, I did a little learning...
Enron
Remember Enron? It was one of the largest corporations in the U.S. until it was brought down by egregious accounting fraud. The documentary "Enron: The Smartest Guys In The Room" (I am loving Netflix Instant watch!) is a fascinating exploration of the rise and fall of this corporate behemoth. It is casino capitalism at its worst-- a game of cheats, bluffs and misperceptions. It's bad enough when markets collapse on themselves and wealth vanishes with deteriorating consumer confidence; this story has plenty of people who lost everything in the Enron stock charade, but it is also the story of energy market deregulation and subsequent piracy by a corporate monster with unquenchable thirst for profit. I have always believed that energy should be a public utility and therefore controlled by the people (through a representative government) and this episode effectively demonstrates the dangers of "free"-market utilities. Above all, Enron seems to show that the worst and most deceitful business practices reap the largest profit.
And what have we learned? Not much apparently, as our banks now suffer through a similar but much larger wipe-out. When will we recognize and eliminate the conflict of interest between profit and people? When will we work for quality of life instead of quantity of cash? When will our GDP be measured in social capital rather than financial capital? I believe that money is mankind's greatest creation, but it has evolved beyond its bartering origins into a wild beast, escaped from its cage and wreaking havoc on humanity.
January 27, 2009
If you love somebody, be good to them...
Rule number 1 in a relationship: Tell the truth always. Do it 100% of the time. This is incredibly easy to do if you don't have anything to hide. Secrets are a cancer on a relationship, and will eventualy kill it if allowed to fester. Of course, sometimes secrets are revealed and destroy a relationship instantly; something that has been created and built by love over a long time ended by a moment's bad decision.
This is a sad day for love, my friends.
I have recently been upset that a number of my friends' marriages have already ended in divorce. About half of the weddings I have attended in the past few years are over. And one that I would be attending this summer hangs in the balance...
The Good Law is: Be Good To Everyone. But especially, truly and always, Be Good to whomever you love.
January 25, 2009
Moving Pictures
Three great films I saw recently:
1. The Wrestler. Total downer in the best way possible; it makes your heart ache as you watch Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei torment themselves with age and lonliness. It is almost unwatchably painful at times, but leaving the theatre (The classic Cobble Hill Cinemas), life feels just a little bit more precious...
2. Slumdog Millionaire. Impossible, Incredible and Unbelievable, it is pure Magic. There can not be a more uplifting theme than triumph over adversity, and this film has both extremes. Plus the soundtrack is absolutely amazing.
3. The King of Kong. Unrealistic real people in the parallel universe of competitive gaming make this documentary one of the best uses of recorded images I've ever seen. A written script on the World Record of Donkey Kong scores could never invent characters nearly as amazing as those featured in the film, who are simply awe inspiring in their heroism and villiany. For thousands of years, mankind has been making art to represent himself-- finally we have begun making art to truly reflect ourselves. We are the actors, we are the art.
January 23, 2009
With Time To Reflect, George Has An Epiphany...
I'll admit it--I can't quite seem to let Bush go. My feelings are so strong for him that it would be impossible to have a clean break-up. So I'm therapeutically trying to get it all out now in the most productive way I know how. I consider this one optimistic-- that G.W.B. is a real human being who has the capacity to recognize his own terrors, rather than being a caricature of blissful ignorance.
The Cowboy looked back and tipped his hat
Then off he rode into the sunset
As he reminisced of years gone by
A moistness welled inside his eye
He was never known to show emotion
He was stoic in his self-devotion
But a man's reflection is true and real
And knows exactly how he feels
He wondered now what pained him so
And why it now began to grow
Perhaps nostalgia for his past
Missing time gone by too fast?
But deep inside his heart he knew
What he never hoped was really true
From deep inside his darkest fears
Filled the well that poured his tears
What if I've been truly wrong
True was false all along?
If my black was really white
And all my enemies really right
I heard them and ignored the voices
When I made some very important choices
Against me always there to taunt me
My shadow has come back to haunt me
This man of strength was rendered weak
Eternal hubris suddenly meek
Foundations crumbled underground
And his world turned upside down
He always knew what was real and fake
And he lied to himself for his own sake
Convinced himself that he was doing right
Hoped he'd never see this light
This one seems to be a sequel to M.O.M (Mean Old Man)
January 19, 2009
MLK
Martin Luther King's Birthday takes on a special significance today as we begin to celebrate the inauguration of our nation's first African-American president tomorrow. It is almost impossible to conceive that only 150 years ago, the practice of enslaving humans was considered acceptable and that 50 years ago segregation was common. Martin Luther King dedicated himself to acheiving equality for all and paid the ultimate price for his work. He will not be forgotten. I hope that Obama will unite people as MLK did and carry on his progress.
Here are two supergood tunes for these leaders:
Once upon a time there lived a King
Who took the people under his wing
To fly with courage and let them sing
And make the bells of freedom ring
The greatest wars are always fought
without violence, without a shot
With peace and freedom the only way
To say as you do and do as you say
We dream of life that's truly Free
Of Equality in Society
When I am you and you are me
United you and I are We
It takes a leader to make the laws
It takes a movement to make a cause
Against injustice a peaceful fight
To turn our wrongs into our rights
History's horrors leave us aghast
When we reflect upon our past
The scourge of our humanity
The atrocity of slavery
After night the sun will rise
The truth will triumph over lies
Life, Love and Work inspiring
We rally eternally 'round our King
In the eye of a storm
The sun will shine
January 20
2009
The end of an era
enamored with errors
preyed-on fears
created terrors
Decisions made
Reasons unsaid
Lives played
Left for dead
For safety's sake
made unsafe
made to fear
from our grief
Lethal force
No real crime
Worst War
of all time
Our cities sank
beneath the water
Too little done
To make it better
Floating bodies
Homes destroyed
Overseas
Our aid deployed
Money's only made of paper
Paper burns upon ignition
Flames engulf the bankers books
Earnings turning into fiction
Greed leads to temptation
To make a fake evaluation
But riches made by sleight of hand
Will only burn you in the end
For Life Liberty
and our Happiness
We will rise
from this mess
In Pursuit of Truth
we will progress
Back No
Forward Yes
It may not end
But it will begin
With good reason
we will win
Good and evil
Love and hate
Make a choice
Then inaugurate...
OBAMA!
If you've never heard the actual recording of MLK's "I have a dream" speech, it is definitely worth a listen:
January 14, 2009
Hank's
Fun. Very fun. My first bar show went well and I am excited to do more. Mixing video, music and poetry, I examine the human condition... Rated G. Here is a preview of past attractions:
Supergood Reality Music (30 mins)
Supergood Reality Video (1.5 mins)
Bye Bye Bushie!
Six more days! But even more exciting than Bush's exit is Obama's entrance. It is a desperate time in our existence and we are in dire need of a leader to work for peace and progress. I believe in Obama and trust him to make wise decisions in office. He can not change our past, but he can change our future.
January 7, 2009
Supergood Reality @ Hank's Saloon
46 Third Ave @ Atlantic, Brooklyn, NY
Saturday January 10, 2009
8pm Silent Way
830 Asteroid Blues
9 Above The Fold
10 Family Fun
11 Supergood Reality
If you've never been, Hank's is the rootinest, tootinest, salooniest bar in Brooklyn and I have personally had the honor of inviting all bands on the bill. You will enjoy it.
I was terrible about posting Supergood music last year. 2009 will be different. Here's a start:
January 3, 2009
A New Year
Let's make this a supergood year. I think its got some real potential to be a positive, progressive year for the world. While I think Obama is a great leader, it is up to us to make this world better, so let's be inspired to make a change. Consider it a resolution.